The next day, Harley found herself being softly shaken awake by Alfred.
"Ugh, Alfie? What time is it?"
"It is ten a.m., Ms. Quinzel. Orphan has already arrived. She is willing to wait for you to perform your morning routine. We will all have breakfast together once you are done with her."
"Okay, I'll be quick about it. Sorry for sleeping in. That was just the comfiest bed I have ever slept on. Man, so that's what good sleep really feels like. A girl could get used to this."
"We shall see, Ms. Quinzel. I took the liberty of washing the clothes you brought with you. I put them up in your dresser over there."
"Wow, you are awesome, Alfie. Sorry you had to do that, though. I kinda scrounged up stuff in a hurry. I hope nothing was too bad."
"You forget who I work for, Ms. Quinzel. I have seen far worse."
"Yeah, I guess so. Well, enough chewing the fat. It's shower time."
"I have already set the shower. It was nice and hot when I checked a moment ago. I also laid out towels and toiletries for you."
"OMG! You are the freakin best, Alfie. That's it, I am marrying into this family. Any of the guys single?" Harley asked, while wiggling her eye brows.
"Last I checked, all of them were."
"You don't say..." Harley said with a devious smile and started rubbing her hands together.
"Ms. Quinzel." Alfred said.
"Ah, don't worry your pretty little head, Alfie. I'm not gonna do anything untoward. I know my place. Plus I got Mike to think about. Its just a nice distraction."
"Very good, Ms. Quinzel. Well, the shower is waiting for you."
"Jolly good, mate. I'll be off then." Harley said jovially.
"Ms. Quinzel?"
"Yeah?"
"I understand your predicament and how love and life have been difficult, to say the least, for you. I would like you to know, if you ever wish to talk, I can always spare a few a minutes."
"That's kind of you, Alfie. I appreciate it. And right back at ya. You got somethin' you wanna get off your chest and you cant tell one of the bats, then you come to good ol' Harley. I'm a good listener. I mean, I only used to do it professionally."
"I'll keep that in mind, Dr. Quinzel." Alfred said with a smile.
"Man, I have really missed being called that. I have got to see if I can get my degrees back. Well, anyways, time to freshen up."
Ten minutes later, everyone was gathered in the batcave. Harley had been blindfolded and led down by Dick, so that she wouldn't see how to enter from the manor.
"Geez, I already know your biggest secret. Was all this really necessary?" Harley asked as she took off her blindfold.
"This had nothing to do with secret identities, Harley." Bruce said in his Batman voice.
"Then what was it for?"
"You like playing with things." Bruce said simply.
Harley took a look around and saw many objects she would like to mess with. All of which were probably very dangerous in the wrong hands, she assumed.
"Ok, that's fair. But I'll try to earn your trust for that later."
"We'll see. Now, Wonder woman had something come up on Themyscira. So she will be late. In the meantime, Orphan here will administer her test. She was raised from a young age to read body language as easily as reading a book. If you have the slightest defect in posture while telling your story to her, she will inform us."
"Got it." Harley said, then looked at Orphan closely.
"Didn't you used to be Batgirl?"
Orphan was silent, but her eye brows noticeably shifted.
"Yeah, yeah you were. The one with the full body leather suit. Yeah, you were the one I pegged to be Cassandra, Bruce's adopted daughter."
"...She's good." Orphan said to Bruce.
"We know. That's why we'd like to know she's being honest, so that we can keep her on our side."
Orphan nodded.
"Alright, lets begin."
Harley recited her tale to Cassandra. The entire time, she felt like the girl was staring through her and into her very soul.
"Well, what's the verdict?" Dick asked.
"I saw no changes in her normal body language. It was as normal as it gets for her."
"So, as far as you can tell..." Damien started.
"She is being one hundred percent genuine."
"That's disconcerting for Booster's sake, then. I'll start a case file right now." Bruce said, walking over to the bat computer.
"Cassandra, we may need all the help we can get on this one. Do you mind staying a while?" Alfred asked for Bruce.
"I was just about to say that. Thank you, Alfred." Bruce said, glancing over his shoulder.
"Is it only to help with the case? I mean, she is your daughter, after all " Harley blurted out, before slamming a hand over her own mouth.
"Sorry, please don't kill me!" She squeaked out from behind her hand.
"Its alright, Harley. We know you have problems with impulse control. Also, you did mean well by it. Now, to answer your question, of course not. Everyone knows they can come and go as they please. Damien, Alfred and I are the only ones who stay here full time. Everyone else just stops by to visit when desired or when called. Matter of fact, Dick was just visiting for a few days when you arrived." Bruce explained.
"I see. Guess 'bat-family' isn't just a nice title."
"No, it's not. Now then, it'll be a while before Wonder Woman gets here. We should have breakfast in the meantime. "
"I'll go get it started right away, Master Bruce. " Alfred said and began to walk away.
"Alfie?"
" Yes, Dr. Quinzel? "
Harley smirked.
"I'm fine with whatever you decide to make but, could I ask for a side of black pepper bacon? I like a bit of kick in the morning."
"Not a problem. Master Dick also happens to like pepper bacon. We keep a supply for when he's around. Also, I should ask for everyone's drinks."
"Coffee, black. " Bruce said.
"Coffee with hazelnut creamer. " Dick said.
"I can feel a vitamin deficiency, so I'll take a juice blend." Damien said .
"Tea, please, Alfred." Cassandra said.
"I take it you mean to stay then?"
" Of course. I'm always welcome, right? " Cassandra asked looking at Bruce.
"Naturally. Your room's how you left it."
"Good. I'll change and meet everyone in a few minutes."
"You don't mind me seeing you in your civies? " Harley asked.
"A little late to be trying to keep the secret identity around you, don't you think? "
"Point. Plus, you are technically at home. Be a shame to have to make you wear a mask here all the time. "
"Agreed. Now, what about you, Dr. Quinzel?" Alfred asked.
"Huh? Oh, my drink. Um, coffee with two sugars and cream, please."
"Very good. I'll be off then."
"Me too." Cassandra said.
"Come on, Harley. Put your blindfold back on and I'll lead you back upstairs. " Dick said.I
"Um, actually, I wanted to talk to your pops for a minute. Alone?"
"Suspicious." Damien said bluntly.
"It's fine. I'll bring her up myself. Go on."
Dick shrugged and Damien shook his head, but they both left.
"Well, Harley, you wanted me alone to talk. So, what is it?"
"Well, first off, I wanted to thank ya for all you're doing for me. I mean, I know I kinda blackmailed ya. And I'm really sorry about that. I was desperate. And I swear on my life, I will never tell anybody what I know. But, despite all that, you still kept me around. You coulda locked me up, knocked me out, hit me with some kinda memory wiper. There was a lot you coulda done. But, you treated me good. Gave me a room with the best bed ever, great food, Alfie ready to do anything I could ask for. Its way more than I expected, and more than I know I deserve."
"I understand you were desperate, Harley. And I believe that you have been nothing but forthright since you arrived. I'm only doing these tests to make doubly and triply sure that your story checks out. Not just for me, or the rest of my team, but for the league. Booster may have dropped down from active duty, but he was a league member. If something has happened to him, the entire league would want to know. But, considering your history, we need to have our proverbial ducks in a row to make sure they take you seriously."
"Right, I understand. Bats, you think I can ever be truly outta the joker's shadow? I mean, I did a lot of bad things with him. And I don't expect to be completely forgiven for them. But, do you think I can ever have, like, a legacy? Of being a good girl? A hero?"
"Harley, you prevented Los Angeles from becoming a miniature Apocalypse. And you nearly died in the process. So, you almost died for a city of complete strangers who you owed nothing to. That's what a hero does. Risks their all for people they don't know. Matter of fact, the best i've heard it explained is like this. Regular people see a fire and run the other way, heroes run towards the fire because somebody may need help. And as of late, that's what you have been doing. Running towards the fires. So, while I can't say it will be untarnished by the joker, I believe you will have a legacy as long as you keep this up."
"Aw, Bruce, you're gonna make me cry over here. I said it before but, nice guys like you shouldn't have bad days."
"You aren't going to kiss me again, are you?"
"Only if you ask nicely. But, that brings me to my other point. See, when Alfie woke me up this morning, we talked a bit. And we kinda offered a shoulder to cry on to each other of need be. It's why he's been calling me Dr. Quinzel too. He knows now that I like it. Anyways, I made a joke about marrying into the bat family just to keep all this luxury, especially him."
"Alfred is something special, alright."
"You all are, Brucie. Never sell yourself or your team short. Now, I said that as a joke, but I got to thinking while I was in the shower. I love Mike and I want him back but, if I'm being honest, I have never felt as safe and looked after before coming here. And I don't want to ever give that up. I know i haven't even been here a full day but, there's just something about this place that feels...homey. Like, maybe I'm supposed to be here. Maybe I always was, but it took a long time to get here. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, when this is over, could ya consider...making me a bat?"
Bruce raised an eyebrow.
"I know its sudden, but hey, its me saying this. Impulsive is my middle name, right? But, if I'm being honest, this isn't the first time i've thought about this. The thought has crossed my mind a few times since I started my upswing into being a good guy. I just never thought you'd take me seriously enough to ask. But now that I'm here, its going full throttle through my head and I just had to ask. Its ok to say no, but I just had to put it out there."
"...I've been monitoring you since you broke from the joker."
"Yeah, I figured."
"And over all, I've been pleasantly surprised by your efforts. So, here is the deal. I need more time to get to see how you would fit into the dynamic of the team. And everyone else needs time to see how far up on your upswing you are, and grow to appreciate that. The joker days won't be forgotten, but the heroic days will stack up and they will be able to judge you based on who you are now. On who you want to be. But, as I said it will take time. So, try to behave and get on everybody's good side."
"Gotcha, Brucie. Operation Aunt Harley is a go."
"Harley..."
"Don't worry, Bats. I'm not gonna push buttons. I'm just gonna let everybody know the same thing that I let Alfred know. That I'm here for them, as much as they are for me. And that goes for you too, Bruce. I've read up on ya. Mom and dad gunned down in Crime Alley, several lost loves, lost friends. Brucie, you don't have to bottle that up. I can tell ya do, so don't lie to me. Remember, psychoanalysis is a little skill of mine. That and criminology. So feel free to throw some cases you don't have time for my way. I need to earn my keep after all. But, anyways, I was a psychiatrist and those skills and know how never really left this noggin of mine. So, if you ever wanna talk, I'll listen to ya, just like you're listening to me."
"I'll keep that in mind, Harleen."
"Wow, been a while since I was called that."
"I figured Doctor might not be the only name you'd like to hear every now and then."
"I normally just go by Harley. It is a nickname for Harleen anyway. But, hearing Harleen from you...well, it's kinda nice. If doctor is Alfie's thing, can we make this one yours?"
"Why not?"
"Thanks, Bruce. For everything."
"You're welcome. Now, let's not keep the others waiting any more."
"Right, lead the way." Harley said, putting on her blindfold.
As they made their way up the stairs, Alfred appeared.
"Master Bruce, Wonder Woman has arrived."
"Very good, Alfred. Come on, Harleen." Bruce said, picking Harley up and carrying her bridal style.
"Why, mister Wayne." Harley said in a fake southern accent and fanning herself with her hand.
"Faster this way. Now lets go."