I hope everyone enjoyed the last chapter and I hope everyone went over to my profile and took a look at the homepage link. I really want to know what you think of my picks for how the characters look. And I am going to need a little bit of audience participation that can only happen if you take a look at the journal, but I'll tell you about that at the end of the chapter. Anyway, here is the next chapter!

The poem Serena is reading is Because She Would Ask Me Why I Loved Her by Christopher Brennan.

"…For who is there that lives and knows
The secret powers by which he grows?
Were knowledge all, what were our need
To thrill and faint and sweetly bleed?
Then seek not, sweet, the "If" and "Why"
I love you now until I die.
For I must love because I live
And life in me is what you give." Looking up from the book I was reading aloud from, I saw the smile Bruce was giving me.

"Did I read it right?" I asked him nervously. Even though we had been working on my English for three months at that point, I still wasn't a pro. I constantly worried if I was saying something right or not.

"It was perfect Serena. Not a single word wrong." Bruce reassured me while again flashing me a smile.

"The only reason it is perfect is because you taught me perfectly." I told him sincerely.

Bruce chuckled lightly as he said, "I am so glad I taught you about compliments." I laughed with him until we heard the knock at the door. We were holed away in Bruce's private study, the place we always were during my twice daily, hour long each English lessons. "Come on in Alfred."

Alfred opened the door and walked in, carrying a small envelope in his hand. I assumed it was an invitation of some sort, since it was the typical invitation size envelope. He came over to the table we were sitting at and passed the envelope to Bruce.

"This came for you by messenger a few moments ago Master Wayne. They said it was from Mr. And Mrs. Delane, I assume it has something to do with their upcoming wedding anniversary." Alfred was saying as Bruce opened the envelope and read the piece of paper it contained.

"You're right Alfred, it's an invitation to a gala celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this Saturday. It says I should bring a guest." Bruce shook his head as he offhandedly threw the invite on the table. "Doesn't matter, I don't have the time to attend."

"And what exactly is keeping you from going Master Wayne?" Alfred asked with a certain edge to his voice. Bruce looked over at him and sort of glared.

"I have a pressing engagement that evening Alfred, as you are well aware." I could tell this was going to be one of those discussions were it sounds like they were talking about one thing, but in all actuality they were talking about another. They had had a number of those in the three months I had stayed at Wayne Manor.

"I'm sure that you could postpone it in order to attend the Delane Gala. After all, you haven't been out much in the past months in an official capacity." Alfred said. The look Bruce was giving him was one of annoyance, and I really wanted to leave the room at the moment. I couldn't do so, however, because I had gotten the feeling that they had forgotten I was there, and getting up would bring unwanted attention my way. So I simply shrunk lower in my seat and picked up the book I had been reading from and placed it right in front of my face.

"Alfred, I'm not sure postponing it is a good idea, there are too many things going on at the moment that might go wrong if I don't go."

"And they all might ended if you don't end the speculation over what you do when you aren't at Wayne Manor." I heard Bruce sigh as he resigned to the fact that he would have to attend the Delane's gala.

"You're right Alfred, as always… Now, I just have to find myself a date."

"Master Wayne, I don't think that will be too hard." It grew silent and I wondered what the two of them were doing. Easing the book down a bit, I looked over the top. I was met with the stares of both Bruce and Alfred, and I realized what Alfred had meant when he said that finding a date wouldn't be hard.

Putting the book down, I immediately started shaking my head. "No, not me." I told them firmly.

"Why not Miss Serena? It would be an excellent opportunity for you to get to know other people here in Gotham, and practice your English." Alfred said as he tried to convince me to go.

"He's right Serena," Bruce butted in, "You couldn't ask for a better situation to practice." By the looks on their faces, I could tell that I was going to end up going to that gala, but I couldn't help but throw out one last attempt to save myself.

"But I have nothing to wear." I told them. Bruce and Alfred simply smiled.

"That is a situation easily remedied." Bruce told me, and I saw that that shopping trip I had managed to escape when I first met Bruce was going to occur.

"But I don't want to go." I complained, finding it easier and more satisfying to do so in my native tongue. The amused look feel off Bruce's face and one of remorse came on.

"Oh Serena, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you into it. If you really don't want to go, I'll just get Alfred to invite one of those European socialites I know to go with me.

"NO!" I protested strongly, surprising Bruce, Alfred, and Myself. Why I yelled out so loudly I didn't know, but I was aware that the idea of Bruce going to that gala with anyone but me filled me with so much jealousy. "I mean…" I stopped myself, realizing that I should probably speak in English so that Alfred could understand me. He was most likely wondering what had made me yell. "I would be happy to attend the party with you." I said.

Bruce and Alfred shared a look of confusion over my sudden change of heart, and then looked at me skeptically.

"Are you sure?" Bruce asked me.

"Yes, I am. I was just nervous at first, but the more I think about it, the more I agree that it would be a good opportunity for me." I explained to them.

Bruce stared at me intently for a moment, trying to gauge my level of sincerity. He must have been satisfied with what he saw, because a small smile crossed his face. "Alfred, see if you can get someone to come out here with some dresses for Serena to look at."

"And how soon should I have them arrive, Master Wayne?" Alfred asked.

"As soon as possible. After all, it's Wednesday, and there is no telling how long Serena is going to need to get ready." Bruce was smiling as he teased me about the time I took to get ready for things. I was never going to live down the two hours it took me to get ready the night Bruce invited Lucius Fox over for dinner. I was about to respond to Bruce's tease when a strong surge of nausea came over me. I must have grew pale, because Bruce and Alfred were next to me in a minute.

"Miss Serena, are you feeling alright?" Alfred asked me.

"I think I'm going to be sick." I managed to get out weakly. As soon as I said it, Bruce helped me up and whisked me off to the study's bathroom, where I promptly lost my breakfast. "I don't feel good." I moaned as leaned back against the wall of the bathroom.

"Alfred, would you get her room ready. I have a feeling a bucket or two will be needed."

"Right away, Master Wayne." Alfred quickly left the bathroom and Bruce leaned down and presses a wet washcloth to my face.

"Does that feel any better?" Bruce questioned. I simply nodded my head is response. "Good, good. Now, do you think that you are finished for now, or do you need to stay down here for now?"

"I think I can go back to my room." I told him. He helped me up and we made our way to my room. Alfred was up there when we got there, and they both helped me into bed. For the rest of the day, I stayed in bed, sleeping and using the bucket. Off and on, both Bruce and Alfred came up to visit me, and even tried to get me to eat something.

It was around two o'clock in the morning when my nausea finally abated and I felt the need to go down to the kitchen to get something to eat. I quietly made my way out of room and down the stairs. When I got to the kitchen door, I saw a light was on and I heard the voices of Alfred and Bruce.

"Master Wayne, how much longer do you expect Miss Serena to be staying with us?" I heard Alfred ask, the shuffle of tea cups accompanying his voice.

"If I had my way, she'd never leave." I almost gasped out loud at Bruce's answer, but managed to contain it in order to keep the fact I was eavesdropping hidden.

"I assumed you would say that."

"And why is that Alfred?"

"Because you're in love with her, Master Wayne." I had to keep myself from passing out at that point. Bruce wasn't in love with me, and I knew he was going to deny it to Alfred. But the denial I expected never came, and what I heard was simply Bruce sighing.

"How did this happen Alfred? After Rachel, I promised myself I would never put myself in a position to face rejection…" The pain in Bruce's voice was evident, and I had the overwhelming need to go into that kitchen and comfort him.

"Mater Wayne, I don't believe you'll be facing rejection, Miss Serena feels the same way about you." And at that moment I knew Alfred was right. The feelings I had had for Bruce were ones I had chalked up to gratitude for all he'd done for me, but gratitude was only the tip of the ice berg. So many more emotions were hidden under the ocean, but I knew that they all came together to equal love.

"She doesn't love me Alfred." Bruce said dismissingly. "She is just grateful for all I've done for her. What you are confusing for love is simply admiration."

"Master Wayne, with all due respect, I have been alive a great deal longer than you, and experienced a great deal more than you, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that Miss Serena is in love with you." There was a silence in the room for a moment, and I began to wonder if maybe they were just talking so low that I couldn't hear them. But that idea was dismissed when Bruce began to talk again.

"Maybe you're right…" Bruce started, but what quickly cut off by Alfred.

"Maybe Sir? I'll have you know that I'm always right." Alfred said quite seriously before the sound of both of them laughing filled the air. I smiled at the relationship the two had, for a long while they were all each other had, and everyday I was thankful that they had let me in. Before long, the laughter trickled out and Alfred started to speak again.

"You are, however, going to need to tell her about…" Alfred began.

"I know, I know…" Bruce sighed again, "I just don't know how to tell her." I knew that this was the point that I needed to make my presence known. Although I would have loved to known the secret Bruce and Alfred had been keeping, I didn't want to find out like this. As it was, I had already heard too much. Turning around, I crept about half-way back up the stairs and then walked down in away that I knew would announce my immediate arrival.

Walking into the kitchen, the two of the turned to take a look at me.

"Miss Serena, how are you feeling?" Alfred asked me as he moved to pull out one of the stools for me to sit on.

"I am feeling much better Alfred." I reassured both of them. "But I am hungry, just please do not give me anything with eggs in it, unless you want a repeat performance of this morning." I said jokingly.

"I think it's best to avoid that." Alfred bantered back as he began to fix me a plate of food.

"Are you really feeling better?" Bruce asked me.

"Yes, I really am." I told him with force behind it so he knew that I was serious. "But I would like to thank you," I moved my hand from where it was resting in my lap and put it on top of Bruce's that was on the counter. "I really appreciate how you and Alfred took care of my today." While I had been saying this, Bruce and I had locked eyes, and this time I saw the love in his eyes. I could only hope that my eyes reflected mine. Before anything else could happen, Alfred put a plate of food in front of me, along with a glass of something green.

"That looks like what I threw up this morning." I said as I pointed to the glass.

"I can assure you that that is not what you threw up." Alfred told me firmly. "It is an old family remedy that helps you recover from a bought of nausea."

"Is he sure that it doesn't induce it?" I asked Bruce. All I got in response was full on laughter. Alfred simply looked between the two of us and shook his head.

"If you two are going to continue to use Japanese as your secret code language, I'm afraid I'm going to need to learn it."

"It might help." I told him in between laughs.

So, what do you think? Is Bruce a bit more in character? Does it seem that Serena learned English too fast? Let me know.

Now, as for that audience participation thing. I'm going to let all of you pick the dress Serena is going to wear to the Delane's gala. I posted options over at the livejournal, so why don't you guys go on over and take a look? I'll post more stuff over there as the story progresses.