It seemed to Harley as if all the air had rushed out of the room.
Maven, who followed Ivy at a respectful distance, had succeeded, it seemed. Ivy seemed to float in on a tide of green. The gown was spectacular. It was an floor-length A-line style, strapless, the skirt chiffon and the bodice a rich velvet. Ivy's red hair fell lightly like a copper cloud down her back, moving lightly about her head as she looked around the hall.
Their eyes met and Harley barely heard Renee chuckle as she crossed the hall, half-afraid she was dreaming, until the moment when they met and Harley and Ivy flung their arms around each other. For a long moment they just stood there, hugging. Harley couldn't think of any words more informative of her feelings than this gesture.
They finally broke apart. Ivy's expression was blank, but her eyes brimmed with tears, "Harley," she whispered, "Can we go somewhere and talk, please?"
Harley led her back to the table, which Renee had already discreetly vacated. Ivy sat down facing Harley across the little table with its single candle. She kept her back to the hall, and Harley was glad that she had that privacy when she reached across and took Harley's hand in a grip of velvet and iron.
"Harley," she said. She glanced away and blinked back tears, "There's so much, but I'm not sure how to say it."
"It's okay, Red," said Harley, "just take your time."
For a long moment, they just stayed there, holding hands. Then the tears started to flow, and Ivy burst out, "I'm so sorry for what I said, and what I did!"
"I know, Ivy," Harley said. She had a napkin on hand, which she offered to Ivy. "I said some things I shouldn't have too."
Mopping at her eyes, Ivy said, "I was so…angry and confused and so selfish." She looked up and took a deep breath. "Controlling, possessive. That's what they call me in my file at Arkham. I always said I wanted you to be self-respecting and your own woman, but I didn't ever really act like it, did I?"
"You did more for me than he ever did, Red," Harley said fiercely, giving her hand another squeeze.
"And then you made it. You found a way to do all of this," Ivy went on, "And I was resentful. I said I wanted you to be free, not boxed in. Even if you hadn't, you know, gone back to him, I guess," she sniffed, "that I didn't realize how much I wanted you to really just be in the same box as me."
"Oh, Ivy…"
"It's not easy for me to ask, but…can you…"
Harley's smile was warm and genuine, and she felt her own eyes sting, "Of course I can, Pammie. I forgive you!"
Ivy's shoulder's sagged in relief, and she gave a quiet sob. Harley returned, "Can you forgive me?"
Ivy nodded. "I…" she coughed and started over, "This dress is beautiful, Harley."
Harley giggled, "First time I saw it, I thought of you."
Ivy looked Harley in the eyes again, and they looked anguished, "When I got it, and Maven told me what you'd been doing, I was so afraid something might happen, and I'd never get to tell you. So I…"
"Gave the cops a helping hand?" Harley winked.
"Yes," Ivy almost laughed.
"Just like old times, Harley and Ivy, huh?"
That didn't have the cheering effect Harley had hoped, and she sobered. Ivy shook her head. "Harley," she said, her voice steadier, "I…miss you. But you've moved on. Can you imagine me ever 'reforming,' as they call it? Giving up my cause?"
Harley frowned, "No, Red. I know your plants are important to you."
"Then where does that leave us?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know quite what you'd call what we had," Ivy said. "Love? I don't even know if I understand what that means anymore. Friendship? Something else? Whatever it was, what chance does it have, really?"
Harley's heart bled, but Ivy went on, "This time tomorrow I'll have either fled or been caught again. I look at you and I want to you to be with me forever. But there's no hope, is there?"
Her head sagged. Harley sat back, mouth open. Ivy had come to say goodbye, to salvage their affection just to break it in better spirits. What could Harley say? How could she argue that they could keep it together, even when…
Her eyes widened, and she looked at Ivy. "I don't know, Red."
Something in her tone made Ivy look up in surprise. She hadn't said 'I don't know' in a resigned or resentful voice. It was more like wonder.
"I don't know," she said again. "But," she looked hard into Ivy's eyes, "you know what? I'd like to find out!"
"What?"
"Look, Red, if there's one thing I've learned in the last few months, it's that we're not divided into good guys and bad guys with a big wall in the way. Some of us have to live between. We gotta dance on the edge. That's how I found them," he pointed at the stage, "and it's how I found you."
Ivy stared wonderingly at Harley, who suddenly sprang to her feet, "Speaking of dancing," she extended a hand.
Stunned, Ivy took Harley's hand and followed her onto the dance floor, and they joined in a swaying two-step to the slow, jazzy beat of Jerry Black and the others playing some of the Vince Guaraldi seasonal classics.
The songs quickened gradually; the next one, and they stepped nimbly around each other. Harley was smiling affectionately all the while. Ivy looked amazed, like she couldn't quite believe what was happening.
After a brief pause, the tunes changed. After a slow instrumental buildup, the band launched into 'Simple Gifts,' this time with the Wonderlanders in the lead, Natalia's lusty voice rousing everyone to a livelier ballroom-type dance.
Harley led Ivy, spinning them both fluidly around the other dancers. Harley felt so perfect in that moment, both of them holding each other close as they whirled, that she was shocked to greater joy when she realized Ivy was smiling, a big, broad smile…
Raucous applause greeted this song, and it was the cue for another break for hors d'oeuvres before the carol-singing. Now it was the Waterfront Four's turn to take centre stage.
Ivy and Harley had passable singing voices, but the voices of the whole room as one united in carols like "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Good King Wenceslas" and, finally, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," filled them with a simple delight.
Afterword: For a accompanying playlist for this scene, start with Vince Guaraldi's "O Tannebaum," "Christmastime is Here," and "Skating" from the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack. Faster dance tunes include Artie Shaw's "Begin the Beguine" and my personal favourite, "Rose Room" by Benny Goodman. For "Simple Gifts" aka "Lord of the Dance" see the version done by Blackmore's Night.