Inevitable Tide

Chapter 4

As Terry stopped his bike in the driveway leading up to Wayne Manor he noted the loud pitch of an engine. He raced along to the back of the house behind the gardens to the dirt paths. Bruce used to test his new engines on new machines.

Since his stroke he couldn't maneuver a bike and Terry wondered who would be controlling the machine.

Unless Rex was doing undercover practicing.

Since they had met Rex and Terry had hit it off as competitive friends. They would often race on the track trying hard to best each other. Recently it had been Terry who had been tearing up the trail so it wouldn't be too farfetched for Rex to want to practice.

Instead of the normal motorcycle however, a vintage bike was out there tearing apart the course. The fan of dark hair poking out of the helmet was all Terry needed to know before he knew was at control.

Remille raced a mile more before sliding it to a stop, disrupting a cloud of dirt. She yanked off her helmet and shook out her dark mane. "It rides beautifully. Had to get used to his speed at first but I haven't had as much fun on him in a while; well my while."

Jogging toward the pair Terry grinned and waved. She waved back and hung her helmet on the handle before kicking up the kick-stand and dismounting the bike.

"Schools out?" She asked short of breath as he jogged up.

Terry nodded. "Thought I'd come over and see how you're doing, and judging on the way you were controlling that bike I'd say you're fine." He looked at its shape remembering the models before; they became more rotund and heavier in frame. "What model?"

"It's a '07 Harley Softtail; bought it off a guy who listed it on Craig's List." She read the confused look on Terry before sighing and explaining. "It was a website you could advertize anything you were selling, be it items, or a service…of any kind. Anyways the babes gotten me away from trouble more than a few times."

"You're in the correct line of work to say that." Terry acknowledged. He appraised the bike. "For a bike that old it's in great condition. It could use a paint job though."

Rem nodded. "He needed one back in '10." She threw Bruce a casual look, before grabbing the handlebars. "I'll put it back up. Where should I stick it?"

After quiet thought Bruce pointed and told her, "The second garage."

Nodding again Rem slipped on her bike again and turned on the engine. She slowly directed it toward the garages.

When she was out earshot Bruce glanced over at Terry and grew serious. "I trust you asked around, like I had asked you to."

Terry frowned. "Of course I did. And what I found out isn't good news."

"That Foster Spurn is dead. Found chopped into bits and stuffed in a downtown trashcan. And that he was called the Hex due to his stretchy stature. People believed he was hexed by a voodoo witch after he seriously angered her." Bruce spouted out factually.

Obviously unhappy Terry gave his mentor a withering look. "So you knew the entire time and you still had me run around and find out the information for myself?"

Bruce's expression didn't change. "I didn't know all that when I first sent you out, but I grew impatient and gained the information myself. Foster was pretty well known around the world; and was quite successful; well at least until now."

"You couldn't have called me?" Terry growled and crossed his arms.

His mentor shrugged casually. "Couldn't find my phone…"

"Right." Terry scowled and turned away. "So Mr. Wizard have you traced him back to his employer yet? Or are you going to make me run around in circles again?"

His mentor's expression stayed calm but a bite of humor fell through. His dangerous eyes lightened; an odd twinkled smoothed his gruff demeanor. "Well I wasn't intending to do so in the first place."

Outwardly Terry grumbled, but inward he smirked. Since the girl had been dropped in their laps, Bruce's mood had vastly improved. He wasn't sure whether or not it was because he was able to atone for those lost years and chances or if she just brought out the best in him like her mother had.

He played daddy awkwardly and clumsily. It wasn't as though he would become 'number 1 dad' in seconds of her discovery but he was doing a good job; no one could be the ideal father.

"So are you going to inform Remi what's going on?" Terry asked casually, tracing the tire tracks on the gravel of the track. "Although I'm sure she won't be too happy."

"She's not happy right now."

The two turned around and found Remi with her arms crossed and her brows knitted. "I don't like missing out on details, especially when they concern me returning home or not."

Bruce didn't seem shaken by her sudden appearance. A smile just flitted across his features as fatherly pride was exposed and hidden in a second. "I'd rather not stress you anymore than you already are. You're fully aware that I'm taking care of everything and you don't have to worry."

"Yeah, and that needs to stop. I'm not exactly five, you know. I'm twenty-one going on twenty-two. I can kick ass when needed, and work to pay my rent and schooling…or was. I can handle whatever responsibilities it takes." She shifted her weight to one foot. "So assume I'm a part of your little broken league."

"Technically Clark is in charge and it's not broken. The members are scattered just like the original was." Bruce informed her allowing the prideful smirk to finally blow through.

Remi near growled in anger. "That wasn't the point."

"No it wasn't but I did receive it just the same." Bruce crossed his arms his expression sobering. "I'll give you responsibilities. But 'miss adult,' you are to remain in the mansion. I won't have you walking around taunting you're mystery man."

"Besides we can't go around saving your ass all the time." A voice sailed on the breeze above and the three heads turned up to find Rex gliding gently down. He smirked and gave a wink. "I'm back damsel."

He wore the typical black pants and a button down white shirt. However instead of nice sharp shoes he wore ratty sneakers with the typical checkmark icon of Nike. Not caring whether or not he kicked up earth he landed roughly and swept his wings to his back in a quick snap. It was a few seconds until the dirt settled and Remi moved her hand away from her face.

"Nice entrance," She sarcastically bit brushing her hand down her shirt to brush off whatever had landed on her.

Rex smirked and dramatically threw out his hand. "Well I always have a great entrance." He glanced down at his dirtied white shirt. He furrowed his brow and looked calmly at Bruce, before walking toward the house. "Guess I'll have to use your washer."

"Wait." Rem snapped, halting the winged mans retreat. "I want to know what's going on before anyone bleaches their shirt."

Both gave their boss a look before Terry shrugged and told her, "Your kidnapper was found dead. He was in pieces and stuffed in a trashcan."

Remi cursed and waved a fist, smacking into the wall. Brick crumbled under fist and created a hole. "Sorry." She half muttered not really meaning it.

They let her have a few minutes before continuing. Bruce put himself between her and his home before starting up again.

"I'm having samples brought from the coroner, praise to Commissioner Gordon for pulling some strings." Bruce put up his hands and gripped her arm to comfort her. "Anything I can find dirt, dust, or any particulates can narrow down my search."

"There's also the possibility you know you're 'admirer'." Terry admired the hole in the wall casually as he continued. "Maybe a friend or a foe…"

Rem sighed and shut her eyes running through her memory. After a second she opened them again the faces and names still rushing through. "None that I would be aware of. I never made any enemies because mom was always the main focus in our 'team.' And essentially most of my friends were mentally stable. Although I might be more partial to think that they wouldn't do harm to me."

"Anyone with a crush on you?" Rex asked attempting to brush off the dirt but only smearing it and making it worse. He gave up shading his eyes from the now tilted sun in the sky.

Throwing up her hand in fruitless attempt to stop the sound, Rem snorted and gave a light laugh. "Crush…me? I'm Amazonian, don't exactly find the worth in men except to reproduce, sit invisible next to my mother, and haven't been in a serious relationship in my life. Yeah every guy loves me."

Rex frowned. "Trust me there's more to you than that."

Bruce threw the winged man a dangerous look, and Terry gave his friend a smirk.

"I meant you never know what crazy guy will be attracted to you." He dismissively told her trying to erase his previous comment from the record.

Wayne didn't forget. He studied Rex for a little before clearing his throat. "He's right. You never know why someone might like you, and just because you didn't notice anything doesn't mean a thing. Your mother did grow up on an island full of women and understand little herself."

"So you're saying that I was brought here so I could hook up with someone who wanted me in the past." She gave a chuckle and shook her head. "Forgive me if I doubt you're story."

"Ok so what's your theory?" Rex asked.

"I'm still working on it but it isn't romantically based; unless I'm in a damn cheesy romantic novel." Rem obviously didn't feel comfortable in the realm of romance. With her mother and father being who they were however it wasn't too farfetched to believe.

-Justice League—

The clouds from the previous night were gone and left the night sky clear and crisp. A bit of cold nibbled at Rem's nose making it pink at the tip but she didn't mind. Her head was back in another time attempting to regain any sense of normalcy. Unsuccessfully though, for an abnormal gust from above jolted her from her thoughts and turned her head at an awkward angle to see whatever it was.

"Thought you'd be out here again." Rex chuckled landing gently on the shingles. "You're mind just won't shut off now will it."

She glanced beyond him at the sky. "They're the same."

"Hmmm…"

"The stars, they look the same. Although I could never locate any specific ones; the North Star included. But they seem the same. And the moon still waxes and wanes the same as before."

Rex gave her a careful look before sighing and settling down next to her. "I'd imagine they're still the same. It takes a long time for our sky to change. Learned that in middle school."

Her hand drifted to her hair absentmindedly. It sat on her shoulders uplifted by a breeze now and again. She tangled her finger in a lock and twirled at it; a fidget she had acquired whenever she felt distressed. "You think mom's looking up at the sky right now too? Is she seeing the same thing as I am? Did she ever imagine I'd be here now skipping through time? Did she nearly kill herself trying to find me?"

He offered no response for a little and sat quietly next to her. A breeze blew by and he surprised her by shrugging out of his jacket and draping it over her shoulders. "I'd imagine she's looking at the same sky. But as for being distressed I'd imagine she's strong and didn't wallow. She'd set herself on a task to settle her mind." He glanced at her catching her eye and turning away briskly. "I'd just think that's what my mom would have done. She was a strong woman too."

"You're mom was fantastic." Rem sighed. "In any situation she always knew what to do. Always knew what to say; although she did have a nasty temper at times."

Rex nodded his mind tumbling through his memories. They sat there for some time without exchanging words. Rem relaxed a bit more laying on her back her hands behind her head just taking in the twinkling stars.

"You don't seem so angry anymore." He finally told her.

"Hmmm?"

He turned away from the sky. "You're attitude; you seem much calmer than you've been lately."

"It was useless being angry. I thought if I was mad it would further fuel me to find out answers and get me home faster, but all it did was blind me. So I need to look at this situation a bit more carefully and not rush the outcome. I need to do things right." She grunted propping back up on her elbows. Pointing a finger out to the sky. "Is that the Big Dipper?"

He followed her finger. "Is what the Big Dipper?"

"That little cluster. Oh hell, they all seem the same."

Rex chuckled and smacked down her hand. "No, but you're warm. Look a little to the left, the ones almost in a straight line."

She squinted and nodded. "Yeah I think I see them. So that at the end should be the North Star."

"Right." Rex nodded. "That star has been guiding people for ages. It's always able to point you in the right direction when you're lost."

"Doubt it could help me get home." She bit out negatively.

"Well you don't need a star for that. You've got your dad, and us. We'll help you." Rex told her his eyes smiling.

Rem finally smiled brightening her face. "Oh why thank you my white knight." She stood up and brushed off imaginary dust. "Well I'd best get some sleep."

"I'm sure Bruce would appreciate it if you would." Rex told her watching her.

She turned around to wish Rex 'sweet dreams,' when she tripped over her own feet and landed roughly on the roof. She started to slide down scrambling for a grip.

"Got ya." Rex bit out as he shot his arm out grabbing her forearm. He jerked her close making her land in his lap. "For a hero you're pretty clumsy."

She squirmed trying to push off his lap. "And for a hero you're pretty grabby."

Rex smirked. "And you'd rather fall off the roof?"

Before she could bite back something flew by disturbing the air and startling both, causing them to jump in alarm. Rex's eyes swerved about not seeing anything. Rem glanced up at the sky a smile spreading across her lips.

"No way." She shielded her eyes and scanned the empty air around them. "She's here."

"Whose here?" Rex asked his eyes darting around. He was about to ask her again when out of thin air a head appeared. He found himself staring into a pair of cold blue eyes. The woman had dark hair that sat past her shoulders and wore a familiar uniform.

He turned to ask who the woman was but Rem was already laughing and waving.

"So he wasn't messing with me." The woman said half to herself. She leapt out of the air and landed with a thud on the roof. In a second she had Remi in a warm embrace. "I got a message saying he had found you, and I thought that if he was lying he would have a few more injuries to contend with."

Rex watched the scene and everything clicked into place. He remembered old film of the previous league and recognized her in an instant. "Wonder Woman…" He muttered a bit shocked.

"Present." She smirked letting her daughter out of the hug. "And who might you be, and why," she leaned in a little closer standing the same level as he, "Were you holding my daughter like that? I've had to teach a few lessons before, do I have to now."

Snorting, Rem knelt and picked up the jacket lost when she had begun to fall. "His name is Rex Stewart, Shayera's kid, and he caught me when I was sliding off the roof." She extended the jacket and offered a warm smile. "We were just talking."

Her mother's gaze remained suspicious but she let the matter go. She pulled her daughter into another hug ignoring her squeal of surprise. "I thought I had lost you. When I saw you get dragged into that odd portal I didn't know where you were. I searched for years."

"Did they let you back on the island?" Remi asked her eyes careful not to expose any emotion. "I know they really didn't approve of their princess's actions that day."

"They let me back, only because mother had caught something. It was a disease that seemed to leave her weak and exhausted." Diana's eyes darkened. "She explained to me that a leader can only stay in power so long, and that Hera was allowing the next in line to take her place."

Surprise registered on Remi's face. "So Grandma's gone?" She was released from the strong arms a second time and she stumbled back a little. "How long?"

Wonder Woman shrugged. "Time is irrelevant on the island. I can't even tell you my own age." She glanced at the ground and met her gaze with the old man who had hobbled out to see what all the noise was. "Here let me park my jet and I'll meet you inside."

(Sorry it took so long. But here... Working on five as I speak!)