Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing related to Batman. Any and all one-shots in this collection of one-shots were inspired by Charlotte A. Cavatica's lovely ideas from her Waiting on the Shingle, chapter seven, unless otherwise stated. Anyway, thanks to Ms. Cavatica for making it possible for plot bunnies to attack me. Please enjoy.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. –Ches.

#6

Forever

Bruno tossed his keys angrily on the hall table.

For two months he'd been wining and dining one Alice Pleasance and hadn't gotten anything more than a kiss from her…and not even a French kiss.

He went to the fridge and grabbed a cold beer.

The lights went out as he turned to go to the living room.

He cursed and started to go towards the fuse box in the laundry room. He stopped before he took two steps.

A wide white grin floated above his kitchen table. The fangs were quite sharp and looked as if they belonged to a jungle cat.

"Allo Bruno. My name is Cheshire, but you can call me Miss Cat." a female voice said as a pair of orange cat eyes appeared above the smile and a woman's body followed.

The beer bottle fell to the floor and shattered.

Bruno turned to run.

The cat-woman pounced on him. "Oh no my little mousie…you're not going anywhere."

Bruno opened his mouth to yell, but had a smoking end of a hookah stuck in it before a sound could escape. He instantly felt drowsy.

The smile widened.

"You were warned, Bruno. Now let's find out what happens to those who do not listen."

*~*~*~*

She was back at her desk after being gone three days, two of which had been spent crying tears that should never have been shed. She was feeling better, not just because of what Arianna had done or the filigree butterfly hair clips Zeek had hand delivered with Ari that morning, but because she was around Jervis once more.

There was something about Jervis that made her feel calmer and realize that Bruno was the one to blame and completely wrong for her.

Jervis returned from his office with the promised cup of tea. "Now you put that awful Bandersnatch behind you my dear. He's not worth your tears and he never will be. Here's a cup of tea."

Alice took it with a small smile. "Thanks Jervis. I knew I could count on you."

He patted the hand on her desk. "Of course you can my dear. I shall always be here if you need me. I could never leave if you needed me. Now, I simply must get back to work before Dr. Cates catches me out here. But if you need anything, don't hesitate to come into my office." He gave her a warm, comforting smile and walked back to his office.

Alice let her smile grow.

He was the first man to make her believe him when he said he'd never leave.

There was just something about him that made her think that Jervis would literally move mountains and oceans to get to her if she needed him.

"He's so much like the White Knight; always riding to the fair maiden's rescue. You really should find someone like that, Alice." Ari commented as she came to stand next to Alice's desk.

Alice looked at her. "Ari, are you suggesting that I get together with Jervis? He'd never ask me out, and we'd both be embarrassed if I asked him."

Ari leaned against Alice's desk. "My dearest Alice, I suggest nothing. I was merely giving you my opinion. You need someone like Jervis, if not Jervis himself. And never think that way; being a pessimist isn't very good for you. You still like Jervis."

Alice nodded. "But it won't come to anything. No matter what."

Ari rolled her eyes. "I swear. The two of you need to sit down and have a talk about your feelings. The man is utterly smitten with you, Alice. People can see it from space. And you're just as taken with him."

Alice began typing. "You're wrong. I'm just his secretary."

Ari stood up and shook her finger at Alice. "Mark my words Alice Pleasance. One day I am going to lock the two of you in a closet together and not let you out until you've admitted your love for each other. I'd say until the two of you have snogged or shagged the sense out of each other, but Jervis is too much a gentleman and both of you are too shy to do something like that." She grinned. "Well at least before marriage. Afterwards is a whole different story."

Alice flushed bright red and quickly turned her chair to face Ari. "Ari!"

Ari just laughed softly as she walked down the hallway to get back to her desk.

Alice shyly glanced at the door to Jervis's office. She agreed with Ari that she needed someone with the traits Jervis had and had to admit that she wouldn't mind in the slightest if it was Jervis. She couldn't stop her mind from spinning fantasies about a relationship with Jervis, not to mention a wedding and what the nights might be like.

A fresh blush rose on her cheeks, spreading to most of her face and the tips of her ears.

"Thanks Ari. This is just wonderful and entirely your fault." Alice muttered, cursing Ari and her fixation that Jervis loved her and they were a perfect couple.