Part XI

She saw him shift uneasily in his chair. She'd seen him stare down the most horrible odds without flinching, but here, faced with this question, he is uneasy. He looks down to his outstretched hand, the one that had moments earlier been entwined with hers. Studying it for a moment, he pulls it back and rubs it against the palm of his other hand.

Diana leaned forward, urging him to answer the question hanging in the air. To most it might seem like an easy question to answer, but to a man like Bruce it was torture to get out. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, they both heard the kitchen door situated behind them creak open. From behind the rich surface of the door stepped an uncharacteristically flushed Alfred. From the look on his face Diana could tell her conversation was at an end. Bruce rose from his chair and turned to face him.

"Would you care to look out the window, Master Bruce?"

His posture stiffening, Bruce leaned across the small table and pulled the blinds to the open position. Peering through the window they could see the signal blazing across the clouds hanging over the city. He hesitated at the window before turning to her. For the first time that night his face was unreadable.

"I have to go", he said.

"I know you do. Do you need any help?" She already knew the answer, but she asked anyway. You never know, she thought to herself.

"I don't think so." It was the Bat talking now, Diana could tell he was a little amused that she still asked.

"Suit yourself, Bruce. I think I'd look pretty good on a Robin costume though."

He chuckled this time, unable to keep up the hardened facade of the Bat.

"I'm sure you could", he replied as Bruce Wayne.

He turned and began walking towards the door that Alfred had come through, leaving Diana still sitting at the small kitchen table. As he reached the door he turned back to her. His face was neither the crime fighter's nor the socialite's.

"Diana?"

She'd been looking down when he had turned and now her eyes rose to meet his.

"Yes?"

"Could you be here when I get back?"

Diana smiled at him.

"I'd like that."

He turned then and let the door close silently behind him. She stood fixated on the doorway, truly at a loss for what she should be feeling. It opened again. For the split second it took for it to open she had hoped he had it was Bruce returning once more. Come back to tell her why he was pushing her away one moment and then dragging her to him another. Dragging was a poor choice of words she decided. It was more like steering her to him. Those thoughts were gone as quickly as they had arrived as she saw Alfred's kind face appear from behind the door.

"Are you alright, Miss Diana?"

Concerned lined his face as he stood before her.

"Yes Alfred. I'm fine. More then fine really. Why do you ask?"

"Forgive my saying this, but you look a little exhausted, your majesty."

As he spoke the words she realized he was right. She was tired. The day had come and went and now they were into the night. The hadn't slept at all two nights ago due to a League emergency and last night…..she was too frustrated to sleep.

"I haven't had a lot of rest lately," she said quietly.

"Master Bruce has informed me that you wish to be here when he returns. Would you care to rest until then?"

Diana smile at the older man as she replied.

"That would be lovely Alfred. I don't wish to intrude though."

His face took on a look of complete repulsion at the mere mention on being an intrusion.

"No intrusion at all. It would be an honor to provide accommodations for a lady of your prestige. We so seldom have ladies in the house at all actually, other than Miss Barbara that is."

This piqued her curiosity a little bit.

"Oh no?"

"The rumors of Master Bruce's exploits are grossly exaggerated. All of it a mask to hide his true self," Alfred arched an eyebrow at her as he continued amused," but you already knew that."

"I had my suspicions."

Alfred chuckled softly before returning to his usual manner if faithful servant.

"If you will follow me, Miss Diana, I will show you to your room."

As they made the twists and turns necessary for them to reach their destination Alfred amused her with stories of Bruce and the boys growing up in the large home.

Still laughing from Alfred's description of the first suit Bruce had designed, they stopped outside of a set of large double doors. They were richly carved and were vaguely familiar to her for some reason. Her hand reached out and felt the polished wood under her finger tips.

"Beautiful are they not? One of the few things Master Bruce was able to save from the original home."

"They are very beautiful. Where do they lead?"

Alfred smiled a knowing smile at her as he reached out and opened the door.

"The same place they led weeks ago. To the master bedroom.

Diana's face flushed slightly as she remembered barging in on Brice dressing that morning. Alfred pretended not to notice as he walked the expanse of the room and began folding back the thick bedding of the large bed.

"This isn't where I'm sleeping is it?"

Finishing his task, Alfred stood back up rigidly straight and pulled down slightly on his finely stitched vest.

"Of course, it's customary for such an honored guest as you to receive the best room in the house. An added bonus would be that Master Bruce will actually be able to find you.

Contrary to what he thinks, he can get a little lost in his own home."

Diana gave him her warmest smile.

"Thank you Alfred. Really thank you. You have been extremely kind to me today and I appreciate that."

"I need no thanks, miss. It is my duty. I only ask you one thing. When Master Bruce reveals himself to you….be kind."

"You have my word."

"Thank you. I shall take my leave, Miss Diana. I trust you should be able to find everything you will need?"

"Yes, Alfred. I will be fine I assure you."

Nodding in agreement, Alfred retreated from the room and quietly shut the large door behind him with an audible click as the latched caught.

She turned from the door and examined her surroundings. It was large. Larger than her own room, but not by much. The most commanding thing in the room was by far the bed though. It was huge. The large headboard rose against the wall and was easily ten feet tall. The foot board was nearly that tall and came up to her chest as she neared it. She placed her hand on the mattress and pressed down in to it. It was firm beneath the pillow top that covered it. It seemed very inviting to her at the moment.

Feeling the fatigue quickly overtaking her she stripped out of her clothing and left it folded neatly over a nearby chair. Lifting the heavy bedding she climbed in to the bed and sunk in to the comfort it provided. As she let the sleep over take her, she wondered why Bruce ever bothered to leave.