Chapter 26

Riley and I stood from our seats, slowly approaching the altar. I hugged her close, nodded and went back to my seat in the front row. She looked so nervous, scared, grief in her eyes…

"My name is Riley Borden. Logan was my older brother. I want to start off by thanking you all for being here today. I look around… and I see friends of Logan and Farrah, Farrah's family, my family," She looked to me and then back to everyone else, "And all though I only recognize some of you, I feel as if I've known you all forever. We all have something in common. We have had the… wonderful, once in a lifetime chance, of being touched by one, or both of these extraordinary people. Logan, for a long time, was my only family. Our parents, James and Catherin Borden died when we were young. Neither Logan nor I have ever told many people the story of our parent's short-lived lives. Only our close loved ones know of it. I would imagine that he told Farrah."

I remembered the night Riley almost told me, it was the night before I proposed, the night I knew she was in love me as I was with her…

*Flashback…*Bruce's POV

The elevator opened and I headed into the penthouse. It had been a slow night; I decided that since it looked as if I wasn't needed, I should go home. It was dark; no lights were on.

Riley must be asleep, I thought heading for the stairs. I suddenly heard a faint sound coming from the living room. I turned and headed towards it. I listened closer, is that… crying? I got closer…

"Riley?" I asked going to the chair.

She looked around quickly and then spotted me, "Bruce?" she tried to hide the fact that she was crying, wiping her eyes quickly and sitting up straight, "You scared me, I didn't hear you come in," she laughed lightly, standing up.

"Ri'," I said going to her, "Are you ok? I thought I heard crying an—"

"Crying? I'm fine. I just… just couldn't sleep," she turned from me quickly and went to look out the window.

"Ri', I know you. Something's wrong," I slowly went up to her.

She didn't say anything.

"You know you can tell me anything," I put my hand on her shoulder.

She took my hand in hers, "I… I—" she turned quickly and I held her in my arms. She broke down crying.

What's bothering her? Is she hurt? Did something happen? Maybe she is pregnant? What if something's wrong with the baby?

"I'm s— sorry Bruce, I just— I—" she sobbed.

"Sh—h, it's okay. I'm here, you don't have to say anything," I said brushing my hand through her hair.

"It's my parents, I m— miss them s— so much," she sobbed.

Parents had been a sore subject with both of us, something we had in common.

"It's okay to miss them, I miss my mother and father and father everyday."

"No, Bruce I— I lied."

"Lied? About what Ri'?" I asked, what is she talking about?

"My parents," she sobbed.

"Ri' you aren't making sense," I led her to the chair and had her sit down. I leaned down in front of the chair. I moved a stray strand of hair from her face.

"I know h— how they d— died," she stuttered.

"You told me you didn't know, that you were too young and that Logan had promised to tell you some day."

She began shaking her head, and mouthing No.

I continued, "Ri', I don't care if you lied, because I understand what it's like to lose someone. You don't have to tell me anyth—"

"B— Bruce, you're different. You actually witnessed it, I just lie because I self-pity myself and—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Ri', it's not any different. We both lost our parents, if anyone had it harder it was you."

She took a deep breath and look at me in the eyes, "I don't deserve you."

I smiled taking her hand in mine, "I don't deserve you."

She smiled lightly; I smiled to her, "Now there's that smile I love."

She wiped a tear away, still trying to refrain herself from crying.

I stood up, "Come on, let's get you to bed, you look exhausted," I helped her stand up.

"I'm sorry Bruce, I guess I'm just a little over emotional lately."

Another sign, maybe Logan was right about her, "Sh—h, come on love," I said putting my arms around her and leading her towards the stairs.

"Bruce? Can you promise me something?" she asked looking up to me.

"Of course, anything," I said stopping and taking both in hands in mine.

"Promise me, that no matter what happens you won't leave me."

"What? I would never, no, could never walk away fr—"

"I don't mean it like that, I mean…" she closed her eyes for second, as if she was concentrating, "Promise me that every time you leave for your night job, you come back."

"Riley," Suddenly what she was implying hit me like a ton of bricks, "Is this what this is all about? I promise I'll never leave you, I promise I'll always be here in the mornings, I promise I'll always be here at night, but most importantly, I promise I'll always be right here," I said taking my hand and hers and placing them on her heart.

She nodded her head crying again and hugged me burying her head in my chest.

"I'm sorry, I just love you so much. I don't know what I'd do without you. I'd die without you! How I lived all those years without knowing you I'll never know—"

"I love you, with all my heart. If I lost you, I— I would lose the only thing worth living for; your love. I've seen what happens to people when they lose someone they love… and until I met you I honestly didn't understand it clearly. Now, I know I'd do the same thing they did."

I knew I loved Riley, I'd know that for months, but now I knew she felt the same way. I had never fully understood Harvey's actions, now just imagining losing Riley… I understand completely…

*End Flashback*

I looked at Riley, trying to somehow show courage in my expression but I knew it was only reflecting the grief I felt. I needed to be strong for Riley.

"Logan told Farrah that same story, and how she was the woman of his dreams, how he wanted to give her everything she ever wanted. She responded to him by saying that all she ever needed and wanted was his love."

Riley was the woman of my dreams, that was for sure. I would give her the world if I could.

Riley continued, "Those same nights, he would turn to me, smile, and tell me what I thought were fairy tales about how someday I was going to fall in love with a man," She looked over to me, "who… loves me. Who doesn't care what other people think. Who, no matter what happens in the world, will love me for who I am for the rest of my life."

I wanted to go to her, to take her into my arms and tell her how much I loved her. I wanted the world to know.

"Logan promised me, he wouldn't leave me," She began crying harder, "He promised me he would live to see me fall in love, he promised he would walk me down the isle. He promised me… that would live to see me start a family, to see me and the mystery man of my dreams be happy… Logan kept three of those promises."

I wanted to cry, I hadn't wanted to honestly cry since the day I realized Rachel and Harvey's deaths were my fault, no matter what anyone said, I knew that for a fact. Logan was my best friend, he helped me through some of my darkest times and now he was suddenly gone. I would never see him again; he would never meet his only niece or nephew. We would never see him and Farrah walk down the isle, and they would never see us walk down the isle. He was going to be my best-man and I was going to be his…

"In the end, Logan and Farrah were on there way home to announce their engagement. They were on there way home… a—… and now, they're both looking down on us and smiling. N—… Not just because they're happy, but also because they're home. I love them both… so much, with all my heart. In my eyes, my family is the luckiest family on earth, because we all have the two most amazing, irreplaceable people as our guardian angels.

Without Logan, I would have lost my marbles years ago. I would have never been shown what love was. Without Logan I would be a different person, I wouldn't be an actress, I wouldn't be confident, I would have never met the love of my life," She cried trying to smile.

Without Logan I don't know if I'd be here today, he led me to the light I'd been searching for, to Riley.

"I will tell my children about how there Uncle was one of the most talented, unbelievable people I have ever met, and about how one day he fell in love with the most beautiful girl and now they live happily ever after up in the sky…

There won't be a day when I don't pray for you. A day when I don't wish I could hold you, hug you in my arms. When I don't wish I could tell you how much I love you one more time. I miss you both so much… On April 28, 2009… Gotham and the rest of the world lost two people. Two angels that finally got their wings." She looked up, "Logan, Farrah, I'll love forever and always… Thank you for being who you were, thank you for being there for me," she closed her eyes for a moment, "Thank you all so much for being here." She slowly came back down to me. I took her in my arms as fast as I could. A silent tear fell down my cheek. It was now my turn…