Chapter 7

Eight Months Later

The streets of Gotham were covered in snow. Ah, everything began to look so peaceful around Christmas time. I focused on the sound of the screaming woman. But then why did this poor lady sound so distressed? That's when I realized that the screaming woman was me. I was wheeled out of the ambulance and through the hospital doors. I gripped Laurie's hand. A nurse stopped us. "Oh, I'm sorry. Only immediate family members are –"

I grabbed her by the front of her scrubs and pulled her down to meet me. "Listen, you, that woman is going to accompany me into that room to get this fucking baby out. You got that?" Hmm, I think the contractions were starting to have an effect on me.

The nurse snapped up at attention. "Yes, ma'am." She nodded at the other nurse who had been wheeling the wheelchair.

Before I knew it, I was in the delivery room, in the stirrups, and glaring daggers at my doctor. "Well, congratulations, Miss Makhdomi. You are officially ready to begin pushing."

I opened my mouth, but was interrupted by another contraction. I groaned. I looked around, "W-w-wait! Where's Laurie?"

A male nurse was at my side. "I'm sorry, sweetie. But I think your friend got caught up." His face was obscured by a surgical mask.

I was frantic by this point. "No! But I c-can't – I can't do this alone!"

"Hush." He said reassuringly, "You're going to be fine."

I was pushing now, and feeling a tearing, hot, stinging sort of pain that made me want to rip the hand I was holding clean off. Wait a minute, hand I was holding? I looked slightly and saw the nurse holding my hand tightly, rubbing his gloved thumb into my skin. I stared up at him. Those eyes. I knew those eyes.

"The baby's crowning!" The midwife looked up at me. "You're doing fine, Ophelia. Now, I just need you to stop pushing and take some short breaths. Can you do that for me?"

I nodded. The nurse bent closer to my ear, "It's almost over, Ophelia. It's almost over. You're doing fine, just like I knew you would."

…

"Hey."

I opened my eyes to see the male nurse smiling down at me. However, the mask was pulled down revealing the non-made-up face with the very familiar scars that matched my own. I smiled at him weakly. "Hey." I replied quietly.

"You did good in there, Dollface." He rubbed my face gently. "I told you were strong."

"Yeah." I looked up at him, "You did, didn't you."

"The kid." The Joker cleared his throat uncomfortably. "The kid isn't half bad looking."

"I think he's beautiful."

"He has your skin." The Joker ran his hand down my face. "The same tone."

"Well, yes. Genetics has a lot to do with that." I nodded and looked at him, "But you know, as the baby grows his physical appearance is going to change. So he might end up lightening up a little bit."

"I don't care about its skin tone, Ophelia." He looked down at me, "Well, have fun with it."

"Yeah, I figured that you wouldn't stick around."

"It's good that you know that." He sat down next to the bed and looked at me. "But I don't suppose it'll hurt to stick around for a little while." He chuckled to himself, "It's not like I'm going to be around for much longer."

"Is that a suicide hint? Or are you just going to go off the radar."

He stood up and pressed his lips against my forehead. "That's for me to know, Dollface. For me to know."

…

I kissed his forehead as I walked him around his new home. "And this is your room, decorated just for you." I smiled down at him. "Baby Jack's room, but Mommy's allowed in." I chuckled to myself, "I don't know how long that's going to last."

Gently, I set him down in his crib. His eyes were open, and his arms were outstretched. I heard someone come in, and I looked up slightly. Laurie walked over and stood next to me. "He's beautiful, Ophelia." She said softly.

"Yeah," I continued to smile. "He really is." I looked down at him, "Goodnight, Jack. I'll see you in about an hour." I adjusted his hat and blanket to ensure warmth but not suffocation, and followed Laurie out of the room.

I crashed on the couch with my legs sprawled in front of me.

Laurie looked at me, "So, has Bruce been around at all?"

I snorted. I hadn't seen Bruce since the abortion suggestion, but he had called and said he wanted to visit me. "No, not yet. I think he may be around tomorrow."

"Do you want me to come over?"

I looked at her, "Would you?" I looked down, "I don't think that I can face him alone. I mean, when he heard I was pregnant all he could say was to get an abortion. What's going to happen when he actually sees Jack?"

"Who cares what he thinks anyway?" She growled. "Screw Bruce Wayne and the private jet he flew in on."

I laughed. "Thanks, Laurie. I feel better now." I picked up the remote, "You wanna watch some TV before he gets up? I haven't seen anything in what seems like ages."

She nodded, "Kay."

I turned on the TV to see the news on. Some reporter was standing outside of what looked like the hospital. I frowned and turned the volume up a little.

"Tonight there was horror in the Gotham General Hospital. Three police officers who had been recovering from fire in the line of duty were brutally murdered along with their visiting family members by notorious psychopath The Joker. However, when police arrived outside of the scene they found The Joker sitting calmly outside waiting for arrest. When questioned, Commissioner Gordon stated that The Joker is going to be sent to Arkham and we are awaiting further news." He did that generic reporter nod, "Back to you, Chet."

I muted the TV and looked at Laurie. She was staring at the TV screen where they were still showing footage of The Joker's capture. He had been wearing a broad smile the entire time. She looked at me after what seemed like an eternity. "Wow."

I nodded, "Yes, that is pretty wow." I cocked my head, "Did I tell you that he was in the delivery room with me?"

"You failed to mention that." Surprisingly, she took the news rather calmly.

"Yeah, he was there. And then he came to see me when everyone was gone." I scratched my head, "He confuses me."

"Well, yes, usually crazy people who show random signs of affection tend to do that." She shrugged, "But hey, I don't think you're going to be seeing any of him." She looked at me, "For a long, long time."

Opening my mouth to answer, I was interrupted by the sound of my baby crying. As I was nursing him, I reflected on what Laurie said to me, and I think I actually believed her.

…

A/N: WOO! I know the ending could've been better, but fret not, my pretties; this is only installment number one, and I believe that part two is going to be a lot (and I mean a lot) longer. But I refuse to give you chapter one of the new story until I get some more reviews (And I mean it, people. I can hold out for a really long time) So taking that into consideration, if you want a sequel, review review review! ^_^ Happy reading

Love,

Storytelling Spazoid