Chapter 45:
Part 1:
"This place is outrageous!" Harri exclaimed when she arrived the next day. "Beautiful!"
"Yeah, it is," Adriana agreed while taking some of Harri's many bags. Alfred came through the door a few moments later with even more.
"Where's Adrian?" Harri wondered immediately. "I wanna see him!"
"Why do you have so many bags, jeez Harri," Adriana started to count the bags.
"Lots of Christmas presents for you and my nephew," Harri helped move the bags to the room she was going to be staying in.
"His room is right next to yours," Adriana said as they went into the decorated nursery. "He might be sleeping," Adriana whispered as they entered.
"This nursery looks like it costs more than my whole house," Harri whispered back.
"He's awake," Adriana said as she saw Adrian's bright open eyes. She lifted him from the crib and held him out to Harri.
"Oh my," Harri cooed to Adrian, "He's so beautiful, Adriana. You should be really proud."
"I am," Adriana smiled.
"He's a baby doll," Harri said in a high voice. "Can I have him?" she asked while playing with his tiny hands. "You are so precious I just want to take you home with me. I got you so many presents, honey eyes."
"Honey eyes?" Adriana laughed.
"Look at the color," Harri said dazed. "He doesn't look like you much though, except for his lips."
"I know," Adriana walked closer and looked at his golden eyes and smooth hair. "You look like daddy."
"Nah," Harri said. "He doesn't look like Bruce."
"He's hungry," Adriana took Adrian before he could cry in hunger to feed him. When she was done he became sleepy again.
"No don't go to sleep yet," Harri whined to Adrian. She hadn't taken her eyes off of him since she entered the room.
"Too late," Adriana whispered. "He sleeps a lot. He was awake most of the day yesterday though, looking at the TV with me."
"Aww, well I hope he stays awake tomorrow," Harri was laying on the couch in the nursery. They left the room and Adriana helped Harri unpack the abundance of clothing she had stuffed into a small suitcase.
Part 2:
"Where's your room?" Harri asked Adriana when they were done. "Is it nice? Silly question, this whole mansion is nice."
"It's down the hall," Adriana led Harri to the room where she left most of her things.
"Do you sleep in here?" Harri asked, noticing that the room looked spotless.
"No, I sleep in the other room with Bruce," Adriana answered.
"Awwww," Harri said sweetly. "We really should catch up, you know." Harri lay across the large bed and patted the area next to her.
"Yeah," Adriana flopped next to her. "So catch me up."
"I'm going to have a baby too," Harri burst out, smiling.
"Really!" surprise erupted in Adriana's voice. "With Antonio?" Adriana remembered Harri's long term boyfriend who she always seems to be fighting with.
"Yeah," Harri sighed. "I hope my baby will be as cute as Adrian."
"Is Antonio happy?" Adriana asked.
"Yeah, apparently my kid will be named Antonio or Antonia. I can't believe you're getting married, Adri," Harri rolled over and pulled a pillow under her head.
"Me either," Adriana agreed.
"Is Adrian Bruce's son?" Harri could contain the question no longer. "It's all over the news he's not. I don't want to believe something that's not the truth, and you know you can trust me Adri."
"I know, Harri. But there's just too much to tell, that I can't tell you."
"You can tell me anything. All of the stuff you have told me over the years, all of the frightening-"
"Okay," Adriana knew that Harri would never tell a soul anything, but didn't want to stress her out with all of the information. "No, Adrian's not Bruce's son."
"Oh," Harri sat up. "So who is it?"
"I can't tell you much, Harri," Adriana rolled to face away from her. "I know you won't tell but I don't know if you'll be able to bear all the information."
"Yes you can," Harri said. "And I know that you want to. Please just tell my why everyone's saying you and Bruce just met like a week ago. Just tell me everything, I can handle it."
"I don't even know where to start, Harri," Adriana said, wishing her voice didn't sound so sad.
"Start with whatever's easiest," Harri massaged Adriana's shoulder. "Alright?"
"Ok," Adriana whispered. "Bruce is the Batman."
"Oh," Harri said, trying to conceal her disbelief. Her mind tried to match Bruce up with the Batman and somehow make them one person, but they didn't seem the same. "You sure?"
"I'm positive, Harri. That's how I met him."
"Ok, I guess that makes sense if you both were working closely with the police," Harry thought. "He sure hides it well. I never would have though of him as the Batman based on how he seems in the news and stuff. Seems like he's more into money and parties and business than the welfare of the city. That's really amazing."
"Yeah, he's different once you get to know him," Adriana closed her eyes.
"So, what about Adrian?" Harri asked. Adriana let out a huge sigh.
"Lay down, Harri," Adriana patted the bed.
"That serious?" Harri obeyed and put her head back onto the pillow.
"Yeah. You know who the Joker is," Adriana stated.
"Umm, yeah, that's the one who kidnapped me the and was after you. Now he's about to go to jail or to a padded box for life for killing everyone when they sentence him tomorrow-" Harri spoke quickly.
"Yeah, him. He's Adrian's father," Adriana cut her off.
"How? You're Adrian's mother," Harri was confused.
"Yeah I'm Adrian's mother and he's Adrian's father," Adriana felt like she was talking to a five year old.
"They had a photo of him in the police station when I went. They showed it to me," Harri's voice shook. "Adrian looks just like him. But why do you have a kid together Adriana, I don't get it."
"We were together for a few months."
"Together, together? In a relationship?" Harri's questions couldn't be asked fast enough. Adriana told her everything up until when he left after Adrian was born. Adriana expected Harri to look disgusted when she was done spilling everything but instead she looked suprised and romanced.
"Bruce really loves you," Harri sighed. "You know I'd never tell anyone any of this. It could put you and Adrian and Bruce in danger. Especially Adrian."
"I know," Adriana felt tremendous relief that Harri was taking everything well.
"You sound really sad about Adrian's dad choosing to get booked," Harri half asked.
"Yeah, I am."
"But it's really a good thing you know? If he didn't do that he'd come after Adrian...You'd have to stop him, probably by killing him. Or the Batman would have to kill him..I mean Bruce."
"I don't want to talk about it though. I haven't been listening to anyone's thoughts because I don't want to hear if anyone's thinking about it. That's the only way I'd make it through this engagement party and wedding."
"You need to go shopping to take your mind off of things," Harri suggested.
"Yea, Bruce keeps telling me I need to get some new clothes."
"Well, come on then! And when do you plan on getting a wedding dress?" Harri was too excited.
"I don't know I hadn't even thought of it. I guess I was just thinking Bruce would pick it, he picks everything."
"NO, he cannot pick out your wedding dress. We should get it today," Harri suggested, "Your mind will be busy all day long."
"Good idea," Adriana agreed. The wedding was in a few short weeks but seemed like an eternity away. "I've got to ask Alfred to sit with Adrian."
"He doesn't seem like a babysitter," Harri laughed.
"He loves Adrian, and he's great with him. Surprised me," Adriana laughed too.
"Okay, do you have money?" Harri stood up and pulled Adriana off of the bed.
"No, I don't really spend any," Adriana realized. She reached into the small bag that was still stuffed with clothes from the day she wanted to run away. She looked at her debit card which she was sure must have still had money since she deposited $10 million months ago and never used it. The card, she noticed, had expired the previous month. "Ugh, card's expired."
"Oh," Harri was dissapointed then immediately distracted by Adriana's phone vibrating.
"Hello?" Adriana answered Bruce's call. "Yeah she's here. Bruce says hi."
"Hi," Harri beamed.
"She says hi too...Yeah, we were gonna go shopping but my card's expired I have to get a new one...My debit card...For clothes and she says I should get a wedding dress," Adriana jumped as Bruce cheered on the other line and Harri began to laugh hard upon hearing his loud cheers through the phone.
"Yeah but I gotta wait for a new card though, maybe they sent it to my old house...Ok...," Adriana listened as Bruce instructed her to go into his office and Harri followed her.
"Ok, I'm at the desk...which one?" Bruce instructed Adriana to open a drawer to get a small key hidden in a notebook. She then used the tiny key to open another drawer with several envelopes. "Yeah I see them...Letter A? Ok...Yeah I got it...wow.."
Harri looked around the office at all of the books about law and business and poked through a pile of magazines on the same topics. She turned to see Adriana typing on the laptop on the desk.
"Yeah..." Adriana spoke as Harri came behind her to see what she was doing. She had opened an envelope with four cards with her name on all of them. "Ok I think I just need one...Fine..."
Adriana opened up the local bank's website and listened as Bruce gave her information to log into his account. The balance was a number that was a staggering ten digits long. Bruce instructed her on how to activate the first card with her name on it. When she was done and went back to the account overview she noticed that the balance had increased by nearly $4,000 within the last couple of minutes. Harri's mouth dropped when she saw the amount of money in the account and was shocked even further when Adriana repeated the process for three other banks and cards.
"Yeah, I'm done them all," Adriana spoke to Bruce. "Ok, I love you too. Bye."
"Was I just seeing things?" Harri asked after Adriana hung up the phone. "Or do you have millions and billions on all of those cards?"
"I'm wondering the same thing," Adriana laughed.
"Well since you have your healthy new cards we can get you a wedding dress and maybe one for the engagement party too," Harri got excited again.
