Mother Nature's Affair

Chapter 6: Family Life

We open up about two months since the events of Arkham City.

Luckily, with the death of Hugo Strange, and the event involving Harley Quinn trying to kill Batman, Robin, and a few officers, the whole thing had been shut down.

And we see Derrick getting home from work at the GCPD.

Derrick, "Ivy? I'm home!"

Ivy, "in the kitchen!"

Derrick made his way to the kitchen, and smiled as he saw Ivy holding a sleeping Rose.

Ivy, "I managed to get her asleep. She looks so peaceful this way."

Derrick, "indeed she does."

The three of them moved into the living room, relaxing on the couch.

Derrick, "so, have you seen Harley at all?"

Ivy, "she stopped by once while you were at work. Wanted to talk about things after the City."

Derrick, "ah. So, what did she talk about?"

Ivy, "she's been trying to get better after what happened with the Joker. Now she's thinking of turning herself in, so she can try to start over."

Derrick, "good for her."

Ivy, "she also wanted to visit Rose. She's super excited about being the Godmother."

Derrick, "well who wouldn't be?"

They both chuckled for a few moments.

Eventually, Rose woke up from her nap.

Derrick took her so Ivy could go take a nap.

Derrick laid down on the couch with Rose on his stomach. She giggled as she smacked her little hands on his chest.

Derrick was saying, "aw, who's my precious little flower? You are! Yes you are!"

Rose giggled the sweetest sound in the world.

Derrick, "heh, you're such an adorable one."

Derrick spent the next couple of minutes just holding his baby girl in his arms.

Soon, Derrick found himself dozing off, as did Rose.

Eventually, they both dozed off, the baby girl snuggling into her father's embrace.

A little while later, they woke up.

And they both smelled something delicious.

Derrick got up with Rose sniffing the air kind of like a puppy. It brought a smile to Derrick's face.

Derrick walked in with Rose, and saw Ivy setting some shake and bake chicken on the table. With sides of carrots and celery.

Ivy turned to see her two favorite people.

Ivy, "you both woke up just in time for dinner."

Derrick, "it smells delicious."

Derrick got Rose into her high chair and sat down close, so he could feed her.

Dinner went on for a few moments.

Eventually, Derrick said, "I was thinking of getting a dog."

Ivy, "a dog? Really?"

Derrick, "well, I feel like Rose might benefit with having a pet."

Ivy, "well, instead of just getting a dog, I could make one."

Derrick, "wait what?"

Ivy, "you know about my powers. I could always make a dog using my powers. It would live much longer than a normal dog, and could defend Rose as she grows up."

Derrick, "that honestly sounds like a great idea."

And so, dinner went by normally. Eventually, our little family had to turn in for the night. Rose had been given a bath, read a bedtime story, and tucked in.

Shortly after, Rose and Derrick found themselves turning in for the night, snuggling into each other's arms as they drifted off to sleep….

….

Later that week, we see Derrick at work, going over the psych profiles on any prisoners they had at the GCPD.

Derrick, "okay, do this guy definitely shouldn't be an officer. His prejudice against anyone living in the ghetto are clear red flags."

That's when his office door opened.

Cash walked in, "hey, Derrick, we've got a situation."

Derrick, "what's the problem Aaron?"

Cash, "we've got a certain clown themed villain downstairs."

Derrick, "oh boy. Here we go."

Derrick followed Cash downstairs, seeing most of the officers keeping their distance.

Harley was sitting there in a red hoodie with black pants.

And of course, she was handcuffed.

Derrick, "uh, Harleen?"

Harley, "oh! Hey Derrick!"

Derrick, "what the heck are you doing here?"

Harley, "oh, y'know, just came for some psychiatric help."

Derrick, "um, hey pardon?"

Harley, "after seeing Pammy find herself some happiness, as well as not being insane anymore, I figured maybe you would talk to me?"

Derrick glanced at Aaron, who shrugged in confusion.

Derrick, "uh, Aaron, please bring her to my office?"

Cash, "sure thing."

Minutes later, Derrick was sitting at his desk, with Harley staring at him.

Derrick, "so, Anything you'd wanna talk about?"

Harley, "surprise me!"

Derrick, "hmm…. Well, how about we start with your overall condition?"

Harley, "lay it one me."

Derrick, "well, everyone knows your story. You were a young doctor working at Arkham, a rather intelligent one. But, everything changed when you met…. Him."

Harley, "right…. My puddin'."

Derrick, "the Joker. I usually called him by his most used allias, Jack Napier. A lot of your problems came from him."

Harley, "let me guess, you're gonna say I never loved him, he never loved me and all that?"

Derrick, "actually, no."

Harley pulled a really confused face.

Harley, "huh?"

Derrick, "Jack must have felt some form of affection towards you. Why else would he have kept you around? Fill you in on so many of his plans? Trust you to lead his men numerous times? He knew you were quite intelligent, despite your immature behaviour."

Harley, "that actually sounds…. Smart."

Derrick nodded and continued with, "and your feelings, disregarding how twisted they may have been, were genuine affection and attraction towards him. Simply put, he made you laugh, and made you fall for him. That was the starting point. But, like any relationship, it wasn't perfect."

Harley, "let me guess, you're gonna talk about how he…."

Derrick, "hit you?"

Harley, "he-"

Derrick, "Harleen, please just let me talk."

Harley nodded begrudgingly.

Derrick, "any doctor you had would focus solely on the physical abuse of your relationship. But they never discussed the mental abuse. Jack used more than punches and kicks to get what he wanted. He was a smart man, despite his insanity. He told you sad stories about his past, made you feel sorry for him, and eventually pulled you into his game. He corrected your behavior. He would give you praise just enough so you would stick around and continue to try and make him happy. It's like a dog."

Harley, "I'm not a damned poodle!"

Derrick, "I never said you were. I'm just saying, like a dog, you acted loyal to him, always trying to win his affection. But whenever you would get out of line, ie do something he hated…?"

Harley, "... he'd hit me."

Derrick, "admitting what happened helps you move forward. Harleen, you seem to focus on only the good moments involving you and Jack. If you want to move on, start over, and even get your old career back, you need to come to terms with everything. And I'm willing to listen to whatever you have to say."

Harley smiles and says, "well, I've got some stuff to say."

Several hours later.

Harley, "sob, and then there was the time he let Penguin kill my Hyenas!"

Harley us sitting on the couch in Derricks office, sobbing with hdr head in Derrick's lap. He's running her head to comfort her.

Harley, "sob, and then there was, sob, when he started treating a puppet, sob, better than me!"

Derricks, "it's okay, just let it all out. I'll be here to listen to you."

Harley, "you're the first person in forever to listen to me! Waaaaaah!"

Derrick patted her head.

This went on for a few more minutes.

But soon they saw the time on the clock.

Derrick, "I've gotta head home. But, do you wanna continue this tomorrow?"

Harley nodded her head.

Derrick, "alright then."

Minutes later, Cash was escorting Harley to one of the nicer cells for her to stay in.

Derrick had spoken to Gordon, and now, Harley was under Derrick's care.

And so, later, we see Derrick return home once again.

Derrick, "Ivy? Rose?"

Derrick went to the bedroom, and smiled at the sight he saw.

Ivy and Rose were asleep. Rose was snuggling into her mother's arms, some soothing music playing for them.

Derrick decided to let them sleep for a bit.

As Derrick entered his living room, he came across a surprising sight.

Batman was standing in his living room.

Derrick, "um…. Hi?"

Batman, "you're working with Harley Quinn?"

Derrick, "Harleen came to. She seems to want to change for the better. Kind of like Ivy."

Batman, "and you trust her?"

Derrick, "I blame Napier for most of her mental issues. She deserves a second chance, just like Pamela."

Batman stares at him and says, "if she acts up, you'll be partially responsible."

Derrick nods his head.

He turns for a moment, looking at a picture of Ivy and Harley smiling at one another.

Derrick, "I'm doing it for Harleen. And for Ivy."

When Derrick turned back to Batman, he was gone.

Derrick, "heh, that takes practice."

And thus, Derrick decided to get started on dinner.

Unaware of what the future would hold in a few months….

….

Meanwhile, in the remains of Arkham Asylum, we see a hooded figure sitting in a chair.

Jonathan Crane.

The ScareCrow.

Standing before him was a man in armor, with a red bat symbol on the front, and a red helmet covering his face.

Crane, "how long will it take for your forces to be at its maximum efficiency?"

The man spoke in a mechanical voice, "by Halloween this year, you'll have an entire army to help you take over this city."

Crane, "you do this for almost no price. What is it exactly that you want?"

The man, "Batman's head on a spiked pole!"

Crane, "your hatred of him is quite strong. Tell me, what shall I call the name of the man who wants to break the Bat?"

The man, "some call me the Arkham Knight. Some call me the Red Hood. Call me whatever you want, as long as we destroy the old man."

Crane, "very well. Soon, Gotham will know fear. And at its hands, the ScareCrow, and the Red Hood…."

….

Reviews:

Amanny: I'm glad you've been enjoying the story thus far. When we get to Arkham Knight, I'll have some big changes for Harley, Ivy, and a few other key moments in the story. Unlike City and Asylum, where Derrick was just there, he's gonna play a much bigger part of the story, actually working with Batman to keep his family safe.

….

We get to see what life is like for Derrick, Ivy and Rose.

As well as Derrick talking to Harley.

The next chapter will most likely take place during the events of Arkham Knight, or just moments before the beginning. I plan to have Derrick play a much more active role in the story of that game, as well as changing the Arkham Knight himself a bit.

Namely, he would go by two names throughout the story. The Red Hood, and the Arkham Knight.

Also, as a note, I'm planning on doing a retelling of Sym Bionic Titan, adding another main character to the story, and I'm hoping to continue the story after season 1. If anyone can find a good transcript of the show, let me know. The only one I could find has almost nothing but the dialogue. So if anyone has one that describes more of the action and such for most of the episodes, let me know in your reviews.

Until next time, have a great day/night and stay safe.