AN: Ok, so here's the next chapter. I'm sad to say that the next chapter will be the last one for this story. I'm just running out of ideas of what to do in it, plus I think nearly 40 chapters is enough, lol. Anyway, it's not over quite yet, but I just want you all to have a heads-up! Ok, on to the story....
Bruce walked me home with one armed wrapped protectively around me. He teased me, making me laugh, the entire way back, probably trying to get my mind off the horrors of the day.
When we returned to Wayne Manor, he ordered me to take a nice hot shower to clear my head. While I did that, he fixed a beautiful lunch for the two of us. I came downstairs with my wet hair pulled back in a tight ponytail to find him awaiting my arrival at the table.
"Wow," I said as I sat down looking at the lunch that was spread across the table. "You did all this?"
"Yeah," he grinned. "Impressed?"
"Maybe just a little," I smiled, helping myself to the salad.
We ate mostly in quiet, but it was nice. I couldn't help but wonder how I had deserved to find such a sweet guy. But I was thrilled that I had him and that he cared about me so much.
Finally, attempting to break the silence, Bruce asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"You," I answered truthfully.
His eyes widened briefly in surprise, but then he smiled, "Glad that I'm the one who gets to be on your mind all the time then."
"Yeah, you're pretty special, I guess."
"So exactly what about me were you thinking?"
"Well, I think it's time that I told you that I do have an answer. And my answer is yes. Yes, I will marry you, Bruce."
His face brightened. Then he got up and walked over to me, gently taking my hand so I would be standing next to him. He gave me a huge hug and a passionate kiss. "You're positive?"
"Of course I am," I said with a nod.
"Thank you," he said.
"No, thank you, Bruce. Thank you for making me see that I could have a normal life still and that I could be loved by someone as amazing as you."
He grinned, "Well, I'm glad I could help."
-------------------------------------A FEW WEEKS LATER----------------------------------------
Bruce and I had been spending some quality time together, working on the details of the wedding and reforming the bonds with my father. The Joker hadn't disturbed us at all, and Bruce didn't go out every night either which was a rather nice change.
Of course, all good things must come to an end. Bruce got up from a later dinner and gave me a kiss. "I've got to take care of one thing tonight," he told me before heading down to the Batcave.
I nodded in understanding, but had a sinking feeling about what this "one thing" was. And I had a pretty good idea that it involved The Joker…
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I was rather ashamed with myself that I hadn't been more active in terrorizing Gotham and driving its citizens to the point of insanity. And yet, somehow I just didn't really care anymore. Sure, I had been working with Benjamin and he had become quite skilled with the knife; however, I had slacked on reminding them who owned this city.
And when I turned on the news, rather than seeing my face as the headline story, it was either some mob related incident or Bruce Wayne and his coming wedding. It made me sick that these superficial people continued to make such a big deal out of their lovely eligible, playboy bachelor getting hitched. No one gives a rat's ass about what Bruce Wayne does, I thought bitterly as I turned the TV off.
I sat there on the couch, glaring at the darkened TV set. Suddenly, I heard a noise from somewhere behind me. At first I thought it might just be Benjamin, but it sounded too much like a large crash to have been caused by such a little boy. I stood up and moved cautiously, drawing my knife, to the back of the house where the noise had originated.
As I moved down the darkened hallway, I was tackled to the ground by a shadowy black figure. The knife slipped from my hand and skated across the floor. Lucky I've got more than one. I maneuvered my hand into my pocket and withdrew another knife. I stabbed into Batman's shoulder as his fist connected with my jaw.
We both cried out in surprise. I quickly fell into a fit of laughter, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of having caused me pain. He growled in disgust as he yanked the knife out of his shoulder and threw it across the room.
"So angry," I commented.
Batman only glared at me.
"Exactly what did I do this time to piss you off? I mean I haven't been out causing mayhem in the streets ya know."
"You know exactly what I'm here about," he said in his deep gravelly voice.
"Ohhh, ok then, that clears everything up," I said sarcastically.
Batman lunged at me, but I dodged. He slammed into the wall with a loud thud and fell to the floor. I kicked the knife that was hidden in the front of my shoe out and attempted to kick him with it. He did a decent job dodging and his armor protected him pretty well, but I still got a few blows in. I cackled in triumph.
As Batman began to stand, I noticed a little blur rush out of the room behind him. I knew it was my little success story coming to my aid. I grinned in delight as he jumped onto Batman's back and proceeded to inflict as much damage as a three-and-a-half year old could.
I backed myself into the wall, for it was the only way I would remain standing, as I laughed uncontrollably as Batman attempted to wrestle a little boy off him. Finally he managed to get Benjamin off him. He set him down on the ground and tied his wrists together so he couldn't interfere again.
I stopped laughing, but I still grinned wildly at him. He still couldn't win. "And what's the big bad bat gonna do now?" I mocked.
He didn't answer; he just punched me as hard as he could in the face. A sharp crack filled the room and I screamed out in pain. I reached my hand up over my nose to take it away seconds later and it be covered with blood.
I sank to my knees in agony, realizing that he had probably just won this time. I moaned in pain as I made one last attempt to attack him. I sunk my knife into his thigh as I looked into his masked face trying to read an expression. He seemed to wince in pain and that made me satisfied. Then he kicked me with his other leg as hard as he could in the stomach sending me toppling backwards to the ground.
The Caped Crusader bent over me and tied up my wrists as well as the blood continued to run down my face. He then yanked me to my feet and picked up Benjamin. He marched me and carried Benjamin outside to the waiting cop cars. "It's back to Arkham for you, Joker," Batman growled as he passed me to Commissioner Gordon.
"Thanks for your help, Batman," Gordon said, taking Benjamin from him.
Batman nodded once. "What's to become of the boy?"
"He'll be evaluated at Arkham and probably remain there. He'll be too damaged to live a normal life," Gordon frowned.
I grinned with self-satisfaction as they put me in the back of a cop car. Batman may have taken Mel from me, but he couldn't have Benj too.
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I had continued to pace around the main floor of Wayne Manor waiting for Bruce to return. I was worried that things wouldn't go quite as he had planned with The Joker because I knew as well as anyone that things were never simple with him. There was always a catch with The Joker.
Finally, I noticed the BatPod pulling into the drive. My heart skipped a beat and I sighed in relief. At least he made it home. I rushed to Bruce's study and down the secret passage to the Batcave.
When I stepped into the cave, Bruce was removing his armor and surveying his injuries. I stepped from the shadows, "Are you ok?"
Bruce looked up and his cold, hardened face brightened when he saw me. "I'll live."
I came over and gave him a tiny hug. "I was worried about you."
"I know, but you didn't need to be. Everything worked out."
"Let me help clean you up," I offered, seeing the deep cut on his shoulder.
He nodded. I began cleaning his injuries as he removed the rest of his armor. "Thanks," he said.
"Don't worry about it. So what exactly did you do?"
"Don't worry about it," he replied.
"That's not fair, Bruce. I'll find out eventually."
He frowned as if calculating what to say. "I suppose that's a good point. Let's just say that you don't need to worry about that nightmare coming true."