DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. As always, I'll point out this was written over a decade ago. Here in the UK, Season 2 of the JL cartoon had yet to air, so Hawkgirl had not been revealed as a spy. And the massive, every-hero-in-the-DCU roster of Unlimited wasn't a factor. My timeline picks up after the Season 1 finale, The Savage Time. All my Wayback Wednesday stories are numbered chronologically, if you get stuck.

3. Again, sorry about my depiction of Diana. I really treat her like a teenager. Ugh.

4. IMPORTANT: Happy New Year, everyone! Once again, thanks for a great year!


PART 9

Lantern and Hawkgirl lay in bed, holding eachother. As warm as they were before, they were even more happy now that they were newlyweds. It truly was THEIR bedroom. THEIR life. Together.

But as happy as she was… Hawkgirl had something on her mind. Something big.

Lantern seemed to sense her anxiousness. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

"John…" Shayera said quietly. "Something happened today… something big…"

Lantern's eyes widened. "You're not…?"

Shayera looked at him, then realised what he meant. "No, you fool," she said, smacking him on the forehead. "I found out something today…"

"What?" John asked, tilting his head.

"I…" Shayera did not know what to say. She wanted to tell her husband… her HUSBAND… what she had found out… but she needed it to be confirmed first. She needed to hear it from the people involved. "I have to go…" She climbed out of bed, and put on her dressing gown. Her wings slotted through the holes in the back of the gown, specially made for her.

"Where are you going?" John asked. His tone was almost pleading.

"I… have to talk to Diana," Shayera said. She went to the door.

"But… it's late…"

Shayera looked at him. "It's important." She then opened the door, and left the room.

She walked down the corridor, her mind running a mile a minute. What she had discovered today… was huge. Amazing. Truly unbelievable.

She reached Diana's room. She knew Batman was not there – night time was when he went to Gotham on patrol. And she was glad – as stubborn as she was, she wondered if even SHE could survive an angry Bat.

"Diana…" she said, lightly knocking on the door. "It's me, Shayera… can I talk to you for a moment…?"

The sound of sheets rustling came through the door, and Diana's voice reached her ears. "W…what…? Shayera?" Her voice was weary. But still… for Shayera to wake her just like that… the Princess was obviously a light sleeper.

Shayera slowly opened the door, and saw Diana sitting up in her bed. The Amazon rubbed her eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked. "It's one in the morning…"

"It's important," Shayera said, walking into the room. She closed the door, as Diana switched on her bedside lamp. Shayera looked at her friend for a moment, and felt a moment of pleasure. As… mixed as her emotions were about the situation, she was glad she had found happiness.

But she had to know the truth.

"How's Bruce Wayne?" she asked.

Diana immediately seemed to come out of her tired state, and stared at Shayera wide-eyed. "W-what…?"

"Diana," Shayera said softly, walking upto her. "I saw the news. I… saw your ring."

Diana looked at her, then held her head. "Oh Hera…" she whispered.

Shayera sat down on the side of the bed. "Why didn't you tell me…?" she asked.

Diana sighed. "It's not the kind of thing you blurt out…" she said.

Shayera smiled. "It's OK. I understand. It's just… a bit of a shock. Bruce Wayne is… Batman."

"Yes," Diana said flatly. "And I love him."

Shayera tilted her head. "Congratulations," she said. She then sat up, and walked towards the door. She opened it, but she stopped at the sound of Diana's voice.

"Please…" said Diana. Shayera looked at her, as Diana had a pleading look on her face.

Shayera nodded her head. "Don't worry. As long as you want to keep it private, I will."

With that, she left.

/

The Batmobile entered the cavern, and drove up the rampway. It stopped at the large parking area, and spun around on it's base, ready to set off the next night. The cockpit opened, and Batman stood up.

He hopped out of the car and went towards the Batcomputer. It had been an uneventful night. Only a few muggings, a couple of robberies… nothing unusual. And he was glad. He did not want anything major to happen.

Well, he never wanted anything major to happen EVER… but this week was particularly important to him.

In two days – TWO DAYS – he would be married. To the woman he loved.

He smiled. For the first time ever… life was good.

"Evening sir," Alfred said, looking up from dusting the computer console. "I trust you had a stimulating time."

Batman did not answer. It was somewhat of a ritual now: Bruce would get home, Alfred would make some wisecrack about his activities, and he would ignore it. It had become so usual that Batman could not imagine not coming home to it.

And the butler never said the same thing twice…

"How have things been keeping?" Batman asked. "Where's Tim?"

"Master Tim is… 'hanging'… with his new Titan comrades," Alfred said. Master Dick telephoned; he needs to speak to you about the rings."

"OK," Batman said, sitting down at the Batcomputer. "Anything else?"

"Indeed," said Alfred. "Miss Diana phoned. She needs to speak to you quite urgently."

"I'll give her a call then," said Batman.

"Yes, I thought you might," Alfred said. "Which is why I have the cell phone right here." He reached out and showed the cell phone to Batman. Batman took it and saw that Diana's direct Watchtower number was already keyed in.

"Thank you, Alfred," he said with a smile.

The butler nodded, then walked off. Batman pressed the dial button, and put the phone to his ear. After a few minutes, Diana's lovely voice greeted him. "Hello, darling," she said.

Batman blushed. He was still not used to being called that. "Hi," he said flatly. "Alfred told me you wanted to talk to me about something."

"Actually, it's two things," Diana replied. "But I'd rather see you than talk over the phone. Can you come up, or do you want me to come to you?"

"I'll be there in a couple of hours," Batman said. "I just have to update my files."

"OK, I'll be waiting," she said. "I love you."

Batman blushed again. "I love you, too."

There was silence.

"Are you going to hang up, then?"

"I… was waiting for you to," Batman stammered.

"Aw, that's sweet," Diana said lovingly. "But you know I could never hang up on you."

"Well, I'm not going to hang up on you," he said. "And don't try and make me blink. You know I never back down."

"Well, only when I make you…" Diana teased.

Batman's cheeks became redder and redder.

They stayed on the phone, neither willing to hang up.

It was a long call…

/

Diana stared at her milkshake. She had made it over twenty minutes ago… but still had to take a single sip.

She had other things on her mind.

Two very big things to be precise.

She wondered which was more important. Which one to tell the man she loved first. Both were very important… but which would Batman most be interested in?

She stared at her milkshake, and she knew the answer.

His secrets were very important to him.

More important than… the other thing.

She looked out of the window, at the stars outside. She remembered doing so countless times before, hoping for the Batwing to fly past. She felt great pain whenever Batman was not there.

But now… they were together. And they would be, forever. In two days, they would be married, and they would share their lives together.

She just had to get today out of the way…

She heard footsteps and turned to the door. Hawkgirl was standing at the doorway, smiling. "Hi," she said.

Diana lifted her milkshake to her mouth. "Hi," she said. "Look… about last night…"

Hawkgirl raised her hands. "Hey, look… I told you. Your secret's safe with me."

"I appreciate that," Diana said. "But I'm going to have to tell Br… Batman."

Hawkgirl went over to the fridge. "How do you think he'll take it?"

Diana stood up and went over to Hawkgirl's side. "I don't know… he'll probably be angry…"

"Because someone knows who he is?" Hawkgirl asked. "We've been a team for over a year now… if he doesn't trust us, that's his problem. Is there a plate up there?"

Diana opened the top cupboard, and reached for a plate. However, as she was lowering it, her fingers slipped. The plate fell onto the desk, shattering into pieces as it hit. Diana held her head.

Hawkgirl leaned close to her. "Are you alright?"

Diana was silent for a few moments, catching her breath. "Yeah… just… feel dizzy…"

"Here, sit down." Hawkgirl took Diana's hand and led her to the table. Diana sat down and rested her head in her hands. Hawkgirl took a seat next to her. "What is it?"

"It's… nothing," Diana said. She looked up and took a deep breath. "I'm OK now. Must have just… slipped out of my hand. I'll clean it up…"

"Forget that," Hawkgirl said. "I'll get John to do it. That's what husbands are for…"

Diana smiled, and ran her hand through her hair. "I guess I'm just worried about telling Batman…"

"Telling me what?"

Diana and Hawkgirl looked at the doorway. Batman was there, body wrapped in his cape. He looked at the plate, then at Diana. "What happened?"

"I just dropped a plate," Diana said casually. "Nothing big. Look, Batman… I need to talk to you."

"OK…" Batman looked at Hawkgirl, and gave her a Get Out of Here Now glare. Hawkgirl appeared to get the message, and stood up.

"I'll… be off then," she said. She walked past Batman, and smiled.

Batman raised an eyebrow.

After Hawkgirl had left the room, Batman walked towards Diana. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Diana was silent for a moment, not sure what to say. "Bruce… Hawkgirl knows."

Batman frowned. "Knows… what?"

"She knows… who you are."

Batman looked at her, remaining silent. "I see," he eventually said, flatly.

He then turned around and left the room, leaving Diana alone.

TO BE CONTINUED