Gotham City- 2100

"Yeah we did...so maybe Bat-Girl will stick around...but perhaps with someone different behind the cowl."

"Alright.", Derek says.

"Actually..." Angelica says, getting a jacket from the rack by the door. "I'll be back."

"Not running off, are you?"

"No, not running off. Running to." Angelica then runs off towards the Gotham City Orphanage.

Derek watches her leave then heads for the cabinet, putting the bottle away, heading into the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea.

Angelica returns little over an hour later with a young girl. "Derek, this is Lorelei. She lives at the Gotham City Orphanage."

"I-It's nice to meet you, sir," Lorelei says.

Angelica glances around the room then dashes to the chair Derek had been sitting in and grabs the costume, throwing it into the closet. "Sorry, dirty clothes. Lorelei, this is my half-brother."

"I know what you're trying to...", he stops with a sigh noticing Angelica's look. Derek looks at Lorelei. "Nice to meet you, Lorelei. Please call me Derek", he says offering his hand.

Lorelei shakes Derek's hand then looks around the room. "Um...Ms. Foster."

"Angelica please."

"Angelica...I appreciate the gesture but...it isn't really necessary. I figure if I haven't been adopted by now, then why bother trying to get adopted at all. I made it this long without a family, right?"

Angelica stands behind Lorelei giving Derek the look as Lorelei shoots him the puppy eyes.

"You two couldn't get more obvious. You're lucky those puppy eyes work", Derek told them sternly before cracking a small smile.

Lorelei's eyes start to light up. She leaps forward and hugs Derek, nearly knocking the wind out of him. Angelica then winks at him. "Oh and I don't want to hear the word mom ever escape your lips. It'll freak me out."

Derek patted her back smiling before letting out a chuckle at Angelica.

"Oh yeah. Derek, Lorelei here is quite the science wiz."

"Is that so", Derek says looking at Lorelei.

Lorelei nods and looks down. "I guess," she says.

"Anyway, I can go to sign those papers tomorrow. Legally you'd be more my responsibility but a small, one room apartment isn't ideal for two so you may want to stay here for a bit."

"I have a spare bedroom she can use", Derek says.

After Lorelei leaves, Angelica turns to Derek. "You should see her fight. Better than I was at that age."

"I have a hard time believing that but I trust your word."

"Just give it a while. Don't want to rush into this. Has to be a...delicate process,, y'know? I'm going to go get some rest. Have fun. Maybe test that big brain of hers while I'm gone. Might even give you a run for your money.," Angelica jokes.

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time I've been dumbfounded! Sleep well, Angelica"

Lorelei looks around in the extra room and sits on the bed, running her hands through her hair. She then looks through her binder of complex formulas and machine designs.

Derek takes the costume from his closet and stuffs it inside a bag, cleaning up the place.

Lorelei walks out of her room and sits down. "So...I have a question. What do you think of Batman?"

Derek arches an eyebrow and looks back at her for a moment. "Batman? Hm. I don't know exactly. I looked up to him when I was younger.", he said throwing the bag inside the closet. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know. I've always thought Batman was just really cool...but no one else ever thinks so."