"Bruce!" Rachel was bouncing up and down as she waved to the man, who was smiling as he got out of his plane and walked over to them.

He was still smiling as he pulled his fist back and socked Jack in the mouth.

"Bruce!" Rachel shrieked as Jack went sprawling back on the runway pavement. She tried to grab Bruce's arm but he evaded her easily, grabbing Jack by his collar as Jack burst into cackles.

"Holy shit, Wayne! You still sore about me getting your girl?" Bruce got a fist in the stomach and grunted, then jerked his elbow into Jack's chin.

"Stop it!" Rachel yelled, stamping her foot. "Both of you, knock it off!"

"You think this was a good idea?" Bruce hissed as he hauled Jack up by the collar again. "What the hell were you doing, putting Rachel in this much danger?!"

Jack spit a bit of blood onto Bruce's Armani suit and clawed at his wrists. "Wasn't my fault," he choked out as his feet scrambled for purchase on the ground. "Didn't want a kid 'till this was over."

"You should have been more careful!" Bruce bellowed as he threw Jack down again. Jack rolled into a crouch and lunged at Bruce, catching him by the waist and knocking him down, too.

"Alfred, do something!" Rachel demanded as she turned to the man. "They're going to kill each other!"

"Oh, I highly doubt that," her friend replied. He watched the two men grapple with a resigned sort of amusement. "Master Bruce just has some tension to work out."

"But ---!"

Jack had gotten on Bruce's back, his arm around the other man's throat. He squeezed as hard as he could. "Look, B," he snarled, "you gonna cooperate or not? 'Cause I can do this on my own, but I'd really rather not. And as much as you'd just love to marry my wife and raise my kid, it's never gonna happen. So what's it gonna be, Brucey?"

"Piss off," Bruce choked out. He'd stopped struggling and was concentrating on just being able to breathe. Jack's arm on his windpipe tightened again and he gagged. "Get off," he croaked.

Jack just loosened his grip. "Is this you cooperating?"

"I'm not doing it for you," Bruce panted. "I'm doing it for Rachel."

"Good enough for me!" Jack declared as he let the man go and stood up. He backed away quickly while he smoothed his rumpled shirt and dishevelled hair. Turning to Rachel, he tilted his head to the side and beamed at her. "That was fun!" He reached for her but got a slap across the face. "That wasn't." His head almost exploded with pain and he rubbed his temples for a moment as Rachel yelled at him. His only real consolation was that Wayne got his ass chewed off and handed back to him, too.

After Rachel had gotten both men to apologise for their immature, rude, childish behaviour, Alfred politely reminded them of the time and herded them on to the plane. Rachel slumped in her seat and glared at Jack when he took her heels off and put her feet in his lap to rub them.

"That's not going to make me not mad at you."

"I didn't start it," he said, watching her relax. "Wayne hit me first. I just defended myself."

"Laughing while you did it; right."

"Well, I haven't been in a real fight in a while." He shrugged. "I keep telling you I'm a violent guy, but you never believe me."

Rachel sighed as Alfred set a tray of drinks next to a tray of band-aids and damp towels, sitting up to take a towel and dab at Jack's bruised face. He flinched, but she glared at him until he settled down.

"You're both grown men," she scolded gently. Jack's scars twitched as he tried to not smile. "You should be over this stupid rivalry of yours by now."

"It's never going to end," Jack murmured. He tilted his cheek to rub his scars against her palm and did smile as Rachel's eyes softened. "I just love Bruce too much to leave him alone. Besides, he can't have you. I won."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not a prize, Jack."

"You're the only thing worth anything," he whispered, looking at her with those big brown eyes of his.

Rachel sighed and pulled him into a hug, running her fingers through his hair and along his scalp. "Isn't the baby worth something?" she asked him gently.

Jack looked over her shoulder at Bruce, his head pounding and his face pained as he put his hand on Rachel's stomach. "Of course," he assured her after a moment. "This kid's only slightly less special to me than you are." He held her tightly for a moment longer, then pushed her back gently. "Wanna see the latest ultrasound, Wayne?"

Bruce sighed and lowered his gaze to the table between the seats, then back up. "Love to. You're how far along?"

Rachel was smiling as she dug in her purse. "Fourteen weeks tomorrow, but this is last week's ultrasound. The next one will be about twenty weeks; Jack was bummed that we're not getting one every week." She handed Bruce the ultrasound and leaned forward to show him what was what. "Tomorrow starts the second trimester. See? There's the head . . . it wasn't cooperating very well, I'm afraid."

"Takes after Jack like that, huh?"

"Knock it off; I can be just as stubborn." Bruce was examining the picture with pursed lips and Rachel sighed. "What's wrong, Bruce? The baby's perfectly fine, and so am I."

"Mm?" He looked up and shook his head a little, then smiled. "No, I'm happy for you, Rachel, I am. I'm just . . . I don't like to think of you way up in the middle of nowhere with those murders going on."

"Christ, why is everyone so worried?" Rachel asked as she sat back. "The murders have stopped, anyway." She covered her mouth and turned her face into Jack's shoulder as the plane finally took off.

"Don't you dare puke all over me," Jack told her even as he squeezed her shoulders and offered her a sip of water. "Puke on Bruce."

"I'm fine," she whispered after a moment as the dizzy nausea passed. "I'm so glad you're concerned for me."

"I am," Jack said. He rubbed at his scars. "I just don't want you puking on me." He kissed her temple and she lay her head on his shoulder. "See? That's my girl."

Bruce blinked once and leaned forward. "Rachel, you can't deny that these murders have something to do with you and Jack." She groaned and closed her eyes. "We don't know that the murderer has stopped for good, and I don't think you're safe in Loleta. Besides, you can get much better care in Gotham City."

"Gotham City is one of the most polluted cities in the United States, Bruce. I am not having my baby there. We'll be just fine in Loleta; Hideki and Raoul have threatened to move in if the murders start again, anyway." She patted Jack's hand and smiled at both men. "Besides, they have a couple of suspects in custody." Jack's head twitched a little and Bruce frowned, but they let the subject drop.

"So . . . have you thought about names yet?"

"Again with the names!" Jack muttered as he rolled his eyes. "I'm making a couple of lists, one for a girl and one for a boy; I don't know why I have to do it, either. I don't care what we call it." He rubbed his eyes, glad that Rachel had nodded off. "She thinks I'll feel left out if I don't name the kid."

"Will you?" Wayne asked with a slight smile.

"Not at all. I made it, I get to see it getting bigger . . . as long as they're both safe and it's not named Bruce, I'm good."

One eyebrow went up. "Why not Bruce?"

"Because it rhymes with douche," Jack said with a grin. When Rachel didn't even twitch, he lowered his voice. "But really, you're good with this, right? I'll send her off to you as soon as I can, but she's kind of stubborn and I really can't chance that she'll find out ---"

"I've got your back," Bruce assured him. "Are you good with this, though? Hideki was really upset when he gave me your letter, and everything else."

"What else can I do?" Jack asked. "This isn't going to stop until I give them what they want." He pursed his lips and tongued his scars. "I like being here," he murmured, looking down at Rachel. He placed his hand on her stomach. "I can't lose either of them. I don't know what will happen after I leave, but . . . I need a reason to come back. They're my reasons."

"I think you're crazy for trying this," Bruce said after a moment, "but I have to agree with you. I'll be there whenever you need me."

Jack looked up. "Thank you."

***

Hideki and Raoul were waiting for them at the airstrip. "Rachel! I'm getting married today!"

Rachel laughed as Bruce and Jack helped her to the ground. "Hideki! I'm knocked up!"

He shrieked and hugged her tightly, kneeling down to press his hands to her stomach. "Holy crap! You're freaking huge!"

"Beautiful!" Jack interrupted as Rachel's eyes widened. "Gorgeous! I swear, you've never looked better, Rachel." He kicked at Hideki as subtly as he could, hoping the man got the hint.

"How far along are you?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Fourteen weeks tomorrow, and I wanted it to be a surprise, plus I wanted to wait until . . ."

"Until what?" Jack asked suspiciously as she trailed off.

Rachel shrugged. "It's all right, Jack."

He stopped her and turned her to face him, frowning down at her. "No, until what?"

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, her hands raising to his cheeks. "The risk of a miscarriage goes down a lot after the first trimester," she murmured. Jack went just a little cold. He'd known that; he'd read about it. He just hadn't . . . connected it with Rachel. He licked his lips and swallowed as she went on soothingly. "It's also higher then older you are, but I'm just fine, Jack, me and the baby are just fine." She covered his hands with hers when he placed them on her stomach, not quite able to talk yet. Rachel smiled softly at him. He loved her so much. "I'm taking good care of myself --- you're taking good care of me. There shouldn't be any problems."

"I want you to see a doctor here," Jack managed to croak out. His face felt stiff and his heart was racing as his stomach clenched.

She shook her head. "Jack ---"

"Wayne, I want her to see a doctor as soon as possible." Jack pulled Rachel against him and held her there as gently as he could.

"I'm fine," Rachel whispered.

"You were still taking your pills after you conceived, and I put you under a lot of stress, too," he murmured. "Doc Howard's a great guy, but I'm not risking you or the baby."

"So, what, you're going to con Bruce into flying me down to Gotham for every appointment?" Rachel was still holding on to him, though, because she was afraid of losing the baby, too. Jack didn't need to know that they still weren't quite out of the danger zone yet. He was trembling slightly as it was, and she ran her hands up and down his back and through his hair. "I love you, Jack."

"I'm a lovable guy," he responded. "You're still seeing a doctor while we're here."

"And who's going to pay for it, hmm?"

"Wayne is, of course, because he loves you, too." Jack looked up at the man. "Isn't that right, B?"

"Can't argue with that," Bruce said with a shrug. "Alfred, give Charles a call and see if she'll give ---"

"You'll call her yourself, Master Bruce," Alfred interrupted as he loaded Jack and Rachel's bags in the limo, "and you'll leave me out of the whole thing."

Hideki was laughing at the look on Bruce's face as the five of them got in. "Trouble in paradise," he explained.

"Yes, well, we're headed straight to dinner ---"

"Don't worry, I made sure I invited Charles," Raoul said. Bruce's lips pursed slightly.

"I need to change," Rachel said while Jack rubbed her shoulders. "I can't go out like this." Her current outfit was fine for the daytime, but not an evening at one of Bruce's restaurants.

Bruce turned and rolled down the window separating Alfred and the driver from the back. "Al --- where are we headed?" he demanded.

"To pick up Ms. Rivard, Master Bruce. Rachel can change there."

"Why is everyone against me?" Bruce asked as he closed the window in disgust.

"Because it's fun," Jack replied. He was engrossed in Rachel's massage when Bruce glared at him, not paying any more attention to the man.

"I have to use the restroom, too," Rachel said.

"Again?"

Now Rachel glared at Bruce, but only for a moment as Jack paused. When he went back to rubbing her shoulders and back, her eyes fluttered closed again. "Yes, again," she murmured. "The baby's sitting right on my bladder."

"Give her a break, Wayne, or I'll tell Charles."

"Don't you dare threaten me with that woman, Jack."

"Shut up, both of you," Rachel snapped suddenly. "I'm sick and tired of you fighting like children. Grow up. And don't think I'll forgive you just because you love up on me," she said when Jack nuzzled her neck. She pushed him away and scooted closer to Hideki. "This guy acts more mature than you two."

"And that's saying a lot," her friend agreed. He leaned out the window as the limo pulled to a stop in front of Charles' house. "Hey, Chuck! Rachel's knocked up!"

"I know," the former Marine called from the porch.

"How do you know?"

"Where do you think Jack got the explosives he needed to demolish that library?"

"You're fucking omniscient, Charles!"

"Better not be," Bruce grumbled.

"Tell that pansy fop to get his ass out here!"

Hideki pulled his head back in. "Pansy fop, get your ass out there."

Bruce sighed heavily and glowered at Alfred when the man opened the door, then turned to help Rachel out. She could tell by the look on his face that he wanted to close the door on Jack, but he took his hand away after a sidelong glance at Charles. She was in black cargo pants and a blank tank top, her combat boot-covered feet propped up on the porch railing as she watched them.

"What, no clown car today?"

"Left it in Loleta," Jack said as she stood up to hug Rachel.

"I was talking about the fop and his anorexic fan club."

"Oh. Well."

"Rachel, you look beautiful," Charles said warmly. She held her hand over Rachel's stomach and raised her eyebrows.

"Go ahead."

"Oh . . . you're so big already." It appeared that even tough-as-nails former Marines weren't immune to potential babies. Charles was grinning. "You're keeping good care of yourself, right?"

"Whether I like it or not. It's mostly fat; Jack makes me eat at least twice as much as I normally would." Now Rachel laughed as she was led inside the small house. "I think it's to hide the fact that he's gained weight."

"Sympathy weight, huh?" Jack rolled his eyes and pulled out a dress from her bags, shooing Rachel into Charles' bedroom. "You must be proud."

"Of what?" he asked. Charles arched an eyebrow at him. "Oh. That. Yeah. Uhm, sure." He shrugged quickly. "I mean, it's mine. I made it." Then he scratched at his scars. "As long as she stops yelling at me for breathing wrong." He shoved his hands in his pockets and toed at the floor as Charles just pursed her lips. "Yeah, fine, I'm proud. We made a baby, hooray. I want her to see a doctor this weekend. Think you can pull that off?"

"Of course I can," she replied as she kicked Bruce's feet off of her coffee table. He winced. "I'll call Marconi, see if he's free." She picked up her cell phone and dialled, disappearing into her bedroom after a quick knock. "Hey, Marconi, I need you in Gotham . . ."

"You're going to dinner in that?" Bruce asked.

Jack looked down at his green t-shirt and jeans. "Guess I should dress up a bit."

"Guess so." Alfred handed him slacks and a button-down shirt, and Bruce followed him to the second room in the house, which had been set up as an office. "Did you ever consider surgery, Jack?"

"For what?" he asked as he stripped.

"And you have no shame whatsoever," Bruce grumbled. "For the scars."

"None at all. Never had the money, for one. Well, maybe when Harleen was alive, but I certainly never saw any of it. People knew I was her pet Joker with the scars; they distinguished me from everyone else. So she never brought it up, and I never really thought about it. Then Rachel came along and told me she liked them, so I never considered it then, either." He shrugged. "Plus I just don't care, you know? Well, maybe a little, before Rachel told me she likes them . . . but you know what? That's the only time I ever remember actually caring what someone thought of how I looked." He started buttoning the shirt. "It was the first time I ever wanted someone to not be afraid of them, too. First time I wanted someone to like me for me."

His voice had gotten softer and then Bruce's hand was on his shoulder. "We'll get you back, Jack. Don't worry."

His lips twitched into a half-smile. "Thanks, B."

"No problem. Change your damned shoes."

"What are you, my fucking mother?" Jack threw his sneakers at Bruce, who ducked out of the room. A vase crashed to the floor and both men froze.

"What the hell was that?!" Charles bellowed from the bedroom.

"Bruce broke a vase!" Jack yelled back.

The door was flung open and Charles stomped back into the living room, glaring at both of them. She was in high-waisted black slacks with a tailored white dress shirt tucked into them, and black suspenders.

"How did he break a vase?"

Jack licked his lips. "Uhh . . . I threw my shoes at him and he ducked."

A muscle in Charle's cheek started jumping as she snarled silently at the two men, who cowered before her. The only thing that saved them was Rachel coming out, adjusting the floor-length, sleeveless, empire-waisted gown she'd put on. It was dark red and had a wide, embroidered satin ribbon just under her breasts that tied in a bow in the back. She'd let her hair out of the bun it had been in, and it fell over her shoulders in soft waves as she licked her lips and smoothed the satin over her sides and stomach.

Jack pushed past Charles as she started to berate him, his eyes glued on his wife. He put his hands on her sides, just under her breasts, and slid them down to her hips before pulling her close.

". . . Wow," he finally managed.

"Jack, you helped me pick it out," Rachel laughed.

He swallowed sharply as his head started to throb a little. "And I stand by what I said then. Wow. We might need to ditch this party early, too."

Rachel's eyes unfocused slightly as she looked up at him with a smile. "I think I like that idea," she whispered.

"Well, let's go!" Charles barked suddenly. She'd just finished lacing up knee-high black boots, and slung a black suit jacket over her shoulder. "Out, you fop, and if that cat bitch crashes this dinner, I'm skinning her alive." She grabbed Bruce by his lapels and dragged him after her. "Rachel, you look stunning. Jack, did you make that dress?"

"No," he sighed, "and it cost way too much money. But now I can make a pattern from it. Rachel made me go with her to buy maternity clothes, and they were all so damned expensive!"

"It's the extra tailoring," Rachel explained. "I told you. That and everything you looked at was silk or leather or something else that's always pricey."

"You said we were the richest people in Loleta; I figured we could splurge."

Rachel laughed as they got in the limo and Charles knelt in front on her, expertly applying subtle make-up. "And I'd like our child to be able to go to college, too," she told him, squeezing his hand.

"College, smollege. I never went to college!"

"Are you sure?"

". . . No. But it sounds boring as hell." Jack stretched his legs out. "Bethany's gonna be there, right?"

"She's holding down the fort for us," Raoul said. "She should be at the restaurant when we get there."

He was right; Bethany was in a quiet back room with appetizers already served; Rachel went right for the spring rolls. When she turned to her mother, slightly embarrassed, the older woman merely laughed and hugged her.

"Feel pregnant yet?"

"Mmf!" Rachel swallowed and nodded before she hugged her mother back. "I'm sorry, Mom, I love you and I miss you ---"

"But you're pregnant and hungry, so get the hell out of your way," Bethany laughed. "That's why I ordered the appetisers early. Have at it, honey. You brought me an ultrasound picture, right?"

Jack handed her the copy they'd made, then hugged her back. "Just for you, Gramma."

"Damn right I'm a grandmother, now, and it's about damned time! I was thinking you'd forgotten your promise."

Jack blinked. "What promise?"

"The promise you made on Rachel's birthday, remember? That you'd give me grandkids?"

"Shit, you remember that?" Jack was somewhat amazed as he helped Rachel sit.

"I'm not quite the lush that everyone says I am," Bethany said with a smile. "And of course I remember. I also remember you two sneaking off early to have sex."

"With Hideki's little victory dance, I don't think it was so much 'sneaking' as just plain leaving," Jack reasoned. "And at least we waited until we got in the limo, you know?"

"Jack!" Rachel hissed, glaring at him.

It was too late. Bruce looked about ready to kill him. "You had sex in my limo?!"

"Sure did," Jack said cheerfully. "And it was damn good, too. What? You've never had sex in your limo before?"

"I'm going to kill you, Jack."

"Take a number, get in line," Jack retorted.

"Can we not fight tonight, please?" Hideki asked. "I mean, I'm all for seeing two hot men duking it out, maybe get some sweat rolling, tear some clothes . . . but let's do it without the anger, all right?" Jack settled back down with a grin and Bruce glowered, but dinner passed without further mishap.

***

"Dr. Morgenson wants me to come in early tomorrow," Jack said later that night as he lounged in the bathroom doorway and watched Rachel as she ran her hands lightly over her breasts, then over the curve of her stomach.

"Mm?" She sighed and dropped her head to one side, eyes fluttering while one hand slid between her legs. She ghosted the other hand over her breasts, toyed gently with her nipples, then dragged her fingers across her mouth as she panted.

Jack licked his lips and swallowed as he slid one hand down his torso and over his hips, curling it around his erection. "Just, ah, just wants a face-to-face check up, you know. Yeah . . ."

It amused him that Rachel was loud when he was actively involved, but quiet when she masturbated. He'd been a little concerned the first time she'd let him watch, but she'd assured him afterwards, as she lay there panting, that it was normal for her and she was entirely satisfied. And now the hand that had been on her breasts was rubbing her thigh and her breath hitched a little. Jack's heart jumped in accompaniment. He loved watching Rachel masturbate. They had a somewhat unspoken rule that he didn't join her unless invited, and that was a rule he was willing to abide by. She'd called him a pervert for enjoying it so much, but he'd only responded by telling her that she was fabulously gorgeous when she orgasmed, so how could she blame him?

Jack sank to his knees as Rachel arched her back and opened her eyes just enough to watch him. They were both breathing heavily. Jack dug the nails of his free hand into his thigh, mouth opening in a gasp as they broke skin and the pain shot straight to his pleasure centres, making him twitch and groan. He kept his eyes glued to Rachel, and it wasn't long before both of them were gasping with release. Jack took a few moments to catch his breath before he got back up and stumbled slightly to the bathroom sink, washing himself off. He grabbed a hand towel and dampened it with warm water, then went back to Rachel. She'd flopped over on her side with a smile, sighing when Jack wiped her off. He tossed the towel back toward the bathroom and then crawled into bed with her, snuggling close with a sigh.

"Hello, beautiful," he whispered in her ear.

Rachel laughed softly. "Hello, handsome."

Jack ran his hand along her side, her hip, her stomach and shoulder and arm, kissing the back of her neck. "Is that all I'm going to get?" he asked.

She laughed again and caught his wandering hand, holding it between her breasts as she settled in more. "The walls are thin, love. I'm sure Mom would ignore it, but I don't want any significant looks or remarks."

Jack snorted and tucked the covers more closely around her before he moved her hair out of the way and rested his head on the pillow. "You love me, right?" he asked quietly.

Her grip on his hand tightened. "I love you, Jack."

He sighed and closed his eyes as he relaxed. "Good."