When the twins came out for breakfast the next morning, no one could believe what they saw. The girls who till yesterday had been at each other's throats were today joined at the hip, completely absorbed in their own world. In the food line, they stocked up on each other's favorite foods. They ignored their other friends and chatted away to the isolation table, telling each other how they'd spent their lives. Ella was jealous of Emma getting to live with everybody, but Emma tried to convince her that it wasn't always a party. Elena, who had grown up on fairy tales and a very entertaining mother, romanticized life in the manor especially the part where her dad was a prince and a knight. Emma was completely in love with the idea of Batman's baby mama, her mom, being a rogue.

After spending the whole morning enjoying each other's activities, the twins took a lazy walk around the lake, randomly spewing off stories from their lives.

"Oh wouldn't I give up anything to live in a castle for a day..." Ella moped, kicking rocks.

Emma suddenly stopped in her place.

"Call me crazy, but I've got an idea!"

"I am not going skinny dipping!" Ella refused, hugging herself tightly.

"Forget that! No, I mean, you've bee dreaming of princes and castles, and I've always wanted to know mom..."

Elena caught the twin telepathy rather quickly.

"I look like you!" She grabbed her sister's hand.

"And I look like you!" Emma continued.

"We could totally switch places!" they said in unison as they spun in excitement.

After staring at each other's faces for a whole minute, the excitement quickly fell to realization.

"This could never work."

"You've got a streak in your hair!"

"Your ears are pierced! And you have an accent."

"An... and you've got a mean spirit!"

"Working out our differences, are we?" a croaky old voice diverted their attention to the older Ms. West making her way over.

"Um, of course!" Ella answered.

"Yeah, being locked up together really got us bonding!"

"That's wonderful! Y'know, without the hair and the personality, you two could really pass of as one person! You're sure you're not sister?"

"Certain!" Emma answered before Ella could even get a word in.

"Oh, that's a shame. But it's lovely to see you two getting along. See you at dinner girls, toodle-loo!"

"Toodle-loo!" the girls waved together, struggling to keep their hands to themselves behind her back.

"And why didn't we tell her again!?"

"Because if we did, she might have called dad and mom and told them about us!"

"Wouldn't that have been the most ideal scenario?"

"Most ideal... no! What if they don't like each other! What if they absolutely hate each other and take us back and we'll never see each other again."

"If only we knew why they broke up, mama never talked about it." Elena murmured as they slowly began to walk back to their cabin.

"I can think of one. Cats and birds do not get along!"

"Dad's a superhero..."

"And mom's a..." Emma didn't want to finish, and they quietly continued up the trail.

On their way, they passed a girl treating a wounded knee from a rough fall.

"Does it hurt getting your ears pierced?"

"Asks the daughter of Batman?!"

"What?! I can't be nervous? He's a human too, y'know!"

"Sorry, sorry. I don't remember, mum had them done when I was very little."

"Hmm."

"Y'know, red's not exactly my most favorite color." Elena said in reference to the streak in her twin's hair.

"Well, which is, then?"

"I'd go for purple."

"I guess there could be worse. You gotta toughen up, though."

"Fine, but fairy tales aren't that bad, y'know!"

"Sure, if you don't grow up in a house full of boys!"

Ella gave her a side eye.

"Fine, they're not so bad."

"Are you artistic?"

"I dabble. Do you know how to kick ass?"

"As if you need more proof!" Ella teased.

Emma rolled her eyes.

"Please! You got your ass handed to."

"I wouldn't try that again, water lover. I've got a black belt!"

"Finally! Something we have in common. That's one thing off the list."

"That's fine, we've got three weeks to switch."

"We're really doing this, aren't we?"

"Is Bruce Wayne Batman?" Ella whispered.

"Yes!" Emma replied ecstatically.

"Then yes we are, Ms. Kyle!" Elena Kyle winked to her twin.

"It'll be a pleasure to play you, Ms. Wayne!" Emma Wayne joked back.

Over the next to weeks, the girls really did put their heart and soul into learning to be each other, with a slow start of course. It took a day or two to get past the jokes and the complaints. It was really hard for Ella to drop the accent, while Emma wasn't really used to being a girly girl. Emma learned that Mexican Spanish was different than the language of Spain, and Ella found out that living with a house full of boys made you a tomboy.

One their last weekend, the girls took a cab out to the city to get their cosmetics aligned. Their first stop was the hairdresser's, where Emma's streak was turned purple, and Ella got a red one in the exact same place as her sister's. They took a stroll through London, sightseeing and practicing their switched personalities every chance they got. It was starting to get late before they remembered the ear piercings.

"No, no, no and no. Not happening. Sorry, I refuse!"

"Well, you've got me down pretty good, but get real! I can't go to camp with pierced ears and come back without them!"

"Dios! You're doing me pretty well too. I don't know..."

"I'll get one with you, so you won't feel alone."

"Where in the world would you get more! You've already got two!"

"I'll... get my cartilage pierced. I mean, it'll also look less girly and more, bad ass!"

"Now that sounds like me!"

"Well, when did you get your hair done? Did you tell dad?"

"Only after, I had Dick take me. Daaad, um, didn't explode, but it took him a minute to digest."

"Why don't we ask Dick?" Emma suggested, "Or rather, I'll ask him since I'm supposed to be you?"

"Okay."

"Okay."

The girls walked to find the nearest McDonald's for free WiFi, and Emma coached her twin on what to expect on a video chat with their oldest brother as the bell rang.

"So, he calls me kitten, now I know why. And he's pretty laid back and chill, so you just go with the flow."

"Alright, kitten is what he normally calls you, I mean me, no need to freak."

The line connected and a face slowly came into view.

"Top o' the evening to ya, milady."

"Dick!" Ella half shouted, totally teary eyed getting to see her brother for the first time.

"Aww! Is my kitten getting homesick? I can come getchya!"

"Aww, no I'm not! And there's only a week left, I can come back myself."

"As you wish, m'lady!"

"I went to England on a plane, not a time machine. You're sure grandpa's not around, right?"

"Oh, he's not. I'm in Bludhaven."

"Good, so that means dad's not there either."

"Oooh, why'd you ask? What are you planning on doing? Have you been calling Jay more than me?"

"Shut up, idiot. I haven't done anything yet, that's where you come in."

"What can I do for ya?"

"I... am... gettingmyearspierced." Emma (Elena) mumbled looking away from the camera, but a dramatic gasp came through the phone.

"You're getting your ears pierced!?"

"What?! Why are you freaking out!? Will dad kill me?"

"No, I mean FINALLY! And I don't think dad's ever going to kill you."

"So... he'll be okay? I should do it?"

"Well, I think he would've liked you to be here when you got them, but I don't think it should be that big of a problem."

"Oh don't worry, I'll have it on video so you won't miss a thing!" Ella teased and earned a smack on the head from the real Emma.

"You'll back me up, right?"

"I gotchya, kitten. Need any British Moola?!"

"Would I ever! These souvenirs cost a girl some cash over here!"

"Haha, yeah they do. So, I'll have that transferred tonight,"

"Right now."

"Right now, okay. Then I gotta go, stay out of trouble. See you when."

"See you!" Emma bid goodbye and hung up.

The real Emma finally relaxed and threw back in the booth.

"Whew! He didn't catch us!"

"Nope, he didn't. Now let's go."

"Go where?"

Ella rolled her eyes.

"To get our ears done, you big baby. Come on!" Elena dragged her sister miserably out of the restaurant and hailed a cab to the nearest Claire's.

Once there, the store worker informed them of the policies and Emma celebrated not being able to get her ears pierced tonight. Elena attempted to call back Dick, but he was unavailable. So she had to make a call to the next available brother, Tim. He didn't pick up, but video called back just as they were about to leave.

"Hey, Em. Sorry I missed your call, I was st-"

"You were sleeping. Moving on, I'm getting my ears pierced and this lady won't let me get them done till a grown up signs the form."

Tim rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Give over the phone."

Elena followed orders and gave the phone to the associate.

"Hi there, I'm Timothy Wayne, Emma's 20 year old big brother all the way from Gotham city. Now my sister's there on a trip by herself so I would really appreciate it if we could pass the papers this one time, otherwise I'd have to buy the store and make it your job to do as I say, but I believe neither of us have got that kind of time, so what do you say, um... Megan? I can stay on as you do it, so consider it signed!"

"I suppose this one time, given the circumstances." Megan agreed.

"Thank you, Megan. I appreciate what you're doing for me. I'll be sure to let corporate know! So let's get on with it, yeah?"

"Of course, Mr. Wayne." Megan beamed as she gave back the phone to Elena.

"Oh. My GOD I'm turning into Bruce."

"Well, you ARE the most likely one to succeed him at the company."

"Do me a favor, don't tell Damian."

"In exchange for...?"

"Right, I won't tell dad."

"Thank you! Your secret's safe with me. You can go study now, good luck!"

"Thanks Em! You too! Bye." He hung up the phone quickly.

"So then! Papers all done, nowhere to hide, have a seat!" Ella sat Emma down into the chair.

"Will it be just the one of you?" Megan asked when she came back with her tools.

"Actually, it'll be both of us, but she'll go first. I can do the papers while I wait."

"Oh thank you. I really need those on file."

"That won't be a problem. She might be, though!" Elena teased as Emma sat uncomfortably in her chair.

"Aw! First time?"

"Yeah." Emma spoke weakly.

"We can do both ears together if you want, I'll just go grab my co worker."

"Yes please!"

"Okay! You pick out which ones you want, and I'll be right back!"

Megan went to grab her co worker while Emma threw death glares at her twin.

"I hate you."

"I know!"

Megan came back with her friend and the ladies worked to put on gloves.

"Hi, my name's Katie, I'll also be doing your ears today. What's your name, baby?"

"I'm Emma, and this is Ella."

"Oh your parents did a good job naming you two! Are you excited Emma?!"

"Nervous more so!"

"Oh don't you worry, it'll just be a pinch! Have you chosen your earrings?"

"Yeah. We'd like to go with the safest option, money's not an issue."

"Alrighty then, we'll go ahead and pick them out for you. Any color?"

"Red please."

"Wonderful choice! Now we'll just go ahead and get started here Megan!"

Both the associates positioned themselves at either side of her as Elena began to make the video.

"Where are you from, Emma?" Megan asked as a distraction.

"I'm from America."

"America! That's quite the distance to be out by yourself! How old are you two, if you don't mind me asking?"

"We're nine."

"Nine!" *click* "That's such a good job you've done, so far from home so young!" Megan freaked, distracting Emma from the shock of the piercing.

"And a good job getting your ears pierced!" Katie added proudly.

"What?" Emma asked, surprised.

"Yay! You survived Em!" Elena cheered from behind the camera.

"Yup, you're all done! Wanna have a look?" Katie held up the mirror to her.

Emma quickly grabbed it and had a look.

"Wow! They look just like hers!"

"Not for long! My turn." Elena turned off the camera and made ready for her turn.

"Alright! You've had them done before. What are you getting done this time?"

"Um, I'll be having my cartilage pierced." Elena said as she sat.

"Ooh, that's a popular choice these days. But it might hurt a bit more."

"Ha! I'll be sure to have that on camera, thank you very much!" Emma happily announced as she took the camera from her sister.

"Aren't you two adorable! Now just relax and pick out your favorite."

Emma chose a stud with a purple stone.

It hurt like a b- and Emma had it all on tape. Poor Ella heard it all the way till bed time.

"And I thought I was chicken!" Emma laughed hysterically.

"I didn't know it would be that bad! I don't remember getting my ears done!" Ella sobbed.

"You gotta toughen up, sis. Or you're going to fail being me."

"We only got a week left, huh?"

"Correction, only 5 days. Then I'll be you and you'll be me!"

"I hope they like me."

"Sure they will. They'll think it's me. And I'm sure they'll absolutely LOVE you when they find out you're actually you and not me."

"I hope so. Mama'll love you too. Oh, and you gotta call her mama."

"Supuesto!" Emma tried her Spanish.

"5 days better be worth it. What's the plan after?"

"So, we take a week or two being each other, ask them why they broke up, and then we'll tell them and they'll have to meet to switch us back!"

"Great! Fingers crossed!"

"Fingers crossed!"

"Goodnight Ella." Elena said to her twin as she shut off the light.

"Buen noches Emma." Emmaline yawned back and tucked in bed.

**********
Catch those Royal references!!👆🏻