Chapter 14

Batcave; September 29th, 19:04 EST

Bruce heard the transporter fire up, alerting him to the impending arrival of one Amazon princess…the very one that he had shared a steamy kiss with right here in this cave on this platform. He knew he had to deal with this soon. What they obviously shared was not going to go away anytime soon if ever.

Thankfully, Diana hadn't brought it up yet or pressed him about embarking into a relationship with her. He couldn't deal with this right now. He just needed to focus on keeping her alive and catching this thief. His heart didn't matter in this.

"You're late," he bluntly stated as she made her way up the platform steps.

"Thank you for the heartfelt greeting," she replied as she took her usual seat next to him. "Alfred would be so proud of you."

Bruce had the decency to appear somewhat repentant as he cast a sidelong glance at her. "What kept you?"

"Flash," she revealed.

"No further explanation needed," he said as he continued typing, pulling up a picture of Leo Vanover for her.

"Let's get to work," Diana decided, noticing that they weren't going to be discussing anything not pertaining to work. She should've known he'd withdraw from her again. It's a game they had played for three years and she was becoming more than a little fed up with it. "Where do we start?"

"This is Leo Vanover," Bruce stated matter-of-factly. "He was one of the richest men in England when he died."

"How old was he?"

"One hundred and four," he replied. "He died a couple of months ago of natural causes. He was a recluse…hadn't set foot outside of his home in over thirty-five years. He'd been secretly collecting antiques, paintings, and priceless jewels under several assumed names. It was thought that many of these items had been lost or sold on the black market. No one even knew that he had been collecting these objects until he passed away.

"Vanover had no wife or children, no family. He died all alone," Bruce continued, trying to hide the tightness that abruptly filled his throat with the glaring similarity between his future self that he'd recently met and Leo Vanover. "Per his will, his estate is being completely liquidated; his entire collection is being put up for auction and the money donated to various charities. Several wealthy individuals from all over the world have been invited, including Bruce Wayne."

"And you think this is where our thief is going to be," she guessed. "So what's the plan?"

"First, you need a secret identity," he told her. "You're going to be my girlfriend, Diana Prince."

"Your girlfriend?" she asked with an amused smirk as she gazed at him out of the corner of her eye, thoughts of that intimate kiss they'd shared parading through her mind all over again and heating her blood.

"Yes, girlfriend…here's your cover," he clarified without meeting her direct gaze as he tried to forget about how it felt to have her tongue in his mouth. "You're a museum curator specializing in Greek artifacts. I have already built you a resume and a full background story. You'll need to memorize it. I want you to know it inside and out because you will be quizzed on it."

"How did we meet?"

"We met at the Gotham museum function."

"My but you are a fast worker," she lightly teased. "We meet for the first time last week and next week I'm flying to England with you. You must have really swept me off my feet."

Bruce flashed a playboy grin at her without realizing he was doing it. "You couldn't help but succumb to my legendary Bruce Wayne charm."

"Hera, I must have been drunk at the time," she replied with a lilting laugh.

"What's the matter, Princess? Can't hold your liquor?" he asked as he returned to pulling up numerous files.

"Either that or I'm an easy woman," she grumbled with a frown. "Hera, my mother would have a heart attack if she knew."

"Don't worry," Bruce reassured her. "I would never do anything to taint your reputation. I won't let my playboy status tarnish yours in any way. We'll be broken up by the time we return to the States."

A hand on his forearm caused him to stop what he was doing, forcing him to meet her intense gaze with a nervous quiver in the pit of his stomach. "I'm not worried in the least about what people think of me. I know that's not the real you that you portray for the world, Bruce. I know the real you and there's a good heart beneath the playboy façade you purport."

He could see the truth of her words reflected there in her blue depths, but he refused to respond to it. "We'll need to cement our relationship in public," he brusquely told her, turning his attention back to his computer.

Diana took his abrupt change in subject with great patience despite the fact that she wasn't feeling any of it at this point. He was purposefully avoiding any talk of their kiss or any possibility of them. She'd long ago grown accustomed to his brooding moods, his hot and cold demeanor towards her.

She'd done battle with the stony barriers that he erected around himself that kept everyone at arms' length and had lived to tell about it. Instead of deterring her, it only reinforced in her mind that he was worth the effort to maintain their friendship and maybe pursue something more with him.

"So what did you have in mind? Salsa dancing? Kissing passionately in a restaurant? Necking in the park? Being caught with your hand up my skirt?"

She took great pleasure in how uncomfortable Bruce was becoming with her suggestions, the way the muscle in his jaw was ticking. She could've sworn that she noticed a faint blush appear on his face, but it was gone before she could actually confirm it. No one would believe her anyway that she had made the formidable Batman blush.

"No, nothing like that," he readily decided. "There's a Wayne Enterprises banquet this Saturday night. You will go with me as my date so we can establish our relationship."

Diana stared at him, annoyance flashing in her eyes as she folded her arms against her chest. "Excuse me?"

Bruce looked to his left, noticing the irritation on her face. "What?"

"Could you at least ask me nicely if I will be your date Saturday night?"

"Diana," he impatiently grumbled. "We don't have time—"

"Hera, I'm not asking you to get down on one knee and propose marriage to me, Bruce," she snapped. "It would be nice if you could at least ask me to go with you instead of telling me what I'm going to be doing. Besides, what if I already have a date for Saturday night?"

Bruce bristled with her words, the whole scenario of proposing marriage to her creating a fierce wave of panic to rise up inside of him like a mighty tidal wave threatening to drown him like a battered ship. "Fine," he ground out, clenching his jaw. "Diana, are you free Saturday night?"

Diana tapped her bottom lip, averting her eyes as if appearing to think about the question. "I do have plans, but I'd be happy to rearrange them for you."

Bruce's head snapped to the side to look at her, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What plans do you have Saturday?"

"I was supposed to go to a new club that opened up in Star City with Dinah, but I can go Sunday night instead," she revealed. "Why do you ask?"

Bruce's nostrils flared with irritation as he fought to keep the biting retort that danced on his tongue at bay. "Would you please do me the honor of accompanying me as my date on Saturday night?"

Diana thought about it for a long moment, trying to make him sweat a little. She knew that she was making things difficult for him, but he deserved it after kissing her like that and then refusing to even acknowledge that things were changing between them whether he was willing to accept it or not.

His request to be his date sounded as if he was giving a eulogy at a funeral instead of asking a woman out. "Despite your hostile tone and lack of charm, I would be more than happy to go as your date Saturday night."

Bruce huffed in anger, saying something under his breath that was indecipherable, but the general meaning was more than clear. "Thank you," he ground out.

"What am I going to wear?" she asked. "It's not like I can go dressed like me."

"I've already got Zatanna working on something that will disguise your true appearance," he explained, more than relieved to be talking about something else.

"And just what will I look like?"

"Zatanna can work that out," he told her. "I don't care what you look like. All I care about is stopping this thief before he steals everything right out from under our noses."

"Gee, Bruce, you really know how to charm a woman," she stated, clearly agitated by his cold demeanor. "I'm beginning to wonder if all these playboy rumors I've heard about you are actually true."

He shot her a sidelong glare. "You know what I meant," he snapped. "Besides, you'll get to see the playboy up close and personal. Just promise not to punch me through a wall or break me in two. I can't capture the thief in a body cast."

"I will also be there to help capture this thief as well. You aren't doing this alone," she countered. "Besides, I have far more restraint than that."

Bruce turned to look at her, giving her his best incredulous expression. "Your temper is legendary, Princess. You think and react with your emotions instead of your head. I've had to replace more training droids over the last three years because of you blowing off steam."

Diana clenched her hands, fighting the intense urge to hit him, but it would only end up proving his point for him. He was trying to push her buttons, which wasn't unusual for him, but he was trying extra hard to anger her tonight and she didn't know why.

"I'm going with you on this mission whether you like it or not," she perceptively stated, leaning in closer to get her point across. "You can try to push me away all you want, but it's not going to work. You're stuck with me, Bruce, so get used to it. I'm not going anywhere."

He growled under his breath, punching the computer keys with a renewed anger. She was supposed to get mad, possibly take a swing at him and storm off, leaving him to deal with this mission alone. She wasn't supposed to dig her heels in even harder and refuse to leave.

She watched as his shoulders seemed to slump in silent defeat after several tense moments. This was a fight that he couldn't win and he knew it. She sat back in her seat as he grappled with what he was going to do next. He could always try to physically kick her out of the cave, but, at that moment, he didn't feel inclined to resort to physical force.

"Meet me here in the cave Saturday afternoon so we can rehearse our story to make sure we're on the same page," he told her, adding a barely audible, grumbled "please" as an afterthought.

"I'll be here," she promised. "Now, tell me about next week's trip. What's the agenda?"

"We'll leave Gotham via my private jet very early Thursday morning," he revealed. "Once we arrive in England, we'll then go directly to Cambridge where Vanover's castle is located. There's a welcome reception Thursday night.

"Friday is spent enjoying various activities on the grounds such as swimming, horseback riding, tennis, and croquet. It's also the first day that we'll be able to start examining the various collections. Friday is a nineteen-twenties throwback party so be sure you bring an outfit appropriate for the era.

"Saturday is the same as Friday except Saturday night is a masquerade ball. Sunday is the actual auction. We fly back home on Monday morning and then you'll be rid of me."

"Where am I supposed to get clothes for this mission?" she asked, ignoring his last comment. She was intrigued by the well-thought out events surrounding the auction. The weekend was definitely a draw to those interested in art and history as well as parties.

"Use your League credit card I gave you," he told her. "If you need help with finding the right clothes, call Alfred."

"Alfred?" she repeated, surprised.

"The man knows fashion," he reassured her.

"Can you send me everything you have on Leo Vanover as well as a list of the guests who will be attending?" she asked.

Bruce was somewhat taken aback by her request, but he knew he really shouldn't be. Diana was very intelligent. She would want to know as much as possible before going into this mission. "I'm sending every file I have so far to your account on the Watchtower."

"I'll be prepared, Bruce," she assured him.

"I know you will be," he softly replied, knowing that he could and did trust her with his life. There were very few that could be counted among them, but she was most definitely among them despite his determination to keep her at arms' length.

"Are there any other suspects that might make an appearance besides our thief?"

"Lex Luthor may make an appearance," he informed her. "At this point, though, I'm not really ruling anyone out of making a surprise arrival. We'll have to be prepared for anything and anyone."

"Do you also have a list of Vanover's staff that will be there next weekend?"

Bruce scrolled through several files before pulling up the one he wanted. "I'll send it to you as well."

"I'm sure you've already started to investigate each of them to check for any ties to illegal activities or relatives who have had illegal dealings," she commented.

Bruce couldn't suppress the smirk that rose to his lips, absentmindedly thinking Diana would make an excellent detective. "You know me too well, Princess."

"And?"

"Nothing," he told her. "They're all clean."

"Well, there's always a first time for anything," she said as she peered over his shoulder to stare at the computer screen.

"That's why we'll have to be prepared for every situation," he cryptically told her.

Wayne Manor; September 30th, 17:13 EST

Bruce entered the front door of the manor and made his way to his home office, his mood surely at best despite the fact that he and Diana had a plan that would hopefully end up with their thief behind bars. After that, he still had to decide what he was going to do about Diana and their relationship. It hadn't helped at all that he'd had another nightmare about her last night. It was slowly eating away at his sanity.

He began flipping through the mail that Alfred had left on his desk. Tossing it aside, he left his office to make his way towards the kitchen in search of Alfred. The unexpected sound of female laughter filled his ears and caused an unwanted flutter to erupt in the pit of his stomach. It angered him that she had such an effect on him, that she managed to threaten his self-control with nothing more than her presence alone.

Diana was here.

"Can you honestly tell yourself that you could live without her if she died?"

Bruce felt as though he'd been punched in the gut, all the air sucked from his lungs. He didn't want to think about such an occurrence. It made him absolutely nauseous. His throat clenched painfully, leaving him unable to answer his elder self.

"You don't have to answer me," his elder self said. "I can see the answer on your face despite the cowl. You can't live without her and neither could I. Whatever nightmare you think you're going to drag her into by letting her into your life is nothing compared to the hell I've been living without her."

"You don't know what you're talking about," Bruce growled, his lips twisted with a sneer.

He watched as his elder self laughed derisively. "You're forgetting who you're talking to. I am you, but I've had to learn from our mistakes the hard way."

"Why are you so insistent that I change my relationship with Diana?" he demanded to know. "How do you know that letting Diana into my life will change the timeline enough to keep her alive?"

His elder self's face darkened, his piercing blue eyes a fierce storm of rage. "You just have to trust me."

Bruce scowled darkly, feeling as though he should have been notified of her presence in the manor, either by Alfred or her. In fact, from now on, he was going to demand she notify him at least twenty-four hours in advance of all visits to the manor. That was if he even agreed to her coming here in the first place.

She was becoming far too comfortable about just showing up here unannounced, he becoming far too lax by allowing it to happen for so long in the first place. She was making herself too at home here and he had to put a stop to it once for and all.

With a sharp reprimand already beginning to dance on the tip of his tongue for his unwelcomed guest, Bruce stalked towards the kitchen, a scathing lecture firmly in mind. He hoped she wasn't expecting to stay for dinner because that was one invitation that was not going to be becoming.

"I thought you were magnificent today, Alfred," Diana said, her melodious voice filled with amusement.

"I didn't do much, Miss Diana," Alfred humbly replied, his tone revealing his embarrassment.

"You took him down with barely any effort," she countered. "You didn't even wrinkle your jacket. I think Bruce and I should vote to have you inducted into the Justice League."

Diana looked up as an ominous shadow fell across the kitchen counter she was sitting at, noticing the handsome billionaire. "Bruce, you're just in time for Alfred's delicious chocolate cheesecake and to hear about—"

"What are you doing here?" he angrily demanded to know, appearing all Bat despite being dressed in his business suit.

Diana frowned in confusion as she glanced at Alfred before responding. "What do you mean?" she asked as she shook her head.

"Don't play coy, Princess. It doesn't suit you," he icily stated with a frown as he folded his arms against his chest.

"Master Bruce," Alfred sharply interjected from his spot on the other side of the kitchen counter where he was cutting vegetables for dinner. "Miss Diana and I went shopping this afternoon for the items that she'll need for Saturday night as well as your trip to England. Might I remind you that it was your suggestion that I help her?"

Bruce's shoulders slumped slightly with the curt reminder, Alfred's anger with him clearly conveyed. He didn't think that he'd heard that tone of voice from him since he was a small boy. He had indirectly been the one that had invited her here by offering Alfred's services and assistance. He had no one to be mad at but himself. Still, he was in no mood to deal with this…with her.

Sensing the obvious tension, Diana decided to lighten the mood a little, tucking away the anger that she felt with his rude behavior. "You never told me that Alfred was such a dangerous man, Bruce," she commented, flashing him a warm smile in hopes of thawing a measure of his icy demeanor towards her.

It was Bruce's turn to look at Alfred in confusion, suddenly worried about what had happened this afternoon. "It was nothing, Miss Diana," Alfred tried to reassure her.

"He was amazing," she insisted, placing her fork on her now empty plate. "A man tried to steal my purse in a department store in Gotham."

"What did you do?" Bruce urgently questioned her, his anxiety rising. If anyone saw Wonder Woman out with Bruce Wayne's butler they might connect them back to Batman and his secret would be revealed.

"Don't get your britches in a bundle, Master Bruce," Alfred reassured him, seeing the telltale signs of panic on his surrogate son's face. "Miss Diana was wearing a pair of sunglasses and a hat to conceal her identity."

"I would never do anything to jeopardize your identity or your mission in Gotham, Bruce," Diana reassured him, the truth of her words reflecting in her sapphire eyes.

Bruce allowed himself to relax a little as curiosity ultimately got the better of him. He made his way to the empty stool next to Diana at the kitchen counter without a second thought, settling in for the story of their adventure this afternoon. "So what happened?" he asked.

"Well, I knew I couldn't react as Wonder Woman, otherwise everyone would know it was me," Diana began to explain.

"So I stepped in," Alfred proudly volunteered.

"Before I knew it, Alfred had done this maneuver with nothing more than a flick of his wrist that had the thief on his knees, screaming and writhing in pain," Diana continued, clearly impressed as she turned her attention back to the British Butler. "By the way, you need to teach me that maneuver, Alfred. That was simply incredible."

"I'd be happy to," Alfred agreed. "It's quite easy actually."

"What happened after that?" Bruce asked.

"Security came running and apprehended the thief," Alfred revealed as he put the vegetables into a cooking pot. "Took the crook away in cuffs."

"Where did you learn to do that?" Diana questioned him.

A small smirk played at the corners of Bruce's mouth as he regarded his father figure. "Alfred used to be in the British Secret Service."

Diana was stunned by the revelation, but immediately decided that she really shouldn't be. It seemed the apple didn't fall very far from the proverbial tree. Bruce had to have learned some of his infamous skills from the British butler. It was another piece of the mystery known as Bruce Wayne that had just fallen into place.

She smiled at Bruce who was clearly avoiding making eye contact with her at that moment. "So, it seems that not all of your tricks of the trade were learned in the Orient," she commented.

"Yes, well…that's a story for another time," Bruce replied, ducking his head slightly in discomfiture now that a part of his secret to his abilities had just been discovered.

"Well, I for one would love to hear stories of Alfred's adventures with the British Secret Service," Diana announced, folding her arms and resting them on the counter as she leaned forward in a conspiratorial manner. "I bet you have some pretty fascinating tales to tell, Mister Pennyworth…if that truly is your real name."

Bruce smirked as he watched Alfred fill two plates with food before turning his attention to his audience of two. "Oh, I know he has stories, but he rarely if ever talks about it," Bruce told her as the elder man placed a plate of food before him before setting one down before the princess. "Good luck getting him to tell you any. I've tried for years."

"I might have a story or two that I could tell, Miss Diana," Alfred puckishly revealed with a pleased smile, his plan progressing swimmingly. "Of course, some will have to go with me to my grave, but there were several hair-raising adventures that Master Bruce would no doubt be interested in hearing."

Bruce straightened up with a huff of annoyance, his brow furrowing into a prickly glare. "You never talk about your time in the Secret Service. You always told me it was 'an unapproachable subject'," he stated in his best English accent as he picked up his fork before digging into his dinner.

"Well, most of my time with the Secret Service is prohibited from discussion, but Miss Diana is a guest in our home," Alfred pointed out as he filled a plate for himself. "It would be rude not to indulge her request for a story or two."

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you preferred her over me," Bruce grumbled crossly, his eyes narrowing suspiciously as he glared at his surrogate father.

"And why wouldn't I prefer a beautiful, kindhearted woman such as Miss Diana over a brooding soul such as yourself?" Alfred teased him, a smirk playing on his lips as he turned his attention to the princess. "Do you know how often I've had to eat my meals all alone while he sat in front of that infernal computer downstairs? I'd be lucky if I got so much as a grunt out of him when I placed his plate in front of him."

"I'm busy trying to protect Gotham," Bruce maintained with a frown. "Besides, I eat breakfast with you every morning."

"Yes, you do, Master Bruce," Alfred placatingly responded. "You do manage to mutter a 'thank you' from behind your newspaper as I place your plate on the table."

Diana giggled as Bruce pouted, amused by the banter between the two long-time friends, the love and admiration between the two more than evident. "Please, share some stories, Alfred," she coaxed, changing the subject. "I'd love to hear them."

Alfred's eyes twinkled with delight as he pulled a stool up to the other side of the counter so he could face his listeners. "I was sent on this one mission soon after I joined the Secret Service that required me to woo a beautiful young woman believed to be a German spy," he revealed, a sly smile playing on his lips as he added a couple shakes of pepper to his dinner.

The former British spy happily delved into one exiting account after another, leaving out key pieces of sensitive information in order to safeguard England and her secrets. Shocked gasps and laughter from both Bruce and Diana repeatedly filled the kitchen, his wild tales taking even Bruce by surprise at various times.

Alfred never talked about his time in the Secret Service, always telling him it was a topic best kept in the past. He'd had no idea just how exciting some of his adventures had truly been until now. It brought a rare smile of pride and pleasure to his lips as he watched his trusted friend and father-figure regale them with tales that he was certain had never been revealed before.

The joy and amusement that reflected on the elder man's face warmed Bruce's heart in an unexpected way. He hadn't seen him like this in a very long time, causing a pang of guilt to well up within him. He had forgotten how good it felt to laugh, to share stories and interact with the ones he cared about most. It was brought an intense wave of grief as memories of seeing his elder self from the future rose in his mind, knowing Alfred had been long gone by that time.

He loved Alfred, his surrogate father and best friend who had seen the worst that life had to offer him over the years. He'd been there with him through it all—the anguish, the heartbreak, the dark brooding and the fury that never truly died, the nights spent worrying if he would return when morning finally broke, patching him up and putting him back together again only for him to go out the next night.

Alfred could have very easily left at any time, choosing to live a much better life with someone who was far easier to love and care for then him, but he had chosen to stay and for that he would be eternally grateful. Without him, Bruce knew he'd have died long ago if not for this man sitting here with them now.

Bruce cast a sidelong glance at the woman sitting beside him, the corners of his lips curling slightly as he watched her wipe tears of laughter from her eyes. The warm smile that lit her face, the melodious sound of her laughter, the captivating spirit that encompassed her…it seemed to reach out and embrace everyone in her presence, including him.

She seemed to draw them in and create a sense of serenity and warmth that had long been missing in this house. The surly mood he'd been in when he'd come home this evening had disappeared in the wake of her presence. He didn't know how she always managed to create a sense of peace in him where he thought none could ever begin to exist.

"Alfred, you can't be serious," Diana managed to utter between fits of laughter, breaking through Bruce's thoughts. "How did you manage to get out of it?"

The former British spy couldn't help but share in her amusement, his laughter joining hers. "It wasn't easy, but I managed to get the pantyhose, wig and make up off just in the nick of time to disappear into the crowd before I was caught."

Bruce couldn't help sharing in their amusement; the image of Alfred dressed as a woman popping into his mind. "Alfred, I never knew you had it in you," he told him, shaking his head as he glanced down at his plate that had been sitting empty for some time now. "I guess I know now why you have so much experience with disguises."

"I know far more than even you can begin to imagine, Master Bruce," Alfred informed him as he paused to take a drink of his wine. "I still have plenty up my sleeve that I could teach you."

Bruce glanced at the clock above the kitchen sink, startled to find over three hours had gone by without his notice. It was nearly nine o'clock at night. He immediately jumped up from his seat, his body growing tense. Diana noticed the sudden change in his demeanor, her brow furrowing in confusion. Gone was the real Bruce Wayne that occasionally made an appearance when he actually let his guard down and in his place stood Gotham's vigilante.

"What is it, Bruce?" she asked.

"I didn't realize how late it was," he evenly replied, the stoic Bat fully in place. "I have to get ready for patrol."

"Might you delay patrol for a little while longer until our guest leaves?" Alfred pointedly inquired, giving him a disapproving look that spoke volumes about what he was thinking of Bruce's rudeness.

"Diana understands," Bruce firmly stated. "I have to get things taken care of in Gotham before being out of the country for several days."

"It's all right," Diana reassured both men. "I should return to the Watchtower. I have an early monitor duty shift in the morning."

"Be here tomorrow when you're done at the 'Tower so we can continue our preparation for the mission," he told her. "We have a lot of work to do."

"Is that a request or an order, Commander?" she asked, her eyes flashing in warning. It was obvious he was really beginning to push his limits with her.

Bruce drew a deep breath, forcing himself to be courteous despite the fact he was anxious to get downstairs and start preparations for the night. Besides, he couldn't very well patrol with a broken jaw. "Would you please come here after you've finished with your shift, Diana?"

"Yes, I'll be here," she replied with a victorious grin. "There is a lot we need to review before we leave for England."

"How long is your shift tomorrow morning, Miss Diana?" Alfred asked.

"I'll probably be here around noon at the latest," she thoughtfully decided.

"I'll have lunch ready for you when you arrive," the British butler offered.

Bruce growled to himself, knowing he was only setting himself up for more trouble. Alfred had already managed to manipulate them into having dinner together tonight by telling stories from his past, regaling them with tales that he had refused to divulge to anyone up until now.

"Whatever," Bruce bit out with a huff of irritation. "Just be here tomorrow so we can prepare for Saturday night's banquet."

Bruce stalked from the kitchen, leaving Alfred and Diana alone. "I must apologize for Master Bruce's offensive behavior," Alfred said with a sigh as he shook his head in disappointment. "I've tried to teach that boy manners over the years, but I see that my efforts have been in vain."

Diana reached over and placed a reassuring hand on top of the elder man's. "Alfred, you have nothing to be sorry about. Bruce is a very good man with many wonderful, albeit sometimes infuriating, qualities. I've come to accept that this is just the way he is. To try to change him now would mean changing the man I've come to care about as a very good friend."

Alfred's exasperated expression softened, a gentle smile forming on his lips. "You are a very compassionate, long-suffering soul, Miss Diana," he replied. "He is very lucky to have a good friend such as you."

A blush formed on her cheeks as she averted her eyes, afraid of revealing the fact that she had once longed for more with Bruce, but had given up hope for anything more. She had a feeling that, as intuitive as Alfred was, he probably already suspected something more lingered in her heart for her teammate that she didn't want to talk about let alone dwell on right now. While she loved him, she was beginning to believe it was just as futile now as it was months ago when she had broached the subject of them dating.

"Thank you, Alfred," she said with a nod, "and thank you for today. I had a wonderful time with you, despite the attempted robbery."

Alfred turned his hand, capturing hers before she could pull it away. "May I ask a favor of you, Miss Diana?"

"Certainly," she quickly confirmed with a furrowed brow, gently squeezing his hand. "Anything you want."

"Please don't give up on Master Bruce," he knowingly told her. "He can be most difficult to deal with, especially at the best of times. He has a good heart even though it has been broken more times than I can recount. It's one of the reasons that he keeps everyone at arms' length I'm afraid. I just ask that you keep that in mind."

She felt her gut tighten, sensing where this was going, but not wanting to discuss it. "Alfred, I don't understand what—" she began, slowly shaking her head, mostly in refusal of being taken down a path she was uncertain about.

"Oh, but I think you do," he gently replied, squeezing her hand in return. "Master Bruce has had a very rough go of it when it comes to matters of love and relationships. They have only further served to cement the walls that he's built up around his heart, causing him to keep people at a distance. Please, don't let that stop you following what you know beats in your heart."

Diana studied him for a long moment, weighing his words and trying to decide just how much she truly wanted to reveal. What exactly did she know in her heart? Apart from the fact that she did love Bruce and that longed to explore it further, she knew nothing more. Just because she wanted him did it make it right or worth pursuing?

She was apprehensive about actually admitting it to herself let alone voicing it to Alfred. She had gotten her hopes up before, Bruce drawing her in only to push her away. It was a tug-o-war that they'd been dancing to for almost three years now. She didn't know how much longer she could continue to do it or if she even wanted to anymore. He'd had yet to discuss the kiss they'd shared. Did she really expect him to?

"I promise to always be his friend, Alfred," she finally, softly answered him. "I wish I could promise more, but…well, you know Bruce. I'm afraid not even an Amazon blessed by the gods could get through that wall."

"You sell yourself short, Miss Diana," he cryptically said, releasing her hand. "I think you'd be surprised if you only realized just how much you've truly been able to achieve so far."

Diana couldn't help but wonder what the British butler meant with his choice of words, but it was obvious he wasn't going to expand upon it. "I'll see you tomorrow, Alfred," she replied as she stood to her feet to gather her things, needing to get back to the Watchtower.

She needed time to think right now, to decide what she was going to do about Bruce.

A/N: Poor Bruce & Diana! They both want each other, but neither knows what to do about it. Hopefully getting away together in England will help them figure things out. I promise that we'll be getting back to the thief and also some John & Shayera, but right now we're going to focus a little on my obsession BMWW! Hope you don't mind.

Thank you all for the support! There will be a treat coming soon so be looking for it in the next day or two. :)