A/N: Here's the next installment! Thank you to all that have reviwed. they are very much appreciated and i would love it for all of yout to comtinue reviewing. This chapter is a bit ehh for me so i hope it works for all of you. :] Tell me what you think and i will gladly continue with even better chaters! Oh And btw, there will be more Bruce an the upcoming chapters
Please review my fellow readers. :]
Disclaimer: Dc Comics own Batman and Joker, i own Annabelle and the plot.

______________________________________________________

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. -'The Wonder Years'

When you've deluded yourself so much into an idea, that any other thought would be crazy, sickening, heartbreaking, then what's to stop you from falling even farther down the rabbit hole?

For me, it was Bruce.

I had become so emerged in this new life, this second chance at becoming something that made me feel indestructible, that I had forgotten all about the one person who had been with me, helped me, my whole life.

After arriving home, the Joker brought me inside, but instead of escorting me back to the room that had been my own, he brought me to a rather large living room, different from other rooms I had seen in this mansion. Sitting in large cushioned couches, were more of his masked men.

Seeing us enter, they stiffened, the happy carefree atmosphere freezing, stiff and cold. The Joker slightly pushed me towards the center of the room, grabbing a bottle of Three Olives Vodka on the way.

" Uh here. Have fun." He said in his clowny voice, pushing the bottle into my hands, before scurrying off out of the open room through the large archway.

" Ill try." I mumbled under my breath before breathing in a steady breath and turning around. The clown men weren't looking at me, but I knew what they were thinking. Who was I? Some chick the Joker brought to screw around with? And honestly, I didn't know for sure myself.

I nervously walked over to the couches where the men sat, and I gave them a small smile. " Hi." I said sweetly, waving my hand in a welcoming manner. No one said a word.

Sighing to myself, I unscrewed the bottle, breaking the seal, and took a rather large gulp. Finally satisfied, I brought the bottle down to my side as I sunk into the couch. The men had moved out of my way, leaving me plenty of room to relax, and relax I did.

The room, was quiet, apart form the soft noises emanating from the TV, and the occasional babble from the goons, but otherwise, it was peaceful, leaving me to think. Think and Drink.

I wasn't exactly sure how long I had been here, could have been a week, could have been less, but either way, something happened. Something in me had changed, or changed back. A part of myself had awakened and now I was… different. The thought of killing someone was now slightly gratifying, as if the more I killed the more the world would make sense. But that was useless thinking. This world, especially this city, never made sense.

It was one big riddle, or better put, a joke. One with no answer, and there never would be. People would search, and search but they'd never find it. They'd eventually drive themselves mad looking for it but by then it wont matter. By then they'll finally realize there is no right answer, just thousands of wrong ones.

I already knew that, this city was a disease, that's why I left in the first place. I thought running away would be easy, like it would cure me of all the evil's I had found here. But I was wrong. Evil followed me everywhere I guess.

But I had come back, searching for help from the one person who had never given up on me; Bruce. He never stopped caring, never, and I'm sure right now he was out there searching for me. He was probably working himself to death just trying to find me, thinking I was probably already dead. But instead of hoping and praying to see him walk through the door, I had forgotten about his existence entirely.

The Joker had shown me a different way of thinking, and I liked it. Giving me a new outlook on life I guess you could say. But this life didn't include Bruce. He was the epitome of all that was good in this world. He was the city's dark knight, and the Joker's number one enemy.

I started to wonder about the future, letting my mind drift as I took in more and more Vodka.

What would happen if I got out of here somehow? What if he let me go? I would obviously come back, I had to. I was too involved now. I couldn't just go and act as if nothing happened. I didn't want to.

The room around me was getting fuzzy. The light colored walls blending in with the black leather couches. And byt then the men around me were looking more and more appealing by the second. Soon, after finishing off the bottle of vodka and grabbing another, I sneaked over to the remote control on the table. Their was some sports game on the TV but I was far too drunk too understand it. Grabbing the remote, I shut the TV off and started giggling to myself, rushing over to the far side of the room and fiddling with the radio.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, I got the radio to turn on, blasting it on my favorite station.

Around me, everything spinned.

The music filled my ears as I danced to it, completely unaware of the surprised looks I was getting from the men around me. What I did know though was nobody was dancing with me. Nobody wanted to dance with me.

Stumbling in the process, I tripped my way back over to the couch, clutching the bottle of vodka in my hand, and fell onto the couch which just so conveniently was full of men. In my drunken stupor, I didn't care how completely ridiculous I looked.

Landing on one of the men's lap, I couldn't contain my incontrollable giggles. " So, uh um come on cutie. Dance with me, I'm just so lonely." I said smiling, wrapping my arms around his neck. By now I was straddling his lap, and he had his hands on my hips, smiling.

Around me I was aware of the hoots and whistles from the men, but that didn't discourage me. All I could concentrate on was the man under me, and even then it was hard. I found myself constantly losing focus and drifting off and needing to take another swig of Vodka to keep myself steady.

The man I was currently on top of sat up, his face inches from mine and he pulled my face in for a kiss.

His lips against mine were rough and chapped, a very uncomfortable feeling, and I wanted it to stop. His tongue begged for entrance against mine, but I refused, pushing myself off of him and tripping backwards over the coffee table. My head hit the ground hard and laughs echoed inside my head from the men.

White spots clouded my already impaired vision, and I shook my head to clear it. But I didn't feel pain. Instead, I felt a kind of calming sensation envelope me, putting me at ease. I tried to sit up but was stopped when I felt the same man from before press himself against me. He leaned down, his lips at my neck, and he was laughing.

His hot breath tickled my neck in an uncomfortable way, and his dry laugh made me cringe. I wanted him off of me, but my strength was all but gone. I tried wriggling out from under him but his weight was too much. He continues to plant kisses against my neck until he moved his hand under my shirt.

" No!" I screamed dazed, my speech coming out drunkenly slurred. The men had gathered around us at this point, but to me they all looked like blurs of color hovering above. I could barely make out the man on top of me, but I knew I had to stop him. I had to.

As his hand crept closer to my breast, I snapped.

My hand that I had been using to try and pry him off of me smacked hard against his face, sending him falling off of me, a few feet to the side. Shock was written across his face when he finally regained his composure, but by then I had got myself to my feet, barely able to stand. He started advancing once again when a silent, but distinct, flicking noise sounded.

The room went silent.

All eyes shifted towards the entranceway where two men stood. One was a young guy, barely 21 who had light green eyes and chocolate brown hair that was shaggy and just the right length. A simple white t-shirt hung loosely around his athletic frame, and his light faded blue jeans hung snugly on his waist. The other man was, you guessed it, the Joker. And he definitely didn't look happy. Even drunk I could see that.

" What is uh going on here-ah?" Joker asked darkly, his eyes scanning the room before they fell on the guy I had hit. No one spoke up, and the silence was deafening.

" Hmm." He said as he sauntered into the room, his switchblade dancing in his fingers. The Joker stepped around the crowd of men, over to me but he didn't stop. He just glanced once my way and giggled when he saw me loose my footing and almost fall. But that didn't stop him from reaching his destination.

Stopping in front of the man who had tried to take advantage of me, the Joker licked his lips and sighed, patting the blade of his knife against his temple. He closed his eyes in thought.

" Oh Jacob, Jacob, Jacob." he scolded, shaking his head back and forth disapprovingly. He slowly opened his eyes and let his armed hand drop to his side.

" Now, What exactly did you uh think you were doing? Hmm? Or were you even thinking at all!" He boomed, waving his hands in the air. Jacob looked horrified, shrinking away from the Joker, but the Joker wouldn't let that happen.

" I-I'm s-sorry." He stuttered as the Joker grabbed onto his arm, his other hand twirling the knife dangerously close to his face.

The Joker cocked his head to the side, squinting his eyes in concentration as he gazed menacingly at the man before him, then abruptly, he let go and Jacob fell to the ground, panting heavily. The Joker placed his knife back into his pocket and stepped back, straightening his suit.

" Well since you apologized." He stated turning on his heel, back to stand with the same man he had been with before. Jacob managed to shakily get back to his feet, relief etched across his face. But that didn't last long.

There was a loud bang, and then Jacob's face contorted in pain before he fell to the floor, blood pooling around him. His breaths came out like gasps before they stopped all together, and everyone looked over to the Joker who was holding the same gun as earlier, a broad smile stretching his blood red lips.

" Eh. I changed my mind-ah." he said giggling as he lowered the gun to his side.

I wanted to laugh too, so I did. It started out soft and low, but grew louder and louder until I couldn't breath. Everything was blurry and I couldn't stand still, the room was spinning by at unremarkable speeds and I suddenly got nauseous. My laughs stopped, and my smile disappeared.

The Joker was looking at me funny, his head tilted to the side and a sly grin across his painted face. Once I stopped laughing, he motioned with his finger for me to come to him, but I couldn't move. I tried waling towards him but after one step, I was ready to fall apart.

My balance was gone, and my eyelids got heavy, leaving me ready to pass out. The Joker was still waiting and I finally found my voice.

" I can't. I ... Mister J." I slurred, swaying on my feet. I took one more step before I lost my footing and fell to the floor.

I was ready to hit the floor, and as I fell I thought of how comfortable the carpeted ground would feel. Maybe then I could go to sleep.

I hit something hard, but it wasn't the floor. Looking up through dizzy eyes, I saw the Joker. His white face paint and purple coat the only tell tale signs I could properly make out. Drunkenly, I wrapped my arms around his neck, smiling.

" Ya caught me." I Beamed, happily. And he chuckled in response

" Come on Annabelle. Time for some uh sleep. Your gonna need it." He spoke, picking me up bridal style, and I just laid there in his arms as he walked out of the room and down the hall. He was saying something at this point, but I was too gone to hear it. Instead, I let my eyelids droop down until I was submerged in darkness, the last thought in my mind slowly fading away.

* * *

I felt like I had slept for mere minutes.

When I awoke, I was wearing the same clothes as yesterday, and I was in a foreign room. This one looking bigger but more average looking than mine, but still it had that faint air of clown to it. Looking around, I tried to sit up, but was stopped by the throbbing in my head. I fell back onto the bed in a huff.

" Ow." I croaked, and my throat felt dry and cracked. Like I had thrown up, and I tried to remember if I had. I couldn't. Thinking about it, I couldn't remember much from the night before. I didn't know how I got here, or anything else that had happened after arriving home with the Joker.

Suddenly nervous, I managed to sit up, and slowly make my way out of the bed. My head was in agony, but I pushed forward nonetheless. I had to find the Joker and figure out what the hell was going on. My eyes swept the room for any signs of him, but came up empty. Frustrated I walked over to the wall length mirror resting against the wall to my left.

I was a mess.

My face was blotchy, with red spots everywhere, and my hair was disgustingly greasy. Not to mention my mouth was outlined with dried residue which I assumed was vomit. This disturbed me further. What happened last night? I tried to think but the effort hurt my head even more.

Suddenly, the door of the room swung open, and the bright light of the bathroom illuminated the space around me. Squinting slightly, I saw the figure standing in the doorway. It was the Joker.

He was wearing nothing but a towel around his waist, and his face paint. His green hair clung to she sides of his face in wet curls and framed his face cutely. But that was not what caught my attention.

I was once again dumbstruck by his flawless figure. His toned upper body, and even his legs were nicely sculpted. Tiny beads of water were covering his body making him even more gorgeous.

" Good morning sunshine." He practically screamed over to me and I winced in pain, throwing my hands over my ears. He laughed.

" Oww. You're too damn loud." I whined, but he just continued over to his dresser where he grabbed some clothes. I crossed my hands over my chest and made my way back over to the bed where I sat patiently, waiting for him to look at me. I needed to ask what the hell happened the night before.

Just as he grabbed his clothes, I figured he would go into the bathroom to change. I was wrong. All of a sudden he dropped the towel, and began to change, humming to himself in the process. Shocked, I gasped and looked away.

Then, he giggled.

I analyzed every crevice in the wall I was looking at thoroughly before I heard the Joker clear his throat from behind me. Hesitantly, I turned.

He was fully dressed, purple coat and all, but his damp hair still hung wetly on his head. I waited for him to say something, but he didn't. He just looked at me like he was expecting something to happen, but when nothing did, he smiled.

" Oh good. Your back!" he said happily, clapping his hands and bouncing over to the bed where he jumped, shaking the bed violently. I just rolled my eyes.

" What's that supposed to mean?" I asked curiously, eyeing him to see his reactions, but he was searching around in his pockets for something. I instantly stiffened. His hand reemerged from his pocket, but instead of being a knife like I had expected, it was a bottle of aspirin.

" Here." He said, handing me two pills, and I gladly swallowed them. The pain in my head remained, but hopefully, it would fade away. Doing all I could to end the pain, I looked up to the Joker waiting for the answer. He remained silent, getting up and heading for the door.

" Oh no no no." I said, jumping up and intercepting his path. " Tell me what happened last night." I demanded, stomping my foot like they did in the movies. He rolled his eyes to the ceiling and giggled, tracing his bottom lip with his tongue.

" I uh Think I'll let you figure that one out on your own, darling. But here's a hint... I don't think I'll uh be givin you any Vodka any time soon. He he." He said, sidestepping me and opening the door.

" I'll uh be back soon, Just got some business to take care of." he said, his back to me. I didn't answer, I was too concentrated on trying to remember the previous night. I almost didn't hear the door close, but when It did I waited for the lock. I didn't hear it.

Confused, I crept towards the door, waiting for the sounds of his footsteps to disappear and then I turned the knob.

It worked. I was so happy, I could finally be free, only now I didn't want to.

Instead, I closed the door quietly and walked over to the bed. I rested my head against the pillow and yet again, tried to remember. He said something about Vodka, so I must have been drunk which explains the vomit and the memory loss, but what wasn't I remembering.

We came home, I remember that. Then we came in, and he brought me where? Wait. He brought me to a room I hadn't been before, I remember that. And then he left? Yes, he left and I was nervous. I remember being nervous so I started to drink. I started to drink but something was bothering me. Something was making me feel upset, which prompted me drinking even more but what was it.

The gaps in my memory slowly filled up. I remember the dancing, the men, Jacob. I even remember the mysterious man standing with the Joker. The shot, I remembered. Jacob's body on the ground I remembered, I even remembered leaning against the wall of the bathroom as I puked out all the contents in my stomach , but I couldn't remember why I had started drinking in the first place.

What could have made me so upset that I had to resort to drinking?

Was it something I did? Something I said? No. It was something I didn't do. I didn't remember.

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Heavy bricks with needles sticking out very which way and stabbing me all over. I had forgotten, I had forgotten about Bruce. Again.

That wasn't good. I was slipping away, I could feel it. Every second I was growing away from my best friend, all because I found something else I liked better. Danger. I liked this new thrill, this new adventure that I never experienced with Bruce. In actuality, this new feeling replaced the old feelings. But I didn't want the old feelings to go away.

Who gets to determine when the old ends and the new begins? It's not on the calendar, it's not a birthday, it's not a new year, it's an event --big or small, something that changes us, ideally it gives us hope, a new way of living and looking at the world, letting go of old habits, old memories. What's important is that we never stop believing we can have a new beginning, but it's also important to remember amid all the crap are a few things really worth holding on to.

Bruce Wayne was worth holding onto, or at least I hoped. He was Gotham's hero. Saving people from death everywhere in this city. But, what he didnt know would kill him inside. The sad truth is, you cant save the damsel if she loves her distress.

__________________________

:] I hope you liked it, and now i would like it for you to review. Give me your opinions and ideas please :] Thank you