Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Wayne Legacy: Origins

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 04:

Martha, Thomas and Eliza sat across the desk from the child psychologist Kara had met with the day before. Kara sat sideways on Martha’s lap, curled into her mother, her eyes half closed and obviously tired.

For the past few weeks, shortly after Kara had turned five, she had difficulty sleeping at night. Kara had always rested well, sometimes waking up in the middle of the night to climb into Diana’s bed, but only for as long as it took her to fall back to sleep.

Now, Kara was lucky to get a few hours’ sleep a night. At first, it was dreams but more often, Martha would wake at three AM to find Kara on her floor, playing with toy cars, taking apart the remote control objects and putting them back together again, or completing puzzles only to break them up and do them over. Martha had taken all distracting objects from her room, but it did not matter. Kara still woke.

Eliza recommended Dr. Janey Speer, a child psychologist, to get to the root of Kara’s sleep problems. The little blonde had met with the woman and completed a few exams the day before and now they waited for her opinion.

“One of the tests I had her take was an I.Q. test.” The doctor started.

Thomas raised a hand to stop her. “What is the point of giving a five-year-old girl an I.Q. test?”

Speer met the man’s intimidating gaze. “The most accurate IQ tests are given between the ages of five and eight. Based on her behavior and activities regarding puzzles and mechanics, I tested a theory. I was right, but even I didn’t expect the results I received. She scored a 270. No one has scored this high since William James Sidis.”

Martha had no idea who that was or what the results meant, but Thomas and Eliza were shocked.

“I know she is bright, but…” Thomas began, not knowing what to say.

“How old was she when you taught her to read?” the doctor asked.

“She started reading when she was three. I taught her a bit and then… she…” Martha began.

“Figured it out on her own? Began advanced reading before she was four? She is obviously mechanically inclined and seems to have a strong pull to mathematics. In my opinion, her mind won’t slow down at night long enough to give her restful sleep. She needs to be prescribed a sedative.”

Martha shook her head. “She is already on more medications than any little girl should take.”

Speer looked at Kara as she rested against her mother then towards Eliza and Thomas. “Dr. Danvers, Dr. Wayne… how will Kara’s health be affected if she cannot get at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep a night?”

The two said nothing, knowing the answer was obvious. The less rest Kara got, the more vulnerable she was to illness and infection.

Looking back to Martha, the doctor said gently, “I understand your concern, Mrs. Wayne and believe me, I do not want to put a young girl on any type of sleeping medication. Normally, I would attempt to develop different intellectual exercises and meditation techniques but based on her health concerns, this is the best option. Her mind is too active, and it will get worse as she grows older.

“Right now, she is figuring out how things work. When she begins to imagine her own ideas, her own creations, her mind will be in overdrive. She is already socially isolated compared to normal girls her age. Her ideas could become her obsession.”

“And eight hours of sleep a night will fix this?” Martha asked doubtfully. “We can’t let her around other children often. They carry a multitude of viruses she could easily pick up. We had to rent the zoo just so we could safely take her there for her birthday. I don’t want her to live like this, but we have no choice.”

“Kangaroos are scary.” Kara added to the conversation.

“I know, sweetheart. We will make sure the mean kangaroos are locked up before our next visit.” Martha assured her, rubbing the sleepy girl’s back and kissing the top of her head.

Speer shook her head, fighting off a smile at the cute girl’s comment. It wasn’t uncommon for gifted children to be afraid of things that others are not bothered by while being fearless of things that would frighten a normal child.

“I understand, Mrs. Wayne. I just don’t see another choice to help her get sleep. As far as everything else, I admit I am out of my area of expertise. Not many people in history have an I.Q. as high as Kara’s. She will need techniques to calm her mind, manage her intelligence and focus it, rather than allowing her mind to control itself.”

Eliza sighed, knowing the doctor was right. “We do need to put her on a sedative, Martha. It could even help with her treatments, help her through the nights afterwards when she isn’t feeling well. We can start on a low dose and only give her what is necessary.”

Thomas agreed. The haggard look on his normally bright daughter’s face was an indicator of the toll this had taken on her.

“And the rest?” Martha asked.

Speer took in the stressed look on Martha’s face. She smiled, directing her words to the anxious mother. “Encourage her and give her activities that play to her interests and challenge her. Make sure she exercises and eats well as I am sure you are already doing. Make sure to take every opportunity to take her out of the manor and in public so long as it doesn’t put her at risk.”

Thomas nodded. He was a businessman and a doctor. Making things, fixings things, that wasn’t in his wheelhouse, but he knew it was something his Vice President and close friend Lucius Fox excelled at.

Fox was the smartest man Thomas had ever heard of, much less met. If anyone could design tasks to keep Kara busy, it would be Lucius.

“So, you can’t recommend anyone for counseling?” Martha asked.

“I will ask around but for now, I would be glad to work with her once a week at Wayne Manor or here until I can find someone suitable for her. Considering her health problems and social challenges, in addition to her intelligence, she will need counseling as she continues to grow.” The doctor told the worried mother.

Martha stood up with Kara in her arms. “You can’t recommend anyone, but you will agree to interact and study my daughter until you can find someone else. Thank you but no thanks. We will handle her sedative and talk about what else she may need. Good day, Dr. Speer.”

Martha left in a hurry, Kara in her arms with Thomas and Eliza slowly following. Martha would be overly upset and clingy with Kara for the next few hours. Normally, a mother finding out her daughter is a genius would be happy, but Martha saw it for what it was… another obstacle in Kara’s way of having a happy, normal childhood.

That night, Martha, Thomas and Diana sat Kara on her bed and gave her a small, yellow pill, explaining what it was.

Kara clenched her jaw and crossed her arms, refusing to take it.

“Kara, honey, I know you are tired. This will help you sleep.” Martha assured her, hiding her own unhappiness but admitting it was necessary.

Kara shook her head and closed her eyes stubbornly. Diana smiled at her strong-willed, little sister and sat on the bed next to her.

“Bunny, open your eyes and look at me.” Diana told her softly, nearly whispering in her ear.

Kara opened one eye and looked at Diana suspiciously.

“Why don’t you want to sleep?” Diana asked her.

Kara’s head dropped and her arms fell to her side.

“I’m afraid I won’t wake up.” The little girl admitted.

Martha and Thomas began to assure her but with a look from Diana, they understood and backed off.

“Kara, what have I always told you about being scared?” Diana asked, putting her arm around the girl.

Kara looked up, her eyes locked onto Diana as if hypnotized by her soothing voice. She said quietly, “That you would never let anything hurt me.”

“That will never change.” Diana said. “I promise, you will wake up and feel so much better. You have been tired and that could make you sick. This is going to help keep you well. You know we would never hurt you, don’t you?”

Kara nodded.

“Do you think Mommy and Daddy would give you anything that could hurt you?” Diana asked.

Kara shook her head shyly, almost apologetically looking at her Mommy and Daddy who gave her an understanding smile.

“This is what we are going to do.” Diana told her. “You are going to swallow this pill and bury yourself in my arms. We are going to get into bed, and I am going to hold you all night. What does it mean when I hold you?”

“That nothing and no one can ever hurt me.” Kara said, having been assured of that by Diana many times. She knew her big sister was strong, even stronger than her Daddy. Diana was her protector.

“That’s right.” Diana affirmed. “So take the pill and then we are going to lay down together and I will tell you a story. I bet before the story is over, you will be asleep in my arms and when you open your eyes again, the sun will be out, and I will still be holding you.”

Kara took the small pill from her Mommy, then swallowed it with a glass of water from her Daddy.

She lay back under the covers with Diana. “What story are you going to tell me?”

“Your favorite. I’m going to tell you the story of a woman who arrived in a bolt of lightning holding a princess. That princess grew older and found a sister who she loved and protected from dragons with her mighty sword.” Diana said.

“Can she fight kangaroos with her sword?” Kara asked, wide-eyed.

“She would fight the sun in the sky if she had to.” Diana assured her.

“Is the little sister sick?”

Diana squeezed Kara tighter. “The little sister is a fighter. She is little but she is fierce.”

“That’s what Daddy says I am.” Kara told her, yawning and settling against her sister, eyes already closing.

Thomas leaned over to kiss Kara on the forehead, Martha did the same and by the time they reached the door, Kara was fast asleep in Diana’s arms. Martha mouthed a thank you to Diana and the two children retired for the night with no problems.

Though Kara never underwent counseling with anyone, she did begin to feel better, able to rest at night at least with no dreams.

Lucius was excited to work with her, coming over three to four times a week with model kits and new tools for Kara to spend her time on during the day.

Tutors were brought in to begin her schooling and though she picked up most subjects with ease, passing her courses with mostly perfect scores, she never became invested or learned more than she had to in those which held no interest to her.

It was in mathematics and physics that Kara excelled. The projects Lucius gave her became more and more complex. At one point, he began giving her multiple small electrical engine parts and asking her to create her own. She created magnetic fields and learned to draw designs. The increased difficulty of the work seemed to appease Kara and she began to spend her days, drawing and building small machines while spending her nights playing with dolls, and improving doll houses, including adding working lights.

When Kara was five and a half years old, Martha asked Diana for a favor that would change the course of all their lives. “Kara’s T cell count is low. Eliza said there is nothing to worry about, but it would be best for her to stay home. You know how much she was looking forward to the theater tonight.”

Diana did know. Kara had been talking about it for weeks, even finding different plays online to watch over and over. This would be her first trip to see a performance in person.

“I’ll tell you I’m sick and ask Kara to stay home with me, so I won’t be lonely.” Diana assured her Mom, understanding what she wanted.

“Thank you, Princess.” Martha said with a small smile. “I would stay home but it’s one of those damn charity events and the organization has already announced our attendance.”

“I understand, Mom. Sometimes our family has to do things we may not want, because we have a responsibility to the city.”

Martha kissed Diana on the cheek. “I wish Bruce understood that. He has been complaining about attending all morning. You would think wearing a tuxedo is the same as putting him in a strait jacket.”

Diana laughed and walked into the parlor where Kara was playing and waited for her Mother to come in so they could put their plan in motion.

It worked as it always did. Diana claiming to be tired, and Kara begging to stay home and have a chance to take care of her older sister for once, assuring her Mom that she could go to the next play.

That night, the two girls said goodbye to their parents and brother at the door.

“Are you sure you are going to be okay tonight?” Martha asked, looking for any excuse to stay home with her daughters.

“We will be fine, Mom. I’m feeling better already, and Bunny will take good care of me. I bet we can get her dolls to act out the whole play, only without the scary parts. Does that sound good, Bunny?”

“Kara.” She corrected.

Diana shook her head. “You made me call you ‘Bunny’ for a year, you are stuck with it, even if the suit is gone.”

Kara hugged and kissed her Mother then demanded her Father place a big wet kiss on her cheeks that she giggled through.

The parents both looked at Kara and Diana, obviously wishing they were staying home with their youngest child.

“Don’t worry.” Diana assured them, reading their faces. “I swear to you, I will take care of her.”

Martha kissed her oldest daughter on the cheek. “I have no doubt, Diana. You always have. We will see you when we return. We won’t be late.”

Giving her Father a hug, Diana, with Kara in her arms, watched her parents and brother leave the manor.

An hour after that, Diana watched Kara finish her vegetable soup and the two proceeded to play with the dolls. As promised, Diana took out the play.

“Mommy and Daddy are seeing a play called ‘Mephisto ‘.” Diana told Kara as the two sat on the floor in the parlor with dolls surrounding them. “It’s a story about good and evil, right and wrong. The devil tries to corrupt a person named Faust. He will agree to give him everything Faust wants, in exchange for his soul after he dies.”

Kara looked confused. “But our souls are us. That’s what Mommy said. Our souls go to Heaven after we die. Why would he want to go with the devil?”

Diana took a deep breath. “Because some people only think about the now. They never think about the future. Many people are like this and fall into someone’s trap. It may be the devil or just a person who wants to harm you. What you truly want can’t always be found in the now, sometimes it must be found in the later.”

Kara was silent for a moment, thinking about this. “Could we find a happier play?”

Diana laughed and agreed, glad that Kara had not gone to the play and wondering how her brother was doing. Even at twelve, he hated dark stories and she hoped for his sake bats weren’t involved in the props.

“What play would you like to have our dolls perform?” she asked her little sister.

“Daddy read me A Midsummer Night’s Dream before. I loved it. ‘Though she be but little, she is fierce !’ Daddy said that’s what he said the first time he saw me. It is one of his favorite plays. ” Kara said excitedly. “I think Suzy could play Hippolyta. She looks like a queen. Beth could be Titania. I have a boy doll in my room that could be Puck. I think if we give Alfred a script, he could follow it. He can also play Oberon. We can make up the rest.”

Diana agreed with her plan. “Let’s go get the boy doll and Alfred then we can act out A Midsummer Night’s Dream . It’s one of my favorites as well. I love mythology.”

A few hours later, the two girls were in Kara’s bed, tucked under the covers. Diana had been talked into sleeping with her little sister, not that Kara had to work hard to get her sister to agree. The two had a great time that night as always, so much so that Diana nearly hadn’t noticed Kara’s bed time, only for Alfred to remind them. Diana suspected he was tiring of playing with dolls and that encouraged him to “remember”.

Before she fell asleep, the door creaked open and even in the dark, Diana could tell something was wrong. Alfred peeked in and Diana could see his face was pale by the feint light given off in the hallway.

“Diana?” the man whispered.

“What’s wrong?” Diana answered.

“I need to go out for a bit. I know you will be fine with Kara, but I wanted to let you know.” The man told her in a steady voice belying his rapidly beating heart Diana’s heightened hearing picked up clearly.

“Alfred…”

“Please, Diana. I need you to rest and take care of Kara. Make sure you both sleep. I will explain in the morning. Will you be alright?”

Diana’s temper flared but she kept it stamped down. Of course she would be alright, of course she would take care of Kara, but she wanted to know what the hell was going on. Unfortunately, Kara was lying halfway on top of her, and she couldn’t get out of bed without waking her. If she demanded answers, Kara would also wake.

Instead, she gave him a short assurance, letting him know she was not happy by the tone of her voice.

Despite her worry, Diana did nod off around 4 AM and her eyes snapped open at 7:15 when the door to the manor opened.

She was glad to see Kara had slid off her chest and was tucked into her side, making it easier for Diana to escape without waking the little blonde. She bolted downstairs at full speed.

What she saw at the open front door caused her to lose her breath and her stomach dropped.

Bruce was standing next to Alfred still dressed in his tux from the night before. He looked to be in shock and unable to speak; his eyes seemed almost dead as he stared at nothing.

Alfred had a look of pure pain etched on his face, tears leaking from his eyes, but he stood up straighter and composed himself.

“Diana, is Kara still asleep?” Alfred asked her.

Diana nodded. “Where are Mom and Dad?”

Neither answered her.

“Where are Mom and Dad?!” she yelled.

Alfred stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Could we retire to the parlor and I will explain?”

Diana brushed off his hand and stepped up to her brother, placing her hands on his cheeks. “Bruce, what happened? Where are Mom and Dad? Tell me.”

Bruce looked up and finally focused on his sister. In an almost robotic voice, he replied softly, “He killed them, Diana. They are dead. He shot them. I didn’t do anything. I just stood there. I didn’t even try to stop him. I was between them and he had a gun and wanted Mom’s pearls and Dad’s money. They tried to do what he asked, but he shot them. I felt their blood, Di. It was all over me. He just shot them.”

Diana pulled her brother into her strong arms, her insides cold. “Please no, Bruce. It must be a mistake. They are in the hospital, right? They got hurt but… they are in surgery or something. Listen to me, okay? They got shot but they are in the hospital and I need to see them so you get some rest and Alfred can ask for a car to take me to the hospital. I’ll call Eliza on the way if she isn’t already there.”

“They are dead, Diana.” Bruce said once again, more firmly. “I didn’t even call for help. Their eyes were open, and they were bleeding, but they weren’t breathing, their eyes wouldn’t blink or look at me and they didn’t talk, and I didn’t want to leave them, but no one was near, so I stayed with them instead of calling for help… they are dead. I let them die.”

Diana pulled back, gripping his hands. “No, you didn’t! Don’t, Bruce. Just don’t. This is not your fault!”

She turned on Alfred, anger and grief battling for dominance. “Who did this? Where are they?!”

Alfred sighed, his own grief causing his voice to break. “He was caught at two this morning. Diana, please sit. You need a moment…”

Diana’s anger finally erupted. “Tell me where he is!”

“He is in a jail cell. In a panic, he tried to sell your mother’s pearls. The police were parked at possible places he could sell… they caught him with the gun and the pearls. He is in jail, Diana. He will never walk free again.” Alfred promised her. “Please have a seat. Bruce needs you to remain calm.”

Diana took a deep breath and squeezed her brother’s hands, fighting back the tears. If she lost it, Bruce would lose it. She couldn’t do that. Whatever happened… he had been there, and he appeared catatonic. The last time he had looked like this was when Diana rescued him from the bottom of that pit after he had been frightened by a swarm of bats.

She sat beside her brother and felt a cold chill spread through her body. Alfred’s words, in light of Bruce’s appearance, spoke to the horrible truth.

Her parents were dead. The people who had taken her from a complete stranger wearing blood soaked armor; given her a brother, then later a sister… were dead.

It couldn’t be…. It shouldn’t be possible.

Thomas and Martha Wayne were the best people. Everyone loved them. They helped people. Their company helped people. Her Mom visited kids in orphanages at Christmas! Who would kill them for a necklace?

The pearls weren’t even that expensive. Thomas had given them to Martha on their first anniversary. They were precious to her, more so than any other jewelry but they weren’t worth hundreds of thousands of dollars like some of her jewelry. Who would end her parents lives for pearls and some cash? Her Dad never carried much cash if any at all.

She slumped, leaning into her silent brother, holding his hand with her left while her right was wrapped around his shoulders. She felt totally numb.

Alfred told her a Lt. Gordon from Homicide would be arriving later this morning to talk to them. Lucius Fox was also on his way over, as was Eliza and her husband, Jeremiah.

Like Lucius, Jeremiah did not know Diana’s secret causing Diana to become cautious of their presence. Kara would be devastated and could possibly say the wrong thing…

Her racing thoughts came crashing to an immediate halt.

Kara.

Diana listened intently and heard her little sister’s breathing quicken and the bedsheets rustling. She was waking.

“Kara is up.” Diana said.

Alfred nodded solemnly. “I will speak to her…”

“No, you won’t. I will tell her.” Diana stopped the man.

Alfred shook his head and stood. “Diana, she won’t understand… she will be…”

Diana stood up as well. “I swore to Mom last night that I would take care of her. I will always take care of her. Please stay with Bruce, Alfred. I need to have a difficult conversation with Bunny.”

Bruce stood up. “I’ll come with you.”

Diana shook her head and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You need to get some rest, Bruce. I know it will be hard, but I need you strong. Kara is going to need us strong. We need to be strong for each other, okay?”

“Now go… change clothes and lay down. Try and relax. I’ll handle everything. Trust me. I’ll get everything sorted.” Seeing tears finally sliding down her brother’s face, she brought him in close. “I love you, Bruce.”

Moments later, Diana reached Kara’s room, just as the sleepy girl was sitting up in bed and rubbing her eyes. She smiled when she saw her big sister walk in.

“I was going to tickle you when I woke up, but you beat me.” The little blonde said, reaching out to Diana.

Diana picked her up gently and kissed her head, moving them to a rocking chair by Kara’s window overlooking the gardens.

“I need to talk to you, Bunny.” Diana said quietly, her arms wrapped protectively around her sister.

“Am I in trouble?” Kara asked, her little face looking worried. “I haven’t taken anything apart that I haven’t put back together.”

“No, you aren’t in trouble.”

“Am I sick again? Am I going to die?” Kara asked, sounding slightly panicked.

“No!” Diana told her quickly. “You are not sick… something happened to Mommy and Daddy last night, after they left the theater.”

Kara scrunched her face. “Okay…”

“Kara, Mommy and Daddy were attacked by a mean man. He hurt them badly… they died.”

“Who died?” the little girl asked innocently not quite understanding.

Diana took a deep breath. “Mommy and Daddy died. They went to Heaven. They didn’t want to, but the man hurt them badly. He is caught now and can’t hurt anyone else, but it was too late.”

Kara said nothing for the next minute before she spoke in a whisper. Had it not been for Diana’s enhanced hearing, she may have missed it. “Is Bubba okay? He didn’t go to Heaven too, did he?”

Diana swallowed hard. Bruce had stood between their parents when they were gunned down. He hadn’t gone to Heaven, but he was living in hell right now. “Bruce is okay. The man didn’t hurt him, but he saw everything and is very upset. He is in bed resting so we are going to leave him be for a while.”

Kara’s face fell and her lip quivered, tears pouring down her face.

Diana held Kara tightly as the little girl cried into her chest.

“Am I going to see them now? Am I going to die and go to Heaven?” Kara asked through the sobs.

“Of course not.” Diana told her emphatically, beginning to rock slowly, wanting to soothe her sister as much as she was able. “We will all see them one day in Heaven but that is a long time from now.”

Kara shook her head. “If Mommy and Daddy aren’t around… Mommy tells me it’s going to be alright, and Daddy pays Dr. Eliza to take care of me and explains what all the medicine is. I’m going to die if…”

“No, you won’t!” Diana said quickly, a little too loudly, running her hand through Kara’s hair in a gesture she knew would normally calm her. “Eliza will still take care of you. You will get your medicine and…”

“Eliza isn’t Mommy.” Kara countered, her voice edging towards hysteria.

“No and I’m not either but I will protect you. I will not let you die, Kara. You are mine and I will always keep you safe.” Diana promised her, twisting the little girl in her lap so Kara was looking in her eyes. “You have nothing to be afraid of with me by your side. I will always fight the dragons and keep them away from you. Nothing will ever take you from me. Let me take care of you and you will never have to worry about anything. Do you understand? It’s important, Kara. Tell me you believe me.”

“I believe you.” Kara told her, tears shimmering in her blue eyes. “Mommy and Daddy are really gone? Really gone? Why would someone hurt them? They are good people. It isn’t right.”

The little girl wiped at her eyes and buried her head in her sister’s chest. Diana said nothing, holding Kara tighter, letting the girl cry for hours while she stayed strong.

She held Kara during the funeral, she held her afterward and slept with her due to the nightmares.

Two weeks after the murders, the Wayne children and Alfred sat in the parlor with Thomas Wayne’s primary lawyer as he read their parents’ wills.

The company would be divided up between the three children. The estate and Wayne fortune would also be divided up between the three, accessible to them at twenty-one years of age. Alfred Pennyworth would be the holder of the estate and legal guardian of all three children. Lucius Fox would be CEO of Wayne Enterprises until such a time as one of the twins or both were able to take control.

The will was no surprise. Diana didn’t care about the details. She always expected this but naively assumed she would step up as leader of the Wayne family business when her parents retired. Not when they had been murdered.

A week after the twins turned thirteen, Diana, Bruce and Alfred were visited by the District Attorney, the Mayor and the Police Commissioner.

Lt. Gordon was also present as he had become a watchful eye and kept Alfred appraised of the court proceedings regarding their parents’ murderer.

The children were faced with two choices the District Attorney was considering and he wanted to take their opinions and desires into consideration. They deserved the chance to have a voice in the outcome.

The first was a plea bargain that had been discussed with the defendant’s lawyer. Joe Chill would plead guilty and be sentenced to life without parole and incarcerated in the deepest hole they could find for him. The other was to go to trial and press for the death penalty.

Thomas and Martha Wayne were beloved in Gotham, their loss was being mourned by the city as well as the family. The DA preferred the plea bargain in order to put this ordeal behind them so the Wayne family and the city could begin to heal. A trial would be a media sensation that would thrust the children into the spotlight and show the world that Gotham couldn’t protect its most beloved leaders, much less its citizens.

Regardless, he let them know he would go to trial if that was what the Waynes’ wanted.

Speaking quietly together for several minutes, Bruce and Diana decided to allow him to plead guilty and be sentenced to life under the condition that Diana speak to him face to face… alone.

Despite the protests from the adults, the thirteen-year-old remained unmoved. She told them it was her way, or the state could waste time and money on a trial that would put them all under a magnifying glass and highlight how much Gotham had become overrun with criminals.

Two days later, Alfred escorted Diana to the prison. He refused to leave her alone since she wanted no recording devices.

Joe Chill sat at a desk, hands cuffed to the table. Diana had a seat across from him while Alfred stood behind her.

Chill cleared his throat. “Thank you for agreeing to the plea deal. I can’t begin to apologize for what I did. I don’t know if a kid like you can understand but I was high. It was no excuse…”

“Quiet, scum.” Diana snapped. “I’m not here to listen to you snivel about what a pathetic piece of shit you are. I’m here to tell you about the rest of your life.”

The ferocity in the thirteen-year-old’s voice, the anger flashing in her eyes, stopped him from speaking and sent shivers down his spine.

“My mother was a great woman, a Christian who believed in forgiveness, love and mercy. My father was a great man, kind and generous. He was also a man who would kill anyone who threatened his family.

“I am much more like my father. I didn’t come to grant forgiveness. There is no forgiveness for you. Instead of a quick, painless death through lethal injection, you will rot in prison, and then you will rot in hell. I simply came to give you a warning.

“If you leave prison for any reason, there is no place in this world you can hide from me. I have a sword at my house. It is a very old, very large sword. I will kill you slowly with it, leaving behind the hand you used to shoot my parents as the only evidence that you once existed. Do you understand me?”

The speechless man nodded.

“Remaining in prison is the only safety for you. Outside is a certain, painful and slow death. Though you remain safe from me behind prison walls, your existence will be hell, I will make sure of it. You will wallow in agony, and never come close to understanding the pain you’ve caused my family. Do you understand?”

The man nodded shakily, his eyes wide with fear.

“I can tell you do. I wanted to see the look on your face when you realized death and eternity in hell is the best option for you, one that I won’t allow you to have right now.

“It would’ve been better for you if you had taken the gun you used to murder my parents and blown your own brains out, because you will never know peace for whatever remains of your life.

“You best pray we do not meet again, for if we do, my face will be the last one you ever see.”

Diana stood and walked out, Alfred behind her, leaving the murderer wide-eyed and speechless.

After her emotional confrontation, Diana arrived home and made sure Kara was still taking a nap then entered the basement through the hidden elevator.

When the door opened, she took in the empty cavern. The only structure present was a clear glass room, that served as her sister’s treatment chamber and an isolation chamber when it became important to quarantine Kara as quickly as possible.

The room was not dark, but the high ceilings made it difficult to light brightly. The far end was the black rock of the cave. Her Dad though it was cool that the wall was solid granite and gave him an evil doctor vibe he found humorous. Kara also thought it was cool, so it was never covered in concrete.

She walked behind the isolation chamber and pulled off a sheet from the large crate that had been left for her by the mysterious woman who dropped her off as a newborn with her parents.

Diana pulled out the leather wraps and gauntlets. The gauntlets were obviously designed for her forearms, but a quick check showed the defensive armor covered her from hand to the midway point of her upper arm. Diana had a bit more growing to do if she planned to fit in these though she was already tall for her age.

She placed them aside and pulled out the next item, the one that had always fascinated her.

She held the sword. It was heavy, even to her. Despite its weight, it felt as if it belonged in her hands, as if it were made to be an extension of herself.

She took the sword in one hand and gripped it tightly, walking away from the isolation and examination room. There were many stalagmites rising from the ground near her father’s natural wall, some grey and some nearly black.

Diana screamed and swung the sword, the blade shattering the first stalagmite with ease. The second she jumped up, striking it from the top with a loud roar, splitting the rock formation in two.

Diana lost herself in a rage, swinging the sword before throwing it into the wall, burying it to the hilt. She rushed the wall and swung her arm, the rock crumbling beneath her fist and opening up even more space behind it. Moving quickly, lost in a red haze, she began destroying every rock formation in sight, not even thinking if she could be doing damage to the foundation of the manor.

When she finally snapped out of it, she fell to her knees and cried, finally releasing her grief and rage. Her bloodied fists were already healing, and she had opened up much more space in the cavern.

Once she regained control of her breathing, she noticed two new heartbeats in the cave. Bruce lay a hand on her shoulder causing her to flinch.

“What do we do now, Diana?” Bruce asked.

Diana stood up slowly and turned to see Alfred standing behind her brother. “Where is Kara?”

“Eliza brought Alex over to play with her. I believe Barbara Gordon is on her way as well. The two seemed to get along at the funeral.” Alfred answered.

Diana nodded, knowing if Eliza was okay with it, Kara should be fine. “First, we need to extend this area and reinforce it. We need more room, not just for Kara’s medical needs but as a safe place for her to exercise. It needs concrete, airtight rooms, bacteria alerts. I want a swimming pool in it. She should swim like other kids. I also need a training ground. Bruce and I need space to practice. I need a place where I don’t have to hold back and can study my strength and these weapons. A sword is no good hidden in a box.

“Can you take care of this, Alfred?”

The man nodded. “Of course. I believe we will divide up the work among different contractors. We should shore up security access and turn this place into an impenetrable safe room as well. It is too easy to get into now. The work will begin by the end of the week. I’m assuming price doesn’t matter?”

Diana shook her head. “No… get the best.”

Alfred nodded. “I will speak to Lucius and have him draw up possible designs. Work can begin in days. I’ll leave you two alone and check on Kara.”

Once Alfred had gone, Bruce and Diana began walking around the newly opened space.

“Damn, Diana, how strong are you?” he asked, taking in the destruction around him.

Diana shrugged her shoulders. “Not as strong as I will be. I need more power. I need to know how to use that sword. It wasn’t given to me by accident. I was born to be a warrior, Bruce. It’s always been my destiny to go to war. Now I know the enemy I will be fighting.”

Bruce nodded, knowing she was right. Diana was born for this, a born leader. The two of them together could accomplish anything. They could stop men like the one who killed their parents from ever hurting anyone again. “What did you say? When you saw that monster? What did you say to him?”

“What needed to be said.” Diana answered. “It’s all up to us now, Bruce. Alfred will take care of us, but the company, the safety of our home, our place in the world and most importantly, Kara’s wellbeing is all on us.

“I will need you… I will need you to follow me. We can create a world that does not give freedom to those who do not deserve it. A world Kara can enjoy safely. A world without evil. We can do that together, Bruce.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Bruce replied, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Me and you, we are together, and we always will be. I promise. We will take back the city that killed our parents. I will be become strong.”

“Kara must be watched more carefully now, Bruce. She is the only thing keeping me from busting into that prison and slaughtering that monster and whoever sees me for what I am can deal with it. We have to protect her; give her the happiness she deserves. She cannot be affected by this.” Diana told him, the emotion in her voice palatable.

Bruce nodded. He felt the same way. Kara could be kept out of the darkness and continue to thrive in the light.

He already felt tremendous guilt. Diana said their parents’ death wasn’t his fault, that it was on the man who pulled the trigger.

Bruce believed differently.

If Diana had been there, she would have ripped the man to pieces before he had a chance to fire that gun. Diana was strong and Bruce was weak. He had always thought of himself as the more reasonable one. He was the counterweight to Diana’s over aggression. Bruce was the peace maker, the one who avoided confrontation. Diana was the one who could be unstable and needed to be watched.

Now he realized he was weak, and she was strong. He wanted to be a doctor to save lives, but he couldn’t save his parents and didn’t even try.

Diana was the strong one. He swore to himself he would never be weak again. He would be as strong as she was. Maybe not physically but mentally.

While Bruce was deep in thought, Diana closed her eyes and swore to herself, standing in that dark, empty space she hoped to fill with light for her little sister… she swore she would take it all back. Somehow, someway, she would save Gotham City from itself. She just needed to learn. She needed to learn to not only be a conqueror, but a queen .

She would be a benevolent queen but those who crossed her would be destroyed. She would not lose what was hers again, especially her brother and sister. If someone tried to take anything or anyone else away from her again, there would be hell to pay.