This is a re-post. Many thanks to Hepburn for the correction (see…I told you feedback was important).

Disclaimer: The usual, don't own the characters, don't sue. Not a cent is made from this undertaking.

Author's note: Guys, we're halfway through. But most of you seem to have gone mute on me. Come on, let me hear from you (or is my fic that boring that ya all are asleep already?) I really promise not to go absent for months again.

To all mothers out there, all the best.

Chapter Ten

Mother's Day

It was one of the very few yearly customs the League had permanently stamped in the almost empty social calendar that she found a little strange. For grown men and women to dress up in scary costumes to celebrate the eve of the day of the dead.

Maybe, it was one of those chances where they could get to wear another costume aside from the everyday uniform, if that was not fashionably scary enough. And it was also the once in a year opportunity to ask a fellow leaguer out on a harmless date and behave well out of the comfort zone because it was expected.

But it was only applicable if there were no emergencies.

As of the moment, local enforcement authorities seemed to have everything under control because the red light was still silent as of nine thirty seven in the evening. And for one of the fewest times, she prayed for the contrary because she could very well use a minor emergency right about now to escape her predicament.

Just look at myself, she thought and hid a grimace.

When she squeezed her figure into the slinky black dress Flash had planned for her to wear, she suddenly doubted if it was the right thing to do, to go to the costume party as Mr. and Mrs. Adamms. Besides, she could not recall Morticia's costume to be this revealing that her arms were more covered than her chest.

But her dismay was cut short as she winced in the dark once her eyes fell on Superman, looking totally and hysterically more uncomfortable than she ever could in his own costume that she nearly spilt the already cursing seams of her dress.

"Diana…" He walked to her side and remarked with a more ridiculous, trying hard Transylvanian accent. "You look good enough to eat."

This was Superman, her best friend, showing his dark and bad side. And it was a really bad side.

"I'm going to pretend you did not just say that."

"I'm a vampire…" He looked at her a little menacingly. "I'm supposed to suck your breas---"

"Kal!"

He nearly covered his mouth with what he just said, if not for the fake fangs he had on. "I mean…your blood."

"Have you been drinking any of that stuff?"

"I know well enough not to drink anything that has smoke coming from it and is colored green." He dropped his gaze lower.

The customary clearing of the throat brought his gaze back to eye level. "Do I have to wear lead?"

"I don't want to state the obvious but…" He looked from her baby blues and again to her healthy chest. "I don't need x-ray vision…"

She wanted to cover herself. "It's Flash's idea."

"Anyway…better not let one particular man see you wearing that."

"I don't care." But her eyes suddenly wanted to roam around the dark room.

"Well…he's not here yet so it's safe to ask you to dance."

She looked doubtfully at him.

"He keeps a piece of Kryptonite on his belt, so I must be careful." He read her mind.

Meanwhile, at the other side of the partially lit room…

"Flash? Is that you?"

He turned immediately around at a very familiar voice that he almost spilled the drink he got for Diana. "Kara?"

"Yes." Supergirl beamed at him before almost crushing him in a hug.

He had to cough a few times to restore his normal breathing, noticing that the young girl was not in her usual uniform. "Sweet! You look great. Are you staying for good?"

Kara shook her head. "No…no. I just came to visit you guys."

"Missed us, huh?" It was imperative that he speak louder than necessary. Not for her benefit of course, but because he could barely even hear himself through the loud music.

"Of course. You most of all." Kara pinched him on the cheek. It was really hard having super-powered friends because their little displays of affection tend to bruise. "And I also needed to…talk to my cousin. You know, things left unsaid…"

"Yeah. How did it go?"

"Not that good at first," Kara shrugged. "But thanks to Diana…he seemed to see things differently and finally accept my explanation," Superman's cousin smiled at sight of something across the room. "She seems to bring out something in him that…makes him remember that he could act normal sometimes, forget the huge burden placed on his shoulders."

He followed her line of sight and understood what Supergirl meant.

From afar he saw the banter, the familiarity, the belongingness. And looking at the two, probably speaking again in voices that normal people could vaguely hear, he felt all the more left out. Because when his boat sank like the Titanic at the acceptance that she might never get over Bruce, his heart dug deep into the seafloor at another awareness that, if in case she got over Bruce, there would always be her dearest Kal.

"Just look at the both of them," Kara sighed dreamily. "Even in a party their costumes match. I just hope that someday they will realize that they are really meant for each other."

"Oh…well…" It was hard to say anything intelligible when your mouth was hammered shut by words that were sharp as nails.

"So…how about you? Seeing anyone?"

He laughed nervously. "Me? Sort of…it's not really a done deal."

"Well…congratulations." Supergirl needed to tiptoe slightly to give him a peck on the cheek. Deep inside he was grateful that it was not another pinch. "It's really nice to see you again. Meanwhile, I have to go and guess who everyone else is before I leave."

And after muttering his barely audible farewell, he was forced again to admit to the harsh reality as he looked straight at a familiar scene before him.

He sighed. Maybe it was better that he started pursuing women within reach, not someone who was light years away.

"Is Count Dracula bothering you, my love?" He approached, carrying two glasses of the aforementioned drink and a wish in his mind that there be an emergency in Metropolis.

"I was asking her to dance."

"Well…find someone else to prey on…" Wally took her arm. "This lady is with me."

At least, for the night.

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She had to admit she was really enjoying the dance and several more that followed, though there was a moment in there that she could swear Elongated Man was very well taking advantage of his elasticity. There were a few games but it had to be stopped since over excited, and slightly tipsy, Meta powered individuals were involved and official Watchtower equipment was starting to be destroyed.

It was just before the announcement of the best in costume when she and Superman were both summoned by J'onn due to an emergency. Much to the disappointment of Wally, she left the party.

After casting her best friend another amused look, still suffering from the hilarity regarding his appearance, she spun around and a blinding light tore itself from nowhere as a rumbling sound reverberated as she changed into her uniform.

"Show off," Superman remarked before changing into his utilizing more time than her.

"Why? Can't find a phone booth to change in?" She smiled as they began running to the teleporter. "Just a reminder, before we leave better wipe your make up off."

And he did just before they rescued a bus load of passengers that nearly fell down a ravine during a thunderstorm somewhere in Asia.

A few hours later, after making sure that the people were safe, nursing a sore back, she returned to the Watchtower and headed straight for her quarters. And the instant she stepped into the dark room, she knew someone else was there.

"You're trespassing."

"Where's your boyfriend?" He was more insinuating than inquiring.

She turned on the lights and saw that he was only a few feet away. She tried to appear unaffected but she was one hundred percent sure she looked a mess with wet hair, mud clinging to her skin. "Last time I checked…he was busy denying me."

"Diana…"

"What are you doing here? To deny me again for the third time?" She crossed her arms on her chest and an unfortunate leaf fell off, a sure indication that she was indeed in a state of disarray. "You are one denial short of matching the most famous denial in Christian history."

"Where's Flash?"

So it was Flash whom he was resentfully referring to as her boyfriend, not Superman this time around. "He's on duty."

"He was not on duty a few hours ago."

He was there at the party? The way he was acting told her he probably was.

"He is now. Want me to get him?"

"Cancel all your plans with him in the next few days."

"And who in Hades are you to tell me what to do?"

"He is going with us." He turned to leave, not even trying to match her rising temper with his level voice. "Change of plans. Sorry to ruin your intimate moments."

She was torn between denying his accusations, telling him her personal life was none of his business, or just simply call him names.

But when the door slid closed she realized that he had the last word. Again.

And she wanted to throw her tiara to the quiet door just to release her frustrations.

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She was just finished receiving instructions from J'onn to take over most of his duties while he was away when she felt someone was watching her at the monitor womb. And given the fact that she strangely felt which part of her was being ogled as of the moment, she knew very well who it was.

"Flash…not polite to stare," she mentioned without turning around.

He handed her a cup of latte. "How'd you know it was me?"

"I felt two particular points burning the skin of my behind."

He laughed self consciously. "Kidding, right?"

She smiled a thank you for the beverage but did not bother putting him on the spot further with an answer. "Sorry about last night. There was an emergency."

"It's okay. I'm used to women leaving me at the speed of light," he joked.

"Flash…"

"It's okay…really." He sipped on his drink with more pressure than usual that he emptied the plastic cup in seconds. "I'm good…with this. I mean…if you ever need me, I'll always be here. As your friend."

"You're dumping me then?"

He looked smug. "I am, aren't I?"

"Anyway…thank you, for understanding."

"Good thing…Fire was there."

She looked at him suspiciously. "Someone once told me you have a…thing for her. Finally had the courage to ask her to dance?"

"After three more glasses of that punch which is, by the way, giving me a humongous headache." He touched a finger to his temple. "Anyway, I just dropped by to tell you that you'll miss me for three days."

"Going on a goodwill mission?"

"Yeah. Cool, isn't it? To meet another race."

There was an odd moment there that she felt something was about to go wrong but she scolded her thoughts for having doubts and erased the negative thoughts completely.

"I have to fill in for GL who's obviously…taking his time," he whispered the last three words.

"You think..?"

"Doing the nasty? Absolutely!"

"Flash! How could you think that?"

"I'm Flash. Anyways…" He looked doubtfully at her. "Will you be okay?"

"Of course."

He sighed. "The only consolation for me is that…Bats is with us so I don't have to worry with him making another move on you while I'm away."

She reached out and pinched his cheek. She was definitely going to miss this young man. In fairness, he did a fine job making her forget her worries most of the time.

And it was certainly going to be a less colorful three days without his buoyant personality hanging around. Three days without Wally, Shayera…and even a less than welcome Bruce.

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Something was way, way off.

She could not put a finger to it but when she entered the conference room, J'onn, Superman and Batman seemed to be lost in their own thoughts of galaxies far, far away and the only recognition of her presence was the slightest of nods from her best friend.

If not for the present status quo between herself and her so-called ex boyfriend, she would have offered a polite inquiry to peek through the tenseness that hung in the atmosphere like a thick, wet blanket. Instead, she sat in her seat and pursed her lips. And waited.

The stretching silence gave her the creepy feeling that she was trapped inside an episode of the Twilight Zone.

When a strangely reserved Shayera sat next to her, she suddenly wanted to blurt out the obvious What's wrong? that was practically covering her friend's face like the exaggerated mask once worn. But she was not yet able to pry into Shayera's obvious discontent when a red blur swept into the verbally challenged ambiance in the room.

"Hey guys."

Finally!

Looking at Wally's clueless face surely helped ease the eerie feeling that doomsday was about to come.

"So…" She was almost whispering. "How was the mission? What were they like?"

Flash pulled up a chair. "Remember the characters from Star Wars Episode II, the aliens from the planet Kamino?"

"The very tall, long necked aliens with graceful movements?"

"Yup…" Wally sounded proud about introducing her to the Star Wars galaxy. "They are very much alike that I have this weird feeling Mr. Lucas met them before we even did."

"May I cut in?"

Both she and Wally looked dumbfounded at the owner of the voice who turned his swivel chair to face them.

"Sure." Wally did not get the obvious underlying sarcasm that Bruce injected into his question that was probably rhetoric in the first place.

"Since we're talking movies…are you familiar with Men In Black I?"

Strange things were happening. And it was suddenly a lot weirder that Batman would butt in on movie shoptalk.

"The part where they were looking for…Orion's belt?" Wally was very interested.

"Precisely."

She just had to ask, nonchalantly. "So? What about it?"

"An alien ship was ready to fire on the earth if they didn't deliver, correct?"

"Yeah…" Flash grinned. "They even have a cool countdown timer on scre---"

"We're in the same predicament."

"What?" She looked at the very serious face. "I thought they were friendly?"

Just then John entered the room and looked for an empty seat. A little hesitantly, he took the only vacant spot beside Shayera.

Superman cleared his throat. It translated into everybody else shut up because I have something important to say. "Since we're all here…" He stood up and placed his hands on the back of his chair. "I want to tell everyone…that we have a little intergalactic concern that we need to resolve, immediately."

He might have used subtlety but the she knew his expression better than anyone else. There was a big problem. No, there was a humongous dilemma.

Even his cowlick seemed to feel the tension.

"J'onn…"

On cue, the Martian stood up.

"The aliens are referred to as the Ibanglahi, and like what was talked about earlier, they are humanoid, tall, with long appendages and with a high level of intellect." J'onn clicked on the console and a three dimensional image appeared above the center of the circular table. "They communicate via telepathy, though they also have vocal chords as a way of communicating with other species who may be incapable of understanding their special language."

She looked at the beings. They indeed looked similar to the fictional characters she saw in the movie.

"The Ibanglahi are mostly a male dominated race. And they don't reproduce in the way humans and some alien species do."

At the mention of the word reproduce, she felt a slight fidget from Shayera.

"For every one hundred years…that is more than three hundred earth years, a being without a gender is born. The Reina, as he or she is referred to, plays a very special role in the furtherance of their race. She is the only one capable of reproducing."

Reproducing. Another fidget from Shayera.

"Any couple who want to start a family must come to her. If that particular pair merits the Reina's approval for an offspring, an amount of her blood will be transfused into the female. No…outside force will be necessary for the female to be with child because the blood itself will grow in the female's womb." An illustration appeared before them. "After eight days, the fetus will be delivered."

"In the middle of her life cycle, a considerable amount of blood will be extracted from the Reina." Superman continued. "This blood will enter a critical stage while it is being incubated without the protection of a mother's womb. The product of this blood will be the Reina's replacement."

An image of a translucent flask appeared.

"Hey…it looks like the---"

Suddenly, Flash stilled in horror.

"Yes. It looks very much like the one you shook like you are going to pour James Bond a Martini." Batman finished.

"Hey…I didn't know the future of an entire alien race was in that glass." The word guilty was practically spelled out in his expression. "If it was that important they should have locked it in a vault or something."

"Flash…they are a very trusting race," J'onn replied.

"There was a sign." Batman pointed out.

"Newsflash! It was practically in hieroglyphs."

"In bold, red alien letters, that should've made you think."

"Hey! Sale announcements at Bloomingdale's are also in bold, red letters."

"Whatever. If we don't fix the mess we're all---"

"Let's just be thankful that we still have an option," Superman's even tone sliced through the tense testosterone filled atmosphere.

"What exactly is that option?" John placed his elbows on the table.

"We have to find a suitable female who can carry the fertilized egg to full term within twelve hours."

"We have scanned the database," J'onn added to Superman's statement. "And there is someone very suitable."

Shayera finally showed interest through sarcasm. "Who's the very lucky girl?"

If it were under very different circumstances the way J'onn and Superman's faces simultaneously turned to her with a very faint pleading hint, it would have been amusing. But it only meant one sure thing.

"I don't think---"

"We don't exactly have a choice in the matter," Batman cut in.

"I don't know if I am…capable," she restated, looking at J'onn and Superman.

"You're a female. You are capable."

She continued ignoring Batman. "I was made from magic."

"But you have a reproductive system, that's all we---."

"Of course, you should know!" She finally snapped at his obtrusive comments.

Bruce was taken aback by her sudden outburst. Everyone else was muted.

"Princess, throwing tantrums will not help."

Tantrums would not be the only thing thrown if you don't shut your trap. And since when did he start being this talkative?

"Diana…" J'onn cut in at the appropriate time. "We have made a primary evaluation. So far, there is nothing to indicate that you cannot conceive. A secondary evaluation, with your cooperation, will confirm everything we need to know."

"If the Princess cooperates…" Batman emphasized the word.

"Of course I will cooperate."

"It did not look like that earlier."

"And what did it look like earlier?" She folded her arms on her chest.

"You seem hesitant."

"Hesitant?" Her voice was rising. "Of course I would be."

"Can't you stand being normal for eight days?"

So he thought it was about vanity! The nerve of him to insinuate that she was afraid of being big and pregnant for more than a week. And her flaring temper made her unable to notice everyone else's reaction to their exchange, in addition to Superman's customary clearing of his throat.

J'onn, please make them stop. I'm getting a headache…Superman communicated.

Let them be. There are issues that need to be settled. Anyway, we are among friends.

"You should know that appearances do not matter that much to me." Because I once fell in love with a jaded freak. "I don't want to jeopardize our chances with uncertainties."

"Is that all?"

"I would have made my point if you stopped butting in every time!"

"Don't lash out on me. It was not my hand who rocked the cradle."

"You know…" She was trying hard to put a leash on her temper. "…putting the blame is not helping. You're not helping."

On the contrary, his voice was still even. "I'm not a female."

"Well then…with your intelligence and with your money…" she started. "Why not try and experiment how to grow a vagina within twelve hours!"

For the first time, Bruce was stunned speechless at her snide comment. But if a part of her was congratulating herself, something inside of her flinched at her own words.

Am I really this bitter?

Can't anything be civil between us anymore?

But everyone else was having a hard time stifling the laughter despite the direness of the situation. And she was able to glance an expression on Superman's face that translated into, I can't believe you just said that.

But not J'onn. He could laugh his heart out without anyone hearing.

Then, Bruce stood up. "My presence here is no longer necessary. Carry on without---"

"Oh no…" She pushed her chair backwards and stood up as well. No way in Hades will I give you the satisfaction of having the last say. "You don't get to say the last words this time, Bruce. J'onn, I'll meet you at the laboratory." With that, she stormed off the meeting room, stomping her feet as she traversed the rest of the silent hallway.

That pigheaded…arrogant…

"Diana…hey…" Shayera's hand shot out to grab her arm. "The laboratory's this way."

In her dazed and very angry state, she lost her direction. A hand momentarily went to her forehead as if easing a non-existent headache before following the lead of her friend.

"I'm this close…" She made a gesture with her thumb and forefinger. "…To driving my knee between his thighs just to find out if he's as insensitive as he looks."

Shayera laughed, despite the situation. "I wouldn't go that far…I mean, you may have use of that area yet."

She glared at the Thanagarian as they turned a corner.

"Besides…don't you know that they wear something to protect their…manhood from such situations?"

"Shayera, really…I don't need to hear---""

"John told me that once…that they wear something inside to…" Shayera suddenly paused at her building mirth. "Seriously…Anyway, to prove my point, have you ever seen a male member of the league suddenly falling down on his knees holding both his hands to the family jewels?"

She thought for a while. Come to think of it…she could not recall any incident of that happening.

"See." Shayera looked at her smugly. "The only males who do not wear it are Superman and J'onn."

"Kal because he's the man of steel," she concluded as they stopped by the door of the laboratory.

"Which means…balls of steel."

She could not help but laugh at Shayera's statement.

"And J'onn…well because his form can change easily, he's pretty malleable," Shayera winked. "Get it, mallea…BALL."

She was holding a hand to her mouth now to prevent the guffaws from escaping as Shining Knight and Vigilante passed by, offering a greeting.

She stepped immediately inside the room and let go of her mirth. "So…it's safe to assume that there are only two who are the…real deal."

"More…or less," Shayera managed between bouts of the snickers.

"And the others are just…artificially enhanced."

"It's part of the uniform, I mean…they won't be as intimidating to the opponent without that much bulge down there."

She could just picture it. And it made her laugh even harder.

"I'm glad…that you're laughing again," Shayera finally composed herself when the door opened for J'onn. "Just so you know…it's a huge sacrifice that you're going to make. And I admire you for that."

"Thank you. I needed that."

"Anytime."

With that, her friend was gone. And faced with the Martian, she had to put the lid on what she and Shayera were discussing earlier.

"I've never been this conscious of my…manhood before," J'onn was trying to hide a grin. "But what Shayera said was true."

She knew her face was all red at the fact that her mind betrayed her. "Sorry about that."

"Shall we begin?"

The simple question had enough force to spin her around that her earlier mirth was totally forgotten as she was hit with the full force of reality.

She was on her way to becoming pregnant.

For eight days.

She did not even now how to make a baby.

Let alone have one grow inside of her.

Hera help me!