A/N: I'm back! To be honest, most of these next few updates were written quite a while ago, but I didn't like parts of it, so it just sat inside my computer, gathering dust. But recently a friend read my stuff and inspired me to get off my ass and post. So here you are! I'm finding as I'm writing this story that I keep jumping around the timeline. I haven't decided, but I may just have this be a bunch of snapshots throughout Harley's life. This is more or less an alternate universe, basically because I don't know what her life story is, I'm just making stuff up. Also, I obviously don't own any of these characters. I just like writing about them. Other than that, much thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate it that people are telling me what they think.

"Hey Red, can we stop over at Joker's along the way?" Harley, in full clown costume inquired.

"What is it you want now, Harley?" Poison Ivy asked.

"Well, it's just that I want to make sure my babies are okay. See that they've been fed and all."

"Harley, your 'babies' are hyenas. If Joker hasn't been feeding them they'll just bite his arm off. Hmmm, that doesn't sound so bad. Besides, we're in kind of a hurry."

"Okaaay," she relented. "So what's the big plan for tonight, anyway?"

"Well, I was thinking, we're low on cash, as always, so why not a diamond heist?"

"Uhhh, Red, I think all the really nice diamonds in Gotham have been stolen by now. And if somebody was crazy enough to send a nice big rock our way, we would've heard about it."

"Damn. I know. Actually, I don't have any official plans."

"Then why the big rush?" the blonde jester cocked her head in curiosity.

"Well, there's that big gala tonight, and if we want to look nice for it, shouldn't we buy ourselves something pretty?"

"Or we could just steal stuff."

"You know, that's a good idea. We are criminals after all," Ivy said with a sly grin.

Ivy wasn't stupid. She was merely pretending. The whole conversation was an excuse to distract Harley. The poor girl had been so distraught after Joker's last breakout, when he'd left her behind. Harley begged Ivy to leave with her. Once Ivy heard about the upcoming charity event, she'd agreed. Now she was trying anything to keep Harley from running into Joker, and having her hopes dashed again.

During his latest crime sprees, Joker had been seen with a woman among his henchmen. Since he still hadn't been caught, it wasn't clear what her status was, but it affected Harley all the same. Lately, Harley's method of coping was flat out denial.

—

Presently, the two young women were trying on dresses at a fancy, high- priced store. Not that the prices really had any relevance to the pair.

"How do I look?" Harley asked her friend.

"Stunning, Harl."

In Ivy's opinion, Harley had been a little rough in dealing with the female clerk who, after recognizing the two, had tried to stop them. 'But what do I care about some insignificant mammal? And besides, no need to be too hard on Harley, she was under a lot of stress lately.'