First of all, I want to apologize to TheDarkSideOfPercyJackson for not updating sooner! I'm really sorry, especially since you motivate me so much with your comments. You're amazing!

Also, imaninja41, thanks for the Nascar inspiration! I'll be putting more of that throughout the story, and Alex will love it :D And yes, Titus is the awesomest! (Unfortunately, I forgot to put him in here, but he'll definitely be in the rest of the story :D )

Huge potter fan, your little comment inspired the Tim, Damian, and Alex stuff I threw in here, so I hope you'll like it! And there's also more about the high heels, which I hope you will also agree with!

Ahaha, okay, thanks for reading this guys! :)

"It's not my fault you turn into a crippled every time you walk in heels."

"You tripped me!"

"That is a completely invalid accusation."

"Invalid my ass! I saw your foot move the very second before I 'tripped.'"

"Like I said: an invalid accusation. You know what 'invalid' means, don't you?"

"I'm bilingual. That means I can speak and understand both Spanish and English. Fluently. Quit being such an ass, Wayne."

"I'm multilingual. That means I can speak more languages than you can count on both hands. Fluently. Quit trying to surpass me, Todd."

"Why don't you just quit talking?!" I exclaimed, throwing my hands up in the air.

Tim's voice was muffled by his arm as he held his head in exhausted aggravation, "Please, please, please make it stop." He groaned to the ceiling.

Damian snorted, and I turned to look at Tim moping over the kitchen island. "I don't see why you're complaining, Tim. I'm the one who's in the dress and heels practically waiting for Damian over here to send me to a hospital."

"What are you talking about? You can do that perfectly fine on your own." Tim looked up at me with a wry smile on his face.

"Finally something we agree on, Drake." Damian said satisfactorily.

"Glad to be the subject of your brotherly bonding, guys."

Dick walked into the kitchen and grinned at all of us, "Hey! You're all alive!"

"Are you sure? It feels like I'm in hell." Tim contradicted lightly.

"And I was just about to reach for the kitchen knives." I put on a disappointed face.

"I'm the one with the paraphernalia here, Todd. You have been warned."

"I'm taller than you. You've noticed that, right?"

"Those heels will only bring you to your doom."

I raised a brow, "That's some pretty dark stuff."

Tim rolled his eyes. He looked to Dick, "What took you so long?"

"Billionaire Bruce Wayne's oldest son has to looks his best. Anyway, the guests are all here, you are all suited up, Alex tripped but didn't break any vital limbs – "

"No thanks to birdbrain over here." I added sourly. Damian smiled smugly.

" –Bruce is ready and waiting to deliver his speech, so Alex you're up first." Dick thumbed behind him to the door. "Don't trip."

"Wait, where's Jason?" I frowned. I hadn't seen him in the past couple of hours. Or Roy, for that matter.

"Jason left."

There must have been something in my expression that made Dick quickly rephrase his answer. "He left the Manor for a while. He didn't want to hang around the Manor because, you know, he's supposed to be nonexistent. Besides, Jason's always hated galas. With a passion."

I snorted, but my spiking panic of yet again being abandoned by my d- Jason immediately diminished. "So what he basically meant was 'no way in hell am I putting on a monkey suit.'"

"Yeah, that's just about right." Dick chuckled.

"That's totally unfair. I thought you guys were all about justice!"

"Jason's usually the exception." Tim commented.

"Well if that's the case, then I won't – "

"Too late, Bruce is calling you!" And with that said, Dick ushered me out of the kitchen and out onto the top of the staircase that led down into the front entrance of the manor, which was totally swarming with people. And cameras. Lots and lots of cameras.

Gulp.

"And here she is." Bruce's voice rang out charmingly to the guests as he rested a hand on my shoulder. "Everyone: Alejandra Mae Wayne."

Everyone clapped and there were some accompanying whistles and I couldn't help but glare menacingly at the rapidly flashing cameras.

Dick, Tim, and Damian joined us to pose at the top of the staircase, and Dick lightly nudged me as he flashed his winning smirk at the cameras, which started going crazy. "C'mon, Alex. Give them one teeny tiny smile. You have to make a convincing image, remember?"

"Isn't that what the dress was for?" By the way, the one Barbara helped me pick out wasn't that all that bad. It was a soft red (yeah, what a surprise there, huh?), was strapless, and went just below my knees in flowing layers. And Alfred, with his impeccable taste, made me wear the gold heels that had thin straps instead of the silver ones I was totally getting the hang of walking in. My dark hair was slightly curled and hung past my shoulder blades, but I did not wear earrings. I let everyone get me into heels, a dress, my hair out of its usual messed-up ponytail, and even a teeny touch of makeup on my face, but getting holes punched into my ears was where I finally drew the damned line.

Dick saw me pouting and he added nonchalantly, "Would it help if I told you Eddie's here?"

The image of Eddie with his shaggy hair and a tux and a tie had me bursting into almost uncontrollable laughter, and if it weren't because we were in public, I would have rolled down the stairs to land in a heaping pile of wheezing laughter on the floor.

"Why are you laughing?" Damian demanded, staring at me like I'd just grown a third eyeball or something.

"Nothing." I chuckled. I kept the natural grin on my face as I scanned the mass of people in search of the familiar face that I hadn't seen in a while, but the flashing lights of the cameras pretty much blinded me.

"Her boyfriend's here." Tim said to Damian with a smirk. I threw them a quick glare.

Damian smirked as well, and all three of those guys really did look like the legitimate sons of Bruce Wayne. Even Jason had a killer smirk. Hmm, I really had to practice that if I wanted to fit in.

"Todd? A boyfriend? It appears that I finally have blackmailing material."

"Nate's here, too." Dick informed Tim and Damian under his breath. "And get this, he's best friends with Eddie."

"You don't say." Tim mused.

"Are you gossiping?" Bruce finally intervened, turning his head and raising his brows at them.

"It's more of an investigation, father. Confidential."

"Oh, shut up." I scowled at Damian, "Eddie is not my boyfriend."

"So Nate is the poor, unfortunate soul, then?"

"Me punching your face would look fantastic on the front page of the Gotham Gazette, don't you think?"

"You should have it enlarged." Tim suggested helpfully. Dick coughed a laugh and shook his head.

"Alejandra, would you like to make a speech for your guests?" Bruce interrupted our little bickering.

I froze as all eyes rested on me, and I swallowed audibly. "Uhh…well, I want to thank Bruce Wayne for making me a part of his family. I always heard he had a habit of adopting orphans. Like, a lot of orphans," There were a few chuckles at that, "but I never thought I'd be one of them. But I am, so," I shrugged and grinned widely at Bruce, "now he has to deal with it. And so do my brothers here which, by the way, are the greatest guys ever." I reached out and heavily mussed Damian's hair with my hand, and everyone laughed heartily and clapped again. Even Bruce cracked a smile.

"Nice." Dick approved with his own smile as he clapped.

"It was hardly a speech." Damian grumbled, putting a hand on his ruined hair. I grinned at him.

Bruce addressed the gala again, "There you are, ladies and gentlemen. Alejandra Wayne." There were more claps and flashing cameras. "Welcome to the family." Bruce said warmly.

'Thanks. Gramps." I smiled wryly.

Everyone dispersed and began chatting and laughing and the music filled the whole manor, and I continued my search for Eddie and Nate.

I spotted the back of Nate's dark blond head first, and I tried not to get past all the people who threw a few congrats and welcomes my way. I smiled and nodded my head at all of them and returned a comment or whatever, and I finally reached Nate, grabbing his arm with a grin. "Nate!"

He turned around in surprise and grinned when he saw me, "Alex! I haven't seen you since, you know, you escaped from the youth's home." He smiled wryly, "Madeline says hi."

I chuckled sheepishly, "Let her know I returned the greeting."

"Dick invited me, I hope that's okay." Nate handed me a cup, "You want some?"

I raised a brow as I peeked into the cup, "Water?"

"It's refreshing." He assured teasingly.

I shrugged and accepted the water, "Can't argue with that."

"Really? Heels? Wait, what's that on your face? Holy – is that makeup?"

I spluttered and choked on my water, turning to gawk at Eddie standing beside Nate. My retort got caught in my throat as I broke into choking laughter at the sight of him, "You got a - Ahahaha! You got a haircut!"

"Hey, it's better than everything you've done to it." Eddie teased, running a hand through his short, tousled hair. "Dick paid. And I kinda like it."

"It really brings out your eyes." Nate approved dryly.

"Aw shucks."

I snorted, "Do you guys need me to leave?"

"Oh no you don't." Eddie pointed accusingly at me, "You abandoned me for over two days. We need to make up for lost time, Miss Wayne." He suddenly smiled, his dark eyes laughing. Yeah, okay, I missed that face.

Nate coughed into his fist and he started moving away, "I'll leave you two alone."

I was confused. "Nate, where are you – ?" Eddie took my hand and before I knew it, he'd pulled me out onto the middle of the room. For a dance.

Oh crap oh crap oh crap. I tried to scramble away, but Eddie's free hand rested on my waist and he pulled me closer, smoothly moving us further into the crowd of swaying couples.

"What the hell! Dammit, Eddie! You know I can't dance!" I looked around in paranoia, expecting people to start laughing and pointing at me at any moment. This was totally going to ruin my 'perfect' façade of a Wayne. How embarrassing.

"Yeah, well I can." Eddie smiled as he gently moved us into the rhythm of the music.

"So? I don't – " I stopped and turned to look at him with a raised brow, "Wait. Since when do you know how to dance?"

"Well, after Dick told me Bruce Wayne adopted you, he said it was a good idea that I start learning how to dance. Now I know why." He looked around at the extravagantness of everything and nodded. "Thankfully, Carina was free, so she was the one who – "

I jerked away from him, "What! You danced with Carina?"

He sighed, "Will you please calm down? You'll trip or something." I scowled, but let him continue. "Like I was saying, it was just her way of thanking me for helping her out with her brother last time."

I rolled my eyes at him, "Oh yeah, giving you dance lessons is a real thank-you, isn't it?"

Eddie laughed, "Jealous, are we?"

"Don't flatter yourself, lover boy."

"Sorry. It's the new haircut talking. Plus, your new look is making me nervous." He paused and his expression gentled, "In the good way, though."

I ignored the sudden pounding of my heart and said sarcastically, "Hey, wasn't my bright idea. And this is not my new look. My closet has jeans, t-shirts, sweats, sneakers, and the embarrassing number of dresses I was forced to get will forever remain a mystery, okay?"

He chuckled, but it rang with relief. Even his posture relaxed a little. I guess he'd thought I'd changed overnight or something. I was really glad I didn't, too.

"Not bad." I finally said, impressed. "Carina's a good teacher."

"I missed you." He said softly, "A lot."

I choked on a step and somehow tripped over my own ankle, totally ruining the graceful atmosphere he'd created for us.

Eddie laughed as he firmly steadied me, "Really? You couldn't just wear flats?"

"Like I said, it wasn't my genius idea." I mumbled, flustered.

"At least you gained an inch." He piped up.

I grinned, "But you're still freakishly taller than I am. Just like Dick and J- Tim. They're almost over six feet, like you." Phew. Close call. Speaking of Dick, I spotted him and Bruce talking, wearing equally serious expressions on their faces. Tim casually passed by them, and Bruce uttered something short to him before disappearing into one of the hallways. Dick nodded to Tim, and they walked off in opposite directions.

Interesting.

"And what are you, short stuff? Like five foot five? Five foot six, counting the death traps you're wearing on your feet."

"Yeah, they're killing me!" I blurted, and silently scolded myself for sounding so obviously weird. C'mon, Alex, act natural! Be a Bat! "Uh, I think I'm gonna go change into a cozy pair of sneakers." I pulled away from Eddie's embrace and backed away, thumbing to the staircase, "It'll only take a second, I'll be back!" I turned and accidentally slammed into Nate.

He steadied me as I tipped off balance, "Whoa, are you okay?"

"I'm great!" I craned my neck to the staircase to see Damian smoothly striding up the steps, undoing his bowtie. Oh yeah, something was definitely going on tonight. And there was no way I was gonna be left out of it.

Nate rubbed the back of his head a bit nervously, "Okay, I was just going to ask if you would like to dance with me– "

"Ah, I can't! I mean, I would like to, but I have to go change into something that won't send me to a hospital," I pointed down at my heels, "I hope that's okay? I'll be back! You two, uh, keep each other company!" I rushed past Nate and made my way to the staircase. That was when I discovered I could sprint in heels, but I couldn't even walk in them. Seriously, where was the logic in that?

I did a quick perimeter check, but there was no sign of Bruce, Dick, Tim, or Damian. They'd just vanished. Unless…

I strode into the den where the grandfather clock was and turned the hands on it to the correct time, grinning triumphantly when it slid aside to let me into the manor's inner sanctum.

The Batcave.

I kicked my heels off and threw them into a corner of the den before making my way down the stairs. Bruce had already given me a tour and showed me every nook and cranny of the Cave, and believe me when I say it was full of clichés. Revolving walls, secret levers, hidden buttons, you name it. It was insanely awesome.

I reached the cool floor and saw the Batmobile was gone. Dammit, I'd just missed them. Sighing, I walked along the deserted Cave, and slowed to a stop in front of the glass case.

I knew the whole story. Dick had told it to me, then Tim did, Damian had shared his own thoughts, and Bruce had narrated every detail from his point of view. But I hadn't had the chance to ask the most important person of all: Jason. Maybe, though, I didn't need to. Maybe he'd already told me, somehow, before the whole car incident and wiping my memory thing, which would explain why I hadn't been surprised when everyone told me. If anything, I felt pride, admiration, sadness, and anger all over again.

I gazed at the Robin suit, imagining a younger Jason in it, and then I imagined him with a younger version of my mom. I couldn't help but grin at that.

"Pardon my interruption, Miss Alex."

I nearly flew out of my skin. I whirled around and practically shouted out the top of my lungs, "Holy – you scared the crap out of me, Alfred!"

Alfred's cool composure didn't change, "I apologize again, Miss Alex, and please try not to awaken the bats."

"Right. Sorry." I glanced a peek up at the dozens of house pets and saw them settling down again after my short outburst.

"I noticed your absence from the two gentlemen Eddie and Nate, and assumed you had come down here." He smiled knowingly, "I believe you wanted to join in the real action, am I correct, Miss Alex?"

"You are correct, Sir Alfred." I grinned, then glanced back at Jason's small memorial.

Alfred cleared his throat and said gently, "You know, Miss Alex, I am known to be very handy when it comes to repairing or altering a suit. And I'm not just referring to tuxedos."

There was a pause, then: "Alfred, are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"I believe so, Miss Alex. May I recommend having a touch of red on it? As a symbol of who you are, what you stand for."

"To tell you the truth, Alfred, I've been tossing a name around in my head from the very moment I stepped into this giant piece of Gothic architecture."

His eyes twinkled, "Might I hear it?"

"This? This right here?" I gestured to the Batcave with my arms spread out, "This is my beginning. And the best symbol I could come up with to stand for that, was dawn."

"Very nice, Miss Alex."

"I'm not done yet, Alfred."

"Please, continue."

I smiled at him before facing the glass case again. "And as for who I am? A touch of red would be perfect."

"Red Dawn, then, Miss Alex?"

"Red Dawn it is, Sir Alfred."