"It's bad? Daddy, you crying," Arsenio said to Bruce. "You crying, Daddy."

Arsenio looked concerned but also confused. It was as though he was not yet aware that his father could cry.

"I am alright son," Bruce said as Arsenio sat on his lap. Bruce made himself stop crying immediately.

"Daddy, why?" Arsenio asked. "Why you crying? Where Mommy?"

"Your mother is just fine," Bruce assured his son.

"Why you sad?" Arsenio asked and hugged Bruce before he could answer. "Don't cry, Daddy. It's okay. It's okay, Daddy, I love you. It's okay."

Bruce held his son in the embrace and listened to the reassuring words and smiled.

"Thank you, Arsenio," Bruce said to him. "I feel much better."

"Okay, Daddy," Arsenio said and resumed sitting. He looked into Bruce's eyes still looking confused.

"Are you ready to go brush your teeth?" Bruce asked. "Wash up and have some breakfast?"

"Daddy..." Arsenio said and reached for Bruce's hand and squeezed it. "You sad?"

He didn't want to have to do it. Telling his son that he was leaving was something he needed more time, at least an hour, to prepare for. But he knew Arsenio would worry more if he waited.

"Arsenio," Bruce said. "I have some news to share with you."

"Okay, Daddy, okay," Arsenio said. "Tell me?"

"I need to go away again," Bruce said. "For a while."

"How long?" Arsenio asked. "Two weeks?"

"Longer," Bruce said. "It could be 5 or 6 weeks. Maybe a little more."

Bruce watched Arsenio's hazel colored eyes, still sparkling even as they turned sad.

"Daddy, I can go," Arsenio said. "I can go too!"

"I'm afraid that's not possible, son," Bruce said.

"No! I go!" Arsenio said. "I'm not a baby! I am big!"

"Arsenio," Bruce said, trying his best to restrain his emotion. "I am so sorry...I know this is not the best news but..the time will fly by and-"

"No! No!" Arsenio said. "I go! Me and mommy we go too! No!"

"Son, I wish that were possible," Bruce said. "Believe me I do...more than anything-"

"Nooo!" Arsenio began to shout persistently. "I go! I go too Daddy, with you! I go-"

Bruce became quiet as his son went on shouting. For a moment, Bruce was unsure of what to do. Arsenio was typically a very calm and mild-mannered child. He barely ever cried. He understood everything. He had never become uncontrollable and had never thrown a tantrum. Bruce felt unprepared for this outburst and had no idea how to calm him as it went on. Bruce wasn't sure where it came from but a very stern and serious voice came out of him. He did not raise his voice very much, but the voice he used was one had never needed to use with his son or anyone else before.

"Arsenio Thomas Wayne," Bruce said firmly.

Arsenio had been throwing his arms around and kicking his feet aggressively. When Bruce said his name he stopped moving and sat still immediately.

"Huh?" Arsenio said timidly.

Bruce noticed that Arsenio looked afraid. But he didn't look afraid in the way that he thought he was in danger. It was a reverent fear. He looked at Bruce expectantly, waiting for what he would say next.

"If there was anything I could do," Bruce said, his voice much more soothing but still serious. "Anything...I swear to you, I would. If there was a way we could be together I would make it happen, but there is no way possible this time. I have to go and I can promise you that I will be back home as soon as I can. Leaving for so long is the last thing that I want to do. But..I have an obligation. I've tried to figure out other ways somehow to do what I need to do but this is the only option that I have. We have to be strong now, son. I am so so very sorry, Arsenio. And I hope that you will accept my apology."

Arsenio looked at Bruce quietly. Arsenio could see that his father was at least as sad and upset about this as he was. He seemed even sadder because he felt like it was his fault and there was nothing he could do about it.

"Okay, Daddy," Arsenio said, finally. "Okay-"

Bruce felt his heart break as Arsenio's eyes filled with tears. Something about seeing a two year old cry this way was more distressing than Bruce could bear. Eyes filled with tears but emotion contained. His son was trying to be strong.

.

.

.

"Hey," Adriana said to Bruce. He was in their closet standing in front of a rack of clothing. There was an open suitcase on the island of drawers in the middle of the room. It was after midnight and the manor was quiet.

He turned his head to her. He gave her the best smile he could manage.

"Packing for tomorrow?" she asked, even though it was obvious.

"Yes," he told her.

"I'll do it," Adriana offered. "Don't worry."

Adriana walked over and placed a hand on Bruce's arm. Their day had been long. Arsenio did not want to sleep but they eventually got him down for a nap. He wanted to spend every possible second he could with them. He did not want to miss a moment of time he could be with Bruce.

"You don't have to do that," Bruce said to her. "I've got it."

"So have I," Adriana said. Finally Bruce agreed and sat on one of the seats next to the island.

Adriana could see that he was in pain. He hid it well.

Bruce watched her opening the drawers and begin to fill his suitcase. She pulled out comfortable and casual outfits for him to wear, shoes, as well as one dress shirt and a pair of dress pants. He watched her organize everything before walking over to put underwear and shirts into the suitcase. He saw her cross the room again and walk over to the shelf that contained most of his colognes. She smelled each one, looking for something appropriate. Most of his colognes smelled powerful, professional, masculine and confident. She wanted to something that still smelled nice but not too overpowering for the situation. He was going to be a patient. Appropriate for rehab. Something simple and fresh smelling. Bruce already knew which one would work but decided to let her chose. She selected the exact one he had in mind.

He was watching her to see what she would chose and didn't have the heart to stop her. He saw her put the bottle into it's original Gucci box and into his suitcase. After putting in his slippers she closed the case.

"Wait," she said. "Colognes have alcohol in them..is that allowed?"

"No," he said to her. "It's not. But...your choice of fragrance was excellent."

Adriana smiled and shook her head before removing the bottle from his case.

"What about razors?" she asked.

"Disposable only," he told her.

"I'll be back," she said and went to gather his toiletries.

When she came back she organized them into the smaller bag that went with his luggage suitcase. She also put in some stationery and a few pictures of Arsenio.

"Can you think of anything else?" Adriana asked. "Anything I missed?"

"No," Bruce told her. "You got everything."

"Great," she said.

"Thank you," he said. "I appreciate you doing that for me."

She stood in front of him, looking like she did not know what to say.

"Bruce..te amo," Adriana said in Spanish, I love you. Bruce knew that there were times when she could only speak in the language. When her emotions were too high, it seemed she could not manage English anymore. "Y sabes que siempre tendrás mi apoyo." And you know you will always have my support.

Bruce paused, taking in her words. Support. She meant it.

"Adriana," Bruce said. "I spoke to my lawyers and they agreed that no settlement or child support, and alimony for two years was a great idea. They thought that marrying you without a pre-nup would destroy my finances so you can imagine their relief."

"It took me over an hour to convince mine I wasn't crazy," Adriana said.

"That makes sense," Bruce said, knowing that he had spend a few minutes convincing his lawyers of the same. "Alimony only lasts for a couple of years, Adriana."

"I know," she said.

"I need you to listen to me," he said to her. "And say nothing in response. Please accept what I am telling you. I know that we are ending our marriage but...this is the last thing I need you to do for me, as my wife. Please."

Adriana could hear the seriousness in his voice. She would have to accept whatever he was saying.

"I will," she said.

"I need you to swear it," he said to her. "As I have sworn to complete this rehab journey. Neither of us will break our promises."

"Okay," Adriana said.

"I need it sworn,." he said to her.

"Okay..." Adriana said. "Okay, Bruce I swear."

"You will accept a cash settlement," he said to her. "In the amount of $650 million."

Adriana realized she had already sworn to accept what he needed to say.

"Bruce..." she said, almost in disbelief. "I never wanted to take anything from you..it's not what I want-"

"I know," he said and reached for both her hand as he sat and she stood in front of him. "But you will accept it, do you understand?"

She nodded, unable to look him in the eyes.

"There will also be a trust for Arsenio, but it will not be in his name," Bruce said. "I know the League and the Catwoman are watching me very closely. Since I cannot contribute child support since that will verify to them that Arsenio is my child, the trust will be for him when he is older. It will be in the name of a company that runs a series of businesses and owns some real estate that you will be power of attorney over until he is 18. You won't need to do anything to run these businesses, it's taken care of. The company is not one the League is aware of so no one will know it is yours. By the end of next year it should be valued at over $1 billion."

"That...not a trust Bruce," Adriana said. "That's-"

"I need to make sure that you and my son will never want for anything," Bruce said. "And we both know very well that...vigilantism doesn't exactly pay any bills."

"I don't know what to say Bruce," she said.

"Just tell me you will accept this," he said. "For you and for my child. That is all I want."

Bruce could sense her reluctance. But she had sworn.

"Yes...okay," she said. "Th...Thank you, Bruce."

Bruce let out a sigh of relief.

"Also, the pink diamond," he said to her. "If you ever want to sell it-"

"Bruce I would never sell that," she said.

"If you ever needed to, or wanted to," Bruce said. "Lucius knows about it and can make all the arrangements for an auction or can find you a buyer that will purchase quickly."

Adriana found it hard to believe she would ever spend $650 million and need to sell the diamond. She never would.

"Okay," she said. "So...you told Lucius?"

"Yes," Bruce said. "He knows what is going on and I needed to contact him to determine which businesses practically run themselves so you will not have to worry about them when they are yours."

"And you did all this during Arsenio's barely 45 minute nap?" Adriana asked.

"People listen to me," he said, in a way that was confident but not arrogant. "And things are done."

Adriana nodded. Then they were quiet for a few moments.

"Are you in pain?" Adriana asked him, finally.

"I am," he confessed.

"Is it bad?" she asked.

"I will be fine," he said in response.

"How often were you..." Adriana started.

"Taking pain relief?" he asked. "Every four to five hours, approximately."

"I wish there was something I could do," Adriana said, not wanting him to be in pain.

"Lucius is working on something for me, a device," he said. "And I will be considering knee replacement surgery when I return."

"That's great, Bruce," she said, her voice soft and full of love. "You're being so generous with me, Bruce..with the truth and...the settlement and..everything."

"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked. "I love you."

Adriana didn't know if they would ever be able to talk about it. If they would ever be able to address the elephant in the room.

"I want you to be taken care of," Bruce went on. "And happy."

Adriana blinked back a few tears.

"And," he said. "How I wish that it could be with me...we both know I have made mistakes that can't be undone. And I am sorry Adriana. I could have been a much better husband to you. You have endured a lot with me and I would be foolish and selfish..to beg you to endure more even though I know that I can and would do better. I didn't give you many reasons not to give up on me. I am sorry for everything that I put you through."

"It's okay, Bruce," she said, not wanting him to dwell on his regrets.

Their hands were still holding each other's. Their fingers were still interlaced. They looked down at the rings on their fingers. A symbol of their marriage for the world to see. Bruce lifted his hand and held out his fingers in front of her and then used his free hand to lift hers.

"Let's do this together," he said to her.

She nodded once. "Okay," she barely managed to say.

They each reached for the ring on each other's finger and removed them.