The sunset was like watching a ball of fire sink slowly into the ocean, beautiful and terrifying all at once. Blues, reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, and purples painted the sky in a way no artist, no matter how talented, could recapture.

Saoirse inhaled the crisp cool air, filling her lungs with oxygen that reminded her of home. It wasn't that she disliked Gotham but she still missed Ireland terribly. It always had been and always would be her true home.

She ran her hand through her hair but stopped once she remembered how short it was. The redhead sighed, it was such a nuisance having her hair short but it was necessary. Just like the damned glasses were necessary. Sometimes she wished she didn't have all the responsibilities that she did. Sometimes she wished she could live an uncomplicated life in Ireland. But it wasn't something she could do.

Maybe she could convince Bruce to buy an estate nearer to home…

"[Don't even think about it luv]," said Anann from the doorway to the bathroom. Her hair was hanging down to her waist heavy with water since she'd just stepped out of the shower. She was wearing a flowing silk kimono robe that revealed a good portion of her long tanned legs.

Had Saoirse not been used to this sight she probably would've been drooling.

"[I wasn't really considering it]," she said defensively rubbing her arms. She was wearing a shear black jersey dress with a black bejeweled corset. Fashionable yes, warm not so much.

The blue-eyed woman snorted. "[You know you can't lie to me Lile. You like Bruce Wayne more than you should.]"

Saoirse sighed. Of all the languages she knew, Greek, Latin, Russian, Sanskrit, Swahili, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, and about a dozen more, none got Annie's point across more effectively than their native Gaelic. The way the words flowed from her mentor's lips could be made softer than any pillow or sharper than any blade. It was infuriating really.

"[It would never work, a long term relationship between the two of you]," the older woman continued eying her best friend carefully, "[You are too different.]"

"[He's not nearly as lecherous as the papers here make him out to be]," said the Irishwoman with a mild undertone of anger, "[He's sweet underneath all the pomp and circumstance. He's also very intelligent and sweet and-]"

"[I wasn't talking about those differences]," cut off Anann rolling her eyes, "[I was referring to the fact that you two come from different worlds. No matter how much you or he might wish it our world is too dark for him.]"

Saoirse sighed and raked her hands through her hair once more. It would be so easy, so freeing to be completely honest with Bruce. To tell him that she understood the pain of his parents' deaths all too clearly, that she knew all too well what dark impulses he'd buried deep inside.

"[We'll find a way]," she replied stubbornly lifting her chin, "[Anyways what about you and Clark? You two have spent practically every moment together the last few days.]"

The green eyed woman got great satisfaction out of the way her friend's shoulders stiffened. Her eyes narrowed and Saoirse could practically see the electricity that radiated from the tanned skin.

"[It's just a flirtation, nothing new]," Anann replied tersely disrobing and getting out the clothes she was going to wear. Clark was picking her up in about half an hour and they were going to take the train down to Smallville, to meet his family.

Though she would never admit it (not even to Saoirse) the prospect of meeting Clark's family was a little intimidating. In all the relationships she'd been in (and she'd been in quite a few) she'd never been integrated into her partner's family life. Clark however, was different. Sighing, the Irishwoman lit a cigarette and took a long drag.

Unfortunately for Anann Saoirse knew her too well. The younger woman let out a bark of incredulous laughter and snapped, "[Flirtation my arse! You like Clark just as much, if not more than I like Bruce. He's half in love with you…and you aren't even trying!]"

Saoirse might not have been nearly as good as Anann when it came to reading people's emotions but she knew the look in the reporter's eyes, and she knew her friend. It was odd that Annie had pursued Clark without using any of her usual tricks, not that she ever really needed them. Anann was more beautiful than anyone else the redhead had ever encountered in her entire life.

"[Just drop it Sheena]," snapped Anann as she tugged on pale blue peasant top, the flowy material covering her fingers. She was also wearing a pair of dark wide leg pants, and boots. She wore no jewelry save for the few trinkets she'd hung in her hair, which was left loose and flowing with only a headscarf containing it. All in all Ana looked more like herself than Saoirse had seen in a long time: an unearthly beauty with earthy tastes. The laws of fashion (and a bit of fear) had dictated how they dressed for so long but in this new age of freedom and shifting trends it was easier to dress as themselves.

"[I'm just pointing out your hypocrisy that's all]," said Saoirse sullenly turning her back to her friend.

Anann sighed. There were days when she cursed her life. She understood how constrained Saoirse felt by the rules that governed their lives. Even with all the freedoms their powers offered them there were just as many restrictions…but Anann had learned the hard way that those restrictions were necessary.

"[You know that no matter how attached we become to Clark and Bruce it cannot last. Our mission-]."

"[I know our mission, no matter what you might think I haven't forgotten it]," snapped Saoirse. She sighed and ran her hand through her cropped hair. "[I just wish we weren't doomed to fail from the get-go. It'd be nice to have an actual relationship for a change and not just dalliances.]"

Anann pulled the younger woman into a motherly hug. "[I know. I know how unfair it is that we are saddled with all of this responsibility. I know this is not the life you saw for yourself. I know you hate not being completely honest with Bruce. I'm sorry.]"

"[He asked me about Sheena Mac Muiris]," the green eyed woman said biting her lip, "[With the appearance of Dragon and Wraith it's only going to get worse. Bruce is a smart man and Clark is a reporter it's only a matter of time before they piece it all together.]"

The blue eyed women blinked a few times then said with icy surety, "[Then we will deal with it as it comes. We've worked too hard and too long for a couple of Caped Crusaders to ruin it.]"

'[Even if we have to confront them-]"

Her musing was cut off by a knock on the door. Anann gave her friend a look and opened the door to reveal both Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne.

"Bruce!" said Saoirse in surprise getting up and heading for the door, "What are you doing here?"

The Gotham billionaire put on his most charming smile and said, "Well it turns out that Dick and Barbra will be in town tonight and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to introduce you to the rest of my brood."

"We ran into each other in the elevator," explained Clark smiling at Ana and handing her a bouquet of bright blue orchids.

Ana smiled as she took the flowers. "Thank you, they're gorgeous."

Clark smiled brightly and asked, "Are you ready to go?"

The two Irishwomen exchanged glances, silently confirming that their conversation was far from over.

"Yeah," she said taking his arm, "let's go."