A/N: I really want you all to know how much I love you all. Seriously. And how much I appreciate you all sticking it out with me as I develop my characters and find my voice in the Batman fandom. I hope I continue to make you guys happy in the chapters to come. Let me tell you, they're gunna be real killers. Hahahah.

It's funny how sometimes things just worked out perfectly. Over the last few weeks, Pamela had taken to sleeping in Harvey's room most nights. As a result, Bruce had been practically forced to stay with Selina, who happened to have a single room. Not that Bruce minded, of course. The whole 'taking it slow' thing had never really worked out for them.

Anyway, with everyone playing musical dorm rooms, Joker was free to spend the nights with Harley. They were returning to the room after a late afternoon snack run, holding hands and laughing together as he pulled her along with him. They really were a sight to be seen, and they certainly attracted attention wherever they went.

Harley slipped the key into the lock, a task that proved sort of difficult with Joker kissing down the back of her neck, and pushed on into the room. She almost expected him to lift her right up and throw her onto the bed, but they both stopped when they realized Pamela was sitting on her own bed, casually examining her nails. "Red," Harley greeted, unable to hide her surprise. "I thought you'd be with Harvey."

Pamela shrugged, eyeing up Joker. Observing the way he always seemed to keep an arm around Harley's waist. Maybe it was meant to be protective, but to her it just appeared possessive. Like he was trying to keep her closer to himself, further away from the rest of the world. Harley had been withdrawing slowly from everything else but him. She hardly ever made time for her friends anymore. Her obsessive behavior act was starting to get old quick.

Which was exactly why Pamela was there to begin with. "We're going shopping," the redhead snapped, rising to her feet. "You, me, Selina. We have to get dresses for the winter ball."

Harley almost stuck out her bottom lip at the thought of being forcibly dragged away from Joker. But when it came down to it, she was still a girl. And when words like shopping and dresses ended up in the same sentence, there wasn't much she wouldn't abandon for that. The blonde turned her pout instead to Joker. "Sorry, love," she cooed. "You could always go hang out with the guys."

Joker raised his brows at her. "Somehow I don't think they'd welcome me with open arms, considering I did just fuck up that kid's face."

Pamela narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, about that," she hissed. "I hope you know if you come near him again, we will hurt you."

Joker brushed her off with a flick of his wrist. "Whatever you say, sweetheart. We'll have no problems as long as he stays away from Harley."

Pamela didn't look totally convinced, but she didn't press the matter either. Instead, she turned her attention back to Harley. "Just get ready," she retorted. "We're leaving in like ten minutes."

…

Just like old times, Selina thought as she stepped out of her town car. The cold air hit her like knives, tearing into her exposed flesh. Pamela and Harley followed quickly. It was so nice to have her best friends back together. Almost like last year, like none of the drama or bullshit had ever happened.

Selina sent the driver off, instructing him to return in a few hours. Then, arm in arm, the three girls entered the over-sized, over-priced store to pick out their dresses for the highlight of the year.

"Harvey is just going to die when he sees me in my dress," Pamela gushed from within her dressing room. They'd been looking around the store for an hour and had each wound up with at least ten dresses to try on. "I mean, once I decide which one I want."

Selina giggled, struggling to zip up the skin-tight black gown she'd settled on. Once it was on, snug against her body, she stepped out of the dressing room and went over to the three-way mirror. Harley was already out there, dressed to kill in a red and black gown that made her waist look nonexistent.

"You look gorgeous," Selina gushed, honestly meaning the words. Harley had swooped her hair up into a messy bun, little blonde strands falling out around her face. As they eyed each others' gowns, Pamela emerged in a stunning emerald dress, the ruffles made to look like blossoming flowers. It was just so, so fitting for her. All of them had found the perfect dress, really, and like the teenage girls they were they proceeded to take each other by the hand and jump around crying excitedly.

The moment of happiness was cut short, like most happy moments are, by the obnoxious ringing of Pamela's phone. She almost ignored it, almost, until she saw it was Bruce's name on her screen. Then she slid her finger across the screen to answer it, turning away from her friends. And it was almost as if there was a literal change in the atmosphere. Pamela's face fell as she murmured words into the phone the other girls couldn't hear. When she turned back to them, it was with tears in her eyes.

"It's Harvey…" she said quietly. "His dad just died."

…

The common room was buzzing with noise, but for Harvey it was utterly silent. Silent and still, as it had been since the officer had arrived to bring him the news. Drunk driving, crash and burn, blahblahblah. His father had been an alcoholic, an abusive one at that. Harvey had never exactly cared for his dad. But that didn't mean he wanted him dead.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Dent," said Officer Gordon for the thousandth time. Harvey barely even heard him speak. When he made no indication of replying, Bruce stepped up for him.

"We appreciate you coming by to tell us personally," he said quickly, holding out a hand to shake. Officer Gordon gave a tight smile, taking Bruce's hand in his own firm grip.

Turning his attention back to Harvey, he added, "If there is anything I can do, Mr. Dent, please let me know." Harvey nodded numbly, shoving his hands even deeper into his pockets. Officer Gordon gave the pair both a nod of his own before turning into the door. "Oh," he added, just as he was about to exit back into the chilly night. "I almost forgot."

Harvey looked up with weary eyes as the officer reached into his pants pocket and withdrew something, which he handed over to the blonde boy. "This was the only thing we could rescue from the ashes," he explained.

Harvey stood there for a long time, fingering the item he'd just been given. Flipping it over between his fingers. Long after Gordon was gone, long after Bruce had returned from fetching them both some water. Just stood there, toying with the scarred silver dollar. Memories played across his mind of a scared little boy, hiding behind the couch from his father's wrath. The coin, which was flawed to be heads on both sides, had been the cause of several beatings in his youth.

It was only when Pamela came barreling in through the door, crashing into him at full force, did he stop. Her arms wrapped tightly around him, but he barely seemed to notice she was there. "Are you alright?" She asked, planting a kiss on his cheek.

After a moment, after he had thrust the coin deep into his pocket, he nodded. "Yeah, Red, I'm alright," he assured her, kissing her back on the forehead. She smiled slightly, though wasn't entirely convinced. Glancing at Bruce, Selina and Harley, she gave them a slight nod. "Let's get you to bed," she said, taking Harvey by the hand. He allowed her to drag him away, still in a sort of trance.

"Is he really okay?" Selina asked, chewing nervously at her thumb.

Bruce sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "I don't know," he replied honestly. "But he knows we're all here for him if he needs us." Selina nodded in agreement, stepping into her boyfriend's arms. In spite of everything, no matter how unlikely a group they may have been, they were all stuck together no matter what. They were all they had.