Here's the first arc! Now, I mentioned something in the first two stories, the first being 'A Father's Request', particularly in the notes, hinting towards this. Let's see who's been paying attention. =D

Who Did You See?

"Hold still."

A second later the man of steel gave a sharp gasp as a needle with a kryptonite tip exited his body. It had been in him nearly the entire evening. Thanks to how little was on the offending weapon it didn't do too much damage but he hated being supported by Diana when they were flying back to safety. Safety and the informal League 'Doctor' Alfred Pennyworth. "Thanks."

"You're very welcome Mr. Kent." The old butler was about to remove the offensive dart from their presence when Bruce reached for it and took a better look.

"Hm. Ra's must be comparing notes with Luthor."

"Must be." Superman winced a little still, just seeing the thing. "Mind just getting rid of it?"

"Later." The billionaire placed the dart in a lead lined box and handed it back to Alfred. "We should get this analyzed first. If there's a factory making them, we can figure out where from the parts. Also that doesn't look like true kryptonite. If someone's able to make synthetic kinds, it could be quite problematic."

"Synthetic…" The alien groaned. "Just what I need. It's bad enough my home planet's determined to kill me. Why did Lois have to put that in print?"

"Would have gone around the underworld within a few years anyway," his friend reminded him, tossing him his shirt in the process. "She just sped up the process and gave you a chance to defend yourself. Now, Ra's Orpheus plan."

Clark stretched, nodding as he made his verbal report. Since Bruce was their main information hub, they had to keep him updated with what they did and/or learned when they acted together. He wanted them to do individual reports for records as well, but being told the facts first hand helped too, and Clark always preferred it. Also gave him a chance to hang out with the kids later. He enjoyed being their 'uncle' as they tended to put it, and that usually meant telling stories and giving out rides. But this time all four of them were in bed in the manor above them. He'd only be able to give his report and then have to head home to get some rest. He had a day job after all.

"Pretty simple really. Ra's was going to use a satellite transmission to start a whole bunch of bombs detonating in his Lazarus Pits. The resulting explosion would make their contents overflow, covering much of the Earth and wiping out billions of lives while rejuvenating the world. You weren't kidding about those weird pits of his. They're really dangerous."

Bruce grunted, looking away slightly. "Ra's lived 600 years because of those pits. Unclear on what they're composed of or how they exist, but they seem to revive the dead or dying while driving them into insanity. They say it's temporary, but if you listen to Ra's—"

"How do you know so much about Ra's Al Ghul?" He always thought it was strange how a person who supposedly retired had so much information on certain shadowy figures around the world. "There really isn't anything on him online, not even a rumor."

"Past dealings." The former Batman didn't meet his eyes. There was more to it but he wouldn't elaborate. These past two years had given the man of steel a good idea when to and when not to press for certain information. "Now, how you prevented it."

Clark nodded, trying to get back on track. "After getting the details, and escaping his deathtrap and army of ninjas, we split up. J'onn and I took care of the satellite while the rest went after all the bombs they could find. Think we missed a few but…"

"Ra's wouldn't have risked his pits without a sure winning strategy." Bruce looked him in the eye again. "You don't need to look for any more of them. Ra's?"

"When we couldn't find any more of the pits," the alien continued, "we returned to that base of his in Calcutta. Place was empty, parts of it blown to pieces. Nothing useful there. Even that nursery was burned to the ground."

"Nursery." To this the man's eyebrows raised in amusement. "Really. Hm." He shook his head looking away, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. There was even a touch of sadness on his face.

"Okay, what's your history with Ra's?" It was the first time the League had dealt with this particular megalomaniac, a special mission Bruce sent them on after 'catching wind' of something he was up to. But it was as clear as day they had more than just past dealings. It had to be—

"Personal." The CEO started to walk away, toward the computer so he could start getting to work on the analysis he was planning on.

"How personal?" Clark followed after him, really curious.

"Just personal." There was some bite to his voice, but the man of steel knew it wasn't really aimed at him. He was getting lessons from Dick on how to read the man. Bruce just didn't want to talk about it. "I need you and the others to map out where each known pit is so we can get rid of them later. There has to be a way to neutralize their effects. Gelatin?"

"Really don't want to talk about it do you?" The kryptonian gave a resigned sigh before throwing his arms up. "Alright fine. You'll get those coordinates in the next couple days. Later."

"How's Talia?"

The question was said in such a low tone, Clark wasn't quite sure if even he heard it. Bruce was already in his computer chair, one hand covering his mouth as he just stared at the screen. The analysis of the dart was already underway and he was watching its progress, nothing really necessary. His eyes though, they were clearly far away, remembering something, or someone.

"Who?"

"Ra's daughter. Talia. How'd she doing?" Bruce's eyes were still on the screen, refusing to look at him. He wasn't scowling though, just thoughtful and a little sad.

"Uhm…" The alien looked up in thought, remembering everything he saw there, even through the walls. "I don't think she was there."

"I see."

There was no change in the man's face, but judging by how his heart seemed to stop for a moment, Clark could only guess he was having a hard time even asking the question. He must have really wanted to know about this Talia. Wait, was Talia his source? Hmmm… Then he remembered something. "Oh, I did see a lady with some kid though."

"Kid?" This took the detective's attention away from the screen and back to the alien visitor. His eyes were alight with curiosity.

"Well, toddler really. They were in that nursery I mentioned." He looked up remembering. "It was really weird since he was the only kid in the whole complex. I can only assume that lady was his mother. Or maybe his nanny. They really didn't look anything alike."

"How old was he?" Bruce's hand fell away from his mouth, nearly gaping at him in disbelief for some reason.

"Um… Not sure. Eighteen months? I don't exactly hang out with a lot of kids Br—"

"Are you sure? Eighteen months? Are you absolutely certain?" The man was at the edge of his seat now, his heart rate going faster by the second. All the alien could do was nod in confusion. "Any distinguishing features? Anything at all?"

"Uh, black hair, mixed decent, mostly Arab, grey eyes? I'm not entirely sure. Why?" Clark could hear the man's heart racing faster and harder as he heard every word. He was even running short of breath, as if something had hit him. "Bruce, what's the matter? Why are you asking about this kid?"

"You're certain the boy's about eighteen months old."

"Pretty sure. Like I said, I'm no expert, but the kid was toddling around and trying to get some cat toy when I did a quick scan of the place." He watched the man's face go from mild shock to disbelief and then, to his surprise, desperation. As if he was just told his parents were alive and he had to see them. "Bruce, what's going on?"

"She lied."

Quickly the detective whipped around to the computer pad and started typing rapidly. The files on Ra's Al Ghul were back up in an instant, displaying many connections and past bases the madman had used. Maps and camera feeds of several different locations around the world appeared on neighboring screens. Like an obsessed stalker, Bruce brought up everything he had on the man, searching for something, anything, to help him out. It really confused the alien next to him.

"Who lied?" The man didn't answer, ignoring him as he typed.. "Bruce, who lied? What does this have to do with that kid?" Still no answer. Frustrated, Clark grabbed the back of the chair and swung the man around to face him. "Bruce, tell me what's going on in that head of yours! You hear about one kid and now you're becoming Mr. Obsessive. You've got four kids already; are you planning on just taking someone else's just because you don't like the people he's with?"

"You don't understand." A death glare was appearing in the man's face. He wanted to get back to his search. He needed to.

"Then make me understand!" the kryptonian demanded. "Explain it to me! Tell me why you're going crazy over a kid I saw at Ra's who may just be one of the worker's there's kid!"

"Because he may be mine!"

This stopped Clark in his tracks. He blinked several times in shock, his grip loosening on the chair as he looked at the furious father before him. What?

Bruce continued, still scowling. "Twenty-five months ago Talia broke off our engagement because she lost our baby!"

"Engagement…."

The mortal man looked away, spinning his chair back towards the computer to save himself some face. "Three years ago, Talia Head, or Al Ghul as I later found out, was my girlfriend. Beautiful, smart, witty, I thought she was perfect. When I gave up being Batman, I also stopped chasing after… certain individuals. And after learning everything about Talia's father, I would have gone back to chasing her if I could. Ra's approached me once as Batman before, as an enemy. When Talia and I became serious, I met her father officially.

"He wanted me to be his heir. To take command of his League of Shadows when he died, and stayed dead. Being his heir also meant being his son-in-law, and frankly I was more interested in Talia than him."

"Talia…"

"She was a different person back then," Bruce continued, trying to defend himself. "We really… Back then she convinced me I could change her father's empire into a force for justice. I had recently adopted Cassandra and she was originally being trained by her father to be Ra's bodyguard. I knew I could change her life, and with a mother figure I thought the boys would be happy.

"For a time, I accepted the offer."

The alien just stared at him in disbelief. Bruce just… he… this guy who was now financing and helping the Justice League more than any other civilian on the planet, had just admitted to originally siding with the madman they just foiled mere hours ago! For a woman! "What the…"

"It was three years ago Kent," he reminded him sharply. "And I took back that offer a few months later. The boys weren't happy about the arrangement and Cassandra only retreated further into her shell. I should have listened to them more." Bruce shook his head gravely, clearly regretting his actions. "One night I stayed with Talia instead of at home. I was drunk, more than I had been before. I hardly remember that night. Next thing I know Talia comes back to me with positive tests results saying she's pregnant and I'm the father. I was already planning on asking her to marry me so…"

He left it hanging as he ran a hand over his head then down his face. His audience just shook his head. This man… But the CEO continued after a moment. "I was excited, and for once the kids were too. None of them have had the chance to hold a newborn and having a baby in the house was something everyone wanted to see. I was trying to have Talia spend more time with them while we set up the nursery here, but she became distant.

"About a month after that night, I was called by her private doctor to come by her place and talk to her. Both of them said she had a miscarriage."

A pang of guilt struck the man of steel's heart as he saw the pain rekindled in the man's face. Thinking he had lost a child of his own blood must have devastated the man. He had friends who had stillborns and miscarriages too. His Ma even had one in his memory. It tore his parents apart back then. Bruce may have slept with the enemy, but he also lost something precious. Or so he was told.

"Talia broke off the engagement then and there. Said she couldn't face me after losing the baby. I tried to change her mind but… she's a stubborn one. I told her to keep the ring, but she sent it back by carrier a few days later. I officially turned down Ra's offer. Three months later, I called you. I haven't heard or seen her since."

Silence stood between the two for a minute or so, filled with anguish and understanding. Clark truly didn't know a thing about Bruce's personal life beyond what his children told him, and he hadn't cared to ask about his romantic experiences. All of those were personal. But he should have suspected something when he asked about Ra's daughter. And the kid… why was the kid there?

Bruce shook his head ruefully. "I should have seen the possibility."

"Come again?"

"Talia's always had a devoted almost childlike love for her father, blindly following him. Though she tried to make me conform to her father's beliefs at one point, I thought… I believed our feelings would over come Ra's rhetoric inside her." He closed his eyes for a moment, putting pieces in place. "Instead, when I started insisting she and I marry properly then live here with the kids… She wanted to sent the boys to boarding schools and continue Cassandra's training. She wanted to obey her father instead of having a real family."

"You think they faked the miscarriage and kept your child, your son, hidden from you?" It was starting to make sense. Eighteen plus nine equaled twenty-seven. Give or take for carrying and differences between children, and the timing for that particular child's existence would be explained. And looking at Bruce and remembering the little boy's face, he could see a resemblance. Same eyes, same hair. He could be his son.

"Highly likely. Why else was that boy at the compound." Bruce went back to typing on the consol. He was determined to get the bottom of this. "Only thing that would synch this is if Talia was there taking care of him. But if she was serious about sending the boys away, she may not be the kind of hands-on mother I was hoping she'd be."

"So a nanny."

"Likely." The man kept typing, trying to find any hint to the whereabouts of that particular little boy. Clark watched him for a moment, the shock of the story wearing off now. Now that Bruce knew his baby could exist, he was determined to get his son back. "We have to find him to confirm."

"Need any help?" The alien rested one arm on the chair, leaning in slightly to prove his offer was serious.

"Later," the father stated flatly, "after I have an idea where to look. I'll be counting on you for extraction."

This made the other man smile. "Alright. How far do you want this to go?"

"Just us for now. I'll tell the kids when we find him. Right Alfred?"

The ever present butler just gave them both a knowing smirk. Clark had nearly forgotten the man was there. "Indeed sir. But I do believe the nursery will need freshening before then."

Bruce nodded, still typing. Clark could hear the man's heart racing, despite being perfectly still. He was excited. Excited and determined. He was going to find his son, and there was no force on the planet that could stop him.

A/N: yes, the last main cast member is coming! Please welcome Damian with open arms. I've kinda blended the 'Son of the Demon' from the comics and the explanation Talia gave to Bruce about Damian's origins in 'batman and son' together to make this, and make it realistic. Sound good so far? =D Two more allotments in this arch is coming soon, with League visits. Kudos to who ever figures out what LD stands for.

As for the other person Bruce hinted at in his little talk, that was Catwoman. I'm planning on having her return to his life, either before or (likely) after this arch time wise, signifying he's really over Talia, but I need an idea on how to bring Selina in and keep her in. Ideas? I'm already incorporating her in future stories.