“Rachel Dawes was a brave woman, she would no back down. No matter how this city tried trip her up along the way.” He paused to clear his throat; it stopped the feeling of constriction. She always fought for what was right and just.” He looked over the crowd and then dragged his eyes over to alter, and finally to her picture once again. “Finally, I know I speak for everyone who knew her, she will continue to live on in our hearts.” Tears flooded his eyes once again, he dapped them away with his handkerchief.

“And now a dear friend of Rachel’s, Bruce Wayne will say a few words.” He met the young man half to the steps. Looking at him, Wayne looked as sad as he felt. They shook hands and patted each other on the back. Carefully, he made his way back to Barbara. She gave him one of her brave smiles. As he sat down next to her, she took his hand and squeezed it. In this time when he felt hollow, the simple gesture warmed his heart, knowing he could stay strong with her by his side. It hit him, listening to Wayne’s words that he was glad knowing that Rachel, was in a better place and never saw what had become of Harvey, it would have most likely broke her heart.                          

           The Funeral

            From the picture that sat on the alter; her brown eyes stared at him. He had promised to protect her no matter what. Sure, that had been well over seven years ago but a promise was a promise, Jim thought to himself. Trying to tear his gaze away the picture, looking at it struck him sharply in the heart he scanned the room. He recognized many familiar faces. It was lower key of an affair then Dent’s had been but that was to be expected. All things considered, he still didn’t know how he managed to talk at that service but then again he and the Batman had made a promise to each other, to keep Harvey a hero.

           
            “And Commissioner Gordon is now going to say a few words.” He heard the mayor say. He exhaled heavily; he could feel Barbara giving him a reassuring squeeze on his hand. He bit his cheek so that his knees would not buckle when he stood up. Carefully, he made his way to the podium. He could feel her eyes on him he knew that was ridiculous. Looking into the crowd again, he spotted Bruce Wayne, the playboy looked shaken, he had not seen him that upset since he was a little boy. He didn’t think he still had those feelings in him. But then again, Rachel and him had been friends since childhood.

            Wobbly, the mayor and him patted each other on the back and shook hands before he came to stand at the podium. He finally let himself gaze at her picture again. Tears that he had been swallowing back since that fateful night when he found out he had arrived too late, finally spilled. Removing his glasses and dabbed them with his handkerchief. It was the same handkerchief, he somehow managed to swallow the lump that easily rose in his throat, and he found his voice, for her.

           “Today, we are here to remember Rachel. . .”