Author Notes: This takes place after the events of Batman (Volume 2) #13, known as Death of the Family. In case it is not clear, this chapter is taking place in Alfred's memories. This chapter is much shorter than the last.

Succumbing to sleep, Alfred's mind wandered down to the past, back when he first heard of the mugging gone wrong. The British gentleman did his best to raise the boy and help him heal, but he had been plagued with custody lawsuits. Martha Wayne's side of the family, the Kanes, fought hard for custody of the youngest Wayne, but the sage butler knew that they would only ship the boy off to one of the finest boarding schools in the world. If they were so callously going to have a checkbook and a series of teachers raise the boy, Alfred concluded that he might as well be the faceless underling to do the rearing of the troubled master. Besides, he had known Master Bruce, since he was in diapers. Alfred had been the one to change those diapers and most importantly, had long developed a strong rapport with the boy. It seemed like such a good idea at the time…

The fuzzy colors and shapes of the dream began to take form of the one evening that stood out among the rest. It was on that particular night Alfred had stood on the cusp of the choice that would dictate the rest of an angry orphan's life. Alfred remembered how he had agonized over the decision. Was he truly the best guardian for Master Bruce? Would Master Bruce be better off if he had been with his blood relatives and those who could be his peers? Though merely the butler, Alfred had his own grief that he had to deal with at the time. Thomas and Martha Wayne had been more like family than employers, but that would have to be put aside if he wanted to remain Master Bruce's guardian. Would Alfred be capable? He had slumped against his chair in the study, looking down at the papers that the Kanes' lawyers had left him. With the Waynes' will on his side and Bruce's wishes to remain with Alfred, it became clear that the former agent for British Intelligence would win the custody dispute… unless he, Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth, signed the documents to forfeit his right for custody and thereby, granting the Kanes to take over care of Master Bruce.

Glancing at the grandfather clock, Alfred tiredly noted the late hour. Master Bruce had been sent to bed long ago and for the first night in well over a month since the murders, no nightmare had plagued the eight-year-old's sleep. His bruised knuckles had been tended too as the young master had pummeled a school bully, who taunted him over his parents' death that morning. Chuckling to himself, Alfred will never forget the look on that boorish boy's face after the diligent butler announced that he had allowed Master Bruce to fight him. After that satisfying encounter, Alfred had spent the rest of the day teaching Master Bruce how to handle future bullies strategically, rather than relying solely on brute force, because not every bully will be as easy as the one he had faced earlier that day.

Strengthening his resolve over that afternoon of bonding, Alfred had refused to concede and abandon the boy. It was on that very night that he made the vow to stay with Master Bruce, no matter what. From then on, Alfred had supported Master Bruce every step of the way, all the way to Batman. Despite his own father lecturing him on the futility of 'what if's', Alfred would still sometimes, such as now when everything was at its bleakest, reflect on that distant night and ponder his choice. What if… Alfred had not allowed Master Bruce to leave for seven years of intense training? What if Alfred had not supported the idea of Batman? What if Alfred had done more to help Master Bruce's emotional state? What if he had allowed the Kanes to claim the young master all those years ago? Would he had been better off?

Would Master Bruce had been better off? That was the question that tormented Alfred. If Alfred had given custody to the Kanes, Master Bruce could have spent his youth with boys his own age, rather than struggling to deal with the agendas of pushy board members and learning the ropes of Wayne Enterprises. Maybe, he could have discovered a healthier outlet for his rage that would not involve taking his revenge out on Gotham's streets. Perhaps, he would be married by now and happy, instead of wallowing in the dark depths of the Batcave.

Above all, Batman would not exist or at least, not the incarnation where Master Bruce was the one in that accused cowl. Someone else would be out to take the risks. Someone else would be the scourge of Gotham's underworld and the fierce knight against Arkham's worst. Yes, Batman is a necessity. Yes, the world needs the Batman more than Bruce Wayne. However, that doesn't mean that Master Bruce necessarily must be the Batman. In fact, it probably would be better if he wasn't! With that final thought, Alfred signed the documents before fading back into the black.