Thursday

Riley sighed as she gazed into the park. It had been two days now, and she still hadn't seen Bruce. She shook her head a little -- she was so distracted and she couldn't even remember his last name! Still...

"Riley? Riley!" She snapped to attention. Her friend and coworker, Mary, gave her a searching look. Riley decided her best chance was to act innocent.

"What? Is the bread too dry?" Riley missed the sly look.

"Oh, no. Not at all. How was your date?" She wasn't really listening.

"Oh, it was nice. He was a real gent- WHAT? What date?" Riley tried to salvage her thoughtless answer by pleading distractedness.

"Ooh! So, did he kiss you at the door? What was his name? Was he cute?" Riley slumped- she might have known it was only a matter of time before the last one was thrown in.

"I told you- there wasn't a date! You just caught me off guard. What else would I have said? You practically shoved the answer into my head!" Mary glared at her. She spoke slowly and succinctly.

"Let. Me. Re. Peat. That.... Did. He. Kiss. Yo-" Riley sighed and gave in.

"Not really- it wasn't a kiss. And it wasn't even at my door. He left me at the cab after he helped me with my books. That was it."

"So there was a kiss? What do you mean it wasn't a kiss? You as good as admitted it. And was he cute?" Like a shark smelling blood, Mary pressed on.

"No, there wasn't. And I really couldn't see him in the snow- the light was horrible." She threw up one last shield.

"In which case, we'll return to that later. What was his name?"

"I don't really remember. It could have been anything from... from Aaron to Zorro for all I remember!" She deflected.

"Too broad an evasion- you know! Now what was it?" She was now gripping Riley by the shoulders, gaze intense and promising doom if Riley didn't surrender.

"I-I don't really know! It could have been Bryan... or Bob, or Bruce, --" A warm, familiar voice lent itself to the conversation.

"At your service, milady." Riley's face lifted, and she turned to face him eagerly, eyes large with surprise. His hair was slightly tousled from the wind, and there were melting snowflakes in it. His eyes shone with amusement at her reaction, and they never left her face.

"Might I inquire as to what I owe this pleasure?" Her voice was quiet, but thick with curiosity and - he liked to think- pleasure.

"Why, milady, after our last encounter, I took it upon myself to ensure that we met again, to confirm your secure retirement. I trust I have not intruded?" His eyebrows raised, and his eyes flickered to Mary.

Who took the time to toss in her two million dollar bills.

"Well! Bruce, it's nice to meet you. Riley has been useless these past few days, I'm afraid, so I won't at all begrudge your stealing her for a few moments." She whispered conspiratorially "I think it would do her good! She has so been looking forward to seeing you again." Bruce laughed, a rich sound that Riley found she liked.

"In which case," he held the little swiveling half-door open for Riley and, after hanging her apron and brushing flour off her hands and cheeks, she followed him out. "I hear there is a snowman-making competition out in the park, and after witnessing your untold talent - as a member of the skilled few- I thought you might be able to triumph here also."

Riley chuckled softly. "Perhaps it's a hidden talent."

He cast her a curious glance. "You don't know?"

She ducked her head sheepishly. "This is my second year in Gotham, and I grew up elsewhere, where snow didn't stick," she admitted guiltily. He laughed.

"Well, I am sure that you will prove prodigious and inventive. Where do you hail from?" She smiled reminiscently.

"Utah. St George, to be exact. There, we are lucky to get rain, let alone snow. Sometimes, though, I miss the sunshine." She glanced up at him. "It's always sunny. The rainy days each year can be counted on one hand." He looked thoughtful.

"I think I would like that. Here, it is always cloudy, whether rain or just smog. Here we are! It looks like the competition will be stiff, so I really hope your hidden talent is very responsive!" Riley laughed out loud then; their 'stiff competition' was a group of pre-schoolers on a field trip with their teachers! Bruce grabbed her hand and led her to an un-destroyed swath of snow. "They have a strong lead, so we'll have to put up a smart fight if we hope to win!" Bruce sketched out battle-plans in the snow, briefly explaining how to make a snowman. Then, armed with snowballs- just in case- they set out on an epic-ly chilly quest to conquer and emerge victorious.

Two Hours Later

Riley and Bruce re-entered to bakery, faces flushed and both thoroughly encrusted with snow. Mary did a double-take when she saw them, and burst out laughing. They sat down at the counter, and Riley grinned sheepishly. Mary shook her head.

"I suppose you will both want hot chocolate to keep from freezing through?" Bruce, whose hands were swiping snow out of Riley's hair and off of her coat, nodded enthusiastically. Mary briefly considered bringing them one mug with two straws, but reconsidered for Riley's sake. She instead brought out two large mugs - with marshmellows- and straws. Riley was tentatively brushing snow out of Bruce's hair and eyebrows when she came back, and she laughed silently before pulling out a pair of pastries also. She returned just in time.

"Riley, there is this place I would like to show you. It has a beautiful view, and I think you would like it. Would you agree to accompany me tomorrow? It would be just out of Gotham, and if you want to, invite anyone else, but would you agree to come?" His voice sounded eager and slightly worried that she would refuse. Riley looked down, weighing his proposal with caution and eagerness. Slowly, she looked up again. His eyes were pools of anxiety, and she gave a small smile.

"I would love to accompany you. What time, and where?"

"I'll pick you up. How about here, at noon? Is that all right?"

She smiled. "Tomorrow is my day off. Any time you want, I'll be ready." His eyes glowed with this information.

After he had reluctantly left, Riley turned worriedly to Mary.

"Do you think that it's all right? Was I too naive?" Her voice was tight with anxiety.

Mary simply laughed. "Have you read the newspaper lately?" Riley's forehead crinkled.

"Well, not really, but-" Mary cut her off.

"Why didn't you tell me you were dating Bruce Wayne?" Riley looked confused.

"I did, didn't I? I told you his name was Bruce. What's so important?"

Mary shook her head and looked at the ceiling despairingly. "Bruce Wayne? The Prince of Gotham? The hottest billionaire alive? The one face to grace America's Top Ten six times in a row? The biggest womanizer to walk the planet? How could you not recognize him?" Slowly, ever so slowly, recognition dawned on Riley. Her eyes got big and her mouth opened.

"Oh." Her voice was very small. "I suppose that would be quite safe, wouldn't it." For some reason, she sounded a bit wistful.

Mary thought she might sound sad.