The darkness of the night spread like a canopy over Gotham city but there were a few areas where the lights were just as dazzling as the day. But at night, Gotham was always at its worst such that it required a whole team of vigilantes to put a leash on to the crime coursing through the dark alleys like blood in the veins.

Batman and Robin had to leave for Metropolis on a confidential case leaving Gotham to the rest of the Bat vigilantes aka Nightwing and Batgirl. Nightwing had taken up Central Gotham and the Bowery leaving West End and its surrounding areas to Batgirl.

West End was a deserted precinct in Gotham where there weren't any residential units but the place was buzzing at night due to bike races and all other activities that the rebellious citizens gathered together to participate in.

Most of them were young boys and girls of around eighteen to mid twenties, some exceptions were still in their teen years but that area had become a frequent gathering spot for them, almost like a cult.

A highway connected West End and was frequented by heavy traffic but the bikers did not refrain from risking their lives and racing on the roads there. Barbara hated that particular patrolling spot due to the insufferable rebels flocking the place. 

But she knew could not argue against the posts they were assigned with because Batman wasn't around and none of them wanted to bother Alfred.

All she was doing there was keeping a strict watch for she knew it would be futile to interfere with the people flocking the place and only if something went wrong she would have to intervene.

And as she carefully scrutinized the area through her binoculars, she paused as she caught sight of Neal Hastings in all his dazzling glamour standing among the group. Of course it was more than just expected for him to be there.

She left her perch and selected one closer to the group so that she could see clearly. A bonfire had been lit in between and they had all sat down in a circle. And despite the fact that they all seemed to be painted with trouble all over, they looked most at home in each other's company.

Almost as if they were a family.

Neal had taken up a guitar, slinging the strap over his shoulder as he begun to strum on it, a gentle tune resonating in the air. She recognized the woman sitting beside him with her head resting on his shoulder. Rose Gibson, the very person who had come to bail him out but he had refused himself.

He had started to sing, the velvety voice clear in the silence of the surroundings and holding such an attraction that she couldn't help but listen in. 

"You'll wonder why the earth still moves, you'll wonder how you'll carry on. But you'll be okay on that first day when I'm gone."

The raw emotion in his voice had worked a spell on his entire audience, including Barbara. She found herself being pulled into the lure of his sound. The sadness of the song was conveying through his tone clearly.

"And every star will take its place in silvery gown and purple shawl. You'll lie down in our big bed, dread the dark and dread the dawn. But you'll be alright on that first night when I'm gone."

His slender fingers strummed at the chords effortlessly and though the lyrics were hauntingly sad, a smile played upon his lips. A smile that seemed almost like that of acceptance.

"You will reach for me in vain, you'll be whispering my name. As if sorrow were your friend and this world so alien. But life will call with daffodils and morning glorious blue skies." 

It was almost as if there was an underlying truth that related Neal and the song he was singing so well together that it seemed as if the song was made for him. 

"You'll think of me some memory and softly smile to your surprise. And even though you love me still, you will know where you belong. Just give it time, we'll both be fine... When I'm gone."

The way his voice broke at the ending words wrenched at her heart and she looked up to see that Rose had started crying as well, her arms wrapped around him as he gently stroked her head, kissing her sweetly as she pulled apart.

Barbara was surprised to realize that tears were pricking at the corners of her eyes as well. And though she was never too easily moved by anything, it seemed as if that rendition of the song had touched her deeply.

He played a few other songs afterwards, light tunes unlike the one he had played at first but the sadness in the atmosphere lingered. Hours seemed to pass and seeing that none of them were up to any trouble, Barbara finally left her perch taking a last round through the district before heading back to the Bat Cave.

It was almost dawn when the group that had gathered in West End began to disperse as well, saying their farewells to each other. Rose thanked Neal for he had thrown her a party just like he had promised he would if she got selected.

Their circle of friends had gathered, they had had fun at the club and later come to West End for the remainder of the night. But after the song he had sang for her while the rest of their friends were sitting round the bonfire, the whole atmosphere of the gathering had changed.

She had hugged him tightly before leaving, almost as if she had understood the real reason he had sung that melody to her and though tears had welled up in her eyes, she had smiled telling him that she would never forget him even when he would be gone from her life.

And as Neal was heading back to his place in Crown Point, he was still thinking about that song and Rose.

It was a sad song, a gentle tune of parting that he was still humming under his breath. He connected with that song on so many levels that each time he sang it, whoever listened could easily be moved to tears.

At first the same had been the case for him but with time he had come to a strange sense of acceptance with his own state. Such that when he sang the song, it gave comfort instead of sadness.

It had become a special part of him, one which he was willing to share with Rose on their parting, knowing that she would treasure it just like he did.

***