A/N: The rest of the story occurs between 'The Balance' and 'Clash' of JLU season 2. I've had to modify my plan to have this told exclusively from Diana's POV. Hopefully you'll get why.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

EVANESCENCE

"I take this evanescence and lubricity of all objects, which lets them slip through our fingers then when we clutch hardest, to be the most unhandsome part of our condition." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

It was long past when they should have returned to the Watchtower. Shayera hadn't mentioned it though. The Amazon's hospitality had been exceptional and besides, Diana hadn't looked like she was ready to leave yet, so she held off making the suggestion that they return to the Watchtower.

Shayera had also noticed that throughout the evening, Diana had progressively become more quiet and withdrawn. Her exile from Themyscira had just been lifted. The two of them had made amends and completed a successful mission – even though success in this case was restoring the Lord of the Underworld to his throne. Although most of them had already retired for the evening, the Amazons had just held a banquet in their honor. She would have expected Wonder Woman to be in better spirits.

She definitely didn't consider herself the 'emotional' type and even if she did, Shayera didn't think that pushing a clearly troubled Amazon to confess her feelings would be an appropriate move. Besides, they had just mended fences and she didn't want to push things with Diana. She figured that if Diana wanted to talk about what was bothering her, she would.

Shayera didn't have long to wait for an explanation. Sort of an explanation, at least.

Diana had been gazing out across the ocean, which was clearly visible from the veranda of the Queen's palace. Suddenly she turned toward her companion. "Shayera? I need to apologize to you." Blue eyes met green ones. She hadn't noticed before how sad Diana's eyes had looked.

Shayera shot her a surprised expression. "You need to apologize to me?"

"Yes. I was far too hard on you after the invasion. You had been duty-bound to hide your true purpose on Earth. You didn't know what your compatriots had planned and when you did find out you risked everything to help us."

Shayera's puzzled expression only intensified as Diana explained.

Diana continued, "I think I was so hard on you because I have also been duty bound to keep something from the others."

Shayera's confused expression changed to one of skepticism as one eyebrow arched. "Really, Diana? Has performing this duty nearly resulted in world-wide destruction?"

A faint smile crossed Diana's lips. "No, my secret was kept to protect the planet."

"So, then, no apologies. Diana, we really should have checked back in at the Watchtower by now."

Diana turned back toward the ocean. She slowly inhaled, then exhaled softly before she responded. "Shayera, I'm not going back."

"Excuse me?"

Diana looked back at her with a determined look in her eyes. "I'm not going back."

Shayera frowned. "What did he do and what can I do to him that will make you change your mind?"

Diana chuckled softly, but there was no mirth in it. "He did nothing."

"Don't give me that, Diana. On Thanagar, I was the equivalent of a detective on this planet. A good one. As good as he is – or at least almost. When I came back, I noticed that something had changed. You both have been putting on an act for the rest of us, but you aren't as good at it as he is. Supes, Wally, and John may have bought it. J'onn and I did not. Spill it."

She shook her head. "I really can't. But don't blame him. None of it was his fault."

Shayera clearly didn't believe it, but didn't argue the point. "I'm going to guess it wasn't yours either though, was it?"

"No, it wasn't. But the circumstances are what they are and I have no desire to maintain the charade anymore. This is what is best for the team. Now that my exile has been lifted, perhaps what is best for me is to get reacquainted with my Amazon heritage. My pride has taken a beating lately. I want to feel like myself again."

"Ok. Then when will you be coming back?" Shayera asked.

Diana looked at her apologetically. "I'm sorry Shayera. I've no plans to return. Officially, I will be resigning from the League."

"What!" Shayera yelled angrily. "That can't be the best option. If one of you needs to go, then let it be him!"

Diana sighed. She was through explaining herself. "No Shay," she said firmly. "As I said, this is what is best for the League, but truly, it is also what is best for me right now. My exile being lifted certainly allows me a little more flexibility to return someday, but like I said, I have no plans right now to do so."

"What do you expect me to tell them?"

"Would you come back to my chambers for a few minutes? I want to write two letters to take back with you. They will contain all of the explanation that it necessary."

Shayera paced in the sitting room outside of the Diana's bedchambers, waiting for the letters she was to deliver. After about twenty minutes, Diana emerged, handing her two yellowish envelopes. Only one had a marking on the outside – the letter B.

"The first letter is to provide the League of my resignation and an appropriate explanation for it. The second…give to him after the meeting. Please."

The two stood and regarded each other for a moment.

"Are you sure about this, Diana?"

She nodded. "I've given it much thought. It's not what I want, but right now it is what's best for me under the circumstances. I welcome the opportunity to reconnect with my mother and be surrounded by the comforting presence of my sisters." Diana paused a moment, a look of uncertainly flitting across her face. "Shayera…..I feel the sudden urge to hug you."

Shayera indulged her. "I'm going to miss you too, Princess."

Shayera flew far enough west on her own power to be out of the reach of the mystical cloaking spell that hid Themyscira from the outside world. When she called for transport, the sun was rising over the Atlantic.

Wally had been on duty and answered her call.

"Transport for one to the Watchtower."

"Hi Shay. Transport for one? What about Di?"

"She's not with me. I'll explain at the meeting. Just transport me already. I haven't slept all night and won't even have time for a shower before the Founder's meeting."

"Ok. I'll get you coffee. Transporting in twenty seconds…."

Shayera stepped off the transporter pad and Flash handed her a cup of coffee. She smiled gratefully as she took several big swallows.

They walked together to the conference room dedicated exclusively for Founder's meetings.

"So Shay…really, where is she?"

Shayera's weary expression clouded over. "At the meeting, Wally. I don't want to have to do this more than once."

The two entered the conference room. The four other members were already seated around the table.

Superman spoke first.

"Shayera, have you just returned from Themyscira? We realized that you and Diana must have been successful as the mystical members of our team have fully recovered. We were concerned when we hadn't received word from you. Why isn't Diana with you?"

Shayera responded by sliding the plain envelope across the table. Superman frowned as he opened it. Flash, J'onn, and Green Lantern were focused on Superman as he prepared to read Diana's letter. She assumed Batman was focused on Superman as well, but it was impossible to tell. Shayera herself, sat turned towards Batman, her expression fixed with a cold stare. Her gaze remained directed at him while Superman read the letter.

Friends,

I regret to inform you that I am resigning from the Justice League effective immediately. Thank you for the opportunities for professional and personal growth you have given me over the last three years. As I hope you know, I consider you dear friends and will miss you all very much. However, the time has come for me to return to my home.

With warmest regards,

Diana

The group sat in shocked silence for several moments. Shayera noted how Batman's jaw clenched; she could see the muscles visibly tense. All five men turned toward Shayera. J'onn spoke first.

"Shayera, did Diana provide you with any additional explanation?"

She continued to stare down Batman as she answered. He appeared to be staring right back at her. "Not much. She said that this is what was best for the team. She did not elaborate." It was abundantly clear to everyone that from the hostile glare currently directed at Batman, that Shayera placed the blame on him.

There were a few more seconds of silence before Superman quietly asked, "Bruce?"

Batman stood up and silently left the room.

Shayera was close on his heels and cut him off before he reached the transporter room.

She held out the envelope with the letter 'B' written on the front. Still openly hostile, she said to him, "I hope it was worth it." He took the envelope and gripped it tightly before he turned, walked to the transporter, and entered a code. Seconds later he was gone.

Bruce,

I wanted you to know that your friendship has been very important to me. You have taught me a great many things, not the least of which is that there are men in this world that are very much deserving of my respect, trust, admiration, and most of all, love.

Please believe that every choice you've made in the past has been yours alone. Even if you don't believe this to be true, believe that you are important to the League and to the safety of the world. Please don't decide to withdraw from both. They need you, and as much as you wish it not to be true, you need them.

Always,

Diana

Usually Batman's 'impulsive' acts of rage are anything but. They are typically well orchestrated to place the maximum possible amount of stress and fear on a particular individual. Not so today.

Having ripped the cowl off as he walked from the transporter pad in the cave to the computer station, he stood calmly reading her letter in the quiet solitude of the cave. When he finished it, he carefully placed the letter on the desk, then picked up the large computer chair and hurled it at the wall. It crashed loudly into the moist stone surface and broke apart into several pieces. A wheel rolled back past his feet.

"So, she's gone then?"

Alfred.

"You knew she was leaving." The statement was accusatory. Bruce's blue eyes burned with a difficult to describe emotion. It was something like a combination of shock, anger, and despair.

"I told you that she came to say goodbye."

Bruce's shoulders slumped as the anger and shock withdrew from his eyes. "I just thought that…."

"You thought what? That she was only saying goodbye to me since she was no longer welcome in your home? I would not possess such poor judgment as to turn down that lovely woman if she desired to see me, regardless of whatever edict you might have handed down. I knew she intended to leave, I did not know when. She did not know when. She wished that I not tell you her intentions."

Bruce turned to the desk and looked down at the letter, placing his hand across it, palm held flat against the surface. "She told you everything?"

"I suspect not. She told me not to blame you - that your reaction was understandable and expected. She told me nothing of when you confronted her. I prefer not to contemplate how you must have treated her. Do you realize that when she… visited…was the only time since that night that you seemed to have found a little peace? It has been a little better the past few years, but I believe that peace has been elusive, so tempered by your efforts to resist your feelings toward her as an adult. Now, the real question is do you intend to do anything to fix this?"

"Excuse me, Alfred. If Bruce Wayne had any appointments today, please cancel them."

Alfred watched Bruce walk towards the back of the cave and enter the training room. The sound of the door shutting was followed by the whirring sound of the security locks engaging.

Knowing that he would be in seclusion for hours, Alfred walked to the desk and picked up the letter. After a moment, he set it back down and sighed. Sadly, he knew the situation hadn't yet reached a point where Bruce would take any action. Even if he were to get past the fact that these events in his youth had be deliberate kept from him, the reality was that Bruce was unlikely to ever believe that he would be good for her or simply good enough for her.

It had been two weeks since she'd left. Things were bad from a morale standpoint. From any standpoint, actually.

Superman wasn't the most even-tempered member of the team. He wasn't as affable as Wally or as stoic as J'onn, but he typically was able to maintain a calm, objective exterior – at least when dealing with the League membership. Right now, he was having a hard time maintaining his even temperament. Everyone was having a hard time.

Shayera was still angry – not a big surprise. John was angry – not more angry than Shayera, but still not such a surprise. Wally was also angry. That was unusual. J'onn was simply depressed. All those emotions were triggered by Diana's departure and all the hostility directed at Bruce. Bruce, ironically, maintained his typically emotionless exterior that was interrupted periodically by angry glares. In other words, he was, outwardly at least, status quo.

Clark was actually surprised that Bruce was still around. Every day he expected Batman's letter of resignation. However, he continued to perform his duties without any apparent reaction to what sometimes bordered on verbal abuse from the remaining founders. What Clark didn't realize, was that Bruce remained for only one reason. It was Diana's last request of him.

The tension, the hostility – needed to be addressed. Things were bad. Superman had had enough. So, right now, that calm exterior was about to crack. He called a meeting.

He was late and his timing had been deliberate - he wanted everyone seated and waiting for him. When he got to the Founder's room, he entered and stood inside the door for a moment to observe the scene before him. Today, instead of arguing, there was complete silence. Complete. The tension that hung in the air was palpable. Their team was falling apart.

Superman did not take a seat at the table. He stood in front of the group, arms folded across his chest.

"This cannot continue. We are very lucky that crises have been low level alerts, because if they were higher, I wouldn't send any of you out. We need to deal with this. Now."

J'onn and Batman sat in stoic silence as Superman spoke. Shayera, Green Lantern, and Flash immediately started to argue.

He shut them down with one glare and one word. "Enough."

"Go get her. Bring her back."

They all turned their heads towards Wally.

"Wally…." Superman sighed.

"Wait. I'm serious. Why not try? Things SUCK with her gone. Maybe if she knows that, she'll come back."

"You want to guilt-trip her into returning?" asked John.

"No, but if it gets her back here, I can live with that. You know she didn't want to leave in the first place."

Four sets of eyes turned towards Batman. Superman closed his and shook his head. After a moment they opened and looked toward Shayera.

"Shay, are you up for a trip back?"

Her eyes didn't leave Batman's face. "She'll want to know if everyone wants her to come back."

"Fine," Superman replied. His head turned, "Bruce?"

He spoke for the first time. "Of course I want her to come back. The League needs Wonder Woman."

"Diana, you've been troubled since your return. When will you share with me what distresses you?"

Diana and her mother had stopped their horses along the sand covered beach. She looked over at her mother, into the blue eyes that were mirror reflections of her own.

She wanted to tell her everything. She hadn't. Being in love with someone who found your presence distasteful was a difficult thing to discuss with the Queen of the Amazons. She looked away from her mother, out toward the ocean.

"Diana, my own … unfortunate experiences with men are widely known and much lamented."

Diana did not respond. She wasn't ready to discuss this with her mother, the Queen. The Queen tried a slightly different tactic.

"Diana, has no one on the island that you've become reacquainted with given you moments of enjoyment?"

Diana smiled. "Of course, but I cannot expect the most tempestuous and jovial of my sisters to spend their time engaged only in my personal entertainment. She has her studies and training too…." Diana's voice trailed off as she heard a sound in the distance. Despite herself, her heartbeat began to speed up a bit. It was the familiar sound of a Javelin. The aircraft quickly came into view and descended to land further inland. She gently urged her horse into a run.

She jumped from her horse beside the landed aircraft. The door opened. Diana's face fell as Shayera walked down the ramp from the plane. It was all too clear to Shayera that Diana had been hoping for someone else.

As soon as the awareness that their visitor was not Bruce had faded, she became concerned and quickly began questioning Shayera.

"Shayera, I'm pleased to see you, but why have you come here? Has something happened? Is everyone okay?

Shayera held up her hand. "Slow down. Nothing serious has happened. Everyone is fine – physically at least. The inner circle is in bad shape – we're falling apart. I was sent to ask you to come back with me. We need you."

Diana looked at Shayera hopefully. "Everyone wishes me to return?"

Shayera nodded, "Yes."

Watching Shayera intently, Diana asked her next question, "Does he?"

Shayera nodded again, "He does."

"What exactly did he say? Don't make me get the lasso, Shay."

Shayera cursed inwardly at Batman.

"He said, the League needs Wonder Woman."

Diana's hopefulness completely dissipated. "If the League needs Wonder Woman, then they'll get Wonder Woman."

E/N: Review please!