I was in the middle of my daily workout when I heard a noise at the door, like someone picking the lock. My heart started pounding and I attempted to prepare myself if it was some of Bane's men. When the door opened, it was Selina.

"Thought I'd find you here," she said as she entered the house.

"What do you want?" I asked in probably a meaner tone than was necessary.

"Wanted to see how you're doing. Can't be easy losing the man you love."

"Get out," I demanded.

"I know you're mad at me. But you can't just stay holed up in here forever."

"It's not forever. Now get out now."

"Make me."

"Fine." I went after her and I began to fight her. I wasn't used to fighting small women like her, so I quickly lost the fight when she managed to pin my arm painfully behind my back.

"Your anger is making you use poor judgment. Go again."

She released me and we began fighting again. Once more, she defeated me.

"Move your hips with your kicks and punches. You'll deliver them twice as better."

When she released me this time, I heeded her words and calmed myself down to get rid of all my anger. Then when I went to throw some kicks at her, I made sure to rotate my waist with them. This time, I was able to defeat her.

"Very good," she smiled. "But not perfect. You're going to need some help."

"I'll be fine on my own, thanks."

"I know Blake's been helping you. Problem is he doesn't know what it's like to take on these kinds of people. I do. You wanna survive, you're gonna need me."

I stared her down then roughly pushed her to the door. "Come by tomorrow."

Selina began training me, but she was a much more difficult opponent because she had small size as her greatest strength too and because she had grown up on the streets, she had a lot more hands-on experience. While I disliked her for getting rid of Bruce, I couldn't deny that she really helped me with my fighting skills. She was able to do something Bruce and Blake couldn't. She taught me how specifically to use my small size to win fights.

One day after finishing my workout, I was about to grab some lunch when I heard a small clamor outside. I went to the window and saw two of Bane's released prisoners coming up to the door. I didn't have time to make it to the Batcave, so I knew it was time for me to put all the self-defense training to the test.

The men busted down the door and immediately saw me. "There you are," one sneered. "Bane's looking for you. We have orders to bring you to him."

"Is that so?" I asked confidently. "Well, I'm not going without a fight."

"Suit yourself."

They both came for me, but I stayed true to my words. All my workouts and practices with Blake and Selina paid off. One grabbed me from behind but I lifted up my body and grasped the other man's head with my legs so they were propped on his shoulders. After interlocking my ankles together, I twisted out of the one man's grasp and lifted up my full body onto the other man's shoulders. I easily could've snapped his neck if I wanted to, but I didn't want to hear another body part crack and what would Bruce think if I killed someone?

As I tightened my legs around his neck, cutting off his oxygen, he spun around in circles trying to throw me off. I flipped us over onto the ground and pinned him down. While he was pinned, I grabbed his gun and aimed it at the two of them.

"Get out."

The first man who had grabbed me sneered at me again. "You can't shoot us. You don't have the guts. Or else you would've killed him when you had the chance."

He was right about me not killing them, but he couldn't have been more wrong about me not shooting them. I aimed the gun at his leg and and then shot it, giving him a flesh wound. He screamed in pain and sank to the ground. I then aimed the gun at the other man, but he quickly held his hands up in surrender.

"I said get...out." After the second man helped the first one up, they quickly went to the door to get away from me. "And you tell anyone where I am, I promise you that you will regret it."

They ran out and I could only smile. All that training had certainly been worth it.

"Kris?" Mr. Fox said over the phone. "Are you alright? Is everything okay?"

"A little break-in, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle."

"Glad to hear that. I've got what you requested. Is it safe to drop by?"

"Should be. I'll see you in a few!"

I waited for him with anticipation before I finally heard the knock. After making sure it was him, I quickly opened the door and allowed him to step inside.

He held up a small bottle of red liquid. "Pour this on any wound and it will stop bleeding and begin cauterization. It's extremely painful, but it does the trick."

"You are incredible. I can't thank you enough for this."

"You gonna tell me why you needed it?"

"Let's just say with Bane's men lurking around, I or someone else might be in need of it."

"Well, if you're all taken care of, I'm needed down at the bank with the police."

…Were we really that far along already? It seemed like just yesterday I was watching Bruce get taken away from me. If we were here, then…it may not be much longer before I see him again!

"Be careful. And thank you again." He went out the door, but before he left, I called, "Mr. Fox? Miranda might not be who you think she is. I'd be careful around her."

I closed the door before he could question me. Better to just leave him there with that.

This was it. Bruce was making the climb for the third and final time. The question was would he be dead or alive at the end?

He was determined to make that jump. If he didn't, Gotham was lost and Kris was alone. After she had done so much for him.

As Bruce approached the bottom of the wall, his heart began hammering fiercely in his chest. Never before had he feared death so much.

He climbed higher and higher before he made it to the impossible part of the climb. The jump. The jump that only one person had ever made out of the hundreds who had tried it. He looked up at the sky. It was so close, he could feel the warm sunlight on his face. So close and yet so unattainable.

No. He couldn't think that way. He could make this jump. He had to if he ever wanted to see Kris again.

The chants below him got louder and louder each time they said it. Deshi Basara. Rise.

A swarm of bats suddenly flew around him and threatened to make him lose his footing. But to him, they greeted him like an old friend. This was it. Now or never.

He looked over at the stone that seemed just out of reach. He closed his eyes, his heart beating faster than ever before.

"I love you, Kris," he whispered.

Then he jumped.

And he made it.

He finished the climb and crawled out into the sunlight for the first time in months. As he looked out at the land around him, he had never felt such euphoria. He was free.

The wait was destroying me. Because Mr. Fox had told me where we were in the movie, I was losing it. I wasn't just losing it, I was falling apart at the seams. Bruce was coming back soon. I was going to see him again. It had been so very, very long. My heart began pounding every time I thought about it. I attempted to distract myself with my workouts, but it was useless.

Blake had stopped coming over to help me train. Honestly, I knew that was going to happen, and I was at that point where I didn't need his help much anymore. Now, it was up to me.

It was any day now that Bruce would return. Maybe even today.

I knew one thing. I had been stuck in this Manor for months, having only left once during all of this to take care of a little…something Bruce would need when he got back, and I had to get out of here. For the first time in a while, I dared to venture past the Manor grounds.

The snow blanketed the city making it pure and clean, as if mocking the events that were happening within.

I walked silently through the empty streets, nervously looking around to make sure no one was spying on me.

Just when I thought I was fine, some creepy guy stepped out from the shadows. If only he knew what I had been through. I was done playing around.

"It's dangerous out here with Bane running this place. Want me to keep you safe, pretty lady?" he sneered.

"If you know what's best for you, you'll stay away."

"Oh, I like a girl with fire inside of her."

He came towards me, so I kicked him in the gut and elbowed him in the face. When he went down on the ground, I sent another swift kick to his face knocking him unconscious.

"You sure about that?" I mumbled.

I began to walk forward when I heard, "You've certainly improved."

Impossible. Was it time already? I looked over, and there he was. Walking towards me, back healed, looking like a whole new person.

Words could never describe the sheer elation I felt at the sight of him. I ran to him as fast as I could and I jumped on him, wrapping my legs around his waist and squeezing my arms around his neck. One of his arms snaked around my waist to support me while the other went to the back of my head and intertwined into my hair. I could feel his head press on the nape of my neck and I felt him taking deep breaths, as if he was breathing in my scent.

After what seemed like forever, he finally set me down and I looked up into his eyes. "I never stopped hoping."

"Did you mean what you said on TV?"

I looked at him, trying to think about what he meant. Then it hit me.

The newscast. He had seen it.

"Of course I did," I said tenderly. "With all my heart."

"I love you too."

Holy. Crap. Bruce. Wayne. Just. Said. He. Loved. Me.

All the moments I had spent fangirling during my time in these movies were nothing compared to how I felt in that moment right there. Bruce freaking Wayne said he loves me! Me, an ordinary little nobody who doesn't even belong in this world! He loves me! Kristina Jacobson!

"Just kiss me," I mustered out.

He obeyed. For the first time in five months, our lips touched, this time as two people whole-heartedly in love with each other.

I know a lot of you have been waiting for this moment. ;)