Okay guys, heads up, we are going to head into uncharted territories, here is where my dark themes will come in. Hope no one kills me after this.

Chapter 9: Nora's Secret

Many weeks later and Nora and Victor were inseparable. They often went on dates, Victor came over for dinner plenty and some nights, Victor stayed over at the Fields' home. John and Susan were just so happy to see Nora happy, more than they have ever seen her, and just grateful it was with someone they could trust.

One date, Nora took Victor to an ice-skating rink, where poor Victor was very clumsy with.

"I am afraid I have never been ice-skating before."

Nora patted his back. "Don't worry, it's easy! Think of it as walking, but just add gliding."

"If I was as graceful as you, I would glide everywhere in my life."

Victor made only a few slides in the rink, but then he slipped and fell flat on his back on the ice, laughing the pain away. Nora skated to his side and laughing with him asked, "Oh, poor baby. Are you okay?"

"Oh yeah, I think I might just stay down here. I just liked the view from here better."

Nora got down with him, resting her head on his chest, and wrapped both arms around him. "Hmm, you're right, it is nice down here."

Victor was more comfortable with Nora's physical contact and feeling bold, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. Nora looked up at him, and then, sitting up, she leaned over him giving Victor a moment to move a strand of hair out of her face and kissed him.

An electric charge that they had never felt before took over them, and before they knew it, they were making out on the ice, rolling over and not realizing they were being watched until they heard a collective "ewwww".

They looked up and saw a class of young children staring at them. Victor helped Nora up and walked past the mouth agape wide eyes children. They returned their skates in silence, sort of embarrassed at being caught and "ewwed" by children. Just out of the rink, they laughed, once they saw how red the other was. They laughed all the way to the car, and as soon as they were in the small space, they felt that surge again, and proceeded to make out like teenagers.

They were nearly late to a lunch date they had with Melissa and Frank, walking in together late for lunch looking rather guilty and giving each other side glances.

Both friends had noticed their behavior, but decided to confront them alone. Melissa decided that she needed Nora in the bathroom, giving both groups to talk having almost the same conversation.

M/F- Hey, what's up with you two?

N/V- What do you mean?

M/F- I mean your hair is mess up, your lips look swollen and-oh my god, is that a hickey?

N/V- No? It's-uh-um a rash?

M/F- Getting hot and heavy huh? So, when are you going to uh- bump uglies?

N/V- No, I mean, I don't know. We never really talked about.

M/F- But you did think about it.

N/V- Oh God yes!

M/F- Well maybe you both are at that point where you should talk about it.

Nora and Victor knew they were right, and after these conversations, Victor and everyone else went on as if the conversation wasn't brought up, but Nora's mind was on it. She did love him, and she had to admit she did wanted to go further with him, but will he still want to after she tells him?

Will he see her any different once he knows?

After the lunch, Victor took Nora home, and in an uncomfortable silence, neither of them moved.

"I have something to say."

"I think we need to talk."

They both spoke together, letting out a chuckle.

"You first." Nora insisted.

"Nora, I want to say that I love you. And, uh, in normal circumstances, we probably would be in the stages of intimacy. I, I haven't-Well, I am just saying, this is all new to me, and I don't want to freak you out, so, I am willing to wait as long as you want me to. I love you, and well, that is all I will say on the subject."

Nora smiled and pressed a hand to his face.

"You are so sweet. I honestly don't believe I could have found someone better. And I have something to say." She folds both hands into her lap, starting, "I am very attracted to you, seriously, and you are right, normally we would be further along. But I-I can't."

He seemed concerned, making Nora jump to correct herself.

"I am not saying forever, maybe one day, but just at the moment, I can't. I have…issues."

She couldn't look at him, but she knew that he was confused.

"It is difficult to explain but I should start from the beginning. You know I am adopted. My mother died soon after my birth, I later learn that she had complications, from an outside source. My dad-"

Nora let out a shaky sigh, and near on the verge of tears said, "My dad was a drunk, who like to hit and forget that his wife was dead. I have been told that I look a lot like her, and in the middle of the night, in drunkenness, one would forget that he had a daughter that wasn't meant to be molested."

Victor felt his heart stop for a brief moment. "Nora, no, he…he did?"

Nora was crying now. Victor moved closer to hold Nora close, rubbing her shoulder.

"They heard me one night, and someone called the police. I was only seven. I didn't see him since. He will never get out, they say."

Nora was hysterical at that point, clinging to Victor, as if she was afraid that he would run away. But he didn't.

He only felt hate, more hate that he had ever felt for anyone he had before. He hated him more than he hated the doctors, lawyer and his bullies all together. But it disappeared when he remembered that Nora needed him now. He would never make her feel afraid like her father made her afraid.

"I hope you don't hate me."

Victor looked down at Nora and asked, "Why on earth would I hate you?"

"I don't know. Because I am not as perfect as you thought I was?"

"Nora, you will always be perfect to me, and whatever happened to you in the past does not determine how I see you. I love you, every good and bad thing that you may bring. I am not scared off by a ghost of someone that doesn't deserve your love."

Nora felt a sense of relief, which left her rather tired.

"Come on, let's go in. You need to rest."

"Okay."

Victor held her close as he brought her in. Nora was nearly asleep when she rested her head on her pillow. She last felt his kiss on her forehead, before he left her to sleep.

When he went down the stairs, John and Susan were waiting for him.

"Is Nora all right?" Susan asked.

"Yes, just resting."

"Victor, come with us, we need to talk."

Victor followed them into the garden, where they would be away from any ears to listen.

"Victor, we could tell that Nora told you. And well, we have some things to share with you." John said.

"May I ask what happened to her father?"

"We didn't want to let her know anything about him, but he is still alive. He is in Gotham Prison, we never told her, less should she decide to try and see him."

"I hate him." Victor said bluntly.

"We do too," Susan said. "As much as we would like to say our hate turned to pity, it hasn't. She is our daughter, no matter what. She belongs to us, as she was always meant to be."

John sighed and said, "Taking home at first was no picnic. She was terrified of me, as one could imagine. She clung to Susan and always looked at me with fear. She barricaded her door at night for the first few months. We tried to get her into programs to help her, but nothing worked.

"Then we were ready to give up, until Christmas, when we took her to see the Nutcracker. She spoke to us the next day and asked if there were ballet classes to be had. This was just the beginning. Once she started, she became more happy, secure, and she actually stopped being afraid of me. Nora has ballet to thank for her recovery."

"Just as we have you to thank to make her happier than we have ever seen her be." Susan said. "And there is something you must know, No one, but we three here, know about her past. She refused to tell anyone at ballet, not wanting anyone to take pity on her. We trust you to tell no one."

Victor swore on her life that he would never; he loved her too much to see her hurt more.

Nora came out from the house, rubbing her eyes, and said, "I guess we are all the same boat here."

Victor stood and went over to Nora. He kissed her and stroked her face. "Enjoyed your nap?"

"It was okay."

"Sweetie-" Susan started.

"Please, now that it's out there, let's not talk about it anymore."

"Okay."

Nora and Victor sat down with her parents, all very quiet until John asked, "So, I heard that you caused quite a stir at the ice rink. Care to elaborate?"

"How did you know?"

"Mrs. Brent decided to take her class on a field trip and of course, she had to tell me." John looked at them and teased, "Shameful."

Nora and Victor turned red and laughed. As they tried to explain, the matter was far away, and forgotten.

Nora asked Victor to stay the night; she wanted to keep him close as long as she could.

Long after he was asleep, Nora just looked at him and thought to herself, this is what I have, what I needed. I think I damn well deserved a great man like him, and he is a great man.

She leaned over and kissed his lips gently, trying not to wake him. She saw his lips curl into a smile and feeling more content than she had ever felt in her life, she slept with a smile on her face too.

Thanks to Gcucullu-0, Starlyne Zeviar, athena9090, VexFyre and Snow Slayer. Sorry this has come a bit later than I had hoped, classes are ending here and I had so much work to do. I will never abandon a story, it will be completed. I promise you guys that.