Disclaimer: I don't own the Justice League or the episode Comfort and Joy and the characters therein.

In the episode Wild Cards, the Joker plants 25 bombs along the Las Vegas Strip and the League is forced to disarm all of them while dealing with Joker's Royal Flush Gang – a group with special powers who are trying to stop the League from foiling Joker's plan. However, his real plan becomes evident when he unleashes Ace (who has the power of mind control, creating illusions, driving people insane by just looking at them, and also altering reality) upon the unsuspecting people watching the Joker by television in his attempt to defeat the Justice League. A truly great episode in my humble opinion – also a key point is that this is the episode where Shayera and John finally admit to their feelings for one another after John is almost killed by one of the bombs. Things are changing within the Justice League now – relationships are being built, romantic and otherwise, and each is planning what to do during the holiday season…

Chapter 2, A Different Kind of Christmas

"It's a different kind of Christmas, in a different kind of world

Even though it looks the same;

Everything has changed; it's a different kind of Christmas."

Diana's perspective-

The aftermath of what we had taken to calling the "Wild Card Incident" was a serious shift in the attitude of the Justice League members, a changing of emotions and we almost eased into the holiday season, pathetically grateful for the lack of action in the weeks after the powerful Ace had been unleashed onto the world. Tensions had been dramatically reduced, everyone glad that we were all in one piece, mentally and physically after the beatings that had been suffered at the hands of the bombs, the Royal Flush Gang, and the Joker himself. Not to mention Ace, whose current whereabouts were unknown, a fact that I knew was driving Batman to distraction.

Her potential was awesome, frighteningly so, and I had witnessed the aftereffects firsthand. Batman had taken time to recover from the incident, from the beating that he had taken in his mind before returning fully to combat with the League. He had continued patrolling Gotham without fail, unsurprisingly, wanting to make sure that the criminals of his city did not believe him weakened by Ace's intrusion into his mind. So he worked even harder to make sure that everyone knew that he was full strength, psychologically and bodily.

Yet I knew that he was still tormented by her actions, by what he perceived to be his own weaknesses, and I knew that he would be unable to rest until he had figured out how to stop her in the future, how he could prevent his own mind from being susceptible to that kind of attack. I simply watched him from the sidelines, ensuring that he didn't wear himself down too fully, that he sustained himself so that he could still fully function if we truly needed him to. The Justice League without the Batman is a team that stands alone, that stands to easily lose without his intelligence and strength, his wealth of knowledge and his drive and determination.

Right now, he was driving himself into the ground, attempting to find Ace, but I knew that it was a losing battle. That lost and lonely little girl wanted to be left alone, wanted to find herself in this great big world and I understood that feeling. I myself had done the same – found myself adrift in a world that I didn't understand, trying to cope with males, new cultural traditions, and so many things that took time to comprehend. Ace was much the same. She, however, had been used and abused so many times in her life that she no longer relied on anyone – I had my team at my back, friends to trust in, and someone to love. A wave of pity washed over me as I thought of that little girl, her stark expression and the hurt that had filled her face when she had realized that the Joker had exploited her like so many had before.

Batman had taken to replaying the tapes of the encounter with Joker and Ace, endeavoring to get some deeper clue in Ace's psyche, and I had often stood behind him, leaning on his chair as I watched the little girl learn that she had once again been betrayed, that yet another adult that she had trusted had shown the propensity to abuse her talents for their own gain. Her haunting expression was etched in my brain and I couldn't help but worry for her future.

But I also realized that she posed an immense threat to humanity, her powers only somewhat trained and now free to be used in whatever manner that she chose. Would she ultimately choose to forgo her unique talent or would she utilize her ability to alter perceptions for the benefit of evil?

My mind adrift in the sea of my thoughts, I failed to hear the door to my quarters open beyond me, a shadow drifting in from the hallway to stand directly behind me. I looked up, startled to see a cowled figure in the mirror, a small, teasing smile on his face as he realized that he had entered my room completely without my knowledge. It was a typical Batman accomplishment, one that he relished and took great pride in. I had taken to trying to figure out exactly how he managed this feat, but I quickly comprehended that years of experience was firmly on his side.

Looking back over my shoulder, dropping the hand holding my forgotten hairbrush, I returned his smile with one of my own, particularly when he reached down, dropping a tiny kiss on my bare shoulder, brushing his gloved hand over my hair before resting it at my waist.

"Hello, Princess," he murmured, moving his other arm to wrap it around my waist, pulling me into the circle of his arms, a warm and comforting place that I had come to enjoy over the course of the last few weeks. Although he had devoted most of his recent time to both Gotham and the search for Ace, otherwise, he had grown more affectionate towards me, something that surprised me, but I certainly appreciated from the otherwise reticent Dark Knight.

I had begun to think that perhaps this newfound affection stemmed from the "Wild Card Incident", that he had truly appreciated my presence there when he had finally come to after defeating the Joker. Until that day, I don't think that I had appreciated just how deep the antipathy ran between the two men, how severely Batman disliked the Joker and his actions in Gotham and worldwide as well.

Batman had been almost…grateful for my company in the wake of the incident, for allowing him the comfort of my presence without interfering with his return to strength. I had not tried to help him to his feet, hadn't made the fatal mistake of assuming that he needed my aid – I instead had realized that he just needed me there, not there picking up the broken pieces of his mind and body. He was accustomed to doing everything on his own and rather than taking over the reigns of his recovery and the situation itself, I had been much more passive, somewhat surprising myself with my patience.

The entire scenario had shaken him very badly, the realization that we were so susceptible to mental influence, that he hadn't managed to shield that part of his body as well as the others. I too had been shaken by the events of that day, throwing myself into our lovemaking that night with passion and a fervor that still resonated in my soul. I supposed that I had been proving to myself that he was still alive, that he was still the man, well, men that I had fallen in love with. Neither of us would forget that night for sometime.

But now was a time for other things.

Turning in the circle of his arm to twine my arms around his neck, I looked into his handsome face, content to the see the stress lines missing from his usual stern countenance. It sometimes overwhelmed me to realize exactly how light I made this man, how deep the wealth of emotions ran between us. Right now, I just wondered what had made him stop by in the middle of the afternoon, an unusual move for the caped crusader.

"Hey, Handsome," I whispered, brushing my lips over his in a heated, albeit short kiss.

"Much as I'd like to continue this," he murmured, "It's meeting time."

Meeting time? My now lust-fogged brain was trying to comprehend those words, but unfortunately, painfully little was rising into my current consciousness. And then, suddenly, I stiffened, realizing exactly which meeting he was talking about – our weekly meeting of the Justice League. And this meeting we were planning to discuss the upcoming holiday season and how the shifts to cover monitor duty would play out for all of us.

I knew painfully little about the Christmas season, but I did know that it was very important to several of the other members. Flash had been adorably excited about the holiday for weeks, wrapping the halls of the Watchtower in ribbons and bows, infusing what he called "the holiday spirit" into every nook and cranny that he could impose upon. Superman also seemed to enjoy the countdown until Christmas Day, his usual smile even larger than usual, practically beaming from ear to ear, spouting off about presents he was buying his family members, although he never mentioned them by name. Even GL seemed to be less tense than usual; the rigid bearing relaxing at the sight of the holiday décor Flash had stamped upon the Watchtower.

I still didn't understand all the fuss, but it was lovely to be included in the festivities, in the spirit of happiness and contentment that had fallen over the Watchtower. Of course, not all the members of the Justice League were particularly pleased with the air of unfettered gaiety that had infused the Watchtower, one of which was currently gently reminding me about the meeting.

Taking in my stunned expression, he smiled, obviously having realized that I had totally forgotten about our forthcoming meeting, whether due to my own forgetfulness or the haze that had filled my brain since his arrival to my quarters. Slightly embarrassed that I had indeed overlooked this scheduled assembly, I blushed a little, waving him out the door so that I could regain my composure before making the walk down the hallway.

I knew that even with Batman's newfound private affection towards me that he was still uncomfortable with any public aspect of our relationship. I was more than ready to let everyone else on the team know that he and I had advanced our relationship to more than friends, but Batman was a much more private individual and it was harder for him to reach that same level of comfort with everyone else being knowledgeable about us.

But I was holding out a small measure of hope that with time that comfort would come.

For now, I scrubbed the back of my hand over my cheeks and ran my fingers quickly through my hair before briskly striding out the door and down the hall. Luckily, I wasn't the last to arrive – Flash zipped through the door just as I was taking my customary seat between Batman and Superman, a red and white hat perched jauntily on his head and a wide grin lighting his face.

"Happy Holidays, everyone!" I tried not to laugh as I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Batman was glaring at Flash, his obviously cheerful face the target for an intimidating stare, one of which only Batman could produce. Something else that I imagined took years of practice to perfect to that level.

"Let's start, everyone," Superman stated, as usual taking the reigns of the meeting as the sort of unofficial leader of these things. While Batman may have been the true unofficial leader when we were out in combat, Superman ruled at the meeting table, his patience and glad-handling making him the obvious choice for this type of endeavor. As Batman had once put it, he wasn't exactly "a people person."

"The main reason for this meeting today is to determine the upcoming schedule over the holiday season. Someone has to remain here on Monitor Duty at all times. Two people would be preferable for the job so that they could work in shifts. Any volunteers?"

Batman immediately nodded his head, signaling his acceptance of the role of one of the two people that would remain behind. Quickly realizing that not only were the others looking forward to this holiday, to time spent with family and friends in a celebratory atmosphere, but also that this would mean that we would be the only two people in the Watchtower, I spoke up.

"I will take the other position." A few of the others looked surprised at my decision, perhaps expecting J'onn to be the other volunteer, but I knew that J'onn needed some time out in the world, out of the Watchtower and into humanity, something that he rarely did. And something in the last few weeks had led me to believe that there had been a change in the relationship between John and Shayera, that perhaps the two of them would enjoy a little time alone. Just as I would appreciate a little alone time with Batman, no complications other than perhaps a few minor villains or disasters. Hera, I was practically bouncing in my seat in anticipation as I realized the magnitude of what now lay before me.

"Thank you, Diana. You and Batman will remain here on the Watchtower. The rest of us will receive December 24, 25, and 26 off in order to celebrate the holidays or to spend in whatever manner you choose. Is there anything else?"

We all kept silent. I was trying desperately to hide my excitement as the team filed out of the meeting, animated chatter from those who were now looking forward to a few days of well-earned rest, and absolute silence from the dark figure striding towards the teleporter. As he entered the well, he looked back at me, a smile lurking on the edges of his lips as he disappeared from my sight and I couldn't help but thank the gods for granting me an unspoken wish.

Next chapter: We Need a Little Christmas – Diana wants to learn more about the traditions of Christmas, what the holiday truly means…(Eventually the rating will be moved into Mature, just so you're all aware)

Again, let's remember, this story is all me. So I appreciate all feedback – let me know why you're following the story or let me know what you hate it completely. It's just good to know and it takes only a moment…And wow, I actually got more reviews from people telling me to post than from people actually reviewing! At least you're letting me know that you like it...and I appreciate it!