DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. This is a femslash story. If you don't like that sort of thing, you won't like this.

3. Readers of the past few years of the comics might be surprised at whom I have as the Flash. In my fanfiction canon, Barry Allen never came back.

PART 2

"How many fingers am I holding up?" asked the Martian Manhunter.

Zatanna Kyle-Zatara rolled her one working eye. "J'onn, I told you: I'm fine. Would you please... "

"Zatanna," interrupted J'onn J'onzz. "I must make sure you're... "

"I'm fucking coherent, J'onn," the magician snapped. "And you've told me the babies are fine. So would you please leave?" In the back of her mind, Zee knew she would have to apologise to the Martian for her rudeness. But that could wait: there was a more important matter to attend to.

Namely, her jibbering wreck of a wife.

J'onn took a glance at Selina, who was visibily shaking a few feet away. Without saying another word, he gave a slight nod and swiftly left.

Even before the door was shut behind the Martian, Selina was dashing towards her spouse. "OhGodohGodohGodohGodohGodI'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorry!" She hugged Zee tight and wept openly. "I'msosorryI'msosorrypleaseforgivemepleasedon'tLEAVEme!"

Zatanna stroked Selina's face with her one free hand... the other holding the wet flannel to her black eye. "Darling, calm down."

"Don't hate me, please! Please don't leave me! Please DON'T LEAVE ME!" The Catwoman was hysterical.

Zee gripped her wife's face more forcefully. "Selina, STOP! Calm down, please!"

"I... I... " Selina's eyes were darting erratically.

"SELINA!" yelped Zee. "Please, my love - you must calm down!"

At that, Selina stopped jabbering... and burst into even more tears. "I hit you... I hit you! Oh God... what have I done?!"

Zee stared resolutely at her beloved. "Selina, stop. Take a deep breath. I'm alright... I'm OK. It's alright... " Selina cried even more, weeping onto Zee's shoulder. Zatanna decided to let the former thief let it all out: she was clearly not listening to advice. Instead, Zee's mind wandered back to what happened - or at least, what she had been told.

It was her own fault, really. She should have listened to Selina and stayed in her seat. But she could not help it... with Ollie insulting Selina left, right and centre, Zee felt compelled to stop him. And with that final, "stupid pregnant wife" line... the sheer contempt he said it with... Zee could not blame Selina for going for him. But he ducked, and the magician was behind him...

Zatanna was out instantly. Carrying five babies for seven months had left her with no tolerance or resistance. She just thanked all that was holy that Wally had arrived.

Indeed, the Flash just happened to enter the room an instant after Selina's fist made contact, and his hightened awareness allowed him to reach Zee before she hit the ground. Apparently, Selina immediately went into hysterics, holding her wife close and screaming at everyone to leave her alone. It was a wonder they managed to prise the Catwoman away to get Zee to the medibay.

Once the magician had come to, J'onn investigated the childrens' welfare. She had not hit the floor, but one could not be too careful: thankfully, they were unharmed. Which now, just left Zee with a hyperventilating spouse to calm. She made eye contact with Selina, and gasped: Zatanna had never seen her wife so distraught. Selina looked utterly broken. "Listen to me," Zee soothed. "It was an accident. I don't hate you. I could never hate you. And I could never leave you. I love you with all my heart."

Selina's lip was trembling. "I didn't... I didn't mean to... I swear... I'd... I'd never hurt you... please... "

"Selina, sshhh," whispered Zatanna. "I know, love. I know... it was an accident. You were going for Ollie... "

"I'll KILL HIM!" Selina roared. "He... he made me... I just... I just couldn't... take it anymore! I'll kill anyone who insults you! I... "

"Stop," ordered the magician. "Selina, you're hysterical. Just calm down. Please, my love... for me."

Selina began erratically shaking her head. "I'd never hurt you... I'd never hurt... I... please don't leave me... "

"Selina," Zee interrupted. "Stop. Take a deep breath... and listen to my voice." Eventually, the former thief seemed to take the advice. She took an audible gulp and closed her eyes, tears still streaming. "I don't hate you... " Zatanna continued. "I don't blame you... and I'm NOT leaving you. Understand?"

Slowly, infinitesimally, Selina began to nod. "I love you so much... " she breathed. "I'd never hurt you... Please say you still love me... "

Tears began tricking down Zee's own cheek. Seeing her wife in this state was agonising - no one would ever doubt the Catwoman's intentions if they saw her like this. "I do," Zee said sternly. "You must believe that. I still love you. I always will. I swear."

At that, Selina burst into tears again. She hugged Zee tight, who returned the embrace as much as she could. Deep down, she knew it would take a long time to recover from this. For both of them...

TO BE CONTINUED