(A/N): since both of my children storys seemed to have sparked an e-mail craziness I guess I'll keep going with both until people get tired of one of them or I get the dreaded WRITER'S BLOCK!
After three hours on a plane Abby walked into Gothum international airport. She had seriously considered hiding in the overhead bin so she could just go back and not send the whole summer with this annoying pig of a man who just happened to share her DNA.
She made a face at her mother earlier that day as she went over the instructions on finding a Mr. Pennyworth. 'You just go down the escalator and take a right. Mr. Pennyworth will probably already have your bags and then you just do as he says, ok?' She hadn't even responded to the usual 'I love you' good-byes, just picked up her bag harshly and walked onto the plane without a word.
"Miss? Are you lost?" Someone asked her when she realized she hadn't moved more than a few feet after she exited the gate.
"Peachy," she snapped heading for the escalator. 'Welcome to Gothum,' was flashing on the opposite wall in red neon making Abby want to run for the high country. Once she exited the escalator she took the right and dropped her bag on the ground leaning against the corner so she could see out over all of the baggage claim. Almost immediately she spotted an older man in a top hat and full suit walking towards her, he looked british.
"Hello Miss Abbrielle my name is Alfred," he smiled at her.
"It's just Abby," she said picking up her bag.
"Funny," he said in a serious voice; "you don't look like a church to me. Would you be opposed to Abbrielle? It is such a lovely name after all."
"Sure Alfred," you couldn't help but grin at him
Abby got into the back seat of the wide BMW as Alfred got behind the wheel. Putting her backpack down she found a pizza box with a medium ham pizza. "It is in my opinion that airline food is not acceptable for young ladies. I picked up something that I thought you would find more enjoyable."
"Thank you," she smiled before taking a piece of pizza, her favorite pizza.
Abby was amazed as Alfred carried two of her suitcases to the third floor of the house. She trudged along after him carrying her backpack and duffle bag. "If you need anything my rooms are near the lounge on this floor."
"Thank you Alfred," she smiles. He bows a bit and leaves; 'let's look around,' she thought. Opening a bag she pulled out her favorite sweatshirt and exchanged the jacket she wore for it. Abby wanted to explore the house before Bruce came home, so when he did she would be fast asleep.
Abbrielle found a few rooms she could see herself spending time in. A library with books to the ceiling and two levels, each had a Victorian ladder that was there. She could see herself relaxing outside taking in the sun or in the pool room doing laps. There was also a lounge on every floor with TV's and surround sound.
Then she found the gym. The room was huge with a court for basketball, weight room and gymnastic area. Abby went to the gymnast area and lovingly touched the equipment. A high horse, a mushroom, rings, mat and high bars.
Glancing around she didn't see anyone so she took to the bars. No chalk, not today, she wanted to feel the bars. She practiced every thing she had learned perfecting it. She had the rhythm of the bars now and did it with ease; closing her eyes she turned and twisted on the bars. She did a triple twister from the high bar and landed perfectly.
"Cool!"
Abby turned to find a boy maybe thirteen standing near the door. She pulled her hair back again; "Who are you?"
"Tim Drake, I live here. Alfred told me to come get you."
She bit her lip; "how long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough, how can you do that with your eyes closed?"
"Practice," she smiled as they walked down the hall.
Alfred had a snack waiting in the downstairs lounge for them. Tim appeared an average kid, he ate his snack as he finished his homework and watched TV. He was Bruce's adopted son, she couldn't hate the kid but she envied him and she hated 'him' more now. The kid watched cartoons as Abby read a copy of Thomas Moore's 'Utopia.'
Suddenly the TV flipped to the news; "Breaking news, Two Face has the second bank of Gothum held hostage." Tim looks at me; "Bruce has all the TV's on this type of thing. Anytime a breaking story happens it changes the channel. I should probably go do my laundry." With that short and hurried explanation Tim darts from the room.
'Odd,' she thought then went to the kitchen and washed her own dishes to Alfred's dismay. It was ten when Abby finally unpacked; 'he must have forgotten me again,' she thought as she climbed into bed and turned off the light.
A week later Abby had gotten into a routine; up at nine, laps in the pool till eleven, read for a few hours in the library, lunch with Alfred in the kitchen at twelve thirty. Then work in the gymnastic center till Tim came to get her at four, watch TV or read with Tim, the TV changes to the news and he darts off. Then Alfred polishes the silver as she set the table, they cook dinner then she retreats to her room. She had been tamed and every night Alfred says, 'Perhaps you will see him tomorrow.'
Abby didn't really care, tonight she was going out and if anyone tried to stop her she would plow them over. She left through the front door, taking a lock pick with her, and simply left...
"We're coming home Alfred," Bruce said into his intercom. "I hate to tell you this sir, but it appears Abbrielle has left," Alfred replied.
"When?"
"About two hours ago sir," he spoke; "I am dreadfully sorry, I didn't even see her leave."
"Don't worry about it," Bruce said.
"Do we go find her?" Tim asked.
"No, you go home," Bruce told him; "I'll find Abbrielle."
Abby had hit three clubs by one and had met a boy named Tom. Tom had been drinking but he could make-out fairly well so she didn't mind. They stumbled into the alley she would find him a cab tonight and send him home. "Come on Tommy time to go home," but he kept kissing her and she eventually pushed him off.
"Holy shit!" He said as he looked down the dark alley.
"Beat it," a voice came.
"Bye," he said leaving the alley.
"Coward," Abby breathed then turned to find who the speaker was. The dark knight stood there; "Can I help you?"
"I'm taking you home, your father's worried," he spoke.
"I'm amazed he even remembered I was there. Alfred must have said something," she said as Batman wrapped an arm around her waist deploying his gapling hook and soaring away from the club.
"Why?" He asks as Abby sits in the car next to him.
"What?" She says looking at him.
"Why do you hate your father?"
"I don't hate anyone, but he ignored me for most of my life and so I really don't care what he thinks of me, he doesn't know me. Why should I care if he never did?" The last was simply a mutter but Bruce heard it. No one said anything after that, Abby went into the manor and to her room.
The next day Alfred took Abby to B16 an extremely fancy restaurant. "Your father should be here soon," he tells her, "go in and ask for your father's table. I'll see you this afternoon." With those words Alfred sped away.
Abby straightened her dress then walked into the up scale restaurant. The head waiter gave her a once over before seating her at 'Mr. Wayne's table.' There were several couples talking and when she sat down, it obvious gave them more to talk about, she was meeting Bruce Wayne? 'God,' she thought, 'they must think I'm his little underage love puppet.'
Amazingly she was only left waiting until she was halfway through her first drink. Bruce came in and gracefully sat down opening his menu as if he had been there the whole time; "ready to order?" He asked her as a waitress came around with his drink. The bastard didn't even have to order it; she ended up with chicken cordon blue and he got 'his usual.'
They ate in silence, his usual turned out to be the exact same as hers. 'Copy cat,' she thought, 'or was she copying him?'
"Would you like a desert?" He asked when the plates were being cleared. She shook her head and the bill was brought.
They had left the restaurant and were now wandering around the park; "What do you want?" She finally blurted out.
"What do you mean?"
"You suddenly show up, tell me I have to come stay at the manor and now you're trying to act as if we've been good pals my whole life. Taking me out to dinner and stuff."
"I know I've been a little absent in your life Abbrielle."
"The word is abandonment," she said.
"You seem to be your happy cheery self today," he said trying to keep it light.
"It's your fault," she spat; "I was having a good time until you sent out your robo trooper to hunt me down. And then you try and make up for your clumsiness by making me go to a place where it is mandatory for a woman to trap her feet in cages."
"I was not trying to make up for sending Batman after you, he is a friend and did it willingly. As for lunch today B16 has the best chicken cordon blue in Gothum and according to your mother you like that dish very much. Come on," he snapped.
"Where are we going?" She asked a little upset but followed.
Ten minutes later Bruce sat next to Abbrielle as she put the socks and new shoes he had bought her on. "My feet thank you," she grumbled.
"Your welcome," Bruce said slurping a cola on the park bench. Abby would of laughed if she didn't hate him so much; Bruce Wayne was slouching, angry, and she wanted some of that drink but she wasn't going to ask for any, not even if he offered. "I want you in your room by ten, and if you go out you have to ask first."
"Bull shit," she hissed; "you have no right to give me such rules only a parent does."
"I am your father, Abbrielle," he responded, giving her the stare of death; "weather you like it or not."
She turned her whole body towards him this time; "to be a father you would of had to be more involved than just twice in my life, and giving mom money for school doesn't count; you're simply a sperm donor. Secondly mom doesn't even put such a strict rule on me, it's not the nineteen fifties. I tell you if I'm going out, or correction I tell Alfred. Then if I stay out past midnight I have to call before, and tell you which club and when I'll be home. Get over it Wayne in less than a year and a half I will be an adult to the government, and this incident will be a happily forgotten memory, as you already are." He was balling his fists as she said those words, she stood before him bending down so she was only two feet from his face. "You want to hit me Bruce? Go ahead it would finally end it," she tempted.
Bruce looked behind her making his face calm; "Alfred's here."
She turned walking away.
Bruce was in a bad mood Tim noticed as the Dark Knight finished typing. They weren't going out tonight he had a fancy dinner or something, but he was angry and Tim was glad he wasn't allowed to go to the dinner. Bruce hadn't been this mad since Dick spat in his face then punched him with all his might, that was only three weeks before Dick left. What in god's name did Abby do?
Going upstairs he found her watching a movie and placed himself in front of the television; "what did you do to Bruce?"
She was annoyed by him already, "I didn't do anything to Mr. Wayne. Now move Tim."
"No, Bruce is madder than hell, I don't know what you did but go apologies before he goes to the state dinner and kills someone!"
"Number one I didn't do anything, number two it's not a state dinner it's a company dinner, and number three he's not going to kill anyone or he wouldn't be able to get the business deal he wanted!" She yelled; "now move."
"GO APOLOGIES!" Tim commanded.
Abby shook her head standing up and walking into Bruce's bedroom where he was just starting to put his vest on. He eyed her suspiciously but noted Tim walking past a few times followed by Alfred, she went to his dresser picking up the cufflinks and bow tie smiling sweetly at him. "Is there something you wish to discuss?" He asked, 'damn, Tim had probably picked up on his bad mood.'
"Tim, the poor kid, seems to think I need to apologies to you," she told him putting the cufflinks on.
"And?"
"I don't, I'm not sorry for a thing I said, so why should I apologies?" She said pulling up his shirt collar so she could slip the tie around his neck. "I'm just acting so the kid doesn't pop a blood vessel."
"Abbrielle," he started but was silenced by a deadly look. After pausing he continued; "I can't change the past. But you have to at least give me a chance."
She smiled up at him kissing his cheek; "no," then walked off.