Audrey woke up the next morning curled up on top of Bruce, under three different blankets and on the couch by the still hot fire. Alfred was stretched out on a chair with a hassock pulled up to bear his legs. However, the noise that woke Audrey was her phone ringing. Frowning, she wiped excess tears off her face, then got up and crossed the room.
"Hello?" she whispered into the receiver.
"I assume you and Mr. Wayne will not be joining us today either?" Fox questioned. Audrey looked out the back doors.
"Maybe. We shoveled the driveway yesterday, so we may be able to get out. Sorry about the late time – what time is it? - the power is still out."
"I'll expect you both in an hour and a half, Ms. Habicht." she nodded, then realized he couldn't hear a nod.
"Yes sir." he hung up, and she followed suit, then stole a blanket off of Bruce and waddled out the front door to survey the snow on the driveway. After deeming it only an inch, she headed back in, then cradled Ace's head in her hands and growled under her breath. He yipped loudly, and startled master and butler alike sat up straight. She smiled innocently.
"Since we can get out of the driveway, we're going to work. I'm going to take an ice cold shower and get ready." she patted Ace's head, then ran upstairs to get a pair of beige work pants and a loose top. After second thought, she grabbed a white camisole, then dashed to the bathroom and locked the door behind her, then lit the candles inside and started the freezing water.
Half a freezing hour later, Audrey was ready to go, hair pulled back into a tight bun so it wouldn't drip all over her. Once downstairs, she faced Alfred, as Bruce was still getting ready.
"Which car can handle the snow best?" Alfred paused.
"If we load the back of the Lamborghini with salt it should do okay."
"Well then, let's do this." they headed out into the garage and loaded the trunk of the Lamborghini with several heavy bags of road salt. Once finished, Audrey headed back in and grabbed an apple to devour while waiting for Bruce, who joined them ten minutes later. She grinned giddily at him and held up the keys.
"The Lamborghini?"
"I'm driving." she wiggled her eyebrows, and he frowned but followed her out to the car. She pitched the apple core, then slid into the driver's seat and tossed her purse in the back. She adjusted the mirrors quickly, then kicked the car into reverse and pulled out, then turned around, grinning.
"I like this car."
"You cannot have it." she laughed, driving down the long driveway into the city.
"Why not?"
"Because it's one of my favourite cars?" she pouted playfully.
"Fine. I don't drive anywhere anyway." the car purred under her foot as she pressed on the gas, and it shot down the road, leaving Audrey to squeal and tightly grip the wheel. He directed her to the tower and through the parking garage. As they entered the building, her phone dinged, and she pulled it out to check the text.
Super important meeting in 5. Better hurry your skinny white ass up here. 29 - 7
Audrey frowned slightly, then pulled her hand out of Bruce's.
"Something wrong?"
"You've got a meeting in five minutes." he cursed.
"There's a folder on my desk-"
She gave him a look and he frowned at her, knowing they both were remembering the previous forgotten folder. With a grunt, she pushed open the door and pulled herself out of the seat. As she moved for the employee elevator, Bruce caught her wrist pulled her back toward him, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She turned red, and he grinned, then disappeared into the elevator. Muttering, she turned and stepped into the employee elevator, then hit floor thirty.
Stepping out of the elevator, the first thing she noted was the lack of human beings in the office. Where the floor was usually crowded, there wasn't a soul to be seen. Vaguely she wondered if Bruce knew something was going to happen, and walked quickly back towards his office, then grabbed the manila folder on his desk. She looked out the large wall of windows at the Windows of the adjacent building, thinking about how easy it would be to cross between the two buildings. Her irrationality kicked into high gear at the thought and she turned sharply on her heel, heading out of the office and toward the elevator. I will not let her get inside my head, Audrey vowed as she half ran to the safety of the elevator.
Audrey stepped into the elevator and it raced upward, getting her into the meeting two minutes late. She set the folder down in front of Bruce, then leaned back against the wall and fiddled with her hands, bending her thumb joint every which way. Her eyes wandered from her hands around the room, taking note of the video camera in the corner. Only upon seeing that did her mind come back to reality as she focused on what they were saying.
"It's just too dangerous right now to have anyone leaving the city." one department head was pointing out.
"Are you kidding? It's too dangerous to stay in the city with this maniac woman!"
"Let's get back on topic." Bruce laced his fingers together, manila folder open in front of him. He glanced down at the document.
"The police department has asked us not to bring in this particular item right now, because if it fell in the hands of the Fawkes-"
"Or Batman." someone muttered. Bruce continued without pause, "it would be potentially disastrous. However, it could also be the thing that helps us get rid of her, if we can hold onto it."
"It's not worth the risk. Do you remember what happened last time with our microwave emitter?" another department head prompted. Audrey cringed. The microwave emitter had been a bit of a disaster, having caused the loss of the entire island of Arkham.
"I'll go get it myself. You can put the entire company into lock down until I get back."
"No one leaves or enters?" Fox questioned. Bruce nodded, and the room lapsed into silence as this was thought over. Audrey, however, had her eyes trained on the camera still, trying to figure out if it was recording.
"We'll put it to a vote. Those in favor of retrieving the weapon and bringing it back to Gotham?" about two hands went up.
"Those in favour of leaving it where it is?" another two hands. Everyone shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
"Okay... those in favour of sending Mr. Wayne to secure it, but keep it out of the city?" about a dozen hands went up, and Audrey let out a quiet breath.
"Then the building goes into lockdown after he leaves." Fox got up and walked over the camera. Someone stepped behind it and hit a button.
"Hello, my name is Lucius Fox, the CEO of Wayne Enterprises. In half an hour the entirety of Wayne Tower and it's affiliated buildings will be going into lockdown. No one in, no one out, for..." Fox looked back at Bruce, who was standing up.
"About three days." Fox turned back to the camera, and Bruce joined Audrey.
"For three days. The only people who will remain inside are security. All security detail, please report to my office in fifteen minutes for a brief debriefing." Bruce stepped in front of Audrey, cutting off her view of Fox, and she raised her eyes to meet his.
"I'll have Alfred come pick you up."
"I could go back to my apartment, you know."
"Not an option. You do not leave the Manor while I'm gone unless Gordon calls for you." she pursed her lips and furrowed her brow, debating telling him off versus doing what he says. After a moment, she sighed.
"Fine. Just try not to, you know, get kidnapped or killed." he gave her a quirky smile, then moved to Fox's side and told him he was leaving, then did what he said. Jayden elbowed Audrey in the side after sidling up to her.
"What was that conversation about?"
"So have I told you that I'm living at Wayne Manor?" Audrey whispered back. Shock crossed Jayden's smooth chocolate brown complexion, replaced quickly by a full, toothy grin.
"Only for like, another week though. However, he was laying down the rules for his absence." Jayden smirked.
"We should have a wild party."
"Oh hell no. That'll get me murdered." Figuratively and literally.
Audrey waved to Alfred, winking, then grabbed the keys to the most inconspicuous car Bruce owned, the Rolls Royce, and stepped into the freezing cold garage. While the power was back up, the garage still didn't hold heat well.
She tugged her scarf tighter around her head, then slid into the driver's seat and adjusted everything.
"Remember!" Alfred called from the door to the house. She nodded at him, then waited for the garage to open. As soon as it had, she reversed out, then turned around and drove out of the gates. Scenery passed by and she watched it as she flipped into driving mode, three fourths of her attention on the road.
"Turn left in one mile." the voice from the radio told her. She snapped back to attention and did as it instructed, leading her all the way to the Habicht House. Audrey took a deep breath, then rolled up to the gate and rolled down the window.
"Bruce!" a voice called through a speaker. Audrey laughed.
"Not quite. I borrowed his car."
"Audrey! Pull up to the front!" He nearly shouted at her. She rolled her eyes and rolled the window up as she pulled through, then glanced at the clock.
"Just under an hour." she murmured, then pulled into the loop of a drive and parked. Her uncle came flying out of the house in a robe and bunny slippers, and she giggled as she got out of the car and was swept into a giant bear hug.
"I haven't seen you since you were tiny! Well, except for at my engagement." he took her hand and led up the steps to the front door, leaving her to attempt and lock the car on the way up. Once inside, she was assaulted by a heatwave, and started tearing off her winter clothing that Alfred demanded she wear.
"Just leave that all on a chair." she did as instructed, then was led back into a room with a fireplace. George sat down across from her in a lavish chair, and she sat down on the loveseat.
"Tell me all about your life after..." George trailed off, searching for the gentle words to describe the transient stage of Audrey's life.
"My parents whisked me away from everyone I knew?" Audrey sugar coated.
"Yes, that." George responded, uncomfortable.
"Well..."
"I've really got to go, Uncle George." Audrey pressed, picking her coat, scarf, hat and gloves up off the chair and pulling them all on. Her rather eccentric uncle was at the top of the stairs and sliding around in his fuzzy bunny slippers.
"Just a minute! I swear!" he called, running down the hall and into another room out of view. Fifteen seconds later, he came back out with a small black box in his hand. Down the steps he came, huffing and puffing until he stopped in front of Audrey and held the box out to her.
"Your mother lost this at the house many years ago, and I forgot to ever give it back." she opened the box, then gasped at the engagement ring inside. The ring itself was a simple band with absolutely no tarnish or design on it, but the diamond was one karat, and crystal clear.
"I had it cleaned up."
"Oh it's beautiful."
"Technically, it wasn't your mom's or my mom's. I believe it was my grandmother's."
"How does a ring this big, last that long?" she questioned, admitting to herself that it was a massive stone.
"I have no idea. Now, shoo!" George commanded. She ran out the door to the car and unlocked it as she ran, then slid in the driver's door and shut it.
"You're late!" Alfred scolded when she shuffled inside. She glanced at the clock.
"Two minutes! Two minutes you old man!" she shouted back, stripping off her coat and other outdoor accessories. He looked her over, eyes stopping on the engagement on her left hand.
"Did you get engaged?" he demanded, out of character.
"No! It's a family ring my uncle gave me!"
"Put it on your other hand then. You'll give Master Wayne a heart attack!" she smiled devilishly and wagged her fingers in front of her face.
"Maybe that was my intention." she prompted. A small smile found it's way onto Alfred's face, and some of the red drained from his face.
"Then wait till he comes back. You'll give me a heart attack." she winked, then took her clothes and went upstairs to her room. Ace followed her, tongue lolling out of his mouth, and she knelt down after putting her stuff on her bed.
"You won't tell Bruce I left, will you? No you won't, because you're a good boy. Yes you are." Ace licked her, and she laughed, playing with his ears, then stood up and switched the ring onto her other hand. After a glance around, she flopped down on the bed and absently pet Ace while she thought.
Considering the ring, she realized she hadn't ever thought past the now of their relationship, and Fawkes. Where did she want this to go? With him being Batman, marriage was almost impossible, but she wasn't going to stay his girlfriend for the rest of their lives. And even so, did she want marriage? Did she love him? Did he love her? Had he thought about this either? Would he stop being Batman for her? Would she deal with Batman and Bruce together? Would they ever go public? Obviously Bruce didn't care, but did she? And what of Fawkes? Would they inadvertently reveal Bruce's identity to her, making him even more of a target?
Audrey groaned and pressed her palms to her temples as a throb built up. Ace whined, and she flipped onto her side, hugging the dog to her.
"Ace, remind me not to think so far ahead." she whined, snuggling into the dog.