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. As always, I'll point out this was written over a decade ago. Here in the UK, Season 2 of the JL cartoon had yet to air, so Hawkgirl had not been revealed as a spy. And the massive, every-hero-in-the-DCU roster of Unlimited wasn't a factor. My timeline picks up after the Season 1 finale, The Savage Time. All my Wayback Wednesday stories are numbered chronologically, if you get stuck.

3. There are aspects of these stories that, in hindsight, I would change. However, I have kept them as I originally wrote them for history's sake. Not laziness.

PART 4

07:01.

"Wakey-wakey, rise and shine! It's a big day today!"

Lois Lane opened her eyes, and she saw a blurry figure walk upto the other side of the room. It then flew its arms to the side, and the room was filled with light. Lois squinted as the morning sun shone through the window. She threw her duvet over her head.

The figure went upto the side of the bed and knelt down. "Come on, birthday girl," it said. "I've got breakfast in bed, and lots of presents for you to open."

Lois grumbled from under her duvet. "Clark… what did I tell you?"

Clark rocked her body slightly. "I don't recall. Come on, special lady. I made you eggs…"

Lois slowly lowered the duvet, and blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light. "I told you…" she said slowly, "not to mention this day to me."

"Don't be silly," Clark said. "It's not every day you turn…"

"DON'T!" Lois interrupted. "This is no different from any other day. It's nothing special. Now stop smiling and get out of my way."

Clark raised himself and sat on the side of the bed. "Come on, honey," he said. "Just have a bite. I spend ages preparing it."

"Yeah, I'm sure," Lois scoffed, sitting up. "Let me guess, thirty seconds?"

"Twenty, actually," Clark replied, grinning. "Now I've spoken with Perry, and you have the day off today. After we have breakfast and you open your presents, we can go over and say hi…"

"YOU WHAT?" Lois yelled. "Clark, I haven't had a day off in over two years! And I'm not going to start now just because I'm…. just because it's my birthday."

Clark reached from behind him. "Oh yeah… thanks for reminding me." Suddenly, he whipped a wrapped box from the foot of the bed. "Happy birthday."

Lois sat there, her arms folded. She tried to remain angry, but looking at Clark's expectant face… she felt her resolve slipping. "Well…" she said, "since it's a present…" She took the box, and slowly ripped the paper. She then looked at the object in a gold box. "What is this?"

"It's a flower from Spain," Clark said. "It only grows on one small island. It's supposed to symbolise eternal love."

Lois took the flower out of the box. "Oh Clark… it's beautiful…"

"Well, it takes beauty to see beauty…" Clark said quietly.

Lois smiled. "Come here…"

They leaned close, and kissed deeply. She caressed his cheek, and he ran his hand through her hair. The kiss deepened, and she wrapped her arm around the back of his neck.

He broke the kiss, and looked at her. "So… am I forgiven?"

Lois sighed. "Clark?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

They kissed again, and lowered themselves slowly down to the mattress…

/

08:38.

Diana sat on the coach, watching the TV, with Faith and Thomas sitting on the floor, on their little mat. There was a preschool kid's show on, with men in fat colourful outfits jumping up and down. Diana smiled at the idea. Man's World was so odd sometimes.

She heard footsteps behind her, and turned around to see Bruce walk into the lounge. Her smile widened. "Hello, darling."

Bruce returned the smile. "Hi." When he reached the coach, he leaned down. Diana raised her head slightly, and they kissed lovingly. Diana raised her arm and stroked his cheek slowly, and he ran his hand through her hair.

The kiss lasted ten seconds, which was short for them. They separated their lips, and Diana sighed. "I missed you last night."

"I know," Bruce said, moving round the coach. "I saw the lock."

Diana giggled. "Alfred's been hiding from me all morning. Once I see him, I'm going to have to tell him some ground rules. I won't be locked in my own bedroom."

Bruce sat next to her on the coach and leaned forward. He watched as his children watched the TV, bobbing up and down with the colourful figures on the show. "I'm sorry I wasn't there when you woke up," he said. "I was updating my files."

She leaned close to him, and slipped her arm through his. "That's another reason I missed you. It was just even longer before I could see you."

"I'm sorry," he said. "But we'll go to the Watchtower later. You can talk with Hawkgirl. I know you want to know how she is."

"I want to spend the day with you," Diana said, leaning closer. "I miss you so much at night…"

"I miss you too," Bruce said, stroking her cheek. "But Dick and Barbara are away. It's up to me to look after Gotham. They can't take over for me at the moment."

Diana sighed. "I take it you're going to the training room now."

"In a minute," he said. "Just my usual workout. I'll be finished by midday."

"Good," Diana said. She rested her head on his shoulder. "Because I'm staying with you all day today."

Bruce looked at her. "You'll only be bored…"

Diana smiled. "I won't be denied…"

They leaned to kiss again, but were interrupted by a loud scream. They both looked at the floor, and saw Thomas had fallen onto his side.

"Oopsy-daisy," Diana said, unhooking herself from Bruce and getting on her knees on the floor. "Bash bash."

Bruce stood up and smiled. "If you have any problems, go to Alfred. I'm sure he'll do anything you say." He turned and went to the door.

"Bruce?"

Bruce looked back at his family.

Diana blew him a kiss. "You were late last night. Don't be late this afternoon."

Bruce sighed. "Yes, dear."

/

10:31.

Hawkgirl flew through the morning sky, her wings gliding with the breeze. The sun shone down on her, and the clouds floated above her. But she hardly noticed. She had other things on her mind.

She could not stop thinking about it. Once she had drank her coffee and returned to bed, she had not had a wink of sleep. The thought refused to leave her mind; it kept running through her mind, and the more she thought of it, the more it made sense.

Flash had been in love with her. It did not take a detective to realise he felt that strongly. The whole awkwardness following Christmas… her first night with John… Flash's nervous talks with her… their kiss… the argument on TV… you do not do those kinds of things if you just 'like' someone. She had been flattered, but she just did not feel the same way towards him. She loved him like a friend, and despite their banter, she felt closer to him than any other Leaguer… with the exception of John and Diana, of course.

But… so much had happened since then. She and John had become a couple… Flash had moved on – or at least, apparently moved on – and had met Linda. He always talked about her, and it looked like he had finally found "the one". And of course, she and John had eloped, and now she was pregnant.

Everything was perfect. Everything was set. She and John were together, and about to start a family. Flash was in a real relationship, and it looked like he had let her go.

But… what if he had not…?

It was the previous night that made it click. Hawkgirl had asked about Linda… and Flash's usual-loose mood instantly hardened. And, the way he looked at her… it was almost… resentment.

He had been acting weirdly for a few weeks now. He had been breaking dates with Linda… spending more time at the Watchtower… always changing the subject when conversation turned to her and John's baby… and he was always around her.

Just like he was… when…

Hawkgirl sighed. She felt egotistical, but there was no doubt – Flash still had feelings for her. Enough feelings for him to risk his relationship with Linda.

But… WOULD he risk it? What if he made a move… what if he tried to…?

Flash was, despite his behaviour, a good man. But… love makes people do strange things. Risky things. It had been dangerous enough before… now that she was pregnant…

She held her head. She had to talk to him… but how could she? What would she say? What would HE say? What would he DO?

She had to find out. She could not keep going on like this. She had to know. One way or another… the situation had to be closed.

She turned around in the air, and soured back towards the open country to where she had left the Javelin-7…

/

12:19.

Diana watched the TV, unsure of what to make of what she was watching. It was a movie that Flash referred to as a "chick-flick", and Shayera had recommended it… but she did not understand it. Could this girl not see that her boss was a pig, and that the other man was the nice one? And why did she write in a diary so much?

She heard footsteps behind her, and turned her head. Bruce was at the doorway. She smiled. "What did I say about being late?"

"And what did I say about threatening me?" Bruce said, a smile forming on his own face. He went around the coach and sat down next to her. Diana took a moment to look at him. She loved him with all her heart, and only hoped she made him a millionth as happy as he made her. "Are the kids in bed?" he asked.

"Yes, I took them up earlier," Diana said. She reached for the remote, and turned the TV off. She felt the need to get nearer to him. She moved closer to him, and put her arm on his shoulder. "Bruce…?" she said quietly.

He looked at her. "Yes?"

Diana leaned closer, and kissed him tenderly on the lips. She wanted to stay in the kiss forever, but forced herself to break it. She looked at him lovingly and smiled. "Did you have a nice workout?"

Bruce nodded. "It was good enough. Did a thousand situps, did some acrobatics with the ropes. Lifted some weights. Nothing unusual."

She sighed, then put her hand on his knee. Bruce looked down and blinked. She giggled at his reaction. He was so cute when he was surprised. "What… did you do with the kids?"

"They watched their programme," she said nonchalantly, "then we had a bit of a play, Alfred fed them, then I put them to bed. I told Alfred about the lock… and I said if he ever did that again, I'd lock him in HIS room."

"That's… good…" Bruce stammered. He looked back at Diana's hand. "Are you… feeling OK?"

Diana sighed, and leaned back on the coach. She looked at him seductively. It had been months. She could not wait any longer. "Bruce…" she soothed, "the kids are asleep…"

Bruce looked at her, puzzled. His eyes then widened, as realisation seemed to hit him. "Diana… I don't know…"

She sat up and leaned close to him again. "Darling…" She kissed him again, deeper than before. She stroked his chest, and pressed her lips harder on his. He raised his hand and caressed her cheek, but then gently pushed her away, breaking the kiss.

"Diana… you're still in pain…" he whispered.

"I'm fine," she said. "I'll be fine…" She leaned close again, and they kissed yet again. She put her hand behind his head, and pressed harder on his lips. She had completely lost herself in her desire.

Despite his protests, Bruce responded, returning the kiss and running his hands through her hair. He slowly lowered her down, until they were laying on the coach.

Their kiss deepened, and Bruce lowered his hand down…

Diana moaned with pleasure…

Bruce moved his hand lower…

Suddenly, sharp pain shot through Diana. She tore her lips from his, and winced. "Arrgh!"

Bruce looked at her, worried. "Diana? Are you OK?"

Diana was silent, as the pain faded. Her eyes were closed, and the pain was quickly replaced with annoyance. She looked down, her hands loosening her grip on his head. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she shook her head. The moment was ruined.

"Diana, are you OK?" Bruce repeated.

She looked at him, disappointed in herself. "I'm OK… I just…"

He raised himself, giving her room to breathe. "I'm sorry…" he said. "I shouldn't have…"

"It's OK," Diana said. "I guess… I'm not ready yet."

Bruce sat up, and Diana raised herself and rested on the back of coach. She sighed in frustration. How much longer would it take to recover from her pregnancy?

"I'll… go get the babies' things ready," Bruce said. He stroked her cheek. "Are you sure you're OK?"

Diana nodded. "Yes… don't worry. I'll… be with you in a minute."

Bruce looked at her, and kissed her delicately. He then stood up, and went to the door. He took one last look at her, then left the room.

Diana held her head in her hand. How much longer would she have to wait…?

TO BE CONCLUDED