There was far less for her to pack than what she thought. Nigma had given her money and ordered her to go on a shopping trip for clothing. None of it was of any use to her. It would remind her too much of him, so she left it, packing what remained of the clothing she had brought with her.

"Damnit!" she muttered, remembering that her dress and undergarments from last night were still in his room. "Just forget them. You don't need the reminder..."

Picking up the framed picture of their first night at Third Degree Swing, she hugged it to her chest. Yes. She did want and need the reminders.

"Just because he turned out to be a stupid idiot doesn't mean you love him any less." She sighed and put the picture in her suitcase. I can go back to Jiaoshu's. They'll let me stay for a while. I'm taking his BMW to get there, whether he likes it or not. He owes me that much, and I'm not letting him drive me!

What the Triad, her family, would think of this failure of hers, she wasn't certain. The thought was driven from her mind by a knock at the door.

"Go away!" she said.

"Dee?" he asked, jiggling the knob. With practiced ease, he picked the lock, only to find the door still wouldn't budge. He muttered a curse to himself, knowing her trick of wedging a chair under the handle. In frustration, he rattled the door again.

"Don't do this to me, Eddie. Please don't torment me. I'm hurrying, ok? I'm doing the best I can to get out of here quickly."

There was a moment of silence, and then the door burst open, the chair snapping at the legs and toppling over. Dee instinctually dove into her closet. As she looked around the edge of her dresser, she saw Eddie standing there. He had hurriedly dressed in his pants and shirt from the night before. Barefoot, he stood at the threshold, frowning as he scanned her room. His leg and foot throbbed like hell from the force of his kick.

Pinning her eyes with his, he said, "I have to explain to you why I decided what I did."

She stood and brushed herself off. "Do you really, Eddie? Fine! Pour more salt into my wounds!" she snapped bitterly.

With a sigh, he limped across to the closest chair and sat down. His face went from stern and annoyed to haggard and drawn. Now as he sat, he felt tired and old. It was time to tell the truth. Admit things he didn't want to ever admit for fear of rejection. He realized that there never had been anyone to say this to.

"Dee, I love you more than simple words or gestures can say. I think I could possibly give everything up for you!"

"So you decide to dump me. Yes, I can see your love for me," she half growled, half wept.

"That is exactly why I don't feel it would be right to continue this! You were raised with honor and loyalty, a sense of what love can be. Everything you've given me; your love, trust, loyalty, and honor... Those are all gifts that no one has ever given me. That you gave them so pure and innocently... All I'm doing is making horrible mockeries of what they were to offer you! You have a good heart and you deserve someone with the same. To see you waste your love on someone like me..."

Her derisive bark of laughter was filled with bitterness. "Waste my love? Innocent?! Pure?! Were you even listening to me the night I told you what I did for the Triad? I'm an assassin. What's more, I enjoy it! I've grown to like the blood, the thrill of the kill, the pleasure, if I got it, of the chase."

"That's the ring, not you!" he shouted.

"The ring is part of who I am! Just like you and your puzzles! Eddie, I'm not exactly loving and tender. Most people I meet I could do without. Many I would love to kill on principle alone! Those that I do love - truly love - have done me right! Don't you dare think that you can tell me that I'm wasting my love on you! What I've given you is what I have to offer! I'm not good at buying things for people, or even saying what I feel when it comes down to it. I give you my love and trust because it's my choice! Mine, Edward! I can stop as easily as I could stop breathing."

For all he could understand, he couldn't even begin to comprehend this. "But you say you love me. Would you have loved me if I weren't the Riddler? If I had remained the lying, cheating carnival barker, E. Nigma?"

"We've been over this before! Had I been given the chance, yes! But you failed to ask me out that day."

He snorted contemptuously. "I failed? Why was it up to me?"

Dee paused and kicked her toe at the corner of the dresser, shrugging and suddenly shy. "You're the guy. And I'm old fashioned. But I would have said yes to that man who stood behind the booth, swindling people. Don't you understand that, Eddie? It wasn't what you did then, and it isn't what you do now that matters to me. You, Edward Nigma, matter. Even knowing what you've told me of your past, your childhood. I wish I could've known that little boy. While I can't do anything for the little boy who was looking for love and to be loved, I hoped to at least be able to love the man that boy became."

"That's what I can't fathom! Why... How could you love me knowing all that you do?"

"Are you that stupid, Eddie? Are you really that stupid?" asked Dee, thoroughly exasperated now.

"Yes! Yes, I am! For once in my life, Dee, I am a complete and utter idiot!" he yelled, standing up.

Shaking her head, Dee closed the distance between them, jabbing her finger sharply into his chest. "You foolish man! You have respected me, been a... Look at you, you idiot! You kicked my door in to talk to me! Before Arkham, remember when I wasn't feeling well? When I was having my period? You made me tea and then sat with me, rubbing my belly! When Batman kicked my ass, you took care of me. And don't think I didn't notice how you held me as if I was going to run that night after the Apis statue."

Edward's face scrunched into a scowl. "I didn't..."

Her finger poked his chest again as she returned his scowl. "You did all of those things and more. Admit it. Don't even try the crime angle! I'm helping you! Were you to tell me that you were quitting crime, I'd stay with you, if you wanted me to. In or out of this business, I love you. You've been a jerk sometimes, trying to spy on me in the tub..."

A small smile pulled at his mouth as he remembered the night she caught him spying on her. The lump he'd gotten from her toothpaste tube smacking him in the head had been worth it to see her dripping wet and angry, clutching a towel around herself.

"I forgive you for that. Hopefully you forgive me for being a pain in the ass. You care about me and you can't deny it. The way you treated me last night proves it. We're both fucked up. The way I see it is that we're the best fits for each other. The best we'll probably ever find. I was hoping that when little Eddie Nigma needed his ego soothed, or a scraped knee kissed, that little Dee Lemma would be there."

"I... I'd like that." What she was saying made sense to him. How could he have come to such a rush decision to end things? Fear. Jonathan would have a field day with you if he knew how scared you were of your feelings for her. Of her. "But," he said, looking into her eyes, "I don't deserve it."

She glared at him.

"Ok!" he said, holding his hands up defensively. "Maybe to you I deserve it. Other people don't see it that way. My kind shouldn't be loved!"

Immediately she turned her back on him, shoving a pile of shirts into her bag. "I'm glad to know that the opinion of the masses matters more than mine."

"Shit!" he growled, grabbing her bag and tossing it aside. He grabbed her arms and held her in place, giving her a little shake. "You know I'm no good at this! I love you, ok? I admit it! I. Love. You! When you're happy, I'm happy. I wish those roses had made you happier. Truth is, I don't want this to end! I never want it to end! But each day I wonder if it's all a dream. When I wake, I expect to find that you were just a phantom figure, ghosting through my dreams, making me damnably happy."

There was silence between them, save the huffing of Eddie as he looked down at the girl who had, quite literally, fallen into his life. Now he frowned as he looked at her, still scowling at him. Instinct told him to kiss her. Common sense told him that if he did, he'd be in a lot of pain.

"Listen. You do so much for me. You take care of me, do my laundry, cook, and even pick up after me sometimes. But you never ask me for anything unreasonable. Why, baby? Why do I deserve that?"

Her eyes narrowed, a low rumble of a growl built in her throat, and her left eye twitched. "Don't you ever call me baby! Ever!"

Eddie felt her tense up under his hands. He watched as she flexed her hands, wondering if she might hit him. Taking deep breaths, eyes closed, Dee counted to ten.

"I do those things for you because I love you! Not because I have to! Why should you worry about little everyday things like cooking and cleaning? There's nothing else for me to do, and I don't mind. I hate being completely unoccupied. You're always working on plans, or researching. Why should you worry if you have clean boxers or not?" She shook her head and stepped out of his hold. "It was your affection I wanted in return, along with your appreciation. I don't ask for stuff because you provide me with everything."

"That just..."

Putting her hands on his chest, she pushed him out the door and into the hallway.

"Obviously you don't want me to go. However, after this stupidity of yours today, I expect an apology. And just to make you feel better, I also expect to see a bouquet of my favorite flower when you make that apology. Don't even think about trying to apologize without the flowers."

"But..."

"And here's a piece of advice Li Mei gave to me a few times."

Before he knew it, she slapped the back of his head. He was more shocked than hurt. Dee said nothing else as she turned and went back into her room. Holding the door, she gave him a stern look, and then shoved the broken door back into place with a resounding slam.

Edward Nigma, the Riddler, man with one of the highest IQ's in the world was left standing in the hallway. His mouth hung open, a shocked expression on his face. The expensive silk shirt he wore was half tucked into the expensive, fine wool slacks. Both were as wrinkled and mussed looking as the man who wore them. Momentarily he stood there, blinking in disbelief before slowly limping off into his room. ~ ~ ~

{He's just being an idiot about this!} said Dee, pouring more tea for everyone.

Manchu hid a grin behind his rice bowl. She was so in love with Nigma and this one argument had her going berserk. Next to him, Chu Hua elbowed him as she heard a wisp of laughter escape. He went silent and tried to look serious when Li Mei added her frown.

{There will always be disagreements between two people who care for each other. That's just how a relationship work, Xiaohu,} Li Mei said.

{The old woman is correct,} agreed Jiaoshu with a teasing note. {Li Mei and I do not always see eye to eye. As friends, Manchu and you have never completely agreed with each other.}

{Yes, I know. But he wanted to end our relationship for a stupid reason!}

{Xiaohu, speaking on his behalf, and take no offense, may I just say that he has been very strong to get to this point with you. The fact that you let him bed you shows that you trust and love him,} Manchu said.

Dee blushed at the last. The only reason they all knew was because she had asked Li Mei for something to ease the remaining twinge from her torn hymen. Manchu had immediately asked how she liked it, laughing at the little grin she had on her face as she smacked him on the arm, telling him to stop being nosy.

The dining room door slid open and a young servant girl stepped through, bowing. {Please excuse me for interrupting your meal, but a man named Edward is at the door. He wishes to speak to a member of the household.}

{What does he wish to talk about?} Jiaoshu asked.

{He wishes to speak about Xiaohu. He asked for Li Mei, Manchu, or you, sir.}

The four at the table turned to Dee who stared angrily into her teacup. {He's cheating!} she snarled.

Jiaoshu raised an eyebrow at this. {Please escort Mr. Nigma to my office. Li Mei will bring refreshments to him.} He paused as Dee huffed at this. {I will meet with him as soon as I am finished here.}

The girl nodded, gave a final bow, and left silently.

{Jiaoshu...!} began Dee.

He raised a hand, silencing her protests. {I will see what he wishes, dear one. Manchu will come with me. And you,} he leveled a stare at Dee, {will not come barging in. Understood?}

{Yes, Jiaoshu,} she nodded meekly.

{Maybe I should tell him that he is already forgiven, and just hand you back to him,} smirked Manchu.

{He is not!}

{Oh, please. I know you better than you think. You've forgiven him and all of this is just to test him. Anything you want me to tell him?}

{He's going to ask about flowers. Tell him 'the man eating flower.'}

{Wouldn't it just be easier to say...}

Her glare stopped him from going any further with that thought. {Listen, everyone. I know I'm being stubborn and difficult. But after what he did, it's the least of what I could have done. Manchu, you're right. I have forgiven him. I want nothing more than to see him and put this behind us. But I can't just let it slide. Think of how you would feel if Chu said she was breaking up with you because your baking was better than hers.}

Chu Hua chuckled. {I was going to break up with him because his eyes are nicer than mine. But I like your reason just as much!}

{Behave!} Manchu warned teasingly. {And you! Don't encourage her!}

Li Mei and Jiaoshu laughed at the two. It hadn't been long since she had left, but much of the mischief in the house had left with her.

~ ~ ~

Li Mei had brought him refreshments. He tried to talk to her, quickly explaining the fight. She had smiled sweetly, and said, "Let me give you some advice..." before slapping the back of his head, exactly as Dee had.

She said she went for a walk, but I think she's here someplace, he thought, limping as he paced the office, rubbing the back of his head. His foot hurt from kicking her door in earlier.

"My apologies for keeping you waiting, Mr. Nigma," Jiaoshu said as Manchu and him entered. "I understand you are here about my Xiaohu. Is there a problem?"

Should have asked to talk to Li Mei and left these two out of it! He fidgeted, looking to loosen the knot in his tie, only to remember he wasn't wearing one and his shirt was opened two buttons at the throat. "Is Dee, I mean, is Xiaohu here? I'd like to talk to her."

The other two men exchanged glance. "Xiaohu isn't with you?" asked Manchu, folding his arms across his chest. Though a good three inches shorter, Manchu made it seem as if he were towering, head and shoulders, above Edward. "And why are you limping?"

Shoulders slumping, he sighed. "I kicked her bedroom door in this morning. We had a fight. I... I wanted to end things. You've raised her so well, and she's too perfect. Too good."

A bark of laughter came from Manchu. He couldn't believe what this man was saying. "Too perfect?" he asked, a questioning look on his face as he pointed to Edward. "Too good? We are still talking about Dee Lemma. 5' 4", red hair, horrible temper?"

Nodding sheepishly, Edward said, "She really is though. I've never met anyone who could be so patient with me." He smiled as he stared down at the toes of his shoes. "You know, she said she loved me, Edward Nigma. That what I did, who I was as the Riddler didn't matter. And when I offered her a share of the cash we had taken, she turned it down. She said the fun of the job was well worth the risk."

Both men gave each other curious looks. Dee had said nothing of this to them. Turning down money for a job? She really must love this man.

"You mean you offered her proper payment for a job she was hired for and she refused? She took none of it?" the older man asked.

"She forced it back on me. She said that if she ever needed money for anything, she'd ask. Otherwise, she wanted nothing as payment for any job. Just the chance for another thrill."

"Interesting," Jiaoshu muttered.

"But not unusual, right?" Eddie asked.

"Highly unusual. She has never turned down her pay from the Triad." Now it was Jiaoshu who was confused. "How have things been going between you two otherwise?"

"Fine, I suppose. I must apologize, however, for getting her locked in Arkham..."

Jiaoshu waved him silent. "That is something that was bound to happen when she joined you. She has never been stable, and has gotten a little worse since she joined with the ring. We have known she's been controlling herself, but those closest to her could tell there was a change." He paused, stroking his mustache. "Have you two been intimate yet?"

Choking, he tried not to swallow his tongue. That was straight to the point, old man. "I don't see how that..."

"Have you, or have you not been intimate with my daughter, Mr. Nigma."

The commanding tone of voice set Eddie's knees trembling. Were it possible for him to run and escape any punishment, he would. Instead, he swallowed and stammered out, "Yes. Just last night for the first time." In a defensive rush, he added, "But I didn't lead her on just for that, I swear! I mean, I'm not leading her on! She asked for it. Begged for it to finally... And the little green... It was lace and... Her skin smelled like... And she was...!"

"Enough! No wonder she became angry with you today." Jiaoshu took time to walk around Edward who stood stock-still, too afraid to move. Manchu remained where he was, glaring at Eddie. "You do plan on fixing this, don't you?"

"Of course I do! I don't want her to go. Do you think I would be here now if I didn't want her back?!" he demanded, smacking the desk. Two pairs of brown eyes observed his actions coolly. "Sorry. It's just that she won't tell me anything. She gets mad at anything I say! You should have seen her eye twitch at me calling her 'baby'!"

Jiaoshu shook his head. "You called my daughter 'baby'?"

"As an affectionate term! The same way I call her 'Kitten'. Only she went all quiet and growled at me."

Manchu was shaking with silent laughter at the mistake. "You are braver than I thought, Eddie. Kicking her door in and calling her 'baby'? I'm surprised to see you unharmed."

Eddie shot him a glare, his temper rising. "I bought her a dozen red roses before we went out last night. She said they were 'nice.' I asked her what her favorite flower was. Do you know how she responded?"

"'The man eating flower'," grinned Manchu, now understanding why his friend had told him to say that.

"Exactly! In riddles! She speaks in damn riddles! It just isn't fair! Plus, I know Poison Ivy! 'Man eating flower' could be any number of plants!"

"Why isn't that fair?" Manchu asked. "It seems to me that you go by another name, as does she. Aren't you also called 'the Riddler'?"

Edward scowled. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Jiaoshu raised an eyebrow. "She's playing your game. I would have imagined you'd be pleased that she would give you a hint instead of telling you outright. Give you a challenge."

Grinding his teeth, he attempted to control his rising temper. These two were not helping. "You're the one who told me she was a walking contradiction. And you were correct. She's also stubborn, pigheaded, and about as easy to understand as... as..."

"Some of your riddles?" Jiaoshu offered with a smile.

He snarled; a sound the two took as a yes. "I see I'll get no help from either of you." Crossing his arms over his chest, he shot each a glare.

Manchu dropped an arm across Edward's shoulders. "Edward, you seem to think that you have purchased an item from us. Now that it isn't working quite as you expected, you come to Customer Service to launch a complaint and get answers. Funny thing is, we don't give answers. What we will tell you is that you need to use your brains to fix the damage you have done. Nothing we do or say can help you."

"You could at least tell me what her favorite flower is," he grumbled.

Manchu and Jiaoshu chuckled. "That's cheating, Eddie. Her clue isn't that hard to figure out. And I gave you plenty of hints and tricks when I spoke to you that day you took her away. Say it again, Eddie. Rule Number One..."

He recited. "'Rule Number One: Never piss her off.' Easier said than done."

"Yes. But I did not send you to my sister blindly."

This was true. He had been following most of the advice, save the "wait for a sign that she's ready." So much wouldn't have happened if he did that. A smile touched his lips as he thought of kissing her. When they were arguing earlier, that's all he wanted to do. She looked good angry. Fighting with her was going to be pleasurable. And making up... His hand went into his jacket pocket and he fingered the lace panties she had worn just last night. He sighed as he thought of her warm body against his, clad in the underwear. He still had to apologize.

"I should be off if I'm going to solve this and bring her flowers. Again, thanks for the amazing lack of help."

Shaking his head, Manchu stopped him. "How about another hint? Part of the name is in the Triad." He slapped Edward on the back. "All the luck. You two are better for each other than I thought. So don't screw this up again, ok? You already made one huge mistake by not asking her out at the carnival." Voice still friendly, he added, "Now that you two are lovers, if you hurt her, we will cut your eggroll off, ok? Just watch yourself and everything will remain intact."

White as a sheet, Edward gulped as Jiaoshu stood in front of him, smiling pleasantly. The man tapped a bo staff at Eddie's crotch. "The eggroll and the dumplings. Deep fried and served to you for dinner. Then the real punishment begins."

He couldn't believe this! The threats were insane, and given the way they were, far more chilling than any he had ever received. He could feel his testicles retracting into his body. Sweating profusely, he stammered a farewell and bolted from the room. Hurrying through the house, and out the door, he got in his car and left.

{Think he'll get it?} Manchu asked, picking up the untouched tray of refreshments and popping a piece of honey preserved sesame seeds into his mouth.

{He's smart. He will understand.}

{I'll let Xiaohu know how things went. Should I tell her of the eggroll?}

Jiaoshu laughed. {No. That stays here. We both know that he would have to do something truly horrible for that to happen. Even then we would be easier on him than she would.}

Manchu nodded in agreement. {Then I'll just let her know simple facts.} ~ ~ ~

"G'damn... Stupid flowers!" he grumbled, peeling away from the fifth florist.

Once Manchu had said, "Part of the name is in the Triad," he had figured it out. The only problem was none of the florists seemed to be carrying any damn tiger lilies! It was the seventh shop he tried that had them. The woman behind the counter was uncertain if this man was joking or not when he asked for every single tiger lily she had, as well as vases to put them all in.

"Sir, that's almost four hundred dollars worth. And I can't sell them to you."

"That's ridiculous! I have the money. I want them all, now!" he demanded, slapping the cash down. "I'll even throw in an extra hundred."

"As much as I appreciate that, I can't do it. Gotham Zoo special ordered them from me. They're for a party to introduce the new tiger cub into the exhibit!"

"I don't care. I need..." He paused. "Tiger cub?"

"Yes!" the lady said, confused at the sudden change in her customer. "A Siberian tiger cub, Makari. He's six months old. They're very proud of him..."

"Just give me one second." Quickly leaving the store, he slid into his car and pulled his cell phone out, dialing Benny and Trigger. "Boys, cancel your plans for tonight. I have a special job for you."

He rummaged through the glove box and found what he wanted, tucking a fat envelope into his jacket pocket. Brushing himself down, he gave himself a look in the rearview mirror. Smirking, he went back into the store, pulling the wad of cash from the envelope. Flipping through it, he looked at the woman and started a smooth pitch.
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