AN: Hello, dear reader! I apologise for the delay. I actually wrote this whole chapter from zero. The one I had planned to post would be the next chapter. I want to start cementing Barbara Ann's and Diana's friendship a little more. This chapter will go into how Maia's name was chosen. Hope you like it :)

12

Third trimester (7 months)

Steve gently bumps me on the shoulder as we walk side by side on our way back from the local market—bags filled with fresh produce and bread.

"Hmm?" I turn to look at him as I'm pulled from my inner musings.

He chuckles. "What are you thinking so much about?"

I exhale. "You know how work's been a little crazy lately?"

He nods. "Yeah."

Two weeks after the Louvre's charity ball, Barbara Ann traveled to Alexandria to work with renowned archeologist Dr. Kathleen Martínez, who is—very famously and accurately—searching for Cleopatra's tomb. It was a difficult partnership to secure since terms had to be agreed on. Reasonably, Dr. Martínez was adamant that all findings had to be a Dominican/Latin American achievement first and for credit not to be given predominately to Barbara Ann and/or the Louvre. Unreasonably, the Louvre wanted me to 'use my influence' to try and make her agree to give the Louvre's archeological team most of the credit and give Dr. Martínez whatever permit to any future project she wanted in return.

There were many, many meetings, and finally, we agreed that the Louvre would be the only museum in Europe to have the right to display whatever artifacts they found, and Dr. Martínez's first lecture on any discoveries in Taposiris Magna would be done at the Louvre.

There were other things, but it was fair all in all.

Well, turns out while Steve and I were in Gotham, Dr. Martínez and Barbara Ann found a series of very long tunnels that lead all the way to the Mediterranean Ocean, further confirming the theory that Taposiris Magna (the dig site) used to be a lot bigger than it is today and, at some point in time, sank into the ocean. Which means that Cleopatra's burial site could very well be underwater.

We received a very high-energy video call from Barbara Ann a few days after arriving in Paris.

"Di! This is absolutely amazing! Once we got digging, the tunnels essentially just revealed themselves to us. We were waist-deep in ice-cold water, gently redirecting aspids away from us. Aspids, Di! It's like Cleopatra herself was sending signals. She's here, okay? Kathleen and I are so certain of it. She's a genius, by the way! Everything she's said she'd find, she finds. Now we need to go underwater, Di! We need to get on that and quick!"

I remember ending the call, and Steve and I were just staring at each other. We chuckled a few moments later. When Barbara Ann becomes passionate, she's like a kid in a candy store. Our eyes did widen slightly when she said she'd been in close proximity to one of the most venomous snakes in the world, especially the one the myth says Cleopatra used to kill herself—although highly unlikely, but still.

So, the last few weeks, the museum has been working on getting the permit for the underwater search, but it's been a nightmare. The Egyptian government is usually tricky to deal with. It's not as easy as simply applying for a permit. You have to send a couple of people and present the evidence to explain why you want to go digging—or in this case, swimming—in that specific site.

That part we left to Dr. Martínez and Barbara Ann. Even though there was back and forth, we were given the permit. But then we had to have talks with the Egyptian Navy, which was another headache. At the same time, while they were cleaning out the tunnels, another one of the dig sites in Taposiris Magna found a bunch of Greco-Roman artifacts that had to be moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum for further assessment, and they asked the Louvre for security to be arranged because they were fearful of getting intercepted by thieves on their way there.

My department and the archeological department of the museum have been buried in paperwork and had a phone stuck to our ears for three weeks. A couple of days ago, when things finally calmed down a little, I collapsed in my office chair and started thinking about how time-consuming my work can be. Yes, this specific scenario—where I come in at 7 a.m. and leave by 10 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, and I barely have energy to talk to Steve when I get home—is not the rule.

But right now, Taposiris Magna is producing so many findings that this schedule is going to last for a while. I cannot be away from home for fifteen hours so often. I want to spend that time with Steve, and in a few months, my daughter is going to be here. Not only does she physically need me with her, but I would much rather spend that time with her.

I voice all of this to Steve, and he listens. He nods as I finish speaking and stays quiet for a few seconds.

"Dig season only lasts two months. The other ten months are spent on evaluating, researching, and reapplying for permits, correct?"

I nod. "Yes."

"Okay. The baby is going to be here in two months, which means that by the time dig season starts again, she's going to be eight months old. She should be eating by that point and sleeping through the night. You could go to work. We can hire a nanny. We'll have Bruce do a full and rigorous background check. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if Alfred himself did the interviews."

I smile at that. I have no doubt Alfred would choose someone perfect to look after our daughter, but that's the thing.

"I don't want someone else being there for the important moments, Steve. We are going to have her as a young adult for a very long time. But she's only going to be a baby for a year, then a toddler for four. It's such a short time for people like us."

Our immortality gives us so much, especially time. But no amount of time will give us those early years back. We won't have more children. Steve and I will only experience this once.

"So what are you saying?" Steve asks. "You want to quit? You love your job."

I nod. "Yes, I do. But I love our daughter more."

Steve stops and takes my hand. "Is that really what you want?"

I consider it for a second and find no doubt regarding my decision. "It is. Besides, like I told you a few months ago, my time here is coming to an end."

I turn and tug on his hand, resuming our walk. "After our last briefing with the team, I think it would be best to stay in France. Clark needs us here. But I was also thinking about Waller. I think we need to leave Paris but stay close. I don't know where, but we can't be staying here for much longer."

Steve nods. "Hmm, yes. Far enough so we don't run into people we've come to know but close enough to be able to reach trouble when necessary. Also, Waller won't be able to tell Wonder Woman has the hots for me."

I laugh and smack him on the shoulder. "More like you have the hots for Wonder Woman."

Steve laughs. "Ow! Well, hey. I do have the hots for Wonder Woman."

He pulls me closer and gives me a peck.

"You know I'll support you no matter what, Angel. You want to stay at home with the baby? Do it. And hey, I'm not gonna lie, old-fashioned me loves the idea of knowing that every time I get home from work, you'll be there with the little rugrat."

He scratches the top of my belly with his index finger.

"I know this is the right decision. Time will fly by, and before we know it, she's going to have her own life. I just want to make sure we were there. They say 50% of the job is just being present."

Steve throws his arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer. "We'll be there. Always. Have you given any thought as to when you want to give your notice? We're going to Themyscira in a month."

We take a right, and our building comes into view. "I'm not 100% sure yet. Do you think I should quit before we leave or after my maternity leave is up?"

"Hmm. Ideally, I think it should be before we leave, but it depends. Would you be leaving them hanging if you hand in your notice now?"

I pass the grocery bags to Steve so I can pull the keys out of my purse. "Yes and no. All that needed to be done has been done, but we're already preparing for the next dig season. Of course, it's part of the job description to be able to do that job. Technically, the person who replaces me should be able to continue the process without a problem."

I hold the door for Steve and close it behind him. "So there's not really much of a difference, is there? Quitting in a little over four months would be the same, with the exception that you won't be paid for your maternity leave, but it's not like we need the money. You can work until the day before we leave if that's what you want."

We climb onto the elevator, and I press the number 7. "Yeah, I guess I should let them know as soon as possible so they can start looking for someone."

Steve chuckles. "Your directeur won't like the news one bit. He's going to try and convince you to stay."

I smile. "I know. But he's a good man. He'll understand. Besides, I already have someone in mind for the job. It's up to them, but I think she's the right person for the position."

Steve looks at me. "You're not thinking of Barbara Ann, are you? Is that why you invited her over for dinner?"

I give him a 'seriously?' look. "Do you honestly think Barbara Ann would accept an office job?"

"No! That's why I'm asking," Steve says, matching my tone.

I shake my head. "No, it's not her I have in mind. I'm inviting Barbara Ann for dinner because we haven't seen our friend in months, and we're about to leave for another two months. I don't know what plans she has now that dig season is over. So I don't want to miss a chance to see her."

The elevator doors open, and we step out. "Hey, I want to see her too. I was just making sure your pregnancy hormones weren't giving you weird ideas."

I smack him on the arm again.

"Ow! That's twice now you've done that today! Don't choose violence. Choose love," Steve says, rubbing his arm in a dramatic fashion.

I smile at his antics as I open the apartment door. "I do everything with love, Steve. That was a love smack."

He places the bags on the kitchen counter and gives me a look. "Well, in that case, you wanna take that to the bedroom?"

I lift an eyebrow and look at the kitchen clock. There's time. I give him my best wicked smile and say nothing as I walk to the bedroom.

"Oh my G—come'ere," he says as he catches up to me and turns me around, pressing me against the wall. He tries to get closer, but my belly is in the way.

I laugh. "The distance is only going to grow."

He walks around me until he's by my side. "It's okay. I like a challenge."

Later that evening, I hear the doorbell ring as I put a tray in the oven.

"I'll get that!" I tell Steve as I close the oven door.

I take off my apron and hang it on the hook. I open the door, and a smile immediately pulls at my lips as I set eyes on my best friend for the first time in months.

"Lord, Di. You're positively enormous!"

Barbara Ann laughs, and I roll my eyes.

"It's good to see you too, Barbara Ann. Give me a hug, you insufferable woman."

She hugs me and laughs at the slight maneuvering she now has to do.

"Hey, four eyes!" Steve says as he comes out of our bedroom.

Barbara Ann squints her eyes at him. "Hey, Trevy. Do my eyes deceive me, or have you gained a little weight? Right here," she says, patting her stomach.

Steve's shoulders sag as he exhales. "Blame your bff for that. She insists on having croissants as a side dish in every meal."

I wiggle my index finger at him. "Hey, nobody is forcing you to eat them. You could eat a salad. Don't blame me."

Barbara Ann walks up to Steve and hugs him, patting him a couple of times on the back. "It's okay. You'll lose all that weight when super baby is keeping you up at night, and you'll be so tired, you'll forget to eat."

The evening progresses wonderfully. We eat dinner and laugh at Barbara Ann's anecdotes from her time in Alexandria. A few hours later, while we're washing dishes, I decide to tell her about me quitting the museum. I want to know what she thinks.

"I want to get your opinion on something. I've already made the decision, but I want to know what you think," I tell her as I set a plate on the counter.

Barbara Ann takes a sip of wine and nods. "What is it?"

"At the speed at which you and Dr. Martínez are moving along, the next couple of years are going to be crazy at work. Not to mention the other moving pieces. So I—"

"You're quitting," she says matter-of-factly, not really sounding surprised.

"Uh—yeah. What do you think?" I ask.

Barbara Ann stares at me for a little bit and then shrugs. "I mean, I'm somewhat surprised you haven't already quit. I assumed you would want to dedicate your whole time to being a mother. Especially considering that you have been working non-stop for over 100 years. Not to mention your side gig. Are you putting a pause on that too?"

I nod. "Just for four months. Clark will cover me for that time."

She takes another sip of her wine. "I feel sorry for the person who comes after you. You know how much Jean Luc adores you, especially after the ball. But hey, good for you. I will miss having our morning talks whenever I get stuck doing paperwork. But it's not like I won't see you anymore. Or are you two planning to move somewhere else?"

Steve and I smile at her question because, for a second there, she showed concern at us moving far away.

Steve answers. "We haven't fully discussed that, and we should probably do that this week, since we are tight on time," he says, looking at me.

I nod.

"But no. We are staying in France, but it's more than likely we'll get out of Paris. Diana's coming close to a decade of living here. We need to keep moving around."

Barbara Ann throws her hands up in the air. "Well then. There you go. I have no objections. You may proceed," she says with an exaggerated posh accent, pushing her glasses up her nose.

Matching Barbara Ann's antics, I swing my head right while putting my hand on my forehead. "Oh, thank Zeus. Steve, what would we have done if she said no?"

"Oh, heavens! God knows! We would've been powerless!" Steve runs a hand through his hair, following along. "Oh hey."

He stops and points a finger at Barbara Ann. "I just remembered something."

"What?" Barbara Ann and I ask at the same time, both looking at him strangely.

He points a finger at me. "You're going to kill me for not telling you. I was planning on doing so today, but… we got distracted."

He blushes a little but not too much. Steve then points back at Barbara Ann. "And you're going to kill me for saying this."

She stares at him, trying to figure out what Steve's about to say. "Do so at your own peril, then."

"I saw you last week," he says, still pointing a finger at her.

We both stare at him, a little confused.

"Okay. Is that it? You need to go out more often, Trevy, if you find that amusing. Why didn't you say hi?"

She asks, playing along.

Steve starts smiling. "I was about to, but then when I started walking in your direction, a certain someone came out of a store, grabbed your hand, and kissed you."

I felt my jaw drop, and a 'whaaaaaat?!' came out before I could control myself.

Barbara Ann bit down on her lip, shook her head, and a smile started pulling at her lips. "Oh, you bastard."

"Who?! Who was kissing you?! How could you forget to tell me?" For a third time today, I smack Steve in the arm—lovingly.

"Ow! Okay, I'll take that one. You want to tell her?" Steve asks Barbara Ann.

She's still shaking her head but smiling. "You might as well say it, you gossiping twat."

I look at Steve expectantly. "It was Pierre Didier."

My mouth just forms a perfect 'O'. I'm so incredibly happy right now. In the years I've known Barbara Ann, she's been incredibly closed off at the idea of love. She's a loner by nature, but I've detected an insecurity that does not allow her to open herself up to even the possibility of love.

The chemistry between them at the ball was tangible. But after that night, I never really heard of him again. I thought it had maybe just been physical, but to hear that she's been out with him… it makes me so happy for her.

"How long have you been seeing him? The ball was three months ago."

She exhales loudly. "The night of the ball, we went to the bar and had some drinks. We were talking very pleasantly, but then the news of Notre Dame catching fire kinda killed the mood. He offered to take me home."

I see Steve wiggle his eyebrows at her. I almost smacked him again.

"He was a perfect gentleman," she answers, staring daggers at Steve, who just laughs. "He asked for my phone number, and we went out a couple of times, but then I had to leave for Alexandria. He surprised me, actually, and came to visit me a few weeks later. He had some weeks off before he had to report back to base, and last week was our last date for a while because he's off to somewhere classified."

I shake my head in disbelief. "Oh my God, I'm so happy for you!"

I walk around the kitchen counter and give her a side hug.

"Okay, just relax a little. You're acting as if I just told you he proposed. I don't even know what the hell we are yet. That's why I didn't say anything."

Barbara Ann grabs the kitchen rag and smacks Steve with it.

"Ah! Today has not been kind to my arm," Steve says, taking a defensive step back and rubbing his arm. "But, seriously, for a second. Are you happy?"

I lean back a little and look at her face. Barbara Ann looks down for a second, and her whole face lights up. "Yes, Trevy. I am."

I look over at Steve and mouth 'oh my God'. I hug her again, and this time she reciprocates.

"Just, you know, don't get all weird about it. It's brand new, and to be completely honest, it's kinda hard to see how it will work out. His job requires him to be away for long stretches of time, just like mine. So we're just enjoying our time together when we can and not really worrying too much about the long term."

I sense her discomfort at being the center of attention very keenly. I step back, but I can't help the smile.

"Good. I'm just glad you're happy. Speaking of which, what are you planning on doing the next couple of months? I heard there was a new grant being given by the French government for archaeological projects in Northern Africa. Planning on applying to them?"

I change topics before she retreats into herself. Barbara Ann seems relieved by my question.

She grabs the bottle and fills her glass a bit more. "I thought about it, but then I saw the timeline, and it would take me away from a very special project."

Steve frowns. "What's that?"

She looks at us while swirling her wine. "If I want the grant, I would have to write a dissertation and spend months defending it in Casablanca."

Now it's my turn to frown. "You love a fight, Barbara Ann. I won't believe you if you tell me you don't feel like it."

She chuckles. "Oh, I do. That's not the problem. The problem is that I would have to be in Casablanca in two months' time and then stay for at least a month, maybe more. Do you think for one second I'm going to another continent and not stay right here getting to know and spend time with my niece?"

Steve and I are momentarily stunned into silence. For all her supposed indifference to anything even slightly endearing, Barbara Ann is an absolute sweetheart. I almost feel like crying.

She looks at us both. "What? I have a lot of competition! Superman, Batman, Flash, Cyborg, and Flippers are going to be her uncles. I need to insert myself from the get-go."

Steve and I look at each other, having a conversation. We nod and look back to Barbara Ann.

"We're going to do something you're not going to like, but we'll do it anyway," I tell her.

Barbara Ann scrunches up her face. "What?"

Steve and I move to opposite sides of her and give her a big fat hug.

"Ew. Please stop. This is too much. I'm English," she says, squashed between the two of us.

Steve and I only tighten our hug to annoy her a little more, but a swift kick to the ribs makes me break up the hug.

"Oomph. I felt that one," I say, looking down at my belly and placing my hand on my side.

"Me too! You agree with me, don't you, darling? Too much love," Barbara Ann says to my belly.

"By the way…" she grabs her glass and moves to the couch. "Have you chosen a name yet?"

A master at changing the subject, as always.

"Not yet," I tell her as I sit opposite her. Steve stays in the kitchen, finishing up the dishes.

"We've toyed with a few names, but nothing really convinces us," he tells her.

Barbara Ann searches the inside pocket of her coat and pulls out a small book. "I thought so. So I bring a gift."

She hands me the book, and I chuckle. "100 Characters from Classical Mythology: Discover the Fascinating Stories of the Greek and Roman Deities. What's this for?"

She points at the book. "Since I'm assuming you'll be inclined to name her something Greek or Roman, I thought this could function as a book of baby names of sorts."

"You know? That's a good idea," Steve tells her, plopping down next to me, taking the book, and leafing through it. "Should we see if she responds to any?"

I smile. "Okay."

"Gimme. I'll read the names, and you keep your hands on her ginormous belly. See if she responds to any of the names," Barbara Ann says, leaning over and taking the book from Steve.

I stare at her in a disapproving manner, but it doesn't last long. "Grab your phone and film this. I have a feeling this is going to be fun."

Barbara Ann pulls her phone from her back pocket, kicks her shoes off, and puts them on the center table so she can rest the book on her lap as she records.

She flips the camera towards her. "Hello, darling. This is your favourite auntie Barbara Ann. At your mother's request, I will be filming this moment: the choosing of your name. Your mother is currently 7 months along, and yet your parents are extremely blasé about the fact that you're currently nameless. But no matter, I am here to save you from them. Don't worry. I won't let your father name you after a childhood crush. Probably a Dottie or Estelle."

"I did have a crush on a Dottie in junior high," Steve says, a little amazed at Barbara Ann's accurate guess.

"See? It's okay. You're going to have a beautiful name. A name fit for a princess. Let's see…"

Steve promptly puts both hands on my belly, and we look expectantly at Barbara Ann.

"Chapter I: Primordial Gods. Are you an Aphrodite, perhaps?"

"Oh, hilarious. Please don't move," he tells the baby.

She doesn't.

"Aphrodite might be a bit too on the nose," I tell her.

"Alright. Are you an Eris?" Barbara Ann asks.

Steve and I scrunch up our faces. "Maybe not that one. Sounds too much like Ares."

"Fair point. Let's keep looking…"

An hour or so passes by and we're almost by the end of the book, and the names have either been too on the nose or haven't captivated us.

Barbara Ann exhales, "The last chapter is about the descendants of the titans," she reads quickly through it, "Oh, finally! There could be a winner here."

Steve and I perk up.

"Are you a Selene?"

We wait, but nothing happens. Selene is a nice name, but I don't know. It's not quite it.

"Nothing? Okay. How about Danae?"

There's no response. We try with Penelope, Ariadne, Theia, Rhea, and Iris. No luck.

Barbara Ann puffs. "Well, it seems we failed this mission. Maybe we cou—oh wait. I missed one. How about Maia?"

I felt like an earthquake happened inside of me as I felt the baby do a flip and kick me with such force it actually took the breath out of me.

"Wow!" Steve says, having felt that.

"What?" Barbara Ann drops the book and zooms in on us. "Did she move?"

I exhale, "Move? She almost kicked my liver out of me." I look down at my belly and place my hands next to Steve's.

"Maia?" A flutter and then a gentler kick respond.

I laugh and immediately feel my eyes well up. "Is that your name?"

Steve looks at me and then at my belly. "Maia. Do you like that?"

Again, a gentle kick answers him. "Okay. That's your name, then. Maia Trevor."

Steve kisses my belly and then sits next to me, kissing my temple.

"There were 100 names in this book, and yet only one was the right one for you. This was my idea, by the way. Your auntie's, Barbara Ann. I can't wait to meet you, Maia. See you soon, darling."

Barbara Ann flips the camera back to us and films us in an embrace for a few more seconds before she puts her phone down.

"You're welcome," she tells us cockily.

We laugh as we wipe the tears from our cheeks.

"Insufferable," I tell her, but I'm so grateful to have a friend like her.

AN: Okay so... a few things. I know that my upload schedule has been an absolute mess and I never really expected to retain the readers I had from the beginning. Last year when I made an update, I got a couple of reviews and a nice amount of kudos. For these last two chapters (after a year, I know!) I have received absolutely nothing. Again i'm not mad or anything. I just want to know if you guys are still interested because there's no point in stressing myself to post or hurry up and write when there's no one waiting for it. So if you're out there drop a comment or kudos and if not, well... i don't know if I'll keep posting. I'll make my decision in a week or two. Thank you for reading this far! if this is goodbye, stay safe!