The Beast Within

Chapter Forty-Five: Into The Shadows

Jerome woke up early and turned to his side to see Nyssa laying peacefully on his chest "I didn't expect you to be awake" he said running a pale hand across her forehead pushing her fluffy brown curls from her face "I couldn't sleep" "I'm so sorry for what Miah did Nyss" "what about what you did?" "I thought I was protecting you" "by leaving me when I needed you?" "it's not as black and white as that" "then tell me, I'm a big girl I can take the truth" "wait a minute, y-you don't think I wanted to leave did you?" he pushed himself up to lean against the headboard.

She pulled away from his chest and sat up "I- you were so quick to leave-" "Nyssa, I know I've lied to you, hurt you and betrayed you and I know that I definitely do not and never have deserved you, but I promise you I have never stopped loving you, and it's selfish of me but I would never, ever leave you unless I absolutely had to" "then why did you?" "I- I can't say" "why not?" "because it involves Jeremiah and I know you hate it when I talk bad about him" "Jerome, what did he do?" "he lied to me, and told me that someone was after me, and that they were going to use you and the kids to do it, I couldn't stay and put you all in danger".

"But you said he lied to you" "he made it up, I got a visit from your favorite blondie-" "Barbara?" "right, she found me and told me his plan and what he'd done, that's why I came back, I came back for you, for all of you" "he's been sitting on the truth for four years!?" "shh the kids are still sleeping, but yes" "I will kill him with my bare hands" "as much as I love this enthusiasm Nyss, you can't kill him" "why not?" "think of Poppy and Scarlett, our kids have gone through enough without a dad, could you really do that to them, only theirs won't come back" she groaned and leaned on his shoulder and huffed "I hate it when you're right" he chuckled and stroked her hair "I know doll, I know" Nyssa pulled away and climbed off the bed "where are you going?" "to get the kids up for school and run some errands" "ooh what kind of errands?" "the fun kind, wanna come?" "of course baby, always" she smirked and threw him his shirt and pants "hurry up, kids gotta be at school by 8" Jerome chuckled at her and stood up.

The three kids sat in the backseat of Jerome's car and spoke quietly amongst themselves "did mom say why Jerome was back?" Jax whispered "he's our dad, obviously he missed us" Crimson defended "don't be so dense Crim, he's obviously here for something" Jason said "you know I can hear you guys right?" Jerome said and they all looked up "your dad is back because he loves us and missed us" Nyssa said taking hold of Jerome's hand as he stopped the car "have a good day kids" she said as they climbed out and walked into the school gates and Jerome's car was instantly gone.

Jeremiah sat peacefully in his chair sitting a coffee and reading the newspaper when a loud knock from the front door echoed through the room, he opened the door and was immediately greeted by a hard blow to the face, he stumbled backwards and pulled out his gun but realized who it was and relaxed "Nyssa, Jerome.. always a pleasure when you're both here" he snarled wiping a small drizzle of blood from his face "you bastard, Jerome told me what you did, how could you!?" "I've been trying to get you to see how bad he is for you for years! but you never saw it, I thought if it looked like his own choosing then you'd finally listen" "those aren't your decisions to make! I saw you as a friend but you've been my biggest enemy!" "Nyssa please I-" "no! I don't want to hear another word from you, you're just a liar, where are my girls? I'm taking them home" Jeremiah nodded and led her down a hall way where Poppy and Scarlett were laying in a bed together "mommy, mommy!" they cried excitedly and ran into her arms "my babies! I've missed you so much" Jerome swallowed down his annoyance and turned away from the scene, he knew Nyssa was a packaged deal that included Jeremiah's twins, she'd sacrificed a lot for him and raised his kids as her own, he knew it was time to return the favor to her, he turned back into the room and smiled "Nyssa, let's take the girls home" Nyssa smiled and nodded picking up Poppy and Jerome took Scarlett, much to Jerome's dismay Jeremiah stayed out of their way, he wanted an excuse to punch him, himself.

Once they got home the girls were already asleep, Nyssa and Jerome carefully laid them in Nyssa's bed "I know you're still angry about me having them, but I don't regret them" she said tucking them in "I know Nyss, but it's my turn to be okay with this, you took Jason and Jaxon in when you didn't have to, let me take some of the responsibility off your shoulders" "if you're really here and back for good, this is it, you can't just up and leave, you have to communicate if there's a problem, we need to be partners again" "I promise, I'm not going anywhere, we're sharing this load and our lives" "I love you, but if we're going to make this work, you have to be more than just Jerome Valeska, you need to be my husband" "no more secrets, no more lies, no more pain, just us and our kids" she smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down till her lips met his.

Jason sat at the Gotham Harbor waiting for his brother and sister to join him when a slender man with a white beard approached him "hello Jason" his accent was feint but there "do I know you?" "not yet, but I know you, I know all about you my boy" "what do you want from me?" "oh nothing much, I'm just here to make sure you become the man your mother wanted you to be" "my mother? what are you talking about?" "not to worry son, it's not time yet, I'll find you when the time is right.. keep a look out young one" "can I at least get your name-?" Jason asked turning around but in a flash the mysterious man was gone "who are you talking to?" Jaxon asked jumping from an old beat up fishing boat and Crimson quickly joined him "uh, no one, let's go home" the siblings nodded and they made their way home.

Meanwhile on the other side of Gotham under the ground. The tall slender old man smirked as he waited for his partner "you're late old man" they sassed and he smiled "miss Canary, finally you've arrived" "is it done?" "the boy is gullible, he didn't get that trait from his mother" "Talia was weak and got what was coming to her" "I'm not judging your authority" "are you sure the boy is the one?" "oh he's the one, I could feel his power radiating his core just from talking to him, he'll make a fine predecessor" "perfect, the Valeska's won't know what hit them.. they're perfect little Jason Todd will be the end of them all" "when will we make our move?" "not yet, patience is key, we'll let them have their fun, we've waited this long, what's a little bit more time?" The boss turned away from the old man was a smirk as they walked into the shadows and disappeared.