A/N: Sorry for the delay. The start of school always seems to trip us up for a little bit. It seems that we have gotten into a good routine now so I'm hoping to be able to continue this. Thank you for all the messages that were sent to me. Honestly, they gave me the motivation to keep going with this when it seemed that there was no interest. I'll be having a few chapters coming out in a lump sum in the next little while. If I get more interest, I may pump them out faster. Thank you so much!

The fresh air did her a world of good. She wasn't the only one with the same idea.

As Emily locked the door to her apartment and made her way down the metal stairs, she noticed the once quiet streets of the winter months were coming alive in the warmer spring air. Emily had to smile as she jogged past a man on the sidewalk being cussed out by one of her neighbours from an apartment above. She passed another man who was a summer staple of being seen drinking a beer on his front porch while he read the Gotham Gazette.

Gotham had come out of its hibernation.

Emily was glad that she decided to wear a hoodie. The breeze was still chilly against her bare legs, but the added warmth from the sun was enough to keep her warm. She came to a stop by a street light, and waited for the light to change. Catching her breath and taking the opportunity at a quick rest, she turned and looked towards the financial district where the road in front of her seemed to head towards. In the distance, one of the taller buildings with the words Wayne stood stately over the city.

She shook her head.

Bruce was one of the reasons why she began jogging again. It wasn't just the nicer weather but it kept her mind off him. Her mind always seemed to be on Bruce lately. She wondered what he was doing, whether he was all right, why hasn't he called. She would try to remember how his cologne smelled, how soft his lips were and how he knew to kiss her right on a certain spot on her neck that sent goosebumps down her arms.

Emily mentally reprimanded herself and shook her head as the light changed and she crossed the street. She turned up the volume on the ipod playing music in her ear as she jogged into a large treed park in the middle of the city.

She was nearly oblivious to the people around her as the heavy beat of the music pounded in her ears. The park was busy with joggers, walkers and roller bladers. Nearly every park bench was occupied with someone reading a novel or newspaper.

A well-dressed man in a suit suddenly stood up from a park bench that she was passing by and he reached out, gently grabbing her arm. The touch startled her and she was about to throw a fist towards the man. Because in Gotham, anything can happen. Instead, a smile erupted on her face as she pulled the wires from her ears. Without a second thought to whom was around them or who would see, she jumped up and wrapped her arms around Bruce neck and kissed his lips. Bruce was caught by surprise and quickly leaned back to balance himself as he put his arm around Emily's back. To a bystander, it would appear that they hadn't seen each other in months. The public display of affection caught the attention of those around them.

"I've missed you," she said softly after breaking the kiss, keeping her arms locked tightly around his neck.

A smile tugged on Bruce's mouth. "I've missed you too."

As though she suddenly realized where they were, she quickly let go of him.

Emily couldn't believe what she had done. She quickly looked around them, and attempted to act as though nothing had happened. She cleared her throat, pushed her hair out of her eyes and rubbed the sweat from her brow.

"So...what are you doing here?" she asked with a small smile.

"I wanted to see you," he replied, with a smirk. "I didn't anticipate such a nice welcome though but I can't say that I didn't enjoy it."

"I thought that you would be...sleeping or something right now," she said, attempting to use her best wording possible. Bruce caught the meaning and nodded, as he put his hands in his pant pockets.

"I should be," he said. "But if I did, I knew that I would miss seeing you run by at your usual time. You've been by here every day for the past three days now."

Emily's smile faded as she became a little confused. "How did you know that I would be here?"

Bruce didn't answer as he could see the wheels in her mind were turning and giving her her own answer.

"You've been following me?"

Bruce merely shrugged as Emily smiled and shook her head.

"I don't know if I should be flattered to have a stalker such as you or if I should be concerned with your new hobby," she said, with a slight chuckle.

Bruce smirked. "At least I'm a good looking stalker."

Emily scoffed and playfully hit him on the chest, allowing her fingers to linger on the edges of his suit coat for a second longer.

"I'd have to agree with you on that one."

"Emily!"

Her smile faded and her hand dropped to her side as Bruce took a quick step back. She recognized that voice and turned around just as Bill was running up towards her. Bill slowed down until he came to a stop a few feet from her. The man bent over and put his hand on his knees as he attempted to catch his breath for a moment before standing up straight.

"I see I'm not the only one who's out for a run today," he said as he stood up, looking at Emily.

"I didn't know that you had gotten back into jogging," Emily said. "If I had known, I would've invited you."

"Really?" he asked, somewhat incredulous as he looked over at Bruce.

Bruce took the moment to greet Bill. "Good to see you again Dr. Dravis."

Bill merely smiled and nodded. "You too, Mr. Wayne."

He regarded Bruce and his attire as he stood along the pathway, certainly standing out from the crowd of joggers and walkers that passed by them. Bruce's hair was perfectly placed, his suit was most likely incredibly expensive and his shoes were shinned.

"What brings you to this side of town, Mr. Wayne? I can't imagine that you're out here for a jog like us."

Bruce let out a slight chuckle, allowing a little bit of his playboy personality to drip from his lips. "A jog isn't my idea of a work out."

Bill put his hands on his hips. "So, you do work out."

"Occasionally. When I get the free time."

"Free time?" Bill chuckled. "If you're calling hanging out with the hottest supermodel in town, free time. I mean, I've seen you in the paper with a different woman every night. I can certainly see how they can take up your...uh, free time."

Bill chuckled as he spoke, glancing occasionally at Emily as Bruce merely grinned his playboy smile.

Emily cleared her throat.

"But you can't forget the work that he's doing for the clinic," she stated. "In fact, I was just speaking with Mr. Wayne regarding the fundraiser in a few weeks."

Bill looked from Emily to Bruce.

"Is that right?"

"I was informing her of a few guests that have cleared their schedule in favour of the fundraiser, such as the Mayor. If we're lucky, we may also be able to get the district attorney and a few city councillors on board as well."

Bill nodded. It still didn't explain to him why he had just witnessed one of his best doctors and ex-girlfriend wrap her arms around a man with whom she had a verbal confrontation with the last time they had seen each other. Bill was even more baffled when he had watched her kiss Bruce Wayne. He felt as though he had been punched in the stomach. The body language between the two before he jogged up to them was different than it was now, but he wasn't about to voice that knowledge when he was so close to getting that much-needed funding from Wayne Enterprises for the clinic. Instead, he just smiled.

"That's incredible," Bill said, trying his best to sound excited, and was certain that he had succeeded in displaying it.

As though on cue, Bruce's cell phone rang. He reached into his pocket and pulled it out, checking who was calling him.

"I have to take this," he said. "I'll see you both later."

He walked away as he put the phone to his ear. Emily glanced at him for a brief moment before turning to Bill beside her.

With a smile, she began to jog with him beside her.

"I'm actually glad that I caught up with you," he said. "I wanted to speak with you about some things."

"Fire away," she said, as they passed some slow walkers.

"I'm going away for a day or two and I need you to take care of things at the clinic," he said.

Emily was surprised.

"Me?"

"You're the next qualified staff member that I have and you know the ropes of how we roll," he said. "It would only be for a few days."

"Why? Where are you going?"

"I'm just taking a quick trip out of Gotham," he replied. "I need to just get away for a bit."

Emily glanced at the man as they jogged side by side. Something seemed off. He rarely took time off. She slowed down to a brisk walk.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing is going on," Bill replied sternly. Her questions were beginning to bother him. He didn't want to involve her but merely wanted to have her look after things while he was gone.

"Does this have anything to do with Jonathan who comes around the clinic? I overheard part of your conversation with him and I know something is going on that involves you."

Bill stopped and walked off the path as other joggers passed them. Emily followed and continued speaking.

"Because if you're in any type of trouble, I can find someone to help."

"I'm not in trouble," he stated, with clenched teeth as he continued to walk from her. "And I don't need any of your help."

"Bill, I'm just concerned for you."

He stopped abruptly and turned to face her.

"Are you? Are you as concerned for me as you would be for Bruce Wayne?"

Boom.

"What? What are you talking about?"

Bill scoffed and shook his head before turning back to Emily.

"I saw you and him a few minutes ago," he said, bitterly. "How much is he donating to the clinic for your intimate services? Because you do know what that would make you."

Without hesitating, she hit the palm of her hand against his cheek, letting out a loud slap. She wasn't certain if the tears in her eyes were from anger or from tha pain in her hand. Either way, she turned and began jogging away from him.

Bill put a hand to his cheek, feeling the sting and the red heat radiating from the mark that he knew would be there shortly. He looked at Emily's trailing form as he instantly regretted the words that had come out of his mouth.

"Emily!" he called out as he began to run after her.

She put the ear buds in her ears and simply ran faster.

Bill was a fast runner as well. Suddenly, she felt a hand grip onto her upper arm, forcing her to stop. The ear buds fell out of her ears as she turned her head to see that Bill had caught up with her.

"Look, I'm sorry," he pleaded.

"Get away from me," she seethed as she pulled her arm away from him. "Don't you dare touch me again."

She began to jog away once again as she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Without wanting to stop, she pulled it out and read the text that appeared.

From: B. Wayne

- Need a ride?

She typed in three letters as she continued to jog towards the main road.

Y-E-S

Emily slowed to a walk as she made her way to the stop light. A flurry of cars within the rush hour traffic passed by her. She wiped the tears from her cheek as a dark blue Audi pulled up beside her. Quickly, she got in as the cars behind it began to blare on their horns.

Bruce pulled back into the traffic as Emily tugged on the seat belt. He glanced over at her, noticing she was keeping her face from him.

"Are you all right?"

She nodded.

She kept her eyes on the people as they passed by the dozens of business men and woman as they made their way down the sidewalk.

"He called me a whore," she finally said, her voice surprisingly weak.

Her sudden admission caught Bruce off guard.

"Who did? Bill?"

Again, she nodded.

"Not in those exact words though," she replied. "He saw us in the park and accused me of sleeping with you in order for the clinic to get funding." Emily held up her hand. It was red. "I slapped him."

Bruce smirked.

"He knows, Bruce," Emily said, softly. "And he's hurt. I don't know what he'd do or who he's going to tell."

The car slowed to a stop at a street light.

"You're more than welcome to stay with me for a few days if you'd like," Bruce offered.

Emily sat up straight and took a deep breath.

"I appreciate the offer Bruce, but I'm a big girl," she said, with a slightly smirk. He caught sight of her face, her eyes slightly red. "I can take care of myself."

He reached out and gently brushed her hair from her eyes with his fingers.

"I know that you can," he said. "But my offer still stands. You can think of it as the chance to see each other and make up for lost time."

Emily smiled and nodded.

"Swing by my place," she said. "I'll be needing to pick up some things."

Alfred hid an amused smirk as he watched Bruce Wayne carry in two medium sized suitcases from the Audi in the front drive. He stood by the door.

"Are you certain that she's only staying for a few days sir?"

Bruce shrugged, as Emily walked in behind him carrying a duffel bag.

"I'm so pleased to hear that you're going to be staying with us for a little while," Alfred said with a smile as he closed the door and walked with her up the stairs. "It can get very dull around here with just myself and Master Bruce."

"Are you saying that I'm boring, Alfred?"

Bruce glanced over his shoulder towards Alfred as they climbed the stairs.

"I don't think your life can ever be boring, sir," Alfred replied, with a wink towards Emily. "If there is anything you need while you're here, please let me know."

Emily nodded with a smile as they turned down a hallway. She was familiar with the area of the manor. It was where she stayed the first time she had visited a while ago.

It was there she realized that Bruce was walking past the room she stayed in before and was heading to his. She walked quickly and caught up with him.

"Bruce, please don't feel obligated to have me stay with you if you're really not wanting me to," she said softly, causing him to stop.

"I wouldn't have asked you to stay if I didn't intend for you to stay with me," he replied with a smile.

Alfred stood back and watched as Bruce began to fully allow someone into his life. She had seen his dark side and he was finally ready to show her the demons that haunted him as Bruce Wayne.

The older man cleared his throat, gaining the attention of the couple who were continuing to speak softly in the hallway before him.

"I'm going to head back downstairs," he said. "I'll have lunch prepared shortly."

"Actually, I need to get some sleep," Emily said. "I haven't slept since yesterday morning and I'm running on fumes."

"Of course," Alfred said, instantly understanding the curse of night-shifts. "I'll make sure to have supper ready for you later on."

Emily smiled. "Thank you Alfred."

She watched as the man turned to walk back down the hallway before turning to Bruce who had disappeared into his room with her bags. Emily walked in, instantly feeling like an intruder in Bruce's most sacred place. She saw him as he pulled the dark curtains over the large windows, quickly diminishing the light in the room, before he reached over to turn on a lamp beside the bed.

Emily had never felt so awkward in his presence. She glanced around the room, seeing photos on a dresser and on top of a large armoire.

"Are you sure that you're all right with all of this?" she asked.

Bruce turned and looked at her, concern etched on his face.

"Are you?"

She shrugged.

"Honestly, I feel just a little awkward being in here," she said.

Bruce looked around his room, and tried to imagine it from her standpoint. He saw the photo's of Rachel, a middle-school version of himself with his parents on either side of him, and another photo of just his Mom and Dad smiling happily. Bruce reached up on top of the armoire and grabbed the large family photo, dusting it lightly and lovingly with his hand.

Emily walked over towards him as he turned the frame towards her.

"You and your parents?"

Bruce nodded as he handed it to her.

Knowing that he was showing her a side of him that only a rare few had ever seen, she tread carefully as she gently took it from him. The boy in the picture was clearly Bruce. She saw those same playful eyes on occasion and the smile when it was genuine.

"You look a lot like your Father," she commented softly. She paused for a moment. "But you have your Mom's eyes."

Carefully, she handed it back to him. "They look like they were very happy. They must have loved you very much." She paused, looking at his expression as he seemed to study the picture. "It must have been very difficult to experience what you went through."

Again, he nodded silently.

"I'm sure that they would have liked you," he said softly. "My Dad was a doctor and although he worked at the hospital, I remember him doing a lot of free services for people. I could see himself getting into what you're doing for Gotham at the clinic."

"It's nice that you have a happy recollection of your parents, Bruce," she said, feeling tears coming to her eyes. "I think that's very important."

Bruce smiled weakly, knowing parts of her past.

Emily cleared her throat, forcing away the lump that was building. "So, was it their deaths that prompted you to become Batman?"

"Part of it was," he replied, setting the frame back on top of the armoire. "I was angry at the lack of justice that there was in the system. I left Gotham for many years, looking for answers."

Emily nodded, remembering the newscasts of when Bruce had suddenly returned to Gotham as mysteriously as he had disappeared years prior. Only then did she realize how it coincided with the beginnings of the large bat sightings that eventually gave way to the myth of Batman.

"It's a long story," Bruce said, with a sigh and a smile. "I can tell you all about it sometime, but it would take some time and I think right now, you need some rest."

He took her hand and led her towards the bed.

"What about yourself?"

"I have some work that I need to get done and then I'll be back," he replied, pulling the decorative pillows off the bed and placing them on a chair. "And believe me, I'll be quick and efficient because I want to be back here as soon as I can. I want to be with you, even if you're asleep."

A smile tugged at Emily's mouth. She reached out and took his arm as he pulled the last pillow off the bed. When she realized that she had his attention, she gently placed her hand along his face. She cupped his cheek before brushing her fingers into his hair.

The words were at the tip of her tongue, but she was afraid to say it. They were three simple words, but for her it meant so much more and she wasn't sure if she was ready to admit it.

Instead, she reached up on her tiptoes and placed her lips gently against his. It wasn't long before she felt him tighten his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him as the kiss deepened. Emily had no idea when he had wrapped his arms around her and she couldn't even remember how they suddenly ended up on the bed with Bruce beneath her as she straddled him at his hips.

All the fatigue and exhaustion that she had been feeling those minutes prior were gone. Her heart was pounding as she felt his hands run their way down the side of her body and over her back, pushing her top higher and higher. Bruce's fingers grazed her skin every so often, teasing her and causing her to audibly take in a breath.

Bruce was oblivious that Emily had pulled out his tucked-in dress shirt from his pants and slipped her hands under and onto his bare chest. It wasn't until she ran her hand across the side of his ribs that he suddenly gasped, instantly breaking the heated kiss.

Emily sat up and pushed herself off of him as he leaned up to sit, pulling up his shirt. It was then that she noticed the reason for his discomfort.

"Bruce! I'm so sorry," she exclaimed sincerely, seeing the large black and blue bruise that sat on the right side of his ribs.

He shook his head and smiled over at her. "It's not your fault. You had no idea." He looked down at the bruise. "It's not as bad as it was a few days ago."

Emily sighed, as she brushed her hand through her disheveled hair. Bruce seemed to notice Emily's silence and put an arm around her, pulling her towards him.

"I'm fine," he assured her. "It was a mistake I made a few nights ago that I certainly wont be making again." He paused for a moment. "At least I know a good doctor if I ever need one."

"No offence, but I don't ever want to be your doctor."

Bruce shrugged and smiled. "I guess I can be a bad patient."

"That's not funny, Bruce."

Bruce nodded. "Okay."

"Anyways, you need to get some sleep," Bruce said, standing up before he tucked in his shirt. "And I have some work to get done."

Emily stood up from the bed and smiled. "I'm not sure if I'll be able to sleep after that kiss you gave me."

Bruce smirked.

"I'll be back shortly."

He walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Emily turned back to the empty room and sighed before opening her suitcase to pull out her favourite pair of flannel pajama pants and tank top. After a quick shower in the shower, she quickly changed and climbed into bed. The soft sheets felt like silk on her skin. She had to smile when she rested her head against the pillow and the smell of Bruce surrounded her. Emily thought it would be nearly impossible to fall asleep but soon found herself out cold within ten minutes of laying down.

"I didn't expect to find you down here, sir," Alfred said, his voice echoing within the walls of the large cave. "I assumed that since Dr. Tucker is here, that you'd be spending time with her."

"She's asleep," Bruce told him, as he kept his eyes on the computer monitors in front of him.

"That's something you should be doing as well," Alfred quipped.

"I will, soon. I just need to follow up on something first."

Bruce scanned over article after article involving the name Bradley Mattern. At the moment, he was the only name that he had to work with. Although Genwerx believed that the man didn't work for them, someone was using that name. He ran the name through the computer and sat back, watching as it began to scan various databases. Bruce leaned back and watched the screen change with articles and documents. He quickly sat up when a name flashed across the screen that had an association with Mattern. He paused the scan and flipped back until he found the document.

"What the hell?" he mumbled.

The news article was dated nearly twenty-five years prior, but it was the names that the computer highlighted below a photo of a small grade-school house league basketball team that caught his attention.

-left to right, Adam Murray, Bradley Mattern-Dravis, Derek Schultz, William Mattern-Dravis, Richard Zimmerman, Joel McLaughlin, Shawn Mattern-Dravis.

Dravis.

Bruce leaned forward, taking a closer look at the photo and instantly recognizing Bill in the photo and noticing the resemblance between the man, Bradley and Shawn. They were brothers.

Bruce sat back in his chair and sighed, taking in the new-found knowledge and thinking of the woman asleep upstairs who had been working with Bill Dravis all along. He decided that he would keep the information to himself. The less that Emily knew, the better.

He stood up and made his way upstairs, digesting what he had discovered. He silently made his way into his room, and closed the door behind him. Emily was asleep. After quickly changing and taking off his shirt, he slid into bed, noticing that Emily had kept to one side, and had pushed off part of the blankets off of herself. She was laying on her stomach with her face turned away from him and her hair sprawled over the pillow behind her. He could make out the old scar on her shoulder and noticed how well it had healed but then reminded himself how much time had passed since that happened. Bruce smirked as he reached down and pulled up the blankets, covering himself and Emily with them. He sighed and closed his eyes, waiting for sleep to come to him.

Emily wasn't sure how long she had been asleep when she suddenly heard a sound coming from beside her. She opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling, taking a few moments to recognize where she was. Emily rolled over and saw a topless Bruce Wayne in the middle of a fitful sleep. His forehead was sweaty and he was mumbling incoherently. Occasionally Emily would hear her name escape from his lips. She pushed up slightly and put a hand on Bruce's shoulder.

"Bruce, wake up."

Her words did nothing.

She began to run her hand up and down his arm, hoping it would rouse him as she continued to speak his name.

"Come on Bruce, wake up."

His eyes suddenly opened and he quickly sat up. The swift movement startled Emily. She could hear him trying to catch his breath. Emily slowly sat up beside him, and carefully put a hand on his shoulder. The touch caught his attention. Bruce turned towards her, his eyes still filled with the same panicked fear that he felt in his nightmare. Gently, he reached forward with both of his hands, each touching her face and the other running down the length of her arm.

"You're all right," he said softly to himself. His eyes scanned her face and arms, needing to be able to see it to believe it.

"I'm all right," she assured him, as his eyes came back to hers.

He nodded with a sigh and laid back down with Emily. He had wrapped his arm around her, pulling him close to him. Emily put her arm over his chest.

"I'm not leaving you, Bruce," she mumbled softly as she closed her eyes, feeling the drowsiness return. She had no idea that the dream involved just that.

He smirked as he leaned over and placed a kiss on the top of her head. He needed to hear it. It had been a while since he had experienced a dream as vivid as what he just had. Bruce thought back and had to presume that the last time was shortly after Rachel's death where she'd come back and accuse him of failing her. This time it was different. It was Emily. He was lost in Gotham and he couldn't find her. He knew that she needed him, but he couldn't get to her. He was alone. He had always been content to be alone, but not anymore. The feeling scared him.

Emily let out a sigh and rolled over beside him, her back towards him. Bruce shifted to allow her to move away. He rolled over with her, bringing an arm over her torso to which she took his hand and pulled it close to herself.

This is comfortable, Bruce thought.

He closed his eyes, feeling the warmth radiating through Emily's tank top and onto his bare chest. Finally, he fell asleep.

Music.

Bruce wanted to bury his head under his pillow. He was sure that it was a new waking tactic of Alfred's. Instead, he groaned and rolled over. The sound woke Emily as well but she recognized it. Quickly, she climbed out of bed, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from.

"Is that the Hawaii 5-0 theme song?" Bruce suddenly mumbled.

"Sorry," Emily whispered loudly. "I thought the my cell phone was on vibrate."

Bruce rolled over, slightly aggravated at the noise until he heard a loud bang followed by the sound of Emily cursing. He sat up and reached over for the lamp on the table beside him. Once the room brightened, he saw Emily leaning against the dresser.

"Are you all right?"

She nodded. "I stubbed my toe."

Suddenly, the music ended. With the light in the room, Emily unzipped the front pocket of her bag and pulled out her cell phone. She turned it on and frowned, seeing who the call was from and that there was a voice mail left.

"It's Bill."

Emily quickly accessed it and listened, as her face paled. Bruce saw the change and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.

"What is it?"

"Where's a television?" she asked.