8th GCPD Precinct

The media clustered around them from the moment Alfred had parked the car along the curb until they had made their way into the building. Although both he and Bruce knew that Clara was perfectly fine, they were eager to see that little girl. Bruce felt his heart swell when he suddenly saw Clara running towards him. He barely had enough time to bend over to sweep her up in his arms. After a few moments, Bruce took the opportunity to actually look at Clara's smiling face before he caught the face of Commissioner Gordon looking at them from behind her. The man extended his hand.

"Thank you so much for everything, Commissioner," Bruce said, shaking Gordon's hand.

The Commissioner smiled knowingly. "You're very welcome, Mr. Wayne. But part of that credit should go to Detective Morgan."

Gordon glanced in Julia's direction where she sat halfway across the room with her back towards them. Bruce followed his line of sight before turning back to him.

"So, I'm assuming you've read her report?"

Gordon shoved his hands into his pockets and nodded. "Yes, I have and she was quite thorough in her descriptions and series of events."

"And, nothing unusual or alarming stood out in it?"

Gordon was very well aware of Bruce Wayne's alter ego and like with Lucius Fox, Bruce tended to keep that side of him out of conversation when they were in public. Bruce could tell by Gordon's reaction, that he was surprised that the billionaire was even inquiring about it.

Bruce realized that if Gordon wasn't concerned, there was a very good chance that any information that Detective Morgan put within the report didn't even link him to Batman. It was more than likely that she hadn't seen his face or heard any of the conversation that transpired between himself and the Joker. But he had to be sure.

Gordon shook his head, looking at the billionaire with concern. "What is this about?"

Bruce didn't answer but merely glanced back at Julia as she sat at her desk and smiled. He wasn't about to speculate aloud with Gordon when it may in fact be that she heard and saw nothing. Still, he had to find out for himself.

"I'm going to go thank Detective Morgan," he said. "After all, she did help bring Clara safely home."

Still perplexed as to what Bruce was implying, Gordon nodded.

After coaxing Clara out of his arms to go sit with Alfred in the waiting area, Bruce walked towards Julia. He could feel his heart beating in his chest and quickly shoved away those feelings of anxiety. After all, as far as Gordon implied, she didn't know anything about him. Chances are, his secret was still that. Bruce Wayne was just a face that the public knew and nothing more. It had been years since he felt that trepidation; last time being when Emily had accidentally discovered his secret. But with her, he instantly saw it in her face. Emily could never be an actress; her emotions played out in clear view and she was so easy to read.

He only hoped that Detective Morgan would be just as easy.

He stopped behind her and spoke.

"Detective Morgan?"

Julia turned in her chair, appearing slightly surprised to see him. She smiled none-the-less and stood up. As she looked into his eyes, she saw him. She remembered Batman's eyes. She had seen those eyes beneath the cowl, but it seemed too extraordinary to even consider that this man was the Batman. Still, she didn't let any of her mental arguments show. Julia was good at that. She had become an expert at shielding her emotions and thoughts after a long four years of doing it.

"I just wanted to thank you for everything that you did to bring my daughter back safely. I'm really grateful that you were there for her."

Bruce extended his hand towards her to shake, in which she took. Her grip was firm and confident. Bruce looked into her eyes, looking for anything that would reveal that she knew more about him than he thought. He didn't see anything but still, he studied her carefully; her expressions, her body language..everything.

"You're welcome, Mr. Wayne. She's a special girl."

Bruce nodded in agreement and then paused for a moment before looking back down at her other hand.

"What happened there?" he asked, gesturing to her tightly wrapped hand.

Julia smiled and shrugged. "Punched a guy with a hard head."

Bruce winced. "That would hurt. Make sure you keep ice on it. We wouldn't want one of the best members of the GCPD to be off the streets for too long."

He smiled at her. He was flirting. Julia was well aware of how the man's lifestyle had reverted back to his bachelor days following the death of his wife just a few months before. She wasn't about to bite at his attempt. She couldn't tell whether his behaviour was a coping mechanism or if he really behaved that way and his wife was the one who had kept him in line. Either way, she wasn't interested. Knowing what she knew, she'd never be.

"I have been," she simply replied, ignoring his brash attempt at flattery.

Bruce winced. "Was it the Joker? I heard that you...you, uh, killed him."

Julia smiled wryly. If he was the Batman, then he would've known the answer to that question. He was there. He saw it all. That was, if he was in fact the Batman. Julia wondered if this was his way of discouraging any assumptions she could have regarding that, or he was simply fishing to see if she would even call him out. Two certainly could play this game, and she wasn't about to show her cards.

"I did, although I'm hoping that's not what I'm going to be forever known for."

"Why do you say that?"

"I became a cop in hopes of doing something good for this city."

"But...ridding the world of that man is good, don't you think?"

"I guess it all depends," she replied slowly with a shrug. "I know what he cost your family, and I'm sorry that you and Clara had to endure that because of him."

"Thank you," Bruce said softly, before glancing down at the ground. Speaking about Emily's death wasn't something that he was comfortable with, especially with someone who was essentially a stranger. The longer he spoke with her, the more he was convinced that she didn't know anything about his alter-ego. He didn't say anymore.

Bruce knew that she had experienced that deep, uncontrollable pain that he felt and he remembered the words he had spoken back at the school when he wasn't aware of who she was and what she had gone through.

"I should apologize to you," Bruce told her. When he saw her expression shift to confusion, he continued. "About what I had said to you at the school about not understanding what Clara and I were going through."

She nodded in understanding.

"Who told you?"

"Gordon," Bruce said simply. "When you and Clara had disappeared he told me that you were the best person to look after Clara at the school, and I discovered why. It was inappropriate thing for me to say and I'm sorry."

"But you didn't know."

"Still, I shouldn't have said it. You were just trying to help Clara, and I appreciate that."

Julia nodded before she glanced over to where Clara sat in her overgrown sweatshirt with Alfred at her side. The girl had fallen back asleep, resting her head on Alfred's shoulder. Julia took a deep breath to alleviate the ache in her own heart and turned back to Bruce.

"You're lucky to have her," she told him, placing a smile onto her face.

Bruce nodded in agreement, knowing whom Julia was meaning. "I certainly am."

After a beat, he glanced back at her desk behind her. "Well, I'll let you get back to your paperwork. I have a little girl who needs to get some sleep. She must have been up all night."

Julia nodded. "After the night you've had, you should get some rest yourself."

Bruce paused, quickly mentally repeating her words in his mind and wondering what she was implying. With the comment, he wondered if she was somehow telling him that she did in fact, know that he and Batman were one and the same. It wasn't until she spoke again that the concern was put to rest.

"You look exhausted, Mr. Wayne," she continued. "I'm sure that you didn't sleep at all last night."

Julia was certain she saw something change briefly in his face. When she thought about what she had said, it hit her. He may have thought she was meaning about last nights events as it pertained to Batman. That was when she continued and she saw Bruce begin to smile before he chuckled.

"You're absolutely right," he said, running a hand through his unruly hair. "Thank you again for everything."

"It was nice meeting you, Mr. Wayne."

Julia smiled as he turned to head back towards Clara. He only got a few steps away when he suddenly stopped and turned back to Julia.

"I'm sorry, Detective?" he said, approaching her once more. "I have a question to ask. It's a bit unusual."

Unusual.

She was talking with the man who unbelievably dressed up as a bat and took down the criminals of Gotham by night and acted as an aloof and arrogant billionaire by day; the classic Mr. Jekyll and Dr. Hyde. How much more unusual could this get? Julia could only guess as to what he was going to say. Inwardly, she dreaded what unusual question he wanted to ask.

She prayed that he wouldn't outright ask her if she knew anything about him. He wouldn't do that, right?

"It's about Clara," he began. "I know that she's going to be getting older and unfortunately, she doesn't have a..." He paused for a moment and Julia could see that familiar ache on his face. It somewhat resembled her own when she looked into a mirror. All fear of what she assumed earlier left. He was being real.

Bruce cleared his throat.

"There aren't any decent female role models in her life at this moment, for her to look up to, to ask certain questions that I'd be too uncomfortable to answer or not know how to answer, if you know what I mean," Bruce said, with a smirk.

Julia smiled and nodded.

"I noticed how close she was to you when you were undercover at the school. I was wondering...I mean, I was hoping that perhaps you can be that person for her."

When Julia didn't respond right away, Bruce continued.

"That is, if you don't mind.

This wasn't what Julia was expecting and it was a pleasant surprise. She looked back over at Clara as she slept beside Alfred and smiled. When she looked back at him, Bruce was watching her intently.

"I'd love to," she finally replied, catching his eyes and noting again, the familiarity within them.

Bruce smiled, a genuine smile as Julia turned and reached across her desk and grabbed a card from a small stack. She turned it over and took her pen before scribbling another number onto the back.

"Here's my work number, my cell and if you want to reach me at home, here is the number there," Julia said, handing him the card. "She can call me anytime."

"I really appreciate this," Bruce said, taking it and putting it into his pocket. "Have a good night, Detective."

"It's almost 7 AM," Julia countered with a smile. "It's good morning."

Bruce chuckled. "Well then, have a good day, Detective."

"You too, Mr. Wayne."

As Julia watched Bruce walk away, she instantly saw in her minds eye, the unmasked back of Batman's head in front of her. If she ever needed more confirmation, it was right there. Not only had she heard it being spoken from the mouth of the Joker, she could now see the resemblance; the hair colour, the shape of his head...everything. She knew it before, but this just solidified her decision when it came to killing the Joker and then allowing the Batman to disappear before the police arrived. Not only had she saved Bruce Wayne, a man who has obviously done some good in this city as Batman. She also allowed Clara's father to return home to her. As awful as she felt for killing another human being, she felt at peace with that decision.

When Bruce returned to where Alfred and Clara sat, he smiled and gently picked up the sleeping girl.

"Time to go home?" Alfred asked, softly.

Bruce simply nodded before they pushed themselves out through the crowd of photographers with the aid of a few officers. They were soon back in the car. Clara had awoken while they made their way outside but had soon fallen asleep once again on the backseat of the car as they drove back through the city towards the Palisades. Bruce watched Clara as she slept; her head on his lap. He gently ran his hand over her hair.

"So, does the Detective know anything?" Alfred finally asked, breaking the silence.

Bruce turned his gaze from where he was watching Clara, towards Alfred's face in the rear-view mirror. He smirked slightly and shook his head.

"I don't believe so," Bruce replied. "But until I can know for certain, I'm going to be keeping an eye on her."

"Gordon seems to trust her."

Bruce nodded. "That's one consolation."

"And it'll be good for Miss Clara to have that kind of company."

Alfred paused before he continued.

"And for you as well, sir."

Bruce looked up sharply, visibly offended and angered by the older man's suggestion. With one glance back at Bruce, Alfred seemed to know exaclty what he thought that he was thinking. Bruce was dead wrong and Alfred intended to let him know exactly what he was implying.

"You're a widower and I wasn't suggesting that you start a relationship with anyone. What you need is a friend who knows how you feel. From what I've read about her, you and Detective Morgan have had a similar tragedies in your lives, and in fact, you both desire justice in one form or another. I think it would be nice for you to be able to relate to someone who isn't interested in exploiting you or Clara." He paused for a moment. "Just give it some thought, sir."

Bruce did think about it.

The car fell back into silence once again. Bruce was no where near being interested in pursuing a relationship with anyone. It wasn't on his radar whatsoever. If he was forever going to be a bachelor for the rest of his life, he was content with that. In his mind, he had already met the love of his life, and lost her. He had experienced that love and had Clara in his life and was happy with that. But to have a friend, who could understand what he felt, was something entirely different and new. Sure, he had Lucius Fox, but since the man knew so much about his other llife, he was careful about what he devulged, just for his sake. It was the same with Gordon. To Bruce, this woman knew nothing about his other life yet she'd be able to relate to him so well.

Bruce looked back out the window as they headed onto the highway. As they passed the Gotham skyline, the sun was just peeking over the buildings. A new day was beginning and for the first time in a long time, it was looking brighter.

A/N - So we're going to leave it there...another story has come to an end...or it could be a beginning I suppose. Clara is back with Bruce...he's going to learn to become a single father and being a widower, with the help of both Alfred and Julia. Julia is aware that he is Batman but her affection for Clara outweighs that concern...and she's keeping Bruce's secret to herself. And Bruce believes that she doesn't know anything about him.

So, that's where we're at.

A few of you have expressed your desire to see a sequel. At the moment, I'm working on another story. Once that one is up and running again, I'll consider a sequel if that desire is still there. I have some ideas on what I could do...placing it a few years in the future with a preteen Clara. Toss me some suggestions if that is something you'd like to read/see.