Disclaimer: Alright ya know the drill, Batman Beyond ain't mine. I'm using them without permission. (One day I will seek it for the fun of it all.) But Harley Jest and Nightshade are mine, mine, MINE!!! Soooooo DC Comics (division of Time-Warner Communications) I don't mess with you. You don't mess with me. Kay?

A/N: Home again home again, thank goodness I'm home again. It's not like I don't enjoy visiting my relatives, it's just that those people are just plain nutz! I'm delightfully insane so there's a difference. And since I had a lovely little break I decided Batman, Harley and Nightshade deserved one as well.

Chapter 6: The Break

Nightshade drove wildly down the streets of Gotham swerving in and out of lanes around cars and trucks. The neon glow of the advertisement signs high above the building tops shinned down on the top down convertible giving the green tint of Nightshade's skin an even more eerie shade.

Outta my way! Nightshade roared over the loud clamor of car horns and people, the song of the city streets.

Harley sat reclined in the passenger seat her feet crossed at the ankles on the dashboard. She chuckled in her throat as she pushed down her red tinted shades to the tip of her nose. Easy Chris. Harley said sweetly. Usually you are so calm, but put you behind the wheel and you become a speed demon.

I'd say I'm doing very well for a beginner. Nightshade said pressing down on the accelerator speeding through a yellow light.

Well don't get too attached to this gas-guzzler. Can you believe this takes six dollars just to fill up? Harley asked tapping her toe on the head of a bobbing head skeleton.

Nightshade only smirked darkly as he brought the car to a screeching halt at a stoplight.

A black Mustang came to a stop at the light in the left lane beside the pair. The top automatically drew back releasing loud music into the air. Four teenagers, two guys and two gals, sat in the Mustang looking towards the pair.

Nice ride. A girl with zebra stripped hair said leaning over the car door towards Nightshade.

The other girl with bleached white hair and a bronze tan sat behind the first giggled flirtingly. Don't you mean nice driver? She asked eyeing Nightshade as if he were a piece of meat.

Neither girl noticed the pair of bare legs crossed on the dash beside Nightshade. That was until they moved from their rest as Harley sat up. Sorry skanks. She said wrapping her arms around Nightshade's neck. But he's taken. Harley emphasized her point by giving Nightshade a very obsessive kiss.

One of the boys said while the other released a long whistle of attraction. How about you discard that jerk for one of us babe? One asked.

You shouldn't talk to ladies that way. Nightshade said.

What? Are you going to discipline us or something for it? The other asked.

Harley pulled out her flag gun. Somethin' like that. Harley said. The teenagers flinched at the sight of the gun.

Temper temper Harl. Nightshade lightly chided as he lowered Harley's hand holding the lethal toy. Harley only humped as she readjusted her shades over her eyes and sat back in her seat. Good girl. Nightshade praised patting her thigh.

Nightshade quickly reached into his pants removing a small handful of speeds. The red light changed and as Nightshade slammed on the accelerator down to the floorboard he tossed the seeds into the neighboring car.

What the-? What are these? The blonde asked holding up a deep red seed. The seed jumped from the girl's hand burrowing its way into the air conditioning vents. The stations of the radio changed continuously from one station to the other. The car suddenly began to jump at the wheels as the top folded out and closed.

Harley glanced behind them watching the car buck up and down like a wild stallion as it malfunctioned at the result of the wild seeds. With a careless sigh she turned back towards the front. It would have been better if you had let me fill their lungs with laughing gas. She said.

Can't allow you to have all the fun tonight can I? Nightshade asked.

Hurry up and get us out of her before we get chased down. I know of a place were we can get rid of this. Harley said motioning to the car.

Get rid of it? You just don't like it when I'm happy. Nightshade teased.

Fine then, you drive around town in a car reported stolen. She said.

Nightshade laughed, I get the point. He said pressing down harder on the gas speeding on.

***

Terry sat slouching on the metro beside Max. The on and off relationship between Dana and him was currently on the off part when he was yet again late for another date and Nelson so happened to take his place.

I don't see why you just don't tell her, it would make things easier on the both of you. Max said.

Terry heave a heavy sigh, I've told you before why I can Terry said.

Max only patted Terry on the shoulder in comfort. She'll get over it like always. Max said.

How is it that criminals can maintain a relationship but I can't? Terry asked under his breath so that only Max could hear.

On top of that very metro car Nightshade sat comfortably with Harley cuddled comfortably in his arms.

Poor kid. Nightshade said.

Harley agreed. "l'amour, un jour il endommage." She said. (Love, sometime it hurts)

***

Two whole weeks passed as the crime duo did not make the news for any resent criminal activity except for a few robberies for Nightshade's plants. Harley made a note of these events as she showered under the falling hot water. The weather was still hot but the heat did not stop her from performing her gymnastics practices, which in the end left her drenched in her own sweat.

She was an acrobat's daughter
Her muscles would swell up like yeast
One look at her face made guys keep their place
Please do not spit on the floor
For she feared neither boy, man, nor beast.

Whoa, she was an acrobat's daughter
She used to tame lions besides
One bit her named Jack and she bit him right back
In two days the poor lion died. Harley sang out as she scrubbed herself down with soapy water. The humid air reeked of sweet honeysuckle, which in result caused her to smell the same way. The cause of this was the curtain made of rich honeysuckle vines. The honeysuckle was the only vegetation takeover she didn't really mind.

Turning off the water she stood looking at the curtain. Okay I'm done. She said as Nightshade had taught her. The thick curtain of honeysuckle quivered then parted evenly down the middle. One of the thick vines held out a soft yellow towel for her. Harley said unbelieving that she was talking to a plant.

Harley walked down the short hall with the large towel encircled around her body as she fought to wrap another on the top of her wet hair. Hey Red have you noticed that... Her voice trailed off when she noticed Nightshade wasn't in the living room or kitchen.

She called once again leaning over the kitchen balcony rail looking down into the garage. Shrugging in defeat she retreated to her room.

After dressing herself in a pair of blue cotton plaid shorts and an old Yankee's jersey Harley walked out of her closet fighting a losing battle of combing the tangles out of her hair. She noticed the sky window was open. Santa Claus, if that's you you're six months late to give me those shock absorbers I asked for! Harley shouted as she climbed up the window.

On top of the roof she found Nightshade laid back on the spot her usually used for sunbathing or just to relax.

Harley sat down beside Nightshade. I think that in the winter you can see the stars much better. But thanks to all of the bright lights here you can't see many of them. Harley said.

Nightshade did not respond. Harley sighed then laid back beside him. Alright. What are you thinking about? She asked.

Why we are who we are. Nightshade said.

Harley stated staring up into the stars. Society made us become who we are. Bit by bit, little by little they made us who we are.

It seems it took awhile for it to effect you. Nightshade said.

No, it's because I had my father then. But when I lost him things just...I don't know. I guess I was hurt my own mother wouldn't take me in.

But Harley Quinn did. Nightshade said for her.

Yeah, but she didn't have that negative influence on me. Everyone else did. She said with a frown. High school was the straw that broke the camel's back. You have to fit in with a certain group of people if you wish to survive. Silly Harley didn't fit in with anyone. You were either rich or popular, I was the orphan rejected by her mother. No one there was kind, like I was use to. I felt like such a child there, without a friend in the world. Harley's face melted into a deep scowl.

Nightshade moved closer her. I know what you mean. Before mom adopted me the orphanage was brutal. The older kids were always picking on me. Since I enjoyed the company of plants over people they gave me a nickname. Nightshade said.

Harley arched an eyebrow. I was fondly dubbed Psycho Biker Bitch throughout High school, it can't be that bad. Harley said when Nightshade didnt speak up.

They called me Pussywillow. Nightshade said.

Harley pressed her lips together to stop the smile from growing on her face. Go on. She said.

Everyone was cold there, they always trampled my gardens and murdered all those innocent plants. And I always felt like so helpless, and that let them down being unable to protect them. Nightshade said. Always doing class work alone.

The eating lunch by yourself feeling like everyone is laughing at you. Harley stated.

No one to talk to because they think you're weird. No one to listen to. Nightshade went on.

After awhile you just decide you just don't need anybody anymore. Harley sighed.

Nobody cares for you, so you don't give a damn about anyone. Nightshade said.

Then you take pride in being alone. You don't call it loneliness, it's being independent. Harley smiled.

And isolation feels right that... Nightshade said.

You feel awkward in crowds. Harley finished.

Nightshade smirked as he turned his head over to look at Harley. He sighed wrapping one arm around her shouldered. No wonder we get along so well. He said planting a kiss on her temple.

***

For late May the weather was smoldering, like a sticky hot summer day that one could barely move. Harley laid atop the tousled linen sheets hugging onto a Punch doll as she tried to sleep in the stifling heat the oscillating fan barely keeping her cool.

Sleeping again? Nightshade asked looking down on Harley from the door. I thought you would be working on your next plan of vengeance.

Harley looked up at him through one eye. It's too hot to think or do much of anything else. Harley moaned. But you're use to this aren't you greenhouse boy? She asked.

Nightshade smiled nodding his head. Harley said stretching. Nightshade watched as the white tank top rose above her bottom ribs, daring to bare all.

What are you drooling at? She asked smiling.

Your boxers. Nightshade lied changing his focus towards the silk sapphire blue boxers.

Harley only sniggered as she turned onto her stomach revealing the bottom half of her three-diamond tattoo on her upper right thigh. Chris take a nap with me. She said getting closer to the rotating fan.

Nightshade asked. For as long as he had been staying with Harley he had been sleeping on the couch. Especially after Harley told him that she was a light sleeper and if he dared come into her room while she was asleep she would blow his kneecaps from beneath him.

You heard me. Take off your shirt, get in this bad and take a lovely little nap with me. Harley said starring at him with her soft brown eyes.

Nightshade hesitated. You should know by now I won't eat you. I prefer meat. She laughed rolling onto her back showing off her taut belly. Coming? Yes or no? Nightshade sighed as he stripped off his shirt.

Was that so difficult? Harley yawned as Nightshade crawled onto the bed beside her.

Nightshade felt his body tense as Harley's innocently cuddled up to him in her state of mid-sleep.

Harley yawned once again as she snuggled into Nightshade's neck; her nose rubbing against his throat as if she were trying to smell a faint hint of cologne. She sighed in content as she began to drift away into a pleasant doze.

The muscles in Nightshade's body slowly began to relax as he felt Harley's chest steadily rise and fall against his ribs. He completely relaxed when he smelled the scent of honeysuckle in her hair, such a nice potent smell drifting into his nose. Without noticing it his arm snaked around her, resting on the delicate curve of her waist. I guess being around people isn't so bad.' Nightshade thought as he too drifted to sleep.

End o' Chapter 6.

Ter, Max, Harl, and Night seated in lounge chairs on the beach in bikinis (for the ladies) and swim trunks (for the fellas). All drinking fruit daiquiris with the little cute umbrellas!

Demoness appears sitting beside them in her own two piece bathing suit holding a nonalcoholic coconut pina colada: Like I said this is our vacation. And remember to review!