Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Wayne Legacy: Knightmare

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 28:

Wayne Tower

“You want a job?” Diana asked, somewhat disbelieving. Her brother had arrived that morning unannounced at her office asking for her time an hour after she had just seen him at home. He was even wearing a suit. Since he had returned, Bruce had taken to casual wear as if it were a second skin.

“Yes, I want a job.” He said confidently.

“Doing what exactly?” she asked cautiously, hoping he didn’t wake up with the desire to become an investment specialist or worse.

“I want to be a part of the Wayne Foundation. I have ideas I want to implement in the Narrows. I’ll pay for all of it, but I need the infrastructure the Wayne Foundation has in place for my ideas to take shape. There is a building I would like renovated. I plan to turn it into a community center, a very large one. I want to name it after John’s friend, Annie.”

Diana raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “And what would happen at this very large center?”

“I thought at first, an employment agency, GED classes, job skills and maybe college prep classes. Eventually, it could include a free medical clinic and assistance obtaining insurance, free therapy, rehab. It will be the tallest building in the Narrows. I plan for it to be the center of rejuvenation for the area. You are already planning on knocking down Arkham, or should I say the government is.

When are they giving you the land for governmental research purposes?”

“In three weeks.”

“And you own all the land surrounding this new research center, meaning what was once rundown housing and condemned buildings will now make way for higher end living. More homeless, addicts, criminals of all kinds are going to flood the Narrows.” Bruce pointed out.

Diana nodded.

“The Narrows has always been the last point, the end of the line for scum of Gotham to be collected and dealt with, in sociological terms.” She admitted, not happy with that but in a war, even on crime, territory had to be taken and the enemy pushed until their backs were against the wall.

Bruce shook his head, irritated at her acceptance of this. “And where are the ones like Annie, young girls who had to turn to prostitution, drug addicts who need help, ex-cons who can’t find a job because of their record, or those who never had a chance at an education or needed help that was never provided, where will they go?”

Diana was silent for a moment, watching him carefully. “I am bringing thousands of jobs to Gotham, Bruce. In the next year, two major manufacturing plants will be opening. Local construction companies are working around the clock right now and increasing their work force to build them. I have plans for smaller plants as well in the area over the next three years as support and supply stations for the larger facilities. Work is coming to Gotham, Bruce.”

“Jobs in relation to the military, meaning work on highly classified equipment, or products that need employees with specialized skills. Do you think anyone in the Narrows would be able to pass a security check to even have the opportunity to apply for a job at one of those plants?”

Diana admitted to herself that he had a point. There was no way an ex-con would be allowed to even be a janitor at the plants that were opening. Everyone in the plants near the airport and Stryker’s Island from the top managers to the person who cleaned dishes in the cafeteria would need clean records, not just criminal records but financial records.

“There will be companies coming in to support the government plants where these people can find work, but you are right, most of the new jobs may not be available to them.” Diana agreed. “So, what would your plan be?”

“I don’t have a complete plan… yet. But I know where we need to start. The Wayne Foundation focuses on charities around the world but our involvement in the Narrows is limited to free kitchens and shelters. Give me the infrastructure I need and let me begin with job training and education to help people get GEDs that want one. Then we can see where we go from there.”

Diana sat for a moment, taking in her brother and not quite believing what she was hearing. The only interest he had shown in changing Gotham since he returned involved a high-tech suit and his fists.

Testing his resolve, she said, “Okay… but there will be conditions.”

“Conditions?”

Diana nodded.

“What conditions?” He asked warily.

She took a deep breath, giving some thought to this quickly. It was not a subject she ever thought would come up, but it was an opportunity too good to pass up and could give her brother a path to something better than being a vigilante.

“Miss Hart has been running the Foundation for thirty years. She is the longest serving employee of Wayne Enterprises. She will be retiring at some point and, honestly, I think she has been holding on waiting for a qualified successor. The men and women working for her have been there nearly as long.” She explained.

“This will not be a situation where you give her a list of items you want accomplished and leave the office, Bruce. You take this seriously, you show up every day, work normal hours and learn from her. Then, when she is ready to retire, you take over the Wayne Foundation.”

“Me?” Bruce asked, surprised. “You would want me to take over the Wayne Foundation?”

“Yes.” Diana said with no further elaboration.

“It may be tough to be at the office at eight in the morning after some nights.” He reminded her, thinking of his self-appointed duties as Batman.

“Then I suppose you will have to decide at times what it more important.” Diana told him. “Saving the citizens with charity and affecting the lives of thousands or spending entire nights looking for a few criminals to beat up.

“That’s the deal. If you want the Wayne Foundation to support these plans of yours, you will take responsibility and become a real part of this company, not just use it as a passing fancy, a cover for your other activities or a tool for whatever you can imagine.”

Bruce thought for a moment then nodded. He may go a few days without sleep at times, but sleep had always been overrated.

He had hoped the Wayne Foundation could take his ideas and run with them but supposed she was right. This way, he would have a chance to make a difference as Bruce and not just Batman. Gordon told him to start believing in Bruce. Maybe this was a start.

“Deal. I’ll work for the Foundation, learn from Miss Hart.”

“Excellent. You can spend the afternoon in human resources on the fifty-second floor.” Diana said happily. She wasn’t quite sure if this would go anywhere but at least he was making an effort to be a part of the family company.

Bruce moved to stand up then sat back down. “There is one other thing. I’ve decided to have the Falconè Mansion remodeled extensively and donate it to the Foundation to be used as an orphanage.”

Diana was a bit taken back by that. “Where do you plan to operate from? Kara is building you some sort of car and you will need to have a space for it. You can’t drive out of Wayne Manor in it, wearing a bat suit.”

Diana saw the questioning look on his face and shook her head. “I am not compromising the basement, that area is for Kara. You are not using the doors, Bruce.”

Diana was referring to the far wall at the end of the basement. There was a set of tall steel doors that slid apart to allow large equipment to be brought in, such as when the pool was being built. The tunnel beyond the doors led out to the road a mile from the manor. Once construction had been completed, the entrance had been filled with concrete and a concrete wall had been built on both sides of the tall doors, walling them up forever. In theory, the concrete could be broken, and the doors would be operational again. The concrete entrance at the far side of the tunnel could also be broken to allow road access.

However, doing so would compromise the security of the basement. Right now, the basement under Wayne Manor was probably the most secure, privately owned facility in the world. The other would be the fallout shelter that was far below Wayne Tower, stretching from sublevel five across the street where the inhabitants of the Wayne Executive Suites could take cover as well.

Once Kara was secured inside either area, a nuclear bomb couldn’t touch her. Ten people could live for two decades based on the supplies inside the basement under Wayne Manor, the water filtration system and the wind and solar powered generators, the air scrubbers, all designed to survive an apocalypse.

For Bruce to have his way, it would mean Kara would need to give up her pool and compromise her safety which was something Diana would never allow to happen.

Bruce sighed. “Yeah, I know, Diana. I could use someplace closer regardless. I need to be in Gotham on nights I operate. I need a place I can get to more easily if I’m injured.”

“You want some sort of lair inside Gotham City limits?” Diana mused. “That would be difficult to conceal.”

“But not impossible. There are tunnel systems and old subway lines that are no longer in use. The caverns underneath… if I could find the right building and build under it, I might have access to multiple exit points into the city where I wouldn’t be seen.”

Diana was intrigued with the idea. Normally she would tell him it was an idiotic risk, but she had concluded Batman wasn’t going away. What he was saying made sense even if it was riskier.

He had also agreed to become a part of the company in a capacity that would not interfere with the day-to-day business or distress their customers, and that put her in a wonderful mood. Until this point, Dr. Prince had more involvement in the family business than Bruce did.

“Give it some thought. I will give you assistance if I can.”

Bruce raised an eyebrow.

“You will?” he asked, not hiding his surprise well.

“Yes. I want this to work, Bruce. I want us united, on the same page, doing what we can for our home. If you want to do this as part of the Wayne Foundation, I will support you in your other mission if only to reduce the risk of you being discovered. The more successful you are as Bruce Wayne, the less needed Batman will be. Who knows, maybe one day Batman will just be an urban myth no one really believes.”

Bruce chuckled. “I know the world would survive without Batman. I just don’t know if I can, Diana.”

Diana shook her head. “Kara told me the only time you don’t have nightmares is after you have saved someone. You may find other ways of saving people will keep the bad dreams at bay as well. If nothing else, it would be good to have you be a part of this company.

“Until you find a place in the city, I suppose you will cut off the cavern from the Falconè main house and continue using it?”

“Yep.” Bruce confirmed, standing. “I better head to the fifty-second floor. Let Miss Hart know I’ll be there first thing in the morning.”

Bruce was almost out the door when he stopped and turned back to Diana. “Where exactly is the Wayne Foundation Headquarters?”

Diana chuckled. “Twenty-second and twenty-third floor. Miss Hart is on the twenty-third where your office will be. Perhaps when your dream is made reality, the office can be moved to the ‘Annie Devine Center’.”

Bruce smiled fondly. “That would be nice.”

“Could you do me a favor, Bruce? Invite John Blake to our island trip and ensure he attends. It would make Kara happy.”

“Then why doesn’t Kara ask him?” Bruce asked, puzzled. “She didn’t have a problem asking him to your wedding.”

“After the Paris refusal, I think she may be shy about asking him on trips. So, would you ask him?”

Bruce nodded and left the office, not bothering to point out he wasn’t a match maker for his little sister.

It was six p.m. before Bruce left Wayne Tower. Despite his name being on the building, becoming a member of staff required much more paperwork than he would have dreamed. Kara came to visit him and hear from his own mouth that what Diana had told her was true. She had even hugged him, something he never took for granted.

He also now had health insurance, dental and the fifty-thousand-dollar life insurance policy every employee received.

Blake had declined his invitation to train that night, deciding instead to hang out with his officer friends. Apparently, his partner, Aaron Cash, had not been crazy about Blake going after Zsasz alone and Blake was having to make it up to him by taking him out on the town with a few other officers. He also needed a break from combat. Times had been stressful recently and they could all use a breather.

Bruce decided he wouldn’t go out that night either and went to O’Malley’s. He had only been inside once, years ago, but knew it was a popular hangout for cops. Ironically, back in the day, it was also a hotbed of criminal activity due to police corruption. Those days were thankfully gone.

He walked in and the entire bar, filled with around fifty patrons, stopped talking.

Everyone was looking at him in silence, wondering why Bruce Wayne, wearing a high-dollar suit, had just walked into a neighborhood bar in a neighborhood he did belong in.

Bruce was beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable, so he fell back onto an old habit.

“Drinks on me for the rest of the night!” He declared.

The bar erupted in cheers and several people walked towards him, patting him on the back and shaking his hand.

“You finally decided to slum it.” Blake greeted him. “Any reason why you are here… and dressed for the cover of GQ?”

“I had a job interview with Diana.” Bruce replied.

Blake stared at him, utterly speechless.

Bruce shook his head. “I’ll tell you the details later. As of now, I have a day job. No more sleeping all day for me.”

“You gonna be one of those security guards at the metal detector or what?” Blake asked.

Bruce didn’t answer and Cash walked up behind him and slapped him roughly but good naturedly on the shoulder.

“Bruce Wayne. The guy my partner spends most of his free time with. How’s the combat lessons going? I hope he is taking it easy on you.”

Bruce shook his head. “He beats the hell out of me most days, but I believe that’s the best way to learn so I didn’t mind. You must be Aaron Cash.”

Cash raised an eyebrow. “He talks about me to the rich and famous. Thanks, man.”

“They were looking for a driver and I suggested you.” Blake told him. “You up for some pool, Bruce?”

Bruce shook his head. “Diana wanted me to be sure and invite you out to our island in two weeks. End of summer trip. We are taking the yacht. It will be a day and a half to get there, then five days on the island and a day and half back. Figure you will be gone for eight days.”

“Island?” Blake asked, obviously confused.

“Yeah, a lot of people are coming. Diana and Kara’s secretaries… executive assistants, Sam and her kid, Tatsu and her kid, Myndi, Silver, Kara’s two friends and Eliza. Should be a blast. The house on the island is huge.”

“What island? Like the Virgin Islands?” he asked.

Bruce shook his head, realizing the subject had probably never come up. “We call it Dolphin Cay but it doesn’t have an official name. It’s a private island Diana bought years ago as a vacation destination for Kara, a place she could play and not worry about tourists or any stray illnesses they may have.”

Cash whistled. “What does an island go for?”

Bruce shrugged. “Not as much as her five-hundred-million-dollar superyacht.”

“Damn!” Cash and Blake both said.

“So, you down for the trip?”

Unsurprisingly, Blake shook his head. “Don’t really have the dollars for a trip right now. Maybe next year.”

“It won’t cost anything. It’s not like you are going to stay at a hotel. It’s just our house… our other house. I haven’t been there in seven years.”

“Captain wouldn’t give me that much time off with only two weeks’ notice.” Blake countered.

“Gordon…”

“No favors from Gordon. Not for me.” Blake cut him off.

Bruce shrugged. “That’s too bad. It would have been fun.”

“You know my partner, hard core, takes nothing for free.” Cash added, shaking his head disapprovingly.

Bruce smiled, an idea forming. “You should come with him.”

Cash threw an arm around Blake’s shoulder and smiled widely. “We are there! You think you can get Gordon to talk to the captain?”

“Absolutely.” Bruce promised.

“You are alright, Wayne.” Cash said approvingly. “Thanks for the invite.”

“Cash…”

Aaron still had his arm around Blake’s shoulder and swung him around.

“Diana Wayne, Kara Wayne, Silver St. Cloud, Sam Arias… all on a yacht, wearing bikinis the whole trip. Babs may be a brat, but she is a very hot, very wealthy brat. There is no way we are turning this down. Put your pride in a closet for a while. The only island I’ve ever been to is Stryker’s and it sure wasn’t tropical. Sun, superyachts, mansions, we are going, Johnny.”

Blake shook his head and turned back to Bruce. “If he can’t keep his jaw off the sand, that’s on you. He is your responsibility.”

“I can accept those terms.” Bruce replied with a wide smile.

---

Two Weeks Later

The party had begun early. Despite many of those present being dear friends of the Waynes, most had never been to the Island. Diana always kept it in the immediate family, considered it her safe haven with Kara, a place she could take her little sister safely out into the world. Only Steve, Alfred, Eliza and Bruce had ever stepped foot on the sand of Dolphin Cay.

In contrast, many had been on the yacht before, however Samantha Arias was not one of them. Even Ruby, who took to all things expensive with glee, was struck silent.

“Impressive, isn’t it?” Silver asked knowingly, walking up beside Sam. “Diana has let me use it a few times when I entertained potential clients and a couple times as a venue for weddings.

“It has a Jacuzzi and a pool that drops through to the deck below.” Sam observed, dumbstruck, then pointed toward the back upper deck. “Is that a helicopter pad?”

Silver nodded. “The three boats over there will follow us. They are full of Wayne Security personnel. Navy ships with helicopters will be around as well if a quick evac is needed.”

“Sometimes, this world blows my mind.” Sam admitted, still looking around the magnificent vessel.

Silver snorted. “Get used to it. This is your world now too.”

“Mom, Violet is here.” Ruby announced, racing up beside her. “I’m going to hang with her for a while. She promised to tell me about the time she and Tatsu were in Afghanistan and saw this tribe play some sort of polo game with a guy’s severed head. She tells the coolest stories.”

Ruby was gone before Sam could fully take that in.

The boarding started and the party was in full swing before the superyacht had reached open ocean.

Alex and Babs sat on the top deck of the yacht overlooking the swimming pool, sunning themselves. Alex looked over the deck and saw Kara in the hot tub with Aaron Cash. The two seemed to be enjoying themselves, Cash telling her some story that was no doubt mostly made up and Kara laughing the entire time.

“I never thought we would see this island.” Alex told Babs.

“I know, right?” Babs said excitedly. “First Iceland and now we get to see Dolphin Cay. Steve calls it Kangaroo Island to tease Kara.”

The red head stretched, settling back down with a happy sigh. “Don’t know about you, but I so need this vacation. The newbie government IT guys are up my ass all day long with the dumbest questions. My staff, who are supposed to make my life easier, have suddenly turned dumb. If I have to say, ‘did you try turning it off and turning it back on again?’, one more time, I will start throwing computers out the window.”

Alex laughed, then nonchalantly said, “Yeah, it’s funny. We didn’t have to take a medical exam… or anything. No blood test, no DNA scan. Kara’s recovery is amazing. Mom really must have pulled off a homerun.”

As Alex expected, Babs quieted, leaned back and closed her eyes behind her sunglasses.

“Are you ever going to tell me?” Alex asked.

Babs didn’t bother asking what she was talking about. She already knew. “Nope, because there is nothing to tell. I don’t know anything.”

“Did Diana threaten you?”

Babs sat up a bit straighter and looked around, as if nervous. “Diana wouldn’t threaten anyone. Okay, that’s a lie, but she wouldn’t threaten me. You shouldn’t say things like that while we are on her yacht, Alex… on a vacation she is providing us for free.”

Alex huffed. “So, she didn’t threaten you. She probably didn’t have to. You have always been scared of her.”

“I am not!” Babs exclaimed.

“Yeah, whatever.” Alex replied, leaning back.

“At least I wasn’t like you. You would stare at her in a bikini like you had had discovered the secret of life.” Babs shot back.

“Diana Wayne in a bikini is the secret of life.” Alex admitted, a huge grin lighting her face, leaving Babs rolling her eyes.

“I get it.” Alex continued. “You get out of high school; she makes you a millionaire and puts you in charge of a whole division even though you have zero business experience. You feel like you owe her. If Diana told you to be quiet you would do as told.”

Babs pulled off her sunglasses and glared at Alex. “What is your damn problem?”

Alex shrugged, nonplussed. “I just find it strange. Kara has obviously been healed or my mom has created the most impressive artificial immune system in the world. Instead of studying it, putting it through further FDA trials, everyone is acting like it doesn’t exist. I thought maybe other kids with SCID should have a shot at a normal life like Kara has gotten. That’s what medicine is all about, right? Improving lives?”

“You would know. You are the medical research nerd.” Babs said, laying back, obviously attempting to change the subject.

Alex smirked. “Yeah, but I’ll never be as cool as you mechanical nerds.”

”Don’t say that. You are pretty cool for a frog murderer. I love you anyway. You are the only one who smelled like formaldehyde I would hug.” Babs replied with a smirk. “Hey, can you see Cash down there?”

Alex looked on the deck below them and saw Cash still in the hot tub with Kara having been joined by Cathy Perkins and Terrance Berg. Apparently, one of the newcomers had brought boat drinks with little umbrellas.

“Yep, he is with Kara in the hot tub.”

Babs sat up straight, swinging her legs around to the side of the lounge chair. “Sweet. I need to join them.”

Alex rolled her eyes. “Why?

“Because of his body and my desire to explore it a bit more.” Babs replied, one eyebrow raised questioningly. “Something wrong with that?”

Alex shook her head, laying back and stretching out on her chair. “He looks like he is more interested in Kara’s attention.”

Babs chuckled, waving that off. “Nah, Kara is into Blake. He will eventually get off his ass and stop hanging with Bruce and Dig. He is afraid to make a move, but I think during this trip he may get over it. I like them together. I’m totally shipping them for now. Can’t think of a ship name though so that might put a dampener on my enthusiasm.”

Babs slid her chair next to the railing, facing Alex and could look down at the tub. “Oh! Diana and Steve just got into the pool. Wow, look at what she has on. Does that even qualify as a swimsuit? She may as well be naked. Wait, her top fell off, I think she might be.”

Alex bolted upright and looked over the railing. She saw Diana in all her beauty, but wearing a normal, one-piece, black swimsuit with cutouts showing bare skin around her waist, abs and back. She looked gorgeous but was definitely not naked.

“Ha, ha. Very funny.” Alex retorted.

“Made you look.” Babs said with a wicked grin. “So, how is the new place? You ready for me to set up your security system, internet, operational programs attached to your appliances? I’ve got some wild ideas.”

“I already had all that done.” Alex told her. “Everything I bought had free delivery and installation.”

Babs looked so hurt it took Alex aback.

“You cheated on me?” Babs said, appalled. “Did you let them have your underwear too? How dare you! It’s probably all screwed up. It’s going to take me hours to fix that mess and I bet the wiring is a disaster.”

Alex held up a hand. “Babs, it’s okay. Everything is working fine. You have been kind of busy with building the operating systems and virus protection programs for our defense department and computers around the world.”

“I would have made time for you. Let me know when it inevitably breaks.” Babs told her. “Honestly, I don’t know why you moved into that building. It’s cute but the location is so far from the clubs and all the good restaurants not to mention the parking is a nightmare. You should have moved into the Executive Suites. The floor above me is open. We could have been roof neighbors.”

“I don’t qualify… I’m not an executive. I’m a research assistant and doctoral candidate, working on my thesis.” Alex reminded her. “Maybe if I work hard enough, mom will tell me about this miracle cure for an incurable disease.”

Babs sighed. “You gotta let this go, Alex. It isn’t our business.”

Alex was quiet for a long moment. The more she considered it, the more she disagreed. “You know mom would give Kara treatments every Saturday. Do you know why it was always Saturday? Because the treatments made her sick and Sunday was the worst day. Diana wanted to be with her so by doing it Saturdays, Diana wouldn’t have to miss school during the week.

“Do you remember what else was Saturdays? Our soccer games. Maybe if mom had discovered this miracle cure sooner, she might know we were pretty good at soccer and could have joined your dad taking us for pizza after every game.”

Babs looked at her in disbelief. “You are still on about that? I thought you said it didn’t bother you.”

“I lied.” Alex admitted.

“Kara hasn’t had the easiest life, Alex.” Babs countered.

“None of us have, Babs. I lost my dad before I was a year old… and you, do you have any idea where your mother is? Have you ever looked? Of course not, because she left you…”

Babs raised her hand and sat up, her eyes reflecting her sudden anger. “What the hell is wrong with you? We are on vacation! We are on a beautiful ship that’s basically a mini cruise ship. We are going to a beautiful tropical island, and you are bringing up my mother?”

Alex took a deep breath and blushed, not knowing where that had come from. “I’m sorry, Babs. I’m in one of those moods. That wasn’t cool, I’m sorry. I guess I need something stronger than a Margarita. You want a fresh drink?”

“Yeah, and if you can chill out, you can drink it with me. Damn, girl.” Babs said, her anger abating.

Alex knew Babs’ mother was a very sensitive topic with her, and it was never brought up. For some reason, seeing Kara so healthy made Alex think of her mother, the mother she shared with Kara.

Alex froze… reconsidering quickly where her thoughts were going.

She loved Kara… she really did. She was her friend, a close friend… one of her best friends. She had to remember to focus on that fact or her thoughts would spiral beyond her ability to control her carefully hidden anger.

She brought out two shot glasses, a bottle of Tequila and two beers, placing them on the table and looked down at the deck below. Diana and Steve were holding each other in the pool. Cash, Berg, Cathy and Kara had been joined by Tatsu, who Alex admitted looked damn hot in her choice of swimsuit, never seeing her in anything other than jeans, a t-shirt and a long or short jacket, depending on her mood.

Soon enough, Kara was telling a story of some sort, and everyone was laughing, all attention on her.

“Everybody loves her. She’s the best. The shining star, the princess of Gotham.” Alex said to herself.

“What?” Babs asked, not having heard her.

“Drink your beer and find someone to rub lotion on you. Red heads burn and I don’t feel like hearing you complain all week.” Alex said, standing.

“I’m the red head who doesn’t burn despite being incredibly hot.” Babs replied, smirking. Seeing Alex walking off, she asked, “Hey, where are you going?”

“Just taking a walk. Maybe I will find my mom and she can give me the rundown on the island. She has been there many times before, just in case Kara needed her.” Alex said as she moved toward the stairs. “I’ll be back soon. That pool is calling me.”

While Alex went to be alone and enjoy the sea air, having no intention of finding her mother, Samantha found her daughter at the back of the boat, feeding sea gulls with her new friend, Violet.

“Having fun kids?” she asked.

“Have you been all over this yacht?” Ruby asked her. “It’s amazing!”

Sam chuckled. “I haven’t had a chance to look over everything. I didn’t run at high speed from top to bottom as soon as I stepped on board like you did. Are you two going to soak in the pool any time soon?”

“Yeah,” Ruby said. “We were just feeding some birds and Violet was telling me how she and Tatsu fought their way out of Paris and escaped on a train in a boxcar. It was pretty cool. Did you know Tatsu is really good with throwing stars, like a real ninja? And Tatsu and Violet were shot!”

“Minor wounds.” Violet quickly explained, not wanting to sound like a braggart. “They were more of a hindrance, mine was barely a scratch. Thankfully, I was able to help her into hiding. We are a team. We look out for each other.”

Ruby looked at her mom who stood still, a frozen smile on her face, apparently not sure what to say.

“Mom? Are you okay?”

Sam snapped out of her daze and smiled wider. “Of course. That sounds like a fun… violent… terrifying story. I understand why you wanted to skip the trip to Paris now.”

“Bullet wounds bring bad memories.” Violet admitted.

Sam shook her head.

“Sometimes I want to roll you in bubble wrap and keep you snug in my closet, sweet Violet.” She told the pretty teenager. “No more gun fights for you or Tatsu.”

“Tatsu does not carry a gun. She prefers to behead…”

“And it’s time to go swimming!” Sam interrupted her, hooking arms with both, pulling them towards the pool before Violet described an actual beheading she had witnessed.

Alex was standing by a deck rail under some shade when Eliza found her.

“Hey there.”

“Hi, Mom. Party hasn’t taken long to get into full swing. Having fun?”

“Alfred and I were sipping Piña Coladas on the bridge, taking in the view. I don’t think the captain was happy, so we decided to explore. He went to find Bruce and I searched for you. I actually thought you would be with Babs or Kara.”

“I was. I just wanted to get away for a little bit before the sun goes down and the real party starts. Luckily, the yacht is big enough that, despite the large crowd and crew, there are places where you can be alone. Not that I am surprised. Diana isn’t exactly known for staying under the radar.”

“I should let you be alone.” Eliza turned to walk away but Alex grabbed her hand.

“No, it would be good to talk. It seems we are always busy at work… my research, your entire medical empire. I’ve been wanting to congratulate you.”

“Congratulate me? For what?” Eliza asked, confused as to what Alex could be referring to.

Alex met her eyes, her own narrowed slightly, but otherwise she remained relaxed. “You’ve done the impossible. You’ve somehow cured SCID. I can’t wait to see how you did it. I suppose you will be forwarding the drugs or treatments… stem cell donations… whatever you did, you will be publishing soon, right?”

Eliza sighed and walked to the rail, standing next to Alex. She put her arms on the railing and looked out over the ocean.

“I can’t do that.” She told her daughter.

“Why not? Kara is healed. Twenty-two years of work and now Kara Wayne is free of confinement. She can eat what she wants, go where she wants, be around people with no fear… just like a normal person. You did it. You cured her. Why wouldn’t you let the rest of the world know about this miracle? You could save so many children’s lives.”

“I’m afraid it isn’t that easy.” Eliza told her, her gaze focusing on the horizon.

“Not that easy?” Alex repeated, a hint of sarcasm in her tone. “I’m confused. I know there was nothing easy about it. You made Wayne Enterprises your life’s work and despite being over the entire pharmaceutical, medical technology and research departments, you spent most of your life treating Kara. Despite no one addressing the elephant in the room and everyone pretending everything is normal, it is obvious. Kara is healthy. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt because they don’t realize that you have done the impossible. So… how did you pull it off?”

Eliza shook her head slowly. “I can’t tell you.”

Alex wouldn’t take that for an answer. “Why can’t you tell me? I would expect you to be jumping for joy, shouting it to the medical world. You saved humanity’s greatest mind.”

“There were processes involved that would be best you didn’t know about.” Eliza tried, floundering for any answer that might appease Alex.

“Illegal processes? Unapproved drugs? Stem cell cloning, something like that?” Alex asked.

Eliza looked at her and said nothing, hoping she would take those suggestions as fact.

Alex shook her head. “Bullshit. Diana would never let you do something like that. She would never let you experiment on Kara. So why are you lying to me?”

Eliza let out a frustrated breath. “Show me a medical consent form.”

“What?”

“Show me a consent form signed by Kara giving you permission to have access to her private medical files.” Eliza demanded. “It’s between me and Kara. I can’t break doctor patient confidentiality.”

Alex’s anger escalated quickly. She clenched her fists, holding herself rigid. “When I ask her to sign one, should I tell her I have a right to know what my mother gave her life to accomplish? Because it sure as hell wasn’t raising me!!”

“Alex!” Eliza exclaimed.

“It’s a shame you had me. If I hadn’t been born a few months earlier, you would have raced Martha Wayne to the adoption agency. Kara was your priority when I was growing up. I was an afterthought if you thought about me at all. I ignored my feelings my whole life, buried them, because I knew how sick she was. I knew how trapped she felt, never being able to do things a normal person could.

“But she had Diana. She had Alfred… and she had you. I had no one. I gave up as much for her as anyone and more than most. I gave up the only parent I had left for her. So now that everything is fine, now that she has a fully functioning immune system, I have a right to know how she was cured!”

Eliza was speechless, not sure what to say.

“You think I wish Kara was my daughter? That I regret you being born? Is that truly what you think?” She finally asked.

“What reason did you ever give me to believe otherwise?!” Alex didn’t bother holding back, the careful façade she always maintained to hide her true feelings fell completely. “I spent more time with the never-ending carousel of nannies and caretakers than I ever spent with you! I’m going to find out what happened whether you tell me or not!”

“Is everything okay?” Diana asked, walking up from nowhere it seemed.

The speed of Alex’s change in demeanor was so rapid, it was like she had never been angry. Her ability to flip that switch between almost uncontrolled anger and a normal calm was as jarring as the entire conversation had been to Eliza.

Turning toward Diana, Alex smiled. “This is a beautiful ship, Diana. I can’t wait to see the island. I should go find my girls. I think Kara is using one cop to make another cop jealous.”

Alex walked off, leaving Diana and Eliza alone.

“Are you okay?” Diana asked her old friend.

Eliza was in absolute shock. She slowly shook her head and wiped a tear from her eye. “How much did you hear?”

Diana sighed. “Everything. I also heard her talking to Babs earlier.”

Eliza breathed deeply, her voice breaking as she spoke softly. “When she left to go to the other side of the country, I told myself she was just stretching her wings, finding her own path. When she returned for visits and stayed with Barbara, or at the Penthouse, I thought she just didn’t want to hang out with her old mom. When she flew back for parties and holidays and greeted Kara and Barbara, ignoring me, I thought she just missed her friends.”

“Eliza, she loves you.” Diana told her.

“Does she?” Eliza asked, “Because it’s obvious now, whether she loves me or not, she doesn’t like me very much. I never think, you know? I always have so much on my mind.

“You may not know this, but her first choice for her PhD coursework was University of Texas with an offer to do revolutionary research at MD Anderson. They were among many programs she had offers from. She chose them because of their innovations in cancer research which fit with what she’s doing for her thesis.

“I was so proud of her, but I wanted her home. I did everything I could to convince her to change her mind and finally succeeded. I told her about the opportunities she would be missing if she went elsewhere, pushed the cutting edge work she could be a part of, basically bribed her with her own staff, her own lab and lots of money to further her research in addition to what she was doing for her thesis.”

“And you were right. Her opportunities are better here.” Diana told her, not having any doubt.

“Diana, I never told her I wanted her back because I missed her.” Eliza realized, another tear tracking down her face. “I never told her how proud I was of her and what she had accomplished.

“I never thought… I was so busy… and she’s right, I was never there for her. At twelve years old, you were a better mother to Kara than I ever was to Alex.”

“That is not true!” Diana chided her.

“Yes, Diana… it is. She just confirmed it with her own words.” Eliza said sadly.

The two stood in silence for a while, both in deep thought.

Diana finally put an arm around Eliza and pulled her close. “You swore an oath never to talk about my origins. I know you would die before you broke that oath. But… I trust you, Eliza. I don’t want this to come between you and your daughter. I owe you too much for that. If you wish to tell her the truth, I will be by your side. If she needs me to lift a car or fly or maybe jump a couple miles to dispel her disbelief, I will do so. I’ll even let her see the lasso.”

Eliza was blindsided by that concession. Diana held her secrets tight. She never even told Steve until he asked her to marry him.

“Diana, I couldn’t ask that of you.”

‘You aren’t asking, Eliza. I am offering. I owe you so much. You have kept Kara alive for so many years, then kept her alive long enough for me to save her when she was poisoned, despite being ravaged by a deadly virus. My secret isn’t worth you losing your daughter. Perhaps knowing the truth, she will understand why she was kept in the dark and that you do trust her.”

Eliza saw the sincerity in Diana’s eyes and took a deep breath, smiling. “Thank you… I will give it thought.”

Diana nodded and hugged her. “Whatever you decide, I will support you. I love you, Eliza.”

Diana walked off, leaving Eliza in deep thought.

Up above, Bruce and Blake sat on the top deck next to the pool, sunning themselves, drinking beer a crew member had just brought them.

“Your partner seems to be making himself at home.” Bruce said, looking down below at Kara who was in the jacuzzi, speaking with Aaron Cash. The two seemed to be having a great time and enjoying their conversation.

“Yeah, he does. I thought he would hang out with us, but he seems to have hit it off with Kara.” Blake commented, looking a bit disgruntled.

Steve and Dig took chairs next to the men and opened their own beers.

“Look at Cash making a move on Kara.” Steve said to Dig. “They would kind of look good together, don’t you think, Dig?”

Dig nodded, playing along. “He’s a good-looking guy. I bet he wouldn’t blow her off for Renee Bullock.”

Blake looked at Dig. “What did you say?”

“Renee Montoya and Harvey Bullock’s nightmare combination that you went out with on Fourth of July. Kara checked the Gotham PD personnel files and found her or should I say them. She wasn’t amused.” Dig told him. “That was months ago though. Still, I wouldn’t use that same excuse again.”

Blake shook his head and leaned back, determined to relax. “She was going out with Merlyn.”

“Yeah, probably a good idea to stay away from her, John.” Steve agreed. “Let Cash have his shot. He can be the rebound guy. Of course, by the guy code, if they broke up, you would totally be out of the loop. You may not get to be her date to our wedding.”

Blake said nothing, not rising to the bait.

“By the way, I don’t have many friends, and I need another groomsman.” Steve told him. “Congratulations, you’re it, Robin.”

Blake looked at him strangely. “Run that by me again?”

“Diana finally decided on her last bridesmaid… her bodyguard, Tatsu.” Steve said, pointing to the woman who was sunning herself on the deck. “I was going to ask Tommy but then the whole break up… awkward, right? Anyway, I need someone, so you are it.”

“Me? You hardly know me.” Blake pointed out.

“I hardly know anybody.” Steve replied, shrugging. “That’s what happens when you live your life hopping from one base to the next, one flight wing to the next. You make friends who are fun to party with and then lose track of them. Thanks for agreeing to do it.”

“I didn’t.”

“Like I said, thanks for agreeing to do it.” Steve said again.

Down below, Kara continued to enjoy her conversation with Aaron Cash finding him much funnier than she expected.

Babs joined the two in the jacuzzi, sliding in beside her best friend and handing her one of those fruity drinks with an umbrella.

Cash raised an eyebrow. “Does your Daddy know about the suits you wear, girl?”

“Daddy doesn’t want to know so he doesn’t ask.” Barbara replied with a smirk, sipping on her own drink. “What are you two chatting about?”

“We are talking about life and love. I was just telling her there are some discussions at the precinct on when she and Blake are going to get together, and she is acting like she doesn’t know what I’m talking about. They dance all the time, go to royal weddings together. Next thing you know, they’re gonna have toothbrushes at each other’s places.”

Kara giggled. “I’m not interested in him like that. We are just friends.”

“Uh, huh.” Cash said, not buying it.

“Besides he wouldn’t be interested in someone like me. We have a few things in common but I’m pretty sure he thinks of me as some rich girl who never had to work for anything or something like that.”

Cash looked a bit stunned at her statement.

“Kara, you been working to stay alive your whole life and doing a damn good job of it. You are also the brains behind Wayne Enterprises new government contracts… I keep up with the news. You are a lot more than just some rich girl.” Cash told her. “You think he isn’t into you? Hang with me all week and keep wearing those bikinis. He’ll be mad as hell after a day, telling me to back off.”

“I’m down with that.” Babs added. “Fifty says he lasts three days.”

“I got before Tuesday, and you got after Tuesday. Tuesday is neutral ground.” Cash told her, reaching over to shake on the bet, much to Kara’s chagrin.

The trip continued and they reached the island the next day with no problems. Even Tatsu had relaxed and played in the pool with Violet. It was a rare moment where she let her guard down and everyone who was there saw a very different side of Tatsu.

Only a few knew much about her at all, but with Violet, she was like a mother or an elder sister who was enjoying playing with her charge. Violet never stopped smiling and Tatsu later confided to John Diggle that she had never seen Violet so happy. She and Ruby became fast friends on the island.

The men hung out for the most part except for Cash who seemed intent on hanging out with Kara who, despite knowing the man was trying to make Blake jealous, enjoyed every minute of getting to know him.

It was on Tuesday morning that Blake finally asked to speak to him.

“You having fun?” Blake asked his partner.

“Man, I haven’t had this much fun in my life. Beautiful island, beautiful people, fine food and drink, house not even Hollywood stars can afford and to be honest man… I think I’m falling for Kara. That girl is something else. Funny, smart but not bitchy about it. You see how she looks in those bikinis? She told me she runs and swims nearly every day. She’s got abs. Hell every woman on this island’s got abs, but Kara has the whole package. Her eyes are bluer than the water. When her hair gets wet…”

“Cut it out!” Blake said in a raised voice then looked around to make sure no one was listening.

“Cut what out?” Cash asked innocently.

“Kara. She isn’t into guys like us.” Blake stated emphatically.

Cash laughed. “Who said? I’ve got a date with her when we get back.”

Blake raised an eyebrow. “How… why…”

“I did something you never did. I asked. Kinda like she asked you to go to the Tower on the Fourth, then to Paris and you kept turning her down. I asked and she said yes. I’m taking a chance and you said you weren’t interested right?” Cash pointed out, a big smile on his face.

“I said she could do better than guys like us!” Blake exclaimed.

Cash shrugged. “Sounds like a you problem. I figured I would throw it out there and let her decide what kind of guy she wants. It is her choice. Hey, listen, if things go well, you think I could take her to the royal wedding?”

“Lay off, Cash.” Blake replied, almost snarling now.

“Then make your move, Blake, before she makes a move on someone that ain’t you.” Cash told him with a straight face, finally dropping the act. “We’ve been on a yacht… a beautiful island and you would rather hang with Bruce and Dig. Get it together, man. If you ever want a shot, this is the place to take it and this is the time. God knows why, but she is into you for some reason so don’t screw it up.”

“I don’t know.” Blake said, realizing what he was saying.

“I’m gonna get to know Cathy a little better today and pray she is wearing that blue bikini while I do. I think Babs is organizing a beach volleyball game and the two of us are going to make some money off Mr. and Mrs. Diana Wayne. Trevor thinks he got game.” Seeing the lost look on his partner’s face, he added, “Look, man. She’s been asking me questions about you for days now. You need to make your move now. Keep in mind, this might be the one-time Dig isn’t within ten feet of her. She’s about to go for a run. I would suggest you go for one as well.”

“You really think I should?”

Cash groaned, exasperated. “How damn stupid can you be? She’s done everything but throw herself at you. She’s given you every opportunity to make a move. She is beginning to think you really aren’t interested and I know better. Make a move or I really will ask her out, damn it!”

Blake stared at his partner, then took a deep breath. Nodding, he took off in the direction he’d last seen Kara.

She was stretching on the sand when Blake approached and sat down next to her.

“Feel like company?” He asked.

He could see the surprise in her eyes, but she smiled. “Absolutely. Want to dance tonight? Terry has been begging me to show him what the stereo system can do.”

“I’m always ready to dance.” He told her.

The two began running, keeping a leisurely pace with each other and taking in the sights. Kara turned from the beach, and he followed, running through the forested area in the middle of the island, following beautiful trails.

They stopped for a break at the far side of the island by a small waterfall.

“This place is amazing.” Blake said, taking in the sights around him.

“One of my favorite places in the world. It’s always been my paradise. For a long time, I loved coming here but it also scared me. I always wondered when we left if I would ever see it again. It made me determined to soak up every moment I had here.”

Kara sat on the ground and Blake sat near her.

“How are you doing?” she asked.

“Doing?”

“Yeah… with everything that has happened recently, your friend and that murderer… you know that stuff. How are you doing with it?”

Blake shrugged. “Trying not to think about it much. I’ve been paying more attention on my patrols in the Narrows, seeing if I recognize old faces when I do I stop and say hi to those that don’t run from me on sight. I’m starting to figure out that there isn’t a lot I can do to help people in the Narrows except catch criminals after the fact.”

Kara took a breath. “You should have waited for Bruce.”

“Kara…”

“He had a machine gun. You got into a gunfight in a steel mill, multiple rounds were fired. He could have actually had some skill at fighting. That’s what I don’t get. I know you were mad, but would it have killed you to let Bruce know? Aren’t you two partners?”

Blake said nothing. He could understand her point of view. Now he wanted to see if she could understand his.

“If someone killed someone you loved and you had the chance to go after them, right then, and end it, would you?”

Kara was quiet for a long moment.

“Let’s say someone went after Bruce or hurt Diana or one of your friends and you had a gun, an idea where he was and could find him and end it, would you do it, or call the police? I think I know you, Kara, at least a little bit. You got a fire behind that kindness. What would you do?”

Kara let out a breath. “I’d go after him.”

“So, you understand.”

“I don’t like it, but yeah, I guess so.” She said, then asked, “Are you having fun here?”

Blake smiled and nodded. “Yeah, this is one of those trips I never thought I would be on. Hey… could I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Do you have a wig or something like that?”

“Excuse me?” Kara asked, not having expected that.

“Hear me out. The NHRA Drag Race Circuit is coming to the Gotham Speedway Friday after next and I’m off that night. I’ve been wanting to go for a while and I thought maybe, if you wanted, we could go together. I can throw on my most worn out ballcap and jeans that have been run through mud too many times, maybe a hard rock band t-shirt. You dress in disguise, however you want to blend in. We take my car, and your security team can spread out among the crowd and, as long as they don’t wear suits or tac gear, they won’t be noticed, and we won’t be noticed. We could just enjoy the night like normal gear heads who like to watch cars pass two hundred miles an hour in a straight line.”

Kara started at him for a moment without saying anything. “So, this would be like a date? You are asking me out? On a date?”

Blake began to feel a bit warm, thinking maybe this was a bad idea.

“Yeah.”

“I thought you didn’t want to date?” Kara stated.

Blake shrugged. “I… I just thought that we are pretty good at arguing and are getting pretty good at dancing together, so maybe we could be good at dating… each other.”

“So, this wouldn’t be like a friends thing?” Kara clarified. “It would be a real date. You like me, you want to get to know me in a date-like fashion, and all that comes with it?”

“I’ll buy you cotton candy and nachos if it would close the deal.”

Kara’s face lit up in a bright smile.

“I would love to!” she practically squealed.

Blake let out a breath of air. “That’s a relief.”

He stood up and offered her a hand. Rather than continuing their run, the two walked slowly around the island, hand in hand, not feeling the need to say anything at all.