Love Lived, Love Lives

Inspired by "Truth", "New52 Wonder Woman 51" and "Final Days"

Bold- Clark's thoughts

Italics- Diana's thoughts

"I don't know if I love you anymore."

His eyes cold. He was angry.

"What is it you don't know about loving me?"

Her eyes full of sadness. She was heartbroken.

She had given him all of her. Her love, her heart. She just knew he would be the one to protect her heart, to cherish it. But he was the one that causes her pain and shattered her heart without even a second thought.

Moments ago she just saved his life. Stopped him from committing suicide by his drastic desperate decision to hurdle himself into the sun.

"Don't you see? They were lies of omission, Diana."

What the hell did that even mean?

"I wasn't lying to you."

This doesn't make any sense. She was helping him, protecting him as any woman would for the man she loves. But she was wrong for that? So if she were to not give a damn...not try to help him? Then what?

"So what you are saying, that you don't want to fight for what we have together?"

"...I need to focus on the bigger picture and everything that's been happening and-"

"That doesn't include us."

"Right now...no...it doesn't...it can't."

He hurt her but she stayed by his side. Why? Why should she? Why did she? She was in love with him and apart of her knew he was still in love with her no matter what his anger was saying. But still those words...those words hurt like hell. She stayed strong, she was going to hold on for as long as she could.

She even went to the Gods for him. To save his life.

"I think it's important to not only see if this man is worthy of your love, but if he is worthy of us bestowing the gift of healing," Hades said.

Diana glared. "Whether he's worthy of my love isn't your concern. That's my business."

Eros' Garden

"I thought a walk in the garden could give you some much needed perspective on your...relationship."

"I don't need a stranger for that."

"I'm inclined to disagree."

"And who are you suppose to be exactly?"

"Eros, God of Desire."

Walking through the garden, Clark was getting uncomfortable, suddenly reminiscing on all the times he and Diana spent together. Diana. The woman he loved...the woman he was in love with and still in love with. But he hurt her and he knew it. Now not only does he have to deal with the pain and regret of hurting Diana and breaking her heart but he had to deal with the fact that he broke his own heart. He started to feel like complete shit but tried to keep this cold, hard ass attitude.

"So much passion evident- yet you've put up a wall between the two of you...and there's nothing more wretched then smothered desire.

Eros kicked the statue. It crumbled in pieces. Though one large piece was intact, Clark and Diana remained locked in a kiss. So what does that mean?

"Look closer at these two people- you're willing to throw this away? Willing to bury your desire down deep. For what...hmmm? A lie she told to protect you and people you cared about?"

"Shut the hell up!" Clark yelled.

"Come on! We both know the truth, don't we?"

"The truth of what?"

So you, Clark, were the one that was lying.

"The truth of where your desire was really going! Your desire to marry her!"

He wanted to be with her...but he can't...not right now...not like this.

That big decision became one of indecision

Back to reality...Mount Olympus

"I'm holding the man I love in my arms and he's dying!" Diana cried. "Give me your damn answer!"

"He is healed."

Physically healed but emotionally? Clark and Diana might have been more broken than Humpty Dumpty.

Diana helped him regardless of how hurt she was because of him. She risked herself for him. Pleaded to the Gods for him.

No harm will come to my love while I draw breath.

Diana loved this man. Gave her all to him. She was guarded and questioned opening up to him. She didn't understand her feelings but grew to know.

Being with Clark...I started thinking, just for a moment, about what life might look like after a home...families...babies...

She thought they both had grew together but what changed so fast, so drastically that they've taken 100 steps back?

After their ordeal with the Gods he still distance himself from her. Ungrateful jackass focused on nothing more than getting his powers back. He felt less of a man with out him. But that was not him. That was not the man Diana knew and loved. He was more than just his powers. She fell in love with him not because of his powers but because of his heart. So pure. So strong.

But now...he was tainted. Weak minded, weak willed.

"There are times when it's all right for Superman to be vulnerable, too."

At this point, Diana didn't know if she would ever see that man she loved again. Could they start over once all of this chaos is over or was it truly over like this?

He made another stupid drastic decision locking himself up in a room full of Kryptonite using it as power. He knew the risks but was willing to take it no matter the consequences, no matter how much more hurt it brought.

After defeating Vandal Savage, weeks passed. Clark was fully powered and seemed happy again or was he masking his pain?

It's real now.

"I'm dying."

Clark had been staying at the fortress for days running tests and there was no change. He was dying and there seemed to be no cure.

"Ruff!"

Clark kneeled down and smiled weakly at Krypto.

"Hey, buddy. I've messed up and my time is running out to make everything right. I...I'm at a loss and I have no one to blame but myself."

He looked up at the statues of his human and Kryptonian parents.

"...And how lucky I was to have for role models who loved me."

The one person he want to go to first, he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to face her. Not now. Definitely...not now.

After visiting with Lana Lang and Lois Lane, he went to Batman. Bruce Wayne, he was more than a friend. He was like Clark's older brother.

When Clark told Bruce what was going on, Bruce stayed strong as long as he could. But once Clark left, he broke down. The fact that Clark had given up so easily and didn't even want to try to find a cure hurt him even more.

On his way to find Kara, Clark ran into trouble with Titano, the Super-Ape.

Diana, frustrated with his distant behavior, needed to know why he was still acting so cold. The fact that he told Steve Trevor they were broken up but has yet to even speak with her to work it out or both come to that mutual decision of ending things completely was just unreal.

"I need to know why you are avoiding me? What is it you're not telling me?!"

"I'm sorry, Diana, there's so much to do.."

"You told Steve we weren't together."

"It's the truth."

"Is it?"

"It's not that simple."

"Is there some one else?"

Clark stunned and a bit taken aback. "Diana..." he was hesitant. He just couldn't bring himself to tell her the actual truth. "...I can't do this right now."

Later, Mount St. Helens, Washington

As Diana was digging through rocks and boulders, Bruce was looking st his locator.

"It would've gone much faster if we had Clark's strength and X-ray vision..." Bruce suddenly caught himself realizing what he was saying. "Sorry, didn't mean to bring him up."

"Honestly, talking about him is not a problem," Diana said throwing a big rock.

Bruce frowned a bit confused with Diana's response. "Really? Hmm...Its not easy for me to process, let alone talk about. Clark was the rock we all leaned on..."

"Was?" Diana quickly turned around interrupting him. "Why are you talking about him in past tense?"

Bruce was silent and just stared at her.

Diana frowned and stood up. "Bruce, what did you mean by that?!"

"I'm sorry. I thought he told you."

Bruce put his head down as Diana turned her back to him.

"Clark is dying."

Diana's heart shattered once again. She screamed out punching a boulder.

"There's nothing we can-"

"No. I'm sorry, Diana."

Diana put her hand up for Bruce to say nothing more. She refused to believe this.

"You're going to go see him?"

"Of course."

Diana flew off as fast as she could. Time was running out. She was full of mixed emotions and she couldn't process none of this.

Clark wanted space. Why? So he could deal with this alone? That's not how a relationship works and Diana was not about to let him push her away any further. She knew deep down he needed her and no matter how hurt she was, she still loved him, and she still had the belief that he still loved her, too. She needed to be by his side where she felt she belonged.

The man I love is dying.

Diana took a deep breath as she flew down to the Fortress of Solitude. She walked in slowly and saw Kara and Clark.

"Clark."

He quickly turned around. There she was. He could no longer run from her and had to face her now. He could see the pain and sadness in her expression and eyes.

She stepped closer. "Am I the last to know?"

Clark looked down. His heart sunk. "Bruce, told you."

"Yes. He assumed we already spoke about it."

"Um..Hi, Diana." Kara greeted feeling the awkward tension.

Diana glanced at her. "Hello, Kara."

Clark sighed. He could no longer keep this tough cold persona up any longer. He looked up at Diana with sad guilty eyes.

"I didn't reach out to you yet for one simple reason..." he paused for a moment. "...I knew telling you was going to be the hardest of all..."

Silence.

Clark stepped to Diana and took hold of her left hand. He looked deep into her eyes. "...And I honestly was building to it."

"Um...you guys seem to need some alone time...sooo whenever you need to reach me, Kal, well...just go ahead and reach me."

Clark took hold of both of Diana's hands and didn't break eye contact from her. "I will, Kara and thank you."

Kara flew off leaving the fortress.

Diana pulled Clark with her heading to the fortress computer. "Alright, let's get to work and find you a cure."

"You spoke to Bruce...he told you everything right?"

"That's doesn't mean we lie and let this disease win...I had the Gods help us before, I'll ask them again. Beg them if need be..."

Clark frowned and shook his head. He sure as hell didn't want to go through that ordeal with the Gods again.

He stopped abruptly and pulled Diana back. He grabbed her upper arms.

"Do you trust me?"

"More than anyone else I know," she answered without hesitation.

"Okay then. Understand that this isn't a battle I'm going to win."

Clark looked down again and sighed. "I've gone over and over it...this is this." He looked up at her and pressed his forehead against her's. "What's coming is coming, Diana and in some strange way, I knew it wasn't going to feel real until I saw it in your eyes and now that I have..." Clark paused for a moment.

He brought his hand up to caress her cheek. Her eyes. Those beautiful cerulean eyes he fell in love with. Those beautiful eyes that were once filled with so much joy, happiness and love...now filled with pain, sadness and heartbreak all because of him.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Diana questioned.

"I'm not sure..."

Diana pressed her finger against his lips and he was pulling her face closer to his.

"It's been a tough road for both of us these last few months, but before we go any further I need to know one thing..." Diana took another deep breath preparing herself for his answer. "Do you love me, Clark?"

Without a word, Clark cupped her face with his right hand and grabbed her left hand with his placing it over his heart and kissed her passionately. He poured so much love and passion into that kiss.

They pulled away just a bit to catch their breath. Then Diana cupped Clark's face pulling him into another kiss.

Clark slowly moved his hands to her waist, gripping tightly and pulling her even closer as he possibly could. He started levitating still holding Diana bringing her up with him.

Diana pulled away from their kiss. "Clark? What are you doing?"

He still said nothing and held onto her floating backwards.

"Clark?"

"Come with me."

He took her hand and guided her to a much familiar room.

Once they were in the room, Diana looked around. She hadn't been in there for months and memories came flooding back.

She eyed the double king sized bed. She tensed up a bit hesitant.

"Diana?"

As she looked up at him, Clark tightened his grip around her waist. Their lower bodies pressing together. Diana tried not to react, feeling him. The way he was holding her, was letting her know exactly what he was trying to do.

Diana shook her head. "I don't want you doing anything else more that will hurt you."

"Diana...Diana, I'm so sorry."

She could hear the crack in his voice as if he was holding back from completely breaking down.

"I wasted so much time. I made the biggest mistake of hurting you. I put you through hell. It will take me a whole other lifetime to show you how sorry I truly am. You asked me do I still love you. Diana, I do love you. You know that! But I'm the one that should be asking you that. I'm the one that lied. I'm the one that put this wall between us because I was sulking...wallowing in my own self pity. I'll admit that. That was selfish of me and I'm sorry. I'm so...so sorry." Clark kissed her softly. "Right now, I just want to show my love for you one last time. It's okay for us."

Clark captured her lips in another kiss. He kissed her with such adoration that Diana found herself responding in much the same way. It was spectacular and breathtaking all at once and all she wanted to do was be close to him again.

"I missed that. I missed you. I missed us, Diana. I need you," he whispered picking her up and laying her down on the bed.

For a moment they stared into each other's eyes. Diana could see he was sincere and she didn't need her lasso to tell her that. She felt it deep down in her heart and soul.

Indeed this was bittersweet, but Clark and Diana felt better together. Though still a lot of hurt between them for this moment, all of that went away because this was their truth. They loved each other and was in love.

Diana cupped his cheek. "You are the man I love, Clark." She shook her head slowly. "I couldn't bring myself to give up on us."

"I'm sorry I did, Diana. What we have is worth fighting for. I was so blinded by my anger..." he stopped himself and shook his head. "There's no excuse I just shouldn't have said what I said and did what I did."

"No more talking about it. Just kiss me."

Without any hesitation, Clark leaned down and kissed her. He then slow trailed his way down her neck.

Diana found it hard to contain her breathing; she was enjoying the closeness of his body against hers.

Within a matter of minutes, their uniforms were on the floor.

They caressed each other's bodies, knowing just what to do to please each other.

Clark kissed down her neck and across her collarbone. He slowly came back up kissing her cheek then her lips. Diana wrapped her legs around his waist and arms around his neck. Staring straight into each other eyes, Clark positioned himself in between her legs as Diana slowly ran her hands up and down his back.

She gasped, closed her eyes and pressed her nails into his back as he slowly enters her. His movements were so gentle. They found the perfect rhythm, nice and slow.

Now tightly gripping the sheets, Diana tried to maintain her breathing. Her whole body filled with passion and pleasure. She bit her lip and moaned as a whole new feeling passed through her. She trembled, clawing into his back as Clark picked up his pace, thrusting deeper and harder.

"Clark…" she gasped.

He leaned down capturing her lips in a kiss. He then made sure both her legs were around his waist, hooking his right arm around her, he sits up on the bed on his knees bringing her up with him. He leaned her against the fortress wall and plants his left hand against the wall.

With their foreheads pressed together, they stared into each other's eyes and Diana gasped as she sunk down on him slowly. She arched her back to tighten up against him as Clark started his upward thrusting, now holding her up with both his hands covering the dip of her back.

Breathing deeply, Clark buried his face in her chest, kissing her breast. Diana moaned his name and felt herself close around him.

"Diana..."

"Oh, Clark...Clark..." She gasped again and moaned.

Taking her off the wall, he laid her back down on the bed. He tightened his grip of her hips, moving faster.

With one last thrust, they finally hit their limit. Their bodies trembled as waves of pleasure ran through them. Clark lay on top of Diana, holding on to her until they were able to catch their breaths. He then pulled out, slowly and fell to the side, pulling her to him. They lay in each other's embrace. Clark caressed her cheek and kissed her.

"Diana," he spoke softly, looking down at her.

She looked up and smiled.

"I love you."

"And I love you."

They laid silently for minutes until they both got a separate call to head to A.R.G.U.S.

After the attack and escape of "Solar Superman", Denny Swan at A.R.G.U.S., Clark and Diana joined by Bruce needed to track him down.

Flying with the woman I love...and the woman who loves me.

Clark held on to Diana's hand tighter as they went from China having a little battle with the Great Ten, heading to California meeting only briefly a Superman from another world.

Clark's final battle against the Solar Superman was brutal. Neither was giving up.

"The truth is, I'm Superman, but you won't admit it! You're the lie- pretending to be ME!" Denny yelled.

"No, I'm trying to make you see who you truly are, Denny..." Clark yelled back.

"STOP CALLING ME THAT!"

"I know what you know! I feel what you feel!"

"Then you know how I feel about Diana...how much I love her...and want to marry her!"

Clark snapped. "Listen to me, damn it- that isn't your life!"

Supergirl, Wonder Woman and Batman came just in time to try to help stop Denny. However, their efforts were of no use. Denny was filled with rage and it fueled him.

"I'll burn you all for not believing in me!"

Clark had to make one final drastic, yet heroic decision to save his loved ones and the entire world. He flew up as far as he far as he could.

Done with talking...tried to reason with him. He's unstable in more ways than one.

As Denny set off his self detonation, Clark set off his solar blast consuming Denny's energy within himself in the explosion.

"Clark!" Diana yelled out about to fly up.

But the mysterious Superman from another world had already caught Clark being him back down to earth.

Batman and Wonder Woman rushed to Clark not yet acknowledging the other Superman.

"Is everyone okay?" Clark asked.

"We're all good." Batman said.

"Thanks to you." Diana said.

They helped him sit down on the ground.

"...that's blast... did I absorb it completely?"

"Every last bit..." Batman answered.

"Good got worried there for a second."

Clark Kent, Kal-El, Superman had spent his last hours of life saving the world once again. Now...it was time for him to say his good-byes.

It's like it's suppose to happen exactly the way it has...

"What am I going to do without my best friend?" Lana cried.

Clark smiled assuringly. "Anything and everything, Lana."

He looked up. "Make me proud, Kara."

"You can count on that, cousin," she said proudly, trying to hold back her tears.

"Serving by your side's been my honor," Batman stated.

"No...pleasures been all mine, Batman..."

Diana kneeled down to him, caressing his chin.

Again, Clark stared into her eyes not able to speak just yet. "...Taking everything I've got...to hang on, Diana..."

"It's time..." She needed to stay strong for him...for both of them.

She placed her forehead against his. They both closed their eyes for a moment. Diana opened her eyes and to see Clark in so much pain broke her heart yet again. She had to let go. Assure him it was okay to finally just let go.

If I knew it was going to end this soon, I would've held on for a little longer.

"Let go, Darling. It's all right...your parents are all waiting for you."

A single tear ran down Diana's face as she still tried to hold all her tears in for a bit longer but it was becoming more and more difficult. She caressed his face.

Clark gently placed his hand over her stomach rubbing his thumb slowly back and forth. He looked up at Diana, nodded slightly and smiled.

"What a lucky man I was..."

Those were the last words of the Superman of this world.

Clark and Diana went to hell and back, through ups and downs and while their journey physically together may have ended in tragic heartbreak, Clark knew spiritually it was not over. He was proud of the woman he loved. Wonder Woman, Diana of Themyscira...the mother of their unborn child. He knew their love would live on for a new beginning.