Guess who's coming in now. Dunno if I did the relationship justice or got the characters right for this, but... *shrug* oh well. Thanks for letting me go on vacation! It really helped me move forward with this one.

Damian-22mo

The Temp

Damian buried his face in his father's coat, trying to hide from all the people around him. He still wasn't used to seeing all the faces looking at him in the bright daylight. He was still getting used to the new siblings of his in the darker manor, though some had been easier to get comfortable with than others. Bruce was very glad he had gotten attached to Dick and Cassandra as quickly has he had. Jason was taking a bit longer than he liked, and the slight tension between Timmy and Damian was expected, but hopefully that'd go away in time. Most of it left Dick and Jason after all, or they just hid it very well.

Still, Damian being uncomfortable now was very understandable. His bright office building may have wowed a three year old Timmy, but this one wasn't even two yet. The world kept changing around him and getting used to the manor was a far cry from this place. But Bruce had to go to work that day for a few meetings. And that meant bringing his smallest with him.

Latest intel reports told him to stay on guard from the League of Shadows. Talia and her father would no doubt be upset with him for quite some time for taking their heir away from them. Assassins were only to be expected until they got it through their thick skulls that Damian needed a normal life.

Or that they would be annihilated if they kept coming after his child. He had the Justice League's support after all. And a host of other super powered beings to call upon at a moment's notice. If he wanted to keep one little boy out of the world of criminals and murderers, they'd support him full heartedly.

Either way, it was best to keep the boy with him as much as possible. Also helped the toddler adapt to his new life if someone was consistent in his life. He wasn't ready to be left with Alfred at home quite yet. Or was it Bruce who was having a hard time leaving him? Well it amounted to the same thing. Until he saw fit otherwise, Damian was going to be a frequent visitor of Wayne Enterprises. Timmy was too until kindergarten.

As he exited the elevator reaching his office's floor, Bruce tried to coax his son to look around. Hiding like that was cute, but he needed to get used to seeing this place. "Come on Dami. It's not that scary. It's just a few of us up here. You, me, Mrs. Dalton and… who is this?"

The man's surprise actually got the toddler to look at what he was staring at. Right next to Mrs. Dalton's desk stood one very lovely young lady maybe five years younger than Bruce. Short black hair almost a pixie cut, dazzling emerald eyes, a killer body, and a voice that nearly purred when she talked. She had both Waynes' attention in a heartbeat. And all she was doing was talking over a clipboard to the man's lead secretary (who had been in Wayne Enterprises since his father's day).

"Oh Mr. Wayne!" Mrs. Dalton started, coming out of her chair to greet them properly. "And young Mr. Wayne I see. Hello there sweety!"

As the older woman tried to coo at the toddler, he retreated once again into his father's coat. Yet he skill kept an eye on the two women, especially the new one. Bruce gave a slight cough. "Mrs. Dalton, if I may ask, who is this?"

"Oh don't mind her," the lady insisted. "She's just a temp covering for Amanda in the records department."

"Amanda? Amanda Richfield?" He remembered that particular lady. Hard one to forget. After his old secretary nodded, he asked, "Did she have her baby?"

"Almost time," the grandmother confirmed. "First ones are always the hardest on a woman. Wonder how his mother handled it. Coochi coo!"

"Please Mrs. Dalton, stop. He really doesn't like it." Damian squirmed a little in his arms, agreeing. The CEO's eyes locked back on the temp, not sure if he really wanted to see her or not.

"Timothy liked it."

"Entirely different people. And really," Bruce stepped towards the temp, putting up one of his best smiles, "may I have the pleasure to know your name miss?"

"Elva Barr." She offered her free hand to him, smiling coyly.

'Liar.' He took it still, balancing Damian in one arm as he shook her hand. This was someone he hadn't seen in years, and certainly never in regular business clothes. But seeing Selina Kyle, Catwoman, at all was indeed a treat. His heart had skipped a beat like it used to when they once raced across rooftops little over six years ago.

"Nice to meet you Mrs. Barr."

"Miss actually." Selina's eyes looked up and down him for a moment. Already sizing him up to see if she could seduce him. What was she doing working as a temp here? He hadn't heard of Catwoman changing her MO or going straight. This had to be for a job, or she was laying low. Either way, he couldn't allow himself to be taken in by her wiles.

"How is that possible? A woman like yourself couldn't possibly be available." So he just turned up his charm instead.

"Well, I do have my choice of men," she added, taking no offense. Then she looked away slightly, remembering something. "But none of them compared to the one who got away."

"Oh? And who is that fool? I should meet him and tell him off."

"Fraid I don't kiss and tell." Her Cheshire smile tried to bat the subject away. "It was a long time ago anyway."

"So the position is open then?" He gave her a flirtatious smile. It'd been quite some time since he'd had an 'argument' like this. Talia wasn't the kind to banter.

"Possibly."

"Mr. Wayne!" Mrs. Dalton chided next to them. "This is hardly proper decorum! And you have an example to set!"

"Oh I think I'm setting a good one right now." This made Selina giggle and Damian look around a little, curious. This only made his smile a little more genuine. "MISS Barr, meet my son Damian. I hope he doesn't put a damper on our… acquaintance."

He cast the secretary a sly look as the temp looked a little closer to the boy, yet kept far enough away to not scare him. "Not at all. I've heard all about the Wayne adoptions. I think it's admirable for someone to make a stance like this. But I must say…" She looked back and forth between him and his son, raising an eyebrow, "he looks quite a bit like you. Are the rumors true?"

"Which rumors?" Couse he knew the rumors. He started about a dozen of them. He just wanted to know how far they went. "I'm afraid I don't go by the water coolers very often."

"Pay them no mind," Mrs. Dalton insisted. "You have other matters to consult. The files for today's meetings are ready for you."

"Ah yes. Thank you." He took the files from the lady's hand then looked back to Selina. "So, exactly how long are you going to be with us?"

"Well…"

"Mr. Bruce Wayne." The man couldn't help but to snicker at his secretary. She really didn't approve of him flirting with his employees, especially in front of children.

"Okay okay, I'm going." He gave Selina a sorry smile, supporting Damian with his other arm as he made his way to his office. Bruce looked back to the lady, giving a charming smile. "But I'd like your extension anyway. Lunch sound good?"

"Mr. Wayne!"

He grinned impishly at the two of them, earning a giggle from the temp and a scowl from his secretary, before tucking himself away in the office at last. He let the smile stay on his face long enough to put Damian on the ground to roam around and lock the door before becoming serious. As much fun as it always was to flirt with Selina, her appearance complicated things.

Why was Catwoman taking the role of a temp in the records department? Why was she there? What did she have to gain from taking that role? If it was to get close to him that was one thing, but what for? She was a jewel thief. He didn't keep jewelry there. Did any of his records contain locations where gems were kept?

"Fwader?" Damian tugged on his pant-leg bringing him back to present. He smiled down to his son, receiving one in return. "Bat-kitty!"

"Alright alright." Bruce unslung the satchel he'd grown accustomed to carrying around again and took out his favorite toy: the stuffed cat dressed like Batman that Dick gave him the first night they met. The toddler eagerly grabbed it and gave it a hug before making his way over to the old wooden toys by the couches. He arranged the cushions a few years back to keep Timmy from running around and getting hurt and never bothered to put any of them back. The old toys were ones he played with back in his father's day. It was good to see his son playing with them now.

He watched Damian get himself situated as he came over to his desk. He did have some work to do after all, and a background check to verify.

It was noon a few days later when Bruce found a reason to call the temp back into his office. He kept her on his private security watch in the mean time to make sure she wasn't pulling anything. So far she seemed to be on the up and up. When she knocked on his door, Bruce opened a stray file to look busy. How could he explain to anyone he'd been watching her through the cameras on his iPad?

"Come in." 'Ms. Barr' opened the door, raising an eyebrow as she brought up the courier from her department. "Ah! Elva! Come in come in!"

"The files you requested Mr. Wayne?" She strode over to meet Bruce half way, looking once over to Damian playing with the blocks and his Bat-Kitty. Then she looked again, surprised.

"Ah yes. The old processing plant on Urbine's files." He took the courier envelope and started opening it. "I need to review this before making a decision with the board."

"Okay…" Selina's eyes were still on Damian, playing away innocently. Bat-Kitty just flew through a brick wall, demolishing it. "I should probably get going."

"No, stay." Bruce walked back to his desk, picking out the files while lingering next to a few others. "I have a few things to send back to your department. Save a trip. It won't take long."

"I really shouldn't—"

"Have some coffee," he offered, motioning towards a cappuccino machine over to the side. "I believe Mrs. Dalton put in a Columbian blend this time. It's rather good. And I'm certain Damian would enjoy having more company than myself."

"I guess I could stay a little while." She gave him a coy smile before strolling over to the machine. Bruce couldn't help but watch her as she walked from the corner of his eye. Yeah, he was still attracted to her. "Anything I can get you while I'm at it?"

"I already have a cup, but thanks."

She nodded to herself, maybe thinking she was losing her touch but didn't show it. With her own cup in hand, she made her way back to the couches, watching both Waynes alternatively. Her eyes kept resting on the doll. "Um… That's a very interesting toy there."

"Yes, Dick gave it to him. It's his two favorite things combined." He lingered over the paperwork he was supposed to send back, watching what she would do.

Her eyebrows shot up. "Two favorite? Isn't he a little young to know anything about Batman? I mean, he just disappeared one day…"

The CEO watched her as she fumbled with the words to say. Apparently there were some lingering feelings for his old persona, and a little resentment. "His brothers tell stories. Jason in particular is quite fond of him. Cassandra too, but she doesn't talk much."

"So he's still around somewhere?" Selina looked over to him, some hope in her eye. It was becoming clearer to him that she missed him, at least a little.

"I like to think so." He gave her a slight smile as comfort. "He's saved my children a few times since his supposed disappearance. Rumor even has it he works behind the scenes with the Justice League."

"Does he now." She smirked slightly, looking back to the toy once more. "Hm… Who knows if that's true, rumors being rumors and all that. Don't even know if the ones about your children are true."

"Please," he started, finishing up his next courier envelope, "enlighten me. What are these rumors?"

She gave him a mock chiding look. "Mama always said not to spread lies Mr. Wayne."

He smirked as he came towards her again. "How can I discredit anything if I don't know what they say? And please, call me Bruce."

Selina gave her slightly coy smile in return. "Well, if you think you can take it, Bruce."

"I can."

She eyed him for a moment before taking a deep breath. "There's the usual scandalous ones of how you like little boys in a… certain manner… but I doubt those are real."

"Very far from the truth." He heard them before, and discredited them as often as he could. "I have a hard time keeping them from attacking me half the time."

This earned a chuckle. "Then there's the rumors of you kidnapping them and brainwashing them into believing they're someone else."

"You should meet them first before assuming that. They're very strong willed."

"There are others who say they're all charity cases. They're only to make you look good." This one made Bruce honestly cringe and look away. Dick and Jason both started fights with others after being called that a few times. "That you mostly ignore them if you aren't in public."

"Again, you should meet them before assuming so." He was almost tired from this rumor alone. There were days he had a hard time proving to his kids they were anything but. "They refuse to be ignored. One time they barged in on a meeting and started dancing on the tables just to get attention."

This made Selina laugh. Oh the stories he had on the mischief makers… "The one that I am beginning to believe though is, this one here, being your literal son. From some secret lover."

"Ex-fiancé actually."

She whipped her head around so fast he almost heard it crack. This made him smirk as he sadly recalled the event and everything leading up to it. "She faked a miscarriage and broke off the engagement nearly three years ago. I recently learned of Damian and rescued him."

"Rescued—"

"His mother was neglectful to say the least. She was having her father's people groom him into leading his… criminal organization." Bruce gave Selina a knowing look that also asked for mutual understanding. From what he unearthed of her personal history, he felt she would. "I saved him from that. Now he can grow up to be whatever he wanted to be. Everyone deserves to live with people who love them. Nothing is more important to me than family Miss Kyle. And I will do everything in my power to protect them."

Selina blinked, holding back her instincts to run at the mention of her real name and the veiled threat. "Excuse me?"

He raised an eyebrow at her, smirking slightly. It was time to get to the heart of the matter. "I do background checks on everyone who comes near my family, and I'm quite good at it. I don't know why you're going by Elva. Selina suits you much better."

"I don't—" Bruce held up a file with 'Kyle, Selina' on the tab. A picture of herself as Catwoman poked out from between the edges. "Ah…"

"Any particular reason you decided to be a temp here?" He tried to keep his voice as casual as possible. If she identified him as Batman, it may make things difficult for everyone. Plus it kept her calm; he learned that from earlier encounters. "I don't exactly specialize in jewelry or high end gemstones. I don't keep cash here and the artwork consists of prints and large sculptures. And we don't keep security protocols in the records department for our building renters where anyone can access them. Unless you're after something because someone hired you, I see no reason for Catwoman to be here."

He gave her an even stare, trying to not glare at her. He wanted to know… needed to know… why she was there. Part of the man believed she was hired by one of his enemies, whether it was the League of Shadows or one of his business competitors, he didn't know. The other part, the part letting him believe there was still good in people had another wish, and prayed it was the case. "Please tell me you're going straight and you wanted employment. I rather not think of you as a threat to my family."

Selina continued to stare at him, reminding him of a stunned cat for a long moment. He hadn't surprised her like this before, in either identity. Her stunned silence caught the attention of a certain toddler and now the two of them had an audience. Damian held his Bat-Kitty close, staring at them with wide curious eyes. After a long moment, the woman took a deep breath.

"If I was after anything of yours Mr. Wayne, it'd already be gone. I try not to stay in one place too long if I can help it. But…" she looked away, awkward. It made Bruce want to believe her. "I've made a few bad choices lately. Stirred up the wrong people. In this line of work, laying low means disappearing in a crowd. Few people are going to look twice at a temp here trying to keep a roof over her head."

A slight calm of relief started to creep into the CEO. "So you haven't been hired by someone to hurt me, my family, or my company?"

She shook her head. "No, just trying to keep my head down."

"In the records department?" He raised an eyebrow at her. Why that department?

"The library wasn't hiring." She folded her arms and gave him a challenging glare. "So what how? Are you going to arrest me?"

It was Bruce's turn to take a breath. He shrugged helplessly. "Don't have the authority. I'd have suggested you return your stolen goods and go straight, but I'm guessing they're already gone if you're working here." She looked away, frustrated. Apparently so. "Guess we'll just have to settle for reforming?"

She gave him a questioning glare. "Excuse me?"

"I'm still interested in taking you to lunch," he joked a little. "It wouldn't look well to start dating a suspected criminal who wasn't trying to straighten out her life." She nearly gaped at his gall now. Yes he was still very attracted to her, but he wasn't about to try for a fling or relationship with her unless he could trust her to stay on the straight and narrow.

"You need a job right? And to lay low?" She raised an eyebrow as she nodded to him. He gave her a small assured smile. "Then there's nothing to worry about. From the reports, Catwoman isn't a killer and has helped battered and kidnapped women and children. Some people think of you as a vigilante, others an urban legend. I can't just send you away or call in the police on account of supposed thefts. Catwoman's implicated, but not confirmed on any of these accounts.

"So long as you keep your nose clean, I can't really do anything." The businessman tried not to be amused at her shocked expression. "You do know we work with the correctional facilities in job placement right? Even if you were put on the police's doorstep, you'd probably end up here. And the last confirmed theft on record was…" He opened back up the file, double checking everything. "Four, nearly five years ago? Two more years and it'll be past the statute of limitations.

"Think you can keep the cat home until then?" Bruce smiled knowingly at her. The inquiring look on Selina's face reminded him of a kitten's. Even her ears were perking.

"So… you're blackmailing me, to work here, as a temp?"

"I wouldn't call it blackmail. More like incentive leading to job security." This one shot both her eyebrows up. "You don't want to stay a temp, do you?

"I can't keep you from running, so I'm not even going to try. I would like you to stay though." He put the file back onto the desk and grabbed the courier envelope. The CEO really wanted her to stay, partly to keep an eye on her. It was hard keeping track of this particular woman. "For your own sake if nothing else. I'd ask for a reform as well but I won't hold my breath. Who you are now is fine too."

He handed her the envelope, giving her a pleasing smile. "I actually find people with dark sides more interesting. Wouldn't you agree?"

Selina eyed the package before looking back to the man. After a moment she put the cup she was holding down on an end table, taking the envelope with a slight smirk. "Always, but everyone has a dark side Mr. Wayne. Makes me wonder what skeletons you have in the closet."

Her green eyes met his, challenging and enticing him at the same time. A near match came from his own gaze as he too smirked. "Stick around and find out. How do you like Italian?"

She nibbled on her lip, trying not to laugh at this man in the slightest. "Love it. The richer, the better. But," she jerked the envelope to the toddler still watching them, "I'm not doing diapers."

This actually pulled a chuckle from the man. "Fair enough. I would appreciate it though if you kept your ear to the ground on any plots against my family. May even be compensated for your troubles."

"Sounds good to me." Selina slid a little closer to him, giving him a coy, flirtatious look, sizing him up. "You keep this up Bruce, and you may beat an old playmate."

"One can only hope."

"Fwader?"

Both of them automatically jerked around, pulling back at the toddler's voice. They forgot about their innocent audience. "Firsty."

Bruce looked up to the ceiling, feeling awkward. "Right. Give me a moment."

"Can he have coffee?" Selina looked over to her nearly forgotten cup, wondering out loud if he wanted her drink.

The man gave her slightly scared inquiring look, taking a water bottle out of the satchel he carried. "Caffeine? In a toddler? Are you trying to get me killed?"

This won a laugh from the lady as he opened the bottle and passed it over to his son. The kid greedily took it and started drinking, watching them both still. She waved the currier envelope at him, stepping towards the door. "Not in my resume. But apparently messenger is. Thanks for the job."

"Lunch tomorrow?" The businessman gave her an inviting smile, hoping she'd accept.

Instead she gave him a short teasing laugh and opened the door. "Ask me tomorrow pretty boy."

With that Selina waltzed out the door, leaving two Waynes staring at the door behind her: one blinking at it innocently and the other smirking knowingly. "Pwetty kitty."

"Too true."

A/N: *evil laugh* yeah, this is how I get Selina Kyle into Bruce's life. Babysteps to romance. if anyone knows of any pet names Selina has for Bruce, give. 'Cause I've only got a few scenes of the two in my head from the comics and what they show on TV. I've read Hush and a few other Catwoman scenes in other Batman archs, but I'm not sure if I got her quite right yet. Eventually she'll be a somewhat consistent character.

I really don't have a lot of stories timed between the first Dami arch and the next one, but the next one should be a kicker. Due to multiple requests, I'm working on some one-on-one time short stories for this baby. For anyone reading 'Fixing Damian' in YJ, I'll be updating it at the end of this week. Vacation and all that. I'm still trying to iron out the next chapter for that one. 'Where's Robin?' followers... please hold your breath. It's not forgotten, really it's not. Just haven't worked out the next fight sequences quite yet. If you also followed 'Slade Plan B', you know I keep those promises. Took months to get back into it, and then it ended with a bang.

Oh, one more question: how would you get Damian to go from saying 'Fwader' to 'Daddy'?