THanks for the review ;)

Batman looked at the modest little house that stood in front of him. Well, there it was. He had been apprehending this moment since the beginning of his research about 'Jack'. The Joker knew nothing of it of course: the Clown had been crystal clear; he didn't want Bruce to make any research about who he might have been before his chemical bath. But Batman wanted to know. It was stupid, he knew that. After all, nothing proved that this Jack whom the Joker constantly dreamed of was his past-self. For all he knew, Jack could simply be someone the Joker had known. Anyway, being the only clue Batman had concerning the Joker's past, he did some research, as the good detective he was. With only a first name, it had not been easy, but he had finally found an article about a certain Jack Napier who had mysteriously disappeared about five years ago.

Five years ago, the Joker was born.

It could be a coincidence, but it was the best lead he had. And tonight, he was in front the house of Jack Napier's parents. He didn't think he had ever been that nervous. What if he had been wrong, and that the Joker had nothing to do with Jack Napier? What if Jack Napier had actually been a victim of the Joker?

He was thinking too much. He was Batman, god dammit! All he had to do was to knock at the door, and explain quietly to the couple the reason of his visit. Yes, it was that simple…

And so he knocked. A few seconds later, a woman with crazy brown hair and a tired face welcomed him. Her eyes opened wide at the sight of the Dark Knight.

"Oh my God…" she said. "Jean, come quick!"

"What is it, Roxanne?" asked a masculine voice from inside the house.

"It's…It's Batman!"

A man with dark blond hair and piercing green eyes arrived straight away. He eyed Batman and then invited him to come in.

Batman followed Mrs and Mr Napier to the living-room. The house was very small, and it wasn't hard to guess that the Napiers were not exactly rich.

"What can we do for you, Batman?" asked Mrs Napier.

Her smile was warm and welcoming, but her eyes reflected a sadness that only a mother who would have lost one of her child could show.

"I'm here to talk about your son", he said, trying to sound as neutral as possible.

The Napiers shared a look, and Mr Napier took his wife in his arms.

"We are listening", Mr Napier said.

Batman breathed in, and then announced:

"I think he might be the Joker."

He took time to watch the Napier's reaction. The man's eyebrow was twitching, while his wife started to cry.

"Our son is gone!" spat Mr Napier. "We have not heard of him for five years! We still have difficulties to recover from his loss…How dare you come here and ask us if our dear Jack is this horrible Clown?"

Batman gave them a sympathetic look.

"I know. And I'm sorry about your loss. So sorry. But I needed to be sure. If I knew more about the Joker's past life, I could understand him better, and therefore help him."

"Why would you help him?" Mrs Napier sobbed. "The Joker is your worst enemy…"

"He's…He's also my best friend" Batman admitted.

The couple stayed silent for a few seconds, staring at Batman. Obviously, they were not expecting this answer.

"I wish we could help you", Mr Napier finally said. " But as you know, Jack has been missing for so long. The police told us that he was surely dead. If he really was the Joker, we would have no idea."

"You have ever seen the Joker, at least on TV", Batman continued. " Can you see any physical resemblance with your son?"

Mrs Napier bit her lips.

"Well…Jack…Jack was very slim, even skinny. And he had my curly hair. But besides that, I see no resemblance…" she wiped a tear from her eyes. "Oh, Batman. Jack was such a sweet boy. The nicest man you'll ever see. He can't…He can't have become this monster, it's impossible…"

"The Joker is not a monster," Batman said darkly. "He is insane. He doesn't realize that killing is bad. For him, life is nothing but a joke, and death is simple its biggest punch line. A monster is aware of what he does is bad. The Joker is not." He paused, and when he understood that the Napiers wouldn't add a word, he went on. " Well, if you have nothing else to say, I think I'm going to go. Thank you for your time."

His cape flowing behind him, Batman walked at the door and left, without any last glance to the couple…

"I knew he would come someday," Mrs Napier said to her husband.

"Yes, well, he took his time. For the world's greatest detective, he is not very perceptive..."

"Hey, my Batsy is a good detective!" the Joker spoke, coming out of the shadow and walking towards Mr and Mrs Napier.

He had immediately guessed that Bruce would make some researches about Jack, and when he had discovered that the detective had found his supposedly parent's address, he decided to visit the nice couple himself. Mr and Mrs Napier had recognize him in the moment, but Batman had shown up at their door before they could talk. The Joker had waited in a dark corner of the living room, watching the conversation attentively. What Batman had said about him not being a monster had deeply moved him.

"Sooo…according to you, I really am your son?" he snickered. "It's good to know! I would hate to kill my parents! When I see what Bruce has become, I really don't want to be an orphan, hehehe!

"You don't remember us?" asked Mrs Napier, a bit chocked.

"I'm afraid I don't, Mummy! Seems that acid is bad for your memory. Heh, who would have guessed? Oh, by the way, thanks for not having said the truth to Bats, it's sooooo funnier this way. HEHEHE!"

His maniac laughed soon turned into a weak giggle. He then looked at his parents, and asked in an uncharacteristic soft voice:

"Was I really that nice?"

Mrs Napier pressed her hands against her mouth, and then ran to hug her long lost son. Mr Napier, a bit less sentimental, simply put his hand on the Joker's shoulder, in a warming gesture.

The Joker didn't know how to feel. Accepting Batman's love had not been hard, considering the fact that he had always loved him. But even in his strangest dreams, he had never expected to get some parental love. It was as weird as it was…good.

"We missed you so much," Mrs Napier whispered. "I don't care if you are Gotham's most dangerous psychopath, you will still be our little Jackie…"

"Stay close to Batman", Mr Napier added. "He cares for you."

The Joker smiled genuinely. Yes, Batman cared for him. He had known that for years. But for the first time, Batman was not the only one anymore.

And that was the sweetest feeling ever…