A/N: Hey, guys. This is the last chapter of this fic, complete with the happy ending I promised. It's been a great run, thanks for all your reviews. Again, hope you enjoy. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.

Chapter Six

"Ready, Wonder Woman?"

Diana tried to relax as J'onn got ready to start the replacement procedure. She felt odd, lying in bed in the middle of the day with Batman supervising from the corner. Today he had been more distant, like the old Batman. Perhaps he had spent all the emotion he could spare the day before. Diana wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed. She had been unaccustomed to the Bruce who was actually open about his feelings, but at least she knew what that Bruce was thinking. Now he stood in the shadows, revealing nothing through the cowl, probably analyzing every emotion on her face.

"Wonder Woman?"

Diana stopped trying to read Bruce's thoughts and replied to J'onn, "Yes. I'm ready."

"Close your eyes and you'll see the first memory."

Diana followed his instructions and saw an image of a missile buried in rubble...

Bruce watched Diana's expression, looking for any changes. For the first minute, her facial features didn't change. Bruce knew J'onn had said that her emotions wouldn't come back with the memories, but he had still hoped. Now he remembered why he never hoped for anything; he was usually let down.

Then a corner of her mouth quirked upward. Bruce moved closer to make sure he hadn't imagined it. Next she lifted her eyebrows in surprise, and her small smile morphed into an amused grin. As he gazed at the happy look on her face, he felt bubbles of hope rising within him once again.

"Now I will start replacing some of the more unpleasant memories," J'onn warned, for Bruce's sake as much as for Diana's. Immediately, the smile disappeared from her face and she was frowning. Bruce watched as Diana's grimace grew deeper and she began to rub her wrist restlessly. Finally, J'onn stated that he was done, and Diana opened her eyes.

"Wonder Woman, how do you feel?" J'onn asked cautiously.

Avoiding Batman's stare, Diana replied, "I feel… a little embarrassed that I once pursued him with such determination. Some of those rejections were harsh." She paused, her cheeks heating when she replayed those memories in her mind.

"But nothing else?" J'onn looked at her closely.

"Some moments were sweet -" She was cut short by the sound of her door shutting. Batman had left the room.

Bruce walked at a brisk pace, wanting to distance himself from her room - well, mainly from her - as much as possible. He could tell that her feelings had not returned, just like J'onn had told him. He was angry at himself for thinking that the impossible would happen, that because of his feelings for her, J'onn would pull of a miracle. The truth was, hoping for something had never made it happen, and he was an idiot for being duped twice in one day.

Later, at the Manor…

Alfred was shocked to find him sitting in the study, nursing a tumbler of whiskey. Except when he was playing the part of the billionaire playboy, Bruce rarely drank alcohol, and never in the middle of the day. "Master Bruce, what are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing, Alfred? Accepting defeat. Her feelings didn't return and they never will."

"Didn't that Martian warn you that it would be this way at first? You just need to win her heart the old fashioned way, and now you can use her regained memories to do it."

"Alfred, I'm a bit tired of being rejected. What kind of fool puts himself out there time after time when it's clear that the girl doesn't share his feelings?"

"A fool in love. Miss Diana did it for you. The least you can do is pay her back by trying a few more times."

"Alfred, I'm sick of your lousy advice. I'm in this position because of you. You told me to win her back, and I tried, and I failed. So I don't want to hear anymore from you. Please, act like a normal butler for once and let me be."

Alfred knew that talking sense into Bruce would be impossible at the moment, so he quietly uttered, "Yes, Master Bruce," and retreated from the room.

A week later, in the monitor room…

Bruce had been successful at avoiding her so far. That is, up until he arrived in the monitor room for his shift and saw her standing there with her back towards him. All the extra time he had spent on missions and in Gotham to ensure that he never bumped into her on accident, all for nothing. Deep down, he knew that steering clear of her was only a temporary solution, but it was one he wished to prolong for as long as possible. He considered rescheduling and handing off monitor duty to one of the other heroes.

Then she glanced back and saw him. "Hey, your shift, too?" She flashed him a shy smile.

Batman grunted in response, meanwhile inwardly cursing J'onn for arranging their meeting.

Diana sighed and settled in for two hours of silence.

A little past the first hour, Diana felt the need to speak. "Bruce, I know my previous emotions haven't returned, but that doesn't mean that I won't ever reach that point again."

She waited for him to respond, but he remained silent. She turned her attention back to the monitor, understanding in a small way how the old Diana must have felt each time Batman rejected her.

Then he opened his mouth. "You want to reach that point again?"

"Bruce, I want what every girl wants. A life full of love and happiness. I loved you once, I probably can again. You must have some redeeming qualities." She smiled to show that she was joking but continued in a graver tone. "But Bruce, this time I refuse to throw myself at you while receiving nothing in return. If you want us to work out, then you have to put in effort, too."

Bruce turned his head and looked straight at her for the first time in a week. "In that case, will you come to dinner tomorrow?"

"Another friendly date?" Diana teased.

Bruce remained serious. "No, Diana. I could never see you as just a friend."

The next night, at the Manor…

"Thanks for the lovely dinner, Bruce. The food was amazing."

"And the company, too, I trust."

Diana smiled in response. "Yes, the company was nice, too."

They had just finished their meal, and Bruce couldn't let the date end just yet. "Come with me to the sitting room?"

"I hope this will end better than it did last time." Diana frowned at the memory.

"I'm betting it will," Bruce stated confidently.

Diana spotted the box right away and looked to Bruce questioningly.

He explained. "I know your emotions from the memories are gone, but mine are still intact. I wanted to share my side with you."

Diana nodded, taking a seat in front of the box.

"You were right the other night. These gloves are mine. And you already know why they're ruined. At the time, I convinced myself that I had acted out of worry for a teammate, and nothing more. But looking back, it's clear that I felt something for you, even then. When I thought that you had died… My heart almost stopped beating. All I knew in that moment was that I had to rescue you." He barked out a short laugh. "And then it turned out that you hadn't needed my help at all. But the kiss made my efforts worthwhile."

Bruce smiled at her, and Diana blushed.

Moving on to the next item, Bruce continued. "This napkin was from the nightclub where I sang. If you know me at all, you'll know that I wouldn't do that for just anyone. Earlier that night, I had been telling you all the reasons why we wouldn't work, but they were just excuses. I was scared of loving you and then losing you, so I tried so hard not to love you at all. Then you were turned into a pig and I realized that I could still lose you. It was the first time I admitted out loud to someone that I had feelings for you."

Diana could feel her eyes tearing up. "That's really sweet, Bruce," she whispered.

"Wait, I'm not finished. I saved my favorite for last."

"The dress?"

"The dress. I still remember the moment you walked into that ballroom. All eyes were on you. When those people surrounded you, you looked so overwhelmed, and I jumped at the chance to be your knight in shining armor. I thought I could hide my secret from you, but I should have known better. You were too smart, and you knew me too well. That was the best dance of my life. You looked stunning, as always, and -"

"You seem rather superficial," Diana joked.

Bruce looked her directly in the eye and clasped her hand in his. "Despite how gorgeous you are, your physical beauty is nothing in comparison to your inner beauty. There I was, worried that I would have to quickly change into my suit, when you just tore your dress and rescued Audrey. You never hesitate to leap to someone else's aid. Your soul is pure, and your heart is kind. That is why… Diana, I love you."

She felt tears streaming down her face. Bruce's earnest expression turned to worry. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you, Princess." He tentatively laid a hand on her cheek and brushed some tears away.

Diana shook her head. "No, you didn't upset me. I just feel so happy right now." She knew in her heart of hearts that what she was about to say couldn't be truer. "Bruce…"

"Yes, Princess?"

"I love you, too."

THE END