It's been a long time since i've published anything on this website but I've had some ideas in my mind I can't seem to get rid of so i started this fic. It's going to be a slow burn of sorts, with Harley x Ivy as its main pairing. Any questions or comments are welcomed. Also I do not have a beta and I am very capable of making mistakes so i apologize if there are any below. Thanks and Enjoy -M

Chapter 1: The Meeting

It was hot. No, it was much worse than that. The air felt sticky with humidity. Pamela had not arrived at the country club more than five minutes ago, and she could already feel her hair sticking to the back of her neck causing her to tie it up off of her damp neck. Tomorrow was the first day that the pool would be open, and it would start the summer season. Oswald, Pamela's boss, sent out a mass email requesting all staff to come in today to become familiar with the job they would be assigned to and meet the coworkers they would be working with for the season.

Pam didn't mind working all summer, it kept her out of the house for most of the day, it paid well, and most importantly, it kept her parents off her back. Working at the country club her parents and many several elite citizens of Gotham belonged to, helped restore some of their family's reputation. The reputation that wouldn't need repairing if not for Pamela herself, well at least according to her parents. It was bad enough that she was pursuing a career in botany but that she "chose" to live such an inappropriate lifestyle, well that just simply pushed her over the edge to problem child, and that was unacceptable for the Isleys.

But this summer was going to be different. This summer she was going to let herself live a little, her parents are damned. She just finished her final year of schooling and successfully landed an excellent researching job at the University when school started in the fall, so she deserved a little reward didn't she? Or that was at least what Pam was telling herself. Pamela was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of the other employees arriving. She lifted her hand up to block the sun, seeing as she forgot her sunglasses, her green eyes squinting to see.

Stepping out of a sleek black sports car steps Pamela's closest friend, Selina Kyle.

"Nice of you to show up, kitty!" Pam called as she pushed off the wall she had been leaning on.

Selina smirked and raised her sunglasses. "I told Oswald not to leave me in charge of the keys; he really should have known better." The woman half joked as she tossed the keys in question to her red headed friend.

"I guess I should thank you for being only ten minutes late," Pamela said voice lightly laced with sarcasm.

Selina hummed in agreement before turning her attention to the other cars now pulling into the parking lot.

"Bout time you got here," Selina called over as her boyfriend and his friend walked over to where she was standing.

"So the rumors are true. The great Bruce Wayne is working at our humble country club." Pam teased.

"I don't think this place quite qualifies as humble, Pam," Dick said with a smile.

Selina laughed as Pamela shrugged, "I guess you're right about that Dicky, now can we please get this day started already? It's twenty minutes into my first day, and I already regret telling Oswald it does one last summer." Pamela murmured to herself as she opened the front doors for everyone and began opening the various other rooms.

"Oh come now Pam, it's no big deal. Plus it's our last summer together, all of us. " Selina said as she set her stuff behind the counter at the information station just inside the front entrance of the building.

"Didn't take you for the sentimental type Kitty" Dick teased her with a wicked grin, only to be light shoved by the much bigger Bruce.

"Shouldn't you be cleaning the pool skimmers dick? You are pool boy again this summer, aren't you? Or have you somehow learned to do anything else helpful?" Pamela questioned the youngest member of the group with her hands on her hips.

Not having a good comeback, since he was in fact still in the same position he had been for the three years prior, Dick just narrowed his eyes at the woman and flipped off the group as he walked out the side door that led to the swimming pool area.

"Speaking of, what does Oswald have you doing this year Pammy?" Selina smiled knowing she isn't supposed to use that nickname.

Pamela sighed in frustration as she adjusted her ponytail she had put her red hair in earlier into a tight bun. "Oswald has bought a new snow cone making the machine and asked me to operate it." The woman said in a tone just above a whisper.

"Hey, that's actually kind of cool Pamela. Better than monitoring the lifeguards, second year in a row I drew the short stick on that one." Bruce offered with a smile.

Selina hopped off the counter she was sitting on, the same one that was her workstation, she was the main greeter of the country club. She worked at the booth stationed near the front entrance, and mainly directed the visitors to where everything was.

"So you won't be in charge of the garden this year?" Selina asked concerned, knowing just how much joy that little garden gave her friend.

"No, that garden is my baby, Oswald knows that I just have to work this new stand of his in what he calls the "peak hours of visitation." He claims snow cones and other ice products will surpass ice cream in summer treat popularity. His words, he talked to me about the importance of ice products for an hour the other day on the phone. Still better than any phone conversation I've ever had with my mother, though." Pamela laughed as she walked over to where her two friends were standing.

Just as Selina opened her mouth, most likely to say something quick about how she despises Mrs. Isly, their boss, and owner of the country club, Oswald Cobblept waddles through the door.

"It's going to be a profitable summer; I can feel it." He said with a cigar between his teeth. "You three go out to the pool, we have two new lifeguards you all need to meet, and I'll talk with you all about this upcoming season." He squawked as he walked past them and into his office.

"New guards? I talked to Arthur yesterday, and he didn't mention anything." Bruce said his brow lowered in confusion.

"Well, lets go me the fresh meat then shall we?" Selina said with a mischievous smile as she led the trio out into the courtyard and down the pathway that led to the pool.

Pamela had checked out as soon as Oswald mentioned new staff members. She tried to push down the feeling of hope in that she may make a new friend. She tried to give off the vibe that she didn't need friendship or any human contact but she still deep inside felt like something was missing, something maybe another person could remedy.

She heard her friends talking, but they sounded like they were behind glass with the redhead in such deep thought. Her hand pressed against the black rod iron gate entrance to the pool and looked over to where the sound was coming from. She saw Bruce laughing at something Arthur said and noticed Selina talking animatedly to a blonde that Pamela didn't recognize. The closer she got to the group the more she saw of this mystery blonde woman. She was doing some sort of impression, no doubt of Oswald, causing everyone around her to laugh loudly. The blonde must have seen Pamela out of the corner of her eye for she looked right at her. Pamela looked away worried that the blonde had felt her staring, but she reached the group she dared herself to look back and noticed the blonde still keeping her gaze, this time, a gentle smile gracing her face.

"Pam, this is Arthurs cousin, Wilson and this is Harley, they are our newest lifeguards," Selina said motioning to the two people standing in front of her.

Wilson had merely waved and carried on with whatever conversation he had gone with Bruce and Arthur. Harley, however, smiled wider at the red head and extended her hand in a greeting.

"Harley Quinn, nice to meet you."

Pamela's hand stuck out and grasped hers by sheer ritual; her parents had instilled manners in her at a young age. It wasn't until Harley let go of her hand that Pam realized she had held it. Selina was looking at her friend with curiosity and nudged her friend to get her out of whatever haze she was in.

"Oh uh, Pamela, nice to meet you too. What caused you to decide to spend your summer slaving away here?" Pamela tried to save herself from her unexpected delay.

Harley laughed lightly, "Parents just moved to this side of town, and I needed the cash so I figured it couldn't be that bad." Harley finished with a shrug.

"Oh it is, it is that bad," Arthur called over with a laugh.

"Don't listen to him, just don't let anyone drown, and you'll be fine," Bruce said with a reassuring smile directed at the newcomer.

"Plus if you get bored, Pam here is working the new snow cone stand, just right over there." Selina pointed out still enjoying this interaction she was observing between her friend and Harley.

"Oh god, I forgot, yes Harley please do stop by now and then to keep me sane. I don't know what worse, kids of sticky food, and it looks like I'll be handling both of those this summer."

Harley laughed and focused on the redhead in front of her, letting her eyes drift across the woman's body in what she was hoping wasn't too noticeable.

"Oh I'm sure we can find something to talk about, plus I love sweet things," Harley said with a wink causing heat to rise Pamela's neck and settling in her cheeks.

Before Pamela could even think of a response or Selina a dig at Pamela's obvious blush, Oswald burst through the gate with a loud laugh. "Alright kids, let's talk money."