As Niamh stepped into the bright sunlight she smiled, it wasn't that it was particularly warm, but it was bright, light and more importantly there was no smog or fear. She watched as the locals swarmed around the pavement below her, going about their business and day in peace. Lucius Fox halted behind the young woman, following her eye line, guessing her thoughts.

"Come on, we have some very important work to do, and I may need your help" he insisted leading the way.

"I might be of more help if I knew exactly why we are here, and what I might be needed to help with!" Niamh sighed, she had lost count of the amount of times she had asked a similar question since they had arrived in Italy the previous evening.

"All in good time Miss Niel" Alfred chimed in following in her footsteps, with a wide grin on his face. Niamh had taken to Alfred Penneyworth instantly, for one thing he was English like her, for another he didn't mince his words; but there was also something kindly about the older man that made her feel warm and comfortable.

The strange trio arrived at a small apartment building, and Lucius entered using a key he had on a key ring. He reached the top of the second flight of stairs and knocked on a red door. After some time Niamh heard the door being unlocked, the door swung inwards and the inhabitant greeted Lucius and Alfred like old friends. From her position behind them, the only thing Niamh could discover about the person inside was that they were male with an alluring voice. Obediently she followed them inside, the apartment was decorated to a high standard; the furniture and belongings looked expensive. She could see the back of their host; he was tall, with dark hair, wearing beige trousers and a navy blue t-shirt.

"So this must be serious, I only told you where to find me in case of incredible emergencies, or did you just miss me so much you had to call in" The man said, still with his back to her.

"Well obviously we miss you. But no we weren't passing. Things are bad - worse than they have ever been. We need you!" Lucius stated. The stranger turned with a half smile on his face. A very handsome face and one that Niamh recognised instantly although she had only ever seen photographs of its owner. She gasped audibly, the handsome stranger noticed her for the first time. The man was Bruce Wayne. He appraised the young woman stood in front of him; she was tall and slender, curved in the right places. She was wearing a charcoal grey pencil dress, black blazer jacket and black court shoes; her dark blonde hair was pinned up. He noted her attractive face, frown and inquisitive eyes, something told him she was intelligent.

"Ahhh yes Mr Wayne, you haven't met my new assistant – Miss Niel. This is as I think you have guessed Mr Wayne" Lucius made the introductions. Bruce held out his hand and shook Niamh's.

"Mr Wayne, it's a pleasure to meet you!" She found herself saying whilst secretly wondering what the hell was going on; Bruce Wayne was supposed to be dead and everyone knew it.

"It's Bruce please. And does Miss Niel have a first name?" He smiled handsomely at her, pleased at her confident handshake.

"It's Niamh" She replied. Alfred watched the exchange thoughtfully

"And tell me – Niamh – are things in Gotham really as bad as they say?"

"They are the worst they have been since I moved there two years ago – and they were certainly not great when I got there. People are afraid to go out onto the streets at night, and a lot of them avoid being out alone during the day. Criminals rule the streets and even the police don't want to act. In my books that is bad, in capitals, italics and bold with underlining." Niamh explained. Bruce nodded thoughtfully.

"How are we going to explain my resurrection and it coinciding with the return of another notable inhabitant of Gotham?" He questioned.

"We've been thinking about this and its one of the reasons I brought Niamh on this little mission. We can say that you were attacked during the riots in Gotham and disappeared for a bit to recover. Became a bit of a recluse and then we found you and coaxed you back to the world. And in terms of the other guy – you would need to assess the situation for a few weeks anyway and we can spread some rumours that you have been back in Gotham for some time." Lucius explained, Niamh was frowning, as was Bruce

"You've been thinking about this one for a while right! Although Niamh?"

"She has legal training, she's been doing a lot of work for Wayne Enterprises surrounding business law and I thought she might be able to help with the legal side of your return" Again Lucius explained simply, the frown on Niamh's face lifted.

"As far as I'm aware your assets and estate are still frozen because no body was found, therefore as death couldn't be proven everything is on hold for seven years, then again I could be wrong because no one filled me in before this little trip." Her eyes looked accusingly between Alfred and Lucius, but she had a playful grin on her lips. Bruce chuckled, she had spirit.

"Wonderful! I suppose I should start packing then."

"I'll start ordering the bits a pieces you'll need Master Wayne – if I could just take a few measurements." A few moments and some frantic scribbling from Alfred later, the small party were leaving the luxurious apartment.

"Will you all let me take you for dinner later?" After an agreement to meet at the hotel at 7 o'clock, they parted company.

Shortly before seven, Niamh waited in the lobby of the hotel, her mind drifted to the events of the day. She had met a man she thought was dead and was now arranging for his affairs to be returned to order. But there was something else about the situation, something she just could not put her finger on – something was strange. She also questioned whether it was wise to find her new boss so attractive. As she was sat deep in her own thoughts, Bruce entered the lobby; he spotted Niamh and silently assessed her. She was now wearing a navy blue wrap over dress, which brushed the top of her knees and a cream cardigan. Her hair hung loosely round her shoulders, he hadn't realised that it was so long. Finally he approached her and she greeted him with a smile as she looked up.

"Hi, are the others not down yet?"

"No, they shouldn't be too long though. How did the packing go?" she asked

"Fine – there wasn't actually that much I needed to box up, so it's all done. Can I ask, what is a girl like you doing in Gotham?" Bruce questioned, Niamh chuckled

"It's a long story and if I'm honest it isn't very exciting!"

"And your name – it's interesting?"

"It's Irish in origin – it means bright or radiant!" Before Bruce could pry any further the others arrived and the group headed out in search of food.

Over dinner, the party relaxed but talk soon turned to business, and the conversation over desert became serious.

"You two are going to have to play this one carefully as well – I mean if someone thought you knew where Mr Wayne was all the time then you could be accused of several legal breeches. " Niamh explained, Bruce looked concerned.

"Ahhh we already have this one covered, I came on holiday – not far from here a couple of months ago and suddenly decided to visit a spot I knew Master Wayne liked. And who should I bump into there but the man himself." Alfred paused and gave a cheeky grin "But he wasn't himself and it took some time to convince him to return to Gotham and seek some help – in the form of a doctor we have already conversed with. Master Wayne here decided to fly under the radar a little until he felt more himself, and that is when everyone will discover that he lives!" Despite herself Niamh laughed, he had indeed got that one covered. "I tell you what I'm for my bed all this travelling knocks me out; I think I'll head back"

"Yeah me too Alfred, why don't you two stay and get to know each other, your younger bones can deal with the travelling!" Lucius insisted as they began leaving the restaurant. Bruce paid the bill and thanked the waiters in Italian before escorting Niamh out.

"Is there anything you'd like to do? Some evenings I just wonder around aimlessly and then stop for a drink at one of the local cafes."

"Sounds good to me – I like exploring." The pair walked together in comfortable silence for some time, with Bruce occasionally pointing something out or Niamh asking about a building or statue. "I think I could happily stay here forever, it's so beautiful!" She sighed as they sat at a table outside a small cafe, watching the people pass by. After ordering two glasses of red wine Bruce turned to her grinning.

"Now you see why I choose to come here. It is good to see Alfred and Lucius though – I've missed them. Speaking of which do you ever feel like there's a conspiracy – both of them disappearing?"

"Yes I do" Niamh said seriously "I feel like there's a massive conspiracy that no one wants to tell me about, but that they have dropped me in the middle of" She was deadly serious, Bruce raised his eyebrows and indicated she should continue. "Why would you need to return to Gotham because it is in so much trouble? How can you change that by taking up your position as head of the business? How does the crime situation in Gotham constitute the emergency that would cause your return? Talk of this other person, who will also return to Gotham and how you have to hide the connection – which means there is a connection!" She paused for breath "Either I'm way off the mark and my imagination has run riot or..." she stopped and looked at her companion questioningly, lowering her voice she continued "Or you are batman".

"Lucius was right; he said you'd work it out. Although I don't think he realised it would be so soon. You would have been told – if we didn't think you were trustworthy and discreet you wouldn't be here. You are the only people who know the truth. If you don't want to work with us anymore I'd understand and we wouldn't hold it against you."

"It's not that – I wasn't in Gotham when you were running around in a cape, but I've read about it. What you did was amazing, and everyone realised what they had lost – but only after they had lost you. Gotham needs you, now more than ever and I am not going to stand in the way of that – in fact I will do everything I can to help." Niamh finished smiling; slightly uncertainly at the man she could now call a superhero – if that was indeed the right term. Bruce leant forward, took her hand across the table and looked directly into her eyes.

"Thank you!" She nodded in reply "Now then, tell me this long story about you ending up in Gotham"

"If I'm honest it's not that long – but it is boring! Basically my other half was offered his dream job – in Gotham so we upped sticks and moved out here. He loves it."

"What about you? Gotham isn't most people's dream move or life." Bruce inquired

"He wouldn't have got the opportunity in the UK, so it wasn't really a choice. I'm lucky I can apply for all sorts of jobs. But no, Gotham isn't the place I would have chosen – but sometimes things happen because they are supposed to." Niamh shrugged and Bruce watched as the wind moved some of her long blonde hair.

"The question is do you like this job – job satisfaction is important Miss Niel?"

"Oh I think I'm about to start liking it a whole lot more!"