I'm going to kill him for what he has done. A statement that had shocked her to her core. A statement had made her concern only deepen to all time highs. A statement that scares her. Scares her knowing what was about to happen if she wasn't able to get to him first. A scene that she refuses to think about. Refuses to even believe that he was capable of doing.

But deep down she knew that he was. He was more than capable of doing the task. Not because he was cold blooded like every criminal inside of the city. Not because he wasn't tough enough. No she knew the real reason why. The need to protect. The need to protect his family. The need to protect her.

A belief that she knew he truly believed what he was doing was the best course of action. An action that would rid Stalker from their lives once again. To never have to look over their shoulders waiting for the next encounter with him to take place. To never have to worry about another kidnapping taking place ever again.

But that wasn't the only thing that was scaring her. A question that she had on her mind ever since their conversation. What did he mean when he said he was punishing Matt to punish him? Was Matt truly hurt? Did Stalker do something to him? A question that had made her blood boil on the thought that the young teenager whom she had slowly bonded with upon meeting him had been injured. A teenager that she had thought of as a little brother.

As she sees her destination coming into view as she snaps out of her thoughts slowly Melanie slows down her board's speed before her eyes widen at what she sees. A mansion that very few had been to. A mansion that has seen better days. But it still didn't take away her amazement.

A mansion that had an amazing view towards the ocean. An ocean that she could only imagine a beautiful sun rise taking place every single morning. But it would also hold secrets as well. A secret tunnel underneath the cliff the mansion was resting upon. Mostly used for any boat that The Batman had used in the past.

Snapping out of her shocked state as she slowly gets off her board to make her way forward through the darkness suddenly the sound of a dog barking causes Melanie to stop dead in her tracks. For the next few seconds as she remains perfectly still to hear the sound of a dog not only barking but for the sound of what she deems to be the dog scratching at a piece of metal slowly Melanie makes her way forward before moments later as she comes to a stop at a large metal gate with a dog growling at her from the other side.

As she hears the dog's growl intensifying without taking her eyes away from the dog reaching up Melanie slowly takes off her mask revealing her face before slowly as she takes a deep breathe Melanie looks up towards a camera that is hanging near the top of the metal gate.

" Bruce! It's Melanie! I know you're in there! I need your help! It's about Terry!"

For the next couple of seconds as she waits in silence taking her eyes away from the camera slowly Melanie turns her attention back towards the dog at the gate to find him sitting at the gate just staring at her. Letting out a sigh as she takes a step forward to see the dog slowly gearing up as if he is ready to snap at her once again taking a deep breathe slowly Melanie offers her hand out to the dog. With her eyes never leaving the dog for a single second as she watches the dog slowly lean forward to sniff her hand suddenly a smile forms across Melanie's face when she feels the dog leaning into her hand.

" Good boy. Now let's see what's your name?"

As she slowly pets the dog leaning forward Melanie gently grabs a hold of his dog collar before she turns it to see a name engraved on the side.

" Ace huh? Where's Bruce? I need his help to find Terry."

Suddenly as she sees Ace snapping his head up to look at her slowly a ghost smile comes across Melanie's face.

" You know Terry don't you? He needs our help. I need to find him. He's in trouble. Can you lead me to Bruce?"

As she hears the sound of Ace letting out a bark slowly Melanie pulls her hand back to see Ace slowly making his way back towards the mansion before in a sudden move getting back on her board Melanie flies over the gate and after Ace. Within minutes as she comes up to the front door of the mansion slowly Melanie opens up the door causing Ace to sprint forward into the mansion as the sound of his footsteps echo throughout the mansion.

Without breaking her stride with a flick of her wrist as she closes the mansion door behind her causing a loud thud to echo throughout the mansion slowly Melanie follows after Ace as a memory comes flooding into her mind. The memory of what Terry had told her during his first encounter with Mr Wayne.

And so far everything that he had told her had been proven correct. Most if not all of the furniture inside of the mansion from what she could tell was covered up. The mansion looked as though it hadn't been touched for years. Countless valuables from paintings to priceless vases could be seen in a couple of the rooms covered in cobwebs.

As she hears the sound of Ace scratching a piece of glass snapping out of her thoughts slowly Melanie makes her way towards the sound before in a matter of moments she finds herself entering into a small den. A den where a few objects that she along with most of the population would consider obsolete. A old black piano off into the corner that looked as though it hadn't been played much. If not at all. Countless bookshelfs covered with different variety of books.

But most important of all the clock. The clock that Ace waits patiently at. A clock that she knew hides one of the biggest secrets in history. Hides the secret Batcave. A cave only very few had ever seen. A cave that had helped solve so many crimes in the past. A cave that she had dreamed about entering. Entering to see what was inside. To see all of the legendary gadgets. To see the legendary Batcomputer.

Walking over as she slowly examines the clock looking for the secret switch on the clock slowly Melanie comes to a stop as she starts to think back to Terry's story. The story of how the cave had been revealed to him. How he had tried to free a trapped bat that was inside of the clock. Reaching up as she touches the top of the clock and starts to move her hand around suddenly Melanie comes to a complete stop when the sound of a click echoes throughout the room.

As she feels the weight of the clock lessening slowly reaching over Melanie moves the clock to the side revealing a long stone stairway that leads into nothing but darkness before as she sees Ace going down the steps slowly Melanie follows after him. With her eyes never leaving Ace for a single second as she follows after him down the stairs suddenly after a minute a small light comes into Melanie's view.

Without breaking her stride as she sees the bottom of the stairs coming into view and Ace racing around the corner slowly Melanie makes her way down the rest of the steps before just as she is about to step off the final step suddenly she comes to a complete stop when she sees in the distance Bruce sitting in a computer chair at a large computer screen. A screen that she knew belonged to the Batcomputer.

" Get out. You're not welcomed here."

" No, I need your help."

Stepping off the steps as the sound of her feet hitting the cold ground echoes throughout the room slowly Melanie glances away from Bruce to look around the cave before the look of amazement comes across her face from everything that she sees. Everything that she had only heard about in stories her mother would tell her. The legendary cave. A cave that housed so many vehicles belonging to the legendary Batman.

Vehicles such as the legendary Batmobile that is parked off in the distance upon a platform. A vehicle that was told could out race any other vehicle in the world. A vehicle that could not be broken into. Especially if it's defenses were up. Defenses that was told through stories as being bulletproof. Stories telling it couldn't be destroyed.

On the opposite side of the cave a large metal wall could be seen with a few suits that she instantly recognized through a few glass containers. Suits of Gotham City's greatest heroes. The red and black Robin suit. The black and yellow Batgirl suit. A black and blue suit that she knew to be from Batman's greatest student Nightwing. Suits that bring back so many memories of stories she had heard about these great heroes. Heroes that had faced so many odds to only come out on top each and everytime.

" Leave. Now!"

Snapping out of her thoughts as an intense glare comes across her face snapping her head back over towards Bruce slowly Melanie makes her way over towards him.

" Listen to me. Terry is in danger."

" I know…."

" You know! You knew about Stalker and didn't even bother to warn us about him!"

" As i recall Terry had informed me to stay out of his life and i was just respecting his wishes. Besides he can handle the situation."

" No he can't. It's not like any other situation that you and him have encountered before."

" I doubt that Ms Walker. As i was saying he can handle…."

" It's Matt! Stalker has Matt!"

Suddenly as she sees the glare across Bruce's face vanish and his back being slowly turned in her direction slowly Melanie takes a deep breathe as she sees Bruce sitting down in the computer chair.

" Terry told me about the last time he faced Stalker. He told me that this guy kidnapped Matt in order to get to him. That he thought he had killed him that night in the process. But this time it's different."

" Different how?"

" It was something that Terry said. He told me that Stalker was punishing Matthew in order to punish him. I think he has done something to Matthew. I couldn't get Terry to tell me what but i could tell from his voice that this monster has hurt his little brother."

As she nears the computer chair taking a deep breathe slowly Melanie places her hand down on Bruce's shoulder as the glare across her face disappears.

" Please help me find him before it's too late. Terry doesn't intend to bring Stalker in. Help me get to him before he does something that he is going to regret for the rest of his life."

Landing on the ground with a thud as he slowly rises to his feet with his hands clutching into tight fists slowly Terry makes his way forward through nothing but fog towards a large swamp off into the distance as the sound of his boots hitting nothing but water echoes around him. A swamp with a storied history. History of nothing but death. A swamp that had been labeled Slaughter Swamp.

A swamp whose name describes its storied history. A history filled with nothing but death. Death to all those that would roam through it's muddy waters. Death including young Karin Rykel. A young woman that was looking to make her way through life being a tour guide. A tour guide for a local park that had been created nearby. A life that had been tragically lost when a lost villain that went by the name Solomon Grundy had rose up from the muddy waters to attack her and her small tour group of young children. Children that had managed to escape from the villain at the expense of Karin's life.

But this time things would be different. This time he would not allow a villain to take away another innocent life. This time justice would be delivered. This time the month long battle that had been taking place between hero and villain would end. End with only one of them walking out of this swamp. Only one of them going home. And it was going to be him.

He was going to be the one going home. Going back home to Melanie. Going back to his normal life. A life that he was slowly becoming accustomed to. To live the rest of his days out with her. But first he had to finish this. He had to finish this fight. A fight that he didn't start. A fight that he was going to finish. Especially now.

Especially after he followed the breadcrumbs he had been left. Breadcrumbs that as he found each only made his blood boil. Boil for revenge. Boil to cause pain to Stalker. Pain he knew deep inside he should inflict. Shouldn't inflict because he was the hero. Or was the hero anyways. Gotham City's hero. Gotham City's protector.

But not anymore. He didn't want that anymore. Instead he wanted to be with her. He wanted to be with Melanie. To see her first thing every morning and every night before he would go to sleep. Wanted to build his life with her. Build a family with her one day. But in order to do that he had to make sure she would be safe. He had to make sure his family would be safe. And the only way he could know for sure was if he was gone.

With his eyes constantly glancing around his surroundings as he goes further and further into the fog unaware to his knowledge a pair of eyes are watching him from a pair of nearby woods. Woods that provided the perfect cover. The cover for a hunter. A hunter that was stalking his prey.

As he walks through the swamp to only go knee deep into the water suddenly Terry comes to a complete stop as a feeling he had just a few days ago comes to him. The feeling of being watched. A feeling that he would never forget. Remaining perfectly still as he listens into the sounds of the swamp to only hear the sound of a few nearby animals suddenly Terry's eyes widen when he hears the sound of footsteps moving through the swamp.

Glancing over to his side as he sees a long trail of tall grass leading into the woods slowly Terry moves his hands towards his utility belt before suddenly as he hears the grass moving in a sudden move Terry unleashes a pair of batarangs into the grass to only watch moments later the form of Stalker leaping out of the grass with a spear in his hands.

Flying through the air with haste as she brings her board to a stop over a swamp reaching back Melanie pulls out a small device out from her pocket before she listens in to the sound of a bing coming from the device. A device she had been given by Mr Wayne himself. A device that she was told would be able to lead her to Terry. A small tracking device as he put it. A device he had created incase of emergencies. Emergencies such as this.

Glancing down towards the device in her hands as she sees the device telling her to go straight slowly Melanie looks up from the device to see that it is telling her to enter into a nearby wooded area. An area by it's appearance makes Melanie nervous. Nervous just because of what it provided. How it provided so many ambush points. Ambush points that could be used by Stalker at any second. Ambush points that could have been used already.

Without taking her eyes away from the woods as she slowly flies towards the woods to only moments later enter into the dark woods before the sound of a fight taking place from a distance causes Melanie to instantly stop and turn in the direction where she heard the sound coming from. As she listens in to the sounds of bone hitting trees echoing from a distance away Melanie's eyes widen as the thought of it could be Terry that is being tossed around echoes into her mind.

A thought that scares her to her bones before as she is about to dash through the woods in the direction she hears the commotion coming from the sound of a twig snapping causes her to stop in her tracks to look in it's direction.

Suddenly as she looks into the distance to see Matt tied up to a tree with a wolf slowly making it's way towards his unconscious body Melanie's eyes widen before in an instant Melane flies at the board's top speed in their direction.

" Hey! Get away from him!"

In an instant move as she sees the wolf turning to look in her direction turning her board to the side Melanie sends the edge of the board into the midsection of the wolf causing the wolf to go flying off away from Matt with a thud. As she sees the wolf slowly making it back up Melanie sends the wolf a glare before in a matter of moments she breathes a sigh in relief as she sees the wolf running away through the woods into the distance.

Slowly turning her attention towards Matt in a sudden move as she launches herself off the board and in Matt's direction to only land on her feet next to him reaching over Melanie gently shakes Matt's shoulders.

" Matthew? Matthew?"

As she sees Matt's eyes flickering open slowly Melanie breathes a sigh in relief as she slowly starts to reach into her pocket for a pocket knife to cut the rope around Matt.

" Melanie?"

As a ghost smile comes across her face reaching up with her free hand Melanie removes her mask revealing her face to Matt before she slowly turns her attention back down towards the rope.

" Yeah it's me Melanie. I'm gonna get you outta here."

" Where's Terry?"

" Terry's here. I'm gonna bring you straight to him."

With a flick of her wrist as she cuts through the last piece of rope holding up Matt reaching down slowly Melanie takes Matt in her arms before she slowly rises up to her feet as she cradles him in her arms.

" I've got you."

As she safely tucks her arms under Matt's legs slowly Melanie turns around before her eyes widen when she sees off in the distance the form of Stalker staring directly at her with a sinister look across his face. A look that terrifies her to her bones as she slowly back up as she sees Stalker moving forward towards her. Suddenly as she feels her back hitting against a tree Melanie's eyes widen when she sees a blood marking across Stalker's chest. A deep cut as though he had been slashed with some kind of blade. A cut that is slowly causing a blood trail to go down his chest to his feet below.

As she sees Stalker raising up his right arm in her direction a confused look comes briefly across Melanie's face before in a sudden move she jumps to the side nearly avoiding a blade that had been unleashed from Stalker's arm. For the next couple of seconds as she runs through the forest nearly avoiding each blade that is being targeted for her suddenly Melanie comes to a complete stop behind a nearby tree. As she listens closely to the sounds that are being provided to her from the forest slowly Melanie takes a peak from her hiding spot towards her board to see Stalker nowhere in sight.

Taking a deep breathe as she mentally counts to three suddenly Melanie's eyes widen when she sees a spear being thrown in her direction. In a sudden move as she drops down to the ground Melanie listens in to the sound of the spear striking the tree she had just used as a hiding spot. As she turns to look up to see Stalker slowly approaching her and Matt an intense glare comes across Melanie's face before suddenly a ghost smile comes across her face when she sees a black blir striking into Stalker at high speed sending him out of sight.

In a sudden move as she rises back to her feet bringing Matt up with her slowly Melanie walks in the direction where she had seen Stalker being sent before a small ghost smile comes across her face when she sees Terry staring at Stalker as the hunter slowly makes his way back to his feet. As she feels Matt moving his head away from her shoulder looking down Melanie's smile widens when she sees a small smile forming across Matt's face.

" I knew he would come."

Turning her attention away from Matt as she looks back up to see Stalker aiming his right arm back in Terry's direction Melanie's eyes widen before in an instant as she sees Stalker releasing a blade from his forearm Melanie watches Terry rear back to throw a batarang to only listen to the sound of metal hitting metal just seconds later.

Bursting from his spot as he slams a right fist into Stalker's face causing the hunter to stumble a few feet to the side without breaking his stride Terry charges forward at Stalker to only shoulder tackle him into a nearby tree before the sound of a snap echoes through the woods. As he sees Stalker attempting to make it back to his feet charging forward Terry raises his arms up intending to slam them down across Stalker's head to only have them cover his face as he sees Stalker releasing a grenade from his hand.

Leaping back as he waives his hands up into the air in an attempt to rid the smoke away from his face suddenly Terry rolls to the side when he feels a well placed kick being delivered to his right side. As he hears the sound of twigs being snapped a short distance away snapping his head in it's direction Terry watches Stalker rip his spear away from a nearby tree before suddenly he leaps up to his feet when he sees Stalker charging forward at him with the spear. As he sees in the corner of his eye Melanie slowly hiding with Matt close by in her arms suddenly Terry takes off away from the woods and back into the swamp as he sees Stalker following close behind him before in a sudden move Terry changes course and flies at Stalker as he nears the middle of the swamp.

Right as he nears Stalker in a sudden move as he sees Stalker sending a spear strike his way reaching over Terry catches the spear in his hands to only send a spinning right forearm into the face of Stalker sending him stumbling back. As he throws the spear to the side charging forward Terry crashes into Stalker sending him flying to the ground with a thud before with lightening fast speed Terry sends fist after fist down that connects across Stalker's face.

With each punch he throws as he watches Stalker's head snap to the side slowly unaware to his knowledge a short distance away a shocked look comes across Melanie's face as she stands on her board with Matt in her arms.

" Stop!"

As she watches to see her words not having any effect on him slowly glancing down Melanie watches a scared look come across Matt's face before she takes a deep breathe.

" Stop! Please stop!"

Suddenly as he comes to a stop looking over to his side Terry's eyes widen when he looks over towards the woods to see Melanie looking at him with a shocked look across her face while Matt is slowly hiding a scared look into Melanie's shoulder. Glancing down as he sees the damage that he has done to Stalker's face Terry's eyes widen even more before slowly as he rises up to his feet Terry looks over towards Melanie.

" I…."

" I know. I know."

With a slight nod as he sees Melanie slowly lowering Matt down onto her board slowly Terry makes his way over towards them before he comes to a complete stop in front of Matt.

" Are you alright?"

" Yeah, I think so. Wait? Where's Terry? Melanie said he was here too. Where is he? He must have been kidnapped too."

Glancing to his side as he sees Melanie giving him a nod as a smile forms across her face slowly Terry takes a deep breathe before he looks back towards Matt.

" No Matt. He wasn't kidnapped."

" Then where is he?"

" He's right here."

As he sees a confused look coming across Matt's face reaching up slowly Terry removes his mask revealing his face to Matt before he watches a shocked look coming across Matt's face.

" Terry?"

" Yeah it's me twirp."

" You're….you're…."

" Yep."

" That is so cool!"

" I'm sorry Mel. about all of this."

As she slowly turns her head away from the city to look over towards Terry to see him looking down towards the city trying to avoid her eye contact slowly scooting across her board reaching over Melanie lays her hand gently on Terry's face before as she turns his head to look at her leaning forward Melanie presses her lips to his for a gentle kiss.

" Don't. There is nothing that you need to apologize for…."

" Yes there is. I almost killed him out there. If it wasn't for you then…."

" But you didn't. You did it Terry. You defeated Stalker and saved Matthew in the process."

" No. That's where you are wrong."

As he sees a confused look coming across Melanie's face slowly a small smile forms across Terry's face.

" You were wrong when you said that i saved him. It was actually you that saved Matt."

As a smile forms across her face leaning forward Melanie gives Terry a gentle kiss before moments later she watches Terry look down towards the Batman mask in his hand.

" So what do we do now?"

" I don't know. I really don't know anymore Mel. I want to be with you…."

" But?"

" But this keeps getting in the way. This suit. This symbol."

" Then don't let it."

" What do you mean?"

" Don't let this control you. Don't let this symbol be your legacy. Build a legacy with me. Build a life with me."

As she lets out a sign suddenly a smile forms across Melanie's face when she feels her hand being squeezed before she slowly rest her head on his shoulder.

" But i also know now what it means. What burden you carry in being The Batman. No matter what we do you will always be Batman."

" Mel?"

" But i also know that he plays second fiddle to the real you. The man that doesn't hide behind a mask. I won't hold it against you if you decide to…."

" No."

As she moves her head to look up to see Terry looking down towards her with a blank look across his face a confused look comes across her face.

" I won't go back out there. Not without you."

As a small smile comes across her face Melanie nods her head into Terry's shoulder before she slowly turns her head to look forward.

" The old man as you refer to him as won't like this. Me joining the team, I mean."

" Who cares."

Letting out a small laugh Melanie can't help but look up towards Terry as a bright smile forms across her face before suddenly her laughing stops when she feels him pressing his lips to her's for a gentle kiss.

Author's Notes: And this brings an end to this story. I hope everyone enjoyed this extended chapter as i didn't feel like it should have been broken down into 2 chapters. When the sequel comes out it will pick right up where this story ended.

Pootamis