Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Thank you, KN, for being my beta.

I know there were concerns about Talia appearing and tricking Bruce. Rest assured. It isn't Talia. That would be too cruel, and though it would probably have made for a very exciting plot twist, my poor widdle heart could not have borne it. :D

Madly

Chapter Four:

Hope


Bruce's episodes of lunacy were returning less and less. And whenever they came, she would appear.

Diana was the one to suggest leaving the hut. And so soon after, he began looking for food and drink. It was not hard. The land was fertile; there were fruit trees and a stream within sight. He didn't want to go much further than that. He never knew when he would lose his mind, and he didn't want stray too far and lose the only part of his life that was familiar.

He spent his days sitting inside the hut, trying to remember his past. Nothing came to mind, though he had a slight premonition that the images and sounds during his fits of madness held some clues to his former life. Whatever kind of life he had before, it didn't seem all that great. So eventually he stopped thinking about it.

He did, however, spend significant thought on Diana.

He forced himself to stay awake whenever she was there, because she would always leave when he fell asleep. Even her promises to return would not allow him to relax.

Pretty soon, she was visiting him every night. She would hold him in the darkness, speaking comforting words in his ears. At first, he didn't say anything back. But the more she talked with him, the more he understood. She would coax words from his lips, loosing his tongue with her smiles and touch.

He very rarely responded in kind to her inviting caresses. Sometimes he would curl her hair around his fingertips, maybe even press his lips to her palm, but it did not happen often. He did not want to offend her in any way, give her a reason to leave him. She was his link to health and happiness, and he knew it would be because of her that he would get better.

Of course, he also didn't want her to leave because he was in love with her. He was determined that she would be with him, in the light and in the dark.

And he was starting to succeed. She would come earlier in the night, even when he wasn't feeling sick. He could stay awake longer with her, and she wouldn't try to make him fall asleep. Sometimes, when he would wake from a bad dream, she was still there. And in the morning, the scent of her hair would surround him, and the ground next to him was still warm from her presence.

Finally, it happened. He awoke she was still there, curled into his chest. She continued sleeping as his eyes roamed over her dawn-lit frame. His tattered shirt was grasped lightly by her delicate hands. His own arms tightened around her, and she nuzzled her face into his neck. Her breaths came out evenly through her beautiful mouth, tickling his skin.

He didn't stop himself. He leaned forward and kissed her.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at him, eyes bleary.

"You stayed," he said.

She didn't answer, only smiled at him. He kissed her again.

Slowly pulling away, he drew her closer, cradling her in his arms.

"I love you, Diana."

I love you too, Bruce.

Diana and Tom walked up to the Embassy doors, hands intertwined. They stopped on the front steps, turning to face each other.

"So, when will I see you again?" he asked.

"Probably not for another week. I have an important diplomacy mission that requires me to be out of the country for a few days, and then I have some monitor duty to catch up on."

Tom leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. "Hmm, wonder why?"

Diana smiled against his mouth before pulling away. "Perhaps it's because I have rescheduled it the past three times to go out with you."

"Who is in charge of that schedule anyway? I need to sit down and talk with them."

"I doubt you would get very far with J'onn. Besides, I really should be focusing more on my role with the League." Diana sighed, frustrated that she was having difficulty balancing her professional and personal life. "Much as I enjoy spending time with you, I've been neglecting my other duties, and I don't want to do that."

"Are you sure?"

"Tom…"

"I'm kidding. I understand how important this is for you."

"You're important too."

But not as much as work.

The words weren't said, but they didn't need to be. Tom's smile looked as half-hearted as she sounded, and Diana felt guilty. She liked Tom. A lot. But he still came second to the League. And she didn't see that changing anytime soon. Her duty to her country and to Man's World came first, and he needed to understand that. "I'm sorry. I wish it could be different," she said.

He placed a finger under her chin, raising her face so she had to look at him. "It's alright, Princess. I'll take what I can get."

He was so undemanding, so easy to please. She wished she didn't always have to disappoint him. "You're too nice," she said.

"Well, you can make it up to me by calling me as soon as you're available."

Diana nodded her head. "Well, I should be going." She turned toward the door, but Tom pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. Just as she started wrapping her arms around his neck, he pulled back, a mischievous grin lighting up his face. "That's so you won't forget me."

Dazed and slightly giddy, Diana watched him walk away. Not wanting him to have the last word, she called out, "I wouldn't dream of it."

Once inside the Embassy, Diana walked to her room and collapsed happily onto her bed. After a few moments, she picked up the papers on her nightstand and read over the current events in Eastern Europe, preparing for her diplomatic visit to that area of the world.

She was woken from a slight snooze by the buzzing of her com link. Groaning, she rolled over and answered the hale.

"What is it?" she asked.

"We need you to come to the Watchtower immediately," Superman said.

Diana sat up in alarm. "Why? Is something wrong?"

"We have a lead on Batman's whereabouts."

A/N: Thanks for reading.