I stood by the open grave as the freezing wind blew against me, creeping under my cuffs and collar, sending shivers up and down my spine. There were no tears on my face though, not one ounce of sadness as I watched them lower the coffin that held my father into the dirt.

I wouldn't have believed it was him if I hadn't seen his corpse in the funeral parlour, they had asked if I wanted to see him one last time. And I did, not to cry over him or say goodbye. I wanted to know he was really dead, the heavy smell of bleach had helped the smell of blood, but I could still smell it. There was a large stitched up wound on his neck, another inmate had stabbed him, that's what the police told me. I don't know why he did it, and I don't care either, I was just glad he was dead.
The preacher was reading verses out beside me, I don't know who it was for though. I wasn't religious and I was the only one there, my mother had died a few years before, her liver gave out and she died in hospital.

I had cried at her funeral, I wished she could have been here to see this though. She died still living in fear of him but at least it was over for me. I could try and have a normal life, whatever that was anyway.
"Would you like to say any words?" The preacher asked me but I shook my head.

"You can begin." I said to the gravedigger standing to the side waiting. And I stayed watching the dirt slowly cover the coffin. I stayed until the grave was completely filled the preacher long since left, but I needed to know he was in there and he wasn't getting out. And even after I stayed staring at the plot. The gravedigger had finished but he walked over to me, the one lonely person present. He put his weathered hand on my shoulder.
"Don't worry pet. He's dead." His words surprised me. "And if not." A smile came to his face. "Well he ain't getting out."
"Thank you." I gave him a small smile.

Only when I was alone did I release my clenched fists. Half-moon imprints stung on my palms but I hardly felt them, I was too relieved. I allowed myself a small smile, it wasn't everyone's idea of revenge but I was glad I had outlived him, even though I could feel my conscience even now tugging at my heart strings. But I didn't feel a wave of sadness that he was murdered. I just felt happy. I finally felt free.

I finally forced my feet to move away from the grave, when the wind became too cold. It was finally over. I was beginning to shiver a little as I tried to rub some warmth into my arms. I was looking at some of the names on the headstones as I passed them making my way back to my car. I was looking forward to going back to my hotel room and sleeping. I hadn't been doing so much of that lately. Too many memories keeping me awake and scared to close my eyes. But now I was betting I could rest easy for the first time in a long time.

I began to leave the cemetery with a spring in my step. I didn't come back to Gotham just to see my old man dead and buried, although that was cathartic. I had much more important business, and his name was Jack Napier. I was smiling at the thought of seeing him again. He would remember me, I just knew it. I had been gone a long time but Jack was never far from my thoughts. It would be so good to see him again. Even if he had moved on from me, I just wanted to see him happy, even if he had found that with someone else. I was nearly at the gate when a name caught my eye. I stopped dead in my tracks as I took a few steps back.

Edward Smith, John Tailor, Lucy Carter, Jack Napier. My eyes widened at the name, no, not Jack. Not here. Tears began spilling down my cheeks as I looked at the stone.
There's plenty of Jacks though, and Napier can't be that uncommon but looking at the date I knew, it was my Jack.

'Jack Napier
1980-2000'

"Oh no, Jack." I whispered as I stood next to his headstone. I sunk down to my knees. How could Jack be dead? He was so young, only 20 years old. Dew began to seep into my trousers but I stayed where I was, staring at the stone in disbelief. Tears were running down my face but I couldn't even believe my eyes.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Not for us.

"I was supposed to come back Jack, you would be waiting for me. We would finally have a life together." I don't why I was speaking to the grave, but the words kept tumbling out.
"You weren't supposed to die." My voice cracked on a sob and I took the tissues out of my handbag and wiped my face.
I couldn't believe he was dead. The last time I seen him. He was so alive, screaming running after the car. Banging our fists on the glass. The heartbreak tore through me, the last time I seen him I had believed somewhere deep inside me that I would see him again. We would be reunited again. But we wouldn't, he was dead.

"Why couldn't you stay alive Jack, for me?" I cried clutching the grass. My heart was breaking all over again. "I was finally home."
I looked at the gravestone again and there was nothing else written apart from his name and date. Why was there nothing else? Jack wasn't just a name and a date. He was so much more. And he was loved. By me. I had just arrived too late. I tried to move but my eyes just stayed staring at the ground. Nobody had been here to clean it in years, I would bet the last time it was clean was when it was put here, five years ago. I took the tissues I had and I kept wiping it until it looked like someone cared enough to keep it moderately clean. I could come back tomorrow and clean it properly, this would do for now.

I hadn't heard from him in years but I was in witness protection away from my father. I wasn't allowed to call or write. I had tried, sent letter's ten years ago to his old address but I never got a reply. It was a long shot he would still be living in his childhood home. He probably did end up moving. But he stayed in Gotham, never got out. Now he was just another name in a full cemetery.

I pushed myself up, finally. "I'll come back tomorrow Jack." I said to the stone. I would clean it up, make it look like someone at least cared.
Rain began to spit so with a final goodbye I ran to my car and headed for the hotel. So much for the idea of a peaceful night's sleep.

**Authors note.**
So years later... let me know what you guys think