It was late that night when The Joker got back home. Harley was asleep in their bed. He took off his coat as he stared at her in the darkness, only streetlight shining through the window. He prowled toward her and climbed on top of her still form. She struggled to wake up and was startled to see his face hovering over his. His eyes were lost in the blackness of his greasepaint. She felt suddenly uncomfortable by his presence.
"Joker?" She almost never called him that, only when the situation was serious.
He grabbed her cheeks in one gloved hand and squeezed.
"Look at me.", he growled. "I don't care what fairytale you created in that little brain of yours, but put it out of your mind. We are not having a child. We can't afford to have a liability like this on our hands. I have enough weaknesses because of you and I don't need one more. You will have an abortion and you will either go on birth control or get your tubes tied. I'm being generous by letting you decide."
Her face ached from the pressure. She wanted to talk so bad, but she knew he was in no mood to listen.
"I will take you to someone to get it done. It's just a few pills and then we can put this little mishap behind us and never speak of it again. I'm only daddy to one person on this earth, Harley, and you're lucky it's you, sweetheart." He gave her a solid, but light smack on her cheek. "Tell me you agree."
"Y-yes, sir."
"Good girl." He got off her and left for his office, slamming the doors as he went.
She laid shaking in bed after The Joker left her alone. Her hands softly caressed her belly. She knew he was right about a child being a liability. Someone could use the baby against them one day. She knew this was no life for a child. That was why she had already talked to her sister that afternoon. That was why Hope would be adopting their baby and there wasn't a thing The Joker would do about it.
Eddie had called The Joker in the early hours of the next morning with an update on the newcomer, Bane.
"He's been in Gotham for about a month. From what I've picked up, he's been staying in a secret hideout in the sewers, but no one's saying where exactly. He wears a mask that delivers a serum which in turn makes him incredibly strong."
"Where did he come from?", The Joker asked.
"He's been in a foreign prison for most of his life."
"Why is he here?"
"That I guess you'll have to find out yourself, J. He's got a request. He wants to meet you."
The Joker thought for a moment. "Set it up, Eddie. Soon."
"Aye aye, captain."
"You're coming out with me later, Harl.", The Joker said as he stood in the doorway to their bedroom.
Harley was sitting in bed on her laptop. She glanced up at him.
"Oh yeah?", she said flatly.
"We are meeting a new friend. Wear that, uh, red romper thing I like. I wanna show ya off.", he winked.
Normally she would giggle if he said something like that, but instead she returned with, "Mmhmm."
"I'm gonna let that slide because you're not feeling well, sweets, but change the attitude or I'll change it for you."
"Yes, daddy."
A few hours later Eddie called The Joker. "He is ready to meet you . He sounded eager from what I heard from my source."
"Yeah, yeah, where?"
"A private room at The Iceberg Lounge."
"I hate that place."
"Yeah, well options are limited when two criminals want to meet. Starbucks is kind of outta the question.", Eddie giggled.