(Present)

Catwoman, Gotham's most wanted thief, had just ran a successful robbery with her "gang for hire", and was now perched on a pipe running on the ceiling of a parking lot. She rested, hidden in the dark, and smirked as she watched her men lose their wits to the Batman.

He was hovering over his last victim when she decided to jump down behind him. He turned and faced her, standing in his usual stance: shoulders broad, feet spread wide and head held high, despite the weariness.

"Catwoman," he said briskly.

"Oh don't be so surprised!" She pouted.

"You knew it was me. It's always me behind robberies this big."

He stepped towards her but she cartwheeled back and held up a taunting finger.

"Un un un! You don't have time to fight me tonight."

"When do I ever not have time to catch criminals. I'm the batman."

"Trruue. But tonight, you're just a hi-fi bodyguard!"

"I'm not for hire," he made his point as he stepped closer to her again.

"Apparently Bruce Wayne has the money to buy you!" She said as she turned and walked away from him.

Batman stopped in his tracks, brows raised behind the cowl.

"Excuse me?"

"What?! It's a fancy party. An expensive, A-list party." She spun back around, mouth open in surprise as if an idea just came to her.

"You know what? You might even see me there!" She laughed at him.

"Selina!" He angrily scolded her.

"Hush!" She put up her finger again.
"You're getting late. And you'll get him late. Wouldn't it be lovely to see how Wayne will explain this to his girlfriend!" She teased him and turned away again, knowing he had no option but to leave.

"Fine," he grumbled and disappeared into the night.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Bruce Wayne emerged from the family game room fixing his tie as Alfred stood outside the door, ready with the suit jacket draped over his arm.

"Everything running fine so far, Alfred?" He asked as he buttoned up the vest.

"Yes, master Bruce. But some of the guests are a bit edgy, given the incident at your birthday, sir." Alfred reminded him of the fire that had burned down the mansion a couple years ago.

Bruce chuckled.

"I'll hand it to them." He swung on his jacket. "Seen her, yet?"

"Not yet, sir." Alfred said coolly, clasping his hands behind his back.

"I'll take a walk around, just in case."
"Of course, sir. I'll inform Lucius Fox that you've returned.

Bruce scanned his house, floor by floor, room by room, and avoiding guests as he did. Some rooms were dark, some rooms had their windows open, with the wind blowing in the curtains, but no sign of her. And some rooms were, ehm, occupied.

He finally made his way to the east wing, his main quarters. Quietly entering through the beautiful double doors, he found the living room empty, but heard humming from his bedroom. He opened the door and stood in the frame, putting all his weight on one side as he rested against the frame.

"I'll be damned if I don't have you by tonight." He announced himself.

"And here I thought you'd forgotten about me." She turned from the open window and walked to the dresser in his room. She too had changed her outfit into something more easy to blend into the party with.

"Not a chance. And I do have to say, the dress looks lovely on you. Shame you won't be in it long."

"Was it just me, or did that sound dirty?" She teased as she held one of his mother's necklace against her neck.

"Go with the emerald. Matches your dress." He picked it up.

"Are you actually suggesting which one of you mother's necklace I steal?"

"If you're going to," he picked up the necklace. "I suggest you wear something that looks proper. Because I'm walking you out."

"You'll walk a lady out in handcuffs?! Sure your wife doesn't mind, this?" she put out her wrists in front of him.

He grabbed them both in one hand and pulled her closer.

"Excuse me! I'm Bruce Wayne, Gotham's playboy." He brushed his lips by her ear.

He pushed her slightly away, grabbed the necklace again and walked behind her.

"Anyway, did you actually leave anything at the jewelry store, or did you rob it all?"

"It should please you to know that I did leave something behind! I saw it when I was scoping out the place before hand. It was a silver anklet, hundreds worth of rhinestone in it. And I'm pretty sure it jingles too!"

"What is it with cats and bells?" He scoffed.

The knock at the door kept her from replying.

"Master Bruce, they're waiting for you." Alfred told them.

"That's our cue," Bruce winked at her and kissed her long exposed neck.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and tightly held onto her wrist, to keep her from running away.

Selina threw him a sarcastic pout as he lead her out of the room, and braced herself to stand before the crowd as they entered the ballroom from the doors at the top of the stairs.

"...And finally, it is my great honor to introduce the man of the hour," spoke Lucius Fox, loudly and proudly at the bottom of the steps, "Mr. Bruce Wayne! And his lovely wife, Selina Kyle!"

0o0o0o0o0o0

Selina smiled at him and Bruce kissed her temple before they walked down the stairs to the applause of their guests.

"And who knew, you go back to work a little bit, and you invent world peace!" Selina commented on the new Wayne Enterprise invention, which was such a big hit that the company held a success party for the lead architect, Bruce Wayne.

"It's not world peace yet!" He replied, still smiling and nodding at the guests.

"Why can I bet you'll get there?" She said proudly.

"Anything for you, Mrs. Wayne!" He smiled and kissed her lips.

The first guest to meet them after Lucius was Mr. Fredrickson, a long time board member at Wayne Enterprise, and a close friend of Thomas Wayne.

"Congratulations, my boy. Your father would have been proud of you,"

Bruce shook the old man's hand and gave him a hug, thanking him.

"I'm glad you think so, Mr. Fredrickson. I appreciate it."

"I know so! You're Thomas's boy, you're gonna be alright."

Selina stood at his side, smiling proudly at her husband.

A couple guests later, Lee Thompkins made her way over while Bruce was busy talking small business.

"You must feel very proud, being the woman behind Bruce Wayne!" she said as they both watched the man, who acknowledged them with a nod.

"Who said I'm behind him? I'm with him every step of the way." Selina smiled back at her husband.

"And what did Bruce gift you?" Lee asked as Bruce walked towards them.

"Oh nothing yet, but I've left him a pretty shiny hint," she elbowed him and he laughed as he kissed her.

"I'm glad you came tonight, Lee. I've got something to talk to you about..."

Selina didn't hear what he said next as she was roughly pulled away. The cat thief would have minded, if it hadn't been the antics of her best friend, Jennifer. 

"Where've you been tonight?! I was suffering through these stuffed shirts all by myself. You know, I'm happy you married rich, but don't leave me alone with old people!"

Selina laughed at her friend's suffering.

"Sorry, I was busy picking out my gift." She said in a suggestive tone, and her best friend picked up on it.

"And I hope you're not going cheap on your billionaire husband?"

"Would I ever?" Selina faked innocence.

"So, what'd you pick?" her friend pestered for details.

"You know the jewelry shop at the end of 59th? Well, I was window shopping in there and I fell in love with this beautiful silver anklet. A thin band of rhinestones and perfectly placed pendants! It was beautiful!"

"You sure sound in love with it."

"Mhmm, and I think Bruce will love it too." She cheekily smiled.

"And where is Bruce?"

"He was talking with Lee when you dragged me away," Selina searched for her husband, and smiled when she found him. But the frown that came over his face when Alfred told him something made her heart beat faster.

"Excuse me," she left her friend and made her way to Bruce, following his sight to the entrance, where stood Carmine Falcone.

Selina placed a hand on her husband's chest, and he wrapped an arm around her, staring at the head of the Falcone crime family, as was everyone else.

"You know, I've been in the market for a new house. Decent walk up, sky high ceilings, plenty of room for my cars," Falcone moved his arms like he already owned the place.

"The decor's a little too flashy for me, though. I'm a man of classics"

"Don't think you could afford it," Selina boldly said. Bruce squeezed her waist, warning and protective.

"Ah, my dear. Then perhaps you don't know me well. Carmine Falcone," the Don extended a hand to Bruce in everyone's sight, but the host refused to accept it.

Falcone pursed his lips and retracted his hand.

"Perhaps, you gentlemen would be more comfortable in the parlor?" Alfred stepped up, and directed the outsiders to a more private environment.

"Yes, I suppose that's preferable," Falcone tightly smiled at Wayne, and the younger businessman ushered for his guest to go first.

"Right, if you'd all just follow me." Alfred led the way.

When Bruce moved, Selina began to walk with him, but he stopped her. He shook his head and kissed her, having her stay behind.

Jen came up to Selina, and diverted her back to the party. Mrs. Bruce Wayne kept the party running, chatting up old friends and making new ones with the help of Lucius Fox or Lee, but her mind was still on her husband being alone with a crime lord.

A figure watched from afar as Selina laughed with her friends, and then it moved towards the parlor. One of the double doors slightly opened inward, and the voices came out

"Be like your father! He knew which hands to shake...and which to cut off!" growled Falcone.

"But I know when I think it's time for you to leave." Bruce Wayne said in his ever calm tone.

"I see how it is. No one says 'no' to me, at least not for long. You'll change your mind soon." Falcone threatened.

The stranger stepped aside as Alfred walked to the room.

"I think your guests are leaving, Master Bruce? Their cars are all pulled up."

"I'll take my cue," Falcone led his men out the parlor, but stopped at the door.

"Don't suppose I ever congratulated you for your wedding, boy," he said over his shoulder.

"I'm sure we'll live without your blessing, Don Falcone. Goodnight." This time, there was a notch in Bruce's calm.

The Don scowled and finally exited the parlor, smiling at the woman outside as he left.

Bruce followed Alfred out the parlor, to everyone's whispers. His wife snuck out of the crowd, a smile on her lips and two champagne flutes in her hands.

Bruce took a glass and kissed her head.

"Try not to drink too much too fast. I think you'll freak your guests even more," Selina joked.

"Don't worry, I'm not burning down anything," he said coolly and took a sip.

"So, what did he want?"

"An investment, in my peace project. 'Share the burden of Gotham on our broken backs,'" Bruce mocked the Don.

"Take it you didn't give in?"

"Not a chance. But I suspect he won't give up easy."

"What'll you do about it?"

"I'll have Gordon put someone on watch, make sure things stay in place," he told her.

"And you won't actually go all the way down to the precinct I'm sure?" she knew what her husband meant.

"No need to bring in an extra middle man, I'll go straight to the source!"

"You think he'll buy?" she teased.

Bruce laughed and kissed her head, but his mind was on edge.

He has personal interests at stake here.

"Hon, why don't you go make a sober speech. Relieve the tension..."

Selina tucked herself into him, coyly playing with his tie.

"and then maybe relieve the guests for the night?"

"Why do you always have cruel intentions?" Bruce joked.

"Are you objecting?" she pouted.

"Never!" he kissed her plump red lips, and it took great amount of will from him to pull away.

"Now, let's clear the air and sneak into the after party."