Ed sighed as he tossed the syringe back onto the tray and sat down at the kitchen staring at Oswald. He had to admit he was fascinated by the man that was laying in his bed, but at the same time absolutely terrified. It was thrilling really.

Kristen hesitated a moment. Maybe she should have called before she came over. She knocked softly at the door, and waited.

Edward looked up at the door, his entire body going numb as he looked at Oswald. He walked over to the door and opened it a crack. He let go of the breath he'd been holding when he saw it was Kristen and opened the door to let her in.

Kristen looked up at him apologetically. "Is this an okay time?" she asked as she came in. She glanced over at the bed, where Cobblepot was resting in a deep sleep, sporting some nasty bruises. He didn't appear to be in much better condition than when they'd found him. "How's he doing?"

"He's still really weak but he'll live. I removed the bullet from his shoulder and stitched up the wound. He should be fine in a few days." He said picking up the tray with the medical supplies and moving it into the kitchen out of the way.

"That's good," she said, following him into the kitchen, feeling an awkwardness between them that hadn't been there two days ago. "That he'll be okay, I mean."

"Yeah." Edward said quietly as he leaned against the counter. "How are you?" Edward asked nervously.

"I'm …" she said hesitantly, looking back at him. "Okay, I guess. Still pretty overwhelmed by all of this … And I'm sorry if I snapped at you last night … I was just scared and tired and confused about what to do next."

"It's okay … We were both stressed and … Said and did some stuff we probably shouldn't have." He said staring down at the floor.

"I'm … still not sure where we stand now," she admitted. "I really don't know if things can go back to normal between us, but … I'm willing to try to find out if you are."

"I'd do anything to keep …. Whatever we can going …. I mean …." Edward sighed and rubbed his hands over his face, his eyes tearing up. "I don't want to lose you over this."

Kristen went over and put her arms around him. "Same here," she said softly. "We've both been through a lot and done a lot over the past couple of days, but … I don't think most of it has to reflect on our relationship." She'd been thinking it over and, whether it was wishful thinking or desperation, that was the conclusion she had reached.

Edward looked at her as she wrapped her arms around him, surprised that she was even touching him, let alone …. Let alone saying they were still in a relationship …. That she wanted to be in a relationship with him.

"It … Really?" Edward asked bringing his hand up and wiping the tear that was falling down his cheek before another ran down his other cheek.

"Oh Edward," she whispered, reaching up and gently wiping the remaining tear from his face. "Yes, really. It's all a big mess, but it's not really your fault, we both just did what we could, and … most of it doesn't have anything to do with us being together, but…" She was quiet for a moment, before she continued. "If … if we're going to move forward from this, there's … some things you should know about me … It'll explain some of how I reacted and … I think I'd feel safer in the future if you knew."

Edward nodded. "Of course … You can tell me anything. I'm all ears." He said quietly.

"It's…" Kristen sighed. She took a deep breath, before continuing in a quiet voice. "My mother, when she was pissed off or … or just didn't want to deal with me, she um … used to lock me in a room … Sometimes for … for just a few hours, sometimes longer." She swallowed, glancing down at the floor, trying to stop shaking. She hated talking about this, but if Edward didn't know, then she would never feel completely sure that it wouldn't happen again. "And … when I was with Dougherty," she said, barely above a whisper. "He … he figured out that it bothered me, and … he used to threaten to…"

Edward immediately knew why Kristen was so upset. Why she'd tried for the fire escape. Edward's eyes watered, having been through his own share of abuse he knew how much he must have terrified her. He hadn't meant to. He was just trying to protect her … He'd failed miserably by letting her go with him to dispose of the body but …. "I'm so sorry." He said pulling her into a hug. "I had no idea. I'm so sorry." He said sounding more sincere than he ever had been.

Kristen held him tight, clinging to the hope that now that this was out in the open, she would be able to feel safe with him again, the way she had before. She wanted that feeling back so badly, and she still didn't know if she'd ever be able to find it again. She hid her face against his shoulder as the tears started to fall. "I … I wanted to say something sooner, but …something else always…" her throat tightened, and she took a shaky breath before looking up at him. "Promise me," she said quietly. "Now that … now that you know, it won't happen again. No matter what else is happening, no matter what you think you're protecting me from, you will never do that to me again."

"Never. I promise. I …. I shouldn't have even done it in the first place I just … Panicked. But … I should have trusted you to stay down there, make the call for yourself but … I just …. I didn't want you to see that." He said shaking his head. "Though I suppose it makes no difference, you did exactly what I did the next day … Which … I wish you hadn't …" He said quietly.

Kristen shook her head. "No one should have to see that, Ed," she pointed out. "Even if you've seen it enough times now that you're used to it… But by that point, we were both involved. And… I won't pretend that...um... taking care of that was easy." It was possible that she might have thrown up at some point during the process. "But… between that and being locked up somewhere alone, unable to decide what to do … I almost preferred it." Almost. It was still horrible, when she thought about it. What she'd done … She looked up at Edward tentatively. "Do ... you think less of me for that?"

"No. I could never think less of you." He said. "What you did was … Amazing really. I'll be honest the first time I saw a dismembered body I threw up at least three times." He said making an exaggerated disgusted face at the memory. "And I'd still rather go through that than a lot of what I had in the past."

"Well," Kristen admitted, unable to help smiling a little that Edward thought she'd done something amazing. "My stomach wasn't exactly happy with the situation either." She felt like she and Edward somehow better understood each other now.

"I'm sure there's no way you beat my record of three." He said trying to make light of the situation. "Still … I'm amazed you did it. It was …. Brave. Perhaps that's not the right word but … Something along those lines."

Kristen blushed slightly, adjusting her glasses. "I just did what needed to be done." She really hadn't expected to be able to go through with it. She still couldn't fully wrap her head around it, though she had to admit there had been a certain thrill in the suspense, wondering the whole time if they were going to be caught… Still, she was glad the whole thing was over.

"I know. But I'm proud of you." He said with a slight smile before leaning down to kiss her. She had done far more than he ever expected her too. Even if he hadn't wanted her to do it …. She had, and he was impressed.

Kristen paused in surprise before leaning into his kiss, holding him close, relieved that the tension between them seemed resolved. It looked like maybe they could make things work after all… and if they'd managed to get through these horrible past couple of days, then maybe there was nothing left that could come between them.

Edward was glad when she leaned in, his hands going to her hips as he deepened the kiss. He turned them both until she was between him and the counter, his body gently leaning into hers as he kissed her.

Kristen was surprised by the sudden intensity in his kiss … She hadn't really expected it, given what they'd just been talking about. But even though she hadn't been far from him in the past couple of days, she'd missed him. Edward must have felt the same way too. She ran her hands over his shoulders, down his back, enjoying the closeness that they'd been missing.

Edward's hands tightened on her slightly, his hips pressing her back against the counter as he felt his cock start to swell in his pants. He broke the kiss and started moving his lips over her neck.

Kristen sighed, shivering slightly as Edward started to kiss down her neck, surprised to feel Edward's cock harden as he pressed against her. "Edward," she murmured in a half-hearted protest. "There's a mob boss right over there … In your bed … Is this really the time?"

"He's sedated." Edward muttered against her neck. "He won't wake up for hours." He said nipping at the soft flesh of her neck and pulling her against him.

"Still a little awkward," she stammered, though she couldn't bring herself to pull away. This was the most forward Edward had ever been. He'd never initiated things so directly before. But it was strange with Oswald Cobblepot himself occupying Edward's bed just across the room. And what if he did wake up? Not that there was anyone for Cobblepot to tell about it, but it would still be incredibly awkward.

"Then let's go downstairs." He said nipping at her ear though he was becoming a little less sure of himself. Maybe she just wasn't interested. Still, she did seem to enjoy it when he was a bit forceful. "I want you …" He said kissing her neck again, his voice almost a growl. "Don't tell me you don't want me to bend you over the pool table … We'd both know you're lying."

Kristen's eyes widened. "So forceful…" she smiled up at him, running her hand through his hair. "If you insist…"

Edward took her hand in his, a wide grin on his face as he lead her to the stairs. He let go of her hand as he descended, with how narrow the stairs where they were already dangerous enough as it was.

Kristen followed Edward eagerly down the stairs. Once they reached the bottom, she wrapped her arms around him again, kissing him passionately.

Edward moaned into the kiss, his hand moving down her side before he broke the kiss and turned her toward the pool table. He pinned her against it, bending her over the table with his hand against her upper back, the bulge in his pants pressing against her through her skirt.

Kristen gasped as Edward bent her over the table, thrilled by how in control he suddenly was. It had been hard to keep her self esteem up when Edward never initiated things himself. She'd just started to accept that he just wasn't the dominant type …

Edward smirked when he got no protest from her. He ran his hand up her leg, hiking her skirt up until it was above her ass. He looked down at her as he moved her panties to the side, before kneeling down behind her.

Kristen shivered with anticipation as Edward's hand moved up her leg, moving against him slightly as he moved her panties to the side.

Edward ran his finger over her, surprised to feel how wet she was. She was already enjoying this and he hadn't even touched her yet.

"Someone's a bit naughty." He said rubbing his fingers against her.

Kristen moaned as Edward's fingers rubbed against her. "You started it," she reminded him with a sly smile.

"Mmm yes but I wasn't expecting you to be this wet. I barely even touched you." He said moving forward, his tongue playing over her, tasting her.

Kristen gasped as she felt Edward's tongue move over her. "I… I can't help it," she said. "You're just so… assertive right now."

"Is that what you like?" He asked taking his mouth off of her only long enough to talk before moving back onto her again, his tongue pushing inside her.

Kristen moaned as Edward's tongue pressed into her. "Yes," she gasped, blushing.

"I shall make a mental note of that then." He said standing up behind her and shoving three fingers into her tight wet hole. He bent over her as he fingered her, leaving kisses along her upper back. "Tell me what you want Kristen."

Kristen gasped as Edward's fingers thrust up into her, and she pushed back against him. "I … I want you to fuck me," she said, blushing profusely. She'd never used that kind of language with Ed before. But then, he'd never been like this with her before either. "Right here against the table."

"Really?" He whispered huskily in her ear. "And if I refuse?" He asked nipping the lobe of her ear, his fingers moving faster inside of her. He had no intentions of refusing her, his cock was already straining painfully against his pants begging for attention.

Kristen moaned as Edward's fingers moved faster inside her, and she pushed back hard against him in time to his movements. "Y … you don't really seem like you're planning on it," she said breathlessly.

"I didn't ask you if I was planning on refusing … I asked you what you would do if I refused." He said slowing the movements of his hand to a very, painfully slow, pace.

Kristen whimpered in protest as Edward's fingers slowed to a teasing pace, and she kept pushing back against him, trying to get him to speed up again. "I … I'd be very disappointed," she admitted. "But please, Edward, you wouldn't be so cruel, would you?"

"That depends." Edward said, nearly pulling his fingers all the way out and teasing her entrance. "How badly you want my cock."

Kristen moaned softly. "More than ever," she said. And she was more certain now than ever before that he wanted her too. "Please, Edward, I need you."

Edward smirked as he shoved his fingers back into her. "Actions speak louder than words my love." He said pressing his clothed erection against her hip as he kept moving his fingers into her over and over again.

Kristen shivered slightly at his words, moaning softly as she moved back against him as his fingers moved inside her, her hip rubbing up against his hardened cock. "What should I do to show you, then?" she asked.

Edward didn't still his hand as she moved against him making him moan into her ear. "I want to watch you come."

Kristen moved back against him harder, driving his fingers in deeper as she rubbed against his cock, excited just by hearing him moan. "That … shouldn't be too difficult," she said breathlessly. Everything he was doing just felt so good …

"Shouldn't be too difficult?" He asked changing the angle he was thrusting into her at. "Then perhaps I should try harder." He said, his free hand moving over her back down to her ass before spanking her.

Kristen yelped in surprise as he spanked her, and she moaned as the angle of his fingers changed, leaning against the pool table and pushing back against him harder as he thrust into her.

Edward moved his free hand to his pants and pulled the button open, struggling a bit with the zipper as he moved behind her, his fingers still moving inside of her as she pushed against his hand. He wanted her so badly ….

Kristen moaned as Edward's fingers continued to move in and out of her, her eyes closing as she felt the sensation building. "God, Edward…" she murmured.

Edward shoved his underwear out of the way, pulling his shaft out of his pants as he looked down at her, watching his fingers moving. He stroked his cock as she writhed on the table. He knew she was close.

Kristen kept moving against him, moaning as his fingers moved inside her, wanting and needing him more as she got closer. "I'm going to come Ed." She moaned.

Edward smiled as he pulled his fingers out of her, gripping his shaft with his wet fingers. He stroked himself a few times before he pushed the tip against her slick opening.

Kristen groaned in frustrated protest as Edward withdrew his fingers, but then she felt the tip of Edward's cock against her opening, and pushed back against him with a soft moan.

Edward pushed his hips forward, his cock slipping into her inch by inch. "God Kristen …" Edward moaned through clenched teeth. He still couldn't believe how tight she was.

Kristen moaned as Edward pushed slowly further inside her, and she moved back against him as he did. Though she knew it was best to go slowly, as big as he was, she wanted desperately to feel him thrust deep inside her.

Edward moved his cock further into her, until he was halfway in. He slowly pulled out again, groaning as she clenched around him. He closed his eyes as he started shallowly thrusting into her, careful not to go too far in, scared he would hurt her.

Kristen gasped, feeling some discomfort as Edward made it farther in, knowing that he probably wouldn't be able to get in any deeper tonight. But at the same time, the feeling was intense in a way that wasn't unpleasant. She appreciated when he pulled back and then moved back in with shallow thrusts, and she wondered if it was frustrating for him not to be able to get all the way inside her yet. She was still for a moment after the initial discomfort started, but then began to push back against him again encouragingly.

Edward panted as he slowly started to speed up his thrusts, risking a few times pushing in just a little deeper before pulling out again. He ran his hands over her back, moving them down to her soft cheeks and spanking her again as he moved against her.

Kristen moaned, moving against him in time to his thrusts as he quickened the pace, gasping as she felt him thrust in deeper, the discomfort not fully subsiding, but somehow adding to the intensity. "Edward," she moaned as her hands clenched into fists against the pool table, and she tensed, her inner walls tightening around him as pleasure overcame her.

Ed hissed as she came around him. She was already tight to begin with, her clenching around him like that was borderline uncomfortable … He watched her as she writhed on the table, slowing his thrusts a moment until she relaxed on the table. He picked up his thrusts again, his hands going to the cushion rails of the table on either side of her hips.

Kristen felt amazing as she relaxed, coming down from her orgasm, still panting for breath as she started pushing back against Edward again as his cock thrust in and out of her.

Ed leaned over her, nipping her ear as he kept moving inside her. "Is that what you wanted?" He asked shifting his cock inside of her.

Kristen nodded, pushing back against him as she felt his cock move inside her. "Yes," she said breathlessly, still loving how in charge Edward was. "You're amazing, Edward."

Edward looked down at her, a slight thrill going through him. He'd never been told he was even remotely good, let alone amazing. He'd had a lot of complaints that he was too big … Too thick, but … Kristen seemed to enjoy it. Even seemed to like when he pushed just a little too far.

He briefly wondered if he could last long enough to make her come again.

Kristen glanced back over her shoulder at him, and was a little overwhelmed by the way that he was looking at her. She couldn't remember ever feeling this wanted before. It was an intoxicating feeling. She moved back against him a little more, wanting to make him feel as good as he had just done for her.

Edward thrust into her a few more times before he pulled out of her, taking a step back. "Come here." He said holding his hand out to her, and stepping back again, his hard cock jutting out from his body.

Kristen pushed herself up from the table, straightening, her skirt falling back into place as she turned to face him. She smiled up at him as she took his hand and stepped toward him.

He lead Kristen over to the couch and pushed her back onto it. He knelt on the floor next to her, his hands going under her skirt to her panties, pulling them off and tossing them onto the floor.

"I guess those are unnecessary," Kristen smirked, running a hand through Edward's hair as she looked down at him curiously, wondering what he planned on doing next. The pool table had been fun and exciting, but the couch was admittedly more comfortable.

He moved up onto the couch, moving her skirt back up. He pushed his fingers back into her before he lowered his mouth onto her.

"Oh," Kristen gasped in surprise, leaning back on the couch, her fingers threading through Edward's hair. "Y-you don't have to…" He'd already been considerate enough to make her come once. Surely he didn't think she expected more?

Edward moved his hands up to her arms, sliding them down to her wrists and pulled her hands away from his head, holding them against the couch as he ate her out.

She moaned, her eyes closing as Edward's tongue moved over her. Her hips moved forward slightly, finding it difficult to keep still even with her wrists pinned against the couch.

He let go of her wrists, his hands going to her hips. He closed his eyes and moaned as he pushed his tongue into her.

"God, Edward," she moaned softly, reaching down and running her fingers lightly through his hair. He really was amazing at this, and after he'd already made her come once, she was more sensitive than before. Everything he did felt unbearably good.

He shivered as she ran her hands through his hair, her actions practically begging him not to stop. He looked up at her as he pleasured her, watching the expressions on her face.

Kristen's hips rolled forward slightly in response to what Edward was doing, and she moaned with heightened need as his tongue moved over her.

Edward loved watching her like this. Moving under his mouth and fingers like she couldn't get enough. He rubbed his fingers against her, pushing three fingers into her as he sucked on her clit, his fingers curling slightly as he moved them inside her.

A whimper escaped Kristen's throat, and her back arched as she felt Edward's fingers curve inside her. "Don't stop," she moaned, her hands running feverishly through Edward's hair.

Edward chuckled low in his throat at her words, his fingers pushing deeper into her.

"Edward," she gasped, the intense sensation building relentlessly. "I-I'm going to…" Her inner walls clenched around his fingers as she came again.

He smiled as she came for the second time that night. He hummed happily as he climbed back over her, the tip of his cock pressing against her nudging her.

Kristen looked up at him breathlessly, her hands running down his sides before tugging at Edward's sweater, trying to pull it off of him.

Edward sat up from her, untucking his shirt and pulling his tie loose. He pulled it all off in one quick motion and threw it onto the floor before he moved back onto her quickly, as if he couldn't get back to her quick enough. He kissed her passionately as he prodded against her.

Kristen wrapped her arms around Edward as he moved back over her, her hands running over his back, her hips moving forward against him as his cock prodded against her.

He moaned against her mouth as he pushed into her once again, moving against her slowly as he deepened each thrust.

Kristen slipped her tongue into Edward's mouth as she returned his kiss enthusiastically, her hands moving up his back and over his shoulders, to run lightly through his hair, her hips still moving steadily against him, a muffled moan escaping her as his thrusts deepened.

He moved his tongue against hers as he quickened his thrusts, careful not to push in too deep. He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers, his eyes closed as he moved his body against hers. "God Kristen …" He moaned, his breathing starting to become more laboured.

Kristen's hands moved down Edward's back again, holding him close against her as her hips pushed back against him, kissing feverishly down his neck, shivering slightly as he moaned her name.

"Kristen … I …" He moaned as he thrust into her faster, feeling his orgasm building but at the same time wondering if she wanted him to pull out. They weren't using a condom this time like they had their first. "I'm going to come." He panted.

Kristen groaned as Edward thrust into her, not wanting it to stop … Hazily, she remembered that they weren't using a condom. She'd definitely taken her birth control pill, though. After a few scares with previous boyfriends who weren't as considerate as Edward, she'd been sure to make that precaution into a relentless habit whenever she was in a relationship. There was no doubt in her mind that, if she said the word, Edward would pull out. Even if he didn't need to, knowing that made her feel safe with him somehow. She held him tighter. "It's okay," she murmured, and kissed him.

He leaned forward and kissed her thrusting into her a few more times before he felt himself tense with pleasure, his orgasm spilling over as he came inside of her with a soft groan. He broke the kiss, his eyes closed as he shivered with the force of his orgasm.

Kristen gasped, wincing slightly in discomfort as he thrust further into her, but she still enjoyed the intensity as he came inside her. She held him close, kissing him back passionately, her hands running lightly through his hair as he shivered against her.

He relaxed against her, his breathing still heavy but slowing slightly as he looked down at her. "Still think we shouldn't have done that?" He asked with a slight smile.

Kristen laughed a little breathlessly. "I have to admit, that was a pretty good idea."

"Can I ask you a question?" Edward asked, still lying on top of her, his cock softening inside of her, his fingers of one hand playing with the tips of her hair.

"Of course," Kristen said, looking up at him curiously.

"Why …" Ed paused as he pulled out of her though he remained on top of her, feeling odd asking this question. Perhaps it wasn't the appropriate time. "Why do you enjoy it when I'm forceful?" He asked quietly.

Kristen blushed. "I … I don't know," she said, feeling embarrassed, uncertain how to put it into words. "I guess … it just makes me feel needed. When you make it that decisively clear what you want, I don't have to wonder."

"You should never wonder how much I want you. Ever." Ed said quietly. "I love you. And if I have to prove to you every day of my life how much I need you … Then I'll do it."

Kristen smiled, still blushing, overwhelmed by his words. But she wondered now, about her own feelings for Edward. It still seemed too soon to tell, and her track record reflected a seriously flawed judgment. Yet after everything that had happened in just a couple of short days, after everything she had stayed through, she couldn't help but wonder. Could it be love that had kept her here through all of that? Better to think over the matter later. She could only think so clearly with Edward looking at her like that.

"Still…" she stammered, a little taken aback. "It's nice to have the reminder sometimes."

Edward smiled. "I like to think that I remind you in other ways ... " He said leaning down and kissing her. "Although, I did enjoy this." He said kissing her again. "Perhaps next time we'll manage to get your shirt off …" He said with a chuckle, realizing they were both still half dressed, Kristen in her shirt, him with his pants mostly still on.

"Next time, hmm?" Kristen smiled up at him, running a hand through his hair. "I like the sound of that."

Edward laughed slightly. "Not any time soon. I think you just sucked me dry after that last go. I won't be able to get it up for at least another week." He said with dramatic flourish of his hand as he laid next to her, the back of his hand going to his forehead as if he were just utterly exhausted.

"A whole week?" Kristen laughed at his melodramatic gesture. "How can I possibly wait that long?" she snuggled close against him.

"Alriiiiiight," he said as if he were exasperated. "I'll bring it down to six days …. Any sooner and you'll have to make a compelling argument." He said with a slight chuckle as he put his arm around her.

Kristen kissed Edward on the cheek. "I'm sure I'll be able to come up with something," she said.

"Well I have no doubt about that." He said with a smile.