"Rose, you are such a talented young lady," said Ivy, as Rose brought out the roast she had prepared for dinner. "I'm so impressed by how much you've learned and how well you've put the skills you've learned to good use."
"Well, I aim to please you, Mother," said Rose. "And I also hope that…if I learn what I'm supposed to…that you might let me out to see the world a little."
Ivy was silent. "Rose, please understand that I'm only keeping you here to protect you," she said. "The world's a big, scary, dangerous place, and you're so young. There are things I can't teach you or prepare you for out there, and I just want to make sure you're ready to face them."
"How will you know, Mother?" she asked.
"I'll know," said Ivy, patting her cheek. "You have to trust me, flower."
"I do trust you, Mother," said Rose, sitting down next to her. They ate in silence for a few moments.
"Mother…those people who visited today…" began Rose, slowly. "They were different from us, weren't they? They looked different."
"Yeah, they look like clowns," agreed Ivy. "Harley's is makeup, but J looks like that naturally. But we're different from a lot of people, petal. That's what makes us special."
"I don't just mean that their skin was different, or they dressed different," continued Rose. "I mean…one of the clowns was…different to us."
Ivy thought for a moment. "Oh! Yeah, J's a man," she said, realizing it suddenly. "Or so he claims," she added, sarcastically.
"Man," repeated Rose, the term strange to her. "And why do they exist?"
"Oh, sweetie, that's a question women have asked themselves for generations," sighed Ivy. "God only knows."
"Could you have grown someone like that, instead of me?" asked Rose. "Could you have grown a man?"
"I'm sure I could have," agreed Ivy. "But from my experience with men, I really didn't want to."
"Are they bad, Mother?" she asked.
Ivy sighed. "No, Rose," she murmured. "No, nobody is inherently bad. But often men aren't…taught to treat women like us…the way we should be treated. Often they just want to use us…the way bees use flowers. They fly from flower to flower, taking what they want from them, and then leaving them alone."
"But that's just the bees' nature, Mother," said Rose. "There's no ill will in it."
"Well, people are more…complicated than bees," said Ivy. "And sometimes there is ill will. On both sides."
She sighed, stroking Rose's hair again. "You see, there's so much out there that I can't explain, and can't prepare you for. And I just don't want to see you hurt, my precious flower."
"Have you been hurt, Mother?" she asked.
Ivy nodded. "Yes. Very deeply, petal."
"Then I must be too," she said. "I want to be just like you, Mother. And the only way you know so much is because you've experienced so much. Good or bad…I want to live my life. While I still can."
Ivy gazed at her tenderly and was about to say something when a loud banging sounded on the front door. "Pammie! You open up right now!"
Ivy sighed, standing up. "Excuse me, flower," she said. "You stay right here while I get rid of this particular unwanted man."
She opened the door to Two-Face looking absolutely livid. "What is it, Harvey?" she snapped.
"Is it true?" he demanded.
"Is what true?" she asked.
"I just had a visit from J and Harley – is what they told me true?!" he roared.
"How the hell am I supposed to know what they told you…" began Ivy, but Two-Face seized her by the shoulders.
"How dare you not consult me before you make a child from my genes?! And how dare you not tell me?! You had no right to play God like this, you little tramp!"
"It's none of your business what I do, Harvey!" she snapped, shoving herself away from him.
"It is if that kid has a part of me in them!" he shouted. "You didn't even think I had the right to know?! Do you think creating another life is a game, you stupid…"
"Mother?" came Rose's voice. "I heard shouting. What's going on?"
Two-Face looked up at her, his jaw dropping shock. "Oh my God," he gasped, shoving past Ivy and seizing Rose's hands, touching her cheek as he studied her face. "Oh…my God!"
"Mother? Who is this?" asked Rose, frightened.
"Nobody, Rose," said Ivy, firmly.
"Tell her the truth, Pam!" shouted Two-Face.
Ivy sighed loudly. "This man…is your father, Rose."
Rose stared at Two-Face. "My…father?" she repeated. "But you said…"
"I said I grew you single-handedly, and so I did," said Ivy, nodding. "But I used…genetic material from Harvey to create you. So in the sense that his seed gave you life, he's your father."
"Could have been a much more involved father earlier if your mother had told me you existed," snapped Two-Face. "But…I guess what's important is that I know now. And…wow…just look at you," he said, smiling at her. "J said in a really sleazy way that you were beautiful, and I'm gonna punch him next time I see him. But he wasn't joking."
"Thank…thank you," stammered Rose. "Although Mother has told me that there are more important things for women to be than beautiful."
"Yeah, she's right about that," agreed Two-Face. "Guess she's…done an ok job raising you…on her own. But she should have told me…"
"What difference would it have made?" demanded Ivy. "Did you want a child to take care of?"
"No!" retorted Two-Face. "But I have one now, don't I? And I can't just ignore that! I wanna…take responsibility for her and…be a good father."
"What…happened to your face?" asked Rose, slowly.
"Oh, that," said Two-Face. "That was an accident a long time ago - hope it doesn't freak you out."
"No…no, it doesn't, Father," said Rose.
Two-Face smiled. "Wow, that's a strange thing to hear, huh?" he asked, glancing at Ivy. "How long did it take you to get used to her calling you Mother?"
"Not very long," retorted Ivy. "But then I did choose to be her mother."
Two-Face studied her, and then turned back to Rose. "Uh…Rose…can you give your mother and me a moment alone, please?"
Rose nodded, heading for the door. "Is me being involved in Rose's life going to be a problem for you, Pammie?" he asked, when the door shut.
"A problem for me?" repeated Ivy. "No, not at all. I'm just not sure how pleased Selina is going to be about it…"
"Well, we're not married or anything," said Two-Face. "She doesn't have to have anything to do with Rose if she doesn't want to. But she's certainly not going to stop me spending time with my daughter."
"You know her better than I do, Harvey, of course," said Ivy, forcing a smile. "Anyway, Rose and I were just finishing up dinner, so if you could return some other time…"
"That's fine – I'll join you," he said, heading for the dining room.
Ivy sighed, following him. Truthfully, she did resent Two-Face's intrusion into her and Rose's life – Ivy believed she knew how best to raise Rose, and exposing her to Two-Face's criminal lifestyle was not in her list of plans. Plus as she entered the dining room, she heard him already trying to undermine her parenting skills.
"…let me take you out after dinner. Anywhere you want."
"Really? Anywhere?" asked Rose, half-excited and half-shocked. "Mother, can he really?"
Ivy forced another smile. "Of course, flower. As long as he stays with you every second, of course."
"I have been reading about something called an…ice cream parlor?" said Rose. "I have never had ice cream, but I hear it tastes good."
"It tastes great," agreed Two-Face. "And how about I take you to the mall afterward to do some shopping? Get you some nice, new clothes."
"You mean…clothes I would pick out myself?" asked Rose, surprised. "Can I do that, Mother?"
"If you want to, petal," she agreed. "Your father certainly seems intent on spoiling you rotten."
"Well, I wanna make up for lost time," he agreed. "Plus…J said something about her having…a shortened life span?"
"Yes, there's no need to be squeamish about it," said Ivy. "It's perfectly natural in flowers."
"Means we gotta make every second count, though," said Two-Face. "You shouldn't waste a moment of your life, Rose. You gotta get out there and see the world."
"Can I, please, Mother?" asked Rose, excitedly.
Ivy sighed again. "As long as your father promises not to take his eyes off you," she snapped. "And promises not to do anything illegal."
"Why would he, Mother?" asked Rose, puzzled.
"I just want him to promise, just in case," said Ivy. "I don't want Rose having to deal with police, or a certain Bat-person."
"Pammie, I wouldn't dream of putting her in danger," said Two-Face, defensively. "What kinda terrible father do you think I am? C'mon, let's go, Rose."
"Harvey, I mean it," snapped Ivy. "Don't let her out of your sight for a second."
Two-Face headed for his car, but realized that Rose wasn't following him. She was standing on threshold of the door, looking scared. "What is it, Rose?" he asked.
"I've just…never been outside before," she whispered. "I want to savor the moment."
She took a deep breath, and then tentatively placed a foot out the door. This was quickly followed by the other foot, and then a sigh of relief as she looked around, breathing in the fresh air.
"Wow, it's so beautiful!" she whispered.
"Yeah, I guess even a dump like Gotham can seem beautiful occasionally," agreed Two-Face.
"Well, yeah," she agreed. "There's a whole city lit up out there, windows twinkling like stars, and each light shining through rooms full of possibilities and people. People living, loving, just going about their daily lives – what could be more beautiful than that?"
Two-Face smiled at her. "Yeah, Pammie did a good job raising you," he said, hugging her gently. "Now c'mon, Princess. Your carriage awaits," he said, opening the car door for her.
She smiled. "Now that's something that I've read about that I've always wanted to go to," she said, climbing inside. "A ball."
Two-Face smiled again. "Well, I think I can grant that wish, Princess," he said. "Just let me find out where that charity ball is…"