Chapter 14

Over the next two weeks, The Joker was spending less and less time at home and more time at their old safehouse preparing for what had become known as "The End of The Wall." It had been two nights in a row now that the club had been solely under Harley's management, and none of the guys had come home at all.

It was around 3:00A.M., the club had been closed for an hour, and the last few stragglers had been sent out into the street by the security team. Harley laid on the bar, her heels forgotten on the floor beside her, swirling a vodka and cranberry cocktail in her hand. She rarely drank during business hours, but usually made herself a drink or two towards the end of the night while the girls cleaned up so that she could relax and come back down from being "Manager Harley." She heard the front door open and shut behind someone, followed by the sound of men's dress shoes clicking on the hardwood floors.

"Sorry sir, we're closed. Last call was about an hour ago," Harley announced lazily to the stranger. She heard the steps grow closer anyway and a familiar voice filled the room.

"Well ho hum. I was hoping to get a brandy and a night cap from my favorite girl," the voice purred and Harley's heart soared. She sat up and spun around to be greeting by the glinting grill and tattooed face of her husband smiling back at her.

"Puddin!" she exclaimed throwing her arms around him in a way that he nearly had to catch her from falling forwards off the bar. "You came home!" He chuckled and held her tight. "Where are the boys?"

"Staying at the Steel Mill tonight. I sort of snuck out to be honest. But, I haven't slept in days and I wanted to spend some time with my wife." She giggled and looked up at him to be greeted by a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm glad you decided to play hookie, Puddin," she said.

"And I'm glad you're not a bartender anymore. I ordered my drink ages ago." She laughed and hopped off the bar to go pour him a drink as he sat down at one of the stools.

"How's 'The End of The Wall' coming?" she asked as she scooped some ice into a glass for him.

"So far so good. The place is slowly but surely being decorated to look pretty similar to this joint, except also being rigged to blow louder and brighter than the Fourth of July." The Joker let out a chuckle at the idea of Waller busting in with her team expecting to apprehend The Clown Queen only to be blown to smithereens.

"Can't wait to watch the show," Harley replied as she placed J's drink in front of him. He took a sip before responding.

"You should get quite the show from our bedroom balcony," he said nonchalantly, hoping to avoid the fight that was to follow.

"Our bedroom balcony?" she echoed, her tone annoyed. "Puddin!"

"Harley, I don't want to hear it. We've been over this a million times and I'm not keen on repeating myself a million more – I need you here."

"We can't close the club for one night!? I thought we were a team now!" she snapped, slapping her hands onto the counter to lean into him and look him in the eye.

"Yes. A team. Meaning you run the club and I run the other businesses. Split 50-50," he was trying to keep his voice even but his eyes were squinted shut as he rubbed his temples.

"But this has everything to do with me! It's me she's after!"

"I need you here," he repeated through gritted teeth, sipping his drink through a shaky hand as he tried to his best to keep his temper in check.

"You haven't changed one bit! All this bullshit about us being equals and partners, it's all just an excuse to keep me cooped up here, and for what!" Quick as a flash, he stood and his glass went whizzing past her head, shattering against the wall behind her. His eyes were wild as he looked at her and his hands flew out to grab her arms. Her walls went up as she prepared for a physical brawl but what happened next threw her off guard.

"I WILL NOT LOSE YOU AGAIN!" His voice echoed off the walls of the empty club and his heavy, shaking breaths were the only sound to fill the room afterwards – the hired help had long since dipped out when they'd started their domestic dispute. The air was still around them and her mouth hung open as she stared back into his steel-like eyes. They seemed to soften along with his grasp on her as reality sent in that he'd lost his temper with her again. But she didn't look afraid of him this time, or ready to throw a punch right back. Instead her eyes welled with tears and the words he'd spoken bubbled up in his throat again, as if to remind him of where they were in this conversation.

"I won't lose you again," he repeated, softer this time as he let her go and adverted his gaze away from her. He turned to leave and head upstairs, wanting to give her space after his outburst, but instead she padded after him and grabbed his hand. He spun around and saw her standing there, still speechless for the first time he could remember but with silent tears spilling down her cheeks. "Harls?"

"Is that what this has all been about?" she asked him softly, her voice cracking some as she tried not to bawl.

He swallowed and ran his free hand through his hair, adverting his gaze away from her again. He couldn't stand to see her cry, especially when it was his fault.

"Harls…I…don't cry. Are your arms…ice?" For someone so eloquent, apologies were like a foreign tongue for The Clown.

"I'm okay," she said waving her hand as though she were shooing a fly. He looked at her finally and reached up to wipe a tear away from her cheek with his thumb.

"Then what's with the waterworks? You know I don't know what to do with…this," he motioned to her face.

"I feel so stupid. This whole time I thought you didn't trust me to be apart of your big plans and you thought I would mess it up. I should have known the real reason behind it. I'm so sorry, Puddin'."

"I don't want you anywhere near that woman," The Joker growled as he pulled her into an embrace and held her against his chest. He held her tightly, nearly crushing her, as though if he let her go she might vanish. She stayed there for a while, taking in his scent, her tiny fists latching onto his shirt, wanting to keep this locked in her memory banks forever. This moment - this is what no one saw from The Joker. Deep down, underneath the murderous psychopathic tendencies and the jokes and laughs, was the sweetest man she'd ever met in her life who just didn't know how to handle his raw emotions.

She pulled away some to look up at him and reached up to touch his face. In this light, she could see just how human he really was. Under the pale skin, tattoos, and grey eyes, she saw the dark circles under his eyes, the lines and scars in his face, and the lack of sleep over his brow. She traced a scar along his cheek with her thumb, forcing him to look her in the eyes, although it was uncomfortable for him given their intimate moment. She smiled softly and he smiled back, resting his forehead against hers.

"Let's get you up to bed. You haven't slept in days and your makeup's worn off. You must be exhausted," she said to him. It was true, the circles around his eyes were a purple-blue hue rather than the black grease pant that usually lurked there, and his lips were pale pink from the stain of lipstick that had long since worn off.

"Only if you're coming with me," he replied through a devilish grin as he winked at her. She blushed and he kissed the back of hand which erupted a giggle from her lips. As if on cue, a yawn interrupted her laugh and he scooped her up to carry her upstairs.

Once up in their room, he stripped down and flopped into their bed, sighing and stretching against the silk sheets. Following suit, Harley snuggled in next to him and he reached out and pulled her against his bare chest.

"Wake me up before you leave?" Harley whispered to him before he drifted off. He nodded solemnly in promise to her and the two drifted off together, almost as though they were a normal married couple.

A/N: Getting towards the end here ladies and gents! If I make a third in the series would you all be interested or should I just let it end after this one? Read and review!