"And what is all of this?" the Joker asked Adriana.
"A formal apology," Adriana said. "And a promise not to ever hit you again."
"Haven't you already said all of this?" he asked.
"Yes..." she said and looked at the covered dish in her hand. "But that time I didn't apologize with cake."
The Joker smiled.
"Come in," he said and stepped aside.
Adriana sat the dish on the table in his dining room.
"I made it myself," she said. "A black forest cake."
The Joker took the lid off the tray and looked at the cake.
"It's..." he said. "Abstract."
Adriana smiled and then laughed.
"Well, Arsenio wanted to help me with the decorations," Adriana explained. "And you know..he's so cute, I couldn't say no."
The Joker looked at the cake again. "In that case," he said. "I love it. Best cake I've seen by far."
"I'll tell him," Adriana said in parting.
"You don't want a piece?" he asked.
"Oh," Adriana said. "Well, sure."
"A peace offering should be shared," he said to her as he went into the kitchen.
Adriana sat at the dining room table, relieved that everything seemed to be smoothed over. She didn't want any negativity and wanted them to get along, for Arsenio's sake.
"Thank you," Adriana said to the Joker once he had returned and cut her a slice. She started eating as he cut his own piece. "This is so good...I should bake cakes more often."
The Joker sat down in front of his cake and looked at Adriana. It was written all over his face that he had something to say.
"What?" Adriana asked him.
"I've been meaning to tell you something," he said.
"What is it?" she asked.
"A while ago, when Arsenio stayed over," the Joker said. "My neighbor came by. Said something about him looking just like. And that she couldn't believe we weren't related. Assumed he was mine."
He paused and took a small breath.
"She said it in front of him," the Joker went on. "Once she left he asked me about it. I just told him...sometimes people just look alike."
"Oh..." Adriana said. "Well...Jack...that isn't such a big deal, you know?"
"It is," the Joker said. "The kid is...well, highly intelligent to say the least. Of course now he sees us all as friends. You..me...Bruce. But I'm telling you..that kid learns things quickly. In a year or two his intelligence will be higher than ours."
Adriana started to laugh.
"Jack..." she said, still laughing. She reached for his forearm and placed her hand on it. "It's okay...It's not a big deal. My baby won't have adult intelligence in a year. He doesn't know that you and he are-"
"Right," the Joker said. "But he will one day."
"Yes...perhaps," Adriana said, calming her laugher and speaking more seriously. "But..is that so bad?"
"Bruce..." the Joker asked. "He's considered the possibility."
"We both have accepted it for what it is," Adriana said. "Arsenio may learn the truth one day but...it's not like it's something we can control."
"Mmm.." the Joker hummed and looked at his cake.
"Is that really what's bothering you?" she asked.
The Joker looked into her eyes. "And when he learns the rest? Who I really am?"
Adriana frowned.
"How would he ever learn about that?" Adriana asked.
"Someone could tell him," the Joker said.
"No one is going to tell him," Adriana said. "You think I would? Or Alfred? Or Lucius? Or Bruce-"
"No," the Joker said.
"Dr. Kapoor would never do that," Adriana said.
"I know," the Joker said.
"Then who? Brake?" Adriana asked.
"No," the Joker said.
"Who then?" Adriana asked.
The Joker paused again.
"Me," he said.
"You.." Adriana said. "You want to tell him?"
"No, of course not," he said.
"Then...I don't understand-" Adriana said.
"I do not want to have to ever tell your son the truth," the Joker said. "But I also do not want to lie to him his entire life. He could ask me things. He's already started. Asking me about when I was child...he could ask more when he's older. More about my life. He asked me if I had a bike when I was small. I can tell him that I don't remember if I had a bike when I was a child. But as he gets older...I can't say that I don't remember anything."
Adriana blinked and looked down.
"I also cannot just make up and entire false life story to tell him," the Joker said. "Even though that is what Bruce suggested I do."
"You talked to Bruce about this?" she asked.
"Well, yes," the Joker said. "He is my friend."
"I..." Adriana said, searching for words. "I don't really know what to say."
"You don't have to," he said. "You asked what was bothering me and I simply answered you. What bothers me is that...one say he could end up hating me. Fearing me. Or worse.."
"He won't hate you.." Adriana said. "People can change...I'll make sure he understand that."
"And you assume he would forgive me?" the Joker asked.
Adriana again, felt like she couldn't speak. He ran a hand through his hair, his deep hazel eyes darted away from hers.
"I am ashamed," he said. "I am so very ashamed. And Arsenio will be too."
"He will be proud that you have changed," Adriana assured him.
"No," the Joker said. "The last thing anyone should be is proud of me."
"I'm proud of you," Adriana said to him. "And nothing is going to change that."
The Joker looked at her for a few seconds.
"Well," he said, as he devised an explanation. "You've always been a bit foolish."
Adriana rolled her eyes.
"You know," Adriana said. "Arsenio will also know that Bruce and I have known who you are all along. And that we've forgiven you...both of us. And that we trusted you with him. And...as the years go by your relationship with him will grow. I believe it will grow enough for him to accept you for who you are. And who you were."
"Whatever you say," the Joker said and finally stuck his fork into his cake.
"Maybe I'll tell him that I beat you up a few times," Adriana said. "And that you forgave me. We all make mistakes."
"Yes let's talk about something else," the Joker said. "Like your anger issues."
"I don't have anger issues," Adriana said. "It's just...I don't know."
The Joker took a bite of cake and looked at her.
"I've never been the type of person to just...go off and hit people," she said. "Never been a fighter or anything...but with my vigilantism.."
"Ah...now you solve all problems with the fist," he said.
"I hate it," Adriana said. "It just..comes like second nature now. Swinging and hitting. I'm working on it though."
"I can see that," the Joker said.
"Let's change subjects again," Adriana said.
"Mhm," the Joker said.
"You can't keep asking Bruce if he's on drugs," Adriana said.
"I've never asked him that," the Joker said. "Don't need to ask what I already know."
"Jack...come on," Adriana said. "I feel like this is all my fault. I'm the one who brought up my suspicions to you and now you won't let them go, even though they're not true-"
"I would have eventually seen the signs," the Joker said. "With or without your suspicions."
"There are no signs, Jack," Adriana said. "Everyone is sweating now, the weather has gotten hot-"
"Let's change topics again then," the Joker said.
"What?" Adriana asked.
"A few of the zombies were out last night and you were not there to rescue them," the Joker said.
Adriana looked down.
"I promised Bruce that I wouldn't get involved," she said. "It's not easy."
"But for the best," the Joker said.
"I don't really see how," Adriana said. "We're not making much progress getting to the bottom of this...finding out who and where this drug is coming from."
"So be it," the Joker said.
"Anyway," Adriana said. "You're going to have to stop harassing Bruce about this nonsense about him being addicted to pills-"
"Harrassment," the Joker said. "Is that how he describes it?"
"Well, no," Adriana said. "He actually just laughs it off because it's ridiculous. But either way you have to stop. Okay?"
"I will stop when he does," the Joker said.
Adriana sighed and shook her head.
.
.
.
.
"Dinner's ready, sweetie," Adriana said as she walked into Bruce's office in Wayne Manor.
"I will be right here," he said, not looking away from his computer.
Adriana walked over and stood behind him. He was looking over a series of charts on one monitor and relying to an e-mail on the other.
"Sweetheart," Adriana said and rested her hands on the back of his shoulders. "I'm sure this can wait an hour... you should have a break. Come to dinner."
"Adriana," Bruce said firmly without a hit of warmth in his voice. "I've told you I will be right there."
"Oh..." Adriana said, dropping her hands to her sides. "Okay then."
She took a step back and the Bruce stood up.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"It's okay.." Adriana said. "I'll put your plate in the oven-"
"No, I'm coming now," Bruce said.
"Everything okay?" Adriana asked. "You were a little...crabby just now."
"Yes," Bruce answered. "I'm just going to use the restroom and I will be right there."
"Okay," Adriana said and let him give her a kiss on the cheek.
.
.
.
"Haven't had collards in years," Bruce told Adriana as she peeled a sheet mask off of her face.
She dropped it into the trash can by the sink in their bathroom.
"I thought you could use them," Adriana said with a smile and kissed his cheek.
"Hm?" he asked.
"Well you know..." Adriana said. "You've been a little backed up."
Bruce looked her up and down.
"And how do you know about that?" he asked after a laugh.
"Sweetie, I'm your wife," she said. "I can tell."
"Well in that case," he said. "Thank you."
"No problem," she said and kissed him. "Maybe that's why you've been a little irritable lately."
"Lately.." he said. "Have I? Apart from earlier?"
"A little," Adriana said. "It's nothing major though, dear. Lots of people get like that when.."
"Yeah that must be it," Bruce said. "I'm sorry, my dear. Thank you for taking care of my gut health."
"It's what I'm here for," Adriana laughed.