Disclaimer: I do not own the Green Hornet or any of its characters; I own Emma Briggs, Thomas Briggs, Alejandro, Tad, Kyle, Frank, Brittany, and Kevin. I do not own "Isabella" by Celtic woman. Also, there are characters from Gotham city and Metropolis mentioned in this chapter. :-) It's my dedication to some of my favorite cartoon heroes when I was growing up.

A/N: Hi everyone, sorry this chapter took so long for me to get posted. It's been a really busy past few months; I only have one more month until I graduate with my Bachelor's Degree. :-)

"I Isabella dancing

on the spring meadows

Turning and turning, falling and falling

Into the world of the elves dreaming
They take my hand and they take me far away

They take my hand and they take me far away"
~"Isabella" by Mediaeval Baebes~

If you had asked me a month ago if my life was exciting, I would have to tell you 'No way in Hell.' Then, I find out my wing of the museum (which happened to be showcasing the 'villain' I'm fascinated with) was being shut down; it was the worst afternoon of my life. Then, I was almost mowed down by a high time-traveling thief; woke up in the Daily Sentinel; got a job and a place to stay in under an hour; met my great-uncle up close and worked with him; was captured by the Green Hornet twice; helped to nurse his enforcer back to health; learned who they both were; forgot who they were; found myself kidnapped by the leader of the time-traveling thieves (Tad); escaped from Tad and his goon squad; stayed at the convent where I used to live for a few years while on the run from Tad the first time around; and now I was standing in a clothing store in a sparking purple cocktail dress. The dress had spaghetti strings and the fabric was cut in a 'v' down the front, it showed off just a little bit of cleavage; any more than that and I would have felt like I should have been standing on some street corner. The purple dress clung to my curves and the skirt ended just above my knees. Kato, dressed in his black pants and the white button down shirt he always wore under his uniform, brought over a felt sparkling black jacket. I beamed, thankful for the jacket; my nose was already starting to prickle again and my eyes were beginning to water.

"Thanks," I blushed as he helped me into the jacket; I had to admit, it felt more comfortable (and warmer) having it.

Kato stepped back and his eyes traveled up and down me, his eyes never lingered in one certain place other than my face. For, what had to be the billionth time these past few days, I wondered why most men weren't made like him. Of course, then again, I could compare Kato to every man in the world and he'd always outshine them. Okay, Emma, enough pining! I jumped and pinched my nose; Kato blinked and gave me an odd look.

"Are you alright?"

I nodded, "I'm tr-tr-tr….YAAAAH-CHOO!"

Kato winced, "I wish we did not have to dress you like this. But Britt has a reason for you to dress like this."

"Are you both sure dat all I can do is get traded? I can't do somedhing bore to help?" My gaze was so fixated on Kato that I jumped when Britt walked up to me with a purple clutch bag in hand. It was large enough to hold a wallet, the transmitter, and the bug.

"You can always sneeze on him," Britt chuckled and raised an eyebrow.

"Dat's an option," I agreed with a sniffle. Kato's gaze kept traveling up and down my form, "I know I look horrible –"

"You look beautiful," he corrected, "There's only one thing missing." He turned and walked off towards the jewelry counter near the back of the store.

"After Tad's behind bar, you and Kato need to talk and admit to one another how you feel."

I glanced at Britt and blushed, "How we feel? We're good friends, that's all."

Britt shook his head with a chuckle.

My eyes widened, did he know something I didn't? "What? Why are you laughing?" I knew I could be compared to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer at the moment, but Britt didn't seem to be laughing at my appearance.

"Emma, all I can say is he feels the same way," Britt offered a smile, "After we get your dress we can get you some make up."

"A pair of jeans and t-shirt would have worked too…" I glanced down at the dress; it's beautiful, but too flashy. It reminded me of the dress Britt had leant me at his party, it was just shorter.

Britt shook his head, "No, because I know one thing will never change over time: Men never forget a beautiful woman. If something should happen and we lose contact, even for the slightest second, you'll be noticeable and Kato and I can track you down."

"Here is what you are missing," Kato walked over to us and held out a small jewelry box and my jaw dropped the moment I saw the earrings. A pair of diamond stud earrings with a large black pearl hanging off each earring stared me in the face, along with the 800 dollar price tag.

"No, no, no, no," I shook my head, "Too expensive!" The dress, which I had found on the clearance rack (it was originally 300 dollars, but had gone down to a little under $65) and the jacket….Well, I had no idea about the price of that. Hopefully it wasn't too much.

"You don't have a say in this," Britt replied and gazed at the earrings as he held them up to my dress, "Perfect." He smiled, "You're going to be the most beautiful woman to ever grace the Gypsy Moth Nightclub."

I glanced over Britt's shoulder at Kato; his gaze was on me. I recalled what Britt told me about Kato feeling the way I felt for him. Britt had no reason to lie to me, so it had to be true. On the outside, I looked like a nervous, sick wreck. But on the inside, my heart was pounding and singing. I smiled at Kato and he returned it before taking a handful of cash from Britt and going to the checkout counter.

I glanced at Britt, "It's not safe to carry that much money around."

"It may not be safe for me, but it's safe for a mutual friend of ours."

Chief of police, Thomas Briggs, stood with Frank Axford and struggled to keep his temper with the inquisitive reporter. In less than an hour he would be giving his press release, stating that this Green Hornet wannabe was dangerous, and people were to stay away from him. He would also show his daughter's picture on camera; he would take on risk (one the department's psychologist kept advising against), he would address his daughter's kidnapper. But all that would have to wait; he couldn't do anything with Frank Axford hanging around.

"What I think," he said as calmly as possible, "Is that whoever this fellow is, he's dangerous and it's a police matter. Civilians, and reporters, are not to take justice in their own hands by playing hero. I familiar with your father's work, Frank, and I don't want you chasing after this guy the way your father did. It could get you killed."

"About the reports, do the Hornet and his bodyguard look the exact same as the photograph taken of them in the 60's? What about their weapons, especially the Black Beauty? People have been reporting sightings of it all over town."

"Chief Briggs, sir?"

Thomas sighed and pushed a hand through his hair; he glanced at Frank and turned towards the newcomer. She was slightly shorter than him, with strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes, and dressed in a crisp white blouse, a black vest and pants, and a pair of black loafers.

"Detective Gordon, from Gotham P.D., I assume?"

Detective Gordon nodded, "Yes, just call me Barbara. I came as soon as possible. Detective Grayson is outside talking a witness who claims to have seen the…Green Hornet?"

"Yes," Thomas sighed and glanced at Frank, who hadn't budged from his spot beside a water cooler, "Unfortunately that's another fiasco we have on our hands. I appreciate your mother sending you and the Chief of Detectives here on such short notice."

Barbara nodded, "She would do the same for you, Chief Briggs."

"Thomas," he replied and turned toward Frank, "Axford, go out and wait in the lobby with the rest of the press. I'll be addressing this situation about the Hornet then I expect you and the Sentinel to run the article with my daughter's picture in it."

"Of course," Frank nodded, "Anything to help find Emma. She's a sweet woman."

"Thank you," Thomas nodded and motioned for the reporter to leave. He was trying his best to hide the emotions swirling around in him at the moment – anger, fear, sadness, and more anger towards whoever took his daughter. He turned back to Barbara; she looked just like her father, Gotham's police commissioner.

"Gotham P.D. is fully behind the search for your daughter, and we've contacted Metropolis. The police have put out notices and the Daily Planet is putting out a 'Have You Seen Me?' ad. We have a few angles we want to try in the search. Are you familiar with Dr. Jonathan Crane, alias the Scarecrow? He escaped Arkham last week and we believe he may be hiding out in your city."

"Of course he would," Thomas sighed. The Green Hornet and the Scarecrow? If he was lucky, maybe the two would just finish each other off.

"The way Emma went missing….It sounds like Crane's M.O., scare the hell out of someone before and after he takes them."

"If it is him, then you and Detective Grayson work whatever angle you have to. But," he turned, "If Crane does have my daughter, he's not to return to Gotham without me…interrogating him first." Thomas squared his jaw. Barbara nodded.

"Bruce Wayne has also reached across his network of friends and sent your daughter's picture out. He's offering to put a team of volunteers to together to help with the search."

"Thank you," Thomas nodded, touched that people he didn't know cared so much. Although he didn't know Bruce Wayne, Emma did. He visited the Green Hornet Hallway once a year and always took Emma out to lunch afterwards.

"So what's this about the Green Hornet?"

Thomas groaned, "I believe it's an imposter who's trying to live in the original Hornet's shadow. No doubt, he's pissed that our city's moving on from the real Hornet's antics and remaking ourselves into a…more reputable place."

"Hmm."

"What?" Thomas glanced at her.

Barbara shrugged, "Just….If it were me, I'd keep the Green Hornet alive in this city. It's never good to throw away the legends. The legends are what help to keep a city running; people pay hand over fist to see the Batman museum."

"Unfortunately, the Green Hornet was no hero." Thomas replied and jumped when Barbara was suddenly grabbed by the arm and tossed into an office. Furious at the attack, Thomas reached for his pistol but froze when the masked man stood in front of him. His mouth went dry, he wasn't sure whether to pray, yell out for his officers, or just stare. In front of him, with the Hornet Sting staring him in the eyes, stood the Green Hornet.

The Green Hornet had entered the police district as Britt Reid; it had been easy to blend in with the press and other curious individuals who referred to themselves as 'bloggers.' He had no idea what a blogger, or a blog at that matter, was. Once he was back in the Black Beauty he'd ask Emma, who was waiting with Kato. Britt had ducked into an office with his 'laptop suitcase' and got into the proper attire. It had taken patience but he finally had Thomas Briggs cornered.

"Don't reach for that, Chief. You wouldn't want me to pull the trigger now, would you?"

Thomas sneered, "Everyone in this district will hear it. Whether that is the real sting or a fancy gun made to look like it."

Britt had to smirk; Emma had said her father did not take kindly to people pointing real or fake guns at him. She was the only kid growing up who had never had never possessed a water gun.

"I don't want to shoot you, Chief. On the other hand, I want to work with you."

Briggs's eyes narrowed, "Work with me? I wouldn't work with you…" He froze when the Hornet reached into his pocket and took out Emma's cell phone. Britt followed Emma's instructions and pulled up her picture and held the phone's screen out for Thomas to see.

"…Emma," Briggs whispered after a long moment; his face showed relief, worry, and Britt flinched a little when the chief's eyes began to glaze. As quickly as the unshed tears appeared, they disappeared within a blink of an eye. Briggs's eyes narrowed and focused on the Hornet. "Where is she?"

"Safe. For now, I want to keep it that way, Chief Briggs. Your daughter…is different. She's very kind and trusting, almost to a fault." Britt kept his eye on the chief's hands, he knew at any moment Briggs could grab his gun and shoot him or try to hit him. That was why the Sting was only set to a mild stun; it wouldn't hurt Briggs. He would have used the gas gun, but he didn't want the man out cold and not recalling their conversation when he woke up.

Britt continued, "She was almost hit by a white delivery van a few days ago. Luckily, I happened to be passing by; I rescued her, nursed her back to health. Other than a little cold she's safe and healthy." And happier than she's been in a long time.

"You have my daughter, bring her here-"

Britt's eyes narrowed, "No. Now, Briggs, you are in no position to be making demands. I have a gun trained on you, I have your daughter, and you may have officers around here but none know where you are and what situation you're in." Just to be sure of that, he'd use the gas gun before left and spray it under the door to knock that Gotham City detective out.

Briggs gritted his teeth, obviously caught between hating working with criminals and wanting to live to rescue his daughter, his shoulders slumped. "What do you want?"

"I want us to work together for one time only. I want the same thing you want: A certain gang member off the street and Emma safe and sound. You remember Tad Dunning, don't you?"

Briggs tensed, "How the hell could I forget that bastard? He tried to kill my daughter! No matter what damned name he uses, he's the damned scum bag that should be behind bars right now, along with you."

"And he tried again, and I stopped him. That delivery van was being driven by one of his thugs. Now, there are certain criminal activities I participate in, but killing an innocent woman is not one of them. I have a plan to catch Dunning and get him behind bars for good. In order for it to work, I'll need you and your undercover officers to be at the Gypsy Moth nightclub, both inside and outside of it, at approximately 6 P.M. You can't be late; your daughter's life hangs in the balance."

"What are you going to do?"

"Give Dunning what he wants, Emma. After I get what I want from him, you and your officers move in and take him."

Briggs narrowed his eyes, "Don't tell me how to do my job. We'll do it my way, the legal way."

"Do you want to live to see your daughter again?" Britt asked in a low voice, and put a slight pressure on the sting's trigger. It was enough to get the weapon humming as it prepared to fire.

"We'll do it your way," Briggs growled. "But my daughter had better be back in my arms after Dunning is in custody."

"She will be." But she won't be for long after you two catch up. Emma had made her decision on the way to the precinct: She wanted to go back with him and Kato. She had thought long and hard, and she had stated that although she would miss her parents, she didn't feel that she belonged in this time period.

"Chief Briggs, about that press conference, my question is –"

Mike Axford? Britt's eyes narrowed and his eyebrows scrunched in surprise and confusion. The reporter stopped in the mouth of the hallway, his mouth had dropped open.

"Green Hornet!" He shouted.

"Axford," Britt acknowledged calmly, he studied the man, and he looked a lot like Mike. But Mike would have to be well into his late 80's or early 90's by now. This man was around Mike's age in 1967. His son.

"Are you the real Hornet? Either way, you're going to put behind bars." He raced forward, with seemingly no plan on how to catch the Green Hornet other than to knock him to the floor. Britt jumped out of the way and grabbed the reporter; he hadn't wanted to leave like this.

"Follow me and I'll kill him," Britt warned and grabbed the back of Axford's sports jacket and dragged him out towards the rear exit.

"Get your stinkin' hands off me!" Axford twisted and struggled and attempted to throw a punch. Britt easily dodged each attack until they reached the exit when Axford did something unexpected. He stopped struggling long enough for Britt to glance towards him, a mistake because the reporter reached forward and snatched the mask off his face.

Axford's mouth fell open and his eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. "B…Britt…..Reid? Th…This is impossible! You're…..In your 70's…you're sick….dying maybe….What the Hell? You're young….Wait a second, Kevin?"

Britt reached down, grabbed his mask from the floor, and grabbed his gas gun. "Good night, Axford." He pulled the trigger and hoped the reporter would remember nothing of the encounter. He shrugged off his coat and folded it over his arms, and took the fedora off. Taking a deep breath to collect himself he turned and opened the door; the Black Beauty was waiting for him just a few feet from the doorstep. He now knew something else about his future family: His son looked just like him.

"I swear to you, Brittany, it was the Green Hornet!"

"Mike, it was a look alike, an imposter! You're an investigative reporter like your father. He would never fall for such a shenanigan!" Brittany was standing her ground on the outside that the Green Hornet was just a want to be imposter, mimicking the real one and attempting to build off of his fame. But on the inside thousands of questions raced through her mind: How did the Hornet appear health-wise? How did he act? Did he say anything? Was everything going according to the story her father told her and Kevin years ago when they were children? Instead, she stood straight and tall with her arms crossed and her eyes narrowed on her favorite, yet a pain in her ass, reporter.

"I'm telling you, Brittany! It was the Green Hornet! The real Hornet, I swear it on my father's grave!" Frank was standing in front of her desk, his eyes wide and wild; he seemed caught somewhere between fear and fascination, and maybe a little anger that the Hornet had escaped him still masked.

"Frank!" Brittany raised her voice to shock the reporter back to his senses.

"What?" He asked in confusion.

Brittany sighed, "Damn, Frank. You're too much like your father. Look, you've gotten the information you wanted about the Green Hornet-"

"I still don't know who he is!"

"And neither did your father," Brittany replied, "And like your father, you've encountered the Hornet, or his imposter, now you can write your article."

"But Brittany! You gave me two days, and as far as I can see I still have one day and 7 hours left."

Brittany glanced at the clock; it was already five o'clock in the evening. She paused, she needed to make sure her father, uncle, and aunt returned to the 1960's safely so everything could return the normal. On the other hand, she either needed to tranquilize her reporter, pay someone to buy her a damned good pair of ear plugs, or just let Frank search the city. Sighing, she glanced at him, "Fine. You have your seven hours. But that article needs to be on my desk by 10 in the morning tomorrow. Understand?"

Frank nodded, "I won't disappoint you, Brittany."

Brittany raised her eyebrow, "Just do me a favor."

Frank looked up.

"After tomorrow, I don't want to hear the words 'Green Hornet' out of your mouth again for at least one month."