A/N - I was going to wait until next week to post this, but oh well... It's Victoria Day weekend in Canada and I'm planning on spending it outside, at the fairs, parties and parades...I wouldn't be touching it anyways. So, here it is early. Have a great weekend!

Fish, sharks and rays of different sizes swam around them as Bruce and Charlotte walked through the tunnel at the aquarium. Bruce walked with his hands in his pockets, smiling at Charlotte's exuberance at taking photographs of the various types of creatures they were seeing.

"My students would love this," she stated, looking up as a ray rested peacefully along the glass top of the tunnel. "This is amazing."

"It certainly is," Bruce agreed, half-heartedly.

Charlotte looked at Bruce. She could tell in his tone that he wasn't as enthused as she was.

"You're bored."

"I'm not bored," he argued, as he put a smile on his face. "It's just...it's all the same thing."

Charlotte grinned and went to his side, before looking up at the creatures swimming above them. "Bruce, this is the closest you can be to being underwater with sharks and rays without actually being underwater." She shrugged. "I think it's cool."

"So, you'd go swimming with sharks?!"

"Hell, no! I was just saying that it would be cool to be that close. I'd never do it." She paused for a moment. "How about you? I'm sure you've done some crazy stuff in your life."

He shrugged.

"Nothing like swimming with sharks though," Bruce admitted.

"Well, you can put it on your bucket list," Charlotte suggested.

Bruce grinned. "Maybe I will."

"I'd love to go snorkelling or diving near a reef again someday," Charlotte said smiling, while looking up as a shark swam over the top of the tunnel above their heads.

Bruce turned to her. "I didn't know that you've gone before. Was it during your time in Europe?"

She shook her head, the smile fading from her face.

"I was 8 or 9," Charlotte replied. "The only reason I somewhat remember is because my grandma came along with us and she had photo's of myself with my Dad on the beach in the Cayman's wearing diving masks on our face and holding fins and snorkels."

It wasn't often that she spoke of her parents. Bruce couldn't remember the last time he had heard her refer to them at all. He had never heard her speak of the car accident. Then again, he had never spoken about the night his parents were murdered either. Yet both of them were aware of the events that had led to the other becoming an orphan.

"Well, if you'd like, we can make a trip down south someday so we can go snorkelling," Bruce said, taking Charlotte's hand. "And then I'll be there to hold your hand while we swim with sharks."

Charlotte let out a mock laugh. "Good one. You're doing that one alone."

She caught his eye as he watched her and uncomfortably, they dropped their hands to their sides.

As they made their way out from the tunnels, the soft glow of a black light illuminated the whiteness of Bruce's dress shirt, their teeth and the white design on Charlotte's shirt. It was all for the large tank of jellyfish. Charlotte walked up to the tank, seeing the many sizes of jellyfish move through the tank.

"Come on, Bruce," Charlotte said, looking back at him. "You can't say that you don't find these things beautiful. I mean, they are so delicate and unique and at the same time, they can be deadly."

Bruce walked up beside her, his shoulder brushing hers as they watched the gelatinous creatures move through the large tank.

There was something about being so close to Bruce, in the darkness of the room and alone that suddenly caused Charlotte's heart to thunder in her chest. Why didn't she feel this at home? She could smell that cologne and even stole a glance at his face as he leaned in look at the jellyfish.

She found herself appreciating that he was a work of art. God spared no expense when it came to Bruce Wayne.

Not willing to let him catch her staring for fear that he could hear her heart beating wildly, Charlotte quickly turned and made her way towards another tank in the room. Instead, she felt someone gently grab ahold of her arm, causing her to stop. Charlotte turned, finding Bruce held her arm.

She glanced at his hand, seeing those deft fingers and remembered how they once felt against her skin, leaving trails of fire wherever they touched. Charlotte met his eyes as he gently slid his hand down her arm to her hand. She curled her fingers against his palm for a moment before entwining her fingers with his, causing a chill to run down Bruce's spine. It was happening again. The one woman who knew how to ensnare Bruce's heart was doing it again. He had long believed that after Rachel, that he would never feel what he felt for her again. Again, Charlotte surprised him.

"Where are you going?" Bruce finally asked, his throat unusually dry.

"To look at the tank over here," Charlotte replied, equally hoarse.

Charlotte assumed that it should be impossible to still have feelings for someone after being apart for so long. She thought she had buried deep enough, under the pain. IT seemed that Bruce was digging his way back in and no amount of her putting up walls was enough to keep him out. He always knew how to break through them and he was doing it again.

Bruce took a tentative step forward and all Charlotte wanted to do was run away. Her mind screamed at her, reminding her of the pain that he had caused. But Bruce held onto her hand as he closed the space between them.

"Excuse me?"

Charlotte let go of Bruce's hand and they both turned to see the young woman employed by the aquarium by the door. She was completely oblivious to what she just narrowly interrupted.

"Mister Wayne, I'm sorry but the building is closing in a few minutes."

Charlotte couldn't help but grin as Bruce smiled at the situation. He held out his arm towards her which Charlotte took before they left the room and then the building itself.

The ride home in Bruce's Lamborghini was silent for the most part. Charlotte had no idea how tired she was until she was simply sitting, doing nothing. It had been days since she had a decent sleep let alone have the chance to do nothing. But now, sleep was the last thing that she wanted to do. Her mind took the time to replay what had almost occurred inside the aquarium. Was she imagining it?

She looked over at Bruce, trying her best to avoid his eyes, his mouth...his face in general. She soon found that it wasn't an easy task. His mouth was set in a frown, one that he often did when he was contemplating something. She could remember how they felt against her lips and on her neck and the way that his hair felt beneath her fingers.

Feeling her eyes on him, he quickly glanced over at Charlotte who suddenly spoke to break the silence and to cover her embarrassment at being caught looking at him.

"Bruce, I had a good time tonight. Thank you for taking me with you," she said, turning to look out the front windshield as Bruce drove through the near empty city streets.

"I'm glad that you agreed to come with me," Bruce said, as he drove. "I can imagine that it would be lonely going alone."

"Well, if you are ever needing company for something like that again, I'd be happy to go with you."

Bruce grinned. "I'll be certain to ask you then."

Silence once again filled the car.

Bruce stole a quick glance at Charlotte as she looked out the passenger side window. He had to inwardly reprimand himself for the thoughts and feelings that were running through him. Before he turned his eyes back to the road, he caught her biting her bottom lip between her teeth. It was the least seductive thing she could do and she wasn't even doing it on purpose. For all he knew, she was in deep thought but it was enough to cause him to feel a warmth creep up from his chest. He found himself turning on the A/C within the car.

It certainly didn't take any body contact to heat things up.

As soon as the car pulled into the driveway and came to a stop, Charlotte had the door open. Quickly, she picked up her purse from the floor and turned to Bruce.

"Thanks again, Bruce," she told him, eager to remove herself from the uncomfortable silence and unspoken sexual tension. Just as she was about to shut the door, Bruce turned towards the front door of the house, remembering the events from the last time he dropped her off. He quickly pushed open his door and stepped out.

"Let me walk you to the door," he said, as Charlotte shook her head and smiled somewhat nervously. "And before you refuse again, I'm insisting."

He walked up beside her and together they made their way up to the front door without speaking another word.

Bruce waited as Charlotte unlocked the door and disarmed the alarm system.

"Looks like it'll be an uneventful night here," she said softly as she turned, causing Bruce to smile and lightly chuckle.

"That's good." He paused for a moment. "If you ever need help translating documents, let me know."

Charlotte smiled. "I will."

Both of them stood on the porch, as that uncomfortable and slightly awkward silence crept back around them. Charlotte reached forward and took Bruce's hand, never once breaking eye contact with him. Bruce took a step forward and touched her cheek with his free hand before leaning in towards her.

Charlotte closed her eyes in silent anticipation. She felt her heart leap when his lips touched her own. He gave her a quick, chaste kiss and opened his eyes, meeting hers once again as a smile came to Charlotte's lips.

Getting the unspoken affirmation from Charlotte, Bruce grinned and leaned in once more. This time, he felt Charlotte wrap her arms around his neck as she pulled him closer to her, instantly deepening the kiss, each second becoming more feverish than the last. When Bruce felt Charlotte's hands at his tie as she blindly tried to loosen it, he reached past her for the door knob to the house and put his arm around Charlotte, backing her into the house. He heard her actually giggle against his mouth as she used her foot to close the door behind him, slamming it loudly.

Bruce had kissed Charlotte before, but this was entirely new. They had grown and matured, each knowing what they wanted and quickly learned what the other was wanting in return. It wasn't a moment of lust or unresolved passion. It was completely different. Bruce didn't want to put a name to it; this was dangerous enough, for him as Batman and for Charlotte.

So, when he suddenly felt his phone in his pant pocket begin to vibrate, a part of him was happy for the interruption; a very small part of him.

Charlotte was so close to Bruce that she felt the vibration and slowly broke the kiss when it seemed that Bruce wasn't about to.

"Bruce," she whispered, looking at his swollen lips. "I think your phone is vibrating."

"It is," he replied, breathlessly.

"It's late at night," Charlotte pointed out. "Maybe it's important."

Bruce smiled curtly before reaching for his phone. The smile faded when he recognized the number. Gordon.

Charlotte smiled weakly, watching his face. "You need to go?"

He nodded as he sighed, frustrated. "I need to go."

"That's all right," Charlotte said, ignoring the ache in her body, knowing that it wasn't all right. In all honesty, she wanted to take him upstairs with her.

She had no idea how much of an inward battle Bruce was having at that moment. He looked up Charlotte, seeing the result of his hands in her hair and the redness of her lips from his day-old stubble. His body and mind were screaming at him to stay with her but he had obligations, which Charlotte wouldn't understand.

"Can I call you tomorrow?"

A smile grew on Charlotte's face as she nodded. "Of course."

"Good," Bruce said, smiling before giving her one more quick kiss. He opened the door and closed it behind him, knowing he would have a harder time leaving if he prolonged the goodbye. He quickly made his way down the stone steps as he put the phone to his ear, waiting to hear the message that Gordon left him. As he climbed into the Lamborghini he heard Gordon's voice from the message.

It was going to be a long night.

After Bruce had left, Charlotte locked up the house and headed upstairs to bed. She had to admit that this day had to have been the best day that she had all week. For a moment, she actually forgot about Porter Investments, Batman and her grandmothers death and enjoyed herself at the aquarium. It was just what she was needing.

She never expected it to end the way that it did.

As she turned off the lights and laid down in bed, she soon remembered why she had been having trouble sleeping at night. Her mind and imagination wouldn't turn itself off. Every sound she heard within the house caused her heart to beat rapidly. If she did fall asleep, she knew that it wouldn't be for long. Nightmares had been plaguing her sleep all week. Even having something as pleasant as Bruce Wayne to think about wasn't helping.

After another minute, she sighed and sat up, pushing the blankets off of herself before making her way out of the room and then down the stairs. She turned on the light to the dining room, seeing the table organized with file folders and documents. Charlotte opened up one of the files and sat down, figuring that if she's awake, she may as well do something constructive. Knowing that it wouldn't be long before she made it through the remaining files, she stood up and went to find her keys and purse.

She made a quick decision to run into the city and go to Porter Industries to pick up the remaining boxes from the office. Being so late at night, the only people there would be security personnel.

Before long, Charlotte was puling onto the road and heading towards downtown Gotham. What she didn't notice was a car following.