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-:-
There was something about baking that calmed Charlotte's mind. She didn't grow up baking though, sure she cooked dinner for her family whenever her mother worked late but they never had the money to spare on the means to bake. The first time she baked was when she moved in with the Wayne's. Martha was pregnant with Bruce and was having cravings for different types of sweets. With Wayne's Manor on the outskirts of Gotham, Charlotte found it more feasible to learn how to bake instead of Alfred or Thomas running into the city anytime Martha asked for a pastry. After Bruce was born, Charlotte found herself continuing to bake, especially as Bruce got older.
Rolling out the dough to place in the pie tin allowed her mind and nerves to relax. All the tension from the morning seemed to melt away with each roll of the pin. It was the one time a day she felt like she didn't need to think about anything.
"Charlotte, there you are," called out a woman's voice, causing Charlotte to jump.
"Mrs Wayne," she greeted, looking up at her employer and placing the rolling pin down.
"Martha," the woman corrected offering the nanny a small smile.
"Martha," repeated Charlotte.
Martha walked further into the kitchen. "I wanted to speak to you about something."
"I see," she said quietly. "I'll be sure to have my stuff packed and ready to leave by tomorrow."
"What?" Martha exclaimed looking at Charlotte confused. "What are you talking about?"
"You're letting me go right? Bruce is old enough now. There is no need for a nanny anymore."
"NO! No. Of course not. That's definitely not what I wanted to talk to you about. Well... it is. But we do not went to let you go. Thomas and I wanted to talk to you about what happened last night. We were hoping to sit down with you tonight after we get back from the theatre."
"Oh! I am so sorry," Charlotte gasped, quick to apologize, trying hard not to fumble over words.
"Don't be sorry, Charlotte. It is our fault for not addressing this sooner and letting you believe the things those women said to you last night."
"And I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions," she said giving Martha a sheepish smile.
"I'm honestly sorry for what happened. You shouldn't have had to feel like that."
Charlotte let out a shaky breathe, relieving the tension in her body. "Thank you, Martha. I should have realised I had nothing to worry about. Especially after Alfred warned me."
"Alfred warned you?" the other woman questioned with a new found curiosity.
"Yes! Yea... yea, he told me I had nothing to worry about. If I did, you and Mister Wayne, would have said something sooner."
"Well Alfred is a very smart man," Martha replied with a knowing smile, before turning to walk out of the kitchen. "Thomas and I will talk to you tonight. I am sure Bruce will appreciate the pie."
Charlotte was unable to reply before her employer walked away. She was left confused by the woman's last comment. Between her and Thomas there were a ton of mixed signals in regards to hers and Alfred's relationship. Whether as colleagues or something else entirely, she wasn't sure.
A little over an hour later Charlotte was pulling the pies out of the oven. As if sensing the baked goods, Bruce walked into the kitchen and sat down at the island.
"Ah Master Bruce. I see you're home from school. I didn't realise it was as late as it was. How was school?"
Bruce gave the nanny a small smile. "It was... adequate."
Charlotte chuckled softly. "Of course. That is to be expected from you."
"I see you made pie." The boy changed the subject as he eyed up the now cooling pastries.
" Yes. I promised you I would, now didn't I?"
"Would it be acceptable to have a piece now?" he asked.
Charlotte shut the oven off and turned to look at the young boy. With a raised eyebrow she spoke, "You know the rules kiddo. No dessert before dinner."
"But I won't be here for dinner," the boy mumbled.
"Why won't you be here for dinner?"
"Mother and Father are taking me to see a movie tonight."
"A movie? I thought your parents were going to the theatre tonight?" questioned the woman as she leaned against the counter across from Bruce.
"They were, but father decided he'd rather bring me to the movies instead."
"Well alright then. You can have pie once you return home."
"I'd rather have pie now," Bruce whined.
Charlotte rolled her eyes and smiled. "Go and get cleaned up and changed. I'm sure you'll be leaving soon for dinner."
Bruce nodded his head as he stood up, making his way to the door. Pausing at the door, he turned his head to Charlotte. "After the movie, right?"
"After the movie," she replied with a wink. When Bruce didn't move for a moment she spoke up again. "Is there something bothering you, Bruce?"
The boy looked unsure for a second before shaking his head no. Turning the rest of his body into the kitchen, Bruce waltzed back into the room and threw his arms around the woman. "I love you, Charlie."
Charlotte was frozen for a fraction of a second before she wrapped her arms around the boy returning his hug. Tears were threatening to spill from her eyes. "I love you to, Bruce."
The boy pulled back and gave his nanny one last smile.
"What was that for?" she asked, trying hard not to start crying.
Bruce shifted where he stood and looked around as if thinking. "It just felt like something I needed to say."
She returned his smile and said jokingly, "Thank you. It means the world to me. But you still after to wait until later for the pie."
-:-
The evening ended up being very relaxing for Charlotte. Without having Bruce around to check up on or help with homework (not that he needed it) she was able to enjoy some time alone. After cleaning her mess in the kitchen – avoiding another argument with Alfred – she retired to the library for the rest of her evening. She had been curled up on one of the armchairs reading for the better part of an hour before Alfred entered.
"Good Evening, Miss O'Brien," the butler greeted.
Charlotte glanced up from her book as she turned a page. "Really? Good Evening, Mister Pennyworth."
"What's wrong? Am I not allowed to greet you upon entering? I'll be sure to refrain from doing so in the future," Alfred said with a snip.
"I'm sorry, Mister Pennyworth. I just thought we had moved on from last names in private, but I guess not," she replied adding extra emphasis on his last name.
"Someones a bit pissy tonight, aren't they? Tell me, love. What's got your knickers in a twist?" Alfred rebutted as he sat down on the chesterfield to the woman's right with that mornings newspaper.
"You wouldn't think it from the way you are around the Wayne's but you sure have quite the mouth on you."
"I could say the same about you at times," he replied not bothering to look up from his paper. "And that's also because you don't spend very much time around me."
"Yes, will I spend the majority of my time taking care of a child."
"I am well aware how much time you spend coddling, Master Bruce."
Charlotte wanted to protest but she couldn't. She knew she coddled the boy a bit too much. But in her defense she almost felt like she had to. Despite how much Martha and Thomas loved their son, they weren't around as much as people seemed to believe. It was rare for them to bring, Bruce anywhere besides a fancy dinner party or a gala, and so tonight was special for them. Charlotte had spent most of her time since he was born, taking care of Bruce and she loved him as thought he was her own. She stayed silent but didn't look back down at her book – instead she stared straight ahead at the wall, lost in thought.
"Something bothering you tonight?" Alfred's voice broke her out of her thoughts.
"Does it bother you? Having to address Bruce as Master?"
Alfred finally looked up from the paper to woman beside him. Slowly she looked away from the wall and stared back at the butler.
"I think you're missing the point that Bruce is a Wayne."
"Yes. But he is a twelve year old boy. Does that not make you uncomfortable?"
"It doesn't matter if it makes me uncomfortable or not. It doesn't change the fact that I am employed by the Wayne's and therefore that makes Master Bruce my employer."
"I don't care if the Wayne's are our employers. We have practically raised Bruce. We have been there for him since the day he was born."
"He is not your child, Charlotte," Alfred spat out a bit more aggressive then he intended.
The nanny's gaze dropped to her lap and for a second time that day fought back tears only this time from sadness. "I know he's not my child. I am very well aware."
Alfred sighed and placed the newspaper down on the coffee table in front of him.
"I don't think Martha and Thomas are bad parents. I'm not trying to say that at all. I love them both dearly. But every time I hear you or myself calling Bruce, Master it just makes me feel worthless. We've been with him almost every day of his life, we have watched him grow. And sometimes it worries me that he'll grow up one day and only see me... see us as just his families employee's. And this might sound crazy. Or stupid... but I don't think I could take that kind of heart break."
Reaching out across the space between the two pieces of furniture, Alfred grabbed Charlotte's hand. "I know you don't think the Wayne's are bad parents. And I do understand where you are coming from. It does make me uncomfortable but I know it's my job. But I also know, that if Bruce grows up to be anything like his father... then he would never see us as just his employee's but as his family."
Charlotte wiped her eyes with her free hand and gave Alfred a small smile. "Thank you."
"Now you can stop that blubbering. You never get emotional and I've seen you cry twice in the last day and a half," he replied jokingly as he went back to reading the paper.
With a small laugh Charlotte picked her book up from her lap and joined her colleague in silence. Sadly this would be the last moment of true peace for the rest of their evening and for the days to come.
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