Bruce was sitting in her office when Rachel got in. His eyes were puffy and red and he looked like he hadn't gotten any sleep, but she supposed she herself didn't look much better. She'd stayed up all night, making sure Jack wouldn't try to kill himself like he kept threatening, and she'd dropped him off at Dr. Morgenson's as soon as he'd arrived at his office. Rachel had spent another hour on the phone with Alfred after that, and all she wanted to do was curl up in Jack's arms and make this bad dream go away.

But Bruce was still there, watching her with heavily guarded eyes, and she closed her door with a sigh.

"All right, let's have this out."

He looked down at his hands as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I didn't come to fight, Rachel."

"Then why are you here?"

"I wanted to make sure you're all right. How many times does he have to almost kill you before you realise he's never going to change?"

"Jack," and she stressed his name slightly, "wasn't trying to kill me last night. He was trying to get me to leave him alone."

"The Joker tried."

"As far as I'm concerned, Bruce, the Joker's been dead for almost ten years."

Bruce sighed and rubbed his eyes. "And what about last night?"

Rachel finally sat down at her desk and leaned forward. "Last night someone he knew ten years ago was harassing him, there was a bounty hunter or something like that trying to get me alone, he had a migraine, he couldn't sleep, he's still upset that the tabloids found out about us, and he knew that mugger, too. So yes, I think it's understandable that he broke down." She leaned back and rubbed her forefingers against her thumbs. "He scared me," she said softly. "He scared me a lot. That wasn't Jack last night, you're right. It was the Joker, but Jack was there, Bruce. Do you think the Joker would have tried to save that girl? Or me?"

Bruce looked at her calmly, then shook his head. "I think he's got you wrapped around his finger, Rachel."

"Bruce, you don't know him. He makes me happy, Bruce, happier than I've been in a long time. Yes, he's antisocial, egotistical, still a psychopathic sociopath, and unstable even with his medicine, but . . . he's also gentle, and kind, and incredibly intelligent. I can talk with him about anything, he's hilarious when he wants to be, and he's trying, Bruce. He's trying so hard to leave his past behind him, but it keeps biting him in the ass." She slumped a little. "I wish he could leave Gotham City, move some place where no one knows him so he could really start over."

"Alfred's vouched for him," Bruce said. Rachel nodded. "He says it's time I let the past go, but . . . God, Rachel, last night . . ."

"He'll probably be heavily medicated for quite a while, if that helps," Rachel offered.

Her old friend looked at her. "How can you love him, Rachel? Honestly, how did that happen?"

"Slowly," she replied. "His psychiatrist asked me to visit him on occasion to keep him company; he said that it would be good for Jack, having constant proof that he's not hated by everyone, and that I'd forgiven him." Rachel shrugged. "And . . . little by little . . . it just snuck up on me."

"Were you serious about wanting to marry him?"

Rachel pursed her lips. "If he asked me . . . I wouldn't say no. I wouldn't say yes," she said as Bruce closed his eyes in pain, "but . . . I wouldn't turn him down outright."

"Alfred's insisting that we go on like last night didn't happen. Your mother called me, too." He opened his eyes to roll them at her. "She's still concerned, but she likes him."

"His name is Jack, Bruce," Rachel said sharply. "Please call him by his name."

He pursed his lips. "She said 'The least you can do is support your best friend when she needs it the most.' Do you know how much I wanted to hate Bethany at that moment?" He looked down at his hands again. "So . . . What do you want me to do?"

Rachel blinked. "About what?"

"About . . . Jack. Anything I can do, I'll do it."

Rachel bit back the tears that sprang to her eyes and got up, coming around the desk to pull Bruce into a fierce hug. "You're amazing, Bruce. Thank you so much." She wiped her eyes and smiled at him, then kissed his forehead. "I know how hard this must be for you," she whispered.

"Just tell me what you want me to do."

"Show your support for Jack," Rachel said. "Get to know him. He's so nervous about meeting you, Bruce. He wants to make a good first impression. And do not do anything that might hint that you're Batman." She glowered at him. "I was so mad at you last night. I know you were just trying to help, but damn it, it only made Jack worse."

"I'm . . . sorry, Rachel."

He looked so forlorn that Rachel hugged him again. "I don't expect you to ever approve, or like him, but try to give Jack a chance? Please?"

Her friend held her tightly and nodded. "All right. I'll try."

***

"How smart would it be," Rachel asked, "if Jack were to move in with me?"

Morgenson raised his eyebrows as he thought about it. "I think that having you there all the time would be a constant reminder of what he stands to lose if this behaviour keeps up." He tapped the side of his nose. "He'll be fairly useless for the next few months. I've upped a lot of his medications. Are you willing to be his caretaker for a while?"

"For as long as he needs one," Rachel said fervently. "Is he still going to let me near him?"

"I didn't give him a choice," Morgenson said as he leafed through some pamphlets. "How do you know Batman?"

"What?" Rachel asked as her heart skipped a beat.

"I asked how you know Batman. I'm not asking for his true identity, I just want to know how you know each other. Jack seems to think that he's in love with you. It irritates him."

Rachel sat back and tried to think of how to respond. "He's . . . a casual acquaintance."

"I think he's more than an acquaintance, but I understand that you're not able to tell me more. Here, this is for a support group I'd like you to start going to." He held out a pamphlet. "It's for the family and friends of people with serious mental illnesses. It will help to know people who are in a similar situation as yours."

"Thank you," Rachel said as she took the information.

"Are you still on birth control?"

"Yes, and we haven't had sex yet."

"But you've been intimate." Morgenson waved his hand to keep her quiet. "Sometimes Jack says more when he's not talking than when he is. I trust you're both properly satisfied?"

She was past blushing at this point, and Rachel nodded. "Very satisfied. I know Jack really wants to have sex, but I've been holding off. Still . . . soon."

"A special day?"

She looked down at her hands. "My birthday. It's mushy and cliché, I know, but . . . it just seems like the night."

"Well, that saves me from having to tell you to sleep with him. Your birthday's what, next month? The medication shouldn't be kicking in too much by then --- I'm upping them slowly, so he can adjust. All right. It was bloody stupid of you to try to calm him down last night, rather than get away, I hope you know."

"I couldn't let him leave like that," Rachel said. "He could have gotten hurt, or killed, or slipped fully back into being the Joker."

"I know, which is why I'm glad you stopped him. Heroes are generally normal people who make stupid decisions and make them work."

Rachel smiled. "I'm glad you approve."

***

"Come on, Jack. If you complain one more time, I'm going to gag you." Rachel took Jack's hand and led him to where Bruce stood at the limo door. "You look so handsome tonight," she murmured.

"Rachel, happy birthday," Bruce said with that winning smile of his. He held his hand out to Jack without a trace of resentment. "And you must be Jack. Rachel's told me all about you."

"Really?" Jack asked, suddenly looking wary.

"Oh, I can't get her to shut up about you." Bruce ushered them in to the limo, then slipped in across from them and his chauffeur closed the door. He was ignoring that Jack hadn't shaken his hand. "I'm glad she's so happy."

"I'm not that great," Jack protested. "I make a lot of huge mistakes."

"We all do," Bruce told him, and Rachel wondered what this act was costing him. "The question is, can we forgive ourselves enough to move on and let the past go?" He paused to let that sink in, then went on. "Rachel tells me you've had a few fits, but you haven't gone back to your old ways, and I think you've made fewer mistakes than you think you have." Rachel took Jack's hand and smiled at him. "By the way, Rachel, I love your dress. Where did you get it?"

She could have kissed Bruce. "Jack made it for me," she said. "He's an excellent tailor. And artist; it's actually from a portrait he did of me."

"Really?" Bruce looked pleased. "So, do you do fashion design for Charles, too?"

"You know Charles?" Jack asked, surprised.

Bruce laughed. "Jack, everyone knows Charles. She's got her paws in almost every part of Gotham City. You're a consultant for her on pyrotechnics, right?"

"Oh, yeah," Jack said absently. "I get to legally blow things up nowadays." He smiled slightly, and Bruce grinned back.

"I think she'll love that dress." He nodded. "Are those real pearls and diamonds?"

"Do you think I can afford real anything?" Jack asked in return. "But, yes, they are. Ah, Alfred got them for me."

"That's what he needed them for," Bruce said with a nod. "Well, I'll have to apologise for getting irritated with him about the purchase."

Bruce had known full well that the decorations on her dress were real, as well as that Jack had made it, and what he did for Charles. Rachel had told him everything, almost. But his feigned ignorance, and ready acceptance of the answers Jack gave, helped to put Jack himself at ease. Rachel didn't think she could find better friends.

"And here we are," Bruce said as the limo pulled to a stop. "We couldn't keep the press away, but they're not allowed on the grounds. Just don't wander off alone, you two." He shook an admonishing finger at them and Rachel laughed while Jack blushed.

"I'll try not to drag him off," she assured her friend.

Both men got out, then turned and held their hands out. They looked at each other, and after a nod and a smile Bruce dropped his hand, letting Jack help Rachel out of the limo. She smiled at them both and squeezed Jack's arm. The suit that Alfred had had tailored for him was cut to complement his figure, showing it off to the best advantage. It was a dark grey and the fabric gleamed in the flickering lights of the torches set out, and she'd styled Jack's hair simply, but neatly. It was pulled into a small ponytail at the base of his neck, but some of his bangs still fell loose. 'Handsome,' Rachel felt, didn't begin to describe him.

"Hey, the birthday girl's here!" Hideki called out as he sauntered up. "Happy birthday, Rachel! You're gorgeous tonight." He hugged her, then turned to Jack and gave him a brief hug, too. "How are you, Jack?"

He brushed his bangs back out of habit, and licked his lips. "I'm good. How are you, Hideki?"

"I'm in love, it's amazing." He smiled happily as he walked with them into the house. Alfred was there to greet them with a warm smile, and shook Jack's hand heartily.

"Happy birthday, Rachel. Jack, good to see you. I am so glad your dress turned out well, Rachel. I do hope you like it; it was difficult keeping it a secret from you."

"I love it, Alfred, thank you. Is Mom here yet?"

"On her third cocktail, my dear." Alfred gave her a quick hug.

"By the way, I owe you an apology," Bruce told him. "I didn't realise those pearls and diamonds were for Rachel."

"None need, Master Bruce. Ah, here's Bethany."

"Rachel! Oh, happy birthday, sweety! And Jack's here, too! Wonderful." Bethany was definitely feeling good about the world as she nursed her drink and hugged Rachel, then a startled Jack.

"What is it with drunken Dawes women and affection?" he asked Alfred.

"We're very loving women," Bethany told him. "We just want to hug everyone sometimes." And she turned to hug Bruce, ruffling his hair. "You just get handsomer by the day, Bruce, really. When are you giving me grandkids?"

"Me?" Bruce squeaked, his eyes going wide.

"Yes, you. Rachel and Jack are behaving themselves, so it's up to you, playboy, to give me grandkids." Rachel was laughing, leaning into Jack, and even Alfred looked amused. "Or do I already have them? Some dame in another country, maybe?"

"I don't have kids," Bruce said quickly. "No way, no how."

Bethany rolled her eyes and turned to look Jack up and down. "Well. Jack and Rachel will have beautiful babies for me, then."

Jack sighed. "See? Your own mother gives me permission to make sure you're not a virgin, and now she's demanding kids. You've got to give in some time, Rachel."

Rachel laughed. "I'm under no obligation to breed, even if my mother demands it."

"But you'd have such beautiful babies!" Bethany exclaimed, gesturing at Jack. "I'll have babies with you, Jack."

He pulled Rachel in front of him quickly. "No, thanks. Really, I'm good for now. Kids. Uh. Yeah. You know, I've still got this whole psychopathic deal going on, I really don't think now's a good time. I mean, for the sake of the children alone, you know?"

Bethany shrugged. "I want some grandkids some day, though," she said, wagging her finger at Jack and Rachel.

"Oh, sure, some day, no problem," Jack promised. "Yeah. We'll, uh, we'll work on that."

"Oh, good! I'm so relieved. When's dinner?"

Alfred chuckled and led Bethany away, and Jack looked at Rachel. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to obligate us to have kids."

"If we're lucky, she'll forget all about it," Rachel assured him. She sighed fondly. "My mother, the closet lush."

"Move! Double-time! Out of my way!" Bruce was shoved out of the way as Charles barrelled through, then threw her arms around Rachel's waist and hugged her. "Happy birthday, Rachel! You look beautiful; what brand is that?"

"Jack made it for me," Rachel said as she hugged her friend back. "And thank you."

"Jack, you need to meet my main fashion designer. But why are you all in here? The party's out back!" She pushed her short blonde hair behind her ears, then barked at the small group until they'd moved to the back patio, a Marine Corps drill instructor for life. "I guess it was supposed to be a small party, but hell, half of Gotham's showed up."

"They usually do," Rachel said as she took Jack's arm. "It's one of Bruce's parties, after all."

There was a DJ, tables of food and drink, more torches, and a dance floor. Not to mention the high-society guests that had congregated there. Jack tilted his head, smiling the way he did when he was about to be an ass and looking forward to it.

"This looks familiar . . . Didn't I crash one of your parties once, Bruce?"

Bruce paused, looked from Jack to Rachel and back, then nodded as she rolled her eyes. "You still owe me for that window you broke, too."

"If I was forced to pay for everything I broke, I'd be poor for the rest of my life and then some. But hey, if you loan me the money, I'll pay you back asap."

Bruce laughed. "I'll get on that."

Rachel was relieved that Jack was so comfortable already. Their daily outings into society were obviously helping him. Raoul was talking with Commissioner Gordon, and waved at them with a smile. Rachel waved back, then followed Jack when he walked over.

"Mr. Napier. How are you?"

He shook Gordon's hand with a smile. "It's Jack, please, and I'm doing good."

"I'm glad. Rachel, you look stunning. Happy birthday."

"Thank you," she said. "How are you, Raoul?"

He hugged her, then shook Jack's hand. "I'm doing great. Happy birthday. I love your dress."

Rachel squeezed Jack's hand and smiled at him. "Jack made it for me."

"I want one just like it," Hideki said as he came up with a young waitress, a tray of drinks balanced in her hand. "Rachel, Jack, I got you two some sparkling cider." The way he said it, and the grin on his face, made Rachel want to kick him. He was obviously intent on keeping them both sober. Then again, the few times Rachel had been drinking when they'd all gone out, Jack had slept on the couch --- he was hell-bent on keeping his hands to himself when she'd been drinking, and it had been a hassle just to get a kiss goodnight.

"I could make you some heels to go with it," Jack offered as he took his drink and handed Rachel hers.

"Hey, me in that outfit, and you in this nurse's outfit I hear you have, we could be a hit."

"Crazy clowns and demented D.A.'s? It'll run for years."

"He doesn't have a nurse's outfit," Rachel said as they all laughed.

"But I could get one," Jack returned, poking her in the shoulder, "and you could wear it."

"I'm not indulging your uniform fetish!"

"What about mine?" Hideki asked.

Rachel just shook her head. "You're not supposed to tease me on my birthday."

"I'm really glad to see you doing so well, Jack," Gordon said. He was nodding in approval and looked pointedly at the man's arm around Rachel's waist. "You've done good for yourself."

"I have, haven't I?" Jack replied as he smiled down at Rachel. He leaned his forehead against hers as she smiled back, and for a moment it was just the two of them.

"All right, thank you all so much for showing up," Bruce's voice boomed out. He was holding a microphone on the dance floor. "Even if most of you weren't invited." There was scattered laughter. "Anyway, today is Rachel Dawes' birthday. Rachel's been my best friend since we were kids --- but if you tell them any stories, I'll sue you."

"You still owe me a Barbie!" she called back.

"She died in the line of duty, Rachel, how many times do I have to tell you?" There was more laughter, then Bruce went on. "Rachel's always been there for me, even when I'm sure I didn't deserve it. She's strong, kind, beautiful, smart, funny . . . and she's dedicated her life to helping this city and its people. Not only that, but she's found herself a good man, and love him or hate him, I don't think there's anyone who can deny how happy they are together." He raised his wine glass as Jack and Rachel both stared at him in surprise. "So . . . to Rachel."

"To Rachel," the crowd murmured. They lifted their glasses and she blushed as she raised hers in return, then took a drink.

"Did he have to include me?" Jack asked nervously.

She pulled him down for a kiss. "Yes. Now word will spread that Bruce Wayne approves of you. This is good, Jack." He smiled slightly and rubbed at his eyes. "Don't tell me you're tired already."

"It's the meds," he replied. "I'll be fine." Then the DJ put on a salsa beat, and Jack turned to her with a grin and a raised eyebrow. "So . . . you can belly-dance a bit, but do you know how to salsa?"

Rachel finished her drink off and set it on the table behind her with a grin of her own. "Let's find out."

Jack started humming as he led her out onto the dance floor.

***

"So, there's this guy here," Rachel said as she sat in Jack's lap, breathless from all the dancing she'd been doing. She hadn't realised that when Jack had said he could dance, he didn't just mean he had a fantastic sense of rhythm. He knew Latin dances, he knew ballroom dances . . . She wasn't sure there was a dance he couldn't do, and she'd been whirled around the dance floor by him and almost everyone else until she was dizzy. Bruce had claimed her for the latest dance, and now he was moving on to try to get Charles to dance with him after Rachel had pleaded exhaustion.

"Really? Amazing."

"Oh, yes," she went on. "And he is so sexy, you wouldn't believe it."

Now Jack started looking around. "Is that so? I might want to get to know him better."

She laughed and ran her newly-sharpened nails lightly over the back of his neck. His eyes fluttered closed. "I mean, wow, I think I need to take him home and have sex with him. Lots of it. All night."

"Mmm . . . then why aren't you dragging him off?" he mumbled.

Rachel rolled her eyes. "I'm trying," she said. "You're just not taking the hint."

Jack went still for one moment, then stood so fast that Rachel cried out in surprise. "I am so ready to leave," he declared. "Let's go. Now." Rachel was laughing as he picked her up by the waist and held her tightly to him. "Are you teasing me again?" he whispered against her mouth.

"No," she replied. Her heart pounded as he lifted her up above him and kissed her stomach; Jack was always so gentle that Rachel forgot how strong he really was.

He set her down and his eyes searched her face, at a loss for words, and held her by one arm at her waist, snug against him. Then he ran the fingers of his free hand through her hair. "Uhm. I don't have ---"

"It's all right," she whispered, her arms around his neck. "I have condoms and I'm on birth control."

His eyebrows twitched in surprise even as he smiled. It was a little shy, a lot nervous, and he pressed his forehead to hers. "I don't know what you like."

Rachel's laugh was low and throaty. "Yes, you do. Just do everything you've been doing, and a little more." She gently dug her nails into the back of his neck and he hissed, pushing back into them.

"You sharpened your nails," he moaned into her ear, using the slow song that was playing as an excuse to sway against her. His thumb rubbing against the exposed small of her back made Rachel sigh with pleasure.

"Because I know you like it," she told him. "And I like that you like it. Having to remember not to scratch sort of ruins the fun for me."

"Wait, this means I can finally sleep naked again." He pulled back and grinned at her.

Rachel laughed, tilting her head back and letting her curls brush against her shoulders. "You're excited by the strangest things," she told him.

"Oh, no, you have no idea how irritating it's been to sleep in jeans." Jack made a face, then rubbed under her chin like she was Rory in a good mood. Then he let her take his hand and lead him toward Bruce. He was probing at his scars with the tip of his tongue, his eyes darting back and forth as the tips of his fingers slipped just inside the side of her dress.

"Bruce, I'm so sorry, I need to get Jack home. He's tired. They've got him on some new meds that just wipe him out."

Her friend frowned a little, but nodded. "I'm sorry about that. I was hoping you could stay a little longer. But it's no problem. Let me get the limo for you."

"Oh, that's ---"

"Just fine," Jack cut her off. "Thank you, Bruce."

"No problem. Give me a minute." He walked off and whispered in Alfred's ear, and while Bruce may have been willing to believe that their sudden departure was only because of exhaustion, the look Alfred shot them said that he knew full well why they were leaving early. Rachel gave him her best innocent look, but it was hard to do with Jack's very obvious arousal pressing into her rump. She did her best not to squirm against him; she could tease him later, out of sight of the public and her mother.

Speaking of . . . Rachel took Jack's hand and pulled him around so they could say goodbye, and she doubted any of her friends bought the line about Jack needing to sleep. Not Hideki, certainly. He hollered "Yes! Finally!" and did a victory dance, which probably erased any lingering doubts as to Rachel and Jack's intended evening activities. She'd kill him later.

Alfred led them out to the limo and held to door open, then leaned down once they were both in and gave them a stern look. Rachel dug into her purse and took out one of the condom packs as her friend opened his mouth, and he shut it with a smile.

"I'm on birth control, too."

"Good girl," Alfred said. "Try to get some rest tonight."

"No," Jack said firmly. "She gets no rest. At all. She said all night, I get all night. Can we go? My place is closest."

Rachel turned to him as Alfred straightened with a laugh. "Jack! Don't be rude!"

But Alfred had already shut the door and the window between them and the chauffeur was up, and Jack growled as he pulled her into his lap and pulled the straps of her dress down. Rachel would have squealed but for his lips and tongue being in the way, then he was hiking her skirt around her hips and moving his kisses down her throat. She dug her fingers into his hair and leaned her head back, moaning when he placed his thumb over already wet panties and started rubbing gently. Pressing into the contact, Rachel tilted Jack's chin up to nip at the pulse in his neck, then kiss her way up to his ear as he hooked his fingers in her panties and nylons and lifted her up a bit to pull them down. Rachel wasn't paying too much attention to anything but Jack's pleased gasps in her own ear as she bit down on his earlobe, so it wasn't until he'd gotten her panties all the way off with a satisfied laugh that she looked up and her eyes went wide.

"Jack! Give those back!"

"Nuh-uh," he chuckled, waving them at her and then tucking them into his pants pocket when she grabbed at the silk and lace. He tilted her over, laying her along the seat as he slid two fingers inside of her, his thumb still gently teasing her.

"I am . . . not . . . having sex in this limo," Rachel gasped out even as she arched her hips up, eyes rolling back in her head.

Jack leaned up and kissed right below her ear. "Then you shouldn't have shown me those condoms," he murmured, his breath hot and ticklish.

"Jack . . ." Rachel said warningly, digging her nails into his shoulders as she tried to glare at him.

He shuddered and dipped his head to bite the top of her breast. Rachel whined. "You know that just encourages me," he groaned. He sat up a bit and --- was he? Oh, crap, he was --- started undoing his belt, and while he might have been playing at having sex in the limo before, now he was very, very serious about it.

"Jack!" Rachel squealed. "We do not have the time for this!"

"Are you joking?" he replied. "It's a good twenty, thirty minutes to my place from here. That's plenty of time to get warmed up."

"Warmed up?" Rachel asked, scooting back and trying to pull her skirt down. Jack pushed it back up.

"I was serious about you not getting any rest tonight. Besides, I told the chauffeur to keep driving until I told him to stop."

Rachel stared at him for a moment, then Jack removed his fingers and started licking them clean, the smirk on his face saying he knew he'd won. Or maybe he just really, really liked how she tasted. It was probably both.

She started struggling with her gown. "Get this thing off of me," she told him, and Jack hooted with laughter as he reached for the side zipper.

"I am a genius," he crooned to himself as the dress slipped off of her and landed in a bundle on the other seat. It may have been a random thought, or he may have been talking about the built-in bustier the dress had, which meant he had less clothing to take off of her. Rachel hadn't noticed him taking his pants off, but they joined the dress and then she sat up, pulling him close to her by the tie.

That made Jack laugh, and between the two of them and their four shaking hands, they were able to get his shirt undone and off of him. Rachel took a moment to stare at him. How he kept in such good shape she didn't know; he was hardly lazy, but she'd never seen him working out. Rachel ran her hands down the planes on his chest appreciatively. The scars that she'd noted their first night together --- paper-cut sized, really --- appeared to cover his entire torso and she traced a few of them.

"Where ---"

He cut her off with a kiss. "I'll tell you later." He pulled her into his lap so she was straddling him as he kissed her again, and somehow he'd also managed to get into her purse and open the packet of condoms, because she felt him trace the edge of the wrapping along her back as he lowered his head to her chest. Rachel arched her back away from the almost-pain. It pushed her into Jack's mouth and made him chuckle, then he took both her hands and raised them to her breasts. "You do that," he told her, "while I do this." He wiggled the condom at her.

Rachel laughed and squeezed her breasts gently, then licked her thumb and forefinger before pinching a nipple. Jack made a choked noise, wide eyes darting between unwrapping the condom and her. He seemed to be having a little difficulty, and it made Rachel laugh as she showed him how she liked her breasts touched. It was fun by herself, true, but with Jack watching it was just so much better. Masturbation was never going to pack the same punch as it had before.

"Do you need help?" she asked with a giggle as his eyes crossed.

"Ah . . . no, no, I've got it." Jack brought his hand to the back of her neck and pulled her down for a burning kiss, lifting her up higher on her knees. Rachel did have to help at that point, but then she slid back down and he was inside of her as they both groaned at the contact.

It was beyond wonderful. They'd both wanted this for so long, had anticipated, dreamed, teased . . . Rachel bit her lip and gasped as Jack pulled her into a rhythm, and with a few adjustments they found one that worked. She curled her hands into fists before remembering that she didn't have to, and gladly sunk her nails into Jack's shoulders again. He responded with a grunt, his head falling back on the headrest as he pulled her down on him harder. Rachel whimpered. She was trying to be quiet, and so was Jack, but it was so hard, especially when he was playing with her breasts and it was just how she liked it because Jack was a very quick study, and his arms were so tight around her that she could barely breathe but she didn't want him to let go, ever. She raked her fingers down his chest and he did cry out, biting into her neck and letting go almost immediately to assault her mouth again, one hand almost painfully gripping her hair.

Rachel leaned her face into the crook of his neck and he was humming again, then shifted just a bit and -oh- that felt so damned good and she got that prickly feeling that said she was going to start crying after she'd orgasmed, but Rachel bit her lip and gasped his name, her nails leaving red welts on his arms. Jack responded with a light slap to her rear, then rubbed where he'd hit and it made Rachel jump. It made her stomach tighten and she couldn't suppress a moan, which of course made him do it again, this time as he pinched her nipple, and Rachel pressed her mouth to his shoulder to muffle her cries. Jack was whispering something in her ear; she couldn't make it out, but it was comforting and she was going to lose control very, very soon. In fact . . . Jack pushed her back a bit and Rachel whined in protest at losing the feel of his chest against hers, but he was sliding his fingers between them, and managed to find her clit, rub it, and not lose their rhythm. Rachel saw heaven.

Well, not precisely. Her entire body convulsed as the heat that had been building up inside her loins exploded outward and she almost screamed, her eyes rolling up in their sockets as the best damned orgasm she'd had in years took her nerves for a spectacular joyride.

Jack was still inside of her when she came back down to Earth, holding her against him tightly and stroking her hair as he kissed her cheek. True enough, Rachel had tears in her eyes and she squeezed them away as she panted. She kissed his sweaty skin out of reflex and felt his stomach rumble with laughter, then he tilted her chin up so she could blink at him fuzzily.

"You okay, there?" he whispered, but the teasing lilt in his voice was hard to make out past his own breathlessness.

"Oh, God, I love you," Rachel moaned. "Did you . . . ?"

"Oh, yeah," he assured her. "You were having an amazing orgasm; of course you didn't notice."

"You're a," pant, "narci-," pant, "-ssistic," pant, "asshole." Pant, pant, pant.

"Well, yeah," he panted right back, running his hands flat up and down her back, "but it works to your advantage." They looked at each other and started laughing, then Rachel kissed Jack firmly before leaning over to crack the window a bit.

"If this limo gets back to Bruce smelling like sex, he's going to kill me."

"Ask me if I care," Jack replied, frowning a bit as Rachel eased off of him and rubbed her sore rear. "Oops. Should have asked first."

"Hmm?" She looked over at him as she knelt to pull her dress on, and he was leering at her naked form. He looked down at her rear and she rolled her eyes. "It's all right."

Jack tossed the condom into the small garbage, then knelt behind her and leaned over until he was draped over her back. He was still partially erect and it made her next breath shudder. "Is that . . . permission?" She turned a slightly confused look on him and he smiled, reaching his hand out to cover hers where it rested on the seat, steadying them both as the limo took a corner. "I believe I've told you before that I like rough sex," he murmured in her ear. He was rubbing her breast with his free hand, licking the back of her neck.

"I . . . yeah . . ." Rachel gasped and tried to clear her mind, to think straight. It wasn't working and she whined a bit before Jack pulled back and started sorting their clothes. He rapped sharply on the privacy window before hugging her tightly.

"I'll ask again later." His smile was warm as he helped her get her dress back on.

***

Jack rolled off of her with a slight groan, his chest heaving. Rachel wasn't in much better shape. The bedside clock read four in the morning and she mused that when he'd said she wasn't going to get any sleep, he meant it.

Still . . . she rolled over slightly and curled into him, feeling his breathless laugh as his arm snaked around her waist. She was regretting only letting Hideki buy her those two packs. Jack had put one condom away for the morning, and except for that one they were all out. That trip to Susie's was a good idea.

"Need a shower?" he mumbled into her hair.

"Too tired," she replied, kissing his neck as she snuggled closer. "Are you done yet?"

"Only 'cause I want to have sex with you in the shower," Jack replied in a whisper, then laughed at himself. He kissed her forehead and tugged the covers around her more tightly. "Rachel . . ."

"Move in with me, Jack."

It was said on impulse but Rachel didn't try to take it back as Jack chuckled. He pulled her halfway on top of himself and kissed her forehead again.

"Okay," he murmured, and they both fell asleep with smiles on their faces.

******

A/N: Nothing big this time. The usual love for my review monkeys, and I just wanted to say that I really like reading all of your reviews. They let me know I'm doing a good job, but it's also interesting to read them because when I was first posting Speak, I had no clue what was going to happen. Now that I'm on chapter 17 of the sequel, it's awesome to read your theories and ideas about how the story's going to progress, because now I do know what's going to happen.

Anyway, my little review monkeys, that's two updates in one day. Thanks so much for reading, and I'll post again as soon as I can.