The Rose and Her Thorns

Women; they had always confused Edward deeply. They were a riddle that the Riddler himself didn't wish to solve. But now that he had Ivy and Harley and Sunni, he didn't feel quite so lost around them. Learning to read their moods and expressions was a gift that he had been bestowed with by some unknown higher power, but Eddie was forever grateful for the knowledge.

Now, as he sat in his hospital bed surrounded by small boys, Eddie knew why God had given him that gift. It was specifically so that he wouldn't be injured in an explosion of sugary energy and little boy tantrums. From outside the room Ivy had appeared, bearing wonderfully smelling Krispy Kreme donuts and coffee for the harlequin on the floor. As soon as he smelled the strong caffienated brew Eddie groaned. Harley was going to turn into the Engerizer Bunny on crack!

The boys, who had skipped breakfast despite their abnormally large stomachs, pounced on the sugary baked-goods. Three dozen of the sweet wheel-shaped cakes were quickly demolished, the boys paying no heed to Ivy as she warned them about eating too much. Sunni silently walked into the room, bearing a dozen little jugs of milk. Looking up, the boys each snatched a carton, downing the cool liquid as they ate.

Edward noticed something off about Sunni as she strode into the room. Usually bright, vibrant, and full of life, the girl now moved like a robot. Nothing registered on her face. It was like a mask; a mask that he knew all too well. She was trying to cut off her feelings and hide them from the world. That worried Eddie quite a bit.

A gesture to Ivy caught the older woman's attention. She glided over to his bed, plopping down beside him with a smile. Thin eyebrows raised in question, but Ivy didn't say anything.

"What's up with Sunni?"

The smile wavered, becoming strained and almost painful to look at. Emerald green eyes pleaded with Eddie, trying to make him take back the question. He almost did, but resolve hardened his mind and he pressed on.

Ivy sighed and curled up next to him. From the vantage point, she watched Harley and the boys stuff their faces with junk food. Sunni sat off to the side, head down and staring at something in her hand that was non-existent.

"She thinks she's a monster because of last night."

A frown crossed Eddie's features. "That's ludicrous. She was simply trying to keep us from dying, even though I was still a close call."

Gently laying her head in the crook of Ed's shoulder, Ivy nodded. "I know. But try telling her that. She's still convinced that she's a dangerous killer that could hurt us."

Almost on instinct, an arm wrapped around Ivy, drawing her even closer to Eddie. He leaned his head against her hair, taking a deep breath so he could draw in as much scent as possible. The bright locks smelled like a tropical rainforest, beautiful and clean and intoxicating all at the same time. Joy fluttered up in Eddie's chest as he realized that Ivy was nearly purring against him. For the first time in his life, as he looked around at all the people that surrounded his bed, Edward felt...loved.

"She'll come out of it Ivy. Don't worry. Hey, I've got an idea. Why don't you have Harley and the kids go out on a shopping spree? It'll take their minds off of what happened last night."

For the first time, the plant goddess was hesistant. She didn't want to split them up just yet, not when Sunni was this fragile. In an almost comic turn of fate, Harley leapt up and nearly shouted, "Oh my God! Mistah' J's on the T.V.!"

And surprisingly, the statement was true. The Joker, Zsasz, and Two-Face were standing before Arkham's warden. The scarred, hooked man was glaring fiercly at the three, scrutinizing every laceration and bruise on their bodies. He was making some sort of announcement, but most of it was bleeped out before the public could hear the profane words that the man was using. As the warden shouted swears, Joker was abnormally quiet. He didn't laugh. He didn't smile. He didn't even make any snide remarks about the warden's mother. The insane clown just stood there, hatred and contempt burning in his eyes.

From the wall, Sunni nearly cringed. Those eyes; they reminded her painfully of her father's on the night she killed him. It brought back really painful memories that she would have rather forgotten, so she leapt up and ran out of the room. Following her was Harley, the childish clown concerned for the girl that she now considered a younger sister. Minutes ticked by, and still the two didn't return. A silence fell across the boys, Jaylon actually standing up and asking Ivy if everything was alright.

She was nervous as well, but Ivy put on a brave face and answered soothingly, "It's okay baby. Sunni and Harl are just talking."

Just as abruptly as they entered, Harley and Sunni came back in the room. The jester was sporting a smile, an arm draped across Sunni's shoulders. "How'd you boys like ta go to the mall?"

The ones that could walk leapt to their feet, Gabe and Eli lifting the babies as they all cheered. Eddie leaned over to Ivy, whispering smugly, "Well that settles my mall idea."

"Shut up."

Jasper ran over to them, leaping up and hugging his mom. "We'll be okay Mommy. I love you."

Ah! That sentence would never get old to Ivy. "I love you too Jasper." Looking up, she added, "You all be careful. Okay?"

The boys nodded and answered in unison. "Yes Mom."

With that, the kids where whisked away with an overly-hyper harlequin. This was going to be the equivalent of the apocalypse for Bergduff's. A slightly mischievous chuckle resounded from behind the woman, and she turned, faced with a smiling Eddie.

"We're all alone. There aren't any kiddies we have to worry about. You thinking what I'm thinking."

A grin. "Shameless snuggling?"

"Get over here. I'm lonely."

The Mall~10:30 a.m.

Through the mall Harley maneuvered, the older boys following her as she pushed a triplet cart. A lolli-pop stick protruded from the woman's mouth as she scanned the different stores around her. Silently, Sunni watched the chaos around her. Her eyes were drawn to Enrique's shop as they passed, observing a group of teenage boys who were harrassing the Latino store owner. Harley and the others seemed oblivious to the conflict.

Instead of passing on, Sunni leaned over and whispered, "I'm going to Enrique's, Harl."

The blond barely gave a passing glance to her, muttering, "Okay. Meet us back at the Burger King."

But the words fell on deaf ears, as the teen was already gone. Silently she stalked into the store, coming up behind the large teenagers. They had gathered around Enrique, pushing the smaller man around like he was nothing as they tried to bully him into giving them his new drum set. The largest was about seventeen, with muscles that strained against the material on his shirt. His hair was hidden under a backwards flat-billed cap, but his skin was unnaturally tan. His friends were much smaller, but just as mean and pig headed.

"Hey Gorrilla-Face!"

The thugs turned, glaring at Sunni with horrid piggy eyes. The leader spoke in a deep voice, stupidity evident in every syllable. "What are you doin' kid?"

Slightly scared eyes appeared from behind the teenagers, Enrique trying to get Sunni to back down. "Sunni..."

"Stay out of this Enrique. This is my fight."

The leader snorted. "You don't scare me kid."

Suddenly, the girl darkened, her eyes glowing wildly. "Don't scare you eh? Well, I'm about to."

To be continued...

Okay guys, I know I haven't been leaving any messages for you. But I really do appreciate all the comments and love people left for me to read. You know the drill; after reading this, review me and give me tips on what I can do to further the story.

Oh, and by the way...In the next few chapters, one of my characters is going to die. It's in memory of the person that I based them off of. They lost their battle with cancer, so I just don't feel right about writing a character based on them. I hope you understand.