I'll put up another today I guess. In a way, I need to get this all, because I'm writing a book and I plan to have that totally done by September, but I have to really refine each one (this one has been totally rewritten today). Then again, to have a break from my book I write and this is what I write. Maybe I should slow down my posting xD

/-^l^-\ Next week. Tuesday. /-^l^-\

Alison didn't really want to wake Jonathan up. She just stayed where she was, silently. It gave her some time to think alone as well. She'd come home with his last night; she'd agreed to that because she agreed they needed to talk.

He'd been surprised. On Friday she'd been quite callous, even lightly insulted him with the intention of being mean. Accepting his offer for her to come round to sit and have it be just them was a sudden change of heart. And one well welcomed. The first hour had been spent arguing. Then Alison crying in his arms for half an hour; then a calm discussion. Then repeat.

Until finally they got one last big tossup out into the air and relaxed, both of them very placid once they'd spoken their mind. Jonathan was annoyed because she didn't listen to things she didn't want to hear and because she refused to accept what he was saying and she was way too mean sometimes. Alison was rattled because he had scared and hurt her and she trusted him and she didn't feel as easy as she did before and he took offence too easily.

After that; things suddenly seemed fine. Now, they were asleep on his sofa having exhaustedly fallen into uneasy sleep; only they didn't fall asleep laid down so they must have moved like that at some point and it must have been Alison because he fell asleep first. Her actions utterly betrayed her words, and it was often said actions speak louder.

Damn it...

"Morning," whispered Jonathan. Alison clutched him. He was warm.

"Hi."

"I'll make breakfast. Drive you home, you can get changed or whatever it is you need to do and I'll take us to work."

"Wait," she whispered, holding on. He tilted his head as best he could manage laid down. It was an automatic response to her slight protest of him getting up.

"What?" he asked.

"We're not done. I am probably never going to understand really. I can slightly, I can accept what you're saying but I'm not sure that I can forgive."

"Can we forget everything about it?" he asked, wondering if that was what she wanted.

"Not forget. This doesn't mean I won't put it to one side however. Maybe not forget, but just not dwell. So I guess I'm..."

"Are you saying sorry?" he gaped. She sighed and nodded slowly.

"Yes. I'm saying sorry." She just felt like she needed to trust him and in a scary place like Gotham he was the first person to be there for her. Truth was, there was a bit of dependency on him from her.

"Don't. It's me who should be sorry. I really am sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for. You didn't ask for what I did to you."

"I'm sorry for not listening to you when you tried to explain. It doesn't make sense, why you would act so involved and sinister in a prank... but it makes me think you're being honest."

"I am," he nodded. "I promise I am." He was. He did it for the sheer amusement he'd get at the expense of her sanity. He had unorthodox means of doing so but he didn't... he never really intended to go through with it. He was certain of that.

"Nice to know," she smiled, blushing a little.

"How do you want things to be better?"

"I don't know."

"Okay," he nodded quickly. He couldn't let her wind herself up about it. "Wow... your eyes are blue," he remarked, unable to help himself. Her eyes were brown the last time he checked.

"I ran out of contact lenses."

"Why do you wear brown contact lenses?"

"I just wanted to try something new out."

"You look even prettier with blue eyes," he complimented, then recoiled. Did he really just say that? Did I really just say that? Oh no... the way she is looking at me - I did! I just said that! Prick! What a prick! Too soon or what? You're such an ass.

He wanted to wake up. Maybe he was dreaming again and he'd wake up. But the look on her face was inconceivable, and beyond his subconscious. He wasn't dreaming - he had actually just said that. Not that it was something he was likely to say; it'd just slipped out.

"Even prettier?" she asked, daunted.

"I didn't mean for that to come out," he said sheepishly, sitting up quickly and getting up. She shot up after him and grasped his arm, clinging on.

"Jon," she said. He bit his lower lip. "Oh, don't dare do that! You know what it was like for you trying to get my attention - don't ignore me! Don't blank me!"

"I'm not. I'm simply avoiding you, and your eye contact."

"Awh," she said lowly, not really connecting with it though. Jonathan turned to her and embraced her calmly.

"Sorry; it slipped out, it won't happen again - but it's true," he smiled, "I'll go do breakfast. Go get in the shower if you want, towels are in the cupboard in there."

"Seriously?"

"No; I put the offer there to make you feel stupid," he frowned, "don't be so naive!"

She gave him a hurt look; a genuine one. He felt pitifully guilty and squeezed her hand as some form of apology before going to do as he said. She did get in the shower, eyeing the door in case he wandered in and peeped at her through the opaque shower curtain she was peeping form the edge of. She also knew that he wouldn't do that which made her concerns more irrational.

They ate, he took her home and when she emerged only 15 minutes later she looked like a goddess. He smiled nervously in her presence. Still things weren't okay but they were getting better. He handed her his flask full of tea and she took a long drink appreciatively. He was glancing at her.

"What?" she asked.

"Blue eyes," he smiled. She took out her glasses and popped them on. She looked more like a business woman that way; it sent a shiver down his spine as his association of that was she was stern. She kind of was.

"Thanks," she said, handing him the flask. He took a sip. "Did you make sure it was from where I sipped so you could share spit and claim to people you've kissed me?"

"Hi there Alison, nice to have you back," he sniped, "I've... missed that, so much."

"Are you ill?"

"Exactly. And if I wanted a kiss... I'd just... ask!"

"No you wouldn't!"

"No, you're right," he said nervously, "I have kissed you."

"What?"

"I kissed your cheek on your porch, kissed your temple when I left your house. So, that isn't a proper kiss but it's a form of. That's me trying to show that I care; I just haven't ever cared before."

"You'll get there," she frowned, holding her hand out to him. He wearily glanced at her and took it, kissing the back of her hand gently and keeping hold. "I think you're quite good at it when you want to be."

"But you're going to be keeping your distance tomorrow."

"Why?"

"Because it's just what you'll do. You'll get shy at the end of the day when you see me again; I want to give you a lift tonight. You'll get out of the car feeling a little uncertain and then tomorrow you'll either head away from me or you'll be angry. Probably both. But I don't mind; I think that's something you need to do; I just wish I knew why."

"You know how you told me you needed me, because I'm all you have?" she asked.

"Yeah," he whispered.

"I need you too."

They both knew that was their screwed up version of saying 'I love you' without them really being in love. Or at least not confirming they were in love. But they both knew they needed each other; sometimes, more than anything.

Screwed up love for screwed up people. Awwh?