A/N: So, it was mentioned by one of my lovely reviewers that Tom Hardy was in Wuthering Heights, and they had inquired as to whether or not I picked that book because of it. I actually completely forgot about Hardy in the movie version, so hey. It works. xD

I loved all of the books you mentioned in last chapter's question! The Outsiders, personally, is my favorite. Harry Potter and the Book Thief are up there too. Thanks to all of you who reviewed and followed! Anyways, here's the chapter, I hope you like it!

XIV.

Man, oh man, you're my best friend. I scream it to the nothingness, there ain't nothing that I need.

The heavy feelings of guilt and warning signs of Fiona's least favorite time of month were weighing her down.

More so the guilt than the knowledge of the incoming week of hell for the young woman. It had been a month since Fiona joined Bane's army, and in that time, the woman had become a hardened mercenary, fighting to survive and fighting to take Gotham. She didn't mind abandoning her attitudes she had before she became one of Bane's. Bane, though, hadn't kept his promises when it came to pay or visiting family.

He completely dismissed her when she brought it up in conversation, and Fiona figured it had something to do with the fact he either was bluffing about that, or didn't have time to listen to her. Most likely it was a combination of the two, seeing that for the past week Bane had been out of sight, dwelling in Daggett's office or out on the streets monitoring the construction and recruitment of his army.

It had been four weeks since Fio saw Mag.

Fiona was worried. Mag hadn't even tried to contact her, and knowing the woman, she was probably worried out of her skin about her. That or she was dead. Fiona didn't even want to consider that possibility.

It was terrifying.

Quickly maneuvering out of bed, Fiona squeaked past Brooky and Meg who had fallen asleep on the carpet in her guest room last night after having a small bonding session with Trish. It was sweet and comforting to know the older woman was there for the girls, especially after the most recent events. The week after the stock exchange became Judgement Week for Bane's men and women. Rebecca Heart had been shot on the streets by a mugger, causing Mike's abandonment of them. Dave, the older mobster, had been shot by Bane after a small disagreement over pay. That left Fiona, Meg, Brooky, Evan and James. It was rough, knowing Bane's inner circle wasn't as strong as it should be.

Another thing that put Fiona on edge was the more frequent presence of Barsad, Bane's second-in-command. He was a handsome man, tall and quiet who often carried out the tasks Bane was too busy for. Though he had a rather suspicious look on his face, Fiona trusted him. Enough to let him stand near her, that was. He creeped her out.

Closing the bathroom door behind her, she flicked the light switch on before leaning against the sink, eyeing her face in the mirror.

The swelling of her black eyes had gone down a lot in the past week, and Fiona was extremely pleased with the normal looking eyelids that covered her brown eyes. Though they were still purple and tinting yellow, Fiona could cover that up with heavy make-up like she normally wore. Nothing a bit of eye shadow couldn't fix.

Wincing, Fiona grunted, the cramping of her lower abdominals beginning to worry her. It was that time again, and Fiona was dreading making the discovering of her period's arrival. Things were finally picking up pace, and Fiona didn't want to be confined to a bed for the next 5 or 6 days. The cramps were crippling.

For such a small woman, such a thing like heavy flow or leaking were never a problem for her, but the cramps brought on by mother nature were crushing. Fiona paled slightly as she sat down on the toilet, her head in her hands.

Thanks, Mama Nature. Thanks so much.

Fiona wasn't worried until she realized this was Daggett's apartment, and Daggett was unmarried and without any daughters. She began to panic.

Quickly standing and adjusting the boxers she had nabbed from James as sleepwear, she hobbled out of the bathroom, kicking Meg's leg and pushing Brooky's head so she fell to the carpet.

They both groaned, "Go away."

"Guys. Problem. We have one."

Brooky grumbled again, flicking her dark hair out of her eyes and sitting up. "You're pregnant?"

"Woah. Dude. With whose kid?" Meg snorted tiredly, wiping her eyes.

"No. Not pregnant. Mother nature paid me a visit."

There was silence as the two women processed what Fiona said.

"Ah. Shit."

Fiona nodded as the women stood, their eyes flicking up and down Fiona's figure.

"I think I have something in my purse... But only one. And that's not going to hold you over for a week," Brooky mustered, the three women quickly rushing down the hall. Meg laughed before covering her mouth as Fiona scooted, her hands yanking her tank top, covering her bottom.

"This is not funny, Meg," Brooky commented, leading the pack, "This is a crisis."

Fiona winced, "I'm going to need Midol or something."

"Cramps?"

"Oh, yeah baby."

"Well, shit."

Quickly scampering through the kitchen area, the women glanced about, making sure it was empty before they scooted across, heading to Brooky's room where her suitcase and purse lay sprawled out in front of her bed.

Brooklyn scrambled and scoured through the clothing and guns, before coming across what she was looking for. Proudly raising it above her head with a proud face, Brooky nodded as Meg cheered.

A tampon.

Fiona nearly screamed with joy.

"Ladies."

Fiona's face fell.

It must have been a sight for Bane, walking into Brooky's room, seeing clothes thrown about in odd manners, underwear and bras and pants and skirts and shirts covering the floor. Most of all, to see Brooklyn hunched in a pile of clothes with a tampon raised above her head.

He must have wanted to turn and run.

"S-Sir," Meg sputtered, turning to face the Goliath, "We're sorry... We had.. uh..."

"A problem," Brooky added standing and placing the tampon in Fiona's hand, "Fio here has got that thing that makes her bleed from that place."

Fiona's eyes closed as the woman beside her whispered it behind her hand to their leader.

Bane's eyebrows shot up and he eyed Fiona much like Meg had done.

"Trish will give you money. You may go to the store, if that's what is needed."

Fiona's heart jumped and he nodded at her, "Yeah. That'd be really good. Thank you, sir."

He gave them all a final look before turning on his heel, "Try not to make so much noise when you wake. You almost woke the whole penthouse."

"Sorry, sir. It won't happen again," Meg called out, causing him to continue in silence.

Once he had rounded the corner and gone out of sight, Fiona planted her elbow in Brooky's ribcage.

"That thing that makes her bleed from that place? Really?"

"Selina, come on. I'm worried."

Mag's voice filled the thick kitchen's air as she watched the tall woman peer into the fridge, her nose scrunched at the rotting piece of ham resting on the shelf. Selina rested on her heels, closing the the fridge door and turning to her blonde friend.

"Mag, come on. This is Fiona," Selina Kyle snorted, shaking her head at the woman, "Fiona is fine. Bane's bad, but I'm sure she can hold her own."

Mag sighed, watching as Melon jumped onto the kitchen's island, purring and meowing in Selina direction. The woman frown twisted upwards as she pet the animal, her eyes growing large as he licked her fingers with his sandpaper tongue.

"You really think she's dead, huh?" Selina croaked, her eyes staying glued to the cat.

"I wouldn't have called the favor if I didn't think so."

Selina sighed, watching Mag as she bit her lip and stressfully messaged her head.

"She's a sister to me, Selina."

"I know, I know," she smiled, "I'll see what I can do. Bane is pretty secretive about who works for him and who doesn't. I'll dig up what I can, alright. I was at Daggett's place earlier this month. A few of Bane's guys came after me. She wasn't there. I can tell you that."

Mag nodded, quickly hopping from the kitchen stool and pulling the slender woman into a hug.

"Thank you, Selina. It means a lot."

"Hey, I may be a criminal, but I'm not all bad, okay?"

"Where are the girls?"

"Hm?"

"Meg, Brooks and Fiona?"

Bane looked up from Wuthering Heights to see Barsad staring at him with curious eyes. Returning his gaze to the book, he sighed before explaining it to his second-in-command.

"Ms. Woods wasn't feeling well. Something about 'bleeding from that place', as Brooklyn put it."

Barsad laughed. "Sweets really said that?"

"Brooklyn Sweet is rather bold. She did say that."

"Well, when they return, I'll be sure to ask Fiona how she's feeling. I've heard wonderful things about menstruation from Trish."

Bane chuckled, shaking his head, his attention on his book rather than Barsad who had taken his leave. Watching the door shut, Bane sighed, placing the book on his desk beside the blue prints to the Gotham Sewer system.

Suddenly there was a commotion from the entryway to the penthouse.

"Where the hell is Bane?"

What kind of music do you think Fiona listens to? And Bane?