Happy Wednesday, readers! I believe I have spoilt you with those long chapters. This chapter resembles those first chapters in length. Enjoy!

14

"You used to come here as a child whenever something plagued your curious little mind," I hear Antiope say.

I'm lying down on the grass and she's close enough now for her body to cast a shadow over me. I open my eyes to see her looking down at me with a soft smile.

"Do you remember what you said to me when I asked you why you came here so much?"

I feel the corners of my mouth lift as I remember my answer, "I told you that since this was the highest point in Themyscira, then maybe the Gods will be able to hear me better when I talked to them,"

She nods and moves to sit down next to me with her legs crossed. She pats my thigh gently and I sit up, copying her position.

"I ran into the Captain. He seemed quite distressed,"

"Did he say anything to you?"

Antiope shakes her head, "Nothing other than ask me to make sure you were okay. So are you?"

My shoulders slump and I can't help the frustrated sigh that escapes me, "I'm anything but. I just – I'm trying to protect him. Is that so terrible?"

She moves her eyes to the ocean in front of us and contemplates her answer for a moment. "It is not terrible that you two are trying to protect each other. It is inefficient, but not terrible."

I snort at her analysis of my situation.

"I understand your instinct to protect the Captain, Diana. But until you accept that you simply cannot protect him from everything, you won't be able to be happy. You will be more preoccupied with making sure he does not have a scratch on him, rather than enjoying your life with him. The Gods gave you a gift. Do not waste it,"

Gift. Yes, Steve being back is a gift, but I'm trying to protect that gift. All my life I've always had the impulse to protect people, but when it comes to Steve, or anyone I love for that matter, that impulse becomes overwhelming. After everything I've seen in Man's World, after all the evil I've fought, how can I possibly turn that off?

"I'm trying to actually have a life with him, Antiope. He wants to fight against a being that will crush him in seconds. I know what Steve is capable of. I know how strong he can be, but at the end of the day, he's just a man,"

She turns to me, "Don't you think he knows that? I am not going to pretend the ego all men have is not playing a part in this, but I think the Captain has earned the right to fight this fight. I think you need to ask yourself what will happen if he is not part of this. What will that do to what you two have?"

Antiope asks all the right questions and the answers that come to mind are ones I would rather not think about, but I don't want anything to happen to Steve. I just want to – arghhhh!

"What would you do, Antiope? Because right now I'm at a loss. I don't know how to move past this. I know we both have to reach a compromise, but even that scares me,"

She nods her head as she listens to what I'm saying. "Since you are asking for my opinion, I think you are looking too closely at this. Take a step back. You have a friend on this island who is 'just a man' like the Captain is, and I do not see you nervous for him. How are you okay with Bruce Wayne fighting Steppenwolf and Parademons, but not the Captain?"

I shake my head, "That's different. Bruce is a man of many resources and a man of this century. There won't be enough time to show Steve how the world works today before Steppenwolf and his army strike. Any technology Bruce could give Steve, he won't understand,"

"That is a weak excuse, Diana. From what I have heard, you were at a similar situation when you went to Man's world the first time and the Captain did not ever tell you you could not go, correct?"

I feel slightly trapped.

"No, he never told me I couldn't go. He actually was quite accepting of my need to go and help,"

I think it has become quite obvious that I have to find a way to be 'okay' with this. Not that I will ever be. But I also can't be the one to tell Steve no. Who am I to tell him that? And if I'm being honest with myself, it would very much surprise me (and not in the good way) if Steve agreed to not fight. That's not the man I fell in love with and the last thing I want is for him to change who he is for me.

I think Steve accepted who I was way before we left the island. That's why he barely fought me when I told him I was coming with him. Why would I deny him the chance to fight for what he believes in? It wouldn't be fair and it wouldn't be right. The least I could do is give him that chance, just like he gave it to me.

I let my head hung and I cover my face.

Antiope laughs, "And the Princess surrenders the fight." – I feel her hand rub soothing circles on my back – "Everything is going to turn out okay, Diana. Your Father is not a cruel God. Why would he allow the Captain to return to take him away from you just like that? Or me for that matter?"

I would argue that he's not the only God and after seeing the things I have seen during all this time, cruel things have happened and will continue to happen. But I don't voice those pessimistic thoughts. Instead I decide to focus on the good and let Antiope's faith in the omnipotent beings above to wash over me.

"I guess. I'll talk to Steve later to see if we can come up with a plan that can satisfy both us, but not right now. Right now I just want to spend some time with you. I'm leaving in two days and we haven't really talked,"

Antiope nods, "Yes, I agree. Let me start by saying that I am as proud as I will ever be for what you have accomplished. You were always good, Diana, and I knew one day you would do amazing things, and not just because Zeus intended for you to be a weapon. Ever since you were little I knew you would achieve things that would surprise all of us. I only regret not being here to see them happen."

I lower my head feeling unprepared at the praise from my Aunt and teacher.

"I hope you realize what you have accomplished. It is nothing short of awe-inspiring,"

"Thank you, Antiope. I just did what I thought I needed to do. Not more, not less,"

She shakes her head at my answer, but not in disapproval. Accepting praise hasn't always been my forte. Outside of training, that is. Back in my days of intense training, it took me so long to perfect certain moves, that when I achieved them it felt nice to receive some praise for my efforts. Of course Antiope never over did it since she knew I needed to feel like there was space for me to improve.

Sensing my slight discomfort at her praise, she veers her sentiment towards what she knows will make me feel more comfortable, "Well, I was quite impressed by the display of your powers yesterday, Godkiller. You are a formidable force. Phillipus trained you well."

I nod, "Yes, she has a way with words. She can really tell you something and you know exactly what she means. For example, I was having a really hard time controlling air and she told me to find the balance between my duty and whom I was deep inside. When I found that balance, wonderful things happened,"

I remember the feeling at being able to control air and think of what I wanted it to do and then seeing it happen. But I don't think it quite matches the feeling, the raw power I felt when I was finally able to fly. I felt so free and like I could do anything. I did in fact feel formidable.

"What was the difference you felt when you found balance as opposed to before?"

I think back to the times where I fought without it. I always felt like I went from 0 to 60 in seconds. It was like a burst of energy inside me that would send me skidding across anything. I knew it was my desire to protect, but I now realize that it was fueled with anger.

"I guess the best way to put it is that before it was an uncontrollable, raging fire. The objective was to burn and this raging fire would do that, but not in the most proficient way. But now, I can guide it. I can control the magnitude of its reach and because I can do that, my energy doesn't run out that easily. Before when a fight was over, I could barely make it back to my apartment. The amount of energy I would lose was incredible. But now I don't have to worry about that."

"It would seem that with each passing day you are getting closer to embracing your demigod status,"

I smile, "It would seem like it,"

We sit there for hours and hours. She tells me about her experiences in the Underworld and how Steve basically blackmailed her into letting him come with her. I tell her about my life these last 100 years and although she has always been more 'no nonsense' with her answers, she expressed in almost the same way my Mother did, that she was sorry at how lonely my life had been.

In this last week I've learnt to stop looking at the past. The way my life turned out, the way I decided to live my life was a result of the cards that I was handed. Now I have new cards to play with. The only difference is that now I know the rules of the game and so, I will put up much more of a fight. And I'm not playing the game alone.

"I think it's time for you to talk to your Captain,"

I lie down on the grass and complain loudly, "We're going to end up fighting again. Whatever he tells me, I won't be okay with and whatever I tell him, he won't be okay with,"

Antiope stands up and stretches her hand out to me, "You are both adults. You will find a solution to this. Come on, Diana,"

I take her hand a little too hard, but she doesn't even bat an eyelash. We walk to the palace and I drag my feet a little bit, trying to delay the talk I need to have with Steve. We eventually reach the stairs that lead to my chambers and I look at her searching for some reassurance. She nods her head and I look at the stairs and start my climb.

I linger outside my door and taking a deep breath, I go inside. Steve is standing in front of the fireplace, gazing at the flames as if hoping to find the answers there. He turns at the sound of the door opening and he looks at me a bit surprised.

"I wasn't sure if you were going to come,"

I walk a little further into the room but I keep my distance from Steve. I feel like if I'm too close, then he might be able to get me to agree to something I might later regret. I cross my arms, feeling a little awkward.

"I told you I would see you tonight,"

There's this silence and you can only hear the crackling of the burning wood. We both look at each other, not knowing exactly how to start this conversation. The last thing I want is to end up fighting again, but this conversation needs to happen.

"I'm not – "

"I wasn't – "

We both share a little laugh at our timing, but the smiles morph into wistful looks.

"Diana, I strongly believe in what I said earlier, but something I failed to mention is that this time, I'm going to make sure I come out of this alive. I came back for you. I love you and I'm not planning to spend my days fighting all evils. I want to spend them with you. I want to fight this so that we can be happy. Truly happy,"

I take a step closer, his words having a magnetic effect on me. "I love you and I want to do the same, but I also know you. I don't want you to put yourself in situations where you might feel compelled to be the hero again,"

Twice now he's done that. The first time happened when he got on that plane and the second time, when he decided to stay back and fight Cerberus. Antiope told me. I'm afraid that even if he says he will not do that, his impulse will be stronger than his words.

"I don't need to be the hero. Not this time. That's for you and the league to do now. This fight is different. I'm fighting for our future and it would be counterproductive if I got myself killed again,"

I know he's trying to lighten the mood, but I find myself unable to laugh or even smile at his remark.

"I just don't want to see you getting hurt." My voice cracks at that because right now, the image of that plane exploding is playing at the back of my mind and I can feel the fresh waves of pain coming closer and closer.

At the visible expression of pain, Steve comes into my space and he places his hands on each side of my face. "I'm not. I promise you the moment I feel things are getting out of control, I'll get out. I'll even scream for help if I have to. I mean it, Diana. I am not jeopardizing this second chance at life."

There's this tone Steve's voice gets when he is passionate about something and I can hear that in his voice now. I believe every single word his saying. Why wouldn't I? But the truth of the matter is that until Steppenwolf and his minions are vanquished, I will be scared every day for Steve's life. But I can't expect Steve to put his life on hold while Steppenwolf is dealt with.

So no, I won't be okay when we fight this war because every second of it I'll be afraid. But I have faith in good and specially, in Steve. It takes some effort to say this, but I believe it's the right thing,

"We'll fight together, side by side. I'll have your back and I know you'll have mine. Just be okay."

He smiles and nods. "I will be. I promise,"

I nod at his reassurance and placing my hand at the base of his neck, I close the space between us and kiss him.

A promise has been sealed.

AN: This wasn't super long cause I felt the solution to Steve and Diana's problem was an obvious (not simple) one. And because of the nature of both characters, I felt like direct to the point was the right move. Plus all they had to say was said last chapter. I hope you liked it and I can now tell you there's officially two more updates left (one last chapter and epilogue). I hope you like what I have planned! See you in a week for the last chapter before the epilogue!