Well it's been awhile once again, I've really had a horrible case of writers block until a few days ago... everything I wrote I hated ... I just glanced back at this piece which I wrote months ago and went hey - it's actually ok ... I always thought it needed more , but now after re-reading it I think it's fine by itself.

I'm almost done with the first chapter of my batman story ... I swear I'm never happy with it - I've changed it so many times that it's almost completely different from the original stories I based it upon. (I started off with 2 - then merged them together ... then re-edited... then changed it like five more times...)

So I hope you enjoy this next piece, it's Gardenia ... hopefully I'll be posting more often from now on ... leave a review if you like it - AkuIku

It always amazed her ... the length he'd go to while seeking her forgiveness. It was almost as amazing as the neglect he showed her both physically and emotionally on a daily bases.

For instance to make up for her birthday, the latest occasion in a string of events he'd forgotten, he sent her a stunning floral arrangement comprising of nothing but white gardenias. Quite the feat considering they were out of season, and he must have had them flown in especially for her.

A thought which would have touched her, if not for the fact that she hated white gardenias ...

Well, she hated the color white in general... white to her always represented something pure and virginal, something she was not. Something her current lover had no reason to remind her of.

Sometimes she thought he did things like this as some cruel kind of joke, other times she thought he did it just out of spite. Tonight, she supposed he forgot to tell his new secretary that she hated all things white with a passion ... that thought wasn't any more comforting then the last. She had much rather believed he took the time to send her these himself (even out of spite) then to realize she had become another one of his delegated tasks. Some little detail to be taken care of by one of his subordinates.

She hadn't even opened the card ... she didn't need to, it was always the same.

Happy Birthday Barb,

Sorry for the belated gift, I got caught up with work.

I promise to make it up to you later,

- B

Yep, that was it.

A halfhearted apology and a promise that he couldn't possibly keep. Hell, he never even signed his name. In all honesty he most likely never saw the card. No, he dictated the words to be written over the intercom to his secretary- who would then relay it to the florists.

Yes it was an all to common means of obtaining forgiveness in this twisted relationship of theirs. He'd screw up - he'd buy her something - she'd forgive him.