disclamer i do not own joker nor harley. Although it'd be great if i did!!

Harleen looked around her ratty apartment in the Narrows, surveying all the holes, peeling paint, stains, and dust covered furniture. Then glanced down at her right side, were a small pile of cleaning supplies lay. Looking back up at her apartment, Harleen shook her head at what seems like the impossible. But not being one to give up Harley picked up the furniture polish and a rag. Sixteen and a half hours later finds Harley taking a shower in her freshly cleaned bathroom. While rinsing her body off Harley noticed how raw all the cleaning had made her hands. She went into a trance like state, recalling a time when she had made her hands this raw by cleaning.

*~* Flashback*~*

(Author note the flashback is in Jacks pov mainly because I didn't feel like writing in Harleys but some of it is in her pov too.)

Letting out a low whistle Jack took off his shoes and put his coat up in the hallway closet, before looking around the freshly cleaned house in search of Harley. Using all his years of military training, Jack maneuvered through the house without making a noise. He went to the living room noticing the still semi wet carpet, and the OCD cleanliness that only Harley could do. Jack feeling that the room was just too perfect, went over to the book shelf tilting Grendal to make it stick out further then the other books, then noticing the flower pot that sat on the table, Jack scooped up a small amount of soil, then sprinkled the dirt on the table and what was left on the bookshelf. Feeling elated at knowing that the house isn't perfectly clean like a hospital or government building, Jack could continue on his search for Harley. Jack found her on her hands and knees scrubbing the hell out of the floors. Instead of bothering her, he decided to lean against the wall and enjoy the view while remembering when she was in a similar position with him behind her. Jack's reminiscing was cut short when his brain decided to inform him that Harley had been scrubbing the same spot for the past five minuets.

"Harley…Harley!"

Harley was startled out of her thoughts by Jack shouting her name. Turning quickly around she landed on her butt with her right hand pressed to her racing heart.

"Jack! What the hell!" Harley yelled more out of embarrassment then anger. Jack smirked at Harley's flustered look and raised his left eyebrow.

"Thank that spots clean, Harls."

Jack said inclining his head to indicate the spot Harleys hand was previously scrubbing.

"Yeah, I guess I did get a bit carried away."

"No worries Harls , although I am curios at what could distract you for so long?"

Jack said not even trying to hide his intent stare from Harley. Harley, normal cool headed Harley, could not meet Jack's eyes, couldn't even look in his direction. From her spot on the floor Harley started twittering with her hands.

"Harley? Is there anything you need to tell me?"

Jack asked moving from his relaxed position against the doorway to squatting in front of Harley in an attempt to get her to look him in the eyes. Growing frustrated and concerned with Harley Jack lost his short patients he had at the moment.

"Harley look at me!"

Harley, only mildly startled by the outburst, did as she was told. Staring in his eyes Harley couldn't look away even though she wanted to, looking into jacks eyes Harley felt like every secret she ever had was exposed to him, which it really was seeing as how Harley tells him everything.

"Now Harley tell me what's got you so upset?"

"It's nothing Jack, really just silly nerves that's all."

"Uhuh, that's interesting and all but you didn't answer my question."

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly trying to prepare herself for whatever mood this would put Jack in.

"I was just worried that… that the general might find us, like I said just silly nerves."

Jack seeing Harley needed some comfort reached out and took both her hands, and for the first time, noticing how raw her hands were from the cleaning.

"Jesus, Harls, what were you trying to do, clean your skin off?"

Jack pulled Harley up so they were both standing and lead her to their upstairs bathroom. Sitting her on the toilet, Jack retrieved a bottle of aloe lotion from the cabinet. Squatting down in front of Harley, he pulled her hands out in front of her palms up. Jack had squeezed out some lotion on his own palm and put down the bottle. Jack started with Harley's left hand by placing one of his hands under hers and the other above. He then gently massaged the lotion from his hands on to her own, paying extra attention to her fingers. After the lotion was fully rubbed in, Jack bent his head down kissing each finger and her palm. He picked up the lotion and poured it in his hand again and proceeded to give Harley's right hand the same treatment as the left. With that being done Jack shifted to his knees, and pulled Harley toward him, so that he was in between her thighs. Jack lightly wrapped his arms around Harley's waist having her lean more into him.

Harley moved her forehead to rest on Jacks and putting her arms over his shoulders brought him even closer. Jacks left hand began to slowly rub Harley's lower back through her t-shirt.

"Harley, don't worry about the general he's miles away, ok. Here we're different people, with different lives no one knows where we are or who we are except for Matt and he lives next door. There's no way he could find us. None. Our tracks are covered. Promise. Besides he wouldn't even bother to start looking for us here. Ok? So try not to worry so much. I've got you baby, you just have to trust me."

Harley leaned back and nodded her head.

"Of course I trust you Jack. I know you handled everything perfectly with absolutely no mistakes. It's just, he scares me Jack. And I've been having these dreams that he comes here, kills you, and then takes me back to the base, to the labs. And the funny thing is it's not going back to the base that bothers me it's him killing you, that I can't stand Jack."

Harley had put all her emotion into what she had told Jack, looking him in the eye to make sure he understood.

Jack couldn't look away the emotions he felt saw and heard coming from Harley were like a train wreck you want to look away but no matter what you just couldn't turn away. So instead he continued to stare back into those beautiful pools of deep sparkling water that she called eyes. When he felt Harley's hand on the side of his face he let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. Just the fill of her touch had broken the intense searching gaze but not the spell she had on him. Jack closed his eyes relishing in the feel of her skin. Nuzzling her hand and placing a light kiss on Harley's wrist, Jack opened his eyes back up and saw Harley's slightly relaxed face.

"Listen Harley if, and that's a big if, the general were to find us he wouldn't kill me, even if he tried I wouldn't leave you alone. Ever."

Jack licked his lips as if chapped, sucking his bottom lip in slightly. Harley notice's these things and knows it is a sign of nervousness more then force of habit, by the look in his eyes and the slight tensing of his muscles that he only shows to her, because anyone else would see the weakness he was trained to hide. Getting ready to ask what was wrong, fell silent when Jack spoke first.

"I have been astonished that men could die martyrs for their religion -
I have shudder'd at it.
I shudder no more.
I could be martyr'd for my religion
Love is my religion
And I could die for that.
I could die for you."
(~ by John Keats ~)

After quoting those words of love , Jack noticed two things, one Harley's eyes were watering, two she was smiling the most breath taking smile she had ever given him. Harley surprised Jack by puling him into a long kiss only breaking to whisper against his lips her love for him.

*~* End Flashback *~*

Harley was brought back to the present by the now freezing water. Sighing Harley turned off the water, dried off and wrapped herself up in a towel. Getting ready to leave the bathroom Harley heard a noise coming from the other side of the door. Not being one to panic, Harley grabbed the knife she hid under the sink. Edging toward the door Harley listened for any more noises, not hearing anything didn't calm her nerves. Taking a breath in preparation to face whatever or whoever was on the other side of the door. Harley through open the door and was meet with nothing. Still not eased by this Harley took inventory of the hallway. After inspecting the hallway and finding nothing out of place, she went to inspect the other other rooms, starting with the living room seeing as how it was the only room with the lights on. Taking light steps and double checking the few corners and doors along the way for any intruders, Harley found herself at the entry way of her living room. Again finding nothing out of place.

'Sofa, T.V. , table, beautiful red and white roses,…wait a minute. Roses? I don't have roses.'

Harley stepped up to the living room table to scrutinize the roses that lay in the middle. Seeing no card with the roses; Harley decided to through caution into the wind. Picking up the flowers Harley looked at the individual roses, touching some of the petals, then finally smelling them. Still standing there, smelling the roses Harley puts down her knife, and turns towards the connected kitchen to find a vase to put them in. When she stops suddenly, at the sight of the figure leaning casually against the counter, that separates the kitchen from the living room. Harley gasps in surprise and nearly drops the roses as she unblinkingly stares at Jack.

OK click that button and tell me some improvments i can make or anything really im not picky.