A bold knock came from the door; Bruce sat on the couch and stared at it, she was always a bold one. He knew who it was, but he sure as heck wasn't going to open it. As soon as this thought made its way in and out of his mind, the ever faithful Alfred came into the room, opening the door.

"My dear," he enveloped the young lady in a hug, she returned it, gently.

Holding her at arm's length, he looked at her, it had been quite some time, and she seemed to be even lovelier since the last time he had seen her. Her hair had grown out slightly, she seemed to be a bit taller, and just looked… healthy. Not to large not extremely thin, a healthy glow, and a very curvy shape.

"You look even lovelier since the last time I saw you," she smiled a small grin about this comment. She had picked up a healthy and all natural glow in Africa. With the lack of processed food, almost her whole diet was organic substances.

"Oh, thank you, you look better. The bags under your eyes have vanished, and you look much healthier," the last time she had seen him, he was alight with worry for his boss. Bruce had been gone at this time, searching the world for answers and what not. The man had been so worried, it frightened her.

With a soft nod, he continued to hold her at arm's length. A good bit of pride shining in his old eyes, he was so proud of her accomplishments. Going to medical school, the heading abroad with her knowledge.

They talked a bit before heading into the living room for more comfortable arrangements. Just as they stepped through the doorway, the only female in the room's eyes landed on the man lounging on the couch. Taking a deep breath, she walked so she was in front of him, looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze. He hated the look, he knew what it meant. She was assessing him, comparing what was said about him in the tabloids, and cross referencing it to what she saw, and thought about him in that moment. She had done it quite often when they had been together. She would run her eyes, in a non-suggestive way, about his body, and see if he was lying. She had gotten fairly good at it back in the day, and he wonder if she had lost her touch, or if he would be immune to it these days.

Her hair fell around her shoulders, just a bit longer. Knowing it would be lengthier straight, it was now wavy, like she normally had it. Little attention other than drying it. But her eyes were the ever faithful vault to her emotions. At one point Bruce knew how to unlock it, how to get her to talk, let emotion out. But now, he wondered how long it would take for him to crack the 'code' that was the window to her soul.

Never one to wear her heart on her sleeve, Vada acted as if his calculating gaze was in no way affecting her, when in truth, she was nervous. The last time they had spoken, they had fought. She couldn't even remember what it was about, but it was intense. She had made him so angry, his face was red, eyes alight with rage, as he flailed his arms in a way that clearly stated he didn't understand, and was fuming about it.

Bruce remembered the last time they had spoken. He was so infuriated, she was speaking as if saying goodbye, saying things along the lines of, 'I don't think we should be together when I will be so far away. I don't want to tie you down,' he thought it was ridiculous, but he understood after a few months apart. There were so many women, and all he had to do was look in their direction, they would come running.

As both were caught up in their own memories, and each side of the long toilsome relationship, they stared off into space for what seemed hours. However, it was a mere minute, not even sixty seconds that they snapped back into reality.

"Bruce, how have you been?" trying to sound friendly, she plastered a fake smile on her face. But damn, was she good at it. Showing emotion was not on her list of traits, never had, and never would be.

"Fine, you?" the conversation was awkward to say the least. What on Earth spurred them on, to even talk with one another? Maybe it was best if she stayed elsewhere, her company was obviously not wanted here.

They chatted about the weather and what not, meaningless subjects, about, work, what they did for fun ect. However, Alfred brought up what she hoped he would never…

"I see you are taking your separation well," Vada froze. She had never told Bruce she married, and had begged the father figure not to tell him. She would notify him when they had time apart, and had the lunch. You know, the lunch where you're happily married to other people, maybe a few kids in there somewhere, all scares are gone, and everyone's content. This, however, was not that lunch.

She should have known it would come up; she had called her uncle telling him what happened. But she hadn't thought as far, to think he would bring it up in front of Bruce, especially not on her first night there. Taking things in stride like always, she steadied her voice, and spoke in a clam manor.

"There wasn't much to take Uncle, everything that happened, I was more so angry than anything," with a wave of her hand to dismiss it, she glanced to see the look on Bruce's face. His eyebrows wide, he had choked on the water he was drinking.

"How have things been in the city, I hear there's a man that dresses like a bat, and saves people," she was looking franticly for a change of subject, but just like always, Bruce would not allow her to do so.

'I'm sorry, you were separated from what?" playing dumb was always the way to get a spark of her temper, knowing this, he put the mask of 'I'm a stupid billionaire' he gave a false sense of confusion over his expressions.

"I was married, for about a year, it didn't end well, end of story," her forcefully response was one that commanded he drop the subject, however, he would not.

"That's awful, what happened?" he once again gave a false sense of concern. Making a face, she looked at him with a defeated look. This surprised him, normally she would go down fighting, but his anger towards here kept him from dropping it, and he forced the small amount of guilt for bringing up the subject to the back of his mind.

"It just… didn't work out, you know, it happens." She tried so hard to be unaffected by his looks, he gave her the look most men do when they see a woman that is known as a whore. Even though she has only slept with three men in her entire life, she refused to be known as such.

"Oh, I see, couldn't hold on to the spark," he was making fun of her, and he felt bad the moment he said it, looking away from her, for he saw the hurt in her eyes. But it was only a flash, it was soon replaced by anger.

An unbelieving laugh came from her side of the room, and with her sharp tongue always at the ready, she responded.

"At least I can hold on to a spark for more than one night," after her comment was made, she took her leave, asking in a voice that showed no hurt, where the bathroom was. After hearing the door to the wanted room close, Mr. Pennyworth gave his long time friend a hard look.

"Maybe if you were less focused on your past relationship, you would care to listen to her side of the story," the sentence hung in the air for a moment, before the sage also took his leave. This left Bruce in the living area alone.

The night had passed without a word from their guest. She had spoken to Alfred about her adventures in Africa, even when the playboy walked into the room, but had not uttered a sound to him specifically.

The morning was quiet; Bruce was fast asleep from his previous night's activities. However, the new arrival at the penthouse, sat silently at the kitchen counter, taking bites of a buttered piece of toast, and reading the Gotham News, less generally, the fight that occurred between the Joker and the Batman at the old boating docks on the east side of the city: it had made the headlines.

It was just past ten that the alter ego of Batman awoke. Not understanding why he had opened his eyes s o early, he had gotten in around four, and was asleep by five. Five hours did not seem like enough time in his book, but as he listened, he understood what had woken him.

Laughter

More specifically, her laughter,

Involuntarily, a smile made its way onto the wealthy man's face. He hadn't heard the sound in such a elongated time, it was like a long lost song he had rediscovered, and wanted it to play over and over.

He had been able to make her laugh once upon a time, when things were less complicated, and he was happy. Well, happy-ish. She and Rachel had gotten him through his parents parting, and he would always thank them for that. A stab at his heart was felt as he thought about his lifelong friend and her passing, forever to blame himself for it.

He had to put it behind him, the pain of losing: Losing the fight, a friend, a possible lover. Getting out of bed, he headed for the shower, thinking over everything that had happened a bit less than a years ago, along with what Alfred had told him yesterday.

"No, no you…" her sentence was cut of by another fit of laughter. Just as promised, Lizzy had called her best friend the day after her arrival. They were currently discussing themes and color for the wedding which was nine months away.

They had discussed, seriously, the options. That had lasted about ten minutes, then they staed to think of the most ridiculous themes they could come up with.

First it was a Barbie/Batman theme, then a fish/bird color scheme, and so on. This had both girls laughing at the oddity that made up their friendship.

Just as she was going to suggest another stupid theme, Vada glanced at the TV screen,, the volume, down, but the news was on. She saw that a building had been demolished, and it was brand new. An explosion had been set off, with people inside just seconds ago. They had only caught the explosion,= because a camera crew was just across the street.

Reading the words that were streaming under the screen, Vada watched in horror, it only lasted a minute, she had seen worse yes, but in a city? Not a war zone, not in the pits of Africa, in a civilized town.

"Hey, I have to call you back ok? I'll talk you soon, okay?" before Lizzy could get a word out, the phone line went dead. Jumping for the remote, she turned up the volume, making sure it wasn't to loud, and watched intently what the news crew had to say.

"Not much is known at this time, other than a scattered few medical help, there is already an over flow in the Hospitals, most people are not being attended to in time…." they went on, but the woman that stood in the kitchen wasn't really listening. Running into the guest room that held her belongings, she changed into the scrub uniform she had had for about two years. Grabbing her cell phone, she ran to the door, only to be stopped by none other than the owner of the suite she was currently staying.

"I'm sorry about what I said yesterday…" before he could go on, she interrupted him.

"Its fine, we'll talk about it later." Again, she tried to get out the door, but he blocked her way.

"Where are you…" again she cut him off.

"There was an explosion down town, they need help, I'm a doctor, thus I can help, I'll see you later," and with that she was gone.

Thinking over her words, Bruce ran to the living room and turned on the TV, failing to notice the new already running in the kitchen.

"The explosion was thought to be an act by the Joker, but with no unusual tape, or sign of bragging, it is unknown at this time who was behind this catastrophe. If you have any information about this, please call the number at the bottom of the screen."

Before the last sentence sounded, the room had been vacated. The previous occupant already half way down the stairs; heading for an unmarked warehouse. ..

Chapter three now up…. What did you think? REVIEW friends, REVIEW thank you all for reading, and drop me a line in the review section :) thank you again :)