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Chapter 2

Upstairs, guests were already mingling and drinking on the sky deck, unaware of the ballroom style function set up only one storey below. Tim and Damian got a stern talking to in the elevator while Dick stood, stifling laughter from the constant conflict and the idea of Damian getting into trouble. Anything that involves Damian and negativity directed towards Damian made him extremely happy. Diana's face lit up when she saw them and she nearly tripped over the hem of her cobalt dress running to greet them. "Bruce! You made it!" She cried happily, hugging him tightly then moving on to Damian, "oh you've grown so big! You look just like your dad at the same age!" Damian turned to look at Bruce and a moment of disgusted horror crossed his face, causing Diana to giggle. "Happy Birthday Di," Tim smiled, and opened his arms for a hug
"Ah my Timmy," she squinted her eyes and crouched a little to hug him, squeezing a little too tightly
"Uh, Di," Tim croaked, "my lungs.." She laughed loudly, let him go and apologised while Tim keeled over gasping, but waving any concern away with his hand and a forced smile. Diana turned to Dick and her face lit up, "Mr Richard Grayson.." She mused
"Diana, you are just like fine wine, getting better with age,"
"And you, it appears, have only gotten more handsome, but nothing has happened in that head of yours,"
"I beg to differ ma'am," Dick winked
"Mmm, you are yet to prove me wrong Dick," she pat his shoulder with amused affection
"I have aallll evening," he grinned, saluting her, Bruce, patting Tim and Damian a little too solidly on the back and taking a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, taking a swig as he made his exit.
"I hope he chokes," Damian grumbled.

The party remained on the sky deck until nearly 9 o'clock, when everyone was directed to the banquette area, where food was served and the entertainment continued throughout. Unfortunately for Damian, Dick was sitting alive and throat blockage free at the table until the meal ended and the dancing began. It was riding on 11 and Dick had already danced with at least seven different women, while Bruce had to share Diana with Damian and Tim until the two of the were presented to blonde twins that Dick had sweet talked into his brothers. Seemingly sorry, he excused himself from the current brunette beauty he had wooed and disappeared to the bathroom. Diana took the opportunity to ask Bruce about him, "how's he doing?" She gazed in Dick's direction
"He's finding his own feet," Bruce replied
"And how are you going?"
Bruce seemed taken aback by the question, "me? I'm fine Diana,"
"Fine isn't a good enough answer for me Bruce, you should know that by now.." She smiled gently
"I know a lot of things, but you remain a mystery to me Diana,"
"It doesn't have to be that way.." She mused
"How would the boys react Di?"
"I don't think they'd mind,"
"Just give me some time with Damian first, to work things out with him, he's an angry little boy,"
"Just like you were Bruce," she looked at him with distant longing in her eyes and kissed him on the cheek.. Their moment, however was promptly ruined by the elevator doors blasting out into the room and three figures slipping onto the landing from the above shaft. In the bathroom, Dick heard fractions of the commotion, washing his has hands and smiled to himself, peeling his tuxedo off to see fractions of black and blue in the mirror, his mask slipping out of his pocket.