Don't panic I only added a little more towards the end~ it doesn't change anything I just put it in :3

JACKIE'S POV

Ugh...I feel groggy. I limply paw the covers, rolling my eyes around the weapon filled room. Room...room...? I'm in a room. Not an alley. No, wait. Someone was with me. His name was...Joker, right? I think? Oh I have no idea...I jump as a thick arm slaps over my waist. I jump and look back spying Griffin's simper.

"You feel better, little gurl?" He asks, leaning forward as he plants a kiss on my forehead. I slump into the bed rubbing my tired eyes.

"Ah...yes? I think? Griffin, what happened?" I yawn and turn towards the large statured man. What happened after I passed out and Joker came and got me?

"What happen? Well...," Griffin looked away as his ears flatten, gathering together his explanation, "you leave party and fall asleep on way to Coliseum. I find you and take you back." I blink in confusion. He found me? I fell asleep in the middle of nowhere? My eyes narrow. He isn't lying to me...is he?

"I fell asleep? Where?" I ask, playing dumb as I rub my head. I was in an alley and I was attacked. Maybe...Joker left me there?

"Ah...bench. I find you asleep on bench." Griffin hums pulling me into a tight hug. I balk as he nuzzles his head into my neck hoping the action will appease me.

"A bench...really? A bench?" I ask as my anger began to drip through my bared fangs.

"Little gurl, you doubt me?" He sincerely asks as his annoying tail swayed back and forth.

"Yes." I answer without a moment's hesitation. He feigns a hurt expression as he pushes his head to my chest and hugs my body tightly.

"Why?"

"I remember, Griffin." He immediately shoots up on the bed with wide crazed eyes as the breath catches in his throat.

"How?! How you remember last game and deal?!" He demands pinning my arms to the bed. Ouch -!

"Game? Deal? Griffin, I'm talking about when I was forcibly drugged!" I shout back landing a solid kick to his gut. He turns his head away, unfazed by the attack as he desperately shifts through his emotions trying to decide which mask would be best to wear.

"D-Drugged...yes, drugged. You remember?" He asks a little more calmly than before but still just as on edge. He's nervous; why?

"Yes! And then Joker...," I trail off as the memory becomes fuzzy. Joker...and then Joker what?

"Joker? Joker was there and -," he hastily cut himself off again looking away from me. My anger flares as my hand whips out and snatches his nose, squeezing the cartilage and force him to look at me.

"Talk Griffin. What was it that you said about the 'last game' and 'deal'?" I hold firm as his nose scrunches, clearly in some pain as he thinks of a solution.

"Little gurl...," he trails off as his voice becomes serene. My eyes narrow as he gently pushes back my hand, leaning over me. "I love you."

"Griffin -," I start before he cut me off with a swift connection of his mouth. I cringe away from the warm kiss as he continues to push, flopping over me as I hit the bed. What? So with a quick kiss he thinks everything is solved? Jeez... I stay quiet as he rolls over, balancing me on his lap as he continues to plant kisses across my jaw.

I feel nothing. I feel bad for admitting it but...I earnestly, truly do not feel anything. Why not? Shouldn't I at least feel something while kissing a man? But I don't feel anything. Just...numb. A deep set purr builds up in his chest as he holds my head steady encouraging some kind of reaction.

A sharp pain pierce my skull as Griffin pulls back with a hiss, clutching his head. I suck in a quick breath as everything suddenly flooded in at once.

I work and live at the Circus not the coliseum.

I am Joker's engineer.

And most importantly -

SLAP

My hand deeply stings as I pull back my hand from Griffin's reddening cheek.

"Joker is my boyfriend. NOT YOU!" I growl utterly livid with the twisted feline. He did lie to me! He's been lying to me this whole time -!

"Little gurl I -," I shove his face back crawling off of his lap as my fingers curl into a fist.

"You lied to me -! Griffin, you said you would help me get back Joker's memories and yet you deliberately lie to me!" I accuse struggling with all my might not to choke the life out of him - as if I could.

"Little gurl, I only wanted taste and -,"

"Taste? Taste of what?! What could you possibly gain from me that you would lie and deceive me for?!" I demand shoving his gut as he jumps up from the bed. He grasps my hands, kneeling down to get eye level with me.

"Of a foreigner. I never know foreigner and I hear how much foreigners change Holder's of Roles. I trick you so I know why Holder's of Role change and -," my foot whips out kicking him in the shin before he can continue. He cuts himself off with down casted eyes. He can't salvage the situation and he knows it. "Little gurl I -,"

"Enough Griffin. I don't care what the reason is. What you did was underhanded, sly, and just plain cruel. Do you have any idea what I've been through? And here I think I have a friend and then you go and trick me like that!" I harshly scold making his ears droop lower.

"I...sorry, little gurl." Griffin apologized unable to utter anything else. "You...leave now, little gurl?"

"Of course. I need to go see my Joker." I slap his hands away and stride off to the door. My chest...still feels heavy. Like there's unfinished business. I glance over my shoulder regretting it the moment I spy his down cast eyes and obviously pained and lonely presence. Oh gosh...it's the freaking puppy eyes. Don't do it...don't do it Jackie...!

His shoulders seemed more broad than usual as I wrapped my arms around in a comforting hug. Ugh...I did it. Curse me and my kindness; it's going to get me killed someday. Griffin stiffened under my arms remaining frozen in time.

"Look Griffin. I'm not saying goodbye. But if you still want to be friends then you have to swear never to lie to me like that again, got it?" I growl trying to pull him out of his pit of despair. His eyes light up as I dangle hope before him.

"Truly, Little gurl? You no hate me?" He asks as he jumps to his feet, eyes sparkling as if I just gave a toddler the best candy bar ever.

"I'm pissed at you and I think you're a jerk...," I cut my insults short trying to reign in my temper, "but I'm not saying that we can't be friends," I curtly clarify making sure that there is no hope for a future romantic relationship. A huge grin stretched cheek to cheek as he gave me a huge bear hug, threatening to squeeze the life out of me.

"Thank you, little gurl! You foreigners too kind." He toothily grins as he releases me setting me on the ground.

"That goes for you too, Cyan! If I catch you going along with Griffin's tricks then I'll never play hide and seek with you again, got it?!" I shout into the darkness, scanning the corners to try and see him. Seriously...forgiving them is going to be my downfall. And yet...I can't leave it like this. I refuse to make anyone feel helpless and lonely no matter how much of a jerk they are. I shutter as my mother's red hair flashes in my head before I vanquish it. No one deserves that kind of fright. I yelp, frightened as a fluffy tail slides past my cheek. I swing around spying Cyan garbed in black head to toe with his mask on. He bows slightly and presents a paper.

Promise.

"Good. Now, if you excuse me I'm returning to Joker." I eagerly whip out of the room darting down the hall without a pause in beat. Now that's all taken care of...

I want to see my Joker.

‡

I slap the last of the underbrush aside as I stumble into the Circus. Many of the tents are wrapped up as new ones were being set up all over. My chest heaves heavily as I try to find Joker among the wreckage without having an asthma attack. Geh...I ran too fast for too long. My muscles ached as I stumbled around the loose set buildings ravaging the ground for any trace of Joker.

"Oh, good day Jackie! Are you well?" A faceless asks. I glance over my shoulder still panting for air as sweat dripped down my face.

"F-Fine. W-Where's Joker?" I desperately ask coming up short of grabbing him by the collar and shaking the answer out of him. He hedges back, puzzled.

"Joker? Why, he went to the Coliseum to go fetch you."

"WHAT?!" I moan in desperation and smack my head against a large wooden stake.

"Miss Jackie?!" He cries, startled by my outcry. Which means...I just missed him. By that much. I heavily sigh before an idea comes to mind. Why don't I give them a little welcome present for when he gets back?

JOKER'S POV

"GRIFFIN!" I hiss as I break the spine of yet another gladiator. These faceless may be the strongest of all the territories but they are no match for my rage.

"What you want now, Joker?" Griffin lazily asks with a stupid grin plastered on his face. I spin around with both counterparts throwing the faceless right at the oncoming Role Holder.

"You can't continue!" I madly cry, "the last game is restored which means those bets are invalid!" I childishly spit knowing I have him on the run. He has no claim to her. Though our memories remain intact the promises and events cannot be continued since they are part of Jackie's game. This is Alice's game; which means those bets and deals and **** cannot be continued or else it would be against the rules.

"Ok." He simply answers with a shrug of his shoulders. I blink, letting those words soak into my thick skull.

"HAH?" I utter unable to come up with a witty comeback. So easily? He stopped so easily? He's a rule breaker by nature and yet he gives up so easily?

"You say deal invalid so it invalid." He simply agrees.

"What game are you playing at?" I suspiciously hiss.

"I play no game, Joker. She say she go back to Joker and she go to Joker." His smile only grows as his tail flickers back and forth. Go back...which means...

"She's at...the Circus?" I sputter out, flabbergasted. She was able to escape Griffin's clutches? Without my help?

"She says she go to Circus so I assume she with Joker. But, Joker is here...so who at Circus to greet little gurl?" He teases, tapping his chin with his long claw. I gnash my teeth and whip around towards the gates.

"I AM NOT DONE WITH YOU, YOU FILTHY BACKWATER SLUDGE!" I spit making sure he knew that he has not escaped my claws.

"I look forward to it!" He shouts back, completely unaffected by the threat. Jackie, my dear Jackie...is there already? She's there waiting for me? Jackie...

Waiting.

Waiting for me.

She's there, waiting for me.

She's waiting just for me.

JACKIE'S POV

I nervously fiddle with the sleeve of the long red silk shirt as I set the little table in my room with decorative china plates the disk balancing act offered me. They were really nice about everything too. They helped set everything up with me from the sheets to the sweet and sour foods and candy I have. They even got some nice red and pink carnations for the vase and all. I wring my hands together as my heart pounds hard with every tick of the clock. Soon...they should be here soon right?

I'm so happy I was able to take a quick shower while they all helped me set up. I brush out my hair for the thirtieth time before permanently setting the brush in the drawer. I need to calm down and not freak out. Why do I feel so nervous? Maybe this isn't a very good welcome back present? But I'm even wearing the stupid black lacey underwear they got me! Not like I expect them to see but, i-it's the thought that counts right? And this little set up; is it too simple? Or too much? Do I really expect them to calmly sit down and eat or something? Oh man...I'm freaking out right now!

Relax...relax. Everything is going to be just fine. Besides I -

I squeal like a little mouse as the doors crack against the stone walls, literally leaving fissures in the wooden doors. My chest pounded hard as I eyed both Jokers, sweaty and out of breath as they too endured a long run from the coliseum. My heart painfully squeezes as I reach out first, breaking the standoff.

"Joker -!" I cry, capturing him in my arms as he darts at me. My heart fluttered with complete and utter happiness as I wrapped my arms around him refusing to ever let go again. It's been awhile since I've held him; ever since that fight we had...how long ago was that? Oh I have no idea.

"Jackie, are you alright?"

"Did Griffin -,"

"do anything,"

"to you?" I chuckle at his split words as Joker finished the other's sentence in a mad frenzy, alternating between kisses and slurred hurried words.

"No, I'm fine Joker. I love you." I say desperately trying to convey my overwhelming joy. My heart is on the verge of bursting as he holds me in his arms, reveling in the hugs just as much as I am.

"I missed you. I've missed you so much." He whispers sounding like he is on the verge of passing out he is panting so hard. I smile and lean into the embrace scooting him towards the couch. I...want to be with him. I just was to lie down and hold him. That's all I want. Joker happily complied hastily orienting himself just as he always does. I latch my arms around his shoulders pinning him down as I connect our lips. He readily returns the affection and deepens the kiss before I pull back.

"Stay right here; you're not allowed to leave, got it?" I fiercely growl daring him to even try and depart from my sight.

"I wouldn't dream of it." He purrs back as the Warden parts my hair to the side running a small line of kisses up the back of my neck. I shutter pleasantly and kiss the Jester's cheek.

"I'm serious; you're not leaving for a good few hours."

"And you aren't EVER leaving." He purrs protectively forming an inescapable cage with his arms. I laugh and snuggle closer happy just to have him in my arms once again.

"I wouldn't dream of it." I repeat kissing the corner of his jaw. He pleasurably hums locking lips with me once again. I clutch onto his hair frightened that if I let go he would vanish forever. Black tightens his embrace emphasizing the fact that they are here.

Here with me.

Sitting here embracing me.

I regretfully pull back with tears dabbing my eyes. I've missed him...I've missed him so much...

"Why are you crying in my presence? I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere, love." White croons sweeping my bangs back. I bite my bottom lip hooking my arms around Black's shoulders as I struggle to make a response.

"I missed you...I really, really missed you -!" I sob unable to hold back my weeping joy.

I've cried because I've been sad before.

I've cried because I've been hurt before.

I've cried because I've been lonely before.

But never have I cried out of sheer happiness. The weight of the world lifts from my shoulders as he tightly holds me, quietly soaking in my presence and tears.

"Heh...I knew you did." The Warden teases as he pecks me on the cheek wiping up my tears with his lips. I numbly nod cuddling closer to Joker's darker counterpart. I never knew I would be so frightened and lost if I lost him. I'm...terrified to think I almost lost him forever. The tension slowly unwind in my limbs as I weakly exhale, quieting my joyful weeping.

"Rest now, love. We can talk again another day. For now,"

"shut the **** up,"

"relax,"

"and bask in my presence." They hum as one refusing to leave me. I love him...I really, really love my Joker.

We laid there for hours on end clasped in each other's embrace without even moving. Even when Black started to get heavy I didn't complain. I didn't have the energy or the will to even move away from him in general. Joker...my lovely Joker is here, in my arms. Everything just feels...right.

"Jackie." Black spoke up, gently breathing as he listens to my heart.

"Yeah?" I ask, seduced by his voice alone. It's been so long since I've heard his voice...it feels like years.

"I think I understand,"

"why you want,"

"a lasting connection."

"Huh?"

"When we were in the midst of that awful poison,"

"we did not even know you,"

"but I recognized your touch,"

"and your voice,"

"and your presence from somewhere."

"And?" I ask, still unsure what he is getting at.

"So now I see why you want physical proof of our relationship." I remain quiet stiffening with alarm. I don't like where he's going with this.

"Y-Yeah...?" I trail off staring at Black as he looked up with a strange glint in his eye.

"So I will,"

"ask again. Jackie...,"

"will you marry me?"

‡

Oooooohhhhh seems like she's not out of hot waters just yet! What will Jackie's answer be? Find out in the next arc~ :D