Here it is, the last chapter! Been a trip. Almost four years! Damn! I hope you've all enjoyed the story as I have enjoyed writing it. So, well I first started this story I was younger, with glorious hair, lol. No, I was new to the writing game and after reading so many stories here I somehow got it into my head that I could juggle multiple stories. No. No, I cannot do that. So, I plan on working on Making and TDKoT exclusively. Because I have a clear understanding on how long those stories are going to be and how they end. Those who want Beware the Wonderbat will need to wait a little longer as I lost the notes I had for the story. When I have another story finished, I will start working on Love Finds a Way. I'm excited for it just as anyone. Enjoy!

Life Unexpected

Chapter 23

Wayne Manor

It took Diana a few seconds to respond to what she had just heard from Bruce.

"You're… You're the Batman?" she sounded uncertain.

When she saw him nod his head slowly in confirmation, she couldn't believe it. He looked so serious when he said it.

But…

She couldn't.

She burst out laughing loudly, to which the solemn looking man scowled at her reaction. She was laughing so hard that tears were starting to trickle down her cheeks.

The idea of Bruce being Batman was just absurd. He was a bleeding-heart crusader for causes. A notorious party boy that could barely run his own company let alone be Batman.

When her laughter trickled to a chuckle, she noticed his scowl. Whipping her eyes, "I'm sorry," she uttered in between chuckles. "It's just… I needed a laugh."

"I'm serious," he maintained.

"Really, Bruce?"

"Yes."

Her laughter ended, "Bruce… that's not possible," she dismissed.

Seeing that she required proof, he rose. "Follow me," he commanded. His voice and expression were stern.

With a quizzical expression on her face, she followed him. She lost sight of him for a few seconds and found him in his study. The grandfather clock wide open revealing an opening down to somewhere dreary as she felt cool air breeze into the room and a scent of stale air.

She suddenly felt anxious as she felt something was about to happen. She hesitated to go first as she thought this was about to turn into some kind of sick murder fetish scenario.

Seeing her hesitation, Bruce went down first, pausing as he was halfway down the stone staircase, awaiting her.

When he saw her take a few hesitant steps forward, he went further down. Slowly, she followed, her hesitation fading with every step. As she moved, she swore she heard chirping.

When she reached the bottom of the staircase, she was greeted to the sight of the greatest thing she had ever seen.

Lamps were hanging from the stalagmite covered ceiling by wires, bats inverted onto stony spikes perched away from the lights.

A large computer positioned far across from her. To her left, an infamous black car parked on a platform. To her right, a giant dinosaur and penny were positioned purposely surrounded by trophy cases filled with all sorts of items.

Display cases filled with costumes of various colors. Black and grey. Blue and grey. Red and green with a black domino mask. An all-black costume in the guise of a… bat.

She saw Bruce standing next to the all-black suit.

It all came together.

He was telling the truth.

Bruce Wayne was Batman.

With bewildered eyes she took in the scene. A cavern full of various vehicles and equipment. The enormity of the place was smothering.

Her heart began to pound in her chest. Her breathing became difficult. The next thing she knew Bruce was standing next to her with an unreadable expression.

He reached for her hand taking it into his own grounding her. "I know it's a lot to take in but…"

She didn't hear a word.

Shock transformed into something just as primal: anger.

A slap echoed throughout the cavern disturbing a few of the bats.

Bruce took a step back, a look of surprise on his face as his cheek stung.

Daggers of azure were glaring at him-sneering at him.

"This is all your fault!" she screamed at him before she took off racing back up to the manor and to her car.

He did not follow. All he did was stand there, her words echoing in his head.

This is all your fault!

It rang true as Bane had publicly declared on why he was attacking Gotham. He had heard of the legend of the Batman and desired to put it to the test.

All the lives lost were on his head.

Steve Trevor was just another drop of blood on his guilty hands.

Diana's House

The Greek woman hadn't seen or spoken to Bruce since he confided in her about his secret. She was just too angry. She knew better than to discuss Bruce's secret with anyone. And Bruce had the common sense to realize she needed space.

Elissa, on the other hand, spoke on the phone with him at least once a day. Diana knew she needed to speak with her father following what she had gone through. Her visits to the manor were restricted as Diana did not want her daughter anywhere near that place. Phone calls were one thing staying over at that… place was an entirely different matter. Luckily, Elissa did not seem to protest too much about it.

Therapy seemed to be helping her. Although, the nightmares were still happening. Diana had to hold her tightly as Elissa cried in her arms. Diana consoled her the best she could, but she was profoundly affected by the murders and attempted assault as her daughter.

"Are you feeling better?" she whispered to the teen softly. Her arms never leaving Elissa.

She felt her daughter nod and pull away.

"Yeah," Elissa uttered sounding defeated.

"Do you want to talk?"

Elissa shook her head. "I'm sick of talking! I just want it to go away," she said loudly, her frustration mounting.

Diana gave a sympathetic gaze, "I know you do. But this takes time," she responded patiently.

"I hate it," the teenager acted petulantly, folding her arms across her chest.

Soothingly, Diana ran a hand through Elissa long black hair. "Try and get some sleep, okay?"

Elissa didn't look at her mother, but she gave her a reluctant nod of her head.

"Call me if you need anything," Diana expressed before leaving the bedroom.

With her mother gone, Elissa turned over in her bed staring blankly at the wall. Her face grimaced in frustration before she buried her face into her pillow, seeing nothing but darkness.

"So, how are you feeling today?" an old woman inquired of Elissa, who sat across from her on a couch. "Have you been writing in the journal?"

"I have been," Elissa nodded, she was slouching in her seat as her hands were unable to remain idle. A nervous tick that she had developed over the last few weeks.

"Has it been helping?"

"A little," the teen admitted. "I still have the nightmares. I can't get it out of my head," she said earnestly.

"It is a process, Elissa," the therapist reminded her. "There is no instant magic cure for being subjected to such a trauma."

"I know," the dark-haired girl voiced her frustration. "But I just hate it."

"Those men are going to prison, Elissa. You won't have to testify if that is what you are worried about," the therapist assured.

"I'm not worried about that. I just… Steve seemed like a nice man. He didn't deserve what happened. He was trying to protect us, and he died for it," she said with a sullen expression on her face. "I get sick every time I hear that snap."

The therapist stared at the girl with concerned eyes while she analyzed what the teenager had said. "That's normal," she assured. "Eventually it will pass."

"That sounds wrong," Elissa grimaced. It sounded like she would forget about it all.

"Maybe, but it will fade as time goes on."

"Yay," Elissa deadpanned.

Elissa didn't know what happened, but she felt something had happened between her parents. When she asked Diana about it, she snapped at her. When she asked her father, he told her it was his fault and hung up after that.

The next thing Elissa knew Diana had spirited the two of them away to the Bahamas for a vacation.

Elissa was terrified when she got on a plane. She had never been on a plane before. She was gripping her seat so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Diana had tried to soothe her, but Elissa adamantly told her people weren't made to fly.

When they landed, they were greeted to the sight of sunshine and a mass of people. With wide-eyes Elissa obediently followed her mother to the hotel to check in.

Their hotel room was magnificent, two queen size beds separated by a nightstand. The walls covered in a palm tree wallpaper.

They spent the rest of the day in their hotel room as they took a rest from the flight. By the evening, they went out to dinner. Both were in awe of the culture and crowds of people just going about their lives.

The next day they went to the beach, Diana wore a red bikini, a blue sarong wrapped around her waist, a beach bag on her arm, a beach hat and sunglasses were on her head, strapped sandals on her feet.

Elissa wore a black bikini, her hair in a ponytail and sunglasses on her face, and a pair of flipflops adorned her feet.

They chose a spot a fair distance away from the rest of the population on the beach, taking cover under an umbrella with chairs under it.

The one thing neither could get over was how blue the ocean was. The whole place was simply magnificent.

"I'm going for a swim," Elissa announced. "Do you want to come with?" she asked, waiting patiently.

"I think I'll wait a bit before going in. You go ahead," the woman responded politely.

"Okay," an unbothered Elissa uttered before kicking off her flipflops and taking off for the water.

Diana looked on as Elissa raced to the ocean. She was glad that her daughter was having a good time. She needed a little peace. She was glad that which haunted their lives back in Gotham seemed unable to follow.

The mere thought made her grimace.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the pinging of Elissa phone, that she had left with her mother. Curiously, Diana checked it and saw the text was from Bruce.

Are you enjoying your trip?

Scowling, the Greek woman turned the phone over making the screen disappear from her sight. She did not wish to speak with him yet. She honestly had no idea what she was going to do with him. Such a secret that had such a profound effect on all those linked to him, she needed to be careful of what she did.

Banishing her thoughts of the man, she leaned back in her chair under the cool protection of the umbrella, her body sprawled comfortably along the lounge chair. She scanned the beach and saw Elissa jumping into the water before taking off into a swim.

She had heard from Elissa that Bruce had taught her how to swim at his place and she had been going to the community pool with Natalie continuing to practice. Girl was turning into a fish with how much time she spent in the water.

A part of her was warmed by the time and attention Bruce had dedicated to Elissa but… it didn't change anything to her regret.

It was some time before Elissa came back drenched. "Hey," she panted.

"Had fun?" an amused Diana inquired.

"Yep," the girl laughed, taking a seat next to her mother. She started toweling off, she added, "Hey, can we go snorkeling?" Her voice sounded eager to get back in the water.

"Sure," Diana answered, finding the activity potentially enjoyable.

A few hours at the beach seemed enough for the two ladies as they started back to their hotel. Snorkeling was scheduled for the next day for them. Diana managed to take a dip herself.

Diana had hopped into the shower first, while Elissa had ordered room service. When she came out of the shower dressed in a bathrobe, a towel on her head, she heard Elissa speaking to someone on her phone.

"Yeah, we went to the beach today," Elissa said excitedly. "We're going snorkeling tomorrow," she said to the person on the phone.

Diana wearily stared at her and then grabbed a few items from her suitcase and retreated into the bathroom. When came out again she heard the tail end of Elissa's conversation.

"Okay, I love you too," the dark-haired teen readily said before hanging up. She turned her head to her mother, just noticing her. "All done?"

"Yes, go ahead," the woman nodded, her hair dry and she had some clothes under her bathrobe but kept it on. She saw Elissa gather some items for her shower and while she was doing that, Diana asked, "Was that Bruce?" her voice neutral.

Elissa felt herself freeze when she heard her. She could tell something was going on between her parents, but she had no clue what. She hesitated to answer but she decided to just get it over with it. "Yeah. I wanted to tell him about the Bahamas."

"I see," Diana nodded her head in understanding.

Elissa quickly made for the bathroom and shut the door behind her.

An hour later, the two women were both lying on their beds, propped up by their pillows. They were both wearing their robes, the television on. They were finishing their dinner, Diana happened to be nursing a glass of wine while Elissa was enjoying her soda.

Their eyes were glued to the television both interested in the program, well, more Diana than Elissa, as she stole glances at her mother occasionally. A question on the tip of her tongue but every time she tried to voice it, she bit down and quelched her voice.

Another hour passed, and the women were now onto their ice cream desserts.

Elissa's patience had waned, and her curiosity piqued. Her concerns were a dark cloud over her head that she needed to disperse herself.

"Are you and Bruce fighting?"

The question made the woman pause; her eyes slightly widen. She took a moment to collect herself. Of course Elissa would inquire as to why Diana wasn't speaking to Bruce. She was not a fool. She was very perceptive of her parents. Not to mention that Bruce and Diana acted like cats and dogs when they argued. It was surprising that they loved each other at all.

Taking a breath, she answered carefully. "We are," she said softly.

"Is it… is it about me talking to a therapist?" the teen wondered nervously.

Diana quickly dismissed the notion. "Of course not. If you need to talk to someone, we are happy to get you the help you need," she assured. She sat back further into her pillows, sighing. "No, your father and I… your father and I are having a completely different argument," she uttered. Her eyes had a faraway look in them as she was still processing what had transpired in the last week.

"Are you guys going to be okay?" her daughter's voice sounded so meek that Diana had thought a mouse was talking to her.

Her mother didn't answer her for what felt like an eternity. But eventually, she said, "I don't know," she admitted, turning her face to her daughter. Her face etched with despondent self-reflection.

Elissa saw her mother's face and clammed up after that. Her heart aching as she feared a major change was imminent. She wanted to ask for more information but the more she asked the less she liked.

They finished eating in relative silence and went to sleep.

As promised the two went snorkeling. Both women loved it as it reminded Diana of her childhood of when she swam in Greece's clear waters. Elissa loved it because the coral reef was beautiful as well as seeing so many fish surrounding it. She had tried to imitate the appearance of the marine life she saw but no one else saw her doing so.

Diana held a waterproof camera in front of her, snapping photos of her daughter and their vacation. Capturing images of Elissa in front of the reef as well her making faces of fish, which brought a feeling of relief to the woman as her daughter seemed to be doing well after everything that had happened back home.

They came out of the water in the mid-afternoon, sampling more of the island's cuisine. Photos snapped at the attraction and historical aspects of the area.

Returning to their hotel room they showered and went down to the spa to receive their massages.

Heavenly.

It was just heavenly.

Elissa had never had a massage before but now that she had, it was her new favorite thing.

Diana had found the massage a necessary break from her thoughts. It gave her a chance to enjoy her vacation and hopefully soon she would have a decision.

When it was time to leave, they took a farewell photo with the area in the background before they went to the airport.

When they returned to Gotham, they collapsed at Diana's house as the long flight left them exhausted.

When Elissa was hanging out with Natalie, Diana summoned up her courage and made her challenge head on.

She sent Bruce a text.

We need to talk.

She anxiously stared at her phone awaiting his response.

And then…

My place. Now?

She replied with a yes and went to her car.

Wayne Manor

Every step the raven-haired woman took towards the manor made her uneasy. She half-heartedly considered getting back in her car and taking off. But she stopped herself. This conversation was desperately needed. Neither could go forward unless they spoke.

Steeling herself, she rang the doorbell and awaited someone to greet her.

A few minutes pass when the front door opened, and Bruce stood behind the door.

"Diana," he greeted plainly.

"Bruce," she returned with the same enthusiasm.

He beckoned her inside and shut the door. They strode into the parlor but before either could take a seat, Diana turned to him. "I'll get the point. I want sole custody of Elissa," she surprised him.

She could see cracks in the man's stoic feature.

"No," he frowned, stifling his anger.

Angrily, Diana retorted. "I do not want her around you. She is in therapy right because of you!"

Calmly, he replied, "I understand you're still angry with me. I know it's my fault," he said softly, hurt on his face. His guilt evident as Bane had come to Gotham to fight Batman. "I can't lose Elissa, Diana. I can't," his nearly cracked at the idea.

Upon hearing the tone of his voice, surprised the Greek woman. An awkward silence hung in the room as the two had no idea of where to continue. Diana shifted her weight on one leg and then the other, arms crossed along her chest, while Bruce had his hands at his sides.

Eventually, Bruce started. "I… Everything changed after that night in the alley." He earned her attention as her eyes whipped to him with startling surprise. "I was just a boy who had an incredible pair of parents. And then…" he swallowed the lump in his throat as the wounds from that night so long ago were still fresh, "… I was alone."

His statement made him sit down to which Diana copied him, sitting on a couch right next to him, listening intently. "The anger and loneliness festered until I made a vow on my parents' graves. 'I vow to spend the rest of my life warring on all criminals,'" he quoted himself. "My life ended when theirs did. I spent my early years onward studying. Learning everything I needed to conduct my mission."

He turned to her, solemn look on his face. "It's why I acted the way that I did when he broke up in high school. I couldn't have any attachments. I had to leave. Enter the world to learn more than what mere books could offer me. When I came back, the crime families were more rooted into the city then before," he explained.

"I started out in just some equipment from my company's R&D division and a ski mask. But it didn't help. I needed something else. Something more. I nearly died in my first year," he revealed with a neutral expression. Diana's heart had skipped a beat when she heard, her concern nearly compelling her to speak but she held her tongue. "Shot by cops of all things. Everything really was screwed up then. Only a handful of honest cops left in GCPD but too scared to act for fear of retaliation."

"I hobbled home, bleeding out. I made it to my father's study. Lost and alone, hopeless before the mission even began. I called out for an answer, but no person did. Alfred blames the blood loss, but a bat crashed through the window as soon as I uttered the question, and I had my answer. I saw it as an omen. In that moment, The Batman was born."

Diana would agree that the blood loss was responsible, considering the story was so far-fetched.

The man grew quiet as he awaited her response to his story.

"Bruce," she began carefully, "all this proves is that your life is incredibly dangerous. I can't have Elissa around you—living with you."

Clenching his jaw, Bruce refused to accept her demands. "I lost her once, Diana. Please don't take her away from me," he pleaded.

"Stop trying to make me the bad guy," she scoffed. "I'm not doing this to punish you. I'm doing this to protect Elissa. Something I thought we both wanted."

"I do," he was quick to say.

Diana merely rolled her eyes. "I should go to the cops," she muttered more to herself than to the billionaire.

Unfortunately, he heard what she said and admonished her thinking.

"If you do that, you paint a target on my back. And Alfred, Dick, yourself, and Elissa."

She scowled at him, disliking that he had a point. "I don't want her around this environment. I don't want to be around this environment. God, how could you bring Dick into this?" she sighed wearily.

He ignored the barb at Dick. "I love you, but I can't change who I am. Not for anyone. I can adapt, but I can't change," he issued his own ultimatum.

She scowled, disliking his stance.

Both knew the other wouldn't back down. They were too stubborn.

They starred at one another scowling.

Until…

Three Years Later

Gotham City High School

Bruce, Diana, Alfred, Dick, Etta, Hippolyta, and Maria sat in the school gymnasium listening intently as Elissa gave her valedictorian speak to the class. Three years flew by fast as Elissa was at her high school graduation. The top of her class to her surprise, but she did it all by herself.

Natalie was seated with her classmates as she listened to Elissa go on about the future. She talked about who they would be and what they would do with their lives following school. She went on about family and the trials people would face in the coming years. It was awfully inspiring as some were even brought to tears as they started to enter adulthood.

Diana sat next to Bruce, her hand holding his tightly as she was in disbelief at how they had come this far together. Images flashed in her mind from Elissa's birth to when she reappeared before her as a teenager. Their encounters afterwards until they reached now.

The wedding band on her finger glistened from the gymnasium lighting.

It took some work on both ends, but Bruce and Diana finally got their second chance. It was a struggle as they fought like cats and dogs in the beginning of learning Bruce's secret. The woman had agreed to keep the secret on the condition that Elissa never found out about what Bruce and Dick did. She was still uneasy about the whole secret in the basement of Wayne Manor, but she eventually had come to accept who Bruce was. She made him promise to be more careful when he went out. Especially now that Dick had graduated last year and rarely had time to go on patrol with Bruce.

They had just gotten married last year; it was everything they both ever wanted.

She was honestly surprised Bruce popped the question, yes, they were still committed to one another, but she had her doubts. His proposal banished her thoughts from her mind, and they were married that spring. Bruce had discarded his fears when he first picked up the cowl. He can have someone at home waiting for him, Alfred does it all the time. Although Alfred doesn't give the same perks that Diana's does.

Of course, as Elissa and Diana fully moved into the manor, puberty hit Elissa hard. She was as nearly as tall as Diana now and just as beautiful. And began to exhibit teenaged angst and rebellion.

She started to be more outgoing. She started to date. Her current boyfriend Donavan was a kid going to Harvard on a full ride. Bruce already hated him from the first meeting. No one was good enough for his daughter.

They caught her drinking and smoking when she was with a group of … an acquired taste in friends. Crazy girl nearly got herself arrested. They shut that down emphatically. Sneaking out after curfew and all that typical teenaged stuff.

Her behavior was why they held off on letting her get her driver's license until her senior year. Bruce and Diana both swore they lost a few years off their life span from that experience.

But after a very lengthy conversation Elissa was merely stepping out of her shell as both parents wanted. Natalie was going out with her boyfriend at the time, and she was feeling lonely.

In response, her father had the bright idea of hanging out a lot more than before, which left Diana feeling a little left out as she had been busy getting a new job as her radio station had let her go because with Steve's death the show died too.

"We made it," Bruce whispered to her as Elissa had just finished her speak. The raven-haired woman's response was muted as the crowd gave their daughter a roaring applause as she stepped down.

She smiled at him before turning back to the podium as the principal started calling out the names of students to take their diplomas. They applauded for Natalie when her name was called. When Elissa's name was called, the Wayne family applauded as loud as they could, all so proud of her.

As the graduates went to their families, Bruce and Diana stayed back as Hippolyta hugged her granddaughter, congratulating her.

Dick and Alfred followed with Etta and Marie doing the same.

"I have something to show you," Diana brought the man out of his revere as he was overwhelmed with pride. She pulled up a photo on her phone and showed him. "Marie sent me this earlier today, but I didn't get a chance to show you."

It was a photo of a two-year old girl with black hair.

He looked at his wife curiously.

"Her name is Donna. Her parents died in a fire last year. She's been in an orphanage since. What do you think?"

The two had been considering adoption. Bruce knew Diana wanted to have another baby. Unfortunately, her body betrayed her. She was unable to have children. Diana had contacted Marie and alerted her that they were interested in adopting.

"Marie can set up an interview," the woman continued.

"I think she's perfect," he assured her. She kissed him on the lips, giddy at the idea.

"Can we do it?" she hinted at his nightlife. With Dick living at the dorms at Gotham State University and Elissa and Natalie soon joining him in the fall, they would have an empty nest.

"Let's do it," he agreed. "I suppose we should mention to Elissa that she may have a sister?" he stated knowingly.

"Later," his wife interjected. "Let her have her day," she said. The two watched from distance as Elissa and Natalie were having happily chatting away.

Elissa's eyes noticed her parents standing afar. "Mom, Dad!" she called over to them. Another thing that had changed.

The group soon dispersed after chatting and issuing their congratulations to the two graduates. They started leaving toward their cars so they could meet at the restaurant they planned to go to.

But before Marie left, Elissa stopped her. "Thanks for coming, Marie."

"Of course," Marie waved her off, hugging the girl. "I'm glad to be here."

"I want to thank you," Elissa uttered, breaking the hug. "You've been there for me since… forever," she chuckled. "I wanted to tell you first. I already know what I want to do with my life."

"Oh?" Marie uttered curiously.

"I want to be a social worker," she revealed that left Marie frozen in place. "I want to be what you were for me," Elissa finished with a nervously smile, hoping Marie wasn't bothered by her intentions.

Quickly, Marie was beaming with pride. She grabbed the girl and brought her into another hug.

"I think that is a commendable career. But it's not a high paying job," she mentioned with a wryly smile.

Elissa shrugged. "Dad said I don't have to worry about money. Besides, he said I should have I job I love and one that will impact people positively. It's what I want to do," she said with determination.

"Well," the older woman placed a hand on the young woman's shoulder, "if you have questions, you know I'm here," she smiled fondly.

Elissa smiled too.

The two separated and went to their respective vehicles.

Life was funny. The day-to-day stuff made people unworried. Made them feel that life was ordinary. But the unexpected made life wonderous.

I hope everyone enjoyed the story! Please remember to review, fav and follow!