A/N- Okay here are a few notes before I begin. So, first off this story takes place after the events of season 5 episode 11, obviously. So, everything before is the same but afterwards it's gonna be completely AU which you guys probably realize. The second note is, Bruce is gone, I thought I'd make that clear here, and now. The third note is that Barbara Lee's name is the same. Now that that's out of the way onto the story, enjoy.
Disclaimer- I don't own Gotham because if I did then I would've done several things differently, although I did love most of what the writers did.
Chapter 1- A Marriage Of Convenience
Jim hung up his phone after he'd finished talking to his lawyer. Lee looked at him from behind as he did so, "I can't believe you're doing this", she simply said with her arms folded. They were standing in the living room of their new apartment which they'd gotten a few weeks ago after Gotham had finally been reunified with the mainland.
"I have to", he said as he turned around to face her. Lee unfolded her arms in disbelief, "After everything I'd done to convince Barbara that you didn't want to take the baby from her, you go, and call a lawyer to do just the opposite", she said. She really had thought that he wanted to co-parent with his ex-fiancé. That he had no interest in going to court. But after reunification Jim had immediately gotten in touch with a lawyer so he could petition the court for full custody of his daughter. Barbara had been devastated after she'd found out, and so had Lee.
"I have to do whatever I can to protect my daughter", Jim told her. Lee shook her head, "Not like this", she said. Jim sighed, "You don't understand", he said. Lee scoffed as she threw her arms in the air, "You're right, I don't", she admitted in defeat. She couldn't understand how he could just go, and seek full custody out of what seemed like nowhere.
Jim narrowed his eyes at her, "It's not like I wasn't thinking about doing this", he said. "Were you though? Because you never gave me any impression that you were gonna go this route", she said. "I never said that I didn't want full custody", he insisted. "But you never did either. Jim I told Barbara, right before she gave birth mind you, that you weren't going to take the baby", Lee said. She couldn't help the sound of betrayal that was in her voice.
"You shouldn't have told her that", he said as he pointed his finger at her. "But I did Jim. Maybe if you'd been more clear on what you wanted I wouldn't have said anything", she said. Which was true. She'd have convinced Barbara not to leave Gotham, and despite how deceitful it would have been Lee wouldn't have told her of Jim's plan.
Jim sighed in remorse, "Okay, you're right. I should have been more clear with you, and with Barbara too. But I'm being clear on what I want now, and I want my daughter with me where she'll be safe from harm", he said.
"What about Barbara?" Lee asked. Jim looked at her, "She can have visitation, supervised visitation just so we're clear. When I said that I didn't want to take our baby from her I meant that I didn't want her out of our child's life completely. But I do want our daughter with me, and you full time", he explained.
Lee rubbed her temple with one of her hands, "I don't know about this Jim. This doesn't feel right", she said without looking at him. When she'd first gotten back together with Jim, while Barbara was still pregnant, she would've been happy to learn that this was the plan. But now she was anything but happy, she wasn't even pleased. She felt guilty, and she didn't know why. It's not like her, and Barbara were best friends, or anything. Maybe it was because Lee was just grateful that Barbara had named her daughter after her by giving the baby her name as a middle name. But maybe the real reason was because Lee had seen how happy Barbara was with her daughter, and deep down she knew that it wasn't right to take the infant away from her mother. Another reason too could've been because Lee wouldn't have wanted anybody to take her baby away from her, if it'd lived, which would've devastated her. So, maybe that was it, the reason why she was feeling so guilty was because she kept looking at this from a mother's standpoint, and thus she wasn't being very objective at the moment. But no matter the reason it didn't feel right to take Barbara Lee away from her mother.
Jim took both her hands in his. She looked at him as he did so. "Lee I know this isn't gonna be easy. But I'm doing this for my daughter, you have to understand that", he said. Lee sighed, "I want to Jim, I really do", she said while still sounding unsure of herself. "I know you do too. But I know something else too, I know that I don't want this to derail our plans to start a life together. I still want that with you, no matter what", he said. He really did want to continue with their plans to build a life together but only if she'd have him.
Lee stared at him in the eyes, "Yes I still want to start our life together", she said not knowing how he could question that. Yes she was still unsure about him going for full custody of Barbara Lee but she loved him, and she was gonna stand by him no matter what he decided to do regarding his daughter. Jim smiled when she said that, "Good", he said before he kissed her. Lee kissed him back afterwards the two hugged.
At the Sirens; Barbara was in her office, sitting behind her desk. She looked at the papers on her desk, that said Jim was petitioning for full custody of his daughter Barbara Lee Gordon. She clenched her fist in anger as she continued to look at the papers. At first she'd been in disbelief when she'd been served the documents. Pretty soon the disbelief turned into anger which had quickly formed into rage.
She couldn't believe this; Jim was suing for full custody. How could he do this to her? Well she knew how he could because she'd suspected from the very beginning that he was gonna do this. She just thought that after everything they'd been through, what with rescuing their daughter from Nyssa al Ghul together, that he wouldn't try to take their daughter away from her. Plus, Lee had told her that he wasn't going to take away their baby. Now Barbara wondered if that'd just been a lie to get her to stay.
She started to breath heavily as she tried not to cry. She wasn't going to, she couldn't, she wasn't going to show weakness, and give him the satisfaction. She sucked in a breath of air, and slowly let it out which caused her to start breathing normally again.
She should've left when she had the chance. If she'd left, like she'd planned to then she, and Barbara Lee would've been long gone by now. They could've been living in a new city, and everything.
Barbara leaned back in her chair as she stared at the ceiling. She'd been thinking about what life on the run would've been like when she heard somebody walk in. She looked over at the doorway, and saw Selina.
"How're you doing?" Selina asked as she slowly walked over. Barbara sat up straight, "Still angry", she told her. Selina nodded in understanding. She'd seen Barbara's reaction the day she'd found out that Jim was petitioning for full custody. She remembered running into the office when she'd heard Barbara throwing stuff around in anger. At first Selina didn't know what'd been going on. One minute a guy, dressed in a fancy suit, had gone to see Barbara in her office, and as soon as he left that's when she'd heard a crash. Selina could only then watch in horror as Barbara destroyed her office in a fit of rage. When there had been nothing left to destroy Barbara had broken down in tears. That's when Selina had gone to comfort her, and that's when Barbara had tearfully explained what was going on to her.
Selina looked around the room, "Where's Barbara Lee at?" She asked. Barbara gestured her head to the other room that was in the building, "In the backroom asleep", she answered as she rested her chin on her fist. Ever since Jim had petitioned for full custody Barbara had wanted to keep her daughter close by. Somehow it made her feel better. Maybe it was because she knew where she was, and she wasn't with her father which was a bonus.
Selina stood in front of the desk, "Have you talked to a lawyer yet?" She asked. "Yeah", Barbara answered. Right after she'd gotten over the initial shock of Jim wanting full custody Barbara had acquired a lawyer. A pretty good one too. He charged a lot of money for his services but it's not like she couldn't afford it. So, there was no problem there.
"What did he say your chances are?" Selina asked. Barbara let out a sigh, "He was pretty honest with me. He told me my chances weren't good", she told her. Despite having a decent lawyer that would probably wipe the floor with Jim in a custody battle Barbara's past was a big problem.
"I'm sorry to hear that Barbara. But you're still gonna fight, right?" Selina asked. Barbara nodded her head in determination, "Definitely", she answered. There was no way Jim was taking her daughter, not if she had anything to say about it.
Selina went over to the couch that was across the room. She plopped down on it, with her feet rested on the armrest, and her chin rested on her hand. Barbara looked at her as she did so. Normally she'd tell her to get her feet off the armrest but she had more important things to worry about, like keeping Barbara Lee with her.
"You know what sucks?" Selina asked after a while. "What?" Barbara asked. "That Jim's gonna bring up your past in court, and make you out to be a bad mother. Yet you could probably provide a much better life for little Barbara than he ever could. I guess maybe you could try talking to him", Selina suggested.
"No", Barbara quickly said as she stood up. The last thing she was gonna do was beg Jim not to take their daughter. Selina looked at her, "Come on Barbara", she said. "Selina no, I'm not talking things out with him because the only thing he's gonna say is that Barbara Lee belongs with him, and I know he's gonna dismiss anything I have to say", Barbara explained.
Selina held up her hands in surrender, "Okay, it was only a suggestion", she calmly said. She did not want Barbara to turn her anger on her. Jim was the one who she was mad at, and that's who Barbara needed to stay mad at.
Barbara walked around to the front of her desk as she kept her eyes on the papers, "Damnit Jim", she said under her breath. Selina heard her, "Barbara this is gonna sound awful, and I don't want you to think that I'm ok with asking you this but I have to know. Have you thought about you, know?" She asked. Barbara looked at her, "Know what?" She asked in annoyance. Selina sat up on the couch, "Killing Jim?" She asked after a long pause. Barbara looked at her for what felt like a long time. The thought hadn't crossed her mind. Namely because she knew she'd be suspect number one, and no doubt Harvey wouldn't stop investigating until she was behind bars. But even if she could get away with it she still wouldn't do it. For some reason she couldn't. "No", Barbara said after a while.
Selina nodded, "So, you're gonna fight him out in court?" She asked. "I don't know", Barbara said with a sigh. Selina gave her a look, "Barbara you have to; I mean you're not willing to talk things out with him, and you don't wanna kill him so what else is there to do?" She asked. "I could run", Barbara said as she shifted her gaze at the thief.
Selina looked in her eyes, and saw how Barbara was probably determined to do just that. She'd known about her plan to run away before with Oswald, and Ed but Selina thought that Barbara had abandoned that plan when the submarine had been stolen. Which Selina had secretly been happy about. After Bruce had left she didn't think she could take one more person leaving her. But now it seemed like Barbara was back to her plans of leaving Gotham.
"You can't run Barbara, okay? There has to be another way", Selina said. Barbara could hear the hurt, and worry in Selina's voice. She knew that her leaving would devastate the young woman which Barbara didn't want because she knew that her, and Barbara Lee were the closest thing that Selina had to having a family. But she didn't know what else to do.
"I'm sorry Selina but I can't lose my daughter", Barbara said. Selina growled in anger, "You won't even try. You're just gonna give up, and run away", she said. Barbara narrowed her eyes at her, "I don't have any other options. But I don't have to go alone, Selina you can come with me, and Barbara Lee. The three of us can leave together", she suggested. That'd been a part of the original plan anyway. Before the submarine plan, Barbara, and Selina were planning on leaving Gotham together before Selina had decided to stay.
Selina stared at her in anger, "No, I don't want to leave Gotham, and I don't want to be on the run with a baby. Don't you know how hard that's gonna be in the first place? Besides Jim won't rest until we're found, and I don't want to see you go to jail Barbara because that's what he'll do if he catches us. So, you need to find another way. I know you can. You just have to think of one, please", she pleaded as her eyes softened.
Barbara looked off to the side as she thought about what Selina had said. There had to be another way because the truth was she didn't want to run. She didn't want to have to live in hiding for the rest of her life, and she didn't want that for Barbara Lee either. So, she had to stay, and she had to find a way to fight.
Barbara looked at her, "Selina can you give me a moment, please? I have to make a phone call", she said. Selina nodded, "Okay", she said before she walked out of the office. After Selina left Barbara got out her cell phone, and dialed a number. "Hello Penguin", she said.
The next afternoon Jim sat in his car. He was prepared to head home when his cell phone began to ring. "Hello", he said. "Hi Jim'', Barbara said in a cheery voice.
Jim growled under his breath when he heard her voice, "What'd you want Barbara?" He asked annoyed. "We need to talk", she told him. "My lawyer advised me not to talk to you until the hearing, and I'm already breaking that rule by talking to you now", he said. He thought back to what his lawyer had told him the week before about how he needs to have as limited contact, and communication with Barbara as possible. Meaning the only time the two should be in the same room, or even be speaking to each other is when it concerns their daughter. Other than that no contact, and no communication.
"Jim I really think you're gonna wanna hear what I have to say", she said in the same tone as before. Jim couldn't help but wonder why she sounded so happy. "What is it that you need to say?" He asked her. "Come down to the Sirens, and I'll tell you myself", she answered.
"I'm not coming down there", he argued. He'd had enough of her games for one day. Either she told him over the phone, or she didn't tell him at all.
"Okay don't come. I'd just hate to have to reveal this information at the hearing though", she warned. Jim raised his eyebrow in curiosity, what information was she talking about? He wondered about it for a few seconds before he gave up. "I'll be there in a few minutes", he told her. "Good boy", she complimented before she hung up. Jim looked at his phone then he headed off to the Sirens.
Meanwhile in Barbara's office, Penguin sat in a chair facing her desk. "Remind me again why I'm helping you?" Penguin asked. Barbara looked at him with contempt, "Maybe because you owe me favor since I spared your life even though you killed one of my best friends", she reminded him.
Penguin scoffed as he rolled his eyes, "She had it coming, and I did pay you back remember? I was gonna help you get out of town. Using my submarine", he said bitterly. He was still pissed that it'd been stolen.
"Yeah well we never follow through on that deal so this basically makes up for that", she explained. Penguin growled as he realized she made a good point, "Whatever, after this no more freebies", he said as he scooched a large envelope across her desk.
Barbara picked up the envelope, "Trust me after this I won't be going to you for anything else", she said as she stared at it. Penguin stood up, "Well it was pleasure doing business with you, and just so you know digging that up wasn't easy either. In fact I'd almost forgotten about it", he said. Barbara continued to stare at the envelope in her hands, "So had I", she said quietly.
"So tell me, do you really plan on using it?" He asked her. Barbara finally looked at him again, "That's none of your business. Now get out", she ordered. Penguin once again rolled his eyes as he left the office.
Jim arrived at the club ten minutes later. He headed towards Barbara's office where he knew she'd be, and saw her waiting for him. "I'm here, now what's so important that you couldn't tell me about it over the phone?" He asked. Barbara looked at him, "I want you to drop your petition for full custody", she told him.
Jim rolled his eyes in annoyance. He should've known that's what this was about. "Not gonna happen", he said simply.
"Jim I meant what I said over the phone, I really don't wanna have to reveal this information at the hearing but I will if you force me to", she said. "What information are you talking about?" Jim asked loudly. Barbara gave him a look, "I suggest you watch how you talk to me. Now does the name Odgen Baker mean anything to you?" She asked. Jim's eyes grew wide when he heard that name, "What does he have to do with anything?" He asked. Barbara smirked as she walked over to him, "I think you know Jim. But for your benefit I'm gonna tell you. You see the thing about doing deals with the mob is that they love to keep certain things, like evidence, around to keep you in line. Have something handy incase you try to turn on them later, and in this envelope there is evidence proving you killed Odgen for Penguin'', she said as she gestured to the envelope that was in her hands.
"You're lying", Jim accused. "Jim when have I ever lied to you? Okay scratch that but we both know I'm not lying now", she said. Jim looked at the envelope then at Barbara. She had to have been lying, right? There was no way there was any evidence, there couldn't be, surly he'd have known if there was, or maybe not. Penguin was sneaky, and it'd be just like him to have something to blackmail Jim with in the future if the need arose. Plus, it's not like Jim didn't certainly have a lot of ammo against him because he did. He just couldn't believe that Oswald would give any to Barbara but then again he hasn't been on good terms with Oswald in a long time.
"So, what's your plan?" He asked angrily. Barbara placed the envelope back on her desk but kept it far out his reach. "If you don't drop your petition for full custody then I'll have no choice but to turn this over to the DA's office, and if I do that then we both know what'll happen next. You'd be charged with murder, and would be thrown in Blackgate so fast you won't know what hit you. If that were to happen then I'd have full custody, and you'd be in prison where we both know that unlike last time you probably won't survive", she threatened.
"You'd really do that to me?" He asked. Barbara looked at him, "Only if you force me to but I'm willing to give you a choice, you can move forward with your plans to try to take Barbara Lee, or you can back off, and do something else", she said. Jim looked at her, "What?" He asked. "You can drop the petition, and you can sign over your parental rights", she offered.
Jim widened his eyes when she said that, "No way", he said angrily. He was surprised that he didn't shout the statement. "Jim I'm giving you the choice here. I could have turned this over the moment I got it but I didn't because I don't want to have to explain to my daughter that her father is in prison", Barbara said.
"Well I'm not giving up my daughter. Whether I go to prison, or not", he said. "There is no whether, or not. If this goes public you go to Blackgate, simple", Barbara practically shouted.
"I'd rather take my chances", Jim said as he turned to walk out of the room. "Would you?" Barbara asked. Jim stopped in his tracks when she asked him. The answer was simple, no, he wasn't. But he couldn't let her know that.
He turned back around to face her. "I'm not walking out on my daughter. I deserve to be her father", he told her. "I deserve to be her mother", Barbara countered. Jim growled, "You've killed people", he told her. "So, have you, and Odgen Baker wasn't the only one. So unless you want to continue being a free man I suggest you sign over your rights as Barbara Lee's father", she said.
Jim growled again as he pulled at his hair. He wanted to throw something but he didn't want that to be ammo used against him too. "I can't do it", he managed to calmly say as he looked at her.
"But you don't wanna go to prison either", she told him. "No", he agreed. "Okay, I knew this wasn't gonna be so easy so I'm willing to compromise a little further. You see I don't want you in her life, and I never did. But when I thought you were willing to co-parent with me I changed my mind. Now I'm back to not wanting you involved", she said.
"You've made that clear", he said in annoyance. "Well I mean it but I'm going to offer you something that I think will benefit us both", she said. Jim curiously looked at her, "What?" He asked. "Marriage", Barbara said simply.
Jim stared at her in disbelief, she couldn't be serious? There was no way he was gonna marry her. "Hell no", he said. "You might want to think about this because this is as far as I'll go to ensure that I get to keep my daughter", she said.
"You can forget about marriage then because there's no way I'm marrying you. I'm already with the woman that I want to be with, and we're already married", he reminded her. "No you're not. At least not legally", Barbara said.
Jim stared at her again when he realized that she was right. Him, and Lee weren't legally married. The ceremony they'd had while Gotham was cut off from the mainland had been just that, a ceremony. There was nothing legal about it. Yes, they'd been planning to make it official after reunification but they hadn't gotten the chance to do it. Too much stuff has been going on, him petitioning for full custody was the big one.
"You really expect me to marry you?" He asked her in a low voice. Barbara shook her head, "No but I know you don't want to sign over your parental rights either. Even though I'd love it if you did. But since you won't I figure this was something we could both work with", she told him.
Jim scoffed at her statement, "How?" He asked. "We get married, we live in the same place, mine that is, sorry but I don't plan on living in whatever tiny apartment you have, and we raise little Barb together", she explained. Jim looked at her, "What if one of us can't stand living with the other?" He asked. "Speak for yourself Jim, unlike you I won't much care if we're married. But to answer your question you can divorce me if you want but only if you sign over your parental rights before doing so", she answered.
"So, to be clear if I don't marry you you'll turn over the evidence that'll get me sent to prison?" He asked. "You don't have to marry me, you signing over your parental rights will be enough. But not doing either of those will result in me going to the DA's office", she told him.
Jim thought about what she said. He couldn't go back to prison but he couldn't lose his daughter either. Even though she was only a few weeks old she already meant more to Jim than anything else did.
"Okay", he whispered. "What?" Barbara asked. "Okay, I'll marry you", he said.
"Wow I should've known that was gonna be your choice but I was still thinking you'd give up Barbara Lee", she said. "I can't lose her", he said as he looked at the floor. Barbara smirked, "Well now that that's been settled get down on one knee", she told him. "Excuse me?" Jim asked as he stared at her. "I said get down on one knee. Since we're getting married I find it fitting that you propose to me. You know? Like a gentleman", she taunted.
Jim did as she wanted, he got down on one knee, and grabbed her hands in his. "Will you marry me?" He asked bitterly with each word making him wanna throw up. Barbara grinned, "I don't know", she said as she pretended to think about it.
"Barbara", Jim practically growled. Barbara smirked, "Yes Jim, I'll marry you", she said. Jim stood up then Barbara went behind her desk, and grabbed her phone. "I need some air", he said to himself as he walked towards the door.
"Jim", Barbara called out after him. Jim looked at her, "What?" He asked angrily. "I need you to break things off with Lee. You can't be married to me, and still see her. So, while I'm making some calls to get everything, I'm gonna need you to tell her it's over then come right back here once you're done", Barbara said. "Okay", Jim said bitterly before he walked out of the room.
Lee was at her, and Jim's apartment when he walked in. She saw that he had a sad look in his eyes, and wondered what was wrong. "Jim?" She asked with worry. "Lee we need to talk", he said sadly.
Lee looked at him, "Is something wrong? Did something happen to Barbara Lee?" She asked him. At the mention of his daughter Jim got tears in his eyes. What he was about to do was for Barbara Lee, he had to remember that. "It's over", he said.
Lee looked at him with confusion, "What's over?" She asked. "It's over, we're finished, done", he clarified. "Jim I don't understand", she said.
"There's nothing to understand because it's over between us", he told her in anger. He hadn't wanted to sound angry but that's how his voice came out. Lee tried to keep herself from crying as she looked at him, "Why?" She asked as her voice broke. Jim could feel his heart shatter as he heard the sadness in her voice. "Why? Well because I'm marrying Barbara that's why", he told her without going into detail.
Lee could only stare at him as she tried to process what he'd just told her. "What about us? What about our marriage? What about our life together?" She asked him. Jim stared back at her, "There's not gonna be one, goodbye", he said coldly before he walked out of the apartment. Lee could only watch, with tears in her eyes, as he did so.
It was nighttime when Jim arrived back at the Sirens club. He went to Barbara's office where he found her with two other guys. One was dressed in a robe while the other was dressed in a suit.
"It's about time you showed up. The judge here was getting worried that you wouldn't. But I assured him you'd be here. I said that you were so eager for us to get married that you didn't want to wait for us to have a proper ceremony ", Barbara said with a smile as she gestured her head towards the man in the robe. The judge smiled at him but Jim didn't smile back.
He should've known Barbara wanted to get married that same night. How she managed to pull it off remained to be unseen. "Who's he?" Jim asked as he gestured his head at the other man. "That's our witness, we can't get married if we don't have one", Barbara answered. 'Great', Jim thought bitterly as he looked at the man. Now everything was set for what would be the worst night of his life. He went to stand next to Barbara.
"Are you two ready to begin?" The judge asked. Jim nodded his head yes at Barbara who turned to look at the judge. "Yes", she said to him.
The judge looked at them as they faced each other, "Okay, please join hands then", he said. Jim, and Barbara did as they were told. "Ready Jim?" Barbara asked with a smirk. Jim didn't answer. He just tried not to look at her in disgust. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man-", the judge was interrupted. "Can we skip that part?" Jim asked as he looked at him. The judge looked back at him in confusion. "I told you he was eager", Barbara said with a smile as she looked at the judge.
The judge stared at them both for a bit before skipping to the next part, "Do you James Gordon take Barbara Kean, to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have, and to hold? From this day forward? For better, or for worse? In sickness, and in health? For richer, or for poorer? Until death do you part?" He asked him. "I do", Jim said as he looked at Barbara. "Do you Barbara Kean take James Gordon, to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have, and to hold? From this day forward? For better, or worse? In sickness, and in health? For richer, or for poorer? Until death do you part?" The judge asked her. "I do", Barbara said as she looked at Jim.
"By the power vested in me, by the state of New Jersey, I now pronounce you man, and wife. You may now kiss the bride", the judge proclaimed. "You heard him Jim", Barbara said with a smirk as she continued to look at him. Jim didn't say anything instead he leaned forward, and kissed her. He couldn't believe what he was doing.
A/N- There's chapter one. Wasn't that a sneaky thing of Barbara to do? Force Jim into marrying her, and forcing him into breaking up with Lee, or else she'd send him to prison. By the way I heard Gotham City was in New Jersey but if I'm wrong you can correct me. Now in case anybody is wondering, Odgen Baker was the guy that Jim had killed back in season 2. I would've used the Pyg situation, and I originally was going to but I wasn't sure if anybody but Harvey knew about Jim's involvement in that. Another thing is this takes place about three weeks after the events of season 5 episode 11, I figured I'd make that clear too. Anyways you can tell me what you think in the reviews, and thank you for reading.
