Chapter 21

Diana left the monitor room because she was too angry to sit there and listen to any more speculation. Heading down to the training center she went into an empty training room and started an advanced program to burn off her frustration.

As she pounded the droids she mulled over everything she had learned over the last twenty-four hours. It infuriated her that the coalition of nations supporting the one world government would resort to threats to get their way. However, if they were truly in league with Grodd she was not really surprised. Grodd was intelligent and ruthless, and he would see this as an opportunity to kill two birds with one very large stone. Her fist knocked the head off another droid with a satisfying 'thunk'. As the program wound down she felt the worst of her anger dissipate and knew she could behave rationally now. She washed up in the changing room and went down to her office.

The first thing she did once she sat down was contact her UN office to check messages and find out if there were any rumblings within the ranks of the staff. Diana had discovered the staff grapevine held excellent information. Her assistant said she had not gotten wind of anything, but would keep her ears open. Diana also asked her to make a note to contact the US ambassador and arrange for a private meeting in the next few days. She would approach him first with the League's findings and they could decide if they should widen the net. Diana considered this a good way for the League and the US to forge a new bond.

Sitting forward in her chair she made a list of the nations in full support of the proposal and a second list of those who were on the fence. Looking over the list she could not see an obvious connection between the nations in support. Logging on to her computer terminal, she started researching when the door to her office opened.

"Any news?" she asked when she saw it was Batman. She glanced his way but went back to her work. Professional was how she wanted to keep things within the League and so she pretended not to feel her stomach flutter or her pulse rise. The sound of a lock clicking into place had her hands stilling.

"Batman," she said warily, "we're working."

"No, we're taking a break," he said as he walked slowly across the room toward her. She felt her stomach muscles begin to quiver in anticipation but she made no move toward him. There was something about him in his uniform that left her wanting to tremble, and as he drew near she almost did exactly that.

"We're supposed to be working," she said softly.

"No," he leaned over her, "we're taking a break." The kiss was brief, almost chaste, and left her wanting more. She reached up and gripped his shoulder, pulling him closer so she could brush her lips against the cleft in his chin and nip gently with her teeth. His response was a rumble deep in his chest that had liquid heat pooling inside her. He moved away and Diana moaned in protest. He smirked at her and said, "The Manor, 8pm. Dinner."

He did not wait for her to reply before he crossed the room, unlocked her door and left. She slumped back in her chair and had to take a few deep breaths to steady her system. He had not even really kissed her or touched her, yet she had been pliant and willing to engage in any activity he desired. As she turned back to her computer her door opened again. This time it was Shayera.

"Was that Batman?"

"Clearly," Diana responded and pretended to work.

"You're blushing Princess," she said as she dropped into a chair in front of Diana's desk.

"I'm doing no such thing," she protested, but felt the heat in her cheeks and cursed Batman silently.

"Yes, you are. Spill."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she lied and continued to type.

"Liar, but I can wait. Eventually you'll break." She looked at Diana smugly.

"I'm not having this conversation. I've got work."

"Whatever," she said and laughed. "You'll break."

Diana waited until Shayera left the office before she laughed.

…

At eight Diana rang the bell at Wayne Manor. Bruce's long-time butler, Alfred, greeted her.

"Good evening, your Highness. I'm so pleased to see you again," he said as he helped her off with her coat.

Diana smiled and said, "Thank you Alfred. It's good to see you again too. It's been a while."

"Yes indeed. Too long," he said quietly and hung her coat in a nearby closet. "Would you care to wait for Master Bruce in the den, your Highness?"

"That would be fine, thank you." She had been to Wayne Manor before but never socially and she took the time to look around at the grandeur of it. 'What an amazing place to live,' she thought.

"May I offer you a drink while you wait?" he asked as they entered the den.

"No, thank you Alfred."

"I'll let Master Bruce know you're here," he said and left her. She walked over to a mahogany bookshelf to look at the leather bound volumes. She was impressed with the collection and had pulled a book on ancient Greek mythology off the shelf to flip though it when Bruce entered. He was wearing a black sweater and black slacks and he looked absolutely wonderful to her.

His eyes slowly traveled over her and she felt slightly smug when his eyes returned her hers clouded over with lust. She had chosen grey slacks and a cowl neck sweater in scarlet. The sweater was cut on a bias and it draped her body in a way that highlighted her curves. She had opted to wear her hair pulled back in a messy bun and finished the look with a sparkling diamond pendant.

"You look amazing," he said and crossed to her.

"You don't look half bad yourself."

"Would you like a drink?" he asked.

"No," she responded and turned to replace the book she was holding. Before she could step back he was behind her and she shivered as his fingertips skimmed the skin at the nape of her neck.

"I've missed you," he said softly and dropped a kiss where his fingers had brushed. Her mind fogged over and her thoughts jumbled.

"I can't think when you do that," she said slowly.

"Good," he said with satisfaction. "That means I'm doing it right."

Diana laughed and turned into his arms. "Great, now I'm feeding your ego," she teased.

"An Amazon princess is in love with me. My ego has reached critical mass," he said and smirked.

"Oh really," she said with mock indignation.

"Really," he said and slipped his hand behind her neck and drew her in for a kiss. As their lips brushed there was a discrete "Ahem," from the door. Diana felt her cheeks warm and saw Bruce grimace.

"Dinner is ready," Alfred said and slipped out.

"Remind me where we were so we can pick this back up after dinner," he said with a wink. Diana rolled her eyes, but was unable to suppress the anticipation lodged in the pit of her stomach. He took her hand and led her to the dining room. They took their seats and Alfred served the fist course.

"This is amazing," Diana said after tasting the tangy tomato bisque.

"Alfred is a fantastic cook," Bruce said with genuine warmth. "I can't even manage toast."

"I'm sure I don't need to tell you how lucky you are to have him."

"He's my family. I know how special he is," Bruce said and she saw sadness creep into his eyes. Diana set down her spoon and took his hand in hers. He squeezed back but refused to look at her.

They ate and talked about trivial things to lighten the mood, but as the meal progressed Diana noticed that Bruce was acting strangely. When he laughed it sounded cheerless and a little too loud. On Mykonos he had seemed casual and not at all forced. She wondered what had changed. Diana tried to brush off the feeling and continued the conversation but when it happened again she decided to get to the bottom of it. Diana set down her fork and looked at Bruce.

"What's wrong? Why are you pretending to have a good time?"

He blinked then said, "Pretending? I'm sorry, I don't follow."

"Pretending, faking it … why?" She sat back and waited. This was a test, she decided, and she did not intend to fail.

Bruce did not insult her intelligence again by playing dumb. "You always were perceptive," he said quietly.

"That, and I'm smarter than most of the women Bruce Wayne dates and I know when someone is pretending to have a good time." She tilted her head. "What's changed? On Mykonos things did not feel so … I don't know, strained."

Bruce looked at her with an unreadable expression. She got the feeling that he was making an important decision about their future, and she hoped desperately the decision was not to walk away.

"I want to show you something," he said and stood. He offered her his and she accepted. He led her from the dining room and down a long hall before stopping in front of a set of heavy wooden doors. He opened the doors and allowed her to enter.

Above the fireplace was a painting of a man and woman. Bruce's parents she realized with a start and she stepped forward to look at them. She knew from talking with Kal that Bruce lost his parents when he was eight. Losing them had left an indelible scar deep inside him. The pain of his loss eventually led him to become Batman.

Bruce was silent as she studied the faces of his mother and father. To her they looked ethereal and kind, like a prince and princess from a fairy tale. Bruce looked very much like his father, but he had his mother's kind eyes. They were beautiful people who were ripped away from life far too soon and the injustice of it had emotion coursing through her in thick waves.

"You look so much like them," she said, her voice trembling slightly. She looked at him then but his eyes were trained on the painting. They held such sadness that it nearly broke her heart. The sadness, however, transformed before her eyes and what was left was determination that belonged to Batman.

"I think they would be proud of the man you have become," she said and watched his eyes slide to hers and his features soften.

"It's in their memory that I do what I do," he said with Batman's inflection.

"Yes," she said simply. "You don't have to explain who you are and what you do. What you do need to do is stop trying to protect me, push me, or pretend with me."

He pulled her close and buried his face against her neck. "I'm sorry, Diana. I told you I wouldn't make this easy for you." Wrapping her arms around him she offered comfort and love, which he seemed to need desperately. Seeing him this way she understood why he had hesitated to open himself to her but she refused to let this obstacle keep her from him.

"Having you here with me, in my home … in the real world scared me. I won't lie." He pulled back slightly and looked into her eyes.

"You have nothing to fear from me," she said and smiled.

"Come on," he said and pulled her from the room and back to the den. He took a seat on the couch and pulled her against him. The fire cracked and popped and she watched the flames dance as Bruce held her.

"Thank you," he said softly as if the words were the most difficult he had ever spoken. "Thank you for not walking away."

"I said I wouldn't," she said gently, "and I don't plan to start."

He pulled her closer and they sat watching the flames until they burned down low. Slowly they shifted and his arms were around her, drawing her close, and his lips met hers. He did not offer her words, and she did not need them, to understand the love he was giving her.

"Come upstairs with me," he whispered to her.

She nodded and stood when he offered her his hand. They climbed the stairs and she thought for a moment that she should be nervous. All thoughts ceased as he trailed kisses down her neck. Slowly, deliberately he showed her with actions how much he loved her and for Diana it was pure bliss.

…

She woke as Bruce kissed her gently on the forehead.

"Patrol?" he asked sleepily before glancing at the clock to see that it was almost one o'clock.

"Yes," he said. "Be here when I get home," he said.

"Count on it," she said and smiled smugly because he wanted her to stay and had said so.

Bruce laughed gently and brushed her cheek with his fingers before he left her. Diana's last thought before she drifted off to sleep was how proud she was of the man she loved.