Disclaimer: I do not own Batman Begins. Just my Oc.

A/n: Hey all! Here's a new chapter! Enjoy! Thank you for the follows, favorites, and reviews! Always welcomed and loved! They mean a lot to me!

Chapter 15: Happy 30th!

I stood at the corner threshold of the library, arms crossed over my chest, and with a champagne flute in my hand, for which I didn't even care for. The news was playing in the background, and we were watching the dangerous vigilante 'Batman' climbing rooftops in his famous tumbler. I was pretty sure Rachel was in there, and a bit of jealousy was popping into my heart, in which I tried to shove down with this champagne in my flute glass for the second time tonight. I normally didn't drink. I really didn't care for it, but I did care for Bruce, waiting for him to come home okay. I told Alfred if he didn't come back that I was going after him, but he said to give him more time. So, time I gave him, and the people back there that I had to attend to at some point, also gave him time. They were waiting on his behalf to celebrate his day. These were the people in Bruce's life that helped him become who he is now after his parents died. Everyone loved his parents. Even me. I envied having parents like Bruce's. Of course, I was fine with my foster care family, but to have a real family like Bruce's was everyone's dream, an aching dream that never quite settled well within the void of my heart.

I was terrified of keeping up appearances alone to these people, especially with Mr. Earle there; even though he told me no hard feelings after he found out I was "officially dating" Bruce. I kept coming up with different excuses whenever someone asked me where he was and why he was late for his own party. I tried very hard not to panic until I finally downed my glass of champagne and headed back to the library with a second glass, and wait for his return. Alfred said I did okay with my lies, and that I really was a natural actress. I didn't know how to take that. I just said he was having car trouble, or it was probably traffic or something.

Alfred had a dress jacket over his arm, waiting to be put on Bruce's back. I felt a bit better when the man finally emerged from the bookcase and turned around to face our waiting faces.

"Bruce," I exclaimed softly. "How's Rachel? Is she okay? Did Crane get to her?" I asked. I was asking because I genuninely did care. I didn't want any harm to come to her, no matter how oddly jealous I might be that she was getting saved, and I wasn't. Deep down most of us want to be saved. I know we like to pretend that we're strong and we're not damsels, but maybe that was it. Maybe I needed to look at this differently, and that I had to remind myself, I wasn't a damsel. I had gotten my own place, and my own job right? With the help of social services, my inner voice challenged me and then I chided to stop it. But why was I jealous? I was just merely helping out a good man out who deserved someone in his life. I chewed my bottom lip at my current feelings swirling within me like a bubble. Uh-oh. Well, maybe it's just a crush. Yes! A crush! Just a crush. I can get over crushes right? Definitely just a crush.

"He did, but I was able to get her back from him. She's sedated. I need you to take her home," he said to Alfred as he started to fix his cuff links. I offered to help him but then he shook his head and did them himself.

"She's good," came his stiff reply, as he turned to face the television set on.

I took a small sip of my champagne, and noticed I was running low on the bubbly.

"When you told me your grand plan for saving Gotham," Alfred began, as Bruce got ready for his party. "The only thing that stopped me from calling in the men in white coats was not about thrill seeking."

"It's not," another still reply back fell out of his lips as he tied his tie really quickly.

"What would you call that?" he pointed at the television set. We all turned to face it.

"Damn good television," Bruce replied and I let out a half snort as the reporter reported on the police chasing the tumbler down the highway with the spotlight on him.

"More like a midlife crisis," I muttered.

Bruce shot me a look. "At my age?"

I shrugged. "It can happen any time. Alfred and I are concerned."

"You could have gotten yourself killed!" Alfred cried. I nodded seriously.

"I didn't have time to observe the rules of the road, you guys," he said as he placed his suspenders over his shoulders next.

"You're getting lost inside this monster of yours," Alfred said as he gave him his jacket to put on.

"I'm using this monster to help other people just like my father did," he said as he finished putting on the jacket.

I winced at the tension between the butler and his care. "I'm going to go uh, announce your ari-"

"Nope. I need you by my side tonight, okay?" Bruce said. And I nodded, staying put, even though I thought this conversation shouldn't involve me.

Alfred continued. "Thomas Wayne wasn't about proving anything to anyone, including himself."

I smiled at that. I wanted to be like that. Martha Wayne was so well put together. She really was Gotham's star or at least the heart of Gotham. It would be nice not to have to prove to anyone to anything all the time, and I could just be me, whatever that was at the moment. Earle was selling out Wayne Enterprises.

"It's Rachel, Alfred," he reminded him hotly. "She was dying."

I gulped hard. Yep. I get it. "She's downstairs sedated. I need you to take her home."

"Well, we all care for Rachel, sir, but what you're doing has to be beyond dead. You can't be personal, or you'll just be vigilante."

"Is Fox still here?" he asked.

I wasn't aware that Fox had come to the party. I merely thought he was fixing the antidote, but maybe he hadn't left yet. I didn't check the buffet table, and I probably should have. Honestly, that's where I would've gone to straight away at these types of uppity parties.

"Yes sir," Alfred replied, silently hoping he got his message.

"We need to send these people away now," Bruce said urgently. I gawked at him.

"What after I just sweet talked to them?! Bruce!" I exclaimed rather hotly at him.

"Melanie, please. I need your help with this,"

"Okay, okay," I said with a nod, but then saw Alfred shaking his head.

"No! Those are Bruce Wayne's guests' sir! Bruce Wayne's and a possible future wife's guet's of which she's been chumming them all night!" Alfred cried out, as he pointed towards me. I gulped, staying frozen in my spot.

"Just for the spotlight, Alfred. It is because of the family name to upkeep. And I do care about the name."

"Exactly why I chose her to help," Bruce replied.

"You have a name to maintain too. It is yours and yours alone, Bruce."

"I don't care about my name," Bruce shouted back.

"It's not just your name sir. It's your father's name. And it's all that's left of him. Don't destroy it."

"And why do you think Melanie is here tonight? She's wearing a mask too, right?"

"Right," I nodded firmly. "Unless I get two masks?"

"No," they said in unison.

I shrugged. "Can't blame a girl for trying," I winked at them. "Now you owe me some info old man."

"After, I promise," he nodded.

"Melanie?"

"Yes, Mr. Wayne?"

"Bruce," he smiled at me. "We have guests to see and uh, kick out very nicely."

"I hope you have a plan," I muttered under my breath as I walked over to the hook of his arm waiting for me to grasp it in mine. I felt tingly when I held his arm close. Giddy if anything else. I shouldn't be feeling these feelings. I shouldn't read too much into it but I couldn't help it. He was very attractive and very handsome. Damn he was so fine.

"Of course I do," he said.

"Okay. Care to share?" I asked.

"Just follow my league," he said.

"Okay," I replied as we walked down the hallway and entered the lobby area where all the guests were singing Happy Birthday to Bruce as he walked in. He took a glass of champagne, and I switched out mine for the other, as we both walked by the wait staff quickly and towards the middle.

"Mr. Earle," Bruce greeted.

"Happy Birthday, Bruce."

"Thank you," they clinked glasses.

"Got quite a lady there, Bruce," Earle said, giving me a small smile. "She's very smart. She'll make you a loving home."

I wanted to scream at him, but I bit my tongue internally and felt Bruce tug me back from raising my hand to slap at him. This was my third champagne and I was very light on my feet tonight.

I cleared my throat. "Thank you, Mr. Earle," I said, wanting to slap him but I didn't.

"How'd the uh, stock-offering go?"

"Prices soared," he replied.

"Who's buying it?"

"All kinds of funds and broke riches. It's a bit technical," he replied. I gritted my teeth together. Ugh, I hated the way he talked to people as if they were incompetent. And I smelt alcohol breath on him too, so I tried to stay close to Bruce's arm as close as possible and away from his bad breath. "The key thing is our company's future is secure."

I chewed my bottom lip. Why did I get the strange feeling that it really wasn't secure?

"Great," Bruce gave him a big cheesy smile and raised his glass. Yeah. He didn't buy that either. "Well, I've got to mingle," he chuckled, and downed another sip of the champagne glass. We maneuvered our way towards the buffet table where Fox was digging for food.

I smirked. "Howdy lunch date."

"Well, hello there. You're still here."

"Yep. So are you. How's the shrimp?"

"Want one?" he offered me one and I thanked him for it.

"Thank you," I smiled happily.

He chuckled at me. Bruce smiled a real smile at that. "And thank you for that item," he said.

"You're welcome," Fox replied with a mouthful. "I know you put it to good use."

"Already have."

"How long would it take to manufacture on a large scale?" Bruce asked.

"Weeks. Why?" Fox asked.

"Somebody's planning to disperse the toxin using the water supply," Bruce explained.

Fox shook his head. "Water supply won't help you disperse an inhaler."

I narrowed my eyes at them curiously and gulped another shrimp in my mouth.

"What?" Bruce asked as Fox thought for a brief moment.

"Unless you have a microwave emitter powerful enough to vaporize all the waiter in the mains, kind of like the microwave emitter Wayne Enterprises just misplaced."

My jaw dropped, but then Bruce closed it and gave me a light kiss on the side of my cheek. I smiled, remembered that I had to keep my facial expressions neutral. But I was shocked to hear that. Though, I shouldn't be so surprised. Earle seemed shady from the getgo, especially when he didn't want to hire someone like me who was perfectly capable of doing a good job there.

"Misplaced?" Bruce repeated.

"Earle just fired me for asking too many questions about it," Fox replied.

"I need you to go back to Wayne Enterprises and start making more of that antidote," Bruce said quickly. "I think the police are going to need to get as much as they can get their hands on okay?"

"Oh, uh, my security clearance has been revoked."

"That won't stop a man like you now would it?" Bruce asked.

Fox smirked at him. "I suppose not."

I smiled and patted his shoulder as we left for the middle of the lobby area. "Okay, what's your plan on getting these people out of here?"

"Drunk newlyweds,"

"Pardon?"

"Fourth drink, right?" he asked, swaping both champagne glasses as we walked by a water. "Right. We forgot one important step," he smirked at me.

"Bruce-"

"Come on. It'll be fun. And it's just a year engagement! No harm!" Bruce said.

Only my feelings. And what if someone else came along? I wasn't ready for this type of commitment yet!

Oh boy. I was panicking.

"Bruce, there's somebody here that you must meet."

"Not now please."

"Yes, we have an announcement tonight for you all," I said quickly, leaning towards her. Bruce pulled me back slightly and I grinned.

"Now, am I pronouncing this right? Mr. Ra's-Al'Ghaul?"

I saw Bruce's face suddenly slightly change as the man in front of him turned around to face us. He gripped onto me tight.

"You're not R's-Al'Ghaul. I watched him die."

"But is Ra's-Al-Ghaul immortal? Or are his methods supernatural?" A smooth deep voice sent chills down my spine, making me turn around to face another comer to the party.

"Or cheap parlor tricks to conceal your true identity," he replied. "Ra's."

"Surely a man who spends his nights scrambling over the rooftops of Gotham," he stepped forward and then gripped me tight to pull me out of Bruce's grasp. I winced and grimaced at the sudden pain he had on me. "Wouldn't begrudge a dual of identities. Must be lonely," he whispered towards my ear, making me shiver and recoil with disgust as I scrunched up my shoulders, trying to get away from him, and back to Bruce. "I can take care of you."

I glared at him. "I don't need any taken care of," I spat. "He was going to propose until you butt in."

He chuckled at me like he didn't believe me.

"I saved your life," Bruce exclaimed.

"I warned you about compassion, Bruce."

"Your quarrel is with me. You let these people go."

"You're welcome to explain the situation to them," he said. He cast a mere glance at me. "She stays."

Bruce glared at him. "Why? She means nothing to you."

"On the contrary. I find it rather interesting she's taken a liking to the theatrics just as you have. I'd like to see it through."

I chewed my lower lip but nodded, letting Bruce know it was okay.

"It's okay. These people have to get out of here," I nodded.

He pulled out the black box out of his pocket and showed it to me. I widened my eyes. Wow. He really was thinking about it. And right now we had no choice in the matter but to get engaged so 'drunk newlyweds or fiancés it was'.

~*BB*~