Chapter 3

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

"Positive. Besides, Shayera's agreed to come with me."

"That doesn't mean I'm not worried." Bruce grumbled as Diana finished pulling her bracelets on, completing her usual red and blue Wonder Woman regalia. "Your mother isn't exactly the most understanding person in the world."

She laughed in response. "Maybe so, but she's had her moments."

"You know you aren't going to be able to wear that for much longer." A voice suddenly said from the doorway. The couple turned to find Shayera leaning against the doorframe, am amused look on her face. Diana just shrugged as she approached her friend, with Bruce not far behind.

"I might as well wear it while I can." She pointed out as they headed towards the foyer.

"Fair enough." Shayera relented.

"Are you-" Bruce started as they stepped out of the manor's front doors, but was silenced by one of Diana's fingers on his lips.

"It'll be okay, Bruce." She reassured him, giving him a quick kiss, which he returned. "I love you."

"I love you too, Princess." He said, reluctantly releasing his hold on her and watching as she floated up and over to join Shayera next to the Javelin. She waved a quick goodbye before boarding with the Thangarian.

XXX

Diana stretched as she got up from the Javelin seat she'd been sitting in for the entirety of the flight to Themyscria, and waited as Shayera did the same before opening the hatch and jumping out. She followed, and landed softly on the sands of her past home.

"I'm surprised none of your sisters are here yet." Shayera commented, stretching her wings again.

"They'll be here soon enough." Diana replied, already heading inland. "Come on, let's meet them."

"How do you know which way their coming from?" Shayera asked as she followed her friend. Diana just turned and gave Shayera a look that clearly said, 'Seriously?'

"Oh, right. Sorry."

Diana shrugged. "It's alright. I'm not exactly positive, but Phillipus and a few others should be coming down this path."

"The general?"

Diana just nodded in response as she stopped upon hearing hoof beats, motioning for Shayera to do the same. Sure enough, General Phillipus and four other armed guards came down the trail on horseback. They stopped when they saw the princess and the Thangarian, and Phillipus dismounted to address Diana.

"Princess Diana, it's a pleasure seeing you again. I assume you're here to speak with the Queen?" She said, giving a small bow.

"Yes, that's correct. Lead the way, sister."

The general silently remounted her horse and turned around, heading back towards the center of the island. The group dispersed as they approached the palace, and someone took Phillipus' horse as they went inside on foot. Upon reaching the doors to the throne room, the general paused and turned to face Diana and Shayera.

"I take it you'd like to speak in private." She said. It was more a statement than a question, and she was correct. Diana nodded in response, and she stepped aside to let the two girls in.

"Thank you, sister." Diana said as she and Shayera passed by her, and the doors were shut behind them.

"My Little Sun and Stars!" Hippolyta said, immediately pulling her daughter into an embrace.

"Mother." Diana said, returning her mother's hug.

"So, what news do you bring me this time?"

"How can you tell?" Diana said, somewhat avoiding answering her mother's question.

"It's the only time you ever return here." The queen pointed out.

Diana didn't respond, but shifted nervously from one foot to the other next to Shayera.

"If it's so important, just tell me."

"I – ah, you remember Bruce, right mother?"

"Yes, the mortal." She said curtly.

Diana struggled to continue, her face taking on a slightly rosy hue.

"Oh for the sake of-" Shayera suddenly huffed, her impatience winning out as she grabbed Diana by the wrist and pulled her forward. "Queen Hippolyta, forgive me for butting in like this, but what Diana's trying to say is… she's is pregnant."

The queen's stunned gaze slowly shifted from Shayera's relaxed face to Diana's still nervous one.

"Well, you see, mother, it's not like… We didn't mean…" Diana stuttered again, but was stopped by her mother holding up a hand.

"I understand, daughter."

"You do?"

"To whatever extent that I can, yes." Hippolyta smiled at her daughter. "Congratulations."

Diana stood there for a moment, somewhat shocked by her mother's easy acceptance of the news. She'd almost expected Hippolyta to send the Amazons after Bruce, possibly even with permission to kill. Then she realized Hippolyta was a mother too. Though Diana had been made from clay and not naturally born, her mother still knew what it was like to have a child.

"Don't look so shocked, daughter." Hippolyta said.

"Thank you." Diana said, reaching forward and hugging her mother again. She meant for her approval, of course, but also for training and raising her as she had, and Hippolyta understood that.

"You're welcome." Hippolyta replied, drawing away and holding Diana by her shoulders. "Besides, I don't think you would've taken no for an answer."

"No, you're right, I wouldn't have." Diana smiled.

"I know you probably want to get back as soon as you can," Hippolyta said, releasing her grip on her daughter. "And I understand that too, but first, would you do me a favor?"

XXX

She's been gone for too long. I shouldn't have let her go without me. I'm already being a horrible father. What if she's hurt? What if her mother bans her from ever leaving Themyscria again?

Bruce looked up from his pacing to find Alfred standing at the door.

"Yes?"

"Master Bruce, may I suggest you sit down and rest?"

"Not now, Alfred." He said, resuming his pacing.

"I dare say you're overreacting. Miss Diana will be back shortly, I'm sure."

"And what if she isn't?"

"This is the strongest woman on the planet we're talking about." Alfred pointed out. "I do believe you're simply being your overly paranoid self."

"Maybe so, Alfred." Bruce said quietly, stopping in front of one of the windows in the room and looking out at the grounds of the grand estate.

He knew that, even with all the riches he had, his life would be nothing if he ever lost Diana. Before her, he had just been surviving, never living. From the moment he'd first laid eyes on her, his life had been that much brighter, and even the darkest alleyways didn't seem so threatening anymore.

"What are you brooding about?"

Bruce turned around to face Diana, who had appeared in Alfred's place.

"What I would do if I ever lost you." He said honestly.

"Good thing you'll never have to find out." She smiled at him, but her eyes portrayed her sadness.

"But you will." He said. It was inevitable that she would live on long after he was gone, blessed with immortality by her gods.

She shrugged. "Not for a long time, I hope."

"I do too." He said, his gaze drifting from her beautiful face to the covered woven basket she had securely in her grip. "What's in there?"

"Some of my old toys. Gifts from my mother, really."

"I take it she took it well then?" He asked, sitting down beside her on the sofa. She set the basket between then and pulled the fabric off to reveal it's contents.

"Quite well, actually. Shayera pretty much had to tell her for me, though."

"Why am I not surprised?" He said, joining her in sorting through the things in the basket. "Are all of these really suitable for a normal child?" He asked, pulling out a small wooden dagger.

"Who said our child was going to be normal, Mister Wayne? And some of these she probably won't be able to play with until she's older."

"She?"

"Well, he or she." she said. "Do you want a boy or a girl?"

He shrugged. "Whichever it is, he or she is perfect."

She nodded. "I agree."

"Do you want to find out the gender during the ultrasound?" He asked.

"No, let's keep it a surprise."

"You know I don't like surprises." He joked.

"You liked this surprise perfectly well." She said, one hand coming to rest on her abdomen.

"Well, certain surprises are alright, I suppose." He said, smirking at her amused expression. "And some are simply amazing."

A/N: Well, this is five days late... whoops, sorry guys. I have been working on the next addition to WonderBat: The Musical, and I hope to be posting that soon, but it's still rather sad... I don't know what's wrong with me. The next few chapters in this, leading up to the birth obviously, are pretty much just fluff though, so I guess that makes up for it.

~Uni