Joker's POV

I had woken up earlier than Annie, so I took the opportunity to admire her. My hand followed my eyes from her face down to her neck and shoulders, then down her side where I couldn't help but linger over her chest. I felt my nether regions, haha, tighten in my underwear as I caressed her gently, drinking in the softness of her pale skin. I was expecting her to wake up, her being a light sleeper and all, but she must have been exhausted from our uh, antics, last night because she remained sound asleep. Suddenly a wonderful idea popped into my head. I would make her breakfast! Granted my cooking skills weren't nearly as excellent as her's were, but I could make pancakes. I hopped out of bed, careful not to wake her and slipped on some shorts.

I hummed to myself as I made mounds of pancakes, I for one was starving. I cut up fruit because I knew that she loved fruit and made some coffee. She and I were alike in that coffee was nearly necessary for functioning, yet with her more so than I. I turned around only to be greeted by a wonderful sight. She was standing in the doorway wearing nothing but my T-shirt which hit her barely mid thigh and her lacy panties on.

"Good morning beautiful!" I said as she walked up to me and kissed me softly.

"Good morning handsome. What are you up to?" With my hands on her waist I led her to the table and sat her down.

"Making you breakfast of course." I brought the plate stacked a mile high with pancakes and sat it down in the middle of the table. I then got the fruit and coffee.

"Bon appetite."

She took a bite of pancake and smiled. "It's delicious Jack. Well done!"

"Thanks." It actually wasn't that bad. I was so hungry that all I did for several minutes was stuff my face with pancakes. She didn't seem to mind and ate her fair share as well.

"So uh, I'm moving the furniture in today. Once the guys move it in, I'll take you there later and we can arrange it however you like." She didn't say anything but the sparkle in her eyes told me that she was beyond excited.

"I don't want you coming with me cause I don't want anyone uh, knowing about um, us and I'm not willing to risk anything."

"I know. So, are you going to be gone all day then?" I then felt really bad, I hated leaving her alone all the time. I know she went out and grocery shopped or went to the park, in the disguise I had for her of course, but I hated it all the same. I would feel better about it once we were settled in a real home.

"Uh yeah and probably again into the night. I'm um, uh procuring, Benson today." She got that really curious look on her face that I adored. "So no waiting up, ok?" I winked at her. I knew that she would wait up until she couldn't physically stay up any longer, then she went to bed.

"I'll try, but it's so hard not to." She grinned at me. We were both done eating so I got up, grabbed her hand and pulled her up into my embrace. She looked up at me, her tone changing from smiling to serious. "I just worry so much about you." She looked at me with such concern and pushed a strand of hair out of my face.

"Mmm but you don't need to be." I swayed softly back and forth and kissed the top of her head.

"You say that, but then you come home so tired and hurt," she lightly touched my stitches.

"That was only once, and that wasn't even that bad." She worried too much sometimes. I wanted to break her of that. She frowned. "And remember, this is my choice and what I want to do, no one is forcing this upon me."

"I suppose you're right but still..." she sighed.

"Listen baby, don't do this. You worry too much." Before she could reply I kissed her deeply, letting my tongue explore every crevice of her mouth and soaking in her sweet taste. She broke away, but traced the muscles on my chest with her finger, completely turning me on.

"I'll try, just for you. But it's hard not to worry when you care about someone." When she looked me in the eyes I could almost feel her sincerity.

"I know. I worry about leaving you in this dingy hell hole all the time and I worry about something happening to you. But you shouldn't worry about things that don't need to be worried over. Let me do that?"

"Haha Jack, you can't shoulder all the worrying yourself you know. Plus me fussing over you is just sometimes how I show how much I care." She looked down and was bashful when she said that. I knew that before she told me but it made me fall so hard for her at that moment when she said it aloud. I bent down and kissed her softly. I loved kissing her and no matter how many times I did it, I couldn't get enough. I had never really taken much of an interest in girls before, mostly because when I was growing up they scoffed at me, so I was making up for years missed, so to speak.

"I care about you too you know. More than I can even uh, express." I nuzzled her neck and she giggled.

"I know." I looked at the time and cursed under my breath. "Something the matter?"

"I need to go." She nodded into my shoulder and let me go to get dressed. I came out not too long later. As customary, she smoothed my collar and just generally fixed me up. I looked forward to it every time.

Annie's POV

Jack was always surprising me with how tender and gentle he was with me, and how sweet. And let me just tell you, seeing him cook shirtless, and holding me shirtless was, well...let's just say SWOON. And the way he swayed back and forth as he was holding me...double swoon. Damn, he had no idea how hunky he was. And he was my hot guy.

"Be safe." I commanded him as I looked up at his painted face. He looked so different with it on and with his hair tinged green. But I didn't mind it, I actually liked it, a lot.

"Of course princess." He was always calling me that and I loved that. I was his princess. And he was my prince. Clown prince, that is.

He kissed me very fervently and was a bit rough, but in a good way. In a damn, that was so hot, way.

"You've got paint on your face." He smirked. I just looked up at him and smiled. Sometimes I just couldn't say anything, all I could do was smile.

"And you've got errands to run and trouble to cause. So hop to it."

"Yes ma'am!" He kissed me softly one last time and waltzed out of the door. I hopped in the shower and took my time, letting the hot water and steam relax me. I then cleaned up from breakfast and decided to take a walk, making sure I had the knife that Jack gave me. He had taught me how to use it and basic self defense one night after we got here. He was insistent that I could defend myself in some way, shape or form and he wouldn't let me quit until he thought I had satisfactorily mastered the basics. Yet, I still felt pretty helpless. He told me not to worry, that really this would buy me time for him to take care of the problem. Anyways, I was getting antsy about moving into the new place and leaving this crappy little apartment behind for good. I was hoping that move in day was tomorrow. I realized that I had been walking around for nearly two hours, so I made my way home. On the way I spotted a place that made homemade bagels, and I LOVE bagels. So I bought a bunch to eat. I was enjoying my afternoon, but I just wished that Jack could be here with me. I missed him like crazy and was worried about him. As I was strolling around, I had this horrible sensation that someone was watching me. But every time I would check no one was there. So I quickly hurried home and locked the door. I dove into one of Jack's books to pass the time, and I calmed myself by enjoying reading his notes scribbled in the margins of the pages.

Joker's POV

Moving the furniture in was easy enough, until one of the guys got curious.

"Hey boss, whose the pretty lady?" One of the guys was holding a picture of Annie and I that was in a box. On top of furniture, Annie had a couple of boxes full of most of our stuff which included a couple of pictures she had framed of us. They weren't supposed to open the boxes. I pulled out my favorite knife.

"And us, just wha-t do you thin-k you're doing, hmm?" I ran my tongue over my scars and casually walked up to him. Luckily by this point the only thing left was to move in one last cabinet. Unfortunately I didn't want to get blood in our new home, so I grabbed a paint tarp and laid it on the floor. The guy stood there, petrified. I stood in the middle of the tarp.

"C'mere." He stood in front of me and was shaking and sobbing. The other guy plastered himself in the corner.

"I'm, I'm so so, sorry, b-boss. I won't t-t-tell anyone. I swear!" I smiled at him and held my knife to his throat.

"Oh, I know." And with that I cut his throat and let his body fall to the floor. I was going to kill him anyways. I turned towards the other guy.

"Help me with this." We moved the couch in quickly, and he turned towards me shaking.

"Let's move him out of here, shall we?" We rolled up the dead guy and deposited him in the back of the truck. We drove to the warehouse where we hid his body. I then slit the other guy's throat and left him there. I would deal with them later. Now was the time to deal with Benson. My men were in place and ready to go. Benson was planning on attending an lovely get together this evening with some important fellows. Unfortunately he wouldn't be making it. I was watching in a dark alley as he got into the police car, being escorted by my men. I then sped off to the still in construction high rise where we would be meeting. I was going to keep him in one of my other secure locations, this time in an abandoned meat shop haha.

I was waiting for him when my boys brought him in.

"Thank you gentlemen. Now go." I was eager to have my play time with Benson, then head home to the soft embrace of my lady love, who I was desperately missing at the moment. However, I did know that I was going to thoroughly enjoy getting revenge on Benson. I had it all set up. He was tied to a chair, shaking and crying.

"Miss me?" I chuckled as he sat there. He didn't say a word.

"I have a special surprise for you!" I giggled and clapped my hands. I had set up a device just like the one he used to torment Annie.

"What the hell do you want with me Joker?" He choked out.

"Revenge." I whispered close to his face. The time for jokes is over, it's time for serious business.

"For what? For treating you like the scum you are?"

"Oh, it's not just for me, doc-tor. It's also for a uh, friend of mine."

"The little whore?" What the hell did he just call her? Oh I was furious now. I hit him several times.

"Word on the street is that Pines has unfinished business with your girlfriend. Course, nobody knew that she was with you, but he has an inkling." I knew that Pines had it out for her, but I had been careful. I didn't tell Annie because I didn't want her to worry more than she already did. I beat him again.

"ENOUGH! I know," I clicked my tongue, "Do you want to know what your surprise is?" I stripped him down to his underwear and he shook in the freezing night air. "I'm going to show you the same courtesy you showed her." At this point it was more about revenge for her than it was for myself. He screamed and shook and sobbed as I dragged him by the hair to the tub of ice cold water and strapped him to another chair. I could help but smile as I promptly lowered him in and out of the tub, nearly giggling when I saw his lips turning blue. I was interrupted by one of my henchman.

"Wha-t?"

"B-boss, we got the gas and the bullets." He squirmed when he saw what was happening to Benson.

"Ah good." I lowered Benson into the water until right below his nose so that he had to struggle to breath. I directed my men into loading the gas onto a truck when my phone rang in my pocket. I stopped cold in my tracks. It was Annie, and it was the emergency number. I sprinted into the building to a place where no one could hear me.

Annie's POV

I was in the bedroom when someone knocked very forcefully on the door. I freaked out a bit and hid behind the corner. It wasn't Jack. They started kicking down the door and from around the corner I saw two men, one burly and the other one not. Both looked not just like normal criminals. I ran quietly to hide in the bathroom closet. I could hear them whispering about a her, and if they got the right place. My hands were shaking.

"Hey girly, come out wherever you are!" they sang out. I could hear them ripping the place apart. My hands shook as I typed in Jack's number. Dear god I hope he answers. I called his emergency number. I could hear them in the bedroom. They were so close.

"Analiese?" Jack's voice rang out on the other side.

"Jack, there are two men here." I whispered as quietly as I could, my voice shaky.

"What?"

"They broke in." I could hear crashes and banging and cursing and I started to cry.

"Fuck! Ok, don't worry sweetie I'm coming right over. Stay hidden if you can. It's going to be ok." And with that he hung up on me. I said a silent prayer, but as I did so I heard them in the bathroom. They opened the closet.

"Well well, what do we have here?"

"Ah, Pines has been lookin' for ya fer awhile girly. Won't you come out to play?" They laughed menacingly and dragged me out of the closet and into the living room.

"We got somethin' for ya, from Pines." I couldn't help but cry and do my best to fend them off.

Joker's POV

I froze when I heard what she said. My heart stopped beating for a few moments and my body went stone cold with fear. I knew that it was Pines, or his thugs. I left Benson where he was and ran outside.

"Don't touch him," referring to Benson. "Finish the job, I'll be back." I got in a car that was parked near and sped away to the apartment. I ran and jumped up the stairs and burst through the door, only to be met by the most gruesome of sights. The men who were tormenting her froze.

She was sitting up against the wall, with a knife through her hand that was holding her to the wall. She was completely shirtless, beat up and sobbing. The two guys were clearly about to rape her, and something told me they had already committed violent acts against her. I couldn't breath I was so...enraged. One of them was clearly in the middle of unbuttoning his pants.

"Wha-t the fuck do you thin-k you are doing?" I said darkly as I slowly walked towards them, knife in hand. They stood up to fight me and the one was rather burly. It was no matter. I would kill him. Neither of them spoke and the big one lunged towards me, but I easily dodged him and stuck my knife in his side. He screamed in pain, I flipped him over and stabbed him in the face and slit his throat. The other one shook in fear.

"You didn'-t answer my question." I grabbed him by the throat and shoved him into the wall, my blade in his mouth. He pissed himself, much to my delight. "Who sen-t you and how, how did you ever find this place? Hmm?" He just shook his head and I started cutting the edge of his mouth, earning a blood curdling scream. "Answer me!" I said, my voice getting deep.

"P-p-pines sent us. One of ya, ya guys said he saw ya one night come into this building, so we watched it for awhile and, and, and den Pines told us to check it out. Said to deliver a present," he could hardly speak. I wanted to torture him, but Annie's sobs stopped me so instead I quickly killed him and ran to her, kneeling down in front of her.

"Baby, baby look at me." I forced her to look at me.

"Jack..." she whimpered.

"Shh, shh," I was on the verge of tears and I propped her up on my lap and kissed her repeatedly. "Look at me and don't look away." I held her as best I could while I sang to her softly, trying to ease the pain of what I was about to do. She was looking at me so intently, practically whimpering, and I felt an lump swell up in my throat. She was in so much pain. As I was singing softly and caressing her I quickly pulled out the knife and she screamed in pain. I immediately dropped the knife and held her as close as I could, holding back the first tears I had felt since I was a child. Her face was buried in my neck. I carried her to the bathroom where I dug around for the first aid kit. I used every single bandage in there to try to stop the bleeding. My hands were shaking and she was still holding onto me for dear life. Once she was bandaged up I pulled her into my embrace, kissing her over and over.

"Shh, shh sweetheart."

"Jack...it hurts...so bad..." she said through muffled sobs.

"I know baby. I know." I rocked her back and forth in my arms, my mind spinning. I needed to get her to the hospital. I grabbed on of my white T-shirts and put it on her. I also put my big purple coat on her tiny frame and picked her up bridal style. Even in the dark I could see how pale she was. She must have lost a decent amount of blood.

"I'm taking you to the hospital babe." she responded by clinging to me tighter. I put her into the passenger seat of the car as gently as I could, jumped over the hood and sped as fast as I could to the hospital. Her head was in my lap and I stroked her hair. I couldn't go into the hospital like this and she couldn't have my coat on but I devised a plan. I called Bozo and told him to meet me at the hospital. Bozo was my only guy who I had an ounce of trust in. I saw him standing in the dark so I pulled up next to him. I took the coat off of her and hopped out. I lifted her up and handed her to Bozo.

"Take her inside, tell her you found her in the streets. Find out what room she is in. Then come right back here." It was hard to keep my Joker voice with all the panic I was feeling but luckily I managed to do it.

"Uh, right away boss." I watched as Bozo dashed inside, I also looked through the window where I saw them wheeling her away. Bozo ran up behind me.

"Room 167 boss."

"Go," I commanded him as I took out my knife, "oh and, no one finds out about this, got it?" I said casually while I brandished my knife close to his face.

"Uh, sure boss. Of course."

"Good." I turned around as he left. I needed to go back home and clean up, get our stuff out, then torch the place. I procured some gasoline. I sped back to the supposed safe house and gathered up the rest of our stuff, throwing it into my car. I went back and examined the two gentlemen, then torched the place. I went to the building and released Benson, tying and gagging him and storing him in my, uh, place where I keep people like that. I had two guys guarding him. I then sped away to our new house, unloading everything and showering. I needed to get to the hospital to see her.

I kept my hood up to conceal my scars. I walked up to the receptionist, who told me that Annie was in surgery. To my extreme annoyance the woman started asking me questions about finance.

"I'll pay for it." I told her, exasperated.

"Wha-? Oh, sure. That's awful sweet of you mister. Here fill out this form." I took the stack of paperwork and filled it out almost aggressively, trying to take my mind off of the stress at hand. I had been waiting for quite some time. The receptionist must have told the doctor that I was there for her because he came out to see me.

"Are you her...?"

"Boyfriend. Joe." I supplied for him. I wanted to use the alias that I had used on the forms.

"Do you know what happened?"

"No, I was at work but there was a cop car when I got home. They said she must've been mugged or something. I don't really know. I assumed they brought her here."

"Good thinking. She'll be fine, although someone must've saved her life because it looks like her attackers might have been rapists. Don't panic though, from what we can tell she was never raped." I knew that, but hearing the doctor confirm that made me calmer.

"Can I see her?"

"She's sleeping, but sure. Room 167." I dashed down the hallway to her room. It was dimly lit with just a lamp and she was sleeping. She was cleaned up and her hand was bandaged. I exhaled a breath I didn't know I had been holding as I pulled the chair up to her bed and held her good hand, her right hand. No one was in there and I wagered that no one else would come in. I kissed her forehead and smoothed her hair. I then kissed her palm and buried my face in her hand while holding it tightly, closing my eyes. I must've fallen asleep because the next day I awoke to gentle shaking and stroking of my hair.

Annie's POV

I don't really remember what happened after Jack saved me, but I woke up in the hospital to the nurse bringing me breakfast and meds, with Jack's head in my lap. She merely shook her head and walked out. I ate and let him sleep. Once I was done, I looked at him. Though I was extremely sore and groggy, I couldn't help but smile. I played with his hair for awhile and stroked his head then shook him to wake him up. He didn't say anything, but gave me a concerned smile and kissed me softly, lingering.

"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly.

"Ok I think." I was still a bit shaken and I felt so...dirty. I wasn't sure how I felt. He cupped my face in his hands.

"You think? Tell me what to do to make it better. Anything."

"Hold me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He chuckled warmly. "That I can do." And he crawled into the bed with me, being too careful not to hurt me, he wrapped my arms around me and kissed me on the head, snuggling his face into my hair.

"You're cold."

"Well, I'm basically wearing nothing and this blanket is super thin." I could feel him frown as he took his coat off the chair and put it around me.

"I know that you're basically wearing nothing." I elbowed him. "Hey!" He laughed. Jack was playing with my hair, so not too shortly after that I fell into slumber.

Joker's POV

I couldn't sleep but I was glad she could. I had a strong inkling that I had to do with the medications they gave her. I found myself thinking of all the ways I could kill Pines. As I was thinking the doctor came and I sat up.

"Ah, it's you. I'm just here to check her bandages. Luckily nothing major in her hand was hit, so she shouldn't need physical therapy and it should heal back to normal, with a small scar of course." He carefully unwrapped her bandages and inspected her hand. He then turned to me.

"Everything looks good. We'll set her up with medications and she should be good to go as soon as the nurse does her final round in about an hour or so."

"Thanks." I said as I nodded my head. He left and I crawled in the bed. Annie woke up again, quite groggy and the nurse gave me her prescription and we set her up to go home. They also gave us instructions for bringing her back for check-ups, which I was determined to make sure that she did.

We drove home in silence and she fell asleep in the car again, the medication taking it's toll. I didn't wake her up as I carried her inside and set her down on our lovely new bed. She must've slept for another couple of hours before waking up and coming to find me. She snuck up behind me as I was sitting in my "office" and put her head on mine. I spun around and pulled her into my lap.

"Hey babe, how ya feeling?"

"Tired."

"You hurting at all?"

"Just a bit sore is all." I looked her in the eyes. I wasn't just talking about the bruises and I knew she knew that. "Annie, I..."

"Sweetie, I'm ok." I nodded, still not convinced.

"Hungry?" I asked and she nodded enthusiastically. "What do you want?"

"Hmm..." she looked thoughtful, "something homemade."

I snorted at her. "Well then your menu has been severely shortened."

"I know, dearest." I mock glared at her.

"I can make pasta. Spaghetti alright?"

"Only if you have garlic bread."

"Well duh. Who makes spaghetti without garlic bread?" She got out of my lap and then went to look around the new place. I hadn't really arranged all the furniture because I wanted to wait to do it how she would want it. I noticed that she walked rather gingerly, and I caught myself focusing on how beat up she was and how much she looked like she was hurting. I grimaced and tried to focus on making food while she looked around. Once the meal, which was at such a weird time it didn't qualify for an official title, was finished we sat down together to eat.

"Want me to move the furniture around today?" She nodded yes. I knew the current state of the house must be driving her crazy because she liked having things in order. Funny how I love the chaos, but with certain thing she needs order, like cleaning and furniture.

I kissed the top of her head and took our empty plates to the sink.

"Bedroom first?" She asked me.

"Whatever you desire, princess." She grinned at me and I helped her up as we walked to the bedroom together. Our bedroom. I loved the sound of that.

She directed me where she wanted everything, and once we were done I gave her the next dose of meds she was due for.

"Hmmm," she thought for a moment, but instead of letting her think I picked her up and threw her on the bed playfully. I wanted a good makeout session. She laughed as I found her ticklish spot.

"Hey! Not fair!" She giggled. She reached up and kissed me rather forcefully and I responded in kind. Of course, I stopped tickling her, which I'm wagering was the reason she kissed me to begin with. I rolled her over on top of me, not breaking the kiss. I pulled off her shirt, leaving her exposed in just her underwear while my own shirt came off. Her hands once again set about exploring my chest, something I loved dearly. Suddenly she stopped.

"As much as I want to continue I'm so tired." She said apologetically. I smiled at her.

"One more kiss?" I asked her and she laughed at me.

"Sure!" And she really kissed me good, then slid off of me and snuggled up next to me. Once she fell asleep I left her to go do more work and clean up a bit. I need to see if Benson was dead haha. I kinda hoped he drowned to death or something. She woke up maybe an hour later and moved to the couch so she could watch TV.

"Babe, I've gotta go out. You going to be ok?"

"Yeah I'll be fine." I nodded then went to get dressed. She was waiting for me by the door, do perform her usual duty of fixing me up.

"Do I look so bad that even when your hand hurts you need to fix me up?" I smirked at her.

"Oh you know it," she replied sarcastically. She kissed me sweetly and shortly goodbye.

"Go have fun," she said when she broke the kiss.

"Only if you promise to stay safe and rested," I replied as I left. Now what to do with Benson's body...