*Chapter 3: Wayne Manor Tour*

'What am I thinking?!' Mia thought to herself. 'I barely knew the guy! Why did I accept? To make friends or be his new date?' The woman shook her thoughts away. She is pacing back and forth in her bedroom, trying to figure out what she should wear. Of course, it didn't have to be formal. It's not a date. Her son is invited. They can wear something nice.
Mia pulled out a blue dress with short sleeves. She smiled to herself as she believes this dress would be a perfect choice to wear tonight. Axel walked in, wearing a white and gray checkered shirt with jeans. He smiled up at his mother.

"I know it's not a date, but if you two ever date, you owe me fifty bucks." Axel said.

"I doubt it'll ever happen." Mia said. "And you look great. So, when we arrive there, don't touch anything."

"Yeah." Axel said. "But, I gotta tell you. I am looking forward to meet Mr. Wayne and check out his manor."

"When he comes from this meeting, make sure you thank him." Mia said, brushing her hair. "Now, I have to get ready. Eat a snack. Bruce's butler will pick us up in a hour in a half."

The black car drove up to the manor. Mia and Axel were in awe at the sight. It is huge. Alfred opened the door for them and the two stare up at the manor. The driveway was surrounded by a garden. A fountain is in a center. The place looks peaceful. Mia turned back to the manor and see many windows. This place must've have a lot of rooms.

"Welcome to Wayne Manor, Ms. Harlow and young lad." Alfred said, leading them up the steps. "Master Wayne will be arriving after his meeting in an hour. He told me I shall give you two the grand tour." Alfred let them inside the manor. They walked inside the foyer and see pricey treasures.

"Whoa..." Axel gasped. "Must be nice to live in a place like this."

"Yeah. Must be." Mia said. "Just don't touch anything."

"Master Bruce has told me that you are a nurse and currently work at the Elliot Memorial Hospital." Alfred spoke as he hangs his hat up on a coat rack.

"Yes, I am." Mia said. "And so far, I like it."

"Does Mr. Wayne throw parties?" Axel asked, walking up to the glass case with a knight inside.

"Yes, he does." Alfred replied. "Now, allow me to show you around the manor."
Alfred led Mia and Axel to the study to see shelves of books and a piano. A fireplace with a portrait of Wayne Manor above. A record player in a corner. Axel played with the piano keys, playing a simple tune. Suddenly, the shelf moved an revealed a passageway. Axel looked around for Alfred and Mia, but they already moved on to another room. Axel turned back to the hidden passage.

XX

The boy wandered down the steps in a dark path. He really shouldn't be wandering without his mother or Alfred, but curiosity got the better of him. As he walked down the steps, he hears a waterfall. Axel made it down to find a cave. He gasped as he reached the end of the cave steps. Bats flew pass him, startling him. Axel looks around the big cave with platforms. Looks like a museum of sorts. Axel sees a giant Penny in a corner, and a T-Rex on the other side of the cave. The boy went over to the big computer and found some gadgets.

"What is this place?" He wondered. But, he then noticed a car. A special car on the driveway. "Whoa." He stares at it in interest. He looked up to see bats hanging upside down, staring down at him. They squeak a bit. "This is...a Batcave." Axel said. "Is...Mr. Wayne-"

"Who's there?!" A male voice spoke. Axel gasped and turned around to see a figure coming down. A man wearing red and green. Axel backed away, having his hands up in defense.

"I...I didn't mean to come here! I didn't touch anything!" Axel said.

"Oh...you're just a kid." A man said. Axel noticed the rest of his outfit. This is Robin. "Wait, aren't you Mia's kid?"

"How do you know?" Axel wondered. "Wait. Before you answer... Is this...Batman's hideout? This is a Batcave. And it's under Wayne Manor. Is Mr. Wayne Batman?" Robin stared at the boy in silent. No use of lying to him. Now Axel knows a secret. It's very early for him to know. How come Alfred didn't watch this kid more carefully? But the plus side, Batman isn't here. Robin isn't very strict like him. Robin kneeled down and touch the boy's shoulder.

"Okay. You figured it out. But...you have to promise me one thing." He said. "Don't tell anyone. Don't tell your mom. I don't want to freak you out, but if anyone knows, we will be put in danger."

"But, who will I tell? We just moved here days ago." Axel said. "Still...I won't tell anyone about this."

"I'd like to show you around, but now is not a good time. I just arrived to join you guys for dinner when Bruce gets here. Oh, and don't say anything to Bruce either." Robin said. "Just act natural." He took Axel back up the cave steps.

XX

"Axel?" Mia called through the manor. "Dammit, where is he? He better not get into a place he shouldn't be." Axel followed his mother's voice and see Alfred searching one room. The butler noticed him and walk up to him.

"My boy, where have you been?" He demanded. "Did you get lost?"

"Y-yeah. I was...looking for a bathroom." Axel lied. "Sorry." Alfred stared at him in silent. Axel felt nervous.

"Your mother was looking for you." Alfred said, leading the boy down the hallway. "Ms. Harlow, I've found him." Mia came out from the second study room and rush to her son.

"Axel, you scared me. Where were you?" Mia asked. Before Axel could answer, they hear the front doors.

"Ah, Master Bruce has arrived. And just in time. Let us meet him in a foyer." Alfred said, changing the subject.
Bruce smiled when he sees Mia and Axel walk down the stairs with Alfred. Axel stood by the stairs, staring at the man in a suit. He can't say anything about the Batcave. He has to keep a promise to Robin.

"Hello, Bruce. Thank you again for inviting us for dinner." Mia said, shaking Bruce's hand. "This is my son, Axel." She turned back to see her son slowly approach Bruce. "Axel, this is Bruce Wayne."

"Nice to meet you, Axel." Bruce said, sticking his hand out. Axel shook his hand with a firm grip and gave him a small smile. "Such a strong handshake, kiddo." Bruce said.

"Thanks for inviting us, Mr. Wayne." Axel said.

"Hey." A male voice said. Everyone turned to see Tim approaching them. He is wearing a white long sleeve button shirt with dark jeans. "Sorry that I didn't come down sooner. I want to look nice for tonight." He grinned at Mia. "Nice to see you again, Mia. And who is this?"

"Oh, this is my son, Axel." Mia said. Axel stared at Tim with wonder, but realized this is Robin. Axel and Tim shook hands. Alfred told everyone that dinner will ready in a dining room. Axel and Tim walk behind Mia and Bruce. Tim gave the boy a wink. In return, Axel gave him thumbs up.

XX

Dinner was nice. Mia was getting to know both Bruce and Tim a little better. Mia notices her son likes talking to Tim. She turned her attention to Bruce.

"So tell me, Bruce. You ever invite every woman to your manor for dinner right after you met them?" She asked with a giggle.

"To tell you the truth, yes." Bruce said. "But, relationships never work."

"What do you mean? Do they...dump you?" Mia asked.

"You could say that." Bruce said. "But, I don't want to talk about myself. I want to get to know you. I know you are a nurse, just moved in Gotham. But, I'd like to know more."

"What else is there to know?" Mia asked. "I'm just...a widow. For three years." Bruce frowned a bit. Mia took a sip of her drink.

"Trixie told me about your husband." Bruce said. "I'm sorry."

"What's hard is that...that I can't get over it." Mia said. "It was so terrible." Her eyes wander over to Axel, laughing along with Tim. "You know, my son wanted to be a firefighter like him. He wanted to save people too. He kept his dad's badge, photos... He looked up to Walter." Mia said with a sad smile. "When I tried dating, things never work out. Neither of the guys have caught Axel's attention. I was afraid he will think that one of them tried to replace Walter, but...thankfully he didn't think that." Mia let out a sigh and changed the subject. "Other than that, I'm just a nurse with free spirit." Bruce got up from his chair and took Mia by the hand.

"We both have free spirits." He said. "Let me show you something." They walked out of the dining room. Tim and Axel watched them leave.

"Mom owes me money if Bruce is asking her out for real." Axel said. Tim chuckled.

XX

Bruce brought Mia to the staircase and they both look up at the big portrait of Bruce and his parents when he was eight years old. Mia noticed that painting before and couldn't help but to think Bruce looks cute as a little boy. She turned to see Bruce's frown.

"When I was a kid, my parents were gunned down in Crime Alley in Old Gotham." He said. "We left the theater, and my father wanted to take a shortcut to get to the car where Alfred will meet us. Then, the man, appeared. He demands money and my mother's pearls. My father tried to fight back, but he was shot. Same goes with my mother." Mia stared at him in shock. She never knew this story. Bruce lost his parents at a young age. "I stood there. Frozen and afraid. The man, Joe Chill, went up to my face, and said 'That's what happens when you try to be a hero.'." Bruce clenched his fists.

"Bruce...I'm so sorry." Mia said, touching his shoulder. "I had no idea you've been through so much."

"I lost happiness then." Bruce told her. "But, years later, I become more. I can't forget what happens to my parents, but I will never lost my free spirit. Alfred raised me and taught me many things. I want Gotham to be a better city. But there is always crime. Every day and night."

"Same with me." Mia spoke. Bruce turned to see her walk towards one of the busts. "When I was a little girl, my mom died in a car accident. I never knew my father. I was in the orphanage for some time until I was adopted. After I was married to Walter, I was studying to become a nurse. Then, we have Axel. But, there was crime in my hometown. I was almost killed at my old hospital, and then...my husband died in a fire. I was raising Axel alone, doing what I can to protect him. But, all I see is crime."

"But, you moved into a city where there's crime." Bruce said.

"But, this city has something. I was told where we are living has less crime." Mia told him. "Old Gotham was worse. And most of all, I want to work on...getting over my fears."

"Your fears?"

"Yes. I fear that..." Mia paused.

"Yes?" Bruce asked. Mia sighed and turned to him.

"I'm sorry. I can't talk about it. I'm here to have a good time." She said. "The past is getting to me." Bruce nodded, understanding. "So, you like movies?"

After Mia and Axel left Wayne Manor, Bruce made it down to the Batcave with Tim and Alfred. He changed into his Batman suit to fight crime. Tim told him that was nothing earlier after he got back.

"Anything else I need to know about, Tim?" Bruce asked, putting on the cowl. Tim sighed a bit.

"Axel...came here. By accident." The young man said. The Dark Knight tightened his jaw. He sighed.

"Sir, the boy didn't say a word to his mother. Surely we could trust him to keep a secret." Alfred spoke. "But I couldn't help but to think that Mia may find out who you are."

"She won't." Batman said.

"Seems to me that you are starting to like her." Tim said with a smile. "You gonna ask her out? Like a real date?"

"She doesn't seem interested." Batman said. "I notice she keeps her wedding ring on. She is afraid to be in a relationship with someone. She couldn't get over her husband's death. It haunts her." Tim didn't say anything. He enjoys talking to Axel. He wondered how Mia would react if she found out the truth. Would she be shocked? Yes. But, would she keep a secret? "She doesn't know, the better. It will keep her safe." Batman added.

"That may be best sir. As long as the boy doesn't spill the beans." Alfred said.

"He won't." Tim said to the butler. "I know he won't." Batman went down to get to his Batmobile to head out for the night. After he left the Batcave, Tim turned to Alfred. "The guy needs to trust people. Especially the ones who been through a lot." He said. "Say if Mia did found out, she could keep a secret. She's a nurse. She's new here."

"I doubt she will find out soon, Master Drake." Alfred said, walking over to the Batcomputer. "Next thing, the entire city will know. The last thing Master Bruce wanted." Tim wouldn't imagine if the whole world knows about Batman's true identity. That would make Batman less fearful.