Welcome back! Chapter Two is complete. It underwent some major rewriting, from what I originally intended, but I like this a thought times better.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN JUSTICE LEAGUE THEY ARE PROPERTY OF DC COMICS.
Persephone enjoyed the care her temple received now that Diana had made it her mission to improve it. Often times, Persephone would listen in when Diana would stop by just to talk about her experiences in Man's World. It was through the Princess that the goddess learned about the Justice League, not just their mission, but the faces behind it, the dreams, the tears, and the friendships. It was also in these times, that Persephone was able to understand why the Champion had chosen to sacrifice her ability to fly for Damien Wayne.
The goddess didn't pay much attention to the souls that traveled down to her husband's domain; that was his job. She did hear the whispers and rumors though, and Damien, Thalia, and Ra's Al Ghul were known to her. The boy, in her own opinion, was one of the reasons Diana's relationship with Bruce hadn't worked out. He'd been against any possible romance between the two, probably because of his experience with his mother, Thalia and her willingness to cast him aside once she had her claws in Bruce. When she had informed Hades of the child's role in Diana's heartbreak, he'd been furious, especially since he found out AFTER they had helped save the boy. Persephone though saw the boy for what he was; broken and scared. It was on the conversation of the youngest member of the Batclan, that the goddess witnessed the Princess's forgiving nature. She didn't blame Damien, in fact, she simply wished that she'd been given the chance to befriend him, just as she'd done with Richard or Tim. Her obstacles had been both the child and the father's attempts to protect his family and Diana.
The Princess's visits were also how she learned about Alfred Pennyworth, the guardian of the Wayne household, surrogate father to Bruce Wayne and grandfather to the lost children that were taken under Bruce's wing. Alfred's friendship had helped ground Diana, and in his own way, he had taken her under his wing to teach her how to blend into the high society of Gotham. Persephone smiled to herself as she recalled how the Champion had laughed about the time Alfred struggled to teach her how to make tiramisu. The Amazon's visits to the temple had become an everyday occurrence that Persephone didn't think anything of Diana's appearance until the goddess realized that her step-daughter was doing everything in her power not to break down into tears.
Amazons rarely shed tears, not even for their painful history or the loss of their soldiers in battle. Persephone appeared before Diana immediately, "Child, is something wrong?"
"Its Alfred, he's suffering."
The goddess reached forward and placed a comforting hand on the Amazon's shoulder, "Diana, death is part of the mortal experience. You told me he was older, for a mortal."
"He's not old enough for Charon to ferry him. He sustained injuries after an attack on the Manor. Persephone, he's been Bruce's father and mentor, he's the heart of the family. If he can't recover from this, they'll all be lost."
This time, the Queen of the Underworld hesitated and Diana noticed. "Alfred Pennyworth was the first light to guide Bruce after his parents were murdered. His guidance helped a lost boy grow up into one of the most stubborn and brave men I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. They can't lose him yet, and I would give anything to protect them all."
The earnest pleading in the Princess's blue eyes won Persephone over, "What do you give to save Alfred Pennyworth's life?"
"My durability for Alfred to feel renewed so that he may regain his health and so that he may face any hardships that would otherwise weaken him." The Champion responded quickly.
"I will see it done." The Goddess of Curses and Spring promised as she offered her step-daughter a small smile and disappeared.
Again, Diana didn't feel different, but the knowledge that she had saved her dear friend mended the wound within her heart. When she reported for training that afternoon, she still noticed no difference in her abilities, that as she fell asleep she feared the goddess hadn't been able to convince the King of the Underworld. Her fears disappeared the next morning when she woke up bruised, sore, aching all over, and with a slight limp in her walk.
"Persephone, my love, I'm glad that Diana has come to you and that she trusts you. That means more to me than you know, but I am beginning to worry." Hades stated as he watched his wife tousle her luscious curls after her bath. "It's only a matter of time before my sister, niece, and cousin figure out what's happening to their champion."
His wife met his gaze through her mirror, "Aphrodite has already spoken to me. She supports Diana's decision. Its Hera and Athena we would have to worry about, and neither of them will face me." It wasn't said in arrogance or vanity, it was the truth. The mortals may have forgotten how Persephone had truly come to be his wife and queen, but the Olympians hadn't, and the true story of their romance, and Persephone's very active role in pursuing Hades, had instilled fear in the other gods.
He stepped up behind her and kissed her hair, "Tread carefully my love, there will be consequences for what we do."
"Do you fear them?" She questioned as she reached up to take his hand.
A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest, "Not so long as we face them together," he placed his chin on her head, "If Diana asked, I'd hand her Olympus."
Persephone smirked, the one he loved that showed she was both Spring and Darkness, "I'm sure you mean we."
Richard expected Alfred to be laid up in a hospital bed for months. Broken leg. Fractured arm. Broken ribs. Concussion. Bruising. It had been so bad that the eldest son half expected the damage to be what killed the loyal butler. He'd been mentally preparing himself for the news, convincing himself that he could hold the family together if Alfred really did succumb to his wounds.
So to say that Richard Grayson was surprised to find Alfred not only awake from his medically induced coma but ready to go home, would be an understatement.
"Alfred, you can't go home yet. Half of you is in a cast." Richard tried to convince the older man to calm down.
"Aren't you being hypocritical, Master Dick? I recall someone disobeying orders to remain home after a fractured rib and concussion." Alfred snapped.
Richard threw his hands up in self-defense, "Hey I am younger and can bounce back faster."
Alfred gave his eldest grandson an unamused glare, "I will remind you, sir, that while you may be younger, I could put you flat on your ass."
The younger man's jaw dropped, "Alfred, did you just-"
The door opened, cutting off his question as Bruce and Damien entered and the patriarch of the family glared at his eldest son for being too loud, thinking that he would upset Alfred's rest until he realized that the man was actually sitting up in his bed.
"Alfred, you're awake."
"Very observant sir." Alfred greeted.
"Bruce Alfred said a curse word," Richard remarked.
"Alfred doesn't know any." Bruce countered as he picked up Alfred's chart, "Leslie said you'd be out for another few days to give your bones a chance to set."
"Sorry to ruin your plans, sir." The butler remarked in a dry tone.
Richard could already see the wheels turning in Bruce's head; the detective was wondering what had happened to help the British man bounce back so quickly.
"I'm going to have them x-ray you again and see where you're at." Bruce turned to his eldest son, "Keep an eye on him."
As Damien followed their father out, Richard heard him ask, "Do you think someone is helping Alfred?" The door closed before Richard heard the response, but he knew neither of them would rest until they had an answer. He, however, was much more open to accepting a miracle if it meant that their family remained whole a little longer. He hadn't worried about the tension and emptiness that Alfred's absence had left behind. He had tried getting through to Tim, and it had worked, until Bruce and Damien had walked in, tension and frustration filled every crevice of the manor. He, more than anyone had noticed what changes came to their family in the butler's absence.
He may be the jokester, the more outgoing and welcoming of the Batclan, but that didn't make him any less intelligent, though he knew Damien thought it did. Since he'd been the first Robin, the first lost boy to be taken in by Bruce Wayne, he knew how their current relationship would not have been possible without Alfred. The butler had been their referee for years: Richard's first tantrum in Wayne Manor, Bruce's first attempt at discipline, and the fall out that pushed Robin to form his own team. Alfred never played favorites, and that remained true even when Tim came into the picture, and was especially true of Jason's arrival, death, and return. In fact, it had been the older butler that had encouraged Richard to reach out to the black sheep of the family and establish communication. Richard hadn't understood how important that was until he spoke with Jason. Alfred had known, and it was a secret between the two that they routinely communicated with the banished member of their family. If anyone could repair their family, could keep them going strong, it was Alfred Pennyworth.
The knowledge that those were Diana's words were not lost on him. It had been one of the last things she said to him. She made him promise that he would always be aware of the role Alfred played in their family, not only as butler and medic but the heart of their family.
"You will treasure that man, Richard Grayson, because the second he's gone, your family will never be the same. He's the heart of your family." The Amazon had told him.
"You're talking like you've already decided to give up on Bruce. Give him another chance, Diana." Richard didn't like the way she avoided the subject by talking about Alfred.
Wonder Woman had given him an intense look that made him regret his words, but then she said, "My leaving doesn't mean I'm giving up on him." She pulled Richard into a hug, "You're the only one strong enough."
She had pulled away and Richard stared after her, "To what?"
Her dazzling smile hadn't reached her eyes, but he couldn't forget the look in them as she said, "To care."
Richard looked at Alfred, "She was right."
The Englishman looked at him curiously, "Hm?"
"Diana...she told me something before she left. I was simply admitting that she was right." He explained.
Alfred nodded, "That woman was very aware of people, and she was very intelligent."
"She said that you were the heart of the family. And she was right. I had to step in, I had to be the mediator between Tim and Damien, and I could barely stop them. I don't even want to know what would've happened if Jason had shown up at the manor. Bruce and he would've turned words into fists, and that would've been the end of any possible reconciliation. I couldn't help them, not like you've always been able to, Alfred." The younger man admitted.
"It says a lot about you that you tried, Richard. Raising Bruce wasn't easy, and watching him be a single parent, I knew that not only did he still need me, but so did all the lost children he brought into his home. Diana and I always said that you would be the one to step up, the only one strong enough." Alfred smiled.
"I failed." Richard reminded him.
The butler shrugged, "Then I simply have more to teach you." He took a breath and looked around the room, "Does it smell like perfume to you?"
"Its probably the flowers, Alfred," Richard remarked, though he too suddenly became aware of a scent that he had only associated with the Amazon Princess.
I hope you enjoyed! I hope to have chapter three up by this evening and chapter four some short time after that if not by tomorrow morning. Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed and has added this story as a favorite.