The limousine materialized a few streets from Sinful Sadie’s. "Thanks Mike!" Bruce said in his communicator.

Looking in the rear view mirror, Alfred enquired, "Mr. Lucas, which direction shall we take?"

"Make a left turn at the next intersection, then turn right at the traffic lights, the night club will be just around the corner, you can’t miss it." Joey replied.

"Very well Sir!" Alfred replied.

Joey dialled a number on his cell phone, "Sadie? Joey here! Yes, I realize he’s halfway through the first set, I’m sorry we’ve been running a bit late…" Joey rolled his eyes, chuckling, "Well don’t you give me lip young lady, I’m bringing you a party of 10! Yes, you heard me right!" This time Joey was giggling uncontrollably, "Can’t wait to see you either, we’re just round the corner now, ciao Sadie, see you shortly!"

Curious eyes looked at Joey. "Just a running gag going between Sadie and me since her and Marc started dating again. She teases me that I’m too uptight and ought to loosen up like Marc. Just now she was telling me I was too busy with work to make it to the show on time, shame on me – giggling the whole time. She’s looking forward to meet you all."

Joey snapped his fingers, "It just dawned on me some of us don’t speak French …"

J’onn, Diana, Barbara and Cassandra raised their hands. Joey looked at Tim, "I didn’t realize you spoke French!"

"I can carry a conversation." Tim said.

"Same here." Bruce said.

"Ditto." Dick said.

"Kori and Shayera were there for the language transfer …," Joey continued.

"Say no more Joey!" Kori said, reaching for J’onn and Diana’s hands. "Cassandra and Barbara; hold onto J’onn and Diana’s hands …yes, that’s it, like a circle!" they gasped as her hands gently squeezed J’onn and Diana’s hands, completing the circle. The language transfer was complete.

"That was easy!" Cassandra said.

"Indeed!" J’onn said.

Alfred parked the limousine. "Ladies, gentlemen, we are here!"

They got out of the limousine, Bruce walking with a slight limp, one arm around Diana’s shoulders for balance. He realized with an amused expression on his face that both Diana and Shayera were sporting similar prop glasses to help hide the fact they were Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl, and both of them had their hair in a ponytail.

Joey and Shayera walked ahead of them, hand in hand, leading them to the Club’s entrance where owner and manager Sadie Stevens was waiting for them. Dick and Kori were following, arm in arm; Tim and Cassandra followed suite also holding hands. J’onn followed them in his John Jones form, pushing Barbara’s wheelchair in a very courteous way.

Joey turned around and saw Alfred was not joining them.

"Bruce? Isn’t Alfred joining us?" Joey asked.

Bruce chuckled, "I have a feeling Alfred isn’t much of a popular music buff," he said, "He has a thermos full of coffee, sandwiches and the Limo’s DVD player. He’s set for the evening!"

Joey nodded as they approached Sadie who walked up to them, smiling.

"Joey, Sheryl, so nice of you to join us!" Sadie said, smiling, shaking Joey and Shayera’s hands.

"Hi Sadie," Shayera said, returning Sadie’s smile.

"Evening Sadie," Joey said, "allow me to introduce my employer and friend Bruce Wayne,"

Bruce smiled and shook Sadie’s hand.

"This is his fiancée Diana Prince," Diana also shook Sadie’s hand.

"My buddy Tim Drake and my ‘little sister’ Cassandra Cain," they also shook Sadie’s hand.

"…who also happens to be Tim’s girlfriend; and my good friends Dick Grayson, Kori Anders, Barbara Gordon and John Jones." Sadie walked up to them and shook their hands.

"I am very happy to meet you all – we’ll have to reintroduce you to Marc once the first set is finished," She said with a wink, "but he is very excited to see his brother and meet his good friends! Your table is ready, please come in!"

"I like her," Cassandra whispered in Tim’s ear, "she’s friendly, and very pretty!"

"I think you’re prettier!" Tim whispered back in her ear.

She smiled at him, and stopped to kiss him passionately. They looked into each other’s eyes and giggling, ran after the others, entering the club, holding hands.

"Don’t dilly dally you lovebirds, you don’t want to get locked outside!" Barbara teased, with a wink.

"You’re just jealous because Jean-René couldn’t join us!" Cassandra said, also teasing.

Barbara giggled. "I’m not complaining; I’m in good company!" She said, looking at J’onn.

"It is my pleasure Miss Gordon!" J’onn said, with a friendly smile on his John Jones face.

They sat at their table. Marc and the house band, many of them who had been part of the same blues band Joey once belonged to, were wrapping up their first set.

Marc recognised his brother and girlfriend Sheryl sitting at their table, with a much larger party than expected. He smiled. He had a surprise in store for him, with Sadie and Sheryl’s complicity.

The house band finished their song, the last one of the first set. Smiling, Marc stepped up to the microphone, and looking at the VIP table, said, "Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen, we will take a short break, I see my brother and his friends finally made it! We have a surprise in store for you Joe!"

Marc walked to the VIP table as the rest of the band went to the bar for a drink. He kissed Sadie and sat with them.

"A surprise for me huh?" Joey said, clapping his brother on the back.

Marc smiled, "Let’s just say our beloved girlfriends were accomplices!"

Joey gave Shayera a curious glance; she smiled sheepishly at him.

"Well, allow me to introduce you: Sheryl you’ve already met," Shayera winked at Marc, "My friend and employer Bruce Wayne, his fiancée Diana Prince, my buddy Tim Drake, the girl I told you I call my ‘little sister’ Cassandra Cain,"

"Also Timmy’s girlfriend!" Cassandra said, with a charming smile, holding onto Tim’s arm.

"And my good friends, Dick Grayson, Kori Anders, John Jones and Barbara Gordon." Joey said.

"I am very pleased to meet you all," Marc said, shaking their hand one by one, smiles abounding. "And let me warn you, this guy’s in trouble!" He added with a grin, looking at Joey. "That’s the surprise: you’re playing the next set with us brother dearest!"

Joey gave his brother a shocked, incredulous look. "Are you serious? I haven’t seriously practiced in two years! You were in on this Sh –Sheryl?" He added, looking at Shayera who was laughing uncontrollably.

Barbara joined in the fun, chanting, "Go for it! Jo-ey! Jo-ey! Jo-ey!"

Everyone at the VIP table joined in the chant. Joey chuckled, shaking his head and said, "Okay, okay, if you insist!"

Dick pulled his cell phone, and pressed a button, smirking.

"What are you doing?" Kori asked.

"Preserving this for posterity," Dick said, smiling, "filming for our friends at the Watchtower and Titan Tower who couldn’t be here tonight!"

Kori giggled as their friends walked to the stage.

Both brothers got up, and walked to the stage. Joey smiled and asked, "You wouldn’t happen to have an acoustic guitar strung up with light strings would you?"

"I certainly do," Marc said, "and more Joe!" Marc pointed to the guitar stand backstage, smiling.

"Curly Sue!" Joey said, recognising his honey coloured Les Paul with the curly maple top, "How did you get it from my place in Gotham to … our girlfriends were accomplices!" Joey said, rolling his eyes.

After a pause, his smiled, and picked up the acoustic guitar first. He stepped up to the microphone. "Okay, so let’s start with an acoustic song, I’m dedicating this one to my loving girlfriend." He turned to the band, "You guys jump in whenever you’re ready."

Joey began playing a nice fingerpicking pattern, the musicians jumping in as they recognised the song. Shayera smiled as Joey sang a song telling the story of a young woman who spent her childhood daydreaming in class about Kitty Hawke, and who grew up to become a pilot herself.

She smiled when Joey sang the verse:

"You wrapped me up in a leather coat and you took me for a ride, we were drifting with the tail-wind when the runway came in sight, the clouds came up to gather us, and the cockpit turned to white, when I looked the sky was empty, I suppose you never saw the landing lights."

"Kind of like the first time he flew in my arms, well, close enough!" She thought with a tear, smiling. Diana saw it and smiled at her, putting a hand on her arm.

The song ended and the crowd applauded. Diana gave Bruce a sideways glance and grinned. She cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled "Joey, Love Song!"

Joey nodded in acknowledgement and said a few words to his brother; then went backstage to get Curly Sue. Bruce blushed as he recognised the song, that song that reminded him so much of the way he feels for Diana. She smiled and kissed him.

Joey changed his voice again – so much higher pitched than his normal low-key voice – and sang. He got to the part that made Bruce shiver: "Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am young again, whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am fun again." Bruce looked at Diana and they kissed again.

As Joey got to the lyrics: "However far away, I will always love you" his eyes met Shayera’s. He saw her smile and felt his heart skip a beat. The house band took a bow as the crowd applauded, with a chant of "En-core, En-core, En-core!" coming from the VIP table.

Joey chuckled and said in the microphone, "I would like to thank my fan club sitting at the VIP table!" which was greeted with general laughter. "How about we ask my brother to sing one for us?"

The crowd applauded, but Marc stepped up to his microphone and said, "No way dear brother, I worked the whole first set now I’m giving my vocal cords a break!"

"Oh boy!" Joey said, chuckling. He put Curly Sue back on its stand and picked up the acoustic again. "Can a dude get a drink at least, like come on?" more laughter.

A barmaid came to the stage with a beer for him. "On the house!" she said.

Joey looked at the VIP table and said "Thanks Sadie!" then took a sip.

He put the beer bottle on the stage in front of him, and mumbled a few words to his brother, who nodded with a smile. He sang a song, well known to most of the audience present, about a boy who blamed his overprotective mother for his life going awry.

More applause and they took another bow. He took another sip and said, "Okay, how about something to make you all dance?" The crowd applauded their approval. The DJ came on. Joey and Marc returned to the VIP table.

"You’re not off the hook yet Joe!" Marc said, chuckling.

"That’s fine Marc; I just want to take my girl dancing!" Joey said.

"Now that is a fine idea my brother!" Marc said.

A slow song was playing.

Joey took Shayera by the hand and took her to the dance floor, followed by Marc and Sadie. Bruce limped behind them with Diana holding him, Dick and Kori, Tim, and Cassandra joined them on the dance floor.

"I am not familiar with that human ritual," J’onn said, "though my good friend Artemis and my human companion did try to teach me."

"It’s simple John," Barbara said, "You move to the music, holding hands with your partner if you wish. If I still had use of my legs I could show you."

"Who says you can’t?" J’onn said, smiling at her. He wheeled her to the dance floor, and holding her hands, moved his body to the music. She smiled at him and thought, "Thank you J’onn that is very sweet of you!"

In his John Jones form, he smiled back at her, replying telepathically, "It is my pleasure Barbara, there is no reason for you not to enjoy this dance!"

Diana smiled at Bruce and said in his ear, "Your leg’s already fully healed, isn’t it?"

"Pretty much," Bruce said in her ear, with a wink, "but they’re not supposed to know that, so I’m laying it on thick for them!" As if to prove his point, he held her closer, favouring his previously injured leg.

Dick and Kori were slow dancing, looking into each other’s eyes, and an entranced expression on their faces. Tim and Cassandra sported angelic smiles on their faces, eyes closed, enjoying the moment.

As they danced, Joey noticed Shayera’s teary eyes and asked, "Angel, what’s the matter?"

Shayera smiled and said, "It’s those songs preacher, you really put a lot of feeling into them; they struck a chord!" she smiled and winked at him. She put her head on his chest. He held her closer. Smiling, he gently raised her head with his right hand, fingers on her chin and kissed her.

"It’s getting late, care to catch the sunrise with me again?" Joey asked.

She looked up lovingly at him, "You’re the best Joey! I love you!"

"I love you too Angel!" he said, kissing her again. "Four more hours until sunrise, and I have a few more songs to sing, Miss accomplice!"

Shayera laughed, and kissed him back. "You know, Dick was capturing that performance on his cell!" she said, leaning her head on his chest again.

"Why that conniving son of a gun!" Joey said, giving Dick an annoyed look across the dance floor.

"Don’t be mad at him Joey; he’s recording it for those Justice Leaguers and Titans who couldn’t be here tonight." Shayera said, holding him a bit tighter as the slow dance ended.

Joey chuckled. "You’re right Angel, nothing for me to get bent out of shape about!"

She kissed him again as the group walked back to the VIP table. Dick looked at Marc and asked, "Say Marc; is it okay if I join you guys? I see your keyboard player’s a no-show tonight, Joey’s being a good sport and I wouldn’t mind giving you guys a hand!"

"You play keys?" Marc asked.

"I’ve indulged in a few lessons!" Dick said; giving Bruce a sideways glance, the private School curriculum included music lessons, rather strict ones at that.

Dick handed his cell phone to Kori, showing her how to operate the mini camcorder. He walked to the stage with the brothers Lucas. He sat behind the keyboard and said a few words to Marc and Joey who nodded at him. Dick played an intro using a piano patch on the keyboard, which sounded uncannily like a genuine grand piano.

Once again, Joey changed his voice, this one closer to his true tone of voice. He sang the song of a man far from his wife, missing her dearly and feeling sad and abandoned because she does not pick up the phone.

Once again, Shayera felt tears stinging her eyes. She was not alone as she noticed Diana dabbing her eyes with a napkin, Kori putting Dick’s cell phone on the table so she could blow her nose, Tim giving Cassandra a hug as she too was wiping the tears from her eyes and J’onn sympathetically patting Barbara’s hand as she also dabbed the tears from her face.

"He puts so much emotion in his singing," Shayera though, "It almost feels like he’s asking me to pick up the phone!"

"His performance is intense indeed!" J’onn could not resist telling her telepathically.

"Do you mind J’onn? I’m trying to enjoy my boyfriend’s performance!" She replied in thought, with mixed annoyance and surprise.

"My apologies Shayera, I did not mean to intrude. I too feel the intensity of Joey’s performance. He gets into the mood of the song and lets it guide him." He replied telepathically.

"No worries J’onn, you just took me by surprise is all." Shayera said. "I have to admit Joey, Marc and Dick have great chemistry." She thought with a smile.

Unnoticed from the rest of the VIP party, still holing her, Tim and Cassandra were kissing, eyes closed.

To his surprise, Dick sat in for the duration of the third set, and took a bow with the house band; then posed for photos with Joey and Marc, arms slung across each other’s shoulders.

Barbara grinned as she noticed Cassandra was asleep in Tim’s arms, as Dick, Joey and Marc returned to the VIP table.

"My friends this was a blast!" Marc said, smiling. "We definitely have to do this again!"

"Absolutely," Sadie chimed in, "The VIP table is open for you, give me a buzz and I’ll make sure it’s ready!"

"Why that’s a very kind invitation Sadie and Marc," Bruce said, "It would be a pleasure!"

"Agreed!" Diana said. She always used to give Bruce a hard time for not having enough fun in his life. He was making an effort, and she did not want him to stop.

Kori was nodding and said, "San Francisco is a long way from here, but Dick and I would be happy to come again!"

"Then it’s agreed," Shayera said, "the next time our schedules all match, we are definitely doing this again!"

Joey put an arm around her, she smiled at him and they kissed.

They had one last drink. Bruce took a sip and Diana leaned on him, closing her eyes. He smiled at her, marvelling on how beautiful she looked.

Kori also snuggled up to Dick, and whispered something in his ear. He smiled and kissed her. Tim did not dare move and wake up Cassandra, but then noticed she was smiling.

"Were you pretending to be asleep?" He asked, snickering.

She opened her eyes, looking sheepish and said, "Maybe…I just enjoy leaning on you with your arm around me, boyfriend!" They kissed.

"This was a lot of fun J’onn, and you were great company," Barbara thought, knowing J’onn would hear her, "I was a bit nervous that being around Dick and Kori would be a bit awkward, but it went fine. If I’m still with Jean-René then I might ask him to join us next time we do this. You should ask your human companion to join us too!"

"It was my pleasure, and yes, tonight was very enjoyable," J’onn replied telepathically, "I fear my companion is a bit like Alfred: not a big popular music buff. But I definitely will offer her."

Marc and Sadie were also snuggled together, her head leaned on his chest, eyes closed, smiling; his arm around her shoulders.

Shayera smiled and whispered in Joey’s ear, "Don’t forget – you owe me another sunrise!"

"A promise is a promise, mon Ange!" Joey whispered back, sending shivers down her spine.

They said their farewells and returned to the limousine. Bruce chuckled as he saw Alfred snoring behind the drivers’ seat, the DVD for "Breakfast at Tiffany’s" still playing on the car’s DVD player.

"Alfred!" Bruce said.

Alfred bolted awake, his cap falling off his head. "Oh, er, yes, Master Bruce, I apologise, I must have dozed off!"

"No worries Alfred, but you really should have joined us in there, it was a fine evening." Bruce said, as they all got back in the limousine, J’onn once more picking up Barbara from her wheelchair and gently putting her on her seat, then folding her wheelchair and putting it in the back of the limousine.

Alfred adjusted his cap and stopped the DVD player.

"I believe we should get back to the same coordinates we transported to, and then ask for the transport back to Wayne Manor’s garage." Bruce said to Alfred.

"Very well Sir." Alfred said, starting the limousine.

Alfred drove them to the same abandoned side street.

"Batman to Watchtower 1, you still awake Mike?" Bruce said, feeling a bit awkward about referring to himself as "Batman" when he was out of uniform.

"Watchtower 1 to Batman," the familiar voice of Superman replied. Mike’s Sentry duty shift had ended a few hours before, and Superman was back from his Paris picnic with Lois in time for his sentry shift.

"Mister Terrific left the transport coordinates, how was Jam night?" Superman asked.

"A lot of fun," Diana chimed in, "You and Lois are invited o the next Jam night – that is if all our schedules match; how was Paris?"

"Charming and much too short, "Superman said, "Are you all in position?"

"We certainly are," Bruce said, "you may throw the switch Kent!"

"Don’t call me Kent when I’m on duty!" Superman said. Bruce chuckled.

The limousine transported back to the Wayne Manor garage.

"We need mega z’s" Dick said, yawning.

"As well as a shower!" Kori said, shaking the fabric of her blouse from her sweaty skin, looking embarrassed.

"We’ll take our leave then, good night everyone, keep in touch, we really must do this again!" Dick said, smiling. Kory held onto his arm and waved as they transported out.

Bruce typed a few commands on the Bat-Computer. "I’ve transported the Bat-Cycle and Redbird back to their respective garages, Wilfred will give you a lift back home." He said to Barbara, Cassandra and Tim. "I think Alfred needs his sleep!"

"That is very much appreciated Sir!" Alfred said.

"How about you, you’ve had a few drinks out there are you okay to drive?" Bruce said, looking at Joey and Shayera.

"Two beers over the course of the evening with food …I’d say I’m good to drive, but if you insist Shy can drive us home. I have a promise to keep you see!" He said, smiling at her. She smiled as he handed her the keys.

"I guess I shall take my leave as well." J’onn said. "I will indeed extend your brother’s invitation to my companion, Joey. See you all later!" J’onn transported out.

Bruce and Diana were the only ones left in the Bat-Cave. "I think it’s time for us to catch some sleep tough guy!" Diana said.

"Lead the way Princess!" Bruce said, putting an arm around her shoulders, his limp completely gone.

A few hours later, Joey and Shayera were on the roof of his apartment building, facing east. Snuggling up together, they watched the sunrise. They kissed tenderly, then went back to his apartment to sleep.

Tim arrived at Barb and Cassandra’s place in a hurry. Cassandra had just called him simply saying she needed to see him now, but gave him no explanations. Tim was worried, "Maybe she’s having an anxiety attack? Maybe the memories of the dead clone have resurfaced, my poor Cass!" He thought.

He rang the doorbell. To his surprise, Cassandra answered the door, all smiles, cool, calm and collected. "Come in Timmy!" She said. Tim noticed she was only wearing a bathrobe and swallowed nervously.

"Cass, what gives? You sounded like you were having a panic attack!" Tim said, looking confused. Cassandra read the confusion from his body language before he even spoke. She smiled, hugged him and kissed him.

"Sorry I played trick on you, boyfriend!" she said, smiling. "Barb away for long weekend with Jean-René and we’re off Knights rotation until next week. She took Tim by the hand, leading him to her bedroom.

She had lit several candles, Tim saw Cassandra had been reading up, an open copy of the Kama Sutra on her bed.

"Cass, are you sure you’re ready for this? The first time can be painful, and it is very intimate." Tim said.

"Timmy, if ever be sure of anything, I sure of this." She said, slipping out of her robe in a sensuous motion. She enjoyed the effect disrobing had on Tim: he was growing nervous, and aroused. He was in the palm of her hand.

"Cass, you… I …"Tim tried to say.

"Shh, you talk too much boyfriend!" she said with a smile on her face. She kissed him, pulling his-t-shirt off. She hugged him. Feeling her bare skin against his sent shivers through his body, his knees buckled. She giggled.

She took him to her bed, unbuckling his belt. "Cass," he said, "I want this too, but you’re taking me completely off guard, I’m not prepared, the last thing we want is for you to get preg …" he stopped in mid sentence as she showed him the condom box on her night table, with a smug look on her face.

Tim kissed her passionately, and swept her off her feet. He gently laid her on her bed, kissing her from head to toes. Cassandra closed her eyes, smiling blissfully. Tim was soon also naked and lay next to her, kissing, caressing.

The single thought on his mind was, "Be gentle, go nice and slow, and whatever you do, don’t hurt her."

Lovingly, gently, slowly and tenderly, Tim made love to her. They rolled onto their respective side of the bed, gasping and smiling.

"That was wonderful, boyfriend!" Cassandra said.

"And I promise Cass, it will get even better! Tim said, putting his arms around her. She snuggled up to him and they fell asleep.