Preordained Chapter 11

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Preordained

by DebC and Christina A

Summary: Bruce & Grace reunite after a painful 4-month separation and everyone’s lives are affected.

Chapter Eleven

Saturday, January 22, 2005

Bruce was already in the kitchen when Grace got out of the shower after her workout. Despite having been out on patrol for a good portion of the night, he was up early making sure they had all the provisions and groceries they needed for the day. He and Alfred were going over the inventory as she walked into the kitchen.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said when he saw her. “I was just going to come looking for you.” He stood when she walked over to him and kissed her gently. Of course, had he come looking for her, they might not have left the bedroom.

“All set?”

“Almost. We need some music…” He nodded to the CD player on the counter. “…and we’re all set.”

*-*-*

Courtney and Seth were leaning up against the counter flipping through CD’s. It was a wide assortment, and the couple was discussing vigorously over which CD should be placed first into the player. It was a rather heated discussion, colored by much teasing and playing. It was almost as if the ‘discussions’ were a form of foreplay for the two of them.

Bruce and Grace were standing at the island cutting vegetables for dinner. Dropping her knife, she gave Bruce a peck on the cheek and headed toward the player. It was as if she was drawn to the CD by sheer gravity. Picking up Tim McGraw’s Greatest Hits CD, she popped it in the player, pushed the ‘shuffle’ button and smiled brightly at the open-mouthed pair as Tim’s voice filled the kitchen. “Now, something to listen to while you guys ‘discuss’ whether Bon Jovi or The
Temptations rule the world.”

Courtney was the first to laugh. “She’s hopeless… hopeless and predictable…”

“And you aren’t?” Seth teased. “Who went right for the Oldies?”

“Who’s holding Bon Jovi?”

“Not me,” he said, holding up the Guns ‘N Roses CD.

“Oh you just put Bon Jovi down then,” she accused. “That’s sooo cheating.”

“Courtney, how can it be cheating? I didn’t know there were rules for looking through CD’s.”

“There are rules for everything,” she joked with him. “Of all people,
Terminator Meyers should know that!”

“And Hurricane Courtney knows about rules…” Seth quipped back.
“Mrs. I-Don’t-Know-How-To-Knock.”

That caused Grace to finally bust out laughing.

“They aren’t so much rules for looking for CDs as they are rules for looking with Nee,” Bruce commented jovially, winking before turning back to the vegetables he was cutting. “Are Alex and AnnaBeth coming, or is it just us?”

“They’ll be here,” Seth supplied, putting the Guns ‘N Roses CD in the player and then adding the one Courtney was holding into it as well. “Just not sure when. Alex said something about moving not being something he particularly wanted to do,” he chuckled.

“Excuse me,” Courtney interrupted, having her own comment to make on the earlier conversation. “I’ll have you know it’s not rules… it’s etiquette.”

Grace’s brows furrowed. “Huh?”

“Etiquette… you know… selecting CD’s for large groups of people, you should be aware that everyone has different tastes…”

“And go right for your favorite,” Seth smiled, “which each of us did.”
Courtney had walked over to the counter as she spoke, and Seth moved up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on the top of her head.

“You guys just like picking on me,” she feigned offense.

It was then that Alfred entered. “Please excuse me, but Master Alex and Miss AnnaBeth have arrived.” He stepped aside and allowed the other couple to enter.

AnnaBeth, getting a look at Grace cutting vegetables, quickly walked over to her, shaking her head. Her accented voice filled the room, “I should have known. You put the music on, did you not?”

This time it was Seth who laughed. “See what I mean?” He shook his head before quickly explaining to the late arriving couple what had just transpired.

“If I might suggest,” Alfred interjected from the doorway, where he was just about to excuse himself. Everyone turned to look, and Bruce gave him a nod to go ahead. “Why not have everyone select a disk and play them all?” He then excused himself to tend to other matters.

“Alright then!” Alex proclaimed, rubbing his hands as he and AnnaBeth came further into the kitchen. “Where’s the Def Leppard?”

“Probably with Seth’s Bon Jovi. They didn’t make Nee’s criteria, I think,” Bruce joked, setting his knife down and reaching for a paper towel. Walking over to the counter, he flipped through a small stack of CDs that had been set aside prior to anyone’s arrival and pulled one out. “Here you go, Nee, an oldie but a goodie,” he commented, handing her ‘Simon & Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits’ before going back to the dinner preparations.

AnnaBeth followed Courtney over and finding the Norah Jones’ she loved so much, she asked the other woman to add it to the mix. Once all the disks were loaded, Courtney pushed ‘shuffle’ and the CD player began playing the music at random.

Seth smiled as Courtney rejoined him. “It is really the only fair way to go about it. Given the diversity of this group, there’s no way to find one type of music to satisfy us all.”

AnnaBeth shook her head. “He is very… nai… No, I mean, ambiguous, is he not?”

“He’s something…” Grace quipped, finishing one set of vegetables and moving the knife expertly over the next grouping. “The man is an advertiser, Bethie, b.s-ing is his business. You’re boyfriend is just as bad as Seth.”

AnnaBeth looked at Alex, her dark eyes seeming to glare at him and she let forth what could only be construed as a string of Greek curses toward the other man.

Grace’s knife stopped. Courtney and Seth merely stared. Alex whistled unknowingly as he was still standing by the CD player looking through the selection.

Bruce’s reaction was to make brief eye contact with AnnaBeth, look from her to Alex, and cough as he turned back to the chicken he’d begun to chop. The cough however, hid a muttered response to what she’d said. In Greek.

He didn’t think anyone heard him, however, as Alex suddenly shouted, “Eureka!” and held up a Whitesnake CD.

Grace rolled her eyes. “Lord save us from big hair and the 80?s.”

As Seth and Alex both vehemently set out to give their opinions and
Courtney agreed with Grace in spades, AnnaBeth looked at Bruce. She knew he felt her eyes on him and when he looked up at her, she smiled.
He was dead on right about what he said too.

“Just what is wrong with Whitesnake?” Seth asked. “I’ll bet you don’t like Bon Jovi either.”

“Actually,” Grace gestured with her knife. “I used to think Jon Bon
Jovi had the cutest butt. Had pictures of him all over my wall when I was a teenager.”

“And I thought our generation was more the beginning of the boy bands,”
Courtney voiced. “Like New Kids On The Block.” She laughed.
“Remember Dad took us to that concert… and that other girl that went with us passed out because she got so excited.”

“NKOTB,” Seth and Grace said simultaneously.

“The beginning of the decline of ‘good’ music,” Seth laughed.

“New what?” Bruce muttered, deciding to stay out of this conversation. “Never mind… I probably don’t want to know.” He shot AnnaBeth a conspiratory smile and explained, “It’s easier to let the rest of them go at it. They’re so much more passionate about things than I am.”

“Now who’s b.s.ing?” Alex quipped, having been flipping between both conversations as he reached for a handful of chips. “Gracie, you gotta watch this one. He’s over here putting the moves on my girl!”

“Your girl… Alex…” She shrugged popping a carrot in her mouth.
She looked at Bruce and smiled brightly, giving him a wink before turning back to Alex. “He dated you, didn’t he?” Her eyes went immediately back to Bruce.

Courtney tried to hold back her laugh… Seth was open-mouthed. Alex merely shrugged and chewed thoughtfully on one of his potato chips. “Sure did. One night stand… though I did get a lovely bouquet of Blow Pops.” He smiled widely and patted his stomach.

“Well, I couldn’t get you the flowers, Alex,” Bruce quipped, obviously not letting anything spoil his good mood. He finished chopping the chicken breasts and set them in bowl with some sort of marinade, then reached for a paper towel to wipe his hands. “You wouldn’t wear a dress.”

“Didn’t know you wanted me too, man,” Alex shot back, grinning. “’Sides, the invitations said black tie.”

Seth laughed at that. “Wouldn’t be the first time Alex wore a dress to impress a man,” he joined in the teasing.

Grace by now had finished chopping the vegetables. The picture of Alex in a dress was almost too much for her. “Seth, that is the stuff nightmares are made out of. Please tell me he didn’t wear a wig and makeup.”

“Hold on there,” Alex pointed out. “Seth wore one too.”

Courtney, who had still be nestled in Seth’s arms, turned to face her husband. “I’m married to a cross-dresser,” she mock-grieved.

“I bet,” AnnaBeth interjected, though she was so good at playing serious it was hard to tell when she was teasing. “I bet Seth would look good in say… Bill Blass… Spring line 1999. When pink was the new ‘black’.”

Grace had been about to take a drink when AnnaBeth spoke and nearly choked before getting the beverage down. “Oh God pink…” Her face was almost red with laughter. “That was the year that I was the only model not to wear the ‘signature color’ for the Spring Line.” She did her best impression of the designer. “You make my clothes look *dis*Grace*ful*. Here… you wear the black.”

“See?” Courtney looked at Bruce and waggled her brows. “I told you about pink.”

“Well, I never said I liked the color. Though I agree with Bethie, Seth would look good in it.” She moved to lean back against the counter. The smile on her face was huge. She was surrounded by her friends… Bruce once again in her life… They were laughing, teasing, and carrying on… Everything was just like it was supposed to be.

Courtney reached for a potato chip. “So Bruce, does that have to cure for days before you can cook it? I’m starving.”

Bruce laughed. “Honestly, Nee! And here you were warning me about Alex’s appetite and it’s yours I needed to worry about!”

“Warned you about what?” Alex asked, shocked, as he reached for another chip. “What’d I do?”

“Nothing,” Bruce assured him as he refilled the chip bowl and this time set out a homemade spinach dip. He leveled a mock-glare on Courtney. “No, my dear Ms. Impatient,” he teased. “It’s not going to take days to cure. More like a half hour.” He seemed to consider, going over a mental checklist of what he needed to do yet before –and while– he cooked. “I have a few minor things to take care of yet.” The rice and noodles, for one thing. Bruce hadn’t cooked for this many people before.

Reaching for a piece of celery, AnnaBeth took a long leisurely walk around the kitchen while Bruce was explaining about the meal. She’d been in palatial estates before, but none of them had ever equaled this one. She briefly wondered how Grace could feel comfortable in a place like this, but the question was never asked, as the answer was standing right beside her.

Grace instinctively placed a hand on Bruce’s back, like just having the touch was so important to her. “Well, all the vegetables are chopped.
And given that he’s cooking for a small army, I think that was what took up the most time.”

Courtney’s eyes narrowed as she stuck out her tongue at Bruce. “I’ve never made a pretense that I don’t like to eat.” Her facial features softened and a smile spread across her face. “We all can’t be dainty little eaters, you know.” She laughed lightly. Just about everyone in the room knew how Alfred got on Bruce for not eating like he should.
And Courtney being who she was, she couldn’t resist teasing him.

“Though Bruce is right,” Seth said to Courtney, “I think there are days when you could give Alex a run for his money in an eating contest, especially if it’s pizza.”

She sighed audibly. “Oh yeah. I love pizza.” She grabbed another chip, added a little dip to it, and chewed thoughtfully.

“A dainty eater, huh?” Seth looked at Bruce as he asked.

“I eat!” Bruce protested, glaring at Courtney.

“Bruce, please,” Courtney came back at him. “There’s a very good reason Alfred announces every meal, too.” To the others, she explained, “Once, he got so wrapped up in one of his top secret science geek projects that he forgot” forgot was in ‘finger quotes’ as she spoke the word “to eat for nearly three days. Alfred’s kept tabs on his meals ever since. And besides…” She said accusingly to Bruce. “When you do eat, you pick at your food.”

Bruce opened his mouth to deny it when Alex patted him on the shoulder. “You do, man. You pick.” At Bruce’s exasperated look, he grinned. “But that’s just more for the rest of us, right?”

Grace looked around the room. Everyone was smiling and having fun, but she couldn’t help but be the one to defend her lover. “Ok, now I admit, even I like to fuss over him about his eating. However,” and she put a great emphasis on the word ‘however’, “I feel I must speak up about one very important fact. He’s not malnourished.” She glanced over at him and gave him a wink. “Seeing as to how I have an insight the rest of you don’t. He may pick at his food… but the body…”
She fanned herself. “Well, lemme just say this… It’s sheer perfection.”

At this, Bruce’s face turned several shades brighter than Courtney’s hair and his expression was thoroughly flummoxed. He shook his head, and finally made eye contact with a grinning Courtney. “Okay, you win,” he joked. “I’ll cook the food now!”

At that, the entire room erupted with laughter. Alex actually had to wipe away tears; he was laughing so hard.

When the laughter settled down and Courtney was content to see that
Bruce was indeed cooking, everyone set out to munching and mingling.
Grace, playing the hostess, served up drinks for everyone, stopping lastly at Bruce and setting his glass on the counter by the stove so it was available should he want it. She rested her cheek momentarily on his back, just at the shoulder.

“Ok, you two,” Courtney interrupted.

Seth chuckled. “Yeah, Gracie, get in the way of his cooking and
Courtney may blow a gasket.”

She lingered for another moment or two before placing a kiss on his shoulder and then moving away. Leaning on the now cleared island, she smiled brightly up at Seth. “She just wouldn’t be Courtney Meyers if she didn’t blow a gasket at least once, if not twice, a day.”

Alex smirked. “She’s right there.”

“I do not blow gaskets,” the topic of conversation retorted, “I speak my opinion. Just because there is no filter between my brain and my mouth does not necessarily mean I blow a gasket. If I think it, I say it.” She moved to stand by AnnaBeth. “I mean really, you guys act like I’m pushy and over reactive or something.”

“Um…” AnnaBeth spoke softly, at first. “Excuse me, not that you are pushy, but isn’t your nickname Hurricane Courtney?”

Grace’s head fell to the counter as she laughed. “That’s one of them.”

Courtney shook her head. “I have several.” Pointing at Seth, she said, “He calls me a steamroller.” Pointing to Grace, she said, “I’m sure she has more nicknames for me than even I know about.”

AnnaBeth smiled. “And your friend Bruce thought you were a lunatic when you first met. Ah, yes! I remember that from the conversation at the restaurant. I say, ‘Good for you’. Nothing wrong with a woman who speaks her mind.”

Grace sighed and laughed. “I think I’m going to add Incorrigible Courtney to my list of nicknames.”

Courtney, in reply, flipped Grace off before laughing as well.

Bruce grinned, and reached into one of the cupboards, pulling out a second wok, which he threw a portion of the meat and vegetables into. None of his pots looked liked they’d be used in any restaurant in the city. In fact, they were the originals he’d learned on during his trip to China and had been properly seasoned with age and use.

“You know,” he said as he reached for his glass. He took a sip and then set the glass back on the counter. “I’m gonna be a little while with all this food. If you wanted, Nee… I could get Alfred in here and you and he could give AnnaBeth the official ‘fun land’ tour.”

“Fun land tour?” Alex butted in, stopping Courtney’s coming reply. “You mean, like… an official tour of this place?” he asked, enthusiastic. He’d been waiting two full years to get to see past the main foyer, the backyard and… basically everything not roped off for charity events.

Bruce shrugged. “It’ll keep Nee from mutinying when the smell of the food starts getting to her, anyway. How ‘bout it, Nee?”

She smiled and picked up her glass. “Why not?”

Seth stood and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Sounds like fun.
I’ve always wanted to get a real gander at this place.”

Nee’s look grew a bit devious. “The ‘fun land’ tour with a few perks… like the den… Grace’s purple mahogany bedroom… the den…” She grinned. “It’s not going to be in use, is it?”

“Courtney, you are evil personified,” Grace said. “The den’s already been done.”

Alex slipped his arm around AnnaBeth who said, “Indeed, I would like to see this estate. I was just thinking earlier that I have been in many palatial homes but none have been quite like this.”

“It’s unanimous, then,” Seth said. “Let’s get Alfred and the tour can begin.”

“You coming, Gracie Lou?” Courtney asked, though she knew the answer already.

Shaking her head, she moved back to lean against the counter next to the stove. “Nah! I live here, after all. And I *really* wouldn’t want to embarrass myself in front of everyone by getting lost.” She laughed lightly. “Besides, Bruce has two woks going here. Someone should help him stir.”

Alex waggled his brows. “Yeah… is that what you call it nowadays?
Stirring?”

“I don’t believe I know what you’re inferring there, Alex,” Bruce stated, laughing as he crossed the kitchen to reach for the phone mounted on the wall. He grinned and winked at AnnaBeth, before picking up the receiver and pressing a button. “Hello, Alfred,” he said when he got the butler on the line. “Our guests would like the tour while they await their meal. Think you could come down and give Nee a hand. Keep her from showing them my bedroom, please?”

“Would I do that?” Courtney responded as Bruce hung up the phone.

“I’m beginning to wonder,” Bruce shot back, laughing when she rolled her eyes.

Alex turned to AnnaBeth and Seth, shaking his head, he said, “You know, I don’t believe I’ve seen him in this good a mood in… well, as long as I’ve known the man. Are we sure old Alfred isn’t drugging his food?”

“It’s a drug alright,” Courtney said.

“But I doubt it’s anything Alfred’s doing,” Seth added.

Grace swirled the wine in her glass and looked up at Seth. “If Alfred is… I’m getting it too.”

“Now that, I won’t argue about,” Courtney said as Alfred entered the kitchen. She approached the butler, whom she completely adored and shook her head at him. “I can’t believe he thinks I’d show them his bedroom. I mean, it’s not like I’m going to take everyone in there and rifle through his underwear drawer. Sheesh.” She laughed, as Alfred led the group out, she turned back to Bruce. “Though if it makes you turn that pretty shade of red, I may *really* consider it.”

“I love you, too, Nee,” Bruce told her sarcastically, waving as Alfred motioned for the others to follow him. He was still shaking his head when the door closed behind.

Once alone, he walked back over to the stove to check his woks, stirring and flipping each before lowering the heat on them. When he was certain they were at the right temperature, he walked over to where Grace was now leaning, watching him, against the counter. “Now… about all this stirring…” he began, a wicked smile spreading across his face.

Reaching out, she slipped her finger through one of the loopholes for his belt and pulled him toward her. “There is some stirring going on… In here,” she said, using her other hand she motioned toward her chest. “Courtney picking on me because I wanted a bit of physical contact.” She smiled. “If she only knew that I was actually restraining myself…” She continued to pull him more closely to her.
“‘Cause I have to say, there is something entirely too sexy about watching you stand at that stove and cook.”

Her eyes didn’t break from his and when he was standing completely in her space, she lightly caressed his cheek. “I thought I was being good. Heck of a lot better than I wanted to be.” Her voiced dropped slightly as she said the last.

“Who said you have to be good?” Bruce said, his voice following hers lower than it had previously been. He slid his fingers into her soft curls, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs as their faces drew closer with the inevitability of a kiss. “Grace…” he breathed, enraptured by what he was seeing in her eyes. He tasted her lips tentatively at first, his mind half on the food he was supposed to be cooking, but soon found that his mind wanted nothing to do with the responsibility. All it wanted –all the ‘food’ he hungered for– was in his arms.

“Sexy, huh?’ he commented when the kissed ended. “Maybe I should cook more often?”

“Or,” she tried, her voice husky with emotion, “or we could just come down here and you could stand at the stove holding a spatula.” Her fingers moved to grab his waist, pulling his hips more flush against hers. When they kissed this time, it was deeper, more intimate, and more passionate. It was like they were able to go from a complete stop to full speed in less than a second. As always though, it wasn’t the fulfillment of a physical need. He was right; she shouldn’t have to be ‘good’ when the others were around. If she wanted to touch, to feel, to kiss him, then she should be able to do so.

When they finally broke for air, she pressed her forehead to his and tried to catch her breath. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea to me.”

“S… sounds like a plan,” he agreed, breathless from the kisses. He didn’t release her right away, and they stood there, foreheads pressed together until breathing became normal. “I love you,” he whispered softly, his hands still in her hair, one of them stroking in a way that could only mean it would be mussed and out of place when he was done.

“I love you,” she responded, her voice level matching his. Her heart was still beating wildly. There was little doubt that her lips were swollen from the kisses. The kisses themselves had created other aching needs within her, much as they had with him. But as it always was with them, her heart swelled with emotion. It was so much more than physical, and indescribable in many more ways. He could just stand here forever, his forehead touching hers; and she would feel as ‘fulfilled’ as if he would spin her around, put her on the island, and have his way with her. Though the last caused her to smile. “You’re everything to me,” she said, her voice still soft, meaning it and feeling it throughout her entire being.

“Hold that thought,” he told her, and releasing her, he took her hands as he turned back to the stove. Her hands he guided to his waist as he stirred the food, then picked up one wok, tossed the contents with a skilled hand and then repeated the process with the other wok. When he was done, he checked the noodles. Their bodies moved together as he flitted from one pot on the stove to the next.

“Where were we?” he asked when he was finished with this round of in between tasks. He turned to face her, backing her up against the island as his arms sought to hold her. He seemed to consider his own answer. “Oh, yeah…” his voice darkened as he leaned into her, face close to hers. “You’re the world to me… my whole world.”

She was reeling a bit from the situation that had just transpired. The way they easily moved together; how easy it was for her to anticipate where he was going and how quickly he was going to get there. Feeling the edge of the island press against her back, she let the hand that was on his waist pull him even more closely to her. The other hand buried in his hair, bringing him in for a kiss.

It happened like this all the time for her… for them. She’d told him he was everything to her, and he’d responded that she was his world.
And as they were standing there, pressed against the island kissing, the world did indeed shrink down to the two of them and this moment.
Even as the kiss drew to an end and they were both standing there breathless, lips still touching, the world was still just them… no one else but them.

All Bruce knew was Grace: his arms around her, her hand in his hair, the way their lips teased and played until neither of them could breathe. He didn’t hear the door behind them open until Alex’s voice boomed out a cheery mid-sentence. “–fun! Now, let’s just see what’s cookin’ in the kitch–“ the words broke off, and the following “–en” was accompanied by a soft, heavily accented gasp of surprise. That was AnnaBeth, although Bruce didn’t quite realize it until he and Grace had sprung apart a little and had moved away from the island.

“God! You two are worse than horny teenagers!” Courtney exclaimed over Seth’s laughing protests that they should just go into the dining room and let Bruce ‘handle the cooking.’

Grace ran an unapologetic hand through her hair. A small smile spread across her face as her eyes fell on Bruce. She watched him for a moment while everyone took up a place in the large kitchen. It was on the tip of her tongue to give a retort to Courtney, but instead she chose diversion. Just as Bruce turned to pay attention to the food, she glanced at the group. She knew her hair was mussed, lips swollen, and face flushed. But it was like he said; there was nothing they needed to keep hidden. They weren’t horny (ok so she was a bit horny now) and they definitely weren’t teenagers. But he was necessary to her, and she wasn’t going to deny herself anything where he was concerned.

Looking to AnnaBeth, she asked, “So, what did you think of the estate?”

“Wicked awesome!!” Alex interjected.

AnnaBeth patted his leg affectionately before getting up and moving toward her purse. “It is indeed a most exquisite piece of property.”
Pulling a pick out of her bag, she moved to Grace, taking her a bit away from the stove and expertly arranged her friend’s hair as she continued, “There are pieces here… on display… that I studied about in my school. Alfred assures me they are authentic. Rooms that only see people or daylight when the staff cleans them. Again, Alfred explained that many were opened just for tours.” When Grace’s hair was done to her satisfaction, she put her pick back in her purse. “It is almost overwhelmingly beautiful… a treasure of its own in many respects.”

Grace smiled at the way AnnaBeth’s actions felt so completely normal.
Mussed was simply not a statement AnnaBeth made often, so fixing Grace was second nature to them both. But she was also struck by AnnaBeth’s words. She was never really overwhelmed with much of anything by way of the Manor, except for the man who owned it. But ‘seeing’ it through her friend’s eyes… through the eyes of a woman who more than appreciated the ‘finery’ of life, Grace was moved.

Bruce was nodding as AnnaBeth talked about the antiques. While he busied himself setting everything in serving dishes, he added to the conversation. “Most of them were purchased in my grandparents’ and great-grandparents’ times. My family has always had an appreciation for beautiful things. Me?” He paused long enough to turn his head to Grace, giving her a softer, slightly intimate smile. “My greatest contribution to the collection is Grace.” In his heart, she was… truly the most exquisite work of art in the entire world.

Courtney opened her mouth to shoot off a comment only to find Seth’s arm on hers. A gentle reminder that sometimes, though she didn’t have a filter, she didn’t need to always say what she was thinking.

Grace had been watching AnnaBeth when Bruce first started speaking. At his question of himself, she turned her gaze to him. The last sentence was said with her eyes on him. And they were far more than words. She’d had people tell her throughout her entire life that she was beautiful. Her entire modeling career had been based on an agent being ‘swept away’ by it. But she never put much stock into such compliments. They were outward appraisals and didn’t mean much to her.

But when Bruce said it… when he compared her to the finer, beautiful, and priceless treasures that were within his home… it was more than a compliment to her physical appearance and she knew it. And this was one of the reasons she loved him like she did. He completed her; there was no doubt about that. He loved her. The one person who could see into her soul… and love her beyond reason. Reaching out, she stopped him from dispensing food and wrapped her arms around him in a short but extremely tender and intimate embrace.

Seth watched the exchange and was immediately struck by the impact of it. How Grace instinctively heard his words and reacted as if they touched the very core of her. His eyes drifted over to his wife. Softly, he brushed a hand through her hair and she shrugged in her way of apology for almost opening her mouth and possibly demeaning the moment.

AnnaBeth looked at Alex and smiled. “In my country, we call that,” here she spouted off a couple words in Greek.

“What does that mean?” Alex asked, not understanding the words but knowing they were special.

“Soul mates…” Bruce answered instead of AnnaBeth, though his eyes never left Grace’s and his arms tightened around her as if letting her go at this moment was akin to tragedy. He didn’t even seem to notice that he’d let it slip that he knew what she’d been saying earlier. Nor did he catch the astonished look on Alex’s face when he *did* notice it.

“What a minute! You speak Greek!?” Alex demanded to know.

Bruce shrugged. “I spent the summer between my junior and senior year of boarding school in Greece for an archaeological dig. I guess I picked it up.”

“Right,” Alex persisted. “But that means you know what she’s been saying all this time?”

It finally dawned on Bruce what Alex was getting at. “Well, yeah, but it’s really not my place to go repeating a lady’s secrets out of turn.”

Grace had her face to the group, but her eyes were closed as she not only heard Bruce’s words but felt them reverberating through his chest. The simplest of things, but it touched her soul. AnnaBeth was right… soul mates.

Alex let out an audible sigh. He’d been dying to know what Bethie was saying about him. It sounded so… so… offensive and yet her actions dictated the complete opposite. He’d even spent hours on the Internet searching for websites that could give him a hint. It was like the biggest secret of the world… and the key to unlock it was bound by chivalry.

Seth listened to the exchange and chuckled at Alex before something
Bruce said struck him. “Hold on… archaeological dig? Between junior and senior year in high school?”

“Boarding school,” Courtney corrected. “Hello, I said earlier that he was a science geek. Seventeen years old and voluntarily spending his summer digging in the dirt for ancient pottery or dinosaur bones. Only a science geek would do that.”

“Or someone who has a deep appreciation for education,” AnnaBeth added. “Though I must admit, that for a young man of that age to take such an interest that he would give up a summer…” Looking at Alex, she asked, “What is it you call it? Skirt-chasing?” At Alex’s laugh, she continued, “It is highly interesting.”

Grace lifted her head and looked up at Bruce. Smiling, she said, “He has a love of knowledge.”

Courtney nodded in agreement. “He really does. I mean, I tease about the geek stuff… but,” and it was mostly thoughts about her illness that guided her next statement, “you always know that when he speaks about something, he’s researched enough sources to know all the angles and all the opinions and can therefore make his own.” She did tease him about it, probably far more than she should. But she just couldn’t help herself. “We love that about you though, Bruce,” she said with a smile and a glint in her eyes. Though it was really no tease, she meant it.

‘I love you, too, Nee,’ Bruce’s expression said as he stared at her, thoughtfully. Her words had choked him up to the point where words would be impossible. The research he knew without a doubt that she spoke of had been done for her, to help find doctors when she was ill. He’d poured every ounce of energy he could into it, because at the time, it had been all he could do; and although he knew it had been Seth who’d helped her find the right treatment, he knew his research had helped narrow the list of what was and wasn’t the problem down. Although, at the time, Bruce had wanted nothing more than to simply make his friend better by demanding that the cancer simply leave her body of it’s own volition.

“I’d love him even more if those serving dishes means the food is ready,” Alex quipped, trying to lighten a mood he felt was on the verge of getting deeper than it had been all day.

*-*-*

The food had been taken into the ‘staff’ dining room. It was more intimate here than in the formal dining area. And although it was designated for the staff, it was still a beautiful room in its own right. Windows provided a view of the ‘back yard’, which was dusted with white from the light snow of the day. A fire was lit in the fireplace and faint white light gave the room a soft glow. The table they were sitting at was circular, allowing each person to sit next to his or her significant other and still look around and talk to everyone in the group.

All agreed that the Mandarin chicken stir-fry was indeed some of the best Chinese they’d ever tasted. Seth even went so far as to compliment that he’d come here for his ‘take out’ from now on.

They were all using chopsticks, though Bruce had also offered them the use of forks should they want them.

True to his form, Alex was on his second helping while the others were still finishing their first.

Grace set down her chopsticks and looked around at the group, her eyes landing on Bruce’s. Courtney was sitting on the other side of him, happily enjoying the dish. Her gaze turned back to Bruce, and it was as if he knew he was the center of her attention. When he looked at her, she smiled. “Your dinner is a big hit. Not much conversation means everyone is enjoying their food.”

“Either that, or we starved them long enough that anything tastes good,” he quipped back, but his voice and eyes bespoke a certain amount of pride that he’d pulled off a successful meal. “Bite?” he inquired, dipping his chopsticks to his plate and bringing a piece of chicken up to Grace’s mouth. She took a bite, then returned the action, feeding him from her plate as well. Their eyes met, and for several minutes, they sat feeding each other –nourishing each other devotedly– as if they were completely alone.

Which, in a sense, they were. When their eyes locked gazes, Bruce lost track over everything in the room –the whole world– but Grace. The background melted away and the only two people in the world were them. It happened a lot, actually, but Bruce didn’t care if anyone noticed or thought it odd. He loved her, more and more with each passing second he was with her. And he needed her, like people need air. He hadn’t lived until the day they first met; he’d only been surviving life while waiting to meet her. From that moment, that first touch –he smiled absently, dreamily, as he remembered that electrifying hug she’d given him and the kisses that had followed– he’d been as a newly awakened soul, experiencing the world for the very first time.

The smile that spread across her face was actually only for him. Or more, it was because of him. One of her favorite songs contained the lyrics, ‘I was born the day you kissed me, and I died inside the night you left me.’ She hadn’t truly realized until that afternoon when she woke up and he was sitting, worrying by the bed… but that’s what had happened for her. That first date, she’d been born. Moving out had killed her. This was the resurrection. He was her life. She looked into his eyes and saw herself in them. Between them, there was no beginning, middle or end. They were a concentric circle. Today had been proof of that.

“See what I mean?” Courtney pointed out, using her chopsticks to gesture to the couple.

AnnaBeth shook her head. “Actually, I see what I mean,” AnnaBeth corrected. “Two souls find one another. Two souls out of how many billions. If you think about the events that led up to their meeting… it’s more kismet than chance that arranged it.” She smiled as she took a bite of her food. “We all love,” here she set her chopsticks down and took Alex’s hand. “We all show it differently. Some couples happily bicker.” That caused Courtney to chuckle, as she knew AnnaBeth was referring to her and Seth. “Some ‘curse’ at their mate in a foreign language. And then there are those,” she nodded toward Bruce and Grace, “who exist solely for each other.”

Three of the four people looked over at the hosts who still genuinely seemed oblivious to the others around them. Eyes locked solely on the other person; identical smiles on their faces.

“Okay, I get it,” Courtney admitted, “but you have to admit… they do have a lot in common with rabbits as well.”

Seth was about to open his mouth and give his opinion when a loud voice interrupted him. “Holy SHIT!” Alex exclaimed. Looking at AnnaBeth, he said, “Did you just say you loved me?!”

AnnaBeth truly did curse in Greek this time, as she hadn’t realized that that’s exactly what she had admitted to. With a shake of her head, she repeated an earlier phrase in Greek and explained, “That means I have great affection for you, yes. But shall we discuss it later?”

“Oh we’re going to do a lot more than ‘discuss’,” Alex promised.

Everyone looked at Courtney and it took her a moment to figure out why. Alex hadn’t just propositioned her… And then it dawned on her. “He’s a horny teenager!” she said with a laugh.

Laughter invaded the bubble in which Bruce and Grace now existed, reminding them both of their guests. Bruce blinked, realizing they’d missed something big, and hoping it wasn’t some joke at their expense. A quick glance, however, told him Alex must have been the focus, as the other man was red-faced as he laughed, his fingers entwined with AnnaBeth’s. Bruce had to admit, he was starting to like AnnaBeth a lot. And Alex? He hadn’t seen the group’s official ‘clown’ more serious about anyone in the whole two years he’d known him. Not that anyone who didn’t know Alex would be able to tell that he was being serious.

Looking around the table at his friends, Bruce was certain no one was going to begrudge either of them their little zone-out. Or was that a zone-in? Bruce wasn’t sure, but from where he was sitting, it was more like tuning in to the center of his universe. They were laughing and happy, with mostly clean plates and empty wine glasses.

It was the wine glasses, however, that reminded Bruce that he had host duties to perform, even in a smaller, personal group like this. Reaching for the empty bottle in the center of the table, he cleared his throat a little as he asked, “Would anyone like more wine? Food? Anything?”

“There’s more food?” Alex questioned, earning him a swat from AnnaBeth.

“You’ve had three plates already and are 30 years old.”

“So?”

She shook her head as if it should have been obvious. “I would like some wine, please Bruce.”

As the hostess of this gathering, Grace stood as well, “If anyone’s done, I’ll take your plates. Bring out dessert.” She smiled. There was something about doing this… She and Bruce working as host and hostess to the small, intimate gathering. She’d always loved doing things like this. As she took up the empty plates, she couldn’t help but feel blessed. This is where she belonged, performing ‘domestic’ tasks with the person she was connected to.

“What’s for dessert?” Alex questioned, unwillingly giving up his plate with the promise of something sweet and delightful to top off the dining experience.

“It’s a surprise,” she said, patting his shoulder. “Trust me, you’ll love it.”

Grace had made the dessert herself yesterday, after they’d started talking about the prospect of having a completely homemade meal. Bruce smiled as he left the table with the empty wine bottle. He wasn’t the most ‘domestic’ of people by any accounts, but with Grace, it was almost as natural to him as breathing. He loved doing simple, normal things with her just as much, if not more so, than the special, not-so-normal things.

He went into the kitchen and dropped the bottle on the counter. “Here,” he said to Grace, who’d followed behind him –arms laden with dirty dishes. “Let me help with those,” he said, taking the plates from her hands and placing them in the sink. Later, they would be put them in the dishwasher, but for now, they could sit until after the meal.

“Things are going well in there, don’t you think?” he asked, making his way to the walk-in pantry on the far end of the kitchen. He didn’t actually look to see if she’d follow him, so much as he knew she would.

She leaned against the doorframe of the pantry watching as he looked over the large selection of imported wines. “I think things are going wonderfully, even with Courtney’s teasing about us being randy teenagers. I’m going to be 29 years old this year; I haven’t been a teenager in ten years.” She laughed lightly and folded her arms across her abdomen as she continued to watch him appreciatively. “Though I have to admit,” she leaned in as if sharing a big secret, “you do have this ability to make me feel like one.” She gave him a big smile. It was true. He made her feel young, more alive than she felt when she was a teen. And she knew it was him… she’d never felt more content and happy in her life. And if being a bit ‘randy’ were a side effect, she’d gladly deal with it.

Bruce returned the smile with one of his own. He had to admit, he thought as he stopped looking at the wines long enough to cross the pantry, that she had the same effect on him. Holding her, kissing her, and all that usually stemmed from those actions created feelings in him like nothing else in the world. When he called her amazing, it was the truth of his heart; he’d never known any love like this in his entire life. The spark between them literally amazed him.

Pressing against her, he leaned in to claim her mouth in an eager kiss.

She quickly unfolded her arms and wrapped them around his waist, holding him tightly to her, as there really wasn’t much of a transition from soft kiss to needy kiss. One moment he was standing inside the pantry searching for a bottle of wine; the next she was pressed against the doorframe and he was kissing her. Chills were instantaneous as they started in her very core and spread out in shockwaves throughout her body.

She angled her head, opening up the kiss and allowing them to deepen it even more. He tasted like the Mandarin chicken with a hint of Merlot. The other flavor was uniquely him. It was the one she’d been craving all day. He’d missed their shower because of the dinner… they’d been interrupted by the end of the ‘fun land’ tour… and now all she could think about was how good it felt to kiss him and how her body was quickly reacting to the stimulation of the kiss.

He’d only meant to kiss her once, but once their lips met, there was no denying what either of them wanted. Bruce pressed into her all the more as the kiss deepened and grew more urgent. His hips ground into hers almost of their own accord. But in the back of his mind, he knew if they started something, they’d be interrupted.

“We… need to…” he said, breaking off the kiss. He was so without breath, though, that the only way to get his message across was take her hand and lead her into the pantry. Going to the wine rack, he grasp the wooden frame with one hand and the whole wall moved, revealing another little chamber.

If her body hadn’t been shaking with desire, she may have found the revelation of the secret passage to be awe-inspiring. And indeed, she found it intriguing that such a place even existed at all. She’d been in the pantry on several occasions and had no idea this place was here. Of course, what it meant most to her now was privacy. If she didn’t know it was there, none of the others would as well. She ran her hand appreciatively down his back, grasping his belt loop again as he led her into the passage. Later, when she wasn’t being so driven by need, she’d pester him about it and how many more like it there were in this huge place. Because where there was one, there was many. “Nice little nook you have here,” she did manage to say as the opening was closed. “No interruptions,” she said, gratefully, reaching for him again.

He grinned at her, as this was exactly the point of bringing her in here. “Don’t you just love it?” he asked before his lips found hers and he pressed her back into the wall once again. The renewed kiss was nearly feverish in its urgency, as Bruce knew they couldn’t stay here long. But for now… his hands were on her hips, though moving. One slid beneath her sweater, easing back across her smooth skin to rest against the small of her back. The other moved up to cup her breast through the soft sweater. The touches drew shivers from her, which in turn sent fiery need coursing through him. His kisses grew greedier and more urgent.

She responded to his need with an urgency that was equal to his own.
One hand moved into his hair, holding his head tightly to hers, increasing the intensity of the kiss. It was as if they were trying to devour one another, to lose themselves in the sensations that the connection was creating. Her other hand was placed on top of his, on top of her sweater. It echoed his caress, rubbing over the taut nipple. But it was her hips that were doing the most ‘talking’ at the moment. They pressed into his, as the hand at the small of her back pushed them together and her movements created friction… heat… an obviously growing need.

Both knew time was not on their side. Both knew there were people waiting on them. Neither one gave it much thought as was always the way with them, all that existed right at the moment was the two of them and the need for a physical expression of the emotions that had been building between them all day.

As Bruce’s body reacted to hers, clothes became a hindrance as much as the timing thing. So little time, too many clothes. “Grace…” he managed to say, breaking off the kiss. He’d meant to say more… something about needing her, wanting her, but her name was all that came out, though the rest of the sentiment was evident in the tortured timbre to his voice.

“I know,” she echoed, just as tormented, and his hand moved from her breast to the snap of her jeans, her response being all the ‘permission’ he needed to undo them. Then both hands moved to her hips, pushing the denim open and down her hips, caressing skin.

She shivered, little goosebumps of anticipation appeared as his hands caressed the flesh of her rear. Shaky hands moved to the snap of his jeans, and only managed to get the snap undone before she felt her jeans pool at her ankles. She abandoned her task only long enough to kick off her tennis shoes and then the hindering jeans. “Bruce,” her husky voice said his name again as her desperation made trying to work on the zipper of his jeans nearly an impossibility. She knew what she wanted, what they needed, but getting to that point, making her body function to get to the point, was almost an impracticality.

She was visibly grateful when his hands replaced hers on the zipper.
Though no less steady, he seemed to be able to better work the contraption and she quickly rid herself of the white lace thong she’d put on after her shower this morning. Once the zipper was down, however, her hands moved back in, pushing the denim and the underwear he wore down, grasping at the flesh underneath.

No doubt about it, this was going to be fast, hard, and furious. She shivered again with the anticipation of it. Nothing between them now, no more barriers to keep them from what they wanted. And when she said his name this time, desire filled eyes met his, leaving them both naked in more ways than one.

The air in the passage was cooler than that in any other unheated room in the Manor –which is to say it was cold– but Bruce no longer felt the chill. When she touched him, his entire being lit up in flames. Flames that only one thing –their immediate union– would put out.

His eyes smoldering, he bent his head for another kiss. At the same time, one hand slid between her legs, rubbing her most sensitive skin. She was warm and ready and god, but he couldn’t –they couldn’t– take the time for more foreplay. Both hands grasped her hips, raising her up and instinctively, her long legs wrapped around him.

Her arms went around his neck, knowing that his sheer strength and the solidity of the wall were all that was going to keep them standing through this. All the work he’d gone through in building up his muscles were going to be put into play now. She locked her legs around him, pressing them more closely together. Their lips were still joined, kissing greedily. And when he finally entered her, she was thankful they were kissing. Because if they hadn’t been, their guests would have heard her cry out with the sheer ecstasy of it. The fire within her stoked to unbelievable proportions, as their bodies became one and all that was left now for her to do was to hold on and let him move… let him move and ease the delicious ache that was growing inside of her.

Flame joined with flame and ignited something within both of them at their joining. Bruce deepened the kiss instinctively, swallowing her cry of pleasure. But at least she’d gotten to cry out. His body seething for the want of similar release, he began to move within her. Each upward stroke was hard and even, absorbed by the body suspended between himself and the wall. The urgency to finish drove each thrust, and soon he could feel Grace’s muscles tightening around him. He groaned into their kisses, pushed into her all the harder.

What issued from her throat was somewhere between a high-pitched keening and a cry. Her fingers clutched at him and as the slow build up moved into a volcanic explosion, she felt his hard, short thrusts press her more and more into the wall. There was simply no way to describe exactly how good this felt. How much this release was not only physical but emotional as well. Her climax was wave after wave of ecstasy, and again, she couldn’t help but be vocal. He’d never accused her of being a quiet lover. This was all about pent up desire… need that had been set aside until it had to find release or burn her up.
And it wasn’t something that she could keep inside, she expressed it in every way she could.

The climax that pulsated through both of them was overwhelming in its intensity. Bruce cried out, unsure of what he was saying –was it ‘God’ or ‘Grace?’ or both?– and slammed into her one last time. His arms still around her, holding her, he turned so that his back was too the wall, and as the energy seeped out of him, he slid down onto the ground. Grace settled in his lap, and he held her while they both struggled to regain control of their breath.

“That was…” he said between shallow breaths. “Wow…” He rested his head against the wall, unmindful of the chill and closed his eyes. He felt her breaths deepen and regulate along with his, but still, neither of them moved. “Do you think they heard us?” he asked at last.

Her head was resting on his shoulder and she shook it slowly. “I don’t…” She inhaled deeply. “I don’t know. Probably not.” Of course, she was really just guessing. In her mind, she had tried to be quiet, but she knew toward the end there was just no way for her to not be vocal about it. “I just…” She finally picked her head up off his shoulder and looked at him. Running her hand along his cheek and then up into his hair smoothing it, “I don’t know what came over us. But wow,” she reiterated his words of earlier. She continued to look at him for several moments.

Really, all she had intended to do was clear up the dishes and get the dessert. She smiled, realizing she’d already had her dessert. Her head went back to his shoulder and she wrapped her arms around his chest. “I suppose we should move. If they didn’t hear us, they’ll definitely know something’s up when we don’t come back.” She gave him a small squeeze for emphasis.

Bruce hated her logic, but he also couldn’t deny she was right. Still, a part of him was less inclined to actually follow her logic and get up. “I suppose,” he said, and he opened his eyes, raising his head from the wall. “We’d better. Nee will never let us live it down otherwise.” He waited for her to get up out of his lap before getting up himself. He pulled his underwear and jeans up while she dressed, doing it slowly as if reluctant to leave their quiet little nook. Though, really, he was waiting for her to dress completely.

When she was, he opened the secret door slightly, peering out to see if anyone had come looking for them. When he was satisfied that the kitchen and the pantry were both deserted, he turned to her, pulling her close for one last kiss. Her hair was beyond repair and he knew they were both rumpled noticeably. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

She didn’t move out of the circle of his embrace. In all honesty, she hadn’t really wanted to move. She loved her friends, loved them dearly; but for now, she was just as content to spend every waking moment with just him. No one else but him. Now, reality dictated otherwise and that was why they’d dressed and were now back in the pantry. They were very disheveled, and there was no way they were going to be able to hide what had happened. She ran a hand through his soft, silky hair and smiled as her eyes held his. “You have,” she replied, “but I don’t think it’s something I’ll ever tire of hearing. I love you too, so very much.”

Leaning up, she kissed him lightly. “I love everything about you. Everything.” And she meant that. She couldn’t think of one thing about him she’d change. Laughing lightly, she moved her hand into her own hair and tried to smooth it. “What a pair we make!” she smiled brightly as she said.

He caught her hand, and moving it away from her hair, he kissed her fingertips. “You’re beautiful just the way you are,” he told her. She was. Hair disheveled, lips swollen, cheeks still flushed a rosy color: she was gorgeous and perfect. Reaching for a bottle of merlot, he escorted her out of the pantry.

*-*-*

Dessert in hand, Grace led them back into the dining room. Bruce followed closely behind her with a bottle of Merlot and bowls for the dessert.

“‘Bout time,” Alex clipped before getting a look at the couple and smiling. “Or maybe I should say it was…”

“Quick,” Courtney finished, a smile on her face. “You did lock the door this time, didn’t you?”

Setting the dessert on the table, Grace smiled. “Hiding place.” Bruce set the bowls beside her and poured everyone some wine. “This is white chocolate tiramisu. Made it myself last night.”

“Looks good, Gracie,” Seth said, taking the portion offered him.

As Grace was standing beside her, AnnaBeth stood up and tucked a very stray and wild piece of hair behind her friend’s ear. There was no missing it. Grace was happy and very much in love. As she sat back down, AnnaBeth could only hope that some day she could feel like that. She had very strong emotions for Alex, but they weren’t rapid in their growth. AnnaBeth never did anything quickly. Falling in love was no different.

“Really good,” Alex echoed Seth, though his words were mumbled around a mouthful of the rich dessert.

Bruce stood by Grace’s chair, and when she’d served everyone their dessert, he held it out for her, putting his arm around her as he guided her into the seat. He smiled at Alex’s compliment, but leaned in before he sat, whispering close to her ear, “I can’t imagine anything sweeter than you.”

Grace smiled brightly, covering the shiver that his breath on her ear sent through her body by turning to kiss him quickly. “I could think of one,” she replied, waggling her brows.

“Mmmm, it is good,” Courtney said, though she couldn’t help but tease a bit. “Made it last night, huh? Could have sworn that’s what was taking so long in the kitchen? You sure this isn’t like one of those Jell-O No Bake Dessert commercials.”

Alex almost dropped his fork, although it did stop halfway to his mouth and he sat there for several moments unsure if he should eat the bite or put his fork down and laugh.

It was Seth’s chuckle that finally let Alex know that it was okay to laugh as well. Of course, they all knew what had been the delay.
They’d even had a brief ‘discussion’ about it while Bruce and Grace were gone. And Courtney being who she was, she just couldn’t help but tease them about it. Though it was mostly Bruce she was teasing.
Grace merely continued to eat her dessert.

Smiling at her long time friend, Grace teased back. “Well, in all honesty, I did make it last night. No it’s not from a box. And I wanted to make sure it was properly chilled before I brought it out.
Tiramisu is a complicated dish, my friend.”

“Which, of course, means we’ll never have it at home,” Seth teased.
“The extent of our dinners consist of which take out or delivery restaurant are we calling.”

That comment earned him a thwap from Courtney. “Hey, once in a while you cook!” She looked to the group in an effort to explain. “It’s the hours we work. Neither of us wants to come home after six and start to cook a big meal. It’s just easier to grab something on the way home.”

“Then what exactly was your excuse when you weren’t married and had a normal job, Nee? Because,” and here Bruce was speaking to everyone else, though the teasing all for Courtney. “I can’t tell you how many nights I rescued her from a fast-food dinner. Or lunch.”

“I… I…” She looked around at everyone and shrugged. “Like I was going to turn down an offer of a meal prepared by a professional cook!
I’d get calls at the library…”

“Library?” Alex asked, a bit confused. “Why would you get calls at a library?”

“She was a librarian,” Seth explained.

“No way!!! YOU?” he asked, nearly incredulous.

“Yes ME!!! Books are my first love, but I wanted a change of pace.
And since I planned that successful fundraiser for Mother, I thought I could do it full time.”

“And now she has one of the most successful party planning businesses in Gotham,” Grace added, knowing the magic Courtney had to work to get her little ‘party’ planned as quickly as she did.

She looked at Bruce and stuck out her tongue. “So yeah, you saved me from fast food. I’d rather not cook if I don’t have to. Besides, I was never really taught how to cook. Anyone imagine *my* mother standing at a stove cooking ANYTHING? We had a cook who did that for us. I’m spoiled, what can I say?” She ended her little monologue with a wink. “Besides, I a) never pass up a free meal and b) enjoyed spending time with my best friend. So there!” She looked around, rather pleased with herself for her ‘explanation’.

Bruce laughed, shaking his head over the image of Constance Blaire in a kitchen… and actually cooking something. “One,” he said, still chuckling and shaking his head. “No I cannot see your mother cooking an entire meal by herself. Two and three, your best friend loves offering you free meals just so we have the excuse to hang out.” Here he met her eyes and his expression turned to genuine affection. He did, really, which had been why he’d invited her to dinner today. “However, Nee, I’d hate to burst your smug little bubble here, but your theory has holes in it.”

“It sounded pretty solid me, Bruce,” Alex commented, but now he looked doubtful.

“Tsk, Alex, holes.” Bruce winked. He knew he had everyone’s attention. “How does she explain the fact that I can, as demonstrated by this fine meal, cook quite well with no one to teach me and no lack of servants at my beck and call? I shouldn’t have to cook, no, but I can.” In reality, he’d learned very much on his own, or by watching people in the various countries he’d been to. In many of the places, there had been no one to cook for him, so it was either learn or starve.

“Oh, he’s got you there, Courtney,” Alex proclaimed.

She shook her head. “But Bruce, you are the exception to just about every rule ever made.” She looked at Alex. “It’s more than just the science geek thing. Remember, me telling you… he loves to learn.
Anything and everything he can pick up from people he will.”

Grace looked up at Seth and the two of them shared a smile. This was classic Bruce and Courtney. The two of them loved to banter back and forth about things. Actually, Grace was surprised they’d waited for dessert before they started in with each other. It was such a ‘sibling’ thing. They were truly brother and sister in spirit if not by blood.

“From what Dad says, he was like that as a kid. Always asking what this or that was and how this or that worked. He’s like that now.
Spent an entire day with me at the library so I could show him how everything is catalogued. By the end of the day, he was doing it too.
Me? I’m not that motivated to learn things.”

“But you are an excellent teacher,” Bruce told her, and his expression and tone left little doubt he was talking about more than just a card catalogue. She’d taught him how to open up to people, how not to hide when that’s all he wanted to do. In a lot of ways, this gathering of friends today would never have happened had Courtney not taught him that true friends were really out there. “Still,” and the tease was back, “Doesn’t excuse not cooking my man Seth here a decent meal every once in a while. Poor guy has to come home and order take-out instead.” He shook his head. “What a way to live.” But again, he clearly was joking.

“You,” she said, reaching out and pushing him on the arm. “Does he look like he’s malnourished to you in any way? And we don’t always eat take out. Sometimes he cooks.”

When Courtney pushed at Bruce, the motion sent him into Grace who had been just about to take a bite of her food. The dessert fell off her spoon but luckily landed in the bowl. “Children,” she said with a laugh. “How many times do I have to say this? No rough housing at the table.”

That caused Seth to laugh. “At least they aren’t throwing things at one another.”

AnnaBeth, though not saying much, merely chuckled lightly at the moment. She was truly honored to be a part of the group. Sure, she was still mainly on the fringes… the new member… her true acceptance stemming not only from her friendship with Grace but also her relationship with Alex. The first she was completely confident about. The second was still too new to call. “They carry on like brother and sister.”

Courtney sighed. “He is just like a kid brother. Though there are no frogs in my bed or those noogie things…”

“Noogies?” AnnaBeth asked.

“Yeah, noogies,” Seth explained. “Rubbing your knuckles on someone’s head. Used to do that to my brothers all the time.” His voice trailed off a bit.

Courtney smiled and placed a reassuring hand on his arm. To Bruce, she said, “Fine. We’ll play this your way. The next group dinner we have will be at our house. And *I’M* cooking! So there.”

“Right, so we should all put in requests for which restaurant we want you to order from, right?” Bruce shot back, causing Alex to howl with laughter.

The words were barely out of his mouth before Courtney was at him. Of course, she was laughing as she swatted at him. “You… are… abso…
lutely… incorrigible.” She accented each word with a playful swat.

Again, Bruce was laughingly backing away from her, shielding himself from the wrath of Courtney.

Grace, now having Bruce halfway in her lap, gave up all pretense of trying to finish her dessert. To AnnaBeth, she calmly said, “You see what I have to deal with.”

That, of course, caused AnnaBeth to let go of her usual calm reserve and laugh. A noise that could equal Alex’s if she truly let go.

Seth didn’t try to pull his wife off from her attack upon Bruce, merely shook his head. “You’d think he’d learn, you really would.”

When Bruce bumped into her, Grace gave him a light push putting him back into ‘play’. “At least they’re carrying on at home now instead of in public.”

“Like you don’t love every minute of it,” Seth said.

“Oh I do,” Grace agreed. “Every blissful, knocking into me, minute of it.”

During the conversation, Courtney had continued to playfully swat at her friend. “Just… for… that… you… get… MY… fried… chicken… Good… thing… I… love… you… so… much… you…
meanie…”

Unlike everyone else, Alex was almost on the floor; he was laughing so hard at the scene that unfolding. He wasn’t sure how Grace or Seth could honestly be so calm about the whole thing. One thing he was sure of, however, was that he hadn’t seen Bruce have this much fun since he installed that trampoline.

Bruce finally threw his hands up, laughing out an exasperated, “Okay, okay… I yield!”

Courtney paused, leery and not quite trusting his tone of voice. “You give up? You’re gonna quit being so darned mean?” Bruce nodded, though he was still smiling, and she lowered her guard a little more. “Why don’t I trus–?”

The last minute question was answered when Bruce dove into an attack, tickling his friend mercilessly until she was laughing harder than Alex. Then he stopped, and put significant distance between them. “Now, I yield.”

“Mean,” she hiccupped trying to catch her breath and wiping the tears of laughter from her face. “Mean, mean, mean, mean, mean. And then you have to go and hide by your girlfriend.” She laughed and looked at her husband. “And you… you LET him do that to me.”

Seth shrugged. “Seems to me, you started it.”

“I did NOT,” she snorted, causing another quick fit of laughter from
Alex.

“You did,” Alex said.

“I did not! He said that about my cooking.”

“But you swatted him. He was only defending himself,” Seth explained.

“Don’t know if you noticed, peeps,” Grace interjected, “But he gave as good as he got. I keep warning her about stuff like that… sneak attacks out of nowhere… But she knows… and yet she still fell for it.”

Seth agreed. “It normally always ends in a draw… or a tickle war.”

AnnaBeth shook her head and smiled. It was indeed a fun group to be with.

“Next time,” Courtney mock-warned. “Next time, you’ll get yours, Bruce
Wayne,” she teased. “And I’m serious about the fried chicken. I’m
soooooooooooo making it now.”

Bruce grinned, making as if he was going to tickle-attack her again. When she raised her hands to defend herself, however, he gathered her up into a hug. “Good. I love fried chicken and you know it.” He playfully kissed the top of her head before dumping her rather unceremoniously into Seth’s lap. “Your wife, Mr. Meyers,” he said as if presenting her to him.

Alex was still laughing as he turned to his date and whispered confidentially, “He usually isn’t this…” He paused to think of the right words and then grinned at Bruce, who was now back in his seat, eating his tiramisu as if he hadn’t just been torturing his best friend. As AnnaBeth followed his gaze, Bruce pulled Grace into his lap as well, and offered her a taste of his dessert. “…goofy in love. But it’s fun to watch. More fun to join in…” He waggled his eyebrows.

AnnaBeth looked at the two other couples for several moments. Of course, she knew what Alex was hinting at. And it wasn’t beyond her to actually do it. Goodness knows they had done far more than the simple displays that were going on now. She had just never been one to be openly demonstrative… She realized, however, that she was like that because it was never good to let the press know too much. It was okay to let them know you were in a relationship, but not how deeply you felt for your significant other.

But obviously, the press wasn’t here. It was just a small gathering of good friends, and she had emotions for Alex. So there should be nothing wrong with expressing them. Gracefully, she set her napkin on the table and moved to sit in his lap. She ran a finger lightly over his ear before offering him a smile. “Better?”

Grace’s head turned just in time to see Alex plant a kiss on AnnaBeth that could have easily elevated the temperature in the room about ten degrees. The normally non-demonstrative AnnaBeth was definitely relaxing. Running her finger along the side of the dessert that was still left on the plate, she offered it to Bruce and when he took the finger into his mouth, she leaned in and whispered into his ear,
“Should we offer them the use of the wine pantry?” The question was punctuated with a kiss.

“And reveal our little secret?” he asked, his eyes twinkling. “We do that, and the next time we need to sneak off, someone will come looking for us.” He winked and kissed her back. He was smiling, and he couldn’t stop. A week ago, things were so unstable and fragile. They were back together, but so many things were still unspoken between them. Today, those seven days felt eons away, in a whole other life. He was happy… they were happy together. Playfully, he spread kisses across her face, cheeks, nose… and over Grace’s shoulder, caught sight of Seth holding Courtney in a similar embrace and AnnaBeth looking down into Alex’s eyes.

Briefly he wondered how they must look to an outsider. Probably terribly wanton and immoral, but then again, it didn’t matter. Here there was love, and love was many things, but immoral was not one of them.

*-*-*

Not too long after their friends left the Manor, Bruce and
Grace were left to straighten up the kitchen and the dining room. It was one of those ‘domestic’ tasks that Grace seemed to enjoy doing so much with Bruce. Guaranteed, he didn’t do ‘domestic’ much, so when he did, she soaked up as much of it as she could. Right now, he was bringing in the rest of the dishes from the dining room. There was literally nothing left of the food he’d made… her dessert either.

Nodding toward the stack of dishes, she turned on the water and felt to make sure the temperature was just right. Hot, but not too hot to touch. She then added dishwashing soap. “Just set them down with the others, please.”

“We can just put them in the dishwasher,” Bruce offered.

She shook her head. “Nah. There aren’t that many, and really you have to rinse them off anyway so by the time you do all that and then put everything in, I can have them all washed.” She put the wine glasses in first, carefully starting to wash them. “Besides, I don’t mind washing dishes. Always hated folding laundry, but washing dishes is no biggie.” She set a clean wine glass in the drainer and offered him a smile.

“Today was a good day,” she turned her attention back to the dishes in the sink. “Everyone had a great time. Even AnnaBeth relaxed there toward the end. This was a great idea you had.”

Bruce beamed at her words. “They’re adorable,” he commented, meaning Alex and AnnaBeth. “Alex is very smitten with her.” Bruce thought he could come to like Grace’s friend. She reminded him a lot of himself in some ways, and watching her with Alex was like reliving his first few months with Grace. All the uncertainty of what they could, couldn’t, or shouldn’t, do. AnnaBeth was reserved, and often hid what she really felt in Greek words, so no one need know. But Bruce knew, and hopefully she’d tell Alex someday.

Leaning against the island, he watched as Grace washed the wine glasses first. It had been a fun evening, though. He hoped there were more of those coming. The pain of the last few months had been unbearable.

Having finished the wine glasses, Grace set the plates in the hot, soapy water and began washing them. “You know, I’ve known Bethie for years. She’s gone through the fire with me on a lot of things. And though I’ve never seen her act that way around any man… I mean…”
It was difficult for her to put it into words, what she was thinking. But then, Bethie was a complicated person. “There are unguarded moments when you can tell she has genuine affection for Alex. But did you hear her swearing at him in Greek?” She rinsed a plate and set it in the drainer then used her forearm to push some hair out of her face.

“Guaranteed, I don’t know for sure that she was swearing, but her tone and the look in her eyes when she said them. And sure, Alex didn’t hear or see, but the rest of us did. It’s a very confusing situation.” She stuck her hands back in the water, feeling for another plate to wash. “If she’s having doubts, she should talk to him in English.”

Bruce chuckled. “Oh, I heard her, alright, but she wasn’t exactly swearing at him!” He walked over to Grace, sliding his arms around her waist, and rested his head on her shoulder. His body seemed to cocoon hers from behind, fitting to it like a glove. “She’s…” Granted whatever he said was pure conjecture, as he didn’t know AnnaBeth as well as Grace did. “…where I was a long time ago, I think. Overwhelmed by the whole thing.”

And she realized then what was going on. “She’s falling in love with him, isn’t she?” She smiled. “Bethie is a fantastic person once you get to know her. But she likes to keep her walls up around her. If
Alex is breaking them down, it would explain a lot.” Shaking the water off her hands, she turned to face him. Wet hands grasped onto his belt loops, as she didn’t want to get his clothing wet. “I’m happy for them.” It was here that her eyes found his, as if they gravitated there naturally. “I’m happy all the way around, actually.”

That was pretty much the bottom line for her too. She was happy. Happier and more content than she had been in a very long time. It all stemmed from this man, the man who was holding her right now. The man who had pushed her away because he felt it best for her, only to learn that in reality what kept her safest was the two of them being together. There was no doubt about it now; they needed each other to be a complete person. And if Bethie was finding that in Alex, then she was about to find happiness and love in a way that she’d never expected to. It made Grace all the happier.

Though, again, what made her happiest was Bruce Wayne. She smiled brightly, remembering his question from earlier. “Have I told you lately just how much I love you?”

“Yes,” he answered, losing himself in her eyes. “But you can say it as many times as you want… I love hearing it. I love you.” His head dipped closer, lips seeking hers tenderly. He did love her, and it felt like he fell more in love with her every day. Some people, he knew they fell hard and the romance faded over time. But not so for Bruce. His feelings for Grace grew stronger over the two years he’d known her. Now… life without her had been impossible, and he knew it was because he loved her so much.

She responded to the kiss, returning it as tenderly as he gave it.
She’d been in love before. But it had NEVER felt like this. It had never grabbed a hold of her heart and soul and not let go. This love she shared with Bruce had strengthened over time… had passed a very difficult test. And through it all she knew she was where she belonged for the rest of her life. When he finally pulled away from the kiss and rested his forehead on hers, she smiled at him and said, “How about we go somewhere more comfortable? Grab a bottle of wine,” here she smiled a bit deviously, “just grab a bottle of wine, and head upstairs. Start a fire. What do you think?”

“A bottle of wine, flames flickering in the eyes of the most beautiful angel to fall from heaven? Sounds like a dream come true,” he told her, lightly brushing a kiss against her lips before taking her hand and heading to the pantry. When they both came to stand in front of the wine rack, he reached for a bottle, hands hesitating as if he were debating pulling her back into the passage.

She smiled as she watched him. “Boy, this is deja vu,” she teased.
She looked up at the place where he’d pressed earlier to open the passage and thought for a moment. “So, just how many secret passages are there around here anyway?”

“You know, I don’t really know… exactly,” Bruce told her, pulling a bottle from the rack. “They were built when the manor was built, to make it easier for servants to go from room to room virtually unnoticed. Alfred still uses quite a few of them… like our little hide-out here.” He grinned. “But the rest…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “I used to play in them as a kid, and I got lost once,” he told her as he led her back out of the pantry. “Wound up somewhere in the dungeon level. It took them almost a full day to find me.” His expression was totally serious; it had really happened. They left the kitchen, and were walking leisurely through the living quarters. Bruce squeezed her hand as he continued speaking. “I’m sure there’s a floor plan somewhere, but where I couldn’t tell you and I’d hate to lose the greatest treasure in the world…” he trailed off, and stopped walking at the foot of the stairs.

Reaching out, he ran his fingers through her hair. Despite AnnaBeth’s best efforts to put it back into place, a few tendrils and curls still refused to conform. Bruce smiled as he played with those rebels.

She smiled affectionately, touched by his words and mindful of the meaning behind them. She placed a loving hand on his chest and softly said, “I promise I won’t go snooping around by myself. If I decide I want to look around, I’ll ask Alfred to show me or maybe even you could do so. That way, if we get lost, we get lost together.”

She let him continue to play with her hair. Cutting it had been the one thing she’d done out of anger toward him. He’d loved her long, straight hair. A week after she moved back into her apartment, she’d gone to the salon and had it cut short and then permed. It was as if in changing her appearance or taking away something he loved, she could exact some kind of retribution.

She’d hated it, and hated herself for doing it. But as it grew out to the length it was now, she’d actually started to like it. The light curls, though at times unruly, bounced; and, in a way, they reflected the happy person she had once been. But now, now she was feeling the urge to let it grow out again. Taking his hand, she held it to her chest and smiled. “Think I’m going to let it grow out again,” she said, placing her free hand on his chest. “I kinda prefer it long and straight.” Of course, he would probably say he didn’t care, but she knew how he liked it. And she liked it that way too. “But like I said,” she repeated, going back to the topic of the passages, “I won’t explore them alone. You have my word on that.”

“I think it’s beautiful,” he said, still fingering one of the stray tendrils. “You’re so beautiful…” This time, his voice was an awed whisper, and he wasn’t talking about just her hair, or looks. Everything about Grace was beautiful to him.

Then he backed up, and added to the ‘secret passages’ end of the conversation. “You know, I don’t think I’d mind getting lost with you. Has definite potential.” He grinned, and swept her into his arms with a suddenness that surprised her.

“Bruce! What are you–?”

But he cut her words off with a deep kiss, and carried her up the stairs and down the hall towards their bedroom. The fireplace was already lit, as if someone –Alfred, of course– had known what they wanted and two empty glasses sat on the bedside table next to a full ice bucket.

Bruce lay Grace down on the bed and then nestled the bottle into the ice to chill. Then he eased into the bed, his arms reaching for her. They had time to kill until the wine chilled, after all.

*-*-*

Continued in Chapter Twelvea>