Parenthood

"I am proud to announce that the Themyscira Leadership Academy is officially open!" Diana said proudly. "Thank you all for your support to making this successful for all of our children for generations to come." Diana looked down and took a breath. "When I first arrived here, I was focused solely on my mission to bring peace to the world, teach the knowledge of Themyscira and learn the knowledge of Man's World. Times have changed and continue to do so for the better. I have built a life here that I am truly grateful for." Diana smiled. "A year and a half ago, I decided I wanted to make a change in my personal life. It was something I never thought I could achieve. But with my best friend, now husband by my side through it all, together, we have our beautiful baby girl."

As Clark Kent, holding a baby, walked up to Diana, the audience gasped, mumbled, whispered and more cameras started to flash.

"Kal-El and I would like to introduce our daughter, Astrea, to the world."

"Holy shit! They actually did it!" Hal whispered to Barry.

"What did you expect? It was going to get out some way. It was a smart move or else they would have to deal with misleading headlines."

"You're right."

Later, Banquet Hall

"Congratulations, Smallville. I guess the day has come for you to have a munchkin flying around."

"Thanks, Lois...I think?"

"You finally did good. The most obvious open secret finally out."

Clark smiled. "Well If it wasn't for Diana always pushing me, I wouldn't be at this point of my life. I gave this up, having a family, but having Astrea has changed so much and I don't know but I love having my little princess."

Lois smiled. "Oh, you big sappy oaf. I'm proud of you. But I'm still not baby sitting."

Clark chuckled. "No need, anyway. Got that covered." He glanced up and saw Steve Trevor with his wife walking over to Diana. "Excuse me, Lois."

Clark swiftly dashed to Diana and wrapped his arm around her waist. Diana smirked.

"I can handle it, Love."

"The attempt is still obvious and not happening in front of our daughter."

Diana nodded.

"Congratulations, Diana...Clark."

"Thank you, Steve."

"This is my wife, Janet."

"Hi! It's nice to finally meet you, Diana. Wow...you are even more beautiful in person."

"Thank you, Janet. It's nice to meet you as well."

"And you are quite bigger than I thought," Janet smiled mesmerized by Clark.

Clark smiled back a little embarrassed then glanced at Steve. Clark gently picked up Astrea. She was awake just staring up.

"Say hi to our friend Steve, Princess."

Steve looked at Clark shocked. Diana did as well.

"Want to hold her?"

"Uh...yeah...yeah..."

Holding Astrea, Steve couldn't stop smiling. "Clark...Diana...I-" Steve looked at them apologetically.

Clark and Diana nodded and smiled understanding.

A week later...

Having a two-month-old baby can be kind of tough. While Astrea might be sleeping more, she was crying more too, especially in the evenings.

"Aw! What's wrong, honey?" Diana asked cradling her.

Diana tried everything she could think of that would usually calm her. Even tried to sing to her, but she just cried more.

Then Diana heard the front door open.

"Daddy's home, sweetheart. Let's go see him."

Diana floated downstairs to the kitchen.

"Hi, Beloved."

Kal smiled. "Hey, my two beautiful girls." Kal leaned over and kissed Diana sweetly then looked down at still crying Astrea. "Hey...hey, Princess."

Kal gently took Astrea out of Diana's arms. He tried cradling her but she seemed to get even more agitated.

"She has been crying nonstop ever since she woke up about 3 hours ago. I fed her...even tried giving her the bottle. She didn't want as much as she normally would."

"Hmm...Alright. I have an idea. Get her blanket."

Diana nodded and quickly got her blanket from the sofa.

"Where are we going?" She asked coming back handing it to him.

"Taking a little flight." Kal smiled as he wrapped the blanket around Astrea.

"She's okay to?"

"Yeah. We won't go so far up but I think it will help."

"Ok."

Kal and Diana flew out the front door.

As the flew up, Astrea started to quiet down, though still seemed agitated.

Kal flew slowly backwards.

"Come here, Di. Closer to me."

Diana flew backwards as well with him, moving closer. Kal placed his arm around Diana and she laid her had on his shoulder.

"Try to sing to her now."

Diana stared at her daughter and softly caressed her cheek.

My precious one, my tiny one, lay down your pretty head.

My dearest one my sleepy one, it's time to go to bed

My precious one, my darling one; don't let your lashes weep.

My cherished one, my weary one; it's time to go to sleep.

Just bow your head and give your cares to me.

Just close your eyes and fall into the sweetest dream, cause in my loving arms.

You're safe as you will ever be so hush my dear and sleep.

And in your dreams you'll ride on angels' wings.

Dance with the stars and touch the face of God

And if you should awake...

My precious one, my tiny one

I'll kiss your little cheek

And underneath the smiling moon

I'll send you back to sleep.

Astrea stopped crying and yawned. As her eyes closed, Diana and Kal smiled.

"A night flight and a lovely melody works wonders."

Diana giggled softly. "Thank you, Love. Wonderful idea. We might have to do this more often."

"Yeah...It's quite relaxing for us too."

After another 10 minutes, they flew back home.

While Kal took his shower, Diana laid in their bed with Astrea. She was still peacefully asleep, though, Diana was watching over her cautiously.

"How about she stays in her with us for the night?"

"You are going to get her crib?"

"Nope." Kal smiled putting on his jersey shorts. "She's staying right there in the middle of us."

Diana smiled. "I do feel better with her right here."

Kal got in bed and draped his arm over Diana's hip.

"I'll call Hessia in the morning for Astrea's check-up."

"Alright." Kal leaned over and kissed Astrea gently on her forehead then looked at Diana with a proud smile. He moved his hand to caress Diana's cheek. "I love you."

Diana smiled. "I love you, too."

They leaned in for a passionate kiss.

Kal watched as Diana drifted off to sleep. He still that having Diana and Astrea was so surreal. He was grateful.

Hessia's Office

"The good news is, within the next month, you'll probably notice much less fussy time. She is growing steadily, very much on the right track. Being a gifted child, of course her growth may slightly be different. Nothing is wrong with that however."

"She will be developing her powers?"

"Yes, but it shouldn't be until she is a year old." Hessia smiled. "Little Astrea is one healthy happy baby."

Still, for next few nights, with her motherly instincts, Diana felt it would be better for her to stay in their room to sleep.

"I'll be there to visit in about 4 days. I can't wait to see my granddaughter."

Diana laughed softly. "Your granddaughter will be overjoyed to see you, too."

"Diana?"

"Yes, Mother?"

"I'm so...so proud of you."

"Thank you, Mother."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

Diana smiled wiping a stray tear running down her cheek as she hung up the phone. She sighed lovingly and went upstairs to their bedroom. The TV was idle.

She smiled wider walking towards the bed. Looking down at Kal, lying in the middle with his back against a mound of pillows and Astrea was lying on his chest. He had his left hand on her back and had the remote in his right hand. They were both asleep.

Diana slowly eased in bed and leaned over, kissing them both on the cheek. She got the remote out of Kal's hand, putting it on the nightstand and laid next to him.

Kal moved his arm up and around her for her to get closer. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes, smiling.

Diana smiled back, reaching up and kissed him softly. She gently laid her hand over Kal's that rested on Astrea's back.

"You just don't know how adorable you two are."

"This is the longest she's been asleep."

"Her daddy's heartbeat is so soothing."

"Mommy's too."

"But the most soothing is still hearing our baby girl's."

"Oh yeah for sure. I couldn't agree more."

The next week, Kal and Diana noticed how Astrea was becoming even more energetic with her movements.

Diana laughed laying on the floor with Astrea.

Astrea was truly a social butterfly, responding to her mother with gurgles, coos and ahhs and ohhs and even smiles. She loved kicking her little feet and waving her fists. She was getting stronger, lifting her shoulders and head while on her stomach.

"Say hi to the camera, Astrea!"

Kal was video taping them for their home videos. He wanted to capture every moment and milestone.

"I have to get this picture while she is like that."

Kal laid on the floor with them.

"Look at the camera, Princess."

Kal quickly snapped the picture.

"Perfect family selfie."

"Oh, Darling, that is beautiful!"

"I'm definitely having this developed for the mantle and my office."

2 A.M.

Astrea started crying.

"I'll go get her a bottle," Kal said.

Diana nodded and picked up Astrea taking her to her room. She sat in the rocking chair.

"Daddy is bringing your bottle."

Astrea's cry was suddenly different and a lot louder. Diana then noticed Astrea's eye color was different. A little lighter than normal.

"Kal...KAL!" She quickly flew out of the room heading downstairs until Kal met her halfway and caught her.

"What's wrong!?"

"Her eyes..." Diana started to panic. "Her eyes are changing!"

"Wait! What?! Let me see."

Kal saw Astrea's eyes changing to a very light blue. He also felt her body temperature rising and could hear her little heart beating very fast.

"We need to get the Fortress now!"

Fortress of Solitude

Kal and Diana arrived in a matter of seconds from the teleporter. Astrea was still crying.

"I had this set up just in case...but I didn't think we would actually need it," Kal said as they hurried into the lab.

Diana kissed her forehead before laying her in the incubator.

Looking at the monitor screen, it was as if she was running a fever with her temperature being 110 and her heartbeat was at the rate of 130.

With a temperature and heart rate that high, that would for sure kill a human.

"Kal, she's in pain," Diana said still panicking.

Kal examined her eyes quickly. "Sensitive to the light," he said to himself. "Ok. I got something."

Kal quickly scrambled through the lab. He found a small bottle of a liquified Kryptonian herb.

"Give her just 4 drops of this."

"What is it?"

"A Kryptonian pain reliever. I take it sometimes. It's safe for her."

Diana nodded taking the bottle and medicine dropper. Kal quickly went to find something else for Astrea.

Once Diana gave her the drops, Astrea immediately stopped kicking and her little body started relaxing but she was still fussing and crying.

Kal came back covering her eyes with a visor. Astrea reached for it to try to take it off but then realizing it was blocking the light, she stopped trying to pull it off. Kal and Diana held her little hands as she cried herself to sleep.

Seeing her baby like this broke Diana's heart. So many thoughts were racing in her mind.

Of all her years of being a hero, she had witnessed so much. Experienced tragedy and loss. But this was different...a whole new experience. Being a mother and connected to this little one, the heart wrenching feeling was something Diana never imagined. She now understood why Hippolyta was so protective of her.

Diana buried her face in Kal's chest, crying uncontrollably.

Kal embraced her and kissed the top of her head.

"It happened so suddenly and we don't know what this is."

"I'll figure it out."

"I don't want our baby in pain, Kal. I don't want..."

"I know...I know..." he kissed the top of her head again and held her tighter. "Whatever is happening, I'm going to figure it out and she will be just fine. I promise."