Disclaimer: I don't own Jonathan Crane (sadly) nor Batman. I don't claim to own them. I don't make any profit off of this. I'm just having fun. No copyright infringement is intended.

13

Welcome to the Family

Carmine Falcone's... lair was a small Italian restaurant in the bad part of town. It was pretty stereotypical, really. I mean, what is it with Mafia Dons and Italian restaurants?

The way there had been too long, even though it was only a fifteen minute drive. Mario had forced us into a flashy black limo and it was then I realized how different my father was from his family. Sure, he may have been smart and business-minded, but all his dealings were legal and he didn't believe in showing his wealth. Until I had seen the number of zeros in his account, I never knew that he had that much. With these people, however, you could just take one look at them and you knew what figures they brought in.

The entire way, Mario had tried to drill me with questions. I didn't answer a single one, I just sat beside Jonathan with his pale hand gripped tightly in mine. The only time I would look away from my lap was to cast a glance at him and his face was always the same. He could have been carved from stone, his expression cold and calculating. The only way I could even tell he was upset was the fact that his eyes were still dark and blazing. I tried to pull my hand away once, but his grip only grew tighter.

It was evening by time we reached the restaurant, the sky darkening and snow falling on the dirty streets. It was across from the bay and it stood out against the other buildings because it was obviously taken care of. Junkies milled back and forth and I noticed more than one prostitute dart back into the alley at the sight of the limo. I felt myself grow sad at the sight.

The limo parked right in front of the small building and Mario basically kicked us out, making sure to keep us in front of him at all times. I stumbled as we got out of the stupid car, but Jonathan's quick reflexes caught me from face planting on the gross pavement. This did not go unnoticed by Mario. "Wow, you've just got a real knight in shining armor, don't you? Too bad he's a nerd."

Jonathan sent him a withering glance as he steadied me. His mouth was close enough to my ear that I could hear him speak lightly. "Are you alright?" I nodded slightly, trying not to give too much away. "We will get out of this, do not be afraid. These... people can smell fear, they thrive on it. I am not leaving your side."

"Hey!" Mario pushed Jonathan away from me, giving me a glare. "No secrets among family!" I rolled my eyes as he basically herded us into the place. It was busy, people were eating and none of them gave us a single glance. The floor was an odd checkerboard pattern and the walls looked like they were straight out of a Victorian home, they were a rick oak with fine details.

Carmine Falcone was sitting in a corner booth in front of a fireplace reading a newspaper. He was an older man with graying hair and dark eyes like his son. There was definitely a family resemblance, especially with their taste in suits. His son forced us to sit in the upholstered booth across from his father before walking away, obviously bored with us.

"Well, Dahlia Cohen, we finally meet." He set down the paper that I realized was the Gotham News Register, headlined "NEWS REGISTER PRESIDENT DEAD AT 37". It was no secret now, I guess. His eyes were trained on me now. "I assume you know who I am."

"Carmine Falcone." I was making sure not to give anything away.

"Also, your father's brother." I rolled my eyes and he folded his hands on the table. "But, I assume the lawyer already told you all about that."

"Things tend to come out when someone dies." My words were harsh and Jonathan shot a look at me, the meaning clear. Keep that filter in check, Dahlia. His voice rang through my head, the tone mocking. Figures, without even saying a word the man could still scold me.

"That they do. I'm sure you're wondering what I've asked you here for, considering I've never made an attempt to reach you before." Asked us here? I didn't realize that there was a choice involved. After another look from Jonathan, I realized I must have said that aloud. Oops.

Luckily for me, Falcone seemed to find humor in it. He chuckled darkly. "You really are a chip off the old block, you know that? Anton had the same attitude, it got him into trouble often." He looked thoughtful for a moment before continuing. "The reason why I invited you here is because I want to know what happened to my brother."

"Right." I brushed him off. "Because you cared for the past twenty years."

"Dahlia." Jonathan hissed at me, drawing attention to himself.

"Oh, yes, I almost forgot about you. Who exactly are you?"

"Jonathan Crane." His voice was crystal clear, not betraying any emotion whatsoever.

"A boyfriend, eh?" His eyes were shining like he heard a particularly funny joke. He turned his eyes back to me. "Anton made his choice to leave our family when he met your mother. He wasn't cut out for the family business and our father knew that. He cut contact with us and we allowed it. That didn't mean that he wasn't protected, though."

"Protected?"

"Anton was still a Falcone, even if he chose to change his name. Nothing could erase the blood that ran through his veins. We made sure that no harm came to him or you." He took a sip of his drink. "However, when your airhead mother made you leave Gotham, your protection ran dry, which is why you ended up in the hospital." He smiled at my surprised look. "We know everything, D.G." He gave Jonathan an odd look but my boyfriend didn't flinch.

"Alright, so what do you want, then? Dad's dead, your job is over." I wanted to leave, I was still tired and this place gave me the goddamn creeps.

"Wrong, girlie. You are a Falcone, or did you forget?" I narrowed my eyes at him. "First things first. Who killed my brother?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What? Your informants at GCPD didn't tell you?" Jonathan's head hit the back of the booth and he sighed in frustration. "Kara Taylor, if that's her real name. She was my teacher when I was here."

Falcone nodded and two men I hadn't noticed standing behind us walked away. "We will find her if she's still in Gotham. If not, I have connections. No one kills a Falcone but a Falcone. What did she take?"

"She emptied two of his main accounts, the ones connected to the Paper. He kept everything else separate."

"Well, I'm glad he didn't forget everything that was taught to him." Frowning, the man seemed to let out a breath. "You are my brother's only child, you will be protected as long as you are here-"

I held out my hand. "Stop. If you're going to have me followed, I don't want to know. I just want to try to enjoy the rest of this nightmare of a vacation and I won't be able to do that with your men following me around like puppies." I sighed. "Plus, my mother would find out and I don't want her to know. He didn't want her to know."

"Fine, you will never know, then. Do you want to know what happens to Kara Taylor?"

"No."

"You really are just like your father. You have no stomach for dirty work, do you?"

"I still don't understand what you want from me."

"Nothing. Not yet. You will owe me a favor and I love favors." His smile turned dark. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have business to attend to. Would you like a ride back to the hotel?" The man stood and put his jacket on.

"No." It was Jonathan who spoke this time, his tone definitive.

Falcone shrugged. "Fine. Don't try to contact me, Ms. Cohen. When I need you, I will find you." With that, he swept out of the restaurant, three men following out of the nearby tables.

Once he was out of sight my shoulders sagged. Jonathan didn't relax, however, his eyes darted around the establishment. "We need to get out of here, Dahlia."

I sighed and adjusted my coat. "Alright, let's get then." Jonathan grabbed my hand and we left in haste, the oak door slamming behind us.

We decided not to go back to the hotel right away. I guess after the past couple of days, we both needed time to think away from it all. Gotham was a great place to get lost in, there were so many different markets and districts. As long as you stayed away from the Narrows, you were safe.

We had been wandering around for a good hour. I had finally managed to push all thoughts of Carmine Falcone and his idiot son Mario out of my head, hopefully for good. We had made it to the decent part of Gotham, the shops that lined the streets staying open late for the holiday season. I was guessing it was probably around eight or nine, but I really had no concept of time, so it could be midnight and I wouldn't be the wiser.

Jonathan had been quiet most of the time, probably lost in thought. I head led him through the maze of streets to get here, good thing too. If I hadn't, he might have walked out in front of a bus.

We were walking past a music store when something in the window caught my eye and made me stop dead. On a stand was a gorgeous violin. It was a pearl white with a light blue filigree scrolling down the fingerboard onto the bridge and body. The bow next to it was the same icy blue as the details on the violin itself. At a risk of sounding like a cornball, the violin reminded me of Jonathan's eyes. God, I'm turning into a sap.

Apparently Jonathan had finally noticed I wasn't next to him, I felt his presence at my side. "It's beautiful."

I smiled, happy I wasn't the only one who saw beauty in the instrument. "It really is."

"Why haven't I heard you play?"

I swallowed, my throat feeling thick. "I don't like people listening to me practice. I only like them to hear the finished result. I was busy working on a song for Dad... but he'll never hear it now, will he?"

His arms wrapped around my waist and I was pressed into his wool coat. I buried my face into Jonathan's chest as he kissed my forehead. "I'm so sorry. I know I haven't said it before, but I am."

Tears threatened to spill and I tried to blink them back. "I just... can't get over it. Everything I see reminds me of him. I constantly feel like I'm in some sort of limbo, I never know if I'm going to start laughing and burst into tears. I think I'm going crazy. I'm so fucking weak and I can't stand it."

"Hey." Fingers tilted my chin upwards until I felt warm lips on my cold ones. I sighed and leaned in, happy to get this little bit of comfort. Here was my boyfriend, Jonathan Crane, kissing me in the middle of the sidewalk. The man who was afraid to touch me in public had actually started this. My heart felt a little better, even as he pulled away. His eyes were light again, lighter than they had been since we found my father on the floor. "It's not weak to mourn. It's completely normal what you are going through and I promise you I will be with you every step of the way as long as you want me there. It's not weak to love. Of all the people in Atlanta, you are the one who taught me that."

He gave me a soft smile that made my stomach do cartwheels. There was that word again. Love. That was the second time he said it to me. He was right, of all the people in Atlanta, I was the one who found him on the floor. I was the only one who stuck up for him, the one who had the courage to look the head bitch in the eyes and pour soda down her shirt. Jonathan was the one who found me bleeding on the floor and the one who took care of me while I healed. He was the one who pulled me away from my father's corpse and held me despite being covered in blood.

I still don't know why I helped him that day. It was a complete mystery to me. I had heard the others talk about him. Creepy Crane, Scarecrow, etc. I hadn't paid them or anything any mind. I had decided to remain anonymous, just a shadow in the brightly lit hallways and classrooms. I just wanted to survive my last year of high school But all of that went out of the window as soon as I saw him on the floor with his glasses shattered. What I did next was stupid and I can't explain why I chose him over everyone else in the school.

I hadn't realized it before, but maybe, just maybe we were meant to find each other. Maybe I was drug to Georgia for a reason. It was like gravity for us, we were constantly pulled towards one another.

.My heart was about to explode out of my chest. I did love him. We may not have known each other for long but it didn't seem to matter. I had fallen in love for the first time in my life and I had apparently fallen fast.

So, I did the best thing I could think of. In the middle of the snowy Gotham street, I grabbed Jonathan Crane and crashed my lips to his, smiling when he pulled me closer. Like gravity.

A/N: I know it's short! And I really don't have a good excuse for it other than I'm gonna be busy for the next couple of days so I figured I would get this out now.

I now have a title for the second part of the series! I'm not going to reveal it to the last chapter, but I'm so excited to finally have it so I had to tell you guys.

Thank you too the couple of people who reviewed and favorited! All off the feedback makes me work harder! I hope you guys like this one too, despite the length. Let me know if you do. The next one should be out in a week or so.