A/N: So, heres the deal. The first couple of chapters will start out being before TDK, or rather the events leading up to Jack becoming the Joker.

Disclaimer: I own no one. I own Alessa, and all the other people that seem foreign to you.

--

It was late August when the small family of three moved into the shabby house down the road. They lived in a little town just outside of Gotham, Suburbia at it's finest. The mother was a shy, quiet women with downcast eyes and her smile non-existent. The husband was a tall, well built man, with an angry disposition and a sneer on his once handsome face. They were James and Joyce Napier, and they had a little son named Jack.

Jack Napier had to be one of the cutest little boys she'd ever seen. His hair was a bright blond, like his mother's, and his eyes were a perplexing shade of aqua. He was a tad too skinny for her taste and looked a little smaller than a normal six year old should. But if it was one thing Jayne learned early on about Jack Napier, it was that he was not normal. Jack, although small, was unusually bright for his age. He had an intelligence that would surpass the adults that she called colleagues. She knew that he would be something great, he was destined for it, she could see it in his eyes. And it was when her own six year old daughter, Alessa, brought him home a week later that she truly knew. This boy would be powerful, and he would bring her daughter with him every step of the way.

Jayne Way had everything.

A loving husband, a loving family, a nice house, a good job. She was a strong women, she had pride in herself and her 'children'. She could handle anything it seemed. But one thing she could never handle well was death. So the death of her beloved Michael had left her lost, stranded. For a whole year she cried it seemed. And all Jack and Alessa could do was hold her hand while she cried.

Jack had went with the Way Family to the funeral, his parents didn't go. In the two years Jack knew him, Michael Way had been more of a father to him than his own shitty father ever had. And so he stood in between of Jayne and Alessa, holding their hands as they cried, as he cried. They watched the casket drop into the moist soil, none of them caring that it was raining and they were drenched to the bone. It was that moment Jack knew, Life was unpredictable and Life wasn't fair. But Jack truly found out how true that was one year later when Michael's best friend Richard popped into the picture.

Richard Galleger was a big man. He was loud, obnoxious, rich and smart. He was a police Lieutenant and was well respected amongst the people of Gotham. He was feared by many, and although no one else but Jack knew, that also included little Alessa.

--

She was running.

Running so fast her chest burned. She ran through the tall grass, the wind making her dark hair whip around her. She could hear her name being called, but she couldn't stop running. Finally the young girl collapsed onto the dirt ground in a fit of sobs. The person running after her finally caught up, out of breath. His dirty blond hair in his eyes, his hands on his knees attempting to get some circulation in his lungs and decrease the burning sensation that lie there.

"Alessa..."

She had stopped sobbing by now, her chest hurt and there was a lump stuck in her throat. Her vision was blurry and her dark hair stuck to tear stained cheeks.

"G-Go away J-Jack." She hiccuped.

Jack sighed.

"Alessa listen, listen to me." He sat down beside her and brushed her hair out of her face. "I know it seems bad, but it's gonna be okay."

She stood up and stared down at the boy she'd grown to love. "But that's just it Jack. It's NOT going to be okay! She's marrying him Jack! Marrying him! He's going to be my step-father! How could anything good come of that?"

In all honesty, Jack knew nothing good would come of it. Even at the tender age of ten, they both knew. This man was a mean man who yelled almost as much as he ate. In a lot of ways he reminded Jack of his own father, and Jack hated his father.

He looked up at the girl in front of him. Her hair was a dark brown, the prettiest shade he was sure. Her eyes were a pale green and her skin an alabaster. Alessa Elizabeth Way was almost always seen with a smile on her pale face. And it pained him to see her this upset, she was usually the one laughing and stroking his hair telling him it was going to be alright. There were only a few times that he had to do it for her, and his chest hurt every time. She was so strong, and he cared for her too much, but she was all he had.

Alessa was almost as intelligent and quick witted as himself. So by lying to her he would be insulting her intelligence. She had never lied to him, so he would never lie to her.

He looked down at his dirty trainers then back into her killing jar, her gaze never faultered from his pallid face.

"Your right. Nothing good will come of it. But there's nothing you can do 'Less. Your father had cancer, and I know you miss him...I miss him. But your mom is lonely, she moved on, she loves Richard now...as disgusting as that is, and I'm sorry. But I know she still loves you, and hey, you still have me." He smiled a real smile at her.

Alessa still looked a little teary eyed, but she smiled a little nonetheless at his toothy grin. She plopped down on the dirt in between his legs, her side against his chest, her head in the crook of his neck. They were still young enough for it to be innocent, and even if anyone was around, no one would've questioned it. Most would just shake there heads, and say "Its just little Jack and Alessa...there bound to get married anyway."

Jack leaned back, so he was laying down, Alessa in the same position on top of him.

"Jack?"

His hands were behind his head and he was staring up at the clouds, the sun shinning down on his pallid face, teasing him. His eyes were closed as he 'Hmmm' as a response.

"Why do you think you mom married your dad?"

He was still staring at the clouds, his brow was furrowed in thought. She was about to ask him again when his mouth opened but closed, then opened again.

"I dunno...I would say because maybe he was a nice guy once...but I feel like I would be lying." She felt his chest rumble a little as she chuckled.

"Why is your dad so mean?" Alessa glanced up at him from her position on his chest. But he wouldn't look her in the eyes, he just kept staring at the clouds ahead of him. She felt him sigh and shift slightly, getting more comfortable.

"I dunno 'Lessa. He's always been like that. I think...I think part of it is cause he likes to drink. But when he drinks he gets angry over stupid things."

She could see the internal struggle he was waging within himself, she could see it in his eyes. Its been said that the eyes are the window to the soul. It was true in this case, she could read him like a book, she knew when he was hurting because it was all in those aqua eyes if anyone had cared to look.

"Well..." she started. "you still have me."

He smirked at her use of his own line against him. "Yeah, I still have you."

They layed there like that, with the warmth of the sweet sun lulling them to sleep on that perfect summer afternoon.

--

'Of course it would be raining.' Jack thought bitterly.

He was standing by a pair of double oak doors, staring out the high window, watching as the rain patted against it. His hand was firmly placed in Alessa's and he could see her, out of his peripheral vision, playing with the hem of her bleach white gown. The flowers in her dark hair were lilies, making her hair seem darker with the contrasting white.

His own curly locks, as usual, rebelled against the hair dressers wishes and remained in the tousled dirty blond mess. His free hand went up to the collar of his tuxedo, attempting to make himself more comfortable.

"Stop fiddling with it, your gonna mess it up."

The sound of her soft voice startled him, but only for a moment. He could tell she was unhappy, hell anyone could tell. But, he had to give it to her, she played the 'I really am happy for my mother' look well. If it were acting, he was sure she'd win an Oscar. He muttered a 'Sorry', and it was when the bride had finally arrived. A crazed looking women in a scarlet dress, holding a bouquet of lilies, ran past them in a blur of scarlet and gold through the double doors. She came out a moment later, looking slightly calmer, only slightly, with a fake smile plastered on her bronze face.

"Ready?" She screeched at the pair. The women ushered Alessa out first, handing her a basket of flower petals as she signalled the organist to start. With confidence, they both knew she didn't have, Alessa walked down the aisle, that Oscar winning display once again present on her face, throwing flower petals at the feet of people she didn't know or didn't like. The rush of Brides maids followed after in that annoying blur of scarlet and gold.

"Hey baby-boy, you ready?"

Jack looked up at the sound of his nickname. The owner smiled down at him, her pearly whites matched her dress. The flowers she held matched the ones Alessa had thrown on the ground. He could tell she was nervous, but he could also tell she was excited. He knew Jayne loved Richard, she gave him the same look she would give Michael. Jayne was like a second mother to him, all he wanted was for her to be happy, he loved her.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

She smirked down at him, and ruffled his already tousled hair with her free hand. She looked down apon him with only love and adoration.

"Thank you for doing this for me Jack. You don't know how much it means to me." He could tell she was going to cry, not wanting to ruin her perfect makeup or perfect day he smiled at her and nodded his head.

"Jack?" She kneeled down in front of him taking both of his hands into hers. "Jack, will you do me the biggest honor? Will you give me away Jack?"

His aqua eyes widened in shock. Jayne wanted him to give her away? He couldn't do anything but nod dumbly. She smiled a teary smile and took his hand into hers as the double doors opened and everyone turned to stare at the bride. Everyone that is except Alessa, who started at Richard the whole time. He had an air of confidence around him, and there was a cockiness that lie there. But Alessa could see the slight look of awe in his brown orbs, and that gave her a little twinge of hope. She watched as the pair reached their destination, and Jack kissed her mothers hand before walking over to her and placing his slightly shaky hand in her calm one. Maybe it wouldn't be as she had thought...

A/N:

Short? I know. I apologise.

Next chapter the pair faces the worst enemy of all... Teenage Angst + two abusive Fathers and annoying kids in school.

Hahaha...ohh dear.