Bruce walked into the room and looked around for her. She laid there, tucked in the sheets. She looked so peaceful. Her dark curly hair rested softly on his pillow, air dried and messy. He loved that she wore his clothes to bed.

He wanted so bad to wake her, and tell her what he had don; What Batman did to Mark. He knew that he could never tell her, no matter how bad he wanted to. He stripped down to his boxer-briefs, and climbed in next o her and reached out to hold her tightly. She woke at his touch and turned to face him.

"Bruce?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"It's so late."

"I know."

"I'm glad you're here. I missed you."

Bruce rolled onto his back and smiled. Lela rested her head on his chest and curled up next to him. He kissed her forehead and soaked up how good it felt to have her next to him, waiting to see him. She threw her arm over him. He flinched from a few bruised ribs from his second "job". For the next few hours they just slept there, next to one another. Both of them dreamed of one another. Nothing but happy thoughts, for the first time in a long time.

…

In the morning she woke to an empty bed, once again. It was Saturday, so she thought they could sleep in together for once. She threw her head back down on the pillow and covered her face with her hands.

Bruce burst into the room with a tray of food.

"Good morning." He was up-beat.

"Mmmm, coffee."

"Alfred made us some breakfast."

She sat up in bed as he sat the tray in front of her. She took a bite of toast with some strawberry preserve on it. She smiled," God I love his cooking."

"Maybe you should get use to it." Bruce cut off a piece of pancake with some fresh berries on it and took a bite."

"Can we just stay here all day, in this room together?"

He kissed her on the neck, right below her ear. "Always."

They ate the food Alfred made them and then Bruce took the tray back. He came back in and saw her sitting there, waiting for him. She gave him something inside that she so deeply needed. Her broken hearted smile melted his heart. They both climbed under the covers and held on to each other. They held hands and circled their thumbs around one another's. They just talked the day away till the sun was close to setting. They talked about his parents, and her parents. They talked about dreams they use to have, and how the events that have been going on around them made them feel. Bruce was very careful not to let little details of his double life slip.

She told him about the fight on the rooftop and how in the distance she saw the Joker, and what could have been Batman on a rooftop in the distance. Then she told him about the parking garage. He just rested next to her and listened.

"Are you sure you saw Batman and the Joker?"

"I really think so." Her voice was filled with fear; fear that Batman might actually be the man she wrote about. A killer for the city of Gotham.

"Which one do you think killed him?" Bruce hoped she still had faith in his alter ego, and would blame the mad man, the Joker.

"I wish I knew. Maybe he really did just fall." Bruce felt a little bit of relief.

"We'll just have to wait and see what Gordon thinks."

"I just wish I knew why the Joker keeps following me, and what it has to do with Batman."

She snuggled her head up close to Bruce's chest. "Damn that story. Why'd I even write it?"

"Lela, there's no way anyone could have known the trouble that it would have caused."

"I just feel bad about Sam. Outing him to the Joker like that. I know he's not ready for everyone to know just yet."

"He's your friend, He'll understand."

"I can't believe I told him that I was glad he died."

"Lela…"

"No Bruce, how could he do that?" She pulled back and looked him in the eyes. "How could he go see my mother like that? And talk to her about me. If you heard that things he said you would feel the same way." Bruce pulled her back in close and kissed her.

The truth was he did hear, and he had to live with the fact that he killed a man. He knew that he should feel bad; after all it was against all that he stood for, but he didn't. A part of him was glad that he got to protect the girl that he cared so much for. A little part of him felt like it was redemption for Rachel.

How could he tell Alfred, or Lucius; neither of them could understand what he felt in that moment on the roof. They would never know how glad he also felt that Mark was gone. They might have had different reasons for felling the way they did about the demise of Mark, but no matter what it was a secret he wanted so badly to keep.

"Can I take you out tonight?"

"Take me out, where?"

"Any place you want to go. It just occurred to me that I never actually had the chance to take you out on a real date." It was a little late, but Bruce didn't care.

Lela smiled. For some reason Bruce had perfect timing. Even though he would do the most unexpected things like buy her clothes or ask her out on a real date, it always seemed to be the unexpected cure for her depressed feelings.

"Okay." She gave him a kiss and Bruce reached for his phone.

"Are you making reservations?"

"Yeah, and calling a car to pick you up."

"Pick me up? Where am I going without you?"

"To the Salon in the hotel I own, the one you're staying at. I'm going to arrange for them to send a few dresses over for you to pick from."

She was speechless. She felt like he was always over the top, above and beyond for her.

"That seems like a little much, Bruce."

"Nothing could ever be too much for you." She couldn't help herself, and she kissed him again. She was so happy that she found someone who was too good to be true.

…

The apartment was a wreck. Margret Price still hadn't left, and neither had her anger. On the bed in her old room she laid out old pictures. From the pictures, a face had been cut out, Lela's. Her mother had managed to remove her from her life, and tossed the evidence of her into the fireplace.

Margret didn't know how much longer she could wait for Lela to come back so she could act out her revenge, for the last time. She knew she would wait if she had to, but the anticipation was too much. The counter top in the kitchen was lined with every knife in the penthouse. No matter when she came back, her mother would be prepared.

…

She sat in the salon. They brought her champagneand strawberries. She kept apologizing for keeping them so late, but they tried to reassure her that they were being well compensated and not to worry. She couldn't get over how it felt so nice to just relax, having other people worry about hair and makeup. Lela worried that she was getting spoiled by Bruce, that no one could really live a life like this all the time and not be tainted. Her job made her follow around the people who actually did, and now she was seeing why they they lived their life in that maner, and realized that she couldn't blame them.

The girls in the salon asked questions about the Bruce Wayne. It made her heart jump when they talked about him. Every little mentioning of his name drove her crazy inside. She was trying so hard not to fall in love, but she couldn't, her heart was stronger than her head.

An upscale couture shop sent over three beautiful dresses and flawless jewelry to match. She had to pick one to wear, even though Bruce had bought her all three as a surprise. It was hard to choose. Her dark hair was pinned up, curly and loose and her makeup made her sparkle and her grey eyes shine like diamonds. All of the girls in the salon knew why a girl like her would be paired up with a handsome bachelor like Bruce. She was beautiful and simple, and looked you in the eye when you spoke. Unlike the other girls who lived in the same high profile life as Bruce.

…

The restaurant was inside the hotel on the first floor. Bruce sent up and security guard to escort her down into the lobby. As Lela walked off the elevator he saw her. She was stunning. The dress she wore was a 1920 inspired soft ivory colored dress. The back scooped down and it was made of silk and lace. He made his way across the room to her, the only sound he could hear was her thanking the man and his own heart beat.

She felt like she was in a wedding dress. It was so elegant, she felt like a princess. The only words that Bruce managed to mutter were, "God, you're perfect."

Lela blushed shamelessly and took Bruce's arm. He looked so good in his tux, and smelled even better. The Candles in the room gave his skin a warm glow. They both thought they could explode with butterflies. It was perfect.

Everyone in the room watched as they ate, and laughed. When the band started playing a soft slow song Bruce stood and asked Lela to dance. She couldn't turn him down. She took his hand and stood. Bruce walked Lela to the dance floor. With one hand on her back and the other holding hers Bruce was falling in love, deeply, and uncontrollably. It was so much stronger then it was with Rachel. Before he thought he might have loved Lela a little, but now he was sure, and he wanted to marry her, and tell her everything. She moved in closer and placed her head on his shoulder.

Lela couldn't believe how perfect the evening was. She loved how it felt to be so close to Bruce, to hear his heart and feel is muscles move. She didn't care if everyone was watching them, wondering who she was, or even if they recognized her as the girl who watched a man fall from a roof top.

Bruce placed her hand on his shoulder and positioned his on the small of his back. He laid his head on hers. She noticed a drop of sweat graze her cheek. She noticed it was from him.

"Bruce… are you nervous?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to take me upstairs?"

"More than anything!" He took her hand and led her to the elevator. The ride up to their floor was like torture. They just wanted to kiss each other; instead they just stood there holding hands, watching the numbers on the elevator rise.

When they finally made it to the room and through the door, Bruce slammed the door behind them. He placed his hand on Lela's stomach and moved her up against the wall gently. They locked eyes. Bruce's strong hands found their way to the side of Lela's head. They paused for a moment and just looked at one another. Bruce leaned in and kissed her. He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.

They spent the night together and in the morning, after Bruce left, Lela just watched out the window. Part of her was so happy, and the other half felt guilt. She knew that she had caused complications for so many people in her life. She felt helpless. Lela knew she had to take full control of her life, and pull it back together.