The storm lasted all through the night, but Crane had decided to use the wind to their advantage to speed them along their way. He remained up on deck to help with the navigation, and was frequently joined by Tetch, who spent most of the night being ill over the side of the ship.

Harleen lay in bed, unable to sleep with the constant rocking of the ship and peals of thunder overhead. At last after hours of tossing and turning, she sat up, grabbed a pillow, and then made her way down to the brig in the bowels of the ship.

The Joker lay in one of the cages on a small cot, sound asleep and apparently not disturbed by the rocking of the ship or the storm. "Lucky man to be able to sleep through anything," she muttered, sitting down beside his cage.

"Life at sea, remember?" he muttered. "You learn to sleep through storms but wake up at the slightest out of place noise. Like somebody talking."

"I'm sorry – I didn't mean to wake you," she said.

"It's fine – I'll be asleep again in a second," he replied, yawning.

"I brought you a pillow, in case you weren't comfortable," she continued. "But I can see my gesture was useless."

"Hey, it's the thought that counts," he said. "Thank you, Harley. But I think we've both got used to uncomfortable situations. Haven't we?" he asked, smiling at her.

"I…don't know what you mean," she stammered.

"I mean being stuck in that boat with me day after day," he said. "I think we've both been feeling uncomfortable things because of that."

"Have…have we?" she stammered, her heart beating wildly.

"What, you're telling me you were comfortable now in that boat with the blazing heat and the bitter cold?" he demanded, sitting up.

"Oh, you meant…yes. Yes, it was very uncomfortable," she agreed, hastily.

"What did you think I meant?" he asked.

"I thought…I…" she stammered. "I thought...nothing. Nothing at all, Captain Joker. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to return to my cabin…"

"You won't be able to sleep," he interrupted. "Stay."

She had turned to go, but now turned back. "I'd like you to stay," he murmured.

She nodded, feeling herself blushing and grateful for the darkness as she sat down next to the bars on his cell. "It's a pity you're locked up," she said.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because you must be very uncomfortable behind bars," she said. "Why else?"

"Nothing," he said, quickly. "Silly question, really."

They were silent for a moment. "Y'know this plan we're making to kill the Batman…that's not gonna bother you, is it?" he asked at last.

"Why would it?" she replied.

"I just thought you had the hots for him, is all," he said, shrugging.

"Oh. Well, I…I admire his courage, of course," said Harleen. "He's a hero, but…"

"But?" he prompted.

"But…well, he did force me to share a lifeboat with you," she said. "So my feelings toward him have cooled somewhat."

He laughed. "Well, at least some good came outta it! You can do much better than the Batman, y'know."

"As you say, I doubt he would make me a good husband," she agreed.

"What kinda man would?" he asked. "I mean…when you imagine your future husband…what's he like?"

She smiled, leaning back against the bars. "He's very handsome," she said. "But not everyone can see that. Very strong and very brave. Willing to fight for what he believes in, and for me, naturally. He loves me very much. That's really the only important thing," she said. "The rest is just fancy. As the whole vision is, of course. I'm not likely to get a husband now, and I should resign myself to that fact."

"Well, Johnny seems pretty keen," chuckled Joker. "I'm sure he'd propose if you asked him to."

"Captain Crane?" she asked, puzzled. "I didn't notice…"

"Then you must be blind, toots!" he laughed. "C'mon, you telling me you can't see when a guy fancies you?"

"No, I…I can't," she stammered. "But Captain Crane barely knows me!"

"I think at his age, he'll just take what he can get so he won't die alone," chuckled Joker.

"Is he much older than you?" she asked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded. "I ain't old!"

"I didn't mean to imply that you were!" she protested. "Anyway, age doesn't matter to me in a man, not really!"

"So you're saying that if he proposed, you'd consider accepting?" he said.

"Of course not!" she snapped. "He's a pirate!"

"Oh yeah. I forgot you were racist against pirates," he chuckled, lying back down. "Anyway, I think Johnny hardly counts as a pirate. And he'd probably make you a good husband. Probably fawn all over you, and you said that was the only really important thing for you in a man."

"I don't want a fawning man," she said. "A man doesn't have to behave like that to show me that he loves me very much."

"What would he have to do?" he asked, quietly.

"Well, he'd…he'd have to clearly state his feelings, or very obviously make them known," said Harleen. "Because clearly I can't tell when a man is interested. And if…if he was…if a man felt that way about me…I would hope he would have the courage to express himself."

"What if he was a pirate?" he asked.

"Even then," she said, her heart hammering in her chest. "I would…like to know, all the same. Even if there was no hope of him making me a good husband. Maybe…if he loved me enough…that wouldn't really matter either."

She waited for a response, but there was none. "Captain Joker?" she asked.

Then she heard him snore – he had fallen asleep again. She stood up, furious, and then threw the pillow through the bars at him, waking him again.

"What was that for?" he snapped.

"We were in the middle of a conversation!" she snapped. "A very important conversation!"

"What important conversation?" he asked. "I thought we were just hypothetically speculating about your future husband! It got boring pretty fast!"

"And I thought we were talking about…never mind! Just…goodnight, Captain Joker!" she hissed, heading for the door.

"Harley, c'mere!" he snapped. She glared at him, storming back to his cell.

"What?" she demanded.

He held out a hand to her, and she took it. He jerked her forward, slamming her against the bars of the cell as his other arm came about her neck. And then he kissed her, deeply, his tongue invading her mouth and making her body explode with a thousand new, incredible feelings, like fireworks going off in the pit of her stomach.

"That obvious enough for ya?" he whispered as he drew away, grinning.

She stared at him, stunned. And then she slapped him hard across the face. "How dare you?!" she gasped. "You presumptuous piece of pirate scum! How dare you kiss me?!"

"You said you'd want a guy to express himself…" he began.

"Not like that!" she exclaimed. "Are you some kind of animal?! A man does not just kiss a lady on the mouth like that – he courts her! Woos her with words! After they're engaged, they may share a few light kisses before their marriage, and on their wedding day, but not like that!"

"Sorry, I thought you'd like it…" he began.

"Like it?!" she shrieked. "I am not some cheap tart who enjoys being mauled like an animal! How dare you say such a thing?! How dare you do such a thing?! I'm glad we were rescued when we were, or I'd fear for my honor with a man like you around taking such liberties!"

"I just thought…from the way you were talking...you kinda wanted me to…"

"I wanted no such thing! Especially not from some…some…murdering, horrible, evil pirate! I bid you goodnight, sir!" she snapped, storming from the room.

She returned to her cabin and collapsed onto the bed, trying to retain her feelings of indignation. But the feelings that dominated her were ones of excitement and desire. She had wanted him to do that, although she could never admit it to him. She had wanted him to do that and more…

Her angry overreaction was really directed at herself rather than him. She had been taught that a lady shouldn't enjoy such things, or want such things, but she did, she wanted them terribly. She wanted him terribly. And she knew her desires were wrong, so she took them out on him, rather than herself. He was to blame for this – his degeneracy had obviously influenced her in some way. He knew it, and he was trying to take advantage of her. He had deserved to be slapped, and he had deserved every name she had called him…

But as she curled up on her bed, she shut her eyes and remembered how wonderful it had felt, remembered the taste of him, and the feelings he had conjured up inside her. She had never felt so happy and alive in her life...

Which was horrible and wrong, she reminded herself. He was a pirate. He could never make her a good husband. She couldn't allow herself to fall in love with a pirate…

But somewhere inside her a nagging voice told her that it was probably too late for that.