As it turned out, Mia had been gone for nearly four days and when she'd returned, Bruce picked her up at the airport at his insistence. As she got into his car, he reached over and kissed her hungrily, his eyes blazing with emotion.
"Hi." He whispered out with feeling.
"Hi." Mia said in confusion. "Everything alright?"
Bruce nodded. "I was hoping I could perhaps persuade you to leave town with me for a few days."
Mia's eyes widened in disbelief. "I'm sorry...you want to take a vacation together?"
Bruce nodded as he pulled out his car into traffic, reaching for Mia's hand and rubbing over her knuckles in reassurance. "Yes, I've found a way to get into Hong Kong and extract Lau out...but I need a plausible cover story to do so. So I thought it might look good to abscond with the Russian Ballet for a few days aboard my yacht, I have a plane that's going to pick me up and fly me under the radar into Hong Kong. Lucius is heading over...to meet with Lau and set up the tech I need to get in. I just thought..." Bruce's voice faded away as Mia's eyes flashed as she finished for him...
"That it really wouldn't look good for your supposed girlfriend to be left at home while you entertain a bunch of ballerina's for a few days?"
Bruce grimaced sheepishly, sensing Mia's ire. "Supposed girlfriend? I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean, but it seemed like a good plan."
Mia shook her head in disgust, completely pissed off at this point. "And I'm sure this has absolutely nothing to do with interfering with Harvey and Rachel's date to the Ballet...fuck, could you be any more obvious?"
Bruce's eyes widened at the use of profanity as he swerved his car over into an alley and shut off the engine. "That has nothing to do with it Mia, actually it was Alfred who suggested the idea."
"It's quite convenient though, isn't it? Let's recap shall we? Your childhood sweetheart, whom you clearly still have unresolved romantic feelings for, if the look you gave her at dinner the other night was any indication, is now dating and sleeping with the new district attorney...she also knows you're Batman, which you'd also failed to inform me of going into said dinner date...the same dinner date where you effectively made me seem like I was the model of the week on your arm, and not the woman you're supposed to be in a relationship with. But the one thing that was glaringly obvious was for some reason I can't fathom...and believe me, I'd considered every possible scenario while I was gone...Rachel Dawes isn't the one at your side, but you clearly, desperately want her to be." Hermione shook her head in disgust. "This between us is over, Bruce Wayne! I won't be your consolation prize, and I will not be played for a fool by you, or by anyone!"
Mia went to get out of the car, but Bruce was faster and pulled her into his lap...all the while trying to get her to calm down. He deserved her rage...fuck, he deserved her leaving him...but it was the last thing he wanted right now.
"I'm sorry, I should've told you about Rachel. Our history is complicated, but trust me when I tell you it's you I want to be with Mia...only you. I'm sorry I was dismissive of our relationship, you have to know that's not how I feel about you at all. I care deeply for you Mia."
Mia's amber eyes stared into Bruce's hazel ones in disbelief. "Really? You're quite sure about that?"
"Yes, I'm sure about that! I don't want this to be over Mia."
Mia's eyes bored into Bruce's, wishing more than anything she could use legilimency and looking closely for any sign of deception and not finding any...which left her feeling more confused than ever.
"I will go with you to get Lau because I gave you my word that I'd help you, but after that's over we will sit down and discuss whatever this is...because right now if I have this conversation, I'm going to do or say something I can't take back. I don't feel the least bit logical right now, and it's pissing me off."
Bruce nodded in agreement. "Agreed. When we get back home, all cards on the table."
Mia nodded and moved back over to her seat and buckled in...remaining silent as they drove the rest of the way to her apartment. When she got out of the car, she turned back and said firmly, "When can I expect you to pick me up for our excursion?"
Bruce sighed softly. "Tomorrow at noon."
Mia nodded and made her way back into her building, not sparing him a backwards glance. Door closed and Bruce floored the accelerator, needing to figure out what the fuck he was doing and how to fix the mess he'd made.
When he'd picked Mia up the next day, he couldn't help but notice how tired and withdrawn she looked. Her eyes were emotionless, and her normal carefree smile was missing. It made his heart hurt to think he'd done that to her after everything she'd done for him.
When they'd reached the airport and got onto the plane he'd chartered for the flight, Mia sat with Natasha, the Prima Ballerina and together they'd talked for several hours. Mia was trying to learn Russian on the flight and Natasha was impressed with how quickly Mia was picking up the language. Bruce just sat there watching Mia with open admiration at how easily people responded to her genuine kindness and good heart.
They landed some time after breakfast the following day and the car service was waiting to take them to Bruce's yacht. When they finally arrived at his yacht, Bruce came over and gently took Mia's hand, leading her to their stateroom. Thankfully she didn't protest and once they were alone, Bruce took Mia into his arms and kissed her softly.
"Thank you for coming with me." Bruce said with feeling.
Mia nodded. "Of course, I told you I would help and I'd meant it."
When Mia went to get up, Bruce's grip on her hips tightened instinctively. "I know we said we'd talk about things when we got back to Gotham and I still want to do that, but you need to know how very sorry I am that I keep hurting you. It was never and will never be my intention to do so. You are so amazing Mia, and I can't help but wonder what it is you see in me somedays. I'm trying to do better and I want to do better...I'll probably screw it up again though, because it's just who I am. But you need to know how much I care for you, and how much I want you."
Mia sighed softly as she thought over Bruce's words and then slowly shook her head in resignation. "I don't doubt you want me and care for me...but the fact remains you don't need me and you don't love me...and I'm not convinced that's ever going to change as long as you keep holding your heart for someone else who's not me. You can deny it, but you're lying to both me and yourself and I think you know it deep down. You want to be happy, and you don't want to be alone, I get that...but you're in love with Rachel, and she doesn't love you enough to stand by you unconditionally, and even with all that...you still hold onto that hope. When you get back to Gotham...you need to figure out what you want for you...not as Batman, but as Bruce Wayne. I'm going to head back to England...I can finish my research there and when it's done I'll forward it to Lucius...you won't have to see me again."
Bruce shook his head in consternation. "I don't accept that...Damn it Mia! I won't accept that!" He said with more feeling than Mia had ever heard from him. "You're wrong, I do need you in my life! I don't want you to leave Mia...I don't want to lose you. As for love...I'm not read to say it yet, are you?"
Mia tilted her head down and sighed. She already knew where her feelings were, and this was why she needed to leave. When she looked back up there were tears in her eyes as she nodded. "I've been in love with you for awhile...and the fact you can't say it back tells me everything I need to know. If you truly want to be with Rachel, and you do, since you didn't deny being in love with her, you need to let me go Bruce Wayne...I won't be your consolation prize."
Bruce was stunned silent as he watched Mia get up and make her way out onto the boat deck...leaving him to his own thoughts as he stared out into the empty room feeling his heart breaking in two and not sure how to fix it.
When the South Korean smugglers came to pick Bruce up, later that same day, Mia was nowhere to be found. He'd nodded to Alfred, and made his way to the plane, his only thoughts filled with how bereft Mia had looked when she'd left him a few hours earlier and how he was terrified he'd never see her again.
When his mission to Hong Kong went off without a hitch and he'd left Lau in front of the police station for Lt. Gordon back in Gotham...knowing it wouldn't take long for Harvey and Rachel to break him...he drove to Mia's building, and was notified by her doorman that Miss Black had left the country and would not be returning as far as he knew. Bruce drove his car away wondering how the fuck it had all come to this. He'd tried calling her several times a day, but her voice mail was turned off so he wasn't able to leave any messages.
The following week had been a nightmare of epic proportions as the Joker ran through Gotham with a vengeance. Commissioner Loeb had been killed and the Joker had broken into Bruce's Penthouse during his fundraiser for Harvey, throwing Rachel out the window. Luckily he'd been able to save her in time, but it had been too close and left Bruce feeling even more desperate.
When Bruce made the decision to turn himself in after Jim Gordon had been shot and killed at Commissioner Loeb's funeral service, he'd found Rachel waiting for him in his room at his Penthouse, where she'd been staying for a few days. As he walked into the room, Bruce was struck momentarily with the notion that in all the months he'd spent with Mia, he'd never invited her into his home...to his bedroom. But here was Rachel, standing in his room like she belonged there...the irony was not wasted on him at all and it made him feel like an even bigger heel.
"Harvey called, he said that the Batman is going to turn himself in." Rachel said softly while Bruce moved over to gaze out his Penthouse window, staring off into the night.
"I have no choice," Bruce said with conviction, as his eyes remained fixated out onto Gotham's skyline.
"You honestly think that is going to stop the Joker from killing people?" Rachel queried back in disbelief.
"Perhaps not, but I've got enough blood on my hands...and I've seen now what I would have to become to stop men like him." Bruce's head turned and gave Rachel a desperate look before he moved towards her completely. "You once told me that if the day came when I was finished, we could be together..." Bruce finished speaking as he stood directly in front of Rachel, his hazel eyes boring into her blue ones.
"Bruce, don't make me your one hope for a normal life." Rachel rebuffed unconvincingly.
Bruce moved his left hand up and cupped Rachel's cheek as he said achingly, "Did you mean it?"
Rachel's blue eyes filled with emotion as she whispered out, "Yes."
Bruce moved his head down and captured Rachel's lips in a heated kiss, unaware that their entire conversation had been watched from the other side of the door.
Hermione had come back to talk with Bruce...when she had gone back to London she'd discovered quickly that she was pregnant...which had been a complete shock as she'd thought it would've been impossible for her to get pregnant due to the curse. But several home pregnancy tests later when she'd returned to Gotham yesterday and a visit to a Muggle doctor today had confirmed it...and here she was...hoping that Bruce would be happy to see her and now realizing she'd never stood a chance.
As she stood there in the hallway outside of Bruce's bedroom Hermione's heart splintered in two and the folder she'd brought for Bruce to look at, fell to the floor as she turned around and quickly headed back out the way she'd come.
As she moved through the hallway and out to the main part of the Penthouse, the elevator came into sight and Hermione could feel herself getting both nauseous and dizzy at the realization that once again her love hadn't been enough and without her permission, tears started to threaten to fall. Grabbing her stomach in stark realization, Hermione's feet were quick to move towards her destination but before she could press the button, she was stopped by Alfred's voice.
"Miss Black, were you able to talk to Master Wayne?"
Hermione's pale face and swollen eyes met the concerned gaze of Bruce's butler. Taking a deep breath, Hermione tried to get her Occlumency shields to come down before she answered the question.
"He was otherwise occupied." Hermione said as evenly as she could muster. "It was a great honor to have met you Alfred and I want to thank you for the kindness you've shown me these past months."
Alfred nodded, unsure of what had happened but realizing that if he allowed Miss Black to walk out of Master Wayne's Penthouse, she would likely be gone forever.
"It was my great pleasure to get to know you Miss Black. You've brought a spark back to Master Wayne that I have not seen since he was a young boy."
Hermione instinctively gripped her stomach as a wave of nausea hit her unexpectedly, which wasn't missed by Alfred if the concerned looked he was giving her was any indication. "That's very kind of you to say."
As she turned again to reach for the elevator call button, the one voice Hermione hadn't wanted to hear called out her name in confusion. "Mia, what are you doing here?"
Hermione turned around and saw Bruce standing there with the sealed Manila folder in his left hand. "I was just leaving Mr. Wayne and I won't be bothering you again. The folder in your hand contains some information I'd thought might be helpful to you going forward. If you'll excuse me."
Bruce's face paled in understanding as he realized that Mia had seen his conversation with Rachel and likely what had come after. "Mia...please don't leave like this." Bruce pleaded, but Hermione just shook her head and pressed the call button on the elevator door, as she turned her back to Bruce, ignoring him completely.
She could feel him as he came up behind her and when he went to reach for her, she sent a wandless stunner directly at him, knocking him back long enough so she could get into the elevator and close the door.
Once the door was closed, Hermione took out her wand and silently disapparated out of the elevator and back to her apartment, where she fell to the floor in heaving sobs as she felt like her chest was going to fracture open from the all-consuming pain.
Back in Bruce's Penthouse, the man in question was valiantly trying to catch his breath from however Mia had incapacitated him. Alfred was looking at him with both concern and disappointment.
"Master Wayne, are you alright?"
Bruce took another deep breath as he stood up fully, picking up the folder that Mia had left for him. His heart was literally torn in two and he didn't know what to do. It was clear that Mia had seen the kiss between he and Rachel...and the confession that had proceeded it. He didn't know how this had gotten so messed up, but he knew on some level that Mia would likely never forgive him after what she'd seen and heard, and he deserved her censure and anger. He cared deeply for her, and as he opened the enveloped and saw what was inside, a single tear fell from his eye as he realized just how much Mia had supported him unconditionally and what a cad he was for not realizing sooner how truly special and amazing she was.
Handing the papers to Alfred, he could see the stunned look of shocked disbelief on his Butler's face. Mia had discovered through her research all the dirty cops within the Gotham PD. Which one's were on Marone's payroll and which cops had likely been responsible for the poisoning of Commissoner Loeb, the death of Judge Sorillo. Fuck, with this information the mob would be left in ruins. Shaking his head sadly, Bruce came to the stark realization that he loved Mia...that he loved everything about her and now she was gone and he was screwed!
Rachel walked into the living room at that moment, calling out his name in worry. Silently handing her the information, Bruce watched with bemusement as Rachel gasped in wonder at the paperwork.
When her blue eyes caught his, she blurted out, "How?"
Bruce swallowed uncomfortably and then said softly, "Mia was just here."
Rachel paled and her eyes widened in shocked understanding. "She saw us, didn't she?"
Bruce nodded as he dropped his head into his hands in despair. "She's gone and she's not coming back."
Alfred gestured in agreement. "That seems likely Master Wayne and I'm afraid the situation is far more tenuous than you could possibly imagine."
Bruce gave Alfred a wary, questioning look. "What do you mean Alfred?"
"I do believe Miss Black had another motive for coming here tonight."
"Which was?"
"I believe she was going to tell you she's pregnant."
Bruce stood there staring at his surrogate father in abject horror while Rachel gasped out in shock.
"Did she tell you that?" Rachel asked, as Bruce just stood there completely unresponsive staring out the window as he tried to process everything that had just happened.
Alfred shook his head. "Intuition Miss Dawes. Miss Black didn't need to bring that folder over personally, but when she came in she was almost desperate to speak with you Master Wayne. When I found her by the elevator, she had her hand grasped onto her stomach and she was desperately trying to get ahold of her emotions. I have no doubt that she came here tonight to tell you the news in person and in all likelihood, she will disappear without telling you the truth based on whatever she witnessed between you and Miss Dawes. If I understand Miss Black at all, you won't see her again Master Wayne. So the question you need to ask yourself is this...what do you want Master Wayne? If you wish to be with Miss Rachel than let Miss Black go, it's the least you can do for her under the circumstances."
Bruce glared at Alfred. "And if you're right Alfred, should I just forget about my child too?"
Alfred shrugged, but the look he gave his charge was filled with sad disappointment. "I'm sure you've been selfish enough where Miss Black is concerned, Master Wayne...and I'm fairly certain today is the day 'I told you so,' yes?"
And with that, Alfred left the room to the astonishment of both the people standing there, one feeling terribly guilty and the other feeling as if his entire world had just imploded.
When Alfred was gone, Rachel turned to Bruce and reached for his hand, which he allowed without hesitation and the two made their way over to the couch where they sat in silence for a while. Finally, when Rachel couldn't take it a moment longer, she asked the question she needed the answer to.
"Do you think Alfred is right?"
Bruce's hazel eyes met hers and they looked defeated and torn. "I do."
Rachel nodded in agreement. "What are you going to do Bruce?"
Bruce hung his head down as his elbows fell to his upper thighs and he stared out the window. He loved Rachel, he'd been in love with her since they were children. She was his best friend, his first love and he'd held on so tightly to the hope that someday when all this madness was behind them, they could finally have a real chance at a happy ending. But then there was Batman, then Harvey and now Mia...and the choice that had been so glaringly obvious not only six months ago, was muddled with different possibilities, different choices.
Mia had accused him of holding onto Rachel and he'd lied to her time and again, but the truth wasn't nearly so simple. Somewhere along the way, he'd fallen in love with Mia too...and he'd taken her for granted every step of the way. What must Mia have thought when he'd asked her what she was doing there in his home? A home he'd never once invited her into. Mia had seen him kiss another woman in a place she'd never been welcomed by him...and if that didn't make him a first class asshole, Bruce wasn't sure what did.
As he looked over at Rachel, Bruce could see a myriad of emotions emanating from her blue eyes and all of them made him feel even worse, if possible. How in the world was he supposed to choose between the two halves of his heart?
"I need to talk to Mia. I need to know if what Alfred suspects is true."
"What makes you think she will be honest with you? If it was me, I'm not sure I would."
"I have to try."
Rachel nodded again. "Do you love her, are you in love with her?"
Bruce sighed, but not wanting to lie with Rachel, nodded in response before speaking. "Are you in love with Dent?"
"Yes." Rachel whispered out emotionally, seeing Bruce's resigned look of understanding.
"How did we screw this up so badly, Rachel? I'd never wanted to see you get hurt by my choices and yet that's all I seem to do, hurt the ones I care about the most."
Rachel reached for Bruce's hand and squeezed it in reassurance. "I think we've held on so tightly to the past Bruce, that we've forgotten how to live in the present. Most of our lives we've only been for each other, in one way or another, and that's a hard thing to let go of. I didn't want to give up, because on some level that meant that I'd failed you, but I think I've always known deep down that our time had passed us by, long before you came back to Gotham. I'd just wish I had been the one to stand with you through your crazy journey, but we both know that I couldn't do that. It's obvious that Mia loves you enough to stand by you and support your decision as Batman. We just needed to give each other permission to let go and move on. If you love her Bruce, then go to her...not because of the possibility of the baby, but because she's the one you truly want to be with."
"She's never going to forgive me."
"I think you can plead your case and because she loves you, she'll forgive you eventually.
Bruce nodded and gave Rachel one last kiss on the cheek. "You should call Harvey, tell him to come over and show him everything. I'll try and get back before morning if all goes well and if not, I'll probably be back sooner than I'd like."
"What about tomorrow, Bruce?" Are you going to turn yourself in?"
"That's something we will all need to sit down and discuss."
Rachel nodded and wished him luck as she watched Bruce grab his car keys and head for the basement garage. Rachel had no idea if Mia would forgive Bruce or herself for what happened tonight and she would have to tell Harvey the truth, she owed him that much. Shaking her head in despair, Rachel dialed Harvey's cell phone and hoped that when the dust settled, everything would work out for the best.
