Folding the clothes and putting them in the closet, Diana feels at peace. It's a strange feeling she hasn't been able to conjure for some time but it is here and she's enjoying it. Bruce is in the cave, no doubt working on one of his projects, closing himself off. She elects not to bother him; he'll come to her when he's done. In the meantime she's left aboveground with a house to explore. Alfred is waiting for her to be done with the unpacking. Initially the butler had offered to do it but Diana refused; some things are better left to her.

"Where has my daughter gone to? Who are you?" Hippolyta asks when Diana visits. She has donned a new costume and her hair is short and dishevelled, her skin paler. The queen's words are no attack, although Diana perceives them as such. Her mother still wraps her arms around her and presses a loving kiss to her forehead. The thing that makes her blow up is hearing that her daughter is in a long-term relationship with a man. "Of all the things, Diana, why this?" It is useless to try to make her understand; her mother is set in her ways.

"You're only going to get hurt." Her mother's words ring in her ears. Hippolyta, her queen and mother, has constantly expressed her disapproval of Diana's relationship with Bruce. Of course it's not like her daughter will ever give the man up just because her mother says so. If anything the queen's regular advice is starting to drive Diana crazy. She just wishes her mother would see to running the island and not her life. "Men can not be trusted. My little sun and starts, I'm trying to protect you." Yet Diana has no desire to be protected. There is no need for her m other to shelter her.

Not once does Diana dare to look in her mother's eyes and let the older woman see inside her. She is still battling her demons; blood still lingers on her hands. Hippolyta presses and in the end Diana has to tell her about Kal's new method of punishment. She makes sure to show her support in front of the queen. Hippolyta seems sceptic but does not embark on a longwinded speech about it. She trusts her daughter to make the right decision; that will perhaps prove to be her biggest mistake. Diana leaves the island torn between her own desires and her mother's disapproval.

So here she is now, newly moved into Bruce's home. It's a house really but in time Diana hopes to make it a home. She may be a warrior but part of her is still woman; and the woman wants things all women want: security, comfort, love, a family. Somehow she has gotten it in her head that Bruce will be the one to give her that. There have been some vague talks about their future and he tends to use 'we' which gives her hope. Alfred is supportive now; he wants Bruce to be happy. His ward deserves it; more than others might think.

The sky rumbles and Diana finally looks up. It looks like rain; the clouds have gathered in a dark canopy, covering any shard of blue. A strange feeling lurks in the dimness and Diana shivers. "Don't ruin your mood with such assumptions," she convinces herself, "It's not worth it." Tentatively she smiles and closes the closet. Maybe she should sleep a bit; she feels tired. A storm is coming, approaching fast. Her senses are alert as always and that discomforting feeling persists. Diana blinks the concerns away. It is not the time to sulk. There are things to be enjoyed here.

"Alfred, if you'd be so kind as to give me a tour." she prompts, gingerly stepping out of the room.


Onward we go. As I said, there is a storm coming.