Chapter 4 ~ Jack

Jack of Clubs: Lucky, charming

Gordon had secured a meeting for Eris and the Joker. He escorted Eris into the asylum. They stopped just outside the cell were the Joker was under heavy guard and chained to his bolted chair. Jackson was passed from Eris and to Gordon. The toddler had grown to like the commissioner. "If you ever feel uncomfortable, just say that you want out." Gordon said, giving Eris a smile.

She nodded and the door opened. The Joker looked up. A small woman entered, her pale green eyes piercing his own. His jaw hung slack as his Eris stood in the doorway. She smiled. "Hi Jack." She said, entering the room.

He didn't speak. Eris sat. A tense moment passed. "You're dead." The Joker whispered.

"I know." She said, her voice softening. "I have a lot to explain."

"We have time." Jack said, looking up to her eyes.

"The mob. I saw one of their crimes. The Witness Protection Program put me here. I wanted you to come with me but they wouldn't allow it." Eris explained.

Jack was silent. "I never stopped thinking about you." She said, drawing out their picture.

She stood and tried to hand it to him. He suddenly moved, snatching her left wrist. There was a tense moment but Jack quickly dug around under his shirt. The guards moved closer but Eris waved them off. He pulled out a carved wooden ring. He ripped the necklace off and fiddled with the chain. He slipped the ring onto her finger. "Marry me." He whispered.

"Yes." Eris said.

He let go of her wrist and she sat back down. "They want me to ask you about the Joker." She said, scooting her chair closer.

"I'm sure they do." Jack said, the Joker creeping out.

Eris smirked. "but I don't want to." She said, making Jack glance at the window. "I want to talk about you…"

"go ahead." Jack said, shifting in his chair.

Eris paused. Taking the smooth ring in her fingers, she asked, "Did you carve this?"

"Who else would?" Jack asked.

"Why?" she asked, trying to meet his eyes.

"Why?" Jack asked, a bit insulted. "I love you Eris. I want you to be my wife." He roared, standing up and making everyone in that room and behind the glass jump back, "Then you just had to go and die!" the Joker yelled, shaking in his chains.

"I never wanted them to fake my own death!" Eris yelled back, standing up as well. "And you're one to talk, Mr. I'm going to turn into some psychopath and bring chaos to Gotham."

"You don't even know what I've done!" He roared back.

"Like hell I don't!" Eris yelled. "I can't walk down the street without people talking about the Joker. It's ridiculous! Every time they would saw bad things about you, I wanted to punch them in the mouth!" Jack took a step back from her words. "I never stopped thinking about you Jack. Never ever."

Jack and Eris looked at each other. "If you don't deal with the Joker, we can never be together." She whispered, taking a step closer to him.

"I made the Joker for you." Jack said, taking her hands. "He just took over."

"I know Jack." Eris said, "But you have to stop him now."

With that, she paused before gently kissing his lips. Before he could respond, she moved to his cheek and kissed his scar. Jack stiffened but Eris moved back to his lips, planting another soft kiss there. She kissed his other scar, again, returning to his lips. Once she pulled back, Jack sighed. "Will you try?" Eris asked, bringing his hands to her lips. "Will you try for me?"

Jack sighed again, releasing one of her hands and reaching for her chin. "I'll try." He said with a smile.

Eris smiled as well. She reached behind her and drug her chair closer. Jack sat down and their knees touched. They continued on, talking about non-important things. Eventually, the time that Gordon had gotten for Eris was up. He entered. "Times up." He said, making her and Jack look over at him.

"I don't want you to go." He said, holding her hands tighter.

"I don't want to either." She said, returning his hand strength. "But I have to."

Jack sighed and slowly released her hands. Eris stood and headed towards the door. She stopped and turned back to face Jack. "I don't know when I'll be able to come back." She said, making Jack stand up. "Commissioner fought to get me here. I don't have a job anymore and the Witness Protection Program will most likely move me again."

"Why?" he asked.

"I might still be in danger from the mob, even if you took them all out, their others of their organization might come after me." Eris explained.

Jack hung his head. "I'll try Jack. I'll try as hard as I can to stay here and see you again. I'll do anything I can to get back to you." She said, making him look up.

Eris gave him a smile which he returned. "I love you Jack." She said.

"I love you to Eris." Jack replied as she left.

Jackson had squirmed out of Gordon's hand and rushed into Eris' legs. "Mama, it's scary here." He said as Eris scooped the boy up.

"Who's that?" he asked, pointing to Jack.

Eris looked at Gordon for a moment and the commissioner nodded. "That's your father Jackson." Eris said, walking back towards Jack.

"Papa!" Jackson cheered reaching for Jack.

"No no Jackson." Eris said. "Papa can't hold you right now."

The toddler nodded and sucked his arms back. "Jack, this is our son, Jackson." Eris said.

"Our son…" Jack whispered, looking over his son.

"Hi Papa." Jackson said, waving at Jack. "mama, what happened to his face?"

Eris stiffened. "Bad men hurt Papa." She said, looking over to Jack.

"Did it hurt?' Jackson asked.

"Yes." Jack replied. "But they don't hurt anymore. Mama kissed away the pain."

"Mama does that for me all the time." Jackson said with a large smile.

Gordon couched. "We have to go now." Eris said with a sad look to Jack.

"O.K. Mama." Jackson said. "Will Papa come with us?"

"No Jackson." Eris said. "Papa has to stay here. But we will try and come back."

"O.K. Mama." Jackson said and as Eris moved off, he said over her shoulder, "Bye bye Papa."

"Bye Jackson." Jack said.

Eris looked back and blew him a kiss and mouthed 'I love you.'