Just like the last time, the return trip from Justice League HQ to the Batcave took less than a minute. Also the same as before Carly had to fight off a wave of nausea before sidestepping out of the glass tube. While she waited for BatBruce to get back she walked his lair with new eyes. Those weren't replicas of Baterrangs hanging on the wall, they were the real deal. And that wasn't some life-size model spinning on a pedestal, it was the actual Batmoblie!

"Holy cow!" She gasped when Bruce stepped out and removed his cowl. "You're freaking Batman!"

"I did try to tell you." He laughed.

"Who else knows? Does Alfred know? It's so dangerous! I can't believe he's let you do something like this! Is that why you cancel our lunches so often?" Bruce sighed. This was the reaction that he'd been expecting.

"Alfred is the only other person in Gotham who knows. And he didn't want to let me do this at first, but it's not really Alfred's choice. It's mine. As far as danger… If I had to go out, I want it to be for something I believe in. And yes. All of this is why I've missed two of your birthdays, a Christmas and canceled who knows how many lunch dates. I hope saving the city and in some cases the world is a good enough excuse. I could get a notarized letter from J'onn if you like."

"But why not just tell me? We've never kept any secrets between each other, at least I though we hadn't. Why did you not trust me with your biggest secret?" She could feel the tears threatening to brim up under her eyes.

"Of course I trust you Carly! Keeping this from you has been the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my entire life. It's been my greatest accomplishment and I haven't been able to share it with the person who means the most to me! I've been Batman for two and a half years. That's years of lying and blowing you off. Alfred, the others, they think I've been to overprotective. But Superman's enemies, even the ones who don't know that he's Clark Kent, they find out his connection with Lois Lane. She lives in constant danger of being captured. I never wanted that for you. I couldn't…I can't handle the idea of putting you in danger like that, Car."

"Something must have happened to change your mind." She walked towards him and put a hand on his arm, not sure if he could feel it through his armor. "If you think it's going to put me in danger, why tell me now?"

"The way you looked at me tonight on the patio. You were going to pack your things and never come back. I could see it in your eyes. I've hurt you so badly recently that you didn't really want to be here today. But you came anyway because you knew I needed you. You put my needs first. I've done you a great disservice by not doing the same."

"So this is me, putting all my cards on the table." Bruce inhaled a deep breath. "I, Bruce Thomas Wayne, am Gotham City's Dark Knight. The Batman. I can be selfish, forgetful, and at most times I'm standoffish. But I need you to know, Carly Amelia Rogers, that I have been in love with you since I was ten years old. And if you ever look at me again with as much hurt in your eyes as you did tonight, I may just run myself over with the Batmobile."

"So dramatic." She rolled her eyes at him. "I didn't want to leave you know. I felt like you were shutting me out of your life for no reason. But being Batman?" She rubbed the back of her neck with her free hand. That's a pretty good reason." She had to stand on the tips of her toes while he was in his suit, but she managed to plant a kiss on his right cheek. "Your Batsecret is batsafe with me Batman."

"Oh no." It was Bruce's turn to roll his eyes. "Are you going to make this a thing now?"

"I don't have to. Have you read any of your Batlabels down here? Batmobile, bat-computer… its one big batcave."

"Batcave? I like that." He nodded with approval.

"What have you and Alfred been calling it?" She asked.

"Downstairs." He admitted, embarrassed.

"Lame. You should let me name all your Batstuff."

"Maybe some other time. What do you say we get back up to the party?" He suggested.

"Sure." She nodded. "But I can't be seen with you dressed like that." She gestured at his suit.

"Of course, I'll go change." He snuck a quick kiss on her cheek. As he did so he noticed she hadn't commented about his confession of love. Maybe she didn't hear it? He thought almost hopefully. It wasn't that he didn't want her to know. Carly should know just how special she was to him, but maybe one secret was enough for one night. He straightened up and began to walk towards the locker room to change.

"Bruce!" She called after him before hurrying over to where he stood. "In the interest of full disclosure, you didn't have to tell me about Batman to get me to stay. I just needed to know that you loved me too."

Although they'd exchanged hundreds of kisses on each other cheeks, and their first kiss had technically been a completely platonic one at his senior prom, they would both forever honor this kiss in the cave as the first. With his gloved hand cupping the bottom of her chin, and her arms wrapped around his neck, they pressed their lips together. Unsurprisingly, Bruce was a good kisser. He ought to be with all the practice he'd gotten in since high school. And while Carly hadn't exercised her talents as much, she proved to have a few tricks of her own up her sleeve.