"Master Bruce." Bruce was so lost in his thoughts that he did not realised time had passed till a familiar voice snapped him out.

He turns to the voice to see Alfred standing there with shock and happiness on his face. "Alfred..." He whispered in a hoarse voice.

Alfred is immediately by his side with a bottle of water. "Drink." He said softly as he helps Bruce sit up and hold the bottle close to his lips.

Bruce drinks greedily and tries to grab the bottle so he can tilt it up, even more, to get the water in him faster but his hands were gently batted away by Alfred and he let out a whine when the bottle is taken away from him.

"Master Bruce, you've been asleep for almost a week. It won't do you any good to drink too quickly or too much in one go." Alfred explained when Bruce moves to grab the bottle.

Bruce sigh when he heard Alfred and nods his head. "So what happens now? When can I go home?" He asked in a soft voice.

"I'll ask the doctor but most probably you'll be released after they've checked to make sure you're alright." Alfred hesitates for a few seconds before speaking again. "The police will also like to speak to you...about..." He trails off, not knowing how to put it without hurting his young ward.

Bruce closes his eyes to hide his pain at the memory of his parents being gunned down as he nods his head. "Yeah...okay. I don't know how much of a help I'll be. It was dark and he was wearing a hat so I can't see his face." He lied through his teeth as he looks down at his hands, he doesn't even have to fake the sadness in his eyes.

Yes it was dark and he was wearing a hat but he saw his face and thanks to his new memories he even knows the name of the man who killed his parents, Joe Chill. The only reason why he is keeping the information to himself is that he wants to be able to confront him once he becomes Batman. Obviously, he can't give them false information and risk them accidentally catching the wrong person so the best is to pretend he doesn't know who the killer is.

Alfred gently places a hand on Bruce's shoulder. "It's alright, Master Bruce. Just tell the police everything you know and let them do their job." His heart goes out to the poor child, no children should have to watch their parents being gunned down, especially at such a young age.

Bruce nods his head as he keeps his eyes on his hands. He does feel bad for lying to Alfred but everything will be alright in the end. He clutched his hands, he'll make sure of it.

~Hours later~

The doctors had checked and gave him the clean bill of health, he's currently getting ready to leave as Alfred sign his release papers when Jim Gordon walked in.

"Hello, I'm Detective Gordon. I'm in charge of your parents' case, is it possible for me to ask you a few questions?" Gordon asked with a soft smile on his face, not wanting to traumatise the 8-year-old anymore than he already is.

Bruce nods his head. "But there's not much I can tell you, it was too dark and he was wearing a hat."

"That's fine, just anything you can remember, anything at all." Gordon pressed a bit, hoping Bruce would be able to remember something.

Bruce frown as he pretends he's is struggling to remember before shaking his head. "I can't remember..."

Gordon is disappointed but he didn't let it show, he can't fault the boy for not having more information. "It's alright, Bruce. Thank you for your time. How are you feeling now?" He was worried when Bruce suddenly fainted and is glad he's being discharged right now.

Bruce looks away with an aura of sadness around him. "I'm okay. The doctors said that I'm in good health..."

Gordon wants to know more but didn't push it so he gives Bruce another smile and nods his greeting to Alfred as he walks towards them. "Well seeing as your guardian is here now I'll take my leave. Good day." He gives Bruce a friendly wave before leaving.

Bruce watches Gordon leaves before turning to Alfred. "Can we go home now?" He asked softly.

Alfred gently places his hand on Bruce's shoulder. "Yes, let's go home." He said as he leads the young boy to the car to drive them home.

~Wayne Manor, Night time~

Bruce is glad to be home but at the same time he's upset, as being home made him more aware that his parents are no longer with him. Alfred tried to cheer him up when he saw how upset he was but now that he is alone in his room, with his own thoughts, it's impossible for him to sleep, so he got up and head to his parents' room, like he used to when he's unable to sleep.

He entered their room and look around, it still looks the same. He wonders how long that will last, how long before everything is boxed up and he moves in instead.

He opens up their wardrobe and carefully picks out a suit and dress, they were his parents favourite and he remembers how stunning they looked in them.

He crawled into bed with his parents' clothes and hug them close as he curls up in the middle of the bed, pretending that his parents are there. Hugging him and making him feel safe in their arms.

Perhaps it is exhaustion or the fact that this is the first time he is spreading a night without his parents in the same house as him, but tears start rolling down his face and it isn't long before he's crying his heart out. The memories he has gotten no longer helped him with his grief as the reality of the situation finally hit him.

His loving parents are gone. They won't be here to guide and teach him to be a good man. It doesn't matter how many years are added to his memory, he is still a child even if he has memories of an adult.

"It's not fair!" He yelled through his tears and buries his face into clothes he's hugging tightly as he sobs till he runs out of energy and sleep takes him to spare him from reality till he wakes.

~Alfred pov~

Like Bruce, Alfred was unable to sleep, so he decided to make his rounds around the house. As he is making his rounds, thoughts of his young ward's future plague his mind. He will have to make plans, for even though the will has not been read, he knows that Master Bruce will be under his care. Master Thomas and Miss Martha had asked him to be their son's guardian if anything happened to them. While he was honoured they chose him to care for the most precious person in their lives, he never imagined the day he'll have to take on the role would ever come.

As he worries for his young ward's future, he noticed the boy leaving his room and making his way to his parents' room. Concerned for his wellbeing, he follows him to his parents' room and stood guard outside. Letting the boy have his space while staying close by to comfort him if needed.

But the moment he heard his ward cry he froze. The most heart breaking cry he has ever heard left the room, but his body would not obey his brain, even as his brain yells at his body to move, to wrap his arms around his young ward and comfort him. He had failed his young ward on the very first day under his care, all he could do is stand there like a statue as he listen to his cries.

Movement came back to him once the cries has stopped and silent fall over the Manor again as he enter Master Thomas and Miss Martha's room. First thing he took note was how small his ward is on his parents' bed, his cheeks still wet with tears as he hugs his parents' clothes like his life dependent on them. It pains him to see that even in sleep his young ward can't find peace from the horror that is his reality.

He carefully remove Master Thomas and Miss Martha's clothes and place them aside as he tuck his young ward into bed. He gently wipe his tears away, hoping that he would have to courage to wipe his tears while his awake in the future. "Sweet dreams, Master Bruce. The future might seems bleak but there is always a rainbow after a storm." He whispered softly to the sleeping boy.

He fold the clothes his young ward had chosen with care and left the room with them. He had prepared outfits for Master Thomas and Miss Martha but their son picked a more fitting outfit for them. He will make arrangement with the funeral parlour first thing in the morning to switch their outfits before the funeral.