11. The Proposal Revealed

"It will make things easier for me"

"Alfred," Bruce Wayne contacted his butler as he was transporting the Amazonian princess via his private jet.

"Yes sir," came the crisp British accented response. "We have just entered Gotham air space."

"Hmm," Bruce pushed himself off from his chair in the bat-cave. "That gives you about ten minutes till you reach the mansion."

"Yes sir," was the affirmation.

"I'll meet you at the front door," with that, Bruce severed the connection and started towards the steps leading from the subterranean cave to the mansion upstairs.

-----

"What was that about?" Diana inquired as the older man stepped through the soundproof partition.

"Master Bruce," Alfred answered concisely. "Just inquiring about our progress and estimated arrival."

"Oh," Diana exhaled as she ran an uneasy hand through her freshly groomed hair, fixing it for the umpteenth time that night. "Alfred, can I ask you something?" she began hesitantly.

"By all means Miss."

"How has Bruce been these past few days? I mean has been acting differently….even for him."

"Can't say that he has," Alfred once again tackled the personal question about his employer with a practiced and experienced ease. "Although," he gave a tiny bit of information. "He did seem a bit….frazzled, if you can say that, yesterday morning. He cancelled all appointments, even relegating major part of the daily patrol to his young, but competent partners."

'Yesterday,' Diana's temple creased. The news article. She had foolishly hoped, for a fraction of a second that he missed reading that article, skimming over it as just another piece of journalistic tabloid trash.

"Approaching Wayne Manor," the pilot's voice rang over the intercom as the stately residence of Bruce Wayne appeared through the windows, the height giving an unique view of the exquisite architecture.

'Hera, give me strength,' Diana prayed silently, nervously fixing her hair one last time. The reason for her nervousness wasn't the idea of a dinner or meeting Bruce again. It was the fact that she had to reveal the truth behind her words and actions….and maybe even the identities of her co-planners and nefarious partners.

-----

"Diana," Bruce received her at the front door, Alfred confidently entering through a side entrance.

"Bruce," Wonder Woman replied amicably, accepting the hand the non-playboy version of the billionaire was offering.

"Thank you for accepting my invitation," their tone was still guarded, memories of their previous two conversations still fresh in their minds.

"Thank you inviting me," Diana smiled, gently squeezing the hand she was presently grasping.

-----

"Would…"

"I…."

Both of them started at the same time as they lounged by the fireplace.

"Please go ahead," Bruce raised his hand to her.

"No, you started first," Diana pointed out. "You should be the one to speak first.'

"Ok," Bruce seemed to relax with that. "Would you like to change your clothes? You are still in your costume."

"I didn't get any change of clothes," Wonder Woman responded, knowing fully well that Wayne Manor stocked a variety of female gowns, dresses and shoes.

"Alfred can help you with that," the offer came as expected.

"Hmmm," Diana mused for a couple of seconds. "I don't think so. Not tonight."

"As you wish," Bruce accepted gracefully. "Now your turn."

"Hnn, oh, yes," the momentary confusion faded. "I wanted to talk."

"Talk?" Bruce questioned hesitantly. Their last talk had ended quite badly, and he was in no hurry for a repeat performance.

"Yes," Diana looked away from him and towards the burning logs.

-----

"You know what has been happening," she spoke evenly.

"Yes," Bruce truthfully confirmed her statement. "I have a general idea, but not the specifics. However, one question still escapes me."

"What?" she asked softly, her eyes faltering at his piercing gaze.

"Why?" he placed his elbows on the arms of the chair, his finger tips joining. "Why go through all of this?"

"Do you really need to ask that?" eye deep blue eyes challenged his.

'No,' Bruce answered silently, his silence giving Diana all the answers she needed.

"What now Bruce?" Diana said dejectedly, wanting to be anywhere but sitting so close to him.

"First you tell me who all were with you," the Bat seeped through, too late to be contained. "Then…then we talk about us."

"What are we doing now?" Diana leaned back in her chair, her head held high and regal. "I thought we were talking about us, right now."

"Yes," the un-caped caped crusader nodded. "However, right now, its more about you. Once I need to know what you are going to tell me, then we can start afresh."

"Why is it so important to you?" Bruce's silence answered her questions. "Do you want to know if your detective skills are as sharp and perceptive as ever?"

"I don't need to know that," Bruce answered tightly.

-----

"I'll tell you," Diana finally relented, her honey smooth voice growing hard. "But only as much as I want to. You too have to let me know how much of that you figured out by yourself, also the things I failed to mention. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Bruce gave a cautious nod.

"It all started…." Diana began telling her tale, leaving out names of her 'helpers'.

-----

"So that's all I have to tell you," she ended almost fifteen minutes later. "Now its your turn to complete your half."

"I had a general idea of your plan," Bruce started his own side. "I knew when you were doing it. I even know a part of how. What I didn't know, was why? I also had a tentative knowledge of the people who helped you. For one Green Arrow and Canary."

"Why Dinah?" Diana narrowed her eyes.

"Because Olly wouldn't dare stepping out on her," Bruce gave a rare smirk. "Not now. Not when they are so deeply involved."

"Others?" Diana asked curiously.

"There has to be one or maybe two main…ringleaders if you will. One male and one female to give you're the perspective from both sides of the river."

"Oh."

"Initially I had thought that it was either Kent or Wally," Bruce elaborated. "But both of them feel short. Neither of them knew the inner details….some of them you mentioned in your…in our conversations," he amended at the last moment. "That left only three possible choices."

"Three?" Diana herself had guessed two. Who was the third one?

"Yes, three," the detective was working at full steam now. "Alfred, Dick and Barbara."

"Oh," she felt like hitting herself.

"Alfred was also ruled out in the first go," Bruce gave an almost smirk. "He would never participate in something like this. That left two choices. To be true it left just one possible choice."

"Who?" Diana asked as a formality.

"Dick," Nightwing's mentor concluded smoothly. "He is the only one who apart from me, who can come up with such plan. He even had me second guessing myself….even if it was just for a second. It would have worked well on anyone else but me….and would have worked with anyone else, but you."

"What do you mean?" Diana sounded annoyed, her curiosity still clear. It never failed to amaze her, how he broke each problem into smaller parts, analyzed each part and found the correct solution.

"You are too truthful," it might have sounded as a joke from anyone else's mouth. "You are not devious enough to carry out this plan to completion. In fact, I can safely say that you came here tonight to reveal the truth. That's why you came as Wonder Woman and not as Diana."

Diana did not answer his question, instead turned her head sideways, her face glowing in the fire light.

-----

"Diana," Bruce stood up and came towards her, offering his hand for her.

"Yes," she accepted his hand and stood up to face him, they bodies almost touching each other's.

"I have a question for you?" his somber voice cautioned her.

"What question?" she felt her hand being grasped tighter, firmer in his.

"I hope you listen to me first," he approached slowly, taking care not to set off her alarms.

"Ok," she was even more worried now.

"I have a proposal for you," her eyes widened at his words. "Don't worry," his other hand lifted to rest on her bare shoulder. "Its not anything objectionable. In fact it is derived from the one you made."

"The one I made," her voice dropped. She had proposed him to have sex with her.

"I want us to have sex," he repeated her proposal. "I want us to have sex…with each other. Only with each other."

"Only with…." She softly echoed his words

"Yes," a nervous smile began on his face. "Exclusively with each other."

"Exclusively…."

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"Diana," he cleared his throat and changed his position. "It would be an honor for me…if you say yes to this proposal."

"Hera," Diana's mouth fell open, her free hand rising to cover it.

"I would like us to have sex…." The words came freely. "…but not just yet."

"Will you do me the honor of being my life partner," he revealed the velvet box encased ring.

"Will you marry me?"