WALKING ON GILDED SPLINTERS

CHAPTER FIVE

Six months later

"Superman, he's touched down in L.A.!"

Superman pressed the com-link behind his ear. "I hear you, Ray. Going in."

The Man of Steel sped towards the City of Angels, going after the villain that he was pursuing across the states of America. It was Hank Henshaw, aka the Cyborg, who had fought Superman on numerous occasions. He had escaped the Phantom Zone and he had an ax to grind. This time, he had waited until Superman had been occupied on the African continent, helping out aid workers and the U.N. in escorting food supplies across a war zone. He had appeared in New York, pretending to be the Man of Steel, joined the Easter Parade and ended opening fire on the crowd and detonating several small explosive devices. The panic and mayhem that had ensued had called out the members of the Justice League, who in turn alerted the real Superman.

Superman now spied him laughing and heading towards Hollywood. "I know you can hear me, Superman! You wouldn't believe the look on their faces when they saw me or who they thought was you, fire upon them. Going to their graves thinking their precious Superman killed them! What justice! Forty seventh street was a mess, Superman...a sea of red...Let's see if I can make the Walk of Fame into a red carpet too..."

Superman felt a kind of controlled anger consume him as he watched the Cyborg over above Mann's Chinese Theatre. Tourists and people were smiling and waving. "Superman! Over here!"

To their horror, the hero they thought was Superman, suddenly had his arm morph into a laser gun and he began to fire upon the people, and the theatre in a wild kind of ecstasy.

The real Man of Steel swooped down to the ground and looked at a bemused driver who stood near by a tourist bus. "Sorry...I need this..."

He picked it up and hurled it with all his strength. It hit the cyborg and sent him hurtling backwards, flattening a whole row of palms and carving a huge hole in the road. Superman looked down at the casualties with dismay. He stared at them and a vision of something like water and bodies floating down a river seemed to flash in his mind's eye. Superman held his head. He needed some rest. He had been deliberately overworking himself and had not slept in days. His mind seemed to be playing tricks.

The bus was thrown aside and the Cyborg stood up. He mocked, "Your blood's up, Supes. I knew it would be. You think I really am here to fight you after all the fights we have had? No point really. You and those Justice League lap-dogs...I bet they are right behind you..."

Superman's eyes smoldered and he turned to face him. His voice was tight. "Are you insane? Look at what you have done! Only a beast could do something like this to innocent people!"

"You think locking me away in limbo some sort of merciful act? You think living like a wraith is better than death? You over sanctimonious son of a bitch! Anything for your own comfort! I won't go back there. I won't go back in the Phantom Zone...!"

"Anything for you own comfort''. Those words sneered in his head.

The Cyborg ripped out a tall, electrical pole and came at him hard before he could even get a grip on the voice. Superman blocked it and it cracked into pieces on his forearm. He slammed his fist in Henshaw's jaw, and as he fell, the Kryptonian caught him by the hairline and ripped the synthetic flesh off his face. The grinning skeletal visage leered at him.

"You don't mind dying, don't you? All in the line of duty. But what if I kill those you swore to protect? That hurts more, doesn't it? Well, I won't stop..." He sent out numerous tendrils from his chest and they grabbed Superman around the neck and torso and lifted him high off the ground. Superman gritted, feeling the coils squeeze tightly. He narrowed his eyes and aimed directly at the Henshaw's face. Aiming straight for both his organic and inorganic eyes.

The Cyborg roared and Superman contracted his shoulders and then flung his arms out tearing the tendrils apart. Henshaw felt him grab him by the neck and fly him up and away from the civilians.

Henshaw choked. "You can try to imprison me but I will come out. You can try to disable my mechanical body but my consciousness won't die...I promise you that...I'll kill more of them...I must have taken out dozens today... Hear that, Boyscout? So what you gonna do, huh?"

"This," he replied coolly and to Henshaw's amazement, he ripped his head clean off his body.

The headless mechanical torso plummeted to the earth. Superman was left holding the head. The blind eyes seemed to roll and the jaw rasped, "I will just find another electronic body to inhabit...You wait and see..."

Superman flew north so fast he was a blur and suddenly was hovering over Mauna Loa. The Cyborg screamed. "You will not dare!"

Superman looked at him. "Put it this way. You won't have to live as a wraith. You're made of a Kryptonian alloy. Encased in lava it'll just be like sleeping."

He flung him hard and the head sunk deep into the bowels of the volcano. He used his super vision and saw the head slice through the viscous, liquid magma and come to stop and harden near the bottom.

He was about to fly off when the Martian Manhunter phased in before him. J'onn looked at him strangely. "Are you okay?"

Superman replied woodenly, "I'm fine."

"I saw his body... "

"We will incinerate it."

"I thought you would have sent him back to the phantom zone," the telepath began slowly.

"There are times the darkest of monsters have to be put down for their own peace of mind," he replied automatically.

Sparing monsters and demons, Kal-El, will not win this war or ease your conscience. Superman stopped and his brow drew together. He snapped, "Get out of my mind, J'onn."

J'onn said gravely," I am not in your mind, Superman."

Superman turned and stared at him, lost for a moment. He seemed to shake his head. "I...thought you...I'm sorry...Never mind... There are lots of casualties to see to. Let's go."

Batman stood with Flash watching Superman on the monitor as he participated in one of the most vigorous training simulations Mr. Terrific had designed for the League. Not one of the other members had even managed to reach this top level, and the Man of Steel was showing stamina, skill and strength that had his two allies watching with interest.

Flash watched him take down the final villain who possessed Amazo-like abilities with a precision and swiftness that made Flash go "Ouch !" And when he dispatch him by slicing him into two straight down the middle with his heat vision, he mused, "Did you see that?"

Batman folded his arms over his chest. "Yes."

Flash asked, "Where did he learn those moves? You been giving him some extra martial training?"

"No. How long has he been at it?"

"This time? Oh, about five hours straight. I left to tackle some forest fires Down Under, foiled a few robberies, had dinner with Linda and the kids, went to Keystone to check out the JSA, and came back to see him still going at it. He's managed to best the hardest level. Michael will be impressed. But you notice how he took off their heads? He never used to do that kind of thing...People are still talking how he tore Henshaw into two and buried him in magma."

"Henshaw is a mass murderer and he did not exactly kill him..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know Supes has that no killing code and all that but, heck, there's something very cut and dry the way he deals with the criminals now. He seems almost business-like. No waiting around or debating. He goes in. Does his thing and leaves. I mean none can fault his work with the League. He is the same dependable, reliable Supes but...something has changed. He's, I dunno what it is...different."

Batman said nothing. He watched Flash bend towards the intercom and say, "There are no more levels for you to try now, Blue. That's it. You bested this training simulation. How about giving the computer systems a rest and letting Michael write a new program?"

Superman looked up and nodded. He alighted to the floor as the simulation ended and he was standing alone on the floor of the room. "Sure. That was a good work out."

"You could go home too...Honestly, it seems quiet tonight."

"I'll see you all tomorrow then."

Batman was still regarding the screen even after Superman left. Flash looked at him and asked casually, "Hey, Bruce, anyone seen or heard from Diana?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

Flash shook his head. "Shame. It's been a year. Not the same without her, you know?"

"No, it clearly isn't," he replied cryptically.

Flash blurted out, "Is it true he and Lois are having problems?"

Batman frowned warningly, "Wally..."

"Come on, Bruce, it's all over the satellite that they are having marital counseling, which I think is really good. I mean marriage is not easy, and for heroes like us...the time it demands and dangers it puts us in...our families do get a raw deal."

"I know that."

"Yes, I know you do and it's why you avoid getting too close to others. Linda and I went through a rough patch as well but we survived it. I hope Lois and Clark can as well, but..."

Batman turned to glare at him. "But?"

Flash said quietly, "It's not easy if the problem is another woman."

Batman almost snapped, "There's no other woman!"

Wally rolled his eyes. "Bats, I know that. I'm not talking about adultery here. I'm talking something that even I never understood. I find it especially ironic that whilst she was around he and Lois seemed okay, but now she's gone, the cracks are starting to show."

Batman was silent.

Flash looked at him. "You know something don't you? Nothing goes past you."

Batman said cuttingly and walked off. "I know no more than you. But gossiping is certainly not going to help this situation."

Flash called after him, "Oh, come off your high horse, Bruce, people were talking from the time those two set eyes on each other years ago. And I doubt they will ever stop."

Nine months later.

Clark looked at Lois across the table. She had ordered in a nice dinner, had lit candles and dressed herself in a short, black dress. He had only just flown in from patrol and she had not allowed him to change. It seemed she was following the counselor's advice to get them to spend time alone and simply just enjoy each other's company. It was almost like in the beginning, when he used to woo her as Superman, sitting opposite her in uniform. She seemed to want to try to have them relive the novelty of those days.

Clark studied her. She looked lovely. The food was great. But he kept feeling as if he was struggling to find words to say to her. Small talk with his wife used to be so easy. He would talk to her about anything...No, that wasn't true. He would talk to her about things he was only certain she could understand or cope with. He had seen many things in this universe that Lois could not understand. He had always tried to shield her from uglier, more painful aspects in life, and the anxieties he was left with used to eat away at his core. Those were the times Bruce and Diana helped him. He was a Superman but he also had fears and doubts and only his closest allies knew what he felt, as they felt it too. They knew the pain of failure. They knew the fear of losing those you loved. They knew the loneliness and isolation. Of sitting in a room full of people and feeling still so removed from them all. That it wasn't easy for him to sit and joke and laugh in the newsroom earlier with everyone when he had only just helped clear dead and injured bodies off the streets in L.A. and New York a week ago.

Lois could never know the guilt and sorrow he felt when people died under his watch. Her patting his shoulder and hugging him and saying "It's okay, Smallville" or "I know" was sweet but never really helped. She would never know that he had to make decisions sometimes on who to save. That his saving the victims of an earthquake in one part of the world left the people and animals burning up in forest fires or drowning in floods in another. Not even Superman could be everywhere all at once. Superman couldn't change the minds of governments who brutalized their own people. Superman could not stop civil wars and genocide. Superman could not take every child in the world out of poverty, out of scavenging on landfills and being used by pimps.

Bruce understood the frustration of not being able to get to everyone. Diana knew the pain and ugliness of the world. Both were trying to change it as he was... slowing chipping away at injustice and ignorance. Bruce only had to nod at him, Diana touched his arm and he would feel some pressure ease off his shoulders. Now since their last conversation, Bruce was somewhat... not distant but seemed preoccupied and ...Diana...there was no Diana.

His fingers tightened on the fork and it snapped suddenly. Lois looked up. "What's wrong?"

He looked at her wryly. "Nothing. I forget my own strength sometimes..."He got up. "Going to get another one..."

Lois lifted the nearly empty bottle of wine. "Can you bring the other bottle?"

He walked into the kitchen and picked up a fork and the wine when his eyes fell on the vase of flowers on the window sill. It was a mixed bouquet of roses, lilies and orchids that Lois had ordered from the florist. It was very pretty and made him feel slightly guilty he had no time to pick her up flowers, but work had been busy and he hadn't a moment to breathe with deadlines and League business. He was about to move away when his nostrils picked up the smell of the virginal white Cattelya with the yellow heart; it made him stare. That smell. There it was again. His fingers reached for it and he suddenly seemed to have a flash of blinding light. Laughter like a bell...and a silhouette above him...no face...just warmth and fragrance and he was reaching up to part a curtain of hair.

Lois' voice was like an alarm in his head, knifing into his consciousness, banishing the light to darkness. "Smallville, what's keeping you?"

The bottle smashed to the floor. Clark winced and Lois appeared at the doorway. "Damn that's our last Merlot too. You're not normally clumsy, Clark, what's the deal?"

He bent to clean up the mess. "I can fly out and get us another in no time."

She folded her arms. "It's fine. We can do without. You seem preoccupied."

He said, "I guess I'm tired. It's been a tough week."

She frowned. "You've been saying that all week. If something is bothering you I wish you would tell me. The counselor said you shouldn't bottle up things. You should talk...Get it off your chest! We have so much we need to address and I have tried to just keep tonight fun for old times sake but how long are we going to ignore that we need to face our problems head on?"

"Lois..."He put his hand through his hair, looking slightly harassed. "It's not that easy and I'm not sure what's happening to me..."

"What the hell is wrong with you? How long am I going to have to put up with this sort of indecisiveness and the excuses? You are always tired now or too busy or just seem so damned spaced out. You committed to therapy and that means reading from the same page with me...the counselor said so."

"Lois, the counselor thinks Clark Kent is stressed by rush hour traffic, not that he's struggling with homicidal maniacs or that his DNA isn't compatible with your own..."he replied bluntly.

She threw her hands out. "Well, I didn't want to bring up anything seeing we were trying to just have a nice dinner...but now you have mentioned it, have you given consideration to us adopting?"

"Lois, I can't do this now...I..."He took her hand earnestly. "I risk death everyday in what I do. A child who already lost one set of parents, is it fair to let such a child risk lose another set? Only last year the Parasite got into this apartment and tried to kill you. Do I risk putting an innocent kid through that? Does this kid have a choice? We are two full-time, working people...I am Superman...I work with the League...you love your job...Are we going to put the child in the care of a minder? My parents are old and it's not my desire to let them parent my child, if I ever had one."

"Linda and Wally do it!"

"I know and I admire them for it. Lois, I'm not against adoption. In fact, many a time I go to orphanages and see so many children that need good homes and yet how do I go and choose one? You think six year old Mark in our own Metropolis orphanage is any less needy than three year old Ahmed in Bangladesh? Or that my heart wasn't moved by ten year old Abeo, seeing her play mother for her two smaller brothers and sisters in Congo? Then there is Olga in Romania, Meilin in China...and the list goes on and on..."

Lois looked at him mollified. "Clark, you are making this more complex than it needs to be. You were adopted. You turned out well. "

"I was a baby and even today as much as I love Ma and Pa, there isn't a day that goes by where I don't wonder about Lara and Jor-el. I think whoever takes in an orphan owes it to that child to be there and not put that child through any extra stress. One of the things that comforted me in my years growing up was that I knew Ma and Pa would always be there...even if that was childish and naive...but it felt that way and I felt safe. And right now even if we did find one child we could adopt...I don't think the time is right..."

Lois pulled her hand away. "So when will the time be right?"

"I...don't know..."He turned and stared out the window. "Maybe some day...Not now...I'm sorry."

She snapped, "Says the guy who will live for centuries...If you notice I am not exactly getting younger here! I'm just short of thirty-five, Clark! When do you want me be a mother? When I'm fifty?"

He looked at her gravely. "You're angry and I don't blame you. I just...Lois...I think something is wrong with me."

"What? What are you on about?"

"I don't know...I keep getting jumbled thoughts and flashes in my head...They make no sense...I think I need to go and see J'onn..."

"Clark, we were supposed to be having dinner here!"

"I know...I'm sorry. But the last thing we want is my mind being manipulated or controlled. I can't risk that happening to me." He turned to leave.

"I can't believe you are flying out on me!"

"Lois, I need to go. I'll be back as soon as I can."

She clenched her fists. "You leave now and you may not find me here when you get back..."

He stopped and stared at her in bemusement. "So what are you saying? You don't want me to go and find out if something is wrong with me?"

"Oh, you can go. I'm not stopping you. I, however, will be going to my sister, Clark. I need some time away from all of this...No, don't try to stop me! I am sick of this. You are putting up a wall that I can't climb and it's getting more and more unbearable. I think we need some time away from each other...We are constantly in each other's pockets. At work, at home, and I for one am finding all this too stressful..." She stalked back into the living room and headed to the bedroom. "Come find me, Smallville, when you find out what you really want. A life with me ...or with..." She paused abruptly and amended seeing his brows crease, "or something else...!"

"So Lois left?"

"She's with her sister in Cleveland. She thinks we need some time away from each other."

"I am sorry, Kal. How do you feel?"

"I don't know. Numb is the only way to describe it. That's why I'm here..." Superman laid down upon the exam table and looked at the Martian Manhunter. "J'onn, I don't know what's happening...I think someone is trying to manipulate my mind. I keep getting flashes. Words. Smells. Feelings. It's like when you have a dream and you can't remember when you wake up but you know you had it. I need you to go in...See if you find anything invasive..."

J'onn nodded. He laid his hand on Superman's head. For the first time in all his years he felt guilty for what he was about to do. He was not sure he even wanted to see what he knew he may see. Because it would mean he had to lie. How could he lie to a man who was simply seeking truth. A truth that could destroy a marriage, that was already on shaky ground.

J'onn went in and he was bombarded with images. Lois' anger and frustration as she slammed the door and stalked out. Clark just standing and staring at the door, and then slamming a fist on the table and cracking it into two. He felt Superman's rage, sadness and confusion. He delved deeper, going past the images of Henshaw, and the Crime Syndicate and the Daily Planet and the Congo and finally saw what Clark was seeing. It was like gossamer...fine skeins of light...splinters of a cracked mirror...fragments that not even he could fathom or piece together. It seemed power from the realm of Gods was not something even he could penetrate. Superman was simply not ready to remember yet and he hoped it would stay that way.

He re-emerged with a look of relief. At least it would not be a lie. "I can find no evidence of mind control, Superman."

Superman muttered, "Why am I feeling this way? I hope I'm not going crazy...You would know, right?"

"No, Kal, you are not having a psychotic episode but you are tired. I can feel your exhaustion. You need time to rest and recuperate..."

Superman sat up and said wryly, "Yes...I feel like I've been fighting the never ending battle for a thousand years..."

J'onn gave him a queer look. Superman looked at him. "What?"

"Nothing. What will you do now?"

"I think I need to go spend some time at the Fortress. Away from all this. Then I can come back and deal with everything. Right now it's not fair to Lois for me to be around her the state of mind I'm in."

"I can take you off the roster indefinitely if that will help."

"Thank you, J'onn."

Fifteen months later

Julia Kapatelis hummed as she stood harvesting the fruits of her labors in the kitchen garden that stood at the back of the old fashioned, stone cottage that had been her home for the last three years. She had retired from her job as a University lecturer and was now enjoying life in the mountains in the Greek islands of Kefalonia. Most of Julia's family all lived on the mainland but she preferred this isolated, rustic location. It was rare to see anyone within a two mile radius but goat herders or an old monk foraging for herbs in the woods from the monastery in the next valley.

It gave her and Vanessa peace and tranquility. The exact remedy for her daughter's convalescence after her ordeal as the Silver Swan. It also evoked happier times when her husband was alive. They often used to take a break from their busy lives to just be together and enjoy life away from Athens and Boston. It was a bright summer's day and from where she stood she could also see the ocean. It was beautiful. She could almost smell the salt on the air.

She was kneeling plucking ripe tomatoes when she heard the back door open and a tall, raven haired woman in a simple gray paisley cotton dress and brown sandals stepped out. The woman smiled and turned her hair up in a top knot. She walked down the stony path and came to stand before the older woman.

"You need help?"

Julia looked up at her. Even in the plainest clothes her breathtaking beauty could not be hidden. Julia could swear she seemed to be even more radiant having come and remained with them. The countrified air was no doubt reminiscent of Themyscira and being fed on good organic produce seemed to have added a glow to her cheeks and gloss to her hair. Or maybe it was down to the fact that for the first time since she saw Diana in months she looked content.

She smiled. "Yes, sure. There are some zucchinis ready to pick. We can make some nice roasted vegetables for lunch..."

Diana obeyed and plucked the cucumber like vegetable. She said proudly, "I tried my hand at a focaccia bread just now...I did it just the way you taught me..."

Julia looked at her amused. "Well, I think you sound mighty happy. I take it you didn't burn it this time?"

"No. It's actually cooked and tastes as it should."

Julia laughed. "Bravo. I'll make you self-sufficient yet..."

Diana sighed. "I am grateful to you for it. I have no commissary food to fall back on or personal chefs and need to learn how to prepare a meal. I mean, toast and salad does not count does it?"

"No..."Julia paused and looked at her profile as she concentrated on looking at the zucchinis to see which were ready. "Diana, have you thought about what you are going to do?"

She looked tired all of a sudden. "No...I haven't thought about it..."

Julia sighed." I supposed we could remain here a little while longer but Nessie needs to go back and try to pick back up the threads of a normal life. She seems so much better and I have faith she can put this Silver Swan behind her forever."

Diana smiled wistfully. "Yes it would be nice to remain here. It's so peaceful. None to judge one. But you are correct. I think Nessie is ready."

Julia smiled. "I think having you here helped so much."

"Me? Oh Julia it is you and Nessie who have helped me. I'm so grateful to you. I think my mother is as well, even if she did not say it."

"I know. Donna says what Hippolyta can't...I ..." Julia suddenly turned her head and heard the sound of a voice shout in Greek, "Madam Kapatelis!"

Julia smiled. "Ah, that might be little Demitri. I sent him to buy us some eggs and cheese from the village...I'll be right back."

Diana smiled and turned back to her task. Two minutes later Julia appeared, coming from the side gate, carrying the eggs and cheese but Diana also saw a male figure accompanying her.

Standing behind Julia was none other than Bruce Wayne himself.

Diana faced Bruce in the back garden alone. Julia had deemed it wise to give them privacy. But she did not go far. She stood near some rose bushes pretending to pull weeds whilst keeping an eye on them.

"What are you doing here?" Diana asked abruptly.

Bruce was dressed casually like any hiker. One wouldn't think he was a rich billionaire. He looked around. "Nice place. Very remote. It took me a while to find you."

"How did you...?"

"Donna was slightly careless and left some clues behind this last time."

"So the world's greatest detective tracked me down. Mind telling me why in Hera's name you would come to find me?"

"It's been fifteen months ..."

"What of it? I have resigned my post. I don't need your or anyone else's permission to take some time out."

"Timeout? You just disappeared off the face of the earth and make no contact, everyone was worried or should I say..." he paused and said dryly, "suspicious."

"You have no right. And don't pretend to me you were worried. You probably just couldn't bear not knowing everything. Still a control freak as you ever were..."

"If Clark had come here would you have welcomed him this way?" he asked icily.

"Go away, Bruce," she muttered and turned her head so he couldn't see the sudden shadow over her face at mention of that name.

"No. I'm not going anywhere until I know what's going on. Why did you leave? Resign your post? Leave Themyscira? Don't give me that traveling incognito crap...I'd believe it if you maintained some contact. You have left off everyone, including Clark. That's not like you."

"Coming from a man who has been known to disappear off to the Himalayas for years, that's rich, don't you think?"

"Stop trying to turn the subject. You're a rotten liar, Diana. You left because of Clark. What I want to know is why?"

Diana crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not answering anything. You need to go. Now. Please, don't force me to make you leave."

Bruce looked at her scathingly. "I never took you for a coward." He turned to go and then stopped. He added mockingly, "You know Lois left him?"

Diana paled. "What?"

"Yes...She's been gone for the last six months...Staying with her sister in Cleaveland. Seems Clark is acting rather strange."

Diana's fingers dug into her palm. "That has little to do with me...So stop looking at me like that! I'm sorry if that is the case and I hope they can patch things up."

"Well, must be hard for the woman to patch things up when her problem actually escalated when you left."

"I think you should go," she said woodenly and picked up the basket to go back into the house.

At that same moment Vanessa Kapatelis could be seen coming up the hill at the back of the house and in her arms she carried a child. She unhooked the back gate and called cheerfully, "We're back!"

Diana looked up and her face flushed. Bruce Wayne stared in stony silence as Vanessa came up the path." Lara just loves the goats, Diana...and old Father Stefan's beard...But I think she's a bit tired now...Oh, we got company...?"

Julia Kapatelis came hurrying over. "Nessie, sweetheart, take Lara inside."

Vanessa looked confused at the three of them. Bruce stared at the child. The child could be no more than six months old and had glossy black ringlets and despite being drowsy on Vanessa's shoulder her eyes were clearly a deep, cerulean blue.

Vanessa said perplexed, "Okay...I...sure..."

Bruce waited until Vanessa was indoors and he found his voice. It was a scornful hiss. "Lara...How fitting and sweet of you, Princess. That self righteous, lying hypocrite. He said he would never...But it seems you and he did more than that. "

Diana's eyes flashed and her palm raised and would have connected with Bruce's cheek were it not for Julia's hand shooting out and capturing it. "Diana! No!"

Diana's eyes flashed with anger and hurt. "Let me go, Julia! How dare he say that about Kal?"

"No. You calm yourself. What else can he conclude?" Julia looked at Bruce and said coldly, "I suggest you leave, Mr. Wayne. You have long outstayed your welcome."

For the first time doubt shadowed Bruce's face. He knew how close he had come to getting his jaw broken. Diana's fury was tinged with such mortification and pain he had to actually conclude maybe he was wrong in his initial deduction. There was little doubt that the child was Clark's. It made sense why she would leave and come to this place. But her flying to his defense was unexplainable. Diana would not condone adultery, would she? Here she was acting as if Clark was innocent in all of this. It made no sense. But it was time to back off. He could see that.

He said stiffly, "Fine...But let me say this. This is not something you can hide forever. The only reason Clark isn't here himself is because he is not me. He respects your choices too much to even try to find you but I have no scruples especially when I can sense something is up. He deserves the truth. Secrets just hurt everyone in the end. "

He walked away and disappeared through the side gate.

Julia looked at Diana worriedly, whose colour seemed to be fluctuating and bosom heaving with rage. "You okay, honey?"

Diana sank down to the ground and hid her face in her hands and bit back a sob and Julia took her in her arms. "Hey, there, there...Shhh."

She whispered tremulously after a while, "What good is having the wisdom of Athena if you end up hurting everyone you love?"

Julia patted her hair. "Listen to me. We will get through this. I promise you. You are not infallible. Your heart is just as fragile as anyone else's who has had the fortune to love. Even Gods of Olympus make mistakes in love. I don't think Mr. Wayne will give you away for all his cynicism."

Diana muttered, "No. No, he won't. He is not exactly the most sensitive person in the world but he is fair. ."

Julia asked, "Diana, you can't leave it like this. You must tell Clark..."

"Lois..."

"If he and Lois truly love each other and want what they have together badly enough, this will not break them up. It may be a challenge, yes, but love is understanding. You owe Lara this. One day she will ask about her father and what do you do then? Lie to her too?"

"What you say may be true but my going back now will only worsen things between them...I need to think..." She got up and took to the air. Julia looked after her with sigh.

Diana flew over the ocean and tried to sift through all the conflicting emotions in her. There was a time decisions were so simple. Doing right was so easy. Doing ones duty was not a mystery or caused conflict. She could decide. Now she was torn. She did not need a lasso to tell her that there was nothing more than she wanted for Lara than happiness and a wish for her to know the good man that was her father. But not like this. Julia said love was understanding. Who could see Lara and not love her? She didn't think Clark could feel anything less for his daughter and, Hera, one day he would meet her. Only not just yet. Clark needed to settle things with Lois. Her being there would allow him to decide either way and she would not come between them. That she did swear.

She landed in the valley of Phocis near Delphi. The old ruins were full of tourists so Diana simply landed on the slope of Mount Parnassus and looked down upon the old temple of Apollo. She closed her eyes and whispered, "Gods, why have you abandoned me? Hera, Athena, Aphrodite...please..."

There was a flash of light and Diana gasped. Above her was Hera herself. Diana went down on one knee and bowed respectfully. "Hera..."

Hera looked upon her with a gentle smile. "You are despairing, Champion of the Amazons..."

Diana looked up at her. "Many months have passed and none of my patrons have answered me. I feared I had offended you."

Hera touched her hair. "You have been unhappy, child. I am sorry to see it. But this is one circumstance in which we could not interfere. You made your decision with Gods of another realm. And this child that was born of your body was not foreseen by the Gods. We hold no sway over her. She is a...miracle. Not to mention the power she is capable of inheriting as she grows older. That is slightly concerning."

Diana's looked at her "Are the Gods angry at me?"

"No, Diana. We Gods are not infallible. Even the King of the Gods has erred. Yet you seem very conflicted at what you have done."

Diana swallowed the lump in her throat. "I thought I was doing the right thing."

"And now?"

"I don't know what is right anymore. I tried to spare one person pain by taking the free-will of another. I have deceived many that I love. My own sisters will be angered and disappointed in me because I have broken Amazon laws. I have a beautiful daughter and I am overjoyed with her but I am torn with sorrow too", she sighed.

Hera tilted her chin. "You love this child, but you think you sisters will hate her?"

"I..."

"Are the Amazons of Themyscira so unforgiving? Have they no open hearts? The women I have gifted are not cruel and unjust and they love you. They even forgave Heracles. Do you really believe, child, they will reject the miracle that is your daughter?"

"I don't know..."

"And this child, of all children, is going to need not only protection, Princess, but training to harness her power and learn to do the right thing. I am not sure living isolated will achieve that. Even you had a whole nation of sisters to teach you."

"Are you saying I should return to Themyscira?"

Hera smiled and began to fade. "I am saying search your heart and you will know what is right."

Diana rose and lifted her face to the heavens. "Thank you."