3.1 | Complete Me ✔

Chocolate Chip Muffins

It was time to kiss the Wayne Mansion goodbye. 

The Sunday morning began with luxuriating private showers. Some air dried on their balconies in the bright morning sun; others used the fireplaces' toasty air to soothe their nerves. Then came the arduous task of getting dressed and packing their bags.

Ezio visited Scarlett's bedroom just as she was halfway through her chore.

"Awww . . . do you have to go?" he murmured sadly, watching her fold away her clothes and arrange them neatly in her suitcase and  giant, self-designed tote bag.

"I do, sweetums," she said, giving him a bittersweet smile, patting the bed so that he'd take a seat. "I had a great time here, and I wish I could stay longer, but . . . life calls." 

Once he sat down, she reached over and combed her fingers through his hair lovingly. "Thanks for inviting me and my friends. It was awfully sweet of you."

"Well, of course I would invite you . . . I miss you so much," he said, looking down at his folded hands. "I don't get to see you anymore, now that I have this job. I mean . . . I get vacation time, but there's nowhere to go. The only person I ever want to see is you, and you're busy with work all the time."

"Oh, baby," Scarlett gasped, pushing her suitcase aside to draw him into her arms. "Why have you never told me? You should know that there's nothing in this world that can prevent me from making time for you." She kissed the crown of his head. "You're the most important thing to me in this lifetime, and I'm working as hard as I can so that you'll never have to labor again . . ."

He looked up at her with his big, shimmering green eyes, and her heart swelled. 

"Then we can be together forever, never to part."

"Do you really mean it?" he asked hopefully.

"Of course I do!" she assured.

He lowered his head against her bosom, seeming to consider it.

"Weeeell . . . it's not like I hate working," he admitted. "I love it here at Wayne Manor! Alfred is the greatest, and Master Wayne is so cool and nice! The guys are cool, too, but they're not as cool as you."

"Awww, I understand," she giggled, rubbing his back. "You've been under my wing for all your life, and you've never had any males to look up to. I'm very happy that you've gotten to meet them, and that they treat you so well."

"Yeah . . . I wish . . . I wish we could all live here together."

Scarlett grew silent with alarm. First of all, Bruce would never go for something like that. This was his bachelor pad, where he could take solitude from all of his business, not some . . . some--

Some what? A daycare? They weren't children, but she couldn't help feeling that they would impose on him, either way.

"That's a nice dream, baby," she murmured to him. "But things are fine as they are. Besides, when I get my dream house and you're able to move back in with me, you don't have to give up this job if you don't want to. You can keep working with Alfred and Bruce, and then come back home to me. Then you'll have the best of both worlds, right?"

"Yeeeah," he said, seeming to cheer up. "I guess you're right!"

"Okay," she sighed in relief. "Now run along. I have to finish packing."

"Don't take too long!" he said, springing off the bed and running to the door. "Alfred is making breakfast!"

Scarlett watched him run out with a giant smile on her face before resuming her task. All that was left to pack was her sketch portfolio, which was on top of her dresser. She went over and gathered all the pieces, stacking them neatly together. As she did so, a few pieces fluttered to the floor.