8

The first two months had seemed to slip right by for the two woman, Harley was taking the morning sickness like a champ but she was always grateful that Ivy would get up with her when she'd get sick and rub her back or hold her hair out of the way then after helping her back to bed would make a special tea that would calm her stomach. The pair had told Selina the day after Harley had taken the test and she'd offered her congratulations, which were returned seeing as the other woman had finally relaxed about the fact she was pregnant, and just days ago her gift had shown up, a little toy kitten that was a light peachy orange color with soft green eyes and a red bow around its neck that had a tag reading 'to the little flower child' making Ivy smile and Harley tear up smiling.

Now that Harley was most definitely pregnant the garden goddess had set up multiple plants that acted as alarms around the house inside and out, little potted plants inside including the orchid Harley gifted her which stood guard on Harley's side of the bed, and climbing ivy vines, morning glories, roses and daisy beds in the front yard so she would be able to know if anything went wrong around their home. One night just as Harley was about to enter her third month Ivy was woken from her sleep in the dead of night by what felt like a shock to her nervous system causing her to let out harsh gasp and her eyes to fly open.

The room around her was still and silent apart from Harley's soft breathing beside her wrapped in her arms. Closing her eyes she focused on each of her alert plants until she located the one sending out the alarm, the daisy bed. She carefully slipped her arms from around Harley and slid off the bed tip toeing her way to the door but freezing as she heard the small sleepy voice from the bed.

"Red? Where ya goin'?"

Turning back to look at her girlfriend as she turned the doorknob with a small smile.

"Just to get a drink sweet pea, go back to sleep."

Harley nodded rubbing her eye and yawning before laying back down and falling back asleep, making sure Harley was asleep Ivy slipped from the room closing the door behind her walking carefully down the hall toward the living room hiding herself in the shadows as she peered around the corner into the darkened room lit only a fraction by the pink himalayan salt lamp Harley insisted on keeping around. The small lap gave off a dim enough light the redhead could make out a shadowed figure stalking around looking for something. Looking at the little potted plant on the coffee table she willed it to silently grow until it's snake like vines reached the figure wrapping around its ankles, the sound that followed made the garden goddess' blood run cold and her cheeks flush in anger, an all too familiar growl like snarl emitted through a silver grill that caught the light of the lamp.

"Same old Pammy, a one trick pony with the plants, soooo predictable."

Ivy narrowed her eyes stepping out of the shadows into the room then let out a strangled yelp as a burning feeling flared through her making tears spring to her eyes and her knees weak as the vines fell from Joker's lower body cut by a razor. Joker smiled wide finding the light switch and turning it on before coming to stand over the red haired woman holding the razor that had cut her plant. Without missing a beat the clown grabbed a fist full of her hair forcing her head back so her neck was exposed and her green eyes looking up at him.

"Now Pamela we can do this the easy way where you tell me where Harley is and I cut that chlorophyll infested jugular of yours quick and painless or you be the stubborn bitch you are and don't tell me and I get to torture it out of you slowly and painfully."

Ivy narrowed her eyes at him.

"You wanna know where she is clown?"

Slowly she curled her finger at him making him lean close enough she could smell the stench of whisky and expensive cologne coming off of him with the undertone of the chemicals that created him. Once he was that close she spit right in his face being sure to lace it with a little something to irritate the skin causing him to snarl and drop her like a hot rock stumbling away wiping at his face. Getting to her feet Ivy steadied herself, a little low on energy from not using her powers so extensively in the last few months, before beckoning the broken vine to her letting her hand run over it as it curled around her body even more like a snake.

"My poor darling."

Lightly stroking the end that was cut she put her attention on healing it before sending it at Joker warping his entire body this time.

"You're stupider than I though Joker, coming here looking for her after putting out a search and retrieve on her like that but you're even stupider for thinking that I'd willingly hand over where she is."

Joker growled fighting the constricting vine but the more he struggled the tighter they got until he couldn't move at all. Ivy smirked holding her hand up so the vine holding him rose off the floor and slowly started closing her hand making the restraints tighter and tighter until a sound behind her made her whirl around losing her control on the plant serpent dropping Joker to the floor. Standing in the doorway was Harley looking half awake rubbing one eye as she yawned and her pajama shirt riding up over her small baby bump.

"Red what's all the noise about?"

Ivy's heart was in her throats blocking her from speaking and keeping her from moving making Harley look at her waking up a little upon seeing the panicked look in her girlfriend's face.

"Ivy? What's wrong?"

Ivy opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out and any thought she had vanished as Harley's eyes went wide as dessert plates and Ivy felt cold metal against her throats Joker's scent bashing her nose.

"Yes Pammy what's wrong? Such a lucky little nymph, my girl revealed herself so you get the mercy of a quick death."

Ivy's eyes narrowed as she sneered but her face softened as she looked at Harley who made a whimpered sound taking half a step closer.

"No! Harl stay back! Go back to the bedroom!"

Harley looked ready to protest but as she looked at Joker she found his eyes weren't looking at her own but rather the small rounded bump exposed from her riding up tank top making her own heart jump into her throat as his hold on Ivy tightened so the cold blade nicked her skin making a small bead of red appear.

"What have you done to her?! What kind of freaky screwed up experiment have you done on her?!"

Ivy leered at him.

"I haven't done anything to her she didn't want! Now let go of me and get the hell out!"

Joker let out another snarl but this time in pain as the redhead sank her teeth into his arm forcing him to let her go and stumble back. As soon as she was free Ivy rushed to Harley gently taking her face in her hands.

"Please sweet pea, please go back to the bedroom I don't want you to get hurt please, I don't want either of you getting hurt."

She moved one hand down to rest lightly on the small bump her eyes begging making Harley bite her lip before nodding and turning running back to the bedroom slamming and locking the door. Hearing the door lock Ivy clenched her fists screwing her eyes shut a low rumble rocking the floor.

"I'll make you pay for everything you've ever done to her, for showing up now when she's happy! I should kill you where you stand bastard but that's too much mercy, you deserve to watch behind bars as the woman you treated like trash lives the life she's always wanted."

As she spoke her voice grew icy and calm forcing Joker to take a step back as vines shot from every plant in the house and started attacking him with thorns and sharp leaves. After a few minutes Ivy walked over to him a vine around his neck forcing him to his feet level with her dark green eyes.

"If I ever see you near her or our baby again Joker I swear to Mother Nature I will kill you by ripping you apart and letting my plants devour you bones and all."

All he was able to get through his busted lips and the tight vine around his neck was a growl before she kissed her palm and pressed it to his lips holding it there as she blew a fine knock out dust into his face forcing him to breath it in since his mouth was covered, with in seconds he was out limp in the vines making her sigh and ask the vines to leave him as far from the house as they could get. Once Joker was out of the house the redhead took a deep breath and hurried to the bedroom gently tapping on the door.

"It's okay now honeysuckle, can you open the door please?"

After a long moment the door unlocked and opened revealing Harley's tear stricken face for a moment before she threw herself into the redhead's arms hidding her face in her shoulder, Ivy held her tight alternating between stroking her hair and placing kisses on her head.

"Shh it's okay he won't bother you anymore."

Harley sniffled clinging to Ivy's cotton pajama top.

"Y-you didn't Red, please tell me ya didn't."

The garden goddess shook her head holding the blonde closer.

"No sweet pea, as much as I wanted too I didn't. I just knocked him out and had the plants take him away from the house."

Harley let out a breath relaxing into her girlfriend's hold nuzzling her shoulder still clinging. Ivy rubbed her back for a moment before gently pulling away enough to look into her blue eyes.

"How about I make you some milk tea and honey and you go lay down and relax."

Harley held her gaze then shook her head moving her hands down up to the redhead's elbows.

"No it's okay just please stay with me?"

Ivy nodded letting the blonde lead her back to bed where she laid down holding her harlequin close, after a minute Harley shifted in her arms placing a soft kiss to the tiny cut on her neck.

"Are you okay Red?"

Ivy smiled gently at her stroking her cheek.

"Yes sweet pea I'm fine, just a tiny cut I've had worse."

Harley leaned into her hand her brows knitting together.

"I was scared I thought he was really going to hurt you."

Ivy kissed her forehead gently brushing the escaped tear away with her thumb.

"He only wishes he could hurt me honeysuckle, I'm sorry you were scared but I would have rather him hurt me than you."

Harley looked at Ivy for a long minute before leaning up and kissing her.

"I love you Red."

The garden goddess softly kissed back letting her own eyes close.

"I love you too Harl, both of you."

Harley couldn't stop the giggle that bubbled up her throats as the redhead moved her hand to fist tickle her side then rest lightly over the small baby bump between them. The next morning Harley woke to Ivy still sound asleep beside her, a strand of red hair brushing over the other woman's face as she breathed making the blonde smile and gently tuck it behind her lover's ear then place a soft kiss to her forehead before slipping out of bed. She didn't make it far before Ivy's hand reached out and gently grabbed her shirt.

"And where are you going?"

Harley smiled looking back at the half awake redhead.

"The bathroom Red, I'm a little old to be wetting the bed now come on let go before I pee myself."

Ivy chuckled tiredly letting go of her girlfriend's top to roll over onto her back covering her right eye with her hand and closing the left listening as Harley went to the bathroom and softly shut the door. When Harley came back Ivy was still laying like that in the bed her chest rising and falling like she was tip toeing sleep, the blonde sat on the edge of the bed reaching over to gently run her fingers though Ivy's hair getting a small smile in return.

"You okay Red? Ya look a little sleepy."

Ivy gave a small yawn before making an attempt to sit up that really just looked like a failed sit up.

"Just a little worn out sweet pea, I haven't used my powers for fighting since we moved I just over did it last night."

Harley gave a soft smile laying back down curling into the redhead's side getting a soft chuckle before arms wrapped carefully around her and lips kissed her hair.

"It's okay Red, it can stay in bed allllll day if ya want, we don't mind."

Ivy smiled giving the blonde a soft squeeze then kissing her temple.

"Thank you sugar bean."

The words were barely out of her mouth before she was out her breathing even once again making Harley smile and nuzzle against her girlfriend's neck and shoulder closing her own blue eyes and letting herself fall back asleep as the morning sun peeked through the bedroom curtains cast a warm soft glow over the couple.