Harley sat in a chair in Leland's office, Baby resting on her thighs. He giggles as his mother blows raspberries on her tummy, Harley can't help but giggle with him. She doesn't even notice Joan walk into the room. The dark haired woman moves behind her deals and takes a seat. Harley looks up and covers Baby's body with the blanket.
"Harleen, we need to talk about…" Leland looks down at the baby on the blonde's lap. Harley places her hands on the back of his neck and lower back as she lifts him to her shoulder.
"He's mine." Is all she says.
"Harleen, he cannot stay here. Putting him into the foster care system would at least give him a chance at a normal life."
"We both know that's not true, the foster care system is a joke in Gotham; more kids go in than come out."
"Well what do you propose we do?" The psychiatrist asks, immediately regretting it. "Harleen you cannot keep him."
"Why not? Because you're not supposed to allow us to indulge in our obsession?" Harley questions. "He doesn't play into my obsession."
"He is the Joker's son, that is playing into your obsession. Your son plays into your fantasy of your life with the Joker." As she says this, an idea comes to Joan. The baby does play into Harley's fantasy, but she also knows the Joker won't react well to the news of his son; if something was to happen…Harley may rehabilitate for her son's sake.
"Alright Harleen, I will allow you to keep your son. But I want to see you in my office everyday at 2pm for therapy."
"Really?" Harley pops up, shocked and excited at the doctor's response.
"Yes, this goes very much against protocol, but I will allow it." Leland can't help but smile at the blonde's delighted expression. "So any name ideas yet? I imagine we can't continue to call him Baby."
"I was thinking Joker jr." Harley looks up at the other woman with a smile. The dark haired woman can't help but cringe inwardly at the name and feels sorry for the child.
"Perhaps you should think of it for a bit longer." She says, standing from her desk. "I'll see you tomorrow at two." Leland leaves the office and shortly after Harley and Baby are escorted back to her cell.
Harley was overjoyed at the news, Joker was going to meet his son after all and she would get to watch her son grow up.
So everyday at 2 Harley went and saw Dr Leland for an hour, baby in tow. Even though she didn't like it, Leland had never seen Harley as happy as she was with her baby. All of the doctors at the asylum thought Leland was crazy as the inmates, but they couldn't deny Harley's change in attitude; she was much more docile and willing.
Harley was escorted down to the rec room, baby as per usual in tow. She walked into the familiar grey room, everyone turned their attention to her. Harley walks and lands herself next to Ivy, who was watching some nature documentary.
"How is he?" Ivy asks, just to be polite to her friend.
"He's an angel, just like his daddy." Harley beams, placing baby on her lap as he fusses. "What's the matter handsome?" she coos her baby, making Ivy roll her eyes. Jervis then approaches the two women with Crane.
"How are you doing my dear?" Crane asks the blonde.
"I'm wonderful Johnny, thank you."
"So how did the clown react to the news?" Jervis asks.
"Well he doesn't know, but I know Mistah J will be pleased." Ivy looked at her friend in concern, she knew Joker wouldn't be pleased with the new development in Harley's life; he would try to kill her and Ivy would be there when it happened.
It wasn't long before Jervis and Crane were holding Baby, soon enough baby was being passed around the rec room; even Harvey ended up holding him. Harley couldn't help but giggle at the image of the huge man holding the tiny baby.
"He looks so tiny in your arms." Harley says, even Ivy couldn't help but giggle at the sight. Harvey growls at Ivy's reaction and hands the baby back to Harley.
"So what about J?" Harvey asks.
"What about him?" Ivy interjects.
"Does he know about the kid?"
"No, he doesn't, at least not yet! But I know he's gonna be overjoyed." Harley says, covering baby's face in kisses. "Oh hello, yes hello." She coos to baby. Ivy watches the new mother interact with baby, she could swear she had never seen Harley this happy; whether the blonde knew it or not.
"Well I guess he'll find out soon." Edward Nygma pipes up from a corner table. Harley's attention snaps up as she hears the Riddler's comment.
"What do you mean by that?" Ivy asks for Harley.
"They brought the Joker in this morning."
"Really?" Harley shouts, upsetting baby. Harley holds the infant to her chest, to calm him.
"Quinn." One of the guards class into the rec room. "It's time for your therapy." Harley stands with baby, who was still startled by his mother's outburst. She walks silently down the hall, two guards escorting her to Lelands office. They were on strict orders not to touch or harm the jester.
"Thanks boys." She says as she steps into Leland's office. She immediately sits on the therapy couch; as she tries to rock Baby to sleep.
"Afternoon Harleen." The dark haired woman greets as she enters the room.
"Afternoon Doc." Harley says back, her eyes closely following Leland around the room.
"So I've been told you and baby have been going into the rec room, How has that been going?"
"Good, so far. As much much as she won't admit to it, I think Red is recalling beginning to warm up to him."
"And I assume you are happy about that?"
"Of course! She's my best friend; however the only person's who opinion matters is Mistah J's." Harley says. The blonde notices her psychiatrist tense up at the mention of the Joker.
"So I'm assuming you have heard."
"About Mistah J? Of course, I wasn't born yesterday. I know when my Puddin' is outta Arkham." Harley pauses. "Where is he?"
"He's in solitary, he killed three guards upon his arrival." Leland reluctantly tells Harley, who just laughs at the news.
"That's my Puddin', alway puttin' on a show." Leland can't help but grimace at Harley's laugh, knowing that the docile Harley they've dealt with over the past few weeks was going to disappear with the arrival of the Joker.
"Harleen we've been making much progress these past weeks. I'd like to continue to see you everyday while you're here." Leland says, still hoping to rehabilitate the blonde.
"Yeah, sure. When do I get to see Mistah J?"
"I don't know if it's such a good idea for you see him."
"What do you mean by that?" Harley asks, in that moment Leland notices Harley's demeanour change. Leland carefully thinks over her next words. She knew that no matter how fond Harley was of her; the blonde wouldn't hesitate to kill her from keeping the harlequin away from Joker.
"I think it would be wise to allow Joker to finish his time in solitary and get him into regular accommodations before introducing him to baby."
Harley eyes the psychiatrist, she knows that's not the real reason; they couldn't give a shit if Joker had a comfortable transition. However, the blonde lets the matter slide; reluctantly agreeing to Leland's "worries"
"I'd like to go back to my cell now." Harley says, holding baby over her shoulder.
"We have 30 minutes left Harleen."
"I'd like to return to my cell right now." The blonde says, this time with teeth clenched.
"Alright, I'll call the guards and get them to take you back to your cell." Leland quietly adds before leaving the room.
Harley is returned shortly to her cell, as she walks in she places baby into a bassinet; which was donated by Bruce Wayne. She had no idea of how one of Arkham's biggest sponsors knew of her child, but recently he continued to donate baby items to the asylum for Harley's use, not that she was complaining.
She had loved sleeping with baby in her arms but she was afraid she would suffocate him while she slept. When she was in medical school she often heard of mother's smothering their babies accidentally when falling asleep with babies in arms, and the idea terrified Harley.
She kneels in front at the bassinet and looks on her baby fondly.
"Hello little J." She coos, using her secret nickname for him; seeing as how everyone was opposed to the idea of naming him after his Daddy. "I can't wait till your daddy sees you. He'll love you almost as much as I do." She smiles at the thought of her boys together and their happy life together. As her son falls asleep Harley tears herself away and goes to her cot.
Harley lies awake, she knows Joker is in the asylum somewhere and it was killing her that she couldn't see him.
"There's gotta be a way somehow." She says to herself. She looks around the dark cell, hoping for a means to sneak up to solitary to see her Mistah J. That was when she noticed the air vents and right then the harlequin had to plan.