A/N Don't own these characters so don't sue me!
Many Thanks for Hepburn for her beta of this story. Victorian Diana rock!!! ;)
Chapter 9: Son and Father.
Diana with Thomas's helped to create a vegetarian supper. Bruce sat at the table watching his son and Diana's exchanges as they cooked. They looked happy and content. Maybe it was the happy atmosphere but Bruce felt happy.
Diana with Thomas in tow brought in the salad and fish platter combo. Bruce truly enjoyed the food it was something he knew he would never forget. After dinner Thomas asked him a question he didn't know if he could answer.
"Father, why were you not here during my childhood?" Thomas's eyes bored into him. Bruce tried to collect his thoughts before he explained. He looked over to Diana who simply straightened her shoulders; she was not giving him any help.
"The simple explanation is, I tried to take over the world. It was later found that I had a tumor that caused me to act differently. That is no excuse for my behaviour or actions, which were reprehensible. I was sent to jail for my crimes against humanity and other species. I used your Mothe..." Diana shook her head violently "I ruthlessly used people that were very close to me. That is why I couldn't watch you grow into the fine man you are." He exhaled deeply; it actually was a relief to tell Thomas this.
Thomas scratched his chin and looked at his mother "Is that true? Then I am not the off spring of Hades?" The words crushed Bruce. Diana shook her head.
"No Thomas your Father at one time was one of the world's greatest heroes. Your Father commanded the respect of all around him. People looked to him for guidance and leadership." Diana spoke the truth not wanting Thomas to hate his Father.
Thomas looked at Bruce and then asked, "Did you love my mother? Was I a mistake?" Ouch was all Bruce could think, the boy sure didn't hold back the double combination. Bruce looked at Diana then at Thomas.
"I loved her and I still love her." Diana stiffened up "You were no mistake Thomas, you are the best thing that ever happened to me, next to meeting and falling in love with your Mother. The image of you in your Mother's arms helped me through my prison sentence. Without it I would of ended my own life." Bruce said truthfully, Thomas nodded his head. Diana tried not to let her emotions pass to her face. Bruce's confession had upset her on many levels.
"Is this a one time thing? Your visiting?" Thomas asked him. Bruce looked over at Diana who suddenly wouldn't look at him.
"It all depends on your Mother, if she wishes for me never to see you again I will uphold her wish."
Thomas looked at his mother, Diana sighed out.
"I cannot stop you from seeing him Thomas, but we will have to talk about that sometime later." Thomas smiled happily at his Mother and she returned the smile. Thomas got up and started to clean up the table. Bruce looked at him and asked.
"Do you need to know anything else? Would you like some help with cleaning up?" Thomas smiled down at him and shook his head in response.
"No I can handle this. I will clean up and then go to bed. Please stay and talk with my Mother. We can talk later." He said. Bruce noticed Diana's jaw tighten up.
The two watched the large man clean the dishes, both not saying a word to each other. Once Thomas was done the dishes he came over and hugged and gave Diana a kiss on the cheek and whispered something in her ear. Diana's eyes were glued on Bruce but she nodded her head to Thomas. The young man pulled from the embrace and smiled and waved to Bruce as he head to his room. Once the door was closed Diana sighed.
The noise forced Bruce to stare at her, Diana's face looked confused.
"Thomas is very enamored with you Bruce." She spoke softly. Bruce was about to say something when she shook her head and continued "Thomas is virtuous like I once was, I will not allow you to corrupt him."
"I will leave him alone." He whispered quietly as he stood up, Diana glared at him.
"Sit back down Bruce!" Diana sighed out as she decided it was time to talk to him seriously.
"Thomas asked for you to stay the night so he could show you his training and to take you fishing tomorrow." Bruce was shocked. He would be honored to watch or do anything with his son.
"If you have a shed I could sleep in there?" Bruce stated. Diana's eyes got large.
"You may sleep on the couch Bruce, I may dislike you but with your injured ribs you need somewhere comfortable to rest." Bruce looked down at the table.
"Diana I remember it all, I remember I would of stop..." he stopped himself from confessing. He didn't want to burden her. Diana looked at him wondering why he stopped.
"Continue." Bruce shook he head.
"No... It is my burden not yours. I'm sorry I brought it up." This made Diana curious.
"As if you haven't burden me with a child without a father. Continue Bruce, nothing you say will affect me." Bruce saw the determination in her eyes, he sighed out.
"I would have stopped my madness if you would have of come back to me. Are you happy now? Now you will think you were responsible!" He growled out. Diana looked shocked, he was right she didn't want to hear that.
Diana got up from her chair and left the room. Bruce laid his head on the table, why had he said that? "You're a class 'A' moron!" He said to himself. Diana quietly returned with a pillow and blanket. Bruce raised his head as she walked past him and set them down on the couch.
Bruce got up and stood in her way.
"Diana, I'm sorry for saying that, I was wrong. I know I wouldn't have stopped even if you had returned." He tried his best to lie to her. Diana looked up at him and nodded.
"I am tired, see you in the morning Bruce." He moved out of the way as she walked by him.
Diana lay down in bed. Looking at the ceiling she sighed out. He lied to her so she wouldn't feel responsible. But she had been hiding on this island since he was sent to prison because she did feel responsible for his and her actions. Diana didn't sleep much that night, a small part of her still cared for Bruce. Seeing the abuse he had taken in jail gave her a tiny pain in her heart.
Bruce made up the couch and lay down. His mind was in turmoil, he wanted to be the father his son wanted but knew he could never be him. He was a murderer plain and simple.
Thomas awakened Bruce.
"Father would you like to go fishing with me?" His eyes shone. Bruce smiled up at Thomas as he pulled himself out of bed. He groaned out making Thomas look upset.
"I'm fine Thomas, I just slept in the wrong position." He smiled at him, Thomas offered his hand and Bruce accepted. Thomas grabbed two fishing poles and escorted his father to the near by creek.
They got down to business and started to fish. Bruce couldn't believe his luck, he felt like a new person being around Thomas. His son made him feel so alive and not dirty. They both seemed to be lost in their own thoughts each not saying much, but he enjoyed his son's close proximity.
They both heard footsteps approaching. Father and Son thought it was Diana. They were both in for a shock as it was Hippolyta and two royal guards flanking her coming towards them. Thomas jumped up from the bank and ran to his grandmother and hugged her.
"Grandmother, my Queen, my Father is here visiting!" Hippolyta's eyes grew large and her lip turned into a snarl. She marched towards the bank and looked down at Bruce who was putting his fishing pole down. The two stared at each other for a moment. Hippolyta turned her head and commanded.
"Thomas please return home now! I would like to have a few words with your Fa... Bruce!" She growled out. Thomas was shocked, for he had never seen his Grandmother look so angry before. Thomas turned and ran home as quickly as he could.
Hippolyta pointed a finger at Bruce "Get up here. NOW!" she barked out. Bruce pulled himself up from the bank and stood to face her.
"What are you doing here?" She hissed out at him. Bruce knew that once Hippolyta found out he was here that his life would be forfeit.
"Thomas wished to meet me." Bruce said in a neutral tone. Hippolyta smiled evilly at him.
"I'm glad he did!" she said as she backhanded Bruce forcing him into the air. He landed in the shallow creek. Lifting himself up slowly he felt two sets of hands roughly pull him back out of the water. Hippolyta's guards dragged him back to the shore. Hippolyta was standing on the creek's edge now.
"You vile dog. I'm going to enjoy this." as she started to slap and punch him in the face. Bruce couldn't and if he could he wouldn't have retaliated. He felt Hippolyta deserved her retribution for what he had done to her. Just as he was about to black out he heard a voice.
"Mother stop this instant!" He saw Diana and Thomas standing on the top of the bank. His vision darkened as he lost consciousness.
Bruce awoke to Thomas wiping away the blood from his face. The pain shot threw his system but he ignored it. Thomas looked worried and upset.
"I'm so sorry." was all Thomas said.
"Don't be, Hippolyta had every right to do what she did to me." Bruce mumbled out. His face was swollen from the beating Hippolyta gave him.
Diana came into the room upset, then she looked down and her face looked worried.
"Is anything broken?" She asked Thomas shook his head.
"Just bruising and a little swelling." Bruce tried to smile but it made him look like he was squinting.
"You don't have to worry Bruce I set my Mother straight."
"Why? She had every right to do what she did! I did some pretty damn vile things to her!" Bruce said as a matter of fact.
"No she didn't have the right you are a guest of Thomas and mine!" She retorted. Bruce chuckled which caused Diana to glare down at him.
"I've made a lot of enemies Diana. I wouldn't be surprised if I'm dead by the end of the week." Diana looked in horror at what he said.
"Everyone deserves a second chance Bruce."
"Even Darkseid or The Joker?" Diana gave him a hard look.
"Yes! If they turned away from their evil ways and tried to make amends."
"How can you be sure that I am not evil?" Thomas then spoke up.
"Because I would see it Father!" Bruce almost laughed out at his naivety Diana's eyes softened.
"Bruce Thomas was gifted by the gods Bruce, but they gave him a gift I never received. He sees auras, if he says you are not evil then you are not."
"What do you see in me?" He asked his son. Thomas stared at him and frowned.
"I see regret, loneliness and self pity." Bruce sighed out. Two out of three isn't bad. Did he feel self-pity?
Bruce tried to stand up, but Thomas placed a hand on him and held him down.
"You are injured please rest."
"I have to leave, I've over stayed my welcome." Diana placed her hands on her hips.
"No you have not yet! Bruce, relax and heal up first. I will make you something to eat. Would you like some soup?" Bruce nodded, soup actually sounded great.
"Yes Father stay and heal, I still wish to show you how I train." He said to Bruce with pride. Bruce smiled up at him.
"I would love to see that... Son." He whispered out the last word. Thomas beamed at him and left so Bruce could relax. Bruce closed his eyes and thought about what Thomas would look like showing him his fighting moves. He felt her presence near him and he opened his eyes and saw Diana placing a chair next to the couch. She sat down and picked up the bowl of soup that was on the table next to the couch.
Bruce pulled himself up into a sitting position. Diana handed him the bowl.
"I'm sorry for what my Mother did." She said as she watched him start to eat the soup. He paused.
"Don't be Diana, I've cause you and your people a lot of misery. I'm the one to be saying sorry. But words can't heal the pain that I've caused." Then he continued to eat the soup. It felt good to eat something that wasn't gruel.
"Your actions with Thomas have shown me you have changed. But I warn you that if you hurt one feeling of his I will personally beat you into the ground until there is nothing left but a stain!" She threatened him. Bruce looked at her and nodded his head.
"If you didn't I would beat myself. Diana I don't know if I can handle it, him being so kind to me." A tear appeared in his eye. Diana looked hurt at him.
"Thomas is a caring person. He sees the good in everyone that is why I've tried my best to not let him leave Themyscira. He would get hurt in the real world. Like I did." Diana turned her head trying to hide the emotions of pain on her face.
"I regret everything I've done Diana, but if anyone was to hurt him I would murder that person in a heartbeat." Bruce said almost in his old Batman voice. Diana turned and looked at him, she smiled.
"So would I!" Bruce looked at the woman he loved. He looked down at the empty bowl and handed it back.
"Diana... Thank you for everything." He tentatively placed a hand onto hers. She didn't flinched or pull away from him. "I will try to be the best person I can be for our son. But what do I do now?" He looked confusedly at her, Diana matched his expression.
"What do you mean Bruce?" Bruce sighed out.
"I'm not a billionaire anymore and I have no skills for this world and who would hire a ex-world dictator?" He frowned. Diana nodded her head in agreement.
"You will figure that out Bruce, you were never a dummy." Diana looked sad for a moment.
"Are you going to see Zor-Al?" Bruce froze for a moment. Zor-Al was his child with Kara.
"I don't know Diana. He most likely hates me along with his Mother."
"No he doesn't, because he doesn't know about you. But Kara I think hasn't forgiven you." Bruce nodded, it was most likely for the best that Zor-Al never knew about him and after what he had done to Kara he wouldn't expect her to forgive him.
"Maybe it is for the best that I don't try to get into his life. Why mess up his life?"
"Maybe, but do think about it."
"I will Diana, that is all I'm good for now." He frowned. Diana rolled her eyes.
"Thomas was right, you are in self pity mode. Stop it!" She demanded, and Bruce chuckled.
"Its hard for me to undo Princess." He looked almost as shocked as Diana when he called her that. Diana's eyes enlarged "I'm sorry, Diana." Diana moved away from him and took the chair. Bruce wanted to punch himself in his face. Diana left her home and flew to her Mother's palace. Diana walked into the royal courtroom and looked at her Mother.
"What is wrong my little sun and stars?" Hippolyta asked as she ran up to her. Diana squeezed her hands together.
"Mother I don't know if I can continue this. Bruce continues to have a hold on my heart." She dropped to her knees crying. Hippolyta rushed to her side and place a hand on her shoulder.
"WHAT has he done!" she growled out.
"Nothing. I have to confess mother that I think I fell in love with him when I first met him. Even when the spell was broken from the love potion I still loved him. I cannot pretend any more that I hate him!" She cried out.
Hippolyta grabbed her into a hug and rocked Diana back and forth, much like when she was a child.
"I knew all along my dear." Diana looked up at her mother through red eyes. "I have saw the way you looked at him when he came here to help us with Felix Faust, when that villain turned us to stone." Diana nodded her head. "Nothing escapes a mother's notice." she bent down and kissed her forehead.
Diana sighed out. How could she still love this man, she thought that the anti-love potion would make her hate him?
"Diana to be honest you never really needed the potion to love Bruce, so the anti-love potion would not really have worked on you. Come Diana let us have some tea. You talk as much as you wish and I will always listen." Her mother spoke up. Then Hippolyta helped Diana up to her feet and they walked over to a simple table that had a teapot and some cups on it. The two women pulled the chairs away from the table and sat. They drank a few cups of tea, while Diana poured out her heart to her mother.
Diana strolled back home, but stopped in her tracks. Clark was there talking to Thomas. Diana continued to walk towards the two men.
"Diana, you are back!?" Clark smiled at her. The once large scar on his face had -almost vanished, but he would never re-grow another eye. She smiled at him.
"Yes I was having tea with my Mother. Thomas how is Bruce doing?" She asked her son. Clark stiffened a little at this news.
"Bruce is here?" He gasped out. Diana nodded her head.
"I will go and check on him!" Thomas said quickly and returned into the house. Clark glared at her for a moment.
"What is he doing here Diana?" He asked in a near whisper, Diana sighed out.
"Thomas asked to meet his Father when the message from J'onn said he was back on Earth." The two were silent for a few moments.
"Does Hippolyta know that he is here?" He asked her. Diana was about to respond when Bruce's voice spoke out.
"She has already welcomed me." As the two turned to look at him Clark's eye enlarged at the sight of Bruce's swollen and bruised face. Bruce walked over to the two. He looked at Clark and saw he was greying a little and had a few more prominent lines on his face, but other then that he almost looked the same.
"Nice to see you Clark." Bruce held out his hand. Clark hesitated for a moment and then took the hand. They shook hands for a few moments and released each other's grip. Diana pulled a few strains of hair from her face.
"I'm going to make a light lunch, are either of you hungry?" She asked them. Clark shook his head no.
"I can't stay long, I just dropped by to see how Thomas and yourself were doing?" then he looked at Bruce.
"I would love something to eat Diana." Bruce said with a slight smile on his face. Diana smiled then left the two. Clark watched the exchange between the two. When Diana was out of sight Clark looked hard at him.
"Why are you here Bruce?" Clark almost sneered out. Bruce was taken back by this blunt question.
"Thomas wanted to meet me. Diana came up to the Watchtower and brought me here." Bruce said defensively. Clark stepped closer to him almost in a threatening way.
"You hurt either of them and I swear by the Earth's sun that they will not find your body!" Clark hissed out. Bruce stepped up to him and looked him into the eye.
"If I do hurt them, then you can, but I will not be intimidated. If either one doesn't want to see me ever again I will leave." The two stared at each other for a few more moments. Clark relaxed.
"Have you spoken to Kara?" He continued to eye him.
"No, the same goes for her. If she doesn't want to see me I will not bother her or her child. I gave up my rights when I was sentenced Clark." Bruce stepped away and looked at the ground.
"Zor-Al doesn't know anything about you, I think it is for the best that he never does!" Clark stated. Bruce looked up at him and nodded in agreement.
"You're right, who wants to find out their father was a evil murderer." He sighed out.
"Good because he is a wonderful man and father, stay away from the both of them!" He looked right at Bruce. Glaring at him for a full minute. Bruce returned the stare, just looking at him passively.
"I'm sorry Clark." Bruce said. Clark relaxed when Bruce said those words.
"I know you are I've read your journal. Bruce the past is the past. I've forgiven you. I don't know if we can be friends again. Writing it and doing it are two totally different things. Maybe in time we can be friends again, but I truly don't see that right now. You understand right?" Clark stared at him.
"Yes I do Clark, I hope in the near future I can regain your trust. When I said I hated you when we were fighting. It was a lie. I've always looked up to you. Maybe I even envied you a little because of your powers." Bruce sighed out. Hopefully they could be friends again Clark thought to himself. He held out his hand.
Bruce took and shook the offered hand. "I have to go Bruce, remember be nice to them."
Clark nodded his head and lifted off up into the air. Bruce sighed as he kicked a few pebbles away.
Diana had watched the entire exchange between the former close friends from a window. Thomas walked up behind her to see what she was looking at.
"Is Uncle Clark staying for lunch?" Thomas said as the two looked outside. Diana shook her head but continued to look until Clark flew away. She watched as Bruce walked slowly back and forth. Deciding it was best for him to come into the house she went to the door.
"Lunch is almost ready, come and wash up Bruce!" Her words caused him to turn and look at her. She looked so lovely at that moment Bruce wanted to frame it and keep it forever in his mind and heart. He nodded his head as he slowly walked back into the house. After washing his hands Bruce made his way to a chair in the dinning room and sat down.
Thomas come out of his room and walked towards the table.
"Will you be able to watch me train this afternoon Father?" He asked him nervously. Bruce smiled up at his son.
"I would love to!" Thomas beamed as he went into the kitchen to help his mother. They returned with some homemade bread, cheese, butter and a creamy looking spread. It was a simple lunch but Bruce thought it was heaven.
Bruce got up after eating and started to clear off the small plates and cups. Thomas jumped up and stopped him.
"You are a guest, I can do that." Bruce shook his head.
"You both have treated me too well, allow me to at least clean up." Thomas gave him his version of the princess royal look that Diana had perfected.
"Only if I can help." He commanded. Bruce chuckled and looked at Diana, she gave him a sly smiled.
Bruce enjoyed helping Thomas the young man was such a pleasure to be around. Diana sat there watching them. She hadn't seen Thomas be so happy in a while, he had been pestering her to let him explore the world outside of the island. With Bruce here he wasn't asking to leave.
The happy moment was unfortunately disturbed by a thunderous noise outside. Diana jumped up from her seat and ran to the door and opened it. A dark figure was standing a few meters away from the home. Thomas and Bruce stood behind her watched.
The figure pointed a finger at them.
Diana bellowed out, "Great Deceiver you dare come upon Themyscira?
"I have unfinished business with Bruce Wayne oh champion of the Amazons! You own me compensation Bruce Wayne!" The deep haunted voice spoke out. Thomas and Diana both got into defensive stances. Bruce laid a hand on both of their shoulders.
They turned their heads to look at him.
"I do own him. Let me pass." Thomas shook his head.
"Over my dead body Father!" He bellowed out. Diana looked shocked but Bruce's face turned white as he shook his head.
"No, you have to let me talk to him Thomas." Thomas stood straight and tall looking down at him. His eyes set on him.
"I cannot let that happen Father!" he stated. Bruce had two choices at that moment. And both would break his heart to do either.
