Disclaimer: I could not hope to own batman, much to my chagrin.

Chapter 4

"Hello?" "Yes is this Lucius Fox?" Serenity asked. "Yes, may I ask who it is I am speaking with?" "My name is Serenity Trachioskwa, I assume Jorkov has told you about me?" Upon hearing her name his memory sparked. "Ah yes, he informed me I would be hearing from you, how was your trip, good I trust." Serenity smiled, she had a feeling she would grow to like this Mr. Fox. "Yes the trip was smooth, may I ask when you can be free for a meeting, there is much we need to discuss." "Yes I believe so, well since your bike will arriving Thursday how about you come by then, say around 3." "Perfect, I'll see you then Mr. Fox bye." He sat there staring at the phone for a few minutes after he hung up. From what Jorkov had told him of his new associate, it seemed there would be one more person to lurk the night. The only question was would Batman align himself with or against her.

After getting off the phone with Lucius Serenity proceeded to pull out her black suit and lay it out on the bed along with her black heels before heading to the shower. Once she was done she proceeded to get ready for the funeral. She put her damp hair in a neat chignion and put on the black pant suit she had put out once she was done she grabbed a small black purse from her luggage and went to meet Bruce in the main hall.

Bruce had just finished putting on his black dress shoes when Serenity came down the stairs to the main hall. Her suit was a simple business black, but it was well tailored to fit her every curve. "Serenity, You can wait outside I'll just get the keys." She nodded and slipped her sunglasses on before stepping outside. Bruce shortly followed her, despite the occasion as usual Bruce looked impeccable, he wore a black Armani suit with a white shirt and matching tie. "Will Alfred not be joining us?" she asked. Before Bruce could answer the English butler stepped out and headed for the car. The car ride to the funeral home was a slient one, Serenity had heard how Rachel died and was still in a state of denial herself. Rachel had been one of her closetest friends in her days in gotham, and when Bruce had mysteriously disappeared she had immediately called. She was there at the funeral when her mom was killed and she was there to see her off to Russia, it was hard to believe that she was really gone.

When they arrived at the viewing, and saw Rachel in her casket, peaceful and unmoving a wave of deep sadness and loss hit both Bruce and Serenity. Tears escaped Serenity's eyes as memories assailed her, the three of them as kids playing hide and seek, Rachel and Bruce sitting in the front row of her first ballet recital. They all seemed like a different life now, light years away. They said their silent goodbyes before taking a seat behind her parents. The service with the funeral home went by swiftly, each of the viewers were instructed to leave rose petals atop Rachel's hands before they closed the casket. Once that was done they all gathered downstairs to watch as Bruce, Rachel's father and Alfred carried the casket into the herse before going to their own cars.

They drove to the cemetery a few minutes away from the funeral home. Where the casket was placed atop a stand infront of the priest. Everyone was instructed to sit as the priest gave the service. "Dear Lord, it is with heavy hearts that we commend Rachel Dawes into your loving and awaiting arms…." The priests words slowly faded as the reality of everything hit Bruce, Rachel was really gone, he would never see her sweet smile or hear her soft laugh ever again. He wouldn't wait for her after her shift so they could go for a coffee. She would no longer be there to tell him to be careful when his services as batman were needed. No more, not now, not ever again. The realization cause his throat to constrict and his heart to clench. He felt the tears slowly but surely slip from his eyes. He felt a squeeze and looked over to Serenity, she had gently but reassuringly given his hand a squeeze, her eyes glassy from her own tears. Alfred too placed a hand on his shoulder, simple gestures to remind him that he was not alone in his pain. Soon enough it was time to lower the casket but before that each there was instructed to take a rose and place it on the casket while saying their final goodbyes. Once they had each placed their rose and said goodbye the casket was lowered. In that moment Bruce's pain turned to anger, anger and frustration at himself with the knowledge that he could have done something to save her, but he couldn't. Not as Bruce and not as Batman he had failed her. How long would it be before he too failed all of gotham?

Serenity noticed the look in his eyes and placed a hand on his shoulder to get his attention. He looked over at her and she pulled him into a hug gently massaging the back of his scalp. He returned her embrace and tried to keep his composure. "She's really gone." He whispered. Serenity broke the embrace to look at him, and gently raised his chin to meet her eyes. "Bruce when my father died my mother she told me he wasn't really gone, because we never truly lose the ones we love as long as we keep their memory alive in our hearts." Bruce just looked at her, a woman who like himself had lost both of her parents and was no stranger to death, even though she could never know of the guilt weighing heavy on his heart. Yet she had managed to lighten his heart just a bit with her words. He silently pulled her in for another quick embrace. "Thank you." he whispered before letting her go.

When they arrived back at the manor it was nearly 6:00. They all changed out of their attire and into more comfortable clothing so they could eat. Dinner was eaten in silence, as emotions were still raw. After the meal Bruce excused himself for night, making his way to the southeast wing of the manor, he knew wouldn't get much sleep tonight so he figured he might as well do something productive.

Meanwhile Serenity changed into a pair of sweats and tang top, she grabbed her Ipod and made her way to the fitness room. Once there she pulled out a mat and stretched before going over to the bike. After her workout she noticed a tv and a bunch of instructional yoga tapes. She was surprised to see them there. She hadn't figured Bruce for a yoga type of guy. She herself loved yoga it helped calm her mind and it was the best way to maintain her endurance and flexibility needed for both her day job of ballet instructor as well as her very important night one. When she had enough she reseigned to her room and took out a couple of candles and lit them before sitting down crosslegged on the floor and allowed herself to cleanse her mind and body entering a deep state of meditation. Serenity had lost track of time, as she usually did when in one of her deep meditative trances, when a crash broke her intense focus.

Bruce had returned to the manor at midnight, he thought a patrol around the city would help him clear his head, boy was he wrong. The one night he needed to fight there was no one to fight with, yeah sure there was your petty everyday thief and mugger but that only lasted 5 minutes or so. It seemed both the Joker and the Riddler were hiding, which most likely meant that they were planning something. His nerves shot he made his way to his study and poured himself a glass of brandy. He told himself it was only one glass to calm him then he would return to the bat cave to try and figure out the Joker's next move. But one glass quickly turned to two and then three and in no time he was drunk, so drunk that instead of heading to his room he headed toward the northeast part of the building when he knocked into a side table and sent the lamp crashing to the ground. He ignored it and kept walking until he walked into a wall instead of a doorway. "Damnned it" he slurred.

Upon hearing the crash Serenity thought it was the wind or some raccoon outside until she heard a hard thud and a slurred Damn it. She made her way out of her room only to encounter a very drunk Bruce. " Serimnity" he slurred. " Bruce what have you done to yourself." He looked perplexed " Whys dere two of you?" Serenity sighed and went to help him to his room. As she walked with him a half awake Alfred stumbled up the stairs. "what seems to be the- oh dear." "There's a broken lamp down the hall, I'll get him to bed." Alfred nodded too tired to argue. "Where we goin?" he asked "Your bedroom so you can sleep." "But m'rooms that away." He said pointing behind her. "No Bruce your room is here, come on." She said dragging him to the bed. She proceeded to take off his robe so he could sleep more comfortably. She was shocked to find that all he wore was a pair of grey sweats. Her throat grew dry at the sight, his body was all lean muscle like a statue carved from marble. She forced herself to clear her mind and focus on getting him into bed. Once that was done, Alfred reappeared with a glass of water and 2 advil. Serenity took them and placed them on the night table. "Thank you Alfred you can go back to bed, I'll make sure he's ok." Alfred nodded and sleepily walked back to his chambers.

"Hear Bruce, take these, and have some water." He did as instructed and just as she was about to get up he grabbed her wrist. "Why?" he asked. She looked at him "Why what Bruce?" she said sitting back down beside him. "Why'd all the people I love leave me?" Serenity sighed a bit shocked that he would ask that. She considered it for a moment before replying. "There's not much we can do, sometimes things just happen, no matter how hard we think we could have changed them, in the end, their just what ifs, and believe me they don't want to leave us, they just do. Now get some sleep, you're going to need it." He nodded and she left his room, silently making her way back to her own. She knew that feeling of lonliness all too well. She had asked the same question to herself many times, never getting an answer even though the logical part of her kept saying what she had just told Bruce. It didn't make it hurt any less, the only thing that seemed to remotely help was the numbness that came with being the Black Angel. How she longed for that numbness now.

spend all your time waiting

for that second chance

for a break that would make it okay

there's always one reason

to feel not good enough

and it's hard at the end of the day

I need some distraction

oh beautiful release

memory seeps from my veins

let me be empty

and weightless and maybe

I'll find some peace tonight

in the arms of an angel

fly away from here

from this dark cold hotel room

and the endlessness that you fear

you are pulled from the wreckage

of your silent reverie

you're in the arms of the angel

may you find some comfort here.

Well there's the chapter, I hope I continued the fic smoothly. Lets see if I can finish it this time. Continue to R&R.

Maeve