Preordained Chapter 2
Preordained
by DebC and Christina A
Summary: Bruce & Grace reunite after a painful 4-month separation and everyone’s lives are affected.
Chapter Two
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Alex looked at the French fries and cheeseburger that sat untouched on Grace’s plate. He’d scarfed his down and wasn’t surprised to be still hungry. “Grace, eat,” he sighed.
“You can have it, Alex.” She pushed the food away as if it were covered in arsenic. The woman who used to love eating, who Bruce had always teased about always being hungry, barely ate one meal a day now. She’d gone from a size eight to a size four. With her height, she looked ungodly thin.
Taking the cheeseburger, he left her the fries. “So, you’re positive you won’t trip the night fantastic with me at this gala tonight?” In his haste to consume the food, a smear of ketchup had landed on his cheek.
Grace smiled lightly and handed him a napkin. “I’m sorry, Alex.”
“I promise I won’t leave ketchup on my face,” he offered.
She shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t go and see him there. See him there with another woman on his arm… That’s supposed to be *me*!!” She stood suddenly and wiped angrily at the tears. “I couldn’t take it.”
Alex decided to finish off her fries. “Well, since you won’t go with me, I guess I’ll just have to go with my backup date.”
Grace turned and folded her arms over her chest. “Who’s that? What’s her name? Shelley?”
Alex shook his head. “Nope. But you know who it is though.” He grinned and gave her a wink. It was always his intention never to let her give in to the grief, so he tempered it with his own special brand of humor. “Tall, dark haired… young.” He waggled his brows.
“Who is it?”
“Chap by the name of Bruce Wayne. Seems he doesn’t exactly want another woman on his arm, so we’re going stag… together. Think he’ll bring the limo?”
Grace was shocked. She leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down it, her head resting on her knees as they were pulled to her chest. He wasn’t taking anyone else, but he didn’t want her. She was more than confused. “What did I do wrong, Alex? What’s wrong with me?” She let the tears come, a part of her relieved that perhaps Bruce hadn’t moved on. But still… A hand rested on her head, fingers lightly massaging her scalp.
“Sometimes, kiddo, it’s not about what’s wrong with you. It’s not about what was done wrong. Sometimes people do things that seem right at the time but turn out to be things they’d rather not have done. I don’t know why he did it… But I’m sure it wasn’t because of you.”
She was about to answer when someone knocked at her door. The knob turned and her long time friend Naomi entered. She looked at the clock and then to Alex. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for a party? Taking Grace with you?”
Alex bent down and kissed Grace’s head before moving toward the door. Taking Naomi’s hand, he softly said, “She’s not going. I couldn’t convince her that I would behave myself tonight.” He shrugged. “Take care of her?”
“Always.”
A sudden panic swept over Grace and she stood. “Alex,” she called, rapidly closing the distance between them. “Could you…? Would you…? Bruce…” She wasn’t sure what she was asking him to do or say. “I just miss him, so much.”
“I know. And yeah, I will.” The latter, of course, meant that if Bruce inquired, Alex would, in his own way, let the younger man know that she missed him. Alex wasn’t like the others. If Bruce honestly wanted to know, he was going to tell him that Grace was miserable… that she asked about him constantly… that it was obvious to all of them that she was holding out for the hope that Bruce would want her back… that there would be a way for them to be together again.
No, Alex wasn’t like the others. If Bruce asked, Alex would tell him.
*-*-*
Bruce exited the limo, reaching back into the seat at the last minute to grab his gag gift. It *was* a date after all, and one was expected to bring your date a gift. He thanked the limo driver and entered the building. He stopped to let the man at the desk know he was here to see Alex Norton, and was directed to use the penthouse elevator.
A few minutes later, he rang the doorbell. Alex answered, still fighting with his tie. Not that it mattered, as his tuxedo shirt was now rumpled and untucked from the effort. He grinned when he saw Bruce standing there.
“C’mon in!” he said, cheerfully motioning Bruce into the penthouse. “These things are impossible!”
Bruce rolled his eyes, and looking around the spacious living room, found an end table on which to deposit his gift. “Here. Let me help,” he said, and reached for Alex’s collar. “They tie like this.” He walked Alex through the steps, talking them out as he tied it, and then straightened the bow a little. “See?”
“Easy for you to say. I’ve been trying to tie the idiotic thing since I got back from Grace’s.” The words slipped out, and although Alex hadn’t counted on the way Bruce’s face fell at the sound of her name, he didn’t take them back. Maybe if he didn’t, Bruce would feel compelled to ask about her.
“They take practice,” Bruce said after an awkward pause. He didn’t ask about Grace, although he wanted to. He missed her so much.
“Riiiight. Practice. I’ll just get my coat.”
Bruce chuckled, and waited, looking around at the penthouse. The ad agency was doing well, and Alex right along with it, though you’d never know it. He didn’t seem to let the new affluence go to his head. Bruce sat down on the arm of the sofa and waited. He didn’t care if they were late, because he wasn’t looking forward to what was essentially his first social appearance without Grace.
“Okay, here we go.” Alex came back, shrugging his overcoat over his hastily buttoned tuxedo jacket.
“Oh, hey!” Bruce suddenly remembered his gift. He crossed to the end table and retrieved the brown paper bag. “I almost forgot. This being our first date and all, I got you something.”
Alex eyed the bag with mock wariness. “It’s not flowers, is it? Because I’ve already got a boutonniere.”
Laughing, Bruce shook his head. “I only bring flowers when my dates wear dresses,” he shot back.
“Guess I’m out of luck. I don’t own any dresses.”
Bruce snorted, and shoved the bag into Alex’s hand who reached inside and pulled out a bouquet of lollipops. And then promptly began to howl with laughter. He looked at the candy again and howled some more. “Oh, man! And Seth says you don’t have a sense of humor!”
Seth might have been right, because at the moment, Bruce couldn’t see what was so damned funny. Then, looking at his gift, it dawned on him, and heat rushed to his face. Blow Pops. “I, ah…” he stammered “…didn’t mean anything by… uh…”
“Don’t sweat it, Bruce. It’s good. I like these anyway.” Alex winked at him. ‘C’mon, we’re gonna be late. After yesterday, Courtney will call out the National Guard looking for you.”
Bruce groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
*_*_*
Alex grinned when he saw Bruce’s limo in front of his building. “Oh man!” He slid in across the leather seats, bouncing to test them out. Bruce watched, amused. Grace had always loved the limo, too, though her reaction had hardly been the same.
Grace…
Bruce decided he needed a drink. “You want anything?” he asked, opening the mini bar.
“A beer, if you’ve got.” Alex peered into the mini fridge and pulled out a Coors. Bruce opted for a Guinness, and took a long pull of the bitter foreign beer. It was actually his second of the night, as he’d had one on the ride over.
For a few minutes, Bruce drank steadily and let Alex chatter about the limo and everything else he could think of, gesturing with his hands as he spoke. Alex’s enthusiasm amused him greatly and made him laugh.
“Thanks,” he said at last, when his beer was gone.
Alex stopped talking and blinked. “You’re welcome, man. For what?”
Bruce laughed. “For… tonight. Coming with me.”
Alex shrugged. “Nothing to it. Grace wouldn’t go with me, and it would be have been a disgrace to go alone.” He winked, clearly teasing.
Bruce tried to return Alex’s smile, but he was too stunned. Alex had invited Grace to go as his date, and she’d said no. “How…?” he started to ask, but stopped himself after the first word.
But Alex thought he knew what the rest of the unspoken question would have been. “Same as you, man. Miserable. She misses you a lot.”
Bruce stared at the dark glass of his beer bottle and did not look at Alex. “I miss her, too,” he said in a low voice.
“You should be telling her that, not me.” It wasn’t a lecture, just friendly advice that Bruce knew in his heart to be true.
He shook his head, just as the limo was pulling up in front of the mayoral mansion. Glancing out the tinted windows at the crowds outside, he put on his “game face” and smiled. Alex’s words, however, echoed in his mind all night.
*-*-*
Courtney crossed and uncrossed her legs before fidgeting with her napkin again.
“Would you stop?” Seth asked.
“They’re late.” She reached for her purse to grab her cell phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling Bruce,” she replied as if it was obvious.
“Let it be, Courtney. He brought all this on himself… tossing out the best thing that ever happened to him.”
“Don’t,” she said softly. “You don’t know why he did what he did.”
He turned determined eyes toward her. “You’re right. I don’t. But I do know the consequences of his actions. And I can’t say I’m too damn happy about them.” He sighed, watching as her face fell the way it always did when he spoke too harshly of her friend. “Court, baby, I’m sorry.” And the words were genuine. “I just know that nothing in the world would make me let go of the best thing that has happened to me. Nothing.”
She nodded, knowing he’d proved it more than once in their relationship. “It’s just… well… he needs me, Seth. He may not admit it, but he does. And I know him. I know that he’s regretting the decision. If there’s any way I can help the two of them find one another again, I’m going to.” She looked up as she saw Alex and Bruce walk in. “They’re here.”
Seth shook his head, stifling a smile as Alex jokingly tried to thread his arm through Bruce’s… obviously enjoying being the ‘date’.
*-*-*
The anniversary party turned out to be almost a second wedding reception. As her husband was the mayor of Gotham, Constance had extended her invitation list to include several state politicians. Society ‘elite’ from all over New Jersey had been invited. In lieu of gifts, they asked that cash donations be made to the American Cancer Society. The charity was very near and dear to them.
Several toasts were made to the very happy couple. They ate dinner that consisted of prime rib, chicken, and Alaskan salmon, several kinds of potatoes and rice, and a wide variety of vegetables. Of course, everything had been served buffet style. It was as Miles was filling his plate for the second time that Courtney joined him.
“How’re you doin’, Dad?”
“Just fine, Peaches.” He smiled at her, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
“Bruce hardly touched anything. He’s done nothing tonight but sit at the table. Oh, his ‘outer’ face is congenial. He’s even laughed at Alex’s jokes, but this is killing him, Daddy, and I don’t know what to do.”
Miles looked past her to where Bruce, Seth, and Alex were in deep conversation about basketball. He could tell it was basketball because Alex was making dribbling motions with his hands. “He’ll find his way. He knows where he belongs. In his heart, he knows whom he belongs with. He’ll figure it out.” The microphone was turned on and the DJ motioned toward the mayor. Handing his daughter his plate, he said, “Try not to worry so much.” He laughed lightly, as if he had room to talk. He was every bit as worried as his daughter was.
Watching her father walk to the podium, she sighed. They had to get Bruce and Grace back together. Seeing her two best friends suffering was just too much to bear.
*-*-*
For the first time in two weeks, Grace tried to run on her treadmill. Not only had she lost weight, but she’d lost muscle tone. She was nowhere near as in shape as she had been… before.
No one showed up tonight. Naomi went home around midnight. Courtney called shortly after to find out if Grace needed anything. The party was over and Courtney had confirmed that Bruce had attended the function, not with another woman, but with Alex. Grace had denied the offer for company. Now, she wished she’d said yes. Courtney and Seth deserved time to be together, but the apartment felt so big… empty. Loneliness echoed all around and it was driving her insane. She turned on all the lights, thinking it might drive away the shadows. She made coffee, then made it Irish, and sat on her couch. Turning on the TV, she flipped the channels. At 1 a.m., there was little on except old movies. That’s when she found it. ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’. Tears started anew for her and she cried. This had been one of their favorite movies to watch together.
They would crash on the big leather sofa, Grace teasing that though the couch was cushiony, she still needed her ‘Bruce pillow’. He’d hold her tightly and they’d watch old black and white movies until they passed out on the sofa. Alfred would wake them early the next morning and send them to bed.
She’d never have moments like that again. Never.
Sleep was *not* going to come for her tonight.
*-*-*
An hour and a half later, she was actually pacing the apartment. It was driving her crazy tonight. The space, the silence. Grabbing up her keys, she put on her coat and gloves. The apartment felt big, but maybe the Hummer wouldn’t. She had the perfect vehicle for winter, and she needed to go for a drive…
Her boots crunched on the snow as she walked across the parking lot. It was cold… very cold and it felt good. She stopped at the driver’s side door and leaned her head against the window. Bruce hated this vehicle. He hadn’t wanted her to get it, but she’d wanted one so badly and for so long. When Courtney offered her the money to buy it, Bruce had witnessed the signature for the loan against her trust fund. He hadn’t wanted Grace to have it, but he wasn’t going to stand in the way of her getting it.
She stood there for several long moments, head against the window. She was crying again… shoulders shaking she was sobbing so hard. Finally, she pulled away, opened the door, and got inside. Where would she go? At 2:30 in the morning, where could she go?
Nowhere.
Instead, she got out, frustrated with herself because she couldn’t make up her mind what she wanted to do… she couldn’t sleep. She couldn’t call Bruce. She wiped at the tears that were flowing again as she headed back into the apartment building, angry when it took her three tries to get the key in the keyhole so she could let herself into the building.
*-*-*
The light was on in her window again, despite the late hour, and this time, the parking lot was deserted save for the vehicles owned by other tenants. Which meant only one thing to Bruce as he watched from the shadows: none of their friends was with her. Granted, most of them had been at the gala, and he imagined she’d told them all she would be fine. Fine, however, had a lot of meanings, and according to Alex, one of those meanings was misery.
He ached at the thought of it –Grace hurting as much as he was, perhaps more. He wasn’t hiding from the people who loved him. Just her. At least, not all the time. But from what he managed to garner from Alex, she was secluding herself from everyone.
All because of him.
He wanted to take it back, take back the words he’d spoken and the months of pain. He wanted to relive them, holding her to him each and every day. Or if not that, then go to her now and beg to be taken back, to be forgiven for the fool that he was.
Then the light in her window went out, and he decided she must be going to bed. He watched for a while longer, even though he should have left and continued patrolling. It was, however, as if something rooted him to that spot, willing him to wait for something to happen. A few minutes later, the door to her building opened and someone stepped out wrapped in a winter coat. He knew without seeing her face that it was Grace.
He watched as she trudged to her Hummer and climbed up into it… and then sat there. He watched as she climbed out and trudged back to the building. He wondered where she’d been about to go and why she didn’t. More, he ached to call out her name.
That, however, was something he just couldn’t do, and he started to turn away. The scream that pierced the darkness called him back. He saw Grace being pulled away from the building by a dark figure that looked twice –no, three times– her size.
*-*-*
Grace screamed again and tried in vain to struggle against her captor.
“Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?”
The voice was dark and seemed to come out of nowhere. At first, she couldn’t see anything except a dark shadow moving around the man who held her, but he pushed her away suddenly, and she fell. However, for a brief glimmer of a second before her head struck the hard, icy pavement, she thought saw a dark, caped figure advancing on her attacker.
Then she saw nothing.
*-*-*
Alfred held the door open for Bruce as he carried Grace –still very unconscious– into the Manor. He’d called ahead, letting Alfred know he was coming. They laid her down on the bed in her former bedroom, and then Alfred pushed him out the door to go change out of the Suit.
Obediently, he changed out of the costume and returned to her side. Alfred was checking her pulse when he came in. “Alfred… will she…?”
“Her heart rate is normal and so is her breathing, Master Bruce.” He was informed. “We’ll know more when she awakens.”
Bruce nodded, and pulled a chair as close to the bed as he could get. She looked so thin and frail, not the strong, healthy woman he had known. Oh, Grace… He closed his eyes, and reached out, covering her hand with his own.
“Please be okay,” he whispered. “I need you so much.”
Hours later, when his eyes were drooping and his body threatened to shut down from exhaustion; Alfred finally pulled him away from her bedside. “I shall sit with her, Master Bruce. You rest.”
“But…”
“No buts about it,” Alfred countered. “You aren’t doing yourself or her any good like this. Go, now.”
*-*-*
