Arkham Asylum. A week later. Joker's POV

I once again had that same feeling in the pit of my stomach that day that Dr. Benson tortured Annie. I woke up, and I just felt it. I kept an extra close watch out, especially on Annie. The day passed by with no events, until group therapy.

"Good morning lady and gentlemen. Today I want to discuss with you all something special that's happening here at Arkham. Some of the wings are getting renovated with a more high tech security system." Shi-t. I thought to myself. This is exactly what I don't want to happen. "As such, we are going to have to move one cell block at a time, starting with yours. Tomorrow morning, after breakfast, you all will make a road trip to Blackgate Penitentiary until the new renovations are complete. Now, since it is too dangerous, we feel, to move you all in daylight in the middle of Gotham, we will be taking the scenic route along the outside of the city. This will take a couple of hours more but we believe that it will enhance our security."

Benson then began to drone on about psychiatric nonsense and I tuned him out in an effort to solidify an escape plan. If Anne and I could get on the same van, it would be a breeze. If not, then I would still do everything in my power for us to escape, but it would certainly be much more difficult. Of course, there was always the matter of asking her to escape with me to. While I had no doubts that she would say yes, I still needed to make sure.

The rest of the day proceeded as usual, and I couldn't wait until dinner. When we sat down together, I immediately began dividing up my food and trading everything with meat with her so she could eat more. Naturally, this came with a wave of protest, but I dismissed them all in my efforts to take care of her.

"Hey, Analiese?" She looked up at me curiously, due to my sudden departure from our casual conversation.

"Yes?"

"Listen, I have this idea. And you can't tell anyone about this. And I'm not going to tell you the details but I have a plan to get outta here shortly and I was wondering, well uh, would you go with me?" I said the words as quietly as I could.

"Oh Jack..." a big smile formed on her face. It was the first big, real smile I had seen from her and once again I got that weird feeling in my chest. "I would absolutely love to." She said her piece just as quietly as I said mine. I looked into her eyes and she met my gaze, and I swear we could both feel the each other's happiness.

"Great. Ok so just don't do anything out of the norm and I'll get you and I both outta here, ok?"

"Of course, whatever you say." She was still grinning and I couldn't help but grin with her. It amazed me how I could find such a gem in a wacko place like this. We once more fell into a comfortable silence with an occasional comment. I couldn't help but stare at her, since I let her know of my plans, her whole demeanor has changed. She seemed lighter, definitely more cheerful, content and peaceful. She wasn't on edge. It was really refreshing and I tried to soak up this new side of her that she let me see. I however, was still mulling all the details over in my mind. I knew I wouldn't relax until we were somewhere totally safe.

Arkham Asylum. After dinner that evening. Analiesa's POV

Unfortunately I had finished my book about 15 minutes into my normal reading time and thus had nothing to do. That was ok though; I was perfectly content replaying in my mind when Jack asked me to accompany him. I just couldn't believe it. He was looking our for, caring for me. A practical nobody. I felt special for the first time in a long time.

I decided to go up the window and talk to him. "I finished my book, now I have nothing to do."

He nodded and said, "What a shame, I rather like watching you read. Well, you could always talk to me!" We both smiled and that's exactly what we did.

"So, you must like to do other things besides reading, right?"

"Yeah," I replied. I could tell that he wanted to use this time to get to know me better, and I was more than willing to respond. "I used to ride horses a lot."

"Woah, wait. I never pictured you as the cowgirl type haha."

"Oh goodness, no way! I rode dressage, I did jumping. Cross country eventing." He didn't seem to understand at first, but smiled nonetheless.

"Wow, that's so interesting. I'll have to watch you ride at some point. Did you every have a horse?"

"Haha I wish. But they're so expensive!"

"I can see that. Well maybe you'll get one for Christmas soon." We both laughed, though a part of me desperately wanted him to be sincere about that.

"Well, you must have hobbies too right? Other than being the Joker?"

"Haha yeah I do. Let's see, I like to read and uh, tinker with this and that. Oh and go for walks haha. Nothing too interesting."

"Those sound excellent! Do you um, have a middle name?"

"It's Henry, after my grandfather. And yours?"

"Sophia-Evangeline. After my great-grandmother and grandmother. Oh and technically my first name is An-a-lis-a."

"Analiesa Sophia-Evangeline Vukovic. That's very beautiful."

"Thanks," I blushed, "I like Jack Henry. And I don't suppose I'll ever know your last name?"

"Someday, you will. Not yet though. So, have you always lived in Gotham?"

"Yeah, except I spent the summers in Croatia with my grandfather."

"Really? Why?"

I wasn't quite ready to tell him that part of my life so I simply said, "Later. It's complicated. How about you?"

"I've always lived in Gotham. The Narrows, to be exact."

"Hey, I grew up in the Narrows too!"

"You and I are like two peas in a pod!" All of a sudden I gained the courage to ask him about something very important to me that I had been putting off.

"Hey Jack?" He noticed my change in tone and his face grew somber/

"What is it?"

"Well, do you know if they keep the stuff that you come in here with?"

"Yeah they do, why?"

"Well, I had this locket, it was my grandmother's and it's been in the family for generations before her. It's beautiful, and it's so important to me. Do you think there is any way I can get it back?"

"Don't worry, I'll get it for you. What does it look like?"

"Oh Jack, don't go to all the trouble to get it yourself." However, in typical Jack style he gestured for me to hush.

"It's not a problem at all. What does it look like?"

"It's a silver color. Very antique looking. It's not terribly big, but it has small pearls and sapphires on it. It's fairly ornate and has designs etched in it." I loved that locket; it had been passed down from mother to daughter for generations. My grandmother never gave it to my mother, and it wasn't until I got older that I understood why. I sadly and fondly remembered sitting next to her bedside while she handed me the beautiful heirloom.

"It sounds beautiful. Of course, I will get it for you." I could tell that that meant the end of the discussion. With Jack, I had started to pick up on the fact that he had this sort of look in his eyes, it wasn't scary, but I knew that it was futile to argue. So I mouthed the sincerest thank you that I could muster.

The questions continued for quite sometime. I found out that he was 27, and I told him that I was almost 24, to which animatedly explained that we must celebrate my birthday. I learned that he was an avid coffee drinker, but that he had never had Turkish coffee, which I promised to make him. In return, he promised to let me teach him how to ride a horse; a promise that I will hold him to. I told him about my big wolf dog named Vuk, which is Croatian for wolf. About how my grandfather gave him to me as a gift, but that he died a few years ago. Jack told me that he had never had any pets. Inwardly, I grieved for him; pets are the best.

We both came to the realization that it was getting late, and so we mouthed goodnight and headed to bed. Quickly, I fell into a deep slumber.

Arkham Asylum. The middle of that night. Joker's POV

Well, I knew that I would be going to get that locket at some point, which also proved advantageous seeing as how I wanted to get some of my things anyways. I knew that I probably would not be able to take my whole outfit, but a few knives would be handy. I waited until I knew the time was right, with the guard change and all, and I quickly picked the lock on my cell. Even though I knew it would waste time, I went and peeked into Annie's cell. She was still huddled in both my blankets, fast asleep. Her breathing was steady and she looked so peaceful. Beautiful. I had to tear myself away because I knew if I didn't I would just end up looking at her all night. I had begun to admit to myself that I more than just liked her. No, I was falling for her. In the Joker's mind this was unacceptable, but she brought out the Jack side, and slowly Joker became more and more alright with it.

I crept down the dimly lit hallway; this place was like a horror movie at night. It was altogether too easy to slip past the few guards and make my way into the records room. Each inmate had their own locker, in which all their things that they brought with them were so lovingly shoved into. The clerks who were at Arkham aren't the brightest, because they leave their filing cabinets unlocked; a fallacy I have exploited many times. Her file was easy enough to find, but before I opened it I hesitated. It would say what she was brought into Arkham for. I wanted to know so badly, but I knew that if she would've felt comfortable with me knowing she would have told me a long time ago. So, despite the fact that it was the most tempting thing in the world, I didn't look. I knew exactly where to find her locker number, and I only looked there. And at her picture of course, which was actually a good photo despite the fact that she wasn't smiling. So, I pocked it.

It was once again fairly easy to dash my way down that same hallway to the immense locker room, and it didn't take me long to find her number. I opened it and examined her belongings. I figured that if she trusted me enough with this, she wouldn't mind me studying everything else a bit. Her clothes were simple, yet very tasteful, and I took a note of what size she wore. Small, I should've figured. In their she had a pair of dark jeans and a white blouse, it buttoned up the front and had lace or crochet or whatever it is at the collar. She also had a pair of those ballerina looking shoes, except they were that patent leather in black. I could tell she was a classy dame, and inwardly I gave myself a pat on the back. Anyways, that's pretty much all she had, except some earrings and a faded black jacket, that was slightly frayed. Oh and I found that necklace, it was gorgeous and clearly very old. I studied it for a bit and realized that it fit her to a T. I grabbed just the locket and headed straight for mine. I have broken out of here enough times to know exactly where they keep my stuff.

My locker had all my old familiar things in it, and I relished the smell of gun and gasoline. I searched through all my pockets until I found my favorite knife. I grabbed a second one, I was planning on giving it to Annie for protection. I decided that it would be best to give it to her tonight, just in case we were immediately separated in the morning.

It once again was no trouble getting back to my cell bloc, and I realized that I had more time than I planned for. So I quietly unlocked Anne's cell and she immediately woke up. Man, was she a light sleeper or what! I rushed over to cover her mouth with my hand before she could scream. She didn't realize who I was and thrashed around for a bit until I calmed her. I felt suddenly felt guilty about scaring her, which was a very foreign feeling.

"Hey shh, it's me, Jack." She nodded and I took my hand from her mouth.

"Good Lord, Jack. You scared me half to death. I thought you were..." Before she could say his vile name I shushed her.

"I'm sorry. I just didn't want to be loud. I wanted to give you something." I handed the very small knife into her soft hands. "I don't necessarily want to you to use it, but if I'm not there and something happens, I want you to be able to protect yourself."

"Thanks. But Jack, I don't...I uh, I mean, I've never..." She seemed frightened by the prospect of killing someone with it.

"I hope you never have to. But just in case." I quickly showed her how to hide it in her sleeve, which was easy enough seeing as how the knife was tiny, perfect for her, and her clothes were so baggy.

She handed me my blanket. "Here, take it. It's cold and I feel so bad about keeping your blanket."

"It's just one more night, I've been fine so far."

"Yes, but won't they get suspicious if I have two blankets and you don't have any?" She made a good point and I was surprised nothing had been said before.

"Alright, good point." I took the blanket, which was slightly warm from her snuggling in it.

"Goodnight Jack."

"Goodnight beautiful." And I kissed her forehead again and left quickly without giving her a chance to react. Honestly, I was afraid it would be a bad reaction. I know she didn't mind before, but that was when she was distraught. Now that she had a totally clear head, I was afraid what she would say. So, I close my cell door just in time for the guard change and I wrapped myself up in the blanket. It smelled like her, feminine, soft and clean. I buried my face in the blanket like some lovesick teenager and finally drifted to sleep.