Here comes the bride.

Ch. I: An hour of truth

I know what are they expecting from me, but I can´t give that anymore. That´s why I gathered them all here today. Someway, I must break the news… to my friends. They won´t take in nicely. They were, for quite some time, everything I had. But that´s about to change, soon. I will change.

Soon.

So I took a deep breath and walked into our Watchtower conference room. Every gaze then shot towards me. I gulped uncomfortable.

Shayera was talking to John, but they both immediately stopped.

Kal was looking through the window but he flew to stand closer from me.

But Flash was there before he did. That always made me laugh.

J´onn, of course, was the first to notice my concern. No surprise there.

And… Bruce. Bruce. The mysterious unreadable bat. He gave a new meaning to the expression pokerface, really. He was also looking for something beyond the glass, on the other side of the room. But he didn´t even turn around. Not a single move.

Trying to put a smile on my face, even a false one, I sat down. And so did them all.

"Thank you all for coming today."

"It´s okay, Diana. I was concerned by your mysterious call. We all are." Kal said

"I´m sorry about that. I didn´t want to worry you, at all."

"Is it serious?" J´onn asked.

"Yes, it is J´onn. I think it qualifies so."

"Then, tell us." Shayera demanded "Who do we have to hit? Why do you look so…?"

"Concerned." J´onn completed. "She is very concerned."

"What´s wrong, princess?" Wally asked.

"I repeat: Who did something and who do we have to hit?" Hawkgirl demanded, tightening her grip around her mace.

"Take it easy, Shayera, you´re not helping." John told her.

"If you don´t stop talking, she can´t talk." Superman interrupted "Everybody quiet."

Then, they all looked at me in silence. There was no turning back. I felt a big tight uncomfortable knot on my throat.

"Thank you, Kal." I murmured, removing my tiara and bracelets, and placing them over the table. "This should be a happy time." I whispered to myself very softly.

"What?" Everyone asked, confused.

"I´m leaving. That´s it. I´m leaving."

"Leaving?"

"Where to?"

"Back to Temyscira?"

"How long?"

"No, no, no." I said, shaking my head and raising my hands to stop them. "Not back to Temyscira. Not to be back either."

"You´re not saying…"

"You mean you´re leaving the Justice League?"

"Yes, Shayera. I am."

"Diana, you can´t…"

"I´m getting married. To Steve."

"I thought that wasn´t the amazon way."

"You´re nuts" John exclaimed.

"Hey, I´m not here for you to be going off on me. This was hard enough without that."

I had to take a deep breath. I was nearly in the verge of tears.

"But you´re being nonsensical. How will Justice League work without Wonder Woman?"

"Justice League will live. You six are good enough. We are all good enough. We´re valuable, but not indispensable."

"It won´t be the same without you."

It was then when Kal walked around the table and hugged me tightly. I hugged him back and broke down crying.

He was nice enough to wait for me to compose myself before starting his questions, stroking my hair until I calmed down.

"Now, Di, wil you tell me what is all this about?"

"I´m getting married, Kal. That´s all."

"The important thing is… are you happy?"

"The happiest I´ve ever been."

"Your tears say otherwise."

"It´s hard to leave you all. It really is. But I love Steve. And I know I´m doing the right thing. I´m being silly. Sorry."

He gently wiped my face.

"Then show us a bright smile and stop those shameful tears. I´m sure you´ll look great in white."

"He is right. You will be a beautiful bride, Diana. We have no right to make you change your mind. It´s your destiny. It´s your choice." J´onn added, walking to join us.

I tightly hugged them both.

"Thank you. I do feel better now. But I will miss you… so much."

"Who would have ever guessed?" Shayera smirked, walking to me. "The princess of the amazons walking through the aisle. Now that is a quite a show. I don´t know if they will really like it. I´ll miss you, Diana." She said, hugging me too.

So did Flash and Green Lantern. Suddenly, my heart didn´t feel so heavy anymore. I didn´t feel so wrong. And once again, I thanked the gods for my friends.

They asked about the wedding date, the arrangements, the proposal, the wedding party, what would I do and where would we live. I found it funny and with every answer I would giggle as an excited little girl. Hawkgirl even asked to be my maid of honor. But I had to tell her Donna, as my only sister, would kill me if I didn´t allow her to do that. She is still a bridesmaid.

"I know this will be… very unusual for my sisters in Temyschira –specially for my mother-, but that won't be enough to make me change my mind."

"But the wedding is still two months ahead, why are you leaving now?" John asked.

"You are right, GL. But I… I…"

"She has her reasons." J´onn cut in, saving me from keeping the stuttering.

"I do. I have a lot to do. He´s right. I have my reasons."

I kept chatting with them, and I noticed that –even when he was the only one who never said a single word- Bruce´s eyes had been following me all the time. I never fully understood him. Sometimes I thought he loathed me… sometimes it didn´t seem like that at all. Still I frankly dislike the way he usually treats me. And yet… there is something in him that I feel deeply attracted to. But I´ll be a married woman soon and that will have to die. Is not as if he likes me anyway. Like me. Yeah. I´m making myself laugh…

Shayera and GL where the first ones to leave. I don´t know who they think their fooling. It´s funny. I know they have been dating for months. We all do. Flash left a few minutes later and as I saw Kal walking to Bruce, I took the chance to approach J´onn.

"So you know…" I asked him softly, looking down and faintly blushing.

"Yes, I do. I didn´t intent to read your mind, Diana. I´m sorry."

"It´s okay J´onn. I know you meant no harm."

He smiled and nodded.

"Your secret is safe with me."

"By the moment anyway. Thank you."

"There´s no need to. What are friends for?"

"I´m really glad I have friends like you all."

"And you will always have us, don´t forget that. You´ll always have a space here whenever you want to come back."

"That really means a lot to me. I promise to keep that in mind."

He nodded.

"I know you always had a very high sense of duty. I understand why you decided you need to leave."

"So you don´t think I´m making a mistake?"

"I think you´ll find that out by yourself soon enough. And I really have to leave now. Congratulations to you and Steve."

"Actually, I do have to go meet him for dinner too. Thanks J´onn. Good night."

"Goodnight, princess." He mumbled before he disappeared.

"I´m meeting Steve for dinner guys, so I´m leaving now. Thank you and have a good night."

With those words I turned around and walked away.

"So you´re not going to say a thing?" Kal asked Bruce when I was away enough.

"It´s her choice. What can I do? Why would I have to do anything?"

"You´re giving her up without a fight to that… slimeball?"

"I have no idea what are you taking about"

Superman rolled his eyes.

"Are you serious? You think I haven´t noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

"Sometimes you surprise me, Bruce. You´re meant to be smart. It´s all written in the way you look at her how much you love her."

"Am I that obvious?"

"Yes, you really are. I´m surprised she hasn´t noticed herself."

"Oh, shit."

"So… go and tell her."

"I can´t"

"Coward" he mumbled, feigning to cough.

"Is not that simple. She made her choice. She has her reasons. Her heart is set on him. I lost."

"Not until she says I do. Take your chance before it is too late."

"Will you let me breath if I don´t?"

"No."

"Awesome…"

"Man up, Bruce. She´s just a woman."

For the first time, he showed some reaction. He sighed.

"She´s not… just a woman."

"Because she is the woman, right? Because she´s special."

"That is not important. She belongs to someone else."

"If you don´t tell her… I´ll seriously kick your ass."

"And if I do… she´ll be the one doing so."

"Which you have to admit doesn´t sound that bad after all."

"True."

"So do it now. This is probably the last time you´ll be seeing her before that night"

Then, finally, he stood.

"You know, she´s making me so weak that I´m starting to think… I´m really sick in love with her. I actually don´t know what to do."

"I never thought I would hear you say that."

"If anyone finds out… I´ll have to kill you."

"Are you serious?"

"Deathly serious."

"Okay, go now. And then you can tell me how do you plan to do that. Because I die hard."

….

I finished my shower at my Watchtower room, for the very last time, and dressed myself as Diana Prince: hair pinned up in a bun, soft make up, jeans, high-heeled black boots and my favorite black shirt with a plunged V neckline. Breaking the news to the league had been harder than I predicted, but after the chat and the long shower I was feeling completely excited again. To the point I found myself mumbling "here comes the bride" to… myself. The thought of meeting Steve and our future life together really warmed up my heard. I was really exhilarated by the fact I found something I didn´t think was made for me.

"I´m definitely going crazy" I laughed, grabbing my bag and heading to my invisible plane. I was eager to go back home.

Even when I was happy, Bruce attitude did get to my nerves. I do care about the fact he hates me. I do care about the fact he didn´t even say goodbye. I do care about him. And I do really feel strange when he´s around. Like… oh, yes… butterflies in my belly. But I´m with Steve, and I don´t think that Bruce and I can´t even ever be friends. So…

"Diana?"

It was his voice. Really. I was completely stunned.

"Will you finally say congrats?" I asked, turning around. Without a smile.

"I don´t really think you deserve to be congratulated by your foolishness"

I admit he is handsome. And I admit I´m actually very attracted to him, physically. I´m a girl, and my hormones are raging, I have to admit to myself I would even sleep with him if I ever have the chance. But that will never happen. I can´t understand why my body wants him when he is the only one with such an ability to make me so angry… and so quickly. Oh, he really did. And when I´m angry, I can have a temper.

"Excuse me? I don´t think anyone has the right to judge my decision -beyond me and my future husband and kids-, and least of all, you. So, if you´re done, I have a boyfriend who actually cares loves me waiting for me and I have to leave."

"No, you won´t. Because you´re making a mistake."

"You´re disgusting" I frowned, shaking my head.

"I´m not trying to be otherwise." He replied, handing me back my tiara and bracelets.

"I don´t need them anymore" I yelled, hitting the feminum garments and making them land away from us. "I´m leaving. My place is now with Steve and our… I´m leaving."

"I know you have a temper, but you´ve never been this temperamental before..."

"Now that´s a new one. I´m being temperamental? I AM BEING TEMPERAMENTAL?"

"You are. Stop this now."

"You, stop. I don´t want to hear you anymore. I am out of the League. Leave me alone…!"

"I thought you were smarter than that."

I screamed in frustration.

"Now I´m dizzy. And I want to throw up. It´s all your fault. I hate you, Bruce."

"It´s your own fault. You´re a shame for wonder woman, Diana"

"Shut the fuck up!"

….

N/A: Oops… what a mess! Isn´t it? If you want to know what´s going on, please review ^^