Songbird

by Thealmightyprincessunicorn

Joker falls in love with his Arkham cell neighbor, a woman who is even more damaged than he is. This is the story of the Joker, the one woman who can calm his madness, battling mental illness, contract killers, villains and rogues becoming allies, a new clown posse in Gotham, and all manner of shenanigans, inappropriate humor, violence, smut, and foul language. You've been warned.

37. Chapter 37

Disclaimer: I do not own or take credit for anything other than my OC's.

Author's Note: Buckle up, darlings! It's gonna be a wild ride.

- xxx -

Joker's Funhouse – The Midway:

"What the hell is this place?" Commissioner Gordon got out of his squad car and immediately stormed towards the main entrance of the Funhouse, taking in its abandoned and decrepit state.

"Must be their hideout or something," Officer Santos kept his voice cool and calm, playing stupid perfectly. He glanced at his partner and gave him a warning look behind Commissioner Gordon, a silent threat not to slip up.

"We shouldn't go in until we've called for backup – something doesn't feel right," Commissioner Gordon pulled out his cell phone, frowning at the 'No Signal' message on his screen as he tried to call HQ.

"What's wrong, Sir?" Officer Deckard did a good job of hiding his nervousness and playing dumb, keeping his tone as silky as always.

"No signal," Commissioner Gordon mumbled. "Check your phones – do you have a signal?"

"Nada," Officer Santos shook his head and adopted a puzzled look as he stared at his screen. "Just says 'No Signal.'"

"Same," Officer Deckard chimed in. "No data either, and I have unlimited data with roaming."

"Jammers," Commissioner Gordon growled. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. She hasn't gotten caught yet, not by us or by the Batman. She's smart."

"She is," Officer Santos was nonchalant, walking through the entrance just behind the Commissioner. He knew Ruiz and Bane's men were lurking nearby. The plan was to get the Commissioner there and into the Midway so they could make their move. They were almost at the 'checkpoint', as they had labeled it, and Officer Santos bit the inside of his cheek to hide his smirk as Commissioner Gordon stormed through the Midway like he was on a mission, hell-bent on finding his daughter. Little did he know, she was already dead.

"Spread out," Commissioner Gordon barked, drawing his gun and slowing down to take in their surroundings. "Deckard, you go right. Santos, you go left. If you run into any trouble, fire off a shot and I'll find you."

"Roger that," Officer Deckard took off in the direction the Commissioner had pointed him in, glancing over his shoulder at his partner who was doing the same, both of them walking with their guns drawn and still playing their roles. The plan was going perfectly – they knew that without backup, the Commissioner would want them to spread out to cover more ground and find Barbara faster, leaving him open and vulnerable to Ruiz's blitz attack.

It came sooner than both Officers expected. They heard a startled shout and a clanging noise and knew Ruiz had gotten to the Commissioner. Both officers ran towards the source of the commotion, guns still drawn just in case Gordon had gotten the jump on Ruiz, and found the Commissioner lying unconscious on the ground with a very smug-looking Ruiz standing over him with a pipe at his feet.

Ruiz stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled, drawing the attention of the men under his command – a mixture of Joker's guys and Bane's guys. "Take him to the Ha-Ha-Hacienda, boys." A couple of them lifted the Commissioner off the ground, carrying him by his arms and legs behind Ruiz as they made their way to Joker's HQ. Some of them looked a little too excited about taking part in killing the gruff, jaded veteran cop.

"Looks like you've got this handled," Officer Santos mused, watching as the two henchmen tossed the Commissioner to the floor inside the Ha-Ha-Hacienda. "We'll be at the station."

"Santos," Ruiz stopped Luis just before he reached the door. Luis motioned with a flick of his wrist for Daryl to wait for him outside. Once his partner was gone and the door was shut, Luis turned to face Ruiz.

"Qué pasa?"

"I need you to stop by the safe house and check on the cat and the lunatic, but I can't allow your partner to accompany you." Ruiz's expression was stern.

"If he goes back to the station without me, it'll look sus, especially with the Commissioner missing. I'd either have to take him with me and fake a call or make up a convincing alibi for myself."

Ruiz nodded, mulling it over for a moment. "Get back to your car with ese perro. Once you're past the jammers, call Jester – not El Demonio or the Payaso. See what she says. If she says no, go back to the station and run interference."

"And if she says yes?"

"Stay at the house until we're back. I don't trust that vato loco in the basement. If he gets out, kill him and make sure there's nothing left to resurrect."

"Dalo por hecho." Officer Santos shook Ruiz's hand before making his way out of the Ha-Ha-Hacienda, ignoring the curious look his partner was fixing him with. "Let's go." He moved quickly through the Midway and back towards the undercover car, itching to call Jester so he'd know his next move. He didn't like sitting around and waiting, he liked to be in on the action. Even guarding the house was better than dicking around in the bullpen.

- xxx -

Blackgate Isle – Blackgate Prison – Main Corridor:

"Rogue roll call..."

Jester was sneaking down the corridor that led to the Infirmary where Copperhead and Harley were currently waiting for her. Poison Ivy was in the Jungle, posted in one of the guard towers and manipulating several plants to grow large enough to trap humans. She kept a steady flow of spores floating through the prison, keeping the guards brainwashed and compliant. They were spread out throughout the prison to be used as hostages, bait, and to attack the Bat-Family on demand. The regular staff members were trapped in the cafeteria with the Mad Hatter, hypnotized to do his bidding and participate in his deluded tea party.

"All set up in the morgue, my love," Scarecrow's growl came through the radio immediately and Jester grinned, happy to hear his voice. With all the time they had been spending together and how angry she was at Joker, she missed his company as she walked along the deserted, dark corridor.

"In position on the roof with Deadshit."

Jester rolled her eyes at Double-Tap's lame slight at Deadshot and ignored his light chuckle over the static of the radio.

"Toasty and I are set up in Solitary, Mortifera," Bane's voice boomed so loudly through the radio that it seemed as if he was right next to her. She laughed, shaking her head. If Bane contacted any of them through the radio at all during the night, the rodent squad would find them all easily.

"Hammer reporting from the Jungle with the crazy plant lady."

Jester snickered, knowing Poison Ivy was likely to whip him with a thick vine for the insult. She wished, for only a moment, she was there to witness it.

"Razor and I are posted in the main corridor with the boys."

There was crackling from the radio and Jester listened carefully as Mad Hatter spoke in hushed tones to someone in the cafeteria with him. She wasn't sure if he was aware that he was actively on the radio, but she listened to his rantings anyway. "Now, I've invited a special guest to tea and I expect you all to be at your most accommodating! I should tidy up before my guest arrives..."

"Riddler?"

"Riddler here! I am in the system and ready to go. Waiting on your green light to take over the radio towers."

Jester nodded to herself, doing the math in her head. Scarecrow, Two-Face, Bane, Double-Tap, Deadshot, Johnny, Razor, Hammer, Poison Ivy, Mad Hatter, and Riddler were all accounted for, but some were missing. She knew Copperhead and Harley were in the Infirmary, so that left Joker. Sure, he had been pestering her over the radio before and she had ignored him, but she didn't think it would cause him not to check-in. Riddler seemed way too content on his end of the radio to be in Joker's presence, and knowing J the way she did, he would've jumped on checking in before Riddler got a chance if he was in the Control Room where he was supposed to be.

"So where the hell is -"

"Hello, baby."

Joker's purr in her ear sent a tiny shiver down her spine and she did her best to hide it from him. She clenched her jaw and turned to glare at him. "You're supposed to be in the Control Room."

"Isn't this the way?" He feigned confusion, scanning their surroundings and stroking his chin. "Huh. I must've gotten lost!"

She cut off his delightful giggle with a snap of her fingers. "What do you want, J? We don't have time for this shit. Have you forgotten about Ace – you know, your son? The baby waiting for his daddy to come home?"

"Funny you should mention that," Joker's expression quickly shifted into one of controlled rage. He stepped closer to her, looming threateningly over her as his gaze bore into hers. "A little birdie told me you have baby fever. Is that true?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Jester's eyebrows knit together in her confusion. She didn't recall saying anything about having baby fever. She mulled his question over for a few minutes, trying to figure out who would've told him that and if she said it. Realization dawned on her just as he snapped.

"Don't play stupid with me, Jester! Answer the question! Is it true?"

Jester tried to piece together a careful response. She recalled saying it when Catwoman admitted to her pregnancy. She didn't want to give Catwoman's secret away but she needed to answer J before things got out of hand. They simply did not have the time for this, and if they started fighting now, it would fuck them over once the rodent squad showed up. They had to work together – any hostility between any of them could be used against them.

"I mentioned it in passing, but I haven't put much thought into it since. It was a fleeting thing. Who told you that?" She raised an eyebrow at him and put her hands on her hips.

A wicked grin stretched across Joker's face and his eyes sparkled with malice. This was the perfect opportunity to throw Scarecrow under the bus and shift Jester's scorn from himself to the other man. "You might say it was a crow of sorts," he inferred, winking at her.

"And what context was it said in?"

"Oh, let me see..." He chuckled, leaning back against the wall and adopting a thoughtful expression. "Oh, right! Straw Man said, and I quote," he giggled as he recalled the conversation, playing it over in his mind verbatim, "'She was just talking about having baby fever and how lovely it was being pregnant the other day. I have to say, it piqued my interest – I've been debating planting a seed of my own in her womb ever since.'" He mocked Scarecrow's growl almost perfectly.

Jester nodded, mulling it all over in her mind. She couldn't quite pinpoint how she felt about it. On one hand, she was angry that Scarecrow had said that to Joker in an obvious attempt to get under his skin and make him insecure, especially since it seemed like there was some weight to what he said. On the other hand, she was intrigued – she hadn't ever imagined Jonathan or Scarecrow being the type to want a child. Sure, both of them were wonderful with Ace and Reina, but neither of them ever spoke about children or wanting them. It certainly piqued her interest enough to want to talk to the two of them about it once they all returned home and got some rest. It wasn't like she hadn't entertained the thought herself, after all – even if it was just fleetingly.

"I see."

Joker's eyes widened and his expression went blank. "That's all you have to say?"

"What do you want me to say?" Jester shrugged at him, completely nonchalant. "Scarecrow and I haven't ever spoken about it. I wasn't even aware he was entertaining those thoughts – I'm not sure if Jonathan is even aware of Scarecrow's thoughts, and even if he is, he hasn't said a word to me about it either."

"Let me see if I understand this correctly," Joker snarled, glaring at her. "The beast tells me he's thinking of knocking you up, and you're not even slightly angry?"

"Why would I be?" Jester rolled her eyes, leaning back against the opposite wall. "Like I said, neither of them have brought it up with me. I know they wouldn't do something like that without talking to me about it first. What's there to be angry about? I'm not going to be angry at either one of them for entertaining the idea of having a child with me. It's a natural thing, isn't it? Wanting to have a child with the woman you love?"

"You're forgetting something, princess," Joker stalked towards her, pinning her against the wall with his arms on either side of hers and his nose touching hers. "I got snipped for you because you didn't want any more children. I did, and you didn't. You were going to get your lady bits scraped out so I got snipped instead to keep you from mutilating your insides. I'd hate to think you've changed your mind and want another child after all of that."

Jester felt a pang of guilt in her chest and frowned slightly. She met his gaze unflinchingly, looking deep into his eyes and noticing the sadness behind his obvious rage. "You forget you also got snipped because my birth control doesn't stand a chance against you. I had just given birth, and even now my body still isn't ready for another one even if I wanted one. We couldn't have sex at all if one of us didn't get fixed – we would have conceived over and over again. It was a matter of responsibility, J."

"The way you're talking, Jester, it almost sounds like you're debating what Scarecrow told me," Joker grit his teeth and Jester noticed the ticking in his jaw. "You still haven't answered my fucking question. Is. It. TRUE?"

Jester sighed, lifting her hands to rub her temples in an attempt to ward off the oncoming headache. "What do you want from me, J? I'm a woman, I can't help it! Sometimes I hold Ace or Reina or watch them sleep, or watch them coo at each other and think it would be nice for Ace to have a sibling to grow up with. Sometimes I hold Ace and think about how fast he'll grow and how this precious infant stage won't last forever and it makes me want another one. Sometimes I think about the others, like Harls and D.S. Trying to get pregnant and it makes me miss the excitement of having a baby. It's natural to feel that way, I can't help it. It doesn't mean I want another baby or even think about it. I haven't put too much stock into the idea."

Joker backed away from her and paced the corridor as he mulled over everything she said. He dug a cigarette out of the pack strapped in his holster and struck a match to light it, taking several deep drags to try and calm his frayed nerves. She wasn't necessarily saying she wanted another baby, and she wasn't necessarily saying she didn't either. He knew he couldn't be angry about it – she was right, these thoughts and feelings were natural for women to have, especially after having a child. He tried to calm his simmering rage and his irrational insecurity as Scarecrow's words haunted his thoughts, but it was difficult when Jester hadn't outright denied wanting another child.

What if she does want one, just not with me? What if she's entertaining the thought of another child with them?

No, she wouldn't do that. She loves me, she belongs to me, she's the mother to my son. Surely if she were to have another, it would be with me. The Doc said vasectomies are reversible – I could give her another if she wanted it.

She didn't say it to me, though. No, she said it while I was locked in my cage like an animal, far away from her. She voiced those thoughts to him – not me.

Joker's insecurity got the best of him and he stalked back over to her, grabbing her roughly by the hair and yanking her closer to him until they were nose-to-nose again. With his free hand, he roughly gripped her face and held her there, forcing her to look him in the eye and being careful not to burn her with his smoke. "You want another one, don't you? You want another with them! How convenient for you that I'm fixed like a fucking dog and he isn't! How coincidental that you mentioned this baby fever while I was locked away in this hell hole and you were fucking them at home!"

Jester glared at him and wrenched his hands off of her, backing up to put some distance between them. Her right hand twitched a little as the urge to hit him rushed through her like a tidal wave. She fought it off, knowing it was a bad idea to start the night off this way and reminded herself that she needed to snuff out his rage instead of fueling it.

"There are a lot of things we need to discuss, J," she kept her tone calm and neutral, lifting her chin in a show of defiance and confidence, letting him know she would not be intimidated by him. "Unfortunately, this is not the time or place to do so. Let's get through this breakout, carry out our plans, and we can discuss this once we are back home."

Joker growled, shaking with his rage. His eyes blazed and darkened slightly and Jester sighed, running a hand through her blood-soaked hair.

"Please, J. It has been a long night already – I've been at it since midnight and we're coming up on 4 AM. We need to get back home to Ace. He misses his daddy – he needs his daddy."

"I know he does, but do you?" Joker was trying his hardest to fight off his Madness, knowing she had a point and the most important thing right now was carrying out their plans and getting back home to his son.

"Of course I do, you jerk!" She gave him a playful smirk to try and calm him. "I'm mad as hell at you, but it doesn't mean I don't miss you. You did something awful and you hurt me, but it doesn't mean I don't love you anymore." Her face dropped and she frowned slightly, reminded of how brokenhearted and hurt she was that four of the people she loved and trusted the most had betrayed her. "We have a lot of shit to sort out, J, but it has to wait. The longer we take here, the higher the risk of us never getting back home."

Joker hated the way her sadness always caused his heart to ache and pain to shoot through his chest. "Damn you, woman," he growled under his breath, closing the distance between them and wrapping his arms around her. He tangled a hand in her hair, gently pulling her head into his shoulder. "Fine, but only if you promise to talk to me when we get home."

"I promise," her voice was muffled since her face was buried in his bare shoulder, but he heard her just fine.

"Jester... I really am sorry for what I've done. The boys are too."

"That's not enough," Jester pulled her face away from his shoulder and looked up at him. "You guys broke my trust, and that's a terrible thing to do... especially to someone like me. You know that better than anyone," he nodded in acknowledgment, not saying a word so she could continue. "Let's get on with it, shall we?"

Joker nodded again, letting her pull away from him. "One more question," he raked his eyes over her from head to toe, taking in the dried blood in her hair, on her skin and bodysuit. "Whose blood is that?"

Jester bit her bottom lip and raked a hand through her hair, shifting her feet nervously. "Barbara Gordon's," she murmured, refusing to meet his eyes. "That's why I want to get this all done and over with quickly. I can't afford the Bat Brats getting the upper-hand on us... Batsy might just break his code tonight once he finds out about Barbara and the other thing."

Joker raised his eyebrows at her and gave her a stern look as he lifted her chin. "Look at me," he commanded softly, studying the anxiety in her expression. When she met his eyes, he saw a hint of fear in them and it bothered him. "What's this 'other thing?'"

Jester looked around the corridor, making sure no one would hear her next words. She spoke softly so her voice wouldn't carry. "Commissioner Gordon is being tortured at the Funhouse as we speak – once Ruiz is done with the tasks I set for him, he's killing the Commissioner."

"Care to go into detail, darling?" Joker couldn't help the wicked grin that stretched from ear to ear on his pale face at the thought of the Commissioner suffering at the hands of his soon-to-be-wife.

"It's better if I don't," she answered. "Plausible deniability, ya know?"

"You know I'd never let those idiots hurt you, don't you?" He kissed her forehead, pulling her into his arms once more to try and comfort her.

"I know," she mumbled. "But you and I won't be near each other at all today. I'll be fine, though. I'll be with Copperhead and Harley."

"Until the three of you distract and separate the brats," Joker growled. "I haven't forgotten your part of the plan."

"Whoever I lure will be lured to either the Mad Hatter, Scarecrow, or Ivy. I'll be fine."

An idea struck him and he smirked, his bloodlust racing through his veins. "Think you can do me a favor, princess?"

Jester nodded.

"Try and get the little birdbrain after you. I don't care who you lure him to first, just make sure to bring him to me last."

"What are you going to do?" Jester looked up at him, curiosity written all over her face.

"Plausible deniability, remember?"

Joker grinned at her and lowered his head, hoping she'd at least let him kiss her before they parted ways. "Will you let me escort you the rest of the way to the Infirmary? That's where you were headed, isn't it?"

Jester nodded, taking the hand he had extended to her. He laced their fingers together and tugged her back towards him when she turned to walk away. Before she could say a word, he cupped her face in his free hand and pressed his lips to hers in a soft kiss, sighing in relief when she returned it. "I love you, my little bird," he whispered, stroking her hair affectionately.

"I love you too, even if you're an asshole."

- xxx -

The Mansion Safe House – The Basement:

"That looks delicious," Victor Zsasz licked his lips and grinned at Catwoman as she came closer to the gas chamber he was currently locked inside with a turkey sandwich on a plate.

"Shut up," she hissed, glaring at him. "You're lucky Jester wants to keep you alive to torture you for information – otherwise, the rest of us would have no problem killing you."

"It's lovely to see you too, kitten," Zsasz mused. "So, does everyone hate me, or do I have any friends left in the Rogue circles?"

"Friends? You?" Catwoman snorted, slipping the tray through a little slot in the glass. She closed it back up and locked it, keeping a careful eye on Zsasz.

"You've got a point," he admitted, taking his tray to the little metal chair in the corner of the chamber and setting it down in his lap as he sat down. "I assume that's why I wasn't included in the breakout plans?"

"How do you know about that?" Catwoman sneered at him, folding her arms over her chest.

Zsasz chuckled and pointed up at the ceiling. "The vents," he said. "Of course this one is sealed, but the others aren't." He motioned with his chin behind Catwoman.

She looked up at the ceiling and scowled, noticing the few vents he was referring to. "I see."

"I can be of assistance, you know," Zsasz continued, taking a bite of his sandwich. "It isn't like I don't have any experience."

"If you think I'll turn you loose, you're more insane than you were before."

"Ouch," he frowned, setting his sandwich back down on the tray. "How else will I prove my loyalty and eagerness to gain everyone's trust and friendship?"

Catwoman rolled her eyes. "That will never happen, Zsasz. We all know you'd only turn around and put a knife in our backs – pun intended."

"You know," he tilted his head, raising his eyebrows at her and smirking. "One could say the same about you. You were once Batman's love interest and walked the line between hero and villain, yet they all trust and love you. You live here with the rest of them – part of their big, happy Rogue family. Hell, Joker even trusts you with his child."

"We need to seal the rest of these fucking vents," Catwoman muttered, shaking her head.

"Admit it, Selina. You were the least trustworthy of the bunch, but you proved yourself to them. Why shouldn't I be given the same chance? I'm not the same as I was before Jester killed me."

"I won't say that your argument doesn't have any merit, but you and I both know you are not getting out of that chamber. I would never betray Jester."

"So they trust that nutty pedophile to hold a bunch of Blackgate staff hostage with his hypnotism, but they don't trust me enough to help? I'm not stupid, I know Mad Hatter, Two-Face, and Double-Tap are being used as expendables – collateral, even. Why shouldn't I be allowed to join in on the fun?"

"You want to be used as collateral?" Catwoman chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief. "You really are nuts."

"Does Jester know Mad Hatter is a pedophile? It seems to me that he is the type to end up on the business end of her gun if I'm not mistaken." Zsasz raised an eyebrow at Catwoman, looking a little too smug for her liking.

"Shut up and eat your damn sandwich," Catwoman hissed, turning to walk away.

"It would be a shame, kitten if she found out. She'd be one ally down in the breakout."

"You have no way of reaching her," Catwoman turned to glare at him. "So I'm not too concerned about it."

"You do," he argued, grinning at her. "If you're a true friend and your loyalty lies with her, why not tell her the truth? After all, if Mad Hatter wanted, he could successfully hypnotize her to harm her child or to expose this hideout to him. He could hypnotize any of them into doing it. Say he runs into Ruiz at Giggles and hypnotizes him into doing his bidding – he could find out about this safe house and steal little Reina once she's at a desirable age." His eyes widened and he gasped dramatically, leaning forward in his seat. "What if Harley Quinn does conceive and eventually gives birth to a blonde little girl, and that little girl happens to cross paths with Jervis one day?"

"That's enough," Catwoman threatened, coming closer to the glass and pinning him with her gaze.

"That rage in your eyes tells me I'm right," Zsasz said coolly. "At least give me the chance to speak to her ask her if I can join in on the fun. After all, it would only benefit her. I'd be far away from the babies, I'd serve as more collateral and a better distraction for the Batman. It's a win-win for her!"

"I hate to say it, Selina, but he's right."

Catwoman startled a little at the sound of Officer Santos' voice echoing through the basement. "Christ, Luis! What the hell are you doing here? You're supposed to be at the Funhouse."

"Nope, Ruiz and Bane's men are handling it from there. Ruiz wanted me to come here to check on you guys and be an extra layer of protection, but I couldn't come here without my partner. If Daryl showed up at the GCPD without me, there would be too many questions." He kicked off the wall he was leaning against and approached Catwoman, keeping his eyes on Zsasz as he continued. "Ruiz had me call Jester to see what she'd want me to do, and she agreed to Daryl and I both coming here. I think it's worth calling her. Zsasz would be a good distraction and I think they could use him."

Catwoman groaned, raking a hand through her long black locks. "You're calling her, then." She glared at Ruiz and Zsasz as she made her way across the basement to the stairs. "I refuse to have any part in letting that wingnut loose."

"Fine," Luis laughed, shaking his head as he pulled his burner phone from his pocket. "That just means you'll have to deal with Daryl upstairs."

Catwoman hissed at him and flipped him the bird as she ascended the stairs, making both men laugh even harder.

Luis dialed Jester's number and put the call on speakerphone as it rang. He gave Zsasz a serious look through the glass. "I'm not gonna plead your case for you, vato loco."

"Oh, I wasn't expecting you to." Zsasz grinned wickedly at him as Jester finally answered. "I like to speak for myself."

- xxx -

Blackgate Isle – Blackgate Prison – Main Corridor:

Doctor Evans scurried into an empty office and carefully shut and locked the door behind her. She barricaded it with a desk, a chair, and several other items that she prayed would hold it. She was very lucky to be in the main corridor when the loud, jarring sounds of cells opening and alarms blaring rang out throughout the entire prison. She was close to all of the offices and visitation rooms, able to scurry into one and hide before any of the inmates reached the corridor. She was still reeling from the conversation she overheard between Joker and Jester.

After wasting entirely too much time trying to hide from henchmen that were never coming after her, she had finally reached the main corridor. She had been so close to the main doors – so close to freedom – when Jester and the other Rogues showed up and began stalking through the corridors. She slipped into one of the visitation rooms and crouched in the far corner, hoping none of them would poke their heads in and find her.

She kept playing the clowns' argument over and over in her mind, bewildered at the thought of Joker having a child, let alone having any kind of capacity to love or care for another at all. This meant that his cruel, domineering, and controlling persona was either all an act or just one side of him. Surely a man the likes of the one she dealt with wasn't capable of loving a woman and feeling things like jealousy, insecurity, and remorse, right?

Her eyes widened as she realized just how bad of an idea it was to try and resemble Jester before her chemical bath. Jester wasn't just a sidekick or arm candy to the Joker – she was his other half, the mother of his child, and the calm in his storm. Doctor Evans was shocked by how quickly and easily Jester was able to calm Joker down and pull him back from the edge. She couldn't believe her ears when she heard Joker apologize to Jester for hurting her. The man really, truly loved and cared for her and needed her. To try and manipulate a response from him by copying Jester's original looks was a terrible thing to do. If he hadn't been locked in that cell, he probably would've killed her as soon as he laid eyes on her. She thought back to that first day when she willingly walked into his cell and shuddered. He could have killed her and she always knew that, but after seeing his interaction with Jester she realized just how lucky she was that he didn't.

Another thought struck her and a chill ran down her spine. Jester had been covered in blood – blood that she said belonged to the Commissioner's daughter. She killed Barbara Gordon! Even worse, the Commissioner himself was being tortured somewhere else at the present moment and would be killed soon. She shuddered violently, rubbing her arms and bringing her knees up to her chest. If the Commissioner was missing – or worse, dead – the GCPD stood no chance of stopping these psychopaths. There were too many Rogues here, and with all of the inmates loose Batman and his sidekicks were heavily outnumbered and barely stood a chance.

She briefly considered calling the GCPD to warn them, but she knew that if she did, they'd come here to try and stop the Rogues and they'd all end up dead. She didn't want that on her conscience. She wasn't sure what the Rogues were attempting to do tonight – she knew they were breaking Joker and his guys out, but she wasn't too sure what their plans were for the Bat-Family. One thing was for sure, though – whatever they had planned wouldn't end well for the Bat-Family if they succeeded.

She gasped when she heard Joker's voice and wicked laughter booming through the prison, clutching at her chest as she backed herself into a far corner behind a file cabinet.

"Gooooood evening, ladies, gents and crooks of all kinds! Uncle J here, but you can call me Warden Joker. I've taken over Blackgate with the help of my crafty friends and I've decided to have a little party!"

A bout of wicked laughter echoed through the corridors and reverberated off of the stone walls, making Doctor Evans' blood run cold.

"Now some of you might be thinking, 'what is this crazy clown up to now?' Well, I'll tell ya! Tonight the Bat-Family dies. If any of you get in our way, we'll kill ya. That reminds me – if anyone sees a stray hostage or two, kill them! Consider them early Christmas gifts from yours truly!"

Another bout of wicked, delirious laughter. Doctor Evans folded her arms over her knees and buried her face in them as she cried, panicked and terrified and not sure how to get the hell out of here. She knew she could reach the main doors at this point, but even if she reached them without anyone seeing her, she wasn't sure what she'd be met with outside on the grounds. As far as she was concerned, she was trapped hiding in this room until it was all over.

It was going to be a long, long day.

- xxx -

Blackgate Isle – Blackgate Prison – The Morgue:

'We need to talk.'

Scarecrow stared at the text message on his screen as he made his way to the Infirmary where he knew Jester was. He received the message nearly ten minutes ago and had a feeling this couldn't be good. He wasn't sure if Joker had found her or not, but his gut was telling him this text message had something to do with the arrogant clown.

He finally reached the Infirmary and poked his burlap-covered head inside, catching Jester's eye as she chatted away with Harley and Copperhead. "A moment?"

Jester nodded, excusing herself politely as she made her way out of the Infirmary and into the corridor. She walked towards the end of the corridor, ducking around the corner and waiting for Scarecrow to catch up with her. "You didn't have to come up here now, you know," she gave him a small smile, leaning casually against the wall.

"I'm aware," he answered, frowning slightly at her. "However, something tells me whatever we need to talk about has something to do with the Clown. I assume you heard about our little spat in the Morgue?"

"Spat?" Jester's eyebrows furrowed and she frowned. "What spat?"

Scarecrow chuckled, shaking his head. "He didn't tell you. Of course, he didn't tell you."

"Didn't tell me what?"

"Come with me," Scarecrow held his long, clawed hand out to her and grinned when she took it. He led her down the corridor until he found an empty office and he ushered her inside before him.

He closed the door behind him and locked it before transforming back into Jonathan's form. Once he was in Jonathan's skin again, he grinned wickedly at her and backed her into the desk. He lifted her and sat her down on the edge of the desk, settling himself between her spread legs and gripping her thighs in his hands. "The Clown and I argued," he explained, stroking the skin of her inner thighs with his thumbs. "Why don't you tell me what he told you? I can fill in the blanks for you."

"He told me that you said I mentioned having baby fever and that you told him you were thinking of knocking me up." She chewed on her bottom lip as her arousal spiked at his touch, trying to keep her mind clear and her thoughts in check.

"I did," Scarecrow admitted nonchalantly. "Not in those exact words, but that sums it up."

"Why'd you say it?"

He smiled at her, pecking her quickly on the lips. "Because I meant it," he whispered, watching her face carefully for her reaction.

She paled a little, her eyes going wide with shock and her mouth hanging open. "What?"

"I meant it," he repeated, slowly sliding his hands up her thighs and to her hips. "Joker was perturbed that I wouldn't give him your location and hinted at putting a stop to our relationship with you. I was being petty and spiteful at the time, wanting to get under his skin and cause him discomfort, but I meant what I said."

"I want to know everything," she pinned him with her gaze and he nodded.

Scarecrow caressed her sides with his hands as he recounted the entire argument from start to finish for her, including Joker's not-so-subtle threat to kill him.

Jester's eyes narrowed and her blood boiled as rage coursed through her veins. "That sneaky, no-good son of a bitch!"

"Calm down, love. You know as well as I do that he was lashing out because he was jealous, insecure, and hurt. You also know that he will not do anything to me – even if he wanted to, he knows you'd never forgive him."

"This whole thing was HIS idea! He wanted us to do this! He wanted us to be together! Now he's making threats and trying to stop it? He has some fucking nerve!"

"Jonathan and I aren't going anywhere, darling," Scarecrow cooed, gently pushing her down so she was lying back on top of the desk. "He'd have to kill us, and I wouldn't allow that to happen."

"His apology didn't mean shit," Jester growled, her eyes darkening slightly in her rage. "He didn't say a damn thing about your argument with him aside from you telling him you thought about knocking me up. Yet ANOTHER thing he did behind my back and hid from me!"

"You and I both know that any comment I make on the subject will be completely biased," Scarecrow mused, slowly unbuttoning his shirt. "So how about I help you relax instead? You're quite tense, my love."

"Wait." She bit her lip and held up a finger at him. "I'm not done talking about the whole baby thing."

Scarecrow nodded, slipping out of his shirt and lowering his mouth to her neck. "Let's talk about it then," he murmured, pressing soft kisses along her jaw and throat. "I have nothing to hide from you."

She bit back a moan and threaded her fingers through his hair. "You told me you meant what you said – does that only apply to you, or has Jonathan entertained the same thought?"

Scarecrow stopped what he was doing and propped himself up over her with his hands on either side of her head. He let Jonathan join the conversation so they could get everything out in the open and get the discussion over with.

Jester noticed the change immediately – Scarecrow's eyes had gone from bright orange to sky blue rimmed with bright orange. They were both speaking to her now. She said nothing, allowing them to talk.

"I'd be lying if I said I haven't thought about it from time to time," the dual voice said. "I watch you with Ace and Reina and wonder what it would be like to see you with a child of our own. I envy Joker for having one with you – a living, breathing piece of the two of you. I love Ace very much, and I imagine sometimes how much more I might love a child of my own."

"He's furious about it," Jester murmured, chewing nervously on her bottom lip and tapping her temple with her pointer finger. "Take a look."

"Relax for me," Scarecrow's growl drowned out the soft tone of Jonathan's voice. "You're too anxious, your thoughts are scrambled."

Jester nodded, taking a deep breath and exhaling it slowly to try and calm her anxiety. Scarecrow noticed her struggling and lowered his head, kissing his way along her jaw and throat, delving into her mind once she relaxed underneath him.

Scarecrow knew Jonathan was still present, seeing everything that he was when he found the memory of Jester's argument with Joker in the corridor. Scarecrow bit back a burst of cruel laughter as he watched Joker unravel in a fit of insecurity and jealous rage, smiling to himself as the Clown accused Jester of wanting another child with himself and Jonathan. He watched the rest of the memory play out, soothing Jester with soft kisses to her lips, chest, collarbone, throat, jaw, and cheeks. Once the memory was over, he removed himself from her mind and ravaged her mouth with a hungry, passionate kiss.

Jester responded immediately, wrapping her arms tight around his neck and locking her legs around him, pressing herself as close as she could to his body. He was tempted to look into her mind again, wanting to see what she was thinking at the moment and if she wanted a child with himself and Jonathan or not, but he didn't want to invade her privacy and betray her trust like the others had. He would only go into her mind if she permitted him.

"Forget about Joker for a moment," Scarecrow murmured, letting Jonathan's soft voice balance out his harsh growl. "Have you thought about it? Do you want one with us?"

"I can't," she whispered. "I'd be betraying him – hurting him."

"Push your guilt aside, my love," Scarecrow insisted. "Focus only on yourself and your happiness. If you tell us no, we will never bring this up again, and we will continue our relationship with you. However..." he kissed her once more on the lips, tangling both hands in her hair, "if you tell us you want one, we will give you one right now – or whenever you're ready."

"Don't!" She shoved him away from her and scrambled to get to her feet, creating some distance between them. Panic and fear slammed through her and she found it hard to breathe, trembling where she stood. "I can't! He'll kill you, he might even kill me, and who knows what the hell he'd do to the baby! I can't! I just can't!"

"Breathe, my love," Scarecrow cooed, slowly approaching her. "Focus on me and count to ten." He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, hoping his heartbeat might help comfort and calm her. "In his own words, 'accidents happen.'" Scarecrow chuckled and rubbed her back to comfort and soothe her. "What if we just had a happy little accident?"

"He'll kill you," Jester argued, burying her face in his bare chest. "He'll kill you both and he'll hurt me and the baby, I just know it."

"Do you think we'd allow that?" Scarecrow chuckled and lifted her so her legs were wrapped around his waist. Jester wrapped her arms tight around his neck and kept her face buried in his chest, not daring to look up into those sky blue and orange eyes. "We would never allow any harm to come to you or our child, and you know it."

"It would be wrong," she argued weakly. "It wouldn't be fair to him."

"He's gone behind your back twice now," Scarecrow reminded her coolly. "He has betrayed your trust, hidden things from you and hurt you. Was any of it fair to you?"

"Don't do that," Jester whispered, clutching at his shoulders. "Don't manipulate me."

"I assure you I'm not," Scarecrow countered. "I'm simply stating facts, darling, and you know it. What does it matter if you hurt him? He continues to hurt you without a care in the world about your feelings. You said it yourself – his apology for going behind your back with the good Doctor and hiding it from you tonight meant nothing. He would have hidden his argument with me from you for ages – we both know he only told you what he did to try and shift your anger at him towards me."

Jester tried to ignore him. He was making sense, he was right and she knew it. Her eyes widened in panic when he draped her over the desk and grinned wolfishly at her.

"Littlest clown," he purred, standing between her spread legs and tracing his thumb down her cheek. "Answer the question... please."

"I can't," she murmured, her bottom lip quivering slightly. "I'm too fucking scared."

"Shhh," Scarecrow cooed, his eyes going completely orange once more. "You have nothing to fear, my littlest clown. Nothing at all."

"I have to go," Jester insisted, sitting up on the desk and blinking furiously to fight off her tears. "I've been gone too long, and so have you. We need to get back to our sections."

"As you wish." Scarecrow's face dropped and he looked away from her. He plucked his shirt up off the ground and slipped it back on, smoothing out the wrinkles and brushing off the dirt once it was buttoned up. "Good luck. Be careful."

He didn't give her a chance to respond before slipping out of the room and quickly making his way back down to the Morgue, transforming back into his true form and busying himself with his work to keep his rage and his pain at bay.

- xxx -

Blackgate Isle – Blackgate Prison – The Infirmary:

"What the hell happened? Did that damn demon hurt ya? I'll kill him, you just gimme the word, Jestah!" Harley rushed to Jester and pulled her into a tight hug, stroking her hair and cooing at her to try and soothe her.

Jester had sulked into the Infirmary with tearstained cheeks, smeared and ruined makeup, and a dreadful look on her face that concerned Copperhead and Harley very much. She looked broken.

"I will bite him and watch as his insides disintegrate," Copperhead hissed the threat, her glowing snake eyes flashing dangerously.

"No, it's not him. Not really. It's me. It's me and my stupid brain and my stupid feelings." Jester buried her head in the crook of Harley's neck and threw her arms around her, fighting off another wave of tears.

"I got an idea," Harley chirped, pulling Jester away and holding her at arm's length as she grinned at her. "Let's fix up that gorgeous face and hair of yours and you can tell us all about it. You'll look so damn good that both of those idiots will kick themselves for makin' ya sad!"

"That's a perfect idea," Copperhead mused, pulling up a comfortable chair for Jester to sit in while Harley dug her makeup bag out of the little duffel bag she had brought with her.

"Spill your guts," Harley commanded, pulling a few makeup wipes out of her bag. She made quick work of cleaning Jester's face, scrubbing off all her ruined mascara, eyeliner, lipstick and tears. Copperhead was behind Jester, using a damp hand towel to wash the blood out of her hair.

"I guess it all started with a nasty little spat between J and Scarecrow," Jester sighed, clenching her fists to fight the urge to tug at her hair in her frustration. "J's hiding more fucking shit from me."

"That rat bastard! What's he hidin' now?" Harley leaned back and raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow at Jester as she dug a tube of matte burgundy liquid lipstick from her bag.

Jester waited patiently as Harley applied her lipstick perfectly, not wanting to ruin it before it was done and had time to dry and set. When it had, she recounted her argument with J in the corridor and the conversation she had with Scarecrow and Jonathan in the empty office. Both women listened intently, grooming and primping her to soothe her as her rage and heartbreak spiked again. They had shut off their radios and phones so Jester would have their full, undivided attention, wanting to support their friend during what seemed like a waking nightmare.

- xxx -

Blackgate Isle – Blackgate Prison – Control Room:

Joker cackled wickedly as he watched a dejected-looking Scarecrow walk out of the office without Jester. "I told ya, you moron! She's mine!"

Riddler rolled his eyes and groaned, busying himself with hacking into the Gotham radio towers and doing his best to ignore the obnoxious Clown next to him.

Joker's laughter died as soon as he watched Jester walk out of the room looking devastated. Her shoulders were slumped, her head drooped, and she seemed to be dragging herself towards the Infirmary. She looked even worse than Scarecrow had. He growled, watching her as she entered the Infirmary and sagged in Harley's embrace.

"I need audio, Riddler," Joker demanded, pointing at the screen he was watching. "Give me audio!"

"Do it yourself," Riddler bit back, glaring at Joker. "I'm not one of your inferior, dimwitted, mindless errand boys."

Joker pulled his gun on Riddler and cocked the hammer back. "I don't like repeating myself," he snapped. "Do it!"

"Has anyone ever told you that you have a serious impulse control problem?" Riddler snapped. "It's a wonder anyone puts up with your lack of manners and deplorable behavior."

Joker dug the muzzle of the gun into Riddler's temple and didn't let up until Riddler turned on the audio for the Infirmary. He slowly pulled the gun away, glowering at Riddler as he holstered it. "That's funny coming from the man with no friends and no woman. I bet you're still a virgin," Joker sneered at Riddler before turning his attention back to the screen, listening closely to the conversation the women were having.

Riddler scoffed, not bothering to entertain the bully with a response. He got back to work hacking into the radio towers, grinning like the madman he was once he was in. "Too easy," he mused, his ego-inflating. "You'd think they'd have better security. Then again, I'm far too brilliant and skilled to be stopped. I'm a genius, after all."

"Shut up!" Joker barked, leering at the screen. Jester had just finished recounting her argument with him and had begun recounting her conversation with the giant demon to Copperhead and Harley.

"He's right, you know? J just keeps fucking hurting me. There was no reason for him to threaten Scarecrow and Craney – this whole thing was his idea! Scarecrow and Jonathan were protecting me, just like they always have! Scarecrow was right not to tell Joker where I was, he knew I wasn't ready for a confrontation with J."

Joker watched intently as Jester took a deep, shaky breath and took a moment to calm herself before continuing.

"The fact that he only mentioned Scarecrow's comment about wanting to have a child with me just proves Scarecrow right – he just wanted to get himself out of the doghouse by turning my anger on Scarecrow. He was manipulating me like always. I guess I shouldn't even be surprised."

Joker narrowed his eyes at the screen, clutching the desk with a white-knuckled grip. He felt the Madness clawing at him again but he fought it back, not wanting to lose his temper and do anything rash before she was finished. He wanted to hear the rest of her story, even if it drove him insane.

Riddler gave a low whistle, a small smirk playing on his lips as he watched the same screen Joker was. "Crane wants to knock your woman up? How bold!"

"I will rip your tongue out," Joker seethed, giving Riddler a warning look. "Shouldn't you be busy rattling off ridiculous riddles for Batsy?"

"You must be quite furious if you're going to pass up the opportunity to antagonize your favorite caped crusader," Riddler chuckled, his eyes twinkling with his amusement. "Leave it to me, Joker. I'll get his attention."

"You do that," Joker growled, turning his attention back to the screen.

"Why wouldn't ya just let Scarecrow see for himself? I mean, wouldn't it be easier for him to peek around inside that brain of yours instead of making you say it out loud?"

Harley tilted her head at Jester in curiosity, patiently awaiting her answer and putting her hands down. She wasn't quite finished with Jester's makeup yet, too concerned about her friend to concentrate.

Joker leaned even closer, his nose almost touching the screen as his heart hammered in his chest. He drummed his fingers along the desk and tapped his feet on the floor, antsy and itching to hear Jester's response. He ignored the annoyed look Riddler fixed him with and didn't stop his fidgeting.

"I didn't want to give him hope. I knew he would see the thoughts I had when I said I had baby fever. I didn't want him to see the sweet blue-eyed, brown-haired little boy I pictured chasing after Ace in the backyard, giggling as he played with his older brother. I didn't want him to know how happy that little image made me, how much love swelled inside of me when I thought of Ace having a little brother to play with and navigate through life with."

Joker grit his teeth, raking a hand through his hair and glaring at the screen. He focused on Jester as she slumped in her chair and her voice broke.

"I'd be a monster to have him experience all of it and then crush him by telling him no. Do I want a child with them now that I know they want one too? Absolutely! Will I have one with them? No. I'm terrified of J pushing me down the stairs, kicking me, or throwing me from the balcony to destroy it. I'm terrified of conceiving one just for J to kill it in a jealous rage. I can't trust him anymore."

Her words hit him like a throat punch. He felt his heart splinter in his chest and he inhaled sharply, his eyes darkening a little as his Madness tried forcing its way to the surface. He was furious, heartbroken, and he felt betrayed – though he wanted to storm into the Infirmary and scream at Jester, he knew he'd only destroy whatever chance he had left at making things right with her. He nearly choked as he reminded himself that she was feeling the same way he was at the moment because of him.

"I would not," he muttered, leaning back in his chair and scrubbing his hands down his face. "I would NOT!"

"You would and you know it," Riddler accused, shooting Joker a dirty look. "She's right. You are volatile and cruel. There's no doubt in my mind that you would do something to destroy that child, no matter how bad it would traumatize and harm Jester – physically, mentally, and emotionally."

"Who the fuck asked you?" Joker spat.

He swiftly got to his feet, grabbed the chair he had been sitting on and threw it across the room with a furious roar. He ignored the scathing look Riddler shot him as he stormed out of the Control Room. He pulled his gold butterfly knife from the waistband of his jumpsuit and flipped it open, locking it in place before sticking the blade into the throat of the first inmate that crossed his path. He continued like that, letting his Madness take over as he carved up every inmate he came in contact with on his warpath through the prison.