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.
PART 3
Superman flew through the early evening sky, his spirits high. Despite all the difficult times recently… things were not that bad.
Lois was stable. She was not better… she would never be better. But Dr. Holurt's treatments over the years had worked wonders. She had lasted far longer than anyone thought she would. And eventhough she was in her 70s… he had a feeling they still had many years to go yet.
It all started ten years ago, with the plant extract which saved her life after her mild heart attack. How it got there was a mystery. Superman had covered Mexico trying to find a sample, but turned up with nothing. After Lois had recovered, he assumed Bruce arranged it. But after he asked him about it, it turned out the millionaire had no idea of it. So who provided the plant and how was never discovered.
Of course, Superman felt deeply sorry for Bruce and Diana. While Lois was recovering from her attack… their family was breaking. Thomas, Grace, Jason… they died. In the same day. It must have been terrible for them. But it just went to show how strong Bruce and Diana were… he used to wonder if their relationship would last. Now that it had survived the toughest challenge of all… it was obvious they loved eachother more than words could say.
And that was how Superman felt about Lois. She was his life. And he was happy beyond belief that despite the obstacles, they were still together. And they always would be.
Superman neared his apartment building and flew to the roof. He and Lois lived in the biggest apartment in the building… a wedding gift from the Wayne family. He occasionally tried to convince Lois to move to the suburbs… but she would have none of it. He might have been the Man of Steel, but when she put her foot down, she put her foot down.
He landed on the roof and went to the fire escape. He opened the door and walked in, then went down the staircase. By the time he opened the door to the building hallways, his costume was hidden by his pants and cardigan, his slightly greying hair and young face covered in makeup and wig.
He arrived at his apartment door and went to turn the handle. However, he suddenly paused.
Something was wrong. He could feel it.
He concentrated, and stood by the door.
Lois was not there.
He could neither see nor hear her.
He opened the door and went into the apartment. He stopped.
Everything was wear it was… the TV was still on…
But Lois was gone.
He was about to call out for her, when he heard something brush under his foot. He looked down…
There was a rag on the floor.
With a symbol on it.
His eyes widened with shock…
/
Bruce stared at the picture on the fireplace.
He and Diana were holding eachother in their bedroom at the Watchtower. It was a private photo… no one knew, but they always used to take pictures of eachother when they were alone. Bruce used to keep some in his utility belt.
They were private photos… of just them, showing their love for eachother. And the love could be seen in the pictures. Their smiles, the way they held eachother… they could not hide it. And they were all clean, normal pictures, just them smiling and cuddling.
Well… except for some…
He sighed. He had admitted that he needed her. Finally. He had tried to pretend he did not… asked her to leave more than once… but never wanting her to go. She was his life. He loved her with all his heart. If she ever did leave him, no matter how much he thought it would be for her own good… he would not be able to cope.
Now… he needed her. He needed her to be there. He did not want to be alone. He loved her, and he wanted to spend his final moments with her. She was his entire reason for being… she had given his life happiness, when he thought he would never be happy again.
All these years… he was always looking over his shoulder. Always waiting for the worst to happen. For him to die. Or for her to die. Or for her to leave him. Or for her to find someone else… It was silly he knew, but he just could not help thinking that something would happen… something would break them apart.
There had been times, of course. They had had fights… they faced death countless times… but they always managed to survive, and come out stronger. Their bond was never broken. They had been together so long… he could not imagine his life without her.
He just hoped she would be alright after he went. He did not want her to be hurt… she deserved nothing but the best. If she gave up after he went… he could not even think of it. He wanted her to be happy for as long as she lived… just as she had made him.
It would not be long now. A year… maybe two. But he was not afraid. As long as she was with him… she gave him all the strength he needed.
Bruce raised his arm, and gently stroked the picture.
He would cherish those moments forever…
He looked at the picture, and decided to go back to bed. He wanted to be with his wife.
He was about to turn around, when he heard a noise.
He froze.
He knew she was there.
"What do you want?" he asked, his back to her.
"You know what I want," came the reply.
"I won't let you hurt her," he said.
"I don't want to hurt her," she said. "Not anymore. I just want you."
Bruce clenched his jaw. "Leave my home. Now."
"Not without you."
He slowly turned around, and faced her. He narrowed his eyes. "I'm not going anywhere with you."
Talia stepped closer, keeping her pistol raised. "You have no choice. If you don't come with me, I will kill her."
"She's not pregnant this time," he said. "She'll fight back."
"Maybe," she said. "We'll never know." She then pulled the trigger, and a dart shot out of the pistol.
It hit Bruce in the neck, and he gasped. His legs then buckled, and he fell to the ground.
She looked down at him. He took deep breaths as he felt consciousness slipping away. "I'm sorry, Beloved," she said. "You'll see this is for the best…"
Then everything went black.
TO BE CONTINUED
