Things had been going wonderfully for her and James. She had never been so happy. Sadly, because of the mugging, the school put her internship on hold. As if he had predicted Carl also took her off the case and wanted her as a witness but because of one crooked cop, the trail was dismissed because one thing had been done improperly. At least since she had all this time off she had more time to work on her class assignments and even hang out with Harley. It was nice to have some girl time.

What was also nice was it gave her more time to spend with him, not that there was much. Being one of the best cops on the force, he didn’t have all that much time on his hands. However, he had been able to take her to the gun range, he was right; she wasn’t sure exactly how though it had certainly boosted her self-confidence since the mugging. One evening had been wonderful, he had taken her to his apartment where he surprised her with a home cooked meal. It was such a bachelor’s pad, it was a good thing it was one of those long stay suites at Gotham’s Continental Hotel or she was sure he wouldn’t have much furniture.

Today, he promised was going to be special. Her excitement had been bubbling over since she woke up. He said the whole thing was going to be a surprise, which tickled her to no end, knowing that he was taking the time to do something so elaborate. He had advised to dress warmly, so she put on her favorite maroon cable knit sweater and jeans. Autumn, had really caught up with them in the last few weeks. Today was no exception, the sun was high in a clear blue sky, a chill hung in the air. 

She ran her brush through her hair, while looking in the mirror. He liked when she had it down, so she had to will the waves to corporate. When she heard a resounding knock on the door, with a burst of excitement she put her brush down and ran to the door. Looking through the peephole, she saw him standing there, dapper as can be.  Smiling she opened the door.

“Hi James, come in come in.” She ushered him in. The door was barely closed, and they were in each others arms. His cologne tickled her senses and made her feel just as good as being in his arms. “Mmmm. How are you?” She asked over his shoulder.

“I’m good, now that I’m with you.” He replied into her hair.

She pulled back and gave him one of her winning smiles. “I’m happy you are here.”

A moment, later the two were sharing a kiss. She loved kissing him. When the two of them were together, she was able to forget that there was a world outside the two of them and all that mattered was them.

Some time, still reeling from their kiss, she looked over her shoes. She wasn’t sure which she should put on since she didn’t know where they were going. Putting her hands on her hips, she looked over at Gordon, leaning against her desk. The sight sent butterflies through her stomach. She had never thought he would look so good in just a pair of blue jeans and a black turtleneck sweater. She had since him wear that once when they wanted him to go with swat unit.

“Can you, at least tell me what shoes would be suitable?” Rachel asked him, placing a hand on her hip.

He walked the few short steps over to her and looped his arm around her. “Hmm…, I suppose I suggest some good footwear.” He gave her a half smile. “Anything that doesn’t have any major heels, you will want to be comfortable.”

“Good to know.” She smiled and gave him a squeeze. “Hmm…” Finally Rachel settled on and slipped into her favorite loafers. “I’m ready!” She exclaimed smiling.

“You certainly are.” He pulled her close into a kiss.

She couldn’t repress the giggle that welled up in her as his moustache tickled her upper lip and simply over how happy she was. She had not felt like this in too long of a time.

“You always manage to make me smile.” She said when they on their way out to his car.

“It’s part of the job.” He gave her wink before going into the car.

She just shook her head, smiling doing the same.

“So where are we going?” She asked for what seemed like the millionth time.

“I’ve told you it’s a surprise. But we are almost there.” He gave her a sideways glance.

Excitement was building in her, they seemed to be heading out of town, but she just couldn’t be sure. All she could be sure of was that as long as she was with him she knew she would have a good time. As the drove around the corner, a Ferris Wheel could be seen turning in the distance.

“You’re taking us to Mirth Warf?”

“You’ve found me out.” He said pulling into a parking spot.

She enthusiastically wrapped her arms around him. She have him a kiss on the cheek. “I haven’t been here in years.” She smiled. “It will be so wonderful to see it with you.” This time she brought him into a deeper kiss. She could feel him unbuckle his seat belt and wrap his arms around her.

“If we keep this up, we won’t actually get into Mirth’s Warf.” He chuckled deeply.

“I suppose we better.”

As they walked side by side up to ticket counter, Rachel’s hand tingled. She wanted to hold hands with him. Sure she knew that was child’s folly to want to hold hands with the one you care about, she wanted to. Though Rachel, knew it wasn’t something could assume would be alright with James, so she instead she busied them to get out some money to help chip in for the tickets.

“Here you go.” She handed him a twenty.

“I told you, today I’m surprising so I’m paying.” He said with a smile. “How much for the works?”

“Thirty, Buddy.”

“Sounds good to me.” She watched him fish the thirty out of his wallet as she put her twenty away.

 “Ok! If you insist.”

“I do.” He gave her a wink. Then pushed the money towards the man, a moment later the man pushed back fair amount of tickets towards him.

“There you go buddy. You two have good day.”

“We will.” A broad smile spread across his face while he folded them so they were more manageable and then he stuffed them into his pocket.  “Shall we?” Turning to smile at her.

“We shall.” She smiled back.

A moment or two after they passed the ticket counter, surprised shook Rachel to the core. His warm, soft hand took hers and their fingers interlaced. She couldn’t suppress the gasp that escaped her lips; she looked at him, squeezing the hand that held hers.

“Isn’t this what couples do when they go to Mirth Warf?” He said with an easy smile.

“Yes, yes they do.” She couldn’t stop her heart from speeding up when he said that. 

“So what shall we do first?” He asked her before bringing her hand to his lips and giving her a kiss.

“Hmmm, we could go on the tea cups and work our way up.”

“Sounds good to me.”

The rest of the day was like something out of a dream for Rachel. She was having so much fun going on all of the rides with him. They did the bumper cars, the music express, the Ferris wheel, the rollercoaster a couple of times and even the carousal.

“I had forgotten how much fun this place can be.” Said Rachel breathlessly after they got off the rollercoaster for the second time.

“Same here.” James agreed.

The sun had begun to sink in the sky.

“The day will not be complete if we don’t get any of this.” Unlooping her arm, Rachel ran a few steps of ahead of him.

“And what would that be?” He asked.

He noticed the setting rays of sun light brought out some beautifully coppery tones in her hair.

“Fried dough!” She exclaimed.

He smiled, seeing her happy made him even happier. He watched as she got a plate of the golden brown dough sprinkled with powered sugar and cinnamon. “That would make it pretty perfect.” She back into step with him.

She giggled. “Yeah.” She took a bite.

He couldn’t help chuckling when he noticed some cinnamon stick to her cheek.

“It’s delicious.” She cooed.

“I bet it is.” He agreed.

“Here have a bite.” She offered him some. He took a bite, then sneaked in to kiss away the cinnamon that was on her cheek. The tiny gasp it created in her sped up his heart. Both were delicious.

“Thank you,” He winked at her. “But you know what would be really perfect?” He asked her.

She raised her eye brows and shook her head, while enjoying another bite of the dough.

“If I won you a prize.”

She swallowed. “Oh, that would be awfully nice.” He steered them in the direction of one of the shooting games.

“Five shots in a row and win a prize!” Announced a man in bright red suspenders.

“Sounds good, how many tickets?”

“Three sir.”

He handed the man three and the man gave him the gun.

“Shoot the clown in the nose to knock him down.”

“Alright.” He paused. “Give me a kiss for good luck.” He offered Rachel his cheek. She surprised him with a sugary kiss on the lips.

He smiled, then crouching he aimed at the first clown.

“The man has lady luck, has lady luck on his side.” He paused. “Five clowns and get a prize.”

He narrowed his eyes and in one breath took two clowns down. He could feel Rache’s excitement grow, with another breath he got the other three.

“The man’s lady luck won him a prize. He paused again. “Would you like a small plushie or a statue or if you knock down five more you get a bigger prize.”

He looked at Rachel. “Should I go for a bigger prize, lady luck?”

He watched as her glance went from him to the prizes and back again. “The statue would be perfect.”

“If that’s what you want.” He looked at them.

“Which one would you like lady luck?”

He watched as she adorably bit her bottom lip. “I’ll have the one of the two little elephants.”

“Wise choice, lady luck.” The man with the red suspenders handed it to her.

“Thank you.”

They walked a short distance, then she threw out her plate. Then on either side of them were two looming structures. One claimed a haunted house and the other was a house of mirrors.

“Would you like to go into either?” He asked when she looped her arm with his.

“Actually, why don’t we walk down the board-walk.” She suggested.

“That sounds very nice.”

The sky was darkening and the stars were beginning to twinkle above them. They walked arm in arm along the boardwalk.

“James,” She said after some silence, the sound of the crashing waves surrounded them. The rides and other amusements of Mirth Warf were a distant murmur. “Today was a perfect day.” She squeezed him tight and laid her head on his shoulder.

“That was all part of the plan.” He gave her a squeeze back. He walked them up to a railing. “I’m glad you had so much fun.”

“I did, I certainly did.”

The two watched the ebb and flow of the ocean waves. Sighing he turned to look at her. The lights danced in her hair, he let his hand glide over its gentle waves She gave him a warm smile. A moment later, they were holding onto each other and were sharing a kiss. Her lips felt so warm and soft. He enjoyed how the kiss had started slow, and then soon the passion between them heightened. He could barely control himself when he kissed her it felt so right.

“Would you like to go back to my place tonight?” He asked sometime later.

“Yes, I’d like that.”

The two walked hand in hand through Mirth Warf. They had to maneuver between quite a few small families and other couples. He supposed it was so packed, since it would be closing for the season soon, most likely in a week or two. Hmm, I wonder if I should just order up tonight or cook something, he mused. Well, I’ll decide when we get there.

“Maybe we should stop by my place so I can get a change of clothes. I have an afternoon class, at 3:30.”

“That would be a good idea.”

As he drove back to her dormitory they shared smiles as he made his way through the traffic that was starting to build up.

“Here we are. I’ll keep the car running.” He told her when he parked beside the entrance.

“Ok,” She hopped out. He watched as she sprinted up the stairs.

“Hi Brownie,” Harley greeted as she came in the door.

“Hi Harley.” She placed the elephant statue beside the Precious Moments Rabbits. Grabbing a satchel from her closet, she opened it and put in on her desk chair. Tossing her roommate a glance, she noticed the girl was wearing a black pencil skirt with red diamonds up one side of and rather nice red blouse. That wasn’t what she would normally where to one of her classes. “Don’t you have class right now?” Something was up she mused, when she got a whiff of Harley’s perfume, sometimes she put on too much.

“It’s just another lecture on the insane mind and the people who are attracted. Believe me, Dawes if you’ve heard one you’ve heard them all.” The girl chuckled. “I have something more important schedule tonight.”

Rachel didn’t even have look at her roommate to know that there would be a huge smile spread across her face.

“I have a date with Jack tonight!” She exclaimed.

“Oh, I’m so happy for you. I hope you two have a wonderful night.” Rachel grabbed another sweater and a pair of slacks and her favorite pair of kitten heals. She carefully folded the clothes into the satchel, then put the other materials needed for the class beside them. With a couple of other incidentals before heading to the bathroom for her toiletries.

“Looks like I’m not the only one who is going to be having a good night as well.” Rachel suppressed a giggle knowing she wouldn’t need pajamas, since she would most likely just slip into one of his shirts if the need arose.

“I plan on it,” She smiled looking in the mirror, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were shining with happiness. She had never seen herself like this. She tossed what she needed into her satchel.

“Well, you two have a good evening, Harley.” She wished before exiting their room.

“You too, dear.” She heard Harley wish her.

She made a mad dash for the staircase.

He watched as she skipped down the steps satchel on one shoulder, shoes held in one hand.

“I’m all set,” She said breathlessly, after getting in the car. Then she planted a kiss on his cheek as she buckled up.

“Looks like it.” He smiled at her while revving the engine and driving them out of there.

Sometime later they were in the hotel’s parking garage. He parked near the elevator so they wouldn’t have far to walk.

Once in the elevator, she leaned over and pushed the button for his floor. He couldn’t help but smile.

 “What?” she asked nervously.

“I just like watching you move.” He paused; watching hints of blush flush her cheeks. “I’ve discovered today, how red is really your color.”

“Oh James.” She waved her hand dismissively. He grabbed her hand and kissed it. He could hear her inhale sharply. Sliding her a glance, he saw her looking at him from under her eyelashes. Man, he loved when she did that.

“I love when you do that.”

He kissed her hand again. “Do what?” Her voice tremenbled.

“When you look at me from under your eyelashes.”

“Oh really?” She asked doing it again, this time it was accompanied by what he had come to determine was her sly smile. Sill holding her hand he pulled her close.

“You have no idea.” He wrapped his arm around her and was leaning in to sneak a kiss on her cheek when she turned and it became one that they could share. She giggled against his mouth.

The elevator chimed when they reached his floor.  Hesitantly, they parted. Taking a left and a few doors down they arrived at his door. He took his entrance card out of his pocket. He slid it in, it beeped and a red light flashed in response.

He shook his head, grimacing. “You’d think I would have the hang of it by now.”

“You needed a kiss from your lady luck.” Rachel said simply.

He tilted his head giving her one of his sly smiles. “Oh do I?”

“Yes, you do.” She leaned towards him; her perfume filled his nose followed shortly by the feel of her soft lips. His heart sped up more but she made him feel so good.

“I think, that will do the trick.” He smiled.

He slid the card in. It flashed green and pulling down on the handle, the door opened. The door closed behind them and they were in each other’s arms. She had slid her satchel to the floor; put her shoes on top of it along with her purse.

They fell into his door kissing each other. All of the passion that they had been holding onto through out the day was bubbling to the surface. She gasped as into his mouth when he slipped one of his hands under the hem of her sweater. It made him feel powerful and invigorated.

Their tongues were dueling in each other’s mouths, as their hands explored as much of each other as they could. With her back against the door, he felt her pulling him closer to her soft frame. Her hands went up and down his back.

Her skin was so soft and smooth to his fingers, as he caressed the small of her back. She arched into his hands, as he felt the fervor of her kiss intensify. He began kissing a path down her throat, the smoothness of it and the scent of her perfect sent bursts of pleasure through him. Distantly, he could hear her exhale raggedly as he kissed her.

“Oh James,” She breathed, smiling he couldn’t resist nibbling on her shoulder when he reached it. Then he was kissing her fully on the mouth again, he could feel her hands going lower until they were under his sweater. Her caresses were like fire igniting more of the flames of passion he felt for her.

Kissing her cheeks, her throat he felt her wiggling against him, casting a glance downward he realized that she had kicked off her shoes and somehow had undid her jeans, they were sliding the to the floor. It only took a moment before she wrapped one slim leg around him holding him firmly against her as they kissed. He couldn’t suppress the groan that welled up in him as he kissed her. He let one hand slip from under her shirt to caress her leg that was wrapped around him.

Then he broke the kiss as much it tortured him to do so. “Hold on.” She almost immediately wrapped her arms around his throat. He bent and grabbed her other leg and wraps it around him, turning, he starts making his way to the bed that was little off center in the room. He becomes a bit unsteady on his feet, “Careful,” when she let go of him and slipped out of her sweater and tosses it behind them. She nestled in close holding onto him and kissing him wherever she can reach, she had somehow managed to pull slightly down on his turtleneck and kiss his throat. It sent a shiver of joy course through him.

He placed her softly on the bed with the full intention of undressing and then joining her. She scooted into the bed till she was more in the center of his bed and she pulled him on top of her wrapped her legs around him. “I’m not letting you go just yet.”

He managed to kick his shoes off before coming to rest between her shapely smooth legs. “Whatever, you say.” He said darkly, leaning on one elbow.

It was oddly erotic to be still clothed, while she was clad in only her bra in panties. Before he could have another thought, she overpowered him so that she was sitting astride him and she sat up, stretching. The sight took his breath. He allowed his hands to rest on her hips, as he soaked up the sight of her. Her hair tumbled around her shoulders she was radiant. She dragged her fingers over his sweater-clad torso.

“James,” The she leaned, her back arched. “You are,” He squeezed her hips gently. He enjoyed that the small sound she made. “fantastic,” She finally managed to say. She sat back, and looked down at him again. That’s when he decided to make his move. He sat up; he enjoyed the tiny squeak that came from her as he did so, now she sat across his thighs. Quickly as possibly, he took off his sweater off and tossed it behind her.

“It was about time I took that off.” He told her.

“I suppose,” She retorted playfully as she ran her hands over his arms, before he wrapped his arms around her.

He kissed her, their tongues sparing as their passion was urgent between the two of them. With all the restraint he could muster, he kissed his way down her throat, and nibbled on her shoulder. 

“I love when you do that.” She said breathlessly, she put her hands in his hair, it felt great feeling her finger tips course a path to his scalp.

He delighting in the feeling, when distantly she felt her placing her legs around him, the best she could from the position he had put her in. He felt her shiver as he allowed his fingertips run ever so lightly over her legs.

“This is in my way.” She said suddenly. Before he had time to react, he felt her hands go between the two of them. She undid his belt, pulling it from the loops she tossed it behind them. The metal buckle thudded upon hitting the ground. She then managed to pull him even closer to her, it felt delicious.

“This is in my way as well.” Not wanting to wait any longer he unhooked her bra, kissing her shoulder. Slowly and deliberately, he dragged the straps down one arm, in its wake he trailed kisses to the tips of her fingers. He did it with the other arm, before throwing it behind her. “Much better.”

“James,” She breathed, eagerly. “I can’t take this anymore. I need you.” He relished the sight of her she was so beautiful.

Leaning he enveloped her in his arms, taking her face in his hands. “I need you too.” He kissed her, ever so softly.