Chapter 4: Wayne or Tresser: Diana's Dilemma

After her last period Remedial Goodness 101 class, which Diana found insulting and pointless—after all, unlike the others who had an extremely high potential for evil, there were only three other exceptions—Anthony Tremaine and Hadie, and, of course, Diana's twin, Jason. Diana was fifty-fifty either way—she was shocked to see Tom Tresser and Bruce Wayne both waiting for her. "Tom, Bruce, what are you doing?" She shifted her bags and carefully gripped the basket containing her tiny daughter.

They quickly followed. "I want to help you, Diana," Tom said. "I know you can pass the rest of your classes, I'll help you, tutor you, I mean, and even with Reya, well, that last bit's if you want me to."

Bruce nodded. "When Tresser's not available, I'll help too," he offered.

"Tom, Bruce, come with me," Diana led the way to her dorm room. Donna was on the martial arts team and at practice.

Settling Reya in her crib, Diana slid her shirt off and sat with her back facing Tom and Bruce. "Tom, Bruce, I can't read or write this language, and the reason is quite literally carved into my back," Diana wiped her eyes.

Both males clenched their fists in anger at the word carved into Diana's back. "You are not a half-blood…" Tom began.

"Yes, I am," Diana replied.

Bruce wrapped his arms around the disgraced former princess of the Amazons.

"I am the long lost daughter and—former?—heir of Hippolyta, heroine and Queen of the Themysciran Amazons, and Lord Hades, King of Tartarus, and known villain," she explained.

Tom handed Diana her shirt. "Diana, the truth is Hippolyta asked me to find a way to find you, she and her partner—they haven't stopped fighting to get you back," he replied. "And I will help you ace your classes."

"We both will," Bruce corrected.

Diana nodded. "Guys, I can't, I'm scared," Diana admitted.

"Why?" He asked.

"I was eight and had just figured out the man I called Father, well, he wasn't really my father at all," Diana gulped. "I often dreamed of leaving the isle behind—I hated it there—I wanted nothing more than to return to Themyscira, my true home. I was kidnapped—the other villains had discovered that my mother was a hero and they were, well, to put it mildly, displeased. They beat and starved me for a while, I lost track of time. They carved the word half-blood into my back. Stepmother, well, this land's version of my stepmother, Persephone, she nearly killed everyone on the isle. Hell, my best friend, Anthony Tremaine and his mother were willing to help! Anastasia, Anthony's mother, she helped Jay and Gil and Mal and Anthony and Claudine and Hadie and Evie to rescue me and my twin Jason. Uma and Maxine led Jay and Gil and Harry and Mal and Claudine and Evie and Hadie and Papa and Stepmother to us. Only Ursula, Morgana, Uma, Maxine, Jay, Gil, Claudine, Anthony and Anastasia, the last four, and Uma and Maxine, they're not here yet, and the members of Hades's household would have been spared. Oh, and Aunt Ursula and Aunt Morgana. It was just easiest to think of them as my aunts. And I'm not her kid," tears rolled down Diana's face. "Hades was so worried—he pulled me from school. It was too dangerous for me. In fact, outside of my family, I mean those who lived with Hades, Persephone and my half-siblings—Evie, Mal, Hadie, and my twin Jason—other than Anthony and Anastasia Tremaine, Jay, Gil, and Claudine Frollo, everyone on the isle just called me, 'half-blood', and that includes my cousins, Ursula and Morgana and their daughters Uma and Maxine—Shrimpy and Fishbait—well, unless they were visiting us at Hades's place. We didn't always get along or agree but deep down, we were blood, family, and gods, it kept us alive. At night, for the two months, I was tortured, Ursula and Morgana would secretly treat my wounds and heal me. It took them sometime to get word to Papa, but they kept me alive." Diana closed her eyes. "Bruce, Tom, I gotta get my cousins here."

Tom nodded as he rubbed her back. "I will always be there for you, Diana, I promise," he murmured.

Bruce snickered. "And so will I, Princess," he kissed Diana's cheek.

Diana smiled and laid her head on Tom's shoulder. "Tom, Bruce, thank you," she murmured.

He squeezed her shoulder gently. "Diana, shall we begin?" He asked softly.

Diana smiled. Donna entered the room to see Diana squished between Tom and Bruce, a book open in front of them.

"Uh, what's going on?" Donna asked, her confusion evident in her tone.

"We're helping Diana with her classes, other than the Remedial Goodness class, our schedules are identical," Tom replied.

Bruce nodded in agreement.

"Kay, so who's hungry?" Donna crossed to her side of the room, before she dropped her bag on the floor with a crash, waking Reya.

Diana glared at her cousin, before turning to Reya. She watched, stunned, as Bruce carefully picked her daughter up. He gently rocked the crying baby. "Diana, I know she's your responsibility," he began.

"Guys, it's fine, Reya needs a father figure, and I can think of no one better than one of you two,well to fill in for Anthony," Diana replied, kissing his cheek.

Ton watched as Diana calmly and carefully took Reya from Bruce. "What just happened?" He turned to Donna.

"It seems you two are competing for my cousin's heart," Donna replied. "And if whichever one of you wins it, ever breaks it…"

"You'll kill me, Troy?" Tom gasped. "That'll really break her heart. Besides, she's won my heart."

"She's held my heart from the start," Bruce admitted.

Donna nodded reluctantly. Tom and Bruce quickly followed Diana to the cafeteria. Both males watched as Diana sat silently next to Mal and Evie, clearly stiff as Carlos sat across from her.

Tom walked over. "Diana, why don't you and Reya join me for dinner?" He held out his hand.

Diana grabbed her tray and Tom grabbed the basket containing Reya. He led the two to a different table. Carlos glared at Tom as he walked by with his tray.

Bruce sat with the two, glaring at Tom as well. It was quickly obvious to the half-blood that both Tom and Bruce had feelings for her.