No preparation had been made for the wedding. Shayera and Diana simply wanted to get married in the throne room of Hippolyta, and to keep the ceremony, at least for now, quiet. Sooner or later there would have to be a formal occasion, but for now Diana and Shayera would get their way. Gathered in the room that evening, Hippolyta stood in front of her throne, looking around the room. Soon, Shayera would be added to her family and her daughter would be a permanent fixture in her home.

Slowly, the invitees gathered, and waited. Alindra and Athena stood holding hands next to Clio and Artemis. Amaya, the island's chief physician, held tightly to a hand that belonged to Zatanna, Aphrodite conversing with them quietly. Hera arrived last, and took a place next to Hippolyta. The blonde queen smiled shyly at her lover, and then quickly turned her attention away so as not to create any suspicion. Hera's heart tightened at the gesture but she too turned away. Diana entered with Shayera in tow, and they took their place in front of Diana's mother.

Softly, the Queen spoke, "A mother knows joy several times in her life, first when her child is given to her, when she takes her first steps, speaks her first words, and as she grows into an amazing woman. My daughter, Diana, has made me so proud her entire life. She is a champion of the women of this island, and to the humans who inhabit the outside world. A mother hopes that her child, while away from home, will continue to be what she raised her to be…honest, loyal, and fierce in all that she holds dear. Then there is the moment when the woman comes to love another, and wishes to pledge that love eternally to her chosen companion. That is what brings us here tonight." Hippolyta stopped suddenly, her thoughts becoming somewhat incoherent. She wasn't able to think clearly, and she tried to shake it off.

Hera, sensing distress coming from the other Queen whispered, "Hippolyta, are you alright?"

Hippolyta stammered slightly, a tear careening down her cheek, "I-I…am overwhelmed by the moment."

Hera smiled, and spoke, "Diana, you have come here tonight to marry the woman you love. Your family stands witness to the blessed event. Have you prepared vows?"

Diana nodded, feeling her heart beat wildly in her chest in anticipation. Turning to face Shayera she began, "This all began because Helena swore to me that I would like you, and that we would be instant friends." Chuckling Diana continued, "I thought she was insane."

The room laughed lightly, as did Shayera.

Diana spoke again, "I agreed as a favor to her that I would take you to a Christmas party. I had no idea that you would look so stunning. But walking up that hallway, I couldn't take my eyes off you. I had once held that love at first sight is impossible, but I was so wrong. In that moment, I was yours."

Hippolyta blinked a few times, desperately trying to clear her mind that was buzzing. She could hear words being spoken by her daughter, but it all sounded like a jumbled mess. Suddenly, she heard a voice loud and clear in her mind. "Foolish Queen! You stand alone. You are surrounded by no one who pays you any mind. You have no love, and no one who cares about what happens to you. It is past time for you to recognize that being the Queen of the Amazons will only bring tragedy to you and those around you."

"No!" Hippolyta uttered to herself, as her vision slowly began to blur. She could make out figures, but barely. Blobs of light lingered in her direct vision, and she felt mind-numbing sadness creep into her chest. Breathing was becoming difficult.

"…And then," Diana smiled, "you kissed me. I couldn't move. I couldn't even return the affection. I was absolutely floored that you had done something so bold! In retrospect I shouldn't have been surprised at all by your brash spirit. I'd seen it countless times before, and several times since."

The vows continued, as the room was unaware of what was happening in Hippolyta's mind. Images flashed in her imagination of Diana's death, an island barren of any inhabitants, plant life, or animals. Rivers and streams that had once been beautiful had turned to blood. Again the voice in her head spoke, "This is what you bring the Amazon nation to. Ruination. No one will save them, and you will die knowing your last breath is the last breath of the race."

Hera chanced a look of affection towards Hippolyta, and immediately became concerned. The blonde Queen was sweating profusely, and her face had become ashen. She reached out and grabbed the Queen's hand, trying to anchor her. Hippolyta jerked back, and drew the attention of the room. Stumbling forward down the steps she muttered, "No! I can't be the Queen of this."

Hera reached out again, eyes wide, "Hippolyta! What is wrong?"

Diana took quick strides towards her mother, only to be met with a fist that connected to her jaw. Diana was sent flying across the room into a stone wall. The Amazon generals instantly went to their Princess, helping her to stand, as Diana struggled to understand what was happening.

Hippolyta broke out in a full sprint, bumping into a pillar that she couldn't quite see clearly, the torture in her mind continuing to heighten, denying her any sense of reality. Hera screamed, "Athena! What is this?"

The Goddess of Wisdom stood shocked. Quickly she scanned the room for some disturbance, but couldn't locate a source. Hera didn't wait for an answer, and she ran after the fleeing queen. Aphrodite mimicked the actions of her sister, and came up empty as well. "What in all of Hades is going on?"

Hippolyta continued to run, her eyes welling up with tears, and her mind buzzing with death and twisted images of realities that would never be. She wailed into the night, as Ares watched on with a smug grin on his face. Leave it to the Fates to make the moment melodramatic as hell. Soon he was not alone. His father's presence was felt immediately. Zeus materialized next to him, and looked to see what had caught his son's attention so far away. He was shocked as his wife was chasing the Queen of the Amazons away from the palace, towards a cliff.

"Hippolyta!" she yelled. "Please stop! Please!" The desperation and fear was apparent in her voice, and Zeus' eyes narrowed angrily.

"What is this Ares?"

This, Ares thought to himself, was perfect. His father was going to witness his mother trying to save a human. He had no idea what he had put in motion. He was one to trust his instincts, and in following them in this case he'd struck gold. With a smirk, Ares thought 'Well, the Fates and he, really, but why quibble over such trifles as credit.'

Hippolyta ran with all speed to the edge of a high cliff overlooking the ocean. She stood on the precipice, and dropped to her knees cradling her head, willing it all to stop. The thoughts were relentless, and she pounded her fists into the grass next to her knees. Hera finally caught up and approached the other queen carefully.

"Hippolyta, please, talk to me. What's wrong?"

Hippolyta's thoughts were jumbled, and she uttered, "There is no place for me. I don't belong here."

Hera's heart surged to her throat, "That isn't true. Your place is here with the Amazons, and your daughter, all of who love you very much. Hippolyta, come to me." Hera took slow steps on her approach, her hand extended. She could just materialize next to the Queen, but she didn't want to scare her. Behind her she could hear the women that had been in the throne room running to their position.

"Mother!" Diana yelled. Realizing that they could get where they wanted even quicker, Shayera and Diana took to the air, flying as fast as they ever had. But it was not quick enough. Hippolyta stood, and took two steps back and then flung herself off the side of the cliff, falling fast towards the rocks.

Hera screamed, "No!" Instantly she disappeared, and Aphrodite and Athena did the same mid-stride. Hera snatched Hippolyta out of thin air on her descent, grabbing tightly to the falling monarch. Safely she landed them on the sand below, the waves kicking up furiously against the rocks, splashing them with spray. She cradled the Queen in her arms, and tears began to stream down her own face. Her daughters appeared next to her, concern for the events splayed across their faces. Holding Hippolyta tightly, Hera cried, "I don't understand!" She looked down at the woman she loved, who lay limp in her arms, her mind gone.

Desperately, Hera squeezed tighter, grief washing over her as the tide came in. She laid the Queen down on the sand, and searched for an injury. Finding none, she caressed the monarch's cheek, and whispered, "I can't be without you. Hippolyta, don't leave me. Come back to me…I love you."

Zeus' eyes went wide with anger at the utterance. He stood straight up stiffly, and raised his hand in rage, a lightning bolt appearing with a sparking vengeance.

Ares quickly grabbed his father's wrist, "Wait, father!" he urged. "Watch more, and see if your daughters knew of this treachery."

Zeus allowed his hand to be stilled, and while his eyes flashed like a violent storm, he held his temper in check. As for Ares, he couldn't believe his luck! This had started out as nothing more than a means to strike at some enemies. Now…it was so much more!

Aphrodite and Athena became still at the utterance of their mother, and quickly tried to shield what was happening away from any god who would be watching, not knowing the damage had already been done. Diana and Shayera landed abruptly next to the small group, and Diana immediately knelt next to her mother. She stared in disbelief, and howled in agony into the night air. Grabbing her mother's hand, tears flowed unchecked, "What is this madness?"

Hera's head snapped up at the statement. "Madness…" she uttered. There would be hell to pay for what had transpired, but for the moment, she leaned over the fallen queen, and placed her hand on the blonde's head. Her hand began to glow, and she sensed death had not taken the woman. Slowly she uttered in a language none but Athena and Aphrodite comprehended. Quickly understanding what was happening, the two sisters knelt in the sand forming a circle and mimicked the actions of their mother. The three goddesses chanted quickly, desperate to undo any damage to the queen's mind. After several agonizing moments, they stopped and waited, each of them holding their breath. Slowly, Hippolyta opened her eyes, desperately trying to focus. Hera gasped and pulled the queen up into her arms, rocking her slowly in her chest whispering every loving sentiment she could think of.

"Hippolyta, my love. I thought I had lost you. Please, please," the desperation in the patron's voice apparent, "never leave me."

Diana was shocked and Shayera placed a calming hand on her shoulder, not understanding what was happening, but knowing Diana didn't either.

"Please, please say something, anything…" Hera begged.

Hippolyta's voice cracked, "Hera…"

"I'm here. I'm here and I swear I will not leave you ever again."

Diana stood and stumbled backwards, "What is going on?"

Hera clutched to Hippolyta even more, and Aphrodite stood and walked over to face the confused Princess. "Our mother grieves Diana, for something precious she almost lost."

Athena's head shot up, "Aphrodite!"

The Goddess of Love spun around to face her younger sister, "Someone should tell her! It just isn't fair. She doesn't understand, and I'm not keeping my mouth shut on this anymore."

Hera clinched her eyes shut, and wept even more. "Diana, child, please…."

Diana's head shot towards her patroness. "You speak to me like my mother would."

"No," Aphrodite whispered in Diana's ear, "she speaks to you as your mother as well."

Diana's eyes went wide with the admission, trying desperately to understand exactly what had just been revealed to her. "She isn't my mother. Hippolyta is."

"No," Athena interjected somberly, "Hera is your mother as well. You were her gift to Hippolyta, only hers. Diana, you are my sister."

"And mine…Well sorta. We're all pretty complicated," Aphrodite added with a shrug.

"This…" Diana searched for words, "this isn't possible."

Hera began slowly, still staring down at Hippolyta who was slowly coming around, "Surely you know that anything is possible. You were a gift I gave to a Queen who I love more than anything. She grieved for years that she couldn't have a child. It broke my heart to see her so unhappy. So, I decided to give her a part of myself, and you were created."

Hippolyta smiled, and reached up to Hera's face, "You gave me Diana? Only you?" Hera nodded, and Hippolyta leaned up and wrapped her arm around the goddess' neck. "Thank you."

Shayera held Diana's arms to keep her from falling down in disbelief. "Diana, we've talked about this. Even you acknowledged to some degree that you are different, stronger and you…well, you do look like Hera in some ways."

Aphrodite approached Diana cautiously, "Please, sister, we speak the truth."

Diana blinked, "I-I don't know what to say."

Struggling to sit up and eventually stand, Hippolyta leaned heavily on Hera. "Diana, I have spent longer than you know loving Hera. I guarded it quietly. Please, don't be angry about something neither of us knew about. You are my daughter in every way imaginable, and that you were a gift from the woman I love, only makes you that much more special."

"I couldn't openly love your mother. Zeus, he…he wouldn't tolerate it, and I couldn't risk you, or Hippolyta. It's why I have always watched over you. You are my pride and joy, and although I regret I couldn't be what either of you wanted me to be then, I will try very hard now to be."

Athena reeled, "Mother, we need to talk about this."

"No," Hera steeled, "I have no doubt that Zeus did this, and probably through the Fates. It is the only way we wouldn't have realized what was going on. I will not turn my back on my family. I will be paying the Fates and your father a visit."

Diana blinked hard, "Wait! What will happen as a result?"

"War." Athena answered gruffly. "Hera choosing to be with you both openly will bring down Zeus' wrath."

Aphrodite turned to her sister, an eyebrow raised, "And where will you stand?"

Athena wasted no time in answering, "With my wife, you, my mother…" the goddess extended her hand to Diana, "and with my youngest sister."

Diana grabbed it and nodded her head. "Very well. It seems like we have ourselves quite the family." Turning slowly to Shayera, she clinched her eyes shut, "You have to go back to the Tower. What we are about to undertake will be dangerous to everyone. I…I need to know that you are safe."

Shayera shook her head adamantly, "No. My place is with you. I won't abandon you when you need me most. We have a family to protect, and I'm not going anywhere. You and I are in this together."

Diana cringed. She didn't believe that Shayera truly understood what was going to happen. "Shayera, we're probably going to be fighting for survival against Zeus. He is all-powerful, a force to be reckoned with. And that's assuming it is just him! We're going to be in for one hell of a battle. Please, go back to the Tower."

Shayera stood nose to chin with her Amazon. "All the more reason for me to stay. My mace disrupts magic. You need me, and I can't be without you."

Athena nodded, "Diana, she's right. We're going to need every ounce of help we can get."

Diana spun, anger brimming at the surface, "Enough! Just because you are willing to risk your wife, doesn't mean I will risk mine."

Hippolyta was shocked and stood to face her daughter, "Diana! Apologize now!"

Athena let go of her sister's hand, "How dare you? I have guarded your mother and your people. And my wife, as you crassly put it, will make up her own mind what she wants to do. But I know her, she is an Amazon general and she will fight alongside your mother. This is ultimately who and what we are fighting for. So, yes, while it may seem cold, I will take all offers of help defending the women standing here, those above us, and those who have no idea what we are about to undertake. I would take every ounce of help to ensure their survival. How safe do you expect Shayera to be, on her own, in the Tower? Do you think for a second she'd be safe the moment your identity is truly known? You've already painted a target on her back, and Zeus will strike!"

Diana started to reply, but then stopped. Shayera wouldn't be safe anywhere. Sending her away would be a monumental mistake. She dropped her head, "I'm sorry. I just…"

"You love her. I get it. I love Alindra." Athena's tone had cooled some.

Hera interjected, "I need to go and visit the Fates. They will pay for this with their lives."

Hippolyta squeezed Hera tightly. Aphrodite stepped forward. "No, mother. You should stay here with Athena. Between the two of you, the Amazons will have some serious firepower to help if necessary. I will visit the Fates."

Athena was shocked, "Aphrodite, no…"

Aphrodite stood solemn, and brave. "I know what you are thinking Athena. You and mother have had to save me on multiple occasions. I typically bite off more than my mouth can chew, but this is different. I am not going on some flippant errand to satisfy my lust for something inconsequential. This is about something more. I won't fail."

Hippolyta shivered slightly, and Hera held her closer. "Dearest, let's go back to the palace and warm you up. We can discuss what we intend to do there."

Hippolyta leaned in and kissed Hera softly. Their lips met with an understanding of what was to come. There'd be no more hiding, and there would be bloodshed for sure. But in that moment, there was only what they felt, and the truth that had finally come to light. They had a daughter, an extended family, and although happiness would be fleeting, they would have this together. Diana scowled playfully, "That's…"

"Beautiful." Aphrodite smiled.

"Not what I was going to say…" Diana laughed.

Pulling away tenderly, Hera whispered, "Athena, Aphrodite, thank you. I will never be able to repay this loyalty."

Aphrodite rushed her mother and threw her arms around the two queens. "I just got another mother! And a pretty badass sister too. Not that Athena isn't badass, but now I have two!"

Athena laughed and reached for Diana once more. "Hello, badass."

Diana chuckled, and hugged her half-sister. "Hello to you too. Shayera?"

The group huddled in together, and shared in one last embrace, and slowly the veil was lifted.

Aphrodite suddenly smirked and noted, "You know, this feels like another war I started…"

Zeus was furious. He had seen his wife declare her love for a lesser being, and he was fuming slowly as his traitorous daughters clouded his vision. That Athena was one of them only served to piss him off even more. So when the veil was lifted, and the women stood at the bottom of the cliff, his voice boomed through the otherwise quiet night.

"HOW DARE ANY OF YOU!"

Instantly every woman was shocked to attention. "Well looks like didn't get it up quick enough," Aphrodite whispered.

"You think?" Athena replied. It had begun and all Athena could feel was that unique calm that always came over her before the violence began.

"HERA!"

The mother of the gods stepped forward on the beach and looked up. "I'm here."

Zeus' enraged face appeared in the clouds that were beginning to darken, and thunder rolled throughout Olympus. "You deceitful bitch! I will destroy you!"

Athena and Aphrodite immediately stood at the forefront next to their mother. Zeus spat at the pair, "The two of you will pay for this too!"

Suddenly a lightning bolt careened above their heads, splintering the side of the cliff. Athena waved her hand, and the rocks that were barreling down on their position were tossed mid-air into the ocean at a distance. Sending another bolt, Zeus screamed in anger, his voice cracking through the sky with a sonic boom. Athena suddenly realized where the bolt was aimed, and instantly she disappeared, only to materialize at the top of the cliff where her wife and friends stood shocked at what they were suddenly seeing. Throwing her arms out, stretching them as far as she could, she absorbed the bolt of lightning into her aura, it's magic dropping her to her knees, crackling through her essence, trying to electrocute her from within. Her head fell, and she struggled to control the lightning desperately trying to keep everyone safe. It had been too long since Athena's lessons with her father's lightning, and it showed.

Zatanna moved forward quickly, her face determined, uttering in a foreign language. Slowly, the lightning was withdrawn from Athena through her chest, as everyone else watched in shock. Amaya screamed as Zatanna grabbed the bolt, trying to control the ancient element. Athena grabbed it as well, and together they threw it off, but not without effort.

"Stop!" Diana yelled, taking to the air. "Zeus, stop!"

The father of the Gods laughed maliciously, "Who are you to command me? No one! Your mother will not live through the remainder of the night. I will have my revenge."

"Then take it out on me. I offer my life in exchange."

"You are no one to me! I will not suffer this treachery. All of you can die."

Ares whispered to his father, just out of sight of the women. "Father, kill them now, and they learn no lesson. Make the challenge. Allow one of your sons to defend your honor."

Zeus stood silent. "Hera!" he boomed once more, "I will have my honor restored. Find one of your children who will stand against one of my sons." He laughed to himself. Hera had no true children that he knew of, other than Hephaestus, who might actually fight. The god of the forge was a genius and utterly loyal to his mother, but also a clubfoot and no fighter. He would obliterate her line, before killing her too. It was too perfect. What he had not counted on was staring him straight in the face.

Diana sneered, "If she accepts the challenge, will you abide the results?"

"Of course." Zeus was cock sure this was going to be easier than he could have ever imagined.

Diana stared down at her mothers. "Accept the challenge."

"No," Hera grimaced. "I will not. I will not sacrifice…."

Diana shouted, "Accept the damn challenge! You want to protect my mother, this is the way!"

Zeus flung another lightning bolt at Athena. It struck her shoulder, ripping away at flesh. She screamed in agony, and Aphrodite appeared immediately to heal her. The burn was spreading and Athena knew she couldn't hold up against this type of punishment much longer. Alindra rushed forward, but Artemis grabbed her, fearing for her friend's foolishness if she reached her destination. Clio grabbed Zatanna and whispered in her ear. Zatanna nodded and clutched Amaya to her. The trio was teleported away. Zeus laughed at the apparent fleeing of Hera's allies. Within seconds however, Zatanna reappeared and screamed Shayera's name. The Thanagarian took to the sky and landed at the edge of the cliff. Zatanna tossed Shayera's mace to her and it sparked to life. Un-phased Zeus hurled another lightning bolt at Athena and Aphrodite.

Shayera stepped to the side and swatted it down out of the sky. She stood tall in defense of the weakened goddess. The redhead smiled grimly at the god, "Didn't see that coming, did you?"

Diana cringed, and she shouted once more, "Hera! This is not the time to take a stand. Accept the challenge!"

Hera uttered, "I accept."

Zeus grinned. Diana turned once more towards Zeus, "Name the time and the place. She's accepted."

The father of the gods was astounded at the impertinence of the small human. "Who are you to speak to me?"

"I'm the child of Hera that is about to put down one of your sons. I've done it before, and I can do it again."

Zeus recoiled, "No! This cannot be."

"It is." Diana floated, still keeping herself between the face in the clouds, and her mothers. "Good luck finding a son that will win."

Ares staggered backwards. This was no good. Diana had proven herself on several occasions to be more than a handful for him, and some of his fellow gods. Knowing she was Hera's was a hell of a revelation that he was not expecting. He slinked away, not wanting any part of her.

Zeus looked around and noticed Ares' sudden absence and scowled, "Tomorrow at dawn on the beach." And with the utterance his face dissipated from the clouds.

Sensing that the danger was over for the moment, Artemis let Alindra go. She rushed to Athena's side on the ground and examined the wound. "Athena," she barely breathed out.

Athena grimaced, "It's okay. No permanent damage done. I just…I just have to expel it. Stand back."

Artemis once again grasped her friend, and backed them away. Athena and Aphrodite held hands hard, and Athena pushed her magic out with all her might. Aphrodite grunted but stood firm. With a piercing cry, the lightening was withdrawn once more, and expelled into the ocean. Collapsing to the ground, Athena had no energy left. Reaching down to pick up her sister, Aphrodite was stopped by a firm, tanned hand on her arm. Alindra whispered, "No, let me carry her."

Nodding, Aphrodite backed away, and watched as her sister-in-law scooped up the goddess of wisdom into strong arms. She cradled her tightly, and proceeded to walk back to the palace, with her companions following in silence.

Diana drifted down to her mothers and waited. Hippolyta was silently crying, and Hera was speechless. Diana muttered, lowering her head, "Don't be mad. I did what I thought was best. We weren't going to win tonight. I will beat whoever tomorrow."

"Diana," Hippolyta choked out. "I'm so sorry I brought this on us."

"No," Diana shook her head slowly, "he did this. He's the reason we were never allowed to be together."

Hera pleaded, "Let me face him. Don't do this."

"No." Diana's head shot up. "You promised my mother you wouldn't leave her. She deserves to be happy. Years she sacrificed that happiness for me. I will bring you both peace. It's a small sacrifice to make for the women who raised me, loved me, watched over me…my mothers."

Hera clutched Diana's hand, and returned the trio back to the palace. Plans had to be made and dawn was once again fast approaching.

A/N: Diana's parentage fully revealed! Did you expect it so quickly? Zeus is pissed! Guesses as to who the son will be to fight for him? You'll get that name next chapter as we get the story moving full throttle. Thanks to everyone who reviews! I love seeing what everyone thinks! For Wonderhawk6648: Spot on my friend...the secret did spread fast! Sorry for the shorter chapter. Longer ones to come, but this was a good stopping point, and I can't get too far ahead of myself and the co-author. Happy reading!