Faith had chosen and beautiful red silk chiffon dress for today's outing. The capped sleeves had a flirty flair, the front of the dress fell into a plunging V-shape right down to the tops of her breasts which were generously displayed, and the bodice and skirt were snug against her skin. Her four inch Christian Louboutin peep-toed heels in black with the killer red soles completed her ensemble perfectly. Her husband was having a hard time keeping his hands to himself as he drove his Lamborghini through the streets of Gotham towards the hospital.
"You think they'll behave themselves while we're gone?" Faith asked with a shit-eating grin and Bruce huffed, but his lips quirked in amusement as he shrugged.
"As long as they don't burn our home down while we're gone, I'm fairly certain we don't need to worry."
"That's not funny."
"Sure it's not." Bruce quipped as he turned into the hospital parking lot and found a space to park just outside the main entrance. Faith gave her husband a dubious look.
"How are you always able to get such good parking spots whenever we go somewhere? Do you call ahead and bribe the parking attendants?"
"Me?" Bruce's hazel eyes were alight with mischief, causing Faith's gaze to narrow suspiciously.
"You do, don't you?"
"Beautiful, you really think I'd do something so ridiculous for a simple parking space?"
"Yes!"
Bruce chuckled throatily as he opened his car door and went around to his wife's side to let her out. As he took her hand, he kissed the back of it playfully before closing her door and scooping her into his side as they walked towards the main entrance.
"I wonder if I should be offended." Bruce murmured after a few moments.
"Why? Because I believe you're capable of such treachery?"
"Treachery?"
"Fine, bribery? Throwing your weight around to get what you want?"
"And if I do?"
"Bruce..."
Pulling her even closer, Bruce shushed his wife as he kissed her temple lovingly. "Hush. You know what a control freak I am, so why would it surprise you that I would call ahead and make sure we can have a space close enough that you aren't visible for very long. We have to be extra careful right now, so if that makes me extra vigilant in making sure you're safe—then guilty as charged."
Faith blushed as she bit her lip in consternation, but she also understood where Bruce was coming from.
"I get it."
"Good."
Once they got inside to see her Ob-GYN, the nurse was waiting to take her blood and Faith's doctor came in a few moments later to do her exam.
"So, have you decided how you want to do the sonogram?"
Faith sighed. "Bruce bought a state of the art machine and had it installed in our wing of the house. He's managing to turn his parents old set of rooms into a full working delivery unit."
Dr. Levine smiled at the billionaire. "I see. Have you contacted the radiology department to set up a technician?"
"I contacted Dr. Ferrick myself, the Head of Radiology and he has graciously offered to come to Wayne Manor to do the ultrasound day after tomorrow."
Faith huffed and rolled her eyes, while Dr. Levine's smile just widened knowingly. "That's fortunate he had the availability." Was all she said, as Faith bit back, "isn't it just?"
Bruce gave his wife a mock glare in warning, but she just blew him a kiss and shook her head ruefully at his high-handedness.
"Well, as far as I can tell everything is looking right where it needs to be. The blood test results should be back in a week at the latest. I would normally have you schedule a follow up appointment for the results, but I will call you if that makes it easier?"
"Yes, that would be good." Faith agreed readily.
"How's the morning sickness?"
"All gone."
"Good." Dr. Levine looked at some notes and said, "You've put on about three pounds since your last visit. A good weight gain of about twenty to twenty-five pounds for a woman of your height and weight is about normal."
Faith nodded, as she clasped her hand over her belly and smiled when Bruce's hand covered hers instinctively.
"You will need to let Dr. Ferrick know if you wish to find out the gender of the baby."
"Okay." Faith replied, before she thought to ask, "at what point will the baby start to kick?"
"Since this is your first pregnancy, you might start feel a bit of a quickening, or fluttering in a few weeks. Most women start to feel true kicks around the twenty-five week mark, but it can vary. Your almost twenty weeks now and I'll be seeing you again in about a month."
Faith nodded, and Bruce smiled lovingly at her as Dr. Levine checked a few more things and then dismissed them to make their next appointment with her nurse.
Once that was settled, Bruce and Faith were on their way to see Stephanie.
"You haven't said much about this in the last few weeks," Faith admitted warily, "was she able to find someone?"
Bruce smirked. "Why don't we wait and see."
Sighing, Faith figured that she would just have to indulge her husband's propensity in wanting this to be a surprise and once they'd arrived, and were shown inside the building—Stephanie was waiting for them with a welcoming smile.
"Hello Mr. Wayne, Mrs. Wayne!"
"Hi Stephanie." Faith half-smiled as Bruce shook the woman's hand and then led her upstairs.
"So, are you excited to see what we have for you today?"
"I don't know. Bruce hasn't told me much. I think he wants this to be a big surprise."
"Ah," Stephanie nodded, "then we should probably get to it then, yes?"
Faith returned the gesture and once she and Bruce were situated, Stephanie moved out of the room for a moment.
"So what's the big surprise?"
"You'll see."
When Stephanie returned, she wasn't alone and Faith's eyes widened at the person with her.
"I don't believe it!" Faith whispered as both she and Bruce stood up and the man in question came over with a wide smile.
"Mr. Wayne, Mrs. Wayne!"
"Hello Antonio, it's good to see you again." Bruce grinned down at his wife, and her dark eyes were widened in shock. "Beautiful, you okay?"
"Huh?" Her eyes flashed from Bruce to Stephanie, to their guest and she nodded dumbly, before she blurted out, "how did you manage this?"
Antonio laughed and gestured for them all to sit, which they did.
"I got the call a few weeks ago actually," Antonio offered, "Stephanie has told me what a huge fan you are of my work and I see you're wearing one of my pieces now!"
"I love your styles." Faith agreed readily. "Stephanie always manages to find just the right styles she thinks I'll like. But honestly, I love them all."
Antonio's eyes twinkled with pride and Bruce nodded at Stephanie, pleased.
"Then I think you'll love what we have for you today. I've been working non stop this past month to design a wardrobe just for you. In fact, you will be the first to wear these as a new part of an exclusive line I'll be doing going forward."
"Really?" Faith squeaked and Bruce chuckled.
"Really, Beautiful."
"Oh, Wow!" Faith's expression morphed into a blinding smile, which had her husband gazing down at her lovingly while Antonio gave Stephanie a knowing look.
The designer clapped his hands and another individual, likely his assistant came out with a design book and placed it on the table.
"These are the designs." He opened the book and showed Faith each one in succession.
"Oh, these are amazing!" Faith cooed, as she fawned all over the pretty pieces. "I love that one!"
Bruce glanced down at the open book at the image Faith was pointing to and chuckled. "That's so you."
"I know, right?"
As each design was unveiled, Faith felt her heart swell with gratitude and she opened her mind to her husband.
"I love you."
Bruce's lips quirked in a please half-grin, but his voice was filled with emotion as he responded back silently, "I love you more."
Her blush couldn't be helped, and both Antonio and Stephanie were watching them closely as they continued to go over each design in detail. Once the book was completed, Antonio clapped his hands again and several attendants came out holding each piece in succession, so Faith could feel the fabrics, and approve each piece that was completed.
"I am still working on these designs at the end of the book, and they should be ready in about six weeks. Those there," he pointed to the finished products, "will be delivered to Wayne Manor in a few days."
Faith smiled gratefully at the man and held her hand out, which he took and placed a kiss on the back of it. "Thank you, Antonio! This is more than I ever could've hoped for."
"Nonsense, Mrs. Wayne..."
"Please call me Faith."
The Italian designer smiled warmly at the young woman, who was clearly adored by her husband but seemed to be so genuine and grateful it touched his heart. Most women of Faith Wayne's affluence would be demanding and entitled, but she was nothing but a breath of fresh air.
"Very well...Faith. Stephanie has told me a bit of when you first came to see her."
Faith laughed and Bruce grinned at the memory.
"Yes. Well, to be honest my experience with fashion was rather limited before I met Bruce."
"Leather is an acceptable choice for all occasions." Antonio replied, and Faith nodded as she turned to her husband in triumph.
"See Husband, that's what I said!"
Bruce snorted a laugh, but his eyes were filled with utter devotion as he said, "I happen to agree with you, Wife."
Faith then turned back to Antonio and said proudly, "My favorite outfit is still the first one of yours I picked out here three years ago."
"Truth be told, it's one of my favorites as well." Antonio winked. "And I will admit, that having you photographed in my designs hasn't hurt my business, young lady. If anything, the confidence in which you hold yourself is refreshing to see."
Faith blushed deeply at the compliment, and if Antonio hadn't been enraptured before, he was surely now.
Faith Wayne was a treasure.
He nodded to her husband and said with conviction, "You are a most fortunate man, Mr. Wayne."
The younger man bowed his head humbly at the compliment and replied unequivocally, "I am."
Pleasantries were exchanged, as well as a promise from Antonio that Bruce and Faith would attend his next fashion show in Milan—which they agreed to do.
Once they were back in the car, Faith cupped the back of her husbands head as she petted him fondly.
"You're happy." He said softly and Faith nodded.
"I am, but you always make me happy."
"It's my job."
"Oh? So I just get bunched in with everything else?"
"No, Wife. You are my most important job. Keeping you happy is my reason for getting out of bed in the morning. I live to put a smile on your face."
"Well, you sure do that. This last night and this morning was proof of that." Bruce chuckled before his face hardened and Faith gave him a curious look. "What is it?"
"We're being followed."
"You're sure."
A brief nod was all she got before Bruce accelerated the car and weaved through traffic effortlessly, the car behind him doing its best to keep pace.
He flicked on his car phone and Lucius answered on the second ring.
"Mr. Wayne."
"Lucius...we are being tailed. Log into the Wayne database and track my Lamborghini. The car is a black Mercedes Sedan. The windows are tinted so I can't get a good look at the driver and there's no front plate."
Faith could hear a few clicks on what sounded like a computer keyboard, before Lucius voice spoke up again.
"I'm tracking you now, and I've sent your location to Commissioner Gordon and the Gotham PD. I've also sent an alert to Mr. Angel. You're about four blocks from Wolfram and Hart."
"Alert Micah and have them lock down the building once we are in the garage."
"Will do, Mr. Wayne."
Bruce accelerated and passed through a yellow light, the car behind them blowing by the red and nearly taking out another car about to enter the intersection.
"Hold on, baby."
Banking hard left, Bruce could see their destination ahead, but another Mercedes turned into their path. Just as it was about to hit them, Faith extended her hand and used her powers to push the car into the side alley as it crashed into a brick wall.
"Nice." Bruce sighed out in relief, as he turned into the parking garage and immediately, the grates slammed down and the sirens on the building went off in succession as several armed guards came out of nowhere and opened fire on the second Mercedes in view.
The glass was bulletproof, but the tires weren't and as both front tires blew, the driver lost control and slammed into another car just right of the garage entrance.
Several more armed guards moved out of the building and flanked both cars as people in the street moved out of the way quickly.
Bruce didn't waste anytime getting Faith out of the car and into the building, heading for Micah's office which would likely be the most secure spot in the building.
As soon as they cleared the elevator, Micah was there being flanked by his own personal guard as they hurried both Bruce and Faith into his office. Once there, Micah's phone rang.
"Micah." Angel's hardened voice came over the line. "Talk to me."
"They're here, Angel. Our men have taken out the two assailants and are bringing them into the interrogation rooms as we speak.
"Faith?"
"I'm here."
There was a relieved sigh on the other end, and then they heard Buffy's voice.
"Are they okay?"
"We're fine, B."
"Thank God!"
"I'm on my way."
"Lock down the Manor, Buffy."
"Will do, Bruce. Stay safe."
The line went dead, as Bruce led Faith over to a black leather couch situated against the far wall. He set her down with a brief kiss and then turned to Micah.
"I want to..."
"I know, Bruce. I'm sure Angel will have no problem allowing you to join him when he gets here."
"I'm coming too."
Bruce growled, but Faith just folded her arms in ire before turning to Micah and asking pointedly, "Do you have a scabby demon handy?"
Micah shook his head.
"What's a scabby demon?" Bruce asked curiously.
"They are telepathic demons. Their silver blood has the ability to infect humans and give them the gift of telepathy, but in most cases it turns the human insane."
"It didn't for Buffy." Faith replied and Bruce's eyes lifted in understanding, before shaking his head.
"You don't need..." he then halted his comment, as Faith's face lit up in triumph and he groaned.
"You don't play fair."
"Pot."
"Whatever."
Running his hands over his face, Bruce noticed Micah's lips twitching with amusement at them both.
"Seems my Wife isn't going to sit this one out."
"No surprise there." Micah replied evenly, but his expression belied his smooth demeanor.
It was about an hour before Angel arrived and when Micah led them to the interrogation rooms, Bruce was taken aback by the woman sitting there. She looked almost like a carbon copy of Talia, and his face darkened in sudden understanding as he realized just who this woman was.
"Nyssa."
"Hello, Mr. Wayne."