A/N—Thanks to Hepburn for all her help as my wonderful beta for punching up the dialogue and to Chaosmob for his encouragement. Please read and review.

Disclaimer—All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

And it starts, sometime around midnight.

Or at least that's when you lose yourself for a minute or two.

As you stand, under the bar lights.

And the band plays some song about forgetting yourself for a while.

And the piano's this melancholy soundtrack to her smile.

And that white dress she's wearing

You haven't seen her for a while.

But you know, that she's watching.

She's laughing, she's turning. She's holding her tonic like a cross.

The room's suddenly spinning.

She walks up and asks how you are.

So you can smell her perfume.

You can see her lying naked in your arms.

And so there's a change, in your emotions.

And all these memories come rushing
like feral waves to your mind.

Of the curl of your bodies,
like two perfect circles entwined.

And you feel hopeless and homeless
and lost in the haze of the wine.—Sometime Around Midnight by the Airborne Toxic Event

Chapter 14—Sometime Around Midnight

Bruce paused as he came into the kitchen when he saw his beautiful wife checking things off a list. The caterers had arrived and Diana was making sure that everything that she and Alfred had ordered was there while Alfred was busy in the dining room instructing the wait staff. She was in her Diana Prince disguise and she was wearing her chestnut hair in a curly up do. Bruce admired her long legs as she wore a short aubergine satin cocktail dress with a scooped neckline and empire waist but her couldn't resist the pull of her swan like neck as she bent over the list. He slid up to her and started kissing its graceful curve as his arms wrapped around her waist.

"Bruce!" she cried startled by his abrupt display of affection.

"Mmm…" he whispered in her ear as he continued his journey up to her earlobe.

Diana set the list down on the counter and turned into his arms giving him a deep and hungry kiss. They had returned from their honeymoon two days ago but the passion hadn't cooled. They continued their embrace until a voice yelled in disgust.

"Jeez guys can't you do that somewhere more private! I feel the need to gouge out my eyes now!" Tim Drake Wayne commented as he entered the kitchen.

Bruce pulled away from Diana enough to glare at Tim while Diana laughed. "Do you have a purpose for coming in here and bothering me," he hissed.

"Yes, yes I do actually, oh father of mine. I have found a new connection on that case we've been working on and I think it may lead us to the perpetrator," he said.

Bruce quickly pulled away from Diana as he went into Bat mode, but Diana grabbed his arm and pulled him back to look at her.

"You promised that you would stay at the party until ten unless the Batsignal went up…Remember," she said as she narrowed her eyes at him.

"And I will, honey. I just want to check on Tim's information," he said with a smile.

"Fine, but I expect both of you up here before all the guests start arriving," she said as she turned back to her list. They quickly went to the Cave.

Donna entered the kitchen a few minutes later. "How do I look sis?" She asked with a smile.

Diana turned and nearly gasped at how beautiful Donna looked. She was in her Donna Troy disguise so her hair and eyes were brown. She was wearing a white dress by Marchesa that was rather Grecian in design. It was sleeveless and had a deep v-cut neckline that showed off Donna's cleavage very well and the dress ended at her mid-thigh, which accented her lovely legs. There were multicolored jewel-embroidered details at the shoulder and around the waist. She wore her hair down and the curls beautifully framed her face.

"You look breathtaking. I can't believe how grown up your are, Troia." Diana said and cursed her hormones again for the rush of emotions she felt looking at Donna.

Donna smiled brightly and said, "Thanks Di. I hope Kyle likes the dress? He's seemed a little distracted lately."

"I sure he won't be able to take his eyes off you," Diana said with a smile. And if what Bruce told me is true, neither will Dick, she thought. "You are going to be the star at your own party. Now scoot so I can finish making sure we have everything!" Diana said with a smile.

Everything was ready within the hour and guests started arriving shortly after. Bruce and Tim kept their promise and were on hand to greet people. Barbara and Sam were the first to arrive as Barbara promised Donna she wouldn't be late.

"Oh my god Donna, that dress looks even better on you now that it did in the store! How is that possible," Barbara said as Donna spun around so they could get the full affect.

"You look lovely Donna but I must say I think Barbara is every bit as gorgeous," Sam said causing his girlfriend to blush.

"Absolutely, and I can take some of the credit for that as I picked out her dress." Donna said with a laugh as she admired the way her friend looked in the purple and gray print strapless dress by Catherine Malandrino.

They moved into the ballroom where the band, a local rock band recommended by Tim that played both covers and original music, were already playing.

Donna was laughing at something that Sam was saying when Kyle arrived. He looked very handsome in his black suit. "You look gorgeous Donna. You have to be the most beautiful girl here," he said as he gave her a kiss.

"You look pretty good yourself. I like the suit," she replied and blushed when he smiled at her.

"We should dance," he said as he led her onto the dance floor and pulled her into his arms as a slow song was being played. They started moving around the floor and Donna looked up into Kyle's eyes. She loved his dark eyes and they always had a sort of brooding quality to them. They suited his artistic nature. Donna was enjoying her dance until she looked up and noticed Dick. He seemed to be flirting with that blond girl from the club. What was her name? Oh yeah, Bette. He was flirting with Bette and she felt her stomach tighten. Roy and Artemis's words came back to her. Did she really have feelings for Dick? How could she be when she was dating Kyle and she was so attracted to him? She pushed the thoughts of Dick away and enjoyed the dance that was soon over. They danced to couple more fast songs before leaving the floor to get a drink. On the way they ran into Dick.

"You look nice brat," he said in a slightly sardonic tone and Donna immediately felt irritated with him. Looks like he is in jerk mode tonight, she thought, you'd think he could try to be nice to me on my birthday.

"Well I am surprised at how well you clean up, Short-Pants." Donna said as he really did look handsome in a chocolate brown shirt with a brown and cream pinstriped sports jacket and dark wash jeans. His dark hair was falling over his forehead like usual in a rather sexy way. Donna grabbed a glass of champagne off a passing tray and took a large sip to distract herself from thinking that Dick was sexy.

Dick also took a glass while Kyle said, "Donna, I am going to the bar, would you like anything."

"I am fine with champagne," she said as she gave him a light kiss before he walked away. "Mmm…the champagne is delicious," she said to Dick trying to make conversation.

"It's Cristal and a fine vintage. Bruce and Diana are really throwing you a nice party," he commented back. When had talking gotten so strained between the two of them?

"Yes, she and Alfred really did a nice job planning it and Tim found the band. Aren't they great," she said.

"Would you care to dance?" he asked.

"Sure, but only one dance. I wouldn't want Kyle to miss me," she replied and missed his pained look as she drank down her champagne and put it on a passing tray. When she looked back Dick was smiling at her but she could see that it was forced and didn't reach his eyes. She wondered why he had asked her to dance if he didn't want to. Her stomach fluttered as he pulled her into his arms. Donna rested her chin on his shoulder as he moved them around the floor. She inhaled his scent as his muscular body rubbed against hers and again felt that tightening in her stomach. What is going on, she thought, this is the man I call Short-Pants who is supposed to be like a big brother to me. Why am I wondering what his lips feel like?

Donna felt flushed and confused. She was dating Kyle; she shouldn't want Dick. Kyle was great and they had so much in common and when he kissed her sometimes she went weak in the knees. She was grateful when the song ended and she could pull away from Dick. She rushed back over to Kyle after saying a quick thank you to Dick.

She and Kyle danced again for a while and then she saw Wally and Linda. She went over to talk with them. She mingled and danced with both Wally and Tim and just threw herself into having fun to distract herself from the unwanted feelings she had discovered for Dick. She was the belle of the ball and laughed harder every time she saw Dick with Bette. She was glad that Artemis was on a mission to Apokolips and that Roy was too busy flirting with a drunk debutant to notice Donna surreptitiously watching Dick.

Around midnight she was feeling hot and asked Kyle to walk outside on the terrace with her. The walked quietly for a moment before Kyle said, "This has really been a great party Donna. So how do you feel about turning twenty-one?"

Donna laughed as she was mildly buzzed from drinking a lot of champagne, "Honestly no different than before, though this past year I feel like I've grown up a lot. I was always sheltered and coddled on Themyscira."

"You definitely look like a grown-up to me and you definitely pull your weight with the League. I am proud of you," he said as he brushed her hair behind her ear causing Donna to blush and look away. It was something she regretted as she caught sight of Dick kissing that blond floozy, Bette, through the window. Her stomach knotted and she snapped her attention back to Kyle. She pulled his mouth to hers and desperately kissed him as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Kyle returned the kiss but when Donna tried to deepen it, he pulled back.

"Donna?" he said questioningly as he looked into her heated gazed. She boldly ran her hand down his chest but he stopped her before she went any lower. "Donna, stop!"

"Why? Don't you want me?" she said as she suddenly felt aggressive. She licked her lips and pressed closer to him.

He pushed her slightly away, "Donna, why are you acting like this?"

"Gee Kyle we have been dating for over a month. Most couples would have taken the relationship to the next level," Donna replied with a pout. She really didn't know why she was doing this except that she wanted to erase the vision of Dick kissing that girl from her mind.

"But most girls aren't innocent like you. They weren't raised on an island with no men," he said.

"That doesn't mean I don't know anything about sex, Kyle. The question is why don't you want to have sex with me and why have you been more and more distant lately," she gave him a penetrating stare.

Kyle's face flushed before he admitted baldly, "I'm still in love with my dead girlfriend."

Donna gasped in shock as she hadn't expected him to say that. He had never even talked about her really. He had said he was dating another Lantern that was killed on a mission.

Kyle continued to talk, "I thought I was ready to date again and I am very attracted to you, Donna. But while I was away on this mission for the Corps., I kept thinking about Jen. I still feel her in my heart Donna and I am not ready to let her go."

Donna felt tears burning in the back of her eyes. She knew she wasn't in love with Kyle but she still felt hurt and rejected. She couldn't compete with a memory.

"Donna, I'm so sorry…I…" he started but she cut him off.

"Just go… I can't talk to you right now," she said coldly as she held back the tears. First Dick and now Kyle.

He gave her a sad look and left. She walked into the shadows as the tears began to fall.

Dick Grayson was mildly drunk and feeling miserable. He should've left hours ago but for some reason he couldn't bring himself to leave. He just wanted to be near her.

He had felt stunned when he saw her dancing with Kyle. She was stunning even with the different hair and eye color. He couldn't ever remember seeing a woman so innocently sexy before. She didn't act seductive but Dick was completely under her spell so much so that he forgot to avoid Bette Kane. How she had gotten an invitation to the party made him wonder. Well, she was a rich heiress and her aunt lived in Gotham and was an acquaintance of Bruce's. She had been calling him since their date at the club and he had been successfully avoiding her until tonight.

"Hi Dickey, what do you think of this party for Brucie's new sister-in-law? Looks like his new wife knows how to spend his money," she said while Dick got the feeling that she was mentally undressing him.

He was immediately annoyed by the implied insult to Diana, as if she were some low class gold digger. Diana was a princess born and always exuded a regal aura.

"It's a great party," he said as he tried to figure a way of getting away from her while he kept an eye on Donna who was dancing too close to Kyle for his liking. Seeing Roy, he gave him the look they had perfected years ago when they wanted the other to run inference with a clingy female. Much to Dick's relief, Roy didn't leave him twitching in the wind. Dick knew he would owe him one.

"Bette Kane, it has been so long. How have you been?" he questioned in an erudite manner.

"Fine Roy and you?" she said while keeping and eye on Dick.

"Just wonderful and even better now that I have seen you. Care to dance?" he openly flirted. Dick could see Bette wanting to refuse but knew it wouldn't be wise to tick off Oliver Queen's adopted son. Her father and Ollie were friends and business associates.

"Sure," she said sullenly and Dick almost let out a sigh of relief.

"You don't mind do you Dickie ole boy?" Roy was working it, for the greater good.

"No not at all Roy, my good fellow." Dick was being as courteously cheesy back to his friend. It was a system of banter that they had worked out long ago, that added levity to a dire clingy female situation. Dick waved them off cheerfully, and then turned his attention to trying to get a dance with Donna.

The dance he shared with Donna a few minutes later was too short and he hated how she quickly returned to Kyle. She'd smelled so wonderful and she fit so perfectly in his arms. He'd just wanted to sweep her away and make her forget Kyle Rayner ever existed.

Dick had decided he was going to leave then and start patrolling Bludhaven early when Helena Bertinelli and Vic Sage cornered him.

"Where do you think you're going," she'd said with a smile. He had to admit she seemed happy with Sage, much happier than she'd been when they dated. They had been two angry kids who bonded over the fact that they had both seen their parents die right before their eyes. It didn't make for a lasting match.

"I was thinking of starting my patrol a little earlier tonight, not that it should matter to you." Dick replied sardonically which made Helena smile. She liked his smart-ass personality.

"Well you don't have to. Vic and I will cover for you. Donna's one of your best friends you should get to stay and help her celebrate," she said.

Dick knew he couldn't refuse because Helena was too perceptive and would question why he didn't want to stay at Donna's party. So instead he had smiled and said, "Thanks Helena, Vic. That's very nice of you."

"Think nothing of it Boy Wonder, it's Vic's and my idea of a fun date. Isn't that right, baby," she practically cooed at Vic.

"Anything you say, dearest," Vic replied. Which had made Dick smile at the crazy lovebirds. For two such strange individuals they sure worked as a couple.

So Dick was stuck at the party without an excuse to leave and the woman he wanted more than anything in the world was on the arm of another man. So he'd done what any guy would do. He walked up to the bar and ordered a shot of tequila and chased it with two more.

Then he spent the next hour avoiding Bette. Roy had moved on to another debutant that he was more interested in pursuing. She cornered him but he managed to get Babs to provide a buffer for a while until Sam claimed her for a slow dance. He watched his former love with her new man and felt happy for her. She had been through so much because of him that she deserved a guy who treated her like the special women she was.

It seemed like all the women in his life had met men who really cared about them. Too bad that group included Donna. He grabbed another glass of champagne and looked out the window trying to ignore Bette's desperate and drunken chatter and saw Kyle caressing Donna's face. His stomach turned to acid and he downed his drink and turned back to Bette just in time for her to throw her arms around his neck and press her lips against his. Ugh! Not again, he thought and he tried to pull away from her greedy mouth and tightening arms.

"Stop!" he said loudly as he pushed her away.

"Come on Dickey, we can go upstairs work out our frustrations. I've wanted you for a long time," she whispered as she tried to kiss him again.

This can't be happening to me, he thought as he stopped her. He decided his best move was to retreat and said, "If you'll excuse me, I need to use the rest room."

He quickly moved away from her swaying form and went into the closest bathroom. He washed her lipstick off his face and waited a few minutes then slipped out and hid in the crowd as he moved toward the terrace. He planned to slip out and go around to the kitchen and up the back stairs to his room. He'd had enough of drunken debutants and watching Donna with her "boyfriend."

As he slipped into the shadows he saw Donna standing alone on the edge of the terrace. Where is Kyle? he thought as he paused and watched her. He heard her sniffle and saw her wipe at her face with her hand. Is she crying? he wondered. He didn't even think about it as he walked toward her.

"Donna, are you okay?" he asked softly.

He saw her stiffen before replying, "I'm fine," without turning around.

He put his hand on her shoulder and turned her toward him. He saw the tears glistening in her eyes and asked, "Then why are you crying?"

"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to," was her glib response.

Dick put his hand on her face and stroked away a tear before saying, "Donna, what's the matter?"

She glared at him, as more tears leaked out her eyes, before saying harshly, "He doesn't want me. He's still in love with his dead girlfriend. What is wrong with me that nobody wants me?"

Dick was shocked for a moment as he stared at her beautiful face and his buzzed brain just moved on instinct as he placed his lips against hers. She gasped and he deepened the kiss, tasting her sweet mouth as he pulled her against him. He was prepared to get slapped across the terrace but instead he felt her responding. Her tongue tangled with his as she wrapped her arms around him and pressed her body against him. He felt his body become fully aroused as he pressed her against the wall.

"I want you Donna. I want you so badly," he whispered as he pulled away to look at her. She stared at him for a few moments with sultry eyes before lifting her mouth to his again and pulling him deeper into the shadows.