Chapter 15: Leaving on a jet plane

Rain hammered the sidewalk in such thick sheets, Evelyn doubted the pilot would be able to see for takeoff. She just hoped not too many flights would be canceled, thereby making the airport a hectic mess.

She had a 6:17 flight straight through to Heathrow, for which she was so thankful. She needed to leave Gotham before anything else could happen. Whether it was seeing Bruce again, or running into Jonathon—Scarecrow.

She'd spent the last day or so trying to force herself to realize that Jonathon was no longer the man she knew. That now, he was someone else entirely. Someone hell-bent on spreading fear to others…the same kind of fear that resided in him.

She hated the thought of it…of him in pain, only because beneath it all, she was sure she deeply cared for him. And still did, even through her love for Bruce.

Bruce…she couldn't bear to see him again before she left. She hadn't seen him since he bailed her out of jail two days ago and took her back to her apartment, kissing her cheek and promising to call. But she couldn't wait—she booked a flight, packed her things and now stood in line at the ticket counter, waiting for an available checker.

Ev had no clue where even to start with words for Bruce. He simply meant too much for a sloppy, awkward goodbye. And so she hadn't told him when her flight was. She hadn't even waited for his promised call. She just packed and left, keeping all memories of him locked safely away.

"Next?" Ev wheeled her heavy suitcase up to the counter and gave the checker her flight information. She took a minute to glance around the airport as her ticket was processing, as though remembering every detail. After all, she wouldn't be coming back to Gotham ever again. There was simply no reason to.

A warm hand slipped in her right one, squeezing it softly. She turned sharply, her eyes softening as she met that most familiar smile.

"Oh, sir…do you have a ticket also?" The lady behind he counter stuttered, most surprised to see him suddenly at this woman's side.

"No." He answered softly, shaking his head, his eyes never leaving Ev.

"Well, here's your ticket Ms. Werren. Have a lovely flight."

"Thank you." Ev grabbed her ticket and laptop bag before walking from the counter, Bruce's hand still firmly in hers.

"How did you know I was here?" She suddenly asked, an investigative note to her voice.

"I did some research…."

"Maybe you should have been the research assistant and not me. You seem to be equally good at it." She said laughingly, hoping he wouldn't ask what unavoidably came next.

"So you were just going to leave without a word or a goodbye weren't you?" There it was—the question that she had been dreading. It had been the whole reason she never told him when she leaving in the first place. She pulled her hand from his, lowering her eyes to the floor.

"I…didn't know…what…." His hand wrapped tightly around hers, spinning her back around to him.

"Don't walk away from me Ev," he said gently, "just talk to me." She sighed in defeat.

"I didn't tell you…because I didn't want to see you again. Because just like now, I don't know what to say. And I didn't really want to say anything." He pressed his lips gently against hers, effectively cutting off her rambling. She relaxed so naturally under his kiss that she still could not believe this was the last time she would see him. She pulled her lips from his, but still held him in their tight embrace, feeling his cheek come to rest against hers. "Just like that." She heard herself whisper as he pulled his face back to meet her eyes before traveling down her neck.

"No scarf?" She looked at him curiously, shaking her head. "Even though it's colder there than it is here?"

"No…I've never owned one…" She said unsteadily, not sure what made him say that. He pulled his arms from around her and took the slate-blue soft wool scarf from around his own neck, looping it gently underneath her black coat collar.

"A sort of going away present?" She softly asked as she watched him smooth back down her collar. He shrugged almost embarrassedly.

"If you want to see it that way."

"You're surprisingly sweet…when you want to be." A playfully pointed light filled her eyes as he laughed silently. She placed a hand gently on his cheek and leaned in for one last sweet, simple kiss.

"If it wasn't selfish," he whispered against her ear, "I'd ask you to stay…until death do us part." She hugged him tighter, resting her cheek against his, feeling his hold on her tighten.

"I would love that more than anything," she answered, "but London isn't too much of a hop, skip and a jump away for someone like Bruce Wayne." She smiled knowingly as they parted and her eyes drifted to the clock.

"Bye Bruce." She simply said.

"Bye Ev." He returned her smile as he gently squeezed her hand one last time before she dropped it and walked over to the security line. He stood there still, unable to believe she was really leaving. She turned before she reached the guard and waved slowly with a small smile.

He returned her wave, watching her smile widen before she turned from him to the security guard, and uneventfully passed through international security. She slid her laptop bag over her shoulder and thought about turning around once more.

He watched her glance up at the gate sign, and turn to her left, rounding a corner, never looking back. And just like that, Ev was gone.

Epilogue: Unexpected as roses in the snow

"Your turn this time." She said groggily, settling deeper in the pillow. She felt his arms leave her as he rose from the bed. She heard the door down the hall open, and his soft voice soothing the crying child.

Evelyn hoped Adam hadn't woken up—it was hard enough to get the 5 year old to bed a first time, much less a second time. But so far none of Camilyn's midnight cries had ever woken him up. Just her and Bruce. Of course he was only there for a month or so every year, so he didn't mind being woken up at all hours of the night.

She couldn't believe it had been six years since they'd met and she left Gotham for the security of Wales. But not even two months after she'd left had she realized she was pregnant, even though they'd said their goodbyes.

So she didn't tell him. Not that they had frequently communicated anyway—he stayed busy between his two lives and she was busy preparing to welcome a second life. So it had been with great surprise and confusion when he arrived on her doorstep one day only to find her eight months pregnant with his child. But never had such news seemed to brighten his life, and Evelyn had felt horrible for not telling him

Bruce was forced to return to Gotham before the birth of their child, Adam Thomas Werren. But he couldn't very well ignore Evelyn or his son, because despite everything and all the promises he'd made to himself since she'd left, he cherished them both.

So he took vacation one month of every year to spend over in Wales—claiming to others in Gotham that he was in Russia or Fiji or somewhere exotic—anything to eliminate the risk of Scarecrow finding out where Evelyn was.

Oh yes, Jonathon Crane—the Scarecrow—six years later, was still at large. That big reason, amongst some others, was why he hadn't brought Evelyn and Adam to Gotham. But he thought someday he just might do that. Especially now that Camilyn Victoria Werren had come into their lives a little over a year ago.

Ev listened to the nursery door quietly close and she lazily rolled back over to her side of the bed.

"I still can't believe it," he said sitting on the edge of the bed before sliding underneath the covers, "I have a son and daughter." He rolled his head over to face Ev's and watched her fighting to hide back laughter. "Alfred would die if he knew." He said lightly laughing.

"Of course he would." Ev agreed, laughing softly as she rolled over against his chest, feeling his arms encircle her. Even though he wasn't around very much, she never tired of him and believed she never would.

"I love you." She whispered, kissing his neck.

"For reasons I can't see." He said lightly, dismissively.

"Oh please…," she said sarcastically, kissing his cheek, "you know you love me too."

"How could I not?" He smiled overly sweet and she crinkled her nose.

"Don't make me sick…." She lowered her head back against his neck as a comfortable silence fell around them. "Are you really leaving tomorrow?"

"You know I have to."

"Don't people get curious when Batman disappears for as long as Bruce Wayne does?"

"There hasn't been a need for him to appear recently, so no…he comes and goes, appears here and there."

"Are you ever going to tell Adam and Camilyn?"

"Maybe…someday…," he pulled her closer against him, feeling her relax even more in his arms, "but for now Ev, lets just take things one thing at a time."

the end.

the end. hopefully not overly mush & unbelieveable. i thought it seemed to be fitting & it sets things up for a possible sequel, to which there is an outline, but not sure if i should further hash it out. suggestions (yay or nay), comments & constrctive criticisimsare welcome.

thank you again for reading! not sure when something else will come up here, but you can check fictionpress (under the same pen name, MidnightBlast) in the meantimefor two original stories of mine currently being posted.

thanks again & 'till next time!