Leave Me Here to Swing
Chapter 1: Leslie
"It's not every day that a baby is born in Arkham."
"What are they going to do with her?"
"I dunno, put her up for adoption probably."
"No one will want to adopt her."
"They won't put her up, Harley's parents live in Jump City. They'll probably send her there."
"Does he know?"
Jonathan Crane, Pamela Isley, and Harvey Dent looked over at the table where the Clown Prince sat, playing cards with the Penguin and the Riddler.
"I don't know why they'd tell him." Pamela said looking back to Harvey, who turned his gaze towards her.
"He does have a right to know." Jonathan said turning back around.
"Yeah, but he won't care." Harvey said, rolling his coin against his fingers.
"What makes you say that?"
"He doesn't care about his other brat, what makes you think he'll care about this one?"
"This one's a daughter." Pamela said, glancing over her shoulder.
"So?" Harvey asked, glaring a little.
"She's already smiling." Pamela said as the Joker looked up and narrowed his eyes slightly at them, making them all turn away to avoid his gaze.
----
Dark brown eyes opened slowly and squinted in the light, the warm pink blanket shifted slightly as she squirmed inside her plastic crib. Her lips opened and closed like a fish for a few moments before letting out a small squeak. Her tiny hands reached out from under the blanket and reached into the air.
"I wonder what she's thinking." Harley said her voice slightly tired as her eyes drooped a little.
"Probably wondering where the hell she is, and why the hell it's so cold."
"Do you think they'd let me hold her?"
"She's your daughter, Harls. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't tell you no."
"Hm." Harley said with a little sigh as she stared at her daughter, "Have they told Mr. J yet?"
"I don't think so." Pamela said, turning a page in the magazine she was reading.
"They'll tell him though right? I mean, they have to. He has to name her."
"If they don't tell him, I will. Okay? Calm down and go to sleep."
Harley's eyes, against her will, started to close, "She'll still be here when I wake up, right?"
Pamela looked up and let her face fall a bit, "Yeah, Harl." She said a bit sadly, "She'll be here."
Harley smiled and fell into slumber.
----
"She doesn't have a name yet, Ma'am." The doctor said as he lifted the small bundle from the crib and handed the baby to her grandmother.
"Did Harleen say what she wanted to name her?"
"No, I'm afraid not."
Charlene Quinzel sighed as she rocked the little girl, looking down into the girls brown eyes. The child looked nothing like her mother, but regardless the grandmother smile, "Harleen's sister was named Leslie. She died when she was four; I think Harleen would appreciate having her daughter named after her little sister."
"I'll put it down."
"Has she… Has she met her father?"
The doctor glanced up, "No, we didn't think-"
"I think it would only be fair."
"Are you sure?"
Charlene nodded, looking down at her granddaughter, "I'm sure… Can I see her brother?"
"He's in solitary at the moment; he isn't allowed to have visitors."
"You'll tell him after he's out, right?"
The doctor nodded, "If that's what you wish, yes we will."
She smiled, "Alright, Let's get this little girl to her father so we can go home." She said tickling the little girl lovingly.
----
"Jack."
The Joker looked up, with a glare from the house of cards he was building, "What?" he growled.
"There's someone you need to meet." The doctor said taking his hand out of his pocket and offering it to Charlene.
She stepped into the light, rocking the baby back and forth slightly. Leslie let out a small cry in the bright light that flooded into her eyes, she squirmed in her grandmothers arms getting comfortable before she fell silent again.
The Joker stood up and approached the glass, "Harley had the kid?"
Charlene nodded, "A girl." She said holding the little girl up so he could see her.
The brown eyes of the little girl watched her father, like his brown eyes watched her. The look on his face was much different than the one he had worn when he first saw his son. This one was indescribable, the infant let out a squeak that sounded like a giggle as what appeared to be a smile danced across her lips. Her hands stretched out for her father as she squeaked again.
He let out the breath he didn't know he was holding and looked at Charlene, he glared slightly not know what else to do, "Take care of her."
Charlene nodded, "I will, I promise." She said as she pulled the baby close to her chest again and turned to walk off.
Leslie opened her mouth and let out a wail that pierced the air like a knife.