I open my door while the car goes into the air. I jump out. The car explodes as I fly for the water. I hit it harder and sink like a rock. I struggle for the surface and go under the dock in the freezing water. I gasp for breath as I reach the surface.

I stop though and tread water quietly. Joker was yelling at his goons. Just over me.

"Get in there and search! She can't be dead!"

I quickly go under and swim as fast and silently as I can away. I hear the splashes of them jumping in and the Joker raging on the pier. I keep going.

I come out farther away and away from the harbor. I was a mile down stream. I shiver as I crawl out of the water. I lay on the dirty shore. Catching my breath. My dress clung to me and had scorch marks on it. Blackened in a few places. My car was gone.

He'll find me if I stay here long. I quickly stagger to my feet and limp down the road. The streets were empty. The red alert was out and everyone was inside. I was freezing. Where could I go?

Lights blind me. I run as fast as I can. Heels gone in the river and bare foot. The lights follow me as the driver speeds up at the sight of me. The car blocks me. I scream as arms circle my waist to catch me.

"LET GO!" I scream as I hit them.

They grunt as my fist hits their chin hard.

"Calm down, Maeve!"

I sag in their arms as I faint.

I sat watching the TV.

"Miss Maeve Duane Lorcan is presumed dead. The remains of her SUV were found in the harbor today," the anchor man says sadly. "The residents report seeing an explosion a few nights before. The police had been searching for the wreckage and found it without a body. It is believed that it was…" he can't say it. "The funeral for our dear Maeve Lorcan is today. Upon request by the whole of the GCPD she shall have a parade."

I sigh as I shut it off. I was on the couch of Trenton Onpret's home. Gordon had thought this would be the last place the Joker would look for me. Trenton comes into the room while fixing his cuffs. He was in all black. He sends me a wary smile.

"Why can't they say I'm alive?" I snap.

"It's for the best."

"No. This is cowardice. I am not going to fake my death."

I stand. I was in a fancy black dress and heels. Trenton had me wearing his sister's clothes. She was 15. I felt stupid.

"I'm not staying."

"You are," Trenton counters.

"Are you going to stop me?" I ask as my cold eyes meet his.

I push past him quickly. He walks behind me. I got in his car calmly and started the ignition. He jumped in the passenger seat. I sped down the road. I wove through cars dangerously. The tires screeched as I spun the car into the parking spot. Eyes turned to the car.

Trenton gets out of the car fast. I get out calmly and throw him the keys as chaos fills the area. I push my way past the cameras and people calling for me.

"GORDON!" I yell as I throw the doors open. All heads in the church turn to look at me. The news crews recording the funeral turn to me. "I am not going to play dead!" I call angrily as I march down the open aisle towards the shocked man. "I will not lie to Gotham. This is just plan cowardice!"

"Maeve!" he yells in aggravation.

A camera got in my face. I turn sharply and punch the camera man.

"Get out of my face," I growl before returning my attention to Gordon.

He was standing stubbornly at the head of the aisle. Timothy stood quickly.

"Mother!" he yells pushing Gordon out of the way as he ran for me.

I squeak as he runs at me and throws me in the air. He spins me around in the air at arm's length.

"Timothy!" I call as he spins me around quickly. "Put me down!"

I'm pulled from him by another pair of strong arms. I'm crushed to them. My arms flutter uselessly as I struggle.

"I thought you were dead," Dante says in my ear.

"I'm fine, Dante," I laugh as he lifts me to get a look at me. "Bruce!" I cry as he pulls me away from Dante.

My feet are set on the ground. I fix the skirt of the dress.

"Is that my dress?" a girl asks.

Trenton blushes as I try to get the men away from me.

"Ah! Leave me be!" I bellow while pushing the men back.

A phone goes off close to me. Silence fills the room. It was Tim's. Tim pales as he silences it.

"Sorry."

"Miss Lorcan," a brave reporter says. The one I had watched on the TV.

I turn to look at him.

"I'm Brent Huges," he says kindly. "Can you tell us how you got away?"

I smile faintly. "I jumped out of the SUV before the RPG hit and swam away."

A few hours later I was out of the church and at my house with Tim, Bruce, Dante, and Alfred.

I was going over my work. The men were all bugging me. Tim was silent and calm as he sat next to me on the couch. I reach over and turn the radio up. Dante sighs before sitting. Bruce rolls his eyes. Alfred chuckled as he took my empty cup of coffee.

"I'm behind in work. I'm not going to let it pile up," I say while working.

"Always the studious one," Alfred laughs.

I send him a smile. Tim was sketching again.

"I'm going to head out," Dante says with a yawn.

"Night," Tim and I say in unison without looking up.

I close my work a little while later. Bruce was looking at me. An odd look in his eye. I frown at him.

"Quit staring, Bruce Wayne."

"Who is it you like? Dante or Trenton?"

I glare then. Catching the tone of his voice.

"Why does it matter?" I ask.

"Mother," Tim says in warning.

"It does," Bruce demands.

"My life is my own, Bruce. Not getting enough of your own life?" I hiss.

"Who do you like?" he growls.

I stand suddenly causing my briefcase to fall to the ground and the contents to scatter.

"Why are you being like this?" I demand. "You don't like me. You like those women like Vicki Vale and models. Can you not just leave me be?" I was frustrated and felt the tears in my eyes. "I'm tired of men throwing themselves at me. I'm tired of it all!"

"I-" Bruce starts in a soft tone. Upset with upsetting me.

"No!"

I turn and go in my room, slamming the door.