Title: Erase/Rewind
Author: Jen Kollic

Disclaimers: All characters are trademarks of DC Comics. I make no money from this. Wah.
Feedback: Absolutely, but if you're just going to go "OMFG! HARLEY/JOKER OTP!11one1" then don't bother. I'll just make fun of you.
Notes: Ivy is not in denial. At all.

Spoilers: Vague references to events in the animated series, Gotham Adventures, Batman Adventures and Harley and Ivy. Will most likely not make sense if you've not read Batman Adventures #16.

Chapter 6

Alec had been gone for two days. Ivy was still denying to herself that she was happier without him, and trying to convince herself that she missed him. She was sure it would be true if she just tried hard enough. And besides, they'd been having problems (but nothing major!) lately, and it was good that they had some time apart. Really.

She truly did love him. Ivy was sure she did. Okay, so she still missed Harley, far more keenly than she currently missed Alec. (and she did miss him) But he wasn't likely to run off to the fucking clown, was he? (Ivy wasn't sure whether to laugh or shudder at that mental image) Alec loved her. And if he didn't then she could always fix… she wouldn't have to 'fix' it! She could make this work by itself, no pheromones, no clones and no Harley.

Her skin had gone pale again. It did that when she was angry. Taking a deep breath, Ivy forced herself to relax and concentrate. There. Normal again. It was just as well Alec wasn't here; Ivy knew he hated it when her true nature showed through. He'd never have admitted it of course, but she knew. He'd been so happy when she'd decided to make herself look normal again. And she'd known that he would be. Ivy had told herself that she'd done it because she was happy. Because that part of her life was over.

But Alec wouldn't let it lie, would he? Well, if he insisted on bringing it up, she could always go back to the way she'd looked when they'd met in the Amazon. (it was a pity Harley had never seen that dress…) Then maybe he'd leave it alone, and they could get on with their (normal) life.

And she didn't miss the old days. Not at all. This was what she'd always wanted. Well, apart from serious work to tackle global pollution and save the environment. And she was doing more to help that by helping Alec with his research. It wasn't like she'd made any difference as a criminal, was it? (except for that rainforest reserve she and Harley had 'persuaded' Juan Ceballos to set up...) And she was happy here. No Batman, no Arkham, no Harley, just peace and quiet. And Alec! It wasn't like he was just an added bonus. Really. She loved him, only him, and she wasn't even thinking about Harley. At all.

Because Alec wasn't like her. Alec didn't drive her crazy. (apart from the questions of course) Alec understood ecology, and cared about it. Alec was Ivy's, and Ivy's alone. She didn't have to share him with some sick fuck that was going to wind up killing her and even still she kept going back to him because of this stupid dependence on him because Harley Quinn needed him and she just wouldn't accept that there could be a Harley without the Joker and that she could stand alone just as well only she wouldn't be alone because…

But it was too late now. Harley had made her choices and Ivy had made hers accordingly. Harley could stay in Gotham and wind up in a shallow grave for all Ivy cared now, (she didn't care, she was just imagining that painful twist inside at the thought) Ivy didn't need her, want her or miss her. (though she couldn't help wondering if Harley missed her) The clone had just been a distraction for Batman. Not for Harley. And Ivy had most certainly not programmed it to protect her with homicidal fervour. And she'd most certainly not been hoping it would off the clown before it wore out.

Typical. Alec was gone, and here she was dredging up all the things she didn't want to think about all by herself. Gotham was over. Poison Ivy was over. (and she would manage to start thinking of herself as Pamela instead of Ivy at some point) Harley was over. And nothing was going to change that. Nothing at all.

With a sigh, Ivy headed for the front door; a (long) walk in the swamp would soon calm her down. And with Alec away she could do what she liked with the plant life, he wasn't here to look at her in that disturbed, disapproving way. Maybe now she could finally see if what was left of the clone had managed to retain any memory or impression of its relatively brief existence as Poison Ivy. Then she reminded herself that she didn't care.

…there was someone outside. Ivy stopped with her hand on the doorknob as she heard the muffled, oddly choked voice. Who on earth would turn up unannounced at the lab? On foot, since she hadn't heard a car. And apparently stand outside and talk to themselves rather than knock. Then, with a sharp gasp as another painful twist shot through her, Ivy realised that she knew the voice.

"…I'm so sorry Red!" Even through the door Ivy could tell that Harley was sobbing. "I don't know if you can hear me, but you always said plants knew what you were saying, so I guess you can, and I'm sorry! But you never told me things were this bad; I'd never have left you if I'd known! I'd have helped you find some way to stop it and… and… I'm sorry!"

Leaning heavily against the door, denying (again) that the sheer anguish in Harley's voice cut straight to her heart, Ivy considered her choice. (open the damn door) She could just head back into the lab and pretend she'd heard nothing, and pretend she wasn't here if necessary. She could call the cops, (how could she even think that?) and they'd get rid of Harley for her without Ivy needing to show herself. Or she could go out there. Ivy had made her choice in seconds. She opened the door.

"Harley?"

The next thing Ivy knew, she was flat on her back in the hallway, trying hard to breathe with the combined weight of Harley on top of her and the vicelike grip of her arms around her. This made it somewhat difficult to make out what the blonde woman was saying, especially since her words were being mumbled rapidly into Ivy's chest.

"…omigodyou'renotaplant!BatmansaidyouwereIknewhewaswrong!" Harley was still sobbing, making it even more difficult to pick out the words, her hands clawing at Ivy's back as she clung to her desperately.

Before she even knew what she was doing, Ivy had wrapped both arms around Harley as she forced herself up into a sitting position, holding the blonde against herself and rocking her gently. Explanations could wait for now.