Finally, finally, Jasmine finally said that yes, she'd be ok with going out with Jackson. Well, "going out" may be a bit farfetched, since it was just a milkshake after school. And she kept on hinting that - at least officially - she's still dating her actual boyfriend, Josh. Which Jackson always commented with "is he really? Your boyfriend?", letting her know just how unimpressed he was with both his rival and the charade of a relationship they had going on.

The date wasn't going that well. Jasmine kept on avoiding Jackson's eyes. She was clearly uncomfortable and they both felt relief when they were done with their stupid milkshakes and went back to Jackson's car. Jackson didn't understand why she would act in such a way and tried to lighten the mood. Obviously, flirting was out of the question. She hesitated once she was supposed to enter the car.

"I can take the bus", she said.

"Come on, don't do this", he sighed.

"I'm not doing anything", she shrugged with her shoulders.

"Yeah, I noticed", he fired back bitterly.

"Oh, am I such a disappointment? I guess you expected much more action on a date!", her timidness quickly changed into anger.

"That's not what I meant and you know it!", he snarled.

"What did you mean, then?", she put a hand to her hip and lifted her chin.

"There you go, that's what I mean! That's the girl that I like! Feisty, and loud, and funny! Not the quit grey virgin mouse that didn't dare to look me in the eye!", he nearly shouted.

"But I am a virgin, ok, that's the reality, and I know what you expect from me, and I don't want you to take that from me and just leave afterwards, like you did with the other girls, ok? And anyway, I don't know if sex is something I want right now, ok, I'm afraid that it will hurt!", she spat out, dangerously close to tears.

Jackson stood there, eight next to his shiny car, and took a minute to process what she's just said. Then he quietly confessed, "I never had another girl after I saw you for the first time."

"As if", she rolled her eyes.

"It's true", he ran his fingers through his curls, frustrated, "It's been months now, and I'm seriously half-crazy without it, but I just can't do it with anyone else, ok? It's not as important as…you know, you are".

Jasmine looked at him carefully, scanning his handsome face for any signs of deceit, but found none. Jackson sighed heavily, and then continued, "So I'll just wait for you, ok? But give us a chance. Drop that BS about your alleged boyfriend, you're not fooling anyone. Be mine. Come on. Let me prove myself to you."

He slowly approached her and lifted a few strands of hair from her face. He gently caressed her hair and cautiously embraced her into a warm hug. She gradually relaxed in his arms and even pushed her body towards his.

"And don't worry about the other thing…we'll take things slow, slow…and tender…I will make you feel good..I would never hurt you, you know that?", he whispered into her ear.

She looked up to him and he used the opportunity to close in slowly and kiss her lips. She hesitated for a second and then responded. It took a minute or two, but then her response became more enthusiastic than he expected. She quietly moaned into the kiss and embraced him tightly. It was hard to end that kiss, but he had to – if they continued, they needed to be somewhere more private. His pants were uncomfortable enough already.

They got into his car and continued their make out session for a while. Jasmine had finally let go and even somehow managed to straddle Jackson (not that he did complain). If it was only a bit darker, he would definitely try to at least take a quick look at her breasts, but maybe that was asking for too much. Still, he was hopeful, because the few times her caressed her over her top, she didn't seem to mind, quite the opposite.

Just as they got really comfortable with each other, Jasmine's cell phone rang.

"Oh, don't pick up", Jackson said while licking her exposed neck.

"I have to, it could be my mom. I should be home by now.", she pulled out her cell phone.

But it wasn't her mom, the voice on the other side was clearly male. After a short conversation, that seemed a bit panicked, Jasmine quickly pulled away from Jackon's lap.

"Please, drive me to Josh.", she said.

"You must be kidding me?!", Jackson could not believe what he just heard, "After all of this, you want me to deliver you to your boyfriend?"

"It's not like that, they have a family emergency. You know his dad is an important judge, and he's been kidnapped! I have to be with his family now."

"Wait what? First of all, who kidnapped him, and also, why would you need to be with his family for this?", Jackson raised his voice.

"Are you stupid or what?", she matched his tone, "Obviously, we are still at least officially together, I can't just turn my back on him, and because of what? A milkshake and some kissing?"

"Oh, thanks for putting things into perspective for me.", Jackson said sourly. He ignited the car and started driving, not uttering another word.

After a few minutes of silence, Jasmine realized she was too harsh, and she felt regretful. She looked at Jackson – he was so grim and disappointed.

"I'm sorry – that was uncalled for. I didn't mean it like that.", she said quietly.

It took a minute for him to reply. He didn't want to show just how hurt he was.

"Listen, I'm gonna need you to come clean with this Josh guy. If you're afraid or something, I can do it for you.", he said.

"I'll talk to him, just give me some time. I can't do it right now, he's in enough trouble as it is. His dad was just kidnapped by some freak."

"What freak?", Jackson asked, immediately alerted.

"He didn't say, he just said it was some freak. I guess it's the Joker, who else could it be? I mean, that guy is really demented.", she kind of rambled on.

"Joker is in prison", Jackson said shortly, bitterness spreading through him. She didn't know, of course, but that was his dad she was talking about. Although it was hard and took some time and effort, he came to love his dad.

"He is? Well, thank God. May he die and rot there, that scumbag.", she commented, rolling her eyes.

Jackson angrily gripped the wheel more tightly, "Maybe you should learn about him a bit more before judging so harshly."

"You must be joking. That guy's a crazy terrorist!"

"If you took a minute or two of your precious cheerleading, maybe you'd see that there's a lot of reason behind his actions!", Jackson finally stopped in front of Josh' house, and he felt irritated, jealous and bitter, "There you go, delivered right into the hands of your beloved boyfriend. Hope you have a lovely evening."

"What's gotten into you?", she asked incredulously, "Are you one of those crazy idiots admiring Joker? If that's so, you can fuck right away from me."

"With your fucking attitude, and your idiotic choices, and your unbelievable shallowness, I'd be glad to be gone.", he snarled at her.

"Be my guest! Asshole!", she screeched at him as she was leaving the car, "Oh and forget about everything – I hate you! I never want to see you again!"

"Jesus CHRIST! WHATEVER! Whatever you want!", he yelled before he accelerated and rushed away. He was beyond himself with rage. What was it with her? And what was it with him, being unable to control his feelings and words when he was near her?

…

I was in the kitchen, washing an alarming number of baby bottles, when the baby-phone was activated. Livia was giggling. It made me smile and hurry up to finish the dishes and see her. After a few seconds, she giggled again, and I got this feeling as if she was laughing at something. That was unusual, what was so funny?

Dread filled me when for a second, I heard a second voice. It was very short, but I was sure I heard someone else then my baby over the baby-phone. I froze, and then, after a second, I definitely heard a male voice. I didn't even decide what to do, I just ran like crazy to the upper floor where Livia's nursery was. I was still holding a foam-soaked sponge in my hand when I ran into her room.

The sight was breath-taking.

Jack was holding Livia and making silly faces. Livia was loving it. She grabbed his hair and pulled mercilessly, and he managed to turn his eyes in every possible direction, making her laugh.

I collapsed against the door and started sobbing happy tears. My hand and sleeve were totally wet from the sponge I was still holding.

"Was that your plan, mom? To scrub the intruder to death?", he smiled at me, still holding Livia.

I wasn't able to answer, I just laughed and cried in the same time.

Suddenly, Livia stilled and made a serious face. She looked at a point in distance and her face turned a bit red. She ignored Jack.

"Hmmm..the baby's broken", Jack said.

I giggled, knowing what was going on. I was right, because Livia very soon looked very satisfied and smiled a gorgeous toothless smile at her dad.

"There ya go.", he smiled back, hugging her closely. Then, his nose finally picked up a very specific smell.

"Oh my fucking God, Jesus Christ and all the saints in heaven, holy fuck, holy shit, oh my God", he hurried towards me, keeping the baby as far away from himself as possible, "Take her take her take her!"

Now I was crying, but it was from laugher. Seeing my almighty man, Joker the invincible, cheater of death, domestic terrorist, prison escapee, etc. – truly agonised by a case of a full diaper, was the funniest thing I have ever witnessed.

I changed her in no time, and after she had her bottle, she was more than ready for another one of her lengthy naps. As soon as I tucked her in, I ran into Jack's waiting arms.

"Never leave again", I told him.

"Yeah, I'm leaving tonight", he retorted.

"What? No!", my disappointment was overwhelming.

"It won't be for long. I gotta do this one huge thing, and then…baby, then things will be perfect.", he hugged me tightly.

"It's something dangerous", I concluded.

"When is it not", he laughed briefly.

"How did you escape?", I asked.

"I was released, actually", he said smugly, and just as I was about to ask another question, he hushed me, "You don't need to know this. We have so little time tonight. Come on sweetheart, I've been missing you."

He led me to our bedroom.

"Can't you stay longer?"

"No. Pants down or else", he flashed his switchblade and I had to roll my eyes.

"I don't want you to go. I want you to stay and be with us.", I insisted, "I missed you and I was so afraid that this is it…"

"I'll return, I always do.", he answered impatiently, and then opened his switchblade "You're still not naked. You really wanna go there?"

"Can't we at least talk..", I started.

"No", he cut me off and, in a flash, he was on me, pushing me towards the bed. My clothes quickly felt victim to his knife.

"Jack", I tried again, battling his very insisting arms that expertly freed me from the rest of my clothes, "Please, could we..stop it!..talk for a min..Jack!"

"No, we could not.", he said and looked at me in a certain way. I knew this man long enough, and I knew I pushed enough. He needed me right now, and in a way that could not be replaced by words. And who was I fooling? I needed him, too, I just was startled by him having to go away again so quickly. My nesting instincts were kicking me heavily during the period of pregnancy and nursing, and I needed my baby daddy close.

He saw my acceptance in my eyes and quickly and unapologetically pinned me down on the bed. I glued my eyes on him, adoring the fact that after all these lonely nights I can actually see him and feel him. His skin was hot on mine, and his intoxicating smell put me in the right mood. He got rid of his clothes in record time, and he gave me no chance to prepare myself before thrusting deeply into me.

It hurt.

I let out a pained yell, and he immediately stopped, looking at me in alarm.

"Please, give me a minute, and then be slow and gentle", I whispered through the pain.

"Want me to stop?", he asked, "Why does it hurt? It never hurt you before."

"First few times after having a baby can be painful, so…", I said, irritated. There goes the mood.

"Aw, fuck, babe.", he slipped out and turned to lay on his back, offering me my spot on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry", I said, cuddling next to him.

"Nothing to be sorry for.", he said, "You did a great job, with you know…surviving birth. I guess you need to heal a bit more."

"Yup", I said.

"So what did you want to talk about?", he actually laughed.

"Nah, I don't feel like talkin' now", I laughed lightly, "I just want to cuddle."

"You're such a girl", he teased.

I was. I kept looking at his handsome profile, tracing my fingers lightly all over his face. He never ceased to amaze me. Was it the stark difference between the cruel Joker, the murdering violent man, and this same young man, my partner and lover, the one who is funny and tender? Was is the fact that I knew that he never ever would be completely mine? Because his personality made him so much more than was meant for me. I needed a husband, father to my children, and a provider. But he needed for himself so much more. Creator of chaos, criminal, testing boundaries, challenging realities, ruler of a city. I had to share him with entire Gotham. Everyone wanted a piece of him. Everyone wanted to devour the love of my life.

"Whatever you're about to do, please be careful, and please come home as soon as you can.", I said quietly after a while.

He looked at me with those beautiful brown eyes, and for a moment, I felt as we both are seventeen all over again. But even more than that, I felt as if were somehow truly equal, be it in our love, in our children, or in our future. His eyes sparkled as he lovingly kissed the tip of my nose.

"Don't be blue, Sonja. You know that red fits you best."