Barb arrived ten minutes before nine. Claire was certain it was a test of their ability to follow instruction and show restraint. Luckily she'd awakened two hours earlier, showered, brewed coffee, and made breakfast sandwiches. As Jim boxed up a few more things he thought Barb might want to take before the house was sold, Claire made a to-go bag of breakfast in hopes of making amends for last night. The cheeky part of her, though, made sure to butter the bread thoroughly.

"I've got it!" Claire said hurriedly when the doorbell rang. Jim smiled at her in disbelief. He didn't think he'd be nearly as eager to show his face to Barb if he were in her shoes.

"Hi! Come in," Claire greeted Barb brightly. Jim sipped his coffee and gave his ex a timid wave.

"Hello," Barb replied curtly.

"I'll carry the boxes out to your car," Jim said quickly. "Have a seat— Claire made you breakfast."

"I ate at the hotel," Barb replied. Her eyes were fixed on a random kitchen floor tile rather than take in her ex-husband's new lover.

"No worries," Claire said nonchalantly. "It's packed up so you can take it for the road. I know that's a long drive. What is it? Six or seven hours?" She held the paper cup of coffee with arm extended, trying not to let her nerves get the better of her.

"Easily seven. Eight with stops," answered Barb. "But I'm stopping over at a friend's house along the route."

Claire nodded. "That's nice. It must feel good to get a break, being a mom. I have a friend at the club who says she even gets excited when she takes a trip to the grocery store by herself, just for some alone time."

"Club?" Barb asked, latching onto that slip immediately.

Claire winced. The woman probably thought she was a stripper.

The front door creaked to signal Jim's return, and Claire hurried to him with the second box. "Save me," she said in a barely audible whisper.

He gave her a small wink. "Hey, Barb?" he called. "I was thinking about seeing if the kids could spend some of the summer here. What do you think?"

Barb followed him outside, to-go breakfast in hand. "How, Jim? You work 12-hour days. And you're moving. Don't you think you should figure out your housing situation first? Or are you moving in with... her?"

"I'll work it all out," Jim assured Barb, ignoring her comment about Claire. The truth was, they'd talked about him living with her temporarily while he searched for a place, but not a permanent arrangement. Although Jim would like to have that conversation again, even if they didn't formalize it with an engagement or marriage. He didn't think he'd ever like the idea of leaving her alone.

"Gotham PD is going to be ticketing for chipped car paint pretty soon," Jim continued. "It's a lot quieter than it used to be. Most of the old thorns in my side are locked up in Blackgate. Plus Claire can help too. She has time off built up."

He loaded the heavy box carefully into the trunk and didn't see Barb bristle, though his sixth sense could almost feel it. He couldn't blame her. They'd left a terrible first impression, and she probably pictured a free-for-all at any time of day, on any surface of the house. She wasn't too far off in that assessment, he had to admit.

"Look, I know you two got off on a bad foot." He came back around to the front of the car and crossed his arms with a sigh. "But obviously with the kids around things would be different. I'm a single guy, Barb. I had my girlfriend over. I honestly didn't know you'd be here. Completely my fault for not checking my phone. But I've been as open as I can toward Dan, and I hope you'll be the same way toward Claire. We have to make this work— for Jimmy and Barbie's sake."

Claire was grateful for his defense of her, but she was still humiliated that it had been necessary. Barbara finally mumbled a reluctant agreement before hopping behind the wheel of her car. Once she was out of sight, Jim pulled Claire close with a kiss to her hair.

"Just give it time, kiddo. She'll warm up."

Claire enjoyed the sound of his steady heart beating against her. For a moment she wondered how the ex-Mrs. Gordon had ever given up that sensation... his warmth, his strength. He was so solid, so dependable. Now that she had given into her love for him, she reveled in how safe he made her feel... like as long as she held onto him, even her spiraling worries and fears couldn't affect her. Even when her life had been on the line, he'd been there, ready to lay down his own for hers. How could any woman willingly give that up?

"Jim?" Claire began, her heart beginning to beat faster with the memory now tapping at her mind. It was fuzzy... tinged with the wavy incoherence of co-existing at the time with intravenous pain medication. "When we were in that hospital... Hans questioned you about the reason Barbara left. You seemed agitated at what he said..." Claire trailed off, pulling back slowly to gauge his reaction. He seemed sad and like he knew exactly where she was heading with her interrogation. Jim's hand crept up to caress her cheek.

"I can't talk about that, kiddo."

"About what? Why? I thought it was because of your work schedule being unpredictable? What does Hans know that I don't?"

Jim swallowed and sighed, shaking his head. "He doesn't know anything. He can't possibly. He just wanted to see something dark in me to feel better about himself. He threw the bait out there to see if I would bite."

Claire hugged herself in the February chill and started slowly backing her way inside. Jim followed, anxious that he might be driving her away with his evasiveness. But how the hell could he convey the gravity of what had happened with Harvey Dent? Of nearly losing his son? Of having to guard a secret that literally propped up an entire city?

For one thing, Jim's mind liked to forget about it, especially when he was with her. The complexity and pain of both the memory and the current reality blurred under the sear and sting of Mistress's unique brand of affection... and under his Claire's sweet and gentle touches. If he suddenly let her in on that terrible secret, she'd be tainted, and he'd lose his refuge. Secondly, if he revealed the secret to anyone besides those there on that horrific night, the city might crumble. As long as it was locked tightly inside of him, he was the city's rock. Each crack, each release of the pressure, would cause him— and it— to collapse.

"You did bite at the bait," Claire reminded him as she helped herself to a second cup of coffee. She curled her knees up to her chest and hugged the mug for warmth. "Hans had you pretty agitated."

Jim sank into a kitchen chair, massaging his head. "A case hit too close to home, Claire. I disappointed Barb in a way you can never recover from. But I can't tell you any more than that. You know in our line of work, some things just can't be discussed."

She frowned, remembering that one of the reasons he'd broken up with her after her giant revelation was his fear she would compromise his secrets. The fact that he still didn't feel he could trust her stung a little, and it gave her a wistful pang in her gut. The fact that Barbara was in on the truth, even if it hurt her, also made jealousy rear its ugly head.

Jim reached out to stroke her arm, his head tilting to take in her sad expression. "What brought this on anyway, kiddo?"

Claire gave a dismissive shrug, suddenly feeling vulnerable. "When you hugged me out there... after seeing how detached Barbara was, and how she could just drive away like that... comparing it to how you draw me in like a magnet. I couldn't shake you if I tried, Jim. I need you that much... crave you that much. Not just sexually, but I love how safe you make me feel, and how your strength seems to build mine. I was honestly curious how Barb could ever give up a feeling like that. Then I vaguely remembered Hans's offhanded comment in the hospital, and how it affected you. It made me think the two were connected somehow."

Jim chuckled. "Once again, you're proving how much I need you as a detective." He lifted her hand and leaned forward to delicately kiss it, trailing his lips over each knuckle thoughtfully, those smoky blue eyes locked to her face. The man made her heart race ninety miles a minute.

"But here's the deal, kid," continued Jim. "Remember that night in Room 1, with Mistress in that tiny little orange jumpsuit?"

Claire gave a small smile and nodded.

"I told you that night that no one's a hero, including me. I failed Barb and my kids. I've failed a lot of others. And I failed you as recently as last month. It was Hans that saved you, after all." His eyes lowered, his tone becoming somber at this admission. "But I try. I always try... but a lot of times it's just not enough."

Claire stood, never letting her eyes leave his as she crossed to his side of the table and straddled his lap. She toyed with his shirt collar and inhaled his scent... so clean, so manly, so classic. "You'll always be enough for me, Jim Gordon. Even if you think you're not. I know my past makes it hard to trust me, but..."

"No." Jim shook his head firmly. "It's not you. I can't trust anyone with this. It's on me and me alone. But you standing by me in spite of it... means a lot. And I owe you the same forgiveness. You're not your past. My failure to realize that almost cost you your life. I'll kick myself forever for that one too."

"Benny would have made his move eventually, Jim. You'll never be with me 24/7. This wasn't your fault. The past just has its way of coming back, it seems."

Jim nodded grimly. "And I still worry. Like Gruber said, their network was large. And you're one beautiful target for them to set their eyes on. I probably need to pick his brain some, as much as I hate it. Figure out the best way to keep you safe."

Claire squeezed his neck. "About that..."

Jim sighed warily and narrowed a suspicious eye.

"Hans has invited us out to California in the spring. You, me, and Grace."

Jim tensed immediately. "Absolutely not."

"Oh, Jim. Don't be silly. Why not? He has a beautiful house on the central coast... or so I hear. I've never been. Vineyards... the ocean... I think like seven bedrooms. I'm almost positive a very large and well appointed playroom..." Claire placed slow kisses along his chiseled cheek bone, allowing the tip of her tongue to tease and tickle his skin.

"You think that tongue of yours can persuade me, don't you?" Jim asked with a challenging glare. He was trying his best to intimidate her, but it wasn't working, as his adorable lips quivered where he pressed them together. Claire licked that spot this time, coaxing his mouth open with a mere two flicks of her tongue to his upper lip. She moaned with delight at his familiar taste as she pushed her way inside.

"Claire," Jim muttered in a warning tone, but she simply squirmed on his lap and arched the seam of her jeans against the hardening bulge in his khakis.

"Say yes," she whispered in his ear. "Think of it like a vacation. The house is so big I bet we'll barely see them. And we can make love on the beach... on a blanket under the sunset... in the pool... the hot tub... I'm sure the beds are incredible..." She embellished each selling point with a peck to his neck and jawline.

"We're not just talking about some five-star resort, Claire," Jim admonished her with a firm pat on the behind. "We're talking about a man's house, purchased with very dirty money. A big city police commissioner breaking bread with one of the country's most notorious gangsters. What kind of hypocrite would I be?"

"I know," she sighed. "He's just always been there for me, Jim. He and Grace are family. I can't just give them up."

"Then... go without me," he replied, his eyes betraying his lack of enthusiasm at the idea.

Claire grinned. "I can't give you up, either. Can't you let me have my cake and eat it too? Just this once?"

Jim rolled his eyes. "Don't I always? I'm either giving in to Mistress or spoiling Princess; somehow you always win."

"Just shows you're a true sub, even when you Dom," teased Claire. "But hopefully I make it worth your while." She slid her hands down the soft cotton sleeves covering his tight, slender arms. "And I'll definitely make it worth your while in California. Come on, Jim— we could use the sunshine. Even sunny days in Gotham are hidden beneath a blanket of smog and the shadow of cement buildings. Let's see something beautiful."

"Besides," she continued, tracing her fingers slowly up his chest. "Maybe we could talk about... getting hitched out there? Vineyard wedding? Beach?"

"So your daddy can give you away?" Jim sneered.

"Yes," Claire answered honestly. "Grace and Hans want me to be happy. And you make me happy."

"Playing the marriage card to win me over now," he growled. "Fine. Pull up my calendar tomorrow and try to find a week. Clear it with your criminal. And I'll once again sacrifice every fiber of my moral being because you're some sexy she-demon that's possessed my every waking thought."

"No sacrifice needed," she corrected him firmly. "Hans is retired. It's all in the past. I'm not asking you to turn a blind eye to anything."

"We'll see," Jim grunted. "Now... I know it's Sunday, but we're going to the club tonight."

"Oh?" Claire clarified in her Mistress voice.

"Daddy's playing tonight. And I don't want another word out of you. Finish packing boxes."

She grinned and felt an electric coil like someone flicked a spring in her lower belly. "Yes, Daddy."


Quick note before the next chapter (35): it will be VERY long at over 10k, and it will be written like a one-shot. Going ahead and warning that it will contain SexualAge-Play and Daddy Kink. Although it's two adults roleplaying at the club and not anyone truly underage, Claire will drift into a younger mindset as they play, and Jim will address her as such. During the aftercare scene, you'll be able to see their motivations and how that type of play helps to heal some things for them.

Totally understand that it could be triggering to some. Skipping the next chapter (35- "Hey Lolita, Hey"), if it's not your thing, will not impact your understanding of the plot at all, so skip right over it if that kink is not for you. The chapter after that (36- "Got to Get Yourself Together") will be right back to the plot, then we will head to Sunny Cal for chapters 37-40. Chapters 41-43 will take us into "The Dark Knight Rises" for a time jump and an ending to our couple's main story...

Hope you're enjoying the ride!