Tabitha stood in the room she once fought and killed Barbara in it was almost exactly a year ago it was funny how things worked out here she was hiding with Jim from Penguin and to top it all off she was pregnant. Yeah Tabitha Galavan of all people ended up with a bun in the oven. The most shocking part was who the father was.
She just kept starring at the repaired corner it was where Barbara had died "I'm sorry." Tabitha murmured. Thinking about it what she had done, yes Barbara had shot Butch in the head and yes Barbara tried to kill Tabitha but as much as Tabitha wanted to deny it, Tabitha still cared about her. She was all alone after that nothing was ever the same.
She heard footsteps approaching the door way she was nervous and so she got her gun ready. "Easy Tabitha it's just me."
She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him "You had me going there Gordon."
"You know you are pregnant with my child Tabitha you could just call me by my first name." He replied handing her a bag of groceries.
She glared at him "It's not like I asked for this Gordon."
"I know neither did I." He replied.
Tabitha broke into a hysterical fit of laughter "It's almost kind of sick and funny when you think about it. You and me we were both with Barbara and we ended up sleeping together while drunk you because well when don't you have a reason to drink and me because Butch or Cyrus doesn't even remember me. Though you were more drunk then I was. Oh, if Theo could see me now he'd have a field day with this. God must have sick sense of humor and an even sicker sense of karma."
"What makes you say that?"
"I killed Penguin's mother and now he's out to kill me and my- I mean our unborn child." She shook her head distraught "I guess maybe that's why I ran into Selina maybe I was supposed to learn to care for someone else before I could be well this. I may not look it but my family is deeply religious Jim. I actually was something of a rebel believe it or not."
Out of the blue Jim asked "How do you want to raise her or him…" Gordon stopped now considering another possibility "or them?"
Tabitha stopped she hadn't even thought about that "I don't know. I'm not exactly from a normal family Jim. I was raised in a cult that was a family only in name. I wouldn't even begin to know how to be a mother Selina was one thing but…" Tabitha began to tear up.
Jim watched her cry she was so different from when she first came to Gotham her outfit was the same one she wore when she worked for Barbara but her hair wasn't in a ponytail she wasn't even wearing her gloves maybe that was why Jim felt sorry for her these subtle changes in her appearance made her look more human so to comfort her said "My father and Uncle were part of the Court of Owls and they had my father killed and drove my Uncle to suicide. If things had worked out differently with my father I might have been a willing legacy member for the Court."
Tabitha looked up at him a little confused "I don't understand why are you telling me this?"
"I don't know. I just figured it'd make you feel better to know that your family isn't the only screwed up one. Besides after the Tetch Virus I'd be a hypocrite to act like there were any saints left in this city. I-" Jim stopped not really able to admit the "the truth is I killed Theo with Penguin because I hated him and part of me enjoyed doing it but I'm sorry I did it and if I could go back and change things I would and when I was infected I let that side of me out again, Fish said it was the real me and when I drove a blade into her and watched as Oswald cried and held her I felt alive. I didn't even mind him calling me a monster. So, if you are afraid that you'll be the worse parent don't because I have you beat I think."
Tabitha didn't say anything she just stayed quiet for a while then when she saw Jim about to walk out the door no doubt planning to sleep in his car or something "I killed Barbara." She didn't know why she said it or why she pointed to the corner where Barbara had been electrocuted "Right there I did it because she took Butch from me but I originally was planning to kill her with Butch the irony is he went behind my back to do it on his own because he knew it would break my heart if I killed her and he was right. I regret killing her and I regret…" She stopped choosing to finally call him by his name "Jim, regret is something I'm not use to feeling. You should also know I'm a cop killer I killed a member of your Strike Force I stepped on his neck and I could have just let him go but I chose to kill him because back then I-" She stopped again clearly struggling "I enjoyed killing and you know I left Theo behind and you probably know I killed his mother by stabbing her in the back and I enjoyed do it but now I just-"
Jim Gordon watched surprised to see her so vulnerable and even more shocked Tabitha was on the verge of tears. "Why are you telling me all this?"
"I'm telling you this Jim because you are better than me you are not the monster out the two of us you are the most human. I'm the monster got it? Not you." Tabitha was now crying her tears were like a river.
"I haven't seen you cry Tabitha since I found you stabbed by Theo." Jim said not sure why her crying was such a surprise. This was for some reason the first time he ever saw her as a human being.
"What I can't cry?" She stood up clearly upset "My family raised me to treat love like a weakness! Except they also taught me to value loyalty and it wasn't until I fought Barbara that I realized it was because I loved Butch and when I became friends with Selina I started to finally understand what it means to truly care about someone. Selina like Butch was one of the first few people to really see me as a person! I was a tool a living weapon to my family and you know what? I was disowned for my betrayal well actually I took the fall for Silver's failures I made it sound like Silver was the model niece I even said she tried saving him! I did this because I thought I was being loyal but I realize now it was an act of love." She sat back down now bursting into tears "When I went to Butch after Theo's plan failed it was because I had nowhere else to go but still I played it like I did. Did you know sometimes coma patients can hear what's happening around them?"
"What's that got to do with?" Jim stopped as soon as he realized what she meant.
"Butch told me I was the only one who laughed at his jokes, and that wasn't afraid of him. He called me his partner. That's why I left him because I hated myself for using him and I didn't understand what love was. Then when we were abducted by Nygma he said it was okay and I just… I needed to save him! Do you know why I wanted Nygma dead? Not because he cut off my hand but because he hurt Butch! Butch was a standup guy. Maybe not by your standards but Butch was a standup guy! Butch never did anything to Nygma and still that four eyed freak treated him like dirt! Butch was loyal to Penguin and got nothing but pain and misery for his trouble so tell me if good and evil exist where do people like you, me and Butch fall into it all because Butch was a good man!"
"I'll be honest Tabitha… I don't think good and evil exist. Not anymore all we can do try and forgive the past. That's the only way we walk out of this and survive Penguin. For men like him Tabitha and for men like Riddler love is a source of weakness but I think for people like me and maybe even you love is a source of strength it's why we are both alive and how we've continued to survive and I think you and I are…" He stopped almost nervous to finish.
"You think we're what?" Tabitha was now completely confused.
"We clearly have screwed up families, I care for Bruce just like you care for Selina, so I think you and I are almost like a reflection of each other. I've been trying to hide my darkness my whole life and you seem try and hide whatever light is inside of you so maybe… maybe we're supposed to save each other and it took this kid and a night of drunken sex to bring us together. I'm not asking if you want to be soul mates or anything it's just whatever dark place your stuck in maybe I'm there to. Maybe we can help each other you don't need to be alone anymore." Jim held out his hand "I know someone who can take care of Penguin he gave me this weird watch I just press a button and he shows up. I'm hesitant to do it but we are running out of options."
"You're saying this man can save us and our child?" She asked growing hopeful.
"I think so yes. He said he wanted me as an ally. I thought he was crazy but if it means saving our child I'll make a deal with him and I want to make a promise to you."
"What promise?"
"If I manage to live through this I'll marry you Tabitha that way we can raise this kid together. Besides a spouse can refuse to testify that way what we've said to each other will no longer be a concern. What do you say?"
Tabitha took a deep breath "Well Jim, I'm not happy about this situation if I am being honest. However I don't want to have to kill you and explain why you aren't part of this child's life when our child starts asking questions. So, if I accept and agree to become your wife we are going to have to set some ground rules."
"Naturally."
She smiled deviously "Glad we agree. First rule we buy a house a nice one not one of those crappy houses or apartments in Gotham. I want this child to have a nice big home. Second rule I want this child to have a stable home and that means we must share a room with separate beds that we will push together every morning so we can create the illusion for this child that we are a real couple. Third rule if we do this our child has to hear about my past from me when I decide it's right. I want this child Jim to form his or her own opinion of me before he or she knows what a monster I really am. So, with that being said I swear on my love for our child that I will never betray you and with the exception of those rules anything you say goes I'll be the perfect wife for you on the surface if it means this child grows up normal and happy."
Jim paused surprisingly moved by her words "And I swear on my love for our child that I will never betray you and that I will always be loyal to you. You will never have to worry about me mistreating you because I'll swear you'll at least have me as a partner from now on."
"There's one more thing…" Tabitha said composing herself as she crossed her arms and crossed her legs "I want you to get down on one knee and ask like a proper gentleman to marry me."
"Are you kidding me?" Gordon asked in a state of disbelief.
"No, I'm not and besides rings weren't always part of the proposal shtick that was something diamond companies made to monopolize on engagements. So, if you ask me Corporate America is where the real criminals are." Tabitha said straightening her posture only to drop the false confidence when her eyes met his "Okay I just want to say to our child that you proposed and I want to be telling our child the truth when I say it."
Jim quickly got down on one knee surprising Tabitha a little "Jim? You are actually going to do it here?"
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
"Well… yeah but I mean your proposing in the place I killed our ex. That doesn't seem a little messed up to you?"
Jim strange as may sound started laughing "This is Gotham, Tabitha we live in a city where two former mental patients and well-known murderers were elected into public office, we live in a city where a man dresses up like a bat and nobody batts and eye. I think this is normal by comparison. So, Tabitha Galavan will you do me the honor of helping me raise this child and making sure she or he's safe?"
Tabitha smiled not because she loved him but because she appreciated the gesture "Alright but I do have an idea as to how we can make sure this kid grows up safe one I think you will like very much."
Mayor Aubrey James Residence…
Aubrey James had just turned off his TV after finishing his dinner. It was business as usual for the mayor he enjoyed his life and he enjoyed having it easy so what if he took a bribe here and there it wasn't like he was the only corrupt politician in Gotham.
After putting away the dishes in the sink he started to head for bed when he saw in his living room James Gordon "Hi mind I ask you to sit down Mayor?"
"What are you doing here Gordon I'll have your badge-" Before he could finish he felt a gun press against his back then heard an all too familiar and frightening voice.
"Be nice Aubrey or am I going to have to punish you like the good old days you know with the box?" Tabitha asked clearly enjoying his fear.
"Uh what I meant to say is-" Aubrey was now completely terrified "welcome to my home can I get you both anything?"
"Now that's some nice hospitality Aubrey you were right honey. He does know how to be nice." Jim smirked.
"Honey?" Aubrey didn't understand what Jim met well it finally occurred to him when he had a moment to think "No."
Tabitha giggled excited "Yeah we're engaged and expecting!"
"How the hell… Jim Gordon killed your brother."
Tabitha scowled pressing the gun into his skin hurting him "And I abandoned my brother to die and he came back and stabbed me what's you point?"
"Um- nothing I- I didn't mean anything buy it."
Jim sigh signaling for Tabitha to lighten up "I'll get straight to the point. We need you to do two things for us and if you don't I'm going to let my fiancé here have a fun night with you while I go out and buy a six pack of beer."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Resign from office and appoint someone more qualified as your replacement." Jim ordered speaking as though what he said was a definite outcome.
"Are you crazy? After what this bitch and your psycho whore ex did to me-" Before he could finish Jim walked up and hit Aubrey in the face "Enough. I'm done playing nice. Now when you were my fiancés guest she and Barbara took pictures of you pictures you don't want to see the light of day they even filmed some of it."
"All of it actually he really likes submission Jim." Tabitha added nonchalantly.
"Huh you don't say. Well anyway Aubrey listen it's your choice resign and appoint who I tell you to or face public embarrassment and ridicule. To be honest when I saw them I just fell in love with her even more it was great watching you squirm and if you really want to know the truth when I first found you with that box I wanted to kiss the genius that came up with that idea. Especially after how you know screwed with me my first year." Jim spoke with such anger and sarcasm it almost reminded Tabitha of when she and Butch went to Oswald's and she taunted him. She started to understand why he thought of them as reflections of each other.
"Jim your sweet." Tabitha gave him a warm smile.
"Thanks Taby. It's alright if I call you that every now and, then right?"
"Um…" She paused not understanding what she was feeling it felt like when Butch told her he loved her she didn't understand that feeling back then either all she could say was "Sure."
Aubrey sighed "Who do you want me to appoint Jim?"
"I never thought you'd ask." Jim smiled.
To Be Continued…