Making the Best of It
Chapter 33
Wayne Manor
It was a usual day in the manor as Bruce walked into the dinning room to discover Diana on her laptop. Judging by the look on her face she was deep in thought.
Curious, the billionaire strolled in to learn what the Amazon was up to.
"What are you up to?" his question surprised the woman as she had not even noticed him enter the room.
"Oh, hello," she greeted warmly. She then turned back to the screen in front of her with a preoccupied expression on her lovely face. "I am looking into schools," she informed the man.
"Schools? Elissa's only two," the man questioned, surprised to learn the woman was looking into schools.
"And in less than a year she will be three, Bruce." She countered. "I at least would like to get her into a program where she can be around other children her own age," she reasoned, her blue eyes still glued to the screen. "Just a few hours in the morning and she is back home."
The man listened intently to the Amazon's reasoning, and he found her logic sound. It wouldn't hurt to have Elissa start to be around other children. She wasn't a baby anymore. She was a toddler now and was starting to be a handful.
He took a seat next to her, "Any winners?"
"A few. But I would like to meet with them before we just drop her off at any old school. Do you have some time to visit a few schools?" she questioned him, her eyes finally staring at him.
"Sure. Let me know when and we'll go," he answered nonchalantly.
She nodded her head; her hands moved a few print outs to Bruce giving him some material for him to examine. "Thank you," she uttered pleased by his agreement.
As he took the papers, he noted something odd about the woman. Her raven hair was hanging over her shoulder obscuring her neck a bit. However, through the dark tresses he noted a faint bruise. Unconsciously, his hand lightly brushed her hair away exposing her neck and revealing the profound mark on her perfect flesh.
The act caused the woman to become uncomfortable. "What are you doing?" she questioned nervously.
"What happened to your neck?"
Instantly, she covered her exposed neck with her hand. "Nothing," she maintained firmly. Her face one of embarrassment.
Upon inspection the man had determined that the bruise was made by a set of teeth. "Those are bitemarks. I didn't do that to you," he uttered suspiciously.
The Amazon Princess felt nervous under her lover's suspicious gaze. "It's nothing. I swear." She gave a smile that was an attempt to dissuade any thoughts of unfaithfulness. Her hand had left her neck and she proceeded to continue her search into schools.
But the man was a master detective and he had already deduced what had happened to the woman.
"Your hickey is small. Marks are from a not fully developed set of teeth."
His eyes narrowed as he leaned back in his seat. His mind putting the puzzle together as Diana's reactions helped point him in the right direction. The nervous look on her face as she struggled to work made it easy.
"Diana, did Elissa bite you?" he asked with a blank look.
Finally, the woman could not go on. "Okay! Fine!" she exasperated. "She bit me." She crossed her arms along her chest, scowling at the father of her child. "Happy, Detective?" She questioned irritably.
Bruce was a statue as he took in Diana's statement. Soon after a tiny smile crept on his face and then a chuckle.
"Don't you dare laugh," the woman warned, a finger pointed his way.
"Is that why I haven't seen our bundle of joy?" He asked, still chuckling.
Scowling, the woman disclosed, "I was putting her down for her nap. But she didn't want to, so she bit me. I have left her in her room as punishment."
An eyebrow rose from the man. "She's biting now. When did that happen?" he wondered aloud.
"It's new," the woman rolled her eyes. "She bit Ace," she revealed, stunning the man. "He wanted to play with her and knocked over her blocks. So, she bit him in retaliation."
"I hope Ace didn't bit back," the man uttered worriedly.
She shook her head. "I picked her up before anything happened. Of course, Ace seemed more bewildered than upset."
"And we want to send her to a place with other children?" the man stated wryly.
"It's something we have to work on with her," she reasoned. She saw him shrug his shoulders in vague agreement.
A knowing look appeared on Bruce's face. "Well, you know she got it from you."
"Excuse me?" she whipped her head back to him.
"You're a biter. She's a biter. Like mother like daughter," he spoke smugly.
Her beautiful blue eyes narrowed in displeasure. Instantly, he turned his head away awkwardly.
"If people ask, I'm saying that it was a gift from you," she stated haughtily.
"Pardon?"
"You gave it to me when we were making love," she explained with a sense of aloofness.
"You bite me. A lot. Not to mention you scratch my back like it's a scratching post," Bruce countered.
"I don't hear you complaining when we're in bed," she argued.
"Well… I'm distracted with the sight of you," he uttered thoughtfully. His answer surprised her a bit.
She sighed, "A need a break. Up for a spar?" she questioned casually.
"Sure," he agreed.
Pleased, Diana spoke again. "Good. I want you to show me that move again from our last spar."
While the two were very passionate with one another in the bedroom. They also had much in common aside from the physical. Aside from sparring they both had an interest in literature and chess.
The couple sat at a chess table in the study. A fire raging in the fireplace as the pair set up the chess board. They were silent too engrossed with their own strategies.
Thankfully, Elissa was fast asleep enjoying her nap. It was a fight now. A battle of wills between the three of them as the child of Bruce and Diana was quite unbending in anything lately. The toddler years were becoming a pain in the ass.
The dark-haired pair were quiet as they moved their pieces with Bruce winning. Diana having learned a thing or two from the billionaire had decided to play dirty. Subtlety, she slipped her foot out of her shoe, a devious twinkle in her perfect blue eyes.
Just as Bruce moved his bishop, the Amazon had made her move, the man visibly flinched as surprise was written on his face. He scowled, looking down he had left her dainty foot part his legs. He looked up, greeted to the sight of the woman appearing as innocent as she could possibly be.
"What?" she blinked curiously. She struggled within herself to not smile.
"You know what," he grumbled, his expression dissatisfied.
She struggled, giving him an innocent smile and made her move.
He continued to scowl at the woman for a hard minute before he resumed playing. It soon became apparent that it was just a one-off gesture by Diana. Is what the man had thought. But she proved him wrong.
Whenever she was on the defensive, she had chosen to tease him. Her foot gently brushed along his inner thigh; she heard a strangled growl from the man that almost made her laugh as the smile on her face was undeterred.
He jolted up from his seat when her toes found purchase at his groin, he nearly knocked the table over to which Diana caught the table in her strong hands, the pieces wobbling but remained standing.
"Okay, I caught you," he declared, grumpily.
"Caught me? Doing what?" Diana feigned ignorance of the whole situation. She shrugged her strong shoulders, "I have no idea what you're talking about," she denied.
"Really?" the suspicious man uttered. He didn't believe a word she said right now.
"Really."
With narrow eyes, he sat down again. When they resumed playing once again, Bruce was ready. His eyes were torn between the board and the devious woman that sat in front of him. He noted the slightest movement in her body and struck.
"Oh!" Diana yelped in surprise as she felt her right leg be dragged out from under the table. Her hands gripping the table to stabilize herself, her body shifted as her right leg was elevated, her body leaning most of her weight on her left hip.
Accusingly, the dark-haired man held the woman's right leg by her ankle, her foot dangling near his head as he glared daggers at the woman.
"Oh, how did that get there?" Diana wondered innocently.
"Uh huh," the man grumbled. He soon released the leg and took his seat.
It was Diana's move, and it was then that Bruce learned of the woman's treachery.
"Checkmate," the woman announced giddily. To which, the man scowled at his defeat.
He looked up from the board, greeted by the sight of Diana eager smile. "Ready to go again?"
She knew he would want a rematch. He couldn't stand to lose either. Aside from Alfred and Damian, Bruce always won when he played chess with his family. It was new and that provoked him to have these matches with her.
"Let me get your lasso," he uttered stoically.
"Oh," she began. "Bedroom play involving chess, now?" Her voice oozed with seduction that could make a man drunk. Her smile broadened when she noticed the slightest change in his body language that made her feel accomplished at how easily she could get under his skin.
Minutes later, he returned. The chessboard reset and they were both ready to play. The only change was that Diana was tied up. She sat; her knees pulled to her chest. Her lasso tightly wrapped around her torso and knees; her left arm trapped by the golden rope.
Her right arm was the only limb free.
As she made her move, she uttered, "You're no fun," she pouted.
"Hmm."
He replied moving a pawn forward.
Dinner at Wayne Manor was mandatory for the family of three. But to their surprise Damian had decided to show up for it. It could be inferred that he just wanted to see his sister. Either way, Bruce was glad his son was coming home more frequently.
Damian watched in utter surprise and fascination as he observed his father feed Elissa. Apparently, Elissa wanted to be waited on and wasn't interested in feeding herself. She opened her mouth accepting what her father fed her. Her blue eyes were torn between her father and Damian as she found his presence odd.
"Is that good, baby girl?" the man asked pleasantly.
Elissa merely chewed on her soft food before swallow. She opened her mouth for more her eyes glued to her father with adoration glittering in the blue orbs.
Diana sat next to their daughter content with her dinner as well as watching her daughter be fed by her father.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed Damian's fascination with the scene before them. Extending an olive branch, she inquired, "Damian," said teen looked to the Amazon, "would you like to feed her?"
The question threw him for a loop as Bruce ceased in Elissa's feeding curious on his son's response. Unfortunately, Elissa was annoyed by the pause in her meal. Her little hands slapping at the tray to her highchair.
Chuckling at her impatience, Bruce resumed while he awaited to hear Damian's answer.
"I…" the boy was at a loss for words. It was a simple question but, in this house, it was like asking for something unattainable.
"It's easy, Damian." Bruce assured, joining in. "Come here," he beckoned, standing from his chair. He watched as Damian strolled over and took the plate from his father and took the man's seat.
Diana smiled, glad to see Damian was getting along with his sister. She watched the teen's face as it shifted between nervousness to love as Elissa took her food from her brother.
The Amazon knew Damian was a good brother to her daughter.
Bruce was glad to see his son was coming out of his dark shell as he noted the smile on the teen's face. He knew Damian could be affectionate when he wanted to be. Just as he was. The man just wanted his son to be there for his sister when she couldn't go to her parents.
Diana and Bruce shared a look and silently left the teen alone with the toddler, enabling them to get better acquainted.
When Elissa was done eating, Damian didn't even notice that the adults were gone. Surprising himself, the teenager cleaned his sister's face and picked her up. He sat her down in his lap, her head instinctively turning to her brother. Her curious eyes glued to him. He deftly took her little hand in his own and started to shake hands. The motion shook Elissa's little body, causing her to smile and laugh in amusement as she thought it was a game.
"Hello, Elissa." He started, awkwardly. "I'm your brother," he introduced himself. It wasn't the first time they had met. But his presence was so rare at the manor lately he feared she had forgotten him. The adoring smile that the toddler gave him made his heart stagger. He never felt like this before. With the other Robins he had to fight tooth and nail to keep his place as Robin through an irrational fear of losing his place in the family. But with Elissa, he didn't have anything to prove.
From the look on Elissa's face, he was certain she already loved him.
After Elissa had been put to bed, Bruce had seen Damian before he went out for patrol. "It's good to see you, son."
An almost dressed Damian turned to his father, his features cool. They had settled their differences mostly. But still the dynamic duo wasn't what it used to be. Damian was already rebellious. Now that he was a teenager his attitude skyrocketed.
"Father," he nodded, donning his domino mask.
Bruce was fine with his son trying to find himself. But he just hoped Damian didn't forget this was always his home.
Fully dressed, save for his cowl, Bruce left the changing area with Damian making large strides to get out quickly.
"What's this I hear about you having a girlfriend?"
Instantly, his son stopped in his tracks, frozen. He whipped his head to his father with an incredulous look. "Who… How do you…?"
Bruce chuckled mildly at the stammering teen.
It was then that Damian realized who he was talking to. Surprise turned to realization and then irritation.
The teenager stifled his anger and started to act his age. "I… suppose," he spoke.
"Do you want to talk about it?" the man questioned. He found this as awkward as can be, but his son needed him for this. He hoped.
"I do have… a few questions," the teenager admitted clumsily.
"Come along, Robin. We have patrol," he beckoned his son, whom quickly followed him to the batmobile.
"So, do I ask her to a movie first or just dinner?"
"Try both," the man responded as the canopy shut and the two drove down the tunnel leading to the city.
It took some time what with how busy their schedules were, but the pair managed to go out on a date with Alfred kind enough to babysit Elissa for the evening.
Diana smiled brightly as Bruce dipped her. Her hands gripping his shoulders as Bruce pulled her back up. A light sheen of sweat covered her forehead, breathing slightly heavily.
The sight of the tiny smile on her lover's face made their outing worth it.
The two had been so busy with work that she had begun to miss his company.
Panting as the music ceased, Diana moved a few strands of hair out of her face. She smiled at him, she leaned into his embrace as he pulled her to him their bodies flush together, moving slightly in place to the new song playing.
"This is nice," she said softly into his neck, enjoying the feel of his large arms wrapped around her waist.
"Yes," he responded.
From the way he responded, the Amazon deduced that he was preoccupied. She whispered into his ear, "If you need to go, it's okay." She said understandingly.
"No, it's fine," he replied quickly. He lightly kissed her cheek. "The city can look after itself for a night." He looked at her with a tender look, "I promised you I would do better, and I meant it. I need… to relax. Occasionally. Elissa's getting so big I don't want to miss any more of her childhood," he uttered earnestly.
Listening intently, the raven-haired woman absorbed what the man wanted to do. She admired the lengths he was going to for them—for their child. And it warmed her heart that he was trying so hard.
Changing the subject, the man complimented the amazing woman in his arms. "You look nice tonight," he told her with a small smile. He admired her perfect body in that stunning red dress of hers with her matching high heels.
"Tonight? So every other day I'm hideous?" she teased him.
"Uh, no. Of course not. You're beautiful," the billionaire stammered. That perfect eyebrow arched challengingly as the man desperately tried to get out of the hole he dug.
Suddenly, she laughed at the expression on his face.
"You're horrible," he grumbled. Her chuckling annoyed him, but soon he joined her in laughter.
"You look quite handsome yourself," she complimented, getting back on track.
They swayed side to side falling into a lull with Diana's head on his shoulder, feeling his heart beat through his body.
When they were tired of dancing they went to his car and drove home. When they returned home, the woman instantly took off her heels. "I can't remember the last time I danced so much," she mentioned, massaging her feet.
"Glad you enjoyed yourself."
Bruce was pleased to hear the woman enjoyed herself. To be honest, he did as well. He left her in the sitting room as he went up to see if Elissa was in bed yet. He quietly entered his daughter's bedroom. It was way past her bedtime, but he just wanted to check on her. He peeked over the crib to find his daughter wide awake. Her head turned instantly to the visitor in her bedroom. She spat out her pacifier and stood up in her crib.
"Dada," she said happily.
"Hey, baby girl." He picked her for moment. He felt her legs locked around his body, as she peered down at her father. "What are you still doing up? You're going to be very cranky in the morning."
Elissa, clad in her white and pink onesie, laid her head on her father's shoulder. "Aw, I missed you, too." He rubbed her back. "Come on," he motioned for the crib before him. "Time for bed." He set her down, wrapping her in her beloved blanket. He kissed her forehead, "Love you, baby girl."
He pulled back and as he turned, he found Diana coming in.
"Is she still up?" she said with surprise lacing her words.
"I just put her back to bed," he explained, stepping aside as the mother navigated around him to get to her child.
"Hello, my love." Diana spoke sweetly.
"Mama," the two-year-old uttered sweetly, smiling at her mother.
"It's bedtime. But I will see you in the morning. Sweet dreams, my love." She smiled brightly at how alive her daughter was. So energetic and happy that every day was a surprise to her. She stuck her hand inside the crib and tickled her daughter's cheeks.
Her action caused Elissa to erupt into a fit of giggles. A sweet bellyful laugh that warmed the parents. The Amazon mother stopped tickling her daughter and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"Good night, my love."
The parents left their daughter to sleep, Bruce was about to part ways with the woman until a hand on his wrist stopped him.
He turned his head, curiosity in his eyes. He saw Diana give him a smoldering look. A fine eyebrow rose challengingly. The man at a loss for words as she pulled him forward towards her bedroom.
As they shut the door before them, the woman kissed him passionately, her hands tugging at his clothes. A tingle went down her spine as she felt his hands on her. Running down her back, her sides, and along her posterior, before giving said muscle a gentle squeeze.
She pulled back desperate for breath, her cheeks flush.
"I've missed you," she said longingly.
"I've missed you, too." He returned the same feeling.
"Come," she tugged him towards her bed.
Bruce merely followed her as words were unnecessary any further.
Weeks later, Diana had been missing for some time. She had been with Justice League Dark. Something to do with the fabric of magic and the world. From what the Amazon told him, Circe was trying to become the Goddess of Magic undoing the balance between Earth and the magical world.
Due to her disappearance, the Martian Manhunter visited Wayne Manor to give Bruce an update and he hoped to learn more from the man. They conferred in the backyard of the manor away from prying eyes.
"We've lost contact with them hours ago. Last transmission they relayed that they were leaving this dimension," the green-skinned man conveyed to the billionaire.
Said man was listening intently as his eyes were glued forward not sparing the Martian a glance on his right.
"Sensors, tracking, even my mental probes have been unsuccessful," the Martian explained stoically.
"I appreciate you telling me, J'onn. But Diana and I discussed this many times. It's why I left the League. If she's still alive she will be back," he spoke strongly.
The dark-haired man didn't want to appear callous, but he didn't need to be a nervous wreck. Diana was a strong woman who was no doubt fighting tooth and nail to get home. He trusted her, believed in her. If she was still alive, she was working on a way to come home.
"I understand," the other man nodded solemnly. "Do not think the worst, my friend. Diana is an incredible woman and a firm believer in life," he offered some comfort to the man, whom no doubt was thinking the worst-case scenario. He had turned to leave but stopped himself, turning back. "Is there anything that you can provide?"
Bruce starred into the Martian's red eyes for a brief moment before the billionaire uttered, "No," he denied.
J'onn stared back but accepted the other man's response and flew away.
The dark-haired man wasn't stupid. He was certain that J'onn had thought Bruce was not as forthcoming as he expressed. Given the man's history of paranoia and preparation for every eventuality.
Bruce watched as his guest left before reentering the manor. He found his daughter playing with a toy that exclaimed numbers and colors.
"Hey, baby girl," he said softly as he kissed the top of her head. Upon hearing her father's voice, she turned to him and smiled. She held up her toy and babbled about it.
"I know," he spoke pleasantly. "You are being such a big girl. Do you know your numbers and colors, hmm?" he rubbed her back as she moved closer to Bruce.
"Mama," Elissa uttered softly, her eyes glued to her toy. Her innocent utterance hurt the man inside. He knew she missed her mother and Bruce shared the same feeling as his little girl. But he didn't show any concern. He didn't want Elissa to get upset.
"I know, princess." He picked her up and sat her down on the couch with him joining her. "Mama's busy right now. But she will be home soon," he assured the little girl. Unfortunately, Elissa didn't seem to understand. Although, she hadn't thrown a fit so that was a plus.
He sat with her for a bit, playing with her and speaking to her. He managed to get a few new words out of her but that was about it. He had tried working on letters and colors with the aid of the toy in her little hands.
He had left her with Alfred in the kitchen with a snack for her to munch on while Bruce went down to the cave.
He went straight to the computer and activated a certain program on it. Not long after he and Diana had started to pursue a relationship, he had slipped a tracking device onto Diana's tiara. It was microscopic, a marvelous new invention straight out of Waynetech. The woman wouldn't register the weight on her headpiece, nor would it throw off her aim, recalling she sometimes used it as a projectile weapon. He had joked one time that she was copying his schtick. She had snorted into a laugh when he whispered wonderarang into her ear. She started laughing so much that she had to cover her mouth.
He placed it there just in case. It was standard procedure for all members of the bat-family. With Diana now in the family, she received the same treatment. He was just worried about her, and this was one of the only ways that he could express it. Words were still hard for him.
Of course, should Diana find out she would hand him his ass.
The batcomputer's result glared mockingly in the man's hardened face.
No Signal
He shut the screen off with a grimace, retreating from the icy cavern below his family home.
Wonder Woman and Justice League Dark battled Circe over control of magic. It got so bad magical energy began bleeding into Earth, causing the skies to turn purple and lightning to blast the ground. Cities shimmered close to vanishing from the face of the earth. The Justice League responded by providing relieve efforts and evacuating people from affected areas.
To win the battle Diana had to expose herself to the dark aspects of magic: Chaos Magic. It transformed her from being a goddess of truth to a goddess of chaos. Her skin changed from sun-kissed to pale as snow, her hair vanishing, her azure eyes vacant replaced with white. Her armor changed to purple and gold.
She and Circe battled one on one as her allies had fallen by Circe's powerful magics, leaving Diana to fight alone.
They fought, their surroundings of vortex of multi-colored magic energy. As they battled Diana learned more about the aspect of herself that she had been ignoring for some time. The magical part of her heritage. And with her own will she forced her magic to consume Circe's taking it for herself. The Amazon staggered as the influx of powerful was too great. Almost intoxicating. Almost instantly, she felt herself slipping away, losing herself to a part of herself that she didn't know existed, a darker more wicked version of herself.
Fearing what she would do with her newfound power, summoning all of her will she forced all the power that resided within her and shot it towards the sky, emptying herself of all the chaos magic until her appearance returned to normal.
A blinding light of purple illuminated the entire area which went on for minutes until the light started to ebb.
The unconscious Circe reawakened in time to see Diana had returned to her original form, battle weary. Her complex slightly pale, her face sweaty as loose strands of hair stuck to her face. On shaking legs, she tried to move, unfortunately, she collapsed to the cold hard ground in exhaustion.
She lost consciousness for perhaps an instant, only to reawaken. Through bleary eyes, she struggled to identity Circe standing over her, looking just as haggard as the Amazon.
"I will kill you," she sneered. Her purple hair disheveled, her clothing torn. Magical energy danced around her fingers. "You have no idea what you cost me! I lost more than you will ever know!"
Magic danced over her head as she blasted the downed woman, a pained shriek erupting from her throat.
Smoke spewed from her back as she struggled to remain conscious. White hot pain swelled through every nerve ending.
"This wasn't my usual plots to kill you," Circe expressed with righteous fury. "I needed that power to reclaim my lost daughter from Tartarus. A parting gift from Ares before his imprisonment," she explained. Rage boiled over, "And now because of you I may never see my daughter again!" Incensed and blind with fury Circe struck the weakened Amazon again, her cries of pain sweet music to the sorceress. She kept striking Wonder Woman again and again. She relished at the sight of her hated enemy's searing flesh, her pained face with every blast.
Diana struggled to resist the pain as she concentrated on what Circe revealed. She was doing all this for her child. Not for herself or settling grudges but to reclaim her daughter stolen from her by a vengeful and wicked god.
"Circe, wa—AH!"
Diana screamed in pain as another blasted stung her wounded flesh.
"Wait, please," the raven-haired woman pleaded with pained expression.
"Pleading for your life won't save you," Circe rejected. More magic surrounded her hands, "I will peel the flesh from your bones!" she declared fervently.
"I can help you get your daughter back!" Diana quickly uttered, her face in a grimace as she mentally prepared for the incoming blast.
She waited for the inevitable blast, yet it oddly didn't come. Cautiously, she opened her eyes and looked up at Circe.
Said woman held a bewildered look which swiftly turned to incensed. "Repeat what you just said," she growled.
"I… I can help you get your daughter back," Diana repeated, grateful for the reprieve.
"How?" the purple-haired woman demanded. "And pray that I don't learn of your deceit," she swore.
"There is a gate to Tartarus," Diana weakly said, still lying face down in the dirt, her head looking up at the sorceress.
"On Themyscira," Circe interjected. "Which neither of us can find," she reminded the other woman.
"There is another," Diana revealed.
"Where?" Circe demanded, her hands lowering, her magics vanishing. "Tell me or my next spell taking a limb," she threatened.
"The multiverse is vast. I have a friend who has been to other Earths. With the right equipment or perhaps the proper spells we could go to Tartarus and retrieve your child," Diana explained, praying that Circe would believe her.
As hopeful as she was, Circe was skeptical of Diana's intentions. "How do I know this isn't a trick? A stalling tactic until your allies arrive.
"I possess the Golden Perfect. I would be unworthy of it to opening lie while it hangs on my hip," Diana countered. "Besides, have I ever lied?"
Circe narrowed her eyes at the Amazon. Silently, she contemplated her words and options and found the woman to be truthful. "Very well, Princess. I will agree to a truce," she relaxed her body. "In exchange, you will aid me in retrieving my daughter from Tartarus," she demanded.
"Yes," Diana agreed. She experimentally got to her feet, losing her footing several times before she could stand up straight. Wincing as she body protested all forms of movement.
"Quickly, Princess. I have been away from my child for far too long. I refused to dawdle any further," the sorceress pressed the injured woman.
"I need to rendezvous with my team," Diana briskly countered, her body straining against walking. Yet, she persevered and went in search of her allies.
Irritated by the waste of time, Circe casted a spell that surrounded the two in purple light. When the light dissipated Diana found herself in the presence of her injured and fatigued teammates.
"Time is short," Circe impatiently reminded the woman.
Diana struggled to not roll her eyes as she tended to her friends. But she understood the woman's desperation. If she had been separated from her child for many years, she would be hysterical to be reunited as well.
When the rest of JLD awoke, Diana had explained to them the situation. And while most of them were exhausted and wounded they agreed to help. Dr. Fate was willing to aid them in transporting them to Hades. It would take a substantial amount of magic power, but he would be able to transport them. However, he needed an anchor to this plane of existence. The Tree of Wonder was chosen as that anchor. The Tree was a beacon for ancient magic. Its size immense equivalent to the power that dwelled within it.
As weary as Diana and the others were, they fought the urge to surrender to exhaustion and continued forward. Thanks to the combined efforts of Dr. Fate and Circe the portal to Tartarus opened and all save Dr. Fate remained behind to maintain the link and be the one to pull them back when they were ready to return.
Diana, Circe, Zatanna, Detective Chimp, Man-Bat, Swamp Thing were greeted to the sight of hell. The cacophony of pained screams of tortured souls.
Chimp and Man-Bat shared a worried look as they regretted coming.
The magic squad of the Justice League ignored the sounds and sights of damnation and focused on the mission. If Circe's daughter was here, she would be in the company of the master of this hellhole: Hades himself.
Those that could fly carried those that could not. The journey was arduous as they were battle-weary and not even close to full strength.
They fought monsters and demons that desired their souls. Evading the flames that would sear their very souls. Eventually, they arrived at the castle of Hades. It was desolate rock, surrounded by fire and echoes of agony. Tall, damaged columns were supporting the castle.
The gates were massive, but Diana pushed them open with a straining grunt, another example at how weak she was.
They entered unimpeded. They were surprised by the absence of guards, but they pressed on not looking a gift horse in the mouth.
They were greeted to the sight of more depressing architecture of the castle. Depressing and dull, absent of all life.
The throne room held a single chair occupied by Lord Hades himself.
The dark-haired man seemed disinterested in his guests, barely noticing them. His index finger pressed into his temple.
"Lord Hades," Diana stepped forward, speaking diplomatically. "I am—"
"I am aware of whom you are," Hades spoke with a baritone voice intoned with apathy. "What are you doing in my realm? None of you are dead. Unless you wish for me to rectify that?"
Circe interjected angrily. "I have come for my daughter, Hades. My child stolen from me by her devious father. I want her returned to me," she demanded arrogantly.
His eyebrow rose at the audacity of the sorceress's demand. His finger left his temple, and he leaned forward in his throne menacingly. "You dare make demands of a god!" he bellowed. His actions caused the group to take defensive positions. "You do not come to my realm and make demands, sorceress. As powerful as you, my power surpasses yours exponentially," he told them.
Diana sensing that things were escalating in the wrong direction and considering the state she was in; she was no match for the lord of the underworld.
She stepped forward blocking Circe, delicately she made a request. "Lord Hades, we are here to reunite and mother and her child. Unjustly. You are lord of the dead; Circe's daughter is still very much alive. I ask you respectfully to return her to her mother."
Hades stared at the Amazon in contemplation.
Circe, however, had butterflies in her stomach as she was so close to being reunited with her child. Her anger having vanished as it seemed Diana's plea was working.
Suddenly, Hades spoke.
"I'm afraid that I must deny your request," much to everyone's surprise.
"What?!" Circe roared. "Why?!" She demanded.
"Persephone is quite taken with the child. She provides my wife with distraction from my sunless realm," he explained somberly.
Circe was devastated. The fact that Hades had refused cut deep. She was close. So close to seeing her daughter again. Suddenly, anger burst within her, and she attacked the god with her magic.
"Circe, don't!" Wonder Woman pleaded watching helplessly as the sorceress blasted the god.
"I not nearly drunk enough for this," Detective Chimp said aloud nervously.
"Stay sober, Bobo!" Zatanna snapped at the chimp.
When the smoke cleared, Hades was gone. His throne destroyed.
Panting Circe held her magic power within her hands.
"Circe, stop!" Diana tried in vain to stop her from attacking again. Her eyes widened in surprise as she noticed Hades standing behind the purple-haired woman. "Circe!"
Said woman turned to see Hades towering over her slender frame. She yelped in pain as his powerful hands gripped her wrists.
"Enough," he uttered blankly.
"You may see your child, but she stays here," he spoke firmly.
He released his hold and stepped away from her, whom massaged her aching wrists. "They are in Persephone's Garden," he informed them. With a wave of his hand, a row of balls of fire lit their way.
The garden was breathtaking. Green and large filled with the fabled pomegranate and many of Persephone's favorite flowers.
Within the garden, they saw the raven-haired, blue-eyed goddess Persephone sitting in her garden watching pleasantly as a purple-haired child ran about the garden laughing.
Circe's breath caught in her throat at the sight of her daughter. She had grown so much since last she saw her.
Out of their peripheral, Persephone and Circe's daughter noticed their guests.
It took a moment before the girl noticed the fellow person with purple hair.
"Mommy?'
"Lyta!" Circe cried. Tears in her eyes, she raced to her daughter, whom ran to her.
They embraced tightly fearing they would lose the other.
"I missed you so much, baby," Circe collapsed to her knees taking Lyta with her.
"Me too, Mommy," the child gripped her mother tightly. Joy swelling inside her chest at seeing her mother after so long.
After observing the scene, Persephone rose from the grass.
"Diana?"
Said Amazon stiffened upon hearing her name. "Lady Persephone, please excuse the interruption."
"Nonsense," the goddess dismissed. "I am relieved to see Lyta reunited with her mother," she said heartfully.
"Yes, it warms the heart," the Amazon uttered in agreement. The scene made her wish to see her own child right now. She could not recall the last time she held Elissa in her arms.
"Something troubles you," the goddess noted observing the Amazon's change in her disposition.
"It is of little importance, Lady Persephone," the woman dissuaded. "But there is something that is troubling me, my Lady."
"Oh? Well tell me then," she insisted. "I will aid you in my realm," she vowed.
When Diana finished telling her tale with Persephone listening intently. She nodded her head in understanding and vanished in search of her husband.
With the goddess gone, Diana scanned the area and noted her teammates resting on the ground in desperate need of break.
She observed Circe and her daughter Lyta chatting away. The child telling tales of her experiences in Tartarus with Circe listening attentively.
A faint smile formed on the weary Amazon's lips as she, too, took a seat on the ground, her legs having felt like lead.
Persephone's return awoke the slumbering Amazon. Circe and Lyta jolted at the goddess's arrival.
"My Lady," Diana politely rose and bowed respectfully.
"Persephone!" Lyta cried happily, running to the woman. "Where did you go?" she asked curiously with childlike wonder.
Smiling, the goddess replied, "I needed to speak with my husband."
"Oh," Lyta uttered readily before turning back pointing to her mother. "Can mother stay for a while? Please?"
Circe held a disheartened look as the question reached her ears, recalling that this was a temporary visit.
Persephone smiled, kneeling before the purple-haired child. "Lyta, it's time for us to say farewell," she spoke carefully.
"Why?" Lyta protested, upset to be parting ways with Persephone.
The goddess gestured to Circe, watching not far from them. "Your mother is here to take you home." She took the child's hands in her own, smiling kindly to the girl. "I have treasured our time together, but your place is with your mother. I would never keep you separated from her," she spoke earnestly.
Lyta's face scrunched up in concentration as she processed what she had heard. Her mind carefully deciphering it. "Okay," she uttered glumly.
Persephone embraced the child tightly. "No pouting," she chided mildly. "You were all smiles before. I wish that your smiling face to be my last memory of you," she said fondly.
A smile slowly crept onto the child's face, insistent on making her friend happy even if she was upset that she was losing her friend.
Persephone rose, her hand on Lyta's shoulder, her eyes on Circe. With a gentle shove, Lyta went over to her mother, whom pulled her close to her side.
"Please forgive my husband. He would do anything to please me. Even if it meant separating a mother and daughter," she told her apologetically.
"Thank you," the sorceress responded gratefully. She looked down to her child observing the scene curiously.
"All of you are free to leave. None of you will be harmed," the goddess of the Underworld vowed.
Diana bade her respects before she and the others left the gardens.
"Goodbye, Persephone!" Lyta waved farewell to her friend, tears in her eyes, but she swore to have a smile on her face just as Persephone wanted.
"Goodbye, Lyta. I wish you and your mother well," the goddess replied as the group left her in her garden.
What seemed to be the end of an exhausting mission turned wrong as the Underworld affected the portal that Dr. Fate left open for them.
The portal exploded like a lightning storm striking all around the Underworld. The vortex separated the group, debilitating each of them as they all landed at separate locations.
Dr. Fate observing the portal at the Tree of Wonder, had been blasted into unconsciousness.
Batcave
Bruce had been sitting in front of the batcomputer for hours trying to find Diana. After several fruitless hours, things changed as Diana's tracker was back online and was not far from Gotham City in the salt mines.
Swiftly, he pulled his cowl on and readied the batwing.
Gotham City Salt Mines
Groggily, Diana struggled to get to her feet, her sense dulled as they could make out that she was in some sort of cavern. She prayed she was in the Batcave with Bruce and Elissa a few feet away from her. Through blurry eyes she struggled against the darkness that dwelled within the cavern
"Mother?"
A childlike voice reached the woman's ears.
"Lyta?" Diana said loudly in search of her.
"Hello?" Lyta's fearful voice echoed throughout the cavern.
"It's Diana! Follow my voice!" She waved her arms around hoping to find the lost child.
Suddenly, purple light illuminated the cavern and Diana realized Lyta was a mere ten feet on her left. The source of the light turned out to be Circe.
"Lyta!" the woman called to her child, whom in turn raced to her mother, wrapping her arms around her mother's waist. The woman placed a hand on her child's head, lovingly caressing the back of her head. "We will never be separated again," she vowed to her child. She smiled as her child nuzzled into her chest.
Circe's eyes stared at Wonder Woman. The Amazon held a narrow suspicion that they were about to fight again.
"We have truce," the sorceress surprised the Amazon Princess. "You helped me get my daughter back. For that, I am grateful."
Diana was at a loss for words. This woman hated her and her people for centuries and after all these years and all the battles it was over. Diana could hardly believe it.
"I sense doubt in you," Circe stated. "It's reasonable. I am devious," she admitted with a tiny smile. "But on the life of my child I will trouble you no more," she vowed.
"That is… Surprising." Diana confessed. "But I am willing to accept this truce."
Circe nodded in agreement. She peered down at Lyta, who was watching the scene innocently. Smiling, Circe spoke to her. "Lyta, say goodbye to Diana and thank her for helping me find you," she instructed politely.
"Bye, Diana. Thank you!" she said readily, waving at the raven-haired woman.
Diana returned the gesture warmly. "Goodbye, Lyta. It was nice meeting you," she smiled.
As Circe and Lyta were about to leave, the sorceress halted her efforts. Her eyes narrowing at her former enemy. She had an inkling about her. She sensed the woman was conflicted.
"What's wrong with you? You seem torn on something. Troubles with that flyboy of yours?"
Diana stiffened at the mention of Steve. "No. Why would you think that?" she argued defensively.
A knowing grin formed on the sorceress's lips. "It is man troubles. Doubts?" she chuckled, already stepping back into old ways.
Judging by the scowl on the raven-haired woman's face, the purple-haired woman stopped herself.
"Let me help you out," she proclaimed. She rose her hands above her head, purple magic energy shined in her hands. "Let me show you your true love," she exclaimed.
The batwing down near a clearing. From there, Batman took off quickly. Racing towards the mine where Diana's signal was emanating from.
Darkness enveloped him as he darted down the tunnel, his cowl providing night vision for him to see. He followed the tracker making a left turn into a deeper cavern.
The signal got stronger the more his legs moved. His heart pounded in his chest as anxiety consumed him. He needed to see. To make sure she was alright.
He saw light at the end of a long and dark tunnel. Hope filling him, his legs carried him. He heard voices. He raced to the end of the tunnel, hearing the words, "Let me show you your true love."
His body stopped in its tracks, feeling weighted down. He stood hollowly as what he saw left him numb.
His head bowed in depression. He had seen Diana, safe and sound. That was enough.
He turned away walking down the tunnel and back to the plane.
As he walked, he was disheartened. What he saw went through his head repeatedly. He boarded his plane and took off to go on patrol.
He needed a distraction. Any sort of distraction to take his mind off things. After a productive night on patrol, he returned home. After a quick shower and change of clothes he collapsed into his bed.
He awoke just after noon. He came down to see Elissa, whom was in the company of her mother in the entertainment room. They were both on the floor playing with each other.
He kept himself reserved as Diana smiled at him.
"Afternoon," she greeted warmly. "I wanted to tell you I was home, but you were out on patrol. I hope I didn't worry you?"
"No," he shrugged. He took a seat on the couch with coffee in hand. "I knew you would be coming back," he assured, taking a sip.
"Did I miss anything while I was gone?" she questioned.
"Not really."
Her azure eyes narrowed, noting a change in his body language. It was faint. Almost imperceptible. But she noticed it. She knew him well after all the time they spent together.
"Are you okay?" she questioned worriedly.
"Yes," he answered with his usual stoic tone. Which broke as Elissa toddled over to him. He picked her up with one hand and sat her down next to him.
"What are you playing, princess?" He inquired softly to the toddler, changing the subject.
Diana viewed the man with suspicion but held her tongue.
Bruce kept his eyes on Elissa as she babbled to him, playing with the toys in her hand.
It was okay. He knew what this was. And he would just have to make the best of it.
While it lasted.
NEXT: Life Goes On
Now I know some are upset at the ending of this chapter, but it's all part of the plan. I hope everyone sticks with the story because we are going to getting heavy into family life here.