Poison Ivy had thought that Two-Face's bad mood toward her would pass in a few days – it always had before when he got in one of his tempers. But any attempt to engage him in anything more than casual conversation was instantly shot down. And Ivy knew why.
A couple days after Grace's visit, Dr. Leland had called Two-Face into her office, to ask if he would be interested in doing some joint therapy with Grace. Grace had requested that he be present so that they could discuss and analyze their past relationship, so Dr. Leland could help Grace move on with new ones by knowing what triggers she should avoid. Two-Face had agreed, for Grace's sake.
But Ivy had heard them in therapy together when she passed the office to head to lunch. Two-Face and Grace were talking and laughing, remembering old times they had shared as a couple. And Ivy had felt fury burning in the pit of her stomach.
She wasn't jealous, she assured herself. After all, it wasn't like she loved Two-Face, or even wanted to be with him. It was just that she had certain needs, and they weren't being satisfied anymore, which made her cranky and irrational.
And her bad mood certainly wasn't helped when Two-Face and Grace entered the cafeteria with Dr. Leland.
"If you're sure you want a lunch break, I'm going to apologize for the food in advance," said Dr. Leland. "I've tried speaking to people about the catering, but security is always the first priority here in Arkham, rather than dining."
"That's ok, Dr. Leland," said Grace. "It can't be any worse than that stuff Harvey and I had in Rio the first time we went."
"And that's when I decided to learn Portuguese, so I would never again order chicken cooked in its own blood," said Two-Face, grinning at her. "Although it actually wasn't as bad as you think it's gonna be."
"You say that, but I remember staying up all night with you while you threw up," replied Grace. "And we couldn't get any medicine because we didn't know the Portuguese for medicine. I'm surprised we went back there every year."
"Well, it had its good points as well, if I recall," said Two-Face, smiling. "That private beach, for instance…"
"Can't you two keep it in therapy?" interrupted Ivy, angrily.
Two-Face looked at her in surprise. "Uh…any problems with the inmates, just ask for the guards," said Dr. Leland. She gave Ivy a warning look before she left them.
"Well, Grace, let me introduce you to everyone," said Two-Face. "This is…uh…the Joker – don't shake his hand!" he interrupted, as Joker held his hand out. "He's the guy you have to primarily thank for that little outburst of mine."
"All I was trying to do was help Harvey remember the passion he had for you by igniting his jealousy towards Bruce Wayne," said Joker, shrugging. "I thought he'd fight for you, not try to kill both of you. I just wanted to reunite two loving hearts, and they call me a bad guy."
"This is the Joker's girlfriend, Harley Quinn," continued Two-Face, ignoring him. "And Jonathan Crane, Jervis Tetch, and…Poison Ivy," he finished.
"Nice to meet you all," said Grace, smiling at them. "Especially you, Miss Ivy."
"Why me?" demanded Ivy.
"Oh…well…it's just…Harvey speaks very highly of you," she said, taken aback by Ivy's hostility.
"C'mon, Grace, let's get some food," muttered Two-Face, escorting her to the line to pick out her meal.
"Harley, what day is it?" asked Joker, grinning as he looked at Ivy glaring at Grace and Two-Face.
"Tuesday, puddin'," she replied.
Joker grinned. "Perfect. Pushing time," he giggled, sliding over to Ivy.
"Well, they look happy," he commented, grabbing a handful of grapes off her plate. "How long were they together? Four years?"
"I don't know," snapped Ivy.
"And how long were you and Harvey together before you tried to kill him?" asked Joker casually, popping the grapes into his mouth. "Couple of weeks, wasn't it?"
"Just shut up and stop eating my babies!" snapped Ivy, grabbing the grapes away from him.
"I'm just trying to sympathize with your jealousy, Pammie," said Joker.
"I'm not jealous!" she retorted. "If I wanted to be in a relationship with Harvey, I would be! Because no man can resist me!"
"Says the woman currently without a man," commented Joker, nodding.
Ivy was about to punch him in the face when the object of her rage was suddenly shifted as Two-Face and Grace took a seat not far from them.
"I was just saying to Pammie how happy you two look together," said Joker, smiling at them. "Is there a romantic reconciliation in the air?"
"Well…we're not ruling anything out yet," said Grace, smiling shyly at Two-Face. "But it's been good talking about old times. We had…a pretty good thing not so long ago."
"Oh yeah, gotta take advantage of a good thing," agreed Joker. "Like me and my Harley girl," he said, sliding his arms around her waist and pulling her onto his lap. "It's so nice being in a mutually loving relationship, isn't it, pumpkin pie?" he cooed, kissing her.
"Oh…yeah, it is, Mr. J," said Harley, surprised and pleased at his sudden, rare burst of affection.
"I tell ya, people call me crazy, but I'd have to be really crazy to let a great catch like Harley get away," continued Joker. "I mean, when you find someone really special, there'd be nothing worse than seeing them with someone else, and realizing that you'd let them get away forever, leaving you with nothing but bitter regrets and a broken heart. Don't you think, Pammie?"
"It's not going to work, J," she growled under her breath. "Just drop it now."
"I'm guessing decisiveness isn't a trait you admire in a guy, huh, Grace?" asked Joker, smiling at her.
"Oh…uh…well, actually Harvey used to be a real decisive guy," she said. "He was always taking charge – planning spontaneous romantic getaways and things like that. It's one of the things I loved most about him."
"Well, he's not like that anymore," snapped Ivy. "Has to flip the coin to decide everything. Everything," she repeated. "It gets irritating in a relationship after awhile, trust me."
"Oh," said Grace, surprised. "Well…I'm sure Harvey would try to get better with the right kind of support…"
"What's that supposed to mean, blondie?" snapped Ivy. "That he hasn't had the right kind of support? You try being supportive the hundredth time he can't decide whether he wants to be on top or bottom!"
"Pam, I don't think we need details like that…" hissed Two-Face.
"I'm…sure Harvey has his defects, but I like to think that if you love someone, you can put up with a few defects," said Grace.
"That's right," said Harley, cheerfully. "That's what I'm always telling you, Red! If it's true love, it don't matter!"
"What defects do I have?" demanded Joker.
"I don't think you have any, puddin', but Red's always saying that you do," replied Harley.
"Look, this is all kinda a moot point, since Grace and I don't have any plans to reconcile," muttered Two-Face. "She deserves better than a lunatic with half a face. That's why she's in therapy, so she can find someone better."
"Good," snapped Ivy. "I wish you the best of luck with it, Grace. Move on, find a nice guy, and leave the lunatics to themselves. Excuse me," she snapped, standing up and storming out of the cafeteria.
Joker whistled. "I was kinda hoping for a catfight, but as long as Pammie's irritated, mission accomplished," he chuckled, pushing Harley off his lap.
"Aw, c'mon, puddin', I thought you were really taking onboard what I was saying about more regular physical intimacy…" began Harley, trying to climb back into his lap.
"No, I was trying to irritate Pammie, you greedy brat!" he snapped, shoving her away.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset anyone," said Grace, sincerely.
"It's not you, Grace, it's her," growled Two-Face. "She can be a bit of a nightmare sometimes. I dunno why I…"
He trailed off. "Why you what?" asked Grace.
"Nothing," he said, hastily. "Nothing. Uh…maybe we'd better head back to therapy."
"Harvey," said Grace, taking his hand as they left the cafeteria. "Do you love her?"
"I…I don't know, Grace," he murmured. "I don't know anymore. She's right, I'm…not very decisive. I…can't say for sure what I feel about her. Not anymore," he said, gazing at her.
"And…can you say for sure what you feel about me?" she asked, quietly.
"Even if I could, it's for the best that I don't," he replied. "Dr. Leland's right – you do need to move on with a genuine, nice, normal guy. And that's not me."
"That was you, Harvey," she whispered, touching his cheek. "And I know that's who you can be again, if you just try. If you just believe you can be."
"Well…at least I've got a reason to try again," he murmured, touching her hand.
She beamed, and they walked hand in hand back to Dr. Leland's office.