Okay here is the next chapter. Also just a disclaimer in this chapter there are references to the book/movie Fight Club I don't own that. Also if you haven't read that book one I suggest you do it's awesome and two you may not get some of the references but for the overall story you should be alright.

Once everyone had gotten settled into the penthouse everyone went to sleep. Misty was sleeping on the couch bed in the kitchen/ living room area of the apartment while Alfred was in the guest room. Emma and Bruce had taken the master bedroom and where sleeping there. Emma however couldn't sleep despite her best efforts. She knew Bruce was exhausted and was currently sleeping soundly next to her. She quietly moved out of the bed and went out onto the balcony to stand out a look at the city as the sun began to rise. The penthouse had a view of the city from all angles. She could see the apartment where she had lived with Charlie's parents and what had once been the John and Son hardware store which she would frequently visit because Jack had worked there. She had been thinking about that past a lot lately, it was like Batman all over again, she already knew a yet her mind was telling her she didn't

She had finally convinced the nurse to let her in to the hospital room. The curtains where draw all around the bed so she could only see his silhouette as he said in the bed.

"Jack, I went to the store and no one was there, I finally was able to get a hold of Dr. Slater and she said you had been sent to the hospital. What happened? Why didn't you call me?" Said Emma trying to pull back the curtains however Jack held onto them firmly not allowing her to.

When he spoke his voice sounded slightly muffled. "No, don't…I think it's best if you just…leave me alone."

"Okay I can see you're in a mood again. I brought you a book Fight Club, I thought you might like it, a lot of existentialist angst…"

He let out a laugh. "What part of leave me alone don't you understand?"

"I'm just trying to help…" she said softly.

"I don't need your help, okay? I just want you to leave me alone, don't come back to see me, don't go near the store, JUST LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!" He said shouting the last part. The nurse came in and ushered her out of the room saying she was causing stress for her patient.

A month later John and Son hardware store blew up, apparently there was a gas leak. Somehow it was far to eerily similar to something Tyler Durden would do… "It's only till we have lost everything that we are free to do anything."

"Are you okay?" Asked Bruce's familiar voice jarring her from her thoughts.

"What, yes fine." Said Emma quickly. Bruce gave her a skeptical look but didn't press the matter.

"Right well, whenever you feel like telling me what's been bothering you I'll listen." He said putting an arm around her and giving her a kiss.

"Good morning to you too." she said with a smile.

"Hey guess what you two have made the front page." Said Misty coming out on the balcony to join them. She handed Emma and Bruce the paper and they both looked at it. Half the page was devoted to the Joker's escape from Arkham while the other half was an article about the fact that Bruce Wayne and Emma Carpenter were seen at a later hour heading up to Bruce's Penthouse.

"I can't believe they bothered putting that into the paper it's hardly news worthy people should be more worried about the fact that the Joker is still out there." Said Emma.

"People like bad news but not that much of it. Plus scandal sells more papers.' Said Bruce looking at the article as well.

"Yeah that's true, they paint Emma like she's a gold digging slut though." Said Misty.

"So much for waiting until that one charity event to finally come out in the open about our relationship, which has technically only officially been such for a few days, god it feels like forever though." Said Emma more thinking aloud than anything else.

"Yeah but in a good way.' Said Bruce with a smile.

"Of course in the good way." Said Emma with a smile as well. Misty was about to make a comment when the phone from inside the penthouse rang.

"I'll get it." Said Bruce heading back inside.

Misty turned to Emma. "Well you seem pretty calm about all of this usually you would be flipping a lid right about now but you seem oddly calm."

"That's because I freaked out last night while you were asleep. It helps having Bruce around though, it's comforting." Said Emma with a sigh trying not to think too much about things because then she might actually start to freak out.

"I think I'll feel safer once I'm back in London, I've forgotten how dangerous this city is." Said Misty looking out at the city.

"It's gotten a lot better."

"Somewhat, in a way though it's almost gotten a lot worse." Said Misty looking at the paper where a picture of The Joker was displayed.

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"Hey did you see the paper?" Asked Mario putting in down on the table where his brother sat.

"Why does it matter it's only filled with stuff we already know." Said Alberto bitterly his voice quieted as he learned towards his brother. "I can't believe you're okay with all this, I mean we're working for a psychopath."

"Look I don't really care who we work for. Dad said to get the job done and it's what we are doin' seriously though read the paper." Said Mario pushing to closer to Alberto.

Alberto looked at the article first about The Joker escaping Arkham, the second was about Emma and featured a picture of her and Bruce Wayne walking hand in hand to the building where his penthouse was located. He began to read the article when the paper was suddenly taken right out of his hands.

"Hey I was reading that!" He said thinking it was just his brother. However once the paper was out of his face he was looking straight into the dark eyes of The Joker now dressed in his signature purple suit. After all he had insisted that he get that first even before they got any of the other important stuff. The Joker just chewed on the inside of his mouth as though thinking of a response he however decided against it and ignored Alberto and began to read the paper.

Alberto and Mario just looked at one another as the Joker read the paper in a casual manner, had he not been dressed so strangely he would look like any normal businessman reading the morning paper. The appearance of normality was completely shattered when he let out whooping laugh.

"I still don't see why he finds certain things so damn funny." Mumbled Alberto to Mario.

Mario just shrugged "Maybe he knows you got dumped by you fiancé for Bruce Wayne, I mean I know I found that pretty funny." Alberto just glared over at his brother.

"He's right you know, Talberto, you really do need to laugh more about these sort of things." Said The Joker not looking up from the paper.

"For the last time my name is Alberto!" He said with a huff only to find a knife press at his throat in the blink of an eye.

"Now, we're been, ah, over this before. I get to ca-ll you what-ever I want because, I call the shots and the on-ly thing at the moment that is keep you alive is the fa-ct that you know a thing or two about computers. So again who's in charge?"

"You are." Mumbled Alberto.

The Joker put a hand to his eye leaning closer to Alberto. "I'm so-rry what was that, I didn't quite hear you?"

"You're in charge Boss." Said Alberto with a rather fake smile.

"See? Was that so difficult?" Said The Joker giving him a pat on the cheek. After he left the part of the warehouse where Alberto and Mario stood Mario turned to Alberto and said "Are you crazy? If you piss him off one of these days he's going to kill you."

"I still can't believe we're working for him."

"It's survival brother, let's take the old Viti motto on this one live today fight tomorrow and the great thing about that is tomorrow is always a day away." Said Mario patting his brother on the back.

"Yeah sure…" Said Alberto deep in thought.

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It turns out the phone call Bruce had received had been from that woman Mrs. Henson she had called to invite Emma and Bruce to a charity event she had just planned tonight in which Gotham's elite would be donating money to MCU to help deal with the current issue that had come up. Of course Bruce couldn't say no because then that might look suspicious which now meant he had Emma would be getting ready for what Mrs. Henson had described as what would be a simply marvelous evening.

It was about an hour before the event would start and Emma and Bruce where running around getting ready while Misty sat on the couch watching the news in the other room. Since Emma had left all her formalwear back at the apartment Bruce had sent Alfred to by her a new dress and shoes. Emma who had just put on the new champagne colored garment was now standing in front of the mirror as she put her hair up.

"Now people are really going to think I'm a gold digger do you have any idea how much I would have to work to pay for a dress like this?" She said slightly stressed about the idea of being in front of all those people. Sure she had been to events like this before but then again she was just a designer then, no one really paid attention to her but now that she was the subject of a scandal well, all eyes would be on her.

"I just told Alfred to get something that looked nice." Said Bruce with a shrug as he tied the bow tie of his tux. "I'm sorry we have to go to this but you understand why I need this cover."

"Yes, I know. I just don't want to have to go in front of all those people; I can't even begin to think of what they must think about me."

"It doesn't matter, you look amazing, I know you love me for who I am an not because I'm a billionaire and I love you for being who you are so what other people will say isn't important." He said giving her a quick kiss.

"I know you're right. Oh that reminds me, what is our exit strategy because you're going to have to leave but you can't leave for a business call around the same time as Gordon and Charlie leave because that will look suspicious."

"I was thinking of the two of us just leaving together then everyone will just assume we are going back to my place, I know it doesn't do much for your image but…"

"No that works." Said Emma with a sigh.

"I know you don't like that idea but I think it will work best." Said Bruce noticing the tone in which she said it.

"Look I'm fine with it so long as in the future sometime we actually leave a party early for that reason." She said continuing to fix her hair.

Bruce leaned in close to her to whisper in her ear. "Trust me with how amazing you look in that dress I wish we were leaving early for that reason."

Emma smirked and said 'I could always wait for you to get back."

"I don't want you staying up that late, I have no idea when I'm getting back and I know you didn't get any sleep last night I heard you get up."

"Oh I'm sorry I tried to be as quiet as possible I knew you must have been tired."

"Emma what's been bothering you, it's not just the fact that I'm gone or The Joker is on the loose, there's something else." Said Bruce looking at her with concern.

"Just some old ghosts coming back to haunt me, there are certain aspects of my life that at times really feel like fate is just playing a cruel joke on me, it's nothing really." She said shaking her head as though riding it of those thoughts.

"Something with your parents?"

"No, I just need to think about it more, I have to be sure before I talk to you about it." Said Emma looking at herself in the mirror. "Well I'm as ready as I'm ever going to be so, shall we?" She said turning to Bruce.

"Sure." Said Bruce offering her his arm.

At the party after making their way through the sea of reporters outside to whom which Emma and Bruce just smiled at rather than answering any of their questions. Bruce's only remark to them was that there was more important news people should be concerned with. As they entered the main ballroom Emma could feel people's gaze on them and people turning to one another to talk. Bruce who had his arm around her waist pulled her closer to him and leaned in to whisper "You're doing fine."

"I guess." She said with a small smile. "Could we go to the bar I think I would feel even better if I had a drink."

"Alright." Said Bruce as he led her over to the bar where she ordered an apple martini. She had always found it odd that even though Bruce was known for being a playboy he rarely ever drank, now of course it made sense he needed to keep a clear mind for his night job.

"Oh Bruce, Ms. Carpenter you made it!" Said Mrs. Henson coming over to the couple.

"Well how can I resist one of your parties Mrs. Henson?" Said Bruce with a charming smile.

"I tried to warn you about him didn't I?" Said Mrs. Henson to Emma.

"Yes, well I've never been very good about listening to warnings.' Said Emma also with a smile.

"Not that she stood a chance of course." Said Bruce with a smirk. Mrs. Henson let out a laugh before seeing someone else she knew and leaving the couple alone. "I really hate that woman." Said Bruce to Emma dropping his false cheerful demeanor.

"Oh but darling don't you think she just throws the most marvelous parties?" said Emma in a snobby voice. Bruce let out a laugh which Emma shared with him when his laugh faded she noticed it was replaced with a smirk.

"What?" She said noticing the way he was looking at her.

"I just remember now I'm allowed to ask you to dance."

"Oh please not tonight, I'm nervous enough as is."

"Alright fine." Said Bruce scanning the room to see who else he knew at the party. It didn't take him long before an old friend approached him. "Mr. Wayne." Said Lucius Fox coming over to join the couple.

"Mr. Fox, I believe you've already met Emma."

"Yes, it's a pleasure Ms. Carpenter. You know I tried to warn him about having feeling for you."

"Yes, well I've never been very good about listening to warnings." Said Bruce with a laugh.

"Not that he stood a chance of course.' Said Emma also with a laugh.

"I'm sorry I think I missed the joke." Said Mr. Fox looking at the couple before turning to Bruce. "It everything with those late night calls to Japan going well?"

"It's been better. You don't have to pretend Lucius, Emma knows." Said Bruce.

Mr. Fox's eyes widened slightly. "I see, well in that case how is the tumbler handling."

"I've been using the bike more, it's less noticeable."

"I've been working on some new ideas for something in the middle of the two, I'll have you look at it later."

"Alright sounds good." Said Bruce looking at his watch. "Actually Emma and I should probably get going."

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After he and Emma left the party Bruce went over to Wayne Tower so he could take the underground passage to the Batcave. Once he got his suit on he headed out into the streets of Gotham and over to the rooftops towards the floodlight at MCU.

"Have you found any information on The Joker's where abouts?" He said joining Gordon and Charlie.

"No, he seems to be lying low probably trying to get his operation set up. Mario Viti was seen entering a hardware store possibly getting supplies for making homemade explosives." Said Gordon.

"So that would mean he hasn't named a new target then?" Said Batman.

"We already have the new DA and the mayor in safe house just in case. Honestly though who know. Arkham could have just made him crazier." Said Charlie.

"What about Alberto?"

"Haven't seen him in a few days. We were going to have people tail him but after he and Emma broke up no one has seen him."

"The two brothers are probably working for The Joker then. I'll see what I can find out." Said Batman.

"Hey you don't think Alberto might try to go after Emma?" said Charlie turning to Gordon.

"Well she had about a million people watching her every move thanks to that article I doubt he's going to get anywhere near her." Said Gordon.

Charlie turned to say something to Batman only to notice that he was already gone. "I tell you what being able to do that must really come in handy sometimes."

"It would be nice to be able to disappear whenever Barbara tried to get me to do the dishes when I'm trying to watch the game." Said Gordon with a laugh. "Course with all this going on I doubt I will have time for either."

"It's driving me mad not knowing what The Joker plans to do next."

"I think that's his goal sometimes, driving the whole world to madness." Said Gordon heading back downstairs, Charlie following close behind him.

Well there you have it another chapter. Don't forget to review its fun seeing some of the theories you guys come up with.