AN: Ok, I know this one is short, and I'm sorry, it's kinda a set up. But I promise the next chapter will be longer and have more stuff to it. As always, read and review :)

Dinner at Wayne Manor was definitely not how I expected. I had heard hundreds of rumors of how Bruce Wayne is nothing more than a playboy who inherited his family's fortune when they passed away. So naturally, I expected to walk in to be greeted with that air, but I wasn't. If he was the playboy everybody said he was, then he did a darn good job hiding it for this.

I'm still not exactly certain what "this" was. Mostly it seemed like a friendly, casual dinner. Dad and Bruce did most of the talking, from everything about the weather to, yes, The Joker. When they brought him up, I tried to ignore them and tried not to look interested. I'm not sure if it worked though because Bruce kept giving me sideways glances as if to read my reaction to every mention of the word "Joker."

Of course, I knew the conversation would eventually turn to include me, and it was Bruce that began questioning me about how I liked it here and how school was. I was mostly politely honest and said that it was okay, but I was still deciding about certain things and trying to adjust because it's not like Boston. Never once did he mention the other day's encounter with The Joker…not until my dad excused himself for a moment.

"Please don't get upset, but was that the first time The Joker approached you?" he asked.

"Err…not exactly," I replied.

Bruce nodded his head understandingly but at the same time encouraging me to explain myself. I took a deep breath and said, "He's become somewhat of an acquaintance I suppose. First time I met him was also the first time that I met you…in that bookstore, I had run away from him and slipped in there to hide, and…" I trailed off, stopping myself from telling about that "movie night" and bit my lower lip.

Bruce surveyed my expression, but didn't press me further. "I just wondered. The Joker doesn't normally take to one person, unless you count Batman, and it seems he's taken to you."

"Well, that would just be my luck," I said as I rolled my eyes trying to downplay this connection that was a lot more obvious to others than I thought.

Before Bruce could respond to my sarcastic comment, my dad returned and silence fell between us. The rest of the night passed without any more mention of The Joker and not much more about me. It was nearly eleven before my dad finally suggested that we should head home. We thanked Bruce and Alfred for having us and departed into the night.

When we made it home, I went straight to by bedroom to change into pajamas and crawl into bed. I turned my light on and noticed a package on my bed. I walked to the bed and saw there was a note on top of the box. I carefully grabbed the note and opened it. I gasped when I saw who signed it.

I bought you a present, my sweet. You'll be lovely in it and I want you to wear it when you meet me tomorrow at 8:30 for a little date under the stars in the park. See you there! Love, The Joker

I swear I must have read that note like thirty times before it really registered exactly what it said. I know, took me awhile, but I was tired and probably in denial too. I finally put the note aside and shakily opened the box sitting on my bed.

I threw the lid halfway across the room as if it might bite me. Then I slowly peered into the box and took out the long purple thing within it. It was that dress…that purple dress that I saw in the store window when I first met The Joker. I did like the dress, but the thought of accepting such a gift from The Joker made me uneasy. Either way, I shoved the dress into my closet and told myself I would make sense of this in the morning. For now I was going to bed, and I shut off the light and crawled under the covers.

--

I watched through the window trying to decipher the expression on her face and her reaction to my note and gift. I was never that great at reading people, especially women. But when she turned off the lights and went to bed, I had a sneaking suspicion that she would not only accept my gifts but also appear in the park tomorrow at 8:30. And I couldn't help but grin as I clapped my hands together at that realization. I knew she couldn't resist me, and I couldn't really resist her. I unconsiously licked my lips as I thought of the prospects. Focus, this is not you. I took one last look over my shoulder at her darkened bedroom as I made my way back to the hideout to halfway create a plan for tomorrow. I know, not really my thing but I can let it slide this once, I thought to myself with a little chuckle.