Title: Can't We Try

Disclaimer: I do not own DC Comics or any of their characters.

Un-betaed version. If you notice any mistakes, please email or pm me. Thanks.

"Can't we try just a little bit harder, Can't we try just a little bit more, Can't we try to understand that it's love we're fighting for…" – Vonda Sheppard and Dan Hill

She turned away from his slight smile, turning again to gaze out of the window, lost in memories as they whirled through her mind. A hand came to rest on her shoulder and she could feel the warmth seep into her skin, into her heart. It had been that night that had set things into motion once again, Diana thought, reaching up to her shoulder and laying her hand atop the gauntleted fingers of the Dark Knight. That night, there at Donna's memorial, sitting in the moonlight with tears welling and thoughts clear and focused, that night had brought about what she had now, had brought about the romantic entanglement that her life faced, one that she wouldn't give up and was only now truly beginning to appreciate and understand completely.

In many ways, she and Bruce were two of a kind, each bent on a mission, each with flaws and faiths that made them work hard and challenge themselves everyday. While Batman's only faith was in himself, in what he could do and train for, Diana's faith was rooted in her hope and her trust that eventually her dream of peace would come to fruition.

They came at things in different ways, she mused, but each of them only wanted one thing in the end – peace, a world without strife and chaos where people could walk in the darkness and the sunlight in security; no crime, no want, no inequalities – a better world.

She knew that they would never resolve their differences as that would make them different people, that to change Batman would mean that her love too would change, possibly even falter. She loved him because of his strength in the darkness, his never ending quest for retribution and peace, and the way that he puzzled through everything, eventually finding the solution to a problem using his wits instead of his muscle.

He had once tried reasoning through love, tried to escape the ties that now bound them so tightly together. But, she thought to herself, with a little perseverance on her part, she had overcome his fear steadily but surely, showing him what life could entail with her at his side, with her in his heart without trepidation, without fear. And they'd found this.

Flashback

Wiping her cheeks, she stood, placing a hand on the cold cheek of her sister and smiling gently at the cheery statue that was Donna Troy.

"I love you, Donna. And I love him. I just have to convince him of that."

And, her words echoing in her own mind, she decided to do just that. She rose from the grass, brushing dirt from her legs and tears from her eyes, and stood for a moment, letting the moonlight wash over her as she looked back at the visage of her sister. "Come back," she whispered, "I need you."

She trailed a hand over the cold marble and turned away, striding off into the darkness of the night before taking to the air and heading for the city of Gotham.

Once in the air, she looked down at the glistening skyline as she neared Batman's city. He was in for a surprise, she decided, but, knowing him, he wouldn't take too kindly on the fact that she'd dropped in for a visit. It seemed that no matter what the circumstances, Bruce simply didn't appreciate her or most of the others in the League visiting or helping out in his city. He would see it as charity if she stopped to help, and his pride was too built up to allow that. He wanted to be able to show all the criminals of Gotham that he could stop them on his own no matter the circumstances.

Of course, she'd had to step in to help once or two, depending on who had decided to take up residence within the annals of Gotham and he hadn't always resisted her help so profusely. But things had changed between them in the last few months and she knew that setting down in the streets of Gotham and asking Bruce for a date would not be the way to get the stubborn mule of a man to open his heart.

She had another plan entirely.

As she neared Gotham, she veered off towards the oceans, watching the silent, dark rolls of the waves as they lapped the shores and marveled at how, even at night, Wayne Manor was a thing to behold. The architecture dominated the landscape and the grounds were extensive and well-kept. The sight was utterly impressive and she was going to crash it. In a manner of speaking, of course. She came to a stop on the cliffs behind the mansion, staring out at the expanse of the mansion, hearing the waves behind her, knowing that Alfred and whomever else was inside had probably already been alerted to her presence on the grounds.

And so, she boldly strode up to the front door, tapping the front door with her fist and waiting almost impatiently for a result. She was no longer willing to wait for Bruce to come to his senses; she was going to take matters into her own capable hands. She had dealt with stubborn men before and had no illusions about the fact that she would do so again.

It was time for stubborn to meet faithful and persevering in the guise of Wonder Woman.

Gaea help him, she thought to herself as she heard the muted sound of foot falls coming towards her from the other side of the door. As it was opened, she gazed, a hint of a smile on her face, at the elderly and bemused face of Alfred Pennyworth, butler to Bruce Wayne.

"Good evening, Alfred," she stated calmly as if she dropped in on Wayne Manor nightly. "Do you mind if I come in?"

"Of course not, Princess, although I regret to inform you that it may be some time until Master Bruce is…unoccupied," he told her as he opened the door wider and gestured for her to come inside. Stepping inside, she glanced around at the antiques that were casually displayed around the house, the air of elegance filled the house along with the scent of lemon oil.

Noticing that Alfred was obviously not dressed for company in a housecoat, loafers, and striped pajama pants, she wondered if he was used to odd comings and goings from the front door of the mansion rather than just the cave. Feeling slightly guilty for interrupting the household at such a late hour, but still intent on confronting him once he returned from patrol, she smiled softly at Alfred and asked, "Would you mind if I waited for him?"

"Of course not, Princess," he murmured, his accent audible in every word. "Please make yourself at home."

He gestured to one of the side rooms and solicitously took her arm, leading her into the manly decorated area and towards one of the sandy colored leather couches that lined the room. She took a seat, looking around at the book lined shelves and the stone fireplace that dominated one wall. The entire room was utterly inviting and she knew that she'd had no problem finding something to keep her busy until Bruce returned home.

"Would you care for a cup of tea, Princess?" Alfred graciously questioned. "It would be no problem at all."

"No thank you, Alfred," she answered, "I think I'll just make myself comfortable with a book until Bruce returns." As the older man excused himself, she wondered how it was that Bruce had been raised by such a man and yet knew, or at least, exercised so little of his manners. She supposed he reserved that for his public persona, but she was more interested in Bruce himself rather than the playboy or even the caped figure currently striking fear into the heart of the criminals of Gotham.

He was a combination of all of those men, all those things, and while she would freely admit that she had fallen in love first with the cape and cowl, the others had followed swiftly. She loved the public persona for his dedication to public good through charity and his business, loved the caped man for his need to protect his city, and loved Bruce himself because of his heart. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, the man had a pulse and a heart that beat for Gotham and for saving those around him…and possibly even himself in the course of things.

Before stretching out on the couch, she plucked a book from the shelves, one of the leather lined tomes that detailed the history of Gotham, and settled down to while away the hours until Bruce returned.

Diana was surprised when, within the hour, she heard footsteps in the house and recognized the tired figure of Bruce Wayne walking the corridors. Standing in the doorway, she watched him stifle a yawn and wondered how he managed to do this night after night, how he could maintain himself and his high level of performance, wondered what sacrifices he had made to his body. She already knew what sacrifices he had made to his life – he had forsaken love. But she meant to teach him that love came in many forms and that her love would support him and his cause rather than cause him to forsake them.

Taking a step forward, she watched as he turned to face her, almost but not quite covering his surprise at seeing her in his home in the dead of night.

"Diana?" he murmured, rubbing a hand over his eyes in a gesture that bespoke of his tiredness, one that she knew that he would almost never commit in front of anyone other than herself. Bruce had never been one to show weakness, but it touched her that he would show even the tiniest bit of a fault in front of her.

"How was patrol?" she asked quietly, not moving from her perch in the doorway.

"Two robberies, a mugging, but overall, a rather quiet night by Gotham standards," he returned, striding toward her with short steps, the exhaustion still in the lines of his face, but he was obviously still alert enough to wonder what she was doing here in the middle of the night. And she was more than willing to take advantage of his sleepiness, hoping that it would let her take him unawares when she asked him to try, just once, to be with her.

"What are you doing here, Princess?" he asked in that tone that never failed to set her back up. But this time, she refused to let him get away with irritating her.

"I came to ask you a question, Bruce," she stated. "I came to ask you to try."

His eyes narrowed, but he remained silent. She took this as a sign to continue and decided to do so before he awoke fully and kicked her out of his house and out of Gotham.

"I've told you that I love you, Bruce, and I will not recant that statement now." She watched as he flinched at the word love, eyes immediately falling to the floor and hands running in a nervous gesture through his hair. A part of her froze at the sight, but she knew that now was not the time to turn back but proceed forward, to convince Bruce that she, that they, deserved a chance.

"I am not going to back away from you, from what I feel for you, because I believe that it's something worth fighting for." Her words were all the more devastating to his stance against emotional entanglements for their quiet strength. She had prepared while he had been out that night and Diana knew that if she could present Bruce with a rational argument, he would at least listen. That was all she wanted: an opening.

Walking to him, she cupped his face in her palms and murmured, "You're worth fighting for, Bruce." Deciding that a little action wouldn't necessarily hurt her cause, she pressed her lips gently to his, letting them clung for a few seconds before pulling away and staring into his tired eyes, happy to find them filled with a combination of lust and contentment, the latter of which she knew was rare in his life.

"Just try, Bruce. I'm asking for one date, one night where we can be together – no pretenses, no costumes, no fears, just a chance for love."

She saw him close his eyes and wondered if he would reject her words or embrace them. And then he gazed into the oceanic blue of her eyes and whispered, "One, Princess. That's all I can promise."

With a ragged sigh of happiness that echoed the satisfaction racing through her blood, she leaned her forehead against his, and, keeping her eyes on his, murmured, "I don't need promises. I just need a chance."

Next chapter: Take A Chance On Me – A Bats/Wondy date…

So, what do you think so far? What do you think will happen on the date? What will happen after that?

To Reviewer SSJO4 Mewtwo – Don't worry, lately the members haven't been getting alerts either! You're right, if she tied him up and used the lasso, that would definitely make the story M rated and while I may eventually go there, not just yet! I'm not sure what the average age of my readers are…would definitely be interesting to know! But I'm not too worried – those who aren't ready for sexy lasso use will be warned if I ever go there! So, behave yourself! I'm glad that you like this story though!

To Reviewer T – I would imagine that if someone was a part of your soul, there would have to be an amazing bond between the two of you, just like there is between Diana and Donna. And of course there's a connection between Bruce and Diana. I'm writing this, remember? Heh. I just love showcasing that connection and hopefully this chapter did so as well! Thanks!