"Hm...what time is it?" Adriana asked sleepily.
"Five," Jack answered. "On the dot."
Adriana groaned and turned over in bed.
"Okay," she said. "I'll get up in five minutes. Arsenio could be up in an hour."
"I will drive," he offered, seeing that she was tired.
"Thanks," she said into the pillow as he got out of the bed.
He left the bedroom and went into the bathroom. Adriana felt herself drifting off again. She found herself unable to fall asleep. She was nauseous again. After sitting up in bed , she thought she felt a bit better after few empty swallows. Jack came out of the bathroom and kissed her on the forehead before leaving the bedroom to go to the kitchen.
Adriana stood up and went into a bathroom, and after retrieving her toothbrush she began to brush her teeth. It made her gag several times. She put her toothbrush back into its holder and took a big yawn. At the end of the yawn, she felt herself gag involuntarily. The nausea was real.
.
.
.
"So," Jack said as he drove. "Would you like to tell me what's wrong?"
"Hm?" Adriana said.
He looked away from the empty road and at her.
"Nothing is wrong," she said.
"You didn't go out last night," he said.
"Well," she said. "It was 18 degrees and windy."
"That's never stopped you before," he said. "A little cold and wind."
Adriana looked out the window.
"Not that I mind you staying home," he said. "I prefer it. But I must inquire about it since it is unusual."
Adriana knew that starting a relationship with secrets was the last thing she ever wanted to do again. She needed to tell the truth.
"Okay," she said. "I just...don't want to freak you out or anything because I'm not even sure yet."
"Hm," he said and glanced at her. "Go on."
"I think," she said after a deep breath. "That I might be pregnant."
He looked at the road intently, saying nothing. Adriana looked at his profile as he gazed ahead. He finally looked at her briefly and then back ahead.
"Anyway," she said, after he made no verbal response. "Like I said...I'm not sure yet."
"So," he said. "Why do you say that you think you may be pregnant?"
"I've been feeling a little sick in the mornings," she said. "Not bad enough to vomit or anything but just nausea."
"And when," he said. "Are you planning on finding out for sure about this?"
"Well..." she said. "Maybe next week."
"Next week," he repeated.
"Yes," she told him.
"Eh, well," he said, knowing this was not his area of expertise. "Shouldn't you look into it sooner than that?"
"I mean..." she said. "I guess."
She heard him taking a breath through his nose.
"I think you should have it checked," he said. "Sooner than next week."
"Oh..." Adriana said.
"I'll call the doc," he said. "He can probably fit you in today."
"I think I want to wait," she said. "Maybe a few weeks."
He was quiet and thought about her words.
"You are waiting for Bruce to get back, am I right?" he asked. "To give him some...time."
"I care about him, Jack," she said. "I don't want to upset him."
"We do not have to tell him yet," he said and looked at her. "And I am sure Lucius won't tell him either."
"Lucius?" Adriana asked. "You talked to Lucius?"
"Did you?" Jack asked.
"Well, yes," she said. "I told him yesterday that I thought I might be pregnant. So...he told you?"
"Nope," Jack said.
"So how did you know I told him anything?" she asked.
He looked at her like the answer was obvious, before looking at the road again.
"You are rather predictable," he said plainly. "It's only to be expected that he would be the first to know."
"I'm sorry," she said. "I should have told you first-"
"It does not bother me at all," he said. "He is your very close friend after all. And please, do not apologize."
"So, you want me to go see Dr. Kapoor today," she said.
"If you wouldn't mind," he said.
"I don't," she said. "It's fine."
They were silent as they drove along, and Adriana began to wonder about Jack's attitude. He seemed very calm, logical, and treated the situation like it was not anything major. But he also did not sound excited at all. And after thinking about it, she realized, neither did she. It seemed like he was deep in thought and Adriana wanted to know what he felt.
Was he happy? Stressed? Worried? They had time, she told herself. She was not sure if she was even pregnant yet. There would be plenty of time to discuss feelings later, she told herself.
After 20 more minutes of driving, they finally reached Wayne Manor. Once they were inside, Alfred took Adriana's coat.
"I have some rather exciting news," Alfred said.
"What's that?" Adriana asked.
"Bruce is on his way home," Alfred told them.
"Now? Right now?" Adriana asked, feeling her heart pounding.
"Yes," Alfred said, and Adriana surprised herself by leaping into him arms to give him a hug.
"Oh, Arsenio is going to be so happy!" she exclaimed. "Wow."
"Yes, he will," Alfred agreed.
"I'll head out," Jack said to them both, knowing he should leave immediately.
Alfred and Adriana looked at him.
"You should stay," Adriana said.
Alfred and Jack looked at each other for a moment before Alfred walked away, leaving Jack to explain the obvious to her.
"The very last first thing he needs to see when he returns here is me," Jack sad. "I should leave now to make sure we don't cross paths."
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Most certainly," he said.
"Okay...I love you," she said and hugged him.
"And I love you," he said, giving her a kiss.
She squeezed him again, not wanting to let him go even though they had already spent the entire night together.
"Goodbye, beautiful," he said, before leaving.
