Title: Walking on Sunshine

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

Thanks to LG for the beta!

"I'm walking on sunshine…" – Katrina & the Waves

Staring at the stars, Diana was reminded of more than just that first botched date between herself and Bruce. Their twinkling reminded her of the moments that had followed, the action-filled days of missions and the lonely night wondering if this was to be her future. Her normally optimistic spirit had been doused, at least somewhat, in the wake of Bruce dismissing her from his life. Her spirit had plunged into a deeper murkiness than it was used to – there was no Donna to fill the days with laughter, no one to stand beside her, cajoling and giggling. Simply, there was no Donna.

She had missed her sister fiercely those first nights after she had left the Manor so abruptly, needing someone to talk to. Reflecting back, she realized that Donna had been a mother to herself as well, a font of unstinting support and stalwart affection that had always been there with laughing eyes and a bright smile.

As the weeks passed and Bruce had yet to change his mind about their relationship, Diana had finally found her soul once again filled with peace, her naturally buoyant spirits raised by doing nothing more than her daily routine. A man wasn't needed to complete the picture; she had simply wanted this particular one, one who would understand her commitment to the causes of peace, hope, and the Amazonian ideals.

But he had told her no.

And it was about time that she accepted that.

Standing on the balcony of the embassy, staring up into the night sky, she realized that she had been putting off acceptance, that she hadn't truly wanted to face the fact that Bruce simply wasn't interested in her. At least, not as interested as he was in his mission.

She understood – it was a necessary part of his life, something that had fed his soul and softened his need for revenge. Donning the cape and cowl was the way that Bruce had chosen to honor his parents and to protect his city and its people. She respected his choice and knew that he had pushed himself to the limits of his strength and mental capacity, all in the name of love.

Some people wouldn't understand that, wouldn't understand that Bruce was a man of love first and foremost. He simply chose to express it in a way that most people wouldn't understand or appreciate fully, if at all. He had loved once in the traditional fashion, as a child loves his parent, and he had paid a price for that love, a price that allowed him to be the man that he was now, a man who stood for justice and as a symbol of hope in his city.

Who wouldn't love that kind of man? A man who risked himself day in and day out to do something with his life, to be a hero, to prevent the tragedy that had shaped his life from happening to others. Batman had been forged in the darkness, made alive in the shadows, and had taken one night of misfortune and heartbreak in his life and made himself rise out of it. Batman she understood; it was he who was worried about her place in his life and how their growing together would affect his life, his mission.

Bruce she wondered about. Where did she fit in the life of Bruce Wayne?

Out of the shadows, she saw a figure emerge, his flight path bringing him closer and closer to where she stood, in the moon and the star light, her heart in her throat, that same fluttering sensation she had of late experienced around him pervading her once again. She composed herself, pulling her back straight and tucking her hair behind her ears, watching silently as he progressed in the shadows towards where she stood, his path effortless and a thing of beauty and faith to watch. He put his entire life in the hands of what was little more than rope and metal as he flew in the way that she could only admire.

He landed on the balcony beside her in a smooth movement, easily transitioning between the sky and the wrought metal of the balcony. He slowly drew himself up, surprising her when he left his cape unfettered at his sides rather than pulling it around himself, that typical arrogant gesture of self-protection and domination.

"Good evening, Bruce," she said calmly, her face breaking out in a hesitant smile, a gesture of friendship and welcome that he honestly wasn't sure he expected.

He inclined his head, still unsure of why he had come, of what he wanted to say, of how to even begin to tell her of all the thoughts flooding his brain, the regrets and recriminations for what he had done to her on that date, how he had treated her. He took a slow step forward and then halted, his mouth dry and his tongue positively limp. There was no quick words, no easy words, nothing that could fill the silence and adequately express his idiocy and his wish that he handled things differently that night.

Nothing except –

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what, Bruce?" Diana said, her gaze resting on his and her lips quirking in the beginnings of a true smile of affection. Something told her that this was it, that this was the apology that she had somehow been expecting, that this was the affirmation of his feelings, the fact that he had actually taken the step to come here tonight, to apologize. His voice had been rough and it had sounded to her like the words had scraped out of his throat, ill-used, and she assumed that it wasn't often that someone managed to get Bruce to utter those words, words that had pierced her heart and given her a small piece of happiness.

Even if he wanted nothing more than to be friends with her once again, he was, presumably, apologizing for the rough and callous way that he had treated her on the infamous date.

"For a lot of things," he answered softly, his voice gravelly and quiet, the voice of Bruce Wayne rather than Batman. Noticing the pallor of his skin, it occurred to Diana that he appeared to be nervous and she rejoiced in the fact that something about her had made the Dark Knight nervous. Reaching up, she placed a hand on his cheek, feeling the stubble and the roughness of the skin beneath her fingers.

"What things, Bruce?"

"I've been an idiot, Diana," he murmured, leaning his face into her hand, grateful for nothing more than the fact that she hadn't kicked him out yet. She didn't appear to be angry. In fact, she was touching him, an affectionate gesture that he couldn't help but revel in, that told him that he still stood a chance, that he could repent and earn her love.

"Dick brought a few truths home to me," he began, taking a step closer until they were but inches from one another. "He told me that I need someone like you in my life, someone who brings light and hope without even trying. He told me that I need someone like you to fight beside me, to understand who I am and what I do with my live, to understand the sacrifices that I have to make because of what I have chosen to become.

"I told you once that I have faith in you, in your mission, and I need that faith, Diana." He took a step closer until their bodies were brushing. She hadn't said a word, but he could see a light beginning to glow in her eyes, a smile rising to her quivering lips, and a part of him wanted to shout out to the world that he'd finally found her, a woman to stand by both Batman and Bruce Wayne.

"He told me not to toss you aside, not to wake up one morning and regret what I'd done and the choices I'd made with you."

Closing his eyes for a moment's courage, he continued, "I woke up this morning, Diana, and I realized that I was alone, that I didn't have to be, that I could have reached for you and bring that hope and faith closer to a man who spends so much of his life shrouded in the darkness."

"You're not alone, Bruce, you've never been alone." She moved until their bodies were together, sliding her arms around his neck and resting her head against his shoulder. "You've always had people around you in the darkness. You've just chosen not to acknowledge that fact."

Brushing her lips over the small patch of skin that was revealed by his cowl, she said, "Let me in, let us in, Bruce, and I think that you'll find that you've had hope and faith all along."

He basked in her warmth for a minute, then opened the doors to the bedroom beyond the balcony and pulled her inside. He flipped off his cowl, tossing it back behind his head and asking, "And love?"

"And love," she agreed, drawing his head down to meet hers in a kiss.

Next chapter: Day After Day – the return of Donna Troy…(And I promise, this one will be up on or by Wednesday)

To Reviewer SSJO4 Mewtwo – Bruce always reacts in the same manner. At least, he does when I write him. I'd be more surprised if he didn't. But then, sometimes I just enjoy predictability and Bruce is one of those times…Thanks for the review!

To Reviewer T - Thanks! I'm glad that you enjoyed the last chapter. I enjoy writing the connection between Bruce and Dick, but unfortunately, I don't feel that I'm very good at writing Dick. But I'm trying my best, mostly thanks to a lot of help and my driving me crazy asking them if I did a good job and making sure it was okay. I prefer the dark and brooding types. And I love Alfred too - so he has to get in there all the time!

I enjoy writing interrupted dates, usually where Bruce turns out to be an idiot. But I like to make him turn out sweet in the end too, like with this chapter. Keeping characters in character is often so difficult, especially when you put them in situations where you're not sure how they will react - like a date. I think that it's difficult to write characters no matter if they're yours or someone else's.

I can't believe that you're still on holiday! I need another holiday once again. I love me some holiday. You're basically back in school, but there's still a few days left to enjoy my stories! hehe. And perhaps enjoy your family and some well-deserved sleep as well. I can't imagine being cranky becuz you're sleeping later than 8! Crazy!