AUTHOR'S NOTE: Just so everyone knows Harleen's recollection of events isn't in chronological order. I wanted to make this so it was stream of consciousness so it's not a biographical thing about her life – though she is a fictional character of course so it's completely made up – duh! :P Just so everyone knows :]

Also I want to thank everyone that reviewed the first chapter so much and I'm really glad you liked it. Your praise was very encouraging & with that said here's Chapter 2 which will have more about Harleen and Edward's relationship so I hope you all enjoy it as much as the last, if not more! :]

"You could be my unintended, choice to live my life extended
You could be the one I'll always love
You could be the one who listens to my deepest inquisitions
You could be the one I'll always love." - 'Unintended' by Muse

Loneliness & Love

I lived on my own for a long time in New York so of course I'm no stranger to loneliness. I know how it is heading home alone on a Friday night knowing that there's nothing to look forward to other than some warm clothes and a comfy bed. I know the feeling of when hoping for a good book and a phone call from an old friend seems like too much to ask for. I know what it's like to walk into an empty apartment and turn on the TV just so it feels like there's someone there. When I think about these things, it makes me even more thankful that I've found Edward. Although I pride myself on being an independent woman, I doubt I could've carried on living like that without my self esteem suffering greatly from it.

The truth is that I love having someone to come home to. The second night Edward was officially living in my apartment is one of my fondest memories. The night before that; the first night he'd moved in, we'd had our first real fight. I remember it all started from a disagreement on what pet we should get together while we were talking about what changes we should make now that we were living together. I remember Edward wanted a cat but I wanted a dog because I'd always loved them. The disagreement quickly spiralled out of control and turned into a heated argument in which we pointed out quite painfully what we didn't like about each other. All the ugly repressed thoughts we had surfaced that night and needless to say, we didn't talk to each other after I stormed out the living room into the bedroom. By then we both knew that things appeared to be going badly already. Edward slept on the couch that night and that really surprised me. I was expecting him to leave the apartment without a word but he stayed. He had no reason to stay after some of the harsh things that were fired between us, especially on my part. But he did.

The next morning was the second day of me and Edward living together and I thought for sure that it would be the last when I woke up and remembered the argument from the night before. I hoped it was just a bad dream but I knew it wasn't. When I finally emerged from the room that was supposed to now be 'our bedroom' I saw him sleeping on the couch. However I resisted the urge to wake him up and went on my way to work. I remember feeling guilty throughout the day about what I'd said to Edward. What I'd said about his obsessive little tendencies bothering me, how he had to know everything and how he got all flustered when he couldn't figure things out, even something as simple as a puzzle. This usually resulted in him taking it out on me by not talking to me for the rest of the night, like a spoiled child who couldn't get his way. The more I thought about it the more I realised that yes, it did bother me a lot but despite that I still loved him all the same, if anything for some odd reason it made me love him even more. In a way it made me know he was different from other guys, which can only ever be a good thing.

It was the second night that changed my life forever. The second night is the one I'll always remember. I remember walking up to mine and Edward's apartment after work. I concluded at the time that I would have to continue calling my apartment after what had happened the night before. I thought for sure that all I had to look forward to up in that empty shell of a place was some comfy clothes and a bed that would have been warm if I'd had Edward to share it with. I remember thinking it was over for good, that he would never have forgiven me for what I'd said to him. To be fair, he'd said things to me that were unfair too but nowhere near as bad as what I'd said. I think it was because although he was angry, he really didn't want to hurt my feelings but I was pretty relentless in my attack on his obsessive behaviour. I remember I even said he needed help and I realised how hurtful that must have been. Coming from his girlfriend psychiatrist, I'm sure it wouldn't have come as much comfort to him.

When I reached the door of the apartment I dreaded what was behind it. I didn't want the empty life I had again, not after having Edward. Everything in me was convinced there was nothing there for me on the other side of the door, everything within me was telling me he was gone and that he wasn't coming back. My fear of losing him and being alone had consumed me completely and I could hardly bear it. Nevertheless I took in a deep breath and unlocked the door. Pushing it open I realised my fears may have come true as there was no one in sight, there were no lights on and the apartment was silent. I walked in and closed the door slowly behind me, switching on the light and forcing myself to turn back around and look at the empty space. As I turned around and saw the empty apartment I noticed Edwards' boxes weren't there from the night before and that's when I caved in. My knees buckled and I slid to the floor in a heap and before I knew it, I was sobbing uncontrollably which was completely overwhelming and out of character for me to say the least. I'd always thought myself as a strong person who didn't upset easily but the sight of Edwards' things being gone as well as him was just too much for me.

I couldn't hear anything through my wild sobs. I was actually crying the way a baby would as I was practically wailing my heart out. I buried my head into my knees as I held them with my arms as though I was protecting myself from something. I realise now that this was completely irrational behaviour and that it may have been rich in me saying that Edward was the one that needed help when there I was blubbering like a baby on the floor of my empty apartment. I know now that I have no psychological problems as I haven't acted in such a way since but this was very bizarre to me even as it was happening. For some reason, I just couldn't help it.

That's when I heard a voice that sounded all too familiar but appeared to be distant as my loud sobs drowned it out. I looked up as I swore I'd heard my name. My vision had become blurred by tears as I still sat there crying. I just about made out a tallish figure which is when my sobbing became a little more controlled.

"Harley?" the voice was clearer now and I knew that it was Edward. He was still there and I felt relief wash over me as I tried to compose myself and wiped the tears from my eyes with the sleeve of my jacket. Edward had stayed which I couldn't have been happier about. With my vision returned from wiping my eyes, I saw the look of guilt on Edward's face as he approached me and knelt down next to me. He unhooked my arms from my knees and pulled me into an embrace. Now I'm not one for mushiness but it was the most romantic thing I'd ever experienced. We held each other as I gripped onto him tightly, not wanting to him let go in case he disappeared.

"You're such a silly girl, do you know that?" Edward whispered in my ear as he moved one of his hands up to my head and stroked my hair. I heard him let out a little laugh and I did the same, my tears were washed away with laughter and just like that, we'd realised that the whole thing was pretty ridiculous. The argument, my fears and sobbing, especially the thing that started it all which was a disagreement about a pet of all things. It was all so silly, as Edward so rightly put it.

That was the moment that we'd discovered we loved each other no matter what. What's more is that we did so without even having to say it, realising it on our own made it much more meaningful because it was a milestone in our relationship that we'd reached together. We stayed up that night and avoided discussion; instead we lazed on the couch and watched some old movies, stuffing our faces with microwave popcorn. I still had my secretive ways and he still had his obsessive tendencies to know everything but we didn't mind because we were us again; Edward & Harleen, the odd couple that drove each other crazy but knew it was all part of what we signed up for when we took a leap of faith and decided to live together.

The third night I came home to Edward sitting on the couch with two German shepherd puppies. It appeared that Edward had forgotten all about the cat idea and he knew German shepherds were my favourite breed. That night we named them Bud & Lou after Buddy Holly & Louis Armstrong – our guilty pleasures that we bonded over when we first started dating so the names were perfect. This was when our life together really began and to this day whenever I look at Bud & Lou, I'm filled with an overwhelming sense of belonging. They're my babies, my family. Our family.

A short chapter I know but I'll make the next one much longer I promise! :]

Sorry if it was a little mushy for your liking – I did try to avoid it but when you're talking about 2 people that love each other then there's obviously going to be some sort of worship there I'm afraid! I like the idea of Edward & Harley though. I think they'd make a great couple if they were ever to be made into an item in future films, comics etc. I think they're pretty perfect for each other as far as their alter egos are concerned especially as I think the Riddler would pay much more attention to Harley Quinn than the Joker ever could. I think he'd definitely appreciate her a lot more but that's just because I don't think the Joker (especially TDK Joker) is capable of caring for anyone but himself and his own selfish agenda of tearing the world apart for his own enjoyment.

Also I think he's much to obsessed with Batman to pay much attention to Harley anyway, not in a homosexual way either as I don't believe the Joker to be gay in anyway whatsoever. I have read that the reason Joker makes lewd comments that have a sexual nature to Batman on occasions is due to attempting to make him feel as uncomfortable as possible and I believe that to be completely true. The Joker does tend to go out his way to make Batman feel uncomfortable and ruin him as much as he possibly can for his own enjoyment. I also don't think Batman/Bruce Wayne is gay either, sorry but I just don't buy it :/