Chapter 15

Gotham; September 8th; 01:23 EST

Devastation's lips curled into a devious smile, one that couldn't begin to disguise her excitement at finally having what she had always wanted. Diana, Princess of the Amazons…Wonder Woman…was here to face her in a battle to the death.

This was going to be her demise, and her husband and friends were going to be witnesses to her death.

"What took you so long?" Devastation questioned her.

"I was a little tied up," Diana responded with a dark glare that seemed to bore straight through her opponent.

Deva assessed her, looking her up and down. She had to admit that the powerful Amazon was quite the specimen. It was easy to see why she had been chosen to be the Champion of the Olympians…why she herself had been molded to be just like the Amazon herself.

But she was not identical to Wonder Woman. She possessed the best vile traits that the gods could bestow on her in hopes that she would eventually take down the Amazonian Champion. Now, though, it was time to see who the best was. Deva had no doubt in her mind that she would leave Gotham the victor while her friends and family mourned their fallen loved one.

Devastation abruptly found herself on the offense as Wonder Woman flew directly at her with her fist coming straight at Deva's face. She dodged the blow at the last second, feeling Diana's knuckles brushing past her face.

The battle was on.

XXX

Superman landed on the street next to Batman, both fixated on the pair trading bone-shattering blows in the sky above them. He could hardly believe what he was witnessing, wondering if it was really his friend or if could it be a surreal dream.

"Is that really her?" Superman asked, shocked by her unexpected return.

Batman stared in stunned disbelief, trying to form words that wouldn't come at first. "I…I don't know," he stammered, hoping against hope that it was really his Diana.

Had her magic lasso brought her out of the coma?

Batman felt as if his world had finally been set right by Diana's apparent return only to watch as his pregnant wife battled against an equally powerful force. Deva wasn't phased by any of Diana's strikes. Thankfully, Diana didn't seem to be affected by Deva's retaliation.

He wanted to help her, to distract Deva, or end this before Diana got hurt…or their baby. Unfortunately, there was little he could do from the ground. Fortunately, Superman must have been thinking the same thing as he suddenly took to the sky to help Diana.

Donna followed Clark, recovered from Deva's attack on her mind. Martian Manhunter quickly joined the fight, all of them surrounding Deva. It appeared Devastation was severely outnumbered, hopefully ending her quest to kill Diana.

Devastation merely smiled as she turned in a slow circle to see the four heroes all prepared to take her down. "The only one I want is Wonder Woman," she stated. "The rest of you don't have to share her fate."

"We fight together and if necessary, we will die together," Donna bit out.

"Have it your way," Deva retorted with a shrug.

Devastation focused her powers on Martian Manhunter's mind, causing him to believe that he was on fire. He cried out in assumed pain, slapping his arms and legs to put out the imagined flames as he fell to the ground.

Batman ran for him, grabbing him by the shoulders to calm him. "J'onn!" Batman yelled as Manhunter writhed. "It's your imagination! She's messing with your mind!"

Deva turned her attention to Donna, but before she could do anything to her, Superman had her in a bear hug. He tightened his hold on her, trying to cause her to pass out. "It's not going to work," Deva told him. "I can hold my breath for hours on end."

With that, she reared her head back, slamming into his forehead. Momentarily dazed, Superman released his hold on her. In that split second, she threw him through a nearby building. Donna and Diana flew straight at her, ganging up on her.

They both attacked her at once, delivering blows that would've killed a normal person. They were able to beat her down to the ground. Batman raced towards them, throwing his bola at her. It quickly wrapped around her, releasing an electrical shock but it just as quickly snapped as she broke free.

Devastation threw an elbow back into Donna's face before lunging at Diana, wrapping her arms around her and shooting up into the sky once more. This was between them and no one else. She took Diana past the Gotham skyline, disappearing from those on the ground.

"Now, it's just you and me," Deva told Diana with a sneer.

"Fine by me," Diana spat out.

"Tell me," Deva said. "Are you prepared to die today?"

"I have no fear of death," she stated, "but I don't intend to lose my life today."

Deva tightened her hold on the Amazon, attempting to squeeze her into submission. Diana, on the other hand, wasn't going to have any of it. She head-butted her, forcing her to release her before delivering a series of kicks and punches.

Deva retaliated by grabbing Diana's head, prepared to slam it down onto a lightning rod. Diana reached for the rod, ripping off the top of the building and turning it into a weapon. She escaped Deva's hold only to whip around and stab at her with the rod.

Attempting to dodge her attacks, Deva cried out as the lightning rod penetrated her thigh. She yanked the rod out of her thigh with a hiss of fury, turning it against her attacker. Diana narrowly avoided being impaled in her abdomen, knowing she couldn't let anything happen to the baby.

She swiftly kicked it out of Deva's hands, deciding to focus on her wounded leg. She grabbed her by her leg dripping with blood, whipping her around in a circle before slamming her down on the roof of the building beneath them.

The roof cracked under the tremendous force brought down upon it, stones flying into the air as Deva's head embedded in the roof. Before she could recover, Diana stomped on her, unleashing every ounce of fury that roiled through her veins with what had been done to her and her family.

Devastation could hardly catch her breath or attempt any sort of retaliation as Diana continued her onslaught. There was no way she was going to allow this evil creation to destroy her or hurt her baby and her family. She would end this terror tonight.

With a sudden growl of frustration and furor, Deva wrapped her hands around Diana's ankle, wrenching it and smiling with glee as she heard the bones snap and splinter. Diana merely sneered at her, refusing to allow her the least bit of satisfaction as she picked up a large piece of the roof.

Diana slammed it down on top of Deva, pinning her on top of what was left of the roof. A fist suddenly burst through the rock, causing it to crumble around her. Diana stumbled backward, limping as she tried to anticipate Deva's next move.

She didn't disappoint as Deva threw bricks at Diana in rapid succession like a hail of bullets. Diana used her bracers to defend herself, the bricks shattering against the metal. Diana pressed her way forward against the onslaught, determined to stop her.

She bent down and picked up the lightning rod that had been discarded, throwing it at Deva despite the flurry of bricks and metal being thrown at her. A sharp, jagged piece of metal cut Diana's cheek, but it was worth it when Deva stopped her onslaught to catch the rod.

Out of nowhere, Deva was hit in the back by Superman's freezing breath, causing her to be encased in a sheet of ice. It didn't hold her for long as she broke free, turning her attention back to the Man of Steel only for Wonder Woman to slam into her from behind.

Batman watched from below through his binoculars, the Batclan anxious to know what was happening up there. "What's going on?" Artemis demanded to know.

"Diana and Deva are exchanging blows," he reported. "They're too evenly matched. Diana is going to have to come up with something completely unexpected if she's going to stop Deva."

"We need to get up there and help her," Red Hood stated, feeling helpless.

"I don't think there's much we can do," Batman hated to admit. "This is a battle Diana is going to have to fight and finish. Deva won't have it any other way."

"I can't believe you're willing to sit back and let her fight Deva on her own," Robin spat out.

"I'm not," Batman snapped. "I'm just hoping she can hold out until Constantine and Zatanna can get here."

As if on cue, the two magic-wielders appeared on the scene. Zatanna immediately began a chant that would bind Deva. Magical ropes seemingly materialized out of nowhere, snaking around Deva and wrapping her up from top to bottom like a mummy.

Superman and Wonder Woman were relieved to find Deva was finally contained for the moment. Unfortunately, it didn't hold her for long as the ropes snapped like twigs, freeing herself from the magic that had momentarily trapped her.

"Magic has little effect on me," Deva revealed with a grin. "It was a nice try, though. Have anything else up your sleeve you'd like to try before I destroy you?"

"Kal, this fight is mine," Diana stated, staring straight at Deva as she wiped the blood from her cheek with the back of her hand.

"Diana, you can't…"

"I'll be all right," she assured him. "No one else needs to be hurt by her."

Superman reluctantly relented, withdrawing from the fight much to Batman's fury. "What is he doing?" Batman hissed as the Man of Steel flew towards him to land on the ground beside him.

"What are you doing?" Batman demanded to know.

"She doesn't want any help," he told him. "She said this is her battle."

"You can't leave Diana up there alone with her!" Batman growled. "She's already broken her ankle."

"I won't just stand by and let her kill Diana," Superman angrily retorted. "I'm giving her a chance to finish this."

"I might be able to give her an advantage," Zee suggested, chanting another spell.

Ten identical versions of Wonder Woman suddenly surrounded Deva, leaving her to wonder which Diana was the real one. She spun in a short circle, trying to eliminate the fakes to find the real Princess of the Amazons. The real Diana threw her lasso, using the distraction to wrap Deva in the magic rope.

"You need to stand down," Diana commanded her.

"I thought I told you magic doesn't have any effect on me," Deva taunted her as if she were stupid.

"I just want to ask you why you are doing this?"

"My father Cronus created me to destroy you," Deva informed her.

"So, your sole purpose in existing is nothing more than to take my life?" Diana questioned her. "Why would you live for someone else's purpose? Wouldn't you want to live your life for yourself?"

Deva was somewhat taken aback by her questions. She'd never thought about a life lived for herself. All she'd ever known was her father Cronus's will for her life and his hatred of the Amazons. "I've never considered such a thing."

"You don't even know me and yet you hate me," Diana pointed out. "Why would you try to take the life of someone you don't even know without reason…or better yet, why would you want to take the life of someone you were created to be like?"

Deva ground her teeth as she struggled against the lasso. "I am nothing like you," she countered. "We may possess the same abilities, but I'm the opposite of you."

"You don't have to be filled with hate," Diana attempted to reason with her, tightening her grip on her lasso. "You don't have to do what Cronus created you to do. You are free to make your own choices, to live your life how you choose to live it. Why not live for yourself instead of Cronus?"

Diana could see the conflict inside of Deva playing out across her face. She was getting through to her. "Don't you want to be free to decide for yourself instead of following Cronus's orders?"

Deva stared at the Amazon for a long moment, weighing her options. Without a single word, Deva freed herself from the lasso before she flew away, disappearing and leaving Diana there on that rooftop all alone.

The fight was unexpectedly over…at least for now.

Thanagar; September 8th, 02:11 EST

"This had better be the jewelry store," John said. "We've tried three others and none of them recall selling this ring and bracelet."

"That and it's the last store in town," Shayera added as they entered. "After this, I have no idea where else to look. We don't have time to search the whole planet."

"How may I help you?" a kind elderly woman asked as they approached the counter.

"I was wondering if you might recognize this ring and bracelet," Shayera said, handing her the jewelry they had recovered from the bottom of the lake.

Why Samara had chosen to hide the jewelry there was still a mystery.

The woman took the ring, holding it up to the light. "Ah, yes…I don't recall selling this piece and a matching bracelet several months ago."

"Great!" John exclaimed with growing anticipation and relief. "Do you remember who you sold it to?"

"Why of course," she replied. "I sold it to the Commissioner of Police."

"The Commissioner?" Shay questioned her, stunned by the revelation. She had been expecting her to say Noan.

"Yes…see here," she said, turning the piece so they could see the inside of the ring band. "It has his wife's initials here."

John shook his head in utter disbelief. They hadn't thought to look to see if the jewelry had been engraved. "Isn't this pretty expensive jewelry for a police commissioner to afford?"

"That's what I thought too, but it's not my job to question where someone gets their money from," the woman agreed.

"Was anyone with him when he made the purchase?" Shayera questioned her.

"No," she answered with a shake of her head, "but he did give me the jewels that he wanted placed in the ring. They were of the highest quality. I have no idea how he was able to get his hands on them. They're very rare, making the ring and bracelet priceless."

Shayera and John stared in stunned silence, wondering where all of this was leading them too. None of this was making any sense. How would Samara get her hands on priceless jewelry only to hide it at the bottom of a lake?

"How did you get these?" the woman asked.

"We found them," John revealed. "We were hoping to return them to whoever they belonged to."

"Well, I hate to tell you that you're going to have a very hard time doing that," the woman said. "The commissioner's wife was killed about three months ago."

Shayera found herself struck speechless once more but managed to get her brain working. "How did she die?"

"It was a robbery I believe," she explained. "She was found in an alley. It was a very mysterious death to say the least."

"I'll say," John muttered with a frown as he glanced at Shayera, knowing both were thinking the same thing.

People had a way of dying mysteriously in allies around here.

"Thank you for all your help," Shayera replied as she took the ring and bracelet back. "You've been very helpful."

"If you'd like I can hold them for you…make sure they get returned to the commissioner."

"No, thank you," John said. "We'll make sure they get returned to the rightful owner."

They left quickly, needing to talk to Kantar as soon as possible. As they exited the jewelry store, the woman immediately placed a call. "You told me to call if anyone found the ring and bracelet," she reminded the person on the other end. "Well, a couple just came in with them."

XXX

Kantar entered the hotel room, rubbing the back of his neck as he sat down in a chair. No one was here yet, but he needed a little time to consider Elowen's autopsy and how it tied into Samara's murder. The coroner had decided that it had been a drug overdose, just like Samara's. He had done some digging and discovered that Elowen had gotten clean after Samara's death, wanting to better her life before she ended up like Samara.

The problem was that she ended up just like Samara for other reasons.

The door opened, startling Kantar from his thoughts. "Hey, you're here already," Erick said as he entered, relieved to see the detective.

"Did you find something?"

"I couldn't find Romi or Nico, but I found another friend of theirs by the name of Alexo," Erick explained. "He told me that someone had been following Elowen before she died. It had her freaked out."

"Really?" Kantar replied, leaning forward in his seat. "Did he have any idea who this person was?"

"No, but he had a feeling it had something to do with Samara's death."

"So, he doesn't believe Samara died of a drug overdose?"

"Not at all," Erick continued. "He always felt that she was murdered because she knew something."

"They all know something…that whole circle of friends," Kantar said more to himself than to Erick. "They know more than they're telling us, but someone has them all too terrified to talk about it."

"Do you think it could be Romi's father Noan?"

The door opened again, and Shayera and John entered to find their hotel room already occupied. "Well, hello to you," John said, somewhat annoyed. The lack of answers was beginning to wear on him.

"Were you able to find out who the jewelry belongs to?" Erick asked.

"Yes, but it's only created more questions, and still no answers," John snapped.

"The jewelry was bought by the Commissioner of Police," Shayera revealed, watching Kantar for his reaction.

He didn't disappoint as his jaw fell open. "Are you kidding me?" he questioned them. "How could he possibly afford something like that?"

"That's what we would like to know," John stated. "He brought in rare, priceless jewels to have them placed in the ring and bracelet to give to his wife."

"She was killed during a robbery about three months ago," Kantar revealed. "They found her in an alley."

"What did her autopsy reveal?" Shay asked.

"The autopsy was inconclusive," Kanar told them. "Since her purse and jewelry were stolen, it was assumed to be a robbery. The commissioner had seen her earlier that day. He confirmed that she had been wearing her jewelry and had just been to the bank. The detective felt that she had been targeted by someone looking to rob her."

"Did they do a toxicology test on her?" Shay asked.

Kantar shook his head. "Not that I know of," he thoughtfully replied. "They felt she was likely strangled or suffocated so they didn't look any further."

"I bet they would find she had an overdose," John suggested.

"Good luck getting her exhumed," Kantar retorted. "The commissioner will never allow that to happen."

Shay found her thoughts racing with possibilities. "Do you think the commissioner could be involved in the corruption in the police department?"

Kantar drew a deep breath, releasing it slowly as it all seemed to fall into place. "It's beginning to look like it," he agreed. "How else would the commissioner have been able to get those priceless jewels except if he was in neck-deep with Noan."

"Maybe that's why his wife was killed," John supposed. "Maybe the commissioner was having second thoughts about having ties to the underground mob, so Noan sent him a message by killing his wife."

"And by taking the jewelry," Shayera added. "But how did Samara get a hold of it?"

Erick sat up straight in excitement. "Romi!" he exclaimed with sudden realization.

"You think that Romi somehow got her hands on the jewelry and took it from her father as proof of what he's been up to?" John questioned him.

"It's the only link between Noan and Samara," Erick explained.

"It would certainly explain why Romi's so scared of him," Shayera decided. "She has something on him that could send him to prison…it's her insurance that keeps her alive."

"And she gave it to Samara for safekeeping," John said. "Samara hid it in the lake, knowing no one would ever think to look there."

"It's all making sense now, isn't it?" Kantar replied.

"If that lady at the jewelry store knows we have it, Noan could have his men out searching for us," John warned them.

Shayera handed the jewelry over to Kantar. "You better keep this for safekeeping," she told him. "It's our only proof of Noan's link to the commissioner's wife's murder."

Kantar stared at the jewelry in his hand, his mind swirling with the sudden unexpected development. "Thank you," he murmured. "I promise these are in good hands."

It was at that moment that Kantar suddenly drew his weapon, pointing it directly at the trio before him.

"I knew it," John spat out as he stared at the weapon being pointed at him, his hand slipping into his coat pocket.

"Kantar, what are you doing?" Shay demanded to know.

"I'm Noan's right-hand man," he revealed. "I'm the one who killed Samara because she wouldn't tell me where she had hidden the jewelry."

"You killed Samara!" Erick cried, lunging towards him only to be shot. Erick grabbed his shoulder as he fell to the ground.

"Does anyone else want to try something?" Kantar asked.

John knelt next to Erick, putting his hand on his shoulder. "You were Shayera's partner," he bit out. "You knew how much Samara meant to her and you still killed her?"

Kantar shrugged his shoulder indifferently. "Shayera left us," he snapped, turning his attention to his former partner. "You left me! I loved you and you left."

"I was sent on a mission to Earth," she reminded him. "It wasn't exactly my choice."

"I wanted to marry you…build a life with you," he shouted at her. "Instead, you left and started a new life on Earth as if I never existed."

Shayera was taken aback by his admission. "I had no idea," she told him. "I always thought of you as a friend."

"That's the problem!" he yelled. "You never even noticed that I had feelings for you. I was hoping that Samara's death would finally bring you home only to find out you were married to someone else. Do you know how that made me feel?"

"I'm so sorry…I had no idea," Shay replied, taking a step closer. "Who else did you kill, Kantar?"

"I had to kill the commissioner's wife," Kantar told her. "Noan had to send a message that he was not someone to turn against. Elowen was collateral damage. She saw me with the commissioner's wife in that alley."

"Let us help you," Shay said.

"No, you can't," he ground out. "My life…my career is over if this gets out."

"It's too late for that," John announced, holding up a recorder. "I got it all right here."

"NO!" Kantar screamed in fury, firing his weapon only for John to create a bubble of protection around the three of them.

Shayera lunged at Kantar, slamming her mace into his chest. The electrical current dropped him to the ground, leaving him unconscious. John helped Erick up, grabbing a nearby towel to place on his wound.

"It's over," Shay softly said. "I can't believe that Kantar killed my sister."

"Samara will finally get justice," Erick murmured. "She was trying to help keep a friend safe and it cost Samara her life."

"Now, you have the proof you need," John said, handing Erick the recorder.

"What made you carry that?" Shayera asked.

"Just a feeling I had," he replied with a smile. "I never really liked that guy."

Shayera smiled at her husband, tears shining in her eyes. "Let's go home."

Batcave; September 8th, 03:03 EST

Donna hugged Diana, not wanting to release her. "I'm so glad you're all right," she told her. "You had us all scared to death."

"Not nearly as scared as Dad was," Damian interjected.

"I wasn't scared…I was worried," Bruce corrected him as he removed his cowl and gauntlets.

Diana gave him a gentle smile as Tim nearly knocked her over with a bear hug, overwhelmed with relief. "I'll admit it, Mom," he whispered in her ear. "I was terrified we were going to lose you."

"I'm sorry I scared you," she replied, returning his embrace.

"It's not your fault," Dick told her. "We're just glad you decided to wake up when you did. Deva might have leveled Gotham."

"What was it?" Artemis asked. "Was it the lasso?"

"I guess so," Diana decided. "I was flying in my jet to Themyscira because I knew something wasn't right when I felt this warmth wash over me…it was like an awakening. I suddenly knew what had happened and that what I was experiencing wasn't real. That's when I woke up. Zee and John told me everything."

"I'm glad you showed up when you did," Jason said. "I didn't know how were going to be able to stop Devastation."

"How were you able to get her to leave?" Bruce asked.

"I used my lasso to get through to her to see she doesn't have to do Cronus's bidding," she explained. "It worked this time, but I have a feeling she'll be back for a rematch."

"We'll be ready," Damian said.

"We need to get home to the twins," Donna told Dick. "Cassie will want to get home. She has classes in the morning."

"I'll go with you," Tim decided. "I can take Cassie home."

"Right…" Dick said with a laugh, patting Tim's chest.

Everyone began to leave, Cassandra hanging back to hug Diana. She couldn't speak but Diana could feel her emotions in that embrace. "I'm back now so don't worry," Diana reassured her.

Cassandra smiled before running for the stairs to head to bed, leaving Bruce and Diana alone for the first time since she woke from her coma. Without a word, the lovers automatically gravitated to each other, embracing tightly.

Bruce could hardly believe she was finally here in his arms again. This was where she always belonged. "I was so afraid I was going to lose you," he whispered, worried that his voice would crack with emotion if he tested it.

Diana felt something wet on her shoulder, causing her to pull back to look into his eyes. She was surprised to find them brimming with tears. She'd never seen him cry before. It was something that she found touching and yet heartbreaking, especially since he was allowing her to see him so vulnerable like this. It was something that he rarely allowed anyone to witness.

Her hands found his face, her lips gently probing his as she did her best to comfort and reassure him. His eyelids closed against the onslaught of emotions that besieged him, swallowing hard as he attempted to hold himself together.

"It's all right," she softly said as she continued to kiss him. "I'm here…I'm never going to leave you."

His arms slowly wrapped around her, pulling her close to him. His hands flattened against her back, pressing her firmly against his chest as he returned her kisses. It felt like an eternity since he'd kissed her since he'd felt her burning desire for him on her lips.

"I need to fix your ankle," he tried to tell her but knew it was an argument he was going to lose.

"Later…I just want you now."

He quickly began to lose himself in her but couldn't deny the worry that welled up inside of him. It told him that this wasn't real. It was just a blissful dream that he never wanted to wake from. It became very real, though, when she lifted him and carried him to the showers.

It didn't take long to remove their uniforms, finding their way into the shower despite being unable to keep their hands off each other. They stood under the hot shower as they kissed and touched, stroking each other before Bruce lifted her to wrap her legs around his waist.

He quickly pressed her back against the wall of the shower as hot water cascaded over them. He entered her with a quick, sharp thrust that had her nearly coming undone right there. Her head fell back against the shower wall, a cry of pleasure escaping her throat as he began to move deep inside of her.

Her fingers threaded through the wet strands of his black hair, gripping it tightly and tugging lightly on it to encourage him to keep moving. He didn't disappoint as he moved with frenzied fervor, unable to hold himself back now that he was finally with the one that he loved again.

His mouth sucked gently on the curve of her neck, savoring the taste of her wet skin. He tightly gripped her thighs as his hand found her breast. She bucked her hips against him in desperate need of a release.

"Bruce…" she moaned his name, spurring him on even more.

Her fingernails scratched at his back as they finally found their release within each other. They shared a deep kiss that barely sated their mutual hunger for each other, which still pulsated through their veins, begging for more.

Bruce lowered her legs, turning her around to wash her hair. "Were you able to find out who put the curse on you while you were in a coma?"

"No," she replied, tilting her head back as he worked the shampoo through her hair. "I have no idea. Were you able to find out anything?"

Bruce sighed heavily, wondering how he would tell her that Zeus was her father and that Hera could possibly be behind the curse. "Actually, we did learn some things."

"What is it?" she asked as he rinsed her hair.

"Later," he replied, kissing her ear before using his foot to spread her feet further apart. "Right now, I just want you and nothing else."

He took hold of her hands, placing them flat against the shower wall before kissing along her shoulder. He positioned himself to enter her once more from behind as his free hand kept her hand pressed against the wall of the shower.

He kissed and nipped along her shoulder as the water rained down on them. He pulled her hips back towards him, his arm slipping around her waist. He splayed his hand over her lower abdomen, keeping them joined as one as he began a slow, steady rhythm that soon had her panting for more of him.

"I missed you…so much," he breathlessly said against her ear, doing his best to prolong their mutual pleasure.

"Love…you…Bruce," she managed to utter between gasps and struggles for breath.

"Love you…too," he murmured, already dreaming of having her in their bed as he lost himself in her once more.

A/N: Sorry it took me so long to post. I wanted to make sure it was perfect. Hope you enjoy the update!

UP NEXT: Nick & Kaia are reunited with their mom. Diana learns some unexpected news that leaves her questioning everything. John & Shay come home.