Part 2, Chapter 5
"Harls? Harley?! HARLEY!"
Joker tried to shake her awake but his only response was her head lolling to a rest on his arm and a slightly distressed look marring her features. Ivy came back into the room from putting Lucy to bed freezing for a moment taking in the scene before going to Joker's side.
"Get her to bed, maybe once she's relaxed she'll come around."
Joker was about to snap at the redhead for telling him what to do but feeling Harley cringe a little in her unconscious state he growled and did as told. He carried Harley to the master bedroom and laid her on the bed carefully brushing her hair from her face, slowly her eyes opened looking around before landing on him as she sat up.
"What am I doin' in bed puddin'?"
Joker looked at her with a raised brow.
"You fainted Harley, well vomited then fainted."
Harley flushed a little.
"Sorry ya had ta see that, this hangover's really gettin' ta me, stupid bleeding ain't helpin' none."
Joker became lost but helped her stand as she got to her feet before making her way to the bathroom one hand holding her lower stomach like she was trying to claw through it before she shut the door. Deciding he'd heard more than he cared to hear about the subject he went to the desk and sat down taking out his pistol and began cleaning it, as he did Ivy came into the room taking one look at the bed before leering at he clown across the room.
"Where is she?"
Without looking up from the task at hand Joker pointed to the bathroom door before returning to cleaning his weapon. Ivy rolled her eyes but went to the bathroom door knocking softly once before opening it to find Harley in the shower her clothes abandoned on the floor.
"Ya don't have ta worry Red, I'm fine just a bit tired from last night and gettin' up early on top of my 'monthly visitor'. Urg it's lighter than normal but god do the cramps hurt, and the headaches make me so dizzy I get sick or faint."
Ivy leaned on the sink crossing her arms.
"Harley you lived with me for 2 months this isn't normal for you, your symptoms haven't gotten this bad before."
Harley shut off the shower and stepped out grabbing her towel and wrapping it around herself.
"There's a first time for everything Red, I'm tellin' ya I'm just fine you'll see just give it a week or a few days."
Ivy didn't want to buy it but shrugged leaving the bathroom to sit on the bed looking at Joker.
"Now that this whole mess you needed me to babysit Harley for is over I'm going to get out of this place first thing tomorrow, that means it'll be up to you chuckles to make sure Harley is okay."
Joker looked up from the blade he was sharpening to meet her green eyes.
"She isn't going to let that happen as easily as you seem to think Pammy."
Ivy rolled her eyes but knew he was right before dropping the conversation as Harley came back into the room looking more like herself in a red tank top, a smokey grey skirt, red knee socks, black pumps, and a red and navy jacket that had 'property of Joker' across the back in gold. She smiled going to Joker and perching herself in his lap watching as he put his weapon aside to hold her waist as she looked between him and Ivy raising an eyebrow.
"What were you two whisperin' about?"
Steely eyes met green again before a smirk crossed Joker's lips as he rested his chin on Harley's shoulder.
"It would seem your little wildflower is getting tired of city life and is leaving tomorrow."
Ivy gave a low growl at him but before she could act on it Harley removed herself from him and instead stood before Ivy with a small smile.
"If ya wanna go Red ya can, just know I appreciate ya stayin' here with us through this whole mess."
Ivy returned the smile wrapping her arms around the other woman's waist pulling her down into her lap resting her chin on her shoulder.
"You really wouldn't mind if I go? You'll be okay on your own?"
Harley gave her a look but still smiled.
"I'll be just fine, I've got Mr. J and Lucy here and with that bitch out of the way the only one ta bother worryin' about is old Batsy and he ain't much of a threat."
Ivy nodded before kissing the blonde's cheek before nudging her up and getting to her own feet.
"It was good seeing you again Harls, and Lucy, if you need anything don't hesitate to contact me alright my little psycho?"
Harley giggled with a nod.
"Sure thing Dandelioness."
Ivy smiled shaking her head at the nickname before shooting a look at Joker, which was returned with a slightly less hard and cold look and a stiff nod, before she left the building heading back to Gotham's outskirts. As the door shut Harley sighed and let herself fall back on the bed her arms over her eyes, taking advantage of her lowered guard Joker stood from the chair and leaned over her nipping at her neck making her giggle moving her arms to wrap around his neck looking into his eyes as he raised them to look at her.
"Does my Queen still have a headache?"
Harley ran her fingers through his hair smiling softly as he gave an almost purr like growl.
"A little, but it ain't nothin' a couple pills and a drink won't fix."
Joker smiled straightening up and helping her to her feet making her giggle again.
"Well you better fill that prescription doc chase tonight we are gonna have a night in the town."
Harley let out a happy squeal kissing his cheek before skipping into the bathroom popping a couple pain killers chasing them down with a quick drink of water before resting her hands on the sink closing her eyes.
"Come on Harl, get it together, ya can't leave him waiting."
She mumbled to herself shifting her hip hoping the movement would ease the churning feeling.
'Don't be stupid Harley, remember what happened last time you set fire to this pathetic city?'
Harley gripped the sink and squeezed her eyes shut tighter trying to ignore the voice.
'And just think sick as you are, as unstable as you are what good would you be? He'd throw you out the window himself because you'd be useless, leave you there for the bat again, sent back to the hell hole prison.'
Now Harley clapped her hands over her ears pushing them into her head trying to smother the voice until thankfully it was drowned out.
"Harley come on! If we leave now we can be back before Lucy wakes up!"
Harley took a deep breath straightening herself and fixing her hair putting on a smile.
"Comin' Puddin'!"
She exited the bathroom and found him waiting for her now dressed in black dress pant, a button down wine red shirt with most of the buttons open to show off his tattoos, new black dress shoes and he'd fixed his hair so it was smoothed back again. He held out his hand for her's making her smile more real as she took it and followed him down to the garage. Once in the garage he led her to the gleaming Lamborghini opening the passenger door for her and closing it once she was in, she smiled letting an excited giggle escape her as she looked in the backseat and found a large black bag filled with grades and weapons of all sorts including her baseball bat waiting.
Before long they were tearing through the streets of Gotham causing all kinds of panic and distress, they'd already robbed two jewelry stores, a thrift store, and we're now in route to a bank where the henchmen would be waiting having already taken out the guards and alarms for them. Harley let out a wild laugh as she threw a grenade out the window before something in her side mirror caught her eye, leaning out the window she looked behind them and found the Batmobile was hot on their tail. Slipping back inside she looked at Joker her eyes concerned as she remembered what the voice had said.
"Mr. J we gotta little pest on our tail."
Joker looked in the mirror and smiled wickedly.
"Looks like it's time for a rematch. Hold on tight baby."
Harley did as told strapping the harness seat belt over her chest while holding onto her seat as Joker whipped the car around a corner narrowly missing the people that had been crossing the street. Harley closed her eyes memories of the last car chase flashing behind her closed lids until a hand on her cheek made her open them.
"Don't worry, daddy won't let anything happen to you doll, not this time."
Feeling more reassured about the situation Harley let herself smile beiges snarling as a solid thud sounded as their little pest landed on the roof. Grabbing her bat from the back seat Harley undid her harness and smashed the sun roof with the base of her bat taking the opportunity of the caped crusader blocking his face from glass to stand up so her top half was out of the car her hair whipping wildly around her head from their speed as she faced Batman.
"Stupid Bat-brain why do you always ruin my date nights?!"
Not planning on getting a response she swung her baseball bat and smirked as it collided with Batman's head rendering him dizzy and useless for a moment.
"Harley get back in here!"
Harley looked down inside the car at Joker before forward seeing why he was suddenly telling her to get in, thankfully she did and hurriedly ducked back down into her seat just in time for them to go into a low ceiling tunnel. Joker laughed grabbing her by the back of her neck pulling her into a harsh kiss for a moment before breaking it returning his eyes to the road thinking they were in the clear letting out a bone chilling laugh and Harley followed suit. Her laugh was suddenly cut off as a black gloved hand wrapped itself around her throat lifting her out of her seat and back out of the shattered sun roof.
Harley growled clawing at the hand around her throat as her upper body was pulled back out.
"Let me go ya stupid Bat!"
Batman kept his hold steady on her neck narrowing his eyes.
"Not this time Quinn."
Harley gave up clawing at his hand and instead pulled the rest of her body out of the car landing a hard kick to the Bat's chest making him release his hold. As soon as she was free she grabbed onto the sunroof opening with one hand while the other pulled her pistol from her bodice and emptied the clip on the caked hero not caring if she killed him or just made him fall off the back of the car but thankfully he seemed to give in and jump from the car back to the batmobile. Harley dropped her gun into the car and followed behind it with just enough time to brace herself against the dash as Joker stared zig zagging through allies attempting to lose the Bat and it seemed to work as they pulled into a hidden garage, one of many scattered across the city.
As soon as the car was stopped Harley threw the door open and threw up what little was in her stomach. Joker watched her concerned before pulling her into his lap once she was finished, he let her rest her head against his shoulder catching her breath. Once her breathing was normal he tilted her chin up to look at him, he looked into her eyes for a moment before visually looking her over.
"I'm alright puddin', just a couple bruises and scrapes."
Joker gave a small smile as she answered his silent question before he traced the hand print bruising around her neck.
"The bastard will pay for damaging what is mine."
Harley gave a weak smile before flinching as her head pounded and her stomach turned.
"Puddin' I don't feel so hot….I need to lie down."
Placing a hand to her forehead he felt she was a good deal warmer than normal even after messing with Batman, reaching into the back seat he moved the bags of stolen objects and weapons before stepping out of the car and pushing the seat forward carefully laying her in the back seat. As soon as she was laid down she curled into a tight ball holding her head her body slowly sinking into an uneasy sleep, keeping his eyes on her he pulled out his phone and pressed a speed dial button before walking away from the car holding the device to his ear.
Harley's eyes flew open as her stomach churned harshly making her sit up and dry heave beside her. As the spell passed her eyes focused on the dark silk sheets under her and the plush purple comforter over her legs, looking around she found she was once again in the master bedroom but this time rather than sitting on the bed beside her Joker was at his desk messing with one of his knives without really seeing it.
"Mr. J?"
Her voice was raspy and hoarse and barely a whisper but it was enough to make his eyes snap up to her yet he didn't move or speak, his face of eyes giving nothing away as to the thoughts in his head. His eyes drifted from her face to beside her, following his gaze she found an IV had been put into her arm attached to a bag of liquid hanging from a stand, she blinked confused looking back at him fear creeping into her chest.
"Mr. J what's goin' on? Why am I in bed hooked up to this thing? How'd we get back here anyway?"
Joker didn't answer as he stood from his chair and walked over to her side looking down at her trailing his finger down her jaw to her lips lingering on them before he pulled his hand back and slapped her hard across the face making her head snap to the side. She blinked confused lifting a shaking hand to her now red and sore cheek cradling it in her palm as she looked back at him tears gleaming in her eyes.
"Mr-"
She didn't get to finish speaking as he grabbed her chin forcing her to hold his gaze.
"Why didn't you tell me?! You could have died tonight! Why the fuck didn't you tell me?!"
Harley blinked confused her mouth opening and closing as she tried to ask what he meant before he roughly shoved her face away pacing the side of the bed. She watched still confused as he snarled and threw his knife at the wall where it sunk in beside many other gashes where it had been thrown countless times in who knows how short a time. Swallowing thickly she managed to find her voice her eyes following his every move.
"W-what are ya talkin' about puddin'? Tell ya what?"
Joker stopped pacing turning to face her taking in her expression before realization flitted across his face.
"You didn't know."
Harley was still beyond confused her head spinning as tears welled up in her eyes.
"I didn't know what?! What the hell is going on?! Why am I so sick?! Why won't the voices in my head shut up and stop taunting me?! And why the hell are you so mad at me?!"
Before Joker could even open his mouth Harley got to her feet and ripped the IV tune from the port in her arm ignoring the bit of blood and medicine that leaked from it as she got to her feet shakily stalking over to him jabbing a finger into his chest.
"We were havin' a perfect night until Batman showed up, then I risk my neck attacking him then when he finally ditched and we managed to slip away I get sicker than hell! Next thing I know I'm waking up back here with you pissed at me for hiding something I didn't know about and I still fucking don't!"
Tear streaked down her cheeks before she broke down sobbing against his chest, to her internal surprise he let her resting his hand on her hip and the other on her back but he made no move to comfort her further. Finally after she'd cried herself out she sniffled looking up at him fear shining in her baby blues as he wiped away the last tear on her cheek.
"What's wrong with me puddin'? Am I finally going off my nut? Am I finally going completely crazy?"
Wordlessly he lifted her into his arms and carried her back to the bed laying her down and sitting beside her carefully reattaching the IV tube.
"You aren't going insane Harl, not yet."
Unlike she'd hoped the words didn't bring much comfort but before she could so much as open her mouth there was a knock on the door followed by it opening enough for Frost's voice to be heard.
"Boss the doc is back to check on miss Harley."
Harley looked confused between Joker as he stood and snapped his fingers, a wordless command for Frost to let the doctor in, and the door opening to reveal Frost standing beside a woman with mousy hair and chocolate eyes behind blue rimmed glasses, wearing a simple blue blazer and skirt under a lab coat. Like any sensible person she looked terrified as she was escorted into the room before Joker gave Frost the signal to leave them alone sealing off her only way out besides a body bag. Taking a deep breath the woman walked over to the IV stand and checked the bag her eyes widening at how much liquid was gone, as soon as she opened her mouth to speak Joker beat her too it.
"She detached the tube when she woke up, let some of it out."
The woman closed her mouth scribbling something down in a pocket notebook before looking at Harley who was watching her with a mix of anger and confusion.
"I-I'm going to remove the IV port miss, forgive me if it h-hurts a little."
With shaking hands the woman carefully removed the port flinching when Harley let out a small hiss in pain before quickly bandaging the pin prick wound. Watching her carefully in the window reflection Joker kept his eye on the doctor as she took out her notebook looking at scribbled notes.
"M-miss if you wouldn't mind answering a few questions for me, it would greatly help me evaluate your c-condition."
Still confused Harley nodded resting her head back against her pillows watching as the woman took a pen from her pocket.
"W-when was your last complete menstration period?"
Harley thought carefully.
"Last month, very beginning of it but I'm in the middle of one now."
The woman quickly scribbled it down pausing for a moment looking at her before moving on.
"A-are there any medications you are taking regularly?"
Harley simply shook her head.
"How often a day do you eat?"
"Once or twice, small meals I like to keep myself slim and flexible."
The woman nodded writing it down opening her mouth to speak again but the words never left her throat as Harley's hand shot out and grabbed her by the collar pulling her so they were face to face.
"Enough with the damned twenty questions shit, what the hell is wrong with me?! Anorexic? Flu? Fucking Mono?!"
The woman frantically shook her head her whole body trembling hearing Joker chuckle across the room at Harley's reaction.
"N-no miss nothing like that! Y-you're in your first trimester! You're going through early stages of the first 2 months of pregnancy!"
Shock took over Harley so her hand released the woman allowing her to shrink away sweating bullets looking ready to Lisa herself while Harley tried to process the words.
"I-I'm pregnant again? It's so different from the first time I didn't even know."
The woman managed to find some nerve and work it up enough to speak.
"All pregnancies are different even in second time mothers miss."
Harley barely heard her as she placed her hands on her stomach tears filling her eyes as she looked at Joker who was now facing her his face unreadable.
"Puddin' I didn't know, honest I didn't."
Joker walked to her side sitting on the bed wiping the tears from her eyes gently before kissing her forehead.
"Relax baby, it's fine. At least you're alright, you're both alright. I would have distorted the Bat-brain if anything happened to you but if I had known and he hurt you I would have made sure he suffered such so slow that he'd beg me to kill him."
Harley gave a small smile wrapping her arms around his neck letting him pull her into his lap holding her close. In the corner of the room the woman had enough smarts to avert her eyes from the scene between the pair. Looking over his shoulder at her Joker held her terrified eyes.
"What else is there you need to assess doctor Young?"
The woman swallowed audibly.
"J-just an ultrasound sir, t-to ensure the f-fetus wasn't harmed in her squabble."
Joker nodded once carefully removing Harley from his lap letting her lay back on the pillows.
"You play nice with Dr. Young kitten, there's some business I need to see to."
Harley nodded watching him leave the room and closing the door behind him. Once he was gone the doctor relaxed just a little as she pulled a machine over and perched herself on the edge of the bed.
"You'll need to lift your shirt please miss."
Harley rolled her eyes but lifted her shirt enough to expose her middle watching as the doctor spread a chilled goo over her lower stomach apologizing for it before she placed a device to the goo and turned on the machine. For a long moment all Harley could make out was a bunch of grey and black before the doctor gave a weak smile pointing to a little dot barely bigger than a jelly bean with a tiny pulsing heartbeat.
"There it is, it's too early to tell gender yet but the heart looks good and development seems normal for this stage."
Harley didn't hear a word the doctor was saying as she watched the little shape on the screen but what got her attention was the doctor leaning closer to the screen narrowing her eyes.
"How odd."
Harley felt her heart drop as she watched the doctor move the device around the shape leaving the screen for a moment before reappearing along with the doctor's smile.
"Excuse me, there they are. Development on both fetuses appear normal miss Quinn."
Harley blinked at the screen not wanting to believe what she was hearing but as the doctor pressed a button on the machine she could see both little shapes inside the black and grey mess. Joker made his way down to hai office pausing outside the door shaking himself and taking a deep breath before entering, as expected one of his normal customers, an arms dealer, was seated on the leather sofa looking around nervously then jumping seeing he'd entered the room his normal smile missing.
"So what's so important that you insisted on a meeting this very minute?"
The man took a shutters breath before starting to talk about new weapons they'd gotten their hands on but none of it held Joker's interest as he looked out at the empty club, now closed for the day, his eyes lingering in Harley's cage. Finally decision the man's rambling was another annoying sales pitch Joker took his pistol from its holster and aimed it at him.
"I'll give you ten seconds to leave here and 24 hours to send a shipment of those weapons to the warehouse. 1, 2, 3."
The man quickly got the message that the clown prince was in no mood to make deals and quickly scrambled for the door but before he could even get the door open all the way a bullet flew through his brain causing him to crumple to the floor dead.
"10."
Joker put his gun away getting to his feet and walking over the body out of the office paused.
"Get that cleaned up and the club, I want it looking presentable when my queen makes her appearance. And see to it that all those weapons are brought into our custody."
Frost, who had been waiting outside the office as always snapped his fingers at two lower ranking men and pointed to the body before taking out his phone looking at Joker's back.
"Yes sir, consider it already done and out of the way."
Joker only grunted in response before returning to the master bedroom to find Harley alone staring across the room at the wall. Looking around there was no sign that she'd killed the doctor so he assumed she'd dismissed the woman and sent her back on her way.
"She said she'd be back in a couple weeks for another check up and that I should start taking prenatal vitamins as soon as possible."
Joker sat on the edge of the bed trailing his finger down Harley's jaw to her chin before making her look at him so he could take in her expression for any hint as to what was wrong but her face nor her eyes gave anything away.
"Did something happen?"
Harley shook her head not fazed by the dark tone in his voice as her hands found her stomach.
"Puddin' there somethin' ya should know."
Joker raised a brow at her but waited for her to continue, it took a few seconds but she did.
"You should know that it ain't just one."
Joker looked at her confused for a moment before his eyes looked down at her hands on her still mostly flat stomach.
"More than one, ya mean twins?"
Harley nodded feeling like she wanted to squeal with happiness but sob all at the same time so she settled for a small smile and a few tears as Joker took in the news. The silence was broken by the door creaking open making Joker look over his hand twitching toward his gun but stopped seeing Lucy in the doorway looking confused and slightly scared as she stepped into the room. He got to his feet and went to the girl picking her up and carrying her to the bed setting her down beside Harley making the girl smile for a moment before seeing her mother wasn't smiling much but crying. Moving to sit in her mother's lap Lucy put a hand on her cheek making Harley look down at her.
"Momma okay?"
Harley's smile grew a little as she wrapped her arms around her daughter holding her close.
"Yeah puddin' pie, momma's okay, she's just surprised."
Lucy smiled hugging her neck before pulling away feeling her father grab her and pull her into his own lap.
"Now listen Lucy this is important okay?"
Lucy nodded meeting her father's gaze.
"You're going to have to be careful around your mother for awhile, no roughhousing, hitting her, or jumping on her alright?"
Lucy started nodding before looking confused.
"Why?"
Joker shared a look with Harley who nodded.
"Because momma has two new siblings for you growing in her belly."
Lucy looked at her mother with wide eyes before a smile broke across her lips.
"Brothers or sisters?!"
Harley nodded opening her arms for the girl who without hesitation, but carefully, moved into them looking at her mother happily.
"That's right baby girl, you'll be a big sister."
Lucy giggled happily clapping her hands making Harley's smile soften as she kissed the girl's head.
"You'll be a great big sister won't you?"
Lucy nodded moving from her lap jumping around the bed chanting 'big sissy' over and over until Joker grabbed her and held her still making her laugh as she hugged his neck drawing a smile to his lips.