Disclaimer - this is only part of the new chapter. I'm still writing on it (close to being done) but I still have some time to go. Given the fact that it's already been forever since my last update I thought I update with something so you guys know I'm still actively writing. :)
Thank you again for reviewing and following this story! Means a lot! :)
Here is a taste of the next chapter. Update to follow soon.


I stared blankly at Alfred.
So many thoughts were rushing though my brain, it seemed not a single one actually clearly formed.
I didn't know what I was thinking, what I was feeling. Instead, I was swimming in a pool of emotions.
I simply walked away into the other room.

Alfred followed me. "So when are we flying back?" I asked, trying to switch the topic.
"Miss, I believe you're not understanding what I'm trying to say…"
"Oh I know what you're trying to say. You're telling me he is still alive." I said as I grabbed my tote bag and started packing, throwing things in there. "You're telling me that after he broke my heart, having me think that he died in a nuclear explosion, after going to his funeral, after feeling like an empty shell of myself…after all that…he is still alive, sipping coffee somewhere in fucking Italy."
Alfred's demeanor faltered. He looked like he had just aged.

I sighed. "I'm sorry." I said as I sat down on the bed next to my bag.
He shook his head. "Not at all. I understand the implications of this. But we don't know anything yet. We don't even know if it's him."
I nodded. "That's the other thing. Now it's giving me hope. What if it's the Joker trying to get Black Viper or God knows?"
"We don't know until we go."
I nodded again, unsure if I wanted to find out. Unsure if I could.
My throat was closing, a knot forming. What if it was him? What if he was still alive? Followed by anger - if he was alive then why would he lie to me? Followed by fear - what if it wasn't him? What if I was getting my hopes up for nothing? I wasn't sure I could go through the loss all over again.

I stood up, suddenly determined. "When can we get to Italy?"
"I'll let the pilot know. We should be there within the hour."


The sun was setting on Florence when we arrived. I tried to not think about any of it, pretending I was simply looking into a source. It was almost impossible to tune out all my thoughts, but I kept trying.

Once we got to the hotel room, I immediately changed into black pants, a black sweater, tied my hair into a pony-tail and put on sunglasses. I would have to slip out of the hotel without attracting paparazzi. Although I doubted they would follow me here.
Luckily I didn't have the same celebrity effect outside of Gotham so I was able to go unnoticed for a few days before paparazzi would pay attention to me.

Alfred was driving me to the location of the GPS signal. My mouth was dry, my heart racing. Alfred was trying to engage me in a conversation the whole time, talking about sightseeing and the best restaurants in the city.

"There we are." Alfred said as he parked the car. "It's the back entrance to the building."
I swallowed hard looking at the building. It was a typical Italian building. Slender, painted in a deep orange, with tiny little balconies on each story. Freshly washed laundry hanging from a string.
"Here goes nothing." I said as I stepped out of the car, quickly making my way into the shadows.
I didn't need anyone to notice me.

Alfred had said the signal came from the 3rd and top floor. Buildings here weren't very high. I made my way up from one balcony to the next, making sure nobody saw me.
I landed on the top balcony. The glass slider door was closed. I grabbed a hair pin, pushed the door to the side until I could reach the mechanism and unhooked it.
The door slid open. There were no lights on in the place. I slowly walked in, closing the door behind me.
The streetlight outside was shining through the windows enough for me to be able to see. A small apartment. Not much in it. No TV. An old couch, a simple chair and a table. I turned a corner and saw the tiny bathroom. An old shower head, dripping. A toothbrush. A razor. Razor…so there is definitely a guy living here.
The next room was a tiny bedroom. A mattress on the floor with a pillow, sheets and a blanket. Bare minimum, that's for sure.

I was about to open the closet when I heard steps outside. I hid in the shadows, my heart beating like a drum behind my ribs.

I heard the person getting their keys, and then opening the door. The door swung open but I couldn't see the person yet. I heard mail being collected from the floor.
The anticipation was killing me. I needed to know. I needed to know NOW.

And then I saw him, as he stepped into full view. His hair a little longer and not meticulously kept. He was wearing a thick, dark blue sweater and jeans, looking through the mail, a bag of groceries in his arm. He flicked the mail on a table, turned on the lights and closed the door behind him.

I was still hiding, out of view for him. Nothing could prepare me for this moment. I felt absolutely lost. Unsure of what I was to do. I was so relieved to see him, standing, breathing, unharmed. But I felt so betrayed. Yet again.

I knew I couldn't bring a word out of me. All I could do is step into the light. He walked to the kitchen, turning on the lights, putting the bag of groceries on the table.

The mixture of emotions boiling in me. I felt like I couldn't move, looking at him from my hide spot. Maybe I should just leave? He obviously didn't care enough to inform me that he's still alive? Alive! He's alive.
I was between tears of joy and anger.

Still unable to move, I watched as he put the milk in the fridge. Like nothing had ever happened.
But at the same time, all I wanted to do is run up to him and hug him. Hold him in my arms again. I felt my hands shake from the adrenaline.

Move Catherine! I told myself. Anything was better than this. I needed answers. I needed to touch him - to make this real. Anything but standing here motionless.

Finally I felt my feet taking a few steps from my hiding spot. His eyes immediately shot up at me, staring at me, speechless for the moment.
"Catherine." He said, tears in his eyes.
His voice ran through my system like fire. He ran up to me, pulling me into his arms with determination, pressing my body tightly against his.

I wrapped my arms around his body, tears streaming down my face. I had been dreaming about this moment - to be able to hold him in my arms again. I was so relieved.
His hand was on the back of my head. "I'm so sorry." He said, his voice breaking. "I'm so, so sorry."
He repeated it over and over again as we were both crying in each others arms. I heard his heartbeat next to my ear, felt the heat of his body.

Suddenly, the anger in me started to boil again. "No, wait." I said as I released myself from his arms and stepped away. I looked at his eyes, staring at me desperately.

For a few seconds I didn't say anything, unable to form a sentence.

"I'm sorry." He said.
"You're sorry?" My voice ringing in anger. "This isn't like you forgot to pick me up for our date - sorry. You had me believe you're dead. Dead!"
"I know. I'm so sorry. It was the only way."
"Why didn't you tell me about your plan?"
"Because I wasn't sure it was going to work. I knew there was a chance, a high one at that, that I wouldn't make it. If I had told you about my plan, you wouldn't have let me do it."
"So, you had me go two weeks believing you had been pulverized by fucking atomic bomb?"
"I wanted the Batman to die. I wanted to have a life after the Batman. Suddenly I saw the chance to do that."
"Fair enough, but then why kill Bruce Wayne?"
"Because at that point Gordon knew. I couldn't risk anyone finding out. I needed it to be believable."

I stared at him for another moment. He walked towards me, touching my arm. "I am so sorry."
I removed his arm. "Stop fucking saying that."
He just stared at me, his eyes looking broken.
"Do you have any idea what you put me through? I went to your funeral. Your fucking funeral!" I yelled at him. "You know what you made everyone go through? Gordon. Fox. Alfred. You should have seen how devastated Alfred was. You broke his heart."

He nodded, biting his lips together, looking to the ground.
"I was hoping the will would be read sooner." He said. "But apparently they were waiting for my funeral."
"Yeah, apparently." I shook my head. "Do you know what it feels like to read the name of a loved one on a tombstone?"
He didn't respond.
"I know you do." I said. "You should have thought of a better plan that doesn't shatter people's hearts all around you."

Angrily I marched out of the room and towards the balcony were I had come from.
"Cat wait." He said, walking behind me. "I know it was a bad plan. I wish I had a better one. I wanted for you to find out the second after but there was no way."
"How about call me next time when you plan on fake killing yourself?" I asked, my arms crossed in front of my body.
"I couldn't call you because that could be traced back. I needed both Batman and Bruce Wayne to die. To disappear. It was the only way. That's why I hid the GPS tracker in the necklace and that's why I carry it with me wherever I go." He said, taking out a small device from his pocket.

I took a deep breath, continuing in a calmer voice.
"I watched an empty casket be put into a grave that bares your name. I threw a handful of dirt on it, burying the man I loved."

With that I opened the sliding door and jumped out of the building, grabbing the laundry line on my way down, safely landing on the ground.
I heard him call after me but I was already around the corner, sliding through the shadows of an alley to where Alfred had parked the car.
I jumped in. "Let's go." I said to Alfred.

We started driving and he looked at me expectantly. I had to tell the poor old man what I had found out. I knew what would happen if I did - it would all catch up with me at once.
"It was him." I said. Saying it out loud, my emotions were hitting me with full force.
I started crying, angry at myself for not being able to control myself better.
Alfred didn't say anything. I couldn't seem to control my tears. I felt like an emotional mess.

We got back to the hotel. Alfred brought me to my room.
"Shall I make us some tea?" He asked.
"No. Thank you. You should go see him." I said.
"That can wait." He said with a fatherly smile.
"No, no." I said wiping away tears. "He's practically your son. Don't wait on my behalf."
"I'm not." Alfred assured me. "I'm going to make myself a tea. Sure you don't want any?"
I shook my head. "Very well. I will be right back."

The old butler left her room, his heart heavy for her. He had no grudge against Master Wayne. He had gone through a similar phase before. Only then it had been 7 years, where he hadn't heard from Bruce.
There was a difference though. That time he knew, in his heart, that Bruce was still alive. This time he really thought he had lost the person most precious to him.

As he walked to his room to make some tea, he saw the elevator doors open and Master Wayne stepping out.
He looked panicked, worried frown lines on his face.

The two men looked at each other for a brief moment before Bruce smiled at him and hugged him. They didn't say anything for a long time. Then Bruce broke the hug.
"Took you long enough to find me." Bruce joked.
Alfred laughed.
"In all seriousness…" Bruce continued. "I'm sorry Alfred."
The old butler shook his head. "Please tell me you have a better apology prepared for her."
Bruce laughed. "I wish. Any advice? So far I'm not getting very far."
"Good luck." The old butler smiled.


I washed my face with cold water, looking at my reflection in the mirror as I was drying my face.
I heard a knock on the door. "Come in." I said.
I heard the door open. "Actually, the idea of tea sounds pretty great right about…" I stopped in my tracks as I saw Bruce stand in front of me.
"I just want you to hear me out." He said.

I didn't respond, crossing my arms in front of my body.
"If you don't want anything to do with me anymore, I can understand that. What I did to you is unforgivable. The last two weeks were hard on me too because all I wanted was pick up the phone and call you. To hear your voice. But I knew I couldn't. It would have put you in danger. Not to mention Alfred, Fox and Gordon. If I could go back and come up with a better plan, I would do it in a heartbeat. But I understand if my words can't undo the pain I put you through."
"I don't have an answer for you yet. Up until today I thought you were dead."

He nodded, waiting for me to say something else.
When I didn't he cleared his throat. "Ok. I guess I better go."
He waited again for a response but I just stared at him.
"Good night." He said, a sad smile wiping over his face as he left.

I slowly sat down on the bed, trying to wrap my brain around everything that was going on.
"Screw tea…" I muttered to myself as I opened the mini bar, looking for something more potent than Earl Grey.