"Whats wrong lass? Having trouble sleeping are ya?" Joker asked, looking at the black haired woman with surprise.

"Let's stop this. We're running a successful circus. We don't need anything more! We can start over together and wash our hands of the rest of this mess. We'll run some place father can't find us!" Beast said softly.

"Someplace over the hills and far away." Joker smiled a bit, his sharp tooth showing as he chuckled. "You know we can't do that." His smile dropped as the girl tried to say something. "I don't have time to talk about it. Sorry lass." he turned to leave.

she panicked, wrapping her arms around his waist tightly and pressing herself against him. "Please wait!"

he coughed a bit, tensing up before calming down. "y'all right? this isn't like you. we made this here decision together, didn't we?" he turned to her, gently taking her hands. "we said we'd do whatever we had to.. no matter how hard it was.. to protect what really matters."

"i know." the woman nodded softly, looking into his violet eyes. "but i hate this! i can't stand to watch you suffer so. it hurts me.. JOKER, YOU MUST KNOW THAT I-" she exclaimed, getting cut off.

"thats enough!" the redhead declared with a sigh. "theres no turning back." he turned away from her again.

"but what if there is? we have a chance to get away!" she exclaimed. "we could run!"

"and what about the others? aren't we a family? never leavin' each other behind?" Joker questioned, turning towards her questioningly.

"they've agreed." Beast nodded softly. She had consulted the others beforehand. "Doll was the first to bring it up."

"really? that's a shock.." he mumbled, looking into her ruby eyes for a moment, considering her point. he nodded. "fine. I can't let ya leave me behind, now can I?" he smiled softly, ruffling her hair.

she lit up, grinning and clinging to him. "Yes! where should we go? when? we have a whole circus to bring with us, and a whole continent to find a home!"

"how 'bout we go to sleep and decide in the morn'?" Joker chuckled softly, holding the smaller woman.

Beast nodded as they walked back to the tents together.

(AN: finally publishing this! i started writing it a while ago but never finished it, but now i have! im proud of myself!)