Sands of Time

Metropolis

No messages again. He wanted to call, but had promised to give her space to decide what she wanted to do. With each passing day he was beginning to think she'd already decided and this was her way of telling him.

He couldn't really blame her.

The huge S on the front tended to make people forget the second part of the name, man. He was just a man when it got right down to it. Out there fighting the good fight he could represent everything heroic and noble. It was here in his little private world that the truth was a little less glamorous. He was a man and like every other one he had his good and his bad. He struggled with the same things that everyone else did. What was the right thing to do? If you cross a line can you ever go back? Can a good man do something that might be perceived as bad, yet still be a good man?

Clark knew he'd crossed one of those lines by sleeping with Hippolyta. Diana was his best friend, yet that hadn't matter in the moment. He'd been struggling with what it meant ever since. It was a betrayal, plain and simple, yet did it make him a bad man? More and more he wasn't sure what the answer was to that question. Dinah just complicated it more. He'd been honest with her when he said it was a one-time thing. He was reaching out to Hippolyta now as a friend, knowing what a burden she was under. He meant that, but with each passing day Dinah's unspoken answer was getting harder and harder to ignore.

Then there was Hippolyta. They'd been spending a lot of time together lately; in fact he was meeting her in about an hour. It was hard not to notice just how lovely she was. As they spent more time together, he couldn't help thinking about it. It would be so easy to rationalize, he knew. Dinah was making it clear things weren't going anywhere between them. Yes, Diana was his friend, but that was all. Hippolyta was a grown, beautiful woman who could make up her own mind. There was nothing really standing between them picking up where they left off.

But there was. He'd crossed that line once and if he did again it would be a double betrayal, not just of Diana but now Dinah too. Sleeping with Hippolyta again would be a conscious act and there was no rationalizing away its meaning. Clark wanted to believe he wasn't that sort of man, but knew he was just a man. He struggled with the same desires every other man did. Most assumed he was above such thoughts, some sort of demi-God or angel living among them, but they were there. He was a man in his twenties struggling with the same emotions everyone else did. In a way, being Superman was the easy part. It was so simple and straightforward, good versus evil and fighting the good fight. The other part of his life wasn't that easy. The shades of gray were multiple and what seemed like an easy answer in the abstract wasn't so easy in reality.

He was left with the same question, can you still be a good man if you do something bad?

He checked the machine one more time, knowing there wasn't any message, but needing to make sure. Nothing. Pulling on his suit jacket, Clark headed towards the door. He was leaving to spend the night with a friend. He just hoped he came back the same way.

Metropolis - Later

The Natural History Museum was both a museum and a teaching facility. They were well known for putting on lectures for schoolchildren from all over the area. Adults could take the same tours in the evening. The current series was on ancient Greek History and Myths. Clark had invited Hippolyta to go with him. It probably wasn't his best idea.

"That looks nothing like Helen of Troy,' she observed. "The one over there, the Anthony Frederick Augustus Sandys- Helen of Troy- is much closer."

"Are you sure?' Clark asked. "I really can't imagine that face launching a thousand ships."

"Please, Clark, it wasn't her 'face' that launched anything,' Hippolyta replied with a chuckle.

"That doesn't sound very Amazonian,' he said.

"What do you mean?' She asked.

"I was always under the impression that the basic Amazon theory was Men Bad, Women Good,' he replied.

"Given our history, yes, we were always suspicious of men, Clark,' Hippolyta offered. "Can you blame us?"

"No, I suppose not,' he admitted.

"Don't feel too bad, it has always been this way,' she continued. "People like simplicity, good bad, black white, etc. They liked to file people in nice, neat little boxes and are frustrated when they can't. We Amazons know the world isn't like that. It was just at the time we left the Man's World most men were. They saw a nation of women, many of them beautiful and decided we were ripe for conquest and worse. We had created a wonderful society, based on equality, compassion and knowledge. We also had considerable wealth. You add those together and we constantly had to fight off attackers wishing to plunder our wealth and make us slaves. When they couldn't defeat us, they spread rumors about us. We were practicing witchcraft, consorting with demons and that there was something 'unnatural' about our ways. We were harlots looking to undermine traditional ways. We just decided to remove ourselves from all of it."

"I'm sure that's all true,' Clark said. "I was just observing that your opinion of Helen of Troy didn't seem the most flattering."

"If you'd met her, you'd think I was being generous,' Hippolyta fired back.

"So she wasn't part of the sisterhood, huh?' Clark teased.

Hippolyta gave him a look. He smiled innocently and she couldn't help but return it.

"Not all women are Saints and all men Sinners, Clark,' she said. "None of us fall into those easy categories. Helen was a vain young woman. Leaving aside her possibly being fathered by Zeus and the meddling of the other Gods, she had many suitors for her hand in marriage. Odysseus and Ajax were among them. Most offered opulent gifts to win her father, Tyndareus' favor. He was rather a weak man and feared what would happen if he chose one over the others. In the end he decreed that straws were to be drawn for Helen's hand, can you imagine? Menelaus, who hadn't even come himself but instead, sent his brother, won. Duty bound, Helen married him, but she was not exactly pleased with the idea."

"It doesn't seem a little cold,' Clark admitted.

"So there she was, married to a man she doesn't know and thinking she deserves better,' Hippolyta continued. "She was young and Queen of Sparta, surrounded by sycophants telling her how beautiful, how wonderful and how special she was. It wasn't long before her eye strayed from her husband, Clark. More than a few of those former suitors enjoyed a ride with Helen, believe me."

"Are you sure you're not telling me the plot of the Gossip Girls?"

"The what?' Hippolyta asked in confusion.

"Never mind. So what about Paris in all this?"

"Ah, yes, Paris,' Hippolyta said with a chuckle. "Handsome, but a little dim if you want to know the truth. If you were looking to find someone who gave the impression of being a dashing warrior Paris was your man. He was actually rather unskilled, stupid and cowardly. He did attack Achilles from behind, after all. He did have the luck of a fool though, I mean what are the chances he would find Achilles one weak spot?"

"So Paris was a loser, huh?' Clark asked.

"Yes, but as I said, he did cut quite the image of a warrior,' Hippolyta replied. "Compared to Helen's husband, Menelaus it wasn't hard to imagine what she saw in him. She, of course, seduced him. He was dim as I said, so he thought it was love. He didn't have much experience of that sort, if you understand my meaning."

"Yeah, I got it,' Clark said.

"So there he is, a little dense but thinking he's in love,' Hippolyta continued. "He came up with that moronic plan of kidnapping and taking Helen back to Troy. She thought it all sound romantic and saw it as an adventure to break up the tedium, so she went along with it. To give you an idea of whom we are dealing with, Paris honestly didn't think there would be repercussions from him taking Helen. Can you believe it?"

Clark just shrugged at this.

"Well, the war came and Troy was destroyed. Paris was killed. It is amazing, there was a prophecy when he was born that he would be responsible for the empire's downfall and it turned out correct. Helen was hardly broken up over it; she married Paris' brother so you see she certainly moved on in quick order. Menelaus killed the poor fellow and brought Helen back to Sparta and that was the end of the whole sad affair. Incidentally, Helen went back to her ways, sleeping with everybody and anybody."

"You really know how to take all the romance out of a story, Hippolyta,' Clark observed. "I'm glad I didn't mention Jason and the Argonauts. I always kind of liked that story."

"Jason? Really?" Hippolyta looked at him. "The only smart thing he ever did was marrying Medea. His fabled 'voyage' was a disaster until she joined it. What does he do to thank her for all her help? He marries the daughter of the King of Corinth; Creusa after it was all said and done. Jason was a coward and an idiot if you want to know the truth, Clark, a real imbecile."

He rolled his eyes and sighed, realizing this wasn't the wisest idea he'd ever had. Visiting a museum with a woman that had met every one of the mythological characters really took some of the charm out of the old stories.

"You know, maybe we should check out the story of flight,' he replied. "The Wright Brothers, you haven't met them, have you?"

"What? Oh, well, no, but if we are talking about flight I did meet Icarus,' Hippolyta explained. "Talk about a pompous showoff."

Clark stopped and sighed.

"You know, maybe we should skip the rest of the museum,' he offered. "How about we grab something to eat, unless you knew the Earl of Sandwich or something?"

"Are you making fun of me, Clark?' Hippolyta asked.

"Me? Haven't you heard, Hippolyta, I'm a boy scout and would never do anything like that,' Clark replied in his most innocent voice.

"I've noticed you use that when it's to your benefit,' she observed. "My guess is the truth isn't quite so cut and dry."

"Well like you said earlier people like things simple,' he countered. "Thousands of years may have passed but that hasn't changed. So dinner?"

She stood looking at him for a moment, before a smile spread across her lips and she nodded.

"You know if I was still Queen, I could have you thrown in prison for making fun of me, don't you?"

"Ah, but you're not Queen anymore, are you, Hippolyta? You're Wonder Woman 2.0 or whatever name the public has given you,' he replied.

"I still have a really sharp magical sword."

"I would have thought your royal skin was a little thicker," he teased.

"It is, but watch it."

"Yes ma'am."

Gotham

Dinah.

She arrived back at her apartment having spent most of the evening with Starling. Ev had a tip about some experimental drugs being shipped through Gotham and they decided to take a look. Dinah was sure the explosion would make the evening news. Job well done, Ev had said, though Dinah wasn't quite sure about that. She'd been resistance, but Ev had talked her into stopping off for a drink. One led to another and another. If she hadn't pulled herself away, Dinah knew it would be an all-nighter with Ev and right now she didn't want that.

Moving into her bedroom, she checked her messages. There was nothing from him, so she guessed he was keeping his word about giving her space. Dinah started to pick up the phone and dial his number, but stopped. She still wasn't sure what she would say. She'd been going back and forth with it for a while now and hadn't come to any resolution. She knew she was dragging things out, but she wanted to be sure. Having come off one failed relationship, she wasn't eager to jump into potentially another one.

Dinah knew the best thing at this point would be to just walk away. It was so complicated and as much as she wanted to think otherwise, she just couldn't kid herself. She should end it, but there was only one problem, she didn't want to end it. Dinah was very attracted to Clark and just couldn't bring herself to make that phone call. So she was in limbo, not sure what to do.

Glancing at the phone one more time, she shook her head and went into take a shower. Twenty minutes later she climbed into bed, after checking her messages again. Nothing except Ev's rather drunken voice calling her a lightweight and urging her to come back out. Dinah turned off the lights and pulled the covers up to her chin. Maybe things would be clearer in the morning.

Slumber came and with it dreams. At first they were the usual snips of images and places, but soon things began to shift. Dinah rolled over on her back as she fell deeper into sleep. At first it was so faint she could barely make it out, but as the moments passed it grew louder. When she opened her eyes she was in a foreign landscape. Snowflakes drifted silently down and as she took a step forward she realized she was standing up to her ankles in the fine powder.

"What the hell is this?" She said aloud, but received no answer.

She noticed she was dressed in her uniform and usually it wasn't the best choice for winter weather, but there was no cold here. She raised her hand and watched as one of the oversized snowflakes landed and then broke apart like the most delicate crystal. She watched transfixed as the fragments silently drifted down to the ground.

"Dinah."

It was a soft, sensual voice that said her name, but she saw no one.

"Dinah."

Glancing all around she couldn't see the source, but the voice was so tantalizing. Slowly she began to move towards where she thought it was coming from.

"Dinah."

It seemed closer and she found herself running towards it. Had there ever been a more alluring and seductive voice she wondered? Her feet began to move faster as she started an all out sprint towards the voice.

"Dinah."

She was so close that the voice seemed to vibrate through her entire body. Her hand reached out for it, but just as it seemed she would be able to touch the source, the land fell away. Dinah barely managed to stop at the edge of the cliff. One foot actually slipped over the side, but she righted herself and looked around for the source of the voice. It was almost as if the very snowflakes were whispering to her. Then she glanced down and far below she saw something. Darkness.

A figure was shrouded in it and laid out in front of the figure was a chessboard. Even at this distance, Dinah could make it out so clearly. At first she wondered if the source of the voice was the shrouded figure, but then a wicked cackle came and she knew it wasn't. She stood, unable to speak as she watched a bony, gnarled hand reach out from the figure and move the pieces on the chessboard. It had been awhile since she'd played, but Dinah knew the move immediately.

Castling, Queen's side 0-0-0. Castling consists of moving the King two squares towards a Rook on the player's first rank, then moving the rook onto the square over which the King crossed. As she watched Dinah saw the pieces change and suddenly they were Hippolyta and Diana. They swapped positions and then outfits. Glancing at the rest of the board, Dinah saw something was wrong. If Hippolyta represented the King, she was in check with this move. It shouldn't have been allowed, but by turning into the Rook it was a way around this. The cackle went up at the shrouded figures slight of hand.

The former Queen is in check, she thought.

Far away a drumbeat came. As it got closer the very ground under Dinah's feet began to move. It grew louder and louder until she thought the entire cliff would collapse under her. She began to back pedal, desperate not to fall. The fine powder under her feet began to give way. Just as she was about to go over the side, she opened her eyes and sat up.

She was back in her bedroom and the drumbeat was someone knocking on her door. It took her a moment to get her bearings, but then she heard Ev's voice calling to her. With a groan, Dinah got out of bed and slipped on her rope as she headed out to answer the door. What was in those drinks earlier she thought?

Metropolis

The Chinese restaurant was warm and friendly, welcoming but with the good sense to leave you alone. Hippolyta and Clark had a friendly argument all through dinner on a range of topics. They were both enjoying the sparring. At its core was something simple, men and women.

"No, no that's not what I'm saying at all, Hippolyta,' Clark objected. "I'm just trying to point out that I think your views on men are a bit extreme in most cases."

"So you think men have changed so much, do you?' She asked.

"Changed is a loaded word,' he countered. "Yes, I think advances have been made in all areas, but my point was something different. I understand the cruelties you and your sisters suffered, I do. I can't imagine the violation you endured. So yes, I agree there are always men that will try to dominant and oppress others, but I don't think that's the majority of men."

"Oh, really?"

"Think of your time, for example, slavery was still practiced wasn't it?' He asked.

"Yes."

"Were men slaves too? I would imagine more of them were slaves so they could do the labor,' Clark pointed out. "There were probably farmers and merchants, ordinary people just trying to make a living, too. They weren't part of the army or elite, but just men trying to raise a family."

"That all sounds good, Clark, but even here in your country women couldn't vote until 1920. One has only to look at the current political climate to wonder just how much has really changed. So much for your truth, justice and the American Way."

"First of all, that was something someone else came up with, just like the name Superman,' Clark explained. "You can't hold me accountable for every tag line someone sticks on me."

"So you don't fight for Truth, Justice and the American Way?' Hippolyta asked.

"Yes, but my interpretation of that is probably different than most," Clark countered.

"How so?"

"The American Way,' he explained. "It's become something of a jingoistic phrase these days, but it wasn't always. The American Way, if there is one, is more of an idea than anything else. The men that started this country were just men, but they were trying to encapsulate an idea. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are things people have been striving for since the beginning of time. You'll notice it's the pursuit of happiness, not the promise of happiness. The idea is that the individual has rights, inalienable rights. That everyone is created equal and should be allowed to live in freedom as they please, as long as they don't interfere with their neighbors. That's the American way I believe in, Hippolyta."

"You seem quite passionate about it,' she said. "Are you saying you believe that this country has lived up to those ideals?"

"No, mistakes have been made and will continue to be made,' he countered. "America is an evolving nation, with forces constantly pulling it in every direction. New people, cultures and ideas arrive everyday and have added to the mix. President Lincoln called America an experiment, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. He also said it would be tested whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. It was a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. To me that sounds like something worth fighting for, doesn't it?"

"You seem very passionate about this,' she said.

"I grew up here, Hippolyta,' Clark replied. "My perspective has changed so all of Earth is my home now, but those basic core beliefs haven't. I'm not the same farm boy that left Kansas and many of the things that I learned and believed there have fallen away as I explore the galaxy and meet different cultures, races and people, but the idea that each individual matters hasn't changed. If people want to call that the American Way, I guess I can live with it."

She sat back, sipping her wine and looked at him. He was such a different man than she had known before. In her experience, a man with his power usually became a tyrant. Even her Gods were known for using their power for their own whims. Yet Clark spoke about the common man and woman, about their needs and desires.

"Perhaps you are right, Clark, maybe men has changed,' she finally said. "You are certainly an example of that."

"Thank you,' he said, dipping his head as he blushed a little at the compliment. "I don't really believe I'm that special Hippolyta."

She started to protest, but he raised his hand to stop her.

"Yes, I have been given these amazing gifts, but even without them I like to think I would still be the same man," he said. "I wasn't raised to think of myself as better than everyone else, just different. I still feel that way. I know I'm no different than a lot of men and I struggle with the same things they do."

"You certainly are different that most of the men I've met, Clark,' Hippolyta replied. Then just to change the tone, she teased. "You're super."

"Oh, very funny, "Clark laughed. "You suck me in with all the deep talk and then turn it around on me. I see I'm going to have to watch you more carefully."

"While you're watching, do you think you could order another round of that shrimp fried rice? It was delicious."

"You really are trying to blend in, aren't you,' he joked. "I should tell you, some women wouldn't eat quite as hearty as you do."

"Why? The food is excellent,' she said.

"Let's just say some people like to make a different impression on their first date,' Clark offered.

"This isn't our first date, Clark, besides what is the point of pretending to be someone you're not? Sooner or later the other person will find out the truth?"

"I think we all like to put an idealized version of ourselves out there,' he tried to explain. "We're all vulnerable and usually a date seems to be about judging each other."

"So the mysteries of the interplay between men and women haven't changed that much, have they?"

"You're not going to ruin another of those old stories for me, are you,' Clark teased. "If you tell me Sinbad was just a big liar and jerk, I'm not sure I can go on."

"I'm starting to understand why Diana always hits you, Clark,' she countered.

Marionette

Daylight finally came and Vigilante and Wildcat ventured out. It had been a long night of attacks, but they were still in one piece. Guns at the ready, they moved into the street and did a little scouting.

"Well, at least we don't have to worry about vampires for awhile. We should be safe for the time being,' Ted offered.

As if in response to his words, the werewolves attacked.

"Damn it, boy, don't you ever get tired of being wrong?' Vigilante shouted, as his six guns started blazing. From all sides the beasts swarmed towards them. Wildcat unloaded round after round from the shotgun, but they were coming too fast. He tossed it to the side and waded in fighting hand to hand with them. Vigilante tried to clear some room, but even with two pistols there were too many of them.

"So where is this help you called, Ted? Now would be a pretty good time for her to show up!"

"She'll be here! Count on it!"

There was a disturbance on the other end of the street. Vigilante and Wildcat were too busy to see what it was. A rather large werewolf leapt at Ted and he was out of bullets. He fought for all he was worth, but the creatures were strong, damn strong. Claws raked across his face and he grunted in pain. The beast's jaws opened to bite him, but two slender hands came out of nowhere and grabbed them. The creature screamed in agony and then everything went quiet as it's jaws were torn apart. The other werewolves sensed this change and the odds and quickly moved away.

Ted turned to see Vampirella standing smiling at him.

"Long time, Vamp,' he said with a smile.

"Can't stay out of trouble can you, Ted?' She replied.

Before the introductions could be made, a werewolf jumped out at them. Vampirella grabbed it in midair and sunk her teeth into it. The beast screamed, but she didn't let go, killing it as she tore the throat from it. She stood, blood dripping down the front of her barely contained body and looked at the others.

"Don't mean to sound ungrateful, but that's just wrong on so many levels,' Greg commented.

"Greg, this is Vampirella. Vamp, this here is Greg.' Ted said, supplying the introductions.

"Thanks of the help,' Greg said with a smile. "Love the outfit, by the way."

"Oh, boy, this is going to get ugly,' Ted lamented.

The Watchtower

Wally, Zatanna, Shayera, Mari and Dinah were sitting around the table in the cafeteria. It was Dinah's turn to tell a story. Her dream was still bothering her and she didn't feel much like telling a story.

"Doesn't anyone else have a story? I'm not really much of a storyteller,' Dinah said, trying to get out of it.

"I know one Plastic man told me about two sisters from Bunt, ' Wally offered. The glares he received told him it probably wasn't the best audience for that one.

"Moving on,' Zee said, giving him another snide look before turning back to Dinah. "It's your turn, Dinah, so just get on with it."

"Yes, tell us a story,' Shayera agreed.

"This is so stupid, why are we doing this again?' Dinah protested.

"You didn't seem to think it was stupid when someone else was telling the story,' Mari pointed out.

"Well, it wasn't then,' Dinah admitted. "Oh, all right, you asked for it."

"Yes, I just know it's going to be hot,' Wally whispered to Zatanna. "You can just tell, Dinah probably knows all sorts of hot stories."

"How can you tell?' Zatanna asked.

"Well, come on, she's wearing those fishnets,' he explained. "That just says wild side, doesn't it? It's like a kinky calling card or something!"

"Have you even noticed what I'm wearing?' she asked.

"What the top hat? Sorry, that doesn't give off the same vibe,' he replied.

"I'm wearing fishnets, you idiot!"

"Hey, that's right,' Wally cheerfully said. He saw the look she was giving him and the smile slipped from his lips. "Oh, well, it doesn't always say kinky, you know."

"Nice save, Wally,' Shayera whispered to him. Her and Mari chuckled as Wally cringed a bit under Zatanna's glared.

"So do you want a story or not?' Dinah asked.

"Yes!"

Dinah took a deep breath and then looked at each of them in turn.

"So this happened when I was younger, before I started doing this,' Dinah began. "I'd just moved out on my own and was living in one of those cheap apartment complexes filled with single people."

"See, I knew this was going to be hot,' Wally whispered to Zee. "I don't even know what the story is and I know it's going to be hot!"

"Because of the fishnets, right?' Zee sarcastically replied. "You're a douchebag, did you know that too?"

"Shh!" The others around the table said to them. Dinah gave them both a look, but continued her story.

"So anyway,' Dinah continued, glancing at Wally and Zee. "It was the first week I moved in and I really didn't know anybody. One day my neighbor stops by and invites me over for coffee. She was like fifty-seven or so, but she seemed nice enough, so I went. I figured it wouldn't hurt to get to know some of the people in the building. She was sharing the place with her daughter, who was just a little older than me, maybe twenty-three. The daughter was a Goth, you know the type."

"Do you know her?' Wally asked Zatanna.

"Why would I know her?"

"Well, aren't you Goth? I mean the top hat, the white tie, tails, dark hair and eyes, you're Goth right?"

"No, Wally,' Mari spoke up. "I think Zee's more Steampunk. At least that's what her look always said to me."

"You know I never thought of that, Mari, but good point,' Wally replied.

"Are you two crazy?' Zee shouted. "I'm not a Goth and I'm not Steampunk, I'm a magician, remember? This is the classic magician outfit!"

'What about the black hair and eyes?' Wally said.

"What about them? I have black hair and eyes, so what?"

"And the top hat?"

"It's a stable of magicians, idiot! Pull a rabbit out of my hat, ring a bell,' Zee replied.

"What about Criss Angel? He doesn't wear a hat,' Wally countered. "And he's a mindfreak! Seriously, I saw him do a card trick once that literally freaked out my mind!"

"Oh, please, Criss Angel is a ass wipe, if you want to know the truth,' Zatanna said dismissively. "He's doing old tricks that any half way decent magician could do, he just acts like it's something new!"

"Would you two shut up,' Shayera complained. "I want to hear Dinah's story!"

"Go ahead, Dinah,' Mari said encouragingly. Dinah looked at the others and sighed.

"Okay, well, as I was saying, it was the Goth chick and her mother living together. Now remember, this is the first time I've ever met them, okay?' Dinah said. "We're doing the usual get to know you kind of chat, when out of the blue the mother tells me she has one leg six inches shorter than the other. I don't know what to say to that, you know? Sorry, I mean where do you go with that piece of information? So she says, oh yeah, six inches shorter, been that way all her life. Then she asks me if I know what the worst part of having one leg six inches shorter than the other is? I didn't know, so I said dancing? The mother shakes her head and says, no, showering, cause it's slippery and she has to wear a special shower shoe in there."

"That kind of makes sense,' Mari offered. "Why was she telling you this, though?"

"That's the part I still don't know, I mean I just met these two,' Dinah replied. "It gets worse, believe me. I guess the daughter felt left out of the weirdness, so she decides to tell me her story."

"Oh, yeah, here's where it gets hot,' Wally whispered to Zatanna. She just elbowed him away from her.

"The reason the daughter was living with the mother was because she just got divorced,' Dinah explained. "I guess one day she came home and found her husband sleeping with her best friend.'

"That's awful,' Mari gasped.

"But sort of hot,' Wally added. He got smacked for it from Shayera.

"Her male best friend,' Dinah clarified.

"Eww!'

"That's not hot at all!"

"So there the daughter is,' Dinah continued. "She walks in on them in the middle of it, if you know what I mean. She screams what the hell is going on? The husband, who's the bottom by the way, says, I thought you'd like this!"

"Oh, wow, that's like the worst excuse in the world,' Mari gasped. "What part of that was she supposed to like?"

"Needless to say, I didn't hang out with them too much after that,' Dinah said, finishing the story.

"Boy, I was way off base, that wasn't hot at all,' Wally lamented.

"I hate to agree with Wally, but eww, Dinah, that was horrible,' Zatanna added.

"Well, you said you wanted a story,' Dinah exclaimed.

'Jeez, that even makes Zee's story about the guy with head lice seem better,' Shayera offered.

"Hey, you said you liked that,' Zatanna complained.

"I told you I wasn't a storyteller,' Dinah shouted.

"That was really more of an anecdote than a story, Dinah,' Wally offered.

"That's the same thing,' she firmly replied. "Besides, I did my part, it's some else's turn now."

"What happened to the daughter, the Goth chick?' Mari asked.

"Last I heard she was dating a fire-eater,' Diana replied.

"So it sort of has a happy ending,' Mari offered.

"I guess."

"Then I change my opinion," Shayera spoke up. "If it has a happy ending it is much better than Zatanna's head lice story."

"It wasn't a story about head lice!' Zatanna grumbled. "It was an analogy, to make a point!"

"It had a point?" Shayera looked at the others in confusion.

"Why do I bother?"