"They're there now?"

"As we speak."

A grunt. How could one sound cause such a stir in her? She couldn't even explain it, even when he turned monosyllabic he was still...Meow. Catwoman ran her tongue across her lips. She couldn't even see him and she wanted him. She knew she had the same effect on him, all she had to do was purr into the comm and he'd go silent for a full minute before he'd remember that he was on the job and had a mission to accomplish. It was tempting to do it, but the presence of a murderer and her sycophantic BFF three stories below kept her from distracting him. She wanted this over as much as he did.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Watch them."

"That's it?"

"For now."

She sighed, pouting, disappointed that he wouldn't even give her a little hint into what he had in store. "You really think they're up to something, Br-"

"Yes."

"But it doesn't make any sense. Why now? Why go to all this trouble?"

"I don't know, and that's what bothers me."

"So, stick to the plan then?"

Another grunt. She wrinkled her nose in annoyance. "Fine. But if my loft gets overgrown by flesh eating fungi, you're paying the repair bills."

He grunted again, then the line went dead. Selina sighed and brushed her hair back away from her eyes as a gust of spring wind whipped across the roof top.

Hazel's fingers were aching when she got home. She had spent the whole day writing reports, as she had the past two days. Reports by pen, reports by keyboard, reports in the corner margins of superior's report requests; she was beginning to consider that if it went on much longer she would have to consider a career in costumed villainy, with a nice name like "The Paper Hater."

As she entered she was surprised to find how cold she had left her apartment, she didn't remember putting the thermostat to 70. She adjusted it up to a more comfortable temperature then put away her purse and keys. Finally, burdens handled, she began to make her way into her living room, dragging her scrunchie out of her hair in the process. She gave her head a toss to untangle her long brown hair, then gave the scrunchie a toss as well, not much caring where it landed at the moment.

"You always did look better with her hair down."

The voice made her jump, but from surprise rather than fright. She spun towards it, eyebrows jumping and eyes widening.

"Eric! Wha... What's all this?"

Her boyfriend stood in the middle of the room, a box of chocolates under her left arm and a bouquet of roses in the opposite hand.

"This? This is my 'Sorry I am such such a jerk' apology moment." he replied, smiling at her as he stepped forward, holding out the roses first.

Hazel took them in her arms, a smile beginning to tug at the corners of her lips. In the back of her mind, she briefly wished that he hadn't killed innocent plants in an attempt to tell her he was sorry. This was the sort of thing Pamela, the old Pamela, would have strangled a man for, but, given the circumstances it really was sweet. She put aside the brief displeasure, deciding to simply enjoy the gesture, taking the roses in her arms and breathing in their rich scent.

Next came the chocolates, and then a strong hug from him. He leaned in against her body and held her form to his in return, his head bowed, breathing in the scent of her sandalwood body wash. He had missed this scent, he had missed holding her, he had even missed worrying himself sick of the thought of her up there in that abysmal Asylum working with a bunch of dangerous low-lifes.

"I was dumb, Haze; really dumb. Please, will ya please forgive me? I'll do anything, I'll get you more flowers, I'll send you chocolates everyday, I'll learn to sky write just so I can-!"

"Sh, shh shh." She held two fingers up against his lips to stop him, smiling up at him in the process. "Eric... Eric you stupid boy, I was never mad at you in the first place. It was... It was just an argument, a rough patch. We've both gotten through it, right?"

He needed quickly, smiling happily at her. "Yeah. I'm sorry I wasn't more understanding. I get it now, I Really do. I was watching a news report about Pois- About Miss Isley. She really, she seems different. She's nothing like the lunatic I'd seen on news footage before, you really did get through to her. I understand now, I get why it meant so much to you, and I'm so sorry I wasn't more supportive."

The young doctor almost felt like she was going to cry, she had force herself not to, the last thing she wanted right now was the dreadful look of runny mascara on her cheeks. Still smiling she leaned up and kissed her boyfriend's lips, her hands framing his face as she gazed upon him with renewed adoration.

"I missed you too. I missed you so much, I'd come home at night and the apartment would just feel so empty. I missed coming in to find you had put the thermostat to some ungodly cold temperature, I missed finding you asleep on the couch watching a CSI rerun, I even missed the undercooked and long cold spaghetti you'd cook for me on late nights." She laughed softly as she leaned in close, hugging him tightly, worried that if she let go she might find it was all a dream.

Eric laughed along with her, returning her embrace and kissing the top of her head. For a few minutes they remained like that, arms entwined and eyes cold, savoring closeness. After awhile he reluctantly pulled away, giving her an apologetic smile. "I wish I could stay, but I've got work to do tonight."

Hazel's smile wilted at the idea of her loving boy cooped up in that cold coroner's office late at night. "Can't it wait till morning?"

"No. Sorry, Haze, it really can't. I've gotta get this done, but I promise I'll come by this weekend and we'll make up for some lost time, eh?" He gave her a little wink that made her smile again, even as her cheeks turned a rosy red.

"Promise?"

"Wild thorns and rabid bats couldn't keep me away." He replied, grinning boyishly at her.

Hazel groaned, slapping a hand to her face. "Oh gawd, Eric!"

He broke out laughing as she now chased him out of the apartment, pushing on the small of his back as she herded him toward the door. "Out! Out out out, take your horrible puns and get out of here before I change my mind and refuse to let you leave!"

Still laughing he spun on his heel at the door, stole a quick kiss from her, and then back-pedaled out into the hall, giving a goofy finger wave as he departed.

Hazel made her way back into her living room and picked up the bouquet of roses and took them to the kitchen. Beautiful red petals, soft and just barely blooming, they reminded her of Pamela's lips. The flowers would see at least a half a weeks life in the vase if she found them a nice spot with a little sun, she hoped she could make them last longer but she had her doubts.

With a contented sigh she made her way back to the living room, beyond it to the dining nook, where she placed the roses on the table just in front of her window. She breathed in their scent again, smiling to herself, then returned to the living room couch and sat down. She turned on David Letterman, then opened the box of chocolates. To her surprise, a hand written note tumbled from the box lid down onto the coffee table.

With one brow raised in curiosity Hazel reached out and picked up the paper. It had been carefully folded into the shape of a heart and the sight of it made her smile again. Eric had written it by hand, in deep green ink upon soft parchment stationary.

Haze,

Sorry times two. I want you to understand just how sorry I am. I was a complete asshole, and if you're reading this then that means you accepted the chocolates, and my apology. Thanks, gorgeous, you're a dream!

I want you to know, I'm going to make everything right by you. I finally get why you worked so hard to help Ivy, she's worth helping, she's wonderful, a goddess.

Hazel paused in her reading to smile thoughtfully, Eric really did understand, he finally saw in Pamela what she did. She was wonderful, she was a goddess, she could do so much for so many if they were only kind enough to give her a second chance. Her eyes dropped back to the paper and continued reading, and her smile began to fade.

I've found a way to make it all up to her. Soon she'll understand how sorry I am for hurting you, and for doubting her. I'm going to make everything right. I've found someone for her, someone special. Once I've reunited them, I think she'll finally have what she's been missing all these years. She'll be able to move on with her life, she'll be the person you told me she could be. And all the world will be green again.

It wasn't right, she wasn't sure what he meant, but whatever it was it was bad. These weren't the words of her beloved boyfriend, but the words of a man obsessed, worshipful, or worse, entranced. She had to find him, she had to find him before he did something stupid, before he fell victim to her the same way so many other men had.