Nine Months Later…
Batman kicked open the doors to Arkham Asylum, dragging the Mad Hatter behind him, struggling and screaming. "Arkham, where the hell…" he began, looking around at the dark, empty lobby.
But suddenly the door slammed shut behind him, and the lights flicked on. Batman was momentarily blinded, but when his eyes adjusted to the light, a pang of horror sliced across his heart.
Blood and bodies covered the asylum. Dr. Ezekial Arkham's body was manacled to the wall, barely recognizable through the gashes that littered every piece of it. And written in blood over the head were the words: For the Joker. And you're next…
Batman had no sooner read that when a burst of pain shot into him as a blade buried itself in his back. He turned to see Two-Face, covered in blood, and smiling at him.
Batman raised a fist to fight back, when another blade sank into his back. He screamed again as the Scarecrow, Freeze, and the Mad Hatter joined in too, stabbing him repeatedly.
In another corner of the asylum, Harley's screams echoed Batman's own as Poison Ivy held her hand, trying to soothe her, as Harley's baby forced its way out of her body. "It's almost over, Harley," whispered Ivy, comfortingly. "Almost over…"
Batman fell to the ground, feeling the blood seeping out of him and lacking the strength to stand. He gazed up through blurred vision at the faces of the lunatics, coated in blood. "You made monsters outta all of us, in the end, Batman," murmured Two-Face, kneeling down beside him. "Isn't that just what you wanted?"
Batman gasped, agony blinding him. "This should really be Harley's honor," murmured Two-Face. "But she's busy delivering Joker Junior into this world, this big, bright, beautiful world without Batman. So here's a little joke for you, Batman, since you were so keen to make J say 'em. The bad guy won in the end. The Joker won in the end. Don't that make you wanna laugh?"
Batman opened his mouth, but never got to respond. Two-Face shoved his knife between his eyes, killing him instantly. At that moment, Harley gave one final scream, and then they heard the crying of a baby.
Ivy bent down and handed the baby to Harley, who held it tightly against her chest. "Oh, sweetie, you're so beautiful," she gasped, "Oh, your Daddy would have loved you."
"You ok, Harley?" asked Two-Face, entering her cell.
"Yeah," she whispered, smiling sadly. "You wanna say hi to little J.J., Harvey? He looks just like his Daddy."
Two-Face smiled down at the child. "Brought the kid a little birthday present," he said, holding up Batman's head.
Harley smiled. "I know I shouldn't be happy that anyone's dead," she whispered. "But I am."
J.J. started crying and Harley shushed him gently. "Oh no, baby, smile," she whispered, tears in her own eyes. "Be happy. The monster is dead. We're free. Your…your Daddy would be so happy. He'd be laughing. I can still hear him laughing…"
She clutched the baby tightly to her, shutting her eyes, as, through the window, slowly and feebly, and for the first time in a long time, a streak of daylight appeared above the horizon.