*x*o*x*o*
I wanted freedom
Bound and restricted
I tried to give you up
But I'm addicted
Now that you know I'm trapped
Sense of elation
You'd never dream of
Breaking this fixation
You will squeeze the life out of me
~Muse~
*x*o*x*o*

She hadn't spoken to him or even looked at him all day. Going so far as to hail her own cab home from the mall. It killed him inside. Now that he's calmed down a bit, he realizes it. It's killing him.

Standing in front of the dressing table's mirror, he watches her from across the room as she sits at her vanity counter and applies lipstick. Red. The same color and shade as the tie he's now tying around his neck.

Why did he feel such a need to make a scene? He should have just stayed true to his name sake and kept his mouth shut. All this heartache and strife over a stupid red tie. She said tonight was important to her. He tells himself he shouldn't care, but does. The tightness in his chest is proof enough to just how much he truly does.

In the vanity mirror's reflection, she catches his eye. His heart jumps and he smiles at her yet she turns the other way. He doesn't deserve her. He thinks over and over again. A mantra running through his head. She deserves so much better. He doesn't deserve her.

Finishing his tie, he begins work on his cufflinks. A spritz of cologne. Hair slicked back. Finishing touches. He finally glances at himself in the mirror. Not bad. Sharp, in fact. She was right. The red tie really pops against the black on black suit. He takes a seat on their bed and continues watching as she gets ready for dinner.

He had always enjoyed watching her, even back before they were an item. From rooftops and alleyways, he would sit with night vision goggles, watching as she went about her night as well as day. He told himself, then, that it was all part of his plans, that he needed to keep an eye on his most precious and important pawn, but it never accounted for just how much he had enjoyed it. He can admit that to himself now. However scandalous and one sided, he had always enjoyed her. One night in particular crosses his mind. He remembers the night he watched her change on her way to go meet up with Bruce. The same night he took her heart.

Black cats are supposed to be bad luck, he reminds himself as he begins twirling the gold band on his ring-finger. How is it then that ever since she crossed his path, he became the luckiest man on earth? Someone to have and to hold him. Someone to put up with him in good times and in bad. Someone to stand beside him and go up against the world with. The devil and his dark angel. King and Queen of the dark city streets. The new first family of Gotham. A slight smile crosses his lips. Family.

His heart skips a beat and he quiets his mind. The moment he's been waiting for has finally arrived. Sitting straight up, he watches as she gets up from her vanity and walks towards her walk-in closet. His heart beats wildly within his chest at the anticipation as she steps inside and stops.

The curiosity is killing her. Standing in the middle of her closet, she stares down at a modest sized box waiting for her. There's no wrapping paper or bow, as that had never been Tommy's style. Instead, a simple note is taped to the top. Two words are written on it. It's an apology.

Tommy had never been one for words. Spoken words, that is. Matters of the heart were seldom discussed and even more seldomly expressed. It was difficult for him. She knew that. It didn't mean that behind closed doors he wasn't affectionate, in fact it was quite the opposite. He was incredibly passionate. As if everything he ever wanted to or could tell her was told in his eyes and hands and lips. Still, it was little moments like this that reminded her just why she had fallen in love with him in the first place. Little things he did that showed just how vulnerable he truly is. That it is always easier to pick up a gun than it is to tell someone they're sorry.

Feeling eyes at her back, Selina glances behind her shoulder to find Tommy standing in the doorway. He smiles softly and encourages her to open it, which she gladly yet hesitantly obliges. Slowly, she sits down on her knees and pulls open the box. Carefully, she removes her gift and admires its construction. Kevlar lined patent black leather with stark white stitches running throughout. Gloves with poison tipped claws. A new suit to mark her new life.

"I was saving this for your birthday, but… well… You deserve it now." Tommy recites while staring at the garment in her hands. She can tell he's been going over this in his head, and even still, he's having great difficulty finding the words. "I wanted to say I was… sorry… for the way I acted earlier. I… ughh… You… Selina, you make me… better. I need you by my side… always. I got you this because… I want everyone to know that we're a… uh… team."
"Team?"
"Yeah… You know… Partners?"
"You mean husband and wife?"
"Yeah…" Tommy laughs uneasily with his hands raking along his scalp, messing up his nicely combed hair. "I told you that I wanted to share every night with you along with every day, and I meant that. I got you this to mark your… I mean our new life together. And to… thank you… for putting up with me and all…"

Sitting on the closet floor, Selina holds the suit to her chest as she begins to cry. Tommy watches on, unsure what to do. His heart sinks.

"Y-You don't like it." He stammers.
"No. No. It's just…"
"No, it's alright if you don't like it. It's the stitches, isn't it? It reminds you of… when I…" Tommy takes a deep breath and exhales loudly, closing his eyes. "You don't want to be seen with me. Is that it?"
"No. Tommy, I love it. Really. It's just… I can't wear this. Not yet, at least"

She gets up from her seat on the closet floor and stands before him, still clutching the new suit to her chest. Their bodies nearly touching, she looks him in the eye tenderly. She can tell by the expression on his face that he's both uncomfortable and confused as well as a little hurt. He's not accustomed to doing nice things for someone, especially without any gain to himself. Even less accustomed to those nice things being refused. He breathes in her perfume. He wants so badly to brush away her tears, but is too afraid. Instead, his hands hang idly by his side.

Placing her hand in his, she gives him a gentle squeeze. Assuring him that everything is ok. She can tell this is killing him.

"I was going to tell you over dinner, but…" She nibbles her lip nervously, watching him as he hangs on her every word. Her voice is so timid and small, slightly afraid how he's going to react. Gaining strength, she smiles softly and continues. "I'll be taking a bit of a leave of absence as Catwoman."

"Is something wrong? Are you in trouble? Do we have to relocate? "
"No. No. No… I'm fine. It's just… Ok… I meant to say that I'll be taking more of a… maternity leave?"

Tommy's eyes widen and mouth hangs open as he stares at her in awkward silence. There's an emotion for this, he's sure of it. There's something very specific that he should be feeling at this exact moment, but is unsure as to what exactly that should be. He feels strangely calm. That and a sense of uncertainty. Aristotle says, "Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own." Selina stares up at him, awaiting his reply.

"Is it… mine?"
"OF COURSE it's yours, you moron!" Selina shouts, smacking her hand against his chest. "Whose else would it be?"

The room seems to be spinning. Surely this isn't happening. He feels like screaming. Like jamming a blade into his neck. Like jumping through a plate glass window. Like tearing all his hair out. His head feels like it's splitting in two. Is that what he's supposed to be feeling? He's not quite sure.

She takes his hand and moves it to her stomach. He can't feel anything besides the smoothness of her silk dress with his fingers, but knows there's something there. Something that can't be felt by the touch, but by the heart.

A teardrop splats on the back of his hand, cold and wet. Selina must be crying again. He glances at her face only to find that no tears have fallen. Her eyes are clear and staring up at him lovingly. Why does she do that? Why does she look at me like that? With his hand still in hers, she lifts their hands up to wipe the tears away from his eyes.

"We're going to have a baby?"
"Yeah."
"I'm… I'm going to be a father?"
"Mmhmm."

The corner of his mouth ticks, slowly curling up into a bright and wide smile. All at once, it comes to him. Emotion washes over him like a tidal wave, filling his head and heart and lungs until he feels like he might burst. He shouts her name to the sky, loudly proclaiming his love to her over and over again. In one great swoop, he grabs Selina by the waist and lifts her into the air, laughing and crying with his strong arms wrapped tightly around her back. Never letting go. Never. His. All his.

She said tonight was important to her. Little did he know just how important it would be to him as well. They would remember this night for the rest of their lives.


Hope you've all enjoyed seeing how both Hush and Tommy feel and react towards their "normal" life with Selina. It's conflicting and he's not accustomed to it, but he's trying. I wanted to portray that he doesn't understand real emotions and that he doesn't know how he's supposed to feel towards certain events. He loves Selina (at least he thinks so!), but doesn't know how to express himself sometimes.

Also, the new costume that Tommy had made for her is straight outta Batman Returns. Michelle Pfeiffer style! I always loved the white stitches and thought it would go perfectly with Hush, seeing how he's cut her up and stitched her back together… in more ways than one.

OH! And the song I used for both Part 1 & Part 2 of this Chapter is "Time is Running out" by Muse. If you get a chance, listen to it! I think it describes their relationship puurrrrrfectly! ;)