Jim POV

"Jumping catfish."

"Good morning Mayor James."

"Gorden, you scared the bejeebers out of me. Almost spilled my coffee." The mayor complains.

"Sorry sir. Your under arrest." I reply handing him a warrent paper.

"Thats not funny." The Mayor replies with a frown.

"Depends on where your sitting." Harvey replies turning around to face us from the drivers seat.

"You might want to take a look at this." I reply with a smile.

"How you doing boys? I'm here to have a chat with Mr. Falcone."

"Sure thing Mr. Mayor." The men guarding the house reply.

"Carmine Falcone your under arrest."

"Gowdon what is you doing? Why is you awesting me Gwampa?" Bella asks in confusion.

"Bella, not your grandfather. He kidnapped you and has been holding you hostage. He's a bad man Bella. He's broken the law numerous times."

"That is a lie!" Bella replies with a growl her eyes flashing in anger.

"Look kid, we are on a tight schedule we didn't have time to argue with you, alright. So do us a favor, and behave for once." Harvey replies.

"What on Earth are you thinking?" Faclone asks as Bella walks over and stands by his side.

"We are thinking we'll take you both to jail and charge you with conspiracy to pervert justice."

"Try and take me in and you won't make it to the end of the street."

"That's exactly what I said." The Mayor replies.

"This is a lawful arrest, if you resist you will be shot." I reply.

"No! Me won't let you huwt him!" Bella says standing in front of him blocking our path. But Falcone gently pushed Bella out of the way.

"It's alright Bella. So if I understand you correctly, We all die together in a blaze of glory." Falcone replies.

"If that's how it works out that's fine. How about you Harvey?" I ask.

"Fine by me." Harvey replies.

"Oh God." The Mayor says nervously.

"I envy you boys. Having nothing to loose must be liberating. Must feel pretty good."

"Yes it does." I reply.

Bella POV

"Bella sweetheart, why don't you go into the kitchen and ask Elisa for some milk and cookies while Gorden and I have a little chat.

"Otay Gwampa." Upon entering the kitchen, I frown as I see Jayden, Sabrina and Barbara tied up. My frown deepens as I see the rather large bandage on Jayden'd leg and several bruises on all of their faces. I let out a deep growl. Victor had some explaining to do.

He had better hope that I like the answers he gave because if I didn't he and I and Grandpa Falcone were going to have problems. No one gets away with hurting my friends, no one, not even Grandpa Falcone. "Jayden, Sabwina is you Otay? What happened? How did you get owies?"

"I had to rough them up a bit. They refused to come with me quietly." Victor replies with a slight shrug. I glared at him angrily.

"Daddy sent us on a bus with Mommy. He wanted us far away from any danger. However, when we got off the bus Mommy spotted him and We tried to run. Mommy hid us and told us to stay hidden. But he threatened to hurt our mommy. We couldn't let him do that, so we came out of hiding. Mommy helped us escape but we hadn't gotten very far when I wound up shot in the leg by one of their bullets." Jayden replies.

"Gwampa specifically instwucted that you wasn't to huwt them in any way Bickey." I replied with a frown.

"How many times must I tell you, my name is not Vicky it's Victor. And my last name is not Zazu it's Zazz." Victor replies in irritation.

"Oh yeah? What is you gonna do to stop me huh Bickey Bassu? (Vickey Zazu) I reply causing Jayden and Sabrina to stifle a laugh.

"Silence you two!" He roared at Jayden and Sabrina who then began to whimper.

Jim POV

"What if you did have something to loose? What would you do then?" Falcone asks. "Suppose for instance, I have a knife to Barbera Keens throat right now and your two children tied up alongside her? Would you still be so brave?"

"You don't. Your a liar." I reply confidently

"I have many faults but I am not a liar. Victor Zsaz has Barbara and your two children. You know Victor." Falcone replies.

"Your lying, they are far away."

"No. They came back. She and those two sweet adorable children came right to me to plead for your life. You have a good woman there. As well as a son and daughter. They love you very much. Too much."

"Prove it. Prove you have her."

"I could, but I won't. I want you to believe me."

"It's obvious Jim he's lying." Harvey replies.

"If you think so, go ahead and try to bring me in. You'll be dead, so you won't know what happens to Barbara. But I can promise you that it won't be pretty." Falcone warns.

"He's lying." Harvey replied again.

"On my mother's grave. Drop your gun and Barbara and your children won't he harmed in any way."

I do as he says and he picks up the phone. Meanwhile, in the other room Barbara is tied to a chair with Victor standing nearby.

"Got it. What a shame."

"Aww, this is embarrassing he straight up bluffed you into folding. We could have gone out like Heroes, but now we're are fish food." Harvey states. A second later, Barbara is pushed through the doors. "Okay, so it wasn't a bluff."

"I'm sorry if she was mistreated a little. We need to be sure that she had nothing useful to tell us. Untie her Victor." Falcone says.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Barbara whispers to me.

"It's ok. It's ok." I reply trying to reassure her that everything is ok."

Falcone POV

"What am I gonna do with you?" By rights you have to die." I reply.

"Woah, hello, I'm late for work. Quite the adventure. I'll be on my way." The Mayor says rushing out of the room.

"Such a waste though. Gotham needs men like you. Both of you. Strong men with principles. I wish I could make you see that I'm not the enemy. The system is not the enemy. Anarchy is the enemy. But I told you that before, didn't I Jim?" I ask in disappointment.

"Yes, you did." Jim replies with a sigh.

"You didn't listen though." I reply

"Do we get a last meal or a smoke or anything or just a talk?" Harvey asks.

"But today you believed me. You trusted my word. That's a good first step. Perhaps there is still hope for you. Yes. Go. Get out of here before I change my mind." I reply.

"Wait a minute." Victor says.

"Quiet. It's been a pleasure Barbera. I do admire a brave woman."

"What's the catch?" Jim demands warily.

"Jim he said we could go let's not haggle." Harvey pleads.

"What's the catch Mr. Falcone?" Jim demand once more.

"I want you to think about what I said. I want you to understand the truth. That's all that I ask. The catch is, someday soon, you'll see that I'm right."

Later, after everyone is gone I sit in the kitchen eating a muffin. "Mmmm. This is delicious." I tell my new cook/maid Eliza.

"I followed the recipe. Your right Mr. F. Cooking is easy." Eliza replies causing Bella to roll her eyes.

I sigh. The event of today have been running through my head. I have come to a very difficult conclusion. Between Gorden continually wanting to arrest me and Maroni and some of my own people betraying me it is no longer safe for Bella to remain in my care. And I can't risk sending her to Mario's location. Maroni has made it clear that he wants Bella returned to him which isn't going to happen, and I can't trust the members of my family to have her best interests at heart.

Especially, since my closest ally Fish Mooney is vying for my job as boss. Yes, I know about that. I'm not as dumb as people think. For Bella's own safety, she needs to return to Wayne Manor. I sigh. This is going to break her heart.

"I'm sorry you had to see that today. Not pleasant."

"I understand. Business is business." Eliza replies as if the events of today were normal business events.

"Yes it is. I'll go see to the chickens. Would you like to come Bella."

"Wes (Yes) Gwampa."

"Bawk bawk bawk. Any eggs my dears?" I ask glancing around the cages.

"Don Falcone."

"Gwampa, why is Penguin hewa (here)?" Bella asks tugging at my pant sleeve.

I smiled and gave Penguin a hug. "My friend good to see you. I was just thinking about the night we first met."

Flashback

"Cut them down. Where's the snitch? I want to speak to him. Cobblepot is it? Condemn men are honest men I find. What can you tell me before you go?"

"Don Falcone, it's a great honor sir. Indeed I can tell you a secret of great value to you, if you grant me one last request."

"Which is what?"

"Give the job of killing me to James Gorden."

"Why him?"

"He's the only man under your sway who has a conscience. The only one who might be persuaded to spare my life."

"Why would I agree to that? I want you dead your a snitch."

"If you agree and then Gorden spares me, then I will become your snitch for life. I will come back to Gotham under another name and I will work my way into the Maroni family. And I will snitch for you. I'm excellent at this sort of work. I have a gift for it I really do, sir."

"Deal. Gorden will get the job of killing you."

"Thank you sir."

"What is the valuable secret?"

"Oh yes. Fish Mooney and Nikolai the Russian only pretend to hate each other. They are lovers. And Fish is pushing Nikolai to take your place."

"Is that so?"

"Yes sir. But only so Fish can take over from
him."

"That is a good secret."

End of flashback.

"It's almost uncanny. Everything played out exactly as you said it would. We got rid of Nikolai painlessly and Maroni thinks you're a wizard. You really do have a gift."

"So you is wowking (working) togethea (together)?"

"Yes Bella. He works for us. But I think
We are making a mistake letting Gorden live. He's trouble."

"Thank you so much for sparing him. I appreciate the favor. Don't worry, he will see the light. One way or another, I guarantee it." With that, I chuckle and pat Penguin on the back and turn my attention to Bella.

"What you just saw and heard stays between us. No one can know that penguin works for us. Ok Princess?"

"Wes Gwampa." Bella replies with a yawn. "Gwampa me wobe (love) you."

"I love you too Princess but we need to talk. I want you to know that You will always be my little Princess, but for now, I think that it's best that you return to Wayne manor."

"Why?"

"Because it is the safest place for you. Your too precious to be pulled into the darkness that is mine and Maroni's world. Now, once you are returned to Wayne manor I want you to promise me that you won't try and run away ever again."

Bella frowns clearly not happy with what I am telling her." Bella promise me."

"Me nu wanna pwomise. Me can't go back to de Wayne home. Bwuce nu want me theya. He hates me. He says dat it's me fault dat mommy and daddy Wayne go bye bye. He says me isn't his Sista."

"Now why on Earth would he say something like that for?"

"Cause me is dopted."

"I see. Well, your returning to Wayne Manor regardless of what this kid wants. Just because you are adopted doesn't make you any less a Wayne just like it doesn't make you any less a Falcone."

"Den why you make me go back? If me is a Falcone why must me go back wheya (where) me isn't wanted?"

I sigh in frustration. "It's complicated."

Alfred POV

I sighed as I saw Mr. Falcone's limo pull up into our driveway. To my surprise, He exits holding Miss Bella in his arms.

"It seems that our little Bella likes to break the rules. I keep telling her that she needs to remain here with you but she refuses to listen to me."

"Yes. Miss Bella always has had quite the rebellious streak."

"This can't happen again. She needs to accept that she doesn't belong with Sal or I. She belongs where she will be loved and kept safe from the cruelties of this world."

"Unfortunately, Mr. Falcone sir, Mr. Wayne knew something might to happen to them. So he left specific instructions on how Bella and his son Bruce are to be raised. Now, I will raise Bella the way Mr. and Miss's Wayne instructed even if it breaks my heart in doing so. Mr. and Miss's Wayne knew that someday Bella would discover the truth about her adoption. They instructed me to allow her to do what she felt was best. If Bella does not wish to remain at Wayne manor, I am not to stop her from leaving."

"And what if the situation were reversed? What if it was the boy who chose to run away? Would you still chose to stand by and do nothing?"

"I know this may seem hard to understand, but yes, yes I would. He, like Bella must be free to chose his own destiny and his own path. That is the way his mother and father wanted it to be."

"You May chose to follow Thomas and Martha Waynes's instructions concerning Bella but that's doesn't mean that I am required too. Bella, I want you to listen to me. This is where you belong and this is where you need to remain. You are a Wayne and it's time you started acting like one."

"If Thomas and Martha Wayne were alive today, how do you think they would feel to know that you are continuously running away from home? I can assure you that it would break their hearts. It breaks mine to do this, but if Sal, Sophia or I see you back in Gotham without being in the company of Mr. Pennyworth or Bruce Wayne or Detective Gorden, his fiancé and his children, then you won't like the consequences. Do I make myself clear?"

"Wes Gwampa. Me mean Mista Falcone Siwa."

"Good. Running away from home isn't a game Bella, it's extremely dangerous. The world is a cruel and wicked place. There are a lot of evil people in this world. People who would love to get their hands on a girl like you. There are People in this world who would take advantage of you, of your innocence. I want you to promise me that you won't ever run away from home again."

"Me Pwomise Mista Falcone." Bella replies tearfully.

"Now come give me a hug. This is goodbye Bella. Know that I will always love you." Falcone replies kissing her forehead and turning to leave.

"NU!" Bella screams begging to sob. I groan. This situation just went from bad to worse.

"Roseabella Catrina Wayne what has gotten into you? Stop this foolish behavior this instant!"

"Nu! Nu say bye bye! Nu say bye bye! Nu say bye bye!" Bella sobbed.

"Sir. If I may?"

"But of course." Falcone said with a nod and a wave of his hand.

"Bella, Mr. Falcone isn't going bye bye."

"But he said to say bye bye." Bells whimpered.

"I know. As Mr. Falcone has explained this is your home. Just as you need to remain here, Mr. Falcone must return to his home. I am sure that if his schedule allows, he will stop by an visit now and then."

"Now then, enough of this nonsense. Go up to your room and remain there until Mr Pennyworth calls you, and Bella, remember what I told you."

Bella glances at Mr. Falcone tearfully but reluctantly does as she is instructed. Once she is upstairs I let out a deep sigh. "I'm so sorry about that little temper tantrum. You see, the word goodbye has a totally different meaning to Miss Bella then it's does to us. She thinks that when someone says goodbye or goes bye bye, it's forever that they are never coming back."

"I see. I know that she feels betrayed by my actions but this really is what's best for her. Don't you agree Mr. Pennyworth?"

I chose not to respond to the question. "I'll see you out. Thank you once again Mr. Falcone for returning Bella to us. We will be forever grateful for this kindness."

With that, Carmine Falcone looks towards where Bella has run and sighs. Then placing his hat on his head he turn and exits the manor and gets into his car and drives away. I can hear Bella sobbing in her bedroom and it breaks my heart.

After a lot of consideration, I decided that the best thing for the both of them was to return to school. I was sure they were going to fight me tooth and nail but it had to be done. "Come on, it's time to get ready for school."

"Me nu wanna go."

"I don't either."

"Come now Master Bruce, Miss Bella, it had to happen sooner or later."

"Ia this really necessary Alfred? Homeschooling is just as effective. I can show you the data.."

"Me is nu going to school. Me nu bewong dewa. You make me go then me is gonna wun away again." Bella replies stubbornly and I sigh in frustration.

"Bella, do your remember what you promised Mr. Falcone last night before he left?"

"Wes." Bella replies with a frown.

"And that was?"

"That me Nu wun away again and Me stay at Wayne mana cause it's me home."

"That's right. Now do I need to call Mr. Falcone and tell him that you are behaving naughtily and not like a princess?"

"Nu." Bella replies with a grumble.

"Good. Both of You need to be around children your own age." I reply.

"Why?" Bruce asks

"Because you do."

"You know I despise those types of answers."

"Don't you miss your mates?"

"Not really. I've always found them kind of childish."

"Well, that's what they are meant to be aren't they? It's what they do. Don't you two want to be like a normal kids?"

"I'm not sure." Bruce replies. "Define normal and make a good case for it."

"Your going to bloody school now start walking you two. And don't you even think about trying to run away again young lady. This isn't a game. Gotham can be a dangerous place. Key? Now scoot!" With that they both rush up the stairs past two young boys who smirk as they walk by. "Good luck you two."