A week had passed ever since Barbara had come back home from the hospital and though the press had made a huge fuss about the whole ordeal, by then the whole propaganda generated by the Gotham Press had begun to die down.

After all, it was Gotham and a lot happened on a daily basis. There were several other news headlines to focus on in that week and gradually the focus from the Gordons shifted and with time, people began to stop paying such a lot of attention to what was going on with them.

Though the first few days had been very difficult for the Waynes, as they were family friends to Barbara and Jim, and also to Neal because his relationship with Barbara had been portrayed quite as a scandal.

But after a week, it all subsided and both Neal and Barbara were relieved when the press finally let go of churning out stories about them.

Neal hadn't met his little friends for long so Barbara had suggested going to Crown Point and inviting all of them over just like he used to do earlier on his monthly pay parties. He had agreed and in the afternoon, Neal took Barbara to his place.

Of course, people would still turn heads whenever they were spotted together but it didn't seem to bother them as much as it did earlier, for no one stepped up to ask any questions or make any intrusive remark.

Neal turned the key in the lock and opened the door, pushing Barbara's wheelchair inside. The place was exactly the same as she had last seen, from the crumpled sheet on the mattress, the almost bare closet, the curtainless windows and the single table and chair pushed at the side.

His apartment had always been very empty since he had never paid heed to decorating the place or adding anything other than it was absolutely necessary. But that vacant space would turn into a welcoming spot for all of his little friends, just like that day for not long after they had come in, the doorbell rang.

Neal opened the door to see Elliot, Peter, Lydia, Jason, Andrew, Sarah and all the rest of his friends. Peter and Sarah had rushed forward to hug him and he laughed as the rest also tackled him into a group hug.

Barbara too had a smile playing upon her lips because she could see that Neal felt most happy in their company and he was genuinely pleased to see all of them. She remembered very well how he had once told her that his friends made him feel happy and alive, when she had asked him about them.

"We have another guest too, y'know," he remarked when the children let go of him and soon after, the collective voice of Hi Miss Gordon greeted Barbara.

She laughed as she could clearly recall the last time she had been there to one of Neal's pay parties, "hi, how are you all?"

"We're good, how are you?" Sarah asked.

"I'm fine too," she replied, gently stroking the girl's head as she had leaned closer towards her, eyes lingering on the wheelchair. She must not have known about what had happened to Barbara so the confusion on her face was rather expected.

"Miss Gordon, would you not be dancing with us later on when Uncle Neal plays the guitar?"

Barbara thought for a while before answering, a soft smile gracing her features, "my legs have been injured, I got into an accident. But I'll join in the singing."

Elliot and Jason had stowed away the mattress in the meanwhile and Peter and Andrew along with the other kids had fetched the white dining sheet from Neal's closet. 

"Hey Neal, ice cream's on Jason for today. He still hasn't kept up his side of the bet we made a month ago," Elliot added.

Jason shrugged, "yeah, ice cream's on me."

The younger children including Sarah and Peter clapped in delight.

"What bet?" Neal asked but Jay didn't answer and gestured Elliot to shut up as well.

"Nothing," Lydia replied instead, "just a bet that Jay lost. Nothing important."

He looked at the three closely but then spoke up, "alright then, let's take the vote. Pizza or burgers?"

That once they were in a majority for burgers so as usual Elliot made a list and then placed the order. 

"The order's up and coming. But the ice cream can not be ordered here or else it will melt so we'll go to the ice cream parlor at the end," Elliot told them.

"Or we could rule it out," Jason suggested but Lydia shoved him slightly.

"No we're not. You lost the bet, you're paying."

Neal and Barbara had decided to contribute for the total cost of the meal though and had already worked out an estimate. The order arrived shortly after, brought in by Elliot, Jason and Andrew and just like usual, the kids divided themselves into two rows and sat cross legged on the sheet. 

Lydia distributed the burger boxes among all of them and after lunch and clearing up the sheet, the kids as usual asked Neal to sing for them. Andrew brought over the guitar which Neal took from him but remarked, "I'm sorry guys, I can't sing. I have a sore throat. But I will play music and you can all dance to it."

Barbara knew why he had refused to sing because those days, his coughs had worsened and he was suffering from shortness of breath which could become a problem if he talked a little too much. So he thought it best to refrain from singing.

Peter spoke up, "Miss Gordon will sing then, right?"

"Of course," Barbara smiled and Neal's eyes connected with her briefly.

"So what are you going to sing?" He asked while tuning the strings of his guitar. It had been a long time since he had last played it so it needed tuning.

She thought for a while, "what do you guys want to hear?"

Of course there were multiple choices among the audience so in the end they all settled on singing together while Neal played the music. And for that time while they were all together, just like Neal had told Barbara earlier, he very easily forgot everything about his declining health and for that short time he truly enjoyed himself in all of their company.

***