Many thanks to Cheese8888888888; ffer; Eve; DCLOVER; Pablo Agustin; Emma; Jenny, Kate, clacker nah, she's just not 'familiar' with him since she's always called him 'Henri', so Kent it is; Lulu; Marianne for their reviews :)

Please read and enjoy

Son

20

Lois drowned her third glass of wine, breathed in deeply. The night had fallen two hours ago and the day had been long and exhausting but she couldn't get to sleep. For some reason, the nervous energy still hadn't lowered, just as her mind refused to shut down. Too many things had happened in one day. The army, an alien abduction, an alien invasion, an almost alien genocide –because really, Clark was the last of the Kryptonites now, right? And then this woman killing Zod and jumping out of their lives without much of a 'hello', and Clark turning so taciturn and angry and disappearing after carrying Zod's body over a volcano –

"She asked me to do it," he told her over the phone. "She hinted that mankind couldn't be trusted with his remains."

"Why did you do it?"

"Because she isn't wrong."

And there were so many things she could have said to counter his argument: the technology of the ship, the Genesis chamber, everything the government and military could put their hands on would be taken and studied and used to various ends. But she remembered the look in his eye when it became clear they had won and it was over, and let it slide. He had a rough day, he deserved some rest. And so did she, if she could manage to pass the memo to her body.

Someone knocked at her door. The clock was ticking close to ten pm.

Who on earth-?

Lois stood and carefully glanced through the peep's hole. She almost expected the army or Clark; not the man behind the door.

"Perry? What are you doing here?"

Her boss looked tired with deep lines under his eyes. He had changed clothes, looked like he hadn't slept either.

"I need advice, and you are the only one who can offer some perspective."

Perry had been covering news ever since she was in diapers. If he needed her opinion –and had come this late at her place on top of all -then he must feel well out of his comfort zone. She stepped aside, let him in. Perry did not seem eager to head to the living room and just stood in the doorway, watching as she shut the door behind.

"What made you change your mind, about publishing the story?" he asked bluntly.

He didn't need to add which story, they had both argued on one in particular lately. He had been happy that she'd drop the matter, even though the harm had been done. Still, of all the questions to ask at this hour of the night, she did not expect this one.

"I met someone who gave me a different perspective on the situation," she admitted honestly. "That person pointed out –quite innocently, which is all the more raging –that the guy hadn't done anything wrong and might be hunted down because people wouldn't react well." She paused, smiled a little at her boss. "Close to what you told me, actually." But it somewhat made a different impact coming from a five-year-old boy's mouth. "To be honest, Superman could be accused of is espionage because he integrated a US base in the Artic under a false identity, but I doubt people will remember it for long. If anything, general Swanwick will make sure to wipe those records."

She left it there, unwilling to confide more about Clark's identity. Instead, Lois waited for him to pick up the conversation. The man sighed heavily, as if all strength left his body with that single action.

"She was there. The woman who killed Zod. I returned downtown to help this afternoon and I saw her." Lois felt her eyebrow raise a notch. She hadn't expected that subject either. "She was amongst the volunteers, digging with others to rescue a few survivors stuck underneath debris and other gruesome stuff. I spoke to her, got a good look at her face. I'd recognize her anywhere now." He frowned. "I'm pretty sure we are the only ones who have seen what she is capable of."

Lois had to admit her boss had guts. The woman had jumped out of nowhere, stuck a sword of all things in the alien's neck and overpowered Clark with little effort. For a brief moment, she recalled being terrified that she would also kill him. But then Clark had left carrying Zod's body because she had asked him to. And Lois didn't believe he would have agreed had he not known her before.

"She claimed I was confused and that she had no idea about what I was talking about. But we both knew I was right." He paused. "We were interrupted by another volunteer, which, in retrospect, wasn't such a bad thing. I didn't have my full wits and she wanted to help the people that needed rescuing." He paused again, long enough to take a sip. "Superman is the proof there are aliens out there, and not all of them are kind. I don't think that woman was Kryptionian, but a metahuman."

Lois pondered over his words. She believed him in the right.

"So you don't believe hiding that there are others in the population, others that can be like Superman, is a good thing."

He sighed, ran a hand in his short hair in distress.

"That's the point, isn't it? I don't know whether that matter should be tackled yet." He paused, lifted his hands and mimicked a headline as he spoke: "Aliens and Metahumans Amongst Us." He dropped his arms. "Once the commotion will die down, people will already freak out over the fact aliens exist. I don't think throwing the theory of metahumans in the mix is a good idea, even if it will bring massive sales."

"But you can't let it drop."

Perry looked clearly conflicted.

"We had proof there is at least one metahuman hiding amongst us. What if they are others? What are they doing? Are they living in fear, hiding in plain sight, using their powers for good or evil or not at all? I've seen shit and more in my life; I can handle this kind of news. But those who never thought past their white pickets fences? And those who will take advantage of the fear of the unknown? Chaos is not a pretty thing."

Lois crossed her arms, eyes narrowed. Something in his tone didn't sit well with her.

"You came for my opinion, but I think you already made up your mind."

Perry met her eye unapologetically.

"That woman may have saved Jenny's life. Crucifying her on the media is a poor 'thank you' note." He narrowed his eyes, as if processing his thoughts as he spoke. "But hiding in these times is like setting up a ticking bomb."

Lois blinked in realization.

"You want Superman to bear the blunt of it."

"Only for a short while. Those people; now that he is in the open, they might gain confidence and show themselves as they truly are." He paused, considering, and added wryly: "People will want to know more about Superman no matter what. Aliens are novelty compared to everyday life freaks." He snorted humorlessly: "Just take a look at those in Gotham. No-one wants Mister Freeze or Poison Ivy for neighbors. But in time, once the commotion has died down, it will be time for them to surface. I will find that woman then, and ask her to testify."

Lois dropped her arms, astonished.

"What are you expecting from me?"

"Let Superman know what I have in mind. Whether he's happy with it or not, that's what I'm going with." He met her eye again. "You're one of my best reporters. I really don't want us to be at odds because you don't think your boyfriend can't handle the attention."

Son

Bruce was just finishing his report when he heard the flat heels on the ground, a light tap quite unfamiliar yet recognizable. Diana had entered the cave.

He knew she had returned the moment Hip had suddenly jumped off his chair, abandoning his drawings behind and raced to the elevator. As he still had some work to do, he hadn't moved to greet her. He had called Dick a little earlier to make sure he was alright. The young man had informed him he would be returning to Buldhaven that evening as he still had to go to work the next day –and his own city to watch over -but promised to return asap. Bruce himself planned to patrol that night, if only to show that the Bat was still alive and kicking thugs' butt.

He felt Diana's presence in his back. When he glanced at her, she smiled tightly and reported her attention on the computer screens.

"So, what do your samples say?"

She sounded tired, a matter he would enquire about later.

"There are particles that aren't from earth. They have fallen upon the debris, and spread in the air," he replied. "I'm still not sure how they will affect us –if they affect us at all. I'm currently testing the reaction on both human and Kryptonian DNA in its contact." He opened a file to show what he had found out earlier. "There are differences between human blood and Zod's. Kent's might be slightly modified by his time on earth, but in essence, I believe they are the same. I'm comparing three samples: two of Zod's with and without the presence of the alien particle, one of human with the presence of the alien particle."

"How on earth did you get Kryptonian DNA?" she asked, surprised. Bruce couldn't help but smirk.

"You kept the tissue you used to wipe Zod's blood off your sword. That's plenty sample I can work with."

She rolled her eyes but didn't appear particularly upset. He wondered if she expected that kind of behavior from him. He also wondered if she realized that he was trying to be more open with her.

"I saw your people sending masks and first necessities to the helpers in Metropolis," Diana finally spoke. "Your company is efficient."

"I gave a direct order, and my executives aren't so incompetent to delay this kind of affair, especially given the circumstances."

When she kept silent, he stood up to face her. Diana met his eye, shifted uncomfortably. They were at stalemate, neither quite knowing how to interact with each other. Bruce had never been physically demonstrative of his affection –not that he had many women he genuinely wanted to be affectionate with. Sex was easy, but emotional comfort- he was no professional.

Screw it, he thought, just as she seemed to think the same, and he opened his arms slightly as she walked into them. He immediately smelt her soap and shampoo, and beneath all this, the faint odor of dust. His hold tightened slightly. Her face pressed in his neck and he felt the tension bleed out. The embrace was…nice. Less awkward than what he thought it'd be.

"How are you?" he asked.

"Tired, but fine. I've done this before, but it never gets easy." He grunted in acknowledgment. He had seen his deal in Gotham, but nothing as destructive as what happened in Metropolis. "At least we could get about twenty survivors out before it was too late."

Bruce did not question the number of dead they had to pull out of the fallen buildings, which must have been quite important too. Diana pulled out of his arms and looked at him again.

"Do you happen to know anything about Perry White?"

The name rang a bell but where- ah, yeah.

"The editor in chief of the Daily Planet of Metropolis?" When she nodded, a sinking feeling came in his guts. "He's a fair man. And an excellent journalist. He would have made an amazing cop with his investigation skills. Why do you ask?"

"He witnessed me in action, found me this afternoon. I was just wondering if I should be worried about him."

His brain raced, going through scenarios and weighting probabilities. In most of them, he feared harassment and Diana in first page of the newspaper. She would have to stay out of the US to avoid his detection and outside of the US meant taking Hip with her and-

"What exactly does he know about you?"

Diana winced: apparently she hadn't considered the full consequences of addressing him again. And that made him slightly angry.

"I helped him save a woman stuck beneath a grill and killed Zod in front of him. When he approached, he mentioned giving me an interview." She paused. "Not unlike what Lois had in mind with Kent. I don't think he will go out of his way to track me down." She smiled wryly. "I do have some experience avoiding the press."

"The press of a hundred years ago is not the same of today's," he snapped perhaps a little harsher than he intended to. "One day, staying under the radar will no longer be an option." Especially if he officially recognized Hippolyte as his own. Perhaps his name would protect his son for a time, but Diana would become a public figure in the magazines if he announced his paternity and…

Hold that thought.

"I think we should marry."

The words left his mouth before he could even think them through. Diana blinked at him as if she wasn't sure she had heard him properly.

"Pardon?" she said.

Bruce thought about it, really carefully. He had faced the tabloids once when he had adopted Dick, and the excitement had died down after a while. Dick hadn't suffered too much from the scrutiny, although he had admitted later that it made him uncomfortable at first. He was old news now, paparazzi had abandoned him for more interesting matters. No-one would really care if he married a woman he had made a child with –though his birth date would be observed and commented upon. And Diana had a solid background already. Newspaper knew not to push their boundaries with him, especially if people just considered he was making things right. Now all he needed was to make Diana share his vision on the situation.

"We should marry," he repeated, and while Diana's befuddled expression was not encouraging, he thought he could still win his case with a decent argument. "It would be easier –for you, me and Hip. It might not go smooth at first, but now is the right time –too many distractions from the events of Metropolis, no-one will care if I get hitched. And in the future, less people will be inclined to investigate on you if they know I will stand beside you." He paused, felt his cheek burn a little when he added quietly: "And I think I want to."

His whole speech, her expression didn't shift. The same astonishment reflected in her eyes, her jaw had fallen open in disbelief. She blinked several times before gathering her speech:

"I –I don't know what to say."

"Think about it?" Bruce said, almost pleading. The more he thought about it, the more it sounded like a good idea. "I don't need an answer right away, just –think about it. Tell me before you return to Paris."

He was asking for a lifetime commitment but he was already committed anyway. They would have to use some tricks to disguise her lack of aging and he would definitively die long before her, but the risk was worth it. He had to believe it was worth it.

Before any word could be pronounced, the computer chipped, signaling that the result of his testing had just gone through. Bruce returned his attention to the screen, typed a few keys. He felt Diana's gaze on him, waiting too. The first conclusion reassured him: the alien particles had no effect on the human blood. No contamination should be expected for the people in Metropolis –or he and Dick. Now that the most urgent matter was set aside, he focused on Zod's results.

Unlike the human blood, the alien particles had had an impact. Not a strong one, but an impact nonetheless. Was it the combination of alien and earth's atmosphere doing the harm? Just the alien particle?

"It is eating his cells?" Diana asked out loud, although he suspected she was just asking for confirmation.

"Not eating," he corrected. "Weakening. It's weakening its cells." He wondered if there was an equivalent on earth, and if Kent would react to it at all. He'd have to test that theory at a later date. Which reminded him: "Diana, do you mind if I test your blood and Hippolyte's to make sure that thing doesn't impact you either? You were both born here, so I'm not that worried, but just to be sure."

Diana nodded absentmindedly, a thoughtful frown on her face.

"Hip doesn't like needles, but if you ask, he should comply. Are you going out for patrol tonight?"

Bruce noted she did not mention his poor attempt of proposal and let the matter rest.

"Yes, though just long enough to make a point. It's been a tiring day." He wondered if Gordon would try to contact him too. No need for the thugs to believe he had somehow been caught in the events of Metropolis. He glanced at the clock. "Is Hip in bed yet?"

"Hip is being distracted by Alfred right now," she replied but not without a small smile. "If you want to say goodnight and be the storyteller, you have to leave the cave soon."

Bruce agreed. He saved all the new data in a file and let the screen switch in sleep mode. The two returned to the house in silence, a new tension growing between them. He hoped a few burglars would come across his road tonight; he seriously needed the distraction.

Son

Hippolyte was asleep and Bruce had been gone for half an hour. Diana hadn't stopped fidgeting and it was annoying her.

"Alfred, can you stay in the house a little more? I need to go down to the cave for a while."

The butler eyed her barely a second before he agreed.

"If I may, please leave the cave in one piece, Miss Prince. Master Bruce invested a lot of time and energy in its construction."

So he had noted her fierce desire to destroy the dummies Bruce had showed her the day before. Gods, had it only been a day?

"I'll try," she promised and went down.

At first, she hadn't understood the cave theme. In Themyscira, she had grown used to train in the open air, on the beach, by cliffs and surrounded by nature. After visiting the cave a few times, she was growing to understand the appeal. A hiding place like no-other, that could be arranged and modified with none the wiser. Bruce had the resources to invest in his hideout filled with advance technology. And the tools he used to train were remarkable. None would hold against her strength, but she didn't quite need it to said those tools for her own end.

The elevator doors opened. She walked in the cave, straight to the training mats. She picked a wooden stick and faced one of the dummies in front of her. Tonight, she would test the control of her own strength.

This hadn't been an exercise she had done in a while –a hundred year of everyday life practice made it useless. Instead, she needed to reacquaint herself with the bases, so she could teach Hippolyte. Soon, she thought. With or without Bruce around, Hip needed to learn to control his growing strength and more importantly –recognize what he could and could not lift. Kent had been a fine example of man who hadn't quite learned to do so. She had known where to look and he had fallen easily and unintentionally into her traps. Hip could not afford to repeat those mistakes, especially if he needed to learn to blend in.

The baton 'whooshed' in the air as she stopped its trajectory right before it hit its target. The dummy remained unmoved by her fierce expression. She repeated the same move, twirling the stick around and stopping right before the tip hit the chest. She had another motivation to begin training Hip: his focus should sharpen and help him control his emotions –and the emotions of those around him. Dick had pointed out that Hip might be more upset if he accidentally harmed someone. And first in line of fire were Alfred and Bruce…thinking of Bruce -

'I think we should marry.'

His offer had been spontaneous, almost an afterthought in a spur of the moment. As she slammed into the dummy with as much strength as she suspected Bruce would, she considered his arguments. The situation was serious enough to attract the world's attention. No-one would care if about a wedding when such catastrophic events had just occurred. Knowing the media, the debate about aliens invading would hold the headlines for a month or two, if not more, easily. When the whole debacle was over, their 'marriage' would be old news. Bruce Wayne, in spite of his multiple misgivings, was a powerful man. Journalists wouldn't think twice if he exerted himself to protect his family from the press. She could hear the good sense behind his words, but –

Would it kill him to be a little more romantic about it? she thought wryly.

And it dawned upon her that she was actually…considering it. They had Hip, a lifelong tie; they had agreed to enter into a relationship, not matter how clumsy they acted about it. Marriage was a logical step. Bruce had to have considered the implications, should it happen. She would outlive him –if she didn't perish in an upcoming battle –and see him age. The notion was unpleasant, but had Steve survived, it would have been the same thing. She would lie if she said she hadn't considered the marriage state, if only briefly. She had not expected him to jump onto the matter so soon. Had the events of Metropolis any incidence on the matter?

The baton slammed into the dummy, reducing both artificial head and weapon into pieces. Diana scowled at her inattentiveness. She needed answers to her questions, but she wasn't certain of the questions to begin with. Bruce had caught her off-guard and she hated it.

Insufferable man, she thought uncharitably. Then again, it was part of what she considered to be his charms.

She threw the broken stick down the gulf of the cave. Exercise wouldn't tire her and she would not push herself, not if she couldn't focus. She returned to the main house, thanked Alfred for his patience and went into Bruce's bedroom. As she changed into her nightdress, her eyes laid on the luggage containing her armor. She had put it to rest after a quick cleaning earlier, as it had not been used. Still, its monthly maintenance was approaching; she would have to care for it more thoroughly in the upcoming days.

Hip will be happy, she thought with a half-smile. Her boy loved to manipulate her armor.

The lasso of Hesita did not need the same management, but she still kept it as clean as possible. For a brief moment, Diana considered its power. She needed focus, figure out what she truly thought of the situation. Could the lasso help?

Truth depended on which point of view was solicited, but if she could figure out her truth…it would be a starting point. Mind made up, she retrieved the lasso. Her fingers played with the thin rope, rolling them around, until she felt ready and tightened her grip around them. The lasso flared to life.

In the other bedroom, Hippolyte woke up, gasping for air.