A/N: I am so sorry I didn't update yesterday. I was working on a research paper for school (and I got it done, YAY!) and it totally drained my brain of any creative juices. So I hope you like this chapter. On with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Batman, but I do own Annie and Lorraine and I love them so please don't take them.

Chapter 8: Seriously

Annie walked into the office on Monday morning while trying to stifle a yawn. Harley had moved out the day before and Annie helped her move her things. Then Annie, Harley, and Lorraine had a dinner that went on pretty late. Annie went to her desk and sat down, beginning her day. Bruce wasn't expected to come into work so she was surprised when he was standing before her desk. Annie gasped, "Are you some sort of ninja or something?"

Bruce smirked at her, "I'll make sure to make more noise for you next time."

"How kind of you. So what are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here today," said Annie.

"Why not? Do you have a hot date coming?" Bruce asked with a slight edge to his voice. He didn't like thinking about Annie dating losers who didn't treat her right.

"Yes, I'm having a hot office affair with Mr. Fox," Annie quipped sarcastically, noticing the edge that Bruce had. "So, seriously, what are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you," said Bruce.

"Okay," said Annie. She took her hands away from her computer and looked at Bruce. "So what do you want to talk about?"

"Actually, I was wondering if we could talk over dinner," said Bruce.

"Oh," said Annie. She looked a bit awkward.

"You have plans," he stated.

"No, I don't. It's just…well, I don't want to leave my grandma alone. I know I don't have to spend all my time with her, but I love her and she really values family dinners together," Annie explained, biting her bottom lip nervously.

"Then come have dinner with Alfred and me at my home. You can even invite Harley if you want," said Bruce.

"Harley has a date tonight, but grandma and I would love that," Annie said with a huge smile.

Bruce smiled back, "Great, I'll come pick you girls up by six."

"I'll see you then," said Annie. Bruce gave her one last smile and headed out. Annie hurriedly picked up her phone and called Lorraine with an excited look on her face.

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Annie looked at the mirror nervously. She wanted to look good, but not like she was trying to look good. Yeah, it was a dinner at Bruce's place so it should have been casual, but how often does Bruce freakin' Wayne invite girls and their grandmothers to eat at his house with his most trusted friend? "Annie; stop worrying," said Lorraine. "You look fine." Annie was wearing a jean skirt that went down to her knees and a well-fitted purple shirt. She put her hair in a ponytail and waited for Bruce.

"I know, but he's Bruce. He's special and he deserves to be happy," said Annie. "Ugh, I sound like a romance novel." Lorraine shook her head at her granddaughter and looked to the comm. which buzzed when someone wanted to go up to one of the apartments in the building. "I'll get it," Annie said, going to the comm. Pressing the button, she asked, "Who is it?"

"It's Bruce."

"Come on up." After, pressing the next button which opened the door for a short time for visitors, Annie grabbed her purse and was surprised to hear a knock on her door so quickly. She opened and saw Bruce leaning against the door frame.

"Hi," he whispered.

"Hi."

"Bruce, dear, you're so thin. You should really eat more," said Lorraine, coming to the couple. She kissed Bruce's cheek and filed out of the apartment. Annie locked the door and closed it behind her. She and Bruce walked to the elevator where Lorraine was waiting. They got in the elevator and headed out of the building to Bruce's car. He drove them to Wayne Manor. After parking the car, Bruce escorted the ladies into the mansion. He led them to the dining room where Alfred was waiting for everyone. Lorraine's face lit up when she saw him. "Alfred," she greeted enthusiastically.

"My lady," said Alfred. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.

Lorraine blushed and smiled warmly at him. It took all of Annie's will power not to say 'awe.' Bruce and Alfred helped the ladies into their seats and then took their own seats.

"Miss Hallowell, it's a pleasure to see you again," said Alfred.

"It's nice to see you again too and please, call me Annie," she replied. "Everything looks delicious." They were having steak with choices of salad, potatoes, and steamed vegetables.

"Thank you, Mi—Annie," said Alfred, catching his mistake quickly. "Would you all like some wine to go with the meal." They all nodded and Alfred kindly poured a glass of wine for all of them. The group began taking food on their plates and eating.

"Oh, Bruce, put more on your plate. You're too thin," said Lorraine. Bruce smiled and complied, adding more food to his plate. "So, what prompted this dinner together?"

"Annie told me of how you value family dinners and Alfred and I just wanted to get to know you girls better. I'm afraid I have to speak about a little bit of business with Annie later though," Bruce answered.

"That can wait for much later. This is a delicious meal. What recipe did you use?" Lorraine asked Alfred.

"A magician does not reveal his secret and I do not reveal my recipes," said Alfred.

"What a shame. I was hoping we could compare," Lorraine said with a slightly suggestive tone.

Annie, catching on to the conversation, choked on her wine. She coughed and Bruce hurried went to her side. When Annie had control over her breathing he rubbed soothing circles on her back. "Are you okay?" he asked her.

"I'm fine; the wine just went to the wrong place," said Annie. She gave a slight glare to her grandmother who was smiling innocently.

"You always have been so sweet," said Lorraine. Dinner continued and the group was having a marvelous time. When dinner was done, Alfred and Lorraine were spending time together in the kitchen while Bruce took Annie to his study.

"You know, you never did tell me what you wanted to talk to me about," said Annie, looking around the room. It was nice. It almost looked exactly like his office except that bookshelves lined the walls of the room.

"I need your help," Bruce told her. Annie looked at him and cocked her head to the side in confusion.

"What do you need help with?" Annie asked.

"You know that Wayne Enterprises are expanding and so it has been suggested that we build another building for accessibility reasons. Plus they just want another building. So, to build another building I need someone who can design it," Bruce said with a teasing tone.

Annie froze and stared at him with wide eyes. "Do you mean what I think you mean?"

"Well, I can't have some foreign man who carries a little dog with him at all times designing the building," Bruce joked, quoting their first meeting. "I want you to be the architect on this project."

"Bruce, tell me you are not kidding. It would be a really, really, really mean joke if you are kidding," said Annie. Someone pinch her, her dream of being an architect was coming true.

Bruce took her hands in his and looked into her eyes. "I'm not kidding," he told her sincerely, "I truly want you to be the architect in charge of this building."

Without a second thought, Annie pulled Bruce forward into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck while his were wrapped around her waist. They held each other tightly for a moment before letting go only a little bit so that they could see each other's faces. Their breaths mingled and they leaned in. Their lips were barely touching when there was a knock on the door. The two separated and the door opened to reveal Lorraine and Alfred. "Master Bruce, you have an emergency phone call," said Alfred.

"Annie, we should probably go anyways. It's late and you have work tomorrow," said Lorraine.

"We'll be right there," said Bruce. Alfred and Lorraine nodded and left the two alone. Annie and Bruce looked at each other and sighed. "Why is it that every time we almost kiss, we get interrupted and then you have to leave?"

"Because fate is telling you that I'm worth the wait and that you should ask me out properly," said Annie.

"I will ask you, Annie," Bruce promised her.

"I know, Bruce, and I'll be waiting," Annie replied softly. Bruce kissed her cheek and escorted her down to the doors where Alfred and Lorraine were waiting patiently for them.

"I hope we can do this another time, ladies," said Bruce.

"Of course," said Lorraine. Alfred and the girls got into the car to go to their home while Batman left Wayne Manor to protect Gotham for another night.