A Little Birdy Told Me

Bruce

I sat at the table with my family, eating the breakfast Alfred made. We were still all in our pajamas. It was a late breakfast as most of us were up late on patrol last night. Jason was two seconds away from falling asleep and drowning in his cheerios. Damian was bright eyed and bushy tailed as he meticulously ate his crepes and drank his orange juice. Timothy was quietly eating his eggs Benedict. And Dick was scarfing down his waffles. The girls chatted quietly though Stephanie was still in her room, fast asleep. I sat with bacon, eggs, and French toast on the plate in front of me.

"You'd think those were the last waffles on earth the way he's eating them." Barbara giggled to Cassandra. Cassie grinned and nodded.

"Hey I'm a growing boy!" Dick said with his mouthful.

"You're twenty-five, I don't think you have anymore growing to do, unless it's for that already big head of yours."

"My head is the adequate size for my body!" he argued.

"Actually I think it's kind of small..." Jason said, half asleep.

"Thank you?" Dick raised an eyebrow.

"I don't believe she was talking about the head on your shoulders, Grayson." Damian smirked. The whole table quieted, and as soon as Barbara blushed everyone bursted with laughter. That was a new one, Damian was never one for innuendos. I ruffled my blood son's hair.

Our glee was interrupted when the telephone in the living room rang. Who could be calling at.... 11:30? Oh, well that could be anyone.

"Alfred?"

"On it, sir." he left the kitchen and the ringing stopped. We all leaned in to listen.

"Wayne Manor, may I help you?" Muffled, we barely heard Alfred speak. Then it was silent for the longest time. "Hello? May I ask who is call-?" It was silent again and Alfred walked back to the kitchen.

"Who was that, Pennyworth?" Damian pried.

"I'm afraid they never gave any identification. They didn't say anything at all."

My eyes narrowed. "Do you know where they were calling from?"

Alfred nodded. "Yes sir, I took the liberty to trace the call, it was coming from a payphone in Brooklyn."

"Brooklyn? Who do we know there?" Barbara inquired.

I thought for awhile, it could be numerous people, I'd investigate later, but for now, family time. "Probably just a wrong number." I dismissed it, and they shrugged it off. Just then, Stephanie appeared, looking as if she was just raised from the dead.

"Nice of you to join us, Steph." Tim smiled genuinely.

"Shh." She shushed the nineteen year old and he frowned. "Alfred, can I have some coffee, please?" Without a word, Alfred fixed her coffee and set it in front of her as she took her seat next to Damian and Barbara. She sipped it and the life seemed to return to her face. "Sorry bout that, Tim, you know I'm not me without my coffee." The blonde smiled at him.

At that exact moment Jason's face made total contact with his bowl of cereal. He snorted and jolted up, his face dripping with milk and covered with whole-grain O's. His eyes were wide and he licked his lips. There were snorts and giggles all around the table, I even found myself chuckling.

I lived for days like this, I knew the rest of my family felt the same. We would try to do things like this twice a month but things kept getting in the way. This will be our first family day in five months. It was usually just me, Damian, Titus, and Alfred, -sometimes the occasional Tim- hanging out here at the Manor. Dick stayed in Blüdhaven or even sometimes Chicago. Jason and Steph did their own thing here in Gotham. Cassie either stayed with Barbara or in Hong Kong. It was virtually impossible to get us all together at one time, but we managed. And when we do get together we do our best to hide grudges or animosity towards one another, usually Barbara and Tim toward Damian or Jason towards all of us.

Today, if villains allowed us to, we would have a harmless water gun fight out in the brisk November air. Five months ago it was volleyball on the beach. On these days we actually seemed like a normal family.

Michelle

I hung up the phone immediately. Could my mom really have fallen in love with some stuck-up, rich, British guy? Wrong number. It had to have been a wrong number, she was in a hurry, she could have typed the wrong digits. That only leaves me with an address. I glanced at the given address, I don't even know where that is. Which way to... Gotham? I've heard of that city. Really dangerous. It was on the news all the time. But where was it? Why couldn't she leave me a map? Where could I find a map? I looked at that corner store again, it was worth a try.

I walked into the corner store once again and went up to the cashier.

"Erm, excuse me, do you carry state maps?"

He nodded. "In the back to your left."

"Thank you." I followed his directions walking to the back of the store and to the left, but there were no maps there. There was another guy in the store I didn't notice, the light flickered off something in his belt... a gun. Oh no, I hope he wasn't thinking of robbing the store... He hadn't noticed me yet, I kept my composure and walked to the front of the store where the cashier was. I leaned over the counter. "I think that guy is going to rob you." I whisper to him.

He smirked. "Why do you say that, missy?"

I leaned in closer to him. "He has a gun."

"You're talking bout him?" he gestured behind me and I froze. I turned my head slowly to see the same guy holding the gun in his hand, his grin was wide. Fear sparked through me. "That's Freddie, he wouldn't hurt a fly, unless the fly struggled." He chuckled as the 'Freddie' guy grabbed my arm tightly.

"L-let me go." I squeaked.

"Ah-ah." Freddie finally spoke. "The ones with the guns call the shots." his voice was raw, like all he did in his free time was smoke cigarettes.

I tried to pull my arm away quickly, but his grip was iron-tight. He started dragging me to the back of the store, I tried to pull away... No use, he was stronger than me. I started to scream them something hit me in the back of my head, the last thing I heard was before I blacked out was "shouldn't have struggled."

°Time Skip°

Michelle

I woke up to a skull splitting headache. I cried out in pain.

"Oh great, another cry baby, just what we needed." a female voice echoed, my head hurt too much to focus on anything specific. My eyes were shut tight and I was laying on my stomach.

"Shut up Andy, you don't even know what it feels like, you didn't struggle." Another female voice spoke. The two voices kept talking but lower so I couldn't hear.

There was some shuffling next to me and I tensed. I felt a soft poke on my side. I tried to ignore it, I tried to calm my raging headache. But the poking continued. I rolled my head over slowly to find the source of the poking. I was surprised to find a little girl who could be no older than five. In the dim light I was able to make out her pale skin and black hair. She would have been my twin but her eyes were a nice earthy green with flecks of gold.

"Hi! My name is Birdy. That's not my real name but that's what mommy called me. I gave everyone her names to match my name. Whats your name so you can match?" she said at rapid speed.

I held my head in my hands and got up to rest on my elbows. "I got every other word of what you said, Kit. Slow down."

"Whats kit? Do you mean kid? Today's my birthday. I'm not a kid. You look like Chrissy. Chrissy is my sister, she went on a trip to get me a birthday present. She won't come back till she finds a good one." she didn't slow, and my head didn't stop hurting.

"Happy birthday?" I flipped over on my back and sat up, blinking a few times looking at my surroundings.... A basement. "Where am I....?" I asked myself.

"Home. We're all home, you, Andy, Patty, Olly, Lucky, and me, Birdy. You never said your name. Tell your name and I can give you a new one, I promise." It seemed like she didn't need air, oh joy.

I shook my head to try and clear it, little help. I looked around, two other girls my age were sitting in a corner on my far left, behind me was a door, and on my right, in the darkest corner were two figures laying on the ground, I saw they chests rise and fall so I wasn't able to think the worst.

"Helloooo. What's your name? Do you have a name? I met a girl who named herself once, she didn't like following rules so she had to go. Her name was Scout, she didn't let me give her a new name."

"Name?" I whispered.

"Yeah, What's your name?"

"M-...Jewel?" I said questioning myself, why would I tell her my middle name, what was I hiding from? And once it fell off my lips, all the memories came flooding back in.

Michelle

"You never answered my question! What's your real name?" Birdy asked, her brow furrowing.

"Well my middle name is Jewel, I'd prefer to keep it at that..." I trailed off when she started to pout.

Andy and Patty nodded. Lucky put a hand on Birdy's shoulder. "Don't pry, people are allowed to keep some things secret." Birdy seemed to let it go and I sighed in relief, one less thing to torture me.

We all jumped as the door made a loud sound I looked to the other girls in question, they didn't notice me and moved slowly to the door. I jumped again as a hand touched my shoulder... It was Olly, the girl who was asleep when I got here. She had a mop of Brown hair and wild green eyes. "Dinner." she whispered to me and made her way to the door behind the other four girls.

Unknown

The place reeked, it was pitch black but dripping from the pipes above me could be heard. My body was sore. Even if I wasn't tied to a chair I wouldn't be able to move. I didn't wish for death, not even after this long. Too much to look forward to. Too much to live for.

Light filled the room as a door opened and I involuntarily shuttered. A masked figure made his way passed the threshold. My eyes took him in.

"New guy huh? And I was just getting warmed up with the last one. I was gonna take him all the way." I purred

"I advise you to watch your mouth, you wouldn't want it sewn shut." he threatened.

"Oh you didn't get the memo? Cats don't hold their own tongues." I managed to wink and smirk. "Besides. You need me to talk, anyway."

"Exactly." he knelt down to my level, and rested a finger under my chin, lifting it. "So why don't you tell me who the Batman is?" he said sweetly.

"Of course! He's the masked vigilante of Gotham." I smiled.

"Yes, I know that, but who is he under the cowl and costume?" he tried to hide his annoyance.

"Good question. I think he's a man, but you know there's a rumor that he's actually a vampire. Now that seems to good to be t-" I was cut off by his hand clenching tightly around my throat.

"His name?" he didn't raise his voice and he loosened his grip on my throat.

"Batman, duh." I choked out and rolled my eyes.

"You wouldn't want me to test that nine lives theory would you?" he whispered in my ear menacingly.

"No." I whispered back.

"Then tell me who Batman is."

Bruce Wayne. "I don't know."

He punched me and my head flew to the left.

"You know if you break my jaw my mouth would have to be wired shut." I couldn't hold back the tears that came with the pain, not that I cared if he saw, he would take them for weakness, but I would never let up.

"Who is Batman?" He asked, ignoring me.

My lover. "I don't know."

He seemed to take my warning seriously as he just slapped me this time, the taste of iron filled my mouth. "Yes you do! Who is Batman?"

The father of my only child. "I don't know."

He was getting ready to back hand me.

"Okay okay!" I pleaded.

"You ready to talk?"

"I..."

"Yes?"

"I am Batman." I grinned and he went through with his back-hand slap.

"Who is Batman?"

"I am."

Slap. "Who is the Batman?"

"I am."

Slap. "Who is he?"

"Me."

And so the loop begins. This could go on for hours. Maybe minutes, I wouldn't know. Time is lost to me. I don't even know how long I've been here. I just hope they can get tired of me soon so I can get home to my kitten.

Bruce

Patrol was quiet. Silence is actually a bad in this line of work. When the villains are silent that usually means they are planning something big. Even Damian seemed on edge as we watched the streets from a roof top. Everyone had gone home after this afternoon so it was just me and him tonight.

After a few more hours we successfully stopped three muggings and a car jacking. He headed back to the Batmobile and jumped in racing off towards the cave.

"How's school going?" I asked, my hands uselessly rested on the steering reel as auto pilot was on.

"Really?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, why not?" I shrugged. After three years of faking private and homeschooling, I decided the thirteen year old needed to get out and socialize some more with people of his own age. He never got any chance to be a kid, not that he cared, but I talked it over with Dick and he agreed. My first robin had the Teen Titans when he was younger, Tim spent a lot of time with Young Justice, so did Barbara. Even Jason had his band of misfits. That's why I enrolled him at Gotham Academy. I was well aware that other hero children were enrolled there, I was hoping Damian could make some friends, without giving away his identity of course. But I forgot who he was when I made that decision.

"School is fine." he said simply and my eyes widened.

I raised an eyebrow. "Made any friends?"

"Yes."

"Really?" I said in disbelief, I was sure he ran away from the High School just as Alfred pulled off.

He nodded. "Though there are few people on the same intellectual level as me, Grayson told me of your ulterior motives, and believe it or not, father, being stuck in the manor with you and Pennyworth was driving me insane."

"And here I was beginning to think you liked spending time with us." I smiled at him.

"You think a lot of things." He said as we entered the cave.

The Batmobile opened and we hopped out. Alfred was there waiting for us, along with Titus. The Great Dane barked at the sight of Damian and Alfred gave a small smile. Damian walked over to the dog and patted his head, much to the creature's pleasure.

"I'm going to bed." My son said quietly as he started walking out of the cave with Titus. I gave him a nod and went over to the batcomputer, removing the cowl from over my head.

"I took the liberty putting the coordinates of the Brooklyn call in the computer. I had a feeling you might still be curious."

"Thanks Alfred." I said typing.

"Also, Master Jason returned while you were away and is spending the night."

I stopped typing. "Where is he?" the only reason he has for ever spending the night here is if he was hiding out, hurt, or sometimes just to torture me.

"I set him up in his old room."

I turned and looked at Alfred, then stood from the seat. I removed the suit quickly and replaced it with a cotton T-shirt and flannel sleeping pants. I walked out of the Batcave and made my way to Jason's old room. The door was open a crack and I pushed it further, letting the light from the hallway fill the room faintly.

Jason was sprawled out on the bed, Snoring lightly. He was shirtless and gauze was wrapped around his right shoulder and covered his chest. I shook my head at the sight knowing he probably provoked the fight.

"Wound to the chest and graze on the shoulder." Alfred listed. "And I confiscated his arsenal at the threshold."

I nodded. Alfred, always efficient. I closed the door and walked down the hall. Damian's door was also open, and out of habit I checked to make sure he was actually in his room. A smile found its way on my face as I saw his sleeping figure. Titus was on the floor his droopy eyes looked at me then closed as he fell asleep. I found myself getting tired at the sight of them. I closed the door softly and made my way to my own room.

"Do you need anything before you go to bed, sir?"

"No, thanks, Alfred." I dismissed him, and he nodded and walked off as I went to bed.

Bruce

Jason was recovering quickly, it's only been three days and he already wants to leave but Alfred and I convince him to stay. On the first morning when Alfred drove me to the office and Damian to school I was sure he would leave. When we got back he was there, eating Damian's Poptarts, playing shooter games on Damian's PC, though I could have sworn he closed a tab called 'Love Tester' my eyes could have fooled me. Damian wasn't happy his brother stayed and I had to hold him back from injuring Jason further.

After I had a brief conversation with Jason about not touching Damian's things he shrugged and went to the rec room to play the Xbox.

Today I came home and he was sprawled out on the couch in the living room talking to someone over the phone. Seeing him reminded me of the phone call last week and I passed him to get to the cave entrance and I immediately went to the computer. I looked up the coordinates Alfred set.... Brooklyn, twenty minutes away from here. I checked the security cameras in the vicinity and it was just my luck there was one pointed right at the booth. I was surprised to find a young girl made the call. Maybe she dialed wrong? I fast forwarded to see what she did when she walked across the street into my blind spot, she never came back.

I tried to see if there were any other cameras, but there was only one, giving out a live feed. It took some time to hack it, but when I finally got it I was stunned. Six girls in what looked like a basement, they all looked worn out and sad. I saw the young girl who made the call in a corner, her back to the camera. I kept watching. Why were they there? Who is keeping them there?

My eyes glued to the screen, I waited to see their captors. I waited... And waited until good things finally came to me. A man showed up bringing them assorted food, mostly junk. His face showed clearly on the camera and I was able to screenshot it. I searched data bases using facial recognition and came up with a match.

Frederick Vasper, 'Firearm Freddie' to slum lords. He had a sizable record, just got out of jail five years ago. He's been laying low... With a human trafficking ring?

I went back to the feed, screen shotting the girl's faces. I was only able to get two of the six clearly, and neither was the girl who called me.

Roberta Clemmons, age: eight. Youngest of three children in the Clemmons family. Orphaned at five when her parents died in a fire.

Andrea Castellanos, eleven. Only child. Orphaned before she knew how to walk.

I wasn't surprised, of course they would be abandoned, but how did that one orphan girl get my home phone number? I sat back in my chair, thinking. I heard someone enter the cave and I looked up to see my youngest son walking towards me.

I smiled at him. "How was school?" I asked.

He shrugged. "What are you working on?" he asked me, changing the subject.

I narrowed my eyes but brushed it off for later. "New case." I muttered. He stepped up and looked at the screen.

He narrowed his eyes analyzing all the information I pulled up. "Human Trafficking?"

I nodded.

"So when do we move in?" he took his eyes away from the screen to look at me.

"Tonight if you want." I suggested, "There won't be much action," I gestured to the screen. "Minimum security, maybe three or four more inside men, if that many."

"Just a regular capture, cuff, and call the police? Count me in." Jason appeared in the cave and sauntered his way over to us, smirk on his face.

Damian and I exchanged weary glances. "I don-" I started.

"Aw come on, Bruce, you won't let me go out alone, and I'm wasting away, I need some action, even if it is just a little." He came over and put his hands on my shoulders, leaning over my head and looking at the screen. "At least this way you can keep tabs on me." he walked over to Damian and rested his elbow on the teen's shoulder.

Damian gave me a look that said 'God no' but how could I deny Jason, he has been kept up in the manor for a while. I looked at Jason. "No guns." I said sternly. Jason smiled as Damian's jaw dropped.

Jason raised his right hand. "Scouts' honor."

Damian shrugged out of the older man's touch and scowled at me. "Well if you have him accompanying you, I see no need for my help on this mission." he started to walk away.

"Damian-" I stood and started after him.

"I have homework to do." he muttered and dismissed himself.

I groaned and face palmed.

Jason chuckled. "It must be hard being a dad."

Michelle

The plan was in place, it took three days to perfect and everybody knows their part. I gave the other girls a look, and we took our places, anticipating. Birdy next to me, by the vent, Andy and Patty close to the door, and Olly and Lucky near the center of the room. This is going to be the most dangerous thing I've done in my life. I bit my lip, waiting for the first part of our plan to fall in place.

When it finally happened I jumped. The bolts on the door clicked and it opened, revealing 'Freddie' we had told him earlier when he brought 'dinner' that it was time for a cleaning. I heard my heart beat in my ears and felt it through out my body. Inside I was screaming and melting, I hoped it didn't show on my face. Birdy placed her small hand on mine. She was quiet.

Bruce

We watched as the girl took the gun and shot the camera out. That was fifteen minutes ago. Jason and I walked up to the place and all the doors were open and it was quiet. We walked inside.

"I told you you should have floored it since we got out of the cave." Jason said, annoyed.

"Sh." I said quickly as I walked to the back of the store and found a door open that led to a dimly lit hallway. We stalked in, there was a fork in the road I kept straight and sent Jason the other way. There was an open door a light was in, I walked in tentatively and saw it was just an office that and that's how they were monitoring the girls.

"Uh, you should see this." I ran out the room and sprinted to Jason. He was kneeling on the floor in front of something.... My eyes widened as I saw it was the little girl, Roberta Clemmons. I checked her pulse.. No luck. I took my anger out on the floor next to her head and punched the cement.

"Who's there?" someone called from the end of the hall. Jason and I looked at each other. "Ben is that you? I thought you wouldn't be back till morning." we started walking toward him. "The girls got away, they couldn't have gone far, we'll be able to find them, and then some by Sunday." we got to the door and Jason unlocked it I heard him step back. "Ben-B-" I stepped in. "Batman?!" I punched him and knocked him out.

I pressed a button on my utility belt to notify the police in the area. "Make sure he stays down until the police come, I'm going to search for more clues on who his partner was." Jason nodded and grabbed some zip ties out of his belt and dragged the man's body over to a pipe.

Michelle

I split up with the girls after Andy pointed me in the direction of Gotham. She gave me a knife for protection and I accepted it gladly, I couldn't have another set back like this. Patty stuck with Andy while Olly and Lucky went their separate ways.

Now I was totally alone. I walked in the brisk fall darkness, quiet, alone. I couldn't help but think about Birdy. And as I thought about how much I wanted her next to me right then tears found their way to my eyes and they fell. I griped the knife in my coat pocket tighter. Eight years old. What did I know at eight? She was too young. Her blood was still on my shirt, soaked through to my belly. My coat covered it but I knew it was still there.

I stopped in my tracks and looked up at the sky, blinking away my tears. No stars were visible behind the city lights, sky scrapers, and fog. I thought about my last words to her. "You're coming with me." I whispered out loud. There I made a promise I would never forget her and I would find Chrissy with her in my heart. "First I have to find my parents, though." I sighed and started walking again.... Andy said something about a highway....

Bruce

I quickly got out of the Batmobile and went to turn on a training bot. Jason left quietly, which would have worried me had I not been so angry at myself. I turned the bot on its most difficult setting and started pounding away.

I hadn't even broken a sweat when the bot was turned off by Damian who I didn't even notice enter the cave. "What are you doing?" I questioned him, breaking my fighting stance .

"I thought you might want an actual challenge, father." he walked up to me.

I smirked. "Oh, is Dick here?" I looked around playfully. He growled and ran up to me swing his fist at me which I dodged. "Cassie, then?" I tried to hit me again and I kept dodging. "You didn't let a bad guy in here did you? What have I told you about that?"

He stopped. "That was one time-" he whined but I cut him off with a swing at his head which he expertly dodged and dropped to the ground, swinging his foot out he caught me off guard and I fell to the ground. He tried to jump on me but I rolled out of the way. He ran at me and I quickly got to my feet and kicked him in the gut. "Damian!" I called surprised. We both froze, him because I knocked the wind out of him, and me because I didn't really mean to hurt him.

He caught his breath and raised his head to glare at me. Uh-oh. He ran at me full force and now all I could do was block or take his hits, no room for dodging. I held back from hitting him again. We kept this up until we were both out of breath.

Alfred was waiting with water, sandwiches, and goldfish crackers, Damian's secret indulgence. My blood son took the crackers and went to sit in the seat in front of the Bat-computer. I took the water and Alfred sighed. He walked away muttering something like "Always watching their waist when I make snacks."

"Uh thanks Alfred." I called to him, and either he was out of earshot or he was ignoring me because he didn't reply.

"I keep telling you, you need a new butler." Damian smirked.

"Alfred's too good to us, I keep waiting for the day he's gonna pack up and leave us and our never ending dirty laundry." I laughed, stealing some of his crackers.

We were quiet for a while and then Damian spoke again. "You wanna talk about it?" he made eye contact with me.

"There's nothing to talk about really. One suspect behind bars, one still on the run. Five hostages missing, left to a dark a dangerous city, and one dead." I gritted my teeth.

Damian looked down, finally understanding why I was in a bad mood. "It's not your fault." he said quietly.

"You sure?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes." he nodded.

I looked at the Bat-computer time. 3 A.M. wow. "It's late, you have school in the morning." I made him stand and we exited the cave. We went our separate ways.

"Night, Dad." he called to me and I stopped in my tracks and looked back at him, that was only the third time he called me that and it filled my heart with joy. He didn't look back just went into his room and closed the door.

Selina

I woke up this time to the soft sounds of Adele pouring her heart out in the background. My eyes fluttered open and I found I wasn't in my normal room on the boat. I sat up and looked around. I was no longer in a pristine white hospital room but a grand room with blue walls covered in various paintings. There was a bookcase with countless books and a few expensive looking sculptures. I got out of the large bed and got a better look. There was a maple dresser with gold trimming I ran my hand along it. I opened the drawer and found countless amounts of clothes, all in my size. I gently touched the numerous fabrics, sighing at the softness in each one.

In the corner of my room the mirror of a large vanity caught my eye. I walked over to it and noticed a few lipsticks, hair accessories, and little jewelry scattered along the top. I picked a box up, opened it and swooned. Pearls, diamonds, emeralds. I picked up another box and opened it and found it only held one thing, the ruby necklace I stole the night of my abduction. I sent a picture of it to Michelle so she would have some clue to who I was and what I was doing that night. I took a deep breath and unclasped it to put it around my neck and wear it. I based at myself in the mirror. Tortured and imprisoned for this little piece. There was a knock at the door and I sighed.

"Come in?" I called to them. The door cracked open to show the grinning face of the same woman who apparently put me here. She told me to call her Eve.

"You're looking lovely this morning." she sauntered over to me, a sway in her hips and a smirk on her lips.

I raised an eyebrow. "Thank you."

She ran her fingers through my dark hair and looked at me in the mirror. She stood behind me, her chin propped up on my shoulder. "You really are a beauty." she sighed, traces of envy under her smooth voice. Then both of her hands went to straighten out the necklace. "This does look nice on you, maybe I should have let you steal it," she chucked. "but then I wouldn't be able to see it on you." We made eye contact through the mirror.

I looked down, away from her hazel eyes. I still felt her gaze on me, her breath on my neck and her hands on my shoulders. She consumed everything that was me. The confident cool businesswoman Selina Kyle was a myth now, a legend. But legends never die, and that's all I felt, dead inside. She lifted my chin up again. I tried to look anywhere but her eyes but they caught me, brown-gold eyes looking into blue-green, and it felt like I was dying all over again.

"Why don't you join me and the girls for brunch." it wasn't a question, she didn't have to ask, she would force me either way.

"Girls?" I asked.

"That's right. The others are dying to meet you, I've told them how magnificent you are and they can't wait to see for themselves."

Right. I wasn't the only one who got sucked into this little revolution she had going on. She told me about it last night, the only thing I got from it was that she was apart of the group dangerous women that called themselves feminists but in reality want all men to die. And what man is on the top of her hit list? Batman. Apparently, he's a symbol for men to go out and rape, rob, and pillage every woman they see.

"Now," she breathed. "slip into something more appealing and meet us out on the deck. There will be endless mimosas." she giggled.

I nodded, that's all I could do. Words would only come out as a distant whisper And I just wanted her to leave. And she did. After I nodded, her hands slid down my arms and then ghosted away. She took one last look at me in the mirror and turned, walking off and out of the room. When the door closed behind her I bent over the vanity and sobbed. My new home was with a woman that wanted to kill the only man I ever loved, the father of my only child. It was one thing rooming with Harley, I could leave whenever I wanted. She was loopy, easily fooled, and she didn't have those eyes. The eyes that pierced me and broke me down and built me up in new ways. The eyes that watched every move of mine and knew what I would do next. The eyes that I wanted to gouge out with my own two hands. I wouldn't, though. I couldn't. She would find something new, she would find my biggest weakness and use it to torture me.

Who knows, with her eyes, she probably knew my weakness, she probably knew about Bruce and was sending assassins to kill him at this very moment. Kill him, or whatever she wanted to do with him, maybe she wanted to torture him too. Maybe she wanted to bring him on to her cause. If he fell for me he would be no match for her eyes. She probably even knows about Michelle. She probably has her somewhere locked up, waiting, just waiting for the moment I try something. The moment I try to gouge those brown eyes out.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked into my own eyes. I looked into my eyes and caught a glimpse of my broken soul. Though it was written all over my face, the tear streaks and redness didn't help. My face was almost as red as the rubies around my neck. I raised my hand to snatch them off my neck but I stopped. I looked at them hanging daintily at my collar and smiled. Jewels made me happy. They always had, my whole life. When I was young I coveted them, then I grew up and finally took what I deserved. And I was happy. It was on one of my heists I met Batman, and on another Michelle was made.

Sure, Bruce had offered to buy me things, and still sent me expensive jewelry pieces for my birthday and Christmas but it was the thrill of the chase that made me happy. The adrenaline, that's what it was ultimately, but getting caught by Batman was something I always longed for after the first time. He had a whole city to protect and getting him to notice me made me feel special. Some nights I would run away from him again, leaving the chase for another night. Other times, I would let him catch me. The first night we slept together I'm sure neither of us saw it coming. I was just doing my usual flirt, willing him to touch me, to kiss me. He never did it before so I wasn't expecting it when he did that night.

It became a routine thing, flirt and fuck. That's all it was, it wasn't love, not at first. I could tell he was falling, but I refused to admit I was too. It was only Batman and Catwoman. Every time Bruce Wayne asked Selina on a date she would decline. I told myself if I only allowed him in one half of my life I couldn't love him. Batman and Catwoman having a little fun, that was all. But every time I looked into his eyes I fell a little harder. His soft blue eyes that looked like they had seen the world and that I was the one thing they had yet to behold. I didn't want it to ever end, I never wanted to stop looking in his eyes. But it all came crashing down when Catwoman fucked up and forgot to take her pill. That's when the nights ended. Catwoman stopped going on late night escapades and Batman became occupied with the rest of his city.

Calling Michelle a mistake would be wrong. She was far from it. The product of lovemaking. Not fucking. She was perfect, a beautiful blend of both of us. She had my hair, his nose, my mouth, and his eyes. Perfect and blue. Her eyes were always wide, never wanting to miss a thing. Full of wonder. But I knew I could never tell him about her, not unless it was an emergency. He had enough kids to take care of. He had a whole city to take care of, I could take one life, one load, off of his hands.

I would go back into the field a few years later, Batman acted like he didn't notice I was gone, but I knew he was curious, I knew he was hurt when I didn't flirt like I used to, when he found out Selina Kyle had moved out of Gotham. I was hurt too, I was hurt I would never get to glimpse under his mask again to see his beautiful blues. But every night I went home and looked into my daughter's eyes I knew it was the right thing.

But now, I have to look into the dark hazel eyes of my captor and try not to crumble under her stare.

I got dressed and went out on the deck, I would have to sooner or later. Eve smiled at me and raised her glass when she saw me. My heart stopped, not because of her directly. But because the girl sitting next to her had Michelle's long black hair. She had my daughter's pale skin. And she had her blue eyes.

Bruce

I was in the kitchen eating breakfast when the doorbell rang. I heard Alfred get it so I waited to find out who graced us with a visit and smiled when the familiar red head stepped into the room.

"I got that info and tests you needed back." she handed me a a file.

I raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Is your internet down, Barbara? You couldn't email it to me?"

"Well, no, I just thought you would maybe want hard copies-- and you already knew I was looking for Dick, didn't you?" she asked, sighing.

I nodded. "I'm sorry to say I probably haven't seen him since you have." I gave her a sympathetic look. "It's just me, Jason, Damian, and Alfred here."

She scoffed. "Jason? He's here but Dick isn't?" she looked down. "The world is coming to an end." She groaned.

"Maybe he went back to Blüdhaven?" I suggested. I got up and went over to the coffee maker. "Coffee?" I offered.

"Maybe." She shrugged but nodded at the offer for coffee. "So what is this stuff?" she gestured to the file on the table after I handed her a mug and pulled out her phone, typing away. "I just sent it to you." she sighed, taking a sip of the dark liquid.

"Let's go down to the cave and I'll show you." I offered and she nodded as I got up to lead the way to the cave.

She followed me down and I walked over to the computer to pull up what she just sent me. On the screen it showed the picture of Frederick Vasper and with some DNA testing we were able to figure out his partner was Benjamin Foster, ex-con, same MO as Freddie, got out a couple years ago, laid low. "These two have been running a human trafficking ring for who knows how long, collecting young girls off of the streets of Brooklyn, Gotham, Blüdhaven, and Manhattan." I explained to her and she leaned in, studying the screen. "We caught one on the scene and the other was found a few hours later."

"How did you kind out about it?" she asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

I pulled up the blurry picture of the girl at the payphone. "She called the house phone right before she was abducted."

"The call on Family Day?" she looked at me and I nodded.

"I collected as much DNA as I could from the room they were keeping the girls. And that's what I had you testing." I pulled up her research. I went through all the pictures and frowned.

"What?"

"None of them are that girl." I studied the info harder.

She pointed to a picture on the screen. "Isn't that her?" She asked and I opened the file.

Chrysanthemum Clemmons, 16

Amber Alert active since age: 14

I shook my head. "No, she's too old, and she's related to..." I pulled up the picture of Roberta Clemmons and my breath hitched, she was the girl who was murdered. "She's related to her."

I replayed what I recorded from the last of the feed of the camera and found out who the other girls in the room were. Roberta Clemmons, and Andrea Castellanos who I already identified before. The mystery caller girl. Patience Booker, Olivia Wilkes, and Luca Anderson. "These were the girls who were there last. No one over the age of thirteen." I noted. "If we can find one of those four we can figure out who the other girl is and why she called." I concluded.

Michelle

I walked and walked and walked. My feet were killing me but the memories of Birdy pushed me on. I felt like passing out but the thoughts of my mom kept me awake. I felt like crying but I didn't. I felt that the moment I let a tear slip someone would jump out of a shadow and take advantage of me while I was at my weakest. So I kept walking, I stayed awake, and I didn't cry.

I was so close now. A few blocks away. The neighborhood seemed nice, all big, rich-looking mansions. They kept getting farther and farther apart. It seemed nice but I still gripped the knife in my pocket, I was sure the knife became stuck to me now, melted to my skin. I practiced opening it a few times like Danny had taught me and I was getting better every time.

It was morning time, the sky was pale and people were leaving out for work and school, or whatever. Expensive cars drove past me and I watched them as they did, one of them could contain my dad. I didn't care if he was rich, or stuck up, or British. I just hoped I'd be able to find him, and soon. And hey, if he's rich that's great for me, right? Dads love spoiling their daughters, right? And like mom wouldn't make me go to him if he was a really bad person, right? Mom trusts him, I can trust him.

The car came out of no where. One minute I was crossing the street the next I was laying on the street looking up at the pale sky. The car never stopped and I was left on the ground. My mouth tasted like metal and there was a searing pain in my side. I let out a cry. I begged the sky to send help. It was no use, no one was around to hear, no one around would help. I stopped calling out, my head was pounding and yelling was only making it worse. Tears fell. Blood mixed with it. I could barely breathe.

I don't know how long I lied there for, but clouds rolled in and brought a slight drizzle. Now I didn't know what was blood or tears or rain. I rolled over on my good side and struggled to return to my feet. It was difficult with my whole right side bruised and broken, but I did it. I started limping towards my destination. The rain got heavier and soaked me, weighing me down. It's like the universe was telling me to stop and turn around. But I was too close now. Why would I turn away. I've been through too much to turn back. There was nothing to go back to anyway. My mom was gone, my cats probably found a better loving loving family. All that was left for me was this road ahead.

I had to find my dad. For mom. For Birdy. And if I didn't find him... No. I was going to find him. No doubt. After all this torture I deserve something good.

All it would take was one broken foot in front of the other. I could see the house now. Mansion. Whatever. Old looking and ominous in this pouring rain. And it was just getting scarier as I got closer.

Thunder started rumbling in the distance and I laughed. If I got hit by lightning that would be just my luck.

I finally reached the black gates of my destiny. On a stone pillar was a plaque reading 'Wayne Manor' and I sighed knowing I was in the right place. The gates were open invitingly but that was the only welcoming view from this scene. I walked- limped up the long driveway. There was a car out front, shiny, but not too expensive looking. I passed it and went up to the door. There was a doorbell and I rang it furiously until someone came to the door.

He was gray and balding. Dressed in a tuxedo. His face screamed that he thought he was better than everyone. Before he could open his mouth to say anything I broke down to my knees. "I'm your daughter." I told him before blacking out.

Selina

Sixteen. The girl on this boat who looked like my daughter was sixteen years old. That made me overwhelmingly distraught. But what made me want to set the boat on fire was she wasn't even the youngest. It seemed Eve had a thing for orphans, for the girls who had nowhere to turn. She reeled them in with promises of a new and better life. And it's not like she lied, these girls were living a lush life; one that they could never have dreamed of living had Eve not captured them. Expensive clothes, exquisite food, and a comfortable shelter. Why wouldn't they love it? Why would they ever do anything to jeopardize their new life? So they would do anything Eve would tell them to. They hung on to her every word.

They call her 'Mother'. Even the older ones. But it disgusts me on how intimate she gets with them, even the younger ones. I keep an eye on the girl that looks like my daughter, I felt inclined to protect her. I had asked her age from another girl passing by, so I never spoke to her; but soon enough, she caught my eyes staring and made her way over.

"Hello, Ms. Kyle." She greeted me, sitting down in the chair across from me.

"Please, call me Selina." I smiled. "And you are?"

"Mary." She grinned. "I can't tell you how excited I was when Mother told me you would be joining us." She leaned in closer. "I'm Mother's favorite, I'm always the first to know things."

My heart sunk a little at how she spoke about Eve, but I took what she said and filed it away, if she was the first to know things then she was the girl I had to be closest with. Maybe I could change her, shape her into a spy for me, without her knowing of course. "So how long have you been here, Mary?" I raised an eyebrow and looked into her bright blue eyes.

"Oh, about three years maybe." She flicked her slate black hair off of her shoulder absentmindedly. "You lose track of time on Paradise. I was glad Mother picked me up when she did."

I pursed my lips. "So the last time you saw land was three years ago?"

Her eyes widened. "Oh no! I go to the city all the time with Mother."

My eyebrows raised. "Really? What do you do?"

She bit her lip, looks like this was a subject she wasn't supposed to talk about. "Different things, I just shadow her, really."

I nodded. "Sounds exciting."

"You'll get to do it too." She said quickly.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"You'll get to go with her one day, she just has to make sure she can trust you first." She smiled softly.

I returned the smile. "Of course."

Bruce

We didn't hold each other long enough. Not long enough to make up for ten missed years. But she had to be tired and hurt so I picked her up and walked her back to the bed where she belonged. She watched me intently I pulled the lounge chair that was against the wall closer to her bedside. I sat in it and stared at her in awe for a while before getting down to business.

"What happened to you, Michelle?" I asked the first question and the rest came rushing out. "Where's your mom? Why didn't she tell me about you? Why is there no information about you anywhere?" Her mouth opened and closed again at every new question I took a deep breath and wrapped my hand around her small pale one. "What happened to you?" I repeated slowly.

Her eyes fell downcast as she started remembering things. My thumb rubbed circles on the back of her hand to get her to open up. "A lot of stuff." She breathed, her voice was sad, yet still sweet and soft. "I was coming to find you and on the way I got kidnapped and hit by a car."

My eyebrows knitted and I clenched my jaw. "But why? Why now? What happened to Selina? Your mom. Where is she?"

New tears fell down her tear stained face which pained my heart to watch. I couldn't take it, I pulled her out of the bed and gently cradled her to my chest. She tried wiping the tears away but more kept coming so she decided to just ignore them. "She left in September and she hasn't been back since then. I finally found a letter she left me telling me to come find you." She shifted, her hand reaching down to her pocket. She pulled out a couple of folded papers and handed them to me.

I took the pages and unfolded them, scanning the words quickly. I quirked an eyebrow. "I'm Tom-cat?" I asked my daughter.... I would have to get used to calling her that. She nodded. My heart dropped at the note Selina left for her. I thought back to the last time I saw her, some time earlier in the summer, July maybe. What could have happened to her? Where was she now? I pulled my daughter closer to me, feeling protective. What she must have gone through to get here and find me. She was so young, frail, and small, on the outside at least. She had fractures in seven different places when she showed up on my doorstep, exhausted. But she got here. She completed her mission. And right now, she was up and moving around like nothing happened, if she was in pain she didn't show it. I looked down at her and saw she was staring at me. Was she analyzing me the way I was her? I couldn't see past her blue eyes.

We were quiet for a while until I remembered a question I had when I was doing my work in the cave. "Michelle, why can't I find any records on you? School, doctor, or otherwise."

Her face was thoughtful as she pondered my question. "Well I was homeschooled, and mom always had the doctor come to our house; but sometimes on official-type things she would put my name as Jewel Kyle- Jewel is my middle name." She offered.

I smiled, Selina, always a thorough one. When she wanted to hide something she made sure she hid it well, she was a thief so of course she would be an expert at keeping things hidden. Michelle was all hers and she wanted to keep it that way. And I could tell Michelle felt the same way about her mother. "I'll find her, I promise." I had to stay positive for the small girl. In the back of my mind I was torturing whoever dared lay a finger on Selina Kyle.

She perked up. "I know, because you're Batman, right?" She asked, a small smile on her lips and a gleam in her eye.

Right. Jason. "Right." I confirmed but I knew it was because of more than just my other half. It was because I loved the girl in my arms and her mother; and because I had a few questions for Ms. Kyle. Just a few.

She noticed my tone and her smile fell "Don't be mad at Jason, it was a mistake, he didn't know that I didn't know." She bit her lip and looked to the side. "You can be mad at Damian, though." She muttered under her breath.

I raised an eyebrow. "Damian?" I asked. What had he done to the girl? He only spent two minutes with her before I came up the stairs after him. Leave it to him to already start a sibling rivalry.

She nodded. "Yeah, none of my other brothers are like that are they?" She asked.

"Your other brothers? Well you've already seen Damian and Jason, that leaves the oldest, Dick and the third, Tim; but there's also Stephanie, Barbara, and Cassandra. And don't worry, I'll make sure Damian isn't rude to you."

Her eyes lit up. "So I have sisters?"

I chuckled. "Technically, yes. One of them is here right now." I thought of Barbara down in the lab trying to find leads on where Michelle came from. I'd have to get back to her with the new information.

"Really? Can I meet her?" She said enthusiastically.

I grimaced. "Later, you can, you should stay in bed for now." I suggested. I looked down at my daughter I wanted to stay and talk to her forever, but I had to find her mother and she had to rest.

She nodded sadly. "Alright."

"If she has any time I'll make sure I send her up." I smiled trying to make her happy.

She smiled back but it fell a little. "So, wait, is she like, Batgirl?"

I grinned. "You're pretty smart aren't you? She's one of them, yes."

Her eyes widened. "There's more than one?"

I smiled and eyed her shirt which donned Barry's symbol. "We're not as easy to keep up with as The Flash's family, I guess."

She gasped. "You know him? You know The Flash?" She asked fervently and then shook her head. "What am I talking about, of course you know him. You're on a team with him! He's my favorite hero! Well... That was before I knew you were my dad, of course." She laughed sheepishly.

I chuckled. "Of course."

Bruce

I treaded up the stairs and walked down the hall until I was met with my blood son's door. I sighed and knocked on the hard wood a few times. There was no answer so I knocked again. Once again there was nothing. I opened the door and saw it was empty of Damian. His book bag resting on his desk, untouched and unopened. His school uniform was folded crisply in his laundry basket. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Something had to be up.

I heard Alfred leave Michelle's room down the hall and I called to him to get his attention. He stopped in his traps and looked at me. "You wouldn't happen to know where Damian is would you?" I asked him, knitting my eyebrows. I was worried, the worst possible scenarios running through my mind.

Alfred's aloof expression didn't change. "Actually yes. Before he left a few minutes ago Master Damian informed me that he was going for a walk with Titus." My best friend said slowly and clearly.

I let out a deep sigh. That was normal, he took Titus out for a walk whenever possible, which wasn't too often, given his job obligations were pretty hefty for someone his age. Which would make me feel guilty, except he never complained. Believe me, the moment he tells me he's tired with the job I'd gladly let him retire the cape. That's all I want for him, for all my kids, to be happy. I swiftly walked to my underused bedroom to change into something more fit for a walk.

I was out the front door in less than five minutes. I knew Damian's route by heart and hoped he didn't decide to change it today. I was glad when I saw the hooded figure of my son and his dog sniffing a streetlight. I jogged to catch up with them. Titus heard me before Damian did and he started barking and tried running toward me, tugging at the leash which caught my son's attention. I couldn't read Damian's expression when he turned and looked at me but I assumed it was surprise. I smiled when I finally caught up to him and gave Titus a pat on the head.

"What are you doing here?" Damian asked grimly.

I put my arm around my son's shoulders and looked into his eyes, silently noting that my eyes were passed down to both of my biological children. "I thought I'd join you and Titus for your walk today." I stated.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "Yes but why, shouldn't you be watching your daughter?" His last words came out like acid but I didn't flinch. He started walking when Titus pulled him along and I kept the pace with them.

"She'll be fine, I wanted to spend time with you." I told him.

His eyes looked straight ahead and his jaw was clenched. "No you want to know how I feel about this."

I raised my eyebrows. "That's was one of the conversation pieces I was going to bring up, yes." I nodded, there was no use lying to him. Damian's perception was top notch, much like my own, and he was my son, I didn't like keeping anything from him.

He stopped again when Titus stopped at a patch of grass. "I don't care." He said simply.

"What do you mean-"

He cut me off. "I don't care. And even if I did what would you do? Kick her out? No. So my opinion doesn't matter. Even if it did, I still wouldn't care." Damian said quickly. The dog pulled us along again when he was done.

I was stunned for a moment but got my bearings back quickly. "Your happiness is what matters, Damian, I never want you to be unhappy, I never want to put you in a situation that you didn't want to be in. So if Michelle being here is making you unhappy then talk to me and we can work something out." I spoke softly.

"I don't care."

I stopped us this time. Titus looked back at us in confusion. Damian kept facing forward until I turned him to face me. "But do you care about Michelle?" I asked him seriously.

He looked into my eyes, the frown on his face seemed permanent. "I just met her." He stated.

"But you realize she's family, she's your little sister. We don't have the full scope of her situation right now but if somebody is out to harm her we have to protect her." My hand squeezed his shoulder gently.

His eyes widened and he took a step back. "I understand that, of course I will protect her." He spoke like I had offended him. "I just.." He trailed off.

I was curious. "You just what?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"It's nothing." He shook his head.

"Are you sure?" I asked worriedly. He nodded. "Damian I want you to know if anything is ever bothering you I want you to come to me and I will do everything in my power to fix it."

His eyes dropped to the ground then. "Father?"

My eyebrows raised, was he actually going to let down his guard for a while? "Yes?" I asked.

"Why do you think Selina Kyle hid your daugh- hid Michelle from you for so long?" He looked back into my eyes.

That was an unusual question. One I wasn't fully ready to answer. I thought about it for a while. "I can only assume it was to protect her." I said gravely.

My youngest son knit his  eyebrows. "But that doesn't make any sense. The safest place for her is in your custody. Besides, why would Kyle send her to you now, when she's in trouble?"

I never thought of it like that. "Maybe I'm the only one she could trust?" I tried.

He shook his head. "If she trusts you now, why didn't she trust you ten years ago?"

He put more thought into this than I had, that's for sure. I admired his analytical mind. But his question left me stumped.

Damian

We got home about ten minutes ago. Father went to check on Michelle and I went to my room. Michelle. My sister Michelle. Maybe I should call her Wayne? Kyle? Kyle-Wayne? I was used to calling people by their last names. It was how I was raised. Though I have abandoned most things from my life before Gotham I always stayed true to that. It was expected from me where I come from. Although, this isn't the only reason I continued the habit. My mother told me my father was Batman, she told me he was Bruce Wayne. She didn't tell me he hoarded orphans.

So when I got to the manor I didn't expect to see the display cases of Robin uniforms. Back where I come from you displayed your greatest possessions to show off, to show you were superior. Everything about my former life was based on honorifics and superiorities. I saw the uniforms and felt the pride that engulfed them. I immediately knew I was better than any Robin he had ever had. There was no doubt about it. I am the one that went through vigorous training from the day they knew how to walk. I'm the one who was surrounded by death and violence from the moment they were born. I was his only blood child. I obviously had to be the best. That's why I stole the uniform, that's why I went out. I had to show him that I would be the best he would ever have. I was his only blood child.

That's why I call the rest if his family by their last names, to remind them, and him, that I am- was the only Wayne child. I was the only one.

Michelle

"Antihero.." I tried out the word.

My dad nodded. "Jason and I don't see eye to eye on many things, how to go about crime fighting is one." He explained.

"But you still love him and take him in when he needs help and that's what matters." I smiled, looking into my dad's eyes.

He was speechless for a while. "I guess you're right." He gave a small smile. It was quiet for a moment, besides the sounds of Jason's light snores. My dad cleared his throat and stood. "Alfred said you can come downstairs anytime you want when you're hungry and he will make you whatever you want for breakfast."

My eyes widened, did Alfred treat everyone this way? "Alright." Was the only word that was able to escape my lips.

"Damian is at school so it's just us four and the dog until this afternoon." He informed me. He turned to leave out the door.

They had a dog? "Wait!" I called after him.

"Hm?" He turned back around, a dark eyebrow raised.

"I was wondering, if I could maybe get some of my stuff from back in Brooklyn?" I spoke shyly. "Like my clothes and my cats." I said the last word quietly.

He grinned. "Of course. We are a pet friendly house. There was once a cow here." He chuckled. "And I'm sure Titus won't mind." He added.

I assumed Titus was the dog. I let out a sigh of relief. If my cats were still home I could at least bring them here to remind me of my mom. "Thank you." I smiled.

"No need to thank me." He brushed it off. I couldn't hold myself back, I threw the covers off of me and jumped out of the bed quickly. I wrapped my arms around him. He was surprised at first but soon brought one of his hands to rest on my back and the other to rest on my head, stroking my hair.

Be hind us there were sniffles. "Awww you guys are so cute." Jason said, wiping away fake tears. "My little Brucey is growing up."

I giggled at my brother but my dad was less than amused.

°Time Skip°

I stepped out of the shower, drying myself off. The mirror of the bathroom was fogged up. I wrapped a towel around myself and wiped part of the mirror so I could see the reflection of my eyes. Bright and as blue as always. My bangs were growing out past my eyes, I didn't really like that, I'd have to cut them or clip them soon. I sighed and turned to the door. I opened up and a puff of steam was let out into the bedroom I was staying in.

My eyes immediately caught that the bed was made and fresh clothes were folded on top of the quilt. I took a closer look and found they were my extra clothes that I brought in my back pack which were soaked through. I picked up the plain grey T-shirt and pulled it up to my nose. It smelled so fresh. I removed the towel from my body and pulled on the clothes, my hair was still a little wet so my shirt became a little damp around the collar.

I sat in the chair and pulled on my shoes, lacing them up. I stood and pulled on my jacket, making sure my apartment keys were still in the pocket. I opened the room door and stepped out. I walked downstairs and was met with the sight of Alfred fixing his coat. I smiled at him and he returned it.

"I'm afraid because of the time you will have to accompany me in retrieving Damian from school on our way back." His smile fell a little.

I shrugged. "That's fine." My dad said I shouldn't worry about him anymore, and I could always just ignore him.

Alfred nodded and held the door open for me, once I walked out he locked it behind us. I was able to get a good look around... The front yard? Garden? Whatever, but the bushes were cut in all different shapes, the green was welcome in this gloomy weather. There was a bird fountain, the water wasn't running, it was probably too cold anyway, all the birds would have migrated. There was a white bench in front of the fountain, though. I knew that would be my favorite place in the summer.

Would I still be here in the summer? Or would I go back to live with my mom by then, assuming we find her - which we will, I have not doubt - by summer. I would like for my parents to get together but who knows if that would happen. I'm not even sure of the reason they were separated in the first place, I mean I'm sure it had something to do with their second lives. My mom literally kept me hidden from my father, and its not because he was a deadbeat. Far from it, I already loved him with all my heart. Maybe my mom knew that I would love him and didn't want to share? That doesn't sound like my mom.

I didn't notice Alfred had walked down the few stairs and was now holding a limousine door open for me. A walked down the steps and stopped in front of him, my mouth hung open. "Um... Could I... Would you mind if I sat in the front with you?" I asked shyly. Blushing a little. I didn't want to be left alone in the backseat.

He seemed surprised at the question but he didn't waste anytime. He closed the door he was holding open an opened the passenger side door instead. I smiled and got in I was caught off guard my how warm the limo was already and how clean it was. Once I was in he closed the door softly and walked around the front to the drivers side. I buckled my seat-belt and held my hands together in my lap. He got in the car and I realized the keys were already in it and it was already started, but I didn't hear it, that was new. We started off down the driveway and I reminded him of the address of my apartment .

We got there in twenty minutes. A twenty minute drive in heavy traffic that took me more than a week to walk. You could say I was a little mad. We walked into the building and after walking up the steps I opened the door to the apartment. There was a flurry of meows and I grinned as my cats ran up to me. I knelt as the felines jumped in my arms. I giggled and they purred happily. Things were going to work out, I could feel it. I didn't have to worry about what would happen after all of this, things would just fall into place.

Michelle

I sat in the living room watching T.V. some random show on a random channel. I've been here at my dad's house for almost two weeks and I almost never see my dad. I rarely see Damian, either. Jason left a few days ago. So I was left alone with my cats... and Alfred. Oh yeah! Titus too. I warmed up to the hound pretty quickly. Just because I am a cat person doesn't mean I hate all other animals. My cats liked him too, well, tolerated him at least. Jax liked to follow Alfred around the house while the old man worked. Fox liked to find a sunny place around the house and curl up and nap all day. In the morning you would find him in the kitchen where the windows let in the light of the rising sun. By noon he would be on Damian's bed where his sky light let in the sunlight. Damian didn't mind, not that he was ever there to witness it.

They were always gone, and I was stuck here. It wasn't a bad place to get stuck, it was a pretty big place with lots to do. It wasn't that fun without someone to experience it with. My mom and I used to go out together all the time, when she wasn't there I knew there were a few neighbors who I could go out with. I never did anything alone, not until a few weeks ago. My brother, Damian was totally independent; but I could tell he liked being with our dad anyway. But Damian always gets him. Damian, the city, and Wayne Enterprises. Did my mom know this? Is that why she never brought me here? She knew they couldn't match the amount of attention she gave me.

I shook my head and frowned. That wasn't true, Alfred gives me all his attention. But could he be a good substitute for my dad? Was he supposed to raise me? No. My dad would find my mom and I would go back to living with her, right? Things would go back to normal? I bit my lip. But how could things be normal when a girl died in my arms? When someone I wanted to protect was murdered? I made a promise to her, I will find her sister for her. And her brother.. Danny. I haven't told my dad about him yet, we haven't had a lot of time to stop and chat.

I sigh and change the channel, the show I was watching was a comedy, it was no use, I wasn't in a laughing mood. I turned it to the news instead. The death toll showed for the month of November. Two hundred and ninety-seven. I tried to blink away tears. One of that two hundred ninety-seven was Birdy. She was just another number now. Nobody knows she's dead, nobody who matters. Her sister who she loved and adored doesn't know. Two hundred and ninety-seven people in the big cities of New York died by violence in November. One was Birdy, but who were the other two hundred and ninety-six? Could one be my mother? Or was she in the toll from another month?

I try to be brave about all this, to be optimistic. I try to trust my father. But there's still the possibility that it's too late. That my mom is already.. gone.

The news reporter on the T.V. spoke grimly and I tried to focus on her voice and not my grim thoughts.

"This just in-- Shots ring out from Gotham's first preparatory school, Gotham Academy. Witnesses say a large group of students from the school are holding the other children hostage in the school's auditorium. We take you to Caitlin Finnick live at the scene..."

Gotham Academy? That's Damian's school! "Alfred!" I call out to the tuxedoed man.

"...Thanks Emily. We are being informed that the students holding the school hostage have made no ransom request; however, a bomb threat was made if officers were to interfere...."

My eyes widened. "Alfred!" I called louder, there was no answer. My heart started beating out of my chest. I hoped he was where I thought he was. I got out of my seat. They showed me the entrance to the batcave a few times, they even invited me in but I wanted nothing to do with it. I bit my lip at the sight of the grandfather clock, it was out of place, this could be bad or good. I walked down the steps, cautiously, quietly. I sighed in relief when I saw the mustachioed man sitting in front of the computer, to my surprise Jax was sitting behind him, licking his paw. I could turn back now, Alfred had this under control. But I couldn't turn away. I had to know if Damian would be okay.

My feet took me to the bottom of the last flight of stairs and over to Alfred. I don't think he noticed me. I saw he had a head set on and he was speaking into the microphone calmly.

"There should be a vent... Right.... Follow the yellow pipeline...." He spoke looking at a blueprint map on one of the big screens.

I stayed quiet but I was amazed at... everything. The technology, the trophies, the uniforms. The uniforms of my family; my father, my brothers and sisters. Pride swelled in me, however he was missing the complete set, he didn't own a Catwoman uniform, so my whole family wasn't displayed.

"Your father is approximately one minute away, hang in there, Damian." I heard him speak. I turned and saw him set down the headset with a heavy sigh. He typed something and unmuted a news cast that was playing on one of the screens. The reporter droned on. I walked closer behind the chair Alfred was seated in.

"Will he be okay?" I asked him quietly.

He turned to me with raised eyebrows. "Hm? Oh, of course, Michelle. There's nothing to worry about." He assured me.

I almost didn't believe him until a person was thrown through the window on the screen. Batman following after, the bad guy started shooting at my dad. I jumped and my eyes widened. Batman disarmed him quickly and I let out a sigh of relief.

"There you have it folks, Batman saves the day. Making Gotham Academy safe again. This is Caitlin Finnick, back to you Emily."

"Is everything they do this dangerous?" I ask the wise man shyly.

Alfred gave me a sad look. "I'm afraid your father and brother have been through much worse."

Worse than shooters and bombers and death right around the corner? I thought being kidnapped was the worst.

Alfred accompanied me on the way back up the stairs from the cave. He rested a hand on my shoulder in an assuring way. "How about we make some cookies, hm?" He offered.

I was still a little sad but I'd have to be insane to turn down cookies! I nodded up at him and smiled a small smile. "Chocolate chip?" I asked.

"Of course, Michelle." He nodded and we made our way to the kitchen. He started setting out the ingredients. "Could you get the mixing bowl from that cupboard over there?" He asked and I was happy to help. I scooted my chair over to the cabinet he was talking about, and while kneeling on the seat got the bowl down. I set in on the table as he set out the flour. Before we got dirty he put on an apron and handed me one that was my size.

We were in the middle of mixing the dough when Titus started barking excitedly. We heard the door open and I wiped my hands off to go run to the door. Damian and my dad entered looking tired. I ran up to Damian and hugged him. He was surprised and didn't return the gesture. "I'm glad you're okay." I sighed.

"I don't see why I wouldn't be." He said, brushing it off and shrugging out of my hug.

I went over to hug my dad, at least he returned my embrace. "You too." I assured him.

He chuckled, smoothing my hair. "Of course."

I let go of him and took a step back, towards the kitchen. "Alfred and I are making cookies!" I told them.

"I can't wait to taste the finished product." My dad smiled.

I turned to Damian. "You can help us if you want." I grinned at him.

"I think I'll go take a nap, actually." He said bluntly and walked past me to the stairs. My smile didn't falter and I wasn't disappointed, if he accepted the offer I would have been surprised.

"Alright, see you later." I called after him as he trekked up the stairs.

"Can I help?" My dad asked and I turned to face him, eyebrow raised.

"What about the case and my mom?" I asked him.

"Barbara - you remember I told you you had sisters - she's working on it. We're going to find your mom, no matter what." He assured me.

I didn't know how I felt about him just handing the case off to anyone. Especially someone I haven't even met yet. But I trusted my dad. My mom trusted him enough to have him take care of me if she went missing. "Okay." I said simply and we made our way to the large kitchen. Alfred greeted my dad as he put on his own apron.

I hadn't really thought about my Mom's case since I got here. I trusted my dad was taking care of it. But now I don't know. Maybe I should ask him more questions. Maybe I should venture down into the Bat Cave more.

Damian

I stopped in my tracks. He didn't just offer what I think he did, did he? He did not just offer to take her with us on an undercover mission. He didn't just offer to fly her in the jet.

"It will be fun, I'm sure you're tired of being cooped up in here." My father chuckled. "You did most of the work on this investigation, you might as well come along to help with the rest."

I stormed into the kitchen where they were talking, Gordon was there, sipping a hot drink from a mug, she looked tired. I turned my gaze to my father. I looked him in the eyes. "I disapprove." I got out of clenched teeth. "It's too much of a risk to take her along." Michelle looked at me with worried eyes. Good. She should be worried. My- our father was going insane. Lightning lit up the dark sky outside and thunder rolled before my father spoke.

"Damian, its a party, we're just going to case the place and get a feel on Mr. Diebeaux. You and Alfred will be there with me, we will be surrounded by my friends and colleagues. Michelle will be perfectly safe." He tried assuring me.

I narrowed my eyes. "Who are you and what have you done with my father?" I growled, inching toward him. "Where is the man who thinks of every possible, plausible way something can go wrong? The careful, cautious man who wouldn't let this girl step a foot outside until her mother was found? Where is that man I know huh? Because you are obviously not him." Of course I knew it was really him, I kept a close eye on him; always, and I've noticed him change ever since she arrived.

There was silence in the room, just the rain water against the windows outside to remind us that time hadn't stopped. My sister shifted in her seat. "Hey if it's going to be a problem, I don't have to go-"

She was cut off by the doorbell ringing I turned to get it but I heard Alfred making his way there swiftly. My eyes caught the time on the stove. Eleven P.M. on a Sunday. "Expecting anyone?" I asked the people behind me unenthusiastically.

My father was already up and out of his seat, walking past me. Michelle followed him and I followed her. Gordon sighed, and adjusting her glasses she also stood and followed after us.

"I'm sorry sir but I cannot help you." Alfred spoke, always a polite one. My father went to stand next to him in the door way so the late night visitor was blocked from my vision.

"No listen, I know she's here, I gotta talk to her!" I was surprised when the voice of a boy no older than me spoke.

I heard my sister gasp next to me, so she was surprised too? "Danny...?" I heard her whisper. Did she know him, had this kid hurt her? Gordon pushed the girl behind her, ready to protect.

I shoved Alfred out of the way to look at the boy, we sized each other up quickly. I crossed my arms over my chest. "I advise you leave the premise if you value your freedom, street boy."

He sneered at me. "I don't remember talking to you, rich boy."

"Damian," my father warned, placing a hand on my shoulder halfway restraining me. "I'm sorry we don't know who you're talking about.... Maybe we could deliver a message?"

I rolled my eyes, now he chooses to be cautious.

The boy shook his head. "I know she's in there let me in!" He tried to squeeze past me, I shoved him back, maybe a little too hard. He lost his footing and fell down the three narrow steps leading up to the doorway.

"Danny!" Michelle yelled, she ran past me and out into the rain to the boy.

"Michelle, what are you doing?!" I yelled at her.

"Do you know this boy Michelle?" Father asked.

She nodded, helping him sit up. "I forgot to tell you, you were always gone and then I was working on my moms case... This is Birdy's brother." She explained.

I knit my eyebrows. "Who?"

"Roberta Clemmons? Her brother? How did you find him?" My father was reeling.

Alfred stepped past me. "Bring him in, you'll both catch cold in this weather." He helped Michelle bring the street rat into our home.

Oh great, will we be adopting this one too? Robin's do have a tendency to drop like flies, it would be good to keep one on standby for a change.  Bruce closed the door behind them and I watched as they took the boy to the kitchen, a blanket was wrapped around him and he was offered hot chocolate. Maybe it was time for me to become a different bird. My dad loves strays, no doubt about it. The odds were in this Danny's favor. Poor Danny. I stayed by the front door. I stayed there while they had their pow wow in the kitchen. Oh happy times. Let's forget Michelle's mom is kidnapped and Michelle could be in danger. But what do I care? I don't. I'm only acting like a brother to her to respect my father. If it were up to me she wouldn't see the outside of this mansion until her mother was found, then she would be Kyle's problem once again. I couldn't care less about her mother, a criminal, but she is the key for getting my dear sister out of my hair.

They were all hovering intently over the newcomer. I clicked my tongue. Well, I'd better pick out my new name. There was Nightwing, Red Hood, and Red Robin. What should I be? Red Wing maybe? Night Robin? Or I know, Batboy; I am the only blood son, I should inherit the bat name. As a robin, a bird, I could never be more than a sidekick, I'll never be his equal. His blood runs through me, I'm bound to be a bat sooner or later. Why wait, he's already finding my replacement.

Before I realized it my feet were taking me to the garage. I had the keys to the mustang in my hand. I opened the garage door remotely and was out of the trophy car room without a second thought. I didn't know where I was going, I just drove. Was it dangerous pushing 130 miles per hour in severe thunderstorm weather? Yes. Did I care? Not so much.

°Time Skip°

"Thank you officer." I watched as my father shook the uniformed mans hand.

"No problem, Mr. Wayne, your boy's quite the driver, just tell him wait a few more years until he can joy ride legally." The policeman grinned. I rolled my eyes, he was only giddy he got to drive the car back.

Father chuckled. "Will do." He waved him off and closed the manor door.

I turned to the stairs and started the trek up them. He followed me in silence. "I didn't do anything wrong." I blurted.

"I didn't say you did." He spoke behind me.

"How was the get together with the alley dweller?" I asked.

"It went well, we shed some more light on the situation." He spoke vaguely.

We reached the top of the steps and I stopped. "Is he still here?" I asked, narrowing my eyes in suspicion.

"Just for tonight, though I suspect he'll be gone before we wake up, he doesn't really take kindly to our hospitality." He stood in front of me, his eyes never met mine.

"I'm sure he won't have any problem taking your money, however." I crossed my arms over my chest.

He shrugged. "That may be true, but whatever he steals wouldn't be missed much."

I growled. "Who are you!?" I restrained my yell to a whisper. "This is soft, even by your standards. You have to admit that you are being softer on her than you ever were on any of your other children. And it's not because she's a girl, you never treat Brown or Cain like this. It's not because she's your blood because I'm your blood. Its not because she's young. I was her age when I came here. Grayson was younger. I can't understand! Understand why you treat her differently from me. She and I are the same. Made under the same circumstances and pushed on you in nearly the same way too. Why is she a princess while I was chicken shit?" The words just tumbled out, no way to take them back now. I saw he was searching for the right words to reply with.

I decided to spare him and retreated to my room. I shut the door and locked it as a tear rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away with a sigh and cleared my throat. "Damnit." I clenched my eyes shut.

<tt>

Michelle

I wake up to someone gently shaking me. I groaned and rolled over, facing away from the person interrupting my sleep. I could tell from the deep chuckle that is was my dad trying to wake me. We were up half the night working on our game plan for the event tonight. And by game plan I mean talking about what were were going to say to Mr. Diebaux then doing silly dances to classical music and eating ice cream. You could say I was a little tuckered out.

"I guess you don't want to try Alfred's French Toast, I'll go let the poor man down for you."

I groaned again as my stomach growled. The hunger would go away if I just fell back asleep.

That didn't stop Dad from guilting me. "It's a shame, really. He learned how to make it while he was in actual France." He sighed as I heard him twist the door knob.

I reluctantly pushed the covers off of me and stood on the bed to stretch. I caught the smile on Dad's face and couldn't help the one that spread across my own. "How can I turn down real French French Toast?"

"That's what I like to hear." He opened the door to leave me to get ready for the day.

I did a front flip off the bed and made my way to the bathroom.

"Where did you learn that?" His smile disappeared. He looked horrified.

My heart dropped. "What? The flip? Mommy taught me." The words came out shakily. Why did the flip make him sad?

"Oh... Selina. I thought..." His words trailed off.

I raised my eyebrows. "You thought what?"

He shook his head. "Nothing, it's nothing." He said, but he saw I wasn't taking that for an answer and sighed. "It's silly, I just thought Damian had taught that to you." He rubbed the back of his neck.

I looked down at my feet. "He wouldn't teach me anything. He doesn't even talk to me anymore."

He took a knee in front of me and lifted my chin with a finger. "He'll come around again, he just needs some processing time. He thinks I'm being too nice to you, your other brothers, Richard, Timothy, and Jason were the same way with him." He tried to make me feel better. "Jason still has resentment for Tim." He rolled his eyes. "But we're all one big family and would do anything we can to protect one another."

"Are you sure?" I asked looking into his blue eyes. "It seems like he hates me."

"Positive, he doesn't hate you at all, if he hates anyone it's me." He chuckled. "And I'm okay with that."

I laughed nervously. I didn't want anyone to hate anyone. "Right."

He stood then. He put his hand on his hips and looked down at me. "What else can you do?"

I was uneasy, should I tell him? When I did the flip it made him look so sad. I didn't want to see him like that again. But he seemed eager to hear it all. I was about to open my mouth to speak when my stomach growled.

His dad mode clicked on. "Right I forgot, you need to eat, we can talk over breakfast." He said moving towards the door again. "See you down stairs." He smiled and shut the door behind him.

I got through my morning routine and made my way downstairs, the kitchen table was already set and a steaming plate of breakfast was waiting for me.

"Good Morning, Ms. Michelle, I trust you slept well?" Alfred asked from the sink, already washing the pots he used to cook.

"Always, thanks Alfred." I smiled up at the elder man. My dad was sitting next to me eating his French Toast. I picked up my fork and went away at the breakfast.

I was sipping at my milk when the doorbell rang. I widened my eyebrows, could it be Danny? It had been a few days since I last saw him. I've been on edge ever since, I didn't want to loose him; he was my key to Chrissy, or Chrysanthemum, as he told me was her real name. He and Chrissy were my only ties to Birdy. My dad stood, walked in front of Alfred and I watched him walk out of the kitchen to get the door.

There was silence before the voice of Barbara made its way to my ears. " I knew you wouldn't think of that."

"I completely forgot." My father walked back into the kitchen, his palm covering his face.

Barbara smiled when she saw me. "Hi Michelle." the red head greeted me. I returned the smile and waved at her, licking my lips to make sure there wasn't any syrup or crumbs on them. "So I'm here to help get you ready for the gala tonight." She grabbed a piece of the toast and started eating it.

"Ready?" I asked, confused looking to Alfred and my Dad for answers.

"It's a very formal event." Alfred explained to me.

Barbara nodded. "Right, so you wouldn't happen to have a formal dress lying around, would you?" She questioned, raising a red eyebrow.

I shook my head. "No." And I felt my face get hot from embarrassment.

"Oh, don't worry, Michelle. That's what I'm here for, I'm gonna take you shopping." She smiled at me as she adjusted her glasses.

°Time Skip°

I hummed along to the pop song playing on the radio as me drove back to the mansion. I had a fun time with Barbara, we did a lot of bonding stuff today that left me with only thirty minutes to get dressed for the gala. My hair and nails were already done, I even had a little makeup on. We were around the corner from the large house when Barbara stopped the car and turned the music down. I looked over at her, a little worried.

"I hope you had a nice time today." She smiled down at me.

I nodded. "Of course!" I exclaimed, trying to see where she was going with this.

She sighed. "You and your father are very similar people." She said and I scrunched my eyebrows, confused. She reached across from me to open the glove compartment. She pulled out a folder. "This is some info I dug up on Eve. And I know if I show your dad he's going to keep all this a secret from you but I believe you have the right to know." She opened the file. The first page showed a very young Eve and other information. "She was originally admitted into an all-girls orphanage here in Gotham as a Jane Doe." She took a deep breath before showing me the next thing, a picture of The joker and a restrained, crying Eve. " About fifteen years ago Joker did unspeakable things to the girls in the orphanage before burning it down with most still inside. A police report from one of the surviving girls stated that Joker said 'he did it because of Batman,' and that 'Batman was the one to blame for their suffering.'"

My eyes were wide. "That's horrible." I squeaked out.

Barbara nodded, looking a little sick herself. "Bruce started a charity and gave money to the surviving girls-"

"And one of the girls was Eve?" I guessed.

She nodded. "And so is Karen Diebeaux." She showed me her orphanage information. "My theory is they lured your mother in with that necklace because they knew Catwoman and Batman have worked together in the past."

My heart raced in my chest. "If they have her then they'll know that she's Selina Kyle too, will they know about me? Or my dad?"

Barbara adjusted her glasses. "I think if they knew anything they would have made a move by now, three months is a long time."

I looked down at my hands. "So do you think she's dead?" I asked quietly.

"No, I think they're going to try and bring her onto their movement. Selina Kyle and Catwoman are two people they would benefit from having on their side." She breathed, closing her eyes. "If something bad happens at the gala tonight and Batman has to appear then I don't think they'll miss an opportunity to get their hands on him."

"But Damian and Alfred will be there." I didn't know who I was trying to convince.

Barbara opened her eyes again and smiled. "Right." She started driving again. She pulled into the long driveway and stopped at the steps. She honked twice to announce her arrival to the boys inside. She undid her seatbelt and leaned over and gave me a hug. When she leaned back a gift bag was left in my lap. I looked up at her curiously. "It's a phone." She explained. "Call or text me if anything happens."

I nodded at her. "Thanks." I said quietly.

The front door opened and revealed Alfred. As he walked down the steps Barbara opened the trunk. I undid my seatbelt and opened the car door, waving her off. I went to the back of the car to help the elder man. I laughed at his attempt to grab all the bags and boxes at once. "Need any help, Alfred?" I asked with a grin.

His face was covered by the bags but I could sense the relief in his voice. "Ah, yes. Ms. Michelle. Would you please get the last box and close the boot for me?" He asked, walking toward the steps, trying his best not to trip.

I nodded and grabbed the box and closed the trunk. I followed Alfred up the stairs and waved one last goodbye to Barbara.

Michelle

I was making my way to the exit when I was stopped by someone tapping my shoulder behind me. I turned slowly and was met with a man. He was tall and his hair gray, his fixed his glasses and smiled softly down at me. "Hello, Michelle. I don't know if your father ever mentioned me but I'm Lucius Fox, a family friend." 

Lucius Fox.. I've heard that name before I think. "Are you the one who helps my dad with..." I trailed off, hoping he understood what I was trying to say.

He nodded. "Your father and I have been business partners for a long time, I help him on his personal projects every now and then." He spoke carefully, looking around. "Well it was nice meeting you, I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other very soon." He held his hand out to shake mine. I put my small hand in his and smiled sadly, I guess he couldn't help me find my dad. But my eyes widened when I felt something in his hand passed to mine. He let go of my hand and rubbed his ear. He smiled and walked away. 

I looked around before opening my hand. It was some kind of earbud. I put it in my ear. "Hello?" I whispered, looking around again. 

I was relieved to hear Alfred's voice. "Michelle! Wonderful!" 

Damian

I saw it coming. The host of the party, Diebeaux dragged my father and Pennyworth away to look at art. I saw it coming but I said nothing and now I was left alone. We were separated. As I tried to figure out Fathers plan they caught me and dragged me away. I didn't want to make a scene in front of all the people so I let them take me, rolling my eyes. We converged again underground. My father, Pennyworth, and I in an underground cell. It was just a matter of time until they captured Michelle. Until we would have to break our cover and escape. It was all his fault. I went over to a corner and sat there biting my tongue and clenching my fists. 

I felt my father's eyes on me and I ignored him with a sneer. "Damian." I heard my name and from his voice, the guilt that came with it. I decided to listen to what he had to say. Show no interest of course, but I would hear him out. I kept my back to him and he kept talking. "Listen, Damian. I know I haven't been the best... partner lately. I guess I've let Michelle come along and cloud my judgement."

"tt You think?!" I turned around to face him. His head was bowed as he looked at the stone ground. "And you're just now realizing it? When we're stuck underground? Best partner? You haven't even been a good father. Not that you were the worlds best dad in the past but at least you didn't take your children right into enemy territory without a plan. Because what's your plan right now? We are trapped if you haven't noticed. And soon enough Michelle is going to be down here with us and were are going to have to do something to get out. Something that will jeopardize all that we've built and for what? So you could show off your new prize? Your new golden child, well great job because you just might've walked her into her grave today. "  I didn't realize it but during my rant I was walking closer to him, I stopped right in front of him, looking up at him. "You kept me a secret for months. It's been weeks and you're just showing her off like she's a new trophy car. And you wonder why her mother kept her from you all these years. You're reckless, and not fit to be a father. You don't know how to raise a child. Why do you think Grayson and Todd turned out the way they did? One switches girls every week to fill some void in his life and the other is a total lost cause, even more reckless than you, but at least he always has a plan~" I didn't stop. He needed to hear every last word that poured out of my mouth. I've been silent for too long. I didn't stop until Pennyworth, in his corner, spoke.

"Michelle, wonderful!" The old man perked up. 

So there was a little hope. Maybe she could get away and send Gordan to our aide. I went to sit back in my corner. My father followed behind me. Instead of sitting I turned sharply on my heel to face him. "What? What could you possibly have to say to me right now, what excuse for your behavior have you come up with because - here's some news- I don't care."

He cleared his throat. "I never ever claimed I was the best dad. But that doesn't mean I don't love my kids. I love Michelle, Damian. And I love you. I love all my kids. And I have an excuse, and I know it's not the best one. It's selfish. It's so wrong, but I want Michelle to love me too. I want her to love me because I want her to stay with me. When we find her mother I want her to chose to stay with me, with us. Because.. because I'm in love with her mother. And I think, maybe, if Michelle stays with us, then Selena will want to stay with me."

I laughed. "You're serious?" I put my fist to my lips to cover my smile and to muffle the cackle that was going to erupt. "Kyle, though a criminal, seems like a smart woman, choosing to stay away from you. But she's someone who gets what she wants, so if she wasn't with you these last eleven years then I don't think she wants to be with you." I shook my head, eyes closed.

"That's why I want to try and win her over with Michelle. But, I see how insane that sounds now, and I'm sorry Damian." He put an arm on my shoulder.

"I'm glad we only had to get kidnapped and trapped for you to have this revelation." I said sarcastically. I walked over to Pennyworth. "Did she get a hold of Gordan yet? How much longer are we here for?"

He held up a finger to me and listened in the earpiece. "You got past them? Good!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Got past who?"

"You're almost here, you're doing well, Michelle." He spoke gleefully.

My eyes widened. "You're not directing her down here are you? How is that supposed to help us? You want her to get caught too? At least give her a chance!" My rage was threatening to show again, I decided to go back to sit in my corner. If things went south- when things went south I guess I would have to be the one to pick up all the pieces.

Michelle

The two guards walked past me as I hid under a small table. I ran down the hallway they left and rounded the corner. "Alright, they're gone, now what?" I spoke quietly.

"You got past them? Good!" Alfred's voice sounded in my ear. "You're almost here, you're doing well, Michelle."

His words did help calm me, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Where do I go from here?" I asked him.

"If you're in the right hallway the kitchen should be on the right." He directed me.

I looked down the hall there were two double doors on the right, but right above it was a camera. "They're watching the entrance, I guess they don't want anyone poisoning the food." I laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

"What kind of camera is it?" He questioned.

"Uh... it's moving?" I tried, I didn't know if he wanted like the model or something.

"You'll have to travel in it's blind spots then."

I nodded, getting ready to run as soon as the camera turned the other way then there was static in my ear and I froze.

"Michelle? Alfred?"

"Lucius!" Alfred exclaimed and I let out the breath I was holding.

"Good, I'm in their system, and that camera..." Mr. Fox spoke. "Is on our side now."

I watched as the camera turned away from me and stayed that way. "I'm going to the kitchen now." I said and made my way cautiously down the hall.

"Remember, Michelle, we don't know who is on their side, so you must stay out of sight." Alfred warned me.

"I know." I whispered. I walked down the hall, made it to the door and opened it. There were a few cooks walking around, cooking, cleaning, always moving. I saw the door on the ground. They were constantly walking over it. There was no way I could get to it. No one had noticed me yet but If I went for the door I would get caught immediately. I ran for the large table in the middle of the room instead. I hid under it.  I  watched the legs walk by, trying to figure out a plan.

There was a ringing and a flashing of lights. "That's for you Michelle, as soon as they leave make your way to that door." Mr. Fox spoke. 

Soon enough, the cooks groaned and made their way to the door. They were gone and I was about to make my move when Eve herself burst through the door. I covered my mouth and stayed under the table. "I can't believe you let the little girl get away!" She walked in, yelling at her minions behind her. "And now this, you were in charge of making sure something like this wouldn't happen."

"Forgive me, Mother." A girls voice spoke. "I can fix it." She spoke hopefully.

"Oh, I know you can, and you will, Mary. Go shut the damn alarm off and make Mother proud." Eve spoke to the girl like she was a child. 

The girl, Mary turned and walked out the door. I thought Eve was going to follow her but her and the other two security guards stayed. She bent down to open the door on the ground and I thought for sure she saw me under the table. I thought I was caught. I shut my eyes and held my breath. 

"You two, get down there and move Mr. Wayne and the rest to the car, I'll be waiting." I heard her heels click on the tile and opened my eyes again. She was at the double doors again. "Don't let me down twice in one night." She said and she was gone. 

The two men sighed and made their way down, below the kitchen. They left the door open behind them. While I waited for my heart to settle the alarm silenced and I went over to the door on the floor and looked down. Stairs. Very dark, very steep stairs. I walked down them, ready for anything. 

Michelle

"You can do acrobatics?" I asked Dick at the breakfast table. My eyes were wide in amazement. Damian was there across the table, he rolled his eyes.

He chuckled. "Yeah, that's kind of where the name 'Robin' came from." He took a bite of his pancakes. "I flew through the air like a bird."

Alfred walked in the kitchen. "If you were a bird what would you be, Michelle?"

I thought for a moment. "I like Swallows a lot."

"I'll go warm the car, Pennyworth." Damian dismissed himself. I noticed his plate was empty, he sure ate fast.

Alfred watched the boy leave and shrugged. He took the empty plate and set it in the dish washer. He turned back to us, eyes on Dick. "I remember you used to practice everyday in the room Bruce installed."

Dick chuckled. "Yeah." I looked back and forth between the men.

"There's a room? Is it here?" I stood out of my seat, almost knocking my chair to the floor.

Dick looked to Alfred, raising his eyebrows. "I find myself dusting it every now and again." The older man answered.

"You have to let me see it!" I grabbed Dick's hand pulling him to stand.

"I'm off to the grocery store with Damian, I trust you remember where the room is?" There was a hint of a smirk under Alfred's mustache. Dick nodded with a grin. He pulled me onto his shoulders and walked with me to the room.

Bruce

I was making my way to the kitchen to join the kids for breakfast when I noticed Dick carrying Michelle away. I followed, intrigued. They ended up at Dick's old training room. As soon as he set her down to turn on the lights she ran into the room, eyes wide and mouth agape with wonder. I joined Dick in the doorway. I watched as my daughter went for the balance beam.

Dick was ready to take a step forward. "Let me help you." He offered.

Michelle was quick to wave him off. "My mom and I would watch gymnastics together on TV." She said as she climbed onto the beam.

Dick's eyes furrowed and he started inching toward her. "It's a bit different than what you see on TV-"

Michelle doing a back flip stunned him. He looked back at me, a confused look on his face that mirrored mine. We went back to watch her routine. "She's already like a level eight." Dick whispered just as she did a round off onto the floor. She landed on all fours and giggled to herself.

I applauded her from the doorway and Dick, though still stunned joined me. Her head snapped in our direction and she stood immediately. I walked over to her. "That was pretty good, your mom taught you that?" I asked.

She nodded, biting her lip. I guess she thought I disapproved. "Yeah we'd go to parks and stuff to practice. I always thought she was a super spy or something. Guess now I know the truth." She laughed awkwardly.

I chuckled along with her, trying to put on my nicest face. "Show me what else you can do. And Dick here can teach you even more." I pointed behind me to my oldest son. Michelle looked in that direction with a raised eyebrow. I turned to see Barbara standing in the threshold, eyes on Dick.

"Hey Babs." He greeted nervously.

The red head took a very long moment to reply. "Dick." She said simply and walls past him to stand in front of me. "I just came to tell you GCPD had enough evidence to lock up Mr. And Mrs. Diebeaux. Eve's still free, though. We couldn't scrape up any dirt on her but I'm still working on it." She told me. Her arms over her chest. Then she noticed Michelle behind me and frowned. "Sorry I couldn't make it to your party last night, but I bet it was pretty good. Alfred's homemade cakes are the best-"

Dick cleared his throat. "Actually, I made the cake."

Barbara sneered. "Really?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "Well I took it out of the oven and decorated it." His words were full of pride.

"Did he even spell your name right?" Babs rolled her eyes and whispered to Michelle.

My daughter giggled. "Yup."

The red head's hands were at her hips now. "Well that's good at least."

"Barbara can we talk alone?"

"I don't know, Richard, can we?" She said as she stormed out. Dick followed, closing the door behind him.

I turned to my daughter. "Sorry about this-"

"Shh," she quieted me and ran to the door to press her ear up against it.

I chuckled and followed after her. It was pretty easy to hear them through the door.

"You said you'd call me, and you know what no call, no text, no raven- no anything means in this kind of work? It means you're dead. It means I have to worry."

"I don't need or want you to worry about me. I'm a grown man, sometimes I get caught up in work and I forget things like- oh I don't know calling my Ex to check in with her. I don't even call Bruce when I'm away. You don't get special treatment." Dick shot back with as much fire as she did.

"Well I'm sorry I care about you when we're not together like a normal human being!" She yelled. Then there was silence. I was ninety percent sure they were kissing.

My son's chuckle cut through the silence. "We're far from normal."

Barbara laughed along with him. "Doesn't hurt to act normal every once and a while."

"You're right," Dick agreed.

"Go back, bond with your new sister." She told him. "I'll be at my place, I have some research to do."

"You can walk again but you still love sitting behind a desk more." I could image him shaking his head at her.

She sighed. "It's what I'm good at." The doorknob moved a little and Michelle jumped, she ran back to the balance beam, pulling me along. She mounted the beam and did a twirl just as Dick opened the door.

"And three." She smiled down at me.

I smiled back up at her. My daughter was very clever. Just like her mother. "That's pretty impressive." I praised her.

"Welcome back Dick," she waved to him. "You think you can help me do more spins? I always lose my balance after three."

Dick wore a large grin. "Of course, Mimi." The strode over the the beam and hopped on it next to her. "The trick is all in the posture."

°Time Skip°

I don't know how we ended up here. Damian, Dick, Michelle, and I all doing handstands while Alfred timed us. I had know idea how we ended up like this but I loved it.

Dick was showing off walking around and taunting Damian who was shaking. I watched Michelle as she seemed like she was meditating. Eyes closed, her face was calm as if standing on her hands was her natural state. Then it happened. A long, high pitched fart noise sounded in the room. Michelle opened an eye to peek at us and I couldn't contain myself. I actually fell over laughing. I brought Damian down with me. Dick laughed along with me though he was able to keep balance. Michelle giggled to herself, still standing. Even Alfred chuckled.

"No! Rematch! You knocked me over, Father." Damian insisted.

"Don't be a sore loser, Little D." Dick told him, sticking his tongue out at the teenager.

Which he was immediately regretting when Damian's foot connected with his side, kicking him over. Dick rubbed his ribs. "Don't be a sore loser, Grayson." Damian huffed.

"Michelle is the winner." Alfred announced and I applauded.

Michelle did a hand spring back onto her feet and bowed. "Thank you, thank you."

I picked her up and rested her on my shoulders. She laughed. It felt like every time she laughed, a part of my soul healed.

Dick hoisted a grumpy Damian up, to match us, and we paraded them around. There was a gleam in my younger son's eye. "How about a game of chicken?" He suggested.

I stopped and frowned. "I don't want you hurting your sis-"

Michelle cut me off. "Attack!" She screeched, leaned forward trying to get me to move toward them.

"Prepare yourself, Wayne." Damian taunted as he tugged on Dick's hair.

"Ah! Jeez, Damian cut that out, I should have never made you watch Ratatouille." Dick winced in pain.

"Redeem yourself now Grayson, we are entering a war."

"C'mon Dad, let's get them while they're distracted." Michelle whispered in my ear.

I chuckled and went over and gave Dick a playful shove. He gasped, and exaggerating, stumbled back three steps. Dick looked to Alfred. "Ref you're not gonna call that?"

"The push was clean." Alfred said, a smirk on his face.

"Oh that's how we're playing it, huh?" Dick came over and pushed me, I reacted the same as he did, and above me Michelle laughed. Damian didn't seem to be having much fun, yet, I thought I saw a flicker of a smile cross his face at one point.

Michelle

Alfred and I munched away on cookies while watching a Christmas special on TV. It was Christmas Eve. Dick, Damian, and my Dad were out. I guess crime doesn't take a break, even on Christmas. My fat Siamese cat, Fox rested in my lap, purring in his sleep. There were a few presents that the butler and I had wrapped and set under the tree. He and I went Christmas shopping earlier in the week and I picked out something for everyone here.

"You know, Michelle. Santa won't visit if you're not sleeping." He nudged my arm.

I chuckled. "Alfred, I figured out the Santa secret a long time ago. My mom's apartment doesn't have a chimney."

He laughed along with me. "Don't tell Damian that."

My eyes widened. "He believes in Santa?"

The old man's mustache twitched. "I think he has a bit of hope that it's true. I'm sure he knows logically it couldn't work. But there's a part of him, a part that never had a childhood that wants to believe."

I smiled. Who would have known? Blunt, honest Damian would believe in Santa Claus. He was the one who helped with most of the decorations. And he did insist that Alfred make his best cookies. Holiday spirit Damian was something I could get behind. I started yawning and decided I should go to bed. Alfred smiled and waved as I made my way off to my room. I slid under the blankets and stared at the high ceiling. This would be my first Christmas without my mom. I wondered what she was doing, wherever she was. I was a little anxious to find out what would happen tomorrow. What was Christmas here like? Would I get a lot of presents? Or does my dad not like to spoil his kids?

°Time Skip°

"Wayne, wake up! Do you know what day it is?"

My eyes fluttered open at the feeling of Damian shaking me. "How do you have so much energy, you were out all night." I pouted.

Damian chuckled. Yes, my brother the stick in the mud. Chuckled. Happily. "You'll learn the secret some day." He said and pulled me out of bed.

Dick appeared in my door frame. "Is Bruce awake yet?" He asked.

Damian shook his head. "No, that's where we're headed." Damian grinned.

"Let's go!" He called to us, running down the hall. Damian ran and yanked me along. Dick pressed his ear to the door. Snickering, he opened it quietly and crept in. "We're going to jump on his bed." He told me, whispering. I grinned as he did a silent count down and we all jumped on at the same time. "WELL THERE WAS DONNER AND DASHER AND PRANCER AND VIXEN!" Dick shouted at the top of his lungs. I saw my dad smile and roll over hiding his face in the pillows. We kept jumping on his bed like a trampoline. "COMET AND CUPID AND BLAH BLAH AND BLITZEN!" He kept shouting, forgetting the words. I decided to join him.

"BUT DO YOU RECAAAALL THE MOST FAMOUS REINDEER OF ALL?!" I sang and my dad shook with laughter.

"FATHER THE SLEEPY REINDEER-" Damian shouted and my dad sat up, grabbing both of his sons and putting them in headlock. Everyone was laughing.

"Well merry Christmas everyone." My dad spoke, grinning. "Let's see what Santa brought us this time!" Letting go of the boys, he stood out of his bed.

We walked fast out of his room, Dick and I slid down the railing of the stairs laughing and we ran to the tree. I stopped in my tracks when a mountain of presents came into view and Alfred and another girl were sitting on the couch.

"Cassie!" Dick shouted going over to hug the girl.

"Dick." She said smiling softly.

My dad's hand was on my head, messing up my bed head even further. "Michelle this is Cassandra. Cassie, Michelle." He introduced.

The girl, once finally free of Dick's embrace held her hand out to me. I shook it, smiling nervously. "Hi." I murmured.

"Nice to meet you," she muttered out, a small smile on her lips.

Alfred handed her a plate of cookies and she gestured for me to join her on the couch. Over by the tree Damian was organizing the presents.

"These are yours, Michelle." He brought over a stack of things and my eyebrows raised. "There's more..." He trailed off, moving things around. He was creating piles by person.

Alfred disappeared and came back with mugs of hot chocolate and a phone. He distributed the mugs and held the phone ready to take pictures.

"Have at it Michelle." Dick said and I then realized everyone was waiting for me to open the first present.

"It's tradition for the newest member to open the first present." Cassie explained to me.

"It's been Damian for too long." Grinning, Dick tapped his brother's shoulder which in turn earned him a jab in the ribs.

I nodded and went for a medium sized box. It was pretty heavy. I tore off the wrapping paper and opened the box to reveal a laptop. My eyes widened. "Wow, thanks Santa!" I exclaimed and the adults cheered.

Everyone was unwrapping, then. Even Alfred had a smile on as he ripped open the present he helped me buy for himself. I guess I could have been a little more discreet when asking his favorite color. Though, he seemed content with the bright yellow socks.

Everything was like the movies. Jason showed up, I met my two other siblings, Tim and Stephanie. We were all one big happy family. I wondered where Barbara was, but then I remembered she had a dad of her own to celebrate with. Stories and crazy pictures were shared. Jokes were made. Fun was had.

"I remember Dick telling me not to, so then I absolutely had to." Jason started.

Dick rolled his eyes with a smirk. "This is how all of Jason's stories start."

"Only the good ones," Jason smiled. "Bruce was away on a business trip- this was back during the easy days where Brucey was actually able to leave the city for extended periods of time- and I snuck into his liquor cabinet-"

Dad laughed cutting Jason off. "Why am I just now hearing about this?"

Jason put a hand on my shoulder. "Mimi here has got to know how much of a rebel I was." He joked. "But anyway, I broke into his liquor cabinet -minimal security, I was surprised. And there it was, the bourbon, the whiskey. You name it. I invited some friends over-"

"You had friends?" Stephanie snorted, nudging Tim who chuckled.

"Hey, don't interrupt the storyteller. So I invited the friends over and we went through it." Jason looked down at me. " Er but you shouldn't drink until you're, uh, what's the drinking age now?"

"Twenty-one, you alcoholic." Tim laughed.

Jason scratched his head." Really?" He shrugs it off quickly. "But that's not even the best part. Dick comes home and I think I'm done for, but he joins in and when I say he is a lightweight I mean it. He was gone, doing sloppy flips, telling my friends he was Batman. It's a good thing he had no balance whatsoever so no one believed him."

Cassie put a hand over her mouth giggling. "Is this true, Dick?"

"I'm gonna be honest, I don't remember much from that night." And everyone in the room, even Damian laughed.

The stories continued, everyone got their chance to share something. In the middle of Tim's story my dad gestured for me to follow him. I slipped away as silently as I could since I was sandwiched between Cassie and Jason.

We made our way down to the cave. Dad clicked a few keys on the computer and Mr. Fox's face showed on screen. "Merry Christmas, Michelle!" He spoke to me.

I was confused, why did he have to call from the Batcomputer? "Merry Christmas!" I exclaimed.

"I hope you are settling in well at your father's house."

I smiled. "I am, thank you."

The man on screen returned a soft smile. "That's good to hear. And I hope you enjoy your present."

I raised an eyebrow, looking up to my father. "Present?" I asked them.

My father clicked a button and a suit in a glass case revealed itself. My eyes widened. I cringed at the black suit with red and blue accents. The red mask and bird on the chest and blue belt. "If you ever want to share the night life with your father you should be prepared with a suit." Mr. Fox smiled.

I was speechless. What was a supposed to say? I didn't want or need a suit. But I didn't want to seem ungrateful. "Thank you." I said and brought myself to smile.

My dad seemed to let out a breath he was holding. He grinned from ear to ear. " We named it Swallow because Alfred told me that was your favorite bird. But it's yours now, You can name it whatever you want, and this is just a first draft really, you can customize it however you want." 

On screen Lucius chuckled. "Well I'll leave you two to chat."

"Thanks Lucius." My dad said.

"Happy Holidays, Bruce." The man on the screen smiled and then disappeared.

"Want to take a closer look at it?" Dad pressed another button and exposed it, the glass case opening. He started walking towards it.

"Dad, I don't know about this." I shook my head.

My father stopped in his tracks. "What's wrong?"

I looked at the floor and crossed my arms over my chest. "This isn't me. I'm not a fighter."

My dad was speechless. The room was so quiet I had to look up at him again to make sure he was still there. He was frowning, and I felt I should take everything I said back and just accept the suit. After a few moments he took a knee in front of me and looked me in the eyes. "Michelle, I'm sorry, I should have asked you first. Forgive me, but everyone who I have introduced to this life wants to be apart of it. I just don't want you to go behind my back and try to do something on your own and then in turn get hurt-"

I shook my head. "I would never..."

"I just want you to know, whatever you decide to do, I support you, and you can come to me with anything." He placed his hands on my shoulders. I gave a soft smile and went in to hug him.

Selina

"She knows everything about you now, she figured it out, I don't know how but she knows!"

I put my hands on the sixteen year old's shoulders. "Calm down Chrissy." I looked into her green eyes. "What exactly does she know?" I whispered.

Chrissy took a deep breath.  "She knows that Batman is Bruce Wayne, she knows that his new daughter is your daughter. And she wants me to kill him and bring the girl here."

My eyes were wide and I forgot how to breathe. I stumbled back onto the wall of the small broom closet we had to meet in. "What will she do to Michelle?" I was able to squeak out. 

The young girl shook her head. "I don't know, maybe use her against you to get you on her side? I don't know!"

My eyes were going blurry from tears but I had to think, and I had to think fast. There was no time for crying. "But if she's asking you to kill him, she still trusts you, right?"

"I don-"

I shook the girl. "Do not say you don't know, you are smart and perceptive. Just think. How did Eve tell you about all of this, how did she ask you to kill him?" I trembled as I spoke. 

Chrissy took a sharp intake of breath. "She was drinking, as usual. She started by asking if I had talked to you lately. I told her no, and she told me that either you weren't as smart as you looked or you were a very good liar. She told me there were things about you that we didn't know. Then she told me all of this, and I guess. I guess she still believed I'm on her side."

I took a deep breath and pulled the girl into a hug. I stroked her dark hair. "You did good."

She sobbed into my chest. "I don't want to kill anyone, Selina."

I shook my head. "You won't." I pulled her away from me and wiped her tears with my thumb. She reminded me so much of my daughter. "When is she having you leave?" 

Her eyes closed, trying to stop the tears. "Tonight. We'll take the submarine and be there by tomorrow night. I'll be asleep the whole time." 

"We have to get me on that sub with you. Someone has to be preparing it right? We just have to make Eve believe I'm still on the boat until we're all away from here." Anxious, I bit my lip.

"Can we do it?" Her green eyes looked into mine. 

I gave an uncertain nod. "We've planned for this."

"Not like this." She frowned.

"We can do this, we have something to fight for. Your brother and sister, my daughter." I didn't know who I was trying to convince but I knew I wouldn't just stand around with threats on my lover and Michelle. I would die before I let Eve lay a finger on her. And maybe that's what my future holds but at least I can say I went down fighting right? I sighed. "Chrissy, I'm not saying that this plan is full proof but we have to try."

It was quiet for a long moment before she gave a slow nod. "I'll figure out how to make you a stow away."

I hugged her again. "I'll figure out how to make it seem like I'm still here." I let her go and gave a half smile. "We can do this."

Michelle

"Remember, Michelle. This is your choice if you want to come here. You scored pretty high on the entrance exam, almost any other place would take you." My dad spoke and Damian in the backseat rolled his eyes. 

"I know, I want to see what it's like before I make a decision." I smiled at him from the passenger seat. He insisted on driving us to the school today, he said he had a business meeting at the company that I'm pretty sure he made up. I was going to shadow Damian in his classes to get the real Gotham Academy experience. He stopped in front of the large school and Dami got out immediately. 

He smoothed down my hair and smiled. "I know, but don't feel pressured to go here just because half the family has gone."

I shook my head. I wanted to do this. "Pressure? No pressure here." 

Damian appeared at my window. "Would you hurry up, I don't want to be late." His usual unamused tone was paired with a grimace.

Dad chuckled and pulled me into a hug. He let me go and grinned, glancing at both of us. "Have a good day, kids." Damian opened my door and started to pull me out. I laughed and undid my seat belt to make things easier for him.  I was out and he shut the door behind me. "Take care of your sister, Damian!" Dad called to him.

"When do I not?" He scoffed and pulled me along into the school. I tried my best not to stare at the hallways, it was nearly impossible. The tall ceilings, the stone floors, teachers were speed walking with papers in hand; the students in uniform chatted with each other at lockers. I was the only kid out of uniform, I felt out of place... I took a deep breath and shook away all the anxious thoughts that were forming. We stopped at a locker and Damian started putting in a combination. "This is a locker," he stated.

I scoffed. "I'm not stupid, I know what a locker is." I shoved him playfully.

He gave a half smile as he opened the door and placed his backpack inside. "You wanted the full experience, I'm not leaving anything out." He got out a book and showed it to me. "This is my chemistry book."

I laughed at him. And while I was laughing I didn't notice someone come up behind me. "Hey Damian! Who's this?" I turned to find an Asian girl, only a little taller than me. She had a bright smile and a yellow flower in her short hair.

"This is my sister. Michelle, meet Mizoguchi-"

The girl cut him off and offered her hand out to me "Call me Maps. Younger sister, huh? Me too. We can talk about how weird older bothers are."

Damian rolled his eyes but kept a small smile on his face. "We should start walking." He said and stepped away from his locker. We followed after him.

"So you're thinking of coming here?" Maps asked and I nodded. "That's great, we'll be living in the dorms together! I live pretty far so I can't commute here everyday."

I looked at her hopefully. "It would be nice to have a friend already here. Living in the dorms is what I was most nervous about."

She put her arm around my shoulders. "If that's all you're worried about then you might as well enroll right now. The dorms aren't that bad, maybe a little dusty. But I'll be there and a bunch of other friends I can introduce you to." Damian cleared his throat. "Oh yeah, and you'll probably see Damian during class times, or whatever." She brushed it off playfully.

Damian shook his head. "This is all just an act, Wayne. She is the weirdest girl you will ever meet." He said with a smile.

Maps nudged me. "He calls you by your last name too? Now that's weird."

°Time skip°

My phone buzzed in the pocket of my jacket just as the last bell rang signaling the end of the day. Dad was calling. I shook my head and answered as I followed Damian out of the classroom.

"Hi Dad, how was the business meeting?" I greeted him.

"Boring. How was school?" He asked.

"It was great." I smiled, looking at my brother. It was fun watching him interact with peers.

"Really? So what's the verdict?"

"I'd like to go here." I said confidently.

"I'm enrolling you now."

I giggled. "Of course you are. How soon will I start?"

"How soon do you want to?"

I shrugged. "Well I don't want to miss any more days and be behind." We were walking toward the limousine now.

"So tomorrow, then?" He offered.

My eyebrows raised. "You can do that?"

"I can if you want me to."

I piled in the back of the limo with Damian. "Tomorrow." I said grinning.

"Alright. See you soon." He said.

"See ya." I told him and ended the call.  "Alfred, guess what?" I called to the man in the drivers seat.

"You'll have to forgive me, Michelle. I am not very good at guessing games." He smiled at me through the rearview mirror.

"I'm gonna go to school!" I exclaimed.

Damian

I welcomed the guests in who just arrived when giggles sounded from upstairs and my attention was pulled away. I watched from the front door as Wayne and Mizoguchi descended the stairs. I did a double take when I noticed my sister's hair was waist length no longer. I raised my eyebrows but didn't dwell on it for long. My eyes trailed over to the Asian girl wearing slacks, a dress shirt, and a black vest. Of course the signature yellow flower pin was in her short hair. I was brought back to reality by an old lady pinching my cheek. I growled under my breath. 'It's only one night' I repeated in my head.

"Hello Mrs. Gresham. Have you been acquainted with my sister, Michelle?" I led her over to the girls.

Michelle shifted nervously. "Hi, I'm Michelle." Mizoguchi nudged her. "Oh, and this is my friend and schoolmate Mia."

"Nice to meet you both." The elderly lady looked back and forth between my sister. "You are a mirror image of each other. This is your long lost sister? I'm Mrs. Gresham, a family friend." She went in for a hug that Michelle was not prepared for. He pulled away and now it was my sisters cheeks that were being assaulted. I smirked to myself. 

"Um yes, we were separated in the agency." She recited the lie we agreed on. "I was in and out of homes in Brooklyn and Metropolis while he was able to stay closer to home." She smiled.

"So you were both born in Gotham, then?"

Michelle nodded. "Yes ma'am."

"That's wonderful that you both found a home now. Bruce Wayne is such a good man. Oh there he goes, speak of the devil. Happy Birthday, dear."

Father rounded the corner and approached with a wide smile. How could he do it? How could he uphold the act that was Bruce Wayne? I noted the champagne glasses in his hands and had my answer. He kissed the woman on her cheek and handed her a glass. "Mrs. Gresham , not looking a day over twenty-four. Show me to your fountain of youth."

Mrs. Gresham chuckled. "Stop it, young man, My husband is nearby, you'll make him jealous."

I sneered as they prattled on. I noticed Michelle was looking uncomfortable herself. So did father. "Damian, why don't you take Maps and Michelle to see Barry, Iris, and Wally? They just got here."

"Gladly." I muttered and led the girls away. The crowd was growing substantially. I saw Pennyworth walking around with a tray of hors d'oeuvres. I finally found the Flash family. "Allen, Wests, this is my sister Michelle and our friend Mizo-"

She cut me off as I introduced her. "Maps, nice to meet you." She smiled.

"Hi." Michelle greeted.

I wondered if our father told her who her favorite hero's true identity was. It's not like we could reveal it now with Mizoguchi here. I realized I wasn't paying attention for a while and tuned back into the conversation.

"Yeah, your father and I have been associates for a while now. Mostly on his personal projects." Allen was grinning.

I narrowed my eyes at him. He had better not let too much slip. Wally West caught sight of the hors d'oeuvres and edged away to chase Pennyworth. Iris stayed near Allen. I poked Mizoguchi. She looked at me with raised eyebrows. Gestured for her to follow me, I led her to a quiet corner. "This party is a bore. You want to go to the game room?" I asked her.

She was looking around and gawking. "Give me a tour first!" She exclaimed. "I bet there are hidden passageways all over."

I frowned, this is why I never invited her here in the first place. She was too curious and smart for her own good. I looked at the small bouncing girl next to me and found a mike growing from my frown. Who cares if she finds out. I wouldn't have to lie to her anymore. "Let's start from the top." I said and led her to the attic, we dodged groups of people chattering and barely made it around the flocks of old ladies who would pat our heads and pinch our cheeks. I let her have free reign in the attic , looking at old paintings and dusty furniture. There was little to be found but it looked as if she was amused, nonetheless.

"This is all so old and dusty, I love it!" She said as she flipped through old encyclopedias.

"You're getting cobwebs in your hair." I chuckled.

Her eyes widened. "Cool!"

"This is a covert mission remember, there can't be any traces that we were here." I reminded her.

She nodded with a grimace. "Get them out for me." She tilted her head to me.

I raised my eyebrows but complied. I carefully pulled the webs out of her short hair. "Alright." I told her.

She looked up at me and smiled. "Thanks!" She exclaimed, her dark eyes wide.

My face was hot, I pursed my lips and turned away from her. "Are we done here?"

I heard her sigh. "Yeah I don't think there are any old treasure maps up here. On to the next Chamber!" She exclaimed happily, grabbing my hand and pulling me along. I was brought back to my first day meeting her at Gotham Academy. Back then our hands stayed clasped for a day. At the time, we thought it was magic or something. Now I'm not so sure. This small girl she makes me feel... happy. I stopped in my tracks and she turned to look at me. "Damian?" She asked.

I looked at her face and found myself smiling. "I think I know where to find something truly amazing."

She grinned. "Lead the way."

Bruce

Flirt with models, thank family friends for showing up, toast with champagne. It's times like this where being Bruce Wayne became more difficult than being the Batman. The past few years I've always had kids to help diffuse the situation and deflect some attention off of me. I was glad that Barry was able to make it, happy that Michelle got to meet her favorite hero face to face. Other League members were here too. Oliver, Diana, Clark. They found it amusing to mingle at my parties. They told me I acted like a totally different person. I couldn't say they were wrong.

All the usual people were at my birthday party. Everyone except Selina. It was at a party like this we saw each other last. Of course Batman and Catwoman have seen each other since then. I wonder what Michelle would think of this. I hope she wouldn't think that I didn't care. I do care deeply. Bruce Wayne just has to make an appearance every now and and again. I looked around for my daughter. It would be hard to find her in the sea of tall rich people. I walked by Diana who was appraising an art piece on the wall. "Have you seen Michelle?" I asked her.

"I met her, she is lovely." She smiled to me. "She has your eyebrows. Brooding must run in the family, then."

I tilted my head. "She was brooding?" I was confused. I was sure she'd be over the moon after meeting Barry.

Diana raised an eyebrow. "Yes, is there something wrong?"

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Well like I told you, we're on the search for Catwoman. Her mother."

She nodded. "Right." She said looking back at the painting.

"What?" I asked. She was holding something back.

"I think she's tired of waiting, Bruce. Us girls, when we lose our patience; we take things into our own hands. And when we do, we get things done." She said, looking at me. She placed a hand on my shoulder then walked away.

Alfred came up to me then. "Damian has informed me that Michelle is gone."

My heart dropped. "Gone? How- Where?" I stumbled over my words.

"Damian was showing young Ms. Maps around the cave when he noticed his motorcycle was missing." Al explained.

I couldn't even begin to process the first part of his statement. "Clear everyone out. The party is over."

"Over early for the third year in a row. I will be the bringer of bad news." He said turning away from me.

I walked toward the cave. I was stopped by a young brunette in a short dress. "Hi, there Mr. Wayne."

"Erm. Hello."

"Catherine." She told me, holding her hand out. "But you can call me Cat." Her blue eyes gleamed.

I shook her hand. "I'm sorry Ms. Catherine-"

"I think taking in the siblings is so selfless of you. How many kids have gone through this home already? You are a good man, Bruce." She kept a grip on my hand.

"I'm sorry but the party is over-" I tried to be nice to her.

She gripped my arm. Her eyes widened at the muscle underneath my jacket. "Don't you think the kids- Especially the girl, Maria-"

My eyes narrowed. "Michelle." I corrected her.

"Right, don't they need a strong female figure in their lives? A woman to help raise them."

I scratched my chin. "You know what, you're right." I noted the look of glee on her face. "I better go find her." I turned and walked away. I heard her sigh of frustration and the click of her heels as she walked off in the other direction. I made my way down to the cave as Damian and his friend were on there way up.

"I'm taking her back to the school." He informed me as he passed me.

"Tell Alfred to drive you after all of our guests are gone. I'll be tracking Michelle." I told him and he nodded.

The first thing I noticed when I made it to the cave below? Her suit was missing. So she didn't just go out as Michelle. She went out as a hero.

Michelle

It was past six AM and surprisingly I wasn't tired. Maybe I was my father's child after all, the adrenaline and excitement I had for actually having a lead on where my mother could be was overwhelming. Also because my crush, Duke was sitting across from me looking at his computer screen and methodically taking notes. Damian was in a corner resting his eyes, Alfred was collecting dirty dishes and tidying up where he saw fit. Dad was on watch, staring at the Batcomputer intently, watching the live feed for anything suspicious.

Something was bound to happen, sooner or later. So when it did I was ready. My dad called out and everyone sprinted to crowd around him and the computer. He pointed at the screen. "That is Chrysanthemum Clemmons. Older sister to Roberta and Danforth."

"Chrissy." I whispered. We had an overhead view of her, she was looking up toward the sky. She looked troubled. I could see the resemblance between her and Birdy. Soon after she stepped out of the craft someone peeked their head out. "Eve." I said and Chrissy on screen jumped at the sight of the woman. Eve yelled something at her and she was being pulled back inside.

"That's it. That's what we needed." Damian said. "Let's move in."

"Wait a minute." My dad said and I pouted, Damian groaned and Duke raised an eyebrow.

"This is our chance Dad. You can't have us stall anymore." I pleaded with him.

"Do you two have a plan?" He asked Damian and I.

I looked to my brother and back to my dad. "You don't?"

He shook his head. "I think it's safer if I stayed here. She's looking to capture Batman and Bruce Wayne, I'm not just going to hand them over. You two need to infiltrate the submarine quietly and get anyone who's being held out. This is your mission, Michelle. This is Birdy's mission." He explained and it all made sense. "Alfred, Duke, and I will be your eyes in the sky. I have someone on standby if you'll be needing backup."

I nodded. "We can get to the submarine through the water and get on from there."

"I know that place, there's a different dock a little way out that you can get into the water from to not cause suspicion." Duke spoke up.

"Can we.. take the car?" Damian asked, his eyebrows raised. Dad laughed and tossed him the keys. "Put your mask back on Wayne, let's go." He told me doing a jog over to the Batmobile. I giggled but did what he said and followed after him, Alfred stopped me and handed me an ear bud. I put it in and smiled at him. I got into the passenger seat of the car. "You ready for this Robin and Birdy adventure?" He asked revving the engine.

"As I'll ever be." I said and we shot out of the cave.

Soon we were at the dock, and after a quick lesson on how to use a breather, we were in the water swimming. He was a much stronger swimmer than me and I could tell he was holding back. We made it to the submarine together and entered. I was glad I made the decision to cut my hair or else I would be ten pounds heavier at this moment.

There was a guard nearby and Damian had no trouble silently knocking him out. Another guard, patrolling was about to yell out before I jumped on his back, covering his mouth. Damian disarmed him and knocked him out too. We took his ID and went searching.

I could hear my heartbeat in my ears and then it turned into my dad's voice. "You're so close, you got this. Stay on target." I took a deep breath and tried to focus. I wondered if my suit sent my vitals back to the Batcomputer. My heart leapt when Chrissy rounded the corner to come face to face with us.

Her green eyes were wide. She pushed us back into a boiler room. "What are you two doing here? Do you know how dangerous things could get if she got her hands on you?" She whisper-yelled at us.

I narrowed my eyes. "Who Eve? She is building an army, isn't she? She has Catwoman. We're here to retrieve her and all the other girls trapped here."

"Take me to Eve. I'll take care of her." Damian said crossing his arms over his chest.

"Do not engage with Eve." Our father spoke in our ears.

Chrissy shook her head. "It would be best to just try to avoid her." She backed up what Dad was saying. "Ms. Kyle has already planned an escape."

Mom. "How can we help?" I asked desperately.

"I don't know, could you take out the power somehow?" Her eyebrows raised.

Damian pulled a circular chip out of his utility belt and stuck it on a wall. All of the lights shut off and there was a blaring sound then red lights came on. "Next?"

Chrissy was stunned for a second, her eyes adjusting to the new light. "Take out the guards and lock Eve in her room." She listed.

"I can take the the guards, you go with her." My brother told me. I nodded and gestured to Chrissy to lead the way. We ran through he submarine. It was so large, granted I don't know how large regular submarines were but this one seemed rather excessive.

We made it to the double doors and she peeked in, I watched her back. "She's still asleep." She whispered, closing the doors. I nodded, checking my utility belt; I pulled out a zip tie and secured the doors.

"Where is my- where is Catwoman?" I asked her.

"She's stowing away with some of the other girls." She grabbed my hand and we were running again. We ran into Damian who was finishing tying up knocked out men. He ran along with us. We opened doors along the way, all revealed young women we yelled at them to get up and get out. Some were hesitant but eventually they listened to us.

We got to the last room. My heart was beating out of my chest. Beneath my gloves my hands were clammy. Damian opened the doors and there, sleeping were the three girls I was trapped with going to search for my dad and my mother. I blinked fast to hold back my tears.

"Everyone wake up!" Chrissy called. My mother shot up in her bed, looked around, and froze. I took a step closer to her.

Damian held me back, looking around at the other girls in the room. I reached my hand out for her desperately. I looked back at my brother. "I don't care if they know. " I told him as I pulled away from him and walked over to my mother. She met me halfway. I hugged her tightly. "Mommy." I whispered to her.

"Kitten." She sighed happily.

Her voice. It's been so long since I heard it. It was music to my ears. It felt so good to be back in my mom's arms again. I never wanted to leave. We could be together again, like we were before. But I wasn't just her kitten anymore. I was more than that. I was a hero. It was time for me to do the hero thing.

Chrissy was arguing with the girls. I pulled away from my mom. "Listen, listen." I quieted them down. "Eve doesn't care about you. She just cares about creating an army to take out or control all the men in the world. She's going to use you to get what she wants."

"But she gave us a roof over our heads and food. I can't remember the last time I was this full." The girl who I remembered was Patty spoke, her eyebrows were together.

"You think all of this is free? She's going to ask you to pay up one day, and you're not going to like what she asks of you." Chrissy was pleading with them. She clenched her eyes shut.

Olly spoke this time. "She saved us, we owe her anyway."

Chrissy shook her head. "She didn't save you. It was her who trapped you in that basement. It was her who had my sister killed. It was her who had me shoot my brother."

My eyes widened. Danny? Danny was dead now too? "We have to get out of here." I told them.

"Now." Damian finally spoke up. I could tell he was losing his patience and he didn't have much to start with. "We are leaving, those who wish to stay may do so, but I have alerted the police and they will be here in less than ten minutes to take your savior and lock her up." He told them and turned to walk out.

That was harsh. "I don't want to leave you guys, but..."

"I know you girls, I was in that basement with you when I should have been out looking for my brother and sister." Chrissy stepped up and finished for me. "Eve trapped you then, and she's trapping you now. Don't stay here, at least be free."

The red head, Andy nodded. "I'm going." She said, and Patty stood with her.

Olly was shaking her head wildly. "I'm staying."

I frowned but my mother started pulling me along. "We gotta go, Kitten." I nodded and we were running to the front exit on the dock. Chrissy led the way. Damian was behind her, and Patty and Andy nearby. My mother ran near me.

Chrissy undid the hatch and we were outside.

"No!" I heard someone yell. I turned around to see it was Eve, standing next to Olly, holding a funny looking gun. My mother fell to the ground with a yelp. My eyes widened I started having Birdy flash backs. I fell on my knees in front of my mother. She was unconscious. I pulled the needle out of her neck. It's okay, she's just unconscious I can still get her home.

Chaos was happening around me but I was more focused on my mother when she started convulsing and foaming at the mouth. "Mom? Mommy?" I cried.

"Help your brother Michelle, protect your mother." My father spoke in my ear.

I looked around and found that Andy and Patty were gone, free. A fog started to roll in on the dock. Damian was fighting off all of the guards that he had tied up. How did they get untied? I looked to Olly who was pointing the gun at Chrissy. Before I could get over to her she pulled the trigger and Chrissy was shot. I let out a snarl. I threw a birdarang at her hand and she dropped the gun, it fell into the water. I punched some of the guards that were fighting Damian but I only had my eye on one person. I ran towards Eve.

"Justice, not vengeance, Michelle." My dad spoke again. That cleared my head a little.

Eve was trying to scuttle away. I lunged for her and tackled her down. I tried to grab for her hands but she kept pulling away, and Olly was on my back pulling me off. I punched Eve in the face, and kicked off Olly, she fell into the water. I was just about to tie Eve when her eyes watched something behind me and she started grinning.

I looked behind me and there was Poison Ivy walking over to us. A vine slapped me off of Eve. I looked to where I left Damian and he was tied up. I crawled over to him and started cutting at the plants that wrapped around him like a snake. "What is she doing here?" I whispered to him.

He shook his head and just watched. I watched too.

"I gave you that this mission so you could bring in Batman, ." Ivy yelled at Eve.

"Please, Lilith, I had a plan-"

"Part of your plan was capturing my friend and kidnapping? I told you to only take girls over thirteen." Ivy snarled.

"I did, well, I had them pre captured before I captured them, so technically I was doing what you were saying-" she was cut off by Ivy wrapping a vine around her throat. I gasped and brought my hand up to my mouth.

"I've given you five years, and this is all you have to show for it?" A flower grew from the vine and sprayed a dust in Eve's face. She coughed her eyes grew wide and she stared cackling. Ivy sighed and dropped her walking over to my mother, I jumped to protect her but Damian held me back. He looked down at my mom. "Oh Cat, what have you gotten yourself into now?"

There was a motorcycle sound getting closer and Ivy looked up and sighed. She scooped my mother up and ran off. "No!" I yelled after her, reaching out. Damian held me in place.

The motorcycle came closer and it was Batwoman. She dismounted and ran over to us. "Are you two alright?" She asked as police sirens started sounding, getting closer.

"We're fine, Ivy got away with Selina Kyle." Damian spoke up I pulled myself out of his grasp and stood to look in the direction the plant lady left. The fog was thick now, it was hard to see a foot in front of my face tears built up behind my mask. The blue and red lights barely cut through the fog as they sped toward us. I fell to my knees. Damian walked over to me. "You're not allowed to be anyone but Birdy right now." He told me and I looked up at him. The police got out of their cars, hands near their guns, ready to shoot. They spotted us through the fog and calmed down.

They asked us questions. They cuffed the laughing Eve and her henchmen. They confiscated the submarine. They searched the water for Olly, but she was no where to be found. They put Chrissy on a stretcher and sped her to the hospital.

It felt like the end of a whole chapter of my life. But it wasn't a happy one. It started with me going to find my mother and bring her home. It won't be happy until she's with me again.

Thank you, first and foremost, to the readers and commenters and voters. (Future, present, & past)

Thank you to my good friend, Jesus(not the actual son of God) who encouraged me to keep writing by giving me new ideas, watching Batman movies, and reading this story with me.

I wanna thank V who was there with me when I first came up with this story (back in 2015-16) and told me to go with it.

I gotta thank all the Batman writers who gave me the initial inspiration to start this story.

Cheers to Michelle Pheiffer and Camren Bicondova, my muses.

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Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Wayne

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BIRDY WILL RETURN