Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Batman or the tv series Gotham in any way.

Please note that because this fanfiction is following that of the TV show that Alfred is based off the show and not how he is in the comics/cartoon/movies/games.

For the sake of the story Alfred is 40 years old because this is fanfiction and why not?

-:-

Nothing could describe the emotions that were running through Charlotte O'Brien as she watched the young boy she had grown to love in the last twelve years as he failed to tie the tie around his neck. A small smile graced her lips – the boy had grown up so fast but it made her feel a bit better there were still times that he needed her.

"Master Bruce," Charlotte called out into the room letting the boy know her presence. "Is there something you need help with?"

Bruce looked at the woman startled before becoming embarrassed and staring back down at the tie in his hands. "I thought I could tie my own tie this time and then I could show my dad and he would be proud of me."

The older woman chuckled a bit before stepping further into the room. "Master Wayne has always been proud of you, regardless of whether or not you're capable of tying your own tie. But how about I tie this for you one last time tonight and then starting tomorrow I will teach you for the next time your parents bring you to a dressed up event."

The boy gave Charlotte a sad smile in reply as she stood in front of him – her hands carefully knotting the fabric around his neck.

"I'll let you in on a little secret though. One that is to never leave this room do you understand Master Bruce?" she said once she was done, leaning down a bit so she was eye level with him.

Bruce nodded, eager to know what it is she wanted to share with him.

"Master Wayne still gets your mother to tie his own ties and bows," Charlotte said winking at the young boy as she stood up straight.

Her "secret" managed to get a small chuckle out of Bruce a long with a smile.

"Master Bruce," a deep British voice interrupted them from the door. The voice belonged to non other then the Wayne's butler Alfred Pennyworth. Charlotte had to resist the urge to roll her eyes. The man was too much of a hard ass, the definition of kicking ass now and taking names later. Much later. It didn't help that neither of them seemed to see eye to eye. "Your parents are already down stairs greeting guests. Perhaps that is where you should be now, instead of hiding in here with your nanny. Isn't that right Miss O'Brien."

"Charlie just came to get me, Alfred. She ended up having to help me with my tie," Bruce explained as he walked towards the door in which Alfred stood.

"Yes, well it is best for you to make your way down to the party."

"Thank you, Alfred." Bruce nodded to the butler as he walked out the door leaving just him and his nanny.

"When I sent you to grab Master Bruce I didn't mean you could take that long," Alfred stated looking as Charlotte coolly.

Without Bruce in the room Charlotte didn't bother holding back her eye roll. "I was barely gone longer then five minutes."

"Yes and that was four minutes too long."

"Like anybody would notice. It is a cocktail party for Wayne Enterprises I doubt anyone would blame Bruce for not wanting to be there every waking moment."

"Master Wayne expects young Master Bruce to uphold the Wayne family name and that means being on time for special occasions," Alfred said as he walked towards Charlotte, no longer keeping his perfect posture when it came to serving the Wayne's – as his arms now hanged by his side with his hands tightening into fist showing his frustration.

"Of course but Master Wayne also understands that Bruce is still a child."

"Master Bruce is becoming a young man. He is no longer the child that needs you to take care of him. Soon your services are going to be no longer needed here and therefore you need to stop coddling the boy," the man growled lowly but his face remained blank of emotions.

"Are you threatening me, Mister Pennyworth?" Charlotte glared at the man before her.

"No. I am just simply reminding you of your place in this household and that is was never permanent," he replied his face still not show any hint of emotion.

"Of course, it's hard to forget when one has you constantly reminding them every single day," she hissed, stepping around him and walking out of the door.

"And where do you think you're going?"

Charlotte paused halfway down the hallway and glared back to see Alfred had followed her. "Downstairs. After all, Master Wayne expects both of us there. It would look bad to be later then we already are now wouldn't it?"

Alfred chose not to reply as the woman spun back around and stormed off down the hall again. It wasn't until she was around a corner that the man let a smirk slip onto his face. He had always enjoyed setting off her short temper. He hated to admit it but her anger made her even more attractive to him than she already was.

-:-

Alfred had managed to make it down the stairs just as Thomas and Martha Wayne were greeting Miss O'Brien.

"Good Evening Master Wayne, Mrs. Wayne," the woman said with a hint of an Irish accent.

"Please Charlotte, how many times do we have to tell you to call us by our names," Martha replied with a light laugh. "You're practically family and we're the same age."

"At least a dozen more Mrs. Wayne," Charlotte said sending the other woman a small wink. "At least in front of guests."

"I must say Miss O'Brien, you are looking rather stunning this evening. Thank you for agreeing to attend. I know how much you prefer sitting out these kinds of events," Thomas Wayne said bending over to take Charlotte's hand in his and kissing the back. As he straightened up he locked eyes with the Butler as he made his way over. "Alfred my dear man, wouldn't you agree?"

"Agree with what Master Wayne?" Alfred asked coming to a stop beside the nanny, his hands firmly clasped behind his back.

"That Charlotte here is looking very beautiful this evening," answered Martha.

Alfred glanced down beside him to the woman in question. Charlotte had always been beautiful maybe even more so now then when she had first started working for the Wayne's at the age of 22, just before young Master Bruce had been born. She had long chestnut brown hair that curled just below her shoulder blades and sparkling blue eyes. Even in heels the woman wasn't very tall barely reaching five feet without. On that particular evening Charlotte had chosen to wear one of her many 50's esque swing dresses, black with white polka dots. She couldn't be considered tiny but the dress made her waist look especially thin – perhaps one of the reasons she often chose to wear that style – and it made her bust look especially pleasing.

The butler let his gaze linger a little too long for his own taste before he looked back to his employers and cleared his throat. "Yes, well. Miss O'Brien looks presentable this evening."

While Charlotte gave a forced smile towards her colleague and their employer, Thomas Wayne was giving Alfred a knowing smile.

"Thank you, Master Wayne. I never know how to dress or act for these occasions."

"Nonsense Charlotte, you've been apart of this family for almost thirteen years. You're doing just fine," Martha exclaimed as she took the woman's arm in her own. "Come you, I must introduce you to some friends of mine. Their children go to school with Bruce."

Thomas and Alfred watched the two woman as they walked away from the stairway into another room. Once out of sight Thomas patted the other man on the arm. "I try to help you, Alfred my man. But you are just digging yourself deeper into a hole."

"I have no idea what you're talking about Master Wayne," Alfred said feigning ignorance.

"I'm sure," he replied with a simple raise of his brow. "I thought there could eventually be something between you two. But its been thirteen years and it hasn't even crossed your mind?"

"Perhaps – for once – you thought wrong. Now if you'll excuse, sir. I need to go check on the caterers."

"Darling, maybe it is best you stop trying to force a relationship between our butler and nanny," whispered the voice of Thomas' wife from his side as he watched his employee and old friend walk in the direction of the kitchen.

Turning around he looked at his wife, she must have just returned before Alfred's departure, leaving Charlotte to fend for herself among the guests. He shot her a smile that said he refused to back down from a challenge. "Those two were a match made in heaven, my love. Just wait and see."

"Whatever you say, Thomas," Martha replied shaking her head. "For the years that she's work here I don't think Charlotte and Alfred have even been around each other that often. Wherever you are, Alfred is and of course Charlotte is taking care of Bruce or with me most of the time. From they way they act, you'd think those two hated each other."

"Not hate, dear. No, they just take their jobs a little to seriously. Sticking to the rule: Don't shit where you eat. Refusing to give into their un-denying attraction to one another."

Mrs Wayne couldn't help but laugh at her husband's accusations. For a man who prides himself as such a professional being, he could still act like a child sometimes. She couldn't remember when exactly that he first started to claim there was something more between their only two full time employees but it couldn't have been more then five years now. Ever since, Thomas Wayne had tried to force subtle hints to the two but it flew right over their heads. It wasn't until the last month, that he started play more of a matchmaker and making it clearly obvious. If the butler and nanny really did know what was going on, Martha had to give them credit for acting like Thomas hadn't said anything.

-:-

Charlotte had officially decided she would no longer be attending these kind of events. Unless of course it was as her duty as the nanny rather then a guest. Martha had introduced her to a bunch of upper class housewives and then disappeared again. She had nothing in common with any of these women and she could very much read that every single one of them looked down on her.

"So, Charlotte was it?" one of the woman asked her. She nodded. "How long have you been working for the Wayne's? Seven... maybe eight years?"

"Uh... Thirteen actually. It will be coming up Thirteen years," Charlotte corrected. She didn't know why she felt like she needed to, but these woman were starting to make her feel uncomfortable.

"Thirteen?" exclaimed another woman. "Has it really been that long already? It's amazing that you're still employed. Soon Bruce will no longer need his nanny and you'll be out of a job."

Charlotte raised her eyebrow a bit. That comment stung a little more coming from this stranger then it had Alfred not even half an hour before.

"Have you given much thought about looking for other employment after you're finished for the Wayne's? Obviously you're going to stick with child care."

She hadn't actually given it much thought at all. She always knew that her position with the Wayne's wasn't permanent. Secretly she was hoping Thomas and Martha would have another child and that way she could prolong her stay with the people she had come to love as her own family. She could almost even say she saw Martha as a sister.

But something clicked in her head as she started to process what these women were all saying to her. Thomas had been asking a lot more questions about her personal life for awhile. Asking her if she was ever interested in finding a husband, settling down and having children of her own (she had just recently turned 34). And Martha had pawned her off on these woman a bit quickly this evening. Maybe these were hints that it was time for her to move on from the Wayne family. Was this the reason they had made such a deal about her joining the party this evening. And again Alfred had mentioned earlier that she wasn't meant to be here long.

A feeling of dread was now in the pit of her stomach. It took everything in her to keep Charlotte from walking right up to her room and retiring for the evening. But she had promised the Wayne's she'd enjoy herself for once. So she just smiled at the woman who were talking to her. "I haven't given it much thought to be honest."

"Well I could really use a new nanny. I just don't think I can trust the one we have now."

"Please. You go through nannies like dirty diapers. Charlotte darling, do not listen to a word these women say to you!"

Ah, Mrs. Sionis. She knew her from "playdates" between Bruce and her son Roman. Charlotte liked her enough but she was always iffy about the kid. There was something off about him and she didn't feel he really cared for Bruce's company in the first place.

"Charlotte, why don't you go help Alfred in the kitchen with the caterers," Martha said gently grasping the woman's shoulder as she appeared giving the women in the room a harsh look.

"Of course, Mrs Wayne," Charlotte bowed her head in respect and practically ran out of the room, thanking whoever for her saving grace. Sadly though, she couldn't shake off the feeling of dread now that everyone had planted the seed in her head about the inevitable end to her employment.

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