Chapter Six – I Pity Him

Steve set Aeolus on his lap and turned the baby to look at him. He smiled, looking at his son through the eyes of a loving father. Diana had grown up without knowing her father or how she was made out of clay, she had grown up in a world of wonderfully strong women who didn't require men in their society. Diana hadn't had a fatherly figure in her life and she had grown up amazingly. However, Steve wanted to give his son the best childhood experience possible. He was of American blood as well as Amazonian blood. Steve just hoped that he would be good enough for him.

"You know," he said gently as he made sure to place a hand on Aeolus's back so that he didn't roll over and fall off of his lap. "I really did love my days of being in the air force. I don't mean that I liked the war. War is a very ugly thing that men attempt to profit from, the wrong kind of men. I did enjoy flying though. You'll most likely learn that from your mother…and her plane."

Aeolus looked into Steve's eyes, Steve knew that the little boy probably didn't understand the words that he was saying but they could at least look at one another as father and son. Steve let his fingers brush back the little hair that Aeolus did have.

"I hope that I can be a good teacher to you as well. I like my job teaching. It isn't as flashy as anything that your mother can do but it's important to me because I can share my passion with others," Steve closed his eyes. He wanted to have studied how to not feel inferior to your wife especially when people were speculating that she was with you because she felt pity for you.

Aeolus reached out and grabbed the collar of Steve's shirt and Steve paused as he watched the little boy. He kissed the top of his son's head. "You know what, teaching is important to me but it's not as important as you are, not as important as you and Mommy are."

Aeolus laughed softly and Steve grinned. He shouldn't be so worried about anything else. He had his son in front of him and he could share his joy with the little boy. No, what he did didn't matter as long as Aeolus had a happy childhood and he could smile. Steve wrapped his arms around him and picked him up, taking a walk around the living area.

"I love you, my precious son," he told him, "and I love our angel as well. You'll see wonderful things in your life Aeolus, I will do my best to make sure that at least some of them are from me." He held his son closer as he looked out the window. "How do you think Mommy is doing?" he asked as he kissed his son's cheek and saw Aeolus look at him happily. At least he knew his son loved him even if the media wanted to say differently.

…

…

Diana watched as Lex sat down opposite her. She had to admit that she didn't much care for his use of her maiden name. Yes, Prince had served her well but it had been a name that she had bought and adopted. The name Diana Trevor made her feel special, it reminded her of Steve and most of all, it reminded her of how much love Steve had invested in her. This man was no Steve Trevor.

"Sit down," Etta said as she pulled Diana into the seat, "Can't you see that he's attractive and rich."

"Please remember that I am married, Etta," Diana said as she sat opposite Lex and then saw Lex grin at that as if finding that comment funny. Diana flinched as if she had been injured. The way he looked was as if he had landed Steve unconscious and was still kicking him and telling him how much better he was over him. Diana very much disagreed with that sentiment.

"Where is your husband?" Lex asked. He leaned forward, "Diana, my dear Diana. From what I've heard, you give your…boyfriend too much credit," he said as his eyes challenged her. Diana blinked before feeling Lex lean forward to her and touch her cheek. She remained calm but thought of the ways that Steve had touched her affectionately. Compared to this man, Steve didn't feel as flashy but he had more heart.

"My husband," Diana said as she tried to pull out of his hold, she didn't want him treating her as an item that he wanted to take into his possession. "Is at home with our son. I know that Steve doesn't earn a lot of money but he's a skilled air force pilot who is now a lecturer."

"I know that he followed you from the past," Lex told her before taking a file out of his bag. He straightened the pages within it before handing it to her. Diana took a look at the folder which had numerous piece of paper all about Steve including news clippings from the years in which Steve really had flown for the air force. "I also know that he could be wiped out without it costing me too much money and since he hasn't got any living enemies, that means that he really is an insignificant person."

Diana looked through the files again before feeling that odd stab in her heart when she was upset and felt that someone was hurting her internally. With a fire in her eyes, she handed the file back to Lex and stood. "I am sorry, Etta" she told her friend who looked at her not knowing how to react to this increasingly uncomfortable situation. "We are going to take our leave now."

"I am sorry, I just thought that you were staying with him because you pitied him. I am sorry that I jumped to the wrong accusation, now if you could both take your seats," he gestured to them and Diana looked around feeling trapped. She sat down but her back straightened even more.

"Steve doesn't need my pity," she replied with her chin raised. "I am lucky to be with him. I do not need to explain myself to you or my decisions. You have asked me to sit here and I am doing so," she looked at him before closing her eyes. "Please, I wish to return to our conversation so please do me the favor of showing my husband some respect."

"He doesn't have his own super powers or super human abilities. He's not worthy of the kind of caliber and pedigree that you and I are of," Lex said and Diana tried hard to contain her anger.

"He has his own powers," Diana said as she thought about how loved she always felt whenever Steve held her. She would feel completely lost if she didn't have his arms wrapped around her, if she didn't hear his voice and her name, him calling her a beautiful angel. She felt like she could vomit. "I love my husband."

"And yet you continue to hurt him," Lex said and Diana blinked. She looked around and then focused on Etta who looked shocked to have heard that accusation as well. That wasn't true. Steve would have told her were there problems in their relationship. She understood that Steve felt a little powerless when he compared himself to her and people kept telling him that he wasn't worthy of being with her but that she was actually hurting him was something that she hadn't thought that she would hear.

"And how -" she began to ask but Lex cut her off.

"How can a man like that protect you from your enemies. A man like that is weak and powerless and won't be able to hurt men in the same way that you can. What good is a man if he can't protect you?" Lex asked and Diana glared at him, she stood again.

"I am returning to my seat, will you join me, Etta?" she asked her friend and Lex stared at her. Diana gestured for Etta to leave first before she leaned down and looked angrily into Lex's eyes. "Thank you for the invitation but I am happy with my husband. If something happens to him though, I will make sure to take a close look to see if you had any involvement. Maybe it's better for the woman to have the power but if you target Steve, you'll find out why never to cross a woman in love."

She walked off and Lex laughed.

"Just like Lois Lane," he commented although Diana would not have been able to hear that.

End of Chapter Six

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