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

Author's Note: Chapters eight to ten are already almost complete. Hopefully, I'll be able to update on a regular basis. Thanks again for the reviews and keep them coming.

Chapter Seven

An Amazon Scorned and a Secret Revealed

She was angry. She was enraged. And as her feet led her outside, a part of her violently regretted not being able to throw the brass knob at him, hitting him somewhere that would hurt. But the opportunity was lost and now she was torn between slamming the door behind her and telling him to Go to Hades! Or better yet, yell Go to Hades! then slam the door.

But then, he had probably heard that from a lot of women before. And sadly, as she opted for just exiting quietly then staring at the back at the imposing closed door, she was just one of those women.

But then again, a sardonic smile appeared on her face, I am not an ordinary woman, I am an Amazon. And with that, she inserted three fingers on the hole where the knob used to be and placed her right palm against the door. A little force was applied to give a small lift and a slight nudge at the right angle resulting in a faint squeak of protest from the hinges as the door jammed.

She tested her handiwork with a small push of both her hands. When the door did not budge an inch, she stepped away, smiling to herself. That will keep the ogre in for a short time, at least. If she only had Superman's heat vision…that would be a different story.

Her bare feet padded along the length of the tranquil, yet gloomy hallway, as if she would be waking anyone else, still angered but no more with the same intensity. On the next room, just as he mentioned, she found and donned her uniform. She was almost at the foot of the stairs when a wonderfully appealing aroma invaded her senses.

"Leaving already, your highness?"

Doesn't anybody sleep in this house? "Actually…yes."

"May I ask why in such haste? Isn't a little too early to…time in?" Alfred glanced at the grandfather clock. "Perhaps…a cup of coffee, or tea before you leave?"

It was too early indeed and the smell was so very mouth watering. But she really had to make her departure before the ogre finds out there is something terribly wrong with his door. "I really must be going. Thank you anyway, Alfred. Some other time maybe?" As if there was going to be another time.

"Well…if her highness can't spare the time," Alfred insisted. "I have something prepared already, for…take out, as they say."

"Well…alright."

She followed the butler to the kitchen where the smell was even more pronounced and her stomach started growling instantly, remembering that she was not able to have dinner at all while she sat and watched as Alfred produced something covered in a foil from the oven, several more from the refrigerator.

"May I ask how your slumber was?"

The question made her remember everything that happened. "It was okay…until I woke up next to Bruce." Stark naked!

"Oh…forgive me miss. I forgot to inform Master Bruce that I put you in his room." Alfred apologized, halfheartedly, sporting a matching apologetic grin. "Silly me and my…deteriorating memory."

"It's okay."

"Master Bruce did not try…anything. Did he?" The butler raised an eyebrow, pausing a while from placing the packages in a paper bag.

"No…he didn't." I was the one who tried something. The color crept up her cheek at the thought. "If he did…you would've heard a loud cry, a scream of pure agony."

"That would be a first," Alfred commented with a grin. "But honestly…I was hoping he did try…something."

She shook her head. "That explains the locked door. Alfred…how could you?" She asked in mock hurt.

"Well you can't blame an old man for trying." He continued with his chore. "Besides, I can't take care of him forever."

"Two words, Alfred. Nursing home."

The butler considered her suggestion. "Princess…I doubt if there is a nursing home anywhere in the world that would only be too...equipped to keep him in."

She laughed at the thought of an old, grumpy Bruce trying to escape "Oh…thank you, Alfred," she smiled as the old man handed her the bag filled with food.

"Living with someone like Master Bruce taught me how to prepare for contingencies." The old man smiled. "I prepared this…just in case you wanted to leave in a hurry."

"I really appreciate the effort," she added as she stood up and prepared to leave.

"I take it that you like the house?" Alfred asked in a whisper as they walked together.

"Like it? I love it. Thank you."

"You're most welcome, Miss. If he finds out, though…my career as a butler will be over."

"Whoever said that he could be the only one in the house who has a secret identity? Alfred Pennyworth, secret agent."

"Secret real estate agent," he corrected.

"Don't worry…I'll be only too happy to employ you." She stopped as they neared the door.

"Thank you…though it would make me happier to serve you both…at the same time…at the same house."

"You wish, Alfred," she said with a smirk.

"If I just keep praying…Someone, somewhere is bound to tire of my old voice."

"Really?"

"Princess…I know both men," Alfred stated, seriously this time. "…Bruce Wayne and the Batman. I've seen all his expressions, in anger, in sadness, and yes…even happiness though that seldom came nowadays. But, as someone as only as close to him, will notice…there is a certain change in expression, a subtle glow in his eyes, or a hint of a smile, whenever your name is mentioned."

Coming from Alfred, it was a nice feeling to hear those words. But then, there would surely be one expression on his face when he finds out I jammed the door. And that thought reminded her to better be on her way.

She kissed the butler. "If only he could cook as good as you do."

"That…I will be happy to teach him." Alfred smiled before she stepped outside. "All in due time, your highness."

With Alfred's cooking in tow, she flew home to the cottage as the sun was preparing for a new day ahead. The new family was still asleep as she made and afterwards drank her coffee while depositing Alfred's cooking in the refrigerator. She was just about to leave for the watchtower when John quietly emerged from the bedroom.

"Good morning," she whispered a greeting, careful not to wake the sleeping mother and child. "Coffee?"

"Yes, thank you." John sat by the counter as she poured him a cup.

"How are they?"

The marine smiled. "They're doing fine."

"And…how are you?"

John laughed nervously. "I am okay, we are okay." He drank from his cup. "Shayera and I…we had our talk. There are a lot of things left to iron out…but more or less, I believe we are on the right track."

She reached a hand across to hold his. "I'm glad, John."

He looked sincerely at her. "Diana…I just don't know how to…thank you."

"Seeing you both happy is enough for me," she smiled at him. "And you'd better take good care of my godson."

"Of course." He regarded her. "How about you? Where did you stay the night, by the way?"

"At the…manor." She almost choked at the words.

A few seconds after her reply, John let out a guffaw. "The manor?" he managed to say in between snickers.

She put a finger to her lips as a silencing gesture. "May I ask what's so amusing?"

"Nothing, nothing," he shook his head. But a smile was still evident on his face. "He did not try anything, did he?"

There is that same question again. "He totally behaved himself." She remembered her conversation with Shayera. "Did Shayera tell you…something?"

He was having trouble keeping a straight face. "About you and…Bruce? No, she never said a word. Not a word."

She got the implication. "It better stay that way."

"Yes, ma'am." John could not help himself. "So…how is…Bruce?"

"Last time I checked…" She poured him another cupful of steaming coffee. "He was busy sleeping."

John choked on his beverage. "You slept together!"

"No! Of course not!" She vehemently denied. It was the truth anyway, they did not sleep at all. "I meant…" She tried to find the right words but John looked as if he had already made up his mind. "It's a long story."

"I bet."

She gave John a glare. Then she remembered to be on her way, if she wanted to catch Superman before he was busy. "John, there is food on the refrigerator. Help yourself to whatever you need."

"What about you?"

"I'll be fine. You can stay here as long as you want." She gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"I promise to give you back the house by the end of the week." He looked at her. "Thanks again, Diana. How can I ever rep---"

"Shh. You're both my friends." She walked to the door and turned before leaving. "Actually, you're more than that. You're my family."

The trip back to the watchtower was momentarily delayed when she had to assist in a minor vehicular accident. After bringing the injured to the hospital, she made her way to the watchtower. A quick inquiry from the other leaguers told her that Superman was currently in the meeting room. Unfortunately, someone beat her to the task. But that did not deter her from proceeding nonetheless.

She knocked on the door but did not bother waiting for the reply. In her haste, she was not able to recognize the voice and almost made an abrupt about face when she realized who the present occupant of the room was. Too bad, her enthusiastic entrance gave her away.

"Good morning." It was as flat as Batman could get, but a greeting nonetheless.

She did not bother replying. "Where's Kal?"

He took his time as if studying her, though she could not tell what part of her he was looking at because of the lens embedded in the mask that covered his eyes. Suddenly, she became too aware, too self conscious at the remembrance that a few hours ago…she had just flashed him! The thought of that moment made her want to cover herself.

Is he looking at my face or my…her cheeks felt warm and she knew she was blushing by the smirk on his face. But it was gone as soon as it appeared.

"You just missed him."

"Oh." With that, she flew out of the room. In her haste, she almost collided with a big chest with a big S on it.

"Where's the fire?" Superman steadied her.

"Where were you?" She frowned at him.

He smiled. "Looking for you."

"Funny, I was looking for you too." She took a more decisive stance to imply that she was serious, dead serious. "I need a room here."

"Why? Banned at the manor?" Superman was still amused. "Batman arrived early, too early even for him, to bill me for something that…you broke."

That arrogant…barbarian! "That door is not going to be the only thing broken if you make me stay there another night."

"Tsk…tsk," he clicked his tongue. "That door happens to be an expensive antique, a very expensive one."

"Antique? How many does he want?" Her tone was rising. "I can have them shipped straight from Themyscira if he likes. And I'll only be happy to…shove it!"

Superman shook his head.

"Please Kal…I can sleep in any room. I can even handle not sleeping at all. Him I can't."

"You know…" he eyed her knowingly. "Somebody should put the two of you in a room for the both of you to settle this…tension."

Someone tried that already. "What tension?"

"I'm not blind Diana…as a matter of fact, you seem to forget, I have…enhanced senses," he paused and grinned. "I've been ignoring it for a time now. But…it's getting a little more uncomfortable each passing day. I am aware of the…unspoken language between the two of you, unspoken physical language."

"Kal…the only unspoken language between the two of us…I can't even mention it because it's…"

"Censored?"

"Yes! I mean no!"

His grinned widened further. "See what I mean?"

"Whose side are you on, anyway?" Her brows furrowed.

"I am not on anyone's side, you know that," he replied and regarded his friend. "Okay…I'll see what I can do about the room. Now, get to work."

She finally managed a smile. "Thank you."

With the task of finding temporary refuge accomplished, there was another matter that she needed to be concerned about, avoiding Batman like the plague. Well at least…try her best to.

And it was easier said, or in her case imagined, than done.

That very same evening, they faced a powerful and sinister magician who wreaked havoc in the city, destroying everything that crossed its path. Sometime in the middle of the hostile confrontation, she contacted J'onn for assistance, finally tired of either being kicked, trashed, or thrown into a building. And, like a swashbuckling hero, Batman appeared from nowhere just in time to grab her by the waist and swing her to safety. Ironically she was relieved that, in their current predicament, chaos ensued all over thus preventing any chances, any need for awkward pleasantries.

Soon, after several buildings were destroyed, after a number of cars were crashed, after several bruises appeared on her body, the enemy was finally defeated.

After being patched up, she lingered by her lonesome at the sick bay, sitting on the med table. A small bandage was placed just over her right brow, while a dark patch colored the same side of her jaw, a somewhat distraction from the otherwise perfect face. Two more gauzes decorated her right arm and another on her left while a larger one was placed in her right thigh. After staring at a small bruise on her arm, she let her mind drift as she looked at nothing in particular, her eyes staring ahead.

In a few minutes, the bruises, the scratches, the wounds will be gone as if they were not there at all. If only my heart could heal as easily.

After making it through an encounter, a battle, it always made her think about her existence. She used to be thankful that she was one of the few who were blessed with a long life. But recently, she was doubtful if she should be grateful for a life, a long life that seemed…incomplete.

"Knock, knock," a friendly voice called by the door.

"Kal." She smiled at him and the simple movement caused a sting on the lower side of her face where an angry bruise marred her beauty. He, on the other hand, looked as if he had already healed. Not a bruise was in sight. Not even a hair was out of place.

Superman stood opposite her. "So…how are you?"

"I've been better," she shrugged, another painful movement.

He looked at her thoughtfully. "Maybe you should rest."

"Do I look that terrible?"

"You can never look terrible." He tried to make light of her situation. "But you look tired."

The last thing she needed was to mope around a lonely room and think of someone that she should be forgetting. "I'll be good as new in a few more minutes. See, I can even smile now." She managed a full smile this time but her eyes were indeed tired, and sad.

"Diana…" his voice spoke softly. "How are you…really?"

"I'm okay, really." She did a lousy imitation of his tone.

"I mean…" He regarded his friend closely, with concern evident in his eyes. "…inside."

She remembered the incident a few days ago when he kept asking her how she was but ending up using the wrong words and it made her chuckle. "Sorry…Kal. Just remembered you asking me that before."

He shared the happy moment with her. But then his expression sobered up again. "Seriously…Diana, how are you?"

"Kal…" She was at a loss for words. How can she say that at the moment, she was nursing more than just wounds and bruises? She was nursing a broken heart. It was her eyes that spoke to him, that betrayed her true feelings.

For a moment, they just looked at each other. And in that instance, she wondered if he was reading her mind and she could not help thinking that it would be a lot easier if he could. She would not have to go through the pain of saying the words to him. And how she wanted to tell him everything, he was her friend after all, her very best friend. If anyone could ever understand her, it would be him, it would be Kal. But she did not know where and how to start.

He seemed to be seeing right through her. "It's not the easiest thing…" He sighed and reached for her hand. "…to be in love with someone. Someone like…him."

A part of her was relieved he knew but a part of her asked how he could have known. "Am I that obvious?" she whispered. "Did he tell you?"

"Not exactly." He looked at her with understanding and something else under the deep blue eyes. "I guess I had a way of knowing…because I was, more or less, in the same place like you are before. Though I did not try to lock the person up in the bedroom by jamming the door." There was a hint of amusement in his face.

After a moment of silence, his expression turned serious. "It's not easy to love someone who…doesn't return the affection the same way."

"You don't have to tell me." Now that he knew her secret, she wanted to know his. "You're in love with someone too?"

"Was," he stressed the past tense.

She smiled at him ruefully. "Look at us…two strong superheroes, out to save the world. If they could see us now."

"If they only knew."

But of course, the world could never know that deep inside they hurt too, that they have heartbreaks like any other being on this planet, or even the next. It was a sad thought for her but it was a relief to talk with the person that she could relate to.

She searched his eyes which were still staring at her with this strange intensity. "How did you…get over her?"

"Asking for some pointers?" his eyes smiled back at her. "One day at a time. But…it was not easy."

She somehow found it hard to picture him heartbroken over someone. "Who in her right mind would ever dump you, Kal?"

"I…wasn't exactly dumped." He looked a little guilty. "I did not tell her."

"What?" It was even harder to picture him cowering from anyone, most of all, a girl. "Ever?"

"I didn't have the time, with saving the world and…stuff."

She clicked her tongue. "Excuses, excuses."

He smiled for a while before facing her with a serious gaze, his eyes looking at her intently. "Besides, we became…best friends and I was happy with that."

It was her turn to search his face for the meaning of what he just said. When the blue eyes did not flinch or turn away at her silent inquiry, she dropped her gaze on the hand that was holding hers protectively. She felt…guilty.

Sensing her feelings, he squeezed her hand affectionately. "Diana…I guess I was one of the many who were…enthralled by you when you first came here. I must admit I was smitten." The smile in his eyes was back. "But then, we became close…and then best friends."

"I didn't know."

"I did not tell you that to trouble you. I value what we have now, and I have no regrets." He looked apologetic. Then he tried to cheer her up. "Besides, I was over you a long time ago. And you have other problems to worry about."

She finally smiled again. He had this ability to make her do just that. "Of all people…why did it have to be him?" Why couldn't it be you? It was the unspoken question.

As she looked at him, the kind eyes, the almost impossibly, perfectly handsome face, and the ever present cowlick, she noted with amusement, she asked herself how she could have missed his affection. And she knew the answer. She was busy with being in love with someone else.

"We can't choose who to love Diana." He remarked, reading between the lines. "We just feel."

"I know," she sighed. "Because if I just could…I would only choose him…if he was the last man on this planet!"

"Are you sure about that?" He raised an eyebrow. "Earth is a small planet."

"Then I'd rather be an old maid."

"That…would take a long time." He laughed and soon she joined him. "Feeling a lot better now?"

"Yes," she admitted. It was wonderful to have a friend like him.

He gallantly offered his elbow. "Feel like having more fun?"

She took his arm. "Where to?"

"You'll see."

To somewhat celebrate the well earned victory, the leaguers gathered in the watchtower lounge afterwards to have a good time and release the tension, even if the majority of superheroes in attendance were either bruised or sporting different kinds of bandages in different parts of the body. There was chatter, light banter all around, junk foods abound and drinks came in the form of sodas, and of course, iced mochas as Flash insisted. And for more entertainment, someone even dared to set up a sound system, complete with a sing along.

When they entered the room together, Flash was only as enthusiastic to call the attention to them while holding the microphone. She nearly colored at the teasing that welcomed them. The crowd soon insisted that Superman do a special number for her as they chanted his name but, of course, he shied away from the microphone, eliciting a collective disappointed cry from the mob. Green Arrow was only too glad to take his place, doing his best imitation of Tom Jones, as he sang "It's Not Unusual."

When Ollie started serenading the ladies, he paid special attention to one female in particular to the delight of the crowd. Diana was starting to enjoy the moment by relaxing, clapping and laughing along as she sat with her teammates, definitely feeling a lot better, her body quickly healing itself.

But because of lack of sleep, considering the incident at the manor, she found herself getting drowsier every passing second. She knew it was really late, and she tried to search for the clock to inform her of the time. And then, in one strange instant, her gaze fell on someone in particular, at the far side of the room, brooding by himself in one dark corner.

He's here all along? Her heart skipped a beat. For an instant, she could swear that he was looking her way, looking at her…observing her. But she must have imagined it because after a few more seconds, he walked out of the room.

She tried not to be concerned…but it was strange how the room suddenly felt lifeless to her when he left. She sighed and came to terms with herself. It was not going to be easy to get over him. But she was willing to try.

Suddenly no more in high spirits, she excused herself, disentangling from the audience. She slowly made her way to the other side of the room to be by herself.

By herself.

It was a sullen thought and it made her feel lonelier, more tired than before. With a heavy heart, she sat by her lonesome on the couch, far from the happy crowd. Leaning back on the soft cushions, she closed her eyes and shifted her sore body into a more comfortable position. Several seconds later, she was able to hear the first few lines as Wally belted out his gut wrenching rendition of "She Will Be Loved", before she fell asleep.

She was having a dream.

"Diana…" In her dream she heard a voice, so softly calling her.

Then, she felt an arm support her, the other going under her knee to lift her up. She tried to look up and smile but was too drowsy to open her eyes. She just held on, resting her head on his shoulders as she was being carried away to…somewhere.

Then, she heard a humming. It was the music, the tune she kept hearing in her mind. She loved the sound of this voice humming to her.

She did not want him so stop. And she wanted to tell him so stay with her as she slept.

"Bruce?" she whispered.

But as he laid her on the bed, she was starting to drift into sleep once more. There was a faint feeling of a kiss on her forehead just before she succumbed to the embrace of slumber.

Next Chapter…a guest from Chapter One makes a re-appearance. And I don't mean the gargoyle.