Red Hood and Harley

1st Birthdays

It's been a year, J and Lucy have shown high intelligence. Both walking earlier and speaking words clearly far earlier than most one year olds.

Selina has been staying out of trouble and working life out with Bruce, including being a very pregnant kitty.

Harley and Jason had convinced Selina to watch the twins at night so they could go back to going out and enjoying their own vigilante justice.

Harley was grappling from rooftop to rooftop filling the night sky with laughter as Jason followed behind her enjoying how happy his girl was.

Suddenly she stopped and stared down at a group on a warehouse dock. Jason stood next to her, "What's up Loony Toons?" Harley was even more pale than normal staring at a young man in a purple suit sat silent. Jason followed her eyes, "Its not him Harley, he's dead. You killed him, you watched him die."

Harley nodded and whispered, "Oh I know, that's not Joker." She suddenly got a look of rage across her face and leaped delicately and silently down to the ground quickly as Jason followed with curiosity. Harley marched right up to the man in the purple suit, Jason realized he was no man, the guy was all of 16 or 17 years old. He had Harley and Joker's pale skin and Joker's green hair, but Jason quickly realized as he saw the kid's eyes and the shocked expression of child like terror.... that was all Harley Quinn.

Harley slapped the kid in the face and screamed, "Where the fuck is ya motha??? Where the fuck is Hailey???? Why the fuck are ya in Gotham Jesse???"

Jesse covered his head and yelped, "Ya mean Aunt Hailey back in Jersey? I know better, I got a letta. Ya'll lied MA!" He pulled out of Harley's arm reach and gave a chilling laugh and straightened his suit before continuing calmer, "I found out da truth ma, my birth right! Ya killed my dad, ya didn't know he knew bout me tho did ya? When he died someone sent me a letta, explained everything. How ya hid me Jersey with Aunt Hailey and gave me to her. Ya took away my birth right! I deserve to own Gotham, like my fatha before me! I'm taking my throne, but don't worry ma." Jesse smiled a grand toothy smile in Jason's direction, "I have no plans for revenge, I have no plans to hurt ya or ya man ovah there... or those adorable little siblings I have."

Harley's rage turned to crimson shame across her face, "oh Jester I'm sorry you're so angry, believe me you going to Hailey's was the best. Mistah J prolly would have killed you! He knew it too, why do you think he never came to get you?!?" She spoke softly as she walked towards him to stroke his face. "When did Hailey stop dying your hair? I saw a photo a year ago. You didn't look like this?"

Jesse stared coldly at his mother as Jason stood back in silent shock, how could Harley never mention a teenage son??? "Oh ma, rebellion ya know? Wanted to do the punk thing, turns out it's my natural look. Than the letta came and I made Hailey confess before cut her lying tongue out of her mouth. I didn't deserve the truth? I didn't deserve to know my aunt was my motha? I know he didn't come for me, but ya never gave him a chance to warm up to the idea of being a dad, did ya? Never gave me a chance to have a dad? I accept the apology and I'm not mad at ya but I have no intentions of coming for family dinner with the lame Waynes you've seemed to cozy up with ma. I have a business to run, and a name to make. I go by my real name now, as ya called me just now. Jester, and I've taken The Grin back from Frosty. I've taken over the guns trade and I have big plans for the bird and his lounge. I have dear old crazy pop's journals and everything he had planned for Gotham." He put his hand to his mothers face and cupped her cheek, "the saddest part in them tho was the entries where he talked of the twisted emotions he had towards ya. Ya know he loved ya and couldn't control it when he got mad.... I wonder when Jason pisses ya off, will ya kill him too? Are ya gonna try to kill me now?" Jester drew his hand back and slugged Harley in the face, knocking her to the ground. "That's for me, pops and poor dead Hailey. Now, get out of here before I make Frosty do something hes not going to want to do."

Jason jumped over to Harley to pull her shocked self up before getting into Jester's face and growling, "I don't care who you are or what wrongs you think Harley did, if you ever hit your MOTHER again... I'll beat you like your father would have if she hadn't protected you."

Harley shouted, "Jason stop, let's just go. Hes going to meet with Batman soon and he's not his dad. He will end up in Blackgate. I gave up the right to be his motha 16yrs ago."

Jason stared down Jester who looked amused by everything taking place before walking away. "Heed my words Jesse boy, she won't always be here to get upset and save your ass."

Jester adjusted his tie and suit jacket. "Oh I'm sure we will see each other again, I hear its J and Lucy's birthday soon? I received the invite in the mail at Hailey's! Haha, don't worry ma!! Wouldn't miss if for the world!!" Jason couldn't control himself and Harley couldn't stop him in time...

Jason slugged Jester in the jaw and the teen fell like a sack of bricks, "if you come near my family I will murder you! Do you hear me?? Come near my babies and I will fucking kill you!!" He spat at the fallen boy. The response caused Harley to take off in a shivering run, she hadn't heard that laugh in years.

Apparantly Joker's insanity was very much hereditary. Jason took off after her to calm her. Jester got up and brushed himself off, he would leave Todd and his mom alone for now. He had an army to build, a reputation to earn and businesses to grow.

Harley finally stopped running after several blocks and starts sobbing as she hits her knees. Jason slid on his onto his knees beside her and hugged her. "Harley you did what you felt was right, you did what was best. He doesn't know Joker to know what he was and I'm sorry loony toons but apparantly insanity is heritable. He won't get far, I'll have Dick and Bruce keep an eye on him. We will lock him up before he does something he regrets."

Harley nodded and sobbed, "I tried to keep him outta Gotham. I tried to keep him from the Joker. I gave him a nice suburban home with a loving mother. I sent money, I sent so much money so he could have everything. He's still just like that maniac. Hes not gonna be easily stopped."

Jason stared off into the night knowing Harley was right. "I know Harley." He whispered into her hair, hugging her tightly.