The Beginning (Part III of my Post--'Starcrossed' Trilogy.)

By: Jade O'Neal

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. They are property of DC Comics, Warner Bros. and others.

Spoilers: STARCROSSED. (Take note: I have changed a few of the occurrences in "Starcrossed" to better suit my story. Sorry if you've got a problem with that...)

Rating: PG-13/R for language and ADULT content.

Now, on with the trilogy...

)V(

After adding a pinch of pepper to the vegetable stir-fry I was preparing, I turned off the stove. Because I was proud of my accomplishment, I set the small kitchen table wearing a smile.

I had spent that entire Sunday morning training and studying a new form of martial arts. The young Dick Grayson, whose alter ego happened to be Nightwing, had been my teacher for months now. He believed I had relied on my wings a great deal in the past (go figure) and needed to learn how to fight if I somehow lost the ability to fly.

He, being a gymnast, possessed an incredible knowledge of muscles and how to fortify them. His girlfriend, Barbara Gordon, even made him study up on how birds strengthened their wings so he'd be more capable of helping me improve. Dick claimed that my legs needed work, that my upper body's potency outweighed my lower body's.

He was probably right.

The officer from the Bludhaven Police Department walked into my "kitchen" with wet hair; he had taken a quick shower before lunch. By the look on his handsome face, I could tell that he wouldn't be staying any longer.

"What happened?" I asked with a slanted grin and poured a glass of water for myself.

"I need to get to Gotham. Looks like Two-Face escaped again, and Babs said it would be a good idea to give Batman some backup."

I nodded. "Well if you need anything, just call."

"Thanks Shy, but we can handle it. You just stay here and do whatever you've been doing. You're looking better than you have in a long time." Dick then hugged me and planted a kiss on my cheek. "I'll have to take a rain check on the stir-fry. See you soon?"

I forced a smile. "Yeah. Bye Dick."

"By the way, Alfred is sending you a package of his world famous brownies. If I were you, I'd get started on a 'Thank You' card ASAP."

"Will do. Say hello to Barbara."

With that, Dick left my humble loft. Now alone and in silence, I had quickly lost my appetite and occupied myself by packing the food in Tupperware containers.

Somehow, the television still managed to catch my eye.

"Last night, there was another sighting of the secretive hero, believed to be the returned Hawkgirl. Midway City has had about twenty reports of Hawkgirl stopping muggers, back robberies, and hostage situations.

"Is this the same Hawkgirl that was once part of The Justice League just six months ago? The same Hawkgirl that had allowed her people to occupy Earth? No one knows for sure, but the public still holds mixed feelings."

The screen switched to an older woman in the middle of a shopping mall. "Honestly, I think she's not here to hurt us. Let the angel come."

A younger male, about seventeen years old was interviewed next. "Dude, that Hawkgirl was overlooked in the past. Everyone made a deal 'bout Wonder Woman, but Hawkgirl's where it's at. She's hot."

"I think she's a traitor," a middle-aged man told the camera. "She used the League, and she used our planet. She had brought back Hitler's work camps; only it wasn't a sick man in charge. It was a freak with wings."

I winced.

"Well," a twenty-year-old female explained, "I think we need Hawkgirl to prove herself to us. When Superman had 'betrayed' the planet, we had given him time to make things right. Maybe she needs the same opportunity."

The anchorwoman once again appeared on the screen. "The Mayor says it shouldn't be of any surprise; even Gotham had its anonymous hero before Batman announced his presence."

I sighed and shut off the TV.

{"Go back to them," Barbara pleaded. "You know you want to."

"And be on the receiving end of their looks, knowing that they are hesitant to trust me? They'll second guess me and analyze anything I tell them. I just couldn't live with myself."

"This isn't about dignity or honor anymore. You've already slaughtered that. Don't you see that it's about family, Shayera?"}

)V(

"Today marks the six month anniversary of The Thanagarian Invasion; it also –"

I groaned and switched radio stations after I put on my ring. My muscles were tired from this morning's workout, but felt a little relaxed because of the hot shower I had just taken.

With my skin still wet and only a towel around my waist, I walked to the kitchen and grabbed a soda from the fridge. My stomach was growling, and I realized that I had skipped breakfast. I had a craving for an omelet; Wally loved my stuffed omelets, and I tried to recall the last time I had made him one.

I remembered.

{"You were pretty close. Right?}

His words were filing through my brain. He had asked me that three months ago.

Close? I loved that girl more than I've ever loved anyone. She was my everything.

{"We never got that serious."}

Please. Nights wearing only bed sheets and sharing a carton of ice cream or fried rice couldn't be serious. Touching and tasting every inch of her body, caressing her, loving her, waking beside her... How could Wally even think that we were serious?

But he knew I had lied to him.

And to myself.

Six long months had gone by since I had last heard her voice, since I had seen her smile, since she had betrayed –

No! I promised myself that I wouldn't go there again. If he was right about anything, Wally knew that I shouldn't still be tearing myself apart. I had to move on.

Without her.

{She was sitting on my lap, straddling my hips with her hands placed on my shoulders. With the back of my couch propped behind me, I was comfortable. My arms were wrapped around her waist, and our bodies were enveloped in blankets.

Her green eyes had been illuminated by the candlelight, and her auburn hair was a complete mess. I knew right then and there that I'd give the world for her, that I'd do everything in my power to keep her safe.

God I loved her so much, but how could I have told her?

She suddenly smiled and kissed my earlobe, followed by my temple.}

"Diana to Green Lantern," I heard from my comm-link.

I answered, "Lantern here."

"There's a disturbance not too far from you. Perhaps you could take a look?"

"Guess so."

"All right. J'onn will telepathically send you the coordinates."

"Thanks." I allowed my Corps uniform to appear on my body, and I was ready to go.

)V(

"Miss Davis?"

"Yes?"

The security guard glanced at me quickly and then moved his eyes to my fake ID. I wore a dark, chin-length wig, one that matched the wig I had worn in the photo. When he smiled, I let out a soft sigh of relief.

Another plus to having Batgirl as a friend: she could forge ID's like no other.

"Who are you here to visit?" he asked me and returned the license.

"Hawkgirl."

"She's under tight security. We need you to leave your coat and bag here and pass through a metal detector. Do you understand?"

I nodded and didn't hesitate to hand him my purse and leather duster. He wouldn't know that I was Thanagarian; I had no wings.

At least no wings he could see...

"Follow me, Miss," another officer requested, and I did as I was told.

Of all the prisons in the nation, Arkham Asylum was one of the most protected and most heavily protected. The only person who could break in and out without detection was Batman himself.

"Don't I know you from somewhere?" the young, blonde security guard asked me with a grin I couldn't read. "Have we met?"

"No. I don't think so."

"But I never forget a face, especially a attractive one." He was actually flirting with me.

Men. Can't live with them. Don't want to live without them.

"Thank you, but we've never met."

After passing through all their tests and detectors, the guards led me to the visitor's room. I sat down in front of the glass and waited for the alternate version of myself.

Then she came. It was like staring into a mirror, but she didn't hide behind black hair, colored contacts, and tons of makeup. She sat down on the opposite side of the glass and grinned devilishly when we made eye contact.

"I was wondering when you'd visit," the former Justice Lord told into the phone after she had lifted it. "I mean, it's been six months since you lodged a knife into the Lantern's back."

"I didn't come here to be criticized. I just wanted to ask you a few questions."

She laughed. "Go ahead, 'Kimberly Davis.'"

I narrowed my eyes, but chose to ignore her tone. "I was talking to Flash..." I paused when her expression suddenly changed. For a second, remorse crossed over her face, and I caught a glimpse of the softer side of Shayera Hol.

That Shayera Hol.

"He said the helmet the Thanagarian Army gave me matched the one you wore." Her features hardened when I spoke again. "Did Hro invade Earth in your dimension as well?"

"He did."

"And did you side with Thanagar?"

"I did at first, and then I helped the Lords when I realized I had been 'misinformed.'"

"They forgave you?"

"Had to."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why's that?"

"Because I saved John from a abrupt death by killing Hro," she snapped.

I had to stop my jaw from dropping and instantly pictured when I had prevented John's death.

{Hro held the axe above his head, preparing to bring it down on Lantern. He wanted to murder my teammate.

My friend.

My lover.}

"Makes sense. You all are killers anyway."

She moved the receiver to the other ear and rolled her eyes. "Well, I knew it was one or the other. I couldn't have both."

"You wanted both?"

"Did you?"

I lowered my "brown" eyes and bit my bottom lip. "No. I thought I wanted Thanagar, but not at the price I'd have to pay: billions of lives for a meaningless war..."

"So losing John and the League was a better price?"

"No, but that was my own fault. I shouldn't have been so naive. Why the hell would Thanagar want to protect Earth from the Gordarians? Did I really believe that we actually cared about another planet?"

"You did at one time," she confirmed, "but you didn't know any better. You were just... following orders." She ran a hand through her long hair and leaned onto the table. "They lied to you from the start, before you could have been influenced by the humans and their customs. They never trusted you."

She paused for a moment, as if she were recollecting her thoughts and then harshly whispered, "He never trusted you."

"Maybe."

"Unlike John who did trust you."

"Sure, up until I sucker punched him."

She shrugged. "Okay; that was a bad move. You didn't know the circumstances then."

"But I should have."

"Quit acting like a obdurate child. He loves you. You love him. Get out of here and find John; tell him how you feel."

I raised my gaze to meet hers and felt my insides shiver. She didn't see my apprehension, though. I wouldn't let her "know" me. We were nothing alike, and I did not want her to think that we were.

"Did you tell him?" I countered, and, to my surprise, she nodded. My jaw almost dropped.

"I had already lost any chance of returning to Thanagar. The Lords and the planet that I had given everything to protect didn't respect me. There was nothing to lose."

"But –"

"Time's up," the guard interrupted. "Say goodbye. It's her dinner break."

I stood to go, but she stopped me.

"Quick question," she said. "Where the hell are your wings?"

A smirk tugged at my lips as I slowly turned away from her. "I had them removed."

)V(

{"You're beautiful."

She propped her head on her hand and looked down on me with those intense emerald eyes. With a chuckle, she stated, "You forget that flattery won't get you anywhere."

"No I didn't." I then smoothed a few strands of her red hair and caressed her soft cheek. She was amazing in more ways than one, and I doubted she knew.

Wow. Who would believe that I had died today? The bomb had stopped my heart, taken my life, but I couldn't care as long as she was safe.

She had saved me, and now I was in Heaven.

Who knew death could be such a wonderful thing?

Who knew Heaven was the sickbay of the Watchtower?

Her lovely fingers danced over my chest, twirling chest hairs and tracing muscles. I laughed, and she did the same.

"What's wrong? Is the marine ticklish? I wonder if –" Her words were cut off by an avid kiss, which she immediately mimicked and permitted to intensify.

My lips then left her mouth and started on a path down her jaw line and then to her throat. She rolled onto her back, and I crawled on top of her. Her elegant wings and her shapely legs spread simultaneously, inviting me to be part of her. The powerful wings then swallowed my body, and we made love again that night.}

I landed in Midway City, in an alley located only blocks away from the town square. It was so quiet that I even considered leaving.

Maybe J'onn had made a mistake.

Maybe there was nothing wrong.

Maybe this was an elaborate scam cooked up by Flash to have me run into her. Hadn't he mentioned an apartment? Where it was, I had no idea, but I never really wanted to know.

I never really allowed myself to find out.

"Somebody, stop him!" a woman yelled, and I whirled around to see a burglar racing out of a department store.

In reality, the store was a Tiffany's and the burglar was Shade. He probably had stolen a few expensive gemstones that were big enough for J.LO to wear at one of her weddings. Being the only robber on the run, I figured that he wouldn't be a problem for me.

I flew into the middle of the street, chasing after the thief. The odds were against him.

I shot out a beam from my ring, enclosing his form in a green aura. Next, I pulled his squirming body closer and narrowed my eyes.

"Real sloppy, Shade."

"I don't think so," he answered coolly.

A split-second later, someone clobbered me from behind, forcing me to lose my concentration. Shade was free, and I was soaring through the air, toward a brick wall. I plowed into it, instantly feeling bruises materializing on my body. Somehow, I had managed to create a shield around myself before the impact, so I wasn't as injured as I could have been.

Groaning, I raised my stare from the pavement to look at whoever had hit me. Shade wasn't on his own; Giganta stood by his side, smiling.

Already a news team and a crowd had gathered at the scene, gawking at the brawl. Kids were cheering me on, and adults were trying to keep them quiet. Either way, they were all liabilities now. I had to keep an eye on them, just in case Shade and Giganta got any bright ideas involving hostages or civilian casualties.

"Surrender now," I ordered as I got to my feet.

"And what?" the "gigantic" woman asked. "Come along quietly, and you'll go easy on us?" She chuckled. "Not a chance, Lantern."

)V(

"Tell him how you feel, Shayera?" I asked myself and rolled my eyes. "Yeah right. Then he'll glare at you like you're the enemy, which, by the way you were, and he'll turn his back on you. Your state of insanity will be established, and Batman will take you into his cave to run tests on you."

I looked to the darkened sky and thought about how it used to be an escape for me. Instead of having a place of sanctuary, I had the skies. Not today, though; it looked as if it were going to rain.

Strolling through Midway's park and heading for the town square, I could really think about where I stood in my life. Sure, I wasn't a Leaguer anymore, but I had four friends from four different cities that I could depend on if I needed anything. Wally, Barbara, Dick, and Kara were my links to the outside world and to my past life. They kept me informed on the status of the League and its members while keeping me a safe distance away from my former co-workers.

I did miss the past, though. I missed everything about it, except the lies that I had told to better Thanagar. If I could have done it all again, I would have told John everything about my assignment and myself. Things would have possibly ended another way. Maybe I'd still be with them all. Perhaps I'd still have a family.

My new "family" nearly filled the voids Superman, Diana, J'onn, and Batman had left in me. Wally was still around, and Dick made me feel at ease. Kara was adorable and her positive attitude was contagious. Barbara, the group's intellectual center, was the one I related to the greatest; she always had something wise to say, whether it dealt with aerial assaults, criminal activity, take-out, or kettle corn.

None of them helped me deal with my crucial loss: John Stewart. When I had left him standing there with no power ring and a broken arm, I wanted to go back. I remember stopping myself from spinning around and flying into his embrace. I just couldn't allow him to consider taking me back. I'd wind up hurting him again.

{"Where are you going?" I asked him and sat up in his hectic bed. He was standing at its foot, wearing his uniform and staring at me with a wolfish grin. "Sun's not even up."

I loved him in his suit. He looked so refined and professional, but, then again, I always did have a thing for a guy in uniform.

"I've got monitor duty in a few, and I told Flash I'd pick him up," he replied. "How'd you sleep?"

"I'd say like a baby, but your snoring kept me up half the night."

He shook his head and playfully threw a pillow at me. I caught it and returned the act, but he stopped it with his Corps ring and put it down on the floor. John then sat on the mattress and planted a kiss on my lips.

That Lantern tasted so good.

"Before I go, I wanted to give you something."

"John –"

He cut me off. "Here." The former military man handed me two pieces of metal that hung from a chain. I instantly recognized it; soldiers wore them.

"Your dog collar?"

He chuckled. "It's called a dog tag, Shy."

"This must mean so much to you." I ran my fingers over the name engraved into the metal and looked at him. "I can't take this, John."

"Sure you can. I want you to."

"Really?"

"Really." He then pulled my face toward his, and our mouths met once more.}

"Where are the rest of The Justice League?" the anchorwoman for channel three news questioned with worry as I passed one of the town's many video stores. "Why aren't they helping The Green Lantern?"

Shock hit my body like a curveball when I realized that GL, my John, was in Midway City.

And he was in trouble.

)V(

Giganta, with her hand fastened around my throat, shoved me up against the brick wall again. Shade was watching with great amusement, so I put a stop to his gratification. I formed an enormous hand that took hold of the redhead and then threw her body mass into The Shade's. The second my feet touched the cement below me, I was knocked aside by a power that resembled my own.

Star Sapphire.

This was a team effort.

I guess the odds were now against me.

What the hell were they all doing in Midway City? This wasn't Metropolis or Gotham. There was nothing in this town, unless you counted the hero who resided here. I suppose in some aspect she could be compared to either Batman or Superman, but she wouldn't be able to handle them all herself. They must've figured they could get away with murder, both figuratively and literally speaking.

My body had been embedded into the brick wall another time, and the brunette villain was making sure to keep me there with her powerful force field. Her lips formed a crooked smile, and she spoke.

"Look at you, all broken up. Don't you think we know you're the weakest of the League? Joker wasn't the only one who noticed your attraction to that traitor." She then licked her lips. "Lantern, you need a woman of your own stature."

I chuckled. "Well, that rules you out." With all my strength, I created my own force field and propelled her away from me, sending her through the air. The Shade didn't hesitate to repair her mistake by surrounding me with the darkness that he controlled. I couldn't see anything, and I had trouble breathing and focusing.

I wanted to try and contact the others, but I couldn't get myself to. I tried to create another shield, but it didn't happen.

The shadows suddenly lifted, and I was yet again in the street. I raised my glowing eyes to see why Shade had let me go, and my answer flew into the air.

It was her.

She had that same old mask, the same mace, and the same pair of wings. I couldn't tear my eyes off of her. She looked liked a fallen angel, wearing a black tank and pants. Why she didn't have a uniform, I didn't care; I just knew she had come for me.

She had come to save me.

She was always the first one to save me... It was just like old times.

Star Sapphire used the gem she wore to shoot beams of light at the winged redhead, but they had no affect. The Thanagarian blocked every one with her mace, directing a shot at Giganta and another to its origin. The other redhead was knocked out upon impact, so I used my ring to tie a streetlamp around her.

The moment of hesitation Star Sapphire had used was enough time for the Thanagarian to launch her weapon into the villain. It instantly smashed the gem on the criminal's head and knocked the crook unconscious.

Shade was the last.

I had a feeling that my former co-worker wanted him for herself.

Thunder cracked a moment after lightning flashed, and rain began to pound down on us all. The children and their parents raced out of the storm, but the reporters didn't budge; they'd sit in a hurricane to get a story this big.

The beauty landed gracefully and stood face to face with The Shade. She positioned herself into a fighting stance, something I had never seen her do before, and beckoned him to make the first move. He attempted to bang her upside the head with his stick, but she grabbed his wrist before he even got close. She tore the weapon from his grasp and tossed it to me. I instantly broke it in two.

"Fine, Hawkgirl. We'll do it the old fashioned way." Shade punched, but she evaded in a style I had only seen Batman use before her. With both hands, she took hold of his right arm and twisted it, forcing the bone to snap. He cried out in agony and crumpled to the floor.

Hawkgirl then turned to me. I couldn't quite read the expression on her face, but I knew it was one of completion and, surprisingly enough, yearning. My head told me that one of us should have walked away right then, but everything else screamed for me to stay. Knowing full well that cameras were filming us and that people were watching, I took a step forward; it had surprised her.

"You're hurt," she managed. I nodded, and she continued. "The MCPD are probably on their way."

I took that as a signal to tie up both Star Sapphire and The Shade with the news teams' unused cables.

When that was done, I followed Hawkgirl into the dark sky toward the Midway City Museum. We landed on its roof, and slipped into an abandoned loft that someone had finally paid some attention to.

It was her apartment.

She locked the secret entrance and guided me to her living space. It was mainly empty, when you didn't include the few pieces of furniture she did have. A table and four chairs sat in a room with a stove, a microwave, and a refrigerator. Ten feet away from that was a couch that had been stationed before a small television set. To the back of the area, there was a single queen-sized bed inside a small room, adjacent to a closed door that probably led to a bathroom.

At least she wasn't living on the street...

"You're soaked to the bone," she told without really looking at me and handed me a tee and sweat pants. "Flash left those a little while ago. They might be a little tight, but they're dry. You can change in here; I'll go into my room."

I watched her leave and close the door behind her. I still hadn't said a word to her; no wonder why she was acting so detached.

So alienated.

Quickly, I allowed my uniform to disappear and pulled on the plaid pajama pants. Before I got to the shirt, I found myself studying the room. DVDs were piled beside the TV, and I picked them up. "G.I. Jane" and "Enough" were at the top of the pile, and I gave a small chuckle. Those were movies I had known she would love.

A binder was located next to the couch, so I took the liberty of picking it up and glancing through it. She had paper clippings and magazine articles on The Justice League, organized by person and date. There were TIME magazine covers of Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman. Stories by both Lois Lane and Clark Kent lined the book, and pictures were fitted into random places. I continued to skim and found articles on Batgirl, Nightwing, and Supergirl as well.

And then I found stories on me.

She had pages of pictures and articles, and I could almost sense the pain and the pleasure she had felt when she had glued the pieces together.

"What are you doing?" her voice demanded, and I spun around. She wore a pair of gray sweats and a black tube top, to accommodate her wings. Her red hair was still wet, but she didn't wear her mask.

God, she was beautiful.

"Nothing. I was just –"

"Spying on me? I invite you here so you can get patched up, and you spy on me?"

Something inside of me snapped. "There's a lot of that going around now." As quickly as the words had left my big mouth, I had regretted them.

The statement had clearly punctured her.

"So, you're going to be all schoolboy about it? I did it so you're going to do it too?"

"No. That's not –"

"I should have known better than to think that you'd willingly except my help."

"Shy..." My voice trailed off as I watched the tear slip from her right eye.

She quickly wiped it away and placed a box onto the table. Shayera shuffled through it and pulled out some gauze and alcohol.

I could tell that she was just as uncomfortable as I was.

"Let me tend to your cuts, and then you can leave."

)V(

He slowly came to me and took a seat at the kitchen table. I could tell that he was sorry for that last remark, but it didn't help. John had meant it. No matter what either of us believed or wanted to believe, he still hated me for hurting him and his team.

Truthfully, The Green Lantern had every right to loathe me. I had torn the League apart; I had them chased like animals. I deserved to never be forgiven by the only man had I ever really loved.

I cleansed the deep cut on his shoulder and bandaged it. Next, I handed him an icepack to put over his eye, which had begun to swell. In addition, his lip was split.

Bruises like that only occur when a person is ambushed; that's what those bastards had done.

They were probably expecting me, not GL.

It had been such a long time since I had seen him, really seen him. Six months, to be exact. He looked as good as ever. He hadn't shaved it a while, and I wondered if he wanted a rugged look or was just too lazy to do anything about it. I wanted to know everything about him... everything that I had missed.

"So, Flash comes here a lot?"

Small talk. That was promising.

"Nah, not really. When he's free, I guess."

"That's nice." John looked to the floor as I repacked my first-aid kit. "So, how are you?"

I froze.

I didn't know how to answer.

"Fine. You?"

"I'm okay."

I moistened my lips and nodded in reaction. After taking in a deep breath, I offered, "Would you like some vegetable stir-fry? I made it myself."

"No. I'm all right. Thanks."

I ran a hand through my damp hair and rubbed the back of my neck. I didn't know what to talk about. I remembered that Hro had broken John's arm and decided to risk bringing it up.

"How's your arm?"

"Pretty much healed. It's a little weak, but it'll be okay."

"Does it still hurt, John?" I asked, not really speaking about his limb.

"All the time," he replied, and I didn't know if he was talking about the same thing. "I know it can never be the same, not with all that took place."

"I'm sorry." I swallowed the lump in my throat and felt tears welling in my eyes. "I wish I could change the past."

"Me too."

A short pause came about, but I tried to kill the tension with more tension. "Do you hate me, John?"

"I wouldn't be able to."

"Do they hate me?"

"No. They only hate the decisions you made."

I was fighting tears. "I didn't know what they were planning. The Thanagarians had lied to me from the start."

"But you sided with them anyway. We never lied to you, Shayera, and we were the ones you turned your back on."

"I know I was wrong. I thought I was helping Earth."

"You were stuck in a no-win situation."

Then I moved on to the day we had parted, knowing full well that he held some resentment there. He had to. I had just left him standing there...

"I couldn't stay."

"You had to work things out for yourself."

"And I did. I'm my own person now. There's no commander, no orders, no lies."

"I'm happy for you."

"You don't know how much that means to me."

He looked at me with pride in his radiant eyes and stood from his seat. "I should go. Thanks for your hospitality."

"No problem," I said and shrugged. "Just doing my civic duty."

Lantern smiled, and it made my week. He then took my hand and kissed the knuckles. I held my breath, wishing that it wouldn't end there.

)V(

I wanted to sweep her into my arms and just hold her for the rest of our lives. I'd be content with that.

I wanted to tell her how much I had missed her, how much I still loved her, and how much I still needed her. I didn't care what the others had told me or what they wanted. Jesus. There were rumors circulating around Batman and some thief, Flash was attracted to anything with breasts... Why was I the one who had to watch out for what people might think? Why should it matter?

"Shayera," I whispered with my hand still holding hers. "You should know that I had forgiven you a long time ago."

She nodded and lowered her eyes to the floor. "You really shouldn't have."

I knew that she loved me. She had told me she hadn't lied about loving me, but could I ever get myself to trust her again?

I mean, really trust her?

And if she knew I couldn't, would she be okay with that? Could we give our relationship a chance? Would she be tentative to trying again?

Should I tell her that I'd take her back if she allowed me to?

"John..."

When she didn't continue her sentence, I asked, "Yeah?"

"You being here... It helps me cope with all that's come to pass."

"Same here."

She smiled at me, and I could have died right then and there. I really missed her smile, and seeing it again made me feel complete for a breathtaking moment.

"Shy?"

"Hmm?" She raised her gorgeous eyes to meet mine.

And I did the unthinkable.

I kissed her.

To my delightful astonishment, she didn't pull away. Shayera wrapped her arms around me and deepened the kiss. I brought my hand to the back of her head, keeping her lips close to mine. Without realizing that we had been moving, I found myself pressed against her body, and her body pressed against the wall of her loft.

)V(

He kissed me again and looked down on me with happiness on his face. I didn't know I could produce that kind of gladness, but it made John even more beautiful in the dim light.

The only sound that could be heard was the patter of the rain on the roof.

We were lying in my bed, with him still on top of me, gazing at one another. Although what we had just done was pure bliss, looking intently at each other was just as satisfying. John didn't even have to say a word to me. His hunger and his actions had explained everything.

And I was a joyful listener.

I had eagerly paid attention for the past hour.

And I'd "listen" again if he still had anything to "say."

He softly brushed my red hair from my face and lightly planted a kiss onto my forehead. If there were a God, I would thank Him for the rest of my life, and if there was a Heaven, this was it.

John was Heaven.

"You have my dog tags hanging on a bedpost?" he asked and motioned toward his right.

"Yeah, I do."

"I have your picture on my nightstand."

"Really?"

"Really."

I smiled and caressed his cheek. "So what happens now?"

"Well," he said as he crawled off of me, "give me a little time, and we can 'do' what we 'did' again."

"No, though that would be nice." I sat up beside him, and hugged my knees. "I mean what happens after today? Do we date? Do we tell anyone? Do we stop it now?"

"Do you what it to end?"

"No."

"Then we'll take it one day at a time. The last thing we need is to be rushed."

"Okay."

"Okay."

My eyes then noticed a faint scar that stretched across his broad chest. I hadn't noticed it earlier, and a sick feeling instantly twisted my stomach into knots.

"Did Hro give that to you?" I questioned and ran my fingers over the scar. When he nodded, I muttered, "That son of a bitch."

"That doesn't matter anymore."

"But it does, John. You almost died because of me."

"Shh." He kissed my temple and ran a hand through my hair. "The past isn't an issue. This is a new beginning that starts with you and me. There's no Hro. No Katma. Just us and our love."

"We have a lot to talk about then."

"Yes we do."

I kissed him again and whispered, "But we have tomorrow afternoon for that. Right now, I need some sleep; I've got to work in the morning."

)V(

I found myself waking to the sound of a telephone ringing. I glanced to my right and realized that the bed was empty. The shower was going, so I figured Shayera was getting ready for work.

But where could she work without people noticing her massive wings? I had never really thought about that.

The phone rang a fourth time, so I picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hi... Is Sara there?" a familiar female voice asked.

"Actually, she's in the shower. Could I take a mess –?"

"John?"

"Who's this?"

"It's Barbara Gordon, Wally's friend."

"Oh. Hi."

"I'll just call back another time," she assured quickly, and with a click, the girl was gone. I hung up the phone and sat up in the bed, feeling more serene than I have in months.

After pulling on my pants, I staggered to the kitchen and poured myself a mug of black coffee from the already brewed pot. If anything, Shayera needed her coffee in the morning. I guess you could blame both Wally and me for that addiction.

"Morning," she greeted with curled hair, chandelier earrings, a white blouse, a gray pleated skirt, heels, and no wings.

Wait.

No wings?

"What the hell happened to your wings?" I demanded, spitting out coffee.

"Oh! I didn't tell you!" She pointed to the watch she was wearing and told, "There are perks to knowing Batgirl. She made me this."

"She made you a watch?"

"A cell-disruptor disguised as a watch. All I do is press this button, and my wings appear or disappear."

"Interesting."

"Isn't it incredible? I thought Thanagarians were the masters of technology, but Batgirl puts us in our place."

"So you can masquerade as a human?" When she nodded, I grinned. "That's wonderful."

"We'll talk about it later, at dinner tonight, if you're not working. I know this inexpensive, cute, quiet Thai restaurant only a few blocks away from here." Shayera came to me and pressed her lips to mine. "See you later?"

"Can't wait."

"Me either."

"Have a good day."

The Thanagarian giggled like a schoolgirl and grabbed her purse. I watched her leave and sipped my java.

I had to get Flash to cover for me.

I had a date.

{"Look at us, John. Just look at us." Hawkgirl lowered her eyes and sighed.

I wouldn't let it end there, not when I was getting somewhere.

"All I see is a man and a woman."

She looked at me with shock and hope in her eyes. When I reached for her helmet, she hesitated before permitting me to remove it. When I did, I saw the most beautiful creature I had ever laid my eyes on.

And I kissed her.}

(THE END)

All right, there ya go! The last portion of this trilogy. Hope you enjoyed. If you'd like an epilogue like Jademagic had requested, HOLLA!

Peace out.

A.T.