AN: Well I could have ended it right there. And maybe I should have. But I feel the need to ring this fluffy bunnie some more. So I put my fav duo in everyday situations rutting like rabbits whenever they get the chance.

Bruce got a whole 4 hours sleep before Alfred woke him for his board meeting, which Bruce slept through. Alfred was not happy with Bruce at all. The clown had been in the bathroom when Alfred entered the bedroom as usual. Bruce, sleep deprived that he was, didn't react until the Joker had come strolling out of the bathroom totally nude and gotten under the sheets. Bruce jumped out of the bed himself nude of course. Joker had just waved to Alfred with a smile and mumbled something about knocking next time. Bruce had turned beet red and Alfred made a hasty retreat to the kitchen. After dressing quickly Bruce carefully entered the kitchen.

"Alfred?"

"What do you require Sir" *ut oh Sir, that was bad*

"Jokers given his word he will be on his best behavior. He'll stay in my room. Could you bring him a breakfast tray and check on him. I'll be back by two and Alfred I'm sorry if I've disappointed you. This is just something I have to see through for now."

Alfred looked less angry at the apology. "Master Bruce I only want the best for you. But this is the Joker. What does the man's word mean?"

"We are going to find out. I don't think he'll screw this up. Give him these cards when you go up and maybe you should carry a firearm with you"

"Distrust our guest already"

"No actually he was being beaten by the mob. Not that anyone knows he is here but they are looking for him." Bruce handed Alfred the playing cards and left to make the meeting he was already late for.

Alfred made eggs and sausage with toast and orange juice and milk. Set it all upon a tray and made his way to Bruce's bedroom. Alfred hesitantly knocked on the door.

"Entrevue" Joker yelled. He was in Bruce's chair watching the news broadcast. Exploits of Batman who left several criminals bound and waiting for the Gotham Police to clean up.

Alfred placed the tray on the table next to the Joker who looked it over with mild interest until he saw the cards. "Hey thanks…Did Bruce give these to ya?"

"Yes, he asked me to bring them up with breakfast. Sir, do you require anything else?'

Joker wondered at the suddenly helpful butler. "Ahh this is great, very thoughtful of you…and Bruce. You got any clean sheets for the bed. I might have bled some on those."

Alfred took in the bruised Joker, sitting shirtless with his black and blue ribs taped and the welts showing on his shoulders. It's a wonder the man was sitting upright at all. He still couldn't under stand what Bruce was seeing in him.

"I'll take care of the sheets sir. Master Bruce will be home at 2 pm. Will you be requiring lunch before he returns?"

"Maybe just a sandwich or something"

"I'll check back with you in a few hours and I'll be back directly with the sheets in case you feel like resting." Alfred left to get the sheets.

"Thanks Freddie" Joker yelled after him. Alfred rolled his eyes and kept walking.

Joker thought he was pretty well set up as he ate his breakfast. Bruce has left him playing cards and a cell phone with all of Bruce's private numbers in it. He figured he'd eat, play some cards, call and bug Bruce, watch a movie and still have time to bath before Bruce got home. Joker hated being board, not that he planned his day. Alfred knocked and entered with fresh sheets, which he made the bed with, there was more blood then he expected but thankfully the high quality sheets kept it from soaking the mattress below. The sheets were destroyed though.

"Freddie the eggs are just right and thanks for the milk. You should stock up while I'm here." Joker called. Alfred turned to correct the name and acknowledge the thank you and Joker was grinning at him with a large milk mustache. Alfred said, "Your welcome" and shook his head as he smiled. The Joker could be entirely cute and charming. Only more reason for Alfred to distrust him.

Much of the rest of the day went as planned for everyone. Alfred cleaned the library. Joker called Bruce and hour early just as his meeting broke up and they talked like teenagers on the phone for an hour. Then Bruce conducted his client meeting with Joker in his ear piece while Bruce was on speaker phone. More then once the Joker commented on a mistake in the proposal. He was a very sharp business man in his own right and he seemed to have a near photographic memory for details.

Bruce arranged for an intern to get some street clothes for the Joker who was talking non-stop about purple and green and sizes. Bruce didn't give any specifics out load he just wrote down exactly what he wanted her to purchase. Finally Bruce had to hang up so he could wrap up everything and get moving on tonight's dinner plans. Joker went to have a shower but couldn't resist when he found the bubble bath.

Bruce came into his bedroom to find no one there. He heard music playing and crept to the bathroom. Joker was stretched out surrounded by huge mounds of bubbles listening to the radio. Bruce took off his jacket and shoes and snuck into the bathroom. Half way to the tub one of Jokers eyes opened.

"Your not really trying to sneak up on me are you?

"Well not any more" Bruce huffed and the Joker laughed. "You just look pretty comfortable there" Bruce was leaning against the vanity slowly unbuttoning his shirt.

"I am comfy. I missed you though. Maybe you should join me to freshen up before our flight to Metropolis."

"Sounds doable," Bruce shrugged out of the rest of his clothes and slid into the warm water next to the Joker.

"It's my turn." Joker had Bruce lean back against him and washed his body in slow strokes." Bruce enjoyed the skin to skin contact as Joker was rubbing soap on his hands and then rubbing it on Bruce's body. Bruce lost himself in thought wishing things could remain just like this. But Bruce knew the peace he had found wouldn't last. He was saddened at the rate Joker was healing. He would be back on the streets after tonight. Bruce tried to tell himself it would workout. But what in his life ever worked out. The man the world knew as Bruce Wayne was an act. Batman was a symbol. No one knew him, no one loved him. Not ever Alfred knew him after all this time. Bruce tried to shake himself from this train of though. He had planned to have a fabulous evening. These two days would have to be enough to last him a lifetime if the Joker failed him and he wouldn't waste a second more.

"What has you so very far away?" the Joker whispered against Bruce's ear. Bruce blinked to stop the tear that threatened to fall from his eye.

"Nothing, just enjoying your touch" Bruce lied. Joker sighed and kissed Bruce on the temple. The men toweled themselves off. Bruce traced his hand over the now barely visible welts on Jokers shoulders. "You have healed amazingly fast" Bruce said.

"Yeah, I always have. So far it has only made be a better candidate to beat"

"You associate pleasure with pain on most levels?"

"I thought it was my turn to ask a question?" Joker laughed

"We've been talking all day, ask your question then." Bruce was frustrated

"Ok, what's your favorite ice cream flavor?"

Bruce laughed, "French vanilla"

"Figures," giggles from the clown.

"Ok, now pain?" Bruce pressed

"It's hard to explain." Joker sighed "and it's mostly a guess"

"I understand this is your assessment"

"Childhood trauma while being force to smile and laugh caused a miscommunication is the brain pathways between pleasure and pain. Prolonged exposer like intense beating or after the fact injuries, like broken ribs, cause pain. It is only during the event, an adrenaline thing maybe, that I feel pleasure and pain."

"How clinical of you. Was that Arkham's diagnosis?'

Joker snorted, "No one has ever noticed it but you. I heal so fast I guess no ones thought I was really injured. And I hate to break this to you, but no one is getting proper diagnoses at Arkham. They have never even treated me. They dope me up till I get immune to their cocktail and I escape."

"How are you ribs now?" Bruce was now pressing gently on the Jokers chest.

""Hey, hey…that tickles. Ribs are fine."

"They shouldn't be. I mean that is just abnormally fast."

"Whoever said I was normal bats?" Joker laughed.

"If I get a doctor to come here to the mansion and examine you would you let him do a complete physical and blood work?" Bruce was excited.

"Doc's don't make house calls, especially for me"

"They do when their paid and they keep their mouth shut too."

Joker raised an eyebrow at Bruce, "Alright babe. I see you're fascinated and aren't going to let this go."

Bruce was grinning ear to ear and the Joke could help but laugh at him.

"What?"

"Who knew this is all it would take to make the Bat smile like that. "

"Not that," Bruce cupped Jokers face in his hands and looked into those beautiful eyes. "This." Bruce kissed him passionately. When they parted there tears in the Jokers eyes.

"Who knew it would only take this to make the Joker cry."