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71. Enchantment

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Disclaimer: Sorry for the late update! Happy one year anniversary to the Dark Knight!

After soaking in the hot tub only briefly after my face was cut into a mini Glasgow smile, the Joker and I emerged from the bathroom and I bandaged up my newly-cut wound. The Joker lazily climbed onto the bed and under the covers. His eyelids covered his eyes as he rested into the soft pillow. He looked genuinely worn. I couldn't entirely put my finger on it, but I definitely had some guesses.

Once my face was bandaged, I crawled onto the bed and sat next to him. He breathed in and out a few times before opening his eyes. He glanced over at me and then back at the wall across the room.

"Why so blue, panda bear?" I asked with a small smile, quoting a commercial from many years ago. The Joker's eyes flew back at me in a glare. My smile quickly faded into a frown to mock his serious expression.

"I hate that bandage," he responded finally, sounding incredibly irritated and averting his eyes back to the wall.

"Well unfortunately, it's necessary. But I'm positive that's not the only thing on your mind," I probed. I bit my lower lip and decidedly sat up on my knees, facing him. The Joker simply sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Try me," he stated flatly, tonguing his scars. A smirk curled up over my lips, then immediately vanished as I prepared myself to speak.

"Well, regardless of the fact you're a brute criminal who pretty much has no heart, you can't help but think about…Braidon," I stated, then cocking an eyebrow curiously.

The Joker sighed, "Go on…" he spoke, agitation clearly in his voice. He knew I was hitting home with my guess.

"You're not sure about the situation. You don't want a kid—you don't care to ever see him again. But, you also would prefer Pixie not to care for him either. She'll make a terrible mother—that's my opinion," I added at the end, smiling slyly.

"You think I'm heartless?" he asked suddenly, turning on his side so that he could face me. I paused before answering his question. I wasn't sure if he was truly heartless—I had only said it to see if it would warrant a reaction, and it clearly had. Perhaps he had been mostly heartless, but I suppose that in order to crave mayhem, you had to care about something; in his case, he cared for destruction and chaos.

"Well, no. I don't think you're entirely heartless. I think because you prefer to induce chaos into the lives of others, you have the capacity to care, which means you aren't apathetic, which is a good thing. If you were apathetic, I'd more concerned. The fact you have the capacity to hate means you have the capacity to love—not to say that you do love or that you ever will love, but that it's a possibility; so no, you're not heartless—you're just reckless and in no need of a son," I explained, trying to choose my words carefully.

He was silent for a moment, absorbing in my explanation. While he thought it all through, his tongue probed the inside of his mouth and then moistened his bottom lip before speaking.

"I just don't see how he's mine," the Joker replied finally.

"Well, if you fucked Pixie and neglected to wear a condom, then I'm going with the fact Braidon's yours," I stated curtly, irritated that I was reminded of his sexual history with Pixie. It made me fume just thinking about the two of them in that way.

The Joker grunted and shifted uneasily under the covers, throwing some of them from his bare body, revealing his upper torso.

"That's the point, isn't it, Giada? Now you…assume…Braidon's mine because I fucked Pixie," the Joker responded with a sharp tone. He raised his eyebrows and ran his tongue over his bottom lip.

"Well yeah—because typically in the scheme of life, that is how life is made," I sarcastically retorted.

"Giada. Please don't get cutesy with me—you don't know…" he didn't finish his sentence. It looked as if he was caught in thought, or that he couldn't finish his sentence—like he didn't know how to finish his sentence. I thought it would be a good time for me to probe further. Stupid me.

"I don't know what?" I asked, trying not to sound too caring, and more like the therapist I used to be to him when he was back in Arkham. His eyes quickly darted up and glared into mine like fire. I immediately regretted asking him. He almost looked like he was in pain, mixed with anger.

"I'm sorry—never mind," I quickly rambled, hoping to get on his good side for the moment.

"No. Never be sorry," he snapped back, trying to regain some control within him, "There's no use being sorry in life, Giada. Not when you're with your other half," his voice grew softer as he spoke the latter part. His eyes brows raised suggestively.

"Look, I know none of this can be easy for you, Joker—or, not easy, really, but…not something you'd have predicted or wanted for yourself—I know I'm certainly not helping by making assumptions. Maybe Braidon isn't yours. Even if he is, there are things you can do—maybe have a talk with Pixie and put him up for adoption; that way he can have a better life with a family who loves him and wants him," I explained. My hand generously reached out and touched his arm.

"It's not that—it's none of that. You…you don't know what I…feel. I don't know what I feel. I didn't think I could feel anymore—now all of a sudden, I get these…bursts," he gestured widely with his hands, "I get theses bursts of feelings in between all of the numbness and pain I've felt for so long. Sometimes these feelings…hurt, but not like how I usually am. Sometimes these feelings make me—dizzy. Other feelings, like when I had to…cut you…are indescribable. I just don't remember a way to explain it, or if it was something I ever felt before in my life," he explained.

I reached down and took hold of his hand in mine. It was always a soothing sensation to feel his ungloved hand, "Don't worry about it. You don't hurt me. I hurt me. Don't worry about the feelings you can't explain or describe. They're probably nothing important,"

"Giada don't belittle yourself. As for Braidon, well, who knows," the Joker stated, almost in wonderment. I couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness for Braidon—an innocent child who had no requests on coming into this life to such terrible parents.

"Braidon is an innocent life—whether you want him or not is something you need to consider," I explained, firmly.

"He should be yours, Giada," the Joker responded, licking his lips. I was immediately taken back by his response. There was no way I could care for a little baby. I knew the brief overview of taking care of babies, but I knew I couldn't care for one long term as its parent.

"Excuse me?" I asked, raising my eyebrows, hoping he was kidding.

"Braidon…should…be…yours," the Joker restated slowly, as though I didn't hear him the first time.

I shook my head, "No, I heard you the first time. I am just in shock at what you said. Joker, I can't care for your son—especially since he is half Pixie,"

"He can't stay with Pixie,"

"Then he can stay with you," I replied. The Joker shook his head.

"He's your son!" I exclaimed, "If he doesn't stay with Pixie, then he has to stay with you!"

"I…I…can't. There's just no way," the Joker retorted, seemingly fully terrified for the first time I in the time I had known him.

"You had the unprotected sex. Now you must reap the consequences," I responded, lifting myself from the bed and finally leaving the bedroom. He was making me enraged and I knew if I remained with him any longer end up saying something I'd regret later.

I walked into the living room and sat beneath one of the beautiful chandeliers. The city lights illuminated the sky from beyond the window. It was all so tranquil outside the room, but inside the room, I felt I could cut the tension with a chain saw. I slowly stood to my feet and walked over to a door which led to a balcony. I slowly opened the door and emerged onto the balcony. The door closed behind me and I rested my elbows down onto the balcony edge as I gazed out at my city. The sun had long set over the horizon and all was turning black. The Prudential Building was brightly lit beside the John Hancock Tower. I had always loved the Boston skyline.

"I knew you…enjoyed…this view," the Joker spoke finally from behind me in a low voice. The sound of his voice immediately soothed me as my gazed out at the lights illuminating from the buildings.

"It's my home—I'll always love it more than anything. It's what I know best," I responded, still gazing out at the city. .

The Boston Garden was lit up far below, reflecting light against the still waters of the pond. I always loved the bridge that crossed over the pond, with all the willow trees that bent over the pond in attempt at viewing their reflections in the water.

I felt the Joker's arm slip about my waist suddenly. I struggled to keep my head from turning towards him as he planted his face beside mine. I could feel his cheek brush against mine as he too, observed the city. He let out a soft sigh as the gaze caught him by surprise.

"I…enjoy…it too," he said finally, turning his face into mine slightly. A small smile crossed my lips.

"I'm glad," I responded, still hopelessly gazing at my city. I breathed in a deep breath and released a comforting sigh.

"I…I didn't mean to…upset you. I just…I…think you would…be…a mother Braidon would…enjoy," the Joker stated finally. He really didn't know how to explain his thoughts if they weren't related to destruction.

"Well thank you, I'm flattered really—but I don't know that I can be a mother to a child who is half you and half Pixie," I retorted sullenly.

"I can see that—but…think of it another way," he explained, "What if," he paused, biting his lower lip, and tonguing his inner cheek.

"What if what?" I asked, anxiously, turning my head slightly.

"What if you were the mother…and I was…the father?" he asked slowly, narrowing his eyebrows and licking his lower lip. He looked unsure of his statement, but I couldn't help but contain the smile that escaped onto my lips.

"You want to raise Braidon with me as his mom?" I asked, unable to hide my smile.

"If…things…came to that—then I think you would be the better choice," the Joker responded, incapable of admitting something emotional like this to himself. He knew Pixie would suck as a mother. He also knew that I meant something important to him, but he was unable to admit this aloud. I thought, maybe in this moment, I could help him along.

"Why is that? I mean, of course I could love Braidon—there's no question in that. But why would you want me to be his mom…and you his father?" I asked, trying my best to hide my grin.

"I think the answer is obvious to you, sweet cheeks," he retorted, grinning slightly.

"Oh is it now?" I asked, smirking, and turning toward him fully.

"Well, I know you know me like I know you—and if that's really the case, then you can…assume…what you will," the Joker explained, appearing a bit nervous. I nodded my head and turned my back to him so that I could face the city once more.

"I see," I responded, casting a heavy gaze out upon Boston.

"Giada…I…cant' live without you," he said finally. My heart immediately started racing at his words. He couldn't live without me—that had to mean he loved me. If only he would tell me now that he loved me, all would be perfect—except for him having a baby with Pixie!

"That's nice to know," I replied softly, but not so I seemed desperate to have him tell me something else more important—something like…maybe he loved me??!

His lips met my neck and chills ran down my spine. I couldn't help but turn away from Boston and collide my lips to his. His grasp about my waist tightened as I raised my arms about his neck.

Before I knew what was going on, he and I had moved indoors and had made our way into the bedroom. He was eagerly removing my clothes as I continued kissing his lips, face and neck. I had never been so impatient as to get him into bed with me. Once we were both finally naked, he pulled me onto the bed and inserted himself into me. As we made love, the room seemed to spin about me as though I were in some kind of dream. Nothing felt real—it was all too enchanted. The pleasure he felt from me radiated across his face as he pulled me closer to him. We changed positions a couple of times until I was on my back and he was hovering above me, his hair hanging down over my face. I was just about to reach my climax.

"I…I love you," I stuttered in a sigh as I reached the elevated point of our sex. It appeared on his face and in the tension of his body, he too reached his climax.

As he set forth his release and took in my words simultaneously, he responded in a heartfelt sigh, "I love you too,"