Edward lay awake on the couch the clock on the wall ticking insistently as the minutes passed agonizingly slow. It had been over an hour since Elizabeth had gone to bed but adrenaline was still pumping through his system and he couldn't fall asleep. Sitting up with a sigh he flicked on the small book light sitting on the end table. His eyes drifted to the umbrella on the floor that Elizabeth had used to defend herself. He stifled a snigger, although surprised at first at her violent reaction her use of the umbrella had quickly reminded him of the Penguin that in combination with her ridiculous outfit…Edward snickered again.

Standing up he brushed out his pants and silently went over to Elizabeth's door. Pressing his ear against it he listened for any sign that Elizabeth was awake. There was none. Turning the handle slowly and pushed the door open crossing his fingers that it didn't squeak. Lady luck was on his side because he was able to creep in without a sound. The curtains were open a crack and with the city lights Edward had just enough light to sneak over to Elizabeth's bookshelf and choose something to read. He was slinking back towards the door when something reflected in the neon light caught his eye. It was a glass vase in which sat a single dried out rose. Edward smiled to himself.

"Edward…" It was just a mumbled but Edward froze fearing he'd been caught. When nothing happened he turned around slowly. Elizabeth was tossing in her sleep.

"Edward," she whispered again followed by a slight moan. A cocky smile graced his lips. She was dreaming about him. Elizabeth mumbled something but this time he couldn't make it out. Tiptoeing over to her bed Edward bent down so he could her what she was saying.

"…Edward…that's not a real answer…please…oh Edward…you're such an ass…but it's a nice ass…you pervert…" She groaned and rolled over pulling some of her covers off her. Edward stood a hit of red on his cheeks. Her pajama top had ridden up revealing one of her breasts. There was an unwanted stirring in his nether-regions and Edward rushed quietly from the room. Once he was back on the couch Edward allowed himself to breathe and think. He knew he was physically attracted to Elizabeth, even if he didn't want to be, he'd known that for a while. Shaking his head Edward lay back on the couch and pulled the covers over him. He grabbed the reading light and flipped open the book.

Elizabeth awoke to the smell of eggs and bacon. Her mouth started to water, licking her lips she rolled out of bed. Nearly drooling at this point she pulled on her housecoat. She was about to open her bedroom door when it swung open. Edward was standing outside, looking slightly ruffled from sleeping on the couch but more importantly he was holding a plate of bacon and eggs.

"Oh!" He said in surprise, "I was just coming to wake you up."

"You made breakfast?"

"Yes Miss Obvious, I woke up early and thought I'd make enough for both of us."

"Why thank you, then. I'll just get dressed." Elizabeth shut the door and changed quickly, throwing on her wig she left the bedroom to satisfy her rumbling stomach. Edward had flicked on the TV and was waiting for her on the couch. Elizabeth sat down on the opposite end and picked up her plate. The 8 o'clock news had just started.

"Last night Calendar Man was captured while running from police. Maximillian Zeus was nearly captured as well but managed to escape the police in the sewers. This morning the body of ex-City Prosecutor Anthony Greaves washed up at Gotham Bay, the police have not yet released a cause of death but it is believed to be a mob hit. Greaves recently quit his job as a Gotham attorney for unknown reasons, further investigations are to be made. Now the weather…"

"Greaves wasn't that the—" Edward began to say.

"Yes." Elizabeth said stiffly, "yes, he was."

"Ah…is everything alright?" He asked noticing Elizabeth's pale face.

"Not really Edward. After my trial Greaves told me I was supposed to go Stonegate. That "they" wanted me to go to Stonegate, then warned me to run." Elizabeth poked at her eggs. "Now he's dead."

"And you think this has something to do with you."

"Well yeah, they're saying it was mob hit and the mob has…showed interest in me since I got out."

Edward set down his half eaten plate and turned fully to face Elizabeth. "The mob is showing interest in you, do tell."

Elizabeth sighed and set her plate down as well. "It was a few days after my trial I was out looking for a job when these two guys pulled up…" Edward didn't say anything while she regaled her tale of kidnap and escape from mob. He just sat there nodding occasionally. "And then Batman just drove off. Nothing else has happen so far though, so I don't know what's going on."

"I see…" Edward tapped his fingers together apparently thinking. "When it's safe for me to move you are coming with me."

"Like hell I am!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"If they can find you, you're not safe."

"I can take care of myself thanks!"

"This is the mob! They could be anyone, anywhere, just waiting for a moment to strike."

"So I'm going to be safer with a Gotham Rogue? Where Batman could bust in at any minute? Yeah right, I'm staying here."

Edward clenched his fists in frustration. "What makes you think that Batman doesn't have this place under surveillance, bugged or watched?"

"Because if it was bugged I would hear it and if you thought it was being watched you wouldn't be here anymore."

"Oh you'd "hear it", what do you have super hearing?" Edward said sarcastically.

"Uh…yeah! In case you've forgotten I'm a genetic mutant," Elizabeth ripped off her wig and threw it across the room. "There's so much noise in this world pounding against my ears, so many smells assaulting me, so much little detail that nobody else sees; that sometimes I wish I were dead! But I'm not I have to put up with the constant whine of technology, every heinous odor, and the micro-detail on everything!" She collapsed back on the couch bringing her knees up and clutching them to her chest; she was fighting back tears. "Freak, mutant, murderer," Elizabeth mumbled to herself.

Edward's annoyance at her stubbornness was seeping away; it was hard to be mad at someone when they were having a breakdown in front of you. He was relieved that she wasn't crying into him this time but if anything he felt anymore awkward and unsure of what to do. Hesitantly he got up and picked up the discarded wig. Carefully he approached Elizabeth and crouched down in front of her. Edward opened his mouth several times trying to think of something to say.

"What ever happened to seeing the bright side of things?" Elizabeth froze and lifted her head slowly. Her eyes were watery but narrowed in anger. Edward scrambled backwards but was prevented from escaping by the coffee table. He "eep-ed" as Elizabeth's fist came flying at him, it stopped a few threatening millimeters from his jaw. Elizabeth was breathing heavily trying to control her anger.

"You're such an idiot sometimes…" She took her wig from his hand and went to put it back on her head but Edward stopped her.

"Elizabeth, you should be proud of who you are, you shouldn't hide."

"Why? Because I look better without the wig?" Elizabeth scoffed.

"Yes, and because you have the opportunity to see things as nobody else." A light blush flashed across Elizabeth's face.

"Thanks, Edward, but I'm still not coming with you."

"Fine, at least let me check in on you now and then?"

"Sure…hand me the phone will ya'." Edward did. Sitting back on the couch he continued to eat the lukewarm food as Elizabeth called somebody. Edward wasn't paying too much attention to their conversation but he heard on the other end a distinctly male voice. Had Elizabeth gotten herself a boyfriend? No of course not! But then again why not, it wasn't like she wasn't attractive and he supposed she had a good personality. As he said the day they met, there should be plethora of men that find her attractive. Elizabeth hung up and picked up her plate, wolfing down her food.

"So what do you want to do?" She asked between mouthfuls.

"Hmm? Oh, I don't know."

"Well I don't have work tonight and the only thing I have planned today is my consoling session with Dr. Grout at three. So I'm here watching you until then."

"Well I say you're the prettiest guard I've ever had." The corner of Elizabeth's mouth twitched.

"I've called a friend to bring you over a change of clothes, they should be here in an hour or so."

"Just a friend? Nothing more?"

"No, he's gay. As I've said before Gotham doesn't take well to freaks, I'm even less likely to find someone now."

"Maybe you're just looking in the wrong spots."

"Hmph. Maybe…we could watch a movie. I have a pretty good horror collection."

"More Jonathan's type but why not?"

"Cool, pick one out then. Just over there in the cabinet." Edward chose a movie while Elizabeth rinsed the dishes and put them away. He had chosen one of the few Elizabeth hadn't watched before, a B-rated Japanese horror movie called "Chakushin Ari" or "One Missed Call". An English version had come out a few years ago but she had never seen it and the original version, that Alyssa had given her for the winter solstice last year, had sat unopened on her shelf collecting dust. They were half way through the movie when there was a knock at the door.

"Oh!" Elizabeth exclaimed pausing the movie. "Go hide in my room or something." She shooed Edward off the couch. Edward watched Elizabeth peek through the peephole from a crack in the bedroom door.

"Evan! Hey! Thanks for bringing these over."

"Of course," Evan said peeking around the corner of the door, "So…can meet him?"

"No, he's still sleeping."

"Wore him out, eh?"

"No!" Elizabeth said a little too quickly.

"Oh really…?" Evan pushed past her, "just a peek." Edward backed away from the door there wasn't anywhere to hide in the room. Maybe the kid wouldn't recognize him. Fat chance. The door swung open and Evan dropped the pile of clothes in shock, slowly Evan backed up his eyes never leaving Edward.

"E-Elizabeth…I don't know how to t-tell you but he's a-a…"

"Charming, misunderstood genius?" Edward offered. Evan's mouth was moving uselessly.

"Annoying yet surprisingly handsome twit?" Elizabeth suggested.

"A-a Rogue!" Evan finally squeaked.

"Well I suppose he is that too," Elizabeth said thoughtfully, "anyways. Thanks for the clothes." She pushed the pile further inside the door and shut it so Edward could change. Evan pulled Elizabeth tight to him and whispered in her ear.

"You're harboring a criminal!"

"I think of it as helping a friend."

"Friend? Friend!? He's a lunatic for Christ's sake!"

"His insanity has been highly overrated and at least he isn't afraid of me, because I know you still are! I saw your face when I answered the door without my wig. You were terrified."

"Just shock, I'm n…" Elizabeth was staring him down hard and he quail under her gaze. "Okay fine, me and Carlos are still a bit afraid of you, but you have to give us some credit, we're trying."

"Good then you won't tell anyone, not even Carlos, who my guest is understood?" Evan shook his head hurriedly. "Great, now would you like some pop or something for the road?"

"Uh…sure," Evan's eyes drifted back to the door where Edward was changing. "So…did you and him…you know…"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "No, don't be silly."

"Well, I would if I were you and then drop him like a hot stick."

"Please she can't get rid of me that easily." Evan and Elizabeth jumped at Edward's voice. He looked rather sexy in the yellow and brown plaid shirt and loose jeans Evan had borrowed from Carlos. A brown hipster cap and his uncut messy hair made him unrecognizable as the Riddler.

"Looking good," Elizabeth said whistling.

"I feel like an idiot."

"Oh don't be a baby, I've seen some of those disguises you wear, at least there's no fake mustache."

"Don't dis-value the fake mustache."

"Fine, it's not like you're going out anyways, so you can take off the cap." Edward chuckled and removed the cap. Evan nudged her winking.

"Shut up, you idiot," Elizabeth said pushing Evan's drink into his hand, "and get out of here, you have work soon."

"Fine, fine, I'll tell Carlos I say hi." Evan let himself out the door winking again before he shut it.

"He's such an ass sometimes, always trying to hook me up with people."

"Do you ever let him?"

"Nah, there would be too many questions with the wig and stuff," Elizabeth took two more pops from the fridge and set them down on the table.

"So you've never…"

"Not since college, I've been too busy since then."

"Ah yes working and then toiling towards revenge." Edward joined Elizabeth on the couch.

"I wouldn't say "toiling". I wanted to go back to college eventually, just not for the same reasons."

"But just think all that time has gone to waste now." Elizabeth looked at him, he was up something. "Unless…you find something else to do with your skills…" Ignoring him Elizabeth pressed play. Edward sank back into the couch watching Elizabeth carefully. She shifted uncomfortably trying not to show any expression over what he had just suggested and she knew what he was suggesting: help me. Or at least become a criminal; use her knowledge of chemistry and her special skills to commit crime. Elizabeth held in a laugh. Apparently he hadn't figured her our yet.