Disclaimer: I am not making any money out of this and copyright infringement is not intended.

Author's Note: In all humility, I must say this chapter is very difficult, though challenging, to write because I had to be careful of the rating. It's definitely more than PG, so be warned. And, to add, this chapter is plain and simply, shippy-shippy BMWW…so enjoy the shippiness…while it lasts.

Chapter Fourteen

The Wind, The Earth, The Rain and The Gathering Storm

With an added amount of excitement at what the rest of the day would bring, she spent the remainder of her afternoon assisting in minor emergencies in the city and uncomplicated assignments at the Watchtower. Meanwhile, his other half of the day was spent with half-heartedly listening to the department heads, trying very hard to stifle a yawn when the slightly balding accounting manager started presenting the budget for the coming year. The numbers, the bottom line figures, were all just a blur to him and once in a while, trying not to be too obvious, he would steal a quick glance at the wall clock whose hands seemed to be ticking away slower than normal.

At about six in the evening, she returned to her quarters after confiding in J'onn that she would be out for the rest of the night. With a smile, in silent gratitude that the Martian did not press for more information regarding her would be whereabouts, she entered her room.

Extracting a black duffel bag from the cabinet, she carefully packed a still unworn evening dress and matching stilettos, spare undergarments, hair brush and hair dryer, a few accessories, lotion, perfume and scented candles that mostly came form Audrey as gifts. Still in her uniform, she teleported to a safe location and flew the rest of distance to the manor.

Alfred was not at all surprised by her arrival, in fact, he seemed to be welcoming it with a slightly disguised appreciation though his aged eyes revealed much of his approval. Asking his permission to utilize a spare room to bathe and change, he more than gladly obliged by running a hot and scented bath for her. After the luxurious indulgence, she toweled off and stood in front of the full-length mirror.

Wiping the mist that covered the surface of the glass with a hand, she looked at her naked reflection.

She always considered herself to be strong and brave and she still possessed the inherent strength, but she must be honest that she was short of courage at this very moment. And it could not be helped, but, ever since her foot stepped into the door of the manor earlier in the evening, her heart was beating faster than normal inside of her, her palms were sweaty, and there was a strange sensation in the pit of her belly. All because she knew very well what this night signified.

She swept her eyes and gazed at the woman standing in front of her, the wet, ebony hair that slightly curled at the ends, the expanse of bronzed and glowing skin and every alluring curve. This was all that he was going to see, what he was going to possess, what would be his, finally.

She was going to give every bit of herself to him.

The face held a trace of a nervous smile as it looked back at her at a recollection of one of Wally's favorite songs that he kept playing over and over at the lounge. There was a line, somewhere in the song, that struck a chord.

I'd give up forever to touch you because I know that you feel me somehow…

Yes, she was going to give up forever for Bruce.

And with that certainty, she took one last look and stepped away to prepare herself. Drying her long hair, she twisted her raven tresses in a simple chignon, securing it with a crystal-encrusted clip. After rubbing on lotion all over her body, she carefully donned the strapless, long and slinky black dress that flattered even more her voluptuous curves, embracing her silhouette perfectly, revealing more of her perfect breasts with a very seductive neckline. Finishing touches were the lightest touch of make up and a dab of perfume at the right places. Putting on a shawl for modesty that covered most of her exposed upper body, she secured the light fabric with an antique brooch, for Alfred's sake, and slipped her feet into the stilettos before exiting the room.

For the briefest of moments, she entered the master bedroom and made some light changes before climbing down the ornate staircase.

"Miss Diana…" Alfred was at the foot of the stairs, gallantly awaiting her. "I must say…" The butler took in her appearance once more. "I am at a loss for words. And that happens not so very often."

She beamed. "I take that as a compliment."

Alfred could not resist a bow and a kiss on her hand when she reached the foot of the stairs. "You look absolutely…enchanting."

"Thank you."

"Master Bruce just called. He is on his way." Alfred could not be any happier with how things were going. "Would you like some tea while you wait for him?"

"Coffee, please."

The butler smiled. "Very well. Coffee it is."

By herself, she walked hesitantly to the large living room, as if afraid of the ghosts of the past. She had been in the manor more than once after that day, many years ago, but she always managed to avoid this part of the house. It represented so much of what she almost had once. But when her eyes settled on the friendly orange glow of the small fire that burned in the fireplace, she felt a strange sense of belongingness.

It had a few re-arrangements, but it was mostly the same as she remembered. The painting was still there.

Alfred stopped in mid stride when he caught sight of her admiring the artwork that immortalized Bruce's parents and for a moment had an epiphany. Her presence in this living room, in this large and lonely house, in Bruce's life, seemed to make a huge difference. It felt…right.

"They were a beautiful couple." Alfred softly said behind her. "In some circles, they were even referred to as the King and Queen of Gotham." She took the cup offered while Alfred continued. "The Wayne's were also blessed with many things other than good genes. They were also the kindest people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. Whoever said that you can't have too much of a good thing."

She returned her gaze to the painting, the lifeless eyes looking back at her, before sipping on the beverage. It was bitter and strong, just the way she preferred. "It's such a loss though."

"Yes." Alfred stood beside her. "It still puzzles me, though, how such a wealthy and beautiful couple could only procreate just once. And the particular offspring seems not to be interested in preserving the legacy. I'm afraid the family line would end with him."

"According to the tabloids, you should not worry much about these things, Alfred."

"Your highness, half of these so called reporters claim he's a womanizing…swine, forgive the language," the butler apologized. "Some of them say he prefers…wearing women's clothing and undergarments in private."

She raised an eyebrow. "Is there any truth to those claims?"

"Well…he's made a career out of womanizing for reasons known to the two of us, I can vouch that there isn't an item of women's clothing that belong to him anywhere in this house."

"It must be difficult to fend off the women." She took another sip of the coffee.

"I've mastered it by now." Alfred looked proud. "But I think he is just waiting…for the right woman to come along. Someone who will not be, in the slightest, intimidated by his stature in society, and someone who's at par with his intellect. Someone…who would not marry him for his wealth, his money. And of course, someone who knows that his body is inhabited by two contrasting personalities."

"In short…he's a troubled person."

Alfred allowed himself the luxury of a light chuckle. Then, he went back to work, in his own subtle way, of convincing her to skip the courting phase and get to business as quick as possible. It would be a very welcome change to have another presence in this large house, specially a presence that radiated so much life and warmth. And, fast forwarding into the future, he would not mind the tiniest bit the chore of changing diapers.

But that was really moving too fast.

"Master Bruce is very much like a…tree planted in a very wide and lush garden, in the richest of soils. But what good is the garden, the fertile soil when the stubborn tree itself does not bear fruit."

She laughed at the comparison as Alfred's hand reached to retrieve the dainty, but now empty, coffee cup and saucer from her.

"An old man can grow very tired of tending to this garden and to this tree, of clipping the dead leaves and weak branches, of fending off parasites. The only consolation is the hope that someday, smaller trees, a lot of them, will sprout from the ground."

"What have I been missing?" Bruce's voice interrupted from the doorway.

"I was just telling her highness about…the garden." Alfred managed a wink at her before his charge approached. The older man's eyes did not miss the simple gesture of Bruce's hand finding hers as they stood beside each other.

"And trees." She was quick to add.

"Oh."

It was time for an exit to leave the lovebirds to themselves. "Well, I'd better prepare the table for dinner." Alfred turned to her before leaving. "Maybe we can finish the discussion about the garden some other time, Miss. I would very much appreciate your help in planting some of his seeds."

The butler turned to the younger man. "As for you, sir…better start planting your seeds before…they reach the end of their shelf life, outlive their usefulness."

He turned to her with a raised brow and a confused, but amused, expression when Alfred was out of sight. "I always thought trees were inspiring, never this…amusing."

"Not when Alfred talks about---"

Her reply was cut short by the sudden closing of his lips on hers when he pulled her into an intimate embrace to give her a very passionate welcome kiss.

When their lips finally pulled apart, he moved inches away to gaze at her but with his right hand still holding hers. "You look…breathtaking." He could see more of her face and his eyes gazed at her appreciatively. Then he looked lower, noticing the chiffon fabric draped over her chest. "Are you cold?"

There was an amount of mischief playing at the corners of her lips that later turned upwards to reveal a sultry smile. Then she softly let go of his hand and stepped a feet away from him. Still capturing every bit of his attention, she unclipped the brooch that was holding the delicate shawl in place and in one sweep the fabric was taken off, revealing the seductive cut of the dress to his view. Because of her meta-human senses, she was very aware of a change in his breathing and the hue of his eyes became a shade darker as he dropped his eyes from her face lower, to the smooth neck and shoulder blades, to linger on the hollow between her breasts.

He was always in control, Bruce Wayne always dictated the pace when it came to being with a woman. But now, he was questioning that fact.

"I put the shawl on for…Alfred's benefit."

His eyes went back to her sweet face. "You just saved him from a heart attack."

"Like it?" She did a pirouette for him.

She moved in all gracefulness and was not aware of the magnitude of the effect of the simple action that she just did. It was as if her skin glowed as she spun in slow motion and that all he could see was her, the smiling face, the beguiling eyes, the perfect body in a dress that was made simply for the purpose of seducing a man out of his mind.

If she only knew the power she had over him.

But of course, he would not tell her that. Not yet.

He smirked at a thought to gain the upper hand. "You teleported from the Watchtower wearing that?"

"Of course not!" She looked at him incredulously and noticed the smug expression that he wore. She wanted to erase the satisfied smile off his face.

She walked closer slowly and he noticed the determined sway of the hips. Then she lifted her arms to his shoulders, the soft fabric of the shawl caught in the movement. For a while, she just looked at him with a trace of amusement before leaning closer, her lips a breath away.

Then she shifted her movements and whispered into his ear, in a very sexy voice, "I took the liberty of having a very luxurious and satisfying bath in your bedroom."

His mind instantly conjured a tantalizing visual of her naked body soaked in perfumed foam, the rest of the exposed skin wet and silky, making the temperature in the room further rise. Not able to avoid, he placed his eager hands on her small waist and pulled her body to him as he dipped his head slightly to breathe in the scent of her. She smelled intoxicating and he wanted to kiss every inch of skin that was exposed to his view. But he wanted her to play the seductress for a little while longer.

"I hope…you don't mind." The long fingers of her right hand were now playing with the collar of his silk shirt underneath the black coat, her blue stare fastened on his lips.

He moved his face closer, his lips a whisper away from touching hers. But he took his time and did not kiss her, not yet. "Of course not," he whispered huskily against her lips.

The undisguised way her eyes were feasting hungrily at the sight of his lips almost made him surrender. He shifted his attention to prolong the teasing, lightly touching his lips to her temple, her cheekbone, her jaw line to finally stop and kiss and lightly suck at the smooth skin of her neck.

A shiver ran down her spine at the contact, the feel of his warm breath on her sensitive skin. Her response was to let the shawl fall to free her hand to hold onto his shoulders. As his wet lips tortured her by tracing an invisible pattern, she reacted by pushing her body closer, wanting to feel his body against hers. The friction created by her movement elicited an immediate reaction from his already tormented and aching body. Acting on pure desire, he lowered his hands from her waist to grab at her behind, pulling her to him, revealing how much he ached for her.

She felt the slight push, the probing and because of curiosity, she tried moving her hips against his.

Slowly, he felt all his self-control slowly eroding like soil falling into the arms of the sea in a middle of a very wild storm. And to make matters more difficult, her hips started moving sensuously, grinding against him, seducing the very last drop of what was left of his sanity. Holding onto the last, taut string of control, he pulled away slightly and studied her flushed face with eyes filled with the same intensity of passion. And in a quiet and simple but very meaningful movement he offered his right hand.

Without the slightest hesitation, and in all trust, she accepted.

Quietly, holding onto one another, they left the solace of the living room.

With every step that followed as they slowly climbed up the staircase, her heart thundered in her chest in nervous anticipation of what was inevitably going to happen. Finally, she would be one with the man she had waited for in such a long time, the man she loved.

At the door of the master bedroom, he paused in his steps and once again turned to her with a faint catch of his breath. In silent inquiry, his eyes looked at hers and conveyed the question that lingered in his mind, asking her if she was willing to go on.

She gave him a simple smile as an answer.

It was the only sign he needed to lift his hand to turn the cold knob of the door that opened to the room that awaited their entrance. With a deep breath, as if summoning more courage, she moved her right foot forward and entered. The lovely scent that welcomed her senses did little to soothe her nervousness.

"I also took the liberty of lighting some candles." Her uneasy steps led her to the middle of the room. "I know it's a fire hazard but…"

His gaze took in the image, the warm and subtly lighted bedroom, the very inviting atmosphere and inhaled the smoky but soothing aroma. Then he looked at her. From the subtle glow, a few feet away from him, he could sense her uncertainty.

He bridged the gap in a few strides. "I love it."

The thought that she had prepared for this very night to be very special touched him deeply. And he was going to make every moment as important for her, for the both of them.

With only the faint radiance from the candles all around the room as their light, with the small, oval, blue and yellow light dancing, making the shadows in the room move to the unheard song, they stood facing each other, breathing deeply, content at first to just look at each other's faces, into each other's eyes, neither one moving as if afraid the other was just a vision that would fade at the lightest touch.

She still could not believe it was finally going to happen.

All these years she longed for this chance, a moment that she once had to give up with the thought that letting him go the first time was letting go of him forever. And now, here they were, with another chance at the love that was once lost. And there were no more doubts, no more uncertainties. If she had to give up her immortality to be with him, so be it.

I love you, Bruce Wayne…and she did not care if her eyes just told him the truth as she smiled.

She did not know that just a smile from her had the power to make his world stand still, to make time stop.

Her face was so honest, so open, her eyes glistened in the dark as if trying to fight back the tears. And when she smiled at him, he felt overwhelmed by an emotion only her presence could make him feel. He felt happy.

And…blessed.

She could have any man she ever wanted. But yet, she chose him, chose to be with him. Yes, he was blessed, not because he found her, but because she found him.

His left hand reached up to softly caress the side of her face, the face that occupied most of his thoughts and his dreams, his fingers tracing with a featherlike gentleness at the contours to softly end on her chin. When he dropped his hand, her own moved in return, her palm flattening on his broad chest, momentarily glorying in the feel of the erratic beating of his heart, then moving aside to remove his dark coat. Then her fingers worked to unbutton his silk shirt successfully this time, remembering with a smile the difficulty she had before. A pile of silk soon joined the coat that was quietly draped on a nearby chair.

Now half naked before her, he took her right hand and placed it on his chest again. The feel of her open palm on his skin created a surge of warmth, awakening further his already sensitive flesh and he wanted to feel more of her. He moved forward, inching closer and she closed her eyes, letting a shiver pass through her when his lips touched a sensitive spot in her neck. The sensation radiated all throughout her body as his hands roamed seductively and wantonly at her sides.

It felt good touching her.

She wanted to feel his hands on every inch of her.

Meanwhile, downstairs…

Alfred was just about to take the roasted lamb from the oven when his mitt covered hand stilled at the stainless steel handle. With a sly grin, he took off the mitt and left the sanctuary of the kitchen to momentarily check on something more important.

He passed the quiet passageway and, just as a precaution, tried to listen to any sound coming from the living room. Except for the cracking sound of burnt wood, there was no more and he finally stepped into the doorway just to make sure.

The two people he left here earlier were now gone. The only evidence of their presence before was the soft pile of delicate fabric on the floor. And he heaved a happy sigh.

It was the first time, in a long time, that he was happy that Bruce was going to miss dinner.

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

When he lifted his face and his gaze locked again with hers, with eyes filled with naked desire, she knew then that there was no turning back, that they were beyond the borders of doubt. With this knowledge, she gently turned from him and his experienced mind knew exactly what the simple gesture meant. Placing a soft kiss on her left shoulder, his right hand reached for the fastening of her dress and ever so slowly pulled the zipper down. He let go and the dark fabric fell almost instantly from her body to gather at her feet.

For a moment, he allowed himself the torturous luxury of admiring the smoothness of her exposed back, from the elegant neck, the regal shoulders, traveling further south to admire the narrow waist and lower where the expanse of skin was interrupted by a black, lacy underwear. And the temperature rose significantly at the thought that the most beautiful woman in the world was now almost naked except for the tiniest bit of clothing and in a few moments more, he would finally take her into his arms, worship every bit of her, show her just how much he desired her.

Reaching for the clip with a surprisingly steady hand despite of the raging emotions within, he tugged at the pin and in one flowing movement her raven tresses tumbled softly, cascading down her back like ebony silk. Moving closer, he swept her hair out of the way and felt her shiver when his hands touched the naked skin of her slender waist. With a bent head, he began kissing the skin on her shoulder, lightly at first. When he felt the positive response of her neck arching to allow him more space to explore, he went bolder by lightly sucking, tracing a fiery trail tantalizingly down her spine, along the column of her back and lower. Now kneeling behind her, his hands grazed the outside of her thighs and heard a faint moan as his lips kissed the skin near her left hipbone.

He felt her sharp intake of breath when his fingers started tugging at the waistband of the only barrier left, the last remnant of clothing on her perfect skin. Moving away slightly, he pulled the material down slowly, as if peeling away carefully the wrapper of a very cherished gift. Inch by inch her flesh was bared, the perfect shape of her well-endowed backside now appearing naked before his eyes. Keeping himself in check, he slid the lacy material down her thighs, her legs.

With another deep breath, she nervously stepped out of her stilettos and underwear. Still with her back to him, her heart beat faster at the faint sound of a belt sliding against cloth and the rustling of fabric as he undressed.

She could feel his closeness, all of him, just a breath away behind her. Then she closed her eyes when she felt his fingers softly urge her to turn and finally face him.

Her expression was all softness, her eyes gently looking at him with a glaze of passion tinted with the tiniest amount of nervousness, her pouting lips trying to prevent a quiver that, for a moment, he thought she would bite at her lower lip to keep them from trembling. Her skin…the flicker of small firelight seemed to bounce off her, making her glow.

And her body, every inch of skin, every enticing curve and the hidden depths and mysteries that were yet to be discovered…his imagination did not even come close for it was like looking at a rare work of art, a beauty that transcended the meaning of the word as he knew it.

When his chest started tightening inside it was only then that he was aware that he had been holding his breath at the sight of her that he never saw before. Naked, vulnerable and in love.

And like a very fragile flower, he carefully swept her into his arms. Effortlessly, he carried her to the king sized bed to lay her softly, not once taking his eyes off her flushed face. Leaning close above her, so close like never before, their warm, bare skin touching, he allowed himself the luxury of a short moment to just marvel at her beauty, from her face, her hair delicately fanned out on the pillow, the smooth neck, the perfect breasts, the cute belly button…

She felt another shiver rake at her senses at the sight of him looking further down to where his eyes had never been before. And when she saw his eyes look back at her, deeply blue, disguising nothing, she was finally assured of what he felt.

With her right hand, she softly urged him towards her.

Outside…

It was all serene, as if the rest of nature was indulging in the quiet comfort of slumber as the moon looked on, the faint light filtering through the encompassing blanket of shadows.

Then, an unseen force started quietly, moving in the darkness, stirring, kissing the tranquil atmosphere of the night, intensifying, turning into a soft breeze. Awakening the stillness all around, this tender gust of wind made its slow caress from the north, with only the face of the moon hovering high above, crowned in a haze of heavy clouds, as witness. As it made the sensual and deliberate southward journey, it remained at a leisurely pace, the friction of its touch creating a sound, a wailing, a moaning in the darkness as it caressed the peaks of the hills, lingering a moment longer than necessary before delving with a nervous excitement further down.

Finally reaching the hidden valley below, the purposeful wind licked at the quiet earth, stirring the snow-covered ground, waking up the sleeping trees, the brittle branches stretching, shivering in its wake, the ice crystals resting in the leaves falling softly to the awakening ground.

For a while the daring wind remained to explore the hidden depths, glorying in the discovery, enjoying the feel of the receptive earth under its invisible hands and lips as it circled and touched every nook, every cranny, whistling, moaning, making the soft earth shudder, before making an upward journey again with an intensity much stronger, bolder than before, carrying with it fallen and quivering leaves that arose from the damp earth.

For the briefest of moments, the wind hovered over the waiting earth, admiring the beauty, the ethereal glow it radiated, smiling with unseen eyes before it descended again with raw, untamed passion. And with this fervor, the earth trembled.

Somewhere, in the middle of the damp, snow-covered garden, a lone flower shook with such intensity. The frail stem of the white bloom offered the faintest of protests, of last resistance that was all in vain, before falling into step with the untamed, wild dance of the wind that later tore the innocent petals apart.

With the fallen leaves, the delicate petals moved, joining the forces of nature in orchestrating this very sacred dance. Slowly, the tempo rose, the movements becoming faster, circling, moaning, spinning out of control. Higher and higher the petals flew in surrender wherever the wind carried it, no more with the will of its own, but with just the strong need to be one with the wind.

Farther into the night sky, the petals shone like stars in contrast with the darkness all around, just before the wind cried in the final moment, when it reached the height of its passion. And then a blinding light tore soundlessly from the sky, majestic, magnificent, to be soon followed by the guttural noise of thunder, a moment before the first few drops of the December rain washed the wind and the petals and the leaves all away.

Back in the comfort of the night…

Two lovers lay spent, yet all aglow, bathing in the warmth and joy of shared love, holding on to one another in the aftermath.

In an island far away…

A mother looked longingly at the moon and the stars. Before wiping a tear that escaped her sad and lonely eyes.

She looked so beautiful, so peaceful, so blissfully contented as his eyes wordlessly admired everything about the woman beside her, the woman whom he now held in his arms but once thought he never could. Her face was still flushed, the pinkish hue on her soft face was still present as a result of their lovemaking, her very first time, while her long and thick eyelashes fanned above her delicate cheeks, her lips silently curved in a slight smile as she slept.

With the softest touch, he combed his fingers through her hair in featherlike strokes, before planting a kiss on her forehead.

Closing his eyes, he breathed in deeply and smiled to himself.

There was too much to feel that he could never translate into specific words for his lips to confess just how much she truly meant to him. All he knew was that the feeling that now occupied a greater part of his being was beyond contentment, that if he would die tomorrow, or the next day, he would not harbor in his heart the regrets that used to dwell deep in his soul because she had given him today, tonight, a certain peace with the darkness within him.

I love you.

He could have very well said it aloud because, just as he thought, her eyelids fluttered to slowly open and wake up to the very welcome sight of his eyes looking at her, studying her. He was lying on his side on her right, his upper body propped on his elbow. And there was no mistaking it, she could see clearly in his eyes all that he felt for her, all the unspoken feelings.

She lifted her left hand and traced a path with her finger, from his forehead, to the bridge of his nose to end at his lips. Then she touched the side of his face.

"I missed you," he whispered, his voice light but filled with meaning, before turning his face to kiss her open palm.

She smiled guiltily. "Have I…slept that long?"

"Just for a few minutes…" His eyes locked with hers in an affectionate stare. "Still…I missed you."

Stirring a little, shifting to be closer to him, it was only then that her senses became aware of her nudity as she lay beside him. In a sudden, but definitely already late attempt at modesty, she tentatively reached for the silk sheet that was uselessly covering her hip and below.

The movement was not lost on his amused eyes. "It's a little too late for that now."

She laughed nervously, as his stare reminded her of all that had transpired minutes ago between the two of them, his kiss, her response, the way she accepted him inside and, most importantly, his gentleness.

"Bruce…" she whispered in the semi-darkness that enveloped the room while the firelight still danced with the shadows. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For the…wonderful experience."

"Just wonderful?" He was teasing her with his voice and his eyes.

"Wonderful…magical…" She sighed, searching her vocabulary for the right words. "All the synonyms for beautiful."

Yes, all the synonyms for beautiful. "You are all of that," he stated truthfully. "All that is beautiful."

Her eyes lit up at his words, the profound words that she never thought would escape his perennially brutally honest lips. Without even a reply, she just gazed at him and let all the love that she felt reflect in her eyes.

He paused for a moment as he let her loveliness, all of her beauty fill him with emotion.

"Diana…" He called her name so very softly. There was too much feeling in the way her name passed his lips. "I love you."

She felt like being pulled back into time, so very long ago. It was the same face, the same smile.

"I know." She closed her eyes and came to terms with her destiny, knowing what came with the promise of love. "I love you too, Bruce Wayne."

As soon as it was said a soft breeze entered from outside to caress the soft curtains on the window. And a cold and haunting feeling pricked her skin. She did not want to accept what it signified at the moment. As of this time, all that mattered in the whole universe was that she was happy.

He moved closer, the bliss totally evident on his countenance, and kissed her.

The last light from the candle was now gone with the touch of the cold breeze…as darkness came invited into her life.

And outside, the wind blew, the earth moved and it started raining all over again…while a storm gathered to later unleash its fury.