The New 52 Redux

by YouKnowItMakesSense

What if Flashpoint hadn't changed reality and the New Earth continuity had persisted? Time and space still tried to assert itself in the form of Eobard Thawne returning to the present as Eddie Thawne, a messiah of resurrection for the world six months after the Blackest Night. And he really does want to change the world.

8. Reckoning on the Dance Floor

Hotel Belle Monico, New Gotham

Clark Kent still found it very…very odd that Bruce would pick a hotel he would always remember largely for liaisons with Selina Kyle in as a venue for his gala functions. This ceremony was officially a charity dinner but word on the grapevine was that it was in order to award Lois Lane for her recent efforts in journalism. Lois didn't want to go to the dinner, feeling Clark should have time to grieve, and called Bruce insensitive for carrying on with it. Not to mention he had invited the likes of Diana, which meant he had an ulterior motive for having Clark in the same room as him. Iris West was invited with Barry Allen as her plus one. Diana was going in the magnificent guise of herself, the former ambassador from Themyscira to Man's World. Bruce Wayne had been vocal in opposing the breakdown of relations between the United Nations and Themyscira for Diana's execution of Maxwell Lord. Despite his own personal misgivings, Bruce did realise Diana was still one of his dearest friends and the most trustworthy of allies. Whilst criticising her as Batman, in his public guise he had always made sure Wonder Woman and the cause of the Amazons were defended against the forces of reaction.

Lois wasn't overly proud of the book she was being honoured for, preferring her scoops against large corporations rather than the David Simon style tale she had researched with John Henry Irons as her main source on the Suicide Slum. Yet she and Clark were expected to go downstairs in full dinner dress and do some ballroom dancing with the bourgeois troglodytes Bruce and Lois despised equally, yet he always entertained for the sake of appearances. She had guessed she was getting an award, but she expected a Justice League meeting to be called at some point in the evening. Clark had not been himself since Wally's death. For him, it was another young person he had failed. He always felt that because he was the first and most admired of all the heroes, all the rest of them were his responsibility. That was why she loved Clark Kent. He was every bit the boy scout most people doubted Superman was because he was clearly hiding something. He was kind and genuinely cared about his fellow man. He was every bit the 'superman' Friedrich Nietzsche had wrote of in that he was both emotionally and physically a being of great fortitude. And now he was sitting on the bed of their hotel room barely able to straighten his tie while Lois was putting her earrings in.

"You all good, Smallville?" Lois asked as she turned around in her stunning black dress with her diamond studded earrings perfectly in place. "Oh, it's nothing Lois," Clark said as he continued to fumble in his attempts at knotting, "I was just thinking about Wally." "You really can't come to terms with this, can you?" she said sitting on the bed beside her husband, "I haven't seen you like this since Conner died." "Yeah, well, it was different when we thought Bruce was dead," he muttered with a slight anger in his voice, "since he'd lived and died as we always knew he would, kicking and screaming in his crusade against evil. But Wally was different. I'd known him since he was a boy and seen him grow into a fine young man over nearly twenty years. Now Bruce expects us to get into our gladrags and dance as if we haven't just lost one of our oldest friends."

"Clark, this party is for me. You get that? This isn't about Batman or Superman or the Flash. Give Bruce the benefit of the doubt. I think he just wants us to get back to our lives sooner rather than later."

"Lois, you should know by now I can still hear your heartbeat. You don't believe a word of what you just said. If he wants us to move on, then why are all the League here. I can hear them downstairs. Diana is dancing with Bruce at the moment, Zatanna's doing a magic show and I can even hear J'onn sitting on his own at the bar asking one of the waiters about his family. The Batman wants to talk about what happened to Wally."

"Well, maybe you should. You have to admit that what happened wasn't normal."

"Yeah, but Bruce probably has some wild theory that's not grounded in reality. He's not been the same since he came back. Whatever Darkseid did to him, he's lost his brilliance. Seeing dead people everywhere. Can't even trust his own son. I don't think he's fit to try and reform us. Dick should still be Batman."

"Dick's a good man, but you know better than anyone he wants to be out of Bruce's shadow. He only became Batman because it was the right thing to do by his family. You need to do the right thing and listen to Bruce and trust him, because he's your friend."

"Fine, but it's just going to be more doom and gloom."

"You've met the Batman, then?" Husband and wife laughed before kissing. In the course of the kiss, Lois managed to tie a perfect knot. "You know," Clark said eagerly, "it's only 10pm and that party's going to be on for all hours." "Clark, I just got dressed," Lois retorted, "Though I'll hold you to that offer later tonight." The power couple of the Daily Planet both rose from the bed. Clark's suit was quite fetching even if he could barely fit in it. The physique of a Kryptonian who's been doing heavy duty farm work since before he could shave is not a measurement extra-large can cover. His glasses were on, of course. Lois Lane was making sure the world saw her at this dinner with her husband, even if half the room knew he was really Superman. Entering the gala, they first spotted Bruce and Diana dancing. They seemed to be in the middle of a conversation, and Bruce's signature growl seemed to be in place. The one he had whenever he was being himself. Being Batman.

"Damian has told me that the new Aqualad hasn't heard from Arthur either. I sent Mera an invite but haven't heard back. She's not exactly happy with the fact that Arthur and Lorena have been gone so long."

"This worries me, Bruce. For all we know, Ocean Master or someone has killed him."

"We've heard nothing from Ocean Master since Darkseid's attack. That being said, he could have been amassing power all this time."

"Bruce," Clark interrupted, "can't this be saved for the League meeting?" Bruce then promptly released Diana from their waltz and looked his old friend in the eye. "Of course, Clark. I'll see you in the Roderick Kane Suite in ten minutes." Lois then took Clark by the hand as Bruce moved on to engage in greater social niceties through his mask as a playboy. "Does he always have to talk business, Diana?" he asked. "Only because he feels he can with you and me, Clark. He does have a softer side with his family when he needs to." "Well," said a tall, attractive red-haired woman who walked up to them, "that's news to me. He only seems interested in money, golf and women when he talks to me. Mr Kent, Miss Lane, Princess Diana, it is an honour to meet you all." She shook all of their hands before Diana asked, "And who might you be?"

"Bruce's family. That is to say his cousin, Kate Kane. My dad Jake and Martha Wayne were brother and sister. And our cousin, Bette is here somewhere too. She's Uncle Phil's little girl. He was older than either of our parents but got with the most gorgeous woman years back. Bette's a good bit younger than Bruce and I, but she's my favourite. Not as stupid as Bruce." Clark harrumphed a little. "I have to say I find your cousin positively charming, Miss Kane. And he seems to have the intelligence and good nature his mother and father were prided for by the people of this city."

"Oh, don't get my father started on Thomas Wayne. Called him a sanctimonious fool who his sister only married for money. Not that I agree with him. I found Uncle Tommy quite nice from what I can remember of him. Let's just say the Kanes never really agreed with Martha's marriage…and Bruce and I's relationship has suffered because of that. It's a shame, but I see how he acts every night and I have to say…I'm not that unhappy about not knowing him." Clark then saw her wink at him before walking off. Her heartbeat throughout had been as erratic as a jackhammer since she was lying to two world-renowned journalists. Looking to Lois, he stated the obvious. "She's clearly a vigilante. She knows full well who her cousin is, and no more than him she's trying to make herself look like a fool in front of journalists. She needs to find someone shallower. Someone who would care about how a socialite…"

"Clark! Lois!" a familiar blonde bombshell shouted from across the room. "Speak of the devil," Lois said under her breath as she received a bear hug and air kisses from Cat Grant. "I can't say I'm surprised you two are here, but this whole dinner thing…it can't be your scene. You two are all about the politics and the superheroes being well…heroic. Saw you both talking to Kate Kane there. Any gossip?" Lois was about to tell her what Kate wanted them to say, when she thought better and said "She's quite nice. Seems very proud to be Bruce Wayne's cousin. And who wouldn't be? He's a fine man, and a true friend of the people of Gotham." "And Princess Di...well, the cool one," Cat said immediately knowing she wouldn't get a story at all from her two colleagues and turning towards the Amazon, "I do love that number you're wearing. What is it? Red and blue. How very…"

"Like my ordinary costume."

"Yeah. Very…ordinary." Cat then sidled away slowly giving a slightly false goodbye to the three of them, knowing that the only other things she could talk to Diana about were the international relations between Themyscira and Man's World. And as a gossip columnist that was not her purview. Lois and Clark laughed to themselves quietly. "Well, Diana, we've still got five minutes before Bruce wants to see us. Lois, may I have a quick dance?" "Well, Smallville, don't stand on my toes this time and you should be fine," she said as she dragged him across the ballroom. The orchestra were playing a sultry yet unconventional love song: Lay Lady Lay by Bob Dylan. Bruce always picked the strangest bands. Diana looked across the room wondering about who she recognised and could chat to. Of course, Barry and Iris were busy at the bar, with Barry looking none too happy he had to be here for obvious reasons and knocking back drink a lot quicker than his wife. Black Canary and the Huntress were out of costume as Dinah Lance and Helena Bertinelli respectively. There was no sign of Tim Drake, but she recognised his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Brown, there with a handsome, dark haired man. She thought Tim seemed a lot taller if that was him, but then saw they didn't look at all alike. Talking to Stephanie was the unmistakably recognisable Supergirl, in her disguise as Linda Lang, and accompanying her was Cassandra Cain, Bruce's adopted daughter and his son with Talia al Ghul, Damian Wayne. She of course recognised Gotham's original power couple, Nightwing and Oracle even with the former out of costume. They were busy talking with her father, Jim. They seemed to be very happy as Jim was hugging Dick as if he'd just received a clean bill of health. Seeing that kind of affection between two generations made Diana wish Donna was here. Her relationship with Cassie hadn't been as strong since Cassie had lost Conner then assumed a leadership role in the Teen Titans. The fact of the matter was that Donna had been similarly distant at that point in her career too. Partly because of how their timelines were being altered, to be fair.

"May I have this dance?" a young and familiar voice asked her, "seeing as my father already asked you for one and I've only kissed a teenage Amazon before?" Diana turned around to see Tim Drake in a three-piece suit looking decisively paler than the last time she saw him. "Tim, hello," Diana said as she gave an affectionate hug to the former Robin, "How are you? Last I saw Cassie she said she hadn't seen you in a while." Tim coughed to himself a little. "Yeah, well I'm working undercover for Babs. All very hush hush. Still have to keep up appearances as Bruce Wayne's adopted son in public, even if I can't be Red Robin for the moment. All picture, no sound, eh? That and Babs asked me to come here as a favour to her. Said I didn't have to talk to Bruce while I'm here."

"You look unhealthy, Tim. I hope this work you're doing has not placed too much strain on you."

"No more than Bruce would endure."

"But you are not Bruce."

"Yeah, thanks Diana. No need to remind me," Tim said before stalking off in the direction of the bar. "Tim, wait! Oh…" Diana felt she had put her foot in it. She had heard about Tim failing an apparent test of Bruce's not long ago. She loved Bruce in many ways but loving someone comes with knowing their failings. And Bruce's greatest failing was that he expected broken children like Tim to perform as efficiently and methodically as he would. This was why she and Clark had always been reluctant to take on a younger partner. Then Clark walked past her in the direction of the Roderick Kane Suite and she decided to follow. The suite was a vast room that had a large dining table and two sets of portraits: one of Bruce's maternal grandparents, Roderick Kane and Elizabeth Moldoff and the other of his parents, Thomas and Martha. A large chandelier dangled above the table as if to announce that this room was the domain of the upper class. Of course, Bruce didn't see it that way. He saw it as a private place where he could finally confront his teammates with his theories. The man standing beside Bruce on one end of the table morphed into his true form as the Martian Manhunter. Barry Allen then walked in behind them looking a little drunker than the rest of the League.

Clark and Diana stood beside one another as they were joined by Kara and then Dinah Lance and Zatanna. "That's everyone of us who came, then." "Excuse me, Dick's outside," Kara interrupted. "Dick is not Batman, I am. Therefore, he has no place here. You're lucky Kara he speaks highly enough of you for me to allow you to be here." The whole room went silent as the occasional arrogance and cold heartedness of Batman emerged again. Clark hadn't seen Bruce like this since before Brother Eye and the OMACs. "So, Bruce," Diana said before an argument could erupt, "what did you and J'onn call us all here for?"

"I came to tell you about how Wally West died. And the fault lies almost entirely with me. I was contacted by Ollie last week concerning a man who was an exact doppelganger of Barry appearing in Star City and attacking Swamp Thing. We took the man in, but not before he performed a trick that somehow brought people back from the dead. One of these was Lian Harper. Ollie, John Constantine and I…"

"Woah, hold up!" Clark shouted, "You trusted that chain smoking lout over the rest of us." "He is friends with Alec Holland, I was paying him and he had no means of accessing the Watchtower without my say-so," Bruce responded as cold as ice. "That and this man we apprehended had played a confidence trick on Roy Harper, compromising people's opinions of him. I know the rest of you can be overly sentimental at times, and I'm proud of Green Arrow for rising above that and taking the safer option, all things considered."

"And you thought we wouldn't have?" Diana said with the fury of Ares, "You thought we'd just turn on you so we could get our loved ones back? That's not how the League has ever worked, Bruce." Then Dinah had to butt in with a "You call being grateful for your child being raised from the dead 'overly sentimental'? Bruce, what happened to you when you were lost in time." He didn't even answer Dinah on that front and looked at Zatanna who was genuinely worried by the look in his eyes. There was a barely disguised hint of loathing in them for everyone in the room. "Forgive me," he replied, with a slight hint of sarcasm, tinged with rage, "when I find it hard to trust the team who mentally castrated Dr Light and then wiped my mind for objecting to it on issues concerning sentiment." The whole atmosphere changed. "You forgave them for that," Diana retorted. Bruce smirked slightly, almost like a villain. "Forgiveness and forgetfulness are two different things, Diana. No more than I forgave you for poor judgement with Max Lord, I have not forgotten how all of you are capable of it."

"Just like we haven't forgotten Brother Eye," Clark said through gritted teeth. "Touché," Bruce said, though any concession was not apparent in his tone or manner, "But Ollie trusted me with this and I felt it had to have as few people involved as possible. We sealed the doppelganger on the Watchtower with Red Tornado as sentry. My plan was to wait until J'onn returned to examine the man's mind and discover his identity. He will confirm I am telling the truth."

"It is so."

"Therefore, I returned to the Batcave and awaited confirmation. Somehow the next night, Wally ended up aboard the Watchtower. He told me the man we captured was Eobard Thawne…"

"Bull fucking shit!" Barry said with a slur in his words, "He killed him!" Their drunken friend was gesticulating up at a portrait of the Waynes. "I saw it!" "Barry, are you sure you don't want a glass of water?" Clark asked. "Oh, fuck off, boy scout, I'm fine!," he uncharacteristically cursed once again "Anyway, let's hear the rest of Bat Brain's outlandish story." The League members all felt a lot more uncomfortable now that Barry's drunken displays of grief were combined with Bruce's barely masked hostility.

"As I was saying, Wally told me the prisoner was Eobard Thawne, which is a theory Ollie subscribes to as well."

"Oh, so you've seen him since," Dinah butted in, "I've been trying to contact him for ages to let him know about Wally, and yet he's been talking to you. The Batman. Not me, not Roy. You." "I haven't seen him since before Wally died, Dinah," Bruce replied, "and unlike you I actually fear the worst since I haven't heard from Constantine either." Dinah blanched at that news. Both Ollie and the man he was last seen with had vanished off the face of the Earth. Even if they weren't together anymore, she had to admit she felt really worried.

"The prisoner had somehow seized control of Red Tornado, called Wally up to the tower, then ambushed him and stole his speed. Now I don't know why or how he got the power to do any of this. I've heard of speedsters stealing speed before but never of one being able to control the likes of Red Tornado. He targeted the Watchtower at Keystone City and I helped Wally redirect it to the Moon since I was the only one he could contact. I will never wash his blood off my hands, no more than I can Jason's. I'm sorry, Barry."

"Oh, shut up! That's not nearly as bad as what I did! I went back in time and I…I made my mother alive again."

"Barry, I don't think the others need to hear this."

"Hear what?" Clark said with genuine curiosity. Barry stumbled over to the mild-mannered reporter and began tapping his chest annoyingly as he spoke. "Hear that I changed history and the world was a complete mess. Amazons and Atlanteans attacking America…big balls of fire…and Bruce was dead…and his daddy was Batman. And Clark, you were a prisoner of the government your entire life. And Diana, you were killing civilians!"

"Barry, that's enough."

"But here's the reason why Bruce's story about Wally dying is complete bull. Eobard Thawne had a sword driven through his back by Thomas Wayne. His dead body was left in a timeline which doesn't exist anymore. Not to mention he only came back last time because of the Blackest Night. He can't come back because there's nothing of him to resurrect. Bruce is wrong."

"I'm telling you, Barry, Wally told me he was Eobard Thawne! J'onn, tell them I'm telling the truth."

"You are of course, Bruce. But—"

"But nothing!"

"But you did study the contents of the vial I gave you?" Bruce paused and then removed a vial of purple liquid from his suit jacket. "J'onn was able to trap this in Earth's atmosphere. Said he noticed it contained this when he returned from his trip. I analysed it at the Batcave…it contains trace elements, not enough to truly mimic it, but enough to alter your view of reality. It's the Black Mercy."

"Precisely my point, Bruce. You have been inhaling this thing, all of you for weeks perhaps. Wally would have been as well. What's to say he didn't see the real enemy behind this as Eobard Thawne? The real enemy sounds more like Eclipso, or someone else beyond this world. And you told me as well that Ollie mentioned one of the Guardians of the Universe was present."

"He did."

"Well then, maybe it is Krona or Scar or Appa Ali Apsa up to their old tricks again? The fact that the Flash saw him as Eobard Thawne is because he couldn't quantify why this person looked like Barry Allen. The man you described sounds like he has none of the same powers as Eobard Thawne."

"You're right…he doesn't. But I believe Wally." J'onn then took a more serious tone. "Kara, tell Bruce everything Barbara was able to uncover on the black box from the Watchtower." Bruce looked up stunned as Kara answered. "There was no prisoner, nor is there any log of you, Green Arrow or John Constantine ever being on the Watchtower, Batman. Nor of anyone being locked up. The only evidence we have from the video cameras is of Red Tornado going berserk and attacking Wally." Bruce wouldn't hear any of it. "No! I know what I saw. Don't any of you find it suspicious that neither Ollie nor Constantine can be found? Ask Jason or Roy they were with them…" "Oh, we have no doubt Jason and Roy met this man you're talking about," Clark said with a tone of indignation. "But we very much doubt you did. The Black Mercy has been altering your brain chemistry, Bruce. J'onn where was it found in its highest concentrations."

"75% of the spores were found in Gotham. I am sorry, Bruce. It seems the evidence does not exactly run in your favour."

"This is madness! Wally spoke to me that night! He told me—"

"He told you his own fantasies. Since we can't revive Red Tornado or locate Green Arrow and John Constantine no one can corroborate your story, Bruce. I'm sorry, now please, calm down."

"You're all fools. But fine…I'll let you be naïve all you want."

Zatanna then raised her hand to say, "As fascinating as this all is, I would rather like to get back to the fact that Barry…changed history. On a whim." All eyes at the table turned to Barry. "He was only trying to save his mother," Bruce said before receiving daggers from Clark. "Oh, so it would be alright for me to go back and save Krypton then, would it?" Bruce didn't respond to that knowing Barry was in the wrong but sympathising with his aims. Barry just laughed as everyone stared at him. "I have nothing to say to any of you! You, Bruce, you killed Wally because you didn't trust him or anyone else! This whole League stinks! I'm done…I'm not the Flash anymore!" Barry then zipped away at the speed of light. Diana and Clark then fixed their gaze on Bruce. "You knew Barry had done this?"

"He…he came to me after reality was restored with a letter from my father. It was…rather lovely."

"By Hera, for such a serious man you are a blind and blinkered fool when it comes to your mother and father, Bruce! Maybe you should try showing that love to the likes of Tim Drake for once!"

"I have to agree with Diana," Clark chimed in, "Barry acted immaturely and nearly destroyed the world, and he's been making Diana have visions because of it. You didn't trust any of us when you suspected the Reverse-Flash was our prisoner and it cost Wally his life. I believe J'onn is right, the Black Mercy may have compromised all of us, so maybe one or both of you weren't thinking clearly. But that's enough for me. Because of this, I move we suspend the Justice League until we find out who or what killed Wally for sure and/or dispersed those spores. Does everyone except Bruce agree? Good. I'll see what S.T.A.R. Labs can do."

"But what—"

"You've already done enough, Bruce. Now let's go outside, celebrate my amazing wife and forget how stupid you've been!" Clark snatched the vial from Bruce's hand and stormed out the door. Dinah and J'onn followed suit, with the latter morphing into a more humanoid appearance. The only people left with Bruce were Diana and Zatanna. "Well, Zatanna, do you have any insult to add to my injury?" "No, Bruce, I don't," she said warmly, "because you acted like yourself and I'm not going to change that. We betrayed you, and yeah it takes a lot to trust us again, but we thought you did. You can understand why Clark is angry. Why Diana is angry?"

"We trust you Bruce, and because that wasn't returned Wally is dead. Clark was right, this team can't function anymore. Not until you let up and start trusting other people like we thought you were doing. We all love you, Bruce, but because you clearly don't feel the same a teammate is dead. I hope you find it in your heart to love again. And you should start with your children."

Diana and Zatanna then walked out the door promptly leaving Bruce on his own. He didn't know how she knew about the dispute between Tim and him. Maybe she was right. Finding out everything about Kathy and Spyral had really destroyed him though. The fact that someone he had trusted as much as her had been an agent for an international group of former Nazis, made Bruce realise that he couldn't trust anyone anymore. No more than Clark or Diana, Kathy had ostensibly been on the side of justice, and it transpired she had been lying to him all along. The door to the suite knocked and in came Lucius Fox. "Mr Wayne, it's time for your speech introducing Ms Lane."

"Be there in a few minutes, Lucius."

As Bruce looked sullenly at the table, and clenched his fists in anger, fighting back tears, Lucius exited the suite and walked over to a familiar pair. He recognised one of them as Tim Drake, Bruce's adopted son, and the other as his adopted daughter, Cassandra Cain. Both had been fairly off the radar for a while now. He quietly approached both of them to be sociable. "Tim, Cassandra." "Hello, Lucius," Tim said as Cass nodded a silent agreement, "How's business at Wayne Enterprises?" Tim felt a little awkward talking to Lucius since he had recently had a fling with his daughter. Well, it was hardly a fling, more a long term relationship that ended with her hitting him for his shenanigans as Red Robin. "Very good, thank you. Your father will be out in a minute, I just need to tend to the board." Tim smiled awkwardly as he detected a hint of hostility from Lucius with his departure. "You don't still think he cares about you and Tam?" Cass asked her brother. "He's a father, isn't he? With an attractive, young daughter. He's not exactly happy that I'm not treating her the best I could."

"Well, maybe if you didn't pine over Steph all the time, you could be her boyfriend again or anyone else's. Neglecting them for the sake of playing Batman style games doesn't cut it." Cass noted this as she watched her brother look in the direction of his ex-girlfriend dancing with her date, Nick Gage. "Tim, I know what it's like…to feel like an outcast. Please, tell me you're alright." "I'm always alright," he said before swigging back a glass of champagne and walking off as if nothing had happened. Cass may struggle with the English language but she knew body language like the back of her hand, and her brother had been hurting for a while now.

Tim walked over to where Dick and Babs were standing. He'd been avoiding them all night and now that he'd snuck enough alcohol into his system, he had the confidence to actually talk to his older brother and the woman he trusted with his life. Trusted her a lot more than the rest of his family it seemed. They were with Barbara's father, Dinah Lance and Helena Bertinelli. Helena looked so attractive with her Italian complexion and statuesque figure that Tim had to feel jealous of Dick Grayson for all the goddesses who had loved him at some point. Dinah was hugging Babs and crying what seemed to be tears of joy. Jim Gordon was the first one to notice Tim. "Ah, Tim, my lad. It's good to see you. Dick said he hasn't seen you in a while. Have you heard the good news?"

"Good to see you too, Commissioner. What good news?"

"Your big brother here just decided to make an honest woman of my little girl." Despite how depressed he'd felt for so long now, Tim always liked to take these little moments of happiness to heart, particularly for people he loved. The first thing he did was move to hug Babs himself as Dick looked on smiling, happy to see Tim in a better state than he'd seen him in a while. The hug seemed to last a whole minute. Tim could forget about everything. Forget about Ra's, forget about Bruce hating him and forget about how the woman he loved was dancing with another man just down the hall. "How long has this been in the works?"

"Well, I've been planning it for a while now," Dick replied, "since the only thing I've been thinking about since I was Batman was finding a way to have what Bruce never had. In Damian I realised the joy looking after a child could bring, and the hardships. Made me think I needed to settle down, with someone and have roots. Stop being the eternal playboy like Bruce and denying who I am. It was only a flight of fancy I'd been dreaming of since me and Babs got back together. Now, with Wally gone, I feel I need to do it sooner rather than later. Be happy like he was, or I'll end up like Bruce." Dick was always open and honest about his emotions with the rest of them, but that was the most candid answer he'd ever given to anyone as far as Tim could tell. Every other response was laced with humour or flippant, but Tim knew his brother was talking from the heart this time.

"Wally would have been your best man, wouldn't he?" Tim said to his brother knowing he was still reeling from Wally's death. "Yeah, he would have. I have someone else in mind though, now he's gone. Wally would want us to do that. Hell, he'd probably tell me to pick him if he were still here." "Who's that?" Tim asked. Dick laughed. "You, Tim. Who else?" For the first time in a very long time, Tim Drake felt loved. Ever since Bruce had disappeared, he'd felt like the whole family had turned against him, even when they were being nice to him. Tam and Lynx had only liked him out of attraction, but that isn't love. Love like the bond he had felt on Young Justice and the Teen Titans with Conner, Cassie and Bart as his best friends. Love like what he had felt for Bruce and Alfred the night the former told him he was going to adopt him as his son. Love like he and Steph had had before that whole disaster where she had become Robin and faked her death. Love like his parents had shown him when they were alive. All he could do was cry and fall into Dick's arms.

"Hey, big guy. It's okay. I've got you, I'm here. None of us are going anywhere." Bruce walked past to look straight at that sight as Steph and Cass joined them to hear the good news. He had a feeling it was because Dick had asked Barbara to marry him, and now asked Tim to be his best man. Of course, he knew that because of the way Dick had been acting before Wally died, and how Barbara had been ever so happy since the funeral. Dick was always positive, and he missed that blind optimism. He wanted to blame it on youth, but he dreaded the day when Dick would have to hold his son's corpse in his arms, if it took him that to learn why he can't open up. Why he can't be the optimist his son is. He figured if Tim had been around, and not as obviously drunk as he was now, he would have figured it out as well. Drinking alcohol like Tim had this evening underage didn't impress Bruce. But he had to admit he was happy he was here. If only Jason were here too. He could have all five of his children here tonight. And one of them who was here didn't want to know about him. He thought about what Diana had said about looking closer to home but decided not to give it a second thought as he approached the podium to announce the sensation that was Lois Lane to those gathered before him.

"Hello, everyone. It's good to see so many familiar faces here tonight! The Wayne Foundation is honoured to have so many fine people patronising it this evening. And don't worry, folks, none of the funds raised here or at any other Wayne Foundation dinner goes towards the Batman. Every single cent of that comes from Wayne Enterprises. The funds from tonight go to helping the young, working class people of America make something of themselves. To help them stand up to any force that stands against them, be that the unfettered forces of free market capitalism…" There was a laugh at that as if Bruce had an ironic meaning to his words. He felt sickened knowing he had thought like that once but laughed with them all the same. "…, or whether they've lost someone they loved because of the unnecessary violence in this city. I feel proud today to have adopted four children in my relatively short life, and stood by them, because they have lost the people who cared for them to the wanton crime of this town. At the Wayne Foundation, we strive to promote those who come from a less…fortunate background than myself. And no one is better at promoting them than those who document our world. From journalists. From a paper I am proud to patronise in particular. The Daily Planet. Metropolis' finest paper today has employed a woman who has written a fantastic book on the life of those in the Suicide Slum. And thanks to the proceeds raised here tonight we will be…awarding a John Henry Irons scholarship in honour of her star witness to those who come from that part of Metropolis and aim to enter university in any discipline. And so, I, Bruce Wayne, am proud to present this award to Lois Lane!"

Thundering applause carried Lois to the stage as she and Bruce both kissed on the cheek and he handed her the award. All it contained was a certificate, a gold figurine of a pen and a letter from Bruce himself with a message of congratulations. The only other thing was a photo of Bruce's parents. Few people understood it really but Lois did and hugged Bruce with understanding. An understanding her husband seemed to be lacking now. With that, Bruce handed the stage over to one of the finest journalists he had ever known. "Thank you, Mr Wayne. I think that's a speech we can all appreciate. Well, everyone except the currently missing Lex Luthor who will feel cheated that you're paying Metropolis scholarships instead of him. But know that all good people appreciate it. Especially those of us at an independent paper like the Daily Planet concerning the capitalism remark. I was so proud to write this book and do research into one of the poorest areas in a city I have been proud to call my home my entire adult life. And I wouldn't have been there without the strength of my family…and by that, I mean the Kents. My husband, his mother, his later father, his cousin, his kid brother and all our friends have been my rock throughout my entire career as a journalist. With the recent news of my father's actions in relation to the New Krypton incident, it's been hard to not feel a little intimidated. Thanks to my family I have been able to pull through my father's crimes and come out on top where I've always been…as the best damn journalist I can be!" Lois could distinctly see Perry White clapping frantically to himself through cigar smoke at the back of the hall. "So, anyway, I'd also like to thank John Henry Irons for all his help, and also to tell Mr Wayne that this scholarship in his honour is, I have no doubt, greatly appreciated. Thank you!"

At this point, Diana had headed outside looking for Barry Allen and found him getting sick in the corner of the alley outside. "Well, you certainly left an impression on the rest of us, Barry," she said cuttingly, but immediately regretted it. "I'm sorry. I can't understand like you or Bruce what it's really like to be orphaned, especially when my mother is basically immortal. And I know Wally's death can't have you feeling any better. But still, you can't do this to yourself. For the sake of your family, as well. Come on, I'll take you home." Barry stood up from his retching then and said, "Thanks, Diana. I don't trust myself speeding back in this condition. Matter of fact, I meant what I said in there. I don't trust myself speeding at all. The Flash is no more."

"We'll talk about it on the ride home. Come on, I parked the invisible plane down the road."

"You're a good woman, don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Gods, you really are drunk. By Hera, you're like one of the Maenads at the Bacchanalia celebrations back home. I'll go in and get Iris before we go, okay?"

Back inside, Dinah and Helena began chatting about a personal matter that had come to Dinah's attention recently. "Like I said, Helena, she's got nowhere else to go…I don't know what to do." Helena looked her friend up and down out of shock almost. "You really are never going to get over Ollie, are you? I was going to give Babs some grief over Dick earlier except he's got a great butt and wouldn't jerk her around like Ollie does you."

"Ollie and I are not together anymore."

"Yeah, well you're taking in his daughter like a stray at the minute. Does the girl have any skills?"

"She…um, she's good with a bow and arrow. Not Ollie, Roy or Mia good but, good. She was on Young Justice for a while."

"Ah, the Kids Club that were around a while back. She needs to be on a real team. Like ours?"

"Oh, no, she's far too young."

"Please, we basically let little Cass Cain on our team when she was barely past puberty. This kid at least has been on a team before. What does she call herself?"

"Arrowette."

"Pfft…"

"Yeah, I know. I thought Speedy was bad."

"Still, if you believe in her, Dinah. She'd make a welcome addition to the Birds of Prey. I don't think Babs can ever say no to a young girl who's lost her way and wants to fight crime, now can she?"

"That's why we're still stuck with you." Helena punched her old friend in the arm for that as they began laughing to themselves. On the dance floor, Clark and Lois were in the middle of slowly dancing to the song, Martha's Harbour, which Bruce always played at galas in honour of his mother. "Are you okay, boy scout? Hope that nasty Mr Wayne didn't say something mean to you."

"He just doesn't trust us, Lois. And he's coming up with wild theories I'm finding hard to believe. Then Barry…I can't trust anyone anymore."

"You can trust me, Smallville. After all, didn't we swear a vow to that effect?"

"I know. But that doesn't make everything with Bruce any easier."

"You just need something to root you, like he did. And you have that. Me."

"Do I have to keep reminding you I can hear your heartbeat, Lois. I know something's wrong with you. You're thinking about Chris, aren't you?"

"Yeah…I'm scared of seeing him again. But I so want to hold him again. But when life gives you lemons, make lemonade, as your mom might say. With Dick and Babs' good news and Wally being gone, I think more of you heroes need to root down. Wally was one of the lucky ones. But we should all feel lucky we've got what we have already…"

Away from them, Stephanie Brown was talking to Cassandra Cain and Barbara Gordon. "Cissie King-Jones? Can't say I know her that well but Tim mentioned her a couple times. Think we went to Zandia together but there were a lot of us that time. I think Helena's right to recruit her if Dinah wants to give her some guidance. I'm just hoping there's a spot on the Birds for Black Bat and Batgirl as well." Babs smiled. "Well Zinda, Dawn and Hank have moved on for personal reasons…there's just the three of us now. Maybe three young girls can calm us down a bit?" Steph digged her in the ribs. "Hey, don't let Helena hear you say that! Oh, what am I saying? Getting you to shut up, Stephanie Brown, is like trying to argue with the wind." That got a giggle from Cass. "Whereas Miss Cain here is still pretty shy all things considered. It's good to see you back with us, Cass. The Bat Family needs our non-lethal assassin at the best of times. Also, Steph, coming here with Nick Gage of all people? You can do better than that block of wood."

"He's a hot block of wood though, Babs. And I can see why your old man thought he might suit you. Got a real sense of right and wrong which is rare in a Gotham cop. And he's prettier than Harvey Bullock was probably the other reason."

"He's no Boy Wonder, though."

"Well, Dick is pretty cool. Not gonna' lie, I kind of wish he was still in the cowl. I know this year was hard for a lot of us, especially Tim, but Dick really did make a difference in this city. He made Damian…well, likeable." "Oh, you helped with that too, Miss Brown," Babs interjected, "when you and Kara taught him how to treat a lady." "My ears are burning," a small boy said walking up to them, "Stephanie, Cain, Gordon…I take it Father invited everyone except Todd this evening?" "I don't know," Babs responded, "I can't see Leslie here." "Father isn't the forgiving type, and he never forgave her for killing Stephanie," Damian responded in as curt a tone as possible. Steph knew Tim wasn't exactly clued in socially at the best of times, but Damian was practically malformed in his attitude to everything. Cass felt a pang of sympathy for the kid. Being raised by assassins isn't the ideal childhood, and like her he had a parent with lethal intentions. "So, I hear Richard asked you to marry him, Gordon? Just don't hurt him, or I'll…"

"Kill me for hurting your precious big brother?"

"I don't think about Grayson that way. He is my partner, my mentor, my…"

"Hero?"

"This conversation is over." Damian skulked off as the three girls smiled to themselves as if to acknowledge Damian showing he had feelings, as rare an occurrence as it could be. The conversation turned back to family matters as Cass asked Babs did Tim take the news well. "You saw him, didn't you? He's over the moon. I haven't seen him this happy in…in…" The conversation turned awkward as Babs had to realise how depressed he had become. Cass could see it in her brother and Steph saw it written all over his face. "Hey Steph…do us a favour. If you're going to bring Gage out again, talk to Tim before you do it. I think he needs some certainty for once in his life, and he hasn't had that in a while. I'm not criticising but…you two are as bad as Ollie and Dinah. Or worse, Bruce and Selina. If it's over, tell him that." Steph sort of stammered a bit at how forthright Babs had become. Babs had lost her patience only a touch, but a touch too much. "Come on, my Pollyanna. And even if you do tell him it's over, you can still be there for him. Because that's what we are, even if Bruce has forgotten…we're family." Barbara Gordon was indeed right in saying that the vigilantes of Gotham were a family before anything else. Sadly, she didn't comprehend how much Bruce was beating himself up about the fact Damian still took lives under Dick's guidance. None of them really realised how tormented their mentor was. And the worst part, was he didn't appreciate what Tim hold him, Alfred and Dick when they first met…he needs them to keep him from turning into an emotional wreck.

Champagne was always something Mayor Hady liked indulging in and as he pushed past Bruce ignorantly, the billionaire could smell the alcohol off the corrupt, obese fool. "Wayne, still disrespecting civic authority, I see?" "Mr Mayor," Bruce curtly replied, "don't you think you've had enough? I'll call your driver." "Get lost, Wayne. I need the richest man in my city giving money to the Batman like I need a hole in the head. Gordon's gonna' be gone come the spring. And I'm sure your shareholders don't like you toying with the law like you do."

"Batman is a licenced member of the Justice League of America. Do you suggest that if I were funding Superman or the Flash, I would be subject to recrimination from my shareholders? I don't take kindly to being pressured on what to do with my money, Hady."

"Well, you better learn that in this city there's the Batman and there's the people who run the town. Never the 'twain shall meet."

"Are you suggesting you're tied to criminal elements then, Mr Mayor?"

"Those tricks don't even work for Miss Lane, they're not gonna' work for you, Wayne. Goodbye." Hady stalked out of the ballroom and out the front door of the hotel into a stretch limousine. "Right, drop me off at Mrs Kelley's. I booked the appointment last week, and after sitting through another Wayne gala, I ain't in the mood for going home dry after looking at all them models he brings to his parties. The man's an ass!"

"My sentiments exactly, Mayor Hady." Hady turned and looked beside him to see a man with brown hair and a dark suit sitting in the chair normally reserved for some kind of escort. "You…you're him. Dr Hurt. Listen, Hurt, you welshed on our deal. The Black Glove promised me the Batman's head on a plate. What do I get? Everyone thinks he's dead in some crisis but then he's back with a new Robin. A short ass with a temper. And, where were you? Off playing games in some other asshole's skin, no doubt. You've got some nerve walking into my car."

"Well, you see I have been detained for the last few months. And now I've gotten a better offer. Haven't I, Eobard?" The driver turned around and revealed himself to be a young, blonde man with a scraggly beard. "Indeed, you have, Simon." Hady was in shock. "Who the Hell are you? What did you do with Grant? Wait a minute. You're that guy…that preacher on the news. The one all those rednecks are saying can raise the dead. How the hell did you get here?"

"I really don't have to explain myself to you, Sebastian Hady, son of Antonia Daniel. Just know that you go to your death with a greater purpose." The car ground to a halt then outside an alleyway. "My death? What do you mean, my death?" "Victor here will do all he can to make it as painful as possible, don't worry," Hurt whispered into Hady's ear. "After all, we do want you to be unidentifiable." Sebastian Hady was then dragged kicking and screaming from his car into an alleyway by none other than notorious Gotham serial killer, Victor Zsasz. "This mark will sink in deep…"