Chapter 23

It has been two weeks since Clark moved out of his apartment. He took a leave of absence form the Planet, and has been working at the fortress most of the time. Lois has yet to contact him. He tried to stay as busy as he could. The minute he let his mind wander it would always return to his night with Diana.

He still checked on Diana at the Watchtower at least once a week. He knew she couldn't stay there. He needed to show her what he had been working on. He was helping his Ma clean the dishes when the call came.

"Clark, come quick…It's Diana!" Clark could hear the worry in J'onn's voice.

"I'm on my way!"

Clark arrived at the Watchtower, and was met by Bruce. "We don't know what happened, she fainted in the kitchen. Clark, there were a lot of people around, word spread, everyone is worried.?" Clark appreciated that Bruce was still keeping the baby a secret.

"Where is she?" he asked.

She is in MedBay. Clark flew to the Medbay, he was met with a very angry Amazon arguing with an exasperated Martian.

"J'onn, for the last time, I am fine!" Diana said through gritted teeth.

"You have not been checked out, you need to wait for Superman."

Clark did a quick scan and found that Diana and the baby were fine. He smiled as he watched Diana's face. A large crowd gathered to watch Diana and J'onn argue.

"I do not need to wait for Kal, I am telling you, I am fine" Clark wanted to laugh. He needed to save Diana before anymore people crowded around. Clark slowly stepped toward the two. "J'onn, everything looks fine."

"See, I told you so, now if you will excuse me." Diana had started to walk away when Clark spoke up again, "I am just curious, Diana, what were you doing before you fainted?"

"Umm…well, I, uhh…"Diana did not want to tell Clark what she was doing. She knew he would be upset.

"She was sparring in one of the training programs." Stated an amused Batman.

Diana quickly turned her head towards him and scowled at him. Bruce stepped back, he knew he now had a pregnant Amazon gunning for him.

"What, Diana! You could have been hurt." Clark admonished.

"I am an Amazon Warrior!" Diana stated.

"I am aware of that, but you are more fragile right now."

"Fragile! Kal, I am pregnant not made of glass." Diana reminded him. A gasp was heard from the crowd.

"Well, I worry about you both, I don't think you should over exert yourself, Diana. I just want you and our son to be safe!" Kal exclaimed, stepping closer to the Amazon.

Another, louder gasp was heard from the crowd surrounding the two superheroes. Kal and Diana had completely forgotten that half of the Watchtower was surrounding them.

"You…You're preggers?" asked a confused Flash, "and Big Blue is the father?" Wally was still confused, looking between Clark and Diana. "But I thought you were marr…" Batman hit Wally on the back of the head. Only the Founding Members of the JLA knew each others' secret identities.

Those who knew Superman was married to Lois Lane were shocked. Those that did not know Superman was Clark Kent were really happy for the couple. They all thought that Superman and Wonder Woman were already an item. Clark gently took Diana's hand and pulled her into the conference room.

WWWW

Once inside, Diana whispered her apology, "I am so sorry Kal, I didn't even realize what I said."

"It's okay Diana, we were going to have to tell them sooner or later.

Before Diana had a chance to apologize about Lois, the other members of the JLA walked into the conference room.

As they walked into the conference room, they saw Kal and Diana standing next to each other by the door.

When the door shut, there was stunned silence on the assembled members.

Wally was the first to speak, "Clark, does Lois know?" Wally was standing in front of Diana and Clark.

Clark sighed sadly, "yes."

"and you are still married to her?" Wally asked.

"yes"

"I can't believe you of all people would be a cheater…I'm shocked." Wally just said the one thing that was on the mind of everyone in the room. Clark looked down at his shoes.

Diana was the one who defended Clark. "Wally, please before you say anything else…" She was cut off before she could continue.

"Don't even get me started on you, Princess. Always tells the truth my ass!"

Diana hadn't realized she had slapped Wally until she looked at him on the ground holding his cheek.

Xxx

Diana and Clark entered her quarters after the meeting.

"Well that went well." Clark stated sarcastically.

"Why am I hitting everyone? I normally have so much more patience." Diana asked.

"You're pregnant, your hormones are going crazy. I think Flash will think twice before speaking to you in that way. I actually think everyone will talk to you with caution from now on." Clark started to laugh. "For the fastest man alive, he sure didn't see that coming!"

Diana giggled. "His face was priceless."

"Diana, I know that you are a warrior, but I worry about you and the baby." Clark said.

"I know Clark, I forget I am pregnant sometimes, I am not showing at all. I will be more careful in the future."

"That's all that I ask." Clark grabbed Diana's hand, "I have a surprise for you. Will you fly with me?"

WWWW

"When did you do this?" Diana asked staring at the additions to the Fortress of Solitude.

"I have had some extra time on my hands." Clark looked around the room at his work. He had been spending the last couple of weeks creating a nursery for their son. He furnished it with everything his Ma told him they would need, he just had to make it himself. He wasn't sure what powers their son would be born with.

"Kal, its beautiful." Diana walked around the room, touching everything he had made. He had always wanted to build furniture for his and Lois' apartment, but she refused to let him. She didn't trust his style. It was nice to see Diana's reaction. "The best part is that it is strong enough to support him, if he shows his Kryptonian heritage." Clark smiled again.

"or his Amazonian heritage! I was created with my powers." Diana added.

"There's just one more thing" Clark grabbed Diana's hand and guided her to a room next door. "I know you can't stay on the Watchtower, and I know that you don't want to stay with Ma, so I thought maybe you would like your own room here." Clark seemed hesitant.

"Clark…" Diana began but was cut off. "You can stay in this room, I cleared it for you, and you will be right next to the baby. It will be a safe place for the both of you."

"That is very kind of you, but I can't stay here."

"Why not?" Clark asked.

"I cannot rely on you and your family forever Clark. It is time I had a place of my own. This was very kind but I cannot accept."

"Where will you go?"

"Bruce is helping me to find a place of my own."

"Oh!" Clark looked down.

"Clark, this room is beautiful, and our son will enjoy his time with you here. I just don't think it appropriate for me to live here. This is your home, and I need to live in my home."

"Wait, his time with me here?"

"Well, yes, I have been studying your laws, I know how you like to follow the Earth's societal customs. I figured you would want shared custody. I know he won't be able to be away from me until he is weaned, but then you will want your time alone with him."

For the fist time since Clark found out Diana was pregnant, he realized they would not be raising their son together in the same house. He would not be there to see his son grow every day.

"Clark, you can come and visit any time you wish, you will have access to him at all times. I am only trying to make things easier for all of us."

"I just, I'm glad you are thinking about this, we do need to discuss it, I just wish you had talked to me about it first, I mean, first your looking for a house and now deciding custody schedules"

"I am sorry if it feels like I am making decisions without you, but honestly Clark, what would you have me do? I need to leave the Watchtower, and I refuse to be moved into your home. As far as shared custody, I just wanted to know what it was, we can discuss a schedule."

"I just don't understand why you didn't want to stay with Ma or here in the fortress."

"I love Ma, but she is your family and you and Lois should be able to visit her without the added stress of my presence. I can't stay in the fortress Clark. This is your home, your home with Lois and as nice as it was to offer me a place here, I do not wish to live cut off from the world. I want to live in it."

"I understand that, but your safety is important to me"

"That is why I have asked Bruce's help. Your son will be safe. As if I would allow anyone to harm him."

"It is not just my son I worry about, Diana. I want to take care of you as well."

Diana smiled sadly at Clark. A tear slowly slid down her cheek, she knew it was time to tell him, she just wasn't sure where to even begin…Diana took a deep breath and looked Clark in the eye.

"Kal, I have loved you for a very long time. I think the first moment I first set eyes on you, Aphrodite had already worked her magic. Our connection was so strong, so pure. I know I was new to this world, but I knew we had something special. When you chose to pursue Lois after our first date, I thought maybe I was feeling more than you were, so I let you go. When you married her, I realized that I was in love with a man who would never feel the same way. It was hard, but I remained your friend, your best friend. I thought if I waited for you, you would eventually come to me. You did. It just wasn't the way I wanted it. You love me Kal, I don't doubt that, but I don't think you love me the same way you love Lois... and I don't think you realize how much you are hurting me, how much you have hurt me!

" I know my behavior had been horrible. This whole mess is completely my fault. I am sorry for hurting you, I know I blamed you and took my guilt and anger out on you. I will never be able to apologize enough for that. But Diana, I do love you.

" I know you do, but for my own sake... I am letting you go, Kal. I need you to let me go as well. I don't want to be alone, I want a partner, a lover, a friend to share my life with. I can't wait for you anymore. I am conceding defeat. You will always be my first love Kal, but now it is time for me to move on."

"Diana," Clark moved his hand to wipe the tears from Diana's cheek, but Diana stepped out of his reach. " I should go." Diana turned and walked towards the entrance.

Clark's voice stopped her, "Diana, wait, please..."

She then turned around and smiled at Clark and left the fortress.