"Its called lactational amenorrhea," Dr. Kapoor told Adriana. "Since you are breastfeeding almost exclusively, this can happen. It means, typically for a period of 3 to 6 months you may not experience a period," he said. "It could last much longer depending on you long you breastfeed. So the past ten weeks since you've given birth, not having a period yet is totally normal."
"Okay," she said with relief. "I almost thought maybe I was pregnant again."
"No, your blood test came back negative," he said. "We'll keep an eye on this, but I'm certain that once the baby has weaned your cycle will return."
"Thank you, Doctor."
"And how is your shoulder healing?" he asked.
Dr. Kapoor knew that Bruce was the Batman, and Adriana decided that it was finally time to reveal to him that she was Shade a week ago. Now she could tell him about her injuries and he was totally understanding.
"Much better," she said. "Still hurts but it feels like it's healing."
She had been thrown down a flight of steps while stopping a burglar who had broken into the apartment building of an elderly woman. Fortunately, she was able to stop him in the end but she still was in pain from the fall.
"Yes," Dr. Kapoor said and felt her shoulder. "It looks like the swelling is down."
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"A helipad?" DeMarco asked Damien as he was being given a tour of Damien's mansion.
"Yes," Damien answered.
"Do you have a helicopter?" DeMarco wanted to know.
"No," Damien replied. "Not yet, at least."
"So, are you gonna tell me how in the hell you can afford a place like this? Did you find millions in another one of the Joker's storage sites?"
"No," Damien answered seriously. "Can't tell you how I got the money. Signed a bunch of shit."
"Oh damn..." DeMarco said as if impressed. "But you know you can trust me, buddy. I'd never tell a soul."
"Can't do it," Damien said plainly.
"Does it have anything to do with our search? The Joker?" he asked.
"Yep," Damien said.
"So he's alive? Who paid you off?" DeMarco wanted to know.
"No clue if he's alive, DeMarco. And like I said, I can't tell you shit," Damien said. "Not about the money and how I can afford this."
"You gotta give me something, man. Come on-" DeMarco said.
"Okay," Damien said. "All I can tell you is that I found the woman. She doesn't know where he is."
"I need more," DeMarco said. "Who is she?"
"You know I can't tell you," Damien said.
"So...that's it? Dead end? We won't be finding the Joker after all, huh? He's probably dead," DeMarco said, feeling Damien's answer was anticlimactic.
"Maybe," Damien said. "The fact that the woman didn't know where he was means he's probably far away by now. But still...I think she might be my lead."
"Lead?" DeMarco said. "So you're still going to keep searching for him?"
"Absolutely," Damien said. "And I will find him."
Damien thought about Adriana, and the fact that she, in some moment where she had a severe lapse in judgement, has slept with the Joker. She was obviously mentally incapacitated when she made such a decision. Or maybe he had drugged her? Either way, he was sure it wasn't her fault. He wanted her back, but Wayne was going to prove to be a problem. Wayne didn't deserve her. He didn't understand her the way she needed to be understood. But he could understand why Wayne didn't want to part with her even though she had been a part of something so vile, with the Joker. Damien himself realized after the shock of the paternity test results, that he also didn't care and he still wanted her too/ Adriana was worth it, no matter what she did. He would have to find a way to win her back.
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"Turns out, it's just missed periods because I'm breastfeeding," Adriana said as she fed Arsenio.
"Oh, I think I've heard of that," Harri said on speaker phone.
"What are you eating?" Adriana asked Harri, since it sounded like she was chewing.
"Some Oreos," Harri said.
"Mmmm that sounds good," Adriana said. "With milk?"
"No, orange juice," Harri said.
"Yikes...too much sweet for me," Adriana laughed.
"All we talk about is food," Harri laughed. "I should make Antonio an Oreo cake, he loves those."
"Send me a slice," Adriana said.
"I will," Harri joked. "So are you and Bruce enjoying the presents I got you?"
"What presents?" Adriana asked.
"The stuff I left at your place after the wedding because you didn't have a bachelorette party," Harri said.
"Oh," Adriana said, vaugely remembering telling Alfred to put away the mountains of gifts that had been left by people during and after the wedding. "Sorry...I didn't get to open it yet. What is it?"
"Just some nice lingerie and stuff," Harri said.
"Lingerie," Adriana said. "More like the stuff you packed in my suitcase for my honeymoon? I'm not really into lingerie but I appreciate it...maybe it'll grow on me."
"Really?" Harri asked. "Even on your honeymoon?"
"I wore the silver one you sent but I don't really wear lingerie, like ever," Adriana said.
"Wow. I thought Bruce would be into that type of thing."
"I'm sure he is," Adriana said. "He doesn't seem to mind that I don't wear it. I mean, he wants to have sex literally all the time, so I'm guessing he doesn't care."
"All the time," Harri laughed.
"Yes...like three or four times a day," Adriana said. "At the least. Sometimes more."
"More than four times a day?" Harri asked. "You sure he isn't a sex addict?"
"No," Adriana laughed. "I'm not."
"It's probably just the newlywed phase, you know," Harri chuckled.
"Yes," Adriana said. "He's been in Washington, DC for two days though, so we haven't so far today or yesterday. "
"At least try it on," Harri said. "I mean I paid like $500 for all that stuff."
"I will, I promise," Adriana said as Arsenio made a small noise.
"Awwwww," Harri said. "Hi Seni!"
"He hears you," Adriana said. "You miss your Auntie don't you, sweetie?"
"I miss you too!" Harri said sweetly.
"He's getting sleepy," Adriana said. "My sweet boy."
"Okay, I'll let you go," Harri said.
"Okay sis, have a good night."
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"Wow," Bruce said as he came into the bathroom.
"Oh, shit," Adriana said and held her chest. "You scared me."
"Sorry, baby," he said, visibly distracted. "That...is exquisite."
"Oh," she said. "Harri got it for me. It's quite bridal."
Adriana had tried on the white corset with matching thong underwear, and white thigh garter belt and stockings. It wasn't the most comfortable thing she had ever worn, but it was beautiful.
"Bridal...yeah," he said in a stupor. "Your breasts look like heaven on earth. Such a nice visual to return to after a long dull trip...with endless hours of conferences and meetings. That being said, even though my heightened intuition started to wear off after the first day, I'm fairly sure I've made some negotiations that will increase our revenue this year by almost 3%"
"3%" she said. "That's nice."
"That's better than nice," he said. "That's almost a billion dollars. Worth all the dull meetings."
"Aw...I'm sorry it was dull," she said.
"No worries," he said and walked over to her, holding her hips and staring down at her chest. Her hair was long enough to brush against his wrists. "It's kind of nice..."
"What is?" she asked as he pulled her hips forward so that they were touching his.
"Torture...days away from you," he said. "To a stale world full of..navy and black suits, PowerPoint presentations, charts, graphs, negotiations, everyone's breath smelling like coffee.."
"Hahaha," she laughed softly against his cheek.
"And then coming back to," he said and held his face against her hair and inhaled before speaking into her ear. "The most sensual, luscious, beautiful, warm...soft...succulent woman alive."
"You're incredibly sweet," she whispered.
"No, baby," he said deeply. "If you knew what I was thinking right now you wouldn't be saying that. Anyway, how was your day?"
"It was alright," Adriana said. "Had to go out twice for...you know, two robberies. Both just individuals, no big teams. Took care of the baby..seems like he was hungry every twenty minutes today."
"Sounds tiring," he observed. "Please tell me you're not too tired.."
"I'm tired," she laughed. "But I'm alright."
"Whew," he exhaled. "I was thinking, maybe we should have the place to ourselves."
"Oh?" she asked.
"Yes, Evelyn can take the baby to one of the suites in the hotel downstairs, we'll have someone take the extra crib down," Bruce said. "Not for long, just a couple hours. We could give the rest of the staff the night off."
"You want them to leave?"
"Yes," he said. "I have a feeling I may get a little...loud."