I got this one out quick, because it just happened that way. This is in a sense a filler chapter designed mainly to move the plot along. We jump some times again so we are about a quarter way into The Dark Knight and the plot will somewhat follow it. I think it falls into place nicely.

As always thank you to: Laurel, Affectionate-Sinner, TheWeirdGirlFromDownTheRoad, ujemaima, crazikido2, live-yOur-fAntasY, and Straight Edge Queen. You all are awesome especially those of you who review nearly every chapter.

I always like to remind you that I am my own editor, I am not perfect and this will never be published so please forgive my mistakes.

Happy Reading!

When Allison returned to the motel room with Nathan and Addison the Joker was gone. He left money on the table along with the keys to the truck and a very strongly worded note to Nathan giving him directions to stay for another night and then take the mother and daughter home.

Allison couldn't decide if she was relieved or upset that he had left. Sure he had put a knife to her throat but she had cooled off once she got to the room and now she wasn't sure she would ever see him again. She tried to convince herself that that's what she wanted and it would be best for Addison, who asked where he was within five minutes of them getting back.

Instead of answering, Allison distracted her with a movie.

It had been one month since Gotham had got dosed with the fear toxin. The police department was calling it a terrorist attack and anyone affect by the toxin went to the hospital to get the antidote that was suspiciously found the day of. Although all of the Narrows had been affected Batman was able to save the day and stop it from spreading to Wayne tower, which was the center of the city.

Bruce had called Allison two days later to tell her it was safe to return, but she already knew that and was on her way home. Nathan was livid at Jack, but did go back to him.

Allison explained to Nathan that as long as he was going to do whatever it is he was doing, he was not welcome around Addison. He wasn't happy, but agreed and made Allison give him her phone number so if he knew something was going to happen he could at least call and get her and Addison out of town.

Allison insisted she get his so she knew it was him calling.

When Allison returned to work she was delighted to know that Mr. Fox was the new CEO and she was now his assistant and was given a hefty promotion. She thought it was too much, but Bruce assured her she would have much more to do and the raise was worth it.

He was right.

She loved her job now but some days just didn't seem to end. Not to mention that Bruce was trying to get closer to her. It only bothered her because she knew he wasn't talking to his old friend (any maybe something more), Rachel, anymore. Once he found out that she was dating Gotham's new DA, Harvey Dent, he really hit the gas and was constantly asking to take her everywhere. She appreciated the companionship, but wished he would be with her because he actually wanted to be.

Jack, aka the Joker had also made his first broadcast news appearance. Allison almost choked on her food when she saw his freshly painted face come onto the screen at dinnertime. He looked absolutely terrifying. The worst part of it was he was clearly having fun. His new obsession was the Batman. He had already killed one imposter on television. Luckily Addison hadn't seen any of this yet. She still asked about him from time to time but Allison just made up the excuse that he was away on business. Plus Bruce seemed to be a good fill in for the father figure whether he wanted to or not. Truthfully that scared Allison to death.

What if Bruce just decided to leave; become nothing more then just a boss?

Worst of all what if Allison got old enough to understand that she lacked a father. At this point she didn't even consider Jack taking that role, not after everything that happened. He had moved on from the mob and was know murdering innocent people.

She wanted to throw her TV out of the window just so Addison would never have to see it.

Surprisingly the thought to move hadn't crossed her mind…yet. Even if she had, it was one of those situations where you really shouldn't look, don't want to look, but you just have to.

***

Currently Allison was outside of Mr. Fox's office, typing up a couple of emails for him. Bruce currently had a big potential client, a Mr. Lau from Japan. Allison didn't care to understand all the details of every deal made, but this one did seem to make Lucius and Bruce uncomfortable. Through the glass of the conference room, Allison could see Bruce was sleeping, that Lau character was talking, and Lucius was standing at the head of the table listening.

Allison glanced back down to the computer screen glancing up at the sleeping Bruce every now and then.

He was always so tired.

Anytime he would come into the office he was usually late not to mention tired.

It didn't take a genius to know something was different with him. It was that way ever since she met him, but now her suspicions were worse.

It didn't help that as soon as she saw the meeting was over she walked into the conference room to ask Lucius what else he wanted to her to do because right when she walked in Bruce and Lucius abruptly stopped talking and they both looked at her.

"Um, sorry, I just wanted to let you know that I sent those emails and I was going to take my lunch now, if that's alright."

Lucius smiled warmly as if she hadn't interrupted at all, "That's fine Allison, thank you."

She gave a meek smile to Lucius and looked at Bruce who looked like he was caught in the act, but masked it with a grin. She tried to hide a look of annoyance but it might have slightly slipped as she turned on her heel to leave.

Once back at her desk she grabbed her coat and purse and when she spun around to go towards the elevators she nearly bumped into Mr. Wayne, himself.

"Hey," she said before starting to talk around him.

"Hey," he replied gently grabbing her upper arm to stop her from leaving, "let me take you out to lunch."

She really didn't want to, she just planned to grab something quick out of cafeteria, not to mention she was annoyed with always feeling like she was interrupting him.

Nevertheless he was her boss and saying no just didn't seem right.

"Sure, that'd be great."

He smiled and led her to the elevators.

While at lunch, Allison kept relatively quiet. Bruce was asking her about Addison, Janet and Dornan. Allison cringed when he brought Rachel up and how he ran into her and Harvey Dent.

"I'm sorry for bringing this up," he said noticing her discomfort, "I just wanted to tell you that I actually kind of like Harvey. I think he's just what this city needs."

Allison looked at him skeptically over her menu, "Really? I thought you would hate his guts, plus I heard that you had that prima ballerina from Russia or whatever with you? That wasn't on purpose?"

He took a sip of his water and once he set it down he leaned in a little closer to her.

"You know it wasn't. I talk to you all the time about how I have to maintain this stupid billionaire thing. People expect me to be a playboy and a bachelor. If I started bring you around…well, I'm doing you a favor, the tabloids would never leave you alone. Why do you think we came into this restaurant from the back and have a private room? I don't want this boss secretary thing starting."

Allison scoffed and rolled her eyes, "First off, I'm an assistant, not a secretary, second of all, I've been in the tabloids since I was like six, third of all, I'll decide if I want paparazzi following me, and fourth of all, Mr. Wayne you are full of so much bullshit. I'm starting to wonder if you are pretending anymore, Bruce. Maybe you are taking this billionaire act to heart," she whispered the last part as the waitress walked in to take their order.

Bruce looked at her while she ordered almost taken aback by her words. He only looked away to place his order and waited until the waitress let the room with their menus.

"You really think that?" He finally said, not able to hide the hurt in his voice.

Allison, as stubborn as she was, refused to feel sorry for him, "You certainly don't tell me everything anymore. I used to think you did, but you're hiding something from me, you probably have been for some time now, but it's getting worse," she laughed to herself, "it's funny, I'm started to feel like you think I am some dumb blonde or something."

She leaned closer to him and in a harsh whisper she spook with clear articulation, "Do you think I don't notice the fact that you come in tired every morning, that some days you're extremely sore, and that you and Lucius stop talking or quickly change the subject every time I enter the room?"

She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms across her chest.

He sat their speechless; it was probably one of the first times she had seen him not having an excuse. This time though, he was looking at her as if he was waiting for her to continue, like what she said was supposed to make her come to some big conclusion.

"Think about it Allison," her suspicions were confirmed, "you'll figure it all out."

He didn't say it with a condescending tone, but she took it that way.

They sat in silence while their food came. Allison continued to maul over the details trying to see if there was something figure out. Right now though she just thought he was an asshole.

As she continued to go through all the times he had left, came back sore and tired, or stopped talking when she entered the room, it was when she got the phone call from him while she was at the motel that made her finally connect the dots. Of course she had always wondered why he hadn't left and just accepted that he wanted to stay in the city that his father practically built from the ground up, but it made sense now.

All the newscasts that correlated with when he was gone, how early in the morning some of the stories had occurred. She almost had to laugh out loud when the thought of Bruce being Batman crossed her mind.

When she looked back up him with humorous eyes the way he was looking at her confirmed it. She had never seen Batman in person, but the few photos taken of him made it obvious.

Bruce was Batman.

She suddenly had a whole mix of emotions; excitement, embarrassment, understanding, and there was no denying the bit of lust picturing Bruce as the masked crusader…that feeling was relatively deep though.

"I'm an idiot," was the first thing she said taking a bit of her sandwich.

"No, you're not, I'd be the idiot if you were too quick to figure it out."

"No, but I really am. The suit, I saw that suit when I first started working here. I can't believe I didn't even realize what it was."

"Well to be fair, it got a little bit of a makeover."

She smiled at him, a slight blush coming to her cheeks.

He reached over at grabbed her hand that was resting on the table, "I really do care for you Allison. Not telling you was really for your safety. Only three people, well now four know, so please don't think this was just some conspiracy against you. I hope you understand why you can't…"

"Tell anyone? I know Bruce trust me I can keep a secret," as the words left her mouth she instantly thought of Jack.

Jack…Jack was the Joker, Bruce was Batman.

She had to stop thinking about it right now, or she was going to be overwhelmed. She took and deep breath and squeezed Bruce's hand.

"I'm happy to hear that and I do trust you."

The two finished lunch quickly and held hands as they walked through the back of the building and then pulled apart as they reached the outside.

***

It was the early evening and Allison was busy in the kitchen cooking dinner as Addison played with her dolls in the living room. Janet had just left the apartment. The two played with the little girl, and talked caught up, as they hadn't seen each other in a couple of weeks.

The conversation got slightly awkward and Janet got the hint to leave once the conversation got to Nathan. It was the fact that she wanted to talk about him; it was the fact she insinuated Allison might know his whereabouts that pushed Allison to the edge.

Right after that, Allison made it known that dinner was soon and she had to give Allison a bath and get her to bed, so Janet showed herself out.

The TV was off, as it had been so many times before. Allison would watch the 11 o' clock news, once Addie was tucked into her bed. Not only was she interested in what Jack was doing, she was also interested in what Bruce, Jack's nemesis if you will, was doing.

She watched the chicken cook in the skillet, trying to take her mind off of it all. She looked over at Addison and couldn't help but smile. She was extremely beautiful and smart. Jack had always been extremely smart. She wondered how she would turn out.

Would the Joker influence her?

Would Allison stay in Gotham long enough to find out?

What roll could Bruce, Gotham's hero, play in her life?

Should Allison tell her at some point who Bruce is?

She certainly hoped he'd be in their life long enough for Allison to be old enough to understand.

Now it came to the point where she wondered if she'd see Jack again. How did she feel about that? She didn't know, she was more confused now knowing the truth about Bruce.

"Addison, dinner."

The little girl bounced up from the floor and skipped to the table, climbing onto her seat as her mother placed the plate in front of her.

"Mommy, there are green beans on here."

"I know Addie, I put butter and salt on them, just at least try them."

She pouted slightly, pushing them with her small fork eating her rice first.

Too much happened today for Allison to argue with her, but she would try those damned green beans before she left her seat.

As mother and daughter ate, Addison talked about the picture she drew in class, the girl who took a doll from her and got into timeout for it, and a boy who wouldn't stop pulling on her hair.

After dinner while Allison was washing the dishes and Addie was playing in the bathtub with her toys, the phone rang.

Allison went to her phone as quick as possible thinking it was Bruce, but when she looked at the number her blood ran cold as she recognized the number Nathan wrote down for her.

"Nathan…" she said slowly and quietly not wanting Addie to hear her.

"Guess again, Ace," the chilling voice from the other side responded.

Dun, Dun, Dun. Okay so not the most surprising of endings…or maybe it was? There were a lot of unanswered questions in this chapter and I encourage you to answer any of them in your own opinion, not that this shouldn't happen all the time, but I promise to respond to all reviews left for this chapter. Please let me know what you think.