DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. As always, I'll point out this was written over a decade ago, when, here in the UK, Season 2 of the JL cartoon had yet to air. So Hawkgirl had not been revealed as a spy, and the massive, every-hero-in-the-DCU roster of Unlimited wasn't a factor. My timeline picks up after the Season 1 finale, "The Savage Time". All my Wayback Wednesday stories are numbered chronologically, if you get stuck.

3. Also, this was written before the stupid revelation that Terry McGinnis was Bruce Wayne's biological child. So in this, Terry and Bruce are unrelated.

4. There are aspects of these stories that, in hindsight, I would change. However, I have kept them as I originally wrote them for history's sake. Not laziness.

THE STORY SO FAR…

Superman/Clark Kent
Age (approx): Mid 80s (age slowed)
Superman continues to defend the world from evil and lead the Justice League. However, he also spends a lot of his time caring for his ailing wife Lois, who despite having had treatment, is still suffering badly from Parkinson's Decease.

Batman/Terry McGuinnis
Age (approx): 27
Taking over the Mantle of the Bat, Terry has proven himself as a competent Dark Knight. He has the support of Bruce and Diana's family, though feels he has to prove himself to Bruce himself.

Wonder Woman/Diana Wayne
Age (approx): N/A
Still offduty, Diana continues to spend her time with her aging husband Bruce. Knowing time is running out, Diana wants to be with him all the time, while at the same time dreading life without him.

Emerald Knight
Age (approx): N/A
Still patrolling the galaxy, the being once known as John Stewart has not seen his former friends for nearly twenty years, and has not been in contact with them for almost as long. He devotes his entire time to protecting the galaxy from the forces of evil.

J'onn J'onzz
Age (approx): N/A
Mourning the death of his wife Lucy, J'onn J'onzz has returned to living his life at the Watchtower, and has abandoned his life as Detective John Jones. He tries to be positive, but is once again feeling depressed and alone.

Oracle/Monica Wayne
Age (approx): 29
Determined not to let her paralysis hold her back, Bruce and Diana Wayne's youngest child helps Batman in his fight against crime, providing him with technical support and information from around the world.

Bruce Wayne
Age (approx): Mid to late 80s
The original Dark Knight stays in his home at Wayne Manor, waiting to die. He no longer feels important, the death of his family haven broken what was left of his spirit. Despite support from his wife Diana, Bruce has all but abandoned his ties to Batman, leaving it to Terry and Monica. He has also not been in contact with his Justice League friends in months.

Shayera Hol
Age (approx): Late 70s
Leaving the Watchtower, Shayera Hol moved to a faraway planet, away from everything. Deciding she did not want to bring everyone down with her, she lives alone, and has cut all contact with her friends. The only proof they have that she is even still alive is a card every Christmas.

PART 1

Diana entered the lounge, and saw him sitting there, infront of the fireplace. He sat there every night… unmoving. Staring at the fire.

Waiting.

She went over to him, and stopped a few feet away from the chair. "Terry's gone," she said.

He said nothing.

She sighed. "Monica says there's not much going on tonight… even the drug scene has quieted down."

He remained silent.

She hated this. Over the past decade… he had withdrew himself more and more. He had stopped laughing… stopped enjoying life. They did not go out for walks anymore… their sex life was almost nonexistent… he had lost all contact with their friends.

And it seemed that he did not even care.

She went closer to him, and stood by his side. She looked at him.

His face was blank. He was looking ahead of him, as the fire burned brightly.

This was breaking her heart. The man she loved… her reason for being… was pushing himself closer and closer to death.

It was when Thomas, Grace and Jason died… he was never the same after that. Diana was hurting too, of course… they were her children, gone in one day… it hurt more than anything. But for Bruce… it was the second time he had lost family members. He had broken down… almost committed suicide. If Diana had not been there, he might very well have done it. That hurt immensely. The man she cherished, the strongest man she knew… brought to the depths of depression enough to consider ending it all.

She had made him promise to keep going… to not give up. As long as they loved eachother, there was nothing they could not get through. But Bruce was already prepared to die. He had asked her to leave… asked HER to promise to keep going after he went… anything to spare her the pain of losing him. It did not seem that he realised losing him in any capacity would be more that she could bare.

And she also found it frustrating for selfish reasons. She had taken time off from missions… she had given up her heroic duties… to spend her time with him. She wanted to be there, for the final years… no matter how long or short they lasted. She wanted their final years together to be happy… as he had made her all these decades. But instead… he was ruining them. She hated it, but… she was not enjoying her final years with him.

She sighed. "Tomorrow… why don't we go out?"

He kept her gaze from him. "Where?"

"I don't know…" she said. "The park? Or we could go to the lake… sit on the benches. Or we could just go for a walk around the garden… together."

"Why?" he asked.

She closed her eyes. Why was he doing this? Did he not know how much she was hurting?

She knelt down, and put her hand on his arm. He turned his head at the contact, and stared at her hand. "Please, Bruce…" she whispered. "Don't push me away. I love you."

He looked at her, and his expression softened slightly. He then turned away, looking back at the fire. "Get some sleep. You know you don't have a good day if you don't sleep the night before."

She stood up, trying to hold back the tears. "When are you coming up?"

"Soon," he said simply.

She sighed, and turned around. She went to the door, and stopped. She took one last look at the man she had loved, and a tear poured down her face.

Soon… he would be gone, and she would be alone.

But she felt like she was alone already.

/

Talia stared out the window, at the desert beyond.

It was time. Finally.

She heard footsteps behind her, and turned around. He walked upto her. "How are you, my dear?" he asked.

"When do we start?" she said.

He raised an eyebrow. "Anxious, eh?"

She folded her arms. "It's been twenty years. Our work is complete. It's time for me to get my Beloved."

He stepped closer to her. "Of course. But… remember what happened last time?"

She frowned.

"You got too impatient," he said. "You were too wrapped up in your revenge. And of course, you were forgetful."

She remained silent.

"This time…" he said, "there will be no mistakes. You will have what you want… and I will have what I want…"

"I will bring back the one you want," she said.

He sighed. "Would you? Or would you let your desire for revenge get the better of you? Would you lose control, and try and kill the woman again?"

"If I had the chance, I'd kill her with my bare hands," Talia said. "But my priorities have changed. My main goal is getting my Beloved back."

"And you shall have him back," he said. "But I'm going to make sure you don't fail this time. I'm taking… insurance."

Her frown deepened. "What?"

"You will go to America," he said, "with some of my finest warriors. You can do what you want… get your 'Beloved', kill the woman, whatever… while they get the one I want."

"As long as they don't get in my way," she said. "I won't come back without my Beloved."

"And I won't let you come back without the one I want," he said. "You will bring both, or you won't bring either. And if you don't… you won't want to return anyway."

"Why is this person so important to you?" asked Talia.

"My reasons are my own," he said. "Now go. Prepare for your journey. You will leave in the morning. You have one week… not a day more."

She lowered her arms, and nodded slightly. "Yes, father."

He turned and walked away, then stopped. He turned back to her, and smiled. "Don't worry, my daughter. Everything will go as planned. We will have what we want. For all eternity." He then left the room.

Talia sighed. In less than one week… she would have what she wanted. Her Beloved would be with her, and they would leave this place… away from her father.

They would be together. And the woman would be dead. She would personally make sure.

TO BE CONTINUED