Disclaimer: The usual…no money is being made from this, I don't own any of the characters and copyright infringement is not intended.

Chapter Five

And Baby Makes Three

At the break of dawn Diana went home to the cottage after J'onn and Superman insisted that she take the whole day off. Any other time, she would have gladly accepted. But because she needed to distract her mind away from something that just happened, and work was the only solution, she protested, of course, arguing that her strength had returned and that she was fully functional again. When the Martian looked at her knowingly, she knew what he meant for he could read her. She was suffering from something more than just physical strain. J'onn did agree though, after much persistence on her part, that she could return for work that same night.

It was still very early and she was certain that Shayera was still peacefully asleep so she just deposited the things she bought for her friend and walked by herself near the edge of the cliff. The lonely sigh of the wind as the sun rose on a new day helped lift her spirits. And as she walked back towards the cottage, she was filled with new hope. No more looking back at what could have been, but look forward to what the future holds.

Friends. At least, they were still friends.

"Something sure smells yummy," Shayera commented as the very pregnant Thanagarian yawned and stretched, doing her best to sit by the counter. But her enormous tummy prevented her form squeezing her form into the small space and she could not fit between the table and the stool so she settled on the chair by the kitchen table instead.

"Toast, eggs, ham and bacon…lots of bacon," Diana replied as she put two plates with generous helpings on the table while Shayera poured herself some brewed coffee. "Aren't you supposed to stay out of that for the time being?" she reproved as she sat across the pregnant female.

"Just try and stop me," Shayera threatened and took a sip then made a face as the very hot liquid scalded her tongue.

Diana on the other hand thoughtfully eyed a piece of bacon and tentatively took a small bite. "You know, I was almost turned into this," she told her friend.

She told the rest of the story as they ate. In turn, Shayera told her about life outside the league.

It had been difficult, mostly when she found out that she could no longer risk her life in fighting because she was responsible for another life beginning inside of her. With envy, she tried to do her share in the good fight in simple ways, traveling from one place to another. But sometimes hiding what she was since the world now saw her race differently.

When both women felt that their little talk was getting way too serious, they changed the topic and talked about the lighter side of life as she showed Shayera the items she bought while they lounged by the living room during the afternoon.

"By the way, what should I expect during…childbirth? You are Thanagarian after all," she asked looking up from the book she was reading.

"Trust me," Shayera said in between bites of her apple. "There's not much difference."

"Don't we need a doctor for this? Or at least someone with medical expertise?"

"All you have to do is catch. I'll worry about the rest." Hawkgirl smiled. "By the way…I read somewhere…"

When she noticed that the Thanagarian's eyes were dancing, she had to put down the book on her lap. Sitting cross legged on the sofa, she rested her elbows on the pillow placed comfortably on her lap and studied her friend's amused expression. "What did you happen to read somewhere?"

"Aren't you going to tell me about you…and Superman?"

Here we go again! "There is nothing to tell," she answered abruptly and returned to her book, turning a page. "We are the best of friends."

Shayera was now rummaging through the items she bought. "Oh…how cute!" A pair of booties was held up almost in front of her face. "So nothing is going on between you and the Man of Steel?"

She shook her head, her eyes never leaving the book.

"Nah…you're both too alike anyway," Shayera dismissed. "And I always thought Batman was the one who had a thing for you. I mean…the way he tried to dig you out from under all of that rubble like he had superpowers. If you had only seen him," Shayera blabbered while folding the blankets and baby clothes. "J'onn and I were there. It's not every time that you get to see him that way."

She slowly tried to hide her face in the book and Shayera suddenly stopped yapping.

"Oh my stars!" Hawkgirl exclaimed. "We have been speculating on the wrong pair! You and…Batman?"

She made no move to answer and that only fueled her friend's insinuation. "My you are blushing!" Shayera giggled. "Don't tell me you too are just best friends."

She finally spoke. "Just friends. Not best friends. I don't think he is ever best friends with anyone, not even with himself."

"Really?" Shayera's eyes were still dancing. "My…don't we sound a little…bitter?"

She sighed and put down the book again. "Okay…he dumped me."

The emerald eyes grew wide with anticipation. "Details!"

She put the book away. "I always thought…maybe it's just me, but…I felt that there's…something…"

"A connection?"

"Yes…but you know him. He'd never say anything." Her fingers fidgeted with the soft corners of the pillow. "So one night on patrol, I…took the chance."

"What did you do?"

"I…tried to talk him out of his feelings. And…I got a short lecture on why we can't be…" She recalled his words. "He said, in exact order, that one, dating within the team always leads to disaster…" she eyed Shayera's expression and chuckled at the grunt. "Two, that I'm a princess from a race of immortal warriors…and that he's a rich kid with lots of issues."

"He said all of that? My…he is really into you."

She raised and eyebrow. "He dumped me, remember?"

Shayera looked at her with an impish grin. "But it appears that…he was giving the idea of the two of you some thought."

"So?"

"There's a possibility that he might just reconsider."

"I don't think so." She remembered the conversation they had. "When he visited me at sickbay, we had another…talk. I told him that I understood his reasons and hope we'd still be friends."

Shayera fell back on the couch. "I don't believe the two of you! Within three days he dumped you, then, you dumped him. And you're friends now. Friends my as--"

"No bad words! The baby."

Shayera touched her big tummy. "Sorry baby. But your godmother is as stubborn as your mother." She turned to Diana. "You're just both avoiding the inevitable. I don't believe the two of you will stay just as friends. Just like I don't believe he'll be able to keep a platonic relationship with you for long."

She was about to argue when Superman's voice spoke through her commlink. She was just assigned with John and Flash on surveillance, the same assignment she had the other night when Circe appeared.

"Okay, Kal…I'll be there," she replied. She stood up.

"All work and no play makes…"

"Oh shut up!" She playfully threw the pillow at Shayera before leaving.

"Don't do it anymore, John," she warned, but her gaze never wavered from observing the people.

"O, come on…Princess!" Wally complained. "Just one more game…please!"

Green Lantern sighed. "The ring is not a toy." He was just as concentrated as she was as they continued observing the passers by on the street below. "Besides…she beat you, fifteen games to…let me see…zero! What difference can one more game do?"

Flash slumped down on the rooftop floor and leaned lazily on the ledge. They had been there for almost three hours now, waiting for Intergang to make a move. And when you are the fastest man alive, three hours felt an eternity.

"Another hour and I'd be growing roots on my feet," Flash complained once more. From the look of things, it seemed that the villains were a no show again. "And my butt's getting calluses from sitting here."

He chanced a look at his two teammates who were intent on ignoring him. He was very desperate for another game of charades that his two teammates were only too glad to indulge him in. But the Princess was just too quick, even for him. Spending too much time with Bats, he thought. Then he remembered that it must have been an ordeal for her a few days back when she and Batman went on surveillance together.

"Gee…I can't imagine what it was like when you went on duty with Bats, Princess," he looked at her. "Must be…entertaining."

She was about to reply when Shayera's voice cut in through her commlink. "Diana…it's…it's time."

"Okay…I'll be there in a few minutes. Hold on." She was whispering and that made her two teammates look at her. She abruptly rose. "John, Flash…please cover for me, I need to be…somewhere for a while." She did not wait for an answer as she immediately flew away, leaving the two men in total surprise, looking at her disappearing figure in the night.

"What's she up to?" Flash asked worriedly. Just then Batman's gravelly voice interrupted.

"Flash, Green Lantern."

"GL here," John answered through the commlink.

Speaking of the… Flash was mouthing to him.

"Did Diana leave?" the deep voice asked.

"About a moment ago. Why?"

"Superman just left. Meet me at the corner of the street. We'll follow them."

John glowed a bright green. "How will we know where---"

"Tracking device," his voice almost barked.

"What about Inter---"

"J'onn's taken care of it. Get. Going."

The impatience in the voice made John shake his head. This is really a nasty love triangle, he thought as he aimed his ring and a big green ball appeared, enveloping both him and Wally.

"Where to?" The boredom in Flash's eyes was now gone.

"I don't know," John shrugged. "But trust me…wherever it is, I don't want to be there."

When she arrived at the cottage, the house was filled with screams of agony, as if a banshee's tooth was being pulled without the aid of anesthetics. Tousled her and all, she burst through the living room to find the Thanagarian half sitting and half lying on the lower half of the bed with legs spread wide apart. The smell and the sight of the fluids flowing from Shayera momentarily caught her off guard.

"Are you just…going to…stand there!" Shayera shouted between gasps of air.

The voice woke her up finally. She grabbed the clean blankets and positioned herself, kneeling between her friend's knees.

"What else do I do?" she shouted. Shayera's cries drowned any other sound.

"Just…" Shayera gasped again for air. "Wait and…catch."

Just then, Superman arrived. "Diana…how's the---"

"You told…" A pause between breaths. "…him! I can't believe this!"

"Shayera…I needed back up, just in case." She motioned for Superman to assist her and he approached after closing the door.

"Who else…knows!" Shayera was asking. "The whole cavalry? I bet…"

She ignored Shayera who was staring to thrash around. "Kal…help please!"

"I can't believe…you told…"

"Take a deep breath…one, two, three…there…"

Shayera did what she was told, although that did not keep her from being quiet too long. "Do you have to…do everything together! Who else knows? Your…ex-boyfriend?"

"Oh! For Hera's sake Shayera, just give birth already!" she snapped. She wanted to tell that J'onn knew too but that would not help at the moment. She went back to concentrating on the…she look directly at…it. But it surely did not look like how it should anymore. And her eyes widened in surprise when she noticed that…something was coming out.

"Oh my…stars!" Shayera was shouting, flailing her arms, sweat covering her face. Superman pinned her hands on the bed. "I'm never…ever going to do this again! I hate you…John Stewart!"

Just then, something shot out and Diana's waiting arms were quick to catch. But the force was strong enough to almost make her lose her balance. She looked down at what was moving in her arms then gasped in surprise. It was the baby. And she was totally mesmerized as she looked at the small bundle she was cradling, oblivious that Superman was wiping the sweat off Hawkgirl's face that was now peacefully sleeping, her loud cries now reduced to small moans.

About the same time, the other three just arrived outside. In a matter of seconds, Flash was outside the door. He was about to knock when he heard the faint sound of a female moaning. He leaned on the door to better hear what was going on inside with a funny look on his face. When Batman and Green Lantern arrived, he put a finger to his lips to silence them. All three were soon listening in.

"Ooh…Uhm…" Shayera was already deeply asleep.

"Kal…slowly, please," she asked as Superman was about to cut the umbilical cord.

"I'll be gentle," he assured her.

"Ahh…Ooh…"

She had to suppress her giggle every time Shayera moaned. Then, after the cord was clipped, the newborn was free and she stood up, cradling the infant in her arms. When it made a small move, Diana let out a loud sigh of relief.

"Oh my! That was…magical."

"You can say that…again." Superman was almost as breathless as she was. He went and stood beside her. "To think that I've already seen what there is to see. Then…comes this wonderful, though a little wild, experience."

She chuckled, remembering the events. With her movement, the infant in her arms yawned and they both laughed innocently. He looks like John.

But the thoughts that were lurking in the minds of the three men just behind the other door were not that innocent anymore, judging from what they are hearing from the room. Flash was too engrossed in listening, controlling his laughter, John was caught between mixed emotions of astonishment, embarrassment and amusement, picturing smoke coming out of Batman's nose and pointy ears. And Batman, pure jealousy.

The little one moved and its tiny little wings stretched. "Oh…that tickles," Diana giggled as the feather touched her neck.

"Come here you little angel," Superman was only eager to take his turn and took the small bundle in his arms. "Let's get you cleaned and dressed up before you get a cold."

"Careful…slippery," she told her friend then handed him the baby. "Look at me…I'm a mess. I'm all…wet and sticky," she complained, finally noticing her disheveled appearance.

"Oh my!" Flash mouthed to John, trying to control his snickers.

John heard a sharp intake of breath and looked at Batman from the corner of his eye and thought that a vein might rupture any moment as the other's jaw was too clenched.

"Kal…" A giggle escaped as she surveyed the room. "Look at the mess we made. Never thought it would be this…wild and uncontrolled." She looked around the room. It was like a hurricane passed them by. She went to Shayera and tucked the other female in. "Next time, Kal…we do it at your place?"

Superman laughed. "It's a deal."

She picked up the blankets. "I think the fortress is better equipped."

"But don't forget to bring the ropes, we're going to need it."

"The lasso will be enough."

Imagination was taking over as Flash tried hard to control a giggle but failed.

Superman's superhearing was quick to catch the sound. He made a sweep of the door and what he saw informed him of the visitors. He was handing the baby back to Diana when the door burst open.

"What the…" Batman started, almost fuming then was suddenly stunned speechless.

"Princess…" Flash's mouth gaped. "You gave birth already?"

"Shayera?" John was dumbfounded when he saw Hawkgirl peacefully asleep.

"Gentlemen…" Superman cleared his throat and ushered the other two males out. Before stepping outside, he turned to Diana.

She nodded and the others left. She faced John. "John…"

Green Lantern was beside the other female, tucking strands of red hair behind her ear.

"John…"

He looked up, still in the state of amazement and confusion. "I want to introduce you to…John Junior."

"What?" He stood up and peeked at the little bundle.

Diana was unsure of how John felt as he stared at the infant with no emotion, probably still reeling from the

surprise and shock. Just then, the infant let out another enthusiastic yawn. John's face lit up.

He looked at Diana. "I'm…a father?"

She smiled. "Yes you are." She handed over the baby.

John laughed. "He looks…"

"Just like you." With that she stepped away and remembered something. "John, for what it's worth…she was sorry for what she did."

He looked at Shayera, with love still evident in his eyes. Then he turned to her. "Thank you…for not turning them away."

His eyes were glazed and soon, she felt like crying too, but fought against it. Instead, she touched John's arm and gave it a squeeze. "You're both my friends…and all is forgiven." With that she gave him the privacy he needed with his new family.

When she stepped outside, it was apparent that Superman had told the rest all that was needed to be told because Flash could never look guiltier before teleporting back to the watchtower. But Batman was nowhere in sight.

Probably fled from embarrassment for spying on them, she thought. Her irritation with him returned again, knowing he was the one responsible for all this.

The earlier notion that they could be friends was wiped out from her mind. It was all to clear that he was the one who led John and Wally to go marching here, to catch her and Superman by surprise, that calculating…jerk! Ha! Look who got the surprise of his life!

"I take it everything's okay in there?" Superman asked, indicating the bedroom.

"Yes…they're fine. I just don't know if I'll be when she wakes up and finds out everyone else knows," she joked as she walked her friend outside. "I hid her mace though, just in case."

"Better find your hiding place," Superman added. "Which reminds me…where will you be staying tonight?"

She totally forgot all about that. Her eyes looked up at the night sky. "I think I'll stay at the watchtower for a while."

"You can't."

"What?"

"You gave up your room, remember?"

"Kal…" she pleaded. "I've only been gone for a few days. Who took it?"

"Kara…she worships you."

She smiled. "One day I'm going to have a talk with the other leaguers about nepotism."

"Do that and I just might tell them that we are truly in love."

She chuckled as she looked at him. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being a good friend."

"Good?" He raised an eyebrow.

She laughed. "Okay…great friend." Her eyes looked at him mischievously. "But you'll be the greatest if you…do me one more favor."

"And what might that be?"

"Lend me the codes to your room at the watchtower."

"Diana!" he mimicked surprise. "Aren't we moving a little too fast?"

"Ha ha, Kal-El. You've been spending way too much time with Flash." She slapped his arm, then tugged childishly on the blue garment, pleading. "Please, just this once…you don't stay there anyway."

"That will be too much for the grapevine to handle, Wonder Woman sleeping in Superman's quarters." He pretended to consider, "Hey…what about…Bruce's?" he whispered.

"No way in Hades!"

As if on cue, Batman appeared. "Coming?"

He's still here? Was he listening all along? "Let me think it over," she paused. "No."

"Suit yourself." He walked away.

Arrogant jerk! She wanted to yell at his back.

"Kal…help me please," she was pleading again. "Are you just going to hand me to…?"

Her appeal to his conscience was useless as Superman shook his head. "At least, in the manor, no one will gossip."

"Gossip I can handle, they can gossip all they want. Him…I'm not too sure."

He looked at her knowingly. "I'm beginning to suspect something's between the two of you."

"There's nothing between us," she replied too quickly.

"Then why the apprehension?" He looked at her suspiciously. "If anything, the manor is the most logical choice compared to my room at the watchtower, or this porch. Besides, Alfred's a great cook. Unless…"

"Unless what?"

"You are avoiding him for some reason you would not want to tell me."

"Okay…this is just to prove that nothing…absolutely nothing is going on between us." She gave up. "If something happens to me…you'll answer for it." She joked before turning on her heels.

This was going to be a long night…