Authors Note: This was actually meant to be Earth but it still kind of fit in with Heaven and I didn't have time to edit this part. I wasn't sure if I was going to include it, but I decided to. The present will be in the next chapter. Review please thanks.

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I have you fast in my fortress,
And will not let you depart,
But put you down into the dungeon
In the round-tower of my heart.

And there will I keep you forever,
Yes, forever and a day,
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,
And moulder in dust away

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

***********

Jamie and Jack got back from another job for Diaz, that took them longer than expected. Which once again left Val alone in his apartment. Jack was nearly 100% positive that she would be super pissed by now. When he got to the apartment door he nodded goodbye to Jamie who sped off. He walked up his stairs and stepped over a puddle of he didn't want to know what it was. He got out his key and opened the door.

Val was sitting on his couch drinking a beer and stared at the small fuzzy TV unaware of his presence. "Hey babe." he said giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey." she replied shortly, not looking up from the tv.

"What's on?" he asked, looking at the black and white images.

"I Love Lucy. There's not much on at 1 in the morning."

"True."

"Why did it take you this long to come home." she said finally breaking her concentration from the tv. He shrugged.

'The little bastard kept running,'

"My boss wanted to keep me after for awhile. Sorry." He apologized irritably.

She rolled her eyes, and positioned herself to face him. "What do you do for your money?"

"I told you."

"No you didn't. We've been going out for a year now, and you're still keeping secrets." she scoffed.

"I'll tell you when I'm fucking ready." he snapped. "Besides if you tell me what you do for money I'll tell you."

"Jack, if you're going to keep secrets then I have a right to as well." She walked away and into the bathroom slamming the door. Jack followed behind her, and knocked on the door.

"What'cha doing?" he asked innocently.

"Go away."

"Stop being cranky."

"I'm not cranky because of that, mostly." she replied. He heard her plop on the bathroom sink counter.

"Then what is it?" he asked.

"Someone called for you." she hesitated.

"Who?"

"I don't know she didn't leave a name she just asked for you. Then when I told her you weren't here she hung up."

Jack's heart dropped when he heard that, and he knew exactly who was calling him. He shook with anger and frustration.

'Fucking, bitch. Fucking bitch.' He kept saying in his head. 'What part of I'll call you, does she not understand.'

"Maybe she had the wrong number." he cooly said.

"Right." Val didn't believe for one second that she just got the wrong number, but she just shrugged this off as probably a jealous ex who was trying to prank her. She pushed her hair out of her face and stared at herself in the mirror. She tried to erase the sadness from her face but nothing worked. Not even smiling helped. Her heart was hurting much more than a punch to the face.

She finally came out of the bathroom, almost tripping over Jack. He was sitting on the floor patiently waiting for her. She was only wearing one of his flannel shirts over her under wear. He looked under it, like a curious kid.

"I can see you undies." he giggled.

"And I only thought 12 year olds got excited over that stuff." she muttered before stepping over him. "Oh by the way I'm going to the Punk Rock Flee Market. Want to come?"

He thought for a second, he promised Vivian that she could come here, but he shrugged her off. "Sure. Where is it?"

"Around your neck of the woods. Just be there as early as possible. I got to leave by like 6 so I can take Nikki to school."

She sat back in front of the tv again, watching Lucy and Ricky sitting in opposite beds talking back and forth, she forgot what about, though. All she could do was think about that stupid woman who was calling his home. His phone rang again this time he rushed to go get it, in his bedroom.

"I got it." he shouted to her.

She didn't hear what he was saying to whoever it was on the phone or who it was, she just drowned her doubt in the love between Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. In the other room Jack talked softly into the phone making sure Val wouldn't hear.

"What the fuck are you calling me for?" he growled.

"Sorry, I jus' wanted to know if ya still wanted me ovah." she said in her Brooklyn accent. He always hated her voice.

"No, I don't now don't fucking call-."

"Worried about tha' little tramp of yas?" she scoffed.

"She's not a tramp, unlike you."

"Fuck you Jack. Tramp or not you're still fucking me."

"Fuck off, and don't call back." he said slamming the phone down. Now he remembered why they broke up. She was such a needy little whore. The only reason why they kept each other around was for bedside gratification but other than that there was nothing between them.

"Vaallll." he called to her.

"Yes?"

"Come here for a bit." he said. He heard her bare feet prance on the floor to him. He was laying on his bed, waiting for her. She jumped on the bed and kissed him on the lips. They sat in pure darkness without a word to each other, until they both drifted off to sleep.

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Jack had decided to come with Val to take Nikki to school, since he didn't see the point in waiting around for her to finish. Besides that Val had a pounding headache and let Jack drive. When Nikki heard this she jumped out of bed and ran around like a excited dog. Usually Val and Zora their mother had to push and pull her to get out of bed, but on this particular day she was ready in no time. When they pulled up into the driveway she nearly threw herself out the door. Angela was sitting on their stoop waiting for the bus. Jack was leaning on the car door, waiting for Nikki as she ran past Val and to him. She jumped to him and gave him a hug around the waist.

"Hey Butch." she smiled.

"Hey Sundance." It was their new pet names for each other. Val walked into the house, getting her pills for her headache.

"Are you coming with me to school?" she asked with excitement.

"Just going to take you."

"Yay." she cried, then after a while she began to sulk. "Jack? Theres this kid that's bothering me. "

"Who?"

"Jimmy Smith. He always tries to pull down my pants when I go down the slides."

'Future rapist, Dad probably hits him, and his Mommy ignores him.'

"Hmm, well next time he pulls your pants down you do this." he said smashing his fist with his open hand.

"I'm not allowed to fight. I already told the teachers." she replied sadly.

He kneeled down so he was eye level with her. "Well then we'll introduce a little anarchy." he said darkly.

"What's anchory?"

"Anarchy is where we start defending ourselves and fuck the rest."

"So hit Jimmy anyway?"

"Mhm."

"What does fuck mean?" she inquired. Curiosity

"Um, don't say that to anyone else."

"Okay." she said bobbling her head around waving to Angela. "Wait, I don't know how to fight." she pouted.

"It's easy. Just ball your fist up and push your arm out as hard as you can. And do it to the other one." She did so with every instruction he gave her.

"Fuck you, Jimmy." she said laughing as she simulated punching Jimmy's face.

"I said don't say that."

"Sorry."

Val came out the house and blew a quick kiss to Angela. She blew one back but was still quite sleepy, and even the small task of blowing a kiss was hard for her. Val tossed the keys to Jack who caught them with one hand.

"No speeding." she said flatly sitting in the passengers seat. Jack frowned dissappointed. He never had a car of his own even though he had his license since he was sixteen. He wanted one badly he didn't have to walk or take the bus, that he hated so badly.

Nikki climbed in the back of the car and put on her seat belt like she had been taught. They were driving for only a few minutes when Jack turned on the radio, and a 80's hair metal song came blaring from the speak

Out on the streets, that's where we'll meet
You make the night, I always cross the line
Tightened our belts, abuse ourselves
Get in our way, we'll put you on your shelf
Another day, some other way
We're gonna go, but then we'll see you again
I've had enough, we've had enough
Cold in vain, she said

He turned the volume up higher and moved and sang along with the song. Val frowned, and turned it down a bit. "Headache Jack!" she yelled over the music only making her headache worse. "Besides I didn't know you liked Ratt."

"Please I'm a child of the 80's."

She shook her head and looked in the back and saw Nikki moving around to the music as well.

"Jack you should play, that song again. Anchory in the Do-K."

"Maybe later." he replied fondly.

I knew right from the beginning
That you would end up winnin'
I knew right from the start
You'd put an arrow through my heartRound and round
With love we'll find a way just give it time
Round and round
What comes around goes around
I'll tell you why

Dig

As he sang the lyrics to the chorus he had one hand on Val's cheeks and chin carressing her skin softly with the tip of his fingers. Val softened her expression and rested her head on his shoulder. When they pulled up to a red light Jack began kissing Val softly.

"Ewwww." Nikki giggled.

"Eww, your face." Jack giggled back to her. She began bursting into laughter. They finally pulled into Nikki's school that had small children filing orderly into the building. Their brightly colored back packed blended in together making a collage of bright colors. Nikki took one look at the school and huffed. She folded her arms, in frustration.

"I don't want to go." She frowned.

"You gotta go." Val replied rubbing her temples.

"No I don't." Nikki argued.

Jack unbuckled his seat belt and turned to face her. "Tell you what, if you don't go then Jimmy will win and you don't want that right? We're soldiers right Sundance?" She nodded her head. "And soldiers don't give in, on any conditions. So kick Jimmy's ass- I mean butt." She began to smile.

"Okay." she kissed Val and Jack on the cheek before grabbing her book bag and running into school.

"Did you tell her to fight that Jimmy kid?" she asked as they drove away.

"Not exactly." He lied.

"Riiight." Val rolled her eyes. "So, off to the Punk Rock Flee Market." she said putting her feet up on the dashboard. Val slid her head up under his cheek, and slid her hands up his flannel purple and black shirt.

"I love that color on you." she said softly.

"Me too."

As they walked through the cramped space of clothes, CDs, and knick knacks. Jack tried on a Sex Pistols t-shirt with Sid Vicious playing guitar and bleeding on stage. "What'cha think?"

"I like it." She smiled. She was already holding a skirt that was ripped in several areas but put together with safety pins, flannel pants, and boots. "You know, we've been fighting alot. We're like Sid and Nancy." She stated looking at the huge poster of Sid and Nancy standing face to face. Sid's hands were wrapped around her neck.

"So now I'm Sid Vicious?"

"Not exactly. You aren't a drug addict who plays horrible bass."

"Well, don't dye your hair blonde and grow crazy."

"I highly doubt that. I'm not the one whose crazy." He narrowed his eyes at her, he hated when people said that.

'I'm not crazy.'

He took the shirt off and put it on his arm, with his other random bands shirts of all kinds and a sweater that resembled one that Kurt Cobain wore. They paid for their items and walked around the city for a bit holding hands, and talking. He kissed her on the head, making sure that everyone saw what a beautiful woman he had on his arms, when he heard from a distance someone yell from behind him.

"Yo, Mouth!" Jack stopped, rolled his eyes and turned around. He knew that voice from anywhere. Michael was standing only a few feet behind them with an arm around Janet who looked like a cheap whore as usual.

'Of all days, they decide to pop up now. Well at least his whore re-did her dye job.'

"Oh, Mikey. You're here, I'm so thrilled." Jack said pulled his hand free from Val's and clasped his hands together in bloodlust joy.

Michael moved quickly from Janet and closer to Jack, he pulling his sleeves up, as he got closer while Jack stood waiting, unintimidated bored stiff.

"Time to end this shit, Mouth. No cops, No fathers just you and me." Jack pulled up his sleeves and gestured him forward.

"I'm waiting Mikey." He taunted. Miochael hated Jack's nickname for him.

As the people noticed the two men giving the other evil eyes, and balled up fist they slowly began to crowd around them in a perfect circle. The two girlfriends stood there amongst the crowd shocked and what was in front of them.

They both squared up circling around each other like tigers about ready to pounce. Both of their fists were up waiting for the other to move. Michael made the first move first hitting Jack square in the jaw. Jack took a step back but didn't fall. He barely felt anything, probably from shock. He wasn't expecting Michael to actually hit first. Some of the crowd started taking sides, screaming for their winner. Jack still kept his fist up waiting for Michael to deliver a harder punch. This time he did and he hit him at the top of the nose. A sharp pain went through the bridge of his nose and up his face, but not enough to make him give into the pain. He was used to it, and learned to love it. He kept his fist up, everyone was unsure why he hadn't thrown a punch yet. Val began to get worried as she saw Michael deliver another punch this time in the jaw again and another one on his cheek bone. That punch made Jack take another few steps back, he pretended to grab his face in pain. Michael looked at Janet who was beaming at him with pride.

'C'mon Jack time to move.'

Jack slammed his fist into Michael's nose, and delivered another punch to his jaw, then right back to the corner of his eye. Michael tried to throw another punch but Jack doged each one landing another couple in his mouth, and another one to his nose again, hearing a crack echoing between the two of them. Val lost control and began screaming with joy and screaming his name. Jack delivered another punch to Michael's head landing him to his knees. Jack slammed his head into his knee letting him fall to the ground hard. Jack bent down on his knees over Michael's swollen bleeding face and began punching him harder and harder letting out all his pent up anger at the world. The more he punched his victim his face grew more and more bloody and distorted. He lost control and didn't realize what he was doing, even though his fist were hurting so badly he could barely feel them it didn't stop him from hitting him. He only stopped when he felt two people drag him off Michael.

One was some kid with a mohawk and the other was a huge Hispanic kid. Each took a arm and dragged him away from teh bleeding man who was now moaning in pain. When he was far enough away they let go and dashed away. Val grabbed him by the hand and they ran off together following with the scattered crowd.

"Someone called the cops over. Last thing you need is to go to jail." she said. They rushed into the car and drove away quickly trying their best to avoid the sight of the cops. Jack rubbed his jaw and pulled down the mirror from the car. He had a small bruise forming on his jaw, and his noise was bleeding a bit. He even got a shinner on his cheek bone.

"Fucking bastard." he spat. Val kissed his sore cheek softly.

"You are the best baby. You kicked his fucking ass!"

Jack was still growing away from his rush, and slowly he was starting to feel pain circulating around his jaw and the top of his nose. He didn't feel too bad he could deal with it, he had to deal with sixteen years of living with his father, he could live Michael's pathetic punches. He never really fought that hard in his life, he never had to. His dad would only get angrier if he did and no one really fought him in school, or at least when he did show up to school. He didn't feel like much of the winner, he just took advantage of his distracted moment. Winner or not Val was more excited than he was. It was all she talked about the whole car ride back. He didn't feel too well, he just had her drop him off at home not too far from where they were. He walked weakily up to his apartment room and passed out on the couch.

A few hours after his phone was ringing off the hook, and it wouldn't stop no matter how long he ignored it. He finally gave in and grabbed the phone and muttered groggily into it. "Hello?"

"Hey dear." said a high pitched thick accented voice.

"Oh hey Vivian."

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Vivian is more important than just a normal ex girlfriend, she's a very important piece of the present. This story isn't going to be about Vivian and Jack, I'm only showing her as a plot device for right now I guess.

Early on we see Jack influencing a little anarchy into peoples lives starting with Nikki. I loved writing that part, you get to see how manipulative. Well I'm sure it doesn't really count because she's like six but hey you get the picture.

This was actually meant to be part of the chapter previous but it would've been wayyyy too long so I cut it half and tada. The poem is The Childrens Hour by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (the poem in the beginning), I love this poem and I could see Joker/Jack saying that to Val. It's quite romantic but a bit posessive.

Another thing, the Sid and Nancy movie was the idea that Ledger based his Joker off of, and I always considered the woman who he was with would have to be a Nancy. Both are like two sticks of dynamite coming together to equal a huge BOOM. If you haven't seen that movie, I suggest you do.

Sorry if the fight scene seemed a little lame, but it's really hard for me to write fight scenes. It sucks because I know what I want to say but I don't know how to say it. Bllaaahhh. So yeah, if you didn't like it don't worry I didn't like it either.

Hmm... that's it I think. Enjoy and review guys.

The next chapter will be right back to the present. Whew I had to get some ideas down it was kind of hard. Alright now I'm shutting up byyyeee..

-Val