"Hello, Cherry?"

"Sugar?"

Jonathan smiled and leaned back against the headboard. "Yeah. It's me. How are things?"

Cherry gave a little laugh. "Things are good here. Buzz has really been enjoying being back at Dreamgirls. I think he's missed it more than he wanted to admit. But, baby girl, I'm more interested in you. How are things going with David?"

He blushed. "It's going really well. He… we…" Words died as he flushed harder. He grabbed a pillow and buried his face in it.

"Mmm. Sugar?"

"I don't know. He and I have been talking. David's thinking about leaving Gotham. We're thinking of traveling together."

"That's wonderful." There was a smile in Cherry's voice. "I'm happy for you. But, you'll be leaving us?"

Jonathan tucked his legs under him as he sat up. "Not exactly. I have a plan that will keep me involved with Dreamgirls. I've been working on a proposal for it."

"Can't wait to hear it. I want you to have a full life, Sugar, but I would miss you so much."

"Yeah." Jonathan smiled crookedly and traced his fingers over the flower pattern of his skirt. "Me too."

They talked for about an hour, discussing business and trading gossip. By the time they got off the phone, the sun had set. Jonathan crept downstairs and peeked into the kitchen. Alfred wasn't there, but there was a steaming pot of stew on the stove and freshly baked bread in a basket beside it. Jonathan served himself, found a tray, and went back upstairs.

He began getting nervous as the night went on with no word from Bruce, but there was nothing he could do. So, he ate, read, watched TV, showered, and, eventually, went to bed.

And finally, finally the bedroom door opened and Bruce appeared.

"Did I wake you?" he asked when Jonathan turned on the bedside lamp.

Jonathan shook his head. "How'd it go?"

Bruce sighed as he loosened his tie. "Um… the good news is, I got the pearls back." He fished them out of his pocket and handed them to Jonathan when he got to the bed. "And that's about all the good news for today."

"Tell me." He ran his thumb over each pearl, looking at Bruce, studying the tired lines etched in his face.

"I don't even know where to start." Bruce sat on the bed. Rubbed his eyes. "I guess, first off, I'm screwed. There's no cartilage in my knee, which is why it hurts all the time. And Gordon confirmed the army in the sewers, which means the city is going to need Batman. I don't know how I'm going to manage that with the knee, the elbow and the permanent concussion I've got going."

Jonathan put the pearls on the nightstand. Ran his hand soothingly up Bruce's back without saying anything.

"Which leads me to Gordon." Bruce cleared his throat. "He's not great, but not critical. But he saw what he saw, and I have no reason to doubt him. Meanwhile, Alfred told me what he's finding on Bane isn't pretty."

He nodded and rested his head against Bruce's shoulder. "I don't want you to do anything that will cause irreparable harm to yourself." Jonathan put his hand on Bruce's thigh and squeezed. "I know you love this city. But you don't need to tear yourself apart for it."

"I can handle it." Bruce kissed Jonathan on top of his head. "He's just one man. But I would feel better if you weren't around."

"I understand." Jonathan inhaled deeply and let out a long, soft sigh. At least I got a week. And it was a wonderful week. "I'll go home tomorrow."

"I'll drive you to the train station in the morning."

The next morning, Jonathan stood by the train in Bruce's arms, suitcase by his feet, pearls around his neck. In his gray pleated skirt and white blouse, he felt classic and elegant. The longing looks Bruce kept giving him helped, too.

"Call me when you get home," Bruce said, thumb caressing Jonathan at the small of his back.

Jonathan fluttered his eyelashes. "The moment I step through the door, darling."

He laughed and kissed Jonathan. "I'm going to miss you." His mouth was warm and soft.

"Me too," Jonathan whispered. "Come to Chicago after dealing with the madman in the sewers?"

"Yes, ma'am." He bit Jonathan's lower lip. "Oh, and start thinking about where you might want to have the ceremony."

His stomach burst into thousands of butterflies. Jonathan pulled back and looked into Bruce's eyes. "The, ah, ceremony?"

"For the wedding."

"The one you haven't yet proposed to me for."

Bruce gave a roguish smile and tightened his arms. "Yeah, that one. Where do you want to have it?"

Jonathan tapped his fingers against Bruce's chest. Dropped his eyes away from Bruce's. "I had assumed it'd be a private affair. And off the books, considering my fugitive status."

"Your alias is pretty airtight. Fox and I put a lot of work into it. And your family would kill me if they didn't get to see you dance at your wedding."

Startled, he looked up at Bruce. "My… my family?"

"Cherry and Buzz. They'd gut me."

Very true. Jonathan sighed. "There's still just one problem."

"What's that?"

"You haven't asked me."

Bruce laughed. "It's coming, Sugar."

As they kissed, the train blew its whistle.

"That's my cue." Jonathan pressed one more kiss to Bruce's lips and grabbed his suitcase. "Be careful."

"Always."

Jonathan nodded and went to the train. He showed the coach attendant his ticket and climbed aboard. The man behind him pressed too close. As Jonathan climbed up the stairs to the upper level of the train, he threw an irritated glance at the man, who gave him an unapologetic grin. When Jonathan reached the aisle, the man pushed even closer. Jaw tight, Jonathan looked for his seat and tried to ignore the man. While he could be simply rude, there was always the possibility the man had pegged Jonathan was trying to make an issue over his life choices. It was best to keep his temper.

Finally, Jonathan found his seat. He lifted his suitcase to stow it when yet another man got too close. Annoyed, Jonathan shoved the suitcase and was about to turn to snap at the new person when there was a sharp pinch in his side. He stumbled back, almost tripping over his heels, but was caught.

"Careful."A bearded man pulled Jonathan against him. "You don't want to hurt those pretty ankles." He smiled, looking at Jonathan with the pleased expression of someone who has seen something he likes very much indeed.

"Who," Jonathan managed, but his tongue was suddenly very heavy and his blood turned into molasses. "Wha…" Everything slowed down. Noise muffled. His vision tunneled in and, before he knew it, Jonathan was pulled under.