Meaning: admiration; friendship

Zatanna never understood the idea of passionate love. She understood the concept. Girls wanted boys to come and sweep them off of their feet, take care of them to where they don't have to work a day of their lives, get unconditional love and joy without having to lift a finger. The fairytale dream.

But it all sounded pretty boring and lazy if you asked her. She wouldn't mind not having to pay for a new pair of boots or a spank new dress, but she loves being a magician. It's been her dream job ever since she was little. Why would she give that up?

"Tanna!"

"Huh?" Cecily was close in her face, peering sideways into her eyes and snapping her fingers to try to get her attention. They both finally got the same night off so Cecily invited her out to a bar in West Gotham.

Cecily was more for comfort while Zatanna was more for glitz and glam, but tonight she was wearing her glittery dress that Zatanna bought her for her 21st birthday that she's pretty sure has been shimmering alone in the back of her closet. Over top of it concealing most of the shimmer was a Northern Academy Leatherman's jacket. Tommy's to be exact. It was obvious she took care of it. It almost looked brand new if it wasn't for a few loose threads.

"You and Tommy are still going on strong, huh?" Zatanna pointed out the jacket. "I don't think I've seen you without that jacket since he 'let' you keep it."

"Hey! Hey! According to his mom, his old basketball teammates, and my bed, it's mine." Cecily settled back onto her stool and raised her glass to take a sip of her pineapple margarita. "When we get married what's his is going to be mine too anyway."

"Haha. Don't let him hear you say that or there may not be a wedding."

"Of course there will be. I would never make you miss your chance at being my bridesmaid." The two ladies laughed. The next moment a new drink was placed in front of both of them. "Excuse me. We didn't order this."

"Compliments of the gentleman in red." The bartender winked and slightly nodded to his left before turning to tend to another customer. Said gentleman was a scrawny high schooler in a red shirt and slacks. He had slicked his hair back with his hand so tuffs of his hair was sticking up in different directions and he was trying to give them this smooth look but ended up twisting his face where it looked like he was in pain. His friends were sitting on his left and his right, silently cheering him on while trying and failing to discreetly glance over at their two targets of the night.

Cecily had to hold her hand up to her mouth to cover up her snickering. Zatanna nudged her friend in her side. "At least he's trying."

"I know. I know. It's just been a while since someone 'tried' with me. Not unlike you though." The twenty-two year old shook her head, making her shoulder length white bob cut teasingly brush her shoulders before finishing with a kittenish wink towards the boys. From the corner of her eye, Zatanna saw the boy blush and the others not so quietly congratulating him. "She totally wants you man."

She only shook her head. Cecily's been with Tommy for so long she's forgotten how much of a tease she could be. Maybe that's why they were such good friends.

"But back to what I was saying." Cecily swapped out her drink for the kindly purchased one and slowly swished the liquid around the rim. She didn't bring it close to her lips. Cecily has never drank anything anyone bought her unless her, Tommy or certain family members bought it as long as she's known her. "If I remember correctly, you caught a few guys' eyes too. They never had a chance though. Which reminds me. Where's Dick? Tommy's been wanting to ask him something."

Zatanna choked a little on her drink. "Huh?"

"Dick. You know. Dick Grayson. The boy you were madly in love with and dated for five straight years."

She choked a little more. "Madly in love with?"

"Nobody made you smile like she did. No idea why you two broke up."

She knew why. "We eventually just didn't have enough time for each other." With her being in the Justice League and him leading the Team along with her being a stage magician and him, well, being Dick Grayson, seeing each other in between all that was hard.

"Time? That can't be true. He made time for you. I remember this one time we had invited him to join us for ice cream at the pier, but he was stuck at an event with his dad. He literally skipped the rest of the event and traveled all the way from Gotham to Happy Harbor just to eat ice cream with you."

Well that's half right. He was actually on patrol with Batman at the time when they had called. She had told him he was going to get in trouble. The birdbrain said: "I'd get chewed out a thousand times by Bats if it means I get to spend time with you."

Remembering that made her chest feel heavy. "Cily…"

"I'm just saying it was obvious." Cecily also gets really talkative when she drinks too. "You guys were the definition of couple goals. And don't get me started on how much he used to dote on you."

"Cecily, please. Drop it."

"You know why you two broke up. It's because you were scared."

"Cecily!"

She shrugged as she set the glass down and pushed it back a little with the tip of her finger. "I'm just saying."

"I think you've had enough drinks, " Zatanna said while taking a sip of her own strawberry margarita.

"And I think you haven't had enough." Cecily said, pushing her own drink towards her friend. "I didn't come to this bar just cause I wanted to, Tanna. You've been working too hard, and knowing you, holding your struggles in too long."

Zatanna sighed. "Cecily, I'm fin-"

"Yeah, yeah. I know you're fine, but being fine doesn't mean you're okay." Cecily scooted off her stool and stood directly in front of her friend where she couldn't see anyone except for her and comfortingly place her hand on her shoulder. "I promise I won't talk anymore about Dick, but I want you to be happy. And if you don't want to talk about whatever is bothering you tonight, well. We got drinks, music, and a dance floor calling our names. Tonight is your night, Tanna."

Zatanna could feel her eyes start to water. She quickly blinked them away and wiped them away with the back of her hand before they could fall. She's honestly missed hanging out with this girl. No matter what she always had her back and her front. "Thanks Cily."

"Hey, that's what friends are for," she smiled and dropped her hand from Zatanna's shoulder to grab her hand and pull her from the stool. "Now let's go dance before those boys over there get too brave."

I had to bring my girl Cecily back. She's such fun to write and it's nice to have a friend who isn't a superhero and has superhero duties to talk to and hang out with sometimes.

No Dick physically this chapter but I mean I also did a chapter without Zatanna in it so I think this is fine. Was longer than intended too. Hope you enjoyed. Next chapter is the final and the finale.