They next day Bruce woke to the light sound of a wind chime. Opening his eyes, he looked up to the thatched ceiling above. Dim blue light from the caverns above shined down on him. Looking to his side he found Talia still asleep, and nestled in his side. Rubbing at his brow he felt an unfamiliar smoothness to his skin.

"You look good." Talia hummed.

He sat up, and looked toward the large mirror across from the bed. He looked his face over, then scanned over his arms.

"How do you feel?" She questioned pulling the sheets up to her shoulders, and leaning back onto the thick pillows.

"Like I'm in my twenties again." He said standing to test his legs. He sighed in relief as he took a few steps, and found his previous hip and knee pain was gone.

"Really? What was the young Bruce Wayne like back then?" She sat up with this, and outstretched her hand to usher him back to the bed.

He looked away from this, and grabbed his pants.

She dropped her hand, and leaned back down on her pillows. "Ah… Back to business already. Well… I already know I never sent for you help. So what brought you back to me beloved?"

Bruce pulled his top half of his suit over his head, and picked up his belt. He pulled out the throwing star, and tossed it onto the bed at her feet. "I'd like to talk about the last time I saw your father."

She picked the star up, and looked it over. "Yes I remember."

"What did Ra's do to the boy?"

She gripped the star in her hand, and closed her eyes. Her brow creased as she remembered what had happened. "As you know my father highly underestimated his control over Joker. The Joker took action on his own account. As penance, my father chose to never make war with you again, and in attempt to rectify his wrong…" Talian paused with this, and lowered her head. "He had hoped to return to you what you have lost."

Bruce stood still, his eyes went wide with this revelation.

"But there was a complication. He-."

"What do you mean a complication?!" Bruce stormed toward her, and gripped the bedpost.

"I am not sure!" She lunged forward, and grabbed his arm. "Bruce you must believe me. All my father intended was to return him to you. He could not have predicted the trauma Joker put the boy through would have damaged him so."

Bruce gritted his teeth at this, and closed his eyes tight. Talia guided him down to sit on the edge of the bed. She wrapped her arm around him, and rested his head on her shoulder.

"We never found any trace of him after that day."

Bruce lifted his head, and broke away from her. "He has returned to Gotham, and is on a killing spree of everyone who ever crossed him."

Talia knew not to touch this subject, however much she felt the boy was doing him a favor. "Will you return today?" She questioned, as she got up to dress.

"If the snowstorm has let up enough." He punched in a few keys on his wrist com. "I have yet to get a signal to reach Alfred or Dick."

"You will not get any signals from within the cave walls." She threw a heavy fur lined coat over her usual black combat suit. "Come, I must survey the damages anyway."

There were four feet of snow blanketed over the open space. The last structures that stood when they arrived the day before had long crumpled under the weight of the snow. Bruce's cape dragged on the high snow as he planned his steps through the thick snow. Reaching his ship, he placed his palm on the door and opened the hatch.

"You better take this opportunity to leave dearest." She pointed to a huge wall of gray in the sky heading their way.

He nodded his head, and offered his arm to help her back to the cave entry. But she hesitated.

"Bruce… I... " She bit her lip, and took in a breath. "I know I do not have any right to this, but I must ask you to do me a favor."

He looked her in the eyes. She never used his name, so this has to be serious.

"I need you to take our son with you."

He cocked his head at this, "you want me to do what?!"

"Beloved please."

"You do realize I am returning to my own war back home."

"Yes, but we are at war here too. And this was involves the genocide of all League members."

Bruce gripped at his brow with this.

"Bruce please," She reached forward and took his hands. "My father is dead. Our son is the last heir to the League. I cannot risk having him here."

"Then maybe you should disband the league, and both come home with me?"

She smiled at this, and lightly kissed him. "You know as well as I do that there are some things one cannot give up."

He nodded at this. It was true. What he asked, was equivalent to her asking him to give up being batman. "Fine. I will take him. But only after we evacuate you and your remaining soldiers."

They narrowly missed the storm coming in. It took three trips to transport the remaining soldiers and villagers down to the small farm settlement. Robin and Finch were standing on the top of the ramp to the jet. Bruce was at the base of the ramp, waiting for Damian.

"Mother I am strong enough to stay by your side and fight."

Talia smiled at this, and knelt down to hug him. "I know my son. But I cannot risk having you here with me. Besides…" She looked over his shoulder to Bruce. "You can learn a great deal from your father."

"But mother…"

She held him square by the shoulders, and looked him in the eyes. "He is wise, your grandfather respected him, and I have no doubt he can keep you safe."

Damian gave his mother a worried look with this. But she cancelled it out by hugging him, and kissing his forehead.

"Now go." She said standing, and leading him to Bruce. "Dearest, you best be off. You have a narrow window through the western path. Stay low till you reach the sea."

Bruce nodded at this, as Damian walked past him up the ramp. He followed Damian up the ramp. The engines began to spin. Through this Talia called out to Bruce. He spun around and looked to her with this.

"Beloved! I will end this war as a member of my father's league. But I plan to change the league. It will be changed to match what you teach our son."

Bruce nodded at this, and entered the craft. He kept his eyes on Talia as the ramp retracted. Her hair whipped about as the engines warmed up, and snowflakes spun around her. He was worried about her, but at the same time had no doubt she would win her war.