It's going to be awhile before another update. Probably a couple weeks, but hopefully this will last you guys till then.

It had been a week since I saw Tim last. I knew he was upset with me and needed to cool off. I tried a few times calling, but Alfred always made an excuse as to why Tim could not be reached. I knew Alfred was lying every time, and I'm sure he knew I knew, but we kept on pretending. I decided that I needed to just go over there. I went when it was after school and before Bruce was home from the office. I did not want to run into him. While I was packing I came across a lot of computer parts that I didn't need anymore, I knew Tim wanted to try and build his own computer from scratch, so I decided a box full of tech would be a good peace offering. I had something else up my sleeve also.

Alfred opened the door and greeted me. "Don't tell me Tim is unavailable. We've played this game long enough," I said as Alfred opened the door.

"He's upstairs," he said not missing a beat. I think he was tired of it too.

My box and I made our way up there. I knocked on the door and heard Tim yell, "Come in!"

Ha! Thought I was Alfred didn't you Tim. "Hi," I said nicely, "I've come bearing gifts."

"I don't want your guilt gifts," he replied. He was sitting up in his bed reading comic books. He didn't even bother looking up.

"Guilt gift or not, I wouldn't turn this stuff down," I replied looking down at the box.

"Leave it there on the floor. I'll go through it later," Tim said coldly. He was beginning to sound a bit like Bruce.

"So when am I going to be able to talk to Tim," I asked dropping the box on the floor. This has gone on long enough. I didn't kill his puppy, I'm just moving.

"What do you mean," he asked annoyed, but still looking at that damn comic book.

"Seems like I'm talking to Bruce Jr.," I said crossing my arms.

"Well maybe he has it right, he appears to be fine with you leaving. Doesn't seem upset at all," he said. He was going for the jugular now. Jeez kid, I didn't know you could be so mean.

"Tim, please don't be like this. I have to go away for just a little while. I'm coming back, Gotham is my home," I said sitting down on the end of his bed. "Why are you so angry? Please tell me. You know I'll listen and won't judge you for it."

He slammed down his comic book down, "BECAUSE! I'm sick of people leaving me! First, it was my mom, then my dad, then Dick decided not to show up anymore, and now you are moving away!"

I frowned at that. "It has nothing to do with you kid, you know that right?"

"I know," he said now crossing his arms and looking down.

"Hey, this is temporary," I said putting a hand on his foot.

He finally glanced up at me, "You promise?"

"I promise. I just need to go and get some perspective. You will get what I mean one day," I said confidently.

"You know you are going to lose street cred here, but you will probably be the edgiest person there in Metropolis," he said with a slight smile.

"Speaking of street cred, I need your help," I said excitedly.

"Are you trying to give me a task so we can bond and you not feel too guilty for leaving," Tim asked playfully glaring at me. Was that what I was doing?

"Just shut up and listen," I responded irritated. Sometimes Tim was too smart for his own good.

"I'm listening," Tim tried to sound all cool.

"I'm going to need a code name while I'm doing all this recruiting. What do you think of 'Overwatch'?"

Tim gave me an "are you crazy look". "What are you trying to do? Make these poor people think you're some kind of Big Brother?"

"Oh, I can see your point," I replied. Damn Tim was right.

"How about something more mythical and less practical," Tim continued, "we are learning about Greek mythology in class, so this just might be on the brain for me, but what about Oracle?"

Oracle...Oracle...I like that name.

"Oracle...That is actually perfect! See I knew I could rely on you."

I was packing my final boxes up in the kitchen when I heard my front door open. I was about to jump into action when my ears picked up his voice.

"Barbara?" Bruce walked in dressed in a button down white shirt and black slacks. It seemed like he came from the office. Great, I looked totally disheveled in my shorts and tank top.

"Come in I guess," I said annoyed.

"I knocked. You really shouldn't leave your door unlocked," Bruce said walking in.

"Believe me, lesson learned. I know now that leaving it unlocked is just too tempting for unwanted visitors," I responded flatly. He grimaced at that. I continued to stare back defiantly until I noticed a pair of car keys in his hand.

"I brought these for you. The car is downstairs," he said placing them down on the counter.

"I thought Alfred was bringing it tomorrow?"

"He was. I thought I'd save him the trip," he said making no indication that he was leaving anytime soon.

"What do you want? I don't feel like getting into it with you." I glared as I taped up a box.

"So you're going through with it? You're going to Metropolis?"

"You told me if I didn't like it, then leave," I responded again defiantly.

"I recall you saying you didn't believe me," he answered annoyed.

I slammed the tape and the box I had onto the floor.

"I don't," I yelled back.

He went to place a hand on my shoulder. I batted it away.

"No, you don't get to just come in here and pretend nothing happened," I said looking up at him,"so what do you want? What did you come here for?"

He looked down at me. His face was so severe. My blood was boiling and I finally snapped. I started to push him.

"Well," I continued to push.

"Barbara. STOP," he said grabbing hold of my forearms.

"LET GO," I said fighting him.

"Calm down," he said struggling to keep me still.

"NO!" I was able to pound a fist into his chest.

"I didn't mean," he said holding me tightly, "I didn't mean it! I didn't mean all those things I said to you."

"Then why would you say it?!" I glared up at him. My eyes met his with much intensity. I wasn't scared of Bruce and I was going to make him tell me why.

"Because I," he hesitated looking down me. Did I scare him? Did I intimidate him? It felt like time had slowed down as his eyes softened.

He began letting go of my forearms, " - SCREW IT."

In a moment too swift for me to avoid, he held my face and collided his lips to mine. His kiss was panicked but purposeful like he was trying to pour all his emotions into his kiss so I could understand. I understood immediately, I felt his emotions: a mix of attraction and frustration that couldn't be contained anymore. I stood on my tip toes so he wouldn't have to bend down so far. My hands were firmly placed on his chest as I grabbed at the fabric between my hands and his skin.

I could feel his hands grip my arms tightly and hold me closer as they made their way to my back. He tilted my head further, so he could delve into me more. I decided to return the favor, and I just as hungrily delved into him. My hands left his chest and I dug my fingertips into the muscled expanse of his shoulders so I could get better leverage. I was almost positive I couldn't breathe anymore. I desperately wanted oxygen, but I desperately didn't want to stop. If we both didn't need to breathe, we would have never broken our kiss. When I came up for air, he began to kiss my neck down to my collar bone. I gasped as goosebumps started to form. All the tension was slowly released. I didn't realize what I had been holding onto until I felt it leave my body.

"Barbara," he whispered into my ear and he started to pull away.

I wasn't going to let him. I pulled him closer, and we began kissing again. I became more aggressive and pulled him with me until I hit the kitchen counter. He helped me sit on top of it, so we were now level with each other and didn't have to work so hard to reach each other. My skin felt like it was on fire, but at the same time, each touch sent shivers down my spine. One of his hands started to go up my bare thigh. The latest wave of shivers made my breath hitch. He pulled away at that.

"We have to stop. We can't," he continued breathelessly while he pushed my hair out of my face.

"Why," I responded just as out of breath as he was. I searched his face and saw his distress.

"Because I'm not capable of being what you deserve," he replied distressed. He believed wholeheartedly in what he was saying and it broke my heart that he believed it. That he believed he wasn't good enough. "Because the job is always going to come first and you need someone who puts you first," he continued while holding my face tenderly.

"What if I told you I didn't care. That I know the job will come first, but I want you anyways," I said pleadingly and put my hands over his. He exhaled and closed his eyes as he rested his forehead against mine. I could feel his pain.

"But I DO care, and you DESERVE more. Go to Metropolis. Meet new people. Find someone better," he said looking into my eyes. Tears welled up in them. He kissed my forehead tenderly. Tears streamed down my cheeks into his hands. When he pulled away he wiped my cheeks with is thumbs. "Please don't cry," he said. He helped me down from the counter and I gripped his arms tightly the whole way down. He pulled away once I was down and he wouldn't look at me as I reached out for him.

"I'm sorry," he said as he left my apartment. I stood there stunned for a moment before I ran to the door and looked in the hallway for him, but he was gone already. I felt my insides knot up and my stomach drop. All I could do is lock my door and slide down it in a heap of sadness.