A/N

This chapter is pretty much centred around one thing but its events are essentially the catalyst for what is to come.

Jo's character will officially undergo a significant change after this, and I hope you're all okay with the direction that I've decided to take this in. It's partially because I needed an event to tip Jo over the edge, but also because this will introduce other key Gotham characters which I really want to become involved in the events to follow.

Thanks for reading, hopefully you all enjoy!

Jo woke up abruptly and found that she was safe in her old room, safe in her mother's apartment. Since Kitty's death, Jo had been finding it incredibly difficult to sleep; often waking in the middle of the night because of vivid nightmares - in which Oswald was always there. Sometimes, he'd chase he with the same old insistence that they were meant to be together, but in most of her dreams Oswald took on the role of the hero; protecting her from such notable figures as Maroni and Don Falcone. It sounded ridiculous but Jo wondered if her dreams were a sign of what was to come; as opposed to some silly conjuring of her subconscious. But those thoughts were just that: they were stupid and irrelevant.

Sighing, Jo rolled over to check the time on the clock. It had just turned 2pm.

Since she'd turned up in her mother's apartment above the café in the late hours, Jo had been able to avoid getting questioned too harshly by Nora. Of course she knew that her mother would be eager to know exactly what had driven Jo to turn to her last resort living arrangements but, being the afternoon, the coffee shop was open – thus saving Jo from interrogation for a little longer. If there was one thing Jo couldn't bring herself to do, it was to explain to Nora how messed up her love life was. Hell, even she couldn't comprehend what was going on around her. Jo loved Harvey, she really did, but Oswald was so exciting. He was a kindred spirit, despite his unstable nature, and Jo couldn't forget about the good times they'd shared. Still, she wasn't going to be a doormat.

Jo climbed out of bed and paced over to the cupboard in search of something strong to drink. Nothing. Nora had completely flushed all alcohol out of the apartment. Rubbing her temples, Jo headed downstairs in her dressing gown in search of any form of alcohol. Even though the café specialised in coffee, Jo would've guaranteed that there was a bottle of whiskey or something hidden in the storage cupboard; recalling that at least 2 members of the kitchen staff had a tendency to sneak off back there for long periods of time.

However, her attention trailed off to the sound of her mother partaking in what sounded like a heated exchange with a British-sounding man. It was impossible not to hear what was being said; the coffee shop had evidently been closed so that Nora could meet with the man in the other room so their voices carried through to the kitchen. Then there was the fact that Jo had always been a shameless eavesdropper.

"You were blackmailing Master Wayne."

"I was not blackmailing him!" Nora insisted. "I just wanted some reparation for that drunken mistake. Thomas was a rich man, he could afford to spare a few thousand to pay for our daughter's nursery school and college tuition."

"Shall I read your letters, Ms Carnell?" The man took out a selection of papers and glanced over them with distaste. "I would hate to tell your girlfriend about our daughter, hence why I urge you to agree to my requests before I'm forced to do something that I really don't want to do."

Jo couldn't believe what she was hearing. Maybe she wasn't the smartest of people but it didn't take a genius to realise what – or rather who – the subject of that letter had been. Meaning that Jo's biological father was Thomas Wayne and not Donald, who had doted dearly on her all throughout her life. She felt sick to her stomach, sick and heartbroken.

"Everything I've done has been for my daughter, Mr Pennyworth. Thomas Wayne's daughter." Nora said, her voice bearing a seriousness that Jo had never heard before. It unnerved her to say the least. Her mother had always insisted on treating everyone with a smile and polite tone, yet she was now angry and desperate. Then Nora had also proven that she was capable of lying through said smile for 25 years. "She's in trouble and if I could just have a couple thousand dollars…"

Jo couldn't take anymore and she stepped out of the kitchen, unable to hide how distraught she felt at hearing the truth. "How could you."

Nora turned around quickly and her expression dropped to one of mortification when she laid eyes on her daughter; realising that Jo had heard everything. That she finally knew the truth.

"Josephina, sweetheart…I…"Nora was evidently desperate to think of a way to explain her situation; she needed a way out of that predicament. "This is Alfred Pennyworth, he believes that you might be entitled to some money, isn't that right?" She smiled at Alfred, who frowned and shook his head at Nora's audacity.

"Don't change the subject." Jo snapped, quickly glancing at Alfred. "How could you do that to dad? To me?" Jo stepped forward, eyeing her mother carefully. "You cheated on dad so you could dip your hands into that Wayne guy's pockets…"

"Sweetheart, please just hear me out." Nora stood up, "I loved your father. It was a mistake."

"Did she tell you why she wants the money?" Jo turned to Alfred with a bitter expression to mask the true pain she was feeling. "I've turned to a life of crime and prostitution...but money can't fix that."

Alfred's expression dropped to one of deep seriousness; clearly Nora had been very secretive about her daughter and the motive behind her desperation and now the Wayne family butler could see why. And Alfred knew that he had to see to it that this truth never got brought to light. It was bad enough that Thomas Wayne had fathered a secret child, but the fact that she was someone of ill repute was completely scandalous. Then there was Bruce to think about.

"Don't listen to her, Alfred. My daughter has a…very wild imagination."

"Was I just a living, breathing paycheque to you, mom?" Jo asked, her eyes tearing up as she felt herself unable to hold back. "I've done some bad things but I would never use a child as a bargaining chip."

Alfred stood up hastily, understanding that things were about to get heated between the two Carnell women. He had no right to impose in their private affairs, nor did he care to get any more involved with Nora and her mindless scheming. "Right, well I'll be off then."

"Can't say I blame you." Jo said quickly. "If I weren't homeless, I'd leave too."

"Mr. Pennyworth…you have to understand that these secrets have a habit of exposing themselves…" Nora said, even if it was obvious that she didn't want to let such scandal loose, she was just desperate. "What would Thomas' son say?"

Alfred knew that Bruce, while initially angry with his dad, would adjust to the idea with a desire to meet his half-sister. Naturally, the butler didn't want to see that happen; it would put Bruce in serious danger to affiliate with a family like the Carnells – especially with a young woman who was apparently in serious trouble, as Nora had put it. Besides, for Nora to be as desperate as she was, Jo had to have been in a lot of trouble. Hence why Alfred would've gone to extreme lengths to protect Bruce from this truth.

"Master Bruce cannot get involved in this. Even you don't have the heart to ruin his lasting impression of his father, Nora." Alfred turned to Jo with a serious expression. "He doesn't need to know the truth. You shan't tell him either."

"Why would I tell him? I don't want anything to do with the boy who grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth, while I was standing at a bar listening to every sleazy guy's story." Jo looked from Alfred to her mother. "As far as I'm concerned, I have no family."

While Alfred left to return to Wayne Manor, only somewhat convinced that Nora would keep her secret to herself, the coffee shop owner was forced to have a talk with her daughter about the sad truth. If Jo was ever going to forgive Nora, she'd have to know everything.

"It only happened once…" Nora said quietly, not daring to make eye contact. "I used to work at Wayne Manor when your father and I first got married…there was a—"

"You slept with Thomas Wayne behind your husband's back, that's the basic gist of things."

"When I found out I was pregnant, I was scared because people would talk about Thomas and I; I was married and he was engaged so of course there was no easy solution. However I saw a silver lining and I just couldn't help myself." Nora sighed and rested her head in her hands. "Thomas agreed to help at first. He agreed to hire your father at Wayne Enterprises and helped to pay our bills. I bought this place with the money so I'd have a reason to leave Wayne Manor. When you were born, he still tried to help but it was never enough."

"Did he ever meet me?" Jo asked, still unsure of what to think. Of how to feel.

"I brought you to Wayne Enterprises once or twice, and we went to a few of their parties. Thomas wanted to talk to you but he couldn't risk the scandal. Then we started to argue because I wanted more and he became less willing to provide for us." Nora's bottom lip began to tremble. "It was around that time that Donald found the letters."

Jo glanced up, beyond surprised to hear that her father had known that she wasn't biologically his daughter, yet he had still raised her as such. In fact, she vaguely remembered Donald going into her room one night with a sad disposition. He'd sat on the edge of her bed and promised to love her always, because she was his girl. At the time, Jo had simply thought that her dad was being his typically over-emotional self but now, maybe there was some underlying meaning behind that.

"Donald confronted Thomas at a gala and he was fired. We were slowly falling into poverty and there was nothing I could do about it. And when your father was killed, I…" Nora couldn't help but cry. "I'm so sorry Josephina. But your father loved you, and what I did was necessary in order to keep our heads above water…" She reached out her hand across the table but Jo yanked her own hand away and stood up, keeping her face hidden from her mother.

"I…I need some space."

"Josephina, please…" Nora stood up, desperate for a chance to explain her motives. She needed Jo to believe and forgive her. To understand that everything she'd done, she'd done it out of love.

"I can't do this." Jo shook her head before grabbing her jacket and heading for the door. "I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry."

Nora didn't understand why Jo had apologised before walking out, but Jo had said it because her mind had been made up. In the moment that Jo's whole life had changed, something within her had snapped, along with the realisation that she barely knew herself – let alone those around her.

Jo went straight to Fish. Still shaken from the revelation of her secret parentage, Jo wasn't thinking straight yet she was certain that she was ready to take action. Her anger had manifested itself into a true desire for power, Jo wanted to be the one causing the pain instead of constantly receiving it. She was tired of being hurt and heartbroken by people who should have protected her from such pain

Of course Fish welcomed her girl with open arms; pouring Jo a glass of wine as she poured her own heart out to her boss. Although she didn't tell Fish who her biological father was, Jo didn't spare any other detail about her money-grubbing mother, the failed romances with men who remained anonymous (for their sakes and hers) and most of all, Jo's unwillingness to take any more of the bad hands that the city of Gotham was constantly giving to her.

"I'm ready, Ms. Mooney." Jo said with a determined disposition; she had never been more serious about anything before. "I want to help you take this city. I'm willing to do anything and everything to get Falcone and Maroni out of the way. I just need a purpose, and you're the only person who can give me that now."