Time. There never seemed to be enough time, and now, in her precarious position, Audrey was sure hers was about to be out. Still, she hoped if she could keep him talking, she would be buying some for her son at least. There was gunfire all around the palace, and Audrey was hopeful that someone would make it to the nursery. She just needed to stall…

Audrey drew in a deep breath and addressed the man holding her hostage in the nursery. "Why are you doing this? Killing the citizens of Kasnia? If your anger was solely for me, why did they have to die? You came here; why not do that to begin with?"

Helios' eyes narrowed at the petite blonde. "The citizens of Kasnia are not smart enough to realize what a pathetic choice for a ruler you are. They openly accepted you once General Leonid came to the bargaining table. And you opened your legs and snared him as well. He lost his focus. I have not lost mine. Kasnia should be a military force to be reckoned with. Vandal Savage created a strong technological industry, and what have you done with it? Pandered to the weak, and to a bunch of women."

"So you hate women?"

"Women who don't know their proper place. You, however, will learn that lesson very soon. My men burn your capital, your husband lays dead in a hallway, his mistakes bringing this all upon you. I should have thanked him before killing him."

"Dmitri saw the need for peace. He was a brave man, and the Kasnians will remember him as such. But when they think of you, they will see nothing but a coward of a man who murdered citizens without regard. Even my death will not stop their resistance to you. They do not follow me, but the ideals I represent. That will not stop just because you will it to. And, you are forgetting about something."

"Which is what?"

Audrey steeled her resolve. "The Amazons. The women that our country has aided. You will be making this personal for them too."

Helios stood quietly for a moment and then spoke, "Why should this be personal to them? Once you are dead, they will retreat, having protected nothing."

"You are wrong. Whoever is advising you obviously does not understand the depths of the alliance that is bearing down on you right now."

Helios back-handed the queen. She hit the floor forcefully. Still she managed to pick herself up and stare at her assailant. She lifted her hand to her bottom lip, which was split, and wiped the blood away with her fingers. Her son still clung to her leg, hiding in her dress, whimpering.

Audrey got angry, "Were you not told of the bond between myself and the Amazons?"

Helios lashed out again with another back hand, this time striking Audrey's cheek. "Foolish woman, I need no one to tell me that your time is up."

"It may be," Audrey spat, her cheek swelling from the strike, "but that will mean that yours is soon to follow. The Amazons are not coming as part of any league but their own. Queen Hippolyta is a close, personal friend, and the alliance is more between her and me. Her warriors come to my aide at her beckoning. And I don't know how much you know about these women, but they are determined, and even if there is only one left standing, you will still have a fierce enemy. Queen Hippolyta will take mine and my families' death personally, and will avenge me. If you think that the Amazons are governed by a weak woman, you are sorely mistaken. They are of an earlier time butcher, when things were between individuals and families, not abstract things like nations. Hippolyta's alliance and friendship is with ME and mine, not Kasnia. She will not rest until you are nothing but a small, black mark on Kasnian history. And her daughter, Diana, will not be defeated. Face it; even though you think you have won, you have just slapped the face of more than the Queen of Kasnia. So, kill me, but know that I will be waiting at the end of this day, holding the gates of Hell open for you."

Helios regarded her words for a moment, "You are stalling. You think that you will be rescued."

Audrey shrugged, "Are you prepared to wait and see if I am wrong? I pray that you are that stupid. Diana will make short work of you. Do you really believe that they come to take prisoners? How many men do you command? I am guessing that it isn't that many, seeing as how you are hiding in the mountains. Surely you realize that pissing off an immortal isn't the best course of action."

"Diana belongs to the League. She will not kill."

"Diana is not coming as a representative of the League."

Just as Helios was about to reply, he heard a voice from around the corner. The man did not show himself. "Commander, the Amazons are approaching fast to the capital. There is a forward party of 3 flyers that are ahead of the main force. They proceed with all speed."

Helios grunted, "Prepare to engage the Amazons then. The capital is mine."

"Sir, I do not believe that is wise. We are running low on ammunition. We will not be able to hold off the numbers they are bringing."

"How many?"

"Thousands."

Helios recoiled at the number. He looked out of the window and saw a small blur quickly approaching the capital. Even though he could not make out anything more than small colors, he knew Diana had to be among the small group.

"I can beat her." He half spoke the sentiment.

Audrey stood inches away from him and smiled. "Then wait."

Diana, Shayera, and Alindra flew as fast as they could towards the capital. Shayera lagged slightly behind, but not far. The moment the Amazons had landed, the smoke from the assault on the capital could be seen for miles. Diana had reacted immediately, "Shayera, the capital is 5 miles northeast of here. Get the Amazons there." Once the order had been issued, Diana took to the sky, pushing herself to fly faster than she ever had.

Shayera looked at Alindra, and then to the Amazon war party. "Those of you with the special bows and lenses proceed first. Put some distance between your sisters and the capital. Anything that flies, bring it down. Show no quarter. Find an entry point and press the advantage. Surround the city and rally to Diana. Do you all understand?"

A booming war cry was heard in response. Shayera turned to Alindra, "I am going after Diana, do you have this?"

"Let me go with you. The Amazons will follow the orders you have given. I can fly, and am wearing the lenses as well. Between you and me and our bows, we can give Diana cover. She may need it."

"Then let's go. She flies fast, and has a head start."

It took intense physical exertion, but Alindra and Shayera managed to get close to Diana in the air.

"DIANA!" Alindra yelled.

Diana turned her head slightly at the voice. Alindra was holding her bow in one hand, and a shield in the other. "Take the shield at least! Shayera and I will watch your front and back!"

Diana slowed slightly to let the blonde Amazon catch her, only to have the shield handed to her, and then she pressed hard forward once more. She slid the shield to her back, and continued on course to the capital. Once she was within in range, Diana pulled up short, shock registering on her face. Alindra and Shayera hovered near her. Buildings in the capital were on fire, and there were troopers firing on the citizens and the remnants of the military resistance.

Alindra quickly scanned the palace, and immediately spied Audrey and Helios through the nursery window. "THERE!" She pointed to a spot in the distance. "She is alive Diana, fifth floor, third window from the left."

Diana nodded and immediately sped off. With bows arched, Alindra and Shayera began clearing a path with arrows for the dark haired Amazon, slowly inching their way forward. Those troopers that weren't taken down by the other two women, Diana handled easily. Several in her path were dispatched by her fist connecting to various body parts, and Diana did not wait to see them fall to their deaths. She deflected bullets while still managing to stay on her path. "Hold on Audrey, I'm almost there…" she whispered into the wind.

Helios looked out the window once more, and saw an Amazon barreling down on his position with a determination he had never seen in an opponent before.

"Well, Queen Audrey, let's see how fast your guardian flies." He threw the queen to the floor and placed a detonator next to her, flicking a switch on the side. Instantly a red light illuminated, and she heard a clicking sound begin. "You have about 10 seconds. Kiss your son goodbye." He turned away, and leveled his arm to the ceiling, blasting a hole through it, clearing an escape for himself. He rose quickly through to the sky signaling to his men to retreat.

Audrey looked at the device on the floor and dragged herself into the corner of the room, sliding her son's body underneath her. She curled up, and silently prayed. Diana had seen the man flee, but stayed on target to the nursery. She flew through the window never once slowing, grabbed the incendiary device and crashed through a few walls. She suddenly stopped and threw the device against the far wall. She slid the shield around and quickly backtracked to the last hole in the wall that she had created. She stepped back through and placed the shield against the hole, holding it up, hoping that it would be enough to bear the blast that was imminent.

Diana stole a quick glance back and closed her eyes. She braced for the blast, which came a second later. The explosion sent her flying back through the walls she had just smashed through, a ringing instantly reaching her ears. She hit the ground and skidded on her back across the nursery floor. Dust and debris circulated everywhere, and Diana struggled to get up, having had the wind knocked out of her lungs. Her muscles ached, and she was not recovering quickly.

Once the explosion had been felt and reverberated through the palace, Audrey blinked her eyes a few times. She leaned her head down to her son's neck and whispered, "Dane? Answer Mommy please."

She heard a little cough, and a small voice answered, "Ouch."

Audrey's stomach clenched, and then released. Tears slid down her cheeks, and she kissed his head. She pulled him away slowly from her body and looked him over. He was dirty and scraped up, but he was alive, and that was all that mattered. She clutched him to her chest, and hugged him tightly. She felt his small hands clench to her sides, and she offered a prayer of thanks for his life. Audrey looked around the room and saw Diana struggling to breathe and to stand. "Dane, Mommy has to help her friend. Stay here, okay?"

The little dark haired boy nodded.

Audrey stood and made her way to the Amazon that had just saved her and her son's life. She reached down and placed one of her arms around Diana's shoulders, desperately trying to help the other woman stand. Diana struggled, but managed to get to her feet. Audrey looked up, and the tears fell harder. She stood in front of Diana, and her face contorted with ache, knowing how close she had come to death. She reached out tentatively and touched Diana's face, and suddenly grabbed the woman, enveloping her into a big hug.

"Diana," she whispered, "I…thank you. You saved us both. I can't begin to tell you what that means to me."

Diana said nothing, but nodded, weakly returning the hug that she was being given.

Slowly Audrey drew back to look at Diana's eyes. She leaned in and kissed the Amazon lightly on the lips.

"Angel!" Dane suddenly squealed. Audrey quickly jerked her head to her son's position and then looked to the window where his little finger was pointing. Just outside of the window, Shayera stood floating outside, a look of pain and betrayal splayed across her face.

A/N: Thanks once again to all who review. Hope you liked this chapter, and the cliffhanger! There is obviously much more to come, as the Amazons are on the move and almost on top of the city. What did you think of Audrey in this chapter? And what will be Shayera's reaction? Almost being killed is harrowing, so we can forgive Audrey for showing her gratitude, right? Can't wait to hear your thoughts and reactions. If you have not reviewed before, please drop a quick line. Reviews fuel me, and we seem to be in a long haul with this one, so I will need all the fuel I can get! Happy reading.