Dinner and Dancing

"Ok... and why and what will you do after you turn down the heat?"

Melfina nods. "After I turn down the heat tomorrow I'll olny check on it occasionally. It's important to cook "low and slow" because we'll get a better roast that way."

Harley looks up from where she's making the meatballs. "Oh... is that why my roasts come out dry sometimes?"

Dave nodded. "Yes Harls. That's why we'll do the roast tomorrow but nice try. We'll do spaghetti and meatballs tonight."

"Ok!" Said Harley. Dave smiled. Of course he'd been telling her that for years... and she remembered. About 50% of the time.

He smiled. Honestly it's a part of her charm. She was so brilliant at work at being creative and detail oriented creating psychological profiles for clients and subjects as well helping create excellent narratives... but for some reason she couldn't translate that same attention into the kitchen half the time. Half remembered recipes. Misremembered or wrong cooking theory. Harley's cooking was always spectacular... one way or another. Dave was pretty sure it was a Harley/Harleen thing... though she almost never messed up a dessert dish so maybe it was just an interest thing? Either way he wouldn't change it. He kissed her check.

Harley giggled. "What's that for, Puddin'?"

Dave smiled. "Just because I love you."

"Awwww, my babe is the sweetest in the world!" She grinned and pushed her ass against him. He'd asked her to put something on... wgich was a mistake. She'd picked out her skinpiest red thong to show off her ass even more. "When he ain't beating my ass twice as hard as all the others."

Dave sighed. "You asked for that... and it was hardly a punishment for you. It was more a punishment for me... you know I don't like hurting you..."

Harley nodded and kissed him. "I know. I know bad guys. You ain't a bad guy. You're a wonderful guy and purposefully done that for me. That makes you a sweet guy. I was only teasing. Twelve little spanks ain't nothing but light foreplay." She smiled.

She hummed happily. Her Dave was always worried like that. He didn't want to be like a Joker... he wanted to be the Joker he felt she deserved. It was pretty dumb... but a sweet thing to worry about in a way. No two people were the same. Heck not even the same characters were exactly "the same" which proved that. Besides...

"Still I did get a lot more foreplay than the others... " she bit her thumb fluttering her eyes. "Will you give it to me later?"

Dave chuckled and kissed her. "Yes, Harls. But not when we're cooking in the kitchen, my love."

Melfina blushed but she also smiled. It was obvious how in love they were... and not just Dave and Harley but Tink too and... "Wow... well I know you like it Harls but my bottom really stings."

Harley grinned clasping her hands. "That's cause you ain't used to it. But that's good Mel! Every sting is full of love! A painfully sweet reminder of just how much your master loves you! How much he wants yah to be a good girl jest fur him! And I got double the spanks! Ain't that romantic?"

Melfina chuckles nervously. *Tink was right... she's sweet but a little nuts!* "I... I suppose so?"

Harley gives her a thumbs-up. "I knew you'd get it, Mel!"

Dave rolled his eye's but smiled. "Yes... well, I'm not really fond of handing out punishments so I'd appreciate you all keeping that in mind. I don't like causing any of you pain. Not even Harley who likes it... and Harls you know if you cause trouble too often I will stop punishing you all together."

Harley looks crestfallen and begins to plead shamelessly. "Nooo... not that! I can be a both! You know I can! I promise to be the bestest, bad goyl and the worstest, good goyl so please... pleaseee!!!"

Dave pretends to consider while Melfina laughs before nodding and kissing Harley. "Yeah. You're right my love. I know you can do it. I believe in you."

Harley squeals happily. "I want music! Pepper, can you play something fun from my playlist? Oh maybe Cyndi!"

(("Absolutely, Harley."))

Harley laughs and starts singing along with Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. They start laughing as she dances around the kitchen. Melfina laughs as she drags her into dancing around with her. "Harley!"

"Dance with me, Mel!" She laughs. Soon they're all laughing and dancing with her. Tink and Hilda join them in the kitchen and Tink joins right in with Harley making her laugh happily.

"You're ridiculous, girl!" She says.

"In a good way?" Harley asks.

"In the best way," Melfina and Tink tell her kissing her cheek. They all laugh even Hilda.

"Is there something I can do?" Hilda asked. "I feel..."

Harley grinned. "Yeah! We don't want you left out Hilda!" She listens to the music change and grins dragging her over to Dave. "Can you entertain this guy with a dance for me?"

"What-" Dave and Hilda both say as she pushes them together. "Thanks, Hilda!"

They both blushed but Dave cleared his throat. "May I have this dance?"

Hilda nodded. "Very well. Please do."

Tink smirks at Harley who grins as they start dancing to Time After Time. "You're the best bad bitch ever, you silly ass. Did you plan this?"

Harley smiles. "You know me Tinky. My master plan is to barely plan!" She chuckles but nods tasting the sauce and adding som more of the special ingredients. "They need "a moment". So I been keeping my eyes open for a good one. I did good?"

Tink smiles and leans her head against hers. "Yeah you did good... you're beautiful."

"I agree, Harls," Melfina said joining them in their happy little huddle.

"Awwww," Harley said. "I love you guys!"

"What... unusual music," Hilda said.

"You don't like it?" Dave asked.

Hilda shook her head. "I didn't say that..." she listened to the lyrics. "It's not like anything I've ever heard before but... it's soothing somehow... you're a good dancer I see."

Dave smiles. "Thank you. I'm enjoying dancing with you as well."

Hilda looks at him. "Is that so?"

Dave nodded. "It is."

"I see," she said as the song ended and the next started. "That was a rather short song... perhaps... one more?"

Dave smiled. "It would be my pleasure, Hilda." He kept dancing with her as True Colors played.

Hilda smiled shyly. "I see." She thought about the tgings Tink had shared with her listening to the song. That he could have picked anyone. He could have chosen differently. But he'd picked her. A princess who was a bit strong willed. Perhaps a bit troublesome. Who was equally devoted and committed but in a different way then someone like Zelda for instance. That was... very flattering. "If I may ask... what are your intentions?"

Dave swallowed. "Well... I'd like to spend time with you and get to know you better."

Hilda looked at him. "That's it? You brought me here just to get to "kniw me better"? That... doesn't make a lot of sense..."

Dave pursed his lips. "Well... I already "know" a fair bit about you... and I wanted to know more."

"You already knew me?" She asked. "It's strange... I don't remember you... but you do seem familiar somehow."

Dave smiled. She wouldn't remember him... but he could never forget the two very different princesses from the Zelda games. He'd had a small crush on them when he was young playing at being an adventurer. Some of the other kids teased him about it a little during their vacations but his big cousins James had told him he just had good taste while Jamie laughed nodding and ruffling his hair. Now that he was grown he realized that's just how it was. They suited his tastes and his "type".

Hilda wasn't exactly Zelda's "opposite". She was just different. She wasn't "bad". She just had slightly differing morality and priorities. She was proactive. Plotting and scheming a bit. Equally devoted and dedicated to Lorule as Zelda was to Hyrule... maybe more so since she didn't give up dispite how bad things got for Lorule at times. Granted her developers probably never thought about the significance of that at the time but he found it and her fascinating when he was a kid... and he still did.

"I don't know where things will lead," he admitted. "But I want to know you better." He shook his head. "I'm sorry we got off to a troubled start. That's my fault."

"No," Hilda said. "The fault was mine... and I... I'd appreciate it if we can move past all that?"

Dave smiled nodding. "Alright, Hilda. I'd appreciate that as well. Let's see where things go." *How odd,* he thought. *The whole incident seems to have accelerated things a bit for everyone involved. I suppose that's one way to clear a few hurdles in a hurry.*

"Hey hey!" Harley shouted. "Mel's turn!" Tink nodded saying, "You ain't danced with her yet!"

"What?" Melfina asked surprised as they wiped her hands and pushed her his way. Even Hilda smiled and backed away. "But-"

"Get in there!" Harley said pushing her into Daves arms as Sweet Caroline started.

Dave laughed. "May I have this dance, Melfina?"

She blushed and nodded. "Yes, please. I-I'd like that..."

Dave smiled and started dancing with her. He did raise an eyebrow but Tink and Harley grinned giving him a thumbs up. *Of course they're setting things up!* he thought chuckling. *I'm a lucky guy.*

"I've never danced before," Melfina said blushing. "But... I kind of like it!"

Dave nodded. "Good because I like dancing with you, Melfina."

She smiled. "You do?"

He nodded. "I do."

She nodded too. "I... I feel the same way!" She blushed. "I'm sorry for causing trouble earlier- Mmm..."

He kissed her. "Don't be. You're no trouble at all, Melfina."

She blushed. "Thank you."

"You're doing great, Mel!" Tink cheered making her blush while Harley nodded. "Yup, she's a natural! Time to speed things up a bit! Pepper play something a bit faster and fun for them?"

(("I can do that, Harley."))

Dave laughed as Crazy Little Thing Called Love played. "Sorry Mel. Can you keep up?"

Melfina swallowed but smiled. "I-I think so! Let's try!"

Dave grinned. "There you go... just like that. Very good, Mel! You are a natural."

Melfina laughed. "Do you really think so?"

Dave nodded. "I do! Are you still having fun?"

"I am!" She laughed. "This is fun!"

Tink elbowed Harley. "Alright you... you started this so you're next! Wash up and pick out two songs!"

Harley laughed doing as she said and kissed Tinks cheek. "You're the best Tinky! And then it's your turn!"

Tink nodded grinning. "Deal!" She looks at Harley's selection and laughs. "Fittin'! Have fun you maniac!" She called out as the tempo picked up faster.

Melfina giggles and backs away from Dave and starts clapping as Harley and Dave start dancing quickly to Maniac with each other. "Hope yer ready, Puddin'!"

Dave grinned. "There's only one way to be "ready" for you ya maniac and that's to just go with it!"

Harley grinned. "You know it! Can ya keep up?"

Dave laughed. "Just try me!"

Hilda stared along with Melfina. "Wow... what is this?"

Tink laughed. "That? That's a more modern dance and what those two are doing is just showing off!"

Melfina swallowed. "Oh my goodness! They're so good! How?"

Tink grinned looking over. "Dave's folks are big dancers so he grew up learning a lot of dance moves just for fun... and she really is a dancing fool! She loves this stuff. The best thing about Harls is her crazy energy and fun she brings to everything. She gives 110% more often than she gives anything else. Honestly sometimes just watching her exhausts me... but just like now she's a natural cheerleader and can pump up any party! And knowing her-" she hears her next selection start up and shakes her head as Super Freak starts.

Hilda and Melfina blush. "What the...?"

Tink laughs washing up. "Yeah that's about what I figured. She hangs it all out there."

"How... suggestive..." Melfina said as Hilda simply blushed.

Tink nodded. "She ain't afraid of "dirty dancing". She'd be a hell of an exotic dancer too with some of her moves. Can you two set out the plates and utensils?"

Melfina smiles, "Sure!" She looks at Hilda who needs a moment to stop staring at Harley shaking her ass... at least she had gone and put skimpy underwear on even if she'd remained pantless. "What?... oh yes, certainly Tink."

She smiled and cued up her selections from Harley's "80's" list. She was actually glad she'd changed her size earlier. It took a bit of her stored up energy each time so she didn't like to do it on a whim... but it had certainly worked out well today and now...

The song ended and Harley heard the beat slow down and smiled. She kissed Daves cheek and stepped back and kissed Tink on the cheek which she returned. She watched the two of them fir a while as they embraced in silence as The Lady in Red played for a moment smiling. When she went to help the others Melfina hugged her as Hilda passed her a tissue.

Harley blinked. "Oh," she started wiping her eyes. "Sorry. Thanks."

Melfina smiled. "You really love them don't you?"

Harley looked back at them. Dave slowdancing with Tink in her red dress. "Of course I do! Who couldn't? They're my best friends and they include me in their beautiful love. I-" she blew her nose loudly. "I love them!" She hugged the two of them. "I love you two too and-"

The music changed to Tinks last song selection. It wasn't slow or romantic. It was upbeat and happy and not what Harley thought she'd pick. She looked up and saw them both hold out their arms to her and the others. Harley laughed and wiped her eyes quickly. "And you guys may still be figuring it out but they love us too!" She grabbed their hands and dragged Melfina and Hilda with her. "Come on! Let's Saftey Dance!" She laughed.

[David Stark Pepper Tinker Bell Harley Quinn Melfina VSD02C and Hilda

Will Return In

TBD

Coming Soon]