Author's Note: Here's another chapter…Just like to comment that I don't own Diana Tregarde or the Guardians. Just borrowing them from Mercedes Lackey, who is an awesome writer. And…that's it. Thanks to all who reviewed!

Later that night, as Samantha dressed for the party, she contemplated when and what she wanted to tell Terry. She could tell Dana was at her wit's end, and she knew Terry wouldn't want to lose Dana, so it would be best to talk to him. Samantha wanted him to be happy, for some odd reason. She did want to enjoy herself that night, though, so with a vaguely guilty feeling she decided to bring it up first thing in the morning.

The doorbell rang, then, so she dashed over to answer it. Terry stood there, taking in her appearance with wide eyes. The top of her dark green dress supported her chest in the front, then dipped down slightly low in the back. It hugged her muscular stomach, showing that while she wasn't thin, she was still in shape. Her shoulders were bare save for the thin straps made of glittering diamond-look-alikes that held up the dress. Said shoulders were slightly too broad for truly feminine beauty, but seemed to fit her. The hem of the dress was smooth and sleek and fell down to her ankles. It was slightly ruffled, enabling her to walk in it. Her shoes were green sandals that tied around her legs in ballet-slipper fashion. Her long, thick hair was half curled, with the top part piled on her head and the bottom left loose to drape around her shoulders. Completing the outfit were green ballroom gloves that went up to her elbow and a silver Celtic cross dangled from a black chain around her neck.

"This dressed up enough?" She asked softly, looking him over with her own eyes. "Wow. You look good."

He colored slightly in his tux and looked away. "Thanks. You, too."

"I don't have to attempt to ride the motorcycle in this, do I?" Samantha teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Terry laughed. "No. We've got the limo."

"Oooo." Samantha commented. "Yay us. Ready, then?"

She picked up a small green purse with a diamond strap, slipped it over her shoulder, and locked the door behind her. She followed him down to the limo, putting her keys into the purse. "So what's this party for?"

Terry shrugged. "How should I know? Some stupid management thing or another. At least they'll have good food. And the music isn't too bad, either."

Samantha nodded. "Oh, hey, is there gonna be dancing?"

"Most likely." Terry replied. "Always is. I usually don't dance, though."

"Tonight, you are." Samantha informed him. "I love dancing, and you made me get dressed up, so you're gonna pay."

Terry laughed, mock wincing. "Oh, no, please. Anything but that."

Samantha crossed her arms. "Nope. I'm sorry, but I have spoken."

Terry laughed again and Samantha smiled, then leaned over him to root through the mini-fridge. Terry breathed in slightly, inhaling her perfume before he could help himself. She smelled vaguely like sunflowers and he smiled, thinking it fit her. He then shook his head, as if trying to clear it.

"You okay?" Samantha asked, leaning back.

"Yeah." He replied, looking away.

Samantha frowned at him, then shrugged. "So are we picking up Mr. Wayne?"

"No." Terry told her. "We're meeting him there."

"Shway." She commented. "Hey, are there gonna be meatless dishes there?"

Terry nodded. "Yup. I checked." He had remembered Samantha was a vegetarian and had made sure there would be some suitable food.

She smiled at him. "Oh. That was nice. Thanks."

"No prob." He glanced out the window. "Oh, hey, we're here."

The limo pulled up to a tall building and the two teenagers got out. Wayne was waiting for them in the front.

"Hello, Samantha." He greeted. "You look lovely."

She colored. "Thank you, Mr. Wayne. You don't look too bad yourself."

He held his arm out to her. "Can I offer you an escort into the room?"

She grinned and slipped her arm through his. "I'd be delighted."

Wayne flashed Terry a bit of a grin as they walked through the doors and Terry smirked back at him.

When they reached the floor that the party was on, Terry muttered quietly, "I thought you weren't a ladies' man."

"I was the most eligible bachelor back in my day." Wayne retorted. He glanced over at Samantha. "I have to go mingle, I'm afraid, but would you do me the pleasure of saving me a dance?"

She smiled. "Of course. Come claim it whenever you're free."

"I will." Wayne commented. "Don't have too much fun, McGinnis." He called as he left.

Samantha laughed and glanced at Terry. "He must be so much fun to work for."

Terry laughed out of sheer amazement, then sobered. "Oh, yes. Fun. Right."

Samantha laughed again, then started for the food table. "I am so starved."

"I agree with you there." Terry said, following her over.

The two ate and talked for awhile, then, as Samantha finished up a slice of pineapple, a fast but old song started playing.

"Oh!" Samantha commented. "I love this song. Come on, we have to dance."

She snagged his hand and pulled him out onto the dance floor. He laughed and trailed after her, cheerfully dancing though he had never heard the song before. They had danced through at least six more songs when a soft, slow one came on.

Samantha glanced at him, a silent question in her eyes. Without even thinking about it, he took her hands and pulled her in close. She leaned against him as they danced, for some reason, happy.

I feel safe here. She realized. It's been a long time since I felt like that. Actually… I don't think I've ever felt like this.

She felt really felt safe with only one person, her fellow Guardian, Diana Tregarde. But with Terry…

Terry was enjoying himself as well. He hadn't known Samantha as long as he had Dana, but he somehow felt more comfortable with her than he did with his own girlfriend. In fact, thoughts of Dana were so far from his mind right now that all he wanted to do was lean down and kiss Samantha.

And he might have done it, too, if the song hadn't ended then and Wayne hadn't chosen that moment to come ask for a dance.

The song was a waltz, and as Terry watched Wayne and Samantha dance with more expertise than he had expected, he felt rather disappointed the moment had been ruined. And then he remembered himself and was grateful to the old man. His quiet thoughts were interrupted, though, when the elevator that had just arrived on their floor blew up. The rest of the elevators exploded soon after, causing a more or less mass panic among the party guests. Terry used this opportunity to disappear into the crowd. He ran out to the fire escape and climbed quickly down.

Inside the room, a group of masked men appeared out of the smoke.

"Stay behind me!" Wayne shouted to Samantha over the screams, stepping in front of her.

Biting her lip and looking terrified, Samantha nodded. Then, when his attention was focused away, her hands moved along her body and she silently spoke a spell. When she was done, she ran off and a mirror image of her remained there. Ducking behind a column, Samantha pulled her black choker out of her purse and slipped it on, becoming Ferinus.

Batman soared through one of the windows as she ran out into the crowds of people. He dove right into a group of the masked men, fighting them off easily. Rather than waste energy on spells, Ferinus jumped in as well, making use of martial arts. She kicked a man about to jump on Batman's back and he looked up at her.

"Ferinus!" He said.

She smiled at him. "So you do remember me! Well, now I feel special."

She back flipped off into a trio of the party crashers, utterly fearless in her guise. After taking them out, she glanced over at Batman and saw his features etched in horror. She followed his gaze and noticed Wayne and her clone had gotten separated. One of the masked men had gotten smart and was using the grenades that had blown up the elevators as weapons. A particular explosion had caused a huge slab of concrete to head right for the Samantha-clone.

"Amani lomien camara." Ferinus called, reciting the spell to call back her hologram.

The fake Samantha disappeared and Batman, who had been speeding for her, stopped short.

"What did you do to her?" He demanded, glaring venomously at Ferinus.

"Nothing!" She shouted, glaring back at him. "I moved her to the roof. Chill, luv, I'm on your side."

He calmed slightly, but still shot her a suspicious gaze. It didn't stop her from fighting alongside him, though, and he had to admit she was good. Not as good as him, but still good.

When all of the masked men were in varying stages of unconciousness, Batman turned to Ferinus.

"Why are you here?" He asked. "And what's with the love?"

"Same reason you are." She replied. "I just want to help people. And maybe I'm British. 'Sides, always had a crush on you." She winked at him, then took a running leap out the window.

He followed her, ready to demand more answers, but stopped when he ran into Wayne.

"Wait." Wayne told him. "Going after her isn't likely to do anything good."

Reluctantly, Batman backed off.

"Good." Wayne commented. "Now go get changed."

Batman flew out the window he had come in and started to head up the roof, then paused. For some strange reason, he wanted it to be Terry who went up to Samantha. So he changed quickly back into his tux, then climbed the fire escape to the roof.

"Sam?" He called.

"Terry?" He heard her reply, just before she came into view. "Oh, thank goodness. The stupid door's stuck and I could not figure out how to get down. Are you okay?"

She jogged over to him, looking over him for injuries.

"I'm fine." He told her. "What about you? Batman said that weird chick put you up here."

"Ferinus." She agreed. "She's some sort of super-hero, or something."

"Did she hurt you?" He asked.

She shook her head. "Naw. I mean, without her I would have definitely been a pancake."

"All right, then." He shrugged out of his tux jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "Come on, let's go back downstairs."