Hi everyone thanks to those who reviewed, added my story to alerts, added me as favourite author etc you're all amazing. Plus I see new readers; always a pleasure. Ahh my 'his and he's' it's always a problem ha and the worse thing is I actually study English as part of my degree... surprisingly I'm passing, I'll see that this improves thanks for pointing that out those who did! Anyways enjoy this chapter Joker will be making more of an appearance.
Chapter 2: 'With You I'm Born Again'.
We all get surprises at least every day; life as they say is full of surprises. There's always something or someone out there with a surprise or two up their sleeve. I hate surprises; the suspense kills me; it's like at Christmas, I could never wait until Christmas day to open my presents me and Bruce would always try and tear away at little parts of the paper to try and see the gift underneath. We were always caught by Alfred who would chase us out of the room threatening to tell our parents, of course he never did. I'll tell you one thing, one surprise I always enjoy is what I do for a living, there's no substitute for experience. I don't care how long you may have been in this type of work; as a doctor you can depend on surprises. Jack on the other hand loves surprises; he loves it when a 'plan' falls exactly into place, when Batman turns up for him to 'play with'. What he makes of my surprise on the other hand may not exactly be good; but this is life, this is one of life's greatest surprises.
The red knee length dress is the only thing I can even bear to see myself in right now; I won't go into too much detail but the rest of my closet isn't appealing to me right now. Two weeks left of this two more weeks and I have to learn to look after someone other than myself; I'll be losing sleep over something other than my job. I look into my vanity mirror; looking into it reminds me of when Jack first touched me in the bathroom; his hand touching my skin, the memory of it could almost make my skin feel like it's on fire. I need to get myself out of the notion that he could be coming back; it's been months and no word, I need to move on as much as it hurts. I curse as I drop my earring; struggling to lower myself to the floor. Something under my pillow catches my attention and I pull the material loose; its Jack's shirt, I keep forgetting that I put it under there; Alfred must think it's one of James'. It's not been washed since; if I wash it I know that it will no longer be connected to him, call it freaky or whatever you want but for now this is all I have that's his.
"Maddie, are you ok?"
I turn around as quickly as I can still holding onto the shirt; "I'm fine yeah I was just picking up my earring."
He nods towards the shirt, "Is that one of James'?" We've barely talked about James and for a second I consider telling him everything, "Yeah of course it's James' I've just found it, couldn't even remember I had it here."
He crosses the room and places a hand gently on my arm, "Maybe you should put it away, like in your closet or something?"
I shake my head, "I'll get rid of it later, can we just go now please?" Coward my brain hisses at me and I'm tempted to agree.
I'm in too deep now, I can't take everything back; after a certain point, a heart with so many stress fractures can never be anything but broken.
Bruce's POV
Lately his been having nightmares about Maddie; it's always the same dream over and over but that doesn't make it any less terrifying. He was back at the Joker's hideout, this time there was no Maddie crying over James, he turned into the bedroom and instead saw a young woman on the floor bleeding; he would turn her over and it would be Maddie; her face younger but she was still dead, still bleeding in his arms and as much as he called for help no one would come. The dream would often change; sometimes he would go there and he would see the Joker cradling Maddie in his arms; he would scream at him to leave her alone, but when he would go to grab the Joker he would just go straight through him. Bruce would wake up sweating and almost in tears; he had to find him, a man like him wouldn't just give something up that he'd coveted for months, he would come back and he needed to be ready for him. He didn't just have Maddie to protect from the Joker now it was the baby too, he didn't want to think that he would harm a new born baby but this was the mass murdering, evil, psychotic clown that had hurt his sister and killed James, he didn't want to take any chances. Maddie had refused psychiatric help; insisting that therapy wouldn't stop the nightmares from coming, that she didn't want tablets that would only give her false feelings of hope. He thought maybe she was right but after seeing her with James' shirt he thought about broaching the subject for after the baby was born. The art gallery is already proving to be a success even despite Helena being attached to him and a sherry bottle for most of the night. As the crowd starts to disperse he continues his small talk with another business associate; Maddie stands alone in front of another... interesting ok awful painting.
"Now Wayne how long will it be before the next Wayne heir is born?"
God what is this guy's name, Hendricks? Henderson? Terry something he knows that much.
"Not long now gentlemen about two weeks to go, I'm already grooming the baby to take over" that gets a laugh from the hangers on, God to be anywhere but here, Bruce prays.
"A new man in your sister's life Mr Wayne?" Sandra, Terry's wife is pretty much a twin of her husband bar the moustache and other things...
"No my sister is still single, I think she's just concentrating on the baby right now ma'am."
She giggles and nods her head towards his sister "Oh really? Well who is that devilishly attractive man that she seems to have attracted?"
Crazy drunk woman is probably exaggerating, not that his sister is unattractive but the woman is drunk.
He seeks Maddie out and she is indeed talking to a guy he has never seen before; blonde long hair tied at the nape of his neck, snappy designer suit, hand on Maddie's back, stylish beard... wait hand on her back? Bruce cranes his neck to look closer; sure enough this guy is indeed practically feeling his little sister up...at his opening.
He turns back round to the foaming group of associates, "Excuse me gentlemen, ladies, please continue drinking the free drink."
By the time he makes it over to her, the guy is kissing her hand and has walked off, leaving his sister laughing softly.
"Hey Mads having fun?"
She turns around and looks happier than she has done in months, "Yeah I'm doing great thanks Bruce, I think you can add another great party to your list."
"Thanks, who was that guy?" he nods towards the direction the young man took off in.
"Oh just this guy I knew, he use to work at the hospital."
"Yeah, handsome guy I've never seen him before he sure is attractive."
Maddie faces him and starts laughing, "You like him huh? His single you know I'll put in a good word for you."
They both laugh and Bruce thinks how long it has been since they shared a moment like this, real laughter and real jokes.
"With my luck with the ladies lately I may have to take you up on that."
"Please Bruce you're talking like you're celibate, which I have been practising for months and will do until the kid is eighteen."
They leave the party early, both thankful that nothing went wrong, she looks different Bruce muses, she seems more content... perhaps it's the pregnancy or that guy she was talking to either way it's a good change, he hopes it stays this way.
Maddie's POV (at party)
I've always tried to appreciate art, pretty much like what Bruce does but it's not my thing. I twist and tilt my head at the portrait in front of me trying to decipher what it is.
"It's supposed to be a crying woman; I would have thought art would have interested you."
I don't take notice of the voice probably just one of Bruce's so called friends trying to have a a feel or ask questions.
"No it's not my thing it's more Bruce's."
"I guess I never really found out that much about you."
That voice... I finally turn around and frown deeply. The man to the side of me is tall, really tall, with dirty blonde hair tied back, a hint of a beard and a oh so familiar smirk. I put my hand out and verbally hitting myself I pull away I don't know what his feelings for me are now. As soon as I do that, his face darkens and he gently takes my hand, I flex my fingers and touch his beard, his eyes flutter closed briefly while I trace his 'beard'. His hand still holds onto mine while his other hand comes to a rest on my side. I look down and now it's my turn to pull him closer; I place his hand on my stomach, smiling up at him when the baby kicks.
"Knows who I am then huh?" he nods towards my stomach and I laugh.
"How have you been Jack?" I mutter so a passing waiter can't hear me.
"Oh ya know doll little bit of this, thought I'd stay away from you for a bit, didn't know if you still wanted me around" he tries to say it light hearted and jokingly, but I know he is waiting for me to deny his fears.
"I needed you when he died I needed you," I know he doesn't want to talk about James so I direct the conversation elsewhere, "The baby's doing good Jack, I'm doing good, will you come back to Gotham?"
"You know I couldn't have stuck around, I wanted to, I wanted to make sure you were ok. I saw you at the cop's funeral, didn't think it was wise to get closer." I nod, still not believing his here, I frown and look behind his shoulder, "Is that Speed and Bozo?"
He turns round and groans when Speed looks at me and starts waving madly; causing Bozo to shove his orange wig back on quickly.
He turns round and shakes his head muttering; then he focuses his attention back to me, "You're still beautiful you know? Still glowing..." he strokes my lower back and I bring myself closer, relishing in being in his arms again.
"I need to leave now doll, I'll be back soon I promise" he raises my hand to his lips and I laugh at his show. He grabs Bozo and Speed, who turns around and once again waves at me; I laugh and raise my hand to him.
He's still the same, just a little disguised, a little more guarded but he's still my Jack, I hope he stands by what he means as he always does and comes back. Even though he can't really have any sort of relationship with the baby I still want him close by. Seeing him brought back old memories all of our passion and love for one another had to go somewhere; if we couldn't always be with each other, if we couldn't have each other we'd always have the baby. That I suppose is more than some women can even dream of.
Joker's POV
He hates wearing suits; naturally he abides by wearing his own costume that's a part of the persona he has created. The facial hair is gonna be a bitch to get off; but he wants to see her. Speed is excited, like a little kid that's been kept inside for too long he is eager to get out. He had to pick out the most garish wig he could find; bright orange and curly, ah well some of the freaks that go to these sort of places are weird themselves, least he's having his fun. He checks out his appearance one last time in the mirror, the suit is stolen of course; the green in his hair is for tonight not making an appearance, not bad not bad at all, he looks like his old self, he was always called a 'pretty boy'. He hopes Maddie will recognise him; he hasn't gone to all this trouble just for her to smack him in the face and tell him where to go. By the time they get there it's late, the party is almost over; luckily for his driver, she's still here. She's alerted slightly, aside from the pregnancy, her hair is now longer, even in her eyes you can see a change; they seem cold, harder now as though the weight of the world is resting on them. Ah my lady in red he thinks as she moves closer to him; titling her head at the portrait, he leaves Bozo and Speed by the food (where else?) and strolls across the room, spying Bruce on the other part of the room.
He clears his throat to get her attention; "It's supposed to be a crying woman; I would have thought art would have interested you."
Instead of bothering to look at him he can almost see her roll her eyes at him, "No it's not my thing it's more Bruce's."
"I guess I never really found out that much about you."
Ah that got her to look. He can see the confusion in her eyes, she is taking in his altered features in. She reaches out a hand to his face, he admits he is more than annoyed when she takes it away annoyed and hurt. Gripping onto her she finally touches him; the electricity between them is still there, he almost moans from her touch and just being near her. He wants to touch her stomach but he doesn't know what her reaction will be; this is her space that he's in, her family, her world. As though sensing his fears she takes his hand and places it on her stomach, he feels... pride when the baby responds to his touch, he wonders if Wayne gets this reaction.
He tries to lighten the mood "Knows who I am then huh?" he gesture towards her stomach and she smiles.
"I needed you when he died..." he zone in more when she says this, he know it's true and isn't shocked when she confronts him, any normal guy would have been there but then again he's no normal guy.
"You know I couldn't have stuck around, I wanted to, I wanted to make sure you were ok. I saw you at the cop's funeral, didn't think it was wise to get closer."
"Is that Speed and Bozo?" he turns around and Speed notices Maddie and waves, he isn't small and Bozo is almost knocked sideways.
He focuses on her again, feeling his stomach clench just be looking at her; "You're still beautiful you know? Still glowing..."
He notices Wayne making his move towards them, his turn to exit stage left, "I need to leave now doll, I'll be back soon I promise", she looks crestfallen but allows him to kiss her hand, he eyes up her bump, right now he still doesn't feel connected to it, maybe that will change later on, maybe it won't. He turns on his heels and grab Bozo and Speed, who shoves a few handfuls of food into his pockets.
"She's looking real pretty still boss" Speed prods him as they set off back to the hideout; they really need to move into the place they have in Gotham soon.
"She's always like that" he reply absentmindedly, the driver, a new guy snorts. He raise an eyebrow but other than that doesn't react, he reminds him of Sam in some ways, a pig that is still out there, free to squeal. He walks upstairs and throws on his paint hazardly, a couple of the guys including the Sam look alike are talking, he creeps closer to listen, leaning against the door.
"I mean I didn't see her, he wouldn't let me in with them but we've all seen her, hell I'd still fuck her even now."
"As if she'd go for you Ed!" Another guy Skinner laughs it off.
"I'd think she's fuck anyone like, especially after fucking him, freak."
My sign to enter, he thinks as he straightens his collar, relishing in them all jumping to a stand, knowing he's overheard.
"Fellas," he nods at them, there are at least four of them in the room, all of them look scared, dreading what will happen.
"You know what I hate most in this pathetic city? Low lives like you talking about my woman like that; talking about things you'd never fucking understand. So Ed is it?" he nods towards tonight's driver, the guy looks like he's about to piss himself, "I'd er think before you talk." He shoots him square in the middle of his eyes, "or not."
The other guys stare at him, "Clean that up," he gestures with his gun, great blood on his carpet, he won't be making a habit of that at the new place.
He hadn't killed someone in a while and had the urge (like some do with cigarettes), to satisfy his needs. He walks off humming, who knows he may even teach Junior the tricks of the trade.
AN: Sorry if the different views at the party annoyed you, I wanted you to see how all three of them reacted at the part scene, no gate crashing just yet! Maybe there will be some to come! Thanks for reading etc, I'll try and have the next one out soon, uni work is getting heavy so I'll see what I can do. Thanks again!
Feels-Like-Paradise.