Welcome back everyone!

I hope you are ready for this sequel to 'Homeschooled'.

If you haven't read that one, I advise you to do so before reading this one.

Also this new story will be rated M. I hope everyone is okay with that!

Enjoy this first chapter!

Wayne Manor

There were many ways to open a door. Easy way such as turning a knob or a handle, or simply standing in front of a sensor and it would slide aside for you. Ways which took time, such as using a key to unlock one or more locks to get to the other sides.

Then there were doors one was not meant to open, such as a door to a vault or a safe. These were sealed off by a mechanism one could only open with knowledge or patience.

The most difficult of doors were those locked off by more complex systems, such as the need of a key card or even an iris scanner. And though this door did not have any of those things, it still to this day was shut tight. Much to the chagrin of a young boy named Bruce Wayne.

From dusk till dawn the young heir spent most of his time down at the bottom of a staircase in front of said door. The only thing standing between him and his father's secret was five digit number lock and nothing he'd tried so far had worked.

"He's going to need a tank to open that door." His butler Alfred Pennyworth noted with a sigh.

Over the past few weeks the British man had done his best to help his protégé, despite it going against his own morals and values regarding how he felt about Thomas Wayne's secret, with no luck whatsoever.

"Don't give him ideas, Alfred." I told him. "That boy is capable of anything, even getting a tank inside the manor."

"If he thinks he's getting a tank, he's got another thing coming." Alfred scoffed.

I smirked and took a sip from my tea. Whatever was behind that door, it kept both men within the manor on their toes.

"Aren't you the least bit curious on what's behind that door?" I asked.

Alfred leaned back in the chair and absent-mindedly rubbed his chin. "Don't know. Thomas loved his privacy, but to think it went as far as hiding a secret room beneath the fire place,- I didn't even have an inkling."

"You're not miffed, then?"

"Not miffed just,- disappointed really." He admitted. "I guess even the best of friends sometimes keep secrets from each other."

I pushed my chair back and stood up, taking Alfred's empty cup of tea with me towards the sink. I turned the tap on and rinsed the two cups quietly. Alfred had some interest in Thomas's secret, that was certain. He was more afraid of what effect it was going to have on Bruce.

"Want to know my secret?" Alfred's voice suddenly sounded behind me as his arms slipped around my waist and tightened their grasp. "There's this bird,- I won't say who, but she is the most fit person I have ever laid my eyes upon. Even the very sight of her makes me lose control."

I grinned at his comment. Ever since I quit my job at the diner, per his request, and started to live in the manor, Alfred had been more affectionate than before. Telling Bruce was probably the main reason, you could tell he felt more at ease now that us being together was no longer a secret.

"Mmm, that's nothing,- I know this bloke. Positively dashing, with arms strong as,- Ah!" I yelped as Alfred spun me around to face him.

"You were saying?" He arched his eyebrows.

I was about to reply when a loud chime sounded through the manor. Our smiles faded and Alfred and I looked at each other.

"Expecting company?"

Alfred shook his head as he let go and walked over to the monitor hanging beside the door connecting the kitchen to the hallway corridor.

"It's Jim Gordon." He said.

Jim Gordon? I hurried towards Alfred and looked at the small screen. "Knowing him he's not here for a simple visit,-" I muttered.

"Bruce is still beneath the fire place." Alfred turned his head and i nodded.

"I'll get the door, how long do you need?"

"Five minutes give or take?" Alfred straightened his shirt.

"Five? I'll just have to be extra charming then."

Alfred grabbed my hand before I managed to step out of the kitchen. "Not too charming, thank you very much." He growled.

I placed my hand against his cheek and gave his lips a quick peck. Alfred let go and made his way towards the study where Bruce was currently residing. I slowly walked over to the front door where Jim Gordon had once again decided it was time to press the doorbell.

I took a deep breath and opened the door, carefully peeking through the opening not letting him enter just yet. "Yes?"

Jim Gordon gave a firm nod, slightly surprised to see me open up the door. "Miss Wood. It's been a while."

"It has."

The last time Jim Gordon and I had been in the same room together was after Alfred had been released from the hospital. The detective and I had never been the best of friends, not even well-known acquaintances really. Nonetheless I stepped aside and opened the door for him.

"To what do we own this pleasure?" I asked as he stepped inside the manor.

"I'm here to see Bruce actually. I take it he's around?" He asked as he took his coat off. It was slightly damp looking, as if he'd been walking through an early morning mist.

"Here, let me take your coat, detective."

Jim hesitated and his expression changed.

"Is something the matter?" I frowned at him.

"I,- uh, I no longer work for the GCPD." Jim said. "I got fired. Harvey got demoted, but he retired instead. He works in a bar down town now, I'm sure he would appreciate it if you'd visit."

My eyes widened at the unexpected news. Harvey lost his job as well? What was going on at the GCPD? "Oh no. That's terrible."

"Yeah, well-" He replied pressing his lips together in a tight line. "That's why I'm here actually. I take it Bruce is in his father's study?"

I couldn't let Jim walk away now, five minutes hadn't passed yet. I grabbed hold of Jim's hand and shook it gently. "I am so, so sorry to hear this news, Mr. Gordon,-"

"Please, call me Jim." The man said as he's face twitched rather nervously.

"Alright, Jim. In that case, please call me Rosalind instead. If there is anything I can do you for you or Harvey, you tell me. Would you like some tea?" I suggested with a bright smile as I felt Jim trying to retract his hand.

"No, no. Thank you, Mi,- Rosalind. I really want to talk to Bruce,-"

At that moment Alfred came rushing into the hallway, his sleeves rolled up and the bottom of his shirt untucked from his trousers. Was that soot on his face?

Alfred halted next to us, his eyes darting down at my hand holding on tight on Jim's. Jim cleared his throat and I released my hold on his hand.

"My apologies, Sir. Thank you, Miss Rosalind for letting our friend in." He gave a short nod which I returned.

"Jim is here to see Bruce." I told him.

"Ah, quite." Alfred smiled as he moved his hand. "Right this way, Sir."

I watched the two men make their way towards the study, still holding Jim's coat with my hands. I let out a deep breath and hung it on a hanger before venturing back into the kitchen.

::::::...::::::

That night as I was lying in Alfred's bed waiting for him to come upstairs, I thought about what Jim had said about Harvey. Gotham really seemed to be a cursed place when it came to holding a job. The image of Richard Crowne appeared in my mind, my former boss and principal of Anders Prep. The last encounter had been anything but pleasant.

It was during the Wayne Charity Ball when he cornered me. The smell of his drunken breath in combination with anger had been a dangerous combination indeed. If it hadn't been for Lucius Fox, Alfred would have punched his lights out. I could only hope never to see Richard Crowne again for as long as I live.

Tomorrow I was going to pay a visit to Harvey, see how he was doing. It was the least I could do for all those time he visited the diner when I worked there, even if it was a couple of feet away from the GCPD.

I reached for a book on the night stand and was about to start reading when the door of Alfred's bedroom slowly opened, revealing the man himself.

"Bruce finally went to bed." He said as he shut the door behind him. "I swear, if this goes on any longer I'm going to either lock him or that room up."

"That's still a no on the tank then?" I joked as I set the book aside.

"Funny." Alfred grinned. He walked to the end of the bed, stood there and started to unbutton his shirt.

It was obvious what he was trying to accomplish. His eyes lingering on me as his hands slowly made their way down, unbuttoning each button with expert precision.

I smiled and leaned back against the headboard watching how Alfred did his best to seductively undress himself. His shirt fell on the floor, followed by his under-shirt. The scar Reginald had given him was still visible and would never go away.

Then he kicked his shoes off, catching them with every bit of grace the butler had in him. He dropped them on the ground with a loud thud and reached for his buckle.

Frankly it was taking too long for my liking and I crawled over the bed towards him where I reached for his belt instead. Alfred didn't complain, in fact he raised his hands and placed them behind his head, watching as I unbuckled his belt and pulled his pants down.

"I heard that patience is a virtue." He replied with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

I cocked my head and placed the palm of my hand against the more than obvious bulge hiding behind the fabric of his underwear. "I'm not sure I agree with that."

Alfred groaned and let out a low moan. "On second thought, one might tend to disagree." He smiled and pushed me back on the bed, crawling over me as I captured his lips with my own.

::::::...::::::

The next morning I walked into the study with a cup of coffee. At first glance the study, like the rest of the house, appeared to be empty and quiet. Alfred had gone off into town to get groceries and asked me to watch Bruce until he'd come back. There was only one obvious place where Bruce could be and it wasn't in his bedroom, the kitchen or behind his father's desk searching for clues on who was behind his parents' murder. No, the young Wayne heir was somewhere only Alfred and I knew about and that was where I was currently headed.

The fireplace wasn't in its original place but moved back to reveal an old dusty and dark staircase going all the way down beneath the house. I descended the damp steps until I reached the dark bottom lit only by a single lantern. That's where I found him.

On the floor in front of the still shut tight heavy door, but with a slight difference. The five digit combination lock, which had been Bruce's nemesis for the last couple of weeks, was smashed to bits. The numbers were all gone, wires hung out and the small black screen above it all was shattered.

Bruce had his eyes closed, his face black with soot, his hands and clothes too. I crouched down in front of him and set my coffee aside. With a gentle shake I shook his shoulder and his eyes slowly opened.

"Miss Wood?" He said groggily.

"Good morning, Bruce." I smiled at him. "You haven't been sleeping here, have you?"

Bruce blinked his eyes and began to rub the sleep out of them. It was obvious that he had in fact been sleeping down here. Alfred was going to have a fit once he'd find out.

"Don't tell Alfred." Bruce said as if he'd heard my thoughts. "I honestly didn't mean to, it just,- happened."

I nodded, grabbed my coffee and stood up again. "I take it this is your handiwork then?" I pointed my cup at the broken lock.

Bruce glanced up at it and then his eyes fell on the hammer next to him on the cold floor. "We had a disagreement." He muttered.

"I see." I extended my hand to him, he grabbed it and I pulled him up to stand next to me.

"I screwed up." Bruce lowered his eyes, still holding my hand with his. I gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Only with the lock. You're going to need a new plan." I encouraged him.

His head shot up, his eyes widened. "You wouldn't happen to have any ideas, Miss Wood?"

I furrowed my brow. I had one idea, but it had to do with the digital lock and now that Bruce had ever so skilfully smashed it to pieces, that idea had gone out the window. Something I wouldn't tell Bruce, it would probably upset him more.

"Remember I told you that my father was a treasure hunter?"

Bruce nodded.

"Well, lots of times there were situations where he'd literally run into a wall. Now none of those wall were made of this type of steel." I paused and knocked against the cold metal. "But there were usually two ways through one."

I bent down and picked up the hammer. "A bang with this and if that didn't work, a bigger bang."

"As in,- boom?"

I nodded. "It always did the trick with stone walls. But to be honest, I doubt it would work with this door. Not to mention the entire cave could collapse if you the bang is too big."

Bruce took the hammer from my hand and once again grabbed hold of it. "I'll figure something out. Thank you so much, Miss Wood!" Then he turned around and he ran up the steps leaving me alone in front of the secret room.

My smile soon faltered as I recalled the conversation Alfred and I had last night regarding getting through this door. Joking about tanks and explosions. Although I now realized I might have accidentally put that idea, we were both against, inside young Bruce's head.

I narrowed my eyes and looked up the now empty staircase. He wouldn't really now, would he? As I said, even an controlled explosion could collapse the entire foundation of the manor or at least this part of the eyes.

With one big gulp I finished my coffee and ascended the steps. When I arrived back in the study, Bruce was sitting on his father's chair behind the desk holding a book in his hands and reading frantically.

When he caught me looking at him he lowered it. "When will Alfred return?" He asked me.

"I,- I don't know. He's getting groceries in town. I'm sure he won't be long."

Bruce nodded. "Good, that's good." And he went back to reading, from this angle I couldn't see what it was that he was reading but I doubted Thomas Wayne had books on explosives in his collection.

I walked towards the door and before stepping through turned to look at him once more. "Bruce?"

The boy looked up. "Yes?"

But I smiled and shook my head. "Never mind. If you need me, I'll be in the kitchen."

And thus that is the first chapter in a new season. I hope you're all excited!

Until next time!