Legacy Chapter 9
The Iceberg Lounge was bustling that night. Harvey reserved a private booth for his dinner with Pam that was tucked away from the bulk of the noise. He and Pam used to date back in the days before Salvatore Maroni threw acid into his face in the courtroom, scarring him irreparably and creating the duality within him that released the entity Two-Face. Of course she was trying to kill him back then, but over the years they let bygones be bygones. Pam being the raging feminist that she was insisted on meeting Harvey there rather than accept his invitation to pick her up. Harvey patiently waited at their table for her to show. As he expected she was fashionably late but seeing her walk into the lounge in the deep green sequined mermaid gown she had chosen made it worth the wait. He rose to greet her.
"Pamela, you look positively stunning in that dress." She blushed slightly as she twirled a lock of scarlet hair around her finger.
"You're not looking too bad yourself, Harv." He led her over to the table and assisted her into the booth. He motioned to the waiter.
"Would you care for some champagne Pam?"
"That sounds lovely." The waiter arrived and bowed slightly to the couple.
"Good evening Mr. Dent and Ms. Isley. May I start you off with something to drink?"
"We'll take a bottle of the Louis Roederer Brut Cristal please." Harvey replied in his gruff baritone. Pam glanced curiously at him.
"So Harv, I have to admit I was rather surprised when I got your call. It's been ages since we've been on a date."
"Well, Gracie has been a little more generous with my visitations with Duella lately. It's really been great, I love that little girl to death, but I've noticed when she leaves I've been feeling a little, well, lonely. I figured you were still single so maybe after all these years there was some chance things might just click. Even if not, it's nice to be out on the town with a beautiful woman for a change." She gave him a querying look.
"So out of curiosity. How did Duella come about anyway. You and Grace have been divorced for the better part of two decades. When did you start seeing each other again?" He barked out a laugh.
"We were never seeing each other. We ran into one another at a party at the Gotham City Royal Hotel. We got to talking, then went to the private room of the bar for a few drinks afterward to shoot the breeze and catch up. There was a lot of champagne involved. Somehow we ended up renting a suite. To be perfectly honest I think it was a pity fuck on her part. She told me I seemed too lonesome. She regretted it the next morning, I could tell. A few months later she gave me the news that she was pregnant."
"Wow, I had no idea. That's kind of," She drifted off trying to think of the correct word to use.
"Pathetic?" Her eyes widened slightly.
"No, I was going to say awkward."
"Yeah, well it was that too. But in the end it gave me Duella so it was completely worth it."
The waiter arrived with their champagne and poured two flutes of the golden liquid then took their orders and departed.
"Does she look like you?" Harvey smiled like a proud papa.
"A little, but she mostly looks like Grace thank God. I wouldn't wish this on anyone." He pointed to the disfigured side of his face.
"Oh Harv, stop it. You were always a handsome guy all things considered." Harvey pulled out his phone.
"Would you like to see a picture of her?" This was the moment, he hoped she reacted the way he wanted her to.
"Sure." Pam leaned over while he opened his photo album and scrolled through the pictures. The first one that came up was the new nursery J had built. Pam looked on in interest.
"Oh Harvey, is that your place? It's amazing."
"Oh no, that's J's place actually." She looked at him skeptically.
"What do you mean that's J's place?"
"Look Pam, I know you're not going to believe me when I tell you this but J has been pining for Harley ever since she left. He's put a lot of time and money into trying to win her back."
"No he hasn't, he's already sleeping with someone else. Harley told me the other day." He was obviously taken aback.
"No he's not. Who does she think he's messing around with?" Pam crossed her arms and stared at him.
"Jenna Duffy. Harley saw her leave his house in one of his shirts. She's been a damn mess ever since too." Harvey chuckled.
"Pam, J isn't sleeping with Jenna. He hired her to build this for Harley. She's been over there working every day for over a week."
"Then why was she wearing his shirt?"
"A pipe burst Pam, he gave her something dry to wear home. Look, J has been working really hard and has been trying to do things the right way this time. That's why he didn't just track her down. He's trying to prove himself to her." She glared at him distrustfully.
"You really expect me to believe that?" Harvey scrolled through his photos until he got to the pictures of Joker and Duella. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw Joker asleep with a baby in his arms and even more so seeing him changing a diaper.
"Pam, not only has he been trying to learn how to be a father, but he got his little problem taken care of too." She grabbed the phone from his hand and scrolled through the pictures again.
"And which little problem are we talking about? The fact that he's an insufferable jerk?" Harvey sighed.
"No, since the day Harley left he's been working very hard to fix the issue with his sperm count, and he has. He went to the doctor yesterday. Now he wants to go to Harley and prove how important she really is to him. He's been one sad sack since she left." She was stunned.
"He actually told you about that?"
"Yeah, I told you he was pining. He's desperate." She raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, say I actually believe you. Why are you telling me all this?" Harvey took a large gulp of his champagne then cleared his throat before continuing.
"Well I was kind of hoping you might talk to Harley, maybe get her to agree to meet with J. Or if you're not willing to do that her new address or phone number might be helpful." She pursed her lips.
"Was this date just a ruse to get me to talk to Harley for J?" She said angrily.
"Partially, yes. But honestly I really did miss you Pam and I wanted to see you, so no this wasn't all a ruse."
"Fine. I'll call her but she hasn't been taking my calls." Harvey was a little surprised to hear that.
"Pam how many days has it been since you spoke to her?" She thought about it for a moment before responding.
"I guess since the day she told me she thought J and Jenna were dating." Harvey's eyes bulged.
"And that didn't strike you as odd? Pam, J's worried she might do something stupid." Pam suddenly looked frightened.
"Well I went to see her yesterday but she didn't answer the door. I figured she was just at Robinson Park. She's been going there a lot. I guess I hadn't thought she'd hurt herself, granted I've been a little distracted with a new experiment I've been working on. Shit." Pam dug her phone out of her purse. She dialed Harley's number and went to voice mail.
"Pam we've gotta get someone over there right away! She could be dead for all we know!" Pam dialed J's number. He answered on the very first ring.
"Pammy?"
"J, you gotta get over to Harley's right away! She hasn't been answering her phone and she didn't come to door when I stopped by yesterday."
"Shit! Give me the address!" His voice was panicked. She rattled off the address. "I'll call you with an update when I have one. Sit tight Pam." He hung up and dialed Lewis.
"Boss?"
"Lewis get the car and get over here pronto! It's an emergency!"
Joker threw on his trench coat and hat and paced until he heard Lewis pull up out front. He sprinted out to the car and jumped into the back seat.
"Lewis go to 1265 Spring Street on the East Side and haul ass!" Lewis could tell the boss was anxious.
"You got it!"
They tore through the streets and made it to Harley's place in record time. J didn't wait for the elevator but shot up the stairs taking them two at a time until he reached the 5th floor. He got to her door and banged on it. When no one answered he pulled out his lock pick and used it on the deadbolt.
"Harley?" He shouted. He went from room to room but the apartment was empty. Her phone was sitting on the kitchen counter. He grabbed his phone from his shirt pocket and called Pamela back.
"Pam, she's not here! Where else would she be?" Pam was flustered.
"I don't know J! She hasn't left the house much since she moved in. The only other place I know she spends time is across the street in the park, but it's after dark!" He growled in annoyance.
"Well call around and see if anyone has seen her, I'm going to check the park just in case!"
He was in a panic. He darted out of the building and ran across the street without looking to see if any traffic was coming. A yellow cab laid on the horn and slammed on its brakes as it nearly hit him. He vaulted it and slid across the hood without slowing down. He raced through the darkened park. When he got to the reservoir he stopped and held his side as he tried to catch a breath. There, sitting on a bench in the circle of light emitting from the dim streetlamp was the tiny figure of his Harley. She had a blank expression on her face as she stared out into the darkness. Even from this distance he could see the dark shadows under her eyes. Once he was able to slow his breathing he quietly walked over and sat down beside her. She didn't register his presence at first. He saw the small revolver she had cradled in her hands. He gently reached over, placed his hand on top of hers and pulled the gun from her grip. Pulled from her daze she slowly turned her head and looked at him.
"What are you doing here?" He gazed into her baby blue eyes.
"Looking for you Harley." A look of befuddlement filled her face.
"Why?" He slipped the revolver into his pocket and took her hands in his.
"Because I love you Harley." She had lost a significant amount of weight. Her eyes were sunken and her complexion was pallid.
"I don't understand. You're with Jenna now, you moved on so why are you here." A look of irritation briefly crossed his face.
"Look, Harley, I know what you think you saw but you made the wrong assumption. Jenna was at the apartment because I hired her to remodel. I'm not seeing anyone. I don't want anyone but you."
"Then why didn't you come find me?" His eyes softened.
"Harley, I know I let you down. I wanted to prove to you I was worthy of your love. I wanted to show you that I was willing to make sacrifices for you." He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and gave it to her. "Here, read it."
She opened the folded sheet and stared blankly at it.
"I don't understand, what is this?" He sighed.
"Harley, since the day you left I have worked very hard so I could show you that your dreams do matter to me. That's the proof. I saw Dr. Radcliffe yesterday. She says I've managed to get my sperm count up enough that we should have no problem getting pregnant now." She blinked several times as she stared into his face looking for any signs of deception.
"You stuck with the plan? Why would you do that when I left you?"
"I told you why. But I can do even better. May I show you something?" She nodded in incomprehension. He took her hand and helped her up. Her legs were visibly wobbly.
"Harley when's the last time you've eaten?" She ducked her head and wouldn't meet his gaze.
"Four days I think." His eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
"Oh, Harley."
He bent down and lifted her up and cradled her against his chest. She wrapped her shaky arms around his neck and buried her head into his shoulder as he carried her out of the park to Lewis and the idling car. He very carefully placed her inside and once he was seated pulled her onto his lap. He looked up at Lewis's curious gaze in the rearview.
"Take us home Lewis." He wrapped his arms around her and gently stroked her hair. He pulled out his phone.
"Harley, Pam and Harvey are very worried about you. I'm just going to call them and let them know you're alright. Okay?" She nodded as she clung to him. He dialed Pam who picked up immediately.
"J did you find her?"
"Yes Pammy, I did. She's a little worse for wear but I'm taking her home and I'll take care of her until she's better. I'll call you when she's ready for visitors. Tell Harvey too, okay?" He heard Pam let loose a relieved breath.
"Thanks J. I'm sorry I underestimated you."
"It's okay Pammy. We'll talk later."
"Okay." He hung up the phone as they pulled up to the Ha-hacienda. He carried Harley up the stairs and gently set her on her feet.
"Do you think you can walk Poobear?" She nodded again. "I have something to show you."
He took her hand and led her to the door that was formerly his lab. He slowly opened it and flicked on the light. Harley stared in shock. The nursery walls were a pale blue with the ceiling a few shades darker and covered in hand painted fluffy clouds. There were built in bookshelves filled to overflowing with books and toys. The baby furniture was white and elaborately carved. The bassinette had a half canopy made of sheer blue and white fabric. The crib was full of stuffed animals and had a beautiful mobile hanging above it made with sun, moon and cloud shapes and tiny LED lights that twinkled on the walls and ceiling like stars. In the corner next to the window seat was a custom recliner made specifically for breastfeeding and above it hung a small but gorgeous crystal chandelier. There was a built in changing table and multiple dressers. He had furnished it with everything one could possibly need for a new baby and then some. Harley placed her hand over her heart as her eyes flooded with tears.
"I, I can't believe it." She looked up at him as her tears spilled over onto her cheeks. "You did all this for me?" He took her face in his hands and wiped her tears away with his thumbs.
"I did all this for us, Pumpkin. You and me and our child when it comes into the world. I did this for our family." She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and sobbed into his chest. "Does this mean you don't like it, Harls?"
She pulled back and giggled through her tears. She smiled as she gazed adoringly into his eyes.
"I don't like it Puddin. I love it!" He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
"Well that's good, because you scared our carpenter off and she's taking refuge in another state." She giggled again.
"Jenna was afraid I was gonna kill her, huh?" He kissed her on top of her head.
"Well yeah, honestly I was afraid you were gonna kill me too when I found out you thought I was dating someone else."
"Well I'm not gonna lie, I thought about it." He broke the embrace and took her face in his hands again as he searched it with his eyes.
"Was it the voices again Pumpkin?" She pressed her lips together and nodded. "I was afraid of that. Is that why you had the gun? Were you thinking of hurting yourself?" Her eyes filled with tears and she nodded again. He put his hands on her shoulders and lightly shook her as he said. "Don't ever do that to me. Promise me that if they come back again you'll tell me, or tell someone and that you'll seek help. I couldn't have lived with myself if something had happened to you. It's more important now than ever Harley, we're going to have a baby that's gonna need its mommy. Can you promise me that?"
"Yes Puddin. I promise."
"Good girl."
He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. The past two months of longing and sadness melted away. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her to the bedroom. They made love, really made love probably for the first time in their entire relationship. It was slow, tender, sensual and passionate. They worshiped every part of each other's bodies. They relished the feeling of skin gliding against skin. They dined on love, they reveled in adoration for one another, they fell into an abyss of devotion and came out the other side sated and more dedicated to each other than they ever had been before. Harley's heart swelled when she realized what he had sacrificed for her and that he had done it because he truly loved her. She had never felt more complete. They embraced and caressed each other in the aftermath of bliss. Joker held her to his chest and stroked her hair. She gazed up at him with glittering eyes.
"Thank you Puddin. Thank you for all of this, and for saving me. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world." He kissed her forehead tenderly.
"No thank you Harley. For putting up with me for all these years. I'm sorry I'm such a jerk sometimes." She shrugged.
"Well you may be a jerk sometimes, but you're my jerk and I love you anyway." Her stomach growled loudly.
"Oh Poo, we need to get you fed. We need you good and strong if I'm gonna knock you up, ya know." She giggled and nuzzled his neck with her nose. "Then, I think I should run you a nice hot bubble bath, how does that sound?" She squeezed him as a large grin spread across her face.
"I think that sounds perfect Pud."
He sat her down on a stool at the kitchen counter while he prepared them both some pasta.
"Well this is weird, you cooking for me for a change." He chuckled.
"Yeah well don't get too used to it. This is about the only thing I've been able to master in the kitchen. My cooking skills are worse than yours were when we first got together, if you can believe that." He replied playfully with a wink. When he finished cooking he placed two bowls of steaming whole wheat pasta with spinach and sauce down on the counter. He sat beside her as they ate, grateful for her presence.
"Pud, I'm so proud of you. I can't believe you did all this on your own." He swallowed the bite he was chewing.
"Honestly, I can't believe it myself but I almost lost you for good this time and it made me re-evaluate my priorities. I'm even more surprised that not only have I come to terms with the idea of fatherhood, but this whole process has actually gotten me rather excited at the prospect. Terrified, but excited." She ran her hand along his bare back.
"Puddin, you're gonna be a great daddy. I have faith in you." His face brightened.
"I almost forgot, I have something to show you." He got up from his seat and retrieved his phone. He opened his photo album and showed her the pictures of him from Harvey's place the day he took care of Duella. "Harvey gave me a few pointers."
She looked on in awe at the pictures of him with the sleeping child then burst out hysterically laughing when she got to the picture of him changing Duella's diaper. Harvey's face was smiling in the corner of the picture as J was obviously gagging as he attempted to manage changing it. Her eyes started to tear up again.
"Oh Puddin, I've never been more impressed or more proud to be your girlfriend. I love you so much it hurts." He leaned over and kissed her tenderly on the lips.
"Me too kiddo, me too."
Later he ran her a bath and sat on the side of the tub as he washed her hair for her. She luxuriated in the feeling of his fingers gently massaging her scalp.
"So Pumpkin, I was in such a panic I barely registered what your new place looked like. How long are you stuck in that lease anyway?" She smirked.
"It's a month to month. I hated it there. It was too quiet and empty. It just didn't feel like home."
"Well, I'll get what's left of the Chuckle Patch to go collect your things tomorrow if you'd like." She leaned into the hand that was rubbing the nape of her neck.
"That would be perfect Pud."
"So, out of curiosity when do you ovulate again?" She gave him a sideways glance and a crooked smile.
"I'm ovulating right now Puddin."
"Well then I guess I better put off my yoga class for the next couple of days since it seems I'm going to be busy." He rinsed her hair using a cup then grabbed a loofa and started scrubbing her back.
"Yoga class? You have been taking a yoga class?"
"Well, yeah, you know managing my stress and all. It's really helped, I feel like my chakras are finally aligned. You should come one day. I have Holly teaching it three times a week at the Iceberg."
"So you're the one who's responsible for that?" He smiled smugly.
"Guilty as charged."
"Wow, I'm impressed. So Pud, you sure you're gonna be okay with having sex all day for the next few days straight? That's what started all this in the first place."
"Aha! I've prepared for that too! Be right back." He left the bathroom and came back a few moments later with a plastic shopping bag. He sat on the closed toilet lid and pulled out a stack of DVD's." Harley gave him a puzzled look.
"You bought porn?" He smiled widely.
"Well, sort of." He fanned them out and flipped the boxes around so she could read the titles. She burst out laughing.
"Faces of Death I-V? Oh my God Pud, you are just too much!" He feigned a hurt look.
"Hey don't laugh, different strokes for different folks and all that jazz. If it keeps me hard does it matter?" She shook her head as she grinned.
"Nope."
"See then, problem solved. So Poo, I know you're in a bit of a weakened state right now. Would you like to wait to get to it or are you feeling good enough for round two?"
"I think I feel good enough to give it another go." A large smile broke across his face as he reached into the tub to pull the drain stopper.
"Good. I haven't seen you in a month and I have a little pent up frustration."
He took her hands and helped her stand up, wrapped a large towel around her then lifted her out of the tub and carried her to the bedroom where over the next few hours they had not only round two, but also three and four before they both fell asleep cuddled in each other's arms.
A/N – Okay I know for some of you this is a stretch, but I always wanted to write a super sensitive Joker story and felt it could only work if it was well into the relationship with him heading towards retirement. We still have several chapters to go but I felt this was a good place to address this. So hopefully you can suspend your disbelief enough to enjoy a sappy lovesick Joker. I know I enjoyed writing it. Thank you to all of my reviewers, followers and faves. You guys are what makes writing these stories so much fun and I really love the feedback!
