The next few days were not easy for Harley. J couldn't get if she was shocked, depressed, tired, angry, scared or all those feelings at once. She spent most of the time in bed, sleeping or staring at the wall in silence.

Joker would lay next to his fragile girl, holding her close as he listened to her whimpers if she had a nightmare, which was happening really often; he would spent mornings and afternoons reading to her, trying to pull out his best jokes, make her laugh, but the clown had been unsuccessful. A clown who couldn't make his own girl laugh.

Harley was refusing to leave the bed and she wasn't speaking more than three words to J, and he was being exceptionally patient for her, after all his harlequin had gone through. Daemon's second aggression and Alfred being delicate at the hospital had Harley in a terrible mental state, and not even J was able to get into her mind like he usually could.

A week had passed, and one morning he was caught off guard when he woke up to an empty and cold space next to him on the bed. He jumped out of it and looked around the room but Harley was nowhere to be seen.

He was just about to panic when a sound coming from the first floor where the kitchen was brought some relief to his chest.

"Oh, shit! Not again!" he heard her voice as he approached the kitchen entrance and J smiled warmly to himself when he saw Harley move the pan away from the fire, the apparent fourth pancake she tried to cook totally burned.

The clown knew perfectly well she was skilled at preparing coffee, sandwiches and cereal, she was also an expert in asking their henchmen to order pizza, sushi and chinese. But she was definitely not the best in anything else involving a pan and fire.

Harley crossed her arms and frowned miserably at the pile of black pancakes. There she was, a former lethal psycho killer, pregnant and totally clumsy in the culinary arts. She was probably going to starve her husband and child to death.

"What are you doing, looney toon?" said Joker tenderly as he approached her and wrapped his strong arms around her waist, his hands moving in small circles against her stomach.

"I was just trying to make myself useful." she said, a bitter tone in her voice which made Joker grimace with concern. He buried his face on her neck, breathing in her scent, trying hard to bring some comfort as he kissed Harley's shoulder.

"You adorable clumsy pixie." he said teasingly as he picked her up and placed on the kitchen counter. Harley watched sadly as the clown picked up the bowl and fixed the batter, poured some of it expertly over the pan and in minutes, he had managed to make a perfect pile of fluffy pancakes.

"Open up, baby girl." he whispered as he brought a small chunk to Harley's mouth but she turned away, pursing her lips, eyes filled with tears which didn't go unnoticed by J.

He sighed and cupped Harley's face with his hand, forcing her to look at him though her eyes remained fixed on her lap, her expression filled with embarrassment.

"Harley," said J sternly, his eyes desperately searching hers until she finally gave in, "you can't lock yourself up from me. I know you're not feeling well but I'm trying here. I'm really trying so hard for you to be fine. This isolation isn't good for you or Lucy."

Harley's sadness was immediately replaced by anger, tears running down her cheeks furiously. "I'm glad you finally realize I'm not good for this baby!"

"No, no, no, kiddo. That is definitely not what I mea–"

"I can't do this anymore! Let's stop pretending we are allowed to have a normal life! We're criminals!" she screamed, her face now buried in her own hands, "She doesn't deserve this! I will hurt her just like I got Alfred hurt! I am not a mother, J! Please don't make me do this!"

"Don't say that." he could hear his own voice breaking but it remained strong as he held the sobbing girl close.

"I can't have her. We have gone too far." Harley looked up at J and her pleading look scrambled his insides. There was too much in those blue eyes that controlled him but at the same time made his mind think clearly. Of course she had him wrapped around her finger, the Joker would do anything for his Harley. But this time he had to be the sanest, for the three of them.

"Okay," he said, no doubts, no hesitation, "if that's what you want then that's what I want. I'll talk to Bruce, see if we can bring a doctor for you here."

•••

Harley sat at the library, her eyes glued to the pages of the book she was currently reading. Books had recently brought some relief to her. J had inculcated his love for reading and literature took her to another world.

The image of her Puddin, sitting at the edge of a small bed as he read a book to a beautiful little girl, flashed through her mind but she brushed it away almost immediately. That wasn't happening, not after today.

It hurt her beyond words, but that was the most powerful act of love Harley could do for her baby.

Maybe.

She placed a hand over her belly and sighed. J had agreed without arguing it was making her a little uneasy. Perhaps his usual self was slowly returning, finally realizing they were not meant to be parents, that they would make a terrible mistake trying.

The sound of steps pulled her out of her thoughts and J appeared at the entrance of the large room. He had a small smile drawn on his lips and he opened his arms wide for her, which she accepted gladly as soon as she stood up and wrapped her arms around his waist, face buried on his chest.

"The doctor is here." Harley heard him say in such a calmed voice it conflicted her. "But before he continues with the procedure, I need you to meet someone, ok?"

"What do you mea–" she started but her words were interrupted by a pair of lips against hers.

"You'll see." said J as soon as he ended the gentle kiss.

They walked in silence towards the room, it felt like a thousand miles to Harley, her mind spinning wildly she had to grip Joker's hand tightly. Her heart was beating so fast when she entered the room, her eyes immediately landing on the ultrasound equipment standing next to the bed.

"Hello, Harley. I am doctor Henson." She didn't notice the man until he spoke. He must have been one of Bruce's trustworthy acquaintances; the doctor didn't seem uncomfortable in the presence of the two infamous clowns, he seemed friendly and calm instead. She was just one more patient to him.

J smiled, leading Harley to the bed and as soon as she was laying comfortably on it, the doctor turned on the machine and prepared the equipment in silence.

"Remember I said you needed to meet someone, Harls?" she nodded, letting her clown reach for the hem of her shirt and he lifted it slightly. "Hopefully that someone will help us decide where we're heading from now on."

Harley's eyes went wide as the doctor poured an ice cold gel on her skin and her eyes flooded with tears when the ultrasound probe was rolled over her stomach, the image of a baby-like figure slowly appearing on the screen.

"There's your baby," said doctor Henson, his eyes scanning the picture carefully with narrowed eyes, "a healthy and strong baby girl."

Harley brought a hand up to her mouth, preventing a sob to escape from her lips. As soon as the doctor turned on the volume and the sound of her daughter's fast heartbeats filled the room, all doubts and fears disappeared.

"That's our Lucy, our perfect princess." J whispered against her ear as he stared in awe at the screen. "And her heart is throwing out a rock concert just for you to smile, my love."

"I hope she likes black burned pancakes, Puddin." She giggled and smiled genuinely for the first time in days.

And that's how it all changed, with the sound of a heartbeat.

•••

Don't hate me!
But here it is. Finally. A new chapter. Fluffy and sugar filled we're all probably getting a diabetic shock.
I hope you liked it! Let me know your thoughts!
This book is coming to an end but a sequel is in the oven, I hope I won't burn it like Harley's pancakes.

Question time.
What would you love to read in this story? What do you think is going to happen to Daemon? Will Alfie survive? Are Harley and J going to be the best parents ever? Will Lucy get Joker's good looks and adorable green hair? (Hahaha kidding, green haired babies? C'mon you crazy author!)

Comment, my babies. It always make me smile.

xoxo
–Sibanshee

Ps. Follow me on IG! (if you like and if you have an account, of course) 💚