Disclaimer: I not own any of the Bat-characters or subsequent franchise licenses. This was just for fun.

Dedication: My deepest thanks to Heybats who beta'd this fic. And to Alexis, thank you for the kind words.

This evening proved no different than any other as he walked toward his destination. A nightly prayer making its way to his lips for the boy he'd raised to manhood. A prayer for the future of this
family. A prayer for the sake of their son.

Reaching the room's threshold, he noticed the man for whom this short journey was made, standing motionless before the fireplace mantel. He frowned, realizing he'd been in the same position some two hours earlier. He would often find his charge brooding beneath the portrait of the two people for whom he had dedicated his quest.  Seemingly finding comfort when his heart and mind were burdened.

Alfred silently moved across the room to the winged back chair that had been a favorite of Mrs. Wayne. He smiled at the memories this one piece of furniture stirred within him, gently caressing the cushioned arms as he sat. Folding his hands atop his knees, he waited. Bruce made no effort to acknowledge him, but Alfred was all too aware that his keen senses had alerted him of his presence before he'd entered the room.

The silence hung between them like a summer fog. Finally, Bruce spoke, unmoving from his spot. "Tell me again, Alfred, what were they like"

Alfred inwardly smiled, hearing the familiar beginning to what had become a ritual since the deaths of Bruce's parents. As Bruce had gotten older and more certain of his mission, the ritual had become less frequent. Nevertheless, Alfred enjoyed the opportunity to remind the younger man of his ties to the past, hoping to inspire him to look to the future. "Your mother and father were the kindest people I have ever had the pleasure of calling my friends" he began.

"Your mother could be found most days tending her rose garden and had even won several ribbons for her yellow hybrid variety. She was the envy of her woman's circle. She also thought it the utmost
importance to dedicate both her time and resources in helping the less fortunate. She had a natural warmth and beauty about her that put people immediately at ease, whatever the situation" Alfred paused, as Bruce nodded resignedly.

"Despite his social standing, your father was a highly regarded physician with an even disposition and quiet manner. He was also a strong-willed individual. A family trait, no doubt." Alfred saw
Bruce's lips soften in a rare smile, his pride in this similarity with his father quite evident. "I know of no one who did not hold him in the highest esteem. Your parents were lovingly devoted to
each other and to you."

Alfred formed his own smile at a particular memory. "I remember when Mrs. Wayne first discovered that she was expecting. She radiated with the joy and expectation of becoming a mother. And when you were born, that was truly the happiest day of their lives.

Alfred watched the slight nod of Bruce's head at the account, obviously lost in contemplation. Then quietly, as if afraid to give voice to the question, Bruce continued. "Would they approve"

Another question that Bruce asked throughout his childhood and ceased asking the day he donned the mantel of the Bat. Alfred suddenly realized how much the question still burned in the younger man's heart.

"Yes... and no" Alfred admitted, pausing to compose his thoughts.

Bruce bowed his head and Alfred saw the piercing effect of his answer in the younger man's troubled countenance.

Placing both hands on the arms of the chair for support, Alfred stood. He straightened his jacket in determination, then walked over to his surrogate son, who had yet to move from his spot underneath the portrait. Alfred took a moment to parse through his emotions, realizing his strongest feeling was gratitude; grateful for the opportunity to speak with Bruce on matters of the heart, yet sadly acknowledging that those conversations had dwindled over the years.

He straightened his shoulders and placed both hands behind his back. He spoke with measured authority wanting the gravity of his words to be understood. "Your oath to your parents has made you the man you are today. A man that they would have been very proud of. A man of which I' am very proud. You have done more for this city, and the world, than most are able to achieve in a lifetime."

"But…" Bruce almost whispered, with no small amount of trepidation.

"But, they would also have expected more 'for' you" Alfred inwardly recoiled, having seen the expression of anguish on Bruce's face only one other time. It was almost ten years since Andrea Beaumont had almost drawn him away from the life of the Bat.

"Their wish for you was to find happiness and contentment in your life" Alfred observed. "They would not wish that you would remain alone."

"I'm not alone. I have you and Dick. I have a family" Bruce stated, then averted his gaze. His action left Alfred with the impression that he was trying to convince himself more than the
butler.

"Dear boy, we are your family and we love you dearly. But, do not try to convince yourself of something that you know not to be true. I am growing old and will one day be gone. Dick already leads a life of his own in Bludhaven. Someday, he will start his own family. Your parents' wish, and mine, is for you to experience the joy of a woman's love and the family that you can both form from
that love."

Bruce shook his head, turning back to gaze at his parent's portrait. Alfred watched the stoic mask of the Bat as it settled firmly in place, knowing that his resolute promise to their memory
would not be easily compromised.

"Do you love her" Alfred questioned firmly, undeterred by Bruce's hardened expression.

"Does it matter"

"Yes, it most certainly does."

"No, it doesn't. Not if nothing further can come from any declaration on my part."

"And why not? She is your equal in every way that matters in this life you have chosen. The previous excuses for not establishing any form of lasting relationship do not apply to her. So, what are your excuses now" The older man would not give up without a fight.  This may be his only opportunity to fulfill the dream his dear friends had for their son. As well as his own dreams for the boy he raised.

"It wouldn't work. We're too different."

"Being different can add spice to a relationship. It just may be worth the effort. But you will never know if you do not try."

"She would get bored here. She would learn to hate the social circles that Bruce Wayne lives in."

"Yes, well...we all know how much you love Gotham's social elite."

"Touché" Bruce replied with a smirk.

"The only excuse you can give for not telling her your feelings are the imagined scenarios conjured by Batman. Even he cannot foretell the future, so why would you deny yourself an opportunity for
happiness for a hypothetical event which may not even occur."

"And if those events do occur" Bruce asked, his expression pained once more by the thought of losing another loved one.

"It is a chance that we all take in life - both the masked and the unmasked. You are no different."

"I think it may be best not to take that chance" Bruce said softly.

"Ah. I see. So if you never have her to begin with, you will never lose her" Alfred nodded in understanding. "You've carried this fear most of your life. With me after your parents were killed,
with your son and his subsequent exile from Gotham, and now with Princess Diana." Alfred walked away, turning upon reaching the room's exit. "It is ironic, sir. It seems that your fear of
abandonment, of being alone, will ultimately make you very lonely indeed."

Alfred witnessed the shocked expression on his son's face at his words. He walked out of the room, hopeful that he'd at least given Bruce a different perspective on which to view his decision and
allow the Princess into his life.

In either case, Alfred determined to gently nudge his son in the right direction. 'Perhaps a quiet, romantic dinner for two tomorrow evening,' he thought to himself. 'I'll call Miss Diana in the
morning.' Alfred chuckled lightly at the idea. 'He should know better than to second-guess me. He will most assuredly not win.' Alfred smiled, his final task for the evening completed.