Sorry for the delay. I said this would be posted two days ago. But I got distracted by something shiny. Thanks for all the reviews. I hope you've enjoyed the story. And this is it, the final part of "One Night in Gotham".

EPILOGUE

With Batman in the Watchtower infirmary for three days after their date, it was up to Diana and the Batclan to clean up the mess.

It was a joy working with Batman's surrogate family, and Nightwing in particular seemed to reciprocate the sentiment. "So you're the girl he occasionally pulls his head out of his ass for, huh? Mad props to you, Princess," Nightwing grinned. Diana decided she liked the young man immensely.

It took very little work to round up Ivy's enthralled victims. Most continued to putter around the construction site aimlessly, lost without their mistress. Batgirl supplied an anti-pheromone agent to Gotham General, and within forty-eight hours, everyone was recovered and sent home.

It took another day to round up Poison Ivy. It proved to be a major coup. They found her in a seedy nightclub on Gotham's Lower East End. Turns out she was meeting Harley Quinn for drinks. Gotham's bad girls were each about four martinis into their reminiscences when Diana and the Batclan burst in. With both women well on their way to drunk, they provided little resistance.

So in a matter of ten minutes, Diana, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Robin took down two of Gotham's most notorious supervillians, along with a dozen other thugs wanted on various probation violations and warrants. Ten minutes after that, they were loading their prisoners into armored vans under the personal supervision of Commissioner Gordon.

"Wonder Wo- Diana," Gordon amended. "You're working with the Batman's crew now?"

"One show only, I'm afraid," Diana smiled.

"Don't count on that," Batgirl not-so-quietly said to Robin.

"I have to say I agree," Gordon answered. "Seems you fit right in. Even Batman doesn't usually bring us two of Arkham's finest at once." He again nodded his thanks and resumed supervision of the transport.

"So how's the old man?" Nightwing asked.

Diana blushed guiltily. "Uh, a few cracked ribs, mild concussion, bruised larynx, and electric burns. Apparently I was none too gentle while under Ivy's influence."

"Don't feel too bad," Nightwing said. "The old man needs a good thumping once in a while. Keeps him honest."

"You can say that again," Batgirl and Robin intoned.

Nightwing grinned at his colleagues. "What I think we're saying, Diana, is that we'd all appreciate your continued efforts to keep him in line. Truth be told, I don't think he'd mind, either."

Diana smiled sadly. "He proclaims otherwise. Quite loudly, sometimes."

"That's just his way," Batgirl assured. "He thinks alternating between being a grumpy gus and obnoxious jerk gives the illusion he's in control. For such a complicated man, he's amazingly simple."

"What she said," Nightwing agreed. "The key to success to with Batman is to know when to ignore him."

"Which is when?"

"Pretty much any time that isn't life or death. How else do you think Alfred's managed to work for him all these years?"

Diana stared. "So your advice is to...?"

"Ignore him, yes" Nightwing said. Robin and Batgirl nodded sagely in agreement. "With Bruce, if you want something from him, you gotta grab it. That's how Tim and I became Robin, how Barb became Batgirl. Sure, he protests and glowers, but if he really wants to stop you, he can and will."

"He just wants people to prove they're dedicated to him and what he does," Batgirl explained. "Just be prepared for him to keep making excuses and pushing you away. He's an odd bird. Always thinks he needs to protect others from himself."

Diana smiled. That certainly sounded like Batman. "Good to know. But I'm not quite sure where all this advice is coming from."

"It's based on your obvious infatuation with our boss," Nightwing supplied.

Diana sputtered. "I am not-!"

"You called Watchtower five times tonight checking up on him," Batgirl said.

"Six," Robin corrected. "She called once while you used the bathroom."

"Seven," Nightwing corrected. "Diana called when she went to the bathroom, too."

Mouth agape, Diana wondered how the hell he knew that. But his cocky grin was all the answer she needed. He was the son of the World's Greatest Detective. The apple certainly didn't fall far.

"It almost sounds like you're supporting my feelings for him."

"We are. And not just because you're the most agreeable option. Not that Selina Kyle and Talia Al Ghul aren't setting a low hurdle to leap. But you're the only one, I think, who isn't interested in changing him."

"Which is good," Batgirl agreed, "because he's never gonna change. Not in any significant way, at least. But if you're persistent and forceful, you can build a place in his life. The only question will be if you can accept however much he gives in return."

Diana returned to Watchtower shortly thereafter to discover that Batman had teleported back down to the Batcave. With a sigh, Diana resigned herself to not seeing him until the next crisis or Founder's meeting, whichever came first.

Three days later, it was a Founder's meeting. Nothing of particular note, it wrapped up inside an hour. Batman bruskly stood and moved to depart quickly, as was his fashion. Diana didn't care if she looked strange chasing after him. She caught up down the hall, and after a bit of coaxing, convinced him to join her in a break room.

"Did you need something, Princess?"

"I just wanted to say thank you." His brows raised beneath the cowl. "For trusting me. I'm honored you allowed me to join you on a mission in Gotham. And I want you to know, if you ever require assistance again, don't hesitate to call me. The League doesn't need to know."

She had expected him to reject her offer. And it even appeared he was about to. But to the surprise of both, he merely nodded in acquiescense.

"I also want you to know, Bruce, that I'm truly not looking for anything you aren't ready or willing to give. But it means a lot that you trusted me the other night."

Batman allowed himself the slightest of smiles. "Truth be told, it wasn't altogether unpleasant. Even though you were mostly useless and I had to save you."

Anger flared momentarily. But when she saw his smile morph into a smirk, her anger was forgotten and she gaped in amazement. "You're teasing me? Are you still concussed?" Batman chuckled. It was amazing how wonderful it felt knowing she caused it.

Diana was content to leave things at that. But as she turned away, she felt a gloved hand wrap around her wrist. Looking back to Batman, she was struck by his almost bashful appearance. He refused to meet her eyes.

"Would you like to attend a concert with me?"

Today was obviously a day for surprises. Then again, the past week had brought one surprise after another. What with driving the Batmobile, an impromptu mission/date with Batman, and working with his family.

"Pardon?"

"A concert. With me. Want to?"

He was obviously uncomfortable having such a conversation in the cowl. Nor was he able to summon up the suaveness of Bruce Wayne. It was, frankly, adorable.

"I...okay. Who are we seeing?"

"Arsenic and Old Lace."

Diana gaped. "How? Those tickets have been sold out for weeks!"

Batman shrugged. "I'm Bruce Wayne."

And no further explanation was required. Diana grinned. "Are you sure? There's going to be lots of people. Metropolis Metrodome seats forty thousand."

"I'll deal. Can't be worse than the last concert I attended."

"Why? What happened?"

"Someone tried to incinerate the main act."

"Oh."

Batman finally managed to meet her eyes. "I'm not offering anything beyond a concert," he said. It almost sounded convincing, but Diana swore she heard an unspoken "yet" tagged at the end.

"So long as you buy me a concert t-shirt, I can accept that." Batman swore he heard a silent "for now" at the end of her statement.

After a nod of agreement, he said, "One request." Diana nodded back, begging him to proceed. "When we attend the show...I drive."

Diana mocked gasped. "I wasn't that bad," she called after his retreating form.

"You destroyed that gearbox," he threw over his shoulder.

"I did not!"

"And I had to replace the afterburner fuel. Do you know what a pain that is?"

"The look on your face when I used the afterburners was priceless. Like a scared little child."

His purpose in Gotham temporarily forgotten, Batman walked with Diana to the commissary, the pair squabbling all the way.

THE END

Well, I hope you all enjoyed. I may do another multi-part story here in the future. I also have an idea for a one-shot that might be fun. Until then, goodbye! Thanks for all the reviews!