Three chapters in one night...I am impressed by myself for being so active, given my past works and their update amount...oh well. So am I doing something okay here or is this just a mess? And yes, I was very inspired by The Dark Knight Rises, I loved it. I heard about the shooting when I came back from the movie (I live in Holland, so I only saw it in the news after the movie). I hate how its name has been stained by some idiot who just took ruined so many lives for nothing! My heart goes out to the victims (and their relatives) of the shooting.

Please let me know if this is a good track or if I should rather focus on other stories. Yes, I am rather insecure about it now...so do review! I don't own Castle or Batman!

The pair drank their tea in silence as they let the reality of the situation sink in. Bruce Wayne was here, in New York, to see her, formerly Selina Kyle, now Martha Rodgers. Bruce had been forced to be an absent dad, though there hadn't been a day he hadn't thought of the love of his life and his son.

'So why are you here, Bruce? Is Gotham finally safe of its demons?'

He curled his mouth in a disapproving way when he thought of his birth town and its everlasting deal of villains. He had spent a lifetime trying to protect the city as well as possible, until he had been forced to hand over the cape to his 'heir'. A lifetime protecting a city instead of raising his son, instead of marrying the woman he loved…he had paid a price, but had it been worth it?

'No, but that is not my responsibility anymore. I donned the cape years ago, and spend the last twenty years organizing partnerships between various defenders of the city, educating them, helping them with weaponry, tactics and everything else that comes with the job. And I suppose, now I think of it, taking over Alfred's role.'

'I take it Alfred is no more?'

'No; he died about nine years ago…he told me about the promise you made him make you.'

'Did he keep it?' she smirked, knowing Alfred was sure to have kept it.

'He did. Exceedingly so. Though now that you mention it, he did say something about a promise you were supposed to keep. He told me I need to go and see myself if you kept it.'

Selina laughed and pinked a tear away, remembering the old man's fathering nature and how he had always supported their relationship, even in the days when she was Catwoman. She still remembered his words that she cherished most: 'You see Bruce beyond Batman, and Batman beyond Bruce. You understand him like no other and love him as such. If there is any future mrs. Wayne, it's you, miss Kyle.' If only, she mused. If only.

'He made me promise to take care of Richard. I like to think I did so.'

'You have done a wonderful job, Selina. He is wonderful.'

This made Selina frown.

'Have you met him?'

Bruce smirked at the memory.

'I once went up to him for a talk, with the excuse of getting an autograph. He was very polite and cordial, and very in love with his wife. I could tell he was very fond of his mother too, though he did rolled his eyes over your "dramatic tendencies". I suppose some things are forever?'

Selina opened her mouth in amused bewilderment, but no sound came out.

'No response of Selina Kyle? I thought hell would freeze over first.'

Selina rolled her eyes at that, and said; 'I can't help that I didn't have anyone to practice with!'

He nodded in defeat, and took another sip of his tea.

'I indeed noticed you never remarried. Why?'

'I only wanted you, Bruce. Why settle for anyone less? And Richard didn't want anyone else in our life either, you know, later. He was always so against the men I brought home. Like he knew nobody could replace you. He also never pushed through with questions about his father. He was so understanding in that aspect. He never pried.'

'And you didn't marry either?'

'Same reason. It was always the Bat and the Cat, even when they were apart.'

He took a sip of his tea again.

'So how do we know you haven't been followed, Bruce? We didn't go through so much shit only to have Richard in danger once again!'

'I donned the cape, and the interest in Bruce Wayne died down after he stopped coming out of his mansion. For all Gotham knows I am dead, rotting away in my mansion.'

'But it's only a matter of time till you will appear in the NY papers, Bruce! Richard is famous, you're billionaire Bruce Wayne! I used to be an actress! We are all famous, Bruce. I can't risk this. Not this, not Richard or his family.'

'They won't, Selina.'

'Why not? How do you know!'

'Because, Selina…'

He took a sip of his tea again and then looked her straight in the eye; 'I am dieing.'

...If I do get enough of good reactions, I will continue soon and include Castle the family I gave him. And about the name...I googled perseverance as the meaning of a name, because it fits Castle so well, and I actually laughed out loud when Bruce came up. So there it was, Bruce Kevin Castle.