TRUTH UNRAVELED

CHAPTER SIX

The Senate was in session and Hippolyta was sitting listening to Timandra speak of the new plans she was drawing up for a New Hall of History and Library. With Diana having gone into the man's world some years now and Themyscira more open to the outside, the Amazons now found that they required something larger to house the many new art, craft, literature and technological advances they had seen and wanted to log and display. Timandra wanted an extension to the library and a whole new building for the Hall of History. She was asking the Senate for approval and workers to start building.

Hippolyta did not estimate any problems with her getting their sanction and she was hopeful they would vote and finish the session soon. She was tired. It had been a long day listening to petitions and complaints and having meetings with Atlantean diplomats and the Bana. She took a glance over the agenda for the next day when she noted Timandra's voice had died down and there was a sudden silence.

Hippolyta looked up to see all the women stare at the entrance to the chamber. Some smiled, others exclaimed.

"Princess!"

"Welcome back."

Standing there, with a small child in her arms, was none other than the Princess Diana herself. Hippolyta felt the color drain from her cheeks and the pen fell from her nerveless fingers. Diana walked past her sisters, who were looking at her and the adorable infant she bore now in some curiosity. When she came to stand before them, many were expecting her to explain who the sleeping child was, perhaps it was an orphan or foundling she had rescued who required sanctuary.

They did not expect her to look at them and her mother, whose face seemed to have gone white and was rising as if to plead with her not to speak, and announce, "My Queen and Sisters, I come to you seeking your forgiveness, and understanding."

Phillipus spoke up, seeing Hippolyta seemed to have lost her voice, and that the Senate were looking sober now and confused. "Go on, Princess."

Diana took in a deep breath and said, "I have been dishonest with you for the past fifteen months. The reason I resigned my post as Ambassador was not because I was traveling incognito but because I had chosen to go into seclusion. To preserve this child's identity and her safety."

Timandra frowned. "Who is this child, Your Highness?"

"This is Lara. She is my…daughter."

Diana sat with Lara on her lap and waited in the ante-chamber of the Senate. She could hear the sounds of the voices raised as they seemed to debate, and speculate over this sudden turn of events. To say they had been surprised to see her was an understatement. To hear that she had a child was astonishing. You could have heard a pin drop until Pallas tuned to Hippolyta and demanded, "Your Majesty! Did you know this?"

Diana swallowed. She hoped they would not blame Hippolyta. The deception was on her part. Hippolyta had done what any mother would do. Support her child. They had stared at her in shock and the buzzing around the room had awoken Lara. It was the child's crying that seemed to startle the women and the sight of her looking at them from her mother's shoulder had brought back memories of Diana as a baby. Of Hippolyta walking in with a child and claiming she had been a gift of the gods. History had a strange sense of irony. Now Diana was doing the same, but she had compounded it by hitting them with the other shock: the father.

Diana had told them. She told them of Asgard. Without betraying Clark, she told them of the choice she had to make and then her astonishment in finding out she was pregnant. The entire chamber had been silent as she spoke. Hippolyta had looked at her with a combination of pain and pride.

Diana had finished off, looking at them earnestly. "I don't beg for my own indulgence. I ask on behalf of Lara. She is flesh of my flesh. To me she is a gift and a miracle and I love her and will do anything to protect her. If I erred, it was because I was torn and doing what I felt at the time was in her interest and hoping to spare others pain. She is innocent in all of this and she is half Amazon and it is my dream for her to know her heritage and all the women I know and love and whom I call sister. Please, consider this before you condemn her due to my naivety and a misplaced sense of duty."

Diana stroked Lara's soft back curls. It was odd but for some reason her heart felt lighter. It would pain her immensely if they did banish her and Lara but at least they knew the truth.

Diana kissed her daughter's brow. "It's a start." Lara gurgled and chewed on her little fist and looked at the flames dancing in the brackets on the walls.

The door opened and Phillipus came towards her. "They want to see you."

Diana swallowed and rose. Phillipus touched her shoulder. "Courage, Princess."

They went into the chamber. Diana saw everyone looked solemn.

Hippolyta bade her to stand before them. She said gravely, "It is the consensus here that what you did, Diana, was misguided but understandable. Many of us here, although immortal women, know the love a mother feels for her child and there are times that love surpasses duty, oaths, even truth. I do not think anyone here is without flaws and I suppose as creatures of emotion we will continue to make them. We just hope to constantly fight to be the best we can be as people, as women, and as sisters. You are no exception. You fell in love and unfortunately suffered consequences. All of us here remember what it was like to feel pain when we were betrayed by Heracles and his men. And yet, as Penelope reminded us, we forgave him. Diana, this chamber has decided that you have paid enough of a penalty by bearing this burden on your own and it is with open hearts we welcome Lara into the fold."

Diana felt a lump in her throat and she bowed her head. "Thank you."

Hippolyta continued gravely, "However, this raises many issues. Mainly that of security and the other which begs to be asked, what do you intend to do regarding Superman?"

Diana replied, "I dare not tell him yet."

"Why not?

"Superman is bonded to another woman."

Looks of surprise and dawning realization shadowed the members' faces. No one knew the hero Superman was actually married. Diana continued, "He has another life. One where he lives as a normal human...because despite it all, that is how he was reared, as human by humans. He was wedded to this woman when we went to Asgard. He would have never been unfaithful to her had he not truly believed she was dead."

Epione asked with concern, "So you intend on keeping this from him?"

"No. No, I will tell him the truth. But I cannot as yet. I do not want to affect his relationship with Lo...his wife. I don't want a mistaken sense of guilt impede his judgment or decisions."

They all looked grim. It was a tough decision and they understood Diana's dilemma.

Hippolyta said, "This is your decision ultimately, Diana. We cannot tell you what to do there. However, as far as security goes we must come to some consensus. If you are keeping this knowledge from Superman of all people, we cannot let Lara be seen by anyone outside of this island. Especially by none of the Justice League."

Phillipus nodded. "Agreed. I think a doubling of guards around Lara and stricter protocols on who is allowed on Themyscira."

Hippolyta nodded. "We will have Euboea select a special team of guardswomen and no one will be allowed on Themyscira unless it is by my sanction. If we are to have outsiders on the island, those will be the times Lara should be housed on the Isle of Healing and Reformation. Every sister will be sworn to an oath to keep her parentage under the strictest of confidence."

"What of the Bana?" queried Mala.

"I think this is not the Banas' business, with all due respect," said Pallas. "They are an independent nation to us, as we are to them." The rest of the women nodded in agreement.

Hippolyta nodded. "Very well. We will have Euboea sit with Diana and Phillipus and work out the guard detail. We will then choose a time to reveal this to the rest of our sisters. It must be impressed upon them all the necessity to be discreet, especially in dealing with outsiders or the Bana. I want the Sentinels on alert and I want no one using the portals without Phillipus' or Euboea's consent." She stood up and stepped down from her high seat and she came to stand before her Diana. Her voice and eyes had softened, "And now I would like to do what I have not done since I came to Kefalonia for her birth. I would like to hold my granddaughter."

Tears blurred Diana's eyes as she felt her mother's hand caress her cheek and take the child from her. "You are home now. Both of you."

The Last Son of Krypton was in his Fortress of Solitude. Alone. Cut off from all things familiar. From parents, wife, colleagues, job - the world. He wanted, no, he needed this time to search his soul, to try to discover why he was feeling this strange sense of being in a constant state of limbo.

He had gone to his parents before he had come into seclusion. To explain. Both had been dismayed and saddened but not surprised. The signs had been there for months that all was not well between him and Lois. Martha and Jonathan had noticed how tired he looked; how detached he seemed to things that used to give him pleasure. Yet as if a contradiction in terms, they had noticed the heightened sense of awareness surrounding him. It had little to do with the fact he had super senses. He seemed poised, waiting for any signs of danger. On the brink, ready to launch into action.

They had not judged him and for this he had been grateful. He had spent most of his time interfacing with Jor-el, hoping Kryptonian technology might delve into his subconscious mind and find what a telepath could not. But even that did not produce any success. He even tried reliving memories when he first met Lois, on to their courtship and marriage. It was even more bewildering as it felt as if he was watching a movie reel. Remote and disconnected to his present circumstances. Now his time with Lois was more about what he could not give rather than what they used to be happy with. She wanted more. He had always assumed they would be happy living in Metropolis, working at the Planet, being Lois and Clark, star reporters…needing nothing else. But time changed people. Lois wanted more and he could not give her what she needed.

"Could not or would not, Kal-El?"

He sat upright in his chair and looked around. "Who…?"

The room was silent. Not a sound. The tv monitors were all on but muted and he could hear the sounds of the blizzard pounding the door of the Fortress. Clark rose and flicked on the automated surveillance systems and flew towards his own training chamber.

He felt uneasy, restless. He needed to burn off some energy. He needed to feel. He punched the code in and the door slid open. He looked at the computer console. Should he put on a simulation? His eyes fell upon a giant sentinel. Or just spar with the machine?

His eyes fell on the wall that was decorated with weapons he had collected from all over the galaxy. His hand reached for a type of broad sword and his mind instantly thought of Diana. What kind of selfish creature had he become? He refused to accept Bruce could be right and that it had anything to do with Diana. He was not that heartless, was he? Lois had been part of his life for years. He never thought he could survive without her. But the mere fact he wasn't falling apart and was so calm about it all seemed bewildering.

What the hell is wrong with you? Lois had shouted at him two weeks ago.

"I made peace with that many moons ago."

Clark groaned at the pain that seared at his head. "Not again…" he muttered as the sword clattered to his feet. He looked around. Nothing. There was no one.

"This is madness," he gritted. He exhaled and picked up the sword slowly and tore off his cape and flung it to the floor. He went to the controls and deliberately turned the thermostat as low as it could go. The room began to frost and ice formed from the ceiling and ground. He breathed in deep. The tingling on his invulnerable flesh was welcomed. For far too long his body felt numb.

He activated the sentinel and he remained grounded as he faced it. There would be no use of heat vision, or super breath or flight. That would be too easy. He looked at the sword. It felt strangely natural in his hand. Bruce and Diana had always tried to get him to train with weapons and he had stubbornly refused. His powers were deadly enough as they were. He remembered thinking he did not need to use weapons forged for war. He used to think it indecent seeing Diana, of all people, dressing for war. It was a side of her he was never comfortable with. It would often fascinate and baffle him. That genteel, compassionate, wise woman, his best friend, could be so pure and tender and her company so cleansing to him. And yet there was such a hardened, steely pragmatism beneath all that beauty and softness. It disturbed him that she could be cool and actually kill if the need arose.

She was a warrior and she used to tell him warriors never let friends go into battle alone and there was no point in her lifting a sword or even training with it if she did not know that one day she may be called upon to use it to vanquish an enemy.

She had smiled at his wry expression one day and said quizzically, "I may as well have just remained on Themyscira and trained to pot plants or catalogue the library if you think I shouldn't play with swords, Kal."

He had to grin and concede she had a point.

God, he missed her! He missed hearing her slightly accented, melodic voice and she was the only being who affectionately called him by his Kryptonian name.

" Kal…."

He had no chance to even think another thought when he felt the rumble on the floor of the sentinel approaching him. He spun around, sword in hand, and faced down an arm pointing a laser at him.

Half and hour later he was still fighting with the sentinel. He could have dispatched it in minutes but he wanted the workout. The sword was now broken on the icy floor, along with several other weapons and one of the sentinel's robotic arms.

Clark was ducking and rolling out of the way, avoiding the huge fist coming down onto the floor over him. He looked up at the wall. The Thanagarian mace remained. He grasped it and smashed the chest of the sentinel. It flew backwards and smashed into the ground. The wires and circuitry were now exposed in the chest but the robot still had weaponry working from its remaining arm. Tendrils flew at Clark and wrapped around his arms and feet and yanked him forward. He was thrown hard into a wall.

He stood up shakily.

"Taking unnecessary punishment, Kal-el. When will you learn, boy? Cut their heads off, not just their wings or limbs."

Clark winced at the sound of the booming voice and this distracted him enough for the sentinel to send a laser blast that seared his chest. He grunted and turned to grab the mace and lifted high above his head.

"I give you, Mjolnir, Kal-El. Bear her with honor and courage. Win back the kingdom from the horde."

Clark's arms froze mid-air. "Mjolnir…?"

The sentinel was about to attack again and he snapped at once, "Deactivate the sentinel."

The robot became motionless and there was utter silence. The mace clattered to the floor. Clark looked around and saw ice had actually covered much of the simulation area. He looked down at his chest…the shirt was burnt and charred. He closed his eyes and suddenly he was transported.

It had been the harshest winter Asgard had seen. The war never seemed harder. Thor had died, leaving him in charge of the precious Mjolnir and the hopes of a kingdom. They had suffered severe losses. The cold seemed to do nothing to the monsters and demons but had taken its toll on the human soldiers that fought for them. He had made his first mistake as a General by miscalculating the move of the enemy. They had been out numbered and outflanked and had to retreat. It had cost them territory they had retaken only a month ago.

Now he stood alone in barren woods. Covered with snow, under a pale moon, it looked deceptively beautiful. He had left the tents. He needed space. Air. The defeated looks on the faces of the men were too much. They had not even a chance to recover bodies and give their comrades a decent funeral. The bodies would be feasted upon by the hordes.

"Kal…?"

He turned to see her flying overhead in the silver light and landing behind him. She was wrapped in a furred cloak. She looked tired and her face was pale. She had lost much blood from a ghastly wound she had gotten earlier that day on her torso. He himself had to cauterize and dress it.

"Diana…" He frowned. "You should be resting."

"I couldn't sleep…But I can leave if you want to be alone…" She was turning to leave.

He shook his head. "No…no…Stay."

Diana stopped and stood alongside him. Her voice was soft. "We will have to start afresh. Re-strategize once we strengthen our numbers."

He let out a derisive snort. "You say that with so much confidence and conviction. I would be stunned if anyone even trusted me to lead them again."

Diana looked at him in surprise but said gently, "Kal, what happened could have happened to anyone. You know that. When we were in the League, we never always got it right. But we never gave up."

"Did you see those men's faces, Diana?"

She sighed. "Yes. They are grieving and give them time. But they are all willing to follow you still, Kal. I'm willing to follow you. Here and wherever this battle takes us. Even to death."

His eyes softened. "Diana, I'm touched by your confidence in me but surely Baldur, Magni…Either could have been made General…and a more experienced one at that."

She touched his shoulder. "Perhaps, but Thor chose you. Thor knew absolute power corrupts and the best leaders are at times those who do not want crowns. You have always led by example and you would not have anyone do what you would not do yourself. Thor saw that…."Her smile suddenly widened. "It's ironic that the man he yelled at the most and called a wide eyed pup and sanctimonious fool, was the man he chose to lead his army."

Kal laughed reluctantly. "He was quite liberal with the insults back then. But he was fair. I was as stunned as anyone when he gave me Mjolnir."

"Honor him then by honoring the faith he placed in you."

Kal's fingers found and covered hers. "Why must you be so wise?"

Diana smiled. "Someone has to keep you on track and stop wallowing."

He gave her a wry look. "Yes, I know. I tend to do that, don't I?"

Diana smiled. "A little. But when you feel you are responsible for everyone's well being that's no surprise. You have gotten a bit better in the last six hundred years…"

"Six hundred years…" he repeated. "So much time has gone…"

She said sadly, "Kal, I do not know if we will ever get to go back…"

He seemed to look beyond her shoulder. "It wouldn't matter now. The people I love are all gone….Diana, I can't remember her face…"

Diana flushed. This was the first time ever he had spoken of Lois for hundreds of years. She tried to draw her hand away. "I …I…maybe I should go…"

He looked at her gravely. There was a kind of pain and guilt in her face and he held her hand tighter. He titled her chin up and mused, "First you come to bear me company and when I talk of Lois you want to run away?"

She gasped, "Kal, I'm not…I…"

He said firmly, "Diana, I don't expect you to make any wise observations or try to make me feel better. I was just stating a fact."

Diana looked up at him. "Oh."

His hand was still retaining hers. His other hand moved a tendril from her brow.

"Can I ask you something?'

"Yes…" Hera, it seemed a squeak.

"I know it's stupid…and we have been out here for months on end and you have no access to oils and sweet smelling lotions, but I swear…are you wearing perfume?"

Diana blinked. "What?"

He said softly, "It reminds me of this smell I used to get when I used to go flying above the forested canopies on earth…Like orchids…It's one of the few things I can remember that I use to love doing back then…"

Diana swallowed and tried to jest. "Kal, you know the only thing I have access to out here is what we all use…vegetable soap…I…." Her voice died in her throat.

They were staring at each other silently, aware that only inches of space separated them. He did not know what may have happened then but the sound of twigs crackling behind them made them jerk out of their trance.

"Princess…General Kal-El, a scout has returned with news…The enemy is on the move…!"

Clark put his hands to his eyes and doubled over in pain. The memories were coming back now. He was being assaulted and bombarded by them. He stumbled out of the freezing room and flew towards the main control room.

He pressed the emergency line to the JLA satellite. The face of the Flash appeared on the monitor.

"Blue? What's up, buddy?"

"Where is J'onn, Flash?"

"He's here. In the commissary, I think…"

"I need him to get to the Fortress …Now."

"Hey, you look and sound awful. Did something happen? Can I help?"

"Wally, just tell J'onn to get here as soon as he can. That's all the help I need…"

The Martian Manhunter removed his hands from the head of the Man of Steel and stepped back from the examination table. He said gravely, "That is it."

Clark looked up at him from where he laid. "You are certain?"

"Yes."

Clark sat up. He tore the leads from his body that was monitoring his heart, brainwaves, and respiration. He looked at the time on the digital clock.

"Two hours. Two hours to get back one thousand years of my life. Not a bad trade-off, right?" His tone was coiled, like a trap, ready to spring. The anger was just seething beneath the surface.

"Clark, I am sorry. But it was not my place to say anything. She begged me not to."

He stood up and reached for a new shirt. "I see. I suppose what I may have wished for did not matter…to either of you?"

"Clark, Diana only thought of you and Lois."

Clark adjusted his cape. "Well, all that consideration still could not save my marriage from deteriorating. It also had me doubting my sanity for the last year and a half…"

The telepath sighed. "You are furious. I do not blame you. I accept my part in this deception. But I made a vow to Diana and as much as it pains me to take sides, I cannot break her confidence."

He looked at him. "So I expect it's pointless asking you if you know where she is."

The Manhunter said, "Clark, considering you are very angry, perhaps you should calm down before you go seek her out. You may say things you regret…you…the situation is very complex…"

"J'onn," he said dangerously calm. "You don't get the right to give me advice. Not today. Besides I have had one thousand years of learning, under the most trying of circumstances, to control a temper that was never much of a problem in the first place."

J'onn said nothing.

Clark asked abruptly, "Does anyone else know about this?"

"I believe I am the only one on the League that she told."

Clark touched his JLA communicator and said, "This is Superman. Flash, is Donna Troy on earth, off-world or on Themyscira?"

Wally's voice replied, "I think she said she was going home for a spell. You want me to patch you through?"

"I see. No. Superman out." He and looked at J'onn. "I'm going to Themyscira."

He headed for the door.

J'onn called, "They have new protocols and you must request formal permission from the Queen…"

"Figures…" Clark replied, "but I won't be using a portal."

The Sentinels saw the blur of motion approach. It was scorching the sky. They were trained to attack any intruder and they screeched and got into formation to meet it head on.

He stopped abruptly for them to see him and they hovered and suddenly circled him. It was a greeting. They remembered him. They had not forgotten the day he first came to the island and that he was a friend of the Princess. He watched them part and allowed him to pass.

He began his descent. Breaking the clouds and mists around the high peaks. He could sense the magic binding the islands and feel it already compromising some of his sight and hearing. What he was doing here was the height of disrespect to the Amazons. Coming in without their sanction was something he would never do in his life, unless it was a matter of life or death. If ever he came, be it via flight or portal, he always tried to get Diana's or her mother's permission. Now he was at a point where he could not care about protocols or diplomacy. He had his memory wiped by his best friend…not an hour, not a day, not a month, not a year, but a lifetime.

As he floated down he tried to block out the memories of them in Asgard. Especially those two nights. Of her skin against his own. Her warmth and fragrance. Now he remembered falling asleep in her arms and then waking up in bed with Lois.

God, it was a mess! No wonder he felt as if he was going out of his mind and everything was a jigsaw, all the pieces misplaced. He was angry. He was hurt. But what he really wanted to know was why. Why did she take away his free will? Why did she run away? Why was she hiding from the truth? Did she not know him by now? Did she have so little faith and trust in him?

He could see the palace. He could see a heavy presence of guards. They were alerted to him. He could hear voices rise in alarm. He landed on the concourse to find a whole group of twenty women waiting, armed to the teeth. Led by one he knew as Euboea.

She said grimly, "Superman. Have you permission to be here?"

"Where is Diana?"

"The Queen has strictly forbidden anyone to fly in without her sanction. She has not mentioned allowing you here today. Please leave."

"Where is Diana?" he repeated calmly.

Euboea ignored him and withdrew her sword. "Please, withdraw, Superman, or else we will be forced to attack."

"You are welcomed to try but I'm not leaving here without speaking to your Princess." He began to walk forward.

They came at him at once. Swords broke on his back, chest and arms. But he moved so swiftly, the second circle could not even follow up an attack. He melted their blades and took the lances and bows out of their grasp and snapped them like twigs. He encased limbs in ice and blew the rest over.

Euboea screamed to the other group of guards waiting on the steps of the Palace. "Use your magic tempered weapons!"

Hippolyta heard the commotion. She was with visiting Bana sisters in the audience chamber when Phillipus hurried in. The General rushed to her and whispered in her ear.

The Queen paled and rose. She excused herself. "Please, we seem to have a bit of a situation. Do take the opportunity to have some refreshment. I will be back soon."

She hurried with Phillipus. "How in Gaea's name did he even get this far?"

"The Sentinels allowed him in and he made short work of Euboea's women. He is fighting my own elite guard in the foyer…and things are getting a bit nasty…They are using magical weapons on him and he is not giving up…I think he knows…"

Hippolyta held her head. "Hera, hurry!"

They burst into the large foyer to see Superman bleeding from being stabbed by several magic tempered weapons. But he was not even letting the searing pain stop him. One by one he was disarming the women with a sword he had picked up on the floor and then putting them out of commission by freezing their legs in blocks of ice.

Hippolyta watched him in some bemusement. "He…is…good with that sword."

Phillipus said wryly, "I noticed that too…"

"But someone will get hurt and he's bleeding….We must stop this…"

Hippolyta shouted. "Enough! Down your weapons!"

The women turned and saw their Queen and obeyed at once. Superman turned. He had a slash across his chest, cuts on his arms, and cheek. He let the tip of the sword point to the floor.

Hippolyta sighed. "You too, Superman. I promise no one will attack you."

The Man of Steel said coolly, "I wonder if I should trust what you have to say, Hippolyta?"

She flushed. "Please. We have visitors here and I don't want this escalating further. They were only acting on my orders."

"To do what exactly? Finish me off?"

Phillipus said, "You breached the security protocols, Superman, you know that. What you have done is nothing short of invasion."

"I would apologize but it seems there is no other way. Is Diana here?"

Hippolyta sighed and looked at Phillipus. "See to the women. Superman, step aside with me. Please."

He seemed to watch her for a moment then dropped the sword and followed her through a doorway that led into a terrace. She turned and looked at his face. He was already beginning to heal up.

"You know."

"Yes, and you lied to me."

"Superman, I was only doing this to protect Diana. She did not want you to know."

"Yes, I gather that much. But I'm here to see her and you won't stop me this time, Hippolyta. I will find her. Even if I have to systematically go through this entire island."

Diana and Donna were on the Isle of Healing and Reformation. They were spending time together now that Diana was home. It was like old times with the sisters, walking along the beach, flying together, chatting late at night and sharing their secrets and hopes. Diana having Lara seemed to have brought them closer. It made Donna sad and happy. It brought back memories of her own lost child but at the same time she felt great joy in having a baby in her life. In fact, Lara's presence was like a kind of charm on the island. Everyone seemed buoyant and optimistic. It was like having a little Diana and Donna again.

Donna was lazing on the divan in the large antechamber in Diana's apartments. Diana had gone to put Lara down in her cot in the adjoining bedroom. She had finally fallen asleep after having her midday feed. Donna was flipping through a magazine she had brought back from the outside. She was not the scholar as Diana was and preferred reading Vogue or Cosmopolitan to Socrates or Plato.

"Wow, it seems the trend is all very Grecian and Romanesque…single shoulder, toga style, and chunky jewelry…That's great huh, Diana?" she called.

Diana appeared and closed the door separating the rooms. "Sshh, I just put her down. You know how keen her hearing is, even at seven months."

"Oh, sorry." She lowered her tone. "Killer heels are back in…"

Diana rolled her eyes. "I hate what you call them? Stilettos? Who is Hera's name created that? Not a woman, that's for sure."

"Oh, come on, Diana, they look sexy. "

"Donna, they can break your ankles. They are not functional."

Donna grinned. Her sister was so practical when it came to fashion. She couldn't blame her though. Having been brought up most her life is sandals and bare feet to Diana those dagger-like heels were torture.

"Hmm, monochrome and leggings, Orientals, leather, lots of blue and green…Oh, I love this dress. What do you say, Diana?" She showed her a pretty red gown.

"It's very nice. But right now I'm just happy to be back in tunics and sandals."

Donna grinned. "You'd look great in it. Got the figure and height."

Diana suddenly giggled. "You wouldn't think so eight months ago. Hera, I was like a whale."

Donna laughed. "I know. Poor thing. But look at you now. You would never think you had a baby."

Diana sat down near her feet. "You got any more magazines?"

Donna threw her a Cosmopolitan from her bag. Diana looked at the cover somewhat amused. "Arouse him like crazy. The best sex position. Great butt and thighs. Donna! What in Hera's name are you reading?"

Donna laughed. "Oh it's just good fun. And I get it free. Go on. Have a read."

Diana laughed and opened it up. "It's moments like these I miss TIME and Newsweek."

Donna grinned. "Well, you're not Ambassador today. You are just Diana, my big sister and there are still some things you would find eye popping, that no TIME or Newsweek will tell you."

Diana sighed and flipped through and several minutes later exclaimed, "Goodness, can two people really do that?"

Donna rose to peer over her arm and grinned. "I'm betting super people can…so why don't you tell me."

Diana rolled up the magazine and rapped her on her head and found herself laughing against her will. Donna began, "Hey, but it's true…and you still haven't told me about you and you know…"

"No, I don't know."

There was a knock on the door. Diana got up eagerly to answer it. Donna stuck her tongue at her. "Saved by the bell. But we aren't finished."

Diana laughed, "Yes we are." She opened the door and standing on threshold was Superman himself. The color drained out of her cheeks and the magazine fell to the floor.

Donna sat up. "Who is it, Sis? Oh, crap."