A/N: Hey babies! So if you're here you don't completely hate me and I hope it stays that way! Now as I promised the Epilogue will be worth what happened in the last chapter you'll see! But before we get there I'd like to thank everyone for sticking around and hanging on through out this wild roller coaster ride you've all been amazing and I'm so happy you continued to read after the first part of the series and for reviews and favorites you've all given each one makes me smile knowing someone new has liked the stories or that old readers have come back and are re-reading for the countless number of times! Thank you to everyone that helped and sent in ideas and thanks to all of you in general again!
Epilogue.
JJ stood in front of the mirror in his and Amelia's bedroom looking over his reflection as he finished buttoning his suit jacket, the suit didn't look much different from the one he'd worn the day he and Lucy became rulers of the Joker empire only now the black silk dress shirt was buttoned all the way hiding his tattoos and the jacket over it was dark charcoal grey. He sat on the foot of the bed looking at the off white carpet under his shoes letting his mind wonder back to that day remembering how Lucy had started changing slowly descending into the madness he could only guess consumed her in the end and now he knew the question on the minds of any family 'friends' that would show up was going to be about what would happen to the Joker empire now. JJ sighed heavily closing his eyes and running his fingers through his hair, of course he'd thought about going back and keeping it afloat but just as he was about to tell Amelia that's what he was going to do he'd found her holding their newborn girl's cooing at them and making them smile making realization hit that he simply couldn't place them in the danger going back to that place would bring.
The sound of footsteps and tiny whimpers made him open his eyes and look at the door to find Amelia holding one of the twins dressed in a white jumper and fussing around. He got to his feet and walked over to her lightly kissing her head as he took his daughter gently stroking her cheek.
"Delia, princess, what's got you so fussy?"
The infant opened her eyes and looked up at him for a moment before squirming around again making Amelia groan pinching the bridge of her nose.
"That's Delia? I swear I gave birth to them I should be able to tell them apart! She doesn't like this jumper but Deidre does, come here pumpkin mommy will fix it. How do you do it J?"
JJ raised a brow at her as he handed Delia back.
"Do what?"
Amelia looked down at her daughter gently stroking her small fuzz of red hair.
"Tell them apart! They're identical yet you can tell who is who just by glancing at them."
JJ smiled lightly tapping her nose then stroking Delia's cheek again distracting her enough to get a smile out of her.
"It's their eyes, little miss Delia here has eyes like Lucy and my dad steely blue while Deidre has mine and my mother's baby blues."
Amelia looked down at Delia looking at her eyes giving a small smile.
"Huh you're right, she does have lighter eyes, I'll have to remember that."
She softly kissed his cheek before looking over her shoulder as Deidre started crying in the living room. JJ smiled taking Delia back and heading to the door.
"You go on and get ready I'll mind the girls."
Amelia was ready to ask if he was sure but he didn't give her the chance as he slipped from the room, moments later as she was changing into a black maxi dress she heard the twins gargled coos making her smile and shake her head.
"Daddy's girls."
She mumbled to herself as she finished getting ready. Once she was ready she walked to the living room and found JJ sitting on the couch holding both twins, their jumpers now switched around so Delia was wearing a light yellow one and Deidre was wearing the white one. She smiled standing behind the couch watching over his shoulder as he made faces at the girls then moving away to answer the door when there was a knock. As soon as the babysitter was given the twins' schedule and a list of numbers JJ and Amelia left the city and headed back to Gotham for Lucy's funeral.
It wasn't anything big, not much bigger than Joker's along with the siblings' crowning, just a few family friends, the henchmen and their families if they had them and a few other people. JJ looked around as he held Amelia close rubbing her back, he could see Ivy standing across from him sniffling into a tissue while beside her Selina gently rubbed her arm but let a tear slip down her own cheek. To JJ's left he seen Frost, his wife Ruth, their daughter with her husband and Forst's son who couldn't have been more than 14. Feeling eyes on him he looked around until his eyes met Damian's as the other young man stood a little back from the others but was watching him carefully, JJ gave a slight incline of his head and Damian returned it before JJ lowered his head to kiss Amelia's forehead letting out his own shuddery breath as a tear escaped his eye.
When it was over JJ met Damian half way looking him over as Damian sized him up.
"Damian, surprise seeing you here but I guess the hero just had to show up for good image."
Damian bowed his head stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Actually I came to tell you what happened."
JJ looked down at Amelia and tilted her chin up to look at him.
"Mia why don't you go visit with aunt Ivy, I need to have a little talk with Mr. Wayne."
Amelia looked between the two males before kissing JJ's cheek.
"Don't do anything stupid J, you promised the girls."
JJ nodded kissing her reassuringly.
"I know baby, I just want to talk to him my word."
Amelia gave a small smile then walked off to where Ivy was. With Amelia out of earshot JJ spoke to Damian again.
"What do you mean 'tell me what happened'?"
Damian took a deep breath looking down ashamed.
"I-I killed her. She cornered me and was coming at me, I blacked out and when I came back to myself I had run her through with a pipe, I told her not to pull it out but she didn't listen...she said her one regret was not making up with you sooner."
JJ clenched his jaw fighting the urge to start a fight right there but it slowly vanished as he looked at Damian and saw the true hurt in his eyes.
"You didn't intend to kill her?"
Damian shook his head.
"No just take her back to Arkham that's it but I guess when she cornered me all the training from my past just kicked in and…."
He trailed off chancing a glance at JJ only to find him shaking his head and wiping his cheeks.
"As much as I want to bust your jaw right now I can't for two reasons, I promised my girls I wouldn't take that step backwards to who I used to be and as much as it feels like swallowing acid to say it...maybe this didn't happen in vain, since momma died Lucy wasn't herself she cracked that day and everyday after it slowly got worse like an infection left untreated. If she had been left to keep up her ways she would have gone completely insane and her humanity."
Damian locked eyes with JJ for a moment before JJ took a deep breath.
"She loved you ya know, since we were kids, she just never acted on it."
Damian was quiet for a long moment.
"I loved her too, but I didn't tell her until it was too late."
JJ sighed looked over his shoulder at the slowly parting crowd as puffs of snow started falling.
"Did anyone besides Lucy cause Gotham trouble?"
Damian looked at the other man surprised but seen his wanting to change topics letting his eyes glance over the few villains in attendance.
"Surprisingly no, Ivy never made a move neither did Selina, Penguin tried once but a week later he came up dead in the river, Riddler hasn't been heard from in years and Two-face dappled a few heists but left the game."
JJ nodded putting his hands in his pockets. Damian looked at Amelia who was still with Ivy, the redhead having stopped crying and smiling slightly as she looked at the pictures Amelia was showing her while Selina stood off to the side talking to a girl that could have been her twin in her younger years only with long deep brown hair and blue eyes.
"So does the empire or kingdom come crashing down now without a ruler or do I need to worry about you?"
JJ looked first at Damian then to Amelia a small smile crossing his lips.
"The kingdom crumbles, I'm not getting involved again not when I have Amelia and the twins to look after, I couldn't put them in danger."
Damian nodded lightly patting his shoulder.
"Smart choice, I should be going before someone gets suspicious."
JJ nodded once watching him leave before walking over to Amelia wrapping his arms around her waist smiling as Ivy greeted him with a kiss on the cheek that left a lipstick mark. After a few minutes of catching up a man in a suit holding a briefcase came over and cleared his throat making JJ look at him.
"Mr. Joker, a word if I may?"
JJ looked down at Amelia feeling her hand tighten around his jacket, he kissed her head gently prying her hand off.
"It'll be okay Mia, it's just a little talk about settling things, I'll only be a minute."
Amelia nodded and hesitantly let go watching as the two men moved a little ways away coming to a stop near a nearby tree. JJ let his eyes scan the crowd and found Frost watching closely out if the corner of his eye and gestured him over with his head. Once Frost joined the pair the man with the briefcase looked at JJ.
"Mr. Joker as the last remaining related beneficiary if you wish all business links, weaponry and territorial contracts, employees, properties, and of course money fall to you and what you do with them is your call."
JJ looked at Frost before meeting the man's eyes.
"Take the money and transfer it between Frost here, myself and Miss Isley there should be more than enough for equal shares. As for the businesses and contracts let them fall through, there isn't going to be anyone to run them, the properties I'll leave to the employees but Frost can have the club if he wishes. I want no connections to my father's or my sister's criminal work linked to me or my family."
The man's eyes went wide at JJ's answer but nodded none the less taking out some papers and a pen.
"Very well young sir, I'll need your signature on these as well as a contact so I can reach you when the transactions of the money have been made."
JJ nodded and took the papers and pen signing where he was told then giving his private phone number making the man nod and hold out his hand.
"Thank you for your time Mr. Joker and my condolences on your loss."
JJ just nodded ignoring the man's hand making him raise a brow confused and Frost chuckle.
"He doesn't shake hands."
The man nodded and left leaving JJ to give Frost a small smile.
"Why did you do that JJ?"
JJ chuckled clipping him on the shoulder.
"I think over two decades in the business and dealing with dad and Lucy has made you family Johnny, just don't get restless in retirement enjoy being with Ruth and the family for a change yeah?"
Frost shook his head smiling.
"You really are just like your mother. Thank you."
JJ nodded watching the older man go back to his family before sighing until he felt arms around his waist making him look over his shoulder and smile softly seeing Amelia.
"Get tired of telling aunt Ivy about the girls?"
Amelia shook her head loosening her arms so he could turn around and wrap his arms around her.
"No she decided it was time to leave before it got snowing too bad, something about plants."
JJ chuckled kissing her forehead.
"Yeah it's winter so she's going to be practically living in her greenhouse, but she has the right idea leaving before the snow gets bad, should we head back?"
Amelia nodded letting him lead her back to the car then open her door for him putting her seatbelt on as he got in and started the car turning up the heat. As they drove through the streets the snow started coming down harder making worry rise in Amelia's chest so she decided to distract herself.
"So did you get all the business settled?"
JJ nodded keeping his eyes on the road.
"Yeah, all the business and weapons connections are set to be left alone, the properties I gave to the henchmen and Johnny I gave the club penthouse."
Amelia gave a small smile.
"That was sweet of you J, he's the one that worked for your father to right?"
Again JJ nodded with a small smile.
"Yeah, Johnny's been with the family for a long time I figure if I'm going to let things go to hell he deserves at least half of things, everything but the money."
Amelia's brows knitted together.
"You didn't keep all the money for us did you? That's got to be well over a few thousand."
"Millions actually unless Lucy drained everything there should have been pretty close to a billion scattered in hide always and secret banks, I know dad kept at least a hundred thousand in a safe behind the painting of Bud and Lou in his office and mom had her own hid in her closet in a false bottom drawer, but all that isn't counting the jewels and gold stolen over the years either."
Amelia shook her head baffled.
"Millions, you didn't keep all that in our name did you?"
JJ shook his head.
"Just a share of it, some went to us, some went to Johnny and some went to Ivy."
Amelia nodded letting a small sigh taking comfort in knowing they weren't going to have nearly a billion dollars in their name. JJ saw her relax and smiled letting go of the wheel with one hand and patted her knee.
"It's alright Mia, I made a promise I wouldn't go back to that lifestyle and I'm not going to, my girls all matter too much for me to break that promise."
Amelia smiled placing her hand over his letting the radio be the only sound for the rest of the ride home. A couple days later JJ was laying on the couch in the living area with Deidre sleeping on his chest while Delia slept in her bouncy seat beside the couch the tv playing a weather alert about the snow. Amelia came into the room holding a bowl of popcorn smiling as she seen JJ drifting in and out of sleep on hand on Deidre's back the other lightly resting on Delia's foot, she sat down in the chair next to the couch munching on her snack and watching the tv.
The quiet was broken by the sound of JJ's phone ringing making him open his eyes.
"That'll probably be the call about the money transfer."
He carefully sat up and laid Deidre in the baby swing beside Amelia before going to the kitchen and grabbing his phone answering it.
"Hello?"
There was some shuffling on the other end before there was a response.
"Mr. Joker this is Mike Pierce, we spoke a few days ago about the items left to you."
JJ leaned on the counter.
"Yes I remember, did the money transfers go smoothly?"
There was a pause and this time when Mike spoke he sounded nervous.
"A-actually there was a problem in the accounts."
JJ narrowed his eyes straightening up and turning his back to the living room.
"What do you mean there was a problem?"
Mike swallowed hard.
"It would seem a part of the money was drained completely from the off shore account just hours before the transaction as well as one of the properties."
JJ's brows knitted together.
"What property?"
There was the sound of shuffling papers for a moment before Mike spoke.
"A-a small three bedroom house in a residential area just outside of Midway."
JJ thought for a moment, he knew his father had set up multiple safe houses throughout Gotham but his mother had been the one that set up ones outside the city should they ever need a extremely secret place but it was a last resort place that was more than likely never used.
"How much money? Does it affect the divide we set up?"
Mike hesitated to answer.
"N-no sir in fact it was only a small couple hundred thousand, nothing but change from the amount to begin with."
JJ nodded deciding it was probably just some business partner Lucy had worked with getting out while he could.
"Then don't worry about it, that property was never used and as long as Frost and Ivy get their shares it's not an issue."
Mike gave a relieved sigh.
"Very well Mr. Joker, sorry to have disturbed you the transfers will be completed by this evening."
JJ nodded.
"Very well, thank you Mr. Pierce."
"Of course sir."
With that they both hung up and JJ returned to the living area sitting on the couch with a sigh making Amelia raise an eyebrow from where she was feeding Deidre.
"Something wrong J?"
JJ looked at her and smiled shaking his head before lifting Delia into his arms as she started whimpering.
"Nothing to be concerned about, just some guy cutting it before things went to hell."
Amelia watched him close her eyes worried making him smile a little.
"Don't worry all he took was a couple hundred thousand and a safe house in the suburbs outside Midway."
Amelia nodded and slowly relaxed looking down at her daughter and smiling. JJ watched her for a moment before looking down at Delia.
"You know princess I think daddy owes mommy a date night, now that aunt Ivy knows where we are maybe she'd be willing to come and keep an eye on you little angels."
Amelia looked back at him a small smile on her lips her eyes shining.
"Really J?!"
JJ chuckled gently giving Delia and Eskimo kiss before looking at Amelia.
"Yes, we haven't had a proper date night since before the girls were born so I think it's overdue."
Amelia's smile widened before she moved Deidre to burp her.
"Are you sure Ivy wouldn't mind? I mean we don't exactly live right next door and it's snowing pretty good."
JJ took in her words and nodded.
"You have a point, well how about Macy?"
Amelia thought for a minute, Macy was their 20 year old neighbor that would watch the twins from time to time when the other sitter couldn't.
"If she's able to, I'll put the girls down for a nap and then go talk to her."
JJ nodded before getting to his feet holding Delia as she chewed on her own fingers making Amelia raise her eyebrow at him earning a smile.
"What she needs changed."
Amelia chuckled watching him go as she rocked Deidre humming softly. Later that evening after making sure Macy was okay with the twins JJ and Amelia left for their date night. JJ took her to a nice little restaurant for dinner then they spent a while just driving and taking in the sights of snow dusted buildings with Christmas lights glowing brightly. They were starting to head home when suddenly headlights shone through the windshield as a truck came speeding down the wrong side of the road unable to stop due to the ice and snow making the cars meet in a head on collision.
~xXxXx~
The courthouse was teaming with activity like any government type building should be so when a woman with caramel brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a simple cream colored sweater and a pair of black leggings no one really paid her any mind as she made her way to the desk she needed her blue eyes looking around until they found a woman in a business suit sitting between two baby carriers holding a bottle in each hand. Reaching the desk the woman rang the bell then smiled a little at the older woman that came up to the desk.
"Is there something I can help you with?"
The brunette nodded her smile falling.
"Yes I'm here to pick up my nieces, Delia and Deidre Dennis, I was named as their guardian if anything happened to my sister Amelia Dennis."
The older woman nodded turning away and grabbing a small stack of papers.
"Alright and your name would be what?"
The woman looked at the stack as she answered.
"Annie, Annie Dennis."
The older woman scanned through the papers then nodded holding out her hand.
"Identification."
Annie quickly dug into her pocket and took out her wallet then took out a driver's licence handing it over watching as the older woman examined it then ran it through a machine checking to see if it was fake before handing it back along with a pen and a few forms.
"Fill those out, when you are finished Rebecca over there will help you carry the girl's to your car miss Dennis."
Annie nodded thanking her before filling out the forms then handing them back and going over to the woman with the carriers peering into one of them and smiling at the half awake baby inside, a little fuzz of pale red hair and steely blue eyes and covered with a fuzzy pink blanket. In the other carrier was another baby girl that was almost identical but her eyes were more deep blue than steely blue and she was covered by a white fuzzy blanket.
"Oh what cuties, they look like little angels! Who's who?"
Rebecca looked up at Annie then at each twin.
"The one with the pink is Delia and the white is Deidre. Which would you like to carry?"
Annie looked between the two tucking her hair behind her ear.
"I'll take Delia here, I'm parked right outside."
Rebecca nodded and stood letting Annie take Delia's carrier while she took Deidre's following the brunette outside and to a black Volvo then secured the carrier into the back seat while Annie secured her twin in smiling and cooing gently at the awake girl. Once they were in Rebecca handed Annie a paper with a couple dates on it.
"These are dates I will be calling to see how the twins are faring in your care, if you miss a single one I will be made to believe you are hiding something from us and we will come and investigate then remove them if needed."
Annie nodded looking over the dates.
"Don't worry ma'am I intend to spoil these little angels rotten and make good little girls out of them."
Rebecca nodded once before turning and going back into the building as Annie got in the driver seat watching in the rear view until the door closed before her smile widened and she ran her fingers through her hair pulling out pins then pulling off the caramel colored wig to reveal platinum blonde curls that fell over her shoulders as they were set free, tossing the wig to the passenger seat Annie opened the glove compartment and took out makeup remover wipes and made quick work of rubbing them on any part of exposed skin taking off the peachy tan color to reveal ghostly pale skin dotted with tattoos two specifically on her face a heart on her cheek bone and the word rotten on her cheek. Letting out a content sigh Harley pulled out a tube of bright red lipstick and put it on smiling as in the back seat the twins started babbling like they were talking to each other.
"Don't you worry girls, Nana Harley won't let some strangers take you away, I'll make sure you are loved and safe and have everything little girls could ever want."
Her response was a pair of synchronized coos making her smile as she started the car taking a picture from the glove box and placing it on the dash, a picture of herself, Joker, Lucy and JJ when the siblings were 14 and 12. She gently ran her fingers over the three other faces before driving the car out onto the street heading to a small suburb just outside Midway.