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I would like to apologize again as this will be my last story. I would also like to apologize if the writing quality has dropped at all or feels disconnected or rushed somehow. If I'm being honest, the only reason I was able to find the motivation to complete this one is because I know that there's a good amount of you who really enjoyed it. I appreciate all the praise I've gotten for these stories, but I have other writing projects I have been putting off until I finish this. Please like, review, and enjoy. Signing off.

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The Basin Arena

Constantine was beginning to panic as he watched Superman and Zatanna take on Ogun. There was still several hours until he would meet Gabriel's requirement of a week and he was out of ideas. Robin had cuffed him and laid him next to the magically imprisoned nephilim and was watching them both intently. There was a chance he could break free successfully or cast something without the boy noticing, but chances were not good. He looked on as Ogun scored a blow against Superman that knocked him to the ground and Constantine let himself hope for a moment. However Zatanna was actively weakening Ogun's magic so that Superman was virtually invulnerable again. The ubermensch got up immediately and landed a similarly mighty blow against the god.

Clark was hurting, bad. Just the few minutes that he had to fight Ogun without Zatanna's help had injured him severely, but he was used to fighting while injured at this point and he could feel his strength slowly building back up again despite the magic that got through Zatanna's defenses.

"Zatanna! Give me a boost!" He wanted to end this now.

As he launched himself once more towards the god he could feel Zatanna's power surging through him. Ogun smirked, still not fully grasping just how powerful a being he was facing. The blow connected and a shockwave resonated through the basin, knocking Damian off balance and visibly displacing clouds above them. Ogun's jaw hung by his skin, completely disconnected from the rest of his face. Terror filled the god's eyes for the first time in the fight, he tried to speak and realized he couldn't, blood filling his mouth and his muscles grasping weakly at the severed bone. In an instant he vanished, running for his life, his exit not nearly as grand as his entrance had been.

Despite his injuries, Clark wasted no time. Another shock wave sounded as he broke the sound barrier reaching Constantine and The Gentle Man. He grabbed them both by the scruffs of their necks.

"Zatanna, get us back home!"

He felt dizzy again as the world morphed once more around them, Gotham park appearing around them and a bridge materializing beneath their feet. When the world solidified he shoved both of his hostages to the ground, desperately trying to control his anger.

"I know when I am beaten, please let me say goodbye to my wife." The Gentle Man held back his desire to fight with the honor and dignity he had acquired over millions of years fighting for people he did know and could not see.

Zatanna reluctantly transported Angela to the bridge, knowing that one farewell would cost Bruce and Diana years. But she could not bring herself to deny this man a chance to say goodbye.

Julian cupped his wife's face in his hand, tears filling both their eyes. He spoke in a broken voice. "Angela… I'm so sorry for what I did to you. I should never have condemned you to the Hell of immortality."

One of Angela's hands moved to touch his and the other to wipe a tear from his face. "It was my choice too, you know. I had to accept what you gave me, and I'd gladly do it again. Not because I have enjoyed the years alone, but because I got to see you again. Now go. We'll see each other again, I'll be waiting."

The Gentle Man nodded, kissed his wife, and drew his sword. He moved to perform the ritual that would bring his replacements back and return him to his punishment.

"NOOOOO!" Constantine shouted, awkwardly attempting to stand up to stop Julian while still handcuffed. "Z! Don't let him!"

Zatanna turned, startled. Constantine always conducted himself so coolly, even to the point of self-righteousness, but he had lost all composure. He looked somewhat pitiful so desperately attempting something so futile. The shouts stayed Julian's hand as well, before he drove the sword into the ground. He looked at Constantine, realizing there was far more to the story than he had been told and feeling pity for the man despite not knowing what he was losing.

Zatanna's curiosity overcame her desire for a swift resolution, "Constantine, what the hell is going on?"

"Gabriel… he promised me a chance to see Astra." Constantine's head bowed in shame at the admission. "But I had to keep Julian here for nearly a week… There's still a few hours to go…"

Zatanna looked on in disbelief. "Gabriel? As in the archangel?" Constantine nodded. She remembered when Constantine had told her about Astra, how he had summoned a demon to save her thinking he could control it, but it dragged her into Hell instead. However, at the same time that she was filled with compassion for the man, she remembered how much this conversation was costing her friends. "I'm sorry, Constantine." She nodded toward Julian.

The Gentle Man glanced briefly at the exorcist before driving his sword into the ground. A white flash blinded them all.

Gehenna

The desert refused to end. It had been days with no water and though neither of the heroes seemed to need it, it felt like they did. Their mouths were dry and talking had become painful. Diana stole glances at him whenever she could, hoping for a sign of the love they had shared for hundreds of years in this desolate realm. She was always disappointed.

The sun tortured them, burning their skin while they silently wondered why the desert was there. Bruce checked the magic compass incessantly, knowing how easily they could get turned around in these conditions. They crested another dune with difficulty, the ground beneath them shifting, denying them traction. They had long since covered their necks and heads with whatever rags they could, which now reacted to a gentle northerly breeze. The breeze cooled them down a bit, whisking some of the sweat off their bodies.

Diana turned to allow the breeze to cool her face and saw something in the distance. She tapped Bruce on the shoulder and pointed, an oasis. They looked at each other, the longing for water evident in their eyes. They smacked their chapped lips, their bodies begging for relief. But Bruce held up the compass as if to say, we need to stay on track, it is in the wrong direction. Something in them told them it was a temptation, a diversion, and so they walked on wondering at what they might have been confronted with if they had proven too weak to turn away.

Several hours later they were cresting another dune when their feet met something solid beneath the sand. Bruce's brow furrowed and he bent down to wipe away the sand. His hand soon found bark, excited he brushed away more sand, Diana bending down to help him. It was not long before they realized that the entire dune they stood on was actually one massive root. They looked at each other, but did not risk the pain of talking. Diana pulled back some of the bark hoping for sap or at least wood with a little moisture, but underneath the wood appeared dead. She scraped off more bark in desperation, but there was nothing but dry, lifeless wood. She closed her eyes and shook her head, letting go of another piece of hope.

Bruce felt his heart twinge, he was powerless to help her here. He suppressed his urge to comfort her somehow and stood up, his brow furrowed again. As soon as he had stood up he noticed a pattern in the nearby dunes. They no longer looked like waves, but like randomly curving lines gradually approaching each other in the distance. He looked down at the root beneath him and then at the compass.

He tapped Diana somewhat excitedly on the shoulder. "Diana…" He croaked raspily. "The dunes…they're all roots…they're coming together in the distance…in the direction we're headed."

Diana stood up and looked around, her eyes went wide. They did not know what it meant, but they chose to hope anyway. They began to follow the root they were already on as it twisted like a worm through the desert. It was a lot easier going than traversing the desert normally, and as they went they could see the root-dunes getting closer and closer in the distance. Even more encouraging was the beginning of shrubbery, small bushes and cacti now littered the landscape and the sand became less and less shifty. They managed to crack open one of the cacti along their route and quench their thirst. It was not much, but a single drop of water to one in the desert is more than all the riches of the world.

Diana spoke through her still cracked lips, now moistened, "Let's go, it looks like there will be more where that came from."

It soon became clear what the roots belonged to, a mighty tree revealed itself on the horizon, as tall as a skyscraper. There were no leaves on it, just twisting gnarled branches. As they got closer the tree took on an even more disquieting visage, it was gray and completely dead. The branches turned on themselves in strange ways, giving the tree an uncomfortably foreign feel. Much to their chagrin, the tree stood in the desert, there was nothing but the shrubbery they had been so thrilled to see miles ago. The trunk was as wide as two city blocks, and the compass pointed directly at it. The closer they got, the more uneasy they felt.

"Diana, I think this might be it. The center of this world."

As he spoke, beasts began to rise out of the earth, clawing their way out as if in defense of the tree.

Diana took a defensive posture. "I thought they said we wouldn't have to worry about the horde anymore."

"You don't." The man who had first sent them on the journey spoke from behind them.

He moved in front of Bruce and Diana and immediately the creatures covered their faces. He walked towards them drawing his sword and they began to beat themselves and claw at their own flesh. The man cut them down with ease and then turned to face the heroes, armor glinting in the sunlight. He thrust his sword point first into one of the roots and the tree groaned as if blown by a strong wind, creaking as the dead wood moved.

Something clicked in Bruce's mind and he squinted in defiance at the man.

"Ah, I see you figured it out with your memories restored. Although you probably still do not believe it."

Diana looked from the man to Bruce and then back at the man. "Believe what?"

"My title…is archangel."

Bruce lost some of his composure. "No. It can't be, because that would mean-"

"Yes, Bruce. Anyway your time to leave this realm has come. The Gentle Man's sword has almost touched the stone."

"How long do we have?" Diana asked.

"A few minutes. Ask the questions you will."

"What is that tree?" She pointed.

"That…is the fruit of mankind. It fell out of mankind's hand and planted itself in dead ground, the first seed sown, and it is almost time to reap. I sought to destroy it immediately, but my hand was stayed."

Bruce rolled his eyes. "So, we can ask whatever questions we like, but your answers will all be cryptic?"

The man nodded. "More or less. For his sin, Julian, the one you know as The Gentle Man was charged with tending to this tree as punishment. It was a necessary task, in doing so he has delayed the harvest. You took his place for a time as a reward for his faithful service and that a few things might be accomplished."

"What things?" Diana asked.

"That is not mine to say or yours to know."

"So this whole world-"

"Is a prison, yes. One that hopefully will not be necessary much longer, although I could not say. Thank you for your service, you two really were the only ones for the job. I have a reward for both of you should you choose to accept it, but it does not come without consequences."

"What is it?" Diana only tentatively requested the information.

"The Greek gods, the foolish lot, gifted you, Diana, what they thought was a blessing. However, I am certain that you now see it as a curse. I believe you know of that which I speak."

She nodded slowly, anxiety welling up inside her.

"I have the power to remove it, to cut it out of you."

Diana's jaw dropped. "I don't think I can make a decision so quickly."

"I'm not done. You, Diana, have two options: I can remove the whole of it or just part of it. And if he wills." He gestured toward Bruce. "I can then put that part which I have excised into him. And in so doing, turn your curse into a blessing."

Bruce had by now figured out what they were talking about and panic filled his heart. "No, Diana, don't!"

"But, Bruce, we'd have a real chance…"

"Diana, I can't sit back and watch you give up your life for me!"

"I wouldn't be giving up my life, Bruce, I'd be filling it with joy." She smiled sadly.

Bruce grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her slightly, "Listen to me, Diana! I can't watch you die!" His eyes were watery.

"There it is. There's the love. I knew it had to be in there somewhere."

"Are you even listening to me?!"

"Of course I am, Bruce! But what do you expect me to do? Watch you die and then have to live forever without you?! How is that better?! Do it, Michael, cut out however much you see fit and offer the rest to this stubborn man I love." She smiled weakly.

"NO! Don't listen to her!"

The angel picked up his sword. "It is already done. Your time here runs thin and her heart had already made the decision before the question was ever asked. Now it is for you to decide, will you live longer with her?"

Bruce's shoulders slumped, Diana covered her mouth with her hands, already questioning if she had made the right decision.

"What about my son?" Bruce looked directly into the eyes of the angel.

Michael smiled and shook his head. "You will not outlive him. No father should have to bury his child."

Bruce paused and thought. His heart was beating too fast, how was he supposed to make a decision under these conditions? Michael closed the distance and placed a hand on Bruce's shoulder, his heart slowed and his mind cleared. He looked at Diana, still covering her mouth with her hands, streaks from tears on her face, waiting to hear what he would say.

"Okay."

A blinding white flash filled their vision.

Julian knelt down as soon as he saw who stood before him, bowing his head.

"Rise, Julian. I hope you enjoyed your brief parole. You will see her again someday."

"Thank you, Michael."

The angel shook his head. "Do not thank me. Good luck."

He vanished.

Gotham Park

When he saw the white flash something broke inside Constantine. He held his cuffed hands out toward Zatanna.

"Why'd you do that, Z?"

She undid the cuffs. "I'm sorry, Constantine. I really am."

To her surprise there was no anger, he just walked away into the night, head bowed in silence.

Damian blinked trying to see through the flash to get a glimpse of his father. As the light subsided, the silhouette of Bruce Wayne in humble white rags covered in sand appeared. Before Damian could see properly again he felt arms around him.

"Damian, my son."

His father had never hugged him before, he was startled. So little affection in his life made it feel almost wrong, but he hugged back anyway.

"Clark!" Diana smiled and ran up to hug her friend. "What are you all doing here?"

Zatanna walked up. "Clark realized you two were gone and started asking around. When I found out we immediately confronted The Gentle Man and forced him to go back. I'm so sorry, if I had known I would have helped sooner."

"It's okay, Zatanna. Everything turned out more or less okay." She gestured in the direction she saw Constantine leave in. "What was Constantine doing here?"

"Um…it's a long story. How long were you guys there?"

"We're pretty sure it was about a thousand years."

Zatanna crossed her arms and shook her head. "I can't say it's entirely unexpected, but, I mean, how exactly are you guys not irrecoverably traumatized?"

"Um…it's a long story." Diana smiled.

"Well let's talk about it over dinner or something. You guys look pretty beat up."

Damian heard Diana say 'a thousand years' and the reason for the long hug dawned on him. He hugged tighter back. Soon after he did, Bruce released him and turned towards the other three.

"Clark. Zatanna."

"Oh please." Clark hugged Bruce briefly. "Welcome back, Bruce."

After Bruce was freed from the man of steel's embrace he spoke up. "I'll have Alfred prepare us something. We can compare notes at the manor."

"Shall we go then, sir."

Bruce turned around to see his butler had snuck up on him, the only man who could. "Alfred." Bruce hugged his surrogate father quickly.

"I thought it best to have the car waiting for you upon your arrival, sir. The rest of you, dinner will be ready in one hour."

"Thank you, Alfred."

Constantine wandered until a neon bar sign caught his attention. He went in and bought a drink to numb himself. Someone sat next to him, he paid them no heed.

"What's got you down?"

"Bugger off."

"It was long enough." The stranger said.

"What?"

"You delayed long enough."

Constantine looked up from his beer at the stranger and recognized at once who he was talking to.

"You may see her before she leaves that place."

"What do you mean? Where is she going?" Sweat began to form on Constantine's hand.

The stranger winked. "She never belonged there, did you really think we wouldn't retrieve her? Did you really think you had the power to damn someone? Michael is staging the operation as we speak."

Wayne Manor

The dinner was probably the most interesting one of their lives, everyone had a story to share or an insight to add. Bruce and Diana fell back into their old ways seamlessly, a part of themselves reawakening, but they knew it was only temporary. They knew that next time they were alone they would have to grapple with the dissonance of who they actually were. Michael's work had not removed the problem, just made it manageable.

Damian went to bed first, then Zatanna left saying that she should probably check up on Constantine. Clark stayed a while longer and they shared more intimate things, then he left as well. Alfred cleared the table and then left, making it obvious that he wanted to give Bruce and Diana some time alone.

"What now?" Diana could already feel the dissonance gnawing at the back of her mind.

Bruce sighed. "I don't think we should make any decisions like this, not right now." Diana was visibly crestfallen and her pain hurt him as well. "Would you like a guest room?"

Diana perked up a bit, a ray of hope. "Yeah, that would be nice. I remember the way."

They both got up and started toward their respective rooms, both of them feeling the distance grow between them as if a thin thread were connecting their hearts. Pulling between them, cutting deeper the further away they got. This would be their first night apart in hundreds of years.

Before the thread broke Diana turned. "σὲ ἀγαπῶ, Bruce."

He froze, but only for an instant. He did not turn, or respond in any way. So Diana turned away as well.

Diana tossed and turned for hours, her body and mind exhausted, but completely incapable of sleep. The dissonance, Bruce's silent rejection, and the lack of sleep got to her, she began to cry. With everything that's happened, how could he? She heard a slight knock at the door and went silent hoping whoever it was would go away.

Then a slight whisper. "Diana, are you still awake?"

It was Bruce's voice. She got out of bed and opened the door.

"I can't sleep." He said quietly.

"Me neither."

They stood there for a moment looking into each other's eyes. She stepped out of the doorway letting him in.

Right before they fell asleep he whispered into her ear. "σὲ ἀγαπῶ, Diana. We'll find a way to make it work, I promise."

The End

Author's Note: I would like to retroactively dedicate this story to someone, my Sihaya. If she decides to read this she will know who she is. We've been through our own sort of Gehenna recently, combatting our demons. She asked me something that scared me once. She said: What if we're just in one of those stories you used to write? How would you write the ending? I replied that I would of course give it a happy ending just as this story got, but what I failed to mention was that the characters would have to suffer a great deal before they got that happy ending. I've regretted not saying that ever since. It might have allowed her to leave Gehenna faster, saved her some pain. It probably wouldn't have changed anything. But even now I hope that someday we'll learn to always offer each other a hand when the other falls, and offer that same word of encouragement that Bruce and Diana did countless times: together.