Part 4

"I'm tired," Riley said, reaching over and pushing an unusually large textbook closed. Jonathan immediately flipped the book open again and skimmed through the pages, finding the page they'd left off on in their notes.

"Just two more sections," He told her.

They were in Jonathan's room, her sprawled out on the bed, head at the foot of it, arm dramatically covering her forehead, one knee propped up with the other foot propped against the headboard. Jonathan sat cross legged in the little space remaining for him.

"That's two too many," Riley whined. She rolled over and leaned over Jonathan's knee, making an attempt to shut the book again, but he swatted her hand away. She crawled up a little further and blocked his view of the book with her body, and he gave up and just looked at her hopelessly. She rolled over again, her back now bent over his knee, and grinned at him.

"You are lying on my book." He told her.

"I'm well aware," She answered. They were silent and still then, for a moment, just staring at each other. Jonathan judged she was in a rather uncomfortable position, and the bend of her body over his knee and her arms fallen back behind her head had caused her sweater to ride up ever so slightly so that a strip of pale, silky skin was visible.

And he reached over and tugged it down for her.

She stared at him incredulously. She hurriedly sat up and away from him, her cheeks flushed slightly.

"I'm gonna go," She mumbled. She started to gather up her things but it didn't take long for Jonathan to realize that something was wrong.

"Wait, wha- what did I do?" He stammered, "Riley." He said said firmly when she didn't answer. She turned and looked at him. She looked almost ready to cry, but she was holding it back.

"Nothing, Jonathan. That's just the thing, you never do anything." She spat out, then turned and left the room. Jonathan could hear her jogging down the stairs, and the sound of the front door opening and slamming shut.

-

Crane wasn't quite sure if it was the drink that was making his memories so much clearer, or that the the subject of these memories was sitting beside him now.

He had to admit that she was gorgeous. She had always been, but not like she was now. He was seeing her differently of course, and after seven years she had changed, but she was still the same woman. The woman he hadn't seen seven years ago, and he was sorry he didn't look more closely. Maybe he should tell her so. All they had been talking about was work the entire evening and she looked rather bored of it.

"You look really great, Riley." Crane said, turning slightly to face her. She looked mildly surprised before answering.

"Thanks Jon. So do you." She smiled sweetly at him, and he all of the sudden felt nervous again. He took a sip of his drink.

"You haven't changed at all." She continued. He couldn't say to the same for her.

"You have. But in a good way." She laughed.

"Never thought you'd see me in a skirt, huh?"

"Back then it was more likely you'd see me in a skirt." Crane said. She laughed again, nodding.

"You're probably right." She looked at him oddly, and started to laugh again.

"What?" He asked, looking down at himself.

"Just getting images now." Riley said, still laughing.

"Ah," Crane said, but smiled in spite of himself.

"Bet you'd make a prettier girl than me," She teased. He was mildly offended, but blamed her comment on the drink. As he did with his next comment.

"That would be impossible." He felt awkward for saying it, but she looked delighted, and he was glad.

"You're a lot more pleasant than you were at lunch the other day, Jonathan."

"I apologize. It was right after the case. I sometimes get caught up in my work." More like all of the time, but Crane wasn't ready to admit to her that work had been the only thing occupying his mind before she had showed up in that courtroom and back into his life.

"I understand. It was a surprise seeing you again too." Riley said.

"Was it?" Crane asked. He didn't mean to sound accusing, but from the look on Riley's face, he guessed he had, "It's just, you didn't seem surprised." She was silent for a moment, expression gone completely serious.

"Listen Jonathan, I don't want to discuss the reasons I came to Gotham right now, and even though I had known you were here, I didn't-" She paused, sorting her thoughts, "I just meant under the circumstances."

"Of course," Crane said, ready to drop the subject.

"I should ask you why you came here." She said sourly, before taking a long sip of her drink. Crane looked at her sadly.

"You should already know." It came out more bitter than he had intended.

"Jon, I couldn't wait for you forever."

'Why?'

"I know." And it was suddenly all laid out, but neither seemed to want to go any further into the conversation.

Ok, my bad on the author's note in the last chapter. I meant to say I've written up to Chapter 8, not three. Heh. I am finishing up 8 tonight, hopefully.

MistressMurchadh: Thank you. I always love compliments of my original characters because they're slightly harder to make interesting. And thank for reading. :)

Philippa: A lot of people judge Crane on just what they saw in Batman Begins, and for me, it's just not enough information. We only see him at the workplace, and when he's battling with Batman. We don't see him at home or when he's actually talking to someone he gets along with. I mean, he's not a robot that walks around arkham asylum all day poisoning people. So, yeah, I'm trying to bring out his humanity, even if it does seem a little ooc. And thank you so much for reading, especially since you're not fond of crane fics. I'm flattered. :) Also, I am a HUGE Cillian Murphy fan, and I've known about Red Eye since before I saw Batman XD I will be in line for the first showing, probably.

Arisa Mieko: Thank you thank you.

Blodeuedd: I was like, star struck by your review. Your writing is amazing and it is an honor to be complemented by you. Looking forward to reading more of your story. I'm glad you understand Riley's character, I had hoped I was wasn't writing her horribly.

Morgan: Thank you for the review. XD You're right, he does need to get laid. I'm still contemplating whether or not that's going to have a chance to happen in my fic. But maybe...