Sing Sweet Nightingale

Part 6

"Master Richard? It is quite time you rose for the day." Alfred said as he came into the young man's room. He put down the tray he was carrying and opened up the curtains, shining light on the large lump of blankets on the bed.

A groan came from inside the lump, assuring Alfred that there was, in fact, a human in there and not more bedding. "What time is it?" A muffled voice asked.

"Half an hour passed noon, sir." Alfred said as he began fixing a cup of coffee. The lump sat up to reveal a head of very disheveled dark curls. Dick muttered something under his breath that sounded almost like a curse, but Alfred didn't comment in favor of smoothing the hair out of the man's face. "Eat your breakfast and then I will call a maid to make your bed." Alfred gently commanded.

Dick got up obediently and sat in one of the chairs at his desk. Alfred commandeered the other chair and poured himself a cup of tea. "Did you have fun last night, Master Richard?"

Dick bit off a piece of his toast and nodded. "Yeah, I met some very nice people and the music was great."

As Dick finished speaking, Bruce walked into the room. He looked as though he had been up for a while. Knowing Bruce, he probably had. "So, was our mission a success?" Bruce asked as he leaned on the desk.

Dick sighed as he set the toast back on the plate. "Yes and no." Dick said as he rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I met a girl and she was beautiful, kind, intelligent, and funny. Everything I have ever wanted in a girl and then she had to leave early."

"Well, that is no problem." Bruce said in a soothing tone. "We can just go to her house and talk to her parents."

"Except I don't know where she lives." Dick said in an irritated tone.

The men were quiet as they thought over Dick's predicament. Alfred set down his teacup and looked at Bruce. "If I might make a suggestion."

Bruce nodded. "Of course, Alfred."

Alfred looked at Dick. "I imagine you talked pretty thoroughly with this girl." He waited for Dick to nod before continuing. "So you learned many things about her, say her name?"

Y/N's smiling face danced in Dick's head. "Her name is Y/N. She didn't say her last name."

"Well, if you know her name and what her face looks like, then it shouldn't be too hard for you to find her." Alfred said as he took a sip of his tea.

"I'll make the arrangements for you, Wally, Roy, and some of Roy's men to ride out in search for." Bruce said as he walked out the door.

Dick nodded, but stayed silent. "Something the matter, Master Richard?" Alfred asked.

Dick hesitated before answering. "It is just.... What if she ran because she wasn't enjoying my company? What if she left in a hurry because of something I said or did that made her uncomfortable?"

"I would like to think I raised you better than that." Alfred said, raising an eyebrow at the younger man.

"I know, I just can't shake this voice inside me that says she might not like me the way I lo-" Dick cleared his throat as he caught the word "love" coming out of his mouth. It was too soon to say whether or not he truly loved Y/N, but even with how short a time he had known her he knew his heart belonged to her. "Like her." He finally finished.

Alfred sighed and put a hand on Dick's shoulder. "If you are one tenth the man I think you to be, Master Richard, Y/N probably loves you as much as you already love her."

Dick smiled softly. "You think so?"

"I don't make it a habit to lie, sir." Alfred said as he got up. "You need to dress and I need to start making arrangements. If your future bride is to come here then we must make sure everything looks its best." The older man strode out the door and Dick was left alone.

He dressed quickly and almost walked out the door before something caught his eye. He walked over to his bedside table and picked up the object that rested there. Dick smiled as he tucked it into his pocket and ran out the door. He had a shoe to return.