A/N: I'm sorry I didn't update sooner, I've been very busy lately, as I have said before. But I'd like to ask my readers something, if you don't mind (if you do mind, then just skip this part and start reading the story). Do you believe in coincidence? Because there have been a surprising number of coincidences for me during the writing of this story. First of all, I found out the actress I imagined playing Jenna (Emma Roberts) was the daughter of Eric Roberts, who played Sal Maroni in "The Dark Knight." And then I found out that Barbara Gordon was a brunette when she originally debut in the old 60's Batman TV show, and used a red wig to hid her identity, like Jenna does now. And then, I found out there's actually a black haired DC superhero who's name is Gypsy, and Danny's Halloween costume was a Gypsy. So, I don't know, but I'm taking that as a sign that I was always meant to write this story. But enough of that, I'm sure I've already bored you people to tears, so just sit back, read, enjoy, and please review when you're done.

Refugees and Hope

"Ow! That hurts," Jenna complained. Doctor Leslie Thompkins just rolled her eyes and shook her head before she went back to stitching up Jenna's arm in the Batbunker.

"Jenna, if you'd just wait, I'd be able to stitch you up properly and then it wouldn't hurt so much," she replied.

"Every second I spend waiting is a second closer to the detonation of the bomb."

"Yes, well, it takes me longer to help you if I have to take out the stitches you made before stitching you up."

"I guess I'll just have to learn how to stitch myself up better then." Leslie rolled her eyes and finished up her work.

"Alright. That should hold for now," she said, packing up her equipment. "Just try and be a bit more careful. I'm sure there's going to be plenty of injuries for me to tend to in the coming months without adding yours to the list."

"Yes ma'am," Jenna said with a salute. Leslie just sighed and headed out passing Helena and Bette, both clad in black ninja suits and carrying wooden kendo swords.

"Jenna! Are you alright? We couldn't find you after we evacuated the courthouse," Bette asked, rushing to Jenna side and examining the stitches.

"I'm fine. I just had a run in with the masked man himself."

"And how was it?" Helena inquired.

"Not quite what I was hoping for. He knows who we are."

"What?" Helena and Bette gasped together.

"It's ok, I don't think he's going to tell, he knows who the Batman is and he hasn't told the world so I assume that means he's going to keep quiet."

"Why would he?"

"He knows the power secrets hold and may use it for blackmail in case we get too out of hand."

"But it won't stop us," Bette smiled.

"No it won't. I don't think he has any hard evidence anyway, he just used logic and deduction."

"Alright then. So, are you still up for the lesson?"

"Are you?" Jenna shot back with a slight smile, getting up and picking up her own kendo sword.

"So what are you planning on teaching us today?"

"This is just your starter class today. Nothing too serious, just a taste of what's to come and what you're up against. Ready?" Helena and Bette smiled, before pulling their black masks over their faces.

"Ready." Jenna nodded and pulled her own black mask over her face. Pressing a button on her gauntlet, half the lights in the Batbunker went out, the storage containers holding the Batman's numerable suits slid up from the floor, and Jenna vanished among them. Helena and Bette stood back to back, holding their wooden kendo fencing swords up cautiously, searching the darkness for their friend/opponent.

"To conquer darkness you must become it. Our enemies use fear to intimidate innocents, we must use it to intimidate our enemies," Jenna lectured, her voice echoing around the room, making it difficult to pinpoint her location. "You know both how to fight six men. You will learn how to engage six hundred. You know how to disappear. You will learn how to become truly invisible."

"Invisible?" Helena asked as she and Bette passed one of Batman's suits. An assailant dressed all in black moved from behind the suit and struck Helena, once on the back, and Bette, one around the head, with her own kendo sword before she vanished again. The duo turned on a dime after having been attacked, but found no trace of the attacker.

"Invisibility is a matter of patience and agility," she explained. "Always mind your surroundings, they can become your greatest weapon. Theatricality and deception are powerful agents. You must become more than a human being in the mind of you opponent." At this the two girls' opponent revealed herself again and attacked the girls. "But in end, training is nothing." The combatant caught Helena's kendo stick on her right gauntlet and then used her left and right gauntlets to sever the sword. "Will is everything." Bette swung her own sword at her opponent, only for her adversary to sidestep the swings before she grabbed Bette's wrist and and twisted it, causing the young blonde woman to drop her weapon to the ground, before she was elbowed across the face. "And if you do not have the will to act," she dodged both of her opponents punches and kicks, and grabbed Bette's exposed hair, before using it to throw Bette into Helena, "you will never succeed." The two girls jumped right back up but the assailant brought down Bette with a sweeping kick and Helena soon followed after the attacker grabbed her arm and used it to flip the dark haired woman onto her back. "The training does help though," Jenna admitted, taking off her mask and turning the Batbunker's lights back on.

"That was cheating," Bette muttered, one hand rubbing the back of her head where Jenna had pulled her hair as Jenna helped her and Helena up.

"The enemy won't play fair. We can't afford to be honorable in a time when so many lives are at stake. Now," Jenna turned the lights back off and repositioned her mask over her face, "again."

Five hours later, Jenna declared they could take a break, and at the sound of that Bette and Helena promptly collapsed to the ground.

"How do you do this?" Bette asked, face flat on the ground.

"Practice." Her radio went off and Jenna picked it up.

"Jenna, are you there?" came John Blake's voice.

"Yeah, what's up?" she replied.

"Come down to City Hall. There's something I think you should see."

"Ok then. Be right there."

"Does that mean we're done for the day?" Helena inquired, and Jenna couldn't help but pick up a bit of hope in her voice.

"I suppose so." Bette and Helena sighed in relief. "Unless you want to come and see what Blake wants?" The two girls shrugged and got up.

"Sure. Got nothing better to do." They exited the Batbunker, being sure to lock it up extra tight, before they headed back toward the city. Taking extra care to stay off the roads as much as possible, they headed toward city hall, cutting through alleys and stopping every now and then to make sure the passing tanks didn't see them. It took them ages but eventually they made it to city hall to find Blake standing outside.

"Could you make it more obvious Blake?" Jenna asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Just wanted to make sure you knew it wasn't a trap."

"Whatever. Now, what did you want to show me?"

"This way." He turned and headed inside, the trio of young vigilantes following.

"He's cute," Bette stated.

"Focus Bette," Jenna instructed.

"You gotta admit, he's really cute."

"Bette, do I need to send you back to the Batbunker?"

"No ma'am." The trio of young vigilantes followed Blake and as Jenna looked him over, she had to admit, Bette had a point. Blake was pretty cute and had she been interested in dating, she may have thought of asking him out. Jenna frowned. When did she start thinking like that? But Jenna's thoughts of Blake and dating were soon interrupted by the sight of two people she'd been worried for since Day One of the occupation.

"Miranda! Lucius! Thank god you're safe!" Jenna shouted, hugging each tightly in turn.

"We could say the same for you Jenna," Lucius reminded her.

"Pardon?"

"We heard about your little rally and how you got shot on live television," Miranda explained.

"I was wearing Kevlar, I had everything under control." Blake made a noise of amusement.

"I'd hate to see out of control then," he commented. Jenna gave him a look that clearly said shut up, before she turned back to Lucius and Miranda.

"So, I'm assuming you know about the little thing Bane isn't telling everyone about the bomb," Jenna concluded.

"You mean about the fact it's a time bomb," Lucius Fox acknowledged.

"Yeah that."

"Actually, the Commissioner has a few questions about that," Blake interjected.

"Well I'd be happy to answer them, though we should probably go somewhere a little more private," Lucius suggested.

"Mind filling us in later Blake? We'd like to see if there's anything we can do for these people," Jenna explained motioning to her, Helena, and Bette.

"No problem." Once Blake and Fox were headed toward a more private area, Jenna and Miranda embraced again, Bette and Helena keeping their distance to give them some privacy.

"I'm so happy you're alive," Jenna whispered.

"Me too. I heard your speech. It was surprisingly good."

"Thank you… I think." The two broke apart and the four young women started to walk toward the people in charge.

"I also heard about a new vigilante in Gotham City. Calls herself 'the Batgirl,'" Miranda mentioned.

"An idiot if I ever knew one."

"So you know who she is?"

"Yeah… I'm sorry Miranda. I trust you but I don't think she'd appreciate me telling you. It puts you in danger."

"Understandable. Who does know then?"

"Gordon and Blake."

"Blake seems to be rather involved in all of this."

"He's a good cop and has a good head on his should. We need guys like him in a time like this."

"It doesn't hurt that he's cute," Bette chimed and the look Jenna gave her said, Drop it. "Oh come on Jenna, you have to admit you think he's cute."

"I'm busy attempting to overthrow a psychotic terrorist who's holding millions of people hostage, Bette, I hardly have time for thinking about how cute he is."

"So you admit you think he's cute?" Miranda pointed out slyly.

"Oh you've gotta be – gah! You could give Bruce lessons in trickery and deception!"

Miranda's smile subtly said you have no idea. The four of them went down to the people in charge and asked if they could help. They were immediately given food to hand out.

"So are all these people upper class?" Jenna asked Miranda, as the four young women handed out some apples and oranges to people.

"Formerly, but yes," Miranda confirmed.

"It's terrible, isn't it?" Bette muttered.

"It is. That woman holding the baby over there gave birth a few days after this started. She has no idea where her husband is," Miranda explained, pointing to a woman holding a baby in a bundle of blankets. Jenna sighed sadly.

"I can't imagine what it must be like, being born in hell on earth," Jenna murmured, Bette and Helena nodding in agreement. However, they didn't notice Miranda's expression, which clearly said she could.

Weeks passed and a routine of sorts was developed. Batgirl, Flamebird, and Huntress patrolled Gotham's streets from dusk 'til dawn every night, and after a light breakfast they trained from dawn until lunch, where they joined Gordon and started making strategies and plans as to how to stop the bomb from going off. They slept and ate whenever they could but more often than not went without, especially the Batgirl. Thankfully, the majority of Gotham's citizens had wizened up, however slightly. Those who weren't a part of the court system usually stayed in their homes, only going out for food and other necessities and going out at night was now considered attempted suicide. Those who did not seem to accept the fact that things had changed, however, were very lucky the Batgirl and the other Gotham vigilantes were able to help. Such was one night, when Batgirl was out on patrol.

"Hey, what are you doing?" a rough voice shouted a few alleys away. There was the sound of a scuffle.

"Get off me you brute!" a voice shouted at him, female, fairly young, probably a teenager. The Batgirl quickly raced toward the sound. She looked down into an alleyway, to see a fiery red haired young woman in jeans and a jacket with a backpack slung across her back, running away from what looked like one of Bane's mercenaries.

"Hold it right there!" the thug pulled his gun on the girl and shot at her, causing the girl to dive to the ground, but was knocked out by Batgirl dropping on top of him before he could hit the girl. The Batgirl stood and looked down at the girl and had she not been for her mask, the Batgirl's jaw would've dropped. On the ground, was Jenna Dawes' deceased fiery haired blue eyed best friend, Angel Johnson. The Batgirl shook herself mentally and offered her hand to the girl. The girl smiled gratefully, before she took the Batgirl's hand and used it to hoist herself up. Brushing herself off, the girl beamed and said, "Thank you."

"Little late to be taking a walk, especially being a young woman and alone," the Batgirl stated sternly.

"I could say the same for you."

"You're the one who needed saving Miss…"

"Angelica Jones."

"Well, Miss Jones, care to tell me what exactly you were doing out so late and alone?"

"Well, someone needs to spread the message."

"What message?" Angelica nodded at the wall of the dead-end behind them. On the wall was a freshly spray-painted bat symbol.

"You're going to get yourself killed if you keep this up."

"They'll have to catch me first."

"They almost did."

"I guess you'll just have to be there to save me when they do."

"Miss Jones, I have far more pressing things to do than to have to save you constantly. Do you have parents?"

"My mom. Why?"

"Does she know what you're up to?" Angelica froze.

"No. And she's not going to find out. Thank you for helping me. Bye!" she stated hurriedly. Angelica Jones then turned and ran, oblivious to the tracking device on her back.

Jenna made her way up to the Hotel Aventine, unsure whether this was actually the right place. She went up to the front desk, where and older man in a suit sat, and Jenna was instantly reminded of Alfred.

"Excuse me, does Angelica Jones live here? It's important." The man looked her over, as though X-raying her to see if she was trust worthy, before he smiled, clearly saying she was.

"Room 513."

"Thank you." Jenna headed for the elevator and pressed the button for the fifth floor. Coming out of the lift on the fifth floor, Jenna passed the rooms until she came to room 513. She knocked and a few moments later, the door opened as far as the chain would allow it to, to reveal a red haired woman in her late forties or earlyfifties.

"Hello, my name is Jennifer Dawes. Are you the mother of Angelica Jones?" Jenna asked her.

"Who wants to know?" the woman asked tentatively.

"The Batgirl wanted to make sure Angelica made it home after the Batgirl saved her from a thug last night when she was caught spray painting bat symbols." The woman froze and shut the door, before reopening it again a few seconds later.

"Excuse me for a moment. ANGELICA!" she shouted over her shoulder.

"IT WAS DANA! NOT ME!" came Angelica's reply.

"Hey!" cried another indignant voice.

"What? You'd do the same if you were me."

"Girls, come in here for a minute," Mrs. Jones said. A few moments later, Angelica Jones walked into the room, accompanied by two other teenage girls, one brunette with brown eyes and a Batman T shirt, the other with black hair, light blue eyes, and a Beatles T shirt. "So, a little birdie, or I suppose in this case a little Bat told me you were out last night," Mrs. Jones stated, arms crossed, leaning on one leg, and an eyebrow raised. Angelica looked at Jenna nervously, before her face turned a little red and she began to stutter, "Ah… well, you see mom, uh… I can explain-"

"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME YOU THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU, A TEENAGE GIRL, TO GO OUT INTO A CITY OCCUPIED BY CRIMINALS AND KILLERS, ALONE AND AT NIGHT!"

"… Maybe." Mrs. Jones put a hand on her head and rubbed her temple.

"You are going to be the death of me," she muttered.

"And you love me for it," Angelica smiled.

"Unfortunately. You're still grounded though." Angelica's smile vanished and she looked at her shoes.

"Does that mean Dana and Janet have to leave?"

"No. With their parents gone, I'm not going to leave them alone. Actually, I'm not leaving you alone either."

"But all we have for dinner is cereal."

"I'll think of something."

"Ma'am, if you need someone to watch them, I'd be happy to help," Jenna said.

"Oh, you really don't have to," Mrs. Jones responded.

"I'd like to help though. And I'd like to see what this place is, if you don't mind." Mrs. Jones smiled and grabbed her coat and purse.

"I shouldn't be gone more than half an hour," Mrs. Jones said, opening the front door.

"Don't worry I'll take good care of them," Jenna assured her and Mrs. Jones left. WIthin seconds, the girls were sitting on the couch and floor, staring up at Angelica like children would look at a story teller.

"So, what was she like?" Janet asked.

"Who?" Jenna inquired. The trio of girls turned to look at Jenna.

"The Batgirl," they stated. Jenna nodded in understanding and sat in a chair in a corner of the room and took out a book, but instead of reading it, was actually focusing more on the conversation.

"She was amazing," Angelica sighed. "There I was, putting up my artwork in the alleyway, minding my own business, when suddenly this hideous brute of a mercenary comes up behind me and tries to attack me. I ran, he shot at me, but then, he stopped. I looked up and there she was, dark as the night yet brighter than the sun. She helped me up and told me to be careful before I left."

"Awesome," Dana commented.

"You're insanely lucky," Janet said.

"I'm sure we'll see her again. Maybe we can sneak out and try to see her when Mom isn't looking," Angelica suggested.

"I doubt that either your mother or the Batgirl would appreciate you putting yourselves in danger just to get a glimpse of her," Jenna pointed out, not looking up from her book, but she couldn't help but smile at their little discussion. She, Angel, and Danny had talked just like that when they were young and all together.

"Aw well. It was just a thought," Janet shrugged.

"Yeah. So what do you want to do for next Friday?" Angelica asked.

"I don't know. I'm sort of out of ideas," Dana said.

"What's next Friday?" Jenna questioned.

"Oh. Every Friday we put on this sort of show in the lobby. Angelica paints the background, Dana composes a piece to play, and I do a dance or a theater piece of some sort. It helps keep everyone cheerful and spirited," Janet explained. Jenna smiled and chuckled a bit to herself.

"Something wrong, Miss Dawes?" Dana asked.

"It's just, you all seem so normal. Cheerful even."

"Well what else could we do? Wallow in fear and self pity or join the mob and start killing the people many wanted to be?" Janet inquired.

"Not us!"Dana chuckled.

"No siree!" Angelica chimed.

"Nope! We choose to take life as it comes and make the best of it," Janet said.

"At least we don't have to worry about school and homework!"

"This whole thing sort of reminds me of Les Misérables mixed with RENT, except in the real world and without all the singing," Dana said.

"Didn't everyone die in Les Misérables?" Angelica pointed out.

"Oh yeah."

"Well this won't end like Les Misérables. I promise," Jenna assured them.

"So how exactly do you know the Batgirl?" Janet asked, laying down on the couch and rolling on her back.

"A mutual connection of ours."

"The Batman?"

"I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you." The girls smiled and smiled and looked around the hotel room that the girls were currently living in. "So what is this place exactly? Why are you living in a hotel?"

"After Bane took over the city, a bunch of people, our families included, figured safety was better in numbers and since no one was staying in the hotels anymore, we might as well use them. Then it sort of ended up snowballing and now dozens of families live here," Janet explained.

"This is ingenious," Jenna stated.

"Well, we try. And at least there's plenty of company." Jenna smiled and the four of them continued to chat about everything from Bane to Beethoven to Ballet to Botticelli. As they continued to talk, Jenna couldn't help but remember a time many years ago when she'd talk with two girls in the exact same way. She, Angel, and Danny would spend hours talking, joking, laughing, making plans to travel and experience the world that knew they were unlikely to ever see. But still, they never stopped dreaming. Not until Angel died that is. After that, Danny and Jenna found it hard to find the light in life again. Angel was one of those rare people who could make a room feel brighter just by walking into it. But when she died, Jenna and Danny found it hard to see the light at all. It got a little better a time went on, but it was never the same. The closest they'd ever come to it was when Danny had moved into Jenna and Bruce's penthouse. The two of them would stay up late into the night, talking, joking, or just looking out over the fantastic view over the city, usually only stopping when Bruce or Alfred came in and told them to go to bed. Jenna missed those times, because despite the fact that Jenna's life was far from ordinary, she liked the normalcy that came with talking with her friends. It reminded her of a time when everything was a little simpler: the time when she hadn't been afraid of Scarecrows, or kidnapped by psychotic clowns, or been the friend and ally of a wanted vigilante. Far sooner than Jenna had actually been hoping she would come, Mrs. Jones stumbled back into the hotel room, arms loaded with groceries.

"Thank you for watching over them Miss Dawes," she thanked as the girls helped her with the groceries.

"No problem. I probably should be getting back though."

"You can't stay for dinner?" Mrs. Jones asked.

"No, I just came to make sure your daughter was alright."

"Don't worry. I'll keep her under constant observation."

"Perfect. House arrest," Angelica muttered.

"Better than actually getting arrested. Or would prefer I take you down to the Scarecrow's court?"

"That sound a little extreme, Mom." Jenna smiled.

"Well, thank you for everything but I really must be going. Here's my cell number in case you need anything. Good luck to you all," Jenna wished, handing Mrs. Jones her number written on a strip of paper, before she stepped out into the hallway, which was much more crowded with families who were probably helping each other with groceries.

"You too Miss Dawes." The door to the hotel room closed and Jenna started to walk toward the elevator.

"Miss Dawes! Miss Dawes!" Jenna turned at the sound of her name. A blonde teenage boy made his way through the crowd toward Jenna.

"Yes?"

"I just wanted to say thank you," he

"Look, whatever I did, you don't have to thank me."

"Yes I do." Jenna looked at him curiously. "Uh, you probably don't remember me but your aunt saved me nine years ago in the Narrows, during the Fright Night," he explained. "I'd lost my mom but your aunt helped me when no one else did. It took me ages to find out who she was and finding out I was too late to thank her… I just… wanted you to know." Jenna looked at him for a moment, thinking hard.

"Thank you." He looked at her confused.

"For what?"

"For reminding me of what we're fighting for." And then she turned and left. This is why we can't let Bane win, Jenna thought to herself as she walked out of the hotel and looked up at it, waving at the three girls in a window on the fifth floor, who waved right back. Him winning means all these people die, and I cannot allow such wonderful, bright personalities be consumed by the darkness of death.

A/N: I personally loved the little Narrows boy from "Batman Begins," and I always wondered what happened to him... actually I wondered what happened to the Narrows in general. They said the Narrows were "lost" but they never really elaborated on what that meant. Anyway, please review and I hope you enjoyed it.