AN: Hello, dear reader! Sorry for the late update. Things came up during the day. This turned out to be long chapter, so I decided to split it into two. I'll be posting part 2 tomorrow, don't worry! So we don't get to meet Maia yet, but let's setup a couple of things first. Enjoy!

15 (Pt.I)

"Are you guys super nervous? Or are you chill?" Barry asks, his voice crackling through the phone's speaker. His smile is wide, his dimples in full display, and even through the screen, his energy is infectious.

We had promised to call him before leaving for Themyscira, and now, as the yacht cuts smoothly through the waves, Steve and I keep that promise. The journey has been seamless, thanks to Bruce's meticulous planning. He went above and beyond to make our departure as comfortable as possible.

Alfred called us to let us know a car was coming to pick us up and take us to the airport. Bruce had arranged for one of his planes to fly us to Nice. From there, another car whisked us to the marina, where a sleek yacht waited, bobbing gently on the water. The salty breeze carried the faint tang of the sea, mingling with the distant cries of seagulls. After giving all the required information to the Coast Guard, Steve typed in the coordinates and activated the autopilot. Now, we're sailing toward the closest spot to the cloak. Once we're as near as technology can take us, we'll take manual control of the yacht and cross the barrier. Bruce redesigned the yacht to include sails, allowing us to navigate beyond the barrier when all electronics fail. We'll drop the anchor and make the final stretch on a smaller boat.

In the meantime, with the pleasant sea breeze brushing against my skin and the rhythmic sound of waves lapping against the hull, Steve and I entertain ourselves on the deck, talking to Barry.

We laugh at his comment. "I wouldn't say we're chill, but we're not extremely nervous either," Steve tells him, his voice steady but warm. "I feel a lot better knowing that Maia will be born in the safest place on Earth for a demigod, y'know?"

I nod, my hand instinctively resting on the curve of my belly, where Maia gives a gentle kick as if responding to her father's words. "I'm feeling anxious and excited. I'm nervous about going through actual labor. I don't know what to expect. In theory, I know — I've read every book there is on the subject since I was ten years old — but every woman experiences birth differently. I guess we shall see."

I may be a god, but I am also a woman. I'm not all god. For the first time in my life, I'm expecting to feel pain like every other woman in my position. I'll have to ask my mother.

"I bet it'll be quick. Our bodies don't do anything slowly. You'll probably cough or sneeze, and she'll pop right outta you." Barry says, smacking his lips together for added effect.

I lean on Steve as I belly laugh at the comment, his body supporting mine as the yacht rocks gently on the waves. I'm glad we called Barry. It amazes me how he can lighten the mood when things feel uncertain. Even though I'm not truly worried about anything catastrophic happening, this whole process is nerve-wracking. I know Steve feels the same way. I'm not the only one doing this. I know how he feels when he sees me in pain and there's not much he can do about it. That's one of the reasons he was the first to suggest I give birth at home — just in case something happened.

Steve rubs my belly lovingly. "You know what, Barry? I hope it is that fast! The less she has to do, the better."

I hug his arm and rest my head on his shoulder. "I think it'll be worth it, though — the pain, I mean. I don't think I'll mind if I feel a little. It's part of bringing a new life into this world."

Barry nods, his expression softening. "You can totally do it. You're the strongest person I know."

I smile lovingly at him. "Liar. What about Clark?"

He scratches the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly. "Okay, sure. You're the strongest woman I know, then. Although, let's be honest here, I don't know how well Clark would handle pushing a baby out of his pee hole."

Steve covers his face and shakes his head, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. I slap my hand on my forehead, my belly jumping from the force of my laughter.

"Barry! The baby is not going to be coming out of my pee hole. Do we need to have an anatomy class when we come back?"

He's laughing and pointing at Steve, who is currently doubled over, unable to catch his breath.

"No, I know which body part babies come out of," Barry says, then pauses, looking to the side. "I think," he adds under his breath.

Destination ETA: 10 minutes.

The automated voice cuts through the laughter, and Steve and I turn toward the wheelhouse.

"Well, it's been great talking to you, Barry, but we gotta go. We're close," Steve says, standing and stretching.

"Yeah. Good luck, guys. Love you!" Barry says, waving enthusiastically. "Oh my god, I'm so excited!"

I laugh, the sound carrying over the waves. "Love you too. See you soon, okay? We'll let you guys know when we're back." I blow him a kiss, and he catches it with a dramatic flourish.

"Okay. Bye, guys!"

Steve hangs up and tucks his phone away. He stretches his hands toward me, helping me stand. We walk to the wheelhouse, our steps steady despite the gentle sway of the yacht. The radar screen glows softly, showing our proximity to the destination.

A few minutes pass, and the yacht slows to a stop.

Destination: reached.

The world around us is nothing but clear blue skies and an endless expanse of ocean. I glance down at the radar, confirming no other vessels are nearby. It wouldn't be ideal if someone saw a yacht disappear into thin air.

"Well, let's see if Bruce's design works," Steve says, his voice tinged with excitement.

I step out onto the deck, my hand gripping the shiny railing as a series of alarms sound. The floor below opens, revealing a mast that rises smoothly, its sail catching the wind almost immediately. The yacht sways gently, adjusting to the new balance.

Steve joins me, his eyes wide with admiration. "Impressive."

I look up at the mast, the sun glinting off its polished surface. "Did you doubt him?"

"Not really," he admits, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Me neither," I reply, my heart swelling with gratitude for Bruce's ingenuity.

"Steer while I adjust the sail?" Steve asks, already moving toward the mast.

"Sounds good," I say, taking my place at the helm.

I deactivate all panels and shift into manual control, my hands steady on the wheel. Steve tightens the sail, the fabric snapping taut as the wind fills it. We begin to move forward, the yacht slicing through the water with ease. I adjust our course slightly, but the fair wind pushes us straight ahead.

And then it happens.

The sky lights up, a shimmering veil of gold and blue. The salt in the air clings to my skin differently, and a distant horn echoes across the water, announcing our arrival.

Home.

Maia kicks excitedly, as if she knows where we are.

I chuckle, my hand resting on my belly. "Yeah, we're home."

Steve moves to the front of the yacht, preparing the smaller boat. He tosses our duffle bag inside and I watch him work the different ropes holding the boat in place. A few minutes later, I knock on the window. He glances back at me. "This is a good place to drop the anchor," I say, pointing down.

He nods, walking towards the mast and loosening the knot on the sail. The fabric slackens, and our speed slows. Once we're moving gently enough, I drop the anchor, the chain rattling as it sinks into the depths. A few minutes later, we come to a complete stop.

I take one last look around, ensuring we haven't left anything behind, then close and lock the wheelhouse door. Steve meets me at the bottom of the stairs, his hand outstretched to help me down the last few steps.

"That was easy enough," he says, a hint of pride in his voice. "Glad to know all the technology hasn't ruined my ability to sail a boat. Like riding a bike, I guess."

I smile at him, my heart swelling with affection. "Some things you never forget."

We climb into the smaller boat, which proves to be a bit of a challenge at eight months pregnant. Steve rows with steady strokes, and soon, I see a cavalry crossing the stone archway in the distance. My mother leads the way, the sun reflecting off her golden crown. Antiope rides beside her on her black mare, the Queen's Guard following faithfully behind.

Steve jumps out of the boat, pulling it onto the sand. He extends his hand to me, and I take it, my feet sinking into the warm sand as I step ashore. I look up, and my mother is already dismounting, her smile radiant, her eyes suspiciously shiny.

"Hello, Mother," I say, wrapping her in a tight hug. Her familiar scent — olive trees, sea salt, and something uniquely hers — fills my senses, and for a moment, I'm a child again, safe in her arms.

"My daughter," she says, pulling back to look at me. "Let me see you." She takes my hands, holding them out as my belly juts forward almost comically.

"I've been told I'm ginormous," I say, feeling slightly self-conscious under her gaze.

She laughs, an unburdened, honest sound that's rare from the Queen. "Yes, you are. You look beautiful, Diana. We've been waiting anxiously for you." She turns to Steve. "Captain."

Steve bows his head before hugging her. "Your Majesty. We're glad to be here. We wouldn't have it any other way."

I hear footsteps crunching on the sand, and Antiope approaches with a smile. "There's a sight I thought I'd never see again."

I laugh and hug her. "I'm glad to see you."

She rubs my back, her touch warm and reassuring. "And you, friend? Ready for the challenge ahead?"

Steve shrugs, a playful glint in his eye. "Does it matter? This new Amazon's already a spitfire, and she hasn't even been born yet."

We all laugh, the sound carrying over the beach.

"Reminds me of a certain someone," Venelia says, raising an eyebrow at me.

I sigh, shaking my head. "It looks like now it's my turn to chase a rebellious daughter around the island, huh?"

Mother takes my hand, her grip firm and loving. "It would seem so, and I cannot wait to see it."

Days pass by quickly. Mother told us how the whole island has been abuzz with excitement. Everyone has been preparing for the celebrations and feasts that will be held once Maia decides it's time to come into this world.

"Maia?" Mother asked with tenderness in her voice as Steve said her name during one of our conversations.

I smiled. "Yes, do you like it?"

She closed her eyes and said her name. "Maia. Her name is associated with fertility and nurturing. For you two, she's a symbol of hope and renewal. I think it's perfect. Maia, a princess of Themyscira."

When Mother said her name along with her title, it felt almost binding. It's easy to forget that I am royalty when I'm holding a vacuum cleaning at home. Most of the time, I don't even think about it. Maia, just like me, is going to be a citizen of two worlds and she'll have a responsibility to both. Neither will be easy but I'm hoping that Steve and I - along with our amazing friends and family - will be able to guide her.

We had several meetings in the days after our arrival. Some were to discuss island matters that had Mother and the rest of the council worried. In the last couple of months there have been continuous tremors. Even though Themyscira has shook before, it has always been related to something else going on - like Steve and Antiope escaping the Underworld.

"Nothing has been reported after the tremors?" I asked slightly puzzled.

Phillipus shook her head. "No. The whole island was searched well into the night each time it happened. Nothing was found."

Steve touched my arm. "There was an earthquake in Santorini, remember? A few months back. I remember hearing that more than one hundred aftershocks had been registered after. Could that be it? Santorini is not but an hour from here."

Mother shook her head. "Whatever happens outside of the perimeter of the cloak should not be affecting us. But the time period does fit."

I mulled it over. "Any damage to infrastructure?"

"Not the infrastructure but some cracks on the cliffs surrounding the training grounds and the harvesting fields were detected. They don't seem to pose a danger for the time being. We are keeping an eye on it though." Antiope told us.

There wasn't much else to be done regarding that matter. But it is strange. If it is in fact the aftershocks from the earthquake in Santorini that's been felt here in Themyscira, the 'why' is an interesting thought-provoking exercise. I feel a strange sensation in the back of my neck. Almost like it's meant to be something, but it's not time for us to know yet.

I don't spend much time thinking about that though. Our next few meetings are more a family matter, really. Since it involves Maia's safety. Steve and I explain to Mother and Antiope about our plan to move out of Paris; how I've already quit my job to stay with her and why, even though it would be ideal to leave France, we can't for the foreseeable future.

"When are you planning to leave?" Antiope asked.

"Well, it's worked well for me to not stay in one place for longer than a decade. I've been in Paris for seven years. So, we were thinking that we could stay the remaining three years in Paris and then we'll move." I explained. I looked at Steve and he was nodding his head.

"Yeah, Maia will be three years old by then. It's a good time, we think. It's right before she's old enough to formally start receiving her education, so it shouldn't be too jarring for her. Besides, our home is small. We'll probably need a bigger place anyway." Steve said.

Mother nodded, her mind already searching for the potential threats. "How far away from Paris will you be moving?"

I looked at Steve and he shrugged. "We haven't decided yet. But not too far. Trouble seems to always be concentrated in Paris."

"Make sure the next place you choose is far enough away for the citizens of Paris to think it's too far to simply visit or go to on a whim. That should put enough distance between the people who knew you back there. And as soon as the opportunity presents itself to leave the country, do it. Even if it hasn't been a decade." Antiope told us.

"The best chance you have of protecting Maia against Waller is to make sure she does not realize Diana Prince and Wonder Woman are one and the same. Keep that secret safe and Maia will be too." Mother concluded and we agreed.

Hopefully we can solve the Cadulo problem soon so that we can move on from that. It seems highly unlikely though.

As of today, a couple of weeks have passed and Epione came looking for me wanting to do a checkup since we were technically two weeks from the estimated due date. Mother asked if she could be present.

"Of course."

I was about to go look for Steve when Epione offered to go look for him. She told us to go ahead to the infirmary and wait for her.

"How are you feeling?" Mother asks as we walk leisurely towards the infirmary.

I exhale. "Nervous, excited but mainly anxious. I don't know how it'll be for me. I'm usually not even thinking about pain when I perform my duty but this…" - I lay a hand on the curve of my belly - "I'm anxious about. I've never asked. How was it for you?"

Mother looks down and smiles. "Painful. But it wasn't unbearable. It ebbed and flowed and Antiope was there the whole time, holding my hand and giving me encouraging words. I'm sure Steve will do the same for you."

I nod. "He will. He doesn't say it but I know it's been worrying him - me feeling pain, I mean. I don't want him worrying over something he has no control over. No one does. If I'm being honest, I'm more anxious about him being anxious over me being in pain."

Mother laughs. "I don't think I've ever told you how grateful I am that you two found each other. I'm glad you have such an amazing partner in Steve, Diana. Someone who feels your pain stronger than you do; someone who is willing to bear it with you or for you, if he could. Maia is a lucky lucky girl to have both her parents raising her. I only wish you had had the same."

I stop and take her hand. "I don't wish for a second anything would've happened differently, Mother. You were all I needed. I only hope I can be to Maia half as good a mother as you were to me."

She touches my face and looks at me with so much love I could cry. "My love, you already are a better mother than I ever was."

I shake my head. "That's not tr-"

"Don't." She said, cutting me off gently. "The way you worry about her. The way you're already planning for three, even ten years from now to make sure she's safe. You have the purest heart out of anyone I've ever met, Diana. I think you're incapable of being anything other than an excellent mother. You, my daughter, are as ready as you will ever be."

A tear slides down my cheeks as my mother's words wash over me. "Thank you, Mother. I love you."

She swipes the tear away with her thumb. "I love you."

I hug her fiercely. I feel a sense of calm at her words and I relish the comfort of her body. But it's broken by my daughter swiftly elbowing me in the ribs.

"Gods!" Mother exclaims, surprised at the force and she laughs.

I exhale and shake my head. "She does that a lot. I don't think she likes to feel excluded."

I laugh because I haven't even laid eyes on her yet and she's already showing bits of her personality. If this is a preview of what's to come… Hera, help us all!

Mother places both her hands on the side of my belly. "No one's excluding you, little one. You may be your mother's baby but she's mine. Doesn't matter how old she gets."

I look up at her and smile. Yeah, it won't matter how old Maia is, she will always be the baby who would kick or elbow me whenever someone was getting love and she wasn't included.

Maia responds with a gentler kick, as if acknowledging Mother's words. "That's your yiayia by the way, baby."

Mother's eyes widen a little at the title. "Goodness! I'm going to be someone's grandmother. That's something I never thought possible!"

AN: I hoped you liked part 1. I'll be posting part 2 tomorrow and we'll be meeting Maia, but not without some drama! Until tomorrow :)