Chapter 9:

Graduation

Jonathan's P.O.V

Emmy and I sat in the waiting room of Gotham General Medical Center while we waited for Emmy's name to be called. I lightly held her hand as we waited. She seemed nervous around me now and I couldn't figure out why. I thought after yesterday things would only get smoother.

She nervously looked up at the clock. I knew she was anxious. About three this morning, I found her on the couch staring at one of her textbooks. She told me she was too excited to sleep but wasn't able to really concentrate. An hour later I picked up her sleeping form from the couch and put her on our bed.

My mind wandered a bit to our child. Within the next hour we would be finding out if we were expecting a son or daughter. My mind wandered to my childhood, I shuttered a bit. I was determined that my son or daughter would not grow up like that. I was going to make sure my child had the care they needed and deserved.

"Emily Crane." A lady said coming into the waiting room. Emmy looked over at me before standing up. I put my hand on Emmy's back as we followed the lady into the ultrasound room.

The ultrasound tech squirted some goo onto Emmy's abdomen and we looked up to the screen in front of us. The tech showed us the arms, head, feet and heart of our baby. I was grateful to be here and see my child. Because of school and work I hadn't been as involved with Emmy's prenatal appointments as I had wanted to be.

"Did you want to know the baby's gender?" the woman asked.

"Yes." Emmy answered quickly. I looked from my wife back up to the screen. The words "I'm a Boy!" appeared above our child's profile. I felt my heart jump ever so slightly as I realized I was going to have a son.

Emmy's P.O.V

My heart leaped as the words "I'm a Boy!" appeared on the screen above me. I could feel a smile spread across my face. I looked over to Jonathan while his eyes remained on the screen. I smiled and took his hand. He looked back at me.

"You were right." I told him. He smirked at me a bit before he looked back up at the screen.

"Everything looks great. He should be a fine healthy baby." The tech informed us as our appointment came to an end. I nodded and thanked her. I was thrilled to be having a son. Now it was time to be getting ready for his arrival, a mere 20 weeks away give or take a couple.

"I can't believe we're half way through the pregnancy." I started the conversation as we left the hospital. "It doesn't' seem like it was that long ago when we found out about the pregnancy."

"The time has gone fast." Jonathan acknowledged, his hand reached for mine. I wasn't sure what to make of him at this point. I understood where our relationship, or lack thereof, stood before yesterday. I wasn't sure if he was trying a new experiment or if he was being genuine. Damn I wish I could read him better, he seemed to always know what I was thinking.

I lifted my hand to his as our fingers laced together and we continued our walk home.

"After graduation I was thinking we could do a bit of shopping for baby items. We don't have a lot of money to throw around but it does seem time to get started. I would like to have the nursery finished before I start medical school." Jonathan informed me.

"That would be a good idea. I hear that the third trimester gets harder and I'd like to get as much done while I still feel up for it." I told him. "Plus it should be fun." Jonathan smirked at my comment.

….

"Jonathan Crane." I heard the announcer say over the microphone at Jonathan's graduation. I cheered my loudest as Jonathan shook the President of Gotham University's hand and walked across the stage. I was so happy for him. He seemed pleased to be at this point in his education and I was very proud of him.

Once the graduation ceremony was finished, I walked through a sea of people trying to find my husband. There were so many people there I worried I may not be able to find Jonathan. I got out my cell phone to try to text him a location to meet when I felt a hand touch my shoulder. I turned to see Jonathan only a few feet away from me.

I smiled and gave him a big hug. He lightly returned the hug. I still didn't know what was happening between us. I knew my feeling for him were starting to change but I wish I could read Jonathan's mind and know what he was thought about our relationship now. I knew I was falling in love with him but what did he feel for me? The affection he was starting to show me almost seemed too good to be true, though I have to admit the affection was nice.

"So are you glad to be done at Gotham University?" I asked Jonathan as we made our way out of the crowd.

"It's just another step closer to my goal." Jonathan said putting an arm around my waist as we walked out of the building. We were walking through campus, talking happily when a woman about my parents' age with blue eyes and dark brown hair approached us.

"Jonathan." The woman greeted. I looked at her confused and looked up at Jonathan whose bright eyes suddenly clouded.

"What are you doing here?" he calmly asked.

"That's no way to greet your mother." The woman replied. I couldn't believe I was meeting Jonathan's mother. Her face was sharp, pale and she had a very unkind look about her. Just from looking at her I could see why Jonathan had a hard time showing affection. She looked so harsh.

"Jonathan?" I asked. He had told me he didn't talk to his family but he never told me why.

"Go join the festivities. I'll join you in a minute." Jonathan dictated before he looked back to his mother.

"Are you alright?" I asked him. He nodded.

"Go." He repeated. I looked between the two and left, wondering what was going on.

Jonathan's P.O.V

I watched as Emmy walked away. I made sure she was safe in the crowd of people before turning back to my mother.

"What do you want?" I asked the woman, now that I knew Emmy was safe.

"I was just in town and thought I'd come say 'hi' nothing less nothing more. She's a pretty girl, where'd you find her?" my mother asked walking up to me.

"She is none of your concern." I replied not taking my eyes off of her. I loathed this woman. What could she possibly want now.

"She means that much to you, does she? I saw the ring on her finger; are you marrying her?"

"That doesn't concern you either."

"You better be careful son, sure would hate for anything to happen to her." My mother sneered at me. I felt myself lose control for a second as I grabbed her wrist sharply causing her pain.

"You go anywhere near my girl…and I'll kill you." I harshly whispered to her before pushing her and walking away. My mind wondered as I walked back over to the group of people I had sent Emmy to join. I didn't know what my mother was doing here but I wasn't going to let her toxic presence anywhere near Emmy or my son.

I walked through the crowd of people as I thought about what I could do to protect Emmy when I wasn't home or when she went grocery shopping without me. Within a few minutes I found Emmy chatting with Dr. Hughes, the man who had put us together.

"Ah Jonathan, Emmy here was telling me about your new addition to the family. Such a great couple you two are. You're graduating with your Masters, a new wife, a baby boy and soon medical school. You have a lot of great things going for you." Dr. Hughes said, before he shook my hand.

"Thank you, Dr. Hughes." I responded as I returned the handshake.

"Just be careful your son doesn't turn out like Jo over there," Dr. Hughes said pointing to a fellow graduate who was definitely in touch with his emotions. Emotions weren't a bad thing to be in touch with but the man cried when he broke his pencil during a final.

"Jo was raised by two Psychology majors." Dr. Hughes explained his comment. I nodded, though I wasn't too worried. I had met Jo's parents once and they were both into talking about their feelings. I wasn't like that at all so I knew my son wouldn't be raised like that.

"I had better go congratulate the others. Have a great summer you two, and congratulations again!" Dr. Hughes said walking away from us.

"Please tell me our son isn't going to turn out like him." Emmy said referring over to Jo were was now crying on his mother's shoulder.

"I highly doubt he will." I reassured her.

"Are you alright?" Emmy asked me talking about our little run in with my mother. I tried my best to smile for her not wanting to alarm her. Then again with how oblivious Emmy seemed to be about the dangers in Gotham scaring the hell out of her may be the best way to keep her safe.

"I'm fine. Let's go." I answered her, putting my hand on her back trying to lead her away from the crowd. I wanted to get out of there before my mother had a chance to make a scene and I would be forced to introduce Emmy to her. I didn't want my mother to know I was dating much less married and having a child.

"What happened?" Emmy asked me once we were away from the crowd. I was quiet. I didn't want to get into this with her but I wanted her safe.

"If my mother ever approaches you or shows up at our apartment, I want you to call me or the police." I told her.

"Why?" she asked me concerned about what was happening.

"Just trust me. This isn't something you need to burden yourself with." I told her hoping she would just drop the subject. We were quiet for a moment.

"I know I haven't told you all of my secrets and you have every right to yours but if there's anything I can do, I do want to help." Emmy told me. I nodded, glad that she wasn't going to pry. It wasn't a matter she belonged in.

Emmy's P.O.V

Jonathan wasn't the same since we ran into his mother. He seemed deep in thought though he tried to keep up a somewhat cheerful front.

I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to make him like this. I didn't know anything about his childhood, his parents, what motivated him to pursue an education in Psychology and eventually medical school. I hardly knew anything about him but yet I felt like I knew him well.

Once home I started on dinner, I felt bad I hadn't come up with a graduation gift for him so I decided to make a huge feast to celebrate his accomplishments. I made a ham with a side of sour cream potatoes, fresh corn and a yummy cinnamon apple pie. I had prepared the sour cream potatoes and pie the day before. So all I had to do was heat that up.

Jonathan had gone into his office. I heard him moving something around when he came out with something in his hand.

"I want you to carry this with you." He informed me before he set the item on the counter.

"What is it?" I asked him, not seeing anything like it before.

"It's a taser. I want you to take this with you when you leave the apartment. If my mother approaches you, use it." He told me. I was surprised by his actions. Why in the world would he want me to taser her?

"My dad gave me a can of pepper spray to carry around when I moved here. Would you like me to carry that around too?" I questioned half joking.

"That would be wise." He responded in a serious tone. I nodded and went back to getting things ready for dinner.

"What do you say to some shopping tomorrow? We need to look at cribs, car seats, strollers and some of the other basic baby needs." Jonathan asked. It was clear he wanted to the change the subject.

"Why do we need a car seat? We don't have a car?" I asked him.

"I have a car, I just don't use it very often. The hospital staff won't let us leave the hospital without a properly installed car seat."

"That's true." I acknowledged while I pulled the ham out of the oven.

Jonathan's P.O.V

I watched Emmy as she put the ham she had prepared next to the rest of the food she had cooked for my graduation dinner. I didn't understand her; she wasted money that should have been used towards the baby.

"You didn't have to go to all this trouble." I told her as she looked over our feast. "It's just a graduation. It means very little."

"Just a graduation? This is so much more; Jonathan all your hard work is paying off. You are a Master of Psychology you have accomplished so much. I wish you were as proud of yourself as I am of you. I….I am very honored to be your wife." Emmy explained.

I could tell she was choosing her words carefully. She was the first person who had shown any interest in any of my achievements and seemed to find joy in my accomplishments. She respected me. That wasn't something I had grown up with.

"Shall we eat?" Emmy asked me. I nodded as we put the food on our plates and ate on the couch. I watched Emmy as we talked and ate our food. She seemed to beam as we talked; I couldn't tell if it was that whole "pregnancy glow" thing or something more.

"I have something else for you." Emmy informed me, before she set the plate down on the coffee table she had brought into the marriage.

"I told you not to spend any money on me." I told her. I hoped it wasn't some dumb material thing I didn't need.

"I didn't." Emmy said putting my plate on top of hers. Within a few seconds Emmy had me lying on my back as she crawled on top of me. Her lips crashed down on top of mine as her hands undid the buttons on my shirt. This was a present I didn't mind receiving.

I held Emmy in my arms after we finished making love. Our lips met in several small kisses as my hand roamed her body.

"I thought about buying some sexy lingerie but I figured you wouldn't want to spend the money. Besides now that I'm starting to show, I didn't think I'd look that sexy in it." She admitted.

"You're beautiful." I whispered to her. My hand fell to her small baby bump before I pulled her into another kiss.

….

Author's Note: Hi everyone! Thank to those who are following and favoring my story. If you have a moment please leave a review. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Thanks!-Lin