A/N: Thank you all for being so very patient with me getting this chapter out. And thank you to the best beta in the world, Daisy Jane :D Enjoy the chapter!

Daddy, Daddy, if you could only see,

Just how good he's been treating me,

You'd give us your blessing right now,

'Cause we are in love,

So please,

Papa don't preach

Papa Don't Preach - Madonna

Chapter Twenty Eight

Honestly, in all his time knowing, working with and befriending members of the Wayne family, Kal had never really had much cause to be intimidated. A little unsettled, yes. Cowed, maybe. Scared, no. Now he felt a little apprehensive. One half of their biggest battle was over. He did believe that Diana would come around—and realise just how insulting the demand for 'proof' had been. He wasn't as incensed as Alexa had been, but then he had been so focused on making amends that it hadn't occurred to him—until later—that he had nothing to make amends for. Alright, so he'd dared to fall in love with Bruce and Diana's daughter, that was strike one against him. And it probably was, in theory, inappropriate, so that was strike two. But it had been initially against his better judgement, and not something that had happened without a struggle. He truly did not wish to come between Alexa and her family, but the proof of his love would come in the months and years ahead of them. He refused to be humble about this anymore. Hence the source of his apprehension. The Superman Bruce had always been accustomed to had never felt entirely comfortable in his own skin. Now Kal was more than comfortable: he was confident. And he had a feeling that was going to be tough for Bruce, especially, to accept. There was a good chance that tomorrow might signal the end of a truly defining friendship—something that, if he'd been told a year ago, Kal would never have allowed to happen. Nothing could be worth it.

Nothing but the dark haired beauty currently slumbering in his arms. Alexa was worth anything. It also didn't hurt that she agreed wholeheartedly with him. Aware she was being watched now, she opened her eyes, smiling sleepily at him.

"Don't think too hard, Kal. You'll get more grey hair."

"Was that an age joke?" he asked with narrowed eyes.

"Hera forbid. It was a stupid joke."

When the subsequent tickling and giggling had subsided into kissing and caressing, Alexa pulled away with a more serious look on her face. "Kal, random question, but … are there other Kryptonians out there?"

"That was random." He tucked an arm behind his head and sighed. Alexa snuggled closer, and his fingers busied themselves running up and down her smooth back. "None that I've ever found, not now," he said finally. "Of course I've never been at liberty to look that far, galactically speaking. There were Jax-Ur and Mala, but they weren't exactly people I'd be keen on you meeting. Besides, they got sucked into a black hole never to be seen again. The Phantom Zone projector was destroyed long ago ... so apart from Kara, I don't believe there are any more. And I don't know if I'll ever see Kara again."

"It's only eight hundred more years," she said wryly.

There was a slightly sobering moment as Kal felt the briefest pressure of his own mortality. It might be happening at a snail's pace, but he was aging. Alexa would look this fresh and beautiful forever, would always be existing and bringing light across the world forever. And that thought made him extraordinarily happy, so the idea of his own eventual decay faded. Eventual, yes. Not soon. Not anything that intruded on their happiness now.

"Will you teach me some Kryptonian then?" she asked.

"Surprised Bruce didn't already."

"Well, when I was growing up he was too busy teaching me Arabic, Mandarin, Russian, German and French. And then of course Mom taught me Ancient Greek as well as diplomacy and politics, and then the two of them were teaching me every conceivable martial art in the world. Oddly enough Kryptonian somehow got ignored," she grinned. "I can only apologise for my parents' neglect of my education."

"I should think so. To think I have to waste my time on such a talented, intelligent, eager, ravishing student …"

She laughed. "Think you forgot 'nubile' in there too."

"Oh really? I'm not sure about your commitment to your new studies, Miss Wayne."

She giggled a little more as he rolled her over, trapping her underneath him. "Oh, Professor. I'd do anything for an A."

After they'd thoroughly tested that particular theory, Kal thought it might be time for her first lesson in Kryptonian. "U kicw tiy."

"I love you too," she said, instantly.

He tilted his head. "How did you know what I said?"

"It was the expression on your face." She repeated the words, her tongue stumbling a little over the strange sounds. "How's my accent?"

"About as terrible as mine was when I first learned," he teased. "But I have the feeling you'll be a much quicker learner than I am."

"I look forward to it."

"So do I. Although we might have to work out something for me in return. How about I teach you my language … and you teach me yours?"

"You want to learn the Amazon tongue?"

"Unless there's some law that won't let me."

His tone was light, but from the gleam in her eyes, Alexa had caught his meaning. They couldn't live here, in 'Man's World' forever. His alias was as flimsy as cardboard anyway, and people were going to notice when Alexa Wayne didn't age. Even with plastic surgery the results wouldn't be that perfect. Themyscira was the logical option.

"There's no law," she said.

"Good. Because I'd like to be able to understand the future queen when she speaks to me. Or swears at me, if we happen to be fighting."

Relief above all shone in her clear blue eyes, relief and gratitude. Apparently not finding the words she needed, she just kissed him, deeply and warmly. After a moment though, he was obliged to extricate herself from her lips. "Much as I would love to carry on—again—we can't."

"I know. The Induction ceremony."

A new hero would join the Justice League today—Shade, a young woman with the capacity for invisibility. Her com-link, identification number and security codes would be given to her by the head of the council—J'onn—but they would both need to be there as well. And then it was off to Isla Wayne to face the music. The two of them dressed and then left to go their separate ways for the time being. Thomas had been as good as his word, and left the ancestral pile so that they could have their privacy, and the blessing that had been conferred hadn't gone unappreciated either. Tom also seemed to have altered the way he addressed him, too. He wasn't rude, far from it, but he was more comfortable. More familiar, and less reverent. More like a friend than a mentor. It was all for Alexa's sake at the moment, but the effort hadn't gone unnoticed by either of them.

Two hours later, they were reunited for Shade's induction. It was a fairly formal affair, solemn and serious. Before the informal, unofficial party in the Metrotower Commissary complete with cake. Not that Shade looked as though she ate much cake—the poor girl was skeletally thin. He was surprised she'd passed the mandatory physical for entry.

Nonetheless, she had, and she read the oath with clear certainty in her eyes. She had promised never to discriminate, to save any life in her power, never to abandon any soul if it could be saved, swearing that no harm would ever befall an innocent if she could help it. Along with all the promises to pummel evil to a pulp and fight against injustice wherever it threatened. And to stay out of politics. It made him wonder how Alexa was planning—or had been planning, rather—to navigate that particular bit while still engaged to Michael Archer. Although she probably had never taken the oath. The Batclan was like that.

Everyone was looking forward to the cake when the alerts went off. They were low-level, comparatively, and the voice sounded in Kal's ear. "Superman, we have an alert from the MPD—there's an explosive device somewhere in the city, and the mayor's office has received blackmail threats."

Alexa, Barda and Rex had all stopped when they saw Kal's hand go to his ear, and the frown on his face. "There's been a bomb threat made against Metropolis," he sighed. "And –"

"And you need to go save lives," Rex completed, nodding. "Need anything?"

"I'm good, thanks."

Warhawk gave one more nod and continued on his way, Barda going after him too—with a knowing smirk when Alexa didn't move.

He made a motion as if to cup her cheek, then thought better of it. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. He's not so scary. Go." He got to the door, then she spoke again. "Kal. U kicw tiy."

The smile that appeared on his face was breathtaking. "U kicw tiy, rii."

The two short sentences of Kryptonian would have to be enough to sustain her for the rest of this weekend—she still fully intended to tell her father, and brave whatever storms came her way afterwards. She trusted that Bruce's anger would not last forever—it wasn't as if she'd killed anyone, or at least anything except his own illusion that she was in some way still a child. She was with Kal, and she was happy. Bruce would just have to accept it, simple as that.

She decided not to say anything for today though—it was Matt's birthday and she didn't want to move the focus from him. Nevertheless, Diana still looked quizzical when Alexa and Thomas arrived sans Kal.

"Bomb in Metropolis," Alexa whispered to her as they hugged. "I'll tell Dad myself."

Diana held onto her a little longer than necessary. "About the proof–"

"I don't want to hear anything more about it, Mitera," Alexa replied in rapid ancient Greek.

Diana leaned back and kissed her. "I don't need any more proof, my darling."

"More proof?" Alexa was about to ask further, but her father came forward for his own hug, and she was obliged to stop.

The rest of the evening was spent torn between Alexa making a decision just to tell her father and then undeciding it. Dinner was supremely awkward, with most members of the family perfectly aware of what was going on, and only Bruce completely in the dark. Except he was perfectly aware of being in the dark, which only made the whole thing worse. Finally Alexa decided that she had to tell him one on one, if he wasn't going to completely and utterly freak out about it. To that end, she engaged him in conversation about anything she could think of, deciding eventually to talk about his animal husbandry – the pregnant goats he'd accidentally managed to buy had all given birth by now, and the population of Isla Wayne had expanded accordingly. Bruce had enlarged the paddock to accommodate them all and with Diana's help built some stables for the cold nights. Not that nights in Greece got as cold as they did in Gotham, but could still get a little chilly in winter.

Getting Bruce talking about it did work to divert his attention slightly from the elephant in the room. One of the kids had been rejected by its mother shortly after birth, so he was having to hand-rear it. "Though I did hope I'd have your mother's help."

Diana smirked at her husband over the rim of her wineglass. "I told you – we raised two babies together, Bruce, I did not sign on for pregnant goats. Besides, the little creature has clearly imprinted on you. He gets upset and shivery if I get too close."

"Is that because you're imagining him old enough to spit-roast, Mom?" Tom asked with a grin.

"Not yet. When he's about six months old I might start picking out herbs and spices."

"Might be time to go vegetarian, Dad," Alexa smiled. "Or smuggle the goats off the island when Mom's not looking. I wouldn't recommend Themyscira as a safe haven though, they'd be in even more danger there."

"Can I borrow the jet?"

"Any time."

"That's my jet," Diana said, teasingly.

"Yeah. And you live on my island," Alexa teased right back. "If you'd like to check the paperwork …"

Diana threw her napkin at her daughter. "That's it, young lady, just for that you're helping me with the dishes."

The rest of the extended family helped clear the table and then headed out to the tennis courts to have a friendly game before darkness fell entirely. When they were alone, Alexa stilled her mother's hands. "Mitera, I am grateful that you have changed your mind, but what did it?"

Diana hesitated for a moment, which gave Alexa pause. She did not recall even one instance of her mother holding back a truth, or wanting to. When she was a child, she remembered a few fights her parents had had because Diana had told the twins a truth Bruce felt they were too young for. Whatever had changed Diana's mind about Alexa and Kal, Alexa had a feeling it hadn't been meditation. "I … I went to Themyscira. To the temple of Persephone."

"Persephone?" Alexa asked, surprised. Of all the goddesses, she would have expected Aphrodite to give Diana the most- "Why would you- You spoke to Lois."

"I did," Diana replied, watching her daughter's face closely.

Alexa couldn't prevent the whirl of emotion she felt appearing on her face. On the one hand, the encounter had obviously gained them her mother's support and blessing – on the other … It was upsetting that Diana had felt she needed to go to the Elysian Fields to speak to a dead soul in order to believe that Kal meant what he said. And the idea that Lois had given her blessing to Alexa's relationship with Kal was… was … strange beyond words. She had no idea how to feel about it. "Why?"

"I … My faith failed me."

"Your faith in Kal? Or me?" Alexa asked, knowing she sounded bitter and feeling she had a right to be.

"Neither of you- Both of you," Diana amended with a sigh.

"I see."

"No, my little sun and stars, you don't. I let a mother's concern turn into fear. I could not bear the thought of you heartbroken with no one to support you. It was an image so painful to me that I could not see if for the illusion it was. It should not have taken another person to help me see that. And I am sorry. Can you forgive me?"

Alexa did so on the spot, and went to her mother, ducking slightly so she could tuck her head beneath Diana's, even though the two women were as tall as each other. Diana let out a soft sigh and ran her hands over Alexa's hair tenderly before enfolding her in her arms.

"Forgiven."

Diana squeezed her daughter, traces of tears gathering in her voice. "I am so proud of you, Alexa. And I am truly happy for you."

"Thank you, Mitera."

"Now come, we should do the dishes. Your father will wonder what we've been talking about all this time."

"I take it you're still going to let me handle that?" Alexa asked, a slight mischief creeping back into her face.

"Oh, yes. I support you completely, darling. From a distance."

Alexa laughed.

She was not laughing three hours later, when it was one a.m. and she'd still not breathed a word to her father. Diana hadn't said anything when they all went to bed without Bruce being informed, apparently truly as content as she said with Alexa's choices, whatever they may be. To Alexa's own surprise and disappointment, her courage had failed her. She had not gone to bed herself; she'd not even undressed, instead sitting on the edge of her bed and biting on her lip. When she heard someone moving about downstairs, she knew it was her father. Alexa squeezed her eyes shut briefly. Hera give me strength.

Bruce was in the kitchen with his back to her when she went down, apparently oblivious to her silent entrance. Appearances could be deceptive. "Any particular reason you're up in the middle of the night, Alexa?"

Damn. "I'm not as good at that as I thought I was then," she said, trying to be light-hearted.

It seemed to work; Bruce turned around with a smirk. "No, you are. But you can't teach an old dog new tricks."

She laughed, but it was short-lived. "Why are you up?"

"Have to feed the kid. The one I was telling you about."

"Oh, the one whose mother rejected it? Yeah, I remember."

"Why are you up?"

"I was … worried," she said truthfully.

"About what, honey?" he asked, getting the now-warm milk out and going into the small utility room where the tiny goat was kept.

Alexa watched for a moment, mouth working but absolutely no words coming out. Finally she began. "Dad, you know when … Michael and I broke the engagement off?"

He nodded, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"And you said you were glad I'd come to my senses?"

"I remember. What's this about?"

"I did come to my senses," she said. "But not in the way you thought. The reason I broke it off is because there was somebody else. Somebody I loved. Love. And just recently—really recently, in fact—he told me he loves me too. And I am just … deliriously happy."

"You don't look happy," he noted, frowning.

"Because as much as I would love you to support us, I can't see how you're going to. I can't see how, if you disapproved of Michael, you're going to be in any way okay with this."

Very slowly, Bruce put the bottle down, and let the kid go. Only then did he straighten and face his daughter. "Let's go outside."

When they were outside under the fading stars, he faced her. He looked very calm, and very suspicious. She almost thought he didn't need to ask the question. But he did anyway. "Who is he, Alexandra?"

"I think you probably know, Dad."

"I want you to tell me."

"It's me."

Neither of them had heard him coming, but now her lover was dropping from the sky like a guardian angel. She greeted him with a relieved smile and a kiss, which he returned briefly.

"Thank you for coming," she whispered.

Kal nodded to her father. "Bruce."

"Take your hands off my daughter."

Alexa shut her eyes briefly in frustration and lack of surprise. "Dad-"

"Alexandra, I want you to go to your room, now."

"Go to my room?" she exclaimed. "What am I, eight?"

"Fifteen years ago you were!"

"Hera give me strength," she muttered. "Is that the best argument you have? Everything that applied when it was Michael still applies with Kal!"

"With one major exception, Alexa—Michael was a stranger to you and this family!"

"And less than a year ago Kal was a stranger to me!"

"That might excuse your behaviour; it does not excuse his!"

"Of course it does! Just because I have the misfortune to be your daughter doesn't make me less valid as a woman!"

"But it should," Kal cut in quietly. "As far as I'm concerned, I shouldn't even see you as a woman at all, much less anything else."

Alexa nearly choked, turning stricken eyes on him. "Kal, you can't tell me you believe-"

"Of course I don't," he said quickly, touching her face tenderly. "But that's where Bruce is coming from. Isn't it?" he asked.

Bruce nodded shortly, but remained silent.

"But that's ridiculous!"

"Maybe so," he replied, too low for Bruce to hear him. "But I don't think you're going to convince him of that."

"Then what do you suggest?"

"That I talk to him, alone. Trust me," he added, when she looked doubtful.

"I trust you."

They embraced, and then Alexa turned back to her father. "I'll be in the shrine. Please, Dad. Listen."

After Alexa had gone, there was an intense silence between the two men, which Kal finally broke. Not because, as it had so many times in the past, Bruce's glare was making him babble, but simply because one of them needed to get the ball rolling.

"You want her to be happy," he stated.

"Don't you dare appeal to my instincts as a parent," Bruce immediately snarled. "You've broken every bond of trust-"

"If I'm not allowed to appeal to you as a parent, then you're definitely not allowed to emotionally manipulate me as a friend."

"Friend? What friend would do this?"

"Fall in love?"

"I'm sure she's in love, but you —!"

"I do love her, Bruce."

"You think you do. But I am not going to let you break my daughter's heart when you wake up and realise you've made a mistake!"

"I haven't made a mistake. She's-"

"I know how wonderful she is. And I know you don't deserve her."

"I agree—she deserves someone absolutely better than me. But I'm her choice."

"She deserves someone absolutely hers," Bruce growled.

"I am absolutely hers."

"And now you're lying."

"I don't lie."

"Not on purpose. You're lying to yourself."

"Why? Because of Lois? She's dead, Bruce, and she died a long time ago. I've moved on, and I've done it with Alexa. There will never be a going back now. I love Alexa."

"Men like us don't get over women like them!" Bruce insisted.

"Men like us? Bruce, when have we ever been alike? We are completely different, we always have been. It's why we worked so well together, why we've been friends for so many decades."

Bruce made a derisory noise, which saddened Kal, but made him no less determined. "Why we were friends for so long, if this is where you choose to end our friendship. But my point is that just because you do something, or don't, or react in a certain way, doesn't mean that I'm bound to. And you're forgetting something else," he added, moving closer when he was certain Bruce's fist wasn't going to get broken on his face.

"What?" Bruce snapped.

"I had my time with Lois. You never got over Diana because she was always a regret. Because she was always a missed chance of happiness. Lois and I had all our happiness. And I have no regrets."

"Then you're a fortunate man. You always were."

"I can't argue with that. But just because it's been that way all my life, don't for one second think I don't know it, and appreciate it. I know how fortunate having Alexa makes me. Believe me, I don't forget it. I never will."

For the first time in several moments, Bruce looked up. "It's a big ask for me to believe you."

Kal's mouth curled up. Just a little bit. "Diana said you'd need proof as well."

"Diana knows?"

"She found out last week. That makes three people who know everything. Four, actually—I think Alexa has told Barda."

"Tom knows then?"

"Yeah. He's- He's given us his blessing."

Bruce let out a literal growl. "Has he now? And now you want ours?"

"I'd like it," Kal allowed. "But I'm not that optimistic."

"Diana warned you."

"She did. And I thought about bringing you proof, some physical token. Then I realised I don't have to. You are my best friends in the entire galaxy. But Alexa is the only person I should ever be required to prove anything to."

"Alexa is one of the most cherished things in the world to us, do you really believe we're just going to take your word for it-"

"No. I'm merely registering my protest. Actually, I brought that token, if my word is no longer good enough for you." His tone spoke the rest of what he wasn't saying. The fact that they needed proof was their failing, not his. He was disappointed in them.

"What proof?"

"Need to show it both of you, don't I? Before you'll trust me."

Bruce went back to glaring. "I trust you with the lives of every single person on this planet," he said. "But my daughter's heart? That's infinitely more precious."

Knowing Bruce would seize on any answer and dissect it, Kal followed him into the house in silence.

When he went to wake Diana, Kal looked at the shrine, easily able to make out Alexa in perfect detail. She was still on her knees, and her words came to him in a steady hum. It was all meaningless to his ears, but her tone was calming and certain. Upstairs, he heard Bruce wake his wife, heard her drowsy answer. He had time, certainly, to go to Alexa and reassure her that everything would be okay. But he also knew he needed to clear the air with his two best friends before he did.

A moment later though, Alexa left the shrine and flew back up to the house, meeting him on the terrace. They embraced immediately, and Kal did his best to kiss the determined scowl on her face away.

"He's not getting the kryptonite is he?" she asked, apparently not joking.

"No. He's getting Diana."

"What for?" Alex asked, lifting her face from his shoulder.

"Proof."

"Neither of them have any right to —"

"I know. But if it's what they need, we can't help that. I can forgive them their temporary doubt, as long as it is temporary."

"That's because you're a saint," she muttered. "And Mom seems to actually be OK with it now, she … had some divine intervention. She told me we had her blessing."

Kal felt half the weight lift from his shoulders; Alexa's smile was happy and genuine – clearly, she no longer had any worries about Diana. However, Alexa's smile quickly slid away as she thought of her father. "But Dad-! I mean, how dare he try to make either of us feel ashamed of how we feel! As if their relationship was so conventional! As if he wasn't the reason for Mom breaking with her entire —"

Kal put a gentle hand to her mouth, then smoothed it over her cheek and through her hair. "Alexa, it won't do any good. He thinks he's in the right, and this is a big shock for him – for both of them. Diana might be reconciled to it but Bruce is going to be worried."

"Why?"

He raised an eyebrow. "'Why'?"

"Yeah. You are literally Superman, and both of them have known you for decades. He knows your character, your spirit … how can he possibly think I'm in over my head? Does he underestimate us that badly, either of us?"

"It's not about underestimating us. It's about being a parent, which is how he's looking at this."

"Then he shouldn't be! How can he pretend like you're a stranger, and then in the same breath-"

"Alexa … Come on, don't do this to yourself. It's hard for him to accept, but he will accept it. You just have to give him time." He kissed her. "You're not losing anyone here, so you don't have to be scared."

"I'm not scared that —"

"No?"

She sighed, and buried her face in his shoulder. "You know me far too well."

As soon as Diana came down, she held her hands out to him, her expression sorrowful. "Kal, I cannot apologise enough for everything I said to you. It was awful of me. I should have had so much more faith in you—and in you, Alexa,' she said, taking her daughter's hand. 'I won't pretend this will be easy, for any of us, but we will grow used to it. We will share in your joy, I promise you."

Bruce's eyes looked about ready to pop out of his head. "Diana."

She turned back to her husband. "I can't say what you expected me to, Bruce. Everything I could have thrown … I am ashamed to say I did throw."

"Then why have you stopped?" he barked.

"I listened to wisdom."

"Whose wisdom?"

"It doesn't matter. It was wisdom, Bruce. I was reminded that I love our daughter. That her happiness is paramount to me."

"Not you too. He's already tried that tack-"

"Then why are you so angry still? Look at her, Bruce! I don't need powers to see how she glows. And how often have you and I looked at Kal and wished for him to find joy again? I know I've prayed for it. And I know you've hoped for it."

"I never hoped for this!"

"Then that was our mistake," Diana said calmly. "Bruce, you and I did not have children so that we could tell them how to live. Alexa has had so little choice. She was told to be Batwoman, she was told she would be Queen one day. I respect her choice of who to love. And I know that if there is one man in this world I could think worthy of her, then it is Kal."

There was silence, and even though he knew he should thank Diana, Kal found no words. Instead, he reached out to squeeze her hand in thanks, and received a warm smile in return. Alexa simply hugged her mother close, whispering, "Ef̱charistó̱, Mitera."

She let go, and then cleared her throat, straightening her spine and looking at her father. Bruce had now gone to the far end of the terrace, his back to them still. "Will you give me a minute with my father, please?"

Both he and Diana nodded, as though he wasn't going to be able to hear every word father and daughter spoke. Diana tilted her head in the direction of the orchard, and the two of them walked down to it once Alexa began making her way towards Bruce. Alone with Diana, Kal found it difficult to speak: what she'd said had touched him deeply, and despite not feeling he needed to earn their blessing, he felt immeasurably grateful Diana had bestowed hers. When they were a little way away from the house, she turned to him.

"I truly am sorry, Kal."

"It's understandable."

"But my behaviour was-"

"Understandable," he emphasised. "Or at least, it is now you've got over it," he finished with a grin.

Diana smiled back.

"Oh, by the way." He pulled out a small black box, and held it out to her. "If Bruce won't listen to reason, there's this."

"You don't need to-"

"Diana, please. Take it. I don't need it anymore."

She opened the box to find a plain gold band nestled inside. A wedding band, men's size. "This looks antique."

"It is. It was mine. And I wore it for over seventy years."

Diana nodded slowly, apparently completely understanding. The piece of jewellery she held in her hands belonged to another man. She snapped the box shut and put it in a pocket. "Thank you, Kal. If my husband continues to be entirely pig-headed, this should help."

"I hope it will."

She threaded her arm through his, the silence companionable and the night peaceful. "Kal, I know you probably already know this ... but Lois is happy for you."

A feeling of poignancy moved through him. He had wondered when Alexa had told him Diana received some 'divine intervention'. "I know. She told me, before she died, that I should move on. She loved me enough to want me to let her go. It just took me a while to get there."

Diana and he exchanged smiles as they each remembered another time. They both remained silent, enough for Kal to hear that Alexa's confrontation with Bruce was not going particularly well. She sounded angry. Seeing the uneasiness on his face, Diana cleared her throat softly, recalling his attention.

"So, you do realise that royal protocol dictates that Alexa has to do the proposing, if you're to marry her."

"Is that so?"

"Oh yes. As the higher in rank, the future queen, it's on her."

"Somehow, I can't see her having a problem with that."

"Well, she is an Amazon isn't she?" Diana grinned.

Alexa, rather than talking immediately, decided to go to the pool and sit on the side, dangling her feet in the water. There was a lot to think about. A moment ago she might have been purely furious, but after Diana's words … she'd seen how touched Kal had been, and she was too. Having her mother's blessing meant everything in the world to her. She didn't expect the same from Dad—but she would settle for a restoration of the friendship between him and Kal. And to persuade him to do that, she needed to collect her thoughts.

"It won't last."

The flinch was kept carefully internal. She made no reply, and she didn't look away from the surface of the water. Bruce moved closer, carrying on with his Batman voice as though it would have any effect on her. "Did you hear me, Alexandra? This won't last forever."

"And what does this 'forever' mean, Dad?"

"What?"

"You heard me. Define 'forever'."

"Don't play games."

Games? Did he think this was some kind of a jolly joke to her, that she was enjoying this? She shot to her feet, angry now. "I'm not. I'm asking you a perfectly simple question, because I don't understand. Or is it that you don't understand? I don't know what I expect to happen, Dad, but I'm pretty sure that forever is out of anybody's reach. Especially given what Kal and I do—who's to say either of us will outlive you? What I do understand, and what you need to as well, is that I love him, and he loves me. And whether that lasts one more day or the next thousand years, I don't care."

"You don't know what you're talking about, Alexa. You're far too young."

"Am I? Maybe you're too old, Dad. I'm certain. I know. There was a time you knew too, about Mom. There was a time when you could just look at her and know she was the one. Please try and remember that, and then tell me you don't see it in me now."

Bruce's shoulders slumped. "I do see it, honey. That's the problem."

"If it's a problem that I'm in love, then we have bigger issues here than Kal," Alexa said, ice coating her words. "You'll tell me now what makes him unworthy. What makes you a better judge than me?" Some strange timbre had entered her voice, and she was suddenly aware of every particle of wisdom Athena had blessed her with—as well as her power. "Is he not the best of men? Would he ever deliberately hurt me? Ever lie to me? Ever hide any part of himself? Offer less than his whole being?"

"Alexa …"

"No. Answer me. I will listen to rational opposition; I will not brook ancient prejudice, unfounded in justice or truth. And you do not have the right to pretend such now."

If Alexa was amazed by the strength in her words, then her father was simply dumbstruck. She was still his daughter, but every bit the princess her mother had ever been; every bit the Queen she would one day become. She stood angry, strong, tall, proud and demanding. Ready to hear reason but ready to utterly reject anything else. And he didn't have reason, when it came to it, not one logical argument. For once, Batman was acting all on emotion.

"I can't," he said finally, sounding tired and old. "I can't give you rational opposition. Neither of you are what I thought you were. And maybe that's my problem."

It was definitely his problem, Alexa thought – but the fierce energy had gone out of her, too. She didn't want to stand here fighting with her father over her choice of lover. Eventually, he either trusted the two of them, or he didn't. That was something he would have to square with his own conscience. With a sigh, she made to turn away.

Bruce took hold of her hand before she got too many steps away. "Alexa, I'm your father. I'll be whatever you need me to be. If that's supportive of this relationship, then you've got it. If it's a source of comfort when you're heartbroken, then the same."

"That simple?" she asked sceptically.

"I'll try to make it that simple."

She paused for one more moment, then turned fully and hugged him. "That's all I wanted from you, Dad. Thank you. I love you."

She felt his shoulders fall as he let out a long breath. "I love you too, Alexandra."

"You will have to do me one more favour now though."

There was a slight narrowing of his eyes that said she might be pushing her luck asking anything else so soon, but she couldn't relent. "Which is?"

She took his hand. "Forgive Kal for daring to fall for me."

He let out a long sigh. "As your mother would say, who could blame him? Come on then."

A/N: There will be one more chapter after this, an epilogue. I hope you enjoyed this story, and if you feel like it - review please!