A/N: To let you guys know in advance, I'm starting to go back to school. So thinking about my priorities, I would need to focus on my education. I have also started a new job recently, so I won't have as much free time as I had. I swear I will try to work on my stories whenever I can. I know I promised I'll update Even Heaven has Demons at the end of every month, but there's a chance that could change, unfortunately. On the bright side, I'm only taking two classes in community college this semester and the second class doesn't start until mid-to-late September, so that's good.

I like to thank you all for your support, especially from Saulo Snow and Ms. Rivers, who always write terrific reviews.

Chapter 3

It was painful to watch Maria Kyle leave her daughter behind. And it was even more painful to watch little Selina chase after her and beg her not to leave. Martha had tears streaming down her face. She prayed she would never have to do the same thing. And never do the same to Selina. God, what would happen if that little girl was abandoned twice?

Well, that's never going to happen!

Maria entrusted her with the care of her child and that's exactly what she is going to do. That girl has been exposed to too much. Now, for the rest of her life, she will live a life of happiness and security. Not to mention that Bruce finally has a new sibling to play with. In a few months, he'll have two.

Of all the people Maria could have chosen to adopt her child, she chose her and Thomas. She felt so honored. She would have hoped someone else could've been able to do the same, but perhaps some can't. Maria said she thought of leaving her with a friend, and he sounded like a decent man but was financially troubled. He was looking out for Selina's best interest. Perhaps not all residences of the Narrows are as bad as some of her supercilious peers say.

Martha and Thomas both equally cared about the city and the people. Crime infests the streets like a plague. Most of which was from the mob. That unfortunately was out of their control, yet most crimes are from a lack of job opportunities. She and her husband have been trying to supply jobs for unlucky people so they could earn better incomes. The Narrows has it worst of all.

All of it is to be blamed on the system. A system of politicians and police officers under the thumb of men like Carmine Falcone. Gotham needs better people to save it. If no one will help, then the Waynes will.

Looking away from the window to the little girl sulking on the couch, Martha flashed back to earlier that afternoon. Seeing Selina sit on the porch crying ate her up inside. It took her a while to persuade her to come inside from the cold. It took the promise of food to get her in.

They prepared some supper for her and she didn't take a bite. Usually, Alfred's food is to die for. Although Martha fully understood why Selina wasn't eating: she's depressed. Left by her mother with strangers, of course, she is miserable.

Now, she was just sitting slumped on the couch in Thomas's study. Her tears must've dried up since she wasn't crying anymore. The sight of her still ate Martha alive. She wanted to comfort her, to make her happy, but what could she do? How could she comfort a five-year-old whose mother left her behind and probably will never see her again?

She had to try, she reasoned. She couldn't let it go.

She walked around the couch and gracefully sat next to the girl. "Selina?" Martha muttered quietly. The girl didn't respond. She then gently rubbed soothing patterns in her little back. "I'm sorry, Selina. I know this is scary for you, but your mom had to leave. She trusted us to take care of you and I promise we will." Her words had little to no effect on the despondent child. "It's getting late. You should go to bed. Would you like me to stay with you until you fall asleep?"

To her astonishment, Selina's beautiful honey curls bounced up and down as she nodded.

She truly felt comfortable letting a woman she just met watch over her while she slept? Whether that was naivety or some innate trust in her, Martha couldn't say.

In time, Martha led her from the study's couch to a guest room Alfred had prepared. She gave Selina a pair of pajamas that could fit her so she wouldn't have to sleep in her dirty clothes. After tucking her under the covers, Martha sat next to her and waited.

She still couldn't believe this has happened. They have taken in a little girl from a woman on the run from bad people. She has adopted a child. She has a daughter now. Or… technically not officially yet. Still need to fill out the needed paperwork. And who knows what Selina wants. All she must want now is her mom back, not a new one.

Martha caressed her belly out of habit. By next year, there'll be a third child among them. She has worried about the possibility of Bruce having only child syndrome. He had seemed to get along with Selina very well. They looked so precious together, Martha thought. But how would Selina react to a new baby? It was obvious that she was an only child herself, but she will probably get the attention of a new child, and when it moves onto the new baby, who knows?

Looking down on her, Martha thought she was asleep. She lightly grazed her curly hair. Looking at her cute, straight button nose, and remembering how green her catlike eyes were. She will grow up to be such a beautiful woman. She looked like a sweet angel from a Renaissance painting. With her features, she'll look like a Roman goddess. She might need to fight off boys who will be throwing themselves at her.

That somehow reminded Martha of her former debutante life filled with partying and hobnobbing with her elite friends. She led a carefree life back then. As she matured, she came to understand that there were a lot of people who weren't as fortunate as her. And then she met Thomas. From there, they started working for a better Gotham. Nearly ten years later, they were nowhere closer to that city. Selina Kyle is evidence of that. Her mother was cursed with the cruelty Gotham offers and her daughter had to suffer with her.

Tonight, that suffering ends for her!

Thinking that she was finally asleep, Martha gingerly crept out of the bedroom and headed to hers.

Thomas waited for his wife in their bedroom. He had changed into his pajamas and robe. When it seemed that Martha was taking a while to come to bed, he sat by the fireplace in one of the winged chairs. He watched the dying red embers to control his patients. He should be patient. Martha was very adamant about making sure that girl, Selina, was okay. He understood completely. That poor, sweet girl was abandoned by her mother. Watching her beg her mother not to leave was excruciating. So Martha was already trying to take up that maternal mantle for Selina. And he loved her for being a devoted mother. Now he must be the paternal figure Selina never had.

He didn't know how to raise a girl. There was a fifty-fifty chance that Martha was pregnant with a girl, but not one that could already walk and talk. His connection with Bruce was great. He was a little version of himself, as Martha liked to say. But how was he going to connect with a girl? Or Alfred for that matter. He couldn't see the old war dog participating in a make-believe tea party. Not even with the fact that the Englishman has had plenty of practice in real ones. Nor could Thomas see himself.

Not that he wasn't unwilling to take in the poor girl, but how was he going to handle it? There was always Martha—an actual girl she could bond with.

"This is not going to be easy," he mutters while rubbing his tired face.

Eventually, Martha came in and went directly to her closet.

"How is the girl," Thomas asked standing up from his chair.

"She's sad and scared," she said changing into her nightgown. "I promised to stay with her until she fell asleep, that's why I took so long."

He hummed his short response. A new thought crossed him. "What do you think will happen to that woman?" he asked.

"I don't know," she said exiting from the closet tying up her robe, "but I hope she'll be alright."

"Me too."

They both hung up their robes and slipped under the covers of their bed.

"How are we going to handle this?" Thomas asked.

"What do you mean?"

"We're really going to raise this girl, are we? After that Maria woman just showed up and dropped her off expecting us to take her in that easily. Shouldn't we try looking for her father?"

"I doubt even Maria knew where to find him. Or even if she knew specifically who it was," Martha pointed out.

Thomas pinched the bridge of his nose. "But what about the baby? What are we going to do—"

"What's there to do? The baby's not due for like eight months and by then, Selina will probably adjust well to living here."

"But—"

"Well, what else could we do? Leave her at an orphanage? Have the police deal with her? How do we know she would get adopted by decent people? Or what if she ends up on the streets?! We can't do that to her."

He sank into his pillows letting his worries and frustrations out along with his breath. Dropping the subject for the night, the couple nestled further into their bedding trying to allow their tired minds to drift off to—

A high-pitched scream pierced through the walls startling them up. Grabbing their dressing gowns, they raced outside and down the hall. They knew it wasn't Bruce's scream so it had to have been Selina. Alfred met them halfway to her door which was already open.

Peering inside, what they saw was not what they were expecting.

Are you a good girl? The scary, mean boyfriend said before grabbing her hair.

No. Selina couldn't let him hurt her. Couldn't let him touch her.

You are so… pretty.

"NOOOO!"

She shot up screaming. Tears burning her eyes, she looked around the darkened room and instantly spotted a face. Not the face she saw in her dream. It was the face of the boy. Bruce.

There was no boyfriend. Which meant that there was no Mom…. She left.

His eyes looked big, his white face catching the moonlight from the window. "Bad dream?" he asked.

Selina sniffed and wiped her eyes with the blanket. "Yeah…" she mumbled not looking at him.

"What did you dream about," he had the nerve to ask.

Why would he need to know? Why would he want to know?

"A monster," she answered.

They were silent for a moment.

"Would you like me to stay with you for a while?" Bruce asked.

She turned back at him. The look in his eyes was genuine. Nothing like any of Mom's boyfriends ever had. She even noted that he was cute.

With the shake of her head, Bruce climbed into bed next to her. For a minute they stared at each other feeling the warmth forming between them. Soon enough, Selina's consciousness drifted off feeling more comfortable and safe than she had ever felt.

The adults stood in the doorway beaming at the children. Perhaps there was hope. Hope for Selina to find the home and the family she deserves.