Hey all, sorry for the wait. You know how it is, school, life, all that jazz. But here is chapter 12! Thank you all for reading my story, it really means a lot.

Meg and Bertrand walk down the sidewalk holding hands. Each looking and feeling radiant, they step inside a large and elegant restaurant. Bertrand leads Meg to the hostess stand.

"Hello and welcome to 'La Chambre Rose,'" the hostess smiles warmly, "do you have a reservation?" Bertrand motions for Meg to wait and leans in close to the hostess, whispering something in her ear. He pulls away and she nods, picking up two menus and leading them into the dining room.

"What did you say to her?" asks Meg.

"I just gave her a little, well, incentive to seat us," he chuckles. Meg opens her mouth to say something only to be kissed quickly by Bertrand. "Please, it's just one night. Let's have a little fun." They sit at a booth in the far corner of the restaurant next to a large aquarium full of tropical fish. "This is lovely," says Bertrand.

"Yes it is," agrees Meg, with only a sliver of doubt in her mind. She looks down at the menu on the table and nearly gasps out loud. "These are kind of expensive aren't they?" she asks, pointing to a fifty dollar steak dinner.

"Don't worry, pet. It's my treat," replies Bertrand, patting her hand. The doubt in Meg's mind begins to grow. Within a few minutes, a waiter arrives with a tag saying Tyler.

"Hello, my name is Ty and I'll be your server tonight. Is there anything I can get for you to drink?"

"I'll have a martini please, and one for the lady," says Bertrand. Ty looks at Meg sceptically.

"Restaurant policy, sorry, but can I see some identification?" Meg's blood runs cold for a moment. What was Bertrand doing? They could get thrown out. She sees Bertrand lean towards Tyler and stares into his eyes. Meg looks away but can still here the softly sung words. When she looks back, Ty is gone and Bertrand is just smiling at her.

"Do you have to do this?" she asks.

"Yes," he answers. Meg opens her mouth to speak but her eye is caught by a new patron entering the restaurant.

"Shit."

"What's wrong?" asks Bertrand, turning around.

"Bruce, fucking Wayne. He's here!" she whispers urgently, crouching down in her chair as Bruce is seated at a table. "He saw me at the asylum earlier and told me if I tried to break out, he would just send me back."

"Really?"

"Well not in those words exactly, but that was the vibe I got. Oh god I have to get out of here!" She begins looking for a nearby exit. The only possibilities are the front door and the kitchen.

"Don't panic. I'll distract them while you sneak around the other side of the restaurant to the front."

"What if he-?"

"He's never seen me before. Now wait till I give you the high sign." With that, Bertrand walks over to the table.

Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson look over their menus thoughtfully.

"Bruce, everything here is pretty expensive. Are you sure you don't just want to go out for burgers or something?"

"I'm sure. You deserve something special after that science exam, Mister 100 percent." Dick smiles as Bruce pats him on the shoulder. Before he can say anything, they are approached by a young man in a suit.

"Hello Mr. Wayne, my name is Bert Warner," Bertrand extends a hand. Bruce stands and shakes it, all the while thinking of how familiar the man seems.

"Pleasure to meet you sir. This here is my ward, Dick Grayson," says Bruce, patting Dick on the shoulder. Dick stands to shake Bertrand's hand. "Is there something I might help you with?"

"I just wanted to buy a drink for such a famous person. It would be an honor. Garcon!" he waves his hand in the air. Seeing the signal, Meg stands and quickly walks towards the exit.

"That's very kind of you Mr. Warner, but I don't drink, and Dick here is a bit too young." Bertrand glances back at his table to make sure Meg has left.

"Ah, too bad. Well sir, it was nice to finally meet you. Goodbye." With that, Bertrand walks towards the exit, leaving Bruce and Dick slightly baffled.

"That was weird," remarks Dick.

"Very," Bruce agrees, "tell me, did that man seem familiar to you?"

"Nope. Why?"

"No reason, he just reminds me of someone I met a while back."

Outside the restaurant, Bertrand searches for Meg only to find her waiting in the alley next to the restaurant. Save for couple of waiters having a cigarette at the far end, they are alone.

"What happened?" asks Meg as Bertrand approaches her.

"I offered to buy him a drink, he declined, I saw that you had left, and then I left as well. Nothing too exciting." Meg sighs with relief.

"Great. Let's go home," she says.

"But we haven't even had dinner," Bertrand protests.

"I'm not really in the mood for anything right now." Bertrand nods and they begin to walk back to the theater.

"So, what would you like to do tomorrow? We could decorate your new room, or go to the park, or-"

"Bertrand," she interrupts, "I just want to spend some time with you. I want to hang out, you know, like friends. I never get to just be with someone. Without worrying about my next meal, or where I have to go, or what I have to do next. Just be."

"Yeah, we can do that," says Bertrand softly, opening the door of the theater. Meg turns and smiles at him.

"Maybe we can watch a movie or something! I haven't seen a movie since I was a kid." Bertrand enters the lobby with her.

"Whatever you want," he says softly. They stand for a moment, staring at each other. Meg looks away, blushing. Then, quickly and without hesitation, kisses Bertrand's lips and pulls away. They stare at each other awkwardly now, neither one knowing what to do.

"Um, well, goodnight," says Meg before hurrying to the stage. Bertrand just stands in the lobby and chuckles to himself. He turns around to lock the door when he is knocked backwards by none-other than Batman. Lightning-fast, the Dark Knight picks Bertrand up by the collar and holds him against the wall.

"Where is she?" he hisses.

"H-how did you find me?"

"Answer me! Where is the girl?"

"Why do you care? You don't give a damn about her!"

"I want to help her you singing idiot!"

"Ah, ah, ah," says Bertrand pulling a remote from his suit pocket. "One more word and I will kill her where she stands. I have rigged her room with explosives underneath the floorboards and could easily blow her to pieces."

"What? She's your protégé!"

"Sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the greater good," Bertrand bluffs. "Now, back away and let's talk like civilized people." Batman, not wanting even the slightest chance of danger, backs away from the Meister. "Oh dear, it seems you've caught me without my mask. Listen, why don't we make it even? Take yours off. Now." Batman takes a step backwards. "Do you want her to die?" asks Bertrand, stepping towards him. "Take it off."

"Bertrand?" asks a voice from the theater doorway. The Meister spins around.

"Meg, no!" Batman leaps on top of him, wrestling away the remote. Confused, Meg backs against the wall. Batman holds Bertrand to the ground as he opens the back of the remote.

"No batteries. I knew you wouldn't kill her."

"What?" Meg cries.

"Get out!" screams Bertrand, struggling to throw Batman off. Thinking fast, Meg grabs a dusty lamp from a nearby table. Closing her eyes, she brings it down swiftly on the back of Batman's head. She hears grunt from the Dark Knight and opens her eyes to see Bertrand pushing him off. "Good job," he says panting.

"What the hell happened?"

"He just barged in and attacked me. He was looking for you."

"What did he say about you killing me?"

"I had to bluff my way out. I told him if he didn't back off, I would blow you up."

"What? You just-?" she sighs to calm herself down. "Okay, what do we do now?"

"Is he dead?" asks Bertrand, eyeing the body. Meg steps over to where Batman lays and places a finger on his neck to check for a pulse.

"No, he's still alive," Meg steps away and stares at Batman, deep in thought. She looks up when she hears the swick of a pocket knife being pulled out. "What are you doing?" she cries.

"We have to kill him. He knows where we are."

"D-don't you think he would have called backup? Everyone probably knows where we are. A-and there has to be a better way to get rid of him. Please, I hate seeing bloodshed." Bertrand nods and puts his knife in his pocket.

"If you think you're right, you get rid of him, and make sure he never finds us again." Meg nods. Bertrand walks to a nearby closet and takes out a small, two-wheeled bicycle looking similar to two eighth-notes. "Use this to take him away, but bring it back. I suppose I'll start packing."

"Packing?"

"Well we obviously can't stay here. If there is even the slightest chance that someone knows your location, we can't stay. So, be back soon and then we'll leave." Meg struggles to get the thought of her new home being taken away into her head and chokes back her tears, instead, focusing on getting Batman on top of the bike. Bertrand tosses her some rope before heading into the theater. Securing the large man's body with the rope, Meg wheels the bike outside. Thankfully, there are not many people out at such a late hour. Thinking of her location, Meg wanders down the street towards the river. She stops by a handrail and viewing platform.

"I'm sorry Batman," she says softly, "I guess I'm just a lost cause." She unties the rope binding him and, using all her strength, manages to lean him onto the railing. "Goodbye." With that, Meg pushes the limp body over the edge, sending the Dark Knight into the waters below. Unable to watch, Meg begins to wheel the bicycle back to the theater, never noticing a faint second splash below.