Blue Eyes and Broken Bones

Chelsea turned up the radio in her car and adjusted the rearview mirror. The following day after the run in with Lex Luthor came and what would have normally taken a couple of weeks for her to recover from her injuries, only took a matter of hours. This startled something in the girl. Now, not only was she gaining strange new combat abilities, but the ability to heal at an even faster rate than what her powers granted before. At the end of the week she had an appointment with a specialist at the Watch Tower and J'onn as well. It couldn't come fast enough.

Wally had a long day ahead of him. He had a six hour shift at the lab in Central City and then a long eight hours at the Watch Tower immediately after.

She had something she needed to do today as well. It wasn't work related or educational. It was personal, not for herself

But for Bruce Wayne.

She pulled into a parking spot. It was a dreary day, which she found fitting. As she walked through the grass, the dew that beaded the pieces clung to her shoes for warmth. She cradled a flower arrangement in her arms as she approached two headstones.

Thomas and Martha Wayne

Chelsea kneeled down and placed the flowers on the mother's grave. She hugged her legs, staring thoughtfully at the letters. Strange. Bruce hadn't come yet. There was no other decorations here aside from the flowers she presented, "I would have liked to have met the two of you." she told them simply.

"Miss Chelsea?" she heard a voice with an accent approach from behind.

Slowly she stood to her feet, "Hello Alfred." she put her arms around the old man briefly, giving him a comforting squeeze. She missed him very much.

He couldn't believe the woman remembered the anniversary of the Waynes' death. He felt a tug on his chest. He never doubted that in spite of her walking away from Bruce that she still loved him deeply, but this…

This proved it to him.

"Where's Bruce?" she asked.

Alfred began placing flowers beside the tombstones and instinctively started tidying them up to pristine condition, "Master Bruce is currently in bed." he sighed. She caught onto the irritation in his voice.

"Because of-" she started to say, thinking he was mourning his parents.

"No," he shook his head, "During his night shift last night he miscalculated. He has two hairline fractures in his left leg and the radius in his left arm was broken in two places."

She cupped her hand over her mouth. Bruce was always so careful. So indestructible. It was hard for her to imagine him as any less, "What happened?"

"A crocodile." the butler quipped.

Killer croc. Great.

"He protested taking pain killers, but I insisted and put him to bed." Alfred clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes, "I fear the day I outlive him, miss. The day he puts himself in the plot beside his mother."

Chelsea's gaze turned to the two headstones before her. The idea of Bruce being gone struck a chord in her. She closed her eyes, fighting off any emotional urges, and swallowed. She tried to lighten the mood for Alfred's sake, "The idea of Bruce staying in bed for even one day is practically comical."

"Ha," the butler dryly mused, "my dear, you should have seen him after you left."

Chelsea felt her heart belly flop into a pit of stomach acid, "What?" she choked.

He couldn't help himself. She deserved to know how much she meant to Bruce. Even when he was not willing to express it on his own, "I had never seen anything like it. For three days that man stayed in bed. Only got up at night to go out. His board members had a field day. They feared he had caught an incurable disease."

Three days was a lifetime wasted for Bruce. That man was constantly moving. Constantly doing something. How was that even possible? She looked to the old man thoughtfully.

Funny.

Funny how the people who loved Bruce Wayne the most in the entire world were all together in one place for a moment.

"I think I owe you that lunch date, Alfred." she finally said, breaking the silence and offering him a smile.

Alfred mirrored her expression, "I would like that very much."

Chelsea followed Alfred back to Wayne Manor in her car. When she got out of her car and shut the door, she stared up at the colossal building before her. The manor had changed somehow. It felt different now. Like it had grown in size. She felt intimidated. Afraid to move forward. Swallowing her fear, she put one foot in front of the other and followed the butler up the stairs to the front door. When they came inside, a chill forced its way through her entire body. As Alfred closed the door behind them he offered to take her jacket.

She turned to the open parlor beside her to the left that housed a large table. Suddenly, before her a memory began to play out in front of her like a series of photographs turned into a flip book. She had found a once lost jacket, and gained the knowledge that Batman and Bruce Wayne were one in the same. The stomach acid inside her began to swirl. She pressed onward, following Alfred silently. As they continued through the house her gaze drifted to the other rooms as they made their way to the kitchen.

"You stayed up to watch Gray Ghost?" his voice echoed in her eardrums.

She broke stride and stared into the quiet, empty living room. Their figures appeared before her as the memory serenaded her into a gloomy stupor.

"Call me a nerd," she shrugged, "it's black and white, but I grew up loving Gray Ghost. It's so good."

Quickly, she jerked herself away from the open door and continued to follow Alfred.

Her eyes were shiny with emotion as she put her hand on one of the dining chairs in the kitchen and pulled it out to sit down. Her eyes started to read the wood grain on top of the table. Her heart was aching as it drowned in stomach acid.

"Something troubling you?" Alfred asked her. She had been so quiet.

She rested her cheek on the palm of her hand. Her eyes were still sparkling, clearly refusing to let any tears fall, "Just… there's a lot of memories here. So much… history."

Alfred set a cup of coffee in front of her, and sat down adjacent to her. He placed his hand on top of her free one and she shot him a pained look. He saw that look in her eyes too many times. He pulled his chair closer to her and cradled her in his arms while she pressed her temple to his chest and breathed hushed sobs, "I'm sorry." she whispered, "I'm sorry."

He rubbed her back and put his chin on top of her head, "You have nothing to apologize for. Believe me when I say that."

She swallowed hard and pulled away from the man. She tried her best to straighten up and keep her emotions in check. Forcing a smile on her face, her quaking hand reached for the cup of coffee and she took a sip.

He still remembered how she took her coffee.

The warm liquid comforted her. It pained her to think the first time walking back into Wayne Manor would provoke such strong emotions she was incapable of keeping in check.

It seemed like that was happening more and more now.

She heard a gasp from behind them. A small body clashed against hers and put her in a vice grip of affection. It was as if Tim Drake was holding onto her for dear life. Her eyebrows raised as she opened her arms and carefully placed them around the boy. She pulled him in and put her face to his tiny shoulder. The two of them stayed quiet for a bit, before Tim finally said, "Welcome home."

She lifted her head to look to Alfred who was wearing the same saddened expression. She desperately pulled the boy in closer, putting her hand on the back of his head and roughing up his hair.

"Master Timothy," Alfred spoke up, trying not to get teary-eyed himself, "Miss Chelsea and I were just about to have some lunch. Would you like some?"

"Sure!" the adolescent boy beamed, taking his place beside Chelsea at the table.

As they all ate the sandwiches and fresh fruit that Alfred prepared. In the middle of a mouth full Tim addressed the elephant in the room, "Are you staying?"

Chelsea licked her lips. She was always honest. She shook her head at the boy, "I'm just visiting. But if you ever need your butt whooped at Mario Kart I'm just a phone call away."

He was disappointed in her answer, but gave an understanding nod.

"Don't you have some homework to attend to young man?" Alfred pressed.

"But Chelsea is here." Tim protested, savoring his last bite.

Chelsea roughed up the hair on his head, "The sooner you get it done, the sooner we can play a round of Mario Party."

Tim's eyes widened as he finished his drink and quickly ran out of the kitchen like the devil was at his heels.

Chelsea and Alfred exchanged a playful look before she set her napkin on top of her empty plate, "How has… Bruce been doing?" she shook her head and exhaled, "Then again, I'm not sure I want to know the answer to that." her eyes fixated to the condensation dancing down her glass of water, "How have him and Selina been?"

Alfred furrowed his eyebrows, "Miss Kyle?" the butler scoffed at her, "My word. He hasn't seen her since the incident with Crane and Tetch."

"That's unfortunate." Chelsea said in earnest, "I figured they would be a happy couple."

Alfred once again reached for her hand, "The honest truth," he confessed, "I don't see another romance in Master Bruce's future." his old blue eyes shined, "He only has eyes for you."

She swallowed his words and fixated on their hands.

"If he couldn't make it work with you," he explained, "it couldn't work at all."

She smiled and shook her head in disbelief, "Gotham City's number one bachelor, billionaire and playboy, Bruce Wayne can't find someone else?"

"No," Alfred protested simply, "He doesn't want anyone else."

She leaned back in her chair, her back clapping against the back of the seat. Her hand recoiled from his and fell onto her lap in disbelief.

"I know he didn't love you correctly." Alfred admitted, "But… Bruce loves you just the same. In the truest form he knows how. It may not be the right way… but I assure you… when it comes to love… love in its truest of forms… I know not a love stronger than the way he loves you. That.. is the truth."

She clasped her hand over her mouth and squeezed, seizing the quivering of her lip. Her eyes outlined the tiles on the kitchen floor.

"I know it would mean the world for him to see you. Especially today." Alfred told her.

Her gaze darted to the doorway of the kitchen that lead to the staircase going upward.

She traveled up the stairs, taking each step gently. The closer she got to the second level, the harder putting one foot in front of the other became. Her foot finally touched the plush carpet that lined one of the many hallways. She made her way to his bedroom and tapped the door open with her fingertips.

The bed was made. There was no one inside.

Further down the hallway, she noticed a dim light radiating from within. Her forehead creased with confusion as she started to approach the door.

"So, what'd you think?" he asked into the silence.

She about leapt clean out of her skin, "Bruce! I mean uh- Mr. Wayne!" she stuttered.

He came forward, standing closer to her now. He wore a royal blue turtle neck and black pants, with shiny polished black shoes. They certainly didn't look like they belonged in the same room. His eyes, they stared right down into her. It reminded her of someone, "You can call me Bruce," he chuckled.

She stared at him for a time, just taking him in. He was even lovelier in person. She snapped back into focus, "So uh," she gestured to her portfolio, "I brought samples of my work and I'm willing to do just about anything to you-FOR YOU!" she corrected quickly, her face turning red.

She paused and put her hand on the door that was opened just a crack. Her eyes closed, trying to force away the memories of this room.

"Chelsea, how's it going?"

There wasn't a reply, so he went inside. His lips parted at the sight. He was surrounded by the city of Gotham. It was almost like having a photograph on each wall. He started walking around the room examining all the little details. That's when he saw it. The Bat Signal hung in the sky. As his eyes scanned the buildings, there was Batman, hunched over on a building top, watching over the city.

"I call it, Gotham's Guardian." she said coming in behind him.

His palm pressed against the wall, as he tightly closed his eyes. He was masking the fact that without a word spoken, Chelsea had driven him to shed a tear. He quickly wiped at his face and turned toward her, "It's… incredible."

Like ripping off a band-aid, she pushed the door in.

There he was.

He was beneath red satin sheets, his shirt on the floor beside the bed. He was sleeping. He looked so peaceful. A very rare sight to be seen in Bruce Wayne. His eyes were closed and his arms were at his sides on top of the bed sheets. He was laying flat on his back. She assumed that was Dr. Alfred's orders. Movement had to be painful at this time with the beating he suffered.

When she drew in closer, she noticed dried blood in the gauze. Croc must have latched onto his arm. He was lucky to still have it at all.

The broken man's eyes slowly fluttered open. He was such a light sleeper. Could sense even the most minimal of things. His eyes fell on her and he shut his eyes tightly, covering them with his strong hand. His head was throbbing.

"I'm hoping since you look this bad, the other guy looks much worse." she joked, sitting on the bed beside him on the side that wasn't battered.

His good hand fell limply to his side, "Did Alfred call you?" he grimaced.

She shook her head, "No, we… ran into each other today. I owed him lunch." she quipped.

He took a deep breath and turned his attention away from her, his eyes searching the painted city of Gotham on the wall, "Has J'onn taken a look at you yet?" he wondered into the silence.

"No, my appointment is at the end of this week." she replied, surprised that was the first thing he decided to talk about, "I already know your opinion on the subject-" she started to say with irritation coating her tone of voice.

"No," he cut her off and turned his attention back to her, "No, you don't." he sighed, massaging his forehead. He was deep in thought, "Every time your father has shown up… it's been worse than the time before. And every time… you cheat death. Whether that be a bullet to your chest or… killing you from the inside out…" he shook his head in frustration, "I never doubted you. I just… didn't want to believe that he had returned. That… your life was in danger again… I've…" his voice trailed off, "I can't… I can't lose you… again."

Chelsea could see the painkillers gave him loose lips. It wasn't exactly in Bruce's character to speak his mind. Not even his mind. His heart. On today of all days.

Quickly, he changed the subject, "How are your ribs?"

She took a deep breath through her mouth, "Well, if you can believe it, healed." he furrowed his eyebrows at this, "I know." she told him, "I don't know." she laughed dryly contradicting herself, "It would appear that now I can heal even more rapidly than before." she swallowed the lump in her throat, "I don't know what's happening to me."

"I should be in the Bat Cave trying to figure this out-" he started to sit up and winced in agonizing pain, she pushed him back down onto the bed, "-we're always too late. He's always miles ahead of us. Every time."

"Bruce," she grasped his good hand tightly, "Bruce, you're injured. You need to rest." His cold blue eyes swept a shiver through her body. The way they looked at each other was as if the two of them were having a silent argument. She tried to change the subject to get his mind off of the issue at hand, "Why aren't you in your room?"

"I wanted to be in here." he choked out gruffly, turning back to her handy work.

Chelsea tried to swallow down the lump in her throat, but the stomach acid crashed like tidal waves inside her, bubbling upward. Suddenly, a rush of reality swirled inside her. That feeling. All of the memories. Every step she took in the manor that brought up old feelings.

Bruce had to feel that every single day. Every step through his own home.

It was emptier than ever before.

Silently she curled up against his large frame. She rested her head on his shoulder and put her hand to his chest. Her small body a ball of fragmented pieces, clinging to him for life. Tears spilled out onto his chest. She couldn't blink. She couldn't move.

Bruce didn't move. He stared up at the canopy above them. He was taken back to the moment he accepted he was in love with her.

"That's all you ever do Bruce. Hurt yourself. Stop! Say it! Admit to yourself the truth." his father instructed.

"I love her…" he winced, "I go to work, I think about her. I go to sleep, she's there. I fight crime, and I remember how I let her down. I see her with someone else and I die inside wishing it was me. Wishing I was the one she would share her laughter with. I love her. I love her more than anything." Bruce started to openly cry. It felt like the flood gate in his chest had burst wide open.

Tears welled in his eyes as he laid there motionless. He could feel her tears pooling up on his bare skin, but didn't move an inch. The familiar smell of her shampoo flooded his nostrils. He closed his eyes and small droplets rolled down his face.

"Remember when I told you I felt that fate puts us right where we're meant to be…?" she whispered, recalling something she spoke over and over, "Sometimes… I don't believe that anymore…" she admitted, her voice small and fading, "I don't understand a world… that would bring two people together… have them fall in love with each other… in the truest form… and ultimately it's not enough." she breathed a whimper of pain. She squeezed his chest in her hand, "I'm sorry, Bruce." more tears spilled, "I'm so sorry."

He gingerly put his arm around her and cradled her small body closer to his, "An apology implies you did something wrong… but you've never done anything wrong, Chelsea." His lips moved against the top of her head, "I've never seen you put yourself first… and I found… relief in your decision to leave. To see you put your needs first for a change." he paused, reflecting on everything, "I never thought myself to be the man you deserved. Not once. I wanted to be that man. Desperately… selfishly I tried to be anyway." his tone was calm, his words genuine, "I will have… a million regrets in my life, Chelsea. Never will a single one of them… ever be you. Will ever be the time we've shared together. I cherish it. Please know that."

She rose from his side slowly. Their eyes connected and lingered on each other like embers smoldering from a fire.

He shifted his weight and immediately winced in pain. Quickly her eyes darted to the mutilated exposed limb, knowing beneath the covers that more injuries remained still. She desperately wanted to alleviate him of such pain. She wanted him to heal quicker than she had in the last twenty four hours.

She could feel a warmth growing in the pit of her palm. She held her left hand up, palm up, and her white light sprang to life, engulfing her hand. Slowly the white changed in color only slightly with hints of blue. Her eyebrows scrunched together as it traveled inside her hand and formed a sort of skin tight cover around her hand like a glove, still brewing with bright light.

"What is that?" Bruce wondered, never seeing her abilities take such a form.

Standing up she rounded the bed to his injured side and knelt down, "I don't know." she informed, and hesitantly hovered her palm overtop of his injured arm. She saw his expression twist in pain. Before her eyes his puncture wounds were closing up. The discoloration exposing the natural olive skin beneath. He grinded his teeth together and squeezed his eyes shut. His free hand clutching the blankets beneath it. Under the skin the bone was repaired in a matter of moments.

He turned his once damaged arm palm up and clenched his fist. He studied it carefully, "How did you-?"

"I don't know." she repeated. In one fluid motion she flipped the blankets off of his body and began doing the same thing to his injured leg. She was fearful this ability might disappear and wanted to heal him as much as possible before then. While it didn't hurt as bad, it still paralysed him with pain. Once the repairs were made, she started breathing heavily and collapsed backwards onto the floor.

"Chelsea!" Bruce boomed, hurrying to her side.

She had broken out into a cold sweat, "I'm," she breathed, "okay. I'm okay." she repeated several times. She was breathing like she had ran several miles. She couldn't catch her breath. Grabbing onto Bruce's wrist, he propped her up against his body. He was without pain. How did she do that? He could feel himself being rapidly healed before. It was agonizing, but only for a moment or two. Now her body was having a reaction. The lamp on the nightstand nearby was ripped out of the wall and crashed on the floor. Trinkets that stood on the dresser were flung in all directions.

Her body was jerked up away from Bruce and she could breathe again. Her trembling hands ran up into her hair and stayed there. She looked back at him with a troubled stare.

He was trying to understand, but none of this was making sense. He reached out to her, and held her by the shoulders, steadying her. She was looking beyond him now. Her eyes wide. He looked back over his shoulder, but saw nothing. His stare hardened, "Is he there?"

He hit the nail on the head. Hard.

Her father stood there leaning against the wall with a confident grin on his face, "Having fun?" Dr. XYZ questioned, "It's a rush isn't it? So many new abilities… so much power." he took a step closer, "And you waste it… on him." Chelsea's eyes glowed, but her father shook his head in protest, "I have bigger plans for you my dear, but you already know that."

"Chelsea, can you hear me?" Bruce called out to her, but she couldn't look away from her father.

"It only gets worse from here." her father warned her, disappearing once again.

Her eyes bolted to Bruce's and she blinked. Her lips parted as she looked about the room, "I… I did this before… in my apartment while I was sleeping." miscellaneous items were flung in every direction, "I think this is only the beginning." she said wearily.

Bruce stood to his feet, feeling no pain when he put his weight on his once shattered leg, "Somehow you healed me. Have you been able to do that before now?"

"No," she told him, "I just… I wanted to fix you so much… it was like I somehow willed it to happen." He helped her to her feet, reassuring himself that she could in fact stand, "I'm fine, Bruce. It was probably a surge of power I'm not used to and I had a reaction."

"I need to return to the Bat Cave." he told her.

"Hey!" she caught his arm with her hand as he turned away from her, "Bruce," she gave him a hard stare, "I know what you're thinking, but the last time this happened you deprived yourself of rest and about drove yourself mad obsessing over him." she tightened her grip on his wrist, "He holds all the cards. We have to accept that and wait for his next play."

"His next move could be the death of you!" Bruce protested, raising his voice.

"If something happens to me," she told him calmly, "then he's got no chance. He's living off of me, like a parasite. He needs me right now. Until the day I'm no longer of any use to him…" her voice trailed off, "for the moment I am safe… so please… don't do that thing you do and isolate yourself in the Bat Cave grasping for answers that are impossible at the moment." She came closer to him and looked up into his eyes, "J'onn will give us some answers and we can go from there."

On the outside he was made of stone. On the inside however, it was like a tornado meets a hurricane. Conflict consumed him. She offered him a smile, trying to relieve some of the turmoil, but the serious expression never left his face. She turned her head to the mess she made in the room. Curious, she lifted her hand. The lamp floated up and was placed back neatly on the nightstand. Her attention turned to the rest of the pieces on the floor and they started to be filed according to their old position back on the dresser. She then stared at her hand thoughtfully, "That's the first time I've been able to control that… I call that progress." she nodded to herself.

When she looked back to Bruce his irises were churning. She knew that look.

"Mind if I cut in?" he asked in his deep voice.

Chelsea's face glowed with red. She bit her lip.

"What?" he wondered.

"I don't understand how it's possible for you to look me in the eyes and me lose all things that seemingly come natural," she told him, placing her hands on his shoulders, "you know… standing… speaking… breathing." she joked.

"You calm the storms… and you give me rest. You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall. You steal my heart… and you take my breath away. Would you take me in? Take me deeper now…" the song continued.

He pulled her in closer, placing one hand on her hip and using the other to gather her hand in his. He was a much more sophisticated dancer. He looked her over, "Well," he said, spinning her so her back was to his front, he nestled her in his arms, "if you fall, I'll catch you. If you lose your voice, I'll find it. And if you forget how to breathe…" he placed his nose to the back of her ear and let his breath tease her neck with goose bumps, "I'll remind you." he told her.

They stared at each other, eyes burrowing into one another. Blue clashing against green, "Bruce?" she spoke his name.

He exhaled deeply from his nostrils, "The night you left," he said suddenly, and her heart sank, "I tried to think back on the last time I got to hold you." he spoke sincerely. There was no pain killers loosening his lips. She could tell he wasn't comfortable sharing this thought aloud, but something inside him couldn't be silenced, "My mind always goes back to the last time we danced together at the Watch Tower… maybe that's because it was for that moment… I can truly say I was at peace. I was… overjoyed."

She felt herself quivering at his words and lowered her head.

"I go back there all the time." he admitted to her, "And I wish with all my being… that we had never stopped dancing."

Her tears fell to the floor.

"I'm an idiot." he said with irritation, "For not telling you these things when I had the chance to. I took advantage of you, of your feelings, until it ultimately pushed you away."

"Bruce, don't-" Chelsea whined with a single shake of her head.

"And I saw you dancing with Wally… at the benefit." he recalled, "And I knew," he tilted his head and studied her, the corner of his lip arching in a rare smile, "that you we're going to be fine."

A sad smile formed on her face as she reached out and gripped his large thumb with her hand, like a child. She didn't want to let go. Giving it a squeeze, she let go and allowed her hand to fall to her side, "I promised Tim I would play some old school 64 with him before I go."

Bruce noticed the setting sun in the window, "I have my own errands to attend to." he nodded, his expression melting back into a serious one. He started for the doorway, but paused in the frame.

"Why Batman?" his tone turned serious.

She tried to think of how to explain it, "He's the hero everyone can relate to." she told him, "Superman is super, Wonder Woman is wonderful… but then there's Batman, who's human." Bruce's eyes lit up with surprise, but he kept his back turned to her, "Batman… people fear him, but I think… behind that sadness. Behind the anger and the loneliness… there's kindness. A wonderful person underneath the cape and cowl." She looked at the wall and ran her hand across the blank canvas, "Sometimes, I wish I could tell him that."

"I would like to be there… for your appointment with the doctors and J'onn at the Watch Tower." he said simply.

She licked her lips, "I would like that as well."

He was relieved to hear that.

"Bruce?" she said, "Mister Wayne?"

His heart burst with a flood. He grasped the door frame tightly.

"Be careful. More careful." she told him.

It felt like internal bleeding, "Let Alfred know you made it home safely." he told her, before disappearing down the hallway. He couldn't look back at her. He couldn't bring himself to. Too many instincts wanting to take over. An overwhelming intimate urge. One he would have to continue to fight for the rest of his life.

But it was what was necessary

For her.

After taking down the boy wonder in a no holds bar round of Mario Party, Chelsea decided it was time to head home. On the way home she noticed her radio noted there was a CD in the player. When she turned the setting from FM to CD she heard the brass section fill her ears and tears filled her eyes as she tried to smile through it, laughing at herself.

She looked deeply into his eyes. Reaching up to the collar of his shirt, she slowly started to unbutton his shirt, one button at a time, from top to bottom. He wasn't expecting this. He watched her gently undo each one, carefully, slowly, almost seductively. For her eyes never left his as she worked. Once she had worked the last button loose, she levitated high enough out of the water to be at eye level with him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressing her lips to his ear ever so slightly. She started to whisper sing softly to him, "For once, in my life, I have someone who needs me… someone I've needed so long." she ran her lips across his earlobe and continued, "For once I can go where life leads me, and somehow I know I'll be strong," she let a breath escape into his ear, "For once in my life, I won't let sorrow hurt me, not like it's hurt me before. For once I know, I've got someone who won't desert me… I'm not alone anymore."

The memory played back in her mind while the song crooned on. Desperately she ran her hand across the knobs on the music player and turned the song off. She pulled into a parking space at her apartment building and turned the car off. Gripping the steering wheel with both hands she leaned her head forward and worked through another episode of crying, before straightening up and hurrying inside to get to her apartment.

She flung her keys in the bowl on the counter and quickly pulled her cell phone out to call Alfred and let him know she made it home. She struggled to keep her tone even, and made the conversation quick so he wouldn't catch on. She stared at the television and turned it on with the remote. Blinking a couple of times, she grabbed the blanket off of the back of the couch and turned off all the lights. Lowering herself to the center cushion on the couch, she pulled her legs up and rested her chin on her knees while hugging her legs and the blanket smothered her.

The Gray Ghost TV show was airing on television.

She watched it, enjoying the alone time. The show got her mind off of the day. An hour passed quickly and she heard the wrestling of keys beyond the door. Her eyes turned to the clock. As Wally came through the door she looked over her shoulder to greet him, "You're home early."

"Yeah, slow night at the Watch Tower." he looked around, "Why are you sitting alone in the dark?"

She turned on the lamp beside her, "Sorry, I had a rough day."

Wally's expression turned serious, "You look it." he came around the corner and sat down beside her on the couch. She turned off the television when he did.

"I feel like I'm losing my mind, Wal." she admitted to him. She rubbed her eyelids, then her temples, "What is the matter with me? Why can't I just get over him?"

Wally's face fell, "Considering the day, I'm assuming your visit didn't go well?" he leaned back on the sofa, ready to hear all about it.

"Actually that didn't ever really… get brought up." she scrunched her eyebrows, "I saw Alfred at the graves and we had some lunch together. Bruce had gotten into a fight with a crocodile."

Wally snorted, "That guy leads an interesting life, doesn't he?"

"His arm was broken in two places. His leg had hairline fractures." Chelsea explained in greater depth.

The speedster's eyes widened, "Yikes… is he okay?"

She stared at him wide eyed, "Yep, because somehow I got the ability to heal people now. No breaks. No fractures. No puncture wounds. He healed right in front of my eyes. In a matter of seconds." she raised and lowered her shoulders, knowing she sounded crazy.

"Great jumpin' Hera…" Wally breathed, sliding down in the seat and staring up at the ceiling, "First your ribs this morning and now this…"

"I saw him again." she said simply.

The ginger sat bolt upright, "Your old man? What did he say?"

Her head shook, "Just more of his riddles…" her eyes rolled and then fixed on him. She ran her fingers through her hair, pushing it out of her face, "It was just… it was like… going home… and not recognizing it anymore. I've cried today more times than I can count… and over and over again I just…" she pinched the bridge of her nose, fighting off any emotion to start the cry cycle all over again, "I'm sorry, Wally. You shouldn't have to keep hearing about this." she sprang to life in frustration, throwing the blanket down onto the couch.

"Chels, calm down. I'm fine with it." Wally assured her.

"How long until you're not?" she asked.

Wally stood up, "That will never happen."

Suddenly the coffee table flipped and a mug and magazines went flying, "That keeps happening too…" she whined, shaking as she started to put things back by hand.

He immediately began to help her clean up, "Look, Bruce has always been a big part of your life. It's safe to say getting over it just isn't going to cut it between you two. You're you, Chels. He isn't over you either."

"You don't know that." she told him.

"I do," he insisted, "I've been doing it for almost three years now. Since the day we've met. There's never been a moment in that time where I wasn't madly in love with you, so I know there's no freaking possible way Bats is fine. Not after he's gotten to hold you, kiss you, be intimate with you… you…" he grabbed her hand hastily, "You're impossible to get over."

She stared at him in shock.

"So don't fixate on you getting over him, or whether he's over you. It's that idea that's haunting you. Just let yourself take it one day at a time." his eyes darted back and forth between hers, "And if the day never comes where you can say I'm over it then that's okay."

She crawled closer to him on the floor. He was crouched down nearby, but she closed the distance between them and knocked him over, crawling on top of him, and wrapping herself around him, indulging in his lips. His hands slid up her back, pulling her in closer. Slowly he rolled her over so he was on top and her back was on the floor. He stopped kissing her to prop himself up, "I love you." he told her, "I can't say that enough."

She lifted her head to gently kiss his lips again, "I love you."

"And I will do whatever it takes, to make this easier on you." He brushed some of her hair with his hand, admiring the softness, he smiled, "That goes for everything. This weird thing with your dad, your powers, Bats… any and all of it. And whatever comes after that. You have my word."

She reached up and touched her fingertips to his lips, tracing them gently.

He took a deep breath from his nose, the air heating her face. His eyes were sinking deeper and deeper into hers. He grabbed her hands and pinned them on either side of her head before kissing her again, his body crashing against hers. Their fingers entwined and untangling to tease each other with gentle caressing. She started to unzip his hoodie to the t-shirt beneath and began admiring his skin. His frame thin, but built with muscle. She realized herself exploring and grabbed his shoulders tightly, "I…" she murmured, "I'm sorry, I got carried away."

He knew Chelsea got awkward with intimacy. He would never push her beyond her comfort zone and was simply happy with whatever she was willing to share with him. He chuckled at her and planted a kiss on her cheek, "I love your touch." he slowly eskimo kissed her very lightly.

She recognized that exhaustion was taking over her thoughts, "How about a sleep over?"

He laughed, "Since we're living together now… I think we're pretty much past the point of sleep overs."

"I mean… sleeping with me… in my bed." she sighed, "But then again with how unpredictable these abilities have been I'd be afraid I'd hurt you." she didn't want to be alone, but she was conflicted.

The idea of cuddling her in his sleep was perhaps the most appealing thing in the world to him, "I mean I'm down with it… but you'll have to break the news to Spot."

She shook with laughter, "Your stuffed animal?"

"He gets lonely." he joked.

She clapped her lips to his again and he instantly melted, "We can keep doing this too." he mouthed as her tongue tussled with his.

She roughed up his silky red hair and smirked at him, "Let's go to bed, Wal."

Author's Notes: I was missing writing for the Bat Family and wanted to do a really intimate scene between Chelsea and Bruce. One where there could be some closure for them. No kissing. Nothing necessarily romantic, just intimate. I really love the scene where she cuddles up next to him on the bed and they just lay there without moving for a bit. It really sums up how tragic their separation is and how traumatic it has been for both of them. I wanted to show a more vulnerable side of Bruce without it being completely out of character to do so. Rarely do you see the human part of Bruce Wayne and I think it's very important to see the cracks in his armor on very rare occasion to remind people that there is a person in there. It's so powerful because at the end of the day they both still love each other very much, but no matter how strong their feelings are they both have to accept that it's not enough.