This continues straight out of the last chapter. You all liked that chapter, didn't you. Of course you did.

I'm glad everybody likes this story so much. I think it'll be the first story (besides a one-shot,) that I've written all the way through.
That being said, yes, the story is almost at an end. This is the last chapter. Or, at least, it is so long as I don't write and epilogue.
That will be decided by popular demand.

Anyway, I've rambled on long enough. Here is your chapter. Enjoy.

She couldn't breath. She couldn't move. She couldn't speak. She could barely think.

He was Bruce. Batman was Bruce. Bruce was Batman. They were the same person.

All those years, how had she not found out? How had he gone so long and not told her. Why?

She couldn't process it. She couldn't deal with this. She felt like she was suffocating and frozen solid and burning alive all in the same second and it was unbearable.

She finally chocked out a breath after standing there for over two minutes without breathing. When she did it cut through her shock like a knife and emotions crashed in.

Happiness. Fear. Joy. Love. Guilt. Resentment. Gratitude. Anger. Relief.

Betrayal.

Yes, that was it. That was an emotion she could deal with right now. She felt betrayed.

"Bruce?" it was a whisper, "All this time... It's been you?"

"Yes." And it was. Now she could see his eyes. Those baby blue eyes. He was no longer masking his emotions. His face seemed clam enough but those eyes were searching and almost pleading.

She shook, and her eyes narrowed dangerously as her voice dropped even lower. "I trusted you."

As if on command, memories flashed through her mind. Every time she'd ever told Bruce a secret, confided in him, opened up to him. Each time she'd spoken to him about Batman, asked his opinion, took his advice. It was all lies. Manipulation. The biggest, stupidest, most elaborate setup and she'd let him play her for a fool.

"I trusted you!" She screamed.

"Selina, if you'd just let me explain-"

"Explain?! You mean give you another chance to lie to me. No." She started to sprint off.

He growled at himself before pulling his cowl back on and chasing after her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back to look at her but instead saw a glittering flash and felt a sharp stinging as her claws ran across his cheek.

He flinched. "I deserved that, didn't I."

"Yes!" She'd yelled. They were being watched again, but neither noticed or cared now. "How could you do this to me?! How dare you! I trusted you, and now I find out that this whole time you've just been trying to manipulate me!"

"You have it all wrong, Selina, that's not-"

Smack. She slapped him as hard as she could and the sound was deafening.

She spoke slowly, her voice hitching as she emphasized each word. "You lied to me."

His voice was pleading, and desperate, "Selina. Please. I'm sorry."

And because she couldn't bare to hear him like that she turned and ran, and didn't look back even when he called out her name.

She had run through the Watchtower until she came to the empty observatory and just stopped.

God, there was so much to think about. Now that she wasn't so outraged, she could think more clearly. That was normal. She was Catwoman, and it'd take a whole lot more than that to keep her down. She still felt numb, though.

Not so numb that she didn't care. Everyone on the Watchtower had to have heard about the fight by now. The only thing she had to her advantage was that, since it was so late, there was hardly anyone onboard to hear about it. That advantage went straight out the window, as she was sure she recognised one of the people who had seen them. Boost-something, and he couldn't stop talking to save his life, so she had no doubt that the rumours would be spreading within the hour, if they weren't already.

Well, at least she could still say her life was never boring.

She didn't know how long she had been there, leaning against the railing, just looking out at space, when she felt someone coming up behind her. She didn't bother turning around. It wasn't him, whoever it was. She wouldn't have been able to hear him.

"Catwoman?"

When she didn't answer, Superman walked up and silently stood beside her, looking through the same window.

Finally he spoke, "The Earth looks so small from here."

She nodded, he continued, "And calm... You'd think there were no problems at all."

She furrowed her brow in concentration. "Why are you here?"

"I saw a friend in need."

She looked at him incredulously. "You really think the whole world will be alright if you pull enough kittens out of the trees, don't you."

He was quiet for a moment before answering sadly, "No."

"I know the little things don't stop wars, or cure disease, but they make a difference, even if it's just to one person." He smiled, "And one person can make a difference."

She sighed and hopped backwards to sit on the railing, Superman following suit. It was a while before either of them spoke again.

"He wasn't trying to lie to you... He wasn't trying to manipulate you either."

Her head snapped up, "How would you know what he was trying to do!"

He flinched as if her words pained him. "I guess, because I know Bruce... and I'm guilty of doing the same thing."

Her eyes widened, "You knew?"

He raised his hands up defensively, "He didn't tell me himself. I kind of cheated. X-ray vision."

She seemed to relax at his explanation, so he lowered his hands and continued.

"I can understand why he didn't tell you before."

She shot him a sarcastic 'oh really?' glance and he laughed lightly.

"Hey, I have a secret identity, too. No, I'm serious! But honestly, it's terrifying." And he suddenly did look terrified, as if just thinking about it scared him. She took a minute to make it fit, and then she realized who he must be talking about.

"You mean that Lane lady. The reporter you're always saving."

He smiled weakly, "Yeah..."

"You love her, don't you?" She was curious.

"More than anything."

"Then why don't you tell her? If you love her so much then why do you lie to her?" She almost sounded angry.

"I told you. It terrifies me, " He sighed, and went on to explain, "Years ago, sixteen maybe, Bruce and Lois dated. " He paused for her reaction, and when he saw she was listening intently and not furious, he continued. "They were getting serious. Lois was even going to move to Gotham. I'm not entirely sure about how it happened, because I showed up a few minutes later, but from what I heard, and from what Bruce told me; He was being attacked by a giant mechanical spider and it tried to shove his head into a printing press. His cape got caught, so he pulled his cowl off before it could crush him, but Lois managed to see him..." He looked back to her.

"She never told anyone, to this day, even, but the second she found out she broke things off with him... She had been ready to leave Metropolis for Bruce, but because of Batman that didn't seem to matter."

He smiled sadly. "It's the not knowing that keeps you from telling someone, not wanting to keep secrets. The 'what-if's'. Lois loves Superman, but what if she doesn't love me? Every time I have to lie to her about forgetting my keys so I can go stop a runaway train, or put out a fire, I hate that. I hate myself for lying to her, but I'm terrified of telling her the truth. What if she stops loving me?"

Selina frowned, "Don't you think that her choice to make?"

He looked at her in surprise,"What?"

Selina knitted her brows together in concentration. "If she decides she's not going to accept you, than you can't make her change that. It's going to be her choice at the end of the day, and no matter how long you put it off, it's still going to be her choice. She deserves to know"

He seemed to think about that, "I guess so..."

"I know so," she smirked wryly, gesturing to herself in her own ironic situation. She no longer felt so angry, she supposed. Oh, Bruce was going to get it when she showed up at the Manor tomorrow, that was for sure. But she wouldn't stay mad at him for too long. Just enough to her point across, and make sure he never kept something like that from her again.

He smiled and stood up, "It's late. I should be getting back to Metropolis. It was nice talking to you, Catwoman."

He started walking away but stopped, turning back to her, "And Selina? He does love you... More than you know." and with that he felw off.

Selina smiled, because she knew it was the truth.

"I love him, too."

THE END!!! Wow! I actually finished it! I hope I didn't rush it. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and helped me when I asked for it. It was much appreciated, so this story is dedicated to all of you. You know who you are... because I don't. -- JK! LOL. But really, thanks.

Bye!