"I take it Bruce won't be able to join us?" Lucius said when Adriana arrived at the restaurant. He was looking at her hair and noticing the dramatic difference in her appearance.

They had reserved a private dining area, separated by a bamboo partition from the rest of the dining room. Here they could speak freely.

"He didn't want to come," Adriana said and gave a forced smile.

"I must confess, I am not surprised," Lucius said and walked over to pull out Adriana's seat.

She thanked him then sat down and immediately picked up the wine menu.

"I'm sorry," Adriana said to Lucius and sat the menu down.

He looked at her waiting for her to explain, while he took his seat.

"I've..ruined your friendship with Bruce," Adriana said. "I know he's avoiding you at work. I've basically made your whole work life uncomfortable and...This is all my fault for involving you in this."

"Bruce would have asked me to handle the relocation, regardless," Lucius explained logically.

"But the only reason you're not telling him where he is..is because of me," Adriana said. "Because I've been so involved..because I introduced you to him.."

Lucius couldn't disagree.

"Be that as it may," Lucius said. "It is the right thing to do."

"You really think so?" Adriana asked. "Bruce..he's so angry with you. I'm worried he might fire you or something."

The server came in and smiled at them both before introducing himself. Both Adriana and Lucius ordered wine. When the wine was delivered, Lucius requested they be left undisturbed. The server agreed and before he could leave, Adriana asked the server to leave the wine bottle.

"It's the right thing to do," Lucius said once they were alone again. "The man's sentence, after his trial, was Arkham. The jury...the citizen's could see..he needed help. Intensive therapy. He wasn't sentenced to death...which is what Bruce has in mind for him."

Adriana nodded and finished her first glass of wine quickly.

"He knows, Lucius," Adriana said.

Lucius was quiet for a moment.

"Are you sure?" Lucius asked.

"Well.." Adriana started to pour another glass. "He asked me if I was raped and told me that he knows how Arsenio came to be, and it sounded like he wants me to get therapy...so yes I'm pretty sure."

Lucius watched her continue to drink.

"He wont tell me who told him," Adriana said. "What do I do now?"

"You relax," Lucius said and reached for her hand. "We did not exactly go into this with a master plan. The only objective is to get him out of the country safely, which I can do in less than a week. Bruce has been watching me very closely, he doesn't know I know that, so I've had to be careful."

"And that's it?" Adriana said, sounding frustrated. "Then everything will be fine?"

"I wasn't saying that-" Lucius started to speak.

"I never wanted him to know," Adriana said. "Now..everything is different. Our marriage...he's treating me differently. What if this is how things will be from now on?"

"Give him time," Lucius said.

"Like you are?" Adriana said. "That's easy for you to do...give him time to treat you differently. He's not your husband."

Lucius had nothing to say.

"I'm sorry..." Adriana said. "I'm...sounding like I'm blaming you or something. I'm really sorry, none of this is your fault. All you've done is help me."

"There is not much we can do with this, Adriana," Lucius said. "We have no choice but to give Bruce time to accept this."

"He hasn't accepted it," Adriana said. "He wouldn't hear a word I said..I tried telling him that I wasn't hurt, I wasn't forced. But it was like he couldn't even hear me."

"Adriana," Lucius said carefully. "I think you may have to come to terms with the fact...that Bruce may never accept that. As you've said...Bruce is your husband. I am your friend. Friends are more likely to accept such shocking news. A lover is an entirely different creature. "

"So..what then? I should just...keep quiet and have him think what he wants?" Adriana said. "That I was harmed? I have no other choice because we're married?"

"If Bruce will not see it any other way..it may be the most peaceful way to put this behind you," Lucius said. "Every couple has it's secrets, which is a harsh truth. My wife, for instance, believes all these years that I have been nothing but a business manager at Wayne Enterprises."

Adriana looked at her half empty glass.

"Okay," she said. She had to accept his words.

After talking a bit more they decided to return home. Lucius left payment for the wine and a generous tip for the server and they walked out to the valet. Adriana hugged Lucius before getting into her car. As she began to drive home through the streets of Gotham she felt overcome with the urge to cry. She pulled over and parked her car on a small street and put her forehead on the steering wheel, but the tears didn't come. She was too frustrated.

She pulled out her phone and looked at pictures of her son, and then closed her eyes. She couldn't believe who she wanted to call as she dialed the number from memory.

"Hello?" Damien's voice answered the phone and she could tell he didn't recognize the number.

"Hi," she said.

"Adriana," he said and sounded like he was smiling. "What can I do for you?"

"I...I need to talk to you," she said.

"Mhm," he said, a smile still on his voice. "In person?"

"Preferably," she said. "Somewhere quiet..."

"You know, I have a whole mansion that's quiet right now," he said.

"I can't come to your house," Adriana said, refraining from calling him an idiot.

"Fine," Damien said. "How about Danny's. Remember that diner? Usually practically empty this time in the evening."

"Sure, that's a good idea," Adriana said. "I'll see you there."

"On my way now," he said, sounding like he was standing up.

"Okay..bye," Adriana said and hung up.

She began to drive, not even knowing exactly why she needed to see Damien of all people. Maybe she just needed to confirm that he wasn't the one who told Bruce everything, she told herself. After driving for fifteen minutes she pulled in to the diner parking lot. Damien was right, there were only two other cars there and Adriana could see one patron sitting at the bar.

After parking she saw another car pull in. Damien had purchased a black Maybach. He stepped out and looked over at her car, a slight smile on his face, before he turned and went into the diner. Once he was inside, Adriana put on her sunglasses and also went in to the diner.

She found him sitting at a table talking to the waitress. She was young and pretty and Adriana could see he was flirting with her. Adriana walked over to the table at sat down.

"Can I get you something to drink?" the girl asked Adriana.

"Nothing for me, thanks," Adriana answered.

"Okay," the girl smiled. "I'll be back with your ice tea, sir."

"Thanks," Damien said and winked at the girl. Once she was gone he spoke to Adriana. "Very incognito with the sunglasses and dark hair."

"Paparazzi follow me sometimes," Adriana told him.

"So you wear a wig?" Damien asked.

"This is my hair...I dyed it," she said.

"Wow...let me see," he said to her.

"What? You can see it just fine," she said.

"I mean without the glasses," he told her. "Just a peek."

She sighed, almost feeling like she owed him something for dragging him out on such short notice. She pulled off the glasses.

"Hot," he said and smiled. "So hot. Never imagined you with black hair...but damn it makes your eyes even more piercing."

Adriana said nothing and quickly put the glasses back on.

"You're all dressed up," Damien noticed.

"I had a dinner before this," Adriana said, not wanting him to think that she had dressed up for this meeting.

"Sure," he said, sounding like he didn't believe her.

The waitress gave him his tea and left after he told her they wouldn't be ordering food.

"So..." Damien said and took a sip of his drink. "What brings us here tonight?"

"You lied," she said. "You told Bruce everything."

Damien laughed momentarily before seeing that she was serious. He couldn't see her eyes but he could feel her glaring at him.

"Adriana," he said. "Seriously. If I told him I would tell you. There's no reason for me to lie about that."

"You've lied about smaller things," she said.

"I haven't seen Bruce Wayne since I signed those contracts," Damien said. "Not even in passing."

Adriana looked down at her hands. She could tell he wasn't lying.

"Okay," she said.

"Everything alright?" he asked with concern.

"Yes," she lied. "Just trying to get to the bottom of this."

"Did you ever think that maybe you're just being paranoid and perhaps your husband doesn't know anything?" Damien asked.

"He knows," Adriana said. "He confirmed that."

"Oh," Damien raised his eyebrows. "Then ask him who told him."

"I did," Adriana said. "He said he figured it out but I don't see how."

"Well, I figured it out without anyone telling me, so it's possible," Damien told her.

"Right," Adriana said quietly.

"Don't worry," Damien said. "Wayne is wealthy and used to maintaining his image. I'm sure whatever source he found has been neutralized. You don't have to worry about the public finding out."

"That's not what's concerning me," Adriana said.

"What then?" he asked.

Adriana didn't want to talk to him about this...but then she realized, he was just the person she needed to ask.

"When you found out.." Adriana started. "What did you think?"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"What did you think of me," she asked.

"Ah..." Damien said and leaned back. "So Wayne's acting funny now that he knows."

"Just answer the question," Adriana asked.

"Hah," Damien said. "Fine."

He took a deep breath and looked like he was thinking.

"You know, actually," Damien said. "I found out the freak was seeing someone before I knew it was you."

"I think you told me this," Adriana said.

"Oh yes," Damien said. "We had him in custody. Gordon told me that this time he was different. He was quiet, cooperative. Nothing happened. Gordon felt he was hiding something and wanted me to get it out of him. So we beat and starved him."

"Right.." Adriana said, feeling a bit heated. She hated hearing this.

"And I got fired for it," Damien said. "But before that, I saw the evidence. While I was giving him a beat down in the restroom I saw a huge red spot on his neck. Something I assume you left there."

Adriana looked out the window for a second and then back at Damien. She was glad she was wearing the shades. They made her feel less vulnerable.

"He barely spoke but insisted he was seeing a beautiful woman," Damien said. "Since he wouldn't say more, it got me thinking maybe he had some feeling for this woman. She could be used as leverage for if he escaped again. DeMarco and I could tell that son of a bitch was in love."

Adriana said nothing.

"Anyway," Damien said. "I thought it would be some cracked out prostitute with one eye, that maybe looked like she could've been hot in her heyday. But then I found out it was you."

"And..what did you think," Adriana said.

"I thought...that shit is wild," Damien laughed. "I wasn't entirely sure until I took the paternity test results and compared them with his DNA."

"And.." Adriana said.

"Yep," Damien said. "It was you."

"Damien," Adriana said. "I told you..I wasn't assaulted or anything. We...we were together because we wanted to be."

"Yes," Damien said, and shook his shoulders as if a chill came over him.

"Do you believe me?" Adriana asked. "I wanted him."

Damien looked her up and down before answering. He tilted his head, still considering.

"Yes," he said.

"Really?" Adriana couldn't believe it. "Why?"

"Because I know you," Damien said. "I've known you a long time. You know, you were always a quiet, reserved girl. Timid. Seemed like life had really shot you down. You were a good girl."

"What? And now I'm not?" Adriana asked.

"No," Damien said. "You're different. Once I found out, I realized what the change was. You never really took chances, except for with your psychiatric medications. Everyone needs that...to do something insane, and it was your time. Time to do something crazy for once. Truly crazy. Fucking Gotham's most notorious felon..yeah, that would do it for how bottled up you were."

Adriana swallowed.

"That being said," Damien laughed. "I imagine the thrill was better in theory than in practice, am I right?"

"What?" Adriana asked.

"Come on..the man was a hideous freak," Damien said. "I'm sure it must have all been about the thrill of doing something so insane that kept you at it."

"No," Adriana said. "I..."

"You what?" Damien laughed again. "There's no way you actually enjoyed that. You're wiser and more mature now. You're a mother. Come on..be honest with yourself. You hated it, you're probably ashamed but you loved the thrill at the time."

"But what if I did?" Adriana asked quietly. "My...my husband thinks I was assaulted and manipulated. You think...I just did it for some kind of rebellious amusement. But what if none of that is true?"

"So you think you enjoyed that?" Damien asked.

"I'm tired of my sanity and assertions of my own experience being questioned," Adriana said.

"Fine then," Damien said and crossed his arms. "Tell me. Tell me you actually found it to be an enjoyable experience."

Adriana took a deep breath. It was none of his business but she needed to say it.

"I never enjoyed sex," she told him. "Not with you...not with anyone before you."

"That's not true," Damien said, his ego taking an unexpected hit.

"It's true," she said. "I told you repeatedly what I needed and you never listened. You didn't care that I didn't enjoy you. Even Harri knew that our sex life was horrible."

"It was great," Damien said.

"Yes, maybe for you," Adriana said. She expected him to shut down and end the conversation but he appeared to be listening.

"So," Damien said. "The clown was different then?"

"He wasn't clown," Adriana said. "He was.."

"He was what?" Damien asked.

Adriana felt a smile coming across her lips. She tried her best to suppress it, but it happened.

"He was a man," Adriana said. "You're right...I was bottled up. He was a man."

"And what? He unbottled you?" Damien laughed.

"He never talked about what he would do," she said. "You did...most men do. Tell me how great it's going to be and how much I'm going to enjoy it. But he..."

Damien said nothing, even though he couldn't see her eyes, he could feel her expression.

"He never used words to lure me in," Adriana said. "It made him so unassuming..reserved. I mean...he never said a single word to excite me he just...did. The epitome of..don't talk about it, be about it."

Adriana couldn't tell if Damien was uncomfortable or not but she could tell he was listening closely.

"I know it's crazy but.." Adriana said. "It made me physically attracted to him. The mystery. It was like every single time...I would question my memory of it ... Was it really was as good as I remembered it being. I remembered having sex with him. I remembered it being amazing. But he was so silent, he acted like he knew that I would dismiss him and go and be with someone else easily. He had no...cockiness or pride about it. He said this to me. He told me if I liked someone else, he had no problem with me seeing other people. So I would question if it really was that good, because he didn't act like he had me. He had me wrapped around his finger but he never acted like he knew that..but then whenever it would happen again...whenever we'd make love again..."

Adriana paused and a hand moved to her chest.

"Every time, it was even better than I remembered," she said, feeling her breath being taken away as she spoke. "It was as if every single time, he would unlock some part of me that I didn't know was there. Whenever it would get to a point that I felt like I knew myself, like I knew my body through and through and completely...it...he just...he would just unearth another hidden gem I didn't know was there."

Damien took a deep breath and looked away.

"It almost was scary," Adriana said and Damien looked into her eyes through the glasses. "The anticipation..After a while, I just.."

"You were afraid of him?" Damien asked.

"No..." she smiled. "I think I became afraid of myself. But maybe that's how you should make a woman feel..."

"Afraid of herself?" Damien asked her.

"When your woman..when she hears you come into the house...when you're around...when she knows what's about to happen," Adriana raised her shoulders and smiled. "It's a little...fear. Because you don't know how intense it will be. Orgasms so strong you lose complete control of yourself, and feel your entire body and emotions imploding in such a deep way. It's complete surrender..so profound it just...like your putting the innermost parts of your soul into someone else's hands."

"Oh..." Damien said, then looking down at his glass. "I see."

"So.." Adriana said. "I enjoyed him. It wasn't just for thrills..although it was indeed thrilling."

Damien nodded. "I believe you."

Adriana felt relieved.

"Have you told all of this to your husband?" Damien asked.

"No," Adriana answered. "He...won't hear any of it. It's like he shuts off listening..and goes into looking at me like I'm some weak, traumatized victim. It makes me shut down, and I can't open up to him like this.."

"Well," Damien said. "Maybe you should leave him."

"What?" Adriana said.

"Come on, you just admitted your husband doesn't listen to you," Damien said. "Just now. You know I'm a better listener than he is. I believe you."

"So.." Adriana couldn't believe it and was holding in a laugh. "You want me to leave him and be with you? Is that what you're saying."

"Yes," Damien said. "Okay, I was flirting with the waitress but if you just give me a chance-"

Adriana started to laugh loudly. "Damien, I do not care at all who you flirt with."

"How can you make a marriage work with a man who won't listen to you?" Damien asked.

Adriana shook her head. "There's more to it. It's complicated but we'll get through it."

Damien would never know that Bruce was the Batman. He would never understand the full story.

"Fine," Damien said. "But I'm here. Remember that. Whenever you want to come back..I'm here."

"Right," Adriana said and grabbed her purse. "Have a good evening."