Harley and Ivy had once set their designs on some rare bonsais and staged a raid on the conservatory. It hadn't gone well, and the bonsais had been destroyed because of Harley's desperate defense against the Batman.
Ivy had rounded on Harley when they'd gotten back to their hideout. Harley had cringed away as Ivy remonstrated at her in a cold, clipped voice.
When Ivy had come to the end of the tirade, she glared at Harley, now trembling against the wall, marched over and grabbed Harley's chin, lifting her head to look her in the eye.
"Look, Red, I know you're mad and all," Harley had squeaked.
"Yes, I'm mad," Ivy said flatly, "You want to know what really makes me angry right now, though?"
"Uh…" Harley hadn't been sure that she did want to know.
"It makes me angry that I have taken you in, taught you, worked with you…"
Harley nearly wailed. Was she about to be kicked out?
"…and you think I'm going to hit you."
Harley stared, dumbstruck for a moment and Ivy withdrew her hand and laid both on Harley's shoulders. "Now listen: you might screw up, ruin our plans and tick me off. I hope you learn from this fiasco, but whatever happens, remember: I will never, ever hit you."
That had actually been the second time Harley and Ivy had…well, been to bed together. Harley had been so relieved, grateful and felt suddenly so safe…
Now that memory was like a razor blade in her heart as Selina tore up the driveway and got into the main road into Gotham.
"Oh, god, Harl," Selina said, eyes on the road. "I just can't believe she'd do a thing like that."
Harley spared a backward glance through the car's wing mirror. The door was closed, and she looked away and burst into tears.
While within, Poison Ivy remained in the same spot Harley had left her, and she'd sunk to her knees, tears pouring down her face and cursing herself as she said the words her pride and anger wouldn't let her say to Harley's face.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm…"
Getting back to the halfway house, Harley, still sniffling, was heartened to learn that her landlady would be out of the hospital within the week. Selina and she went upstairs.
Harley had brought a single small bag. She was wearing a tracksuit that Selina had loaned her.
Harley walked in to see her suit hanging on the closet door.
"How…"
"I may be operating mainly on the straight and narrow these days," Selina said, "but I didn't forget how to steal things, you know. I got Maven to deliver it here from the cleaner's."
"Thanks," said Harley, unable to inject much joy into her voice. Still, she'd need it in the coming days.
"And now I have two suits," she said dryly, as she unzipped the bag and drew out her Christmas-ized harlequin costume.
"Harley," Selina said warily, "what did you bring that for?"
"Because I'm going to need it," Harley said.
"Oh no," Selina said, horror mounting, "You're…"
"Stop it!" Harley rounded on Selina, "Everybody's lecturing me and making a big deal of everything at me! Like I'm a little kid! Well, I'm growing up today."
Selina raised her hands in a gesture of peace, "Okay, I'm sorry! But, I don't understand."
Harley took a deep breath and said, "I've got a plan…"