Relatives

"Meet & Greet"

Metropolis – Clark's Apartment

Diana had stopped to go over some of the details of the bet. Clark and Kara were on the couch and Diana was sitting across from them. She was dressed as a civilian, in a tailored suit. The coffee table between them was covered with papers, as Diana leaned over looking through them.

"Diana looks very nice today, doesn't she Clark,' Kara said. She elbowed him in the ribs, raised her eyebrows and tilted her head towards Diana.

"Yes, she does,' Clark said rather flatly. He gave Kara a look, but she only smiled in return. Diana looked up from her the papers and smiled at him.

"Thank you, Kal."

Diana absently brushed some of her curls behind her ear as she looked at Clark. He found himself returning her smile. They held each other's eyes just for a moment.

"Your welcome, Diana.'

When she looked down at the papers, Kara elbowed Clark again and winked.

"Don't you have something else to do, Kara,' he asked rather pointedly.

"No,' she replied. "Besides, this is fun. I don't mind helping you two."

"That's what I was afraid of,' Clark murmured. Kara stuck out her tongue at him and then smiled sweetly. The two had been having this running, non-verbal exchange since Diana arrived.

"Hera, one of the hardest things to get used to in the Man's World is the paperwork,' Diana mused. "It seems you need a form to do everything. Oh, here's a list of possible names for us to use when we go undercover, Kal.'

She handed it to him and Kara leaned into to see.

"Mike and Ima Hunt,' Clark read the first one on the list. He looked over at Diana. "Bruce came up with this?"

Kara gave a snort and then covered her mouth trying not to laugh. Diana looked at her in confusion before turning to reply to Clark.

"That was Wally's suggestion. Why?"

"Wally, it figures,' Clark said. He scanned down the list. "Let me guess, He also gave you the names Seymour Butts and Ben Dover, didn't he?"

Kara's face was bright red and tears were in her eyes as she pulled her lower lip between her teeth trying to hold back the laughter. Diana eyed Kara and then shifted her gaze towards Clark again.

"Yes, how did you know that?"

"It just sounds like something he'd come up with."

"I'll admit the name Ima Hunt didn't appeal to me,' Diana started. Kara couldn't hold it back anymore and slumped over on the couch giggling.

"What am I missing, Kal?"

"They are joke names, Diana."

Clark was doing his best not to smile too much, but Kara's laughter wasn't helping.

"Joke names," Diana replied. "What is so funny about the name Seymour But… oh, I see."

The look on Diana's face made Kara laugh even harder. She rolled over and fell off the couch; still giggling so hard she had to hold her stomach. Diana blushed with embarrassment and then anger crossed her lovely features.

"I will have to have a talk with Wally."

"Don't let it bother you, Diana, it's just a stupid old joke that's been around for years,' Clark offered. "It's like calling up a store and asking if they have Prince Albert in a can. It's just a harmless, juvenile joke."

"I don't get that joke either,' Diana admitted.

"It's just silly, don't worry about," Clark replied.

Kara's laughter was slowing down a bit and she sat up on the floor. She looked at Clark and held out her hand.

"Give me a hand, will you please, Mr. Hunt?"

Clark rolled his eyes as she giggled again. He helped her up and she sat next to him wiping the tears from her eyes. Kara glanced over and saw Diana wasn't amused.

"S-S-Sorry, Diana,' Kara managed to say. "You know it could be worse. He didn't put Dick Hurts on the list."

When Diana didn't crack a smile or even blink, Kara found herself very uneasy. Almost reflexively, Kara slid back and slightly behind Clark almost using him as a shield.

Clark reached over and took Diana's hand and gave it a little squeeze. This got her attention immediately. He did his best to give her a reassuring smile.

"Forget about that,' he gently said. "Why don't we just move on, okay?"

"All right, Kal,' she replied. Diana returned his squeeze, holding his hand just a little longer than necessary. When he pulled away, she found herself strangely disappointed, but quickly dismissed it.

"So forgetting Wally's suggestions for now, what names would you like to use,' she asked.

Clark looked at the list again. They were all fine, he supposed, but it seemed like a lot of unnecessary extra work.

"Why don't we just keep it simple,' he suggested. "How about Diana and Clark Kent?'

"Use your last name? Why," Diana asked. Coming from a matriarchal society as she did, the whole idea of the woman giving up her last name and taking the man's seemed strange to her. Some of her sisters had suggested it was another way for men to try and dominate women. While she didn't think that was Kal's reason, she was instinctively cautious.

"We don't have to, it was just a suggestion.'

"Because I'm in the Man's world doesn't mean I will follow all it's traditions Kal,' Diana informed him.

"I would never ask you to,' he replied. "I just thought the simpler the names; the easier it would be for us to remember them. Kent is a rather standard name and you already know it. I'd be happy to use your last name if that's what you want. Do you have one, Diana?"

Diana was caught off guard by the question. She'd never even considered it before. She had used Prince on a few occasions, but that would hardly be considered her true last name. On the island and at the embassy, she was just Princess Diana.

"Well no, not really,' she admitted.

"If you don't like the name Kent, we can use something else,' Clark suggested.

"I didn't say I don't like it."

"Use the last name Kent, Diana,' Kara urged. "I think Diana Kent sounds great. Just perfect, right Clark?"

He gave her another look, but she just smiled back at him.

"It's very nice."

"I guess it would be easier,' Diana said. "You already have so many names, Kal, I wouldn't want to confuse you any more than you probably already are."

"Thanks," Clark dryly replied.

"Clark and Diana Kent,' Diana repeated, letting it roll around in her mind. "Yes, I believe you are right, Kara, it does sound nice. Yes, we should use that, I agree."

"Okay, we have that settled, what's next,' Clark asked.

Diana pulled out another of the papers and blushed a little as she handed it to him.

"The marriage license,' she said softly. "It's not real. Bruce made it to complete the cover."

"So we just sign it, right,' Clark asked. He had been looking at the license and didn't notice Diana blushing.

"Yes."

"Seems simple enough,' he said. Taking his pen, he quickly signed his name on the dotted line and held out the pen for her. "Your turn, Diana."

As Diana took the pen from him, she felt unexpectedly nervous. It wasn't real she told herself, but signing her name on the dotted line next to his on a marriage license seemed to unsettle her. Glancing up at Clark, she saw him smiling at her. She returned it. Taking a deep breath, Diana wrote her name on the form. When she finished she sat there looking at it for a moment. Diana Kent, she did like the sound of that.

"Hoorah! You are officially pretend married,' Kara shouted. "We should have champagne or something."

"You're not old enough,' Clark told her.

"But my only relative just got married,' Kara teased.

"Aren't you going out with Courtney or something,' Clark replied.

"No, she's busy tonight, so I'm free to help you two."

"I don't think that's necessary.' Clark started to say, but Kara cut him off.

"A picture! You have to have a picture of you two together,' she shouted. "Every married couple I know has a picture. I'll get my camera, you two stand together over there!"

"What married couples do you know,' Clark asked.

"Plenty,' she fired back. "Now stand with Diana, Clark!"

Before he could protest she was up and out of the room. They could hear her rummaging around, looking for her camera. Clark turned to Diana and she seemed unsure about what to say.

"Don't mind, Kara, Diana, she gets carried away sometimes,' he offered.

"I wasn't think about that, Kal,' Diana replied. "I was thinking a picture might be nice. I know this isn't real, but once we are living together, we will have to have some pictures of us together. I would imagine people will ask how we met and those sorts of questions, don't you agree?"

"Yes, I guess they will,' he admitted. "So you want to take a picture?"

'Yes,' she said. "I don't believe I have a picture of the two of us together. I've known you two years, but don't have any pictures of you really."

"I didn't know you wanted a picture of me," he replied. "Okay, if you want to do this, I'm game."

Kara rushed back into the room, holding her camera.

"Clark get over there!"

"Okay, relax, we're going to let you take a picture,' he said. Standing he moved over towards Diana. She stood up and they both turned towards Kara.

"Move closer together."

They hesitantly moved a little closer.

"Closer."

They looked at each other with nervous smiles and moved a little closer together.

"Closer."

"Kara."

"It's supposed to be a husband and wife photo, Clark, not a police lineup,' Kara replied. "Move closer to your wife."

With a sigh, Clark moved over a little more and now he and Diana were touching shoulders.

"Put your arm around each other."

Diana nervously glanced at Clark and then put her arm tentatively around his waist. Clark glanced down at her and then slowly put his arm around her shoulder.

"Lean a little more into him, Diana,' Kara instructed, as she looked through the camera at the two of them. Diana licked her lips nervously and then leaned into him. She could feel Clark's muscular chest against her and was suddenly very aware of being so close to him.

"Smile!'

They both managed something that resembled a smile just before the flash went off.

"Stay there, I want to get couple more,' Kara quickly said. She shifted a little closer, keeping the camera trained on them the whole time.

"Now look at each other."

Both turned their heads at the same time and were suddenly looking into the other's eyes. Nervous smiles came to both their lips and then the flash went off again.

"Now kiss,' Kara instructed.

"Okay, Annie Leibovitz, I think we're done with the photos,' Clark replied. He took his arm from around Diana and stepped back. She dropped her arm and took a step away also. Diana glanced at him, feeling rather unsettled by the experience but not sure why. It was only a photo she told herself.

"How about one of the two of you in your costumes kissing,' Kara teased. "We could sell it to the tabloids and pay for your whole pretend wedding with the profits!"

"How bout not,' Clark replied.

"You're no fun,' Kara grumbled.

As these two bantered away, Diana nervously straightened her suit, trying to get her mind off being so close to Clark. Seeking a distraction, she tried to focus on the paperwork again. Suddenly it seemed rather unimportant to her. Glancing at her watch, Diana saw how much time she had spent here.

"Oh, I didn't realize it was this late,' she gasped. "I'm supposed to meet the movers in fifteen minutes! Our furniture is being delivered to the our house."

"I could fly down there if you want," Clark offered.

"No, I will take care of it,' Diana replied. "I know just where I want everything so I have to be there to supervise."

"Well, if you need any help, just ask."

"Thank you, Kal and Kara, please make sure to give me copies of those photos."

"No problem."

"There was one more thing before I leave,' Kal,' Diana said.

"Oh, what's that?"

"I went to Themyscira yesterday to get someone to help out at the Embassy while I'm away,' Diana explained. "I told my mother all about the bet and how you and I will be living together. She would like to see you as soon as possible, tomorrow, in fact."

"Wh-Wh-What?"

"She wants to talk to you, Kal,' Diana repeated.

Kara defensively put her arms around Clark.

"Doesn't she hate all men,' she asked.

"I wouldn't say hate exactly, Kara,' Diana replied. "It's more a suspicious distrust of them. With what happened to her and my sisters you can understand why."

"She wants to talk to me,' Clark repeated.

"Yes, tomorrow, Kal,' Diana confirmed. "She was quite adamant about it. If you'll meet me at the Embassy we can go together."

"Couldn't I just call her or something?'

"He has unlimited minutes and no roaming charges, " Kara added. "With the new technology it's like you're right there in the room."

"Good point, Kara, I think calling is the way to go here,' Clark quickly said.

"My mother doesn't have a phone, Kal,' Diana informed him. She was already packing up her things and getting ready to leave for Gotham Heights.

"Couldn't we buy her one?"

'Tomorrow, Kal,' Diana said firmly. "She only wants to talk to you. Don't worry."

"Easy for you to say," Kara muttered.

"You're telling me,' Clark whispered to Kara.

"I hope two in the afternoon is all right, Kal,' Diana said. "Oh, and don't be late. My mother hates people being late."

Diana was at the door and she smiled at him before she left.

"Don't worry, Kal, I told her all about us living together so there shouldn't be any problem with you talking to her. Goodbye Kara. Kal, I'll see you tomorrow!'

Diana gave a little wave and then left the apartment. Clark stood there for a moment, running his hand through his hair. He was still trying to process what had just happened.

"Boy, I wouldn't want to be you, Clark,' Kara said. "Shacking up with the Queen's daughter, she's going to be so pissed!"

Clark just shook his head and then dropped down on the couch.