A/N

Just to clarify, this chapter takes place 2 months after the last one and Jo is living at Wayne Manor.

Thanks for continuing to read and support this fic even though I don't post enough. Please review if you have a spare minute :)

"Good afternoon, Ms Galavan."

"It's Carnell, actually. I'm in the process of getting an annulment." Jo set the book she was reading down on the coffee table, forcing herself to smile politely at the newly-reinstated Mayor James. She'd only agreed to meet with him so that he'd stop asking. Even when she was lying in a hospital bed in critical condition, the mayor had been desperate to meet with Jo to discuss what he'd referred to every time as a 'matter of urgency.' She knew he wasn't going to stop hounding her, so it seemed best to just get it over with while she was in the safety of Wayne Manor.

"Ah, of course. My apologies." Mayor James took a seat in the armchair across from Jo. She was curled up on the chaise lounge with a throw blanket draped over her lap. She'd woken up with chills but had insisted on following through with the meeting, despite her mother's concerns. Even though she was feeling unwell, Jo had managed some mascara and a pink lip for the occasion, but refused to make too much of an effort for a man who was undoubtedly going to make firm demands of her.

"Can I get you a cup of tea, Mayor James?" Alfred asked from the doorway to the lounge.

The mayor nodded, "two sugars."

Alfred quickly turned towards the kitchen, though not before giving Jo a protective look. If there was one thing Jo had come to learn over the last two months, it was that Alfred was determined to look out for Jo. In spite of the initial turbulence of their relationship, Alfred had come to act as a paternal figure towards Jo; he was always trying to wait on her and had protected her fiercely throughout her recovery – from the presses and from Oswald.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me."

"Well, I figured it was the only way to get you to stop asking." Jo said through a smile before bursting out into forced laughter as though to mask her genuine annoyance.

Mayor James laughed slightly, before his expression turned serious. "Yes, well, I hope you can appreciate that releasing your statement is a matter of urgency. It's been an incredibly tough time for me, having to take over from your husband in the midst of all this chaos."

"Of course. This all must have been so difficult for you." Jo's tone was almost sickeningly sweet, mocking the mayor in the most subtle way possible. She couldn't believe what she was hearing: he'd had a tough time? But she knew she had to play nice for the time being, so continued to wear a smile.

"I must admit, I was shocked and saddened to hear about your husband's murder by that monster. It's a good thing he's in Arkham now, where he belongs."

Jo's patience was wearing thin. "I can't really say that I was saddened, but thank you for your sympathies."

Mayor James looked surprised. Although he'd been informed of Jo's account of what had happened that night, having had every police statement of herself relayed immediately to him, he still had a front to maintain.

"Don't look so shocked. I'm sure you've already heard my version of events. Why would I mourn the man who shot me?"

"That's what I wanted to discuss with you, Ms Gala—Carnell." He paused, and Jo could almost see the cogs turning in his mind, mulling over what to say next. His whole performance thus far had been practically robotic; he hadn't shown an ounce of sympathy for her. "Are you certain that it was your husband who shot you that night?"

"Yes. I vividly remember it." Jo involuntarily touched the bullet scar just below her chest.

"I was just wondering, because Penguin shot your husband. It would make sense that he attacked you as well. He was likely jealous, given your history." He threw Jo a knowing look, as if to make her repeat his words back to him.

Jo frowned and shook her head. "Oswald didn't shoot me. He drove me to the hospital – he saved my life."

"Listen, Ms Carnell. I know that you and Penguin used to be in a relationship, but you need to tell the truth." Again with the knowing look. This time, however, his gaze was more stern.

"I am telling the truth."

"But wouldn't it be easier for everyone if this was the truth? If Penguin attacked you both in a jealous rage." Mayor James studied Jo's expression carefully, hopeful for an easy resolution. "It all adds up, especially since he broke into the hospital and terrorised you. Perhaps he wanted to finish what he started?" He now spoke in whispers. "Give the people what they want: a villain to blame. Then we can all move on with our lives and forget any of this unpleasantness ever happened."

"Perhaps…except I'm not about to lie to save your pathetic ass." Jo was becoming more frustrated now. "And Oswald never broke into the hospital to terrorise me. He wanted to see if I was alive because the only person your journalists were writing about was poor Mayor Galavan."

"Oswald Cobblepot is a psychotic criminal!"

"So is Theo Galavan! He had no problem shooting his pregnant wife to get his way." Jo leaned forward slightly, staring the mayor down. "And you're hardly a saint yourself. You lied under oath to protect Galavan. And you're still desperate to preserve his reputation."

"I did what I had to!" Mayor James shouted, growing impatient with Jo at this point.

"Oh, poor you. You know, you haven't asked me if I'm alright this whole time. I'm the fucking victim here – not you, not Theo, not the people of Gotham – me. I wake up in pain every goddamn morning and I can't go anywhere without assholes like you hounding me. So you tell me, Mayor James, how will saying that Oswald shot me allow me to move on with my life?"

"Well I could make it worth your while. How much would it take?"

"My god, you're tone deaf." Jo couldn't help but laugh. "I'll say this one more time, so you can hear the words come directly from me: Theo Galavan shot me that night. He shot me because I tried to stop him from shooting Bruce Wayne. It's what I've told the police every single time they've hounded me for a statement. It's the truth. And no amount of money is going to make me lie."

Alfred had been standing on the other side of the door for a while, listening carefully to the exchange between the mayor and Jo. He'd wanted to step in for a while, sensing that Mayor James was becoming almost aggressive, but now it was clear that Jo was close to making an enemy out of the mayor. Not that he blamed her.

"Ms Carnell, with all due respect, think of how helpful the money would be. You're an ex-whore with a newborn baby. Even if you allegedly saved Bruce Wayne's life, it's a miracle that he you stay here, given your…past."

That was it: Alfred was going in.

"I've brought your tea, Mayor James. Not that you'll be needing it now; I think it's time for you to leave." Alfred set the tray down on the side table, just in case he had to remove him by force.

The mayor looked from Alfred to Jo, his face contorted in shock. He was being kicked out.

"How dare you speak to her like that." Alfred kept his posture firm as he took a step towards them.

"No, Alfred, it's fine." Jo smiled at the mayor. "He's just telling the truth. Like I'm going to do." She stood up and walked around the coffee table to the mayor, trying her best to hide her slight limp as she walked unaided. She leaned over, staring him down. "See, I'm sick and tired of men like you thinking you own me because you have money and status. But I refuse to be bullied by a man who left his balls in Theo Galavan's apartment."

Mayor James looked up at Jo, wide-eyed and surprised. He hadn't expected her to know that Galavan had been the one who held him hostage, but clearly the previous mayor had trusted Jo more than he thought.

Jo straightened up and smiled over to Alfred. "Now you can see him out, Alfred." She walked back to the chaise lounge and leaned against the armrest for support. "Thanks for stopping by, Mayor James."

Harvey clocked out of work at exactly 5pm, as he'd done every day since Jo had been shot. It had become a ritual: he'd leave work and head straight to the florists or the candy store or the bakery, just to grab a small gift for Jo to take to the hospital. Over the last two months, Harvey had experienced the highs and lows with Jo – from meeting baby Amelia, to watching her undergo surgery after surgery. Despite the difficult moments, Harvey knew that it had strengthened their relationship. He'd seen Jo at her most vulnerable but had stood by her every step of the way.

Harvey just hated that it had taken almost losing Jo for him to realise how much he cared about her. Although he still felt like an asshole for how he'd ended things with Scottie that night; visiting his fiancée's apartment in an inconsolable state in the middle of the night just to tell her that he couldn't be with her because he loved Jo. He knew he couldn't carry on being engaged to Scottie, even if Jo died, because his heart would be with Jo regardless.

It was uncharacteristic of Harvey Bullock to be so open with his feelings, but he hadn't once shied away from his feelings for Jo. He loved her and he hadn't once been afraid to tell her.

Jo, however, had yet to say those three words back to him.

When Harvey arrived at Wayne Manor, Alfred took him out into the garden, where Jo had been since Mayor James' visit. On this occasion, Harvey had decided to buy a gift for Amelia: a small grey teddy bear. Whilst Jo had been recovering in the hospital, Harvey had spent a considerable amount of time with the baby and had come to think of her as his child. Despite not yet knowing who the father was, Harvey couldn't imagine his life without Jo and Amelia in it. He saw them as a little family and would've done anything to keep them safe.

Jo was sitting on the bench underneath the oak tree, singing softly to her baby, whom she held close in her arms.

Harvey stood watching them for a moment, unable to believe that this was his life now. That they were his life now.

He cleared his throat and walked over to them. "Hey beautiful." He kissed Jo's forehead. "How's your day been? Alfred says you ripped Mayor James a new one."

"It was deserved. He came here with the intention to bribe me, not to ask how I was. Not that I'm surprised at all…"

Harvey frowned. "What did he ask you to do?"

"He tried to pay me to say that Oswald shot me." Jo continued to rock Amelia gently in her arms. "Oswald saved my life, I'm hardly going to say he tried to kill me."

"Why not?" Harvey spoke without thinking and mentally cursed himself. "I mean, Cobblepot's caused you enough trouble. Don't you want him out of your life for good?"

Jo stared at Harvey, dumbfounded. "You sound just like Mayor James."

The detective knew he had to choose his words carefully. "Look, don't you feel safer now that he's in Arkham?"

"No, because he was never a threat to me."

"Have you forgotten about all the crap he put you through?" Harvey couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What about that night where he lashed out at you. Do you remember that? 'Cause I do." Harvey's blood boiled at the thought of Oswald laying a hand on her. "I remember because, when you told me that night at Mooney's, it was the first time I'd ever seen you vulnerable. You were scared of him after that."

"I don't want to have this conversation." Jo told him firmly. "I'm not going to lie to protect Theo's reputation when he's the one who shot me. Besides, what if Oswald is Amelia's father? How do I tell her in ten years' time that her dad's never getting out of Arkham because of me?"

"I didn't think you still planned on getting a paternity test." Harvey sounded hurt.

Jo exhaled deeply and set Amelia down in the white pram next to her. "Harvey, you know I have to; I don't want her to go through what I went through. I don't want to choose the easy option and have my daughter resent me for lying to her."

"I'm the easy option?"

"You know I didn't mean it like that." Jo closed her eyes for a moment, wishing that she had the strength to just walk away from the situation. She didn't want to argue with Harvey. She hated him being upset with her.

"I've been so damn patient with you these last few months. I gave up everything to be with you, but I don't even know what this is." Harvey looked from Jo to the baby sleeping peacefully in the pram. "I love both of you so much; I'd do anything for you…" He turned back to Jo, a deep sadness lingering in his eyes. "But you've never once told me you love me back. And I've told you I love you more times than I can count."

"You think I don't love you?" Jo looked surprised. "I've never stopped caring about you. When I was with Theo, I always wished it was your arm I was holding onto. Never Theo's…never Oswald's…yours!"

"Then why won't you say you love me?"

"Because I don't want to get my hopes up..!" Jo cried, her voice breaking. "I don't want to get caught up in our little family, just for you to up and leave if Oswald's the father."

Harvey watched as Jo broke down in tears. She wasn't acting; it wasn't a façade; she was genuinely scared of being abandoned. He moved to sit on the bench beside Jo, sitting down and cradling her in his arms as she sobbed. He was careful not to hold her too tightly, knowing that she was still incredibly fragile from what had happened, but it was apparent that the emotional scars left behind were far more painful than the physical injuries she'd endured.

"How can you think I'm going to walk out on you?" He felt her tears begin to soak through his shirt. "Ever since I met you, I've been crazy about you. I'm damn lucky that a young girl as gorgeous as you would look twice at a middle-aged drunken detective like me."

Jo was silent for a few minutes, aside from her cries, before she whispered, "I do love you, you know…" Tears trickled down her cheeks and she rested her head on Harvey's chest. "I just…I don't want to rush into things. I'm not the same person I was. I'm damaged and I've got a lot of ugly scars and—"

"You're perfect to me." Harvey spoke without hesitation. He'd had a feeling that one of the reasons that Jo had been especially guarded around him, at times refusing to even let him touch her, had been because she felt insecure about her body following the accident.

Jo shook her head, unable to meet his gaze. "It's bad, Harvey."

"It's not like I'm a prized pig myself." Harvey tried to make a joke, but Jo didn't laugh.

Instead she struggled to her feet, wobbling slightly as her body adjusted to the extra workload. "I think I'm going to go for a lie down." Jo whispered, resting her arms on Amelia's pram for support. "It was nice to see you." She feigned a tired smile, her cheeks still stained with tears. She turned around, ready to push the pram back up to the house.

Harvey stood up and grabbed the handle of the pram to stop her from trying to flee the situation. "Jo, I meant every word I said. You are perfect." He gently took hold of her chin, turning her face slightly to look at him. "I wish I was better with words so I could write some romantic speech about how you mean everything to me and that I'd do anything for you, but just know that I want to be here with you. You and Amelia are my life now and I don't want to lose you. I know it's gonna take time and I'm not goin' anywhere. I love you."

Jo reached up to lightly kiss Harvey's cheek. "I love you too." She whispered against his stubble, feeling a grin creep on his face when his cheeks raised quickly. "Maybe when the press forget I exist and choose someone else to hound, we could go to that burger place again?"

"I'll do you one better; I'll bring you burgers tomorrow."

"It's a date."

Harvey couldn't stop smiling. Even when he got home, he knew nothing could kill his good mood. After two months of standing loyally by Jo's side, of not even knowing if she still reciprocated his romantic feelings, she'd finally said those three words. He'd meant every word he'd said to her; he understood that, this time around, the pacing of their relationship would be much slower, but he was willing to wait for her. Jo had always been worth it to him, and he was determined not to lose her a second time.