A/N—Thanks to Hepburn for being my wonderful beta punching up the dialogue and to Chaosmob for his input on the chapter. Please read and review.
Disclaimer—All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
You come for me in the worst of places
You come for me; you come and try to take me home
I'm always in need and it's hard to be reciprocating
The fabric of our life gets torn
And everything's changing so how I am to know
How I'm going to hold on to you when I'm spinning out of control
You and I together
But only one of us in love
And everybody knows
He says her name, it echoes in my head like it was a canyon
He says her name; he says it and I know what's up
You come to me sometimes when I'm thinking like a cannonball shooting out a canyon
And I forget whatever it was I was thinking about
With everything changing how am I to know
How I'm going to hold on to you when I'm spinning out of control
With out and I together
But only one of us in love
And everybody knows—Everybody Knows by Ryan Adams
Chapter 9—Everybody Knows
Diana sat at her desk in her office at Wayne Manor. Dick, Donna and Bruce were downstairs in the Cave training Donna in the Japanese style of swordplay. As Bruce had predicted the phone had been ringing of the hook. The P.R. staff at Wayne Enterprises was handling the press and general public but Alfred was fielding the personal well wishers. Bruce Wayne had many acquaintances.
Diana was trying to finish up all her paperwork for the embassy. Donna would be taking over her diplomatic duties for the duration of her pregnancy. Bruce and she had decided on the short flight to New York last night that the world would not know of Wonder Woman's pregnancy to firstly avoid anyone possibly connecting Wonder Woman and Diana Prince and secondly to protect the baby. Though she would be a target as a billionaire's daughter she likely wouldn't be a target of super villains, as she would be as the daughter of a superhero. She would announce after the new Amazon champion was selected and introduced that she would be leaving on a mission for her Gods which was essentially the truth since Aphrodite had pretty much told her to stay out of the action while she was pregnant. So Diana of Themyscira would be gone at least eight months.
Diana wondered what she would do with herself. She would of course be helping Donna behind the scenes but without missions and meetings she would have a lot more spare time. She could always write a book about her experiences in Man's World and how she believed that women's status around the world needed to be elevated and that it could be achieved through education. Women needed to embrace their own strength.
Diana took a sip of her ginger and lemon tea with honey and nibbled a graham cracker to quell the ever present nausea that Leslie said should last until about the fourteenth week of her pregnancy. Leslie had come by that morning to examine Diana, which she did in the med lab of the Cave. Bruce and she had discussed how to monitor Diana's hormone levels, which were currently perfect. They also decided that they would set up a labor and delivery room in the Manor as well as a sterile operating room in case Diana would need to have a cesarean or had any complications during delivery. Anything more serious and she could be transported to the Watchtower. Leslie would have all the equipment she needed at the Manor to monitor Diana's pregnancy and J'onn would be on hand to assist with the delivery. They wanted nothing about her pregnancy to be available to the public so all her labs would be done by Bruce, Leslie or J'onn in the lab in the Cave. They weren't going to take any chances with information regarding this pregnancy and for the sake of her child she was more than willing to join Bruce in his paranoia.
Diana sighed again as she looked at all the paperwork she needed to complete by Monday. She was leaving then for Themyscira and she paused for a moment thinking about what she was going to tell her mother. Hippolyta of course knew about her relationship with Bruce and she'd tacitly approved as she had not come and ripped Bruce's head from his shoulders. Diana believed that Hippolyta would eventually be happy about the baby as the Gods and Goddesses were responsible for her conception, but she was prepared for a less than happy first reaction. She was also concerned about the selection of the new champion. This person was going to have to be there for Donna and there were really only two women that Diana trusted with that duty, Phillipus and Artemis. She knew Phillipus could not compete as she was her Mother's general and was too important to the running of Themyscira.
Artemis could though. She was the best warrior that Diana knew and they had always shared a friendly rivalry. She was the closet thing, by Man's World standards, to a cousin that Diana had. Artemis had been an orphaned child in the town where Theseus's army kept the Amazons in bondage. She had helped them get the supplies that they needed to craft weapons and over throw their oppressors. She had gone with them when they escaped and Antiope had adopted her as her daughter. Antiope had been quite traumatized and angered by their time in bondage and caring for and training Artemis had helped her to heal. So Artemis was really the first child of Themyscira and the Gods and Goddesses had granted her immortality when she reached adulthood.
She had helped train Diana as well as Aresia and Donna. Diana and she had competed since Diana was sixteen. Diana had had to clean out the stables many times for losing to Artemis in a horse race or had to polish Artemis's armor for losing a sparring match. Then again so had Artemis and Diana knew she was a better Amazon warrior because of her. Diana knew that she wanted Artemis to be the next champion because there was no one she trusted more to watch Donna's back and to bear the standard of the Amazons with pride.
Alfred knocked on the door interrupting Diana reverie.
"I'm sorry to bother you madam, but Charles Forbes March is on the phone for you," he announced.
"Really, I have not spoken to him in at least a year? Thank you Alfred, I'll take his call," she said with a smile as she picked up the phone.
"Charles, it has been a long time. How are you doing?" Diana said in a cheerful tone.
"It seems not as well as you. Congratulations on your engagement though I wouldn't have thought Wayne was your type. He is a bit dim and shallow for somebody as intelligent and thoughtful as you."
"Thanks Charles but there is definitely a lot more to Bruce than you would think. He is just the sweetest man to me and I like that." Diana replied as she smirked at the thought of Bruce being a bit dim.
"Well I didn't just call to congratulate you. I have just been added to a dig in Crete this summer. The archeologists that are already there have found many artifacts and it looks like there is ancient city to excavate. They want me to identify the period and uses of the artifacts." Charles explained.
"That is wonderful and exciting news! I know how much you love identifying new finds." Diana responded.
"I have a problem though and I am hoping you can help me? I am supposed to teach a summer class at Empire but I can't do it and go on the dig. I was hoping that you have the time and could replace me? It would only be two days a week for twelve weeks starting the second week of June. Would you be interested?" he asked.
Diana was surprised but very interested. It wouldn't be much longer before she would be in her second trimester when Leslie says she would feel much better. It would certainly give her something to do.
"I am interested but I need to discuss it with Bruce. We have the wedding coming up soon but I think I can manage it. Let me call you back tomorrow with an answer," she said.
"Fine, but be sure to call me tomorrow. If you can't do it I need to find someone else as soon as possible. Oh and thanks for considering it Diana. You are the first person I thought of to replace me."
"Thanks and I call you tomorrow. Bye," she said and heard him say bye back before she hung up the phone. She smiled; it seemed the Goddesses have blessed her again and she wouldn't end up being bored this summer.
Dick and Donna circled each other on the sparing mat in the cave. Each held a bokken, a wooden katana, as they fought each other. The bokken was less lethal than the katana but could still be deadly especially in the hands of someone with Donna's strength. Today though she was focused on skill and wasn't using her powers. Sweat dripped from her brow as well as Dick's even in the cool conditions of the Cave.
Bruce and Donna had started early while Dick slept, as he had been up later than Bruce, as there seemed to be many problems in Bludhaven last night. Bruce led her through several forms and exercises correcting her as they went along. She was very serious and Bruce was impressed by how quickly she picked up the techniques.
Things seemed to change though with the arrival of Dick. Bruce noticed their banter first. Donna seemed to love to egg on Dick and Dick loved to give as good as he got. It didn't take away from the seriousness with which they fought each other. Donna face showed a steely determination to win that reminded him of Diana and Dick never cut her any slack and would hit hard any opening she left.
Then he noticed how Dick's eyes blazed with fire as he watched Donna wipe sweat from her brow and how his nostrils flared every time he was close to her. Bruce knew that look probably mirrored a million looks that he had given to Diana over the years as they fought. The heat seemed to rise in the room and Bruce focused harder on giving instructions to Donna as he was starting to feel uncomfortable around them as they sparred. It was too much like Diana and him though he wasn't sure if Donna was aware of the sexually charged atmosphere between the two of them. She wasn't flirting in the conventional sense but he sensed she liked keeping Dick off balance.
After an hour he called the training to a halt. Donna had make excellent progress and they would work more tomorrow on her form. He recommended that she spend sometime practicing the iaido katas that he had taught her.
"Thanks Bruce, I feel more prepared already. Now I am off to find out if Alfred has baked some of his double chocolate chip cookies. They are so good they should be illegal. Are you coming as well Dick?" she said with a smile at him.
"I need to talk to Dick, Donna but I am sure he will join you later. He never could resist Alfred's cookies." Bruce gave her a half smile as she left the Cave. Then he turned to Dick with a smirk.
"So how long have you had romantic feelings for her?" Bruce said after he was sure Donna had exited the Cave.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Dick replied in a carefully neutral voice, he had learned that line from the master of denial; though color rose up his neck at the question he kept his composure.
Bruce raised an eyebrow at him. "You can't lie to me. I know the signs, I invented them and I lived in denial of them for five years. You want her."
Dick just stared at him coldly before saying. "If this is all you wanted me to talk about then I'll see you later. I'm going to hit the showers."
"It's not but you can't tell me you're not attracted to her. If it is only physical desire then you are wise to keep it in your pants. Donna is not a girl to be messing with just to slake your lust." Bruce warned.
Dick turned a furious eye towards Bruce. "Maybe you should be having this conversation with Kyle Rayner as he seems to be intent on getting into her pants."
Bruce nearly laughed at Dick's jealous outburst but stopped at the dark expression on Dick's face. Oh man! He has it bad, he thought a little surprised. He may not be my son by blood but he but he is acting just like I did with Diana, but why? He never had a problem going after a girt he has wanted in the past?
"If you care that much about her then you should tell her. I'm speaking from experience here. I nearly lost my mind with jealousy over Diana. You should speak up before she commits herself to Kyle. You are not going to like it when that happens. Trust me." Bruce said gently trying to impart some of his experience to his son.
"Just butt out, Bruce. You have a piss poor record when it comes to women. How you got Diana to agree to marry you is beyond me!" Dick hissed at him. He was angry that another person was misunderstanding his relationship with Donna. She was just a friend and he was concerned about her well-being. He just didn't trust Kyle not to hurt her.
Bruce squelched the anger that Dick's statement caused him. He knew the pain of denial and decided he wouldn't push it at least not right now. He couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't give him hell in the future as he remembered all those times Dick gave him crap about Diana.
"I'll drop it. It is not what I wanted to talk to you about anyway as amusing and ironic as it is." Bruce couldn't help the smirk and the wicked gleam in his eyes. "I want you to be my best man."
Some of the fury on Dick's face vanished upon hearing Bruce's request. "I…I…would be honored." Dick said feeling a rush of warmth at Bruce's decision to ask him to be his best man. "You really are lucky Bruce. Diana loves you even if you're a difficult SOB."
Bruce smiled at Dick's statement. "Thank you Dick. Why don't you go upstairs and get some cookies before Donna eats them all. That girl can sure pack them away.
"No kidding." Dick said in agreement before leaving the cave.
Bruce went up to the large Cray supercomputer and sat down in his big chair. He didn't know what to think or what he should do. Dick getting romantically involved with Donna could be a disaster as they were practically family. At the same time he had seen that there was something between them even if he was in denial and she was unaware that Dick felt more for her than just friendship. He decided to just let them be but he was going to have a talk with Diana and Alfred on the subject. Putting them out of his mind he pulled up some files and got to work on some open cases.
Donna could smell the freshly baked cookies as soon as she opened the grandfather clock. Her mouth started to water as she made her way to the kitchen. She heard talking and moved even more quickly when she recognized the voice talking to Alfred.
"Barbara, what brings you here before noon?" Donna said as she entered the room.
"I knew you were staying at the Manor this weekend and thought you might be up for lunch and shopping?" Barbara replied.
Donna gave her a huge smile. "That would be great. I want to look at baby clothes for my future niece."
Barbara laughed at Donna's enthusiasm. "Isn't it a bit soon to be buying baby clothes. Diana just found out that she's pregnant."
"It is never to soon to shop for my future niece. We need to go to the t-shirt shop. Remember that cute onesie that said Diaper loading please wait with the bar that looked like a computer downloading." Donna said.
"I'm sure Bruce will love that," Barbara said sardonically.
Donna shrugged as she grabbed a cookie off the plate on the table and bit into it. It was warm and the perfect mix of crispy and gooey. It melted in her mouth and she practically moaned in ecstasy. "Alfred you are a genius and the sweetest man on earth for making me these cookies."
Alfred gave her a small smile, "I certainly like when my culinary skills are appreciated. It is nice having you, you sister, Master Tim and Master Richard here, as you all are grateful for my efforts. Master Bruce would be happy if I just heated up "Hot Pockets" and tossed him a can of Coke once in a while. I love him like a son but the man is a culinary Philistine!"
"Well it looks like you will be doing a lot of cooking for Diana as she will be living here even more permanently now with them getting married and the baby on the way," she said and added, "So I guess you will probably be seeing more of me."
"Well I think it's great that you'll be around Gotham more often. In a few weeks we can go clubbing at real clubs and not just ones that allow all ages." Barbara said.
"Speaking of which, Miss Donna have decided on the menu for your party? I will need to hire caterers to help in the food preparation." Alfred inquired. Bruce and Diana were throwing her a party to celebrate her twenty-first birthday as it was considered a big deal in Man's World.
"I don't know if we should still have the party. Diana told me that she and Bruce were going to get married the week before my birthday and having both celebrations so close together might be too much. Especially if they are taking a honeymoon." Donna replied.
"Nonsense Donna, we promised you a party and you are going to have a party." Diana said as she entered the kitchen overhearing Donna's statement. "The wedding is going to be small, only family and close friends that know both our identities. Bruce and I are only going to go to Paris for a few days, as he doesn't like to leave Gotham for long. Your party will happen as scheduled. Besides I already sent out the invitations so it is too late to cancel it." Diana gave her a fierce look and Donna wasn't going to argue with Diana when she had that look on her face.
I wonder if she is having mood swings, Donna thought. She had read about them being a part of pregnancy last night online. Donna trembled a bit on the inside at the thought of Diana being moody. Bruce might want to start wearing his armor under all his clothes, Donna thought with a smirk.
"Well then I guess I should buy a new dress to wear to my party and that's another reason to go shopping. Barbara give me half an hour and were off."
"No problem, I'll just have another cup of Alfred's delicious coffee and Diana and I can catch up. It seems like we haven't talked in awhile."
"You are right, not since I went off planet. I had a lot of work to catch up on when I came back. So how are things with Sam…?"
Donna didn't hear Barbara's reply as she was racing upstairs, anxious to get ready so that she could hang out and gossip with Barbara. They always had fun together. In her rush she smacked right into Dick as he was headed to the kitchen and they both ended up in a pile on the floor with Donna on top.
Donna's laughing eyes looked down into Dick's intense blue ones and an unfamiliar emotion seemed to pass between them. Donna felt a bit stunned as she abstractly thought that she had never realized how handsome Dick was or how nice his muscular body felt against hers. She quickly shook off that thought and said, "Sorry Short-pants, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine Donna but could you please get off me, you weigh a ton, how many dozens of Alfred's cookies did you eat?" He said in a strained voice and Donna glared at him as she got up and offered him her hand.
"Don't be such a douche, Dick. I said I'm sorry." Donna said in an annoyed tone, stung by Dick's comment on her weight.
Dick used her hand to pull himself up. "Whatever, Brat," he said as he continued into the kitchen.
Donna marched angrily up the stairs. What's the matter with him, she wondered. Then she shrugged her shoulders, shaking off Dick's foul mood, as she was too excited about the rest of the day to really care what was bugging him.
A/N 2—For those of you who know Artemis from the comics, I am purposely changing her origin story as I am not going to include the Bana-Mighdall Amazons in my story. I am basing my version of Artemis on the one in the recent animated Wonder Woman movie. They share a friendly rivalry in that movie and I like how Artemis was depicted.
