A/N Don't own these Characters (even the made up ones) so don't sue me!
Many Thanks to Hepburn for giving it a quick beta! (Victorian Diana is going to me mine *evil laugh* wahahaha! ;) )
And thanks to DaisyJane for her input and suggestions. (Troia is getting better and better.)
Review please, even if you don't like it, I would like to here. Helps me write better if I know where I'm failing.
Chapter 10: Debts to be paid!
Bruce closed his eyes. He could either allow Thomas to confront Ares or he would have to disable Thomas. Neither one was an option for he would rather die then allow one hair on Thomas' head to be harmed. He opened his eyes and looked at Thomas. He felt bad for what he had to do.
Diana watched Bruce reopen his eyes and noticed the sad look in them. She watched as he hand came up towards Thomas' shoulder. The hand wasn't opened but he had two fingers sticking out. Diana knew instantly what Bruce was about to do. She grabbed a hold of his hand before he pressed his fingers on a pressure point. It would of rendered Thomas unconscious.
Bruce glared at Diana as she held his hand. Why was she stopping him, didn't she see this was for the best? Thomas watched as his Mother and Father stared at each other. The moment was broken by Ares voice.
"Stop hiding behind the Amazon and her offspring!" he yelled out. Diana continued to hold Bruce's hand as she turned her head and looked at Ares.
"By the Five leave this island Ares!" she commanded, Ares laughed out.
"I am the GOD of War, and that man that stands behind you made a blood oath with me, and he owes me for a debt of punishment I had to take for stealing that love potion!" he barked out as he pointed his finger at Bruce. Diana felt Bruce trying to remove his hand from hers. She wasn't going to allow him to.
"He is under my protection and so therefore he is under the protection of the Amazon nation." Bruce was desperately trying to pull his hand free.
"Don't do this Diana. Let me go, I don't want to endanger you or Thomas!" he shouted out. Thomas locked his hand onto Bruce's other free hand. Bruce looked up at him. Pleading with his eyes for him to let go. Thomas shook his head no.
"Listen to him Diana..." Ares hissed out. The stand off would of continued if not for another presence appearing out of nowhere. Diana and Thomas both bowed to their knees dragging Bruce along.
Hera looked at the three and motioned for them to stand. She turned her attentions to Ares.
"What are you doing here Ares you are forbidden from setting foot on this island!" she demanded at him. Ares bowed his head and stared back at Hera.
"I'm here to collect on a blood oath owed to me my Mother-Queen." She raised her head up high.
"What was this oath about?" Ares swallowed, if he told her he would be in trouble.
"That man owes me, and I just want what is mine!" Ares tried to change the subject. Hera looked at Bruce for a moment. Diana spoke up to the Queen of the Gods.
"My Goddess, Bruce made a deal with Ares when he wasn't mentally fit." Ares eyes turned hard looking at Diana.
"Is that true Bruce?" Everyone turn his or her attention to Bruce. He was about to lie and try and save Diana and Thomas when the hand Diana was holding started to get tighter. It was painful as he looked at her. Diana gave him a 'Don't you lie' kind of look he thought.
"That is true, I had a tumor in my head that changed my perception and personality of the world." Bruce sighed out. The death grip on his hand stopped.
Hera turned and looked at Ares in shame.
"You made a deal with a mentally unstable human and expect him to honor an oath when he is now better?!" Hera looked at Bruce "You are better now, right?" Bruce nodded his head. Hera returned her gaze on Ares.
Ares threw his hands up in the air. "Fine the Blood oath is voided." Hera smiled at her son.
"Good now leave this place my child, and never bother this man again or set foot on this island!" She commanded. Ares grunted out as he vanished. Diana bowed her head as well as Thomas.
"Thank you my goddess." Hera smiled down at her and then placed a hand on her forehead, before she vanished also. The three stood there for a few moments. Thomas let his Father's hand go.
"I'm sorry for what I was about to do to you Thomas." Bruce bowed his head. He felt Diana's hand still holding his give him a gentle squeeze. Thomas placed a hand onto his shoulder.
"I take that you were going to hit that cluster of nerves in my neck?" Thomas chuckled out. Bruce bowed his head and nodded in shame. Thomas brow rose as he watched his Mother's hand still holding his Father's hand. Diana looked at where her son was looking and released Bruce's hand like it was a hot potato. Her face flushed with embarrassment.
Bruce brushed his hands through his hair "Thank you both. Please don't every try to sacrifice yourselves for me again! I couldn't live with myself if either of you were injured because of Me." he tried to give them a Batglare, but Diana just elevated one of her eyebrows.
"Bruce it never work before and it is not working now" she paused for a moment "you are out of practice." Diana said as she walked back towards the kitchen. Thomas chuckled as he made his way to his room.
Bruce sighed out, damn stubborn people he sighed out as he closed the door. Bruce was making his way back to the kitchen when Thomas came out of his room with a sword and shield in hand.
"Do you still wish to come and watch me?" he asked with child like spirit. Bruce's smile spread across his face.
"I would be honored." Thomas turned to his mother and gave her a quick hug and kiss on the cheek before he ran towards the door. Bruce followed him outside, as Thomas picked up a sack.
"What's in the sack?" he asked him.
"Some leather armor, I was airing it out. Mother doesn't like it in the house, says it stinks up the place." His toothy smile brought joy to Bruce's heart.
Thomas led the way to his practice area. It was a flat field with a few wooden dummies set up on it. There were also a few targets in the distance; they looked to be for archery practice.
Thomas dropped the sack down and took out the contents. There was a pair of leather gloves, boots, helmet and a chest guard. Thomas slipped them on quickly and got his sword and shield on also.
"I usually warm up, but I want to show you some of my moves!" Thomas said excitedly. Bruce watched as Thomas started to thrust the sword around, his form was perfect. The shield was in the perfect position to protect him as he attacked with his sword. Bruce noticed right away Diana's forms and grace in Thomas. It was like watching a mirrored male version of her.
The pride was oozing off of Bruce. Thomas stopped and placed the sword and shield down. He then started to do martial arts moves. Bruce's expert eyes watched Thomas kick, punch and block his imaginary opponent. He saw Diana's aggressive style in him again but his form was off slightly.
"Stop!" Bruce said out loud. Thomas did as he was told and stood there looking at him with inquisitive eyes. Bruce moved towards him.
"Show me that last series of moves again." Thomas complied, Bruce stood next to him as he did the moves.
"You're not balanced right, here let me show you." Bruce processed to show him the right way. He slapped his thigh "Make sure to have your weight balanced on your left thigh when you are kicking with your right. And rotate your hips before impact, it gives the kick more power behind it."
For the next 20 minutes Bruce corrected his martial arts moves. Thomas listened with great intent.
"So do you want to spar? I promise not to use my gifts!" Thomas bit his lip awaiting his answer. Bruce for his part was pleased to be asked.
"Okay, but take it easy on the old man." He smiled up at him, Thomas' eyes glazed over with excitement.
The two sparred for a little over an hour before Bruce being knocked onto his butt for the tenth time breathed out heavily.
"I give!" Thomas smiled triumphantly but offered his hand to his Father. The two covered in dust and dirt made their way back to the house.
When the two had left Diana went to her room and went to her closet. She found the box she had been keeping for 40 or so years now. A small envelope was attached to the top of the box. She opened the envelope and read the message, having done so when she first got it. But the letter always made her feel like Clark had forgiven her so she read it once again.
Dear Diana.
Bruce's psychologist sent me Bruce's journal entries a while back, most of them where letters of forgiveness to other people but the bulk of them were love letter to you. I wasn't going to give them to you but I felt it wasn't my right not to. I hope this can mend the past for all of us.
Clark.
She opened the box and looked at the hundreds of printed out letters. The letters were of Bruce asking for her forgiveness and how much he missed and loved her. Diana spent the next half hour rereading some of the letters. A few tears fell from her face.
Diana was outside tending to her garden when she noticed the two very dirty sweaty men approaching. She glared at the two of them.
"Neither of you are stepping one foot into that house until your both clean!" she demanded in your royal princess voice.
Bruce looked embarrassed and shy; Diana gave him a questioning look.
"This is the only pair of clothes I own." he sheepishly said. Diana marched into the house. Thomas shrugged his shoulders when Bruce looked up at him.
Diana returned a few moments later with two sets of chitons and two towels. She handed them to each of the men and a bar of soap. She then pointed at the creek they had been fishing in. Thomas bowed his head in defeat as he turned. Bruce looked shocked for a moment, but that was wiped off his face when Diana glared at him. Bruce mimicked his son and dragged his feet in defeat.
Bruce shivered as the he cleaned himself, Thomas watched him shake.
"Why are you shaking father?" Thomas asked as he was rinsing off his chest. Bruce tried his best to stop the shivering response.
"It's nothing, the water is a little cold that's all."
"Next time we can use the heated spring behind the house." Bruce stopped washing for a moment. Guessing Diana was pissed off, by making him wash in this ice cold water. 15 minutes later the two men walked into the house, both carrying their dirty clothes.
"What do we do with the dirty clothes?" he asked Diana. She gave him a funny look, it reminded him of Alfred for a moment.
"You clean them, Thomas get the wash bucket." Thomas ran towards the bathroom and came out with a large pale with a scrubbing board on top of it. Bruce almost rolled his eyes at it, but like the saying goes when in Rome! Or was that Greece now! He chuckled to himself.
Thomas filled the bucket with warm water from a large pot that Diana had on the stove and took it outside. Bruce followed him, he watched as Thomas worked the dirty clothes in the water then using the bar of soap they used to wash with he rubbed some soap on their dirty clothes.
The boy finished washing both of their clothing in a matter of minutes and hung them up to dry. Bruce was amazed at how good he was at it. I guess almost 100 years of doing it made the chore almost second nature. They then went back into the house to prepare for dinner.
Tonight's dinner was some kind of baked dish, Bruce didn't know what was in it, but damn was it good. Bruce and Thomas attacked the dishes and had them done in no time at all.
Thomas went to his room for a few moments to allow Bruce time to sit down. He later came flying out of his room.
"I am going to visit Grandmother for a bit." he hesitated for a moment "you will be here when I get back… Right?" he questioned Bruce. He hadn't been thinking about leaving. The thought actually frightened him for a moment. He turned and looked at Diana.
"He will be here when you return. Now go and see your Grandmother." Thomas beamed as he ran over and hugged her. He then went to walk past Bruce but stopped and turned and looked at him. He bent down and gave Bruce a quick soft hug.
Bruce closed his eyes feeling the warmth and caring from the hug, it almost made him weep. Thomas straightened up and left the house. Bruce looked around not knowing what to do. Diana sensed his hesitation. She sighed out forcing Bruce to focus on her.
"We are grown adults Bruce we can talk." She told him with a shy smile on her face.
"You're right... Thomas is an amazing fighter!" he said trying to start a conversation up. Diana's eyes lost their focus for a moment.
"Yes he has a warrior's spirit. I'm guessing he challenged you to a sparring match, is that why you came in all dirty and sweaty?" She mused. Bruce chuckled and nodded his head.
"He even did it without his powers, I had a hard time keeping up with him. I noticed right away your fighting style in him. You have trained him well." Diana's face frowned.
"He has both of our stubborn natures in him. When his mind is set on something it is hard to convince him to stop. I do not know how many times I have had to drag him home from practice." Bruce had a slight smile on his face.
"Diana thank you for opening your home to me and allow me to see and interact with Thomas, you have raised a wonderful son." Diana was a little shocked at him complement.
"You are welcome Bruce. There were times though, when I wish you were around to tell him things." Bruce sighed out as he looked at the table.
"Me to." He sighed out "but I had to pay the price for my wicked behavior." The two sat quietly both deep in thought, Diana broken the silence. She looked confused but had a determined look in her eyes.
"You coming back to into our lives has brought feelings up that I thought I had control over." Bruce looked at her eyes; she looked ready to shed tears. She inhaled deeply before she continued "I cannot deny them or you from Thomas' life." Diana squeezed her hands together "I am confused, on one hand I want to throw you as far away from me as I can, but on the other I want to grab you and…" she closed her eyes.
Bruce forced himself to breath. What was Diana trying to say to him? His mind was making up hundreds of scenarios.
She reopened them "I am just very confused is all I am saying" she shook her head not looking at Bruce. He thought a change of subject would clear the tense air in the room.
"Diana?" He asked, as she looked at him "What happened to Talia, Morgaine and Zatanna after I left?" She wasn't expecting this question.
"Dick and Clark caught up to them, Morgaine joined up with them so she could get a hold of you. She wanted to torture you for what you had done to her. Talia and Zatanna didn't know of her intentions. Kara and I were called in with Dr. Fate. They were trying to cast some spell to free you." Her eyes turned sad
"We managed to free Zatanna of the spell, but Morgaine put up one hell of a fight. I guess she used up whatever magical powers she had. When Zatanna and Fate hit her with a magical bolt she vanished in the explosion." Diana sighed out.
"Talia escaped, we found out later that she tried to get the League of Assassins back together. They killed her for abuse of her powers when she was with you." Bruce's shoulders slumped. He caused so much pain and suffering to everyone that had made contact with him.
"I've caused so much suffering to everyone I've touched." He rubbed the back of his neck "Well I ever be able to atone for my crimes?" Diana truly had no idea.
"All that you can do Bruce is try to your best and move forward."
"I am immortal now, not like I don't have the time to try." He said sarcastically.
Diana nodded her head. "Yes you will have a lot of time to mend fences and to build bridges." Bruce asked her nervously.
"Diana, will I ever be able to mend our friendship?" She grabbed his hand.
"You are Bruce, I see the happiness in Thomas' eyes when you are around him." Bruce gripped her hand tightly.
"Thank you for all you have done for me Diana. When I was released I was going to end my life, I had nothing to look forward to."
"You are welcome." She sat quietly in deep thought, all he could think about was her hand holding his. It felt so alien to him and wonderful. A few minutes later she released his hand and got up.
"Would you like something to eat and some tea?" She asked him, Bruce smiled up at her.
"I would love to." The two enjoyed a quiet snack and some tea. Whatever tomorrow held Bruce knew he would fight to the bitter end to make Thomas and Diana happy.
Thomas entered the dark quiet house. His plan to allow his parents some alone time hopefully didn't back fire on him. A noise from the living room caught his attention. His Father's head popped up from the couch. Thomas smiled and waved; Bruce returned the wave and smile. Thomas was happy his Father was still here.
Several days later Bruce, Diana and Thomas were coming back to the house from a fun practice session. Standing outside the home was Kara, Hippolyta and a man dressed in a business suit. The three slowly came up to them and stopped.
Kara looked very angry, Hippolyta had a neutral expression on her face. The man's expression mirrored Hippolyta's.
"Hello Mother, Kara?" Diana greeted and questioned her at the same time.
"Diana." This caused her to stiffen up, her Mother only used her name and that tone when there was trouble. Kara's fists tightened up as she spoke to them.
"This man is Mr. John Williams. He is a Deputy Minister of Justice. He is here to take Bruce into custody." Bruce sighed out. Diana and Thomas stiffened up.
"Like Tartarus he is going!" Thomas yelled out. Causing the group to nearly jump. Thomas' hand where clenched tight.
"Thomas he broke the law and…" Diana interrupted Kara.
"That was over 100 years ago, the current statute of limitations is 80 years on all crimes under the world's constitution." Diana barked out.
"Yes but for genocide there is no limitations." John Williams broke in.
Diana's eye looked wild for a moment. "Under article 1 chapter 2 of the constitution any state or province can supersede extradition of a national citizen." Diana quoted.
"He isn't a citizen of Themyscira!" Kara hissed out.
"He is my husband!" Diana stated.
"When? Oh that didn't count!" Kara gasped out.
"We were married 101 years ago." Bruce's eyebrow rose. They did a have a small ceremony but he wasn't too sure it would be considered a real marriage ceremony. Diana looked at her mother for support. Hippolyta sighed out.
"I was there, it was a real wedding. He is a citizen of Themyscira." Kara and Mr. Williams looked defeated. Diana motioned for Kara to follow her.
The two walked around back of her home. Once out of sight she spoke to her.
"Kara why are you doing this?" Kara's eyes turned to slits.
"Because he is a murderer! I paid for my crimes and so should he!"
"But he did, he spent 100 years in a solitary confinement cell. Clark helped you get what a few years in a minimum security prison?" Diana countered. Kara looked hurt at this.
"He is evil I'm only looking out for Thomas and yourself!" Kara spoke up with her head high. Diana shook her head in disgust.
"Kara he made some really big mistakes, but he served his time and he is trying to make amends. He deserves a second chance, everyone does." Diana sighed out in frustration. Kara's body went ridged.
"Yeah to stab us in the back again, I do not trust him! Zor-Al doesn't know about him and I want it to be kept that way! You tell him that if I see or hear about him trying to contact Zor-Al I will kill him!" Kara's eyes had a crazed look in them.
"I can't be around him Di, or I might be tempted to fry him." Kara sighed out as she looked at Diana. She moved forward and wrapped Diana into a hug "Get him out of your life Diana, I don't want to see you hurt again." Kara said as she slowly pulled her self away from Diana.
Kara lifted up into the air and left her to her thoughts. Kara was wrong about Bruce, he had changed. He wasn't that evil man they knew so long ago. Shaking her head she returned back to the front of the house.
"Mr. Wayne if you leave the island you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Mr. Williams said to him. Bruce nodded his head.
"This has been settled I will escort you back to your transport." Queen Hippolyta said. Diana returned to the group less Kara. Williams had a questioning look on his face.
"Kara had to leave." Diana said off handedly. He nodded his head. Hippolyta grabbed Diana into a hug and also gave Thomas one. As she passed Bruce she gave him a harsh look. Diana thought she needed to lighten the mood.
"Let us get some lunch I am famished." Everyone agreed and went into the home.
Later that evening Bruce and Diana sat on a bench on the front porch watching the sunset. Bruce broke the silence.
"So Mrs. Wayne?" He winked trying to joke. Diana looked hard at him for a moment and softened her expression.
"I said we were married so you wouldn't be taken from Thomas."
"I know, I've been saying Thank you a lot lately... Thanks again Diana." He said as she patted her hand. He pulled back when he felt himself wanting to hold it. Diana reached for his hand and held it.
"Since you are a permanent guest of the island now we should think about building you a place of your own." Diana felt his hand slightly pull away but she held on to it.
"Can't I stay on your couch?" He gave her a half smile, Diana shook her head no.
"But..." she hesitated for a moment "we could add another bedroom onto the house? She looked into his eyes for an answer, Bruce's somber face broken into a wide grin.
"I would love that." Diana matched his smile.
"Good Thomas and yourself can get to work on it tomorrow."
"You don't want to help?"
"You wish, Thomas and I would have it finished before you even figured out how to use a saw!" she teased him. The rest of the evening was spent planning the new addition to the home.
Bruce truly felt in his element. With Thomas's help they had all the timber they would need, it helped that he could fly the large trees out of the forest and that he could bring down a tree with one swing of the large axe. The next four days there was a lot of hammering, sawing and building noised coming from their neck of the island, also lots of laughter from Bruce and Thomas as they got to know each other better.
Bruce for the first time since being there almost felt at home. On the fourth day the room was complete, but it had no furniture. The next few days Thomas and Bruce busied themselves creating him a bed, dressers and a nice desk. That night after dinner they all went into the room to see the finished work.
"Guess I should go out shopping for new clothes to fill up the dressers we made?" He teased. Thomas gave him a mischievous smile.
"I do not know if you have the room in them right now." Thomas winked at his Mother. Her face turned a pinkish hue. Bruce opened up a few drawers and found them to be full of chitons and robes. Bruce was shocked. He looked at the two of them. He felt a tear coming and turned his head to avoid embarrassing them and himself.
"Thank you." He felt a hand on his shoulder then another one.
"You are welcome Father. Mother had some free time and whipped them together." Bruce looked directly into Diana's eyes.
"These are the most beautiful clothing I've ever seen." Diana raised her eyebrow at him. She knew the kind of clothes he used to wear when he was a Billionaire playboy. Bruce noticed the look she gave him.
"Seriously Diana, no one has ever made me a wardrobe. The clothes I wore before were bought not hand made. Thank you!" He wheezed out. Diana felt herself chocking up a little.
"You are welcome, I hope they all fit right?" Bruce nodded his head. It didn't matter if none of it fit him, he would wear them with honour. A knock at the door brought the moment to a close.
They all went to see who would be knocking at the door at this hour. Diana opened it and frowned.
"Why are you here Zadara?" she asked the man.
"My mother sent me to inform you that Morgaine is back."