Disclaimer: I don't own "Batman Begins"

The next thing I knew, I was on a jet plane early the next morning. Apparently, Bruce Wayne had been in the Middle East these past seven years. I didn't know why. Didn't he know that everyone was looking for him? What was he doing there? I had to wonder. It was still very early in the morning when we landed. I hadn't noticed, because I was reading another book in a corner on the plane with a blanket over me. As Alfred stepped off the plane, I looked out the window. There was Bruce Wayne walking up to his butler. He looked as though he went on a perilous journey, given the amount of mud that was on his clothes.

"Master Wayne," I heard Alfred. "You've been gone a long time,"

"Yes I have," I heard Bruce.

"You look very fashionable...apart from the mud,"

After a while, I heard the two come up the stairs onto the jet as it started up again. I never looked up, but I could feel Bruce's gaze on me. I could tell he was surprised to see a twelve year old on his private jet plane. He turned to Alfred.

"Alfred," he whispered. "Who is that?"

Alfred gave a smile.

"That is Sarah Chante," he said.

"Chante?" asked Bruce. "Luke and Jennifer's child?"

"Yes, sir. Amazing what twelve years can do to a child,"

Bruce started to get a bit worried.

"Where are they?" he lowered his voice.

I buried myself in my book trying to block the conversation out. I knew Bruce didn't want me to hear it, but I still could. Alfred looked a bit sad.

"They were murdered, sir," he said. "Sarah hasn't spoken a word since,"

Once again, I felt Bruce's gaze, but I still didn't look up. The memories of Gordon coming to my home telling me that my parents were dead, were still playing in my mind. So, Bruce and Alfred sat in a chair each on the other side of the plane and talked to each other. I soon fell asleep in the chair, my hand still gripping the book I was reading.

Reader's POV:

Bruce watched Sarah Chante fall asleep in her seat. He turned and looked at Alfred.

"How did it happen?" he asked.

"They were investigating in the Narrows, sir," Alfred replied. "And they were shot in the head,"

"Didn't Jennifer have any relatives?"

"Yes, sir. But they didn't want anything to do with the poor child. As you know, Jennifer cut herself from the inheritance that her late parents were willing to give to their children, in order to be with her husband. The child grew up in the Narrows,"

"The Narrows? Why didn't Jennifer come to me? I would've helped her out,"

"You know Jennifer. She was always independent. But then, Jennifer's parents died, she knew she wasn't going to get any money from them, and left with Luke and Sarah to find a place to live, since the apartment in Gotham wasn't going to be theirs any longer,"

Bruce sighed as he looked out the window.

"Are you coming back to Gotham for long sir?" Alfreed asked him.

"As long as it takes," Bruce declared. "I'm gonna show the people of Gotham their city doesn't belong to the criminals and the corrupt,"

"In the depression, your father nearly bankrupted Wayne Enterprises combating poverty. He believed that his example would inspire the wealth of Gotham to save their city,"

"Did it?"

"...In a way. Their murder shocked the wealthy and the powerful into action,"

"...People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy, and I can't do that as Bruce Wayne. As a man, I'm flesh and blood. I can be ignored. I can be destroyed. But as a symbol...as a symbol I can be incorruptable. I can be everlasting,"

"What symbol?"

"Something...elemental. Something terrifying,"

"I assume that as you take on the underworld, this symbol is a persona to protect those you care about from reprisals,"

"You're thinking about Rachel?"

Alfred chuckled.

"Actually sir," he replied. "I was thinking of myself,"

Bruce smiled. He remembered his child-hood friend, Rachel Dawes. She worked as an Assistant D.A for Gotham.

"Have you told anyone I'm coming back?" he asked.

"I just couldn't figure the legal ramifications of bringing you back from the dead," Alfred explained.

"Dead?"

"You've been gone seven years,"

"You had me declared dead?"

"Well, actually, it was Mr. Earle. He's taking the company public. He wanted to liquidate your majority shareholds. Those shares are worth quite a bit of money, sir,"

"...Well, it's a good thing I left everything to you then,"

"Quite so, sir," Alfred leaned back in his chair. "And you can borrow the Rolls if you like. Just bring it back with a full tank,"

The day went by quickly, I suppose. The funeral was tomorrow, so I decided to go to bed early. For hours, though I stayed there, restless, staring up at the cieling. My room was only lit with a lamp since, like I said before, I was kind of afraid of the dark. I didn't know what was wrong. My bed was comfortable enough to make me fall asleep, my covers were warm, my pajama's kept me comfortable...but then it hit me. Tomorrow would be the last time I would say goodbye to my parents. Wiping a stray tear away from my face, I got up. Alfred said when I first came here, I could ask if I wanted some hot coco. Wrapping a robe around me, I quietly slunk out of my room, and down the hall. My bare feet slapped against the marble floor with each step I took. Suddenly, I heard a squeak when I turned the corner. I furrowed my eyebrows. Where was it coming from? Then, I heard a fluttering noise, and I looked up. In a high corner, was a bat fluttering about. I've seen bats around the Narrows sometimes, but never up close. It was an interesting sight to see. There it was, dancing and flying about, entertaining me with it's cleverness and ability to fly. Bruce came out of his study, wondering the same thing I was wondering. How did this bat get in here? Alfred soon came with a silver tea tray.

"Blessed bat again, sir," he said to Bruce. "They nest somewhere in the grounds...Miss Sarah, what are you doing up?"

I gave a half shrug. Bruce put a hand on my shoulder.

"I take her back to bed, Alfred," he said.

"Yes sir," Alfred said as Bruce led me away.

Alfred went into the study, as I walked with Bruce. There was an awkward silence between us. We never actually knew each other very well to start off a conversation.

"I know how you feel," he said as we neared my room.

I looked at him puzzled.

"When I lost my parents, I never spoke either for a while," he continued. "They were killed right in front of me. We went to go see an opera, and I asked if we could go home. We went out the back alley, and the next thing I knew, a man came and shot my parents after robbing them. He left me alive,"

I still looked at him as I climbed back into my bed. He looked at me with the same puzzled look I gave him.

"You," he said. "You were lucky. You didn't have to see them die...But then I guess you weren't. You never got the chance to say goodbye, didn't you?"

I shook my head slowly. Bruce nodded in understanding. Then he pointed at my necklace. I never take it off, even when I'm sleeping.

"That's a pretty nice locket," he commented. "Your parents gave it to you?"

I nodded, opening it, showing him my parents picture. He sat by my bed, and looked at them.

"Yeah," he said. "You're parents were good people, weren't they?"

Again, I nodded as I closed the locket back up.

"Don't worry. Things are gonna get better. I promise,"

He turned to turn off my lamp on the bedside table, but I stopped him. He didn't know I was afraid of the dark. He looked at me, quizzingly. Then he got the picture.

"I see," he said softly. "...Good night,"

I nodded at him as he closed the door. I spent the rest of the night with my head filled with memories of my parents, before the time came to say goodbye.

(A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. I'll update soon. Oh! And if you guys like Harry Potter, check my story out please)