CHAPTER 9


This was my favorite chapter to write. It came so unexpectedly. :) Enjoy.


Shayera grumbled as she reached her face to wipe away the pesky strands of hair tickling her cheek. She grumbled again, finding more hair fall onto her cheek, forcing her eyes to crack open and observe what was happening to her.

It took her several moments to gather her bearings. She opened her eyes fully to see thick raven strands of hair falling onto her. She pulled her head back slightly, her arms around Diana. The events of the previous night came flooding back to her, all accentuated by her nudity, and Diana's.

Her wing was resting on Diana too, their legs intertwined, and Shayera smiled. She lifted herself up onto her forearm gently, leaning over to read it was nearly 10am. Granted, they didn't fall off till around 3am, but still, this was late for both of them.

She brought her free hand up, brushing away the Amazon's hair to stare at her sleeping face. Shayera watched her sleep, her face flushing as she thought of last night. Never in her wildest dreams… is seemed to be a phrase she had been using quite a bit these days.

As she removed the last of Diana's hair from her face, she heard the woman mutter and go to wipe her own face, still unconscious. Shayera chuckled, knowing from the last time and from Diana herself that she was quite a heavy sleeper. Shayera sighed.

Her wing lifted and began grazing along Diana's naked body, the feathers gently brushing her skin, the covers down by their ankles. Shayera watched as the brunette shuttered in her sleep from the soft caresses.

Shayera was lost in thought as she did this absentmindedly.

"All that worry for nothing," she thought.

She had been so caught up in her own worry and her own self-doubt, both of their relationship and herself, that she didn't trust Diana was trying to do something beneficent and not something hurtful.

When Diana came to her and told her everything she had done last night, Shayera felt her heart swell. This woman before her was truly incredible, going at lengths to defend her friends, her girlfriend, herself, even people she didn't know but who were like her. She couldn't believe how wonderful a person Diana was.

"I guess that's why they call her Wonder Woman," Shayera said to no one softly.

"Last night was amazing, but I assure you, that's not where the name comes from."

Shayera rolled her eyes, her wing going to brush against Diana's face, making the Amazon sneeze. Shayera laughed, Diana rolling over to face brushing her wing as she did so.

"I wasn't talking about your skills in the bedroom, your Highness," Shayera said with a pointed look and mocking tone.

"Ah," Diana replied, moving in closer and bringing their bodies together, kissing Shayera good morning.

"My mistake then. What were you thinking of?" she asked softly, stroking Shayera's arm.

Shayera took a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking, thinking of everything that had gone on between them lately.

"I was thinking about what you are willing to do for the people you care about, and for the people that need defending. I'm just proud of you. I'm happy that I know you."

Diana's eyes widened at the declaration, surprised by Shayera's words, blushing slightly. Shayera smiled, cupping her cheek, kissing her again. This was lovely.

"I do have a question though," she said.

"What is that?"

"This has all happened… well, pretty fast Diana. I think we should talk about what we're doing exactly."

"What do you mean?"

"You really don't have much relationship experience, do you?" Shayera asked with a smile, Diana blushing again, surprised as she remembered Shayera last.

"I-I, well… not exactly."

"Okay. You see, we've been working on this friendship for months, and then we realized there was more there. And then eventually we realized we were both thinking of each other in the same way. Normally, as far as Earth and even Thanagar go, we talk about what the next step is."

"N-Next step?" Diana stuttered, wondering where this was going.

Shayera bit her lip to hold back her laugh from the panicked woman's face.

"Diana, relax. I'm asking if you want to be my girlfriend."

Diana searched Shayera's calm gaze and let go of a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Shayera chuckled, grazing her face, touching her softly. Diana smiled and chuckled as well.

"Sorry. But yes, Shayera. I would love to be your girlfriend."

"Good, because after last night you weren't going to be given much of choice," she replied matter-of-factly.

"Is that so?" Diana said, quirking her eyebrow.

"Yup," she said, kissing her again, rolling Diana onto her back.

"You're kind of stuck with me."

Diana shivered as Shayera's breath touched her ear.

"I-I think I'll be okay with that."

"Good," she replied, beginning to kiss Diana once again.

"Shayera, we missed breakfast."

"You can wait until lunch."


Shayera and Diana arrived late to lunch at the cafeteria, walking in and grabbing trays to finally eat. Shayera chuckled as she saw the Amazon begin stuffing her plate, knowing she had not eaten since lunch they day prior.

As they went around getting food and beverages, Shayera kept meeting people's stares. She'd notice someone watching and the person would avert their gaze. Normally, she was used to being ignored or people steering clear from her out of fear, but this? This was different.

She found Diana grabbing napkins and utensils and followed her to a table, again, seeing stares follow, not just her, but Wonder Woman too. They reached a table and sat down, Shayera beginning to throw her signature death stare across the room to get people to turn away.

She sat down, completely puzzled, Diana waving a napkin filled with utensils at her for her to take, the Thanagarian doing so absentmindedly.

"Are you okay?"

"Have you noticed everyone staring this morning?"

Diana finished her bite and looked up. Shayera was right. Many people were looking at the pair of them or averting their gazes when she made eye contact.

Diana was puzzled only for a moment when she remembered Lois's article was out today.

"Oh, Hera…"

"What?"

"LADIES!"

In the blink of an eye, Flash was before them grinning like a buffoon. He slammed a copy of the Daily Planet onto their lunch table, a giant picture of Diana and her mother sitting with Lois.

"Di! Your interview made the front page!"

"I-I see."

"Yea! And get this? The Daily Planet's website and the video clips from the interview have already gotten millions of hits! People are shocked about Wonder Woman having a girlfriend," Wally finished, grinning from ear to ear.

Shayera gulped and realized everyone was curious this morning and staring because of Diana's big announcement. That, combined with the spat a few days ago where Shayera was involve, and Shayera exiting her room with Diana…. Now she understood that everyone and their mother had just discovered their relationship.

"Shayera, I-"

Diana started internally panicking, forgetting they hadn't finished their convo after being deeply distracted last night and this morning. She went to touch Shayera but thought better of it, not wanting to out her more.

The redhead shook her head, seeing Diana withdraw. She looked around, noticing all of the glances and open stares, Wally now looking guilty and realizing he may have not realized what he was walking into. Shayera looked at Diana's now clasped hands, reaching out to them.

"Hey… what did I ask you this morning?"

Diana looked up in surprise, Shayera giving her a sultry look.

"I meant it," she said with sincerity, then leaning in and brushing their lips together briefly.

She winked at Diana before letting her go, going back to her plate to begin eating.

"You go ladies. But we have concert plans to discuss asap! It looks like there's one next weekend. Catch up at dinner?" Wally asked, waving them goodbye.

Diana pulled herself away from her haze of thoughts, turning to look at Shayera.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Positive Diana. I don't know where this is going between us, but… I know I want to keep going for however long that is. Now stop worrying and eat before you pass out."

Diana smiled.

"You're very bossy."

"Someone needs to keep your stubborn self in line," she said, both ladies smirking, always up for a challenge with one another.


"That's right, the princess doesn't get cold. The princess doesn't even sweat."

"OH MY GOD! You did not say that to her Shayera!" Helena said cracking up, sitting on the couch with Dinah.

The pair was laughing their butts off on the long part of Dinah's couch, wrapped up in one another. Wally was in civilian clothes for once too, sitting in the middle with a beer as he shook his head.

"I told you! These two used to want to beat each other senseless!"

"Yea, yea, Wally, always right, whatever," Shayera said at the end of the couch, glass of wine in hand, jeans and a shirt on.

Diana shook her too, sitting in the armchair next to the couch, chuckling in mirth.

"The worst part was my only and best response to her was, "I do too sweat!"

The room started cracking up again, everyone having gathered at Dinah's to celebrate Diana's big coming out story and her support of the Human Rights Campaign and LGBT groups across the world. After Wally showed them the paper at lunch, it wasn't long before they received a call from their other friends showing their support.

"Jeez Shayera, how did Diana's mother take to meeting you?" Helena asked with a grin.

Diana smiled and turned to Shayera, who blushed.

"Actually, well… I never told you this," she said, looking at her Amazon, "but I was really perturbed that her mother could just exile her like that, especially knowing how much Diana cared for her and the Amazon nation. I never understood how she would always call upon the gods or goddesses-"

"Hera, give me strength!" Helena and Dinah both yelled out, falling into giggles, Diana shooting them a playful glare.

"Just remember Roulette's fighting ring, ladies," she said jokingly, turning back to Shayera.

"You were saying?"

"Right. Well anyway, I was annoyed. And so when we met her mother to offer our help, she immediately was telling Diana to leave because the gods decreed it, and then my impulsive self interrupted, 'The gods are decreeing stuff all the time around here!' And then her mom looks at me and I add, 'ma'am."

The whole room fell into laughter again.

"I will say Diana, your sisters are all beautiful, but yea, I totally admit they scare me shitless," Wally said, holding up his beer, everyone laughing.

Before Diana responded, there was a knock at the door.

"Come on in!" Helena shouted out.

"You do realize this is my place?" Dinah asked her.

"Shh, you love me," Helena replied, kissing her.

The door opened and Lois Lane walked in carrying more wine, along with Clark, John and Vixen.

"Hey! Look who made it!" Wally said, zooming around the entire place before her removed all the bottles from the new guests hands and replaced them with refreshments.

The four were stunned but quickly caught on, holding up glasses and taking sips as a welcome sign.

"Welcome Justice League!" Helena said, raising a glass.

"There are more chairs, let me grab some for you guys," Dinah said, going to stand before Wally zoomed around, laying chairs around and making a circle for people to sit.

"Got it," he said with a wink.

He looked around noticing everyone was a couple.

"Aw, man! You couldn't have invited any single ladies?"

"Maybe you'll have better luck at the concert," Shayera said chuckling.

Everyone in the group took their seats and began chatting around, Lois and Clark sitting near Diana, talking about the interview and everything that had gone on. Vixen joined in with Dinah, talking about her place and the fashion world. John, Wally, Shayera and Helena found themselves in a debate super villains and powers, who would win in this battle, and visa versa.

The group of heroes were enjoying themselves. Wally had suggested people get together who knew about Shayera and Diana to celebrate and relax and have some drinks. Once the five had dinner, they set plans for the other four to join and share in the happy occasion.

Shayera had given John and Vixen a call. Her relationship with Vixen had gotten better and better over time, and she came to respect her. After finally getting over John and letting the past be the past, she and John found themselves on civil ground too. She was happy everyone could be in the same room and not want to kill one another.

As it went later into the night, everyone was beginning to get tired and were going to call it quits. Superman had taken Lois home only moments before John and Vixen thought it was time for them to be heading out.

John and Vixen went to give their thanks when everyone heard a knock on the door. Canary was surprised anyone would be here, but she went to open it, and none other than Batman stood there.

"Batman?"

"There isn't time. I knew there was a group of you here in Gotham, and I need Justice League members immediately."

"What's the problem?" Diana asked as she walked over.

"Luthor. It seems our temporary peace after the near-world destruction was not something that would last forever. He and his crime group are all in different parts of the city stealing what looks like parts for some type of weapon."

"Do you know what kind?" John asked.

"Negative. However, I do know there was a recent discovery of kryptonite out in the Arctic ice cap. It probably moved over time with melting and ice and the movement of water away from Superman's ancestor's wrecked ship. One of the places they are targeting is a dock that is supposed to be bringing it in."

"Alright, well we're all here," Shayera began. "Let's get to it, and make sure to inform Jo'on."

"Right. Shayera and Diana, I'll leave the dock to you. John and Vixen, take mechanical plant at the south end of Gotham. Huntress, consider this a trial period back into the League. You and Black Canary head west to 21st street. There's a medical research facility that has chemicals Luthor wants. Flash and I will head up town to catch Luthor."

Batman turned on his heel and began walking out, the group stunned.

"Jeez, count on Bats to ruin a party," Helena said.

Wally nodded his head, spouting out his costume from his ring and throwing it on before rushing out after the Bat.

"It can't be helped," Vixen replied, stripping down from her wardrobe and into her uniform.

"You brought that?" John asked.

"With this group? Even I know to expect the unexpected John," she replied, folding her clothes up and tossing them to the couch.

"Dinah, I trust you to watch my babies," the fashionista said, giving her a wink as they walked towards one of the large windows of her building.

"Of course," she replied, opening it and letting them out so Lantern could fly them towards their destination.

"Shayera, we'll have to have Jo'on beam you up," Diana said, referring to her girlfriend's lack of a mace as she too stripped down into her uniform.

"I'll be fine Diana. I've had a great teacher lately."

"Shayera, I really don't think that's wise."

"Relax Wonder Woman," Helena said, coming out from Dinah's room in her Huntress ensemble.

"Bird lady here has had a pro coach teaching her hand to hand. She's a strong Thanagarian and has fought without that thing anyway. She'll be fine," she said, Shayera glaring at her.

"They're going to have to change your name to The Hunted if you keep up those names," she replied, crossing her arms.

"Still, I don't feel comfortable."

"Diana, we don't have time. It's you and myself against a few of Luthor's not overly talented henchmen. We'll be okay."

"Ladies! Bats and I have Luthor on this end, Clark just dropped off Lois and is coming to help us take him on as he's got Grodd too. We'll keep you posted," they head Flash say over the comm.

"Vixen and I have reached our destination. It looks like Ultrahumanite and Tsukuri are in this unit."

Dinah looked up at the ladies.

"That leaves any number of the Legion of Doom up for grabs for us," Dinah said.

Helena nodded.

"They've all been laying low for some time since they partnered up with us to save the world. We don't know who is and who is not in this newly formed Legion, especially with Lex leading it," Helena said.

Diana turned to Shayera.

"I really must insist you retrieve your mace and meet me there."

Shayera walked over and planted a kiss on her lips.

"Relax," she replied with a smile.

"Helena, Dinah, you have something handy?"

Canary looked around, shaking her head while Helena whipped out a black nightstick.

"Here, I have an extra on me. Go kick some ass," she said, grabbing Black Canary and jumping out the window, shooting to the nearest building and swinging towards their destination.

"Let's get a move on Princess," Shayera said, jumping out and flying towards the docks.

"Hera, give us strength," she said out loud.

It took only a moment for the flash to cross her mind, but she realized the truth. For the first time, she was scared to have Shayera go into battle. She remembered feeling similarly for Batman at times when they were sort of together, but this was different. Everything with Shayera was different, and she couldn't avoid the pit in her stomach. She touched her ear to signal Jo'on.

"Jo'on, it's Diana on a private line."

"Go ahead."

"I don't know what we're walking into, but I would send a few bodies of reinforcements."

"Many League members are on other missions but I will see what I can do. It looks like Fire and Ice are here, they just returned."

"I'll tell you where to send them once I've reached my location," Diana said as she ran out the window and flew after her girlfriend.

"Jo'on."

"Yes Princess?"

"Something doesn't feel right," she said.

"We're lucky Batman stumbled upon this attack when he did. I believe there may be a leak in the League, as many members are currently on other missions across the universe and on Earth. It's too perfectly timed."

"Keep Fire and Ice on standby, everyone else who is there, keep them at the Tower. The last thing we need is another Tower attack. Who could possibly be the mole?"

"I do not know, but I will pull everyone together and find out."

"Jo'on, it's possible it's someone disguised as a member too. Be careful."

"And you."

With that, the connection went dead, and Wonder Woman contacted Bruce to fill him in on her thoughts, him confirming he suspected the same thing as Jo'on and she. Everyone was updated on all comm links, Helena and Dinah reporting they just began taking fire from Volcana and Atomic Skull.

"I'm sending Ice to you two then," Jo'on replied.

Wonder Woman finally caught up to Shayera, seeing her dive down towards the freight that was being hijacked. Shayera dove downwards, seeing Star Sapphire and Giganta unloading the freight of kryptonite.

"Hold it right there!" Shayera yelled, coming in fast.

Star Sapphire shot at her, Hawkgirl ducking and going side to side. She wound up and went right for Giganta, who was holding the kryptonite, the large woman getting knocked yards away into stacks of wooden crates.

Shayera flew up and around, dodging more attacks as Star Sapphire went after her. Just as Giganta shook her head to clear her daze, Diana flew straight into her double fisted, pushing the woman through several rows of wooden stacks, until she reached the edge of the dock and kicked her out into the bay.

Diana flew back around to see Star Sapphire land a hit on the redhead, Wonder Woman zooming after her to help. Shayera was falling but was able to stop herself. She wasn't quick enough to see Star Sapphire building up a large energy blast to hit her with.

Before Star Sapphire could launch it, Diana punched the woman in the face, sending her flying into one of the hanging freights. Shayera flew upwards to meet her, Star Sapphire blasting her way out and coming for some revenge.

Shayera was about to reach and help when she saw part of freight coming at her, Giganta having gotten her butt back to shore. She was able to duck, but watched as it hit both Wonder Woman and Star Sapphire.

Hawkgirl dove back down, dodging the pieces of metal and wood coming her way. She faked a swing and ducked behind Giganta, getting her in the head and assaulting her. She kicked, swung the night stick, dodged, landed a punch. Giganta shot her a punch that sent her flying into a freight, the large woman wiping herself off. Just when she thought the Thanagarian was down, the nightstick was sent spinning at her head, Shayera landing a kick to the face.

"Now I get why Helena and Diana love hand to hand so much," she thought with a grin, used to thinking that smashing things was always the more enjoyable option.

Giganta swung, and Shayera ducked, kicking the woman's legs out, elbowing her in the back. They kept dancing, the big woman swinging, but clearly not so coordinated, those hits from earlier wearing her down.

Diana had kept Star Sapphire up in the sky, dodging energy blasts and whatever else she could muster. Diana finally whipped out her lasso, catching the quick little woman and slamming her around into several freights. She threw her back into the hanging one, punching the crane after she crashed into it and letting it fall below.

Shayera looked up to see what Diana had done, smirking as she dove under Giganta and did a round house kick at the woman. Giganta went flying across the dock until the metal freight fell right on top of her, effectively knocking out both women.

Shayera looked up at Diana, the Amazon smirking in pride at their quick thinking, when all of a sudden she saw a gleam come from behind Shayera in between the cracks of the stacked shipping containers.

"NO!"

Diana dove, Shayera looking at her in confusion before turning slowly. Killer Frost was zooming towards her with the kryptonite in hand, but she had sent several sharpened ice blasts towards her.

Shayera dove out of the way of many, but one ripped right through her lower abdomen, another hitting an arm and a leg. Before any more damage could be done, Diana reached her and began deflecting all of the ice with her wrists. Killer Frost was high in the sky now and shouted at the now steaming Amazon.

"You can catch me or let your little girlfriend die Amazon Queen. Take your pick!"

Diana wanted to rush after her, but looked back to see the pool of blood forming around Shayera.

"Jo'on? Jo'on!"

"Come in Wonder Woman."

"Send Fire down to chase after Killer Frost. Get the cops here to round up the unconscious ones," Diana was speaking quickly, kneeling and picking Shayera up, the woman moaning and losing consciousness

"What's you status?"

"Let our Earth base know we have an emergent coming in. Shayera's… Shayera's been hit."

Jo'on paused.

"How bad?"

Diana felt tears prick her eyes as she started flying towards Metropolis. When Jo'on didn't get a response, he knew it was bad.

"Diana, take her to Gotham General. I will teleport a medical team there, you don't have the time to fly her."

"Jo'on-"

"Do it Diana!"

She gritted her teeth, but listened flying in a new direction, which would get Shayera to a hospital in a few minutes as opposed to 20.

"Diana?" Shayera whispered, the Amazon cradling her, one hand trying to hold pressure on the wound on her back.

"Shh, it's going to be okay."

"I-I didn't see-"

"I know, I know. It's okay. You're going to be okay."

Shayera had one arm wrapped around the Amazon's shoulder, her face tucked into Diana's neck. She felt pain everywhere. She breathed in Diana's scent, the woman's hair flowing as she flew as fast as possible to their destination.

"You really don't sweat… you always… smell… good," she whispered smiling, Diana blinking away more tears.

"Hush, you need your rest."

"I love you."

Diana's eyes went wide, the declaration making her push faster.

"Shayera, you are not dying. This is not the end. And you don't get to say things like this to me when you just became my girlfriend. SO, shut up, rest, and be quiet," Diana said, refusing the woman.

"Silly… I think we both… liked each other... since we met… we were… so stubborn. We wasted… so much time."

Diana gritted her teeth. No, this wasn't how this was going to end.

If Diana was honest with herself, she knew Shayera was right. They had many moments together over the years, even if they avoided what they may have meant. When they first met and Diana jumped on the cliff to save Shayera. When they fought Aresia, even the times where Hawkgirl had been thrown right into Wonder Woman and they fought over it like petty children. She knew even when the Thanagarians were invading, and as she walked by Shayera's prison cell, instead of leaving her to rot like her anger wanted her to, she destroyed the controls to let the woman go.

Deep down, they had these moments. They clashed because it was just like Flash said; they were more alike than they wanted to admit. Both women knew each other on levels they did not want to acknowledge in themselves… and it wasn't until things changed slowly, subtly, over time, that it made it possible for them to be this way now.

"Diana…"

"Don't."

"This isn't a scrape," Shayera whispered, her dangling hand reaching up to cup the woman's face, brushing tears out of her eyes.

"Please," Diana begged, trying to focus on the home stretch of their flight.

"If it's just me, well… you can tell me."

Diana finally turned to look the woman in the eyes as she began descending to the hospital where the specialists were waiting.

"It's never been just you," she replied as she dropped turning back towards the hospital as her feet landed with a crunch, rushing and placing Shayera on the stretcher.

She began walking with the team, but was quickly stopped by a nurse before she followed them to the ER.

"I'm sorry Wonder Woman, but it's sterile. We can't let you back there."

Wonder Woman stood in shock, looking down at the small woman who was startled looking at the Amazon. She looked back up at her.

"D-Do you want a change of clothes? I can bring you some scrubs and bring you to a shower."

"Shower?"

Diana looked down at her uniform, looking at her arms and hands, blood staining everywhere. She couldn't believe how much of it was on her, the nurse realizing the shock she must be going through. Diana looked up and saw many people in the ED staring at her, a gruesome sight.

"I-I-"

"Diana!"

She turned and saw Dinah and Ice carrying Helena in.

They helped another medical team put her in a wheel chair, Helena brushing everyone off.

"I'm fine, it's just a few burns."

"They might be third degree, get them looked at!" Dinah yelled, Helena waving her off as she was rolled into the ED.

"Ms. Wonder Woman," Ice began, Dinah finally looking at her friend and seeing all the blood.

"Oh my god."

"Ladies, I can't have you in this area. I offered to let Wonder Woman take a shower in one of our private waiting rooms. I can bring fresh clothes."

Dinah looked at her friend, realizing she must be in complete shock. She turned to Ice.

"Go catch up with your girlfriend and see if she needs help. Killer Frost is not like you, she'll go for the kill."

Wonder Woman heard the words and felt herself pulled from her reverie. She looked at the pair, she felt the daze start to leave her, and anger boiled through her veins.

"No, she's mine."

Dinah and Ice both looked at her startled, seeing the snarl on the Amazon's face.

"Diana, no!"

But it was too late. Wonder Woman flew out the door in the blink of an eye flying as fast as Superman. This was her fight. She was going to end it, personally.


Soooo, a fight was totally not planned for this story. HAHAHA. I was going to end with a cute epilogue, but…. Looks like the epilogue is going to have to wait. Stay tuned! ;)