Chapter 20 – Unexpected News

A week later…

"...and in other news, a massive 6.7 earthquake has hit the southern coast of India. Witnesses report many buildings damaged and there are an unknown but likely high number of casualties. A tsunami warning has been issued for the State of Hawaii and Alaska. The Justice League has responded to the Indian government's request for aid and will be participating in the rescue effort along with the United States.

Next up on our station, the Lex Luthor Letter!

Hello, I'm Lex Luthor! Are you a patriotic American who wants to know what is really going on? Do you want to hold our elected officials accountable? Do you want to learn the REAL reason for the absence of the so-called Superman? One thing I can tell you, my listeners, you are not being told the truth. You'll want to turn in to hear the latest not-fake-news, from a patriotic American. Now for a commercial break…"

Diana turned the car radio off, although not quite fast enough to avoid hearing that man's cloying and condescending voice. The last thing she wanted was for her husband to become aggravated by that man's drivel. But Clark wasn't paying attention to the radio,his attention focused on driving their minivan.

It was just the two of them – Jon had been deposited with Martian Manhunter for the weekend. It was a most agreeable arrangement as Jon had come to think of the ancient Martian - having seen him in his true form – as some sort of dinosaur. Jon was always excited to see him. J'onzz would keep them busy running his endless tests, and it all only cost several cartons of Oreos.

Despite the tedium of traveling by automobile, Diana was happy, and eager for a weekend vacation. This was all courtesy of Bruce Wayne. They would be spending the weekend with him and Zatanna at some tony resort north of their home, where she was giving an exclusive one-night only performance. They had invited Clark and Diana to see the show, and spend the weekend there with them. An opportunity for a peaceful and enjoyable getaway while things were relatively quiet.

Clark and Diana were both surprised by the sudden invite; prior to this Clark's attempts to meet privately with Bruce had been rebuffed – although never directly and always with some excuse, but Clark knew when he was being put off. Then, this: Bruce had never invited either of them to one of his fancy vacation excursions. Diana knew it made her husband wonder, him who was not naturally a suspicious man.

Diana wasn't particularly concerned– it was some time since she and Clark had had time alone to themselves – didn't every couple need that every once in awhile? Those times would be few and far between, especially after the new baby arrived. She was looking forward to this, and she was hoping Clark would enjoy it too.

However, looking at his face she wondered. He looked quite serious at the moment – she could tell by the set of his jaw and his deep-set eyes. Even so, that look gave him a quite attractive appearance, even maybe a bit…Bat-like?

She raised her hand to the level of Clark's head, held out flat so it blocked half his face, and she curiously examined his profile.

"What are you doing?"

"You know, from the nose down…you could almost pass for Bruce, except for your chin. You better watch it, in case someone thinks you're a vigilante and tries to arrest you."

"I'd better stay far away from Gotham City then," Clark said. Diana couldn't tell if he was joking or not.

"Oh Clark," Diana laughed. "We're going to have a good time! Don't you think?"

Clark just grunted and the expression on his face didn't exactly suggest agreement. "What's wrong?"

"I just wonder why Bruce would ask us to meet like this."

Diana shrugged. "Well, perhaps he likes this resort or whatever it is. It sounds like a fun place, and there's a spa there, too," she added. "Or maybe it's that Zatanna prefers it?"

Clark did not sound convinced. "We could have just have easily met on the Watchtower. Or the Hall of Justice, or anywhere else."

"At least for once he's not thinking of work," Diana suggested. "Besides, maybe he needs our help for something."

Her husband snorted. "Bruce wants something for sure, otherwise he wouldn't have even bothered. You know he has some motive for doing this!"

Diana sighed. When had her husband gotten so cynical? She worried that his investigative journalism work was taking a toll on him. He still had been unable to uncover the whereabouts of John Henry Irons, or learn anything else about the explosion at the work-camp.

She picked up the flyer that she'd printed before leaving, which included the directions to the resort. She unfolded it, looking at the colorful photos, mostly of well-dressed middle-aged people smiling and playing golf. Clark glanced at it momentarily.

"I'm sure we'll fit right in too."

Diana only laughed again, determined to counteract her husband's gloominess with levity. "You think we are, how you would say, like a couple of hayseeds crashing the party? That would be fun!"

"He does this deliberately, you know! Why couldn't he just meet us at our house or anywhere normal…"

"He's a master tactician, so of course he would do so, and it's clearly working."

"What do you mean?"

Diana leaned back in her car seat. "He is trying to introduce you to new things, and it is making you so uncomfortable, I can tell."

"I am not afraid of 'new things' and I am not uncomfortable, either!" Clark retorted, but Diana caught the hint of a grin on his face, although he tried to stifle it.

"Yes you are," Diana argued. "You are a creature of habit. That is not good for a warrior."

"Well I'm hardly that anymore."

Diana gently touched his bicep. "That is not true. You are getting stronger, my love. I can feel it. It is only a matter of time before your powers are back, all of them. Didn't you tell me that your hearing is becoming more acute? We must start sparring again."

"In your condition?"

Diana squeezed his arm warningly. "Never underestimate what an Amazon can do, even when pregnant!"

She held up the flyer. "Anyway, we should practice some 'self-care' – remember that presentation Helena gave? I'm sure things will get hectic again, they always do. I wouldn't mind having a facial. So what else is bothering you?" Diana asked, when Clark remained quiet.

"You know what."

Clouds passed over the sun, throwing the highway and the minivan into shadow, and it seemed like inside vehicle's occupants as well.

"I still think there must be some explanation," Diana said in the quiet that followed. Unconsciously she had pitched her voice low as if someone could be listening. "Bruce isn't a thief."

"Except when he has to be. If he thinks that those…those books could help him, I think he would."

"But help him to do what?" Diana was puzzled.

"I'm not sure," Clark said slowly.

"What do you think?"

"I don't know." Clark admitted after a moment's thought. "I really don't know."

Diana thought Clark actually did know, but he clearly didn't want to say. The rest of the drive occurred in silence. The resort was only about a hundred miles away from their home, and about twenty from the interstate, so it didn't take them much longer to near their destination. The landscape changed as they approached, from trash-littered highway to luxury buildings rising out of a forest of green trees and manicured lawns, dazzling and welcoming, promising pleasant sights and relaxation. A billboard announced the Mistress of Magic's show.

"This isn't a casino is it?" Clark wondered. "I remember Ma and Pa would go to the Indian casino once in a while to play the slots and eat at the buffet. You could get a rib-eye steak there for under ten dollars…"

"I don't think so Clark," Diana interrupted as she spotted the security checkpoint and the gates. "I don't think anything here costs under ten dollars."

A unsmiling and uniformed security guard eyed their battered minivan suspiciously as they stopped. It only served to confirm Clark's suspicions.

"Well so much for our vacation. Should we turn around and get Jon?"

"Stop being foolish," Diana poked him in the ribs as the guard peered in through the lowered window.

"Do you need directions?" The guard evidently believed they taken the wrong exit off the highway on their way to the Wal-Mart.

"Um, we have reservations here for two days?" Clark said, rather more timidly than Diana would have liked.

"May I see your ID?" The guard's tone suggested he thought said reservations were largely in Clark's imagination.

Clark fumbled for his driver's license and handed it to the guard. The guard reluctantly went back into his booth. He seemed to take a long time.

"If Bruce forgot to put our names down I guess we can always go camping. The tent's still in the back," Clark suggested hopefully, and Diana thought he was more than half-serious.

She poked him again just as the guard returned, this time with a decidedly noticeable change of attitude.

"Yes, sir, ma'am, your reservations have been confirmed! Please enter and enjoy yourselves."

"Thanks," Clark pulled away and down the long avenue to the parking area. "Must be nice," he murmured aside to Diana.

"It certainly is." Diana leaned back in her seat, relieved.

The Amazon part of Diana couldn't help but assess the place as if it were a place to be besieged – she realized that the resort was designed almost as if to mislead the attacker, as it appeared to be designed like a maze, and perhaps would be as difficult to escape – that is, if one wanted to escape, which this utopia suggested would be an unlikely choice, as she surveyed the shops and luxury boutiques and other resort buildings. They didn't encounter any more obstacles as they parked the minivan.

"It's a big place – just where are we supposed to find Bruce?" Clark grumbled as he pulled out their luggage, surveying the acres of parking lot. "He never mentioned where we were supposed to meet him, did he?"

"He'll find us, don't you know! But I think check-in is over there."

"Thataway, then," Clark shouldered his garment bag and took his wife's hand with the other.

Check-in fortunately was relatively painless, the staff extremely courteous and helpful, unlike their initial reception. They passed through what seemed like miles of bright spotless carpeting and walls covered with actual art, unobtrusive music lightly playing in the background, uniformed waiters and others moving quietly and efficiently about. There were plenty of people present, and Diana pointed out to Clark that they didn't look and better, or richly dressed, than they themselves were. Everything was decidedly normal, but that only seemed to trigger Clark's instincts to sniff out a story. Perhaps it would fit in for a series of articles he was planning on the minimum-wage. He had to admit this was an appealing place.

Once they arrived at their villa – bigger than their entire cottage! – they saw a welcoming bouquet and a towering basket of gourmet edibles on the kitchen table, with a note addressed to them pinned on it. While Diana went to inspect the bathroom, Clark took the note: he instantly recognized Bruce's handwriting. His note was as terse as all his communications were:

You kids enjoy yourselves, everything's on the house. Yes, Clark, I mean everything. Zatanna hopes you enjoy the show tonight. We'll see you at breakfast tomorrow at 8.

"Hmm. Looks like we'll have to wait until tomorrow then," Clark muttered. He had hoped to see Bruce right away. He put the note down and looked around the spacious room as Diana came out. She commented on the massive sunken tub in the bathroom, and then tested the springiness of the queen-size bed by throwing herself bodily on it.

"So looks like we have all this time until tonight. It's only 1pm. What are we going to do?"

Diana smiled at him suggestively. "We have plenty of time before the show tonight. I can think of several things we can do."

"Um…what do you mean, in your condition?"

Diana scowled. "You are pushing it, Kryptonian! Come here and say that to my face!"

She gripped him and pulled him down onto her, feeling his weight press down onto her, bouncing into the bed. There was more than ample room for the both of them. Clark smiled, a big one this time. Diana cupped his face in her hands. She felt the warmth in her palms, and she could imagine the sunlight pouring from his flesh into hers. She kissed him then, deeply, and he returned it, with enthusiasm. His weight pressed against, and she strained against him. His hands roamed down her body to rest a moment on her belly, where their new life rested, and below.

Clark raised his face. She stared at him challengingly. "Do you have anything else to say?"

He didn't.

They almost missed the show.

The next day…morning

Clark turned the gold-colored tap and ran hot water into the basin. Steam soon began rising up into the air, fogging the mirror. He rubbed the glass clear with his fist and examined his face in the reflection – the ordinary face of a young man, with a significant amount of stubble, and somewhat bleary after a long night. Nothing really exceptional.

Sighing, Clark squeezed a good amount of shaving cream into his palm and rubbed the stuff into his dark bristles. He took his Pa's old straight-razor from its leather case; it had been in the family since the 1800s according to Kent family lore. It was one of several items he had salvaged from the old homestead, an heirloom that he had really had no use for, other than old memories, until recently. Hal, if he was here, would have called it a hipster affectation, but it was actually very useful to him now.

Slowly and methodically he began scraping his cheeks. Ever since his powers had been depleted he had used Pa's razor to shave his face; although he felt the resistance, but maybe he was just imagining it. The point was, he could still shave his face like an ordinary human, and that meant he was just as vulnerable too. He might have to get used to it for much longer, no matter what Diana said.

He heard the bathroom door open, and Diana hovered in the doorway, a hand on her hips.

"And I thought I took a long time."

"I'm almost done," Clark said, splashing water on his face and adding a little aftershave. "We're not late, are we?"

"No, we've got plenty of time," Diana sidled up to him, and Clark jerked as she pinched him, in a sensitive spot. "Plenty of time if you hurry up."

Clark squirted shaving cream in her direction, causing a colorful Amazon oath to emerge. She pushed him out of the bathroom.

"Get yourself dressed!"

"What should I wear?"

"Whatever we brought, as long as it's not my clothes."

"Too bad, I was thinking about slipping into that little silky dress you wore last night," Clark laughed. "I kept thinking about it all yesterday."

"Good thing to know where your mind was, I could swear you were distracted by Zatanna."

"She was very good, wasn't she?" Clark enjoyed teasing her, although he well knew teasing Diana was always a risky proposition. "She's really got the sexy magician act down-pat, doesn't she? If she wasn't with Bruce, maybe…"

"You are pushing it again," Diana slammed the door.

"Maybe she has a magical sister somewhere?"

"You will be driving home alone!" She yelled from behind it

"You know I'm only joking!" Clark laughed.

Clark pulled on a clean pair of jeans and a shirt, and thought about the show last night. It was the first time he had seen her live on stage; it was a modest venue giving the act an intimate air and Zatanna had clearly tailored her act to fit it but she was stunning as always. He had enjoyed it very much, although he was never actually much for magick. He was also fairly positive that Zatanna used real magick in her act, although she never actually admitted it ('good magicians never give away their secrets,' she often said). But he had noticed Diana, seated next to him, being a little uncomfortable during those moments. She wasn't comfortable around magick, genuine magick, and he guessed it might be some Amazon thing, very likely a prejudice against magick, or magicians. He knew she was always worried that magick was his Achilles heel, but now, he thought ruefully, his heel could be anything now. Fortunately no one had taken advantage of it, thanks to his friends.

Diana came out of the bathroom, dressed in a colorful blouse and skirt, and Clark pulled her into a hug. She pressed her hands into his chest.

"Not now, we have to get going," she protested, but Clark saw the corners of her red lips turn into a smile. "You men, can you think of nothing else?"

"No!" Clark laughed. Both of them knew the reason for the levity. One way or another, questions had to be asked this morning, questions neither of them truly felt comfortable with asking. But it had to be done, sometime.

Bruce had texted them how to find them. There was a whole 'other' resort within the resort, little islands of exclusivity that offered privacy to certain very high-end clients, typically celebrities or high-level business executives…such as Bruce Wayne.

A limousine chauffeured by a liveried driver met them outside their villa (exactly as they emerged) and ferried them the few miles to their destination (apparently walking was discouraged). Bruce was waiting for them, alone, in front of the mini-estate that the car pulled up to, casually dressed and looking expectant.

"Clark, Diana," He was smiling warmly as the chauffeur opened their doors. "I'm glad you came."

"Thanks so much for inviting us," Clark embraced his friend in a hug. "We really needed this."

"Where's Zatanna?" Diana asked.

"She's inside, on the veranda. We already have breakfast set out. Did you get enough rest?"

"Of course," Clark stated, although maybe 'rest' wasn't the correct word for his and Diana's activities the previous evening. He seemed impatient to ask his questions; Diana rested her hand on his arm, her unspoken instruction for patience. They followed Bruce into the mansion home. Diana seemed uncurious but he stared at the interior furnishings - the place looked like a museum.

"This is some hotel. Do you stay here often?" Clark asked.

Bruce grinned. "No, this is my first time here actually. I thought it might make a nice change. Zatanna already had the engagement, just the one time as a favor to the booking agent here she knows. Her crew already left last night."

There was something in his face that Clark noticed, but couldn't define, a certain wariness. He wondered if there was something going on with the League that Bruce wanted to talk to him and Diana about but he didn't say anything else until they had joined Zatanna outside.

The Mistress of Magic was seated at the table on the veranda, which was heaped with coffee and cake. She smiled as they approached, but she didn't get up. Clark thought she looked a little tired; he guessed that was to be expected after an evening show.

"Hi guys! I hoped you enjoyed the show."

"It was terrific," Clark replied truthfully. "I'm happy I could finally see your show in person. I didn't know you could dance."

"Oh, thank you. I'm not really a dancer, my teacher said I was too clumsy! You know it might be my last live show in awhile," Zatanna added. But before Clark could ask her what that meant, Bruce spoke up and they somehow got on a conversation about something else, nothing related to their work. Clark found himself distracted as they all engaged in small talk, which in some way was a relief. He knew it was a procrastination but for now it was ok as they just relaxed in each other's company, as if they really were ordinary people. And the morning helped. It was pleasant to be outside: the sun was out, and there wasn't anyone else in sight. They could smell the heady perfume scent of the flowers planted all around the veranda. They really could have been on an isolated island, Clark thought, so peaceful it was here, no sounds of traffic or anything else.

Diana watched both Bruce and Zatanna. She couldn't help but notice that they had hardly touched their food, and, strangely, had hardly looked at each other. Both of them seemed a little tense, almost nervous, although she didn't quite understand why, and she couldn't imagine what Bruce had to be nervous about, especially here. Zatanna was unusually quiet. She glanced at Clark, but he seemed oblivious, continuing to yak about sports, which neither she nor Zatanna apparently, found particularly compelling.

"It doesn't matter that they're awful, everyone knows that," Bruce was saying in that stubborn manner of his about something or other. "But if you're born in Gotham City, or wherever, naturally you root for the home team, don't you find that's true Clark?"

"You sure do." Clark agreed wholeheartedly.

"I wouldn't know anything about it," Zatanna said. "I never really had a 'hometown.' I wasn't even born in America and after we moved here Dad and I traveled in our RV from town to town."

Clark's eyes suddenly lit up. "Ma and Pa always talked about getting an RV when they retired," he said. "They never did get one, but I've always been interested. What kind of rig did you have?"

"Oh! I think it was a Newmar. We had a used one, but dad customized it, in his own way of course. It was really very comfortable, just like a 'real' home. We went everywhere, almost all the states, even into Mexico one time."

"Did it run on diesel or gas?"

The conversation grew more animated as Clark and Zatanna began talking slide-outs, mileages per gallon, Class As versus Class Cs, and the costs of maintenance, while Bruce and Diana listened nonplussed. When Clark began asking what it was like for Zatanna as a child to live on the road, Diana grew a little alarmed.

Does this Argive actually want his family to live out of some sort of truck? She thought with ire.

"Clark, I don't think the four of us can all fit in a motor home," Diana said mildly. Clark's face fell but Zatanna went to his defense.

"Oh, there's plenty of storage space, it's not like..."

Zatanna suddenly paled. Her hand flew to her mouth.

"Oh. Uh...excuse...excuse me..."

She got up in a hurry and fled back into the mansion. Clark and Diana stared after her, stunned. Bruce didn't move.

"I'll go see if she's all right," Diana shot Bruce a curious glance as she followed Zatanna into the house.

Bruce Wayne continued to look down at the table surface, poked idly at a muffin with his fork He seemed totally unconcerned, which surprised Clark. It didn't seem like him.

"Has...anything been wrong with Zatanna?" Clark asked tentatively. "She looked fine last night."

"No, she's all right," Bruce said shortly. He said it with such certainty. Zatanna had just run out of here looking deathly ill but he didn't appear to think anything of it.

"How do you know?" Clark demanded. He knew if it had been Diana he wouldn't have just sat out here without checking on her, or acting...well, the way Bruce was acting.

"It's..." Bruce shook his head, pursed his lips. "How to say it..."

Now, Clark was concerned. "What's wrong? Are you two not getting along?"

"We're getting along just fine," Bruce said. "Really."

"Then, um, what is it? Maybe I can help…?"

"Zatanna's pregnant."

Clark sat upright, eyes widening, stunned with the suddenness of the announcement. For a moment he was genuinely frozen with surprise, a look that clearly the Dark Knight relished.

All thoughts of confronting Bruce with his questions, the security video footage he had uploaded to his smartphone and intended to show Bruce, had been thrown clear from his mind as if he had been slapped with wet Kryptonite.

"What? I…I mean, wow, that's wonderful! Congratulations!"

"She told me a couple of days ago. We didn't expect or plan this, much like you and Diana for that matter. I'm afraid...I don't think I reacted very well."

Bruce remembered Zatanna coming into his library, where he had been attempting to research a certain cousin's history, with limited success. His irritation must have showed on his face, which didn't exactly create an ideal setting. He had demanded to know what she wanted, maybe more rudely than he'd intended certainly, so she had just blurted it out. After that, things had gotten a little...hazy. The shock, he presumed. He had just sat there, in his chair, frozen and unable to utter a word, though hundreds if not thousands of words with their attendant meanings were swirling about in his head. Zatanna had just stared at him, not surprised at all, it appeared, from his reaction, like she was just waiting for him to say something. He had wanted to say something, but it was taking such a long time. Finally, at some point, Zatanna had just left him alone, he thought, since when he came to his senses she wasn't there anymore in the library. He'd leapt up from his chair, suddenly frantic, thinking she had left the Manor, left him. But he'd found her in her room, lying on her bed, idly leafing through some magazine as if nothing had happened. He didn't remember exactly what he had said then, only that he'd fallen to his knees and grabbed onto her hands, babbling all sorts of things like how he would love and care for her and the baby and generally making an almighty fool of himself. Zatanna had just expressed an almost preternatural patience with him, as if she'd totally expected this type of reaction from him. All the while, Bruce thought, that feeling in the back of his mind that something...

Clark stared at him. "Aren't you, I mean, aren't you, uh, happy about this?"

Bruce sighed. "I'd rather you not mention to anyone else in the League right now. I'll figure out the right time to announce it to everyone."

That wasn't really a yes. "Of course, Bruce. I know everyone's going to be very happy for you, for both of you."

"Well, I'd prefer it be a secret for now," Bruce said. "After what I said about fraternizations in the League, I haven't exactly lived up to my own guidelines, have I?"

"That's ok," Clark said. He realized maybe this was why Bruce had asked him and Diana here. "Di and I will support you. Look, it's not always the easiest thing, but I wouldn't change anything for the world. Being a father is the most incredible thing that's ever happened to me, I mean it. Jon's everything to me."

Bruce nodded, looking slightly more relieved. "I thought...if there is anyone I could tell, it would be you. You would understand, of all people."

"Anything I can do to help you, you know I will!"

He didn't say anything. Bruce wasn't exactly reacting like how Clark thought an newly expectant father would. He looked uncertain, even a little wary. "You weren't expecting this, I guess."

"No. I thought I was being careful. Zatanna...well, it doesn't matter. She wants the baby, and if she does, so do I."

Do you really mean that? Clark wondered, but then Bruce offered one of his rare smiles.

"You know I'll support her every way I can."

"I wasn't worried. I know you'll do the right thing." Clark said instinctively. "If there's anything I and Diana can do to help-?"

"That's one of the reasons we asked you and Diana to come out here this weekend, we wanted you to be the first to know. Other than Alfred, of course."

"I'm sure he's very happy."

"Delighted," Bruce sighed again. "He'd almost given up on the Wayne line having a future."

"Well, now it does!" Clark clapped his friend on the shoulder. Bruce winced.

"You're getting stronger, I can tell."

Diana found Zatanna in the bathroom (the second one she'd checked, there were quite a few in this place), and heard the unmistakable sound of retching. She found Zatanna as much as she expected, 'worshipping the porcelain goddess' as she'd once heard it put, or, puking her guts out as it sounded like.

"Zatanna, are you all right?"

"What?" Zatanna looked up, her face wan and sweaty. "Oh…I'm fine, it's…it's nothing. I'll be ok."

"Hm."

Diana fetched a washcloth and ran cold water over it. She handed it to Zatanna, who took it gratefully. She wiped her mouth and managed to move herself to the plush linen couch in the sumptuously appointed bathroom. She looked better now, as far as Diana could tell, but...

A sudden illumination came to Diana, along with a sense of deja vu.

"Zatanna, you're not…?"

"I guess...you've been through all this before," Zatanna laughed shakily. "This is all new for me. I think I would have asked for a preview viewing first, though."

"By Hera!" Diana exclaimed, eyes wide. She sat next to Zatanna on the divan. "You and Bruce…?"

She nodded, for a moment looking very young, even a little embarrassed.

"But you said nothing during breakfast!"

"We did want to tell you today," Zatanna replied. "That's why we wanted to ask you here, somewhere private where we could tell the both of you. Somehow. Bruce, well, I don't know why but he thinks you'll think the worse of him."

"What?" Diana stared. "Why? I wouldn't think that at all!"

"You know Bruce."

"Yes I guess I do. He's always been the 'I'm in control always' type."

Diana appraised Zatanna again. She now realized that the tenseness she'd sensed in her was actually fear. "This is your first?"

Zatanna nodded. "We didn't plan this, exactly, it's all my fault really. I should have been more careful..."

Diana's eyes narrowed. "It's not anybody's 'fault.' It's not like Bruce doesn't share some responsibility. Why, did he say anything to you about that?"

"He said enough."

Some of Diana's old prejudice regarding men came to the fore. It must have showed on her face since Zatanna then said hurriedly. "It's not what you think. I know he'll do everything for the baby. He didn't act stupid...not too much, anyway."

"Then...is something else wrong? I mean, is there anything I can do?"

Zatanna had gone quite quiet. Diana waited patiently. For a moment the two women just sat there silently. Zatanna's face worked and for a worrisome moment Diana wondered if she was going to cry, but she didn't...much to Diana's relief.

"I don't think I ever told you. My mother died in childbirth. Dad never remarried and, and Bruce, you know that whole thing with his parents..." Zatanna shook her head. "It's just made him a little weird. I guess I am worried. About me and him When I told him..., well, let's just say today he's doing much better. I think he wanted to shut me up in the Batcave for the next nine months."

"Hera," Diana shook her head. "Men." Suddenly she began to laugh, just very softly. Zatanna looked at her in surprise.

"What?"

"It is so, how do you say, I guess there isn't a word for it in English. The two of us, the way we are now, and those two. It's like taking care of two sets of children."

Zatanna smiled, and she laughed too. It was a relief, it was if someone had splashed a big jug of relief on her face.

"Can I ask you something?"

Diana nodded.

"Would you change anything that's happened? I mean, since you left Themsycira the first time. Was all this...everything you expected?"

Diana leaned back. "If you had told me, even five years ago, that my greatest happiness would be a man and bearing his children, I would have thought you were utterly mad. I didn't want to have anything to do with all that, I thought I was above it all. After I got to know Clark, it all changed, so fast it seems like. I can't help sometimes but wonder how much of myself has changed. No, it was far from anything I could ever have planned. But I would change nothing of it. I'm still Diana. Just…a little different. Older, for sure. Wiser too, I hope."

Zatanna took a deep breath. "Bruce wants to get married too. He didn't exactly propose, almost more like an order. He went on about how there's never been an 'illegitimate Wayne' - yes he actually said that - for over a hundred years or something."

"Really?" This morning was certainly full of surprises. "What did you say?"

She only lifted her shoulders. "Bruce is like a force of nature. It's not a bad idea, though, although I'm not sure how my fans will take it."

"I'm sure none of them can contend when Bruce is on the offensive!"

Diana then wondered what Clark and Bruce were up to, on their own. She imagined they must be having a similar conversation.

"Are you up to go back out?"

"Yes, I think so. We should, before those two get up to any trouble."

Before she could leave Diana grasped her shoulder.

"I know you and I haven't been...close, before, but this changes many things. I would be your sister, if you wish it. I could help you through this."

For a moment Zatanna looked very uncertain. But then she nodded vigorously. "Yes, I would like that very much. Thank you, Diana."

When they returned to their men, both could tell the news had been conveyed. Clark had the most boyishly attractive smile on his face, Zatanna thought, and he enveloped her in an enormous bear hug - he was really so strong, even depowered! - and congratulated her.

"I was surprised but not too surprised," Clark said. "I knew Bruce couldn't stand it, he has to catch up!"

"What? Oh," Zatanna looked at Bruce questioningly.

"That had nothing to do with it," Bruce stammered hastily. But Clark laughed.

"I'm just joking! But Jon's and his brother, or sister, we'll have to come up with a name soon, won't we Di? We'll be scheduling playdates before you know it."

"Indeed," Bruce's tone suggested not entirely domesticated. "I'll leave that up to you."

The rest of the day was mercifully conventional, they spent it all together, at the spa and then back at the mansion-villa. Zatanna didn't mention her pregnancy, other than to say she felt ok, and that she wasn't far enough along for Clark to detect a heartbeat - if he could, that is. She wasn't sick again, and soon it was time for Clark and Diana to leave, and fetch Jon.

"We'll be seeing you, soon?" Diana asked. She had watched Clark to see if he was going to bring up the 'incident' but it seemed to have flown from his head. She would take him to task for it later.

"I'll be back at the Watchtower tomorrow," Bruce said, then he looked at Clark. "How is your investigation coming?"

Clark shook his head. "No leads. Lois wants me to drop it and focus on something else. You haven't found anything either?"

"No," Bruce admitted ruefully. "And I don't like that. We all need to be more careful. It's been too quiet."

"Quiet is a good thing," Zatanna said. "Let's hope it stays that way!"

Not bloody likely, Diana thought, but she hoped it would, for her and Zatanna's sakes, anyway. Soon they would be occupied with other things.

The limo pulled up and soon there wasn't an opportunity to continue the conversation. They said their goodbyes.

Bruce and Zatanna watched the limo leave. "So, that's done. I'm sure the news will be all over the League soon."

"Oh, no it won't-"

"He's going to see J'onn J'onzz to pick up the kid. J'onn will read everything. That alien is even worse at concealing a scoop than Clark."

Zatanna shook her head. "I don't know what you're worried about. No one will care, I mean, everyone will be supportive, just like they were with Clark and Diana when they had Jon, except you maybe."

"Perhaps you're right."

Bruce didn't share his thought that there may be a few who wouldn't. He half-suspected Huntress might be one, the way he had caught her eyeballing him when she thought wasn't aware. There was also the way Hawkman had looked at Zatanna once or twice, and it wasn't jealously, he was damn certain. Almost as if she were some kind of enemy, although Bruce didn't understand why that was. Something about the Thanagarian made him think that he would need to keep a closer watch on Zee, especially now.

And Selina. She would find out eventually. Well, he would deal with her later.

"We should get back. Alfred will be worried about us."

"Why?"

Bruce stared at her. "If you think I'm the overprotective one, you don't know how Alfred can get!"

"All right."

She squeezed his hand. "Do you want to leave with me?"

Bruce shook his head. "There's a few things I need to take care. Have Alfred prepare something for dinner. I'll be back home in a few hours."

"All right." She looked at him a moment and then kissed him, just lightly on the cheek, then stepped back. "Nruter to enyaW ronaM."

Bruce stood there alone, for a moment. He thought he might have a little bruise where Clark had clapped him on the back. He really was getting stronger, if he didn't quite realize it; perhaps he would have to relearn to deal with his strength all over again. One thing was for certain - he didn't have his x-ray vision in place yet. Otherwise, he may have noticed the sheaf of papers he had tucked inside his jacket pocket. He could feel it in there, almost as if it were a living thing. The letter from his long-presemed-dead cousin, not dead at all of course, but not quite as a living human being either. It had not left his person since he had received it together with the portrait. It now hung in a sealed off area of the Batcave, very close to where he kept his small portion of Kryptonite. He had spent some minutes alone with it, staring at it in the light of the green meteorite, contemplating what was written in that letter.

"I believe I don't have to counsel you on the forces that are currently being arrayed against you and your allies," the author had written in spider-thin elegant calligraphy. "But they are drawing closer daily. I suspect that you will want to avail yourself of any power that may help you. I understand that you are now in the possession of several ancient tomes which you believe will provide you that power. They are indeed books of POWER but you must learn how to understand them. Others, perhaps your enemies, also have such texts, but they will destroy themselves with the knowledge contained therein, or at the least misunderstand what is REALLY meant. People are so illiterate these days! However I shall provide you the means to truly comprehend what you seek. You, my dear boy, have a certain shall we say IMMUNITY due to your experiences on the island of the Amazons, and what happened when-"

There were, indeed, instructions contained in the letter. He had not pursued them. Not yet. So much was happening, and it was a little faster than he was comfortable with. He was also note quite comfortable with Randolph Carter's reappearance in his life. His life, which had taken such a strange and unknown turn.

Carter had written something about that also.

"...And I certainly don't wish to interfere in your personal life, however your choice of companions compels me to caution you of their intentions. At the end of the day, a witch is a witch and she has her own agenda. Surely you must have witnessed her powers, and her familiars, in action. That she has attached herself to you may not suggest a convivial attraction but likely a means to her own ends..."

Bruce's fists clenched. Zee wasn't a malevolent woman, he was certain of that. Yet everything that had happened, and now this...it was so sudden...if only he could be sure.

One thing was certain - he needed to know more. Whether or not Zatanna had been truthful in every thing, it didn't matter now. He couldn't risk her, and he couldn't allow himself or the League to be surprised by a sudden attack, from where he didn't yet know. He needed more information.

He resolved to get it.

To be continued...

[A/N: Well, I hope you all enjoy the latest developments! I am afraid I just won't be able to update as regularly as before due to my job, but I will continue as long as I can. We might get a glimpse at what Harley and the Joker have up to, and especially Deathstroke. Also what Selina Kyle is going to make of all this :o]