Love, Hate, and Family Ties

Hope

(Amber's POV)

"Michael, have you seen my dad?" I ask. I haven't seen him all morning. Freddie said he went out last night. He never came home. I'm worried.

"No. Have you seen Jess?" he asks.

"They're both missing?!" I scream. I'm barely able to walk but I can't just sit around. They could be hurt. I stand and Michael moves to hold me up. I'm about to push him away when the front door slams open.

"Yooo Hoooo. Jess! I have news!" My dad's voice calls out.

Damn! I was hoping she'd be with him. Michael and I quickly walk downstairs to meet him. He looks disappointed that we aren't Jess.

"Where's Jess? Is she mad that I didn't come home?" he asks.

"Dad, Jess isn't here. We were hoping she was with you..." I tell him

"No... Has Harley come back...?" he asks, hesitantly.

"No. Why? Why would it matter?" I ask.

He growls and runs out of the house. After the door slams it's silent.

Michael turns to me. "Should we be worried?"

"Don't interfere with him. He's angry. He can't control himself when he's angry. If we're not careful he could kill us." I tell Michael. I limp over to the couch and sit down heavily. Michael comes to sit next to me. He wraps his arms around me and kisses my cheek, nuzzling his nose against my cheek. I turn my head to kiss him. He smiles into the kiss. I'm reassured by this.

Everything will be alright.

I hope...

(Michael's POV)

I love Amber. What is this? I fell for her so easily. Is it true love? Or am I wrong?

No, I'm not wrong. She's the one for me. Right?

I'm tired of dating and heartbreak. What I want is to settle down. Well, after we save Joker of course.

She smiles at me. Her eyes are a bright beautiful green- blue. A mix of both her parents. I love them. The sight of them alone can make me smile. So I do.

I help her to her feet and bring her back to our bedroom. I sit her down on the bed and she beams up at me.

"Would you like me to get you anything to eat? Or drink? I'll bring you some orange juice." I tell her. She smiles.

"No, thank you. I'd rather just spend time with you." She pats the bed beside her.

I smile and cuddle up to her. She giggles. That's the most amazing sound in the world.

But is it what I want? We've been through so much. But... Have we been through enough to stay together?

I shake those thoughts out and hold her tighter. She relaxes into me. I turn her head and kiss her lips. I love her.

There's no doubt that I love her. The question is: is it meant to be? Will it last?

I hope so....

(Joker's POV)

I bang on the door of the apartment. That bitch better let me in or so help me-

The door opens and I fall in. Landing on my face. How's that for an entrance, huh?

I growl and stand up. I'm not in the mood for this shit.

"Where's Harley, plant girl?! I know she's here!!" I yell.

Ivy backs away from me. I keep walking toward her. Pulling out my switchblade, I smile. I'm going to enjoy chopping her up into salad. Espescially if she and that psycho bitch hurt my Jess.

"Who's at the door, Red?" Harley calls from another room. I glare at the speechless plant and head for Harley.

I come face to face with Harley as she leaves a room. She yelps and runs back in, trying to close the door. Not so fast.

I shove it open with all my strength, sending Harley flying into the wall behind the door. She's immediately knocked unconscious. Wimp.

I see Jess. My precious Jessica. She's unconscious, strapped to a chair. I know that chair. I'm the one who taught Harley how to use it.

Electric shock.

I make sure the power is off and unstrap her. She groans as I lift her and put her over my shoulder. As I leave the room Harley wakes up. After seeing what I'm doing she jumps up.

"Why'd ya do it, Mistah J?! Why'd ya choose her ovah me?! What makes her so special?!" she screams. Tears are streaming down her face. I hold my hand out and stroke her face.

"Oh Harley. When are you going to learn?" I let her go and she looks up into my eyes. Her eyes filled with hope.

I take this opportunity to make my move. I slap her hard across the face. "When will you learn to grow up?! This is the real world. I. DON'T. LOVE. YOU! And I never will!"

I turn and leave the room. I glare at Ivy once more as I leave the appartment and slam the door behind me.

I quickly get her home and lay her in our bed. Everyone crowds into the room, looking at her over my shoulder.

"Is she going to be okay?" Michael asks.

"She should be... I swear if I ever see that bitch again..." I trail off. I'm always distracted by Jess's beauty. Even when she's knocked out, she's gorgeous.

Michael pulls me aside. As I leave the room with him I see Freddie, Matthew, and Amber move in closer to see Jess.

We get to the living room and Michael sits down on the couch. I do the same. He sighs and looks down.

"How do I know if I love Amber?" he says quietly.

"You better love Amber. She loves you to death. If you break her heart I'll put a bullet in yours. Got it?" I say. Amber has thrown her life away on this man. If he let's her down, there will be hell to pay. On that I promise.

I get up and head back to Jess. I don't want her to wake up while I'm not there. As I round the stairs I run into Amber. I can tell by the look on her face that she heard everything. I know she's mad.

Maybe it'll teach him a lesson.

I pat her shoulder as I walk passed her into my room. Matthew and Freddie leave as I sit down next to her. Freddie gave me a look that said 'If she dies, you die.' No worries. I'll do everything I can.

It's quiet for a while as I tend to Jessica. The silence is broken all of a sudden...

By a tremendously loud slap coming from downstairs.

Michael's shrill cry of pain followed immediately.

Then I hear him sob as Amber screams at him. I hear the front door slam, Michael's sobs remain. How did she even leave? Limp out the door? Ha! That'd be a sight to see.

His sobs come closer as, I presume, he walks up the stairs. He comes into the room and his sobs quiet down. He curls himself up on the floor by my feet and continues crying.

"I was wrong. I love her." he chokes out.

I drop a pillow by his head and he put his head on it. After a few minutes his crying gets quieter. Then silence fills the room. I look down at him and realize that he's cried himself to sleep. No more Mr. tough guy, huh? What happened to the guy who grabbed my collar when his girlfriend went missing?

I then notice the red mark on his face. A handprint is forming on his cheek. Ouch. Amber got him good. Can't say he didn't deserve it.

I hope Amber comes back...

I hope all of this works out.

It all just seems to be getting worse.

Freddie is leaving today, so we'll be down one person.

I hope this ends well.