It was probably a couple of days since they got stranded on the strange planet..Shayera couldn't tell. Afterall, it was perpetually night here. To her, it seemed like an eternity. They hadn't said much to each other since the confrontation. She didn't want to talk to him about it again..because she didn't want to hear him tell her to move on again. She would never be able to do that.

He knew she was tired and hungry and terribly upset. He knew her better than anyone else. He wanted to embrace her..to stroke her beautiful face and let her know that he was there for her…with her. He sighed. She had her barrier up again. She was blocking him out.

He had spent most of the time reflecting on the past. On all the events that led to this day. Some joyful..some bitter…some very, very painful.

He missed her. He missed sparring with her. He missed debating with her. He missed the late night movie marathons in pyjamas. She always looked cute. He had cut it out so that her wings would not be restrained. He missed waking up and seeing her next to him, sleeping against him with her wings folded in. He always thought that she looked like an angel..his angel. He missed how she always kept him guessing…he never knew what she was up to. Always surprising him and playing pranks on him. His missed her laughter…he missed how her eyes would light up when something delighted her. He missed how they could talk about anything… and how they knew what each other was thinking or feeling without having to say a word.

She was asleep now. He sat down beside her and looked at her. As beautiful as ever. She looked peaceful…how he missed her. How he longed to touch her. When he saw her at the battle, he couldn't believe his eyes…she came back. He was so happy he thought his heart would burst with it. Then he saw that she was different. She was jaded. And to complicate things further…there was Mari.

He lay down beside her on the hard cold ground and closed his eyes, waiting for morpheus to claim him. He fell asleep in minutes.

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Diana walked into the monitor room with a mug of coffee in hand. Batman was there, working intently. He had spent most of his time working on fixing the Uranian gadget that could somehow open portals. It has been days.

"How's it going?" she asked as she sat beside him. He glanced over at her. "We're making progress. I have deciphered the problem…now I just need to put it all back together and power it up."

"That's great. I hope they're alright," She remarked.

She resumed her monitor duty, working side by side in companiable silence. She felt rejuvenated. Being close to him had that effect on her. It heightened all her senses.

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He felt an arm around him, snuggling against him. The warmth was inviting and he pulled her closer. His ran his hand down the length of her body….a woman's body. His desire was stirred. He caressed her.

She felt his arm…strong and warm..and his body against hers. It felt like heaven. She must be dreaming…again..about John. She touched his face, feeling his features. How she missed him. She longed to lie in his arms each night. If only this was real…She opened her eyes then.

"John!!" she shrieked. He bolted right up. " Shayera!! What the..," he touched his finger to his ear. "Ouch,..what you trying to do? Make me deaf?"

"Oh…I'm sorry. I was just surprised." She laid back down. Still in shock. He laid down too. "You ok?" She turned to him, "I'm fine."

They both turned their backs to each other, reeling with what just happened. He almost went and did it…she turned him on. And she was still trying to calm her nerves…for a minute it was as if her dream came to life.

He was trying to get back to sleep when he heard an unexpected sound that really surprised him this time. She was chuckling. He turned with incredulous eyes, only to be faced with feathers.

He sat up. "Shayera?" She turned…and laughed when she saw his confused face. "Oh its nothing John.."She managed between fits of laughter.." Its just that…I was dreaming and then the first thing I saw…" That's as far as she got before she convulsed into more laughter. John watched her, a smile touching his lips, and shook his head. She was as unpredictable as ever. That's one of the things he loved about her. She finally got a hold of herself and quietened .

"Sorry about that John. Goodnight." She turned her back to him again.

He laid down again…facing the black sky. He smiled again. He loved her laughter.

Just then, He saw a bright light ahead at a distance…He was on his feet in an instant. "Shayera!" She got up too.

"They found us!!" She exclaimed. "Wait, it could be dan…" But she was already gliding gracefully in the air.

He stood there for a few seconds watching her. And impulsive as ever…With another smile, he took off and was soon trailing her.

They approached the light but couldn't see anything. It was too bright. They were being sucked into some sort of vortex.

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"Is it working?" Vixen asked. "We will have to wait and see. I hope this opens a portal in the correct dimension or it could bring back other things," J'ohn replied.

Vixen paced. Come on John…Come back to me baby.

The rest of the league stood around, holding on to hope. Then there was an explosion of some sort. A flash of blinding white light before the portal closed. John and Shayera lay on the floor.

"Oh thank goodness," Diana exclaimed. "They need medical attention," the martian said.

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Shayera lifted heavy eyelids and looked around at the blurred surroundings. She blinked a few times and everything became clearer. She was in the medical room at the watchtower. She turned her head slowly at the next bed. John was looking at her. He smiled. She smiled back.

He opened his mouth to say something…

"Boo..you're awake," Mari was at his bedside in an instant. She threw her hands around his neck and pressed her lips against his.

John was taken by surprised. He pulled away and looked at her. Mari. "Hi Baby! Good to see you again." He turned to the next bed…it was empty.

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He hasn't seen her since the day they got back. He was always looking out for her but she was avoiding him. He knew it. It has been four days. He sat silently in the cafeteria. Mari was beside him chatting about something. He wasn't really listening. Probably going on about some hot new dress she bought..or some new gossip about another leaguer. Something….trivial.

Then his heart skipped a beat. She walked in…looked around. She saw them and immediately kept her eyes on the floor. She got her tray filled and left. Damn. He didn't want to hurt her. But he didn't want to hurt Mari either. Love is a double-edged sword.

Mari knew something was terribly wrong. John wasn't the same. She even put on her brand new dress slit right down the middle. It got all the male leaguers attention..but John didn't even blink. She wouldn't give up. He was hers.

Days passed. They didn't exchange a single word. They hardly saw each other. But absence makes the heart grow fonder. John refused to embrace it for fear of putting Mari through what he went through. Shayera hid away for fear of facing the wrath of another for breaking up a relationship. So they suffered in silence. John tried his best to be happy..or at least appear happy. Shayera hid away from everyone, choosing to remain within the safety of the room.

Destiny has decided that these two belong to each other but John insists on being defiant while Shayera refused to let go of her past mistakes and move on.

Maybe, all they need is a little help….

And it comes alright…only from the most unlikely people.