Things have been pretty quiet the past week, though Jimmy has been very on the edge. Every time we talked he seemed to have wild theories about the mob, about the Joker, and about anything he overhears his father talk about, which isn't even much. I tried eaves dropping on his father with him ones, when I wanted to see where he got all his 'information' turns out it's barely anything, the rest of the things he tells me are wild speculations.

"Yes, I get it," I said exasperatedly, "evil darkness coming over to take over the world,"

I heard a groan in the other line. "You're not listening!"

I sighed. "Well forgive me if I don't have time to listen to your predictions, I'm currently trying for go back in time, not move forward,"

"Huh?"

"I'm studying for my History exam,"

"History? We're talking about history in the making here," I swear I could hear him pacing around his room.

"Which I highly doubt with be part of my exams tomorrow since it hasn't even happened yet, and I refuse to be one of those people who make their parents give donations to the school," I said donations with so much spite. I really didn't like it when other students did that; the school already took enough from our wallets and I didn't care how prestigious they were, they did not need more.

"Ok ok," Jimmy said, probably his now his scratching the back of his head, I really do spend too much time with him, "I'll talk to you tomorrow then,"

"Sure," I replied.

"Good luck with your exam,"

"Good luck with your conspiracy theories," I heard him laugh before hanging up.

I kept trying to concentrate on my notes but I really found history boring. Suddenly bribing – I mean, giving donations to the school sounded appealing. I smacked my head on the notebook.

"Trouble?" I heard Bruce ask.

"History," I answered, pointing at my notes with my pencil.

He grimaced, "I always hated history," he said.

I groaned and went back to being productive by smacking my head on my notebook. Bruce chuckled. "There is something I can do for you though, and it will get your mind off things,"

I looked up expectantly. "There is?"

"Yeah, I'm planning on going to this impromptu trip for a couple of days," he said, "go hire a small yacht, sail a bit. I know it's really sudden but a bit important that I go,"

"How is that suppose to help me?" I crossed my hands; I had hoped he actually had a good solution to my problem.

"Well," he said slowly, "you won't have to do your exam tomorrow,"

"Urgh," I rolled my eyes, "You're not very helpful you know that," Nor was a he a good influence, but I wasn't going to tell him that.

He smiled, "Sure you don't want to come? Alfred's coming along, so you'll be alone here. I can always write you an excuse letter for your teacher. It'll just be for three days,

I shook my head, "I'll be fine here. Besides, I don't wanna miss the test tomorrow. I just want to get the test over and done with,"

"Well if you sure," he said uncertainly, "I'll be packing some stuff in my room, if you change your mind just tell me,"

I nodded, "Who are you taking aside from Alfred?"

He smirked mischievously, "I was thinking of inviting the Moscow Ballet team along,"

I frowned, "Wasn't Harvey Dent planning on taking Rachel to watch them tomorrow?"

He laughed, "Was he? Oh, well the performers already agreed and it would be really rude to cancel on them,"

"Sure," I said sarcastically.

He kept on laughing as he left my room. He came back after an hour trying to convince me to come with them, but I didn't want to go.

"You go have fun," I insisted, "Besides, I think it'll be nice staying here alone for a bit. It'll give me some freedom,"

"Ok," he said, "Just remember if you need anything just call for anyone downstairs, I asked Gordon to pick you up to and from school,"

I rolled my eyes; he hasn't let me get picked up by someone we didn't know for since that incident in the Narrows.

"Oh and no boys," he said.

"What about Jimmy?" I asked.

He shook his head, "No boys, even if it's just Jimmy,"

I sulked, but agreed. He didn't say I can't say over Jimmy's place.

"Ok, well I'll be back before you know it," he said giving me a kiss on the forehead.

I watched as they left the building through the security cameras we had installed. I had a feeling this impromptu trip had a bigger agenda than what he had told me but I decided not to dwell on it. He had his secrets and I had mine, ok maybe I didn't really have any secrets, yet, eventually though.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

"Hey Mr. Gordon," I greeted when I saw him on the front door if the condo building. He seemed to be admiring the towering construction. It was one of the best condominiums in Gotham and we had the highest and biggest room.

"Charlie," he greeted back when he saw me.

"Sorry you had to come all the way here just to pick me up," I apologized sheepishly, "I told Bruce to just let the driver bring me to school, but he doesn't let me go in a car without someone we know,"

Jim nodded, "That's ok, I'm glad Bruce is becoming more responsible," he told me, "Where did he go off to by the way?"

"On a yacht trip in the south with some of the dancer from the Moscow Ballet team," I answered.

I could almost see a sweat drop, like the ones those anime characters get, on his forehead.

During the car trip Mr. Gordon would ask me about my studies, my life, how I've been adjusting, and all that. He asked like he was a concerned parent instead of just a curious person. As much as I would hate to admit it, sometimes I get jealous at the fact that Mr. Gordon is Jimmy's dad. Mr. G's a great dad who really loved his family more than anything in the world. I don't get jealous much anymore, but I still looked up to Mr. Gordon.

"How are you?" he asked me, shaking me out of my thoughts.

"I'm fine," I answered instinctively.

I heard him sigh, and I looked at him, "Are you really?"

I didn't answer him as fast. I contemplated on how different things have been, "I really am fine," I answered him truthfully. He didn't look too convinced.

"I'll admit I've had my misgivings about Bruce. My opinion on him seems to vary each day. He does something extremely stupid one day then the next he's holding a fund raising. I'm willing to ignore all his wrongs and his flamboyant attitude as long as I know that he is doing his best by you," he said, I noticed his grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"Don't worry Mr. Gordon, he's doing his best," I told him, his grip lightened.

He gave me a quick gentle smile before turning his eyes back to the road, "I'm glad," he said, "You're like family to me and I don't want to see you getting hurt,"

I was really touched that he was so concerned. I was glad that I had him and his family in my life. For the first time in a while, I realized a lot of people really did care about me. It was not just Bruce; it was also Alfred, Jimmy, Mr. Gordon, Marc, Rachel, my friends from school, my teachers, and a lot of other people who were there for me. I've thought, for a long while now, that I was alone, but in reality that I was far from it.

"Thank you," I whispered. I couldn't look at him because I was afraid I would get too emotional and start crying. How embarrassing would it be if I started crying in front of Jimmy's dad. If Jimmy found out, he'd never let me hear the end of it.

The car moved to a stop in front of my school. Just as I opened the door, I felt a hand hold my shoulder lightly. I turned around and Mr. Gordon had a stern look on his face, the same one he wears when disciplining Jimmy.

"I'm picking you up here at 5:00, don't wander about. If I'm late, go to the office and wait for me there," he instructed, "Oh and Jimmy asked me to ask you if you wanted to come at our place after you finish school. I think he overheard me talking to your father,"

I nodded, "Sure Mr. G,"

I was amused by how good Jimmy was at finding out information, but I wasn't about to tell his father how much his son really knew. Or maybe I could hold it against Jimmy as blackmail material…

-0-0-0-

School was, well, school. I barely managed to make it through my history exam without making my brain bleed dry. It was really difficult.

"Hard exams?" a soft female voice asked.

Megan and I turned around and saw Ms. Patrick. She was no longer our homeroom teacher but she still occasionally conversed with us outside of class.

"How'd you know?" I asked sheepishly. When Bruce told me about her talk with him, I confessed to him that I've been hiding the noted she told me to give to him because I was afraid he'd send me to a boarding school if he saw how poorly I was doing. After some serious talk, he made sure I studied well, or at least attempted to. I had plans on becoming a doctor just like my grandfather was and I knew I had to do well in school for that to happen.

"I've been a teacher for some time, I know those faces," she replied teasingly.

Megan and I exchanged a grimace, "History," Megan told her.

She gave us a look of understanding, "Not my favorite either," she told us, "by the way, don't forget to pass your book reports next week,"
"We'll try not to," I told her as Megan dragged me away when the bell started ringing.

We headed to Josh the school caretaker's cabin and saw Chloe and Eugene waiting. Chloe had an excited expression on her face.

"Is it true?" she asked me as soon as she saw me.

I looked at her in confusion, "Is what true?"

"That Bruce knows the Moscow Ballet team and that they're on a private cruise right now?" she was practically jumping.

I nodded, I was a bit worried about my friend's sanity, "He asked me to go yesterday but I didn't really feel like it,"

Chloe looked at me with shock and repulse, "How could you not go?" she exclaimed, "This is the Moscow Ballet team, they're like the best of the best ballet teams in the world. Imagine the things you can learn if you had gone,"

"Why would want to go? It's just a bunch of boring dancers," Eugene said in disgust, "It's not like they're that much interesting, all they do is dance in silly little dresses," I agreed with him, but I didn't want to voice it out loud.

Megan and Chloe gasped, "They are not silly!" Megan yelled. I was glad I decided not to voice my thoughts.

"Those dancers are so pretty, and they're so classy," she continued and started dancing ballet moves.

"Plus they can do all sorts of bends and pirouettes," Chloe told us as she followed Megan's attempts at ballet. She failed, miserably, and ended up bumping into an unfortunate passerby. I tried not to laugh but it was proving difficult with Megan next to me laughing her ass off.

Eugene sighed loudly, as he kept his head down so people wouldn't recognize him, "Why do I bother hanging out with you girls?"

"Because you love us to pieces," I replied cheekily, "and you can't live your life without us,"

He pretended to look disbelieved but I could see an obvious dimple on the corner of his cheeks.

"Hang on, if your dad's not in your house, does that mean you have a free house?" Eugene asked.

"Sorry Eu, Bruce says no guys," I told him apologetically.

"Shiz, and I wanted to see what your new Wayne pad looked like," he grumbled.

I realized I haven't invited my friends over to my house in a while. It was rather rude of me considering I've hanged out at their houses often. I guess it was because I haven't gotten used to asking Bruce for permission for my friends. Before he came along they just came over whenever, but now I had to get Bruce's approval.

"I'll ask him if he'd allow you guys to come over when he gets back," I told them. They all seemed visibly happy.

-0-0-0-0-0-

I spotted Mr. Gordon's car waiting in the parking lot looking very out of place next to the luxury cars around it. "Your carriage awaits you princess," said a mocking voice that could only belong to a nasty rotten person by the name of Kristine.

I didn't mind though, his car looked really awesome when you turn the sirens on. I'd rather ride that than whatever Kristine rode, at least Mr. Gordon's car actually helped people. The state of his car didn't even bother me one bit, I thought it was cool.

"Why do you keep giving her reasons to mock you?" Megan asked as we made our way to the parking lot.

I shrugged, "She needs someone to mock so she can survive. It's like her energy force, if she doesn't mock people she'll turn into the witch that she is,"

Megan snorted, "Well driver's here,"

I gave her a quick hug before heading towards Mr. Gordon's car. As I got nearer to the vehicle I noticed another person, a woman, sitting on the passenger seat. I assumed it was a fellow officer.

"Hey Mr. Gordon," I greeted upon entering the car.

"Charlie, this is Det. Anna Ramirez," he introduced the woman next to him.

I gave her a nod and went to sit comfortably behind Mr. Gordon so that I would be able to see Anna. She had a suspicious vibe around her that I couldn't describe. It was almost like something was telling me not to trust her and that she wasn't a straight cop. Anna just gave me a faint smile before looking around. The cars were a bit jammed since many people were picking up students.

"I would never in my life afford cars like these," she said in awe. I looked at the cars uninterestedly; they all looked the same to me. I wasn't really into cars, Eugene can talk about engines and horse power all day long but I just doze off whenever he does.

"These students all look so… rich," she continued. I heard Mr. Gordon chuckle amusedly, another thing I liked about Mr. Gordon, he wasn't easily intimidated with the rich lifestyle. I blocked out her voice as she ranted on and on about how expensive that was or how classy this looked.

When I spotted a familiar face a few feet away from us I immediately opened the window, cutting Anna off, and waved outside, "Bye Chloe!" I yelled.

"See you Charlie," I faintly heard her yell back. I closed the window and saw Anna looking perturbed at being interrupted so suddenly. I was going to apologize but I didn't get the chance to.

"So this is the kind of life the Princess of Gotham has," she turned to me and gave me a fake smile. I could see the jealousy behind it though; I knew a part of her resented me for having what I had.

I tried returning the smile but all I managed was a grimace. Her smile became sour for a moment and she turned her head straight again. I ignored her, I had a feeling it would be a long car ride.

I was right.

-0-

When we got to the house I immediately ran inside after a quick thanks to Mr. Gordon. Despite the car ride being extremely boring and dull, I did find out a few things. I found out that Anna didn't like the Batman much and that she was taking care of someone and was lacking the fund for it. Unfortunately I also found out she was having dinner with us.

"Glad you made it," Jimmy greeted brightly when I entered his room. He didn't even turn around the computer; the rapid sound of him typing on his keyboard did not pause for a second.

I just nodded. I didn't want to disturb him as he did whatever he was doing so I made myself at home. His house was sort of like my second home, I've been here loads of times before. There were science experiments scattered around his room, stuff that he did for science fair, toy guns and cars, and plenty of books. I had to admit, Jimmy was a bit of a nerd.

One thing I really did like about his room though was his bed. I lied down on is and stared at the ceiling. The reason I liked it was because his ceiling had glow-in-the-dark stars scattered all over it.

"Your dad's friend came with," I informed him.

I heard him stop typing; I waited for him to say something.

"How did you find her?" he asked, he started typing on his computer again but not as fast as before.

"She seems ok," I answered evasively.

"It feels like she's up to no good." Sometimes I get slightly freaked out how frank he could be but I did agree with what he said.

"She seems like a rogue cop,"

"I know, but dad can't see it. He thinks she's part of the new group of cops who aren't being paid off by the mob,"

"Yes, your dad can sometimes put too much faith on people, just look at the Batman for example," I knew mentioning Batman would get Jimmy's away from the computer. I was right, again.

I heard Jimmy's chair turn and I stared at him.

"Batman is someone you can put your faith on," he said determinedly. His face was really serious.

"But underneath the mask is still a man," I retorted, gauging his reaction carefully.

He shook his head, "A man who risks his life everyday for this city. A man who knows that the laws are flawed, so he took matters in his own hand instead of hiding," he ranted with passion, "He has done so much for this city. Just a year ago I was thinking of convincing my dad to leave the city because I was afraid of the kind if people he worked with. I trust in Batman,"

I wondered if I should tell him my suspicion on Batman's identity. I wondered if he'd be able to piece the puzzle together and find proof. I wondered if he'd even want to know who the masked vigilante is or if knowing who it is break the prefect image Jimmy has of the Batman. I decided not to tell.

"We can't always rely on Batman though," I gazed back at the ceiling.

He didn't rebuke me. I think he agreed with what I had said. It was true, one day Batman will have to stop and if my suspicion on his identity was correct. I hoped that day would come soon.

-000-

A/N: Greeting readers and fellow fanfic writers. I hope you enjoyed what I wrote...

I don't really have much to say but I was suffering from insomnia so I decided, hey why not update? So I did, hehehe

Question: What is the best ice cream flavour?