A/N: 2022.12.04

Thanks again, everyone.

Epilogue

Six Months Later. Gotham Square.

Nightrunner, Koutetsu, and Ember were surrounded by the Iniquity Collective. Ghost-Wing and Jaguar were working on a case in London, and Lincoln was out of town, leaving only three of them.

Ember growled and looked over shoulder at Runner, "'Let's not call anyone,' you said!"

Runner exhaled, harshly.

"'We can handle them alone'! You said!"

"Okay, okay! I get it! I was… slightly mistaken!"

"'Slightly'?!"

"Difficult though it may be, we must fight our way out of this," Koutetsu declared.

Ember scoffed, "Yeah, right! How?! We've got no chance beating these guys without getting absolutely wrecked in the process!"

Out of nowhere, a batarang crashed into one of Shriek's sound plates, electrocuting him and causing Shriek to scream in pain. As Shriek passed out and dropped to the ground, the Dark Knights and the rest of the Collective looked at Shriek in shock.

"Then again, I could be wrong," Ember shrugged.

The Dark Knights slowly looked up. There, standing on top of a truck, was their leader, Batman.

"BATMAN!" Runner declared, happily.

"Holy shit!" Ember shouted, excitedly.

"He's returned," Koutetsu said, relievedly.

"Batman!" Inque growled.

"Been a while, Inque," Batman declared, dangerously.

"I heard you were dead."

"Sorry to disappoint you. Actually… no, I'm not."

"Actually, I'm extremely relieved you're still alive," Stalker agreed. "I've been looking forward to hunting you again for some time."

"You wanna fight, dreg?" Batman asked. "Let's go!" He flew at and crashed into Stalker.

"NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT!" Ember lit her fists aflame.

"TAKE 'EM DOWN!" Runner shouted as he threw a series of darts.

Sally was watching a movie in bed when her phone rang. She picked her phone up and saw Max's name and face on the screen. She answered, happily, "Hey, Max!"

"Would you mind opening the front door?" Max asked.

Sally blinked. "What?"

"I mean, how else am I supposed to see you?"

With phone still in hand, Sally ran downstairs and threw the door open, finding Max standing there with a smile on her face. Sally wrapped her arms around Max, pulling her into a tight hug.

"I'm so freakin' happy to see you!" Sally cried.

"Right back at you!" Max said.

They hugged for a solid minute before separating.

Sally caught her breath, "So, uh! Where are the kids?"

"In the car," Max answered. "Terry had to go to work."

"Already?"

"He said it was time."

Sally studied Max, clearly able to see Max was sure about this. "Well, as long as you're both sure," Sally said.

"We are," Max confirmed.

"I'm surprised you didn't suit up with him."

"I will. Probably in about another five months."

Sally blinked. "Why five…"

"About that," Max interrupted. "I have a question."

Sally looked down at Max's stomach. She blinked and, quickly, pointed at Max's stomach, "What's that?! What's in there?!"

"That's the question. How do you feel about another godson or goddaughter? I mean, you'll have to share it with Chelsea, probably, but…"

Sally's mouth slowly fell ajar. "You're not…"

"I am," Max declared.

"Oh, my God!"

"Wanna come with me to the Manor? I wanna tell Diana. Chelsea's already gonna meet us there. So's Mel."

"Let me get the kids and my keys!"

"Just don't put the wrong one of those in your purse," Max said.

"That happened one time and no one lets me forget it!" Sally cried out.

"You tried putting your son in your purse!"

"Again… one time!"

Max laughed. "I have so missed you!"

"Back at you, girl," Sally smiled.

Four Seasons Hotel. Macau.

Helena woke up in bed, staring out of the window as the sun peered through the blinds. She exhaled and groaned as she stretched.

"You up?" Lincoln took a deep breath and stretched, as well.

"Sorta." Helena turned over and looked at him. "I never used to sleep this late, ya know."

"Neither did I." Lincoln smiled, slyly.

Helena smiled. Then became lost in thought. "Hey. I… think it's time I go back to Gotham."

"You sure?"

"Very. Terry and Max are already back. They got another kid on the way. And… I really do understand Dad better." Helena thought for a moment. She smiled. "It's time."

Lincoln smiled in return. "Good."

Helena stared into his eyes. "Thanks for spending the last few weeks traveling with me."

"You don't need to thank me."

"Yes, I do."

Lincoln kissed her. "So… one little thing."

"What's that?" Helena asked.

"How do you wanna break the news?"

"Hm? Oh." Helena looked at her left hand. And the ring on it. "About this?"

Lincoln chuckled, "Yes. About that."

"Hmm. We just tell 'em, straight up. Why hide it?"

"Because Basem and everyone are gonna kill me?"

"Oh, no, they won't!" Helena giggled. "Tia, Terry, and Max were there. So were Mom, Mr. Grayson, and Diana. If we didn't tell them, we'd be in trouble. But B and the others love me and they love you. They'll understand. Besides, they wouldn't wanna make me a widow. We'll make them happy when we have another ceremony with everyone there."

Lincoln chuckled, "I still think Michelle might burn me."

"Shell loves me the most!"

Lincoln laughed.

"She wouldn't burn my husband. Unless you like hit me or something."

Lincoln huffed. "Never."

Helena held her smile.

"As long as you're okay with everything."

Helena stared into his eyes. "I am. Because of you."

"Not just me."

"Debatable. But, you can believe me when I say… you're a huge part of why I'm okay."

"I'll take it."

Gotham City.

An hour later, the Gotham Knights stood on top of the GCPD building, staring at the transition of the Iniquity Collective to make sure it went smoothly.

After the Collective was inside the headquarters, Runner looked at Batman, "Welcome back, brother."

"Glad to be here," Batman replied.

"You heard from your sister?"

"Yeah. Saw her before I got back." Batman smiled. "She's doing fine. Trust me."

"Good to hear."

"I called her the other day," Ember informed. "She sounded… like… really happy."

"She is," Batman assured.

"That's a relief."

"I imagine she'll be back when she's ready," Koutetsu guessed.

"Yeah," Batman nodded. "When she's ready."

"Are you sure you're ready to be back, boss?" Ember asked. "I mean… you literally just got back into town. If you need another day or something, we got this."

"Indeed," Koutetsu added. "We'd be more than happy to handle things for a while so you can… readjust."

"Trust me, guys." Batman stared up at the night sky and smiled. "I'm ready."

The rest of the team smiled with him.

"Besides… I got a lot to tell you guys!"

Runner raised an eyebrow. "Do you, now?"

"Yep!" Batman confirmed.

"Ooooh!" Ember cooed. "Dish, bish!"

"How many times do I have to tell you to stop saying that?!" Runner shouted.

"This makes the thirty-second time," Koutetsu noted.

Batman laughed. "Oh, man! I need to know how things have been going here!"

"Now, that's some dish, bish!" Ember replied.

"Ember!" Runner growled.

"Thirty-three," Koutetsu mentioned.

"You're not helping!"

An alert came through as Tiana called on the comms, "Guys. I legitimately hate to interrupt."

"Oracle, you trickster!" Runner said. "You knew Batman was back."

"Had to keep some mystery. Anyway, your night's not done."

"When is it ever?" Ember asked.

"Commissioner Bancroft called," Tiana informed. "There's a bank robbery. And you'll never guess who it is."

"Jokerz," Batman, Runner, Koutetsu, and Ember said, simultaneously and irritably.

"Ah! I see you all have done this before."

"Every time with them!" Runner shook his head.

"The nature of the beast," Koutetsu reminded.

Ember smirked. She looked at Batman, "Last chance, boss."

"She's right, Bats," Runner smiled. "In or out?"

Batman smiled. "In."

"Sweet!" Ember shouted.

"Sugoi!" Koutetsu commended.

Runner nodded. "Welcome back to the crazy life, brother!"

Batman just held his grin. "Wouldn't have it any other way." He extended his wings and flew off with the rest of team following suit in their own way.

Thank you, Kevin Conroy. For everything.