Bruce and Jasmine dressed up for the night. The plan was to crash Mr. Earle's dinner that they had heard about. Bruce put on a nice suit with a cream colored tie while Jasmine chose a knee length, strapless emerald dress with gold accents. They made their way to the hotel where the dinner with Mr. Earle was taking place. As they pulled up to the valet they received many looks because of their car.

"Nice car." said the valet as Bruce passed him

"You should see my other one." said Bruce to Jasmine as he helped her out. Jasmine just laughed.

Bruce wrapped his arm around her waist and they headed into the dining room. It seemed like everyone had something to say as they entered because the noise increased exponentially. Mr. Earle looked over to see what the commotion was all about and frozen when he saw the two of them. He quickly got over it and greeted them.

"Hello Bruce. Jasmine. Are you joining us?" he asked

"Why not." Bruce replied

As they ordered and ate the conversation turned to Batman.

"He's done something the police have never done." said one woman

"You can't take the law into your own hands." said her husband

"Well, at least he's getting something done." she replied

"Bruce, help me out here." her husband implored

"Well, a guy who dresses as a bat clearly has issues." said Bruce with a chuckle as Jasmine squeezed his arm.

"But he's put Falcone behind bars." said the woman

"Now the cops want to bring him in. What does that tell you?" her husband asked her

"Their jealous. I think the Batman deserves a medal." she said

"And a straitjacket to pin it on." said Mr. Earle

"Bruce I have had enough of this group can we go?" Jasmine asked whispering in his ear.

He nodded and said to others, "Well this has been fun, but I think that Jasmine and I are going to leave."

"Already?" said Mr. Earle, "It's still early."

"I have several early appointments tomorrow so I am going to turn in early tonight." Jasmine said.

"Ah. Well goodnight then." Bruce and Jasmine were on their way to the valet when Bruce passed Rachel.

"Bruce?"

"Rachel?"

"I'd heard you were back." she said, "What are you doing?"

"We just had dinner with Mr. Earle and a few others. Wow it is good to see you." said Bruce

"We?" Rachel asked

"Yes. Rachel this is Jasmine; my fiancé. Jasmine this is Rachel; my oldest friend." said Bruce giving the introductions.

"Hello." said Jasmine holding out her hand. "I have heard a lot about you from Bruce."

"All good I hope." said Rachel with a smile

"Yes." said Jasmine with a laugh

"You were gone a long time." she said to Bruce

"I know. How are things." Bruce asked

"The same. Job's getting worse."

"Can't change the world on your own." said Bruce with a smile

"What choice do I have if the good people do nothing?" she asked

"Rachel, all of… all this. It's…it's not me. It's…Inside, I am…I am more. The only part that's real is Jasmine."

"Bruce…deep down you may still be that same great kid you used to be. But it's not who you are underneath…it's what you do that defines you. But it is good to see you and to meet you." she said to Jasmine before turning and walking away

Jasmine and Bruce headed home where Bruce got ready to head out in costume.

"What was Bruce like as a child?" she asked him as they settled down with tea and biscuits.

"After his parents were killed Bruce really didn't care about anything. He still had good grades but he didn't like to stay in one place for long. For a long while he was very moody and he thought that it was his fault that his parents died." he said

"I think that is one of the reasons that Bruce let me in. The similar pain that we both feel having lost our parents young in life." said Jasmine thoughtfully

"If you don't mind, how did your parents die?" Alfred asked

"There was a Dark Lord running around at the time and my parents fought against him. That is what almost everyone believes. The truth is that about a year before Harry was born a prophesy was made that said that my brother was the only one who could kill the bastard. When Harry was born it came down to him and another boy but Voldemort chose Harry. He came to our house on Halloween night; my father told my mother to take Harry and run. My mother ran upstairs to my room and grabbed me taking me to the nursery; she hid me in the closet and told me not to make a sound. Voldemort killed my father and came after my mother; he told her to stand aside but she refused so he killed her. He then turned his wand on my brother and said the killing curse, but it rebounded back and ripped his soul from his body." she told him, "For a long time I blamed Harry for our parents death but he doesn't remember that because he was so young. He was only five when I went to Hogwarts for my first year."

"You care very deeply for your brother."

"Yes. He is the only family I have, besides Bruce and yourself."

Any farther conversation was cut off by the phone. Alfred picked it up and went completely ashen.

"That was Master Bruce. I need to go pick him up. He has been poisoned." he said when he hung up.

"Go. I will prepare what is needed here." she told him jumping up to get what she would need.

Alfred returned within a half hour and Jasmine set about trying to treat Bruce she spent most of the night running every test she could think of but with no luck. As time progressed Bruce's condition seemed to worsen. Alfred called his friend Mr. Fox when Jasmine ran out of things to test. Mr. Fox was able to isolate the problem and created an antidote.

Bruce opened his eyes on the third day. He looked over at Alfred as he stirred an Alka-Seltzer into a glass of water. Jasmine rested on the bed next to him.

"How long was I out?" Bruce asked

"Two days. It's your birthday. Many happy returns." said Alfred handing him the glass. Bruce took the glass and took a drink.

"I've felt these effects before, but this was so much more potent. It was some kind of hallucinogen, weaponized, in aerosol form." said Bruce before taking another drink

"You have been hanging out in the wrong clubs, Mr. Wayne." said Mr. Fox coming into view

"I called Mr. Fox when your condition worsened after the first day." said Alfred

"I analyzed your blood, isolating the receptor compounds and the protein-based catalyst." said Mr. Fox

"Am I meant to understand any of that?" Bruce asked him

"Not at all. I just wanted you to know how hard it was. Bottom line, I synthesized and antidote."

"Could you make more?" Bruce asked

"You planning on gassing yourself again, Mr. Wayne?"

"Well, you know how it is Mr. Fox. You're out at night looking for kicks someone's passing around weaponized hallucinogens…"

"I'll bring what I have. The antidote should inoculate you for now. Alfred, always a pleasure." he said touching Alfred's shoulder and nodding at Jasmine before walking out.

"Lucius." said Alfred

"The effects you felt. What did they remind you of?" Jasmine asked Bruce after Alfred left

"The blue flowers that we carried up the mountain. It reminded me of the effects we felt when we went through our trials." he told her as he sat up.

"I need to go downstairs and see to some last minute details for the party tonight." she said kissing him and standing up. "By the way, Happy Birthday."

Jasmine headed downstairs and moved to the kitchen. She walked over to the head chef.

"How is everything coming?" she asked

"Everything is progressing on time." he said turning to face her. "The food will be ready by 8 pm as requested, Miss."

"Thank you." she said.

Jasmine walked back out to the main area where the party was to take place. The floor had been cleaned and polished and everything was in its place. Bruce came down about thirty minutes later still in his pajamas and a robe. Alfred was at the door talking to Rachel.

"Rachel is here, Bruce. I am going to go and start getting ready, ok." Jasmine told him moving to go back upstairs.

If you want to see the green dinner dress, go to my profile.