Well, it has been a hot minute since I updated. This is just a whole bunch of random fluff but I didn't want to leave you guys hanging with nothing!
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"What did the two of you talk about?" asked Alfred as he and Ella walked casually down the city sidewalk.
"Ah, I dunno," shrugged Ella, running her fingers along the cast-iron fence they were passing. She kicked at some slushy snow and jumped when some of it slid down the inside of her sneaker.
"First impressions of Miss Reynard?" questioned Alfred, stopping to wait for Ella as she scooped the mud from her sneaker.
Ella hopped on one foot to catch up and then knelt, "Uh, she's nice. I didn't mind talking to her. She has a pretty smile. Dad should date her. Oh, shoot, now my knee is wet."
"Well, that should have been an obvious outcome before you knelt in the snow," said Alfred, sighing and brushing the dirty snow from Ella's jeans. "Master Wayne isn't exactly up for potential relationships these days. He has a bit of healing to do." The two began walking again, and Ella slid her hand into Alfred's.
"Don't worry," she said, "I like her. I don't hate the idea of therapy anymore."
"Now that is excellent news," smiled Alfred. "And I have a surprise for me."
"I figured as much," shrugged Ella. "We passed the car like five minutes ago."
"Yes, but I bet you don't know what it is," shot back Alfred, squeezing Ella's hand. The girl shook her head and kicked some more slush. Alfred chuckled, "We're almost there. I'm sure you'll like it very much."
As he spoke, they passed a newspaper stand, and Ella stopped, pulling her hand free of Alfred's. "Say!" she said, running back and pulling the plastic door open. "It's about Batman. It says he was seen in the east end of town last night."
"Is that so?" asked Alfred, taking the paper from Ella. He nodded thoughtfully, "Yes, look at the picture. It is a fake. Batman has many fans that impersonate him." The butler lowered his voice and leaned close to Ella, "And for the present, we aren't too worried about people thinking Batman is out and about. The less of a connection to Bruce's injury and Batman's disappearance, the better."
Ella nodded, slipping her hand back into Alfred's, "Yeah, that makes sense. What time was Dad's appointment?"
"I left him at the hospital at 2:45," replied Alfred. "So, we have another hour or so before we have to pick him up. And here we are." Alfred nodded his head to the massive building beside them, and Ella turned to see where it was they had arrived.
"The Science Center!" she cried. "Yes! I have always wanted to go here! They have a planetarium and a Lego display and a whole section on zero gravity and…"
"A visiting dinosaur exhibit," interrupted Alfred, pointing to an enormous poster on the side of the building. "Which we can't see as long as we stand outside, jumping up and down."
"Okay, let's go in! Let's go in!" cried Ella, racing up the steps and into the building.
…
"There is an enormous scale model of the planets, too!" explained Ella, shifting energetically in her seat. "And the floor is painted like you are walking on stars."
"Well, I think we'll have to make a full-day trip before long," chuckled Bruce. "And what did Alfred think of the museum?"
"They have updated the building marvelously since I was last there," replied Alfred from the front seat of the car, steering them carefully through Gotham's busy streets. "An excellent visit."
Bruce winced as he shifted positions and sighed, leaning back, "Well, I'm glad you two had fun."
Ella noticed Bruce's discomfort and moved closer to him, nudging her shoulder against his, "How's your knee, Dad?"
"Oh, it will heal up before long," said Bruce, smiling. "Let's not worry about that. Tell me about the dinosaurs."
Ella could tell Bruce was avoiding the topic of his health, and his subject change proved a perfect distraction, "Oh, man, they were amazing!"
The rest of the trip home was discussing the many wonders of the science museum, while an understood silence between Alfred and Bruce promised a private conversation about the latter's hospital visit once home. Alfred also planned on once again addressing Ella's schooling, as he strongly felt private tutors were doing little to advance her education. Alfred scheduled them to start coming back in two days, and Alfred was determined to talk Bruce into a different approach when it came to academics.
…
"Do me a favor, Ella, and go down to the Batcave…the cave to make sure everything is secure," said Bruce, shooting her a glare when she smirked at his Batcave term.
"I will secure the Batcave," chuckled Ella, enjoying the practical yet funny-sounding name used to reference the hideout. She hurried off to the music room to access the hidden elevator, and Alfred assisted Bruce into a sitting room where the younger man dropped with a groan onto a couch.
"Make sure the Batcave is secure," said Alfred. "You have something you'd like to say in private?"
"Ah, Alfred," he said, "this will be a long run. I think I'm out of the game for good."
"Now, enough of that, Master Wayne," said Alfred, bustling about adjusting lights and drapes. "You'll heal up if you do what the doctors say and don't try anything taxing too soon."
"It hurts, Alfred," said Bruce, lifting his leg to rest on an ottoman. "This one is long term. I can feel it."
"What did the doctor say today?" asked Alfred, seating himself in a chair across from Bruce.
Bruce shrugged, slumping down in his seat, "Same old. Give it time. Take pain medicine. Keep it wrapped. Stay off of it. It's been weeks, Alfred."
"Yes, most injuries do not heal at astronomical speeds, Master Wayne," said Alfred. "You have been incredibly fortunate thus far with your injuries. It was just a matter of time before something more drastic happened."
"Shot down in my own house," growled Bruce.
"Enough of that," said Alfred, standing and crossing the room to look out the window. The sun shone through, and melting snow dripped from the roof, running down the glass. Spring was on the way. "It's too nice of a day for you to get down on yourself. Besides, I have another matter to discuss with you."
"If it's about women, forget it," said Bruce.
Alfred turned to face him, "Why on earth would you think that? It is nothing of the sort. Well, it is about a young woman. Your daughter, to be exact. I don't think we should continue with the private tutors. The learning style is not good for her. I think you should consider allowing me to tutor her."
Bruce looked up at stared at Alfred, "What? Alfred, you barely have time to keep this household running. You do more than you need to now. I can't let you do that."
Alfred smirked, "I'll require payment, of course."
"Oh, of course," chuckled Bruce. "And your time management?"
"I've been caring for her every day since she came here," replied Alfred, sitting back down. "I think we could manage it quite nicely."
"You haven't been teaching her, though," objected Bruce. "This is a big deal, Alfred. I don't know if I can spare you."
"This is your daughter, young man," said Alfred, leaning forward. His eyes and tone were deadly serious. "She is thirteen-years-old and educated at a sixth-grade level, yet she shows signs of great genius. The tutors are making little progress with her because they are presenting the material in a lecture form with little interaction. I believe that I have grown to understand Ella quite well, and I could tutor her efficiently and hopefully bring her up to the correct grade level, so that come this fall, she can attend school without the embarrassment of being far behind her peers."
Bruce raised an eyebrow and sighed, "Well, you seem to have thought this out. I…of course, Alfred. You know I trust you unconditionally."
Alfred narrowed his eyes and looked Bruce over carefully, "Something's on your mind."
Bruce sighed and rested his chin on his hand, "It's nothing."
"Whatever you say, sir," said Alfred, standing up. "I'll just leave then, and you can think about it for a few hours."
"Oh, sit back down," said Bruce, rolling his eyes. Alfred knew just how to get to him. Alfred smirked and lowered back onto the chair, waiting for Bruce to continue. The young man sighed, "It's just that I'm failing."
"Failing?" asked Alfred.
"Failing Ella," said Bruce, visibly wincing as he said it. "You know her better than I do. What kind of father am I? My father was involved in every bit of my life, and he knew just what I needed. Since she's come here, I've spent most of my time at work and the rest in bed. What sort of environment is that for a child?"
"What is Ella's favorite ice cream?" asked Alfred without so much as a slight pause.
"What?" asked Bruce, glancing in confusion at the butler. "Ice cream? Cookies dough. Why?"
"And what is her favorite boy's name?"
Bruce made a face, "Sebastian. What on earth does this have to do with anything?"
"How do you know those things?" asked Alfred.
"She told me," replied Bruce.
"Because you asked her," said Alfred.
"Yes, because I asked her," nodded Bruce.
"When did you ask her?" asked Alfred.
"Where is this going?" asked Bruce, leaning forward. "Just because I know random facts doesn't mean I'm a good father."
"You asked her what her favorite boy's name is while putting together the telescope on the roof," said Alfred. "You canceled two meetings and turned down an invitation to a birthday party for a senator to do it with her. You found out her favorite ice cream the night you took her to a Kabuki play in Gotham. You canceled a meeting with a potential donor for that."
"The point, Alfred?" demanded Bruce, though he knew it now.
"The point is," sighed Alfred, "you love her. You love her more than any person in this world. There are the obvious points, such as risking your life for her, but it's the small things, Master Wayne. You do everything you can think of to make her happy with little thought to yourself. You ask her small things. You take a genuine interest in her well-being. You aren't perfect, and you never will be. No one is. But don't you tell me that you have failed that girl as a father because you took her in and cared for her when no one else would, and you have selflessly given her a better life than she could have imagined. And I don't mean regarding money. I mean, regarding love."
"You're the one who brought her here," said Bruce, though he knew deep down that Alfred was right. "I told you to send her back."
"And then you changed your mind, and the first thing I did was give her that art book she is so enamored by," shot back Alfred. "From the very beginning, your sole purpose has been to make her happy and show her that someone cares. You have not failed. You have been the best father a child could ask for."
That was all it took for the tears to well-up in Bruce's eyes, and he hid his face in his hands, somewhat shocked by the sudden burst of emotion.
Alfred smiled, "Alright, Master Wayne. None of that. You're a good dad, and that's all there is to it." He stood and approached his young master, placing his hands on the man's shoulders. "We'll have no more of this self-degradation. And I still have your permission to cancel the tutors?"
Bruce nodded, not trusting his voice.
"Excellent," said Alfred. "I'll send Ella in. Either get those emotions under control or be prepared to explain to her why you are so passionate about the night sky."
"The night sky?" said Bruce looking up, his voice shaky.
"Here," said Alfred, dropping a book onto Bruce's lap. "I picked it up at the science center. Just the sort of thing the two of you could use up on the roof while watching stars."
Bruce smiled, brushing a stray tear away, "Thank you, Alfred. Thank you."
"I know," nodded Alfred, understanding the appreciation was for far more than the book. He stood and left, patting Bruce affectionately on the shoulder, to go and find Ella.
Bruce rubbed his eyes to clear away traces of tears and sighed, opening the front cover. Writing caught his eye, and he read the freshly penned words scrawled across the inside cover.
For Bruce and Ella…the two I love the most. Affectionately, Alfred.
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I literally cannot resist fatherly Alfred. HE'S JUST SO CUTE! For the record, what do you guys want to see next? More random one-shot chapters? Alfred and Ella stuff? Bruce and Ella stuff? Let me know in the reviews! I do have a plot-line in mind, but little side stuff-things can take place along the way. Thanks for reading!