Hey, everyone! Thank you all SO much for reading this and reviewing and just everything! I'm sorry that this took awhile to get out but I'm trying really hard to make things make sense. I'm working really hard with the next chapter and working the details for future chapters. Tell me what you think of this though because it was a little awkward for me to write and I wanna know if it's realistic enough!

-6-

The parties that Maegen and her husband, Lucas Fields, throw aren't like "normal" parties. They're not exactly extravagant but they're not exactly quiet and subdued. In all truth, they're pretty cool. You know, if it weren't for the guests. As Lucas is a business man, it certainly says something about his company. Nice, but kind of boring and with a greedy need.

Entering the large penthouse that they had rented out for the party, I realized that they really hadn't changed. The decorations and color scheme were elegant, as always, and the guests were just as expected. Business suits everywhere and ladies dressed and adorned with their best matching outfits. Not a single one looked our way.

"Come one," Maegen whispered excitably, grabbing me by my wrist and tugging me behind her. She was lucky I caught my balance on these heels or else we both would have crashed onto the floor.

"Lucas!" Maegen cried out when she was close enough to her husband. He turned and smiled. "Guess who I dragged here!" She pushed me forward and Lucas said my name before giving me a large hug, one I happily accepted.

"It's so good to see you!" He spoke as he pulled away, his British accent more prominent to my ears. "How have you been? Maegen told me you got the job at Arkham."

"I'll be back!" Maegen suddenly said before rushing off into the sea of suits.

Smiling, I turned back to Lucas and answered his question. "I've been good."

"Is the flat working out?"

"Of course," I said with a slightly eye roll. "How have you been?"

"As well as always." He suddenly grinned. "Did Maegen tell you yet?"

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion but still smiling, I quickly said, "Tell me what?"

His grin didn't falter as he said, "She's pregnant."

Something cold and hard hit my stomach as the statement registered in my mind.

Pregnant, as in going to have a baby? I know the inevitable next step in marriage would be creating a family and I knew Maegen wanted to have kids, but why couldn't she tell me? We had spent a whole day together, laughing and catching up on each other's lives. She could have told me at any time. There wasn't a real moment of animosity, not that I can think of.

"Can you believe it?" Lucas continued to rant, oblivious to my shock. "Me and Maegen, having a baby! We've been trying for almost a year now and we just couldn't believe it when it happened. She's only six weeks along but…" He chuckled softly, his blue eyes alight with a flare of happiness. "I just can't begin to explain my happiness."

Forcing a smile onto my face, I calmly say, "That's great! Maegen told me that she had wanted to tell me something but I had no idea! I'm so happy for you."

We shared a quick hug and after our immediate release, a waiter is standing beside us and offers us some champagne. I quickly take one and gulp down about half while Lucas whispers that he has to find someone and goes off into the crowd. I drink the rest of the glass almost too hastily and stop the boy before he could walk away and grab another.

A headache begins to form at the rush of the alcohol and I take in a deep shuttering breath and count to twenty.

How could she not tell me? She didn't even mention it. Not even the trying bit. Was it supposed to be a surprise because I sure as hell am!

And then I remember her drinking at my house and I feel disgusted with myself.

Did I help her harm their baby? It's not really my fault but I didn't stop her. But I didn't know.

"That bitch," I spit venomously to myself, feeling an overwhelming anger in my bones.

The pit of my stomach continues to churn and I finish two more glasses of champagne before I'm approached by Maegen and a tall figure trailing behind her. I won't deny it – I was seething.

"Chase!" she exclaimed, despite the fact that I was standing right beside her. She seemed completely oblivious to my new nature. "I want to introduce Lucas' new business partner to you – Bruce Wayne."

I look away from her and turn my gaze to the man beside her. He was tall, with dark hair and dark eyes and strikingly familiar – not to mention gorgeous. My anger subsided enough for my curiosity of the man to show through the action of cocking my head to the side, very much like a bird.

"Don't I know you?" I asked, capturing his eyes.

A small smirk came across his face and he too cocked his head a bit to the side.

"Everyone knows Bruce Wayne," Maegen said in his place, touching my arm. I didn't stop myself from glaring at her but she really didn't seem to notice. I calmed myself by looking back at Bruce, intent on figuring out why he looked so familiar.

"We've met," he said, stepping forward. "I think is the second time I've seen you drinking."

Unfortunately, he said at the same time as a burst of laughter from the small party next to us smothered his words and I said, "I'm sorry I didn't hear you."

"We met outside of Starbucks a few weeks ago I think."

His mouth hadn't formed the same words but I felt my jaw drop a bit as I grinned and said, "That's right! I nearly tripped into you." He smiled, as though to reassure me.

"Well that's great!" Maegen cheered, grinning broadly at me. "Well I'll leave you two alone. I'll find you later, okay?" She didn't even wait for me to answer and she very pointedly ignored my scowl.

Turning back to Bruce, I raised an eyebrow and said, "Well I don't know about you, but I'm going to skip out before I'm forced to stay any longer."

"And why would you want to skip out on a party like this?" He mocked playfully.

"I've got things to do for work," I half-lie smoothly. "And I lost all feeling in my feet about three minutes ago."

"Work?" He turned to face me more and I mimicked his moment. "Where do you work at that could be more exciting than this?" He brandished his muscular arm around us with a small, sarcastic smirk.

"I'm a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane," I supply simply, smiling at his nature.

He quirked an eyebrow at me. "Well that was unexpected."

"The fact that I'm a psychiatrist or that I work at Arkham?"

He chuckled before saying, "The Arkham bit. A woman such as yourself is sure to be accomplished and it would be rude for me to think anything less."

"A woman such as myself?" I questioned, quirking my eyebrow for emphasis. Yes, I was attempting to flirt but for some reason, I just find it really appropriate. I think it's the alcohol.

"Yes," he said simply, his voice dropping and then his gaze locked with my mine.

For a moment, I took in the full effect of his dark orbs and relished in thoughts and possibilities of this man. Besides him reaching every physical requirement, he was funny and nice, definitely easy to talk to. He was stable with his work and his name held prestige, though those last bits weren't as necessary.

But then there are those questions that can't be answered so suddenly: like what kind of lover he would be, if he wanted to marry one day or if having kids was what he wanted, if he would make a good father. If patience and faithfulness were strong virtues, or if he simply wasn't ready.

I looked away, chuckling to myself while subconsciously biting the corner of my lip.

"Well, Mr. Wayne," I say, turning back to him, feeling only a bit lightheaded, "even though it was a pleasure meeting you, I've really got to get going."

He pouted at me before smiling and saying, "It was a pleasure meeting you as well."

His right hand went up and he smiled down at me, encouraging me to grasp his hand. Looking at the hand for less than a moment, I switched my glass to my left and stepped forward to slide my hand into his. It was very warm and only slightly rough (but from what, I have no idea) and I blame the alcohol for my lax grip. And it was because of my lax grip and alcoholic state that he startled me when he raised my hand to his mouth, where he placed a soft, chaste kiss along the ridge of my knuckles.

For a moment, I stared at him with my mouth just a bit agape. His lips, like his hands, were warm but much softer. His breathe made a chill run up my right leg and he smirked as he straightened, lowering my arm down but not releasing my hand, which was still much too lax. I forced myself to blink and look away, but then I felt the blush creeping up my neck and began to feel ashamed of myself. I shouldn't have gotten carried away. His deep voice brought me back to reality.

"What do you think about talking more?" At this, I laughed loudly and felt light and airy. Whether it was the statement or the ideas that ran through my head at the word 'talk', I decided it really would be best to make my exit.

"I don't know, Mr. Wayne—"

"Bruce," he cut in politely, smiling at me. "Call me Bruce."

I almost laughed again but contained it with my smile. "Of course. Well, Bruce," his name tasted sweet and fresh, "I really don't know what to think about that."

I was almost reluctant to release his hand and so I just began to walk away, hoping he would get the hint to just release it and let me go. But he didn't, not right away at least. He followed me a few paces but then his grip slipped from mine and I made my way to the elevator, placing the almost empty champagne glass on the tray of a passing waiter.

Entering the elevator on my own, I let myself lean against the smooth wood of back wall and replay the feelings that had happened between me and Bruce.

He really did seem so sweet and gentle. It was almost like he knew exactly how I wanted to be treated, and though I did love it, the lightheartedness of it all began melt off of me. And it was replaced with a sudden emptiness in the pit of my stomach. It didn't stay empty though. No, it was quickly replaced by my sorrow and anger to my friend. The tears welt up in my eyes and I was glad I was alone.

I had every right to be upset, didn't I? She's my best friend and she couldn't tell me something as intimate as her being pregnant. She told me everything about her marriage – the fights (though rare), the sex, the sweet things, the corny things. And it's not like I would be upset with her for wanting to have a family. She's always wanted two kids, though I'm no longer sure if that's true either.

Crying for a brief moment was all I needed.

When I reached the lobby of the hotel, I went straight for the door and went out into the night air. It was cooler than when I had arrived and an unpleasant chill ran down my spine. Flagging down a taxi, I wondered if I should go home. It was still rather early in the evening, only eight thirty.

Jumping into the cab, I asked the driver to take me to Arkham Asylum. He grumbled about the distance but I ignored him and instead focused on breathing deeply, and not crying.