'It's been a while since I last wrote. But I had to. I'm so confused. I'm in love with Jonathan, I know I am. But there's this part of me that can't shake off the fact he was responsible for Adam's death. I shouldn't be letting him so close, but I can't help it. I feel so safe with him…'

Diana stopped writing, biting her bottom lip. She didn't want to deny him. He had done so much for her; she would feel so ungrateful if she turned away from him.

Yet at the same time…she knew she didn't owe him anything. She wasn't his property.

She rubbed her tired eyelids. She was changing. If she looked back at how she had acted a few months ago…she would've never thought she would have sex again. Now…she still wasn't so sure whether she wanted to or not. Part of her really wanted to, just to show Jonathan she wasn't afraid of him anymore.

She had no-one to talk to. Ever since Jonathan had started working at the Asylum, he wasn't at home as often as he used to be. She often felt lonely. Not just that, she felt like she was becoming a recluse. She could only stare out the window, longingly and she hated it.

She rested her head back on the windowsill, looking down on the people outside and sighed longingly. If only she could go outside…

She was woken up from her thoughts when Jonathan joined her, taking a seat at the windowsill with her.

'You're bothered', he spoke.

She swallowed. 'I guess I just miss going outside', she confessed softly.

He narrowed his eyes at her. 'You know why you can't go outside anymore, don't you?' he asked.

'I do but…' she paused, averting her eyes; 'never mind', she finally sighed, before meeting his eyes again.

'Don't do that', he told her.

'Don't do what?' she asked softly.

'Don't give me that wounded, puppy look', he spoke firmly.

She lowered her eyes, turning her attention to a loose thread on her dress, which suddenly, seemed very interesting to her. She pulled at it aimlessly, feeling his gaze on her, while she did so.

'You really think I like keeping you locked up?' he wondered.

'Well I don't see any other reason why you would insist on keeping me here otherwise', she grumbled.

'Excuse me?'

She flinched at his sudden angry tone and chose not to respond.

'I have given you so much, to make you comfortable here. And now, all of a sudden, you're unhappy?' he asked, distaste clear in his voice.

'I'm not unhappy I just -' 'Then stop acting like a spoiled little brat!' he cut her off.

Her mouth became agape as he stood up abruptly. 'I will not stand for this behavior, Diana', he told her.

Her eyes widened. 'But -'

'No', he cut her off again.

She closed her mouth, biting hard on the inside of her cheek. He only shook his head in disapproval in response.

'You're such a child', he spoke.

She glared at him. 'Maybe if you started treating me like your equal I wouldn't have to!' she snarled.

'Shut up!' he snarled back.

Tears sprung in her green eyes. She swallowed thickly.

'Get out of my sight.'

She stared at him, with widened eyes. 'What? No…I -'

'I said: Get out of my sight!' he snarled at her.

She stood up, holding her head high. 'Fine', she mumbled.

He gripped her by her forearm. 'I'll come back to you when I'm certain you've learned your lesson. Is that understood?' he asked.

She bit back her tongue. 'Yes sir', she answered.

He released her arm, allowing her to walk away. She kept her holding her head high, but once she was out of his reach, she broke down crying. She felt so confused and him getting angry at her only made her feel worse.

…

After about an hour, Crane decided to visit her again. He found her sitting on her bed, plucking at her dress. Her eyes were puffy, he presumed from crying.

She looked up upon noticing his presence. He watched as her eyes soon glistened with fresh tears.

'I really hate arguing with you, Diana. You know I do', he started.

'I know…' she mumbled.

He took a seat beside her. 'I thought you were happy here with me', he took her hand; 'haven't I given you everything I could possible give you?' he asked.

She didn't answer. He sighed deeply. He understood her doubts, but it irritated him to no end. When was she fully going to submit to him?

Pushing his glasses up his nose, he reached into his pocket. The ring he had bought her…would surely put out her doubts.

'I had wanted to give you this'; he opened the small velvet box, revealing a silver ring with a small diamond imbedded into it.

He watched as her eyes widened. He looked at her, putting on a faux expression of hurt. 'I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Diana. I can't live without you', he spoke.

'Jonathan…I…'

He got down on his knees in front of her, and inward smirk playing on his lips, at seeing her so speechless. He saw so much guilt in her eyes, and it pleased him.

'Be mine, that's all I'm asking of you. Be mine and I promise you…I will be enough for you. I will give you everything', he whispered.

He watched her cheeks grow red.

'Marry me', he asked her.

'I-I-I don't know -'

'I love you, you know I do', he cut her off.

He put the ring down, to take hold of her face. He laid a kiss to her lips and he could feel her weaken against him. She couldn't resist him; she was too weak, emotionally and mentally, to fight his manipulation.

'I-I love you too', she answered softly.

His heart swelled at her words. He took out the ring. 'May I, then?' he asked.

She hesitantly held out her hand. He slid the ring around her slim finger, smiling. He pulled her into his arms. Her arms snuck around his neck.

'I'm so sorry I was so ungrateful', she mumbled.

He kissed her temple. 'It's alright. Just don't do it again', he whispered.

Diana stared at the ring around her finger, feeling tears well up in her green eyes. She buried her face into his collar. She felt so guilty for hurting his feelings. She just hoped he could forgive her.

…

When Crane went to work the following day, he was instantly annoyed by the young, blond male sitting in a chair next to the door of his office. He knew who it was; Liam Smith, a nosy police officer.

The younger man stood up, to shake his hand. 'Dr. Crane. Nice to meet you', he said politely.

'Better make it quick, pretty boy.'

'He will.'

'I wish I could say the same, Mr. Smith. Please make it short', Crane spoke.

He entered his office, the young police officer following suit.

'I have a very busy day ahead of me, Mr. Smith. I do hope you're not wasting my time', he said.

Smith merely took a seat, not at all offended by the doctor's ill manners. 'I'm not, Doctor, I can assure you of that', there was a pause; 'I have some questions concerning Diana O'Connell.'

Crane's hand twitched at the officer mentioning her name. She was his fiancée now. 'What about her? Has she been found?' he asked.

'This boy is up to something.'

'No, she hasn't been found yet. But I have some questions', Smith said.

'Such as?' Crane returned the question.

'Where were you the night of the fire?'

Crane narrowed his eyes and took a seat. 'I was at home, by myself. Why do you ask?' he wondered.

Smith took a seat. 'Neighbors said you had a rather close relationship with the girl. And that Mrs. Fischer often expressed concern that you two were too close', he explained.

'Clever little boy. He reminds me of Adam.'

'If the runt keeps going, he might end the same way.' Scarecrow hissed.

'Ah yes, she did. But she was overprotective. I had no ill intentions towards that girl', Crane told him.

Smith crossed his arms. 'What kind of intentions did you have towards her? Some of your ex-students say you favored her over them', he pressed.

Crane's patience grew weary. This young man was certainly getting too close. He was on the right trail and if he didn't do something…he would have a search warrant filed for his house. 'I expressed concern for her. That's not a crime, is it?' he asked.

'Kidnapping is', Smith answered firmly.

'Are you accusing me, officer?' Crane asked.

'I have to consider all my options, Dr. Crane', was the young man's answer.

'I will admit, I have had feelings for that girl, but all were strictly platonic. After all…as a well-respected individual in Gotham, I can't be seen with a mere teenage girl', Crane answered.

Smith stood up. 'Thank you for your time.'

With that, he was gone. Crane gritted his teeth. He took hold of his phone, to call Falcone. He wanted a hired gun to take care of this little nuisance, in exchange for keeping the crime boss' thugs out of jail.

…

'In my opinion, Mr. Zsasz is as much a danger to himself as to others, and prison is not the best environment for his, rehabilitation.'

At his statement, Crane earned a filthy look from a certain Rachel Dawes. Not that he cared; it was already obvious the woman despised him and it seemed that her idealistic nature wasn't content with just leaving things at a filthy look. After court, he heard her annoying voice call his name in the hall. He turned, trying his hardest not to appear too irritated by her.

'Ah, Miss Dawes', he spoke, as if he didn't know it was her.

'You really think a man who butchers people for the mob doesn't belong in jail?' she asked.

He resisted an eye-roll. 'Well, apparently. I wouldn't have testified otherwise, would I, Miss Dawes?' he stated the obvious.

She stood in front of him, making him halt in his pace. He sighed in annoyance. Why couldn't this woman just let him be?

'This is the third of Carmine Falcone's thugs you've had declared insane and moved into your Asylum', she practically hissed at him.

He glanced at her with disinterest. Did she keep some sort of record of him? Was she really that stupid? 'Well, the work offered by organized crime must have an attraction to the insane', he told her off.

He walked of, only to halt again, when she accused him of being corrupt. His blue eyes settled on Carl Finch, the D.A. of Gotham. 'Mr. Finch', he paused when he got the man's attention; 'I think you should check with Dawes here just what implications your office has authorized her to make, if any', he told him.

With that Finch's' face fell, and as soon as he had wondered off, he faintly heard Dawes bicker with her boss. A slight smirk crept onto his lips. He simply enjoyed putting that meddlesome woman in her place. She was one step too close, like that annoying police officer.

Eventually they would both be taken care of.

…

After an exhausting day of work, Crane seated himself at the dinner-table, only to take off his glasses, to rub his eyes.

A pair of tender hands settled on his shoulders.

'Rough day?'

He turned his head at her soft, sweet voice. He smiled at her. 'I had to be in court today. That Miss Dawes certainly doesn't know when to quit', he chuckled.

She moved to wrap her arms gently around his neck, nuzzling his cheek with her nose. He leaned into her embrace, sighing in content. She simply knew how to relieve his stress when he was tense. He shuddered when she kissed his cheek.

'You should take it easy; you work way too hard', she whispered.

He looked into her green eyes. She had changed so much. She wasn't the shy and weak girl he had encountered when she entered his class that first day. Now…she was his fiancée. They would get married in a few short months. When Ra's would hold Gotham to ransom, he would get part of the money, so he could move out of Gotham, to start a new life with her.

'Luckily, you're here whenever I get back', he spoke deeply.

She rested her head against him. 'I love you', she murmured.

He took her chin between his fingers. 'I love you more', he whispered and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. 'Let's have dinner; I'm starving', he mumbled.

She grinned against his cheek. 'Okay', she answered.

…

So we're onto Batman Begins (again). I'm really trying to work hard on this story, so I hope you can appreciate it ^^

Lots of love,

~TheOneWithTooManyInterests