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

It's Christmas time and the Justice League members have all gone off their separate ways to celebrate the holidays, except for Batman and Wonder Woman who decided to spend the few days for everyone else on Monitor Duty. Christmas Eve has arrived and Batman and Wonder Woman have returned to the Watchtower, awaiting the dawning of the first Christmas Day that they will share together.

I hope that you all enjoyed the last chapter – thanks to the few of you who reviewed! I'm amazed at the amount of hits that this story is still getting even though it's now in the Mature section. Although I'm a little dismayed at the amount of reviews...please take a moment and let me know what you're thinking.

Chapter 9, The First Noel/Merry Christmas Darling

"They looked up and saw a star,
shining in the east, beyond them far:
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night."

"Logs on the fire, fill me with desire
To see you and to say
That I wish you Merry Christmas (Merry Christmas, Darling)"

Bruce's perspective-

After returning to the Watchtower, we wiped the snow off of each other, watching as it condensed into a puddle on the floor, the only remnants of our night in Gotham other than the memories sealed in our minds. It had truly been an inspired idea of mine to take Diana on a tour of Gotham on Christmas Eve. I still wasn't entirely sure what the idea had originated from; I only knew that one night during patrol, it had germinated into my brain until I had no choice but to allow it to seed and flower.

And truly it had been a night of beauty for both of us, of magic and making memories. Normally, I wasn't the sentimental type, but seeing the city wrapped in holiday decor and trimmed in lights and all the bells and whistles of the season had made me realize what I fought for, what I had loved for so long about Gotham City. It was my home and I would never be able to give up on it. It swam in my blood like a fine red wine or the love of a woman would to other men.

Not that I didn't have love in my heart as well for the woman that I had chosen to share my city with, but a part of myself would always be reserved for Gotham and, after tonight, I believed that Diana would understand and appreciate why that was so.

It certainly served to remind me that there was magic in the city of Gotham, that it was more than crime and violence; it was also about the people.

Shaking off my leather coat, I turned to chivalrously help Diana out of her hip length jacket as well. After all, Alfred had taught me some manners over the years and helping a lady was a top priority on the list of required actions.

She smiled over her shoulder at me and I couldn't help but be thankful that I had taken Alfred's advice and decided to spend the holidays in Diana's company, each of us teaching the other about the spirit of Christmas. I felt the load that I habitually cared on my shoulders lightening as we time here together and I think that she understand what the spirit of the season was about as well, the magical experience that seemed for so many to go along with Christmas.

Together, the jackets thrown over my left arm and my right arm wrapped up in her hand, we strolled down the corridor to her quarters on the Watchtower. She yawned a little, obviously not used to the late hours that I traditionally kept. But I was ready for sleep, ready to face tomorrow and see what it held in store for Diana and me. We would exchange more traditional gifts tomorrow and I was a bit anxious about mine.

But I had a feeling that Diana would like it.

Still, it had been a long time since I had put such thought into a gift for another person. Usually my gift for the holidays to just about everyone was cash – it was simply easier than trying to think of something that each person in my life would appreciate. Although often, Alfred simply took it upon himself in order to do my shopping, to make sure that people received better, more appropriate gifts that what I supplied.

This year though, I had actually decided to try and do it myself. The Gotham idea had come first; the other, more serious gift had come recently and had involved quite a bit of work on my part in order to pull it off properly. But it had been important to do it right and I wasn't about to take any chance with my second gift to Diana.

Still, anxiety reigned that night until finally, I succumbed to sleep wrapped around the exiled Amazon princess.

The next morning, I woke to the sensation of someone nibbling along my jaw as I slowly emerged from the confines of sleep. Wearily opening my eyes, I could see the dark locks of the fair princess and reaching down, I pulled her head up to mine, brushing her lips with mine.

Long moments later, we drew apart, her eyes twinkling in the soft light that lit the room and a wide grin on her face as she whispered, "Merry Christmas, darling."

I pulled her back for another kiss, pleased to start out my morning in such a sexy and affectionate manner. Thus far in our relationship, the times that we had managed to sleep overnight together were few and far between and the intimacy that grew from these moments was powerful, almost overwhelming. But I reigned in my emotions, sweeping a hand down her lithe and naked body before giving her a playful swat on her backside.

"Out of bed, Princess!"

She merely winked at me and rose from the bed, turning to her closet in order to grab a long-sleeved dark blue tunic and a long white skirt, throwing them both on and looking as me with an air of expectation and excitement.

I supposed it wouldn't hurt to wear civilian clothes for the day as well; the costume was certainly close by, handy if necessary, and I was sure that Alfred had packed additional clothing for me to dress in. Standing, I walked over to the bag and sorted through, discovering an additional pair of khaki pants and a grey sweater. Padding over in my bare feet, I jumped a little in surprise as Diana returned my favor my earlier, swatting my ass with the flat of her hand.

Narrowing my eyes at her, I saw her laugh in delight, obviously pleased that she had managed to one-up me, to surprise the World's Greatest Detective with her actions.

Side by side, Diana still straining to control her laughter, we walked out of her quarters and down to the kitchen, grabbing a quick breakfast of bagels and fresh fruit. It turns out that not even I could completely screw those up, although the bagels did manage to come out a little crisp. Diana said that they were fine, but I could taste the bitterness of burnt bagel for some time after I finished the meal, even with the cream cheese I slathered on top of it.

Following the meal, by unspoken agreement, we lit some candles around the room, turning on the white holiday lights and trying to make the stark Watchtower as festive as possible for the day.

We headed back to her quarters in order to grab our presents for each other and I noticed with interest that Diana had several packages for me, each gaily wrapped in silver paper with red ribbons tied around them and draping off the sides in curlicues.

I, on the other hand, carried only one big box that I had actually managed to wrap myself. The metallic red paper wasn't perfectly even, bubbling at the sides a little, but even I couldn't manage to figure out how to make the present look perfect and I refused to ask Alfred for help. I knew that he would have helped, but he also would have laughed at me later behind my back. The humiliation to my ego was more than I was prepared to handle and so I had gone it alone.

In the kitchen, we moved the table against the side wall, taking up residence on the floor like little children ecstatic that Santa has left them presents and eagerly awaiting opening them. Our presents were few, but the spirit remained, enhanced by the fact that it was only the two of us there, that it was so intimate a setting.

"Merry Christmas, Bruce," Diana said with a small soft, handing me the first of her presents. Ever curious, I turned it about in my hands, trying to see if I could determine the gift from the sounds or the size of the package. The box was about 2 feet wide and rather narrow in height, leaving me with no semblance of an idea as to what it could be that would actually manage to fit in it.

Gently tearing off the ribbon and moving apart the paper, I was astonished with the gift that Diana had chosen for me, utterly unable to think of what to say in the face of such a present.

She, however, started laughing. "I thought of you when I saw it and I was unable to resist buying it for you! Perhaps we could play sometime?"

I looked down at my hands, currently holding the game of Clue. It was one of the more original gifts that I had ever been the recipient of and yet incredibly fitting for a man of my nature and talents.

Letting out a bark of laughter, I looked over to see Diana sitting there, legs stretched out before her, toes bare, just smiling at me with a sheen of moisture in her eyes.

"You know, Bruce," she whispered, "Just hearing you laugh would have been present enough for me."

Unable to handle the emotion of the moment, I leaned over, crushing her lips to mine in a passionate kiss, devouring her lips and stealing both our breaths. Drawing back, I sought her lips once again in a soft kiss before turning back to my gift, placing it by my side and muttering, "Thanks."

She just smiled again, her lips rosy from my ministrations and said softly, "You're welcome."

Then Diana handed me another gift, this time the box was very long in shape, at least 3 feet, and the weight of it surprised me as she put it in my hands. Again, I played with it for a minute, trying to guess what it was and I had an inkling, but I didn't want to spoil the surprise for Diana.

Peeling apart the silver paper, I lifted the ornate lid of a clearly handmade golden box, decorated with what appeared to be Greek lettering and beautiful, elaborate flora and fauna. Inside, the box was plain, preferring the user to focus on what lay in it instead. Resting on the bottom was a sword, the blade strong and sharp and unadorned, the hilt a grip inlaid with symbols. Pulling it out and peering at it closer, I heard Diana say, "It was mine, made on Themyscira. But I wanted you to have it."

It was a symbolic moment, poignant of the power and sweetness between us, as one warrior gifted another with the tools of the trade, an exemplary example of not only Amazonian craft, but of sword craft. For Diana to give up a piece of her homeland particularly showed where precisely in her affections I stood and, strongly gripping the hilt, I looked at her and in a clear and strong voice said, "Your gift is much appreciated."

She inclined her head, currying her favor on me with the gesture before handing me the last gift that she carried.

With one last caress of the sword, I placed it aside and took the final present from Diana's hands, suddenly wondering how my gift would hold up against what she had already given me.

"I warn you," she said, biting her lip to keep from laughing, "that this gift is a little similar to the first, but I think it will come in handy, if you so choose to employ it."

Employ it? Interesting. I quit trying to figure out what it was and simply tore into the wrapping paper, tossing it to one side in a large crumpled ball. Seeing the plain cardboard box under the pretty paper, I quickly lifted the lid, wondering how this gift would complete with the others she had already given me. Looking inside, I couldn't help but start laughing. Apparently I hadn't been too off the mark when I thought that she would give me Bat-boxers. Inside the box on a bed of red tissue paper lay a batarang. However, this particular batarang had a distinctly different shape to it and flowing golden lines across it.

It was in the shape of a "WW", the symbol that Diana wore across her chest.

And, laughing as I hadn't in years, I looked over to see a patently pleased smile lighting Diana's face. Bat-boxers indeed.

Next chapter: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – What did Bruce get for Diana? This chapter may or may not be posted tomorrow, I haven't decided. And I haven't written it. Hehe.

The game of Clue is a little joke between my awesome beta, Lavender Gaia, and I, but can't you see him playing it and winning in about two seconds?

The little review button is at the bottom. It's really easy, takes only a minute or two to let me know what you're thinking, so please do! It's no fun begging…but I have no shame where reviews are concerned…

To new reviewer ariana, thanks for the review and I'm glad that you're enjoying the story so far!

Thanks to Lavender Gaia, WWBMForever, and sweety for the gift ideas - much appreciated.