The response from this story has been amazing, and I thank you all so very much. I truly hope I do not disappoint!

As always, I do not own Justice League or its characters. Or #39 or #40 would have never happened that way #bitter

Bruce continues to stare at me, his hard eyes searching my face for an answer to his unspoken question. His lips, which are pressed firmly into a straight line, shift into a smirk when he notices how uncomfortable I have become with our silence. "Thank you for the invitation," I say, folding my arms across my chest as I continue to watch the man in front of me.

He nods and grabs his glass from the top of the bar, quickly taking another sip before he says, "Thank you for coming." He places the glass back onto the bar and takes a step towards me, closing the already small gap between us. "Care for a dance?" he asks, extending his hand towards me.

I stare at him before my eyes unconsciously glance over his shoulder, taking in the faces of those who have noticed the two of us talking. I know I should tell him no, that Steve is on his way so we can go home, but I can't seem to get the words out. My heart and my head are at war and my lips want no part of it, until my heart finally wins the internal battle as my head nods slowly. "One dance," I say, placing my hand in his. He nods as he wraps his hand around mine and leads me to the dance floor, before he turns to me, placing his hand on my waist as he pulls me close.

We dance slowly, swaying gently to the music that has been filling the hall for hours. As we dance in silence, listening to the words being sung from the front of the hall, my eyes watch Steve over Bruce's shoulder, taking in his posture. He glares at Bruce, his eyes sad as he watches me dance with the man, his hand incredibly close to my rear. He brings his mouth close to my ear, causing me to unconsciously shiver when his breath hits my neck. "You've been avoiding me," he whispers, keeping my body close, not breaking the dance we have been locked in for nearly five minutes. This is a conversation I did not want to have with him, especially with Steve here, and he knows this, or he would not be trying so hard to keep me next to him.

I shake my head and flash him a smile, but I can see he knows it is fake. "I've been busy, as I'm sure you have been as well." He looks me in the eye and I wonder if he can see the hurt that hides behind them.

He clears his throat as we continue to dance. "I have been," he confesses, pulling me closer as he takes a deep breath, unable to help himself as he buries his nose into my hair. I pretend not to notice but I cannot stop my heart from racing. "Gotham has kept me busy. So has Selina, and with the wedding coming up, my time has been spread thin."

I try to ignore what he has said, the thought of Selina, his fiancee, causing a painful lump in my throat. He notices my hesitation and pulls away, staring into my eyes as we continue to move. "And Selina," I finally say, clearing my throat quietly, "Is she well?"

Bruce nods, his eyes never leaving mine. He can tell I am struggling with this conversation, but he indulges me, answering my question with another of his own. "How's Steve?"

There's a small hint of accusation in his voice and I can't help but wonder if it is jealousy I detect. "He is doing well," I say, nodding over his shoulder at the man who is watching us intently.

"That's good," Bruce says, more of as a formality than to be sincere, not once bothering to turn to look at Steve. "So are you going to tell me why you have been avoiding me?" he asks, flashing me a grin, hoping it will make me forget my hesitation and confess everything I have been holding back.

I can't take it any longer. Dancing here with Bruce is only reminding me of what I cannot have, and it only makes me feel guilty about what I do have. "I'm sorry Bruce," I say as I stop my swaying. I quickly pull out of Bruce's grasp, forcing him to drop his hand from my waist, and walk away from the dance floor and out of the room to the empty balcony. I can hear his footsteps behind me, trying to catch up to my large strides, and I almost feel bad for having left him, but I cannot talk about this with him. Not tonight.

"Diana," he calls after me, following me out into the balcony. I stop when I reach the end, letting my hand hand gently rest on the granite railing, taking a deep breath as I ty to clear my head of the confusing implications Bruce's dance has caused to flood my brain. "Diana," he calls again, stopping behind me. "We need to talk."

I shake my head, not bothering to turn to face him, before I speak. "No, we don't," I reply as I let my fingertips gently dance along the granite, trying to avoid feeling the burning gaze he is bearing into my back. "There is nothing to talk about Bruce," I say, trying my hardest not to slump my shoulders in disappointment. I know I have failed when Bruce steps closer to me and places his hand gently on my hip, once again crossing a boundary neither of us have formally drawn, but know we should.

"Please," he says, the desperation in his voice forcing me to turn and face him. My eyes fall to his face and I can see the dark circles under his dull eyes; Gotham has required much of Bruce lately, and it is starting to show on his face. "What happened between us while we were there. I have to know, would you have regretted it if we had given in?"

My eyes widen at his question, confused as to where this is coming from. I had assumed Bruce was going to talk about how we should be careful to avoid falling for temptation like we nearly did back then. But those were different circumstances. Back there it was only Bruce and I, alone with each other and our thoughts; There was no Steve or Selina to come home to every day. Our only comfort could be found in each other. "Would you have?" I ask, gently placing a hand on his chest.. His eyes avoid mine and I have my answer. "We were alone for years Bruce," I say, trying to remind him that we did nothing wrong. "Nearly forty years, and we turned to each other for comfort. But did nothing." I find myself fixing his bow tie, watching as he smirks when my hand rests gently on his face.

"Did you ever tell him," he asks, "About any of it?"

I shake my head. I should have told Steve of everything when we had returned. I should have told him about the constant battles we had found ourselves in. I should have told him how I had missed him every night when I slept on the cold floor alone. I should have told him I had nearly given into a temptation I swore I never would, nearly ruining everything I had with him. But I didn't. "No," I whisper, giving Bruce the faintest smile. "Did you tell your Selina anything that happened within those thirty-seven years?"

Bruce shakes his head and lets out a sigh. "Not everything," he confesses, before looking me in the eye.

"Bruce," I begin, warning him as his lips curl into another smirk and his hand grips my waist tighter, his friendly persona on full display. We are in plain view of nearly everyone, and some of the nosiest people in Gotham have noticed we have left the room to be outside. "We're back now. You're getting married, and I am in love with Steve." His smirk falters and I raise an eyebrow. Could Bruce be jealous, or is it simply wishful thinking on my end.

He opens his mouth to speak but we are interrupted when we hear someone clear their throat. Bruce turns and his hand quickly falls from my hip, falling gently to his side. I lift my hand from Bruce's face and throw a smile on my face for the woman who has made her presence known. "Selina," I say, acknowledging Bruce's fiancee, who has resorted to glaring at me and Bruce, convinced she has caught us in a compromising position. "I hope you are doing well." She says nothing. She only turns her glare to Bruce, stepping towards him in silence. I continue to force a smile, my arms crossing over my chest as I watch her stalk over to Bruce and loop her arm in his, staking her claim. I know she isn't going to speak to me; She didn't utter a word to me when Bruce and I returned and I only assume she thinks the worst of me. "Thank you for inviting me Bruce," I say, taking a step away from the couple, "Good luck on your pending nuptials."

I walk away from the two, my heart sinking when I hear Selina finally speak, only her words are directed toward Bruce. "We will talk at home," she says, and I know she is glaring at the back of my head, convinced I have coerced Bruce into the ultimate betrayal.

I walk back into the room and spot Steve standing near the exit, his eyes looking at me hard. I know he has seen me walk out of the room with Bruce, but I also know he is afraid to ask me why the two of us needed privacy. It's as if he has already made up his mind on what I have done. I walk towards Steve, stopping when I am standing in front of him. Without a word he wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me close, claiming my lips with his. It isn't long before I have my arms wrapped around his neck, a smile on my face when he pulls away. "Let's go home," he whispers and I nod. He places his hand on my back and leads me out of the room, but not before I glance over my shoulder to find Bruce staring at the two of us, his eyes focused and his face completely free of any sign of a smirk.

Steve lays besides me, his breathing deep and even as he sleeps peacefully. I turn in the bed, placing a hand on his bare chest as I watch his face as he dreams. The trip back from Gotham was a long and silent one, but we are happy to finally be home. I only wish the trip hadn't brought up more questions than answers.

Steve quietly whispers my name, entertaining me in his dreams, and I give him a small smile. I roll back onto my back, pulling the covers over my bare body, before I let out a sigh, letting my mind replay the previous night's events. There was something in the way Bruce had carried himself that had confused me. Normally so assured of himself, Bruce seemed unsure, just as confused as I was. Was he struggling with uncertain feelings like I was? Or was he finding a way to gently let me down, tell me he could no longer see me outside of the League. I can only suspect it's the latter, especially after Selina's words to him on the balcony.

I let out a sigh and whisper a quick prayer to the gods, asking them for advice on what I should do. I know I should not be, but I am in love with the wrong man, and he is not the one who currently sleeps near my side.

Uh oh. That's all I have to say.