Selina
Gotham City

She was no detective, but she knew killers didn't just stop killing; not without a reason. He was going to kill again, and Selina was determined to stop him. Chatter had died down. Weeks on end had passed with no one reported missing and no bodies found. Bruce was too damn distracted with Zatanna back in town to care. And now they had a baby together.

That's one way to manipulate a guy into committing.

Never did she think she would see the day when Batman cared more about sitting at home with some woman than being out on the streets of Gotham. She'd catch sight of his partners from time to time, but they didn't seem to be anymore alert than usual. Batwoman was out tonight, so she trailed her until she stopped on a rooftop. She was well trained and moved like him.

"Anything new?" She asked as she approached.

"Catwoman. Long time, no see. To what do I owe the honor?"

"The serial killer. Why isn't your boss out looking for him?"

"What makes you think he isn't?"

"Because I'm not an idiot. He's hardly ever out," she said, not appreciating the subterfuge.

"He's doing everything he can, as always. In fact, he can probably see us now."

Great.

"Sitting on his ass and watching a monitor. How vigilant of him."

Batwoman sighed and turned to face her. "Did you need something from me?"

"Yes. Help me catch a serial killer."

"We're doing everything we can, believe me. We'll make sure he doesn't kill again."

"Forgive me if your assurances don't give me comfort. Too many women have died."

"I agree. Trust me, Selina...I get your frustration and I promise you, we're on it." She sounded like him, too, and was getting just as much accomplished. Selina walked toward the opposite ledge, done with the useless conversation. "Hey, wait. Whatever you're thinking about doing to catch this guy, just don't. Don't get yourself in trouble."

She didn't turn back, instead leaping to the next rooftop. Being alone was something she was used to...why change now?

Bruce
Batcave

He sat in a chair, waiting for Elliott to wake up. Every muscle in his body was tensed while he thought about the way he raped and killed all of the women...his brutal dispatching of Jensen...his hands on Zatanna as he held a knife to her throat and threatened their son.

How can this be the boy I knew?

He tried to think of how Bruce should behave in this situation...and how much he should know. Batman wouldn't have told him everything, so he needed to play dumb on a lot of the particulars. He had free rein to be as pissed as he wanted to be about his wife and child, though.

"Well, if it isn't my dear, old friend," Elliott sneered at him when he woke, rolling onto his side.

"I'm not here to play nice or play games, Tommy. Batman said you would only talk to me. Talk, so I can leave."

"Batman lied. I said I would talk to you and Zatanna. Not just you."

"Well, you won't be getting a chance to talk to her. You'll have to settle for just me."

"You're as dumb as he is," he said, sitting up and staring at him. "Bring the witch here."

"Fuck you. You're lucky you're behind those bars."

"Oh, yeah. You're such a tough guy. So tough that your fiancee summons a freak in a mask to protect her, instead of you."

"Tell me why you did this."

"For fun."

He stood and walked closer to the cage. "There's no point in staying silent. You'll never see the light of day again, regardless."

"Maybe not. In which case, there's no point in talking unless I get what I want. I'm not asking for much."

His arguments were the same as what he had told Batman for weeks on end. There had to be a way to get him to talk; Bruce just needed to figure out what it was. It was time to use the advantage he had over his alter-ego: a shared childhood.

"You always were stubborn...temperamental. I understand it more now than I did when we were kids. Your parents..."

"Don't fucking talk about my parents!" He stood and walked to the bars, slamming his hands against them.

Well, that got a reaction.

"When your father died, I always wondered if it was an accident or if something else went on. My father sure suspected it. Maybe it's more the trauma of losing my parents to a killer not long after that made me wonder."

"Fuck you, Bruce. You spoiled little piece of shit." He walked back to the bed and sat down. "Bring that fucking bitch you knocked up and I'll talk. Otherwise, go to hell."

"You go to hell!" He yelled and threw the chair he'd been sitting in against the wall. "You try to rape and kill her and you think I'm going to bring her anywhere near you? I hope you fucking rot here. You were my friend!"

"We were never friends. And I'm not talking anymore."

Zatanna
Wayne Manor

The expanded library was nice. Wholly unnecessary and over-the-top, but nice. She added yet another bassinet there so she could plop the sleeping cutie down in pretty much any room she wanted to be in, but he wasn't sleeping now. He was wide awake and smiling while she floated his stuffed animals around his head.

"You're six weeks old. Did you know that? Practically an adult. You'll be on stage with me in no time." His tiny hand reached up to try to grab the stuffed rabbit, so she snatched it and put it on his belly so he could slobber it up. "Rabbit, huh? That's mommy's boy."

While he played with the bunny, she grabbed her latest novel and started to read. The Nameless Cat was on her feet, dutifully watching his favorite person and purring away. After several minutes, she heard a door slam and Bruce stomping through the house.

Guess the conversation went swimmingly.

She kept reading, knowing he would want time to calm down before she asked him any questions. He finally walked in and sat next to them.

"What are you reading?"

"Ulysses by James Joyce. It's giving me a headache."

"Yeah, that one requires frequent sanity breaks to get through...or maybe some good drugs." He grabbed Thomas and the bunny and cradled him in his arms. "Did you sleep much?"

"Pretty well when he did." She set the book aside and turned to face him. "How did things go with your prisoner?"

She could tell he was angry, so rather than be pushy, she let him sit in silence for a while and ran her hand through his hair. His voice was low and quiet when he finally spoke.

"He's insane. He hates me and I have no idea why."

"What did he tell you?"

"Nothing." He turned to her and from the look in his eyes, she knew it wasn't the right time to force the issue.

"Think Alfred can watch Thomas for a bit tonight?" His teeth clinched and he shook his head. "You sure? I was hoping we could train. I have milk in the fridge and everything."

His expression quickly changed and the frown started to turn into a surprised grin. "Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"Oh, yeah. Gotta get my muscles back," she smiled, glad to see that he was up for the idea.

"I think Alfred would love to have this little guy to himself for a while. 8:00?"

"Same as always," she pecked his lips and snagged the baby back. "You'd better get to work."

"Okay. I'll see you tonight. Be ready."

He walked out with less of a stomp to his step, and she looked at the clock, breathing a sigh of relief. Diana was due to meet her at Shadowcrest within the hour to discuss Tsaritsa and she wanted to know the facts before she talked about it with Bruce. Thankfully, the crazy witch hadn't come calling yet, so she had some time to prepare. She gathered the baby and cat and transported home.

"Hey, Di. Thanks for meeting here," she said, zapping her directly into the study with her.

"Happy to. Means I get to cuddle that handsome boy more."

Zatanna handed Thomas over and snapped her fingers, creating a writing pad with a pen to take notes for her while they talked. "Drocer ruo sdrow."

"That's handy," Diana said, looking at the floating paper.

"We can't all have Bruce's memory. Tell me what you've found."

"First, tell me more about the trip to the other dimension."

"Well, I'm sure Bruce told you most of what he saw." Diana nodded in confirmation. "Okay, so picking up from there. I found where the rest of the beasts...the ones like Black Adam had...were being kept. I went there and destroyed them all and took the power they had stolen from mages in that dimension. That's ultimately how I was able to fight the Darkness in Hell."

"How did that power not rip you apart?"

She shrugged and, for some reason, it wasn't something she had ever considered. "It just didn't? I'm here. Guess I can take on a lot of power."

"You did all of that based on a guess?"

"Ugh, you sound just like Bruce."

"I'm going to assume that by that you mean 'sane and reasonable'." She shook her head and rolled her eyes, stealing a sniff of Thomas's head. "Go on. Tell me the rest."

"I got my other self and family to safety and started the ritual. Etrigan grabbed me and took me to Hell, where we fought."

"How did he get to you?"

"I...I don't really know. He knew how to cross dimensions in Hell, because it's how he got us back, too." Blood and the others had left so soon after their return that they didn't do a run down. She knew very little about the overall context of what had happened...and she'd never really wanted to know.

Diana sat and thought for several minutes with Thomas falling asleep in her arms. "I think we need to know more about that."

"Why? What did you find looking into Tsaritsa?"

"Less than I hoped. I had her trailed for several weeks, but she's good at covering her movements. I think she's trying to get home, or at least contact it in some way. If she is, that means she thinks there's a pathway to do that...some weakness."

"The tear! J'onn said there was a tear between the dimensions and that's how Black Adam got the beasts here. I completely forgot until now." It seemed a lot more important now than it had during her preparations in the other dimension.

"That's bad. If it's still there, then we have a dangerous situation that needs to be fixed."

"Fixed how? I know we caused it, but not how we did. So, I don't know how to fix it."

"Neither do I. Look into things on your end and I'll so the same. See if you can get in touch with Jason Blood to get more information on how he was able to cross Hell's dimensions. We'll likely need the League in on this, but let's hold off for now until we know more. I think we still have time."

"If Bruce asks, I won't lie to him. That's led to more than a few issues in the past."

Diana handed Thomas back to her and stood. "I understand. Let me know what you find. I'll call you in a few days, but if you need anything let me know."

"I will, thanks." She stood and transported her home before walking to the bedroom. Once Thomas was in his bassinet, she laid down in bed and tried to stay calm. I was hoping this would be straightforward. Nothing ever seemed to be straightforward in her life, though. She could only hope that, this time, her life would not be on the line.

The Accomplice
Gotham City

"It might be the night," he said, pacing the floor.

"You've said that for the last two weeks. What makes you think tonight will be any different?"

"Just a feeling. The weather's supposed to be clear, so it should be easy to find her. I think the timing is right. No way I'm wrong about Batman having him." Too much time had passed with silence for it to be anything else.

"Are you sure she's the right one to take? It might be difficult."

"Oh, it will be. That's why I didn't rush into it like you wanted. I'm ready now, though. I'll set a trap and we'll be in business." He was sick of arguing, so he turned the TV on. No more preparations were needed, so it was time to relax and get his mind right...as right as it ever was, anyway. Definitely debatable.

Bruce
Batcave

He was more excited than he expected by the idea of training with Zatanna. It had been close to a year since they had met on the gym mat and he had missed it. She showed up on time with a smile on her face, stretching while he gathered their gear.

"What would you like to try tonight?"

"I'm probably pretty rusty on everything, but feel like getting my heart rate up a bit. Work me over, Batman."

"Well, that's a pretty easy request," he said, lunging at her. She was ready for it and side stepped him with a laugh.

"My muscles might be mush, but my reflexes are still intact."

"We'll see. Show me what you remember."

They settled into their sparring routine quickly, going through a mixture of moves. She might have been weaker, but she remembered her training. By the time the hour was up, they were bloodied and exhausted.

"You know, this probably isn't how most normal couples spend their evenings," he said as she healed their wounds.

"We are most certainly not a normal couple. Normal's boring, anyway."

He laughed and stripped his sweaty shirt off. "We're definitely not boring. In fact, we could use a little more boring in our lives."

She walked over and put her hands on his chest. "No way. We'd both hate that."

Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her close and looked in her eyes. "Thank you for this tonight. It was a welcome distraction."

They stood for a long moment before her breathing started to pick up. She trailed her hands down his chest and stretched up to kiss him. This wasn't the gentle kisses she had been giving him since she'd given birth. Her lips were insistent, tongue thrusting into his mouth and drawing a moan from his throat. He pulled back slightly.

"Are you sure? I don't have much self control right now."

"Yes," she said, pushing him back against the wall and kissing him again. "God, yes." He groaned and pulled her shirt off, running his hands down her back to her hips. "Shower," she mumbled against his mouth. Grabbing her hips tighter, he lifted her so that she could wrap her legs around his waist. Her lips were on his neck as they moved toward the bathroom, tongue flicking out to taste his skin. When they reached the shower, he turned the water on and quickly put her on her feet so they could strip. He dropped to his knees and ran his tongue over her stomach, her hand tangling in his hair while the water warmed up.

"Get in the shower," she rasped, pulling his hair until he stood. He grinned and walked them backward until they were in the lukewarm stream. Her head fell back as he rubbed a soapy cloth over her body. Once she had her hair washed, she ran her fingers along his cock, driving him crazy while he cleaned himself. Throwing the cloth aside, he picked her up and lowered her onto him with a hard thrust, impatient to feel her. She cried out sharply and dug her fingers into his back.

"Sorry, I wasn't thinking. You okay?"

"Mmm...healed myself a little too well. Give me a minute. Fu...crap."

He held as still as he could. "Don't care if you cuss around me."

"Fuck, your cock is amazing," she said before biting down into his shoulder. He laughed and kissed her neck, giving her a minute to relax. "Move, baby."

She'd never called him "baby" before. Maybe she thought it didn't suit him...or that he wouldn't like it. He liked it. No more prompting was needed and he started to bounce her up and down, her cries reverberating off of the walls. There was no way he was going to last long after two months of no sex. She felt incredible...as good as ever...better.

"Fuck, I love you."

"Love you more," she said, face buried against his neck.

"No chance."

Turning, he let her lean back against the wall. She smiled and she looked in his eyes. "Bruce..." his name trailed off into a moan as she came quickly, throwing her head back. Relieved, he let himself come with her; he couldn't have taken much more. Lowering her down, he kissed her again while her hands felt along his scars. He'd missed her touch...her taste. When he finally broke the kiss, she moved to press her body against him, looking up with bright eyes. Those eyes. He could never get enough of the way she looked at him.

"Why do you love me?" He asked with a grin.

She reached up and placed her hand on his cheek, eyes thoughtful. "You're the first person since I lost my family that makes me feel like I matter in this world...like there's something to live for beyond the next show or the next fight. I'll probably never know why, but you let me see a part of you no one else sees. No one had ever let me in like that before. It drew me in and terrified me at times, but you made me see things differently. I suddenly cared about the future because you would be in it. And, in spite of everything...there's been a lot of everything...you're here with me now."

He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. "And I will be...no matter what."

She smirked slightly and her eyes glinted. "You also have a fucking amazing cock."

Laughing, he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her. "It'll be here, too. Now let's go relieve Alfred of his babysitting duties. I miss the kid."

Thomas Elliott
His Cell

Well, I certainly got a rise out of him.

Bruce hadn't stuck around long and he didn't bring his sideshow act fiancee along with him. Batman showed up later in the day to throw his daily dose of slop at him and run the shower overhead for five minutes.

"You said you would talk," he growled.

"For a bat, you have shitty hearing. I'll talk to them both or I won't talk. Can I get a towel? It's fucking freezing in here."

"Talk and I'll give you a towel."

He laughed and shook his hair dry. "Nice try. Where was the witch? I thought I made myself clear."

"I can't make him bring her here."

"Did she give birth to that little shit of theirs yet?"

Turning on his heel, the Bat walked away without another word. He smiled and laid back down on the bed.

They'll cave.

Zatanna
Wayne Manor

Crying. Soft crying.

Thomas was making his usual 3 AM demands in the nursery, rousting her from her sex-induced sleep. They'd gone at it like teenagers once the baby was asleep and she was more relaxed than she had been since he was born, despite the lack of proper rest. Bruce stirred slightly.

"Your turn," she said.

"Feels like it's always my turn," he mumbled.

"That's what you get for being..." Holy shit. The shock hit her like a bolt of lightning and she choked out a small gasp.

"Zee? What is it?"

"...a creature of the night," she finally finished, swallowing hard as her eyes watered up. Bruce's hand went under her chin.

"Tell me what's the matter."

She smiled and kissed him gently. "Nothing. I'm so happy."

"No need to cry about that," he said with a sleepy grin. "But I'm glad you are. Let me go get the noisemaker."

In the past, only her nightmares had played out in horrifying accuracy, but now she was living out the sweetest dream she'd ever had. Regaining her composure, she grabbed a blanket and cloth and sat up. Bruce came back in, groggy and squinting in the light of the lamp. Thomas had already calmed down and was smiling and babbling at him, bouncing his legs.

"Oh, lord. He's never going back to sleep," she sighed. "He's entirely too excited to see you."

"Everybody's happy, everybody's safe," he slurred, handing Thomas over. "Doing my job." He collapsed back onto the bed next to her as she settled in for the early breakfast session. "Tell me why you're so happy you were crying."

"Just a bit of deja vu."

"It's not deja vu, he literally wakes up every three hours." He was face down on the pillow, muffling his voice. She reached over and grabbed his hair to turn his head toward her. "Ow."

"I dreamed this exact morning. A lot. I had almost forgotten about it, so when the dream came true, I started crying." His sleepy eyes looked up at her while she spoke and ran her hand through his hair. "Go back to sleep. You have work and patrol today."

"Don't wanna."

"Liar," she laughed. "I don't mind. He'll need a stroll around the house to get him sleepy again, anyway. Just sleep."

Suddenly looking toward the door, Bruce's eyes popped open wide. "Are you doing that?"

"What?" His hand reached up to her chin and turned her head. The stuffed bunny was floating into the room and came to hover over Thomas's face, causing him to bounce his legs again. "Oh, that's just great."

"Tell me that's normal," Bruce said with a strained voice.

"Yeah, but I was hoping he would wait a while." Probably should have dialed it back around him. Little copycat.

Eyes still wide, he lowered his head back to the pillow and watched the floating toy. "Awake now."

"Stop freaking your daddy out." The bunny plopped down into her lap, so she grabbed it and held it next to him where he could see it. "Better?"

"No. Him understanding you isn't even a little less freaky."

"Welcome to magi parenthood," she said with a smile that she hoped was reassuring. "He's just doing what he's seen me do. I'll make sure I don't try anything too exciting with him around."

He blinked a few times and started to relax. "Guess I need to get used to it."

"Afraid so. Now sleep. I'll make sure no floating bunnies attack you while you dream."

"Smart ass," he said, closing his eyes. "It's still freaky."

Agreed.