Unable to speak the words, Bruce only nodded.

Gemini made a tiny squeaking sound and covered her mouth, tears springing to her eyes.

Rosemary cried harder. "Jacey...big brother..." She sobbed.

Damien held Rose not sure what to say.

Lori felt the nod and her body went numb. "Jason's dead." she said it out loud feeling numb all over as tears began to roll down her cheeks her knees started to give. "No he can't." she chocked on her words as she started to cry.

Bruce pulled Lori close, comforting her as best he could. "It was my fault...I couldn't save him..." He sounded broken.

"No Bruce don't blame yourself...what happened?" Lori took a deep breath trying to focus on his sadness instead of her own.

Slowly, in painful bursts, Bruce explained what had happened.

"Oh God." Lori decided sitting would be good and collapsed into the couch.

"That bastard." Damien growled. "I'll kill him for you father." He blinked at Lori worried that she would pass out.

Gemini went to get some water for Lori, just barely holding it together.

Bruce stayed where he was, on his knees, unable to get up. "No! No, Damian..." He barely had enough strength for that outburst.

Rosemary held Damian close. "Not now, okay? Please?" She asked him, knowing that it was a bad time to have the no killing debate.

Damien scowled but left the subject alone. He would ask his grandfather for help later. "Alright." He sighed.

Lori looked at Bruce and managed to drag him to the couch burying her head into his chest holding him tight.

Gemini brought some water back for both Lori and Bruce, leaving the glasses on the table before going to corral the kids. "Come on, you two. Upstairs, give the adults a few minute to talk, okay?" She said.

Rosemary sniffled and got up to do as her mother said.

Bruce just leaned on Lori, as if she was the only thing keeping him from falling over.

Damien hugged Bruce and Lori once then followed Gemini up to his room.

"I got you Bruce." Lori soothed the man's hair down. "You can cry on my shoulder."

Bruce did exactly that, breaking into tears on Lori's shoulder.

Lori held Bruce to her not saying anything just let him cry combing her fingers threw his hair. "We'll have to start planning the funeral." she forced the word out with difficulty.

Bruce shuddered at the word, not wanting to hear it. But he knew she was right. "I-I'll arrange it. I have to..." He said. It was the least he could do after failing so horribly. Just one last thing he could do for Jason.

"It's alright baby you don't have to." Lori held him closer. "I'll do it. You take some time to yourself. Just remember you aren't to blame. Jason could handle himself but Joker is crazy full on banana nuts." she scowled then looked up at Damien. "What's wrong?" "Ra's hired Joker to do that job to distract you from what he was doing" Damien growled "I just called him to discuss something and he told me."

Bruce looked up, suddenly looking dangerous. "He did, did he? And what were you calling him to discuss? Killing the man he hired?" He asked.

Damien shifted his foot. "I thought if Grandpa did it you wouldn't mind." he mumbled. Lori smiled thinking it was kind of sweat of the boy to at least attempt to follow Bruce's rule's will getting revenge for Jason's death.

Bruce sighed and slumped down. "I appreciate the thought..." He said tiredly. "Either way, this could have been avoided if I had been quicker. I can't blame either of them for this..."

"Stop that!" Lori glared at Bruce "You are only human Bruce. Stop acting as if you have the abilities of a God!" She was going threw a mood swing. "I didn't mean to yell love. I'm sorry."

Bruce was silent. He didn't know how to respond, how to make her understand that it was his fault.

After a moment of hanging back, Gemini came in. "Listen...it looks like you haven't slept in a while. You should rest, both of you, and we'll talk more later. Okay?"

"I'm not really tired." Lori sighed and ran a hand threw her hair. "I just feel hungry and moody." she pouted at Gemini knowing she was be relying on her to be around for a while longer.

Gemini nodded. "Alright, then. Do you want ice cream?" She asked, going into friend mode.

"Yes please." Lori smiled not saying that what she really wanted was to have her Bruce back and Jason back as well.

Gemini went to get the ice cream. She was feeling the same way, but she knew it would take some time. Hopefully Bruce would come around as the baby grew.

Lori sighed and stared at the ceiling curling against Bruce her hand holding his.

Bruce responded only by squeezing her hand, though the gesture seemed desperate.

((Timeskip?))