I haven't had much of a chance to do a lot of updating. I've been real busy with a lot of things, including being back in physical therapy, because the orthopedist said I'm still having arthritis in my right knee, and I still would like to get back to swim therapy soon. Also I've been to the emergency room twice these last couple of weeks, once was for an asthma attack and the other one was for a bee sting, I'm allergic to bees. But hopefully I'll be able to find more time for writing.

A Surprise

As Sofia was tucking Leo into bed, there was a loud thunder boom, which made Leo scream in alarm.

"Oh baby, there's nothing to be afraid of," Sofia said gently wrapping her arms around her son.

Leo looks up at Sofia, "You'll protect me Mommy?"

Sofia smiles and said, "Of course I will baby, because you are the person who I love the most."

"I love you too, Mommy," Leo said as he hugs Sofia.

Leo was then beginning to feel drowsy and was falling asleep, making Sofia smile. She then got up and used her phone to dial a number and after a few minutes she said, "Hello Lazlo."

Leo woke up hearing his mother's voice and was confused and curious as to whom his mother was talking to.

Sofia said in a cold frightening tone, "It's time to begin the next phase." Sofia was silent for a moment before she spoke again, "Go ahead and have fun, improvise." She then hung up.

"Who were you talking to Mommy?" Leo asked.

Sofia smiled and said, "Just someone who is going to help Mommy with her problem."

Leo was confused and unsure with what his mother said. He wasn't sure why, but he could feel that something wasn't right.

Sofia said, "Don't worry sweetie, it's going to be fine. Now come on get some sleep we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Okay Mommy. But can I please sleep with you tonight?" Leo asks sweetly. He was still scared of the loud thunder.

"Okay. As long as you go to sleep," Sofia replies.

Leo nods, "I will Mommy."

Sofia then takes Leo into her bedroom. After Sofia gets on her nightwear and gets into bed, Leo moves closer to his mother. Sofia then wraps her arms around Leo and hums a lullaby that she would sing to Leo when he was a baby, which made him fall asleep.

The next day, Leo was with Sofia as they walked out to the orphanage and were also out talking to the mayor and several other people, completely unaware that Victor Zsaz was watching them.

Then later in the day, they were at the mansion getting ready to go out again and Sofia was brushing Leo's hair and Oswald came in without either Falcone hearing him. It wasn't until after Sofia finished brushing out her son's hair and put her mirror in front of his face did she notice Oswald standing behind them.

Sofia turned around and said with a smile, "Oswald, I didn't know you were coming over."

Oswald replies, "I thought I'd surprise you."

Sofia picked up Leo in her arms and said, "I'm sorry I had to cancel our lunch yesterday. It was unavoidable. You have to let me make it up to you."

"How about now?" Oswald suggests, "I know a great restaurant that's good for kids."

Sofia puts Leo down and said, "Oh no I'm sorry but we were actually on our way out."

"Where to?" Oswald asks.

Sofia replies, "This is going to sound strange, but I can't tell you."

"It's a surprise," Leo smiles innocently.

Oswald smiled and said, "The thing is... cat's out of the bag."

Sofia turned around as Victor came in and Sofia put her arms in front of Leo and brought him closer to her and Sofia said, "I don't understand."

"I know what you're doing!" Oswald shouts, "The old Heritage Hotel. The fortress from which you're going to attack me."

"Mommy?" Leo said nervously.

Sofia shook her head, "What? No."

"So you weren't pretending to be my friend while building your power base?" Oswald said sarcastically, "I should have known. But, you know, your father's blood definitely runs through your veins, yours and your son's."

Leo whimpers and moves closer to Sofia clearly scared.

"Luckily, not for long," Oswald replies.

"Oswald, you're making a mistake," Sofia insists, "I'm your friend."

"We'll see, won't we?" Oswald said, "Now, let's go see what you're building. I can't wait!"

After they all got into the limo, Oswald decided to start a conversation as they were driving. "Problem is I am an optimist. Despite everything, I think the best of people. Right up to the moment they force me to kill them." Oswald then looked at Sofia who was looking out at the window with Leo sitting on her lap.

"You can trust me Oswald," Sofia insists, and then looks at him, "You're making a terrible mistake."

"Funny, that's what everyone says," said Oswald, "Right before I kill them."

Leo, hearing what Oswald was saying, let out a cry and buried his face in his mother's chest. Sofia shook her head at what Oswald was saying in front of her son. Sofia softly shushed Leo to calm him down.

When they got to the old hotel, Victor Zsaz got out of the driver seat and went to open the door for the three, who were in the back, with Leo holding onto Sofia's hand still feeling nervous.

"It's going to be okay my little lion," Sofia whispered, rubbing Leo's back, and then said to a man who was looking at Oswald and Victor questionably, "It's okay, Charlie."

Then Sofia turned to Oswald and said to him, "Oswald. I want you to know I forgive you."

They then saw the orphanage and the bell was ringing and kids were running down towards them. Sofia and Leo walked forward to the other kids and Leo lets go of Sofia's hand.

"Uh, boss?" Victor said to Oswald.

Oswald said, "What is this? What's happening?"

Sofia picks up one of the girls as the children gathered around her.

Victor chuckled dryly, "Heh, kids."

Oswald looked and saw the sign, "Falcone Home and School for Orphans." "You started an orphanage?" Oswald replies surprised.

"I wanted to surprise you next week when everything was finished," Sofia explains.

"I...I..." Oswald starts.

Sofia put down the little girl and a teacher came out and said, "Children. Back inside, please!"

The kids ran back in and Sofia smiled at Leo and said, "Sweetie, why don't you go talk to Martin?"

Leo nodded with a smile and ran over to Martin. When Martin saw Leo, he smiled and wrote on his notepad, "Hi, Leo."

"Hi, Martin, nice to see you again," Leo smiled.

Martin wrote, "You too. How are you today?"

Leo frowns, last night was still bothering him and he could sense something was wrong about it. He didn't know who it was or why his mother was talking to him and the tone his mother use, there was something scary with the way she spoke. "Martin, I have to tell you something."

Leo was then telling Martin all about the phone call last night between his mother and whoever this Lazlo was.

After Leo was finished talking, Martin wrote in his notepad, "Maybe it was nothing."

"I don't know Martin," Leo frowns, "It didn't sound like it was nothing. The way Mama was talking, it sounded scary and so cold."

Martin wrote in his notepad again. "Are you sure you aren't over thinking it?"

Leo shook his head, "Mama told this Lazlo person, whoever he was, to..." Leo was going to say more but he was interrupted by a very angry voice.

"LEO MARIO FALCONE!" Sofia shouted, "GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW!"

Leo flinches at his mother's angry voice. He gave a quick goodbye wave to Martin and ran over to Sofia, who grabbed his hand tightly making Leo's wince at his mother's harsh grip. They then walked a distance away.

When they stopped walking, Sofia turned to face Leo and angrily asks, "Were you talking to him about last night?"

Leo looked at his mother with frighten eyes. He couldn't remember one time ever seeing her looking so scary and angry, "I...I'm sorry Mama, it's just I got scared of that guy you called last night and I needed to talk to someone."

"Leo what is my number one rule?" Sofia asked.

"I know you said..." Leo tried to say but Sofia interrupted.

"What is my number one rule?" Sofia raised her voice.

"To always listen to you," Leo answered meekly.

"Exactly!" Sofia replies, "And you didn't listen to me."

"But Mama, I don't understand why it's so bad to talk with Martin about it," Leo said, "He's so nice and I trust him."

"Leo." Sofia said in a warning tone.

"And I just don't like this. I don't think we even need to rule Gotham. Maybe we should just go back home, we don't need to win back the city," Leo said.

"Leo!" Sofia shouted, tightening her grip on Leo's arm making him whimper, "I am your mother, you listen to me and you follow my orders. I know what's best and we are doing this, understand?"

"But..." Leo replies.

"Understand?!" Sofia shouts.

"Yes Mama, I understand," Leo said, "But someone was telling Grandpa about the phone call you had."

This made Sofia stop and let go of her son's arm, there were noticeable marks left on his arm. "What?"

"When you were talking with the mayor, I heard this funny looking old man talking with Grandpa on his phone, he mentioned the name Lazlo to Grandpa, and I think also he said something about a pig too."

"Who was it?" Sofia asks.

"Um, I don't know," Leo frowned, "But the man looked short, and he had glasses and his hair looked thinning, and like I said he also looked old and funny looking. But I don't think I heard him say his name."

Sofia smiled happily and said, "Oh that's okay, I know who you're talking about." Sofia then knelt down and caressed Leo's cheek and said, "That's my boy, now you're grounded for the next three days, but thank you for telling me this and know that if you ever disobey me or speak to me that way again you will never ever leave the house for a very long time. Do you understand?"

Leo nods, "Yes, Mommy."

Sofia had a look of satisfaction, "Good. Now let's go home."

The part with them driving in the limo between them at the mansion and them arriving at the orphanage was a deleted scene, so I thought I would just add it to my chapter. Also for those who were wondering Leo will meet Bruce Wayne in the next chapter, but since it's when Bruce starts acting like a rich douche bag, it won't be a good first impression. Leo will also meet someone else, someone very unexpected.