Lo and behold, THE FINALE! Just leave lovely reviews when you finish. :D

Since this is the epilogue, and I've done every chapter alternating between Jason and Kristine's POVs, now switches between them.

I do not remember if I mentioned this fic in particular or not, but when I read "excogitatoris" by unpossible on AO3, here comes Jason's intentions on what to do with the Rogues Gallery in the long-term run for Gotham, and how he got elected to the mayor.

Epilogue

Space Man

When you're the mayor of a place like Gotham, you face a lot of threats just like the police commissioner. That meant you had to contend with opposition to your actions following the campaign vows.

His promises of separating the Rogues from Arkham and dispersing them throughout Gotham and all of the state, even getting some of them legally executed like the Joker, garnered an overwhelmingly positive reception and the intense need for change for the better, but it also came with some poisonous snakes in both the media and from those who starved for the moneymakers just to stay relevant.

The people of Park Row and beyond loved him and saw him as their savior, shining brighter than even the Batman now - but there were still those who saw him as a street punk polluting their ranks, and that was coming from the bluebloods and politicians on the payroll. He got those people scared and figuratively shitting in their pants, everyone whose wallet would get lighter and head back to the people.

Kristine had never been more proud of her husband, but they both knew that it didn't mean he wasn't untouchable - that THEY were untouchable.

Jason had been questioned as to whether or not his adoptive father helped him with the finances of his campaign, but that was so not true. It was all grassroots and without wealthy donors like many politicians or soon-to-be would fall to.

And all of this had been from a man whose first rule in the drug ring was no children, who regretted doing the things he did but had to. His never wanting children harmed said one thing about his character, both as the Red Hood and as Jason Todd. He's not gonna be that underworld drug lord forever, which I'm grateful for. And boy, it did come true.

After his election, he got more of his promises done than those before him in years.

Turned out that living in their precious new home in the 'burbs was no longer an option as long as Gotham's long-lived mud and murk still reigned supreme. It was mandatory for the mayor and his family, should he have any, to move into that great mansion for the city leader. This was, once upon a time, something she and Jason imagined when they grew up in childhood before they fell in love with each other. Before reality butchered the rose-colored glasses on her part more than him.

Kristine wasn't a little girl anymore, but this had become a real-life fairytale for them both after the shit life threw at them. She had to remind herself it was temporary until Gotham was cleaned up the best it could be. She planned on enjoying every bit of this with her little family and helping her husband.

They had a staff now, and all of it was goddamned hard to believe. Her dad and new mom, Pamela, also moved in with them.

She could still not get over the exquisite Gothic architecture and rooms. She felt like a kid in a candy or toy shop, or at separate times. This had been around since perhaps the founding of the Wayne family line. She had to act prim and proper, but she and Jason were subversive, according to public opinion. In the flashy lights of the media, they were well-behaved but otherwise allowed their real selves to be seen, and that was what garnered the bluebloods' disapproval - for the most part. Namely, the ones who just wanted their pockets filled. But Jason was damned good at persuasion.

It was like the wind in her hair as she and her family were guided through the timeless mahogany wood beams, Renaissance-like pillars, and beneath distressed, pearl-and-crystal draped chandeliers to explore the grand library which was a heaven-sent gift for all of them, onward to a massive parlor and adjoined wet bar - all of which was perfect for social events and fundraisers - and the Victorian Gothic dining area with muted charcoal and silver colors. The staircase reminded them of Beauty and the Beast or The Phantom of the Opera. Nearly all the windows were themed with exquisite wisteria, roses, dragonflies, or birds in flight. As for the sleeping quarters, everyone got the best of the best, but the Mayor and his wife had their rich, forbidden fruit in the form of a blue room with a black marble fireplace and the material taking place in the bathroom.

Here be the magic under the cover of night and the continual wish of never letting go.

Kristine and Jason were barely married for a year when their first child arrived. Sierra Harleen Todd, and spoiled to pieces from the moment her proud mama brought her into the world.

Their wedding day and the long-awaited consummation were like living in the Garden of Eden, only the aftermath was permanent. Their daughter's birth was a whole nother level without a description.

After nine torturous hours of labor and some complications that were to be expected, the little princess was placed into her arms after being washed and examined. The little tufts of auburn hair were already fluffy and straight as arrow points, her eyes too dark but sporting hints of green, the soft wrinkles in her rosy cheeks...how could she not be cherished?

Amongst the memories of the hours she suffered, it was going to make her and everyone else laugh when her father scolded Jason that HE did this to her, to which Kristine mustered enough to snark back: "You did this to Mom, too, otherwise I wouldn't be here!"

Her second mom - she called Aunt Pam Mom now without replacing Harley - was outside in the waiting room along with Dick, Barbara, Becky, Alfred, and Bruce, so they had no idea she'd said that until the aftermath, and the reception was unanimous laughter and no forgetting anytime soon. Even her father-in-law was unable to suppress a real, genuine laugh of his own.

Poor Daddy, with his madly flushed face and barely stifled grunts that she knew were his version of humor.

Jason wasn't going to let anyone live this down, with his devilish smirk.

The baby had never-ending doting as soon as everyone got to see her. Dick and Babs, the honorary aunt and uncle, took turns holding her, and the acrobat was more of a mess than his wife was; they had gotten married in Japan a couple of years before. Her shooting by the clown, soon to be legally sentenced to death, caused an emergency surgery that resulted in never being able to have kids, but she and Dick had this role Kristine and Jason gave them. They were beyond happy to say yes.

Becky laughed and cooed, telling the "wittle queen" that she was excited to introduce her to all things related to the horror genre when she was older, much to the chagrin of both parents and nausea of Uncle Dick, the face-slapping annoyance of Aunt Barbara, and the mild disapproval of all the grandparents.

Alfred was enamored; you could see it in his eyes and subdued expression. "Miss Sierra, it's an honor to make your acquaintance," he'd said, offering his fingers and letting one of them be taken in by her already strong grip, impressing him and all of them. Nothing worthwhile than someone like Alfred still being alive to see his first great-grandchild.

Did she mention Sierra was going to have it good growing up? The bonus included two grandparents and one single. Jonathan was in his early forties when Kristine was born, and becoming a grandpa was a new challenge for him. He could retire if he wanted to, but he didn't agree with retirement. He was disdainful towards the concept of becoming worn-down, tired to his bones and aching in them, and failing in health. All of that worsened with becoming inactive. He was gonna add a grandbaby into the mix and teach her everything regarding mental health life if she were to have those issues, as well as help her understand others' pain.

He was gonna LOVE her.

Mom was fawning over her and swearing to introduce her to a love for flora and fauna, and that left the one who had more demons than the lot of them, but maybe on nearly the same level as Jason. The mist in Bruce's eyes was too much as he held the first grandchild he never thought he'd ever have. He must have already begun conjuring ways to spoil her rotten with all his wealth compared to the rest of them.

At the moment, all was right with the world with a new life brought into it. Kristine Todd had never felt happier with her little girl in her arms, her man on her right whilst her dad was on the other side, and everyone else they loved was with them.

~o~

"'Joker Burned to a Crisp on Mayor's Watch'," was what his wife read that morning in the kitchen, a warm and rosy gold glow with the Gothic arches present in the carvings of the cabinet doors, and the stove slash oven and refrigerator were sleek and modern black. The central island for breakfast and countertops had glittering charcoal marble, the latter covered with a mouthwatering breakfast of waffles, bacon, eggs, and roasted mushrooms and spinach for the health nut.

And it was the day after the long-awaited legal execution of the Clown Prince of Crime.

Electroshock was just what the bastard deserved: simple, straight to the point, painful, and without much of a show except for the witnesses and reporters who got to see it and record everything for the world. A smaller version of what he administered to me. Jason felt no shift in his emotions as he made eye contact with his murderer, Harleen Crane's murderer, and everyone else's murderer and attacker.

Barbara and her dad were also present, holding hands, Dick behind her with one of his own on her shoulder. All mouths were in hard lines and betraying no feelings. And of course, Bruce had to be there since he was their family, and so were the in-laws, Jonathan and Pamela.

Jason did the honors of throwing the switch on the evil bastard himself, going against protocol and stating that this is what they'd all waited for, so he would take matters now, saying loudly and clearly for all of them to hear their shared nightmare who was strapped to that long steel table, "Tell the Big Man we all said hello."

Joker's eyes widened in horror realized too late as he locked eyes with the mayor presiding over his final, anticlimatic demise, but before he could gasp out a word, he screamed his last as the switch was thrown and he received a howling fire to his bones and nerves.

Gotham was celebrating the loss of a disease that was finally surgically removed.

There would be a power grab for that seat someday, and he was ready for it but wouldn't tackle it alone. Right now, everyone was going to enjoy a well-deserved rest.

And there was one more from Jason's past - and others' past to present combined - that he'd at last deal with.

"You know, I'd originally planned to have the Red Foot himself as a mutilated corpse at my feet by the time I was finished with him. His heart eaten, my foot in his ribcage and all of him ground up by the time it was finished."

Here be the result of bail raised too high for this man to afford.

How the mighty had fallen. Jason couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the man in orange, the human-skull face laughable and freaky at the same time. The orange and black colors combined said that Halloween came early. And he was gonna spend the rest of his life behind the bars he now sat behind. This man who was always afraid to personally get his hands dirty and had others do it for him, all the while relishing the pain and suffering of his victims. All of his plans to plunder Gotham through fear were always meant to go down the drain, and look where he was now. "Real nice, Sionis," Jason told him with both hands in his pockets. "You sound like one of those gangsters in a bad movie that my wife would love." And that was exactly what the Black Mask had been in the end: just another ruthless gangster who would be brought down.

Roman's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, the lovely wife," he said sarcastically. "How is Kristine these days?" Jason thinned his lids right back.

"She's a survivor like I am. But when you're a true Gothamite, you have to be. My girl's had it sheltered compared to me, but when you have a family as she does..." He grinned and let it hang.

"Bitch should get the shots she gave me."

If he had no self-control at this moment, he would have torn through the bars with hidden arsenal and eviscerated the bastard himself, but he could do it in his imagination. "Speaking of which, how's Lil' Roman?" He earned a snarl and curling of the lips. According to the doctors, no ability to impregnate a woman, but who the hell would want to bed a beast like him? A delusional one. "It's a miracle you're still alive, but they say crazy dies really hard just like Voorhees and Myers." Which his wife and everyone else teased him about. "Too bad that you're not going to be where the Joker is now, Sionis. Personally, I say it's one less to worry about, but I'm not gonna stoop to your level. It gives me great joy to know that Gotham is finally gonna have another step toward the long-overdue brighter future. It's gonna rise from the ashes it's lived in, and every mouth breather who took advantage of that will either get deserved punishment or a second chance they thought they'd never get...and you're among those going down with the ship. My wife was right when she said there's no hope for people like you."

Jason had said what he needed to, and that was it. Idealistic, some said he was, but it couldn't be further from the truth, yet no one needed to know except those closest to him.

"Enjoy the rest of your life in hell. Death is too easy for you."

Someone might kill him in prison, which was a very real possibility, but he wouldn't hold his breath on it.

The doors of Blackgate Prison slammed shut behind him; he kept his head forward as he marched himself to the black car waiting for him. Kris was at the manor with their baby, on rest and dealing with post-partum. She and Sierra were both being spoiled rotten despite the mama's protests on her part.

How could Jason Todd have been so blessed to have such amazing women in his life?

Just the night before, she told me I would always be her caped crusader, taking her over the hills and far away, up into the skies as we went.

"You okay, chum?"

It had been such a long time since Bruce called him that, the same nickname he continued to give Dickhead. That, and - "Yeah, much better, but I don't know if he'll stay there for good after what he did to us," Jason answered through his teeth as he leaned back in the front passenger seat. He stiffened when one hand left the steering wheel and came to rest on his knee, gently squeezing it and then smoothing it over as comfort.

Batman wasn't there much these days in their personal lives, having grown less and less. Maybe becoming a grandfather was doing that job along with the family therapy that Jonathan more or less blackmailed them into, since there was no way in hell the nightlife aftereffects were ever healthy for them, and it would never be that way for Sierra.

Having a baby come into the picture really changed everything.

"Jaylad..." And there was the other affectionate nickname. Previously, it made him flinch when things were still strained between them. "...you made sure of it. WE made sure of it. If he does get out in any way and goes for you, you have my permission as long as it won't be in the mask."

Nothing means the world than when your dad - your real dad who never gave up on you - tells you he won't stop you from keeping your family safe.

He let himself lean against Bruce's chest when they paused at the next stoplight, one free arm wrapping behind his shoulder and keeping him close like a lifeline.

Later that night, when the baby was tucked away in her vintage pink room customed especially for her, Alfred dealing with Bruce and trying to get him to have one night off from being Batman since everyone else could take care of him - and criminal activity getting to the bottom levels now - since he was letting his newborn granddaughter stay with him for the time being, having turns with Jonathan and Pamela, that gave Jason the opportunity to slip Kris out and take her to the rooftops of Wayne Manor.

All it took was a grappling gun and his beloved wife holding onto him, like when they scaled Black Mask's property to find her father and Rebecca and the trafficked victims until they reached the rooftop well above their shared room - his old room which bore more nostalgia than tragedy.

If he had such powers, he'd live forever and just exist as a hummingbird, flitting so fast no one could catch him again.

The moon was barely a quarter, but it was shining bright enough for him to look down into Kristine's eyes, dark as the sky and glowing with the light. It was just them and their whole world just below them and beyond. It was all enough to warrant another big damn kiss of fire. If this were one of those romance novels she'd tortured him with when they were younger or any of those movies, then he would shamelessly say they were eternal. The Swan Princess theme played at their wedding said that clearly.

Look at how far he had come: he had been a dirt poor kid from the worst of humanity's living, then taken away after trying to survive, given a purpose to make sure no one else suffered like him only to die by a murderer's hands - later exacting long-desired justice on said monster not too long ago - only to be given a second chance paved with blood and tears by his hands and on him personally. That boy became a man, from a teenage sidekick to a resurrected crimelord and now was running this city that took and gave nothing in return, but his so-called home had always been misunderstood by those claiming to want to do better, doing more harm than good.

He liked to think he was doing a damned good job by himself, but he wouldn't be where he was now without the ones in his life, including this woman who took a major risk with a young thief of a boy and won his heart without actively changing him. Who was now the mother of his child and his partner for life.