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"My baby don't care for shows
My baby don't care for clothes
My baby just cares for me
My baby don't care for cars and races
My baby don't care for high-tone places

Liz Taylor is not his style
And even Lana Turner's smile
Is somethin' he can't see
My baby don't care who knows
My baby just cares for me"

Gotham Heights

Clark was doing his best to entertain the children. One of their mothers had stopped by earlier just to make sure they weren't bothering him. He said it was no problem, which the mother was happy to hear. This meant she didn't have to pay for a babysitter while she ran down to the store. She laughed as Tommy pushed Clark in and the kids began to jump and climb all over him. She said that she thought he would make a wonderful father and then skipped out to go shopping.

The important things in Clark's life were all on hold, so he figured he might as well just enjoy the afternoon and make sure the kids were safe and having fun. With the five of them climbing all over him, he was a submarine. He called out 'down periscope' and then dropped down dunking all of them. They were laughing as they came up. It was the kids that saw Diana first.

She had stepped out of the patio doors and was standing there watching them. Clark reached up and brushed the hair from his eyes and gazed at her. Their eyes locked and the rest of the world seemed to slip away. She'd come back, he thought and in that moment he couldn't remember ever being so happy about anything. He wasn't thinking of the future or anything else, just that she was there. That was enough for now.

Mary and one of her young friends were already out of the pool trying to get Diana to join the fun. Clark didn't say anything, just smiled as they fired question after question at Diana. She did her best to keep up, but they hardly waited for her answers before more questions came. She finally just gave in and went inside to change into her bathing suit.

"Mr. Kent, you seem really happy to see your wife,' Britney said. Clark turned with a big smile on his face.

"I am,' he replied.

He treaded water in the deep end of the pool, keeping one eye on the children, but waiting for her to return. It was probably just a few minutes, but it seemed like an eternity for him. When she stepped back outside in that black bathing suit, Clark felt his heart race. If it was possible, Diana looked even more stunning at that moment. Before the children could push her, she dove in. Diana surfaced four feet away from him. They were looking at each other again.

"I'm glad you're back,' he said.

"Thank you, but we need to talk,' Diana replied.

"I know I still glad you're back."

"I am too,' she offered with a small smile. "I didn't want to be anywhere else."

A rather large splash stopped any further conversation. They both turned their attention to the children, but found themselves continuing to look into each other's eyes.

The Watchtower

Wally was sitting with Mari and Zatanna. He looked very nervous.

"So what am I going to do," he asked. He slumped forward, holding his head in his hands. Mari and Zee looked at each other in confusion.

"Don't you want to go out with Shayera,' Mari asked.

"Yes, God, yes, but this is like a real date! When we went to Zee's show I just thought I was catching a break by going with her, but now it's officially a date! What the hell am I going to do?"

"Go out with her,' Zee offered.

"Duh,' Wally snidely replied. "Where? I mean last time it was your show and then we just joined you and Constantine, this time I have to figure out what to do!"

"Hey, that reminds me, why wasn't I invited,' Mari asked Zatanna. "I thought we were friends, yet you guys go out partying without me."

"You were on duty, remember,' Zee replied. "Besides, things got a little blurry for me after awhile."

"Still, did you even think about calling me,' Mari asked.

"Would it make you feel better if I say yes?"

"Yes."

"Okay, then yes, I did," Zee offered.

"Thanks, Zee."

"Could we get back on track here,' Wally interrupted. "I've got a current crisis, okay?"

"Why don't you just ask her what she wants to do,' Mari suggested.

"But it's a date, I'm the guy, I'm supposed to come out with something,' Wally replied.

"So do you have any ideas,' Zee asked.

"Darts?"

"Any other ideas,' Zee said.

"Arbys?"

"It's suddenly becoming very clear why you don't date much,' Zee replied. Wally looked from her to Mari and she was giving him a look too.

"What,' he said.

"Arbys? Really?' Mari asked.

"Why so down on Arbys,' Wally replied. "You are not going to beat their Jamocha shakes."

"Well, that's true,' Mari admitted.

"Wally, if the tables are bolted to the floor and the napkins are paper, not the best place for a first date,' Zee said. "Take Shayera someplace nice, you idiot."

"Olive Garden?"

"Well, it's a step in the right direction,' Mari offered. Zee made a face at both of them.

"Maybe you two should date,' she said. "Add some curly fries and it's a night!"

"I just said it was a step in the right direction, not that I'd go there,' Mari said in her defense. "It least you're not ordering off the big board at the counter in Olive Garden."

"Steak and Shake,' Wally suggested.

"I'm sure she'll love coloring in the menu. Why don't you take her to the Burger King and you can play in the ball pit,' Zee sarcastically replied.

"You think she'd like that,' Wally asked. This got him a smack from Zatanna. "Ow!"

"Where did you take your last date, Wally,' Mari asked.

"Arbys."

This got him another smack from Zatanna and then one from Mari.

"Ow! Ow! What?" Wally exclaimed, rubbing his shoulders.

Gotham Heights

The kids finally left when their mother returned. Diana went upstairs to grab a robe before Clark could speak to her. He sat down on the patio and dried himself off, thinking of what he was going to say. He was overjoyed she was okay, but he still owed her an apology.

Diana came down the stairs in her white robe. She felt happy being back here. They needed to talk, she thought. As she started for the patio, she stopped as she saw Clark. He was sitting there in just his swimming trunks.

"Oh my,' she whispered, feeling those now familiar feelings spread through her. Damn you mother for making me promise, Diana thought. Taking a deep breath to calm herself down, Diana stepped outside and sat down across from him.

"We need to talk, Kal,' she started, trying not to let her eyes roamed over his naked chest.

"I know and first I want to apologize, Diana,' he replied. "I'm so sorry, I can't tell you how sorry I am for what happened. I wouldn't blame you if you hold me responsible for what happened. I'm just so glad you're okay."

Diana found her eyes drifting over his body and face. The thought of how handsome a man he was seemed to fill her mind.

"Diana?"

"Hmm? Oh, um, what,' she responded, blushing a little that she hadn't heard a word he'd said.

"I said I'm sorry for what happened."

"Thank you."

"Is something wrong," he asked.

Diana's eyes had drifted again and she shook her head to clear the rather racy thoughts that seemed to be swirling through her mind.

"Could you put a shirt on or something, Kal,' she finally asked.

"Um, okay,' he replied, not quite following what was going on. Shrugging his shoulders, Clark got up and went inside. Diana's eyes followed him the whole way as she absently thought this view wasn't bad either.

"Hera, help me, this is going to be a long week,' Diana whispered.

Gotham

The wind whipped her blonde hair all around and she felt free and content. Dinah stood on the ledge of one of the downtown buildings looking out over the city. She felt as relaxed as she had in quite a while. The anger and frustration she'd been feeling lately was gone, as now she knew what she wanted. Most would think the change had something to do with a new or renewed relationship, but that wasn't it. Dinah hadn't given up on love, but at the moment something else seemed to take precedence.

It's not a job if you love what you're doing. Most people have to settle for a job or a career. Money is the accepted form of compensation, but for a lucky few the money is incidental. What the thing is you're doing can be anything, fireman, tailor, nurse or teacher, but it's that feeling of this is where I should be that makes it special. Without it, you're just working for a paycheck, a means to an end. Dinah was starting to understand that when you find what you really want to do, it's an end in itself.

She was still young, there was plenty of time for the rest, but right now, she wanted to experience the joy of doing exactly what she wanted for a while. This wasn't a mission for her, but a calling. A smile came to her face as she fired her line and launched herself off the building and into the air. This was exactly where she wanted to be, doing exactly what she wanted to do.

"Ring-a-ding-ding! Let's get those bad guys!"

Dinah just shook her head as she heard the helicopter sound above her. Okay, she thought, nothing's perfect.

Gotham Heights

Clark came back downstairs in a shirt and shorts. Diana was sitting on the couch, her robe tight around her. He moved to sit next to her, but she held up her hand.

"Sit over there, please,' she said, pointing to the chair across from her. He looked at the chair and then back to her.

"Why?"

"Four feet, remember."

"Okay,' he said and moved over and sat down. Diana looked at him in the shirt and shorts and thought that wasn't much better. Why was he so distractingly handsome she thought? Patience, she told herself, it's only one more week.

"Kal, we need to talk about what's happened and what's going to happen,' Diana began.

"I can't tell you how sorry I am about Lashina, Diana,' Clark replied. "Please accept my apology. I was told I should grovel if I have to."

"Who said that,' she asked.

"Kara."

"I'm liking your cousin more and more,' Diana teased.

"She'll be happy to hear that,' he offered. "I am sorry, Diana, I hope you know that. I never wanted anything to happen to you, ever."

"I accept your apology, Kal, it's over and we can't change what happened,' Diana said.

"No, we can't, but I know now that I should never have put you in that situation,' he replied. "It wasn't fair of me. Putting myself in danger to try and make up for past mistakes is one thing, but I should never put someone else in danger because of it. I was being selfish, trying to slay my own demons without thinking how it would affect you. I'm truly sorry for that, Diana. If I've ruined any chance we might have, I'll accept it. I realized that you're the most important thing to me and I don't want to ever be responsible for anything happening to you."

Diana blushed and smiled at this. She knew his words came from his heart, but they also bothered her a bit.

"You're always so pessimistic and serious, Kal," she offered, deflecting his sentiments. "I've been attacked before and will be again. Hopefully, not in my own house by your former lovers, but I'm not some fragile flower, Kal. I can take care of myself. I agreed to let Lashina stay here, too."

"Only because I asked you,' he countered.

"Shut up, Kal, I'm talking now,' Diana immediately said. "I agreed because I knew it was important to you. I'm angry at Lashina, but I'm also angry at you, too."

"Okay, you have every right to be,' he said.

"Yes, I do,' Diana replied. "I want us to continue, but you have to understand I'm not like your former girlfriends, Kal. I don't need you to protect me, I just want you be honest with me and talk to me. I agreed to allow Lashina here because you told me the reason behind it. If we're going to move forward, you have to trust me enough to be open and honest with me about everything. There's no holding back, Kal, if we're going to be together."

"I'll try, Diana, I promise,' he said, his voice rather sober.

"Also, you need to stop trying to decided what's best for me,' Diana continued. "I'm a grown woman if you haven't noticed."

"Oh, I've noticed, believe me, I've noticed."

"Good, then you should understand that I can make my own decisions,' Diana stated. "I won't put up with you trying to decide what you think is best for me. Is that understood?"

"Yes."

"Good, cause if you try doing that again, I'm really going to be angry at you,' Diana told him. "You so don't want me angry at you, Kal, trust me."

"Oh, I believe you,' Clark quickly replied. He gave her a small smile. "So are we going to be okay?"

"Yes,' Diana replied with a smile of her own.

He started to get up and move towards her to kiss her, but Diana held up her hand to stop him.

"Um, ah, there's something else, Kal,' Diana said. "I talked to my mother."

"Oh," he said, sitting back down. "Is she still pissed at me?"

"Yes, but she understands a little better now,' Diana offered. "She did make a decision about us courting."

He was a bit nervous about this. He absently chewed the inside of his cheek, not sure he wanted to hear what the Queen had decided. Shifting uncomfortably in his chair, he couldn't help asking.

"A good decision or a bad decision?"

"That depends on how you look at it, Diana admitted.

He just looked at her, waiting for her to explain. Diana was a little nervous as she thought about telling him the details of her mother's deal. Damn, she outwitted me again Diana had to admit.

"Diana?"

'She has released you from your promise,' Diana whispered. For a moment Clark wasn't sure he'd heard her right, but then a big smile came to his face.

"She has?"

"Yes."

"Well, all right,' Clark chuckled, instantly moving towards Diana. Again she held up her hand to stop him.

"What?"

"She made me make the same promise for the rest of the bet, though,' Diana admitted. Clark sat back, his mouth open as this bit of news sunk in.

"So, let me see if I have this straight,' he finally said. "I can, but now you can't?"

"Yes,' Diana glumly admitted.

"Well, that's certainly interesting."

"On the bright side, if we make it to the end of the bet, she would consent to us courting or dating,' Diana said.

"That is good news,' Clark admitted. He looked at Diana again and couldn't help smiling. "Still it's going to be difficult, isn't it?"

"Very,' Diana replied. He slowly got up and moved over to sit next to her. Diana eyed him wearily. "What are you doing?"

"Well, we can still kiss, can't we,' he asked with his most innocent smile. "That wouldn't be breaking your promise, would it?"

Diana narrowed her eyes and her mouth became a straight line across her face.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you,' she asked.

"Who me? The man you've been torturing for the last three weeks? No, of course not,' he replied. "I just wanted to kiss my wife, is all."

Diana crossed her arms in front of her and glared at him.

"You think you're so funny, don't you?"

"Well, you have to admit it's sort of an ironic twist of fate in my benefit,' he said.

He slowly moved closer to her. Diana saw this and moved further down the couch. She held up her hand against his chest stopping his advance.

"Four feet, Kal, four feet."