Saturday, February 12, 2000; 10:05am – Riverside Apartments; Hilo, Hawaii

The obnoxious banging coming from the other room was interrupting her dream. It was usually a similar dream, with subtle differences when she fell asleep in a good mood. This time she was in the middle of walking along a sunset lit beach, next to tall, dark, and handsome—"Ana! Wake up!"

Groaning, Ana finally rolled out of bed, dragging the blanket along with her. This whole waking her up business was starting to get really old.

She'd been dozing for the past hour, but her dream was just too good to interrupt. Draping the soft blue material over her shoulders, she moved into the other room to peer through the peephole, even though she easily recognized the voice. Sure enough, there stood Travis, too awake for ten o'clock in the morning.

The banging stopped when she turned the deadbolt, but as soon as she opened the door, he pushed past it and into the room.

"Just scare the shit outta me, why don't ya?" he demanded as he spun around to face her, once within the confines of her apartment.

Confused, and still mostly asleep, Ana slowly shut the door. "What-?"

"Yesterday you were entirely MIA."

"Travis, I didn't have to work yester—"

"That doesn't matter. You weren't at your classes, you weren't here, you weren't answering your cell phone."

Ana leveled an even gaze at Travis. "If I wanted to have someone to fuss over me, I would've stayed in Phoenix. Now, if that's all you came over to lecture me about, I suggest you leave and let me go back to sleep." Although going back to sleep was pointless now. The signs of a day-long headache from too much sleep were already showing, and her dream was long gone anyway. In fact, she could barely remember the details anymore. Oh well. At least she now had more than enough time to get some of the homework she'd been procrastinating done, as well as take a look at her truck.

After a long moment of matching her gaze, Travis finally sighed as his eyes were cast downward. "Sorry, Ana. I don't mean to act like a nagging parent, but it's just… I know that you're alone out here, without me, I mean. And I know you, I know what you do. And when things don't add up like yesterday, I just fear for the worst. And I feel like it's up to me to catch those little oddities, 'cause I'm the only one…"

"Oh, Travis," she said as she wrapped her arm around his hunched shoulders. "For the millionth time, you don't have to worry about me. It's Hilo. Nothing happens here. Now, if I disappear without telling you for like a week, then you might want to start panicking."

She offered a small smile to lighten the mood, and when he saw it out of the corner of his eye, he shed one small one of his own.

"Now, since you're here, did you bring me breakfast?" Ana suddenly asked, releasing her hold on him and readjusting her blanket to surround her like a cloak.

"Breakfast? You're the one who always supplies the food," he answered, back to his normal self as he moved past her and into the kitchen.

Ana smiled, shaking her head as she followed him to make sure he didn't do too much damage to her fridge.

"So where were you yesterday, anyway? Unless it's some dark secret that you're not allowed to tell anyone," he asked over his shoulder as his eyes prowled the open refrigerator, his arm propped on the open door.

"Mauna Kea," she replied simply as she sat in one of the two chairs around the table in the small kitchen.

Travis suddenly darted up, looking offended. "And you went without me?"

"Sorry, Trav. It was little spur of the moment."

"Oh, fine. I see how it is," he muttered, returning to his hunting.

Another knocking at the door startled them both.

"Travis, how did you get here again?" Ana asked in the silence that followed as she slowly stood. Only Travis knew where she lived. And only Travis ever visited.

He shut the appliance door just as slowly. "Michael dropped me off. But I told him I had a ride home once I saw your truck."

Ignoring the fact that he assumed she'd give him a ride, she padded closer to the door. "And you didn't piss off one of my neighbors on your way up or anything, right?"

He snickered, shaking his head as he leaned back against the large appliance.

But while he curiously watched from the kitchen, Ana headed for the door to look through the peephole again. And once she saw who was on the other side of the door, she instantly forgot about her lingering thoughts of a guy like Michael knowing where she lived.

"Alfred! What are you doing here?" Ana questioned as soon as the door was opened, the name she had used instantly sparking Travis's attention.

"And good morning to you too, Miss Williams," he chuckled. "May I come in?"

Embarrassed, Ana fully opened the door, "Of course!"

"Hey Alfred!" Travis bombarded the old butler with the minute he stepped over the threshold, he having moved from his position in the kitchen. "Do we get to hear any cool stories today?"

The elder man chuckled again, clapping Travis on the shoulder. "Unfortunately, Mr. Meyer, my business is with Miss Williams."

Confused, Travis glanced to Ana, and she quickly gave him her 'not now' face.

"Miss Williams," Alfred addressed, resorting to ignoring Travis entirely, "Master Wayne can be a bit… obstinate at times. So on his behalf, I invite you to spend a day in Honolulu. If you can, of course."

Both Travis's and Ana's expression reflected shock. "Why?" Ana blurted out while Travis mouthed Bruce's full name—putting two and two together.

"Because as I recall, you have never experienced Honolulu."

Ana floundered, "I—I… You know what? Sure, Alfred. Why not?"

Alfred smiled and opened his mouth to elaborate, only to be interrupted.

"Ana!" Travis suddenly exclaimed, waking from his shock. "What? You know Bruce Wayne?"

She shrugged and answered, "Kinda," much to Alfred's amusement.

"Kinda? It's one thing to know his butler on a first name basis, but the guy himself?"

Ana silenced Travis with a glare before turning back to Alfred, "Alfred, I'd love to. I've got nothing else to do today."

Alfred smiled. Travis glared back.

"Well, I just have to drive Travis home first—"

"If you don't mind me offering, Miss Williams, I'd be glad to give the both of you rides to your destinations. I could offer a story or two for Mr. Meyer's enjoyment along the way."

This quieted Travis for the first time since he had burst into Ana's apartment.

"Is that fair, Mr. Meyer?" Alfred boldly asked around Ana.

"Ha," was his simple reply.

"Alfred, give me a minute," Ana said with a smile, excitement finally setting in. She turned to head back into her bedroom to change, only for Travis to follow after her.

Once the door was closed, the flood was unleashed.

"Bruce Wayne? The Bruce Wayne? Is he why I haven't seen you in days?"

Ana rolled her eyes as she dug through her closet.

"Really Ana?"

"Really what, Travis?" she finally snapped back, spinning around to face him with a pair of jeans in her hands. "First you wake me up sounding like my mom, and now you're acting like a complete jerk towards Alfred? What is your deal?"

"Why him? Of all the guys in the world, why him?"

"Why him, what?" She was getting really sick of this very quickly.

"Any other guy I'd be okay with. Hell, even Zac would be better than him."

"Zac? What the hell does Zac have to do with what we're talking about?" They never talked about Zac. Hell, they never even talked to Zac. He was one of the dozens of athletes in the school who was there on a full ride scholarship, aced his classes, and conveniently was in a ridiculous major, the same ridiculous major as Ana: Biomed. And on top of that, the majority of the girls at the university spent most of their time trying to impress him, Ana not included. So to Ana, bringing him up was completely out of the blue.

"Zac? Zac's just one of the dozens of guys in Hilo who have been trying to find ways, to put it plainly, to get in your pants," Travis exclaimed, but he kept going even though Ana made a disgusted face. "I know this because they come to me for answers since I'm the only one brave enough to get near you. Any of them, even though they're all complete airheads next to you, would've been better than Bruce."

"Bruce and I are friends. And I don't know what you have against him, you haven't even met—"

"Bruce Wayne?"

"Stop saying his name like it's a disease—" Ana got out.

"Aside from us both almost being roadkill because he's 'moody', I'm not alone in having something against him! He's a playboy who's only concerned about his fancy cars or his next hot date. He's here on vacation and he's just using you, Ana! Using you because you're the prettiest girl in Hilo."

Travis, who had been so worked up that he had fully turned to face Ana, now sunk back onto the bed. Ana, instead, was silent, her blue eyes focused first on Travis before shifting down towards the jeans in her hands.

She'd never seen him like this. And it shocked her. He was like a brother to her, even though she knew very well that he wanted more. Their friendship had started on that premise. Travis had first approached her, doing everything to get her attention. The lame lines, showing off how cool he was, dressing his best whenever he knew he was going to see her. And she had constantly refused his tries, not entirely ready nor willing to get into dating someone. So he settled for less: he became her best friend.

But he had been the only one.

"He's not like that," she finally muttered into the tense space. He really wasn't. She'd seen behind his mask. She'd seen that he was more like her than like this playboy his reputation made him out to be. Even though he was just as moody as his reputation made him out to be.

"Then he's already got you," Travis muttered back, sounding defeated.

"Travis, you know me—"

"Yes, I know you. And I know that deep down, beneath your ridiculously strong defenses, you're more sensitive than any other girl I've met—even the ones that bawl while watching cheesy movies. Clearly he's already gotten past them, and I just know that he's going to hurt you. And it'll hurt more than anything else has."

She bit her lip, silencing herself. He'd taken the words right out of her mouth. Well, sort of. She knew she had her own defenses against people. Trust issues that shouldn't exist from the loving childhood that she came from. And that was her point; she never let anyone all the way in. Not even Travis.

She sighed, returning to her closet, "He's not who you think he is, Travis. Give him a chance."

But she just heard the door shut and Travis's voice on the other side was suddenly light and amused as he talked to Alfred.

Saturday, February 12, 2000; 10:34am – Hanger 4, Northwest Apron, Hilo International Airport; Hilo, Hawaii

Travis's words still bothered her, especially since he hadn't said anything to her while Alfred chauffeured him home. He had instead acted like Alfred was the only other person in the car.

And then Ana hadn't been able to get any other information out of Alfred about the impromptu trip.

Needless to say, their small trip around Hilo was frustrating.

Alfred let her out of the backseat of the familiar Chrysler once he had stopped next to a small private jet. And the only reason she hadn't gotten out herself was due to recognition and shock. It wasn't hard to make out the red 'W' on the tail of the white plane. Apparently the Wayne Enterprises jet had been repaired.

But then why was she about to be on it? Why weren't Bruce and Alfred halfway back to Gotham by now?

Emerging from the vehicle, she followed Alfred towards the prepared jet and ultimately up the narrow, retractable stairs. They both paused at the top, just inside the cabin, and Alfred shifted to allow her room to pass. At first glance she was confused as to where to sit, the entire aisle of seats along the side were empty. She glanced to the elder man again, and he simple offered his hand in the direction of the rest of the cabin. Hesitating, she stepped further in. But as her view of the interior of the plane was completed, it was then that she saw him.

He was reclined in his seat, his long legs stretched out in front of him. A copy of the Gotham Times kept him oblivious to her staring, and it allowed her to approach, step over his legs, and sit in front of him.

As soon as he saw the flash of her blonde hair, he lowered the newspaper, clearly surprised.

"Wha-? Alfred?" He glanced to the butler in hopes for an explanation.

Ana raised her eyebrows from her seat. So it appeared Bruce was in one of his moods. Alfred merely smiled before disappearing into the cockpit.

Finally Bruce's blue hues rested on Ana as he folded up the newspaper. "And what has he told you?"

Ana shrugged as the plane began to taxi out. He narrowed his eyes underneath those unruly bangs. "You're not the type to simply jump on a plane without details, Ana."

"And you know me now, Bruce?"

His lips formed an irritated line as Alfred emerged from the cockpit, moving to sit in one of the seats on the other side of the aisle from the two younger passengers. Meanwhile their eyes were locked on him.

"You two can't handle a single surprise, can you?" he asked, otherwise ignoring their glances as he unfolded a newspaper in front of him.

"Alfred," Bruce tried in a low voice.

"Master Wayne, you have lovely company sitting just across from you for the next half hour. I recommend you enjoy it."

While Bruce glared at Alfred, Ana blushed, glancing to the oval window in attempts to hide it. Finally paper ruffled as Bruce returned to his reading, making sure the paper was securely between him and her.

It wasn't until they had taken off and were at least ten minutes into the flight that someone said something. "How did you sleep?" Bruce muttered from behind the newspaper.

Startled, Ana looked at the front page of the Times, which conveniently had a picture of the newly appointed police commissioner to stare back.

"Alright. You?" she questioned back, swearing by the smirk on Alfred's face.

He simply grunted, changing the page. Ana's attention returned to the window. And Alfred just shook his head with a smile.

A/N: This chapter's probably very sporadic. I've spent from the time that the last chapter went up until now working on it, unsure what to do with it. I felt like Travis, who clearly likes Ana more than just a friend, would be jealous—obviously. But Ana, who's so concerned with her own life and her sweet simplicity of it—with school, work, and her outdoorsy, recreational activities; would be completely oblivious to the real world around her, such as all of these guys finding her attractive. And I just wanted to establish that. Finally. As well as get Bruce and Ana set up for the night that I've been writing and rewriting for years now (they're off to a good start, right?). But don't worry, as awesome as Travis is, I want him and Bruce to be best buds too, haha.