It had been two months since the Thanagarian Invasion and Metropolis was already looking back to normal, but then again normal these days usually meant a huge crater in the middle of a busy street.

I hadn't bought curtains yet, so the sun beamed down through the windows of my new apartment. I thought I was going to like it. Gotham was usually rainy and cloudy. But Metropolis, the Big Apricot, the City of Tomorrow….the sun shined and it shined regularly on a daily basis. Maybe it was my mood or maybe it's my personality, but I was starting to get annoyed by this constant sunshine. I pondered for a second more on what this new realization meant until my phone rang.

The caller ID showed it was Clark. I almost didn't pick up. If the sun was annoying me that much right now, do I really what to talk to someone whose deposition is usually sunny? I sighed. "He'll just come and check up on you Barb. Just answer it."

"Hey Clark," I mustered out as sunny as I could.

"Hey, Barbara. I was just calling to see if your ready for your interview with Perry this morning," he chimed into the phone. I looked down at my pajamas I was still wearing.

"Umm, yeah I'm ready." Lies Barbara Lies!

"What time is your appointment?"

"11:30 am," I replied.

"Do you want to go to lunch afterward," he asked cheerfully.

I couldn't help but smile. I had to tell myself to lighten up. I had Superman on the phone wanting to have lunch and welcome me to Metropolis. "That sounds great. I just finished unpacking, and I don't have a thing in the fridge yet."

"Sounds like a plan. See you later."

"Bye Clark."

I walked into the bullpen where Clark's desk is. The place was packed and busy. It reminded be of the station, except more upstanding citizens and fewer criminals in the room. My interview with Perry went well. He hired me on the spot and said I started tomorrow as one of the Daily Planet's new fact checkers.

"Hey Clark ready to go?" I asked as I approached his desk.

"Yes, just umm-" he stopped as he heard a woman's voice yelling about how it wasn't fair and that's her beat. The woman quickly turned towards us and started ranting. I realized who the woman was once she got closer.

"Smallville, I can't believe you would steal a story like this. You don't even write anything about the Justice League; it's not your beat," she didn't even acknowledge me. She was just hell bent on getting an answer from Clark.

"Lois, it's not even about the Justice League. It's about Wonder Woman. It's more of a bio piece actually."

"How in the world did you land this interview?"

"Believe it or not, but I'm friends with Superman too," he said smirking a little. Was he deliberately goading her?

The face she gave I can't accurately describe. All I can say is that she was angry, and Clark was a bit satisfied that he pushed her buttons. "What does Superman have to do with this?"

"He's the one that referred her to me. I didn't seek her out Lois. She came to me."

Whoa! Is he actually playing it that way? I wanted to laugh out loud and say what a crock of crap that was, but I held it in. If Lois only knew, instead I just smirked a little. Lois glared at Clark for a moment and then looked at me. Her eyes quickly darted back to Clark, and she started speaking again, "Who are you?" She had no reply to the "news" Clark just told her and decided to make me the next victim of her frustration.

He gave a slight chuckle and then introduced me, "Lois this is Barbara Gordon, Barbara this is Lois Lane." She looked at me and gave me the once over.

"Hi," Lois said sticking out her hand, "how do you know this story poacher?"

"Clark was doing a piece on the Joker, and I was his contact at the GCPD," I said shaking her hand.

"GCPD, as in Gotham City Police Department? You're a long way from home. What brings you out here to Metropolis?"

I couldn't help but feel like I was being sized up. As if I was encroaching on some claim she had. "Perry hired me this morning as a fact checker."

Perry came strolling by as I told her the news, "Oh good. Getting to know my star reporter Gordon? Lois this is going to be your new go to for fact checking. None of those other clowns are going to be able to hold a candle to her. Got it?"

"Got it," she said looking at him.

"If you're going to work with me, don't expect me to babysit you. I work fast and efficiently. Got it," Lois exclaimed to me.

"Got it," I said looking around like she had to be kidding me. I hadn't even started, and she was already making demands.

"Lois," Clark said disapprovingly.

"Sorry, sorry. I don't mean to be rude. I just want you on your toes for when you start tomorrow."

"Thanks, Lois, I appreciate that," I guessed. I sighed inwardly. If I were going to get on the right foot with her, I'd better try harder.

"You hungry Lois? Smallville is buying," I said. Clark gave me a pointed glare. Sorry Clark, I'm throwing you under the bus.

She looked me and smiled, "Good idea. I gotta keep an on eye on this story poacher."

"I'm not a poacher Lois. Maybe I get good stories once in awhile because I'm a good reporter," Clark replied leading the way. Bruce wasn't kidding. Clark had it bad for her. He never teased anyone, and he was teasing her like a boy on the playground.

When we got to the diner that Clark swore had the best sandwiches, I started my investigation as to what was go on here. "So you guys eat lunch together often?" I asked. Clark gave me a weird look and replied, "Lois tags along more often than not. I don't mind since she and Jimmy showed me around a bit when I got here."

"Ya well, it wasn't out of the goodness of my heart. I just kept getting tired of giving him directions everywhere," Lois replied. She took a sip of her iced tea and continued talking. "What neighborhood did you move to Barbara?"

"Little Bohemia," I replied after finishing a bit of my salad.

"Wait," Lois interrupted, "what's your last name again?"

I sheepishly looked away and then replied, "Gordon."

"Any relation to Jim Gordon?"

"He's my father," I replied.

"If you excuse me ladies, I need to use the facilities," Clark said getting up. I could tell he was about to go off and save the day again.

"You aren't trying to skip out on the bill are you," I asked jokingly. Depending on his answer I would hopefully know how dangerous the situation was.

"No," he mocked, "I'll be right back." Ok good. It wasn't serious.

Once he left Lois started to grill me again. "So crime fighting runs in the family doesn't it?"

"Huh?" I asked confused.

"Why are you really here? Did Bruce send you here? Is there something going on at The Daily Planet?"

What the hell?! What is she talking aboubt? What about Bruce?

"Bruce? Bruce who?"

"Cut the crap. I know who he is and I know who you really are too. Took a bit of digging but I figured out the identity of his associates after I found out about his night job. I just want to know if the Daily Planet is safe or if something is going on in Metropolis that I should be worried about?" Lois was determined for an answer.

I was stunned. She knew my secret and I didn't know she knew it. I was pissed. How many people know about me and my dual identity? I remember reading that Lois and Bruce were an item very briefly, but I thought that was just tabloid gossip.

"I'm gonna kill him," I responded irritated, "when was he going to tell me that you knew? When was he going to tell me my identity was compromised?"

"Well, he doesn't know that I found out you and his other partners identities. He thinks I just know his," Lois said almost defending him a bit. I think she had been taken aback by my outburst of frustration.

"Doesn't matter. You are an investigative reporter. Of course, you are going to dig up more information on him. God, he just does not care. He is just a rude ass," I said still furious.

"You never answered my question," she said pointedly. She was smirking at my comment about Bruce.

"No Lois there isn't anything to worry about," I said irritated.

"Then why are you here," she asked still pushing for answers.

"It's none of your business why I am. Just trust that nothing bad is going on alright?"

"Not good enough," her eyes never left mine. She was trying to stare me down.

"I've had staring matches against Batman and Superman and won. What makes you think I'm going to give into your questions? You already know too much, believe me."

"How does Smallville fit into all this? Did he do the League a favor by getting you a job at the Planet? Is that why he has that Wonder Woman scoop?"

She really does have her blinders on when it comes to Clark. "No. Believe it or not, I have a life outside of the cape. I am friends with Clark, and he helped me get the job."

"So how long are you here for then?"

"Don't know," I replied. I was getting sick of being raked over the coals.

"Is Superman aware that you are here in Metropolis or is this just a thing between you and Bruce.

"He's aware if that makes you feel better," I caved just a bit. Telling her that much may get her off of my ass.

She sighed a bit and looked at me. Something was turning in her head.

"So how is Bruce doing," she asked from what seemed to be a concern.

"I'm sure he's okay," I said flatly really not wanting to go there.

"Listen, I'm not going to question you anymore. Just let me know if something is going on."

After lunch, I made my way to J'onn's place. He was looking over some files when I came in.

"Batman is calling in a moment. He wants to ask you about a candidate you picked out," J'onn said turning to me.

"Perfect," I said still steaming from my lunch with Lois and Clark.

"Is there something wrong?" The teleconference rang before I could reply.

"J'onn. Barbara. Do you read me?" I saw him standing there still in Bruce Wayne attire. He was in the cave but not yet dressed for his night time activities. Good, he should be helping Tim with his homework before he even thinks of putting the suit on. I pressed a key so a camera on our end would turn on, and he could see us.

"We read you," I said flatly staring into the camera.

He didn't wait one moment before he is starting getting to business. "I want to ask you why Helena Bertinelli is on the list?"

"Bertinelli is a vigilante. The purpose of the list was to give the founding members all the names of qualified candidates," I replied crossing my arms. He face became very severe.

"She is not a vigilante; she is a criminal," he said.

"You just don't like her because she won't play by your rules," I said standing my ground.

"She has her self-interests and may compromise missions with reckless behavior," he responded back in turn. J'onn kept quiet and let us hash it out.

"Well I just bring the candidates I think are worthy to the League. There has to be a majority vote for her to get an invitation. Get two more other people to side with you, and you'll have your way," I responded.

"She shouldn't even be on the list," he barked.

"I have a job to do. A job that you and the rest of the Leauge gave me. If you don't like my work, bring it up at the next meeting, but we aren't working by just your rules anymore. Whatever you say doesn't go because I have five other people to answer to. If you have a problem, take it up with them. In the meantime let me do my job. Are we clear?"

He glared back at me.

"Oh and I'd also like to know when my identity has been compromised. I didn't appreciate getting ambushed and grilled by Lois Lane today. If you could send me an alphabetized list of ALL the women, who know your secret identity? That would be great." Bruce's eyes widened a bit. He soon gained his composure and continued to glare back at me. J'onn stood there a bit flabbergasted about what I said.

"Anything else I could help you with?" I said trying to be professional again.

"Batman out." The screen went blank, and Bruce disappeared from view.

"You ready to head to out," I said grabbing my things.

"Are you ready," the Martain asked.

Great, now J'onn is second guessing me. I shouldn't have done that in front of him, but I snapped.

"I'm sorry J'onn. I will keep it more professional for now on. I-I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," I said giving him an apologetic look.

"Batman is an unmovable object, and you are an unstoppable force. Things are bound to get uncomfortable once in awhile," he replied.

I just grinned at that. "Okay I'll change and we'll take the Javelin."

"Are you sure we should pursue this candidate? He doesn't seem to want to be found," J'onn asked wearily.

"I'd rather have him on our side. He's a bit of a loose cannon, but he sees things that others don't. I think he'll be a good addition to the League. If anything, we will be able to keep on eye on him."