Three!

/-^1^-\ Christmas Day. /-^1^-\

Alison pulled the door back and glanced up at Jonathan, smiling. He was holding flowers and a bottle of wine in his hands.

"I swear I had this planned before Christmas day. Then I got blathered with you, kissed you and now it looks like I'm bargaining for access. I'm not."

She blushed slightly and approached him, going to peck him lightly on the lips. Lack of control saw them making out on the porch. That was also kind of all they had done last night out on one of the small balconies on Wayne Manor too. They were forced to stop when a load of snow from the roof landed on Jonathan. Alison was hysterical at his misfortune.

"Ahh, that's cold," he remarked, "let's hope it's symbolic of... purity or... confetti or something."

"I'll get you a towel," she laughed, wandering upstairs. He stepped in and shut the door, taking his shoes off. She came back down, giving him a towel. He exchanged his gifts for the towel. She glanced at the wine, in adoration because it was her favourite. "Taking the heir of the dog method?" she smirked. He raised a brow, blowing air out in an exasperated manner.

"I'm not drinking ... maybe ever again," he said, "my head is killing me."

"Mine too," she grimaced, placing the flowers into the (what had always been to his awareness) empty vase in the middle of the table, "thanks Jon," she smiled, "how long are you staying for?"

"I hope you don't mind me staying long enough to chat?"

"I was hoping you would actually. Maybe even for Christmas Dinner?"

"...Mmm," he grinned.

He could tell Alison was feeling like muck in the bottom of a skip. She was wearing a slack knit jumper and leggings which weren't her normal attire even for day wear. He hadn't exactly dressed up himself, in a thin red flannel checked shirt and plain black jeans.

They both prepared Christmas dinner together. Alison confessed this would be her first Christmas dinner which upset Jonathan greatly. Even he had experienced one sit down dinner with others. They did also open the wine, just for one drink. Or two. Over dinner though, so it was fine. They were happily chatting, having fun with each other, mainly in the form of petty taunts as per usual. It was only when they sat down and cuddled up on the sofa by the fire that they really spoke about what they needed to.

"How do you feel about things?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder

"You mean so much to me," he whispered into her ear, "I'm still sorry, I still regret what I did. And I just think every day that I am so lucky you have given me a second chance. I promise, no matter what, I won't blow it."

"It doesn't bother me now. The initial shock was just the hard part to overcome. I trust you more than... I trust you more than... I trust Bruce, and I didn't start off with a cat-mouse relationship with him like I did with you."

"We've been testing each other from day one," laughed Jonathan, "in little ways."

"It's fun," she giggled.

"Well, let's not stop," he said, raising a brow. He picked his head up and felt her forehead. "You have a fever."

"I don't feel well," she nodded. "I think I got a bit of a cold from our walk in the rain."

"Ugh, don't tell me you kissed me because you're ill!" he teased.

"No! Shouldn't you be bothered I am ill and I've kissed you?"

"I don't mind."

"I genuinely feel thrilled about last night. I have been wishing I'd get over myself on the whole loneliness for a long time and just do that. I... generally, think panic over-rides pleasure, except for that instance. Like bungee jumping; we nearly all want to do it yet most of us have that terrible fear the bungee will snap or something. I totally blame inebriation for the change of heart, but thank heck, right?"

He wasn't focusing massively. 'panic over-rides pleasure'. Did that mean that fear held more sovereignty over pleasure? For a moment he was concerned; concerned that such a thing would realistically annihilate his chances with Alison.

"Where do we stand?" he blurted out.

"You mean..."

"Dating? Going out? Testing waters?" he quizzed "Getting married!" he chuckled.

"Where should we?" she smiled, breaking to a laugh as he pulled her a demented look of urgency.

"Awh... that question is just a mask for your shyness, Ally. It's cute. You know what I want; you've known for a while as well because I did tell you. You only chose to respond as if I didn't mean it that way but you knew the truth."

"I know. I'm sorry about that."

"Well, I understand. And that's where I'm at. It leaves you to make your mind up."

She sat up and nodded, leaning in for a kiss. He took this as a positive sign and smiled too, kissing her back quickly. I WANT AN ANSWER NOW! PLEASE!

"I'd like there to be an us."

"Then so be it," he whispered softly. It was the same tone he used when speaking to victims, telling them to get control of the situation though he knew they wouldn't. But this was because he was concerned. Was she wrong; were fear and pleasure equals?

He now had a new objective.

"You look creepy when you smile," she remarked. He didn't know he was smiling, he didn't feel like he was. Jonathan winced and raised a brow.

"So... subtle aren't we, Alison?"

"It's because you don't smile much!" she shrugged.

"Don't expect me to smile again now," he huffed. She grinned cheekily which lightened up his mood. Anyway, she was right. He let a heartfelt chuckle slide. "It's nice to see you smile. Ally, when you said you wished things would be better? What did you mean? What do you want to better?

"Everything, sometimes I want everything to be better. Sometimes, I just want the little things to be better," she whispered.

"I want to be the one who does that for you," he vowed, going in for another kiss. Oh, he could EASILY get used to this.

Oh Alison :')