Disclaimer: I own nothing involving Batman, The Dark Knight, or anything related to that franchise. This is just me being creative. Only original characters belong to me.
AN: Here it is, the sequel to "Between Light and Darkness!" I hope that it's worth the wait, and that it lives up to everyone's expectations. I should also mention that I'm going to make this much shorter than the prequel, since I don't want to drag it out too long and bore my readers. Please don't hesitate to review and let me know what you think, or how I'm doing. Thanks, and enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 1: Thoughts of the Future:
The ride back to the penthouse was quiet, but cheerful. Amara had her hand firmly clasped in Bruce's, the two of them exchanging the occasional squeeze as they drove through the streets of Gotham. Sometimes, she would look over and spot the happy grin on her fiancé's face, a sight that made her heart speed up.
Honestly, Amara couldn't figure out how she, of all people, could make him happy, but apparently she did. Bruce, in turn, made her feel not only happy, but special and loved, and for the life of her, she couldn't understand why that was. In her mind, Amara had always expected a billionaire to marry some heiress so that their fortunes could merge and create a business empire; Amara never thought that she, a modest librarian, could make someone like Bruce Wayne fall so much in love with her that he'd want her for a wife! It was mindboggling, but it also felt right, so who was she to complain?
They arrived back at the building in good time, only breaking their hand-holds in order to get out of the car, and once again entwining their fingers as they walked into the elevator and rode straight up. And of course, the minute the doors opened, there was Alfred, a broad smile on his face as he stepped forward to greet them.
Blushing, Amara suddenly found herself in a warm, tight hug. Alfred had never hugged her like this before, so it was an entirely new experience for her. He also patted her gently on the back, whispered his congratulations, and pulled back just enough to squeeze her shoulders in encouragement. Now she was sure of his approval of their engagement, and any uneasiness she felt flew out the window.
"Well, Master Wayne, I must say it's about time you put your feelings forward," the older man informed his employer. "I was beginning to think that it would never happen and that I'd have to do something drastic to move things along for you."
Bruce smiled and looked at her. "He'd do it, too," he said with a wink. "Trust me, he's just that sneaky and clever."
Amara snickered as Alfred took her by the arm and led her into the dining nook. There on the table was a fantastic luncheon, all spread out and with two places set. Most of the dishes were steaming, and there was a bottle of champagne sitting in a bucket of ice on the table, the cork already removed and the contents poured out. Her stomach growled, and Alfred took that as an indication to serve.
As he filled the first plate, both Bruce and Amara asked him to join them, which he happily did. The three of them raised their glasses in celebration of the happy occasion, drank, then quickly fell to eating. Roasted chicken breast stuffed with cheese, tiny red potatoes cooked in butter, garlic and parsley, and a chocolate mousse all made their way into their stomachs. There was also an array of fresh, marinated, crisp vegetables cut into flowers and meant to be nibbled on to cleanse the palette. Amara wanted to stop after the dessert, but the tiny flowers looked so appetizing that she had to try one –which quickly evolved into her consuming several more.
Finally, Alfred took the food away, removing all temptations from her sight, and the three of them sat back in their chairs with contented sighs. Another round of champagne was poured, and they all sat, sipping in the calm quiet. Amara was just starting to drift into a blissful haze when Alfred spoke.
"As much as I hate to ruin this precious moment, sir, I thought I should mention this before I forget," he said, looking between Bruce and Amara. "Commissioner Gordon called today, and to put it politely, he's a bit put off with you."
Bruce winced. "I know, he's upset that I ran off without his officers hovering around me as protection," he retorted while rolling his eyes.
"Well, there's that," Alfred admitted, "but he also mentioned something about not following the orders or advice of someone experienced in kidnappings and ransom. You might want to put the man at the top of your invitee list for the wedding."
Amara nodded emphatically. "I'll make sure to do that, don't worry."
Alfred reached out and patted her arm. "But I'm afraid there are a few other things I should mention."
Bruce gave his butler a scrutinizing look, clearly telling him that it'd better not be upsetting news. "Alright," he slowly drawled. "What is it?"
"Well," Alfred said, reaching out to pour more champagne into all three glasses, "The police now know that Batman has returned to the city, possibly for good. With their boss is in a coma, The Joker's men have been giving up every speck of information they possess, so the police don't know if they should thank The Dark Knight, or continue chasing him."
"I'm hoping it's the former," Amara said, taking a sip from her glass as she looked at the ring on her left hand. "The last thing I need is for my future husband to be hunted down like a criminal when he isn't one."
Bruce studied the grain of the wood of the dining table and fiddled with his glass. "So they know for sure that The Joker is in a coma? Do you know how injured he is?"
Alfred shook his head. "I took the liberty of questioning the Commissioner about that, sir, and he thinks that the coma is either permanent, or will last for quite some time. The hospital that he's been sent to ran a few tests, and it seems that some parts of his brain have shut down, either to heal themselves or because they are so damaged they can no longer function. That madman will be out of our hair for quite some time, if not forever."
Sighing in relief, Amara took another drink from her glass, this time completely draining it. "Well, that's enough liquor for me," she said with a smile. "I've got to go get my things ready for work, so I definitely need to stay sober."
Bruce looked at her in surprise. "What do you mean, you've got to get ready for work?" he asked. "You were just kidnapped last night, not to mention in a daring escape from said kidnapping. After all you've been through, you can't seriously want to go back so soon!"
"I've done it before, and I'll do it again," she told him firmly. "This time I know what to expect when it comes to the media and everything. The reporters I can handle, and since we won't have to worry about The Joker any longer, I won't have to keep looking over my shoulder and wondering when or if he'll strike again."
Alfred smiled. "She has you there, Master Wayne," he said, sipping from his glass. "Besides, she'll be alright. I'll take her to work and bring her home, just like before. She'll be fine."
Sighing, Bruce raised his hands in defeat. "Alright, you win. Go get your things ready. Alfred will help you if you need it. Meanwhile, I've got some business papers I have to go over."
Amara couldn't help but smile as she rose from her seat, made her way over to Bruce's side, and bent to press a kiss to his lips. "You're sweet," she softly cooed before heading off to her room.
Behind her, she could almost hear Bruce smiling as she walked away.
Watching his fiancée vanish down the hallway, Bruce felt himself smiling like an idiot. Alfred gave him a wink as he stood up and collected the glasses to take into the kitchen.
"She really is something, isn't she, sir?" the older man asked before vanishing into the kitchen.
'She sure is,' Bruce thought as he stood and headed for his home office. Once inside the quiet space, he shut and locked the door behind him, making sure it was secure before picking up the phone and dialing.
Lucius Fox's voice answered. "Yes, sir?"
"Mr. Fox, what can you tell me about The Joker's present condition?" Bruce asked, all seriousness.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Alfred's word; actually, it was Commissioner Gordon whom he was mostly concerned about. The Commissioner of Police had no experience with medicine, and Lucius Fox did, so if Bruce had to choose between whose word he should go by when it came to medical conditions, he'd go with Lucius.
"Well, from what I could gather from the hospital's staff, The Joker is in a very deep coma, Mr. Wayne," the other man explained. "There are certain parts of his brain that have been severely damaged, possibly beyond the natural healing abilities of the human body, but there's no way to know for sure right now. Some of the doctors believe he'll be in this coma permanently, but others think not, so they'll be keeping him in the hospital to keep a close eye on his condition."
Bruce did not like that idea. "Is there any way for them to move him to Arkham Asylum, if only to be watched over? What if he manages to wake up and escape? A hospital is one of the least secure places to leave a sociopath like him."
"I agree with you, sir, but there's no convincing the doctors otherwise," Lucius told him. "Arkham isn't equipped with the medical devices needed by someone in such a severe condition, so a hospital is the only choice. He'll be handcuffed to the bed and strapped down, though I doubt that makes you feel any better. The Commissioner feels the same way you and I do, but the people above his head have ruled in favor of the doctors. The Joker remains at Gotham Hospital."
Clenching his fists in frustration, Bruce thanked his friend and employee, and hung up. There was no way to convince the mayor and the governor to side with him on this one. Rich and powerful he may be, but considering that he had donated nothing to their political campaigns, they would feel that they owed him nothing.
And if there was one thing Bruce hated to do, it was pay out bribes of any kind. 'My father would roll over in his grave if he knew I was doing that.' Bruce would not shame his family that way.
For now, things would have to remain out of his hands when it came to The Joker's handling. All Bruce could do was make sure that the woman he loved remained safe and sound –at least until their wedding day.
'By then, we'll be living at Wayne Manor, which is extremely difficult to approach unnoticed.'
With the rebuilding of his family home, Bruce had ordered a sophisticated security system installed to alert him to intruders. Although the estate was somewhat isolated, any burglar would have a hard time getting to the house itself. First, they'd have to first get around the tall stone walls surrounding the property, as well as the immense steel gate that protected it; after that, they'd be tracked like tagged animals with the motion sensors, and by the time they reached the house, anyone inside would be ready for them.
Bruce shook his head. Well, enough of those unpleasant thoughts. Amara was busy preparing for her return to work at the library, and Alfred was in the kitchen, probably planning a spectacular dinner, so Bruce had the afternoon to himself. And since he felt himself getting a bit out of shape, some time in the gym was just what he needed.
Sighing in relief, Amara packed the last piece of clothing into a drawer and smiled. Most of her professional clothing had needed to be washed, pressed, or both, and it'd taken her hours to do it. Alfred had offered to help, but since she could tell that he was busy with supper, Amara decided to do it all herself. Besides, she'd needed time to think.
Thinking back on all that had happened to her, everything was either coming together or falling apart. She was getting married to Bruce, but The Joker was still out there. Granted, the Clown Prince of Crime was in a coma in a hospital, but that didn't mean that he couldn't manage an escape once he came out of it. And when he did, well, that didn't bode well for anyone. Bruce would protect her, of course, but still…
'He can't be everywhere, and there are a bunch of other people who need him even more than I do.'
As nice as it would be to have Bruce all to herself, Amara knew she couldn't be selfish, not when he was one of the few people who could protect Gotham from being overrun with crime and corruption. As Batman, he would be called upon to save the innocent and bring justice back to the city; her needs would have to come after that.
The clock on the dresser chimed six times, telling her that dinner was likely ready. Alfred was always good at having the evening meal ready by now.
Brushing her hair out of her eyes, Amara headed into the dining room, and was surprised. Flickering light coming from the two lit candles on the table filled the room with a romantic air, and Amara could see Alfred setting filled dishes on the table. Two glasses of champagne sat bubbling by the plates, and in the center was a bouquet of red roses and baby's breath.
"It looks great," whispered a familiar voice into her ear.
Amara jumped and whirled around, coming face-to-face with Bruce. His hazel eyes danced in amusement as he put an arm around her waist, gently guiding her into the room.
"Ah, there you are," Alfred said with a smile. "Enjoy your dinner. I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."
Bruce held her chair out to seat her before taking his own. When they were seated, they both eagerly dug into their pot roast. Crisp vegetables left over from lunch accompanied the roast, and dessert was leftover chocolate mousse topped with dollops of whipped marshmallow. There was little conversation, but Amara didn't mind. She could feel Bruce's gaze on her once in a while, and it was thrilling to know how much he cared about her through his frequent glances.
When the dishes had been cleared, Alfred came to join them for after-dinner champagne, coffee, scotch, or, in Amara's case, sparkling water. She'd barely taken a sip when Alfred broached a subject she hadn't even considered yet today.
"If I might ask, Amara, when do you intend to hire someone to help you plan the wedding?"
She choked on the water in her mouth, but managed to swallow it quickly. "Oh, uh, I hadn't really thought about it," she replied. "Do you think we'll need a wedding planner?"
Alfred sat back in his chair and looked thoughtful. "Well, I've no experience with planning them, but I think it would depend on the wedding, such as if you want a large or small one, and if you think you can handle it on your own. Now, I don't doubt your skills in the least, Amara, but since you're a working girl and not a socialite, I don't think that you'll have the time it takes to toss a socially acceptable wedding."
"I agree," Bruce put in, "but only about you not having the time. I don't care if we have a large wedding or not, it's up to you. If you only want to invite family and friends, that's fine with me."
Amara shook her head. "I'd love for it to be a small gathering, but I know it would look bad if we didn't invite certain people. You know; the governor, the mayor, and Commissioner Gordon. We'll probably have to include some of your most valuable workers or partners, too."
Sighing, she emptied her glass of water and reached for the champagne bottle, which Alfred had kindly left on the table. She poured herself a generous amount and took a sip, needing to calm her nerves.
'I can't plan a wedding!' Amara nervously thought as the alcohol slid down her throat. 'I have no idea how this is supposed to work. What am I going to do?'
A slightly wrinkled hand reached out and took her glass from her. Looking up, she saw Alfred's kind, fatherly gaze on her as he put the glass out of her reach.
"Now, now, none of that," he chided her. "I won't have you turning into an alcoholic just because of your nerves. I'll do whatever I can to help with the wedding, and we'll find a nice planner to help as well, if you want."
She heaved a sigh of relief. "That's perfect, Alfred. Thank you. I wish I could have my mother or my aunts here to help, but they can't afford to take the time off of work to come out here, so I'll have to do it myself. Well, with help of course."
A thought suddenly hit her. "Maybe I could have Julie help, too. She's smart and organized, which is more than I can say for myself. I'm organized when I have to be; Julie is organized no matter what. She'd be a big help, I'm sure of it."
Bruce smiled and nodded in approval. "Go ahead and get whatever or whoever you need," he told her. "Meanwhile, if you need me for anything, let me know, and I'll do what I can."
She returned his smile with one of her own. It was comforting to know that he had such faith in her and her abilities (or lack there of) when it came to their wedding.
"Why don't the two of you go watch a film or something in the den?" Alfred suggested as he rose from the table. "Relax, have some quiet time to yourselves for a while, then we'll continue this tomorrow, when everyone's refreshed. How does that sound?"
Amara was more than willing to go along with that idea, and so, apparently, was Bruce. After all, tomorrow was another day; nothing had to be done now, so why couldn't they just sit and savor the moment?
Her fiancé was quick to get out of his chair and help her out of hers before leading her to the den. There they selected a romantic film with just a touch of action and excitement, and enjoyed a very pleasant night, just the two of them. The movie, of course, had a happy ending, and Amara was just beginning to nod off when Bruce pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to do that," she apologized as she slowly stirred back to wakefulness.
"It's fine," he whispered. "Why don't you get to bed? There are a few things I need to do before I turn in for the night."
Amara looked up at him. "You mean…going out?"
He nodded. "I've been away too long, and the criminals out there are going to start acting out again, now that The Joker is off the streets. If he's gone, it gives them less competition for street business. I have to go."
"No, its okay, you don't have to tell me why you need to go out tonight," she hurriedly assured him. "I just wanted to be sure that was what you meant. I know you've got two businesses, so it might be confusing not knowing if you're going out for something having to do with Wayne Enterprises, or for…something else."
Bruce actually looked amused. "I rarely go out at night for anything having to do with the company," he explained to her. "When I do, it's usually for the usual company gala or a fundraiser where a personal appearance would do some good. Anything else I can do from here and send it via a courier back to the office."
"Well, that's nice to know," she muttered. "But promise me that you'll let me know when you get home? I want to make sure that you're alright."
"I don't want to wake you, but I promise," he said, grudgingly.
Smiling, she kissed him. "Thank you," she whispered. "Now, go kick some bad-guy butt."
Grinning, he kissed her back and got up off the couch.
Tonight, patrolling the streets was torture for him. Normally, he'd be thrilled at being able to keep the peace in Gotham, but tonight, there was nowhere Bruce would rather be than at home, comfortable on the couch with his future bride.
However, this was important. Amara knew and understood that, and had actually sent him off with the order to 'kick butt.' He fully intended to do so.
As he'd expected, the criminals of Gotham City had gotten bolder as word spread that The Joker was out for good. Most had probably heard that The Joker's hideout had been trashed, and that The Batman had taken out the makeup-caked madman. The bolder or more desperate criminals were going to take advantage of one less crazed maniac on the streets, so it was time for him to go out and take them down before people got hurt, or worse.
In that one night, Bruce took down a drug-dealing gang, saved several citizens from being mugged, and helped a little girl find her lost puppy (that last one an entirely new experience for him). When he finally managed to produce the pup, which had gotten stuck between a heavy box and a brick wall, the child had thanked him and given him the cutest smile he'd ever seen.
It was a good thing that had been the last good deed of the night, because it gave Bruce something to think about: namely, did he want to have children with Amara?
If he'd asked himself that question weeks ago, the answer would have been 'no.' Not long ago, children had seemed out of the question for him, because he didn't want the risk of them going through what he had growing up. Weeks ago, Bruce had believed his future to be cold and lonely.
Now, things were different. He had a wonderful fiancé he loved, and who loved him in return. With that child's smile in his mind, Bruce began to wonder about the children he and Amara might have. Would they take after their mother, or be more like him? He really hoped that they took after Amara, both in looks and temperament. Sweet, spunky, but good-natured and open was what he imagined them to be; definitely not like the vigilante who was their father!
But would he continue being Batman after their children were born? Amara would say 'yes,' but he wanted to be there for their kids, not off all the time, fighting crime.
And yet, Amara would want a safe city to raise them in. Since Bruce liked being the Caped Crusader, continuing to be Batman would be something they both wanted.
Heading back towards the penthouse, he felt a smile creeping onto his lips. Right now, the future was looking very bright indeed.
AN: I hope that this wasn't too boring for everyone. These first few chapters will be about the wedding, the wedding itself, and life a few weeks afterwards. The action and excitement won't be happening for a little while, so be warned. Thanks so much for reading, and please review!