Chapter 1: Erika Nigma

Edward Nigma stared down at the little girl wrapped in pink. At first, this little girl was only part of a plan, but now...well he wasn't so sure. For once in his life he wasn't sure of himself. He had found little Erika's mother because she was the most intelligent woman in Gotham and Erika was meant to be a part of his lifestyle and help him to show the world of his genius, but everything changed once he met her.

Her name was Cassidy. And he'd fallen in love with her.

Yes, Edward Nigma, the Riddler had fallen in love. Against his better judgment and intelligence, he'd fallen for Cassidy Winters, but there was no way he could help it. She was the definition of enigma and she kept up with him more than anyone ever had. She'd know the answer to a riddle or puzzle even before he asked it and she was breathtakingly beautiful. Her chocolate brown hair was almost always pulled into a messy bun and she always wore light, airy colors to match her silvery blue eyes. Her favorite was sky blue and he suspected it was because she was always gazing up at the clouds, lost in thought.

He didn't fall in love with her at first, but the more she drew him in, the more he knew there was no turning back. So he gave into those feelings. But he never told her of who he really was. She only knew him as Edward Nashton, not Edward Nigma. He kept his alternate life a secret from her, which was ultimately what led her to leave. Even after she had taken his name and bore his child, she left him and he remembered it more clearly than any other day in his life.

It was late at night and he'd returned from a long session of testing Batman's intelligence. As usual, the Dark Knight Detective took ages to solve his incredibly simple puzzles, but unfortunately rescued his hostage. Typical of him, really.

He'd left Cassidy sleeping soundly in their bed and he made sure that she was still sleeping before he left. It wasn't the first time he'd done this so he hadn't expected her to awaken. She never woke and was one of the heaviest sleepers he knew. However, when he returned to the bedroom, she was absent which sent his heart pumping. What happened to her? Erika was still sleeping soundly in the little crib on the other side of the room, but her mother was gone.

"Cassidy!" he called through the house, rushing between rooms to try and find her, heart rate increasing with each empty space.

It was when he saw the ladder to the attic down that his stomach sank. The attic was where he kept all of his Riddler paraphernalia and he had never let Cassidy up there. He always told her it was too dangerous and that it needed to be renovated. She always suggested places to call to get it done but he waved her off and pressed that they had more important renovations to finish first.

Edward quickly climbed up the ladder, green eyes widened when he saw her there, staring at all of the emerald trapping them. Riddler trophies, extra costumes, various question-mark weapons, and his array of monitors he used to keep connected to every area in Gotham. And she was standing there staring at them, watching as people walked down streets here and there.

"Cassidy! It's...dangerous up here. You should be sleeping."

He slowly approached her with his arms outstretched, unsure of how she was going to react. He didn't know what to do besides wave it off, try to make up an excuse.

She remained still for a moment, hugging her arms to her chest and continuing to stare at the monitors. "I woke up...and you weren't there. I looked everywhere in the house...except here. So I came up and..."

"We should go back to bed...it's...late," he murmured, moving toward her and putting his hands on her shoulders.

She flinched away, spinning around to face him. "You're him! The Riddler! And you didn't tell me! You've killed innocent people! And you tricked me! And I thought that I loved you..."

"It's not like that, Cassidy. You don't understand. Gotham is full of imbeciles! I have to show them my genius! These people...they deserve it. They're not like you and I."

"I'm not like you! You're a criminal! A liar! I'm just one of your pawns! What am I, a trick in one of your games?"

She shoved him back, causing him to stumble as she rushed past him with a tear-filled gaze and headed down the ladder.

Edward regained his balance and hurried after her, nearly slipping down the ladder as he caught up with her. "You're different, Cassidy! Different from the others. And I...I love you! I swear to God I love you more than anything!"

She didn't stop and rushed to the bedroom, barging into the closet and yanking clothes from the hangers and shoving them into a bag. Tears had coated her shirt and it pained him to see her so upset. He had done that. He had made her cry.

"Cassidy! Cassidy, please!" He winced a little when Erika began to cry at their loud shouting. "What about Erika? You can't just leave! She needs her mother!"

"Don't ever come near me again. I don't want anything to do with you. Or anyone related to you," she said, voice shaky but stern. She was just going to leave Erika here with him?

"No, you can't-"

"I've made up my mind! I thought...I thought I loved you, Eddie," her voice softened for a moment before hardening once more, "until I realized that I married a liar and a murderer."

And then she turned and that was the last time he ever saw her as she barged out the door with Erika's cries ringing in his ears. His whole world was turned upside down and he was left to care for a baby he wasn't sure he wanted anymore.