A/N - Not too much excitement in this one, but it's still needed to continue the plot. Excitement will come...believe me. :)

Tuesday morning, April 6th

"It's all set," Lucius announced, when he saw Bruce Wayne walking into his office. "There is a meeting set for you to meet with the CEO of Genwerx next Monday at 1pm."

"Great," Bruce said, as Lucius stood up handing him a folder.

"I took the liberty of pulling out the old files from our prior negotiations with Genwerx," Lucius said, watching as Bruce opened the file and skimmed over the dozen or so documents that were inside. "I think it may be a good idea to bring someone along for this meeting."

Bruce looked up. "Are you volunteering?"

Lucius smiled. "As knowledgeable as I am concerning the pharmaceutical and medical industry, I was thinking of someone more in tune with any medical jargon that an aloof Bruce Wayne may encounter."

Bruce furrowed his brow, wondering what Lucius was getting at, until it hit him.

"Emily Tucker?"

Lucius nodded. "She may be the perfect fit for a position such as this."

Bruce thought more about it for a moment. He thought back to their last meeting, recalling how she was extremely angry with him.

"I don't know if she'd agree to something like this. She wasn't really too fond of me. I doubt she'd want to help after what I did."

"It can't hurt to try." Bruce looked up at Lucius, catching his smile.

Later that night

Bruce adjusted the hood over his head as he looked up at the metal steps leading up along the side of the building. The snow had melted off of them, leaving them bare but wet. He carefully held the small bouquet of flowers as he made his way up the steps to her door. Bruce knocked a few times, waiting for nearly a minute before he heard the chorus of clicks as the door was being unlocked and then opened.

He watched as the emotions quickly flashed over Emily's face. Surprise, to happiness, to shock and then to dread. She reached outside, pulling him by the arm into her apartment and then quickly closed the door behind him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was coming to see you. How are you feeling?" Bruce asked, holding out the flowers in front of him. She glanced at him and then to the flowers, thanking him softly before taking them.

"Better. Did anyone see you out there?"

"Not that I know of," he replied, standing by the door as she walked towards her kitchen with the flowers in hand. He noticed that she was dressed in light blue scrubs, with a long sleeve pink shirt beneath the top. "It's getting dark out there and I hoped to catch you before you headed into work."

"I don't leave for another hour or so," she stated, as she filled a vase with tap water and carefully placed the flowers inside of it. She turned to Bruce who was still standing at her door.

"So, what's up?"

"I have a job opportunity for you."

"I have a job," she said matter-of-factly.

Bruce smirked. "Yeah, but this one is a one-time deal that would involve you being present at a meeting as my personal assistant."

"Wouldn't someone like you already have a personal assistant? There's that woman I met," she said, walking back towards the door.

"Jessica? She's a secretary who is employed by Wayne Enterprises. I would be hiring you personally. I'm needing someone who would have some medical knowledge."

"And naturally, you thought of me," she stated, with a scoff.

Bruce nodded. "You also know more about me than any other assistant would."

Emily glanced down at the floor and crossed her arms, knowing exactly what Bruce was meaning.

"All you would need me for is for this meeting, right? I wouldn't have to do anything else? No parties or grandish shindigs?"

He shook his head. "Nothing else. I'll even pay you for your time and any time that you would miss from work."

Emily frowned. "I'd miss work?"

He winced slightly, forgetting to note the fact that it wasn't a day trip.

"Yeah, the meeting is in Miami next Monday," he replied. "We'd leave on Sunday morning and return late Monday night."

"I haven't missed work in at least two years and that was only because I had the stomach flu," she stated. "I'm not going to call in to say that I'm going to Florida for a day or two. That would raise too many questions that I'd be unwilling to answer."

"Of course. Don't you get vacation time?"

She looked at him incredulously. "I get just a few vacation days a year and I doubt that going to a meeting in Florida with you will feel like a vacation."

"I will pay you," he reminded her. He watched as she processed the idea in her head. "I need your help with this, Emily."

She took a deep sigh. "I'd miss work just on Monday night?"

Bruce smiled and nodded.

"Okay then," she finally said. "I'll ask to get Monday off next week when I go in tonight."

"Thank you," Bruce said. A thought suddenly hit him and he reached into his coat pocket, pulling out an envelope. He handed it to her and she noticed it wasn't sealed but the top lip was stuck inside, revealing a key and a piece of paper.

"Go to that location Thursday morning after your shift," he said. "I'll meet you there to go over some things for that meeting prior to leaving on Sunday. If you have any trouble finding it, give me a call."

She looked at the address. "Where is this place?"

"It's by the harbour. There is a no trespassing sign saying that the property is owned by Wayne Enterprises. You can't miss it."

Emily nodded.

Thursday Morning, April 8th

As the sun rose over the city, Emily walked down the stairs from the elevated train stop, feeling the wind blow up behind her as the train took off down the tracks once again. In the distance, she could hear the sound of seagulls crying out by the harbour. She had spent the entire shift earlier that night preoccupied with what she was getting herself into. She managed to get the time off for vacation but she had some hesitation in working not just for Bruce Wayne but for Batman. She was still uneasy, knowing what she had heard about him.

Emily began to walk down the quiet street, lined with a chain link fence on either side holding old shipping containers waiting to be put aboard the next ocean liner that came into port. She stopped when she saw an entrance into the shipping yard with the sign clearly marked no trespassing that Bruce mentioned. Emily kept walking until she saw the storage container marking the same number that Bruce had written on the paper. She took out the key and pushed it into the lock and proceeded to unlock the container. The door squealed as she pulled it open, surprised to find nothing but an empty box.

"What the hell is this?" she mumbled, looking down at the paper in hand to verify the numbers were the same.

"You have the right place, my dear."

Emily practically jumped three feet in the air. She glanced over her shoulder, and recognized the man as the gentleman she had met at Wayne Tower. She put a hand to her chest, and took a deep breath, calming her racing heart.

"I'm sorry if I startled you," Alfred said, pulling the door open further.

Emily smiled. "After a long night of working, I needed the jolt to wake me up a bit."

Alfred smiled, leading her into the dark container before closing the door behind him. Emily was about to question the darkness and what they were doing inside a storage container when she felt a rumbling from under her feet as they began to be slowly lowered down. Emily allowed her eyes to adjust to the bright light. She stood for a few seconds on the platform as Alfred stepped off and walked into the large underground bunker. Emily followed him, looking around the room, seeing the Tumbler sitting near the far end of the large space.

"Master Bruce is on his way," Alfred said, pulling open a door in the wall and disappearing into it for a moment. She slowly walked over, unsure as to whether she should follow. Instead, he walked out carrying a garment bag in his hand. "He asked that we get started without him."

Alfred hung it up and unzipped it.

"I understand that you're accompanying us to Miami on Sunday," he said.

Emily nodded, as she looked curiously inside the garment bag.

"Master Bruce has asked that you wear something befitting a personal assistant of his," Alfred told her.

Emily took the liberty to pull out the clothing.

"Seriously?"

Alfred shrugged. "It's all about keeping up a persona."

"Yeah, but I agreed to being his personal assistant and not one of his models he carries around on his hip," she stated. "Besides, Mr. Wayne is the one with the double life."

"Nevertheless, he's asked that you at least try it on for size," Alfred said, handing her the clothing. "We can always change things as we see fit."

He led her into the large walk-in closet. "Unfortunately, this place doesn't leave room to move around in. I hope this will do for a place to change."

Emily glanced around the closet, with the cement flooring and walls of racking holding various types of mens clothing. "It'll work."

Alfred nodded before leaving and closing the door behind him. Emily hung up the clothing on the nearest rack and pulled out the skirt, holding it up to herself before she shook her head. A minute later, she walked out barefoot, tugging on the blouse, trying to stretch it out somewhat. Alfred noticed her and walked over to where she stood. Emily turned to see a full length mirror resting against the wall.

Emily took a look at her appearance. The black pencil skirt fell just above her knee and wasn't much to comment about. It fit her snugly but that was the least of her concerns. The white short sleeve blouse showed more cleavage than Emily was used to, but the problem was that it extremely tight fitting. Awkwardly, she tried to adjust it.

Alfred noticed her discomfort and appeared in the mirror just behind her. "At least it doesn't look horrible."

She chuckled and let out a sigh before shaking her head. "I can't do this."

Alfred looked at her through the mirror's reflection. "You can. Just play the part, like Master Bruce does."

She looked at him, and he seemed to hear her question him.

"The playboy facade that he puts on for the world isn't him," Alfred said, handing her a pair of shoes. "It's a person that the world expects him to be and he plays right along."

Emily looked down at the black high heels as she listened to Alfred. "No one would ever suspect that a man as pompous and arrogant as Bruce Wayne could ever be Batman."

"Are you calling me pompous and arrogant?"

Emily heard the deep voice echo throughout the large room and she looked over her shoulder to see Bruce Wayne being lowered on the platform beside a blue and black Yamaha motor bike. He put the helmet on the seat before taking a step off the platform and walked towards Alfred and Emily.

"I would never dream of it sir," Alfred replied, with a smirk, before he turned back to Emily while she managed to put on the heels, raising her height by two inches.

"How are things going, Alfred?" Bruce asked, looking from him to Emily as she stood with his back towards him. He looked towards her reflection as he walked up behind her. He barely recognized her. Every time that they had spoken, she had been wearing scrubs.

"Very well, I'd say," Alfred replied as Emily sighed. "But it seems that Miss Tucker would disagree."

"What's the problem?"

"I feel ridiculous," she admitted.

Bruce's eyes travelled from her head to her feet as he put his hands and he crossed his arms. Emily felt that his eyes lingered a little longer than they should have. Finally, he uncrossed his arms and shrugged.

"I think you look fine," he said. "What's don't you like?"

Emily sighed, knowing that she was going to have to be frank with him.

"I'm a comfort girl," she told him, turning towards him. "I wear either scrubs, jeans, jogging pants, t-shirts or tank tops, you name it. The last time I wore anything remotely close to this was for a job interview during college when I realized that the interviewer liked seeing a little more skin on his prospective female employees." She paused looking back into the mirror and placed a hand over the fabric that hung on her hips "Needless to say, I didn't get the job because I was unwilling to flirt with him."

Bruce looked towards her.

"I've done some research on the guy that we're going to be meeting on monday and he's notorious for being a womanizer," Bruce admitted.

"When were you going to tell me that?"

"I was going to tell you," he said. "That's the partial reason to why the clothing is the way it is."

She looked at him incredulously.

"You want me to flirt with him?"

"Not flirt, just keep him interested without speaking. Enough to keep him distracted for a moment or two."

Emily looked into the mirror. "So you're saying like body language, lingering eye contact, that sort of thing?"

Bruce nodded, before he turned and walked towards the table as Alfred handed him some glasses.

Emily sighed audibly and shook her head as she looked at her reflection. She turned herself to the side, glancing back at her figure. "Good god, the moment the snow breaks I'm going to get started on loosing the weight I gained over the wintertime."

Bruce winced as he walked back up to her, handing her a pair of glasses.

"Loose it where?"

She felt a redness come up to her cheeks and she took the glasses from him. "Nevermind."

"The glasses are not prescription so you may wear them with contacts," Alfred told her, as he walked back over towards her.

Emily held them up and placed them over her eyes, seeing how she was slowly being transformed into someone unfamiliar to her.

"And her hair?" Alfred asked Bruce as he looked back over his shoulder. Bruce turned as Emily pulled the elastic out of the pony tail at the back of her neck, allowing her brown hair to fall down past her shoulders. She ran her fingers through it, getting them caught in a few knots but she managed to loosen the strands.

Bruce stared at her for a few seconds, getting caught up in a memory. A memory of someone seen long ago but never forgotten and he was certain he saw her once again for a brief moment. It was Rachel. He was certain that it was her that he recognizing when he was looking at the back of Emily's head. It wasn't until Emily looked over her shoulder that the memory was lost.

"Master Bruce?"

Bruce looked towards Alfred's concerned face.

"Is everything all right, sir?"

"Yeah, yeah," he replied, quickly.

"I was just asking if you'd want her hair to be up or left down," Alfred said, his concern still evident in his face.

"Up, I think," Bruce said.

Emily nodded and proceeded to pull her hair off her shoulders and twisted it with as much skill as she could muster in a few seconds and held it to the back of her head.

"Like this," Emily said, holding the weight of her hair against her head.

Bruce simply nodded, before turning back to the computer screen in front of him.

Emily was confused. Alfred smiled politely to her, suggesting that she should change as they were most likely done. Once she disappeared into the closet, Alfred walked over to Bruce.

"Now, what's going on"

"What do you mean?"

"You were staring at Emily's back for more than a few seconds sir," Alfred said. "I called your name at least twice."

Bruce shook his head. "Emily just reminded me of Rachel for a brief moment."

Alfred stared back at the closed door where Emily was changing to ensure the woman wouldn't walk out at that moment.

"She is a beautiful woman," Alfred said quietly. "To admit that wouldn't be a crime nor would it be hinder your memory of Miss Dawes."

Bruce said nothing, but kept his eyes on the computer.

"Rachel would have wanted you to move on with your life," Alfred added. "It's been five years."

Alfred was about to speak again when the door to the closet opened and Emily walked out. He turned back to Bruce to see the man already walking towards the Tumbler.

Emily placed the garment bag on the table beside Alfred as the Tumbler roared to life. Alfred looked over at a computer screen as she watched the Tumbler rev it's engine. He looked over at her and merely smiled, knowing that any words exchanged wouldn't be heard. Finally, it stopped and Bruce was seen climbing out of the tumbler.

"Any change that time?" he asked.

"Much better," Alfred replied. "Output remained at .3 percent."

Bruce looked over and saw Emily standing beside Alfred, putting her hair back up in a ponytail. He climbed out and walked back to Alfred.

"This may be a stupid question, but what kind of mileage do you get with that thing?"

A smile grew on Bruce's face. "The engine itself doesn't run on any kind of fuel. It's electrical. There are other components that operate with other energy sources but the engine is all electric. I've been trying to see if I can get the electrical energy to remain consistent."

"Really?" Emily looked from him to the Tumbler and then back to Bruce. "Do you mind if I get a closer look?"

Bruce nodded with a smile. "Be my guest."

Emily walked towards the silent Tumbler with Bruce following slightly behind.

"This thing is amazing," she said, running her hand along the side of the Tumbler. "Did you build it?"

Bruce shook his head. "Mr. Fox did. Much of the equipment I use were prototypes developed by Wayne Enterprises that were never put into full production."

Emily nodded in understanding as she rose up on her tiptoes to peek over the side and into the drivers seat. Bruce suddenly climbed up and held his hand out towards her.

"You can have a look inside, if you'd like."

Emily smiled widely as she took his hand and was pulled up onto the top of the Tumbler before sliding into the passenger seat.

Bruce pushed a button beside the wheel and the roof slid overtop of them and sealed with a click.

He watched her eyes cover every square inch of the Tumbler and even saw her run her hand along the metal handrail beside the passenger seat. The flashing lights and the control panel lit up her face in the dark, small space.

"So, what do you think?"

Emily turned back to Bruce, a smile on her face - one of the few genuine ones that he had ever seen. Her face seemed to light up. "This is crazy. I can't believe I'm actually sitting in this thing."

Bruce smirked and flipped a button above the console. "I'm going to give it another go, Alfred."

"Go ahead sir."

Emily heard Alfred's voice come over the speaker.

Bruce pressed his foot against the pedal, as a thunderous vibration came up from under the tumbler. It wasn't as loud as if they had been on the outside, but it was enough for Emily to grab onto the handrail beside her. Emily looked over at Bruce, almost imagining his handsome features being covered by a mask as he would drive around in the beast of a vehicle every night. It nearly seemed impossible that the smiling face looking back at her could be the same man.

"That's awesome!" she exclaimed, as the engine settled once again. "I can see how you can get a thrill in riding in this thing. It makes you feel alive."

"It does," he agreed, somewhat soberly but he still maintained his smile at seeing her excitement.

"Thank you, Bruce," she said, turning towards him. He stopped, skipping a beat.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For calling me Bruce," he replied. "I think that's the first time that you've called me by name."

Emily smiled, feeling the awkwardness fill the vehicle. With an uncomfortable sigh, Bruce pressed a button allowing the rooftop to open once again. He helped her out and then back down onto the ground.

"Am I to take Miss Tucker home?" Alfred asked, seeing Bruce and Emily walk back towards him. Bruce looked from Alfred to Emily.

"I can, if that's all right with you, Emily?"

She shrugged. "I wouldn't want to be an inconvenience."

Bruce picked up his helmet and tossed it to her. She barely caught it in her arms. He walked into a back storage room and came out with a second helmet in his hands.

"Not an inconvenience. Let's go," he said, as he walked towards the yamaha motor bike sitting on the platform. Emily said goodbye to Alfred before walking over to the bike. She pulled the helmet over her head, and struggled with the strap that was loose under her neck. Bruce reached forward and pulled it tighter.

"Can you hear me?"

She heard his words coming directly into her ears. Emily nodded.

"You can answer and I'll hear you," Bruce said with a smile.

"I'm not used to this kind of thing," she said, zipping up her winter coat. She watched as Bruce climbed and straddled the bike. With a second of hesitation, she climbed on behind him. The platform began to raise them up as Bruce turned on the bike.

"Ready?" he asked.

Emily pulled her feet up and wrapped her arms around his chest.

"Ready."

Bruce took off through the shipping yards and onto the streets, conscious of the woman holding onto him. As he came up to a red light, he put his foot down.

"You don't need to hold on so tightly," he said, turning his head slightly towards her

Emily relaxed slightly and loosened her grip as Bruce began to go once again. He weaved in and around the traffic.

"It's been a while since I've rode on the back of someone's bike," she told him. "Let's just say that the last time wasn't a pleasant run."

She heard Bruce chuckle in his ear as he turned a corner. "Let me know if I go too fast. I have a tendency to do that."

This time it was Emily's turn to laugh. "I'm sure you would."

Bruce turned his head as they passed Wayne Tower nearing the heavy traffic in the downtown district. It actually got the point where he had to stop once again. He could feel the warmth of Emily's body finally reaching down to the skin on his back. He couldn't remember a time when he had a woman on the back of his bike. Rachel hated them.

He looked down for a moment, seeing her hands holding tightly to his coat near the zipper. Her fingers were bright red.

"Are you cold?"

"I'm fine," she replied, almost too quickly.

Emily thought for a bit while she watched the buildings pass by them. For some reason, Michael's words came back to memory as she held onto Bruce. She could hear his voice in her mind, begging her to ask him. They were beginning to torment her until she finally had enough nerve and guts to speak.

"Bruce?"

"Yeah?"

She took a deep breath. Emily only hoped that Bruce wouldn't have noticed her anxiety at the moment. She figured it was better to ask when she couldn't face him anyways.

"I have a pair of tickets to go see a play, it's a musical actually that a friend of mine is playing in this Saturday night," she began, her fingers moving slightly as they fidgeted. Bruce noticed the change. "It's Pirates of Penzance that is being put on at a small theatre on the other side of town. Would you be interested?"

Bruce knew what she was doing. Far too often he had been invited to various functions, most of which he accepted. This was the exception.

"I'd love to go," he said, gently. "But I have a prior engagement that night with someone else."

"Oh, of course. I should have assumed that you would be busy. That's fine. I'm sure that I'll find another person to go with."

"I'm sure that you will."

An unfamiliar pang filled her chest while she held onto him. What was that? Disappointment? Jealousy? At that point, she was glad that his back was towards her. She wasn't liking the feelings that were washing over her. What's going on?

At the end of their ride, Bruce pulled up the bike alongside the curb beside her apartment. Emily climbed off and pulled the helmet from her head, putting a smile on her face.

"Thank you again for the ride, Bruce," she said, handing him the helmet just as she turned to walk up the stairs.

"I'll see you on Sunday," Bruce called out, lifting the helmet visor for a moment.

She nodded and smiled as she heard him race off down the street, his bike echoing long after he disappeared.

Damn it.

She should have known that he wouldn't have said yes.

What am I thinking? He's Bruce Wayne, for crying out loud!

"Who was that?"

Emily looked up at the visitor sitting on the steps outside of her apartment. Michael. He had a large smile plastered on his face.

"And here I thought you were trying to make me feel bad for you for not having a boyfriend."

She stepped around him as he stood up and opened her door.

"He's not my boyfriend," she told him, closing the door behind them. "He just gave me a ride home."

She pulled off her shoes and hung up her coat, dropping her keys into the basket by the door as Freddie slinked his way towards her.

"Yeah, you're a little late coming home," Michael commented, watching her pick up the cat. "I was beginning to worry."

She turned and plastered a smile on her face. "I'm fine."

Realizing that something was up that she clearly didn't want to volunteer information about, Michael nodded as he reached into his pocket. As much as he knew she probably didn't want him to venture into her life, he couldn't help it. She was the closest thing to a sister that he ever had.

"Maybe you can ask that guy to go with you to see my play." He held out the pair of tickets to her. "I was going to leave them at the box office but I wanted to get them right into your hand so you don't have an excuse not to come."

Emily smiled, taking the tickets. "I wouldn't have made an excuse. I'm looking forward to it. And, if you're wondering, I already asked him and he's busy that night."

Michael shrugged.

"Plans could change."

Emily shook her head. "We're too different. It wouldn't work out anyways so it's just as well. I'm okay with it."

He looked into her eyes and squinted.

"Are you? You don't seem too all right with it all."

Emily quickly turned around, dropping the cat down to the floor before walking towards her bedroom. "I'm going to have to be so that's it. I'm going to bed so if you're sticking around, keep quiet or lock the door on your way out if you're heading out."

Michael sighed watching Emily walk from her bedroom and into the bathroom. "I'm heading out!" he called out as she closed the door. "And I'll lock the door on my way. But I'm leaving the dead bolt for you. Remember to lock it after you get out of the shower!"

He didn't hear Emily call back but instead heard the water in the shower turn on.

"If anyone can break through that thick wall of yours Emily, hopefully that guy can," Michael said, softly before he left the apartment.

Alfred heard the door close, echoing throughout the large house followed by the footsteps up the stairs. He walked out of the bedroom in time to find Bruce coming down the hallway towards him.

"I find it odd that although you left long before I did, you still managed to come in later than I," Alfred commented as Bruce passed him and walked into his room. The curtains were already drawn and the bed ready for sleep.

"I had some thinking to do, so I took the scenic route home," he said, pulling off his shirt before walking into the ensuite bathroom.

Alfred watched him. He was concerned. "Is everything all right, sir?"

He heard the tap water run and he stood by the door.

"She asked me to a play and I had to say no."

"Who? Miss Tucker?"

"Yeah," Bruce replied, splashing the water over his face.

"Why did you say no?"

"I have to," he replied, walking back out of the bathroom, proceeding to get changed into clothing to wear to bed. "I can't get any closer to her than I already am. It could put her in danger and I can't do that to her."

"How is going to see a play going to do that?"

Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose, almost not wanting to admit it. "I'm afraid that I'm starting to develop feelings for her and I can't let that happen."

Alfred smiled for a brief moment before he covered it. "It's been a long time since you've cared for someone. There is nothing wrong with it. You need a friend that knows about you and Batman and Emily could be that friend."

He turned off the bathroom light, bringing darkness into the bedroom, except from the light in the hall. "I would suggest that you go to this play with her, enjoy yourself and get to know her. It would probably do you some good to be yourself for once."

As Bruce climbed into bed, Alfred closed the bedroom door and walked back down the hallway, a smirk appearing on his face.