New Chapter!

Hey there, I had to do major editing to the plot as I realized that some of the plots here don't connect to the story. I hope you enjoy!

Inside the manor everyone was silent. The people inside were only the closest friends Bruce and Diana have. Inside the living room, Shayera sat with Dinah on one of the couches, holding her three-year-old son who was asleep on her mother's lap.

Clark was sitting in one of the sofa chairs, his body bending forward holding his head in his hand as Lois was sitting on the arm of the chair, rubbing his back soothingly and whispering sweet things in his ear. John leaned against the wall, his head looking up, his shoulders tense. Wally's eyes were shut but his leg kept bouncing up and down.

The woman may not expressively show it but she's worried about Diana. She hadn't contacted anyone, even her mother ever since the incident, and every day one of them would check up on her. It would usually end with them staying for a while as Alfred told them about Diana's condition. He made it clear that she does not want to see anyone and they respected it.

Encounters with any of the Bat clan were slim. They either avoid them or do not see them at all. Even the titans haven't met up with them, save for Cassie, being Tim's girlfriend and all but he never tells her about them no matter how hard she tries to pry.

Shayera looked at Dinah to see her chewing her lip, looking between the door and her lap. She knew why the blond was worried. Her husband tried to talk with one of the members and it's been almost twenty minutes since he was gone which caused Shayera to have her eyebrows furrowed.

The door opened, getting everyone's attention. Stepping inside was Oliver who looked pale and a little rattled. Dinah quickly got off the couch and approached her husband. After a few whispers exchanged by the pair, she led her husband to her spot on the couch.

"You alright? You look shaken up." John questioned tentatively as he came to stand beside Shayera. Oliver licked his lips before he looked at the door, his eyes became wary.

"Maybe it's best if you all don't interact with Damian for a while. He's p一" Oliver held his tongue as he saw Shayera giving him a look. "mad right now and anyone within close range might get their hand chopped off."

They turn as the door opens again and in walks Queen Hippolyta. Her face was littered with a few creases as she walked to sit on one of the unoccupied seats.

Shayera didn't want to interrupt her as the woman was tired, but she wants to know if her best friend was ok.

"...How is she?"

Hippolyta gave a tired sigh and closed her eyes. "She's… falling apart. She hasn't eaten anything in days and she barely walks out of their room. I'm worried that if she continues in like this then I don't know what I will do."

"Can I try to talk to her?"

The Queen gave her a shrug and a wave of her hand. "At this point, we're willing to do anything to get her out of the room. Donna's also in there to coax her out, but please try." She wiped her eyes with a tissue paper on the desk.

Shayera nodded and gave her son to his husband and walked along the stairs toward the former couple's room.

As soon as she arrived Donna opened the door and walked out. Her expression made Shayera sigh in sadness and her shoulders drop.

"Are you trying to convince her too?" Donna questioned as Shayera nodded.

The former placed a hand on the latter's shoulder and gave her a nod before leaving.

Alright… She looked at the door and had her hand on the knob, ready to open. She closed her eyes and prayed to whoever God or Goddess would listen and help her friend before she opened the door and went inside.

XXX

"Hey D..." Shayera walked into their bedroom where she saw the woman lying down sideways. Her back was turned to her and the former closed the door and slowly walked towards the other side of the bed where she could see her face.

The sight pained the Thanagarian as she saw the state she was in. She wore a long-sleeved black dress. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Bags were visible underneath her eyes. In her clenched hands was his cowl, her face stained with the onslaught of tears streaming down her face. Her eyes hadn't left the cowl as she kept staring at them in her hands.

Shayera didn't want to do this, it was painfully clear that her friend was in agonizing pain from losing her love. Losing John entered her mind and she quickly shook her head to rid of the thought.

She didn't know what she would do if she lost him. It's a possibility she might go berserk and kill the asshole who took him from her. But one thing's for sure, she would take his loss very well.

Crouching down, she placed a hand on her shoulder, gently shaking it to get her attention.

"Diana?"

She didn't move an inch no matter how Shayera coaxed her. Who could blame her? It was hard for them. They have lost a dear person. They lost a husband, a father, a colleague, and a friend. A dear friend who would always be there. A friend from the shadows, their protector. To Shayera, he was a friend who understood her better than herself. He was there when John and Mari were dating. Even if he was a broody and anti-social person, he has a golden heart hidden beneath those depths.

"Diana, I一I know I will never know your pain but believe me, I'm suffering too. All of us are. We just lost a person who was family. The teens just lost a dad, Clark lost a best friend, John lost a resectable colleague, and I lost a… a friend who understands me."

Shayera choked up a bit but she managed to hold herself before the waterworks started to show. "I understand you don't want to go in there, believe me, I do too, but I want you to know you are not alone on this. I'm here一we're here, ok? And we will always be here."

Gaining no response from her friend she sighed and slowly got up and walked towards the door. But before she could put her hand on the knob Shayera heard her faint voice.

"I don't think I can go there, Shay…" She barely managed to get the words out.

"Having to lose someone you love, someone you trust and confide in, it's like someone ripped your heart out of you and smashes it into pieces. What's the point of even living if the pain won't ever go away? The guilt in me will never go away, it only grows and consumes me on the inside out. I killed with my own hands. His blood was in my hands. It's tearing me apart Shay. I can't一I can't live without him."

"Oh, D…" Without hesitation she sat on the bed and comforted her. The latter slowly sat up and hugged her friend tight, crying into her shoulder as Shayera patted her back and whispered soothing words into her ear.

After a long quiet moment with the exception of her sniffling the two slowly let go of each other and Shayera stood, offering her hand.

Diana looked at the hand with hesitation, but in the end, she shook her head. "Just… just give me a few minutes. I'll be there."

Shayera hesitated before she gave in to her friend's request. When the former left the room Diana took a moment to breathe.

Getting up from the bed she walked towards the door, her hand ready to turn the knob, ready to turn but she stopped. Her eyes landed on their nightstand where there was a photograph of their wedding day. She grabbed the photo and looked longingly at her husband, her thumb caressing his photoed face. Placing it in one of the pockets of her dress, she walked out and closed the door behind her, unsure if she could handle the impossible task alone.

XXX

"Shayera!"

All looked to the door and saw Shayera walking in. Clark hurriedly walked towards her and asked if Diana was with her, but Lois placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a stern look.

"Is she…?" Lois nervously asked.

"Yeah. She's coming."

"Coming as in right now?" Dinah asked hopefully. Clark also had the same look but he tried to cover it up and barely succeeded.

Shayera shook her head and they looked crestfallen. "She said she needed a few moments alone."

"Wait, she talked to you? Like really talked to you?" Wally asked

"Yes. She talked to me, it took a while, but she talked to me. And please try not to overwhelm Diana when she shows up."

They all agreed. Then they heard the door opening and it revealed Diana.

"My sun and stars!" The Queen cried out and quickly rushed towards her daughter and engulfed her in a motherly hug. Diana froze at the contact but eventually, she slowly returned her mother's embrace somewhat stiffly.

"Hello, mother."

"Are you ok? How have you been? I know that you've been suffering but please know I will always be with you through it all."

Diana tried to say something but all she could do was give a nod and a convincing smile.

"Do not fret mother. You don't have to worry about me. I一"

"Oh, don't be silly Diana! Of course, I will worry! You're my daughter! Seeing you cry is breaking my heart. I'd rather have myself suffer so you won't have to live through that fate."

Diana didn't know what to say. At first, she was tired and sick of people telling her that it was going all to be okay but her mother's words made her glad that she would be there for her.

A soft knock came through the oak doors and John opened it to reveal Alfred with a stoic face, but his red-rimmed eyes and tired expression says otherwise.

"I'm sorry to disturb you all but… it's time."

The others slowly filed out. She managed to catch Clark's eye and he gave her an encouraging smile which she tried to give a quivering one back. It was difficult for all, especially for Diana as she was about to say goodbye to her love for the final time before being separated six feet apart.

XXX

Everyone walked silently as they followed the coffin that was being carried by four men; Dick, Jason, John, and Clark. Diana walked between her mother and Lois. The Bat Clan followed behind her as well as the others. Alfred placed his arm around Cass who leaned into the butler's embrace. Damian walked stoically among the other mourners and Tim looked like he hadn't slept in days.

As they arrived at Wayne's private cemetery grounds they placed the coffin on the catafalque and opened the lid. The Amazon had to hold on to her tears as she saw her husband lying peacefully.

As people took their seats, J'onn stood in front of them and began the ceremony. Diana barely listened to a word the martian had said until Lois nudged her gently and realized that all of them were looking at her.

"Diana, do you want to say something?" J'onn gave her a telepathic message.

"I don't think I can J'onn."

"You need not say anything. I understand." Giving her a nod he continued until he ended the sermon.

One by one, everyone lined up to see Bruce for the last time before being placed on the ground. When Diana was the last to approach, she grabbed the photo and gave it a kiss, placing it delicately on his coat. She stroked his hair and gave his forehead a lingering kiss, putting all of her emotions into it. Even though she was unwilling to depart from him she stepped back as the men closed the lid and slowly placed the coffin onto the ground, right beside where his parents lay buried beneath the ground.

Grabbing a handful of dirt, she stood on his grave and held her fisted hand on top of his coffin, letting the dirt go.

XXX

Most of the people departed once the coffin was laid to the ground, only a few people remained. Diana stood on the grave, her eyes never leaving her husband's coffin. She didn't notice her tears until someone handed her a napkin.

Giving a nod of thanks she turned to the person who gave it. Alfred gave her a somberly smile as he too stared at the coffin below.

"I know you keep blaming yourself, Diana."

"Well, who else can I blame? Joker planned the whole thing, but I was the one who killed him."

"Yes. You killed him." She flinched at Alfred's blunt words. "But that doesn't mean you should beat yourself up about it. Joker and Harley are the only ones to blame. You were only a victim, a pawn in their sick and twisted game."

He turned to her. "It's annoying, isn't it? When people tell you that it's all going to be ok. That's it's all going to get better. But it's not. It'll only get better if you find peace with it. People grieve in their own way. Like you are doing right now as well as I am. Many of us lost someone dearly important and we react differently towards it."

She contemplated his words before she looked down. "Are you saying I should…?"

He shook his head. "I'm not telling you to step back as Wonder Woman. I'm saying you have a choice to take a break from being a hero or if you prefer to leave permanently. You may be an immortal princess but you're also human. Don't forget that."

Alfred grabbed something from his pocket and took her hand. Placing it in her hand, Diana looked at the object that was in her hand; a metal chain with a ring. To be more precise, Bruce's ring.

"Alfred… but一"

"The one in his finger was a replica, my dear. This one… is the one he wore when you two made your vows as husband and wife."

Tears streaked down her face and at lightning speed, she hugged the butler tightly. Her head resting on his shoulder. Caught off guard, Alfred regained his composure and hugged the woman back, teary-eyed as well.

A few miles down Clark overheard their conversation. He was sad that Diana might leave the League, but if that's what she wants, he respects her decision.

He stared at the sky before staring back at them. He slowly walked back to the manor, leaving the two alone to let their sorrows out.

XXX

"Clark?"

Diana called out to him as he was about to grab a plate for him and Lois.

"Hey, Di. What's up?"

"Can I have a moment of your time? Alone?"

He agreed, and soon the two heroes were in the study. "Clark, I…" Diana began, but he beat her to it.

"Want to take a leave from the league?"

Her eyes widened at his proclamation, her expression imitating a decent gaping fish.

"How did you一super hearing… of course. Wait, did you eavesdrop on our conversation?" She accused him with her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Clark sheepishly smiled as she glared at the man. "Sorry. I didn't mean to."

She sighed, annoyed, but there was a little relief to it as well. "At least I don't have to explain it more clearly, but yes I will be taking a leave. Permanently."

The man of steel nodded and smiled sadly. He already accepted the fact that Diana was leaving, the only problem he'll be saying is the other's opinions, but he'll deal with them when the time comes. "Then this is farewell."

"For now."

"For now." He echoed the sentiment, and they hugged before departing, going their separate ways.