"Good morning Alfred, how you feeling today?"
"Master Dick. You are early."
"Yeah… Well the League didn't need me today. So I thought I'd come by before the festivities." Dick said placing a package on the kitchen counter, then went over to help Alfred over to a seat. "Where's Damian?"
"Lunch with his mother."
"Oh. That's right. She has that exhibit dedication dinner this weekend."
Alfred adjusted himself in his seat, and continued to polish the silver platter.
Dick grabbed another platter and towel, and joined him. "Will she be joining the dinner party tonight?"
Alfred shook his head at this. "I doubt Master Bruce will even show up. You know how he has been these last six years."
There was a long moment of silence with this. In his mind Dick was reliving that day. After the explosion he was the first to find him. He dug through the rubble, and pulled out his body. Injuries to Bruce's body were minimal, but his spirit was broken. After that day nothing was the same in Gotham, or pretty much anywhere the Red Hood attacked. Crime was minimal, people were too afraid that they would be killed like the others. Night patrols were pointless, so they shifted into Justice League work. "You know if Tim will make it?"
"Your guess is as good as mine."
Dick sighed at this. Tim, now known as the Red Robin, was a part time member of the League. But was often away. He used the cover story that it was for education. But in actuality he was still looking for Marti. Tim enrolled in college, like Marti wanted him to. But he could never put his heart into it.
"You know… I think I will check up on him. I'll make a quick call."
Meanwhile, beyond the atmosphere in the Watchtower, Bruce sat in his chair, scanning over some old reports on the main computer screen. At the corner of the screen popped up an icon showing an incoming call from Dick.
"Happy birthday Bruce."
Bruce opened up the window for a video call. "Don't remind me."
"So you going to make an appearance at dinner tonight, or are you going to conveniently find a new- Wait a second." Dick moved in closer to his phone cam, studying Bruce's surroundings. "You are at the main com right now aren't you?! Bruce…"
Bruce didn't respond to this.
"Bruce…" Dick looked over his shoulder. Alfred was busy with something in the back pantry. But to be safe, he got up from his seat, and walked out of the kitchen. "Bruce… I think it would mean a lot to Alfred if you came home tonight."
Bruce leaned back in his chair, and took in a deep breath. "I'll be there soon."
The old team had pretty much broken up since that day years ago. Bruce and Dick kept themselves busy with League work, Damian worked surprisingly well with the Young League, and Tim was always away. Dick and Alfred were the only ones who made attempts to maintain the holiday traditions. It was mainly for Bruce's birthday that they enforced everyone getting together.
That evening Talia surprised everyone by flying the entire dinner party to France for dinner. Bruce wasn't too enthused, seeing as he could not make an easy escape afterword. Though after dinner he was able to slip away, after they returned to Talia's vacation home in La Roche-Guyon. It was late, most of the tourists were safely back at their hotels, and even the locals were settling down for the night. Leaving his car at Le Clos Morin, he took a short walk down the main streets to the water gardens.
As he walked through the narrow trellised paths, he came upon the waterlily pond. The bright moonlight reflected off the small patches of water that were not covered with clusters of lily pads. Coming around the bend in the walkway, he spotted the main bridge that crossed over the pond. For a second, his mind took him back to when he first went here with Marti. He smiled to himself remembering her guided tour of the gardens. He stood still at the edge of the pond, looking down at the closed lily blossoms. His eyes immediately were drawn to a shadowed figure standing on the bridge. Looking up, he could see the silhouette of a woman leaning on the railing, with her attention fixed on him. He cautiously approached her, thinking that maybe her attention was not on him. But her gaze followed him. Once he reached the bridge he paused. Though she was still leaning against the railing, she was looking his way. The canopy to the bridge kept her hidden in shadow, but he sensed something familiar about her.
"Happy birthday dad."
Bruce's heart sank with this.
"You know… I really wanted to be angry at you right now… But… I just-"
Marti dashed over to him, and hugged her very stunned father. Bruce stood still in shock, as she wrapped her arms around him.
Some time later, they were both on the bridge looking down at the water.
"How did he die?"
Marti blinked her eyes hard at this question. It was two years ago, but it still felt like yesterday. "He succumbed to the mania the Lazarus pit sealed within him." She grasped her wrist hard at this, covering the scars from the handcuffs he kept her in. She was Jason's prisoner for four years. He kept her by his side, and chained down. She suffered a severe head injury during an attack on their camp in Africa, causing her to have temporary memory loss. Once he died, she managed to escape. It took her two years to get back to France, and only in the last year did her memory fully return. "The first thing I recalled was that you had failed me."
Bruce took in a shuddered breath with this.
"All I could remember for the longest time was that day. Sure, you held to your convictions, which I can see now is honorable… But back then… As far as I knew, you failed me, and threw away everything we built together." She leaned over the railing and looked up at the sky. "Eventually when I did get my memory back, the first place I wanted to be was here. It helped me remember who I was, and… More importantly, who you raised me to be." She looked over to her father, who was waiting intently for her next words. She smiled at this, and grasped his hand. "Now… I think I'm ready to go home."