"Miss Kyle is here, sir," said Alfred, appearing on the stairs in the Batcave.
"Tell her I'm a little busy at present," retorted Bruce, not turning around. "And anyway, she's early."
"I wanted to talk to you privately before the others got here," said Selina, appearing behind Alfred. "To ask you if you've gone crazy."
Bruce sighed, turning around to face her. "Thank you, Alfred – please go check on dinner."
"Have you gone crazy?" repeated Selina, as Alfred bowed and left. "Inviting lunatics over to your house for dinner, when there's a chance, however remote, that they could stumble upon this place?"
"No, Selina, I haven't gone crazy," he snapped, returning to his work at the laboratory table. "I wanted Rose to be here so I could easily get a sample of her blood for analysis purposes. And I knew she wouldn't be allowed to come unless her parents were with her."
"Why would you want to analyze her blood?" asked Selina.
"So I can save her," retorted Bruce. "So she doesn't have to die come winter."
"Why would you care?" asked Selina.
He turned to look at her again. "I always care about saving lives, Selina," he muttered.
"No, you care about saving human lives," retorted Selina. "There's a big difference between those and Rose. She's not a human. She's a plant hybrid. Basically a monster."
Bruce laughed without humor. "That girl is not a monster, Selina. And she's been a great influence on Ivy and Two-Face – neither of them has committed a crime since she came along. I want her to be a distraction for them for as long as possible."
Selina was silent. "That's all she is?" she asked, lightly. "A distraction for them?"
"What are you implying?" he asked.
"Well, you did seem quite taken with her at the ball," said Selina, pointedly.
"So what if I was?" he asked. "There can't be anything between her and me, Selina, even if she wasn't going to die. She's the daughter of two of my enemies. You think I could ever tell her the truth about Batman?"
"You told me," she replied, shrugging. "And I'm friends with a lot of your enemies. And I'm dating one now."
He turned to look at her. "I knew you well enough to trust you before I told you. I still trust you, Selina. I hope I haven't misplaced that trust."
He turned his back to her. "You'd better get upstairs before your boyfriend arrives."
Selina glared at him and stormed upstairs, slamming shut the clock that was the entrance to the Batcave. She heard the doorbell at that moment and followed Alfred to the front door. He opened it and her rage grew when she saw Two-Face and Poison Ivy on either side of their daughter, holding her hands. They looked like a perfect, happy family together.
"Harvey," Selina said, forcing a smile as she came forward to kiss him. She noticed Ivy glaring at her jealously and made the kiss last.
"Where's my kiss, kitty?" giggled a familiar voice, and Selina drew away with a scowl.
"You brought the clowns?" she demanded of Two-Face.
"Rose insisted," he said. "What was I supposed to do?"
"Tell her no," retorted Selina. "Children need discipline as much as they need affection, Harvey."
"I can tell you've never been a mother, Selina," said Ivy, with a forced smile.
"No. But I've known a lotta little spoiled brats in my time," retorted Selina.
Rose was the only one who didn't seem to notice the hostility in her tone, and just smiled and hugged her. "Good to see you again, Auntie Selina."
"Don't call me that!" she snapped. "I'm not Ivy's sister."
"Well, neither am I, technically, but I like being called Auntie Harley," said Harley. "It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside."
"It makes me feel like a dowdy spinster," growled Selina.
"Well, how appropriate!" giggled Joker. "That's what comes to mind every time I see you, cat lady!"
"Harvey, good to see you again…" began Bruce Wayne, emerging from his study, but his charming smile fell when he saw the Joker and Harley Quinn standing in his doorway. "And…you've brought some guests!" he said, dragging his lips back up into a smile with a colossal effort.
"Yeah, sorry, Bruce, hope you don't mind," said Two-Face, apologetically. "But the clowns stopped by to see Rose, and rather than disappoint them, she insisted we take them along."
"No, I don't…mind," stammered Bruce. "Good to see you again, Mr. Joker. Miss Quinn."
"Yeah, how ya doing, Brucie?" chuckled Joker. "Nice place you got here!" he said, looking around the entrance hall. "Must have cost you a bundle, but I guess you can afford it."
"Yes, it cost me…my parents' lives," said Bruce, slowly.
"Guess it was a steal, then!" chuckled Joker. "Hey Jeeves, scotch on the rocks and make it snappy," he said, turning to Alfred and snapping his fingers.
Alfred's normally imperturbable face looked slightly put out. "And for the lady?" he asked.
"I'd like a grape soda, if you got one," said Harley.
"I was referring to Miss Rose," retorted Alfred, coldly. "A glass of champagne, perhaps, Miss? Master Bruce has told me to open a bottle."
"Oh…Mother usually only lets me drink water…I'm not allowed a glass of champagne or anything, am I, Mother?" she asked, pleadingly.
Ivy sighed heavily, sharing a look with Two-Face. "Ask your father," she snapped.
"Father?" pleaded Rose.
Two-Face shrugged. "Why not? You only live once."
He frowned as he reminded himself of his daughter's condition, but she didn't seem to care, kissing both him and her mother on the cheek.
"Let me escort you into the dining room, Rose," said Bruce, holding out his arm for her.
She beamed and took it, smiling back at her parents. "Do allow me to show you all to the dining room…" began Alfred to the rest of the group, but Selina stormed past him, muttering, "Thanks, I know the way."
Joker grinned, giggling to himself as he followed Alfred down the hall. "It's gonna be a fun evening, Harley girl!" he chuckled. "I can tell already!"