Guys, I'm super super super sorry I haven't posted in a long time. Things have been kinda crazy with school starting back and I just got into a new show, so I've been a little preoccupied, but I apparently had already written this chapter and just didn't post it for whatever reason. Anyway, here it is! 💛💛

On the way back to the station, Jim tries to ask me about Selina--what I know about her, where she likes to go, etc.--but to no avail. I honestly don't know that much about her. I doubt anyone does. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket as Jim pulls his out to call...someone. I pull my phone out of my pocket to see a message from Jerome. Can't wait for tonight ;) I grin. Me and Jerome had come up with a plan to meet up tonight so I could show him around Gotham since he's never really been into the city.

"Yeah," Jim says into his phone, "well, I'm not happy about it either." He closes the phone angrily as we run up the stairs.

"On edge, Gordon?" we hear. We look back to see a tall black man and a tan woman running up behind us. I look at them suspiciously.

"I'm fine," Jim says. "How can I help you?" They smirk.

"We were just, uh, wondering," the man says, "when you shot Cobblepot in the head and dumped his body in the river, did Falcone pay you?" Jim freezes and glances down at me before looking back at them. "Or was that more of a "favor to the don" type thing?" My interest has peaked, and I try hard not to widen my eyes as I look at Jim.

"Whatever you heard, it's not true." The girl smirks.

"Oh, so you mean you didn't kill Cobblepot? Or you didn't do it for Falcone?" The man nods. What are they talking about? What about Oswald?

"We thought we'd give you a chance to tell us the truth," the man says. "Cop to cop." Jim shakes his head.

"You're not listening," he says. "I didn't kill him."

"Okay," the woman says. "So where were you on the night of September the 17th?" Jim glances to me again, visibly agitated.

"Are you really asking me this?" he asks them. "Since when did Major Crimes become I.A.?"

"When cops started doing hits for the mob." Jim sighs.

"Yeah? Well, come back to me when you have actual proof. Until then, don't waste my time, and don't say anything at all in front of my kid." He wraps an arm around my shoulders and steers me away from the two.

"Hey, Gordon, piece of advice: Take a shower. 'Cause you stink like a sewer." As Jim pulls me inside the station, I stop and he looks back at me.

"Cassie-"

"What were they talking about?" He sighs.

"They...they think I did something I didn't do."

"What?"

"One of the people working for Fish Mooney disappeared, and they for some reason think I killed him." I frown.

"And you didn't?" He shakes his head.

"Do you actually think I would?" I look him in the eye and am surprised. He looks almost desperate, and I shake my head.

"No," I say. "No, I don't." He lets out a relieved sigh and nods.

"Hey, you wanna head home?" he asks. "I think I might be here a while." I nod, and he kisses the top of my head before walking off. I sigh and head out, taking the long way back to the apartment. Barbara's still at work too, so I start looking through my closet for tonight.

By the time I get everything figured out, it's...only two o'clock. I'm not meeting Jerome until seven. *sigh* Why does time hate me? I trudge out to the living room and flop onto the couch, turning the tv on. After a few minutes, I hear the door open.

"Wow," I hear. "Rough day?" I look over the back of the couch at her.

"Not really," I say. "Just bored." She chuckles. "Do you ever feel like time just isn't on your side?" She furrows her brow. "Like, it's either going way too fast or way too slow." She nods.

"All the time," she says. "Which one is it now?" I sigh dramatically.

"Way. Too. Slow." She smiles.

"Come on," she says, sitting by my feet and shaking my leg. "Tell me." I sigh and sit up, giving her 'the look.' "What?" I shake my head. "Cassie." Oh, sh-. She used her mom voice.

"Can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"You'll tell Jim." She smirks.

"Does that mean what I think it means?"

"Depends on what you think it means." She grins and grabs my shoulder.

"So it does!" I roll my eyes. "Who is he, and what does he have to do with why you feel like time is going too slow?" I lean my head back on the couch and close my eyes. "Come on, Cassie. I promise I won't tell Jim." I look at her out of the corner of my eye and sigh.

"Fine." She grins. "But you can't mention this whatsoever if Jim is around." She nods. "His name is Jerome." If possible, her smile grows.

"Tell me everything," she says, sounding like a teenage girl. "How did you meet him? When did you meet him?" I chuckle.

"I met him a couple weeks ago," I tell her. "We literally ran into each other on the street, and he took me to the circus to make it up to me. How cliché is that?"

"The circus?" I nod.

"His mom's a performer, and I told him I'd never been, so he took me and told me if I didn't enjoy it, he'd pay me back." She smiles. "After that we kind of just...kept talking." She squeals. I thought I was supposed to be the teenager here.

"Why are you excited about tonight?" she asks. She grins. "You two goin' out?" I blush and nod.

"I'm gonna show him around Gotham," I tell her. "His mom's really strict, so he's never really been able to see the city." She nods.

"What time are you meeting?"

"Seven. You're not gonna tell Jim, are you?" She shakes her head.

"Hell no. If I let Jim get involved in your love life, you're not gonna have one. He must never find out." I giggle. "Now, do you know what you're gonna do with your hair?" I shake my head.

"I picked out my outfit, but I didn't figure out my hair or makeup." She grins. "Barbara, no."

"Barbara, yes."

~~~

^^Outfit^^

I have to say, she surprised me. I actually really like my hair and my makeup.

"Come on, Cassie!" Barbara yells from outside my closet. "I wanna see!" I take a deep breath and walk out. She's silent.

"Well?" I ask. She grins.

"You look amazing!" My cheeks heat up, and I look at the floor. "Stop it. You're beautiful, and you know it!" I cover my face with my hands and shake my head. She laughs. "Come on. Don't you feel beautiful right now?" I smile up at her.

"I do around Jerome." She smiles.

"Aw! That's so cute!" I throw a pillow at her. Before long, it's almost seven, and we're sitting in the living room watching Doctor Who (one of John Pertwee's episodes) when we hear a knock at the door. Barbara smirks and looks at me, but I simply roll my eyes and walk over to the door. There stands Jerome, wearing jeans, sneakers, and a white button up with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. Talk about hotness. He smiles.

"Wow," he says. "Cassie, you...wow." My cheeks heat up, and I smile.

"Do you wanna come in?" I ask. He takes in a deep breath and nods. I hold out my hand, and he takes it as I lead him through the door. Barbara is no longer sitting on the couch. Instead, she's standing in the doorway to the kitchen with her arms crossed.

"So," she says, "you're Jerome?" He gulps, and I suppress a giggle, knowing she's messing with him.

"Jerome, this is Barbara," I say. "She's Jim's fiancé. Barbara, this is Jerome, my boyfriend." She smirks, but it quickly turns into a grin.

"It's so nice to meet you, Jerome!" He lets out a sigh of relief, I'm guessing. "I hadn't even heard of you until today, but knowing Jim, it's obvious why Cassie didn't say anything." He smiles.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am," Jerome says.

"Please, call me Barbara," she says. "Cassie does." I roll my eyes.

"I'm adjusting!" I exclaim. Barbara laughs.

"I know, honey. I'm just messing with you." I facepalm as Jerome stifles a laugh.

"I hate you both."

I do not own Gotham or its characters. I do however own Cassidy Alexandra, Ice, Gracelyn Ventura, and their plot, so don't steal. It's not nice.