Chapter 22

"So care explain why Diana ran away from you the minute she saw you?" Barbara asked at breakfast the next day. "I meant to ask you last night, but I forgot."

"Our last interaction was…rather distressing," Bruce said slowly.

"Mind giving some details?" Barbara questioned.

"I misjudged her sister's intentions so I…um…broke them up," Bruce responded hesitantly. "And she found out."

"I…I don't whether to punch you or yell at you," Barbara declared as she stood up. "Why on earth would you…"

"It's…complicated," Bruce admitted. "I've already fixed things with Clark, and we're going to try and restore the relationship."

"Whatever you guys have in mind better work," Barbara stated as she started to calm and sit down. "Because if not…"

"Believe me, you'll have to get in line," Bruce told her.

"There was another thing though, wasn't there?" Barbara guessed. "Cause she would've yelled at you more if that was all."

"No, it wasn't," Bruce admitted. "She had the…pleasure of meeting Jack Napier when the militia was quartering in Maryton." Barbara froze at the name and felt herself stiffen. "He told her that I denied him the perish offered."

"What?! That cockroach!" Barbara exclaimed as she clenched his fists. "If I ever see him again I'll…"

"You don't need to worry," Bruce assured her. "He's gone."

"I know," Barbara responded with annoyance. "But…I just…the nerve of him."

"I understand; I felt the same way," Bruce said. "He certainly has that effect."

"Do you know when Diana is coming?" Barbara asked earnestly.

"She should be here around 10," Bruce informed her. "So where Kara?"

"OH! She's trying to get Alfred to give her back her woopy cushion," Barbara responded.

"I don't understand where she got the pranking obsession," Bruce said. "Pamela and Audrey are appalled at the idea, and Clark was always skittish whenever I mentioned the idea."

"I think it's because she spent so much time with Dick, Jason, and Tim," Barbara suggested.

"Where is Tim?" Bruce asked.

"Master Timothy did not wish to sit still while the "adults hung out" so he ate early and is currently in his room," Alfred informed them as he walked into the dinning room with Kara following behind. "And no Miss Kent you are NOT getting that cushion back."

"PLEASE Mr. Alfred," Kara begged. "At least let me have it back when my sisters get here."

"Especially not then," Alfred told her. "Regardless of your feelings towards your sisters, I will not allow you to embarrass them in front of strangers." Kara groaned in response.

"Fine!" Kara complained before leaving the room in defeat. Alfred turned to Bruce.

"So the rest of the Kents will be joining us tomorrow, correct?" Alfred asked.

"Yes, and then once they're done visiting, I plan to go back to Netherfield with Clark," Bruce informed him.

"Good," Alfred said. "Because I hate imagine how much pain the poor woman is due to your misjudgment."

"I know, I know," Bruce responded sadly. He did know and he wished he could take it all back.

"Did you send it?" Shayera asked Lois. Lois nodded.

"Yes, it should reach Diana tomorrow," Lois told her.

"Good," Shayera responded. "How could this have happened?"

"I don't know," Lois admitted. "I wish I did but I don't."

"Are we honestly surprised?" Shayera asked. "I mean…"

"I know what you mean," Lois interrupted. "You don't need to finish."

Diana arrived on time and were led into the living room by Alfred. Bruce, Barbara, and Kara all stood and curtsied/bowed when their guests entered the room.

"I'm glad you could come," Barbara said.

"I am as well," Diana responded.

"Are your aunt and uncle not joining us?" Kara asked. Diana shook her head.

"No, Aunt Alexa wanted to reminisce some of her favorite childhood places," Diana told them. "So, they're doing that while I'm here."

"Are you hungry Miss?" Alfred asked. Diana shook her head.

"No, I ate before I came," Diana responded. "Thank you for the offer."

"So what do you like to do?" Barbara asked Diana.

"Well, I like reading, walks, gardening, and spending time with close friends and my sisters," Diana answered.

"What kind of things do like to read?" Barbara asked.

"I mostly like mystery and non-fiction and informative essays," Diana informed her.

"No romance?" Barbara questioned. Diana shook her head.

"I found the premises too predictable over time, so I lost interest," Diana explained.

"I know right? I mean, guy meets girl, love at first sight, obstacles show up like feuding families or friends, then by some miracle or twist of fate, they overcome the obstacles and get married," Barbara complained. "Very basic and predictable."

"Agreed. And it's only worse when it's poorly written," Diana added.

"Yes, it is…the WORST," Barbara said with emphasis on worst. "I mean I like some romantic novels if it's well written but when the girl gets kidnapped for the third time in the same book…" She grunted in frustration and started making angry gestures. "I'm just thinking…dude get yourself a better girl who isn't getting kidnapped every SINGLE WEEK." Diana chuckled.

"I couldn't agree more," Diana responded. "My main problem is that the female protagonist is too weak willed or emotion to accomplish anything worthwhile."

"Yes while that is a common, and annoying, stereotype it does help me figure out which books aren't worth my time," Barbara said. "If I don't like the female lead then I try a different book. There's no point reading a romance book if one of the pair is unlikeable."

"Why don't you show Miss Diana the library?" Bruce suggested. "Then you can show her which ones you like."

"Great idea!" Barbara explained before grabbing Diana's arm and leading out of the room. "Come on, Diana." Bruce smirked as the pair left the room. Alfred coughed to try to get Bruce's attention but failed. He coughed louder but Bruce's eyes were still on the door the pair had gone through.

"Well, I guess there WILL be a next generation of Waynes," Alfred muttered with a smile.

"Did you say something, Alfred?" Bruce asked, tearing his gaze away from the door for the first time.

"I don't believe so Master Bruce," Alfred responded seriously.

"Wow," was all Diana could say when she entered the library. She never thought it was possible for so many books to exist in one place, and she was awestruck.

"Here, smell this," Barbara said as she handed Diana an old book. Diana took it and smelled the pages. She closed her eyes and took it all in before sighing.

"Nothing beats the smell of an old book," Diana stated.

"Amen to that," Barbara responded. "I love the smell of old books. The leather, the parchment, everything." She pulled another book off the shelf and handed it to Diana. "I think you might like this one. It's called Sense and Sensibility. It's a family favorite."

"Is it good?" Diana questioned.

"You can tell me after you read it," Barbara responded. Diana gave her a confused look.

"Right now?" Diana asked. Barbara nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes, I would love to get your opinion on it," Barbara told her. "And in meantime, I'll finish reading Count of Monte Crisco."

"Is that book over 1,000 pages?" Diana questioned.

"1,243 pages to be precise," Barbara responded sweetly. "But honestly it's such a good book the page number almost doesn't matter. Besides, I bet the boys that if I finished it before the end of month, they would stop teasing me about boys and let me put make-up on them for a day."

"And if you didn't?" Diana asked.

"I don't want to think about it," Barbara said with dread.

"Master Timothy, there is no need to run," Alfred told him. Tim started running and slowed down to a quick walk as he headed to the kitchen to grab a snack.

"Easy for you to say," Tim retorted. "You don't have to worry about dodging a houseguest."

"Well, said houseguest is currently in library with Barbara reading," Alfred informed him. "And has been there since arriving at 10 this morning."

"They've been reading for FOUR HOURS!" Tim exclaimed. Alfred nodded. "Wow. I couldn't do that. So where's Bruce?"

"I believe Master Bruce is standing in the doorway watching them," Alfred told him.

"For four hours?" Tim questioned. Alfred nodded. "I can't decide if that's creepy or not. Any idea why?"

"I believe that Master Bruce has taken a fancy to Miss Princeton," Alfred said.

"By fancy do you mean friend or…the other thing?" Tim asked.

"The other thing, Master Timothy," Alfred told him.

"Oh," Tim responded sadly.

"What's wrong Master Timothy?" Alfred asked.

"Well, I was hoping that after Selina Bruce was done with that," Tim replied.

"Master Timothy, you know as well as I do that is an unrealistic expectation," Alfred told him. "If you always hold on to the past, then you never move on. That is as dangerous as forgetting the past ever happened."

"I know," Tim started. "I just…I don't want us to go through that again."

"Believe me when I say Master Timothy, I think this one's different," Alfred told him sincerely.

"The two women were currently lounging on the floor reading when Barbara declared:

"I don't know about you, but I'm hungry. I'm going to get some food from the kitchen. Do you want anything?"

"A little something if it's not too much trouble," Diana responded.

"I'll be back shortly," Barbara stated before getting up and exiting the room.

"I know you're there; you can come out now," Diana said. Then Bruce stepped out of the shadow and into the library.

"How long have you known?" Bruce asked.

"Almost since the beginning," Diana answered before teasingly adding. "And if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're a stalker."

"Well do you?" Bruce questioned.

"Do I what?" Diana asked.

"Know better," Bruce retorted. Diana surprise quickly turned into smile.

"So you DO have a sense of humor?" Diana teased.

"Very funny," Bruce sarcastically said. "Did one of my brothers tell you that?"

"Once or twice," Diana admitted.

"So how did you like Sense and Sensiblity?" Bruce asked.

"It was enjoyable," Diana answered. "I actually liked the female protagonists in the book, especially Elinor."

"Figured. She is the more reasonable sister," Bruce responded.

"Yes, it's not that I didn't like Marianne, it's just she's so…overemotional," Diana said. "She was well written; I just couldn't relate to her."

"Understandable," Bruce replied.

"Also she reminds me too much of my younger sisters," Diana added. Bruce chuckled a little and smirked.

"So who's worse your sisters or Marianne?" Bruce asked.

"Harley," Diana answered. "Harley's worse."

"She's your youngest sister, correct?" Bruce asked. Diana nodded.

"Yes, it's Lois then me then Shayera then Cassie then Harley," Diana told him. "You're the oldest in your family, correct?"

"Yes, it's me then Dick, Jason, Barbara, and Tim," Bruce answered.

"Dick?" Diana questioned.

"It's Richard's nickname," Bruce informed her. "So what are you reading now?"

"I'm reading Les Miserables," Diana told him. "I'm probably not going to finish before I leave but I want to try."

"That's quite ambitious," Bruce responded. "Isn't it over a thousand pages?"

"1,500 to be precise," Diana said. "And I'm about a quarter through though. So I think I'll manage. Have you ever read it?"

"No, I always meant to but never got around to it," Bruce replied. "I did finish Count of Monte Crisco though."

"Barbara's working her way through that right now," Diana told him. "She's about three-quarters of the way through. You know she and your brothers have a bet on her finishing that book before the end of the month."

"Yes I did," Bruce said.

"So what happens if Barbara losses?" Diana asked. "She wouldn't tell me."

"She has to let them slim ball her while she's wearing one of her favorite dresses and she cannot tease them about the women they're courting," Bruce answered.

"No wonder she doesn't want to loss," Diana said.

"I'm BAAACCKK and I come bearing gifts!" Barbara exclaimed as she entered the library with basket of food on her arm.

"Be careful Miss Diana, you know happened to the Trojans," Bruce teased as he headed towards the door. Diana's shock quickly turned into laughter. Barbara, however; was flabbergast. Since when did Bruce openly joke with non-family? "Enjoy your book."

"I will," Diana said with smile. Bruce then left the library and headed for another area of the house. Diana, still smiling, turned to see Barbara, still froze in shock.

"Are you okay?" Diana asked.

"What…was that?" Barbara questioned.

"I don't know what you mean," Diana responded.

"Bruce…are you two…never mind," Barbara said.