million years ago (sequel to sweetest devotion)

Only You

It had been a week since Allie and Jake had seen Joker. Honestly, she was missing him just as much as Jake was. She decided to give him a call while she was on break at work. The call went to voicemail so she left him a message: "Hey, J, I'm at work right now. What have you been doing? I know things are weird right now, but we miss you. I want everything to be alright between us. Call me, let's talk." She got back to work and within a half an hour, she got a text.

Joker: call me when you get off work.

As soon as she got out of her work building, she call him. "Hey, J!" "Kitten." His voice sounded almost sad. "What's going on?" Allie grew concerned. "Baby, I'm so sorry. I can't do this." Her heart started thumping in her chest. "What are you talking about?!" His voice got even sadder, "I can't see you and Jake anymore. I've been thinking a lot lately and in the long run, I think it'll do more harm than good." She started sobbing and shaking her head, "Don't do this!"

"It's not that I want to, Kitten. If I had a choice-" "You do have a choice! Is this you picking Harley over me? Over Jake?!" "Of course not! I'd pick you and him over anything. It's just my lifestyle. I can never have a normal life with you. It's not in the cards for me." Allie had found a seat on bench outside her workplace. She felt like she couldn't breathe. She didn't want to believe what was happening.

Joker spoke soothingly, "Allie, I love you. No one, Harley or anyone else, can ever do what you've done for me. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me." She wiped a tear away, "What about Jake? What am I supposed to tell him?" There was silence for several seconds, as if Joker was actually speechless. "Just tell him...tell him that I love him. Allie, if you ever need anything, please let me know."

"So we're never going to see you again?" "Never say never, babe. I'm still only a phone call away." There was more silence until Allie spoke again, "Don't ever love her." Allie was talking about Harley. No one else in the world could make demands of the Joker, but Allie was a another story. "Never. Only you." he assured her.

After they ended the phone call, Allie mentally told herself she was done crying. She walked to her car and drove to Jake's daycare. They got McDonald's on the way home and had a fun, quiet night at home together. Luckily for her, Jake didn't ask about his father that night. After Jake was asleep in bed and she had retired to her bedroom, Allie had a strange dream.

She was in bed inside the dream, and a man was sliding in next to her. His short brunette locks were slicked back nicely against his head. He had on a black t-shirt that accentuated his toned shoulders. Then he looked into her eyes and she was mesmerized by the beautiful pools of blue. This man had to be Joker-or was he Jack? He had eyebrows that matched his hair color as well. He was a gorgeous specimen. He lay next to her and snuggled close. He was obviously tired.

"Jack?" He had wrapped his arms around her and draped a leg over hers. "Mmm, yeah Kitten?" His head rested on her chest, and she smiled. She caressed the back of his head and felt his soft hair. "Nothing. I love you." Jack then slowly pushed himself up and propped himself on his elbow while his other arm lay across her abdomen. He leaned in a kissed her softly, "Love you, babe."

Jack returned to his spot on her chest and Allie touched his forearm. No 'haha' was visible on his wrist and there was no toothy grin on the top of his hand. He was not Joker, but someone similar. Allie awoke in the morning and a tear fell after she had her eyes opened for a few seconds. She only wished for her dream to be real. Now she could only hope to dream about him again and again. She'd be happy with Joker or Jack images as she slept.

So, that was it. That's what her life with him had been reduced to. From now on, Joker and Harley would live their life together, doing..whatever it is that they do. And Allie would have her own life with Jake. She decided to be completely happy with that. She hoped that she'd eventually stop wishing for things to be different because she knew deep down that they couldn't be. All Allie could do now was be a mom. That's all she was, and it'd be the best thing she would ever be.