She just wandered. No destination in mind, no fucking idea where her feet were taking her. She just walked.

Walked and cried and felt like a fucking piece of shit.

But somehow, at some point during her despondent musings, she ended up all the way across town, in Robinson Park, of all places. It wasn't much like she remembered, what with the newly planted trees – courtesy of Ivy's 'persuasive' tactics - and the many park benches that now covered the park grounds.

But perhaps that meant something, because the Robinson Park she remembered was dark, decrepit, a reminder of their sordid, twisted past, back when it was just her and Ivy against the world.

Maybe the fact that the old park didn't exist said something about the two of them…

Maybe it meant they weren't meant to be…

"Fucking hell…" She pressed the heel of her palm against her eyeballs, willing herself to keep the tears at bay. But her stomach was churning like fucking Chernobyl and bile was rising up her throat and goddamnit, why did she have to be such a fucking stupid idiot and mess things up?

And just how was she supposed to fix them now?

...Can I even fix things now?

For perhaps the first time in her life, she wished Harleen were around to provide her some sort of psychological reassurance, but like all good things in her life, it seemed her sanity had gone the way of the dinosaurs as well.

Figures. Nothing good ever lasts, not around me anyway.

She searched for a distraction, something, anything to curb her swelling grief. But Robinson Park turned out to be the worst place for such a search, because she was stuck in a sea of happy go-lucky couples.

Everywhere she looked, there were people walking their dogs while holding hands and giggling and chasing each other and sitting under a tree and making out….

Heck, it felt like the entire city had decided to gather at the park today, just to piss her off.

And that it did. It made her want to scream and sob and smash things with her bat… possibly even murder someone.

She did none of the above.

Instead she sat there, occasionally sniffling, but mostly staring off into space and wishing, praying for someone to show up in a fucking time machine to take her back so that she could undo all her bullshit and just be happy with Ivy – you know, Back to the Future style.

But as the sun set, it became clear to her that no crazy-haired scientist was going to show up and graciously offer her an out…not this time, anyway.

Still, Harley stayed, watching as the crowd slowly began to filter out of the park, envying the many happy couples who were probably making their way home to eat dinner together, or to unwind and watch some TV together, maybe even to cuddle up and listen to each other's heartbeat as they drifted off to sleep, safe in the knowledge that at least none of them were as stupid as Harley to mess up the one good thing they had in their life…

Her heart hurt at that thought.

Was she doomed to be her own worst nightmare, destroying every single relationship worth having and sabotaging her own happiness every time she got a taste of it?

Was she forever bound to the chains of grief and sorrow and longing that kept her from living a blissful life?

Was she doomed to living in a hellscape of her own creation, all alone, forever alone?

Harley sniffled and wiped at her eyes, trying her damnedest to think of what to do next because thinking about the immediate future was easier than contemplating any long-term goals and relationships that were most definitely beyond salvaging. And honestly, Robinson Park was great for many things, but not for sleeping in – especially given the many memories the site held for her.

She definitely had to find shelter for the night. Ivy had no reason to let her back in and honestly she didn't deserve any forgiveness (or sympathy or pity) from her anyway – maybe Selina would let her crash at her place for a few days.

And then?

Her broken heart ached to think of what might come after that. She buried her head in her palms once more and fought back a fresh wave of grief.

Get it together, Harley. One step at a time…

"Quinn?"

If Harley was surprised by the presence, she didn't show it, her face still thoroughly hidden from the world's awful judgment. "Why are you here?"

A rustle of a cape. "I…" He clearly felt a little uncomfortable. "I received reports that you've been in Robinson Park all day." His next words were tentative, unsure. "Is everything okay? You look…troubled."

Harley fought back a bitter laugh. Leave it to Batman to sum up her existential quarter-life crisis into three little words. She looked up. "I'm fine, B-Man. I'm not here to blow shit up or terrorize the people or anything…you don't gotta worry about that. I've got my own mess to deal with right now."

The cowled man processed her words. "Is…?" He cleared his throat. "Can I help you with anything?"

Do I really look that pathetic?

But deep down, Harley couldn't help but appreciate the gesture. There was something about the guy that really spoke to her. Was he crazy? Course he was. You had to be positively loony to parade around Gotham wearing that paraphernalia – and honestly who was she to judge someone's looniness? – but the guy was genuine, that much was obvious.

And it was a nice feeling, to have someone concerned about her emotional well-being. She'd never had that before…well, not until Ivy came into her life anyway.

Her stomach churned anew with the reminder. "I'm not sure you can help with this, Bats. I screwed up pretty bad this time."

The eyes behind the mask seemed to fill with understanding. "Mistakes happen, Quinn. But if you're apologetic and genuinely regret your actions, then you deserve a second chance."

Harley appraised his words. Like everything the man said, there was a comforting air of sincerity in the reply. Just how does this guy retain such moral clarity in a shit city like this?

"You honestly believe that, don't ya? That's why you've always kept an eye out for me."

He nodded. "I've always believed you deserved a chance at redemption. You're not evil, Quinn. Misguided, yes. But you're not a villain. Not like the others."

Her thoughts flashed to glistening tears and a tragically broken-hearted redhead.

"That's where you're wrong, B-Man." She hung her head, "I may not be with Joker anymore, but I'm still every bit as awful as him…worse, even."

She could sense his confusion. "Quinn –"

"I-I hurt Ivy…" She didn't know why she'd volunteered the information but before she knew it, the words were coming out of her and the tears were falling once again, falling far too quickly for her to stop them. "I fucked up, and I don't know what to do… Ivy's never gonna wanna see me again and–"

And then, the floodgates really opened. He hadn't asked – he didn't seem the type to initiate a heart-to-heart anyhow – but perhaps all Harley really needed was a silent, non-judgmental ear to pour her woes out to, because that she did, completely and utterly.

She told him about her feelings that night at the Lounge, about her ill-fated plan and the devastation it had unwittingly wrought, about Ivy's response and how betrayed she had every right to feel. She told him every sordid, sad little detail (okay, not every sordid little detail) and to his credit, the man listened, though seating himself on the edge of the bench like Harley was some sort of ticking time bomb did lose him a few brownie points.

"It feels like someone ripped my heart out of my chest and chopped it up into a million pieces, but the kicker is that I'm the one who did that… me…of course it's me, because I'm the one who goes around sabotaging myself and every good thing that's ever happened to me and now Ivy knows that too and-" She wiped at her eyes. "And now she won't want to talk to me again."

"And she has no reason to stay with me anymore either, not when she's realized what a fuckup I am…she's gonna leave me and find someone much better and I'm just…" She let out a choked sob. "God…I-I can't even think about it…"

She buried her face in her hands, leaving the Dark Knight to contemplate every life decision he'd ever made that led him to this moment in time. He squirmed a little, discomfort written all over his face as he vacillated between comforting her and maybe just getting up and grappling away before she looked up – or worse, kept talking.

And then, he decided to hand her a handkerchief.

"You-you look like you could use this."

A teary Harley looked up from her sobbing to glance at the black and yellow Batman-crested handkerchief. And then she fixed him with a deadpan stare. "Really?"

To her surprise, she saw a tiny – wait, was that a fucking smile? "It was a gift."

Harley quickly got over her astonishment and accepted the tissue, wiping her snotty nose all over the bat symbol. "Thanks, B-Man. I'm sorry for chewing your ear off about my shitty mistakes. I know you don't do well with emotions…" She handed him the tissue.

"Uh…" He shook his head, "You can keep it."

Harley shrugged and tucked it in her pocket before looking around aimlessly at the desolate park grounds with its flickering street lights and empty sidewalks. Night had fallen sometime during her ramblings, and the temperature was rapidly dropping.

"I should get going. I gotta find a place to crash and all…" She stood up. "Thanks again, Bats. Say hi to the birdbrain for me."

She turned around and began to walk away, stumbling slowly on the path she had laid for herself, wondering just what she was supposed to do now that her entire life had fallen apart when –

"Quinn, wait."

She paused in her tracks and turned back to find Batman scratching at the back of his cowl, clearly embarrassed by what he was about to say. "I…I'm not good with emotions. Or relationships, really… but I think you can still fix this. You can still apologize…she'll forgive you."

Harley sniffled woefully. "You don't know that. You don't know what I've done to her… I've given her every reason to hate me for the rest of our lives."

"She won't, Quinn." Batman seemed strangely certain of that fact. "She would never hate you."

"But she should." She bowed her head at the tacit admission. "If she knows what's good for her, she'll leave and never speak to me again. I'm a fucking idiot with shit for brains…you and I both know she can do so much better than…this." She gestured absently to herself before wiping a stray tear off her cold cheeks.

"…Is that why you get jealous?"

"What?"

Batman looked curious. "Is that why you get jealous, because you feel Ivy could do so much better than you and one day, she'll wake up and realize that and then you'll be all alone?"

Blue eyes widened in surprise. "…How did you know?"

He seemed almost smug. "You just admitted it, Quinn."

"So what if I do feel that way?" Harley mumbled under her breath with a huff. "You can't possibly tell me I'm wrong to think that. I'm not that stupid."

"No, you're not wrong to feel that way," Expected though it was, his admission made her heart sink."But you are wrong about one thing. Ivy would never do that to you."

Harley let out a scoff, "How would you know?"

Batman took the slight in stride, "I admit I don't have a personal familiarity with her, but I have studied Poison Ivy for years, Quinn. I know all about her difficult past… and why she has such an aversion to humanity." The eyes behind the cowl glowed with sincere understanding. "But you, Harley, you are the only person Ivy has ever allowed near her…you are the first person she ever really cared about."

The reminder made her heart ache dully in her chest. "That doesn't mean anything anymore."

For more reasons than one…

"Maybe she doesn't feel that same aversion anymore." The man admitted, "But there's a reason why she allowed you into her life first, Harley…" He looked thoughtful, "There's a reason it wasn't someone else."

Harley furrowed her brows. "You can't expect me to believe you figured all of that out through research…heck, even I don't know why she chose to care about me."

I don't even know why she bothered…

He shook his head. "You're right. My research won't tell me that…and it won't tell you that either. Only Ivy can. But you won't ever find out if you don't talk to her."

The words, meant to console her, instead elicited a bitter laugh from her chapped lips. "You don't get it, B-Man. It doesn't matter anymore…whatever she saw in me, whatever made her care about me…it doesn't matter anymore. I've broken her trust...there's no going around that." She hung her head, "I'm not sure I ever deserved it in the first place."

If she didn't know better, Batman looked almost disappointed. "So what? That's it? You're just going to walk away from it all?" He scoffed, "I didn't peg you for a quitter, Quinn."

Her head snapped up.

"Are you shitting me?!" The fiery glare she returned would have murdered anyone else, but it drew not even a flinch from the Dark Knight. "I'm not just walking away from it! I don't WANT to lose her!"

"Then why won't you go back and apologize? Why admit defeat by refusing to give yourself a chance to fight?"

"UGH, I'm not-" She ran fingers through her hair in exasperation and tried again, "B-Because I don't – "

"What? You don't deserve a second chance, you don't deserve to be with her?" Batman cut in with a surprising amount of spirit. "Don't you think you should let Ivy decide that? Whether she wants to forgive you or not, whether she wants to still be with you or not, that should be her decision to make, Harley…not yours."

The blonde found herself at a loss for words. His words had dumped a bucket of ice on her simmering anger, leaving her with nothing. Nothing but reality, anyway.

"Don't make the same mistake you did earlier, Quinn. Tell her what you told me and let her make her own decision. Let her feel her own emotions…."

His eyes were softer, kinder, "Don't you think you owe her at least that?"

Harley drew in a shaky breath. He was right. By not even trying to repair their relationship, she was stealing the choice from Ivy yet again…making the same mistakes that had brought her here in the first place.

If she really wanted to do right by her, then there was only one thing to do. She had to take a chance, take a leap of faith and speak to her. Honestly and completely.

"But…" She shook her head morosely. "I-I don't know how…"

He sensed her question. "You told me, Quinn. If you can tell a stranger your fears, then why can't you tell Ivy?"

"A stranger?" Harley looked plenty upset, her lips forming a pout. "You're really gonna do that to me, B-Man? After everything we've been through…? After you saw me wipe my snot on your monogrammed hanky?!"

He offered her another small smile – at the rate they were going, he was gonna break some sort of record tonight.

"Fine, an acquaintance then. If you could offer your thoughts to me without hesitation, then why worry about what Ivy will think?"

Her mood dimmed once more. "It's stupid, I guess…but I guess I thought it'd really happen if I said it aloud…."

"It's not stupid." Batman admitted. "It's okay to be worried. And I know how hard it is to open up to people we love. But if you really want to stay with Ivy, then you have to do this." He fixed her with a stern stare, "You have to try."

In spite of it all, Harley couldn't help but smirk and raise a curious eyebrow. "Who knew Batman was such a good therapist? Any other secrets you been keeping from me, B-Man?"

"I learned from a pretty good teacher." He shrugged, almost shyly, "Dr. Quinzel really knew how to help her patients."

Harley suddenly found herself blinking away a few tears – something in the air, most likely.

"...She's still here, you know…."

Her fingers tapped against her temple. "She's still alive and kicking, and great at giving life advice…only I don't take it as often as I should." She shrugged her shoulders half-heartedly, "That's why I'm here."

"But you won't be. Not anymore." He tilted his head towards the gates with a knowing smirk. "Don't you have someone to go home to?"

Harley looked back towards the city, her thoughts drifting to a warm smile, shining green eyes and a safe, loving embrace, one that was surely waiting for her by now, whether she deserved it or not.

Maybe I don't deserve it just yet. But I'll work for it until I do. I won't give up and I won't run away, not anymore. I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to Ive…

I owe her at least that.

"Yeah…" She let herself smile freely now, "Yeah, I think I do."

B-Man had offered to drop her off in the Batmobile, but Harley found herself turning the offer down – to his surprise, and frankly, hers as well. Because for perhaps the first time in her life, she didn't want to race towards things in a haste to prove herself. She wanted to take her time, take a walk, let her thoughts come to her slowly…so that when she did talk to Ive – and she planned to - she knew just what to say.

And the night was rather beautiful with its chirping crickets and empty lanes. Why miss out on a peaceful moment like this?

Harley found herself humming a small tune as she jaunted down the streets. She'd be home fairly soon now, and then, she'd sit Ivy down and tell her everything and beg for her forgiveness.

Whether Ivy would accept it or not, she didn't yet know – and though the thought twisted her stomach into knots yet again – Harley didn't find herself too terrified about the outcome. Because if Ivy wasn't ready to forgive her tonight, then she'd try again tomorrow, and the day after that.

She would try until Ivy forgave her, and then…she'd never let a mistake like that happen again.

Her Pammy deserved the world, and though Harley wasn't ready to give her that just yet - she was still making plans for said world domination - she could do at least this in the meantime, right?

She whistled merrily to herself as she turned the corner. If she had been paying attention, she would have maybe ceased her merry music making – or not, she was Harley Quinn after all – but as it were, the jester was far too lost in her thoughts about Pammy to realize she'd stepped into Crime Alley.

That is…until she heard the cock of a gun behind her.

Well, shit.

"Now miss, just turn your head all slow-like and gimme all your goodies and I promise I'll let ya run home alive."

Harley found herself torn between frustration and utter amusement. The fucking nerve of this guy…or perhaps I should pity him.

"Look, man," She turned around slowly, her hands in the air. "You really don't wanna do this right now."

She could see a wide grin in the dark alley, and nothing more. "But that's the thing…I really really do. Now give me everything ya got and –" He took a step forward. His eyes widened. "You're-you're Harley Quinn?!"

She smirked, "Always nice to meet a fan, but hafta say, this is a new one," She gestured to the pistol.

He shrugged sheepishly and lowered the gun, "Sorry, sorry….It's just, I'm your biggest fan and gosh- I bet everyone says that to you, huh? – but I-I really am your biggest fan. I mean, your museum heist, the one when you stole Tut's body, classic, really…"

His eyes lit up. "Hey! Could you sign this for me?!" From somewhere, he whipped out a mugshot of her. She didn't remember when it had been taken, and she sure as heck didn't know how he'd got his hands on one – GCPD really did have a problem, didn't they? – but she found herself smiling all the same.

"Sure, kid."

She didn't actually know if he was a kid, but he looked like a kid anyhow, what with his wiry frame and loose brown hair flopping from behind his costume skeleton mask.

She produced a Sharpie, also from somewhere – her thing had no pockets, okay? And a lady never reveals her secrets or whatever - "Here, enjoy ya night kid, and here's a tip. Don't go robbing from the Rogues, kay? Anyone else will tear you a new one before you can say 'stick em up'" She gave him a wink and a wave before walking away and then –

"Wait."

She turned around with a sigh, "Look kid, I'd love to take a picture with you but it's getting late and I got my lady waiting at home for me so…" She trailed off at the sight of the gun pointed straight at her.

Again.

She raised an eyebrow, "Um…is that how you greet everyone?"

The kid shook the pistol. "Gimme everything ya got, Quinn. Make it quick."

Harley raised an eyebrow, "Are you shitting me? You're really gonna rob me, your hero?"

For his part, the kid seemed sheepish. "Sorry…but I really need the money and Rogues just have a lot more cash on hand than the normies."

Harley couldn't help but agree with that. I'm surprised the banks still have money left to rob.

"Look, kid, I ain't gonna just hand you my money, kay? I gotta reputation to maintain and all, and besides, you look like a smart, capable kid. Why don'tcha, I don't know, get a job or something?" She gagged a little. Had she really just told someone to …

Yeah, the Bat was rubbing off on her.

Damn it, B-Man.

He shook his head, "Can't do. Look, just quit the gabbing and give me your valuables. This gun ain't for show, you know."

He was pissing her off slowly but surely, but even she couldn't help but whistle in appreciation at his gumption. The kid had more guts than she thought.

Shame though, cause anyone with balls like that would be chewed up and spit out in a dumpster-fire city like Gotham, forced to either join one of the Rogue's gangs or to live a life committing petty crime until he ended up broken and bleeding to death in some alleyway after an altercation gone wrong.

Maybe an altercation like robbing Harley fucking Quinn, or something like that.

…It really was such a shame.

"Kid, you really got a lotta potential, but you're going about this all wrong. I'm probably the worst person to rob, especially right now. I was being serious when I said robbing the Rogues…worst idea ever."

The gun trembled a little as he held it, "Look, Quinn. I don't care about the others. I got you here right now and …I want all the money you have in my hand…or I'm gonna shoot."

She didn't miss the waver in his voice, nor the way he seemed to be holding his gun like he'd just learned to shoot it. If he was serious about this kinda life, he wouldn't last a day in good old Gotham.

Fuck it. She was gonna have to rehabilitate him before he ended up in a ditch, wasn't she?

"Yeah, I'm gonna find you a job. You don't know the kinda life you're in for, kid. Nothing good comes outta crime, even this sort."

"I-I know what I'm doing." The gun betrayed him as he glanced over his shoulder. "I'm not afraid of this…or-or of you. So-so just shut up and do as I say!"

Yeah, this wasn't working. She took a step closer.

"Stay back." The kid warned, the gun lifting to focus on her once more. "I'm serious, Quinn."

"Look, you really don't wanna do this." Another step. "I can help you, maybe put in a good word with the Bat and all – we're buddies now, did you know that?"

"I mean it. Don't take one more step. Otherwise I use this."

"Maybe I could get you a good job, help you pay off your debts…I know housing is shit in this city, but if you don't gotta place, we can put you up." Another step. "Ivy doesn't mind strays." She did, but she'd cross that bridge with her girlfriend when she got there.

When, not if.

"Come on, kid. Wouldn't you rather be home, sipping some hot chocolate and just relaxing?"

He twitched, like she'd struck a nerve. "I don't gotta home no more."

Her heart ached at his words. "I'm sorry, kid. But like I said, you can come home with me…I'm not great at taking care of things or people or anything really, but Ivy sure is."

He shook his head. He looked almost sorry. "You can't help me. I'm beyond help. Just….just give me what you have."

"Yeah," She pursed her lips into a disapproving look, "See, I definitely won't do that now. It's the principle of the thing. I like you, kid, and I sure as heck ain't gotta let you get used to this life of crime. "

She took another step, now close enough to the kid to reach for his pistol. Her hand moved ever so slowly. She didn't wanna startle him.

"Gotham'll chew you up and spit you out…that's just how it is. But I'll take care of ya, how much ever I can. Make sure you never get mixed in with the wrong crowd…." Her hand grazed the barrel.

Just gotta be delicate about this…

One finger, then two curled around the barrel as she maintained eye contact all the while. She just needed to nudge it away from him.

"But I can show you how to avoid it all, help you escape this shithole of a city…" She laughed a little nervously to counter the heart that was now beating rapidly in her chest. "You just have to trust me, kay? Lemme give you something more, kid. You deserve better than this."

Apparently, it was the wrong thing to say.

His expression suddenly grew cold, unfeeling. All traces of emotion gone, like he'd conquered the hesitation in his mind.

"It's too late for that now. I'm in too deep already."

And then, the gun went off.