Thank you so much to anyone still reading! I know my updates aren't as frequent as you and myself would like, so thanks for stick with me. I do hope to post a new chapter once a month at the very least, so stay tuned guys!

And without further delay here's the new chapter. Enjoy and remember any comment, criticism or correction will be appreciated since this fic is unbetaed.

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Chapter IV: Nightmare.

Alfred turned yet another page in the book he was reading, sitting at the small desk by the window. At the moment, he was in the room young Master Bruce referred to as Alfred's, much to the butler's dismay.

The room did not belong to him, of course. Alfred's quarters were located far from the master and guest bedrooms. The bedroom he was currently in was the closest to the young Master's bedroom -in addition to the master bedroom, located on the other side of Master Bruce's- as he had been assigned to do when Mrs. and Mr. Wayne had to leave the Manor after Master Bruce's bedtime.

The bed was neatly made and untouched, just like it always stayed whenever Alfred used the room. The butler had never even sat on it, much less sleep as the Waynes had suggested more than a couple of times. Alfred had also been expressly told he wasn't expected to stay awake until the Waynes' return. That, of course, hadn't stopped him from doing so. He went down to meet them at the door every time and only then did he go back to his quarter and prepared to go to sleep.

That was how it supposed to be. It was his duty.

The soft sound of the grandfather clock chiming midnight could be heard as Alfred placed a bookmark in between the pages before closing the book and placing it on the desk. Alfred stood up from the chair, straightening the jacket of his suit before walking to the tall windows overlooking the gardens and, further away, the driveway. He pulled away the curtain, looking through the window.

Alfred was still standing there a few minutes later when he heard a small, muffled noise. The butler straightened, eyebrows drawn together as he moved away from the window. He was not sure what the sound had been, but he hurried to go to the room next door and ensure the young Master was well and asleep.

The butler had just turned the knob, pulling the door of Master Bruce's room open, when he heard the noise again. A soft, muffled groan. Alfred stepped inside, the soft light coming from the hallway behind him providing enough light for him to watch the small form tossing under the covers. A small whisper escaped the young boy's mouth, prompting Alfred to continue his way to the boy's bedside.

"Master Bruce." The butler called softly, shaking the small shoulder gently. The frown on the boy's face deepened further, but there was no other reaction. Alfred shook him more firmly. "Wake up, young sir."

Bleary hazel eyes shot open and Bruce struggled to sit up breathing heavily, small legs tangled in the sheets.

"It's all right, Master Bruce. You had a bad dream." Alfred hesitated only for a moment before reaching out to brush sweaty locks of dark hair away from the boy's forehead. He then proceeded to straighten the sheets. "You are awake now."

Bruce rubbed his eyes with a hand, the other hugging the stuffed bear he had been sleeping with closer to his body as he sat up. "Where's Mom?"

"I'm afraid your parents have not yet returned, sir." Bruce blinked confusedly at him, so Alfred added, "The fundraiser for the Police Department was taking place tonight. Do you remember?"

Small, dark eyebrows knitted together and after a moment Bruce nodded, sighing softly and letting his shoulders slump slightly.

Alfred straightened, shifting almost imperceptibly where he stood. He knew the young Master had nightmares occasionally, of course, but had not yet been in a position to act upon them, so he was at a loss as to what exactly he should do now.

Bruce's breath had slowed down back to a normal rhythm as he sat quietly, stuffed bear still hugged close to his chest. Alfred cleared his throat, making him lift his eyes.

"Perhaps you would like some warm milk, sir."

Bruce blinked up at him. "Yes. Yes, please."

Alfred refrained from sighing in relief, giving a curt nod instead. "Very well. I shall-"

"Wait!"

The shout stooped Alfred just as the butler had started to turn around to leave the room. He met wide hazel eyes from under tousled dark hair.

"I... sorry. I just-" Bruce chewed his lower lip, gaze not quite meeting Alfred's. "Can I come with you? Please."

Alfred smiled kindly at the boy. "Of course you may, Master Bruce."

Bruce gave Alfred a tiny smile before swing his legs over the edge of the bed and slipping his feet into a pair of slippers. He stood, reaching back for the stuffed bear on the bed.

The small boy came to stand beside him, reaching over and sliding his hand into Alfred's as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Closing his fingers around the small hand, the butler had to acknowledge to a certain fondness at the small gesture. He smiled down at the top of the dark-haired boy's head.

They walked through the hallway and down the stairs at a quiet pace, the soft sound of their footsteps the only noise heard.

Alfred turned on the light switch as they stepped into the kitchens, making Bruce blink at the sudden light before his eyes adjusted and he looked around. It was strange, seeing the commonly busy and sometimes even chaotic kitchens so quiet and empty.

"Wait here, young sir. I shall get your milk."

Bruce nodded even though Alfred's back was already turned as he walked toward the fridge to pull out the milk. He pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and climbed into it, placing his stuffed bear over his lap. He watched Alfred move round the kitchen, heating the milk on the stove and then pouring it into two glasses.

The butler turned around, bringing the glasses to the table and sliding one of them toward Bruce. "Be careful, sir. It is quite warm."

"Thanks, Alfred." Bruce hesitated a moment before placing his bear in the chair next to his, and only then did he carefully reach for the glass, cradling it between his small hands.

Alfred did not sit down, instead walking back to the counter and coming back with a small plate with two chocolate chip cookies that he placed in front of the young boy.

Bruce blinked down at the plate before looking at Alfred with curious hazel eyes. "I'm not supposed to eat cookies so late."

"I think we can make an exception this time, Master Bruce." The butler replied as he sat down in the chair to the young boy's side.

A small smile curled Bruce's lips as he reached for one of the cookies, stopping just as he was about to take a bite. He looked down at the remaining cookie before pushing the plate toward Alfred.

"You can eat one if you want." Bruce said, shrugging at the look Alfred was giving him.

"Thank you, young sir." The butler said after a moment, reaching for the cookie and taking a small bite.

It wasn't until all that was left of the cookies were crumbs and almost half of the milk was gone from the glasses that Alfred talked again.

"Master Bruce," The butler waited until Bruce meet his gaze. "Would you like to talk about the dream you had, sir?"

Bruce's small frame stiffened, eyes flickering away as he shook his head in denial.

"Very well, sir." Alfred murmured, noticing the small boy looking at him warily out of the corner of his eye. He, of course, would have rather the young Master had agreed to talk, even if he was not sure what he would have replied had he done so.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the sound of their breath and the faint hum of the fridge the only noise in the kitchen. Bruce's slim shoulders relaxed little by little when no further questions or prompting to talk came from the butler until he was completely at ease, taking comfort in Alfred's silence and secure presence at his side.

Alfred wasn't sure how much time had passed when the faint sound of the lock on the front door rattled briefly, drawing his attention.

"I believe your parents have returned, Master Bruce."

The young boy was out of his chair and running out the kitchens before Alfred even finished speaking, making the butler shake his head, smiling as the small back disappeared from sight. He stood up, taking the forgotten stuffed bear with him as he followed the young Master's steps at a more sedated pace.

Alfred had not yet reached the foyer when he heard the faint sound of Mrs. Wayne's surprised voice asking her son why he was awake. He did not hear a reply from the young boy, but perhaps it had been too low.

"Madam, sir." The butler greeted the couple standing in the foyer as he walked to Mrs. Wayne's side to help her out of her coat. Master Bruce was in his father's arms, his small dark head resting on Mr. Wayne' shoulder.

"Alfred." Thomas greeted him with a nod, while Martha murmured a thank you, giving Alfred a consternated look; an unspoken question in the woman's eyes.

The butler bowed slightly, taking the coat and draping it over his arm. "Master Bruce awoke a moment ago and was accompanying me in the kitchens. Were you not, sir?"

Bruce turned his head, blinking at Alfred before nodding softly against his father's shoulder.

Martha smiled, reaching out to ruffle her son's dark hair affectionately. "Well, little man. I think it's time for you to go back to bed now."

"Why don't you say good night to Alfred, son?" Thomas murmured against the boy's forehead before dropping a kiss.

"Night, Alfred." Bruce murmured, head lifted slightly.

"Good night, Master Bruce. But I do believe you are forgetting something, sir." Alfred said, lifting the stuffed bear to the young boy's line of sight.

Bruce reached for the bear immediately, hugging it to his body. Soft hazel eyes met Alfred's gaze again. "Thank you, Alfred."

"You're quite welcome, young sir." The butler bowed, turning to the boy's parents. "Good night, madam, sir."

The Waynes bid Alfred good night before slowly walking up the stairs together, the soft murmur of their voices as they talked to their son fading as they moved further away.

Alfred stood at the bottom of the stairs until the small family was out of sight.

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a/n: Please let me know what you think! This chapter marks the first apparition of Bruce's parents, and I can tell you they would be coming back in the next chapter :)