Wendy was sitting on the couch, reading a newspaper about the anti-rich movement and the vigilante clown still on the loose. It felt like this had been going on for weeks, but it had only been about five or six days. She wasn't keeping track. Wendy heard a knock at the door and looked over toward it. She folded the newspaper and and set it on the coffee table and stood up and went to the door. She looked through the peephole and saw a familiar face waiting for her to answer. Wendy unlocked the door and opened it, surprised to see that it was Arthur. His hair was dripping wet and his clothes were completely soaked.

"Arthur?" Wendy asked him. "Arthur, what happened to you?"

Arthur didn't answer her. He just stood there, looking at her and not saying anything.

"Come on, I'll get you a towel."

Wendy took hold of his hand and brought Arthur into the apartment. She shut the door, then turned her attention over to Arthur and unzipped his wet jacket and took it off of him, hanging it up on the coat rack. She brought him into the living room and sat him down on the couch and left him alone for a minute. She returned with a towel and sat down next to Arthur and dried his hair for him as best she could. She hoped he wouldn't get sick.

Tossing the towel aside, Wendy placed her hand on his left shoulder and asked him, "Arthur, what happened? Are you hurt?"

Arthur shook his head, refusing to look at her.

"Arthur, talk to me", Wendy begged him. "What's wrong? Did something happen? Is your mother okay?"

"My mother's dead", Arthur whispered.

Wendy's eyes grew wide with shock upon hearing that. "What?"

"She died this morning", said Arthur.

Wendy couldn't believe it. She shook her head and said, "No...No, what...What do you mean?"

"Thomas Wayne was right", said Arthur. "I'm not his son. I was adopted. I was abandoned when I was only a baby."

Wendy didn't understand what he was saying. Arthur must have been in shock, but maybe there was something of the truth in there to what he was trying to tell her. "You were adopted?" Wendy asked him.

"I was dropped off at an orphanage", Arthur explained. "Penny adopted me. She never told me until now..." Arthur's bottom lip started to tremble, his body shaking. His eyes filled with tears. He drew in a sharp breath and said, "She lied to me about everything...She told me she wasn't my real mother. She told me that just before she took her last breath." Arthur lowered his face into his hands and started sobbing.

Wendy didn't know what to say or how to respond. She wanted to take away the pain Arthur was feeling, but the only thing she could think of to do for him was just to just hold him and allow him to mourn over the loss of his mother. Carefully, Wendy wrapped her arms around Arthur, who hugged her as tight as he could and buried his face into her chest. Her body felt warm against his, like she was the living embodiment of fire.

"Oh, Arthur, I'm so sorry", said Wendy, placing her hand on the back of his head. She rocked him gently, wishing she had something else to say to make him feel better.

Arthur took a shaky breath and explained through his sobs, "I tried to ask her why she never told me, but I was too late. She was gone. I didn't know where else to go. I didn't know what else to do."

"Shh, shh, shh." Wendy rubbed his back and said, "It's okay, Arthur. You don't have to explain. I'm right here, I've got you. Just stay with me. I'm here with you."

Wendy didn't know what to do. She thought back to when Arthur sang to her to cheer her up, but didn't think it would be the same for him. It was worth a try. She opened her mouth, thinking of the first song that came to her.

"I'm...lying on the moon...", Wendy sang, slow and softly. "It's a dark and quiet place...I'm here with you, we're up in space...And we're a million miles away...My dear, I'll be there soon...There's things I wish I knew...My dear, I'll keep you safe. In a dark and shiny place...There's no thing I'd keep from you, my love, 'cause we're a million miles away." Arthur continued sobbing while Wendy sang to him, but after a while, he started to calm down. Hearing her hum the rest of the song felt to Arthur like he was being comforted by a genuine motherly figure. She was very good at it, despite not being a mother herself.

Arthur had been crying genuine tears, but only because he was afraid of letting Wendy know the truth. He had to hide the fact that he murdered Penny from her. He wanted to tell her about the three subways murders, but for now, he only wanted to be with Wendy and enjoy one last time with her. For a while, they were silent. Wendy kissed the top of his head, holding Arthur in her arms as he shuddered out a breath. He was the first to speak again.

"Where did you hear that song from?"

"My father taught it to me. It was a special song we used to sing together every night before I went to sleep when I was a little girl. I was thinking back to when you sang to me the first time we met. Do you remember that?"

Arthur didn't answer her. He released himself from Wendy, looking away as rubbed his hands over his wet face. He sniffled and sighed heavily, lowering his hands into his lap.

Wendy rested her right hand on his back and asked him, "Arthur, do you want to stay here tonight?"

Arthur turned his head left to look at Wendy, staring at her with sad green eyes. The intensity of his gaze was gone. There was only vulnerability. "What would your uncle say?"

"I don't care what Jack says", Wendy told him. "If he comes back, I can handle him. I just don't think it's a good idea for you to be alone right now."

Arthur blinked and avoided her gaze again and said, "I've always been alone."

"But you're not alone", Wendy reassured him. "I'm here with you. We're together now. Everything's going to be all right. You'll see."

"I just wish I could have told her how I felt about her", said Arthur. "I didn't mind being her son all these years, but finding out the truth just hurts so fucking much."

Wendy blinked and lowered her eyes, nodding her head in understanding.

Arthur lowered his head and placed a hand over his face, saying, "Oh, God. I must be losing my mind."

Wendy took hold of his hand and said, "Arthur, don't do this to yourself. You're just going through a rough time right now. You're confused. You're sad and angry. How do you think I felt when I lost my parents? When my mother passed away five years ago, I was devastated. I know what you're going through. Your mother was old. She was sick."

Arthur shook his head and said, "You don't know the half of it, Wendy. There's more to the story than that, but I don't want to talk about it. Not tonight."

Wendy nodded again, then noticed Arthur was still trembling, probably from being so cold from being out in the rain, as well as his emotional breakdown. "Jesus, Arthur, you're shaking", she said.

Arthur blinked and looked at her again.

Wendy brushed away a wet strand of hair from his face and said, "Come on, let's get you out of these clothes."

Wendy helped Arthur to his feet and led him over to the bedroom and brought him in and shut the door, locking it behind her in case her uncle came back home. She turned and walked over to turn down the bed for the night.

While she was busy preparing the bed, Arthur went over to the window and looked down at the view of Gotham City from so high above. The rain finally died down, now turned into a light drizzle.

Arthur felt Wendy place a hand on his right shoulder and turned his body to face her.

"Do you want me to help you get undressed?" Wendy asked him. "I could run you a hot bath. Maybe get you something warm to drink."

"Why are you so good to me, Wendy?" Arthur asked her.

"Because I love you", Wendy answered. "Don't you understand that, Arthur? You're my whole world. If anything were to happen to you, my world would just crumble. I'd rather die than see you hurt like this."

"That's very nice of you to say, but half the time, I just don't think I deserve you."

"But you do. I want you to feel loved by me. You don't even have to return my feelings if you don't feel anything. I can accept being just your friend. I'd do anything to keep you in my life, Arthur, because I love you that much."

Arthur was silent for a minute, his eyes turned soft and his face lit up from the radiant glow appearing in his cheeks. For a moment, he got lost in Wendy's eyes. He could hear the heartache in her voice and she looked like she was about ready to cry. His charade of playing grief-stricken was replaced by a wave of guilt. It wasn't right what he was doing to her. All this time, he had been playing a selfish game, taking everything she had and not returning the favor in anyway. There was only one thing he could think of to make it up to her. He didn't think she would go for it, but she was probably thinking the same thing he was. The tension was thick for both of them.

Wendy was confused by the way Arthur was looking at her and asked him, "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Nothing, it's just...You look beautiful", said Arthur.

Wendy's brow creased as she looked down at herself. Then she looked at him and said, "I'm not beautiful, Arthur. I look like this all the time."

"No, I mean it", Arthur confessed. "I never realized it, but you do. I've been so stupid thinking about myself, I sometimes forget to appreciate you. I know I haven't been as romantic with you as I should have, but I want you to know you're the most wonderful, amazing woman I've ever met. When I'm with you, I don't feel so depressed. When you're with me, you make me feel alive. Nobody's ever been nice to me like you have. I love you, Wendy."

Wendy's facial expression turned to one of surprise, her eyes growing wide at the mention of those three most important words a woman could ever hope to hear. "Do you really mean that?"

"I do", said Arthur.

Wendy felt tears starting to form in her eyes. Her lips tightened and she lowered her head, placing a hand over her mouth and letting out a soft gasp. She lowered her hand and looked at Arthur. "That's all I ever wanted to hear."

Arthur lowered his gaze and took hold of her hands and said, "Wendy, there's something you need to know about me."

"What is it?" Wendy asked him.

"I've never...I mean I..." Arthur halted in his speech. He blinked and looked at Wendy again and told her, "I've never been with a woman before. In bed, I mean."

"Never?" Wendy asked him.

"Only in my dreams. In my fantasies."

"Do you have fantasies about me?"

"Sometimes."

"What do you do to me?"

Arthur stared at her for a moment, then took her head gently into his hands and closed his eyes and leaned forward, kissing the corner of her mouth softly. He expected her to pull away, but Wendy didn't move. She allowed Arthur to proceed. He forced her mouth open a little bit with his tongue, earning a moan from her throat. Wendy cupped her left hand to his jawline and pressed her chest against his, hoping to deepen the kiss. She heard him moan, as well. She rested her hand on his shoulder and kissed him passionately. Her lips were warm and soft, and tasted like the sweetest wine.

Arthur broke away for air and gasped softly. He opened his eyes and looked at Wendy again. Her eyes were dazzling. Deep golden brown orbs staring up at a sparkling pair of pale green jewels.

Arthur lowered her arms down to her sides, then slowly started to unbuttoned the front of her dress. He slipped his hands into the sleeves and slid the fabric off her shoulders. The dress pooled around at her feet. Wendy wasn't wearing a bra, but she did have on a black thong. His hands went to pull her underwear down, but Wendy grabbed Arthur by his wrists and brought his hands up to her lips to kiss his knuckles, one by one.

Wendy looked at Arthur and caressed the side of his face again, then turned around and brought him over with her to the bed and sat down on the edge. Arthur remained standing and started to removed his shirt, revealing every inch of his naked, skeletal torso. Wendy stared wide-eyed at him when she saw just how skinny he was. He seemed about average built when fully dressed, but underneath those secondhand clothes, he was lean and had not much muscle on him. His ribcage practically begged to burst out of his skin. Arthur took off his shoes and socks, then hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his pants and removed them, along with his underwear, leaving himself just as naked as the day he was born. He stood up straight and looked at Wendy, seeing her worried expression. For a moment, he felt embarrassed, but the thought quickly faded from his mind.

Wendy laid down flat just as Arthur came over and straddled her in bed. He leaned over her and came forward to kiss her on her lips again. He kissed along her jawline, then on her neck. Wendy kept her eyes closed, turning her head to the left and letting a pleasurable moan escape from her throat. Arthur placed a hand on her breast and squeezed it gently. His thumb stroked over her nipple, feeling it prick up against his touch. His hand trailed all the way down her stomach until it reached her thong-covered crouch. His fingers prodded against the satin fabric, causing Wendy to arch her back and let out a breathless moan. His touch was driving her crazy, making her melt from want and desire. Arthur tried to take off her underwear again. Wendy lifted herself up a bit to help him take them off easier. Arthur pulled them down achingly slow, then tossed the thong aside and looked down at the space between her legs, seeing the most vulnerable and sensitive part of her body surrounded by a thin crop of red hair. He could already smell her arousal.

With great care, Arthur pinched the pretty little nub that was her clitoris between his index and middle finger, causing Wendy to moan louder and feel a slight wave of pleasure.

"Does this hurt you?" Arthur asked her, his voice husky and seductive.

Wendy shook her head and answered, "No. It feels wonderful."

Arthur leaned forward and lowered his head down to her private area, wrapping his right arm around her left leg, which was slightly bent at the knee. He kissed her gently between her legs, tasting her sweet nectar. Wendy moaned in pleasure, her heart racing with ecstasy. She wanted him inside her now, but Arthur wasn't done with her yet. His tongue licked at her clitoris and pushed itself into her a little bit, making her wet. Wendy gasped at the powerful sensation and grabbed Arthur by his hair, tangling her fingers into his long, dark brown locks. His hair was still a little damp from the rain, but she didn't care.

"Arthur, I want you inside me", Wendy breathed out.

Arthur stopped his assault of her vagina and sat up straight and looked down at her. He wiped off her juices with the back of his hand and leaned over her again to kiss her lips.

"How badly do you want me, Wendy?" Arthur whispered into her ear.

"Bad", Wendy whined. The heat of his shaft burned against the inside of her leg, the undisclosed desire overwhelming the urge to plunge himself into her slick opening.

Arthur kissed the corner of her mouth and said, "You taste so wonderful. How does it feel for you to be my slave?"

"Arthur, please", Wendy begged him, tears spilling from the corners of her eyes.

Arthur chuckled and said, "I like hearing you beg. Say it again, Wendy."

"Arthur, I need you", Wendy pleaded, desperately. "I want all of you inside me."

"That's all you had to say."

Arthur slowly thrust himself into her, causing a short breath to withdraw from her parted lips. Wendy moaned again and clawed at his back, feeling the shoulder blades underneath his fragile, delicate skin. She wrapped her legs around his bony hips while still being careful not to hurt him. Arthur breathed heavy on top of her, slowly pulling out and pushing himself all the way back in again. As much as he wanted to fuck her, he still didn't want to hurt her either. He never knew how much it could mean to have someone truly love him, let alone have sex with him. As much as he fantasized about the experience, he never thought in his life that he would ever be in bed with a woman. Wendy was more experienced than him, but he had a pretty good idea on how it was supposed to play out. His heart was on fire and just the sight of seeing her nakedness was enough to make his dick hard.

They shared the same rhythm, becoming one with each other as they gave themselves over to each other's fantasy. Arthur started to sweat, on the edge of coming inside Wendy. Her skin felt good and achingly soft against his own, her naked body pressing against his chest. He sped up the process, penetrating her deep inside until she began to see a galaxy of stars dance across her darkened vision. Pretty soon, they both came together.

A loud cry of ecstasy came from both of them. Arthur shuddered with a gasp and released his hot seed into Wendy, giving himself over to her. His muscles tightened up, his body tensed, then slowly, he allowed himself to relax. All that pleasure that had been building up inside him for over forty years was finally getting released. Once his cock turned soft, Arthur carefully pulled himself out of Wendy and laid his head down on her naked chest, still breathing hard and rapidly. He rested his eyes for a bit. His face was covered with sweat. He licked his lips and tasted salt.

Wendy held Arthur in her arms and placed a hand on the back of his head, running her fingers through his hair and kissing the top of his head before pressing her cheek on top of it.

"Did I hurt you?" Arthur asked her.

"No", Wendy answered. "You were amazing. Did I hurt you?"

"No."

"How did you feel?"

"I've never felt anything like that. It was like I was with you some place else just now."

"I know it's been a rough few weeks for you, but I think you needed this. And so did I", Wendy admitted. "I'm glad I was your first."

"I love you, Wendy", Arthur whispered.

"I love you, too", said Wendy.

Five minutes later, Arthur fell asleep. Wendy turned him over carefully onto his back without waking him and looked at him for a while, lightly tracing her fingertips against his lower lip. He looked so peaceful. Wendy kissed him softly, then sat up for a moment and found a blanket and used it to cover him with it before lying down next to Arthur. Pretty soon, the sweet embrace of sleep took over her. Nothing disturbed them the rest of the night.