Chapter 2

Bruce smiled knowing full well Peyton's opinion of him. He loved seeing her fiery personality come through even when she was in so much pain. Her chestnut brown hair was swept across one shoulder as he studied her. She was beautiful as her green eyes were sharp and piercing even though she had such a look of distain painted across her face. Bruce found it funny it was all because of him.

"Peyton" he said coolly "Actually we just moved back in this afternoon. Alfred and I wanted to drop these by and see how you were doing neighbor" he smiled

Peyton lifted an eyebrow "Words cannot express how excited I am that we're neighbors Bruce" She looked over at Alfred and smoothed out her hostile expression "Thank you for the gesture Alfred"

Alfred smiled "Miss Morris anything master Wayne and I can do for you, you just let us know" he smiled with a nod

Peyton had known Bruce from childhood, their parents being competitors had always had a good standing relationship and a mutual respect for one an other, even when Thomas died, her father still made sure that he kept in contact with Bruce. Peyton remembered Bruce before he disappeared, Peyton always saw him as a spoiled rich kid with no direction. And by the time he had returned Peyton was at Stanford and only read what the papers wrote about him. She knew Alfred though, he was kind, and he and Nora had some odd relationship that she never understood.

Nora came up behind Peyton "Oh boys, how nice of you.." Nora smiled nudging Peyton "Please come inside" she waved them in.

Peyton watched Nora and Alfred interact, Alfred almost blushing as Nora ran her hand down his arm.

Peyton stood watching as the two walked towards the kitchen. Bruce stood with his hands in his pockets. "Now I know why Alfred was so excited to move back into the mansion, I thought he was just sick of the penthouse"

Peyton was sick as she took the arrangement out of Bruce's hands and walked inside annoyed that he was still there. Bruce followed amused. The news segment was still on explaining her fathers company. Peyton turned her attention back to the television, ignoring Bruce standing next to her.

"Their only child is now forced to follow in her fathers footsteps, but the question stands, is she ready? Or even qualified" the news anchor announced before cutting to commercial

"To be fair Mike Angle is biased. He calls me out all the time" Bruce offered

Peyton wasn't comforted as she held up the same newspaper from the day and opened it to page 4 "Bruce Wayne closes restaurant for private date with famous model Anna Dickson" the headline read

Bruce smiled "some people call that romantic" he defended "And I don't see how that has to do with the company"

Peyton shook her head "Look I've read the reports, Wayne Enterprises has been on the rise, but you know I'm not going to sit by and have Gotham compare me to you now that we're both in the 'my parents were murdered club'" she snapped. She knew her words were harsh but so were the words people were printing about her.

Bruce wasn't affected by Peyton's words as he slowly nodded looking at his feet. He knew whom he was and what he had to do to get where he was. He knew were Peyton was. He knew all she could see was anger over what had happened. He knew what that felt like. He remembered the day in the courtroom watching Joe Chill leave as he held the gun in his hand waiting to shot him but was beaten to it by someone else. Then sitting in front of Carmine Falcone, his rage outweighing his fear. He wondered how far Peyton would go to settle her anger, which was why he was paying attention to her.

"Fair enough. If it makes you feel better, I don't even have a full degree. Least you were just a few credits shy of a masters" he shrugged

Peyton ignored his comment. It didn't make her feel better. "Bruce isn't there the tiniest part of you that craves to act like an adult?"

Bruce smiled as he tried to think, as if he was trying to look for that tiny part Peyton was talking about. That tiny part was there, and it embodied Bruce's whole being and that the playboy persona was the tiny aspect. "Not really" he shrugged "Why, when your young, who says you cant live life to the fullest"

"There's living lift to the fullest while being responsible and then there's living life to the fullest while making an ass of yourself" Peyton said reading the paper "Id say you're the latter"

Bruce smiled as he nodded taking that as his queue to leave. "Tell Alfred I headed back to the house"

Peyton didn't try to hide her sense of accomplishment over chasing Bruce out of the house with her words. "Sure thing neighbor" she hissed

Bruce grinned tightly "I know this wont mean anything to you, seeing as I would be the last person you want to talk to about this but I know what it feels like" he said serious for a moment.

Peyton set the newspaper down taken back by his sincere words. She couldn't feel anything but the rage that drove her to want to seek revenge. She looked away "You're right Bruce…" she started. He was right, she knew he had suffered the same loss as she, but he couldn't understand the pain she was feeling. No one could.

"You are certainly the last person I want to talk to about it" she said turning her back "Thanks for the flowers" she left Bruce in the living room.

Bruce shoved his hands in his pockets as he turned heading for the door.