"Bruce?", Martha leaned up from laying on her bed to see Bruce's head sticking in. "You awake again?", she asked as he nodded before he shuffled into the room. "Did you already eat?", she asked again as he nodded again.
"You didn't answer...", Bruce said. "I asked if you want to be alone.", he repeated as she blinked before realizing that he did ask that a moment before.
"Oh, sorry, no, no, I'm alright, I don't want to be alone if you're wanting to sleep with me again tonight.", Martha answered with a small smile.
Bruce's eyes brightened in relief and a small smile on his face as he walked a bit faster, climbing into the bed, shuffling into Martha's side, "Are you feeling a bit better? I...I heard you and Mama crying really loud together like she and you did when you told me that you love me too.".
"I'm... yeah... doing a bit better... might never fully recover though.", Martha admitted. "The pain might lessen over the years, but it'll never go away.", she sighed.
"Will that be the same for me?", Bruce asked as she nodded. "Hopefully.", Martha gave a small smile. "That would show that you deeply cared for him and will miss him no matter how old you are.", she wrapped her arms around him.
Bruce gave a small nod, "I really do, Mom...Do..do you think he's with the angels?", and Martha exhaled, kissing his forehead, "I really think so...But it doesn't mean that he wouldn't forget us either...He will always be able to watch over us, and he will never leave us in our hearts because we love him, Bruce...".
"Can...can we tell stories to my new baby sibling about him so they would know him too?", Bruce whispered, looking up at her hopefully.
"Of course. They'll also be able to see him in a few places like with some of the pictures and that one painting in the lounge...", Martha said as Bruce sighed and snuggled closer with her. "You want to sleep with Mommy tonight?", she asked as he gave a small nod.
"If that's alright with you... I... I haven't been sleeping well since that night. I kept staring at the roof or outside as I was laying down.", Bruce told her as she sighed.
"Yeah, me too, Bruce. Eventually, my eyes just closed, and I could finally sleep but it's been a bit hard to simply go to sleep like before...", Martha whispered sadly.
Bruce kissed her on the cheek, "It's...it's going to be okay, Mommy...", and Martha smiled sadly, "How did I ever end up with an amazing, wonderful son like you?".
"Love and luck?", Bruce gave a little chuckle as he blushed a bit in pride from his mother's compliment, and Martha chuckled, "You know, that sounds about right...Try to have good dreams for me, okay, darling?".
Bruce smiled, "Okay, I'll try, Mom...Mom, I am so sorry that I really scared you...Mama said that Alfred and you were so worried.", and Martha replied, "I'm just relieved that you're safe and sound, and no, there's no grounding for you, but I do hope you learned your lesson about running away like that, young man.", appreciating that Bruce didn't forget to apologize for today.
"I'll try not to do that again...", Bruce told her as she gave one more nod, "Alright. Now then, we need some rest, we have to be up bright and early and it's important that we look presentable at the will reading... there will be other folks there.".
Bruce nodded lightly, "Yes, ma'am. I love you, Mommy.", before yawning, and Martha brushed her hand through his hair, "Sleep, Bruce...", warmly singing his beloved lullaby, and soon, Bruce was deep asleep, and Martha smiled tenderly, kissing his forehead gently, "I love you, Bruce.".
It certainly still hurt a bit that Bruce reminded her of Thomas, but she also knew very much that Bruce is his own person, and he isn't just of Thomas, but her as well. She glanced at the photo of her and Thomas on their wedding day, hanging on one of the walls, and whispered, "I love you too, Thomas...I miss you...".
She felt a warm caress of air, and tears prickled at her eyes as she gave a small smile, and closed her eyes, heading to sleep, and just dreamed by She-Hulk's side who's sleeping as well, probably due to the rough day as well.
Come morning, they were woken up warmly by Alfred, waking up bright and early, having breakfast together as mother and son, and even helped a bit in fixing the tie and the mourning accents in their presentable clothes for each other, and the staff wished them good luck before the duo left into the limo with Alfred driving in his finest too, as he was called for the reading of the will too.
"I hate this tie...", Bruce grumbled as he was fiddling with it while Martha constantly was having to refix it. "I know you do, but we have to look presentable, and I'm afraid that's going to be something that you'll have to grow to deal with since if I suspect the way things will go, you'll have to be wearing suits constantly.", Martha reminded.
"Why don't you have to wear those ones?", Bruce argued as she chuckled. "Not very fashionable with a dress; and I don't own any women's suits.", Martha said.
"I could find you one, ma'am, if to at least make it fair on young Master Bruce.", Alfred teased from the front. "We'll think about it, Alfred. In the meantime, just deal with it right now, okay, Bruce, this is important for both of us.", Martha said, looking at Bruce.
"Okay...", Bruce nodded. "For Dad, too, right?". She gave a nod of her own, "Right. Thomas would want us at our best for this.".
"Are you prepared, ma'am?", Alfred asked her. "I did warn you of who else would probably be attending.", with a look through the rearview mirror.
"I know. The Wayne Enterprises board members: probably the ones who didn't show up to the funeral. Like vultures, don't come to show respect but they'll be fast to feast on the... prize.", Martha said, not wanting to use the words corpse or carcass when talking about Thomas.
"If I may, ma'am, please try to keep yourself calm... last thing we will need is for a surprise appearance to all this by the She-Hulk.", Alfred advised.
"Me not wanting to stay hidden... me want to scare those that hate Thomas-mate...", Martha could hear her rougher alter-ego in the back of her head as she growled.
"Believe me, I'd love to frighten them too, but some of these guys are very unsavory characters... and I'm sure they know some folks who wouldn't be scared to try to endanger us.", Martha mentally told her. "After all this, we can go back into those caves beneath the manor and you can smash some rocks and such to let out some of that anger, okay?".
She-Hulk's voice growled, "Fine, we not risk Bruce-pup to be taken away from us. Me behave for Bruce-pup and Alfred-elder, and for Thomas-mate important.".
Martha mentally nodded in relief, "Thank you, She-Hulk.", and then snapped back to reality, "She's going to behave for all our sake, especially Thomas. She especially doesn't want Bruce to be taken away.".
Bruce gasped, and narrowed his eyes, "I won't be taken away from both of you and Alfred! I ain't helpless and I'm very smart!", and Alfred smiled in the rearview mirror, "Indeed. Many people underestimate children. Our Bruce would find a way back to any of us with that motivation.".
Martha smiled before replying, "Still, we better not test that or any time soon, alright?", and they nodded, and so, with good work of traffic, they made it to Wayne Entreprises in time a bit before 9 o'clock.
They got to a large meeting room with plenty of seats, with Martha nodding to her and Thomas' lawyer with a small, sad smile that he returned in understanding, with Martha seeing Leslie in one of the seats, along with a few friends who owned the soup kitchens here and there in the city, and of course, the entire board of men, young and old, and to her surprise, the commissioner, and Detective Officer Gordon, maybe because Gordon was one of the first people to see the scene of his death next to Marth and Bruce, and the Commissioner, perhaps because he is Gordon's boss, and maybe Thomas had a last wish to donate money to the police or something.
After everyone was settled in, with Martha, Bruce, and Alfred in front of one of the organized sections, the lawyer called out names to make sure that all attendees that Thomas wished for was here, including one man that Thomas fondly spoke about, many times, Lucius Fox, saying that he is in charge of the tech department, and he deeply cares about double checking the tech as he would never want to cause harm to the consumers who buys the tech.
Martha and Lucius Fox, an African American man of around Thomas' age, locked eyes for a moment, and he gave her a respectful nod and a warm smile when his name was called, and he showed his hand to declare his appearance.
After the call of names were complete, the lawyer then announced, "As we are all here, I now will start with Mr. Wayne's last wishes, including one he personally made for me to do, to show the legality and finality of his wishes and orders.", producing a long-range voice recorder, ready to turn it on after he finishes the start of the ceremony.
"Today, in the 20th century, of the year 1998 of our Lord, on the month of March, on the 9th day, this is the will and testament of Thomas Dorian Wayne, trademarked with the Wayne watermark and his signature which is accurately ensured that this is the real thing. I will now give the reins to my deceased employee, Mr. Wayne.", the lawyer announced before clicking the recorder on.
Martha's eyes widened, stifling a sob as her heart panged, hearing Thomas' voice. "I, Thomas Dorian Wayne, have updated my will and testament on February 20th, shortly after my beloved son's 8th birthday, upon finding happiness and relief through recent events, including my wife's recovery from the deadly illness that near took her life, which I am sure many people in this room are shocked about, and no, I won't ever betray my wife's treatment as the board had betrayed me right here in this room.".
Silence and shock were in the room as eyes looked at the board in suspicion and horror, as Thomas' voice continued, "My only allies in this room was truly Lucius Fox and the Commissioner and my lawyer, Dr. Leslie Thompkins, next to my wife, son, and my brother/best friend in Alfred Pennyworth. From December of the previous year, 1997, I had suspicions about the board ever since they couldn't stop implying that my wife had a weak disposition, and etc., to not survive the deadly illness, and my never-ending hope to find a cure, a treatment was making me a fool, not focusing on the company entirely, and even insulting my son's competence. It took weeks to find almost all of the board's dirty secrets and skeletons in the closet, which I worked hard on discovering with Lucius Fox, my lawyer, Dr. Thompkins and the Commissioner.".
Martha widened her eyes as she looked at Leslie in shock, seeing her look at Martha with a pleading apology on her face to forgive her as Leslie had to keep it secret.
Martha certainly was stunned by Thomas' words; almost openly declaring his hostility to much of the board. "I leave much of this message, in the off chance that some whom I've discovered amongst the board, who have made some very ill-advised friendships that, if push comes to shove, may lead to an early end of my own life.". That might explain why Gordon was attending, if he perhaps discovered Thomas' killer was perhaps a hired gun. Still, if that was the case, she was sure she would've been informed sooner.
"In that event; what I have learned has already been leaked to responsible parties that I trust will take action; in local, state and even federal cases. I do all this in a way to help better protect my son, Bruce; whom is my heir, and I bequeath so much to.".
Martha quickly nodded at Leslie to reassure her that she was forgiven, and listened as Thomas continued to speak, "My last orders for this company so Bruce can have an easier time once he inherits at the age of 21, which I feel is an appropriate time for him to be ready by then, is that the board will not exist no more, in the event of my early end of life, but to have a committee of leaders, so Wayne Entreprises 2.0 will begin, with Lucius Fox as the right hand of my wife, Martha Rosalyn Wayne as the regent of Bruce Thomas Wayne, to lead the committee.".
Martha widened her eyes as Bruce gasped softly, as Thomas's voice kept going, "I make Dr. Leslie Thompkins the leader of the science department, and I give $10,000 to her so she can start her dream of creating a weekend clinic for the unfortunate which I helped make plans as I had also helped the unfortunate in being a doctor myself, and I wish all the luck to her.".
Martha saw Leslie's eyes holding back tears with a joyful smile. Thomas' voice continued, "As for Lucius Fox, while assisting as co-CEO, he remains in charge of the tech department, and I give him $10,000 to him so he can improve the company with his projects and give all our consumers more ease.".
Martha saw an appreciative, sad look on Lucius, seeming to thank Thomas for the gift, as Thomas's voice kept on, "As for the Commissioner, I give $10,000 to improve the police's departments, and hopefully build/start a new precinct in the area where I was killed, so the city would be safer next to the other precincts in Gotham.".
The commissioner and Officer Gordon's eyes widened in shock and, and Thomas kept going, "And in the event of my early death, if my wife and son survives me, I trust Martha Rosalyn Wayne with the company as regent, to find better, well-rounded people to take the other departments on the committee. And Martha, it took me a few years, but I finally found a loophole in your great-grandfather's will about women not being able to own family property, and remembering that wonderful fateful day that brought us together, and talking with your father before he retired with the other folks to Florida, you are the owner of Wayne Manor as you deserve to be a woman owning your family home, and I make Alfred Pennyworth the man of the house and advisor of my wife, while helping with the raising of my and my wife's son, and hopefully another Wayne child since your recovery, Martha...I hope you forgive me for giving you one last surprise and keeping it so long, my wonderful wife, but I didn't want the board to somehow take Wayne Manor from you and Bruce if they threatened our son during the post-days since my death.".
Martha almost wanted to weep upon hearing all that. It felt like Thomas was taking the whole world's weight onto his shoulders in an effort to try and make things right for her and their son; and those close to them as well. It was almost amazing of just how well in hindsight he seemed to have with things but considering her health and the risks of her treatment and going behind the company at points, perhaps he was just simply covering his bases.
Thomas's voice continued on, "Now to the other situations; in the event my wife or son gets injured yet survives me, like in the case of a coma or such, Lucius Fox is in charge of Wayne Entreprises until my wife or/and my son returns from full recovery, and so the same things I've given still suffice, with Alfred Pennyworth watching over Wayne Manor, and temporarily owning it, keeping it safe for Martha and Bruce in their recovery.".
Martha nodded as that made sense, and Thomas kept going, "In the event my wife joins me in our early death, regretfully leaving our son an orphan, Alfred Pennyworth is the regent of our son, and Lucius Fox still in charge, and so on, and in this case, I leave Alfred Pennyworth a vacation home in Greece in the implication of retirement if he wants to, upon Bruce's inheritance or after Bruce is well-established with a family which I and Martha very much hope that he would have in his future as a way of healing from his grief for us, and Alfred, do not be concerned of money for the humble vacation home is otherwise rented by peaceful villagers, as the mortgage will be paid off already if not later, so you can rest at your own desire. I would never thank you enough for all those years of service and being one of my best friends, and I would be happy forever to call you my older brother. May Bruce heed your advice as I and Martha had.".