Gala Surprises (Amy-DC)

“Amelia, we need to go,” Roger Carter yelled up the stairway, in the hope that his youngest child and only daughter would magically appear downstairs, ready for the evening.

Roger impatiently waited with his wife and their two sons. His daughter was still upstairs, apparently, putting on the final touches for the night’s event. He sighed as he wondered what could be taking his daughter so long, all she had to do was wear a suitable dress for the formal setting of the night.

He anxiously checked his watch on his wrist as he began to pace at the bottom of the stairs. In all of the years that he and his wife had attend galas never had Ellen taken as long as Amelia did. He watched as Lucas rolled his eyes at his sister’s actions.

“Roger, calm down, we’re no where near being late,” ellen soothingly told her husband with worried eyes.

Roger paused midstep to look at his wife, “Ellen, whenever we attened galas, Amelia makes us late, always. Have you never noticed?” he asked sarcastically.

Eleanor frowned at her husband’s tone, she knew her daughter took time but Amelia only wanted to live up to the family repuation. Something that Roger never seemed to understand. “I’ll go check on her,” she snapped as she climbed the stairs to escape her husband’s irritated mood.

On the landing, she paused and gasped in a breathe as she caught sight of her daughter. Amelia abruptly stopped, she nervously wrung her fingers together. Just behind the twenty-two year old female stood Margaret Carter-Sousa, the Carter-Sousa Matriarch, and Roger’s mother. Despite, Peggy being in her seventies, she looked lovely and Amelia looked very much like Peggy. It was like looking at Amelia when she would be seventy.

“You look beautiful, Amy,” Ellen told her daughter as she gently pulled her into her arms for a hug.

Amy buried her face into her mom’s dark waves, that were styled 1940’s waves, she breahed in the familiar scent of roese and honeysuckle. Her arms around her mother as she tried to clam herself. “Thanks, mama,” she mumbled into her mother’s hair.

Ellen pulled away to study the soft lilac colored dress, it hugged her daughter’s slim build quite well. As Ellen took a closer look at the dress, something about it felt familiar to her but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

“Come along, you two, we best get moving before Roger storms up here. Honestly, that boy knows nothing about patience,” Peggy muttered with a roll of her dark brown eyes, as she moved to the staircase.

“Oh, Nana, let me help you,” Amy offered as she offered an arm for her grandmother.

Ellen shook her head as she followed behind her mother-in-law and daughter. As the trio approached the bottom, Roger, again, began to complain about women taking far too long to get ready. Amy frowned at her father’s words, but she knew he didn’t enjoy attending the lavish parties, just as she didn’t.

“Roger, the next time you receive an invitation to a gala, I highly recommend you decline to make an appearance,” Peggy chastised her son with a grimace on her face. Her eyes were narrowed as she caught her son’s dark eyes, the same ones that Amelia and Peggy herself all had set into their features. “Now, get moving or else the Queen family will think us rude.”

Peggy and Amy walked past the trio of Carter men to move to the waiting limousine, in front of the door. Ellen accepted the arm, Roger offered as they followed behind the matriarch and heiress. Henry and Lucas, both trailed at their own leisurely paces but never were behind with their long strides.

The six sat in the back of the limo, Amelia’s attention unfocused as her thoughts drifted to the guest list of the Queen gala. Elite families from all over the country were supposedly going to be attending the nights events, she briefly wondered if one Wayne heir, would be making an appearance. As quickly as Amy entertained the thought, she shook her head to clear her mind of those thoughts.

Bruce rarely attend galas that didn’t benefit one of his charities. She hadn’t seen the billionaire since his return from his supposed death. It seemed that Bruce Wayne was willing to throw away anyone from his past.

Amelia pushed those thoughts away as they reached the driveway of the Queen Estate. There were rows and rows of photographers and journalists wanting pictures and comments of the night’s events.

“Remember, no speaking to reporters,” Roger reminded his children as he looked at the three of them.

Amy, Henry, and Luke nodded like little ducklings. “And please no trouble,” he pleaded before he stepped out of the limousine, with a fake smile plastered on his face.

The three children looked at one another and rolled their eyes, but waited patiently for their turn to exit the vehicle. Roger helped both his wife and mother out of the limousine. Henry exited after his grandmother, Luke was quick to follow with Amelia just behind. As she stepped out of the car, flashes and shouts were quickly sent in her direction.

With a warm smile, Amelia accepted Luke’s arm as they climbed the stairs to enter the gala. The questions followed the family, but not a word was spoken as they entered the doorway. Just inside the foyer was Oliver Queen, with Laurel Lance.

Amy smiled as they stopped to greet the duo, her parents kept the conversation brief. As did her grandma, but it didn’t bother the Carter children.

“Hi, Ollie,” Amy warmly greeted her chidhood friend and former dance partner, with a quick hug.

“Amy,” he sighed in annoyance as he pulled away. “You look lovely, much better than when we were children,” he added with a chuckle.

“So mean,” she said as she moved to hug Laurel. “Laurel, you look stunning. It’s such a shame, Ollie looks dim next next to you,” she complimented as she threw the retort to her friend with a playful grin on her face.

Laurel laughed as she hugged Amy. “Before you two get into anything that could be disastrous, stop,” she ordered as he looked between the two. “But thank you, I love this lilac color on you. I knew you were nervous about this color but it looks amazing.”

A bright blush bloomed on Amy’s cheeks as she looked down at her feet. “Thank you,” she mumbled in embarrassment. “How’s the party going?” she asked as she looked at Oliver in hopes that he would change the subject.

“There are lot of interesting guests inside,” the former playboy admitted as he nervously played with his tie, loosening the collar from his throat.

Amy frowned and with narrowed eyes studied the Queen Consolidated CEO, “Who’s here that I’m not supposed to know about, Oliver?” she asked with a tilt of her head. Her dark waves fell more heavily over her right shoulder.

The tall male gulped, as he tried to think of an answer. He should have known better than to comment about the guests. He peeked over at Laurel from the corner of his eyes, and frowned as he saw her pinched expression. The tall golden haired woman, was not going to help him out this situation.

“Oliver?” Amy asked as she crossed her arms over her chest. Her foot tapped impatiently against the polished wooden floor.

With a sigh of defeat, Oliver looks down at Amy with sorrow filled eyes. “Bruce is here,” he admitted to one of his closest and dearest friends.

Amy’s gasps a breathe as her heart stops for a beat, before it begins to slam into her rib cage over and over. Brown eyes grown wide at the news. Time has stopped for Amelia as she realizes that Bruce had decided to attend the Queen’s gala.

“Amy?” Oliver called out hesitantly as he began to worry for her.

With a gasp, Amy shook her head as she took deep breathes to calm her racing heart. Her eyes closed as she tried to regain her nerve to actually go inside. “I’m fine, Ollie, but I’m beginning to wonder if I can hide out in the garden before anyone realized I never actually made it inside,” she pondered as she blinked up at Oliver and Laurel.

Laurel pulled Amy to stand beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “I’m sure your dad would notice quicker than you would want. Or mine would notice, he is a detective after all,” she reminded the small and slim brunette, who looked like a 1940’s movie star.

Amy groaned and threw her head back, temptation to bang her head against the wall called. But she knew better, her parents and Nana had taught her how to properly behave at formal events. Translation, do nothing to embarrass the family or herself, lest she wished for all of the country to learn of her mannerisms. “This is one of those times, where I wish I could turn invisible,” she sighed as she looked back at her friends.

“Me too, Mia, me too,” Laurel agreed with soft sigh, as she hugged Amelia to her side.

A soft chime rang from the ballroom to the foyer.

“We better get in there, before people think we ran off together,” Oliver said as he smiled at the two women present.

Giggles of laughter rang from the two females, “It wouldn’t be the first time someone thought that,” Amy reminded Oliver.

Oliver shook his head, before he offered an arm out to each of them. Both, Laurel and Amelia accepted proffered arm, as they moved to the ballroom. Quietly they slunk into the room and joined the crowd as if they had been apart of the audience from the beginning. The cocktail hour appeared to be going quite well.

Many business men and politicians stopped the trio to say their hellos. Compliments flowed to Laurel and Amelia for their beauty, while many tried to make business deals or personal inquires of the trio. Some dared to ask of the relationship status, of the female pair attached to the Queen son. Neither female gave a straight answer, but many jested Oliver’s ability to handle the two gorgeous women on his arms.

Stares fell on the trio as they circled the room, to greet the guests. Whispers escaped loose lips, from those who drank one too many glasses of the expensive and wonderful champagne served. Three families ignored the rumors spread about the three adults, as Oliver was engaged to Laurel and Amelia would be co-maid of honor for the nuptials. The trio were close friends and had been for years, ever since Amelia had invited Laurel to her house for a play date with Oliver.

Unseen to Amelia, Oliver, and Laurel a pair of bright sapphire blue eyes followed the movements of the brunette member of the trio. Envy and shock filled Bruce Wayne as he glimpsed at Amelia Margaret Danielle Carter-Sousa. When he fled Gotham after Joe Chill’s trial, she had been a gangling awkward thirteen year old girl.

The woman who now greeted the many socialites in attendance, was not the same Amelia. Somewhere in the eight years that Bruce had been gone, she had grown up. No longer was she the little girl who followed after him like a duckling to their mother. Now, she was a swan, graceful and elegant yet something dangerous glinted in her eyes at times. No she wasn’t the same.

Bruce downed the remaining champagne in his glass, he exchanged the empty flute on a tray as a waiter approached for a new one. The billionaire confidently strode towards Robert and Moira Queen, the pair warmly greeted the newly returned man. A few moments later, Oliver, Laurel, and Amelia approached the trio.

Amelia moved forward to accept hugs from Thomas and Moira, who were her second set of godparents. She met Bruce’s gaze over Moira’s shoulder, quickly she averted her attention to the questions the pair asked. A warm smile fell on her lips from the conversation.

“Bruce don’t just stand there, come say hello,” Moira chastised the billionaire.

Bruce moved closer, he shook hands with Oliver and pressed a kiss to Laurel's cheek. The engaged pair smiled as they conversed with Bruce, while Amy listened to Moira and Robert talk about their conversation with her parents earlier.

A little while later, Oliver and Laurel left to continue to circle the room and greet even more of the guests. Thomas and Moira excused themselves, leaving Amy with Bruce. Before she could flee, Bruce gently caught her wrist.

“Amy,” he greeted as he looked at her with sad eyes.

“Bruce,” she rplied, her eyes locked with his.

-fin

A/N: This is the part where I confess, this piece was written during NaNo. I didn't think that I would posting a piece so soon, but I couldn't think of anything to write. This seemed like an appropriate piece for the holidays. I hope you enjoy this piece and last Sunday's. 

The Christmas piece that came out on 12/24/2017 was written early on in December in my journal. It is five nights of entries, and heavily edited. I'll see you all Sunday with a new piece.