"I'm glad you came with me," Bruce said Adriana as he took off his seat belt. They were in his private jet and were now up in the air.

"I miss him already," Adriana said, thinking of Arsenio.

"He's probably still sleeping," Bruce said.

"He is," Adriana said. "Evelyn just texted me."

"See," Bruce said. "He's fine."

"Yup," Adriana said and took of her seat belt too.

Bruce kissed her on the forehead after he stood to stretch his legs. Then he walked to the bathroom and shut the door. Adriana sighed, and looked at the picture Evelyn had sent her of Arsenio sleeping. She smiled at the photo and closed her eyes. As soon as she closed them her phone rang.

"Hi, Harri," Adriana said to her sister.

"Heyy," Harri said, sounding especially happy. "What's up?"

"On a plan ride to South Africa," Adriana said. "You?"

"You didn't tell me you were going on vacation!" Harri exclaimed.

"I'm not, Bruce had an important last minute business trip to make," Adriana said.

"Why?" Harri asked.

"One of the mines he owns in South Africa apparently found something huge enough to warrant a flight across the world right away," Adriana said. "I decided to come with him...it's only for 48 hours or less. So how are you doing?"

"I'm great, I just won five grand on a scratch off," Harri said.

"Wow you're lucky," Adriana said. "The most I've won on one of those was like twenty bucks."

"Yes, I am," Harri said. "I'm going to put it towards out vacation in a few months. We're going to Martinique. Couple weeks."

"That sounds amazing," Adriana said.

"You and Bruce should join us," Harri said.

"I don't know," Adriana said. "I definitely don't want to bring the baby on a plane til he's at least five or six. And really don't think I could leave him for two weeks. Not until he's at least eighteen."

"Okay Mommy Wayne," Harri said, laughing softly. "I understand."

"Ughh...my boobs hurt," Adriana said, mostly to herself.

"Aww..." Harri said. "Sorry."

"Feels like I might get my period soon..." Adriana said, talking to herself, with some discomfort. "I'm still producing milk though. I should have pumped before I left home..chest hurts so freaking bad."

"I'd be happy to relieve you," Bruce said beside her. "Oh," he then said with a bit of embarrassment. "You're on the phone."

"Yeah," Adriana laughed and Harri's laugh was loud enough for Bruce to hear it from where he stood.

"Hi Harri," Bruce said.

"Hey!" Harri said, still laughing. "I'll let you two go."

"Okay, sis," Adriana said. "Love you!"

"Love you too."

"Come here," Bruce said and sat in his seat.

Adriana stood and walked the three steps over to him and sat on his lap. He rubbed her thigh over her jeans and kissed her collarbone.

"Where are you?" he whispered.

"Hm?" she hummed and looked down into his eyes.

"You're far away," he said. "Your mind is. I can tell."

"I'm right here," she assured him.

"You're thinking about the Joker," he said.

"Why do you think that?"

"Because earlier you were asking me about him and what I thought of his death. You're distant..."

"I'm not-"

"You are," he said, giving her a firm squeeze on her thigh. "I want you to talk to me. I hate feeling like there is this wedge between us... Something that you can't talk to me about. There is something there, isn't there? Something you can't tell me?"

"Bruce," she said while looking down.

"Just tell me," he said. "It's okay I promise. Did he make you kill someone? Harm someone really badly?"

"No...Bruce," Adriana said. "He tried to but I didn't do it. He wanted me to kill the owner of Club Core... But I didn't do it. Made it seem like I did."

"And nothing like that will ever happen to you ever again. I promise," Bruce said.

"I know," she said. "I know it won't."

"How did you fake a death?" Bruce asked.

"I...sort of..." Adriana sighed. "The Joker wanted one of Mateo's fingers. He needed the fingerprint for access to a lab. He also wanted me to kill him...I warned Mateo and brought the Joker the finger."

Bruce was quiet.

"You got Mateo to agree to having his finger amputated?" Bruce asked.

"Yes," Adriana said. "I don't think I want to talk about it."

"Talk to me," he said and moved a few strands of hair behind her ear.

"I never killed anyone," she said.

He nodded.

"You can tell me everything," Bruce said.

She thought about it. The words that she could say to eliminate the secrets between them. He's Arsenio's father. She looked into Bruce's eyes and imagined saying the words to him. She couldn't do it. It would change everything, and she knew that she could not handle it. She wondered if he would actually understand and just accept it. Part of her knew that wouldn't happen. Not for a long time.

She stayed quiet and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I can't," she said. "I just want to go forward..not backwards."

Bruce looked ahead. He wanted to know everything there was to know about her, and this was a place in her past she was just not willing to share. He imagined the horrors of her working for the Joker. Watching him kill, torture, steal and dragging her and others along for his mania. He loved her enough to set it aside, to let her heal in her own way from whatever happened. It was then that he decided not to ask her again.

.

.

.

"It's 183 carats," Govender told Bruce.

They were standing around a clear glass case that contained the pink diamond that had been found. The safe that they were in housed hundreds of diamonds, but this was by far the most impressive.

"That's larger than the-" Bruce began to say.

"Larger than the Pink Star," Govender said. "Definitely hits the world record. I'd value it at least $73 to $74 million once it is cut. Stunning clarity. Couldn't believe it when we saw it. Unbelievable."

"You're right, it is unbelievable," Bruce said. "Do we have a buyer yet?"

"No," Govender said. "I wanted to show it to you first. Although I think even the rough uncut piece could gather a few potential buyers in less than 24 hours."

"Good thinking," Bruce said and looked at Adriana. "Would you like it?"

"Hm?" she asked. "To touch it?"

"No," he said. "To keep it. One it's cut and polished it would make an incredible necklace, or .. a rather large ring. Whatever you want."

Adriana and Govender frowned at each other, both questioning whether or not he was serious with their expressions.

"I mean it," he said, seeing their exchanged glances. "Have you seen the Pink Star ring? It's stunning."

"I have but Bruce," she said. "That's not really necessary...It's far too extravagant-"

"I want you to have it," Bruce told her.

"Oh.." she managed to say.

"It will take a while to cut," Bruce went on. "My best guess would be...20 to 24 months?"

"That sounds about right," Govender said. "Two years. For the cutting and polishing process. It will lose a bit of its weight."

"Wow," Adriana said speechlessly. "I don't know what to say."

"Neither do I," Govender chimed in and straightened his tie.

"Don't worry, you'll get your bonus," Bruce told him. "Well done. But something this beautiful belongs with someone worthy of it."

"Of course," Govender smiled. "I will call Adin to examine the piece and he should be able to determine the best shape for the piece."

.

.

.

"You didn't have to do that," Adriana said to Bruce as they stood outside. The sun was beaming down on them and the wind was blowing slightly. It wasn't incredibly hot but the sun was very bright.

"No one else should have that diamond," he said. "Only you."

"Okay," she said and gave him a kiss. "Wow...I haven't been in Africa in years. About six years I think. The last time I was here I was in Somalia visiting my grandmother."

"The one who flew in for the wedding," Bruce said.

"Yes," Adriana said. "I've missed it."

"Maybe we can visit the continent more often when Arsenio is older," Bruce said.

"That sounds like a good plan," she smiled.

"You two should join me for a party on my yacht tonight," Govender said, joining them outside. "To celebrate my bonus."

"You're having a party?" Bruce asked.

"Well, as soon as the diamond was uncovered I set it up. Something to celebrate for sure. No one knows the diamond was the reason for the party yet... I don't have to disclose that the diamond was uncovered. This is South Africa, we party for any reason at all, no occasion needed."

"Ehh..." Bruce said and looked at Adriana. "We were hoping to head back as soon as we could."

"Do you want to go?" Adriana asked Bruce.

"I wouldn't mind it," Bruce said. "Haven't been to a yacht party in a while."

"Let's go then," Adriana said. "We could just stay for a little while. I don't mind. Evelyn sends me pics of the baby every couple hours so I think I'm a lot calmer than I thought I would be."

"Well the party is in two hours," he told them. "You could come to my place before we go and I'm sure my wife has something you could wear. And Bruce-"

"I have something to wear in the plane," Bruce said, remembering what Alfred had packed for him. "I'll meet you there, how about that?"

"That's fine," Adriana said and gave him a kiss before he left with his driver.

"Right this way," Govender said.

.

.

.

Adriana was given a bright pink strapless sundress but Govender's wife, Annette. It was a perfect fit and very pretty and comfortable for the South African weather. They arrived a bit late to the party, and the yacht was already crowded and the sounds of festivities could be heard from the dock where Adriana saw Bruce waiting for them.

"Waiting for two ladies takes time," Govender said to Bruce.

"You look beautiful," Bruce said to Adriana.

"Thanks," she said and kissed his lips as they walked hand in hand behind Govender and his wife onto the yacht.

It was a very large four story yacht, decorated with bright colorful lights. The sun was just setting, and Adriana could see as soon as the stepped on board that there was an enormous deep blue swimming pool on the yacht.

"About time, we are ready to jet off!" one of Govender's friends joked with him as he boarded.

The sun was setting and a few minutes later it was completely dark outside. Adriana and Bruce found the bar and enjoyed a drink while listening to the music.

"This is nice," she said and looked out over the ocean. "Very nice boat."

"I have one just like it," Bruce said. "And a few others. Haven't been out on my boats in ages."

"We should go out on it sometime," Adriana said.

"We will," Bruce smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist as she sipped her martini.

"Good," she smiled.

"You know...there's nothing I wouldn't do for you," Bruce said. "Nothing."

She looked into his eyes and knew that he meant it. She could see the love, devotion and protective nature in his eyes.

"I love you," she said and kissed him softly.

"Bruce Wayne!" Adriana and Bruce heard a voice behind him.

"Yes," Bruce said and turned to a man in a red and while Hawaiian floral print shirt.

"Earl Leza!" the man introduced himself. "I told my friend here that was you!"

The man, apparently starstruck began a conversation with Bruce. One the man paused to laugh Adriana whispered to Bruce that she was going to look for the restroom. Bruce kissed her cheek and went back to his conversation.

She was sure that she was starting her period in that moment. Her lower back hurt and she was having a few strong cramps. After crossing the deck and going down a short flight of stairs, she went inside the body of the boat. She found the bathroom very easily and fortunately no one was inside. Once she was inside, she realized that she was correct and that her menstrual cycle had just begin. Luckily, she hadn't bled through anything, so she inserted a tampon that she had in her purse before going to the sink.

The warm water flowed over her hands and she gazed at the drain.

"$75,000!"

"I can't believe he just did that!"

"Where the hell is my phone..I just had it. Maybe it's by the bar."

"She named her dog Johanna. So cute-"

"He's staring at her ass. I fucking hate him...wandering eyed fucker-"

"I need an aspirin."

She looked up at the ceiling. Thoughts were pouring into her mind. Her gift was back.

Quickly, she shut off the water and decided to examine her gift. To see how it was operating..to see if she had any control. She decided to silence all the thoughts. She didn't want to hear anything.

It worked.

Everything was as quiet as it was before. Playfully she expanded and contracted her gift. Seeing thoughts all around her, even though she was alone in the small bathroom. She smiled at herself in the mirror. She couldn't wait to tell Bruce. She closed her eyes and jumped up and down with excitement.

Bruce. She closed her eyes slowly and searched for him. He was there...still talking to his apparent fans. He was ready to leave and so was she. She left the bathroom and decided to go back to him, still holding his thoughts gently in her mind.

The room was very crowded when she left so she made a turn and decided to find another exit to the deck. She found a long stretch of deck which would lead to the front bar where Bruce was. There was no one there on this side of the boat and it was very quiet compared to where she had come from. She looked out over the water, walking slowly.

It was peaceful...being all the way on the other side of the globe and looking at the ocean. She wished her baby could have been there too.

The Joker.

Somehow, suddenly, she caught a vision. The Joker's face on TV. She remembered this...was she seeing her own memories?

"...find the defendant, not guilty..."

She remembered her relief hearing those words, but in this memory she felt fury. Bruce's memories...The need to take action. Bruce's memories...she remembered making him promise not to kill the Joker. He agreed, reluctantly.

"The Joker has been found dead this morning after an apparent suicide-"

She was seeing Bruce's memories as he watched the news at work that morning. As she reached the front of the deck and the crowded party, she saw Bruce by the bar, now surrounded by about four people. Her mind was still on the memory of hearing about the Joker's death on the news. She remembered feeling the explosive anger he felt when the Joker was found not guilty.

But now...seeing his memory of the Joker's death on the news. He felt nothing. Less than nothing...

He wasn't even surprised. The Joker's death being reported didn't surprise him?

She frowned, trying to understand why he didn't seem to care. He didn't seem relieved. He didn't seem shocked. It was as if he had been expecting it all along...business as usual? It made no sense. Was he just so shocked that his emotions had shut down? His memory showed him picking up a glass of coffee as the news reporter went over the story. Bruce had something to do with it. She was so stunned she nearly tripped over her feet.

What had he done?

"Champagne?" a server asked her.

"Uh..yeah..whatever," she said, her eyes still on Bruce.

She took the glass and tried to focus...she felt like she was missing something. She still wasn't used to her gift being back and it was hard for her to go in chronological order..things seemed to be flowing in random order. She saw Bruce's memory of shooting her in the neck with a poisonous dart intended for the Joker. He remembered carrying her out to his Batmobile, driving faster than he ever had to get her to Dr. Kapoor. She wasn't moving and didn't appear to be breathing. He worried he had already lost her...that he had killed her. He was both devastated and furious.

She continued through his memories.

She survived..she was pregnant...the Joker had been forcing her to work for him. She was the woman on the Joker's team with the red hair. She told him that her lover had died. Her life was a mess. But he wanted her, and he wanted to protect her. She had been through hell, he thought. Being forced to work for a wicked man. And on top of that she was pregnant and alone.

The Joker was found not guilty. She...A sentimental and forgiving woman made him promise not to kill the Joker. She had spent time around him and was maybe now seeing him as just a flawed human being. She knew his past, had sympathy for a madman. A killer. A terrorist. Unrepentant.

She saw woods...a wooded area. It seemed random, but she looked at Bruce beside the bar, trying to focus.

The van.

The transport van taking the Joker to Arkham. He was there. The Batman was there. He flung open the back door, uncuffed the Joker who was unconscious and pulled him from the vehicle.

She gasped, afraid to look for more but she had to.

She struggled to go back to that exact moment. Her gift seemed hard to control and it was hard to pinpoint the van again.

She found it. She found him place the Joker's unconscious body into another vehicle.

And then was in his Batcave. It was empty. He had relocated and now his Batcave was in fact, the beautiful cave with the waterfall. Now he was in the empty Batcave...the previous one, underground with the platform elevator.

She saw Bruce's hands. He locked the Joker's ankle into a thick shackle.

And the she saw him move. The Joker waking up slowly, opening his eyes. As soon as she saw him she felt weak. He looked around, not understanding where he was for a moment but then he saw the Batman in front of him.

"I see," he managed to say, the resonance of his voice sending a shiver through her as he spoke to the Batman. "Now you will kill me. Didn't think you had it in you."

The Batman looked down at him. He seemed to notice his left ankle attached to a chain. An enormous thick chain, strong enough to detain an elephant.

"This box," the Batman said and looked at it. "It is simple to use."

The Joker frowned and looked at the box. It was a huge black box, the size of three medium sized trucks. There was a small opening and a single red button. Wayne Enterprises had sold such boxes discreetly to the very wealthy. There were not on the market. They were sold to the richest of doomsday preppers for bunkers.

It was a machine. The box was programmed to store food and prepare food with an incredibly long shelf life.

"This machine will dispense three meals a day. You'll notice your pants have buttons on the outside of the legs, this machine has also been programmed to dispense soap. You can take off your clothing and wash it by hand. There is a shower and a sink you can utilize."

There was a shower head over a drain in the floor. No shower curtain, just concrete floor, a small drain, and a sink. There was no bed or mattress, no chair, no blanket or pillow.

"Did she die?" the Joker asked, not seeming to care about his predicament. "Did you kill her?"

"She is gone," the Batman said.

The Joker looked down at the chain on his leg.

"So, I assume this won't be like solitary in the prison," the Joker said. The Batman had assembled his own holding cell for the Joker.

"Not at all. At the prison, you are brought your meals by another human. A person comes to take you to the shower every 24 hours. You get an hour of daylight and yard time a day at the prison, even in solitary. None of that will happen here. You will never have contact with another human being," the Batman growled in his disguised voice. "You will never see the light of day ever again."

"Ahh, I see," the Joker said, looking as if it was something he deserved. "Buried alive essentially."

The Batman didn't answer him. He turned back to the elevator. The one light that was on was not enough to light then entire space so he disappeared into the darkness and stepped onto the platform, leaving the Joker behind.

.
.

Adriana's glass slipped between her fingers and shattered on the deck as she saw Bruce's memories.