Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.

Chapter Twelve

Give Love On Christmas Day

Holidays…

It was filled with cheer and happiness.

The atmosphere in the watchtower proved the contrary. It was eerily silent and…empty.

Except, of course, for the regular beeps and occasional alarms that disturbed the stillness and the lone figure sitting by a chair, staring through the glass at the enormous, mostly blue, specked with green and brown, spherical figure that moved at clockwork precision.

Diana's long fingers tapped on the cushion of the armrest of the chair while her left hand cradled her chin. Seconds later, she uncrossed her legs and made a customary sweep of the monitors even if she was positive there was no cause for alarm. The normally muted sound of the chair turning and backing several inches away was very audible as she stood for a while, closing her eyes, stretching her arms over her head and holding it in place for a while as she tilted her head sideways to the right and the left to remove the stiffness.

When she opened her eyes again, she surveyed the quiet place while deep in thought.

If things were different, she would want to go with Kal. But doing so would somehow take their supposed relationship to an awkward stage, mostly when they were consistently voted Mr. and Miss JLA by the secret society of the league's grapevine, and of course who was to forget his recent revelation regarding their relationship. So, it was either come to the farm with her best friend, and come back to work later to be met with knowing grins from everyone else and being referred to in hushed whispers her sensitive hearing could pick up behind her back as Mrs. Superman, or report for monitor duty by her lonesome on Christmas eve. She opted safely for the latter, reporting for duty, in full uniform.

Besides, it was a little difficult to face Jonathan and Martha again. She would see in their eyes none of what she saw before and it would only remind her of the fleeting moment when she was very close to having a family only to lose the chance.

She sighed. Christmas to New Year's…that was just a week.

But it seemed an eternity when you have no family to come home to, no house elaborately adorned with twinkling lights, decorative reindeers on the porch, golden bows accenting huge poinsettia wreaths hung by the door, rosy-cheeked nieces and nephews awaiting your arrival to spend the holidays with, to feast on a lovingly prepared dinner by your mother complete with all the trimmings, to gather by the couch afterwards and share eggnog and stories together.

Not that she longed for that life. Her family, well her ex-family, did not celebrate Christmas at all. But being away from them, for all this time, and slowly being drawn to the customs of this world, made her think how her life would be if it was that simple. A smile broke the solemn expression on her face when an image of her mother, Queen Hippolyta, appeared in her thoughts cooking dinner. As if that was possible.

The face of her mother in her thoughts only made her lonelier.

And then she thought of Bruce.

In another life, she would be with him right now, sitting on the very expensive Persian rug that adorned his cozy living room, with his arms around her as they both looked at the rich orange and yellow embers that warmed and lit the room with its glow from the fireplace, as they listened to the small, crackling noise of burning wood, the echoes of Christmas carols from outside and the faint beating sound of their hearts as they held each other close.

But in this life…she was alone. Probably for a very long time.

She shook her head at the morose thoughts. She did not celebrate the holidays but that did not mean she could not be happy this time of the year too. So instead of moping in front of large computer, waiting for an emergency to happen, or stare blankly at the imposing view of the earth orbiting the vast and lonely space, she quickly retrieved several bags and some other things from her room.

Making a small room to accomplish her task in the cramped space of the monitor womb, she sat on the floor and started tying ribbons on the cute little teddy bears and stuffed dolls that most of her admirers had been constantly sending at the Watchtower. She knew there was a reason why she kept them all this time.

Then, there was an alarm that signaled the hour. She looked all around her.

And in a quiet whisper, she greeted herself.

Merry Christmas, Diana.

The members of his extended family came by for a quick dinner and gift giving. It was one the rarest times that they all got together at the long table. But like ghosts, they were gone in a breeze to leave the manor feeling empty again.

"Master Bruce," Alfred called softly as he sat by himself on the living room, staring at the orange glow from the fireplace.

"Yes, Alfred?" He acknowledged the butler with a turn of the head before returning his gaze towards the fire.

"A few days ago, I was assuming that we would be having a…special lady for Christmas dinner." The butler sighed. "Unfortunately, I assumed wrong."

"She had…other plans."

"She is with someone else?"

"She's on monitor duty." A crackling noise followed his statement as the brief spark from the burning wood illuminated his stoic face.

"Then what are you doing here?" Alfred sounded exasperated. "You should be there…with her. Oh for goodness sake, Master Bruce…"

"Alfred…"

Alfred prepared himself.

It was Christmas and the only gift his charge needed most at the moment was to get some sense knocked into that very stubborn brain. After a deep breath, the butler opened his mouth to speak. And he had a lot to say.

She had just finished her box of donuts and coffee and was just cleaning up after packing the gifts inside her bag when a signal interrupted the stillness, announcing the arrival of a leaguer, the very same man she was thinking of most of the time.

"What is it now?" She whispered and a number of reasons popped into her inquiring mind on what could bring him here at this time.

"Diana." He almost barked into her ear a few seconds later. "I need assistance."

She was not expecting his highness would ever need her help again. She stood up and brushed off small bits of ribbon that managed to stick to her skin. "Where are you?"

"In the…pantry."

"Where?" What's he doing in the pantry? A smile broke on her face. That was the last place she expected him to be.

"Just get here."

She shook her head at the irate sound of his voice and at the thought that she could never be more wrong in her thinking that his attitude could at least take a day off during the holidays. Picking up the empty donut box and her mug she made her way.

When she arrived at the small room, he was standing beside the table with something in his hand.

"I brought you dinner," he handed her the paper bag in a voice that was more of a command that was short of saying Take it! "Alfred insisted that I give it to you."

"Oh."

How nice of Alfred! She was unsuccessful in hiding a grin at the thought the butler, somehow, was able to force him to be the errand boy this time. She deposited her donut box and cup on the small table to accept the gift. "Please send him my warmest thank you." She placed the offered dinner on the refrigerator. "I already had dinner though."

He noticed the empty box. "Junk."

"Nothing beats donuts and coffee."

"If you say so."

The stupid smile she had on her face seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever when he brushed past her to make his grand exit. She knew exactly why he was treating her this way. And she wanted to apologize for…a lot of things.

"Batman…"

He stopped at the door. "Not now."

He did not even bother facing her before leaving her all alone. On Christmas Eve.

And she could not feel any lonelier.

Looking like a Christmas cookie lightly sprinkled with tiny specks of snow in a red, long sleeved knitted sweater with a happy snowman, candy canes and white poinsettias embroidered all around, a white scarf around her neck even if she was not the least bit cold and her head topped with a knitted green bonnet, a pair of old jeans and sneakers to complete her holiday ensemble, she arrived at the hospital carrying a large backpack slung on her right shoulder. It was just as well that her outfit was practically screaming a holiday theme and that she looked this very colorful and jovial today because deep inside the spirit of the holidays had not yet seeped in. And she needed the pretense for somebody else's benefit.

But once she stepped inside a particularly white and sterile room that she had been visiting regularly when she was blessed with time, she need not worry too much about not being in high spirits. The smiles from small faces, the warm hugs and kisses that welcomed her arrival were enough to warm her heart.

The loneliness she spent the night before was forgotten as she spent the entire Christmas morning giving out her stuffed animals and dolls, reading fairy tale stories, including one that hit too close to home, where a mermaid princess willingly gave up her voice to be with the man she loved, to a few children who were not as fortunate as her to be blessed with a long life, those who were terminally ill. She was even brave enough to sing a few Christmas carols, songs that she had managed to memorize after several holidays in Man's world.

She was very thankful to J'onn for returning early to give her time for herself and the children. But time flew fast.

After the short but very worthwhile moment, as she said her goodbyes, she made a mental plan of walking by the park all afternoon after a quiet lunch with no one else but her shadow. She had just stepped out of the room and into the quiet corridor, in the process of putting back her bonnet when she thought she was seeing a mirage.

She blinked her eyes a few times. The image did not disappear.

"Is there…an emergency?" There was a note of worry in her tone.

Bruce casually approached her in a more formal attire, as compared to hers, of a dark long-sleeved shirt and slacks. "If there was, I'll probably be barking in your ear through the commlink." He looked at her appearance and tried hiding a smirk, to no avail. "Or waiting outside in full uniform."

She knew what he was referring to. "I know I look like a Christmas card."

She smiled initially but then sobered immediately when the question of how long he was standing outside the room registered in her mind, feeling a little embarrassed that he probably witnessed her heartfelt rendition of Jingle Bells.

"So…what brings you here?" She asked as he walked with her along the hallway to the exit, feeling a little concerned that he was following her.

"You."

She stopped in her tracks, more anxious now. "What?" She added, "Why?"

He stopped beside her for a moment. "Let's talk about this outside."

She had the faint idea that she had done something wrong, left the media player on the monitor womb on, not able to wash the dishes she used in the pantry…those were the reasons possible at the moment that could bring him to search for her on Christmas day. Her mind was busy thinking of other grounds while she followed him to the exit maintaining a safe one step distance, absentmindedly staring at the neatly trimmed hair on the back of his neck.

Once out of the small hospital, he turned to her. They were on the sidewalk, a few feet away from his car.

"What did I do?" She looked at him in question, adjusting the strap of the bag on her shoulder.

He did not reply but just continued looking at her. And there was still this evident hint of amusement in his eyes that he was trying to conceal. Isn't he over laughing his mind out about how I look? A few more seconds, when he still made no move to speak, and she was starting to be a the tiniest bit irritated with the way he was looking at her, she turned and left him.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Two steps and a half and she turned back to him. "Away."

"I said…" He caught up with her. "I wanted to see you."

She felt an unwanted skip in the beat of her heart that she dismissed. His behavior today was apparently in total contradiction late last night when he walked out on her. "Why would you want to see me?" She tried to keep her voice even.

"Questions, questions. I'm hungry." He ignored her inquiry. "Let's have lunch."

She wanted very much to refuse. No thank you, I want to live until the new year, she joked in her mind. But her heart was feeling differently.

"Are you asking me…or telling me?"

"Okay…let me re-phrase it." He was wearing a smile now, a very disarming smile. "I'm inviting you to lunch."

"Thanks…but…"

"But what? I know you're not on duty today." The smile was gone and was replaced by a searching gaze. "What are you afraid of? The moment you saw me at the corridor…it's as if you can't wait to get away from me."

I'm afraid of myself, she almost said. But instead she just sighed, knowing that in his stubborn mood, she was not likely to escape this predicament easily.

"Are you buying?"

"Yes…" He sounded relieved. "There's a restaurant…"

"I want a burger with cheese, a large root beer and large fries and we eat at the park. I don't want a fancy lunch at a fancy restaurant," she insisted.

Her demands elicited a warm smile from him. "Very well…" He took her bag and placed it safely in the car.

They walked a few blocks to the nearest McDonald's that was surprisingly, and thankfully, open during the day. He fell in a short line to order everything that she requested, a quarter-pounder with cheese, two large fries and large root beer and a Big Mac and a root beer for himself, plus several pieces of apple pie. And while he was placing the order, she fell a few steps away from him, looking on and admiring the surreal image of Bruce Wayne ordering take out junk food still with his trademark charm, noticing with a smile that the female cashier was gushing at him.

But her smile slowly faded at the distinct possibilities. They were going to have lunch, just the two of them, not in uniform but as two ordinary people…and a voice in her mind was telling her to get away while she still could.

Save yourself…

A part of her wanted to flee but a greater part planted her feet on the tiled floor and as she was arguing with herself his eyes searched the room for her. He seemed a bit worried that she might have gone but when their eyes met, she could see a relieved expression wash over him before he smiled at her.

It was the very same smile she remembered, the one she kept in her heart for all this time.

They walked the damp and slippery sidewalk that led to the park in comfortable silence but there was a strange moment somewhere when she almost thought he would hold her hand that she tried to distance herself away again. She did not know if he noticed but was thankful that, before he did, the park was already in sight.

It was not snowing anymore and a few people on vacation were busy enjoying themselves at the ice-skating rink while she chose a vacant bench nearby.

"You haven't answered my question." She reminded while they sat opposite each other.

He was busy emptying the bag of food on the small table between them. "Which one of them?"

She looked at what he was unloading and knew she did not order that much. "You can eat all of that?"

"Correction. We are both going to eat all of this." He handed her the burger. "This is going to be a long afternoon."

"Why?" She removed the wrapper and took a hearty bite.

He looked as if the action of her masticating was the most fascinating. "Does there have to be a reason for everything?"

Seconds passed before she swallowed. "Funny…you should be asking yourself that." She took a sip of her root beer. "Anyway, how did you know I was here?"

He took time in replying, his jaw moving rhythmically as he chewed. "I was planning on triangulating your current position through the satellite system. But I thought of asking J'onn first. Saved me the trouble."

"Oh."

At first thought, sitting across him was better than beside him because she would be too conscious of the proximity of his body that the small bench would allow. There would be the unavoidable incident of his arm bumping against hers or of his thigh brushing against her thigh. Not that it never happened before because in battle it seemed to be an implied part of the job description.

There were a few instances she could recall when Bruce's hand would accidentally end up on her behind or even her breasts. There was even an incident when they were thrown together and his hand unconsciously ended up between her legs for the briefest of moments. But, again, that was in battle. It was an inevitable part of what they do.

But sometimes, she could not help but think if it was really inevitable, that he was not taking advantage of the situation. Batman was, after all, Bruce Wayne and Bruce Wayne was not exactly famous for chivalry.

And the thought that he was feeling her on purpose some of the time was not helping.

Now, sitting across him felt more uncomfortable as opposed to her earlier idea that it was the safer alternative. They were staring face to face and his eyes seemed to have acquired this disconcerting habit of staring at her intently as if reading her or daring her to look away. And she did look away, trying to ignore the effect he had on her and concentrated on her food instead.

"Do you visit the kids at the hospital often?" He finally broke the silence.

"When I have the time."

It was an unsuccessful attempt at a conversation with her offering no more information and the tense silence stretched again, like taut strings of a violin. But he did not seem to mind with his eyes busy, slowly peeling at the wall of her defenses. Even though she was thoroughly clothed she felt like a specimen on a plate under the watchful lens of a microscope, totally naked under his scrutiny.

"What?" She finally asked, looking like a life-size doll with big, bright blue eyes, blushing cheeks, braided long hair falling on both sides. "Do I have something in my face?"

He picked up a tissue and reached out to her face, wiping a small smudge of ketchup on her lip.

Hera, what was I thinking?

The hue on her cheeks got darker with embarrassment at the snotty thought that he was staring at her because he could not take his eyes away from her face when, in truth, he was finding an excuse to wipe the smear of ketchup.

She finally let out a nervous laugh. And though he did not share her mirth, his eyes were smiling at her.

Then, he asked something out of the blue. "Why are you going along with it?"

Her laughter subsided to be replaced by confusion. "Excuse me?"

He finished his burger. "With the whole Superman-Wonder Woman love team. I don't buy any of it."

"Then don't," she shrugged.

He was starting on the French fries. "Why are you?"

"As far as I know, I haven't denied, nor confirmed, any of what Kal said. No one bothered to ask me, probably since they have…made up their mind about it long before. You're the first." She consumed the last bite of the quarter-pounder.

"I'm not asking you if it is true. Because I know it isn't." He sounded too sure. "I just want to know why you let it go on."

She looked away to a pair skating close to each other. "What makes you so sure anyway that Kal and I are not really together?"

"You declined."

She faced him again. "Declined?"

"It is your first holiday as a…couple together." The word sounded slightly caught in his throat. "Yet you decided not to be with him."

"So what?" She was squeezing a sachet of ketchup onto the empty burger wrapper.

He helped her with the other sachets. "You should have been eager to meet the parents."

"Would you be?"

"It's a totally different issue."

"And you have a lot of issues." She dipped a piece of fry in the condiment.

"I meant with men in general."

"So it's suddenly an issue of sex?" A brow rose.

"Let's not get into that."

"You started it."

"Diana…"

"Okay…sorry." She tried on a smile, a little guilty of acting childishly. "Don't be angry, it's Christmas."

He was unaffected by her smile. "Why did you stay?"

"Somebody should stay behind." She was unaffected by his seriousness.

"That's why there's an auto alert function in the controls at the Watchtower."

"Nothing beats human intervention. Besides, you know we're not that big on holidays in Themyscira." She suddenly pictured her mother placing a star on a tall pine tree while her sisters sang Christmas carols, all the while toting shields and swords. The image made her laugh.

"And you seem unusually happy even if you are not with him today, of all days."

"And you seem wonderfully, yet intriguingly, talkative today."

"It's Christmas. I'm only grouchy three hundred sixty four days a year." He finally smiled. "Or it may be the company."

Something in the way his eyes were looking at her made her heart jump. "Or the food."

"Whatever." He was eating her share of fries. "He did not even insist."

"On what?"

"That you come along."

She sighed. "Aren't we finished with that topic yet?"

"No."

"Fine." She looked at the rink again noticing that there were more couples there than before. "Maybe he did not insist because he felt that me meeting the parents is a huge step forward in a relationship."

"So, he should have stayed. Diana…" He wanted her eyes on him. "If I was him, I wouldn't let this once a year chance to spend with my…special someone pass me by."

"Look who's talking?" She leaned forward, placed her elbow on the table cradled her chin on her left hand. "If you have someone…you would not be up yet at this time of day. I'm sure Alfred will have to drag you out from bed, cuddled next to a female, hopefully. But…you would rather laze around all day with her considering it's a holiday."

"You watch too many sappy movies." He took a sip of his soda.

"That's what the CD players in the Watchtower are for." She smiled guiltily. "When no one is looking."

He stared at her closely. "Are you…absolutely sure I don't have plans with someone somewhere?"

"Positive." Bruce Wayne is dateless on Christmas. "If you have, you wouldn't be sitting on that bench, eating junk food while having this…semi-argument with me."

"My point exactly."

The way the hue of his eyes deepened as he looked at her in this spine tingling way made her heart do another somersault. "What?"

"Analyze what you just said," he stated, leaning forward slightly. "We both agree that this is the time to spend with people, or a person, you…care about."

"Right."

He waited for the right time. "I am with you right now, am I not?"

"You are…" Her voice was steady though her heart was drumming.

"Logically speaking…"

"You care about me. Of course, I am a teammate." She tried to sound casual.

"You don't see me searching the city for Flash in the hope that he will have lunch date with me, do you?"

His deep voice, the way he was looking at her, the words…everything about him that she remembered…She was suddenly thankful that he did not have super-hearing like Kal. If he did, he would hear how fast her heart was beating.

"Bruce…" She removed her hand on the table and sat straight.

A girlish shriek caught both their attention and their eyes went to the skating rink. Apparently, a girl slipped, taking her boyfriend with her. After a few giggles, they were embracing and kissing, not minding everyone else but each other.

"Diana…that night…" His voice made her look at him again. "Why weren't you there?"

She could not meet his eyes and stared at the messy table instead, a hand feeling the texture of the wood. "I tried."

"I waited."

She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry."

"I know it's not because of him. Is it because of me?"

"It's hard to explain. I don't know if you'll even believe…"

"Try me."

She finally lifted her eyes to his face. "I was on my way. Then all of a sudden, I felt…weak. I guess I lost consciousness…" She remembered the events. "When I came to, it was night…of the next day. J'onn told me I had fever."

He looked worried. "You were sick?"

"I know…it's strange. But it's true." She searched his face. "I'm sorry if I didn't explain."

He sighed guiltily. "I didn't exactly give you the chance."

"You can verify with J'onn---"

"I believe you." His right hand suddenly reached out.

When his skin touched hers, as she looked at the dreamlike image of his hand holding her hand, a surge of memories invaded her mind.

They held each other close during the Thanagarianinvasion to hide from the enemy.

In Paris, his arms were around her as they danced, he was pretending to be a rich playboy with an image to keep.

And a long time ago…he held her because he loved her. But he did not remember any of it.

Run, Diana…get away from him while there's still time…

"I've thought it over." His voice interrupted the conflicting emotions within her. "And I want to give it a try."

Stop this

"Give what a try?"

He gave her left hand a soft squeeze. "Us."

Us… Bruce and Diana… Batman and Wonder Woman… A mortal and an immortal… Immortal…you will cease to be immortal… "Diana…"

Slowly, her bright blue eyes looked up from their joined hands that lay quietly on the wooden table to his face that wore an uncertain expression. "According to the Watchtower daily gossip logs…I am spoken for."

"I don't care even if you are betrothed to the future king of England." His eyes bore through her. "Seriously…Diana. I want to give us a try."

If only there was no curse to worry about.

"What about reasons number one to---"

"Forget I said them."

She looked again at their hands. And the sensation of his skin, not his glove, on her felt so good. It felt so perfect. But it was not good. And it was not perfect.

"Diana…"

No…tell him no…

How could she say no to something she had waited for all of her life?

"I…can't." It was that easy. Two simple words that could end what had not even started.

There was a sharp and sudden intake of breath, a nerve was twitching at the side of his face and a pained expression fleetingly passed over his features as her words rang in his ears.

He slowly let go of her hand and a long silence followed.

Congratulations, Diana, a part of her mind chided. You have just signed a new lease on your suddenly empty and very long life.

"Can I at least ask why?" He finally asked.

Why?

She was even asking herself the same question.

"Diana…I am entitled to an explanation."

Why could she not tell him the truth at face value, that there would be a curse on her if she said yes? Why? Because she was afraid that if he knew, he would not impose himself, his feelings, on her anymore. He would stop.

And she did not want that to happen.

"Are you really together?" He was asking in a whisper.

"No…" She could not lie. "Kal was just…protecting me…"

"From me." It was a sudden realization. "Why?"

She managed a rueful smile in an effort to conceal the truth that might slip from her lips. "Do you have to ask that?"

He did not try and enumerate the reasons to defend himself. There was just one thing he wanted, he needed from her. "Diana…give me a chance."

"I'm afraid, Bruce."

Her admission and frankness surprised him. "Don't be…not of me."

Not of you…

His eyes pleaded one last time. "Diana…"

She knew from the tone of his voice that this was the last time he was going to implore for her understanding. If she did not change her mind, she would probably lose this chance forever. And it felt like there was an invisible clock that preciously ticked away in her mind as she looked at his face.

Tick…tock…

What was the reason why she left her mother and sisters? She told herself that she wanted to make a difference, to help fight for injustice, save the oppressed, protect the world.

Deep inside, there was a part that held on the remote chance that she could see him again.

Just to see Bruce again was enough.

But it was not. Everyday with or without him was torture because she knew, even if he did not, that there was a time when he had feelings for her.

He loved her.

And a small part within her wanted to make him feel that way again…because she never stopped loving him.

She took a deep breath and stood up. A few movements and she was sitting beside him. Without a word, she took his left arm and draped it over her shoulders as she leaned back and gazed forward.

"Is this a good sign?" His voice sounded a little relieved. And amused.

"What do you think?"

"Yes, it's a good sign." He moved closer before planting a soft kiss on her hat-covered head. "Want to ice skate?"

"You…ice skating?"

"Don't you see the ads for Holiday on Ice? The Batman skates," he whispered.

The image of him in a pair of skates, doing a triple axel in his bat costume was simply entertaining, not to mention hysterical. But her laughter was cut short by Kal's voice cutting through the commlink.

"Diana…"

She abruptly sat up as if her friend was there. "Yes, Kal?"

"Merry Christmas. How are you?"

"Merry Christmas too and…I'm fine." She managed a guilty look at Bruce. "I'm at the park."

"By yourself?"

Bruce placed his elbow on the edge of the table and leaned on his right hand, watching her intently.

"There are…other people here." That came out sounding guilty. "I'm watching them skate." Yup, guilty as charged.

"Well, enjoy your holiday. I'll be back tomorrow morning."

"I will."

"And mother baked you blueberry corn muffins."

"I love muffins. Please say thank you for me."

"Okay. I have to go."

"Okay. Take care." She heaved a sigh of relief that there were no more questions that she had to evade. Then she noticed a different expression on Bruce's face. "What?"

"Take care? You never told me to take care before," he chided. "And I never knew you loved muffins."

She placed her elbow and cradled her chin on her hand, facing him, a few inches apart. "Kal is my best friend. I always tell him to take care. And I love muffins, cookies, cakes…any kind of pastry. There are things you don't know about me, because…you keep shutting me out."

He looked at her affectionately. "I'm sorry. You have to understand that I can't just let anyone in. It's a big risk I'm taking right now."

"I understand." She smiled. "Do you see me complaining?"

He played with her braided hair. "No. Not today."

"Maybe…in a week or so," she laughed. "But not today."

As she stared into his face while his eyes warmly smiled at her, there was this persistent thought in her mind. She wanted him to kiss her. Not like the customary kiss they had to share the last time as a cover from the enemy, but a kiss that he once gave her, a kiss that was filled with feeling.

But he did nothing of the sort and instead reached out and with both arms shifted her so that she was leaning on him again, her head comfortably resting on his shoulder while his left arm was draped protectively over her, embracing her. She hid her partial disappointment with a smile and a silent admonishment for thinking wantonly.

"Bruce…" She said after a while, as she played with their joined hands "Why the sudden change of mind?"

"Sudden? It took me a long time."

She felt him sigh with the rise in his chest. "I mean…you were short of a chalk, a blackboard, with your lecture about why we can't be together that I was almost convinced."

"Convinced that we can't go out?"

"No…" She was trying to contain her mirth. "…That you have issues. Seriously, though…why?"

He shifted a little so that he was holding her closer. "There are certain situations that can make one look at life a little…differently. Certain…near death situations…"

She knew what he was referring to. "I never thought your feline girlfriend would be the death of me."

"That was a long time ago, before you came into my life." He cleared the matter and opened his palm and placed it against hers, before closing in again. "Diana…when you were in that bed, almost…lifeless…I was filled with regrets."

"Regrets?"

"About every single thing that I did not do when I had the chance." He held her tighter. "Of not being able to run my fingers through your hair, not being able to hold you this way, not being able to tell you how…important you are to me." He rubbed his cheek against her hair. "And then you woke up. But it turns out you already have a…boyfriend."

"Imagine the surprise."

"Surprise? I was angry," he admitted. "But then…you did not go home with him."

"And that's supposed to be a big deal…"

"When you dedicate most of your life to saving the world and you were given a day off but you don't spend it with your supposed boyfriend…" He kissed her hair. "…It is."

She laughed. "Obviously, Kal does not know that too." It was her turn to rub her cheek against him, smelling the faint scent of his cologne. "So now…I am supposed to spend the rest of my free time with my boyfriend?"

"Yes, but let's just be clear that I am the boyfriend," he mentioned possessively.

She smiled. "Assuming that we ever have free time."

"No coffee or lunch break at the cafeteria with just the two of us."

"Definitely not. That would make them look twice."

"So that rules out holding hands under the table during a meeting."

"Kal has x-ray vision." She chuckled. "How about training sessions?"

"Now that's a good idea."

"Don't get any other idea's. We may be alone but there are camera's all over the place," she warned.

"At least we are alone. But the thought that the only way I can be alone with you is when you can beat the hell out of me is not very…welcoming."

She laughed again. "Oh, I forgot…I have a full schedule already."

"This is not going to be easy." He told her.

"I know."

He sighed. "But we can do it."

His life was not exactly a walk in the park, and hers was not a rose garden either. But, as her head leaned on his shoulder, she was entrusting her heart to him for the very first time. And with his arms holding her securely, it gave her the utmost reassurance that, even if they were two people who have lives that did not exactly offer the opportunity for a normal relationship and that there was a good chance that things would be very difficult, with each other they could and they would make this relationship work.

Simply because…

He had waited so long for this moment.

She was finally given the chance to be with him once more.

Bruce closed his eyes as his lips turned into a heartfelt smile as he held her before breathing a very contented sigh. He finally felt like he was living again.

I'm learning to breathe…

I'm learning to crawl…

I'm finding that You and You alone can break my fall…

I'm living again, awake and alive…

I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies.

Later, after finishing the remainder of the apple pies, they spent the rest of the very short but wonderful day walking along the park, hand in hand.

"Are you sure you don't want to have dinner with me?" They were now at the sidewalk near the hospital where his car was parked.

"As much as I want to…I have to get back." It was already dark.

"Alright." he was a little disappointed. After retrieving her bag from the car, he reached inside his pocket and produced something. "I want you to have this."

"Oh, thank you." She accepted the gift but frowned. "Is it customary to give something in return, because I'm afraid I don't have a gift for you." She looked embarrassed.

He smiled. "You've given me more than enough."

She looked small item that almost disappeared in her hand. "Cellular phone?"

He nodded. "It has a very secure line. Can't have everyone else listening through the commlink when we talk could we?"

She laughed. "You really thought this through. What if…" Her other brow rose. "…I did not…say yes?"

"Actually, the thought did not cross my mind." He reached for both her hands.

"Really?"

"Because I was planning on stubbornly convincing you until you say yes." He had such confidence. Then his expression softened. "I really had a beautiful time."

"Me too."

"See you tomorrow?"

"Yes."

She did not want the day to end as she gazed into his face that bore the expression that he hardly displayed. Today, he saw a side of him that she had seen once so many years ago, the man who did not try and hide his feelings, the very same face that captured her heart.

Tomorrow, he belonged to his city again.

He seldom prayed anymore. But if he could, he would ask for another day like today, when nothing else mattered but the two of them with each other, enjoying each other's company, sharing the feelings that they normally hid from other people. Today, she belonged to him, and he belonged to her.

Tomorrow, he had to share her again with the whole world.

Her feet soundlessly stepped back as she spoke into her commlink, giving J'onn the coordinates, her location, but never taking away her eyes from his. And just before the last light of her disappeared from his view, she was able to softly blow him a goodbye kiss.

A few minutes later, she allowed herself to fall on her back at the middle of the bed in her quarters with a very satisfied smile in her face.

Just last night, she was silently contemplating the utter loneliness of her life.

She was preparing herself for single blessedness.

Who would have thought that her Christmas present would be…Bruce?

A giggle escaped from her at the remembrance of all that happened earlier in the day. And just as she was busy reliving the wonderful moments, the small phone beside her, his gift, interrupted her thoughts with its incessant ringing.

Pushing a button, she answered it. "Hello?"

"I just wanted to make sure you got back safe."

The smile never left her face. "Afraid my molecules would be stranded in space?" She heard a faint laugh on the other line. "Yes, I did."

"Diana…" he paused for a while. "Take care."

She laughed. "You too, take care."

When she heard a faint click as the other line went dead, she looked at the small device in her hand. But her thoughts were very far away.

Saying that a relationship between teammates would not be easy was an understatement.

But…she was happy.

She was able to convince of herself that while pushing the nagging thought about the curse far from her mind…not tonight.