Ten years later the three children were still neighbors and still best friends; well sometimes they were all three best friends. Mostly it was the guys though. Gabe and Bruce were eighteen and about to graduate high school while Rae was sixteen. Bruce and Gabe were the two most popular boys in school with their devilishly handsome looks and witty, mischievous personality's, every girl in the school wanted to date them or be a part of their "group". Rae had blossomed from a little girl to a young woman who was quiet and considered shy, with certain people that did not stop the guys in school from noticing her though. Although she was shy and quiet Gabe and Bruce were constantly drawing attention to her by pulling pranks or simply being themselves around her. Needless to say the three of them were much known at Gotham High. Rae was always hanging out with her best girlfriend Rachel who was also close to the boys and this day was no different. After school Alfred picked the girls up and drove them home while the boys drove their own cars. The two girls rushed up to Rae's room and were giggling and squealing like any girls would for their first date. The two boys soon busted into the room to find the girls debating over outfits.

"Oy! What are you two so giggly about?" asked Gabe. Bruce meanwhile was watching Rae as she motioned for Rachel not to say anything.

"None of your business Gabe. Now you two get out! Your sister and I are doing something." Rachel snapped. She pushed the two boys out and shut the door on them. That didn't deter the two away though, they were simply more determined to find out what Rae was doing now more than ever. So they did what any boys would do they went to Gabe's balcony and climbed up on the roof and perched themselves right by Rae's open window and listened in to the girls conversation.

"Rachel you just have to straighten my hair, I can't go with him with this hideous mane I call hair!" Rachel scoffed.

"I love your hair, and so does EVERY guy at school. I don't know how you can't see how truly beautiful you really are Rae. But if you want me to I will. And I think you should wear the purple with your pink coat."

"Okay, Rachel...I can't believe he really asked me out. Tony Flora really asked me out. Do you think he'll kiss me?!" This got the boys attention and fast. Bruce and Gabe hated Tony Flora, out of all the guys in the school he was the one they always messed with. At one point it almost got violent between him and Gabe for a comment made by Flora.

"Shit Bruce. I can't let my baby sister go out with that prick! He'll only use her and then-"

"I know Gabe...but what can we do?" The two started to plan while they stayed to listen to the girls a bit longer. They heard Rae laugh and then a soft thump of something landing on the bed. Then the two girls got serious.

"Rache..."

"Yeah Lilly Rae?"

"I've never been kissed before...do you think-"

"Don't think about it and I promise it will come naturally."

"You sound like you've done it a lot missy!" Rae was met with silence.

"OH MY GODS! I knew you and Wade were making out at your study sessions! Whore!" The two busted out laughing while the guys made their way back to Gabe's room. Both were not happy about Lilly Rae's date tonight.

"Gabe what are you gonna do?" Bruce asked while looking at the window watching Rae and Tony walk off to his car. Something in Bruce wanted to go and rip Tony's hands off of Rae but he only thought it was a big brother feeling, one of protection. He turned around to see his friend smirking at his laptop.

The picture he had up was one from a security camera from school, only God knows how he got it but it was of Tony making out with some girl...not Rae.

"We're going to try to get her to come home on her own. And if that doesn't work we'll have to show her. I won't have my baby sister getting hurt."

So all night long Rae was getting text from Gabe and Bruce, telling her to come home and leave Tony, to forget about him. But she was so wrapped up in Tony's sweet words that she didn't listen, until she got the picture though. She studied it for a while and noticed the time and date on it were of the same day. Tony noticed that something was wrong and took the phone from her. He saw who it was from and began to make excuses and lies up.

"Tony just stop, can you take me home please?" Rae asked nicely, she didn't want to make it a bigger deal then it was. It was only one date, not a relationship. She only wanted to go home. Tony wasn't having that though. He quickly paid and walked with her to the car but before she could get in he quickly pushed her and forced her to turn around.

"Tony! Wha-" she was scared and confused at what just happened but he kept her pinned against the car.

"Little bitch you think your better than everyone just because your family has money and your brother acts like he's the goddamn king of everything. Well I'm about to show you." She was struggling to get out of his grasp and began to squirm under him but he had to be at least twice her size. He grasped her chin and forced his lips onto hers, bruising them in the process. She began to kick harder when he pushed himself away from her, knocking her head against the car in the process. She went to touch her lips when the swing came.

She felt a blinding pain shoot across her face and she saw only whiteness, she barely had a second to recover before the second hit came. This time instead of getting her jaw though he got her right in the eye and cheek area. She fell to the ground and he kicked her once then jumped into his car. Before she knew it he was driving off. She left her purse in his car but luckily had her cell phone with her, so after sitting in the parking lot for a while she decided she needed to call someone to pick her up. She didn't want her mom or dad to see her like this and Rachel's parents were away on business so she called the one person she knew would come get her.

"This is the Wayne Residence." Just the sound of the man's voice made Rae feel safer.

"Alfred...its Rae."

"What is it my dear? Young Master Wayne told me you had a date tonight...aren't you still on it?"

"No Alfred that's why I'm calling. I need a ride home; can you come pick me up?" Alfred was no dumb man and could tell that something was wrong with the young woman. He quickly agreed and hung up. Then he rushed up to Bruce's room where and him and Gabriel were.

"What is it Alfred?" Bruce asked while Gabe cussed about something on the TV screen.

"Miss Rae called. She needs to be picked up. I thought you two would want to go. She sounded very...distressed." It didn't take them twice to be asked. Soon the three men were on their way to pick her up. Once they got there Bruce walked into the restaurant while Alfred and Gabe waited in the car. When Bruce walked in and asked for her though they told him she had left with the man about an hour ago. So concerned he walked back outside and began to call her. He heard her cell phone though and walked off further to the side to find her sitting on the curb.

"Rae?" She didn't say anything but stood up and walked towards him. He knew something was wrong when he saw how she was holding her side and kept her hood up and head down. So before they walked to the car he stopped her.

"Rae are you feeling alright?" she muffled a reply and kept walking but he quickly grabbed her hand and stopped her.

"Lilly Rae White stop lying to me. And take off the damn hood!" At this point he was frustrated that she was acting so weird so he jerked her hood off. What he saw made his blood boil. Her right eyes was almost swollen shut, and her jaw had a nasty bruise forming on the brunt of it and her cheek, and her lips were a nasty purple color from bruising. He gently pushed her chin up with his fingers to get a better look. When he surveyed that he then moved her hand that was holding her side and gently pressed her ribs. She cried out and quickly removed his hand.

"Did he...?" she quickly shook her head no and he couldn't help but feel a huge rush of relief. "Come one Sun Rae let's get you home." He didn't know what to do to make it any better so he placed his arm around her and guided her back to the car. When they got there Gabe got out to hold open the door.

"Geeze what the heck took you two so-" Gabe stopped and looked at Rae for a minute before quickly pulling her into a hug. While he held her she stroked her back, by this time Alfred was out of the car too and came around to see what was going on. Finally Rae pulled back from Gabe.

"I want to go home please." That was all she said. Gabe helped her in the car and followed her into the back seat while Bruce and Alfred got up front. Most of the ride was silent until Gabe broke it.

"Lilly what happened?" Bruce turned around to see her turn towards her brother.

"I don't I just I-" everyone could tell she was struggling so Gabe just took her hand in his and held it while they drove home. Once they got to their house Rae got out without a word and walked in. Bruce could see her light come on and her shadow as she moved about. Gabe looked at him and they just got out. Alfred then drove them to their house.

"Master Wayne...you should know I planted a good bit of hydrangea last season, and their blooming very well in the green house." With that Alfred walked away. Bruce went to his room though instead of the green house. He changed into his pajamas and lay in his bed for a while. Around three hours later though he did make his way to the green house and cut a bunch of hydrangea and he quickly made his way over to the White Manor. Just like a little girl did ten years ago for him. He climbed the tree by Gabriel's room and hopped from his balcony to the overhanging piece that sits besides Rae and then hopped down to her balcony. He gently knocked but when he got no answer he tried to open the doors himself. One opened and he made his way over to her bed.

"Lilly Rae?" he whispered. He didn't get a response but he saw her head move. So he set the flowers down on her bedside table and walked over to the other side of the bed and without ever having her talk to him he crawled under the covers and pulled her two him, being careful to not hurt her ribs anymore. After that he just laid there with her head on his chest rubbing her back whispering to her that it was going to be okay. A few minutes later he felt her shake and heard a sniffle. He sat up and pulled her with him. Once up he saw that she was crying.

"Please don't cry Lilly, does it hurt? I'll go get you something if it does." he wiped a tear away from her as he talked.

"It's its not that it's just that…That I was so happy and excited. I'm so-sorry I'm being dumb." she wiped her tears and turned away.

"No you're not, not one bit...but can I ask what happened?" and so she told him. When she was done with her story she was no longer crying and she felt a little better.

"Bruce thank you for coming over. And for the flowers...they are my favorite. You don't have to stay I'll be okay. I promise." He couldn't help but to notice how her night-gown was white, almost just like the one she wore eight years ago and how her red curly hair managed to look incredible even though it was a crazy mess right then or how despite the swollen, bruised face she still looked incredible to him. Her night-gown had risen up on her legs and he could see how her knees were skint up, he assumed it happened tonight and before he could really stop to think he laid his hand above her knee and looked up at her.

"I don't want to go." She quickly lifter her head and her eyes met his, her beautiful green eyes that shined even in the dark. Before either could lose their courage they began to slowly move forward. Bruce stopped just inches away from her lips and watched as her eyes fluttered close.

"I promise to always protect you Lilly Rae." And with that he kissed her for the first time. It was a slow kiss. He knew it was her first and didn't want to scare her off so he lingered for a bit before slowly licking her bottom lip to ask for permission to enter. She gasped and he slipped his tong into her mouth. While his tong was exploring her mouth his hands found their way to her waist and he pulled her to him. She wrapped her arms around him and had her hands in his hair while twisting her tong in with his. He was soon lying on top of her while kissing her passionately, his hands running up and down her sides ever so slowly. He could have stayed like that forever if it weren't for her pain. He pushed too hard on her side and she gasped so he quickly rolled off.

'I'm sorry I hurt you!" she put her finger to his lips and hushed him.

"You didn't that was-well that was my first kiss." She laughed after saying that.

"...what's so funny?" he asked while watching her laugh.

"I just never thought it would be you...I mean in all honesty I had hoped and day dreamed but I thought those were just silly little girl fantasies." He smiled at her and before she could say anything else he kissed her again. Soon they were both lying down and staring up at the ceiling.

"Lilly?"

"hmm?"

"When I saw you tonight walking out with Tony I wanted to stop you. I wanted to tell you to not to go with him that I wanted you...that I would be your first kiss, your first everything. And then when I saw what he had done to you...I swear I wanted to kill him. I still do."

"Bruce, shh there's nothing we can do now. I just want to rest please. I'm glad you're here now and will be, I'm glad I have you now. Now is all that matters." A few moments later he noticed she was sound asleep. The next morning he heard Rae's door open and then shut and a few minutes later he heard it open again.

"Hey you two, Mom and Dad have breakfast ready. And they want to see what the damage is to Rae." Bruce quickly opened his eyes to see a smirking Gabe then he jumped out of bed. He followed him out to the hallway.

"Look Gabe I-"

"Chill. I knew you'd two be together. I'm happy for you; I just wish it was sooner so that wouldn't have happened to her." Bruce stood there stunned as Gabe walked down the stairs. Soon after Rae walked out of her room in sweats and a t-shirt and stopped. She at first just kept looking down and tried to make her way around Bruce.

"oh no you don't!" he laughed when he realized she was worried he didn't mean last night. He stopped her and gave her a long sweet kiss before going down the stairs. She just stood there staring at him until he reached the bottom and stopped and looked at her.

"Well are you coming? I'm hungry!" She laughed and walked down the stairs. When she reached the bottom he grabbed her hand and the two of them walked to the dining room together.