The sun shined through the windows of nineteen-year-old Jemima Lucille Allson's apartment bedroom as her alarm beeped quietly. Not much of an alarm, she thought to herself groggily, wiping her tan-skinned face as she rolled over to slap the clock off. Rolling behind her in her bed brought images of Jemima's boyfriend, Daniel Elliott, into her mind's eye.

Rather than thinking of his appearance, Jemima rolled over and looked at him with her own eyes. Daniel was fast asleep, his hands clasped together under his head as he lay there, snoring lightly. His shaggy red hair was tousled to pieces, and a slow breeze of air escaping his lips steadily blew a long, restless lock up and down, in a constant bob.

Jemima grinned slightly as she examined his face. Daniel was her boyfriend of two years, as they had met at the high school Jemima had left with a bad opinion. For all the bad, mean people who had hurt Jemima with tormenting at her diagnosis of ASD, Jemima had found two, strong friends: Daniel, and her best friend, Emmeline Parker, whom Jemima shared an apartment with. In fact, she was asleep in the other bedroom across the hall.

Jemima rolled back over, minding the bump in her stomach. She was eight weeks pregnant with her and Daniel's baby; Jemima's adopted parents, Killian and Victoria Allson, weren't particularly thrilled she had gotten pregnant when just nineteen, but they still vowed to support their daughter's fledgling family.

Born to a young couple of Puerto Rican immigrants, Jemima had been put up for adoption and was adopted by Killian, who worked in IT for one of Gotham's top computer-based companies, and Victoria, a psychologist who specialized in neurodevelopmental disorders. Jemima loved her parents; while they were not biologically related, they were the people she was closest to, her father a bit more. He was the one who inspired her to follow her desires to pursue a career in information technology, much like him—she was taking courses for just such a career at Gotham University.

As she sighed softly, Jemima heard more rustling behind her in the bed and felt heat on her neck. "Hi babe," came Daniel's groggy, morning voice as he leaned down, planting a kiss on her neck. She yawned, leaning into him as he wrapped his left arm around her waist softly, pressing deeply into her. "How's my girl feeling?"

"Fine," she said softly. Her eyes gazing at the tanned wall of her bedroom as she intertwined her fingers with his. "You?"

A chuckle escaped Daniel's lips. "Me? I'm not the one carrying a child in their stomach, sweetheart. You are." He nestled his head up against hers as they lay in silence, absorbing the moment.

"Maybe not, but you are the one taking college courses."

"So are you!"

"But not to become a big, powerful policeman." Jemima rolled over, her brown, cat-like eyes looked into his bright blue pupils. Mimicking his previous words, she said softly, "You are."

A grin and another laugh, and Daniel bent down, capturing her lips with his own. A few seconds of ecstasy passed and he pulled away, the boyish smile still present. "And you're taking the brainy computer classes." Without missing a beat, he added, "Your breath smells."

A snort escaped Jemima's lips as she said, "Yours isn't much better."

The two shared a laugh as Daniel bent down again, kissing her deeply. He then sat up, rolling out of the bed. Daniel yawned deeply, stretching his arms out wide and letting his muscles ripple in his tank top. Well, attempting to let them ripple. He had been working out more, but his physique hadn't quite reached a state to which he could show off with much effect. All the same, Jemima let out a giggle at her boyfriend's attempt to display his strength.

He whipped his head back around, and she could see his cheeks were as bright as his fiery hair. "Hey now," he said, attempting to make his voice ooze with injured pride. It didn't work; it all came out sarcastic. "You've got all the brains in this relationship. I've gotta make up for it somehow."

Jemima rolled over to lay on her side, legs propped up and holding her head up with her left hand, the arm bent at an angle to support her head. Her frazzled black hair, usually wavy, was as much bedhead as it could be. She offered a sly grin. "You've gotta have some brains." She lolled her head in a show of mock nobility. "You chose me."

Daniel grinned as he got on his knees on the bed, leaning close to her, faces inches apart. "You got that right. Boy, was I smart." They quickly closed the gap again, sharing another tender kiss before they broke apart. "Now look, you can't keep enticing me back to kiss you. I've gotta get dressed!"

The two laughed as he got up, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed for the bathroom for a quick shower. Jemima grinned at him until he left before her smile faltered, and she let out a groan.

Things weren't as simple as they seemed. Yes, she loved Daniel—at least, she thought she did. He was attractive, his personality was charming, and, well, they had slept together and had a child on the way. But she couldn't help but feel there was something . . . wrong about the whole situation.

Jemima crawled from the bed and reached for her own change of clothes, a pair of khaki cargo pants and a purple tank top, as she reached for the end table and grabbed her cell phone. The flashing light indicated a notification, so she clicked her phone on and read over the notification. As she did so, her mouth slowly began to fall until it hung agape completely.

There was a text message from Emmeline, but that wasn't the cause of her mouth hanging agape (it was some implicatory, crass message about the night she and Daniel had spent together, the usual sort of thing Emmeline would say to get Jemima's goat). No, this other message was something highly unusual.

The words "Wayne Enterprises" stood out like a hairless cat. Oh, were those things ugly.

Swiping the screen and inputting her password, Jemima clicked the notification and waited with bated breath. The shower spicket kicked on in the bathroom and some insensitive crooning from Daniel filled the air. A smirk overtook Jemima's lips as she glanced to the door. Typical Daniel. She flicked her eyes back down to read the message, and as she did so, her hands began to shake. She couldn't believe it.

The message read:

Ms. Allson,

I am reaching out to you on behalf of the government of Gotham City and the CEO of Wayne Enterprises, Mr. Bruce Wayne himself. A board of business executives—Mr. Wayne included—has appropriated the proper funds to an initiative from the minds of Gotham's key officials, namely Mayor Hamilton Hill, the District Attorney's office, and the Gotham City Police Department. This initiative is built to help put a dent in the growing threat posed by Gotham's crime families (no, the "dent" wasn't sponsored by the DA).

We have an opening in this new movement that we fill would be just right for you. Mr. Wayne himself has kept an eye on you, and he likes your style. He recommended you personally for appointment to this initiative. If this does interest you, please do not hesitate and respond ASAP. If you agree, I will forward you a meeting place so we can discuss the details and set everything in stone. I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours truly,

Lucius Fox, Wayne Enterprises

The formal format of the message was a tipoff that this was something important, but when she read the whole thing, Jemima could feel fully that this was something truly special. Bruce Wayne had noticed her? The playboy billionaire who ran the largest company in Gotham? She felt butterflies in her stomach at the thought that such a prestigious company would even know who she was, let alone the CEO—and that he knew enough about her to recommend her to some government initiative.

What could this be? The thoughts nagged at her so much that she didn't even need a second thought. She considered calling out for Daniel, or rushing out and banging on Emmeline's door, but she knew nothing either one could say would deviate her decision.

Rapidly, she typed a response.

Mr. Fox,

Thank you for reaching out to me. I am interested in learning more about this position. Please let me know when and where we can meet to discuss it.

Thanks. Again. – Jemima Allson

She put the phone down and ran both hands along her long, dark hair. Would she meet with them today? Is it possible she would even meet Bruce Wayne? No, certainly not on the first meeting. Then she thought to the other people who would certainly be involved. Mayor Hill was mentioned, as was the District Attorney. So was the GCPD, so surely someone high-ranking would be present—perhaps the commissioner?

The possibilities all ate away at Jemima's mind as she couldn't contain her joy and her smile. She jumped up and bolted for the bathroom door, cracking it open. "Daniel! Hurry up, quick!"

A few minutes passed after the water had stopped that Daniel emerged, towel wrapped around his waist as he ruffled his damp, shaggy hair. "What's so important that you had to rush me out of my soothing shower?" he asked, his boyish grin on his face.

"I'll tell you later—I've gotta shower first." Jemima started for the bathroom door before Daniel gripped her wrist.

"Come on now, you can't just bait-and-switch me like that. What's the scoop?"

His eyes searched hers, and she finally relented. Her smile broke out as she clasped her hands together. "I just got a message from Wayne Enterprises. It said something about joining a government initiative, working in junction with the mayor, the DA, and the GCPD."

Daniel's eyes grew wide. "What? Really?"

"Yes!"

"Well, what did you say? Did you agree to it?"

"Of course I did!" Jemima shot back. A thought edged into her mind. "Why—don't you want me to?"

"Of course I do," Daniel replied, his grin staying put. He lowered his hands and planted them softly on her hips. "Look, Jemima—I love you. I want whatever's best for you, and if this is what you want, take it." He reached up with his right hand and cupped her cheek. "Do what you want, sweetheart. Be your own guide."

The two stood that way for several seconds before he pulled her face close, and they kissed deeply, passionately. He reached back down and pulled her body against his, hands roaming her back as she reached up, fingers running through his hair. As they let go and parted, his grin looked even more boyish—somehow.

"I love you," he huffed, out of breath.

She winked at him, turning and striding for the bathroom door. "I know."

Jemima exited from her bedroom, her form-fitting tank top and cargo pants all neatly pressed to her body. Her dark hair was as wavy as it naturally could be, tied to a long ponytail bobbing on her left hip as she scrolled through her phone. She had received another text from Lucius Fox, this one directing her to meet him at the GCPD headquarters that night, at seven o'clock sharp.

An adrenaline rush made her feel renewed, fresh for the day ahead of her. She had classes to attend at Gotham U., then she would meet Emmeline and Daniel for afternoon coffee before returning home with her roommate.

Speak of the devil, Jemima thought with a grin as she saw Emmeline at the kitchen counter, shelving a cereal box in the cabinet. Emmeline's smile glinted at Jemima as her shoulder-length red hair bounced, contrasting with her pinkish freckles and blue eyes.

"Well, if it isn't Ms. Important," Emmeline said with a mischievous smile. "Congratulations on your job offer!"

Jemima stood, appalled. "Did Daniel tell you?"

"Oh, yes. As he left he told me something about you getting offered an important job with the GCPD, the mayor, and the DA." Her mischievous grin arched with an eyebrow. "And Bruce Wayne."

Jemima rolled her eyes. Emmeline seemed to be starstruck every time the playboy was mentioned. I mean, she couldn't blame her; Wayne was attractive, but he wasn't quite Jemima's type. She couldn't help but feel the whole partying personality was just an act to cover up another, more real Bruce Wayne.

"It's not like all that. It was Wayne Enterprises, not the CEO himself. But . . . it still opens a lot of possibilities and doorways. Do you know what a position like this could mean for my IT career?"

"Of course I do!" Emmeline playfully socked Jemima's arm. "What'd you think, I was insinuating you wanted the job to get close to Wayne?" She threw her head to the apartment door. "You've got Daniel. He's your child's father."

Jemima slowly nodded, eyes drifting to her feet. "Yeah. You're right."

Emmeline watched Jemima closely, a cloud crossing her eyes. "Hey, you okay? You look a little blue."

Jemima quickly returned with a crisp nod. "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Just nervous I guess."

Emmeline grinned. "I'd be nervous too. As you said, this is big for your career. But you'll do fine. Knock the socks off of 'em, especially the DA."

Jemima arched an eyebrow. "Why him?"

"Because I need an opening. Drop a hint that you've got a beautiful roommate who's looking to secure a foothold in the Gotham law system." She laughed. "Just kidding, just kidding. Just be you. I know you'll do great." She stepped out and embraced Jemima tightly, holding her for several seconds. "Good luck Jay."

She stepped away and made for the door. "I'll see you and Daniel for coffee at three."

As she stepped out the door, Jemima stood frozen stiff. She was hoping the tingles would wear off, but when they refused to, she sighed and made for the doorway. Thoughts continued to burn in her mind as she opened the door, locking it behind her and striding out.

All her problems and nerves concerning Daniel were nothing to do with him. She cared deeply for him. The problem was with her.

You see, she also cares deeply for Emmeline. And she wonders if she isn't in a relationship with the wrong true love.

A/N: Here's chapter 2! You all got to meet Jemima Allson, the second member of our cast. Leave your thoughts on her and the story thus far below! The next chapter will be out soon, and it will include a glimpse into the story outside of our main cast. Thanks for reading, and for those interested, there are still 4 more SYOC slots available as of March 4. Hope you all enjoyed, and I'll see you next time!