'thoughts'

"talk"

Lyrics.

It had been two years since the team was formed, two years of missions and friendship and love for some. Robin looked around at his friends, the people he considered family; Batman or Bruce had come to trust them all with his and robins true identities.

"Hey Dick, get over here, we're gonna play volley ball." Yelled Wally. Dick smiled, he was glad that they could all know him as something other than robin.

Dick looked back at Bruce, Clark, Oliver and Barry, They had all come with them to the beach today. He smiled as he looked around he took in the fact that they weren't the only ones there, there were other families, friends and kids running around all having fun.

-Change POV-

Clark looked around he watch the families and kids that they shared the beach with, " Bruce, do you ever think of her?"

The question must have startled the other man because Clark noticed that he stiffened for a moment before answering. " What is there to think about?"

"Bruce you loved her… that doesn't just go away."

"He's right you know." Commented Oliver.

"You can have a family too, ya know?" stated Barry.

"It doesn't matter… I have other duties to attend to." Bruce said as he got up and walked down the beach. Clark watch him go, sighing. Just then a ball landed near his feet, he leaned down and picked it up only to notice a petite black haired woman with crystal blue eyes walking his way, he knew those eyes, he would know them anywhere.

"Hey can I get that ball from you; my daughter got a little over zealous there." The woman smiled and laughed softly as a young child tackled her legs from behind, apologizing for losing the ball. The woman looked back at the little girl and smiled, she had a beautiful smile, one that Clark was sure he would never forget

"Oh yea, here." He handed the ball back to her as she took it he noticed that she was staring at him intently.

"Do I know you from somewhere? I know it's a little forward, but you do look familiar." She laughed then, "Sorry, where are my manners, my name is Maria and this is my daughter Clara."

"Clark, my name is Clark. It's nice to meet you." He knew that name, but he couldn't believe that this woman with what looked to be a five year old daughter could possibly be his best friends' ex-lover, there was no way, he didn't think she'd gotten married, but then maybe she had.

"Well we better get going now; it was nice to meet you." She nodded toward Oliver and Barry as she turned to walk away, picking the little girl up and swinging her over her shoulder.

"Was that?" Barry looked at him and Oliver put a hand on his shoulder. "Who knew she was so close, do you think he knows?"

"Think who knows what?" asked Wally.

"Yea?" questioned the rest of the younger hero's except for Dick who looked at Clark, "Was that her? Was Maria?" He questioned the older man.

Clark looked at him "It was."

"Who was the little girl with her? Why didn't any of you go get Bruce?" He questioned the older men.

Clark looked away; it wasn't his place to get in the middle. "Stay out of it, all of you. Especially you Dick. It isn't your place or ours to meddle in his affairs."

Just as he said this he noticed Bruce making his way back towards them. "Who was that woman you were talking to Clark, she had a cute kid."

"Oh, I didn't get her name; her little girl just lost the ball for a second."

"Ah, she looked familiar…" he mumbled.

-Change POV-

'I know him from somewhere' she swore inwardly. She looked at Clara; she looked just like her father. She missed him so much, but she knew that she couldn't allow herself to be near him again or for him to find out about their daughter.

She thought back to all those years ago.

(Flashback)

"Maria, I love you." She had been shocked to hear him say it, she never thought he would.

"Oh Bruce, I love you too!" she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, burying her fingers in his thick dark hair.

(End flashback)

It had been a heated night of passion, one that she would always remember. Not because of the love they shared, but because the next morning he was gone, with nothing more than a letter saying good-bye, and that he'd always love her. It had been 6 years and she still had that letter, she remembered how she held it when she found out she was pregnant just a month later, she knew he was the father; but could never bring herself to let him know he had a child.

She sighed softly. "Mommy, do I have a daddy?" She looked at Clara shocked, but then she knew someday she would ask.

"Of course you do Clara."

"Where is he momma?" She picked Clara up, holding her close. "I don't know baby, I don't know."

"Does he love us momma?" she looked down at her beautiful little girl. "I believe he does."

Clara nodded and left it at that, she sighed softly, thankful her daughter had let it go. "Help mommy get our stuff so we can head home." She picked up a towel and shook it out, as she picked stuff up from their area she noticed that Clara wasn't near her, she looked up and around panicking slightly.

"Clara!" She shouted, she waited for a response before she yelled again. She could see her anywhere.

"Excuse me, have you seen a little girl around her, she's five years, black hair, Blue eyes, she was wearing a yellow swim suit." She asked several people but with no luck, she was becoming frantic, thoughts filled her mind.

-Change POV-

They heard a woman shouting; they all looked over and suddenly knew who it was. "Clara! Where are you?" she was running around looking for the small child that had been with her, Kaldur stood and walked over to her, asking if she needed help, she was nodding and looking around feverishly.

"Her little girl Clara is missing, she said she just turned around for a moment and she was gone."

The older men nodded and said they would help her look for Clara, she smiled and thanked them before moving away to continue her search. The split up and started searching the beach, Kaldur took to the water, Megan the air, and the rest took to the parking lot, the shore line, and the rocky over hangs that surrounded the beach.

They all searched for an hour, Bruce was about ready to call of the search when he heard a small voice calling out.

"Help! Help me! MOMMY!"

He looked around, claiming the rocky ledge, they he saw her, the little girl. "Clara?"

She looked up at him, stifling her tears, "Where is Mommy?" She cried as she tried to claim and reach him. He smiled and jumped down to her, looking her over to make sure she wasn't badly hurt. "Does anything hurt Clara?"

She nodded her head and looked down at her legs; they were covered in small cuts and bruises, nothing that wouldn't heal. He picked her up, "hold on tight, ok?" she nodded again and clung to his neck as he climbed over the rocky ledge.

Once they were over, he held her close to him patting her back. "I found her!" He called out, he saw her mother running full speed towards him slowing once she reached them, the little girl turned in his arms and reached out to her mother, who took her and clung to her crying softly. "Why did you wonder off Clara? You scared Mommy!"

The little girls face flushed, "I was looking for daddy…" The woman put her at arm's length and looked her over; she brushed the small girls check. "Clara… "

"Mommy it isn't fair that everyone else has a mommy and daddy… and all I have is a mommy…"

"Clara We've talked about this, your daddy isn't here." The little girls face twisted in anger as she yelled at her mother, "Because you don't want him to be!" she pulled away from her mother and turned and clung to Bruce's leg. Tears feel from her eyes, "Clara you know that isn't true… I love your daddy very much… but he… he just can't be with us right now."

She reached for the little girl who hid herself further behind Bruce, "I want to go home with him." The woman sighed before standing.

"I'm sorry… she can be a handful sometimes." Bruce stared at her, he knew this woman.

"Maria?" she stared at him for a long moment before stepping back. "Bruce? What… how?"

"I could ask you the same thing; I didn't know you had a daughter." She stared at him, her face flushed.

"You might have known if you hadn't of disappeared…" She looked down at Clara, and said. "Clara say hello to your daddy." Both the little and Bruce looked shocked, he looked down at Clara, How could he not have seen it.

"She's mine?"

"Who else? I never married Bruce, I waited for you, for 6 years I waited." She yelled at him. Clark thought it was a good time to let them talk in private, he called out to Clara, "Clara I think your mommy and daddy need some time to talk, let's go."

Maria looked at him and smiled, "Thank you Clark."

-Change POV and scene, they are now in the caves kitchen-

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I couldn't reach you! You left! I only got a note from you, saying you loved me and that you were sorry… You said good-bye!" She screamed at him, she stepped closer and hit him, "You left me Bruce! I stood beside you for years, I waited for you to love me and when you finally did you ran away!" She beat on his chest as his arms encircled her; he pulled her close, kissing her harshly.

"There was never a day I didn't think about you Maria, I love you even today I love you. But you had to know that I couldn't stay forever… I have a duty Maria." She slapped him.

"I would never make you choose, because I know you would never pick me!" she hit him again. "Your life belongs to the league and I've accepted that, I always had… But I wanted you to be my husband Bruce; you were my best friend, my other half. I gave you everything and you gave me nothing except our daughter… she's all I have of what could have been Bruce."

She pulled away from him, and leaned against the wall, soft sobs coming from her, she slid down the wall. "Why did you leave me? Why couldn't you have just stayed?"

He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "I'm so sorry Maria, I never meant to hurt you, I love you so much, I always think of you." She sobbed into his chest.

Please review and let me know what you think. I know it's a cliff hanger, but I was trying to decide if I wanted it to be a one shot or a story. Your reviews will decide this.