Chapter 11

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. Dc. Comics does.

"What the hell, "Bruce muttered under his breath. This damn suit should not take more than one person to remove it. Bruce pushed his sweat soaked hair out of his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Alfred." This had to be the tenth time Bruce had summoned Alfred. He knew the older man could hear very well and was clearly in the next room, but yet he never came. Bruce was starting to get very annoyed. He had tried calling directly and also rang the bell insistently. His patience was thinning. Maybe I should start docking his pay, Bruce thought. Bruce continued to struggle with the clasps in the suit. He found that he was biting his lower lip and pulling at the clasps until he heard one snap.

He nearly fell to the floor from the position he was in. "God!" he said pushing himself back into a comfortable place. He closed his eyes. Alfred, he thought I am not happy with you right now.

Alfred, who sat at his desk drinking tea thought, I am not happy with you Master Bruce not at all. He heard the cries for help for about 10 minutes, but he never returned them. Good, he thought. He deserves whatever predicament he has gotten himself into. When the cries for help ceased however, Alfred began to worry. Maybe Master Bruce has been hurt and needs medical attention. Even though the calls didn't sound desperate, Alfred's parental instinct kicked in and he was about to head toward Bruce's room, when the door opened and Bruce stood standing in Alfred's room in sweats and a t-shirt, with his hair slicked back.

"Hey Alfred didn't you hear me calling for you? I needed help with this suit. "He threw it on the ground, "Take it down to the cave for me will you?"

Bruce's eyes met Alfred's.

"Next time, I would appreciate it if you responded to me when I call you, OK?"

Whether it was the way it was said or the way Alfred took it, anger like Alfred had never experienced before emerge from him to his hand "You insolent son of a bitch…"he said and swung at Bruce. Bruce knew it was coming but didn't move. He felt Alfred slap him, all the while keeping his eyes closed. Maybe Bruce knew that would set Alfred off. He was rude. Maybe Bruce wanted to be put in his place since he seems to have lost it along the way. Alfred continued to say words that Bruce had never heard sputtered from Alfred's angry being. Those words… they hurt…..

"How dare you make demands of me? Do you know how much I have sacrificed for you over the years? Do you even care that I gave up my own desires and passions, even my own life only to have you throwing yours away on …this…this…thing !" Alfred gestured to the Bat.

Alfred took a moment to catch his breath when he realized what he was saying; he took a step back and pulled quickly away from Bruce. Alfred's face softened and he felt tears form quickly when he saw the position Master Bruce was in. Bruce was sitting on the floor one arm protectively covering his face. Bruce slowly lowered his arm and turned his haunted eyes into Alfred's. Alfred wondered what was worse: the fact that he had just cornered Batman or that he had cornered Bruce Wayne. Alfred didn't have any recollection of what had just transpired but knew some of the things he said could be considered unforgivable. He was his charge. He never should have spoken to him like that. Alfred parted his lips slightly as if to speak, but then decided against it. No, Alfred reasoned, this had to be told.

Bruce looked sadly into Alfred's eyes. His cheek was stinging. He didn't know the old man had it in him. Bruce didn't know what to say. He decided to pull himself up. Bruce dusted off his sweats and walked steadily over to Alfred's desk. There was the picture of him and Alfred a few weeks before …he couldn't bear to think of it...the murder. He was smiling in that picture. Bruce smiled a bit sadly in return and ran his fingers absentmindedly along the frame.

"I remember when this was taken, "he said nodding.

"It was before the fall, only a few days at that." Bruce allowed himself a small grin.

Bruce tried his best English accent.

"You kept trying to weasel your way out of the picture. You kept saying 'No I think I should take a picture of you and Master Bruce, Master Wayne.' Bruce bowed his head and whispered to himself.

"I didn't think you saved this."

Alfred reached up and took the picture out of Bruce's hand and placed it back on the desk.

"I have saved everything that has come from you, Master Bruce, especially the memories."

At the words, Bruce lifted his hazel eyes and took a long look at Alfred. He had lost his words. Maybe they weren't lost but rather hiding from the tears he feared would show if they were spoken.

Alfred turned his attention briefly on the window and the moon that shone on his charge. He was afraid to say anything that might scare off the boy…young man, he meant. Things have never been taken this far before in the Wayne household, not even when Bruce was a child. Alfred placed a tentative hand on Bruce's shoulder. Bruce lifted his head up and noticed the moon and the batsignal slowly making its way out of the fog. He knew he should go, but if he did things with Alfred would never be the same. Alfred saw the sign too and began to pull away, when Bruce spun around.

"I've been a real prick haven't I Alfred?"

Alfred gave a wry smile and replied honestly, "Yes, Bruce, you have been, but that will all change now won't it?" Bruce noticed Alfred calling him Bruce and grinned and then placed his head down.

"Well, "Alfred replied, "I suppose you should be going now, son."

Son. There was that word again. Perhaps it was always expressed but he had been blind to it before. Bruce looked into Alfred's brown eyes, as son to father.

"No, it can wait this time."

Alfred simply smiled.