A/N: Thank you for your lovely reviews! Here's the update!

Chapter Seven - Teenagers

"Daddy!"

Bruce tensed momentarily before he realised that there'd been no fear in Sarah's squeal. In fact there was laughter. He listened; there were more giggles, this time from his son.

"Daddy, make him stop it!" she shrieked.

Ah. So tickling seemed to be the order of the day. Well as long as they didn't gang up together and target –

"Oooph!" Too late. Both the twins had decided to switch from tickling each other to attacking their dad. Neither of them could reach any higher than his ribs, so Bruce stood with his ticklish neck a safe three feet above his children.

Finally Sarah stopped, looking disgruntled. "Daddy, you could at least pretend to be ticklish!"

He smirked and then sat down on the couch. The kids immediately clambered on him, renewing their efforts at tickling. Bruce decided that he wasn't about to go defenseless, so launched a counter-attack. Ten minutes later, father and children collapsed on the couch and struggled to breathe between fits of laughter.

"Now why are you two up here?" he asked. "It's a Wednesday; you're supposed to be with your mother."

The twins exchanged a look. "Mommy's been nominated for a Booker Prize," Sarah explained, looking at him carefully. Bruce couldn't help the grin that crossed his face. It was about time she got recognition – he'd never admit it, but he had the first editions of every book she'd written... even if he hadn't yet worked up the courage to ask her to sign them. He really didn't need to feel more like a teenager with a crush than he already did.

Sarah continued. "And she has to go to London for a few days in two weeks, and there are going to be really glamourous cocktail parties and book signings and readings –"

Nick cut to the point. "And Mommy needs a date."

Bruce got up. He really should have seen this coming. "Oh no, no way, kids, no way am I discussing this with you two."

"Why not?" Sarah asked, peering up at him with an expression that was both curious and guileless. "Don't you like London?"

Bruce wasn't for one second taken in by the big innocent blue gaze. "I like London just fine," he said firmly. "I like Gotham more."

"But Mommy wants you to go with her," Nick chimed in.

Their father narrowed his eyes, refusing to acknowledge the fact that his stomach fluttered a little bit at the idea. He was too old to have butterflies for God's sake. "Has she said that?"

"She doesn't have to," Sarah said. "Daddy, you don't really want to give up on her, do you?"

Bruce turned away, unwilling to be manipulated by two six-year-olds – even if they were his own children. "I think you two should get back to your mom now," he finally said. "I'm sure you have homework you need to be doing."

They both got up and looked at the door, but didn't move. Unsurprisingly, Alfred's apparent telepathy had not let him down; he was already pushing open the door, and waiting. "Come, Miss Sarah, Master Nick. I will walk you to the gatehouse."

"Okay..." Nick said gloomily, walking to take Alfred's hand.

Sarah stayed by her father for a moment, hugging him briefly. "I love you, Daddy." She drew back, looking him in the eye with a very direct gaze. Definitely his daughter. He had the annoying urge to squirm in his seat. "And so does Mommy."

She turned and joined her brother and Alfred by the door. Suddenly she spun back to him again. "Be careful tonight," she called. In French.

With that, they were gone, leaving Bruce blinking on the couch. She speaks French? Since when?

Bruce eventually heard the front doors open and shut. Going to the windows, he watched the twins scamper down the drive with Alfred walking behind them at a more sedate pace. His lips twitched when Nick tugged on Sarah's braid, causing her to shriek and chase after him.

After several moments, his eyes drifted from the children to the gatehouse. It was the middle of the day, so he couldn't tell if any lights were on in the house, but as far as he knew, Diana was home. He briefly wondered why she hadn't called when the twins had disappeared from the house.

Well, that was most likely because she was well used to it by now. Nick and Sarah loved to play on the Manor grounds, though they were warned constantly to be careful. The last thing they needed was for one of the children to fall through a weak spot in the ground and into the plethora of caves that resided below the Manor. Though, Bruce admitted silently, that was slightly moot at this point since Sarah had already discovered the Batcave. Come to think of it, she hadn't really given him a straight answer on how she had found it.

He focused more closely on the gatehouse. Diana might be used to the twins vanishing on her with no notice, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to let her know that Alfred was returning them. Bruce turned away from the window and walked over to the phone. Yes, he'd just give her a heads up.

He steadfastly told himself he was not calling to ask about her trip to London and if she'd found a date yet.

He picked up the receiver and dialed the number. It rang about three times before she picked up. "Prince residence."

"I hear congratulations are in order," he said by way of greeting. Damn it. What had that been about not mentioning London?

"Oh... Apparently," she said with a sigh. He could picture her in her office, taking off her glasses and putting her feet up on the desk, leaning back in her chair. "I doubt I'll actually win though."

"If the panel members have read any of your books then there's no way you won't, Princess," he replied.

"You really think so?" she asked with a hopeful tone in her voice.

"I know so," he said firmly.

"Thanks, Bruce. I wish I had your faith in me."

"Well I have enough for both of us," he smiled.

She chuckled gently. "Thank you."

"The kids are on their way back with Alfred now," he said.

"Their way back?" she asked. "I didn't even know they'd gone."

"Mmm. They're getting disturbingly good at that," he replied.

She laughed again. "I'll be disturbed when they're teenagers and doing it."

Bruce cringed momentarily at the idea of a teenage Sarah sneaking out her window to meet her boyfriend. Her no-doubt tattooed, mohawk-haired, leather-clad biker boyfriend. He made a mental note never to let any teenage boy anywhere near his daughter. Was it too early to start cultivating a reputation as an overprotective father?

Clearing his throat, he changed the subject. "So when exactly are you going to London?"

"Twelve days. There's the champagne reception before the award ceremony, then the ceremony itself, then a banquet, then a cocktail party after that. Then I'm booked at several venues to do book signings and readings for about three days."

"You're going to be busy for a few days then," he commented.

"Yeah – I just hope that the League doesn't need me."

"I'm sure they can cope," he said.

"Hopefully," Diana agreed. Then she added, "And it says 'plus one' on the invitation, so I have to get a date, I guess."

"So... got anyone in mind?" he asked. His question was followed by a wince. His voice hadn't been that high since before puberty.

Diana sighed. "Not really. I can't seem to find my address book to ask anyone."

Bruce raised his eyebrow. Dare he even continue to think that the twins' broaching the subject with him had been spontaneous? They had planned this, he'd bet the Batcomputer on it. He cleared his throat nervously. "Well, if you need someone and can't get anyone else, I wouldn't mind coming with you."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "You wouldn't?" she asked quietly. "What about the city? Wayne Enterprises?"

He shrugged. "Dick told me just the other day that things were slow in Bludhaven for the moment." Slow being relative, of course. Bludhaven was as bad as Gotham used to be. "Lucius has things under control with the company," he added.

Another pause, and Bruce hoped he wasn't imagining the smile he thought he could hear in her voice. "Well, thank you, Bruce. I appreciate it."

His heart continued to pound. "I'll make the reservations," he said. "Where is the ceremony taking place?"

"Somewhere in Southbank," she said vaguely. "The invitation is in here somewhere – but, like my address book, it seems to have disappeared. I'll find it later."

"You sound tired," he noted gently.

She chose that moment to agree with him in a non-verbal manner, by letting loose a huge yawn. "Understatement of the year," she chuckled. The smile faded from her voice as she continued. "I can't stop thinking about those children we saw..."

Three days ago, they'd been in the last pocket of Kasnia to give up on the civil war. Audrey had done a good job; for the first time in decades, peace had been established, however fragile it was. Still, the League had been needed in the northwest, where a warlord was basically holding the entire region hostage, threatening to starve the people unless his demands were met. They went in, and he was now awaiting trial in the Hague for war crimes. What had not gone according to plan was the fact that he'd made good his threat. There were thousands of people starving. Including hundreds and hundreds of children, most of them no older than Sarah and Nick. He and Diana had seen at least two dozen little bodies, wrapped in sheets because there had been no time to build enough coffins. Bruce knew it was the same with Diana, but he couldn't stop imagining his own children's faces under those sheets.

"I know," he said quietly. "Sunday night I ended up watching them sleep."

"I've been doing that too," she confessed. "I just... I can't imagine what –"

"Then it's probably best not to," he pointed out kindly. "They're okay, Princess. We'll protect them from anything; you know that."

"I know," she replied. "Thanks, Bruce. I just..."

"You're just doing what every mother before you has," he finished. "It's a miracle they're so independent, given how much we worry about them."

She chuckled. "True."

Over the line, he heard the door open and the voices of the twins. "We're back, Mom!"

"I'm in the study," she called.

"Who's on the phone?" he heard Sarah ask.

"Your father," Diana said. "And don't think you two are off the hook – you know better than to wander off without telling me where you're going, even if you're going to the Manor."

"Sorry, Mommy," Sarah said, her voice perfectly pitched for butter-wouldn't-melt. "Did you find your address book?"

"No, not yet."

Nick's voice was next, and Bruce had no doubt that the kids and Alfred had been discussing this on the way down. It was in no way a secret what Alfred thought about his and Diana's relationship – or lack thereof. If the kids were after an accomplice, they had a perfect one in Alfred.

He and Diana stood no chance.

"Ask Dad about London," Nick urged his mother. "You already have his number."

"I already have," Diana said. "Now – homework, go!"

There was a stream of probably very-well rehearsed complaints before they left to do so.

Diana came back on. "I should probably go – they'll be hungry soon; I need to make a start on dinner."

"Alright. I'll let you know when I've made the reservation," he said, a grimace following almost immediately.

Thankfully Diana didn't seem to have noticed his Freudian slip. "Alright. Thank you, Bruce."

"Anytime," he replied, meaning it.

"Bye."

"Bye, Princess."

He put the phone down and then realised that despite his protestations, he had been played by his kids after all. Still, no need to let them know that.

Unfortunately, it seemed the Fates were not going to be so kind; he'd gotten two steps away from the phone before it rang again.

He picked up it, but didn't have time to issue a greeting before Sarah's excited voice came through. "So? What did you say?"

Bruce rolled his eyes.

This wouldn't do. This wouldn't do at all.

Diana was in her bedroom, packing for London. The flight was tomorrow, and so far she'd managed to make none of the preparations she'd been intending to – the children had seen to that. Not deliberately, of course. In order to give Diana a little time to herself, Shayera had offered to take the kids out for the day, but had then herself been called away for League duties, leaving John to mind all four children. And he was a wonderful father, she knew that, but he'd not thought to check the sugar content on the slurpees the children had been drinking all day.

Thus, they'd arrived home high as kites and dragged her out to play football with them whether she had the time to spare or not. They hadn't tired for more than five hours, stopping only when none of them could see the ball anymore in the gathering dark. It was only in the last few hours they'd begun to wind down – Nick was asleep now, and Sarah was in her pyjamas ready for bed if not quite in it yet.

Diana had no choice but to trust her daughter with getting herself ready for bed, since she needed to pack. That had been the plan, anyway. Now the plan was deciding what she was going to wear.

More specifically for the awards evening.

Even more specifically what was going to make Bruce go weak at the knees.

She'd not found any suitable dresses in her closet so far. Yes, they were all beautiful and formal and comfortable – but she felt like none of them were right.

She'd gone through green, blue, purple, grey, black, white, and come up empty. She was now trying on a gold silk gown that fell to her toes, with a plunging neckline that covered both her breasts but revealed just enough cleavage. She had suitable accessories that would go. But she wasn't sure...

Just as she was debating changing outfits for a seventh time, there was a gasp from the doorway. Diana's eyes darted to Sarah's reflection. She had her mouth wide open. "Mommy," she whispered. "You look so beautiful!"

Diana smoothed her dress again. "Do you think so?"

She nodded, came in and sat on the end of the bed. "Is that what you're wearing on the way to London?"

Diana laughed. "No, little star. This is for the award ceremony on Tuesday evening."

"Oh right," she said innocently. "Daddy'll love it."

"You think so?"

The words were out before she could stop them. Immediately, a brilliant smile spread over Sarah's face. Diana waited for the cheering and squealing to begin, but it didn't happen. Instead Sarah seemed content to grin quietly, only saying, "Yes, I'm sure."

A/N: Kinda sedate, I know, but give it a couple of chapters. Plan B isn't far away! Review please!