"Heart of Stone"

(This is the first ending of the story. I warn you now that it is bittersweet. In a way it is very tragic and fitting.)

Themyscira

Diana and Shayera landed in Themyscira. Hawkgirl still didn't understand why exactly she was going with Diana other than being a friend. She thought at first that she should go back and stay with Bruce's body in the invisible jet, but Diana had asked her to accompany her to the beach that her mother had formed her infant body at. Once there Diana took out one of the golden apples that Thor had given her and tore it in half. She took one half and tore it in half again and gave part of it to Shayera. Both she and Hawkgirl ate the pieces of the apple like Thor had said and laid the other on the ground. Diana took some of the clay she was formed from and placed it over the apple.

"Gaea mother of Thor I ask to speak to you." Diana said to the earth.

Shayera watched as the Earth shook slightly and slowly a temple arose from the clay. Out of it stepped Gaea spirit and Goddess of the Earth. The mother of Thor looked at Diana and smiled gently. She touched Diana and could feel the connection with the Amazon.

"You where formed from me. While Hippolyta raised you I more or less birthed you. I have watched the events unroll in the land of men and I know that my son, your 'brother' Thor has sent you to me. Let me ask you a question first. Is he worth it? I have watched his life and seen how much he has lost and then gave of himself to save others. He is worthy of Valhalla, but are you willing to lose him in order to save him?" She asked.

"What do you mean?" Diana asked.

"If I reconnect his soul then I also mark him. I don't agree with Odin on everything, but I cannot stop the Valkyries from claiming his life. He has been connected with the Eye of Odin and because of that he is connected with Valhalla. His death may not be today or tomorrow, but it will come and it will be violent. He will die a warrior, and I do not like sending warriors to their deaths. So is there more to him than being a warrior?" Gaea asked.

"He is my love, and the father of our child. I love him and I would trade places with him if I could. I know that he would do the same for me." She said to Gaea.

"Good, love is good. I will reconnect his soul. Watch the skies and listen. When you hear their singing, and when you see their wings you will know that it is his time." She said as the blue orb shot off toward the invisible jet.

(Gotham 8 years later)

Bruce walked out of the movie theater with Diana and their daughter Athena. They had left their son Thomas at home with Alfred. Bruce smiled at Athena who was still acting out scenes from the "Gray Ghost" movie. He turned toward the street and smiled at Athena who now was holding onto her mother's hand. He looked and heard the flutter of wings. Stepping forward he held his hand above his eyes to cut the glare of the street light. There across the street was a man being mugged. Without thinking he rushed across the street.

Diana watched Bruce and held Athena protectively. If their daughter had not been with them she would have helped, but with her there she wanted to keep her daughter safe and away from harm. That's when she heard the sound of the wings flapping and strange singing. She looked up to see two winged women who seemed to both be there and not there at the same time. They landed next to Bruce and Diana looked at him in time to see the mugger fire the gun. Bruce stumbled back but lunged forward and caught the mugger by the collar. He struck the mugger and then the sound of the gun firing again. This time both men fell and Diana stood watching in terror. She picked Athena up and ran to Bruce. Standing above him was the Valkyries.

"Get away from him! It's not his time!" She shouted at the Valkyries. They looked at her with sad eyes and motioned for her to come toward him. She knelt down beside him.

"Bruce… Don't leave me." She said to him touching his face.

"Princess I can't stop this, but I will never leave you." He said as his eyes slowly closed.

Athena walked toward her father and touched his face. She tried to wake him up, but soon it became obvious that he wasn't going to wake back up. She fell to her knees and cried. The tears streamed down her face and she felt her mother pull her next to her. The Valkyries left without a soul. For all of their power they couldn't pull this warrior's soul away from his family. They knew that in time he would leave them, and when he did Valhalla would be waiting.