Chapter One
Diana leaned back in her office chair with a sigh of mixed defeat and relief. As ambassador for the United Nations, her job is most usually tiring and somewhat stressful, but she loves it. The fact the she has the chance to make a big difference in the world is something she takes much pride in.
"Donna, I'm going out for coffee with Lois!" Diana called to her younger sister, who was stretched out on the couch in the living room of the penthouse they shared, watching one of the Harry Potter movies.
"Have fun." Came the reply. Diana shut the door to the suite to the sounds of someone yelling "Expelliarmus!" followed by someone else being thrown backwards into something wooden. Diana smiled and chuckled inwardly as she began to walk to the elevator. Ever since Donna and her had discovered the Harry Potter universe when they were kids, they'd become thoroughly obsessed with it, buying several copies of each movie and book, and countless other things. They'd left a lot of the stuff in their mother's attic, but still had too much for it to be considered normal. It was mostly all Donna's though. Honest.
"Di! Hey, wait up!"
Diana turned to find her long time friend Shayera Hol rushing down the hall towards her.
"Shay, it's been a while." She greeted as they stopped before the elevator.
"It has. How's life treating you?"
"Same as ever. How 'bout you?"
"Same here."
There was a brief moment of silence as the elevator doors opened and the two women stepped in side by side.
"Where are you headed?" Shayera asked, her hand hovering over the control panel.
"The main floor. I'm going out for coffee with someone."
"Ooh, is this someone, perhaps, a man?"
Diana rolled her eyes as the elevator began moving. Ever since high school, Shayera had been pestering her about not having a boyfriend. She'd had a relationship with a few people before, but it just didn't feel right. "It's alright, Di." She remembered Shayera saying one night. "You'll find someone." To be truthful, Diana wasn't sure if she really wanted a relationship with a man. She was happy with the life she had, surrounded by friends and family. She also remembered all too well the time Donna had come home, a broken and sobbing mess because her boyfriend had unexpectedly broken up with her. That was something she didn't really care to go through. Not again.
"No." Diana answered. "It's Lois."
Shayera nodded at her. "I have to go in to the station, recover something-or-other from a crime scene."
Diana nodded back to her friend as the elevator doors opened and they stepped out. "Good luck, Shay."
"Later, Di." Shayera called over her shoulder as she took a left on the sidewalk, while Diana turned to the right. Luckily for her, the coffee shop she was meeting Lois at wasn't very far away, and it didn't take her very long to get there. She pushed open the door and entered the shop, glancing around for any sign of her friend. When she didn't see the feisty reporter anywhere, she ordered her usual Iced Mocha and settled in a corner booth to wait. Lois showed up a few minutes later and, after ordering her own drink, sat in the booth across from Diana.
"Hey!" Lois chirped.
"Hi, Lois." Diana returned her friend's enthusiastic greeting with her own. "How have you been?"
Lois shrugged and took a sip of her drink. "Alright, I guess. And you?"
"Not much different. I'm just the same old boring Diana."
Lois chuckled. "You're anything but boring, Di. Though, you have been a little more… inactive recently. Is something wrong?"
"No, not at all. I've just had a lot of work and haven't had time for much else."
"You'll be going to the charity gala in Gotham tonight, surely?"
Diana hesitated. She didn't really have much work left to do, but didn't really have the energy to go to a gala, either. "I'm not sure, Lois."
"Oh, come on, Di. It'll be fun. I promise."
Diana winced inwardly. The last time Lois had insisted she go to something, saying it would be "fun", she'd ended up almost drowning in the Delaware Bay.
"Please." Lois added.
"Fine, fine. I'll be there."
"Yay!" Lois exclaimed, much like a young child. "It's been too long since we've gone anywhere together."
Diana nodded and took a sip of her Iced Mocha as her friend continued talking.
Bruce's POV, a few hours later
"Ace!" The young German Shepherd looked up innocently at his owner, tie still clenched in his jaws.
"Ace. Drop it." Bruce tried again, crouching down and reaching for the tie. To his dismay, Ace bounced backwards, tail wagging.
"Come here boy. Come on, Ace." Bruce said encouragingly.
Ace trotted forward again, only to lunge out of reach once his master made a grab for the tie.
"Why did I ever want a dog.." Bruce grumbled to himself. He was mildly surprised when a familiar voice answered the bedroom doorway.
"I believe you said something about 'needing more exercise', Master Bruce."
"Well," Bruce said, standing to face his surrogate father. "This isn't exactly what I meant."
"I warned you not to get a puppy." Alfred said as he reached down and plucked the tie from Ace's mouth. "Your tie, Sir."
"Uh, thanks Alfred. Although, I should probably use a different one now.." Bruce looked down at the black tie in his hands, covered in dog drool and teeth marks. No thanks to Ace.
"Of course." The British butler walked past his charge, taking the tie out of his hand and quickly tossing it into a nearby laundry bin before heading to the closet. Alfred came back a few moments later, another tie in hand. "Here you are, Master Bruce. Now I suggest we leave before you are any more late."
"Right." Bruce said, taking one final glance in the mirror before following the Englishman out of the manor, to where a limo was already waiting for them. He got in silently, occupied with thoughts of the charity gala he was heading to. He was supposed to meet Clark and Lois there… five minutes ago. Perfect. When he did arrive, fashionably late, he ignored the paparazzi and made his way into the building, then over to where Clark was standing by the refreshments table.
"Bruce, good to see you!" Clark greeted in his usually cheery manner.
"Hello, Clark." Bruce said, coming to stand beside his friend. "Waiting for Lois?"
Clark nodded and glanced around the room. "She's bringing someone, apparently. Wouldn't tell me who is was."
"Jealous, much?" Bruce teased.
"What? No!"
Bruce chuckled at his friends shocked expression. "Relax, Kent. I was just teasing. Here she comes."
Clark followed Bruce's gaze. Sure enough, Lois was coming towards them, flute of champagne already in hand, with a beautiful raven-haired woman in tow.
"Diana! I didn't know it was you Lois was bringing along."
The brunette smiled. "Well, it is me. Who's this?" She turned to Bruce, who had been admiring her from slightly behind and to the side of Clark.
"Bruce Wayne." He stepped forward and offered her his hand.
"Ah, Gotham's most eligible bachelor. I'm Diana Price." Diana took his hand in her own and shook it.
"Metropolis's Princess. Nice to finally meet you."
"Same to you." She released his hand, and Bruce immediately missed the warmth of hers.
"So, Kal, what have you been up to…"
Their conversation faded into the background as Bruce watched Diana. She was wearing a flowing white Grecian style dress that fit her perfectly, accentuating her every curve. Her hair was curled, framing her face and tumbling over her shoulders and down her back like an ebony waterfall.
"Bruce?"
"What?" Bruce snapped to attention. Clark was staring at him with a knowing gleam in his eye. "What?" He repeated.
"Nothing." Clark looked away and took a sip of the champagne that had appeared in his hand.
"I'm going to use the ladies room." Diana excused herself.
"I'll come with you." Lois followed Diana, weaving through all the guests. Bruce stared after them.
"You should ask her to dance." Clark said bluntly.
"What? Who?"
"Dance. Diana. With you."
"Me? Please."
"I saw the way you looked at her, Bruce. You can't deny it."
"Clark, I just met the woman-"
"Yes, and you reacted like you'd just been slapped with a fish."
"I did not."
Clark laughed. "Well, not exactly. But I saw it. Just ask her to dance, Bruce. And while you do that, maybe get to know her a little, too."
The girls reappeared at that moment, laughing.
"That was too funny." Lois was saying. "Did you see her face?"
"It was." Diana giggled.
"What are you talking about?" Clark asked, a curious expression on his face.
"Nothing." Lois said as they came to a stop. "We just ran into Vicki Vale in the restroom."
"Ah. Anyways..." he continued, extending his hand towards Lois. "May I have this dance?"
"Of course!" Lois exclaimed, taking his hand in hers and all but dragging him towards the dance floor. Bruce noticed Clark wink at him before leaving.
"I think she's had a little too much to drink already." Diana observed.
Bruce nodded. "I think so too."
"Well, at least I'm not drowning in the Delaware Bay with her this time."
Bruce was so absorbed with his thoughts, he almost didn't hear her. "What?" He looked at her in surprise. She laughed. "A few weeks ago, Lois dragged me along with her to this beach party and, long story short, we both had slightly too much to drink that night before we ended up in the water and… I'm sure you can figure out the rest."
Bruce chuckled. "I can…" He looked out over the dance floor, where he spotted Clark dancing with Lois. When Clark noticed him, however, he shot Bruce a look that said: Hurry up and get out here!
"Do you want to – " Both Bruce and Diana started at the same time, stopped, then laughed. When their laughter subsided, Diana grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor as a new song started up.
Heart beats fast. Colors and promises. How to be brave. How can I love when I'm afraid to fall? But watching you stand alone, all of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow. One step closer…
Diana turned and faced Bruce as he pulled her close. The two fell into easy pattern, him leading her across the floor. They even passed by Clark and Lois at one point, at which Clark threw Bruce another wink. He hardly noticed, though, his attention was focused solely on the goddess-like woman in his arms.
I have died everyday waiting for you. Darling don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years. I'll love you for a thousand more…
In this moment, there was nothing to each of them except the other. Bruce saw something he wanted in her, but shouldn't, couldn't, have. Diana saw something she couldn't quite explain. Both saw, or maybe felt, a kindred spirit. One that had gone though similar heartache and pain, but also comfort and joy.
Time stands still. Beauty in all she is. I will be brave. I will not let anything take away what's standing in front of me. Every breath, every hour, has come to this…
One step closer…
A/N: And one step away. I'll be the first to admit that Bruce and Di might have hooked up a little too easily but, whatever. He always ends up pushing her away eventually… And before you say: They're all too OOC! I did that on purpose because this is an AU fic, and they didn't go through the exact same experiences, and therefore don't act the same way. Also, I'd kinda like to see if any of you can guess the exact Harry Potter scene Donna was watching in the first part. As always, thanks for reading, and please review!