Spinning

"Miles to go before we sleep"

Gotham Heights

"When the lights go down in the city

And the sun shines on the bay

Ooh I want to be there in my city,

oh oh

Oh, oh, oh oh!"

There's an old axiom that nothing good happens after midnight, even in the suburbs. When you get a group of novice suburban Satan worshippers mixed with their neighbors on a Saturday night and add too much food, liquor and other ingredients, this is especially true. Throw in three Amazons and you got yourself a party.

As Clark sat back and watched Hippolyta and Phillipus sway arm in arm with several of the neighbors valiantly attempting to sing along with the Journey song "Lights" he had to admit it was an interesting night.

"Do you think they've been bewitched somehow, Kal?"

"I think their high, Diana,' he replied. "Well and a little drunk, too."

"What? Don't be ridiculous, you're talking about my mother,' Diana said.

"No, that's Polly and Philly getting their freak on,' he joked. It earned him a smack from Diana.

"Ow."

"When the lights go down in the city

And the sun shines on the bay

Do I want to be there

In my city,

ohoh ohohohoh ohoh

mmmmhmhm ohoh ohohoh ohoh!"

There were cheers and hugs all around as the song ended. Hippolyta and Phillipus came walking over to Clark and Diana with smiles on their faces and drinks in their hands.

"We must get some of this vodka for the island, it's wonderful,' Phillipus said.

"And some of that Pot, as well,' Hippolyta added.

"Careful, 5-0,' Phillipus replied, gesturing toward Diana and Clark. Hippolyta nodded in agreement. They both laughed a little at this.

"Enjoying the party,' Clark asked with a smile.

"Yes, very much." Both ladies agreed.

"Mother, don't you two think you should act your age,' Diana demanded. She was more than a little concerned by their behavior.

"I've lived three thousand years, Diana, that doesn't meant I'm old," Hippolyta replied. "Besides, it's a party and we are just attempting to fit in."

The General nodded in agreement but than started to laugh and was joined by Hippolyta. They tried to pull it together as they saw the look of disapproval on Diana's face, but with only mixed results.

"I believe my plastic cup is empty again," Phillipus said as she stared at it. She turned and headed back towards the bar.

"I would like another one as well, please,' Hippolyta called. Phillipus waved as she continued through the crowd. Hippolyta sat down next to Diana and smiled as she looked around her.

"Mother, have you been doing anything illegal,' Diana asked. Hippolyta straightened up at this question.

"I am the Queen of a sovereign nation, Diana, and as such, not subject to the laws of a foreign power,' she regally said. Her attention was then draw to the decorative lights that were strung around the backyard. "Have you noticed how vivid the colors are tonight? Or how the beat of the music seems to speak to you?"

"Yeah, she's high,' Clark chuckled. This earned him another smack from Diana.

"Ow."

"Mother, I can't believe you are acting like this,' Diana protested. "What would our sisters say if they saw you right now?"

"But they are not here, daughter, are they,' Hippolyta replied, patting Diana on the leg. "It seems only fair if I must go along with pretending you two are married, then you can go along with me having a little fun for once without worrying about how it appears."

"But mother,' Diana began to complain, but Hippolyta cut her off.

"It's a party, daughter and the music makes me feel like dancing. Join me."

Diana started to object, but her mother pulled her up and towards the makeshift dance floor. Diana turned towards Clark for help, but he just shrugged and smiled. Phillipus came back carrying two drinks and looked around. When she heard the music, she smiled and closed her eyes for a moment.

"Oh, I like this song, hold these will you," she said, pressing them into Clark's hands. She quickly moved to join Hippolyta and Diana.

It was a fast song, Brickhouse by the Commodores and the small dance floor quickly filled up. It was mostly the women, but a few of the men gave it a try. Clark, knowing full well his limitations, sat it out. Fast dancing wasn't one of the things he was 'super' at.

After her initial reluctance, Diana seemed to get in the spirit of things. She had always loved to dance. Putting aside whatever reason behind her mother and the general attitude, Diana decided just to enjoy this moment.

As Clark took a sip of his drink and watched the three Amazons dance, two of the husbands came over to him.

"Some party, huh, Clark,' Bob said. Both he and Ted didn't seem to be able to tear their eyes away from the dance floor. Clark had to admit Diana, Hippolyta and Phillipus did make quite the impression.

"Yes, it's a nice party."

Ted nudged Bob and tilted his head towards Clark in encouragement.

"Um, ah, Clark, we were wondering something and were hoping you could help us."

"What's that?"

"This Greek island your wife and her relatives come from, do all the women look like them?"

"Not all,' Clark replied. "Most."

"God Almighty," Ted whispered, taking another look at Diana.

"Is it, um, hard to get to?"

"Very,' Clark said.

"It would be worth it,' Ted mused.

"Um, ah, thanks, Clark, man you're a lucky guy,' Bob offered, as the two men walked away shaking their heads.

"Yeah, I'm a lucky guy," Clark repeated to himself. He leaned forward, holding the plastic cup between his hands. It was true, for the most part Clark felt extraordinarily lucky. Without even bringing his powers into the equation, he felt very fortunate. Parents that loved and watched out for him had raised him. With the arrival of Kara he had a real family, along with Martha. He had a good job that he still enjoyed and many friends. It was a good life and he was honored to have it, but there was still one rather large hole in it.

With everything that had been happening, he'd almost forgotten it.

Glancing around he saw couples laughing and embracing. For them this was real, this was their life. Maybe it was the hour or just emotions catching up to him, but Clark felt rather melancholy. Watching the other couples bought back the hard cold fact that this was an illusion for Clark and the reality was he was alone. Lois' words about it being a beautiful fantasy while it lasted came back to him.

As much as it still hurt, he understood what she was saying. He wanted so much to try and fix things, to make it right, but there really wasn't anything to do. Some things just fall apart and can't be put back together. He had tried harder to make it work than he had at anything else in his life, yet in the end it hadn't been enough.

He didn't want to be one of those people that couldn't accept when something was over. He understood that desire to hold on so tight that it wouldn't slip away, but to do so would destroy what they had in the first place. Not everything is meant to be forever. If he couldn't accept that, he would ruin both their lives. If you truly care for someone, he wondered, how could you ever want that for him or her? As painful and gut wrenching as the end of a relationship is, letting it slip into bitterness was worse.

It seemed he was back where he always was, alone. He still believed in love and hoped it was out there for him. With each defeat though, it got just a little harder to take that risk. The heart was the one part that wasn't made of steel. It could be bruised easily and every time it was it took a little longer to heal.

Clark took a sip of his drink and glanced around him again. A sad smile crossed his face as he thought about the other part of the bet that seemed to have slipped everyone's mind. The supposed reason they were here undercover, was to find out who was behind the ritual animal sacrifices and pentagrams that had popped up in this community.

As he was walked around the party all night, Clark slowly put the pieces together. It didn't even take his super talents to figure it out. There were slips of the tongue as the alcohol flowed. At first he couldn't believe what he was hearing, but as the night progressed he began to understand. Cubby and LuAnn were the ringleaders of some amatuer quasi-Satan cult and several of the other couples at the party were members. Ringleaders sounded a little too strong, he had to admit. These weren't bad or evil people.

As he listened to them talk, he started to understand. Times were hard and they were all afraid of seeing their dreams slip away. They'd worked so hard, played by the rules all their lives and had made something for themselves. Clark saw they hadn't realized just how razor thin the margin was. Success could turn into failure overnight and those dreams they'd worked for all their lives would vanish just as quickly.

Desperate times make people do desperate things. It's why fortunetellers and rainmakers still make a living. People are looking for help anywhere they can find it. Yes, this group had gone a little further than most, but he could tell they weren't bad people. They'd found something that gave them some hope and in times like these that's important.

Most of his life fighting villains and galactic threats was black and white, but this was much more about shades of gray. To treat Cubby, LuAnn and the rest like any other criminal seemed wrong to Clark. Zero tolerance sounds good, but life isn't like that. Good and bad, right and wrong always have degrees to them.

Clark glanced over at the dance floor and smiled as he saw Diana. She was enjoying herself dancing with her mother and mentor. He understood that if he solved the 'crime' that would technically end the bet, as there would be no more need for them to be undercover. That would mean he would return to his empty apartment and that prospect held little appeal to him right now.

Watching her dance, Clark saw what every other man at the party saw. She was an extraordinarily beautiful woman. He'd always been aware of this, but right now it was more apparent than ever. He found he liked pretending to be married to her. He could only imagine how depressing the last week would have been if she hadn't been there. He'd known her for two years, as Wonder Woman and they were friends, yet in the last week he'd learned more about Diana, the woman wearing the costume than in all that previous time.

Clark reminded himself this was only an illusion that it was just pretend. They weren't really married and she was still interested in Bruce. It was a nice illusion, though. As long as he didn't forget that, what would be the harm, really, he thought. Diana was more concerned with proving she could make it the whole month anyway, so it wouldn't be like he was forcing her to do something she didn't want to do.

Everyone needs a little illusion in his or her lives now and then, even heroes. We all pretend we're better looking or smarter than we actually are and as long as no one is hurt, we accept it. As long as you remember the truth and don't start believing the illusion, there's nothing wrong with a little pretending.

As he watched Diana laughing and enjoying herself, Clark decided he would let things go awhile longer. He would keep quiet. The way his private life was going lately, he could use a little pretending right about now.

The Watchtower

Dinah moved towards the cafeteria, still feeling a little restless from the previous night. She found herself thinking of her conversation with Bruce. It was the first time she'd admitted openly what she'd been thinking over for several months. The attack on the women's shelter had just crystallized everything for her. Being Black Canary wasn't something she put on and took off anymore; it was the real part of her life. The time she spent as just Dinah Lance seemed more and more to be just a holding pattern between being her real self.

She didn't fool herself and think she could be Black Canary all the time. It was just that her personal life wasn't bringing her the satisfaction she got in her professional life. She still loved Ollie and probably always would. They had just grown into different people.

As she rounded the corner towards the cafeteria, she saw him talking with Gypsy. They were both smiling. Dinah watched as Gypsy slipped a piece of paper to him and then moved off with a smile. Ollie caught sight of Dinah out of the corner of his eye and quickly put the slip of paper away. A phone number, Dinah guessed, but surprisingly she didn't even care anymore.

"Hey, pretty bird, I didn't know you were still around,' he offered with his trademark smile.

"I got that impression."

"What? Gypsy? Why that wasn't what it looked like, we were ...,' he started to explain, but she put her hand up to stop him.

"I don't need another excuse, Ollie, don't worry about it."

"It wasn't an excuse, Dinah."

"Call it whatever you want then," she replied.

"What's up with you tonight, Dinah?"

"I'm tired, Ollie, tired of doing this over and over. For once let's just not follow the same pattern."

He looked at her for a moment and his expression turned serious.

"It sounds like what you're tired of is me,' he said.

"Ollie, I don't want to get into this now,' she replied. "We're both tired so let's not say things we shouldn't."

"No, Dinah, maybe it's time we say them,' he countered. "You obviously have something on your mind, so don't be afraid to say it."

She stopped in front of him, her mind filled with a hundred different things she could say, but finally just the truth came out.

"All right, I'm tired of this game we're playing,' she said. "Everyone thinks we're this great couple, yet scenes like the one I just witnessed keep happening. We barely see each other anymore, Ollie. What are we? We haven't been lovers for quite some time or partners either. Tell me, what are we doing?"

"Look, I know we've hit sort of a rough patch,' he admitted. "Don't let me talking to Gypsy bother you, that was nothing."

"Do you really think that makes it better?"

"What is it you want from me, Dinah? You don't want an explanation, so what?"

"I don't know anymore,' she said.

"Maybe that's the real problem,' he suggested. "Maybe you don't want me anymore."

"I didn't say that."

"No, but you've been thinking it, haven't you,' he asked. "If it makes it better, so have I. This isn't working, is it?"

"No."

"Maybe it's time we step back and rethink some things,' he suggested. "I think we both want certain things out of this relationship, they just aren't the same things."

"So this is it? Just like that,' she asked.

"I guess it is,' he replied. They stood there looking at each other for several moments. They were such a big part of each other's lives; it didn't seem real that it could end just like this. Ollie finally reached out and took Dinah's hand. He bent over and kissed it.

"If you change your mind, you know where I am."

With that he turned and walked away. She just stood there watching him disappear.

Gotham Heights

The party was winding down and the guests were all starting to depart. Hippolyta and Phillipus had made a rather sizable dent in the food and LuAnn had fixed them both to go plates. There was an awkward good bye between Cubby and LuAnn and Clark and Diana and then they made their exit trailing Hippolyta and Phillipus. The two older Amazons were singing "Lights' again, but not even coming close to the words.

"Remind me to download the words to that song for them,' Clark joked.

Diana was watching something else, though. Other couples were heading home and she saw them holding hands. It brought a smile to her face and she found she wanted to do it too. She slipped her hand into Clark's. He looked at her.

"Blending in,' she offered, gesturing towards the others.

"All right,' he said with a smile. He gave her hand a little squeeze and she returned it. As they slowly made their way back to their house, Diana found herself fascinated by holding hands with him. She had of course held hands before, but this was different. With most people she could barely feel their touch. Oh, she felt the pressure and texture, but it was really a faint echo of what others would feel.

Kal's hands had always fascinated her since she'd first met him. They were so large and powerful, yet there was gentleness about them. When he held her hand, she could feel the whole range of sensations, from the warmth of his skin to the pulse of his blood surging through his veins. With most people she never got those sensations. She always had to be so careful not to use too much of her natural strength for fear of hurting someone. With him that wasn't an issue.

Diana realized they rarely held hands before and tonight presented a unique opportunity. The truth was she rarely held hands with anyone, so her curiosity got the best of her. She shifted her fingers against his, intertwining them. He looked over at her with a questioning look on his face.

"What are you doing?"

"Experimenting."

"With holding hands?"

"Yes."

He waited for her to say more, but she didn't. As she shifted her fingers again, lacing them with his, he shook his head and just went with it. For Diana's part, she was enjoying this very much. She tried several different methods of holding his hand, noting that each had it's own appeal. Fingers laced together was her favorite. She could feel his whole hand against hers. His thumb absently brushed down the side of hers and she felt little tingles go up her arm. She gave his hand a squeeze, and he reciprocated. She liked that too.

Much too soon for her liking they were back at their house and had to disengage their hands. As she went to help her mother and the general put away the to go plates, Diana knew she liked holding hands and wanted to do it again.

Gotham

Bruce's mind was filled with women, well three to be exact.

Diana was into the second week of their bet. He had to admit a slight sense of admiration at her determination. He knew she wouldn't give up without a fight; it was part of who she was. It was one of the many things that attracted him to her. There was such a sense of life about her, an almost hunger to experience it. She was one of the few people that would challenge him and it was her style to do it head on.

Part of him hoped she'd win, but a larger part hoped she didn't. Her challenge to him the last time they'd seen each other about whether he could handle being number two had almost hit on the truth. She probably didn't even realize it, he knew. She would never fit into his world and for them to be together he would have to fit in hers.

It wouldn't even be that hard, really. He had grown up in a world of wealth and privilege and could easily mingle with the movers and shakers of the country. He'd done it all his life, but that was the public Bruce Wayne. To be with her he would have to be that public Bruce Wayne most of the time. It held little appeal to him anymore.

The alternative was for her to try and fit into his world. Part of him believed she could do it, but that felt wrong too, like an angel flying too close to the ground. He didn't know what the right thing to do was. For all his detective skills and analytical brilliance, he was at a loss for answers. Perhaps that's why he'd started this bet in the first place, as the decision would be taken out of his hands.

The second woman on his mind tonight was Zatanna. She presented a completely different set of issues. She knew the private Bruce Wayne; the one few got to see. She tended to challenge him as well, but in an almost sideways, playful way. She was one of the few people that didn't think of him as Batman first. She liked to needle him and get under his skin. In some way she reminded him of Selina, except without all the trust issues.

She brought out a side of him he didn't use much anymore. A small smile crossed his lips as he thought about the planning he'd put into getting her back for waking him up. He would never do that with someone else. She seemed to drift in and out of his life on a whim, yet always managed to make an impression.

The third woman was Dinah. His concern for her had been growing since their talk. He knew only too well where the path she was on lead. It was the same path he'd chosen long ago. As much as he wanted to steer her away from it, he also understand better than anyone where she was. He knew that feeling, that all-consuming need to make things right where they always seemed to go wrong.

As he'd listen to her talk last night, he felt a kinship between them. It was like hearing an earlier version of himself finally putting into words what had been eating away at him. She seemed to draw him in as she explained her reasons. Having talked with Ollie, Bruce knew they were drifting away from each other. It was almost inevitable they have a break. Ollie didn't understand her anymore, or if he did, he wasn't willing to go where she was heading.

Bruce realized where she was heading was straight towards him.

So here he was with three women on his mind. He had no answers for what to do about any of them. It was a situation he rarely found himself in.

Gotham Heights

Hippolyta and Phillipus had finally succumbed to the combined effects of everything they'd done tonight. They were currently sleeping it off in the bedroom. Diana had made up her bed on the living room couch, but she wasn't tired. Her thoughts were of Clark revelation at the party. He wasn't with Lois anymore. Diana's heart went to him, knowing how hard this must be for him. From what she knew of their relationship, she had always assumed he was in love with Lois. Finding out it was over had been a shock.

Diana heard the sound of the Jacuzzi starting up and glanced out the patio doors to see him adjusting the controls. He was only wearing a pair of boxer swim trunks and she found herself staring as he moved around the Jacuzzi and finally climbed in.

Other thoughts came to Diana's mind. While she didn't wanted to talk about it with him and definitely not with her mother, Diana had been having some rather intimate and erotic thoughts lately. Quite a few to be exact. It wasn't the first time, but something about sharing a house and bed with Kal seemed to intensify them. Since arriving in the Man's world she had watched her female teammates flirt with the male teammates. While she herself had never done this, she was interested in it. Of course, some of her male teammates were always flirting with her, especially Wally, but she had never given it that much thought. She knew they found her attractive and with that came a certain power.

Diana had witnessed Zatanna and Dinah use this power on more than one occasion, yet she never had. She thought back to the morning she had seen Kal watching her in the patio door as she walked away and a little excitement went through her. There was something very alluring about knowing she had such an effect on him. Kal was always friendly with everyone, but he kept him or her at arms length. The fact that she had made a dent in the cool exterior pleased Diana.

Still not tired at all, Diana got up and went upstairs. She silently went into the bedroom and changed into her swimsuit. She stopped for a moment and glanced at her mother, but she was dead to the world. Diana grabbed a towel and made her way downstairs, a sense of excitement growing within her with each step.

She didn't really have a plan for what she was going to do; she just knew she wanted to get that reaction from him again. Stepping out onto the patio, Diana saw he had his head back and eyes closed. She let the towel slip away and stood there in her one-piece black bathing suit.

"Mind if I join you,' she asked.

His eyes opened and turned towards her. He took in the vision of her standing there.

"Oh, Jeez,' he groaned.

The smile on Diana's lips grew at hearing this.