Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Author's Note 1:This chapter deals with Danny past. It includes violence/abuse from her husband. If that makes you uncomfortable, then don't read this.

Author's Note 2A: See bottom of chapter.

Danny glanced at the Mickey Mouse alarm clock, next to the bunk bed in the room that her children shared. It was after 10:00pm. Where was her husband? She dreaded nights like these. He'd come home drunk, and all hell would break loose.

She looked at her children's sweet faces. She knew what the fights must be doing to them, and she hated herself for it. The minutes seemed to drag as it neared 11:00pm. Nights like this she would pray for him not to come home at all.

She brushed the hair away from Cillian's face. Madison looked like her father, but Cillian was the spitting image of his mother. A car door slammed. It was her husband's car door. "Mommy?" Cillian said sleepily. She kissed his forehead. "Shh, baby… stay very quiet and go back to sleep."

She new the brunt of her husband's drunken rage would fall on her, if he wasn't reminded of the kids. She silently left the bedroom and shut the door behind her. The front door slammed shut as her husband stumbled inside. At least, she thought it was only her husband. "Danny!" A voice called. "Danny, are you home?" It was her brother's voice. She rushed downstairs. Her brother was in the process of laying her husband on the couch.

"Jackson, what the hell happened?"

"I found him in an alley, outside a bar. He was falling all over a hooker."

"Why is he passed out?"

"I knocked him out, Danny. I couldn't let him do that to you."

"Jackson, he's going to find out what happened."

Jackson remained calm. "I know Danny, that's why you have to listen to me."

"What are you saying?"

"You and the kids need to leave. Get out of Gotham."

"Where am I supposed go, Jackson? I have nothing outside of Gotham."

Jackson walked over to his sister and put his hand on her shoulder. "Danny, you have to get out of here."

Neither one of them noticed Danny's husband waking up and getting off the couch. "Rippner, get the hell out of my house!"

"Ryan, sit down and shut the hell up!" Jackson order.

Ryan ignored Jackson's command. He grabbed his brother-in-law by the collar and smashed his head into a wall. The unconscious man slumped to the floor. Ryan turned to his wife, and grabbed her by the throat. "What was he doing here, bitch?" He demanded. Danny was trembling.

"Nothing… He just wanted to help."

"Stop lying to me!" Ryan yelled, backhanding her across the face. His class ring dug into her face and cut deep into her skin.

"Ryan, please…!" She cried; blood was streaming down her face.

"Shut up, you stupid bitch!" Ryan screamed as he punched her. Moaning, Danny slumped to the ground.

Jackson regained consciousness. Without making a sound he reached for his gun. Ryan was in the process of pulverizing Danny. There was nothing that angered Jackson more than someone beating his sister. He quietly stood and walked up behind Ryan. Jackson pointed the gun at the back of Ryan's head. "Let her go!"

Ryan froze and Danny scrambled away. Jackson never took his eyes off of Ryan. "Danny, go upstairs and check on the kids. Lock the door and don't open it for anyone but me." Danny turned and ran upstairs to where she hoped her children were sleeping. "Turn around, Ryan." Jackson ordered.

Danny locked herself in the room with her children. "Mommy, what's going on?" Cillian asked. Madison was crying.

"Come here kids." Danny said softly.

Madison toddled over and climbed into her mother's lap. Cillian joined his sister. Danny wrapped her arms around them. "I scared, Mommy." Madison said.

"Me too." Cillian added.

"I know babies… I know. Uncle Jackson is here now. He won't let anything happen to us." Danny said softly. After a few minutes of hearing muffled shouts between Jackson and Ryan, Danny started to sing softly.

"Hush little baby; don't say a word…"

"…away from my wife!"

"...Momma's gonna buy you a mocking bird."

"…gave up your rights as a husband when you started beating my sister!"

"If that mocking bird don't sing…"

"... gonna do, Jackson? Shoot me?"

"…Momma's gonna buy you a diamond ring."

BANG! BANG!

Author's note 2B: The italics are the scene between Jackson and Ryan. Plain font is Danny singing.