***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***

Alfred waited for us as we pulled into the garage. He bowed, and said, "Welcome home, Miss Kyle, Master Bruce, Master Dick. Miss Kyle's suite is ready for her on the fourth floor, in the east wing." He passed me a set of keys, and said, "Your keys, ma'am."

"Thank you, 'Mr. Pennyworth'." I said with a smile.

"As you wish, Miss Selina." He vanished, as Bruce came up with a handcart.

***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***

"Whew. Need some help unpacking, Selina?" Dick asked.

"Dick? You, helping with all this 'girl stuff'? Thanks, but no. Besides, you've got a date with Barbara." I asked.

"Well, I do, but..."

I shooed him away. "Go. Get ready. Enjoy."

***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***

::Lordy, I'm stiff! Bruce, how about you?:: I thought at him.

::So am I. Selina, is there someplace in this museum that we can fix that?::

::Sure is. How does a hot tub sound to you?::

::Wonderful! Um, where is it?::

I chuckled. ::Bruce, grab a pair of swim trunks from the dresser, and I'll be over in a minute or so to show you::

::Okay! Um::

::Bottom drawer on the left under the mirror. Don't worry about the towels::

I felt his amusement. ::Okay. See you in a minute!::

I lowered our 'connection' to the background, and started to hunt in Selina's clothes for a swimsuit.

***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***

I knocked on Bruce's door, and called, "Bruce? You decent?"

"Come in, Selina!" I heard him call.

I turned the doorknob, and he turned to look at me and whistled. I smiled, and spun for his inspection. I blushed.

Bruce walked over to me, and said, "You know, Selina, I bought that bikini, but I always thought it was a little too racy to wear at the neighborhood pool. But I, err, you look great in it!"

"Thanks, Bruce. It just seemed to call to me..." I walked over to the full-length mirror and admired myself in pale green crochet knit. I adjusted the tiny sarong skirt over the thong bottom, and saw Bruce's gaze in the mirror. I grinned at him, and he swallowed.

"It matches your eyes..." he offered weakly.

"I know." I smiled at him, and took his arm.

***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***

Bruce stepped into the bubbling hot tub, and inhaled sharply when the bottom of his suit hit the water. He carefully settled in, as I walked over the redwood deck and opened a set of curtains.

"Oh, my! That's a beautiful view!" He said of the view of nighttime Gotham.

I admired it for a minute, too. Untying the sarong, I tossed it on a wooden bench, and entered the tub myself. I asked, "Better than me?" Bruce held out his arms, and I entered the water, and nestled into them, ignoring the spike of pain from my nipples as they hit the hot water.

***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***

"So what are your plans for tomorrow?" Bruce asked.

I snuggled into his arm and looked at the city lights, and the lights on the Kane Bridge into Gotham. After a moment, I answered, "Shopping, you know. I've got to get some new clothes for work. I think some of what Selina has is suitable, but I'll need more."

"Where were you going?"

"I was thinking of that new mall in Bristol."

He grunted and touched my hair. "Get your hair done. The ends are too ragged from that acid. Shrenk's has a new beauty salon there." He sighed, and then asked, "Do you find this as weird as I do?"

I snorted. "Of course. A few days ago, I was Bruce Wayne, a multibillionaire, captain of industry, and The Batman. Now, I'm Selina Kyle, a criminal, out on bond, and The Catwoman. Sitting in a hot tub, wearing a bikini, with your arm around me. I don't see how it can get any weirder."

He nodded. "Not to mention the fact that we seem to have developed some sort of mental telepathy, and that we both have a... hobby of running around the city in skin-tight costumes, fighting other people in costumes." He ran his finger down my jaw, and added, "Why couldn't we be people that sit at home with their families and watch TV?"

I sighed, and said, "We've both heard that calling to put on those skin-tight costumes, crawl around on rooftops a hundred stories up, and protect those people watching TV." I shifted to turn and look at Bruce. "What makes you nervous about this? I've felt it in the back of your mind, but it's not defined enough for me to read it."

"Well, you pinned it down. Now, I'm Bruce Wayne. Thousands of jobs and millions of dollars ride on the decisions I make. What about you?"

"The nerves anyone gets when they're starting a new job. Can I do it?" I replied.

"I'm sure you can." ::Remember, each of us is only a thought away::

::I know. Still:: I looked at Bruce, and asked, "How have you been sleeping?"

"Very well, thanks. Why do you ask?"

I slowly replied, "For the first time in years, I haven't had the nightmare. The one where my parents were murdered in front of me." I was hoping you hadn't inherited it."

Bruce sucked in a breath. "People have always wondered what drove the Bat, what created him. Now I know." After a minute, he added, "I think that would do it."

I put my arms around Bruce's neck, and stared into his eyes. "When you were Selina, did you have any feelings for Bats?"

He snorted. "Of course. Why? Do you have some for Bruce?"

I rose up a bit and kissed him. "Of course. Shall we see if it's reciprocated?"

### Chapter 5: Of Water and Night