The Fault in our Scars (originally known as 'Maybe Baby' by Alex Snape)

Chapter 1

One would think that robbing a bank was just one of those villainous fads, worn out by hacks that were trying to emulate the bank robberies in the old black and white films or dusty, dime novels. But, The Joker just couldn't help but go on these little "constitutionals" every now and again with Harley Quinn, the 'Bonnie' to his 'Clyde'.

He laughed as they hopped into the getaway car, Harley at the wheel, and they soon were zooming past frightened onlookers.

The Joker tilted his head back as he cackled with glee and dropped the now bulging duffle bag to his feet onto the floorboard. Harley gripped the steering wheel tightly as she veered corners until she had finally lost the two squad cars in a cloud of exhaust and confusion.

She loved when he laughed like that, his mouth wide open and his scarred cheeks elongating his mouth into a vast smile. His cackling always sent chills through her body, but today she wanted to hurry home. In fact, she had been hesitant in going out at all today, but The Joker convinced her that it would just be a quick stop as he needed something to ease his boredom.

Her silence was soon discovered as his chuckling died down. He cast his eyes on her as he ran a tongue across his painted lips and saw her vexed expression as she drove.

"Harley?"

No answer. Just a blank stare through the windshield and her small hands at 'Ten and Two' on the wheel.

"Harley-girl?" he said a bit louder.

She quickly jerked her head around and their eyes met momentarily. Harley noticed that his face held a slightly concerned, if not annoyed, expression, and she knew that he could tell that something was off about her today. "Something's...troubling you," he stated, simply.

"Oh, no, Puddin'," Harley assured him as she turned right at a dead traffic light and continued down an empty alley. She sat up straighter and quickly changed her tone. "I'm fine. I'm just...a little tired is all."

The Joker sniffed as he prodded the toe of his shoe at his duffle bag on the floorboard. "You were tired yesterday," he reminded her.

"Well, I haven't been sleeping well lately...I don't know..."

He chuckled as he gave her a quick pinch of her painted cheek. "You need to cut down on the Stephen King stories, cupcake," he said as they pulled up to the abandoned theater they called home.

She stopped and put the car in park, and as they both walked to the front door, the bag thrown carelessly over The Joker's shoulder, Harley soon found herself wrapped inside his free arm. "How 'bout Daddy draws ya a nice, hot bath, hm?"

Her eyes slightly widened at this rare offer. Usually it would be Harley preparing a bath for him, so this sporadic display of affection was definitely going to be accepted.

She smiled at him as she nodded and he allowed her entrance first into their home. "Meet you there, Mistah J?" she asked as she trotted to the stairs.

The Joker stepped to their make-shift kitchen and threw the duffle bag onto the table. His three close men sat around the loot and waited for his instructions. His eyes locked with Harley's and his heart threatened to pound as he sighed and said, "Go on, doll..."

Harley bit her lip and knew that was her cue to leave the Boss to talk to his men.

The Joker turned to them as he casually distributed the contents of the bag to each one. Three bundles were rationed to them and the Boss left the rest of the bills in the bag, zipped it up tight, and tossed it back over his shoulder.

"Meeting's adjourned, gentlemen," he said as he started to the stairs.

Buddy and Ringo obligingly headed to the door with their day's pay, but Elvis, the youngest of the brood, held back just a bit as he watched the Boss open the bedroom door, and he sighed as he heard Harley's playful giggle and The Joker's approving growl.

Later that evening, Harley opened her tired eyes and stretched her naked body. Her right hand accidentally nudged The Joker, who was lightly snoring as he lay on his back, the thin sheets draping over his hips. She grinned as she looked at him and slowly raised herself from the bed and went into the bathroom.

She shut the door and used the toilet, and when she finished, she glanced into the bowl. "Dammit," she cursed to herself. "What the hell is going on?" She quietly opened the door and walked to her vanity where her small purse lay on the seat. She rummaged through it until she found her pocket calendar, and she sighed as she opened it and noticed that she was well past the day that was marked with a star.

She shut herself back in the bathroom and leaned against the sink counter. "I guess I have to go get a test. Man, how do I cover that up?" She pulled her hair in a ponytail. "Okay, Harls. It's okay, really. I mean...maybe it won't be so...I can just go to Ivy's, test there and then...maybe I'm just gonna be late this time and...oh, man." She moaned as she placed her face in her hands. Tears threatened to break through her tightly shut lids and she sniffed hard.

"Oh...this is bad..." she finally accepted. Harley quickly wiped a tear from her cheek as she heard the bathroom doorknob creak. "Harl?" came The Joker's tired voice through the door.

She pivoted to face the mirror, let down her hair again and absent-mindedly brushed it as The Joker, still nude from their playful romp, came up behind her and bit her shoulder. "Mm!" she squeaked in surprise. "Puddin'..."

He sleepily raised his eyes to the mirror and looked at her reflection. He smacked his lips and squinted, saying in a lazy growl, "What did, uh...why was I coming up to our room, again?"

Harley giggled. "You were supposed to make a bubble bath for me."

"Oh, yeah!" he said, jokingly. "Bath. Right. You distracted me..."

She turned to him and put down her hairbrush. "What? How did I do that?"

His eyes traveled down her naked body. "The same way you're doing it now..." He snarled hungrily as he planted his lips in the crook of her neck.

"Puddin', come on!" she said, laughing as his scars tickled her skin.

"Huh? Oh! Bath...gotcha..." He moved away from her and proceeded to finish his original intention of making her relax.

Harley watched as he prepared to pour a heaping cap full of bubbles into the hot water, and she bit her lip. She decided to take advantage of his good mood and cleared her throat. "Mistah J?"

The Joker turned to her after pouring in the bubbles and stepped closer. His dark, tired eyes pierced her blue ones and she took a quick breath before saying, "I kinda wanna go see Ivy tomorrow. Would that be okay, Pud?"

He narrowed his eyes at her and she knew why. The Joker didn't care too much for Harley to be in her company and it was always tough for Harley to go visit her only friend. She quickly placed her arms around his waist and looked up at him. "We're just gonna hang out and watch movies, maybe..." When she noticed an apprehensive eyebrow raise, she added, sweetly, "Please, baby? I need 'girl-time.'"

The Joker snickered. "I knew something was bothering you," he told her as he kissed her forehead and she squeezed him tighter. "Come back..."

Harley gave him her biggest smile. "Of course...I wouldn't leave my Daddy."

He grinned back at her, but it soon faded as he stepped away to turn off the tap to the bathtub. "I don't like you out there by yourself; too many cops. Elvis can drive you."

Harely sent him a little smile.

"Okay."