Disclaimer : I don't own these characters, I am not making any money out of this and copyright infringement is not intended, as always.

Author's note: Thank you for the reviews…keep 'em coming.

Chapter Two

A Match Made In Heaven

She was almost late for the meeting, well considering the number of heroes that were present it was more of an assembly, after making a secure line connection to her agent regarding an investment she just made. She was informed that everything was ready and taken care of. She was excitedly making plans in her head about this investment, about her independence, that she barely heard any of what Superman was saying. When it was over, she made her way to the exit.

"Diana…meeting room in five minutes," Superman called out.

Didn't they just have a meeting? She looked at the clock and winced. She had enough time for breakfast if she were Wally. Dismissing breakfast since she still felt full anyway, she went ahead to the meeting room. Superman was already there, looking at a magazine.

Oh my! It's the magazine.

"Diana, good that you're here." Superman motioned for her to sit.

She sat next to him. "So…we're going to talk about that."

Her friend did not even bother answering her as he was busy arguing with himself if Diana was indeed the woman staring in front of him, from the magazine.

He appeared to be intently studying the pictures of her taken several weeks ago as she looked at his profile. He's going to be angry at me. Then she remembered the events that led to that photo shoot.

Ever since she came to Man's World, she was hounded by various cosmetic firms, top designers to endorse their products after all she was a goddess, and she was very beautiful. It was very difficult, but she successfully declined every offer even if they were so very persistent.

Then came a time when she made up her mind. It was just after the watchtower was destroyed and she found herself suddenly homeless. The money was more, much more than enough for an investment, a home of her own, and another project that she wanted to start. That was when she lent her face and body to be a print model for the first and the last time.

"I just want you to know that…it was a one time deal." She sounded apologetic.

He faced her and regarded her expression. "I always thought that your people…"

"Did not approve?" She found the courage to smile at him when she knew he was not mad as she thought and touched his arm. "They also did not approve of me coming her, Kal."

"I have nothing against this…" he sighed. "Are you sure the sisters won't leave the island and march here to protest?"

She chuckled. "They only read GQ…just kidding."

They laughed together for a while. "I almost did not recognize you with that red hair, and brown eyes," Superman noted.

"And the heavy make up," she smiled with him. "How did you know it was me then?"

"I. Told. Him."

She stiffened at the sound of that voice. Batman took the seat beside Superman.

"You should have told us you were planning on marketing your looks," the deep voice added.

"And good morning to you too," she forced a smile that he did not return. Actually, he seemed upset, very upset. She removed her hand on Superman's arm and sat straight, serious now. "Why?" she asked.

"Protocol."

Actually, she had not counted on the fact that she might be recognized since the agreement was that she be uncredited, or the fact that Batman was reading fashion magazines.

Or does he? That thought was suddenly disturbing. She had to shake the mental image of him, costume and all, sitting cross legged in front of his computer in the Batcave while leafing through the latest issue of Vogue.

It was easier to think that Batgirl might have tipped her off, better yet, it might be that Catwoman.

"I don't recall you giving Flash this lecture when he endorsed a product," she answered defiantly.

"That was different." He almost snorted.

"Of course it is..." her voice was rising. "Because I'm a woman."

"Don't give me that--"

"Why not?" She stood up.

"Sex is not the issue," he shot back.

It's like watching Wimbledon, Superman thought. If he did not have super strength, he would be suffering from a whiplash by now.

"Then what is the issue?" She demanded, hands on the table.

"Don't play dumb with me, Diana."

"I'm not."

"You know very well what the issue is."

"Care to enlighten me?" Her eyebrows rose at him.

His eyes were mere slits. "Flash was wearing a lot more in one commercial…" He took a deep breath. "Than you in all of these shots." He slid the magazine to her part of the table.

She looked at one of her scantily clad poses. "I've worn less as an Amazon."

"There were no men in the island, Princess," his voice warned.

"I've never had qualms about men seeing me."

"I do."

"Well I don--" She suddenly paused, open mouthed, surprised at his reply.

If his answer surprised her, it stupefied Superman. It's a tie for set number one, he thought. Then said aloud, "It's over and done." Superman, acting as the umpire, broke the silence as the two stared at each other. "There's nothing more we can do about it. Can you just tell us why you did it?"

She sighed and sat down. "I need the money."

"What for?"

"It's confidential."

Batman was trying his best to be patient with her. "Can you please talk to her?" he told Superman.

They are now into tie-break and Diana was leading by half a point. Superman tried to hide his sudden amusement. "Diana, what do you need it for?"

"I…made an investment." She almost sounded guilty by planning behind their backs.

"A…what?"

"You need a hearing aid," she whispered under her breath. He did not hear any of it but he heard a faint chuckle from Superman. "And I need a house."

He pretended to consider. "You could have just asked me."

"I'm not a charity case."

He tensed, as if hurt by her answer. "Why would you need a house?" His tone was suspicious.

None of your business! "You have the manor…" She turned to Superman. "…you have the fortress. Did anyone ever ask you why?"

"But you have a room here," Superman spoke when the other man seemed to consider her answer.

"I know. But what happens if…" she appealed to her friend. "Someone needs to pilot it to destruction again?"

"That's a lot of money for just a house," Batman just could not help from interrupting.

If he did not know any better, Superman was likely to conclude that there was something bothering Bruce about Diana's plan. His reasons were getting a little personal. It was time to end this and move on to more concerning matters like…saving the world.

"I don't see anything wrong about that, Diana." He conceded and stood up. "Just…try to tell us if you have any future plans…of modeling again, so we can have a commission." He smiled at his friend. Batman then stood up stormed out of the room.

She frowned at the closing doors but smiled at the other man and was glad he understood. "By the way, I'm moving out tonight."

"So soon?" He opened the door for her.

"Another superhero could take my room."

"Will you be alright?" The concern in his eyes made her forget her initial irritation at her other teammate.

"I'm a big girl, Kal. I can handle this," she tapped his shoulder. "Thanks…for everything."

Just in time after the meeting, she volunteered to assist Supergirl on an emergency. There was a fire in one of the hospitals in, of all the places, Gotham. Thankfully, it was not the handiwork of one of Batman's best friends and that it was taken care of before the incident necessitated his highness's appearance. Supergirl left for another minor emergency while she stayed behind just to make sure everything was alright. After a short while, assured that everything was okay and no one was hurt, she prepared to leave.

"Wonder Woman, "an elderly lady called out.

She walked towards the group of patients that they saved from the fire. "Yes, ma'am?"

The old lady smiled. "We think you and Superman really make a nice couple."

Another remarked, "We think it's about time you two get together."

The small crowd of patients seemed to agree. All she could do was smile embarrassingly. A younger lady, not a patient, maybe a daughter of one of them, she noticed, approached her with a basket of fruits.

"Please accept this as a thank you from us."

"Oh!" She was warmed by the gesture. "Thank you."

As she flew away, she thought about how Bruce would react on her accepting presents from people she just saved. Just then she got a call in her commlink.

"Diana…" There was the slightest note of hesitation in J'onn's voice. "A…gorilla is loose in Gotham, at the Gotham Zoo."

Her face wore a hint of a smile. Yes, and its wearing a cape, a cowl, a bat insignia and a bad attitude, she thought.

She could almost hear the amusement in the Martian's voice. "You still may want to check up on it."

She smiled fully now, remembering that J'onn could read minds.

"I'm on my way." Her smile was wider upon the knowledge that she was armed for this job. She had bananas in the basket.

When she got there, the ape in question was contained and back in his imposing cage. But she noticed with dismay that another ape was still at large, grinning at the camera, as Bruce Wayne faced the press.

She was just leaving when he called out. "Ah…Wonder Woman, nice of you to grace us with your presence. But as you can see, we have everything taken care of."

The press all pounced on her when they saw her.

"Wonder Woman, is it true?"

"Are you two having an affair?"

"Are you officially a couple?"

Whatever are they talking about?

Everyone was asking at once and she was clueless up until a reporter held up a copy of a tabloid. "Love Under The Stars" read the headlines and just under it, a picture of her and…Superman!

Her mind almost panicked when she saw the image of her and Kal-El smooching in the front page. But they were not kissing, it was taken that night after her encounter with Batman and Superman was just trying to help her when he caught her crying. But of course, how was she to explain when the angle of the camera showed that they were making out in mid-air.

Amidst the throng of reporters, she got a glimpse of Bruce Wayne looking at her with his impish grin, taking her confused expression. But his eyes…they were not that amused.

"We're just friends." That's all she could say before storming out.

After that encounter, she went back to the watchtower, all the while wondering if the news got there too. But once there, she did not need the wisdom of Athena to understand the grins she received as welcome. It only proved that news traveled that fast.

She needed someone to talk to.

"Princess…come on!" Flash complained, as she replayed the earlier events, as if he did not know already. "That was almost admitting that there's something going on." In his mind, he was still conflicted to bet on whether it was true or not.

"What was I supposed to say?" She handed him an apple from the basket, he wiped it on his uniform. Within several seconds all that was left of the fruit was the core.

"We'll for starters…is there any truth to that rum--"

"You should know better than to come to Flash for advice," John suggested as he approached the two.

"Hey GL!" Flash exclaimed upon seeing his buddy, taking an orange this time. "I'm just teaching Wondy here a few pointers about speaking to our friends, the press."

"That reminds me," John turned to her, accepting the apple that she offered. "When did Superman ever find the time to court you? I always thought you and Bat---"

"We're just friends," she interrupted, casting a glare at John before leaving.

Wally confidently placed his hands behind his head, after finishing his second fruit. "I'd bet a twenty that she and Supes are an item."

Green Lantern smiled. The boy is clueless. "Fifty says that they aren't."

In her room, she placed the big fruit basket on the bed and looked at it thoughtfully, remembering the earlier events. All this thinking and still…an idea suddenly occurred to her…that she still was not hungry. With that thought, she rose from the bed, picked up an apple, scribbled something on a small paper and sought out the next person who held the answer to her quest for the truth. But when she reached her destination, unfortunately, Zatanna was not yet in. By the door, she left the apple and the thank you note.

On the way back to her room, she was met with grins again from the other leaguers. She decided to ignore it, reminding herself there was no need to worry about it much since there was absolutely nothing but friendship between her and Superman. Besides, she was leaving anyway.

Packing up her things did not take too long. She just possessed just a few items, including the evening dresses Audrey insistently purchased for her during her short stint in Paris.

Paris.

That thought made her rummage through her things for a certain dress. Once found, she stared at it for a while. She touched a finger to the smooth black fabric, and smiled as she her hand felt the torn hemline. It was the dress they danced in, the dance that they never got to finish.

She shook her head, ridding herself of the image of his handsome face, and decided to leave the torn dress. It held too many memories and she did not need anymore emotional baggage. She was leaving this place to limit the possibilities of ever encountering him again, to start anew, like she promised herself. With a sigh, she picked up her things, went to the door, took a last look at the room, then stepped out, never looking back.

She flew in the darkness of the night with her thoughts accompanying her in her journey. And above it all, felt an amount of excitement at finally living on her own.

Her eyes shone bright as she caught sight of her new home. It was in a small village, not very far from the busy city, just hidden from its busy lights by nature. The cottage was perched atop a cliff, overlooking a wide expanse of ocean. It was rustic, a little old, and she loved it just like her agent said she would. And she was just as pleased with the adjacent property, a huge piece of real estate. On that land stood a much bigger version of a home not unlike her cottage. In a few days it will be a nursing home and a children's shelter.

When she was finished surveying her newly acquired property, she went to her new house. The keys were exactly where her agent told her, under the door mat. Once inside, she dropped her bags and inhaled in the very welcoming fresh scent of old wood. But the scent, her hunter's senses noted, held something else, a familiar scent, a very familiar scent.

A ruffle, and a figure stepped out from the darkness.

"Hello, Princess."

She was right about the scent, she was on guard immediately.

"What in Hera's name are you doing here?"