Part 2 - Revelations

Riley walked out to the living room, there, Topanga was tending to Katy who was sobbing, trying to explain to her the reasons why she kept from Maya the fact that she was adopted.

-I never thought she would find out… remember when you helped me with it?

Topanga nodded and remembered what had happened ten years before. Riley's eyes opened wide at the revelation.

-MOM… you knew? And you never told me?

The lawyer called her daughter and asked her to sit before her.

-Even if I wanted to, I couldn't do it. Not just because Katy was my client, and I have an oath of privacy on any case I work, but also because she wanted Maya to feel like her real daughter. You understand that, right?

The teenager nodded.

-Mom… what are we going to do?

-For now, there's hot water on the stove, you can bring Maya some tea, that will be a start.

Riley returned to her room with the tea, there, Maya laid in the bay window.

-Peaches… I brought you some tea.

-why…?

-Because mom sa...

-Why did they keep this from me? Why did my real mom give me up?

Riley placed the cup on her night table and sat beside her friend, placing her head on her legs so she could caress her hair.

-I wish we could know… but I'm guessing she had good reasons and probably one of them was that she loves you and…..

Suddenly Maya sat up, her eyes open to a realization

-Riley, give me your laptop

-W.. what's going on?

To her surprise, the blonde girl sat on the bed and began to type

-Harleen Quinzel, renown psychiatrist in Gotham city, tended to patients at Arkham Asylum and other mental institutions.

-Maya, that could be a coincidence, I mean

-How many people do you know that are named Harleen Quinzel?

-I…

-Why didn't I think about this before…?

-Maya, what are you thinking?

-I'm thinking that I want to go ask her why she ditched me. That's what I'm thinking

-Wait a minute, you can't be serious, I… I mean, how can you be so sure she's your mom?

Maya turned the screen to Riley, there was a picture of Dr. Harleen Quinzel, she was blonde, had the same blue-greyish eye color that Maya had, and there was a resemblance between her and Maya, anyone could tell a mile away they were related.

-Still think she's not my mother?

-Maya, we need to think this over, I mean

But before she could utter another word, the blonde was sitting beside her, holding her pinkie finger.

-Ring power! Thunder and Lightning, I'll go find her, okay ?

But as she was about to crawl through the window, Riley held her boot.

-What? I'm not changing my mind Riley.

-I… I'm going with you - Riley said, closing her eyes in fear, excitement and shock

-Are you sure?

-You said it, thunder and lightning, we're in this together.

Maya smiled and hugged her tightly.

-Tomorrow, after school, we leave for Gotham.

As much as Riley tried to leave without being discovered, it was a scientific fact that such a feat was impossible. The minute the teenager tried to leave, she heard her mother's voice behind her.

-Why are you taking the extra bag Riley?

-I… I…. I'm… I have cheerleading tryouts after school!

Riley bit her lip, she was very bad at lying and this particular time she hoped she could get away with it. Fortunately for her, Topanga didn't say another word and she was able to leave. The morning went by without anything out of the ordinary, except that Lucas noticed that both had extra bags. At lunch he decided to find out why.

-Why did you bring another bag? Cheerleading tryouts aren't until next month. - he questioned.

-Why do you need to know, Huckleberry ?

-Yeah, why do you need to know, Huckleberry? - Riley asked nervously

Maya turned, she knew that Riley was the worst person in the world when it came to tell lies.

-Riles, let me handle this I…..

-I… I…

Maya's eyes opened wide, she knew, for the look in her face, that Riley had already lied to someone that day and that it was killing her.

-Sweetie, who did you lie to?

-My… mom…

At that precise moment, Farkle popped in between them.

-So, what's going on?

-Nothing we…..

But Maya couldn't finish, Riley blew in a barrage of words

-We-are-going-to-Gotham-city-to-find-Maya's-real-mom-I'm-sorry-Maya!

There was an awkward silence at the table until Lucas spoke.

-We're going with you. -he declared

-No, this is between Riley and me, we don't...

-I was there once, I think I can help you around - Lucas interrupted

-And I want to protect Riley - Farkle said, hugging the brunette

Maya knew better than trying to change Lucas's mind.

The minute the bell rang, the four left Abigail Adams and headed towards Central Bus station, there, Maya used her savings to pay for the tickets. It wasn't long before the blonde fell asleep on the bus.

Lucas took the opportunity to try and find out the part of the history he ignored. As Riley explained, he gazed at Maya and understood why she had decided to take the road. Three and half hours later, Riley woke up when Farkle shook her.

-We're here!

In turn, she shook Maya to wake her up.

-Maya, we're in Gotham city.

The group left the bus station, and as they walked Maya's stomach growled, which reminded them that the only food they had was a sandwich they were given when they boarded the bus.

-Great… I only took money for the bus… - Maya sadly said

-Don't worry, Peaches , let's go to the bank on the corner, I'll get some money out of my emergency account - Riley said

-Are you sure? Your Dad is going to flip out. - Maya said

-I know… but we need to eat…

As they walked in, they noticed that the ATM was inside the bank.

-Why is it all the way in there? Lucas, Farkle, can you guys wait out here while we go inside? - Riley asked

The boys nodded and the teenage girls made their way into the bank.

-Wow, a pin, your fingerprint, what's next? A retinal scan? - Maya joked

-worse… a six digit security pin from my dad… - Riley said sadly

Maya smiled.

-Let me.

To Riley's shock, Maya pressed the digits and the pin was accepted, promptly asking her for the amount of money she wanted to withdraw.

-How?

-It's your dad we are talking about, and it's six digits, only one thing could be, the date when….

But an explosion cut her words, as glass and concrete flew, and Riley screamed, several figures moved in. Two were wearing clown masks and were brandishing machine guns, the third was a woman wearing what seemed like harlequin makeup with her hair in two pigtails, behind her, a man, also sporting clown make up as he walked in, laughing.

-Sorry to "blow in" this way but we need to make a withdrawal. Hahahahahaha

The woman spoke.

-EVERYONE DOWN! Do something stupid and that'll be the last thing you'll do.

Riley crawled beside the ATM and began to pull at Maya's jacket, but the blonde teenager was transfixed looking at the woman.

-It can't be…

Riley began to shake in fear as the woman walked to them.

-Didn't you hear me!? GET DOWN LITTLE GIRL!

-MAYA DO WHAT SHE SAYS!

-You… you are… you're Har….

-All right, you want it the hard way, then you get it the HARD WAY! The blonde yelled, smiling.

Riley screamed as the woman produced a baseball bat from what seemed like nowhere, and hit Maya in the head, knocking her out. But if that freaked her out, what came next paralyzed her.

-HARLEY! We gotta go! - The man shouted

-Yes puddin!

-Hmm, take her too, someone needs to teach that kid some manners - he laughed, pointing to an unconscious Maya

Turning words to actions, she ordered one of the masked men to take Maya and the group quickly left the scene.

To be continued...