2. HOME AGAIN
Bruce Wayne was awaken by a beautiful young lady sitting next to him on Gotham Air flight 401. "Are you okay?" she asked, "you looked like you where having a bad dream."
"I'm okay, thanks." Bruce got up and went to the small airplane bathroom. "God help me," he said looking at himself in the mirror. At twenty-five years old Bruce Wayne was still having the same nightmares. He closed his eyes and stared at the blackness inside his eyelids. Darkness comforted Bruce because in the darkness there was nothing to see, but in the light you always knew who was and who wasn't around you. He splashed some water on his face and went back to his seat. "Sorry if I bothering you while I slept," Bruce said to the young woman next to him.
"No it's okay you weren't bothering me, but you just moaning and moving and I was worried you where having a panic attack or something."
"Thanks, but I'm okay. Just having a bad dream."
"What was it about?"
"Well it wasn't a dream really it was a memory. Have you ever had that when a memory keeps repeating itself in your head?"
"No."
"Oh, well I do. My name is Bruce, hi."
"Hi my name is Kristin." Kristin offers her hand out to Bruce who shakes it.
"Do you live in Gotham?" Bruce asked.
"No...well yeah...well I mean I will now. I mean I'm moving to Gotham. I got a job offer here and so I'm moving here."
"What do you do?"
"I'm a journalist. I just graduated from college and my brother-in-law has a friend who works for the Gotham Herold and offered to look at my writing and he liked it and gave me a job."
"I read the Gotham Herold so I'll look for your articles."
"You live in Gotham?"
"Not for awhile. I was living in England, going to school, and traveling, and now I'm coming home. I actually haven't been in Gotham for a few years so it will be interesting to see how it has changed."
"Wow in England. I've always wanted to go. I want to go everywhere really that's why I became a journalist because I wanted to see the world and report on what I saw, but it looks like I'll probably be reporting on more local stories."
"You never know," Bruce said, "I learned at a very young age that you never know what will happen in life."
"Do you know what you'll be doing when you get settled again?"
"Yeah I think so. I'm going to work in my father's company, but I got plans for other things."
"Oh working for family is the worst the always expect far too much for you. At least that's been my experience."
"Yeah well this is a little different my father is dead and while I've been gone someone else has been running to company and so now that I've come back I have to decide whether I want to take over the company or...not."
"Oh yeah that is different. I'm sorry about your father."
"It's okay."
"Do you know what you're going to do?"
"I think so, but it's difficult. I know the board doesn't want me to take it over because I'm too young, but I own fifty-one per cent of the company and so whatever I say is law. I know if they could they would push me out even though it is my family's company, but like I said I have the power to do what I want. But I have to make sure what I do is really going to be good for the company. The last thing I want is my father's legacy to be destroyed because his son thought he could do something he couldn't."
"I'm sure you'll do the right thing."
"Thanks."
"It sounds like you really want to take over though."
"I think I do. I don't want it to leave the family."
"What company is it?"
"Wayne enterprise."
"Oh my God you're Bruce Wayne."
"Yeah."
"I didn't recognize you."
"Well that's good maybe the pictures that are taken of me don't come out that good."
"I just saw you at the airport newsstand. It was Time, I think, saying the prince was coming home. Wow I can't believe it I'm sitting next to Bruce Wayne. Sorry I don't mean to scare you it's just I've never met anyone nearly as famous as you. I was once eating lunch at a table next to a local newscaster, but wow, my sister is going to have a heart attack she has a huge crush on you. Can I get an autograph for her?"
"Sure."
It was the end of fall beginning of winter in Gotham city. The air was cold and the sky was covered in clouds the local newsman where predicting rain. Bruce Wayne and Kristin Record stepped out of Gotham International Airport hugging there coats closed.
"Can I give you a ride somewhere?" Bruce asked.
"No, my sister should be waiting for me in front of the other gate. Thanks though."
"Okay. Goodbye then."
"Goodbye."
Bruce starts to walk off toward a luxurious car parked by the curb. An elderly man stood next to it holding the backdoor open for Bruce to get in. Bruce stops and turns back to Kristin.
"I have to go now, but I'd like to see you again. If you want."
"Okay. Um...here let me give you my sisters number you should be able to get a hold of me there." Kristin gets a pen and a paper and writes down to number for Bruce.
"Okay. I'll call you." Bruce said before walking back to car.
"Hello Master Bruce," Alfred Pennyworth said to Bruce holding out his hand.
Bruce moves in and gives him a hug, "Hello Alfred it's good to see you."
"And you too."
Bruce pulls away and gets into the car. Alfred closes the door and gets into the drivers seat and takes off.
"She's a beautiful woman," Alfred said.
"Yeah," Bruce said, "So what's been happening in Gotham while I've been gone?"
"I brought today's paper for you." Bruce picks up the Gotham Tribune that sits next to him.
"Alfred cancel our subscription to the Tribune and start one with the Herold."
"Yes sir. Lucius Fox called and wanted me to remind you of the meeting you have tomorrow."
"I remember bright and early eight A.M.," Bruce says reading the paper, "When did Harvey Dent become district atterny?"
"Just recently the previous D.A. died and Harvey was announced to take over, at least until the next election."
"Well good for him. I'll have to give him a call and congratulate him. I haven't seen him in years. How is the other 'business' I asked you to look into going?"
"Sir I want to talk with you about that, not that you don't have the best intentions, but it's a bad idea and I don't know if I can sit by and watch you do this. I mean what would your parents think."
"My parents are dead."
"I tracked down the parts you asked for," Alfred reaches back and hand Bruce a folder. "This isn't going to be easy."
"I know. If you want to go I won't hold it against you. I'll understand."
"I made a promise to your parents and I intend to keep it. I will not leave you Master Bruce. I will always be here for you."
"Thank you Alfred."