When Alyssa was a kid, she'd heard about the Oger. As usual, she had been somewhere she shouldn't be, and had come across something she shouldn't have. She'd tried to convince Harvey to take the case, but he'd flatly refused.

"They guy kills the loved ones of any cop that goes after him." he'd told her.

"So? Since when to do you love anything besides booze and pastries?" she frowned. He'd sighed and stared at her, for once his gaze held no annoyance or sarcasm. "...Oh."

"Shut up Connors."

For a girl with a party flare, Barbara was amazing with kids. They all adored her, and things were running much more smoothly with her around.

It helped that Alyssa was back on her game. The Mama Gotham foundation was running every fundraiser in the book; there was finally enough money to fix up the hotel rooms where the kids slept.

Barbara had suggested getting more publicity, which was a great idea, but it meant dealing with Vivian Vale.

Vivian Vale, Gotham's top news reporter and mother of a mini Vivian in training named Vicki. For all purposes, a good person. As a professional, Alyssa liked the woman and appreciated the smaller pieces she'd done on Mama Gotham over the years – they had all been positive and had helped her a lot.

But as a person? Alyssa would like it very much if Vivian Vale took a long walk off a short pier. Preferably with something heavy strapped to her ankles.

"Now do the children have to share rooms?" she said as Alyssa lead her through the Safe Heaven hotel. It was the first time she had been allowed in – a detailed exclusive would be great for publicity.

"Well, siblings usually share, but everyone else gets their own room." Alyssa informed.

"Oh, bless your heart!" she said in a sickly sweet voice. "Keeping siblings together, that's so sweet!" She walked past Alyssa, who groaned in frustration and clenched her fists. Breathe... "Oo a swimming pool, how lovely!"

"Uh yeah, we offer swimming lessons to those who want them." Alyssa followed after her. "There's uh, also cooking classes, life skills, and just regular stuff they'd learn in school."

"They don't go to school?" Vivian looked at her over her shoulder.

She shrugged. "Principal Dondelinger says he doesn't want street kids anywhere near his facility."

"Makes sense, I suppose, wouldn't want any bad influences." she said, looking back to the kids splashing each other in the pool.

Alyssa glared at the back of her head. "My kids happen to be wonderful people thank you."

"Your kids?" the reporter turned to look at her. "I thought 'Mama' was just a nickname."

"No mam." she shook her head. "I love every single one of these kids as my own. Vivian opened her mouth to ask more questions, but was cut off by the sound of Alyssa's phone. "Excuse me, would you?" she pulled it from her pocket, taking a moment to glance at the caller ID. "Hello Harvey."

"I'm so sorry Alyssa, I called as soon as I found out! If you want me to represent you, I will."

"Slow down, what are you talking about?"

"You haven't heard?"

"Heard what?"

"Your parents, Alyssa. They were released from prison, and now they're suing you for taking from your dad's off-shore account."

Alyssa's jaw dropped slightly. She glanced at Vivian Vale, who was trying to listen in, clearly hoping for a good scandal. "Hold on a second." she said to Harvey, then covered the mouthpiece of her phone. "I'm so sorry, it seems something's come up. Could we continue this later?"

With two restaurants, a bar, and some well placed investments over the years, Alyssa was rich on her own. But the money that had started it all had come from Kurt Connors' off-shore account, which she had indeed broken into.

She sighed, resting her head in her hands. This was bad; even if she won, the second this hit the public her reputation would be out the window. No one would trust her, and the mayor would have leverage to take her kids away.

Okay...Okay...Her dad's off-shore account was a clear ploy to abandon his family. That was bad. She had used the money to open a charity and save hundreds of orphaned street kids. That was good. She had plenty of people who could testify for her, and she trusted Harvey's legal abilities. If worst came to worst; she could simply pay back what she had taken.

Breathe, Alyssa. Breathe. Nothing ever goes well when you let your emotions get the better of you.

Edward. She needed Edward. He was smart and rational, he'd be able to calm her down.

Alyssa was just picking up her phone when the apartment door opened. Selina had her head down, clearly trying to sneak in without being noticed.

"Kitten, don't you dare try to sneak past me."

She froze and huffed, turning around in surrender. "Hi mom."

"What happened, what's wrong?" Alyssa looked her over, instantly detecting something was troubling her daughter.

Selina bit her lip and looked down. "...I did a bad thing."

"Kitten, tell me what happened."

"Reggie, the guy who shot Alfred...Me and Bruce tracked him down. Turns out he was working for Wayne Enterprises to find out stuff on Bruce. He said he was gonna tell on us...I uh...I pushed him out a window, and he died."

Selina really didn't want to tell Alyssa what had happened, but she knew she had to. After seeing what finding out what Jerome did did to her...she couldn't stand the thought of her mother thinking of her like that.

True, she had killed him to save Bruce, but she didn't bother saying that. You couldn't excuse cold blooded murder. Ever. Alyssa's rule of Gotham #1.

The two minutes of silence felt like five years. Selina was certain Alyssa was going to scream and kick her out, or worse break down crying.

Please don't cry mom...

But as she had been doing since she met her, Alyssa surprised Selina. She threw her arms around her and pulled her close. Selina was quick to return the embrace.

"Oh, my dear sweet baby girl..." she pulled back and took her face in her hands. "Are you okay?"

"...Y-Yeah. Yeah mom, I'm okay."

Worrying over her daughter had kept Alyssa from calling Edward, so it wasn't until she sent Selina to bed that she was able to make the call.

"Hello?"

"Hey Ed. You off work yet?"

"Uh, no, but I can clock out early. Why? What's wrong?"

"Why does something have to be wrong?"

"You're using your 'everything's fine' voice, which you only use when everything isn't fine."

Alyssa sighed. "Damn you for knowing me so well. As always, you're right. I just...I really need to see you. Whatever you're doing, if you could get here...please?"

"I'm on my way." Edward said without hesitation.

"What the hell am I supposed to say to them, I mean these are the people that practically tortured me for years I don't know –" she stopped pacing and dug her fingers into her hair. "I can't breathe Eddie, I feel like I can't breathe!"

"Alyssa..." he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, rubbing her back until her breathing calmed down. "Its gonna be okay. If you want me to, I'll be right there with you. I can even testify against what they did to you." the image of the first time he had ever seen her scared, when she had come to him seeking refuge, flashed in his head and made him want to make her parents suffer. He had never personally met them, but they could make the strongest woman he knew scared out of her mind – and that didn't bode well.

She sighed and laid her head on his chest. "I'm really sorry I keep dragging you into my messed up life..."

"No need to apologize, its what I'm here for."

"It sounds so simple when you say it like that..."

"Is it not?" Edward raised an eyebrow.

Alyssa pulled back, sniffing as she wiped her eyes. "I get put through a lotta crap. And, usually I'm pretty good at dealing with it, but sometimes its just too much for me. I feel like the whole world is caving in around me. But then you show up, and you make it all better without even trying. I have no idea how you do that, but I'm really grateful you do."

"You're my girlfriend." he smiled slightly. "And also my best friend. Consequently, I'm always here for you."

A fresh set of tears pooled in Alyssa's eyes, and Edward was about to ask what was wrong, but he was cut of by her pulling on his tie and crashing her lips to his. Once he got his bearings, he brought a hand up to her cheek to keep her close, the other resting on her hip.

Being Alyssa's boyfriend had been coming much more naturally to him lately. Before it had been an odd adjustment, to see her as more than just his best friend. But now it was very easy to see her as both.

Plus he was starting to like the fuzzy, foggy feeling she gave him that made it impossible to think.

"I love you..."

He heard that very clearly however.

He pulled away and stared at her, certain he had heard wrong. Her wide eyes and stuttering attempt at words said he hadn't.

Edward quickly reattached his lips to her's, cutting off her stuttering. He held her like she'd disappear if he let go. There was a new kind of...passion in this kiss, desperation. He only pulled back when his lungs were screaming for air.

"I love you too..."

The Wayne Charity ball. Usually, Alyssa hated it; a night spent in an fancy dress and uncomfortable shoes, trying to seem nice enough for people to want to donate to the 'Mama Gotham' foundation.

This year however, she was rather giggly as she and Barbara flipped through the fancy dresses in her closet.

"What's got you in such a good mood?" the blonde smiled at her.

"Hmm. I've got a date to the ball! I feel like a princess!" she said in a love-struck voice before the grin slipped off her face. "Oh god, did I just say that?"

"Oh I know what this is! You are in love, girlfriend!" Barbara squealed. "Is it that Ed guy you've told me about?"

"...Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me, you're supposed to tell me these things!"

Alyssa smiled shyly, fiddling with the silk dress she was holding. "He told me he loved me today..."

"Did you say it back?"

"I said it first, kinda slipped out..."

Barbara downright squealed and threw her arms around her. "I'm so happy for you!" she pulled back with a mock-stern look. "But you are introducing me to this guy at the ball! I need to make sure he's right for you."

"What are you, my bodyguard now?" Alyssa chuckled.

"No, I'm your friend. Naturally, I need to make sure this guys good for you."

"And if he's not?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Then I come after him with something heavy."

She laughed. "Thanks Barb, you're a good friend."

"I try honey."

There was a knock at the door and Ivy leaned into the bedroom. "Alyssa, some guys are here with boxes. Say you need to sign for them."

Alyssa frowned. "I'm not expecting anything." she and Barbara followed the girl back to the main room of the apartment where Selina was picking through some fancy shopping bags.

"You Alyssa Connors?" one of the delivery men asked.

"Yeah..."

"Packages for your daughter. Sign here please." he held out a pen and clipboard.

Looking at Selina, Alyssa signed and waved the men off. "Kitten, something you wanna tell me?"

"Bruce invited me to the charity ball..." she pulled a pair of stilettos from a bag. "Am I really supposed to wear these?"

"Okay baby girl, I have waited years for this day. Come on girls, we got work to do."

It made her feel like a regular mother, watching her daughter model dresses while she and her friends judged them. Selina pretended she hated it, but Alyssa could see the small smile on her face.

Once they had her dress, they had fun picking out her's and Barbara's. Ivy was bummed that she was the only one not going to the ball, but they dug through some of the extra dresses Bruce had sent over and found one perfect for her, promising to sneak her in.

Dresses, make-up, doing each other's hair, Alyssa couldn't recall a time she'd felt so...normal.

It was so easy to forget that she was standing on the edge of a cliff. That soon she'd have to fight for her reputation and her kids, that soon she'd have to face her parents again.

If only she knew that soon that would be the least of her worries.