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

Chapter 11

Six months old

"C'mon, Jack," said Harley in frustration. "Please eat." She tried to spoon some baby food into his mouth to which he turned his head and whined.

He had been on baby food for only a month, but she was still trying to figure out exactly which foods he would eat and which he would rather just let her wear. "Jack, I know you want your bottle, but that's only for bedtime, now," she told him as she tried again. He took a little bit from the spoon and took his time swallowing. When he did, he let out a sad cry as if he were being tortured by his mean mother.

The Joker came downstairs from his study, wearing his undershirt and purple slacks. He stopped in front of the table and squinted at Jack playfully.

His son finally decided that he was okay and smiled back at him. "What's with all the noise, little boy?" The Joker asked as he sat on the other side of the highchair.

Harley looked at him, a smudge of green food on her chin. "He won't eat his lunch. He's eaten this before and now he just spits it back out." She put the spoon in the jar and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.

The Joker turned Jack's highchair closer to him and said to his son in a stern, but playful tone, "Now, look here, Jack. You need to listen to Mama and eat your lunch if you wanna grow up to be big and strong like me." Jack giggled as he continued, "So, you need to be a big boy, now, and eat your..." He picked up the jar of baby food. "Peas?" he sneered in disgust.

"Yes, peas!" said Harley, defensively.

"Harley," he said, "you don't like peas, yet your making Jacky eat them. You're a sick woman."

She signed in annoyance as she stood up and went to the pantry. "Okay then. I'll get something else." She returned to the table and set down the new jar, but was stopped from opening at another protest.

"Spinach?" The Joker sneered again. "Does he look like a rabbit to you?"

She threw up her hands, groaning. "He needs to eat, Daddy. Otherwise, he'll wake up tonight hungry." Harley opened the jar and proceeded to give a spoonful to Jack.

The Joker suddenly cleared his throat and went over to the freezer, and soon he came back with a pint of strawberry ice cream. Harley gave him a confused look as he opened the lid of the carton and took a big helping into his mouth. Jack turned his head toward his father and his eyes widened when he saw the treat his father was enjoying.

The Joker grinned as he put a little into his spoon and started to feed it to his son until Harley said, "Whoa. Don't feed him ice cream. It'll ruin his lunch."

He looked at her with a sly smirk and slowly guided the spoon into Jack's mouth, and he ate it without hesitation. Harley's mouth dropped. "Have you been feeding him ice cream behind my back?"

The Joker gave her an innocent look. "I dunno what you're talkin' about, baby," he told her and then gave Jack another helping.

Harley shook her head. "Fine," she said. "Make me the big meanie for wanting him to have a nutritious lunch. I'm gonna take a nap. You boys have fun." She stomped up the stairs and The Joker watched her as she slammed the door.

He and Jack looked at each other and The Joker grabbed the spinach jar. He gave Jack a small spoonful and he ate it with slight hesitation. "See, kiddo," he said. "You just needed a little motivation."

Jack ate another spoonful and The Joker continued, "Your mom ain't that bad. She's just tired. Hasn't really been in the mood lately, if you get my drift..." He looked at his son, who was giving him a dazed expression. "No, of course you don't..." The Joker gave him a raspberry on his cheek, making him giggle again.