A/N: Hey everybody, thanks so much for reading this. Thank you to all who reviewed, I tried very hard to remember all that you said when writing this chapter so that you would happy too. Um…I think that's everything. So on with the show! Or, technically, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I swear, I do not own anything that belongs to the Batman franchise/empire/enterprise (whichever adjective floats your boat). I do not own the actors (though how amazing would that be?), but I do own Annie and some others who will be coming up.

Chapter 2: Visitors

After a few weeks (and happy dances), Annie fell into a regular pattern at Wayne Enterprises. She would schedule meetings for Bruce, take his phone calls, and she even made a few friends along the way. Her first friend was Katelyn "Katie" Baird who was the personal secretary of Mr. Lucius Fox. Katie was currently sitting on Annie's desk while Mr. Fox and Mr. Wayne were in a meeting with some CEOs from a company. "Why do you always insist on sitting on my desk? I feel like Mr. Sheffield from The Nanny," Annie asked her friend as she typed away on the computer.

"You want me to raise your kids? Won't they be screwed up enough with you as their mom?" Katie joked.

Annie gave her an indignant look, "I think you are confusing the two of us again. I know you want to be like me, but really; you should be your own person." The doors of Bruce's office opened and Bruce was coming out with Lucius and the potential business partners. Everyone was smiling and shaking hands so Annie figured that the deal was on.

"I wouldn't mind being my own person with Bruce Wayne," Katie muttered in Annie's ear. Annie's eyes widened in shock.

"Katie!"

"What? Have you not seen the man from the behind? If you haven't, I find that hard to believe be since you have the best view as his secretary," said Katie.

"Katelyn, could you come here please? We need to know when we have a free spot for another meeting," called Lucius.

"Coming, Mr. Fox," said Katie. She got off Annie's desk and went to Lucius with her black planner which had become her life force.

"Hey, Annie," said Bruce, coming to her desk.

"Files on the Earle Company?" Annie offered, holding the folders out to him. Bruce smiled and took them from her and began to read them while leaning against her desk.

"My old business 'partner' seems to up to a lot of things nowadays," Bruce commented lightly. He closed the file and looked at her, "Will you come into my office please?" Without waiting for her reply he got up and when to his office. Annie got up from her chair and began to walk to his office before she stopped and looked at Katie who was walking away with Lucius.

"Hey, Katie!" Annie called.

Katie turned around and looked at Annie with a curious expression.

"You're right. I do have the best view," she said with a wink. Katie smirked and walked away while Annie entered Bruce's office. He was sitting at his desk while going over the files again. Annie sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk and asked, "What's up boss?"

"I'm having a charity fundraiser for the local schools in Gotham and I was wondering if you were coming," said Bruce. "It's on Saturday, remember?"

"Of course I remember, but I can't go. I'm visiting my mom on Saturday," said Annie.

"You can't visit her a different time?" Bruce asked in disappointment. Annie was fun to have around and Bruce had talked about her so much that Alfred wanted to meet her.

"No, I really can't. She's in the as-hospital. She's in the hospital. She's been sick for awhile so I really want to go visit her. I've missed her," Annie said, unable to believe that she almost slipped about her mom being in Arkham. If Bruce knew, he'd probably fire her in an instant. No one wants the daughter of a nut working for them. Besides, it just made people feel sorry for you and Annie didn't want to be pitied.

Bruce, still a bit stung that she could come, understood. If it was a choice between going to a party with a bunch of stuck up snobs and visiting his sick mom or even seeing his mom again; he would chose his mom in a heartbeat. He sincerely told her, "I hope she gets better soon."

Annie smiled, but he noticed it didn't reach her eyes, "I hope so too…So, why did you want those files about Mr. Earle's company?"

"I like knowing what my competition is up to," said Bruce.

"You like taking the mystery out of life, don't you?"

"Well…I like surprise parties."

"As long as you are in on the surprise."

Bruce smiled, "You've caught me."

They shared a small laugh before Annie sighed. "I should probably get back to my desk. I can't leave that phone unattended to. Who knows who wants to call Bruce Wayne?"

"Go on. I'll talk to you later," said Bruce.

"No problem," said Annie. "I'll see you when you leave." She got up and left his office to go to her desk. Annie sighed as she sat down. "I wish I could go to that party, Bruce," she whispered into the air. Shaking herself out of her depressing mood, Annie went back to work hoping that Saturday wouldn't come.

Annie had to pay an extra 10 bucks to the cab driver to get him to drive her to Arkham Asylum. She didn't blame him for it. Arkham was in the narrows and no one liked travelling there to visit anyone in Arkham, but Annie made a promise and she was going to keep it. After paying the cab driver, she got out of the cab and stared at Arkham Asylum. It was really depressing looking with its moldy, grey walls and iron gates. It looked more like a prison, but the people were nice and Annie could afford to have her mother (Belle Hallowell) there. Annie entered the place and went to the front desk where her favorite clerk, Rhonda, was looking. "Hey, Rhonda," said Annie.

Rhonda, a middle aged African-American woman, started working at Arkham when Annie brought her mother there. She attended to Belle and always made sure she was happy which really took a lot of weight off of Annie's shoulders. "Hello, little darlin.' I take it you're here to visit mama today?"

"Aren't I always?" Annie asked with an easy smile.

"Still haven't improved the wardrobe I see," Rhonda commented. Annie looked down at her baggy jeans that were held tightly to her waist by a belt and yellow shirt.

Annie shrugged her shoulders as she looked back at Rhonda, "Laundry day."

"You should buy smaller clothes or at least eat more to fill out the clothes you've got. You're so skinny," Rhonda said, eying Annie's waist distastefully.

"This is why you're my favorite," Annie replied, smiling. Rhonda gave her a wink and a pass to go to the visiting center of Arkham. Annie walked the familiar path and entered the room where her mother was sitting at a table, playing with cards. "Bonjour, maman," said Annie.

Belle Hallowell had come to American from France and had made sure that her children knew everything about the homeland. She had such pride and passion for her home and it enhanced her beauty. Belle was pale and her golden hair made her look like an angel. The green eyes that Annie inherited were pure, but dull with her medication that the doctors gave her. Belle suffered from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and had terrible nightmares that resulted in her almost murdering because of her fear. For that, she was put into Arkham Asylum.

Belle looked up at her daughter and lit up. "Annette ! Je suis si content que vous êtes venu me visiter aujourd'hui ! Je vous ai manqué." Annette! I'm so glad that you came to visit me today! I've missed you.

Annie sat down in the chair across from her mother and smiled, "Comment je ne pourrais pas visiter ? Je vous ai manqué aussi. Comment avez-vous été ?" How could I not visit? I've missed you too. How have you been?

"Eh, la vie a été meilleure et cet a été pire. J'ai eu moins de cauchemars. Les médecins pensent qu'ils peuvent abaisser mes médicaments." Eh, life has been better and it's been worse. I've been having less nightmares. The doctors think they can lower my medication.

"Cela est grande maman. Je suis heureux pour vous. " That's great mom. I'm happy for you.

Belle shook her head and took Annie's hand into hers and said in a think, French accent, "Your French eez ztill pretty, my love."

"I learned from the best. Your English had gotten better. Have they been working with you about pronunciation again?" asked Annie.

"Yeah, Rhonda 'as been very good to me," said Belle.

"I'll make her some cookies to tell her thanks," said Annie.

Belle laughed, "You never change, my love. Ztill zo zweet. 'Ow eez your zizter?"

"She's coming back to Gotham. She'll be staying with me for a few weeks until she can find her own place. She got a job here, actually. You'll be seeing her a lot more often," Annie said with a fond smile, thinking of her little sister.

"Your grandmozer eez alzo coming to Gozam zoon. Ze eez excited to zee you," said Belle. Her smile began to fade and she gripped Annie's hands tighter.

"Mom?" Annie asked, fearful of another attack.

"'Ow did you find me you devil?" Belle screamed.

"Doctor!" Annie yelled, looking around the room for someone to help her mom.

"Why are you 'urting me? Stop! Don't 'it my girlz. No! NO!" Belle fell to the ground, curling into a ball as she sobbed. A doctor rushed into the room and gave her a sedative. Belle relaxed immediately and was carried to her room. Annie wiped the few tears that escaped and took the tissue that Dr. Marissa Dowd offered her.

"She still has nightmares about him hitting us?" Annie asked dismally.

"Annie, there's no easy way to say this…I don't think your mother will ever be able to get her old life back. Yes, she's able to carry on hours at a time without an attack, but the nightmares are worse than ever," said Marissa.

Annie wiped away a few more tears and chuckled darkly, "Then I guess we shouldn't lessen her medication." Shaking her head, she stood, and began to pace around the room. Marissa looked on sadly. She knew how hard it was for families to cope with a loved one's mental problems. It was especially hard when you had to do it alone. Luckily, Marissa hired Annie's sister, knowing that it would be a comfort for both daughters and their mother. "Well, doc, thanks for taking care of her…and thanks for giving my sister a job. I think I'll just go," said Annie.

"Of course," Marissa said understandingly. Annie walked back to the front desk and gave her pass back to Rhonda.

"So the gossip is that your sister is coming to work here," said Rhonda.

"She is. She's coming to Gotham next week," said Annie. "Well, I gotta go. Bye, Rhonda." Annie almost made it to the doors when Rhonda called out to her.

"Wait! What's your sister's name?" asked Rhonda.

Annie turned around and answered, "Harleen Quinzel." Annie went home and continued on with her day.