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Chapter 4

Standing on the observation area outside a restaurant at the top of one of Gotham's hotels, Beth couldn't help feeling a little silly for how nervous she had felt prior to her date with Bruce. Throughout the day her stomach had fluttered every time she thought of their plans that evening, making her feel a bit like a silly little school girl again waiting for her prom date.

She wasn't entirely sure why she had felt as she did, when she was with Bruce things were easy. Talking to him, spending time getting to know him had felt natural the last few days. Yet she knew there was a difference between having breakfast or an improvised dinner and an actual date. Their past interactions had been more as friends with just the occasional small show of affection. A date was completely different and Beth knew if things continued she would eventually have to decide if she could truly allow him past her carefully placed defenses and that prospect had scared her more than she cared to admit. When her husband died she hadn't considered ever allowing herself to be open and vulnerable to another again, to allow another to know both the good and the bad, and to potentially open herself up to another heartbreak.

The wind gently pulled at Beth's strawberry blonde locks, which she had left down instead of pulling it back into her usual braid, and she shivered slightly in the cool night air. Her knee length emerald green dress had produced the desired reaction from her date, but did little to offer any sort of protecting from the night air. A moment later she felt Bruce's jacket drape over her shoulders, and he moved closer to her, his hand sliding down from her shoulder and coming to rest on her waist just above her hip.

"Thank you," she said softly, looking up at him.

"You're welcome," he responded, his eyes meeting hers.

Everything about his closeness, his hand on her waist, the smell of his cologne, was intoxicating to Beth and she forced herself to turn and look back out over the city. She bit her lower lip as she tried to clear her head, watching the light twinkling off water in the distance.

"I know I said this earlier, but you look beautiful," Bruce told her, his voice close to her ear, causing her to shiver for a completely different reason. A blush formed on her cheeks, and she turned slowly to face him and lean her back against the railing. He stayed in place, his body close to hers, his warmth very welcome in the cool night air.

"You're sweet," she said softly, smiling at him shyly.

"I feel like there's a but coming any second," he said, looking away for a moment. There was a brief flash of disappointment and she felt him start to pull away. Before he could go too far, she placed a hand on his arm and he froze in place.

"Bruce," she started, drawing his eyes back to her own, "I didn't mean it to come across that way. You just have to be a little patient with me...I'm a little out of practice when it comes to dating."

"I know," he told her. "I don't want you to feel rushed or pressured."

"I appreciate that," Beth answered. Blushing again, she added, "It's part of why I like being around you. You're a good man, Bruce. I can see that and Alex sensed it almost instantly. He hasn't had many male figures in his life, and I've never seen him take to one the way he did you."

If there had been any doubts in her mind as to how much Alex liked Bruce, those had quickly dispersed earlier that evening. She had been doing a final check on her makeup when she heard the knock at the door and Allie had answered. Before she could make her way out into the living room she had heard Alex excitedly call out Bruce's name and she rounded the corner just in time to see him scoop up the boy for a hug. The sweetness of the moment had stopped her in her tracks as she took it all in.

"In the last five years I've been through a lot," she continued. "I thought I had married the person I was meant to spend my life with and I ended up burying him just a few months before his son was born. Faith and trust are things I struggle with. It makes me hesitant...I just...I'm scared of getting hurt again."

"I understand that all too well," he told her, taking a small step away and leaning his arms on the railing. She instantly missed his closeness, but turned to mimic his position, allowing him to continue with his train of thought. "I've lost people I loved too. My parents when I was a kid, others I considered family…It does make you hesitant to let others in."

Reaching over she took one of his hands in her own, with a soft, humorless laugh she said, "We are quite the pair aren't we."

She leaned her head over, allowing it to rest on his shoulder as they stood in silence for a moment. It seemed that beneath the confidence and the flirting that he was just as broken as she was, giving her a new understanding of the man next standing at her side. Life had taught them both not to trust in the good times because they ultimately would not last.

"We certainly are," he said, placing a gentle kiss on the top of her head.

They stayed that way for a while, their fingers intertwined and her head resting on his shoulder, just staring out at the city. His presence was comforting, and for once Beth allowed herself to just be in the moment. When she finally lifted her head, he straightened his posture and used the hand still holding hers to gently pull her from the railing so she was facing him. His other hand reached up and hovered near her cheek as it had the other day after their breakfast, but this time she said nothing as it came to rest on her skin. Her eyes fluttered closed and she smiled at the contact.

He brushed a kiss across her lips that was so soft and gentle Beth wondered if she imagined it. When he started to pull away, her hand caught the fabric of his vest, pulling him back and his lips found hers once more. This time there was no doubt in her mind what was happening as his mouth pressed against hers.

The hand that had come to rest on her cheek slowly moved to intertwine with her hair, causing her head to tip back slightly and allow him to deepen the kiss. His other hand let go of hers and came to rest on the small of her back, holding her close. She felt her body relax against his, sighing contently when he pulled away and leaned his forehead down against hers.

The sound of his phone ringing from the jacket pocket that was still draped around Beth's shoulders pulled them both back to reality. She could have sworn she heard him swear under his breath, causing her to smirk as he pulled away.

"Sorry," he said softly, retrieving the phone from the pocket. "I thought I had put that on silent."

"It's fine," she said with a slight laugh, turning back to the railing to look at the city and taking a few breaths to clear her head.

In the sky she noticed an all too familiar sight to Gotham's skyline. The Bat Signal had been lit, presumably by the city's police commissioner, which meant there was likely some sort of trouble brewing in the city. To Beth the signal seemed both a comfort and a curse. One couldn't live in Gotham without knowing about Batman. It was a comfort to know that there was someone looking out for the people of the city, yet the fact that he was needed was a reminder of the many problems Gotham faced.

"I understand, it can't be helped," Bruce's voice drew her from her musings. "Thank you Alfred, we'll meet you downstairs in a few minutes."

"Work emergency?" Beth asked, turning away from the skyline.

"Unfortunately," he responded, putting the phone in his pants pocket. "Alfred should be downstairs shortly to take you home. I'm sorry to cut this short."

"It's ok," she said softly, taking a step towards him, her hands coming to rest on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her waist. A small smirk formed on her lips as she added, "It just means you'll have to make it up to me."

He laughed, dipping his head down to capture her lips one more time in a quick kiss before releasing his hold on her waist. His hand found hers and they made their way from the observation deck towards the building's elevator.

"Saturday night there's a charity gala for the hospital," he told her as they entered the elevator, his hand never leaving hers, "perhaps I could make it up to you then?"

"I think I could pull together an appropriate ensemble," she said. "My formal attire is a bit lacking. Most of my closet is scrubs and things I can wear while chasing Alex around."

"I'm sure you'll look stunning," he said, raising her hand to his lips and brushing a kiss across her knuckles. "Even if you're wearing scrubs."

With a smirk Beth told him, "Perhaps it's good we're cutting things short this evening. Too much more of that and you will break down my resolve to take things slow."

He smiled, his eyes twinkling mischievously and Beth wondered if he realized just how much truth lurked under the surface of her words. Her knees had very nearly buckled when he had kissed the back of her hand and as the elevator neared the bottom floor, he suddenly swept her up into one final kiss for the evening, causing Beth to give a small squeal of surprise. Her body pressed firmly against him, and she could feel every muscle hidden beneath his perfectly tailored clothing.

"You, Mr. Wayne, are truly incorrigible," she said when they finally pulled apart, making him laugh.

Much to her disappointment, the elevator door opened, revealing the building's entrance. She could see Alfred waiting outside with the same car she had ridden in the day before. When he spotted them, she saw him open the rear passenger side door, clearly awaiting his passenger.

"Alfred," Bruce said, as he held the door to the building open for Beth.

"Master Wayne, everything is waiting as requested," was the cryptic response in reference to whatever business emergency was calling Bruce away from their evening.

"Thank you, Alfred," was his response as he walked Beth to the car. Turning to her he said, "I'll call you tomorrow."

"Good night, Bruce," she said softly, placing a quick kiss on his cheek before allowing him to help her into the back seat of the vehicle. Once inside she handed him back his jacket and he gave her one final smile before closing the door.

She watched through the window as Bruce and Alfred had one more quick exchange before Bruce headed to the waiting sports car. The valet drivers had it there before they even exited the elevator. It seemed Alfred really did think of nearly everything and they were a bit like a well oiled machine in Beth's eyes.

"Thank you for the ride home, Alfred," Beth said when the older man had buckled and started pulling away from the curb.

"It's my pleasure, Ms. Andrews," he said. "I'm sorry your evening with Master Wayne had to be cut short."

"I'm sure he has a lot of responsibilities at work," she answered, settling in for the ride. "After the last two days I also think he'd be rather lost without your help."

"I've served the Wayne family for most of my life," he told her. "We've had a great deal of practice over the years."

"Well, I certainly appreciate it," she said.

"Master Wayne has his faults, Ms. Andrews, but in my experience he would do anything in his power to help someone he cares about," Alfred said. "It seems he's already come to care for you a great deal."

Beth felt a slight blush creep into her cheeks. While she was very aware that Bruce enjoyed her company, hearing it from someone who was for all intents and purposes his family made it more real. Alfred had been a father figure to Bruce and there was likely no one who knew him better.

"I care a great deal for him too," she admitted. "We all have our faults and baggage. I don't want mine to hurt him any more than I wish to be hurt by his."

"If I may offer some words of wisdom, miss?" he asked and Beth nodded when she noticed he had glanced in the rearview mirror. "Master Wayne has many layers that he only allows those closest to him to see. If he is allowing you to see what the public does not then you have already started to earn his trust. I suppose the question then becomes can he earn yours?"

She sat in silence pondering his words and they arrived in front of Beth's apartment a few moments later. Alfred helped her from the backseat and up onto the sidewalk outside her building.

With a smile she placed a hand on Alfred's arm and said, "Thank you again for the ride home and for the insight."

"You are quite welcome, miss," he said. "If I may be so bold, you and your son are a breath of fresh air in the life Master Wayne leads. I would like nothing more than to see him find a bit of happiness for himself."

Beth smiled softly, bidding him goodnight. She made her way into her apartment building, Alfred's words replaying in her mind as she climbed the stairs. It was bound to be a long night of replaying the moments of their date and the information she had received on her way home. Yet, still, remembering Bruce's lips against her own, Beth smiled as she unlocked the door to her apartment and made her way inside for the night.