A/N: I was listening to "The Scientist" by Coldplay the other night, and it gave me the perfect inspiration for this chapter. It goes into the origin stories of Harley and Floyd. It'll carry over into the next chapter or two, just because it sort of just begins in this one. Zoe and other underlying situations, like the mission for J, will still be included. These events are a kind of trigger for Harley and Floyd, making them open up to one another to make things easier on themselves. I hope that makes a little bit of sense. I hope this is enjoyable. Let me know in the reviews.

Floyd had gotten up earlier than usual that morning. Harley was already awake, since she was the one that had been getting Zoe ready for school for the past couple of weeks. That's how it had been lately. Floyd was more of a night person now. Not getting much sleep because he was still paranoid about the threats to his family: Susan, The Joker, Task Force X, Waller, Flag, The Joker. So Harley, who slept like a rock so long as Floyd was near, would get up early, make Zoe breakfast, and take her to school. Floyd would get up an hour or so after Harley returned home. Then, when it was time for Zoe to come home from school, Floyd would go and get her. It was a pretty decent system, but Floyd was beginning to have some guilt over it. Harley had begged him to get some sleep. He had agreed to attempt, but he felt better watching her sleep. Knowing she was safe. Today, however, Floyd had gotten up early as well. Harley was in the kitchen, making scrambled eggs and bacon. Her back was to him, but she was already dressed and ready for the day. Her hair was pulled back into a thick fishtail braid that sat on top of her head and trailed down her back. She was wearing a blue and white pinstriped button down shirt, tucked into black skinny jeans pair with denim strappy heels. He took a moment to just observe. He hadn't really appreciated fashion and clothing much until they had moved back into a more normal setting. Susan never tried much when they were together. She often sported sweats and the nicer clothes she would wear were never flattering.

Her hips swayed with the beat of the song on the radio. Some Maroon 5 song, he thought. He didn't know the name. He wasn't all that into music, but watching her move to the beat while she cooked made him want to buy the album then and there. After a while of just watching her, admiring the woman he's come to love so much, he walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, planting sloppy kisses across the nape of her neck. He was greeted with her delighted giggles, before she turned her head at an awkward angle to give him a soft, good morning kiss. He stepped back when the oven beeped, indicating something was done. She bent down and pulled out a batch of chocolate chip muffins. He cocked his eyebrow and tilted his head.

"Damn, you feeding an army?" He joked, nudging her playfully as he leaned around her, grabbing a piece of bacon off the cooled pan.

She shrugged simply, "I just felt like baking is all. I like to do it, and I'm good at it."

He smiled, "You certainly are." He murmured as he tapped her butt lightly as he stepped aside, heading across the kitchen to their mint colored Keurig in the corner. He placed a black brew cup in for him, watching her as it hummed to life, filling his large mug.

She was swaying her hips to the music again as she exited the room. Drake, maybe.

She listened to a lot of new music because Zoe did. She used it as a tool to get to know the girl when they had first met. Zoe was skeptical, so she did a lot of things to break down her shell. She liked new songs, 5th Harmony, Drake, Rihanna. So Harley's phone had a lot of modern pop stations. She said it helped Zoe be more of a morning person.

She walked down the hall, swaying her hips because she knew Floyd was watching. She felt a playful smirk form on her lips as she looked over her shoulder at him, her smirk forming a flirtatious smile. Before he could say anything, she threw his smiling, tongue-tied expression a simple wink and headed into Zoe's bedroom to wake her up.

"Sugarplum!" She chirped as she skipped through Zoe's dimly lit bedroom. She skipped across the room and pulled back her curtains, letting natural light throw itself across her room. Zoe rolled over, pulling the covers over her head and groaning.

"No." She stated groggily.

"But Zoee!"

"No. It's too early."

Harley rolled her eyes and strode across the room and jumped onto Zoe's full sized bed, rolling over once she landed on the edge of her bed. "If you don't get up, I'll have to make you." Her smile was wicked.

Zoe's eyes peered at her through the covers, "No."

Harley shrugged, a toothy grin evolving from her smile. "Suit yourself." She stated simply before tickling the girl until she erupted into violent squeals and giggles. Thrashing across the bed and jumping to the floor, getting up and running out to the kitchen, laughing while she went. Harley sat up on the bed, kneeling over the covers as she fixed some pieces of hair that had fallen out during her attack on the girl. She tucked some strands behind her ears, smiling at the idea that these were her mornings now. This was really her life.

She padded down the hall and into the kitchen, leaning against the wall's frame, watching as Zoe and Floyd shared a muffin. Some spare crumbs escaped Zoe's mouth as she laughed at something her father said. Floyd was smiling, which made Harley smile a little bit too.

Harley skipped across the kitchen to the fridge, opening it and grabbing a carton of milk. She poured herself a glass as well as one for Zoe. Zoe was more cooperative about drinking milk in the mornings now, so long as Harley did it with her. It was only fair, and Harley had agreed with that notion.

The morning went on like it normally did - just better because Floyd was up and, for the most part, ready for the day. Harley rushed the two of them off to get dressed and ready for the day. She cleaned up the kitchen while they got dressed. Floyd walked out in a gray long sleeved shirt with a few buttons on top undone and black trousers. Zoe dashed out of her room, wearing a darker red dress, causing eyebrows raised by both Harley and Floyd.

"Why are you dressing up?" Harley inquired, narrowing her eyes at Zoe.

"You never dress up for school," Floyd followed up, stepped closer to Harley, leaning one shoulder against the wall next to her as her back was against it, arms over her chest.

"What are you two coming at me like a parenting team now?" Zoe countered, rolling her eyes at the two.

Floyd nodded, looking at Harley who was already looking at him, a smirk on her face. "Yeah, I guess we are a team." Floyd mentioned, nudging Harley's back with his shoulder playfully.

"The coolest parenting team ya got Sugarplum!" Harley quipped, sticking her fist out to Floyd, only to be met with his in what Zoe could only call the lamest attempt of parents being cool. Well, Harley wasn't really her mother, but Zoe felt closer to Harley than she ever had Susan. She could tell her father felt closer to Harley too, so sometimes in the back of her mind, without thinking, she thinks of Harley as her mother.

Zoe dropped her head and made a small huffing sound, sliding her backpack onto the counter and unzipping it. After a moment of riffling through it, she pulled out a flyer. Wayne Industry's annual charity Gala. This year's theme was a father daughter dance. Harley raised her eyebrow once more at the flyer, fighting a smile as she did so. Floyd rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, not sure how to feel about the idea Zoe was attempting to put out there. "This afternoon there's a meeting about it, and we have to dress up." She looked at her father expectantly.

He shook his head slowly, "I'll think about it, Sweetie." The last part was muffled slightly on Floyd's part, due to Harley elbowing him in the stomach lightly, eying him suspiciously while he spoke to Zoe.

"Why don't you two talk about this on your walk to school this morning?" Harley suggested as she rolled her eyes at Floyd, nodding encouragingly at Zoe in the process. Floyd nodded slowly, taking Zoe by the hand as they exited the apartment building. Zoe stayed back for a moment, looking at Harley with pleading eyes. Harley bent down, squatting to be eye level with the girl, "Don't worry, Sugarplum. I'll get him to that dance." Zoe smiled gratefully at Harley before hugging her tightly.

"Hunny you're gonna be late!" Floyd called from down the hall, eying Harley as he watched the exchange. He knew she was promising Zoe she'd get him to that dance, but he was the father that killed people for money. Despite the fact that it's a secret throughout most of Gotham, he still felt as though the elite's eyes burned into his back with judgement whenever he walked in a room. He didn't want Zoe to see her father in an actual, public display with other, better dad's. She would see how much of a disgrace to her he really was at events like a father daughter dance, at Bruce Wayne's mansion no less. He didn't say much about it as he walked Zoe to school, dodging her questions with a subject change, or passive, "I'll think about it,"s whenever Zoe asked about his attendance in this meeting, this dance. He knew why she wanted him there. He just didn't know how to explain to her his convictions about it without sounding like a dick. Hell, maybe he just was a dick all around.

He shook his head at the thought, bending down and kissing Zoe's cheek on the steps of her prep school before watching her walk in, feeling a pang of guilt in his stomach when he saw the defeat in her step as she walked into school. He mentally kicked himself. Yeah, he definitely was a dick.

When he got back, Harley was sitting on the marble island, legs stretched out, painting her toenails white. He smirked at the sight of her, painting her toenails in the kitchen. She was still quirky, he'll give her that. She looked up when he unbolted the door, opening it. Her eyes searched his for a moment, before going back to her toenails.

"You should take her to that dance," She stated simply, without looking at him.

He shrugged, "You're probably right,"

She looked up at that, turning her head with a questioning look thrown his direction from over her shoulder. "Then why are ya acting so weird about it?"

He shrugged at her once more, "I'm not like those other fathers,"

Harley rolled her eyes, swinging her legs over the side, letting them dangle back and forth to dry faster. "You're a good father. Probably better than those rich pussies," she retorted.

He smirked at that, "She loves me now, but when I'm around all those other fathers. Fathers with real jobs and real family dynamics. Fathers who haven't fucked it all up for their daughters on multiple occasions. She's gonna see me for what I really am, and she's gonna hate me for it."

Harley dropped down as soon as the words left his mouth, striding over to him quickly. "Hey, hey hey." She started, grabbing her face in her hands gently, forcing him to meet his eyes.

"Somewhere along the line, someone or something must've convinced you that you're a bad guy. But Muffin, you're just not." Her thumbs stroked his cheeks soothingly, supportive. Her words made him feel a little bit better, but it brought him back to a time where he realized just how bad of a guy he really was.

She tilted her head at him, "Muffin?" She stated softly, moving her head back away from him.

"Hey, Floyd." She said with a little more confidence, snapping her fingers in his face.

He blinked several times, "Huh? Sorry. What?"

She eyed him skeptically, "That look is reserved for me, Muffin. What's got you distracted all of the sudden?"

He shook his head, "Nothing. It's nothing, Dollface."

She stared at him more, considering what to say next. Floyd isn't someone who likes to be pressured into revealing stuff. She isn't either, and she knows what it's like to be. She didn't want to make him feel cornered or trapped by forcing information out of him. Whatever it was though, it definitely shook him to the core. She could see it in his eyes. He looked as if he had remembered something horrific. It was either something he had done, or something that was done to him. Harley shook her head to herself lightly, maybe he was like her in the sense that he had done some horrific things in response to some horrific things that had been done to him.

Before she could think about it more, there was another knock on the door. Harley rolled her eyes, groaning as she and Floyd turned towards the door. "Go get yourself something to drink and sit down. I'll get rid of whoever it is, so we can talk more, Baby." Floyd nodded, leaning forward to kiss the tip of her nose. She smiled at him, but groaned more dramatically as the knocking persisted.

She marched across the foreyard, swinging the door open rather aggressively, prepared to tell whoever it was to fuck off.

"Harleen Quinzel?" The unfamiliar man in a suit and sunglasses asked firmly.

She raised her eyebrow and scoffed, "Maybe three years ago, Sweetheart."

Floyd looked over his shoulder from the couch, but couldn't get a good view, "Who is it?"

"I have no idea." Harley replied over her shoulder, her eyes not leaving the man at the front door.

"You're under arrest for the assault and battery of Mrs. Susan Lawton," The man stated flatly, grabbing her by the upper arms, turning her harshly and cuffing her.

"Wait I didn't even do anything this time!" She struggled against the man's grip. "Floyd!"

He got up from his spot on the couch, jogging towards the door. "Harley!"

"Hold on!" She grappled against the man cuffing her, "She attacked me!"

"What the Hell?" Floyd bellowed at the man. "She didn't do that. Let her go!"

The man didn't say anything else, besides reciting the Miranda Rights as he jerked her against the doorframe, locking the cuffs on her small wrists. She groaned and wrestled against her restraints as he dragged her out the door. "Floyd! Get your stuff together and meet me at the police station!" She barked out as the man gripped her harder, lugging her out the door and down the hall. She stopped struggling at that, not wanting to make that big of a scene and have anyone see and recognize her as Harley Quinn, alerting the Joker she was back, and going to jail. That would definitely cause a stir around Gotham. If she was back and going to jail, and where there's smoke, there's fire. The Joker would take great delight in setting that fire off.

"Shit, shit, shit." Floyd stated as he paced across the room, grabbing his jacket and keys off the couch, and sprinting out the door. Harley and the man were out of sight. He palmed the side of his face, doing a full 3/60 before remembering where Gotham's holding cells with for big criminals, like the mob families or anarchists. Definitely a place Waller should put on her list for recruitments. It was where he was held before he was sent to Belle Reve. Probably not where they held Harley, considering a place in Gotham could easily be compromised by the Joker. That is, only if he felt like rescuing her. Rumor has it, he left her to drown and be arrested anyway. Floyd jumped in his car, barely buckling his seatbelt before he put it in gear, speeding down the road.

He activated the bluetooth from his steering wheel, "Call Susan Lawton." He tried to state flatly. The phone rang multiple times, before a groggy voice picked it up. He rolled his eyes, of course she was still asleep close to noon.

"What?" her tone was sharp, pained. He scoffed to himself, across. She was hungover.

"You wanna tell me why the fuck Harley's in jail right now?"

He could tell he was rolling her eyes into the phone. "So she's going to jail. Perfect face for a criminal,"

"YOU stabbed HER."

"She withheld MY child from ME. Just because you decided to play house with a psychotic clown does not mean that Zoe should be exposed to that."

"Exposed to what? You tried to kill someone in the same vicinity of your own daughter. Between the two of you, you are much more the problem than Harley."

"So you admit you think she's a problem,"

"I never fucking said that. Stop twisting my words." He took a deep breath, shakily trying to get himself together, and watch the road, "Harley is being taken to the holding cells you had to pick Zoe up from a year ago when I was arrested. Meet me there to tell the police this was a misunderstanding. Or I'm gonna go in there, with our eleven year old daughter, and she'll tell the police she saw her mommy try to stab her daddy's girlfriend."

"Do not try to pin my own daughter against me, you bastard," She snapped back, becoming more awake and venomous with each and every sentence.

"Oh, I'm not pinning anyone against anything. As soon as I walked in the door to clean up you're Goddamn mess, Zoe told me all about how she watched you try to kill the only good female role model she's ever had."

"The only good female role model? You're honestly telling me that the Joker's bitch is a better role model to your daughter than her own mother?"

"She wouldn't let you in the house when she knew Zoe was afraid. She was ready and able to kill you, but didn't cause she didn't want to traumatize our daughter. You on the other hand had no problem trying to commit murder with our daughter in the area, you stupid bitch."

"I didn't call any cops on the whore, if it makes you feel any better."

"I have a hard time believe you. So meet me there anyways. You have twenty minutes before I go sign our daughter out of school and fill her in on the situation."

"She wouldn't commit me of something like this."

"Attempted murder? After watching Harley risk her life to protect her from you? Not your finest moment. Want to take the chance?"

There was a pause on the other line, then some muffled sound, like she let out a deep sigh. "I'll be there in twenty."

He hung up before anything else could be said. He had no desire to talk to her after this. Nor did he intend to get Zoe anymore involved in this, but he wasn't going to let Harley rot for something she didn't do.

He parked in the fire lane outside the station, ignoring the front door guard's feeble attempts of admonishment as he ran in. He saw the guy that had arrested Harley first. He was leaning against the desk, talking to the man that ran the lobby here. It was the same guy that had taken and bagged all his items when the cops brought him in. He huffed and stopped at the threshold. There was no way in Hell he was getting in with that over glorified secretary running the door. He ran a hand over his head, trying to think of something. After a moment, he froze, pulling out his phone.

"Lawton? Everything okay?"

He let out a sigh of relief, silently becoming thankful for an answer. "Flag. You still in Gotham?"

He let out a strained chuckle, "Yeah. Actually dealing with a little domestic disturbance gone wrong at the moment. According to our offender, you should be here as well."

He rolled his eyes when Flag stepped out, but he was thankful to have him there. He saw the whole thing happen. It would be good for Harley to have the country's best Navy Seal vouch for her.

He walked up to Flag, smirking slightly. He didn't want to come across as happy to see him. He didn't like showing the people that had caged him to begin with he enjoys whenever they help. "I called Susan, she's coming down to drop the charges."

Flag raised his eyebrows and let out a low whistle. "That's weird you managed that,"

"It took some convincing," he replied simply, shrugging.

"It must have, considering she wasn't the one that called. Waller did."

He took a step back, anger and confusion taking over. "What the fuck, Flag?"

He raised his arms up, accepting defeat. "I'll explain on the way, come with me."s

"You don't scare me," her smile was toothy and her voice was sultry and teasing as she tipped her chair back and put her heels on the metal table in front of her, propping her feet up.

The man was leaning forward, elbows on the table with his fingers laced together beneath his chin, supporting his fat face. He was the new Attorney General in Gotham. Since Dent flew off the handle, the job went to one of his assistants. An older, overweight man who was balding and rather sweaty during his "meeting" with Harley. Waller liked to call it that, but everyone knew what it really was. An interrogation. Harley was the wildcard of the squad. He knew Waller wouldn't believe Harley was tame despite her newly domestic lifestyle.

The man leaned forward even more, but he lost his edge once more when Harley popped a bubble with her gum, causing him to flinch. Harley let out a giggle, nodding as she held the ends of her curls between her fingers, twisting it casually. "Yeah. Ya don't scare me one bit."

He shrugged, trying, and failing, to play it cool. "And why is that?"

She leaned forward, pulling her legs down from the table and letting the chair sit upright once more. "Well ya see, Mistah." She placed her elbows on the metal table between them with a thud, mimicking his style with her fingers holding up her chin. "I lived with scary. And you don't have his smile." She stated tauntingly with a wink and a smile.

He visibly shuddered. Floyd laughed behind the mirrored glass, receiving a harsh glare from Waller and other, nameless government agent. She hadn't seen him yet, by the time he had gotten there and been briefed by Flag, she was already in a questioning room. As he observed it, he began to wonder if it was the same one he had been in about a year ago now. Susan, had also shown up, but Flag promptly sent her home, stating it was a misunderstanding. She had attempted to press, according to Flag at least. Floyd had refused to leave the room where Waller, himself, and Flag were originally observing Harley's "meeting" with the Attorney General. He was worried if he left, they would use a little more forceful tactics to get her to talk. But, Susan had attempted to see Floyd, probably to give him a piece of her mind for making her come down there. Flag refused, telling her it was official business of the US Government now, sending her home without another word.

The man let out a deep sigh, nodding slowly at her. "I don't want you to be afraid of me, or the situation. I just have a few questions I need to a-"

"If you didn't want this to be a tough situation, you probably shouldn't have sent someone to my home to arrest me," She countered, raising an eyebrow at the man.

He nodded once more, "Fair enough. How about we take it easy from here?"

She tilted her her head at him, a half snarl forming on her face. "I'd like to talk to the real puppet master, here."

He tilted his head at her as well, mirroring her expression, just not nearly as an unnerving look on him. "What do you mean?"

Without changing her expression or her gaze, she reached her arm out, extending it fully and pointing it at the wall they were all standing behind. "Amanda Waller." She stated simply.

Waller rolled her eyes at the glass, pressing a finger against her ear, "The doors are unlocking, I'm coming in."

The man looked at the glass and nodded slowly, not even attempting to hide the gulp he made, obviously too nervous for his own good. When she was in the full on Harley Quinn mode, the fear of the people around her just made her more comfortable. It gave her a sense of power. She was looking at the glass, but her gaze was directly on him. She knew he was there, they had agreed he'd meet her here to clear up the whole "misunderstanding," but it still amazed him she could pick him out so quickly without even seeing him. He nodded at her, despite the fact that he couldn't see her, and padded across the floor, laying a firm hand on Waller's shoulders as she exited the observation room.

She shrugged him off quickly, "Do not touch me, Deadshot."

He flinched slightly at his alias being used when he wasn't in uniform, but didn't back down. "Send me in there with you," He practically commanded her.

She rolled her eyes at him, looking completely unfazed, "You're in no position to make demands with me. Not with your lady friend locked up here."

"My lady friend was locked up under false pretences, ya'll jokers know that. What's stopping me from calling my ex wife back in here to clear this all up? And to do that, I think that would expose you and this whole operation?" He countered, Harley's fire had definitely infected him, Waller noted. He was beginning to carry himself in a way that gave people the feeling he had nothing to lose, a loose cannon.

She scoffed, "I still have a bomb in both your necks."

He raised his hands up, "Then kill us. You'll be out the two strongest members of your little squad, and you'll still be exposed. We'll be left dead, and you'll be left with nothing except the desire to be dead."

She stared at him for a moment, it was obvious his words had made an impact, but she was trying to cover up her reaction. "Come on," She muttered, leading him out of the observation room and into her interrogation room.

She leaned back in her chair upon the sight of Waller, putting her hands behind her head as if she were on a beach, taking in the sunlight. Her eyes glazed over Floyd for a moment, but didn't react much to his presence. He tilted her head at her, furrowing his eyebrows from the threshold. She looked back at him, taking in his expression: vague, muffled concern. He probably didn't want to show Waller, or the other officials watching that he cared all that much. She understood, but still looked at him for another moment, nodding slightly before turning back to Waller, indicating to him she was alright. She eyed Waller for a moment, her face practically unreadable under a half snarl-half smile she had patented to make her rivals unsettled in her presence. The Joker had taught her well, he noted. That was about the only good thing J could be credited for, her fearlessness in conflict and the ability to get the upperhand in situations by a simple change in expression.

"Our next mission puts you in the focal point, Dr. Quinzel." Waller stated flatly, eying her skeptically.

She shrugged, her relaxed expression unwavering, "How so?"

"We want to catch your Puddin and put him on the squad." She stated simply, as if she was talking about the weather.

Harley's metal chair skidded and clanged against the floor as she tipped it forward, having it land flat on the floor. She leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table. Her expression became hard, harder than Floyd ever remembered. Her eyes weren't glossed over though. She wasn't in a bad memory trance, Floyd noted. But she was more alert than she was previously.

"That is the stupidest thing I've evah heard, lady." She retorted after a moment, rolling her eyes at Waller.

"Maybe, but imagine someone on the Squad with resources and a following like your former friend's." She commanded, her eyes glazed over, as if she was imagining all the power she'd have if she took down the Joker.

"His power and resources would be the reason it won't work." Harley commented flatly.

Floyd remained silent. He didn't know much about the Joker, or Harley's time with him. She was the best judge on what to do when it came to him, so he'd trust her completely on this one. All he really knew about the Joker was that if he ever came across him, he'd plant a round in his chest and happily watch him die.

Waller stared at her for a moment, before letting out a deep breath, "Well, Miss Quinn. We can't do this without you and your insight. So prove me wrong."

"What do ya mean?" Harley asked skeptically.

"You say he's not a good addition to Task Force X. However, I feel he would be the strongest member. Your interrogation will either prove me wrong or prove me right. Either way, this can't continue without your cooperation."

Harley smirked at her, leaning back, stretching her hands over her head and yawning. She looked at her wrist, making an over dramatic gasp as if she was wearing a watch that told her she was late for something. "Look at the time! It's almost three! I actually have to pick someone up from school." She stated bitterly, growling at Waller before getting up and heading to the door. There were two guards there Floyd was shocked he hadn't noticed. They grabbed her as she attempted to exit, pushing her harshly back into the room. She stumbled slightly before catching her balance.

Floyd's protective side of her breached his collected surface. He stepped forward, grabbing her waist supportively, steadying her. "What the fuck?" He barked at the guards who raised their tasers to the two of them, preparing to fire.

"Don't worry about them," Waller commanded from behind them, ordering the guards to lower their weapons.

"Tell your errand boys to keep their damn hands off her." Floyd snapped back at Waller over his shoulder.

Harley shook a little, signaling for Floyd to let go. It threw him for a loop, but he figured it was just because she didn't want to show much weakness in front of their head zookeeper. Neither of them wanted the other to be used as leverage against them. Despite the fact that they were living together and raising his daughter, they still didn't want anyone to think they were anything more than squadmates. Floyd shrugged before leaning against the wall, away from Harley. The attempt seemed to be feeble, but he didn't want Waller to think she could threaten Floyd to get information from Harley. He stayed away from her, obeying her silent wishes.

Waller looked between them. "I understand you two have a child that should be getting out of school within the next hour or so."

They both didn't say anything, but they bodies tensed up from different areas of the room. Neither of them wanted Zoe dragged into it.

Harley decided to play it cool like she had before she was brought into Floyd's life. "I don't have any kids," shrugging off Waller's cold statement.

Waller nodded at her, hitting her hand against her head as if to say she had forgotten something rather important. "Of course! My mistake. We can just bring her here then, let her watch as you tell all about the horrible things you did before you came into her life then, hm?" Waller threatened casually, putting Harley back in her place.

Harley got up from the chair she had sat back in moments before, striding over to Waller, "Are ya threatening me?" She said. She wasn't very tall, but she towered over Waller with the help of her thick heels. Even in a normal setting with normal hair and a normal outfit, Harley's intimidation factor was still through the roof. Floyd's fists were balled at his sides, he didn't have to look down to know his knuckles had turned white under the pressure.

Waller nodded, "Why don't we send your man friend on his merry way to get his daughter, and we'll let you go in a little bit, just as soon as you give me what I want."

Harley let out a deep sigh, looking over at Floyd as she blew out her air.

"Give us a moment, please." She mumbled to Waller, but her eyes didn't leave Floyd.

Waller considered her request for a moment, but realized Harley was actually attempting to comply, she just needed a moment to compose herself and help Lawton compose himself before she began to open up. She nodded, motioning for the guards to follow her out.

Floyd walked over to her, sitting across from her at the metal table as she settled down in her chair.

"I can get you out of here. I'm not leaving if you're not gonna be leaving with me." He started.

She shook her head, "You have to go get Zoe. I don't want her being dragged into this, and neither do you."

He stared at her for a moment, sort of at a loss for words. She was going to stay in jail? What for? "You didn't do anything wrong, Harley." He protested.

"Yeah. Actually, I did." She countered.

Floyd raised his eyebrows at her, not believing what he was hearing. "Susan tried to kill you that wasn't your fault."

She shook her head, "No, I'm talking about before. I did horrible, horrible things before I knew you. I don't want Zoe exposed to that. So, you need to go get changed into something fancy, meet your daughter at her school, and take her to that father daughter dance rehearsal. Hopefully I'll be home by the time that's over." She leaned forward, rubbing her hands against her upper arms, as if she were cold. Floyd knew better though, she was just anxious.

He tilted his head at her sympathetically. "I don't feel right leaving you here."

"Would ya feel better if Zoe had to watch this?" She replied softly, starting to realize what all she'll have to talk about once Floyd left. She'd be on her own with buckets of horrible memories of herself and the Joker. It was the only way to keep him away from Floyd, Zoe, and the squad. Despite leaving them behind in Belle Reve, they were still her friends. Digger, Waylon, Chato. They didn't deserve someone like Mistah J around. He'd kill them in a second with a smile on his face and escape. He had no remorse for any of it. He simply didn't give a shit about anything else except his blind pursuit of the Bat, and when it's convenient for him, Harley herself.

Floyd nodded, getting up without another word. When Harley didn't get up to follow him, he strided over to the other side of the table, putting a gentle hand on the back of her neck, intertwining his fingers in her hair. "I'll be back to get you if you're not home by the time we get back."

She nodded slowly, not looking at Floyd, afraid she'd break down if he saw the nerves brimming to the surface in her eyes.

He bent down a little further, putting both hands on the sides of her face. "It's gonna be okay, Dollface."

She nodded at him, meeting his eyes as he planted a reassuring kiss on her forehead before heading out the door and exiting the station. Harley didn't turn around to watch him leave, she just stared at the glass, knowing Waller had watched the whole thing.

The Attorney General and Waller walked back in after a few moments, but Harley didn't flinch. She just stared at the glass for a long moment even after they were settled. It was almost as if she didn't blink or move. She was entranced with something, and it fascinated Waller.

"We're ready for you now, Dr. Quinzel." The man said to her, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She leaned forward in her chair, elbows on the table, staring both of them down, a pleasant snarl on her face.

"What do ya wanna know about my Puddin'?" She asked, mock excitement dancing across her tone.

Waller leaned forward, placing both her palms firmly on the table. "Take us through the whole thing,"

The man had brought in a pitcher and three glasses of water. He poured her a glass and slide it across the table, clicking his pen and opening his notepad as she took a sip.

"Well," she sighed. "I guess I'm going back to the start."

Next chapter: Harley goes over the major moments in her life with the Joker with Waller. Floyd worries for her safety and stability.