Day 2: Family's Permission


January 27. Daily Planet. 14:23

Bruce

"I thought we were having lunch."

Clark looks up from his computer, where his eyes have been glued for the better part of ten minutes, and shrugs. "We are," he answers. "But Lois and I are on deadline, so we're going to have to eat in the office."

I only nod. When I called Clark last night asking if we could meet up for lunch, I hadn't given much thought into how much I was interrupting their work or their own schedules. But Clark is pretty selfless, and agreed to meet, even though now I can see he is scrambling to proofread the page of text on his computer. "We can reschedule," I offer.

Clark shakes his head, answering my question, however his eyes never leave the screen. "No, no. I'll be done in a second," he says. "Lois, however," he begins, although another voice interrupts his train of thought.

"Lois, what?"

The two of us turn and see Lois leaning on her neighboring desk, a box, of what I assume is our lunch, in her hands. Her lips curl into a smirk and she eyes Clark, who only blushes and tries to avoid her glance. "You spreading rumors about me, Smallville?" she asks, placing the box on his desk before she leans over and kisses his cheek, causing a fresh wave of pink to roll up on his cheek.

Clark chuckles and shakes his head. "I would never."

"That's what I thought," she replies with another smirk. She turns to me, her smirk turning into a broad smile when she sees me sitting beside Clark. "Bruce," she greets as she pulls her chair up beside Clark and takes a seat.

A few weeks ago, right before Christmas, Clark had finally gained the courage to ask Lois out, after months of blushing whenever Diana or I brought her up during one of our monthly dinners. Christmas night is when we had finally met the woman, other than a few press meetings in which she was one of the dozens of other reporters trying to jot down every word I said, and when she and Clark had left that night I knew she was going to be in Clark's life for a long time. The way he looked at her when she thought he wasn't paying attention, the way she looked at him whenever he would let out one of those boisterous laughs - it was what Diana and I had, and I couldn't have been happier for the two of them.

Within the last few weeks she had become one of Diana's friends, not bothered that they had both dated Clark. In fact, Diana was able to provide some insight of Clark when he was younger, and was able to answer some of Lois' many questions about the man. We were both happy to know he had moved on and was happy, after all, he was still my best friend (beside Diana of course). Which is why I felt the need to tell him I was going to propose before I actually did it. He looked out for Diana and I wanted to show him I wasn't playing around this time.

I watch as Lois grabs the box of food and places it in Clark's line of sigh, her eyes narrowing as he moves his head between the plain box and his computer, before he settles on the box, grabbing it in his hands and tearing open the lid. "We have a deadline," he whispers, pulling out one of the three burgers and handing it to his girlfriend.

Lois shrugs. "I've already finished mine and submitted it to Perry," she says with a wink. "You're slacking, Smallville." She nudges his shoulder and he chuckles, before he hands a wrapped burger to me. "Hope you like burgers, Bruce," Lois says. "They're the best in town."

I graciously accept the burger, letting the smell from the delicious item waft up into my nose. My stomach rumbles reminding me skipping breakfast was a bad idea, but I had been too nervous to eat anything. I only wonder how much my nerves will plague me when it comes time to actually propose. "They smell delicious," I say, carefully unwrapping the burger in my hand.

"Best in town," Clark repeats. He leans back in his chair and takes a bite, careful not to get any of the ketchup that threatens to leak off the side onto his desk. "So," he says, finishing the bite in his mouth, "what can we help you with?"

"Can't I come see my old pal," I say with a smirk, taking a bite of the burger in my hands. Its flavor sends my taste buds on a trip and I am convinced this is the best meal I've had in ages.

Clark tilts his head and raises an eyebrow, unconvinced by my fib. "I know you, Bruce," he says, and I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or an insult. He continues, giving me the clarification I need, "You would have waited until dinner next week to see us, unless you have some big news." His eyes widen and he sits up straight. "You didn't!"

Lois tilts her head. I can tell by the look on her face she is confused. "Didn't what?" she asks before she takes another bite from the half eaten burger in her hands.

"Did you propose to her?" he asks, his eyes wide.

I chuckle nervously,place the burger on a few napkins and carefully wipe the corner of my mouth with a napkin, before I clean off my hands. "No," I answer, reaching into my pocket. "Not yet."

I pull out the small velvet box, watching as both Lois and Clark freeze. My eyes meet Clark's as I carefully open the box, showing them the ring I intend to give Diana. "Bruce," Lois begins as she places her half eaten burger back into the box. She carefully wipes her hands on a nearby napkin before she pushes Clark aside to reach for the box containing the ring. "This is beautiful."

She lifts the box to get a closer look, her lips curling into a large smile as she nudges Clark's shoulder. Clark tears his eyes from mine and glances at Lois from the corner of his eyes, trying to ignore the sly smile she is flashing his way. He bites his bottom lip nervously and I suddenly feel like I'm interrupting a well versed conversation between the two.

"Thank you, Lois," I say, watching as she hands the box to Clark. He inspects the ring, carefully turning the box in his hand as he takes in the look of the band and the jewels embedded in it. After a few moments he closes the box and places it in front of me.

"About time," he says with a smirk. He meets my eye once more and I can tell there is something he wants to say, but he still doesn't like to bring up the fact that he and Diana used to date in front of Lois.

"Lois!" someone calls from behind us. The three of us turn to see editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet, Perry White, partially hanging out of his office. His eyebrows are furrowed and his lip is curled into a snarl that makes me glad he is not my boss.

Lois looks up at Perry and sighs. She jumps out of her chair and shuffles papers around, either trying to find something or hide something, I am unsure. However, when Perry calls her name once more, she freezes and stands up straight.

"What did you do?" Clark whispers, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose.

"Nothing," she responds. She pats his shoulder before she walks to Perry's office and disappears inside, leaving the two of us to sit in silence, if only for a moment.

The two of us look at each other and I let out a sigh. This was never going to be easy, but I knew it was something that needed to be done. When Diana and I first decided to pursue a relationship, telling Clark was one of the hardest things I had ever done. I didn't want him to think I had betrayed his trust as a friend, but I wanted him to hear from me instead of from some tabloid who might've snuck a picture of the two of us together.

At first Clark was confused, then he was hurt, but after a few days he realized Diana was moving on, just as he should have been, and was okay with the two of us. That didn't mean he hadn't threatened me a few times, letting me know he wasn't above hurting me if I hurt her. When I made the decision to propose to Diana, I knew Clark was one of the first people I needed to tell. I needed his approval. I needed to know he was okay with this. I couldn't marry Diana and have my best friend still holding some resentment.

"I know this might be a bit weird for you," I say. Clark snorts and chuckles, nodding his head as he leans back in his chair. "Clark, even after everything, you're my best friend." He raises an eyebrow and I correct myself, "My best guy friend," I say, "And I can't ask Diana to marry me if there are still some unresolved feelings."

Clark's chuckle turners into a hardy laugh and he shakes his head. "No, no," he says, "I don't have any romantic feelings for Diana, and you two truly belong together." He takes a deep breath and sits straight. He looks past me and I can see his mind is wandering, trying to find the words that convey what he is feeling. "I'm just wondering, did the two of you ever-"

"No," I answer, shaking my head. "We never did anything while the two of you were together," I say. I watch as he raises an eyebrow once more, questioning the vagueness of my words, but I know I can't elaborate. What Diana and I did in high school is a secret the two of us will take to the grave. No one needs to know that I've compared every woman in my life to her, at least not now. "You know she would never do that to you, and neither would I." I grab the box containing the engagement ring from the desk and place it back in my pocket. "I may have had feelings for her, Clark, but I'd never betray either of you like that."

Clark accepts my explanation and offers me a smile. "Then I'm happy for you two," he says.

I nod and extend my hand toward the reporter. "Good. Now, will you be my best man?" I ask.

Clark grips my hand firmly and shakes it, nodding his head. "Ask her first," he says, "but of course.

"Perfect," I respond. "Maybe you can get a good word in with her mother," I whisper under my breath. "She hates me."

Clark laughs, throwing his head back like what I've stated is the most humorous thing in the world. "What makes you think I can help?" he asks. "Her mother hated me just as much. Maybe even more. She thought the whole farmboy innocent thing was a facade. At least with you, you're open about who you are...well, were."

Clark's confession only makes my stomach drop. I was hoping with Clark sweet talking Hippolyta and a heart felt confession from me, she'd finally see that I was only there to make her daughter happy. Now I worry this is going to be much easier said than done. "Perfect," is all I can muster, as I drag my hand down my face in defeat. "Well, I suppose I'll have to figure out something. She's coming to dinner next week and I will need to have something planned by then."

"Good luck," Clark says. He turns to his computer and glances at the clock displayed in the corner of the screen, his eyes widening when he realizes the time.

I take that as my cue to leave, scooting back my chair and standing, watching as Clark mirrors my actions. "Thank you, Clark," I say, stepping toward my friend, enveloping my arms around him in a hug that shows how truly grateful I am for this man.

Clark reciprocates my hug, squeezing me a little harder than necessary, before he pats my back gently, quietly apologizing. He really doesn't know his own strength sometimes. "You're welcome, Bruce," he says. "Next time I see you, Diana better have that ring on her finger."

All I can do is nod. For all of our sakes, I hope this is true. If there's one person who can't keep a secret, it's Clark, and if I don't propose to her before he sees her next, I don't know if he'll be able to stay quiet. "Better get to work," I say, glancing over my shoulder at the door that locks Perry's office away from the rest of the work room. I am quick to take notice of the mumblings that are coming from the office growing louder by the second and I wonder just exactly how far Lois went for a story; we all know she is willing to do whatever it takes to get the truth. It's why she is the best reporter out there.

I let out a small sigh, slide in my chair, and let out a small stretch, silently apologizing to my spine for sitting in that chair for as long as I did. I make a mental note to donate some comfortable and much more work inducing chairs to the Daily Planet, because there is no way I'd get anything done if my back was subject to that torture every day.

Clark's attention quickly goes back to the page on his screen, the blinking cursor taunting him as he rattles his brain for the last few sentences that'll finish his report before their deadline in an hour. I had come with one last surprise for the two, but it seems as if it'll have to wait until Lois is no longer being disciplined by Perry and Clark is no longer distracted with the looming threat of being demoted back to the small sports column as opposed to the investigative reporting he's worked so hard to claim.

"When she is done," I begin, watching as Clark begins to fumble with the keys on his keyboard, "tell Lois to call me. I have a story for her."

He raises an eyebrow and I can tell he's slightly offended that I haven't offered him a story, but quickly dismisses it when he realizes I've given him story after story for the last two years. He gives me a small nod, promising to deliver my message, and waves over his computer's monitor, letting me know it's time for him to focus back on his screen. I take the hint and walk out of the newsroom and into the elevator, pressing the box with Diana's ring inside against my hip.


February 4

"Dinner was delicious, darling." Hippolyta gently dabs the corners of her mouth with a napkin, careful to mind her lipstick as she rids herself of the remnants of dinner.

Diana watches as her mother places the napkin atop her empty plate before she grabs her wine glass and places the rim to her lips. "Actually, Mother," she begins, "Bruce cooked tonight." She places her hand on mine and gives it a gentle squeeze as she smiles, before she takes a sip from the glass.

I offer Diana a smile of my own, trying not to puff my chest out with the compliment she has paid me. My free hand reaches over and grasps my own glass of wine, carefully drawing it to my lips, before I take a sip of my own. Hippolyta contemplates what Diana has confessed, taking a sip of her own glass of wine. Her eyes jump to me and I can see the internal struggle she faces. She doesn't know whether she should let down her guard and offer me a compliment, or whether she should remain as stone faced as she's been since Diana's childhood and ignore what her daughter has said. When she offers me a small smile, I realize maybe she is finally accepting me and my relationship with Diana.

"It was delicious, Bruce," she says. The compliment doesn't go unnoticed, as Diana flashes a smile and squeezes my hand once more.

I give Hippolyta a small nod and place my glass of wine back onto the table. "Thank you," I say. I gently push my plate further on the table and look up at the older woman. Her blonde hair sits atop of her head in a loose bun and she wears a business suit; she is the only woman I know who would wear something so formal to a casual dinner with their daughter and boyfriend.

"So, Hippolyta," I say, licking my bottom lip nervously. I cautiously pull my hand from Diana's, offering her a smile, hoping she doesn't sense how nervous I am. Tonight I intend to talk to Hippolyta and ask for her blessing in asking for Diana's hand in marriage, and my nerves are shot. Hippolyta has never been a fan of me. Ever since walking into her house at the age of eight, I've only seen her smile a handful of times. Most of the time she's stone faced and focused, however she does switch it up with the callous frown that seems reserved only for me. I only hope she'll see that I want nothing more than Diana's happiness.

"How's business?" I ask casually, hoping my voice won't betray my face.

Hippolyta places her wine glass on the table and tries to hide the smirk that flashes on her face. There is a gleam in her eyes and I sneak a glance at Diana, who also sees it. She raises an eyebrow, curious as to what has made her mother's usual demeanor crack.

"Business is," Hippolyta clears her throat, "good." She turns to look at her daughter and knows she needs to elaborate, else Diana decides to interrogate her mother. And we both know if Diana chooses to do that, nothing is going to slip by. I speak from experience.

"Just good?" Diana asks slyly. "How so?"

Hippolyta shifts in her seat and lets out a defeated sigh. "We've already surpassed this quarter's quota and we're looking at expanding. And Antiope* is working on a few other deals that'll help with access to exports in other countries."

Antiope? Both Diana and I raise an eyebrow at the name and Hippolyta, once she realizes her slip up, quiets. The last hour Hippolyta has made a few references to a mysterious business partner and neither I nor Diana thought much about it. Diana doesn't speak business with her mother so she never bothers to learn the different companies she collaborates with. However, the smile Hippolyta tries to hide when she mentions Antiope's name has both Diana and I curious as to just what way Diana's mother knows her new partner.

"Antiope?" Diana questions, a smirk on her face. Is she hinting at what we've all been wanting to know all along?

When Diana was younger, Hippolyta would rarely date. And when she did, it never progressed to anything more than small flings. After her father had left when she was young, Diana rarely saw her mother pursue anything other than business relationships and partnerships. Hippolyta had claimed she was too busy making a future for Diana to date - or form a proper relationship with her daughter- but now that she was grown we all wondered if she would explore the idea of a long term relationship.

Hippolyta only nods. "Yes?" she asks, daring her daughter to ask the question we are both dying to know. But she knows even before the battle has started, she's won. Diana does not discuss these things with her mother. It took Diana upwards of three months to even hint to her mother that we were a couple, and another two to flat out tell her mother the truth. Had it not been for Donna, Hippolyta would have been none the wiser about the two of us. Hippolyta knows this, and she uses it to her advantage, keeping things a secret to gain the upper hand. It's what makes her an amazing business woman, but a vapid mother. What she thinks is best for Diana doesn't always end up best for her daughter. Something Diana has learned time and time again.

Fortunately for Hippolyta, Alfred walks into the dining room and begins to gather the empty plates in front of the three of us. He offers me a wink, glad to know his cooking lessons have finally paid off, before he lifts my empty plate and makes it join both Diana's and Hippolyta's, quietly reassuring everyone he will return to fetch the rest of the dishes. But Diana stands and shakes her head quietly, grabbing the last of the dishes, and following Alfred out. She does this every night, helping Alfred around the house whenever she is able to. It's her way of saying thank you to the man who has slowly become like a second father to her and I know they enjoy the quiet time away from my prying ears. I once tried to join them, offering to clean dishes while the two finished up the kitchen- I was quickly thrown out of the kitchen to a fit of giggles and I'm sure Alfred wasted no time sharing stories of my childhood to Diana. She always seemed to know another embarrassing story than before with each trip to the kitchen.

But today I won't say anything to Alfred. Tonight I will use the opportunity to get alone time with Hippolyta. He knows this, and he has promised me he'll try to distract her as long as possible. But I know I only have a few minutes before Diana comes bursting through that door, her arms filled with some new concoction she and Alfred have whipped up for dessert, so I sit up straight, take a deep breath, and face the older woman.

"I love your daughter," I confess. It comes out stained and I pray that she doesn't think there is anything wrong when I clear my throat.

Hippolyta only nods once. "Then what is wrong, Bruce?" she asks. "All night you've seemed nervous." She lifts an eyebrow, challenging me. "Did you do something you shouldn't have?" she asks with a smirk.

I only shake my head. Tonight I will not fall into the trap that Hippolyta has tricked me into since I was a teen, when she was convinced I was tricking Diana into doing things I shouldn't have. She was- is- the one person that always makes my confidence falter. But tonight is the night to show her just how serious I am about Diana, and I need to get straight to it if I want to ask her for her blessing before Diana gets back.

"No," I say. "I just want you to know I love her. And I know you don't think I'm good enough for Diana, and I know you're right, I'm not good enough for her because she deserves the world. But I want to make her as happy as she has made me." The words spew out of my mouth so quickly I have no way to stop them, but when I notice Hippolyta only smile, I take a deep breath and say, "I want to marry Diana."

Hippolyta only nods and I don't know who it surprises more, me or her. She was the person I was least excited about telling, yet she is giving me the least pushback. Hell, even Alfred asked me at least thirty questions before he was on board with my proposal.

"Do you have a ring?" she asks, and I am taken aback. No question on how I intend to propose, or how I plan on fulfilling my promise to keep Diana's happiness. Nothing I expected and prepared for. Instead, she asks the most nonchalant question.

"Yes," I answer with a nod. I pull the small box from my pocket and hand it to her, watching as she opens it carefully. Her eyes settle on the ring inside and her smile grows.

"This is beautiful, Bruce," she says. She gently closes the box and hands it back to me. "She'll love it." I only respond with a small nod, still taken aback by how effortless this all was. I don't know why I was so worried in the first place - unless this is a trick and Hippolyta is waiting until my guard is down to strike. "You have my blessing."

I raise an eyebrow and tilt my head. She responds with a raised eyebrow of her own and the two of us sit in awkward silence for the next few moments, unsure of who should be the first to speak. "This was a lot easier than I expected," I admit.

Hippolyta only chuckles as she reaches for her glass of wine, temporarily forgotten until this moment, grabs it and takes a sip. "Would you rather I forbid you from asking her, only to have you do it anyway and the two of you get married behind my back?"

"I would ne-"

Hippolyta raises a hand and interjects, "Yes, you would," she says, however she is not angry like her statement would suggest. Instead she lets a sigh roll off her tongue and she continues, "Diana loves you. You love Diana. When two people love each other as much as you two do, nothing is going to stop them from doing what they want. Not even your mother."

She lets out a sad sigh and downs the last of her wine, delicately placing the empty glass back onto the table, and says, "Besides, I know I did a lot of things Diana did not like. I kept her from a lot of experiences as a child. I only ever saw her truly happy when she was with you, Bruce. No matter how much your cocky smirk annoyed me."

I can't help but throw the previously mentioned smirk her way as I place the box back into my pocket and out of sight, should Diana come bursting through that door. "Why the change?" I can't help myself from asking.

Hippolyta glances over my shoulder at the wall, the corners of her lips tugging into another smile as her thoughts are clouded by a memory, and a fond one at that. "Donna has had something to do with it," she says, making reference to the teenager who is busy at her first semester of college. "But I've recently come to realize that love can make a person change, for the better," she says.

She glances my way and I can see the slight hue of pink on her cheeks. It is just as I thought. "Does this have something to do with that new business partner?" I ask, raising my eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

Hippolyta says nothing but the growing blush on her cheeks is the only answer I need. I let out a small chuckle and raise my hands in surrender. I have the answers I need, and until she is ready to reveal that part of her life to Diana, I will keep quiet.

Diana and Alfred finally come back into the room, and as expected, she is carrying a large tray of cupcakes she baked this afternoon while I was at work. I simply shake my head as she walks to the table and places the tray onto the large piece of wood, her smile beaming as she realizes she has left me and her mother alone and neither of us are shooting daggers at the other - metaphorically speaking of course.

"Who wants dessert?" she asks as she raises a cupcake and places it in front of her mother, not giving her the opportunity to deny the sweet. Hippolyta looks my way and gives me a small nod when she notices Diana's attention is elsewhere, thanking me for keeping her secret. I reciprocate as Diana places a cupcake in front of me before she takes a seat beside me and digs into her dessert.

Both Hippolyta and I follow suit and as I stare at the woman I love, proudly nibbling on the sweets she has created, I grow more excited for what is to come. I have Hippolyta's blessing, and that is all I need to set my plan into motion.


*We all know Antiope is Diana's "aunt" but I decided to make her not a literal aunt in this one.