Authors Note: Ok, so this is going to be a trilogy. I'm wrapping this up and by the end of this week when I am finished with my finals I should have the sequel started. But hopefully this will be ok till then, reviews are welcome, any suggestions for the next installment are welcomed too.

It wasn't until the next afternoon that Athena and Bruce returned to Wayne Estate outside of Gotham. Alfred had been outside measuring the area in front of the mansion for the gardener he had been on the phone with. How hard could it be to find someone to tend the grounds? It was turning into his life's work.

For the third time he re-measured and got yet another different number.

Stifling a profanity, he stood and debated whether he really wanted a flowerbed. Why not dump gravel all over? Make it a rock garden? Or a sand garden! It worked for the Japanese, it would work for Bruce Wayne, and it would make him appear more cultured.

While Alfred debated it internally the sound of a sports car pulling up the drive caught his attention. He turned and spotted one of Bruce's many expensive cars.

Bruce was not alone in the car.

While this pleased Alfred a great deal he didn't let it show. Instead he began to roll the measuring tape up as he walked to the parked car. Seeing Bruce tell Athena something, stroke her face, and then climb from the car. Alfred hurried to the passenger door and opened it as the door moved. A lady should never have to open her own door.

She smiled a thanks to him and inquired, "Bruce said it would be ok if I camped out in one of the empty rooms. Not long, just until I get a place of my own."

His heart sang.

He glanced over the roof of the car as Bruce got two large bags and a painting from the trunk. "You don't care, right?"

Alfred held his elbow out to Athena, who placed her fingertips on his suit-covered arm. "Not in the least, Miss. Merozikki." With a look over his shoulder he added to Bruce, "Set those down in the hall, I'll bring them up later." Then he looked to Athena, "I believe you need some tea? Perhaps a cookie?"

A perfectly arched eyebrow, "One of those snicker doodles?"

Bruce hauled both heavy duffel's up the steps and through his mansion, a perfect workout. Alfred would have had to carry them one at a time. While Alfred took Athena to the Tea Room he put the bags full of her most prized possessions in her new room. Her new home as far as he was concerned. Things she had grabbed while she cleaned out her apartment, which she had been thrown out from, since it belonged to her family.

Upon selecting the room right beside his with a connecting hallway, Bruce set down both hefty cases.

He set the painting on the floor against the wall and walked to the large picture window. He threw open the curtains and looked out over the land he owned.

With a quick look around the immaculately clean room he opened the window, letting a warm breeze travel in.

At that he exited the room and hurried down the hall. Needing a drink and to get a few things done, but also feeling that urge to show her around. Not the polite host urge. God he hated parties. But the urge of a king wanting to show his new queen his castle.

He'd won their earlier debate.

He'd won and she was now going to be living with him.

Not that he was selfish or childish, no, he was just used to getting what he wanted when he wanted. It wasn't quite entitlement. Nor the privileged getting their due, it went deeper, was far more primal then that. Finally he felt that missing piece filled, he was complete.

But, as his life had proven, the other shoe had yet to drop.