Chapter15: My Hearts is Yours

A/N: Hi guys! I'm so sorry it took me so long to update! This story is almost finished, you won't have to wait that much longer anymore. Even if most of you won't read this I'd like to take the time to explain what happened: First of all life happened with uni and appointments and tests...I just didn't have the time to write or upload. Secondly I had a hard time connecting with Harley&Joker. And then thirdly, my dog died two weeks ago. I realise not everyone can understand the grief I'm feeling, so I can say it in a different way: I feel like my heart was ripped out of my chest and half of me is missing and I have no idea how to function let alone write which is very hard for me.
I've been getting a lot of support from a lot of unlikely places which has been great. Thanks to J (again no pun intended :D) I was able to continue this fanfiction AND start a new one. So stay posted my darlings ;-)
As always, thank you for each message and review. Most of you were right with your assumption as to where the Joker took her. Have fun!

And I love the riddles that you speak

And any snide remarks from my father

about your tattoos will be ignored...

Cause my heart is yours

(Taylor Swift – Ours)

The Ace Chemical plant was completely dark, as we entered it. He seemed to know his way around and found the light switch easily. The light was dark and gloomy, but somehow it was romantic.

Mr. J took my hand and led me to a back door and we walked up a long flight of stairs. We didn't speak until we were at the top of the building looking down into the nine pools of chemicals.

He sat down at the edge of the platform and I sat beside him.

"Is this where it happened?" I asked and he nodded silently. I didn't need to form the question any clearer. He knew exactly what I meant. This was the place where he had become the Joker, where he had bleached his skin white and his hair green. This was the place he had transformed.

"It's my favourite place in the word."

"It's nice." I looked down at the steaming chemical pool in front of us. "The smell is pretty intense."

"You get used to it." He leaned back, crossing his arms behind his head.

I lied down beside him and looked up at the night sky, since the entire plant had no roof. There was yet another moment of silence before I whispered:

"I think you were right. About Shayne."

Mr. J turned his head towards me to look at me. "You'll have to ask him."

"I know." But I also knew that there was no going back now. That Shayne and I would never recover from this. That he had lost his last ally.

"What happened to you here?" I whispered after a moments silence.

"I turned into the person I am today."

Despite the circumstances I couldn't help but roll my eyes and turned to look at him. "You know what I mean. Who were you before?"

Mr. J didn't answer and I didn't think he would, but he suddenly said: "Imagine the happiest man you know. The kind of person, who can deal with every situation because everything happens for a reason and everything in life will end good, just because life is that way."

Ironically enough the person I thought of was Shayne. It was a pretty accurate description.

"Now take all of that from that person, what is left?"

I turned to look at him, but I wasn't sure what to say.

"A shell of the person?"

"The lowest piece of crap this world has to offer", was his way of putting it and even though he made it sound like a joke I didn't smile. "What does the piece of crap do?"

I'd lost track of his thought process and merely lifted my shoulders to show I wasn't following any more.

"He becomes the stronger one."

I didn't answer. I didn't understand how the chemicals would change that.

"He becomes so much more than a person." He explained, sitting up. "I am an idea...a state of mind."

I sat up too. I was starting to understand what he was saying. And if there was anything I wanted in that moment, anything that could make me breathe again, then it was becoming the stronger person.

He reached out his hand to me and pulled me to my feet. The Joker didn't say it, but I knew what had to be done. Falling into these chemicals was a choice that had to be made. Becoming the stronger one was a choice.

"What did you loose?" I asked even though I had already made up my mind.

"Does that matter?" He asked back with a small smile.

"Please." I whispered and pressed his hand. "It would make it easier for me."

"I will tell you three stories." Mr. J let go of my hand. "One of them is true."

I nodded and he began:

"I lost my parents and little sister in a fire." His face was emotionless. I couldn't tell if he was lying. "My wife was pregnant with our baby and was murdered." He paused and then said: "I drove the car that killed my girlfriend and two children."

I nodded and turned toward the steaming chemicals. Death had been his trigger. And for me it was the similar. Shayne was dead to me now. My life, my fears, hopes and dreams...they were all dead.

"I need a new name."

A smile crept onto his face and I realised he'd already thought of this himself.

"Harley Quinn." He whispered. "Like the Harlequin."

"And like Quinn." I realised as I thought back to the only friend I'd ever had.

I went to the edge of the platform, looked at him and stretched out my arms.

He had a eager look on his face as I let go and fell. I thought it would be scarier and faster, but it felt like floating. It felt right and there was nothing scary about it at all. I was becoming an idea. Much more than a person. The last coherent thought I had was: I can't swim.

Fire burned her skin, it hurt more than I had expected. There was a flash of light and beauty and music and freedom all rolled into one. I was dancing. She was laughing and singing. This was happiness. This was life. This was darkness. Was this death?

When Harley opened her eyes again air rushed into her lungs and she could breathe. The love of her life was leaning over her, chemicals dripping from his face onto hers. She smiled, leaned up and kissed him, clinging to him for life and so much more. He kissed her back the same way, as if he was the one who had been drowning and she the one to save him.

Harley giggled, as his lips travelled across her face.

"Puddin? It's too warm." The words coming from her mouth had a strong New Jersey accent in them which she liked.

"Well then let's get you out of here, baby." Mr. J responded and swiftly carried her to the edge of the large tank. She climbed out happily and he followed. When her feet touched the ground she squeeled in delight and turned around to face him.

The Joker stood before her, staring at her in awe as if he couldn't believe she was really standing there.

"What?"

"You're perfect." He said and stepped closer. When he touched her wet hair, Harley followed his gaze and began to jump and down in glee, when she discovered her blonde hair was blue and red at the ends. She was perfect.

"Puddin' I need new clothes."

He nodded as he continued to stare at her and she grinned because the two of them had shared the same thoughts and were so in snyc. As if they had drank the same magic potion and now shared the same powers.

"Let's go home." He took her hand and led her out of the chemical plant. When a security guard yelled at them to stop and asked what they were doing here, she reached for Mr. J's gun, pointed it at the man and pulled the trigger. All in one swift movement. Mr. J laughed and kissed her and laughed with him.

When they got to the car Harley begged him to drive as fast as he possible could. They laughed the entire ride, because they managed to cause three crashes and lost two police cars chasing them, because they couldn't catch up. Harley had never been so happy in her entire life. And so fearless.

"Tomorrow we're paying Shayne a visit." She said when the car came to a stop in front of the pent house.

"Whatever you want baby."

"Just you and me." She ran her hand through her bleached hair. "And then I need new clothes."

"We'll rob some stores afterwards." He nodded. "And then..."

She giggled. "Play with Batman for a while?"

"It's like you read my mind!" The Joker leaned in to kiss her and then mumbled against her lips: "Where have you been all my life?"

"I was lost and you found me." She answered matter-of-factly as she climbed out of the car. "Now let's have a party!" She skipped up the stairs, past a baffled Johnny who as even more shocked as she hugged him tightly. Once the blonde woman was inside Johnny stepped down towards Mr. J.

"She's really your girlfriend now, isn't she?"

"Girlfriend?" Mr. J repeated with a long laugh. "Johnny, she's my Queen."

Sorry it's rather short. What do you guys think?