Chapter Five
The Jaguar is a beautiful red sedan that stirs up memories from the me-before-Annie and even though Jason looks disgruntled as he unlocks the car and opens the door for me, he doesn't say anything.
"So the car instead of the bike?" I gather up the nerve to say as he drives back into downtown. "Why?"
"You heard Bruce, it's safer."
I scoff - because that's bullshit. "Never stopped you before."
Jason glances at me out of the corner of his eye and then looks back at the road. "I was reminded you were in a coma for a year because of a car accident. A car's safer than a motorcycle."
Right. Because any normal person would be scared of cars after that if they remembered it. But I'm not - because I don't.
"It's not like I remember the accident," I mutter, leaning on the door and staring at the trees outside as we zoom past.
Jason doesn't respond to that, he just grips the steering wheel a bit more. "Just because you don't remember it, doesn't mean motorcycles are safer, and I can't believe I -"
"Oh, don't start. I'm not a porcelain doll. I can take care of myself."
He snorts and sneers while keeping his eyes trained on the road. "I know you can take care of yourself. If you wanted, I'd be dead the second I touched you. You caused a fucking earthquake when you did let me touch you."
"Really? You want to go there?"
Is he really bringing this up? Is he really bringing up -
"And how the fuck does Tim - the fucking replacement - know what caused the earthquake."
I realize, at those words, he's not even upset about the earthquake. He's upset Tim found out he and I -
I'm left staring at his face. He's not looking at me. We've entered the city now. I feel obligated to explain to him why - why Tim knows. After all, while Jason looked completely unfazed in the cave, he must have been angry when Tim mentioned my "orgasm" because otherwise why would he be so annoyed by it.
"Tim kept bothering me about why the Justice League wanted to talk to me. Anyway, Martian Manhunter already knew because he read my mind and all and I -"
"Martian Manhunter read your mind?"
I was about to tell him about the Annie-before-me's spirit ghost consciousness thing - to get his mind off Tim and Tim knowing and because it's still mildly freaking it out - but okay, we can discuss this almost equally upsetting development. Because Martian Manhunter read my mind - my mind filled with memories of another world and -
"I suppose. I don't know how deep he got. He seemed a bit embarrassed when he realized the reason for the earthquake was . . ."
Jason smirks at me at my inability to finish that sentence, which I suppose is better than his reaction to Tim finding out - but I still have to restrain myself from glaring at him.
"The reason for the earthquake was amazing sex?"
I can't look at him right now. I think I want to disappear because he's staring and -
Instead, because it's been bothering me, I ask, "Is that why you disappeared for a month? Because you knew I -"
"Nah." His grip on the steering wheel tightens and he changes lanes, driving a bit faster and almost getting into a wreck with the car on the right that's trying to merge and cut us off now.
"Hey! Watch it!"
He hits the brakes and I lurch forward, not expecting it.
"Sorry," he mutters, "I - I had to stay away because Batman knows about you - or knew about you and was trying to get me to come back 'home' as he put it and then he kind of mentioned you with Joker in the room. To be fair, he didn't know Joker was in the room. And anyway - we were supposed to be talking about Martian Manhunter reading your mind. They had no right, they - what did you even say to them?"
He's turned down my street now, and speeding to beat the other sedan into a parking spot. He's trying to give me a heart attack, isn't he? So much for 'a car is safer than a motorcycle.'
I wait until the car is parked (the other guy shouts and flips his middle finger as he drives off) to respond.
"I didn't say much. I just . . . Bruce showed up before I could say anything, though I suppose Martian Manhunter filled them in after."
Jason looks like he's trying not to smile.
"It's not funny."
"I didn't say anything," he protests as he gets out, circling around to open my door.
"So . . . Plus one?"
Right. Because I agreed to go to that party, didn't I? Ugh, this is going to be a nightmare.
"Yeah, you up for going to a charity convention ball in Metropolis?" He glances at me again, and I have this sudden urge to get this one lock of hair out of my face, which I do. "I mean, it's okay if you can't, because like I get it. You're known as dead, and I can always ask Emma or Sarah. But you'd be better at planting bugs." Because I just know Luthor is going to have me shadowed the whole time. "And I really don't want to ask Big Bird, who's the only -"
"Sure."
I look up, and he's smiling a bit. But there's one more thing I need to get info on.
"Do you think Bruce has any places to stay in Metropolis? Only because it's going to last all day, I think, and I mean I don't want to go, but if I do, and we end up having to stay then I don't really want to come back at midnight -"
"I know of a couple of his safehouses," he mutters, leading me up the stairs.
"So that's a yes?"
He smothers a laugh as he opens my apartment door.
"Yeah."
As soon as we're inside and the door's closed, he pulls me to his chest and kisses me.
Between getting 'kidnapped' by the Justice League and accepting Luthor's invite, I forget Bruce Wayne's offer about a job. So when I get a call from Wayne Enterprises on Monday, I'm confused for all of two seconds.
"I'm sorry, what? Can you repeat that please, you cut out for a second."
He didn't really cut out, but I want him to repeat what he just said, because I'm not certain I heard that right.
"Yes, Your application for Office Assistant was reviewed, and your recommendations were great! I mean you had a recommendation straight from the big man himself and we'd like to extend you an offer of employment."
"But I haven't even interviewed."
"I mean, I can schedule you for one if you'd like."
"Yeah. sure. I mean, yes, of course, I'd love to - let me just get a pen and paper."
I really need to organize this pile of bills.
"There's just one thing I'm worried about." I add, because this is - this is way too fast.
"Oh? Just one?"
"Well only one I feel comfortable bringing up just right now."
He chuckles, and I tense a little. "Alright?"
"I'm going to be out of town, in Metropolis, this weekend. Maybe a little longer. That - that won't cause any problems, will it?"
"It shouldn't? But I'll make a note in the file, if you'd like."
"Yes, please."
I hang up the phone to find Jason staring at me. He'd been getting some stuff together for our trip to Metropolis this weekend - guns, bugs, suitcases, and the like.
"What?"
"What was the call about."
He's going to throw a fit. I know he is.
"I was offered a job at Wayne Enterprises."
Jason doesn't frown like I expect, but his lips thin into a line. "You going to take it?"
"I might. I mean, Falcone is dead and Black Mask is probably having troubles now anyway - and I got fired, so . . . I mean I talked them into giving me an interview first before they put me on the payroll, so . . ."
He stares at me and I don't know why he's staring and not saying anything.
"What?"
"I mean I'm technically a crime lord and you apparently have a knack for working for them."
"You going to keep up that business?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Oh, I don't know. You may not have wanted them to know it, but I think you liked seeing your brothers."
"What does that -"
"Why did you really get into the crime business?"
"Because Batman doesn't do enough. Gotham hasn't been saved."
"And what, you think that's going to happen all at once? You know Batman's basically the maid right? He's just cleaning up the mess. The problem is he's not a part of the family making the mess and if he would just raise his kids right and -"
Jason kisses me again and chuckles. "What are you going on about."
I don't even know anymore.
"Just-" he kisses me again as I try to talk. "If you want me to work for you -hmm -" he's trying to distract me, but I want to finish this thought - "- you just have to ask."
His arms circle around my waist and I wrap mine around his shoulders and pull myself up to kiss him better - and then he's groaning. "Annie - we can't."
He's not talking about me working for him.
"Why?"
Because he's spent the past week with me and - nothing! All he does is stare at me as if I should already know why. It's frustrating as all fuck.
"You caused an earthquake last time."
And - right. Except my powers only work if I've eaten, and I haven't eaten for six hours. I made sure not to because I knew he was going to be here all day.
"I wasn't prepared last time. I am now. Besides, you started this, so if you don't hurry up and finish it, I'll take care of it myself."
He groans, but shakes his head.
"Just. Let's practice just a bit more. Okay?"
No. Not okay. Because what does that even mean? But whatever. I'm tired and hungry and apparently it's all for nothing.
I stop by Wayne Enterprises on Tuesday for the interview and end up staying to fill out paperwork for my new job and grab a burrito bowl with pickled jalapeños on my way home because I'm so hungry and haven't had anything since breakfast six hours ago.
The rest of the week sees me going through orientation and I barely see Jason. Happily, I don't throw up at all. I guess it was a bug and I'm better now. It was bound to happen sometime.
Jason comes back at noon on Friday, and smiles while I'm making chocolate fudge on the stove, and I don't really understand why until he shows me a certificate from City Hall - he's been declared alive again. There's a whole case and -
"So you're saying you're alive? Like legally?"
"Bruce's lawyers got it all rolling and came up with a cover story - I really did die, but the story is some cultists got a hold of me and brought me back. It's not that far fetched. We have superheroes after all, and magicians, and -"
"And why did you do this?"
"Just . . . just in case."
Whatever that means, I have no idea, but I shrug.
It's all over the news that night - Jason Todd, the adopted son of Bruce Wayne is back from the dead.
As far as I can remember, I've never been to Metropolis. That's not to say this body has never been there, I just don't remember it. Annie's father had family from there after all. They'd died and she'd gone to the funeral. In Metropolis.
On the way back, Annie died, and I turned up.
Jason's driving the Jaguar this time, instead of Annie's father. There's also a reservation at a really nice hotel for Friday and Saturday night that Bruce got us - because apparently the safe houses haven't been updated with Jason's biometrics yet.
Jason's been alive for a total of a day and he's milking it for all it's worth - taking the attention off me, which is great.
By the time we make it through to LexCorp's downtown office on Saturday morning, I'm pretty sure we've been stopped ten times and I'm hungry.
"Welcome to the Smithson's Charity Event - here are your name badges. Lunch will be served in an hour."
The check-in sure is interesting and I stare at the lanyard in my hand in slight annoyance.
"He's not trying to track us, is he?" I ask, because I definitely wouldn't put it past Luthor to do that.
Jason inspects my lanyard for a bit then hands it back to me.
"Even if he is, you can always use that to send Luthor in the wrong direction."
"Right. Because that's -"
"Are you really Jason Todd?"
What the hell - it's a tall skinny blond that just interrupted us and a quick glance at her lanyard tells me this is "Cat Grant" from the Daily Planet.
"Uh, yeah - I-"
"Did you really come back from the dead? What was that -"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"But, Mr. Todd - at least - who's the girl with you?"
Jason looks annoyed, and steers me away before Ms. Grant can get another word in edgewise - though I vaguely hear her ask just as we get a bit away if his 'girlfriend' has anything to say.
"How many more people do you think are going to stop you to say hello? I only ask, because I need something to eat and if it's going to be a while, I'm leaving you for the snack table."
Jason just chuckles as he shakes his head and tells me to "go eat, I'll find you in a bit."
Then he gets really close - "I'll go and put some bugs where I can. Try not to get caught."
Then, just before he goes off, he looks me straight in the eyes and says, "If you see Dickiebird and The Replacement, tell them to leave you alone and have them come find me." He goes off, and I'm alone and free to head to the table with snacks, wondering what he's talking about.
People are mostly milling around and I grab some food and just start cramming the small hors d'oeuvres into my mouth. They're good. A little salty.
I try to pay attention to the conversation being made around me, and no one asks me my name, which is a relief probably related to the name tag in the lanyard, but I get bored. Since I'm supposed to be planting bugs, I exit the room as quietly as possible.
LexCorp's main office is interesting, and the more I walk around, trying to find some kind of computer, the more I begin to feel like something's wrong. It's hard to breathe, my shoulders are tensing, I'm going to get caught and then Luthor will brainwash me and I'll become his personal Winter Soldier and -
I need to calm the fuck down.
I crush the camera lenses of the security cameras I see and make my way to a staircase (thank goodness for Fire Regulations, elevators are way too easy to track).
I need to get this done fast, because the longer I'm gone the more likely it will be that someone will find out I'm missing.
The moment I find a door labeled "Lex Luthor" I check my phone - it's been thirty minutes and I have a text from Jason asking where I am.
Looking for the restroom. I shoot back, pulling out a hairpin and kneeling to pick the lock. And when that ends up not being enough - because of course he has a handprint scanner - I blast the inner workings of the door and turn the latch to dust.
Lex Luthor's office is nice. It has large windows, is on the top floor (of course it is, my legs are killing me), and have a very minimalist style.
And there's a computer.
I'm running out of time, so I stick the USB into the computer, quickly log in and download Tim's Trojan horse into the mainframe - adding a couple of my own edits - before I cover my tracks, and dash out. I leave a bit of a mess, but only because I messed up the door so much, trying to get in.
The trip down the staircase is a lot faster than the trip up, and I'm back in half the time. It's as I'm planting the third bug in one of the vases, while surreptitiously looking for a bathroom that someone clears their throat.
"Miss?"
What? I spin around and wince slightly. "Yes?"
"Are you alright? This is not where the convention is happening - I -"
"Annie!" I know that voice.
"Dick."
The waiter chokes, looking terrified he's going to have to break up an argument - because Dick's name is an insult and not everyone knows he wears the nickname with pride.
"Hello, sister-mine."
What is he going on about?
"I'm not your sister, Dick. What are you on about?"
"You're practically my sister, it's all just semantics anyway at this point. Anyway, did you get lost trying to find the bathroom?"
Perfect - an excuse.
"Yeah - you know me. I have no sense of direction."
I laugh to throw the waiter off. I'm not sure how well it works, but I allow Dick to take my arm and lead me back into the library.
"What are you even doing here, Dick?"
Because we're not in Gotham anymore, we're in Lex Luthor's corporate office.
"Tim and I are here representing the Wayne Foundation. I saw you sneaking out a few minutes ago and wanted to make sure you were okay."
I pull my arm away once we're back inside and I see Jason eyeing me from across the room.
"I was doing fine."
"Sure you were."
But I don't find another chance to sneak away before lunch is served and a speaker takes the podium in this huge ballroom like place.
At least I haven't run into Lex Luthor yet.
After lunch everyone heads into another room to look at paintings and I drift, keeping Jason in my periphery.
It's weird - everything about this whole floor it's -
"Ah, Annie! Let me introduce you to my ward - Caitlin Jeffers. Caitlin, this is Annie - you two spoke on the phone, remember."
Damn. So close.
"Right."
I look her over - she looks vaguely familiar - like something is tugging at my memory one second, but the next I shake it off and try to focus on her objectively. She's much taller than me - then again almost everyone is - with curled half-up half-down brown hair and brown eyes. Her dress and jewelry are a matching green and the dress would show off her curves if she weren't clutching her skinny arms to her sides almost as if to hide them. She looks like she would benefit from a meal, which is such a mood. Her shoes - four-inch stilettos? why? - explain her ridiculous unnecessary tallness.
I don't envy her at all.
"Hi. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you."
"Where's your plus one?"
"He's . . . around."
"Jason Todd, yes? Prodigal son returned from the grave?" Luthor looks much too interested in that. "How do you know him?"
"Oh, well - you know. We were classmates. I really should be -"
"Oh, of course! Please, girls - talk. I must be getting to the other guests, but it was good to finally see you again, Annie. So glad you finally accepted one of my invitations."
Yeah. Right back at you, psycho.
"So . . ." I stare at her for a second and then look back at the paintings. "Art. What's your favorite color?"
"Um," she mumbles, looking at the ground, like she'd rather be anywhere else, which is also relatable. "I don't - I mean - if I had to choose, I guess purple?"
"Cool." She's weird, I decide - because she sounds so uncertain. And I'm getting a weird feeling just from being around her. "I'm going to go, but it was nice meeting you. Catch you later?"
"Yeah… sure. Okay."
Once I get just far enough away that I can't even see her anymore, my stomach lurches and suddenly I have only one thing on my mind. I break away into the hall and start opening doors because I only have a little -
"Miss Annie? Are you lost again?"
"Uh, yeah," I say, swallowing for like the third time in the past minute and trying to buy myself time by not breathing too hard and not letting any saliva accumulate in my mouth. It's not really working. "I just. Really need to use the bathroom… Where is it?"
"You've been looking for the bathroom an awful lot this morning."
"Yeah, well, I really need it!"
Nope, no more time to spend chitchatting with this waiter dude - he can scold me all he wants later - after I - I throw myself through the next door because it's as good as any - and fuck.
As the food I just ate not even an hour ago violently evacuates my body and into a nearby wastebasket - I don't envy whoever has to clean this mess because it's a wastebasket for paper and so it doesn't have a liner - I feel cool hands pulling my hair off my sweaty neck. Fuck, I thought this was over. I'd been okay for a good week! I cough up a few more chunks, then swallow the rest down as the convulsions subside and I'm able to stand up again.
Only to find that it's fucking Luthor who's been holding my hair. And I can feel a chill creeping down my back at the thought because - I almost go to throw up again.
"Miss Annie, are you unwell?"
"Clearly," I manage to not spit. My mouth tastes awful and, in an effort to keep up appearances despite how fucking angry I am, I glare only slightly at the waiter kid who just looks terrified. "I told you, I was looking for the bathroom."
Luthor sucks in a breath and dismisses the kid, who stands up a little too straight and stiffly fast-walks his way back down the hall. I almost feel sorry for him.
Almost, because if he'd just fucking told me where the bathroom was, we wouldn't be in this situation.
When he's gone, Luthor places a hand on my shoulder, but I pull away so it falls off - vomiting equals no food which means I can't use my vibrations of doom which is probably a good thing here considering Superman told me to stay out of Metropolis - but no. Just because I came to his party and threw up in his wastebasket does not mean Luthor gets to touch me without my permission.
"Annie," he says, and he actually sounds human, like a normal, concerned human being. "The serum should be keeping you from getting sick. We've invested a lot of research into it, and this is very concerning. Now, we do have a sophisticated lab onsite. If you'd like, I can run some tests to find out why -"
"No," I interrupt him, walking away. "I'm fine."
I can't even think about beginning to unpack what he just said.
Because it has to just be standard nausea - nothing else.
I need to find Jason.
Jason's talking to a female reporter and some weirdo that - his nametag says Clark Kent, and then I'm almost smacking myself in the face because of fucking course. Of course I wouldn't recognize him. He looks different. Like they have the same face, but Superman puffed up his chest, Clark Kent is hunching and I would almost scold him about back issues except . . . it's Superman . . .
And whereas Superman looked self confident, Clark Kent looks a little self conscious.
They're like night and day and seeing Clark Kent now, I can kind of see how some people can walk right by and not see it.
I decide I like Clark more than the cape, but Jason looks just about done with both. I'd better save him. Besides, I'm still kind of freaking out about what Luthor said. As I wrap my arm around Jason's he looks down and seems to relax just a bit, but then he just continues talking to the woman - Lois and damn. I'm meeting tons of important people today, is that the theme of the day or something?
"Hey, Jason." I mutter, and I can just feel Clark's eyes on me - and great. Lois is staring too. "So what's the plan for the evening? Cause I'm just ready to go home. I'm tired."
"You going to be alright?"
"Yeah, I just -"
"Hi, I'm Lois, with the Daily Planet. Are you two -"
"This is my girlfriend."
And he's calling me his girlfriend now? Since when? Not that I mind, but -
"Right." Clark is staring at Jason instead of me now, which I'm grateful for, because I don't know if I can stop the redness in my face. I'm certain Martian Manhunter told them something.
"I need a drink -" I mutter and Jason seems to frown.
"I'll get you some water."
That's sweet. Yeah. Water sounds nice - to wash out this terrible taste in my mouth.
"Thanks. I appreciate it, but I can get the water -"
"No - it's my pleasure."
Jason is gone and back within a minute, as if he's afraid I'm going to disappear, which is frankly ridiculous.
Lois looks like she wants to say something, but she holds herself back and by the time Jason's back she hasn't said anything.
Clark Kent is glaring at me though. Which is terrifying.
I stick to him for the next two hours as all these rich people buy the paintings.
It's almost nice, knowing this money is going to charity. Almost, except this is Lex Luthor, and he's a super villain.
And then Caitlin finds us again telling us the charity auction is coming to a close and everyone is making their way to dinner.
Only, as I stare at her, I notice, she has to be drunk or drugged or something, because she's smiling - and she wasn't smiling before. Her stilettos from hell look unsteady and then I hear from the right the waiter - oh? He still has his job? Good for him.
"Caviar and crème fraîche tartlets, ladies? Or would you perhaps prefer the lobster toast with avocado and espelette pepper?"
And damn. Those look really good. And I'm hungry after all that throwing up I did earlier.
"Oh yes, please, thank you!" says Caitlin as she reaches over to grab a pair of tiny dishes. The server walks away, she turns and -
There's a sharp stab in my foot followed by a pair of shrieks. One of them is me, I realize, and the other one has to be Caitlin, who's falling on me. In the struggle against gravity I almost don't notice the other high-pitched sound that emanates through me like a shudder. The heartbeats I've been carrying with me seem to shudder and I have to stop myself from actually throwing Caitlin because I can't be seen hurting Lex Luthor's ward at Lex Luthor's fancy charity ball, even if everything in me is telling me she's dangerous to be around. My foot hurts, and I notice it's bleeding a little, blood smearing a bit on the floor - because of her stupid heels from hell. But otherwise I'm mostly not hurt. And she doesn't seem to be attacking me.
She scrambles to get up, her face red and a broken stiletto hanging off her right foot as she clings to a chair. She looks like she really didn't mean it. There's caviar and lobster on her dress.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Miss Simon! Are you okay? You and your - "
Why the fuck is she apologizing? I'm fine. She's physically fine. People trip over their own feet and step on toes all the time. But she looks like she's about to cry. Fuck, now I have to comfort her or something. I grit my teeth. "No, you're fine. You didn't mean to do it."
A normal person would have responded right away with… something. But Caitlin just hangs there off the side of the chair for a full minute with this expression of distant horror plastered to her face. Geez, what's her problem?
Did she... did she mean to do it?
I can't ask her that, though, because people are starting to stare.
"Hello? Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she says, and the expression slowly melts into something far more pathetic. "I'm sorry."
Damn it, she's way too sober now. I have to lighten this up somehow or else Luthor is going to blame me for breaking her.
"I'm sorry you have to wear those shoes."
Caitlin blinks, shrugging herself out of whatever that was. "It's not your fault."
"No - when I say I'm sorry it doesn't mean I think it's my fault, it means I commiserate with you."
And now she's laughing. Like legitimately laughing. And her smile, it's different. More relaxed and possibly sad. Nostalgic maybe? I don't know, this girl is weird. I'm mildly discomfited.
"Thanks," she says. "I'm… going to go get cleaned up now."
Jason's got a hold of my elbow, like he has most of the evening and he leans in close. "Are you okay?"
My foot is really starting to hurt and a good amount of blood is gushing from the wound.
"I'm fine. Just need to get my foot cleaned up. You think we can go back to the hotel? Before Luthor finds us like this?"
"Yeah, let me just get Dick and Tim. Kent, Lane, would you stay with her for a bit?"
He heads off and Superman - Clark Kent - lends me his arm so I can find a place to sit down. My foot is really starting to hurt. A lot. If the skin hadn't broken, I'd be looking at a very nasty bruise.
"You okay?"
"Yup, hunky dory Mister Superman." I mutter - and yup, he heard that. Damn. He flinches a bit, and interestingly enough, so does Lois. Does she know?
"Did Bruce tell you?"
And isn't that laughable? Because no, Bruce didn't tell me. That's information everyone knows.
"Don't take it personally. I figured it out with Bruce too and he wears a much better mask than you, especially considering you don't wear one at all."
Jason rushes back with Tim and Dick and before I know it, we're at the hotel and -
"Fuck - why are you putting stitches?"
Ugh - I should have stayed home.
"It's a deep wound, just sit still."
Yup, should have stayed home.
It's Monday and we're back in Gotham.
While I'd love to just stay in bed trying to convince Jason to go just a little further - despite my aching foot - I've been starving myself to control this! - he pushes me outside muttering about how I need to stop doing that or he won't stop next time and "then where will we be?"
Which just goes to prove this is a battle of wills and I'm starting to win. He can't resist me for much longer. This has to be as hard for him as it is for me.
But at least he gets up and makes breakfast. Jason loves bacon, and since he's been practically living here for the past two weeks, there's plenty. Usually I love the smell, even if I don't eat it, but today there's something off.
Maybe it's my foot which is still in pain - if I ever see Caitlin Jeffers again, I'm going to let her know she's on my shit list. Her and Tim. She's scarred me for life.
And this smell!
I run to the bathroom to not get any bile on the food and - when is this going to end?!
"That's it. You need a doctor." Jason doesn't look like he'll take my arguing, which is ridiculous.
"I don't need a doctor - it's probably just hormones and in a few days my period will -"
I stop, because... hormones? And when even was my last period? I haven't had to buy pads since -
Fuck.
I feel stupid, having not noticed before - having not even thought of the consequences! Now that I think back and try to remember the last time I had my period - it was April? I've always been regular, but I kept track on an app and have never thought much more about it. It's just easier that way. I only ever check when I start to get cramps and think, oh, it's been a while. I wonder. I haven't had cramps, so there's been no reminder to check.
And that would explain the consciousness - is it Annie-before-me? The one who died in the car accident? I can't be her mom, her mom was my mom! I can't be a mom at all! I can barely even protect myself, let alone a - !
"Annie?"
"I -"
Fuck, how am I even supposed to tell him? I don't even really know for sure - I mean granted I'm about two months late, and I'm never really late. This - how did I not see this sooner?!
"I - I think I'm . . ."
"You're pregnant?"
He doesn't even look fucking surprised.
A/N:
Chapter 6 is already at over 2000 words, and I really should be working on my research paper, lol, and Chapter 7 (the epic interlude) is at 22,500 words - almost done). So expect my posting to continue to be semi-regular at least for now. Still no clarity on which option I'll go with, but I'll most likely still to Option 1 . . . a lot of the people who chose Option 2 seemed to do it becuase they were worried about how long it would take to post, since it's so long. It's practically done at this point, tbh...
Chobits15 (loveangel15 on DeviantArt) did some fanart and it's fantastic! - It's called "Gotham Partners in Crime"
It's absolutely fantastic!
Thanks for reading! Until next time.
-GlidingOne