The silence in the room was incredibly tense, at least until Flash started nervously tapping a pen against the tabletop at superspeed. "Batman? Back? At the League?"

Superman exhaled. "Yes, Flash."

After a momentary pause, John said, "Maybe we should talk about this first... Things are a little too disorganized. On my way here, I already heard Question sharing his thoughts on the excuse Diana gave, to anyone who would listen."

"What'd he say?" asked Flash, looking anxious.

"Basically, that he doesn't believe us. Knowing him, he's already figured out exactly what happened," John replied.

Diana crossed her arms. "Why the big decision now, Superman? Do you only want Batman back so he can organize all the files and investigate all the cases that you've had to do since he left?" While she would not mind seeing him more often, she was feeling a bit protective of the man. She didn't want him to only be invited back just because other members were tired of doing all the dirty work. And she was sure he wouldn't buy it, either.

Superman shot her a half irritated, half understanding glance. "No, Diana. The fact is, our organization needs him. We need him. Before... this, he's never given us a reason to doubt him. He put everything he has into making this organization a reality. And he's been prepared to sacrifice everything for it." There was a moment where they all remembered the chilling moment when Batman had crashed the Watchtower into the Thanagarian base.

"He's a huge asset and a... a good friend," Superman added quietly. "He never had ill intentions and I forgive him. And that's why I think he should take this seat again." He nodded to the empty chair beside him.

Seeing that Superman was finished, Diana felt the need to put in her own two cents. "I agree," she said simply. The others looked curiously at her. The founders all knew how she felt about Batman; in the years that the seven of them had been the only members of the League, they had grown to know each other quite well. Added to that, the recent uproar over the paparazzi picture, and she was sure she would be answering more than a few questions later from her closest friends.

"Me, too," Shayera piped up. Diana shot her a quick grateful smile and turned her hopeful gaze on Flash, J'onn and John. Three already voted for; only one more vote was necessary.

"Hold up," said John authoritatively, crossing his arms. "If this is going to happen, it has to be a unanimous decision. Such a huge breach of trust can't be voted in with a simple majority."

Shayera glared at him and replied with cutting sarcasm. "Go on, John, don't let your massive ego be shy about your feelings about this."

"Well, I'm not shy about it," said Flash, leaning forward with an earnest look on his face. "He scares the crap outta me but you gotta love 'im. To be honest, I didn't want him out in the first place. Unlike you guys, apparently, I knew that without him we'd be totally fu-"

"Thank you, Wally," Superman interrupted. "J'onn, you haven't said anything as of yet. What are your thoughts?"

J'onn remained silent for a moment. Everyone looked on expectantly until finally the Martian stated slowly, "I read his mind after it happened."

Diana gave a start. "At the meeting afterwards? You didn't say anything!"

"Not then. He was prepared in every way for our meeting that day. " J'onn corrected. He paused. "You must understand that feeling others' emotions is a very private thing. In fact, this information is not something I would normally share, but it is necessary in order for you to understand. For the most part, at that meeting, his mental state gave off a certain air of... emotionlessness, coldness; even after hearing what happened to us. It worried me that perhaps he did not care at all, and that unfortunately clouded my judgment of him. But my worries turned out to be nothing."

Everyone was leaning subconsciously across the table now. "What? Why?" Shayera fairly shouted.

J'onn winced at some memory. "It was after the mountainside of Al Ghul's stronghold collapsed, and I found him nearby, shaking with exhaustion. His mental barriers were therefore weaker than usual... I didn't mean to read his mind..." He faltered again, then continued on. "But for a moment, I was overwhelmed with his guilt, all for what he had indirectly nearly done to us. It was a very strong emotion, at least until he put his barriers back up. At the meeting, he tried to make it seem like it didn't matter to him. But it was all a very clever mental ruse." He looked over the shocked group. "I trust this information will never leave this table."

"What?" said the Flash, confused, at all the meaningful glances his way.

"I don't know how to put this delicately, but you're a huge motormouth," replied Shayera bluntly.

"Hey," Flash complained. "I can keep a secret!"

"Oh yeah?" snorted John. "Name one."

Flash seemed to struggle with himself for a moment, and then a grin crossed his face. "Batman's secret identity," he said triumphantly.

"I think that probably had more to do with your fear of getting beaten up than your sensitivity and discretion," Shayera said with a little laugh.

Meanwhile, Superman still seemed to be processing the information J'onn had given. "He's good at the mental control aspect, I don't doubt it," he said. "Remember how he took down Doctor Destiny?"

Flash shuddered. "Don't remind me."

Diana, who hadn't been involved with that mission, had other concerns. "Does that mean you vote for, J'onn?" she asked, wanting to be sure.

The Martian's eyes glowed red. Yes.

There was another silence. All eyes seemed to turn to John, who sat arms folded, unperturbed by the attention.

"Well? John? Are you going to prolong this topic or are you going to be a man, let go of your massive ego, and join the rest of us?" Shayera barked.

He gave her an annoyed glance. "Look," he said, holding his hands up, "I have always had respect for the man. I just think the decision has to be unanimous to show our solidarity. That doesn't mean I'm not voting for it," he said quickly when Shayera opened her mouth, "Especially when we hear from John that he was sorry. Just not man enough to say it."

"Oh, I see," snapped Shayera. "You just wanted Batman to blink first, so that you could forgive him without losing your massive ego."

"Why do you keep saying 'massive ego'?" he said, glaring.

"Uh, maybe because, you have a massive ego."

"I do not-"

"Enough," boomed Superman. The two quieted.

Diana smirked at Shayera. "Are you all done with your lovers' spat?"

In perfect unison, they hissed, "We are not-"

"We get it," Superman cut off, looking exasperated. "Finish your argument elsewhere. John, are you for or against?"

He sat silently stewing for a moment, then said, "For."

A tension that Diana hadn't even realized had been sitting in her gut suddenly became alleviated. Really, had there ever been any doubt? She didn't have any hard feelings for John, though; she understood. It was in his nature; he was a very clear cut man and she admired that. When there was trust, he was loyal to the last breath; but at the breach of that trust, it would never be easy to gain his friendship again. She'd seen it with Shayera- hadn't it taken him far longer than this to even say a civil word to her face?

Superman's relief was clear on his face. "Good," he said gruffly, shuffling some papers in his hands. "Now that we've got that settled... time to move on to the next item..."

Superman tried to make it just another item on the agenda, but the six members knew, no matter how offhand he tried to make it seem, that this was a huge deal. Diana was certain she was not the only one finding herself tuning out of Superman's words and reflecting on the decision they had collectively made.

Batman was coming back. The thought made her giddy.

But just as she was overflowing with happiness at that thought, another made her hesitate.

Would he even want to?

After the meeting, Diana checked her mailbox, expecting nothing out of the ordinary. A few unpersonal, widely distributed ads, notes, a bit of fanmail, the usual. Everything coming in from earth was of course extensively screened so she wasn't worried.

A small black envelope caught her eye, shoved in the back corner of the slot. Her breath caught for a moment and she reached for it. It couldn't be...

It was. Inside, a crisp, cleanly folded note written in Batman's handwriting; a style which, she had noticed earlier when he had signed the cheque, was significantly different than Bruce Wayne's. She wondered if he forced it on purpose or if it came subconsciously from fully immersing himself in two different roles.

The note was short and impersonal. Meet at the back of the largest blue tent. Wear civilian guise. Quarter to six. There was no signature at the bottom.

She knew what he was talking about. The Wayne Foundation Fair. But how on earth had this managed to get here? It didn't seem his style to send it by courier like all the fan mail.

Which really, left only one option. He had come up here- he had been here, in this very spot- to specially deliver a note to her.

She felt a stupid grin cross her face. How sweet, yet infuriating of him, to come here unseen for this purpose. There he went again, sending mixed signals. A short note, yet a heartfelt gesture. A cold shoulder, a lot of flirting. A slew of reasons why not, but an offer for a date. She knew why now, of course. He was confused. By himself.

Diana supposed that perhaps her mother had been right about at least one thing: Men were fools.

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Diana and Bruce at the Fair is coming up, so stay tuned and leave a review! :)