"It feels so surreal...", Carrie replied, remembering a term some kids used at school, how her teacher told her the meaning, and Diana asked curiously, "Surreal?".
"My old schoolteacher, she told me that it means it feels like a dream, not very real yet it actually is real.", Carrie explained, and Diana nodded, "Ah. I see what you mean. I had expectations about man's world, and my imagination was quite different than what I really saw...It was a relief that Steve showed me how to fit in, how there's beauty among places out there.", as she finished putting away the last book.
Carrie gasped, suddenly remembering in all the distractions, "Oh!", checking her pocket, praying that in all the commotion, it's still intact, and she exhaled in relief, "Oh, good...Er, Diana...I know I told you and Mother that I saw Hera, and my first parents...but there's something I haven't told you until now when we can be alone...I met Steve...", with a smile as Diana turned around at her exclamation, looking confused and then nodding at Carrie's words, and then her eyes began to widen as she said the last part.
"Yo-You did?", Diana asked as Carrie nodded. "Yes, he told me some things... good ones, I promise.", she said as she tried to remember almost word for word what he said. "He said that 'he would always love you, and he wished for you to move on, and in the chance that you find true love again in time, you will take it because he wants you to be happy.'", Carrie explained before she pulled out the vial. "He also left me with this that I was to give to you.".
Diana gasped, kneeling down to Carrie's level, and whispered, "He told you to give it to me?", and Carrie nodded, "Yeah. He said that it's his last gift, and he took ages with some gods to figure it out, but in the end, he said that you'd know what it is. He also said if you didn't want it, you go break it over the ground somewhere, as it's your choice.", bringing it closer to Diana who took it in her hand.
Tears came to her eyes as she felt a faint familiar presence of strength, love, and that distinct bit that can be only Steve Trevor, and she immediately knew what it is...His last gift of his legacy, some of his essence.
"Thank you, Carrie...", Diana whispered, and Carrie replied, "He said that this hopefully settles for you via him and me as he wants me to give you his hug.", hugging Diana gently. Diana gave a little sob, smiling as she hugged Carrie, "Oh, little sister, this means much more than what I'd settle for...Thank you...", kissing her forehead.
They soon let go, and Carrie smiled, "So, I did good, then?", and Diana nodded, "Yes, you indeed did. Now, why don't you have some sleep before lunch? It has been a lot for you. I... I will be occupied elsewhere with Mother, and then after that, I'll be around, okay?".
Carrie nodded, "Okay...", taking off her sandals, putting away her crown carefully on a royal shelf, and went to her bed, and Diana tucked her in, caressing her hair warmly, and then left the room, holding her lost lover's gift reverently yet firmly, walking to her mother's chambers, to her favorite room for the time of the day which is her sitting room for her to read a book or such.
"Mother, may I be excused after supper tonight? I...I want to do something personal as Carrie gave me a gift from her ceremony.", Diana asked, and Hippolyta looked at her eldest daughter, "May I ask why, daughter?", and Diana came closer, holding up the gift. Hippolyta widened her eyes as she can feel the faint magic, "Is it that what I think?".
Diana nodded, "Steve gave it to Carrie when she met Hera... I... I almost can't believe what I'm holding.". She teared up, "I hope I'm not being a bad daughter or Amazon by being so emotional about this...".
Hippolyta got up, and went to touch Diana's cheek, "Diana, you haven't failed me and considering that Steven has gone so far to pass it along via Carrie, he truly loved you and making you happy is one thing I can accept as I want you to be happy too.", kissing her eldest daughter's forehead.
"Since he isn't physically here, I'm not upset, as this is merely part of him, to give his last gift to you like this means a lot to you as it would make you a mother which you deserve to experience. And as you are an adult, dear daughter, I cannot stop you from making your chance to do it. You have my permission to be excused after supper tonight but do me a favor. Please hide it from your Amazon sisters and talk with Epione when you are alone with her. I do not doubt Steven's determination, but it's best for you to double check with Epione of how you are going to take it into yourself, and find a most fertile, most private spot out there in the forests if you want this to work absolutely perfect.", Hippolyta finished with a nod and a gentle, stern smile.
"Thank you, Mother.", Diana nodded. She then wrapped her arms around her mother as Hippolyta gently rubbed her daughter's back.
"Oh, Diana...", Hippolyta whispered; she would never truly get over her distrustful feelings of Steve, what Hercules had done to her all those years ago would never heal in her mind. But she knew that after all the years, Steve was one of the few good men that she had met.
Diana whispered, "I love you, Mother.", and Hippolyta smiled, "I love you too, daughter. And before you worry, I will accept a grandson as innocent baby boys and such never had done harm to us, and of course, they're half you, and half Steve, and that, I'm okay with.", knowing that the gods cannot exactly guide the way of intimacy to have a preferred gender like a girl.
One of Diana's worries were dashed away, and she smiled, pulling back to look at her, "Somehow, I have a feeling that Steve has gained a bit more respect and trust for you.", and Hippolyta was a bit surprised before smiling gently, relieved to hear that.
"Okay, I gotta go. Carrie's having a nap, and I'll be back for lunch or supper.", Diana nodded, and Hippolyta smiled, "Good luck.", as Diana carefully and lovingly tucked her gift in her pocket and left.
And so, through the rest of the day, upon talking with Epione and learning of the method, it was officially clear that pouring Steve's very fertile and magical essence over Diana's lower belly will do the trick as long as she's in the most fertile and most secret place under the moon and stars, nude on Themyscira's earth as the island is soaked in magic.
Diana happily resumed her duties and routine, eating and playing with Carrie all afternoon and evening, and after hugging and kissing her mother and sister, she was excused after supper, taking her beloved horse, heading to where Epione told her to go, which was far out from the city, where few Amazons had bothered to venture.
"Okay, just a bit further...", Diana said to herself as she looked around for a good place. "Do I truly consider this?", Diana wondered aloud. When it came to all the others, Hera blessed her daughters with a special gift whenever two Amazons got together and wished to create a child of their own.
Amazonian children were fairly uncommon; maybe a new one or two within a decade. And of course, Themyscira always seemed to be able to just gain a little more territory for the new arrivals making sure overpopulation never became a thing.
But for Diana; she was doing something that hadn't been done since the early days when her mother was first leading the Amazons in their quest for freedom from men. Hippoolyta admitted to her once that the early way of doing things before Hera blessed the gift was essentially holding men captive, taking their seed and then killing them.
Diana obviously was a bit disturbed by that revelation but even Hippolyta was regretful of those actions. It had only been fairly recent then when Hercules raped her.
Diana never truly regretted that wonderful night in Europe where she had lost her virginity, and had her first time with Steve as he truly treated her as the princess she is, and yes, she was sad that she never got pregnant as he had a point that fighting in the world war 2 would have brought danger to herself even if she is superhuman fast and got her special bracelets, she couldn't imagine bringing a child into war like that.
Yet so many years later, now, she's in a place of serenity, of peace, no war or no actual dangers besides the bothersome wolf thieves or a hungry bear which the Amazons are sharp-eyed to take care of.
And for Steve to go far like that out of love for her, Diana knew Steve was truly wanting her to be happy, and honestly, she always wanted to be a mother. She gave a smile as she glanced up at the stars, "I'd be honored, Steve...After all, I came this far, didn't I?".
Diana saw Steve's star twinkle, and she smiled bigger, and then she saw a spot of lush flowers and pristine grass and earth around a riverbed, with a slight cliff hanging for shelter from the wind, seeing moonlight and starlight upon the flowers and the slight cliff riverbed cavern, and the forest thick around it, making it private and fertile.
Diana took a deep breath, and got off her horse, murmuring in ancient Greek to tell her not to run off or anything, trusting her to be nearby, and Diana flew up slightly, flying over the riverbed, and landing, sensing the peaceful magic in the earth under her bare feet.
Walking reverently, she made it to the spot, taking out the orb vial in shape of a fig, putting it gently on a flat stone surface, and she took another deep breath before taking off her clothes, folding them, and putting them away under the cliff hanging, feeling the slight breeze as she went back to the spot, blushing as she can feel Steve's faint presence watching yet feeling relieved as she felt no other people in the heavens watching from the stars, politely giving her privacy as she rested down, in the moonlight and starlight, feeling the earth.
She then reached out and grasped the orb vial in her hand, tenderly caressing it, "I love you, Steve...", hearing his presence emit echoes of love as if he's saying that he loves her too, and she smiles softly, kissing the surface of the orb vial, and spoke serenely yet strongly, "May Hera bless me.", and then popped the stopper off the top of the orb vial.
Diana took a deep breath before she turned the vial over and started to let its contents begin to flow onto her belly as she used her hand to gently rub and guide it down to her womanhood. She almost shivered at the sensation, the feeling and just wondered what might soon come of it. Would she be the first Amazon to give birth to a man or would it as she hoped, be a daughter? Would they look more like her or like Steve?
Diana then felt magic emanating from the earth beneath, reacting to the magic within Steve's essence, and she gasped as she saw the contents absorbing into her skin, feeling more of the contents streaming and flowing through her womanhood, softly crying out in pleasure and surprise.
She began to feel a whole new experience beyond orgasm and her monthly pains, far more than she had on that wonderful night, as she was barely able to grasp the mind-blowing, otherworldly, and overwhelming sensations, closing her eyes from becoming blind as the magic became brighter, and she suddenly felt lighter yet heavier at the same time.
She gave a loud moan as she leaned back some more, practically laying on her back almost as she could practically feel it inside of her; that one of her eggs were being fertilized and growing.
Unknown to her closed eyes, the magic flowed around her like a dancing waterfall, twisting like a rollercoaster, resting upon the fertile soil, glowing brighter and brighter, almost as strong as the moonlight and starlight upon her, making her glow almost like a goddess as Diana kept crying out in extreme pleasure as her orgasm was multiplied, and moaning loudly as she felt the gentle and warm sensations growing stronger and stronger, lasting for several minutes.
Caught by exhaustion, Diana fell asleep as the magic slowly left her for the next 9 hours, escaping back into the earth, the vial empty and vanishing away into nothing, into the air, as the sanctuary kept Diana and her precious cargo safe and warm, Steve's star watching over them as for one single moment, Steve's presence embraced Diana, seeming to kiss her on the cheek and the belly, whispering, "Thank you, Hera...I'm so proud of you, Diana...You'll be a fantastic mother, I know it...I'm so happy for you. I can't wait to meet her when she is ready and old enough for the ceremony...I love her already as much as I loved you, angel.".
Diana seemed to smile in her sleep, and Steve's presence left her, and shortly before dawn, Diana finally woke up to the greatest gift of her life by feeling the whole new sensation of her newfound unborn baby's kicks and tumbles, like wanting to embrace the sun's warmth and welcome a brand-new day.
"Oh, Hera...", Diana muttered as it was much more of a surprise than she had guessed. By the looks of things, she was already so pregnant that she looked to be ready to give birth almost any day now with how large her belly was!
Diana murmured as tears came, her hands stroking her baby bump, "You really are real, aren't you?", wincing with a smile at tumbles and kicks, feeling her baby stretch and saying hello in her way.
She laughed softly, "Hi...", stunned yet almost calm at the fact that she was blessed by Hera, to be given a chance to bear her and Steve's child, relishing in the fact that somehow she feels even more wholesome, and with a soft groan and grunt, she got up from the warm earth, breathing into the fresh air of the pre-dawn, and carefully readjusting her balance.
"You are a healthy one, and hearty too...", Diana chuckled as she walked and waddled to the stream in the riverbed, taking her first full look at her reflection of her nude pregnant self, "Oh, wow...We're even more beautiful, little one, all because I'm going to be a mother to you...By Hera, I'm going to be a mother!", with a sob and a smile.
She stroked her baby bump as she felt happy kicks, "I can't wait to meet you, little one...Let's see if at least my skirt would fit me.", and she turned around to experience and find ways around her state to pick up her clothes and get dressed partially at least.
Discovering that her power of flight is still intact, Diana carefully made it over the riverbed stream, landing on the other side, relieved to see that her horse stayed nearby all night. "Hello, Callista...See anything different?", caressing her neck.
Callista nickered, nosing her baby bump, and snorted as a kick came, and Diana giggled, "They're saying hello...Well, I think I can walk for a while to get used to this, and once we get close to home, the road will be safer then for me to ride you, that is, if you don't mind some extra weight, girl?".
Callista burred, nuzzling Diana, and Diana smiled, kissing Callista's forehead, "Thank you, my friend. Let's go home...", tying the top undergarment and shirt to the blanket saddle, and walked alongside her horse, glad that her well-earned rest helped her out, and she still kept her super stamina and such, even then, it was still a mild struggle to realize why many of her community sisters complained sometimes when they were pregnant after Hera's blessing.
Diana now made it to the main trail in one of the hills, smiling as she watched the dawn come over her beautiful city, "Wow, for some reason, seeing this gorgeous sunrise feels different...", and she felt kicks, caressing it with a chuckle, "That's right, it's a brand new day, little one...", as a name came to her.
Tears came to her as she whispered, "Sunrise...You know, if you are a girl, until I get Epione's official word, I believe I have a name for you...Tessa. That way, it's Greek, yet honored after your daddy's surname. It means harvest, abundance of the sunrise to grow.".
She felt a kick and blushed. "Seems like Hera's made sure to give you quite a bit of intelligence.. oh, you'll love your aunt for sure then.", Diana chuckled as she made her way back to the city. She knew she was going to have to deal with many of her sisters asking about what had happened; but she was sure she could deal with it. After all, things had gone back fairly normal with them once she had returned from the world of men.