Chapter 11

Batcave (MU)

"This program is ingenious," Tim uttered in astonishment. "I've never seen anything quite like it."

"That's why we're having to build everything from scratch," Bruce stated as he tightened a bolt.

"No wonder this was taking you so long to build," he replied. "This is so complex and intricate and that's conservatively speaking."

"I have to admit that I'm relieved to have your help," Bruce confessed as he paused to stretch the kinks out of his neck. "It'll hopefully cut down on time that we don't have."

"Have you heard anymore from Lord Batman yet?"

"No," he said, pausing to guzzle a bottle of water. "If I don't hear from him soon, I'm going to contact him."

"I hope he has some good news for us," Tim said.

"I know," Bruce muttered, not wanting to discuss it.

The nightmares had been coming every time he closed his eyes, intermingling with sweet dreams of a life lived with her. Those particular dreams filled him with unspeakable peace and contentment. Unfortunately, those feelings always disappeared the moment he woke only to be replaced with overwhelming loneliness and desperate longing that couldn't be met until he'd finally found her.

He didn't know how he was going to survive not having her in his life, but he knew that he only had himself to blame for the way things had been left between them before she vanished. She had every right to hate him and he had no right to assume that she would forgive him or even want him when he got her back.

He could only hope and pray that Diana would give him a chance. He just wanted the opportunity to talk to her, to tell her how sorry he was…that he loved her and wanted to make a life with her. It was what he'd wanted all along but had been too blinded by fear to allow it to happen.

"Are you free this weekend?"

"Why?" he demanded to know as he looked into his microscope.

"I've been asked to speak at a charity benefit this weekend," she explained as she leaned forward, resting her forearms on the work desk of Batman's lab in the Metro Tower. "I was hoping you would go with me."

"Can't."

Diana huffed in annoyance with his abrupt dismissal of her. "Come on, Bruce," she pressed. "I really don't want to go alone again. What do you have going on that you can't go with me?"

"I'm busy."

"You're always busy," she reminded him. "Look, I'm not asking for a marriage proposal. I simply want some company at a benefit event."

"Diana, I said no, and I mean no," he growled, slamming his fist on top of the table. Beakers and bottles rattled with the unexpected outburst, nearly knocking them over. "I'm not going with you now or ever so leave it alone."

"What is your problem?" she spat out with a scowl as she straightened up, her hands finding her hips. "Can't we even be friends…or is that even too much for me to ask of you?"

He whirled on his heel, getting in her face, but she didn't flinch, didn't back down. "We both know that's not what this is," he hissed. "You want more than I want to give. You think there's something between us, but there's nothing, Diana. There never has been and there never will be so give up and move on."

Diana slapped him across the face, not nearly as hard as she would've like, but it was enough to cause his head to snap to the side. "You arrogant ass," she hissed. "I'm not so lovestruck teenager, mooning over you or dying for you to take notice of me. I am an Amazon warrior and I refuse to lower myself for a man too blind to see what is right before him."

"Diana!" he yelled, starting to follow her as she stalked towards the door of his lab.

"Don't, Bruce," she stated with a razor-sharp edge filled with warning as she glanced back over her shoulder at him. "You've made your feelings abundantly clear. You don't want anything from me…not even my friendship. I guess I don't measure up to the Cat, do I?"

Bruce stood there as Diana exited his lab, stunned by what had just happened…what he had just allowed to happen. He had ever chance to tell her how he truly felt and like a coward, he always ran in the opposite direction. He's allowed a bad night on patrol affect his mood, unleashing his anger and frustration with himself on Diana.

He'd just crushed her spirit. He saw it in her eyes. He had just killed something inside of her and he was terrified of what that something was. Had he just suffocated any feelings that she might have held for him? Destroying any chance that he might have had with her in the future?

Batman roared with a fury felt bone-deep, smashing a bunch of beakers on the table. How had he let this happen?

Bruce momentarily hung his head as memories of that fight resurfaced in his mind, breaking his heart all over again. Diana didn't know that a ten-year-old boy had died that night in his arms. She had no idea that the killer had eluded him and that he hadn't been able to find him.

Instead, she had paid the price for her kindness and compassion, her desire for some companionship. They had been extremely close friends, probably one of the closest friends that he'd ever had, and he'd spit in the face of that friendship. He'd stomped all over whatever it was that had been building between them from the moment they'd met.

To call it attraction was too minimal. To call it a crush, far too simplistic. This was something that defied all logic, surpassed anything that he'd ever felt for another woman. He almost laughed at what he'd once believed was love. In reality, he hadn't known the true meaning of love until Diana.

She had taught him more about love in the past four and a half years than anyone ever had before her save for his parents and Alfred. She had showed that love through her words and actions, through her heartwarming smile and the compassion that she constantly showered on others.

He missed her so much it almost hurt to breathe.

"Hey, you have an incoming message from your doppelgänger," Tim announced.

Bruce drew a shuddering breath, hoping that he had some good news for him. "Accept the transmission," he told him, getting to his feet and walking to the laptop on the work desk.

The image that appeared on the screen caused him to freeze, his heart beginning to hammer wildly. He tried to swallow but found that he couldn't. It wasn't Lord Batman who had contacted him. It was the former Lord Wonder Woman.

She sat in Lord Batman's chair, her raven hair grazing her shoulders now. The hatred that permeated her blue eyes was gone and in its place was nothing but kindness and peace. She gave him a tentative smile, momentarily averting her eyes as if she were considering what she wanted to say.

"Hi, Bruce," she gently said, appearing apprehensive.

"Hi…Diana," he hesitantly replied. "I wasn't expecting it to be you."

"I know and I'm sorry," she quickly apologized. "I just wanted to talk to you for a moment."

"Okay," he said, uncertainty clouding his face as he sat at his work desk before his laptop. "What did you want to talk about?"

"I just wanted to tell you please don't give up on Diana," she told him, pausing to hook a raven strand behind her ear. "I know you and my Bruce have been working to find her, but I just wanted to encourage you to not give up hope."

"I won't," he promised her. "I need to get her back."

She smiled softly, her blue eyes brightening in that way that his Diana's always had when she was relieved or excited about something. It caused his chest to tighten, aching desire to see the Amazon princess again growing stronger with every passing day.

"My Bruce didn't give up on me even after I went down a very dark path that I'll always regret," she confessed. "Because of that, we're together now and I'm happier than I've ever been in my whole life."

"We all make mistakes, Diana," he reminded her.

"Mine was unforgiveable," she insisted with a definitive shake of her head, her lips pursing with unmistakable disgust. "But Bruce still loved me despite it all and I'll be eternally grateful for that."

Bruce couldn't help but be reminded once more of the terrible fight they'd had before Grodd took her away from them. Would she ever be able to find it in her heart to forgive him for his cruelty and the cutting things that he'd said to her? He could only hope she would.

"I'm glad it worked out for the two of you," Bruce told her.

"If you ever need to talk or need a Diana's point of view, I'm here for you," she replied. "I want to see it work out for you too because I believe every Diana needs her Bruce."

The smile that lit up her face caused the corner of his lips to quirk slightly. "I'd like to believe that's true."

"Hey, what's going on here?"

Diana looked to her right at her Bruce who had just joined the communication. "I was just giving Bruce a little encouragement," she said. "I didn't want him to give up on his Diana because you never gave up on me."

Bruce watched as Lord Batman turned Diana's chair to face him, his hands coming to rest on the armrests of the chair. He inclined his head, kissing her for several long moments before finally breaking the intimate contact. "And I never will," he promised her. "Now, get out of my chair. We've got things to discuss."

"I'll be waiting for you upstairs," she told him with a grin, her finger trailing along the exposed part of his jaw before she disappeared from view.

Lord Batman took her seat, his expression immediately becoming stoic and all business. "Sorry about that," he muttered.

"No, it actually helped to talk to her," he confessed. "What have you been able to find?"

"Well, I've been able to search eight hundred and twenty-seven universes so far," he revealed. "There's been no sign of her so far."

A disheartened sigh escaped as Bruce leaned forward, his elbow coming to rest on his work desk. "This isn't looking good," he said as he rubbed his forehead.

"No one is giving up yet," Lord Batman sternly stated. "I just wanted to let you know what I've been able to do so far."

"I appreciate all you've done," Bruce told him. "I'm sure you have more important things that you could be working on."

"There's nothing more important than finding Diana," he stated in no uncertain terms. "My Diana has been helping search universes while I've been patrolling. We will find her. It's just going to take some time."

"Even you said it could take years," Bruce reminded him.

"Yes, it could…but then again, it might not," he countered. "We might find her tomorrow."

"Or it might be ten years from now," he pointed out.

Lord Batman visibly grimaced. "I'd forgotten how pessimistic I used to be," he said. "I guess Diana has instilled more hope in me than I'd first believed."

"I'm not being pessimistic," Bruce growled. "I'm being realistic. There's a difference."

"Not much when it comes to us," Lord Batman responded. "How's the transportation device coming?"

"Tim's helping me with the computer programming," he informed him. "It will definitely help cut down on the length of time it'll take to complete it."

"Tim's still alive?" he quietly asked, not wanting to test his voice.

"Yes," Bruce confirmed, his brow knitting with the sense of dread that filled him. "What happened to your Tim?"

"Two-Face," he simply stated, refusing to talk any further about it.

Bruce remembered wanting to ask about Lord Batman's world and his partners but hadn't had the time or opportunity. They'd had more pressing matters to deal with at the time like stopping the Justice Lords, rescuing Hawkgirl, and finding a way home. They'd never gotten around to comparing notes.

"I'm sorry," Bruce replied.

A tense pronounced silence followed that seemed to drag on forever before Lord Batman finally spoke again. "I'll keep you updated."

"Thanks," he said.

"Let me know if you run into trouble building the transporter."

"I will."

Lord Batman abruptly ended the transmission without another word, leaving Bruce to stare at a blank screen. With a grunt of annoyance, he closed his laptop, glancing at the device that wasn't near up and ready to bring anyone home even if Lord Batman found her tomorrow.

He wasn't going to give up, though. Talking to Diana had lifted his spirits despite how difficult it had been to see her, making him that much more determined to get her back. Even though she wasn't his, he was resolved to make her his own once she was home again.

"Are you okay?" Tim quietly asked, keeping his focus on the computer before him.

"I'm fine," Bruce stated, straightening his shoulders. "Let's get this done so we're ready when he finds her."

The corners of Tim's lips curled as he typed in a code. Bruce had never been one for optimism or false hope but seeing a version of Diana had definitely helped him. With any luck, they'd have their Diana home sooner rather than later. He missed her too and was anxious to bring her back.

The world just wasn't the same without her.

Batcave (AU)

"Okay, thank you for your help," Diana replied. "No, I completely understand. I really appreciate all your efforts. All right…yes, goodbye."

Bruce could tell by the expression on her face that the news hadn't been good. "What did he say?"

"Superman said they've reviewed Dr. Hamilton's work," she said as she turned towards him, trying to remain in control of her churning emotions. "The technology needed for the device is still in its infancy. They feel it would be too time consuming at this point to attempt to build it. He said that he would contact me if any new advancements came along in the future that could help me."

"Diana, I'm so sorry," he said, reaching for her.

Diana pulled back, holding her hand up. "I'm sorry, Bruce," she softly said, shaking her head. "I just need to be alone for a little while."

Bruce felt his heart break for her as she wrapped her arms around herself. "I understand."

He watched as she headed towards the stairs that would lead her up into the manor. His chin fell to his chest as he raked his fingers back through his jet-black hair, releasing a frustrated breath. He hated seeing her so hurt, knowing she wouldn't be going home to the life that she once had.

His jaw set with determination as his eyes narrowed. He was going to review Dr. Hamilton's research himself to see if there was any way he could build what she needed to get home. The thought of her leaving him cut deeply, but her happiness meant more to him than anything in this world.

Making his way to his computer system, he sat down, pulling up the research that Diana had done so far including Dr. Hamilton's research. He had no idea if he was going to be able to accomplish something like this, but he knew that he had to at least try for her.

XXX

Diana made her way upstairs to Bruce's bedroom…the room that she shared with him now. Entering, her gaze fell on the bed where they'd made love countless times now. She slowly ran her fingers over the comforter, remembering how similar the room was to her Bruce's.

When she'd stayed at the manor during the building of the second Watchtower, she'd snuck into his room a couple of times to look around. She was pretty certain Bruce didn't know about it, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her.

There was so much about this world that was like hers and yet there was just as much that was so different. The thought of never seeing Bruce or her family and friends again hurt her deeply, far more than she had believed it would. It all felt so final now.

There was no way back to her world, to her life. This was her life now, one that she would have to learn to accept. Being here with Bruce made it somehow a little more bearable, especially knowing that they were going to have a baby together.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, her hands moved to the noticeable swell of her abdomen. She gently caressed where her baby was growing, excitement warring with anguish that threatened to crush her spirit. She had a little life depending on her now. She needed to think about the baby and making sure he or she was taken care of.

She was going to have to reach down deep, tapping into the strength and fierce determination of her Amazon heritage. She needed to be prepared to build a new life here in this world with Bruce and their child, her home now her past. This was her home…her life.

Laying down on her side of the bed, she reached across to run her fingers over his pillow as tears blurred her vision. Her life had become so bittersweet, so many thoughts and emotions storming through her and causing her stomach to roil. How had life become so very complicated and difficult? She knew she only had herself to blame for the mess she found herself in now. If she hadn't given in to temptation…if she hadn't given in to her feelings.

Her hand went to her abdomen once more. She already loved this baby as well as the man that she made it with. The other half of her heart was back in her world with the first man that she had ever fallen in love with. What would he say if he knew that she had fallen in love with another Bruce and was carrying his baby?

Her heart clenched, knowing the pain that it would cause him if he knew. She had never meant to hurt him…had never meant for any of this to happen, but it did happen and now she was going to have to deal with the consequences of her decisions.

Gotham (AU)

Bruce could barely contain his excitement as they walked into Leslie's clinic. They were going to find out the sex of their baby today. Glancing at Diana, he was more than relieved to see her smiling again. Getting the news from Superman a few weeks ago that there wasn't anything they could do to help her had been difficult blow for her, but she was learning to accept it.

Focusing on the baby had definitely helped. Knowing if they were having a boy or a girl would help them buy the things they would need for the nursery as well as clothes. Diana was already beginning to show more so shopping for maternity clothes were going to become a necessity soon.

"What?" Diana asked with a confused smile as she looked at him.

Bruce smiled back, shaking his head. "Nothing," he murmured as they reached the front door of the clinic. "I was just thinking about how beautiful you are. You're going to need maternity clothes soon."

Diana groaned as he opened the door for her. "Don't remind me," she muttered. "I can barely fit into my clothes now. I'm going to be huge."

"You're going to be perfect because you're carrying my baby," he corrected her.

She paused to kiss him before passing through the doorway. "You say that now," she replied. "Just wait until I waddle when I walk, and my ankles swell."

"I'm ready for all of it," he confessed.

Diana chuckled as she checked in at the front desk. "You say that now," she repeated. "The hormones are already beginning to run rampant. Just wait for the crazy food cravings to come."

"I am up for the challenge, princess," he swore to her.

"Diana and Bruce here for an appointment," Diana told the receptionist.

"Ah, yes, Diana," she confirmed. "I'll let the doctor know you're here."

"I've got them, Holly," Leslie announced from the doorway. "Come on back."

Bruce and Diana followed Leslie into an exam room, nervous excitement bubbling up inside of both of them. Diana walked over to the table, laying down to find Bruce had already pulled a chair up beside her. He intertwined their fingers, more than anxious to find out what they were having.

Leslie carefully lifted Diana's shirt up, exposing her growing abdomen. "Now, I can't guarantee that we're going to be able to find out the sex today," she explained. "It's only twelve weeks, but we should be able to see something. Let's just hope the baby cooperates and gives us a good view of what we need to see."

Diana shivered as Leslie squirted gel on her abdomen before turning on the ultrasound machine. She held her breath as Leslie slowly moved the wand over her belly, hoping they could see something. She bit her bottom lip as an image appeared on the screen.

"There is your baby," Leslie revealed, printing out a picture for them.

"She's so small," Bruce murmured in wonder.

Diana chuckled as she glanced over at him. "Bruce, we don't know for sure if it's a girl or not."

"It's official," Leslie announced with a grin. "You are having a baby girl."

"I told you," Bruce said with a knowing smirk.

"I don't know how you knew that," Diana replied.

"I just knew it," he claimed, kissing her. "I'm so happy."

"Me too," Diana whispered, nuzzling her nose against his as her hand found his cheek. "It's our little Jacey."

"You really don't mind naming her Jacinda?"

"No, I want to," she confirmed. "It's perfect…she's perfect."

Leslie began wiping the gel off Diana's belly before straightening her shirt. "Here's a picture for you to show Alfred and Dick."

"They're going to be thrilled," Bruce said.

"Alfred's been after you to give him some grandchildren for a long time," Leslie agreed. "How have you been feeling, Diana?"

"Tired…emotional," she replied. "A few minor cramps."

"That's all completely normal during the first several weeks of pregnancy," Leslie reassured her. "Call me if the cramping worsens or comes more frequently."

"I will," Diana agreed as she sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "I'm going to need some lunch first before heading home. I'm starving."

"Well, you are going to have to increase your food intake," Leslie informed her. "Has the nausea and vomiting improved?"

"Yes, it's finally gone," Diana replied with obvious relief.

"Make sure you take care of yourself and get plenty of rest," Leslie instructed her.

"I'll take good care of her," Bruce reassured her.

"I know you will," Leslie said with an affectionate smile. "I'll have Holly call you to schedule follow up appointments."

"Thanks, Leslie," Bruce said.

Bruce and Diana walked out of the clinic and into the afternoon sun. He immediately enveloped her in his arms, holding her against him. "I've never been so happy and it's all because of you."

Diana returned his embrace, savoring the feel of being in his arms. She'd long for something like this for so long and now she finally had it. Still, she couldn't completely ignore the tug of grief on her heart. "I am too," she murmured.

"Where do you want to eat?" he asked. "You pick. What are you hungry for?"

"Italian," she readily decided. "I'm craving Italian food."

"There's an Italian restaurant down the street that has outdoor tables," he told her.

"It sounds perfect," she agreed.

They walked hand in hand along the street, both feeling as though they were floating ten feet off the ground. "Should we at least call Alfred and Dick to tell them the news?" Diana asked.

"No, let's just enjoy it for a little longer," he decided. "We'll tell them when we get home."

"I guess we could wait just a little bit longer," she agreed.

"I can't believe we're having a girl," he told her.

"I can't believe that you seemed to know it right away."

Bruce shrugged a shoulder. "I don't know how, but I just knew it."

Arriving at the restaurant, they were seated at a table along the sidewalk. They placed their orders before diving headlong into discussions about what color to paint the nursery and what theme they should use. The joy of talking about the baby helped to lessen the sorrow of not being able to return home, but it still lingered there beneath the surface for Diana.

There was a constant dull ache in her chest, a loneliness she couldn't shake. She wanted to be able to share this exciting time in her life with her mother and Donna, but they were probably under the assumption she had been killed when in reality she'd begun the arduous task of trying to build a new life for herself in a new world that wasn't her own.

She couldn't help wondering what it would have been like to share this experience with the Bruce from her universe. She had actually dreamed about it a few times, sharing a life and a love with him that resulted in a couple of children and a future that she had longed for with him.

But it wasn't meant to be. Bruce had made that abundantly clear before they had left to fight the Secret Society. She knew that he held some sort of feelings for her, but she had no idea what they were exactly. Either way, he wasn't about to act on them no matter what occurred.

"Hey, did you hear me?" Bruce asked, tilting his head to capture her attention.

"I'm sorry," she apologized with a shake of her head. "What did you say?"

"I was just wondering what you thought about painting the nursery lavender," he suggested. "I know it's not the traditional pink, but I thought maybe it would be nice to do something a little different."

"I love it," she agreed. "I think it sounds perfect."

"Are you all right?" he asked, noticing the faraway look in her eye.

"I'm just a little tired," she tried to tell him. "I guess I'm not used to being mortal."

"You'll have to take a nap when we get home," he said.

"Bruce?"

Bruce instantly stiffened with the all too familiar voice that had just uttered his name. He'd hoped to avoid seeing her, but it seemed as though she had found him. He turned to his right to find Talia coming to a stop in front of the wrought iron fence that separated them.

"Talia," he crisply stated, a definite frost to his tone.

"It's so good to see you," she gushed. "I stopped by the manor a few weeks ago, but you weren't home."

"I heard."

Talia ignored his icy demeanor, pressing on as if she'd never broken his heart by running off with another man. "I asked to have you call me, but I never heard from you."

"I've been busy," he stated.

Talia glanced at Diana, bristling with the gorgeous woman's presence. "I see," she coolly replied as she glanced down at Diana's abdomen. "It looks as though you've been quite busy. I guess congratulations are in order."

"We're having a girl," he told her, a measure of the hostility melting away with the mention of the baby.

"Well, I guess that explains why you never called," Talia said.

"How is Phillipe?" he asked.

"We broke up," she informed him.

"I'd tell you I'm sorry to hear that, but we both know that wouldn't be the truth."

Talia's expression hardened with anger. "It wasn't anything personal, Bruce," she tried to tell him. "You were ready to settle down and I…well, I met Phillipe."

"I know, Talia," he said with an air of bitterness. "I watched you walk away with your engagement ring still in my pocket."

"Well, things have changed," she responded, casting a sidelong glance at Diana. "If you ever decide that you want to get back together, you know how to find me."

"Don't wait by the phone," he spat out. "That call won't be coming."

Talia huffed in anger, storming away in indignation. "Wow," Diana murmured. "She's just like the Talia I know."

"Really?"

"I don't know her that well, but from what I've learned, they could be twins."

"How did the other Bruce put up with her?"

"I don't know," she confessed. "He must have seen something in her that attracted him to her. They had a son together."

Bruce's head shot up from his lunch, stunned by the revelation. "They had a son together? You never told me that."

"Well, I didn't want to divulge too much information when I first met you," she explained as she dug into her tortellini. "I didn't know if you were good Bruce or bad Bruce."

He chuckled with her explanation. "And what is your conclusion, princess?"

"Bad…very, very bad," she teased with a grin.

"But in a very good way," he flirted, leaning in and kissing her on the lips. "What is Bruce and Talia's son's name?"

"His name is Damian," she revealed. "Bruce didn't actually know about him until more recently. Talia kept him hidden from Bruce for several years."

"Sounds about par for the course when it comes to Talia keeping secrets," he uttered in disgust. "It must have hurt him deeply to have such a thing kept from him."

"I think it did, but he never wanted to talk about it," she thoughtfully replied. "He tends to keep his thoughts and emotions to himself. It turns into a guessing game as to what he's actually thinking or feeling."

"Meanwhile, you can read me like a book."

"It's a refreshing change," she assured him, her hand moving to cover his on the table. "I don't have to constantly wonder or almost beat you to get information out of you. It's frustrating and infuriating and you just want to punch him in the face."

He shook his head as he thought about it. "I can't imagine being so closed off to everyone around me. It sounds like he's exceedingly difficult to deal with."

"He is, but every once in a while, he lets his guard down just a little and the real Bruce shows through," she admitted with a wistful expression. "Those are the moments that I love the most."

Bruce couldn't help but notice the look in her eye and the warm expression on her face as she talked about the Bruce from her dimension. It was obvious she loved him deeply, but he also knew that she loved him as well. It was bittersweet in a way that he didn't want to think about, too afraid of the jealousy that it might stir.

He knew going into this that she was in love with him, but he'd decided to take that leap anyway. He'd take whatever she could give him, and he'd found that it had been more than enough. When Diana loved, she loved with all that she had. He felt it every time they made love. He's just been fortunate enough to have found her.

"I'm sorry you can't return home to him," he softly said.

She smiled at him, kissing him sweetly. "This is my home now…here with you," she reassured him, doing her best to bury her feelings for the man who had first stolen her heart.

He was her past and this was her new future.

A/N: Hmmm...Diana better not get too attached to her new life because someone is coming for her very soon!

UP NEXT: Shayera, John, & Wally plot, Diana has some complications and AU Bruce and Diana have a disagreement.

I'm working on Chp 18 right now! Hope to wrap this one up by Chp 22 and then on to Family Crisis. Thanks for hanging with me through this! :)