A/N: Well it seems the story is being well received and for that a very big THANK YOU goes to you all for reading. To the reviewers thank you for your much valued feedback, especially those who are voting for certain pairings. This chapter I was a little worried about, but fortunately once I started it just seemed to flow. To the John/Shayera shippers I hope I did your team "justice"...Enjoy everyone

Chapter 7

John and Shayera

Tracing her fingers slowly over the dark contours she marveled at how it used to inspire confidence and honour in her. Moving to the golden object beside it she lovingly touched the crest that used to represent her life and home, Thanagar. Once upon a time…..

Lieutenant Shayera Hol

Her title and name used to be revered and hailed on her home planet, until she did the unthinkable and as far as her people were concerned the unforgivable. She betrayed them.

But then they had betrayed her too.

A mission she had thought to use Earth as a bypass to help Thanagar had been revealed as a secret mission to destroy it instead. She had been so torn between choosing to save her home planet or the planet she now called home. Her mind had been made up when she could not stand by and watch her current home die. The Thanagarian invasion had been swift and lethal. Declaring Martial Law and arresting the Justice League had plagued her conscience. In the end she chose to save Earth and potentially sacrifice her own planet in the war they were fighting with the Gordanians.

She had then become the most hated person on both Thanagar and Earth. But she knew in her heart it was worth the sacrifice. She had saved the world because she had come to love it and the man who showed her why it was so special. John Stewart.

She had resigned from the Justice League and disappeared to find herself again and the sense of purpose she craved. She was eternally grateful to Kent Nelson and his wife Enza, or as he was officially known, Dr Fate for taking her in and allowing her to find solace in the privacy of their home. Kent had been instrumental in keeping her on Earth, as she had ventured to a few distant worlds and realms with his help to possibly permanently relocate to. He had told her that her place was here, but until she found peace within herself she could not seek peace from others.

Enza had been her sounding board regarding John as Shayera did not feel comfortable discussing the topic with Kent. Enza's advice had been sound, if you love something set it free if it comes back it is meant to be. If it doesn't it never loved you in the first place. But when she had finally returned to the League it was too late. John was now with Mari.

Not many people welcomed her, only Wally who had hugged her and lifted her off the ground refusing to put her down. Until she threatened him with her mace and her quickly set her down, but continued to bounce joyfully from one foot to the other. Superman hugged her warmly and J'onn nodded at her smiling. Batman acknowledged her with a grunt telling her it was good to have her back. John had shook her hand and then introduced Mari to her, who smiled and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you".

Diana on the other hand looked at her and spat, "Hawkgirl"

"Diana-", Superman began to say. Diana turned to glare at him and he wisely shut his mouth.

"You stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours, Clear?", Diana said to Shayera.

"Fine by me"

Both women were happy with this arrangement until the day Hermes paid Diana a visit on the Watchtower and it changed both their lives. They both faced Hades and defeated him together. After the mission they had both joined Queen Hippolyta and all Diana's sisters in a victory feast. They had both called a truce and had begun to return to a place in their friendship where they were both comfortable again.

Diana had helped Shayera deal with the pain of never seeing her people again and to rebuild a life on Earth that would make her happy. Diana understood all too well the pain of being hated by one's people and never being able to return home. She had been exiled from Themyiscira five years ago when she had allowed her male counterparts to set foot on their island to help her save her mother and sisters. It had been a very painful experience for Diana but it had ended well enough. Her exile had been lifted and her family had welcomed her home with open arms, even allowing the founding male members escorted access to Themyiscira when they wanted. Only Superman had unlimited access.

They had a girls night in one night to unwind after a mission where they had each had their own favourite snacks to munch on. Shayera had salted caramel macaroons and peanut butter ice cream. Diana had red velvet cupcakes and cookie dough ice-cream. They were going to go out and get it themselves but Superman had seen how the two seemed to have made up and offered to get their supplies whilst they had their showers. Much to the delight of both women who thanked him and went to their quarters to do so. Upon his return he had knocked on Diana's door who had absently called, "Come in", thinking it was Shayera.

Kal gaped like a fish at the vision before him. Diana was sitting on her bed applying lotion all over her body. All over her nude body.

"Like what you see Kal?"

"Huh….uh….sorry…."

"You might want to take a picture, they last longer so I'm told"

Kal closed his eyes knowing that with his eidetic memory he had just done that. He breathed deeply to try and calm his rising temperature, although that was not the only thing rising at the moment.

Taking another deep breath he slowly opened his eyes and sighed in relief. Diana was now in pyjamas with her favourite pink bunny slippers on, and a knowing smirk on her face.

"Uh….here is the food for you both…"

"Thank you Kal", Diana breathed.

Kal watched as she took what he had and put it on her coffee table nearby. She then got a spoon and grabbing her tub of ice cream made her way over to him. Opening it she took a spoonful and put it in her mouth and closed her eyes sighing in ecstasy. Kal's eyes turned a light red from watching this and he found he couldn't breathe. His brain short circuiting and his blood rushing to his head and another certain part of his body he watched her helplessly.

Diana then took the spoon slowly…ever so slowly out of her mouth moaning gently. She opened her eyes to see Kal's were lit with desire and smiling seductively, she took another spoonful and offered it to Superman.

"You want a taste Kal? It's amazing", they both knew she wasn't meaning the ice cream.

"I won't be able to stop once I start Diana", they both knew he wasn't referring to the ice cream either.

Kal slowly lowered his head towards Diana as she raised hers so their lips could meet.

"Di let me in", Shayera's voice said through the closed door followed by her knocking.

Kal and Diana jumped away from each other as if they had been shocked by lightning, both avoiding the other's gaze.

"I better go"

"Ummmm…yes….Kal I-"

"Diana!"

"Coming Shay"

Opening her door, Shayera stepped in as Superman stepped out.

"Bye ladies enjoy your night"

"Bye Clark and thanks for that"

"No problem, anytime for you two ladies"

"Yes Kal, thanks again and have a good night"

"You too. Goodnight Diana."

"Night Kal"

A look passed between them and then Superman reluctantly turned and walked away. Diana watched him leave until her door closed, sighing wistfully.

"Something you want to tell me Diana?"

Diana spun around having completely forgotten Shayera was there. Shayera was standing there with an eyebrow raised questioningly.

"I don't know what you're talking about"

"Uh huh", Shayera said rolling her eyes.

"What?"

"I'm just a little surprised Di, before all the crap with Thanagar took place I am sure that there was something between you and Bruce. But I can see that there is definitely something with you and Superman or whatever you want to call him"

"Kal"

"Uh huh"

"Oh shut up. We are here to talk about you, not Kal and I-"

"Ohhhh so there is a Kal and you then?"

"No!"

Shayera raised an eyebrow again.

Diana sighed, "There is nothing going on with Kal and I. But I wish there was. I love him Shay and he loves me but he won't give us a chance"

"And you and Bruce?"

"There never was anything between Bruce and myself. I was attracted to him in the beginning but after a few dates we realised we were better suited being friends. Besides he's in love with Zee"

"Woah…..back right up there Diana, you went on a date with Bruce?", Shayera asked disbelievingly.

"Well four actually"

"You mean Bruce Wayne right? THE Bruce Wayne? Our resident brooding Dark Knight himself?"

Diana sighed impatiently, "Yes, Shayera"

"Unfreakingbelievable", she said, "but you had no feelings for him, but you do for Clark?"

"Kal"

"Whatever"

Diana glared at her. Shayera glared right back. Diana walked over to her bed and sat heavily on the edge.

"He told me he loved me a while back, after his divorce from Lois. But he also told me he can't be with me."

"Idiot!"

"I want him so bad Shay, that the frustration is killing me. So bad that Bruce told me if I keep destroying all the training drones he will start making me pay for them"

"Right, this calls for ice cream. Looks like we both have a lot to get off our backs"

They both smiled at each other and dove into their snacks. They spent the rest of the night talking and laughing and unloading their problems to one another. By the next morning they were back to the old camaraderie they once shared. Shayera only wished it were the same with John.

She had come to earth on her mission, never expecting to fall in love, much less with a male colleague. She was engaged to Hro back home. But John Stewart had somehow gotten under her skin, and she came to like it and fell in love with him. He had been injured on a mission where they had assisted Batman in trying to stop The Jokers bombs in Las Vegas. She had been beside herself when she had found him. She had to use her mace to shock life back into him. Shayera had then rushed him to the Watchtower and kept vigil by his bedside nervously watching over his recovery. When he had woken they had both confessed their feelings to one another. John had taken her mask off for the first time to see her face, then kissed her.

They had then started dating secretly, only Diana knew as Shayera had told her in confidence. They spent as much time together as they could between missions. John had shown her his hometown and they had travelled to other parts of the world that had fascinated her. They were happy together, but a small voice in the back of Shayera's mind gently reminded her she was already engaged. Ignoring it she continued to enjoy being in a relationship with John. Until the Gordanian ship had entered their atmosphere and things were never the same again.

Now that Mari had broken things off with John, Shayera knew it was time to be happy again. She had approached John and in typical Thanagarian fashion had told him that she loved him and that they would be happy together. John had told her she was wrong and that he would never be destiny's puppet and then walked away, leaving her utterly confused. Whilst she sadly watched him walk away she heard J'onn's voice in her head.

"I'm sorry for intruding Shayera, but go and speak to Batman. They went on a mission a while back where they went to the future. It might shed some light on things for you"

Shayera thanked J'onn as her spirits lifted from his words. She then went in search for Batman to divulge the information. Though reluctant at first to get involved, Batman soon informed Shayera of how they had met Rex Stewart, John's son with Shayera. The joy that filled her heart at this was soon quashed when Batman told her that John refused to be dictated by what they had seen. Taking a deep breath, Shayera's spine straightened and in her eyes was a steely resolve, "Like hell he won't"

Thus begun the merry-go-round of trying to convince John that they were meant to be, whilst he adamantly refused to accept it.

"John, you're being an idiot"

"Excuse me?!"

"I love you, you love me, you've seen our son. Why are you being so stubborn?"

"Shay, I will not be ruled by anyone or anything."

"Even if it means our happiness?"

John sighed,"Yes"

"Idiot!", Shayera threw her hands in the air and stomped off. Suddenly she turned around and marched back with her mace in her hands.

"Maybe I can convince you?"

"Shay-", John began, standing his ground.

"We can be happy John, we deserve to be happy. Why can't you see that?", she implored.

"Because we should be able to live our lives the way we want to. Not because I have seen the future", he then walked away.

Shayera had asked, begged, pleaded and then threatened him with her mace to no avail. She had almost given up until Diana and Zee had advised of their plan, she had agreed with no second thoughts. She was going to use Operation Sucker Punch to hammer the message home.

Shayera sighed and turned to place her Hawkgirl mask and Lieutenant badge back into her cupboard.

If not, Mistress of the Mace was going to introduce him once again to her little friend.