Chapter 7

…Riley's P.O.V….

My eyes shot open as thunder cracked; I was sweating, breathing quickly. I looked over to Zoe, still asleep. I wished the dreams of that last week would leave me alone. Like Bruce had said, that was behind us now. We had both made mistakes. I had mentally blocked out the decisions I had made leading up to that night. I had been trying to forget the accusations, late night arguments, the mistakes, almost leaving for good, I'd left a few times but always came back. I always went to California, Logan and Riley had had a place there by the beach that Bruce and I had bought. A lot like Zoe and I's home here. I felt like I could be someone different out there…

I looked over to Zoe once more, wondering if I would ever tell her about what had happened years ago. I would, when she was old enough o understand. It was slightly lighter outside, the room lit up followed by thunder seconds later. I tried to relax, sitting up but keeping my arm around Zoe as she shifted next to me. I laid my head against the headboard of the bed. I ran my hand through Zoe's hair. I didn't go back to sleep that night, afraid of the nightmare memories continuing…

The storm continued through the night never letting up, I became used to the sounds around me so when the doorbell rang I literally jumped, being brought out of my trance. It took me a moment to realize it had been the doorbell. I rubbed my eyes looking outside; it was brighter, obviously morning now. I looked at the clock beside my bed, 7:00 AM. I looked outside again, it looked like 5 AM out there cause the storm. I got up slowly, moving my arm and resting Zoe's head on the pillows making sure she was still asleep. I grabbed my robe from a nearby chair putting it on and sleepily heading down the hall, down the stairs, and to the front door.

Who in the world would be here at 7AM? All I could think was that maybe Alfred had come back, but I honestly had no idea. I looked out the sight hole on the door; no one, no other car, nothing. I slowly unlocked and opened the door a crack, the wind rushed in. I shivered slightly looking around quickly; I then spotted something on the doormat. I opened the door only enough to get it. I closed the door quietly while looking at the envelope. It didn't say anything so I opened it pulling out a picture that was inside. It was of Zoe and I at the park, I was baffled at why anyone would leave this for us. What did it mean?

"Momsy," Zoe said sleepily as I turned around.

"Good morning sweetie," I said slipping the picture and envelope in my robe pocket without a second thought of it. The storm had obviously waked her up, along with me not being there.

I continued while picking her up, "Did the storm wake you up?"

She nodded yes, "Jake and me both got scared."

"Aww I'm sorry hon, do you want to go lie back down?"

"Nuh uh, I'm hungry," she said suddenly piping up.

"O—h, I see. Well I guess I'll just have to make us something to eat then," I said as we went into the kitchen.

I sat her down on the barstool and went to the fridge.

"Let's see here," I said looking in the fridge, "Any suggestions?" I asked Zoe.

"Ummmm, cinnamon toast?" she suggested.

"Hmmmm, that does sound pretty good. And easy to make," I laughed closing the fridge and getting the bread from the cupboard.

"One piece for me, and one for Jake please," Zoe said.

"Coming right up," I smiled.

I put three pieces of bread in the toaster and then went to get out the cinnamon for us.

"What are we doing today Momsy?"

"Well," I said while thinking, after that picture we should lie low, take it easy for a day or two unless anything happens, "We could go see a new movie or watch rehearsals over at the theatre," I said casually.

"Rehearsals at the theatre?" she asked tilting her head.

I knew Zoe loved three things: acting, movies, and whoever her actor crush was at the moment.

"Uh huh, for a new show," I answered getting out the orange juice from the fridge.

"Are you in it Momsy?" she asked curiously.

"No," I laughed.

"Is it a musical?" she asked.

She's full of questions this morning, "No it's a drama."

"Oh… What's a drama?"

I got out two glasses and sat them down, "A drama is…" I tried to think about how to relate it to her so she'd understand, "Well, it's not a comedy," I laughed thinking.

Then I got it, movies! She knows and loves movies, "Movies can be drama's too, you've seen some with me."

"I have?" she asked.

"Uh huh," I said getting our toast from the toaster and bringing it over to the counter with plates, forks, and cinnamon of course, "Like the movies where something sad or bad happens to a character."

"Like the ones you and Anya watch sometimes?" She asked tilting her head.

"Yes," I laughed lightly. Anya and I had our occasional movie nights filled with classics like The Notebook, Titanic, Gone with The Wind, and many other chick flicks.

"Okiedokie," she said not listening all the way, reaching for the cinnamon and putting it on her toast, "I wanna see it."

"Really?" I said putting cinnamon on my toast, "You don't want to go to the movies?" I was flabbergasted.

"I wanna see what a drama play is," she smiled.

"Alright then!" I smiled, "Today we shall go to the theatre!" I announced picking up my glass of orange juice. Zoe picked up her glass and we clanged them together.

*** Outside the house ***

A stealthy black Mercedes with tinted windows slowly came to a stop at the end of the driveway. The driver looked over to the house of Riley Damien one last time before picking up his cell phone and dialing his boss.

"She took the picture boss. What's the next move?"

*** A building thousands of miles away ***

"Good. Step one complete, time to move on to step two."

"You got any ideas yet?"

The man laughed lightly, "I think I might have a little one," the man said picking up a picture from the desk he was sitting at, "We'll send you over the orders. Go back to the hotel and wait until further notice," and with that the man hung up the phone.

He looked at the picture in his hand.

"What is it boss?" One of the other men asked.

"Little change of plans to help speed things along, that's all," he smirked sitting the picture down.

It was already midday in Gotham; he looked out the windows of Bruce Wayne's office.

One of the other men's phones rang, and after a moment he looked to the boss. "Wayne just entered the building boss," he told him.

"Well," the boss said standing up, "Let's go greet 'em," he said standing up and putting his jacket on as they left the room.

Who's the boss? Why was he in Bruce's office? Read on to find out! :) Don't forget to review!