'N-no please…get away from me…!'

Liam jolted awake, alerted by Diana's voice. Stumbling out of the guest bedroom, he found her tossing and turning in her bed. With a sigh of relief, he found she was having a nightmare and that Crane wasn't here to abduct her again.

He took a seat at her bedside, turning on the light, gently shaking her shoulder to wake her. With a fearful whimper, her eyes fluttered open, tears in them.

'Nightmare?' he asked.

She gulped down her sob, nodding faintly. He carefully pushed her dark hair back to calm her down.

'He-he came after me…' she choked out.

'Shh', he hushed her; 'it was just a dream. I won't let him hurt you', he promised.

She shook her head from side to side. 'You don't know him like I do…he'll never stop…not until he has what he wants…' she whispered.

'The Batman will bring him in, like you said yourself. I think you have a guardian angel watching over you', he answered her.

'I hope so', she muttered.

'For what it's worth…I will do my best to protect you', he told her.

Her hand moved upwards, touching his bottom lip absently. He took hold of her hand, sighing. She studied him, with her tearful eyes.

'I shouldn't want you to kiss me…' she muttered.

He smiled bitterly, leaning forward to plant a soft kiss to her cheek. She flushed quite heavily at the contact.

'Maybe in the future. You have enough on your mind as it is', he whispered.

She began to smile. She drew her arms around his neck, embracing him.

'I'm so happy you're here', she confessed.

He wrapped his strong arms around her waist, holding her lightly. She was such a fragile thing; he was afraid he would break her if he squeezed her too tight.

Diana against him felt her thoughts wander. Only now did she realize how much of a dangerous man Jonathan was. It hadn't occurred to her until she had woken up from her nightmare. He was a criminal, responsible for her father's death out of pure spite and jealousy.

She trembled at her thought. He probably didn't even want her back at this point. Her escaping him had sent him into a dark place. She felt like she barely knew him. The Jonathan she knew was a sweet, compassionate lover; a man that had caused her to cry and moan his name so many times. It wasn't the man he truly was, no, he had shown his true colors by taking revenge on her.

She shivered. Liam buried his face into her neck, sighing. She drew her hands into his long hair, tears prickling in her eyes.

'Liam?' she asked.

'Yes?'

'Can you stay here with me?' she hesitated; 'I know it's wrong for me to ask, I barely know you, I'm unsure of my feelings, I'm irrational and -' 'I'll stay.' He cut off her rambling.

She pulled back, staring up to him. He chewed on his lower lip.

'You honestly think I'm not confused? Hell, I barely know you and I act like this guardian to you', he pressed his forehead to hers; 'I guess what I'm trying to say is that I want to be there for you. You're hurting and I want to help in any way I can', he smiled.

She soon returned the smile, sighing against him.

'Thank you', she breathed out.

'You're welcome.'

…

'No, I don't feel like staying in Gotham after what happened.'

Diana woke to the sound of her stepmother on the phone. She pushed Liam's arm off her waist, whom lied behind her. She sat up, frowning.

'Lillian I understand you're trying to help but I lost my husband. I'm as good a target as he was.'

She got out of bed, stopping in the hallway, finding the voice coming from her stepmother and her father's bedroom.

'Yes, I know the girl needs all the support she can get right now but I can't give that to her. and to be really honest…I don't want to. I didn't marry Gabriel just so I could watch after his fully grown, emotionally and mentally unstable daughter that has a murderous stalker after her. Am I really selfish for wanting to choose for myself?'

Tears sprung in Diana's eyes. Shocked, she went back to her bedroom, shutting the door behind her. She leaned against it, sinking to her knees as she started to cry. This woke Liam, whom looked at her, confused.

'What -' 'she's going to leave me', she choked out; 'my stepmom is going to leave Gotham', she whimpered.

Liam got out of bed, kneeling down in front of her. 'Isn't that a good thing? You'll be away from Crane -' 'she's not taking me with her', she cut him off.

At that, Liam's face fell. 'What?' he asked.

More tears filled her green eyes. She buried her face into her knees, sobbing. If her stepmother left…where was she supposed to go?

…

Breakfast was tense, to say the least. Diana sat beside Liam, opposite her stepmother. She gazed up to the older woman.

'When were you planning on telling me you're going to leave me here? After the funeral?' she asked.

Her stepmother's eyes widened and snapped up to hers.

'I heard you. Every word of it', Diana stated.

Liam quickly excused himself from the table, leaving the two of them alone. Her stepmom rubbed her eyes.

'I'm sorry, Diana -' 'are you?' Diana interrupted her.

'Yes I am. But I also have to be honest; I don't want to end up like your father, shot in a parking-lot. I'm not safe in Gotham -' Diana shot up, slamming her hands onto the table.

'But I am save here? Crane's been stalking me for months! I've lived in fear ever since I got away from him and I've been kidnapped again in that time! And you're telling me you feel unsafe?!'

Tears had started falling from her eyes but she didn't care. She felt upset; angry, betrayed. She had thought she could trust her stepmother. But she was just as bad as her mother had been, abandoning her and not giving a care in the world what happened to her.

'Maybe you should leave', she growled.

With that, she turned on her heels and went back to her bedroom. She pulled a suitcase out from under her bed, tears in her eyes as she started to stuff it with clothes. It didn't take Liam long to enter. His eyes widened.

'What are you doing -' 'why should I stay if she doesn't want me here?' she cut him off.

He swallowed. She continued to stuff her suitcase, not noticing him coming up behind her until his muscled arms snuck around her waist and he rested his chin atop her head. She stopped with what she was doing, tears slipping from her green eyes.

'You really want to leave this house?' he asked.

She nodded. 'I-I do', she sniveled.

He took her by the shoulders, turning her around to look at her.

'Then stay with me for the time being. You can mourn at your own pace and figure everything out before you decide what you want to do with your life', he proposed.

Her mouth dropped. 'You'd do that for me?' she wondered.

'I've got plenty of space. And I'd rather know where you are than to have you stay at some hotel', he smiled.

She wiped her tears, but more kept coming. She felt grateful for Liam's help, though one thing concerned her; when was she going to have a stable life? And when was Jonathan going to stop stalking her?

…

'We are gathered here, to mourn a good man. A man, whom was ripped from our lives, cruelly, and unnecessarily.'

Diana held Liam's hand as Fox spoke. Rain had come down on the funeral and it really didn't help her mood.

'And now…a few words from Gabriel's daughter, Diana.'

Her back tensed and she forced herself to stand up straight. She slowly walked over to Fox, taking his place behind the altar. Her hands shook and tears stung in her eyes. She had dreaded this day. She still didn't want to believe her dad was gone.

'I-I…' she took in a deep breath; 'my father was a good man. He was too much of a gentle soul', she looked at her folded hands; 'he didn't deserve this, to be shot in a parking-lot', she swallowed the lump in her throat, offering a weak smile; 'when I was little, he always carried me on his shoulders, telling them I'd always be his princess, no matter how old I grew, or where he went', she barely contained her sob, looking up; 'dad, I'm so sorry…'

Liam rushed to her side, taking her back to her seat as she started to cry. She watched Bruce take her place, starting his speech. All the while, she kept sobbing. She felt so heartbroken…

…

After the funeral, everyone had gathered at her dad's old house. Rochelle had put it up for sale, much to Diana's chagrin. She still felt betrayed by her stepmother. But she really didn't want to linger on those thoughts.

She sipped her wine with a soft sigh. Liam came up beside her, putting a hand to her back.

'How are you holding up?' he asked.

She leaned against him; she had stuffed her face in alcohol and she felt miserable. She was intoxicated but she really didn't care.

He took the glass from her, putting it on the nearby table.

'You've had enough of that', he stated.

With a whine, she turned around, wrapping her arms around his midsection and resting her head against him. She softly kissed the middle of his chest then nuzzled it. He chuckled.

'Maybe you should rest', he suggested.

She gazed up to his blue eyes, her emotions one big slur. 'Take me away from here?' she nearly begged him.

He took a moment to answer, then nodded. 'Sure.'

…

Liam's apartment felt unfamiliar yet cozy. She had yet to fully move in with him but she really couldn't wait to be away from her stepmother.

She dropped herself onto the couch, holding onto her head. Liam took a seat at the other end of the couch; his blue eyes unreadable. She just wished she could figure out what he was thinking… maybe he thought about wanting to touch her? He had made it clear that a relationship between the two of them could be possible, after all.

She lied her head back and pulled her legs up, being a little too aware of the fact that her skirt had ridden up, exposing her silky black stockings. She watched his eyes drift over her exposed skin for only a moment before he averted his gaze from her.

She softly bit her bottom lip. 'You can look, you know', he frowned at her; 'I don't mind', she admitted.

'I shouldn't', he sighed.

Now it was her turn to frown; she propped herself up by her elbows. What was he talking about?

'Why not?' she asked.

Their gazes crossed. 'I'd feel like I'm taking advantage of you', he licked his lips; 'part of me can't shake off that innocent, scared girl I found in Crane's apartment', he shrugged.

She took in a deep breath. She understood his concern but she wasn't that girl anymore.

'What if I'm not that girl anymore?' she started; 'what if I want you to look at me?' she asked.

He crossed his arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes. She could see him thinking, doubting himself. He then chuckled, pushing his hands through his blond hair.

'If we're going to be living together…you should stop looking at me like I'm a wounded little bird', she spoke up carefully.

He flashed a grin. 'You're right', he admitted.

With a shy smile, she lied back down, putting her arm under her chest to emphasize on the swell of her breasts. His eyes seemed to linger on her longer than before and she took in a deep breath, when he moved closer. He put his hands down beside her head, shaking his head while a smirk curled on his lips.

She reached for the lined edge of her skirt and slowly began to gather it, exposing herself even more. But she didn't care; she didn't care that she was intoxicated, she didn't care about the fact that she barely knew him…she just wanted him to look at her, maybe even touch her, so she could feel desired again…

He let out a breath of air, and planted a kiss to her forehead.

'I can't do it. I'm sorry', he apologized.

To say she felt turned down was an understatement. Why couldn't he just let go of that thought she was so weak and vulnerable and just let his instincts take over? Why couldn't he look at her like a woman, rather than a stray cat he had to take in?!

She scrambled off the couch, trembling. 'Why not?!' she snapped.

He ran a hand over his face. 'Diana -' 'why can't you do it? Huh?!' she cut him off; 'Why not?!'

He didn't respond, angering her even more. 'Answer me!' she practically yelled.

He shot up; 'I can't do it because you still have a fucked up view of how relationships should be!'

He had stunned her into silence. She stared at him, her mouth agape and her eyes set wide. She could only flinch when he took her by her shoulders, pressing her into the nearest wall. She didn't fight him; as if it was a reflex not to fight a man whenever they pinned her down.

His gaze grew softer and he slowly cupped her cheeks. 'You had one relationship, Diana. A toxic one at that. A toxic, unhealthy relationship where you were always belittled and held under someone's thumb. I don't want that for you', his voice was quiet, gentle and it brought tears to her eyes.

'I-I-I don't want you to see me like some stray animal…' she whimpered.

'I don't', he answered; 'I just don't want you to throw yourself into something you're not ready for', he whispered.

She didn't reply. Part of her knew he was right; Jonathan had always made sure she was dependant on him, not wanting her to be capable of choosing for herself. She still had trouble making her own choices…

'I-I'm s-sorry', she began to sob.

'Don't hold back your tears', his hands dropped to her shoulders and he pulled her into a tight hug; 'it's okay; just let it all out', he whispered.

She then broke down. Tears began to slip from her eyes uncontrollably. Her body shook with so many emotions; anger, hurt, disgust, betrayal…she was finally letting her bottled up frustration out.

She hated, despised Jonathan for doing this to her. For making her believe he cared about her, while he only cared about her looks and claiming her as his own. She wasn't his; she wasn't a piece of property! But how could she possibly become the person she used to be? How was she going to go on from here?

…

AND that's a wrap! This is the last chapter of Obsession. A sequel will follow, set during the events of the Dark Knight Rises, with lots and lots of flashbacks to the events leading up to it ;)

Anyways, thank you all for your reviews, and I will see you in the sequel!

Stay tuned ;)

Lots of Love,

~TheOneWithTooManyInterests