As the doors to the elevator closed and she saw the look on Bruce's face, Angeline slumped against the wall of the elevator. She let her tears fly freely. At least in here nobody could hear her sobbing. This was just all so much to handle and take in for her. It killed her to have to hurt Bruce, and to walk away from him. Despite everything, she still loved him. It just wasn't enough for her to be what he needed her to be; what he deserved. No, her heart belonged to Jack.

When the doors opened again, she composed herself and grabbed her bags. She was walking out of this building and away from the somewhat normal life she could have had here with Bruce. When she stepped out into the cool Gotham night air, she realized she had no idea where her life was headed. With Jack, her life would always be an unpredictable mass of chaos. So very different from her calm, sheltered, and exquisite life with Bruce. Still, the unpredictability of life with Jack was what she craved; what she needed. He breathed new life into her that she had never experienced before and it was exhilarating.

Angeline glanced at the time on her cell phone. Frowning, she decided there was no way in hell she was making it back to The Narrows to find Jack tonight. Even with him out there watching her, it was just too dangerous to go alone. She would have to stay in a hotel for the night and find him again in the morning.

Hailing a cab, she made her way to a hotel a few blocks away from Wayne Towers. She got a room and after another elevator ride she walked down a dimly lit hallway to find room number seven hundred and six.

Angeline sighed as she stuck the key into the door and turned the knob. She swung the door open and flipped the light switch on. "Home sweet home, I guess."

She shut the door behind her and walked into the small, one bed room. The curtains were drawn, letting lights from the city outside spill in. She set her bag down on the floor and looked out the window for a moment. All she could think about was Bruce as she saw the lights from Wayne Tower in the distance. She quickly pulled the curtains closed and turned away from the window, wrapping her arms around herself. She felt cold; cold and alone. Hopefully nothing a nice bath wouldn't fix.

Walking into the bathroom she flipped the light on and started running hot water into the tub. She went back out into the room and got into her bag, pulling out the necessary bath items. She changed out of her wet clothes and threw them on the bed, walking into the bathroom and closing the door behind her. She caught a quick glimpse of herself in the mirror. She stared at her scars, biting her lip. As her stomach started to pull into a knot, she looked away from the mirror, sighing. Ok so no looking out the window or I think about Bruce, and no looking in the mirror or I think about Jack. Let's hope the damn bath doesn't make me think about anything…

Angeline eased herself into the hot water and instantly felt relief. She closed her eyes and let the warmth relax her muscles and take away her stress. She felt calm and at peace. She took her time washing her hair and inhaled the warm vanilla scent of her soap deeply as she washed herself off. She was just finishing shaving her legs when she heard the door to her room open and close.

Oh my god, you've got to be kidding me. She heard footsteps in the room, but the door to the bathroom was left undisturbed. She pulled the stopper on the drain and got out of the tub as quietly as she could. She wrapped a towel around herself as she continued to listen for more sounds from the intruder. Looking around the room she didn't have many options for things to defend herself with and her cell phone was out on the bed. It was either stay in the bathroom until they came in here, or go out there armed with a fucking plunger. Great.

Angeline pulled the towel tighter against herself and picked up the plunger as quietly as she could. All she could hear was her own shuddered breathing and fast heartbeat. She tiptoed to the door and shut off the light, placing her hand on the knob. Maybe if she was fast enough she could get the upper hand by surprising her attacker first and getting in one good hit if she was lucky. She gripped the wood handle tight in her wet palm as she opened the door as quietly as she could.

The rest of the room was dark. The intruder must have shut the lights off when they came in. She stepped out into the room and couldn't see anything. Had she imagined the sound? Maybe she was just being paranoid. She was getting ready to laugh at her own self when she heard a deep, nasally and amused voice from behind her.

"A plunger, Angel? What exactly were you, ah, planning to do with that? Unclog me?"

She dropped the plunger to the ground and turned around. "Jack? What are you doing here?"

"Thought I'd, uh, drop by and see how things went with Bruce."

The room was still dark, but her eyes were adjusting enough that she could make out the features on his face. His eyes were locked on her. She held her towel closer against herself, feeling cold. "Things are… over between Bruce and I, Jack."

He reached out and grabbed her left hand. He glanced down at her fingers. "Is that so?"

"Yes…"

He let go of her hand and cocked his head to the side. "And, uh, what did you tell him?"

Angeline felt herself shiver. That hot bath had warmed her, but standing here dripping wet and having to think about everything all over again drained her of any warmth and calm she had gained. "I told him the truth. I told him I couldn't live with myself if I stayed with him… that I loved someone else."

He pulled her against him with one arm, holding her there. He licked his lips before he brushed them against her wet neck. "Mmm, and, uh, how did he react to that? Hm? How did Bruce Wayne like being told that you belong to me?"

She felt herself go flush with his lips brushing against her neck like that. She could barely think straight. "He was… upset."

His lips continued to trail along her neck making their way to her ear. He brushed her wet hair away and nipped at the lobe of her ear. "Mmm, that's too bad. What a, uh, shame."

He continued trailing his lips up along her jaw until his lips finally found hers. He parted his lips, trailing his tongue along her soft, sweet mouth. She tasted so sweet and perfect that it drove him up a wall. He felt her arms come up around him, hes hands locking into his hair. He abruptly broke the kiss. "Now tell me, Angel, what about you? Hm? Are you upset? Do you miss him or do you, ah, do you want me? Which one of us do you belong to… me or, uh, Bruce?"

Angeline didn't hesitate. She would always care for Bruce, but she belonged to him. This is right where she wanted to be and he needed to know that. He needed to believe that after everything. She kissed him and as she pulled away from the kiss, she placed her cheek against his scarred cheek and rested it there.

"You, Jack. I'm right where I belong. I'll always want you."

His arm wrapped tighter around her. "Prove it."

She turned to kiss his warm, soft scars. He had never put the make-up back on after the rain had washed it off earlier in the day. It felt good to feel his bare skin on her lips; to feel him. She moved her hands down to his chest as her lips found his again. Pleased to discover he didn't have his trench coat on, she quickly started to unbutton his vest. She slid the vest off as her lips moved to his neck. She pulled his tie off and began working at the buttons of his shirt. Her lips parted, allowing his tongue to explore her mouth as she finished undoing the buttons of his shirt.

He broke away from her to pull his suspenders down and took his shirt off. He placed his lips hungrily back on her neck, trailing them along her collarbone as he removed her towel. He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her to him. Her legs wrapped around him as his lips found hers again. He walked, carrying her, towards the bed. Bending down, he dropped her on the bed and stood above her.

Angeline looked up at him. She hadn't realized just how much she had missed him and needed him until now. She'd never wanted anything more in her life than she wanted him.

"Jack?"

He stared down at her as he maneuvered out of his pants and boxers. God, she was perfect… and she was his again. It had been so long since he'd last been with her… so long since he'd felt this kind of need; this kind of pleasure. He laid on top of her, his body pressed against hers. "Hm?"

Her hands were on his warm, bare back. She dug her nails lightly into his skin. "I need you."

He kissed her. "Yeah?"

She wrapped her legs around him and could feel him pressing against her. So close, yet so far away. It was killing her to be apart from him. "Jack, please…"

He brought his lips to her neck. He sent his tongue out trailing along her collar bone, then down to her breasts. He glanced up at her and grinned. "Ok, but, uh…. On one condition, Angel."

"Anything."

The smile was gone and he moved his face back to hers. He locked his eyes with hers, his face deadly serious. "Don't, uh, don't you ever do that to me again. Never leave me like that again."

Angeline placed her palm against his cheek and kissed him. "I won't, Jack."

His eyes still locked with hers, he pushed into her. They were complete again. He moved within her as she bucked her hips up into him. He stared down at her. It was still so hard to believe that this was real; that she alive and they were together again.

"I love you, Jack."

He saw the tears in her eyes. Still moving with her, his release building, he brought his lips to her cheeks to kiss her tears. "I know. And Angel? There's, uh, there's something I want you to remember… to never forget."

She wrapped her arms around him, holding him as close to her as she could. "Yes?"

His lips were at her neck. His cheek pressed against hers as they continued to move together. "You. Are. Mine."

Angeline brought her lips to his. Their kiss didn't break at all as they both reached their release together. She caught her breath as he laid on top of her, with his cheek pressed against her chest.

She was running her fingers through his hair when she heard him whisper to her, his voice muffled.

"I, uh…. I… love you, Angel. I, ah, I went through hell when I thought you were dead and I, uh…don't think I could do it again. But, I needed to say it. All that time thinking you were dead…I just.. Well…Look I'm not good at this, ok? I don't do emotions. Never believed in, uh, in love. But I know what I felt for you… What I still feel for you. So don't forget that. Ever."

AUTHOR'S NOTE -

First of all...thank you so much for all of your support. So many of you, and you all know who you are, were so caring and supportive of me during this difficult time. I apologize to all of my readers that it took me a while to get this written and posted. Last week my uncle passed away (who was a one of a kind man). It was an extremely long, stressful and emotional month and this has been a very rough week for me. I'm still not quite with it. I just want to thank you all for your constant support and amazing messages that you sent me. This chapter is for all of you. My readers are the best and I love each and every one of you! I hope you will understand as I continue to mend and grieve if it takes me a little longer to get these chapters out.

Welcome to any new readers as well. I appreciate you too. : ) And thank you to any new subscribers. You guys rock.

So, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm a little worried about the ending because in most circumstances it is definitely considered kind of OOC for him to say "I love you", but I think given these circumstances it was in character for him. Trust me I do try very hard to keep The Joker in character because his character means a lot to me. This isn't something he's going to throw around all the time because no that's not him. In fact this very well may be the ONLY time he ever says it. So I hope that you can understand my reasonings and enjoy the chapter as is.

Again thank you to all my readers (new and old) for taking the time to read and as always I love to hear from you. Please take care, all of you.

Yours Truly,

foxotr