A/N: I'm so sorry it took me so long to post this. I hope you enjoy it!

Chap 15

Felicity nervously stared at Bruce's door and shifted her wight from one leg to the other. Her conversation with Oliver was still fresh on her mind, after all it had been barely fifteen minutes since she left the restaurant and though she had faith in her relationship with Bruce she couldn't help but feel insecure now that he was going back to Gotham. With a resigned sigh she opened the door to his room and walked inside to find him working on his computer. As soon as he heard the door open he turned around and looked up with a small smile.

"Hey, I'm really sorry I have to leave with no notice but this is urgent. Today's robbery didn't have any casualties but the fact they made hostages shows they are escalating and next time they could become violent. I have to stop it before it to gets to that point."

She nodded as she sat in front of him, "Of course. I understand."

"So, how was dinner after I left?" he gave her a knowing smile. "I bet some of the guys had quite a few things to say once I wasn't there."

She rolled her eyes and rested her arms on the table, "To answer your very subtle question, Diggle and Roy left a couple of minutes after you did, and yes, Oliver had quite a lot to say about our relationship."

Bruce nodded but didn't pry any further, "Look, I won't pretend to understand your relationship with Oliver. I trust that you are with me because you like me and that I'm not the rebound guy. That said, I know this is sudden but I'd like you to come with me to Gotham."

"What?" she asked surprised, sitting up straight with wide eyes.

"I'm invested in our relationship and I've seen what your life is like. Now I want you to see what my life is like day to day. I have a company to run, an image to maintain and a night job that can be dangerous at times. I have very few friends but the ones I have I trust with my life. The media always has an opinion about me on everything. They'll have an opinion about you too. I can guarantee that there will be rumours that I'm cheating on you because I still have the image of a playboy. I need you to know that it's not true, that I'd never cheat on you." He sighed, "I want to show you my life the way it really is. I want to show you my home, my company, my city."

"Bruce, I can't-" she stuttered. "I have a job here and the Team-"

"You said you're not chasing any criminals, that the guy who was terrorising your team is dead. There is no threat to your city or your Team. And about your job… I'm sorry, but are you really telling me there is no one who could substitute you for a week. I know you take your job seriously but-"

"But I'm just a secretary," she finished with a self-depreciating tone.

"I didn't say that," he tried to recover quickly.

"You didn't have to," she sighed having to face the fact that she really was just a secretary and though it was an important job she wasn't irreplaceable. "You're right, the company won't stop just because I decided to go away; anyone could do my job. And the Team has no mission right now. I could go with you…"

"Then will you?" he asked anxiously.

"I'll need a day," she started and Bruce grinned brightly. "I have to get a temp to substitute me and I have to tell Oliver, after all he is my boss. Besides, I'd feel better if I set up the computers in the lair so I could help the team from Gotham should something come up."

"Sure, I wouldn't have expected anything less," he replied still smiling. "Can I book the jet to take you to Gotham tomorrow night?"

"The jet? There is no need for a jet! I can fly comercial."

He smiled and leaned over to kiss her softly, "There is no reason to have a jet if you don't use it to fly your girlfriend to see you."

"It's too much! I mean I've always flown comercial. You don't have to send a jet to pick me up like it's just a town car."

"Felicity… just take the jet, please. That's part of my life, too. Besides, this is my personal jet. It's at my disposal 24/7. It'd be ridiculous to buy a ticket when there is a jet in the hangar waiting to be used."

She sighed, "Fine. But I'd rather go Tuesday morning if you don't mind."

"Not at all," he grinned at her.

She couldn't help but smile back as she studied his smiling face. He was genuinely happy that she was letting him share his life with her. And that in turn made her even happier.

She stood up and with a single step was in front of him, leaning over and kissing him, "And just to make it clear I trust you, I won't believe whatever those magazines publish and I'll try my best not to get bothered by the gossip. I can't promise not to hack them when they go too far, though. And you're too amazing to ever be anyone's rebound guy. I'd never do that to you."

He smiled charmingly and brought her to his lap, "It's good to hear it. And I know never to interfere with your hacking."

She stroked his cheek, "Smart boy," she praised before kissing him again.

It was past 10a.m. when Oliver arrived at the office and found Felicity talking to a woman sitting beside her. She was showing the young brunette something on her computer as she pointed at some papers on her desk.

Remembering her parting words the night before Oliver thought it best to let Felicity cool down for a while before trying to talk to her again, so he just nodded at both women wishing them a good morning before heading to his desk behind the glass wall.

However, when the phone on his desk rang and an unknown voice told him his lawyer was on the line and wanted to talk to him he instantly looked up to see the young brunette he didn't know on the other side of the line talking to him while Felicity sat by her side.

He blinked twice before carefully answering. "Tell him I'm busy and that I'll call him shortly. Please ask Felicity to come to my office," he told the woman curtly before hanging up.

He watched through the glass wall as the woman relied the message to Felicity and the blonde stood up and walked to his office, closing the door behind her and sitting in front of him without saying a word.

He frowned at her non plussed behaviour, as if it was completely normal to have another woman sharing a desk with her.

"What's going on?" he asked, pointing to Felicity's desk at the other side of the floor.

"Oh, that? That is Denise. She is going to cover for me while I'm on vacation. I'm just showing her the ropes."

"Vacation?" he questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah. I haven't taken time off in the last four years! And I hadn't even realized it. Can you believe it?" she rambled while moving her arms around, making Oliver grin at the familiarity. "Anyway, Bruce invited me to go to Gotham so I decided to take a few days off to visit him," Felicity continued with a coy smile.

Oliver was about to open his mouth to give Felicity a piece of his mind on the subject when he remembered how it had gone the last few times. He closed his mouth and swallowed, staring at her as she watched him back carefully.

Finally he settled with a short, "How long will you be gone?"

Her body relaxed on the chair and she realized she had been expecting a bigger fight with Oliver, "Probably a week. There is no one hunting us down nor are we hunting anyone at the moment so I believe it will be fine. But knowing our odds there will be a new criminal in town trying to paint it red by the end of the month."

Oliver nodded his agreement.

"I'll spend the day helping Denise adjust; I'm sure she'll do fine. Tonight I'll set the computers at the lair so I can access them remotely if I have to. Tomorrow morning I'll fly to Gotham. If anything bad happens and the Team needs my help, let me know. Otherwise, I'll be off duty!" she told him with a happy smile.

He nodded, not sure how to be supportive but tried anyway, "Have a safe trip and let me know when you come back."

She knew when she was being dismissed and her smile turned from happy to polite as she stood up to go back to her table, "Sure, I'll let you know."

As soon as the doors of the jet opened Felicity could feel the wind against her face. In her haze to get everything ready she hadn't looked up Gotham and now she wondered if her wardrobe wasn't fit for the weather, even though she brought a little bit of everything.

She stepped out of the private jet to find a man with white hair and a black suit waiting for her. He had a posture that any model would envy, standing tall with his back straight, as he said, "Welcome to Gotham city, Miss Smoke."

She had to smile at his British accent, figuring it was Bruce's butler and long time confident, Albert. Bruce had told her a little about his life during his stay in Starling, and among other things he had told her that only Alfred and Mr. Fox knew his secret and Alfred had taken care of him numerous times when he came back hurt from his missions. Apparently, Albert had been his family's butler even before he was born and after his parents were murdered Albert took guardianship of him and raised him as best as he could. Felicity understood that Alfred was family and she was anxious to meet him and at the same time worried about his approval. He was the closest thing to a father figure Bruce had since he was a kid and she really hoped she could make a good impression on him.

"Hi, there! You must be Alfred," she held a hand to him.

He stared at her hand for a moment before shaking it with a smile, "Indeed. Mister Wayne apologizes for not welcoming you himself but his meeting is running late. He asked me to take you home, if it is alright with you."

"Sure, just let me get my bags-"

Alfred interrupted her softly, "Your luggage is already in the car. If you'll follow me." He walked to a black limousine a few feet away and opened the door to Felicity, waiting for her as she quickly followed him and entered the car. He sat across from her and relaid Bruce's message, "Mister Wayne said he wouldn't take long; he'll be home at lunchtime the latest."

"Oh, it's fine! I'm guessing he has a lot to catch up on since he wasn't around much last week."

"You're right on that," Alfred agreed with a nod.

Felicity blushed and looked down shyly, knowing she was the reason he had been away and wondering if Alfred was displeased with Bruce's absence. The rest of the drive was spent in silence.

"So… this is his home."

Alfred nodded, "This is where he lives at the moment, yes." At Felicity's troubled expression he asked, "Do you not approve of Mister Wayne's home?"

She was startled by the question and realized she was probably coming off as rude, so she quickly shook her, "No, no, no… that's not place is beautiful! I mean it's huge; the living room alone is bigger than my apartment. And the view is amazing. It's a great apartment!" she finished, nodding profusely, as she walked through the apartment until she reached the floor to ceiling windows.

Alfred smiled in amusement before asking, "But?"

Felicity shifted slightly, uncomfortable about criticising Bruce's house and worried about how Alfred would take her comment, but continued anyway, "But… it's reeeealy white. I mean, there isn't much color in here and there are no pictures or anything to give it character. Nothing that shows it's his home."

Alfred look around carefully before notting, "I guess you're right, Miss Smoke. To be honest I believe Mister Wayne considered the mansion his real home. He lived there most of his life and the mansion had been in his family for almost two hundred years. Unfortunately, it was destroyed."

"Yeah, Bruce told me about having to set it on fire during his birthday," Felicity said with a sad voice, realising the mansion meant a lot more to Bruce than she had initially thought.

"Yes, well, I'm sure the mansion held a lot of memories dear to him from his childhood, but it also brought him a lot of pain. I think it was good that he had to move out. However, as you pointed out, it seems Mister Wayne hasn't made another home yet." He paused for a moment before looking directly at her with a warm smile, "Maybe now he'll find someone to help him make a home."

Felicity's cheeks burned at the not so subtle hint as she tried to decide if the comment meant she got Alfred's approval.

An idea came to her and she turned back to the butler, "Alfred do you think I'd have time to go out really quick before Bruce got home. I want to make a little surprise."

Alfred checked his watch even though Felicity was pretty sure he knew the answer regardless, "Yes, I believe Mr. Wayne will arrived in a little over an hour."

"Perfect," she clapped her hands excitedly, "I'll be back soon," she told him as she went to the door.

"Hold on, Miss! Take one of Mr. Wayne's car," when Felicity opened her mouth to protest he continued, "You don't know the city and the chauffeur can take you anywhere you want. Also, it'll certainly be faster."

She closed her mouth and gave him one nod, "Okay, Alfred. Thanks."

Bruce arrived at the apartment with a big smile, having been told by Alfred that Felicity had arrived safely and was waiting for him. As he dropped his briefcase next to the couch he noticed a picture frame on a side table that hadn't been there before. He slowly walked to the table and took the frame in his hands to better study the picture.

Just then Felicity walked out of his room but stopped when she noticed him holding the picture, "Hey, I thought I heard the door."

He looked up at her but remained quiet and her nervousness made her bit her lip, "I'm sorry, I don't know if it's okay to just put up a picture of us in your home. It's just that it is all so white and I thought a little color would go a long way, even if it's just a picture. And also you said we were serious and when couples are serious they pictures of them together in their places. Unless you think we're not that kind of couple, 'cause let's face it, we're not exactly the most normal couple," she babbled.

He took a few steps and then he was holding her in his arms, kissing her soundly. When he leaned back she smiled widely, "So, you're not mad? I didn't cross any boundaries."

"No, it was really nice of you to do it."

She sighed in relief, "Good because I was starting to get really worried with the silence thing."

He gave her another quick kiss, "I loved the picture." He looked carefully at her and shook his head as if not believing his luck, "You really are one of a kind."