I am a huge Gotham fan and this story has been working in my mind for a while now. I just needed to make it work a little before writing it down. I hope you enjoy it and I hope you review it. I own nothing.

Chapter 1

Phoebe's POV…

You ever been so in love that you didn't care about anyone else? I have, though I didn't know it the first time I saw Jerome Valeska. But then we were only five years old what did we know? We were just kids when we met and became friends. How were we to know that we would be by each other's sides from that moment on? We were each other's light in the storm in a way because no matter how bad things got one thing never changed. We always had each other.

In the beginning we were only best friends helping each other. Together we lived through the abuse both our parents dealt out. As time passed, we grew older our relationship changing as we did, and soon I realized I had fallen in love with him. And much to my surprise he fell in love with me too. It was that love that would sustain us through good times and bad. It was that love that made me stand by him through even the toughest of times. Our love was unkillable. This is our story. This is the story of our love.

We were five when we met. His mother was the circus snake dancer not to mention the circus whore and my father along with my uncles were clowns. I will never forget that moment when I saw Jerome for the first time. That particular night my uncles were already drunk as usual and much to my daddy's disappointment they couldn't watch me. He wanted to go see Lila Valeska, the circus whore; my uncles' drunken state forced him to take me along. At the time I didn't want to go, but now I am so glad he forced me to. And I am so glad he did, or my life would be so different.

"Don't say a…word…or I'll…knock your teeth in," slurred my father as he stumbled with me in tow towards Lila's trailer. He was nearly as drunk as my uncles the difference being that unlike them he could walk. And then he flung me away from him so I was still in his view as he banged on the door leaning against the side of it for support as he waited for it to open.

" Larry, baby what a pleasure to see you," smiled Lila Valeska when she answered the door dressed in only a robe which she let hang open exposing her naked body. That was the first time I saw her and even then I didn't like her.

Lila Valeska was a very beautiful woman, but just looking at her she reminded me of a snake. She just looked evil I can't explain why I felt that having not even spoken to the woman yet, but she just gave off an evil vibe. And she didn't like me either because the second she saw me standing in the background she glared straight at me giving my father a look.

"Stay out here," growled my father looking from her to me. I only nodded hearing as he climbed into the trailer closing the door with a slam. I sat on a haystack nearby as I waited. I knew what my daddy would do if I ran off while he was busy. He would beat me black and blue without a second thought. That was something I tried to avoid.

"Let me go," exclaimed a voice drawing my attention back to the trailer as the door opened.

"Fuck off," snapped my father standing in the doorway of the trailer a minute before throwing a boy my age out into the dirt. He didn't wait even a second before closing the door leaving the boy in a crumpled pile. When the door closed I ran over to the boy.

"Are you ok?" I exclaimed as I hurried to his side as he still lay on the ground the first thing that caught my eye was his red hair.

"Here let me help," I continued falling to the ground by his side to help; I felt bad that my daddy had done that to him. But he didn't want my help. The second my hand touched his shoulder he pulled away as if I had poured acid on him and when he looked at me that first time he was glaring at me. Back then I couldn't help, but notice that he had his mother's glare.

"Keep away from me," sneered the boy glaring at me still before beginning to dust himself off. I put my head down then barely looking at him as he sat on his hands and knees attempting to clean himself up. I couldn't help, but think that he was like everyone else. He didn't like me either and he had just met me.

"Please let me help you," I whispered my voice shaking as I reached out a hand to help him again receiving that same glare when I tried. This time I noticed his frog green eyes; I had never seen eyes as green as his. He slapped my hands away immediately still glaring and it was then I gave up. I wanted to cry then after all I was just trying to be nice. And then sitting there in the dirt with him all was silent.

"I'm sorry," I whispered finally not looking up at him for fear that he was still glaring at me.

The silence continued then until suddenly I felt him lightly tap my forehead.

"What?" I breathed my voice shaking giving him all my attention instantly. When I finally looked at him again he wasn't glaring at me anymore instead he was frowning at me.

"What are you sorry for?" frowned the boy his eyes never leaving me now. I looked into his eyes then and signing I quickly looked away again. He had me all flustered now and in that moment part of me was afraid to talk to him.

"I'm sorry because I made you mad. I didn't mean to I was just trying to help you. I figured it's the least I can do seeing as my daddy is the one who threw you into the dirt," I explained looking at him for just a second before rising out of the dirt leaving him be not wanting to bug him with my company anymore. I could feel his eyes on me as I walked away from him returning to my haystack. I just didn't understand it; why did no one like me? And staring at the ground as I sat there in silence I just kicked my feet in the dirt waiting for my daddy to return.

I didn't notice he had come to stand in front of me until he tapped my forehead again making me look up into his green eyes.

"I'm Jerome, Jerome Valeska," said Jerome smiling that big toothy grin my way for the first time. He offered me his hand then expecting me to shake it. For a moment though I just stared at him amazed that he was actually being nice to me. But then I took his hand giving it a gentle shake before letting it go once more. All was silent again as he stood in front of me just watching me while I stared right back at him. I didn't know what to expect from this boy I had just met who until now had been extremely unkind to me. Still smiling at me, Jerome sat down on the stack of hay by my side turning his head to stare at me still as I returned my eyes to the dirt floor. I didn't talk much then and if I hadn't of met Jerome that probably never would have changed.

"So…what's your name," smiled Jerome never taking his eyes off me. I stared at the ground still lost in my own thoughts. I didn't even hear him speak I was so nervous around him then like I was with anyone new I would ever meet. But when he poked me in the arm not so gently I instantly looked at him.

"Ye…yes," I stammered looking him in the eye for just a second before looking away. I focused solely on my hands then waiting to see what he would say tapping them nervously as I did so.

"I asked you for your name. You do have a name right?" exclaimed Jerome still managing to smile despite the slightly annoyed tone of his voice. And I don't know why, but that smile even then was contagious. Soon I found a tiny smile trying to make its way onto my face as I met his gaze once more. Locking eyes with him I had to smile because the thought that I didn't have a name was too funny I mean who didn't have a name?

"Phoebe, it's Phoebe Nullen," I smiled still looking into his eyes.

"Well it's nice to meet you Phoebes," smiled Jerome looking intently at me as if expecting me to tell him my short life story.

"So…the clowns your dad? I'm seen him with my mother before; it's not the first time he's thrown me in the dirt. But how come you've never been with him before? I would have remembered meeting you there aren't many nice people here. You too busy playing with friends until now?" sneered Jerome venom filling his tone as he spoke of my father his smile completely gone now. The query of questions surprised me at first before filling me with sadness because now of the answers I had to give were good ones. As I prepared to answer him then I looked away not wanting him to see the tears in my eyes. The truth was I hated my father, he was nothing, but cruel. The truth was I had never been with him to see Lila before because usually my uncles watched me, though what they did couldn't really be called watching me, and today was only different because they were too drunk to watch me. And the saddest truth of all was that I didn't have any friends I never had.

"Usually my uncles watch me, but today they couldn't. I…I don't have any frie…friends," I whispered. Jerome tapped me on the shoulder then making me turn in his direction.

"I don't have any friends either. Don't let it bother you, Phoebes I don't," breathed Jerome smiling at me one last time. It was then he brought a finger to my face wiping away the tears I hadn't realized I had cried. That was the first time he ever did that.

He looked away from me then staring at his hands as they hung freely between his knees. All was silent between us again, but then an idea entered my mind. At the time it seemed like such an impossible idea.

"Jerome," I whispered hesitating slightly.

"Phoebes," smiled Jerome not looking at me, but as I turned in his direction I saw that smile as big as ever his eyes still trained on his own hands. I was silent still as I worked up the courage to ask him my question. But finally I chickened out because I knew he would say no. After all in my mind there was no reason for him to say yes.

"Never…never mind," I signed looking at the ground once more. I felt sadness cover me then as I pushed the whole idea from my mind. It was stupid, it was impossible; no one wanted anything to do with me why would he?

However that only seemed to pique his interest because suddenly I felt him tap the side of my head.

"Oh come on, Phoebes. What were you going to ask me?" whispered Jerome leaning in close to me. I didn't look at him still staring at the ground pretending I didn't hear him, but when he began tapping me incessantly I knew there was no ignoring him. I learned something very important that first day; Jerome Valeska would not be ignored by anyone not even me. Finally I turned my head still hesitant.

"Well I had an idea. You don't have any friends and I don't have any friends so why couldn't we be friends?" I whispered finally looking into his deep green eyes my heart pounding as he processed my question making me wait with bated breath for an answer. Jerome's smile seemed to get even wider than if that was possible and before I knew it he was nodding a yes.

"Ok, Phoebes. Let's be friends," smiled Jerome. I perked up instantly smiling just as wide.

"Do you mean it?" I smiled turning to face him. I stared him dead in the eyes then my whole stance making it clear just how hopeful I was that he really wanted to be my friend. That he really wasn't playing a cruel joke on me.

"Yes, I really mean it in fact if you want we can shake on it," said Jerome offering me his hand for a second time.

"Alright," I exclaimed taking his hand for a second time. This time our handshake was a little more firm, it lasted longer, and when it was over our hands lingered over each other. But finally our fingers separated and still smiling at each other we began our friendship.

"What now?" asked Jerome looking from the trailer where our parents were before finally looking back at me?

"We could talk," I suggested and sitting Indian style facing each other as he nodded. We began to play our version of twenty question asking each other anything and everything though I don't think either of us let our walls down completely at that point. So as we waited we talked, it was surprisingly easy to talk to each other. Soon it grew darker, but we didn't notice.

"What's your favorite food?" asked Jerome smiling at me as if he had asked for some big top secret information.

"That's easy, cotton candy. What about you Jerome? What's your favorite food?" I exclaimed watching as he smiled at my answer before stopping to think up his own.

"Chicken pot pie. My mother has me make the ones in the red box sometimes. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does its nice," exclaimed Jerome a look of joy coming onto his face as he told me of the food. Now it was my turn to ask a question. Silence fell as I thought one up, but I never got to ask it once I did. Before I could even form one word my daddy came bursting out of the trailer nearly falling into the dirt when he lost his balance. It was clear that he was drunker then he had been before he arrived. When his eyes finally landed on me he didn't say anything. He only gave me that same irritated look he always gave me since before I could remember. It was clear then that my time with Jerome was older and now I was expected to follow my daddy home.

Jerome and I both stood up then looking after him before looking at each other.

"I have to go home," I signed my smile disappearing. I really didn't want to I wanted to stay with Jerome. I wanted to spend more time with my new friend, but I knew if I didn't follow daddy he would find me. And when he did he would hurt me for daring to disobey him.

"Yeah me too. My mother will probably be wanting dinner," whispered Jerome his smile disappearing too. It was clear just by the tone of his voice that he hated his mother as much as I hated my father.

"Will I see you again?" I whispered looking down at the ground. But my attention was instantly on him again as he did something I would learn to get used to. Jerome tapped me on the forehead making me smile once more and when I looked at him I discovered his smile had returned too.

"Course you will, we're friends remember," whispered Jerome.

"Phoebe! Where the hell are you?" yelled my father making me jump my smile fading because I knew now I would be getting a beating when I got home.

"Bye," I said looking away from him before running away. I knew I had to get home if I came quickly the beating might not be so bad. But I knew one thing; I would have bruises tomorrow.

"Phoebe," screamed Jerome from behind me. Even though I knew I shouldn't I stopped hearing my daddy still calling my name.

"Yes," I exclaimed turning back to look at him trying to ignore my daddy's incessant screaming.

Jerome was standing on the steps to his trailer his hand gripping the door handle.

"I'll come find you tomorrow," said Jerome his smile on in full force. My smile returned too and nodding I gave him a thumbs up that he returned before my daddy's voice brought me back to reality.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Jerome," I called turning with a final wave in the direction of home preparing myself for my punishment as my daddy's voice grew louder the closer I got. And I was right, the second he saw me he grabbed both my arms in his strong grasp.

"Where the hell you been? When I call for you, you move your ass," snapped my father shaking me hard before suddenly slapping me across the face. He did it twice more before he grabbed a fistful of my hair using it to lead me the rest of the way home. And as he led me into our trailer I began to cry because I knew what was coming. I knew what was crying and I was so scared.