Purpose

by Dinasis

Consequence of Choice #4: Purpose. Life was never meant to be static. We can only change our situation, or let it change us in response. BMWW.

4. Home

Author's Note: Wow. This is the chapter that just would not end. No complaints, though this is a little close for Wednesday. Character ownership goes to DC Comics.

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"I am so glad we're having this conversation again…"

My eyes narrow at Bruce's comment. His sarcasm grates at my nerves. "You're still helping me out. If you're really so against it, then I don't need you for them, I need you for me. Think of it like that. And you should also know that Alfred already agreed to help."

I can see Bruce's detachment give way to a bit of openness, or perhaps it'd be better to call it resignation. "One condition."

It certainly isn't the answer I was hoping for. 'I should have expected some sort of deal, but at least he isn't outright refusing to help.' I let my curiosity loose across my expression. "Condition?" I prompt.

"Try your bed." My curiosity turns to surprise. "One night is all I ask. See if you would like to sleep in it another night or if one night is all you care for. Just try it and we'll worry about where things go afterwards. Give me that and I'll do whatever you need me to do for this…whatever you're calling it."

I nod, accepting Bruce's offer. A grin then lifts the corners of my mouth. "I call it…" I lean out over my finished lunch, resting my elbows on either side of my plate as I rest my head on my raised right hand. "…a double date."

Bruce takes his turn narrowing his eyes. "…What?" My grin evens out into a jubilant smile. He leans back and a look of doubt crosses his face.

"Ohh, no. You're not getting out of it now, Bruce," I tell him before he can speak. He gives me a defeated, frustrated groan as he relaxes and sits straighter again. "Good. Now, we're going to the cave after this and you're going to say whatever you want to get Lois and Clark here at the manor."

"What?" Confusion, though it doesn't surprise me. "I can see here, but why Clark? You never call him Clark."

"Because Superman trying to tell Lois who he really is isn't working, so I want to try having Clark tell Lois who he really is instead."

"And you expect this to work better? How is this going to turn out any different from their other dates? I don't think Lois will be able to look at it as a date."

"Their other dates didn't have anyone else trying to help out. If perception is going to be a problem, don't present it as a date." I reach for the iced mocha Alfred prepared me—actually, my second since we sat down. "So, whenever you're done, Bruce…"

Bruce gives a grumbled complaint as he picks his spoon up to finish his soup. He eats it quickly, even setting his spoon aside to pick the bowl up and drink the broth once there's nothing else left. He nearly drops the bowl back onto its saucer and the clink when the two dishes hit rings out through the manor's large dining hall.

Bruce pushes his chair out from behind himself and stands. I quickly rise to my feet as well. As he turns around, Alfred appears in the doorway. Bruce takes but a moment to notice his arrival. "I take it she told you the whole plan?"

I smile with amusement before the elder man responds. "Of course, Master Bruce. I think it's a marvelous idea. Sometimes all a person needs is a little push in the right direction and a friend to do the pushing. Wouldn't you agree, sir?"

Bruce begins towards the doorway to the hall and I begin following. Bruce disappears out into the hallway and I pause for a moment beside Alfred. "Bruce is going to make the call from the cave. You're of course welcome to listen in with me."

"Absolutely, Miss Diana. I'll join you as soon as the table is cleared."

Alfred continues towards the table and I head out to the hall to follow after Bruce. I keep a leisurely pace as I make my way into the Batcave, where I find that he is already sitting at his computer. He looks to me as I approach, his displeasure quite evident.

"I thought you wanted to get this done quickly."

"It's alright. Do you know what you're going to say?"

He replies with a nod. "May I begin, Princess?"

I fold my arms as I stop next to him. "Yes. Once Alfred gets here." Bruce's expression turns defiant. "Whatever I want, Bruce," I remind him before he can respond.

He turns to the array of monitors before him, leans away from me in his chair. He breaks the silence after a moment, though. "I'm going to make sure that bed is the most comfortable thing you've ever felt, so you'll never want to sleep in that oversized space capsule again."

Unrestrained laughter escapes me before I can speak. "Space capsule? You built it, Bruce."

"For utility, Diana. Not for comfort." He turns back towards me, looks past me, then turns his attention once more to the Batcomputer.

I can only guess it's because Alfred has arrived. I take the opportunity to tease him one more time before he uses the veritable supercomputer as a conference room speakerphone. "Well, I can certainly see where the design ideas came from. It's similar to the cave in that regard, isn't it?"

Bruce turns back to me with a blank expression. He reaches towards the Batcomputer. "I'm calling now."

I smile back and nod in acknowledgment. I turn to see Alfred only a few feet away and stepping up beside me. The ringing of an ordinary telephone fills the air. It lasts for three rings before abruptly ending.

"Lane," Lois answers simply, her voice unmistakable.

"Lois? Bruce Wayne." I can hear the slight difference in the pitch of his voice, reminiscent of when we 'met' and danced in Paris.

"Bruce, hi! Why're you calling? Things getting boring in Gotham?"

"Just the opposite, I'm happy to say." The disconnect between Bruce's words and his expression is as fascinating as it is amusing. "I've got a little project underway at WayneTech that I'd like to get the word out about. The Gotham outlets will have a pretty good handle on it, but I'd like to get the story some good attention outside of Gotham as well."

"…Ok. I'm not going to say no, but you remember that we have an office in Gotham, don't you?"

"Of course. You'll be free and able to link up with them however you need to. I just think it'd be best to go through reporters I know."

"Wait. Reporters? Plural?"

"Well, you'll probably need someone to carry your notes for you." Bruce laughs. "I don't really think it's going to be a one reporter story—unless you think you can shadow myself and Lucius at once."

"Alright, fine. Two it is." An odd noise comes over the speakers. I hear Lois's voice over the Batcomputer's speakers a moment later, but it's very muffled. "Hey, Smallville? I've got a lead on a story. You want in on the byline?" A pause. "I don't know. Something at WayneTech in Gotham."

The noise repeats itself. Her voice is again clear. "Bruce, you remember Clark Kent, right? He's from Kansas. We both met you at the airport during that collaboration with LexCorp."

"Clark! That was his name! I was going to suggest the very same." It's amazing. Watching Bruce put on such an act. In a way, it's awe-inspiring to watch. I have to wonder what more he'd be doing if he were standing in front of Lois in order to keep the act going. I can't help but smile, thinking that until Lois knows who Clark Kent is, we'll all have to act—Bruce, myself, and of course Kal as well.

"Alright, good. When do you need us there?"

I turn to Alfred. He turns his attention to me and immediately gives me a nod. I turn back to Bruce and mouth the word 'tonight.' He nods even as he responds to Lois aloud. "Well, it's going to be a little short notice. The presentations begin tomorrow morning, so if you'd like, I'll send a private jet and have you in Gotham in time for dinner.

"And so long as we're speaking of dinner, I hope neither of you will mind getting the primer for tomorrow over dinner at the manor."

"Just don't offer us rooms." Lois laughs. "We'll work that out with the Gotham office when we get there."

"Fair enough. I won't run the risk of jeopardizing your credibility as reporters." Bruce allows a short silence before continuing. "Alright. Well, I'm home for lunch at the moment, so I'll arrange your transportation once I get back to the office and call you again to let you know when to expect your flight."

"Yup. We'll be ready. Talk to you soon."

"Goodbye."

The line goes dead and Bruce turns to me. "Alright?"

"Yeah." I turn to Alfred and he gives me an approving smile in response. "That was perfect," I finish while turning back to Bruce.

He's already back on his feet. He leans over the controls for the Batcomputer and sets it into a low-power sleep mode. The screen goes black and he moves away from the computer.

"You don't need me for anything else until dinner, right?" I look up and away, then shake my head slowly. "Good. I'm heading back to the office before you can think of something."

Bruce steps close, reaches out, and wraps his hands around my waist. He pulls me tight against his chest and gives me a quick kiss on the lips almost before I can get my hands to his upper arms. "Just to forewarn you, I have a back-up plan if whatever you have in mind doesn't pan out." He turns to Alfred. "I'll let you know what I'll need once we get out to the car."

"Of course, Master Bruce."

Bruce whips his head back to me. "Not that I don't have faith in your plan—whatever it may be. I'm only considering Kent's current four-date record."

His hasty reassurance earns a good laugh from me. "I understand. You're just trying to cover all contingencies, right?" I give him an almost nervous laugh. "Truth be told, I'm not so sure he'll let me bring it up unless I just start blurting it out. I might end up having to count on your plan, Bruce."

"Good. Don't expect Superman to make things easy for us." His hands travel up my sides and to the backs of my shoulder blades. "But for now…" He leans forward, takes my lips with a hungry passion.

I stand in a daze for nearly a full breath before I get half a mind to begin responding. My hands slide up Bruce's arms, settling on his shoulders. My grip tightens, eliciting a groan that I soon after suppose could be from pain. Bruce pulls away a moment later and my grip relaxes. "For now," Bruce repeats, "just focus on us."

A new smile touches my lips. "Sorry, Bruce." I lean back, give Bruce a quick kiss. "Alfred and I will be too busy getting ready for tonight."

"I think you're underestimating how long the afternoon will be. You'd be better off heading up to the Watchtower to get yourself prepared for tonight." Bruce lets me go and as I drop my hands back to my sides, he turns to address Alfred. "Is her room still ready?"

Alfred looks curious, hopeful. His eyes shift towards me for a short moment. "Of course, Master Bruce. Why do…" Though I'm only looking at his profile from the side, I can clearly see the triumphant smile forming on Bruce's lips. Alfred turns to me in full as Bruce begins to step past him. "Very glad to have you here, Miss Diana. I assure you your stay will be most pleasant."

"Th-thank you, Alfred, but it's just for tonight." Hints of disappointment appear in Alfred's expression.

Across the cave, Bruce is nearly to the bottom of the stairs back up to the manor. "For now!" he calls correctively.

Alfred nods, the disappointment quickly replaced with understanding. "Of course, Miss." He turns towards the stairs, his head still facing me. "If you will, Miss Diana. This cave is not a proper place for anyone."

I step forward and Alfred turns, preceding me upstairs as we both follow Bruce back into Wayne Manor. He hurries off once we reach the study, fetching a car to return Bruce to Wayne Enterprises for the rest of the afternoon. I follow along at a leisurely pace, heading for the foyer to see Bruce off before following his advice and returning to the Watchtower to fetch my things for tonight.

I find Bruce already standing by the door, straightening his jacket. His briefcase is on the floor beside him, resting against his leg. I approach him from the side. "What's first?" he asks before turning to me.

"Watchtower."

"Good. Dinner doesn't need to be any fancier than food. I don't need much, so Alfred can probably help with whatever you might need as soon as you get back."

"Thanks." I lift my hands to Bruce's chest and lean in for a kiss, wondering as an off-hand thought if I've grown addicted to him in these past few months. His hands find my sides while our lips are pressed together. I hold on for a few breaths, then pull back and release him. "Love you, Bruce."

"Love you, too, Diana." He turns to the door, opens it, and we step out onto the landing together. He turns back and locks the door behind me. "I'll see you this evening."

Bruce heads down the stairs and climbs into the back seat of the car Alfred has ready and waiting. The older man closes the car door and gifts me a kind smile before walking around to the driver's door. He climbs in and starts the car moving as I watch.

When the car is out of the parking loop and halfway to the gate, I walk towards the edge of the top step. When I'm nearly there, there's a beep in my ear. I stop, turning my eyes to my left, as if I could look far enough to see the communicator in my ear.

"Superman to Wonder Woman," I hear a moment later, the words recorded and relayed once the channel is established. There's then a quiet tone indicating the system's success.

"Afternoon, Kal," I reply cheerily.

"Ahh… Hi, Diana. This may seem a little out of the blue, but…do you know anything about what Bruce has planned for tonight?"

I start pacing across the landing to keep from falling still. "…No. Can't say that I do…" '…know what Bruce's backup plan is.' Luckily my grin is inaudible.

"Ohh… Alright. Well, he called Lois at the office and invited the two of us to Gotham for some story tomorrow. We're supposed to have dinner at the manor tonight. I know he likes to keep things close to the chest, but I haven't heard anything about it and, frankly, his asking Lois instead of me is kind of suspect."

Machinations build themselves in my mind. "Oh, please." I laugh. "Kal, if you're worried about Bruce, I can certainly be there for dinner."

"Would you mind?"

"No, not at all. I'll be there."

"Thanks. You know, I tried getting a hold of Bruce as soon as I could, but he isn't answering his communicator and I don't have the manor's number to try calling. Are you with him now? Maybe know why he didn't answer?"

I cross my arms below my bust, subconsciously trying not to look guilty. "No…can't say I'm with him now." Not quite a lie. If he doesn't ask about why again, I won't have to lie to him. A distraction would serve me well. "But, tell me about it. Why carry a communicator if you aren't going to use it? It's even worse for him since he was the one who designed the things."

I give a sigh before switching subjects. "…Listen, Kal…I wanted to apologize for Bruce about what happened."

"Thanks, Diana, but you don't need to apologize for him and certainly not again."

"I know, I know. You keep saying that, but it's just that I feel like it's partly my fault. I was at the manor when Bruce left to meet you. I could have made a better effort to stop him."

"Well, it's all for the better, I suppose. Hate to say it, but Bruce's…" He pauses to cough. "advice…" A second interrupting cough. "really struck a chord with me."

"No! Don't say that!" I laugh, joking despite the words. "You'll only prove him right!"

"Well, I might have to give him this one. Begrudgingly, if it makes you feel any better about it. I don't know how much longer I'd have waited on my own. I'm just glad that Lois got fed up and decided to do something about it herself…even in as roundabout a way as she chose."

There's a short silence. "Whoop. Gotta go, boss's looking for me. Thanks again, Diana."

Another tone signals the channel's termination before I can respond. 'Didn't think he'd try calling me about dinner…' I smirk. "All in all, I think it went well, though."

Finally, I step down to the pavement. I begin lifting my hand to my communicator, but pause. I turn back to regard Wayne Manor. When Bruce first brought me here during the Thanagarian invasion—the first time I laid eyes upon the manor in person—I have to admit that it seemed so imposing a sight.

Being introduced to Alfred had immediately brightened my image of the dark mansion. I'd even seen Bruce relax a bit once within the familiar haven of his home. Looking back on it now, it seems a little silly, but for nearly a year, I held a bit of a grudge against Kal and J'onn. Their arrival at the manor forced the reality of the invasion upon us again and Bruce immediately responded to the gravity of our situation.

Fortunately, I'd for the most part gotten over it by the time the second Watchtower was launched. Admittedly, I put more of the blame on Kal and was upset with him for longer. Then again, J'onn and I had more time to reconcile while we lived together at Wayne Manor. It helped that I got to see a more relaxed Bruce Wayne on a nearly daily basis.

The thought brings a smile to my lips, though we'd been birds in a cage while in Gotham, in the manor. Bruce forbade us from drawing unnecessary attention to himself or his estate. The only people we'd been allowed to meet were his young allies, Tim, Dick, and Barbara.

J'onn knew who they were immediately, I'm sure. Still, Bruce only introduced Tim and Dick as his adopted wards and Barbara as police commissioner James Gordon's daughter and an old girlfriend of Dick's who was still good friends with the young Tim. We all played up the lie, the feigned ignorance as Bruce made every effort to disconnect the three of them from their participation with the Gotham night.

I'd been angry at Bruce when I first figured out the lie, but thankfully, I hadn't confronted him about it. I'd given myself time to think, consider, and evaluate. In the end, I came to appreciate his efforts. He introduced J'onn and I to people to talk to, to all the people we might share the manor with while not out working to keep the League's presence a constant in the minds of criminals. And all the while he lied, not to hurt me or J'onn, but to protect the youths who entered into his personal war.

A deep breath and a sigh escape me before I come back from my recollections. I take another look at the enormous home in front of me. "And tonight, it'll be my home, too…"

I look the front of the building over. The multi-story windows on either side of the foyer and the tall roofs reaching even higher. The spire beside the gate leading down to the underground garage. The taller back half of the manor, where J'onn and I lived, where we founders met while the Watchtower was being rebuilt. Bruce's room and Alfred's were close by, too, as were Tim's room and the bedroom Dick once used.

Tonight, I'll be sharing a wall with Bruce, Alfred having set up the bedroom adjacent to Bruce's master bedroom for my use. Despite his room aboard the Watchtower being next to mine, I'm all but sure tonight will be the first time we've ever slept so close.

I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a bit nervous, but there's also an excitement, an eagerness within me. I take responsibility for first putting off Bruce and Alfred's open invitation to move into the manor, for bargaining with Bruce to try to get one particular date out of him. 'One that hadn't worked out…' I note to myself with disappointment. Spending a night in the manor has become a milestone in some lights, a line to cross in others.

As Bruce had grown more open, more honest, more comfortable around me, my perception of the manor had only improved. Wayne Manor itself became a much more welcoming, more familiar place. I smile at the thought.

Finally, I lift my hand again to my ear. "Wonder Woman to Watchtower."

"Watchtower here."

"J'onn! I didn't realize you were on duty today."

"Yes, I began nearly an hour ago. Wait a moment, I'll activate the transporter for you."

Spots of light flitter into existence, encasing me as I take one last look at Wayne Manor. 'This is my home tonight. I'd better get used to it.'

The transporter's light blocks my vision and a moment later I'm looking across the Watchtower's main deck towards the main elevator's doors. I give a nod to the transporter technician on duty, a young man who looks none too surprised to see me wearing civilian clothes.

Instead of walking away from the transporter pads, I lift myself into the air, floating up to the command deck, a little surprised to find both J'onn and Wally. "Flash! I didn't realize you were up here as well."

"Well, you know…" he starts a little bashfully, "Sometimes I just like to help the big guy out."

J'onn turns to the speedster. "Thank you, Flash, but you needn't wait for me here. I won't allow myself to withdraw from the Earth and her people again."

"Wait?" I repeat quizzically as I float over the ring of consoles to stand between the two seated men.

"Yeah! The minute Mr. Terrific comes back on duty, we're pulling out the Brawlin' Bots!"

"And today is my turn to use the green robot."

"We've been…" I turn from J'onn to Wally as he pauses momentarily. "…We've been taking turns playing the green bot. I got him the first time and whenever we play we switch off who gets what color."

"I see. Well, I hope you enjoy your game. If you'll excuse me, I have some things I need to take care of." I step forward, towards the command deck's elevator doors. I turn back as I walk past the two men. "You'll let me know if I'm needed for a mission, right?"

"Of course, Diana, though I do not anticipate any incidents worth your time." A friendly, knowing smile crosses J'onn's lips as he speaks. I pause, turn back to my Martian friend. I nearly open my mouth to speak when I hear his voice on the edge of my mind. 'Forgive me, Diana, I don't intend to pry. It is merely difficult to ignore the anxiousness you are projecting. Whatever is troubling you, I am sure only good things will come of it.'

A chuckle escapes me as I close my eyes. I shake my head for a moment, disappointed in myself for troubling J'onn with my thoughts. "Thank you," I tell him as I lift my head and look at him again.

I say goodbye with a smile and turn back to the elevator. It's a short ride down to my floor and I'm almost glad there's no one to greet me. As I enter my room, I stop just inside the door to survey the landscape.

There is very little to personalize my room. Most of my clothes are already in Gotham, and now well more than half of that collection is either gifts from Bruce or purchased together with Audrey. I have no art to decorate my walls, no reminders of home to keep my heritage fresh in my mind. The majority of such things had been destroyed along with the Watchtower in the Thanagarian invasion.

Much of it was irreplaceable. I've thought repeatedly of starting to collect things representative of my time in Man's World, to again find reminders of Themyscira, but the nature of my home keeps me from beginning again. The Watchtower's binary fusion cannon has been decommissioned. The station's mass is once again our only weapon of last resort.

I approach my closet. 'Maybe…at Wayne Manor…' The thought doesn't need completion, I know of only one way it might end. There's only one way I want the thought to end. Determination crosses my expression as I commit myself to the path before me.

I open the closet and pull everything out one item at a time. My laundry basket, I push across the floor, letting it come to a stop near my end table. I pull my formal dresses from my closet, folding the pair and placing them in a short stack on the edge of my bed.

After adding the two dresses to the small pile of yesterday's casual clothing in my basket, I turn to my almost empty bureau. I've used at most a single drawer at a time in the past two months. That's how long it's been since Alfred convinced me that it wouldn't be any trouble to keep and wash my things at Wayne Manor. And that had barely been more than two weeks after he and Bruce first set the bedroom aside for my use.

I open the top drawer of my bureau and pull out the spare casual outfit. A white undershirt folded atop a white pair of pants. A deep blue cropped jacket with long sleeves. I'm already wearing the belt, shoes, and ruby pendant necklace first intended to go along with them, the pendant's shape even barely recognizable through my light sweater.

I tackle my bathroom next, gathering brushes, soaps, and all manner of hygiene products and arranging them on the counter around the sink. I reach below to the small cupboard and retrieve a travel bag from the shelf. I lift it to get a better look at it. I turn the bag in my hands, looking for the fancy "W" embroidered into its side.

"I guess I'll finally get to return this…" I comment to myself aloud.

I set the bag down and begin to take inventory of all the items gathered. Soaps and shampoos, I won't need, as both await me in my bedroom's private bathroom. Likewise, I can leave towels and washcloths here. In the end, I barely need to pack anything more significant than a toothbrush and toothpaste. Nearly everything else I have waiting for me at Wayne Manor, or at the very least, can easily ask for.

I take a look around, making sure I haven't forgotten anything, then take my filled travel bag back out to the laundry basket by my bed. I drop it in on top of the civilian clothes I wore yesterday and then gather my Wonder Woman armor from atop my bureau and, with a careful hand, place each item into the basket.

With my basket packed, I head towards the desk built around my private computer terminal. The first thing I check is the Watchtower's current location in orbit. We're nearly over the Azores. The local time is 6:21. I turn around almost reflexively. The clock in my room reads 2:21. I turn back to the computer for a moment before looking back to the wall. '2:21? Really? Must have lost more time reminiscing than I thought…'

I shake my head as I refocus. I access the Watchtower's communication system and dial into the regular phone line at Wayne Manor. After the fourth ring, Alfred answers, "Wayne Manor."

"Alfred? It's Diana."

"Ahh, Miss Diana!" The change in tone is more than noticeable. His initial greeting had been almost stately, but his response had been…I guess I'd call it energetic, full of life.

"Alfred, I was just about to leave, but I wanted to check in first. I don't want to carry a laundry basket full of my personal effects around the Watchtower, so I was thinking of flying down to the surface. Do you think there's room for me to park my invisible jet?" I'm confident the elder man will pick up on my implied meaning.

"Of course. Why, I don't expect we'll even need to move one of Master Bruce's Bentleys. I might need to do something with the Studebaker, though."

Alfred's joking tone earns a good chuckle. "Thank you, Alfred." I look at the map again in the background of my screen. "I think I'll be in Gotham at about 4:00."

"Excellent. Master Bruce called a short time ago to inform me that Master Kent and Miss Lane will land in Gotham at 5:27. I expect we'll be able to start dinner on time at 6 o'clock. Will you need my assistance preparing anything for dinner before I leave for the airport?"

"No, thank you, Alfred. I just need to be able to be able to steer our conversations. Can you tell me anything about Bruce's plan?"

"Well, Master Bruce insisted I keep the details to myself, but I see no harm in telling you that Master Bruce expects a poor reaction on Miss Lane's part. With this in mind, he asked that I prepare a separate room so your dinner will not be ruined by any ensuing arguments between your dinner guests."

I spend a moment laughing. "So even he doesn't think dinner will be a success!"

"I wouldn't say that, Miss Diana," Alfred corrects. I stop, my curiosity piqued. I'm sure anyone who were to see me lean closer to the terminal to appear more attentive would be surprised that neither Alfred nor I can see each other. "I believe Master Bruce instead anticipates dinner will be a smashing success. …He would just like to avoid the smashing. I certainly appreciate the spirit of his precautions."

A light chuckle escapes me. "Of course." I begin to stand up from my desk. "Well, I'll head out soon and I'll be there when I can."

"Certainly, Miss. Master Bruce and I look forward to having you at the manor."

I pause. There's a…a permanence in Alfred's tone, a surety I can't ignore. It seems that I have not one, but two men to worry about making efforts to keep me in Wayne Manor beyond tonight. 'Next I'll start getting pressured by Tim as well…' It seems to be the only thing left.

I give a sigh as I cross to my bed and the filled laundry basket waiting atop it. I pick it up and head to the door, ready as I'll ever be to leave this room behind. The hallway outside is empty and I luck out when the elevator arrives empty.

As its doors close behind me, I turn back, looking into the large elevator and wondering how long the trip down more than a dozen floors to the hangar will take. The elevator begins moving a moment later and I turn my attention back to the floor indicator. Four floors pass and I'm beyond the other residential decks. Three more and I've passed the life support decks and most of the storage decks.

The elevator slows to a stop as I watch the indicator. Maintenance Deck B. The doors open and I'm face-to-face with a crew of maintenance staffers. We stare at one another for a few moments before I see their attention shift to my laundry basket and its contents. I feel a heat in my cheeks as a wave of embarrassment passes over me.

The staff member closest to the doors looks above the elevator. "Um…" He hesitates and his colleagues turn to stare holes in the back of his head. "Sorry, I pressed the wrong direction. We'll catch the next one."

The doors begin to close and I see one of the others slap the shoulder of the man who spoke. I give a disheartened inward sigh. 'Didn't think I'd be able to avoid anyone seeing me…certainly not once I got to the hangar…'

The rest of the elevator ride is a bit of a blur. In truth, I space out a little, distracted by my thoughts as I try to think about the things Shayera will relay at the next founders' meeting or, hopefully, to me in private. Seeing me in civilian clothing is nothing new—I even did it occasionally before Bruce and I started dating—but someone seeing me out and about with an open laundry basket… At least I'd had a little bit of help from Bruce keeping my previous moves a little more discreet.

The elevator doors open for me at the hangar and I make my way to the reserved bay for my invisible jet. Nearly a third of the Javelin bays are empty. It has all the appearance of a light day for missions, but I can't see the hangar bays below to know how many transport ships are docked to get a sense of the natural disasters currently being handled by the League.

As I approach my jet, I reach up to my ear and my communicator. I press my fingertip to the small rocker switch near the top edge and at the beep, command, "Open."

A synthetic voice confirms my command as the canopy of the invisible craft opens. I lift myself into the air and drop my basket into the right-hand passenger seat, strapping it in place and wedging another seat's cushion over it to keep its contents from moving about.

With my things secured, I take my place in the pilot's seat and begin powering on the unique craft's systems. When I'm nearly ready, I activate the communication console and connect to the command deck.

"J'onn," I begin when his image appears on screen, "how far down the line am I going to be for take-off?"

"You should really have contacted the hangar control officer, Diana." I wait him out. After a moment of silence, he sighs. "It should only be a moment, I see two Javelins coming up from the surface and another in the airlock waiting to depart."

"Good. Put me in line."

"Done."

I'm about to thank J'onn when I hear Flash shout. "Yes! Finally." J'onn turns away from the screen and I hear Flash again. "I'll get the bots and we'll meet in the lounge on B, 'kay, big guy?"

A smirk crosses my face as I see Mr. Terrific approaching J'onn. I reach out for the communication panel and close the channel, opening up an audio link to Hangar Control. I activate the lights set about the exterior of my jet and taxi towards the airlock.

It's a slow drive around the hangar deck, but it's more a problem of navigating the lanes between parked Javelins than from any sort of delay. The control officer guides me through the process, keeping me out of the way of the first Javelin to arrive and keeping them out of my way in turn.

The most painful part of the process is waiting in the airlock for the air to drain. Finally, the doors begin to open and I catch sight of the clearance lights. The sequence begins the moment the doors stop moving. When at last the final light illuminates, I open the throttle and take off, quickly leaving the Watchtower and receiving a kind farewell from the control officer before the channel closes.

I keep much of my flight in space, waiting until I appear to be nearly over the edge of America's east coast before beginning my descent. To call the reentry experience a bit of an adrenaline rush would be to understate it. My invisible jet's energy shield does most of the work, protecting the most vulnerable of my ship's systems and dealing with most of the heat.

In the process of protecting my ship, the heat builds against the shield instead of the ship's hull. The heat creates the illusion of being in a bubble of fire or the glass at the end of a glassblower's blowpipe. It's as awe-inspiring as it is unnerving to see, thinking of the marvel of the shields keeping me alive and the consequence if they fail.

Eventually, the heat dissipates to safe levels and I begin leveling off my descent. The jet's computers guide me towards the destination I set before beginning reentry and soon I'm able to see Gotham City ahead.

My communication console lights up and I reach for it with my left hand. Bruce's face appears on the screen as it activates. "Not bad, Princess. Only a few minutes after 4:00."

"Bruce, have you been tracking me?"

"Only since reentry."

"I have an invisible plane."

"I have WayneTech."

I can't help but laugh. "Touché, Bruce." I begin dropping down another few thousand feet. "What are you doing home? I didn't think you'd be ending your day at Wayne Enterprises until 5:00."

"I might have, but Alfred contacted me after you talked to him. I finished up a small acquisition at about 3:30 and then asked Alfred to pick me up. Decided I wanted to be here to greet you when you arrive." His lips broaden into a bit of a smirk. "That and I knew I'd have to move a few things so you'd have a place to park. Speaking of which, slow down a bit. I don't want people wondering about any sonic booms."

"Yeah, yeah. I know, Bruce. I know," I reply while lowering my airspeed to something a little more reasonable than subsonic. "Just make sure the cliff opens."

"Of course."

It isn't much longer that I'm over Gotham. I spend a few moments looking out the cockpit at the city below as I fly above it all. I can't help but notice a sense of longing. I can't say I'm surprised at all to feel it. I want to be on the ground, walking around Gotham, driving or riding in a car. I want to feel like a part of Gotham. I want to feel that sense of belonging that being out with Bruce always seems to instill within me.

I shake it off, refocusing myself as I come around towards the cliff below Wayne Manor. I see the cliff wall opening ahead of me and slow down even more as I prepare to land. It isn't long before the wheels of the invisible jet touch down on the Batwing's runway. I take advantage of the space, slowing myself to a gradual stop.

Once I come to a stop, I see Bruce waving me down, directing me out of the way of his Batwing. I follow his instructive hand motions, finally parking beside the Batwing and out of its way. I begin shutting the jet down one system at a time and stand up as I open the canopy, turning back to my laundry basket full of belongings to replace the cushion.

Once I get the seatbelt off the basket, I lift myself and the basket into the air and away from my jet as its canopy closes. I float to the floor of the cave, landing a couple steps from a patiently waiting Bruce. I set the basket down gently before closing the gap between us.

"Diana."

"Bruce," I reply in terse greeting as we embrace.

After a moment of settling for a hug, he lifts a hand to my cheek, cupping my face as he leans in to steal a quick kiss. I don't even think to suppress a small moan of enjoyment when I feel his lips moving against mine. When he starts pulling back, my right hand darts around to the base of his neck and I pull him back for another kiss. Kiss number two leaves us both breathing a little heavier.

As our lips come apart afterwards, we return our hands to each other's waist. Soon after, Bruce looks past me. "So, what'd you bring me?" he asks in good humor, a tone that would seem so foreign to hear from him even four months prior.

I chuckle in response. "Nothing for you. I thought I might bring a few things by for your houseguest for tonight… That won't be a problem, will it?"

"No, of course not." He begins to release me. "Shall we head upstairs, then? I'm sure my guest would prefer her things in place."

I nod in response as I lower my own hands. I turn, but Bruce stops me with a hand on my shoulder as he steps by. I follow him with my gaze as he picks up my laundry basket. "Bruce, I'm perfectly capable of—"

"You're our guest tonight, Diana. I hope you don't mind being catered to." I open my mouth to reply, but Bruce cuts in again, "I know, but Alfred would never stand for you to carry your things upstairs. If you'd like to disappoint him, you certainly can."

I give a little huff of annoyance. "Liar."

"What?" Bruce laughs, feigning ignorance, but the knowing smile on his lips bookending the question gives him away.

"You know I don't want to disappoint Alfred just as much as you don't want to." I avert my gaze and cross my arms against my chest before turning towards the staircase up to the study. "There was never any sort of choice…"

I head for the stairway, hearing Bruce chuckle amusedly behind me. We climb the stairs in silence and I wait for him in the study. I approach the grandfather clock after he passes through and reset the time after he tells me it's 4:28.

I turn away from the clock just in time to watch Alfred entering the study. "Ahh, Miss Diana, I'm glad to see you arrived safely." He approaches Bruce and offers without words to take my basket. Bruce relinquishes my things with quiet thanks. "Shall we?" he asks, hefting the basket a little higher before turning back towards the hallway.

Bruce and I fall into step behind Alfred as he leads us around the manor and upstairs. It isn't long before we pass Bruce's room and come to my door. The elder butler opens the door, steps through quickly, and holds the door for us to enter as well. When it's closed behind us, he brings the basket to my closet, sets it down, and opens its door.

He starts turning back to the basket. "Alfred, please, no. You do far more for me than necessary. I'll take care of my clothes."

Alfred stands up from the basket, regarding me for a moment as he closes the closet door. "Well, in the very least, Miss Diana, I insist upon bringing your travel bag to the bathroom."

"...Yeah, alright. I actually brought the bag back to be able to return it. You can dump it out and I'll put things away this evening."

Alfred nods in understanding before reaching back down for the bag. He walks quickly to the bathroom and disappears within. Meanwhile, I turn back to Bruce. "Thinking of clothes, Bruce, what are you wearing for dinner?"

"Suit and tie."

"To your own dining room, Bruce?" I chuckle as I continue, "I didn't realize we were going to a formal event."

"Well, it's not, but if you want to convince them it's a serious business engagement…"

"What do you think I should—"

"That little red dress you got with Audrey in Paris. Knee-length, strapless, had the black lace or whatever it was around the hem."

I chuckle at Bruce's interruption. "That's oddly specific, Bruce. I don't think I've worn that for any of our dates."

"You haven't."

"So tell me, Bruce…"

"How do I remember?" I nod as my smile broadens. "Well, suffice to say you looked stunning in it."

"I thought we were supposed to look formal, not stunning."

"Diana, I'm going to be perfectly honest with you." He pauses, so I nod and lean a little closer to convey my attentiveness and prompt him to continue. "I do not look forward to our dinner conversation with Lois and Kent at all. I've resigned myself to it as a necessary evil, but I'd still at least like to get a few things out of it. I'm looking forward to Alfred's dinner and I'm looking forward to seeing you in a nice dress.

"Most of all, I'd like to see Kent squirm as he tries to explain himself. If that gets too out of hand or hopefully before Lois goes after us or me for knowing who Superman is, I've asked Alfred to set up a safe space for them to argue in private. Once they're out of the way, we can finish our dinner in peace and I've got nothing but good things to look forward to."

I lean over my right foot and place a hand on my hip. "So, basically what you're telling me is you are putting up with this whole dinner thing, but you've decided to go about it as selfishly as possible?"

"That's what you wanted, isn't it?" He steps closer.

"…Not quite what I meant by selfish, Bruce." His arms wrap around me and I lift my hands to his upper arms. "But good enough."

Bruce gives me a quick kiss. "Good. Now, let's get ready for dinner." He lets me go and steps back and out of my grasp. He turns his head, looking towards the bathroom door. "I'm sure Alfred will appreciate the assistance."

"Sure, but first, I was wondering…where's Tim? Will he be joining us for dinner, too?" As I speak, I see Alfred exit the bathroom.

"Someone call?" At the new voice, the three of us turn towards the doorway, finding Tim Drake leaning around the doorframe. He steps into the room, "Hi! Joining you for what?"

I step away from Bruce and towards Tim and the door behind him. "Tim! How are you?" I ask, happy to see Bruce's young ally.

Tim steps away from the door and into my room. "I'm fine, Wonder Woman. …You're looking well. You and Bruce are having dinner together tonight, aren't you?"

"Tim, please, you can call me Diana."

My plea seems to embarrass the teen. "Sorry, sorry. Force of habit…Diana."

I smile in response before addressing his question. "Yes, I'm having dinner with Bruce, but we're also having guests."

"Ohh, yeah!" Tim's expression lights up with his memories. "Alfred told me about that. Clark Kent and…ahh…Lois Lane, right? Geez, I haven't seen Clark since you guys launched the new Watchtower."

"Have you heard why they're coming tonight?" Tim nods in reply. "Would you like to join us for dinner? I'm sure you knowing about Superman will help us out."

Tim's expression shifts to disgust. "And be a fifth wheel? Sorry, but I'll pass."

"You and Bruce, both," I laugh, momentarily turning back to Bruce. "Are you sure, Tim?"

"It's fine. I'll just eat with Alfred. I have to meet up with Barbara so we can start tonight's patrol after dinner anyhow."

I nod in acknowledgement. "Well, thank you both for taking care of Gotham while Bruce and I are together."

"Are you kidding?" Tim asks excitedly, nearly exclaiming. "Thank you, Diana! We've been trying to get the old man to put more trust in us for years!"

"It's not a matter of trust, Tim," Bruce corrects as he steps up beside me. "It's a matter of safety. No matter how well I've trained you, there will always be new situations which I cannot account for. If there's an issue of trust, it's that I don't trust Gotham's criminals to play by any sort of rules."

"So what if they don't? Who taught us to adapt, Bruce?" Tim replies. Bruce falls silent beside me. "Trusting in our training isn't complacency. And anyway, tonight is the last night for you to need to worry about us."

"Meaning?" Bruce asks.

"If something happens to me or to Barb, then the three biggest names in the Justice League are our backup."

"Not if I have anything to say about it." I turn at Bruce's words. He looks back to me. "No offense, Diana. Gotham is still my city to protect."

For a moment, I stand in silence, glaring at Bruce. "I'd say my offer still stands, Bruce, but you never let me make it," I finally answer as I turn back to Tim.

"If you'll excuse me, I need to make sure dinner is in order before leaving to pick up Master Kent and Miss Lane," Alfred interrupts. He pauses beside Tim, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Come along, Master Timothy."

As the pair of them leave, I feel Bruce's hand on my lower back, snaking around to the right side of my waist. I smile and turn to my left as I embrace him again. "I suppose we should get ready and change, too."

Bruce leans closer, his lips closing in on mine. "Probably." I feel the gentle press of Bruce's lips on my own and quickly find myself leaning into him. I easily hear my inhale as the breath passes through my nose.

He pulls at my upper lip lightly and I try to turn it around and capture his lower lip in turn. We let go after a moment and relax, standing straight and looking across the narrow gap between our faces. Bruce's blue eyes are staring intently into mine and after a moment, I find my gaze drop down to his smile.

A light pursing of his lips draws my attention back to his closing eyes as he leans in again. I ready my lips for another kiss, close my eyes, and wait, but instead of my lips, I feel Bruce's lips on my chin.

I give a tiny gasp of surprise in response and then Bruce's hands rise up my back. His right hand pulls at my lower back, pressing my stomach against his as he lifts me onto the tips of my toes against him. At the same time, he lifts his left hand slowly higher. I feel my hair shifting, some of my dark locks gathering in his hand as he brings it up against the base of my neck. Like his right hand below, he lifts his hand along my neck, coaxing me to tip my head back as he cradles me with firm hands.

'Ohh, the fury if Mother could only to see me now…' I think to myself. Bruce's lips then begin paving a trail of kisses along the edge of my jaw, pausing for a few extra kisses targeting the hinge.

I let a drawn out hum escape my throat to encourage him. Immediately after, he pulls his lips away for a moment. I nearly have time to protest before he begins a second lane of kisses down the exposed front of my neck. "Thank Hera I didn't wear a turtleneck," I mutter as his lips reach the hem, just above the base of my neck.

Bruce lifts his head. "I would thank Hera if you were already wearing that red dress I mentioned earlier."

I open my eyes and the lazy smile drops from my face. "Well, that killed it." I drop my head back down to look him in the eye.

"Sorry, didn't mean to."

I give a sigh. It starts in tired disappointment, but ends in contentedness as Bruce begins to rub his hands in circles across my upper and lower back. "Forget about it." Bruce's hands drop to the sides of my waist and I copy the motion. "We should probably get changed for dinner anyhow."

Bruce nods before stepping away. "I'm going to take a shower before I put my dress on," I inform.

He nods again in acknowledgment. "Alright. I'll meet you in the dining room, then." He then begins towards the door, closing it behind himself and leaving me alone in my room.

'My room…' The place where I sleep. I still need to get used to that thought.

I turn in place, looking the room over again. That's when I notice the pictures. Prints of the photographs of Bruce and myself that Lois's photographer took at the Daily Planet. Detailed concept sketches, nearly artist's interpretations of the original Watchtower and its replacement. A painting of Themyscira I'd asked for during my short tenure as official ambassador to Man's World. A photograph of the League's seven founders in front of the Metro Tower the day it was completed.

I smirk, shrug my shoulders, and lift my hands to my hips. For all the worry I've held onto about once more losing the souvenirs of my time in Man's World, I've been collecting things all the same. For all the possibility I saw in bringing a collection of reminders to Wayne Manor, I didn't even realize that I already had.

I refocus myself with a shake of the head to push the thoughts from my mind. I then head for the laundry basket I brought back from the Watchtower and carry it into the bathroom. After setting it down beside the door, I turn on the lights and fan as I stand back up.

A knowing smile crosses my lips as I look to the counter around the sink. "Of course… I didn't really think Alfred would leave anything for me to put away."

I make note of the bathrobe waiting for me beside the door and then cross to the shower. I reach in after pulling open the glass door, turning the water on and bringing the quick-flowing shower up to a comfortable temperature. As the water then heats up, I step back towards the basket, undress, and put my clothes into it.

After sliding the basket out of the room and closing the door, I turn back to the shower. With a test of the hand, I check the water temperature before slipping inside and closing the door behind me. The warm, nearly hot water relaxes me as it flows across my skin. I turn, my back to the showerhead, and can't help but stand thoughtless and motionless as the water draws the tension from my body.

When I'm satisfied, I lift my hands to my hair, tipping my head back into the spray and using my fingers to help the water penetrate straight through to my scalp. After a few moments, I turn around, wetting my face in the falling water before lifting my chin and letting the spray hit my neck and run down my front. I lift my hands into the spray, holding them open as if to catch the heat.

After a few minutes, I feel like it's time to continue, so I reach for the shampoo to begin washing my hair. Once it's rinsed clean, I turn my attention to the washcloth and soap, cleaning and rinsing my face before carefully washing the rest of myself. When I'm at last done washing, I spend a few more moments with first my front and then my back to the showerhead, once more relaxing mind and body under the water.

After turning off the water and squeezing as much of it from my hair as I can, I step out of the shower. While standing on the bathmat I'm sure Alfred left out only a matter of minutes ago, I reach for a towel and dry my head and hair as much as possible before wrapping my dark locks up and fetching a second towel for my body.

After drying myself and spending a fair amount more time drying my hair again, I turn to the soft robe waiting for me with a broad smile on my face. I pull it from its hook, spend a moment regarding it before putting it on. The soft feel in my hands quickly proves too tempting and I slip my arms down the sleeves, first my left, then my right.

After pulling my hair from within the neck of the robe, I wrap the expensive fabric tightly around myself and revel in the feel of it. I look down, treating myself to the familiar view of the seemingly upside-down "W" just above my left breast. With my lips nearly stuck in a smile, I secure the robe and turn to the door. I leave the fan on to handle some more of the shower's steam and head back out into my room.

It's almost too sad a moment when, not long after, I have to remove the robe to change into my dress. Every so often as I slip into my silken scarlet garment, I find my eyes drawn back to the robe. Once dressed, I pick the robe up and return it to its hook on the bathroom wall, turning off the fan and promising it and myself that I'll start tomorrow morning with another shower.

Dressed but still barefoot, I go back to my closet for my dress's high heels of matching red. Ready after slipping the shoes onto my feet, I exit out into the hallway and head downstairs to the dining hall. When I step through the door, I immediately spot Bruce at the table, squaring placemats at the two place settings on each side nearest the head of the table.

Near the middle of the table is Tim, strategically placing a set of decorative centerpiece bowls along the table's centerline. I glance to the clock hanging on the wall and see that it's well after 5:00, nearly 5:25. 'Alfred must have already left for the airport. He's probably already there waiting.'

"Is there anything left for me to do?" I ask as Bruce begins turning from the placemats to me.

"Not really." He turns to Tim. "You and Alfred are handling dinner?"

"Yup. I'm going to help Alfred get things ready and then Alfred's going to serve. We'll both eat while all of you are as well, and hopefully I'll be out on patrol before it's time for dessert." Tim turns to me from Bruce. "Good choice on the roast lamb, by the way."

"Thanks," I reply with a smile as I come up to the table and rest my hands on the back of one of the chairs. "So now we just have to wait for Alfred to get back with Lois and Kal?"

"Sounds about right," Bruce answers as he steps closer to me.

"Whoop, I know where this is going!" We both turn at Tim's interruption. He reaches back onto the table to quickly straighten one of the bowls. "Let me at least get out of here first."

My gaze follows him as he dashes around the table and disappears into the kitchen. I look back to Bruce and as he begins to turn towards me, the dam bursts and I laugh, starting from a light chuckle. As my laughter quickly grows nearly boisterous, Bruce gives a smirk and a chuckle of his own.

"Well," I begin as my laughter finally fades, "maybe we should wait until later…"

Bruce replies with a doubtful expression. "What? You don't think you can?" I ask. "Weren't you the one to say you wanted things to look forward to after Lois finds out about Superman and Clark Kent?"

"Alright. I'll give you that one." He pauses. "Though I was thinking that same thing about you." He barely waits for me to respond at all, but gets us on back track before I can speak. "So, someplace to sit down and relax while we wait then?"

"Sure." He approaches as I answer, offering his arm to me when he's close enough.

I let go of the chair and turn to face the same direction as Bruce. I hook my arm around his at the elbow and look back up to his face. "Shall we?" he says as he takes the first step, starting us out of the dining hall.

We walk down the hall to the foyer and enter the hall on the opposite side of the first floor, heading into the living room. We step down to the room's recessed floor level and head for one of the sofas to sit down. Bruce releases me and lets me seat myself before joining me.

Almost immediately after settling into his seat, he reaches behind me and wraps his right arm around my shoulders. As his hand settles on the end of my shoulder, he reaches across himself with his left hand, offering it to me. I waste no time taking it with my own left hand.

I relax into Bruce's embrace. My eyes close as a joyous smile spreads across my lips. I let my head dip lazily forward as I begin to rub his hand with tiny, occasional movements of my fingertips. He squeezes my hand back gently.

For a while, we sit mostly still, content with the small interactions of our hands. I find myself relaxing more and more with each passing minute in Bruce's easy embrace. That is until a little tingle runs up my right side. Almost immediately, I realize that his right hand, having migrated from my shoulder to my side, is the culprit.

His fingertips play at my side just below my ribs. A small shiver runs through me and at the same time I regret even the thin material of my dress and wish it were a dozen times thicker. Bruce shifts on the sofa and I open my eyes to see him turning towards me and leaning closer.

"Sorry," he whispers to me. I lift my head and he immediately captures my lips with his own. Our kiss is short, but passionate. "Just happy to see you in that dress."

"Mmm… So, what you're saying is that my doubt was well-founded?" Bruce ignores the rhetorical question as I pull with my left hand, pulling on his left arm and drawing him closer. "If this is from a dress, what else can I wear again?"

Bruce gives me another kiss. I'd wonder if it was a delaying tactic while he thinks of an answer, but I'm too pre-occupied with his lips to care. "How about that suit from dinner the other night?"

A laugh escapes me. "Really, Bruce? All the clothes in the world and you'd like to see me in long pants and a jacket with long sleeves?"

"It seems so out of the ordinary for you. Besides, when you look good in a suit, you look good in a suit, Diana."

The comment lifts the corners of my mouth into a wry smile. "Is what why you wear them so often?"

"If you don't mind me taking that as a compliment, then of course."

I let myself laugh again, then lean back into Bruce. I press my left shoulder against him and relax again. "Keep your hands under control..." I nearly whisper while closing my eyes again.

"Who said they aren't?" Bruce jokes.

I start to respond when the sound of a ringing telephone fills the room. I lift myself, sitting straight as Bruce pulls his arm away to lean over and answer the phone.

"Wayne Manor." A pause. His face lights up. "Ahh, Alfred." Another pause, a little longer this time. "Alright. We'll meet you at the door. Thank you, Alfred."

He turns to me as he hangs up the phone. "Almost to the gate," he informs me.

I give a nod and follow Bruce up as he stands. He offers me his hand and I take it, interlocking our fingers and walking alongside him as we return to the foyer.

I get myself ahead of Bruce while we're in the foyer. A few steps later, I reach out with my free hand and open the front door for him. He hesitates for a moment, but one look at my face and he steps outside, with me following him out onto the front landing and closing the door behind us.

Almost immediately, I see Alfred and the car coming up onto the bluff below the manor. Bruce steps us up to the middle of the landing as Alfred comes around to the parking loop. Bruce gives my hand a squeeze and whispers to me, "Do I really have to do this?"

I smile in response, then reach across as I turn, putting my right hand on his right shoulder and planting a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I thought you were resigned… I already told you it's your fault for getting involved in the first place. Now quiet or he'll hear," I say in a low whisper before turning back towards Alfred and the car.

Just as I turn back, Alfred stops the car. He gets out, comes around to the passenger side, and opens the rear door. Lois steps out first, Kal a moment later. Both smile up to us, though Lois's seems a little forced. 'She probably didn't expect to see me.' Kal's, meanwhile, is warm. He's relieved to see that he doesn't have to face Bruce alone. 'I don't like having to lie to him about my involvement, but I think it'll be worth it by the end of the night.' I smile back.

Alfred goes for the trunk and Kal immediately turns around to help him get his things and Lois's from the car. Lois turns as well and I barely hear her talking to Kal. "Don't forget we're supposed to take notes during dinner, Smallville."

"I remember, Lois."

Alfred closes the trunk and picks up the one bag Kal left him with, then waves our dinner guests up the stairs towards Bruce and myself. "This way, ma'am, sir."

"Evening, Bruce, Diana. I'm a little surprised to see you here, too." Lois comes to a stop in front of me on the edge of the step. A moment later, Kal is standing beside her.

"Well," I begin, both truthfully and trying to explain my presence without making it seem out of the ordinary, "Bruce and I try to see each other when we can. I usually have dinner with him here." I look meaningfully towards Kal after I finish speaking.

Lois picks up on it after a moment. "Oh, yeah. Bruce, Clark, I'm sure you remember each other, right?" Both men nod in reply, so she turns her attention back to me. "Diana, Clark Kent. Clark, Wonder Woman."

"Wonder Woman!" Kal exclaims with surprise as he grasps the frame of his glasses and lifts them from his eyes. I'd have a lot easier of a time believing his reaction if I didn't know it was all an act. I smile and nod in reply.

Lois groans in disappointment. "Anyway, Bruce, you didn't tell me this was going to be a formal event."

He turns to me before replying. "Any excuse to put on a suit." I laugh and give his hand a squeeze, thanking him for the little joke meant just for me.

Alfred clears his throat pointedly. Bruce gives a tiny nod, then invites our guests inside. The pair of us follow Alfred and then Lois and Kal inside. Alfred leads them to a sitting room and instructs them to leave their things inside.

After, both reporters ask for a few moments to get ready for dinner. Lois, in particular, is adamant about making good use of the nearest bathroom to do something about looking so "homely," as she puts it.

"Please, Lois, you can't look that bad for Superman to still be smitten with you," Kal himself responds.

Lois eyes him suspiciously. "How do you know about that, Smallville?"

"Ahh…" Kal hesitates. He laughs nervously, and it's probably genuine nervousness. "What do you mean, Lois? The whole office knows. The whole world knows. We've known for years."

Lois is silent for a few moments. "You have no idea what you're talking about…" Kal's expression shifts to confusion. "Forget about it, Clark, it's not really any of your business anyway."

Alfred cuts in a moment later, offering to escort Lois to the bathroom as Bruce and I head for the dining room to wait. When we get to the table, Bruce takes the seat nearest the head of the table on one side and I go to sit next to him. "Hold on, Diana."

"What?"

"You're over there." Bruce points to the seat directly across from him.

"Why? Don't you want to sit next to me?"

"Backup plan."

He looks up at me, waiting for me to understand. I'm not sure I really do, but he certainly seems adamant about our seating arrangement. "Fine." I move away from the chair and go around the head of the table to sit opposite Bruce.

It isn't too much longer before Lois and who I clearly have to admit is Clark arrive. He sits beside Bruce, though I spot a little bit of hesitation as he takes the seat. Lois, meanwhile, approaches to sit beside me. Both set their pad and paper down beside them and Lois wastes almost no time before asking, "Alright, Bruce, can we at least get a little teaser of what's to come? Or are you going to make us wait until after dinner before letting us be reporters?"

Bruce lifts his gaze and looks away after the shortest of moments spent looking at me. "Alright. A small teaser, I can manage," he replies after a short time in thought. He drops his attention back down and stares Lois right in the eye in a manner almost more Batman than Bruce Wayne. "I have an announcement regarding…technologic donations I'm making through WayneTech."

Lois sits a little straighter in her seat. 'Well, she gets it.' I look across to Clark. He's surprised, certainly, but it doesn't look like he has figured out what Bruce means in full. I look back to Bruce, wonder if he really intends to make public that he's sharing WayneTech technology with Watchtower engineers for the next generation of Javelins—notably, something he's only providing piecemeal, again doing the design work almost entirely by himself.

I spot Alfred in the doorway behind Bruce. I perk up a little and he casts me a questioning glance. I nod my head in reply and Alfred gives me a smile before disappearing once more. A few moments later, he appears again, carrying a tray of Caesar salads. He approaches me first, places a plate of salad before me and I thank him before he gives me a second to pass to Lois. Lois thanks him as well before Alfred moves to the other side of the table to repeat the process with Bruce and Clark.

The four of us quickly begin eating as Alfred vanishes back into the kitchen. The silence doesn't last long. "So, Diana, Bruce didn't tell me you'd be here. Am I wrong to assume that this announcement of his has something to do with you and the Justice League?"

I smile to feign ignorance. "Sorry, Lois, but you'd have to ask Bruce about that." I wave across the table. "He's right there if you'd like to ask." I look to Bruce and notice the hint of displeasure on his face.

"Yeah, no offense, Bruce, but you're not exactly the most forthright person in the world." She turns back to me. "But I'm sure you know that better than me."

I laugh heartily and spend a few moments continuing to work at my salad. "And what about your colleague?" I turn to Clark. "Mister…Kent, was it?"

"Ahh, yeah. Clark Kent."

"I don't remember you from when Bruce and I interviewed with Lois at the Daily Planet," I comment offhandedly.

"Yeah. I was out that day. I was at home, visiting my parents in Kansas." He smiles. "That was certainly an interview I'd have liked to share with you, Lois."

"Yeah. Sorry for skunking you out on that one, Smallville, but… Well, you know how it goes."

And so our conversation continues. We cover every bit of small talk as we finish our appetizers and begin eating the carefully cooked leg of lamb our meal is centered around. Except for when he's directly addressed, Bruce stays mostly quiet. I notice him stealing glances at me every so often and I can't help myself from smiling back at him in reply.

I'm speaking of the Justice League when I finally get an easy break. I take it, using the opportunity to naturally shift the conversation towards Superman's identity. "Speaking of Superman, Lois, he told me about the time you spent together."

"Whoa!" Lois exclaims, turning toward me in her chair. "What do you mean? In what kind of detail?"

I regard her quizzically before explaining. "He…just told me about why you stopped dating." I pause. "I was going to say that I don't blame you. I don't think I'd be able to handle dating another superhero without knowing both their costumed and civilian self."

"Diana," Bruce warns.

I'd reach across the table for his hand, but with the table's width, it'd just be awkward to try. "Hypothetically, Bruce. Hypothetically." I give him a reassuring smile and then take another bite of lamb.

Lois gives a contemptuous humph, though I can't tell if it's directed at the man she knows is here or the one she thinks is somewhere else. "What?" I ask as I turn.

"Sorry, I didn't mean for that to be aloud." I continue watching her until she looks back at me again. Finally, she sighs and gives in to explain herself. "It's just…it's all still there, but…" She lifts a hand to her heart as she speaks. "How much do I put up with? How much should I share, how serious am I supposed to be with a man who won't share with me?"

"Well," Clark pipes up from the other side of the table, "maybe it's not that he won't, but that he can't."

"Oh, come on, Clark! You always take Superman's side. What do you know about him?" There's an unmistakable tiredness, a weariness to Lois's voice.

He hesitates before responding. "Well, we're both men. He probably just wants to protect you. I'd want to if I were ever putting you in danger."

I watch the pair of them going back and forth for a few moments. Eventually, the conversation ends on its own. After another couple minutes, Bruce finishes his meal. I finish shortly after.

With nothing else to do but wait, I try to make use of the chance to bring conversation back to Superman, but Clark begins to sabotage my efforts, steering us away from topics too close to home. I spend a moment looking across the table, wondering if he's realized that it's not Bruce, but me he has to worry about tonight. I can't tell for sure, but he's certainly remembered my stance on him telling Lois about himself.

Eventually, Alfred comes in to fetch our dinnerware. He asks us each what we'd like for dessert, offering between pie and an assortment of fruit and pastry combinations. He also offers caffeine, which Lois and Clark both jump on. I ask for pie and "the usual," knowing he'll bring me a delicious iced mocha.

Superman comes up in conversation again, very much without my help, as Alfred leaves the room. After Clark tries again to brush the topic aside, Bruce finally speaks up. "Oh, for the—" With a surprising speed, Bruce reaches across himself with his right hand, grabbing Clark's glasses and yanking them from his face.

At the same time, he slips his left hand under Clark's placemat and lifts the sheet of fabric. He slaps it against Clark's chest, exposing the underside to the room. "Ok?" Bruce asks, looking squarely at Lois. Even with his hand in the middle of the placemat's underside and the obscuring forms of his fingers and arm, the emblem from Superman's chest sewn against the fabric is obvious.

Lois, Clark, and I all sit in stunned silence. I turn my gaze from the placemat to Bruce's face, see him well beyond the end of his patience, and then look to Lois just in time to see her as she begins to react. "What…" Realization begins to hit. "What?" She rises abruptly from her chair, turns away, spinning once in place. "You can't be…" She looks to Bruce. "…Oh, my god, you are serious…"

"Yeah," Bruce confirms. He stands up, looks pointedly to me, and I follow him to my feet. "Now, if you and Clark wouldn't mind following me, I'm sure you have a lot to say to each other."

"Oh, ho ho…you bet your ass I have a lot to say…" The outed Superman stands hesitantly at the sound of Lois's fury. He glances momentarily to a practically unsympathetic Bruce before turning at me with an accusatory look.

As Lois and Kal start walking towards the other end of the table, Bruce waves towards me to get my attention. "You can wait here, Diana. I'll be back in a couple minutes."

Bruce follows Lois and Kal out of the room, stepping ahead of them just before I lose sight of the three of them. Alfred comes in not a minute later, carrying a large piece of blueberry pie on a plate with two forks as well as my iced mocha. "Ah, Alfred... I don't think you need to bring out Lois or Kal's desserts." I then notice the second fork. "What's that for?"

"It seems Master Bruce's expectations were accurate," he comments. He smiles to me. "He warned me before I left that he would execute his plan before dessert if it was still needed. He said that I would likely not need to worry about filling their dessert requests, telling me he would leave them to themselves to discuss dinner's revelations. He also asked me to make whatever dessert you requested a dessert for two."

He straightens, fetches Bruce's chair and moves it around to the head of the table, putting it on the corner to my left. "Ahh, excellent timing, Master Bruce!" I look up from the chair to Alfred, then follow his gaze down the table to see Bruce coming back in. "I assume the evening is progressing as you anticipated, sir," he says in a more even tone.

"So far, at least." He waits a breath or two. "I could still hear them yelling at each other from the foyer." I continue following him with my eyes as a smile crosses his lips. He walks behind my chair, reaching over it and resting his hands atop my shoulders. "But I," he begins while rubbing my shoulders for all too short a time, "do not care…"

"But, Bruce, what's—"

"Red solar lamps. If anyone in that room is getting hurt, it's going to be Clark." He lets my shoulders go and sits down on the other side of the table's corner.

"Will you need anything else, Master Bruce?" Alfred asks as Bruce seats himself.

"No. Thank you, Alfred." Alfred nods and begins to leave, but as Bruce takes my left hand in his right, he calls to the older man again. "Alfred, has Tim already left?"

"Yes, though I imagine he is still in the cave."

"Catch him if you can. Tell him to be careful. Patience before prejudgment."

"Of course, sir, I'll let him know you wish him to stay safe."

"Thank you, Alfred."

He turns back to me as Alfred leaves the room. He gives a confident smile, then reaches for his fork. "Shall we, Princess?"

I shake my head as I chuckle amusedly. At the same time, I take my own fork and we reach towards the large slice of pie. We move our forks to the center of the slice's tip and split it, then we both cut a piece to eat. Our movements are nearly synchronized, though I'm not sure if I'm mirroring Bruce or if he's mirroring me.

We both take a good few more bites together. Just before swallowing one mouthful, I look over at Bruce and spot a little piece of blueberry on the corner of his mouth. I give his hand a gentle squeeze to get his attention, then lean around the corner.

He gives a questioning hum just before I close in the rest of the way. I kiss the corner of his lips where the blueberry is, quickly swallow it, and then move over a little to kiss him properly. He kisses back immediately. The brush of his lips is delectable.

I lean back a little, hoping he'll chase after me to resume our kiss. I open my eyes when I feel Bruce's thumb rubbing the back of my palm instead. His silent expression is disappointing to see, a clear sign that our kiss is over.

I then notice the clink of metal on porcelain. I look down at our shared plate and see him lifting his fork away with a piece of pie carefully balanced over it. A blueberry drops back down to the plate and he then swings it away, but instead of to himself, he extends the mouthful of food towards me.

"Bruce?" I ask, but he only smiles back.

The loaded fork gets closer and I realize what he intends, so I open my mouth for him and lean closer. A breath later, fork and pie pass out of my field of view. Almost immediately after, I feel the cool touch of the fruit filling on my upper lip and in the corner of my mouth. The fork's four prongs touch my tongue and I close my mouth over the sweet dessert on the fork's head.

He begins to pull the fork away, leaving the pie behind. I give a moan of appreciation and delight before beginning to chew. I look back to Bruce and notice him closing in. While I quickly swallow, he does as I had, kissing the corner of my mouth to catch the pieces of blueberry he clearly left intentionally. He then kisses the edge of my upper lip, cleaning away the rest of the spilled pie filling.

He leans back when he's done. The tip of his tongue comes out from between his lips and he licks them clean. My gaze is drawn to his lips, to his tongue, and I notice my excitement—far more than I should be from a little sharing of food. I realize a moment later that he's leaning closer again and my breath stops with a hitch.

His lips are upon me again and I let out another moan. I hear another clink and then a tug at the fork in my hands. My hand is emptied a moment later and I feel Bruce moving at the same time. His lips come apart from mine and I open my eyes to find him standing. I rise as well and his lips meet mine again as soon as my legs are straight.

Bruce's arms surround me, cradling me. With the gentle caress of his lips on mine, my body wants to sink deeper into his grasp. I want to sink deeper. I nearly let myself, let him take advantage of our slight difference in height, a difference erased with the aid of footwear, but there's an amusement, an excitement to being on more even terms.

So I push back. I make my own bid for the lead. My hands come up between our bodies. I press my right hand to the side of Bruce's head, my thumb in front of his ear, my palm and fingers wrapping behind his head. My left hand I maneuver behind him, wrapping my fingers over the base of his neck on his left, the rest of my arm draped back and over his right shoulder.

Bruce's hands roam my backside as our lips continue to caress and capture one another. Occasionally, he spends a few extra moments paying attention to my rear. Sometimes, he teases his hands along my sides and along the upper hem of my dress. Our breathing is becoming more ragged, labored. I notice I'm pressing myself against him and tightening my fingers over the muscles at the base of his neck in time with my breath.

He takes a step back and I lean forward unintentionally as he falls back a little. I hear him groan against my lips, but I can tell it's from pain. I lift myself away and realize how far back I've moved him, notice that his right hand is on the table instead of on me. I fall still and silent as I think about the slight reversal from when we stood up.

My breathing begins to even. "Maybe…we should finish dessert," Bruce suggests as he begins to release me.

I flash him a quick smile as I calm further and turn to the plate and the pie still there, the crust and maybe a half dozen bites between the two of us. I relax my grip, letting my hands slide back over as much of his shoulder and chest as is practical as we come apart. "Well, at least Alfred had the good mind to serve it chilled."

Bruce sits back in his seat as I round the corner and lower myself back into mine. He gives a low grunt of an amused laugh and picks his fork back up. "He probably has more intuitive expectations of tonight than I did."

"Speaking of which…" He lifts his fork from the plate with a piece of pie and takes a bite as I reach towards the plate with my own. "…we should probably check if Lois and Kal are still arguing with each other when we're done."

Bruce gives a nod of agreement and we fall silent while we finish our dessert. Afterwards, I remember my iced mocha and pick up the nearly half-full glass as Bruce picks up the rest of the table to bring to Alfred in the kitchen. I wait for him at one of the dining hall's windows, looking out across the driveway and front lawn of Wayne Manor while slowly nursing my drink.

When he comes back, we head for the foyer. Neither of us hear yelling—an encouragement, to be sure—so we continue on towards where Bruce left our Kryptonian friend and his newly-enlightened girlfriend. "Oh, alright…" I comment as we move away from the center of the hall and approach a door.

"What?"

"I didn't realize you stuck them in the same room you asked them to put their bags."

"Yeah. That's where I asked Alfred to set up the red solar lamps."

"Are they still in there? I don't hear them arguing."

"They're…definitely not. And they should be in there." Bruce points to the red-tinged light bleeding out from under the door's bottom edge. "They left the solar lamps on."

Bruce and I approach the door together, neither of us reaching for the doorknob. His expression turns pensive as he waits and listens. It seems quiet for a moment, then I hear a drawn out, feminine moan. In the middle of it, a low, masculine voice exclaims Lois's name.

I stand straight, stepping back from the door in surprise and notice Bruce's flabbergasted expression. A moment later, it's replaced with clear irritation. He lifts his right hand slowly towards his shoulder, his hand open, but his fingers half-curled. He closes his hand into a tight fist as more muffled sounds filter through the door to us.

His stiff hand quivers in the air for a moment before he shoots it back down to his side. His left hand, meanwhile, reaches out for my shoulder. He turns me from the door as he falls into step with me and leads me back towards the foyer.

I wait until we're a good few steps from the door. "Bruce?"

"I did not see that coming."

"Are they doing what I think—"

"Most likely." We both fall silent for a moment. "Damn it! If I had known this would happen, I'd have left them in a spare bedroom instead of the sitting room…"

We get all the way out to the foyer. "Alfred's going to hate me when I tell him what's happening right now."

"Why?"

"Clean up."

"Oh…" Bruce starts walking again, heading now towards the kitchen. A smile crosses my lips and I say jokingly, "Well, that sounds like a job for Superman."

Bruce stops. He turns around to face me. He regards me with a blank expression for a few seconds, then lifts a hand between us, his index finger extended like he's going to lecture me. The smile begins to drop from my face. "Good point," he says, turning his hand to point more directly at me.

"Wait. Seriously? I was half-joking, Bruce."

He turns again, back down the hall towards the kitchen door. "Why not? His actions, his responsibility."

"So, then what do we tell Alfred?"

"To take them to a hotel when Kent's finished cleaning." We come to a stop at the kitchen door and Bruce turns back to me. He lifts his hand again, his finger once more extended. He gives me a smile over it and a nod as he begins opening the door.

"Alright, I'll wait here."

"Thanks." He then ducks inside. The door closes for the most part, so I don't hear the bulk of their quiet conversation.

After a short while, Bruce reemerges. He shakes his head as he closes the door behind him. "Should have known."

"What?"

"Alfred figured it out before I sat down for dessert." He shakes his head again in disgust. "That's an idea that's going to haunt me."

I can't help but laugh. At the same time, though, I admit to myself that the idea is a little weird, knowing something like that about so close a friend. I hear footfalls to my left from down the hall.

"What's going to haunt you, Bruce?"

We both turn to the new voice, see Lois and Kal walking up the hall toward us. Both are disheveled. They look like they had dressed hurriedly, without concern nor care beyond wearing a complete outfit when all was said and done. Kal's hair looks like he'd run a comb through it in the wrong direction a few times and Lois's looks like she'd just come in from a severe wind storm and had made only the most cursory effort to straighten it with her hands.

"One guess," Bruce replies from beside me. Kal begins to open his mouth, but Bruce cuts him off before he can even begin to speak. "Yeah. That. You clean up after yourselves?"

"Geez, Bruce, you sound like a parent. Something happen with you and Diana that you aren't telling the rest of us?"

Bruce lifts his arms, crosses them. "Alfred isn't hotel staff."

Kal puts a hand on Lois' shoulder and sighs. "Yes, Bruce, we turned off the lamps and I cleaned."

"Good. Now, what's next?"

"Well, we might be going to go out on a limb here, Bruce, but there was never a scoop for us as reporters, was there?"

Bruce and I both shake our heads in response to Lois's question.

"Yeah, that's what we realized. So, if you don't mind, I'm just going to take Lois back to Metropolis and get out of your hair."

"I'd appreciate that." I look over at Bruce for the callous tone. I elbow him in the side. He gives a groan and then speaks up again, his tone much more relaxed, sort of sarcastic. "Just don't ever let me hear anything about you breaking up again or that you don't trust one another anymore."

We share a good laugh before the four of us return to the foyer. I'm a little surprised to see their bags all in a pile by the front door. 'So they were probably coming to tell us they were heading back home.'

The thought brings me pause. I almost miss as we begin heading outside. We bid each other a round of farewells and good nights, then Kal picks their bags back up with one arm and pulls Lois in tight with the other. Lois embraces Kal tightly and a moment later, they're in the air. The pair quickly disappear over the roof and I'm tempted to lift myself into the air to watch until they're out of sight.

Bruce and I head back inside after a few more moments looking to the sky. We return to the living room and relax together for a while. We cuddle, we kiss, but neither of us is yet ready to make that final leap as Lois and Kal had. Even so, there's a contentedness between us, a mutual satisfaction and an appreciation for the safety in which we chose to wait.

Finally, it ends—not the emotions, but the moment. Bruce announces his intent to begin his patrol after Alfred drops in to ask if there's anything we need. It's disappointing, of course, but he would not be the Bruce I've fallen in love with if not for Batman. 'And I respect him enough to appreciate that…and I know that Batman will likely always be a part of his life in at least some capacity.'

So, we stand up together, me telling Alfred that I'm going to turn in for the evening. Bruce turns at my announcement, then takes my hands. I turn to him and we lean closer to one another, share a passionate kiss. As we pull apart, we trade soft whispers, loving endearments. Then, finally, we let one another go. I head to my room with Alfred and Bruce goes to the study to descend into the hidden Batcave.

Almost before I know it, the walk upstairs and to my room is over. "Do you need anything more, Miss Diana?" Alfred asks as I step through the doorway.

"No, Alfred. Thank you. I'll manage." I return his well-wishes for a good night's rest, then close the door and turn back towards the stately bed awaiting me. I look the rest of the room over again as I lift first my left foot and then my right to remove my high-heeled shoes.

My mind returns to previous trains of thought. All the personal belongings that scream my name. My own relaxedness in this room, in the whole of the mansion. 'Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing…to stop bargaining, to stop being nervous or anxious…to call this place where Bruce lives…to call Wayne Manor…home…'

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Author's Note: Reviews are welcome and appreciated, but certainly not required. Thank you for reading.