Bruce sat in the kitchen he hadn't moved since Chloe had left. His body was numb, and he felt as if time had stopped. She left. She left. He twirled the words around his mind, still trying hard to cope with that.

Alfred came into the kitchen, and sighed. The old man sat next to him and refilled his coffee mug. "Master Bruce." He said softly. "It was her choice to make not yours," he said. Bruce closed his eyes, not wanting to think about it. "She's gone," He told Alfred the words hung in the air. Bruce stood up suddenly and walked upstairs, the Manor was cold and empty without the laughter Chloe brought. He went into her room, and almost cried as his eyes fell on the dress that she had carefully laid out.

He closed the door and ran his fingers along the rich fabric.

The dress still smelled like her and he buried his face in it, wanting her back with all his heart. Bruce did something he hadn't done in years; he sat down on the carpet and cried. To him crying meant you were weak, he was used to having his emotions in check but today he didn't care. The only woman he had allowed himself to fall in love with had left him. A man deserved to cry for that.

After a few minutes, he stood up and wiped away the tears his sadness melting -into the only emotion he knew how to handle- anger. He found he was not mad at Chloe but at himself for believing that she would stay. Bruce tightened his grip on the dress and necklace he headed to his room. Once there he grabbed an empty box and gently folded the dress into it, the necklace he placed carefully in the lush fabric. With one last look he put the lid on and stored it in his closet.

Part of him was still in love with Chloe, but he needed to move on. After that he went to the Batcave and patrolled his city trying hard to lose himself in Batman.

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Chloe arrived with Clark at her apartment mentally, physically, and emotionally she was exhausted. He put her bags down and sighed.

"Your home" he said. Funny thing was it didn't feel like home. Her only home was in Bruce's arms, in his bed with his arms wrapped around her waist. She bit her lip forcing the images of her lovemaking away. Move on Sullivan.

"Clark it's late. You might as well crash here." She said tired.

He looked up at her and shrugged, "All right then." He made himself at home; she watched him and smiled tightly. This was Clark's second home he spent most of his time here in her apartment devouring her food and flipping through her TV channels. She headed to her room, and shut the door. She slipped into her pajamas and went into the kitchen for some milk. Clark was already sitting in her living room, watching a game.

After drinking her milk, she brought him blankets and pillows; he would sleep on the coach. It always worked like that when he stayed over.

Clark got up and hugged her good night. She leaned against him glad that he was so familiar. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and went into her room. With the lights turned off she cried quietly. He's gone. He's gone. She repeated the words in her mind, even though they brought her pain. She'd move on sooner or later. After all he had promised to leave her alone, and for that she was glad.

"Goodbye Bruce" she whispered softly into the room. And let herself fall headfirst into sleep. A small part of her would always belong to him, but she'd keep it in a box. She had let him go.

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Bruce leaned back against his headboard and closed his eyes. It was done. The Joker was defeated, at least for now. His body ached but it was nothing compared to how his heart felt. It was time to let go.

"Goodbye Chloe." He whispered into the night and let go off her. But even as he said goodbye, a tiny part of him wouldn't let her go. He muffled the voice and slept.

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Finished. Wow I'm really done. Hmm how about a sequel? Are you up to it? Let me know!