A/N - Okay, I'm not going to complain, but I find it funny to have so many author alerts, fav. story alerts, and story alerts from people and just have a handful of reviews. I'm really honoured to know that people want to know when another chapter is published, but then why not leave a little something to give me the kick in the pants to get the chapters out sooner? You know, a little motivation and support can go a long way. :) I love hearing comments about what people are thinking...especially when I think the chapter wasn't the greatest...you know? Sometimes, we're our worst critic and to hear a comment from outside of the brain is always welcome.

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Tuesday, September 24th

9:15am

David pulled his school bag higher onto his back before he adjusted his cap as he stepped off the train and onto the platform. The last thing he wanted was to be recognized by someone who knew him or his parents. He felt bad enough for skipping school once again. He had waited until Alfred had dropped him off and disappeared down the road before jogging down the street to the nearest payphone to call in his absence to the school. David had gotten pretty good at mimicking Alfred's English accent. He had lost track of how many times he had missed school. A part of himself felt awful for keeping up with the charade but he knew that he was already in too far.

He kept his eyes on the ground as he quickly walked down the stairs to the street level, while passing a few men dressed in business suits while others were probably wearing the only clothing they owned. David had gone down this route many times now and would purposely avoided the busier streets.

He stopped at the chain link fence and looked at the dozens upon dozens of empty metal shipping crates that filled the large property. Some were stacked nearly twelve feet high. David pulled his backpack off his back and squeezed between the chain locked gate. He memorized the path he would take through the labyrinth of crates. Occasionally, a mouse or small rat would scurry between the aisles to the next series of crates, causing David to stop and gasp at the sudden movement. He was glad that it was daytime. He was sure that the night would only increase his imagination of what could be hiding within the crates. David paused at a junction and turned to the right, purposely avoiding to look at the Wayne Industries logo on one of the crates that he passed. He knew that his parents would probably ground him for the rest of his young life if they knew where he was going to when they thought that he was at school for the past 3 weeks.

Finally, he came up to one of the many deserted warehouses that sat on the property.

David knocked loudly on the door. After a few moments, he heard it unlock from the inside and then open up, as a tall Oriental man looked out. His face softened when he saw David and he backed up, allowing him to enter.

"He's been waiting for you," the man said.

David quickly walked in. The man glanced around the area before closing the door behind them.

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Cave

9:58am

Bruce held out his hand to Olivia after the lift hit the rock bottom floor. The sound of the distant waterfall echoed throughout the cave along with the occasional shriek of a bat. He held onto her hand to ensure that she didn't slip on the damp floor.

"I wanted to show you something," he said, walking over to a metal drawer beside the table where Bruce would work on alterations to his weapons or armour. "That night when I found David; after he was attacked, I chased down the man who was after him." Bruce pulled out the small bag out of the drawer. "And he had this on him. I think he took it off one of the boys."

Olivia held out her hand as Bruce handed it to her. She noticed the light powdery substance.

"Drugs?"

"A special kind that I recognized," he said with a nod. "I smelled a light scent of it on David the night that he came home late smelling like cigarette smoke."

Olivia face turned from confusion to concern.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to worry you. I had to be sure," he said. "It's the same drugs that were used in the attack against Gotham a few years ago."

"I can't believe that David would actually be involved with drugs. Where would he get them?"

Bruce shook his head. "I don't know. He's been lying to me quite a bit lately that it makes me wonder."

"So, if the League of Shadows is back in Gotham, what could they want now?"

"I don't know. But I don't think they ever left," Bruce said. "When Ra's Al Ghul died, they were left without a leader. The members that were in the city probably went back to being citizens until they were called on once again and I think that time has come. What worries me is that Dr. Isley's perfume is made from the same flower."

Olivia sighed as she unconsciously ran her hand over her stomach.

"Could she be their new leader?"

Bruce shook his head as he took the small bag from Olivia.

"Only members of the League of Shadows can assume that role," he said. "But it is quite possible that she's working with them. They worked with Dr. Crane before. They'll work with whomever will help accomplish their mission."

Olivia pulled out the chair in front of the computers and sat down.

"Then, where could she be hiding?"

Bruce shrugged as he reached over Olivia's shoulder to press a button on the computer, bringing up his most recent image of Pamela Isley. She no longer looked like the innocent and mild-mannered doctor whom they had met 3.5 years earlier.

"I've looked everywhere where I'd assume she'd be," he said, resting his hands on Olivia's shoulders. "And I've come up with nothing."

Olivia looked up at Bruce as he stood behind her.

"Maybe we should bring her to you."

"We?"

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Thursday, October 3rd

Gotham Grand Hotel and Restaurant

8:22pm

"We should have done this a long time ago," Bruce said, reaching for his wine glass. "It's been a while since I've taken you out to eat."

"Just say it Bruce," Olivia said with a smile as she took her napkin off her lap and placed it on the table. "You have missed seeing your mug in the newspaper."

He chuckled as he filled his wine glass to the top and leaned forward. His smile faded as he sighed.

"After tonight, I'm certain that I'll quickly get annoyed with seeing it. I'm glad that we ordered the white wine though. Red wine stains are terrible."

Olivia grinned as she sat back in her seat, resting her hands on her stomach. "I really hate doing this though."

Bruce sighed. "So do I, but it'll probably work. She seems to have an interest in me for some reason."

Olivia couldn't help but grin, but quickly wiped it off. "I seriously don''t know why. You're just the most handsome, brilliant, egotistical man I've ever met!"

The smile on Bruce's face faded as she finished her statement.

"Really?"

"Really."

"I can't believe I married you," he exclaimed. "You're a beautiful, thoughtful and arrogant woman."

Bruce smiled smugly at her, watching as she placed a mask of anger on her face.

"How dare you, Bruce Wayne!"

Her outburst silenced most of the other patrons and wait staff around them in the lavish restaurant. Without a second thought, Olivia reached forward for Bruce's wine glass and splashed the cold liquid into his face. Several gasps were heard around them as Olivia stood up and walked towards the exit of the restaurant and into the hotel lobby. Bruce looked around him, seeing the dozens of pairs of eyes quickly look away. He pulled out a few fifty dollar bills and tossed them on the table before standing up and quickly making his way to the door.

There she was, waiting for the next act as she stood by the hotel doors while fishing through her purse.

His appearance in the hotel lobby; his face and dress shirt wet from the wine, caught more than a few people by surprise.

"Olivia, we need to talk about this," he said softly, yet loud enough for everyone to hear.

"There's nothing to talk about," she replied. "You need your space. I get that. I just wished you would've told me that before you knocked me up for the second time!"

The door man opened the door for Olivia as Bruce called for the valet to get his car. Flashes from various photographers reflected off of them as they continued their conversation.

"This was a mistake!" Bruce exclaimed.

Olivia stopped on the spot.

"Are you talking about our baby?"

"No, we are the mistake. I should never have married someone like you."

Before he had a chance to say another thing, Olivia slapped him. Olivia's own action surprised herself and certainly caught Bruce off guard. It wasn't part of the act. He quickly put his hand to his cheek, feeling the heat from the sting. She hide her own shock and didn't say another word. Instead, she quickly turned on her heel and walked towards the curb. She ripped the keys from the valet's hand before Bruce had a chance to get them.

"Sorry Bruce, but you'll have to find your own way home," she said bitterly, as she climbed into the Jaguar. "And don't be surprised if I'm not there."

She slammed the door. Bruce stood back as she turned on the ignition and pulled away from the curb. He sighed and turned back towards the restaurant as various flashes of light erupted around him followed by questions regarding his relationship. It was no use concealing what was going on. Everyone had seen the argument and the reporters were eager to hear more about it. Bruce held up his hand to them as he pulled out his cell phone from his pocket just as it rang. He walked back into the hotel and stood off to the side of the lobby where no one could overhear.

"Bruce, I'm so, so sorry about slapping you," Olivia told him as soon as he opened the phone. He could hear the roar of the Jaguar in the background. Bruce tried to hide his amusement at Olivia's impromptu action.

"It's fine," he said softly, turning his face away from anyone who would see. "It's not as bad as it sounded. I've felt worse."

She chuckled lightly.

"You did great," he added.

"Thank you," she replied. "You were pretty good yourself. Did everyone see it?"

Bruce glanced over his shoulder through the window at the dozens of reporters outside of the hotel.

"Oh yeah. Be sure to catch it tonight on the evening news."

Bruce looked back out of the hotel windows, seeing the familiar Mercedes pull up along the curb.

"Alfred's right on time," Bruce said. "He'll be glad to know that we decided to order white wine. I think we should go for red next time, just for him."

Olivia giggled.

"I might be a little late," she said. "I'm being followed by a few reporters. I'm going to go to the penthouse for the night and then I'll come home tomorrow or Saturday."

"Good idea. I'll see you later then. I love you."

"I love you too, Bruce."

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Wayne Penthouse

11:32pm

Olivia dug into the ice cream as she rested the carton on her pregnant stomach. In the other hand, she held the channel changer, switching the stations while she rested her feet up on the coffee table. Finally, she stopped when she saw the headline across the bottom of the screen: "Bruce and Olivia Wayne - On their way to divorce?" Various photo's of the two of them in a heated argument with Bruce standing in front of Olivia, drenched with wine gave enough clues to the media that things were not going well between the couple. They all speculated about when they'd file for separation, who would get custody of the kids, how much each would receive and whether or not they had signed a prenuptial agreement.

Olivia smiled, satisfied that the media had picked up on the planned dramatic evening for the couple. Taking one final spoonful of the ice cream, she reached for the lid and covered it before turning off the television, instantly blanketing the room in darkness. The light from the nearby buildings and the moonlight was enough to light her way across the vast penthouse to the kitchen. She opened the freezer and shoved the half eaten carton into it. Olivia then turned and walked down the hallway, turning off the lights as she went. When she reached the bedroom, she pushed the many pillows off the bed and climbed in between the soft sheets. After taking a good few minutes to get comfortable, she closed her eyes. No sooner had she begun to drift off did she hear a light tapping against the balcony door. Her eyes quickly opened. The sound startled her at first until she realized where it was coming from. A smile came to her face when she pushed herself out of bed and made her way to the balcony door. Olivia parted the curtain and saw the Dark Knight with a smile on his face on the other side of the glass. She unlocked the door and pushed it open as the cold breeze of early October swept into the room and onto her skin. She felt herself shiver from the cold as Batman walked into the room. She closed the door behind him.

"I'm not used to letting strange men into my room at night," she quipped, locking the door and pulling the curtains closed once again before turning to face him.

He quickly stepped forward, connecting his mouth with hers. Olivia gasped with surprise but quickly recovered and wrapped her arms around his neck. Slowly, he broke the kiss, licking his lips.

"What is that? Chocolate?"

Olivia shrugged coyly, her arms still around his neck.

"Baby was hungry for ice cream," she said, grinning. "I wasn't about to refuse."

Olivia watched a smile form on Batman's mouth before he crashed his lips onto hers once again. He kissed her, hungrily and passionately. There was always something more attractive than he already was when he would kiss her with such passion. It was as though no one else mattered in the world but her. Batman needed her as much as she needed him. She could feel his gloved hands running their way along her body, as he breathed deeply as though he was trying to take everything in at once. The next thing she knew, he had picked her up and was quickly walking over with her towards the bed. Gently, Batman laid Olivia onto the bed, not willing to stop kissing her.

Olivia ran her hands along Batman's chest and then up to his neck before she finally broke the kiss by pushing him away.

"Ugh! Bruce!" she exclaimed with a laugh. Batman looked down at her confused. "Take this damn thing off!"

Batman chuckled slightly, stood back up and smiled, before reaching behind his neck and pulled the cowl over his head.

"Better?"

Olivia sat up, nodding. "Much. It's nice to know what my husband looks like once in a while."

She saw the red slap mark almost burned into his right cheek. He seemed to notice.

"Our little drama session tonight made it on the news," she said, sitting up as Bruce continued to remove the many pieces of armour and placed them on the chair. "Did you have any luck tonight?"

"I ran into a mugging and a petty robbery but nothing beyond that," he replied. "It may be too soon to be on the lookout if it's just made it to the news now. It'll be in the newspapers tomorrow so we'll see what happens then."

Olivia watched as he continued to take off the armour. "Alfred knows that you aren't coming home?"

"No," he replied. "This is just a detour for me tonight. I need to be out of here in a few hours."

He walked back towards her and climbed into the bed next to where Olivia sat. Olivia slowly laid back beside him but suddenly gasped, causing Bruce to sit up.

"What is it?"

She smiled and shook her head, before pressing on her stomach against the hard spot just beneath her ribs.

"Uh, nothing," she replied. "It's just your child trying to settle in for the night under my ribcage."

Bruce reached out and placed his hand just below Olivia's. He smiled broadly as he felt the movement under his hand like the rolling of a wave.

"Did you feel that?"

"Sure did."

Bruce looked back up at Olivia and touched her cheek before running his hand into her hair. He leaned forward and kissed her, bringing her down with him onto the bed.

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Friday, October 4th

1:42am

Pamela stood on the rooftop, binoculars in hand.

Along with the rest of Gotham, she had seen the news. She needed to see it for herself though. She had heard that Mrs. Wayne had made her way to their penthouse apartment, but she now needed verification before she could move on with her plan.

She gazed through the binoculars at the building from where she stood a kilometer away and watched. The lights were out, but she had seen some lights turn on and off about an hour earlier. So now she waited.

When she suddenly saw a balcony door open, she turned her full attention to that spot. She watched with surprised curiosity as Mrs. Wayne and Batman stepped out onto the balcony and then climbed up on the ledge. Pamela reached down into her bag and pulled out her camera, snapping a few pictures. Batman turned and kissed Mrs. Wayne on the hand before jumping off the ledge and gliding off into the darkness of the city.

"That little cheater," she fumed, softly.

She felt bad for Bruce Wayne, knowing that his wife was most likely cheating on him with none other than the Dark Knight.

"How dare she do that to him!"

Pamela looked down at the camera in her hand and smiled.

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Saturday October 5th

8:34am

Wayne Penthouse

Olivia heard the front door open from where she stood in the bedroom and quickly walked out, smelling the fresh aroma of coffee quickly fill the large penthouse. It was her ride back to Wayne Manor. She was eager to come home since the reporters outside the building have all but disappeared. She smiled when she saw Alfred walk into the kitchen.

"Where's David? I thought he was coming with you."

Alfred turned at Olivia's voice and smiled.

"Master Wayne requested that I drop him off at a friends house," he said. "Apparently he has a project due on Monday."

Olivia sighed. She hadn't seen much of David lately but was glad to know that he was taking his studies seriously.

"How is Bruce?"

"Doing well. He's working at the office today until noon," Alfred said, setting the cups of coffee on the table. "He sends his regards and hopes to catch you at home later today. But first, I'm going to get you some breakfast."

Alfred turned to begin pulling dishes and pots from the cupboards as Olivia sat down on the bar stool.

"I brought the newspaper along for you," he said, as Olivia noticed it on the counter. "I haven't even opened it yet."

Olivia smiled as she unfolded it to the first page. She gasped when she turned the page, causing Alfred to quickly turn around. He saw Olivia with her hand to her mouth and her face turn pale. In two steps he stood across from her, reading the headline and seeing the image for himself.

"Oh my word," he said as Olivia quickly pushed out the chair and ran to the bathroom, instantly feeling sick to her stomach.