Shayera's gut wrenched at the site of Audrey kissing Diana. But the moment the blonde looked her way, Diana lurched forward, not being able to stand anymore. She collapsed into the blonde, and Audrey was not able to support the added weight. Diana crumpled in a heap onto the floor. Shayera immediately flew in through the window and landed beside the fallen Amazon.

"Back up Audrey!" Shayera bellowed.

The Queen stumbled backwards and retreated to her son.

Shayera knelt next to Diana, and quickly scanned her body for obvious injuries. Seeing none, she whispered, "Diana, sweetheart, can you hear me?"

Diana was still struggling to regain control of her lungs, but managed a feeble nod.

Shayera exhaled, not even realizing that she had been holding her breath. "Where are you hurt?"

Diana's response was barely audible. "J-Just n-n-need to c-catch my breath. Th-there was a b-bomb."

Shayera turned to Audrey, "How much of the blast did she take?"

Audrey's eyes leveled with Shayera's. "Most of it. She came through and plowed through the walls. She leveled a shield against the wall, and the explosion knocked her back into this room."

Shayera gritted her teeth in disgust for the other woman. She turned back to Diana and her expression softened. "Don't get up before you are ready to. Just try and catch your breath. Are you sure that you are not hurt anywhere?"

Diana nodded no, and once again, tried to stand. Shayera grabbed Diana's hand, and placed the other against the Amazon's back. Eventually, Diana was able to control her breathing. She felt every sinew, in every muscle, scream as she stood. With nothing broken though, Diana suppressed the aching in her body. "Did you see him Shayera?"

"Alindra and I did at a distance, but when the blast occurred I came straight here. Alindra went back to the Amazon archers to give them a better idea of the city layout and better vantage points to attack from. Whoever he was, he retreated east with some of his troops flying close behind. The ones that were grounded will be dealt with momentarily. Is he the man that attacked Fastad?" The question was aimed at Audrey.

"I don't know. He certainly fits the descriptions from the eyewitnesses. And we now have proof that he is a meta-human. He escaped through the roof by blasting it with fire from his hands."

Shayera turned back to Diana, "Did you see it too?"

"I did."

"Good, then we have something to give to the League."

Diana quickly disagreed. "No we don't."

Shayera looked at Diana in disbelief. "Why would you say that? Both you and the Queen saw it."

"That's just it though Shayera. You heard what John said in defense of a no vote. Do you really think he will take my word, or hers?"

"I believe you though. That is one vote. Flash would believe you too. That's another. In fact, Diana, I think the only one who would dissent would be John."

"Why would he not believe Diana?" Audrey asked.

Shayera whipped her head back to the blonde. A smart retort was on her lips, but Diana placed her hand on Shayera's arm in hopes of calming the redhead. Shayera bit back her reply. Diana looked at Audrey with compassion, "He is not a friend of mine. And he was most ardent about us not getting involved. Let's leave it at that. In the meantime, we need to get you and your son somewhere safe. That needs to be our first priority. The Amazons will secure the city, and Shayera, Alindra, and I can sweep the palace to make sure that none of the enemy soldiers are still fighting within the walls. But Audrey, how did this happen? Why is the city virtually undefended?"

Audrey looked at Diana, and then down to Dane. "Mistakes were made by the military authority. I would rather not go into detail right now. But I need to find my husband immediately. Whoever that man was, he alluded to the fact that…"

Dane looked up to his mother, whose tears had started to fall again. Audrey smiled down at her son, despite the grief she was currently feeling. "I can't do this in front of my son. Please, I…"

Dane looked at the other two women, and squeezed his mother's hand. "Mommy, angel." He pointed at Shayera with his other free hand.

"Dane, what has Mommy told you about pointing? I am sorry Shayera, he thinks that you are an angel."

"I get that a lot…" Shayera muttered. She dropped to one knee and put her hand out for the little boy to take. "Want to see my wings up close?"

Dane looked at her and took a couple of steps forward, but refused to let go of Audrey's hand.

"It's okay. You don't have to be scared. You can come and touch my wings if you want."

Dane stared for a few moments, but then squealed with delight and let go of Audrey's hand and ran to Shayera. He immediately started giggling as he touched the feathers on her wings. And when Shayera spread her wings at a wide expanse, he cooed with excitement. Audrey smiled, as did Diana, as Dane lunged himself at Shayera's neck and hugged it tightly. "Angel," he sighed into her neck.

Diana chuckled, "Oh sure, I take a bomb blast, but you get all the love."

Shayera hugged the small child back, but retorted sharply, "I am sure his mother showed her appreciation."

Audrey grimaced. "Shayera, I…I meant no disrespect to you. The moment was just…overwhelming. I can assure you that I…"

Shayera interjected, "Don't. Just stop. Just be clear on who I am."

Audrey stammered, "I-I know. Again, I…"

Diana stepped in front of Shayera. "We can have this conversation in private later. For now, let's get Audrey and Dane to safety."

Shayera leaned in and whispered, "Don't you think it is sort of funny his name is Dane?"

Diana stared blankly at Shayera. "I don't even know what that is supposed to mean. Let's just get them out of here." Diana turned to Audrey, "Where is the safest place to take you?"

Audrey's eyes widened at the question. There was a hunting lodge in the western part of the capital's forest that was used as a getaway for the royal family. But Audrey hesitated to say anything about it. It had been a place where she had secretly met Diana on several occasions. It was out of the way, and no one gave it much thought, as it was not a decadent place, and had not been used since those times. Diana, keeping her back turned to Shayera blinked a few times, and suddenly came to the same realization as Audrey. She shook her head ever so slightly.

Audrey stammered, "I, I don't know. Dmitri only said he had arranged transport somewhere, but I don't know what he had in mind."

Diana looked back at Shayera who was still holding the smile child. "Shayera, I don't think we should trust anyone but ourselves just yet. I don't want to turn her or the boy over to the transport, even if they are still waiting."

"Agreed, but surely Queen Audrey knows somewhere we can go quickly."

Audrey squeezed her eyes shut tightly. "To the west is a lodge. It hasn't been used in years. Dane and I would be safe there until the capital was secured and we could return. It is a quick trip from the city, and you and Diana could return here immediately."

Diana cringed inwardly. If Shayera knew where they were going had any history between her and Audrey, the redhead would come unglued. As it was, Diana was sure she was going to have to do a ton of groveling for the kiss Audrey had given her earlier. It wouldn't matter that she had not returned the affection in any way, and that she had collapsed immediately after. Shayera was not always the most rational individual when it came to her jealousies with regards to Diana.

Diana sighed, and looked back to Audrey with pleading eyes. "Let's go then. Audrey, do you know how to get there if we flew?"

Audrey immediately picked up on Diana's unspoken request. "Yes, I think I could figure it out."

"Hold on," Shayera started. "I am not exactly keen on the idea of you not being able to fly on your own, your Majesty." The last few words of the sentence dripped with sarcasm.

Diana walked over to Shayera and kissed her gently on the cheek, "Sweetheart, please, now is not the time. Give me the boy, and you can carry Audrey."

Shayera looked at the small child in her arms, who was beaming a massive smile at her. She rolled her eyes, and shook her head. "No, I got him. Carry her. I might be too tempted to...well, his weight is more manageable anyways." She looked at the little boy who was completely enamored with her. "Want to go for a ride in the sky with your own personal angel?" Shayera couldn't control the small smile that crept to her lips when his eyes lit up at the prospect. She walked over to stand under the hole in the ceiling. She then turned her attention to Audrey. "Please understand that nothing needs to rub itself unnecessarily on my wife, hmmm?" She kept her tone light to not scare Dane, but her eyes betrayed a deadly meaning.

Audrey nodded and Diana walked over to the blonde and scooped her up easily into her arms. For her part, Audrey kept her hands on her lap. Diana shook her head, and sighed, "Audrey, you can put your arms around my neck. It's probably safer."

Audrey mumbled her response, "I am not so sure that it is Diana."

Once airborne, Alindra spied the small group flying west. She quickly caught up to them and evened out with Diana in the air.

"Alindra, stay with the Amazons. Secure the city and the palace. We are taking the Queen and her son to safety. Once we drop them off, Shayera and I will be right back. We will sweep the palace for intruders. I want to be able to bring them back as soon as possible. The Amazons must take the city."

Alindra nodded, "I understand. The dark haired man flew east straight into the Amazon's arrows and forces. He booked it pretty quick though, and our army kept moving into the city as Shayera commanded. We are engaging what is left of the stragglers. Our sisters are making short work of them. It appears that they were not prepared to fight us here."

"Good. Go back and keep the Amazons pressing the advantage. Shayera and I will be back very soon."

Alindra veered off and headed back to the capital.

Diana turned her attention to the woman in her arms. "You cannot tell Shayera anything about this lodge please."

"Don't worry Diana. Your wife scares me a little. I am sorry about the kiss. I just, was, out of line, but I swear, I did not mean to, or rather I…"

Diana sighed, "I know. Do me a favor."

"What?"

"For the love of Hera, point occasionally in the direction of the lodge."

"Of course." Immediately Audrey pointed, and Diana made sure she was even with Shayera's peripheral vision. Hopefully, Diana pleaded silently, Shayera would think she had never been there before.

Audrey pulled her arms back in to rest on her knees. "Diana, I am sorry. I really don't want to cause trouble for you and Shayera."

Diana was silent at first, but then asked, "Why would Shayera be concerned that your son's name is Dane?"

Audrey turned her head away from Diana's face. "Because your wife is smart. He was named for you. It was as close to your name as I could get. There is so much I want to tell you. Dane's father, Dmitri, was a good man. But he and I were never in love. We were nothing more than friends and eventual allies. Our marriage was done as a political move. It was a way of bringing peace to Kasnia on a stronger level. I had gotten him to come to the table to negotiate peace. The more we spoke privately, the more we realized our goals were very similar. And our arrangement was made. He knows about you. I am sorry about the European Union meeting three years ago. It was callous, but not designed to hurt you."

"That is the past now Audrey. I am with Shayera."

"I know, but I wanted you to understand why I did what I did. Shayera makes you happy?"

"Immensely. I would never have picked her as someone who I would ever love, but it happened, and I am grateful she and I got to this point."

Audrey's heart broke a little more at the words, but said nothing of her feelings. "Since we are talking about all of this, I have something I want to ask you. What was it about her that allowed you to decide to take your relationship public?"

Diana knew the question would come. She spoke softly, "It is because of what happened with you that I reconsidered the point. I wasn't prepared to lose you then. I loved you so much. But I was stubborn and thought I knew best. I thought denying our love was the right thing to do, but I should have considered how that was making you feel. I am sorry that I didn't. It cost me our relationship. I swore that if I found myself in love again, that I would treat the next person as an equal, and that we would make decisions together. And with Shayera, I found that balance. She keeps me on my toes, but I cannot even begin to imagine life without her."

"I need to find that. And I must admit, in retrospect, I could have been more understanding. But it is as you said, in the past."

"Point again."

Audrey complied.

Diana adjusted her course slightly to make it appear that she was following Audrey's direction. "I need to know something else."

"What Diana?"

"If you were not in love with Dmitri, how could you marry him and bear his child so quickly?"

"I explained the marriage. It was done out of a need to bring stability. As for our son, while he is Dmitri's, I never slept with him. No one has touched me since the last time I was with you. I couldn't bear the thought of anyone else's hands on me. So, very quietly, we arranged for me to be artificially inseminated. Kasnia needed an heir, and the marriage was further solidified in the people's minds."

Diana gasped. "Audrey, are you still in love with me?"

But Diana never got an answer, as the lodge came into view, and Shayera swung in closer with Dane giggling in her arms. The two flying women set down on the ground in front of the housing. Dane wriggled in Shayera's arms. "Again, angel, again."

Diana quickly set Audrey down, and the blonde Queen removed her son from Shayera's arms. "Not now little man. Maybe Shayera will take you on a ride some other time, but she has to go with Diana. Thank you both. I cannot express my gratitude enough. I owe so much to you and to your sisters."

Diana nodded, "We will be back. Thank us when this is all over. As soon as the capital is truly secured, we will take you back to the palace. In the meantime, who is technically in charge of your forces?"

"Dmi-." Audrey stopped short. "I am not sure who is in the city leading the remnants of my personal guard, but you need to look for an intelligence officer named Illiana Stilenko. If she is alive, she most certainly can be trusted."

"Audrey, I cannot stress to you enough that you must stay put here. Do not contact anyone. I am not entirely sure who can be trusted since the capital was openly attacked. Either myself, Alindra, or Shayera will come back as soon as we can. No contact with anyone though, do you understand?"

Audrey nodded and walked into the lodge with Dane in tow.

Diana watched the door shut and turned to Shayera. "Are you ready to go back?"

Shayera eyed Diana, "Why is one of us not staying with her?"

"I didn't think you would go for the idea. I would never send you back and stay here anyways. Those are my sisters. I need to be with them. And I would never ask you to stay with a woman who…"

The redhead immediately clipped, "Diana, stop. Is she safe here by herself?"

"Audrey said no one has been here in years. It is an all but forgotten spot. As long as she keeps her word and contacts no one, she is as safe as we can make her without one of us staying. If you feel it is best to stay, then do so, but I am headed back to the capital."

"I would rather be with Alindra and the Amazons in the capital. If you think she will be fine here, then we will go together."

"Then let's go. I think it will be fine for now."

Shayera nodded and launched herself into the air and began the flight back to the capital, not waiting for the Amazon to join her. Clearly she was still angry over the events from earlier. Diana ran her fingers through her hair in frustration, "Dammit Shayera." But she pushed her feet off the ground and sped quickly back to their destination.

A/N: Well? Shayera is pissed. Is she really being fair to Diana though? And what did you think of the conversation between Diana and Audrey? Or the fact that Diana is covering up the fact she has been to the lodge before? The next chapter will show you the Amazons in action. It turned out fantastic I think, but you will tell me. In the meantime, please leave a review. I am starting to see different people pop up and do so. I cannot stress how happy that makes me. And thank you to the regulars. You guys are awesome! For vikings013, glad you are hooked! And that you like cliffhangers. Plenty more in store for you. Happy reading!