***Authors note***

Last chapter guys, wrapping everything up and tying up them loosey goosey ends. I know i posted like, yesterday, but i couldn't help my damn self.
I love to give you content! So strap your butts in, and let's get to the story.

*A few weeks later*

My new life. A normal life. Well as normal as any life could be after the joker. My new normal.

It had been a while since the craziness of the Joker had finally ended. And I couldn't be happier about it. Going back to my flat to live was not an option. Especially since the landlord had politely asked me to leave…

Seems he didn't enjoy the whole ordeal of having me as a tenant. What with the Joker murdering one of his other tenants, blowing my doors off their hinges, having the police swarm the building a few times. Seems I was a little 'too much' for the poor guy.

But I left without complaint, it held too many bad memories for me now.
Being kidnapped just wasn't as much fun as one would think. And I wouldn't be able to feel safe, knowing the Joker had been here so many times. Even after I tried to keep him out.

I was happier with my new living situation, I had moved into a bigger flat to accompany my new room-mate. I asked Jessie to move in with me, I had missed her. Although all unicorn paraphernalia was to kept strictly to her room. ALL of it. She kept trying to sneak things out though, and I promptly moved them back.

And seeing as we now worked at the same company, it made sense. George had offered her a position at the company shortly after meeting her, he had a small crush bless his soul. She had taken it on without hesitation, she hated waiting tables, and here she could wear tight little skirts without a care in the world.

No doubt Antonio had gone to fight his brother again, for another 'stolen' waitress. And no doubt he got his Italian ass kicked by his brother and Rosa.

She was the secretary for his floor now as it was always expanding. Without Charles to contend with, George was free to try new projects, make some bold moves. I couldn't be prouder of the little guy.

And speaking of Charles, he was currently in prison still awaiting trial.

The Joker was in Arkham. I say was, because he promptly escaped not long after being put in there. It was on the news for a while. And I was worried that he would come for me, maybe this time kill me. But our new building had more security, no one who wasn't supposed to be here could just waltz in.

Although there was one exception to that rule.

The doorbell rang, and I got up from the couch to answer the door. Opening it Bruce Wayne stood in a suit and tie, looking dapper as always.
"Mr. Wayne, how lovely to see you." I opened the door fully, inviting him in.
"I assume Jessie isn't ready yet?" He asked, closing the door behind him as he followed me to the couch.

"It's adorable you think she would be ready at the time you tell her." I scurried back under the cover I had been snuggled under.
"It's why I'm here half an hour earlier than our reservation." He smiled, perching on the end.
"Is that Bruce?!" Jessie yelled from her room.

"Yes." He called back with a chuckle.
Jessie stuck her head around the door with a grin.
"I'll be two minutes." She quickly vanished again and by the clattering I could tell she really was trying to get ready quickly.

"Any plans for tonight?" Bruce turned back to me as he relaxed, he was in for a wait.
"Me and the T.V." I grinned, my movie paused.
"You could come out with us?" He offered.

"And be the third wheel on your date. No thank you." I laughed as I scraped my hair back into a bun. I was happy with my plans. I wasn't showering for any one. No matter where they took me to eat.

"Fair enough." We heard more crashes from Jessie's room. "How have you been?" He asked.
"Fine." I shrugged, because I had been fine. Nothing weird, nothing out of the ordinary. I'll be honest, life after the Joker was a little boring. Much safer and I wouldn't seek him out again, not ever. But it was a little monotonous.

But Richard helped with that. After his second brush with near death, he decided to retire. He left the company to both his sons. Not including Charles, obviously. And spent his days travelling, relaxing, enjoying his hard work paying off.

He kept bringing me strange gifts from all the places he visited, I was building quite the collection. And he always had stories to tell, but thankfully he had bulked up his security these days. Having a body guard with him, updating the security technology at Taylor industries. Although Lawrence still worked the night shift, with his box of donuts as always.

"Nothing from the Joker?" Bruce asked, getting straight to the point.
"Not a peep." I smiled, Bruce was always very over protective nowadays, he even came to view the flat to inspect its 'security'. Threatening to move Jessie and I in with him if it wasn't up to his standards. Jessie was thrilled with the idea until he deemed it worthy. And she didn't get to live in his mansion.

She always wanted to live in a mansion. Although I think Bruce and I have the same stance on her unicorn obsession. It's weird.

The unicorn collector herself came out of her room a few minutes later. 10 minutes later. Still trying to get her shoe on. Bruce immediately got up and helped her into it.

"Aw Brucey, it's like I'm Cinderella." Jessie giggled and blushed at his chivalry. I giggled from the couch at her pet name for him.

"We should head out." Bruce looked at his watch, obviously not giving enough time for Jessies lateness.
"I got up from the couch to hug Jessie and lock the door behind them.

Bruce turned on the doormat.
"You have a package by the way." Bruce picked up the small box and handed it to me. I took it without much thought and waved as they both left.
"Bye Jessie, bye Brucey. Have fun!" I called, earning a glare from Bruce.

I wasn't going to let him forget that one any time soon. I laughed as I closed the door and locked it. Jessie probably wouldn't be home until late, so I had the place to myself tonight. I did love living with Jessie, she even cooked sometimes. But it was nice to have some alone time, some silence from the constant gossip of the office. Who was sleeping with who, who was caught fooling around in the supply closet, who had stolen who's mug.

It was riveting… obviously. But it did make me want to stick a pen in my ear and perforate my eardrum just to make it stop. Or the pop music she put on when she was getting ready in the morning. More than a few time I had discreetly thrown away a CD or two.

I'm sorry, but I don't want to wake up to "Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba! Sithi uhm ingonyama!" Every morning, sung loudly in my doorway, as she holds up a life size Simba plushie.
The start of 'circle of life' or not, it's just not my idea of an alarm clock. Jessie had received more than a few pillows thrown at her face for that. But she was learning to dodge.

I finally turned my attention to the package 'Brucey' had handed to me. Brucey. Classic.
I turned it over in my hands, strange there was no postage stamp on it. Even stranger it wasn't addressed to me or Jessie.

But to Lilly.

At first, I didn't want to open it, I wanted to throw it across the room into the fire. What if it exploded? What if there was an animal in it, I didn't want a pet, dead or otherwise. But my curiosity finally got the better of me and I ripped open the packaging.

What if it's Anthrax?
The Joker, if its from him, wouldn't send me Anthrax, he would want to kill me himself.
True… Okay, fuck it, open it.

There was no letter or note. Nothing to show me who it was from, in the small box there was a small memory card. I picked it out and looked at it curiously. It was from a camcorder and I went into my room to put it into my laptop. Thankfully it fit in the slot and I only had to wait for a few seconds for a video to start playing.

It started off shakily, the camera moving in some ones hands. Then the Jokers face filled up the screen. I actually startled a little at seeing his face after so long without seeing it. He looked the same as last time. Same white face paint blacked out eyes and blood red smile.

He pushed his green hair out of his face and fiddled with the camera.
"Katie, long time no see." He grinned. "I have a gift for you." I kept watching curiously while the camera fumbled in his hands once again. He obviously had no future in filmography.
I gasped when it came into focus.

It was a prison cell, with an inmate tied and gagged on the floor.
"It's Caleb. Say hi." Joker said as I watched the figure squirm on the floor. It was Caleb, older and with a lot more scars. But the same son of a bitch who I dreamt about killing a hundred times.
He was sobbing on the floor, thrashing wildly against the restraints that tied his hands and feet together.

The Joker lifted the camera, so they were both in the frame.
"See, contrary to popular belief. I don't kill little kiddies. And I don't like those who do either." His voice took on a sinister turn as he moved the camera closer to Caleb. As it did, I could see the bruises on his skin. A black eye, a split lip, bruising right down his jaw, a slit right down his cheekbone. Look like he took a beating before he was tied up.

And I could see his tears, hear his begs behind the gag, even see his stained trousers. I felt like I was in the room with them. My hatred ignited, I couldn't tear my eyes away.

"You said you wanted revenge Katie. And here it is, at no cost. It's a personal job." I watched as the Joker perched the camera on something. The frame showing Caleb and the Joker as he walked over to him.

Caleb screams grew louder as the Joker advanced on him, renewing his thrashing as he tried to escape. But he was tied up, it was useless.

The Joker dragged him up by his hair, pointing his face to the camera. Caleb was staring right down the lens, eyes pleading. And I watched with no pity.
"This is for Lilly." The Joker whispered. Caleb looked confused until realisation dawned on his face. Only when he realised who the Joker referred to, did the Joker finally kill him.

He stabbed his knife into Caleb stomach, ripping it across his abdomen as blood sprayed out. Caleb screamed even louder as he began to bleed out. The Joker dropped Caleb's head, letting his head smash into the concrete. Caleb was still alive as the Joker grabbed the camera again. He pushed it closer to Caleb as he began to gasp for breath.

As he finally took his final breath, I could see his eyes glass over as his face went slack. No more screaming, no more movement. The Joker panned down to the stab wound. My hand went to own stomach as I looked at the ripped and bloody skin. But then I realised, as my hand brushed against my scar, it was the same cut as I had received.

The Joker had killed him in the same way I nearly died. Which was a fitting end for him I think. Caleb was dead. What I had dreamt about doing for years, the Joker had done for me. My nightmare, years in the making, was finally at an end. The person who had caused so much pain in my life was finally dead.

And he died in pain, slowly, with no one to save him. I hoped he felt as helpless as I did, I hoped he was in as much pain as I was. And I hope he goes straight to hell where he belongs.

The camera moved away and went back to the Jokers face. He smiled into the camera.
"Consider this a parting gift." The Joker laughed his signature laugh, that still sent shivers down my spine.

And then the screen went black.
I stood motionless for a few seconds. Shocked at what I had just seen. Savouring Caleb's final moments and knowing now he was gone.

I then noticed a card in the bottom of the box. Not another memory card, but a playing card. Like the one he had left for me before. A Joker card, but with a note on the back.

'If you need me.' Next to a number.

I shook my head… but kept the card.

Don't know when it might come in handy…

The End.

***Authors note***

Ah the end! I didn't make it as sad as the others have been.

And little twisty twist, he always planned to kill Caleb for Katie, just wanted her along for the ride too.

I've left it a little open, just in case I want to continue this in the future. I don't think I will as I have other story ideas. But the option is there, just in case.
I published this way back in 2014 but rewriting the first few chapters and then finally finishing it only took me 2 months. 82,000+(?) words in two months… I really need a life. Seriously.

Not a very long Fic, not as long as A Past Forgotten anyway. But I really wanted to finish this and get it completed before I started any other stories. I don't like leaving something incomplete. And I always liked the idea of this fic, just didn't have the drive to complete it back then. But 4 years later.

Now that it is done, I hope you guys have enjoyed it. I hope you liked Katie's internal monologue, her humour and my version of the Joker. I don't write him as dark as I maybe should, but if I did, he would kill all my OC's in Chapter one ha-ha.

I don't know whether my next story will be a Joker one, it might be. It probably will be. I have a ton of ones I've started. But I'll have to flesh out a story and make a plan before I start writing again. But that said, keep an eye out guys. Knowing me, it won't be too long.

But please review! Let me know if you enjoyed it, let me know if you hated it, let me know all your thoughts and feelings. This is a safe space my dudes. And your reviews give me life force. Don't let me die!
Love you guys and until next time xoxoxo