"It's okay, little one," Adriana turned her head to the left and said to Arsenio, who had just begun crying. She could tell he was getting hungry, but she was in the middle of a post-partum pelvic exam. "I'll feed you in just a minute, amor." Arsenio quieted quickly after hearing her, almost as if he count understand what she had said.

"Everything looks great, you're recovering well," the doctor said. "Have you experienced any constipation, hemorrhoids, or incontinence?"

"No, nothing like that," Adriana said.

"Wonderful," the doctor said. "You should be fine to resume sexual activity."

"Oh.." Adriana said, knowing she and Bruce had already had sex countless times in the past week. "We already have..a lot."

"That's fine," the doctor said. "Would you like to discuss birth control options?"

"I used to take the pill a long time ago," Adriana said. "I didn't like how it made me feel though."

"There are non-hormonal options," Dr. Kapoor said. "Perhaps we can fit you for a diaphragm."

"You really do it all, Dr. Kapoor," Adriana laughed.

"Well, Bruce employs me as his personal physician and typically I'm just patching him up from trauma incidents," Dr. Kapoor said. "But I am passionate about all areas of medicine. Bruce gives me a very high budget for the facility here even though most of the equipment is never used. Truthfully, you being here has been the most exciting work I have done in a long time."

"Childbirth," she laughed. "Happy to be of service."

"Thank you," he said. "So, would you like to be fitted for a diaphragm?"

"Sure," she said.

.

.

.

"Hmmm.." Sidi said she held the baby.

"What?" Adriana asked in the middle of laughing at something Aymara said.

"Nothing," Sidi said.

"Tell me," Adriana said, immediately able to tell that Sidi was hiding something.

"It's nothing dear," Sidi said. "Just admiring your gorgeous little boy."

"He is a cutie isn't he?" Adriana said.

"He is," Sidi agreed.

"So how is the newlywed life?" Aymara asked.

"It's great," Adriana answered. "I'm so happy...everything is perfect."

"We're happy for you," Aymara said. "You had the most beautiful wedding I have ever been to."

"Yeah, we had a team working around the clock for a few weeks since it was so short notice," Adriana said. "I'm glad it turned out well."

"It did," Sidi said. "Your marriage is beautiful, despite what people are saying."

"Thanks," Adriana said.

Recently, she and Bruce had been in the news a lot. Somehow, the public had gotten wind of the fact that they did not have a prenuptial agreement. Many people thought that she was a money hungry schemer, and the mugshot and video footage of her destroying Madame Twyla's shop didn't help. Adriana knew that most of the public did not like her at all. Bruce had encouraged her to stop watching the news all together, but she couldn't help seeing the hatred everywhere she went. She always felt eyes glaring at her.

.

.

.

"It feels the same," Adriana said to Lucius as she tried on her suit.

"Well, it has quite a bit of stretch for movement," he said.

"So no alterations needed?" she asked.

"I wouldn't say so," Lucius said.

"Has Bruce talked to you yet about all this?" she asked.

"You mean, the secret I had been keeping for him for months about you being Shade?"

"Yes," she said.

"Oh yes," Lucius said. "He wasn't happy at all but I suppose he will get over it soon enough."

"He will," she said, sure of it. "We talked about it when we were in Canada. He's okay with me being Shade."

"Is that so?" Lucius said.

"Yes," she said. "Why? Did he say something different to you?"

"Not exactly," Lucius said. "He doesn't sound thrilled about it is the gist I got."

"Right..." she said. "I mean..it's dangerous work so I understand why he's not excited about it."

"The Batman and Shade," Lucius said. "Mr. and Mrs. Wayne."

"Yes," Adriana said. "And I've been telling him constantly that you told me over and over again to tell him the truth."

Lucius nodded.

"You just..." he said.

"Didn't listen," she said.

.

.

.

"She has the easiest job," Bruce said to Adriana as she nursed Arsenio.

"Who?" she asked.

"The nanny we hired," Bruce laughed.

"Oh," Adriana laughed too. "Yeah, I suppose she does. I have him all the time. But we'll need her more soon."

"Why do you say that?" he asked.

"You know.." she said. "I was thinking about returning to...work...soon."

"Work..." he repeated. Vigilantism. "So soon?"

"Well..yes...I'm excited to get back to it," she said. "Not a whole lot, just..you know, here and there when I can."

"I though maybe you would wait a while," he said. "Like maybe a few more years."

"Years?" she asked. "No..I don't think I could stay away from it for that long."

"I understand," he said.

Adriana finished feeding the baby while Bruce showered. Once he was done, he took the baby while she had a long shower. Once she was done, she saw the baby sleeping on the bed. Bruce was laying on his side next to him, watching him sleeping peacefully.

"Shhh.." Bruce said quietly and smiled at Adriana.

She walked over to the bed quietly and laid on the opposite side of the baby.

"His hair is growing a lot," Bruce said quietly and touched the top of his head gently.

"Yeah," she said. "And his little fingernails."

"Oh yeah," Bruce said and pointed to a tiny scratch on his cheek.

"Aww, did he scratch you?" Adriana asked.

"Well, in his defense, I was probably kissing him too much," Bruce said. "But I'm sure it was an accident."

"Hahah," Adriana laughed softly. "It's so hard to resist."

"It is," Bruce said.

"Did you have a good day at work?" she whispered.

"It was brilliant," Bruce said.

"Brilliant?" she laughed softly.

"My intuitiveness about what other people are thinking is becoming very beneficial," he said. "Profitable. I'm the best negotiator I've ever met."

"I see," she said. She was missing her gift and was unsure of how Bruce was picking up on it even though she felt a complete void when it came to hearing other's thoughts. She remembered the same thing happening to Damien. He became much better at his work, and was able to rise in rank while he was an officer. Because of the heightened intuition about others.

"It's amazing," he said.

"Mhmmm," she said and leaned forward to kiss Arsenio on his tiny nose. His tiny hand moved up to her face even though his eyes were closed.

"Ahhh," Bruce said quietly and gently stopped the baby's hand. "You don't want a scratch too."

Adriana laughed without making a sound and kissed the little hand. The baby opened his eyes slowly and looked up at them and yawned.

"How is everything he does so cute?" she said. "Like, that was the cutest yawn I've ever seen."

"I know," Bruce said as the baby began to close his eyes again. "Are you sleepy, Adriana?"

"Hmm, not yet," she said. "It's only eight."

"Maybe Evelyn can take the baby for a bit," he suggested. Evelyn was the nanny who had been working for them for about a week. She was a live-in but typically only worked two or three hours a day since either Adriana or Bruce had the baby most of the time.

"Hm?" she said and looked into his eyes. "Okay, I'll take him to her room."

"Okay," Bruce said and looked back down at he baby. "You need your rest little one."

"Mhmmm," Adriana said and sat up and moved to pick up the baby.

"I'll take him," Bruce stopped her.

"Okay," she replied as Bruce picked up Arsenio as gently as possible. "I'll see you soon, mi hijo."

Bruce smiled and left the room. Adriana laid back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. The room was dimly lit and quiet and it was making her a bit sleepier than she realized she was. She rubbed her eyes before closing them. She rolled over onto her side and felt herself drifting off.

"Sleeping?" she heard Bruce say quietly.

"Not quite," she said. "Almost."

He got back into the bed and laid behind her. She felt his hands roaming her body as he kissed her shoulder.

"I know it's the fourth time today.." he whispered.

"Mhmm," she said. "This morning..and your lunch break...and when you got home again this evening.."

"I know," he told her. "But you make me..." he said and groaned into her ear. "I can't think about anything else."

She turned to her left and looked over her shoulder up at him and placed a hand on his cheek. He kissed her lips gently.

"Thank you," he said and sat up to take off his shirt.

"For what?" she asked.

"For putting up with me," he said. "I know it's a lot to ask. I hope I'm not wearing you out."

"It's okay," she laughed. "I love you."

"I love you too," he said, almost slurring his words at the end of the sentence as he kissed her again.

She left him massaging her thigh and lifting the satin gown she was wearing before reaching forward to caress her chest. She felt his other hand sliding under her her right side. He then began to hold her chest with both hands while placing kisses in the back of her neck through her hair.

"So beautiful," he murmured against her skin as she rubbed his forearm.

He pulled the thin gown up until it was around her waist and then gently nudged her top leg forward. His breath was hot in her ear as he entered her. She felt his body freeze for a few seconds before he began to move slowly. He released a few short breathy moans he let out against her neck as he went in deeper.

They began to kiss as he held onto her hips with one hand and her chest with the other. She reached back and pulled his boxers down further until he grabbed them and pushed them down to his knees before kicking them off and entering her again.

"Slippery," he whispered with a laugh in her ear.

"Mmhm," she chucked and then stopped him. "Oh...I almost forgot. I got a diaphram today. Maybe want to put it in before-"

"Oh," he said. "Where is it?"

"In the bathroom," she said as he got up. "It's in a little box with some other stuff by my sink-"

"Got it," he said and she watch him walk into the bathroom. She heard the sink running for a bit. He was back a few moments later with the small white box and a small hand towel.

"Nice cheeks," she said to him when he returned.

"Nothing compared to yours," he said and opened the box. "I just washed my hands and the device. Now, relax."

"Hm?" she said. "You want to put it in?"

"Why not?" he smiled.

"You know how to?" she asked.

"I'm very experienced in these things, baby," he said and pulled out the tube of sperm gel.

"Oh...okay," she said.

"If you don't mind of course," he said.

"I don't," she said, half laughing. "Go ahead."

She laid flat on her back with her legs slightly apart. Her eyes looked around as she heard the sound of him filling the diaphragm with the gel. After nudging her knees back a bit he inserted the device and checked the rim of it with his finger to make sure it was secure once it was inside.

"There," he said, and wiped his hands on the towel.

"That was fast," she said. "Like you've done it a million times."

"Mhm," he said and crawled over her and kissed her. "Hopefully a million more times, but with you alone."

"Nice save," she laughed.

"I try," he said and reached down and began to enter her again.

She rested her hands on his shoulders as he went in slowly again.

"Magic," he breathed with a smile and kissed her lips.

After the kiss he went up to standing on his knees and held her thighs back as he went quicker. She looked up at his incredibly chiseled body, his luminous skin, and his deep brown eyes. He was an absolutely gorgeous man. He went even faster and his gaze was diverted as he became distracted by the movement of her breasts. He leaned down and took one of her nipples into his mouth.

She could tell he wasn't ready for the volume of milk that entered his mouth and much it spilled around his lips and dripped down the side of her chest. His lips stayed latched onto her as his thrusting became slower and she realized he was drinking. She cradled his head as he went slower and slower.

"Here," she said and moved his to the other breast. The act was incredibly relieving as she was engorged most of the time. His hips moved at a leisurely pace and she noticed the slightly drowsy look in his half opened eyes.

He kissed her lips when he was done and began to thrust a bit faster for only a few seconds before he released inside of her.

"Wow," he said when he was done. He rolled over onto his back. "I was almost sure I'd done everything."

"Haha," she laughed and rested her hand on her forehead.

"That was amazing," he said. "God, I love you."

"I love you too," she said as he turned to kiss her again.

"Adriana," he said and looked into her eyes.

"Hm?" she said and caressed his cheek.

"I..." he said, as if he was having difficulty thinking of words to say what he was thinking. "I can't let you go back out there..as Shade."

"Huh?" she asked, not expecting this. "What do you mean?"

"I just can't do it," he said. "I've been worried, and I thought I could just...step aside and support you but-"

"Bruce-" she said.

"I can't risk anything happening to you. Please, Adriana...for me. I can't..I just can't have anything happening to you. It's too dangerous-" he said.

"You can't ask me to stop Bruce..please-" she heard the pleading in her voice.

"I'm begging you!" he said, his voice raising a bit. "If you knew how much I love you-"

"Bruce..you leave almost every night. You're always in danger and I support you because I understand it...We have to fight for what we believe in. You can't ask me to just...quit!"

"I will die from worry,Adriana," he said. "And I'm not being dramatic. I would actually suffer cardiac arrest. Please..don't do this to me."

"Bruce..."

"Please," he pleaded with his eyes.

"I'll..." she said, unsure. "I'll think about it."