Author's Note: I'm so sorry I took forever to post this! But it's finally done! It's a long one!

I've based Bruce's parents on the book Dawn of Darkness by Jason Starr (It's a prequel book to the show following Thomas Wayne, it's really good) and I referenced some dialogue as well.

They talk for hours, everyone catching up over the last 5 years. Bruce listens intently, asking questions every now and then. Thomas explains how he knew his life would be targeted weeks before his 'murder' and had planned to go underground for awhile, all of them. He had been investigation Wayne Enterprises but soon realized the danger he put them all in. He created a plan, with only a few people he trusted with their life. But something went wrong. Thomas and Martha were supposed to fake their deaths like planned, it was supposed to happen later the next night at Wayne Manor, but his people must have been spooked, knowing they were going out that night, and decided to do it earlier. They didn't realize at the last minute the Waynes had invited Bruce along. They never meant for him to witness it. Later someone was supposed to come for Bruce and Alfred. Thomas and Martha were given a drug that would make their heartbeat slow down and be undetectable, the coroner was working for Thomas and switched out the bodies.

Things went from bad to worse after that, his men were made and killed one by one, he suspects one of them betrayed them all, perhaps to Huge Strange himself. Thomas and Martha were kept in a drug induced coma all these years somewhere hidden in Gotham, up until the equipment failed when the city's power shut down two years ago, because of someone named Jerome he later learned. They were moved out of the city and brought out of their coma but kept prisoner until No Man's Land happened, and were able to escape. They've been trying ever since to get back on to the island of Gotham.

Bruce is silent as his father and mother finish speaking. All this time they were out there, he could have saved them, if only he knew!

"Who was your captor?" Bruce asks.

"We never found out who he was or who he worked for, it doesn't matter anymore, what matters is that we're all together," Martha replies softly, reaching out for her son's hand.

Alfred brings sandwiches and tea for lunch while Martha and Thomas ask Bruce to tell them everything they missed over the past 5 years. Bruce decides to leave out a few embarrassing details for now, the parts he is ashamed of, like firing Alfred and his partying. Martha is shocked to hear of her son fighting crime, getting hurt, being kidnapped multiple times, she had always wanted to protect him from all of that violence. She never even wanted him to take up boxing when he was younger! Thomas instead looks on at his son with admiration, proud of how his son was able to handle himself. Thomas and Martha had admitted to each other what they had asked of Alfred if anything ever were to happen to them, if he would become Bruce's guardian. Martha made Alfred promise her to keep Bruce away from any form of violence no matter what, Thomas did the complete opposite and pleaded with with him to do absolutely anything to prepare him, to teach him to fight both literally and figuratively. Thomas is secretly glad that Alfred chose to train Bruce.

"I'm so sorry Bruce, I wanted to protect you from all that, none of this should have ever happened," Martha tearfully tells Bruce.

"It's okay mom, this is what I was meant to do, this is who I am," Bruce explains, "besides, I was never alone, Alfred was always there, still is," he says, looking up at his guardian with a kind smile.

Alfred stands straighter, his hands linked behind his back as they all turn to look at him. He doesn't know what they will say, if they disapprove of how he raised Bruce all these years.

"Yes thank you Alfred, thank you for looking after our son, raising him to be the strong and kind man I see before me," Thomas says genuinely.

Martha smiles, but averts her eyes. Bruce can tell she disagrees and opens his mouth to ask her about it but then Thomas is asking him more details about Jeremiah. Soon they move to the kitchen, outside the sun is setting casting the room in an orange glow giving everyone an illusion of warmth, and an impression of a normal day away from all the violent destruction in Gotham. Bruce insists on helping Alfred make a light dinner as they continue talking. Thomas makes a comment about feeling bad with what happened with Jeremiah, Bruce knows that his father once hired Jeremiah for a project long before he went crazy, but he instantly bristles at anyone feeling sorry for him.

"Don't." Bruce says simply but firmly, his face darkening as he comes down from his high at having his parents back and remembers the reality of the destruction Jeremiah started in Gotham. "He is not who you remember, that person is long gone. He tortured Alfred. He left Selina paralyzed, and destroyed our city. He doesn't deserve any sympathy."

His parents look over at him in surprise at the instant anger that darkens Bruce, and suddenly it feels like they've been doused in cold water. They know that everything wasn't perfect, that their son had been through a lot over the years and wasn't quite the same young and slightly naive boy they left behind.

Thomas glaces at Martha clearly knowing he misspoke before looking back at Bruce who is glaring down at his plate, "I'm sorry Bruce, you're right, nothing excuses what he's done."

Bruce peers up at his father through his lashes, studying him. He's not quite sure if he's being genuine about what he said or just trying to calm him down. He decides to let it go and goes back to eating.

"Master Bruce, why don't you tell you parents a little about the work you've been doing with the GCPD these past few months," Alfred interrupts his brooding, clearly trying to lighten up the conversation.

The rest of the night goes well but Bruce is visibly antsy. Checking his watch multiple times when they retire in the study. "Master Bruce, somewhere you need to be tonight?"

Bruce snaps his head up, "Of course not." He stares back at Alfred keeping his expression neutral. But Alfred has always been able to read Bruce like a book.

"You sure about that, Mate?" Alfred asks, biting his cheek to keep from smirking.

Bruce doesn't answer and just glares at Alfred, his parents looking on in slight amusement and confusion. "Bruce, where on earth would you be going at this hour? It's too dangerous!" His mother exclaims. To Martha it still feels like he's her little boy she left behind 5 years ago, the little boy she had wanted to protect from everything that could bring him harm.

Bruce turns to answer her but Alfred beats him to it. "Bruce and Miss Kyle have been inseparable since we've come back to Gotham. Am I right in assuming that is where you were planning to run off to, Master Bruce?"

Bruce shakes his head in frustration, "Selina isn't the most patient person, you know that, she might decide to go after Jeremiah without me, I can't let that happen. I will not allow him to be anywhere near her without me. We have a plan," He pleads for understanding, looking from Alfred to his parents who are looking more alarmed by the second by his agitation, "If she decides to ignore that, she could get killed!"

"Isn't this a case for the GCPD? Why aren't you letting them handle it? Is this girl, Selina, making you do this? From everything i've heard, it seems she does nothing but pull you into trouble!" Martha blurts, completely appalled.

Bruce reels back, as if he was struck. Did he really hear that right? He stares at her, in complete disbelief, of all the people he never thought it would be his mother who would disapprove or judge who he chose to spend time with.

Thomas can see the situation is about to really escalate and tries to intercept, "Martha, darling, let's not judge what we don't understand. I'm sure the young lady isn't forcing Bruce to do anything, right son? And Bruce is a smart man, i'm sure he knows exactly what he's doing."

Bruce understands that his parents were thrust back into the world, even more broken than before, coming home to find out the kind of life he's had, full of violence and darkness. But Selina was not part of that. If anything she kept his world full of light. They were just going to have to accept that, even Alfred had come around, caring for the girl he use to call a little minx.

Bruce understands, but he will not let Selina be insulted behind her back. "I'm sorry you feel that way, and I get that this must all feel strange and confusing. But Selina means everything to me. I trust her with my life, and I will always run to her side if she needs help." Standing up he proceeds to walk out of the study, but his mother, obviously stricken stands up to stop him.

"Bruce wait! I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that," She says, taking a hold of his hand. "I'm just worried."

Bruce sighs and pats her hand, "I know. Don't worry, I won't go anywhere tonight. But nothing will stop me from meeting with Selina in the morning, you don't know her like I do. I'm going to head to bed, goodnight dad, mom," He kisses his mother's cheek and nods to his father, patting Alfred on the shoulder as he passes him by.

He can slightly hear Alfred telling his parents that it would take time for everyone to adjust to each other, but then he's out of earshot and heads up the stairs to his bedroom. It's true what Alfred said, he and Selina have been pretty inseparable the past week, and he feels anxious not having her nearby. The last two nights she stayed with him at the GCPD, sleeping on a cot just out of arms reach of him, but last night when she slept in his arms, it was the first time in a long time that he really slept well. He hopes he's not making a mistake by not seeking her out tonight, but she did promise that she'd wait for him and he was going to trust that. Most of all he hopes he can get any sleep at all, his arms feeling empty without her.

Bruce is up bright and early, not wanting to waste any more time in bed. The house is quiet and still, the early morning sun streaming through the windows, casting rays of light across the floor as he makes his way over to the kitchen. It's always wise to pack a few snacks when spending time with Selina, and as well as have his caffeine fix. He's just pouring coffee in his mug when his mother walks in. He pauses, looking at her wearily, was she here to stop him from leaving?

"Mom-"

"Wait, I didn't come to stop you," She interrupts softly. She grabs a clean glass and fills it with water by the sink before she sits down, turning to face him, smiling reassuringly. Bruce braces for what she might say, more judgements against Selina, but instead she surprises him.

"You love her, don't you?" She states in a way that tells him that she already knows his answer. He definitely did not expect that. He looks away for a moment, biting his lip, he never quite admitted it out loud before.

"Yes. I- I love her," Bruce looks down, suddenly shy of his declaration, but his mother leans forward to take his hands into her own and he looks back up at her.

"Will you tell me about her?" She asks. And so he does. He tells her how they first met, how she hated being at the manor, feeling like a caged animal. He tells her all about how she didn't give up on convincing him that Silver St Cloud was bad news, even when he pushed her away, and how she took him in to learn about the streets. His mom seems a little unsure about the idea of her son living in the Narrows for weeks, but she lets him continue, only asking questions for more details. He describes how Captain Gordon convinced him to admit his feelings for Selina the first time, up on the roof, and how nervous he was. Martha squeezes his hand supportively when he tells her when he betrayed her trust and how from that night on it was months before they reconciled. She came back for him at the diner, and she came to help when he called to find a kidnapped Alfred. She was always there for him, whenever he asked for help he realizes, and even when he didn't. When he gets to the shooting, he can't keep the tears in. It's still his biggest regret, and waking nightmare that he thinks he will never be able to fully forgive himself for, no matter how many times Selina tells him it's not his fault.

Martha looks at her son, clearly so full of pain and gathers him into her arms, "Alfred told us a little bit about the shooting when you went up to bed, and you can't blame yourself. Sweetheart, it sounds to me that she was lucky that she had you there to get her quickly to the hospital to stabilize her. Had she been alone, she might not have made it."

"I know that," He says, pulling away and wiping his eyes with his sleeves, "It's the fact that it happened at all. Jeremiah went after her because Ra's told him to, he knew that she was my weakness. She was nearly killed just because she was my friend."

"Bruce you can't control other people's actions. It's how you react to them that is important. Don't think about what you could have changed or done, think about what you did do. You made sure she was taken care of. You made sure she was safe. And by the looks of that kiss yesterday," She chuckles and teasingly pokes him, mirroring Selina from the day before, "It looks like she doesn't hold anything against you."

Bruce takes in what she said and realizes the truth in it. He needs to stop obsessing about the past. He looks up at his mother and smiles gratefully at her, "Thanks. For the talk," He says suddenly embarrassed about how on display his feelings were for Selina.

"You should tell her how you feel."

Bruce's eyes widen, "What? No! Weren't you listening, Selina doesn't do well with feelings and stuff." He feels oddly warm, the back of his neck heating up and his heart beating just a little bit faster.

"Bruce calm down, you look like you're about to pass out," She pushes her untouched glass of water over to him, watching him gulp it down, "besides I saw the way she was looking at you, when we were hugging you. You don't have anything to worry about."

"Really?" He asks, feeling like a child again needing his mother's reassurance and guidance.

She nods confidently, "Go. Tell her how you feel." He stands up smiling at her, suddenly feeling a boost of confidence, and anxious to get to Selina's side. Grabbing his bag from the ground he glances back at his mother again, and stops in his tracks. She's smiling sadly at him.

"Mom, are you okay?"

"We're so proud of you, you know that right? And your dad and I love you so very much. You've turned into such a handsome man."

"I know..You sound like you're saying goodbye," He questions, his eyes squinting at his mother suspiciously. She gets up and hugs him tightly.

"Go," She tells him again, but her voice sounds funny, like it's fading away. "Tell her how you feel. Be happy."

She's gone from his arms, and he panics, yelling out for her. He can hear someone calling out his name, but there's no one there.

His eyes snap open and Selina is leaning over him, looking worried. He's breathing hard, and he's confused about his surroundings. He was in his kitchen but now he's back at his safe house.

"You were calling out for your mom, and kinda thrashing a bit."

Bruce blinks up at her, trying to hold on to his dream, but he feels it slipping away. Bruce still hasn't said anything and Selina is starting to look concerned. "Bruce? Was it about..that night- your parents?" She asks cautiously.

He squeezes his eyes shut trying to remember, there was something important, something he promised his mother.. He shakes his head in frustration and opens his eyes again, "I can't remember," He says slowly. Selina is still unsure but pats his hand and stands up.

"Well can we get going," Selina practically whines, not even trying to hide her impatience with him, "I'm starving and those granola bars are just not going to do it this time," She says while scrunching up her nose at the one granola bar left over on the shelf.

Bruce chuckles at her, typical Selina, always thinking about food. "Sure let me just change and we can stop by the breakfast buffet that i'm sure Jim is hiding from us," Bruce jokes. Selina laughs with him, her eyes twinkling, before walking out of the room towards the window to give him some privacy.

Changing quickly he grabs a cup and dips it into the bucket of cool water, gulping it down. He watches her, as he drinks, the sun shining through the window and making strands of her hair glitter like gold. His stomach dips, as it often does when she's in his presence. She looks beautiful standing there. He feels something, it's on the tip of his tongue, something he was supposed to say, to Selina he thinks. It's right there, but he can't quite reach it. He wishes he could remember his dream, he knows it had something to do with his parents, they were alive, but more importantly something his mother wanted him to do. Maybe it will come to him later, he sighs.

They make quick work jumping a few rooftops before Bruce insists they climb down and walk the rest of the way when he notices her hissing in pain and holding her shoulder whenever she lands hard. Selina grumbles the whole way down, especially when he tries to help her down the ladder, slapping his helping hand away with an insulted glare, but she does comply which tells him that she really is in pain but just doesn't want to admit it. Selina falls silent for a few minutes as they walk the remaining blocks when her stomach growls making them both laugh.

"I believe you promised me a big breakfast buffet," She says to him, still smiling, "With lots of bacon," Selina adds.

"Right, I did say that didn't I? What I failed to mention was that the buffet will most likely be a few cans of beans and maybe some peanut butter if we're lucky," He says, laughing at her expression.

"You're the worst at keeping promises you know that?" She tries to glare at him but it doesn't last long before she's laughing with him. Selina is just reaching over to teasingly poke him and it's the gesture that triggers his dream to come rushing back to him. His mom had wanted him to tell Selina how he felt, to be happy. That's what he promised. Looking down at Selina as she's telling him about when her cat had kittens in her squat, he smiles tenderly at her, this was definitely a promise he would keep. For now he thought it would be wise not to bring up feelings when she was hungry, but there was nothing wrong with holding hands, was there? Casually, like he did it all the time, he slid his palm against hers, interlocking their fingers gently. Selina falters mid sentence, her eyes widening slightly at his forwardness and looks down at their hands, her cheeks turning rosy in a soft blush. She shocks him when she simply tightens her grip and continues on with her story as if nothing had interrupted her, she and Ivy had named all the kittens after their favourite jewels.

After arriving at the GCPD, and having to sit through Alfred's lecture about not checking in and worrying him all night, they were pleasantly surprised when Alfred offered them oatmeal and not the dreaded beans in a can. Bruce simultaneously watches Selina while spooning some oatmeal in his mouth, but he was so nervous he could barely swallow it down. He pushes his bowl to the side when he can't stomach anymore. Bruce thinks back to his dream, he can't help but imagine that his parents had reached out to him the only way they could. That they needed to know that he was okay, that he was happy. Maybe that was why his mother had pushed him, to force him to acknowledge his feelings for Selina, and not bottle them up inside.

His palms are getting clammy. He needed to calm down, the worst she would do is laugh in his face.. or punch him. But she wouldn't have been with him the way she was the night before if she didn't feel even the slightest bit for him, right? He wipes his hands on his lap, thinking about the night before, the two of them, made his heart race and his face heat up even more. Bruce observes Selina through his lashes, she's spooning her oatmeal dreadfully slow and he swears he sees her lips twitch in a smile. He can't help but think she's eating in an unhurried manner on purpose, completely aware of his discomfort.

Finally Selina takes pity on him and pushes her own bowl to the side, resting her elbows lazily on the table and cupping her cheeks, "Okay Bruce, what's with the fidgeting?"

Bruce hesitates, it's now or never, clearing his throat he walks around the table and holds out his hand, "Come with me? There's something I need to tell you." She eyes his hand before looking into his eyes searching for something, but he lets out his breath in relief when she finally takes his offered hand.

"Where to, B?"

Bruce wanted to make sure they would have privacy and so he led her up the stairs to the roof. It was kind of perfect really, being up on the roof was their thing. They've had a lot of important conversations on roofs, he thinks, rounding a corner so they were slightly sheltered from the door. It felt appropriate to inform Selina that this time he not only felt something between them, this time he would tell her that he lo-

"Alright B, spill. We've been walking for ages and now you've hidden us away from everyone. Are you going to kill me?" Selina teases, crossing her arms in a show of nonchalance.

"Selina, it's only been a few minutes," Shaking his head at her in exasperation, "There's something I need to tell you. And you're probably going to just walk away but I made a promise to someone and I intend to honour it-"

"Bruce, seriously, you're stalling. Are you- are you leaving, leaving me?" Her face falls, and if he didn't know any better he'd say that her eyes look like they're getting glossy. She looks crestfallen.

"What, no! Of course not!" Bruce rushes forward and pulls her into his arms, tucking her head under his chin and wrapping her tightly against his chest. "You've got it all wrong."

"Then what is it?"

Pulling slightly away enough to look into her eyes, he cups her cheeks, his thumb stroking gently across her skin. He thinks back to his dream, of when she tried to escape off his balcony. "For so long after my parents died Alfred became my only family and friend. But i've come to understand that you are a part of my family as well. You mean so much to me, you always have." He pauses, watching her face for any reaction, if she was understanding what he was trying to tell her. He was never good at expressing his feelings. Selina stays quiet, blinking softly up at him, her eyes trustfully searching his own as she waits patiently for him to continue. His mother's words suddenly echo in his head: Tell her how you feel, be happy. Time to take that leap, the worst that could happen is that she tells you that she doesn't feel the same, that she just wants to remain friends, he tells himself.

"Selina.. I'm in love with you."

Her eyes widen and she sucks in her breath, but she doesn't pull away from him, and that has to mean something, right? She continues just to stare at him with wide eyes, and Bruce slowly feels his heart sink and tries to fill the silence, "You don't have to say anything, of course, I just needed you to know-"

He stops mid sentence when Selina surges forward, pressing her lips firmly against his and effectively shutting him up. This feels very similar to the first time he declared having feelings for her. He hopes this time it won't end with her walking away from him. But instead of pulling away Selina reaches up and grabs the back of his head pulling him closer, pressing his lips harder against hers until he parts them. He threads his fingers through her curls as they kiss deeply, Selina dragging his lower lip between her teeth earning a groan from Bruce. Before long their kiss slows down until they part, both of them breathing heavily as they lean their foreheads together. Selina's eyes remain closed but there's a soft smile on her swollen lips and her cheeks are flushed, she looks absolutely radiant. He doesn't have to hear her say the words back to him, the kiss more than assured him of her feelings. Her eyes flutter open and her smile widens as she finds him staring down at her.

"Come on, I know where Bullock has been hiding a chocolate bar." Bruce takes her hand and starts leading her back to the door but Selina tugs him to a stop.

"I have something to tell you too."

Bruce turns back towards her and Selina grabs his coat and pulls him closer, standing on her tippy-toes, "I love you too, B," She says as she brushes her lips against his.

"Now let's go find that chocolate."

End Notes: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

I debated for so long whether to leave it a dream or really have his parents come back. But I decided to leave it as a dream like I originally planned. In the end I wanted this story to be focused on Bruce and his feelings for Selina, what she means to him. I always wanted to see Bruce defend her so what better way then to his parents lol

It's possible that there could be one-shots that tie in to this story. but i'm not sure yet. With season five premiered (how bloody amazing is it so far!?) I might want to focus on some one shots that are more canon. Thank you everyone for reading!