Mother and I walked out of the restaurant, smiling and laughing.

"Mama, where's our car?" I asked her, fiddling with my new necklace, holding my mother's hand with the free one.

"I don't know, butterfly. Let's walk to the apartment instead of going home tonight, yeah? We'll have a proper mother-daughter night."

I nodded, beaming up at her, and we started walking along the street. My mother wasn't dressed up as much as she normally was tonight. After all, it was my birthday, and my mother and I always spent my birthday's dressed up. My mother was the most beautiful woman I had seen; with her red hair and flawless skin, and pretty green eyes. I was an exact copy of my mother.

I let go off my mother's hand and skipped ahead, ignoring her protests. I didn't see the man, covered from head to toe in tatty black thermals, who waited just at the mouth of a dark alleyway, not until he stretched out his arms, and snatched me.

I screamed. I screamed and struggled and kicked at the stranger, as he took me deeper into the alleyway. I heard my mother's heels clacking furiously against the pavement as she followed us. The man threw me down so I landed on trash bags, which broke my fall. He turned round and faced my mother as she skidded to a stop.

"Give me back my daughter!" She hissed at the masked man.

"I only wanted you anyway. Another name on my list. And such a pretty face too. It'll be a shame." He growled, lunging at my mother, who was staring at me.

"Butterfly, run!" She said, as he grabbed her.

"Don't move, kid. Or I'll gut your mother like a fish!" He yelled at me.

I couldn't move anyway. I was paralysed with fear. My whole body was frozen. I couldn't even scream anymore. I watched as the man sexually assaulted my mother, crying as I didn't understand what was happening to her.

"Let my daughter go! You've already scarred her for life, and ruined me. Just let her go! She's only six! She's just a baby! Her father will kill you!" My mother cried, tears streaming down her face, ruining her make-up.

"She can go. Once she watches this." He said, holding up a knife, and then plunging it into my mother's chest. I finally screamed, and this time someone heard me. I heard someone at the end of the alleyway, talking hurriedly to the police. The masked man pulled the knife from my mothers chest and stabbed down again…once….twice….three times more, before taking the bloody knife, and dragging it slowly across my mother's throat.

Police siren's sounded in the distance, and the man dropped his weapon, and ran down the alley, making a turn so that he disappeared. I crawled over to my mother, feeling a wetness on my knees. My white tights were stained red. I put a tiny hand onto my mother's face, which was painted red too. Her head lolled towards me, and I rubbed my hand on her face.

"Wake up, Momma. Wake up." I cried. Men started running down the alley, and one pulled me away.

"Hey, sweetheart. I'm Officer Jim Gordon. Come on, sweetheart, everything is going to be okay now. Everything will be alright." He said, picking me up.

I leant my head into the crook of his neck, feeling a strange sense of comfort. I sobbed, as I watched men leaning over my mother's body, as Officer Gordon carried me away, towards his squad car.

"You get to ride shotgun." He said, smiling a sad smile at me.

"Will you put the sirens on?" I asked, through blurry eyes.

"Anything you want. What's you name, sweetheart?" He asked.

"Suzanne Dawn."

"You're Harry Turner's daughter. Was that your mom?"

I nodded.

He drove me back to the station, blaring the sirens. I stared out of the window at the city of Gotham, scared out of my mind. And I always would have that element of fear inside me, driving me forward, for the rest of my life.

As I grew up, Jim Gordon would become a second father to me. In my teens, I would don dark skinny jeans, a tee and a hoody, and sneak from my home in the good part of Gotham, to Jim's house, where I would spend time with Jim and his wife. They became my family, as my father had no intention of picking up the slack that my mother's death had left.

When I was sixteen, I met a man, Tim Grant, a professional boxer who taught me how to fight. I remembered what had happened to my mother, and I didn't want to be a defenceless rich girl who criminals considered easy pickings.

When I was seventeen, I started learning martial arts as well as continuing my boxing training with Tim, all in secret. I took up gymnastics, becoming more flexible.

And when I was eighteen, I became the Dark Vixen. I went out at night, fighting Gotham's thugs, and protecting the innocent.

Until my father sent me away to college. And then I met Selina Kyle. She taught me a few things, like how to travel across the rooftops via whip, and how to pick-pocket. She made me go on midnight heists with her. And because I was lonely and needed a friend, I did it. And to a certain extent, it helped me get into the mind frame of a criminal, as I slowly became one. I didn't mean to, but soon enough, the rush of the heists, and the thrill of getting away with the loot became exciting and addictive.

But after I finished all my courses, and gotten all my degrees, I decided to go home. I hadn't been to Gotham in six years, and I missed it. Not my father, of course, but I missed Jim and Barbara, and I missed Lucius Fox, my dad's friend on the board of Wayne Enterprises, where my father also worked. He used to let me go down to the sciences department with him, to look at the different projects they were working on.

But most of all, I missed Gotham city. But now I was back, and I was ready to become the old me again. I was ready to once again become…the Dark Vixen.

…...

I smoothed down the skirt to my dress, and fixed my the collar on my blazer. The dress was a silver Hervé Léger bandage dress, and my old college roommate had given me the black blazer as a Christmas gift one year. I had accessorised my outfit with black Mary-Janes, Colucci white gold diamond drop earrings, and the double owl necklace my mother had bought me for my birthday all those years ago. This was the most formal thing I had worn in six years, and it felt good to be wearing something close to my old attire again.

Today was a big day for me. Today I was taking over my father's seat on the board of Wayne Enterprises. Apparently when my father had suggested me, Lucius Fox, President of the Board, had agreed almost immediately. Apparently, my reputation proceeded me. I was Suzanne Dawn, the daughter of Harry Turner, a well respected, very rich businessmen, as well as receiving honours from Stanford, being top of my class in both Law and Business, and being a charitable philanthropist. I also had Minors in Advanced Biochemistry and Psychology, and I knew I'd be of use at Wayne Enterprises.

Yet, there was still that small part of me that wanted to do something more thrilling. More exciting. More dangerous. But I wouldn't go back to that. I didn't like who I was as that person. I didn't like the things I did.

I breezed through the foyer at the Wayne Tower, and flashed my I.D card at the security guard, holding the elevator open for me. Someone was already inside it, and childhood memories flashed to the front of my brain, making me recognise the silver haired, dark skinned man.

"Mr Fox?" I asked, as I stood next to him.

"Yes?"

"Suzanne Dawn. I'm taking my father, Harry Turner's, chair on the board?" I pressed, trying to help him recognise me.

"You aren't little Suzie Dawn! You've grown up beautifully, sweetheart," Mr Fox chuckled, wrapping his arms around me in a friendly hug. "I still remember that little French braid you always wore."

"Yeah, I'm slightly more sophisticated now. I heard that when Bruce Wayne reappeared he made you President of the Board. Congratulations, Mr Fox." I smiled at him.

"Call me Lucius, sweetheart. Yes, Mr Wayne has entrusted me to run his company while he lives his…exciting social life." Lucius said, seeming to struggle for a moment to choose the right wording.

"Well he's the lucky one. I'd join him, but as my father reminds me all the time, I have a responsibility to represent the Turner family on the board, as he did." I smirked, rolling my eyes.

"Well, between you and me, I'm sure you'll have more to offer to Wayne Enterprises than your father." Lucius grinned at me, as the elevator door open on the penthouse floor.

We walked in to the conference room, noticing that everyone was already there.

"Good, you're all here. This is Suzanne Dawn, she is replacing Harry Turner on the board."

"But she's so young-"

"But incredibly intelligent and has more resources than most in this room. Miss Dawn left Stanford University with Honours in her two major classes, Constitutional Law and Business, as well as two minors in Advanced Biochemistry and Psychology. She also has a degree in Mechanics. She's got experience as a lawyer, scientist, and businesswoman. She also has a very substantial figure in her bank account. She has all of the requirements necessary to have a place on the board." Mr Fox said.

"Background check?" I asked, sitting down on Fox's right side.

"Had to."

"Whatever's necessary, I suppose. So gentlemen, why don't we get this meeting underway?" I smirked, as I looked around at all the middle aged men staring at me.

…...

I walked out of the meeting with a grin on my face. I had that board putty in my hand.

"Suzanne?" I heard someone question in confusion. I turned around trying to spot the person, but didn't, so I shrugged it off, and kept walking towards my car.

I swung round when I felt a tap on my shoulder, ready to defend myself.

"I see you're still street wise. Good girl." Jim's kind face grinned at me.

"Jim!" I exclaimed, wrapping my arms around him in a warm embrace; the kind a girl would give her father. "What are you doing here?"

"Bruce Wayne called and asked to set up a meeting. He'll probably want something, but I spotted you and thought I'd come say hi. Barbara will be excited your back. Give her a call. She'd love to hear from you." He said.

"Bruce Wayne, huh? My new boss of sorts." I grinned.

"You're working at Wayne Enterprises?" Jim questioned.

"Yeah, on the board. I've got brains and enough money to last about thirty lifetimes, and Harry insisted." I rolled my eyes, as Jim shook his head. He hated when I called my dad by his first name. He thought it was wrong. When I was younger, I used to call Jim 'dad', and my dad 'Harry'. It was a matter of principle. One acted like a dad, the other like an acquaintance.

"Well, Bruce Wayne is lucky to have you on the board."

"Thanks, Jim."

"Well I'd better go. Wouldn't want to be late for Mr Wayne." Jim grinned.

"You know how billionaires are! Much worse than us millionaires!" I winked at him.

"You should come to dinner Sunday." Jim said, walking away.

"Barbara's meatloaf? Wouldn't miss it!" I called back.

I missed Barbara's meals. They were definitely my second favourite thing about going to the Gordon's apartment. You know, after getting to hand around with people who actually love and care for me.

"Suzie Dawn!" A familiar voice called to me, just as I was almost to my car.

"Mr Fox, weren't we just in a meeting together?" I joked, as he approached me.

"I forgot to tell you that Mr Wayne is throwing a charity event at the Plateau Hotel. All board members are required to attend all functions that Mr Wayne throws." Lucius grins at me.

"Well then. I suppose I'd better go buy a pretty dress if its required that I attend." I smiled in return.

A party with Bruce Wayne? There are worse ways to spend an evening.

…...

I plastered on my best easy smile as the two doorman open the doors to give me entry to the grand hotel that the famous Bruce Wayne was throwing. It was like some big, celebrity event. As soon as I turned up there were photographers snapping my photo, and talking about 'how Suzanne Dawn was back in Gotham'.

The music drifted through the entrance, and I smirked to myself as I took in my surroundings. Such an expensive looking décor. No wonder Wayne chose this venue to host his party.

Selina would love this, I thought, she'd probably be thinking of how she was going to get some of this stuff out of here. I chuckled to myself and brought myself back to reality, and suddenly felt several pairs of eyes burning holes into my body.

I know it's totally cliché, but I finally looked around, and noticed people openly staring at me. So I did what I did best. Brazenly stared back, smirking, and walked with complete confidence like I owned the place. I mingled with some of the board members, talked to members of the charity Bruce Wayne was hosting this party for, and danced with anyone who asked.

"Little Suzie Dawn, would you like to dance?" Lucius asked me, when the band started to play a new song. We had been talking about me going to Wayne Tower tomorrow, even though there was no board meeting, to check out the biochemistry division. I guess Lucius was waiting for the song before to end before he asked me.

"I would love to, Mr Fox." I took his arm, and he led me to the middle of the ballroom floor.

He was quite a good dancer for an old man, I thought, grinning.

"Well, Mr Fox, don't let anyone tell you your past your prime." I joked.

"This old man can still move." He laughed back.

We had barely gotten the opportunity to dance when a man approached Lucius and tapped him on the back. Lucius stepped away from me, and turned to face the newcomer.

"Can I cut in, Mr Fox?" He asked, his eyes holding my own. They were so blue, and I've always been a sucker for hot guys with blue eyes.

"Of course, Mr Wayne. Be careful with this one, Miss Dawn."

"I'll try my best not to break Gotham's favourite billionaire play boy, Mr Fox," I grinned, but didn't turn to my new friend as he walked away, as I couldn't tear my eyes away from Gotham's most famous orphan. Bruce stepped forward, and took my hands in his, and I ignored the fluttering in my stomach, and the slight shake my knees gave as if they wanted to melt away, so I'd fall into his arms. His hands were so coarse and had many calluses. What did he do in his spare time? Extreme polo? He pulled me into a traditional dance hold, and took the lead.
"I have to say I am pleasantly surprised."

"By what?" He asked.

"Whenever I hear someone talk about the famous Bruce Wayne, I automatically assume you are this party obsessed, female attracting drunk jerk, who has a lot of money and therefore a lot of friends. But even if you are all those things, at least you can dance." I smirk at him.

"There's a lot more to me than just all those other things that people say about me behind my back." He told me, as he led us around the floor, his eyes always on mine. And my gut instinct made me believe him. There probably was more to Bruce than what the pretend friends spread about him.

"So tell me, why did you steal me away from Lucius?" I asked.

"Because I've been waiting to ask you to dance since you walked in the room." He replied. I narrowed my eyes at him playfully.

"Am I being hit on by Gotham's most eligible bachelor?" I fake gasped, before smirking. "I understand. I looked at myself in the mirror before I left my apartment. I'm looking quite good tonight."

"You are the most beautiful woman in the room." Bruce 'corrected' me, pulling me closer to whisper in my ear. His breath tickled my neck, and for some reason my body gave an involuntary shiver.

"I find that hard to believe. There's a girl at your nine o'clock wearing the shortest dress possible to show off her incredibly toned legs in the hope the infamous Bruce Wayne will give her his attention for the evening," I pointed out. "Half the female population of this room are giving me the 'dead-to-me' eyes."

"Well two thirds of the testosterone in the room look like they want to kill me." Bruce replied quickly.

"That's not because of me. That's because you have a better fleet of cars then they do, or more money than they do, or have had more women than they have." I retaliated.

"You don't see yourself very clearly, do you?" Bruce said.

"You don't even know me, Mr Wayne."

"Sure I do, Miss Suzanne Dawn. You're twenty six. You went to Stanford University. You majored in Constitutional Law and Business, and minored in Advanced Biochemistry, Psychology and Mechanics. You're father, Harry Turner, just retired from his seat on the board of my company." Bruce stated, like he was reading all my information off of a cue card.

"You know my name, Mr Wayne, not who I am," I said, unsmiling, and then the song ended. I dropped my arms to my side, and back stepped. "Thank you for the dance, Mr Wayne, but I should mingle with the other guests, donate some of my money to a good cause-"

"Why don't you have dinner with me sometime? My butler is also a great cook." Wayne asked, his eyes boring holes into mine.

"As tempting as that sounds, Mr Wayne, I don't mix business with pleasure. It never ends well."

I smiled at him, and then walked away, leaving the famous ladies man, Bruce Wayne, stunned by rejection. I grabbed a champagne flute from one of the passing trays and gulped it down to calm my nerves.

Bruce Wayne had asked me out, and I had just turned him down because of the tiny butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I was physically attracted to him, mainly because I had eyes, and he was hot, but I'm the farthest thing from stupid. Bruce Wayne is a player, and could have any woman in Gotham he wanted, so he would get over me in a few hours tops, and I would just be tonight's chosen flavour.

"Hello, Miss Dawn, I'm Vicki Vale."

"The reporter, right?" I asked, warily.

"Yeah. I came over to ask you who you're wearing."

"Ellie Saab. And come on, Miss Vale, I'm rich, but I'm not stupid. What is it that you really want?" I question, sipping on my champagne, in a much more dignified manner this time.

"You're sharp, I'll give you that. I saw you dancing with Bruce Wayne. Any story behind that?" Vicki asked, her eyes gleaming with underlying questions.

"I've only just met Mr Wayne, Miss Vale, and you won't be getting your next sneak peek into his life from me," I smiled at her. "But enjoy your evening."

She scoffed, and walked away from me, leaving me to glare at her back.

"Bloody, stupid, nosy, sneaky, brainless reporters." I cursed under my breath.

"What did she do to deserve that?" Wayne's voice asked.

"You're not going to give up, are you?" I questioned, turning round to face him.

"I am a very persistant man, Miss Dawn." He replied, stepping closer.

"To answer your question, she started asking me about you. You're already creating problems for me, Mr Wayne. I don't need Vicki Vale, and a cameraman following me around everywhere, just on the off chance that I might be meeting you for lunch." I said, as we walked side by side. I was about to make my donation cheque so I could leave, and put some distance between me and my stalker.

"Vicki Vale won't cause you problems, as long as you have dinner with me." I stopped, and stared incredulously at a very victorious looking billionaire.

"Was that a threat, Mr Wayne?"

"A promise, Miss Dawn. I really would like to have dinner with you." He answered, grinning that stupidly wonderful grin. I mentally kick myself, before I glare at him.

"You don't know me, Mr Wayne, but if you did, you'd know that I don't respond well to threats, but for just this once, I'll let it slide, since you're technically my new boss, and we're at a party. I'll have dinner with you, but it won't be a date. Your place, Friday, seven o'clock. Goodbye, Mr Wayne." I said, storming off.

"It's a date!" He shouted, as the music stopped, and the room went quiet. I felt people staring at me, and I shook my head.

Bruce Wayne is impossible.

Yeah, impossibly hot, my brain retorted.

He was going to be a problem.