Passing Bells – Thanks, it's my first Batman fic too. So here's hoping it doesn't suck completely.

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"Did you tell her?" Barbra asked as her husband climbed into bed.

"No. I thought I'd let her get ---"

"Jim you have to tell her, it's going to be in the papers eventually."

"I know. I intend to tell her tomorrow, just let her have a good night of sleep first. Remember the nightmares---"

"Daddy!" The voice calling from the other room interrupted Jim before he could say anything more. Jim Jr. was still having nightmares of his own. The boy had scarcely made it through a week without a frightening image of Two-Face seeping into his dreams.

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Millie had been in the bathroom washing her face when she heard her cousin shouting. She hurried into the hallway and opened Jim Jr.'s door the rest of the way, pausing to turn on the light.

"You okay kiddo?" She asked, deciding to sit on the edge of the bed until her uncle got there.

"I had the nightmare again."

"About Two---"

"Him, yes."

"You know I used to have nightmares all the time."

"You did?"

"When I was a little older then you, yeah."

"How'd you get rid of them?"

"It took a while. But you know what helped?"

"What?"

"Your daddy."

"Really?"

"Yup. If there is anyone in this world that can protect you, it's your daddy."

"He's really good at it."

"Yes he is."

"So when the nightmares start coming just remember that you've got someone to protect you." Jim Jr. nodded and laid back down, still looking up at his cousin. She leaned forward and gently cupped his cheek, just like her uncle used when she would wake up from a bad dream. "Go back to sleep, you're okay."

He smiled and closed his eyes. Within a few moments he was fast asleep again. Millie stood and moved towards the door. Jim was leaning against the doorframe he had watched his niece calm his son. She turned off the light and exited the room, Jim closing the door behind her.

"I'm sorry… I was just in the bathroom and heard him cry…"

"It's all right. If anyone could help him with his nightmares –"

"It would be me." Millie sighed thinking back to time when her dreams were haunted.

"Matthew Banks is up for parole at the end of the week." Jim blurted out. His niece reacted how he imagined she would. Her eyes went wide and complexion pale. "I was going to tell you tomorrow…"

"Does he have a good shot?"

"Yes."

She nodded, her entire body felt numb.

"I… can we talk about this tomorrow?" She asked quietly. Jim nodded and wrapped his arms around Millie, pulling her into a tight hug. She rested her head against his shoulder, letting her arms drop. Exhaustion from traveling had now mixed with this emotional shock.

"You okay?" He asked quietly.

"Fine. I just want to sleep." He nodded and began to walk down the hall with her. Neither said a word as she climbed into bed. He lingered for a moment, wanting to be sure that she was okay. At this point it was unclear to both of them if she was.

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"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." Jim said as they waited for lunch to arrive.

"That's all right… so am I going to have to make a statement or something again?" Millie asked, she sat very still; her face blank of any real expression but her eyes gave her away.

"You might. We'll see how things go." She just nodded. "I should've told you sooner, Mille."

"It's really okay that you didn't, I probably wouldn't have come back when I did."

"Commissioner Gordon." Jim looked away from his niece to see who was addressing him so formally.

"Ah, Mr. Wayne." The shook hands, "It's Jim, please."

"Bruce then." He turned his focus to Millie. "Your… wife?"

"His niece." She quickly interjected with a smile. "Millie."

"I didn't know you had a niece, Jim."

"I haven't been in Gotham for years now."

"But you're moving back?" He asked. Before she could ask how he knew he pointed towards the newspaper next to her, open to the apartment listings.

"Yes, I am." Millie shot a smile at her uncle, who returned the pleased expression.

"Well, I should get going. Enjoy your lunch. Millie, a pleasure to meet you."

"Same here." She replied as he walked away. She made an attempt to casually turn her head and watch him walk away, but the movement was not lost on Jim.

"Mildred."

"What?" She quickly turned to face her uncle.

"No."

"No what?" Millie tried to play innocent. "Merely getting a second glimpse at a billionaire. How often do you run into one?"

"Only once hopefully."

"He seemed nice enough, aside from thinking that you have some sort of child bride."

"He is nice, but there's something odd about him."

"Oddly attractive." Jim rolled his eyes as he picked up his sandwich.

"Millie, I'm a naïve old man, please don't say things like that. I still see you with pigtails and Barbies."

"I never played with a Barbie."

"But you know what I mean."

"Yes, you're trapped in a reoccurring state where I'm still a little girl and shouldn't be checking out guys as they walk away."

"That's right, lets leave it at that and Bruce Wayne free." Millie shrugged, the two ate their lunch, only chatting lightly. When they finished and went to the counter to pay the waitress at the register informed them that Mr. Wayne had already taken care of it.

"Well, that was certainly nice of him." Millie smiled as she walked away. Jim just followed her to the door, a stern look on his face.

"No Mildred."

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"Miss Gordon?" The secretary called from her desk. Millie looked up at the sound of her name. "You can go in now."

Millie had managed to set up an appointment for an interview at the local newspaper. A quiet position as a copy editor would suit her nicely after her scattered employment of the past few years.

"Gordon, as in Commissioner?" The man interviewing her asked.

"My uncle." She said briefly. He just nodded, looking over her resume again.

"You've had quite a few jobs in the past 2 years."

"I moved around a lot."

"Are you intending on staying in Gotham for a while?"

"As far as I can see, yes." He nodded.

"Well, the job is yours if you want it."

"Really? Thank you so much."

"You start tomorrow, report here and I'll show you around."

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Millie walked out of the newspaper offices in a better mood then when she went in. She was so cheerful that she didn't realize that it had gotten dark out or that she would have to walk through one of the more dangerous neighborhoods to get to her uncle's house. By the time she realized all of this it was too late.

"Aren't you a pretty little girl?" Came a voice from in front of her.

"I don't want any trouble, here, just take my wallet and let me keep going." Millie said calmly, she pulled her wallet from her purse and held it out to him.

"Hmm… I don't think so. What else have you got?" H asked, forcing her against the cold brick of the building towering over them. Millie glanced around, there wasn't another soul in sight. She knew what she was going to have to do. "I'm sure you're bright enough to know what I'm talking about."

He placed his hands on either side of her face, holding her still as he moved closer. This was her chance. Without a moments hesitation she kneed in the groin and pulled something from her bag. When he came toward her again she pulled the item from her purse and threw her arm out in his direction. Covering her eyes with the other, she pressed the button, releasing pepper spray into the air.

"You're wasting that." Came a gravelly voice. Millie froze, another one. She removed her finger from the button and carefully peered at her new attacker. With a gasp she caught sight of him… Batman.

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Sorry for the wait on this one. But I'll try and get the next one up soon. Reviews are appreciated as always.