I played with the hem of my shirt as I rode the elevator down to the lobby alone. I looked at myself in the reflection of the door and I felt wrong. My heart weighed heavy in my chest and I knew this was a mistake. As the doors opened, I stepped out and found Bruce, Alfred, and Jonathan waiting for me, all wearing sad smiles. Stepping out, I met up with the group and we all stood in silence for a moment before Bruce cleared his throat, "Well… shall we?"

I nodded, "Okay."

He led the way out of the hotel and we got into the waiting car outside, an unmarked policeman following behind us. Bruce gave the driver directions to the restaurant and we pulled away from the hotel. The car was silent as we made our way through the city. Jonathan and I sat in the far back, Jonathan holding my hand in a vise grip the entire way. I refused to look at anyone, too ashamed to see their expressions. We were having a going away dinner for me, to celebrate my ability to leave the city. I had tried to get them to change their minds, but Bruce was firm. He wanted to celebrate, give us something happy to remember before I left. I couldn't help but feel like going along with the dinner was me rubbing it in their faces that I could escape Gotham but they couldn't.

Exiting the car, Jonathan helped me out and took my hand in his as we entered the restaurant. We were seated in a private section, just the four of us. A waiter was ready for us, pulling out my seat and asking if we needed any drinks off the top. Bruce ordered a bottle of champagne for the table, and also a round of whatever else we wanted to drink. I ordered a gin martini. If I was going to get through this, it was going to be with a bit of alcohol to loosen me up. We all sat in silence for a moment, then Bruce finally asked, "When is your flight tomorrow?"

"I'm leaving at eight in the morning," I said, "I um… would like to get there as early as possible."

He nodded, "Of course."

"Do you need any help packing," Jonathan asked.

I shook my head, "I haven't really unpacked from last night."

He nodded and the waiter came in carrying an ice bucket with the champagne. He was followed by a second server who carried the flutes, handing them out to the four of us as the first opened the fresh bottle. After everyone was poured out, Bruce stood up and held out his drink. "I know this isn't really the time for toasts, but I feel that we need to be celebrating, not wallowing or sulking. It has been a horrifying few months since Bethany has been here, and as much as I want you to stay, I'm very grateful that you are able to go home. Now… I don't know if you'll ever come back to Gotham… but know that you have family here… you have friends here… and if you want it… you have a home here as well. I know that you're going to do great things in your life, Bethany, that's just the kind of person you are. And no matter what choices you make in your life, we'll all be here to support you. Near or far. To Bethany. May her flight lead her to safety and may her life be filled with abundance."

"To Bethany," Alfred and Jonathan replied before taking their drink.

I fought hard to push the tears back and I too took a sip of my drink. The waiter came back in and we placed our appetizer orders as well as our main course meals. When we were alone again, I couldn't keep it in much longer, "I shouldn't be going."

Jonathan reached out to take my hand, "Bethany-"

"No," jerking it away I shook my head, "I'm being selfish."

"No you're not."

"Yes I am!"

"Bethany Elwood," Alfred said sternly, "You are by far the most important person in this room at this very moment. Not because you are most in danger of the Joker, but because you are the most loved. Your parents, alone with Master Wayne's, were two people whose friendship I've cherished throughout much of my life. You are one of the very few people left on this earth that I get to call my family. Please believe us when we say that you are not being selfish in this moment. There is nothing we want more for you than for you to get on that plane tomorrow and leave Gotham behind you. In fact, you would be selfish if you didn't."

I lowered my eyes to the table like a scolded child. Jonathan closed the gap and took my hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Now," Alfred continued, "Drink up. We've got wonderful food coming, so lets try our best to be happy. Bethany Elwood is going to leave Gotham and arrive safely in the arms of distance where the Joker can not get to her."

"I'll drink to that," said Bruce, lifting his champagne again.

"Same here." Added Jonathan.

I obliged them, taking another sip of my drink, then we fell quiet as we waited for our food to arrive. As the night went on, we got a little better at talking, holding pleasant conversations with each other. I avoided as much eye contact with Jonathan as I could throughout the night, knowing that if I spent too much time looking at him I would feel bad again. After dinner we decided to skip dessert since I needed to get up early tomorrow, and we packed up to leave. In the car home I again didn't look at Jonathan as we made our way to the hotel. Once we arrived back, we made our way through the lobby and one by one got off of the elevator. Jonathan and I were left and as I got off onto my floor, Jonathan walked me to my hotel room. I pulled out my purse and struggled to open it, my hands were shaking as I fought to hold back tears.

Reaching out, Jonathan took my bag from me and expertly opened the clasp and removed my room key. Opening my door, he motioned me in, then followed, setting my bag down on the provided table. I listened to him as he moved behind me, turning on lights so that we could see. Coming to a stop behind me, I let the first of the tears slide down my cheeks as I waited for him to touch me. But he didn't.

Turning to him, I found that he too was holding back tears, and I gave him what I hoped was a smile. Reaching forward, I took hold of his tie and pulled on it to force him closer to me, and I kissed him. He fought valiantly to keep his hands to his sides, but thankfully he lost his will of control and he wrapped his arms around me. Holding each other as close as we could, our kiss deepened and soon we were walking towards my bed. At the edge, I reached behind me to get to my zipper, but Jonathan had beaten me to it. As my dress loosened from my body, I worked on the buttons of his shirt, pushing the garment and his jacket off of him. He reached down to undo his pants as I pulled down my dress, kicking it aside before taking off my shoes. As I stood, he had his pants and shoes off and he held me to him again, cupping my ass as he lifted me off the floor to crawl onto the bed. I wrapped my legs around his waist as we stayed that way as he sat back on his legs holding me to him as we began to grind into each other.

Pulling away, I gasped for air as Jonathan moved to kiss down my neck. Reaching back, I undid my bra and threw it to the side, which prompted Jonathan to lift me up and lay me down on my back, his mouth swiftly finding one of my nipples. Taking the pert bud in his mouth, I gasped and arched myself into him, my fingers running down his back. Running his hands down my sides, his fingers hooked under the lining of my underwear and he pulled them down to my knees. Leaving them there, his hand quickly made its way back to my core, his fingers running up and down my labia before finally settling inside me. A sigh escaped me and I let out a moan, "Jonathan."

The sound of his name made him moan into my breast and he came back up to kiss me. I moved my hands to his front, palming his cock through his boxers. Our breathing became panting as we felt each other up, and soon I was pushing his boxers down and he was finishing off my panties. Coming back to each other, Jonathan nestled himself between my legs and aligned the head of his cock at my entrance, and he pushed in. Calling out, I clung to his shoulders as I arched into him, my head pressing into the pillows. Bringing his mouth down to my neck, he planted an open mouth kiss on my pulse point then moaned, "Bethany."

Bringing his lips back to mine, we kissed sloppily as we made love, the two of us clinging to each other as if we couldn't be close enough. As we both began our ascent to our orgasms, tears filled my eyes and I couldn't help the small sob that broke out as I whispered, "I love you" before the coil in my core broke and I threw back my head calling out. Jonathan came soon after with a small chant of "I love you. I love you." Coming down, he braced himself on his arms as he looked down at me while I cried. Placing soft kisses on my lips, he rolled onto his side and pulled me into him and held me against his chest.

"I love you, Bethany," he whispered as he rubbed soothing circles onto my back, "I love you so much."

Sniffing, I replied, "I don't want to leave you."

"I know, but… it's for the best."

I was quiet for a moment, then I whispered, "I don't want you to die."

Jonathan held me tighter to him and he pressed a kiss on my head, "Don't worry about me. I've made it this far… I'll be fine."

I hugged him tighter, "You had better be."