I

The young mother looked her a newborn in awe. She couldn't believe she had made a baby girl that was so strikingly beautiful. Although her husband was in prison for the third time in five years, she felt like she would do an okay job. Her five old son, Barry, seemed to be turning out okay. Sure he had attention span issues, but what five year old boy didn't? Sharon looked at the nurses surrounding her and her baby. She was smitten with the looks of joy around her. Barry came up onto the hospital bed and pet the babies head in fascination.

"Why is she so wrinkled mommy?" Barry asked as he gently touched the baby's cheek. The baby girl squirmed as if she knew her big brother automatically came with an abundance of cooties.

"Because she is a baby sweetheart. You were wrinkled when you came out of mommy's belly." Sharon explained to her son. He looked at her in surprise. Sharon nodded in reassurance for her three old.

"I wish Daddy was here so he could meet her." Barry said sadly. Sharon's heart broke into pieces. She knew that her son needed his father but she was almost grateful that Harlan was no longer around. She didn't want her children to live the same life that their father led. Harlan was a good man underneath it all, but he was not a good influence on her babies. She kept telling herself this fact so she didn't cave and visit Harlan in Gotham State Penitentiary also known as Blackgate. There was no doubt in her mind that she loved Harlan. She always would. He did after all, give her two beautiful children. She abruptly snapped out of her daydream when the baby started crying. Sharon cooed at the baby trying to calm her.

"What are you going to name her, mommy?" Barry asked with curious eyes. "You should name her Snow White." Barry said as he giggled. Sharon smiled at her son's innocent imagination.

"I don't know sweetheart. That might be confusing." Sharon said. Barry frowned suddenly. "Then what will you name her?" Barry questioned. Sharon stroked her daughter's cheek and the baby smiled slightly.

"Harleen. Harleen Frances Quinzel." Sharon said as she gently kissed the baby girl's forehead.

Sharon tried her hardest to juggle making breakfast for her son and carry her two year old daughter around. She flipped the eggs and held her little one against her tightly.

"Mom, you forgot to sign my permission slip." Barry complained. Sharon sighed in frustration. She wasn't getting upset with her son, she was upset with herself. She was a fool to ever think she could handle these two kids by herself. But she had to make do. Her husband was not getting released from prison until next week. Her face suddenly lit up when she remembered this. Harlan was many things, but he was far from being a bad father. Harley squirmed around in her arms so she set her in her playpen. Harleen started playing with some toys that were lying on the playpen mat and Sharon knew she only had a few minutes of that distraction actually lasting. She quickly signed Barry's permission slip for a fieldtrip, put his breakfast on his plate and started packing his lunch. Sharon tried her best to be a good mother. It was hard, but it was the one thing in her life she wanted to do right. She started placing Barry's lunch strategically in his Snoopy lunchbox when she looked up and saw Barry staring behind her with his mouth open. She turned slightly and saw Harleen. Harleen had somehow crawled on top of her playpen wall and was now skimming the perimeter like a trapeze artist. Sharon shrieked but couldn't move. She was terrified if she scared Harleen, Harleen would have fallen. Sharon knew there was no way her two year old could have done that, but she saw it with her own eyes. Harleen had always been...special. Her motor skills were highly advanced for her age, according to her pediatrician. Harleen giggled and slowly shimmied her way down to the ground of the kitchen. Sharon smiled nervously and picked up Harleen. Harleen laid her head on Sharon's chest and sighed. Barry still looked at his mother and sister in shock. Barry was a smart kid. So was Harleen. They both knew their family wasn't normal. In more ways than one.

Years had passed since Sharon saw the frightening yet incredible scene of her sweet Harleen scaling the wall of her playpen at the young age of two. Her children were incredibly intelligent and healthy. That is all she wanted. Harleen was fourteen and her brother Barry was now nineteen. Harlan had been released from prison and had somehow managed to stay out this time. But he was different. Something happened to him in prison and he was the not the man she married. He was mean, violent and had the temper of a black bear. He had never hit Sharon before then, but now if she pushed his buttons in any way, he would show her the new side of him. Her Barry was moving out. He was going to Princeton University. Although she wanted him to go, she would miss him. He always tried his best to protect her from his father's blows. He vowed he wouldn't leave her or Harleen but Sharon insisted.

"Do you have everything?" Sharon asked her handsome boy as she buttoned up his trench coat.

"Yes mom. I will back for winter break. Please take care of yourself. And her." Barry said trying to fight back a tear. Sharon's eyes filled and she nodded.

"I will." Sharon said. Harleen stood next to her mother and sobbed. Barry bent a little to Harleen's level.

"You be good okay? Don't ever let a man tell you that you are worthless. Us Quinzels are brutally smart, remember?" Barry said smiling a bit. Harleen laughed a bit.

"Yes big brother. I'm going to miss you." Harleen said wiping a tear.

"I will miss you too. Keep up with your gymnastics okay? That is your ticket out of here. Just like basketball was mine." Barry said. Harleen nodded. Barry hugged Sharon and Harleen tightly. He proceeded to his beat up old car and headed out of the city. Sharon put an arm around Harleen and squeezed. They could hear Harlan screaming at the television during a football game that he was clearing losing money to. They both knew that tonight would be a bad night.

Harleen came bursting through the rickety door of their three story town home in the center of Gotham. "Momma!' Harleen yelled. Sharon came out of the downstairs powder room quickly.

"What is it dear?" Sharon said concerned. Harleen's face was lit up. She handed the letter to her mother and Sharon nearly fainted. She saw the famous letterhead of Gotham University and her heart skipped a beat.

Dear Miss Quinzel,

We are delighted to inform you that your recent winnings in the Gotham High School gymnastics tournament have earned you a fully paid spot in our medical program here at Gotham University. Enclosed is a welcome packet, a full school calendar and boarding information should you choose to stay with us. We welcome you to The Gotham City Medical Program at our university. We wish you luck in your endeavors!

Yours Sincerely,

Dean Steadman

Sharon couldn't believe it, but yet she could. Her Harleen was a straight A student and was a gifted athlete. Sharon wanted her little girl to get out of this place. Her father had gone back to prison for domestic violence when Harleen was sixteen. He had beat Sharon to bloody pulp and almost killed her. Harleen was the one who found her and Harlan was there waiting. But her sweet Harleen fought him tooth and nail. He was arrested and charged. Sharon was happy that day, but they were poor. Sharon wanted a better life for her children. Barry had moved onto Princeton's Master's Program and was doing well. Now she just had to worry about Harleen. But it turns out she didn't. She hugged her beautiful girl and sobbed.

"It's happening for you my sweet girl. You fought for your dreams and now they are happening for you." Sharon said as she stroked Harleen's cheek. Harleen smiled.

"Thank you for everything momma. I know I couldn't have done this without you." Harleen said as she fought back tears. Sharon took her daughter back in her arms and couldn't believe the overwhelming feeling of relief. Her babies would be okay. Or so she thought.

Harleen was in the middle of typing a paper when she heard a knock at her apartment door. Harleen was starting her PhD program and was lucky enough to have made it into the accelerated program here at Gotham University. She would be the youngest Doctor in the schools history at the young age of twenty eight. There were many sleepness night and lots of tears but she somehow made it through. She answered to see her one and only friend, Cici. Cici was the only person that Harleen could tolerate at this godforsaken school.

"You loser, why aren't you dressed?" Cici asked.

"I'm not going. I have too much work to do." Harleen replied while straightening her glasses. Cici shrugged.

"Oh come on Quinzel, you don't start your internship until next week. Besides, it's your birthday! We have to celebrate the fact that you are only two years away from thirty." Cici teased. Harleen rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"I said no Cici. Just go without me." Harleen said as she started to shut her apartment door. Cici stopped it gently with her arm.

"Are you at least going to the basketball game tomorrow? Gotham versus Yale! It will be epic." Cici said. Harleen grumbled in frustration and defeat.

"Fine. I will go. But you have to leave me alone tonight so I can finish this paper. Dr. Lang said he would only vouch for my internship if I turn it in tomorrow by noon." Harleen said, starting to stress herself out even more. Cici smiled, said her goodbyes and ran off into the hallway. Harleen looked down at her pajamas and felt sort of bad. She hadn't partied much at all since she started college. Not that she really wanted to, but it was sort of a right of passage. She figured a basketball game would suffice. Harleen curled up on her old couch and turned on her television. She figured a ten minute break wouldn't hurt. She turned on the Gotham News Station and pulled her small blanket over her.

"Police have been searching for Gotham's well known crime lord The Joker as he is a prime suspect in a high profile murder case here in Gotham City. He is considered armed and very dangerous. If you have any information, please contact your local Gotham PD."

Harleen paused her DVR and stared at his face. She was fascinated by his abundant tattoos and slicked back green hair. She didn't know what it was about him, but she had always had a certain fondness of him and always got very attuned to the television when he was making the nightly news. She snapped out of her trance and proceeded to finish her twenty page paper. She knew this hard work had to pay off soon.