Disclaimer: Once again, I do not own any of the characters, places, or things of the Batman universe. However, the original characters of Melanie, Emily, Benjamin, and Mr. Staples are mine as is the plot.
AN: I am well aware that this is a very short chapter, but it's just a bit of an "update" into what's been happening to set up for the actual storyline that will begin in chapter two. I don't know exactly how often I'll update this story because I do want to finish my other uncompleted story in the near future. However, I was recently inspired to take another stab at Melanie's story (thanks angelfishlex). Without any further ado, here it is, chapter one of part three...
SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS LATER
I couldn't believe how fast the years were flying by. I was still happily married to Bruce and we didn't have to deal with The Joker too often. Bruce and I also had a daughter who had just turned six about a month ago. Yes, little Emily was definitely a Daddy's Girl, always running into her father's arms the second he opened the door.
The only complaint that I had with Bruce was that he still refused to let me put on a cape and mask and assist him in cleaning up the scum of Gotham City. I understood that he probably did it to protect Emily, but still, I could handle myself. It was in those moments that I sometimes would think of The Joker and how he would always let me have a hand in the chaos.
Gotham City had not changed much in seven years. It was still the most corrupt place I had ever seen or heard of. Criminals still swarmed the streets only to be caught and locked up in Arkham Asylum. The trouble with that was that the "doctors" there didn't care about the patients, didn't bother trying to help them cope with their problems. And then you had people like The Joker and The Riddler that knew plenty of ways to sneak out of that hellhole and return to the streets.
I shouldn't really complain though because I knew things could be worse. I could still be caught up in that mess with The Joker. Or Bruce could still be competing for me, trying to free me from The Joker's intoxicating presence…
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I had once again worked my magic and escaped Arkham with two fellow criminals in tow. I really never would understand why these people would never learn and always insisted on locking me up in Arkham. Had I not escaped enough times for them to realize they could never keep me there?
Benjamin had proved a worthy accomplice. For ten years old, he was very skilled with a knife and not afraid to hurt anyone that got in his way. I thought it was hilarious. Melanie had given me the perfect present ever by finding my nephew and begging me to take him in so he could have a family. And then she ran out on me, so much for that family.
We had reached my hideout on the outskirts of Gotham. Benj had gone on to catch some shuteye. That left me alone with The Riddler. The man who irritated me to know end with his stupid riddles, but he was Benjamin's father so I dealt with it. The Riddler sat sketching question marks and made-up riddles on a pad of paper while I sat in the darkened corner watching him and thinking about what to do to Gotham first.
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I had put Emily to bed about an hour ago and went to our bedroom to read since Bruce was out meeting with Commissioner Gordon about the recent breakout at Arkham. Of course, The Joker had been on of the missing which didn't surprise me in the slightest. As I read though, I couldn't keep my mind from wandering to thoughts of The Joker…
Could he ever be saved? Were there really the remnants of his past persona within his blackened heart? And what would have happened if I had stayed with him, if I picked the criminal over the vigilante?
I found myself wondering that last bit from time to time, usually only when he had recently escaped Arkham or blown up something that put him as the top story on the news. It's not that I regretted the decision I made seven years ago. I didn't regret it at all, I was completely happy that I picked Bruce Wayne over the madman. However, it's still one of those "what if" things that you're going to wonder about from time to time. I had come to a fork in the road and selected the path I felt would be the best for me. Sometimes you just have to wonder what the other path held though.
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Of course, my brainstorming was interrupted as I thought of Melanie. I wondered if she was happy or if she missed me. It was a stupid thing to wonder and I growled lowly as I tried to push her from my mind.
And that's when I had an idea. I wanted to know if she missed me, which I assumed she didn't seeing she was still married to Bruce Wayne and had a daughter. I was going to find out though. And if she didn't miss me, I could at least make her suffer some heartache for a while. I would kidnap their daughter; maybe turn her into one of my success stories like I did with Benjamin.
I let out an evil laugh as I rubbed my hands together in anticipation. Oh yes, Melanie Staples would never be allowed to forget about me. She wouldn't have that "happily ever after" billionaire ending to her precious story either, not as long as I was around to remind her…