Any free time Bruce had in between his masquerading as Bruce Wayne and preventing crime as Batman was devoted to trying to prolong Rose's limited lifespan. But an analysis of her blood proved Ivy's claim to be true – there was nothing he could do to prevent nature taking its course. Her cells degraded too quickly, no matter what he tried to do to prevent it. He needed to synthesize some kind of bonding agent, and he knew that would take decades, time which Rose just didn't have.

As the months passed, she appeared no less beautiful, but he would occasionally notice little imperfections in her appearance, little flaws that hadn't been there before. Small blotches appeared on her skin, no bigger than freckles. Her hair appeared more limp and lifeless than before, and the sparkle gradually began to fade from her eyes, which looked slightly more sunken. Not that she still wasn't stunningly gorgeous, but it was the beauty of a flower that has been picked, and day by day begins to fade.

Still, she never complained, and never seemed anything but utterly happy. Her favorite past-time was walking with Bruce and her family in the Gotham City Botanical Gardens, where every variety of plant and flower thrived and grew. It was here, more than the luxurious opulence of places like Wayne Manor, that Rose really seemed to blossom – there was a glow to her smile and her eyes that was like nothing else as she skipped from flower to flower, taking in their scent but never daring to touch them.

The phone call came much sooner than Bruce expected. It was from Harvey, and it was short and sweet: "It's time."

Bruce raced immediately to the address Ivy had given him – technically Batman should have put both her and Two-Face behind bars a long time ago, but Bruce hadn't had the heart to split up their family. Plus he didn't know what would happen to Rose if her parents were dragged back to Arkham – he didn't want to have to put her through any unpleasantness like that during her limited time on earth.

The door was opened by Harley Quinn, whose makeup was running. "Hiya…Brucie!" she sobbed, blowing her nose on a tissue that didn't quite prevent flecks of snot spattering onto his suit. "C'mon in!"

"Hello, Harley," muttered Bruce. "How is Rose doing?"

Harley sobbed, and then blew her nose again. "She's hanging in there, the poor kid!" she sobbed. "Just being the picture of dignity and grace! I tell ya, I've never needed Mr. J here to comfort me so bad!"

"Well, he shouldn't have been wiring explosives in that toy factory if he didn't want to get dragged back to Arkham, should he?" asked Bruce, lightly.

Harley stared at him. "How did you know he was dragged back to Arkham? The papers ain't reported it yet."

"Oh…well, I just assumed since he wasn't with you…" began Bruce, hastily.

"How did you know about the toy factory, though?" she pressed. "That was a top secret scheme."

"Well, I have…contacts at the police station," snapped Bruce.

"But the police didn't handle it, it was the Bat…"

"Harvey, how's Rose?" interrupted Bruce, shoving past her into the living room where Two-Face sat, nursing a glass of whiskey.

"Oh, hi, Bruce. She's…uh…she could be better," he said, forcing a smile. "Pammie thinks…it's gonna be her final night."

"Is she in any pain?" asked Bruce, gently.

Two-Face shook his head. "No, she…uh…Pammie says it'll be just like her falling asleep. Except she ain't gonna…wake up…"

He put down his glass, burying his face in his hands. "God, I didn't know it was gonna be this difficult. I didn't know anything could be."

Bruce was silent. "Is there anything I can do?" he asked, quietly.

Two-Face looked up at him. "Was there anything anyone could do for you after you lost your parents?"

Bruce shook his head slowly. "Then no, there isn't," muttered Two-Face. "You'd better go see her, anyway. I'll be there in a second."

Bruce nodded, heading for the door. He glanced back and thought he saw Two-Face wiping his eyes. He had never seen his friend cry, in all the years he had known Harvey, and he doubted he wanted anyone to witness it now. Still, it made his heart break.

Not as much as it broke when he entered Rose's room to see her lying in bed, breathing softly, as Ivy bent over her, stroking her hair back. Rose opened her eyes as he entered and beamed with that same, radiant smile.

"Bruce," she whispered, struggling to sit up.

"No, no, flower, just lie still," murmured Ivy, pushing her gently back down.

"Hi, Rose," murmured Bruce, coming over to her and raising her hand to his lips. It felt so frail. "How are you feeling?"

She managed a smile. "I've felt better," she whispered. "But Mother says it will all soon be over."

Her other hand reached for Ivy's. "Thank you, Mother," she whispered, smiling at her. "For bringing me into this world, for letting me experience how wonderful life can be…and for letting me leave before it can change for the worse. I owe all my happiness to you."

"Thank you, petal," whispered Ivy, kissing her forehead. "But it's not just me you have to thank."

"No, of course not," she said. "My father too," she added, as Two-Face entered. "I would never have lived if not for him. And…despite what Mother told me about men…I know there is at least one wonderful man in the world. Well, two," she added, smiling at Bruce. "Thank you both for taking such good care of me, and making me so very happy."

"Aw, Princess," whispered Two-Face, bending down to kiss her cheek. "Thank you for making us so happy. I'm just…sorry you have to go."

"Don't be sorry, Father," murmured Rose, smiling. "You'll still have Mother and Bruce to comfort you. And Auntie Harley and Uncle Joker, when he comes back from his emergency operation. I hope his appendix gets taken out all right, Auntie Harley," said Rose, nodding at her as she entered. "Tell him goodbye from me."

"Oh, I will, precious," cooed Harley. "And don't you worry. He's gonna be just fine. It ain't the first time he's had his appendix removed, and it probably won't be the last."

Bruce rolled his eyes, but immediately drew his attention back to Rose, who called his name. She gestured weakly toward her throat. "I…wanted to wear this specially for my Wilting," she murmured, touching the rose brooch he had given her. "When I am…gone, I would like you to take it back. To remember me by."

"Oh, Rose," murmured Bruce. "I don't need anything to remember you by. It would be impossible for me to forget you."

A knock came on the door. "Who could that be?" asked Ivy, puzzled, as Harley raced to answer it.

"I suspect…the last person I invited, Mother," said Rose, smiling.

The door opened and Selina Kyle entered the room. "I wanted Auntie Selina to be here," Rose murmured. "I didn't want things to be ruined between you and her because of me. I have forgiven her for what she said about me, and I think you should too. Life's too short…to waste on petty grudges. Life's too short…to be without the people you love," she murmured, gazing at Bruce.

She smiled. "I have said this before, but…I feel so lucky to be surrounded by so many people who make it…so difficult to leave them. I hope you will all be happy in the memory of me…rather than grieved that my time is over. I hope I have given to your life the same joy you have given to mine. I have…been so very happy. And I love you all."

Ivy and Two-Face held her hands, and Bruce planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. Her eyes shut and she released her last breath with a smile.