Disclaimer One: I don't own any of these characters.

Disclaimer Two: I'm bringing in another character that I know absolutely nothing about, though I did NOT make him up. I might, however, have taken some liberties with how good of a friend he is with John. You have no idea what I'm talking about right now, but if you keep reading, you will.

Thank yous and shout outs: As always, Kipling-Nori, thanks for speedily reading over all the chapters I send you and encouraging me to keep adding to BD's Book of Love. You are tres awesome! For all your hard work, I give you an SB where the SDC--with a healthy LT--trounce on the NEP. Take that, TB! And if you can decipher that, you are a true Wonder Woman. :D I would also like to thank one of my dear readers, Hepburn. Your ideas helped me piece together the motivations behind Bruce and Diana's current and future actions. In gratitude, I give you RF complete with his very own rhinoplasty. :D

I'm still not sure of what I want to call this fiction, but I am tentatively naming it Wedding Bell Blues. And I'm going to be randomly adding chapter titles, which, again, are subject to change. ;D

Wedding Bell Blues

Chapter Two:

Colors

Yesterday i got lost in the circus, feeling like such a mess.
And now I'm down, I'm just hanging on the corner.
I can't help but reminisce.

When you're gone, all the colors fade.
When you're gone, no New Year's Day parade.
You're gone
colors seem to fade.

Colors by Amos Lee

For Diana, the next three months were a whirlwind of activity. Her mornings were occupied in training with her Amazon sisters, honing her old skills and teaching them new techniques she had picked up in Man's World. Afternoons were spent with the island's greatest minds discussing plans for the Embassy or traipsing around her old haunts. Her evenings were filled with conversations with her mother or praying in the temples of her goddesses. But Bruce still possessed her nights, visiting her thoughts and dreams as she lay in bed.

Gradually, Diana's grief lessened, even though her love for Bruce remained. In spite of this, she vowed never to mention anything about her love or pain to him. If he thought he had to do this, it was not for her to ask him to compromise what he thought was right. Love was not worth having if it was purchased at the sacrifice of his honor or hers.

Things for Bruce were not so pleasant, though he was just as busy. Ever since Diana had left, he had stopped attending League meetings, giving him more time to brood and analyze his mistake as he stalked the criminals that littered Gotham's streets. Things with Alfred had progressively gotten worse, rendering conversation with him impossible. It wasn't that Alfred dropped hints about Diana, but just knowing that his surrogate father disapproved of what he had done was enough to drive Bruce away. Besides, Bruce figured, he deserved to suffer through this alone. If he hadn't been so stupid and scared, none of this would have happened.

What little relief he did receive came in those moments when he was able to think of Diana apart from what he had done to hurt her. He'd recall some silly thing she had said or done that made him laugh. Or the way she would trace light circles on his back when he was feeling stressed out. Even how she would smile triumphantly over him every time she felled him in the training room. But those remembrances and the joy he received from them were always short in duration. Guilt would always intrude, leaving him feeling emptier than before.

Bruce had considered taking the Batplane to Themyscira and telling her that the League needed her. Eight times he had thought about doing it, and eight times a list of reasons would enervate his courage. He really wasn't the type given to hoping or performing grand gestures. That had always been Diana's province.

And so he waited for Diana to return, frustrated that he had no idea when that would be.

Two weeks before the reporters' wedding, Bruce finally discovered a legitimate reason for contacting Diana. They had been chosen as best man and maid of honor for Clark and Lois, respectively, and there was a small matter of planning the various parties that were expected of them. Not one to jump the gun, Bruce decided to speak with Clark about it first.

Bruce grimaced when he heard Clark's salutation. "Haven't heard from you in a while. The life of being Gotham's most sought after playboy must be keeping you busy." For a man skilled in the arts of confrontation and engagement, Clark sure knew how to be passive aggressive.

"Right. So have you gotten your cold feet yet?"

"Hardly. If I had the chance, I'd marry Lois this instant."

"How sweet." Clark smiled at the drollness in Bruce's voice.

"So, to what do I owe the honor?"

"I'm calling about planning for the bachelor and bachelorette parties.

"No strippers allowed; Lois would kill me."

Bruce rolled his eyes. Sometimes he wondered if Clark tried to make things difficult for him, or if he really was that dense. Man of Lead didn't have quite the same ring to it, but Bruce that it a much more fitting moniker.

"Duly noted. I'd like to collaborate with Diana on a few things."

"Hmm? Well, she's already set everything up and sent the ideas over to Lois. After I approved them, of course."

His only reason to speak with Diana mooted, Bruce became irrationally cranky and took it out on the future groom. "Probably the cleaned up version."

"Where's your good faith?"

"It's Lois."

Clark was in too good of a mood to let Bruce's irritation get the better of him. "Hey! That the future Mrs. Lane-Kent you are talking about. Besides, it's Diana who's throwing the party."

"Kind of difficult to do when she's half-way around the world. Did she say when she'd be coming back?"

"I imagine not until it's absolutely necessary. She's enjoying her time in Themyscira and her plans for the embassy still need a few kinks ironed out. She probably wouldn't come back if it weren't for the wedding."

There was nothing but silence at the end of the other line.

He knew it was sadistic, but Clark smiled at Bruce's sudden inability to speak. For once, he, Clark Kent, farmboy from Smallville, had rendered the Bat speechless. And it also revealed to the reporter that Bruce was still carrying a torch for Diana.

"Bruce?"

"Sorry, my secretary just gave me a memo." This time it was Clark who rolled his eyes.

Bruce continued, "It would be nice if she let the rest of the League know about her plans to relocate to Themyscira. Professional courtesy demands it, and we will need to find someone to take her place."

At this Clark snorted. "No one could ever take Diana's place. Anyway, it doesn't matter. Diana's not going to stay in Themyscira. I just meant that she would have extended her vacation if she could have."

Bruce silently let out the breath that he had been holding. "Clark, I have a business meeting to go to. Talk with you later." And then he hung up to attend his imaginary gathering.

Bruce slumped into his chair in relief. The idea that Diana would permanently leave Man's World had never entered his mind, but thanks to Clark, it was something that now plagued his already unsettled mind.

From his seat, he looked across his study and saw the portrait of his parents. The sunlight that seeped in through the windows highlighted the faces of two of the people he loved most in his life. Melancholy getting the better of him, Bruce thought, "They would have loved her too."

It had been one of the reasons he had planned on proposing to her that night almost three months ago. He had even gotten his mother's ring out of the vault in the Batcave and had been carrying it around with him for over a week. The day of their sixth month anniversary had been spent in nervous anticipation, perfecting all the details of what he had hoped would be the perfect night.

He had finished setting everything up with three hours to spare and for a while he paced the floor, finalizing how he would ask her. And that is when things started running away from him. As he poured over her perfections and why she was the right woman for him, his thoughts stuttered when he came to one of his favorites: her independence.

For the first time, Bruce questioned the ridiculousness of asking an Amazon to marry. Though it was little known, the marriage of Bruce's parents had left its indelible imprint on Bruce's ideas of romantic relationships. They had shown him that, in addition to being passionate and caring, love was commitment, till death did them part, and, for him, the clearest demonstration of that was in the bonds of marriage. But would Diana have the same view of it that he did?

And from there, the doubts sprouted up viciously, swirling larger and larger over his head.

She would think he was trying to control her and possess her.

She would laugh at him for his antiquated ways.

He was moving too fast.

They had never talked about marriage.

He hadn't even said 'I love you' to her yet.

And lastly, and most importantly, he remembered that she hadn't said it to him either.

And from there, it was an easy step to calling off his plans. But he didn't stop there. Bruce had jumped headfirst into the most slippery slope ever.

He had been willing to commit his whole life to her. He was so in love with her, he hadn't counted the cost or toll that such an action would have taken on his duty to Gotham. What if she was demanding? Or more realistically, what if he wanted to give it all up to be with her? And if he did, would she have any reason to love him? Bruce had always prided himself on being the only non-powered superhero in the League and had convinced himself that that was his appeal to her. And even if he didn't hang up his boots for her, old age would eventually force him to retire his batarangs and utility belt. Would her affection for him survive that?

With thoughts like that attacking and no Diana to convince him that he was wrong, Bruce naturally came to the conclusion that if it had to end, it should end with her remembering him in his prime. He hated it. God knew how much he hated it, but in that moment, the only option, and, therefore, the best option was to end things with her. And so that's what he did. And even though she would no longer be with him, it wasn't as if she would be permanently removed from his life. He would still have the comfort of seeing her face on missions and at meetings.

But even that was taken from him, because she had left for Themyscira without saying goodbye to him. And attending League Meetings without her, well, forget it. He didn't need to be there in person to get the information. She was the reason they were even bearable. On top of that, the idea of seeing Clark growing happier and happier as his nuptials approached was another source of irritation to Bruce. He knew it was selfish, but he was already having trouble not thinking about what he had lost. Clark's wedded bliss would be like throwing kerosene on the fire.

But three months of intense longing, haunting regrets, and a big dose of perspective went a long way to changing Bruce's mind.

Bruce realized that even though the doubts would never disappear, his love for her still abided. And it was strong enough to commit to a less than certain future with her than the certitude of sorrow he would continue to experience the longer he had to be without her.

Perhaps the feelings would come and go, rekindling whenever they learned to appreciate and cherish something new about the other person, but at rock bottom, love was about commitment. And what's more, Diana would understand that. She might not look on marriage the same way that he did, but he had never known a heart more constant or honorable than hers. Given time, he was sure that he could convince her. But first he needed her to return.

It was a week before the wedding. Knowing that Diana would be returning soon, Bruce started attending the meetings again. Part of it was because he wanted to see her. Most of it, really. But another reason he returned was because he didn't want her to know that she was the sole reason he had come back.

It was during his second meeting back that Bruce finally saw her again. His eyes greedily drank in her appearance, and it was not for the first time that he was grateful for the opaque lenses in his cowl.

Before she could take her seat next to him, Wally zoomed around the round table and grabbed her in a hug, lifting her off the floor. She awkwardly patted his back, but she was all smiles.

"It's good to see you too, Wally."

When he still didn't let go, Batman's fingers began to twitch.

"Wally…Wally!" Diana's voice finally broke through to the younger man, and he set her down. "Sorry, Wondy! I'm just happy you're back. And you too, Bats." Flash moved over to hug Bruce, but was stopped by the death rays shooting out of his eyes.

Her curiosity piqued, Diana resisted the urge to look over at Bruce, while Wally kept on babbling. "He's been gone almost as long as you've been."

Lucky for Wally there were witnesses in the room. Bruce could only tightly reply, "Things have been busy in Gotham."

"Yeah, I've seen the papers. 'Bruce's Bevy of Beauties.' When the girlfriend's away, the Bat will play, eh?" Wally thought he was being funny, but he could not have said anything more inappropriate.

Knowing that Wally was sometimes not the brightest bulb, but not intentionally cruel, Diana pieced together that he wasn't aware that they had broken up. And if he didn't know, she wondered who else didn't. She'd have to talk with Bruce about letting the others know later.

Underneath his cowl, Bruce closed his eyes in frustration, a sinking feeling piercing his gut. This was definitely not what he wanted Diana to hear. It wouldn't matter that there was absolutely no truth to the stories. There never was.

"What are you going to do about it, Wondy?"

Diana had vowed not to speak with Bruce about her feelings for him, but she had done so under the impression that he had broken up with her because it was getting in the way of his work. It had never had occurred to her that he would already be dating. Feeling horrible and more than a little angry, but desperate to hide it, Diana answered, "Nothing," and then called out to the others, "So what else have I missed?"

"Not much, except Dinah and Ollie getting engaged." Shayera's delivery was so deadpan it took a moment for the news to click in Diana's brain.

"What?! That's wonderful!" She truly was happy for the couple, but it seemed like the fates were conspiring against her. What little peace she had was quickly unraveling. Hera, was everyone finding happiness with their loved ones except her?

"And Superman can barely string two sentences together; he's too busy thinking about Lois."

Everyone looked over at Clark, and he returned their stares with a confused look. "Did I miss something?"

"Just the last two weeks, Supes. Excited about the wedding?"

Clark eagerly nodded his head up and down, while John and Wally laughed at him.

When the meeting finally started, there wasn't much to go over. A recap of the previous mission was performed, and towards the end Superman asked Diana if she had anything to report about her trip to Themyscira.

The room was informed that she needed to speak with Batman first before she would speak about her plans for the embassy. The only person who looked oddly at her was Clark, so she figured that J'onn and Superman were the only people who knew her relationship with Bruce was over.

Both Diana and Bruce remained seated while the rest of the heroes shuffled out of the room. As soon as the door shut, Bruce cleared his throat.

"About what Wally said…"

Diana smiled and reached across the table for his hand, squeezing it lightly. "Bruce, what you do with your free time is your business. We are no longer together, and you don't need to explain your actions to me. I do, however, want to talk with you about letting the others know that we're over to avoid any further awkwardness."

This is not the direction Bruce had hoped the conversation would go.

"What do you want to do?"

"Well, I could tell Shayera and Wally. I'm sure that J'onn already knows, so that leaves Lantern and Clark to you."

"Clark already knows, and if you tell Shayera, John will find out."

"I could give you Wally."

"Thanks, but I'll pass." His remark brought a smile to her face, which in turn brought one to his face. But the familiar ease quickly faded as both of their thoughts drifted back to their last night together. An uncomfortable silence hung in the air. Bruce was the one to break it, "So what do you need to talk with me about?"

"I was wondering…if you could put me in contact with someone who can help me set up the Themysciran Embassy."

So she hadn't left because of him. Now feeling utterly foolish, he quickly stood up and brusquely said, "I will have the appropriate person call you tomorrow and will send you the information you'll need concerning him later today."

Diana looked up at him from where she was seated. "Thanks, Bruce."

He nodded his head and walked to the door. As it slid open, he quietly said, "I'm glad you're back, Diana." Her head quickly turned to the exit, but the doors had already closed behind him.

Diana sat in her chair for a few more seconds, gathering her composure. It was time to tell Shayera. Wally could wait till later.

Walking down the halls, she made her way to Hawkgirl's room. After knocking and being allowed in, Diana saw that Shayera was not alone.

"Shayera. John."

"Hey, Diana. Why the long face?" John asked.

Determined to come across as perfectly content with her current single state, Diana pasted a smile on her face. "I just wanted to let you know that Bruce and I are no longer together."

Shayera's eyes widened in surprise while John groaned in frustration and said, 'Do you need me to talk to him?"

Diana forced out a laugh. "I wonder why everyone thinks that Bruce is behind the breakup?"

"You mean, you dumped him?"

"No, but we are both happy with the decision. We weren't even together that long. Anyway, we just wanted everyone to know, so that that things could return back to normal as quickly as possible."

"Right. Well, I'll leave you ladies to talk about it."

Before Diana could object, Lantern was already out the door.

Shayera turned two worried eyes on her friend. "Diana, are you sure you're ok with this?"

Wonder Woman walked over to the bed and sat down. "I wasn't expecting it, but like I said, we weren't together that long."

Hawkgirl joined her on the bed. "What does that have to do with anything? You loved him, didn't you?"

Diana looked angrily over at Shayera. "I told you I'm fine with it."

"You say that, but you're not. If you want to hide it from Bruce, fine. But you need to talk with someone about it, and if you want, that person can be me."

When Diana didn't say anything, Shayera placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Look, I know you love him. And I'm just as surprised as you were that this happened. I really thought you guys would go the distance."

Diana laughed bitterly. "Yes, because Bruce is known for being in long-term relationships."

"No. Bruce seems like the type that would avoid relationships like the plague, because he takes them so seriously. At least that's what John and I thought. So when you finally got him to start dating you, I just figured if anyone was going to end it, it would be you, not him. I'm really sorry, Diana. You guys are so good together. It just seemed right."

"Well, there's nothing to be done about it now. It happened almost three months ago. Right before I left for Themyscira."

"So that's why you went?"

"If anyone asks, even John, it was just for setting up the embassy."

"Have you thought about talking with Bruce about it?"

"If John broke up with you, would you talk to him about your feelings afterward?"

"No. I'd probably kill him, though."

"Exactly. Besides, he shouldn't get to know how I'm feeling."

Shayera nodded in agreement, but remained silent, which was perfect for Diana. Now that she was confessing her growing anger at Bruce, she couldn't stop.

"And I find out today that he's already dating other people."

"Where'd you hear that?"

"Flash."

Shayera rolled her eyes. "Diana, you know that those entertainment magazines Wally reads are just lies. There is no way Bruce is dating someone."

Diana put her head in her hands, inhaling deeply to steady herself. "I told myself when I left Themyscira that I wouldn't cry for him anymore."

"Why would you do that? If you have to cry, cry."

"Would you?"

"That doesn't matter, but yes, I would. And I have. I can't tell you how many times I've cried over some idiot who dumped me. There's nothing wrong with it. Now if you did it all the time, there might be a problem. But it's better to get it out and get on with it then to just bottle it up inside. Besides, he was your first boyfriend, and he's not an idiot. At least, not normally."

"I think the whole idea of him dating someone else just shook me up. I'll be fine. I should have known it wasn't true, but I'm not thinking as clearly as I should be."

"Diana, I hate to be such a pessimist, but it might get worse before it gets better."

"Why? I would think that time would only make it easier."

"Under normal circumstances, yes, but you picked the wrong time to get over him. All these weddings might make an already difficult situation worse."

"I don't see why that should make any difference."

"Well, you haven't been around Bruce for almost three months. And now you are going to have to see him. If it were just meetings, it wouldn't be so bad, but at weddings, it's different. Everyone around you seems happy and in love, and it really sucks if you don't have someone."

"I'm fine with being single. I don't need a man."

"No duh, Diana. But I don't think you started dating Bruce because you thought you needed a boyfriend. You dated him because you wanted him, and that hasn't changed."

Annoyed at the future ahead of her, Diana irately asked, ""Do you understand this world's women's fascination with getting married?"

"Yes."

Diana looked up in surprise. "But you're from Thanagar."

"We had marriage there too."

"Is it the same thing as here? The woman becoming an indentured servant to the male?"

"Where did you hear about that? On Themyscira?" Diana nodded her head yes.

"When did the Amazons relocate from Greece to your island?"

"Thousands of years ago."

"Diana, the role of women in society has changed a lot since then, and so have the attitudes toward marriage. We didn't have those issues on Thanagar, but the modern conception of marriage on this planet is much closer to what we had in Thanagar, except for all the divorces now. Besides, you've seen for yourself that Man's World isn't as bad as it is made out to be. You dated a man, after all."

Still angry with Bruce, Diana wasn't ready to concede yet. "Why is it not enough for a man and woman to say they want to be together?"

"It's a public declaration before all people and their god that you have chosen to be together."

"Why is that important?"

"When you were dating Bruce, and you couldn't go public with your relationship, didn't that bother you?

"That's different. We're superheroes, and he had an identity to protect."

Shayera went on as if she hadn't heard Diana. "And when you started dating, why did you share it with all of your friends? Or when you saw stories in the papers of women flirting with Bruce, didn't you want them to know that he belonged to you?"

"I still don't see what the big deal is."

"Where's your sense of romance, Diana? A man you love asking you to be with him forever, promising to cherish you no matter what happens, forsaking all others because he thinks there is no one better to be with than you."

Shayera was slowly starting to win Diana over, but Wonder Woman couldn't resist asking, "Well, if it's so wonderful, why aren't you and John getting married?"

When Shayera remained quiet for too long, Diana looked sharply at her. "Shayera! Are you guys engaged too?!"

"Yes, but don't tell anyone. We were going to wait until Dinah and Ollie's news got to everyone first."

"Why?"

Shayera raised her eyebrow archly. "Were you not just listening to anything I said?"

"Aren't you scared?"

"A little, but I think John has more to be frightened of than me. I'm the one who betrayed…well, you know what happened. I'm just grateful that he trusts me again." Blinking the tears out of her eyes, Shayera tried to lighten the mood. "Besides, this way Mari can never get her claws on him again."

"As if you are afraid of her."

"You're right. I could easily take her on in a fight."

"So when is it going to happen?"

"A few weeks before Dinah and Ollie marry, so in about two more months."

"That soon?"

"When you know, you know, right?"

"I suppose so."

"And while I'm at it, Diana, will you be my maid of honor? And I promise, you won't have to walk down the aisle with Bruce."

"Of course I'll be your maid of honor. Who is John asking?"

"Kyle Rayner."

"I've heard of him."

"He's a nice guy." And then inspiration struck the winged superhero. "Do you have a date for Superman's wedding?"

"Uh, no. I hadn't even thought of that."

"How about I have him go with you to their wedding?"

"I don't know, Shayera. I don't think I'm ready for it."

"It's just a date. Plus, he's good-looking." And it will drive Bruce crazy, Hawkgirl silently added.

The idea of being with anyone besides Bruce was distasteful to Diana, but, she reminded herself that he probably wouldn't spare her the same courtesy and would most likely show up with a date of his own. He did have a reputation to maintain. Making a snap and somewhat spiteful decision, Wonder Woman said, ""Fine. I'll do it."

"Thanks, Diana."

"You're welcome. Well, there are some other things I need to take care of. And thanks for…everything."

"No problem. And if you need anyone to talk to again…"

"Right."

As Diana walked away, Shayera looked worriedly after her friend, but made herself happy again with thoughts of how she would get John to work on Bruce. She was certain that, given the right conditions, Bruce and Diana would be back together in no time.

To Be Continued

To all my reviewers, thanks heaps! I love hearing from you all.

To my anonymous reviewer, d: I don't think I have it in me to write an unhappy ending, so you needn't worry. :D I'm not even used to the angst thing, but frustration and unhappiness are parts of life too, and they are usually the things that help us grow and mature and discover why we do what we do, and all that fun self-examination stuff. This is my attempt to do that with Bruce and Diana. And I threw in two more engagements for you. :D. Hope you like them as well.