*J* (the continuation)

Part Thirty-Seven: Chapter 281: Having It All

Well guys, this chapter was not easy for me to type. Thankfully half of it was already done. I sustained a broken humerus, 4 broken and fractured ribs, and a punctured and partially deflated lung. I was life-flighted to an intensive care unit 2 1/2 hours away. I had surgery on arrival to fix my lung and put a tube into it for drainage. Two days later I had surgery on my broken arm. A rod was shoved down the center of my bones. I was released today. The second half of this chapter is being done with my left hand. There will probably be a lot of mistakes...

Little Lucy became tired and cranky, so her clown parents put her to bed in the nursery Jester prepared for her. He had done a surprisingly good job in such a short amount of time. He left out no necessity or a single luxury. He even found the time to paint it in nice pastels. One look at the room showed the love this child had already conjured up with him.

The Joker looks down at little Lucy in the crib he stood over. He had thought that when he saw her for the first time that he wouldn't feel the love for her that he should. She wasn't his. Not biologically. But she did share his blood. That had a lot more weight than he expected it would. When he looked down at her for the first time in his arms, his chest ached with love. In that first look he vowed a thousand promises to Lucy. Promises he would die to keep. With one glance he became a father, a protector, and provider for Lucy. With one look, every hole in his heart and soul filled, leaving him feeling whole for the first time in his life.

A slight smile was on his pale face and he couldn't bear to take his eyes off her. He was afraid to blink, as if she would disappear like a dream. As if she had never been. Like some beautiful daydream. Or as the most intricate details of his imagination. He still wasn't completely sure that he wasn't dreaming all together. He wanted to pick her right back up into his arms so he could confirm the tangibility of her. She was perfect. She was beautiful. And she was his.

The Joker turns a glance towards Harley, "Thank you my love."

"Fer what puddin?" She raises an eyebrow.

"For granting me the opportunity to share something so precious," he smiles and looks down at Lucy sleeping again, "For giving me the honor of being her father."

"Awe, Mistah J," Harley begins and gets all misty eyed, "there's nobody else I'd wanna do it with."

The Joker pulls her to him with one arm and places a tender kiss on her forehead. This day was the first day that he truly felt as a husband, a family man. And he owed it all to Harley. It was Harley who broke down his walls and showed him that he could love and be loved. It was her that had kept him frozen and hidden from Jason. It was she who had tracked down Jester to save his life and to be a part of it.

"Why don't you go out and see what we should order for our first night home. I'm going to take a shower and wash that disgusting swamp off me," the Joker tells her.

"You betcha," she gleefully smiles and bends over the crib to kiss Lucy goodnight one last time. She then leaves the room.

The Joker waits until she has left the room and quickly puts his arms into the crib, pulling Lucy into them once again. It causes her to jerk all at once, but she immediately falls right back to sleep again. "Ooooh, did mommy really think that I was going to let you go to sleep yet? She's so silly, isn't she?" He cradles her to him and slightly sways from side to side rocking her. "You are the most beautiful thing I have ever lay my eyes on. Did you know that you were a princess? You are. The world will bow at your feet. And no one, no one will ever take you from me again." He bends down and kisses her forehead. She lets out a contented little sigh. "Oh? Am I boring you with my adoration? Ok. Fine. I'll lay you back down so you can sleep in peace."

He gently lies her back down in her crib. As he leaves the room he turns off the lights. He can't help pausing at the door and turning for one last look over his shoulder. He leaves the door cracked and goes to take his shower.