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.

15

Moment

Carmine Falcone was a hard man to impress. Many tried, many failed. He was an even harder man to frighten. Carmine ran the city from behind the Emerald curtain so to speak, so what would he be afraid of? Judges? Bought off. Cops? He owned them and their families. City officials? What few weren't in his pocket were too afraid of the ones that were to do anything. Gotham was his playground and Carmine ruled it with an iron fist. He knew damn near everyone in this hellhole and if he didn't, he found out who they were.

That's why the young man sitting in front of him did what many couldn't. He both impressed and frightened him at the same time. Jonathan Crane defied everything that he knew and trusted. Despite his (and his sources) best efforts, nothing could be found about the kid. Not a birth date, social, address, absolutely nothing. For all the effort, this kid shouldn't exist. Yet he sat across from him in the booth, those strange eyes trained on him.

Getting a late night call on Christmas Eve was not something he had really planned on, but Falcone needed information on the cunt that killed his brother. No one killed a Falcone but a Falcone. The bitch was going to pay one way or another. So, when his niece's boyfriend contacted him, saying he had information, Carmine told him to meet him at the restaurant.

Without his niece around, Jonathan Crane seemed much different than before. Gone was the quiet man that glared daggers. Now he was arrogant and cold, he regarded everyone in his line of sight like they were something to be crushed. His feminine face had a wild look, the light behind his icy eyes were damn near demonic. If he were a lesser man, Falcone would probably run.

The kid leaned back, a smirk on his face. "I am deeply sorry to contact you this late, but since you have made absolutely no headway in finding David Cohen's killer, I thought you might appreciate some... assistance."

"Where's my niece?"

"She's asleep at her aunt's, where I left her. She's such a deep sleeper, didn't even notice me get out of bed." Something about the tone in Crane's voice sent a shudder down Carmine's spine, but he was quick to not let it show. No matter what, he wasn't giving this little freak the upper hand. "I would be grateful if you didn't mention my involvement to her. Dahlia is sensitive since her father's death, and I will be very... annoyed if she were to be upset. In any way."

Catching the thinly-veiled threat, Carmine glared. "Let's just get on with the information, alright? What do you know?"

"Everything." Crane smiled. "But before I tell you, I want a guarantee that I will be notified when you find her. I want a few moments with her before you kill her."

"Why?" Falcone's brows knitted together.

"I've been working on a little compound. She will be the perfect test subject."

"Does Dahlia know?"

"No." There was an edge to his voice. "And I need you to be discrete about this information. I've worked too long on this for anyone to make a mess out of it."

"Do you really think you are good for her?"

Crane's eyes narrowed. "Don't act like you care. You completely ignored her entire existence until a week ago. You have no right to say what is good for her and what isn't, do you understand?"

"Alright, alright." The kid was treading on thin ice, talking down to him. But he was Dahlia's boyfriend and he had information. That made him safe and he knew it. For the time being, that is. "What's this information?"

"I've been doing a little digging." The smile on the kid's face was manic. He pulled out a folder and opened it, revealing maps and a picture. Carmine picked up the picture, the broad was beautiful. Anton's type, blonde hair and legs to her tits. "It's quite interesting, really. The police in this town must be stupid, it was quite easy. Taking the information Gotham's finest had and what Dahlia knew, it was easy to pinpoint where she was staying. I knew she would stay close to home, she's currently staying with her cousin in the Narrows. It's even easier on you that way."

Flipping through the information, Carmine decided he was impressed. It was very thorough. "How did you do all this?"

Crane snorted and crossed his arms. "Her type is easy. So one-dimensional. It wasn't a challenge, I assure you." Looking at the clock, he stood and shrugged his jacket on. "I must get back before Dahlia misses me. I trust I'll be hearing from you shortly." He quickly disappeared out the door.

Carmine sat back and ran a hand over his hair. What the hell had just happened?

"Dahlia!" I groaned and batted the offending hand away. "Wake up!"

"No!" I turned away from my annoying boyfriend and buried my head under the pillow. There was no way I was getting up yet, I felt like I could sleep for another year or so.

Cold hands went up my shirt, directly to my ribs. I shrieked and pulled away, falling off the bed in the process. I cried out when my back hit the hardwood floor. Fuck. I heard chuckles from above me and Jonathan leaned over, trying to hold his laughter in. "Are you alright?"

"You're not gonna be if you don't go away." I rubbed my eyes and winced. "What time is it?"

"Five."

"In the morning? Seriously?" I sat up and glared at him. "You had better have a damn good reason to wake me up this early! Why are you dressed?"

He silenced me with his lips, his hands gently lifting me back onto the bed. His kisses became more and more passionate and he pushed me down to the mattress. He bit my lip and I moaned, making him smirk against my lips before pulling back. "Before we get carried away, I woke you up for a reason. It's Christmas."

"Really?" I rolled my eyes and leaned up to capture his lips again. He sighed and pushed me back.

"Come on, your family will be up soon and I want you all to myself for an hour." Jonathan grabbed a shirt and pair of jeans out of my open suitcase and all but threw them at me.

"Gee, for wanting to spend time with me, you're awfully bossy." But I dressed nonetheless. I pulled on my black boots and glanced up at him. "Why are you dressed already? How long have you been awake?" I distinctly remembered falling asleep in his arms and he was snoring by then.

"Awhile now. I had to get a few things done before I woke you up." He gave me a smile, his blue eyes sparkling in the dim light of the lamp. "Don't worry, I suspect you will stop hating me once we get to where we're going."

"Do I need a jacket, your highness?"

Another roll of the eyes. "Yes, Dahlia. Hurry up."

I hadn't even gotten my arms through the sleeves before Jonathan had my hand and was pulling me out of the guest room. The entire house was eerily quiet, light snores coming from the living room where the kids were sleeping. They would be up in an hour to wake their parents. That's how it went every Christmas.

Jonathan pulled me out of the house so quickly I barely had time to shut the door behind me. I went to walk to the Charger by Jonathan pulled me in the other direction down the street. It was still dark and it was freezing. Snow was falling, just adding to the cold and the already snow-covered streets. "May I ask where we're going?"

"No." I sighed and his grip on my hand tightened briefly. "Be patient, D.G."

"You know I don't do well with patience, Jonny." He blanched at my use of my mother's nickname for him and I smiled for the first time since I woke up. Pay back. "Waking up before seven is a crime, you know."

"I'm always up before seven."

"Yes, well, I'm a girl. We require sleep to look decent." I could literally feel the bags under my eyes and I'm sure my hair was a wreck. Not to mention the rumbled shirt and ripped jeans I was wearing. The only thing decent on me was my black peacoat.

Jonathan kept silent and finally stopped. I looked around and memories rushed me at me. My heart constricted tightly in my chest.

We were at the park at the end of my aunt's lane. My father used to take me here every time we visited. We would stay for the entire day, leaving my mom with her sister. Of course, I knew why now. Dad hated Shirley more than anything on the planet. But still, this place was special to me.

Unlike most of Gotham, this place was untouched by the depression. It had a small shelter next to a man-made duck pond and play equipment for the kids. It was a small park, usually the community that surrounded it took care of the upkeep. With the snow, it was beautiful, the lake froze over. My heart continued to clench in my chest. "How-?"

"Your mother told me about it while you were gone yesterday." Jonathan wrapped his arm around my waist. "Since the house is still... tied up, I thought you would like to come here. At least, for a little while."

I pulled away and walked towards the shelter, remembering all the times that Dad and I took picnics there. We always had the same thing, I would have a jelly sandwich and he would bring peanut butter. We always mixed them together when we got here. Mom thought we were crazy, but it was just one of those traditions. The swingset next to the shelter was my favorite in the entire world, I would make him push me on it for hours.

Tears stung my eyes and I blinked them back, turning back to my best friend. Jonathan was watching me with that unfathomable expression. I smiled sadly. "Thank you... I actually forgot about this place. It's not even been a couple days since he died and I'm already forgetting things." My voice cracked and I swallowed a sob.

"Hush, Dahlia." It wasn't even a second before he was holding me, wrapping his arms around my tightly and pulling me into his chest. "You are not forgetting. You are stressed and upset. Your mind is having a hard time compensating for everything, which is probably partially my fault." I gave him a weird look so he elaborated. "When you sleep, your brain recharges. It also sorts through everything that you did during the day and files it away. I've been keeping you awake."

"I'm afraid I won't remember him." A sob broke through and I felt the tears come loose, too. I buried my face into Jonathan's jacket, trying to absorb his warmth. "What if I forget him?"

"You won't. I promise." His calm voice soothed my thoughts, along with his thin fingers running up and down my back. "Coming to places like this, it will only keep your memories of him alive. But that's not the only reason I brought you here."

I pulled back a little and Jonathan reached into his jacket pocket, bringing out something that caught that glinted. I raised and eyebrow before Jonathan held the item out to me.

It was a small locket. It was heart-shaped, made out of a brilliant gold that matched the chain. The locket had a small star design in the middle with a diamond in the center. It was older, but it was well cared for. It was simple and beautiful.

I swallowed weakly. "It's beautiful."

"It was my mother's at one point. I found it when I was young, when I still had the belief that she would come to save me." His voice was bitter and harsh, but I knew the tone wasn't aimed at me. "I kept it for all those years and I always told myself that I would give it to her when she came for me. But she never did." His tone changed, becoming softer. He met my eyes then and waves of emotion crashed over me.

"You did. You were the one who saved me, after all that time. I wasn't sure what to make of you at first. I'm still not sure what to make of you, to be honest. But you didn't give up and I thank you for that." He placed the locket in my hand, closing it gently. "This belongs to you. It always has, I think."

Tears blinded me again and I bit my lip. I held it out to him and smiled shyly. "Would you help me put it on?"

A relieved smile broke out on his beautiful face. "Turn around." I did and held my hair as he deftly latched the necklace. It was light and rested at the hollow of my throat. I fingered it lightly as I turned around again. "I was right, it belongs to you."

I smiled and pressed myself against him, my lips seeking his. I wrapped my arms around his neck and my fingers delved into this soft hair just as light blinded us from the horizon. I pulled away and watched in awe as the sun came up, the brilliant hues breaking through the dull snow clouds. Jonathan pulled me so my back was against his chest and rested his head on my shoulder. I smiled, content. "You know, I don't think I've ever watched the sun come up."

I felt Jonathan's mouth turn up before he placed a kiss on my neck. "Merry Christmas, Dahlia."

A/N: I'm sorry it's been soo long! A lot of stuff has happened these past few weeks and have put off my schedule. But I'm back! This is short because I'm writing it at 10 PM but hey, the next one will be longer.

Thank you to all who reviewed, favorited, and put this on your alerts! I love getting those notifications, they make me happy. I hope I haven't lost readers due to the long wait, but this will be the longest you will ever have to wait between chapters, I promise.

So, let me know if you like it or hate it and thanks for sticking with me. Next one should be up by next week at the earliest.