TITLE: A Miracle for Christmas

AUTHOR: LOTSlover

CHARACTERS: Batman / Wonder Woman

RATING: T

WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings

DISCLAIMER: I love Justice League, but especially Batman and Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, I do not own the characters and, if I did, things would be much different for them.

SUMMARY: Batman goes missing before Christmas causing Diana to fear that he won't make it home in time for Christmas. BMWW

A Miracle for Christmas

Christmas.

It wasn't a holiday that Diana had ever celebrated before coming to Man's World…didn't even know of the holiday's existence until after she'd left Themyscira's magically protected shores. Since then, though, it had come to mean so much to her, becoming associated with so many special memories over the years.

Her life had changed in ways that she never could've imagined when she had first decided to leave her island home. She never would've dreamed that she would meet a man who would turn her whole world upside down, completely altering the very belief system about men that had been ingrained in her for as long as she could remember. She had been trained to despise and avoid men and now she was married to one and raising a family with him.

While she missed the place of her creation, this was her true home. It's where she belonged.

Diana glanced at the clock as it chimed once again, signaling that another hour had passed. She drew a deep breath, releasing it slowly as her gaze wandered to the beautiful Christmas tree, its twinkling lights the only source of illumination in the room, casting a warm glow.

She smiled to herself as she thought back to that Christmas nine years ago when she had spent the holiday alone with Bruce on the Watchtower. It definitely hadn't turned out the way that Bruce had imagined, but it had gone according to her plan as far as she had been concerned.

Creating a scavenger hunt with pieces of her uniform, she had managed to draw her stubborn prey to her quarters, finally seducing the man that had managed to capture her attention from the moment she had first met him. They had been flirting and dancing around their feelings for one another for far too long, forcing her to take matters into her own hands that day.

"Lose something, Princess?" he finally uttered, his voice deep and rasping with desire as he held up her clothes.

"Took you long enough," she seductively teased, her blue eyes dancing at the site of him standing there holding her uniform.

Bruce dropped her clothes before swiftly closing the distance between them in three long strides as he ripped his cowl off. "It's Merry Christmas, Princess," he gruffly murmured, his mouth suddenly crashing into hers with a hunger that stunned her.

His mouth was so urgent against hers, his gauntleted hands rough against her skin. This had gone better than she had ever imagined. She had thought it would have taken more persuasion to get him to take this next step with her, a little more flirting and teasing.

As it was now, she could barely catch her breath as he suddenly pinned her back against the wall. He paused long enough to remove his gloves, his hands suddenly tangling in her hair as she pulled him closer still.

She could hardly believe this was actually happening as she worked to remove his Kevlar uniform, anxious to feel his skin pressed against hers. She parted her lips, begging him for more, to taste her fully. He quickly indulged, his tongue so hot and demanding as he deepened the kiss.

Bruce pulled back enough to help her remove his uniform; both breathing heavily as he began to tug at the red ribbon wound around her body, desperate to fully open his tantalizing present. She smiled as he worked to remove the ribbon, her fingers in his hair, her lips hungry for much more.

They'd spent hours making love, more than thankful that crime and disasters had taken the holiday off to allow them some time alone together exploring what had been steadily building between them. She had feared that he would try to push her away as soon as life returned to normal, but Bruce had been fully committed to trying to make a relationship work with her.

They'd had their ups and downs since then, more than their fair share of heated fights as well as passionate nights spent making up. She had found the hardest times were when they had to be apart for extended periods of time, whether it be Bruce engrossed in an important case in Gotham that took him away from her or when she was sent on an off-planet away mission for days on end.

One particular away mission sprung to her mind, causing her to glance down at the large diamond ring that adorned her left hand.

Bruce finally pulled back, hovering above her as he lost himself in her beautiful blue eyes. "I'm sorry, Princess," he apologized, shaking his head. "I had this whole romantic proposal planned out. The scavenger hunt was supposed to lead you back to the manor, but when I saw you in the commissary, I just couldn't wait any longer to be with you."

"It was absolutely perfect," she replied, her fingers caressing his defined jaw. "I loved it."

"I have a ring for you, but that would mean getting off of you and I'm not sure I'm ready for that just yet," he told her, a grin playing on his lips.

"I can tell you're not ready yet," she teased. Before he could respond, Diana flipped him over onto his back, taking control as she leaned over him. "I heard that you were a very bad boy while I was gone."

A sheepish expression suddenly veiled his face as he stared up at her, loving the sight and feel of her above him. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he stoically maintained.

"Hmmm…" she thoughtfully hummed. "I believe you were a little on edge the last two weeks, a little unbearable to be around."

"And that's different than usual?" he asked with a growing smirk, raising his hips in an effort to get her to move, hoping to distract her.

Diana couldn't stifle the moan that filled her throat with the feel of him still so hard inside of her. "I believe I heard you almost made B'Wanna Beast cry," she managed to say.

"He's just a big baby," he claimed, tilting and lifting his head off the pillow to kiss her.

Diana drew back just enough to leave him wanting, not quite done tormenting him yet even though she was already desperate for more of him. "You had poor Wally cowering in his quarters all day."

"He annoyed me," Bruce replied with a frown. "He wouldn't leave me alone, so I threatened to shoot him out of an airlock."

"You always threaten to do that to him," Diana said, confused.

"I might have had him pinned him to the wall with batarangs when I told him that," he confessed.

"Bruce…"

"Alright, I might have been a little irritable while you were gone, but I couldn't help it," he admitted. "It made me realize just how much I loved you…that I didn't want to live without you."

Diana smiled down at him, touched by his confession. "I missed you," she told him, leaning down and kissing him passionately. "And I love you too."

Bruce quickly rolled her onto her back, his hips moving as he took control once more. "Are you going to make me go to the Christmas party tonight?"

Diana gasped as he explored her body with his hands and mouth, her mind spinning with building pleasure. It was next to impossible to think straight let alone form coherent thoughts at that moment with what he was doing to her.

"You are not leaving this bed except to get me my ring," she finally replied.

"Now?"

"Hera no!" she growled, tightening her hold on him. "You stop now, and I will hurt you, Bruce Wayne."

"As you command…wife…" he grinned as he leaned in and kissed her again.

Bruce's proposal had come as a complete surprise to her, the question being asked while making love, but it had been perfect nonetheless. She knew that despite being married there would still be times that they would have to be apart…like now…but they would always come home to each other.

And he had to come back home to her this time too. No other outcome was acceptable in her mind.

Diana began to walk around the expansive living room, pausing to look at the various pictures that adorned the room. They were precious memories spent with friends and family that would forever be a part of her no matter what the future held, their wedding being one of the most important to her.

She paused to pick up the silver frame that held a picture of them on their wedding day on Themyscira. It had been an amazing day in every way imaginable, the scene absolutely perfect. It had been her, Bruce, and her mother…Aphrodite performing the ceremony right there on the shores of her island home.

Taking her by the hand, he led her back to where Hippolyta and Aphrodite were still patiently waiting for them. "I want you to know that I still don't like this," he bit out, glaring heatedly at Aphrodite as if all of this had solely been her fault.

The goddess merely smiled in response, knowing Bruce Wayne far better than he imagined. "I am in full agreement with you, but, unfortunately, my hands are tied in this matter. If I had my way, I'd grant you full immortality instead of taking Diana's, but I cannot. I will, however, guarantee you my full blessing on your union."

"That's a comfort," Bruce grumbled under his breath, obviously less than impressed with the goddess's reassurance.

"Bruce," Diana sharply reprimanded him with a frown. "Don't anger the goddess of love."

Hippolyta leaned in closer to Bruce, her lips curling into a smirk. "She's right, Bruce. She could make your honeymoon miserable and very uneventful for you…if you know what I mean."

"Can I please just marry her before Christmas is over?" Bruce snapped, his cheeks tinged pink with embarrassment with Hippolyta's insinuation.

Taking the white ribbon, Hippolyta bound Bruce and Diana together again, Aphrodite's hand coming to rest on top of their joined hands. The goddess recited a blessing in Greek, one that unexpectedly filled him with a sense of warmth that invaded his entire body.

It wasn't like she'd used magic to make him feel something for Diana that he hadn't before. He loved her just as much now as he had yesterday, maybe a little more because of the sacrifice that she had been willing to make for them to be together. It was more like he could actually feel just how much Diana truly loved him, the depth and strength of it overwhelming him and stealing his breath.

He could tell that Diana was experiencing the same feelings, sensing the enormity of his love for her. Tears were shining in her eyes as Aphrodite made the final pronouncement of their union, binding them together heart, body, and soul.

Without wasting any more time, Bruce pulled Diana to him with the ribbon, his lips meeting hers in a kiss filled with heated passion that could no longer be contained especially after what he had just felt from her.

Diana felt tears build behind her eyes as she thought about her husband…how much she loved him and missed him. He'd been gone for three days now, chasing down the Joker with no word from him. She gazed out the large picture window of the living room, watching as the snow drifted higher and higher by the hour. Her heart was heavy with fear that she couldn't begin to break free from. It was expanding and intensifying with every passing day that she didn't hear from him.

Bruce had been gone for almost three days now, going out on patrol the other night to stop the Joker and had yet to return. It wasn't unusual for him to be gone for a couple of days in a row when the Joker was involved, but he always checked in with her. Always.

He had contacted her the morning after he'd left, but she hadn't heard from him since then. She'd tried locating him by his commlink only to come up empty. He had either turned it off or it had somehow been damaged. It only served to further fuel her worry for her missing husband, fearing what the Joker could be doing to him right now.

Robin and Nightwing had gone out last night looking for him, finding no sign of him anywhere. Checking his usual safehouses had given them no leads and no clues as to where he possibly could be. They had gone out again tonight, promising to contact her as soon as they had found him.

That had been hours ago, and she had yet to hear from them.

Diana's gaze fell on the picture of their beautiful twin daughters, memories of their birth momentarily easing her worry. Their birth had made for a very memorable Christmas as well, adding to the blessings that seemed to always come this time of year.

Diana cried out as the sounds of her first baby's cry filled the air as well. "We have a little girl," Leslie proudly announced, holding up the wailing and squirming baby.

Diana's tears came faster as she gazed at her daughter, more than relieved that her firstborn was finally here. Leslie cut the umbilical cord before quickly checking the baby. Making sure she was fine, she handed the baby to Hippolyta who stood ready with a blanket.

The Queen of the Amazons took her granddaughter into her arms, making her way to the small tub already filled with warm water. She looked down on the beautiful baby in her arms, her heart already belonging to this new little life. She had never dreamed that her daughter would marry a man and have a baby of her own someday, but, at that moment, she couldn't imagine anything in life more perfect than this.

"Okay, one more to go, Diana," Leslie told her. "Give me another strong push."

Diana leaned back against her husband, his strong arms wrapped around her in support and comfort. "You can do it, Princess. We're almost there."

"Bruce…" she breathlessly uttered his name, exhaustion taking hold of her.

"We have our daughter Rachel. It's time to meet her sister now," he encouraged her.

"One more push and Rachel's sister will be here," Leslie told her.

Diana braced herself as she bore down for another push. She wanted to hold her daughters and then she wanted to sleep for days. She ground her teeth as she pushed; another baby's wail filling the air as Diana collapsed back into Bruce's embrace.

"You did it," he said, kissing her temple as he stroked her hair damp with perspiration.

Hippolyta handed her a pink bundle already sound asleep, a tuff of raven hair on her head. Diana could barely see through her tears as she gazed into the beautiful face of her firstborn daughter Rachel. "She's absolutely perfect," she murmured as she removed the oxygen mask from her face. "She has your nose, Bruce."

"Not a chance, Princess," Bruce scolded her, putting the oxygen mask back on. "You need to keep it on until Leslie says so and Rachel looks just like you."

Diana glared at her husband but couldn't maintain it. She was too overcome with joy to truly be mad at him at that moment. "Not going to work on me, Princess," Bruce told her. "I invented that glare."

"Isn't she beautiful?" Diana asked.

He gazed at his daughter in his wife's arms, his heart near exploding. "She's perfect…just like you."

"So is Reesa—your Christmas baby," Hippolyta replied, giving her second granddaughter to her son-in-law.

"What?" Diana asked, surprised.

"It's fifteen minutes after midnight," Leslie informed them. "You have a Christmas baby."

Bruce took his daughter Reesa into his arms, immediately falling in love with his second-born as well. He never could've imagined that his life could be this wonderful. "Um, we have a definite problem," he announced.

"What is it?" Diana asked, worried.

"Our twin daughters look exactly alike," Bruce grimaced, looking from Rachel to Reesa and back again. "This is going to be a nightmare trying to tell them apart."

Diana's lips quirked as she thought about the last six adventurous years of raising twin daughters that were almost identical. It had definitely taken some time, but they were able to tell Rachel and Reesa apart mostly thanks to their unique personalities.

Rachel was so much like her father—highly analytical with a mind for numbers and an overwhelming desire to help others, no doubt taking over Wayne Enterprises one day. Reesa, on the other hand, was very much like her mother—all heart and free spirit, filled with determination to accomplish anything she set her mind to.

They were both fiercely independent and stubborn, making for some heated moments when it turned into a battle of wills, but Diana wouldn't have it any other way. She knew they were going to be powerful forces in the world to be reckoned with no matter what they chose to do when they grew up.

She couldn't help thinking about her teammates and the families that they had made. All of their children had the potential to be the future of the Justice League. They were raising their children to be the champions of justice and peace. It warmed her heart to think of how all of their lives had changed, settling down and raising families.

Her thoughts drifted to last year's Christmas Eve's party. They'd had the Founders' and their families over for a party, spending time with one another away from all the stress and dangers that seemed to occupy their lives. It had also been the night that she had given Bruce a huge Christmas surprise.

She smiled up at him, running her fingers through his hair. "Would you like your present now?" she asked him.

"I'm unwrapping it now," he said with a wicked smirk as he tossed her panties over his shoulder.

"Some of it, but I have something else for you," she replied, her expression growing tender. "I'm pregnant."

Bruce stared at her in stunned disbelief, rendered completely speechless by her revelation. "You're pregnant?"

She slowly nodded her head, feeling a little apprehensive about how he would take the unexpected news. They already had the twins. She wasn't certain how he would feel about having another child now. She didn't have to wonder for long, though.

His lips crashed into hers as he buried his hands in her hair, kissing her senseless. Finally breaking the kiss, he stared down at her in breathless wonder. "I can't believe it," he murmured, a crooked grin forming on his face.

"So, you're happy about it?" she asked, her hand gently caressing his cheek.

"Are you kidding me?" he said, incredulous. "I never dreamed when you seduced me on the Watchtower eight years ago that I would ever be this happy. You saved me that night, Princess. You gave me the family…the life that I never thought was ever possible for someone like me. I don't know what I ever did to deserve you, but I love you with all my heart."

"It's not about deserving," she replied with a kiss. "It's about what you believe and I believe in love and I believe in you. You're my love, Bruce…always."

Their lips met in a tender kiss. It was one that was felt bone-deep and growing more passionate with every single caress, their legs tangling as he completely filled her. Bruce had never dreamed that Christmas would come to mean so very much to him. After losing his parents, Christmas had been a painful reminder of what he'd lost.

Now, it was a sweet reminder of everything that he'd gained.

Diana glanced down at the beautiful baby boy sleeping in her arms, the son that she had given birth to just a short four months ago. It been a difficult delivery, but now they had their son Ayden. Bruce had been over the moon with the birth of their twin daughters and then with their son. He had taken to fatherhood just like she knew that he would, surprising most, but not her.

She felt her heart clench as she thought about her amazing husband. She missed him fiercely, worried about what could be happening to him right now. What if he was injured and couldn't make it home? What if Joker was holding him somewhere…torturing him or even worse?

Her eyelids fell closed as she swallowed back the thick knot of tears that filled her throat, leaning down and pressing her lips against Ayden's forehead. He looked every bit like his handsome father down to his nose. This was going to be their first Christmas with their son, spent altogether as a family.

She glanced at the clock again, finding it nearly six o'clock in the morning. Rachel and Reesa were going to be waking soon, racing down the stairs and more than anxious to open their presents…to give their father the presents they had made just for him.

Only Bruce wasn't here to share in the special family time that he'd been anxiously anticipating for months now.

Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, Diana anxiously turned to find Tim and Dick entering the family room. The expressions on their faces told her everything she needed to know. Tears welled in her eyes against her will, her chest clenching painfully.

"I'm sorry, Diana," Dick softly said. "We looked everywhere. We can't find any sign of him or the Joker."

She silently nodded her head as Tim took his baby brother into his arms. "I understand," she murmured, straightening her shoulders and steeling herself against the onslaught of anguish that assaulted her. Bruce was out there somewhere needing her, and she had no idea where to even find him. "I'm glad you're here. The girls will be waking soon to open presents. It'll be important for them to have their big brothers here for them since their father can't be."

"We aren't giving up, mom," Tim told her, glancing down at his baby brother sleeping in his arms. "We're going out back later to try again."

"I'm going with you," she announced.

"Merry Christmas," Alfred greeted them as he entered the family room carrying a tray of hot chocolates and frosted sugar cookies. "I thought we could all use something to cheer us up a little. I'm sure the twins will be bounding down the stairs at any moment now."

"Thank you, Alfred," Diana said, her sorrow more than evident as she took a mug of hot chocolate from the tray.

Diana stared into her cup, trying her best to hold her heart together when all she wanted to do was tear through Gotham and find the man that she loved. She felt so hollow inside without him here with her…with the family that they had made.

This would be the first Christmas spent without him since she had seduced him that night on the Watchtower nine years ago. She swore that they would never spend Christmas apart, not with how important the holiday had become to them.

The sound of giggles and running feet alerted them that the twins were awake and more than anxious to open presents. Diana drew a deep breath, releasing it slowly as she set her cup down. She was more than determined to make sure her children had a memorable Christmas despite the fear surrounding her missing husband.

"Mommy!" Reesa yelled as she raced into the family room with Rachel right behind here. "It's Christmas and it's my birthday!"

"Happy Birthday, little moon," Diana told her, picking her up and holding her close.

"Mine was yesterday," Rachel reminded her with a frown, a worried look adorning her little face. "Where's daddy? Is he still gone?"

"I'm afraid so," Diana replied, looking at Dick, Tim, and Alfred. She set Reesa down before crouching in front of her twin daughters. "I'm afraid daddy still has to be gone now, but I know he's thinking of you and wishing he could be here with both of you."

Tears brimmed in Reesa's eyes, her bottom lip beginning to quiver. "But I made him a special present," she said.

"You'll get to give it to him just as soon as he returns," Diana promised her as she stroked her raven hair, praying that Bruce hung on until she could get to him.

Rachel put on a brave face, taking her sister's hand in her own. "Daddy loves us," she said. "He wouldn't be gone today unless it was very, very important."

Diana smiled softly, her hand moving to caress Rachel's cheek. She was so logical just like her father. "That's right," she reassured them. "He loves both of you so very much."

"And baby Ayden," Reesa added, wiping the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. "And Tim…and Dick…and Alfred."

"Yes, he does," Diana agreed, smiling at Tim who was holding the baby. "Very much."

"And don't forget your mother."

Everyone looked up to find Bruce standing there in the doorway of the family room, a smile gracing his lips. Diana straightened up as Rachel and Reesa ran to their father, Bruce kneeling down to envelope his little girls in his arms. "Daddy!" they cried, both trying to talk at the same time. "You're home! You're just in time to open presents! It's my birthday!"

Bruce grimaced as the twins hugged him, trying to ignore his cracked ribs. "I wouldn't miss this day with you for anything in the whole world."

"Where have you been?" Dick asked.

"Joker," he simply stated, not wanting to go into any detail in front of the girls. There would be plenty of time for that story later.

"Are you all right?" Diana questioned him.

"I am now," he told her, love reflecting on his face as he stared at his wife.

"Let's open presents!" Rachel yelled, running towards the tree.

Alfred, Tim, and Dick made their way to the tree along with the twins, all of them more than relieved that Bruce had made it home safely. Diana made her way towards her husband, doing her best to keep her tears at bay, but it was more than difficult.

"I was so scared that you weren't coming home," she softly confessed, a tear slipping down her cheek.

"I'll always come home to you, princess," he promised her, his arms wrapping around her and pulling her close to him.

Diana's arms slipped around his neck, thanking her gods that they had brought him home to her once more. Her lips found his in a sweet, sensual kiss that conveyed so many emotions at once, knowing they'd have time later to talk and to properly express how much they loved one another.

"Merry Christmas, Bruce," she told him.

"Merry Christmas, princess," he replied, pressing his lips to hers once more. "And Happy Anniversary."

"It will be now," she murmured, kissing him once more.

A/N: Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas who celebrate. Hope you enjoyed this yearly update! You truly make my day with your reviews and support for my fics! :)