Hello, everyone! I wanted to take the time to inform everyone that this story will be a 20-25-chapter story. It will still mostly focus on Bruce, Diana and Elissa and Bruce and Diana's relationship. As many have guessed the big bad is Bane and I have much planned with him.

Life Unexpected

Chapter 14

The brigade from Santa Prisca met with an old acquaintance of Bird's. A man named Jimmy "No Nose" Novak, a small-time member of organized crime. One of the scarce few that remain. He had proven to be one of the minimal threats in the city, therefore Batman left him to the police department to handle. Of course, if he stumbled upon ol' 'No Nose' he would remind the man he was not welcome in Gotham.

They met the gangster at the Gotham Tower Apartments, a swanky living area for the city's elite. Novak had the money to afford a place here.

"Bird!" Novak exclaimed, delighted to see his old friend again after so many years.

"No Nose," the blonde-haired man returned, less enthusiastic as his contact.

Novak was a bald man in a gray suit, his nose gone. Replaced with a prosthetic in place of the one he lost. His brown eyes moved from his friend to the others of his party. A fellow bald man, who stared at him as if he were already dead. Another man was burly compared to the previous one, his skin was bronze, his long hair in a ponytail. And finally, the last fellow. A man bigger than the other guy, a luchador looking mask on his face, red eyes stared back at him in the same way one looks at an ant. Novak was uncertain how to feel about that, but ignored it, seeing as how he owed Bird a favor.

Sensing Jimmy's silent musings, Bird introduced his group. "Jimmy, this is Zombie, Trogg, and Bane, our leader."

Novak swallowed nervously as he felt intimidated by the bigger man.

Ignoring the owner of the residence they were in, Bane turned to Bird, "Is this man necessary?" Novak jolted feeling insulted. Immediately, Bird tried to appease everyone.

"I assure you, Bane, Jimmy can be trusted and could be a valuable ally to us," the man declared, satisfying the bigger man.

Novak concentrated on Bird instead of the more intimidating man that he knew as Bane. "Any friend of Bird is a friend of mine," he smoothly informed all. "If it wasn't for Bird, I'd be 'No Head' instead of 'No Nose'," he asserted.

Bird grinned upon hearing of the debt Jimmy knew he was tied to. "We need some help," he started, getting to the topic of their presence here.

"And I am obligated to repay. State your wish and I will give it to you," the mobster confirmed.

"We need a base of operations," he told the other man. Confidence built into himself as he knew if Novak turned them down, they would just take it and move on. But they gave the man the option.

"For what exactly?" Novak prodded, suspicious of them now.

"Gotham," Bane interjected, declaring their intentions for their presence in the city.

"Gotham? You want Gotham?" Novak dug for more information.

"Yes," Bane sounded menacingly, as his desire for this city made him restless.

The man chuckled, "You are making a play for the underworld," amused by them, something that irked the others. "The cops are only one of your problems if you want to be the new crime lord. There's—"

"Batman!" Bane stated assertively. "Make no mistake. I will leave Batman defeated and broken in the streets as I take this city for my own!"

Bane's declaration stumped Novak. He was left startled by such boldness. The man chuckled again, "What the hell," he shrugged, "will this place do?" He looked towards Bane and Bird for confirmation.

The two men shared a look before they nodded their heads.

"Take it," he waved a hand. "My organization has been hit hard by the cops. I'm leaving town anyway until the heat cools off," he gathered his coat. "You can use this place for whatever you desire. It's one of the few legitimate places under my name. No one should trouble you guys here. I've already told my boys I'm running for a while."

Bird was surprised at how easy the task became. He watched as Jimmy strode to Bane.

"Who knows? Maybe when I get back, you will be the king of this town," he almost sounded hopeful. "Good luck and I won't say a word about any of this," he swore, making for the door.

Trogg spoke up stopping the man, "Are you not worried you will have no territory when Bane claims Gotham?" Curiously ruled him as he was cautious about a man who was about to lose what little he had left.

Novak shrugged uncaringly. "I'm not cut out for being the top dog. And there is no way in hell I'm going to be so big that Batman comes crashing through the window. Kill him for all I care," he waved goodbye to them and glanced to Bird. "I assume the debt is paid in full?"

The blonde nodded, "Yes. See you around, Jimmy."

"Take care, Bird." Novak departed from them and shut the door.

Not a second later, Bane contemplated killing the man. Only for Bird to dissuade him.

"If you do that the cops get involved when someone finds the body or worse, we get Batman on our tails looking into a low rank mobster's death. We are not ready. Yet. We need patience, Bane."

Bane gave him a hard stare before reluctantly agreeing with him.

Not yet.

Gotham City High School

It was just another day for Elissa. Her relationship with Diana was fixed, although still a little awkward after the whole 'the talk' situation but they were better than where they were at.

She met with Natalie after the final bell rang ending school for the day.

"Hey, we going to your place today?" Elissa inquired as they had plans to hang out after school, then she would walk home to Diana's place.

"Can't," Natalie frowned. "I need to stay after to make up some dumb test for history," she complained.

"Oh," Elissa could not hide her disappoint that their plans were cancelled. "I can stay until you're finished," she suggested.

"Nah, go home. I'll take the bus."

"If you're sure," Elissa appeared uncertain.

"Yeah, go," her friend told her leaving her in the hallway.

Elissa silently left the building intending on finding Alfred in the limo. She was surprised to see that Bruce was picking her and Dick up in his Porsche.

Dick waved to her when he caught sight of her. She smiled and waved back as she hustled to the car. She jumped into the backseat as the top was down, the weather pleasant as the weather got warmer and closer to summer.

Personally, she was excited that the school year was almost over. She had no idea what she planned to do that summer, but it beat school.

"Hey!" she greeted her father cheerily.

"How was school?" the businessman asked as he started the car.

"Boring," she readily replied with teenaged disdain. From her position she could not see her father's lip twitch upward at her personality. "Where's Alfred?"

"He got a flat, called me to pick the two of you up," he answered. He drove away from the school and down the street. "I'll have to take the two of you to the office with me. I have a business call that I have been waiting for and I can't miss it," he informed the two teens.

"Sure," Elissa bluntly answered. She was fine with going to the office with Bruce. It beat an empty home until Diana got off work.

Deep down she wanted to talk with Bruce about Diana. Were they getting back together after so long? Her curiosity gnawed at her, but she held her tongue. She knew it was not her business, yet she needed to know. Her mother told her they hadn't discussed anything yet, so she was waiting for them to discuss it.

If only they weren't going at a snail's pace!

Wayne Enterprises

The teens hung out by the bar in Bruce's office with the man behind his desk on a conference call with various individuals he wished to do business with. This deal would bring more jobs to Gotham which many desperately needed.

The teens were mostly quiet, whispering to the other in between the silence as they did their homework. Cracking some not so good jokes with one another.

At one-point Bruce snapped his fingers at them gaining their attention and gave them a pointed look when they were getting too loud. They appeared sheepish and then kept quiet until he was finished with his call.

Bruce had left his office to discuss with Lucius regarding finalizing the deal when he walked into Elissa, whom had been coming back from the little girl's room.

"Oh, hey," she greeted her father. They nearly stumbled into one another, both barely stopping short from colliding into each other.

"Hello," the man greeted neutrally.

Bruce was about to walk away when his daughter called for his attention.

"Bruce?" she started carefully. She sounded nervous.

"Yes?"

"Can I talk to you about something?" she hesitated to utter but continued.

The man found her behavior curious but did not question her on it. "Of course," he answered. "What is it?"

She seemed to brighten up and was given courage by his receptiveness to her inquiry. She swallowed the lump in her throat and asked him delicately, "Um, I know what happened between you and Diana," she stated.

She witnessed her father's eyes widen in embarrassment after being discovered. "Oh."

"Yeah," the teen slowly nodded her head. She knew she should stop talking and let her parents discuss their own personal lives together without her interference. But she had to know something. An earnest expression appeared on the young teen's face and continued, "You told me that you and Diana weren't ever getting back together again," she reminded him. "Was that a lie or are you not sure about her?"

The businessman vaguely recalled that particular conversation with his daughter not that long after they started their family game night activity to spend time together.

It was after the night they played blackjack together with Bruce losing to his daughter mostly. He was impressed by her instincts when it came to the game. It was a good thing they weren't betting with money or she would have her inheritance much sooner than he originally intended.

After Diana commented on his boxer hands, Bruce felt he needed to stop with the card games and concentrate on movies, music, or television. Concerned with one of the women stumbling upon his secret by accident. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Elissa smiling when Diana placed her hand on his. It was obvious why she was smiling. With his knowledge of Elissa's history, he determined that she wanted her parents back together again after so many years. The family together again.

Bruce, however, decided he should sit her down and explain to her the delicate situation they were in.

He had driven her home from his office like most days. Before she departed, he called for her attention. Her head whipped to him, innocent and attentive. He needed a quick minute to find his resolve when her piercing eyes stared at him.

When he regained his strength, he carefully explained what was happening. "Elissa, I want you to understand something. Your mother and I are getting along. We are dealing with our problems with one another with regards toward your wellbeing. But that is all that we are doing. We need to be cooperative with each other because we don't want to put you in the middle of a very ugly situation," he explained to her as carefully and delicately as he could. He saw the hopefulness of her parents getting back together fade from her eyes.

Her disappoint was easily detected by him and it cut him deeper than any knife that had struck his body.

"I… see," she replied stiffly. Disappointed that their family with still be a fractured one. She understood what he was saying. It was a little girl fantasy that she was chasing, and she didn't want to force them to be together if neither wanted to. No one would be happy then.

"I know it's not what you want to hear, and I know you're disappointed but I wanted you to be prepared that we love you and we respect each other but that is as far as we are going," he soothingly tried to comfort her but it fell short.

"It's… okay, Bruce," she offered him a forced smile, which hurt him more as she put up a brave face. "I understand." She sighed, clearly disheartened by the news but did not voice any objections.

"I'm sorry," he sadly apologized.

"I know."

He was brought out of the past by his daughter's anxious pestering as he had yet to answer her. "Bruce? You listening?"

"Yes," he replied getting back into the conversation. "Truthfully, I'm not sure. I need time to discuss it with Diana first."

The teenager was almost beaming when he admitted that there was a possibility for her parents. She wanted them to be happy and they were happy when they were together.

"Elissa," Bruce started gently, "I just don't want to get your hopes up. Whatever there is between your mother and me it may not work out if we do get back together. This is what I was warning you about before. It could get ugly," he confessed. He truly wished Elissa did not suffer any further because of his actions.

"Bruce, I get it," she responded firmly. For a moment she reminded Bruce of Diana. All that tenacity and strength that hypnotized him. "I just… I want you guys to be okay again. Before I… before I came along," she regretfully confessed, which stunned the man before her.

The dark-haired man stared at his only daughter with wide eyes, taken aback by her admission. He… had no idea she felt like this. That she was under the impression that she was responsible for his and Diana's breakup. When in fact it was, he, who caused all of it. He and his damned mission. How Elissa came up with the idea that her birth was responsible he had no idea. He didn't even know Diana was pregnant back then and Elissa knew that.

Bruce quickly composed himself and immediately corrected his mistaken daughter's assumption. "Let me be perfectly clear," he spoke, putting a hand on the young girl's shoulder making her look up at him from the more interesting floor.

"We love you. We love you. You are not responsible for anything that happens between your mother and me," he reaffirmed. "People change and things change. And we have never thought that you were in any way the reason we haven't gotten together sooner."

He noted that his words were brightening her spirits, but she needed another push. He knew what he had to do. He read about it from a parenting book he had gotten when Elissa became a greater presence in his life.

Elissa was surprised when her father wrapped his arms around her in a tight and comforting embrace. She knew he wasn't a hugger. She recalled that he stiffened when she hugged him, she knew he didn't like hugs. That was okay, in her opinion. She didn't like strangers hugging her either, but to people she knew she was quite affectionate when she chose to be.

He was uncomfortable. He didn't give hugs neither received them. But he understood children needed affection from their parents. Especially at times when they were in internal turmoil.

Slowly, he pulled back as he felt that was enough physical contact. "Are you better now?" he asked her softly. He tried to be soothing but he was never particularly good at these things. He was trying to be better. He was trying to be better when he first met Dick.

"A little," she meekly said to him. She felt embarrassed by the turn of events. She planned on being determined but not be too forceful where she was antagonistic towards him.

"Don't worry about what's going on with Diana and me. Okay?" he tried to be comforting but he was still saddened by Elissa's belief that she caused the breakup of her parents.

"Okay," she softly uttered. She seemed better after Bruce spoke with her. But she desperately wanted things to be better between her parents. She gave a smile to give him the sense that everything was better, but she truly wished that things worked out with her parents. But she decided to stay out of it and let them work things out.

Gotham General Hospital

Diana exited the hospital in a daze. The news she had just received from the doctor left her in a devastated state.

She couldn't believe what she had heard. She went in for a confirmation and left with ravaged hopes. She was only brought out of her daze when she noticed a distinct shade of blonde hair and familiar bodyguards.

"Mother?!" the raven-haired woman exclaimed in utter surprise as her mother was walking from the parking lot to the hospital entrance.

"Diana?!" the Greek senator responded with equal exclamation of surprise.

"What are you doing here?" they asked one another simultaneously.

Hippolyta reined in her shock and returned to her usual dignified state. "Daughter," she greeted neutrally. "This is a surprise. What brings you here? Are you well?"

"I should be asking you the same thing?" the younger woman fired back. "I haven't heard from you in months. You missed your granddaughter's adoption hearing." She was deeply miffed by her mother's total lack of communication. She understood her mother had responsibilities, but she could pick up a phone!

"I seem to have taken a wrong turn," she awkwardly glanced around searching for a landmark or sign. "Excuse me," she stated as she and her security detail followed with her.

"Mother!" Diana shouted angered by her mother's outlandish antics. Knowing she would never make it past the guards, she hollered after the elder Prince, "Where have you been?!"

On cue, Hippolyta stopped and turned her head towards her daughter, shock written on her face. She swallowed and resumed walking away from her only child.

Leaving a fuming Greek woman in the parking lot shaking in her in disapproval.

Diana's House

Diana furiously shoved dinner into the stove, shutting the door with a loud slam. Elissa was upstairs in her room. She took one look at her mother and determined she should stand clear and make herself scarce until the woman cooled off.

Diana was not having a good day. Nothing but pain and anger today.

Interrupting her sour mood was the doorbell, which did not dampen her mood. She opened the door and was surprised to find her mother on her doorstep.

"Mother?" she found the older woman's presence peculiar.

"Hello, my little sun and stars," Hippolyta greeted with a small smile, her voice full of warmth. "May I come in?" she inquired politely.

Diana quickly regained her senses and beckoned her inside. However, she was quick to note that her mother's security detail was waiting in the car.

She shut the door and showed her mother to the living room. Her mother never came to her home before. Never. Her presence rattled the radio host. But she knew her manners and provided her hospitality. "Uh, are you hungry? I just put dinner in the oven," she pointed to the kitchen with her thumb. "I can't promise it will be good though," she murmured, watching her mother take a seat on the couch.

"I'm fine, Diana. Thank you."

Diana took a seat next to her mother silently awaiting a possible explanation on earlier or yet another criticism on her life.

"How have you been?" That question through the younger woman off as she was expecting a criticism.

"I've… been better," she replied reluctantly. Shame radiating off her.

"Why?" Hippolyta sounded genuinely concerned. She leaned forward, worry flowing off her as she wanted to know what troubled her only child and make it all better.

"I… slept with Bruce," she admitted quickly. Her face burning in embarrassment. Her mother was always a proud and refined woman. As well as a bit of a prude to sexuality.

A fine eyebrow raised as Hippolyta processed the information. Her face stoic as always.

"Well, yes, Diana. I have a grandchild, for goodness sakes."

It seemed Diana's words went over her mother's head. She never took her mother to be a bit dense. She swallowed and summoned her strength. "No. I slept with Bruce recently. Like a week ago," she clarified.

"I see," the woman nodded her head slowly. She clearly understood what her daughter meant now. "And the problem is…?"

"I don't know what there is between us. And Elissa is caught in the middle." She suddenly felt like a teenager again telling her mother about relationship troubles even though they never performed such acts.

Solemnly, the blonde nodded in understanding. Diligently listening and understanding what Diana was talking about. "And how is my granddaughter doing?" she sounded cheerfully as she wished to see her before she left.

Diana almost fell over as her mother switched topics without answering her. She recomposed herself and answered, "She's fine. Bruce just dropped her off," she told her succinctly.

"And how are you doing?" Hippolyta sounded like she hadn't heard a thing the dark-haired woman had said.

"I'm not well, Mother." Diana physically broke down as everything came down. Tears welled up in her eyes. Hippolyta immediately went to comfort her.

"What's wrong? What happened?" the senator asked, her voice soothing and soft.

"I thought I was pregnant," the younger woman whimpered. "But when I went to get checked out, I found out I wasn't."

Hippolyta gazed at her in puzzlement. "Were you hoping you were pregnant?" she asked cautiously, still unsure on what was happening.

Black hair waved back and forth as Diana shook her head in the negative. "No, I—we didn't use protection and I was scared of another unplanned pregnancy," she answered, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Then why are you upset, Diana?" Hippolyta pointed out.

An anxious breath escaped her daughter as she struggled to respond. "It turns out after I had Elissa, I developed a condition where I am "unable to conceive a child"," she quoted what her doctor told her.

"Oh, Diana," Hippolyta immediately wrapped her arms around her distraught daughter as she received the devastating news.

Her daughter merely sobbed into her mother's arms as she released everything she was feeling. She honestly thought she had more time or at least have another chance at having a baby. A chance where she was there from the beginning. She desperately wanted to be a constant in her child's life. That hope of having another later in her life where she had a stable life to raise a child kept her going. Now it was all for naught.

Elissa would be her only child.

Diana would never have the chance to start over and give another child of hers a better life and possibly make up for the mistake she made when she gave Elissa up.

The elder Prince allowed her daughter to release her sorrow. Silently holding her daughter as she sobbed silently into her shoulder.

Her heart went out to her daughter for her lose. She would give anything to alleviate her pain and sense of loss.

Hippolyta held her daughter for an indiscernible amount of time. Neither knew how long they held one another. Diana only cared about the knowledge her mother was here and she was able to comfort her somewhat.

After some time had passed Diana managed to compose herself and make herself presentable. The radio host wiped her tears away, sniffing slightly before she had managed to settle down.

She swallowed, her dry throat aching from all the crying. She cleared her throat and posed the question.

"Mother," she began, "why were you at the hospital?"

Hippolyta did not seem fazed by the question. She just smiled and dismissed the question. "It is nothing, daughter. Let me be here for you right now," she soothingly said.

As much as Diana wanted to press her, she desired her mother's presence. Her warmth. Her love.

The raven-haired woman tried to speak up once more, but the thumping of feet coming down the staircase interrupted her.

"Diana, is dinner ready?" Elissa called out from the bottom of the stairs. "I'm hungry. Do you want me to set the table?" she spoke, walking into the living room, oblivious to the guest.

Elissa appeared like a deer in headlights when she noticed her grandmother was here. She froze, eyes wide as she noticed Hippolyta, who offered a cordial wave.

The teen was quick to notice Diana's red eyes. Had she been crying? Did her grandmother do that?

"Hello, Elissa." Her grandmother's greeting brought the teen out of her surprise.

"Uh, hello, um, Madame Senator?" she was uncertain of how to address her. From the impression she got from the dinner all those months ago, she believed Hippolyta preferred to be addressed by her political position rather than her familial one.

"Oh, please, you don't have to address me as such," the blonde told her. "We are family."

Elissa would say they were, but the girl had not heard from the older woman since that awkward dinner months ago. She was uncertain even Diana had heard from the woman.

"Elissa," Diana called to her. Speaking for the first time since the teen came downstairs. "Your grandmother is here," she offered the late introduction.

"I noticed," she deadpanned. "Why are you here?" she inquired, shifting her weight to one leg, arms crossed. One could say she was being defensive; others would say she was merely adjusting her position.

"I wanted to see my family," Hippolyta merely answered. "I had not spoken to either of you in so long, so I came to see you both."

Elissa bit her lip lightly, processing Hippolyta's answer. Call her paranoid but she was skeptical of the woman. She seemed like the distant type of family member, only appearing when they needed something or was in trouble. She quickly dismissed her paranoid ideas as she saw Diana almost attached to the other woman. What did she walk in on?

Her blue eyes suddenly glanced at the floor. Her foot lightly kicking up against the hardwood floor. Hippolyta gleamed the girl seemed sullen. Before she could voice her concern, Elissa said, "You missed my adoption," she murmured. How could she want to be with her family if she wasn't there for some an important occasion?

Her voice was soft but both women could hear her clearly. Diana grimaced as she recalled making a phone call to tell her mother the news that Elissa was going to be officially hers once again. Only for her to be forced to leave a message that the blonde woman never returned.

Immediately, the senator appeared and felt remorseful. "I am sorry I missed it, Elissa. I… things came up," she offered a pitiful excuse that did not seem to alleviate the teen. Although she did not object any further.

Diana sensed that her mother was holding something back and any other day she would call her out on it. But given the state the raven-haired woman was in combined with her daughter in attendance, she did not wish to cause any problems between the three of them. She knew that Elissa was protective of both her mother as well as Bruce and Hippolyta's rigid personality at the previous dinner did not warm the teen to the matriarch of the Prince family.

"Why don't you set the table, Elissa," Diana addressed her daughter, who nodded and walked to the kitchen to retrieve the dishes and utensils. The woman than turned to her mother, "Would you like to join us?" she didn't sound hopeful, she figured her mother was in town on business instead of wanting to see family. Ever the senator.

"That would be delightful," the blonde woman beamed, surprising her daughter.

"Well, I hope you like lasagna," the radio host stood up. She paused and turned back to her mother, who was following, "Mother, why were you at the hospital? You were as surprised to see me as I was to see you."

She rarely witnessed her mother stammer and when she did, she was uncertain as to who was more surprised Diana or Hippolyta.

It took a second for the older woman to compose herself and reply with a smile. "It is nothing that can't wait for another day. As it turns out I am in town for a few weeks," she surprised her daughter with the unexpected news.

"Really?" the younger woman was always dubious regarding her mother's motivations.

"Yes," she nodded. "Will we be joining Elissa or not?"

"We are," Diana answered, turning on her heel.

After dinner Elissa had joined the women in the living room for some mild dessert. Hippolyta desired a conversation with her only grandchild seeing as how she had not spoken to her in months. After recent events, the senator was mortified by her past behavior when she first met her granddaughter.

"Uh, what am I supposed to call you?" the teen hesitantly asked as she sat across the two older women.

"Why I am your grandmother, of course." Hippolyta chuckled as she explained. "Call me grandmother. You do not need to address me by my title," she assured.

"Okay. Grandma?" the teen pressed her luck by shortening the title. Grandmother sounded far too formal for Elissa.

Cold sapphire eyes narrowed as Hippolyta contemplated the title. A dreading Elissa felt Hippolyta would reject the title, but she was surprised as her grandmother spoke.

"Grandma is acceptable."

The raven-haired teenager smiled in relief as her grandmother had no complaints.

The senator left some time later, planning on going to her hotel in the city. Diana tried to dissuade her from going, saying she could stay at her home, although she did not have room for her mother, she still offered being polite.

Hippolyta shook her head, saying the hotel room was already paid for and her belongings were already there. The blonde swore she would speak to both raven-haired ladies later.

Diana could not sleep much that night. Tossing and turning as she struggle to fall asleep. Her mind going a mile a minute as her date or meeting, which ever they called it, with Bruce approached.

She hated how frightened she was from mere thought of discussing their relationship. They had kissed before. They had made love before. Now why was she so damn nervous?

Finally, the time had come for the much-anticipated meeting between Bruce and Diana. She met him at a little outdoor café in the Gotham Village.

She dressed appropriately, wearing a low-cut light purple blouse, the sleeves ending above her elbows. Tight black pants that hugged her lower body generously, a gold bracelet wrapped around her left arm and a loosely hanging charcoal scarf wrapped around her neck. Her purse rested in front of her on the table as a nice breeze blew, her inky locks fluttering lightly as she glanced around occasionally anxiously as she awaited the man. Bruce originally was supposed to pick her up for lunch, but he had something come up. So, he texted her, stating to meet him at the café instead.

Bruce suddenly appeared from behind her, "Hey," he greeted her. She flinched as he had successfully snuck up on her. She glared at him for his behavior, glaring eyes followed him as he took a seat across from her. A sign of amusement on his lips as she huffed and scowled at him.

The woman noticed he was dressed in a gray turtleneck sweater and black khaki's with brown loafers. It seemed he determined to dress just as casually as she.

Both tried to douse the nervous butterflies in their stomachs as they were anxious about this meeting. A meeting that was the businessman's idea.

An awkward silence formed between the two as the bystanders went about their business never sparing them a glance, idly chatting about their own business.

Bruce's lips pursed into a thin line as Diana similarly bit her lower lip. Unsure on how to start this conversation. They reflected on their past relationship and how badly it ended for them, with it mostly being entirely the billionaire's fault.

The radio host fiddled with her napkin, chiding herself for her cowardice on not being her usual candid self.

Bruce berated himself on his cowardice for not telling the raven-haired woman how he felt for her. While his other half berated him on feelings and attachments would compromise the war. Bruce grimaced as he banished the beast back to its dark domain. It was unwanted in this endeavor.

Surprisingly, the man caught the woman off guard.

"You still like dancing?"

His question startled her. "W-what?"

Stoic, he repeated for her again, "Do you still like dancing?" he said clearly. He recalled how much she loved dancing back in high school. Especially, when he took her to prom. She never stopped smiling when they got on the dancefloor.

"Yes, I do," she replied honestly. Her guard dropped and unbothered.

"Do you want to go dancing tonight? With dinner before?" he asked her bluntly.

She was astonished with how forward he was being. She never believed he would ask her out. "I… are you sure?" she sounded dubious on his motivations.

"Yes," he answered matter-of-factly.

From the way he sounded, Diana was uncertain. He sounded like he was in one of his business meetings. Sensing this, Bruce rephrased, "I want to try again. With you. If you will have me?"

He sounded so earnest than she had ever heard from him before. She considered her own feelings concerning him and thought about him being the one to ask her out.

Smiling, "I would like that."

Her answer made him smile a bit.

"I'll pick you up at seven?"

"Yes," she nodded, eager about their date.

"I guess it's a date," he spoke relieved that she accepted.

"Yes," she returned. She opened her menu, needing something in her stomach or her anxiety would make her vomit.

Diana's House

Their date went off without a hitch. Honestly, Diana couldn't remember the last time she danced so much. She had so much fun with Bruce. And Bruce, he seemed to have had an enjoyable time with her as well. She laughed when he had trouble dancing with her. He was so use to ballroom dances and dinner parties. He wasn't used to nightclubs.

Bruce was polite enough to walk her to her door, dressed in gray khakis an open collared navy-blue dress shirt and a leather jacket.

Diana was draped in an elegant red dress that ended above her knees, with matching stilettoes. Her inky locks were curly. She giggled as they reached her front door. Digging through her purse she felt the man's eyes on her. A tingle ran down her spine as she wore the red dress particularly to get a rise out of him. And seeing as his heated gaze trailed her figure she had chosen correctly.

Finally, she retrieved her keys and unlocked the door. She breathlessly turned back to the man as his eyes pierced through her as she had a feeling dinner and dancing had not sated him, neither was she. She considered letting him in, but their daughter was home, and she did not want to be rude and have another episode of the teen finding out about her parents' sexual activity.

Bruce leaned in a pressed a kiss to her golden cheek, startling her by his action. He seemed to be reading her mind and spoke. "I want to do this right," he whispered in her ear. His warm breath sent a tingling feeling straight down to her toes.

She swallowed, nodding numbly in agreement. They could go slow. As Bruce pulled back, Diana thought turnabout was fair play. She surprised him by grabbing the back of his neck pulling him to her. Her ruby lips pressed a warm kiss to his leaving him dumbstruck when she pulled back.

He stood frozen in surprise by her forwardness.

She smiled shrewdly. "Goodnight," she uttered hotly. Her purposeful teasing seemed to get the reaction she was hoping for.

"Goodnight," he replied, uncomfortable from her teasing.

She laughed when she shut the door.

Immediately, she put down her purse and keys and went to work on her heels. She padded into the living room that was an abyss of darkness. She was still ecstatic from her date a beam of light shot into her face bringing her back to reality.

Shielding her eyes with her hand, she squinted wondering who or what was shining light into her eyes.

"And where have you been, young lady?" she heard Elissa sounding strict, like she was the parent and Diana was the teenager sneaking back in after curfew.

"What are you doing?" the woman inquired. Reaching for the lamp hoping to end the flashlight bombardment. She was greeted to the sight of her daughter standing before her in her pajamas a flashlight in hand. A reprimanding expression on her face was struggling to stay on as her smile destroyed any credibility of her being perturbed.

Diana dropped her shoes onto the floor with a thud. She took a seat on her couch watching as Elissa joined her turning the flashlight off.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" the authoritative voice of Elissa returned; her brow furrowed.

The raven-haired woman blinked, "Eleven-thirty."

"And on a school night no less."

She chuckled, "Okay, enough with the third degree," Diana told her.

Elissa giggled, "I'm sorry, but I always wanted to do that."

The woman smiled as her daughter seemed to be fine with her parents dating.

"So, how was dinner and dancing?" her daughter excited about how the date went inquired.

Diana sighed breathlessly was all the answer Elissa needed.

"That good, huh?"

"I had fun. He had fun. Are you going to be okay with Bruce and I seeing each other?" she wanted the teen's opinion on the matter. If she was not alright with the prospect, then Diana would have to stop it. If Elissa were uncomfortable with the notion of her parents' together than they would respect it.

"Are you kidding? It's what I've wanted for you guys since you officially adopted me!" she exclaimed.

Diana rose a curious eyebrow. "Why didn't you tell me?"

The teen shrugged, "I didn't want to force you guys."

The woman smiled, "Well, it looks like you didn't forced anyone," she replied slyly. She stood up, "I have to go ready for bed. And so, do you."

"Coming!"

The two brunettes walked up the stairs together to go about their business for the late night.

NEXT: NEWS!

Well there you have it! They're together! Yay! It's been a long road but they are there!

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