The next month passed by uneventfully, or should I say gratefully. After two weeks of running programs learning hackers tricks and uploading algorithms I finally cracked Batman's file. I delivered the newly solved flash drive to Batman as quietly as possible. It's crazy but I think he was actually...well, not exactly happy but close enough. Vigilante kept his distance from me, which was probably for the best. Although I was a little disappointed, the man was fun to talk to, but I did talk to Sir Justin. We became decent friends once he loosened up a bit.
The first strange thing to happen in weeks began at nine in the morning. The door bell was ringing right as I was yawning through my cup of coffee. When I answered the door I was greeted by white silver hair, a tie, and British accent.
"Good Morning to you Madam, I hope I haven't disturbed your morning." It was Bruce Wayne's man, I think his name was Alfred. Emma was scurrying behind me trying to see who was at the door. When she did see she cut off my reply to the man.
"O, my gosh. Hi Mr. Alfred how are you." Alfred looked beyond me to wave in a friendly way at Emma.
"Hello to you as well young Miss Heartily." I looked back at Emma and saw she was still in her p.j.s I waved her to go get dressed. Then I turned back to Alfred.
"So, what brings you here Alfred. Is something wrong?" The man was quick to dispel my concern replying in a gentle tone.
"No not at all, I'm simply delivering this." He handed a white envelope to me, which I opened. In the envelope was a bright birthday party invitation. Alfred spoke.
"You see next week is young Master Tim's birthday, and he has requested the presence of you and your daughter. Apparently he thinks she's 'neat for a little girl'." I laughed at the elderly man's use of air quotes, then a thought struck me.
"Which day next week?" Alfred thought just a moment.
"Thursday." I gasped at the coincidence, looking at Alfred's confused face I explained.
"That's Emma's birthday as well." Instead of seeing it was an amazing coincidence Alfred seemed troubled by the news.
"If it is any inconvenience to you I sure that Master Tim will understand you not attending." I interupted him quickly.
"No Alfred this is great. Emma will be ecstatic." Alfred smiled and soon we said our good-byes. Emma came down soon after.
"Did Alfred leave already?" I nodded and she groaned really loud.
"I wanted to say good-bye." I giggled at her.
"That's ok babe, because Alfred was here to invite you to Tim Drake's birthday party." I handed her the invitation as she squealed her head off.
"And its on my birthday too, this is so cool!" She ran off to her room, still squealing.
The next day after work I was sitting at a coffee shop with Jen. When I told her about the party her jaw went slack. It was incredible, I had actually rendered Jen speechless.
"Bruce Wayne! Girl when I said start looking at men I didn't think you'd set your sights so high!" I rolled my eyes at her outburst.
"Jen I'm going with Emma to a little boy's birthday party." Just then my cell phone rang, looking at the caller I.D it was Emma's school. Answering the phone I gasped when I listened to the voice at the other end. Hanging up I told Jen I had to go. As quick as I could I caught a bus and made my way to the school. When I got to the office I saw Emma sitting on a little bench head down.
Her dress had been torn and she was covered in dirt. Coming up to her I put my hand under her chin.
"Emma, young lady look at me." Slowly she lifted her head so I could see her. Her eyes were red and puffy. The lower lip had been busted, and one eye had a bruise blossoming around it. Sighing loudly, I couldn't even find the words except these.
"Wait here while I talk to the principle." She nodded and I went inside to the principles' study.
"I must say Miss Heartily I'm shocked. Emma is normally such a sweet good girl." Nodding my head patiently I asked.
"What exactly happened?" The principle glanced at a piece of paper before answering.
"All I know is that there was an argument with a boy, a few angry words. Next thing you know they're both on the ground hitting and kicking." We discussed a punishment together. Emma was going to have to sit inside for recess all next week. When Emma and I got home I washed Emma's scraps and got ice for her eye.
"Ok little lady, talk. Why were you in a fight?" She looked at me with fearful eyes before answering.
"I was talking about the birthday party and Tommy Hoff called me a liar. I told him to shut up, and he said 'make me' then pinched me really hard. So I hit him and he hit me back." I sighed at her and set her on the counter top.
"Look kid, this Tommy boy was wrong to call you a liar, and even more wrong to pinch you. But you were wrong to hit him. From now on if someone calls you something bad or they try to hurt you, you tell a teacher. Or you tell me. Am I understood?" Emma nodded her head dejectedly.
"Good, now go to your room. I will seriously be considering whether or not I'm letting you go to that party at all." She looked like she was going to argue but she shut her mouth and went to her room.
Next week Emma and I were in a cab going to the birthday party. Of course I was going to let her go, I just wanted her to think about consequences. Looking at her I just prayed that she would make it through the party clean. Her eye was still sporting a nasty bruise, and her hair was brushed back in a pony tail. In her lap was a simple blue gift bag, for Tim.
When we were dropped off in front of Wayne manor we both gasped. The place was huge, it made the White House look like a McDonald's. Taking Emma's hand I walked up to the gate and found a buzzer, I gave it a ring. Almost immediately Alfred's voice came over the speaker.
"Hello Heartily's, one moment please." There was a loud buz as the gate unlocked and swung open. Emma and I walked into the manor. The inside of the mansion seemed twice as huge and rich as the outside. Alfred came forward with a warm smile.
"Good to see you ladies again." He waved toward a door way.
"Through there Miss Heartily you'll find the terrace where the adults are." I looked at him and nodded, while he went to Emma and held out his hand.
"If you would allow me to excort you to the party upstairs young Miss Heartily." Emma took Alfred's hand and called to me.
"Bye momma!" I waved back to her, and called.
"I'll see you soon babe, be good." When they were out of sight I turned to the door and went through. It looked like a cocktail party with people of every size and description. There were couples, single people, rich looking people, and folks that looked nearly poor. Looking around, I eventually found my host, who was talking with a blond man. He caught my eye and he smiled waving me over.
"Good to see you again Ashylin! I wasn't sure you were going to come." The blond man came forward and offered his hand. He was tall and sported a small beard, with a cocky gleam in his eye.
"I don't believe we've met. Oliver Queen at your service." I'd heard of Oliver Queen, millionaire from Star City, and liberal extraordinaire. I guess I should have expected people like Queen and Wayne to rub elbows, but I couldn't stop my next words.
"Your along way from Star City aren't you Mr. Queen?" Queen shrugged.
"Tim invited my foster son Roy, and Bruce invited me. Guess he thought if Tim gets a party he should to." We both laughed and Bruce scowled at Queen. He put an arm around Queen's shoulder and said to me.
"Would you please exuse us?" Then he steered Queen away talking quietly. I giggled at Queen's put out expression. Suddenly a hand appeared beside me holding a glass flute. I took it gently and turned to face whoever it was. It was a man I'd never seen before.
"Thought you looked a little parched ma'am." He had a soft voice with a gentle western twang.
"Thank you." I said taking a sip from the glass trying to find something intelligent to say. The man was extremely handsome. He had black hair and deep brown eyes, with a little stubble like he'd forgotten to shave that morning. The man shook my hand and introduced us.
"Greg Sanders, nice to meet you."
"Ashylin Heartily." I said quietly, suddenly very shy without knowing why. Sanders invited me to a seat before speaking.
"So are you here for Bruce's party or Tim's?" Seating down I responded to the handsome stranger.
"A little of both, my girls at the party." Everything clicked after that, we were just talking back and forth. It must have been about two hours we talked until Alfred showed up to tell Bruce that the kids were ready for cake. He immediately excused himself and a couple of people followed him, I guess they were the parents. I stood to follow them turning back to Greg.
"Sorry I don't want to miss this." Greg stood with a big smile on his face.
"Nonsense, I'm comin to. I've loved birthdays since I was a kid." So we went into the mansion to a large dinning hall. Where all the kids were seated at a large dinner table. With a large cake sitting in front of the now thirteen year old Tim Drake. Before he blew out his candles he leaned up to Bruce and whispered in his ear. Bruce smiled and nodded to him. Clearing his throat Wayne asked everyone for attention.
"Everybody before we continue, I would like to acknowledge another birthday." The people whispered to themselves, while I was grinning to myself. Bruce continued after he pulled a seat up next to Tim.
"Emma could you sit here?" Emma came forward slowly and sat down, Tim smiled at her in a way that said he had a secret. Bruce spoke again.
"Little Emma here turns six today and Tim and I thought it would be nice to do a little something, Alfred." Alfred came out of a back door holding a small cake decorated with purple flowers and six little candles. Emma gasped aloud as Alfred set the little cake in front of her. At the same time Emma and Tim closed their eyes and blew out their candles. I caught Bruce's eye and smiled at him, he gave me thumbs up. Greg turned to me.
"So Emma's yours?"
"Yeah." I told him simply. I watched Emma tuck into her cake and try to talk to Tim at the same time. Along side them was a red-haired boy that was probably a few years older then Tim. It wasn't long before everyone was full of cake and ready to go home. Soon Emma came up to me with a little yawn.
"'Bout ready to go babe?" She nodded her head and looked at Greg curiously. He smiled at her gently.
"So your Emma huh?" Emma nodded shyly. Greg knealed down to here height.
"My name's Greg."
"Hello Mr. Greg." Emma replied quietly. Greg smiled at her before speaking again.
"Happy birthday little miss. Wait one moment..." Greg slowly reached behind Emma's ear and pulled out a little pink flower. Emma gasped aloud, and I giggled at her.
"Ok kid, go say you good-bye's." With that she was off. I turned to Greg impressed.
"You do have a way with children." He shrugged uncertainly.
"I like kids, wish I knew more of 'em." Regretfully I said good-bye to Greg. Found Bruce to say good-bye, wish Tim a happy birthday, and of course thank Alfred. Before I knew it Emma and I were back in a cab heading home. I looked at Emma who was holding a box that had the rest of her cake.
"Did you have fun babe." She nodded enthusiastically.
"We played laser tag, but Roy said I couldn't cause I was just a little girl." I frowned a little at the name.
"Which one was Roy?" Emma replied without hesitation.
"He's Tim's friend, the tall red haired one." I nodded understanding now. She continued at her constant speed.
"Guess what. I got him out in the first round. He didn't say I was just a little girl after that." I laughed along with her. Then she turned to me.
"What about you momma? Did you make any friends?" I caught a glimpse of the pink flower tucked in her hair. That made my mind jump to Greg and his handsome smile. I grinned at the memory.
"Yeah, I think I did."
Wow, this is a long one. I know that I may have messed around with the time line with Roy Harper. Sorry that's just how it is. In my story Roy and Oliver have just had their falling out.
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