Disclaimer: I do not own Batman.

They'd been in the car for about an hour. They were a little more than halfway back to Gotham. The car ride had been completely silent. Ivy had gone back to sleep and was quietly snoring in the front seat of the car.

"So what have you been up to, kid?" Joker asked.

"Well, on the night I left, Batman saved me." Vera said.

Joker had a dark look on his face. It was a well known fact that Batman and Joker weren't exactly buddies.

"Well anyway, I got adopted by Bruce Wayne. I have two brothers now, Dick Grayson and Tim Drake. They're all so awesome." she smiled, remembering them.

It was hard to say she only had two brothers. Vera used to have a third brother, Jason Todd, but he was killed. By the man who was driving the car she was currently in, no less. But she had to forgive him. But was a problem between Joker and Robin, not Joker and Jason Todd. She missed Jason with all her heart, but she knew that he was better off now, he didn't have to be so angry.

It would be hard to leave them, Vera knew that. But the fact that she'd never even gotten the chance to say goodbye hurt her deeply. Of course, she couldn't have said goodbye anyways, she would have had to tell them about her dad. They didn't know who her dad was. She'd never told them. It was too personal. But anyways, they would have never let her go. They could have claimed they could protect her.

But it was better this way.

This way, her adoptive family would remain oblivious to her past. They would have to deal with the fact that she went missing, but Vera could send them some kind of sign. A sign that said she was okay and that she loved them. She only hoped that they would understand.

"Sounds like a nice life you've built there, kid." Joker said, quietly.

He was jealous o all of them. He was jealous that they took her away from them. Of course, she ran away on her own but they could have found her, gotten her back. But deep inside the Joker's blackened heart, that it wouldn't have worked. She needed more than anything to get away.

And now her father was just sucking her right back in.

"Thank you." Vera said, suddenly.

"For what?"

"For saving me from my father. I doubt he would have let me live this time. I almost didn't last time."

"What are you talking about?" Joker said sharply.

"When I ran away,I collapsed on the street. If Batman didn't save me, I would have died right there on the street." Vera said, remembering the day as if it had just happened.

Joker was silent.

"He's not all bad, you know."

"Who? Batman or your father?"

"Batman. He has good intentions for the people of Gotham. But they just may not be the intentions you would like to have for Gotham. But I guess my father, too. I never really knew his story, so I'm trying hard not to judge. But it doesn't feel right, what he's doing."

"That's because it's not!" Joker exclaimed. "And what do you mean his story?"

"Don't judge my path if you haven't walked my journey."

They both sat in silence and pondered what Vera just said. Neither could believe that they were contemplating the fact that Dr. Jonathan Crane might actually have some could in him.

It was crazy, wasn't it?

But what if it wasn't?

What if inside of Jonathan Crane, there was some tiny amount of good? What if he actually had a heart? What if somewhere inside him, the best father in the world lived?

Vera shook her head. No, all of that was impossible.

"Joker?"

"Yeah?"

"Why'd you get put into Arkham?"

"Your idiot father got us found out using his toxin. Don't ask, but it wasn't pretty."

"Oh."

They drove for a while, a long while in fact. Vera wanted to sleep but she knew that this was not the place for nightmares. And she could never fall asleep during a car ride anyway.

At last, they pulled up to a run down warehouse in the middle of nowhere in Gotham. So this is where they've been staying. No wonder Batman hasn't found them yet.

"Honey, we're home!" Joker called out towards the warehouse.

Harley sprinted out towards the car. Two Face walked out nonchalantly. Poison Ivy followed after them.

"Where's Selina?" Joker asked.

"She had to go do something." Harley answered.

"Vera?" Two Face asked in utter astonishment.

Everyone stopped and turned to look at Vera. No one spoke, no moved, no one even breathed. The utter silence pierced Vera's ears and screamed louder than words ever could. It was painful. The pressure felt like it would crush her any second.

Vera didn't know what to say, what to do. These people were her friends. But she hadn't seen them since she was five. How did she know she could still trust them.

Of course she could trust them. Look at all they had done for her when she was younger and completely helpless. She hated herself for even doubting that for a second.

Vera got out of the car and took a deep breath. She prepared herself for her new life thankfully with her friends and not her father for the first time. But unfortunately a life without Bruce, Dick, and Tim.

Without a word, she walked straight over to Two Face and gave him the biggest hug she had ever given anyone.

"I missed you guys so much." she said, and the tears began pouring down her cheeks, staining Two face's ratty old suit.

Harley joined in the hug. Then Poison Ivy. Then Joker, and finally Ivy.

It was the best moment she'd had inn a long time. Definitely the best moment she'd had in years. She'd wanted this for so long. To have a nice moment with her friends, with her father out of the picture.

That moment had finally come. And temporary victory never tasted so sweet.

Because this victory wouldn't last. Not by a long shot.

AT THE HOSPITAL THE NEXT MORNING

Jonathan Crane strode into Vera's hospital room to find it empty. Both girls were gone. Not a trace of them was there. No one could have ever guessed that there were two teenage girls occupying this room a mere few hours ago. They were simply gone.

Rage flared up in his chest. The toxin was ready and he was just about to give it to her. Today was the day. It was the day he had been waiting for ever since he held his daughter in his arms. It was finally the day and she had to ruin it like she ruined everything else.

Without further ado, he briskly out of Vera's room and straight toward Heather's. Inside, there was Heather and another girl. He recognized the girl as Heather's cousin, Violet.

Jonathan knocked three times on the door and walked into the room.

"Dr. Crane!" Heather exclaimed and got a dreamy look on her face.

"Hello Dr. Crane. Nice to see you again." Violet smiled.

"Hello, girls. How are you both today?"

"Good," Violet replied calmly.

"Better now that you're here." Heather replied.

"Violet, you don't mind if I have a word alone with Heather, do you? It'll only take a moment, I assure you."

Violet nodded politely and walked out of the room. She closed the door behind her silently.

Jonathan smiled, warmly. Heather might know where Vera had gone. She might have come in Heather's room and offered to take Heather with her. She would want to save Heather from being tortured by Jonathan. Of course, she would. She would.

And of course, Heather would refuse, she always was too loyal to him. He found her attraction to him odd, but she did come in handy. Especially during times like these. And Heather better know where his daughter was, otherwise, things would turn out a lot worse for Vera than he originally planned.

He pictured the look of absolute terror on her face. Just the picture made him smile.

But he turned to Heather, expectant that she could give him something that he could work with. She was extremely loyal, which could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on who she was loyal to. She would be most loyal to him, obviously, but her loyalty to Vera was still in question. That could make things a little difficult for all of them. And that was the last thing that anyone wanted. Especially Vera.

"Heather, you became friends with Vera yesterday, correct?"

Heather nodded, her eyes getting big and dreamy. He could tell she was fantasizing. Probably about him. He wouldn't be surprised.

"And do you know where she went?"

Heather's eyes and smile faltered. He could tell she was torn.

"No, I don't know." she always was a terrible liar.

"Heather, do not make things difficult. You can't lie to me." he said, his voice dropping its volume. "Now where did she go?"

"She told me not to say. She's afraid of you." Heather said.

As she very well should be, Jonathan jeered in his thoughts.

"Where is she?" Jonathan made his voice stern.

"She went with this girl, Ivy. Ivy's dad came and was bringing them back to Gotham."

"Do you know who Ivy's dad was?"

"I only saw a glimpse of him. He had makeup on. It was white all over his face, but I saw a lot of red around his lips." she said quickly. "I don't know if that means anything to you though.''

"It does." he said sharply. "Did she ask you to go with them."

"Yes, she asked. She wanted to save me from you. I didn't want to go though. I told her that I'd be okay if I stayed here. But that she should go if she felt that it was right. I was hoping that she wouldn't go, but she ended up leaving with Ivy and her dad." Heather said, looking down. "That's all I remember."

"Why did you refuse her offer, Heather?"

Heather's voice dropped down to a whisper. "Because I wanted to stay here with you."

He pet the top of her head. "Good girl."

"I'm sorry I couldn't stop them."

"No worries, my dear, I'll find her and then I can take care of her like every good doctor should." he said, as if nothing unusual was happening, like he dealt with these kinds of things every day.

A psychologist deals with a lot of unusual things. But this situation would be a psychologist's dream to analyze.

"Violet, you can come back in." Jonathan called toward the hallway.

Violet came back in, looking bored. "My best friend, Vera is staying at this hospital. Heather, do you want to meet her? I think I'd be able to get her to come here."

"I'm sorry to inform you, but she has apparently checked out. She's one of my patients also and I was going to do a therapy session when I found her room empty. Sorry to disappoint." Jonathan said, solemnly. It took all he had not to smirk.

Another link to Vera. These girls could really be useful. All he had to do now would be to drive Violet insane and manipulate her. She could become one of his patients and he'll have two girls that he could use to get to Vera.

"It's okay, Violet. I've met her and she seems really nice." Heather said. "I didn't know that you were best friends."

"Yeah, we can tell each other just about anything."

"Anything?" Jonathan asked.

"Anything." Violet answered.

"That's a lot of trust to put in one person." Jonathan commented.

"That's what best friends are for." Violet answered matter-of-factly.

Jonathan thought about this for a minute. He'd never thought even once about trusting another person. These things just didn't happen. And now he understands why he's never trusted anyone, and why he's never even considered it.

Jonathan Crane has never had a best friend.

And from miles away, Vera realizes this, too. And suddenly, she understands why her father does some of the things he does, why he is the way he is sometimes. It's not the entire reason, but it's a lot more reason than none.

Jonathan Crane has never even had a friend.

And for the first time ever, someone feels sympathy for him, someone feels compassion for him. And that person is his daughter. The one he's hurt repeatedly so many times. And she can still find it in her heart to feel pity for this terrible man.

Because he's never had a best friend. Never.

)))))))))))))))))))))(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

Bruce Wayne walks into the hospital. Once he gets past the front desk, he walks as fast as he can to the room that his adoptive daughter was staying in. Little does he know, she's left only a few hours before he got there.

Little did he know that he would be left broken, even more so than before.

"Vera..." he whispered as he walked in.

No one is in the room, no one. It's empty, like no one had ever been in the room in the first place. It was just like Jonathan had found it.

Actually, there was one piece of evidence left in that room. One piece of evidence that Jonathan had missed in his fit of rage. There was a piece of paper. And on that paper was a note. A not for the one and only Bruce Wayne.

Bruce ran over to the bed where the note was placed. He grabbed the paper impatiently and his eyes skimmed over the words on the page that he just couldn't seem to comprehend. He read the note over and over, but he couldn't understand what the note was staying. He didn't want to understand.

Dear Bruce,

I'm sorry. I really am. I'm sorry that I left on such short notice, I'm sorry that I left at all. I'm especially sorry that I didn't get a chance to say goodbye in person.

I'm in danger, and I can't even tell you what it is. Just please understand that by doing this, I'm protecting everyone I love and myself. I apologize that I can't explain more, but there's no time to. And it would be a lot safer for everyone if I was the only person who knows the full story. I just want to keep everyone safe.

Please don't worry about me. I'm with some old friends. I can protect myself. I have to. I'm the only one that knows how. Don't get stressed out, I know how stressed you can get sometimes. Just focus on the people of Gotham and protecting them. I'll be fine, I promise. The people of Gotham need you. Please don't let them down looking for me. I'll try to come back someday. But under the circumstances, I don't know if it's possible. And if it is, I don't know when that day will come.

But I'm on a mission. A personal one. If I don't complete it, it'll haunt me forever. I'm sure you know what that feels like.

Bruce, you're the best father I could ever ask for. So much better than my biological father. He's not dead, and that's the most I can tell you. He's not dead. But I can't tell you who he is or what he's planning. I'm sorry, Bruce. I really am.

Please tell Dick and Tim that I love them with all my heart. I couldn't have had better big brothers to help me through everything. I know they'll always be there even if I'm not. And for that, I thank them from the bottom of my heart. But I know I can never thank them enough.

But I can't thank you enough either. I can't express my gratitude to you. You took me in when I was a broken, dying child. Without you, I would literally be dead right now. And I wouldn't have experienced what a real family feels like. I would have been six feet under, at the hand s of my father.

I love you, Bruce. And I love Dick. And I love Tim. I hope you know that. Thank you for all you've done. And thank you for saving my life, more times than you know. Thank you for everything, Bruce. And trust me, it's better this way.

I love you, Dad

Love,

Vera

Bruce read the letter one last time. And he finally comprehended, finally understood what was happening.

He dropped to his knees, clutching the letter. Tears poured down his cheeks as he broke down by himself in the hospital room. He couldn't believe it. He really couldn't.

Not again. Not again, please not again, Bruce pleaded inside of his minds. Not, Vera.. It's just like what happened with Jason.

Bruce was torn apart by the thought of his greatest failure. And now he would have to relive that with his daughter. That was the last thing he needed.

All he wanted to do was get into the car and drive home. He wanted to be greeted by Dick, Tim, and Vera at the door. He wanted to hold Vera in his arms. He wished this whole thing had never happened.

He wanted his baby girl back.

Then, he read over the letter again. Just the end this time.

She called me Dad, he marveled, shocked. I'm her dad...

And on top of all the pain and hurt was pride. She really considers him her dad. It's an honor to him. It's a shame that she's gone and he can't cherish that moment with her.

She's gone, she's gone. I can't believe she's gone. He sobs inside. But she called me dad. She really thinks of me as her dad.

A/N: That may be the longest chapter I've ever written for anything. Anything. Haha

So this chapter was intense. I had fun writing it. I hope you all liked it because it took me a long time and concentration. But this story really is a lot of fun to write. A LOT of fun :)

So, I will no longer be updating every day or every other day. I'll update every few days because it would be easier to write longer and better quality chapters. I'm still trying to figure out a schedule, but I won't say until I know for sure.

Until next time xD

-Harley

Shout Outs:

Guest

PsychoSweetHeart

IShouldBeInAStraightJacket

Thanks for reviewing! :)