Kalliope rose to her feet and stood about an inch taller than Bruce. Staring at her navy blue flats she mumbled an almost inaudible hello before practically hiding behind her uncle.

Jim reached behind him as Alfred returned with a tray of tea and cookies and squeezed Kallie's hand. Turning to face her he looked down into eyes so like his own and smiled softly. "Why don't you two get to know each other," he said pushing a stray lock of hair out of her eyes, "I need to speak with Alfred alone for a minute."

Kalliope nodded and said in a musical voice with a hint of a French accent, "Yes, of course Uncle Jim." She wrapped her slender arms around Jim's waist and hugged the gruff man tightly before returning to the chaise in front of the tea tray Alfred had set down.

Bruce gave Jim a knowing look before sitting in a matching settee across from Kallie. As soon as the adults left Kallie lifted her head and forced her slightly pouty lips into a shy smile. Nervous now that he had her attention Bruce sighed and asked, "So, Detective Gordon's your uncle?"

"Yes," she said and proceeded to pour the tea. Handing one cup to Bruce she grabbed hers and took a tiny sip. Gently setting it back down she said in a whisper, "My uncle told me about your parents. Its why he thinks we'll get along."

Bruce frowned and asked, "Why would he think that? Unless..."

Nodding she took off her glasses and wiped away a tear before responding. "My father was murdered and my mother put in a coma in our house right in front of me. The doctors say it'll be a miracle if she wakes up, but I know she will. Until she does I'm staying with Uncle Jim and Leslie."

"You're very blunt for a young lady," Bruce said, taken aback by her candor, "I guess you're more like your uncle than I originally thought."

"I don't know whether that was a compliment or not, but I will take it as one none the less. Its the only thing my mom and Uncle Jim have in common really."

Down the hall in Alfred's office James was telling Alfred what had happened to Kallie and her parents. "She blames herself because he was her bodyguard and she had begged her parents to hire him."

"Bodyguard," Alfred asked confused, "but why would she need a bodyguard?"

"Have you heard of the model Athena?"

"Of course I have, she's quite stunning."

"She's Kalliope's mother."

Mentally comparing the young lady down the hall with pictures he had seen of the African American beauty he nodded. Kallie's skin and eye color were obviously lighter than her mother's milk chocolate skin and hazelnut eyes, and her mouth was thinner. 'Much like Detective Gordon's,' he thought to himself.

Out loud he said, "Ah. Now that you mention it I do see something of a resemblance, and how a bodyguard could most certainly be appropriate. The question now Detective, is whether or not your little niece can convince Master Bruce to return to school."

Jim just snorted. "Did you see him in there?" he asked gesturing toward the direction of the children, "I doubt he'll even tell her he's not in school. She's her mother's daughter, and you and I both know Bruce has a weakness for pretty faces."