1. Overture

She was sitting at the kitchen table when she heard the front door open. On the table were scattered books, papers, notebooks, some pens and pencils. Right in front of her there was an open laptop, where she typed profusely.

"Still up?" Standing in the kitchen entrance, her father looked at the messy table. Without taking her green eyes from the screen, she answered, "Gotta finish this paper."

He went close to her and laid a kiss on the top of her head. "I'm sorry I'm arriving so late these past few days."

Lifting her head, a sly smile upon her lips, she teased him, "Are you talking about the last 28 years, Commissioner James Gordon?" To that he just sighed and sat down at the table. "I'm kidding, dad." Getting up from her seat, she started to make the space in front of her father free. "I made some pasta." She kissed his grey head and went to the fridge. Observing his daughter, he got up to fetch himself a bottle of beer. "You know I can warm my own dinner, right?"

"I know; but I don't mind," she answered while working dexterously on the stove, without lifting her eyes from the pan. "Besides, you would probably put this in the microwave, ruining my fantastic dish." A smirk upon her face, she glanced at her father, who just rolled his eyes and drank some of his beer.

Indicating the mess on the table with his head, he asked, "Is this for the symposium?" For quite some time she had been organising an academic event, which made her work even more than she already did. "Yes. I'm finishing my paper." She put the pasta in a plate and served her father, going back to where she had been sitting.

After some mouthfuls while observing his daughter work, Commissioner Gordon spoke again, "You know, sometimes I worry about you, kid."

His daughter lifted her eyes from the computer screen and looked to him. "Me?!" She was genuinely surprised.

"Yes, you. You're either at work or at home. You should go out more, Barbara."

"Dad, I do go out," keeping her eye-roll under control, she turned her attention back to her text.

"Really?" His tone was sarcastic now. "When was the last time you went out?"

"Last night," she answered without stopping her typing.

"No, you went to your mixed martial arts training. I'm talking about going to the movies, meeting friends, going on a date…"

Barbara sighed and looked at her father, "Dad–"

"I'm your father, worrying about you is part of the job!" He shrugged and ate some more before continuing, "At least you're going to the ball, right?"

"Yes, I am. I won't let you be the only member of the Gordon family subject to ridicule."

Commissioner Gordon looked fondly at his daughter and thanked her. "You know, Officer Bard will be there-" Now she made sure her father saw her rolling her eyes, but she uttered no word.

It didn't take much longer for Commissioner Gordon to finish his dinner; getting up from the table, he took the dishes to the sink. "Don't stay up late, Barbara. I mean, later than it already is."

"I won't."

He didn't actually believe her. They were too much alike, and he had been working later than he should for decades.