For at least 10 minutes Kal and Diana have been sitting across from each other in silence. Both unsure quite how to start this conversation.

"Kal/Diana" they both say at the same time.

They both laugh.

"This is ridiculous" Diana says.

"I know" Kal responds.

"Kal…" Diana pauses as she collects her thoughts "I care for you and I mean more than just as a friend"

Kal nods "I know and I feel the same way"

"Really?" Diana asks with a slight hesitation.

"Yes Diana" Kal says with assuredness.

"It's just I know your grief and your pain runs deep and I don't want to push you into anything you're not ready for"

"They do" No that's not right Kal thinks. "They did anyway. These last few days spent with you I've noticed it doesn't hurt as much as it use to."

Diana searches Kal's face wishing to see what he says is the truth. She settles on his eyes. Again it's always the eyes. Those indescribable blue eyes that you can almost drown in.

While Diana looks into his eyes Kal looks back into hers. For someone who has lived so long her blue eyes contain so much life, so much zest and joy. Despite the recent battle with Ares that hasn't changed. In fact it has never changed. 70 years and her eyes are still so beautiful, she's so beautiful. Before he quite realises it he's stood up and walked round the table.

As Kal comes round the table Diana stands. He suddenly grabs her round her waist, draws her in and is kissing her. Oh Hera is he kissing her. She almost feels like he's pouring all his past pain into it. There is so much passion and she can't help but return the passion in kind.

Eventually they break apart breathless. Kal holds Diana, really holds her with no restraint on his strength. He's wished, dreamed for so long he could find someone with whom he didn't have to hold back. He feels,…,he feels something he hasn't felt since Lois died. Passion. Desire. Love. Love? Is it love?

Diana stands there in Kal's arms. Her heart is racing. He must be able to hear it. Oh what does she do? If they stand here like this much longer she won't be able to stop herself. The only thing separating them is two thin layers of clothing. Too much clothing. She wants to feel his skin against hers. No, no she can't. He's not ready. She pulls back and tries to walk away only to find her wrist caught by Kal's hand. Don't look at him she tells herself.

Kal won't, can't let her leave. "Diana don't go"

"Kal we can't. It's too soon" Diana still doesn't look at him.

"Diana look at me"

Diana closes her eyes, swallows and slowly turns around. She opens her eyes and looks into his.

Kal stares back at her. "Diana I want you, need you. I,…,I" he hesitates for a second "I love you"

Diana feels faint. He didn't just say that, did he? She raises her hand to Kal's cheek "Oh Kal I love you too"

They kiss again but slower, more gentle. Both can feel their self-control slip away but instead of fighting it they embrace it and each other.

The next morning Kal awakens as usual at dawn. He awakens to the sensation of a impossibly smooth feminine skin next to his own. He opens his eyes. She's there, still asleep. Her flawless body which he now knows intimately curled up around him. So much for taking it slow but he had got caught up in the passion and as he thinks about it so what. He doesn't feel guilt about it, quite the opposite. He made love to the woman he loves. Yes it is definitely love. Just lying here watching her sleep gives him joy. She may never know the gift he gave her last night. He finally gave himself to someone completely. No holding back, no thinking every second how he has to control himself in case he accidentally hurts them. He feels cleansed, refreshed and no longer weighed down by the past.

Diana slowly stirs. Now why does she feel so tired? Then she remembers, her and Kal. They had made love for hours, not surprising for two super powered beings. It had felt so wonderful. She can remember feeling distinctly feminine for the first time in her life next to Kal's muscular frame. She opens her eyes and sees how she has curled herself up around Kal. No wonder she feels so warm. She tilts her head so she can look into Kal's face and can see he's already awake. "Morning" she says softly.

"Morning" Kal responds and then kisses her on the forehead.

Diana smiles in response. "How come you don't look tired?" she asks.

"The sun's up" is his simple response.

Diana pouts "That's not fair"

Kal chuckles "If it's any consolation I was extremely tired when I fell asleep"

"Kal?"

"Yes Diana"

"You don't regret last night do you?" Diana bites her lower lip nervously as she waits for his reply.

"Not for a second" he says emphatically.

A broad smile forms on Diana's face "I love you"

"I love you as well"

Diana then practically launches herself onto Kal's lips.

"Diana" Kal manages to squeak out.

"What?" she asks, desire blazing in her eyes.

"I thought you were tired"

"Not that tired" she responds with a seductive smile.

The morning was quite a few hours old by the time Kal and Diana got themselves out of bed. They decided they should get out before the gossip about them got worse. Diana hadn't even known there was gossip about them till Kal pointed his super hearing had picked up on people talking. Had they really been that obvious? Diana checked up on the council. They were still deliberating and there was no real word about how it was going. There were just rumours that it was deadlocked at a 50/50 split.

Diana walked about the island checking up on the rebuilding while Kal decided to take a break from the fields and actually help repair buildings. She sighed deeply at all the damage. She came across a small mound in a open space and thought that this might be a good place to put a memorial to her fallen sisters.

"Your Majesty"

Diana turned to find Phillipus walking towards her "Morning General"

"You seem in lost in thought"

"I was just thinking that we could put a memorial here to our fallen sisters. What do you think?"

Phillipus considered it. "Possibly. Personally I have a couple of other locations that would also suit"

"Perhaps it's a debate we can have later" Diana decides.

"Perhaps" After a moment "You slept late this morning" Phillipus states.

"Spying on me?" Diana teases.

"I have my sources" Phillipus states blandly, giving nothing away.

"You're not usually this coy" Diana observes.

"It is not my place to interfere in your personal relationships"

Diana smiles and places her hand on her friend's arm "Thank you"

"You are welcome but I should mention that your voice carries"

Diana actually blushed. Oh Hera how many had heard her and Kal?

Phillipus watched Diana's face redden. Yes it was just as she thought. "Did Superman get over his issues?" she asks deciding it was best not to actually go into any further detail about what Diana got up to.

"I believe so. He told me he loved me" Diana's face breaks out in an enormous smile and that statement.

"You told him the same" Phillipus states and goes on to explain how she knows "Superman has that exact same smile on his face". She had seen him helping repair buildings about the island.

"Yes I did. I'm not sure how we got here. One moment I've convinced myself we shouldn't rush these things the next we're…" Diana leaves that unfinished.

"Love occurs at the speed it wants, not the speed we want"

"I suppose so" Diana admits.

"What's the matter?" Phillipus asks at Diana's sudden lack of enthusiasm.

"Sooner or later he'll have to go back to Man's world and I don't even though what will happen to me. Either I'll be stripped of the throne or I'll have to stay and fight for my view that we should re-establish our place in the outside world. How can we make this work?"

"I am uncertain how to answer that" Phillipus admits honestly

"I don't know either" Diana puts it more bluntly.

The sun sets without any decision being reached by the council. At dinner Kal notices Diana's silence. "What's the matter Diana?"

Diana has spent all day thinking about what future the two of them had. Last night they had given into their passion without much thought. "It's just what is the future for us Kal?"

Kal was slightly confused at her question.

Diana elaborates "I know that sooner or later you'll have to leave and I'll have to stay here to campaign for the change I want to bring about"

Kal nods sadly "I know. I knew I would have to go back for a while at least. I need to check in with the League and there's some personal business I've been putting off for too long I need to take care of"

Diana had an inkling the personal business might be some left over issues with Lois and his past life. "So what do we do?" she asks.

"Truthfully I'm not sure but we have time and I'm willing to wait. Fight your corner Diana. After all once you win Themyscira will be a much more open place, maybe I could even be allowed to visit"

"Once I win? I think you mean if I win."

"No. I don't. I know you'll win. Oh it may take a while but you'll win Diana. You can do anything you set your mind to"

Diana saw the utter belief in his eyes as he said that. Oh Hera she's looking into those eyes again. She's drowning in them and before she knows it she's lost in their depths. She only has a vague impression of what happens next as she and Kal passionately embrace and head for the bedroom.

So Diana wakes up the next morning as she woke up yesterday, wrapped in Kal's arms. Her and Kal together after another incredible night together.

"Morning" Kal has awoken before her again.

"Morning" Diana answers. "This is getting a habit"

"True but I'm not complaining. I love you after all"

"I love you as well Kal". She sighs "I wish we could stay like this"

"So do I" Kal answers honestly and he tightens his embrace of her.

Outside the door to the room Phillipus peeks through the crack in the door with a smile on her face. She's glad Diana's happy. Diana's mother Hippolyta would have wanted her daughter to be happy and out of all men, Hippolyta had always liked Superman the most. Despite his power he took nothing by force, the opposite of the men that had forged the Amazonian nation in the first place.

Kal's eyes drift to the door. He can hear a heartbeat. He x-rays it and laughs softly. "We're being spied on" he tells Diana.

Diana looks at his eyes and follows them to the door. Oh great Gaea this is going to be embarrassing. "Do you know who it is?" she asks

"Phillipus" Kal answers.

"Oh well she was already on to us"

Kal arches an eyebrow "Was she?"

"Yeah, apparently my voice carries" Diana blushes as she says it.

Kal was trying to hold back the laugh. Funny he thought he should be embarrassed but instead he was finding this amusing.

Diana can hear his strangled mirth "Kal it's not funny. Hera only know what will happen when the council find out"

"They probably already know. As I said yesterday there is gossip flying around this island about us you know"

"Really?" Diana asks just wanting him to confirm it.

"Yeah. I overheard one or two conversations"

"Well if it's only one or two" Diana says thinking it can't be that bad yet.

"It was actually more like one or two hundred" Kal elaborates.

"Oh Hera that means the whole island knows" Diana places her head in her hands.

"Hey, hey" Kal prizes her hands apart and tilts her head to face him "It's ok. We'll manage"

"How do you know that?" Diana asks him.

"Because I love you" and to demonstrate it he kisses her gently.

"I love you as well" Diana responds and kisses him back.

Kal sighs.

"What?" Diana asks at his sigh.

"Phillipus is still there. I think it's something important" he tells her.

Diana grabs the sheet off the bed and wraps it round herself leaving Kal rather exposed and at the sight of him warmth spreads through Diana's body and lusty thoughts go through her mind. She turns around, ignoring those thoughts and heads for the door telling herself not to look back because if she did she wouldn't be able to control herself. Diana opens the door and walks out into the corridor shutting it behind her.

Phillipus looks Diana over quite amused but she keeps it off her face "Morning your Majesty"

Unfortunately she can't keep her amusement out of her voice. Diana frowns at her "Having fun are we?"

Phillipus coughs clearing her throat "No of course not your Majesty"

"Good. Now what is it?"

"The council sent word they reached a decision late last night and will see you at noon in the council chambers"

Diana nods "Any word of their decision"

"No just rumours among other rumours" Phillipus smirks

Diana catches the smirk and groans "Does everyone on this island know about my personal life?"

"I wouldn't say everyone. I'm sure there's one or two who don't know"

Diana can't believe this. Oh well like Kal said, they'll just have to deal with it. "Thank you for everything. Regardless of how this hearing turns out I want to thank you for helping me all these years"

"Diana" Phillipus starts using her first name "I loved your mother and I love you, your thanks are not necessary but I do appreciate them"

Diana exchanges a smile. "I better get ready" she says and she turns and heads back in the room. She walks over to the bed and lies back next to Kal and covers them both with the sheet. "I'm guessing you heard that"

"I did. It'll be ok Diana"

Diana cuddles into Kal's warmth and prays to the Gods that he's right.

Diana once more is waiting to enter the council chamber. Like a couple of days before her stomach is not holding up well to her nerves. She breaths deeply and walks in trying to keep her nervousness in check and sits on her throne, possibly for the last time.

Althea stands up "Your Majesty after much debate we have reached a decision. Before I announce it I personally want to say that we have all admired your leadership over these last decades since your mother was taken from us"

Diana looks around and can't see any member of the council giving disapproving looks.

Althea continues "I know rumours have spread that we were deadlocked and truthfully we were. We reached agreement on a compromise and this has been accepted by all of us. On the basic issue at hand you admitted your guilt at letting a man on this island"

Diana's mouth is dry as she nods at this point.

"Usually the punishment for this crime is clear" Althea says

Usually? Diana thinks with some hope.

"We have decided that Superman, due to his actions in assisting us is made an exception to this rule. This point will have to be ratified by the entire Senate, as soon as it can be reconvened. Equally your point about re-establishing relations with the outside world will also need to debated by the Senate. It is this council's decision that you be censured for your actions. We should have been consulted before you left for Man's world. Saying that we have no wish to remove you from the throne. This time of rebuilding after Ares' attack needs as much stability as possible. This is our final decision" Althea sits back down.

Diana stands processing this. Basically she's got away with a slap on the wrists. "Honoured members of the council, I accept your decision. I apologise for not consulting you beforehand. I will in future listen to your wise counsel and hope we will work together for the betterment of our sisters and the wider world. Thank you"

Althea stands "This hearing is now concluded". The council members start to leave.

Diana walks over "Althea thank you for all this"

"I'm not so sure you should thank me, the Senate can be a lot more hostile than us. You're going to have your work cut out"

"I know but I believe it is worth it"

"Time will tell. It always does but take the rest of today to yourself and to him" Althea's gaze drifts to the door where Kal is standing waiting.

Diana with a slightly embarrassed look "Thank you" she says in a small voice.

Althea returns the smile "You're welcome your Majesty"

Diana walks over to Kal "I know you probably heard all that"

Kal wraps his arms around her and spins her around.

"Kal!" Diana yelps.

He puts her down and kisses her passionately on the lips. When they stop Kal speaks "Yes I heard it and I knew you would be alright"

"I'm glad one of us did"

Diana searches his face and she notices he has a slightly sad look. She can guess what that is "I suppose you'll have to leave soon"

Kal had been dreading this. Being here with Diana had helped heal some of his emotional wounds "I do and I wish I didn't have to"

"I wish for that as well". Diana sighs "The entire Senate, that's going to take months of debate you know and then there's the all the negotiations that come from trying to re-enter the World Assembly not to mention setting up embassies and …"

Diana is cut off by Kal placing his finger to her lips. "Tomorrow's problems Diana. I won't leave until tomorrow so today we will do whatever you want"

Diana looks into Kal's eyes and knows there is only one thing she wants "I said this morning all I wanted was to lie with you in your arms so that's what I want to do"

"That all you want to do?" Kal asks with an amorous look in his eyes.

Diana returns the look "The only way you'll find that out is to follow me" Diana then walks off with a suggestive wiggle of her hips with Kal rushing up to catch her.

The next morning Kal gets up at sunrise to leave. Diana stands with him on a beach. They kiss once more "I love you Diana"

"I love you Kal" a tear escapes Diana's eye.

Kal wipes it away "Hey now, don't cry. We'll see each other again. In fact I promise it and I never break my word"

Diana smiles at that "Go before I stop you"

Kal floats up and hovers "I'm always around you know"

"I know" Diana responds and with that she watches Kal soar upward and out of sight. She's sad yet she's happy because she knows they will be together again one day soon.