Disclaimer: I do not own Batman

'Another shirt to be tossed in the fire,' Jack mumbled to himself as he looked down at his red speckled dress shirt. He wasn't too annoyed. The blood belonged to John. He didn't kill him, even though he really wanted to. He shot him in the shoulder, mostly because he was hitting on Jeannie, and because he was mouthing off to Jack. Either way, the Sicilian punk had it coming.

Unfortunately, John was the only casualty. Seeing as it was only John and two other of Falcone's men at the club, they surrendered quickly. Cobblepot was not happy that the man in question wasn't there; he very much wanted to kill him, but Jack told him this was much better than killing him since they figuratively pantsed the man and made a fool of him, since his men practically tossed their guns to the floor the second they stormed the club.

"That bird of yours, Jacky," Cobblepot grinned. "She's a keeper, she is."

Jack nodded, giving his boss a slight smirk. "Yes. She is."

Cobblepot flicked the ash off his cigar. "A woman that puts her neck on the line for you is a precious gem. You should keep said gem safe, make sure nobody else steals it….If you catch my drift, Jacky-boy." Cobblepot looked at him, taking in his not so appreciative look. "Shit or get off the pot, boy." He added with a snicker. He knew very well where his best employee stood when it came to relationships. It's why he was surprised as hell when the boy admitted that he was in fact actively dating the woman and was doubly surprised when he heard through Sammy that he was shacking up with her. He had always assumed that Jack was either a closet gay or was just not interested in the opposite sex whatsoever.

Not him, too… Jack groaned at his boss, who now was laughing at his expense, and lumbered away to be alone with his thoughts. Thoughts of stupid sparkly rings and signing of ridiculous binding contracts.

*(&%%$

Jeannie smiled at her elderly neighbors who were enjoying the mild weather, playing chess on the stoop of their apartment. She had gone to the grocery store to burn off some extra energy. She was still jittery from the prior nights events and couldn't sit home any longer waiting for Jack to come home to let her know if her co-workers were unfortunate casualties due to he and his boss' hostile take over. She needed to get out of the house before she exploded with nervous energy. So she decided to go grocery shopping, on Jack's dime. She picked up some unnecessary snacks and rented two movies so she had something to distract herself if Jack decided to not come home again for another day or two. The life of a career criminal's girlfriend was stressful at times.

"Ms. Kerr."

Jeannie nearly jumped out of her skin hearing her name from behind her and nearly dropped her bag full of snacks. She whipped around and was surprised to see Officer Gordon, the same cop that interviewed her at the hospital.

"Officer Gordon." She yelped in surprise. "Hello."

"Oh, it's Detective now." He smiled sheepishly, motioning to his casual suit and tie.

"Oh. Congrats on the promotion."

He adjusted his glasses and politely took her one grocery bag out of her hands and motioned for her to continue her short walk to her apartment.

"Um. What can I help you with?" She asked nervously as she fished for her keys.

"Well, I have some questions for you. Do you mind if I come in for a moment?" He pointed to her front door, where they had just stopped.

Oh no. Did he know? Did he know that she helped tip Cobblepot off? Did he know about Jack? Is Jack thrown in Jail? Was she going to Jail?

She made herself take a calming breath. "Of course." She quickly unlocked the front door and led him to the kitchen where he placed her bag on the kitchen table. "Would you like some coffee or water?"

He shook his head. "Thank you, no." He said as he got out a small note pad and a pen from the inner pocket of his jacket.

She leaned up against the counter, keeping the distance between she and the detective. It wasn't that she didn't trust him. She just felt the distance gave her a protective bubble. "Is this about my attack?"

Detective Gordon shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. I'm sorry, we were unable to find any leads." He cleared his throat and clicked his pen. "This is a different case altogether." His watchful eye lingered on her for a full minute and then continued. "You work at Club G?"

"Yes. I'm a bartender there."

He nodded and started scribbling on his pad. "There was a shooting there last night. According to one of your co-workers, you were there for less than thirty minutes and went home sick. Just fifteen minutes later a well known crime boss and his lackies stormed the club, shot one of the bouncers in the knee and trashed the place."

Jeannie blinked a few times as a wave of unease and relief washed over her. The bouncer who had gotten shot was either John or Luca, since they were the only two bouncers. Nell was unhurt, thank goodness. As for the club being thrashed, it really wasn't that big a deal for her, especially since it was to be closed down and the renovations to start tomorrow. She looked at Gordon and realized that she needed to look a little more shocked at the news of her work being shot up by her boyfriend.

She shook her head putting her hand over her heart. "Oh my gosh!" She gasped. "Why?"

The detective shook his head slightly. "We're not one hundred percent sure. Your co-bartender didn't have any information, and the two bouncers refused to give any information. So, we were hoping you saw or heard anything before you went home sick."

Jeannie's mind raced with what she should say and after a few beats, she answered. "I didn't really hear anything. I mean, I do work for Carmine Falcone. So I've adopted the 'hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil' motto while at work." She paused a moment. "You, know. For my own safety."

He nodded as he jotted down his notes. "I understand, Ms. Kerr. Most employees who have bosses like Falcone adopt that motto."

Jeannie nodded. "It's unfortunate. But in this city, you've got to do what you gotta do in order to make a living."

Again, the detective nodded at her. "Gotham is becoming a black hole for the criminal element. It's becoming harder and harder for the police department, along with the MCU, to keep up with all the activity."

"I'm sorry I don't have any information for you, Detective. I left in such a hurry, I don't even think I said goodbye to Nell."

His watchful eyes bored into her. Every second his look remained on her, Jeannie became nervous. Was it her, or did it look like he could see right through her?

"Can you tell me specifically what time you got to work and when you left?"

"Uhm, I got to work around 5:45 and I think I left at about 6:05?" She shrugged. She honestly couldn't remember exactly when she had left. "But that's only a guesstimate."

"And why did you go home?"

"I had eaten something sour the night prior. I thought the worst had passed, but I thought wrong. I barely made it out of the club before I tossed my cookies in the planter box outside." God, what was Jack doing to her? He was turning her into a big fat liar.

Gordon grimaced. "That's not fun. Are you alright now?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Finally got my appetite back."

He gave her a polite smile. "Were the bouncers acting peculiar?"

She shook her head. "No. Everything was business as usual last night."

He scribbled down her answer and then clicked the pen shut. "Well, if you happen to remember anything, please give me a call." He walked over to her and handed her his card. "My cell is on there, too. Call me day or night if you remember anything, even if it's miniscule." He smiled at her, and then his line of site went to the fridge. "That your boyfriend? The same guy who was with you at the hospital?"

Jeannie furrowed her brows and looked to where he was looking; a picture she took of Jack and herself. Jack smirking at the camera while Jeannie was laughing hysterically because he was tickling her. "Yes."

Detective Gordon's eyes narrowed at the picture and then rose an eyebrow at Jeannie. "You both make a nice couple."

Jeannie nearly did a double take. That wasn't what she was expecting to come out of his mouth. She was expecting to say something along the lines of, 'Hey, I've arrested your boyfriend for possession of a firearm and loitering.'

"Oh, thank you." Was all she managed to say.

"Well, Ms. Kerr, It was nice seeing you again. I'm glad you're doing well, and that you were lucky enough to avoid last night's events."

"Thank you."

"Well, I'll get out of your hair."

(*&%$

Jack watched from across the street, hidden, as the cop exited he and Jeannie's apartment. He knew someone would be paying her a visit. It gave him a good excuse to make himself scarce for a while. It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to put two and two together if he was home when the detective came to question Jeannie. But then again, it was a crap shoot if the cop on the case was on his boss's payroll or not. But it wasn't something he wanted to push his luck on. Not when he had this marriage thing to deal with.

He waited until the cop drove away and then headed to the apartment, scaring Jeannie in the process. He entered quietly and snuck up behind her, then poked her in the side making her drop the bag of barbecue chips she had in her hands to the floor.

"Holy shit!" She yelled, swatting at him. "The hell, Jack?!"

He snickered and picked the bag up she had dropped. "Sorry, Sugar. I couldn't help myself."

She huffed and snatched the bag out of his hands and stepped away from him, resuming putting away the groceries she had yet to put away due to Detective Gordon's unexpected visit. "You have good timing. A detective was here waiting for me. He asked if I knew anything about what happened last night."

Jack snagged the bag of Red Vines out of the grocery bag and sat down at the kitchen table. "I figured that would happen. What'd you say?"

Jeannie turned to face her boyfriend, who was now stuffing his face with licorice. "I lied through my teeth."

"Good girl." He smiled with a full mouth of red vines, making him look like vampire with a mouth full of gore.

"I'm a horrible liar, Jack. I couldn't tell if he believed me or not."

He shook his head at her. "You're fine, Sweetness. They've got nothing. I know for a fact the two Sicilians didn't blab, and the girl behind the bar was clueless as to why we were there. It'll be a cold case by the end of the week."

"I have a feeling he knows it's mob related." She sighed.

Jack nodded his head. "He'd be a dummy if he didn't think it was." He tossed the now half-empty bag of Red Vines away from him. "Don't worry yourself over it."

She nodded at him. She should listen to him. This wasn't the first time she had lied to the police for Jack. "Thank you for not hurting Nell."

He winked at her. "I shot John in the shoulder." A malicious smile crept upon his lips. Oh, the look on the guy's face was pure amusement to Jack. He really wanted to tell him not to hit on his girl anymore and if he did, there'd be another bullet coming for him, but he thought better of it. He still felt it was a good idea to keep certain people in the dark about he and Jeannie's relationship.

"I heard." She tried keeping a stern face, but couldn't help but chuckle.

He too started to giggle. "You should have seen the look on his face. And, he cried, the little pansy." In a matter of seconds his giddiness morphed into anger. "I should have shot him in between his eyes."

She hated when he had that look in his eye, but mostly, she hated how his voice went down an octave. Like he was possessed or something. But she couldn't help the butterflies in her stomach. She knew he would move heaven and earth to keep her safe…even though he'd go about it guns a-blazing.

She quickly changed the subject. "Ice cream?"

His brow shot up at the mention of the frozen treat. "Cookie dough?"

)(*&^%

Jack sat idly at the kitchen table while Jeannie mixed up cookie dough. It was now 11:40 at night. Jeannie had taken a nap shortly after Jack and returned home. Given the fact she hadn't had more than three hours sleep, she was lucky enough to take her shoes off before she passed out on the couch.

He did a lot of what Sammy called 'Soul Searching' while waiting to go home after they stormed Falcone's club and while she was passed out in the living room. And although he did come up with a solution, he wasn't sure how to execute his decision.

This was new territory for Jack.

So, there he sat, staring at his girlfriend's back as she mixed in chocolate chips into the kitchen aid mixer. With a heavy sigh he reached into his pants pocket and grabbed a red velvet box, opened it and placed it dead center on the table. He sat there, listening to the mixer hit the bowl, and wondered just how the hell he should do this. He sure as hell wasn't going down on one knee…

He had picked out a silver band with a large diamond in the center, with little purple diamonds encrusting the outer edge of the larger diamond. It wasn't cheap, which wasn't a problem for Jack. He had sat there at the jewelry store, staring at the ring in the case for what seemed like an eternity, before he made his mind up and bought the thing. As he counted out the cash, all ten grand of it, a wave of sickening nerves and excitement and maybe a dash of doom filled him.

The feelings had died down, mostly. He knew deep down that he loved Jeannie, with all his dark heart and blood stained soul. This would work out. With some ground rules, of course, and a compromise or two, but it would work. If Sammy could be married, he could be, too. But he'd make damn sure that this marriage wouldn't change him, like it did Sammy. Sammy had calmed down after he had gotten hitched to his childhood girlfriend. Sammy used to be just as ruthless as Jack. But something in him changed. He'd become soft in a way. Sammy still did his job, committed thievery and killed in the name of the job and his boss, but he just didn't have that edge anymore. And his wife was to blame.

Jack would make sure that this wouldn't happen to him. He liked the way he was. And nobody, not even Jeannie, the love of his life (god help him if he said that out loud), would change him from being him. But, god help him, he knew he was becoming helpless when it came to Jeannie, especially as of late when he was thinking about their future. He couldn't imagine his life without her, as a matter of fact. It made him feel angry, and something else more sinister.

"What is that?"

Jack looked up from the ring to Jeannie, who was holding a spatula covered in cookie dough, looking shockingly at the ring.

"What do you think it is Jean-nie?" He retorted in a snarky tone.

She glared at the ring and then at him and then back at the ring. "It looks like an engagement ring, Jack." She replied, matching Jack's smart ass tone.

"Very intuitive, Sugar." He flicked the box shut and stood up. Clamping his thumb and pointer finger at her, making the international sign for 'shut up', stopping her in her tracks from the imminent shriek and freak out session that was on the tip of her tongue. "Sit."

She stood there, with her cookie slathered spatula, in awe. Unable to move for a solid thirty seconds, but finally willed herself to move, only after putting the spatula on the counter. She sat down, in front of the ring and waited patiently for her boyfriend to say something.

Jack sucked air between his teeth as he pushed away from the table and walked slowly around it, until he was behind Jeannie. "That right there is a two karat diamond in a white gold band surrounded by another karat worth of purple diamonds, size 6." He walked behind her and squeezed her shoulders. "Excited, Kitten?"

She wordlessly nodded her head, her mouth open as she stared at the beautiful piece of jewelry. "Are…are you really wanting to marry me?"

He rounded the table again so he was across from her again. "I am, but there will be some…grrrrrround rules, which may deter you from your happy day."

Jeannie's brow quirked up, and she peered up at him questionably but kept silent, letting him have the floor. She knew Jack all too well. He needed to make his point before she started asking questions.

"You, my beautiful Jeannie, want something that I think is the most ridiculous thing in the world. But since I love you, I'm willing to compromise. In exchange of having a life of marital bliss with yours truly, we will get married at the courthouse. No pomp. No circumstance. No glittery tiaras."

The happy shock disappeared off of Jeannie's face as it sunk in. A wedding; it was something she dreamt of since forever….especially shortly after she started dating Jack…hell, even before she started dating him.

"Not even a small ceremony?"

Jack snickered. "Nope."

Jeannie's shoulders sagged with disappointment. There went her visions of her in a beautiful white gown. Pushing her dashed white gown dreams to the side for the moment, she looked away from both the ring and Jack, her brain buzzing with a million questions. "What made you change your mind about marriage?"

Jack contemplated her question, his long index finger tapping his chin as he did so. "My stance on marriage hasn't necessarily changed per-say." He pressed his lips together, not really sure how to explain how he arrived at his decision. "I still do think getting married is a dumb choice. But I understand why you want to, and I guess that's why I decided to do this." He motioned toward the ring box.

"So, you took pity on me."

He grit his teeth at the accusing tone she was throwing at him. "No." He growled. "You should know by now, Jean-nie, I don't pity anyone." His fingers twitched to his pocket, where his pack of cigarettes were. He all the sudden needed one. "I know what you're thinking in that pretty little head, Sweetness. I'm not marrying you because I pity you, or to trap you like that piece of shit Ryan did. I'm doing this for you. Because you mean that much to me." He stood up and reached over the table and cupped her chin, making her look up at him. "Don't think too much into this, Sugar." He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "When you're ready to give me your decision, there's the ring."

(*&%$#

The ring sat there, glimmering in the light of the kitchen. The bright red velvet box it sat in a grim reminder that it was more than likely purchased with blood money. But then again, all the money Jack earned was blood money. So, really, what was the difference?

She glared at the sparkling piece from where she stood at the counter, as she did for three days after Jack presented her with it.

The two didn't speak of it, either. It was like a game: Who was going to mention the topic first? But being two strong willed people, they ignored the large, sparkly elephant in the room and continued on as if it wasn't brought up in the first place.

This decision was a very important one for Jeannie, and although she didn't like the way Jack was going about it, it was a compromise. He was working with her.

She weighed the pros and cons.

Con: She wouldn't be able to do have a wedding. The one thing that all girls dreamt about; the big white dress, the wedding cake….The celebration of it all. And then there was the pro: Being married to Jack. She knew deep in her heart that he was her one and only… as corny as it might sound.

Was the pomp and circumstance really all that big of a deal? And really…who was she going to invite? Her parents were out of the question, Jack didn't really have any family, and all of Jeannie's friends weren't in Gotham anymore. Those that were, she had lost contact with, and she wouldn't exactly call them friends, all thanks to Ryan.

Jack did say he was compromising with her….Well, maybe she could throw a few things into this negotiation for herself.

She hesitantly approached the ring and took it out of the box, handling it for the first time since Jack had brought it home. It really was a beautiful piece of jewelry, even the unconventional purple diamonds that surrounded the large diamond. Purple was Jack's favorite color, as was hers. She smiled a small, loving smile as she brushed a finger over the jewels. It was evident he had put some thought into the ring. He even got her ring size right.

She slipped the ring onto her left ring finger and as she did, tingles shot down her spine.

"I see you finally put the damn thing on."

She jumped in surprise and twisted around to see Jack leaning up against the door jam of the kitchen.

"That I did." She smirked. "But, like you, I have a few stipulations myself, Mr. Napier."

His brow quirked upward. "Do you now?" He pushed himself off of the door jam and slid into one of the kitchen chairs. "Lay them on me, Sugar."

"I want a honeymoon."

His brow shot up higher. "A…honeymoon?" The word rolled off his tongue as if it was foreign language.

"Ya. And not some bullshit honeymoon either. I want an honest to goodness romantic honeymoon that's not in Gotham."

Jack's emerald eyes narrowed on her. "Will there be sex?"

"Duh."

He pursed his lips and nodded. "Done deal, Sugar."

She nodded and looked down at the ring and then back up at him. "I will only marry you if you aren't going to resent me." She took a step closer to him. "I would be the happiest person in the world being married to you, Jack. But if this is going to crush your soul, then I can live with just being your girlfriend."

"Sweetness, I'm at peace with this." He gathered her small frame into his long, arms. "It took me a while, but I'm at peace with it. I still think you're crazy for wanting to marry a career criminal though."

She swatted his back and returned his hug. "There's one more thing." Jeannie took one step back, as if already knowing there was a possibility Jack may blow up at her with what she was about to say. "Kids."

Jack's eyes narrowed into annoyed slits. "Kids?" He spat. "What about them, Jeannie?"

She stood her ground, ignoring the urge to take another step back from him. "Well, you're compromising with me about the marriage… so, will you compromise with me on this subject?"

His upper lip curled up, but she stopped him from his nuclear meltdown. "I'm not saying let's start charting my ovulation days or picking out baby names. I just want to know if it may be a possibility in the future. Not now, not next month or even next year."

He stayed silent for a long while, and with each passing second, Jeannie grew more and more anxious. Was he going to back out of the whole thing? Take the ring back and leave?

"No." He finally said, in a flat, monotone voice.

"No?" She repeated. "Is this up for discussion later on down the road?" She said in a hopeful tone.

"I will not change my mind on this, Jeannie. Not now. Not ever." He said, in that low, dangerous voice she hated so much. "And you better make sure you keep on top of your birth control pills, too."

She wrung her hands and tried not to feel the utter disappointment that was sinking in.

"Am I clear, Jeannie?"

"Yes." She said just above a whisper. She knew it wasn't worth the argument. She urged herself to not dwell on it and to focus on the fact that he wanted to marry her. He was willing to push aside at least one of his beliefs for her.

Jack gave her one last glare, turned on his heel and left the kitchen.

She knew she had pissed him off again, and he would more than likely go to work and not come back for another couple of days to blow off his frustration, which she appreciated. It was quite refreshing, really. If he were Ryan, she would have already been laid out on the floor, either bleeding, knocked the hell out or both.

She sighed heavily as she watched him grab his coat. She nodded at him when he looked at her through the entry way of the kitchen and watched as he left the apartment.

All would be well once he got back.

In the meantime, she had things to plan, like when they'd head down to the courthouse and where they'd go to on their honeymoon.

She looked down at her ring again and twisted it around her finger. This was the right decision, marrying him. She and Jack were going to be together. Forever. She just knew it. And she'd be happy. Kids or no kids.

beta'd by: Springandbysummerfall