A/N: 2022.12.03

As usual, I was mistaken. This isn't the last chapter, like I thought it would be. There will be, at least, one more before the epilogue. This chapter was going to be longer but it felt like it really should standalone. I think you'll agree when you read it.

Enjoy!


Chapter 40

After the funeral, the attendees from the cemetery met at the Manor for the repast. As night set in, the only people left in the Manor were the ones with knowledge of Bruce's secret life. It was just after 10 when Terry walked into the Batcave, stopping at the steps. He turned the lights on and had a look around, as memories flooded his mind so vividly he could practically see them. He walked over to the computer and patted the chair. He looked up at the computer screen then turned the computer on, sitting down in the chair. He activated the crime scanner but found nothing going on. Over five weeks now and the city was still quiet, recovering from Bane's attacks and the news of Bruce's death. Another reason for the lack of crime alerts was pretty much every major Gotham criminal still tightly locked down. For however much longer that lasted.

"Surprised the city's still been so quiet," Max said as she walked in.

Terry smiled. "Same thing I was thinking. Bane's attack probably left a lot of the gangs scattered and the other criminals making sure he's actually gone before they try anything. Silence probably won't last too much longer… but this is a pretty good stretch of silence."

"We needed it."

"Yeah."

She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "This is really hard."

"Yeah," he whispered.

Basem and Sally walked in next. Sally gazed at the Cave in awe, "Wow."

"Oh, yeah," Basem said. "You've actually never been down here before, have you?"

"Nope," Sally replied. "Never wanted to cross that line."

"You wouldn't be the first," Terry smiled. "In fact… I kinda started it."

Dick, Selina, Barbara, Tim, Clark, Diana, Helena, Hayate, Michelle, Tiana, Lincoln, Kailyn, and Alfred walked in next. Everyone gathered around the computer.

"I know this may not be the time, but I have to say this place is so cool," Kailyn looked around.

Alfred let out a breath, "Seriously."

"Nah, you can say it," Michelle reassured. "I say it all the time."

"Welcome to Xanadu!" Basem joked.

Alfred looked at Dick, "How come you never told me this place was awesome?!"

"I was mad at him," Dick shrugged, referring to Bruce. "I left out a few details."

"For the record, you guys are welcome anytime," Terry confirmed.

Kailyn and Alfred smiled, appreciatively, at him. "Thanks, Terry," Alfred replied.

"So… what now, boss?" Michelle asked Terry.

Terry looked at them all. He looked at the computer screen, staring at a video feed of the city. He shrugged, "We keep going. The work doesn't stop just because he's gone."

"Spoken like a true Batman," Clark smiled.

"You sure you up for that?" Basem asked.

"Not right now," Terry admitted. "But I will be. Sooner or later."

Basem, Hayate, and Michelle looked at each other and nodded. They looked back at Terry. "So, make it later," Basem suggested, "and let us do the heavy lifting for a while."

"You mean more than you've been doing for the past month?"

"You know exactly what I mean. Before, you were being there for Bruce. Now? You need a break."

"A break?" Terry asked.

"Yeah, boss," Michelle agreed. "We can work the streets while you… take some time. I mean, you gotta grieve. You gotta… not be in a high-tech, combat suit for a bit. You gotta… just cry, bro."

"I've been crying. More than usual."

"Do it more," Basem ordered with a sly smile.

Terry huffed.

"We're serious, Terry. You need it. You need a break."

"Basem and Michelle are right, Terry," Hayate agreed. "The fight can be handled by us." He looked at Basem, "But… that can go for you, as well."

"I can stay out there," Basem replied.

"You don't have to do that," Terry insisted.

"You covered for me when Rene became a monster. This… this is Bruce, Terry. You take all the time you need. A day. A month. Two years. A decade. I won't let you down."

"And you'll take up my job?"

"You're my brother. What else are brothers for?"

Terry exhaled. "B… you just lost Rene."

"I lost Rene a long time ago, Terry," Basem countered. "I got a glimmer of him back for a moment. I'm glad I did. But, no. This isn't about me. I'm good. You need to take some time."

Terry looked down, "I dunno. What would I do?" He looked at Max, "What would we do?"

"Take a vacation," Michelle shrugged. "Take your hot wife and the rug rats and find a beach somewhere. Like a… supervillain-free beach."

"I like where her head's at," Basem agreed.

"A vacation does sound good," Max pointed out.

"They're all right, Terry," Clark spoke up. "You have something Bruce didn't, that he never gave himself: a chance to breathe."

"But is it right to take it?" Terry asked. "I mean… he just passed."

"And he never wanted you to end up like him," Dick declared. "And the proof… is on your left hand."

Terry looked down at his wedding ring. He and Max smiled.

"Every day you've both made this work, was a one more day Bruce never wanted you to end up like him, Terry." Dick looked at Max, "And every day he was proud of what you've both become."

"He told you that?" Max asked.

"He didn't have to. I could see it." Dick started to pace, "You both changed him. In ways that I-I never could, that none of us ever could. That Alfred never could." He stopped. "He loved you guys. You taught him what that really meant. And… even if it was in his last years, you taught him how much that love meant. With whatever time he had left, he let that love have a hand in his life, finally. It was all anyone who knew him could ask for."

"Amen to that," Diana declared.

"Preach," Helena smiled.

Terry looked down, staring off into space. "A vacation."

"It's… been a long few years," Max reminded. "What about the company?"

"Call me crazy but I think Tia knows what she's doing," Basem joked.

Everyone had a light laugh.

"Don't worry about the company," Tiana declared. "I got you covered. Always."

"Not even a worry in my mind," Terry nodded. "Thanks, Tia."

"It's what friends are for."

"If push comes to shove, you've always got Mom backing you up," Basem reminded Tiana. "Dad said she told another stockholder, 'The temperature will be sub-zero for a week in hell before I betray Bruce Wayne!'"

"Your mom is so freakin' awesome!" Michelle declared.

Basem just smiled. "Yeah. Yeah, she is."

Terry smiled but the smile fell away. He sat back and stared at the cave ceiling. "Yeah. Yeah, I need a break. I'm tapped out."

"Me, too," Max agreed.

Terry looked at his team, "I feel like I'm abandoning you guys."

"You do remember the part where this was our idea, right?" Basem asked.

"If I may, Terry," Hayate said. "You, as well, Max. We came to Gotham to aid Batman. Then… we stayed because of the family we built with you two and Bruce. And the family that grew from there. Now… our family is hurting. The two of you have been affected the most by that hurt. Yes, we will all miss Bruce. But he was a father to you two long before he became a fixture to us. You must rest. You must cry. You must miss him. And that… that is absolutely fine to do. You both have worked hard for years. No one is blaming you for needing time gather yourselves and rest."

"Once again, Hayate has the most meaningful thing to say," Basem smiled.

"God, it's hot when he does that!" Michelle exhaled.

"You get turned on when he does literally anything!"

Michelle thought about that. Then shrugged, "Yeah, you're right!"

Basem rolled his eyes. He looked at Terry and Max, "If you don't miss us at all, I wouldn't blame you."

"Are you kidding?" Max asked. "This is what we're gonna miss the most."

"Good to know someone will annoy you while I'm gone," Terry smiled.

"Damn right!" Michelle grinned.

"If you guys ever need us," Alfred motioned toward himself and Kailyn, "we'll be there."

"We appreciate that," Basem nodded.

"It's the least we can do," Kailyn said.

"You've done a ton," Alfred corrected. "I've got a lot to make up for."

"Not as much as you think," Dick said, proudly.

"Still… I'm not done learning yet."

Michelle held her smile. "Alright, alright, I admit it. You're not the jackass you used to be!"

Alfred laughed. "I'll take it!"

Helena took a breath. "Well… guess now's as good a time as any to bring this up… I… think I'm gonna leave for a while, too."

Terry looked at her shocked. "Helena…"

"I got a taste of the life Dad lived, Terry. Now… I need to see… just some of the things he saw."

"You wanna retrace his steps," Selina said, nervously.

"I have to," Helena answered. "Not all of them. It's impossible to retrace all those steps… but, some, I have to see. Terry became Batman his own way. If I'm gonna stay on this path… I need to see where it started. I want to see where it started. I won't do everything but… I want to see it. I want to see where my father walked."

Selina sighed. But smiled. "You're probably the only one strong enough to handle it." She paused. "No offense, Terry."

"Offended?" Terry jerked his head back. "I agree. She's way tougher than me."

Helena laughed, "Shut up!"

"What about…" Dick motioned toward Lincoln.

"We already talked everything over," Lincoln preempted. "I'm staying in Gotham. Help out the team whenever they need it." He looked at Helena, "Now, don't me wrong… like I said, call me and I'll come running, but… staying also gives her another reason to come home."

Helena smiled and blushed.

Selina blinked. "Holy crap, that was smooth." She looked at Dick, "How come you're not that smooth anymore?"

"Two reasons," Dick answered. "One, I'm old. I'm rusty. Two, we're married. Why do I have to try anymore?"

"I hate you."

"No, you don't."

Diana considered everyone's plans, leading her to a disheartening conclusion. "Everyone leaving. Perhaps… I should leave as well…"

Terry and Helena looked at each other. "Actually, Diana…" Terry looked back at Diana, "about that…"

Diana blinked.

"We want you to stay here, in the Manor, as long as you want," Terry declared.

While Clark smiled, Diana's eyes widened. "W-what?"

"Please?" Helena asked. "I mean… it gives me just another reason to come home."

Diana's mouth hung open. She looked around at everyone to see them all smiling at her. She looked back at Bruce's children, "I… Terry… Helena, I can't…"

"I don't see why you can't," Selina insisted. "You already have all of your stuff here."

"Selina…"

"Hey. You were there for him in his last days. In ways I never was." Selina looked at Helena and smiled. "You were there for our daughter." She looked at Diana again. "And when I say 'our'… I mean she's yours, too. Might as well be, she doesn't listen to any of us."

"But I love you all so much!" Helena smiled.

"Quiet, you!" Selina regarded Diana again and chuckled. "Are you actually debating this? Woman, this house is massive! You can have a wing all to yourself. Plus, these kids will just come bother wherever you go anyway. Might as well lessen your stress and their trip."

"She's not wrong," Terry admitted.

Diana laughed.

"Why are you her best friend now?" Dick asked Selina.

"Among other reasons," Selina proclaimed, "because being a bitch to her is hazardous to my health."

"Of all the things, all the nice, meaningful things, you could've said…"

Helena laughed at them. She looked back at Diana, "Mom's right, Diana. Yes, you can stay here. I mean… this was yours and Dad's home. Even if it was for a little while. Please, Diana. We just… really want you to stay around."

Diana smiled as tears filled her eyes. "Are you sure it's fine that I stay?"

"Please!"

"More than okay," Terry reminded. "We really want you here. It would mean a lot to us."

"Besides, even if they aren't here, we'll be around plenty," Basem motioned to himself, Hayate, and Michelle. "All the fun toys are here."

Diana laughed. She calmed down and thought for a moment. "I… would like to stay. It really does feel like home."

"It is," Terry declared.

Diana wiped her tears away. "How can I turn down a request like that?"

Terry and Helena smiled.

"But, I will go to Themyscira for a little while," Diana admitted. "Just… to see my mother and gather myself."

"Of course," Helena said.

"Take all the time you need," Terry agreed. "Just remember you can come home."

"Of course," Diana smiled. "Anywhere you need me, whenever you need me… I will always be there for you."

"Right back at ya," Terry replied.

"So…" Basem looked at Terry, Max, and Helena, "…when are you guys leavin'?"