A/N: Here's some Harley and Ivy; they are a couple in this chapter. I also actually have a plot now, so this arc is going to be a little longer than expected.

There was only silence in the greenhouse; the warm air permeated Ivy's skin as she sat, calm and collected. She took a deep breath, struggling to meditate. Selina had encouraged her to practice; something about how the League of Shadows always did it after a big job.

Harley peeked in, whispering loudly, "Ivy?"

She clenched her teeth. "Yes, Harl?"

"Whenevah you're done, it's dinnah time."

Ivy sighed, opening her eyes and breaking the almost trance. "I'm coming." She stood, vines receding from her path to the door.

Harley hummed a song as she practically danced around the kitchen. She poured the macaroni and cheese for Ivy and then herself, placing the pot back on the counter. She tossed her long elegant legs over the side of the chair as she sat down, watching Ivy enter.

Ivy sat down, lost in thought, until something sparked her attention. "Um, Harl? Why are there four bowls?"

Harley smiled sheepishly. "Well… We kinda have a guest… Or two."

Jester appeared from the shadows, grinning at the green woman. "Hey, Aunt Ivy."

She sighed, leaning over her plate. "J.J."

"He goes by Jestah now, Ivy; my big grown-up man." Jester rolled his eyes as Harley hugged him. "How are ya, sweetie? Where's your friend?"

"Red's not exactly a very social person," he nodded towards a figure in the shadows. "We need your help."

"Oh, no ya don't! You and Mistah Red are eating dinner with us; it's been a long time since we've had a nice family dinner!"

Jester smiled despite himself, sitting down and indicating for Jason to it across from him. "Don't worry, Red; at least the dishes will stay on the table this time and nothing's poisoned…" He glanced at Ivy. "Hopefully."

She raised an eyebrow playfully. "No promises, kiddo."

Jason sat down nervously, waiting as Harley suddenly realized something. "Honey, take off your mask; this here's a safe zone."

Jester grinned. "Yeah, I don't think that's going to fly with him, Mom."

Jason hesitated, and then pulled the hood out as he scooped mac and cheese inside.

Pleased with herself, Harley turned to Jester. "I'm so glad you came, J.J. How've ya been?"

"Oh you know; here and there."

"Have ya been staying outta trouble?"

"Yes, Mom."

As the clowns made polite conversation, Ivy watched as Jason made a great show of attempting to eat with the helmet on. His futile attempts at feeding himself were more than amusing to her.

"Are you still working at that little store on the docks?"

"Nah, I got fired."

"J.J…"

"I'm sorry, Mom, they tried to make me wear that dumb pirate hat."

"Honey, we all have to make sacrifices. Now where are ya gonna stay?"

"I'm living at Red's."

Harley glanced at Jason, who tried not to show his frustration with eating. Ivy chuckled under her breath, taking her bowl and carrying it into the kitchen.

Jester swiped Harley's empty bowl and his own, and they too went into the kitchen.

Alone, Jason glanced around, and then whipped off the helmet and shoveled mac and cheese in.

In the kitchen, Harley took Jester's hands. "So what did ya wanna talk to me about, hon?"

Jester attempted to keep the conversation light. "I was just wondering if you knew where… he is."

Harley dropped the bowl, but Jester caught it, putting it in the sink. Ivy, curious, hung about and started to wash dishes.

"Oh sweetheart… Your fath- I mean, he and I got outta touch a few months ago."

"Is he in jail?"

"No, not yet. Last I heard, that is, a few months ago, he was working this big job, something about Extranormal or something. He didn't say a thing to me, but I found it on his computer, right before…" She rubbed her arm, laughing half-heartedly. "That's my puddin', riggin' laptops with bombs. I really shoulda known bettah…"

Jester saw Ivy turn and give Harley a concerned look, before resuming her indifferent expression and turning back to her work.

"Anyway," Harley piped up. "I didn't hear a thing aftah that. I don't even think he's been in Gotham for… well, at least a few months."

Jester frowned. "Extranormal, huh?"

It was then that Jason entered, helmet down and bowl empty. He gingerly placed it in the sink. Harley grabbed two cups and started the coffee maker. Jason leaned on the doorframe, crossing his arms.

They remained for an hour or so; Jester insisted that they had to go home, despite Harley's pleading to play Scrabble. Before they left, Harley demanded that she give Jason something, dragging him to the back room. Jester suddenly took Ivy's hand, whispering sincerely, "Thank you for taking care of her."

She was slightly surprised, but returned his gesture. "You know I love her, Jester. If you need anything, we'll be here." Ivy paused. "Oh god, does this mean you're going to start calling me Mom?"

"How about Mom Beta?"

"Don't even think about it, mister."

Jester and Jason struggled to escape Harley's hugs but finally found themselves walking back to the black car Jester had stolen. "What did she give you?"

Jason looked down at his hand. "A comb."

The clown stopped in his tracks, laughing. "So she saw you anyway? Tried to be sneaky, huh?"

Sheepishly, he punched Jester in the arm. "Don't forget that I know thirty ways to kill you and leave no evidence."

Before Jester could reply, a shadow leaped on his back. Jason, panicking, turned and bolted towards the greenhouse.

Jester wrestled with the shadow, rolling him over and pinning his hands down, grinning menacingly. "You dick."

"It is so hard to keep a secret identity with you." Nightwing kneed him in the stomach. Jester rolled off and stood, fists up. Nightwing stood as well but only raised his hands in surrender. "I thought you were wearing the Red Hood."

"The helmet was too tight, so I donated it."

"To who?"

Jester nodded towards the greenhouse.

"Who is he?"

"I'm sorry, that information is classified."

Nightwing raised an eyebrow. "Okay, you don't have to tell me. Bats'll find out soon enough."

Jester's face went pale; well, paler than usual. "Wait, Bats is…" He looked towards the greenhouse, only to see a shadow enter through the door. "Oh, no."