Preordained, Part 2

Read in 6 hours and 26 minutes

by Christina A & DebC

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

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

 

They’d been eating breakfast secluded in his bedroom for the last few days, but today Bruce dragged her to the private nook they’d eaten dinner in the night before.  Now it was bathed in sunshine, warm and bright despite the chilly weather outside.

 

They ate side by side, Bruce feeding Grace cantaloupe wedges from his fruit bowl and letting her lick his fingers with each bite.  It might have led to something else had his cell phone not rang just as he was leaning towards her, his eyes fixed on her soft, tempting lips.

 

Seeing the name that came up on the display, he turned to Grace, mouthing ‘it’s Lee; I have to take this’ and then stood, walking to the other side of the room.  In hushed tones, he inquired about the favor he’d asked of Lee the day before.

 

“Oh, they’ll do it, Bruce.  The cop who handled his case has been itching to get this guy.  Says he’s ‘too smug’ to be innocent.”

 

That’s because he wasn’t.  Bruce’s jaw tightened a little at the description.  “When can someone come?” he asked.

 

“Again… anytime.  Today, if you’d like.”  Bruce looked back, watching as Grace spread cream cheese on a bagel and brought it to her mouth.  All he wanted now was to close this chapter in their lives.  Let the heartache pass.  But that couldn’t happen until he finished what had been started the night he stopped her attack.  The sooner she pressed charges, the better.

 

“Then, call them, Lee,” he said, “I want it done as soon as possible.”  He paused, watching her some more.  He worried that the police presence would shake her already fragile confidence.  It would help if someone familiar were there as a buffer.  Bruce could think of one person on the Gotham police force who fit that bill.   “One more, thing, Lee…”

 

When he came back to the table, she set her bagel down and picked up her coffee.  Taking a sip of the warm liquid, there was a glint in her eye as she teased, “Do you need to keep that thing handy today?  After yesterday’s barrage…” She set her cup down and looked at him for a long moment.

 

She had crossed her legs when she sat back in her chair to drink her coffee, but uncrossed them and leaned forward so that her eyes held his.  “Everything ok?  He didn’t have bad news for you, did he?”

 

“Everything’s great,” he answered, placing a hand overtop one of hers.  “Lee and I just had some business discuss. And…” he paused, hoping she hadn’t changed her mind between last night and today.  “He’s going to be letting the police know that you’re ready to talk about that night.”  He gave her hand a supportive squeeze.

 

She swallowed hard and merely nodded at first.  Her hand turned so that it could hold his.  He hadn’t actually said whether or not they were coming to her or if she had to go to them.  She’d hoped it would be the former.  Pressing charges and giving a statement was actually what she had to do.  Bruce and Alfred were right; the one best way to thank her savior was to make sure the man was incarcerated.

 

But…

 

She really didn’t want to deal with the media circus.  She could just hear the story now… ‘Supermodel Grace O’Neil Attacked Once Again’.  They’d eat it up… dredge up the entire Bill situation, compare, analyze, and ask questions.  Talk to AnnaBeth… who didn’t mind telling everyone the full extent of the story.  She gave his hand a small squeeze and asked, “Do I… Do we have to go to the station or will they come here?”

 

“They’re willing to come here.”  Bruce let his fingers entwine with hers, then raised their hands to his lips.  He kissed her fingertips softly.  The truth was, if they’d been so willing, Bruce would have gone to them himself, sans Lee’s intervention.  He hated using his name, or the power it wielded, but for Grace, he would do anything.

 

Letting go of her fingers, he smoothed her cheek gently. “I also asked Lee to give the standard no-comments to the press if they ask.  It’s your story to tell, and as far I’m concerned, those vultures don’t deserve to hear it.”

 

She nodded rather quickly, though she drew strength from his physical touch and the love that was in his eyes.  “They don’t deserve to hear about it.  And Alex will tell them the same thing Lee will.  It’s not so much our press secretaries I’m worried about.  I do have a couple friends who tend to talk.  Not that they mean anything by it, they

just do.”

 

She paused, her hand squeezing his again as she leaned toward him.

She never wanted him to use his ‘influence’ for her.  It was just like

she believed last night.  To her, he wasn’t a name.  But…  She had

to admit that it was his ‘influence’ that was bringing the police to

her instead of the other way around.  Reaching out, she lightly ran

her hand through his hair.  “Thank you for this.  I know…” She

swallowed hard, not exactly sure how to say it.  So instead, she

said, “Thank you.”

 

*-*-*

 

It was close to noon when Alfred came into the library to inform them that the police had arrived.  Bruce was seated at an antique desk in the corner, working on a proposal for his next meeting at City Hall and Grace was in the over-stuffed leather chair, wrapped in a blanket Bruce had fetched when she claimed the castle to be chilly today.  She was right, of course, it was; Bruce had just grown used to it.  The blanket was single-sided, cream colored mink.  Soft, decadent, and it looked like it was hugging her as she snuggled into it.  A dog-eared copy of ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ captivated her attention.

 

It was on this that Alfred entered followed by two officers –one a plain clothes detective, the other uniformed.

 

Grace didn’t even have to wait for the introductions to at least know who the uniformed officer was.  Her face, which had been tense when she’d first heard footsteps, relaxed immediately upon seeing him.  Chad.  Standing, she set both the blanket and her book aside, moving forward to meet the officers.

 

“Master Bruce, Miss Grace,” Alfred said, “this is Detective Walker Vincent and Officer Chad Harris.”

 

“Thank you, Alfred,” Grace said, first shaking the detective’s hand and thanking him for coming before moving to Chad.  “I should have known you’d be the one to show up.”

 

“Well, they wouldn’t let me guard your assailant’s door,” Chad offered, referring to the man who’d attacked her, “so they ‘suggested’ that I come here.”   A smile was on his face but at the thought of the man who’d tried to physically hurt her, a hard edge came to his eyes.  He held her hand for a moment longer, offering her a supportive rub on her upper arm.  He finally took his eyes off of Grace and extended his hand to Bruce.  “It’s good to meet you, sir,” he said, “though the circumstances could have been better.”

 

Bruce didn’t hesitate to take Chad’s hand.  He’d had always been told that you could tell a lot about a man by the way he shook your hand.  It was one of the things they taught you when going into business or politics.  For a man like Bruce Wayne –with a foot in both those camps– it was an important skill to master.  Chad’s grip was firm and confident.

 

He nodded, returning the respectfully wary look the other man gave him.  “Indeed,” he agreed.  “The situation is…” Here he looked at Grace thoughtfully.  Her bruise was lighter today.  “Less than ideal.”

 

Bruce then shook hands with Detective Vincent in turn.  “Detective Vincent.  Welcome to my home.”  The greeting was meant for both of them.

 

“Ms. O’Neil,” the detective began.

 

“Grace, oh please, call me Grace,” she motioned for them to sit on the couch and then took one of the chairs next to it.  She waited for Bruce to sit beside her.

 

“Grace,” the detective tried again.

 

The leather on Chad’s belt creaked and because of the gun and nightstick he carried, he wasn’t actually able to sit back on the couch.  Instead, he sat on the edge, leaning forward… offering himself as a barrier between the detective and Grace should she need it.  Their relationship may have been in the past, but he still cared for her deeply and always would.  “We’re just going to ask a few questions… maybe see if you can recall some things you may have forgotten.”

 

She nodded and her hand extended, immediately reaching for Bruce’s.  “I just really don’t like this part,” she said softly.

 

“That’s understandable,” the detective interjected, taking out his notebook and a pocket tape recorder.  “But the more you can tell us, the more it will help.”

 

“I thought…” here she paused and inhaled deeply, “I thought he confessed.”

 

Chad exchanged looks with the detective who nodded for him to tell her.  “He did.  But in his confession, he talked about more than just the attack.  Gracie, he says he’d been watching you for months.”

 

“Stalking you,” Detective Vincent bluntly added.

 

Chad *and* Bruce gave the detective a stern look as Grace’s eyes filled with fear and she instinctively squeezed Bruce’s hand.  “Nnnn…. No.  That… that can’t be.  Ok.  That just doesn’t happen.  Not to me!”

 

Chad’s voice went soft and he drew Grace’s attention to him.  He knew how she dealt with things she didn’t want to hear or face.  And with the man who was in custody, he couldn’t afford to just let her pretend it wasn’t happening.  “We searched his apartment.  He had a wall plastered with pictures of you and not just the ones from magazines or ads.  But ones he took himself.  It seems that he attacked you on impulse when you went out Thursday night.”

 

“And if we aren’t careful, and if his lawyer is smart enough… he could plead guilty but try for temporary insanity.  He’s claiming that ‘yes’ he did it, but that he was overcome and doesn’t remember anything until he woke up in the hospital.”

 

Grace knew exactly what all this meant.  “I’m going to have to go to court, aren’t I?”

 

“Not if we can help it,” Detective Vincent reassured her.  “We’re going to do everything we can to make sure that doesn’t happen.  But we need details.  Just start from the beginning.”

 

“Of what?” she asked, confused.

 

“You left your apartment and got in your vehicle, right?”  When she nodded, Chad continued, “Then what did you do?”

 

She shrugged.  “I sat there.  I couldn’t decide where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do so I sat there.  Then I got out and walked back to the building, but couldn’t see to put the key in the door.”  Her eyes went a bit vacant as she recalled what happened.  “The next thing I knew I was grabbed from behind.”  She focused back on the officers.

“He was stalking me?”

 

Bruce’s first thought at the news that it had months was that he should have given into the brief temptation he’d had to kill the man in his hospital bed.  Though, that would have made him no better than the slime himself.  His second reaction was guilt that for all the nights he’d watched Grace’s apartment, he hadn’t noticed this man lurking in some other set of shadows.  The reaction he *acted upon* however, was the instinct to comfort Grace, and his hand slid protectively behind her as he sat beside her.  She turned to him briefly and their eyes met.  His were shining with love for her and pride because, although she was frightened, she was doing it.

 

“It’s okay, love,” he told her softly, as if they were suddenly the only two in the room.  “The operative word is ‘was’.”  The tone in his voice left no doubt what he was thinking.  That if the man went free, he wouldn’t have time to pick up where he’d left off.

 

Then he turned his attention back to the police.

 

“Ms… Grace,” the detective continued.  “Is there anything else you remember about that night?”

 

Grace nodded, and repeated the story she’d told to both Bruce and Alfred… about the caped figure whom stopped the attack and called Bruce to her side.

 

The detective turned off his tape recorder and sighed audibly.  “Ms. O’Neil,” he started, uncomfortable now with calling her by her given name.  “You do know this Batman figure is a myth… more than likely a figure propagated by the media.”

 

“No he’s not,” she said firmly.  “And don’t look at me like that.  I wasn’t seeing things.  I know what I did see.  And I saw a cape… possibly a mask.”

 

And this is what Chad had feared.  He knew about Grace seeing the cape because Naomi had told him that Grace mentioned it when she surrendered her apartment.  He turned a harsh gaze to the detective before turning a much softer one to Grace.  “I believe you,” he said offering her a

smile.

 

Surprised eyes were turned to him.  “You do?” she asked, flabbergasted that someone other than Courtney would come out and say he believed.

 

“I do.  You know I work the night shift, and well, we’ve picked up a lot more perps in the past few months than we have the entire time I’ve been on the force.  And I’ve heard the ‘man in a cape’ story directly from them.  So yes, I believe it’s true.”

 

“Be that as it may,” the detective interrupted, “if this goes to court and she starts talking about ‘a man in a cape’ or if she just comes out and says ‘Batman saved me’… what will that do to her credibility?”

 

“But he did,” she insisted.  “If he hadn’t been there…” She let the rest trail off.  “I can’t say I didn’t see what I saw, Detective.  I can’t.”

 

“How,” Bruce began, pushing himself off the chair to stand. He walked around to the other side of the chairs to the mini bar –which, ironically was at the detective’s arm– and began to pour a glass of water. He was taller than the detective, and thanks to his strict training regiment, more muscular than both the officers.  But it wasn’t Chad he was looking at when he finished the question, “will anything she says about this… Batman… damage Grace’s credibility when her attacker claims to have seen him as well?”  Bruce had read the official newspaper account yesterday.  Grace’s stalker had also told the police, and then the media, about his encounter with the ‘mythical’ caped man.  “Seems to me their stories corroborate each other there.  Seems to me I

could find plenty of lawyers who’d argue that if the victim and the perpetrator of a crime have matching stories, then it’s likely the truth.  Unless, of course, you’re claiming that one of them is lying.”  He let the implication that the detective should know better than to

question Grace in this house slide off his voice and into the air.

 

Grace’s eyes were on Bruce so she didn’t see Chad look up at the younger man.  She also didn’t see him smile in approval.  It was true that he’d hoped to be able to win her back and that a part of him would always have deep emotions for her.  But it was extremely obvious that Bruce loved her.  Loved her more deeply than even Chad could.  And he could take care of her in ways that Chad couldn’t.

 

The detective set his eyes on Bruce Wayne and although the young man was over ten years his junior, he knew when he’d crossed a line.  And crossing one of *this* man’s lines was something that simply wasn’t done.  To Grace, he said, “I do apologize.  I’m extremely concerned about this temporary insanity plea,” he went on.  “I want to make sure there are no loopholes he can slip through.”

 

Chad reached out and lightly took Grace’s hand.  “Gracie, we have a photo of this man we want you to look at.  See if you’ve seen him around anywhere, noticed him following you… maybe you ran into him a couple of times and didn’t make a connection.  Like I said, he’s claiming he was following you for months.”

 

“I…” she looked up at Bruce, almost apologetically, “I haven’t gone out much the past few months, Chad, you know that.”

 

He nodded.  “I do.  But he would know when you did.  Please,” with his free hand he reached for the picture.  Once Vincent handed it to him, he slowly handed it to her.  “Just look at it.”

 

Her response was immediate.  The hand that Chad had been holding was almost ripped from his grasp as she brought it to her mouth and cried out softly, “Oh my God!”

 

That got the attention of both Bruce and Walker Vincent, though for very different reasons.  Bruce was beside her in a flash, sitting beside her and wrapping an arm securely around her shoulders.  “What is it?” he asked, concerned.

 

“I… I…” She looked up at Bruce, completely and totally shocked and more than a little afraid.  “Two years ago… when I… when I was working… at the gym.”

 

Chad stood and looked around, finding a box of tissues on the desk he grabbed a couple and brought them to her, then knelt on the other side of her.

 

Detective Vincent once again was taking notes and had turned on the recorder.

 

“He took a couple of my… my classes.  I just thought… lots of people took more than one of my classes.”  She looked at Chad.

 

He nodded toward the detective.  “They did.  Took more than one myself,” he said with a small smile.  “But there’s more, isn’t there?”

 

Wiping her eyes with the tissue, she nodded.  “When Hope… Hope was here over Christ… Christmas,” she inhaled deeply.  “We went shopping to get Dad a… a present.  And he… he came up to me…”

 

“He talked to you,” the detective was extremely interested now.  “What did he say?”

 

“I don’t… remember really.  Small talk mostly.”

 

“Your sister was with you?”

 

She nodded.

 

“She’s attending grad school, Walker.  I’ll give you her location later.  Ok?”  This came from Chad, who wanted to take as much off

Grace’s shoulders as he could.

 

She closed her eyes and rested her head on Bruce’s shoulder.  Right now, all she wanted to do was crawl onto his lap and let him cocoon her.  But as that couldn’t happen right now, she drew as much strength from him as she could.  “Then after Christmas…  I was with Naomi and Allen.  I just thought it was a coincidence.  I run into former students all the time.”

 

“A logical assumption,” Bruce said softly, reassuring her that in no way was this her fault.  “I’d have thought the same.”  He had, actually.  In college, a young woman had taken all of his classes with him –since freshman year.  He’d thought nothing of it at the time, chalking it up to them having the same major.  It wasn’t until she approached him after graduation and admitted that she’d been ‘fascinated by him’ and had gone to the trouble every year to change her schedule to match his that he realized what was going on with her.  She wasn’t even in his major, and now had to take an extra two years just to graduate.  Bruce had been shocked and partially amused.  He’d told her he was sorry, he’d always thought she was nice, and maybe she should have said something sooner.  Then he’d offered to pay for her last two years, so she could finish her true major and graduate.  His lover at the time had laughed his ass off when he’d recounted the tale.  But that had been a harmless, if expensive (on her part), obsession.

 

This was different; it wasn’t harmless.  And it begged a question:  How could the man claim temporary insanity if he’d been stalking her for months?

 

Grace shook her head.  “You’d think I would have known somehow.”  She sounded guilty for not having recognized the threat.

 

“But you couldn’t have, Gracie,” Chad said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.  “And it’s all right if you didn’t. Sometimes there’s no way to tell the good guys from the bad ones.”

 

“It’s not all black hats and tin stars anymore,” Bruce added thoughtfully, but he was thankful for Chad’s presence.  Grace needed all the reaffirming she could get.  “He’s right, though, love.  There was no way you could have known what this guy was up to.  You shouldn’t blame yourself for that.”

 

She wiped at her nose with the tissue.  “I honestly just don’t understand.  Why would anyone be obsessed with me?”

 

“It’s a sad state of affairs today, Ms. O’Neil.  But being in the public eye like you are… It draws people in.  I’ve little doubt that you have thousands of fans; it’s just that this one crossed the line.  He went from fan to obsessed fan and was apparently content to watch you until he saw you Thursday night and something must have set him off.  You were alone… perhaps the vulnerability set him off.”

 

Chad rubbed her arm.  “The temporary insanity thing isn’t going to stick.  Not with all the pictures and everything we found in his apartment, and certainly not with the confession.”  He looked back at the detective.  “We’ll talk to Naomi and Allen and get in touch with her sister.  Get statements from them.  That should help with the premeditation aspect of the case.  If he was making contact, we can prove he was planning.”

 

Grace smiled softly.  She knew Chad had been offered promotions, but had turned them down because he felt he could do more good by ‘walking the beat’.  Still, she believed he should have been a detective.  He was a hell of a lot better than the one sitting across from them.  “What else do you need to know?” she asked, lifting her head from Bruce’s shoulder, gaining courage from the two men’s comfort and support.

 

“When he grabbed you, did you notice or feel any kind of a weapon?”

Detective Vincent asked.

 

“It may mean a difference in what charges are pressed, Gracie.”

 

She shook her head.  “I didn’t notice anything.  He grabbed me and I managed to scream before his hand clamped on my mouth.”  She looked at

Chad.  “I freaked and fought him.  I completely forgot all those self defense things you taught me,” she admitted to Chad.  “Forgot the stepping on the foot… the vulnerable thumb hold… using my head to bust his nose…”

 

Chad chuckled.  “You hated that one.”  Looking to Bruce, he explained, “She didn’t like the thought of getting blood in her hair.”  Back to Grace, he said, “Go on.”

 

“The next thing I knew, Batman,” and here she looked pointedly at

Vincent, “shows up and the man tossed me to the pavement where I hit my head and passed out.  But I’m sorry, I don’t remember a weapon.”

 

“We’ll probably only get assault then,” the detective announced.  “But

Ms. O’Neil, I’m sure the DA will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”  He pulled out some papers.  “I just need to fill out this report and have you sign in all the right places and then the DA can take it from there, okay?”

 

Chad teased.  “I don’t think she’ll have a problem with giving you an autograph, Walker.”

 

Grace looked from Chad to Bruce.  Her eyes rested on Bruce, and she smiled softly.  “An autograph as a ‘thank you’.  I can do that.”  She sighed, “I just can’t get over the stalking bit.  All those times I went out… I wasn’t safe.  He could have grabbed me at any time.  What if there are others like him out there?”

 

Bruce wanted to tell her that there weren’t, but in truth, he couldn’t ensure that.  One thing he did know, however, was they’d have a harder time getting to her now.  The Manor was much safer than her old apartment building.  “If there are, perhaps this one’s Fate will be a deterrent?” he suggested.  But he worried as he said it that she would try to seclude herself here at the Manor much as she had done in her apartment.  Here, the seclusion might be worse, as there were few reasons here to leave the grounds.  Groceries here were brought by delivery, and the servants did laundry and the cleaning.  Bruce didn’t want Grace to isolate herself out of fear.

 

*-*-*

 

After the police left and they were finally alone again, Bruce took Grace’s hand and led her back to the over-stuffed leather chair –the ‘cuddle chair’ as Courtney and Seth were now calling it.  Sitting, he pulled her down with him, and then covered them both in the soft mink blanket.  For a while, they said nothing and just sat there holding

one another close.

 

“Do you really think no one else will try to…?” she began after a fashion.  She didn’t complete the sentence, but Bruce knew.  She sounded afraid.

 

“I honestly don’t know, but Grace, love, I do know for certain that they’ll have a harder time attempting it now.  Between security here at the Manor… and your new friend Batman…” He forced his voice to be lighter and more joking.  “Why would they want to try?”

 

“Why did he want to try?” she countered, still sounding scared.  “But, you’re right,” she said, and his fears started to alleviate.  “I’m safe… here.”

 

Bruce frowned; this wasn’t what he wanted to hear her say.  Yes, she was safe here at the Manor, but she was also safe anywhere because her stalker was in prison.  “Grace, sweetheart… have I ever told you about… what it was like after my parents died?”

 

Grace shook her head uncertainly.  Bruce confided in her, yes, but it was always a few things here and there, usually accompanied by bittersweet angst.

 

“When they first died, I had a hard time sleeping at night.”  This, Grace knew.  He still did, sometimes although he’d always claimed her presence in his bed kept the bad dreams at bay.  “Sometimes, the nightmares would be too real and the fear of them would spill over into the daylight hours.  I was afraid to go school, afraid to leave my bedroom… because they” the muggers who killed his parents “might still come after me.”  In truth, he used hide under his blankets until Alfred came and threw the blankets aside, forcing him out of the room.  “One day, Alfred told me he wasn’t going to let me hide anymore.  ‘You must face your fears head on, Master Bruce’ he said.”  Here Bruce gave an imitation of Alfred’s voice.  “Then he told me that I was going back to school the next day.”  Bruce remembered fighting it, throwing a huge temper tantrum, which Alfred ignored.  But in the end, Alfred had been right: he couldn’t spend the rest of his life hiding.  Neither could Grace.  “Grace… if he’d humored me, I might still be hiding under my bed.”  The last was meant jokingly, but he hoped she’d hear the meaning behind his smile: don’t let this attack force you into hiding.  Don’t let it beat you down now, when you have so much to live for.

 

“I isolate myself,” came her soft reply after a long few moments.  “Anytime I feel unsafe or insecure, I isolate myself… only letting a very precious few people in.”  She paused, her eyes screwed tightly shut as her head rested against his chest.  “When we were young, my mom…” She inhaled deeply and snuggled as close to him as she could

get.  “My mom abandoned us.  One day, she kissed me before I left for school, told me she loved me, and that night, she didn’t come home.  No explanations… nothing.  Just a note. ‘I can’t live this life anymore, George.  Take care of our girls’.”  She recited the words… the memory of them tearing at her heart.

 

“You know as well as I do… even more than I do… Moms don’t leave.  They don’t just send their kids to school and then run away.  They don’t love you one minute and stop the next.  Mine did.”  She cried softly.  “Moms… they’re always supposed to be there… they’re always supposed to love you.  It’s the one thing you should be able to depend upon, no matter what.  But mine just stopped.  Stopped loving us and ran away.”  She sighed heavily.  It was as if once she started talking about it, she couldn’t stop.  “Hope, she was always Daddy’s girl.  They share a deep bond.  But mine was with Mom.  And I tried to reconcile things… come to terms… years of therapy and I finally stopped blaming myself.  But I never got back the same sense of security I felt before she left.  I hate her and love her at the same time.  There have been times when, even now, I still wish she were here.  I want to tell her about my life and know what’s going on in hers.  I want to introduce people to MY mom.”  This was new territory for her.  She always kept these emotions… these thoughts… deeply hidden.  But something told her that Bruce, above all others, would understand.  “I love Janet.  I wasn’t always the best to her.  But she hung in there, and I know she loves me.  But there are times… I want my real mom back.  The security… my mom.”

 

She paused.  “And yes, I’m scared… terrified right now that one stalker equals a hundred.”  She turned sad eyes toward him, but as she looked at him, she felt nothing but love for him and from him.  “But I know… more than Batman… more than anyone… *YOU* are my security and my safety.  I KNOW that.”

 

“Grace…” Bruce whispered.  Instinct made him hold her tighter.  He was touched beyond words that she thought of him… Bruce Wayne and not the one he was becoming… as her security.  He wanted to be that for her always.  But he was also moved by her words about her parents.  It was something about her he’d never known.  Yes, he knew Janet wasn’t her real mother, but he’d never known the story behind it.  Nor could he believe that anyone would purposefully leave a family as loving as theirs.  They were close; although Bruce now understood that the closeness was born of a loss so great it had colored their entire lives.  And Grace was right; he knew that parents were supposed to be there for you.  And he, more than anyone, knew how it hurt when they weren’t there.

 

It was different when your parents died, though.  They couldn’t come back.  Grace’s mother had chosen to leave.  She’d chosen not to come back.  The very thought of it made his arms tighten a little more around her, and his whole body screamed out for wanting to let her know he’d never leave her like that.  Not again.  Ever.

 

“Where ever she is, she must be suffering,” he said as the thoughts tumbled from his brain.  “Because no one could know you, be touched by the spirit of who you are, and live happily without you.”  He paused, and then added in the softest whisper, “I know, because living without you all but killed me.”

 

She adjusted herself so her head was now resting comfortably in his neck.  Her arms moved from where they’d been hugging herself so that she could hug him.  “Bruce,” she started, a little choked up and more touched by his words than she could express.  Their time apart had been hell on Earth for her.  But it had been worse for him, and she knew that.  Worse because he was the one who had done the pushing and worse because he had, from what she could gather, wanted to rectify the situation long ago but felt the bridge had been too burned to repair.

 

Pressing a kiss to his neck, she snuggled in again and softly said, “Well, you aren’t going to have to live without me, not ever again.”  She sighed.  They hadn’t talked about what had happened while they were apart; somehow, she believed he knew what she’d done.  She squeezed him again.  “There were times in my life though, that I wasn’t that nice of a person.  God I made Janet pay for what my mother did.  I was fourteen.  I lashed out the only way I knew how… at Janet.  And she loved me anyway.  I’d scream at her that I hated her, and she’d counter that with ‘It’s okay, Grace.  But I still love you.’  And I never understood it.  I still don’t.  She *is* my mother.  But I still ache… and I don’t know why.”

 

“Because she isn’t your *real* mother,” Bruce said softly.  “She isn’t the person who sang you lullabies at night or held your hand on the first day of school.  She didn’t kiss your boo-boos or let you help her in the garden even though you were pulling flowers and not weeds.  Because no matter how much she has done for, no matter how much she has loved you and you love her, there isn’t a substitute for the real thing.  Even if they come really close, no one can replace your parents.”

 

It took them both a moment to realize Bruce wasn’t just talking about Janet, and neither of them said anything for a while.  “Alfred’s always been more than butler to me,” he admitted. “He’s all the family I’ve ever had until recently.” Until you, and Courtney, he silently amended.

“And I love him, for all he’s been to me.  I couldn’t imagine what life would have been like without him.  But to have my parents back…” he trailed off wistfully.

 

“Yeah,” she agreed softly.  “To hear your mom tell you everything is going to be alright and know it for a fact because *she* said it.”

She pulled away and looked up at him, understanding that, though the loss was vastly different, they both shared it.  Reaching up, she lightly touched his cheek.  “Maybe, what we have to do, you and I, is hold on to that aspect with each other.  If you tell me everything is going to be all right, then I’ll believe you.  Implicitly trust that you want what’s best for me.”

 

She caught his eyes with hers.  “And I promise to always be here for you.  I’ll never go anywhere.  We’re in this together… thick and thin.”

 

This was why Bruce loved her so much… because of all the women –and a few men– he’d dated in his life, none of them had cared what he was feeling.  They’d been in love with the name, the money, and the status.  Big house, fancy cars…  he was just a pretty face with money to them.  But Grace?  She wasn’t like that; she loved him.  He had no doubt of that, because it showed in everything she did.

 

“I think that’s more than feasible, love.  In fact, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”  He kissed her forehead, then nose, leaning further in with each kiss until his lips met hers, tenderly expressing his devotion for her.  All his heart told him that they were connected in a way that nothing could sever.

 

*-*-*

 

When Bruce finally excused himself with claims of things he needed to get done in preparation for his next round of meetings at City Hall, he didn’t go straight into training. There was something he had to do first.

 

Heading into his den, he pulled out his cell phone and punched in the number for Grace’s father’s law office in upstate New York.  He’d promised George he’d take care of things, and he had.  Well, gotten the ball rolling, but it was a start.

 

When the receptionist answered and asked how she could direct his call, he told her to please tell Mr. O’Neil that Mr. Bruce Wayne was calling.  She politely said she would and then put him on hold.  –

 

When the phone rang, George set down the contract he was pouring over, brows furrowed in chagrin that the legal assistant he’d hired recently could write a contract with so many loopholes in it.  So if his voice was a little agitated when he picked up the phone, his receptionist didn’t seem to notice.

 

“Sorry to bother you, sir.  There’s a Bruce Wayne on the phone.  Should I forward the call or take a message?”

 

George pushed the contract aside, eyes immediately going to the photo on his desk.  His thoughts traveled back to the phone call he’d had with Miles yesterday.  And the discussion he’d had with Janet last night.  She seemed all for letting Bruce back in.  Bygones be bygones.  Living life while it was had to be lived.  And Miles trusted the young man implicitly.  And Grace… loved him.  So as George O’Neil slept last night, he came to a conclusion.  “Put the call through,” he said matter-of-factly.

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

When the phone rang again, he said, “Hello Bruce.”

 

Their last phone conversation was still on Bruce’s mind when the call was patched through. Through it had barely been a few days ago, it was fresh in his mind and he was all too aware that he needed to rebuild the man’s trust.

 

“Hello, George,” he replied.  “I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything pressing…”

 

He’d been sitting at his desk when he started, but now stood, moving to the window.  Outside, the late afternoon sun glistened of the snow in his spacious ‘back yard.’  A brief memory of building a snowman with his father as a child flickered through his mind.  His mom had been sick, and he and his father had built an entire snow family where she could see it from their bedroom window.  That was the last winter before they… “But I thought perhaps I should apprise you of how things are faring here.”

 

George leaned back in his chair, running a hand over his baldhead he thought back to the things he made Bruce promise him he would do.  That was Sunday… today was Tuesday.  If he’d come through on any of them…  Well, George knew anyway.  Bruce wanted desperately to rebuild that trust.  And that meant something.  “I appreciate that, Bruce.  I really do.”  His words were genuine as he spoke. “How is she?”

 

He glanced back over at the picture and then at a candid shot of the five of them having a cookout over the summer.  George and Bruce acting as chefs while trying NOT to burn the steaks.  Grace and Hope sunbathing… and Janet… relaxing on a raft in the pool.  It had been George’s first attempt at one of those remote controlled cameras.  That

day it had worked perfectly.  That day had been perfect. Perhaps perfection could come back.  He knew this phone call could go a long way toward that.

 

“She’s doing much better,” he told Grace’s father. “She’s been sleeping better… eating finally,” he paused, chuckling.  “Alfred’s been seeing to it every meal includes all of her favorite foods.  And she’s been smiling, George. Smiling.”  He said the word like it was some kind of miracle, because really, it was in his eyes.  The first couple of days after Grace woke up had been the hardest.  The fear in her eyes had scared him so badly, but it was gone now.  “And we’ve… worked through a lot of stuff.  She’s… um, staying at the Manor now.  She’s let the apartment go.”  He was rambling and felt so unsure.  It was weird, but he’d never felt this way around anyone’s parents before.  But with George and Janet?  The first time he’d met them was at Grace’s birthday party practically two years ago.  He’d been so nervous, he’d spent most of the night ‘hiding’ at the bar for fear of ruining her night somehow.  He felt like that now, because of how he knew he’d hurt her.

 

“Today was a little difficult for her, though,” he said, leading into the major reason for his call.  “We had a visit from the police, about her attack.”

 

George wanted to go back and comment… mostly on the fact that his daughter was smiling… another on the living situation.  He knew Grace would move back in as soon as she got the opportunity, but mostly what George wanted to say was that he was pleased.  Even if Bruce never hinted at marriage, keeping that apartment had never been something George liked.

 

But when Bruce brought up the police, he focused everything one that.

His voice showed his pleasure.  “You got her to press charges?”  Of course he wanted details, but the fact that she’d done it… it almost shocked him completely, pleasantly actually.  “Bruce… that’s great!”

 

Bruce smiled at the sound of the other man’s voice.  They had both wanted this, for Grace to press charges. For her attacker –stalker, he amended– to pay for what he’d done.  His smile faded a little.  George wouldn’t like that much.  “I got lucky, I think,” he told the lawyer.  “Grace has it in her head that the man who saved her is that… Batman

guy the media down here in Gotham keep telling stories about.  Have you heard of him?  Anyway, she came to me wanting to know how I thought she could thank this guy… and I convinced her that whoever did save her, he didn’t do it just to watch that piece of scum walk free.”  Here,

Bruce couldn’t hide his distaste of Grace’s stalker from his voice.  “And I pulled some strings and got the cops to come to us.  No reporters, no photographers.  Just Grace, me, and the cops who were working the case.”  That had helped a lot, he knew, as she wasn’t someplace public when the realization hit her that she’d been stalked.

“Ahh!!  Smart move, Bruce.  Very smart move.  Cause we both know

Gracie.  She won’t do half the things she should for herself, but tell her she’s doing them for someone else, and she’d move mountains if she could.  I’m so proud of her…” He was genuinely smiling when he said, “Of you both.  Thank you so much.  Going to the police station was the worst of it for her the last time.  And you had the right of it Bruce… the man is scum.  To attack an innocent woman…” He paused for a moment.  “She thinks Batman saved her?  I’ve heard tidbits… Miles mentioned something about him the other day, actually.  Grace thinks he saved her, huh?  Anything’s possible.  And if she believes strongly enough, nothing will deter her from it.”

 

“Don’t I know it,” he chuckled.  “And yeah, Batman. That’s what she told Detective Vincent today anyway.  He wasn’t as inclined to believe as Chad was, though.”  Bruce voice tightened.  Vincent may be working the case, but if he contradicted Grace again, he’d be a meter maid before he could even say the word.

 

Bruce sighed.  He wanted to bask in the glory of George’s words.  He was proud of him.  It lifted a weight off his heart to hear it.  But the rest of the news needed to be told, and Bruce worried about how it would be received.  “George,” he said after a hesitant pause.  “There’s something you need to know about her attack.  Vincent showed Grace a photo of the man who grabbed her that night. She knew him; he was a former student of hers from when she taught those classes.”  Bruce pressed his fingers to the window, feeling the chill through the glass. “Chad says he admitted to watching her for months, George.  It was a stalker, and not a random attack.”   The last words were voiced with such pain and anger.  Though he’d never voice it, he blamed himself more than anything.  If he hadn’t turned her away… it was a mistake he’d spend the rest of his life making up for.

 

“A stalker,” George said the word as if the information hadn’t fully soaked in.  “A stalker,” he said it again for emphasis.  “Oh Jesus, Bruce.”  His face went red with rage.  But it wasn’t directed toward anyone but the man who perpetuated the crime.  “No wonder she’s had it rough today.  Grace, though I love her dearly, doesn’t give herself much credit sometimes.  She and I had talked about stalkers the first time she modeled. Her response was no one would stalk her… there were much more beautiful women to stalk.  I tried to tell her that there were few women more beautiful than she, but she told me I was biased.  Then I explained to her that beauty had nothing to do with stalkers.  But it never sank it.”  He sighed.  “I guess it has now.”

 

All he wanted to do right now was get in his car, drive to the airport, fly to Gotham, and beat that scumbag to death. How dare he put his hands on Grace?!  “You know what I think… and I know you’ll agree… I think that scum should thank his lucky stars that he’s under police

protection.”  He paused for another long moment.  “How’s she dealing though?  Mentioned anything about secluding herself?  She’s done that… when she was a teenager…” he said, thinking of Judy and the damage she created.

 

Bruce nodded, the events of that night still so fresh in his mind.  He’d been so angry with that man for even daring to look at Grace, let alone touch her, that he hadn’t been able to contain himself.  Only his concern for her immediate well being had stopped him from doing worse than he did. He’d wanted to kill the man, if truth be known.

 

“I know… we… she told me about her mom,” he said, knowing that if George wasn’t open with it then Grace had never really told anyone before.  “She was pretty upset, George.  I won’t lie to you about that.  She kept asking if there could be others… like that man.”  His voice froze up as he recalled the look in her eyes.  She’d been terrified and clearly on the verge of hiding.  “I’m going to… try… to help her through it, though.  Maybe if she has someone to lean on, she won’t try hide herself away from the world she loves so much.”  Grace’s love of life had been one of the things that had solidified his attraction to her.  Or rather, hooked him like a fish. He’d hate to see her lose that over this… over that horrible man.  He’d do anything to make sure she didn’t.

 

“She told you about Judy?” George sighed and confided something himself.  “I didn’t get a chance to analyze the woman’s reasoning at first.  Hope… she cried and then became angry and went on with her life determined not to let it get her down.  But Gracie… Bruce, it’s harder for her.  Like I said, she’s special.  To hate her mother, in a lot of ways would be to hate herself… at least in Grace’s eyes.  They were so close.  You look at Grace now and that’s Judy when she was in her late 20’s.  Judy loved life… was the living definition of a perfect mother.  And then one day a switch was thrown and she was gone… Grace was devastated.”

 

He paused again.  “If anyone can get her out and living, I know you can do it.  I know she’s safe there with you.  But the hurt… over her mother… will always be fresh.  And to add on top of it this stalker.  She’ll want to isolate herself.  I know she’s in the best hands possible.”  George chuckled lightly… almost ironically.  “Hold her tight, but make her go out and live.  Bruce… make her go shopping,” George did laugh then.  “Goodness knows that girl loves clothing.”

 

That made Bruce laugh.  “Tell me about it? When she moved in –the first time– I couldn’t believe how much clothing she had.  Alfred had to open two of the other walk in closets just to fit it all.”  He smiled at the memory.  That day hadn’t been the best for him, but Grace being there had made all the difference in the world. “She already has been shopping a little… before today, anyway. Came home from her afternoon with Courtney with a brand new car.”  Well, car wasn’t the right word. It was a metallic purple Hummer.  “But we’ll shop… we’ll do whatever takes.  I’m not letting her down again, George. Your daughter… well, she means the world to me.”

 

“I know she does.  I knew it all along.”  George chuckled a bit though as he said, “A car?  Or some Monster on Wheels? The bigger, the better.  I mean… that bright yellow Hummer…” He paused.  “I don’t want to know what she bought this time, do I?”  He shook his head.  “No, I really don’t.  But yeah, take her out…”

 

He snapped her fingers.  “I have an idea, Bruce.  Oh she’ll love it!

Ice skating… We used to go all the time when the rink was open.  She’d be out there in her purple snow suit with the fuzzy purple collar… stuck out like a sore thumb… she loved it.”

 

Bruce smiled, and his eyes drifted back to the snow outside.  “I haven’t been skating in… forever.” It might not be a bad idea, really.  Something fun and light-hearted.  He’d call Nee and see what she thought.  “That could be fun.”  After a pause, he said something

potentially dangerous.  “Thanks, George.  I know I haven’t given you much reason to trust me lately… just thanks.”

 

George looked back at the picture of the picnic and smiled softly.  “Bruce, it takes a lot of guts and courage to do what you’ve done.  I mean, face me… talk to me.  My girls are my world, and since you’ve talked to Grace, I imagine you have a very good insight as to why.  Moreover, it takes a lot of love to go to the lengths you have for her.  And I believe actions speak louder than words.  It’s all water under the bridge.  Okay?”  And as he spoke those words, he knew them to be true.  Bruce had followed through and done so very quickly.  And George felt comfortable with Grace being in Bruce’s care.  “She’s safe with you and happy.  And that’s what I’ve wanted for her for so long.”

 

“Thanks,” Bruce said again, his voice more relieved than before.  He knew now that he’d been redeemed a little in the older man’s eyes.  And seeing as he never intended to repeat the action that had caused him to fall from grace, he doubted he’d lose that little bit of redemption.  “I’ll let you know how it goes from here… if it goes to trial… I’d rather you hear things from us that from the press anyway.”  Bruce knew George’s other daughter was a budding journalist, but he still did not trust the media.

 

They said good-bye, and Bruce let George get back to his work. Soon after, he was heading to the training room, but on impulse, deterred to the main gym instead, as he felt like playing with the gymnastics rings.

 

*-*-*

 

“You won’t believe what just happened,” Hope began after Grace’s initial hello.

 

Grace had been in the gym, running one of her old step-aerobics/ kickboxing routines.  She hadn’t done this one in over a year but it had all come back to her so easily.  She had the music turned up and was working up a good sweat when Alfred interrupted her for the phone call.  “Bruce still working?” she’d asked while grabbing her towel.  Alfred said he was and Grace merely nodded before taking the phone.

 

Now she listened to Hope’s enthusiastic voice as she rode the bicycle.  “What just happened to you?”

 

“I just got a phone call from Detective Walker Vincent.  Wants me to give a deposition.  Says you had a stalker and I was with you when he talked to you.  Man, how freaky is that?  My sister had a stalker!”

 

“I know, Hope,” Grace said, pushing her body harder as she rode.

 

“Well aren’t you the crabby one?” came her response even though her tone was teasing, the words were serious.

 

Stopping the bike abruptly, she said, “You tell me how I’m supposed to react.  The man tried to kill me… had been following me for months, so I’m sorry if that upsets me.  I don’t find it cool in the least.”

 

“I didn’t say it was cool.  I said it was freaky.  Listen, I’m gonna head to the station to give my deposition.  Are you okay?”

 

“I’m safe here,” Grace acknowledged.  “I more than likely won’t be going anywhere by myself for a while, but I’m fine.”  They exchanged goodbyes, and Grace set the phone aside.  Leaving the bike, she went straight to the bag.  As she ran an old kickboxing regimen, lots of thoughts ran through her mind.

 

Bruce, and Chad to the best he could, had both been very comforting in reassuring her that she was safe.  The look on Bruce’s face told her to what extent he would go to make sure that would be the case.  But safety and security had always been Grace’s biggest issues.  She’d trusted her biological mother to keep her safe, and Judy had abandoned her.  Grace landed a hard kick to the bag at the thought of Judy O’Neil.  She wanted to hate her, but a part of her still loved her.  She couldn’t help but think about her.  How could she not?  Every time she looked in the mirror, she saw Judy’s face reflected back at her.

 

Truth was, if Judy were to come back and asked to be forgiven, Grace would probably give her a chance.  But the abandonment had been the first thing that had rocked Grace’s world.  The first thing that made her believe it wasn’t a safe and secure place.  And even though her father had made sure that both girls had received counseling, Grace never fully recovered.

 

She’d found safety and security in Chad as well.  Her first love.  Seven years together, counting the three in high school.  He’d always been there for her, loved her, and took care of her.  She’d repaid him by breaking HIS heart.  Calling off their wedding two weeks before the date, running from the secure future she would have had with him because she was afraid.  Terrified.

 

When Bill started hitting her, she told herself it was what she deserved… her ‘punishment’ for turning away the one she should have been with.

 

She was running the kickboxing routine on automatic now.  It wasn’t a grueling or punishing workout, but it allowed her some free time to clear her thoughts.  It’s what she needed most right now.

 

AnnaBeth had called George when she feared for Grace’s life.  She’d also called the police, but by the time they arrived, Grace was unconscious.  She awoke in the hospital, feeling very frightened.  And although Courtney and George never left her side, she didn’t find security again anywhere until she found Bruce.

 

She paused at the thought of him before returning to her routine.

 

When she’d returned to Gotham, she had nothing.  The courts had taken everything, declaring her to be in breech of contract with her modeling agency.  But she couldn’t stay in New York City… her mental health wouldn’t allow it.  So she’d returned home.  Chad had offered to let her stay with him.  It had been very tempting… to go back to him.  But in the end, she decided to stay with Courtney instead.  Living with her was the safest she’d felt in a long time… again until Bruce.  She hadn’t stayed with Courtney long though, her friend more than determined that Grace actually live and not hide behind her.

 

The question now was… did she feel safe?  The answer was yes.  She knew beyond a doubt that Bruce would make sure no other ‘stalker’ got near her.  She understood that she was his priority.  There was no question that he would do anything to see her safe, secure, and happy.  And unlike how she was with Chad, she wasn’t scared by the thought of forever or commitment where Bruce was concerned.  He was her life, and she was where she belonged.

 

Finishing her workout, she sat on the floor and relaxed, leaning against the wall, she closed her eyes and smiled.  ‘Good workout,’ she thought.

 

When Bruce entered the gym, he saw Grace leaning against the wall.  She was sweaty and disheveled, as if she’d just been through a very rigorous work out, but right now, her eyes were closed and he hesitated to disturb her.

 

“Looks like we had the same idea,” he said after standing there watching her for a minute or two.  “You meditating?  Cuz if so, I could leave you alone?”  He risked a grin when she opened her eyes to look at him.  She’d once told him that she couldn’t meditate because she couldn’t focus on one thing that long.  Walking closer, he sat down next to her.  The wall was cool on his back.  It probably felt good to her after her routine.

 

“I actually think I was on the verge of falling asleep or something,” she laughed lightly, rubbing her face with the towel.  “I was multi-tasking.  Hope called.  Detective Vincent is a jerk, but he’s quick.

She’s going to the local police station to give a deposition.  And she didn’t seem to think I was bubbly enough for her so we swapped growling remarks.  She just doesn’t get me sometimes.  I know she tries, but she sees this stalking thing as freaky… but interesting because it means I’m *somebody*,” she used her fingers to create quotations in the air.

 

She paused.  “So I thought I’d blow off some steam and try to start getting back into shape.  One goes with the other. And then I just ended up sorting a lot of things out in my head.”  Her head was still resting on the wall as she turned it to smile at him.  “I still have some left in me if you wanted to work out together.  I was working on my kickboxing.”

 

“Of course you’re somebody,” Bruce replied matter-of-factly as he got up.  Holding out his hand to help her to her feet, he clarified, “You’re the sun, the moon and the stars… and everything else that makes up my entire universe.”  He pulled her to him smoothly, stealing a kiss before she could quite recover from the suddenness of it.  Then he pulled away, and said, “and you’re probably the person who’s going to put me to shame with her kickboxing techniques.”  He winked at her, letting her know he’d love to work out with her.

 

“Speaking of Hope…” Bruce began, linking Hope to family and family to George easily.  “I, uh, spoke to your dad just now.”

 

“You did?” She had taken a step toward the mat and stopped, turning back around to look at him.  He seemed okay, better than the last time he talked to her father.  “I’m so glad you thought to call him.  I should have done it, but my mind so isn’t where it should be.  You left for your office and I just thought… workout.”  She smiled lightly.

 

“So how is he?  What did you guys talk about?  He didn’t go all ‘protective Daddy’ on you again, did he?”  She was honestly concerned that though George believed in second chances, he might not be so willing to give one to Bruce.  And that concerned her, because they had seemed to have a bond.  She liked the thought of maybe, someday, her dad and Bruce having a close relationship.  They were both good men, with good hearts and souls.

 

“No ‘protective Daddy’ this time.”  Bruce smiled to ease her mind about that.  He’d expected it, but when it hadn’t come, he’d been relieved.  He loved Grace and couldn’t even begin to contemplate life without her ever again.  And for whatever reason, having her father’s approval meant something to him.   “I kind of figured you’d be too upset to talk about it again, so I filled him in about the stalking. He was concerned, but I think I helped ease his fears a bit about your safety and stuff.  Or at least, I hope so.”  He stepped onto the mat, and came to stand by her side again.  “Then we talked about ice skating, believe it or not.”

 

She laughed.  “Oh dear Lord, did he tell you about my purple snow pants?  It had a matching purple coat with a very furry collar.  I’d skate around and that stuff would fly off the collar.  Back then, I loved that thing, but now…” She smiled.  “And he LOVES telling people that story.”

 

She faced him on mat.  Her eyes holding his for a moment.  She was sure he was humoring her about the kickboxing comment.  He’d done a lot of honing during their separation.  And she’d done exactly the opposite.  But still, it meant a lot that they were even falling easily back into this routine.  Light contact matches were something they did quite often.  It was a sign of trust on Grace’s end, and they both knew why.  The epitome of trust in their relationship.  He let her go on the offensive, and it was more than easy to fall back into the routine.  It was very therapeutic as well.

 

“I thought the snow pants sounded cute,” Bruce said, teasing, as he faced her.  “Actually, the skating sounds like fun.  I was just thinking I’d been spending too much time indoors this winter.”  Of course, this was far from the truth where he was concerned, but she didn’t need to know that.  Besides, ice-skating did sound like fun.

“Maybe we should go sometime this week?”

 

And maybe he shouldn’t have asked so soon after the attack, but Bruce couldn’t think of a better time to go than now.  They were back together, and they weren’t hiding it.  Plus, if she went with him, it would show everyone that Grace wasn’t letting the attack bring her down.  As for the media… he’d handle whatever came up.

 

Taking a defensive stance, he waited for Grace’s first move.  His eyes let her know he was serious about their combat.  She needed the outlet, and he could take just about anything she dished out right now.  Besides, having someone to spar with would be better for his training anyway.

 

“We could go,” she said, getting into the spar slowly by leading off with a kick and following it with two punches that he blocked easily.  ‘He’s quicker,’ she thought, as she took a step back, waiting his counter.  “But no purple pants,” she teased.  She blocked his counter, thinking perhaps he was doing some gauging of her himself.

 

She didn’t realize it until this moment… She’d missed this too.  He would throw punches and kicks and she never gave it a second thought.

She trusted Bruce that much.  Her training was coming back to her though, and she was starting to really get into the exercise.  She could tell he was settling in too, as they both began to really get into it.  She really, really needed this.

 

“Right… no pants… er, purple ones, I mean,” he quipped, giving her a very salacious grin as he threw a punch, which she easily blocked.  He could feel them falling into their old routine like a familiar dance.  Four months hadn’t dulled the instinct of how to block or how to move.  He knew he was quicker now, but he could see her adapting to it with the ease born of someone who knew her stuff.  Grace wasn’t a novice when it came to kickboxing.

 

He blocked another punch, though this one came close to making real contact, as he’d been caught off guard while watching her body as she moved.  She was so heavenly, so gorgeous, and even now, it amazed him that George had actually said she’d doubted the extent of her beauty.

 

She spun and sat back waiting for his next offensive move, which she blocked and as she did, she moved in and pulled a punch that would have easily contacted with his ribs.  It cost her though as he made a touch as well, this one to her shoulder.  He was better at anticipating as well, but she recovered and pulled back, setting up for her next attack. “I’m wearing pants,” she teased, the words coming out in small bursts because she was a bit winded.  “Whether you want me to or not, I’m wearing pants.”

 

She moved in again, this time leading with kicks instead of punches.

It seemed appropriate, as it was what she would be wearing on her legs that they were discussing.

 

“No…” His breath had picked up, though whether because of the exercise or the woman with him, he wasn’t sure at moment.  He easily evaded her kicks, his eyes remaining fixated on her legs for several seconds, “fair.  I’m sure I could come up with an alternate means of keeping them warm.” What were they talking about again?

 

Her next move –another kick to the midsection– made him step back as it connected.

 

She was thankful it was light contact or else that particular kick could have hurt.  She pulled back, giving him a moment.  “Are you ok?” she asked, wanting to make sure that she hadn’t hurt him.  She waited for him to recover and then had to tease, “I have no doubt that you can keep me warm.”  She winked.  “But I told you about those lower abs.”  She laughed.  Of course, it was only then that she realized she’d dropped her focus.

 

Trying to quickly recover before he took advantage, she led with a very weak punch.  Not her best, but she was having far too much fun at the moment.

 

Bruce’s counter move was nothing either of them was expecting.  With hands that moved quicker than hers, he grabbed her wrist, pulling her hard against his chest.  Only their clothes came between Grace and the abs she’d just chided him for.  “I’m fine,” breathed raggedly, his expression turning instantly to one of unveiled passion.  He dropped her wrist in favor of holding her closer.  “Perfect…” Then his lips were on hers and his arms were tightening around her waist.

 

*-*-*

 

Bruce awoke from a light doze, having been drifting between sleep and waking moments ever since their last round of lovemaking.  The rest of their day had been very relaxed.  They’d made love after their sparring session, ate lunch on a picnic blanket in the solarium and then simply held each other until Courtney called for an update.  At dinnertime, they seriously discussed the whole ice-skating idea, and Bruce resolved that he would clear his schedule for Friday. Lee wouldn’t like it much, but it wasn’t exactly Lee’s feelings with which Bruce was concerned.  After watching the sunset over the snow-covered horizon from the balcony, they’d retired to the bedroom for the night.

 

Bruce had felt the need to be with Grace as much as possible, to hold and to comfort her.  Now, however, the night pressed on and he knew he had to leave the sanctuary of their bed.  Slipping from beneath the covers, he eased out of bed and pulled on his clothes and then stole from the room.

 

Tonight’s patrol was quiet and boring.  Nothing very much going on at all.  A few times, a familiar patrol car passed by, and Chad’s words from earlier that day came back to his mind.  He believed in the Batman, and he didn’t seem hostile, like Vincent had been.  He knew that opinions were varied.  The newspapers were full of them, especially since Grace’s attack.

 

Still, it had dawned on him earlier, when he’d been trying to link recent crimes to Thorne, that a contact within the police might be useful…. and his gut was telling him he could trust Chad Harris.

 

When Chad’s patrol car pulled into the back parking lot of a greasy spoon on the corner, he made a decision.  He waited, and the patrol officer got out.  His rookie partner must have been sick that day, as the car was empty.  Bruce approached, waiting in the shadows until Chad returned with a Styrofoam cup of coffee.  Bruce waited until he got into the car and started it up to act.

 

Batman darted out the shadows, grabbed the passenger side door handle and was inside the car in seconds.  Chad nearly jumped out of his skin, and the car swerved.  “Drive!”  Batman ordered, reminding the startled police officer to keep his eyes on the road.  Chad drove, but his eyes kept shifting to the dark figure in the car with him.  Batman gave another order, barking the street address of a park he’d once taken Grace to.  It was quiet, out of the way, and no one would be there this time of night.  He was surprised when the cop complied.

 

On any given day, Officer Chad Harris would have reflexively punched out anyone who dared to kidnap him.  This wasn’t any given day though, or even a typical kidnapping.  His first response upon seeing the masked, caped figure was that he had been right.  He had been right, and so had Grace.  His second was that this had been the man who saved

her.  The man had saved her life.  So he did as he was instructed and drove.  He was stunned, shocked, amazed, and a bit overwhelmed by the entire situation.  But here was the proof, sitting beside him.

 

The man who had single-handedly done in a short few months what Chad had wanted to do for years.  Of course, this Batman wasn’t exactly bound by the same laws that Chad was.  If Chad had beaten the perp and hospitalized him, it could have very well cost him his job.  Not that it wouldn’t have been worth it.  He still wanted a few moments alone with that scumbag.

 

He pulled into the park as he was instructed, unbuckled his seatbelt and then turned to face the man sitting beside him.  There was an air of dead seriousness about him, and something else as well that Chad couldn’t put his finger on… vengeance… whatever it was, it permeated from Batman’s entire being.  “Ok,” he finally said, “you have my attention.”

 

“Good,” Batman answered.  He held Chad’s eyes, searching them as if to see if he’d been mistaken about the man.  Grace had always said that the eyes told the most about a person. When he was certain he wasn’t wrong, he spoke again.  “We’re both busy people, so I’ll be brief.”  He paused and then said, “I need your help.”

 

That last bit had, admittedly, taken the officer by surprise.  What did Batman need with his help?  It seemed as of late, Chad was the one who was collecting the perps that Batman collared.  What more could he do?  He eyed the man for several moments.  A couple months ago, someone had approached him… offered him a great deal of money if he’d look the other way on some local extortion he’d witnessed.  Of course, there was no amount of money that could buy Chad off.  So, he’d arrested the man, and a week later, someone had unsuccessfully tried to kill him.  He’d didn’t care what the cost; he couldn’t be bought.

 

But sitting here, across from this man… this hero as Grace so openly called him.  Chad’s blue eyes locked with dark brown ones and he said, “What do you need?”

 

What did he need?  A contact in the police force, someone who was honest and couldn’t be bought.  Someone he could trust.  “Your eyes.  Your ears.”  The answer was cryptic at best. Batman elaborated.  “There’s more I could be doing than just stopping random acts of injustice.  I need someone inside the Gotham PD I can trust.  Information.  Locations.”  He wanted the man who made most of the ills in Gotham happen to suffer.  He wanted Thorne.

 

“Information,” Chad repeated, turning so he completely faced the other man, his arm resting casually on the steering wheel.  “Locations.”  He thought for a long moment, more questions running through his mind than he could put voice to.  The fact was, right now, he needed to focus on the most important bit of information.  “I take it you’re after someone in particular… someone that we,” and here he meant the police department, “can’t quite touch because of the laws we’re bound by.  But someone who deserves to be brought to justice nonetheless.  Who specifically would that be?”  He was tempted to remind the man that he was just a patrol officer, but everyone knew he was a lot more than that, so he didn’t even pretend.

 

“Among others, Thorne.”  The name dropped coldly from Batman’s mouth.  He wanted to cripple the so-called ‘businessman’s’ organization. His reasons were the obvious ones.  Thorne’s crime syndicate was the source of most of the small crime in Gotham, as well as the big stuff.   Where there was a mugging, there was a man in need of quick cash to pay off a dealer.  The dealer got his drugs through someone else, and the drugs made up a portion of Thorne’s profits.  Other crimes connected in similar ways.  Yes, some of it wasn’t connected, but those independents had their own set of problems.  Paying Thorne for the right to their own niche of the streets.  Gangs with guns?  Who made the guns available?  Everyone knew, and most people chose to ignore it.  “And you,” he said, fixing Chad with a pointed stare, “are in a position to see more than I can.”

 

“Thorne,” Chad fairly hissed.  “Yeah, I could think of a thing or two

I’d like to do to that man.”  He sighed.  He knew, as well as Detective Vincent, that Thorne was the one who’d hired the man who tried to kill Chad.  What had been most confusing was why there’d only been one attempt.  Maybe Thorne didn’t think a patrol officer was worth any extra time or effort.  And now maybe, just maybe, they’d have a chance to bring the crime boss down.  Thorne owned several of the officers and detectives in Gotham.  He didn’t own Gordon or the Mayor.  Like him, they couldn’t be bought.  He didn’t own Vincent either.  As much as the man rankled Chad, he was an honest detective.  It’s why Chad overlooked the detective’s attitude like he did.

 

“I’ll give you what I know,” Chad said, making the decision easily.  “He’s got a few toadies that hang out at this bar not far from where you picked me up tonight.  I’ve bagged them a couple times for assault… once for attempted rape. But, of course, nothing ever sticks.”  The last was almost a growl.  “I know they work for Thorne, but neither will talk.  Before we can lean on them too heavily, the lawyers rush in and they’re released.”  Chad looked up at him, eyes slightly enraged at the injustice of it.  “They know what will happen to them if they turn stoolie; but if leaned on properly, I’ve little doubt one of them will talk.”

 

He paused for a moment as if he was going to say more, and he knew

Batman was processing the information he’d just been given. “One question… why me?  Why not any other of the patrol officers?  Why not one of the detectives?  What made you decide to get in *my* squad car tonight?”

 

Batman filed the information away for future use.  He’d been pressuring Thorne’s people accidentally before, almost unwittingly, but now?  He was going to be seeking them out. “Call it hunch,” he said in reference to the expected ‘why me?’  “But I think we want the same things for this city.  A pact would be most beneficial.”

 

“Bringing down Thorne would go a long way toward crippling the crime element in this city.  We all ‘know’ how he earned his fortune, but again, we can’t prove a damn thing.”  He paused again.  “And yeah, I think we want the same things too.  If it’s in my power to help, I will.  Obviously,” and this was the first time his face softened since they’d parked the car, “you know how to find me.”

 

Batman nodded, and for an instant, Chad thought he was going to get out of the car without saying anything else.  He was a man who got right to the point, but Chad had a point he needed to make as well.  “Last week, you stopped a mugging.  A mugging that actually turned out to be a hell of a lot more than just that.  The woman you saved…” he paused, quickly thinking back to how settled and content she was with Bruce.  It settled something within him as well.  “She is a very special woman… to me and to a lot of other people.”  He smiled lightly.  “She knows you saved her.  She pressed charges today, which for her is a BIG thing.  She wanted to thank you.  I do too.  Like I said, she’s a special lady.  If you hadn’t been there, the world would have lost her, and that would have been a big shame.”

 

He had been looking beyond the cloaked figure, out to the snow covered trees of the dimly lit park as he spoke.  Turning his attention back to the man, he said, “So anything you need from me, you have.  Check out the toadies first.  Hammer and Deetz are their names.  I’ll see what else I can dig up for you tonight.  Find me tomorrow night. My partner goes off duty long before I do.  He seems to think this is just an eight hour job,” Chad’s voice reflected exactly what he thought of his partner and his work ethics.

 

Batman nodded, making it an overall response to all that Chad had said.  He didn’t trust himself speak after what Chad had said about Grace.  But he did know how to contact the cop, and he would be checking out Hammer and Deetz soon enough.  His mind was more at ease, as well. Chad would help, no questions asked, because he accepted what Batman was doing.  “I’ll be in touch soon,” he said when he finally did trust himself not to reveal anything through his voice.  And then, much as he’d entered the car, he was gone, disappearing into the night surrounding the park he knew so well.

 

Chad sat there for several moments.  Man wasn’t much for ‘thank you’s’, he thought with a slight chuckle.  But at least he’d gotten the point across.  And, though he wouldn’t exactly be telling Grace, or anyone else, about this meeting, he imagined she would feel better knowing the man directly responsible had been thanked… face-to-face.  He also felt a renewed sense of purpose.  Batman was going to make a far better ally in bringing down Thorne than his partner or any other officer or detective on the force.  He saw it in the man’s eyes.  Hammer and Deetz were going to be paid a visit tonight.

 

Starting his car, he drove off in the opposite direction of where he

assumed Batman would be heading.  Hammer and Deetz, though they were only a couple of toadies… they were the hardest ones to get talking.  He’d take a drive across town and lean on a couple more himself.  They wouldn’t give up Thorne, but maybe they could give up something else.  It was worth a try.  It definitely couldn’t hurt.

 

*-*-*

 

The building Chad pulled in front of, for all intents and purposes, looked abandoned.  Cautiously, he exited his squad car.  He knew appearances were deceiving.  The place looked abandoned, but in reality it was far from it.  As he made his way toward the entrance, someone yelled “PIG!”.  He heard the flurry of activity before squatters ran pell-mell out of the building.  Regardless of the swarm of humanity running in the opposite direction, Chad moved easily toward the alley, waiting for the one he was looking for.

 

When the man appeared, Chad caught him easily and pushed him hard up against the wall.  He pretty much detested playing the role of ‘hard ass’.  He didn’t like using brute force to get his point across.  But he’d dealt with this man many, many times.  Anything other than harsh just would not work.  The criminal only understood one way of doing things… the hard way.  “How’s it going tonight, Nicky?”

 

“Man, I ain’t done nothin’.”

 

“Oh no!  I just came to talk.  That’s all.  You, me, a little light conversation.”

 

“I ain’t tellin’ you nothin’!”

 

That comment found Nicky spun and slammed hard against the wall.  “You ain’t done nothin’ and you aren’t tellin’ me nothin’.  Then I guess that just means I get to take you downtown.”

 

“For what?”

 

“Well, there are ‘No Trespassing’ signs all over that building you just ran from.  If I made you take a breath test, my guess is you’d be publicly intoxicated.  And if I gave you a pat down, I bet you’d have drugs on you.”

 

“No dope, Officer Harris, I swear it.”

 

“Right.  I just want to talk.  That’s all.”  He let go of the criminal, knowing exactly what the man would do.

 

When Nicky ran, Chad caught him easily, giving him a little push to the pavement.  Nicky cried out as he was rolled over, blood was oozing from his nose.  Leaning down, Chad made as if to brush snow off his jacket and instead grabbed him by it.  “You make a drop tonight, Nicky?”  Nicky was a transport.  Working the streets, he’d transport drugs or money from the dealers to Thorne’s henchmen.  Everyone knew Nicky was a snitch, but they didn’t pay him much mind.  He worked for a fix and was easily disposable.  In truth, no one gave a shit.

 

“I didn’t drop any smack tonight.”

 

“Not talking about smack, now am I?  Was doing myself a bit of observing tonight… your pals Hammer and Deetz.  I got a bit distracted, so I figured I’d seek you out.  Now, you’re on this end of town, and they are on the other.  Still at the bar, I’d imagine.  So yeah, I know you didn’t drop smack tonight.  Who’d you give the wad to?”

 

“If I tell you, they’ll kill me!”

 

Chad lifted him up off the pavement, not far, but it definitely put pressure on the man’s head, causing him to cry out.  “I doubt they give a shit about you.  See, right now, Nicky, this is just between us… you and me.  You’re an anonymous source.  So, who’d you make the drop to?”

 

“I don’t know,” Nicky admitted.

 

“Fine,” Chad said, letting the jacket go suddenly and causing Nicky’s head to hit the pavement.  “I’ll tell you what.  Since you’re reluctant to talk here, I’ll take you downtown.  We’ll press some charges.  And when Thorne’s lawyers come to get you, I’ll make sure they know we had ourselves a long talk.  They’ll know you know more than the average transporter.  Think they’ll give a shit about you then?  I do.”

 

Nicky’s eyes went wide with fear.  Officer Chad Harris had a reputation around town.  He wasn’t too popular with the criminal element.  Thugs of all shapes and sizes knew that once Officer Harris had you pegged, he wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted.  That was either you in jail or information from you.

 

“It was dark, I didn’t see much,” he cried, rubbing the back of his head.

 

“What was your contact’s name?”

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“Give me his GOD DAMN name!”

 

“Sp… Spence.  That’s all I know!!!”

 

Chad’s face paled.  “What did he look like?”

 

“It was dark, man.  I didn’t see much.”

 

Chad reached for the jacket again.  “What did he look like?”  He’d brought his face close to the other man’s, his eyes red hot with rage.

 

“Dark hair.  Skinny, young guy.  He had a tattoo… some kind of fancy cross.”

 

Dropping him again, Chad hissed.  “Get out of here.”

 

It was all Nicky needed.  Torn between holding his bleeding nose and the bumps on the back of his head, he ran off into the night.

 

Slowly, Chad walked back to his squad car.  Getting in, he started it up and hit the steering wheel with enough force to shake it.  “MOTHER FUCKER!” he shouted.  “GOD DAMN IT!”  He was fairly shaking with rage.

 

Last week, his partner had been complaining that he’d just been reprimanded.  It had been explained to him that he was going to have to wear his long-sleeved uniform all year around because the new tattoo he’d gotten was below the elbow… on the outside of his forearm.  The chief had said that violated dress code.  Chad’s partner didn’t care though.  He was proud of the tattoo.  He raised his sleeve and showed it to Chad.  It was a beautifully ornate Celtic cross.

 

Officer Jeremy ‘Spence’ Spencer was Thorne’s new drop man.  He wasn’t working with Chad tonight because he was taking a wad from the transport to some henchmen.  Obviously, he was getting paid a pretty penny for it too.

 

As he pulled off into the night, he tried to contain his anger.  Right at this moment, Batman was probably having a nice little chat with Hammer and Deetz, working them for information about Thorne.  Chad had little doubt he’d be successful too.

 

Tomorrow… tomorrow Batman would find out about Officer Jeremy Spencer and maybe have a little chat with him as well.  Because if Chad had a talk with him, he’d more than likely beat the hell out of him.  Thugs… thugs he could deal with.  They were scum… and they were open about it.  But crooked cops?  He had no patience for crooked cops.  And to know that HIS partner was one of them.  He was enraged more than he could say.

 

The good news?  They had another link in the chain.  Nicky delivered smack to Hammer and Deetz.  He delivered the cash to Spence.  And hopefully, Batman could find out from all three of them who they made their deliveries too.

 

But it was going to be a long twenty-four hours for the patrolman.  It wasn’t every day one found out his partner was on the take.

 

*-*-*

 

When he left the park, Batman made his way back to the district where he’d encountered Chad.  He’d been working the streets long enough to know the bar the officer had mentioned.  He also knew of Hammer and Deetz, though he hadn’t yet connected them to Thorne’s organization.  Deetz was a wiry fellow who looked rather like a ferret in the face.  Hammer was the muscle and as far as Batman had seen, had earned his name by hammering people into the ground should they refuse to cooperate.  He was also, oddly, the brains of the operation.  Or so it often seemed. Deetz was like window dressing, only less pretty.

 

It was Deetz who came out first, staggering like he was drunk or high, though Batman knew it wasn’t high.  Neither of these two did the stuff they trafficked.  Hammer followed.  They must have been going to meet someone inside Thorne’s operation.  They went on foot for a few blocks;

Batman followed closely, though he tried to stay inconspicuous.  At one point, they stopped and he heard Deetz whisper, “I gotta feeling like we’re not alone, Hammer.”  Shortly after, they slipped into a very public club.

 

Batman waited, but as the night wore on, he realized they’d given him the slip.  Tomorrow would be different.  Tomorrow they wouldn’t be so lucky.

 

When Bruce arrived back at the Manor, Grace was still asleep in their bed, but he couldn’t sleep.  His mind was churning with thoughts.  He changed and showered and sat down in the leather chair in the corner of the bedroom and waited for her to wake up while he worked out in his mind what he needed to do about Hammer and Deetz.

 

*-*-*

 

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

 

Grace woke up the next morning to find Bruce not in the bed but sitting in one of the leather chairs.  She wasn’t sure if he heard her wake or not, but when his eyes found hers, he smiled.

 

“I take it I’m going to have to kidnap the pillow more often to get you to actually stay in bed with me, aren’t I?”  She teased.  Tossing back the covers, she slowly licked her lips and asked, “Join me in the shower.”

 

His response was to give her a big smile.  He was out of the chair and beside her at the bed in a flash.  In one fell swoop, he picked her up, kissed her, and carried her into the bathroom.  Batman had a dilemma on his hands, but Bruce had some lost time to make up for.  Showering with Grace, and everything that went with that, was a very nice way to make up for that lost time.

 

*-*-*

 

When they emerged from the shower, it was to find that breakfast had been brought to them.  More than likely, Alfred had come to tell them it was ready, only to realize they were in the shower.  So breakfast was brought to them.  As they sat eating breakfast, something occurred to Grace.  It sort of embarrassed her at first.  Though they lived here together and their relationship was a healthy one, she’d had a ‘thing’ about knowing that the entire staff knew just how healthy their relationship was.  There was no way they could hide anything from Alfred.  He would enter the room and wake them, no matter whether they slept with clothes off or on.  He never interrupted anything, but at first, she’d been a bit self-conscious about being naked in the same room Alfred was in.

 

Then there was the maid.  The same one who washed their sheets day after day.  The one who made the beds and did their laundry.  There was no way of keeping it from her either.  And though Alfred said nothing, the rest of the staff talked.  It was awkward for her when she first moved in, knowing that they knew.  Now, it was just a matter of fact.  It’s how life was.  She had no problems with any of it anymore.

 

“So,” she began, feeding him a bite of her toast, “what’s on the schedule for today?”

 

He was just about to answer when the cell phone rang.  “Lee?” he offered.  However, his eyes met with hers and he took the phone from his ear and handed it to her.  “Or Seth perhaps?” he teased.

 

Taking the phone, she put on a false aggravated tone.  “Do you EVER just have lazy mornings with your wife?  You know, sleep in late?  Have sex instead of your morning coffee?”  She winked at Bruce, who didn’t color nearly as much as he would have in the past.

 

“We have sex quite often, Miss Nosey,” Seth quipped jokingly.  “How often and when though, I don’t think I should delve into when I’m acting as ‘your boss’.”

 

She laughed at that.  “Okay, okay, Boss.  No sex talks while we’re talking business.”

 

He shook his head, smiling.  And although she couldn’t see it, she heard his soft chuckle.  “The photographer from L’Oreal came by yesterday and scouted out a few places.  I know it was a bit rough for you yesterday, but he’s here in town and would really like to get some shots of you in a few places.  He told Alex the snow is perfect right now and is worried that if we don’t get the pictures now, we’ll miss the opportunity.”

 

Glancing up at the clock, she sighed.  “What time do I need to be there and where am I going?”

 

“He’d like to get started right away.  Your trailer is already being taken to the spot and I’ll drive by and pick you up.  No need for you to have to drive when I have to drive by the Manor to get there anyway.”

 

“Where is it?” she asked, getting up and going to the closet to grab her white jacket and white leather pants.

 

“There’s a wooded grove about two miles north of the Manor.  He says it’s perfect.  Have you ever been there?”

 

“Yeah,” she answered, moving to the other side of the closet to get out her white sweater with the high turtleneck collar.  She dropped it on the bed with the jacket and the pants before grabbing her white boots.  Something had told her to wear the white lace undergarment set today, this was why.  “Bruce and I went there this fall.  It has a nice little area for picnics.  People sometimes fish in the lake.”

 

“That’s the place.  The trailer will be there when we arrive.”

 

Resting the cell phone on her shoulder, she leaned her head against it and continued to talk to him as she dressed.  However, her eyes found Bruce’s and she smiled wickedly as she slowly changed clothes.  “I would actually feel better if you did come and pick me up.”  She had completely disrobed, except for her underwear, and put on her pants.  She sat down to put on her socks and boots.

 

She didn’t even flinch when she felt Bruce come to sit beside her, merely smiled.  “How long do you think he’ll need me for?  I really don’t want to be out in the cold for hours.”  She stood and pulled the phone away from her ear long enough to give Bruce a soft kiss.  Putting the phone back to her ear, she repeated, “Three hours.  That better include set up and take down time.”

 

“It’s a full spread they want, Gracie.”

 

“Fine,” she sighed.  “I may just play temperamental supermodel today though.  I don’t mind the cold, but being out in it for three hours, well, that’s not fun.  I’ll see you in a few.”

 

“I’m on my way.”

 

With that, she hung up the phone.

 

“Something come up?” Bruce asked, handing her the sweater.  For some reason, he enjoyed watching her dress almost as much as he did watching her undress.

 

“The photographer from L’Oreal showed up yesterday.”  She relayed to him the rest of the story.  “So, of course, I’m bound contractually to complete this spread when he deemed it most advantageous.  And that would be today, of course.”  She picked up the jacket and put it on, not surprised when Bruce stood and zipped it for her.

 

“Then you should go,” he said.  “I think I can occupy myself with something.”

 

Her arms went around his neck and she kissed him tenderly.  “He wants three hours of my time.  That’s in front of the camera.  It takes about an hour to get ready.  So I’ll be gone most of the day.”  Her tone was almost apologetic.

 

“It’s ok,” he said, placing a kiss on her nose.  “You smile pretty for them and then I’ll see you later.”

 

She kissed him again.

 

They walked together to the door and sure enough, Seth was there waiting for her.  Another kiss and a hug, and Grace was off to the races.  She really loathed short notice like this.  But at least it kept her from thinking that she might be followed.  That someone was out there watching her and waiting for her to be alone.

 

As they drove off the property, it was exactly this that Seth addressed.  “You gonna be okay, Gracie?  I know Courtney said you were pretty shaken up yesterday.”  He reached out and placed a reassuring hand on her upper arm.  “I’m not going to leave you.  I already told Alex I’d be with you all day today.”

 

She sighed, relieved beyond words.  “I’ll be fine now,” she said with a smile.  “It’s just creepy, you know?  Knowing he was out there, watching everything I did.”

 

“But not anymore.  This afternoon will go quickly, I promise.”

 

She nodded, thankful that he was going to be there with her.  It would make the afternoon go easily.

 

*-*-*

 

After Grace left, Bruce finished his breakfast –a piece of toast and coffee– on his way down to the basement.  He plopped down in front of the computer and was accessing the police database when Alfred showed up.  A split screen of Hammer and Deetz with their criminal histories glowed back at him as he hit the print button.

 

“More research, Master Bruce?”  Alfred asked.  They had been unable to dig up anything on the two councilmen as of yet.  Bruce still had hopes, though.

 

“I followed them last night.  I got a tip that they worked for Thorne.  I’m beginning to believe it’s a possibility.”

 

“A tip from whom, sir?”  Alfred reached for Bruce’s empty coffee cup, sounding politely concerned.

 

“Officer Harris.  Batman paid him a visit a last night,” Bruce countered, amazed at how easy it was to think of his alter ego as another person entirely.

 

“Indeed, sir.  The information is reliable then?”  It didn’t sound like Alfred doubted Bruce’s judgment, just trying to make him think about it on his own.

 

Bruce nodded and was about to answer aloud when his cell phone rang.  “Wayne,” he answered when the display pulled up a number he didn’t recognize.

 

“Bruce, old man!  This is Arnold Fitzgerald; we spoke Monday?”

 

They had spoken on Monday and it hadn’t been a very productive meeting.

“Of course, Arnold,” Bruce answered, though his tone turned wary. “What can I do for you?”

 

“I was considering what you said, and I was hoping we could meet today.”  Bruce frowned.  This is what he had Lee for.  Which he was about to tell the man when he added, “Do you think you could meet me for lunch at Decadence… say, around one?”

 

The reprimand died on Bruce’s lips.  Decadence was the club he’d followed Hammer and Deetz to last night.  “I think that can be arranged,” he told Fitzgerald before ending the transmission.

 

His next move was to call Lee and let him know he was going to be busy that afternoon.

 

*-*-*

 

Bruce arrived nearly forty-five minutes early for his lunch date.

 

Decadence was very upscale, which was why it had thrown him when Hammer and Deetz had gone there in the first place.  The restaurant on the ground level was the finest French cuisine.  Checking his coat at the door, he ordered a drink and waited at the bar for Fitzgerald to show up.  While he waited, he watched people arriving and leaving the

restaurant.  He recognized too many faces and hoped it didn’t mean anything more than they just liked the food.

 

He also noticed several people coming and going from a hallway just past the restrooms.  When the activity in that quarter slowed, he got up, asking the bartender for directions to the restrooms.  After a few minutes of watching that corridor, he decided it might be a good idea to check it out.

 

Flagging down a waiter, he again asked where the restrooms were and was promptly given directions he didn’t really need.  He wandered off in that general direction, but pointedly walked past the clearly marked doors while pretending to study various paintings on the walls.  They were cheap reprints, nothing special, but they provided an excuse, should it come down to that.  He turned the corner and followed the corridor.  It ended strangely in a service door.

 

He pushed it open, and found himself facing another hallway, this one bare and devoid of the club’s decorations.  Bruce followed it to an unmarked door.  Locked.  He should have expected as much.  Turning back, he went back up the corridor.  He was reaching out to open the door, however, when he heard voices from the other side.  He moved instantly to the side of the door, pressing his ear into the wall so he could listen.

 

“Harris was out and about last night,” he heard a voice say.  “He’s always sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong.”

 

“Don’t worry about Harris.  His time’s coming,” another voice added.  They sounded familiar, but Bruce couldn’t place them.  The voices went on to talk about a drop, but Bruce wasn’t sure what was being delivered.  Money, drugs… they mentioned times but no dates or places.  Then another voice, further off in the distance called out and

they withdrew from the vicinity of the door.  He waited until he was sure no one was out there and re-entered the main corridor.

 

He was just coming around the corner when he ran smack into the bartender, who eyed him warily.  “Did you find the restrooms, sir?” he asked.

 

“Sorry,” Bruce said.  “I was just looking at your paintings here –trying to figure out who painted them– and got a little turned around.”  He looked around and caught sight of the men’s room sign and managed to look properly embarrassed.  “There it is,” he said, laughing at himself.  He felt the bartender’s eyes on him as he stepped inside. By the time he came out of the men’s room, Fitzgerald was there waiting for him at the bar.

 

“Bruce, old man!” he greeted and Bruce had to squelch the urge to frown.  He hated being called ‘old man.’  Especially by this man.

 

“Arnold.”

 

“I hear you got lost just now,” Fitzgerald commented as the hostess showed them to a table.  He seemed interested.

 

Bruce shrugged, and affected a self-conscious air.  “I’m terrible with directions.  I, ah, actually get lost in my house all the time.  Still.”  He made it sound like he was sharing some deep secret.

 

“Well, Wayne Manor *is* quite vast,” Fitzgerald said, excusing Bruce a little.  “I’m sure no one could come to know it all in one lifetime.”

 

“No, of course not.”  Bruce reached for the menu and scanned it.  He hated this part of the game… the schmoozing and the being nice.  “You said something about reconsidering what we discussed on Monday?” he said after the waitress took their order.

 

Fitzgerald chuckled.  “Now, this is what I like about you, Bruce.  You’re to the point.”  He paused, and then said, “I’m not sure that reconsider is quite the right term.”

 

“Then, what exactly would be quite the right term?”  Bruce asked, trying to keep the anger out of his voice.

 

“Bruce…” the man began.  “You know, I have all the respect for you in the world.  Your father was a good man, a pillar of the community.  I know you’re trying to following in his footsteps, but you have to face facts.  You’re not him and Mayor Blaire is setting up to run the city as a police state.  You’d be foolish to consider allying yourself with such a man.”

 

The waitress was just bringing their drinks when Bruce stood up.  “Is everything alright, sir?” she asked.

 

“Yes, everything’s fine,” he told her.  “I wish to cancel my order, though.”  To Fitzgerald, he directed a cold gaze. “I don’t suppose I’d honor my father any more by allying myself with the man whose business it is to employ the types of people who made his death possible?”

 

He didn’t wait for an answer, but turned and strode from the restaurant.  It wasn’t until he was in the limo that he realized he could have handled that better.  If he’d been wise enough to string Fitzgerald along, he might have gotten further information.  He sighed; Alfred was always calling him impulsive.

 

*-*-*

 

“Want to talk about it?” Seth asked as he pulled the Jeep back onto the road and headed toward the Manor.  The photographer L’Oreal had used had been a last minute replacement, and no one had informed Seth or Grace that this would be happening.

 

She’d frozen upon first seeing him.  Seth understood why.  Philip had been a friend of Bill’s.  When Seth had discussed the details with Alex, the man had made no mention of the replacement photographer.  To Seth, it seemed that was a detail that should have been mentioned, especially knowing it was Grace who was modeling.

 

Inwardly, Seth was seething.  Outwardly, he was the epitome of calm.  Calm was what she needed.  “It’s okay to be upset, you know?  It’s okay to be angry.  I take full responsibility for this, hon.”

 

“It’s over,” she said softly.  “But that man will never take another picture of me again.”

 

“He won’t,” Seth agreed.  “You have my word.”

 

“The only reason why I stayed today was because you were with me.  Otherwise, I would have left and they could have tried to sue me.  Philip is a scum.  I know how he treats models.  He was decent because you were there.”  She shivered.  “He just makes my skin crawl.”

 

Seth heard the quiver in her voice and knew if anyone other than Alex had made the error, they’d be looking for a new job.  Although ultimately it was his fault.  “I’m very sorry, Gracie Lou.”

 

“It’s okay,” she said, as she closed her eyes and rested her head against the seat of the car.  “And don’t be too hard on Alex, please.  He didn’t know Philip and Bill were friends.”

 

“Grace,” Seth’s voice grew quiet as he contemplated exactly how he wanted to broach this with her.  The lowering of his voice was the only indication he gave of his anger.  “I have made it very clear, on more than one occasion, that any changes in YOUR schedule are to be cleared through me.  I should be able to depend on Alex to follow through with that.  But right now, he’s so focused on other things that he didn’t do what he was supposed to.  When I say every change to your schedule, I mean every change.  And I will again make that very clear to him.”

 

“But he’s your friend, my friend, it wasn’t intentional on his part.”

 

“The only reason why he is getting to keep his job is because he’s my friend.”  He pulled the Jeep over and turned to face her.  “My standards are a bit higher than the ones at the agency you worked for in New York.  And given what you’ve gone through… with the last agency… just last week…” he paused for a long moment and sighed, “I promised you that I would take care of you.  When you came back to the business, I swore this would be stress free for you.  Today was not stress free.  And I failed to keep a promise to you.  Friend or not, there are consequences to his actions.  I apologize to you, Gracie.  And you can trust that this will NEVER happen again.”

 

She watched him for the longest time.  His jaw was set into a hard line, but his eyes spoke of how upset he was… upset that she had been stressed… upset that he felt he hadn’t followed through with a promise… and upset with Alex for letting his personal life affect the way he was doing his job.  But Grace understood what it was like to lose yourself in someone.  Seth… unlike her and Alex… had always been able to keep the two separate.  When Courtney became sick, he took a leave because separating the two would be impossible, and it was best for the agency if he took a Family leave.  So that’s what he’d done.  No, Seth kept business and personal life separate.  And when he got back to the agency, Alex was going to get a reminder that that’s how it should be done.  “It’s really fine, Seth.  I’m not angry or hurt or upset with anyone.  I’m just… tired, I suppose.  It’s been an emotional few days.  And what I really wanted to do was stay home with Bruce today and forget the outside world existed.”

 

“How are things going with Bruce?” he asked casually, pulling back onto the road.

 

His name caused her to smile.  “He’s the best part of all of this.  He’s been right by my side, supporting, comforting, loving.  He’s wonderful.  You know, I never want him to use his ‘name’ to pull strings or get special favors for me… but he had the police come to us so I could press charges.”

 

Seth smiled.  Seemed Bruce was genuine in what he’d said to him the other day.  “That’s good, Gracie.  You didn’t need the mess that would have accompanied you going to the police station.  And I’m very glad to see you smile when his name is mentioned.  I sure would have hated to add his name to the list of asses to chew.”

 

That statement caused her to laugh a little, the smile returning to her face.  “You don’t need to chew Bruce’s ass.  I’ll nibble on it later,” she joked.

 

Laughing at that, he looked at the road and shook his head.  “I have little doubt that you will.  You nasty girl, you.”

 

“Oh like you don’t like that kind of thing yourself.  Courtney and I talk, you know?”  He pulled up to the gate and leaned back so Grace could reach out his window and enter the code.  Sitting back in her seat, she confided, “I’m not going to tell Bruce about this.  At least, I’m not planning to.  It’s done and over.  I just want to move on.”

 

“And, like I said, it will never happen again.  I swear.”  And that was the truth because though Alex wasn’t going to lose his job, he’d just lost Grace.  There was no reason for that kind of mistake to happen.  Not only was Grace the agency’s biggest draw, she was also the one that had the most history.  And the models were the faces for the ads the agency created, and if Grace was uncomfortable… well… to Seth that was just unacceptable.  Stopping at the front door, he said, “You take care, hon. Have a good afternoon.”

 

She didn’t respond at first, merely looked at the Manor.  The huge building loomed over her and all she could think of was ‘Home’.  “I imagine Bruce is gone,” she said absentmindedly, “so I’m going to workout and take a nice long soak in the hot tub.  A very long soak actually.”

 

“Grace?” Seth broached with caution.  He knew Courtney had said Bruce had asked Grace not to question, but Seth had a hard time comprehending how she couldn’t.  “Up until a few months ago, Bruce was running one of the largest corporations in the world.  That took a lot of his time, but he still had days where he could do nothing but be with you.  Now…”

 

“I don’t know,” she interrupted, “I don’t know what he’s doing.”

 

“Aren’t you even curious?”

 

“Yes,” she answered honestly.  “But I promised him I wouldn’t ask, and I won’t.  For the most part, he’s lobbying.  I do know he’s taken an interest in making sure Miles’ crime bill gets passed.”

 

“But to be gone at two in the morning.  That’s not lobbying, hon.”

 

“He asked me to trust him,” she answered, trying to be calm about it.  She didn’t completely understand why Bruce felt he couldn’t share whatever it was with her, but she accepted it because she had to.  “And I do trust him, Seth.  When the time is right for him, he’ll tell me.  But now isn’t the time.  I think he believes I’m safer not knowing… for whatever reason.  And my safety is tantamount to him…” Here her voice got quiet, “So much so that I think it’s why he asked me to leave four months ago.  I’ve just gotten everything back that I lost.  And if he asks me not to ask about this one thing, I’m not going to.  Bottom line… I trust him.  He asked me not to ask on the basis of that trust.”

 

Seth nodded.  Sometimes it was difficult for him to understand.  He held Grace briefly but tightly as she impulsively hugged him.  He smiled at her when she asked again not to be so hard on Alex.  And after exchanging goodbyes, he watched as she walked into the Manor.

 

Driving home, it was still on his mind though.  He and Courtney shared everything.  Happiness, fear, anger, love.  They discussed things… even argued on occasion.  In their year of marriage, she’d even made him sleep on the couch once.  But they still shared everything.  Maybe it was the cancer and everything that went with it.  She’d almost died, but for the extremely radical, experimental therapy, she would have.

 

No one knew how close she’d come.  No one knew that during her second surgery, she’d flatlined twice.  No one knew about the side effects, especially the one that made Courtney cry some nights.  No one knew that she would have to return to New York about every six months for the next five years to have tests to make sure the cancer hadn’t returned.  No one knew the connections Seth had to use to make all this possible…  No one knew how much he’d hurt thinking he was going to lose her… thinking that they’d probably be denied the right to grow old together.  No one understood how he could have been so angry with Bruce for leaving like he did.

 

Except Courtney. She knew!

 

She knew everything about his friend and the research his corporation sponsored.  She knew why he and Seth had become so close.

 

No one else did…

 

Not even Alex.

 

But it had all come from his love for Courtney.  And he did love her… he needed her to know that he was the one person she could depend on completely.  His mother had never been able to depend on his father.  He wasn’t going to make the same mistakes that man did.  So yeah, he shared everything with her.

 

Then he paused… thinking about Grace… and that night. He hadn’t shared that.

 

Still…

 

It was difficult for him to understand why Bruce kept secrets from Grace.  The one he kept was something that Grace should have the responsibility of sharing should SHE decide it needed to be shared… but Bruce… leaving her alone at all hours of the night.  It didn’t make sense.  If he loved her so much and if she was truly the one for him, why didn’t he share?

 

Pulling into the parking lot of his office building, he got out of his Jeep and sighed.  Different couples did things differently, he supposed.

 

*-*-*

 

Bruce didn’t go back to the Manor right away.  Well, at least not the main living areas.  He did, however, go straight to the basement where he could listen to the tape he’d made when he realized what he’d stumbled across in that corridor.  He wanted to make a copy to take to Chad and then preceded to run tests on the original hoping to find anything that would indicate who was speaking.  It was well past the time when Grace should have been home when he finally came back upstairs.

 

He found Grace in her bedroom, lying on the bed in her robe.  Her hair was damp, which meant she’d obviously taken a shower and had probably worked out already as well.  She didn’t seem to notice him at first, as her mind was on the television and that interior decorating show she liked so much.  He couldn’t remember the name of it.

 

At the commercial, she looked up at the door to find him leaning against the doorframe.

 

She smiled widely at seeing him and was off the bed in a hot second.

Ty’s latest antics with the wood glue were completely forgotten at the sight of Bruce standing in her doorway.  “You’re home!” she beamed, closing the distance between them and hugging him tightly.  She hadn’t been willing to truly admit it to herself, but she missed him.  Sure, they had only been apart for a few hours, but she’d missed him anyway.  Her problematic afternoon and the stress that went with it seeped away with the sweat of her workout and the soak in the hot tub.  The rerun of Trading Spaces was a comfortable distraction until Bruce got home.  So the smile she gave him was a genuine one.  She was simply very happy

to see him.

 

She nestled her head in his neck and sighed happily.  “I missed you,” she said, giving him a squeeze for emphasis.

 

“I missed you, too,” he said, realizing as soon as he said it how true it was.  Only a few hours had passed since he’d last held her, but the contents of those hours had made him wish he’d stayed in bed.  He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her even closer to him, and felt the tension seep from his body.  He was going to love Friday… staying home with her and going skating.  Being utterly irresponsible, if only for a moment.

 

“Your day was good?” he asked, leaning in to claim a small kiss.  They were still standing in the doorway, but he didn’t care if anyone –were there anyone there to eavesdrop– saw their embrace.

 

She thought about that for a moment.  In retrospect, and given perspective, it wasn’t great but she’d gotten through it.  So she looked up at him and her smile was genuine when she said, “Yep, it was fine.  Cold… windy… But my lips aren’t chapped and neither are my cheeks, so it was fine.”  She pulled away just enough to take him by the hand and lead him into the room.  She did, however, feel up to a little cuddling.

 

Grabbing up her remote, she happily clicked off Hildi and her team arguing over the wall color and sat on the bed, pulling him with her.

When they were situated, and she hoped he was comfortable, she snuggled in again and asked, “How was your day?”

 

Bruce rested against the pillows on her bed, pulling her into his arms.  Holding her, feeling the warmth of her body seeping through her and into him.  At the mention of his day, however, he frowned and his arms tightened around her as he tensed more noticeably this time.  Which, of course, made the fact that his day had not gone at all well very obvious.  Which, of course, he hadn’t meant to make known to Grace.  It was a little thing, what Fitzgerald had said. Nothing to get worked up over at all, or even let grate on his mind for more than the minute it’d taken for him to walk out of the restaurant.  And yet, it did bother him, and it was grating on his nerves. What the man had said was

an insult, and it had hurt so badly.

 

She looked up at the feel of tension in his body.  He wasn’t necessarily looking at her as he was looking through her, at some unseen event that had happened in the few hours they were separated.

Moving up so her head was more even with his, she lightly touched his cheek and turned his face so that he had to look at her.

 

There was no doubt about it now, from that look in his eyes, she knew… he was hurting.  And just that fact brought out her urge to take care of him.  She shifted again so that he could relax against her… if he felt the need to be held instead of doing the holding.

 

“What happened?” she asked softly, hoping he’d talk to her.

 

“I had a lunch meeting with one of the councilmen,” he admitted, feeling certain that Alfred would have told her that much when she’d returned from her shoot.  He also knew that she knew he’d had lots of meetings with councilmen recently, and none of them had upset him as this one had.

 

He held her, aware of her holding him in return, and tried to relax into her warmth.  He couldn’t, however, as Fitzgerald’s words about his father came crashing back into his mind.  The words stung anew.  What if Fitzgerald was right?  What if, in some way, he was letting his father down?  At his age, his father was a successful businessman. He’d been unable to run the company on his own and had handed it back over to his advisors.  He told himself it was because it was bigger now, more complex, and he had so many obligations.  Fitzgerald’s implication was that he would sink the company.  Would he?  Was he already?

 

And then he felt anger at himself for even thinking such a thing.  It wasn’t true.  It couldn’t be.  It couldn’t.

 

He shook his head to clear his thoughts, and his eyes settled on Grace, the concern in her eyes very plainly seen.  How he’d lived the last few months without her was amazing to him.  He needed her love and the comfort it brought.

 

She rested her hand on his cheek, her eyes searching his.  Whatever had happened at this lunch meeting had not gone well.  And in her experiences with him, very few things hit him on this level.  So the question was, which button did the man push?  Courtney?  Her?  His choices with his past lifestyle?  His parents?

 

Leaning forward she placed a soft kiss on his forehead and then one on each eye before pulling away.  Her face was very close to his as she asked, “What did he say?”  Maybe she couldn’t say or do anything to make it better, but she could give it a try.  She would help him in any way she could.  “You can talk to me… anything… What did he say?”

 

“He said…” he held her eyes and knew from her reaction that she saw his pain and confusion.  “He… implied that I have been doing my parents –my father– a disservice by… in how I’m…” he choked up and stopped speaking.  His eyes screwed tightly shut and for a moment he saw his parents falling dead in alley.  It was an alley he saw much of during the long nights.  He thought he was doing the right thing.  The nightly excursions, his daily lobbying.  He knew he couldn’t bring them back, but he’d always felt as if he needed to do something to make up for being naught but a helpless child that night.  In his mind, he heard his mother’s screams and he buried his face in Grace’s robe out of instinct.

 

Her hands went into his hair and she held him to her breast for several long moments.  “Bruce…” she said his name softly.  “The last thing you could ever be is a disservice to your parents.”  She felt a sudden rush of rage toward this man who had said these things to him.  She had half a mind to call Courtney and send her over to have a few ‘words’ with the councilman… whoever he was.

 

She continued to hold him, softly comforting him, wishing there were magic words that could take away his anguish.  “Bruce, there is no way your parents would be anything other than proud of you.  Your parents ran Wayne Industries, but baby, your parents weren’t Wayne Industries.  Your parents were about family, life, and love.  And with the man you’ve grown up to be… they are proud of you.”  She paused for another long moment, to let her words sink in and to collect some other thoughts.

 

“And here’s something else… politics… it’s a cold, hard world.

And what that man said, he said to hurt you.  And it’s obvious he didn’t know your father at all.  And he doesn’t know you.  I do!  I think I know you better than just about anyone… and what you’re doing… all the people you’re protecting by helping Miles with the crime bill… Your father would be proud.  So would your mother.  I’m proud of you.”  She sat back, and merely held him… giving him time to absorb it all.

 

He didn’t saying anything for several minutes, just let himself get lost in the comfort offered by her arms.  Her hands were in his hair, stroking gently.  Her robe was soft on his cheek.  And there was comfort taking away a small part of the pain.

 

Her words were a comfort to him.  He knew she said them out of love and because she believed in him.  But the ache in his heart was still there.  Oh, god, how it was still there!  And would probably never ease, for as long he lived.  This, he knew, was how he understood Grace when she said she blamed herself for her mother leaving… the endless nights of ‘what could I have done?’ that turned into –at least for him– ‘what can I do to make up for living without them?’  She knew, every bit as much as he did, the pain and not knowing how to make it right.  And she knew there was no real way to that.

 

“Grace,” he said softly, and the word was muffled against her robe.  “Please, just hold me, Grace,” he begged her.  “Please, I just need you to hold me for a while.  I know…” He knew she was right; he knew he shouldn’t let the words of someone like Fitzgerald hurt him like this,

but they had.  “Please…”

 

“Okay,” she said softly, gathering him up even more closely to her.

She dropped one arm from his hair and moved in down to his back, her cheek resting lightly on the top of his head.  She simply held him as he asked, and soon he stopped asking her to just hold him.  What could she do?  What could she say to make it better?  Her eyes slipped closed. Nothing.  She had said all the clichés, told him everything her father had told her about Judy… ‘She’ll always love you,’ he’d said.  ‘It’s not your fault, Gracie.’  But the sting hadn’t gone away.  It had stayed and periodically it would rear its ugly head.

 

But for Bruce it was different.  His parents hadn’t just up and left him one day.  They’d been murdered, right in front of his eyes.  And for that traumatized boy to grow up into the man he was today… it was a miracle he knew how to love and feel at all.  Yet he did.  She thought to say just that to him, but instead, just sat and held him as he’d asked.  Somewhere out there within the realm of their friends and ‘family’, there was someone who could help alleviate his pain.  She didn’t think it was Courtney… her personal brand of consolation probably wasn’t what he needed.

 

She began to rock slowly; it was a barely perceptible movement.

Miles…  There were things Miles knew that could help.  And Bruce looked up to Miles in a way he looked up to no one else.  Maybe…

 

Without realizing it, she began to slowly hum.  Why she thought to sing, she wasn’t sure.  It was a comfort… at least to her she always found solace in music… poetry that was expressed in song:

 

“I can’t imagine, any greater fear

Then wakin’ up, without you near

And though the sun, would still shine on

My whole world, would all be gone

But not for long

If I had to run

If I had to crawl

If I had to swim a hundred rivers

Just to climb a thousand walls

Always know that I would find a way

To get to where you are

There’s no place that far

It wouldn’t matter, why we’re apart

The lonely miles or two stubborn hearts

And nothing short, of God above

Could turn me away, from your love

I need you that much

If I had to run

If I had to crawl

If I had to swim a hundred rivers

Just to climb a thousand walls

Always know that I would find a way

To get to where you are

There’s no place that far

Oh if I had to run

(if I had to run)

If I had to crawl

(If I had to crawl)

If I had to swim a hundred rivers

Just to climb a thousand walls

Always know that I would find a way

To get to where you are

There’s no place that far

Baby there’s no place that far”

 

She let her voice fade away and continued to hum.  She simply held him tightly to her and hummed.

 

Bruce clung to her as she sang, his mind focusing not so much on the words, but the way she sang them.  With Grace, music and poetry were a part of their lives, of how they communicated things that were too hard to say in mere words. Her voice held love, comfort, need… things Bruce needed right now more than anything else.  When she’d hummed through the tune a second time, all the while rubbing his back, he looked up at last.  His eyes were, as if he’d been crying, but his cheeks were dry… a sure sign that he had not.  At least not physically.

 

“Thank you,” he whispered as he let their eyes find each other.  His voice was shaky, as well.  Softly, he kissed her cheek. “I don’t know what my life was like without you, Grace.  I really don’t.”  He kissed her other cheek and then rested his head on her again, cuddling closer.

Grace let him, and soon he’d drifted off into a light sleep.  He was still dozing when Alfred cracked the door to check on them.  The butler caught Grace’s eye, and the vulnerable way that Bruce held her and knew all there was to know.

 

The butler made his way to the den and picked up the phone. He dialed, and listened as the phone rang, hoping to catch the person he was trying to reach and not the man’s wife.  Miles Blaire answered on the fifth ring of the phone.

 

“I am sorry to interrupt so close to meal time, Mr. Blaire,” Alfred said after a brief greeting.  “But it concerns Master Bruce.”  That was all he really needed to say, as Alfred knew that Gotham’s mayor loved Bruce every bit as much as he did.

 

*-*-*

 

After a very brief conversation with Alfred, Miles hung up the phone and stood at the table.  Inside the dining room, Seth was telling Connie and Courtney an office joke.  The women’s genuine laughter floated out to him.  Seth had a way with Constance… a way that few others did.

 

Looking up, he gazed at his reflection in the mirror.  He was a lucky man, very blessed.  His wife, daughter, and son-in-law were in the dining room… healthy and happy.  And Alfred had called him when his son needed him.  Inhaling deeply, he went into the dining room to make his excuses, saying that something came up at City Hall and demanded his immediate attention.

 

His driver was waiting by the door when he exited, but he didn’t give the driver instructions until he got in the car.  “Wayne Manor,” he said curtly.

 

*-*-*

 

The gate was open when he arrived and Alfred met him at the door.

 

“Thank you for coming on such short notice, Mayor Blaire” Alfred said by way of greeting.  “Master Bruce…”

 

“Should I wait downstairs or just go on up?” Miles questioned… before Alfred could answer he added, “And I’m glad you called me Alfred.  I’m honored you did.”

 

“I’ll go get him for you, Mayor.”  With that, Alfred moved up the stairs and headed for Miss Grace’s room.  Opening the door slowly, he cleared his throat.  “I do beg your pardon, Miss Grace.  But Mayor Blaire is here to see Master Bruce.”

 

Smiling at the older man, she lightly shook Bruce to wake him.  “Bruce, love, Miles is here to see you.”

 

“Miles?”  Bruce sat up slowly, bringing himself to awareness.  He looked first from Grace to Alfred in an attempt to figure out why Miles would be here when he would otherwise be at home with his family.  He wondered briefly if he’d missed a meeting with the Mayor, but couldn’t recall having one scheduled.  “Did he say why he was here?” he asked Alfred, who merely shook his head and did not reveal a thing.

 

He tried to apologize to Grace for having to leave, but she merely shooed him out the door.  As he headed to his room to wash up his face a bit and make himself seemingly presentable, he missed the look that passed between Grace and Alfred.

 

A few minutes later, he found Miles in the den –his father’s old den– standing in front of the fireplace.  Over the mantel hung a portrait that Bruce was so used to, he barely noticed it on most days.  The fact that today Miles chose to be looking up at it as Bruce entered the room gave the simple family portrait an essence of importance.

 

“Miles,” Bruce greeted, or rather, interrupted, for the other man seemed lost in thought as he examined the picture of young Bruce with his parents.  The child in the portrait sat atop his father’s knee as if squirming to get down and run.

 

“I remember the day your mother unveiled this portrait,” he started, not looking back at the younger man.  Alfred had filled him in on all the details of the conversation with Arnold Fitzgerald.  So, Miles began not with that conversation, but another one.  “We were having dinner here… the six of us.  You and Courtney were sitting by the fireplace in the main living room reading Dr. Seuss books.  I think it was ‘Green Eggs and Ham’.  You were laughing at the thought of ham being green.  Courtney thought the eggs were disgusting.”  He smiled at the memory, though he wasn’t sure if Bruce was still standing behind him or had moved to the side so he could see his profile.

 

His face was on the portrait.  “This was sitting on a portrait stand… we were all drinking champagne.  Your mother stood and told us we were going to be the first to see it.  When she and your father lifted the cloth off the canvas, I remember thinking… now that’s a family full of love.  Thomas said you wanted to get at the artist’s paints and make your own picture.  I can’t remember what your mother said she told you exactly… but she smiled when she said you looked at her and grinned, then sat still for quite a while.”

 

He finally turned to look at the younger man.  “She always used to say, all you had to do was smile at her and her heart melted.”  His face was the picture of honesty… and more.  He let his emotions for Bruce show through.  “You were the world to them.  Not an heir… not the continuation of a family name.  There weren’t two parents more in love with their child than yours were with you.”  He turned back to the portrait.  “This portrait always epitomized that to me.”

 

While Miles had spoke, he’d come further into the room and was now standing just to the right and behind the mayor.  “I remember the paints,” he said.  He didn’t, however, remember what his mother had said to make him sit still for all that time or the night they unveiled it.  He didn’t remember ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ with Courtney.  Almost twenty years had passed since he’d sat with his parents for that

portrait.  It seemed so long ago now, although Miles seemed to remember it as if it were yesterday.

 

Sometimes, he felt guilty for that… guilty that the years were robbing him of memories he felt he should keep.  Like this one: he remembered the paints and being bored, but remembered nothing of what his parents had said or done to ease that boredom.  And he *always* felt guilty for not remembering having known Courtney as a child.  As close as they were now, and had always been, he couldn’t understand how he could forget having known her before.  Miles, he knew, had pictures of a young Courtney ‘holding’ Bruce as a baby.  He’d seen it once or twice when Courtney was in one of her ‘let’s embarrass Bruce a little’ moods.  He was in a blue one-piece sleeper with a yellow duck on the front, small and red-faced.  Courtney was in a frilly dress, her red hair in two pigtails tied in ribbons.  He’d been propped up against her legs and looked like he was making ready to scowl.  Knowing Nee, she’d pinched him.  She would’ve done something like that to a baby.

 

But pictures aside, Bruce didn’t remember those events.  Not that he’d have remembered from when he was a baby, but the other?  The story Miles had just told?  He should have, he thought.

 

But Miles hadn’t, he was sure, come here just to comment on a painting in a room Bruce only used on occasion.  “Is there something I can do for you, Miles?” He asked, although the look in the man’s eyes spoke only of a deep concern.  “Shouldn’t you be with your family?”  The question was gently asked, Bruce was curious as to what would bring Miles here during what Bruce knew were traditional family hours.

 

Miles turned so that the portrait was to his side now and he was looking directly at Bruce.  The mayor’s face was the picture of complete concern and full of the emotions he felt for the young man standing in front of him.  He knew Bruce didn’t remember much of the story he’d just shared… the trauma… Bruce’s young age had all conspired against the young man to rob him of such memories.  “Actually, Bruce,” again the word came out as an endearment, “I was hoping it was something I could do for you.”  His voice then took on a tone very similar to Courtney’s when she was in full comforting mode.  For all her brashness, when it came to taking care of Bruce, she was extremely sensitive.  She got that from her father.  “And I do believe, I’m with my family.”

 

It took a moment of weighty silence before the full extent of what the man had said hit Bruce.  Miles considered him family.  He’d come to feel much the same for the man before him.  Long talks in the past few years, mostly about his parents, had formed a bond between them that felt somehow fitting.  He was comfortable with Miles in the same way he was with Courtney, whom he considered a sister.  Those feelings, however, Bruce had always ‘known’ they were shared, had always remained unspoken between them, until now.

 

He smiled a weak but sincere smile.  “I take it Alfred spoke to you, then?”  Alfred cared for him, too, those his relationship was more like that of an uncle or some other elder relative who wasn’t a father, mostly because the butler had never tried to replace Bruce’s parents.  He merely made himself available to guide and comfort Bruce where he could.  When he could.  Earlier, Bruce had pushed aside what he’d felt about Fitzgerald’s comments in favor of trying to figure out the situation Batman had him in.  Alfred had accepted his refusal to talk about it, but apparently had known that the wound had cut deeper than

Bruce had let on.  He’d called Miles, hoping the other man could help where he could not.

 

Miles merely nodded.  “Yes, he called me, but I didn’t know the full extent of the conversation until I arrived and was waiting on you to join me.  How about we sit?” he said, gesturing toward the couch that was in the den.  Some things should be said standing; others should be said sitting.  “Let me tell you a few things I know,” he said as he sat, Bruce joining him.  “Fitzie is an amoral man.  When we were on the council together, he made ‘suggestions’ that I befriend the ‘right’ people.  Something I would never do.  When I refused, he tried other means to get me to see things his way.  It’s how he operates.”

 

He paused for a long moment.  “Something else… Arnold Fitzgerald and your father were NOT friends.  Your father detested everything that man stood for.  Your father was a good man, and being a good man is something that Fitzie never could and never will understand.”  He looked Bruce straight in the eyes.  “And I’ll tell you this too… just like the story of that portrait… you have far surpassed your parents dreams and expectations.  You do what you believe is right.  You’re sensitive.  Goodness knows Courtney isn’t always the easiest woman to love.”  He smiled lightly at that.  “All they ever wanted was for you to be happy and to be a good man.  And you are.  You have a woman who loves you more than anything in this world.  And you *do* have family.”

 

He reached out and touched Bruce’s shoulder, giving it a small squeeze.  “Fitz doesn’t know a damn thing about what he’s talking about.  Malicious words meant to strike at the heart of insecurities to get you to do things his way.  But I do know what I’m talking about.  They,” he said indicating his parents, “would have been proud of the man you’ve become.  And for what it’s worth, Bruce, I am too.”

 

“Miles…” Bruce began and emotion choked his next words.  He knew what Miles had said was meant out of friendship and out of the bond between them.  They weren’t words bandied about to gain favors, like some people Bruce could name.  Miles wasn’t a false man.  He was honest, and his honesty was what touched Bruce the most.  “Thank you,” he said quietly.  “I’ve always… thought of you as family, too… you and Nee,” he admitted with much emotional difficulty.  But even as he said the words, he felt better about it, as if his parents had sent some sign of approval.

 

More importantly, his heart knew Miles spoke with his parents’ tongues.  They would have been proud of him, as Miles was proud of him.  Although, Bruce had to admit that on more normal days, he knew that himself anyway.  His parents had always tried to instill in him how to be a good person, although in his youth he didn’t always take their teachings to heart.  He hadn’t realized –or even thought it a possibility– that they wouldn’t be around someday to listen to.  He missed them, and there were few doubts in his mind that he always would.  But his talks with Miles had always helped him to feel like he was connected to them still.

 

Miles gave his shoulder another squeeze before moving his arm to rest on the back of the couch.  He knew what it took for Bruce to say the words he’d just said.  He knew that Bruce oftentimes tried to hold ‘father’ figures at a distance because he, in some way, perceived it as a betrayal to his parents’ memory.  But there were a lot of things Miles knew, things he’d not told Bruce, nor would he.  Bruce would find them out, when and if the time was ever right.

 

Hearing the young man put voice to something he’d always felt, did more for him than just about anything he’d heard in a quite some time.  “You will always be family to us, Bruce.  That’s one thing in your life you should never doubt.  Courtney and I are always here for you.  Alfred will be here for you.  And Grace will always be here for you too.  Your parents will forever live on through you and the love you share with those around you.  You ever find yourself doubting… take a look at what you have.”  He paused not meaning material possessions, and not clarifying because he knew Bruce understood.  “You do them a great honor.”

 

“Not everyone thinks so, apparently,” commented Bruce, but waved away Miles’ protest with his hand.  “I know, I know,” he said instead.  “I should know better than to let it get to me.  I know how my father felt about fools like Fitzgerald.”  He stressed the word ‘fools’ very heavily.  “Sometimes, though, it feels like everyone has an opinion of how my parents would feel about me or my actions.”  His voice was bitter.  Sometimes, those opinions made him doubt himself.  And, though he didn’t say it aloud, he knew Miles knew anyway.  Like his daughter, Miles knew that sometimes fear seized Bruce and he worried he wasn’t living up to the potential his parents’ legacy had left him.    He always felt stupid afterwards, after throwing everyone’s life out of alignment with his fears, but they never seemed to complain no matter how many times one of them sat there comforting him.  Was it any wonder that of the people he counted as friends, Courtney and Miles, Grace and Alfred, were closest to his heart.  Yes, he liked and respected Seth and it was true that Alex could make him laugh at times when it likely wasn’t appropriate.  But it wasn’t the same closeness, nor would it ever be.

 

Miles nodded.  “Nope, you shouldn’t let their opinions bother you.

But they do… and they do because you’re human.  But you know, I’m always here if you need to talk.  Any time.”  He paused for a long moment and just watched Bruce, gauging him.  Deciding that he looked far better now than what he had when he first arrived, Miles gave him a small smile.  “Another thing I’m serious about… ‘family dinner’… I’m going to have Eugenia call Lee first thing tomorrow.  I want one evening… all six of you under one roof.”  He smiled.  “Got a new toy

I want to share with you.  Haven’t shown any of the others yet.  Figured you might appreciate it more than they would.  So it has to be soon, okay?”  He smiled, eyes delighted at the thought of sharing his ‘toy’ with Bruce.

 

The excited look in the man’s eye made Bruce smile.  “Toys are good,” he said with a merry wink.  “I’ll make sure Lee knows to expect Eugenia’s call.”  Which, of course, meant that he’d make sure Lee knew he wanted this call to be given top priority.  The funny thing was, he thought maybe Lee might actually do as he asked this time.  The man had taken it as some kind of honor to help Bruce and Grace out with the police and had been amazingly cooperative every since Bruce had asked.  Of course, that had only been a couple of days, but he hadn’t complained when he’d called to say he wanted to completely clear Friday.

 

“What night are you thinking, off the top of your head?” he asked.

 

“As soon as is convenient for you.  I try to keep my schedule clear past six.  My evenings are generally mine unless an emergency arises.”  He stood and waited for Bruce to stand as well.  “But I mean it, when I say I’m here, I’m here whenever.  It’s what we do for each other.  It’s what families do.  And don’t worry about Fitzie… he wouldn’t know the ‘right thing’ if it smacked him upside the head.”  Miles smiled.  “Which I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had done.  Give Gracie my love, okay?”

 

*-*-*

 

After Miles left, Bruce sat on the couch alone, lost in old thoughts and some new ones.  He wasn’t as alone as he used be, he knew that now.  Well, maybe he had always known it, but on a level that didn’t always connect with his brain.  But Miles was right; he had family.  Miles, Courtney, Grace… Seth, who was in all but truth his brother-in-law.  He wasn’t sure what that made Constance, whom was in no way a mother figure to him, despite being married to the man Bruce was coming to look upon as a ‘father.’

 

He felt a tug of conscience at the thought.  He did feel that way about Miles, and he felt certain his parents would understand, but he still missed them desperately.  Like he told Grace earlier yesterday, nothing ever replaced the real thing.

 

He looked up at the portrait, wishing as he had nearly everyday of his life since their death that they were more than images in photographs and paintings.  By now, he’d be learning the tricks of the family business with his father. Perhaps sitting here in this very room, discussing stocks and mergers over coffee while planning a trip to the golf course.  His mother would be discussing tomorrow’s dinner with Alfred and their cook, or talking to Constance about planning some fundraiser.  Or maybe she would be showing off old family albums to Grace, embarrassing him behind his back.

 

Not for the first time, he wondered if they would love Grace as much as he did.  Would they welcome her into their lives, as her family had welcomed him?  Would his father have smiled and said “she’s a good girl, Bruce” while his mother dropped hints about wedding bells and grandchildren? He didn’t doubt that they would –to know Grace was to love her.  They would love her.  Still, it would have been nice to hear it from them… to see them react to her.  Not to have to guess with words like ‘would have.’

 

It would have been nice for them all to be a family.

 

And, now, it was as if he had another family.  Not related, but every bit as important to him.  In some ways, more so because of knowing what the alternatives were.  He’d lived without anyone for so long.  No parents, no brothers or sisters.  Hardly any really close friends.  And now, there was Courtney and Miles, and through them Grace, Seth, Alex.  His family, his friends, the keepers of his heart.  He would do anything to keep them.

 

*-*-*

 

Alfred had come up and told her when Miles left, and that according to the mayor, Bruce seemed to be on more solid footing.  But when he didn’t come up right away, Grace went looking for him.  She’d looked

in the library and the kitchen before remembering that Alfred had said

Miles and Bruce had talked in his father’s old den.

 

She found him sitting there on the couch.  She had on her nightgown,

robe and slippers, so she doubted that he even heard her enter.  His

eyes were locked on the portrait, his breathing as regular as it was

when he meditated.  Slowly, and ever so quietly, she slipped onto the

couch beside him, her arms wrapping around his waist and her head

resting on his shoulder.  It was a moment that didn’t require words…

in fact, things were best left unsaid right now.

 

She wasn’t surprised, however, when his arms enveloped her and held

her closely to him, his head resting on hers.  She let him keep his

thoughts, her own running along the lines of just how much she loved

him, how blessed she was to have him back, and how wonderful it was to

be a ‘family’ again.

 

*-*-*

 

Chad dropped Spence of at the precinct and then headed back out on patrol.  He’d really done his best to pretend like everything was okay… like he didn’t know that Spence was on the take.  He was sure that news had filtered through Thorne’s people that Chad had ‘talked’ to Nicky.  But, from the way Spence acted, they didn’t know what Nicky had said.

 

He parked the patrol car down the street from Hammer and Deetz’s hangout.  He was going to talk to the Sergeant about perhaps taking on some plains clothes patrols after his shift.  The Sarge, he was fairly certain, was on the straight and narrow, as he’d never denied Chad’s requests in the past.  It was simply too hard to ‘watch’ in a marked squad car.

 

He took a sip of his lukewarm coffee and sat back in his seat.  He watched patrons enter and exit the club.  Finally, he saw Hammer and

Deetz go in.  Now all he had to do was wait for them to come out.  Nicky had given cash to Spence last night.  Perhaps tonight was a drop to Hammer and Deetz.

 

From the rooftop above the alley in which Chad’s patrol car now sat, Batman watched.  He’d been there long enough to see Officer Harris pull into the alley without lights, as well as the arrival of Hammer and Deetz at the bar.  Chad had, of course, been correct about their predictability.  Thorne obviously needed better henchmen.

 

Using a grappling line, he dropped down into the alley behind Chad’s car and approached through the shadows.  He knew he’d succeeded in going undetected when the police officer jumped, startled by his appearance at the passenger door of the car.  Inwardly, he smiled at this reaction.  He liked that someone so watchful could still be taken by surprise.

 

“Our friends went club hopping last night,” he said gruffly, without preamble, after Chad leaned over to unlock the passenger door and he was safely inside.

 

“They did, huh?”  He shook his head.  “Did they show you anything interesting?”  He relaxed back in his seat and picked up his coffee, thinking from now on he should actually buy two cups… one for when his trustworthy partner showed up.

 

“Did you see where they went?  I’ve tagged them at a few other clubs… but this is their favorite.”  He shook his head in disgust.  “Busted this place a couple times for illegal prostitution and cocaine.  Such a wonderful joint.”  He looked over at the caped figure.  “Thing is, there are other places in town that are just as bad, if not worse.  This place,” he pointed to the joint, “it doesn’t front as anything other than what it is.  Thorne has his hands in just about every sector of Gotham.”

 

Batman nodded his head once, either in agreement or acknowledgement.  Thorne was like a weed; roots go deep and no amount of surface gardening can kill it.  “Followed them up town, place called Decadence.  If I’d realized the dress code was only for paying customers…” It was a dry sort of joke.  Decadence did, in fact, have a very strict dress code, and it was one which Hammer and Deetz had not met last night when they were allowed inside.  By all rights, they should have been turned away.  “It’s fronting for something big,” he added, pulling the mini tape cassette from his utility belt. Holding it out, but not actually handing it to Chad, he said, “When you get the chance, see if you don’t recognize the voices.”  He paused and then added, “You should also know… you come up in conversation… there.”  He inclined his head to the tape.

 

Chad set his coffee on the dash and reached out for the tape.  “They put a hit out on me not too long ago.  Shot the hell out of my car.”  He paused, remembering that Spence had called in that night as well.

Odd, wasn’t it?  “I took a trip to the other side of town last night,” he started, taking the offered tape.  “Busted a trafficker named Nicky.  He transports either dope or cash.  The dope he delivers to Hammer and Deetz,” he said, looking back at the club.  The second part… as if saying it… made it all too real.  “He delivers the cash to a man named Spence.  A.K.A. Officer Spencer.  My partner.”

 

He stashed the tape in his shirt pocket.  “Took everything I had not to call him on it tonight.  But I don’t have enough on him.  And I CAN’T get it without calling suspicion.  We work too closely together.”  He looked back at Batman, the pain being covered by the need to do this the right way.  “Spence takes the cash to another henchman… higher up than he is… the man may even work closely to Thorne.  I can’t follow him.”  His eyes went back to the club.  “But he’s got a couple days off next week.  I’d bet my life he’ll be doing more transporting then.”

 

It was something Batman –well, Bruce, really– could understand.  Chad had trusted his partner, had no reason not to until last night.  When trust like that was broken… And yet, his hands were tied by protocol and the need for secrecy to keep what they were doing quiet.

 

“Leave the rookie to me,” he told Chad, as unemotionally as he’d just delivered the information regarding the tape, though it pained him that one so soon out of the police academy could be bought and sold so quickly.  Crooked cops made both his night and day jobs all that much harder.  Young Officer Spencer had a lot to learn about the streets –and the world– still.  He wouldn’t make it long at the rate he was going.  And when he slipped up, Batman would be there to see to that he was exposed for the traitor that he was.

 

“Just a suggestion,” he began, letting a hint of concern into his voice.  “You may want to exercise a little more caution after this.”  He nodded to the tape in Chad’s pocket.  He didn’t elaborate, but he wouldn’t have to.  Chad would hear it for himself, and unlike his untested partner, Officer Harris knew the stakes all too well.  He wouldn’t need to be told when to keep his head down, and judging

from the way he handled his partner today, when to keep his

thoughts to himself.

 

Like the previous night, Batman left without another word, leaving it understood that when the time came, he’d seek Chad out.  Knowing that Officer Harris had Hammer and Deetz under his watchful eye, he made his away across town to see who was giving Decadence their patronage that night.

 

*-*-*

 

Thursday, January 20, 2005

 

Eugenia was just settling into her seat with her morning coffee when the mayor all but burst out of his office.  Startled was an understatement as he rarely, if ever, acted in this manner.  “Two things.  One, call Lee Merryweather. I want Bruce and Grace’s first available evening, as soon as it can be arranged.  Second,” and he tried to keep his voice calm, “I want you to call Councilman Fitzgerald’s office.  I want a meeting with him within the hour.  I don’t care what excuse you give him; tell him I want to discuss changing my crime bill.”

 

“But sir…”

 

“Just do it, Eugenia, please.  I’ve already placed a bunch of calls myself and have several more to make BEFORE Councilman Fitzgerald gets here.”

 

*-*-*

 

Within the hour, Councilman Arnold Fitzgerald was sitting across from Miles’ desk.

 

“Changing your mind about the crime bill, Old Man,” Fitzgerald began, a smirk on his face.

 

Miles steepled his fingers under his chin and said nothing.  In all honesty, Miles was disgusted.  “Oh I wouldn’t say that,” he finally began, his voice low, the words coming out slowly.  “I wouldn’t say that at all.”  He didn’t move as he said his next words.  “What I am going to do is open up all the city offices to a probe by the District Attorney’s office.”

 

Fitz’s eyes narrowed into tight slits.  “You can’t do that!”

 

Miles shrugged.  “Why not?  I have nothing to hide.  I’ve been in contact with a few other members of the city government today.  So far, you’re the only on who’s protested.”

 

“Blaire, I’m warning you…”

 

Miles looked directly at him.  “Warn, suggest, threat… call it whatever you want.  But I cannot expect the citizens of this city to undergo stricter crime laws without expecting it from those who run the city as well.  If you have nothing to hide, what’s a little probe going to hurt?”

 

“Because I’m an American, I have rights!”

 

“And you are also an elected representative of the American government.”

 

“I won’t stand by and watch you turn Gotham into a police state!”

 

“A police state?  Funny that *you* continue to use that phrase.  Yet, according to the polls, over 80% of the citizens of Gotham support my legislation.”

 

Fitz leaned forward.  “I think you should check your figures again, Old

Man.”

 

Miles leaned forward as well.  “I think you’d better think a little more about how you try to sway the lobbyists.”

 

The two men stared at one another for the longest time.  “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.  Wayne and I had lunch… I made a suggestion.  There’s no law breaking in that,” Fitz finally said, standing up and abruptly striding for the door.  “Run your probe if you must.”

 

Miles inhaled deeply when Fitz left, the air seeming to clear with the man’s departure.  Picking up his phone, he called his secretary.  “Eugenia, call my wife and daughter… call Lee Merryweather… I want to know where they are going to be… constantly.  Call Seth as well… have him get Grace’s schedule to me, as well as his.”

 

“I can do that, sir.”

 

“Thanks, and Eugenia… I want yours too.  Oh yeah, and when you talk to Merryweather, I want him to have Bruce call me immediately.”  He wouldn’t put anything past Fitz or those he worked for.  If any of his family were even five minutes late for an appointment, he wanted to know about it.

 

*-*-*

 

During breakfast, Bruce told Grace that he was planning to visit his parents’ graves that day.  As he expected, she offered to go with him… should he want her there.  At first, he told her no, he wanted to be alone… needed time to think and say some things that needed said.

 

“That’s fine, Bruce,” Grace told him, setting her coffee cup down to touch his hand.  “Whatever you need to do is fine.  I understand.”

 

Later, however, as he was pulling on his overcoat, he was seized with the sudden need for company.  He didn’t want to ride out to the cemetery alone he decided.

 

He found Grace in her room, changing for a mid-morning work out.  “Um, Grace…” he began, looking sheepish.  “Would it be alright if you… rode out with me to the cemetery?”

 

She nodded.  “Of course, just let me change.”  She walked into the closet to grab some more appropriate clothing. She had a black, long-sleeved velvet Prada dress that fit her form and fell just below her knees.  She may just be going along for the ride, but for Grace, there was never such a thing as being overdressed.  She was comfortable in anything she wore, and she wanted to be respectful.

 

As she put it on, she couldn’t help but think about how big this was.

His parent’s gravesites were sacred to him, as they should be.  The past few times he’d gone to visit, she’d always offered, but he always preferred to go alone.  As she quickly put on some pantyhose and grabbed a pair of shoes, she had to wonder what made this time different.  She didn’t question him though, merely grabbed her long black leather coat on her way out of her closet.  “Ready,” she said tying her overcoat closed.

 

Bruce offered her his arm, his eyes traveling over her black-clad form in a moment of appreciation.  The occasion was somber enough, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy the view before him right now.  Then Grace slipped her arm through his, and Bruce caught sight of them both in the mirror on the opposite wall.  For over a minute, all he could do was stand there, holding her arm, and staring at the image they made framed in her mirror.  Mesmerized by the ‘picture perfect’ quality of what he was seeing.  Finally, he broke his gaze with the mirror and turned to Grace, giving her an ambiguous smile.  “Shall we?” he asked, almost suavely, as he escorted her from the bedroom.

 

She rested her head on his shoulder as her hand moved down his arm to take his hand with hers.  She wondered what he’d been thinking as he looked at the two of them in the mirror.  It wasn’t the same look he’d given to the professional, impromptu pictures that had been taken of them on one of her photo shoots.  The pictures had come in and he’d looked at them, almost in awe!  They had been gorgeous pictures… his darker features contrasting gorgeously to her fairer ones.

 

But this look, it was different… deeper somehow.  Like he was seeing more than a couple people dressed in fine clothing.  Then it hit her, what Fitz had said, what Miles must have said.  Family.  Her voice was soft as she said, “I’m right beside you.”  The multiple meanings were evident in her voice.

 

Bruce could hear more in her voice than just the immediate meaning that she was ready to go.  She was with him… there for him… for as long as he wanted her there.  He had her support, in more ways than even she knew about, and that meant more to him than he had words to express.  She was literally, figuratively, and every other ‘ly’ he could think of, by his side, and all his heart told him this was how it meant to be.

 

He glanced at her, grinning, as they made it to the stairs and began to descend.  Alfred met them at the landing with a bouquet of roses that had been delivered at Bruce’s request.  During the summer and autumn months, Bruce usually picked them himself from his mother’s favorite garden, but in the winter, he used his standing account at a local florist shop.  They never failed to deliver for him on the spur of the moment; though, Bruce suspected that Alfred gave good tips.

 

If Alfred was surprised that Grace was going with Bruce he didn’t show it.  Although, he did nod knowingly at Grace and send a smile her way while Bruce took the roses from him.  “Will the two of you be gone long, Master Bruce?” he inquired politely.

 

“I’m not really sure, Alfred,” Bruce replied.  “As long it takes, I guess.  It’s been awhile.”

 

Alfred nodded again.  Bruce had last visited the cemetery right after his split with Lex.  And then he’d pushed Grace away, and the guilt of that outweighed any pain Bruce had ever known save losing them.  Maybe even including that, as Grace had been the one person whose presence in his life vanquished all shadows.

 

She gave Alfred a small smile.  Getting a whiff of the scent of the roses, she let Bruce walk on ahead of her for a moment.  “I’ll take care of him,” she whispered to Alfred.

 

“I’ve little doubt of that, Miss Grace,” he replied, knowing full well the import of Bruce asking Grace to go with him.

 

She walked quickly out of the Manor to join Bruce at the limo, slipping inside as he held the door open for her and moving closely to his side once he got in.  The physical closeness was a visible support of her earlier words.  Also a way to prove to him… he wasn’t alone.  She wouldn’t get out of the limo unless he asked her too, but at least for the ride there and the ride home, her physical closeness would be a comfort for him.  Just as she had last night… it was enough that he knew she was there should he need anything!

 

As the limousine pulled away from the Manor, Bruce set the bouquet down on the leather seat and took Grace’s hand, caressing it softly with his fingers.  They could have been on a date, for all the devotion he was showing her hand except that he’d yet to say much of anything as they drove.  Mostly, he just wanted to touch her, to feel the warmth that came from his skin in contact with hers.  He craved it –the connection to another person.  So many years spent isolating himself behind an emotional barrier had left him starved for it… for the kind of connection he had with Grace.  With her, the barriers didn’t exist.

 

They rode in a comfortable silence to one of the older cemeteries in Gotham city.  Bruce thought it might be the oldest, actually.  The tombstones were tall and ornate, speaking of many years and many generations.  The markers and crypts boasted the surnames of the founders of the city and the county in which it was located.  Like the names, the grounds were stately and pristinely kept year round, even in the worst of weather.  His family had a crypt and two family plots flanking it on a little hillock near the center of a particularly old section.

 

Bruce, though, barely knew the names beyond his parents, grandparents, and his uncle –his father’s brother who’d died of SIDS before they knew what SIDS was.  The rest were names written in the family Bible, a book he hadn’t seen since the day Alfred dutifully wrote in the date of his father’s death and his mother’s in the family tree on the front pages.  Bruce’s name was there, too, waiting vigilantly to be joined by the siblings who never came or the wife he might someday –or not– take.  Alone at the end of the page.

 

The limo pulled around the corner, taking it sharply because the cemetery path was narrow and not really meant for large vehicles.  Or any vehicles, really, although most people drove in anyway.  The groundskeepers never said anything.  The chauffeur stopped the limousine and parked it under the shadow of a huge marble marker that read ‘Wayne.’  There was no road up the hillock, although the cobblestone path had been cleared and salted recently.

 

When the chauffeur came around to Bruce’s door, Bruce finally released Grace’s hand and reached for the roses.  He hesitated, debating asking her to come up the hill with him.  She’d never met his parents before, and although a part of him thought it was about time, another part of him feared the ground would open up and swallow them both should he invite her without first ‘consulting’ them.

 

“Bruce,” her voice finally broke through the silence.  “It’s okay,” she offered encouragingly, reaching out and squeezing his hand.  “I’ll wait here.  Should you want me to join you, I’m just a motion away.”  Another soft squeeze of his hand, and this time her words were softer… somehow though carrying so much meaning.  “I love you.  And

I’m with you.”  She knew this was sacred for him, and that even having her in the limo was a big step.  The last thing she was going to do was push him.  She was here.  He could have the rest to himself.  It was true as well, all he had to do was motion for her, and she’d join him.

She wouldn’t be hurt if he didn’t ask her.  It was something she understood on some level.  They were his parents.  The pain of their deaths was something he still felt very intensely.  The hateful words from Fitzgerald, though tempered by more honest ones from Miles, had spawned the need for this visit.  She understood his need to be there alone physically.  But he would never be emotionally alone, not ever again.  And she knew, by the look in his eyes, that he understood that.

 

Bruce nodded a little and gave a weak smile.  There would be other visits, and maybe… He looked at her, finding her eyes and holding them with his own.  No, there would be no ‘maybe.’ Bruce felt it as tangibly as he felt the cold air on his cheeks; Grace had more than earned the right, and he wanted her to know them… them to know her.  “I won’t… be long,” he said softly, squeezing her hand once before exiting the car.  He instructed the driver to keep the car warm, as the air was nippy, and trudged up the path alone.

 

He stopped in front of the two most recently added headstones and stood there for a few minutes in reverent silence.  When he raised his head, he pulled a single rose from the bouquet, and knelt between the stones.  He placed the single rose by his father’s name, staring at the contrasts in the red and the fading grays of the stone.  His mind flashed on the first time he’d come to this cemetery, when his grandfather died years before his parents were murdered.  He remembered his father’s hand, but the rest of the memory was faded into oblivion.

 

“I, uh… I’m sorry I haven’t been  around lately,” he said, focusing on the name before him as if his father might still hear his apology.  “I’ve been busy with that project I’ve been telling you about.  Alfred’s been an invaluable asset.”  He paused, knowing it wouldn’t be enough to bring them back, even if that were possible.

 

“Grace and I are back together,” he said, turning to place the rest of the roses on his mother’s grave.  His tone made it sound as if he were calling from college with a weekly update.  “I really…” his voice seized up a little.  “I love her… a lot.”  But they knew that already; he’d told them before about the amazing woman he’d been sharing his life and their home with.  “I know, the last time I said I thought we should end it, but something happened.”  He went on to tell them about Grace’s stalker and the attack… finding her and taking her home.  “It may sound odd, but I think she belongs with me.”  His voice was hopeful, as if waiting for one of them to tell him to ‘go for it.’  Though, for what exactly escaped him.

 

When no answer came, he told them about lobbying for Miles’ crime bill and his meetings with Fitzgerald.  “Miles says you know him, that he’s been that much of a jerk all his life.  I know I shouldn’t let it bother me, but sometimes I wish… you…” He choked on whatever words were coming next and he stopped, reaching out to touch his father’s name.  “I wish you were here to guide me.  Alfred and Miles… they try really hard, but sometimes, Dad, I’m so afraid of failing you.  Sometimes I feel like I’m going backwards instead of forward.  I’m so lost…” he whispered, lapsing into silence.  He couldn’t run the company and concentrate on being Batman.  He couldn’t do everything alone.

 

‘Then why are you trying?’  The thought popped into his head as if someone had gently nudged it along.  Because alone was all he had been until recently.  Because it was all he knew?  But that was a lie.  He wasn’t alone anymore, except whenever he chose to be.  Miles, Grace…

Courtney… they were only as far away and he wanted them.  He didn’t want them to be so far away, and maybe… maybe his parents knew that.

 

He’d always said it was Fate… Fate that brought him to Courtney, Fate that broke them up but refused to them either of them let go.  Fate that made him spoil her with gifts and trips that ultimately led her to Seth… and him to Grace.  The same Fate who saw fit to make sure the girl in line next to him at the soup kitchen was Miles Blaire’s daughter.  Miles, who was his father’s closest friend, and now Bruce’s only link to certain memories of his childhood.

 

Fate acted like it cared sometimes, maybe.  Or maybe Fate had help?

 

He turned his head and looked towards the limo where she waited either for him, or for his signal to join him.  Rising to his feet, he turned a little and caught the chauffeur’s attention, motioning for him tap on Grace’s window.

 

“Mom, Dad…” he said as he saw the window roll down a bit. “There’s someone really special I want you to meet.”

 

She sat stunned for a moment when she saw Bruce signal to the driver. She’d wanted to be there with him.  But there was no way on Earth she was going to push her actual presence upon him during this moment.  She was there with him in spirit.  When the driver opened the door for her, she ran a quick hand through her hair.  Funny, she was actually a bit nervous about meeting his parents… but honored at the same time.

 

With the help of the driver’s offered hand, she got out of the limo and made her way up the same path Bruce had walked up minutes before.  Her eyes met his and the sheer import of the moment hit her full right then and there.  This was the only way he could communicate with his parents.  She hadn’t realized, until just now, how fortunate she’d been.  Her father was a phone call away.  And true, her biological mother was all but dead to her… but she had Janet.  And she loved Janet like she was her mother.

 

This was all Bruce had… at least by way of contact with his biological parents.  And he was sharing that with her.  Right this very moment.  He was sharing with her, and she knew he shared this with no one.  Moving to stand beside him, she took his hand and felt no cold, no wind, and no sting of chill on her cheeks.  She felt love.  Taking his hand, she stood closely to him but said nothing.  She simply looked at the headstones respectfully, waiting for Bruce to speak.

 

Most people didn’t believe as she did.  But to her, when a loved one passed, part of Heaven was being able to still be ‘with’ the ones you loved on Earth.  She believed there were times when she still felt her grandparents… and right here, right now, she knew (and so did Bruce) that his parents were here.  That was the love she felt all around them.

 

Bruce squeezed Grace’s hand, feeling as nervous as if he were bringing her home to the Manor for the first time, and they were waiting in the library to meet to her.  This hadn’t happened before.  There had been no one in his life that he’d ever “brought home to meet his parents.”  Maybe it was because most people he’d dated knew he was the famous Wayne orphan.  Or maybe it was because none of his previous relationships had been with people he truly loved.  Sure, he’d cared about all of them –Bruce was like that, he cared about people– but most of them hadn’t lasted longer than a couple dates.  Quite a few of them had been the same sort of mindless, consequence-less fling Grace had been expecting the night they first met. The night he surprised her by just taking her home, not making untoward advances.  He’d had those sorts of relationships… too many for his young age.  So had Grace: all that and worse, he’d learned later on.  And those relationships had left them both cynical.

 

Yet, here they were… almost two years later, standing where two such jaded people should not have been.  Presenting themselves to his parents.  It overwhelmed him, left him speechless for several minutes.  Then he looked up from his thoughts and met Grace’s eyes, and all he could think was that it was right.  There would never be a better time to do this than now.  It was why he’d asked her to come, even if he hadn’t realized it until just this moment.

 

Giving her a loving, almost supporting smile, he turned back the graves.  “Dad, Mom… this is the one I’ve been telling you so much about… my sweet Amazing Grace.”  He smiled again, wistfully this time, when he spoke the pet name he’d given her soon after they’d begun to date.  His mother’s favorite song, something seemed to remind him.  He hadn’t realized it before, but in his heart, she equated most to that song.

 

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me….

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now, I see.

 

When he looked at her, he felt saved, no longer lost or adrift in the world.  Home.

 

She gave him a soft smile as her free hand reached up to lightly touch his cheek before turning to the headstones.  She’d always felt deeply about family, maybe because of what had happened with hers, maybe because of the determination of her father for them to *be* a family. She wasn’t exactly sure what it was.  But as she looked at the headstones she found herself drawn to them… wanting desperately to know these two people who’d created the man she loved with everything she was.  “Mr. and Mrs. Wayne,” she started, her voice barely above a whisper.  Her dad always said that volume wasn’t nearly as important as the words that were actually spoken.  “I’m honored more than I can express to be here… meeting you… I’m sure you know how wonderful your son is.  How much he cares for those he loves…”

 

She swallowed and blinked her eyes.  Her hand squeezed his again before she could continue.  “I love him very much… more than I dreamed I could ever love another soul.”  Her eyes finally left the tombstones and she turned them to gaze at him.  “And I will love him for the rest of my life.  I promise you that.”  The last was said not only to his parents, but to him as well.  Because this… without a doubt… was the single most important way he could express to her what she meant to him.  She fell silent then, her head moving to rest on his shoulder.

 

“I told you she was amazing,” Bruce said after a moment of silence.  His voice was light and cheerful, as if he felt them approving of what she said and of how it warmed his heart.  He slid his arm around her, though respectfully, as if they were watching.  “You are, you know,” he said softly, privately.  “Every day I love you more.  Amazing.  I never knew love was like this.”  His voice was so low now that they were little more than a rumble in his chest and his vocal chords.

 

“Me either,” she admitted, speaking just as softly though her voice lifted up to him.  “It’s like nothing I’ve ever known… I never dreamed I’d feel.  And everyday, I feel it more too.”  She stepped a bit closer to him, not necessarily out of the need for warmth, but just for closeness.

 

They stood there for several more long moments, his arm held her respectfully, both sets of eyes looking at the tombstones.  Both, perhaps, saying their own mental words.  Grace found herself truly wishing she could have known these people.  Because, though he was young when they were killed, they had a great influence on who he was today.  And she meant what she’d said earlier.  There wasn’t anyone she loved, needed, or treasured more than the man standing beside her.  And they were to thank for him.  So she did…

 

As if by silent agreement, they turned simultaneously and headed back to the limo.  The driver had the door opened for them and Grace slipped inside.  When Bruce got in she once again moved next to him, her head on his shoulder.  They said nothing, as words weren’t really needed between them. They didn’t need to say anything to communicate… not anymore.

 

It was just as his hand was reaching for hers, though, that the phone rang.  It was like a shock back into the real world, and she jumped slightly, her head lifting from his shoulder so he could reach into his pocket and get the phone.

 

“Wayne,” he answered as the chauffeur closed the door behind them.  He listened intently and then looked at Grace with a small smile.  “It’s Lee,” he told her before turning his attention to his secretary.  “Yes, of course. He said he’d be contacting you,” he said when Lee told him that the mayor had phoned about a private dinner at his residence.

 

“So I was looking over your schedule, Bruce,” Lee rambled, ignoring the way Bruce already knew the call had been coming.  “You have nothing on Monday… if you’d like me to call him back and…”

 

“Wait a minute, Lee.”  Bruce turned to Grace.  “Miles wants to have dinner at our earliest convenience,” he said.  “Monday night good for you?”

 

She did a quick mental rundown of her schedule.  Of course, she rarely did anything in the evenings, preferring to have that time to be with Bruce.  So she gave him a nod and a smile.  Dinner with the Blaire’s would be nice.  “Monday’s fine with me,” she agreed.

 

His eyes were on hers as he said into the phone.  “Monday’s good.”

With that, they exchanged brief farewells and hung up the phone.

 

That done, Grace moved back into her position, which she didn’t move from until they got back to the Manor.

 

*-*-*

 

Bruce sat on the couch, browsing the afternoon newspaper. Grace was stretched out, resting her head in his lap.  She was also reading a section, but mostly she was just there with him.  Bruce loved the companionship they shared, even in silence.  When Alfred entered the library with a silver tea tray, laden with the matching tea service and the phone, Bruce looked up from the article he was reading.

 

“Mayor Blaire is on line two, sir,” Alfred informed him.  “He says it has to do with his crime bill.”

 

“Thanks, Alfred.  I’ll, ah, take it in the den.  Could you transfer it to the phone there?”  Grace sat up instantly, moving away as Bruce stood.

 

“Of course, sir.”  Alfred set their tea down on the coffee table, leaving it for Grace to have if she still wanted it.

 

Excusing himself –though not without leaning in to kiss Grace– Bruce made his way to the den.  A red light on the desk phone was blinking, telling him that Alfred had transferred the call as he’d asked.  Reaching for the phone, he sat on the edge of the desk.  “Hello, Miles,” he said in greeting.  “How’s City Hall?”

 

Miles, who had literally been on the phone all day, sighed in exasperation.  “How’s hectic sound to you, Bruce?”  He shook his head, knowing full well he could confide in the man he was talking to on the phone.  “I need to tell you some things.  I’ve already talked to Constance… Seth… Courtney, though getting through to her was like pulling teeth.”  He sighed again.  Of everyone he’d spoken to today,

Courtney had been the one who’d given him the most difficulty.  Not because she didn’t want to share her schedule, but because she wanted a piece of Fitz herself and Miles had staunchly refused to let her set up a meeting with the Councilman.

 

“After I left the Manor last night, I did a lot of thinking.”  It was here that he went into his plans for the probe… his conversation with the other city officials… and then his talk with Arnold Fitzgerald. “He’s crooked, Bruce,” Miles confided finally.  “And I wouldn’t put it past him to go after my family to get to me.  I know I’m asking a lot, but please, could you just make sure Lee gives Eugenia your schedule?

Grace’s too if he has it?  I just need to know where you guys are; I need to know you’re safe.”

 

Bruce was silent for several long seconds while he digested the Mayor’s words.  He couldn’t say that he blamed Miles.  Fitzgerald wasn’t the only one who was on the take.  Bruce’s research into Fitzgerald and Kirkland had revealed at least two councilman and several police officers from various precincts around the city.  Bruce sighed.  “Tough spot to put yourself in, Miles, but I understand.  I’d like to think I’d do the same thing, if the situations were reversed.”  He told Miles he’d have Lee fax his entire schedule tomorrow.  Grace’s as well.  His mind, however, was already turning.  He’d talk to Alfred and the head of his security, Mr. Sloane.  He wasn’t concerned with himself, but Grace… no one would hurt her again.

 

“Nee gave you a hard time, huh?” he asked.  That sounded like Courtney.   Knowing her, she’d still be pissed about it on Monday night when they came for dinner.

 

“Thanks,” he said in reference to the schedules.  If only his daughter had been this easy to talk to.  “Hard time is actually a mild statement.  First she asked why.  And you know her.  She didn’t let up until I explained why.  Then she was enraged because first, I left last night without telling her why and second, because I wouldn’t let her have a little ‘chat’ with Fitzgerald.  However, a brief reminder of the fact that I’m her father and she’s my daughter… not vice versa… and she calmed down.”  Miles laughed lightly.  “I think it’s kinda funny actually.  I was expecting her to tell me she was old enough to take care of herself… to give me flack about sharing the schedule… and though I think her response was to snort before she agreed… at least she agreed.”  He paused.  “I’m doing what I feel has to be done, but I don’t want my family to pay.  And people like Fitzgerald… they don’t care how they get to you… so long as they do.”

 

Bruce understood; he’d played into Fitzgerald’s games on Wednesday, but no longer.  And like Miles, he didn’t want Courtney near Fitzgerald, even if she thought she was doing it in defense of him.   “I’m sure she understands on some level.  This is pretty big, after all.”  But he knew Courtney; she never let things go once she got them into her head.  Bruce had once joked that he could never win an argument with her.  It really wasn’t a joke.  “Keep her away from Fitz, Miles,” he said and it wasn’t a command, it was pleading.  “I don’t trust him, and Courtney will underestimate what he could do if properly motivated.”

 

The change in Bruce’s tone caught Miles’ attention immediately.  “It is pretty big.  And I have no intention of letting her anywhere near Fitzgerald.  If I have to have her confined to her house, I will.”  He paused, again evaluating the tone in Bruce’s voice.  There was more going on here than what Bruce was saying.  “Is there something on your mind, Bruce?” he asked.  “Something you’d maybe like to talk about?”

 

Bruce smiled a little, knowing Miles couldn’t see it.  He’d been wondering how to get this said without making it questionable how he knew.  “When I began my lobby for this crime bill, I started a little research project for my own information.  Background on the councilmen I’d be dealing with… that sort of thing.  I wanted to be prepared, to know my opposition.”  Or know enough to make sure they wouldn’t stay opposition long.  “Something came to my attention recently through that research.  Fitzgerald isn’t the only one with a questionable past.”  Miles knew about Kirkland, Fitzie’s partner in crime on most voting issues, but he gave a small gasp when Bruce named Edward Jackson and also said Jackson had questionable ties to several precincts in the Gotham PD.  “I hesitate to suggest this, Miles,” he concluded, “but extending the probe to the police force might not be a bad idea.  If Commissioner Gordon is willing, of course.”  He hesitated because it was added danger for their loved ones.  Courtney, Grace… Seth… Constance… Bruce knew Miles had weighed his options before he acted, but could he afford to add a new stone to the already overflowing bucket?

 

Miles sat for the longest time, looking at the pictures that decorated his office.  Jackson?  He couldn’t believe it!  How many times had he sat on that council with Eddie and they’d talked like they were friends… had agreed on so many issues.  True, Eddie had been opposed to the last couple crime bills, but his excuses had seemed more valid and logical than the other two.

 

There was no doubt that he believed Bruce.  If anything, Bruce was far more removed emotionally from all of this than Miles.  If Jackson were in on it with Fitzgerald and Kirkland… and he had the police in his pocket…  “There’s little choice, is there?” Miles finally spoke.  “I doubt that Gordon will have a problem with it.  I know without a doubt he’s clean.  But Bruce,” he confided, “they can have me… this is my decision.  It’s something I have to do.  But they won’t come at me directly.  My wife… my family… all of you are going to be the targets.”  The words pained him, but he couldn’t back down now… no matter how bad it got.

 

“Understood,” was Bruce’s response.  More so than Miles knew, perhaps.

 

Miles sounded weary, as if this newest revelation had knocked the wind out of him.  “I already plan to speak to Sloane when we’re through.”  Sloane was Bruce’s head of security, a former Navy Seal who looked like Mr. Clean only less personable.  He was also very efficient, and Bruce trusted him, and the other five men he’d hired on Sloane’s suggestion, implicitly.  Bruce, however, was less concerned with himself.  Grace and the others were where his priorities lie.  “If you’d like… I could send over a man or two for Nee and Constance.”

 

Miles’ eyes slid closed for a moment.  Security of the measures Bruce had was something Miles couldn’t extend to his family.  He simply didn’t have the means or the ability to justify it.  And the fact that Bruce had extended the offer to Constance.  He was touched.

 

Finding out that someone he’d thought was fairly honest was as crooked as Fitzgerald had struck him hard.  The tiredness showed through in his voice.  “For Constance, yes.  She would appreciate the protection.  She doesn’t always show it, but there are times when she… frets.”  That wasn’t actually the best word, but it was rather appropriate.  “I would like to say yes for Courtney… but she’s her own woman now, Bruce.  I’m not her guardian anymore nor am I her husband.”  He stressed the last word hoping Bruce would get the meaning behind it.  “I’ll leave that up to you.”

 

*-*-*

 

“Miss Grace,” Alfred reappeared shortly after Bruce went into the den to take the call from Miles.

 

She was sitting in the chair closest to the fireplace.  The Manor seemed especially cool now even though she’d changed into jeans and a heavy sweater.  “Yes?” she asked, setting aside the newspaper.

 

“Master Alex is on the phone for you.  He called earlier, however, you were out, and he said he would return his call.”

 

Taking the offered phone, she thanked him.  She wrapped the blanket more securely around her legs and said, “Hello, Alex.”

 

“Gracie, hon,” he began, voice more serious than she’d ever heard it.  “I’m truly sorry about yesterday.  I just… It shouldn’t have happened.”

 

From the sound of his voice, Seth had let him have it but good.  “It’s okay, Alex. Really, I’m fine.”  And she was.  After what happened today, the events of yesterday and the photo shoot seemed soooo… inconsequential.

 

“You sure?”

 

“Positive.  Believe me, there are worse things that could have happened.”  She thought about Bruce and how shaken he’d been over the words Fitz had said, and then she thought about today and how overwhelmingly important it had been.  “Seeing Philip was a shock, yes, but I survived.”

 

“I just should have said something… to you… to Seth.”

 

“Alex,” she started softly, “he didn’t come down too hard on you, did he?”

 

Alex laughed lightly.  “At first, yes.  Wasn’t much that was pretty about it.  But don’t worry, hon. Seth’s like that.  He gets angry, blows off steam, and then it’s over.  Water under the bridge.”

 

“You’re still in charge of my booking, aren’t you?”  It was a concern for her.  Alex was perhaps the best agent she’d ever worked with.  But she knew Seth too.  He’d felt he let her down, which wasn’t true.  In turn, Alex had let Seth down.  Seth didn’t handle things like that well.

 

“Yes, honey, I’m still in charge of your bookings.”  The happy lilt was back in his voice.  “Seth’s been my boy for over twenty years.  I’m used to how he works.  It’s cool, and I’m cool if we’re cool.”

 

“We’re cool,” she said with a smile.

 

“Great.”  He paused.  “Business over!” he pronounced.  “Personal now?”

 

Her smile grew bigger.  The relief she felt over the fact that he was okay made her excited to hear the personal news.  “Yes, personal now.”

 

They chatted for several more minutes.  AnnaBeth and Alex were getting along far better than even Grace could have imagined.  She wasn’t sure how serious it was… oh, from what she could gather, it was VERY physical… but Alex had yet to encounter AnnaBeth’s temper.  From both of her parents… she had inherited a nasty temper.  But knowing Alex, he’d be able to bring her out of it with a joke or a smile.  Either that or it would drive her insane.  They exchanged goodbyes… everything back to the way it had been before the Philip incident.

 

Clicking off the phone, she stared at it for several long minutes.  The events of today flashed through her mind.  She closed them and saw the headstones… Thomas Wayne… Martha Wayne.  Again, she was washed over with the emotion of how blessed she was.  Turning the phone on, she dialed.

 

One more VERY important call to make.

 

*-*-*

 

When Bruce got off the phone with Miles, he instantly hit the button that got him the kitchen, where Alfred was likely biding his time until someone needed him.  “Alfred, I need you to get Sloane in here ASAP, please.”

 

“Is something amiss, sir?” Alfred asked calmly after his obligatory ‘Yes, Master Bruce.’

 

“Yes, Alfred, there is… and if you don’t mind, I’d like you to be present for this meeting.”

 

“As you wish, sir,” came the tireless reply.

 

Within fifteen minutes, both men were in the den, awaiting Bruce to tell them why they’d been sent for, which Bruce did without much preamble.

 

“I just got off the phone with the mayor.” Here Alfred nodded.  Sloane showed no reaction either way.  “He’s opened City Hall to an administrative probe… several of the councilmen who’ve opposed his crime bill are… suspicious.”  He paused and then said, “I want to beef up security around the grounds, and around Grace.  Also…” He directed his gaze to the former Navy Seal.  “I want you to select someone to send over to Mayor Blaire’s residence.  His wife is an obvious target.”

 

Sloane nodded once.  No more.  Bruce continued to talk.  He outlined what he wanted from each of them and then asked Alfred to let Grace know he wanted to speak with her here in the den.  Sloane, he asked to stay.

 

*-*-*

 

The secretary answered the phone on the third ring.  After giving the appropriate announcement, she asked, “How may I help you?”

 

“George O’Neil, please,” Grace asked softly, the need to talk to her father was becoming tantamount.

 

“I’m sorry, Ma’am.  He’s in a meeting.”

 

She cleared her throat, trying not to cry.  Of course he was in a meeting.  It was Wednesday, and George O’Neil was a very busy man.  She hadn’t thought beyond her need to talk to him.  “Um… ok.  This is his daughter, Grace.  I just wanted… to… talk to him.”

 

Whether it was because it was his daughter or the tone of Grace’s voice, the secretary said, “One moment, I’ll put you through.”

 

George quickly cleared out the conference room, giving one particular young upstart a scowl when he dared to remind George that the case they were meeting over went to trial next week.  Frankly, George didn’t care.  His daughter was on the phone and he was going to talk to her.

After the last of his staff left, he picked up the phone.  “Hey Pumpkin,” he said, taking a seat.

 

“Daddy,” she said softly, his voice like a wash over her soul.

 

He furrowed his brows for a moment.  “What’s the matter, hon?”

 

She shook her head, even though he couldn’t see it.  “Nothing.  Really, nothing.  I just wanted to hear your voice.  It’s been a while since we talked and the last time…”

 

“Gracie… that last time… I was upset.”

 

“Oh no, Daddy.  It’s ok!  Really.  Everything is just fine.  It’s just…

Sometimes, people take things for granted.  And lately, I feel like

I’ve been doing that with you.  I’ve been so wrapped up in me… and Bruce… that I haven’t done right by you.  And I just needed to…  You know?  To call and let you know that I miss you… I love you.”

 

“I love you too,” he said softly.  “But really, what brought this on?

It’s not that I don’t appreciate the call and the verbalization of emotions, but normally if you do this, it’s on the weekend.  Talk to me.”

 

She closed her eyes, leaning her head back on the chair, and reached for the blanket, wrapping it around her.  “Bruce went to the cemetery today,” she said somberly.

 

“Ah,” he responded.  He knew from their past conversations that Bruce going to the cemetery was a very personal experience.  He also knew, from the words Grace didn’t say, that it was something he shared with no one.  Something that he kept separate from everyone in his life.  He also knew his daughter would have liked to have been a part of that life.

 

“He took me with him,” she said softly.

 

If anyone had been in the room with George, they would have thought he had just been given the biggest news of his life.  And it was true.  He was surprised… overwhelmingly so.  Grace had made it very clear that

Bruce did this alone.  They were his parents… going to see them was something very intimate for him.  And yet, he’d taken Grace.

 

Words from previous conversations with Bruce floated back to George.

The young man’s staunch reassurances that he would never hurt Grace again, that she was in his heart and soul completely, and that there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her.  And George had taken them merely as words.  Actions always spoke more loudly for him.  In one week, however, Bruce was bridging the gap that had developed over the past four months.  And he was bridging it quickly.  First, he’d followed through on the charges and had done so in a way that was fairly trauma-less for Grace.  Second, he’d done this.  “That’s really something, isn’t it?”

 

“It is, Daddy.  It’s…” She paused.  “It was perhaps the most…” She paused again, unsure as to how she wanted to say this.  “Of all the things he could have said or done to show me how much he loves me… to prove to me how important I am to him…”

 

“This was the biggest,” her father finished for her, thinking he had to once again reevaluate his thoughts towards Bruce.  Janet had gone to great lengths to explain how she perceived the entire situation.

George had to agree.  Bruce had been on his own for so long… alone.

Grace had, except for her mother’s abandonment, grew up in a home with family.  Bruce didn’t come from the same background and experiences, and George shouldn’t judge him by the standards he set forth for himself.  It hadn’t been fair to Bruce.  Yes, he’d hurt Grace, but

George had no idea from where Bruce was reacting.

 

Janet believed it was fear… fear of commitment… Or that perhaps he felt he was shielding her from something.  Or that the breakup with his other lover had been a part of it.  And through all her arguments, George had to admit that she was right.  He didn’t know.

 

But what he did know… Bruce was genuine.  He loved Grace.  He’d taken the berating from not only himself, but from Hope.  He’d followed through on George’s requests… and he’d done so without question.  And now this… taking Grace…

 

“He actually introduced me to them, Daddy.  And it was like they were there.  You know how I feel about stuff like that…”

 

“I do.”

 

“They were there, Daddy.  I know they were.  And it was…” She paused and smiled softly.  “It was absolutely one of the best moments in our relationship.  To date, it was by far the one with the most meaning.”

 

Leaning back in his chair, he let his head rest against the back of it.  “Gracie, for what it’s worth… I believe you.  I believe him.  If this past week has taught me anything, it’s that Bruce Wayne is a man of his word.  And that he loves you… beyond a doubt.  There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for you.  And baby, that’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”

 

She nodded, not trusting her voice at first.  “I know why he asked me to move out, and it wasn’t because he stopped loving me.”

 

“I believe that.  Your mother has said that on more than one occasion.”

 

“So, you aren’t angry at him anymore?”

 

George laughed lightly at that.  “No, I’m not.  You know me; I never stay angry for long.  I just needed to make sure that YOU were okay.  I care about Bruce, Gracie.  I know he’ll never accept me as a ‘father figure’, and I accept why.  But I still care about him.  It’s something that grew out of my love for you and watching the love you have for one another.  So, no, I’m not mad anymore.”

 

She smiled brightly.  “Dad,” her eyes bright.  It had been an emotional day, but a very good day.  “I love you.”

 

“I love you too, Gracie Lou.”

 

That caused her to chuckle.  “Tell Mom too… I love her.”

 

“I will.”  He was smiling now.  He could hear the happiness in her voice, and that was all that mattered.

 

“I’ll call this weekend.”

 

“You’d better,” he warned with a teasing tone.

 

They exchanged goodbyes and Grace hung up the phone, curling up in the blanket and turning so she could watch the fire.  Emotional was a good word for today… but it had also been very meaningful.  She told herself she’d just close her eyes for a moment while she waited for Bruce to join her.  And as she did, she smiled.

 

*-*-*

 

Alfred found Grace napping in the chair.  She was bundled comfortably in the mink blanket; the fire had warmed her cheeks to a rosy red.

Ever so gently, he said her name, watching as she stirred from whatever dream she’d been having.

 

“Alfred?” she questioned, sitting up slowly.  “I think I dosed off.”

 

“That you did, Miss Grace.  And I am truly sorry to wake you, but

Master Bruce would like to see you in the den.  It is of the utmost importance.”

 

She nodded setting aside the blanket, running a hand through her hair as it had flattened on one side.

 

She followed Alfred into the den, getting the sense that something had come of the phone call he’d had with Mayor Blaire.  The first thing she noticed when she entered the den was the extremely serious look on Bruce’s face.  The next thing she noticed was that his head of security was standing there with him.  Something was going on here.  “Bruce?” she questioned, wondering what exactly had led to all of this.  “Is something wrong?”

 

Bruce didn’t smile when she came into the room.  Normally, he would have, as her presence was one of the few lights in his life, but right now?  After Alfred had left, he and Sloane spoke in more detail about their current security status and what it would take to make the necessary upgrades.  His frown was a permanent fixture by the time Grace arrived.

 

“Grace, my sweet,” he said softly, crossing the room to take both her hands in his.  He needed to touch her, to know she was alright.  “Miles’ call…” He paused to collect his thoughts of what to say.  Upfront would be best, he thought.  “Miles has issued a probe of City Hall, and possibly the police department as well.  There are people who might not want that to happen, and…”  This next part was hard, and judging from the look he saw growing in Grace’s eyes, she was already trying to anticipate it.  “Miles thinks we should be cautious.”  He chose his words carefully, so as not to scare her.

 

She swallowed hard and looked around him to the man standing stoically beside the desk.  He tied into this somehow.  Her immediate reaction was fear.  “Why would we…” She’d stopped her question as the full reality of it hit her.  “He thinks that the bad guys will use his family against him, doesn’t he?  What about Courtney, Constance, Seth?”  She squeezed his hands as the look on his face didn’t soften.  “He thinks they could come after *us* too, doesn’t he?”  Her eyes fell to where their hands joined.

 

It had been a long week… her mugging, reuniting with Bruce, finding out the mugging was a stalking, and now learning about this potential threat.  His hands squeezed hers in support and that’s when her eyes lifted from their hands to lock on his.  He wouldn’t let anything happen to either one of them.  “What do you need me to do?” she asked softly.  “Just tell me and I’ll do it.”  And she meant that.  She trusted him implicitly.  Whatever he told her to do, she would do.

 

Bruce didn’t have to hesitate to say what he wanted, especially since part of it he knew Grace might balk at.  She would want to hide, like she’d wanted to with the stalking.  It couldn’t happen that way.

 

Giving her hands a gentle squeeze, he said, “Nothing you wouldn’t normally do, Grace.  I want you to go to work, come home, go shopping, visit friends, whatever you would normally do… It’s important, because letting them know you’re afraid gives them the advantage.”  This was true. “The only change in your daily routine is Sloane.  I want him with you every time you leave the grounds.  Every time, Grace.  You go to a shoot, he goes with you.  I don’t think Seth will mind, but if your clients don’t like it, they can talk to me.  I also want you to start giving Alfred and Sloane copies of your work schedule, and… just letting Alfred know if you’re going out and it’s not for work.

We’re not going to stop living our lives because of a perceived threat, love. We’re going to use the forewarning to our advantage.”

 

She shook her head at first.  “But going out…” She bit her bottom lip.  Of course, he was right.  And she had told him that whatever he wanted, she would do.  She looked around him to the imposing presence

Mr. Sloane projected.  Basically, he was going to be her personal bodyguard.  Bruce wanted her to go get manicures and pedicures… shop for lingerie with this formidable man watching her every movement.

 

She looked from Sloane to Bruce again and then back to Sloane.  The man’s face hadn’t changed expression, not once since she’d walked into the room.  She wondered what he was thinking.  She bet he knew what she was thinking… she was afraid.  Not the paralyzing kind of fear.  It was more of the concerned kind of fear.  Bruce would do everything he could to protect her… and quickly her mind flashed on another factor.   Somehow, she knew Batman would be out there watching.  It was what he did, wasn’t it?

 

Between the three of them, she knew without a doubt she was safe.  So she nodded and said, “Alex does all my bookings from the agency.  He has a schedule of everything I’m supposed to be doing for the next several weeks.  He’ll fax it to you, no problem.”  She looked into his eyes again. “But what about Constance, Courtney, Seth…” her voice grew softer, “you?”

 

“I offered to ‘loan’ Miles one of my personal bodyguards for Constance.  I’m thinking…” he paused and looked over at Sloane.  “Steele?”

 

“Former Secret Service,” Sloane answered right away.  Bruce nodded.

 

Constance would enjoy that added prestige, Bruce thought as he turned back to Grace.  “Nee’s gonna be a harder sell, I’m afraid.  She’s already given Miles a hard time and wanted to go harass Fitzgerald for hurting my feelings.”  Here he finally cracked a small half smile.  “But we’re going to work on her, because I’m not letting her put herself at risk, either.”

 

And then there was himself.  Bruce didn’t think any danger Fitzgerald or his cronies on the city council could place him in would ever equal the danger he could put himself in as Batman.  Therefore, his security wasn’t an issue as far as he was concerned.  “I’ll be fine.  I have four other bodyguards after Sloane and Steele, and they all do their jobs exceptionally well.”

 

“You’ll have one with you… all the time… just like I do… like Constance does?  What about Seth?”  She smiled lightly.  “You know,

Seth could sell an East Indian water during a monsoon… He can literally talk anyone into just about anything.  Sic him on Courtney.

And maybe if she knew there was someone watching him?”  She couldn’t help but worry about Seth too.  “All of us will have someone, right?”

She was still really trying to absorb all of this.  And she was nervous.  When she was nervous, she talked… a lot.  “And I mean, I know he’ll have my schedule but what if you’re not home and oh I decide I want a Quarter Pounder… how do I get a hold of Sloane?  What if he isn’t here?”

 

It was Sloane who answered, stepping forward towards them and coming to stand at their side in only a couple of strides.  “I am always here, Ms. O’Neil, but should we not be in the same room when your craving for fat drenched beef products hit…” Here he reached into his pocket and pulled out a digital pager, which he then held out to her.  “The red button will summon me.”

 

She stood there open mouthed for just a moment.  She wasn’t sure if she’d just been insulted or teased.  Her brows furrowed and then relaxed.  Taking the offered pager, she said, “So I’ll summon you, we’ll hop in the big purple Hummer, wander into town and get fat drenched beef products together.”  She smiled.  “My treat, of course.”

 

Sloane nodded at her smile.  He didn’t return it, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice when he replied, “Of course, but only if it involves milk shakes.”  Again, there was little emotion to the words and he was back at his post by the desk in seconds of saying it.

 

Bruce leaned in and whispered in Grace’s ear, “Mr. No Smile here likes strawberry, extra thick.”  He winked, and it was as if the mood shifted a little.

 

She laughed lightly, relaxing completely and accepting the situation as he felt it best handled.  So, Mr. Sloane looked imposing… was a trained killer… had no emotional reactions… was all about his business… But something told Grace she was going to have a bit of fun as well.  It was, after all, what she enjoyed doing… having fun.  And

Bruce was right; the bad guys weren’t going to take that from them.  “It’s a good thing McDonald’s have wider straws now… it’s really hard to suck those thick shakes up through those skinny straws.”  She returned the wink, smiling.

 

Bruce chuckled, his first real laugh all day.  If her sense of humor were back, Grace would be okay.  She would adapt to the changes he’d placed upon her.  That eased much of Bruce’s fears about the whole situation immensely.

 

Sloane, of course, made no visible reaction, save for an almost imperceptible twinkle in his eyes.  He merely waited until Bruce dismissed him and went back to whatever corner of the Manor Bruce hid his security team in.

 

*-*-*

 

With the departure of Mr. Sloane, Grace turned her full attention back to Bruce.  It wasn’t going to be so bad, having the security man with her all the time.  Given everything that had happened recently, she was actually thankful for him.

 

She made a pretense of looking completely around the room to make sure they were alone before moving more fully into his personal space.  Her hands were removed from his and her arms went around his neck.  “I think I was actually dreaming of this when Alfred woke me up to have me come in here.”  Her eyes locked with his and she saw the mixed emotions… the worry he had for all of them (which, she had to admit, was the most touching one) and the love he felt for her.

 

But what he’d said just a few minutes ago held even here.  She wasn’t about to let the bad guys have her put off expressing what she was feeling.  So they’d deal with the baddies in a minute.  But for this moment, she wanted to share some good stuff.  She pressed herself even more fully to him, her body molding perfectly to his.  She smiled.  “Yep, this is what I was dreaming about all right.”

 

It was hard to argue with that, as much as Bruce wanted to make sure she was safe first, and especially not with his arms aching to hold her.  So he didn’t argue; he moved into the embrace without hesitation.  He stroked her cheek, gently tracing the contours of her face.  Devotion and love shown clear in his eyes as he moved his hand to her chin, tilting her face up to his just slightly. He didn’t speak, so much as let his kiss speak for him.  His lips caressed hers softly as he poured out his devotion for her into the kiss.  Everything –Fitzgerald, the cemetery, the threat of the probe– all melted away as his free arm circled her waist and he held close to him.  There was nothing else that mattered right now but Grace in his arms, and the love he felt for her.  More than love, for what Bruce felt for Grace in his heart couldn’t be expressed in terms as simple as just love.

 

“Must have been a wonderful dream,” he murmured against her lips when he finally pulled away to allow oxygen into his system.

 

A hand had found its way into the silky softness of his hair, while the other dangled lightly on his shoulder.  With just the slightest move, the fingers that had been in his hair brushed along his jaw line and the thumb made its way to his lips, tracing along the bottom one lovingly.  “The dream was a good one,” she smiled as she used the closeness to easily place a small kiss on his lips.  She let her hand drop from his face to lightly rest on his chest.  “But the reality,” her eyes held his, “the reality is so much better.”

 

This time, she initiated a longer, more intimate kiss.  And as she felt his arms wrap more securely around her, her hand moved from his chest and around to hold him at his waist.  Their heads instinctively angled to allow the kiss to deepen and Grace was momentarily swept away.  It wasn’t so much the physical reaction that caused her to shiver, but all the emotion of the day and all the emotion she felt for him.  She needed him… she loved him… and she hadn’t been speaking lightly when she said he was her life.  Life without him would be meaningless…

 

They broke for air long enough to give one another a smile before lovingly rubbing noses and kissing again.  Each kiss leading them closer to the promise of something more.  A physical expression…

 

“They’re in the den, you said, Alfred,” Courtney called, opening the door as she did.  She saw the intimate embrace, the intensity of the kiss that she knew was actually leading to something else, and the closeness of their bodies… Oh yeah, she’d definitely interrupted something.  But Courtney, being who she was, felt no embarrassment at the intrusion.  However, her apology was genuine.  “Sorry guys,” she said.  “Alfred said you were in here, and since I walk much faster than he does…” She entered the room more fully.

 

Alfred made it into the room just in time to apologize himself.  “Master Bruce… Miss Grace… I do apologize.”

 

Grace, though mildly annoyed that they had been interrupted, took it all in stride.  It was Courtney, after all, and the woman had more than earned her nickname.  She kept her face close to Bruce’s through Courtney’s explanation and only moved away slightly when Alfred entered.  She wasn’t breathing too steadily yet and needed a moment to gather herself.  Bruce, more than likely, would have a very different reaction.  At times, he could embarrass much more easily at getting ‘caught’.  So she lingered closely for a moment.  A moment to give each of them a chance to recover.

 

“It’s alright, Alfred,” Bruce managed to say, but his voice relayed his frustration clearly.   Like Grace, he was breathless, and his face was flushed with the heat of their passion.  That, however, was the least of it.  Whether it was the high emotional toll of the last couple of days, the danger of threat bringing out a physical need, or merely the sweet taste of her lips, Bruce was already to the point where the desk behind them had begun to be very tempting.  Therefore, he was grateful that Grace had not moved completely away from him, allowing him to obscure the truth of the situation from both Alfred –not that Alfred would have been in the least bit shocked– and Courtney.  She did, however, turn to face them, and he snaked his arms around her waist to hold her there.

 

The butler nodded slightly, knowingly and said, “If there is nothing you require, I shall take my leave.  There is dinner to prepare, after all.”

 

“No, nothing, Alfred,” Bruce said before considering it.  Then he backtracked, asking Grace if she wanted anything.  She shook her head, though Bruce was sure a few more minutes of ‘alone time’ would have sufficed.  “No, we’re fine.  Thank you, Alfred.”

 

“Very well, sir.  Miss.” Alfred said to the couple.  He then inclined his head to Courtney, giving her a smile.  “Always a pleasure to see you again, Mistress Courtney.”

 

She smiled at Alfred before turning her attention to the other two people in the room.  She didn’t miss the way Bruce was holding Grace to him.  And she definitely did not miss what was going on when she entered the room.  So, she was determined to keep her visit brief.  Falling into the chair, she exhaled deeply.  “Okay… first off… why is it I’m the last person to find out about that asshole Fitzgerald?  I just spent a good portion of my morning discussing it with my father.”

She looked first to Bruce and then to Grace.  “Now, I know it was Alfred who summoned Dad here last night.  So that’s…” She shrugged.

“But…” And here she actually growled… “Pond scum has more worth than Arnold Fitzgerald.”

 

She stood and walked toward the window, needing to expend some energy.  “Then… then!!!!!  Dad wants to know my schedule, where I’m going to be… who I’m with.  I’d like to see Fitz try something with me.  I honestly believe I could…” She sighed again.  “Ooooo, I just loathe that man.  He’s so ignorant.”  She finally looked up at Bruce…  “You’re okay, aren’t you?”

 

Inwardly, Grace smiled.  Mentally he was better, but there were still a few physical things that didn’t need to be shared with the world.

 

“Well, I was working on it, at any rate,” Bruce quipped, surprising both the women with the comment.  Grace glanced sideways at him, mischievous approval sparkling in her eyes, and he winked.  “Yes, Nee, I’m fine,” he said without the flippant tone.  He didn’t say the next thing on his mind: that she need not worry.  They’d had this discussion before.  Courtney would always worry about him.  “And you’re right; Fitzgerald is lower than your average fungus.  But…” He trailed off, thinking about that day and what good had happened that wouldn’t have had he let the pond scum bother him.  “I’m over it, really.  So, please; don’t bother with Fitzgerald.  Like you said, he isn’t worth it.”  Bruce’s voice was edged with the worry he felt at the thought of Courtney barging into City Hall and confronting the man.

 

Taking her cue from Bruce, Grace felt the need to reiterate.  “He really is fine, Courtney.”

 

She looked at both of them for a long moment, her eyes narrowing slightly… scrutinizing.  She noticed Bruce’s face was still a bit flushed; she noticed he still held Grace very securely in front of him.  “I have no plans on bothering Fitzgerald.  Dad pulled rank and even though I argue with Mom, I can’t argue with him.  I promised I’d stay away from him, and I will.  I just…” And the look she gave them was genuine.  “I just worry about you guys.  Both of you.  I have far too much invested not to worry.”  She looked them both over again, as if making sure for herself they were both okay.

 

Bruce nodded; he knew.  Courtney had lobbied for their reunion every bit as much as he did for her father’s crime bills… and he loved her dearly for it, interruptions like these aside.  “They were just words,” he said, meaning what Fitzgerald had said to him.  “I shouldn’t have let it get to me and there won’t be a next time.”  Still, he knew Courtney.  She knew it had been serious enough for Alfred to call her father.  Already he could see the inherent doubt of his protests growing in her eyes.  It was a look she got every time he uttered the words ‘I’m fine.’   And he knew her enough to know that she felt slighted –even if only a little– that she hadn’t been the one here by his side.  Though, in truth, the ‘man-to-man’ with Miles was exactly what was called for last night.

 

She moved back to the chair and sat in it again.  “Well, if there is a next time… I’m not even talking to Dad before I speak my mind to

Fitzgerald.  Man needs to learn a few manners.”

 

Grace felt Bruce’s immediate ‘problem’ ease and moved away just enough so he could decide what he wanted to do as far as their positioning.

Personally, she was quite content where she was.  So when he moved to sit on the edge of the desk, she positioned herself so she was still standing in front of him, though between his legs so she could lean against his chest.  She’d just been having interesting thoughts about this desk before the storm hit.  So being next to it right now was causing all kinds of delicious thoughts to run through her head.

Deliciously naughty thoughts that shouldn’t be thought of in front of mixed company.

 

“Oh yeah,” Courtney continued, barely noticing the change.  “And not only does Father fail to tell me about Bruce’s encounter, then he hits me with the entire schedule thing.  And at first, I was too ticked to react the way I would have had the other not been going through my mind.  How many shades of idiot would Fitzgerald have to be to come after the MAYOR’S family?  Duh!  He’d be the first one the police investigated.”

 

Grace shrugged.  “People like Fitz don’t think like we do, Courtney.  Doesn’t make sense, but he’s thinking the way to get Miles off his back is to threaten his family.  A few precautions can’t hurt.  I have Mr.

Clean as my new best friend.  Man’s face never shows emotion.  But hey,

I actually think having him around is going to be a comfort.”

 

“Mr. Clean?” Courtney question… then the rest of it hit her.  “A bodyguard?  Mr. Clean?”

 

Bruce chuckled a little at the amusingly apt description of his chief security officer.  “She means Sloane… my head of security,” he added when Courtney’s face still registered confusion.  “About so tall…”  He gestured by raising his arm up above his head to about the right height.  “As bald as Lex?”  She still looked baffled.  “You really didn’t know I have bodyguards, did you?”  Bodyguards, plural, and judging from the look on her face, she hadn’t known.

 

“Does it look like I knew you had bodyguards?” she asked as if stating the obvious.  “You have bodyguards?”  She sat forward a bit in her chair.  “I have NEVER seen one single solitary bodyguard around here

Bruce…” And that’s when it hit her… obviously if he had bodyguards, he would have the best.  “You?  Bodyguards?  People who followed us around?”  She was about to say more when Grace interjected.

 

“It makes sense, in a way.  I’d never met any of them until today.  I mean, I knew they were around… occasionally.  But I just met Mr.

Clean today… when Bruce told me he was going to be watching over me.”  She shrugged.  “I really don’t mind, actually kinda like the idea of it.  He,” and here she patted Bruce’s leg encouragingly, “has even sent one of them over to you mother.”

 

“My mother?”  Her eyes moved to Bruce… still in a state of shock over the revelation.

 

“They didn’t follow us everywhere,” Bruce admitted, hoping honesty would make the news a little less traumatic. Their hiking trips and a few other places had been off-bounds, however Bruce had allowed Sloane to attach homing devices to all of his gear.  “And yes –your mother.  Miles is worried about a possible backlash because of the probe, and quite frankly, Nee, I agree with him that caution is warranted.  Your father has shaken things up in this city and some people” –Fitzgerald, and the crime boss he paid tribute to– “can’t handle the pressure.”  His arms wrapped around Grace’s waist out of the sudden instinct to ensure her safety.  “So, I lent him one of my guys to watch after Constance.  She’ll love him.  Former Secret Service, very dashing in a James Bond sort of way.”  He grinned slightly, trying to coax her out of her shock and outrage.  “I’d like to do the same for you, Nee.  I’d feel better if–“

 

“Oh no!!!!” She stood up, pacing the den.  “I mean, I appreciate the sentiment and the concern, Bruce, I really do.  But I can’t give up my life just because someone’s panties are in a bunch.”  She stopped pacing and looked at him.  “It’s like I’ve always told you… You have to live life.  And I can’t hide behind bodyguards.  I can’t function knowing someone’s tagging behind me.”

 

“But Court,” Grace interjected, “a bodyguard doesn’t stop you from living your life.  After everything I’ve gone through recently, I’m not stopping my life… but the bodyguard…”

 

“Grace,” Courtney interrupted, fully understanding where Grace was coming from, “I just… I’m not comfortable with the idea.  I gave Dad my schedule as ordered.  But a bodyguard… I just highly doubt that there’s a need to go to that extreme.”  She looked to Bruce, the look on her face absolutely genuine.  “I am grateful for the offer, but I just don’t want someone tagging around after me.”

 

Bruce sighed inwardly, though he tried not to let his disappointment over it show.  He’d hoped, however, that she would accept the offer.  But Courtney… Courtney wasn’t one to be confined by lots of other people’s rules and obviously a bodyguard would be too confining.

 

“I understand, Nee,” he told her.  “But the offer will stand indefinitely… if you change your mind.”  His expression was one of open and sincere concern, and he hoped she would reconsider.  “You’re not the only who worries about their friends, you know,” he added softly.

 

She sighed.  “I know you worry.  Bruce, I know.”  She closed the distance between herself and her friends and leaned up against the desk beside them.  “But to have a bodyguard is to change the way I live… to let them know that they have me frightened.  And I’m not afraid, Bruce.  Foolish or not, I’m not afraid.  And I’m not going to let *them* know it.”

 

“Courtney,” Grace started.  “How many times have you seen pictures of Bruce and I in the paper?  Remember the one from that night at the club last week?  Did you see any hovering secret agents?  No.  Was there any mention about bodyguards?  No.  But they were there.  Like Bruce says, they aren’t there all the time, but whether we like it or not, bad people can do bad things to good people.  There’s nothing wrong in taking a few precautions.”

 

Reaching out, Courtney lightly touched her hair.  “And I am taking precautions.  I’ll be careful.”  Looking to Bruce, she said, “I promise

I will be careful.”

 

Bruce had little doubt she would be as careful as she thought she was being, but careful… careful only went so far.  Grace’s stalking was a good example.  For months, he’d watched her apartment as Batman and never knew someone else was watching it, too.  It was so easy to miss that one key element, and then something bad would happen.  Of course, he couldn’t just say this to Courtney, even if it might make her understand where his concerns stemmed from.

 

“I know you will, Nee.  Just…” He gave her a look that clearly said everything he couldn’t in words.  “Humor me and keep it in mind?”

 

She nodded.  “For you, I will.”  She wrapped an arm around his shoulder and placed a kiss on his cheek.

 

Grace moved out of the way to let the two friends embrace.

 

“Keep it in mind, I mean,” she teased, pulling away and then moving to hug and kiss Grace as well.  “But for now, I have an appointment.  And if I’m late, Dad will freak.  I just wanted to blow off steam.”  She leaned in and hugged Bruce again.  “Talk to you later.”

 

Bruce returned the hug, a bit tighter than he usually would have, but he was holding on tighter to everyone right now.  “Just be extra careful.”

 

Grace’s arm got a squeeze as Courtney started for the door.  “Catch ya later…” She paused in the doorway, turning back to them as she grabbed the doorknob.  “Oh and guys… this time… lock the door.”

She winked, closing the door.  Her laughter at the look on Bruce’s face lingered long after she walked away from the door.

 

“Next time, knock!” Bruce called after her as the door closed.

 

He shook his head; Courtney was something else.  Naïve, somehow, if she thought her father’s name and position would stay someone’s hand should Thorne order his men to exact revenge.  Still, Bruce hoped that her faith in the ‘that can’t happen to me’ theology was founded.  He loved her, and if something did happen to her…

 

Heaven help the person responsible.

 

He shook his head again, and made eye contact with Grace, who was laughing over their final exchange with Courtney.  Lock the door, indeed!  “You know, it’s my house,” he said to Grace, laughing as he pulled her back into his arms, this time facing him.  “If I wanted to give into the naughty thoughts I’m having right now… here… I shouldn’t have to lock the doors.”

 

“Oh?”  Grace tilted her head slightly, regarding him with a sly look.  “What naughty thoughts might those be?” she asked, breathing the question against his lips.

 

He kissed her back, scooting back on the desk so he’d have to lean into her as the kiss deepened.  “Can’t you guess?” he asked when they parted for air.  He ran his hand along the surface of the desk suggestively.

 

*-*-*

 

“Court,” Seth called upon entering their home.  Keys were dropped on the table in the spacious foyer.  Looking to the left, he didn’t see her in the formal living room, but that wasn’t a surprise.  Courtney said that room was strictly for ‘entertaining’, though how they ‘entertained’ was something the pair didn’t always see eye-to-eye on.  “Court,” he called again, moving to the right through the dining room and into the kitchen, unable to remember whose night it was to fix dinner.  Since nothing was cooking, it was probably his.  Glancing down at his watch, he knew they’d be ordering out.  It was far too late to cook now.

 

He moved through the kitchen onto other parts of the house.  The home was large, but generally when he called, she heard him.  Her BMW was parked in the driveway, so he knew she was home.  Taking off his jacket, he dropped it on the back of the chair in the den.  He could already hear her scolding him over it, and then he’d teasingly remind her that she said the den was ‘his’.  He checked the room, though honestly he knew she hardly ever went in there.  Going over to the bar, he grabbed a Coors out of the mini-fridge and worked his way up the stairs.  Given the late hour, she could easily be soaking in the Jacuzzi.  That thought made him smile.  A nice soak with his wife would be fun.  “Court,” he called again.

 

“In here,” she finally responded from one of the bedrooms they’d turned into an office.  She was staring at the monitor of her computer, brows furrowed in concentration.

 

“Whatcha doin’?” he asked, leaning against the doorjamb.

 

Quickly, she saved her work and spun in her chair to face him.  “I got three new parties today.  A wedding, a retirement bash, and a fundraiser.”

 

“Mom working on a new gig?”

 

She shook her head.  “Not Mom, no.  Mrs. Dorothy Fitzgerald.”

 

“The Councilman’s wife?”  He moved into the room, taking the chair at the other desk.  “You sure that working with a Fitzgerald at all is a good idea?”

 

“Don’t you start on me too,” she said, her voice elevating slightly with frustration.

 

He remained calm.  “Not starting anything, Courtney.  Just asking a question.”

 

She sighed.  “Sorry.  It’s been a long day.”

 

Standing, he reached for her hand.  A slow smile spread across his face.  “Well, I have the perfect solution.”

 

“You do,” she returned his smile and took his hand.

 

“Yep.  Thought about it when I came in.  You… me… the Jacuzzi… Chinese takeout.”  He waggled his brows.  “I may even let you give me a massage.”

 

“Oh a girl could be so fortunate,” came her response, a teasingly sarcastic lilt in her voice.

 

Slowly undoing the buttons on her blouse, he teased back, “And you are lucky.  I’ll even run the water for you as I’m ordering dinner.”

 

“It is your night to cook,” she replied as her blouse fell to the floor.  “I couldn’t ask for more.”

 

*-*-*

 

Several hours later, they were snuggled in bed.  Courtney was completely relaxed against Seth, as he hugged her to him.  She was spooned, her back against his front; his hand draped softly over her hips.  Placing a soft kiss in her hair, he broached quietly, “So, want to talk about what’s aggravating you?”

 

“Not aggravated now,” she said with a content smile.

 

“I would hope not,” he quipped with a teasing move of his hips.

 

“Play nice.”

 

“Never.”

 

She rolled her eyes at his response, which was followed by his laughter.  God help her, but she loved this man.  And they’d always said that here… their bed… was a safe haven.  The one place where they could talk about anything and always find understanding.  When he kissed her head again, she reached down and took his hand.  “You know about Dad’s probe… giving him our schedules?” she finally asked.

 

Sensing the shift in mood, he easily followed.  “Yep.  I gave him mine already.”

 

“I went to see Bruce today,” she said.

 

To Seth, the statement seemed completely out of place with what they were discussing.  He knew that because of the medicines she had to continue to take, sometimes her thoughts would jump quickly from one thing to the next… her ability to focus was something she had to work on sometimes.  But she didn’t generally jump around like this.  So his tone was a bit confused when he asked, “Why?”

 

“Because… last night Alfred called during dinner and it was Dad he wanted to talk to… Dad who went running.  And sometimes I think… I feel…”

 

Seth sighed.  “He needs you, Courtney.  Sometimes I don’t understand how you can be so confident about everything but him.  I talk to Mom about stuff all the time, and you don’t feel like I don’t need you.  I do need you.  He needs you.  But sometimes, people need certain people for certain things.  And Dad is the closest to a father that Bruce has.  If you think about it, how many times do you go to your dad for things?  A lot.  So I honestly don’t understand why you worry because he talked to your Dad last night instead of you.”

 

Turning over so she could face him, she attempted to explain, “Because when I found him… when we met, he was a recluse.  He rarely went anywhere… did anything.  Just what he had to do because of his place in society.  And now…” She shrugged.  “Like I said, it’s been a long day.”

 

“That I believe,” he said softly trailing a finger along her cheek.  She was an amazing woman.  So full of love for those in her life.  So protective and fierce when the moment called for it.  But there was a vulnerability about her too.  She was the kind of person who needed to be needed.  And he also knew that once she got beyond the ‘long day’, she’d realize Bruce did need her.  Her parents needed her.  Alex needed her because he loved getting her all worked up.  Most importantly, *he* needed her.  “So, what happened with your visit to Bruce today?”

 

She couldn’t help but chuckle at the memory of what happened.  “I walked in on Bruce and Grace… kissing.”  She began to laugh.  “And it was oh so obvious that it was rapidly moving to the ‘more than just kissing’ stage when I walked into the room.”

 

“There is something not quite right with you,” he joked.

 

“Well, you know, they make door locks for that… bedrooms as well,” she attempted to justify.

 

His immediate response was to tickle her before kissing her soundly.  “I’ll remind you of that the next time you want to have sex in the dining room… library… living room…”

 

“Oh be quiet,” she mock-scolded.

 

“Kitchen… office… bonus room over the garage… den… hot…”

 

He didn’t get to finish the last phrase as he was kissed soundly.  “You’re an ass,” she smiled as she said.

 

“And you love me,” he remarked with another kiss placed on her nose.

 

She pushed a stray hair from her face and nodded.  “I do… with all that I am.”  They weren’t exactly the most publicly demonstrative couple.  Courtney was generally too busy with everything around her for Seth to stop her for too long.  Oh, they held hands, and he loved touching her.  But she was the kind of person who was always the focus of the people around her, and he was always pleased to stand back and let her have that.  So it didn’t lead to a lot of kissing and petting in public.  But here… in the privacy of their home… they were openly demonstrative both verbally and physically.

 

“Bruce has bodyguards.”  Again, the statement seemed to come from nowhere to Seth.

 

“Yeah?” Seth asked.  “Probably has an entire team of them.”

 

“You knew?” the tone she used was incredulous, like she was the only one of the group who hadn’t known.

 

“Courtney, I think sometimes you forget that Bruce is a rich man… young… powerful… extremely influential.”

 

“Like your friend?”  And that’s when it hit her.  Seth was right.  She knew all those things he’d just said were true, and he was right in that she also overlooked them to the point that she did forget everything that went along with being Bruce Wayne.  To her, he was just Bruce… best friend.  “He’s assigned a bodyguard to Mom.  Former Secret Service agent.”

 

The room was darkened, but there was no way she could miss the smile that spread across his face.  “That was nice of him.  I was worried about Mom.  Her schedule changes so quickly, and she’s almost always late to meetings.”  He laughed lightly at the thought of how many times Constance had burst into his office late for a lunch date she had insisted on setting up with her son-in-law.  How could he not love Constance Blaire?  In a lot of ways, Courtney was like her.  “Having a specially trained pair of eyes watching her… especially right now… is a very good thing.  I’d hate for anything to happen to Mom.”  He made a mental note to thank Bruce.  He wasn’t a fool; he knew the reason why Bruce had offered the bodyguard to Constance was because of Miles and Courtney.  But he didn’t care about the reasoning, she was guarded and safe… *that* was what mattered.

 

“Grace has one too.  He goes wherever she does.  Work… everywhere.  From what Bruce said, he’s actually assigned his Chief of Security to protect her.”  She was revealing these facts to Seth as if they continued to surprise her.

 

Seth reacted as if it was everyday conversation.  “I have a feeling that she’ll have that bodyguard long after the mess at City Hall is over.  He’s going to want her watched over constantly.  In case we haven’t noticed,” his voice light with teasing, “she’s his world.  And given his past, he’ll go to extremes to protect her… keep her safe.  And the mugging and the stalker shook him up too.  He just reacts to it differently than Grace.  But Courtney, it’s more than obvious that he’s doing what he can to make sure you’re all taken care of.  He’d be distraught if anything happened to you.”

 

“He offered one to me too,” she said softly, “But I told him no.”

 

“Why’s that?” he asked, still doing his best to keep his tone level… not revealing any of his emotions because this conversation needed to be handled with a level head.  He listened as she ran through all the excuses she’d given Bruce, and when she was finished, he said, “This is a dangerous situation, Courtney.  Having a body…”

 

“I said no.”

 

Unlike everyone else, Seth didn’t back down from her.  His tone bespoke of a bit more emotion though as he said, “Hear me out.”  He drew her into his arms, hands lightly tracing her back.  “It wasn’t all too long ago that I thought I was going to lose you.”

 

“This isn’t…”

 

“And the thought of that,” he said, ignoring her interruption, “nearly drove me insane with grief, fear, and worry.  Maybe you don’t want to let the crooked politicians dictate your life to you… but there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do…” He paused for a moment, holding her a bit more tightly and trying not to sound as choked up was he was.  “If something ever happened to you… If I lost you… That would be it for me.  You understand that?  I didn’t marry you because I wanted a year or two of good memories with the high-spirited red-haired beauty who breezed into my life and was tragically taken from it.”  He swallowed hard, pressing his forehead to hers as he continued, “I married you because I wanted fifty or sixty years of life and love with the one person *I* can’t live without.  The person who gives me meaning… a reason to get out of bed in the morning.  I want to grow old with you… watch that gorgeous red hair turn to beautiful gray hair.  I want to laugh… cry… argue… makeup with you until the day that *I* die.  I want good times and bad times.  I want you safe.  I *need* you safe.  Because Courtney, you are my world… and if anything happens…”

 

She reached out and pressed a finger to his lips.  She heard everything he was saying and was touched beyond words.  They were true for her too.  Right here, right now, in this room, she had everything she needed.  So it almost broke her heart when she had to say, “I don’t need a bodyguard, Seth.  I’m going to be careful.”

 

He lay there for the longest time… lost in thought.  His fingers still moved lightly along her back.  Her stubborn tenacity was one of the things he loved most about her.  He hated using his trump card.  He knew without a doubt that if he played it… she’d give in.  “Do it for me then, Courtney.  Please?”  His arms wrapped around her again, holding her closely to him.  “I know you’ll be careful, but I’d just feel better…”

 

She sighed.  Her father had told her that marriage wasn’t solely about yourself, that there were times when you did things because it made your spouse happy.  Sacrifice.  She loathed the idea of a bodyguard more than she could express, but if it gave Seth peace of mind…  “Fine,” she relented, her tone not harsh, the words merely spoken softly.  “I’ll call Bruce tomorrow and tell him I’ll accept the offer of a bodyguard.”

 

Her reward was a tighter hug and a kiss to her forehead.  “Thank you.”

 

“Yeah,” she sighed again.  “But I’m only doing this for you.”

 

He didn’t say a word, merely smiled.  He didn’t care why she did it.  He was fairly sure Bruce and Miles wouldn’t care why she was doing it.  She was doing it and that’s all that mattered.

 

*-*-*

 

Officer Chad Harris pulled his patrol car into the alley.  He parked and turned the key to shut off the engine.  As the lights dimmed, a dark figure literally dropped out of the sky in front of him.  He flipped on the headlights just in time to see Batman’s pitch black cape flutter around him as gravity pulled it down.  Then Batman moved quickly, using each movement efficiently, to the side of the car.  This time, the door was opened and waiting for him to get in.

 

As soon as the door closed, Chad held out a Styrofoam cup of coffee.

“Chilly night,” he said in explanation for the coffee.  Taking the lid off his own cup, he took a sip of the hot liquid. His eyes on the club he was watching.  Spence had called in tonight.  Nicky was on the move… he wondered if they would both lead to Hammer and Deetz… or possibly to the men he heard on the tape.  “Nice entrance.”  He couldn’t help but let the corner of his mouth turn up in a smile of appreciation.

 

“Thanks, I’ve been working on it,” was Batman’s quick, stoic reply.

 

Chad let out a quick laugh in appreciation of the dry humor.  He was starting to really wonder just who the man behind the mask was, but then at the same time, it didn’t matter.  Whoever Batman truly was,

Chad was sure he was somewhat similar to the persona he portrayed when in costume.  Taking the tape out of his pocket, he handed it back to Batman.  “Starting tomorrow night, I’ll be in a black Chevy Cavalier.

Commissioner Gordon has assigned me to special duty… taken me off patrol and assigned me to this case.  Actually, I’ll be lead on it.”

It wasn’t said with any kind of pride… just as a matter of fact.

Word had gotten to the commissioner that Chad had taken interest in the case… and with the probe… Gordon wanted him on Thorne’s case.

 

Batman nodded and removed the lid on his coffee.  It was straight black and hot on his cold skin.  Still, it was a welcomed sensation after waiting for Chad above the alley for as long as he had.  As he drank, he digested what Chad had said about working directly for the commissioner on this case.  Good for Chad, he thought, inwardly smiling.

 

“Good coffee,” he said at last.

 

“Mom and Pop joint just down the street makes it,” he said, looking up to see someone enter the club.  When it wasn’t anyone he was looking for in particular he returned to the conversation at hand.  “Not too long ago,” he started, “I got too close to Thorne’s operation.  Brought in a toadie and interrogated him for quite a while.  The man squealed but didn’t give me much to go on.  Three days after he was released, they find his body in the river.  The next day, I broke up an attempted extortion collection.  The man warned me off, but I arrested him anyway.  The day after that… someone took a shot at me.  It doesn’t surprise me that they’re going to keep coming after me.  I’m a monkey wrench in their operation, and I’m not going to quit.”  He looked over at Batman, no fear in his eyes, just determination.  “So, we get to them first.  The voices on the tape… the one directly threatening me… his name is Randall Caine.  More than likely, he’s the one who did the hit on Ellis… the toadie I interrogated.  The other man… I can’t prove anything, but I believe he works directly for Thorne…  Jeremiah Hinkle.  Both are practically untouchable.”

 

“No one is untouchable,” Batman said, his voice darkening considerably as he processed the information.  “Take our friend, Deetz, for example.”  Chad’s head snapped up, diverting his attention from both the coffee and the club.  “Got into a bit of a jam down on the docks.  His buddy left him, took the stuff and split.”  Batman hadn’t seen who had made the drop with them; he’d been looking for Hammer and Deetz and caught up with them after the drop.  At Chad’s shocked expression, he added a non-committal, “He’s not dead.  Just a little waterlogged.  Seems he can’t swim.”  Batman informed him that the man in question was in Gotham General Hospital being treated for his near drowning and several injuries incurred in his rather flawed escape.

 

Chad took a few moments and let the information soak in.  “You know,” he finally said, “if Hammer split on him, Deetz is going to feel betrayed.  I’ve always thought Deetz was the weak link.  Hammer probably wouldn’t talk no matter how much you tried to intimidate him.  But Deetz…  I think he can be persuaded to talk.”  Another movement at the door and this time Chad looked a bit more closely.  “You were at the docks tonight, huh?”  He pointed at the man just slipping into the club.  “That’s Nicky.  If Hammer and Deetz were picking up tonight, Nicky’s involved somehow.  He’ll either be the one they give the dope to so he can pass it on to the distributors, or he’s giving them cash that he just picked up from Spence.”  He sighed.  “I’m not exactly sure how it all runs.  All I know for sure is that Hammer and Deetz run the drugs, and Spence runs the cash.”

 

He sighed.  “Either way, what you interrupted tonight was definitely a drug drop.  I’ll stop by the hospital and have a little chat with Deetz.  If he’s alone and feels betrayed, I’ll get information from him.”

 

Batman nodded once, a slow but curt gesture.  “Worth a try. They aren’t as tight as he thought they were, it would seem.”  Batman considered his next course of action and then inquired about Spence.  “Speaking of partners… how does this new assignment affect Spence’s day job?” It was a blanket question: was Spence along for the ride, or was he in the dark about Chad’s new assignment?  Hammer had gotten away, and although Batman intended to try and catch up with him tonight, he was likely long gone.  He’d also be more cautious now that he knew Batman was on to him.  However, Chad’s partner was a different story.  Maybe it was time for a little chat with Officer Spencer.

 

“He’ll be patrolling with someone else.  Same shift.  I’ve known the man for years.  He’s a good man… at least I think he is.”  Anymore, Chad wasn’t sure who was a good man and who wasn’t.  The corruption was so deep there was just no sure way of knowing.  “His new partner’s name is David Williamson.  Been on the force for about ten years.”  He looked back up to the building.  “You know, half of me wants to warn David about Spence.  Half of me knows if I do, it will alert Spence that I know.  But David has a family… wife… two little girls.  And Spence could get him into trouble, not back him up.  I’m just me.  David has a family.”  He sighed again, not for the second time questioning the Commissioner’s decision and being torn in what he should do.

 

Chad’s mixed emotions were very clear to read in both his expression and tones.  His concerns, of course, were good ones.  Men with families had more to lose than those without.  Families got hurt if you were injured or killed in the line of duty.  Families made easy targets. Spence was a liability for an honest police office.  It was a more than valid concern for Chad to have.

 

It was a concern he understood and felt very sharply right now.

 

Batman nodded.  “It’d be better to stay the course,” he said, he let enough emotion seep into his voice, letting Chad know he understood where he was coming from.  “I’ve got plans for our boy Spence.”  He didn’t elaborate though, instead occupying himself with the coffee.  When the cup was empty, so was the passenger seat.

 

*-*-*

 

Dawn came in two hours, and Bruce was just getting in.  He checked in with Alfred and then went to his room via the secret passages, careful not to wake Grace.  He smelled of the docks, Deetz’ blood, the alleys he’d been in that night, and generally just reeked of a bad night.  He stripped off his clothes in the adjoining bedroom and slipped into his own.

 

Grace was asleep in the center of the bed.  Moonlight shone in from the window and he had to stop on his way to the bathroom and stare at her illuminated beauty.  Love greater than words welled up in his heart, causing his eyes to sting, and he finally turned away and entered the bathroom.

 

He turned the water on hot, and stepped into the shower. Reaching for the soap, he began to scrub, trying desperately to wash the smell of Gotham out of his skin.  Tonight had been rough.  Chad’s concerns about Spence’s new partner had clawed at his mind from the moment he left the patrol car.  When Bruce had started on this course, he’d been too young to consider a family… all the plans and the years of preparation that had gone into becoming Batman hadn’t included a live-in lover, or an extended ‘family,’ none of whom he’d trade now for his very soul.  But now… the probe on City Hall, and his own nighttime activities were enough to make his concerns eat him alive.  And they were very hungry concerns, feeding on all his doubts, fears and worries and growing stronger with each meal.

 

Sighing, he leaned against the wall and let the hot water wash away the last of the soap bubbles.  He then turned, placing his hands against the wall, back to the spray of the water, letting it pound his tense back muscles.

 

Stirring slightly in bed, Grace made an instinctive stretch for Bruce and not finding him in bed beside her, she lifted her head to check for the time.  It was then that she heard the shower running.  She noticed he did that often… coming home from whatever his nightly activities were… he always showered.  She wasn’t sure what made her get up this time and cross the room toward the bathroom door.  She wasn’t sure why she even woke up.  The majority of the nights, she’d feel him climb in bed beside her; the only way she knew he’d had a shower was by the smell of fresh soap and shampoo.

 

But tonight, things were different.  Tonight, something drew her to get out of bed and head for the bathroom.  She knew the door wouldn’t be locked.  Modesty wasn’t something that either of them experienced… so the bathroom door was never locked.  She quietly opened the door and slipped inside.  He was in the shower, the sight through doors offering her a clear view of her lover within.  His back was to the shower, head bowed… at first glance she was overcome with the sheerly beautiful image he portrayed… dark skin flushed with the heat of the shower, water running down a well-muscled torso to even stronger legs.

 

But it was the profile of his face that caused the biggest response.

Those well-muscled shoulders carried such a big burden.  With whatever these activities were… the probe into City Hall causing a threat to everyone he loved… and the horrible things Fitz had said… It was a lot for the shoulders of a young man to carry.  Though she had to correct herself… he was young in biological years, but because of the responsibility… he was much older than his years in so many ways.

 

Ever so slowly, she crossed to the shower, trying not to frighten him by her appearance.  She carefully opened the door and gave him a smile.

“You look like you could use a hug,” she said softly, noticing it even more once the shower door was opened.

 

Bruce turned at the sound of her voice, so full of concern for something she knew not what, and gave her a small, if weak, smile.  “Hey, beautiful,” he said, weariness that wasn’t all born of little sleep showing in his voice.  “A hug would be nice.”

 

She didn’t need to know why he looked so haggard and worn.  She didn’t need to ask questions and find answers to problems that she was sure she couldn’t help solve.  What she did need to do was be here for him.

And there was little doubt in her mind that right now, what he needed most was a hug.  Without thought for the shirt she was wearing as a nightgown, she stepped into the shower.  The hot water hit her causing momentary goosebumps to pop up all over her arms and legs.  But it also didn’t take her long to adjust to the heat.

 

Stepping into his personal space, she ran one hand affectionately through his wet hair, the other wrapped around his shoulder and she leaned into him, hugging him tightly to her.  Her eyes drifted closed and she turned her face to rest against his.  She could do this… and he definitely needed it.

 

He wrapped his arms around her waist, the wet shirt clinging to both of them though he didn’t mind it if she didn’t.  Indeed, he barely noticed it once he had her in his arms.  Kissing the top of her already more than damp hair, he let himself melt into the hug and simply held her.  For a while, he said nothing, as words weren’t necessary, but as her love poured into him through the hug, words came to him anyway.

 

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me…” he sang softly in to her hair.  “I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see.”  His voice was soft, low, and yet he knew she heard as he continued into the second verse.  “T’was Grace that taught, my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved.”  His voice hitched a little here, before going on.  “How precious did that Grace appear… the hour I first believed.”

 

He trailed off, not singing the rest of the song, but holding her all the tighter.  It had been years since he’d put faith in the God this song spoke of, but it was his mother’s song, and in his heart, the first two verses were his… his amazing Grace, whose love had saved him so many times, like it was saving him now.

 

She was thankful for the warm running water as it washed away the tears that formed in her eyes as he sang to her.  It had been a week ago this very night that Batman had swooped into her world, saving her life, and giving this man back to her.  Seven days ago, that she had felt such emptiness only to have it erased by a moment much like this.  She’d asked him to hold her that next day.  She woke to find him watching her and asked him to hold her.  And he did.  As tightly as he was holding her now.

 

She held him even more tightly to her, letting him know without words that he was loved, that he was cherished, that he was the single most important person in the world to her.  And he was.  It had, in all honesty, taken less than a week for them to settle back into life together.  That said something.  And as she stood in the shower with him, the shirt she wore completely soaked and she didn’t care at all, she melted into him, holding him closely, not only with her body but also with her heart and soul.

 

They stood holding each other in the shower until the water began to cool and Grace’s goosebumps had started to return.  She shivered, and Bruce response was to first turn off the water and second to scoop her into his arms.  Two fluffy over-sized towels later, they were lying on the bed in his room, watching the fire crackle in the fireplace as it warmed their bodies.  Bruce’s arms were still around her, her head on his chest.  His desperation from earlier was gone, washed away in the shower as she held him, and now all Bruce felt was the comfortable warmth of their love for each other.

 

Falling in love, really falling in love, had not been in his plans.  He’d never really understood that love like this was possible, until Grace.  But it was possible and he had fallen.  The rest, Bruce decided lazily as the warmth of the moment brought sleepy thoughts, would figure itself out.  Plans could be altered, after all.  They’d have to be, as this woman was the only thing keeping him sane and happy, and he wasn’t giving her up a second time.

 

*-*-*

 

Friday, January 21, 2005

 

Tying up the laces on her skates, Grace moved out onto the ice.  It had been a couple years since she went ice-skating.  The last time was the winter before she met Bruce.  Courtney had dragged her out, and since Hope had been visiting, the three women had had a blast.  But Grace had little doubt that the excursion today was going to far surpass that one.

 

True to her word, she wasn’t wearing purple winter gear.  She had chosen a soft yellow this time.  As the rink was outside, in a nice little park, she chose to wear a down stuffed yellow winter coat, waist length.  She had a pair of matching yellow snow pants; and on top of her head, she wore a yellow hat and matching yellow gloves.  She wore gloves though and not mittens as she wanted to be able to hold Bruce’s hand.

 

Moving out onto the ice, she waited for him to join her.  School was back in session so the only other skaters on the ice were other grown ups… adults who either worked evenings or took the day off to spend it together.  The press contingent had been small today, a couple curious reporters eager to get a picture of the reunited couple. They were easy to ignore.  She was also able to easily ignore Mr. Sloane and his security men.  Although she’d teased that she would have loved to have seen him on the ice.

 

Looking at Bruce, who was still on the bench, she smiled brightly at him.  “Well…” She held out her hands for him.  “No time like the present.”

 

“Okay, but I warn you, I haven’t been skating in a very long time.”  His eyes were twinkling, the pain of the previous night seemingly forgotten.  Bruce took her offered hands, his black gloves contrasting with her yellow ones as he rose to his bladed feet.  They always contrasted, outwardly anyway, because of her bright, sunny looks and his dark tones.  So, that he wore all black with silver accents to her yellow, it came as no surprise.  Black was more of a ‘signature color’ for Bruce, whereas Grace shone vibrantly in any hue she donned.

 

He moved onto the ice with her, unsteadily at first, as if his legs were determined to illustrate his half-joking comment.  His legs grew more confident, however, as he fell in beside her and they moved further away from the bench.

 

She couldn’t help but smile brightly as she felt him grow more confident.  Spinning around she skated backwards, her eyes holding his as she let him set the pace. “It sure doesn’t look like you haven’t skated in a while.  Maybe it’s like riding a bike… something you never forget.  And with all the training you do, you have an excellent center of gravity.”  She winked.  “I remember when I first learned how to ice skate, Mom…” she paused and qualified, “Judy, not Janet, took me out on the center of the ice and I fell down so many times.  I was four or five.  I remember at one point I started to cry and Dad tried to come out and tell me I didn’t have to do it, but Mom was determined I learn.  I ended up with a few bruises, but by the end of the day, I was skating.  We celebrated with pizza.”  She let her voice drift off and the smile stayed on her face at the memory.  It was shortly after that when they found out her mom was pregnant with Hope.

 

She wasn’t sure why she told him that.  She hadn’t told anyone else the story of that day.  Like it was a precious and guarded memory about her mother.  But with Bruce, she felt like sharing.  Life with Judy wasn’t all bad; it just ended that way.  “After that, I loved ice skating.  Roller skating too.”  She winked.

 

Bruce smiled at the story.  Grace’s face was alight with the happy memory, and that made him happy, too.  He moved away, easily circling her once before reaching to take her hand, just to hold her.  “I was in England when I learned,” he told her, his voice thoughtful and distant.  “It was winter after my parents… and I was behind in studies because I hadn’t returned right away.”  He’d refused to go back, and at first Alfred had taken pity on him and allowed him to stay at the Manor instead of going back to his boarding school.  “Alfred flew out to bring me some things for the Holidays and he took me to his brother’s home in the country.”  Bruce smiled at the memory.  “We spent hours every day after I completed my studies… trying to perfect a figure eight because I wanted to be like the Olympic skaters.”

 

“I sprained an ankle trying to learn how to do those jumps,” she smiled.  She looked down at his feet before looking back up again at him.  She loved doing things like this.  Being at the Manor and cuddling was nice… fantastic even.  But going out, doing things… she felt so alive.  He was right; she could have so easily become a recluse, but she was glad she didn’t give in to it.  Letting go of one hand, she had to concentrate only a little before lifting their joined hands and spinning once before landing in her original position.  Her free hand took his again and she laughed lightly.  “That either could have gone very well or very badly.”  They came closer together, and she kissed him quickly before pulling back away.  “I’ll bet you mastered that figure eight thing too, didn’t you?”

 

“Eventually, yes,” he replied, chuckling warmly.  He was glad George had suggested it, and more than glad he’d relayed the suggestion to Grace.  She was so happy, she seemed to glow, and that, of course, was what he’d wanted all along.  “Would you like to try one with me?” He turned, facing her and took both her hands.  Together, they skated a large circle in the ice, Bruce guiding her into the turns of the eight while skating backwards and Grace echoing his movements.

 

It must have made quite an image, as most of the people on the ice stopped to watch, as well as their media shadows and the bodyguards.  Bruce didn’t care who watched, as his eyes were fixed only on the woman in front of him, locking him into this one moment.

 

She smiled as she flowed easily into the move with him.  She’d noticed their contrasting outfits and how she highlighted her light features with light colors while he did the accented his darker ones with black.  But when they moved together like this, there was no contrast.  She was fair; he was dark.  But when they did things like this, there was no doubt that they were one being… the connection so strong that they could move on instinct together.  When they finished, she smiled brightly at him.  “I think you have mastered the move,” she skated closer to him, not noticing the clapping from the people around them.  He drew her in like a moth to the flame… only this fire wasn’t lethal.  It was effervescent.  “I also think you didn’t forget anything about skating at all.”  She smiled brightly at him.  She spun so that her back was to his front and she leaned against him as they continued to skate.  “Nope, didn’t forget a thing.”  She sighed happily.

 

Bruce slid his arms around her waist, keeping her close to him as they now made a leisurely circle of the rink.  “So it would seem… although it could just be my skating partner,” he said softly.  “You make me feel like I could do anything in the world.”

 

They skated a few more laps around the rink –sometimes holding one another and sometimes breaking away to do turns and spins.  At one point, the rink owner decided to put their impromptu routine to music and they skated to Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” letting it dictate the tempo and variety of their moves, although mostly it resembled something out of the musicals and black and white films both enjoyed, only recreated on ice.  Indeed, skating with Grace to his favorite piece of music of all times, Bruce felt very much like Fred Astaire.  Or at the very least, one of his compatriots.  And for once, he didn’t mind the cameras flashing from the sidelines.

 

When the song ended, they slowed to a stop near the edge of the ice.  “Think they’ve had enough?”  Bruce asked, laughing.  Of course, he meant their impromptu audience, some of whom were leaving as if they felt the show was over and others of whom were politely applauding.   The cold air was nipping at their faces, leaving cheeks and noses a rosy shade.  “I thought I heard Alfred say something about cocoa when we get back…” It wasn’t a subtle hint.  Alfred made the best cocoa –rich and creamy, with much finer chocolate than anything you could buy from a grocery store.  As a kid, Bruce would stand on tiptoe to peer over the top of the counter so he could watch the butler make it.  And right now, Bruce could think of no better way to celebrate a day this good than by sharing the delicious treat with Grace by a warm fire.

 

The last of the onlookers drifted away, and Grace placed her warm gloved hands on his cold cheeks.  She was smiling, had been all day long.  The entire afternoon had been like a beautiful dream.  After the trauma and heartache of the past couple days, they had deserved something like this.  She moved her hands from his cheeks to her cheeks and chuckled.  “Nice warm cocoa… a big roaring fire… blanket bundled around us.  Sounds absolutely fantastic.”  Her hands reached out for his again.  “Though we really should come back and do this again sometime.  An encore performance perhaps?”

 

“I think that could be arranged,” he told her, bringing his hands up to join hers for a moment.  He was smiling as well.  Today had been one of the best days in his memory; they could definitely do it again.  He led her over to their bench, where they sat and began to remove their skates.  “Like I said, I haven’t done this in a long time.  It’s definitely something we should do again before the season passes us by.”

 

He removed his skates one at a time, replacing them with his boots.  When he was finished, he stood and offered her his hand.  “Shall we adjoin to a warmer climate?” he asked, meaning home.  She took his hand, nodding in the affirmative, and they walked to the limousine.

 

The ride home was made in relative silence, holding one another.  Grace’s gaze moved periodically from their joined hands to his eyes.

Today had been, beyond words… indescribable… exhilarating… There was no way she could keep the happiness out of her eyes.  When they did talk, her tone of voice brightened and she exuded life and love.  She had come full circle back to herself.  She felt completely safe and happy, and it showed.

 

When the limo pulled into the Manor, she let Bruce help her out.  Her hand immediately sought out his as they approached the door and Alfred opened it.  It was almost instinctive to take his hand when they walked or rest her head on his shoulder.  It’s where she belonged, after all.

 

The door, unsurprisingly, opened as they approached, and Alfred smiled warmly at them.  “I take it you had a good afternoon,” he said to both of them.

 

They responded with identical nods and smiles.

 

As they entered the foyer, Grace removed her coat after Alfred took her skates.  It was as he was taking Bruce’s skates that he said, “Mistress

Courtney phoned and would like for someone to return her call.”

 

Grace laughed.  “That would be your job, Bruce,” she joked. “No way am I getting a lecture on household etiquette.”  Besides, more than likely it was Bruce she’d end up talking to anyway.  It was how things worked.  Though Courtney and Grace had been friends for about twenty years, the bond they shared wasn’t anywhere near the bond Courtney had with Bruce.  And Grace didn’t mind.  How could she?  They both had friends that they relied on especially.  Neither could fault the other in any way.  “I’m sure she’s thought up a good comeback to the ‘Knock next time’ comment you tossed at her,” she winked as she said.

 

Chuckling, Bruce worked his way out of his remaining snow clothes.  When he was down to his blue jeans and the Gotham University sweatshirt he’d thrown on haphazardly that morning, he took the phone from Alfred and dialed Courtney’s number.

 

Grace headed up the stairs preferring to remove the rest of her snow clothes in her room.  She was sure the cap had left her hair frizzed and wanted to fix it.  As she walked up the stairs, she heard Bruce’s voice say, “Courtney.”

 

*-*-*

 

Courtney picked up the phone on the second ring, resting back against

Seth as they watched the basketball game he’d TiVo’d the night before.

“You’ve had a busy day,” she said into the phone, her voice somewhat somber from the lack of general activity through the day.  “Alfred said you and Grace went ice skating?”

 

“Yeah, we did.  Just getting back, actually.”  He ambled into the living room just off the library and sat down in a chair.  “You should come join us next time,” he said, assuming there would be a next time.  “It was fun.”  ‘It was,’ he thought with a smile.  “So… what about you?  Have you decided calling was safer than just barging in unannounced?”  Here he grinned just a little.

 

She laughed lightly at that.  “Safer for you maybe.  I wasn’t the one with the red face, having to hide behind my girlfriend.”

 

Seth, who had no doubts as to what that comment pertained to, simply shook his head.  “Courtney Evelyn…”

 

She smiled at him.  “Well, he did.”  To Bruce, she said, “You give people carte blanche…” She smiled brightly.  “I make no promises about repeat incidents, though I promise to try to behave like a civilized person.”  That comment got a ‘Ha!’ from Seth who got an elbow in the ribs.

 

“I’ll believe that when I see it.”  Bruce laughed heartily, obviously having gotten over whatever embarrassment he had experienced over the incident.  “Anyway,” still chuckling “Alfred said you called while we were out?”  Curiosity tinged his voice.  “What’s up?”

 

The door opened behind him and he turned his head just in time to see Grace entering.  She’d stripped of her snow clothes and was now dressed in jeans and a yellow angora sweater.  It looked soft and touchable, and suddenly his hands itched to do just that.  Patting the seat next to him, he turned his attention back to Courtney, waiting on an answer.

 

Grace slipped off her shoes and cuddled into the chair with him.  That was the best thing about the big chairs in this place.  They were just the right size for two.  She sat beside him, her body pressed to his, now listening intently to his end of the conversation.

 

Courtney’s voice turned more serious as she looked at Seth. “Yeah, I did call earlier.”  She paused for the longest moment.  Why was it so hard to say the words?  It was like she was getting an abscessed tooth pulled without anything to numb it.  If she had taken her eyes off her husband, she probably would have changed her mind and made up an excuse about the phone call.  But she didn’t, and she couldn’t, so she inhaled deeply and said, “About the bodyguard.  I suppose I’ve changed my mind.”

 

“You have!?”  He sounded pleasantly amazed.  Turning his face away from the phone, he repeated the message to Grace. They shared surprised smiles.  “Nee, that’s great!” he told Courtney as he turned his attention back to her.  “You have to thank Seth for me, okay?”

 

“Yeah,” Courtney sighed, feeling Seth’s supportive arm come around her.  “I’ll let him know.  It’s just…” She closed her eyes for a moment.

“It’s just going to be strange, knowing someone’s watching my every move.  And if Seth hadn’t pulled the ‘do it for me’ card, I doubt I’d have changed my mind.”  She picked at some invisible lint on her jeans and this time, it was her mother’s words that entered her mind and her mother’s words that she repeated.  “It’s not just me I have to live for… And I lose sight of that sometimes.  Seth happily reminded me.”

 

Her husband spoke a bit loudly so Bruce could hear. “Sometimes we gotta make her do what’s best for her,” he teased.

 

She looked over and mock-glared at him.  “Do you see me laughing?”  At that she couldn’t help but crack a smile.

 

Leaning in, Seth said into the phone.  “No laughing, but definitely smiling.”

 

She pushed him away and said, “Be quiet and watch your ballgame.  I’m talking to my friend on the phone.”

 

Bruce’s smile had sobered a bit as he heard her reluctant admission of why, but he still smiled at the Meyers’ antics.  No matter what was happening, they always seemed to find something to be even a little cheerful about, a knack Bruce had never mastered.  With him, it was either all good, or all bad –highs or lows and never any middle plateaus.  Especially without Grace in his life.

 

“I understand… or at least I hope I do,” he told her.  “But you have to remember, I grew up with bodyguards.  They’re second nature to me.”  He hoped this explained why he didn’t really share her concerns over someone watching him, or them.  “I’m just… really glad you changed your mind.”  It didn’t matter to him why she’d done it, just that she had.

 

“It happens so rarely,” she didn’t mind stating the obvious.  She picked her beer up off the coffee table and took a swig before handing it to Seth so he could finish it off.  “At the end of the day, what really matters is peace of mind and everyone is pretty much in agreement that this is the best move, so I’ll listen.”  Her tone was genuine as she said, “And thanks, Bruce.  I mean, I know I’m giving you a hard time over it and all, but,” she shrugged, “if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be me.”  She started off serious but ended in a light laugh.  “Part of all the fun and all.”

 

She smiled even wider as she asked, “So, tell me about your day… this ice skating.  Did you fall?  If you did, did you take Grace with you?  Please tell me she didn’t wear that bright florescent pink snow outfit she has.  I love her dearly, but pink… soooooo not her color.”  She laughed.  “Ever notice, designers put her in every color BUT pink.”

 

Bruce shook his head.  He had noticed that, but truthfully? It didn’t matter to him what Grace wore; she was beautiful all the time.  “We were bees, today,” he told Courtney.  He smiled once again as he went over the events of the day in his mind.  “You’d think I would fall, huh?  I haven’t been skating in… You know, I don’t remember the last I was skating; it’s been that long.  But no, didn’t fall.  Though, Grace and I did put on a bit of a show.”  He told her about the reporters and other skaters who’d stopped to watch them skate, his voice lighter than Courtney had ever heard it.

 

She smiled widely, poking Seth lightly in the ribs to get his attention and give him a non-verbal signal that things were going well.  “It’s kinda like that, you know?” she spoke softly, happily.  “When you find the right one, they hold you up so you don’t fall.”  She furrowed her brows for a moment as something dawned on her.  Sitting up a bit straighter, she said, “Hold on a minute.  You,” she put emphasis on that word, “were out in public and *you* put on a show for the reporters?  You?  Mr. Private Person… put on a show!  As in not minding them taking pictures… not minding them asking questions… not minding that people were watching you?”  She smiled brightly.  “You got it bad.”  She all but beamed now.  “And I have to admit, I’m sooooo happy to see it happen.”

 

Bruce chuckled, but when he spoke, his voice held a small note of awe when he realized what she’d just said… what he’d done without knowing it.  “Really, Nee, I didn’t even notice them.  The whole world could have ended and it was just Grace and I on the ice, I swear.  Although… I’m pretty sure there’ll be pictures in the paper tomorrow or Sunday.”

 

“I am,” Courtney said to Bruce, “very proud of you.  And let them put photos in the paper.  You and Grace look fantastic together.”  She paused for a moment, curious about something.  She knew about the plans for Sunday, but wondered if he had any clue.  So rather stealthily, she asked, “So what do you guys have planned for this weekend?  Anything exciting or are you just going to re-initiate some of the rooms in the Manor?”

 

“Courtney, I swear,” Seth said with a laugh.  “The way you talk, you make it sound like you are perpetually horny.”

 

Of course, that remark earned him another pinch in the ribs.  “We’ve already discussed initiations.”  To Bruce, she asked again, “So?”

 

“Hadn’t really thought about it.”  Truthfully, aside from today, he and Grace had just been spending their days as they came.  He looked at Grace, asking her “Do we have plans for tomorrow?”

 

“None that I’m aware of,” she replied.

 

About this time, Alfred came into the room with their cocoa in two steaming cups on the silver tea tray.  A silver bowl with mini-marshmallows accompanied the cups.  He set the tray down on the coffee table.  Having heard the question, he politely interjected, “Tomorrow is cook’s day off, Master Bruce.”

 

“Oh… yeah.”  Bruce furrowed his brows and then said to Courtney.  “How ‘bout you and Seth come over for Chinese? My treat.”

 

“Seth loves Chinese,” Courtney said, remembering how good the Mandarin tasted the day Bruce made it for her.  “You are cooking, right?”

 

“Bruce cooks,” Seth commented with a raised brow.  “Interesting.  And me? Always up for Chinese.”

 

Courtney laughed.  “At least your up for something,” she quipped teasingly which earned her a growl from her husband.  “Seth grunted that we’d love to join you guys for dinner tomorrow night.”  She laughed as she said.

 

Grace, who noticed that Bruce had raised an eyebrow at whatever comment

Courtney was making, reached forward and grabbed a steaming mug of cocoa, blowing into it and smiling as the steam tickled her nose.  “Dangle Chinese in front of Seth’s nose and he’ll do anything,” she smiled again as she blew into the cup before tasting carefully.  Her features softened and she sighed happily.  “Delicious.”  She sat back next to him, while he finished talking to Courtney.

 

“Of course I’m cooking.  Is there any other way to have it?” he asked, quipping.  “Unless you want to fly to China for the real thing?”  Courtney groaned and Bruce winked at Grace.  “Why don’t you guys call Alex and AnnaBeth?  Have them show up… anytime after two and we’ll make a day of it.  Mostly spontaneous fun.”

 

“Oooo, spontaneity!”  Courtney waggled her brows.  Apparently, she had said it rather loudly because she could hear Grace laugh in the background.  “I’ll have Seth call Alex when we get off the phone and set everything up.  I’m not sure he and AnnaBeth have spent a moment apart since last weekend.”

 

“Yeah, but she curses at him constantly in Greek,” Seth said with a shrug.  “Strange relationship.”

 

Grace’s cocoa had cooled to where she had sipped it down enough that she could add marshmallows without worrying about her cup running over.  Grabbing a spoon, she leaned back again, situating herself and quietly content now to dunk in the minis and watch them bob up again.  As Courtney and Bruce finalized plans, she became rather happily lost in her own thoughts… how comfortable this was… just being able to sit here with him and hear the deep timbre of his voice as he talked to

Courtney.

 

She honestly didn’t need to be a part of the conversation; she was happily content sitting here with him.  She’d look up when he chuckled and smiled before going back to her marshmallows, eating one when it looked adequately soaked and just before it completely melted.

 

Courtney continued, “But if we can drag them out of his penthouse, we’ll bring them along for sure.  Like I said, Seth will call and let them know.  Just remember, Alex eats more than Grace and I do combine.”

 

“I’ll make a list so we can stock up on provisions,” Bruce joked, but he knew Alex had a hollow leg… or two.  He’d seen the man eat enough times to know not to take him to an all-you-can-eat buffet ever again.  “Tomorrow, then?” he reconfirmed before saying good-bye to his friend.  Hanging up, he set the phone down and reached for his own, now much cooler cocoa.  Leaning back into the chair with it, he forced both himself and Grace to wiggle a little in order to get comfortable. Soon, though, they were curled together in the chair.

 

“So the gang is coming over tomorrow?” she asked softly, still playing with her marshmallows.  Her head rested near his as she started sipping at her cocoa again.  “Anything in particular I can help you with tomorrow?  Cutting vegetables?  Distracting you with tempting thoughts?”  She moved forward and set her cup down on the tray before curling completely into him.

 

“Distracting me with…” he echoed, pausing to sip more of his cocoa.  Setting his aside as well, he turned his head to hers.  “Distraction sounds like fun.  We could slip off… disappear for a while… I know plenty of places we could ‘get lost’ in for a while.”  He was kidding, only slightly though.  Tilting his head, he brought his lips to hers.  Her kiss tasted of the rich chocolate, sweetness, and Grace.  There was nothing else to describe it.  Just… Grace.

 

Pulling away from the kiss, he planted another on the top of her head.  “Whatever you want to help with,” he told her.  “Or just hang out and have fun with our friends.”

 

Her hand moved up his chest and touched his cheek, turning his face to hers.  “I want to be where you are,” she said with a smile.  “And since my mother is an excellent cook, she made sure Hopeful and I knew all the tricks of the trade.  I can slice and dice with the best of them, baby.”  She gave him a wink.  “So, how about we slice and dice… mingle… get things really hot in the kitchen,” she smiled as her face drew closer to his, “and then maybe get lost a few places between here and there while we’re at it.”  Her lips were ghosting against his as she said, “And since we know the hurricane is contained, maybe we can practice right now.”  She really didn’t wait for a response; she didn’t have to as her lips met his and everything was answered for her.

 

*-*-*

 

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.

 

*-*-*

 

Sunday, January 23, 2005

 

It had all started as a gesture.  Grace had wanted to do something nice for Bruce.  Material gifts didn’t mean much to him.  He wanted something; he bought it.  What he appreciated most were moments. Moments in time that expressed genuine emotions.  This was what Grace had wanted to give him.  When they’d reunited, she’d hooked up with Courtney, and the two had conspired to give Bruce a ‘moment’.  In all actuality, Grace had hired Courtney to create one.  Because of the timing of the breakup, they’d been unable to celebrate not only Christmas together, but his birthday as well.  This was something Grace wanted to rectify.

 

But it had taken a lot of work and involved a lot of people.  The latest conspirator had been Lee Merryweather.

 

Bruce had gone out on his nightly excursion, and though Grace was asleep when he returned, it must have been early because he had grumbled at Lee for calling first thing in the morning.  Grace had offered her sympathy, but the call had really been necessary.

 

When he got off the phone with the social secretary, Bruce asked Grace how she would like joining him for an informal business dinner at Bernie’s, knowing it was one of her favorite places in Gotham. The head of the local Boy’s Club wanted to meet with him to discuss the possibility of Bruce matching donations made during a charity fundraiser.

 

Grace, of course, happily agreed to go.

 

Now, the couple were dressed casually, Grace was in white slacks.  She was wearing a purple sweater with a sage leaf pattern woven in the fabric.  Her white short-heeled boots would be most comfortable for the true nature of this ‘meeting’.  Through Courtney’s planning magic, Grace had rented Bernie’s for the entire evening.  The house band would play, along with her favorite saxophone player.  Dinner had been catered.  Her ‘gift’ to Bruce would be a surprise evening… just the two of them… celebrating their reunion in a place that carried a lot of sentimental value for them.  They celebrated important things at Bernie’s.

 

“I haven’t been to Bernie’s in quite a long time,” she admitted as the limo stopped and the driver came around to open the door.  “I’m so glad you asked me to come along.”

 

“Neither have I,” Bruce told her just before he got out, holding a hand for her.  She took his and he guided her from the car.  The expression on his face, though, as she emerged from the limousine was one of rapt devotion.  He felt like he was watching a movie star on the night of a big premiere.  Only, strangely enough, without the flash of cameras. Bernie’s was a special place for them; it was where they’d done all their celebrating since Grace’s birthday, when he’d met her parents for the first time.

 

Vividly, he remembered the last time he’d been here.  It had been last August, and they were here celebrating their anniversary.  The memorial of the day she moved in with him.  Like that night, she’d been this gorgeous and this happy.  And almost a month later, he’d broken her heart.

 

Bruce pushed the dark away instantly, willing himself to do as he’d promised both Grace and Courtney –forgive himself.  He couldn’t do anything about it, and Grace, he knew, just wanted to move on.  She’d asked him, too, as well, and although it was Bruce’s nature to hold onto pain, he knew the only way to make it up to her was to do as she asked.

 

And he’d been trying; this week, he’d really been trying to just live in the now and not think about what had happened.  But there were still moments, like last night when he slipped out of bed to patrol, where he’d look at her and his heart would seize up in his chest.

 

“How could I go to Bernie’s tonight and not bring you?” he asked, leaning in to give her a brief kiss.  Then he checked his watched.  “We’d better get going.  Lee said something about being on time.”

 

“And if we’re late, I’m sure Lee will tell you about it.”  She slipped her arm in his and let him lead her inside.  It took everything she had to keep the look of expectation off of her face.  The culmination of all their work was about to come to fruition right now.  He was opening the door for her and when he entered behind her he would notice that no one else was in the club.

 

Bernie met them at the door and offered to take their coats.  “Good to see you kids,” he said.  “It’s been too long.  You’re table’s over there,” he said pointing to the table.  “Surprised a little, Bruce?  Sunshine here worked hard on this.”  Bernie chuckled as he walked away, leaving the two of them alone.

 

She turned to Bruce and looked into his eyes.  “I thought a celebration was in order.  Just you and me.  No press, no public… Our place.  Surprise.”  Her voice was soft, almost not wanting to disturb the import of the moment, but then again she wanted to see his complete reaction.  This was a first for her… surprising him like this.

 

When Bruce saw that the Blue’s club was completely empty, his first thought was that Lee had somehow mixed up the plans for the evening.  Bernie’s words, however, made it clear that Lee had not.  Bernie left with their coats, and Bruce still looked around at the empty room, with its lights dimmed and candles on the table they’d been directed to, and he was speechless.  He had no idea how she’d managed to keep him from knowing.  They’d hardly been apart all week long.  And yet, she’d somehow done all of this.

 

“Grace…” he whispered, searching her eyes.  Her words, so simple, touched him so deeply.  “Oh, my sweet, amazing Grace…”

 

The sweet sound of the saxophone filled the club.  It wasn’t overly loud like it could be on nights when there were other patrons here.

No.  Tonight the band was merely background music for the couple.  And it was acting as such at the moment.  His surprised expression caused her to smile.  She took his hand and led him toward the table.  Her arms wrapped around his waist and she smiled up into his face.  “I know,” she started, her voice full of emotion, “that there is nothing I could buy you that would fully express everything I feel for you.  But

I wanted to do something…” She paused and brought one hand to his face.  “I needed to do something to celebrate what you mean to me.  I love you… more than perhaps I could ever let you know.”

 

She paused for a long moment and simply looked at him.  He was still astonished.  “This is Christmas, New Year’s, Your Birthday, and our

Reunion all rolled up into one celebration…  A celebration of us… of just how much you are my world.  My everything.  My love.”  She let her voice trail off and let him absorb it even more.

 

“Grace…”

 

Christmas, New Years, and his birthday… they’d been more painful this year than any time he could remember since the first year after his parents died.  He’d spent them in one of the secret passages, sitting in the darkness while he waited for the cluster of special days to pass him by.  Alfred had found him once, telling him that Courtney had come to invite him to spend… whatever day that had been… with her at her parents’ house.  He sent Alfred away.  He didn’t know what Alfred had told Courtney.  His friend hadn’t mentioned it the next time he saw her, though he’d seen the sympathy in her eyes as clearly as he saw the love in Grace’s now.

 

Moved more than he had words to express, he held onto her, hugging her tightly to him.  “I don’t deserve you,” he whispered softly in her ear.

 

“Bruce,” she said softly, holding him as tightly as he was holding her.  She didn’t want him brooding about what he deserved and what he didn’t.  Of course, he was, more than likely, thinking there was no way he should be the focus of the celebration when he was the one who split them up in the first place.  But she didn’t agree.  “It’s not about deserving,” she finally said, though her voice was very soft as she spoke.  She was able to pull away just enough to look at him.  “There’s something…” She had been about to say there was something that wouldn’t let them stay apart.  Instead, she said, “We belong together.  You and I.”

 

She leaned up and placed a kiss on his cheek, then kissed each eye, before placing a soft kiss on his lips.  “I love you.  I need you.  And yes, we deserve to be together.  You make me happy.  You complete me.  And I know…” She kissed him again.  “I know you’re happy too.  And whether you believe it or not, you deserve that.”  She moved back in the circle of his embrace.

 

“I love you so much,” he said softly, holding her.  His lips pressed into the top of her head, and he kissed her softly.  He did, he loved her.  He once told Miles that it scared him the way he felt about her, and although it no longer scared him, it still amazed him exactly what she meant to him.  “You do… you make me so happy, Grace.”  He tilted her face up to his, meeting her eyes.  “I have never felt like I do when I’m with you.  I’ve always known that a part of me was missing.  My entire life, I’ve been damaged… broken.  You make me whole,” he told her before bringing his lips down on top of hers.

 

“And you are my reason for living,” she said softly when the kiss ended.  She hugged him tightly to her again before moving away and leading him to sit in the booth.  Moving in beside him, she pointed at the table and the dishes spread out on it.  “I had the caterer make a selection of your favorite foods.”

 

A guitar player joined in with the sax and the singer’s voice filled the room.  Blues music was soulful… the songs came from the soul of the singer and those who truly appreciated it felt it in their souls as well.  It’s why the music always touched Grace.  Filling a fork with some coleslaw, she offered it to him.  “I could have just about died yesterday when Courtney was carrying on about fried chicken.  She did all the planning for this, and for a while there, I was afraid she was going to slip and tell you what was going on.  And I so wanted this to be a surprise.”

 

Tasting the forkful she offered, Bruce found himself shaking his head.  “Is that how you did all this?  Courtney?”  He sounded utterly amazed.  He smiled, still shaking his head.  “This… dinner… the music… all of this is just so… there aren’t words, love.  But you didn’t need to…” He trailed off.  No, she didn’t need to, but she had, and that she had was what made it so special.  She was special.  “…I have been celebrating our reunion in my heart, every day… every minute… since you…” He closed his eyes, trying to focus.  “This…” he waved about them with his fork.  “This is amazing.”

 

“I didn’t need to,” she said with a smile.  “But I wanted to.”  She rested her head on his shoulder.  “I’ve been celebrating every day too.  Every night I fall asleep beside you… every morning I wake up in your arms…  Life with you is a celebration.”

 

*-*-*

 

They cuddled through most of dinner, feeding one another and stopping to share kisses and caresses.  Once they’d finished eating, she led him onto the dance floor; and they fell into one another’s arms, bodies swaying to the music as they held one another.  They could have done this at the Manor, sure.  But there was something about THIS place.  It was every bit as much their place as the Habbibi’s was.  And though what she had said at dinner was true… life with him was a celebration… He meant something to her.  He meant everything to her.  And as good as he felt in being able to do things for her, she felt just as good doing things for him.

 

Her face rested in his neck as her body conformed to his.  She placed a light kiss on it before lifting her head to look at him.   Her eyes locked with his and smiled.  “I love you,” she said softly.

 

Bruce looked down at her, and the smile that was already on his face widened even more.  When he’d gotten over the shock of being utterly surprised by this, he found he really enjoyed her celebration.  It meant a lot to him that her first thought was to do something like this for him.  No, he knew he didn’t deserve it, but it wasn’t about what he thought or what he deserved.

 

It was what the heart wanted… what her heart wanted.  She’d planned this –had enlisted Courtney, Lee… Bernie and others– so she could show him exactly what her heart wanted: him, them… happy.

 

Bruce could see it, too.  Grace telling Courtney she wanted to do something to make up for the lost months.  Not that she needed to.  He’d been the one to break it off; he’d been the one to push their love aside.  The emptiness he’s felt those months without her –those miserable months– had all been of his own design.  He’d done it all himself.  Grace didn’t need to make up for that.  But she had wanted to anyway… wanted to make up for what they’d missed.

 

And it wasn’t just the moments they’d missed… it was a celebration of the moments to come.  A welcoming of them.  The opening paragraph of a new chapter in their lives.  The pain, as unbearable as it had been, would go away.  Already in the one week they’d been reunited, they’d erased some of it just by coming to terms with why it had happened.  And by letting not just themselves, but the whole of everyone looking in from the world outside their fishbowl, know that it was real.  They were back in each other’s hearts and nothing was going to change that.

 

That was how it was meant to be: they were meant to be together.  That was why nothing had been able to keep them apart, from the very beginning.  Not his relationship with Lex, not their break up, not even the stalker who’d wanted Grace for himself.  Nothing.  That was why it was Grace, and Grace alone who had been able to break through the walls he’d built around himself.  Walls to keep out pain and hurt, walls to keep out love.  Yet, before her love, those walls had fallen like Jericho.

 

It was meant to happen that way.

 

“I love you, too,” he echoed.  His fingers traced the line of her cheekbone tenderly.  “You’re my greatest dream come true.”

 

She was.

 

Her eyes never left his as they continued dancing.  Dancing.  That first night they’d met had been at a club.  And they’d danced.  The electricity between them on the dancefloor had been like none she’d ever felt in her life.  He’d kissed her for the first time that night too.  The first kiss of a lifetime filled with so many more.  When she looked at him, she saw happiness.  There had been pain and heartache.  She had accepted things that many women wouldn’t have.

 

In the beginning, she’d shared him with someone else.  When he’d told her about Lex, her only question had been if there was enough room in his heart for both of them.  He’d told her there was, and she believed him.  Throughout their first year together, he’d never once failed to make sure she knew she meant every bit as much to him as Lex did.

 

Indeed, their relationship had weathered many things.  The biggest and hardest was their breakup.  It had nearly killed her.  The only other living soul who knew how close she’d come to killing herself that night was Seth.  She’d moved back into her apartment as Bruce had asked and the pain of not having him had been unbearable.  Horrific to the point where taking the entire bottle of sleeping pills sounded like a very good idea indeed.  If her throat muscles could have worked to swallow them, she wouldn’t be here now.  If Seth hadn’t charged in and promised her that in time she’d get Bruce back, she would have found another way to take them.  But Fate had conspired against her that night.

 

It had been a moment of weakness.  One told to no one but Seth… and the counseling she’d sought.

 

If she hadn’t found a way to hold on then, she wouldn’t be holding on now.

 

She hadn’t always been the strongest of people.  She freely admitted that.  She also knew that if she’d been thinking clearly, she never would have tried.  But holes that big in the soul left nothing but pits of despair.  Yet, she forgave.  She loved.  And in the end, her path did lead her back to where she belonged.  Everything happened for a reason.  Every decision directly affected where she was right now.  Every choice taking her to the destination that Fate had chosen for her… for them.

 

She leaned forward, her forehead now touching his.  The hug she gave him that first night told him to take a chance on her.  His passing up the ‘cup of coffee’ that first night told her to take a chance on him.  Meeting up with the press on their first date let him know they didn’t intimidate her.

 

Her father was fond of saying that you take the good and toss out the bad, knowing that the good would far outweigh the bad anyway.  He said all that bad existed for was to make sure you appreciated the good.  She and Bruce had had it VERY good… little bads here and there but nothing that truly tested them… until the breakup.  And that, it seemed, had been their big test.

 

Yet here they were.  Together again.  Happy and loving.  Knowing there was no place on Earth that either wanted to be except right where they were.  They’d tried living without… it hadn’t worked for either one of them.  But together… together they were stronger, happier, healthier than they could ever be apart.  They’d been tested and came through it… together.

 

Fate had gone to great strides to make sure their souls found one another.  And they’d fought Fate for a while, but she was persistent when she wanted something.  And in the end, she’d made sure they’d found their way back again.  This time, there’d be no questioning Fate.  Wherever she led them, Grace knew they would follow.  Fate wanted them together; they needed to be together.  With Fate on their side, nothing, ever again, would pull them apart; between the three of them, they’d make sure of it.

 

Of that, Grace had no doubt.