Chapter 21

Part 1:

"Bruce, this is just," Adriana's voice trailed off for a moment, "Unbearably generous. I can't-,"

"You're very welcome Ms. Navarro," Bruce interrupted, "and Alfred will be sure to make you feel that way while you're here."

Alfred nodded. "I'll be as welcoming as possible while on suicide watch," Alfred said, then crossed his arms.

"Well, I must be going. Make yourself at home," Bruce said.

"Thank you," Adriana replied, humbly. Alfred and Bruce spoke outside of the room before Bruce finally left. After he was gone Alfred insisted that Adriana let him know her clothing sizes and food preferences, since she couldn't return to her house for anything. Alfred then left, leaving Adriana to wonder where he would pick anything up from her short list at nearly two in the morning. Adriana then began to wander the mansion. It took her nearly an hour to find the first bedroom, mainly because she was constantly distracted and in awe at every turn. She sat of the edge of the large bed and looked into the dark fireplace. There was no wood or ashes, making her wonder how long it had been since anyone had lived there. The house felt vast, empty and peaceful. The rain was coming down harder and the thunder went farther away. Adriana decided to crawl under the stiff and heavy blanket to drift off.

Part 2:

The aroma of something cooking practically carried Adriana downstairs and into the largest kitchen she had ever been in. A pretty woman with nearly knee-length dark hair appeared to be cooking up a storm.

"Hi," Adriana said tediously. The woman spun around happily to see her.

"Good morning," the woman replied, appearing momentarily distracted by the bruise on Adriana's face. "How are you madame?" The woman had a light Spanish accent.

"Bien, gracias," Adriana responded.

"Una mujer Espanola," the woman said smiling and noticing Adriana's crisp sound and Spaniard lisp. ASpaniardwoman. "Soy Julia." The woman introduced herself as Julia and sat several plates of food onto the large kitchen table. The woman had prepared enough bacon, eggs, pancakes, sausages, fresh fruit, bicuits and gravy to feed an army. Adriana took a bit of everything and began to eat when Alfred entered the kitchen carrying several bags.

"I took the liberty of purchasing some clothing for you," he stated matter-of-factly. "Of course you can choose things on your own later today of you chose to go out."

"Thanks," Adriana said, admiring the simple clothing that was very similar to what she was already wearing. Plain blue jeans and fitted t-shirts in various colors.

"Bruce also wanted me to let you know that whenever you are feeling better he would like to speak with you," Alfred explained.

"I'm feeling better now," Adriana answered honestly, but wondered if her judgement was impaired because of the amazing food.

"I'll let him know," Alfred said turning to leave.

After eating enough for four people, Adriana went back to the room she had slept in the previous night to use its personal bathroom to shower. She felt like a shiny new penny after putting on the crisp new jeans that fit perfectly and a simple white tee shirt.

She and Alfred headed to Bruce's penthouse after a driver had arrived. In the car, Alfred handed her a large black plastic bag.

"What's this?" Adriana asked him, immediately.

"Disguise," Alfred said, as Adriana pulled out a short black wig with side bangs and large black sunglasses. She put them on smiling.

"How do I look?" Adriana asked him, still giddy.

"Like Jakie O," he responded, smiling at her for the first time.

"Awesome," Adriana laughed.

Bruce's apartment was lavish. It showed the skyline of Gotham through large open glass windows that created the outside walls. Everything was spotless and modern. Bruce greeted them both while he was in the middle of a telephone conversation. He offered Adriana a seat on his couch before Alfred left. He stayed on the telephone in an upbeat conversation for about five more minutes before sitting too.

"I'm glad you decided to come and visit today," Bruce said.

"Of course," Adriana replied.

"I didn't want to pry to deeply yesterday. You seemed pretty fragile," he said, resting an arm on the side of the couch. "You look much more relaxed today though."

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Adriana asked, turning her head towards him. He sat up and faced his body toward her.

"Everything," he replied, calmly. Adriana nodded, knowingly. "It just that, I have a lot of questions."

"It's only natural that you would," Adriana replied, just as calm. "You can ask whatever you want."

"Are you sure?" Bruce raised an eyebrow.

"Absolutely," Adriana said, finally ready to speak.

"Well I supposed I should start at the beginning," Bruce began."I know that you and the Joker were in an institution together. Were you involved then? Is that how this started?"

"No. It started a couple of days after I discharged. I found him at the Deputy Mayor's costume party-"

"He was there?" Bruce asked, looking shocked. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Adriana nodded.

"In costume?"

Adriana nodded again.

"I was at that party," Bruce said looking away.

"I know, I saw you there," Adriana said smiling. "You didn't have a costume."

"Did you?" Bruce asked, smiling back.

"Yes, I was an angel," Adriana told him.

"I didn't see you."

"I had on a black catsuit. I was the type of angel that resides over the pits of hell."

"That was you?" Bruce added, laughing. "I didn't recognize you at all."

"Yes that was me," Adriana said laughing back. "He didn't recognize me either. He was dressed in a Vendetta costume."

"How did you know it was him?" Bruce wondered aloud.

"I started talking to him, recognized his voice. He was ignoring me at first," Adriana remembered.

"So then what? He then noticed how amazing you looked?" Bruce laughed again.

"He noticed my costume right away. I became kind of a flirt. He was thinking of killing me whenever he was able to reveal who he was."

"Why didn't he?"

"Because I didn't cringe or back away or recoil. That caught him off guard. I kissed him. I suppose you could say I seduced him."

"Why?" Bruce was sitting on the edge of the couch.

Adriana shrugged and shook her head.

"I don't know. Something magnetized me to him," she shook her head again. "He wanted to manipulate me. Turn me into a suicide bomber. He still didn't know who I was. I invited him to my hotel room and then I showed him. He showed up."

Bruce was listening silently.

"He still wanted to kill me. He had a knife."

"So what happened?" Bruce looked like he was watching a movie in disbelief.

"I gave him the option of leaving or killing me, or whatever else he wanted. I went into the bathroom..he came in with the knife."

"Then what," Bruce sounded like an impatient child.

"I kissed him and," Adriana's head dropped into her palms. "I don't know. Then it just got really crazy. So I guess you could fill in the rest of how I wound up being pregnant."

"So, I supposed it continued after that since you got pregnant in March," Bruce noted.

"Yeah," Adriana sighed and looked back up from her hands at Bruce. "He really scared me last night."

"That hadn't happened before?" Bruce looked up at her forhead.

"No," Adriana started. "But I kept letting him in even though I always felt like it was possible. I always felt like he could lose it at any time. He's so unpredictable. The funny part is that I never wanted to change him. I wanted him to stay like that. I suppose I never pick the best men."

"Did you decide yet?" Bruce pointed to her abdomen.

"I don't know, Bruce," Adriana forced herself to look away. "I know it's a bad idea, but I just feel obligated to tell him something."

"You already tried to," Bruce began to sound frustrated.

"Yeah, I know," Adriana replied. "I won't tell him anything. According to my psychic friend, he'll be furious if he knows and he can't keep this child to himself. Raise him." The words sickened her.

Bruce's cell phone rang. He listened as another male voice rattled off some short words.

"Adriana," Bruce said as soon as he hung up.

"Hm?" Adriana asked, removing the wig which she forgot was still on.

"He's kidnapped Ricard," Bruce said standing. He didn't need to say who."And he sent video to the police."

"Is he dead?" Adriana asked breathlessly. The Joker had no other reason to kidnap Ricard other than to get her to come to him. It was all her fault if anything happened to him.

"I don't know yet," Bruce replied.