Gray

"I'm sorry, Bruce.. I'm here for you."

It's a cold and dark day here in Gotham. Bruce and I are visiting his parents' graves again. It's become a tradition for us, visiting the cemetery every Sunday.

Bruce removes his hand from my waist and sighs. He's upset.. I know it. I mean, death is a part of life, and it happens to everyone. Well, everyone except for immortals like me. What I'm trying to say is that, death came too soon for Bruce.

For us Amazons, death is a big deal, too. When you die, it's out of honor and you leave this world with pride. Bruce's parents left our earth with honor. So, I want to honor them for everything that they've done to Bruce and I. So, I've kinda forced him to do this.. But in a "good forcing" kind of way.

It's a tragedy, truly. I wish I could have met Thomas and Martha Wayne. But, if they hadn't died, I would have never met Bruce. Their deaths led to Batman's birth, after all. It's a bittersweet story.

I place red roses on their tombstones and sigh.

Maybe it's time to break this tradition.. Bruce and I experience too much hardship and sadness to begin with. But, I have to do this. For Bruce, for Martha and Thomas, and for me.

"Can we leave now?", Bruce asks. I can tell how he's feeling, even when he's scowling. "Let's go."

I slip my arm into the crook of his and rub his back with the other. "Maybe we should do this once a month.", I suggest. He turns his head and sighs, "We'll see. Let's go home, okay?"

I am so sorry for him. I wish I could just take the pain away from him. It's my fault.. I know.

We walk to the limo and step inside. I hate gray days. They're the worst kind. They just put you in a bad mood, no matter what. This whole day just reeks of failure.

The ride to The Manor is absolutely excruciating. Why did I have to do this? Me and my stupid doings. I aggravate myself more than anyone else in this world sometimes.

How long is this going to take? It would take less time to fly to The Manor myself. It's okay, Diana. Deep breaths. You are a patient, calm, and loving Amazon. Do this for Bruce.

Bruce is just breathing stoically and trying to avoid me. "Bruce.. Please, I'm going to make it up to you. This is all my fault and I'm going to fix it.", I plead.

He doesn't even turn to look at me, he just scowls.

This scowling thing is getting old. Really, really, really old. Especially when he's not in costume.

We arrive at The Manor and he opens the door. "I'm fine. I have Monitor Duty in an hour. Listen, I love you and I don't want you to forget it. But, I just need some time alone. You know how much they mean to me." , he explains, finally.

Aw.. That's my Bruce, honest and loving. "Okay, Bruce. Take all the time you need. I'll see you soon.. And we'll make this a bimonthly thing."

He tries to smile for me, but can't. "It's okay. I understand."

So, Bruce has left for Monitor Duty, and I am with Alfred waiting for the cookies to be done baking.

"Alfred, has Bruce been this upset lately?", I ask as I tap my fingers out of impatience. Alfred sighs as he checks the baking timer. "Not recently, Your Highness. It might just be the visits and his conflicting thoughts of the past, present, and future. Don't fret, Miss Diana."

"I feel so guilty for this. I forced him into this. I am ruining everything!", I yell. Alfred rushes to my side and pats my back. "Not a word of that is true, Your Highness. You are only trying to help. I have never seen Bruce happier than when he is with you. You're fixing everything, not destroying it.", he consoles.

I rest my arms on the cold stone of the counter and sigh. Why did I have to be wrong now, of all times?

You know, sometimes I wish I was Alfred. He's so wise and calm.. I wonder how he does it.. Hera. "Thanks, Alfred. I don't know what I would do without you.", I thank.

He smiles and opens the oven. "You won't have to go without me, Your Highness. You're a part of this family. When I found out that Master Bruce proposed, I was ecstatic. You're just what he needed."

Alfred is amazing. He truly is.

"Your words mean so much to me, Alfred. Thank you so much."

He slides out the baking tray with the cookies and sets them down on the stovetop. "I believe the problem is that he is visiting the cemetery too frequently. Death may be an act of honor or of accident, or even failure or chance, but in every circumstance, it is a tragedy. And we can only take so much of sadness.", he explains.

What a smart man. He is so right.

"You're right, Alfred. One hundred percent correct. If you permit me, I think I'm going to pay Bruce a visit."

Alfred smiles and nods his head. "As you wish, Your Highness. Master Bruce will be delighted to see you." I love Alfred. I've been raving about him this whole time, haven't I? Even that doesn't give him justice.

"I'll see you soon, Alfred.", I say before pressing my comm-link. "Wonder Woman to Watchtower. One for transport."

"Alright, Wonder Woman. You're cleared for transport.", J'onn replies.

Being beamed up has to be one of the most uncomfortable things I have ever experienced. It's so strange feeling, like being stretched and torn apart.

Okay, I'm on the Watchtower. Now, I've got to find Bruce. He's on monitor duty, so he should be in the Monitor Womb. Wait, what am I even talking about? I know where he is, so why am I freaking out? Ah, I guess it's just me being a worried wife.

Walking, walking, walking. Great! I see him. He looks extremely bored. I know what to do..

So, it's five minutes later, and I've gotten Bruce one of my favorite iced mochas. He needs it more than me right now.

"Hey, Bruce. I got you a coffee."

He jerks his head up and gives me a look. The look. The look that he gives me when he's happy and appreciates me. The Batman can't just go smiling around the place! It might ruin his reputation, after all.

"How's everything going?", I ask as I step closer and closer to him. He gets out of his chair and steps towards me, and takes the coffee from my hand. "Fine. I've got everything under control."

Under control? Really?

"Do you forgive me?"

I hope he does. I really do.

"Of course. I'm not mad at you at all. I just.. I wish they could have met you. They always wanted me to be happy. I bet they were cheering in Heaven when I proposed to you. Even the Dark Knight needs a soul mate.", he tells me.

Hera! Whenever he's life this, I just feel like melting. The sudden outburst of affection makes me feel amazing. He's so loving and open.. And he used his own nickname! I love every side of Bruce, for that matter. 'Cause he's my husband. Seriously, who can say that? Moments like these make my world. I'm a total sucker for happy endings and mushy tales.

"I love you, Batman."

"I know. I'll be home in an hour, okay?", he said right before he kisses me. Oh, Bruce.. I wish that his kelvar suit, gauntlets, and cowl would just disappear sometimes. They become an inconvenience too often. Well, at least for me.

"No way, Bats. I'm staying here with you."

He scoops me up into his arms and plops down in the chair by the monitor desk.

"Thanks for forgiving me."

He takes off one of his gauntlets and sweeps a strand of my hair behind my ear. "Thanks for sticking with me, Princess."

I place my lips onto his, and wait for his mouth to open. Our tongues slide together and we mesh. Oh, Hera! I'm glad that he hasn't stopped because of his "PDA Paranoia", as Flash likes to call it.

We break apart and I look at him. Wow. His blue eyes lock onto mine, and we connect.

"I promise, Princess, we'll continue this later." I kiss his cheek and laugh. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

You know, today isn't such a gray day after all. I have Bruce and he has me. And we have Alfred, who has cookies. Ooh.. Cookies sound really good right now.

Hasn't been quite the gray day I thought it would be, thank the Gods.

Nope, I was wrong about the day sucking.. If only all stories could end this way. Ah, who cares? My story is perfect.