Chapter 3

Ivy and Harley had laughed and enjoyed each other's company and reliving the many memories of the schemes and jokes they would play on the Bat. After finishing at the diner Harley and Ivy had taken to the streets going to some of their favorite places. They had gone to the graffiti tunnels and the old ACE chemical plant, laughing and fooling around.

"I know a place that will make you really happy!" Harley giggled excitedly.

Harley grabbed Ivy's hand pulling her towards the cemetery where they used to spend most of their time. Ivy held Harley's hand firmly within her own lacing their fingers. Ivy let Harley pull her through the streets, the corners of Ivy lips pulling up in a slight smile. Harley was bouncing and skipping along the pavement, Ivy missed seeing her like this, the happy go lucky, care free Harley that Ivy had loved so much. Harley pushed through the old, rusty iron gate into the cemetery, it whined as it opened as if the movement was painful.

"I've missed this place…" Ivy smiled looking around.

Harley pulled Ivy through the rows of headstones walking towards the far corner of the cemetery. Harley led Ivy towards the large marble mausoleum, "Quinzell" carved into the stone above the entrance, vines and other growth had wrapped itself around the tall pillars and sides of the marble. Although the structure had stood for many generations, the marble never faltered, there were no cracks in it, the structure stood tall, and strong protecting those who lay inside. Harley started tugging at the vines that had wrapped their way around the large doors huffing when they wouldn't budge. Ivy touched Harley's arm giggling at her, Ivy touched the vines, stroking them softly. The vines started to retreat away from the large doors, Ivy pulled the stone open and smiled to Harley. Harley stuck her tongue out at Ivy and walked into the mausoleum, Ivy followed after sliding the large door shut behind her.

Harley hopped up onto one of the two marble coffin that lay side by side Ivy following her and sliding down the side of the cool stone across from Harley.

"Hey mama hey pops! Sorry I haven't visited in a while. But I brought an old friend! You remember Red?" Harley pat the stone coffin smiling.

Ivy laughed shaking her head gently. Ivy pulled her legs up and crossed them, Ivy looked around at the marble walls.

"It's been so long since we have hung out together, like this…" Ivy smiled bringing her eyes to meet Harley's.

"Well if ya didn't leave Gotham we could have kept doin all the fun stuff we usually did!" Harley crossed her arms.

Harley slid off the marble coffin walking over to Ivy sliding down beside her.

"Why did ya leave Red? Did I do somethin…?" Harley bit her lip to hold back the sudden prickle of tears.

Ivy looked over at Harley reaching out and stroking away the tears that had escaped. Ivy sighed and pulled her eyes to her lap.

"I told you Harls… I made a deal with the Bat, I could continue my work and he would leave me alone. Of course you didn't do anything… don't be silly." Ivy explained.

"That's a lie and ya know it! One day we're totally fine, just causing trouble and the next I'm reading a letter from ya saying you are leavin the city." Harley couldn't hold back the tears anymore.

Ivy looked up at Harley and felt her eyes well with tears, Harley could see through Ivy's bullshit, Ivy knew that Harley assumed there was another reason for Ivy's departure from Gotham. Ivy had made a deal with the Bat, but it was Ivy who had approached him, Ivy had promised she would stay away. Ivy wanted to leave, her feelings for Harley had become too much to handle. She couldn't see Harley constantly go back to Joker, over and over no matter how much he beat her, and hurt her she went back. It killed Ivy, broke her heart so many times. Ivy couldn't take it anymore, she couldn't see her best friend and the person she loved constantly pick someone else.

"I… told you Harls… I had to leave…" Ivy wiped the tears from her eyes.

"No! I know you Red! I know the Bat doesn't have that kind of power of ya. What was it! Tell me! Why did you leave me all alone?!" Harley sobbed

Ivy stood up and wrapped her arms around her chest walking from Harley, Ivy's heart breaking slowly. Ivy knew she couldn't come clean to Harley, Harley would never understand, she wouldn't pick Ivy. She would always pick that jack ass clown.

"Don't walk away from me! You don't get to do that again Ivy!" Harley stood and followed Ivy grabbing her arm and spun Ivy to face her.

"I fucking Love you! Okay?! I am in Love you Harley Quinn. I left because I am in love with you, because every time that clown beat you, and hurt you and left you within an inch of life it broke my heart! I couldn't take it… I couldn't watch you go back to him again and again." Ivy finally let the words escape.

Harley blinked at Ivy's words, taken aback slightly by the sudden confession. Harley dropped her hand from Ivy's arm and wrapped her arms around her chest. Ivy stood and let Harley mull over her words. Harley frowned gently shaking her head slowly.

"I… Don't… know what to say…" Harley bit down on her lip the tears still streaming down her cheeks.

Ivy shook her head feeling her heart smash into a million pieces. Ivy knew that Harley would never love her back but there was always that small sliver of a hope that her feelings might be reciprocated.

"You don't have to say anything." Ivy waved her hand in dismissal and backed towards the door. "I'm… going to go…" Ivy slid out of the mausoleum leaving Harley there stunned.

The clouds had pulled over Gotham and it had begun to rain, a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky a loud crack of thunder following closely. Ivy ran as fast as she could clutching her chest trying to hold herself together not looking back once. Ivy reached her cabin and tore open the door, she walked through the cabin towards her room leaving a trail of water as she went. Ivy was soaked from the rain, mud caked onto her feet and legs, she made it to her room but couldn't go further in fear of collapsing, she leaned against the wall sliding down to the floor. Ivy pulled her knees up to her chest and let herself fall apart. Everything unraveled inside, her body was over taken by sobs as they shook her body, while she trembled as tears poured down her cheeks. Ivy pressed her forehead against her knees, the vines around her wrists and ankles pulled around her in an embrace as if to try and comfort her in some way. Ivy knew that the chances of Harley having feelings for her was slim, but Ivy had always thought that there was this tension, this unsaid hum of possibility. How wrong she was, Ivy felt herself break all over again, this was much harder than leaving Gotham, this was final.

After what felt like a while Ivy stood, she needed to get out of the wet clothes and get to bed. Ivy walked across the room and into her bathroom, she pulled off the soaking wet clothes that clung to her body and left them on the floor. Ivy stood and looked at her bare skin in the mirror, her eyes were red and swollen which was a weird contrast to her green skin. Ivy took the hair brush that sat in a jar on the counter and began trying to brush out the knots that was now her red hair. After she had brushed her hair Ivy pulled it into a loose French braid, she walked from the bathroom and to her dresser pulling out that old ratty college tee then slid on a pair of underwear. Ivy made her way to the kitchen, she grabbed a glass from the cupboard and poured herself some water. Ivy leaned against the counter and stared off into nothing, she felt like nothing, she had nothing left. Ivy was shaken from her trance when there was a loud, aggressive banging on her door. Ivy frowned and walked down the hallway, she unlatched the chain and unlocked the door pulling it open. Harley stood in the doorway, soaked from head to toe from the rain, her breathing was a bit ragged and could tell she had been running.

"You…You can't be here Harley, just stay away…" Ivy shook her head

Ivy went to shut the door on Harley but she stopped it with her hand forcing it back open. The force knocked Ivy a bit.

"Hey what the fuck Harley, just get out of here…" Ivy crossed her arms over her chest.

Harley stepped into the cabin and shut the door hard behind her, she stared at Ivy, eyes dark and focused.

"You don't get to spring that on me then just run away…" Harley looked at Ivy intently.

"Why so you could stand there and tell me you don't feel the same? So you can tell me that you love the clown and that you'll only be able to love me as a friend? I'm already heartbroken as it is I thought I would spare myself even more agony." Ivy looked away tears welling up in her eyes again.

Harley just looked at Ivy, her eyes were hidden, darker than normal. Harley's eyes trailed down Ivy slowly, taking in the sight that was before her. Ivy's confession just opened up Harleys eyes, she didn't see Ivy as just a friend, this was very clear to her. Harley closed the distance between the two, Harley took Ivy's hand gently.

"No… no… I don't want to hear the excuses, I don't want to hear the words leave your lips." Ivy tried to pull her hand away.

Harley shook her head in frustration then pushed Ivy against the wall, Ivy blinked in shock unable to fully process what was happening. Harley grabbed Ivy's cheeks and crushed her lips against Ivy's.