Knightshade Chapter 4: The Conflict, a batman fanfic

Disclaimer: The Characters from "The Batman" are owned by DC Comics, Warner Bros., Bob Kane and God knows how many other people by now. This is a story done purely for fun and not to make profit whatsoever. Any original characters that may appear belong to the writer and can be used with permission.

Knightshade

Chapter 4: The Conflict

After a rather long, silent and unbelievably tense ride back to the Batcave, Barbara was treated for the, thankfully minor, injuries she received during the fight with Ivy. Though even the burning, stinging feelings from the iodine Alfred swabbed them with was much more preferable to what she was going to have to deal with next. There was a knot retying itself several times in her stomach as she walked towards the main section of the Batcave. The knot then seemed to burst into flames when she got there and found Batman standing completely still with his arms crossed over his chest and scowling even more than usual. The back lighting from the main computer screen behind covered him mostly in shadow which made the solid white lenses of his mask look even more piercing. In fact the way the light caught them it almost seemed like they were glowing from his anger. Which honestly wouldn't surprise her at this point.

She began to feel very uneasy under his intense glare and so tore her eyes away from him to notice Robin standing off to the side. Like her he looked a little nervous, but also slightly confused about something. Not that she could blame him of course, she was at the middle of this whole thing and it still confused her just a bit. She was also beginning to feel a bit exposed when she realized they both still had their masks on while she had hers pulled back. She had thought about slipping her cowl back on to level the playing field but was afraid any sudden movement might make Batman snap. Of course, he was already going to do that but she wanted to hold it off for as long as she could.

She cringed just a bit when it looked like he was about to open his mouth to finally say something but was thankfully cut off by Robin quickly speaking up.

"So...you kissed Ivy?" he asked unsurely.

Barbara rolled her eyes a bit at the tone of question then let out a deep sigh.

"Yes," she said quickly and firmly, hoping he would drop it quickly.

"After she unmasked you," Batman almost growled.

The restrained anger in the statement sent another shiver down her spine as she slowly turned her attention back to the scowling super hero. Now she was almost wishing Robin would make some more immature comments about the whole thing since it would delay her having to deal with Batman's wrath that much longer. Unfortunately, the floodgates were now open and all she could do was brace herself.

"Well...yeah but I was tied up by a bunch of vines at the time," she tried to defend herself.

"Which you could have avoided if you didn't try to take Ivy on your own," Batman countered her.

She cringed again at the accusation but then cocked an eyebrow when she realized an important detail that event.

"Wait a minute, you were there too so why didn't you try to help me?" she demanded.

"Oooh good question!" Robin cheered.

Batman just glanced over at his young ward which caused him to raise his hands in defeat and shrink back a bit. The Dark Knight then turned his attention back to his other sidekick.

"I didn't help because I arrived just as she was unmasking you," he explained in a calm, and yet still menacing, voice.

"Oh," Barbara deflated a bit. "Well that still brings up the question of how you even found me."

"There's a Bat-Wave transmitter installed in your Batcycle. I've been following it ever since you decided to take time to yourself."

Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped in shock, horror and most if all betrayal.

"You've been keeping tabs on me?" she shouted indignantly. "That's like...a complete invasion of my privacy!"

"I was only doing it to make sure you were going to be alright and see if you were going to get into any trouble. Judging by what happened I'd say it was the right call."

Any fear Barbara before was quickly replaced with incredulous anger. She couldn't believe he had just said that. So what if he was Batman, that didn't give him the right to talk to her like a child.

"I was having an off night!" she defended herself again. "It's not like you haven't been backed into a corner a couple times yourself. I mean, who was it that lost their memory while trying to stop Penguin, huh?"

Batman's eye narrowed dangerously. "That's not the point."

"I think it is," she returned as she crossed her arms over her chest to match his stance. "At the time you were trying to push me away from helping you just like I was doing tonight. I guess that means going solo isn't a good idea for any of us, is it?"

"I'd like to point out that I haven't gone solo yet," Robin interjected.

This time they both glared at him. Again he shrank back, this time pressing himself up against the Bat computer as much as he could to make himself appear invisible. The two bats quickly forgot about him though as their turned their intense glares on each other once more.

"I started out solo," Batman started to explain.

"Oh really? Cause I think Alfred would beg to differ with you there," Barbara pointed out, raising a finger to emphasis her point.

"That's-" he started but quickly shook his head. "We're getting away from the point here."

"Yeah that I was unmasked. I know. Trust me I don't like it anymore than you do but don't try to make it my fault! I mean we've just been extremely lucky that none of the bad guys have tried that before. Can you honestly tell me that no one's tried to pull back your cowl before?"

Batman's scowl deepened at the remark as it made him remember the two closest calls he had with that very problem. The first was when he had been knocked unconscious in one of his early battles with Ethan's Clayface and was at the mercy of his former partner Detective Yin. It was only by sheer luck, and a bit of emotional distress, that she didn't follow through with her promise to unmask him. Oddly enough the second almost unmasking also involved Yin when they were both captured by the Riddler. That time his secret identity was spared only by the Riddler's own compulsions to not get an "easy answer".

Both instances showed how easy it could be for any of them to be unmasked and it was certainly an issue he was working on. Still it did lend a certain amount of credence to Batgirl's argument.

"Fair enough," he conceded with a slight nod. "But that still doesn't resolve our biggest problem right now."

"Yeah I know, I know," Barbara sighed as she rolled her head back. "The biggest problem now is that Ivy knows I'm-"

"Batgirl!" Ivy shouted angrily as she stomped across the floor. "She's Batgirl!"

She growled in frustration and cursed under her breath as she continued to pace over the old dirt floor. With the greenhouse compromised the only place she could think to go in her agitated state was her old hideout under the Baudelaires store. She was hoping none of the bats would think to track her down there but at the moment she almost wished they would.

"Especially that traitorous little witch Batgirl!" she snapped to no one as she slumped down into her rosebud recliner.

She plopped her head down on the palm of her left hand while she drummed her fingers of her right hand on the arm of the chair. The leaves that made up the body of the chair rustled a bit under the rhythmic movements of her fingers she was too caught up in her own frustrated thoughts to pay it any attention.

"Batgirl," she muttered for what felt like the thousandth time. "Red is Batgirl! I just...I don't believe it! Why would she be Batgirl? I went to her first and asked her to join me on my crusade to save the planet after becoming Poison Ivy! But instead of going with her 'best friend' she decided go with...the Bat?"

She let out another wrathful scream and jumped up from the chair to start wandering around the cavernous room again. In the course of her heated walking she stumbled across the remains of the pods she had used to keep the citizens of Gotham alive while their plant doubles did her bidding in the city. She knelt down and idly played with one of the limp, transparent pink petals that laid half decompose in the dirt. She had almost succeeded in her plan to "Green Up Gotham" and only failed because the Bat Duo got in her way. Of course she really had no one to blame but herself for that misfortune since she thought it would be just such a great idea to create plant clones of them rather than disposing of them right away.

"I should have killed them when I had the chance!" she growled at her own stupidity.

Her brows furrowed in determination as she slowly rose to her feet.

"Next time I will kill them! Starting with my supposedly 'best friend' Batgirl! No!" she quickly remarked as a sadistic smirk crossed her face. "I'll kill Batman first. Yes, let her watch her precious mentor die. Then I'll kill that Boy Blunder Robin. Yeah that should do it. Let her suffer first by watching her friends die in front of her. Then I'll turn my attention do her! And then...then...then..."

She looked skyward and raised her right arm above her head as if she were about to make some profound statement or swear her undying vengeance to the heavens above. Instead her arm fell limply at her side again and she hung her head with a sigh, sorrowful sigh.

"Oh who am I kidding?" she muttered.

She willed another piece of shrubby furniture to life behind her, this time shaped like a bed. Once it was finished growing she let her body go limp and fall back onto it. She crossed her arms behind her head and stared up at the rocky cavern ceiling in deep thought. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly through her nose while she continued to mull everything over in her head.

"I can't hurt her," she finally confessed to herself.

As she continued to think about it she chuckled just a bit in disbelief.

"In love with a stupid superhero," she shook her head. "Oh Ivy what are you going to do?"

"So what are you going to do?" Batman pressed Barbara.

"I don't know, okay?" the redhead shouted and threw her arms up in exasperation.

She then lowered her head and began to rub her forehead to try to stave off the headache all this was bringing on.

"I just...I just need some more time to think this all through," she pleaded.

"Seems like the last time you thought it over you ended up being unmasked," Batman countered.

Barbara's eyebrows furrowed and she ground her teeth before her head shot up again to glare at him.

"Are you still on that?" she snapped. "Yes I got unmasked but now that I think about it I seem to remember hearing that something like that did happen to you! So what do you say boss, should I just get Joker to gas Ivy like you let him gas Wrath and Scorn after they figured out your identity?"

Batman quirked an eyebrow behind his cowl then pointedly looked over at Robin.

"You told her?" he asked in disbelief.

"Was I not supposed to?" Robin asked back with a shrug of his shoulders. "Just seemed like something she should know."

"Aha!" Barbara exclaimed as she pointed an accusing finger at Batman. "So there's something you were trying to keep from me! So how is that any difference than this?"

"Because neither Wrath nor I had any romantic feelings for each other," he stated simply.

"Yeah cause that would be kinda weird," Robin added.

Barbara gave him a slightly offended glare.

"What do you mean by 'weird'?" she asked pointedly.

The Boy Wonder's eyes went wide in horror when he realized what he had just said. He backed up and waved his hands erratically to try to ward off any further comment or physical attack.

"No! No! I didn't mean it like that!" he tried to defend himself.

"Then how did you mean it?" the redhead asked, narrowing her eyes dangerously.

"I just...meant that...whole hero/villain thing..." he paused and realized the issues with that statement, "I mean not that that's weird either but...um...I...I think I'm gonna shut up now."

"Good idea," she nodded.

"Let's just get back to the topic at hand," Batman spoke up, interrupting their bickering.

"You mean you tell me how much I messed up?" Barbara asked in a snarky tone.

"That's not what I was doing."

"Well it sure seems that way," she muttered as she crossed her arms over her chest and turned away from him.

Now it was Batman's turn to sigh and rub one of his temples. "I'm just trying to point out to you that you made a...misstep."

"You mean mistake!" the young heroine snapped as she spun on her heel towards him.

"If you want me to say it, then fine, you made a mistake by allowing yourself to be unmasked. But your first mistake was not trusting us to begin with."

"And honestly how exactly would you have reacted had I told you?" she pressed.

"I would have said that regardless of gender it's not a good idea for heroes and villains to date."

"Ha! Have you told that one to Catwoman yet?"

Batman narrowed his eyes. "What's that supposed to me?"

"Oh don't give me that!" Barbara snapped, jabbing an accusing finger at him. "I was there with you two when we get to Kilgore Steed's island, remember? I could've cut the tension between you with a machete."

"Yeah I did kinda get a weird vibe between you two during that whole Rumor incident," Robin piped in.

"See? Robin agrees with me."

Batman looked between his two sidekicks as his patience began to wear thin.

"Catwoman's a special case," he said offhandedly.

"Oh really?" Barbara asked indignantly. "And what exactly makes her makes her so 'special'?"

"Because she hasn't tried to kill anyone."

The redhead blinked at the straight forward, and quite frankly true, answer.

"Okay, you've got a point there," she started again hesitantly, "but Ivy's only tried to kill people and hasn't actually succeeded. So there's no actual blood on her hands."

"Yet," Batman quickly added. "But the fact that she's tried proves she's unstable."

"Which is the whole reason we have Arkham, right? I mean it's there to help people, isn't it? We're here to help people! Not just the ones being mugged or the victims of some the crazies but help the crazies as well. We're supposed to put them in Arkham and let them get rehabilitated and become productive members of society, right? If we don't try to do that anymore then what's even the point of all this?" Barbara cried out, throwing her hands into the air in frustration again.

Despite the redhead's emotional outburst, the Dark Knight kept his cool as he watched her pace back and fourth.

"Barbara, I appreciate your intentions but the sad fact is that there are some people who simply can't be helped."

"What about Ethan Bennett?"

Batman's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"What about him?" he ask in a low growl.

"Everyone said he was beyond help too but you never gave up on him," she pointed out.

"That's different. Ethan's mind was corrupted by the Joker and he was suffering trauma from his physical transformation."

"Just like Pam probably suffered from her transformation into Ivy?" she shot back with a slight smirk.

"Except that she already had a criminal record before then."

"So now you're judging my choice of friends, is that it?"

"No, that's not what I said."

"That's what you're implying. And because of all that we should just throw Ivy back into Arkham and never let her out again."

"You're putting words into my mouth," Batman responded heatedly.

"Because you never actually say anything!" Barbara snapped.

"You want me to say something? Fine. I don't approve of this...relationship."

Barbara's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the bluntest of his statement but then quickly furrowed in anger. Her hands balled tightly into fists and she ground her teeth slightly. She couldn't believe it! She just couldn't believe it. She didn't know why she was so surprised because it seemed par the course for him. Maybe it was just the flat out refusal to give her any kind of help. After everything she had done for him he couldn't do this one thing for her? And it wasn't like she was asking him to completely wipe out Ivy's criminal record but help her on the road to redemption. Sure that road included them becoming more than friends but that's probably what was going to help turn Ivy the most. And he didn't approve of that?

"Well it's a good thing I don't need your approval then, isn't it?" she snarled, jabbing a finger in the center of the bat symbol on his chest. "After all you're just my boss, not my father!"

Her eyes immediately in horror and she cupped her hands over her mouth in a vain attempt to get those words back. Unfortunately it was far too late. A tense, eerie silence fell over the cave as both Barbara and Robin waited to see how Batman would react to the indirect, but quite brutal, insult. True to his usual stoic nature, Batman showed no physical signs that the remark effected him at all. The only thing he did was to lower his arms so his cape could wrap completely around his body. For such a simple and nondescript action though it sure sent a big chill down Barbara's spine. So much so that she actually took a step back as her arms fell limply at her sides.

"That's true," he finally spoke up in an even colder voice than usual, "but somehow I doubt he'd approve of this situation anymore than I do."

With that he simply turned around and walked off to a different part of the Batcave, quickly melting into the shadows surrounding the trio. Even though he was gone the tension still hung in the air as Barbara and Robin remained silent for several seconds. They fidgeted nervously for a moment before the Boy Wonder finally looked over to his fellow sidekick.

"I really don't think you should have said that Babs," he remarked, hoping to get a rise out of her be using her least favorite nickname.

"Yeah. Me neither," she replied quietly before she herself walked off into the shadows.

Robin looked back and forth between the two directions as he tried to figure out what he should do the help the situation. He quickly shook his head though and sat down in front of the Bat Computer.

"I think the best thing to do right now it just stay out of it," he told himself and shook his head again slowly. "Man, relationships are complicated. Think I'll stay out of one for as long as I can. "

Ivy counted the stalactites as she continued to stare up at the ceiling of the cave. She had started counting in an effort to take her mind off the emotional turmoil she was going through but after reaching number 150 those thoughts began to creep back into the forefront of her mind. She let out an annoyed sigh before she rolled over onto her side and stared at the empty space on her leafy bed. She reached out with her left hand and gently stroked the soft petals and leaves. While she still enjoyed their tender touch she now found herself wishing there was something else fill that space. Or rather someone else. A nice warm body with whom to share her bed of roses.

Which is something she honestly never thought she would want. Of course she had never planned on having feelings for a person as strongly as she did for plants either. Yet here she was, pining away for one Barbara Gordon. Just like the last few weeks at Arkham before she gave herself an early release to go find the objection of her newfound affections. Although had she known that girl was going to end up being Batgirl she never would have left her cell.

Well not for that reason at least, she thought as she rolled onto her back once more. 'Course none of this really helps me answer the question of what exactly am I going to do? I can't hurt Barbara, I already realized that. I guess I could try to get her to see my side of things but the last time I tried that it didn't end well. She let out a bitter chuckle. Actually the last time I did that is what made her become Batgirl. So...go me!

She let out a frustrated growl as she pulled herself up on the leafy bed. She folded her legs under herself to sit Indian style so she could her head up on her left palm once again. She pursed her lips as she went over the options in her head one more time.

If I can't fight Red and she won't join me willingly then maybe... she mused.

She then ran her right hand through her rosebud shaped hair and when she pulled it back out she sparkling pink plant spores. Her own special brand that allowed her to control people's minds.

Although I've never actually used these on a woman before. Not even sure if they would work, she thought with a slight stroke of her chin. Still if it did then Red would be under my control and have to do whatever I tell her. Then we could both fight for the cause of Mother Nature! We'd be an unbeatable team! A salacious smile then crossed her green lips as her thoughts turned to more private matters. Then when we were alone and celebrating our victory she could really do whatever I wanted her to do. Or do to me. And there are so many things I could do to her in return...

A warm tingle spread throughout her body at those thoughts but they quickly receded along with her smile when she realized exactly what she was talking about.

But that wouldn't be Barbara. Not the one I know at least. No the one I feel for. She'd be nothing but a slave. A...living sex doll. I don't want that, she thought shamefully. That's definitely not what I want.

She tilted her hand and let the spores slowly fall to the leafy mattress beneath her where they were quickly absorbed. She rubbed her hands together to shake off any remaining spores then laid back down on the bed. She folded her hands over her stomach and she crossed her ankles as she stared up at the cave ceiling once again.

And now I'm right back to where I started. I'm just going in circles! There has to be a solution! she thought in frustration.

She took in a deep breath and let it out in a quick, derisive sigh when the final option slowly started to dawn on her. It was one she really didn't like but try as she might she couldn't think of an alternative. She rolled over onto her stomach to bury her face into the rosebud pillow and let out an almost pained groan. After a few seconds she finally picked her head up and slide off the bed. She rolled her shoulders and popped her neck before she started towards the exit that would take her back up to the shop above.

I really don't think there's any way around this, but I might as well talk to Red before coming to a final decision. Fortunately I know just where to find her. I just hope this doesn't end up becoming one of the biggest mistakes of my life.

Not that I haven't already made a few of those, she mused with a weary smile.

Barbara sat on the ledge to one of the cliffs in the deeper recesses of the Batcave. She swung her legs over it absently as she tried to figure out how everything went so wrong recently.

Well I definitely know it started when Ivy came to visit me, she realized. After that everything just kinda snowballed out of control leading to...that...thing I said.

She sighed and stared down into the black abyss below. It seemed rather appropriate since it felt like she had one of those in her stomach right now. There was no doubt about it, she had screwed up royally in serval different ways. Despite reacting in his usual...gruff way, Batman did have a point about Ivy learning her secret identity. If she wanted to she could really wreck her life and those of the people she cared about. While she desperately wanted to believe that Ivy wouldn't do that now, she still had to be somewhat objective and realize that it could in fact happen.

Which is what Batman was trying to tell me, she chided herself. He just went about it in a really horrible way. In that 'I'm always right and you're always wrong because you're just a rookie' kind of way. Her face scrunched up slightly. And it gets really annoying after awhile. Her expression then softened in regret. Still...I shouldn't have dropped a bomb like that. Maybe I should go apologize.

However, when she actually thought about that prospect she shuddered a bit.

In awhile. I should go apologize in awhile. When I'm certain he won't throw me to his pet bats, she rationalized. So that just leaves me with one question; what the heck should I do now?

The answer to that question came in unexpected form as her nose caught the familiar scent of freshly baked pastries. Before she could even turn her head in the direction the wonderful smell was coming from, a white gloved hand held out an immaculately cleaned silver platter filled with delicious treats next to her face.

"Hot buttered scone?" Alfred's voice asked in it's usual gentle tone.

Barbara turned to offer the elder English gentlemen a grateful smile as she took one of the scones off the tray.

"Thanks Alfred," she said softly before she took a bite.

"I've always found a good scone helps to cheer one up when they're feeling down," Alfred said sagely.

Barbara nodded until she finished her bite. "Well they certainly don't hurt that's for sure."

"I had a feeling you would be in need of one after that...unpleasantness earlier."

The redhead cringed a bit and looked sheepish up at him.

"You...heard that?"

"You would be amazed how well sound can travel in this cave."

She let out an embarrassed groan and buried her face in her hands. After a few seconds she finally pried her face away from them to glance up at Alfred with a hopeful look on her face.

"Do you...think he can forgive me?" she asked sheepishly.

"I think," he started softly yet firmly, "that a lot of things were said in the heat of the moment that no one really meant."

She took another bite of her scone as she thought that over.

"Yeah, yeah you're right," she said happily. "I mean I know I didn't mean that. Well technically it's true but-"

"I think both I and Master Bruce know what you really mean," Alfred reassured her.

She nodded again as she picked up another scone from the tray and began to nibble on it absently. She then looked back up at Alfred again and tried to get a read on his usually stoic face. It was actually a lot like Batman's but at least with Alfred you could always feel the warmth behind that seemingly impassive face. Which made it only slightly less awkward for her to ask the next question.

"So Alfred do you think this whole thing is...weird?" she questioned softly.

He quirked an eyebrow at her before the left corner of his mouth curled back slightly into an amused smirked.

"My dear, for the last few years of my life I have been helping a man in a bat suit run around the city fighting mob bosses and criminally insane. I believe your dilemma is the most normal situation I've dealt with in quite awhile," he explained to her.

Barbara chuckled around a mouthful of scone before her expression became unsure again.

"So...do you think I'm doing the right thing?" she asked.

"I think you're trying to help a friend better herself and regardless of the outcome it shows your heart is in the right place. That is a trait not many people have these days and shows are you a truly kind and remarkable girl," he answered with a sincere smile. "As for the other part of your dilemma...well quite frankly the only people who should be considered about that are you and Ms. Isley. I'm sure once you two have figured it out certain others will come around."

The redhead gave him a grateful smile before finishing off her second scone.

"Thanks Alfred," she said softly. "I needed to hear that."

"All in a day's work Ms. Gordon," he smiled back. "Now if you'll excuse me I have a few other chores I must attend to."

"Right, right but...um...could you...leave the tray?" she asked with a lopsided smile.

Alfred chuckled a bit as he set the tray down next to her.

"Of course. But when you're finished I expect to find that tray back upstairs in it's proper place."

"Gotcha," she nodded as she picked up another scone.

"And try not to lose it down here."

"I'll guard it with my life."

Alfred nodded before he turned and walked off to leave Barbara alone with her thoughts and delicious pastry snacks.

Elsewhere in the cave, Batman sat in front of one of the smaller computer stations idling going through his files on Poison Ivy. He told himself he was only doing it in hopes of finding something that would help him get a bead on her current whereabouts but in the back of his mind he knew the truth. Really he was going through all these files to find something that would explain why Barbara would defend her so passionately. To discover what glimmer of hope she was holding to that convinced her Ivy could be reformed.

It wasn't going well.

Even before the accident that turned her into Poison Ivy, Pamela Isley wasn't exactly a model student. There was multiple detention referrals, a spotty attendance record, and threats of violence against other students. Then of course there was her juvenile hall record. Counts of vandalizing/destruction of property, inciting riots, and various breaking and entering accounts. All of which was before she decided to higher Temblor to take her "protests" to the next level.

Try as he might he couldn't quite fit the puzzle pieces together. There just didn't seem to be a reason why Barbara would be Pamela's friend let alone develop romantic feelings for her. Especially now given the drastically different sides of the law they were on.

"So what am I missing?" he muttered to himself as he stroked his chin in thought.

"I believe you're giving it too much thought," Alfred's voice suggested to him.

Batman tilted his head to the left to see his faithful butler standing next to him holding a small saucer and cup.

"Herbal tea," he answered before Batman could even ask and set the saucer on the arm of the chair. "I thought it would help you relax. And was quite fitting given your current subject."

The Caped Crusader glanced up at the mug shot of Ivy on the screen for a second before he picked up the cup and took a sip. When he put it back down he looked over at Alfred again.

"What were you saying?" he asked.

"I said I believe you're giving this too much thought," Alfred repeated himself.

"And why do you say that?"

"Because you're trying to find a scientific explanation for emotions. In my experience that never works and usually results in giving one a headache."

"You certainly have a point there," Batman muttered as he rubbed his cowled forehead. "I'm just trying to understand who Barbara could be attracted to a criminal."

"Or perhaps you're just frustrated that her situation has a tinge of familiarity to it," Alfred remarked pointedly.

Batman narrowed his eyes and scowled at him.

"Meaning?" he pressed.

"Meaning perhaps there's a reason why Catwoman has been so successful at alluding The Batman's grasp," the Englishman remarked flippantly.

"Why does everyone keep bringing her up?"

"Because the rest of us aren't blind, sir. Try as you might to suppress it, we've all seen a certain...glint in your eyes when you interact with her."

"You've never even seen me with Catwoman," he shot back.

"No, but remember I do monitor communications from here and I've seen the way you look at her pictures while reviewing her cases. And a few that don't involve her."

Silence fell over the tiny corner of the cave as Batman turned back to the computer and started to flip through the files again. He took a few idle sips from the tea as Alfred continued to stand quietly next to him in perfect form. After a few tense filled seconds, Batman finally acknowledged him with a slight tilt of the head.

"Is there something else you wanted?" he asked curtly.

"Well, to be perfectly honest, sir, I was hoping you would have another talk with young Ms. Gordon," Alfred explained with a hint of insistence.

Batman furrowed his brows and stared at the screen. "I don't see the need to. She seems to have made up her mind."

"That's not the point. You both said things rather hurtful to each other and I believe it's best to resolve that issue now before it becomes a bigger problem."

"It's not going to become a problem. I can deal with it."

"Really? And does dealing with it involve even more brooding than usual?" Alfred remarked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'm not brooding, I'm studying," he insisted.

"And if I had a nickel for every time I heard that over the years I'd have enough wealth to rival yours, Master Bruce."

"Is that supposed to be a joke?"

"Supposed to be, yes. I'm afraid I've never been quite good at telling them," he confessed. "But what I have been good at is telling when things have hurt your more than you want to let on. Like Barbara's earlier outburst. I know from personal experience how much that particular phrase can hurt."

That statement finally provoked a response from the usual stalwart superhero and that being one of utter shock. He turned his full attention over to his faithful butler and confidant and times when he desperately needed one the most, father figure.

"I...never..." he started to say.

"Yes. You did," Alfred revealed with a hint of sadness. "You were younger than Master Dick and even then you were planning for...all this," he gestured around the Bat Cave. "I tried to talk you out of the idea and during a heated argument you told me the same thing Barbara told you. It hurt me just as much as I know it hurt you."

Batman sank back into his chair, his head dipped in shame and remorse.

"Alfred...I'm sorry," he said softly.

"I know you are, Sir. You even said so back then. I know you didn't mean it but still, hearing you apologize meant the world to me. So perhaps if you talk to Ms. Gordon you might hear the same thing. Then perhaps you'll want to help this confused and scared young woman with her problem in a much more...civilized way."

With that, Alfred picked up the cup and saucer then turned and walked away to leave his one time ward alone with his thoughts. Batman leaned back into the chair again and looked back up at the screen to see the scowling face of Poison Ivy looking back at him. He stared at it for a moment before he brought up a picture of Catwoman in a split screen. Looking back and fourth between them it finally dawned on him that Barbara took after him in more ways than just wearing a bat on her chest.

Barbara frowned when she felt her gloved hand scratch against polished silver instead of wrapping around another delicious scone. She turned her head to find only a few crumbs on the tray next to her and let out a disappointed sigh.

"Well I guess that's the end of snacking for now," she muttered. "Guess I could go back to figuring out my problem but I've thought about that enough to give me ten headaches. So instead..."

She reached into one of the compartments on her belt and pulled out her iPod. She knew it was probably something she shouldn't carry with her in costume but there were times when she couldn't help but listen to some music. Especially on long, boring stake outs or just to annoy Robin by blocking out his chatter while riding in the Batmobile. The look on his face was always priceless. Right now she wanted to use it to just jam away and try to clear her head a bit. After she stuck the ear buds into her ears she hit play and closed her eyes in preparation to hear some soothing tunes.

Unfortunately her eyes popped back open in surprise when she heard the first lyric of the song:

Some days I feel like crying

"Touche magical iPod," she mumbled as she glared down at the red device.

Don't matter if its rain or shine
I feel like my heart was broken
At least a million times

"No kidding," she said with an amused smirk.

Some days I wake up dreaming
Feels like I never even woke
Answer life's big question
As if it's one big joke

Despite her initial shock at the song, Barbara quickly got into the cheery beat of the song and closed her eyes again as she bobbed her head in time with the music.

Maybe it's too soon to be sure but I
Really do believe that some day we're gonna have it all
So I cry so hard it keeps the rhythm of a train
Rolling right along when the ride gets rough you got to carry on

Her enjoyment of the song didn't last too long, however, when she felt a familiar chill in the air. She pressed the pause button on the dial then slowly plucked out the ear buds before she sighed deeply. Despite the slight tremor running through her body she found the courage to open her eyes and stand up to face the man she knew was behind her. To her surprise though, he had pulled back his cowl to show the slightly more friendly face of Bruce Wayne. Even more surprising was the fact that he didn't look extremely mad at her. His expression was much more neutral and she could swear she could see a bit of remorse in his eyes but that could have been the dark lighting playing a trick on her. Of course she was sure her own remorseful expression was shining bright and clear.

"Look...about what I said earlier," she started meekly. "I'm sorry. I'm really, really, really sorry. I didn't mean it I swear!"

Bruce held up a hand to signal her to be quiet. An action she took quit quickly and even stepped back a bit.

"I know," he said calmly. "And I'm sorry I upset you enough to say something like that. But you have to understand this is a very...unique situation for me."

"For you?" she shouted almost indignantly. "Imagine what I'm going through!"

"I'm trying," he stressed. "Which is why I'm willing to overlook your earlier outbursts and work with you to figure all this out."

Barbara blinked at the unexpected response.

"Really? Well that's...cool," she mumbled. "But I'm still trying to figure out exactly what I'm supposed to do."

"The logical step would be to try to confront Ivy again," Bruce advised.

"I know but I'm just not sure where to find her!"

"Maybe she'll find you."

She gave him a curious look.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Well she obviously knows where you dorm room is since she paid you a visit there before so if we're lucky she'll try to contact you there again soon."

"'Lucky'?" Barbara repeated with a smirk. "Not really your usual style."

"I'm finding I'm doing a lot of things I wouldn't normally do lately," he remarked. "But there is one thing in this operation I have no problem doing."

"Oh? And what's that?"

"Trusting you."

Again Barbara was shocked by his straight forward answer but this time it was a much more pleasant surprise. Of course it was still overwhelming to get such simple, and yet such important, praise from him and there was really only one way she could think to properly respond. She quickly sprang forward to wrap her arms around his shoulders and gave him a tight hug. Bruce was a little taken aback by the gesture at first but once he recovered he wrapped his arms around her to return the hug.

"Thank you," she whispered into his ear.

"Just don't make me regret it," he joked.

"I'll do my best," she smiled as she pulled back from him. "So does this mean you'll help Ivy?"

"I'll do what I can but I make no promises," he told her flatly.

"I know, I know. Just...let me handle most of this, okay? If she sees you and Robin out there then she'll probably panic and the whole thing will be a bust."

"Like I said I trust you to see this through to the end. But if you need any help I'll be there for you."

"I know. And I appreciate it," she nodded. "Now if you'll excuse me I kinda want to get back to my song while I try to figure out what to do next."

Bruce nodded then leaned down to pick up the tray. "Alright. I'll take this back up to Alfred while I'm at it."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Once Bruce left, Barbara sat back down on the ledge of the cliff with a wide smile on her face.

Now there's a twist I never would have seen coming, she mused. But oddly enough it gives me hope that maybe this whole thing will turn out for the best. Which is really all I can do at this point. That and carry on.

She put the ear buds back in and pulled up her right knee to her chest so she could rest her arm on it while she let her left leg hang off the edge and swing a bit. She quickly pressed play before she rested her left hand on the rocky ground as she closed her eyes once again to thoroughly enjoy the song.

Some days I feel like singing
I sit back and just groove the day away
Maybe I pick up a guitar and play what I want to play

Carry on,
You got to carry on
You got to carry on
You got to carry on

Today I feel like laughing
Seems to be no reason at all
And if the world stops spinning
I'm not afraid to fall

To Be Concluded...

Author's Notes: Another two months and another chapter written. I sincerely apologize for how long it's been taking me to write this thing but apparently my muse just decided to be a right bitch during this whole chapter. I really didn't think it'd take me this long since I've had a lot of these scenes in mind from the beginning and it's mostly dialogue which usually is very easy for me to write. But again I just had far too much trouble concentrating on it. It was frustrating to say the least.

But the chapter's finally done and I really hope you all enjoyed it. I will admit right now I wanted to do more with Ivy, at least one more scene, but by the time I finished writing that second scene with her I realized I did all I wanted to do with her in this chapter. Plus it was hard to keep her scenes from becoming repetitive and boring since she only has plants to talk to and they don't make the best conversationalists. Rest assured you'll be seeing much more of her in the next chapter.

Speaking of which, as you can see above there the next one will be the last chapter of this fic. It's not going to be very long so I'm really, really hoping I'll get it done by next weekend. Especially since the rest of this month's going to be completely and utterly suck for me because of work and it'll drain any creativity I have. It should be easy because it's just three scenes and things I've had in mind since the beginning and are pretty dialogue heavy. Course that's what I said about this chapter too and we all know how that turned out! Oy.

Anyway before I go I have to say that the song Barbara's listening to is called "Have It All" from the "Scrubs" soundtrack and is preformed by Jeremy Kay. There that should cover my ass legally. The only other thing I want to say is that the last "shot" of Babs was inspired by the pic my friend Festum, or Trackula as he's known here on FF.N, did for me about a year ago for my Batgirl Jam. You can find it here by removing the spaces:

http:/ /thebatgirl-ivy. /gallery / ?set=25231837&offset=24#/d24oshx

Just close in the spaces. You can also find a colored version done by TM2DB here:

http:/ thebatgirl-ivy. /gallery/ ?25231837#/d24p7wv

So that's all. See you next time which hopefully won't be as long as this time.