[AN: Vanity takes on a more literal meaning here. This is more of an interlude than a chapter, mostly because I feel like Dana could have used a little more development and I don't think it can happen with her repeating the same cycle. Hopefully this will be her chance at that. Also there's a small Sex and the City reference in there, just because the quote sort of sums up how I feel about Max and Dana's relationship. I hope you like it.]

Dana's bathroom is beautiful. Her countertop is made of vintage red and brown granite and all of the fixtures, from the faucets to the showerhead, even the flush button, are gold. The tile is exquisite, the cosmetics that crowd to the left of the sink are top of the line and even her towels radiate luxury. But for all of its glitz and beauty, the most important part of this bathroom is very often taken for granted.

The mirror.

It is the only fixture that is not kept in pristine condition. In the middle of the left side is a permanent streak where Dana wipes away steam after her showers. The area behind the sink is covered in water spots and in the upper right hand corner in small capital letters are the initials DT and MG, written in permanent marker. (And in spite of multiple reminiscing sessions, neither girl can remember for the life of her when this was written.) All of Max and Dana's most important conversations have taken place in front of this mirror. When they're thirteen they raid Max's sister's closet, taking all of the dresses and shoes that are too small for her and spend the entire afternoon and most of the evening in front of the mirror playing what they are much too old to call "dress-up".

"Yesterday I bought my first bra," Max says as they teeter in stilettos that are still too big. Dana's eyes widen in excitement.

"Really? What was it like?"

Max's nose wrinkles. "It was kind of boring actually. There was nothing pretty or lacy like we thought. Mine are all white and plain."

Dana sighs. "When we get older we're never going to wear anything boring or plain. Lace-less lingerie need not apply." She giggles as she says the last part and soon she and Max are back to modeling their newly acquired wardrobe.

At sixteen they're sitting on the bathroom counter trying out makeup tips from three different magazines. Dana is gingerly swiping on her first coat of eyeliner while Max is curling her eyelashes.

"Terry and I had our first real date last night," Dana says slowly. Max smiles and looks at Dana in the mirror with her open eye.

"Where'd you go?"

"We went to see a movie. It was sort of stupid, but Terry really liked it so I didn't say too much." They laugh in unison before Dana continues. "Afterwards we got ice cream and walked around. It was nice."

"Uh-huh," Max says dryly.

"What? It was a very nice evening!" Dana says defensively.

"You have been telling me for a month about how you guys feel each other up in the parking lot and you expect me to be satisfied with 'We saw a movie and had ice cream'? Give me details!"

Dana laughs out loud and narrowly avoids jabbing her eye with the pencil. "All right, we made out a little in the movie. And in line for ice cream. Oh, and in the park. And in the driveway before my dad turned on the light."

Max laughs and raises her hand for a high five. "That's my girl!"

This mirror has seen it all, from their first sleepover (where they hid in the bathroom and talked for hours) to their first breakups (Dana still won't say the name of Max's ninth grade boyfriend and she swears that if she ever sees him again she'll kick him in the shin and walk away). It's been a tradition and today is no different.

It's the morning of their graduation and they spent the previous night painting one another's toenails and talking about middle and high school. In three months Dana will go to Metropolis University for either communication or education and Max will stay in Gotham, having been hired as an interning programmer for the newly renamed Wayne Enterprises. All night they had diligently avoided thinking about "the countdown" (as Chelsea had named it after Dana announced her intentions) and subsequently avoided bursting into tears, but in the light of day they finally face the reality of their situation.

"Can you zip me up?" Max asks from the bathroom. Dana quietly walks in and drops a necklace on the counter before pulling Max's zipper up. Max watches as Dana's forehead wrinkles in much more concentration than necessary. Dana speaks before she does.

"I broke up with Terry the other night," she says quietly. Max's eyebrows shoot up and she hears the pain in her voice before she sees it reaches her face.

"What happened?" she asks softly. Dana shakes her head and steps around, picking up her necklace and motioning for Max to help. They trade places as she explains.

"It's just time to move on. I love Terry but he breaks dates when we're within five minutes of one another; Metropolis is three hours away. I can't just keep waiting around, hoping he'll make me a priority and he can't just keep waiting for me to be more understanding. It was killing us both. This way, we end it before we hate one another," Dana finished quietly.

It's the end of an era, Max thinks sadly as she slips the clasp through the hoop. "I'm so sorry D," Max says. Dana smiles gently.

"Don't be. Sometimes first loves don't last, but we'll always love each other. And I got you in the divorce," she jokes. They both stare at their reflections quietly for a minute. "Max?"

"Yeah?"

Dana looks up and Max sees her eyes are beginning to fill. "Take care of him for me?"

"Of course," Max says as she hugs Dana. "He needs all the help he can get." They laugh together for the umpteenth time and hold on to each other for dear life. Dana finally sighs and looks into the mirror.

"Look at us. We're pathetic." Max laughs again as they stare at their blurred reflection. "I'm coming back every chance I get to see you guys."

"And when Wayne's asleep, I'll kidnap Ter and we'll come see you," Max promises. "Promise you'll take care of yourself?"

"Do you?"

Max nods and holds up her pinkie. "Promise." Dana wraps her pinkie around Max's and they kiss their intertwined fingers.

"Come on, let's dry up so we can get going." Max grabs some tissues and hands one to Dana before shoving the rest into her purse. They dry their eyes, brush their hair and glance for what feels like the last time at their initials before finally going out to the car. When they get to the school Terry is waiting in the parking lot leaning against a car borrowed from Bruce. Dana maneuvers her car smoothly into the space next to Terry's.

"Wow," Max says as she gets out. "He let you borrow the Jag?"

"If there's so much as one speck of dirt on this car when I bring it back he'll kill me. But I figure it's worth the risk," Terry says. Grinning slyly he stands up straight and heads for the trunk. "I brought us a little something." Dana and Max share a suspicious look before following him. He opens the trunk to reveal a small cooler, and opens the cooler to reveal three water bottles containing what definitely isn't water. He hands a bottle to each girl and then takes his own as he waits for their reaction.

"Champagne?" Dana asks after she opens her bottle and sniffs the contents. "How did you get this?"

"Powers sent a bottle to Wayne earlier this week and Wayne told Powers very kindly where he could stick the bottle, so I figured he wouldn't mind if I took a little."

"Way to put those delinquent powers to good use," Max compliments. Terry allows a self-satisfied smirk to cross his face before raising his bottle.

"I figure we should make toasts. You know, like at really high-class events."

"Because all the best toasts are given in the parking lot," Dana says dryly. She smiles and lifts her bottle also. "To Terry for being the best worst boyfriend a girl could ever ask for. I'll always love you, dreg. And to Max for being born. To loosely quote one of the best shows ever, frag everyone else; we're soulmates." Dana winks at her and Max laughs aloud as she raises her bottle.

"To my two best friends for being my family when mine fell apart, for loving me even when I was a twip and for reminding me of what's really important in life: laughing until you pee with people who will love you and your pee pants." Dana snorts which sets all three of them off and it's a little while before Terry has pulled himself together enough to make his toast.

"To my two favorite girls. I've done wrong by both of you a lot, and it's something I'll never forgive myself for. But you both have forgiven me time and time again and I'm eternally grateful. You two are the most important people in my life." Max's eyes are full for the second time in less than an hour and against her better judgment, she looks at Dana. A single tear is running down her cheek as they raise their bottles.

"To us," they chorus. They swig in unison and all three know that no matter what happens, this will be the moment that will forever sum up this day.