Return to The City Of Scars

The Birds Of Prey (And One Harley Quinn)

Harley had intended on going to Ivy's- but then she realized Ecco wasn't immune to the toxins. She would have gone to Selina's but Selina had a thing for Batman and sometimes the Bat would show up for some fun in the kitty's litter box. So Harley had taken the risk and gone onto Sionis's turf to see some old friends. She knew Helena Bertinelli had left, going back to Italy to be with her adoptive family for a holiday of sort, but she knew Dinah and Renee were still around. Cassandra had disappeared not long after Harley had to return to Joker's care when she discovered she was pregnant. Harley drove the Cadillac she'd pulled from the heist cars lot and kept an eye out for anything that could draw harm. Ecco sat in her car seat, playing with a couple toys Harley had picked up to keep her occupied for the ride. Harley pulled up to Dinah's apartment building. Parking the car, she climbed out- taking her daughter with her as she entered the building. Walking to Dinah's unit, she cheerfully knocked on the door. The door opened and a blonde haired man answered, wearing an olive colored t shirt. He frowned when he saw Harley. "Can I help you?" He asked in a gruff voice. Harley grinned, "Yeah- is Dinah home?" She asked in her usual perky voice. "Harley?" Dinah pushed her way out from behind the man and pushed him back inside, "It's fine- she's a friend." The man walked back inside, and Harley chuckled, "Who's the hunk?" Dinah blushed toying with her hair, something she had never done back when Harley knew her. It was then she spotted the ring on her finger. "Oh my god- you got married?" Dinah blushed again, nodding. "Yeah..." Harley huffed, "And you didn't invite me?" Dinah laughed and stepped into the hall, "Harley-" Her voice dropped to a serious tone, "You can't be here." Harley scoffed, "Why not?" Dinah sighed, "Do you know- who I married?" Harley shook her head. Dinah sighed, "All I'll say is- and you better keep your mouth shut about this or I swear to god-" She growled the last part before answering, "He's on the Justice League." Harley whistled, "Wow, you scored big huh?" Dinah nodded, "Yeah." She looked at Harley and sighed, "Why are you here?" Harley's face fell. "Puddin' and I broke up." Dinah raised an eyebrow, "Again?" Harley shot her friend a glare, "We didn't break up for nearly twenty years!" Dinah sighed, "Harley- its been sixteen years. Almost." Harley sighed, "Look- it's just me and my youngest. No one else. Please Dinah. We don't have anywhere else to go." Dinah sighed, closing the door a moment before opening it again with a piece of paper and a key. "This is the deed to your old place with Cass- here's a key. We can do girl's night tomorrow but I promised Oliver it would be us tonight." Harley took the items and nodded, "Yeah- got it. Thanks Dinah, I'll see you tomorrow." 

Twenty minutes later Harley walked into her old condo, Ecco was half asleep and Harley set the small child on the couch, smiling as she watched her daughter curl up. Harley brought her things into the condo, leaving them in the living room while she picked up her daughter and moved to the master bedroom. Checking the bed, she was satisfied to find Cass had been using this place for a pit stop when she wanted some time away from the Brooding Bat. Ecco drifted into sleep quickly, while Harley lay awake. She hadn't slept alone in so long. When she was home- she always, always- made sure J went to bed at the same time as her. She would drag him if she had to. Once she found herself going as far to cuff him to the bed just so he would sleep. When sleep finally claimed her, the shadow by the window disappeared.

The next few days passed uneventfully. She knew she wouldn't stay long- she couldn't leave J for too long, Ecco would start to worry, so she opted she'd stay about a week. Then, she'd return to her kingdom. In the meantime, she was going to have fun. Spending the day with Ecco was more fun than she thought. They watched cartoons in the morning- snacking on Harley's famous egg, cheese and bacon breakfast sandwiches. Harley had perfected the recipe herself, but would occasionally take the trip with Frost (especially when she was pregnant with the twins) to get her beloved sandwich. When it came around lunchtime, Harley did her hair, changed into street clothes- and took her daughter to get the real thing from Sal. Sal was much older, and slower- allowing Harley to bounce her daughter in her arms while they watched their lunch cook. When they got their food- they went to Robinson Park and sat by the playground. Harley watched her daughter with the eye of a hawk and fierce protection of a lioness. Usually when she took Ecco to the park she had guards watching her every move, which did allow Harley to relax a bit- but she was never a hundred percent relaxed. Ecco- was nearly three, but had the motor skills of a four year old. It had worried Harley at first, but after taking her youngest to the best of the best doctors, she calmed down. Harley's personal theory was that the acid she and Joker both fell into had made it's way into their blood stream and ran in it til this day. And with her having immunity from Ivy she had hoped it passed down to her children, somehow she never had the chance to test her theory, but she wasn't willing to risk harming any of her children just to find out. "Harley!" Harley turned and saw Dinah and Renee walking over, Renee had a holster hidden in her jacket- Harley suspected the woman never stopped working sometimes. "Dinah! Monty!" Renee cringed at the nickname. Harley embraced them both before calling to her daughter, "Ecco! Come by mommy for a minute!" Ecco skipped over, clinging to her mother's leg. Harley lowered her hand to rub her daughter's shoulder comfortingly. Dinah and Renee instantly began cooing over the child, "Oh she is just so precious!" Renee cooed. Harley laughed, "Say 'Hi', Ecco." She encouraged. Shyly, the young girl greeted her mother's friends. They sat at the park table, Harley pulling her daughter's hair into two pigtail like buns while she talked to her friends. Soon enough they were walking and talking by the pond, Harley holding her daughter's hand as the child skipped along.