It had been a few days after Neal's funeral and though Barbara had lapsed into an unresponsive state after his death, worrying all of them considerably, she had started to recover by then. The first thing she had asked when she spoke up was to go to visit Neal's final resting place.

Richard pushed her wheelchair and came to a halt in front of a newly erected tombstone on which an epitaph was inscribed:

In Loving Memory of

Neal Hastings

1981-2010

Gone But Never Forgotten

Her forest green irises took in the grey stone erected in front of her and though her eyes were welling up, the cold breeze seemed to have frozen the tears upon her lashes. Richard was standing right beside her, silence engulfing both of them.

She clearly recalled the first day she had met Neal, as a suspect held in the GCPD's interrogation cell. And back then if she were told she would within a year end up in front of his grave with her heart aching for him terribly, she would have never believed it.

The second time she had seen him was beaten up and bruised in the lockup and he had given her his first advice; to not waste time on a lost cause like him because life was short and each second was precious. Back then it had seemed unnerving to her how his words were laced with experience but now knowing the truth about the scarcity of his life, his words struck her hard, the underlying meaning behind them churning up her heart.

It made perfect sense why he kept warning her from the very start because he had always known what lay ahead of him. Yet she had paid no heed to his warnings and the worst had come to pass, just like he feared it would.

And the last time he had talked to her was the night before his death, he had been so happy to see that all his little friends finally had a place to call their own and the last words he had said to her, thanking her about making his dream come true, still resonated in her mind.

"Who wrote this epitaph?" Barbara spoke up at last for she feared that if she didn't, the overwhelming memories would eat her up from the inside. Her voice was a bit unsteady but as there was no other source of sound in the graveyard, Richard heard her instantly.

"Jason suggested it. Said Neal would have liked that."

A wreath of flowers was placed at the foot of the tombstone, fresh roses that had dewdrops gleaming on the soft white petals. Roses that would wilt with time just like Neal himself had disappeared with his time ending, but just like the cherished fragrance of those roses, his memories would always be alive in their hearts.

A tear streaked down her cheek and she took in a deep breath, trying to make herself come to terms with reality. She knew nothing could bring Neal back and she knew he would not want to see her in pain due to him so she was trying her best to accept the truth.

Still it was difficult because even thinking about a man as vivacious as Neal succumbing to such an early and tragic death seemed impossible. But then he was already dying slowly by every passing day.

The only little consolation she had was that he had gotten his wish of not dying in a hospital in extreme pain. And even though it was just a little consolation, at that moment she had to hold on to it because no other thought could be comforting to her in such a state.

Another tear streaked down her cheek but she composed herself. Richard glanced at her briefly, blue eyes softening in awe of the strength it took from her to stay calm even then. But it seemed as if she had decided that she would not break down because it would cause Neal pain if she did so.

He had always made it very clear that he did not want people to mourn after him so the least she could do for him was to respect his wish.

"You said Rose had also come to the funeral?" She asked as they were leaving the graveyard.

"Yes," he remarked, "she lives in Metropolis now but she hasn't left yet."

"I want to meet her, can you arrange that?"

"Of course," he nodded though he didn't ask the reason for her sudden desire of meeting the woman, "I'll ask Jason. He would know where she's staying."

She kept silent for a while but then remarked, "thank you, Richard."

***

Rose was standing behind Jason as he rang the doorbell and stepped back. A few minutes later, the door was opened by Christine, Barbara's neighbor who had come to stay with her during the day while Jim was at work.

She asked them to wait in the living room while she went to inform Barbara.

Christine returned shortly after telling them that Barbara was in her room and was expecting them. After doing that she left and it seemed as if Barbara had asked her to leave as she would no longer be alone from then onwards.

Jason accompanied Rose to Barbara's room and knocked gently then pushed the door open. Barbara was sitting on her desk, her laptop open and notebook placed right beside it and it seemed as if she was working on something.

Seeing the two enter she closed the notebook and tried to smile at her but the sadness on her face conveyed that it was hard for her. Nevertheless, Rose noticed that she looked much better than when she had seen her a few days back at the funeral.

"Please take a seat," Barbara asked Rose and Jason stepped out shortly after but he wasn't going to leave just then; he would be staying in the living room, giving the two privacy to talk freely.

Barbara had moved her wheelchair out from behind the desk using the fitted automatic controls on it which she had recently gotten installed as she did not want to be dependent on someone to move her around all the time.

She stopped so that she was facing Rose who was sitting on the couch opposite to her. Barbara noticed that Rose looked nearly the same as when she had last seen her at the GCPD headquarters, almost a year ago.

She knew Rose had come to the funeral too but back then she had not been able to focus on anything other than her own loss. She faintly recalled hearing her speech, seeing her there at the podium but that day had passed in a hazy blur for Barbara and it seemed as if she was seeing Rose for the first time after their brief encounter at the GCPD.

Barbara noticed that her wide grey eyes were sorrowful and her appearance indicated the same hasty outlook as if she had made that decision of visiting her on very short notice. Other than that she was a very precarious and frail woman, but her simplicity and soft features made up for everything else.

She could see why Neal had been so close to her before she left Gotham because knowing Neal, he always felt the need to protect or help out those in need. And Rose seemed like a person who would need that sort of care often. But then again it was just an initial idea Barbara had of her and did not want to base off an entire judgment accordingly.

"You must be wondering why I wanted to meet you," Barbara initiated the conversation because Rose had herself been very silent. "And I suppose you have seen all the propaganda the press has created regarding me and... Neal."

Rose nodded but her eyes softened, "if you want to clarify that to me, I don't think you should. I know the press exaggerates a lot and I am not going to hold you accountable for that." Then her voice dropped lower, "I don't... I don't blame you for his death."

Barbara didn't reply immediately as she let the words sink in, a wave of relief washing over her. She had had a suspicion that Rose might blame her for what had happened to Neal, but right then as the woman confessed that she didn't blame her, Barbara felt a weight lift off her shoulders.

"I'm grateful," finally she spoke, the waver in her voice noticeable, "but that was partially the reason I wanted to meet you. Actually, there's something about Neal that you should know."

Rose's eyes focused on her again and she straightened, listening attentively, "oh..."

"Neal had acute lung cancer, probably the last stage," she chose her words carefully, "he had never disclosed this to anyone, not even to me. But the day when Dianne died... He had sent me a few audios telling me the real reason he had always kept pushing me out of his life. After that, I was the one who approached him and told him that no matter what the reasons were, I would stay by him till the very end... I thought you should know this. Because that was probably the only reason he discouraged you to stay with him too. He was scared of leaving people in pain after him."

Barbara observed her closely noticing her stunned features as the woman in front took a long while to process the information. She gave her time to come to terms with it as she silently sat in her wheelchair, green eyes taking each flicker of emotion on Rose's soft features.

Her lips parted at last, "last stage?"

"That's what he said, he was diagnosed at stage two a few years back. At that time, he could have been cured but he did not have the finances to afford the treatment."

Barbara saw how her features morphed from shock to sadness and then to a look of realization. And after a pause, she spoke up, "so that's what changed in him... I see..."

Green eyes shifted in confusion, "what do you mean?"

"I have known Neal for four years," Rose explained, nostalgia hitting her hard, "the time I first met him he was very different from the Neal Hastings you and the rest of Gotham know now."

Neal's words from that recording came bouncing back to Barbara, mirroring Rose's explanation.

"He used to teach at Daley Primary School. English, fifth grade. I met him there when I applied for a job at the school. I didn't get the job but I found a friend in him. He had a very tough life back then, juggling multiple jobs and pursuing his passions in the meantime. But then one day everything changed, without warning, without any signs or indication... Neal changed."

Barbara listened closely, connecting everything to what Neal had told her about his past and finding the other side of the picture as well through Rose.

"He was still kind and caring towards me, looking out for me in every way he possibly could. But to the world, he became an enigma, a spectacular halo of light that was so dazzling that it almost blinded the spectators. He became more... Carefree. Almost as if he didn't care if he died during any of his dangerous adventures. But now I can see why he became like that... He was only living his life to the fullest, the very short life that he had..."

She recounted most of her time with Neal and with every single account, Barbara found herself thinking more and more about how different Neal had been from others and how even then she could not be sure of who he really was deep inside.

However, with Rose's willingness to share her past with Barbara, she too felt the need to confide in her because perhaps only the woman in front of her could understand what she was going through. In a way, both of them were kindred souls and had come to that realization well enough.

She also told her about the child care center she had founded along with Neal in his own home and Rose was glad to hear that, promising her that she would visit the place herself very soon.

When it was time for Rose to leave, her delicate hand rested upon Barbara's and grey eyes looked into hers with very evident sincerity, "Barbara, if you ever need me for anything, just call. Jason has my number, he will give it to you. Don't hesitate."

She smiled slightly and nodded, "thank you, Rose."

She accompanied her out to the living room where Jason was sitting on the couch, his head dropped back as if exhausted, eyes dropped shut. Hearing the two enter the room, he straightened gradually. "Shall I take you back, Rose?"

"Oh no, my friend's house is not far from here. I'll go by myself," she replied and then bidding them both farewell, she stepped out of the house.

***