"Mr. Wayne! Over here! Are you taking this appearance as confirmation of the rumors involving you and Wonder Woman?"

"Wonder Woman! Are you in love with Bruce Wayne?"

"Are you two finally going public?"

"What about Superman? Does he know?"

"Is the bachelor finally settling down?"

"Do we hear wedding bells?"

"Is this the end of the Womanizing career of Bruce Wayne?"

Bruce chuckled lightly as he ignored the yells and pulled Diana closer against him. Their arms were linked and Diana felt the warmth of their closeness energize her heart. "My, my, you've caused quite the stir. Haven't you?"

"Why don't you answer some of their questions so they will stop?"

"Princess, they will never stop. As a Wayne, I have had to get used to the insistent pestering of the press. Thankfully, the only press actually allowed inside are friends."

It was true that Bruce had plenty experience in the limelight. But for Diana, she couldn't believe her eyes. The carpet never seemed to dirty, no matter how many feet went upon it. The entrance, as well as the whole block, seemed as if it were broad daylight. Gotham seemed…not as scary. As different people called out for her, Diana felt as though she would get whiplash from trying to attend to the cries of the people. She felt lost.

Diana looked to Bruce, he stood straight and proud. On his face, there was a smile easily plastered there through experience. In his eyes was a sense of stoic detachment. However, when he felt her gaze, he turned to face her. The transformation in his eyes and expression were immediate. His smile was now full blown and true. His eyes lit up and filled with the one thing she never thought that she would find on Man's World. Love.

"Can you handle this?" He asked playfully. "Being with the infamous womanizer? Hearing the whispers of long forgotten nights? Staying with me through all the droning of elderly men who have nothing to do but speak of the day when their company was the best?" He leaned his face closer to her ear. "Can you be with me at my worst?"

Diana had her answer, well answers. Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes. But the last question couldn't mean what she had been thinking of. What did he mean by 'his worst'? The first thing that popped into her mind was the horrible nights he came home from his patrols later than usual covered in blood. But as she lightly pushed him back to face him, she saw the tension in his body, the pain in his eyes. This was what he meant. His worst was when he had to pretend. The times where he had to put on his mask and rub elbows with the people who didn't even know him, but his parents. The times where he felt at his lowest and as if he were alone in the world.

With her free hand, she cupped his cheek. In that moment, it was as if they were back at their place, the mansion. The sounds of the press seemed to die away. "Bruce, I want it forever. For as long as you'll have me, I will be here."

Bruce shut his eyes and touched his forehead against Diana's. "I want you forever. As long as I'm breathing, as long as my heart remains beating."

With a smile and a heart that felt as though it had burst from her chest and was flying towards the sky, Diana kissed Bruce. That moment, the shouts came back full blast and the couple was nearly blinded as the press took endless shots of their passion filled kiss.

Eyes sparkling with humor, Bruce once again leaned into Diana. "I think we've spent enough time showing our love to the press. Even though we haven't gone in, I already have a feeling that this was the best part of the night."

"Oh Bruce, let's just go in and have some fun."

"Alright Princess, after you." He bowed mockingly and she only laughed and walked past him into the ballroom.

"No…way."

John chuckled as he saw Wally with his mouth wide open. "What's the matter Kid?"

When Wally said nothing but continued to stare, J'onn answered for him. "I believe our friend is shocked at the couple who have just come in."

Confused, John let his gaze follow Wally's. When he saw the couple, he had no shock. He had already known about Bruce and Diana. Why else would she always be in Gotham? "Hard to believe."

"Of course it is!" Wally seemingly snapped out of his shock. "That's … bat- Bruce! And Wondy! Oh! My heart! I feel so betrayed!"

J'onn was amused. "One cannot help with whom they fall in love with." His expression took a sad look. "It is a beautiful thing and one should never let it go." His sad look reached John. "No matter what happened between the two."

John felt his heart ache. Clearly that little speech was meant for him. He looked at Wally, the poor kid was still in shock and was watching Diana as she came towards the small group. Bruce was no longer with her.

As she joined their group, Wally hurled himself into her arms. "Oh Princess! How could you? My heart has officially broke."

Diana blushed and chuckled. "Oh Wal- Flash, we both know that it wouldn't have worked out between us. You have Fire to think about right?"

He chuckled. "You're right. And now you have rich boy Bruce Wayne to think about." Suddenly, he got a wicked gleam in his eye, out of the corner of John's eye, he saw J'onn crack a small smile. Intrigued, he watched as Wally slung his arm around Diana and pulled her close. "You know, I've always wondered why big shot Bruce Wayne built all these skyscrapers, the biggest ones in the city. Is he compensating Princess, you should know right?"

Her face went bright red, John's mouth fell open, Wally grinned and J'onn only looked at the other person who had just joined their little group. "Green Lantern, the Martian Manhunter, the Flash, how good it is to see you again."

All persons looked at Bruce Wayne. On the outside he had a little smile. Only Diana and J'onn knew that smile only hid the rage he had for Wally. John could only guess. Wally audibly gulped.

"Mr. Wayne! Hehe, you know I only kid, right? I love all your towers! They're like…so fancy."

Bruce only glared. That is, he glared until Diana linked their arms once again. Bruce looked at her and smiled. He nodded to the small group of his fellow heroes. "I regret to say that I must take my leave. The Princess demands it. Enjoy your night." He leaned threateningly towards Wally. The playboy voice had disappeared and was now replaced with the gruff, cold voice of the Bat. "But not too much. I'd hate it if something broke. I'd have to take care of the punishment in my own special way. Understand, Wally?"

"I understand Mr. Wayne." He zipped away so that he was now behind John. Gathering what little bravery he had left, he made eye contact with Diana as she began to walk away with Bruce. "Hey Wondy, save me a dance, will ya?" Then, to Bruce's annoyance, he winked.

"Of course Flash, I'll save you a dance!"

When the couple was out of ear shot, Wally let out a huge breath. "Guys, I really thought that he was going to skin me alive."

J'onn chuckled. "Bruce would not have done that. He knows that he could at the tower without creating a scene."

He chuckled lightly. "He can't touch this." He slapped his chest with closed fists. "Whoa, who's that chick?" The other two men followed his gaze.

There, at the other side of the grand ball room stood two women. One was clearly more energetic than the other. She wore a bright red dress that had black streaks on both of her sides. The other one wore a black dress with green streaks on one of her sides.

Wally straightened his jacket. "I think I'm going to go say hi. Wish me luck."

J'onn watched Wally bemused. John, however, felt his heart constrict. He was pretty sure the two women had looked familiar. He reached out an arm to stop Wally but was too late. The kid had already zipped across the room.

"Is there something wrong John?"

"No. Nothing." John then left his friend in confusion as he walked away.

"Katie, how many old people have to be here? I mean really, can't they just send in checks?"

Katie laughed as she led Shayera to the drinks. "Obviously, you've never been to one of these. I've already told you. The old farts here are here for one purpose and one purpose only. Which is to show who here has the most cash. They don't care about the children who benefit from this. They just want to look the best. Thankfully, there are people here like Mr. Wayne who really does this for the children."

"He is a decent guy, isn't he?"

Katie looked at her friend as she noticed the sad tone. "He is. Are you alright Sh- Scarlet?"

Shayera took a glass of champagne and gulped half of it down. "I'm fine. Just a little down."

Katie frowned and was going to say something but was interrupted as she saw Shayera stiffen. "What's wrong?" Katie asked, concerned.

"There's someone coming here, and I want you to talk to him while I get away."

"Why?"

"It's Flash. He can't know I'm here. If he knows, then John knows and this will become a disaster."

"Scarlet!" Katie hissed as she tried to grab her fleeing friend's hand. But the ex-hero was too fast. Wally zipped right up to her and grinned.

"Scarlet? Is that your favorite color? Because if it is, I'm the guy for you."

"Uh… actually I was trying to get my friend. Who, unfortunately decided to leave my side."

Wally's grin got even bigger. "Perfect! I mean, that was rude of her, but maybe we can use this time to get to know one another?"

Katie smiled. This guy was pretty funny. Playful too. "I already know who you are. The Scarlet Speedster. The fastest man alive. Hero of Central City. And one of the founding members of the Justice League."

Quite dramatically, Wally put his right hand over his heart. "I'm flattered! That was incredible. I've never met a chick who could say all of that without fainting or throwing themselves all over me."

Katie scoffed. "All good things must come to an end right?"

"Heh, right. Look, can I get you a drink? Since we are right next to them and all."

"Look, kid, you're sweet but I hate to break it to you, I don't roll that way." Grinning at his shocked expression, Katie leaned forward and patted his cheek. "Have a nice night while I go find my friend. It was nice meeting you."

Hips swaying left and right, Katie made sure Flash had a great view. She smiled to herself as she felt fantastic. That had to be the funniest thing she would ever do to anyone. She grinned as she thought what Shayera's reaction would be.

Then her steps faltered as she remembered her friend was leaving her tonight.

Then her heart clenched in pain and she bit her lip.

This was her last chance to tell her friend that she had done the stupidest thing ever since she was in college. She fell in love.

"Enjoying the evening so far, Ms. Hall?"

Shayera sighed and moved away from the wall she had been leaning on. She didn't make eye contact with him yet. "I've been here for an hour already and I still don't see the point. I lost Katie a while back; it's almost as if she was avoiding me."

Bruce smirked all knowingly. He had known Katie for years. Due to his high intelligence and paranoia, he also knew everything about her. Including her sexual orientation and past relationships. People might call that creepy to some level, probably the highest, but to Batman it was being cautious.

"Have you told her you're leaving tonight?"

"Yes, she knows."

"She's going to miss you."

"I know."

He's going to notice you sooner or later. You can't avoid him forever."

"It looks like he's doing just fine."

For a nanosecond, Bruce was confused. Not letting it show, he followed Shayera's gaze. There, John seemed to be looking for someone but he seemed unable to escape the woman that was talking to him. Bruce knew who she was. Soon, the world would to. The female in question was Mari McCabe. She was new to the hero scene, but Bruce had seen her in action. The woman could fight.

"Jealous?" He asked with a smirk.

Shayera snorted. "Of course not. It's for the best anyway." She grabbed her second drink of the night from a waiter who had drinks on a silver platter and sipped. "Maybe he'll forget about me."

"You know he won't."

"I know."

The pair stood in silence as they watched John as he struggled to free himself from the girl. When he did, Shayera took that as her sign to mingle once again to ensure she never found herself near him. "I doubt you'll let me leave without seeing you but just in case, I want to thank you. Thank Alfred for me too, he is so kind. I'm not sure if I'll be back." At his slight glare. She gave him a fake smile. "I mean, when I'll be back. If you want, I'll keep in touch. Just contact me through Fate." Shayera walked away and dove into the sea of elbow rubbing and fake laughter.

After she left, Bruce soon felt a hand on his shoulder. He smiled as he took that hand and gave it a kiss. "Princess." He said in greeting.

"Mr. Wayne."

He scoffed. "Please, Mr. Wayne is my father."

"Amusing." She sighed. "How is she?"

"I thought you hated her."

"Doesn't mean I cannot be curious."

"She's fine. She is going to leave soon."

"Bruce, maybe…maybe you should tell John."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well," She stepped closer to him and wrapped herself around him. "If anything happened between us and you simply disappeared, I would go mad thinking and wondering what had happened to you. I probably would search the whole world multiple times just for the chance to hear about you or even see you."

He pushed her away and covered her hands within his own. Then brought their hands to his broad chest. "Princess, you never have to worry about that. I'm not going anywhere, ever."

"I know Bruce. But our situation is different. He needs to know."

Bruce sighed and looked into the eyes of his other half. 'My better half.' He thought to himself. "Alright. I'll tell him. You are absolutely right. He deserves to know."

He kissed her hand once again before letting them go. "I'll go and tell him. But after that, this night belongs to you and me, that's it. Agreed?"

Diana rolled her eyes. "Alright. Now go."