Another chapter hopefully this update was a little bit faster than the last one. So enjoy because there are only a few chapters left.
And so a few months did in fact pass and things became more and more normal. Sure Emma still had the occasional nightmare which was understandable seeing the situation she had been in was one that would merit that. The Joker was back in Arkham where he should be and for the most part Gotham was quiet.
Emma now that she was feeling better had gotten back to working on Wayne Manor and was almost complete with the decorating. In fact she was done according to most people's standards but Emma never felt a redecorating was complete until someone threw a party and everyone got to see the house. In about an hour many of Gotham's elite would be coming to Wayne Manor to view the redecorating. Misty who had decided not to go back to England remained in Wayne Manor as well and decided she would join the party as well.
"Hey have you seen my black bow tie?" Said Bruce to Emma who was also in the room they shared getting ready.
"Let me just check the drawer over here.' Said Emma reaching for the drawer in the nightstand however she had barely opened it when Bruce quickly shut it.
"It's not there. Check somewhere else."
"What's in the drawer you don't want me to see?" Said Emma becoming very curious.
"Emma there is nothing in that drawer I do not want you to see."
"Okay then." Said Emma rolling her eyes and looking in another drawer. "This bow tie." She said pulling one out of the drawer.
"Yes, thank you." Said Bruce taking the tie when she handed it to him. He put in on and said "Well?"
"Handsome as usual." Said Emma with a smile giving him a quick kiss. He however pulled her closer to him. Tonight she wore a beautiful red gown that cut very low in the back but was still very tastful. "Well?" She said with a smirk.
"Be-Amazing as usual." He said quickly correcting herself. He couldn't tell her she was beautiful anymore because it usually caused her to grimace or freak out slightly, all because of the damn Joker.
"Oi, lovebirds the guests will be arriving soon." Said Misty sticking her head in the room for a second before proceeding down the hall.
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Soon groups of guest began to arrive and the party was going in no time. People came up to Emma telling her what a wonderful job she did on the manor and telling Bruce he did a good thing in picking her as a designer.
"I'll be right back." Said Bruce knowing that he need to talk to Alfred.
"Wait where are you going?"
"The kitchen. Lucius you know Emma can you keep her entertained while I sneak away for a second." Said Bruce spotting his colleague.
"Only for a second Mr. Wayne?"
"Yeah I don't need to change suits or anything I will be right back." Said Bruce making his way through the crowd.
"That was odd." Said Mr. Fox watching him level. Emma however seemed unfazed.
"He's been like this all week. Making strange phone calls at odd hours, leaving to go places and not for his usual reasons either of course there are many theories floating around. Alfred assures me everything is fine, Gordon offered to tail him to make sure he wasn't having an affair, Charlie thinks he's double checking the security on Arkham and trying to invent some new technology, and Misty thinks I should return my wedding dress just yet."
"I see and what do you think?"
Emma let out a laugh. "For all I know he could be building a rocket, I've learned stranger things about people I've given up trying to guess. He's cooking dinner for just the two of us in a week so I suppose we will find out then."
"Oh Emma how are you doing these days darling?" Said Mrs. Henson coming over to join her and Mr. Fox.
"Better thank you for asking. Have any news jobs for me now that I've finished this house?" Said Emma with a polite smile.
"Honey, what do you need a job for? Look at this place." Said Mrs. Henson with a laugh.
"Yeah, it was a lot of work and the job paid well but if you know anyone who is looking for help redecorating. I would like to not be out of a job."
"I don't think you understood me, you don't have to get another job because you don't need one. You already have a nice apartment in town, right now well you're living here and you have Bruce Wayne, you don't have to work another day in your life."
"Yes, well I enjoy working so I'm not just going to sit around here all day." Said Emma not really liking what Mrs. Henson was implying.
"I'll talk to my friends okay." Said Mrs. Henson with a smile. "Not very many people I know ever say they enjoy working."
"I suppose I'm not like many people then I guess." Said Emma with a smile.
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"Master Wayne what brings you to this part of the house when there is a party going on?" asked Alfred when Bruce ducked into the kitchen.
"Yeah, uh I need you to hold on to something for me. Emma's almost found it twice." Said Bruce fishing around in his pockets for something. He pulled out a black velvet box and handed it to Alfred.
"Your mother's engagement ring Master Wayne?" Said Alfred with a smile.
"Yes, that's why Misty is leaving the house on Thursday."
"Ah yes, I only assumed it had something to do with this." Said Alfred still smiling.
"I take it you're happy about this?" Said Bruce also with a smile.
"Very much so. Usually I would advise a couple to wait longer before they got engaged but given the circumstances and the history between the two of you, I think it will work out very well."
"Good, well I'd better get back to the party."
When he got back to the party he quickly found Emma right where he had left her only know she was talking with Misty, Charlie and Gordon. He came over and gave Emma a kiss on the cheek. He also noticed Gordon almost glaring at him.
"Gordon thinks you're having an affair." Explains Emma with a smirk.
"Gordon you know me better than that. I have rules." Said Bruce looking over at the Commissioner.
"That's what Emma said, but I told her I don't actually know you that well." Said Gordon pointedly.
"He still really hasn't accepted that news yet." Said Charlie rolling his eyes.
"Where did you go?" asked Emma to Bruce.
"I told you I went to the kitchen." Said Bruce.
"I know, why?" Said Emma.
"Oh, I uh needed to talk to Alfred about something." Said Bruce his expression was unreadable.
"About Thursday?" Said Misty with a smirk.
"Something like that." Said Bruce.
"I hate the fact that you don't give anything away." Said Misty annoyed at this lack of expression.
"Yeah he's good at that." Said Charlie with a laugh. "Oh that reminds me Bruce you have to teach me to disappear like you do. That could really come in handy when Sarah wants me to do the dishes"
"Sure but you have climb a mountain first." Said Bruce with a laugh.
"Why?" Said Misty confused.
"It's a spiritual thing or something right sensei?" said Charlie jokingly.
"I guess, it's what I did." Said Bruce with a shrug.
"Oh do you know what we should watch tonight?" Said Misty excitedly.
"What?" Said Charlie.
"That winter formal tape we never saw the rest of it." Said Misty. Emma paled slightly and Bruce pulled her closer to him to comfort her. She had not told Misty or Charlie much about what had happened to her a few months ago. The only people who knew of the Joker's identity were Bruce, Alfred, Gordon, and the lead psychologist at Arkham and she intended to keep it that way.
"Maybe." She said somehow keeping her voice calm as she slowly began to panic inside. Bruce noticed she had tensed slightly.
"Do you want to get some air?" he asked looking at her with concern, he noticed Gordon was doing the same, Misty and Charlie looked confused by her reaction.
"Yes, please but I think I want a drink first."
"Alright, we'll catch up with you guys later." Said Bruce ushering Emma towards the bar as he said goodbye to the group.
"Apple Martini?" said the bartender who by now knew what kind of drink she always ordered.
"No…um vodka." She took a deep breath before downing the shot and saying. "Alright let's go outside."
Once outside Bruce said nothing but just watched her with concern as she let out a sigh leaning against the railing of the balcony. "God, I just I don't know what to do. I can't tell them but I can't sit through that video, I can't…" She said letting out a sob.
"You don't have to, it's okay." Said Bruce coming over to hold her close to him so she was now crying into his chest.
"I can't not watch it though because then they will get suspicious, I can't tell them though, I mean, oh sorry, god I'm sorry you have to deal with all this Bruce, I'm being selfish this can't be easy for you." She said wiping her eyes.
"Well this is a little easier to deal with then you nightmare at least now you're not trying to hit me thinking I'm someone else." Said Bruce with a small smile wiping her eyes. She let out a half sob half laugh.
"I hate this some much and I know you say it isn't my fault the way he turned out but sometimes I feel like it was. Maybe if I didn't say away from him when he need me I could have helped him and none of those people would have had to died…"
"You can never really know, but it wasn't your fault Emma, I believe everyone can be saved but sometimes I'm not sure about the Joker."
"He saved my life actually…Todd or Alberto really well he was beating me and then he tried well…it doesn't matter now he didn't succeed the Joker slit his throat or something I was near blacking out I just remember a lot of blood." Said Emma shivering at the memory.
"If he ever gets out again I want you on the next plane out of Gotham."
"You think he will escape again?"
"I know he will, sometimes I think in the end we will both end up killing each other."
"I hope not I would never want to lose you."
"Don't worry I'm not going anywhere anytime soon." Said Bruce giving her a quick kiss.
"Great now I have to go back in there." Said Emma looking over at the door that lead back to the ballroom.
"We could always end the party early." Said Bruce with a smile.
"How?"
"Well I could pretend I'm drunk yell at everyone for being moochers and then make everyone leave, but I've used that before. I think I might just turn off the power then turn it on again when everyone is gone."
"Oh I don't want it to be too much trouble." Said Emma.
"It's fine I'll be right back." Said Bruce climbing over the balcony and grabbing onto the drainpipe nearby.
"Be careful." Said Emma looking over the balcony and watching his progress.
"I will." He called back to her.
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The plan worked like clockwork Bruce was able to convince everyone to leave on account of the fact they had no power and that since the point of the party was to see the house having no lights made it pointless. Once everyone had gone and he turned the power back on Bruce went to look for Emma who was somewhere in the house. He eventually found her sitting in one of the sitting rooms.
"I think this is one of my favorite rooms in your house." She said admiring the room from one of the couches.
Bruce sat down beside her on the couch also looking around. "Ah yes golden sage." He said looking at the greenish gold walls.
Emma laughed. "Yes if I recall you looked very good in it."
"I think you looked better." Said Bruce with a smirk remembering there paint fight.
The couple sat in silence for a moment and Emma rested her head on Bruce's shoulder. She had always felt calm around him and she enjoyed the times when they could just spend time together in peace which was not often these days. "You know this could be your house too." Said Bruce thinking of her earlier comment where she clearly specified the house was only his.
"What?" Said Emma removing her head from his shoulder so she could stare at him but he seemed to be giving nothing away.
"I said if you wanted this could be your house too."
"I know what you said, I just what are you implying?" Said Emma not really sure how to react, maybe Misty was right and she should remember not to return her wedding dress just yet, then again she shouldn't get her hopes up either.
"I don't know, was I implying something?" said Bruce toying with her.
"Maybe not." Said Emma resting her head back on his shoulder. They sat in silence again just enjoying the peace and quiet until Emma spoke again. "I suppose it would be nice though?"
"What would be?"
"If this house where my house too." Said Emma looking back up at him.
"Just nice?" said Bruce with a laugh.
"No I think I would be simply marvelous actually." Said Emma with a smirk. She gave him a kiss on the cheek before saying "Come on let's go to bed."
"It's only 11 I'm hardly tired." Said Bruce getting up from the couch as well.
"Yes, I'm well aware of the fact you are practically nocturnal Bruce. But who said anything about sleeping just yet?" She said leaning over to let her lips linger near his before pulling away. "But I suppose if you don't want to we could always watch the news or something."
"Has anyone told you that you're a tease?"
"Just you." She said giving him a quick kiss.
"Are you okay though, I mean about a half hour ago you were…" He said looking concerned.
"I'm fine, I just want things to go back to normal as soon as possible." She said with a sigh.
"Okay, I just wanted to make sure you were alright, you have no idea how much it scared me seeing you in that warehouse, I thought you were dead." He said looking at her still with concern. He let out a sigh. 'I'm killing the mood aren't I?"
"Yes, but it's nice to know you care some much, that's why I love you."
"Is that the only reason?" He said with a smirk.
"Oh trust me there are many reasons why I love you." She said with a smirk.
"There are many reasons why I love you as well." He said pulling her closer to him for a passionate kiss.
There are about two more chapters left and you will be happy to know I have decided to do a sequel more details about that to come. Also don't forget to review please.