DISCLAIMER: Obviously I don't own anything you recognize... First fic, hope you all like it. Criticism is always welcome :)
The woman clutched the small child close to her body as she climbed the never endings steps to the magnificent building. She looked up, taking in the mansion that her dear friends called home. The door swung open, revealing two smiling faces that were heading closer to the woman with the child. She also couldn't help but smile at the people that were closest to her.
"Michelle, it is such a pleasure to finally have you here!" Martha smiled, stepping forward and not hesitating to pull her friend into a hug. The smile on the woman's face grew wider,
"I've missed this place!" Michelle smiled, looking around at the beautiful home.
"It has been a while indeed." Thomas smiled genuinely, stepping forward and also hugging the woman. The child in her arms had an observing look on her face. For her young age she was smarter than most…
"Alfie!" the toddler smiled, shouting loudly at the sight of the butler walking out. The elderly man picked up his pace as Michelle set down her daughter who started to waddle towards the butler. The adults watched the scene in front of them with big goofy grins plastered across their features. Alfred was in a whole different world as he started a baby conversation with the small child.
"Let us leave the adults to themselves now." Alfred smiled, waving at the group and turning on his heel. The child arched her back and began to wave at them as well,
"Bye Mommy!" She called happily, allowing Alfred to take her in.
"What shall we do then today Princess?" Alfred inquired, letting the child onto the floor so she can waddle around for herself. He kept a close eye on her none the less. There was really no need for any injuries.
"Play with Bruce!" The child yelled happily tossing her hands in the air. Alfred smiled, following her as she made her way up the stairs at a great pace. The butler couldn't help but look at the child in awe. For such a young age she was able to do many tasks. Just proves that great parenting goes a really long way. The young girl reminded him of Bruce in many ways, since he too was and is exceptionally bright for his age.
The pair reached the bedroom and the girl charged in without a care in the world. A young boy was sitting by his desk examining a car toy of sorts, so their presence wasn't evident to him.
"Brucey!" The young girl shrieked happily and wobbled over to the boy. He turned in his chair and chuckled as the toddler wrapped her chubby arms around his legs. Bruce leaned down and hugged the young girl, before straightening up and ruffling the brunette pigtails that were sticking skywards.
"I trust you two will have fun?" Alfred smiled before leaving the two on their own and decided to get some errands done around the house. Bruce enjoyed spending time with Adrienn. It amused him as well that for such a young age she was bright and could actually keep him entertained.
He crouched down and began to assemble the train tracks. Adrienn helped happily, placing the pieces together skillfully. She sat back down as Bruce put train on the complicated tracks that they have built and pressed the button. The young girl clapped and giggled loudly as the small train sped around the track. Bruce smiled happily, as he handed her the control. Her eyes widened as she pressed the button with her chubby fingers making the train go faster and faster. She giggled as it ran off the tracks and hit Bruce on the foot. He also laughed ruffling the toddler's soft brunette hair. The pair spent a little more time playing with the train before they got bored of it and decided to head out to the garden.
The toddler wandered around, picking up random funnily shaped stones and not minding the mud getting her all dirty. She picked up a rather odd looking one and called Bruce over excitedly. He jogged over, looking down to examine the little stone. He smiled and picked it up from her hand,
"I'll tell you what if you can catch me it'll be yours!" He teased, knowing that the little girl loved to play tag. Adrienn smiled happily and began to bounce after Bruce. It was all fun and joy until her foot got caught, causing her to fall face first onto the harsh stone ground. Bruce stopped smiling as he heard the little girl cry up. He picked her up without hesitation and made his way back to the mansion. Her cries died down but tears were still streaming down the little girl's pudgy cheek. Bruce took her straight to Alfred, who was busy in the kitchen, and told the happenings to him in a rush.
Guilt took over Bruce, as he remembered all this happened because of the strangely shaped pebble that he took from her. The boy didn't have bad intention, it was really all fun and games, but his conscience wasn't agreeing with that too much.
Alfred got the first aid kit box and tended to the graze on the little girl's knee as she sat on Bruce's lap. Just as Alfred placed a Winnie the Pooh plaster on her knee and declared his job done a young girl, around the same age as Bruce, entered the kitchen.
"Rachel!" Adrienn yelled happily, the memory of her injury disappearing completely. Rachel didn't reply to her just smiled a little. She wasn't too fond of younger kids and so wasn't too eager to take care of them either. Bruce smiled at the new comer and stood up once Alfred picked up Adrienn who was frantically waving at Rachel, in an attempt to get her attention.
"Let's go play outside!" She smiled happily, dragging Bruce with her. Bruce forgot all about the stone. It was understandable, playing with children his age was more likable to him and anyone for that fact. Adrienn waved at the pair, not letting it dampen her mood too much. Alfred would keep her company and she knew that.
A distant beeping was growing louder and louder, not allowing Adrienn to continue her peaceful slumber. Allowing a loud groan to escape her small lips she hit the alarm clock with much unnecessary force, stopping the beeping instantly. The brunette stretched her arms above her head groggily as she thought back to the dream she was having.
That was the day that Bruce had fallen into the well and dislocated a few bones. On that same day he gave her that pebble back, when his father was carrying him inside. She frowned at the thought of the pebble. Kicking her tanned legs over the side of the bed, she padded over to the dresser that was located on the other side of her bedroom. She ripped open the first shelf and rummaged through the things that were neatly placed in there and smiled once her long fingers found the smooth surface of that certain pebble. A smile found its way onto her lips as she began to think about all the memories she had there.
"Fuck…" She cursed to herself realizing that she has not called or contacted Alfred in a while. Guilt began to wash over her as she tried to remember the last time she has spoken to him. One thing for sure, it wasn't recently.
Deciding to call Alfred while having a cup of coffee she dialed their number. She had it memorized by heart.
Adrienn was a simple girl. She didn't have many friends, but she wasn't a loner either. She enjoyed the small things in life and managed to always pull a smile on her face, no matter how bad the situation got. Also, she wasn't one for fancy things. That doesn't mean she didn't enjoythe luxuries, but she didn't kill herself eitherjust to get the latest designer clothes and whatnot. Adrienn managed to get a steady job at Gotham National Bank. Adrienn had money, she was better off than most but she didn't flaunt that fact.
It took a few rings for Alfred to pick up,
"Alfie!" She said happily, before the butler could even say anything. She smiled hearing the small chuckle in the old man's voice.
"I was beginning to worry you forgot about me Miss."
"I would never!" she said fake hurt, desperately trying to forget the fact that she did in fact neglect one of the dearest people in her life. The two talked for a while longer, before they arranged lunch plans for the next day and ended their conversation by deciding it would be better to catch up in person. Alfred said he needed to speak with her about some important matters.
Addrienn placed her phone down on the coffee table and sighed. Having no friends definitely made her feel lonely, but she knew better than to lie to herself or to force herself to be friends with someone. She had some experience there and the bottom line is it didn't end to well. The one person that she really missed was Bruce. Bruce Wayne. Who was indeed her best friend and she likes to think of him as her guardian. He was there to tutor her and stick up for her when she was being picked on in high school. Hell the man even helped her with her college essays and what not. The two grew close on the worst day of Bruce's life…
It is traumatic to lose parents, but to lose both at such a young age was…horrible. The brunette shivered as she thought back to the night. It was her and her mother Michelle that found the boy in the alley, standing next to his parent's body. Adrienn remembered looking at Thomas and Martha, who were very dear to her, laying their limp and cold. She remembered the panic that was in her mother's voice when she contacted the police. She remembered walking up to Bruce and pulling him further away from his parents, telling him It'll be all right.
Little did she know, but those words from the toddler meant the world to Bruce… and since that day, Adrienn has a very special place in Bruce's heart.