"Hello. Hello? Evan, are you there?" He recognized her cell number and waited for her to say something. He felt his own eyes water when he heard her chocked sob, and gave her a moment to collect herself.

She called the number he'd given her and sat in her car in shock as she heard his voice, he was really okay. She felt herself cry and was thankful he didn't say anything until she was done.

"I can't believe I'm really hearing your voice, I wanted it to be true so much and I didn't want to be let down. But oh God, you're really alive." He heard the tears in her laughter, it was a sound of relief one he was glad to hear.

"Evan, I" he couldn't think of anything to say.

"It's okay, I know why you did it. I know why you left, and I'm okay here. I'm okay with John. How have you been?"

"It's been so freeing to not have to do that anymore. It's good to hear your voice, you sound happy. I haven't heard you sound like this in a long time." It warmed his heart to know that she really was okay.

"Yeah I'm great, we're great I guess."

"So are you and John living together, should I be concerned?" He smiled when he heard her warm laugh.

"No, we're slowing things down just a little. He lives at his apartment, and I'm still at my old house. But we stay with each other enough we should move into together. We're good now, we're comfortable."

"That's good to hear, he's good for you. So what have you two been doing?" He was curious to see how John was getting prepared for the task of protecting Gotham, and what she was doing to help.

"Well John mans the police scanners, because well I can't figure out what they're saying. They should say what's happening instead of using codes, honestly it's just ridiculous." He couldn't help but laugh at that, she never had been very good with police codes.

"I'm still at the bakery, but I'm taking nursing classes now. I guess I'm prepping myself to stitch him up when he comes home. He liked Nightwing by the way, so did Lucius. He said now he has an idea of what to make the suit look like. I'm excited to see it."

"You're excited to see the suit, or you're excited to see him in it?" She laughed, he knew her so well sometimes.

"A little of both I guess. How about you, any plans with Ms. Kyle?"

"Well she just walked in now and we are about to go see a play at the theater."

"Oh my, you are just going to love that."

"Yes I am, all six hours of it. She says hello by the way."

"Tell her I say hi back. And tell her thank you, these pearls suited me better than the ones she had."

"Your welcome!" She heard Selina yell.

"Well I just got home and John's inside waiting, so I guess I'll let you go enjoy your six hour play."

"Alright, well you and John have fun, and be careful. Both of you." They sat there in silence, neither one of them wanting to hang up.

"Evan, I'm gonna be here whenever you call."

"I know." He could hear the tears in her voice again and knew that he should let her go before she cried.

"I love you Evan."

"I love you too." There was nothing else to be said, so they hung up.

Evan sat in her car for a few minutes to collect herself. She didn't want John to know she'd been crying, she didn't know what to tell him if he asked. She dabbed the unshed tears with a tissue and got out of the car. She sometimes felt strange coming home to this house, after spending so long in John's apartment. When he wasn't checking police scanners he watched the food network channel, something she jokingly picked on him for. But she had to say he was really becoming quite the cook, as the scent of italian food greeted her when she walked through the door. She saw him by the stove stirring something and she went behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She tilted her heard up when she felt him turn to her as he greeted her with a kiss. He could tell something was bothering her, but he decided to leave it for now. She'd tell him when she was ready. She'd ask her brother if she could tell John next time they talked, she really wanted to. She didn't like keeping things from him.

"You should learn how to bake." She felt him chuckle.

"Have you thought about it yet? I could use the help, especially from someone who's good with math, and knows how to run a business. Surprisingly there aren't many people that have both qualities." She had been looking for someone to help run the bakery for a few months now. She wanted to work there, and help John, and have some time for herself. And with the nursing classes she was taking she was having trouble finding time to do everything.

"Yeah, I thought about it. Help run a bakery, I can't say that's what I had imagined myself doing when I was kid. But you do make good money, and it's one of the few jobs where my nights are free. It's perfect."

"Are you saying that because you want to work with me, or because you see that I'm frazzled and need the help."

"Both. But it also means I get to spend more time with you. Would we have an office together? I must say the thought of ripping your clothes off and taking you on a desk anytime during the day is a very stimulating idea." She laughed as he started kissing her neck, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he picked her up.

"Hmm, that does seems pretty great. When can you start?"

"I can start right now." She smiled against his lips as he kissed her. He walked to the bedroom and placed her on the bed, both thinking that dinner could wait.