The Harlequin and the Bat

This is the story sequel to: The Harley and The Ivy.

Important notes: I do not own Batman or any portion of the franchise. I give all credit to DC Comics and respective owners.

Chapter 2

(Harleen's POV)

Harleen took a taxi straight home, crying in her torn black dress. As she entered her home she fell onto her bed holding her precious "H Love's B" bat plush. "Oh God what have I done? I've kissed Batman: Joker's archenemy. And what's worse, I-I'm falling for Bruce Wayne! Oh God! Everyone is gonna think I'm a complete flirt! *Sob*" she cried herself to sleep and dreamt of Bruce and Batman.

(Dream Sequence)

Harleen was sitting in the Gala once again but she was the only one there sitting beside Bruce. All the conversations they had in those few moments and then appeared Batman.

"Harley…" Batman said in his dark voice

"Batman…?" Harleen asked looking at him

"Harleen?" Bruce asked her to look at him.

"Bruce…I…" Harleen double took between the two men.

The two men stood beside each other and began to ask her "Harleen, who do you love?"

Harleen looked down and saw he plush in her lap then held it close to her chest. "I…I…" before answering she woke up to the new day.

(End Sequence)

(Bruce POV)

"Missed a hell of a scene Bruce, your date locking lips with the Batman. Jealous?" several patrons asked before being escorted away, by the police to their own homes.

"None of your concern." Bruce said

As the guests disappeared all who were left were Bruce, Alfred, Dick, Tim and Barbara. (Dick, Tim and Barbara arrived shortly after the party to see what was going on.

"So it's not just getting to the top five on Forbes then, hey Bruce?" Dick spoke with a grin creeping on his face. "Now you have to cheat on yourself with Harley Quinn?"

"Ugh. You're not helping anything Dick, Harley was just probably playing tricks on Bruce so she could rob him later. She might still be in league with Joker!" Barbara said cautiously

"If she was still in league with Joker; why did he burn down her store, frame her hand send her shipped back to Arkham? Besides if that was the case, why would Bruce knowingly invite her to the party saying that the flowers and toys were made by her store: Flora Plush?" Tim retaliated

"How do you know that Master Tim?" Alfred asked

"I read up on the police report…and checked the roster." Tim said in his defence.

"What about the name of the store?" Barbara asked giving a raised eyebrow

"I err…erm…got to go!" Tim tried to make an exit but Dick got him in a headlock.

"Come on Tim; fess up!" Dick playfully grinned

"*choke* Okay, okay! I got a gift for Barbara for her birthday alright?" Tim choked

"My birthday was last month Tim…you're still not going there for the soft toys there are you?" Barbara questioned

"*cough* no…yes." Tim confessed embarrassingly

"Ha, knew it! Hey Bruce, are you okay?" Dick smiled

'She said: Forgive me Bruce, could she be…no that's impossible after one night?' Bruce pondered

"Master Bruce?" Alfred's voice seemed faded then normal "Master Bruce!" after shaking his shoulder.

"Huh. What?" Bruce startled

"I said: are you okay? You been spacing out for the last ten minutes!" Dick pointed out.

"Oh sorry…just thinking." Bruce answered

"Yeah thinking about Harley. Ow, that hurt Barb!" Tim sniggered then felt pain on the back of his head delivered by Barbara's left hand.

"Don't. Even. Joke about that! We don't know what she's playing at yet." Barbara pointed out

"Maybe, but let's try and get some rest. We've got a long day ahead of us all. Ms Gordon would you like me to accompany you to your home or will you be staying here tonight?" Alfred asked in his best voice.

"I'll stay here Alfred. There's more things I can do here than at home." Barbara answered

"Excellent. Master Bruce?" Alfred turned to see Bruce had gone.

"Damn; still a freaking stealth master." Dick mentioned

"Well I'm off. Night!" Tim said sneaking off.

"Oh no, you don't I want to see this plush collection you've been gathering!" Dick joked

"No Chance!" Tim shouted and ran

"Boy's…" Alfred and Barbara said shaking their heads.

In Bruce's bedroom he was staring at the ceiling on his bed

'Could she really be in love with me? Or is she in love with Batman? It's true, I felt sorry for what Joker has done to her in the past. And I guess, my being Batman locking her up in Arkham all those times doesn't help…but I did get her out that time and she has done well with herself and Poison Ivy hasn't been any trouble in the last few weeks. Every time I fought, she seemed more scared of Joker…more terrified. And when she was with me, trying to find Joker, she seemed happier...less afraid. And even with the annoyances; I was happy.' And Bruce fell to sleep.

(Dream Sequence)

Bruce was at the gala once again and he was talking to Harleen again, having a good time. Then the dancing happened; he and Harleen were dancing into the night and almost had a kiss. Then her alter ego appeared: Harley Quinn.

"Bruce…" Harley said like a sad child

"Harley…?" Bruce asked looking at her

"Bruce?" Harleen asked him to look at her.

"Harleen…I…" Bruce double took between the two women.

The two women stood beside each other and began to ask her "Bruce, who do you love?"

Bruce felt a pain in his heart, tearing his heart between the love of Harleen and his duty as Batman. He woke up to the new day.

(End Sequence)

(Harleen's POV)

Harleen woke up hugging her Bat plush thinking to herself: "What am I going to do? I love Bruce but I'm also in love with Bat's…God, why must I fall in love with such men?" she looked at her old harlequin costume and began to loath it "Why…why did I fall in love with Joker? What do I do? It's impossible for Harley Quinn to be a hero…wait that's it! I'll be a hero; I'll ask Bats if I can be brought under his wing and maybe…maybe I'll get closer to him." Harleen daydreamed of her and Batman then snapped herself back to reality and realisation "No. You can't do that Harls; you're in-in love with Bruce. He could give you the life you want: a stable life. One free from the Joker; but how can you think that…after all the times you've…I have to meet them: today!"

(Bruce's POV)

Bruce awoke to the smell of Alfred's pancakes, after what happened last night Bruce needed to get his mind in perspective. He went into the kitchen wearing grey pyjama bottoms and a navy blue dressing gown.

"Tireless night Master Bruce?" Alfred asked handing the paper to him out of habit.

Headline: Plush Madam and Dark Knight. Match stitched in heaven? Followed by a picture of Harleen and Batman kissing underneath.

"How did they even get a picture from all that?" Bruce asked

"*Yawn* You'd be surprised to know that people can make anything into cameras Bruce." Dick yawned, wearing a green sleeping vest and red bottoms.

"That's…discomforting Dick." Bruce said reading the paper. "Where's Tim and Barbara?"

"Young Miss Gordon has been called over by her father involving a recent climb in armed violence; young master Tim is still asleep in bed, it is only seven thirty." Alfred said handing a cup of coffee to Dick.

"Thank's Alf." Dick thanked Alfred after he handed him his dark blue mug.

'If Harley actually wants to change her ways she'll need guidance, she may need to talk to someone who wants to help her. And Batman is one of the few people who she may trust. "I need to see her: today." Bruce thought then talked to himself.

"You need to see…Miss Barbara…today?" Alfred asked

"I think he needs to see Miss Harleen today." Dick joking and smiled, supping his coffee

"Yes." Bruce said without any hesitation

Dick did a spit take spray, which reached across half the table "REALLY?! Bruce, are you mad? This is Harley Quinn we're talking about! Let's not forget that this crazy broad tried to kill us with Joker more than a hundred times!"

"You weren't bothered about it five seconds ago Dick!" Bruce angered

"That's because I was joking! To get involved with Quinn is to get involved with Joker! And you know what happened with…" Dick tried to explain but got cut off by Bruce.

"I know what happened, Richard! I don't need reminding of it! Do you remember the look on Quinn's face when Joker laughed about it, she was horrified. During the fight she tried to hide, because she was afraid of us coming back for revenge." Bruce almost never used Dick's real name, except in great anger…and this was one of those moments.

"That-that may be true, but I'm thinking that Barbara is right. Quinn might have an ulterior motive, what if she's only after you to kill you!" Dick answered

"Well what if…" Bruce raised his voice

"What if she isn't? What if she really changed and if she's in love with Bruce?" Tim said rubbing his eyes; he was wearing a red and black pyjama set.

"Tim? When did you get up?" Dick asked

"Five seconds ago…it was so loud you woke me up…but mostly because I thought someone had been eating beans again." Tim said innocently and indicating the time

Dick rolled his eyes and thought 'eating beans again'.

"Besides if Harley has changed her ways. Let Bruce date her, he's dated loads of other women before: Selina, Talia, Julie, Linda, Vicki, Zatanna…" Tim listed off on his fingers before Alfred placed his hand over the lad's mouth.

"Okay, I think they get the point Master Tim." Alfred smirked as the two grownups looked at him then Tim moved Alfred's hand.

"So…why not Harley? If she's scared of Joker, she may come over to our side. She seems nice." Tim said trying to put a spin of light in Harleen's darkness.

"Yeah and so do hyena's before they go after you." Tim said sarcastically

"Dick…out of all of us; Tim's the most grown up." Bruce crept, a smile towards Tim, which made him smile before Bruce left to get ready, there was a small silence before Tim spoke again.

"Do you think Harley will be Bruce's wife?" he said with a small glint of hope

"Yeah… Poison Ivy will be maid of honour at their wedding, Deathstroke will give Harley away and Selina will be ring bearer." Dick said sarcastically

"No need to be a dick, Dick." Tim crossed his arms

"Master Tim!" Alfred said in shock

Outside of the kitchen and the mansion; Bruce was wearing a casual suit and trousers.

"Well time to go…" he said getting into the Bentley.

To be continued

I hope you've enjoyed this chapter as I have writing it.

The next chapter is coming soon.

Thank you