Hi again guys! Thank you to another reviewer! Decepticon-silverstreak, this one for you! Hope you enjoy it! Holls :P x

Bruce was sat, watching nothing in particular out the window or the Penthouse. Still in his Batman suit (apart from the helmet and cape) he just sat.

'Master Wayne?' said Alfred from behind. Bruce didn't respond.

'There's someone to see you,' Alfred continued.

''I don't want to see anyone now, Alfred!' moaned Bruce, still not turning his head. He heard Alfred leave.

'I'm sorry, Bruce,' came her voice. A voice he was worried he would never hear again. He almost didn't recognise Gwen when he saw how dishevelled and lost she was. She still wore the things she had for the Fundraiser, however her dress was torn and her tight had holes and ladders. Her hair was dirty and stringy, and her face bore none of its usual warmth. Pale, skinny and worn, the girl before Bruce seemed like a stranger. He stood quickly and hugged her tightly, as if he were never to let her go again. Gwen felt hot tears threatening to emerge as she hugged her little cousin back. Gwen pulled away.

'You ok?' she asked, quietly.

'Never mind me. What the Hell happened with you?' asked Bruce, incredulously.

'Later. It doesn't matter now. Bruce, you need to get some sleep. You're tired. Please. You're not doing any favours for yourself,' said Gwen in that same motherly tone she could have, that always made Bruce feel better. She was right. He shook his head however, sitting back down.

'Bruce, you ok?' Gwen sat opposite Bruce, watching him carefully.

'Rachel's dead. Rachel is dead and it's my fault!'

Gwen shook her head at this, saying, 'No. this wasn't your doing. It was him. It was Jack. He did it. He was the one to blame. You tried. You tried, Bruce, but that's all that you could have done.'

Bruce nodded at this, smiling, 'I thought I'd lost you too. Here you are though. I'm sitting here, wallowing in self pity, and there you are, after everything you've been through, trying to make me feel better.'

Gwen smiled back, weakly, saying, 'strange world.'

Gwen stood and took hold of Bruce's hand saying, 'Go to bed.'

He stood, and hugged Gwen tightly, once more. Her return was one he couldn't have expected. But he was damn glad she did. He left the room, leaving Gwen on her own. She stood for a moment or two before departing to her own room. Once in, she closed the door behind her, and turned on the light. Her room had been left exactly as it had done the night she was taken. There were clothes dumped all over the wooden floor, and different pairs of shoes. It was still dark outside.

Gwen moved into the bathroom where she had a well deserved shower. Brushing her teeth, and having a glass of water, she pulled on some pyjamas, and crawled into her own bed. Hair still wet, she fell asleep almost instantly, feeling, for the first time in a week, safe.

However, miles from where she slept, the Joker's shouts raging through the warehouse, echoed all around. The game was far from over.