Empty street corners. No flashing lights anywhere in sight signaling trouble. No shady characters walking around looking to start trouble. A common theme of late as it should be. For so long that city hadn't been like this. For so long he had watched from these monitors crime after crime take place with only a tip or two being left for the police to follow. For so long he had sat in this very chair feeling helpless. That is what retirement would do to you. An early retirement from doing the very thing he considered himself to be the best at. Being a hero. Being a face that the criminal underworld would fear. Be a face that he hoped would inspire a new generation to do what they felt was right. A message that was received only by a few.

But now? Now things were starting to get back in order. Criminals scared of coming out at night fearing they would come face to face with The Batman. As they should be. It did not matter who was behind the cowl. No it meant so much more than that. It was a symbol. A symbol for justice. A symbol for those that couldn't defend themselves. A symbol for inspiring heroes everywhere across the world. A symbol that needed to be seen every single night. Not for the papers. Not for the media. No it needed to be seen by the masses to let them know that he was out there. That Batman was out there watching over the city.

He just wished they could understand that. Just wished Terry could understand that. He could truly relate to him. He had been down that road once before. He knew the sacrifices he would have to make wearing that very cowl. It seemed though Mr Mcginnis did not. He couldn't blame him for being upset. He once too had been upset with the situation. With the sacrifices he had to make. Being Batman. Being a superhero in general wasn't something you could turn on and off again like some radio. Wasn't something you could do whenever you felt like it. No being a hero is a twenty four hour a day job. There was no room for anything else. No room to have much of a social life. No room to have a romantic partner. Not even room to take a break from the action when banged up. He could only wish he would learn this someday. Though if another has her way then that day would never come.

Melanie Walker. Once a member of the famous gang of thieves known as The Royal Flush Gang. A young woman that at first glance knew deep down would mean trouble. He just never thought she would be this much trouble. Never thought that his protege would fall for the enemy like he had long ago. The similarities between Miss Walker and Selina Kyle were candidly. Master thieves in their own right. Almost identical personalities with neither afraid to say what is on their mind. Troubled histories before something clicked in their minds and they changed their ways. As for Selina though that never stayed true. She could never truly embrace being a hero. Could never truly stick away from a life of crime. The temptation was just too much.

As for Miss Walker? There was another temptation at play. A temptation that took another form. A temptation that has kept the criminal inside of her at bay and that temptation was simple. What had gone on between her and Terry was anyone's guess. He still couldn't quite piece it together though he has a few ideas running through his mind about what could have happened. Whatever it was had changed her. Changed something inside of her. Had done something to her that he only wished many times before would happen to some of the criminals he had faced in his past.

Rehilbiltation. To truly change your way. And that rehabilitation was him. Was Terry. A young love that is still blooming. Still growing with every passing day. A young love that almost at the start caused something that would have been catastrophic to their cause. Almost caused Batman to once again disappear. Possibility even forever. Though the events of what had caused a shift back on course were not likeable in the slightest a part of him can't help still feel conflicted. Learn from your past. Four words he has always taken to heart. Four words that keep repeating in his mind when it comes to this Miss Walker.

Was it unfair the way he was judging her? Perhaps? But if his past has taught him anything it was only a matter of time before the temptation deep inside of her would win her over. Harley Quinn….Poison Ivy….Harvey Dent. The list goes on and on. All of them at one time had taken steps in the right direction only to be dragged back by the darkness.

He just hoped for Terry's sake that he was wrong about this. Was wrong about her. The evidence showing this was right there for him to see. The clean record she has had ever since being reunited with Mcginnis. The stable job working at that little restaurant though thanks to him now along with her willpower and drive to be out there every single night side by side with Mcginnis that job has changed greatly with an even bigger salary coming in for her. But it wasn't these actions that was convincing him. No it was the way she spoke. The way she defends Terry so fiercely. The way she ensures he has a life making sure that history doesn't repeat itself and for that he could admire her.

But it was at times like this where he really starts to despise her. How despite his best efforts to convince them what they are doing is wrong seems to make them do the opposite. Tonight was no different. No matter how many times he has tried to call them each and every single time was met with no success. First straight to their voicemails then nothing at all. Such foolishness. She should know better than anyone how important Batman is. Should know what he means to the city. To even the entire world. A symbol that needs to be seen. Needs to be out there watching over the city instead of stuffed away inside of some bag somewhere while she and Mcginnis do whatever they deem more important. Such thoughts like this get people hurt or even worse. Couldn't they see that?

Thoughts that he is so lost in makes Bruce not realize the movement coming from down below at his feet. Movement coming from his trusted companion Ace whose head suddenly comes up from off the ground and raises his nose to sniff the air. Whatever it is that he smells alerts his master when he suddenly gets up from the ground and takes off towards the entrance way leading up towards the study. This strange activity that makes Bruce look at his companion then towards the stone steps leading upwards into the darkness. Such darkness he can't see any movement in but judging from Ace's actions someone or something was coming down the steps.

Reaching out to grab a hold of his cane bringing himself to his feet eyeballing the steps with suspicion making his way over before he can even get a few feet away from The Batcomputer suddenly Bruce comes to a complete stop and lets out a breath. Sees a figure emerging out of the darkness. A figure whose blue eyes suddenly find him before a beautiful smile breaks across her face as her cloak is dropped back allowing her long black locks to flow freely.

" Diana?"

Being answered with nothing but her smile widening unable to bring himself to take a step forward instead choosing to remain rooted to his spot just watching her taking in everything he sees with his grip on his cane loosening Bruce can only watch Diana turn her attention down towards Ace. His trusted companion whose face just shows confusion as he sniffs the air before his attention is averted when she extends her right hand down towards him to sniff. An offered hand that he immediately sniffs before to the shock of Bruce slowly Ace licks her hand before leaning into her palm. Such an action that once again makes a beautiful smile come across Diana's face as she kneels down on one knee and starts to pet him gently. A smile he can't help but stare at with one threatening to break across his own face.

Despite all of these years. Despite the last time he had seen her. Had even talked to her or been in the same room as her, she still is as beautiful as he can remember. The same long black locks. The same beautiful smile. Her still stunning beauty despite the years that have passed. The same aura of justice circling around her. Everything and so much more. An amazon that he can't help but stare at in silence taking in everything before she pays a glance back towards him.

" It's been a long time."

Nodding her head in agreement giving Ace one last stroke of his fur rising back up to her feet with his eyes watching her every move making her way out of the entrance with no destination in mind Diana slowly starts to walk around the cave. The famous Batcave. A Batcave she has been in so many times before. A cave that looks as though nothing has changed about it. The same parked Batmobile. The same wall full of gadgets and gizmos. Even the display cases were in the same place she last saw them.

" Looks like nothings changed since the last time I've been down here."

Words that suddenly seem rather foolish for her to say when a suit hanging up in a display case catches her eye. A suit she has never seen before but knew exactly what it is. Another Batman Suit. The current Batman's Suit. She had heard the rumors about Batman once again gracing the streets of Gotham City. Her sources from The Justice League had told her of such a thing. She just never thought she would ever see another behind the cowl after Bruce. Never thought The Batman would ever rise up to fight crime ever again after Bruce hung it up for the last time. This only brought up one question though. Just who is the man behind the cowl? Who did Bruce choose to become The Batman in his place? Another protege? Perhaps even one of his children? A thought that makes a stabbing pain be felt in her chest before she quickly shakes it away as her right hand comes up to touch the glass of the display case.

" What are you doing here?"

Same old Bruce. Still playing hard to get.

That was one thing she knew would never change about him. Despite what they had. Despite their unique relationship in The Justice League he still likes to keep everyone at an arm's reach. Something she had grown accustomed to long ago. Grown accustomed to his constant suspicions on missions. Grown accustomed to the way he had kept everything so close to the chest but there was one thing he couldn't keep from her. The one thing they share that could not and will not be broken by anyone. Other members of The Justice League suspected something was going on between them at the time but could never confirm it. Only they could confirm it. Only she could truly confirm it.

Looking through the reflection of the glass seeing nothing but his confused gaze staring back at her letting out a sigh removing her hand from the glass turning to face him unable to look him in the eye instead Diana looks down focusing on her boots. A moment she has dreamed about for so long and yet a moment that she has dreaded almost at the same exact time.

" There has been something i've been keeping from you for far too long and it is time now that i reveal the truth to you."

Feeling nothing but confusion taking over remaining right where he is as he watches her make her way slowly over before he has a chance to ask her to explain, suddenly Bruce is snapped out of his thoughts when he feels Diana taking his right hand gently within both of her own. A gesture that is followed by another as she turns his hand over and starts to trace the palm of his hand without looking up at him. Trace a faint scar that could be barely seen in the palm of his hand now. A scar that goes all the way across his palm.

" You know what this is but you do not know how you got it."

Glancing up seeing even more confusion across his face bringing her tracing to a halt removing her hands from his own slowly Diana starts to remove a glove on her left hand drawing Bruce's attention. A glove that is quickly deposited on the ground before to his shock she turns her hand over revealing a similar faint scar on her palm. This shock that only deepens as she retakes his hand within her left and presses their hands together lacing their fingers making Bruce's eyes go wide.

" Diana?"

Hearing the confusion and shock in his voice clearly giving him a sad smile Diana drops her gaze down to stare at their joined hands.

" I'm sorry Bruce but this was the only way I knew of how to save you."

An explanation that she sees confusing him greatly as the wheels start turning in his head before with a sigh Diana releases his hand and glances around The Batcave before her eyes come back at him.

" Care for a walk?"