During the episode of Gotham 5x12, has anyone else heard Ecco call Jeremiah 'Daddy'? I was like, "Why did she call him daddy? I don't get that?" I don't want to give away too much for those who haven't seen it, but I will say I felt disturbed by that scene between Jeremiah and Ecco. I forgot to mention that in my Gotham Finale rant in my previous chapter. Also, did anyone else think Gotham Season 5 was a little rushed? Jeremiah Valeska was one of the best characters in Season 5, but they really didn't use him as much as I thought they would. Once again, what was the real point of him falling into the vat of chemicals? He remembers who he is and we all know that he is Jeremiah, so what was the point of him going into the chemicals other than to sport a new Joker look and for being nostalgic, which doesn't make sense, Jeremiah's story is so over the place that we would've been better off sticking with Jerome, the better Joker, it's just so forced and rushed.

Fun Fact: Quinn's favorite foods are Italian and Mexican, but she also loves Cajun and seafood.

Bitter Departing

Haly's Circus was now in Gotham City, Jerome and Quinn were currently at the docks watching the boats come in at the harbor. As they were watching the boats Jerome noticed Quinn was being more quiet than usual.

"Quinn," Jerome said, "Is there something wrong?"

"No, of course not," Quinn said, not even looking at Jerome.

Jerome frowned, "Quinn, I know when you're lying to me."

Quinn sighed and confessed, "I'm sorry, it's just I was still thinking of when Molly and her stupid husband visited the circus, last month."

Before they arrived in Gotham, the circus was in Metropolis, which is when Quinn's older sister, Molly, visited the circus along with her boyfriend, now husband, Jordan. Quinn still resented her sister for not only the way she treated her, but also for her leaving the circus and moving in with Jordan. Quinn decided to avoid them whenever she could, which wasn't too much of a problem since she spend most of her time either doing her chores or with Jerome. But Quinn had a feeling something must've happen during the visit, did Molly or Jordan do something to upset her mother? Quinn didn't like the way Jordan was looking at her mother, which made her want to stay close to her for a while; she wasn't sure what happened, but she was worried that something bad was going to happen.

Jerome gently cupped her face in his hands, "Quinn, I know you're scared that something will happen to your mother, but if that pathetic creep your sister calls a husband was going to do something he would've done it already, besides your mom is a strong person, just like you are." Jerome then kissed both of her cheeks, which made Quinn blush.

"Yeah," Quinn replied with a small smile, "You're right, I guess I worry too much."

"Don't worry about it I still love you," Jerome grinned as Quinn rested her head on Jerome's shoulder and Jerome gently rested his head on Quinn's.

A few minutes later, the ringmaster showed up with a troubled look, "Quinn, Jerome."

"What is it, Ringmaster?" Quinn asked.

"I'm afraid, there's been an accident," the Ringmaster said sadly.

"What kind of accident?" Jerome frowned.

The Ringmaster told them that while everyone was practicing for the next act, Quinn's mother got critically hurt and had to be sent to the hospital and they weren't sure how bad it was; he then told her there was also a waiting taxi cab to take Quinn and Jerome to the hospital.

When they arrived at the hospital and found her mother's room, Quinn's heart felt like it was breaking into a million pieces as she saw her mother connected to all those wires and tubes. Quinn began to softly cry. Those cries soon took on an almost hysterical note at times, and Quinn choked on the wails with her sobs.

"Shh, shh, don't cry sweetie," Claire cooed weakly, while running her hand through her daughter's chocolate brown hair.

This only made Quinn cry harder. Her mother's voice grew weaker by the minute, as her body was becoming more tired.

"Don't die Mom. Please don't die. Don't leave me, Mama," Quinn begged as she sobbed hard.

"I could never leave you. I'll always be with you, even if I'm not," Claire said softly as moved her hand from her daughter's hair and took her hand into hers and gently rubbed it with her thumb.

"You and your father will be okay. I made sure…"

"Screw him!" Quinn shouted, and the doctors at the door flinched. "You still speak as if Dad is a good guy, and he's not even here with us! Instead he's at some stupid bar."

Claire sighed, "You have to understand your father was a different man when I married him. I met your father when I was sixteen. He was a good person, he just grew up in a bad home. I loved him, and he treated me like a queen. When I turned twenty and he was twenty-two, I got pregnant with your sister and when I was thirty-one and he was thirty-three, I got pregnant with you. You need to understand, Quinn, the world changes good people and not always for the better. I don't want that for you, but no matter what happens, I hope you know how much I love you."

"I-I love you too Mommy," Quinn said softly with fresh tears running down her cheeks.

Claire started coughing hard, and a little blood came out of her mouth.

"Help her! Someone please help her!" Quinn cried, and more doctors rushed inside, along with Jerome. Quinn wouldn't move from her mother's side, and Jerome had to wrap his arms around her waist and tug her away and out the room.

It wasn't long before one of the doctors stepped outside to announce that her mother was gone, and Quinn cried into Jerome's chest, as he gently stroked her hair and cooed her, he then used his other hand to gently rub her back.

When the funeral came a couple days later Quinn was very peeved that her sister hadn't showed up to their mother's funeral. I know she's a selfish manipulative brat, but you would've thought she would at least come to Mom's funeral to say goodbye. At least Jerome was there to keep her company and to help her through the day. But Quinn was curious as to why the coffin that had her mother's body in it was closed, not that she wanted to look at it, when she asked her father about it he said it was because he couldn't bare to look at his wife's corpse.

After the funeral, David pulled Quinn aside to tell that since her mother is gone, he thinks it would be best for her to be enrolled in school in Gotham. Of course Quinn knew David wanted to send her away, because he didn't care about her. He told her that he already got her a small apartment, with a bed and some furniture and told her that she was leaving tomorrow.

After that Quinn immediately went to find Jerome to tell him everything that happened. She found him at the petting zoo. Quinn ran to Jerome with tears flowing freely.

"Quinn, what's wrong?" Jerome asked in concern.

"It's my father, h-he's sending me away," Quinn cried, "He said he thinks now that my mom is dead sending me away to school here in Gotham would be good for me. But he didn't even ask me if I wanted to or what I thought about it. I don't want to go Jerome, I don't want to leave."

As Quinn was crying Jerome wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him.

"Shh, I know Quinn. It's okay Quinn," Jerome cooed, and Quinn answered with a choke cry, "Shh, it'll be okay. Hush, Quinn, you'll make yourself sick."

One of Jerome's hands began stroking her hair, while the other one was in favor of rubbing her back. Jerome continued to whisper soft words of encouragement to her. "It's okay Quinn. You're okay. That's it, breathe."

Soon Quinn's sobbing turned into quiet whimpers. "I'm sorry, Jerome. It's just I lost my mom already and now I'm going to lose you too."

"We will see each other again," Jerome promised as he held her close.

The next day, Quinn was saying goodbye to Jerome, but it was harder than ever.

"I'm sorry. Jerome, I'm so sorry," Quinn cried, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Jerome places both of his hands on her shoulders, a comforting smile on his lips, but it doesn't reach his eyes, as he replies, "It's okay, Quinn. Remember when we were kids, we both agreed that-"

"-if one of us gets out, we get out," Quinn finished.

"Exactly," Jerome says softly.

"B-But what about you?" Quinn asked, "We also said we would do everything we could to get the other person out."

"Don't worry about me Quinn, I'll be fine," Jerome assured her.

"No. I can't just leave you-"

Jerome put his hands on her shoulders and said, "You'll get an education here in Gotham, at least your parents care about you."

"You know that's not true, I only had Mom and now that she's gone, I know my father wants nothing to do with me, sending me away to school was probably the only thing he could do to get me away from him. I didn't expect him to buy me a small apartment though, let alone a bed and a few pieces of furniture with it. I think he must've used some of Mom's money that she left me, which wouldn't surprise me. God, I miss her terribly."

Quinn hugs Jerome, and cries into his shirt, "I'll come visit Jerome. I promise."

Jerome rubbed gentle circles into Quinn's back, "I know you will, Quinny."

Quinn rolls her eyes, "Jerome you know I hate that nickname."

"Of course I know," he laughs, but it hardly sounds genuine.

Quinn pulls away from him to pick up her suitcase full of her possessions off the ground.

"I think I should go now, the taxi cab is probably waiting." Quinn says sadly.

He nods, his eyes twinkling with only sadness, "Would you like me to walk you there?"

Quinn smiled sadly, "Sure."

When Quinn and Jerome got to the exit of the circus grounds they saw the waiting cab. Quinn turns to leave, only to feel his warm hand grab hers to spin her around.

"Jerome-" Quinn began.

Quinn stops when he places his lips on hers. It must've only lasted a few seconds, but it felt like they were standing there for a lot longer. Quinn didn't pull away for a while, and neither did Jerome. When Quinn finally does, she sees the smirk on his face, when she looks up at him, since he's still taller than her. He's such a prick, but a cute prick, I'll say that for him.

"Stay safe, Quinny," he chuckles, "And have fun there, okay?"

"Staying safe I can do, ginger boy," Quinn declared, "But me having fun without you there? As if."

Jerome chuckled, but his laugh once again didn't sound genuine, "Goodbye Quinn."

"Goodbye Jerome," Quinn said sadly.

Quinn then opens the taxi door and puts her suitcase in first. When she gets in, it instantly starts to leave.

Jerome waves goodbye at Quinn and she sadly waves back. Even though she's far away, she could see the sad look in his eyes which makes the tears flow from her face.

The next chapter is going to go straight into the Gotham plot, but I'm going to skip all the way up to 1x16 The Blind Fortune Teller.