((Oh crap. Oh, crap. Why did you do that? ))

Bruce only just managed to hold back the tears, though he knew he'd be locking himself in a room to cry later. "Good girl. I bet that made the prince really happy." He said, his voice cracking.

((Because I'm evil.))
Martha frowned as his voice cracked. "Daddy OK?" She pouted then kissed his cheek. "All better." She nestled her head on his shoulder. "Are we ready to proceed?" The priest asked as gently as possible.

((You sure are.))

Now unable to speak without crying, Bruce nodded to the priest.

((Holy horrible short post...))

The priest nodded and began to say the funeral stuff signaling to another person to lower the coffin finishing by sprinkling dirt into the grave. "I am truly sorry for your loss." He spoke quietly so he wouldn't wake Martha who was half asleep on Bruce's shoulder.

Bruce shook the priest's hand, making sure not to jostle Martha. "Thank you, father." He whispered back, not able to say much more than that. What else was there to say?

The priest nodded and headed off. "Well this sucks." Lori hiccuped cheeks covered with tear tracks. Lena nodded in agreement clinging to Jake who held her tight.

Bruce nodded as well. "Lori, could you take Martha please?" He asked. He needed, desperately, to get away for a while. To be alone, to cry, to think. To mourn.

Lori slowly took Martha who clung to her father for a moment before settling against her mother. "Do you want company?" She wouldn't force him to turn to her for support but his answer would decide if she ran to Gemini to cry.

Bruce shook his head. He found his voice missing, so he didn't answer verbally. Instead, he simply turned and walked away, effectively disappearing from view within three steps.

Lori stared at the ground then fled to Gemini dropping Martha in Jokers lap making him blink. She threw herself on top of Gemini crying.

Gemini blinked rapidly, trying to regain her breath after having Lori jump on her like that. Figuring out that she must have just attended Damian's funeral, Gemini patted her friend's back and tried to comfort her. "I'm so sorry..."

As Lori covered Gemini with her tears and assaulted her hearing with blubbering about Bruce.

Joker and Martha meanwhile stared at each other. "Hi." He chuckled before placing her next to the twins.

Gemini, used to this kind of behavior from her friend, just nodded and made reassuring sounds. She knew there was nothing she could do but comfort Lori until Lori wanted to let her speak. The twins, meanwhile, welcomed Martha enthusiastically into their game of dolls and action figures. Cal gave Martha his favorite stuffed dog to play with.

Martha giggled and played with them assaulting Cal with the dog making fierce growls like Ace did.

Lori eventually calmed even to be intelligible. ''I wish he had turned to me and we could have comforted each other. He's so use to being alone. Maybe I should go back and hug him."

Cal shrieked with laughter, using a wolf plushie to fight back. "Grr! Woof!" He countered. April watched with a calculating look, as if she were taking notes about the two.

"You know how he is. Bruce is the kind of guy who can't cry in front of others. Just give him a little time alone to cry it out, then go to him." Gemini said, patting Lori's hand.

"Ok." Lori sniffled a little. "Thanks for listening Gemini..." she trailed off then grimaced. "I should go back." she looked to the kids then giggled.

"I'm always here when you need me." Gemini said. "If you want to leave Martha here for a little, we'll be happy to look after her." She added, seeing the kids playing together.

"Thanks." Lori left Martha to play and went home trying to decide where Bruce would be hiding.

"Oh joy the catbat is staying." Joker sighed.

By that time, Bruce had finished his brooding- for the most part. He was standing in the bat cave, in front of the case that held Damian's Robin costume. "Another one lost..."

Gemini chuckled. "Admit it, you think she's cute." She teased. "Besides, the more time she spends here, the closer she gets to our kids. And that gives her a higher chance of dating Calcifer, which would be an excellent way to annoy Bruce."

"Hmm." Joker pondered this then smirked. "Excellent."

Lori slowly approached seeing how sad he was she made a decision to bring Damien back no matter what it took. "I figured I would find to here."

"See? I can be devious, too." Gemini said with a giggle. Meanwhile, Cal was showing the girls how he built tall block towers and knocked them down.

Bruce barely moved. "It wasn't a difficult guess to make. What do I do now, Lori?" He asked, turning to face her. "My own son...killed by a man I once considered to be like a son. My greatest failure came back to create an even greater failure. And I couldn't do a thing for either of them..."

"That's why I love you." Joker kissed her hand. "My Queen."

Lori mulled over that question for a moment. "No one blames you Bruce. You can't control the world. Jason made his choice and he choose to betray his family. If anyone is to blame its Ra's."

Gemini blushed. "Well that's a new one." She said, then smiled. "Feel free to use it more often."

Bruce shook his head. "But I couldn't save Jason, either." He said. Even if no one else blamed him, he still clearly blamed himself.

"Oh Bruce stop blaming yourself love." Lori ran a hand over his cheek. "I wish there was something I could do or say that would make the pain go away."

Joker grinned. "My Queen fell in love with the jester." he chuckled.

Bruce shook his head again. "So do I, but there's nothing. This pain won't ever go away." He said, closing his eyes as if he were tired.

"I always did like guys who could make me laugh." Gemini mused, though she was half kidding.