I hope you enjoy this one, sorry it took a little longer to get done.

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Chapter 24: The Worth of a Kiss

Tuileries Garden Paris, March 1873

It was a beautiful day, Bruce and Diana were currently taking a walk through the Tuileries Garden. It was a peaceful enjoyable afternoon unfortunately for Bruce nothing good lasts forever.

Bruce,

As soon as the over energetic voice pattern reached his ears he knew escape wasn't an option.

"BATS?!"

"Diana, DON'T turn around." He hissed.

"Why…"

"WALK!"

"BRUCE WAYNE, DON'T TRY TO RUN!"

"I never run." Bruce growled.

Diana veered from her orders and turned to face the loud stranger. Bruce momentarily hung his head in defeat before resigning himself to an encounter of the most unpleasant sort.

Once he caught up the brown haired man shown a cheeky grin, giving himself an overall carefree air.

"Brucie! How long has it been? 10, 15 years?"

"6"

"Well it seems a lot longer since I got to enjoy your cheerful smile."

The man turned brown eyes to Diana who greeted him with a polite smile. Interest of a most intense nature gleamed in his eyes as he took in the tall dark haired beauty.

"Well, well, well, Bonjour Mademoiselle."

Diana's smile grew as the charming gentleman kissed her hand in greeting.

"Bats aren't you going to introduce us?"

Bruce's already unpleasant gaze intensified. "Diana, this is Harold Jordan."

"Friends call me Hal."

"Bonjour Monsieur Jordan, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise I am very sure."

Hal edge closer to Diana, Bruce continued to radiate nonverbal annoyance.

"So Hal, when did you and Bruce meet?"

"Bats and I go way back, we attended university together."

"I attended university, you visited on the few occasions you decided to show up for class."

"Are you still sore about that tiny fire he started in your dorm room? I was just trying to help warm the place up."

Bruce was not amused, Diana on the other hand laughed at the mental imagery. She found Hal Jordan delightful. He was so carefree and disarming. Every word he said took the listener on an adventurous ride, building their excitement levels to match his.

"What are you doing here Hal?" Bruce demanded.

"Enjoying the sights." He turned once again to Diana, "all the sights."

"And have you enjoyed what you've seen so far?" Diana asked innocently.

"I can honestly say I have never seen a more lovely view."

"Well I hope that means you will return again to Paris for the sights you seem so fond of."

"I certainly plan on it." Hal practically purred.

Bruce was done, and as far as he was concerned so was Hal.

"Maybe we could go sightseeing together sometime?" desire practically drooled off Hal's tongue.

"No!" Bruce cut the other man off.

"Bruce…" Diana began.

"I said, no."

Hal straitened and looked the rich boy in the face.

"I believe the lady is able to make up her own mind, Batman."

"Yes she can! Hal…"

"Was just leaving."

"Now just wait one minute!" Hal started as he began to point his finger into Bruce's chest, but the taller man leaned in fixing the other in a stone cold stare that threatened a fate worse than death if he made one wrong move.

"Goodbye." Bruce finished.

Hal's face became deathly pale, he mumbled an apology to the Duchess and then scurried away like a gazelle that awakened the lion, and decides it doesn't want to be a part of dinner. As he left he tried to save face and laughing waved to Diana.

"Maybe next time when my schedule frees up, or better yours."

Diana was mortified but waved politely to the quickly disappearing figure. Turning on her heels, head held high she marched back to the hotel, with Bruce having to keep up with her relentless pace. If it wasn't for the elaborate dress she would have ran.

When they arrived back to the hotel she was still silently fuming, and her anger had reached volcanic proportions. Bruce may have thought the subject was closed but he was sorely mistaken. No sooner had the door to their suite closed then the eruption began.

Diana,

"HOW COULD YOU BE SO RUDE?!"

His voice remained the same uninvolved, stoic, factual repertoire as if he was addressing a classroom of ignoramus pupils.

"You were practically throwing yourself at his feet. I was merely trying to save what remained of your dignity."

If he thought she was angry before it was nothing compared to the storm his words had just unleashed. For a moment Bruce genuinely feared for his life as he saw the pure rage in her eyes. The normal brilliant azure turned black with outrage.

"YOU POMPUS, ARROGANT, ASS!"

Bruce's gaze intensified, now he was also becoming enraged.

"Listen Princess, don't attack me just because you're being over sensitive…"

"Μπορείτε γιος του γαϊδουριού, Πώς τολμάς, Είθε οι Θεοί θα πατάξω για τα ψέματά σας!"

"ENGLISH!"

"What is wrong with you? Where you just as unpleasant as a child or did you recently decide kindness was for the weak?"

"Listen…"

"NO! You had no right to embarrass me like that! And who do you think YOU are speaking for me HOW DARE YOU! Listen you stupid little man! I did nothing wrong, why do you care if someone flirts innocently with me? I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Forgive me for not mourning your wounded vanity."

In a fit of pure anger Diana scanned the room for a weapon. Anything she could use to smash in his insufferable face. Using her unnatural strength she grabbed a giant vase off its marble pedestal.

"DIANA THAT IS ENOUGH!" he yelled too late.

She hurled the priceless object straight and true for his face. Letting out the cry of a hardened warrior as the object left her grasp.

All her life, all her life she had endured the humiliation of those around her. Felt the never ending shame of the men she served, the friends she loved, and the strangers she encountered. 21 years of others speaking for her, of having no control over her life. It ended here.

As she aimed for Bruce she envisioned all those who had brought her life to what it was. All the years of being trapped, of being owned, WHO HAD BROUGHT THIS ON HER?

Madame, Marius, Louise, Claudette, MOTHER! WHY? YOU FORCED THIS ON ME…AND I DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE! I didn't want it, not once did I do anything to deserve it. Life has dealt me this and it ISN'T FAIR!

With the vase went all of Diana's anger, sending it out of her hands to where ever it landed. This was her life, it would be what she and the fates decided, no one else.

With mere seconds to spare Bruce rolled out of the way and stared dumbly at the shattered pieces that now littered the floor. The spot on the wall directly behind where his head had been was white from paint and pulverized pieces of ancient Chinese pottery.

He turned back to the fury who had nearly ended his life, or at the very least rearranged his face. She no longer looked the defiant warrior. Instead she just stared at the wall, her azure eyes looking wearily at the damage her rage had incurred.

Despite her tall stature she now seemed very small to him. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Then calmly she addressed him. Her voice no longer holding the anger it had before, just questions, and within her eyes was the fierce pride and dignity he had come to admire.

"What does it matter Bruce? Soon this will be all over and I'll be on my way. Besides you don't care for me, at least not like that. All I want is for us to be frien…"

Bruce swiftly crossed the floor…he took her face in his hands…and he kissed her, passionately.

All of Diana's senses dulled and then intensified. The world grew both closer and farther away. He moved his hands from her face to her shoulders, and then to the small of her back, gripping one firmly on her tiny waist. She tilted her head up, lips asking, begging. He drew her into his arms marveling at how perfectly she fit there. He pressed his mouth down upon hers, tasting the sweetness of her lips, drinking in the sensation of her mouth. Feeling her soft body against his. Her desire rang threw out her whole body causing her to tremble as he continued his exploration.

Finally, and regrettably he drew away. The two stood locked in each other's gaze, their heartbeats synchronized perfectly, both gasping for breath. Diana felt as if the whole world was spinning and the only thing she could focus on, the only thing she could see was Bruce.

"Forgive me," he whispered, and walked out the door.

Diana watched him leave, she backed into the wall, and slid into a sitting position. And there she stayed, for how many hours she didn't count. But after dark fell and he still hadn't returned she gave up and crawled into her large overly stuffed bed, listening to the wind whistle as it fell against the windows.

"What now?" she asked the darkness, "what now?"