Harley ambled alone on the dark streets of Gotham City. She didn't have the need to look where she was going; she knew the way to Ivy's as well as she knew the Harlequin costume she wore everyday. Just thinking about her costume made her miserable. Harley gave up everything for the Joker, and for the first time she began to wonder what he gave up for her.

Everyone thought that the Joker would be nothing without Harley. She thought it was partially true. He was exceptionally strong both physically and mentally to be capable of giving Batman such heated fights, but Harley contributed greatly to the formation and execution of Joker's plans. She wondered if the Joker even realized or appreciated her aid in the eradication of Batman and furthermore, her unconditional love for the clown. Usually something in her heart told her he did, but that feeling was gone. 'What's happening to me?' Harley wondered.

The depleted jester sat down on Ivy's porch before going inside. The Joker kicked her out so frequently that Ivy's house had become a second home to her. Ivy detested the Joker and he detested her. It was hard for Harley to be in the middle of what seemed to be a never-ending quarrel between her boyfriend and her best friend. But although Ivy hated the Joker, her door was always open to Harley.

Harley was hesitant to ring Ivy's doorbell. She knew that Ivy would just lecture her on the inequities of how the Joker treated her, and Harley wasn't in the mood to be taught a lesson she knew she would never truly learn. She was embarrassed to tell Ivy what had happened, because whenever Ivy accused the Joker of not loving Harley, she would stand up for him and tell Ivy that he did love her. Ivy didn't believe it any of those times, and she definitely wouldn't believe Harley's protests tonight. After all, it was their anniversary and the Joker still demanded Harley's absence.

Although Harley was unendurably abashed, she knew she had no choice. She rang the rose-shaped doorbell and heard the woodwind chimes. Almost immediately, Ivy answered the door. She looked at Harley's crying eyes with surprise.

"Harley?" Ivy's expression was one of deep concern. "What are you doing here?"

"Take a wild guess," Harley scoffed.

"Well…I mean…on your anniversary?"

Harley didn't want to be reminded of the very fact she was hoping Ivy would forget. "Oh…you remembered?"

"How could I forget?" Ivy said with a bit of sarcasm. "The whole day, you wouldn't stop talking about how excited you were or what the Joker was going to get you!"

"Oh…"

"So, what happened?" Ivy inquired as she led Harley inside the house. The two sat on the vine green suede couch.

"Well, you know that surprise I was gonna give him at night?"

Ivy looked down uncomfortably, finding the image of the Joker naked repulsive. "Yeah…"

Harley continued, "Well, he said he was going to surprise me by doing the same, and then he said he was too tired. I tried a little more with him, and then he slapped me and told me to get out."

Ivy shook her head in despair. "Harley," Ivy started. She was about to give Harley the same old lecture about leaving the Joker, but decided not to. "I'm sorry."

Harley wiped away a few more tears, and then hugged Ivy. "Would it be okay if I crashed here tonight?"

"You know my home is your home anytime you want."

Harley smiled her beautiful smile for the first time since she left her house. But Ivy could still see the sadness behind the smile. The sadness the Joker caused her.

Back at the Joker's lair, the Joker was still tossing and turning, thinking about Harley. He regretted what he did, and wondered why he continued treating Harley as unforgivable as he did.

'I know that she'll coming running back to me tomorrow…so why am I feeling this way?' he asked himself. A few minutes later, the Joker finally began to shut his eyes, but sleeping didn't edit out the constant thoughts of Harley that plagued his mind.

That night, when Harley had already succumb to the comforting blackness of sleep, Ivy walked in to say goodnight. She saw Harley's pillow soaked from tears and an unusual frown on Harley's dreaming face. Ivy replaced the pillow without waking Harley, and went back into her room.

'This has got to stop,' she thought silently.

The next morning was clear and gorgeous. The sun was a like a fresh, juicy tangerine in the cyan skies. The birds' morning aubade was blissful, and everything in Gotham seemed to be peaceful for a change.

Harley awoke to the sweet smell of roses and lilacs. She rubbed her eyes, which were still red from the tears she shed last night. She slowly got out of bed and stumbled into the kitchen where Ivy was cooking a delectable breakfast.

"Mornin', Red," Harley said, yawning.

Ivy turned around and saw Harley smiling at her. "Good morning, Harls. Sleep well?"

"Um, just normal I guess," Harley replied. She took a seat at the table.

"Normal?" Ivy said. "As in, crying yourself to sleep?"

Ivy knew Harley too well, and it was hard for Harley to keep anything from her, even if it was mortifying. "Yeah. I guess."

"Harley…you're not going back to the Joker today, are you?"

As Joker had thought, Harley always came back to him. And although he acted as if he resented her coming back, he was always very thankful and relieved. But Harley was still in doubt. "Well, yeah, I mean he's my boyfriend and I love him and…" Harley sounded unsure of herself.

Ivy asked, "And?"

Covering her face with her hands, Harley shouted, "I don't know, Red! I don't know anymore!"

"Don't know what?"

Harley calmed herself. "It's really strange. I've been doubting a lot lately. First I doubted that the Joker loved me, and now I'm doubting that I love him. I know it's crazy but…"

Ivy was more than pleased to hear this. Maybe Harley was falling out of love. Or at least out of her constant world of denial.

"It's not crazy, Harls. I think it's great," she told her friend cheerfully.

"Well, I guess you would. But…"

"Listen, Harley," Ivy interrupted. "How about we do something fun today? Just take your mind off the Joker for a while, and see how you feel tonight."

Harley hesitated, then nodded. "That sounds great, Red."

"What do you want to do?"

"Go on a crime spree?" Harley suggested.

After considering this, Ivy shook her head. "I think we should do something completely separated from our usual lives. Just totally forget about Gotham and Joker and Batman for a while."

A bit taken aback by Ivy's refusal to go a crime spree, her favorite pastime, Harley stumblingly said, "Well, I hear there is a snow-skiing competition today in Garwood City. I've never done it in my life, but I've always wanted to!

Ivy looked at Harley in confusion. "You're gonna enter the competition?"

Harley nodded brightly. "Why not? Like you said, you gotta seize life and live it!"

Ivy started getting panicked. "Wait, I never said that…"

Harley ignored her, and cried happily, "What are we waitin' for, Red? Let's go get em'!" Before Ivy could protest, Harley took her hand and led her out the door.