Always…

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Epilogue

Jonathan stayed with Lisa until she was calm once more; knocked out by the powerful psychotropic drugs coursing her system. He was smirking as he calmly turned and left the room. He was the complete polar opposite of a man whose fiancée had a psychotic episode while giving birth to his niece. He was cold and indifferent—a near mirror of Jackson Rippner, the child's father.

Amy Alison Rippner was her name. It was odd that Jackson was still controlling Lisa from beyond the grave. Lisa had explained to him that Jackson had told her that her name was Amy Alison Adams while she had amnesia. Now, she had passed Jackson's choice of a name on to their only child. Despite their impending marriage, Lisa had insisted that Amy have Jackson's last name on her birth certificate as well as his name under the title of father.

Jonathan had been conveniently left out. Not that he would remain out. As soon as Lisa was legally his wife, Amy's last name would be Crane, despite what the piece of paper said. He would be her father no matter what.

Even DNA testing would say that she was his daughter. Even if his twin brother had been the one to impregnate Lisa, Jackson and Jonathan shared the same genetic material. There would be no distinguishing them genetically. Only Lisa Rippner knew the truth and it was doubtful that she would remember. He was gradually replacing Jackson in her mind and there was little time left before she became his success story with the fear toxin and his wife.

Jonathan wandered to the nursery where Amy was. She was awake and beginning to grow restless from hunger. He reached out and took Amy. She was already showing signs of her father, even at her young age. Her hair was dark and he could occasionally make out what he considered to be blue eyes. Amy kept her eyes closed most of the time, but he had glimpsed them a few times. It would just figure that he would end up with a never-ceasing reminder of Jackson everyday.

Jonathan whispered to baby in his arms. "Hey, I'm going to be your daddy. What do you think about that? Huh? You'll never have to know your real father—and what a piece of slim he was. Amy, I promise that I'll keep you safe from the insanity that he brought. I'll protect you. And in return, you'll take my place one day. How's that sound?"

Amy showed no sign of having heard him. Jonathan smiled anyways. No matter what Lisa tried to do to stop him, or what efforts Gordon and the other cops made; Amy was going to be his and she would work for him.

He carried the infant downstairs and casually flicked on the TV before entering the kitchen to make Amy a bottle.

"There has been what appears to be a jail break at Arkham Asylum. Currently, the entire Gotham Police Force is located in the Narrows, in an attempt to control the escapees. Residents of Gotham are urged to stay inside their homes…" the TV blared, startling Jonathan.

He dropped the bottle, and hastened up the stairs. Gotham was no longer safe. Soon the fingers would be pointing at him and Gordon would be the first person on his heels. They had to get out of Gotham that night.

"Lisa, wake up!" he hissed, shaking the sleeping woman one-handed, holding Amy with the other hand.

The drowsiness of the antidote had already worn off and Lisa stirred. "Jonathan, what's going on?"

"There's been a breakout at Arkham. We have to get out of town tonight. Gotham isn't a safe place for you or the baby right now."

Lisa seemed shocked, but within half an hour, Jonathan, Lisa, and Amy were packed up and in a car fleeing Gotham as Ra's al Ghul and his associates wrecked havoc among the residents of the city. The fear-obsessed psychiatrist knew the risks and he was not about to challenge them. He would return one day when the time was right, but not before.

After all, he already had his prizes…

Author's Notes:

That's the end of Always…! The first part of Never…, the follow-up piece that takes place several years down the road, will explain many of the questions left unanswered here and should be up later today. If not, look for it next Thursday. Enjoy and big thanks to anyone and everyone who made it this far!