I want to thank Vinatgegirl1912 and Rosabelleee for their reviews! They make me so happy. I'd also like to thank everyone who has added this story to their favorites and alerts list! Now I shall let you all get to reading. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I still don't own anything related to Batman. Nor do I own Zac Brown Band's song Chicken Fried or Within Temptation's song Memories, just my lovely OC's.
Makenna sat at a desk in the back of the Gotham City library. She was scanning over the information she printed, highlighter and pen in hand. Her eyes flicked back and forth rapidly from page to page. Every now and then she would highlight and circle things that either made no sense and things to look up. Makenna reached and picked up her cell phone vibrating on the wooden table top. Without looking at who was calling she flipped it open and brought it to her ear.
"Hello?"
"Where the hell are you Makenna? I thought we were painting Katy's room today?" Brooke asked.
Makenna looked at the time on the phone and groaned. Three hours went by quickly when you're engrossed in your work. "I'm at the library. I guess I got carried away. You go ahead and get started I'm on my way."
She hung up and tossed the phone into her messenger bag and started gathering her papers; stuffing them into the bag. The sound of footsteps close by caught her attention along with a whispered voice.
"I thought you saw her come in here." It whispered harshly.
"I did! She must be somewhere in the back." Another whispered.
"Find her. The boss wants to see her alive." A third man whispered.
Makenna softly cursed. She recognized one of the voices, Darren. She saw a shadow and ran toward an aisle of books. When she didn't hear anything, she glanced around the corner to see a man in black standing in front of the table she vacated. He turned in her direction just as Makenna quickly hide again.
"She's not here." He whispered a little louder. Makenna's phone fell out of her bag and hit the wooden floor loudly.
"Shit…"she whispered quickly picking up the phone. The man heard the noise and went to investigate. He approached the aisle and pulled out a gun before entering the aisle. Nothing was there. He grunted and walked away. Makenna's heart beat rapidly.
"I've got to get out of here." She said scanning the other end of the library. The three men were at the far left end of the library, nowhere near her position. Taking a deep breath she walked along the side wall where more desks and people sat. Aisle of books provided cover for her as she made her way to the entrance of the library. She sent a smile at the librarian behind the counter and slipped out the door. Makenna made it halfway down the sidewalk when she was seen.
"There she is! Come on get her!" one of the men shouted.
Makenna swore and took off down the sidewalk dodging people as she ran. The messenger bag slapped against the back of her legs as she ran. She glanced behind her to see where the men where, but quickly sped up. She looked around for a place to hide but found none. So she approached a group of people standing on the curb and looked back and forth across the street. No cars were coming so she took her chance to cross only to hear the screech of tires on pavement. Her head whipped around to see a familiar car fast approaching. The driver slammed on the brakes at the last minute causing Makenna to jump on the hood of the car.
"Whoa…I still got it." She smiled before glaring at the driver. The driver side door opened as Bruce got out and leaned on the door. Makenna's glare disappeared when she saw who it was. A shout caught her attention as the men from the library found her.
"I'm sorry I can't stay and chat. I'm currently being chased. See ya!" Makenna said jumping off the hood of the car and running down the street. She zigzagged between cars when one stopped right in front of her.
The passenger side door opened to reveal Bruce. "Get in."
Makenna hopped in and slammed the door just as Bruce hit the gas. She turned around and looked out the back window of the car to see the men and Darren standing in the middle of the street. She turned back around and faced the front trying to catch her breath.
"I thought you were on a business trip." She said looking at Bruce.
Bruce glanced over at her and smirked. "I just got back when you ran out in front of my car."
"There was no car coming when I started crossing. You just appeared out of nowhere thank you very much."
Bruce pulled into the garage of Makenna's penthouse and put the car in park. Makenna opened her door and exited the car. She leaned down to look at Bruce and smiled. "Thank you for helping me out back there."
"Who were those men?" he asked smirk disappearing from his face.
Makenna looked at him and sighed. "I only knew one of the men. His name is Darren, my sister's ex-husband."
"Do you know what he wants?" Bruce asked.
"No idea. All I know is he called my sister last night threatening to hunt her down. That's all I know…I got to go. I'm still waiting for that call from Mister Fox." She said with a smile as she closed the door.
Bruce smirked as he waited for her to enter the elevator before leaving.
"I'm back!" Makenna shouted as she placed her back on the table. Maggie came running out and jumping at Makenna's leg. Makenna reached down and pet the puppy and scratched behind her ears. Maggie barked and led her to Katy's room where the smell of paint was strong. Brooke was showing Katy the proper way to paint when Makenna entered.
"Aunt Kenna mommy's going to let me help you two paint my room!" Katy beamed holding the paint brush.
Makenna pulled off her sweatshirt and tossed it onto the hallway floor. She grabbed a paint roller, dipped it into the paint and started painting. Brooke turned on the stereo letting the music float through the room. Zac Brown Band's song Chicken Fried came on and Brooke and Makenna turned to each other smiling. They sang along with smiles on their faces while they painted. Katy giggled at the women as they singed and danced around.
The painting took them longer than expected due to dancing and singing. They eventually finished and looked at their handiwork. The walls were now a light purple color the last thing that needed to be done was the chalkboard paint. Makenna was left to paint the final wall as Brooke and Katy ordered food and went to pick it up. She turned to the iPod dock and searched through the songs. When she found the one she wanted, she hit play and opened the paint can. The sound of a violin played as the song started. Makenna went to painting the wall and singing along when the chorus came on.
All of my memories keep you near
In silent moments, imagine you'd be here
All of my memories keep you near
Your silent whispers, silent tears
Made me promise I'd try
To find my way back in this life
I hope there is a way
To give me a sign you're okay
Remind me it's worth it all
So I can go home
Makenna hummed the rest of the song as she reminisced about her parents and all the good times they had. She laughed when she remembered the first time her and Brooke painted a room.
"That's not how you do it Makenna!" Brooke said.
"Oh please I know exactly how to paint and this is how you do it!" Makenna replied rolling the paint roller up and down the wall. Something wet hit the back of her head. She reached a hand up to her hair and pulled away revealing cream colored paint. She turned around to look at her sister only to find her painting another wall.
An evil grin appeared on Makenna's face. She grabbed a nearby paint brush, dipped it in the paint and walked up to her sister. She tapped her should causing Brooke to turn around and swiped the paint brush across her face.
"You're going to pay for that." Brooke warned.
The grin was still plastered on Makenna's face when a paint brush hit her in the face. She ran a hand over her face removing some of the paint. Brooke smirked only to have a glob of paint hit the front of her shirt.
"It's on now." Brooke said sticking her hand in the paint can.
"Bring it." Makenna replied copying her sister's movements. Their parents were nowhere to be seen. They had left to pick up some more paint. When they came home the hear shouts and screams coming from the back room. As they ran to the room they stopped in their tracks and laughed at the scene.
Brooke and Makenna were rolling around on the floor; paint brushes in their hands and hit one another with it. Needless to say the room was covered in paint, including the ceiling. Brook pinned Makenna to the floor and laughed in victory. The sound of laughter made them both stop what they were doing and look towards the door. They froze seeing their parents standing there with their hands over their mouths.
"Uh oh…"Brooke said.
"We're in trouble." Makenna finished.
They were expecting to be yelled at when their parent's broke out into a fit of laughter.
"Makenna we're back!" Brooke shouted from the kitchen. Makenna shook her head and looked at the wall. She finished painting while replaying the memory. After placing the paint brush in a bucket she walked into the kitchen. The smell of Chinese food floated around the air. She walked over and picked up her container and a fork, and then sat at the table.
"Still don't know how to use chopsticks huh?" Brooke said motioning to the fork.
Makenna shot a playful glare at her and shrugged. "I never could learn how to hold them so I gave up. They make good decorations."
The three sat and ate exchanging small talk when Brooke asked Makenna about her dinner with Bruce.
"So how did it go last night?" she asked with a smile.
"It was good. We ate, talked and then he asked me if I wanted dessert." Makenna answered nonchalantly.
"And did you say yes?"
Makenna shook her head earning a look from her sister. "You called me right after he asked. Then I came home."
"Oh I see. Sorry about that."
"Don't worry about it. He understood. Besides he offered me a job…" she trailed off.
Brooke dropped her chopsticks as her mouth dropped at the information. Makenna looked up confused.
"What?"
"Did you take the job?" Brooke asked.
Makenna nodded her head. Her sister squealed with delight and jumped up and hugged Makenna. Brooke went on to ask her when she starts and what she was going to be doing. Katy continued to eat and watched the two. The phone started ringing, that was Makenna's chance to escape her questioning sister, but Katy jumped up and answered it.
"Hello?" she said. She walked over and held the phone out to Makenna. "It's for you Aunt Kenna."
Makenna took the phone from Katy and shooed her sister away.
"This is Makenna."
"Hello this is Lucius Fox from Wayne Enterprises."
"Oh yes, of course. How are you?"
"I am quite alright. I wanted to let you know your first day will be Thursday. I'll meet you in the lobby and show you your office. I look forward to meeting and working with you Miss Abshire." Lucius said.
"Thank you. I look forward to meeting you too." Makenna replied.
"Oh and Miss Abshire, wear something nice. I suspect Mister Wayne will want to see you also. Good bye."
Makenna hung up and looked at her sister. Brooke finished her food and was trying to listen to Makenna's conversation. She took a drink from her glass and wiped her mouth.
"I know you're going to say yes, but will you help me pick out something to wear for Thursday? I will be starting at Wayne Enterprises…" Makenna said before being hugged by her sister.
"Of course what would you do without me?" Brooke squealed dragging Makenna to her room.
"What have I gotten myself into…" she groaned sitting on her bed.
Brooke went through Makenna's closet again picking out a couple outfits. Sure she still had two days until she started, but she wanted to be prepared. Makenna dodged a stray shoe flying from her sister's hand.
"Why do you still have all of these suits? They just won't do. We'll have to go shopping tomorrow and get you some new clothes." Brooke said fingering through the many pencil skirt and pant suits.
Makenna groaned and fell on her back already regretting asking her sister for help. If there was one thing she hated it was shopping.
The next day Makenna found herself at the mall. Brooke was walking ahead looking into every store window. Katy held Makenna's hand looking around. Makenna was overcome with another yawn as she remembered getting barely any sleep. She was visited by Batman again. How he kept getting into her room she had no idea and he said no more than three words to her before placing a folder on her desk. She had spent most of the night looking through the file he left and was amazed that he had found more information on Darren, including his ties to the mob.
Brooke grabbed Makenna's arm and dragged her and Katy into another store eliciting a groan from Makenna. Brooke went through the racks and grabbed every fancy shirt, pants and skirts she could find, and then pushed Makenna to the dressing rooms.
Three hours later and they were back home, hands filled with clothing and shoe bags. Makenna dropped the bags and fell face first onto the couch. Maggie jumped onto her back and lay down.
"I am never going shopping with you again." Makenna said into the couch.
"Come on it wasn't that bad!" Brooke said sitting down with Katy in her lap. The little girl held her new doll.
Makenna lifted her head and glared at her sister who laughed. She put her head back down on the couch and groaned into the fabric earning a bark from Maggie. Makenna sat like that for a few more minutes before sitting up and heading to her room to put everything away. She would spend the rest of the day relaxing and organizing her room. She looked around; her desk was a mess it was a miracle she could find anything on it. Clothes littered the floor from being thrown from her closet the previous night. She started picking up her clothes and hanging them in her closet. She tossed her shoes in the closet not caring where they ended up.
Once everything was in its proper place Makenna worked on her desk. She placed the folder of information on the bed making sure she didn't throw it away. The top of the desk was organized and cleaned so she moved on to the drawers. Pulling one open she groaned, why did she have to be such a pack rat? Makenna pulled her garbage can close and started throwing old papers and notebooks away. There was a knock at her door before it opened.
"Aunt Makenna what are you doing?" Katy asked walking into the room.
"I'm just organizing my desk and getting rid of some stuff. Would you like to help?" Makenna asked.
"Sure!" Katy skipped over and listened as her aunt told her what to throw away and what to keep. They each worked on a drawer when Katy found an old jewelry box. She opened it up, looking inside.
"Wow that's pretty." She said.
Makenna looked over and smiled. She forgot where she had put that. She put the papers back in the drawer she was working on and grabbed the box from Katy. A silver necklace with a ring on the chain sat on the bottom. There was an assortment of old jewelry that her grandmother had given her when she was younger. Brooke had one just like it. Katy looked into the box as Makenna pulled the necklace out.
"This ring belonged to your great grandmother and this one belonged to your grandpa." Makenna told Katy pulling out another ring.
Makenna unclasped the necklace and placed it around Katy's neck. She smiled as the younger girl looked at the ring. Katy looked up at her aunt and asked, "Can I keep it?"
"Of course I was planning on giving it to you as a birthday present. Speaking of which your birthday is in a couple weeks, is there anything special you want to do?" Makenna asked.
"Could we go back to that restaurant you took mommy and I too last time?" Katy asked looking up from the ring.
Makenna smiled and nodded. Katy hugged her aunt and ran to tell me mom and show her the ring. Makenna turned back to the box and pulled out another silver chain putting her father's wedding ring on it. She then put the necklace on and held the ring in her palm.
"I miss you dad and I promise I will find the person responsible for your death; even if it kills me." Makenna said grasping the necklace.
Whoa eight…pages. That is a new record for me. Don't forget to review!