Chapter 25

Want to give you a special shout out to my readers phyrephly, jdcocoagirl and kcWW for sending a review in pretty much all my updates.

You guys are awesome!

Part I: Diana

The ding of the elevator doors opening is muffled by someone calling Arthur's full name and the sound is coming from Kal's apartment.

"Mera," you laugh, knowing your friend's voice by heart.

When you get to the apartment, Kal is sitting on the couch, no doubt entertained by the scene unfolding before him. Arthur, looking incredible small as he is being yelled at by a pregnant redhead who's just as red as her hair on the face with anger.

"So what is it? You knock me up and decide to go live your life, watching stupid football reruns?!" She shouts angrily at her fiance.

"Told you it was a rerun," you hear Kal under his breath.

You bypass the furious woman and sit beside Kal on the couch.

"Hey," he whispers with a smile.

"What's going on?" You ask after you kiss his cheek.

"He'd been hiding at my place because he's scared of hormonal Mera."

"Interesting," you say as you snuggle closer to him. "Too bad we don't have any popcorn."

"Aw, man. Popcorn would be awesome right now."

Only then both Mera and Arthur realise Kal is not alone in the apartment anymore. Mera looks at you, stunned.

You raise both hands. "Please, don't stop on my account."

Mera turns to Arthur, even angrier than before a places a punch to his shoulder.

"Oh!"

"You didn't tell me Diana was back?! What is wrong with you?"

Mera starts grilling him again and you only shake your head. "Were they always like this?"

"It's the hormones," Kal tells you. "He's been hiding from her."

"I thought he came over to eat your mom's food."

He shrugs. "Who knows? All I want is for them to go."

"And you!" Mera says, pointing at you. "You came back? Why didn't you tell me? And why the hell didn't you call me? A whole damn year, Diana! One year and no word from you! Do you know how much has happened?"

You look at her protruding belly. "Quite a bit, I imagine."

She places her hands on her waist, as much as her pregnancy would allow. "Do you think this is funny? We all loved you, Diana. Clark wasn't the only one you left behind."

That hits you right were it was intended to and it hurts. God, it hurts. You leave Kal's side and walks to Mera, offering her your hands. To your surprise, she takes them.

"Mer, I couldn't call you without being dragged into everything I was trying to get some space from. If I did, you would have told me how miserable Clark was and I would feel even worse than how I already did."

Your frankness seems to catch her off guard and her shoulders sag, no longer with that murderous look in her eyes.

"Leaving Kal was the greatest mistake I've ever made. And I missed him and my best friend," you say, squeezing her hands. "But I had to make amends with him first. You understand that, right?"

Mera is crying, tears running down her cheeks. Hormones, for sure.

"Yeah, I get it." She lets out a sob. "I missed you so much!"

"Aw, honey," you say as you hug her. "I missed you too."

.o.o.o.o.o.

Part II: Mera

If there is ever a time that you need your best friend, it's now. Sure, you're almost at the end of your pregnancy but having Diana back is wonderful.

Though you were upset she left, you understand her reasons for doing so. Given the chance, you would have probably done the same, but only had it been pre bug, like Arthur refers anything that has happened before your pregnancy. Though now you know it's a boy, he still refers to him as Bug. it's kinda cute, so you don't complain, but he will have to call him by his name eventually.

After Diana manages to calm you down, you ask her to join you at your apartment so you can show her the baby's room. Naturally, the decor is inspired by the ocean, with sea turtles, Arthur's favorites, dolphins and fishes painted on the walls.

"This is beautiful, Mera," Diana says as she takes in the room. "I'm sure baby Arthur is going to love it."

If he's anything like his daddy, he will love it.

"How is everything between you and Clark really?" You ask her as you seat down on the nursery chair. She sits on the small green footstool before you.

"We're getting there. I mean, I have a lot to atone for but he's… He's Clark," she smiles. "He took me back, arms wide opened. Truth is, i still feel guilty as hell, but it's only a matter of time, I suppose."

You nod in understanding. "You can't pick up where you left off."

"Exactly. But starting over can be a good thing."

"Especially since you already know him."

Diana smiles. "No awkward first dates."

"No awkward first time," you chuckle, but instead of laughing, Diana looks down at her feet. "Wait. you still haven't, since you got back?"

She shakes her head, biting her lower lip. She explains her relationship with Hal and how sex was never in the picture and how even though her and Clark almost got it on, decided to wait until he was in full health to try again.

"I don't know how you do it," you tell her. "I can't go a day without climbing Arthur like a beanstalk." Diana let's out a belly laugh. "But that is the hormones, apparently."

"I'm pretty sure you were like that before you got pregnant," she reasons and you have to agree.

"Maybe, but how you haven't jumped Clark is beyond me. You've been celibate for over a year. How are you not climbing up the walls?"

Diana can only laugh.

.o.o.o.o.o.

Part III: Diana

You call Clark about an hour after you went up to Mera and Arthur's place. You tell Kal Mera asked Arthur to go home and he obediently does so not soon after Clark passed along the message the message.

Kal is back in the bedroom when you arrive, but doesn't hear you come in. He's struggling with taking his pants off due to the cast on his knee. Clearly frustrated, the growls and throws the crutch to the ground.

Leaning casually against the threshold, you ask "Everything alright there?"

Startled, he looks over his shoulder. "Didn't hear you come it."

You look at the crutch on the floor. "I take it you two had a disagreement."

Kal sighs. "I'm tired of this goddamn thing and it's only been two days. I can't even begin to think how I'm going to be after week three."

You walk toward him and place a kiss on his naked back. "You're grouchy." And you know what he needs to relax. "Lie down on the bed, Kal."

.o.o.o.o.o.

Part IV: Clark

You turn to her with a frown on your face. You know what she has in mind and you don't like it. Well, you do like it, you love it, in fact, but this is not the time.

"Di, we talked about this. I can't."

She has her hands on your chest, fingers gently flexing against your skin.

"You know you won't be able to relax if you don't get off, Kal. I know you."

"Too much, if you ask me," you mumble and she smiles. "But with the meds, I can't-"

"You took a pill 8 hours ago. I'm sure it's wearing off, if it hasn't completely already."

"Yeah, but I still-"

"Kal," she whispers. "Let me run you a bath, help you get cleaned up and if at the end you wanna give it a try, I'll do it. I just want you to feel better."

Clark Joseph Kent. Cause of Death, Diana Prince.

You sigh again. "Ok, fine. Let's try."

-o0o-