AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Sorry it has been so long since I updated this one!

It's a little short, but that's because I think this story can only handle so much darkness at once, you know?

I decided to take this in a new direction after my hard-drive died so the gala is in the next one, sorry.

This chapter is dedicated to Jimi and Nikole because they both need it and I love them very much.

=D

****

"They look less than perfect." Tara said with a frown.

Heather George was one of Tara's closest working companions and she was madly in love with Commissioner James Gordon. Tara actually didn't mind that in the slightest—she and Bruce owed quite a lot to the Commissioner and without him Batman would still be thought of as a fame-seeking-vigilante. Still none of that was going to matter if Tara couldn't get the place to look good enough to have people there.

"I think you're being too hard on yourself." Heather told her with a shrug. "I think Bruce would be stupid to not let you host another one of these. Honestly I'm glad he hired you."

Tara smiled at her. "Thank you so much, Heather. So…you asked Jim to the Gala yet?"

"What? No!" Heather told her, a blush rising in her cheeks. "I don't think that would be very professional, so you?"

"His divorce is all finalized and he flirts with you like crazy." Tara replied with a shrug. "I say you should just go for it."

Heather rolled her eyes. "He does not flirt with me so be quiet. Hey, you're right—less than perfect."

Tara made a face, but then Heather moved the flower vase on the table so it was more centered and they decided to make sure each table had the flowers moved. There was still something missing, but Tara wasn't quite sure what it was yet. All she knew was that she wanted everything to be perfect for Bruce and this was the only thing she had complete control over because Bruce had left it in her hands.

"What about you, Tara? Who are you inviting to the gala?" Heather asked her. "It looks like pretty much everyone here has a date except for you and Bruce, but Bruce always ends up with a super model of some sort or a cheap floozy off the street so…you have anyone in mind?"

Tara swallowed and shook her head. "Nah…I think I'll fly solo on this one, actually."

"Honestly? I mean I'm sure Edward or Harvey has a friend you could invite. Jessica and Marie would never let you go alone." Heather told her with a laugh. "I've met them when you've brought them in and they're pretty adamant about you getting yourself a boyfriend."

"Yes well, maybe I don't want one right now." Tara said with a shrug and then she and Heather laughed.

Of course she wanted one! It was just that the guy that she wanted had no idea that she was even interested and even if he did, nothing would happen with it. Besides, there was a new Batman problem and the sooner she got back to help him with it, the sooner she could ask him to the Gala. It was a good shot because they both had no date and it could be strictly friends with no strings attached and she could wear a killer dress and look amazing…but first things first they had to solve the Batman problem.

"Wait a minute…where is Mike?" Tara asked as she looked around. "I got called in to check over things last minute and Mike isn't even here?"

Heather looked around too and shrugged. "I couldn't even begin to tell you, Tara."

****

Joker smiled at Mike maliciously and listened to the man's labored breathing. The sessions definitely wasn't going the way he wished it was going, but at the same time he couldn't be too disappointed—the man was singing a little bit.

"I still don't understand what you want from me." Mike told Joker, tasting the metallic blood on his tongue. "What is it that you think I know?"

Joker laughed a little. "Please…you know all about where Tara is now."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Mike replied, swallowing when he saw Joker come closer to him again with the knife.

Joker didn't know it, but Mike was madly in love with Tara and he had been for a little while. He knew she wasn't attracted to him, but there was no way he was going to squeal—if he had to die to protect her he would. Still, he couldn't deny that the pain of the knife slicing into his chest wasn't completely unbearable…he just couldn't let Joker win this…he couldn't let Tara get hurt.

"Her parents left her and they left her with something that I need." Joker explained as Mike grunted out in pain and Joker sliced some more. "All you need to tell me is how to get to her alone."

Mike shook his head. "Again, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"How do I get to her without dealing with Bruce Wayne?" Joker asked again, cutting a little deeper this time.

"Bruce will never let you touch her!" Mike found himself blurting out, and he hated himself a little for breaking even that tiny bit.

Joker smiled though, pleased with himself. "And we're getting there…"

****

When Tara went through the door to the Wayne Mansion she smiled a little because the place just felt like home. It hurt her, a little bit to think that, but at the same time she knew that deep down wherever Bruce was, that was where her 'home' was. Tara missed her parents and thinking about them made her heart hurt, but she knew that if she constantly dwelled on the past then she would never make it past it.

"Bruce?" Tara asked softly, taking off her jacket and hanging it on the coat rack. "Uncle Alfred?"

Alfred came into the Greeting Hall and smiled at her, kissing her cheek and offering her his arm. Bruce was in the Batcave dealing with the problem he had needed help on, and so Alfred simply showed Tara down there and they talked about the upcoming Gala on the way there. It was something Tara was supposed to be proud of, but she wasn't sure how it was all going to turn out in the end when things just felt like she was supposed to be doing something else—and she still didn't know where Mike was.

"There you are! Now I know you don't like working on this with me but…I think Joker's on the rise again." Bruce announced when he saw Tara and Alfred enter his enclave.

He'd been working on the issue all day and he still didn't know where Joker was, but he knew Joker was the problem. Joker had a master plan and Bruce wasn't sure how to track him and figure out what that plan was, but he knew he could do anything—he was freaking Batman!

"Joker?" Tara asked, the lump rising in her throat. "What exactly…"

Alfred gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Master Bruce maybe you should let Tara ask you her question first and then you can get back to your Batman business. You after all have two identities that have business to attend to."

"What question, Tara?" Bruce asked her, scouring over some charts.

"Will you go to the Gala with me?" Tara asked him, biting her lip as she waited for the answer.

Note: So the gala is in the next one and this story will ALWAYS be angsty, okies? Just with SOME light humor and SOME darkness. Enjoy! Feedback is always appreciated!