TITLE: Presence of Mind

AUTHOR: LOTSlover

CHARACTERS: Batman / Wonder Woman

RATING: T

WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings

DISCLAIMER: I love Justice League, but especially Batman and Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, I do not own the characters and, if I did, things would be much different for them.

SUMMARY: No one could have guessed that Bruce and Diana's wedding would turn out as it did, but you know what they say about best-laid plans. BMWW

Presence of Mind

"Wow."

"You can say that again," John Stewart replied, taking a swallow of his beer.

"Wow," Wally repeated, eyes wide as he stared at nothing in particular. "I mean…wow."

"I still can't believe it," Shayera agreed, putting her bare feet on the chair across from her. She had ditched the high heels over an hour ago, now nursing a cocktail Alfred had made for her as she considered the events of the evening.

"At least everyone is doing well," Clark added, looking at the bright side of things as he typically did.

"Still…who would've guessed it would've gone down like that," Lois commented, sipping her glass of wine.

"I never in a million years would've dreamed tonight would've turned out like this," Dick agreed, further loosening his bowtie. He was more than ready to get out of this tux and into a t-shirt and shorts, anything other than the monkey suit as Tim liked to call it.

"I think it was rather romantic in a way," Barbara decided, pausing to lick the frosting off her fork. She swore it was the best part of a cake. "I mean it didn't exactly go as planned, but it was still sweet especially when Bruce finally swooped Diana up into his arms and took off for the manor."

"Didn't go as planned has to be the biggest understatement of the century," Dick told her, shaking his head in shock. "I guarantee we'll never see an event like that again in our lifetime."

"You have to admit the guests took it rather well," J'onn added. "They were all cheering for the couple as Bruce carried Diana inside."

"They had no choice with Diana cursing in Ancient Greek and ordering everyone to leave," John pointed out. "It was better to run for the hills than to stick around and risk being maimed."

"Oh, it wasn't that bad," Shayera tried to tell them, glancing around at the empty tent where the wedding reception was supposed to have been held.

"Really?" John questioned her, an eyebrow arching in question. "I don't think I've ever seen fear like that in Bruce's eyes before. The man was seriously scared."

"Well, she is an Amazon with superior strength," Clark reminded them. "I have to admit I was a little frightened myself. You never know what a pregnant Amazon will do."

"At least Bruce had the presence of mind to get Diana out of there before anything else could happen," Lois said. "I agree with Barbara. I think it was kind of romantic."

"Well, you can hardly blame the woman," Shayera stood up for her friend. "She was in some serious pain. Makes me glad I'm not pregnant."

John looked over at the red-head, thoughts of the future that he had visited with Batman springing to the forefront of his thoughts. Rex Stewart, better known as Warhawk, was their son, created in love and raised as a warrior like his mother. He couldn't have been any prouder than he had been at that moment of meeting him.

Shayera was also thinking of Rex Stewart, wishing that she had gotten the chance to meet her future son. She knew the possibility still existed. John and Vixen had broken up, he and Shayera growing closer again over the last few months.

They shared a look, neither saying a word, but both had the same thoughts. They each knew it wasn't something that could be ignored forever. For now, though, they were content just enjoying the company of friends during another memorable event in their superhero family.

"I just wanted to see if I could get anyone anything," Alfred announced as he approached the group gathered at one of the tables under the tent.

"I'll take another one of these," Shayera requested, holding up her glass.

"Right away, Miss Hal," Alfred replied, going to the bar, and making her another drink.

"You've done more than enough tonight, Alfred," Clark told him. "I'm sure you could use a break. It's been a long day and an even longer evening."

"Yeah, come sit with us for a while," Wally suggested, patting the seat of a chair next to him. "How are they doing?"

"Everything is splendid now that the worse is over," Alfred revealed, taking a seat by Wally.

"I've never seen anything like that in my whole life and I hope I never do again," Wally decided, taking another swig of his beer. "I'd rather take on Darkseid than face an angry Amazon about to give birth. That was crazy scary."

"Diana's a trooper," Shayera said. "She actually handled it all better than I thought she would."

"How's Diana doing?" Lois asked.

"She's doing marvelously," Alfred informed them. "I think Master Bruce's hand should heal in no time. He'll be back patrolling Gotham before you know it."

"I don't think anyone but Bruce could face a pregnant Amazon in labor and live to tell about it," Barbara said. "He's fearless."

"He handled it all very well…much better than even I had anticipated," Alfred agreed.

"Where are Tim and Damian?" Dick asked, looking around. "I hope they're not bugging Bruce and Diana."

"No," Alfred assured him. "They're getting ready for patrol."

"I guess we better go help them," Dick told Barbara. "It'll be at least a week before Bruce will be back out on the streets again."

"Not even a broken hand will slow him down for that long," Barbara pointed out. "He'll be back out tomorrow night."

"Yeah, I guess you're right about that," Dick replied as they left the last of the wedding party. "I was hoping the birth of his daughter would make him want to take a few nights off."

Everyone sat in comfortable silence, lost in their thoughts as well as the chaotic events of the evening. "I still can't believe her water broke as she was walking down the aisle," Shayera said.

"She'll have to burn that wedding dress," Lois responded with a shudder.

"I'm sure she could get it cleaned," Clark told her. "Don't women keep their wedding dresses?"

"But who would want to keep it after that?" Wally asked with a grimace, sticking his tongue out.

"I'm afraid Master Bruce's tux is beyond repair," Alfred revealed. "I'm sure he was due for a new one anyway."

Wally started to chuckle, unable to contain his amusement. "When Diana ripped the sleeve right off of his tux and his shirt, I almost lost it. Bruce's right arm was completely bare. Didn't seem to faze him a bit, though. He remained focused on getting Diana out of there."

"You would've been next to be ripped apart if you had started laughing," Shayera replied.

Wally's face grew pale the more he thought about it. "You're so right," he agreed. "I'm lucky to still be alive."

"I wouldn't tease them about it either," John warned him. "You could still lose your head over it. You know you tend to bring up things like that just to get under Bruce's skin."

"I consider it a talent," Wally proudly announced.

Hippolyta walked out of the manor to join the others at the table. The Queen of the Amazons appeared rather weary as she sank into a chair at the table with them. "I need the strongest alcohol you have, Alfred."

"Coming right up, your highness," Alfred replied, getting to his feet and going to the bar.

"That was some almost wedding," Clark said. "I'm sure you never expected it to go quite like that."

"I must admit that I'm rather furious with Apollo for not giving me a heads up that this was going to happen tonight at my daughter's wedding," she confessed, thanking Alfred as he handed her the glass. She paused, drinking the whole thing in one swallow much to everyone's amazement. "It was rather a shock when Diana's water broke as I'm escorting her down the aisle."

"I can imagine," Shayera commiserated. "They didn't think the baby was due for another three weeks."

"Well, when an Amazon decides she's ready, she's coming whether you're ready or not and that baby was more than ready," Hippolyta revealed. "She has a set of lungs just like Diana did."

"How are they doing?" Lois asked.

"Everyone is perfect," she relayed with a proud smile of a mother and a new grandmother. "My new granddaughter is beautiful like her mother."

"Has an Amazon ever destroyed a chair like that before when she's in labor?" Wally asked.

Hippolyta chuckled with his question. "I can't say that I've ever seen that happen before."

"I'm surprised Diana was in so much pain," Shayera commented with a frown. "She can take a hit better than anyone I've ever met."

"It's because of her strength that an Amazon suffers in childbirth," Hippolyta revealed. "We have to fight against our own strength to keep the baby safe during delivery or risk harming it."

"Wow," Wally murmured, shaking his head. "I'm so glad I'm a man."

"I guess we'll have to reschedule the wedding for a later date," Clark stated.

"Actually, they are married now," Alfred revealed.

"How?" John asked. "Diana went into labor before she could even make it to the alter."

"The minister graciously married them before Diana gave birth to their daughter," Hippolyta announced. "It was actually quite sweet. Diana screamed 'I do', the minister pronounced them husband and wife, and then my granddaughter made her presence known quite loudly."

"Hey, we never heard what they named the baby," Wally said.

"Amari Alexandria Wayne," Hippolyta revealed with a grin.

"How beautiful," Lois replied. "I can't wait until we can hold her."

"Good luck getting her out of her parents' arms," Alfred relayed. "They are completely enamored with the newest Wayne family member."

XXX

Bruce laid right next to Diana in the bed, his arm wrapped around her shoulders as they stared at their daughter. "I can't believe she's finally here. It feels like forever ago when you told me you were pregnant."

"We've waited so long to meet you," Diana told her daughter, wrapped in a blanket in her arms.

"She's absolutely perfect," he marveled.

"Can you believe that we made her?"

He slowly shook his head in amazement, unable to take his eyes off his beautiful daughter. "I can't believe she's really ours," he murmured, stroking her little hand. "She has your nose."

"She has your eyes," she pointed out, her forefinger gently caressing Amari's cheek.

Amari sighed in complete contentment, her blue eyes growing heavy as she yawned. It had been quite an eventful day for all of them including the baby, but it was one that they would never forget. Not only had it been their wedding day, but Amari's birthday. Their anniversary and her birthday would forever be intertwined.

They couldn't imagine anything better than that.

Diana looked at Bruce, sorrow mingling with guilt in her eyes. "Bruce, I'm so sorry I broke your hand," she apologized for the hundredth time. "I didn't mean to. I had a strong contraction and—"

"Shhh," he shushed her, kissing her temple. "It's fine. It'll be healed in no time. Besides, I wanted to be there for you. You were absolutely amazing, Diana. I just hated seeing you in so much pain."

"Because of you," she teased, lightly poking him in the chest.

Bruce grimaced as he pulled her closer to him. "You reminded me of that repeatedly tonight."

Diana chuckled as she stole a sweet kiss from him. "Do you think we're the first couple to get married while the bride was in labor?"

"I doubt it, but it's definitely not something I'll ever forget," he replied with a laugh. "I have to admit that it wasn't the way I had pictured my wedding taking place, but I wouldn't have had it any other way."

"Life for the two of us is always an adventure, isn't it?"

"It would certainly be boring without you, princess," he agreed.

"Good thing you're stuck with me now," she reminded him. "You're not getting out of it now, Mister Wayne."

He laughed as Diana held up her hand with the wedding band and engagement ring on it. He looked down at his left hand that Leslie had wrapped, for now, knowing that he never wanted to take it off. "I wouldn't want to get out of being married to you for anything in this world."

She smiled tenderly at him, her lips claiming his once more. "I'm sorry that Jason didn't come to our wedding."

"Don't be," he stated, frowning at the mention of his surrogate son. "I wasn't about to get my hopes up that he would come. Things between us aren't going to improve overnight if ever."

"Still, I'm sure it has to hurt that he didn't make an effort to be here with his brothers."

"I'm not worried about it," he replied. "All that I care about at this moment is you and our daughter."

"I hope you take a few nights off from patrol to heal," she said. "I can see you trying to go out tomorrow night with a broken hand."

"It doesn't even hurt," he tried to tell her. "It's not like you shattered it. It's just some minor fractures. It'll be better in no time."

Diana shook her head in amazement. "Only you."

A knock at the door interrupted their private moment. Bruce extricated himself from Diana, going to the door. Opening it, he was stunned to find Jason standing there. "Hi," Jason softly said. "I heard I have a new baby sister."

Bruce stood there for a moment, weighing whether to let him in or physically throw him out. He didn't want to create more chaos on the day of his daughter's arrival. With a sigh, he stood aside, allowing him to enter the room.

"Hi," he greeted Diana in a voice that was barely above a whisper as if afraid to wake his sister. "I just came by to see her."

"Come over," Diana encouraged him, shifting her daughter in her arms. "Meet Amari."

Jason came to stand beside the bed, staring in awe at the baby. "She's so small."

Diana smiled at him, knowing she hadn't felt that small when she'd been trying to push her out. "She's perfect, isn't she?"

Jason couldn't help but smile in response. "She's so beautiful."

"Do you want to hold her?" Diana asked, receiving a glare from her new husband, but she ignored it.

Jason held his hands up, taking a step back. "I don't think…"

"You won't hurt her," she reassured him as she lifted the baby up into his arms.

Jason hesitantly held his baby sister, feeling so inadequate to be holding her. He had no clue what to do with a baby let alone hold one. He could feel Bruce standing right behind him, but he was too enthralled with the infant in his arms.

"She's not crying," he noted, stunned.

Diana giggled. "Did you think she would once you held her?"

"Actually, yes," he confessed.

Bruce moved to stand beside him, looking at his daughter. "You're a natural," he told him. "I'll sign you up for babysitting duty."

Jason's head shot up in shock. "What? No…not me," he insisted. "Dick and Tim are better suited for that. I'll just be the big brother who spoils her."

Bruce placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently. "We'd like that."

Jason turned, gently handing off his sister to Bruce. "I was out of town on business," he told them, not going into detail about what that business involved. "I wasn't able to get here until now."

"It's all right," Diana reassured him. "We're just happy you stopped by."

Jason nodded, moved by their acceptance of him in the family. It was something that he hadn't realized that he'd missed for so long now. "I'll see you later," he murmured before quickly leaving.

Diana smiled up at Bruce as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed with Amari in his arms. "You're glad he came," she noted. "I can see it in your face that it meant something to you."

"It did," he confessed. "I still don't fully trust him, but I'm sure it'll come in time."

Diana rested her chin on his shoulder as she gazed down at her daughter. "I'm sorry our honeymoon got delayed."

"Diana, you couldn't have helped it," he reminded her. "Amari was coming whether we were ready or not. We'll just have to reschedule it for a couple of weeks."

"I don't know if I'm going to be able to be gone from her for that long," she admitted.

"Me too," he agreed. "We may have to bring her with us. Not a very romantic honeymoon, though."

"I promise I'll make it very romantic for you," she promised him, kissing along his jaw.

Bruce laughed as he turned his head to kiss her soundly. "We just have to make sure you don't get pregnant on our honeymoon," he pointed out. "I'd like to adjust to being a father to a daughter before even considering another one."

Diana gave him a curious look. "You would want to have another baby?"

"With you, I'd have as many as you want."

Standing to his feet, Bruce gently laid Amari in her bassinet before returning to his new wife. Crawling into bed with her, he pulled her into his arms, savoring the feel of her lying against him. Today had been the best day of his life and it had everything to do with her.

He was just glad that he'd had the presence of mind to see the magnificent woman who was right before him and make her his.

A/N: I was going to name their baby girl Grayson, but changed my mind. Decided to go with Amari. Going to save Grayson for another story. :)