Chapter Seven

The Watchtower - Two Months Later

It was a shift change and most of the heroes were catching up with friends from the other shift before they went their separate ways. One of the last to step off the transporter pad was Wonder Woman. Her face was rather sullen as she made her way towards her quarters. While her life appeared so hectic these days, between the Embassy, the League and trying to have some sort of relationship with Bruce, it still seemed somehow incomplete. The fascination and joy she experienced when she first came to the Man's World seemed to have disappeared. Everything seemed to be a duty and work these days, even trying to be with Bruce.

While she didn't have much experience with dating, she knew instinctively that the two of them weren't progressing the way things should. She knew he was a good and decent man, one she could respect and care for, but there always seemed to be a wall between them. It was as if he feared letting her in and held her at arms length. It frustrated and angered her, which just seemed to compound the unhappiness she was feeling.

As she passed the cafeteria, she happened to glance up and was surprised to see Kal, of all people, sitting finishing a report. Diana felt a smile spread across her lips as she immediately changed directions and headed towards him. They had settled their differences a while ago, but she saw very little of her friend. When she had mentioned it to him on the rare occasion they did see each other, he had dismissed it, saying that with her duties and his adjusting back into the world things had been hectic. Part of her accepted this as true, but a small part wondered if there wasn't some other reason. As long as she had known him, they had both been busy, but before he left they had always found time to spend with each other. They used to talk about everything and anything.

Seeing him now, she realized just how much she missed him in her life.

"Kal!" A huge smile lit up her face, as she came up to his table.

"Hey, you," he replied. He looked a little startled to see her.

"I hadn't expected to see you here, it's a good surprise." Diana slipped into the seat next to him.

"Just finishing up a report before I head home," he offered, giving her a small smile in return.

"Oh, you're leaving already?" She felt a little disappointed at the thought. Clark saw this in her expression. It pained him to see his friend unhappy.

"I don't have to rush off just yet," he said to her, before he could stop himself. Diana immediately brightened at this news. Inexplicably, Diana felt almost giddy sitting there with him. The two of them smiled as they looked into each other's eyes.

"So tell me what's going on with you, Diana," Clark finally asked.

"Working, lots of work, you know," Diana began. As they sat there, Diana found herself opening up to him. It had been so long since she'd just sat and talked with anyone and Clark seemed genuinely interested in what she was saying. Time went unnoticed as they sat there. Clark didn't say much, only interrupting her to clarify something or to ask a question. Diana found herself telling him about things that happened while he was away and what she'd been up to these last months. It felt so good to be with someone that she could be so totally open with. It was almost an hour later, when Diana happened to glance at the clock and notice the time had slipped by.

"Hera, I've been talking your ear off! I'm sorry, Kal," she said, blushing with embarrassment.

"Don't be," he softly said, reaching out and giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I loved listening to every minute of it, Diana."

She felt familiar warmth run through her body at his touch and felt a little excited by it. Pulling her hand slowly away from his, she regained her composure.

"Thank you for listening, but tell me about you? How are things with you," she said, wanting to focus on something other than how he made her feel.

"Busy, really," he said. "No one tells you how difficult it is to get back in the rhythm of things when you take five years off."

Diana chuckled at this. "Hopefully, you've learn your lesson then."

"Yes, ma'am," Clark replied with a straight face. Diana reached over and smacked him playfully on the shoulder.

"Don't be cute, you know what I mean, Kal."

"Yes, I do. I was serious, it is difficult getting back in to the old rhythm again."

"So how are things in Metropolis and at the Planet?"

"Good, good. It was awkward at first, with Lois and all, but we've worked it out. I think I'm going to be getting a new job at the Planet soon, foreign correspondent."

"Really?" Diana said, surprised by the news.

"Yes, mostly Europe, probably London or Paris to start."

"What will you do with your apartment in Metropolis," she asked.

"Well, I've been thinking about it since I got back and the reasons I first moved there are gone, so I guess I'm probably going to give it up."

"What? Why? Where will you live," Diana quickly asked, shocked at the news.

"I still have the farm, so I thought I might move back there."

"In Smallville?"

"Yeah. I know everyone thinks of Metropolis, and me but while I have lived there for quite some time, I've always thought of Smallville and the farm as home. Some of the happiest times of my life were spent there. Distance really isn't a problem, so I thought it might be nice to just have some place to relax and enjoy by myself. Besides, if I get this new job, I probably will be out of the country a lot of the time, anyway."

"What-What about the League and your patrols of Metropolis," Diana asked, disturbed by the news that she might see even less of him in the near future. "How can you just walk away from the things you care about?"

Clark looked at her for a moment, something about the look on Diana's face seemed be to more than just a teammate's concern about whether he would continue with the League. It almost seemed she was taking a personal interest. No, don't even go there, he told himself.

"I'll always be apart of the League, Diana. With all the new members, it's not as essential that I do as many shifts as before, but I'll always be just a call away. As far as Metropolis goes, it seems during my absence a number of new heroes have stepped up. I'll still keep an eye on the city, but just not as frequently."

"So you're not going to disappear again," Diana asked in a serious tone.

"What? No, Diana, I'm afraid you're stuck with me from now on. I'm not going anywhere," he said cheerfully. Diana smiled at this, and felt a sense of relief. Just the thought of him disappearing again made her uneasy. She didn't really understand all the emotions she had experienced when he had left the last time. It had felt as if a part of her head been taken away. It was the reason she had been so angry with him when he finally did come back.

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Diana couldn't help but smile as he said this. She suddenly felt happy again, where just a short while ago she had been rather depressed. It all seemed so perplexing to her.

"So are you going to tell me why you sound a little down tonight," Clark gently asked.

"Oh, it's nothing, just the usual," Diana said, trying to brush it off.

"No, it isn't, I can tell. Tell me what's bothering you, Diana. I may not be able to help, but sometimes it helps to have someone listen."

Diana debated whether to say anything, but then she looked into his sky blue eyes and knew he would be the one person to understand.

"It's just that everything seems like work these days. If I'm not doing Embassy business, I'm on League business or it's some other obligation. If I managed to get some time off, Bruce is busy or can't get away. I seem to be always working until I collapse into bed at night. I know I should be thankful for the blessings the Gods have granted me and I am. It's just I feel like there's nothing for me, Diana, anymore. I'm sorry to be dumping this all on you, Kal. Listen to me go on and on about how dreadful my life is. I'm sorry," Diana apologized. She was a little startled at letting the truth just gushed forth like that. She hadn't meant to say all that and now felt a little embarrassed.

"Don't apologize for you feelings, Diana," Clark calmly said, "I know what it's like to feel like there's never anytime for yourself. That's one of the reasons I think I might be moving back to the farm. It will be my little place to get away and just be me again."

"I envy you," Diana admitted. "To have a special place like that, it must be wonderful."

"You have to make the time, Diana," Clark said to her. He couldn't believe the next sentence that came out of his mouth, but she was his friend so he wanted to help. "Why don't you and Bruce take a little vacation? The two of you could get away for the weekend or something?"

"Bruce would never leave Gotham for a whole weekend," Diana said automatically.

"You'll never know until you ask him. Even if he can't, why don't you take a weekend? You do have a special place of your own, remember? Themyscira? Does that ring a bell, princess? I'm sure your mother and sisters would be glad to see you."

"It would be nice to see them all again," Diana admitted. A small smile kept across her lips as she thought about her home island.

"You have to make the time, Diana. You can't be a hero every waking moment. Someone recently reminded me of that. They pointed out there has to be more to life than just duty and honor. There has to be a place for pleasure and fun too. I wasn't convinced at first but now I see she was right. We have to make the time to enjoy ourselves a little."

They sat there for a moment just looking at each other. It felt good being with her like this, but as soon as that thought crossed his mind, Clark remembered why he had been steering clear of her lately.

"Ah, speaking of time, I should probably be getting going. With the new job and moving, I need to start getting things done."

Clark gave Diana's hand a soft squeeze as he stood up to leave. He wanted to help her, but still didn't want to spend too much time with her. He wanted to give her and Bruce space and not become part of the problem.

"It was good to talk to you again, Kal, thank you," Diana said, squeezing his hand in return.

"That's what friends are for," he said with a smile and then headed out.

Diana sat there watching him leaving, feeling better than she had in a while. Just the fact that he'd taken the time to sit with her and listen to her problems had helped. A smile crossed her face as she thought how nice it was to know that someone cared about her and how she was doing. She decided right then and there to take his advice and go home for the weekend. She missed her mother and sisters and it would be good to see them and relax.

The thought, "did he say she was right" suddenly flashed in her mind. Who was this she he was talking about? Was Kal seeing someone? Was he in love with another woman? The questions seemed to tumble through her mind and disturb her, but then she stopped herself. He wasn't like that; she thought to herself. I'm just being silly. Diana shook her head at this and let those thoughts disappear from her mind. She focused on their conversation, how good it was to talk to him again, and the prospect of returning home for a short while. Feeling much better than before, Diana got up and went to the monitor room to start her shift.