Alfred watched while Athena dipped the little pretzels in a bowl of white chocolate and then set them on the baking sheet to let them cool. She took another pretzel and dipped it in the melted chocolate, then ate it.

"Do you intend to eat every other pretzel you prepare? If so…we may run out of pretzels."

Athena pouted.

She then dipped her finger in the soft chocolate, "I'm good."

Alfred sighed. It was hard to not be amused with his kitchen helper. He checked on the tuna that was baking in the oven and caught her eating another pretzel. He sighed inwardly and went back to crushing the Parmesan cheese for the salad. Whenever Bruce went out he always prepared a light dinner. Batman didn't need his dinner coming up whilst fighting crime.

"If we run low you'll have to help me eat all these. Bruce would probably be annoyed if we left him one or two pretzels."

"I doubt it," Alfred smiled, he wiped his hands on his apron as he finished up with the shredding. He wrapped the cheese up and walked to the fridge. He dug out a large head of Romaine lettuce and turned as she chomped away. Upon being caught she stopped, but could not contain the smile on her face. Nor hide the chocolate on her lips. She then declared, "It was a defective pretzel."

Both his white eyebrows rose.

A knock that echoed on the front door of the manor made them fall. Athena glanced up and over her shoulder, "You want me to answer it?"

"No no, stay here and watch the tuna."

It wasn't just because Alfred looked after the manor and grounds, but Athena was hardly dressed. Lounge clothes as she had aptly put it until her night shift began at Gotham General Hospital. Short-shorts, a sleeveless tank top and bra, which was black beneath the white shirt, the straps hung out and left little to the imagination.

At least she was dressed.

He walked from the kitchen and hung his apron up on his way out.

In the past month since she had been living there he could see the changes in Bruce, they were small and subtle. Something an outsider would never notice. And while he could only imagine with the many generations of Wayne's thought about a live-in girlfriend, she had grown on him. He couldn't deny it.

As he walked he made sure there were no traces of lemon or chives on his suit. None, he brushed off his tie and peeked down at his shoes, as the knocking continued. It did not cease.

When he came to the door and opened it a profanity came to mind.

One that ended with k and began with an f, followed by the word no, exclamation mark. He internally rolled eyes and inquired of the man on his doorstep, "May I help you?"

Alfred begrudgingly held open the door, letting the handsome man in, who walked in as if Wayne Manor was indeed his. "Hey Al, is Bruce around? I'm in town and wanted to drop be, see what he's been up to…you remember me? Right?"

"Naturally," Alfred stiffened, unfortunately.

Last time Paul visited a good number of items had vanished. Including a very nice mini-grandfather clock.

Paul was never leaving his sight alone.

"Is Bruce here?"

Paul's blue eyes sparkled, he ran a hand through his golden ringlets and he flashed his pearly whites.

"Indeed…" he then shouted over his shoulder, "Athena!"

Paul was definitely not leaving his sights in his coat. Alfred counted six pockets and a couple on Paul's jeans.

After a moment she appeared in the hallway and Paul's eyes widened, his jaw might as well have dropped onto the floor. She wiped her hands on her non-existent shorts. Alfred then asked, "Would you go find Bruce? Tell him Paul is here."

"From Princeton," Paul helpfully added. Eyeing her rear as she walked down the hall, off into the mansion to find Bruce.

"Can I be of any service? Is your car broken down? Do you need a cab?"

Paul laughed.

His eyes roamed around the room, "No no. I could use a beer though."

Quickly Alfred replied, "We're out."

"Ummm…wine?"

"Out," Alfred replied.

Paul eyed the butler closely, "Water?"

"We're out of glasses," Alfred helpfully added.

When Paul took the hint and looked around, Alfred inquired, "Would you like to take a seat?"

"Yes."

At that Alfred pointed to the chair mere feet away. In the hall. Away from priceless things that could get tucked away in pockets like last time.

Beneath the Manor…

Bruce sat at his workstation making adjustments to the latest batch of small metal throwing stars, shaped as bats. When darkness fell he would go out. Protect Gotham and do some snooping around at some places he thought would be some strongholds for the Vrato Crime Family.

The new head crime family in Gotham. They had emerged as number one weeks back, all the others had fled or joined in with the new crime boss.

Then there was the matter of Prophet Negly setting up shop in Gotham, stealing from rich and poor.

Along with the last Arkham Inmate left wandering Gotham, known as the Butcher, a serial killer.

As Bruce finished up with another bat on the machine, sending sparks flying everywhere, he heard the elevator touch the cave floor. So he paused, waiting to see who came around the corner. Was dinner finished already? Had Fox returned his call? Had Melinda come down with a case of mono thus canceling her debutante tomorrow evening?

What Athena came around the corner he pulled his leather gloves from his hands.

Athena came to a stop in front of his table and bent over. A smile upon her face as she opened her mouth to speak.

"You smell nice," Bruce remarked, noticing the sweet smell above the burnt metal and damp cave smell. He then mirrored her. Leant over the worktable and kissed her, finding a thin layer of chocolate on her lips. For a moment she surrendered to the kiss, his lips, and tongue that traced over her candy sweetened lips.

Then she remembered she had been given a task.

Against his lips she managed, "You have…a visitor."

Against her lips he made a sound of genuine interest.

"Paul," she murmured and he paused, she continued, "Paul from Princeton."