Hi everyone,
I'm back. Sorry for the long wait. I don't really have an excuse at all.
This story has been complete and a sequel in process for quite some time now, and when I have finished editing the rest of the chapters I'll be uploading them as well.
So again, apologies for the long wait. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I've enjoyed writing it, and as much as I hope I enjoy writing the sequel.
I own nothing except Elizabeth.
When I got back home, Bruce was gone. Out on business, according to Alfred.
I didn't really care. I just went straight up to bed, smiling at the way my lips still tingled from where Roy had kissed me.
I was still smiling when I went to sleep.
I woke to find Bruce leaving a note by my bedside. I shifted, looking at him curiously as he froze.
"What are you doing?" I asked sleepily, before I remembered I was still meant to be mad at him.
"I was leaving this here." He said, and I scowled when I saw the brochure for Europe.
"It's not what you think." He said, and I rolled my eyes.
"It better not be." I warned.
"I was hoping maybe we could schedule it for Christmas." He said. "That way, if you still decide you don't want to go, you don't have to. I just," he paused, sighing, and I felt kind of bad for being such a bitch to him. "I just thought it would be something you would enjoy."
I looked at him suspiciously. "But we still get to get to know each before then, right?" I said. "And no more stupid expensive gifts like the car, or the jewellery?"
He smiled wryly. "Only for Christmas." He promised and I sighed in defeat. I wasn't going to win.
"What are you doing for lunch?" I asked on an impulse, and he looked at me, shocked.
"I suspect I'll be in a board meeting until two, and then I should have an hour before the next meeting. Why?" he asked, curious.
I shrugged. "How about I bring lunch to you?" I said, before smiling shyly.
He grinned back, and it was one of the first real, genuine smiles I'd seen on his face.
"Sounds like a plan." He said, before standing. "I'll see you at two. I'll let my secretary know to let you straight in."
I nodded, and he gave me a swift kiss on the cheek before he was off. Once he was safely out the door, I flicked open the brochure. Hmm, I thought…maybe Europe didn't look so bad after all.
BMBMBM
As a special treat for Bruce not being an asshole, I baked cookies for his dessert, making him a turkey sandwich from some leftovers Alfred had from the night before. Alfred was good about letting me into the kitchen, once I explained (for about the fifth time) that I liked cooking, and I wasn't trying to take the job of family chef away from him.
We drove to Wayne Enterprises, and I couldn't help the silly smile on my face as I thought of my life. Roy was great, Bruce was getting better… life was good.
That was until I got into the building.
It was all very well and good for Bruce to have told HIS secretary to let me straight through, but the person at the front desk didn't seem so well informed.
"I'm sorry, Miss, but without an appointment, you won't be able to see Mr. Wayne today." The woman repeated what felt like the tenth time.
"Look," I said, patience wearing thin. "I'm his daughter. If you just call up to his secretary, you'll find out you're supposed to just let me straight up." I shook the picnic basket at her. "I even brought his lunch!"
Immediately the woman's eyes froze on the basket. "Miss, I'm going to have to ask you to put the basket down." her voice was controlled, and she signalled to a security guard standing by the door. I almost groaned out loud.
Just my luck, an overzealous receptionist.
"You're kidding me, right?" I asked, my tone disbelieving as the security guard stepped up, crossing his arms, his feet planted firmly in an attempt to intimidate me.
"Is there a problem here, Lilah?" he asked the receptionist, and I didn't have to look at her to know that she nodded.
"Miss, I'm going to have to ask that you follow me." He said, taking my basket. I let him as I rolled my eyes.
"And I'm going to have to ask one last time that you call up to Bruce's secretary, and let her know that I'm here." I snapped. "Before I call him myself."
I withdrew my cell phone, brandishing with all the confidence I would have if it was a sword.
"Elizabeth?" a voice sounded behind me, and I sighed in relief, grabbing my basket roughly off the security guard with a glare. Someone who knew me!
Of course, when I turned around I had no idea who it was.
"I'm Lucius Foxx." A greying man stepped forward, smiling as he held a hand out. "I work with your father." I shook his hand happily. Maybe now I would get somewhere!
"Maybe you can help me." I said, shooting another quick glare at the receptionist and the guard. "Bruce and I made arrangements to have lunch together this afternoon, but I can't seem to convince these two to call up to his secretary to confirm this."
"Ah," he said, nodding. "Yes, Lilah and Eric here are very…strict about who they let up into Wayne Enterprise. Sometimes too strict."
I didn't have to look back at Lilah or Eric to know they were shifting uncomfortably.
"If you come with me, I'll show you to his office." He said, and I sighed with relief. Finally!
"There's a Mars Bar cookie in it for you if you do." I said, grinning, and he laughed a surprised chuckle.
"With an offer like that, how could I refuse."
I giggled, following him to an elevator. The ride up to the floor or Bruce's office was a long one. It was on the highest floor, making me roll my eyes. Nothing halfway for him.
It wasn't so bad though, Lucius was easy to talk to. By the time we'd reached Bruce's office he knew more about me then I was really comfortable, but there was something about the way he asked questions that had you talking.
"Bruce!" I said with relief as he finally came into view. "This place is like a labyrinth!"
He laughed, clearing some papers from his desk almost absentmindedly before giving Lucius a look. I frowned, not really knowing what that was about.
"Thanks for bringing her up, Lucius." He said, before turning to me. "I hope you didn't have too much trouble before finding Lucius?"
I pursed my lips. To tattle on Lilah and Eric or not?
"No," I said, instead of telling Bruce what I thought of his staff. "None." After all, it was a good thing there was Lilah and Eric. What if I'd been some psycho looking to kill Bruce?
Well, I wouldn't let Lilah or Eric stop me, but it was a relief that they could stop some of the minor threats.
"I brought lunch." I showed him the basket, before turning to Lucius. "And," I rummaged through the basket, looking for the container with the cookies. "Your payment, as promised."
He shook his head. "Oh no, I couldn't."
"Go on…" I egged him on. "Come on, you can have one of Bruce's. He doesn't need the extra carbs if he's going to keep up the play boy billionaire thing he's got going."
That startled a laugh out of Lucius, and he accepted the cookie finally.
"Gee, Lucius," Bruce said, sounding a little put out. "If I'd known it only took a cookie to bribe you, I would have done it a long time ago."
Lucius smiled. "Well, Mr. Wayne, just pray your enemies never find out my weakness."
I giggled before pulling the rest of lunch out of the picnic basket.
Lucius left quietly while Bruce was looking over all the food, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
"I usually let Alfred have lunch off." He said mildly, and I rolled my eyes.
"Funnily enough," I said dryly. "Alfred isn't the only one in the household that knows how to cook. And they're only sandwiches."
He smiled gratefully, picking up his and taking a huge bite out of it.
I grinned, biting into my own.
"So…" I said after a while. "How's work been today?"
Lame question, I know, but I couldn't very well ask him anything else. I hardly knew the man.
"It's not bad." Bruce said. "We've just closed a deal to manufacture new equipment for the Gotham Children's hospital."
I smiled. My father the philanthropist. "That's good." I said.
"What did you do today?" Bruce asked.
"After you left I slept in." I said. "And then made lunch. Then came here. There wasn't much to do."
He frowned. "That doesn't sound like it kept you very busy."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, well, its no boardroom meeting, I'll give you that."
He smiled ruefully. "I haven't been a very good father, have I?" he asked sadly, and I froze.
Despite how I'd gone off at him the day before for trying to bribe me with gifts, I knew he'd been trying. I just didn't know how to say that.
"I think," I said carefully. "That you've been trying hard. Doing what you think I want. And despite yesterdays…comments," I blushed scarlet, and he gave me an indulgent smile. "I have to thank you for that."
"I love you, Elizabeth." He said, his eyes unreadable. "You know that, right?"
I nodded, trying to ignore the misty feeling in my eyes.
"I know. I love you too," I said, before biting my lip. "Dad."
He froze, and so did I, wondering if I'd done the wrong thing.
"I'm sorry." I said. "I shouldn't have- I mean – um…" I was looking down at my hands, unable to form the sentences I needed to say sorry.
He was kneeling in front of my chair before I realised, holding my hand.
"I would like nothing better then for you to call me Dad." He said finally, and I broke into a smile, leaning forward to hug him, burying my face into his shoulder as he hugged me back, our sandwiches long forgotten.
BMBMBM
Before I left I made sure to stop off at the front desk again, beckoning Eric the Guard over while Lilah looked up at me with apprehension in her eyes.
I took a deep breath when Eric finally made his way over, looking at the two of them seriously.
"I, uh," I started, before steeling my nerves and making the final plunge. "I wanted to say thank you." I said at last. "Well, not really." I amended. "It was pretty annoying for me, but I wanted to say thank you for being so adamant. I'm glad to know you don't just let anyone up to see my dad, considering the loonies there are in this world. Especially in this town, I mean! Man, the things I've heard about that Joker guy…um yeah."
I cut myself off before I started to babble, peeking up at Eric's, then Lilah's face to see them smiling back.
"It's alright Miss Morgan." Lilah said diplomatically. "We're just doing our jobs."
I smiled wryly. "Its more then some would do."
I nodded to them before I left, swinging my picnic basket gently as I walked.
Lunch with Bruce was definitely something I was going to have to do again.
BMBMBM
"Hey." Tim said, entering my room.
"What's up?" I asked, raising an eyebrow his way before going back to surf the net. The people you could find on Facebook.
"Bruce told me about lunch." Tim said, flopping down on my bed as well. I looked at him, wondering what he meant.
"Does this mean you're going to start calling me bro as well?" he asked, grinning.
"Hmm…" I pretended to think about it. "Does this mean you'll become one of those stupid over protective types like Dick?"
Tim laughed, and I grinned. It was good to joke around with someone.
"I don't think there's a danger of that." He said. "No one could be as bad at the overprotective thing as Dick."
I snorted. "Oh I beg to differ. Bruce is just as bad, he just shows it differently."
"Oh?" Tim asked, an eyebrow raised, and I knew he knew exactly what I was talking about. He just didn't want to admit to it. Did that mean he'd been a co-conspirator?
"Yeah…" I said. "Like keeping me beyond busy so I couldn't see Roy, buying me crap that I don't want or need…" I trailed off. He got the picture.
He smirked. "So you picked up on what he was doing." He said. "I wasn't sure if you would."
I glared softly at him. I wasn't really angry. Not at him.
"Maybe if you think I'm going to start calling you 'bro' you should tell me next time Bru- Dad's going to try that crap."
He shrugged. "But that wouldn't be nearly so much fun."
I scowled, before whacking him in the head with a pillow, laughing at his stunned face.
Then it was on.
Somewhere during the fight one of the pillows burst, feathers flying everywhere, our laughter pealing through the air.
When the feathers stopped flying, settling in a mess over my bed, and all around my room, we slumped back on the bed, giggle breaking out on occasion.
When Alfred came in, knocking on the door before simply raising an eyebrow at the mess before walking out, our laughter began again.
It was nice to have a younger brother.
