Sarah was leaving the church, she was suppose to meet Randall at home, but she refused to go home and went out of town for a bit to just be herself for awhile.

Joker had gone for a gallop on his horse to try and clear his head. Until a scorpion startled the horse and it reared up, throwing him off. Usually he would've been fine but his arm was still too weak to ride because of his injury. He was in a bad mood then as he had to walk and lead the horse by the reins. After a while he stopped by the stream and lay down beneath the tree and rested.

Sarah was walking by but tripped. She noticed scorpion by her and she darted back, but she felt a jab behind her and fell back, "AH!" She cried out. She noticed another scorpion was by and stung her. She couldn't move now and felt weak.

Joker heard her and sat up. He saw her laying in the road so he ran over to her

"Sarah, what happened—?" he looked down and noticed the scorpions so he carefully dodged around them and picked her up, "Where did it sting you, honey? I gotta suck the venom out."

Sarah tried to lift her hand but couldn't. So he lift her hands and found her left hand had a sting wound. "H-hel...help...," she groaned.

He placed her hand to his mouth and sucked at the sting wound. He then spat out the venom and sucked again to be sure it was all gone. He then carried her in his arms and lay her down in the shade of the tree. He then rinsed his mouth out at the stream, and filled his flask with water for her.

She was so weak she couldn't move. He helped her sit up against the tree and tried to get her to drink. She then groaned.

"You'll be alright, sweetie, you'll just feel dreadful for a while," he gave her another sip of water, "perhaps you should go stay with your aunt tonight, so you can rest."

"N-no...she ...she may...faint..."

"Why would she faint?"

"...worry..."

"Then...you'll have to stay with me at the saloon. I'll take care of you."

"....," she then dropped her head. She was so weak.

He lifted her up and carefully sat her on his horse. He climbed up behind her and rode back into town.

This time when he entered the back door of Murray's carrying her, his old friend and barkeep groaned.

"Not again. Now her! What happened?"

"Scorpion sting. It was a pretty big one though so, not too deadly. She's just weak."

Murray nodded, "she's bound to get a fever."

"I'll take care of her," Joker replied.

"Mr...j-Jo..." she groaned, as he walked passed Murray and Gary, Joker's best friend. Her head flung back as he rushed upstairs.

"Yes Sarah?" he said as he lay her on the bed. He knew she might get delirious and talk no sense. He opened the window and unbuttoned her dress "sorry ma'am, but you need to stay as cool as possible and I know you ladies wear corsets...that's going to make you hotter so I need to loosen it."

Sarah was so weak and dizzy she didn't know what he was doing. Once he loosened it, she fell back and everything went black.

Joker fetched some cool water and a cloth. He wiped her neck, face and forehead to keep her cool.

Soon, after an hour she woke up. She found herself in the same room she tend with Joker. But where was Joker. She then jumped seeing Harley walked in. Once Harley saw her in her loosen corset she was angry believing she and Joker did something.

"Oh I see how it is, the second my back is turned he's fooling around in his bed with you!! Well you got a rich fiancé lady, you don't need MY Joker!!"

"I didn't—," Harley came up to her and slammed her against the wall. Sarah tried to fight back, "I was poisoned...." She groaned.

"Yeah right!! Well it's too bad you didn't die!"

"HARLEEN!!"

Harley jumped seeing Joker in the doorway, "you got some nerve—"

"Oh shush, she's telling the truth she was stung by a scorpion. I haven't fooled around with her."

"...please...let me go?" She begged Harley while she still held her against the wall. Joker then pulled Harley off her, "Leave her alone, she's done nothing wrong. Now scram before I start asking how you make extra money doing more than just dancing..."

Harley frowned and left. Sarah dropped to bed covering herself and was shaking.

"I'm sorry," he locked the door and went to her, "are you alright?" he covered her with a blanket.

She nodded looking down. Maybe her aunt was right about Harleen. She was pretty jealous anyway.

"You need to rest, you'll still be weak after the poison," he wiped her forehead with the wet cloth.

"She...hates me..."

"She's slightly crazy."

"You both...dating?"

"Me and Harleen, no. That's why she's crazy. I kinda flirted with her one time and she's been obsessive ever since," he explained.

Sarah looked at him, "what about...other girls?"

He looked down ".... there was just one. Back in El Paso. I thought I loved her."

"You thought?"

"Yeah I thought, but I relaize now that I don't."

"Oh...well I am sure there some girl...who is lucky to want you...I'm not lucky, even though I am engaged...," she looked down.

"If you weren't engaged....do you think you would want me?" he brushed her hair back.

"....I heard things about you...I-I don't know. It couldn't be dangerous..."

He smiled slightly and nodded. "I get it. I'm not the type of guy girls want to settle down with."

"Well...I don't mean to hurt you it's just...robbing banks...stealing from people...I couldn't bare do that...," she said.

"We don't keep all the money we rob. We give it to the poor people all over Texas. Not all the stories about me are bad."

"But still you stole that money...that's nice, but that someone else's money...they worked really hard to keep that money...what if someone got fired from his job once you steal their money, they may also have family and wouldn't be able to support them."

"It's the banks money. The money they make by charging high interest rates and stuff. Trust me doll, I don't steal money from others. But if you'd rather I stopped then I will. I can imagine it would be hard for you being friends with a villain."

"...wait...you do that?" She asked, "for me?"

He nodded, "of course. I'd do anything for you, I told you I'm lovesick."

Sarah then blushed at him, slightly smiling. But then she remembered, "that's very nice, Mr Joker, but...I'm engaged."

He nodded sadly, "I know, which is why I should leave you be. I just want you to know that if you need anything, you can always get a message to me, even once I'm back in El Paso."

"...," she didn't want him to leave now, "but...what if I get hurt again? What if you won't make back in time?"

"If anyone ever hurts you, they'll have me to answer to," he gently stroked her face with his thumb, "or I could challenge your fiancé to a gun draw."

She shivered. "Mr Joker,...I can't let you do that!"

He sighed realizing she maybe didn't like the idea, she would be scared if he hurt him.

"He could kill you!" She teared up.

"Alright, then I won't. But you don't have to worry about me. You need to just take care of yourself."

She looked up at him, "I wish I could stop the engagement, but I can't...because...I think I like you..."

"You know I'd stop the engagement for you if you'd let me. I'm glad you think you like me. Even if we can just be friends, I promise I won't try to steal kisses from you anymore."

"...I-I actually...liked them, Mr Joker...," she blushed.

"I'm glad. I did too. At least I'll always have the sweet memory of your lips on mine."

"....," she then hugged him tightly, as if she didn't want him to leave her. He hugged her back tightly. He was reluctant to let her go too. "Please...please don't leave...Gotham would want you to stay."

"You think so?"

"Of course," she did something she wouldn't do. She kissed him.

"Sarah, we really shouldn't—" he then kissed her back, not caring anymore. She then held his face as she pulled back. She slide his hat off and kissed him holding his face. He ran his fingers through her hair as his lips brushed her ear and then dropped to her neck. Sarah gasped and moaned as he gave her a hickey. She gripped on his shoulder with one hand and the other on the back of his head.

"You're so adorable I could just eat you up..."

"Oh, Mr Joker....," suddenly they heard a knock on the door. It was his best friend Gary, "Hey mate...can I come in?"

Sarah turned red hearing the voice and looked at Joker shyly. Joker then stopped and covered her up and went to the door, "Hey, Gary. What's up buddy? Sorry we were, uh I was just taking care of Miss Thomas. She got stung by a scorpion."

Sarah blushed. She remembered Gary. He was very sweet towards her, especially the kids.

"Oh yes, I know Miss Thomas. Everyone in town does."

"Yeah I hope i can get to know her better too. So....is there something I can help you with buddy?"

"I just haven't seen you for awhile so I thought I say hi. It's been so long." Gary nodded and then left.

Joker said goodbye to Gary. He then smiled at Sarah shyly.

"Maybe it's a good thing he came when he did."

"Why?" She then realized, "oh...right."

"No no, it's a good thing because.... not because I don't enjoy kissing you, it's just.. well, you know...."

"Yeah I know...I wish I wasn't engaged to him, but he threatened my family if I didnt...but I'm afraid he will kill me..."

Joker then frowned, "he won't kill you. If he ever hurt you.... I would challenge him to a dual. He doesn't deserve you."

"Thank you," she then kissed his cheek.

"You don't have to thank me Miss Sarah, it's only the truth" he smiled and took hold of her hand and then kissed it, "I know I ain't your type, but if ever you'd give me a chance .... I'd do anything for you. So the way I see it is... he isn't worthy."

"Maybe you're my type...," she blushed.

"Really?" he smiled slightly and blushed beneath his face paint.

"You're sweet and kind," she smiled.

"You think I'm sweet and kind?"

"Yes," she smiled.

He smiled and winked, "just don't tell anyone."

"I won't Mr Joker." She then kissed his cheek again.

He gently held her chin and kissed the corner of her mouth, "thank you."

"For what?"

"For everything. For thinking I'm sweet and kind and for telling me."

"You're welcome." She smiled.

Suddenly the door bursted open and it was her Uncle Thomas Wayne, "Sarah! How dare you  be in bed with this man who's a criminal and also you married to Randall!"

"She isn't married yet and you ought to be ashamed of yourself expecting her to marry someone so abusive," Joker explained.

Thomas was now enraged "Sarah come on, we're leaving here now. I don't need to be lectured by this clown!"

"No. I don't want to leave!"

Joker was shocked by her standing up to her rich and powerful uncle. But he was worried for her. He could see how annoyed Thomas was.

"Sarah I'm not asking you I'm telling you, we're leaving NOW!"

"Don't yell at her, it's rude to yell at a lady. And she's old enough to make her own mind up."

Thomas ignored Joker and glared at Sarah, "If you choose to stay here young lady I swear I'll disown you, I'll never speak to you again!!"

"Fine. I stopped speaking to you since you agreed to Randall to marry me. I in fact disown you Mr Wayne! And I hate you."

In temper Thomas raised his hand to slap her but Joker caught hold of his wrist.

"Don't. Touch. Her."

Thomas growled in anger "Fine! You've made your choice Sarah, if you want to whore around with a common thief—"

"She's not a whore!!"

"And you clown, I'll see to it that you're run out of town!!"

Thomas then left, slamming the door behind him.

".....he was always this way. My aunt wanted to adopt me, he refused to, so he always have disowned me. My family were murdered by Indians...it's just...he never loved me..."

"I'm sorry, it's his loss. I know what it's like not to be loved by your family."

He came to her and hugged her.

She hugged him tightly. "Thank you. And I'm sorry..."

"For what? You don't have to apologize to me, honey."

"I just...feel bad for you."

He shrugged, "I'm a big boy, you don't have to worry about me none. If I'm run out of town it won't be the first time."

"....I don't want you to. You're my old friend...of my age that is..."

"I'm a little older than you but I like that you consider me your friend. I'm more worried about you though, I don't think you should marry this Randall guy. He doesn't appreciate you, it'll make your life a misery."

"I don't want to really. That's what I have always tried telling my family."

"So....run away with me. We could go back to El Paso or anywhere you want to. You can start over, we don't have to be together, but I'll take care of you."