"I feel unprepared," Adriana said. "How far away is he? I feel like I should have made him something, like a cake! To celebrate."
"He should be here any minute," Alfred told Adriana.
"I should wake Arsenio," Adriana said. "Or actually...I should wait. Bruce and I could wake him together. Oh...he is going to be so happy, Alfred."
"Yes," Alfred agreed. "The pair of you should wake him."
"Okay," Adriana said. "I have to go to the bathroom, but I'll be right back."
Adriana left Alfred in the foyer and went upstairs, even though there were other bathrooms close by. She went by Arsenio's room to find him still sleeping peacefully. After quietly shutting his door, she used the bathroom. As she washed her hands, felt nausea again. Fortunately, it came and went quickly, and she made her way back downstairs.
She saw that Bruce was already there as she went through the large entrance to the foyer. Alfred and Bruce were hugging. She watched them separate and look at each other. Bruce appeared truly happy, relieved and grateful to be home. And eventually, he noticed that she was there.
Their eyes met in a silent moment and Bruce turned to her. She could finally see that he was leaning on a cane. After glancing at it and back into his eyes, she went over and embraced him. After a hug, he touched her cheek.
She could see it in his eyes, he had been through so much, and was now at peace and in a place of acceptance.
"I'm so glad you are back," Adriana said to him with a bright smile. She meant every word.
"Hearing you say that is..." Bruce said and blinked. "Thank you."
"I wanted to do something for you, but I didn't know you were coming back so soon," she said.
"You don't need to do anything," he said.
"I'll cook for you," she said with a smile. "A celebratory dinner with your favorites."
"Well," he said, unwilling to decline such an offer. "How can I say no to that?"
Adriana hugged him again. "Arsenio is going to be so happy, I can't even imagine."
"I certainly hope so," Bruce said. "I should put this away, don't want to frighten him."
"The cane?" Adriana asked and looked down. "Do you need it?"
"It helps but I can manage without it," Bruce said and held out the cane to Alfred, who took it immediately.
"Are you sure?" Adriana asked.
"Yes, I am," Bruce said. "Thank you, Alfred."
"Bruce...really, I don't think a cane is going to scare him-" Adriana said but Bruce took her hand.
"It is fine," he said. "I promise you that."
"Okay....." Adriana said. "Okay."
She placed a hand on his shoulder and then moved it to the side of his neck. His dark hair was now long and grazing the tops of his shoulders.
"Thank you, Bruce," she said. "For doing this...for following through on your promise. I'm so relived."
"It was," he said. "One of the most difficult things I have ever done. I came close to quitting more times that I would ever admit. But...thank you. Thank you, Adriana for encouraging me to go."
Adriana laughed. "Encouraging? You mean threatening you and giving ultimatums..."
"You did what needed to be done," he said. "And I needed to go. And I am eternally grateful to you for that."
