TRATTORIA D'AGOSTINO

VALENTINE'S DAY

GOTHAM

Damian Wayne stepped into the restaurant out of the falling snow. D'Agostino's was known for its ambience, food, and discretion. It took months to get into, unless you were a Wayne. Damian dusted the snow off his shoulders. It glittered on his black hair as it started to melt. Emerald eyes swept the room, assessing possible threats as well as access and entry points.

Giorgio D'Agostino's family had owned the restaurant since Damian's grandparents were first falling in love. Martha and Thomas Wayne not Ra's and any of his wives, thank you very much. Giorgio stepped up to greet him.

"Signore Wayne! So good to see you! Let us take your coat!" The man clapped his hands and out of nowhere a young woman appeared. Damian shrugged out of his coat and handed it to her. She disappeared into an alcove with his coat.

"If you will just follow me, I will take you to your table." The two men walked a short distance and then turned a corner. The table was set back into the wall, discretely placed so as to mostly be out of sight to other diners. "Your assistant said you would want privacy."

"My assistant. Yes, of course." Damian's lip quirked up slightly. What was she up to? He sat down at the table.

"Shall we bring your customary champagne?" Giorgio asked.

"Hmmm, no. My date….does not drink." He smirked to himself. "She should be here shortly. We'll see what she's interested in then."

"Of course. We'll bring her along directly." With that, Giorgio left the table.

It was only a few moments later when Giorgio reappeared with Damian's Valentine. The soft smile on the man's lips conveyed his approval of Damian's choice. He silently left to give the two a few moments alone.

Damian stood to pull out her chair for her. Why did moments like this hit so hard? Remind him of how beautiful she was? Shiny midnight hair was held back with a simple black velvet ribbon that matched her dress to flow in loose curls, cat shaped emerald eyes sparkled at him, and porcelain skin glowed. Lip gloss had been dabbed carefully on full lips. Father must not have seen her before she left the Manor.

How was a girl who looked so much like Bruce Wayne, like himself, growing up to be so beautiful, so feminine? It simply should not be possible.

Helena Wayne looked up at her older brother through sooty black lashes. Damian almost snarled. There was a flash of Selina and if he could see it in her at ten they were doomed. "What?"

"We are going to lock you in a convent." Damian threw himself back in his chair.

"Really?" Laughter danced in her eyes. "I'd like to see you try."

"You cannot take me, little one." Damian smirked at her.

"Pfft. What do you know? Dick says I'm better than any of you at this age." Helena smirked back. "I could totally take you."

She was, in fact, an amazing Robin. She seemed to have taken the very best traits from all of them to combine into her own style. Not surprising since she had trained with all of them since she could walk. He would have to talk to Dick about feeding her ego though. That could end badly. Two dead Robins were enough. The loss of Helena could shatter them in ways the loss of himself and Jason never had.

"I will not come alone." He smiled slowly. "You think your other brothers will not help?" He watched her mind calculate the angles, the odds. Her brain was a fascinating combination of Father and Selina. "You think Father will not help?"

She frowned then but slowly it shifted to a feline smile. "Mom won't let him, won't let you." Her voice was soft. "Are you willing to go up against Mom, Damian?"

"That's cheating Helena." He frowned at her.

"You're bringing the four of you and Dad. I'm just bringing Mom. How is that cheating?" She paused. "I could be bringing…..Alfred."

Damian sucked in a breath. "There is no need for things to get out of hand. We are only trying to do what is in your best interest. There are boys, men, out there who are going to want to, to date you as you get older. Then they will want other things. It will be better this way."

"Seriously, Damian." Helena rolled her eyes. "I'm not two. I know about dating. I live in the same house as you. Kids at school talk, often about you. Kids on the Team talk, again, often about you. Maybe we should lock you in a convent." She smirked at him.

Over the years in Gotham the facts about Damian's parentage had gotten muddled. Helena was a significant reason why. Damian and Helena spent a large amount of time together so the press was able to get a number of pictures of the two as Helena grew. Both of them looking like small clones, one male and one female, of Bruce except for their nearly identical green eyes. There were also numerous pictures of them with Selina who, of course, had green eyes. Some days it just made things easier and Damian loved his sister all the more for it.

"Nicely done cub." Damian murmured.

"Thank you." Helena beamed at him. "Which leads me to why we're here tonight."

A waitress showed up at that moment to take their orders. Having come to the restaurant for years they quickly ordered without looking at the menus. They waited for the waitress to leave before continuing.

"You were saying?"

"Yes, I was." Helena nodded. "Why are you here, in a romantic restaurant, on the most romantic night of the year, with your baby sister?"

"I believe you invited me." Damian pointed a finger at her.

"Damian." Helena sighed. "Wouldn't you rather be here with a beautiful girl?"

"I am here with a beautiful girl. That was the whole point of our conversation up to now." Damian held up a hand to stop Helena from speaking. "If you're speaking of some other beautiful girl, you know very well I stay away from them this entire week. Beautiful girls get ideas around this time of year. It is like taking a date to a wedding."

"I'm not speaking of those girls." Helena shuddered. "What do you take me for? I'm speaking of a special girl. You're my favourite brother I want you to have a special girl." She frowned for a moment and her brow furrowed. "Unless you want a special boy. I would have to reconsider everything. No, I can't be that wrong."

"Helena, I do not want a special boy. I do not want…" Damian stopped and his eyes narrowed on her as she muttered to herself. "You have someone in mind."

"I do. Well, more precisely you do." Helena smiled at him.

"I do not." Damian frowned. He didn't, did he? "Who?"

"Lian." Helena beamed at him.

Damian stared at her shocked. "…..As in Harper?"

"Well, duh." She rolled her eyes. "Who else?"

"I do NOT have feelings for Lian Harper." He hissed at her.

"Uh-huh. That's why you watch her all the time." She dismissed his startled look. "Don't worry. It's only something we would notice, no one else. It's why our file on her suddenly has her favourite flower, movie, candy, book, etc. listed. It's odd, since you claim not to have any feelings for her, that you didn't update the rest of the Team or the Arrows that way."

They sat silently for a few moments while Damian gathered his thoughts and pondered his sister's words. Finally he spoke.

"What if I did have feelings for her?"

"I'm sorry?" Helena was confused.

"As you said, cub, people talk about me. Her Father and Grandfather will not let me near her. Grayson is her Godfather. Do you think he will let me near her? It is possible even my own Father will warn me away." Damian looked away from his sister for a moment. "I am not sure I want me near her."

"Hey." Helena leaned forward to grab his hand and waited until he looked at her again. "You wouldn't be that guy if you were with Lian. She would kick your butt if you were. She would annihilate you." Damian's lips twitched slightly. "Mom and I can handle Dick and Dad. It will be up to Lian if she handles her side."

"She looks at you too, you know." Helena said quietly.

"You seem to know a lot."

Helena shrugged. "I'm small, I'm trained to blend in and watch, and I'm good at what I do." A small smile graced her lips. "I just don't report everything back to Dad. Just promise me you'll think about it. I want you to be happy."

"Who says I'm not happy?" Damian teased her. "Don't answer that."

The food arrived cutting off further conversation.