Spoiler Alert: This takes place during Batman Beyond Timeline

Many Years Later

"You know you are a stubborn fool?"

"Just like my old man," Terry retorted.

Bruce's weak heart almost gave out at that moment. He knew now? But then again he was his son; it was only a matter of time before he put two and two together. Bruce after all taught him everything.

"Yeah I knew," said Terry. He had come back and did not leave for patrol just yet. Like father, like son, Terry loved to make dramatic exits and entrances.

Bruce sighed, "I take it Amanda Waller talked to you?"

"You knew all this time?"

"I figured it out. I always kept an eye on people like Waller; you can't trust anyone in this world."

For a while Terry thought Bruce was pausing to think of something to say next; when it became clear Bruce had nothing left, Terry spoke up.

"Look, I know you think you were never father material, and I know you did not raise me from birth, but you have been there for me all the time taking care of me and for that I thank you."

Still no response. Bruce could be so cold. He was not good at emotional moments like this.

Terry deciding he was running out of ideas to get a response out of Bruce so he tried a different route.

"I am going to ask Dana to marry me," he said quietly.

For a second he thought he saw Bruce's brilliantly blue eyes lit up in shock but the grouchy old man remain as passive and stone face as ever.

"Congratulations," Bruce said, still staring out the window in his room.

Well it was a start.

"Was there anyone ever special in your life?" he asked curiously.

That finally got a reaction out of the old man. Bruce turned and glared at Terry.

"I do not think it is any of your business," he said menacingly.

"Come on, its father and son bonding time!" he joked. Bruce was hiding something.

"If you want my advice, if you really want to be with Dana go for it. You do not deserve to end up alone."

"Yeah, Waller already gave me the pep talk. Quit sidestepping the question. Was there anyone else in your life?"

"I already told you about Selina and Talia-"

"Yeah but you are Bruce Wayne! Come on there has to be more than two women that have reached your heart like that! I saw you looking at the slideshow a few years ago. Who were those other women?"

Bruce sighed, it was probably better to tell the truth, or at least most of it to get rid of him.

"You already know about Barbara. The other ones were Lois Lane, and Zatanna."

"The famous reporter? I heard she was really bi-"

"Language!" Bruce barked.

Terry stopped the insult.

"Clark and she had a thing when they were young. It is a shame they did not work out."

Now this was interesting, Superman had a love interest?

"What happened?"

"They were like me. They made their choices and moved on."

"And that Zatanna chick, you actually had a thing for her?"

Bruce finally smirked a little, "Where do you think I learned all my escape tricks? I traveled with her father when she was young."

"See I knew Batman was a player!" Terry joked which earned more dagger stares from Bruce. He quickly muttered sorry.

"Did I ever tell you I almost did not become Batman because of a woman?"

"Whoa now you are getting interesting. What was her name?"

"Andrea. She made me think I could be happy again. She brought out a lighter side to me I had not felt since I was eight years old. I proposed to her and everything. I was ready to let go," Bruce said, his eyes with nostalgia.

"What happened?" Terry asked. He hated how he felt like a little kid asking annoying questions but Bruce never opened up like this.

"Her father was caught up in the mob. She chose him over me and they fled."

"Did you ever saw her again?"

Bruce sighed sadly. Terry was sure he could see tears beginning to form in his eyes. Maybe he pressed too far.

"I did. She came back to Gotham. For a second I thought we could start all over again. Little did I know she was just using me to distract me from discovering she was killing mobsters out of revenge for her father. I tried to save her from the darkness, but she was too deep."

And then Bruce finally began to break down.

"I am sorry I have left you with this burden Terry. I did not want you in this life but now look. Sooner or later you are going to find out that Batman always needs to be alone."

Terry step forward and placed a comforting hand on his father's shoulder.

"Well I am going to prove you wrong Bruce with Dana."

"I hope so. I may have forsaken my chance for happiness, but I will be at least comforted if you became a better man than me. A much happier, brighter man. A man, who did not drive himself alone," Bruce said looking into Terry's eyes with the utmost pain.

Terry patted the shoulder and made to leave, but he was still a little curious.

"Who was Diana?" he asked.

Immediately Bruce's eyes darted angrily at terry. It looked like he found the jackpot.

"Don't deny it. You have been calling her name sometimes in your sleep," Terry shot out before Bruce could clam up.

Bruce did not sigh or broke down this time instead he kept giving the icy stare at Terry, almost daring the younger man to push further.

"Diana is happier without me right now. That was just a fairy tale that somehow we could both have a happy ending. There is nothing to discuss about her. We were just friends, nothing more."

"If you say so," Terry said suspiciously. "Well I gotta head out."

Bruce did not say anything but resumed his vigil of staring angrily out the window.

Terry was out the door before he turned around and spoke one more time,

"But that's not what Clark said about you and her," he said knowingly and exited the room before Bruce could respond.