Invisible sun, a star lit in the dark / Invisible sun, a shadow upon the stars / Invisible sun, shining where there's no path / Invisible sun, rubbing out question marks - Invisible Sun -The Prodigy

"I know you love me, and feel very loyal to Themyscira. But you have drawn a line and dared anyone to cross it. There will be dire consequences if they do. There is no going back now. Stand firm, retreat from no one, for gods' sake try talking first, but attack when there is no other recourse." - Chapter 3: Offers - Debriefing the Case

Bruce felt as if he was falling rapidly into darkness and had the sudden intuition that he had been thrown out of Diana's memories. Gasping in surprise, he woke to find J'onn struggling to concentrate. To his concern, Diana stayed deathly still.

Then Diana opened her eyes. Slowly, she rose from her seat and loomed over Batman. He stood swiftly and backed away as a growl rumbled from her throat, her eyes staring intently at him.

"Diana," he said, cautiously reaching for her. "What's wrong?" He retreated from her aggressive step forward.

"That's not Diana," J'onn said. "Something's taken over her body and pushed her psyche out of the way. It sees you has its prey."

"But if this isn't Diana, what happened to her?" Batman moved backwards as she stalked towards him.

"Diana's remembering an incident. I see… a dark alley. There are buildings around her...she's surrounded by fire." J'onn gasped. "Daemon. Eudeamon. Anagenesis. Katharos."

"Shit, that was the scene of the crime. If Diana's reliving that…" Batman took a deep breath. If she's reliving that, then she's not alone. She had addressed a creature with respect, and it had listened. Without knowing exactly what he did, he motioned Hestia's Blessing towards her.

"Chimera…"

"Khimaira," Diana interrupted. He flinched - it was her voice, but harsher. Meaner.

"Khimaira," he acknowledged. "You are here to protect…" He searched for the word. "Hades' daughter. Kori?"

"Anthanatos Ánassa. Emos." The creature in Diana's body tapped her chest.

"I don't understand", Batman said. "J'onn, can you translate what she's saying?" The Martian nodded, then his eyes glowed brighter.

"Anthanatos Ánassa. Emos." Diana repeated. "Immortal queen… mine." She tapped her chest again.

Bruce bristled at the clear gesture of ownership. "No, she's mine."

"Méketi." She glared back. "Not anymore."

"Now and always, monster. I will fight for her if I have to." He nearly cringed at the pure aggression in his wife's eyes. She looked at him as if he were an enemy to destroy.

"Try it," she challenged back.

"'Anything worth having is worth fighting for'," he growled back. "I need to get past Khimaira and talk to Diana. Let me see what she sees."

"I don't know if I can help you do that," J'onn grounded out. "Diana believes in that flame so much, I can feel its heat. It is hard enough holding on to her consciousness like this. Any closer, and my mind will shut down."

"Access my memories. I was in that alley, too. She pushed me away from the flame." He grimaced in anger and shame. "I was no where near her. Put me there." He spoke with such force, J'onn could only comply.

Bruce felt his consciousness merge and let out a gasp. The blaze took up his entire field of vision. It was as he remembered - a ferocious inferno surrounded Diana. She stood in the middle, her arms stretched out to the side, her bracelets glowing. Her eyes were closed, brow furrowed in concentration.

This time, he was not lying on the ground, watching in horror as the woman he loved fought the flame. No arms were holding him back, no matter how much they cared for him. He wasn't going to be helpless again. Bruce ignored the searing heat as best he could.

Yet as he stepped into the circle, his progression was blocked. He tried to move forward, but to no avail. She was so close! If only she could see him, pull him the rest of the way…

"Diana! I need your help. Open your eyes!"

"You're here?" Diana's voice rang with hope. "I pushed you away and you disappeared. You came back?"

"Of course I did. You're not allowed to go anywhere without me. Remember, I'm following you, Officer Wayne."

"But… I have to keep the flame at bay. If I don't, it could destroy the city. You...Tim… Dick and Alfred..." Her smile fell. "Leave this place. I must do this alone."

"Let's not start this argument. I'll use every excuse I know to fight for you. I already have a list ready to go. You want to hear issue number one?"

Diana snorted derisively, then smiled despite her stress. "You would use my words against me at a time like this."

"Gotta use what I have." Bruce closed his eyes, then took another breath. "Gotham is okay, Diana. You're on the Watchtower. This is in your mind. Khimaira took over your body."

"She… she did? But I can feel the heat, smell the air. How could she have..."

"The mind is more powerful than the body. Because you believe what you're feeling, it's giving her control over you. You have to fight her influence. Open your eyes."

"I can't," she whispered. "If I do, Khimaira will take over completely. I must fight her, but she's not backing down."

"She's testing to see how far she can push you. You are the Alpha, you're the one in control."

"Then I must do this by myself. Show that I'm strong. I can't let you help me."

"I'm not here to help you," Bruce said. Diana groaned in exasperation. "I'm here because I want to be. You're not the only one that needs to feel strong." He paused, then took a determined breath. "I was helpless last time this happened. I hated that feeling. I HAVE to be with you… no matter what."

Diana found confidence in his grounded voice. She opened her eyes slowly. Tears fell down her cheeks, caused by the searing heat. She strained to see past the flames, towards his reaching hand. Then she let out a relieved laugh.

With fire billowing around him, Batman emerged from the light, his cape snapping in the wind. As she reached towards him, she noticed her arm was bare and her bracelets unhindered. A quick glance down found a golden war girdle, eagle breastplate, lasso at her hip, and red boots to her knees. She didn't need to touch her brow to know a tiara laid there.

Yet the black stretch pants stayed. Hmmm… she kind of liked that.

Diana grabbed Batman's hand and pulled him closer. She wound her arms around his waist, he draped his cape around her shoulders. They were surrounded by a shroud of durable, Kevlar protection.

The flame flared outward to encompass both figures. It did not touch them.

"Here me, Khimaira!" Diana called out. "You will submit to my command! You have not learned to control your power. You will destroy that which you had been charged to protect. Let me guide you. Release your hold!"

The fire growled around them. "You enslave yourself to this mortal man. He holds you as if you were his property. You are not worthy of my loyalty."

Diana suddenly pushed away from Batman's embrace, but held his hand. "I am no man's slave. Do you not know who you are talking to?" She turned towards the flame, tall and proud. "I am Her Royal Highness Diana Wayne, daughter of Queen Hippolyta and Lord Hades, Champion of Themyscira, Wonder Woman of the Justice League, and Future Queen of the Amazons! This is my chosen husband, equal to me. However, you are crossing a line. Don't get it confused. YOU serve ME!"

"This mortal? Equal?"

"Yes, my husband, who will be a king when I am queen. You will serve us both. Yield to our rule."

Khimaira regarded this dark, demonically dressed person. He stood close, ready to assist. She should have seen this as a weakness, that a demigod received help from a mortal. But instead, they found strength in each other.

And together, they faced Hellfire.

Khimaira purred. This was a familiar pairing, yet different. The couple she knew were in discord, which caused chaos to their vast kingdom. They could have ruled all of Gaia if they worked together, but instead they argued over faults, grievances, and ill-will. Perhaps this was a pair worth following instead...

The flame descended, winding around them like a lariat of light. The bright glare dimmed to a soft glow. Diana felt Bruce's arms encircle her waist from behind. She leaned back, grasping his forearms to pull him closer. Both sighed a breath of relief...

The line of fire flared and attacked. It blasted through Wonder Woman's chest between her armor's eagle wings, exited her back, and entered Batman through the black bat symbol. They gasped in pain.

This was going to be their last breath. Their bodies were going to explode. They held each other tighter. If they were going to die, let it be in each other's arms…

A red dragon appeared, coiled in strike position. It rammed through Batman's back and emerged from Diana's body, holding a serpentine tail in his jaws. He violently shook his head, pulling a feline monster away. A goat head bleated in dismay, a lion head snarled.

A chaotic clash of color and noise assaulted Khimaira. She shied away from this unknown presence. Louder and harsher, the projection attacked. The creature retreated, unable to identify this foreign thing. It was strange, unknown...alien…

The chimera roared in challenge. The dragon hissed back. Creatures surged forward, flame hitting a wyvern body as fangs clamped down around a furred neck. The dragon pulled the chimera away from the two vulnerable, human figures.

Gathering her wits, Khimaira shook off ensnaring jaws and returned fire. The dragon's bellow sounded like a man's scream. A tail whipped around and slammed into an open, fanged maw. Claws raked down a long, scaled body.

Two lines shot through the air. A black cable wound around the dragon's neck, pulling it down. He resisted, but was unable to see what had attacked. His eyes burned…

"J'onn, stop fighting me!" Batman's voice broke through the pain and the dragon did as ordered, descending to the ground and curling into a ball. A cool, dark cape sheltered him.

A golden line wrapped around Khimaira's head. She thrashed against the binding, then roared when it was yanked again. She pulled with the full strength of a tempest-born elemental.

Diana strained to keep the creature under control. Her muscles ached and her chest burned. Planting her feet firmly, she anchored her body for more resistance. Need… to find… a way to subdue her.

A red point of light shone from the corner of her eye. It grew, expanding in a circular pattern. That's where Khimaira came from, she thought. If only she could get it back there, away from… where is this? My mind? Gotham? Here?

The haze cleared, revealing a vast landscape. Diana felt the same sense of recognition the last time she saw it. Vaulted rock cavern, demons flying in red air, a fortress carved in stone. The sudden memory nearly made her gasp.

"Tartarus," Diana said out loud. A tug on her lasso brought her out of her musings. Khimaira shied away from the gateway, pulling her captor with her. Her growl held an edge of fear. She doesn't want to go back, she thought. But she can't stay here if she doesn't obey.

As both divine creatures regarded the red gate, a heavily armored figure approached from the other side. It walked confidently, arrogantly. A frayed cape waved behind it, and a helmet with long, curved horns covered its head. As it drew closer, Diana could tell that it would tower over her by many hand lengths.

She knew who this was. This wasn't the first time she'd seen him. She wasn't concerned. He was trapped there, damned to dwell in the underworld for all eternity…

Hades stepped through the gate as easily as any doorway. He looked around the landscape as if seeing a cowering chimera, an injured dragon, and two costumed superheroes were nothing out of the ordinary. Taking off his helmet, he took a deep, luxurious breath, then exhaled with a gusty sigh.

"Black ground, dreary lights…" Hades ran a gloved hand through his dark, flowing hair. He sniffed the alley's air. "Questionable hygiene from the area population. Kind of feels like home."

"What are you doing here, Hades?" Diana asked abruptly. "How are you able to escape your prison?"

"Prison? I'd rather think of it as house arrest. But I haven't really escaped. This is all in your head. Everything you see you've seen before, your memories are creating our surroundings." Hades wrinkled his nose. "Does it always smell like garbage here?"

"Don't judge the city by this particular alley," Diana said. "Gotham is more than the streets it's built upon."

"You're the one remembering the stench of human pollution. And you honor this place as if it were Themyscira. Interesting," Hades said. "I was expecting to see the paradise I remember, not this…" He glanced over her shoulder. "Perhaps he's the reason." He threw a pointed look at Batman.

"Themyscira will always hold a special place in my heart," Diana countered, "but Gotham is my home, too."

"Which is why this conversation is happening here, not the island of your ancestors."

"I don't understand."

"You don't, do you?" Hades regarded his daughter in amusement. "Your mother hasn't spoken of our latest encounter, has she?"

"She mentioned a journey that she took through the God Realms." Diana hesitated. "She did not say anything about you."

"Hasn't she? I'm sure I felt her ask me for a favor." Hades strode around the alley, contemplating the others with curiosity. He paused and regarded Batman. "As many of your loved ones reside in his realm, may Hades continue to bring wealth to this household. While his mission is dark, it is necessary - as yours is, too. You have paid a high price, and your loss is his gain. He owes you.

"I think that is the first time anyone has used my name in a Bond Blessing. It was an odd, but… welcome feeling. I'm touched," Hades said. "Don't you think it strange that your mother would call upon me during a celebration to honor your marriage? I'm not the best example of fidelity."

"As unusual as it was, you know why she did it," Diana countered.

"Yes, and you finally acknowledged me in your lineage when calling Khimaira to heel. That is what caught my attention and brought me here. And I have to admit, I wanted to meet the extraordinary man who captured my Amazon daughter's heart. I know so much about him, yet I never had the pleasure of seeing him. So far," Hades inspected Batman from cowled head to fortified boots, then glanced down at his own armor and horned helmet. "Not bad."

"We're not here for your approval," Batman said. "Say your peace so we may leave."

"To the point. I respect that, but we have some business to attend to. " Hades pointed at Batman. "'I. Owe. You.' Hippolyta overstepped her bounds, but she is right. I do owe you, but not in the ways you think."

"I want nothing from you," Batman growled.

"No? Wouldn't you ask for your parents back if it was within my power?" Hades toed the asphalt under his foot. "This is where they died, it's what anchors you to this city, this… memory. Wouldn't you want to… I don't know… take the bullets for them? You might survive. Come on, I know you would."

"I will not play your games," Batman's lips turned down to a frown, "nor will I partake of your fruit. I know what happens to those who do."

"WISE CHOICE, SON-IN-LAW!" a feminine voice called from the red cavern.

"Stay over there, Sephie! Go play with your new pet," Hades answered, rolling his eyes. He glanced conspiringly at Batman. "Persephone acknowledged our bond by calling you 'son-in-law'. You know how hard it is to get her to call me 'husband'?"

"When you violently kidnap her and force her to marry you, I don't blame her."

"Kidnap her? Yes, I'll admit I did that. Force her to marry me...mmmm, that's still up for debate. We both know how to get what we want, even if it's to someone else's detriment.

And yet…" Hades looked back towards the gate, "our existence is so intertwined, you can't tell one of our stories without telling the other's."

Hades turned his attention back towards Batman. "You promised to love my daughter, knowing it would bind her to you forever. Who did you do that for? Her or you?"

"So you're suddenly playing the concerned father?" Batman asked. He folded his arms across his chest. "I will not cower in order to win her hand. She's already mine."

"I have much to make up for," Hades answered. "And considering how old she is, that's a lot of time." He took a menacing step towards the mortal hero. "But this goes beyond a parent's need to intimidate a suitor, and you've become a part of something much larger than the city you protect."

The dragon uncoiled and darted in front of his friend. It growled, the warning clear in the threatening sound. The god paused, abruptly but calm.

"Ah, so the alien decides to speak up," Hades murmured. He approached the dragon. "My daughter and her husband wouldn't be together in her mind if it wasn't for you. I thought I would be having this talk alone. An interesting development… an unexpected element…" J'onn lunged forward. Hades took a step back. "A magnificent specimen. Perhaps if you mated with Khimaira, we would see a new creature added to the menagerie."

Diana wedged herself between them. "J'onn would only be reacting this way if he sensed a falsehood from you. You're trying to force my husband into some sort of alpha male nonsense. I chose him. If you have a problem with that, you take it up with me."

"Why do you automatically think the worst of me?" Hades asked. "No, don't answer that. Rhetorical question. I deserve my reputation, I worked hard at it." He spread his hands in an open manner.

"Everyone fears me because they know I see them for who they really are. I've heard every excuse, every regret, all their joys and pains as they beg for another chance. Judgments are rendered from their deeds, not their potential. They lost that when they died.

"Nothing surprised me anymore, until I became aware of you," Hades continued, leaning closer to Diana. "I'm discovering the joys of having a legacy. Seeing you, my dear, gives me hope. That I might have finally created something good." He gave Batman a side eye. "And I intend to watch after it."

"My mother had more to do with my upbringing than you," Diana retorted. "She's the one who taught me my heritage, and how the Amazon mission of peace and love will bring light into the world..."

"Yes, but as the black hole cannot be seen without rays of light orbiting the abyss before they are devoured, so is the fate of that mission without knowing how it can damage the souls you are trying to protect."

"You speak in riddles. Talk plainly if you have anything important to say."

"No," he said. "I'm going to let you ponder that for a while. Perhaps my wisdom can give you some insight beyond your gilded upbringing. I want to see if you can figure it out yourself."

"If that's all you have, then get out of my head!"

Hades paced around Diana. "But I still have questions. I know of the trials your mother went through, and what she had to do to get your powers back. But during that time, you got a taste of mortality. How did you find it?"

"That's none of your business."

"But it is. You were willing to be mortal, by choice, which put you closer to my kingdom. Did you really understand what that meant?"

"It only meant that I would have a short amount of time to live on my own terms."

"But you don't have that problem now. You have all the time in the world." Hades inclined his head towards Batman. "He doesn't."

Diana's proud posture fell. "I know. And when he dies, I will have to live without him for the rest of eternity." She wasn't sure, but she thought she saw a wave of sympathy cross Hades' face.

"You might be immortal, but that doesn't preclude you from the possibility of dying, or suffering its effects. I can sense the mortal taint in you, even after receiving back your heritage. Don't insult me by denying your fear, I know it's there. So, I ask you again. How did you find mortality?"

"I found it…" She drew in a breath, but nothing came out.

Hades leaned to whisper in her ear. "Scary? Frustrating? Painful?" Diana turned her face away. "What else?" He tilted his head towards Batman.

Diana followed his gaze. Batman had knelt down to tend to the dragon's wounds. He dabbed at a burn on the creature's snout with a cloth and pushed Khimaira away as she sniffed at J'onn's tail. Perhaps feeling her stare, Bruce glanced up to see Diana looking at him.

"Beautiful," she said with a tremulous smile. "Precious."

"Was he worth all the hardships you were put through?"

"I took a bullet for him, then I married him. What do you think?"

"Aren't you mad the gods took your powers without without telling you why, leaving you to sacrifice yourself for the one you love?"

"Mother told me. It was because they wanted to test if I was worthy of the Champion's gifts."

"A stupid reason to test you. You're my daughter, of course you're worthy!" Hades touched his chest with one hand and gestured towards her with the other. Diana's back straightened at the unexpected praise, then fell when she considered the source.

"Whatever the reasons for taking my powers, I found that I don't need them to do what is right," Diana said. "I've been taught how to fight and how to think. Nothing will stop me from protecting the innocent and taking down evil, and I will do so without regret."

"That's my girl!" Hades crowed. He shook his fist towards the sky. "See, brothers? You're not the only ones who can sire heroes. And mine is greater than all of yours put together!" He returned his attention to his surprised daughter. "A very strong position to have, Diana. You thought your time was limited, but instead of playing it safe, you fought with honor and bravery. If you had fallen, Hermes would have escorted you to me himself, and all of Tartarus would be praising your name."

"I'm not looking for praise. What I do want is an explanation." She pointed towards the three headed creature. "Why is Khimaira here? To torment me?"

"Only to those who deserve it. For you, she was a gift… and a conduit."

"A string, you mean," Diana said.

"Exactly," Hades answered, unabashed. "I needed a way to speak to you, and I knew you weren't going to come to me for some pomegranate seeds and a talk."

"STAY AWAY FROM THE POMEGRANATE SEEDS!"

Hades closed his eyes in frustration, then motioned impatiently towards the gate, muttering a string of curses - "Sephie" and "not my fault" among the tirade - then turned back to Diana. "As I was saying, I want to know what is happening in the living world. You're going to help me do that."

"I'll do no such thing. You were banished to Tartarus because you tried to take over the world. I'm not going to help you find another way. Summon Hermes if you want to know."

"Hermes visits after he delivers souls to Charon. He'll stop to chat and catch me up on all the family gossip. He's a good nephew, doesn't fear eating my food since he has to come down anyways. I receive news in coded messages, but he can't say too much without reprisal."

"Then ask your wife. She's up here for half the year, she can tell you what's going on."

"If and when she talks to me, Persephone chatters on about her time among the flowers. I let her talk, it's nice just to listen to her voice sometimes." He shrugged. "Even when she's yelling at me."

"Looks like you're out of luck, then. You can take your 'gift', put her on a leash, and leave me alone."

"Too late. She's already a part of you." He paced around her. "Khimaira took over your body. She has fused to your very essence, and she cannot part you, no matter how much you want her to. And I control her. So in extension, I control you." He stalked towards her. "Khimaira's killer instinct already targeted her prey. Who do you think it was that stopped her from attacking your husband while you fought her flame?"

"How dare you!" Diana growled. "No one controls me! I will tear down the caverns of Tartarus if you don't free me…"

"Go ahead, step through." Hades waved her towards the portal. "You'll actually be doing me a favor."

Diana charged forward. She was a few steps away from the gateway when a heavy barrier blocked her. The dragon held her in his coils. He didn't squeeze, but she felt a low growl vibrated through his body. She laid a hand on his back, smoothing down the scales.

"Let me go, my friend. I will not be held against my will, not even by you."

"Slow down, Diana." She turned at Batman's touch. "You're about to do something impulsive. J'onn's right." He took her hand and held it firmly. "Hades is playing a psychological game," he whispered in her ear. "This is in your head. If he takes your consciousness, then Khimaira controls your body. What does that remind you of?" He looked at her significantly.

Diana paused, then her eyes widened in recognition. She blinked at the implications, then looked back into Batman's white lenses. He nodded, then inclined his head towards the alley's open space. Her gasp caught in her throat. The evidence had her head spinning.

Undead puppets. Mind control. A test of strength.

She glanced surreptitiously towards Hades. The god had his fist wrapped in the chimera's mane, pulling her down and forcing her to listen. The creature meekly submitted to her master's discipline. Diana lowered her head, squeezing Batman's hand firmly. He nodded in response. She tapped on J'onn's scales. He tensed...

A flash bomb brightened the alley and Khimaira yelped as she was squeezed tight in wyvern coils. Batman used his cape to block a line of tempest fire aimed at his Martian friend, which was extinguished as J'onn constricted harder. A loud crash caused all to pause, searching for the noise's origin.

Diana slammed into Hades, taking him off his feet and smashing him into a wall. She held him by the neck, pinning him in place. The brick cracked under the force as the god thrashed against her hold. She flew higher, lifting him away from the asphalt, not giving him any anchor to resist.

Diana raised her fist. "How does it feel to be held against your will!"

"That is my entire existence. Longer than you'll ever know," Hades gasped. She hit him against the wall again.

"Then maybe I should put you out of your misery. Free you forever!"

"No, Diana!" Batman yelled. "Don't kill him!"

"Don't try to stop me, Bruce! I'm going to get some answers, one way or another." She pressed harder on Hades' neck. "The things that happened in this alley. The undead puppets, the voice controlling them. This was your doing. You had something to do with it!"

"I can't control anything in the living world, you know that!"

"Liar," she growled. He struggled out of her hold and struck. Ready for it, Diana caught his swing, pulled down, and threw him to the ground. He was unable to move with her knee digging into his spine.

"Everything about that situation has your fingerprints on it. Reanimated dead doing your bidding. You're trying to get a footprint back on Gaia," Diana accused.

Hades groaned. "Believe me, I'd take the chance to conquer Gaia if I could, but I wouldn't use such crass methods. I want everyone to see my face when I do, not hide behind discarded corpses."

"But you just admitted that you could control my body through Khimaira! You've shown that you're capable." Diana grasped him by the back of the neck. Hades gasped at the strength of her grip.

"Being capable doesn't mean I did it." He struggled as she laid more weight on his back. "If you're going to render judgements, make sure you do so with the facts, not conjecture. Even gods are susceptible to the Moirai if they deem you are not worthy of your divinity."

"Then let's test that!" She squeezed tighter. Hades cried out in pain. "If Atropos finds you innocent, then she won't cut your lifeline. But if she finds you guilty, I guarantee your last breath will be of this alley's stench."

"I… don't want… to fight you!" Hades grounded out.

"What makes you think you have a choice?" Diana countered. She leaned down towards his ear. "I didn't have one. Now we're even."

Hades turned his head with a glare. Suddenly he pushed up, dislodging Diana. She flew through the air, but threw her lasso in retaliation. Rope looped firmly around his body, Hades was nearly pulled off his feet as Diana snapped the line taught, ceasing her motion.

Eyes full of fury, Hades exhaled a line of fire…

Diana blocked it with her bracelet. He blew harder, the billow flared outwards. Diana strained against the force, then pushed forward. Her bracelets glowed. With a decisive wave, she aimed at him. Hades ducked as the fire flew into the gate. A rock shattered in the distance.

Hades stared in awe, eyes wide and chest heaving with his labored breath. Diana stood ready to block another volley. But instead of attacking, he raised his hands. He closed his eyes then bowed his head.

Diana gasped. Hades surrendered. Her scowl lightened. Slowly, she lowered herself to the ground.

Hades opened his eyes cautiously. "You're... you're not going to strike?"

"No fun when you're not fighting back." Diana said. He glanced at her doubtfully. She sighed. "I don't want to fight either, but I did want some answers. You gave me one without saying a word."

"So...you're letting me go?"

Diana nodded. "Seems Atropos put away her shears. She wanted you to live a bit longer."

"Why?"

"You'll have to ask her."

"No, I mean why did you let me live?"

"Unless you can withstand my lasso, you showed me you were sincere."

He laughed under his breath. "Actually, I didn't want to get hit by my own flame. But yes, I wanted you to believe me."

She shrugged. "If I really wanted you dead, I would have used my full strength."

"But…" he swallowed to moisten his dry mouth, "you used my power against me. How did you do that?"

"I remembered the first time I encountered Khimaira. Just when I thought she was going to defeat me, I felt the urge to fight. Not for me, but for those I love. For him." She nodded towards Batman."I was able to redirect her fire, so I figured I could do it with you, too." She walked over and retrieved her lasso. "No one else will die in this alley. Not even you."

"This was a ruse!" Hades gasped. "You weren't really going to do it."

"No, but I had you believing me, didn't I?" She looked over to her companions. "How did I do, my love?"

"Fantastic," Batman replied. "Couldn't have done better myself. Glad you caught the cue."

She grimaced. "Really, Bruce. 'No, Diana! Don't kill him'? A little over the top, don't you think?"

"Have you known me to do things halfway?"

"Can't accuse you of that. " She regarded him fondly. "Thanks for clearing the way, Your Highness."

"Anytime, Your Highness."

"And thank you for sending us the idea, J'onn. What's that saying you used?" Diana asked.

I believe Flash called it 'going Bat-shit crazy on his ass'.

"How lovely," Diana sighed. She eyed Batman's stance. "You're proud of that term."

"Yes, I am."

Hades regarded all three suspiciously. He rubbed the back of his neck. "So… you believe me?"

"Not totally," Diana answered. "You're keeping something from me, and I will find out what. But you didn't do this," she waved to the alley. "You made a good point. Reanimated dead isn't your style. Once they die, you rule them. You have no interest in their bodies."

"Glad the Amazons taught you about the God Realms so thoroughly. I knew you would find the truth. It is your calling." He motioned to her lasso, then to her tiara. "Even as it is your destiny to rule."

"Anthanatos Ánassa. Mother trained me as royalty all my life. I'm your daughter. I know what that means."

Hades stepped towards her eagerly. "Then you accept my gift?"

"You said that Khimaira merged with my essence, that you can control me through her. If you value me at all, take her away!"

"I… I can't do that. She's as part of you now as all the other gods' blessings that gave you life." He gazed at her pleadingly. "Why?" he whispered. "Why can't you take my gift as you accepted theirs?"

"Because it threatens to control me! That is not a gift, that's slavery. You should know that's an Amazon's greatest fear, to be held against our will."

"Is that how you perceive it? I'm surprised at you," he croaked. "You accepted divine help because it made you stronger, but don't you see the limitations they have put on you, too? They took your powers without a by-your-leave, yet you still honor them.

"I told you straight out what my blessing could do," Hades continued. "I didn't hide it, but you took it and made it your own. You controlled divine fire and defeated me! Why would I want to take away something that made you strong? Let all see that my child the most powerful being on Gaia!"

"You truly find pride in that?" Diana asked. Hades nodded.

"I've passed many shades to the Elysian Fields for going beyond their physical limits to live honorable lives. Even when you were weak as a mortal, you found strength. With Khimaria's spirit, you'll be even stronger. You mastered your fear then, I had hoped you would do that now."

Diana regarded him. While her upbringing told her to turn away, her instincts said to trust him. "Bats taught me to listen to my gut feeling. It's like your instincts are telling you something your mind hasn't figured out yet." Tim's words echoed through her memory. Wisdom from one so young. That was right before the battle that happened in this alley...

Hades waited as if he expected an answer. Not like a god, but as someone who wanted to be understood. A lock of dark hair fell across his forehead…

"J'onn. Let Khimaira go," Diana said.

"No! He has her under control," Batman said. "We can find a way of forcing her back through the gate."

"Let her go, Bruce. I want you to." She turned her head towards her husband. "Please."

Displeasure evident through his set shoulders, Batman patted J'onn on the neck. "Do as she says, but be ready to intervene." The dragon slowly released the chimera. Scrambling to her feet, she shook her mane, and crouched to pounce on her captors.

"Prosago, Khimaira!" Diana commanded imperiously. She snapped her finger and pointed down. "Now." The creature regarded Hades. "Don't look over there. I defeated him, I'm your master. I said prosago!"

Khimaira reluctantly crawled to her, giving Hades a wide berth. A growl rumbled from her throat, low and unsure. The goat on her back bleated piteously and the serpent tail tucked beneath her body. When Diana held out her hand, the creature tentatively laid its head in her palm.

"Let's get one thing straight, Khimaira…this will never happen again." Diana tapped her on the nose. "I'm letting you stay here, away from Tartarus' fires, but only if you comply. Do as I say and you can have peace." She pointed towards Hades. "Or I can handle you the same way I did him." The creature shook her mane, clearly conveying her "NO!"

"How can you guarantee her compliance?" Batman asked. "Unless you intend to dwell here…" His lips turned down to a frown.

Diana sighed. She understood his trepidation. He would have her body, but she wouldn't be there. She scanned the area for an idea, then lead the Chimera to a corner of the alley.

"Meno," she said, pushing down on Khimaira's head. The creature stayed as commanded. Taking her lasso off her hip, Diana draped the rope around its neck. "Hypnos, Khimaira. Sleep until I call upon you."

Khimaira's jaws opened into a prestigious yawn, her tongue lolling out of her mouth. A line of fire puffed into the air as she exhaled, then she licked her chops languidly. Curling into a fluffy ball, she rested her head on her massive paws and closed her eyes. Her tail hissed softly, then tucked against her hind leg. Diana stroked her mane, shaking off a tuft of fur stuck to her fingers. She stood to walk away…

"Baaaa!"

Diana turned to find the goat head staring at her expectantly. "What are you still doing awake?" She reached over and scratched it on the head, between two nubby horns. It nudged her hand with its nose, and nibbled at her fingers.

"You're not going to have much company with your other parts asleep. You should sleep, too. Hypnos, little one." The goat head meeped one more time, then laid snugly into her lion mane. The creature purred contently.

"Handled like Artemis herself. You have a way with wild creatures, don't you?" Hades said, contemplating his lost minion.

"You used her attack instinct to get to me. That is her nature, but then she requested Anagenesis. She asked for a chance at redemption. I gave her a choice, and she choose peace. I couldn't turn her away."

"Your mercy amazes me," Hades said. "Do you realize you did this for your mother, too? Your love, and a hint from your stepmother, saved her from Tartarus' fires. Your compassion balances your strength."

"Wait… Mother was being judged? For what?"

"For doing what you didn't - raging into battle without knowing what was going on. Many suffered and died because of that bad decision."

"She didn't tell me about that…"

"Hippolyta has secrets. She's immortal, not infallible. She has made mistakes, and your opinion of her might change when you find out." Hades regarded his daughter. "I think your challenge will be not to judge her too harshly." He gestured between them. "That is a trait we share. This is one of the trials you're still going through."

"I'm still being tested?"

"Your entire existence is a test. Just another element in this jumble called life. You'll have to finish the trial before you can see what's going on."

"Why won't you just tell me what is going on?"

"You wouldn't understand if I did. The destination wouldn't make any sense without the journey."

"Then send us home, Hades. We've spent enough time here."

"What makes you think I can do that? As you so succinctly said, this is your head. You could have left any time. You're here because part of you wanted to be." Hades threw her a sly smirk.

Diana opened her mouth to retort, then paused. She regarded him calmly. Stepping closer, she stared him in the eyes. "I have to admit. My curiosity kept me here."

"You want to know how much of me is in you," he said. He glanced down to his feet in thought, then back up, looking for confirmation.

"Yes," Diana answered. "I was made from clay, but your hands helped make the form. Except for the obvious," she motioned towards his hair, "what else did you do?"

Hades smiled. Diana had to admit, he could charm a queen with that smile. "One thing your mother and I shared was a knack for sculpting. With all that soil in my realm, one learns how to mold it to one's wishes. I watched as Hippolyta gathered clay and held each lump in her arms, gauging if it was enough to make a baby. She shaped the roundness of your head, and she put her heart into forming your body

"But when it came time to add details, I asked for a turn." Hades reached over to touch a lock of her hair. Diana held still during the caress. "Only one handful of Elysian clay has ever been touched by the sun's light." He took her hand and held it gently. "I sculpted your fingers and toes. It took some concentration, I've never done anything so tiny."

He touched her chin. "And except for Persephone, no other has caught my gaze with her beauty as Hippolyta. I wanted our daughter to have her eyes, and her lips."

He pointed towards her stomach. "I even made sure you had a life scar, though you weren't born from your mother's body."

Diana touched her toned and flat middle. She realized her mother never knew the swell of a pregnant belly. With no men, it was impossible for her to give birth. Instead, she put all her hopes into making clay come alive...

"Thank you."

Hades reared back. "What?"

"Thank you… for helping Mother make me."

"Err… you're welcome?" He turned to see if there was anyone else behind him.

"Oh, don't get me wrong. I still think you're a rogue, a liar, and an opportunist…"

"Oh, good. Thought I was getting confused with someone else."

"But, for whatever reasons you had, I became the daughter to a wonderful woman."

"Perhaps I could tell you what those reasons are, one day."

"One day," Diana agreed. "But now, I want to go home."

"Then you'll have to take your companions with you. If you wake too suddenly, you might be carrying their consciousness, too." He motioned to the alley and clouded sky. "Next time we speak, can you imagine somewhere nicer than this? I was looking forward to seeing the stars."

"Don't press your luck."

"Ah yes. You are your mother's daughter." Both turned to find another figure had joined their group. A woman dressed in white stood with Batman and J'onn's dragon form. Diana inspected her with suspicion. What could she be saying that would have Bruce standing before her without his cowl on?

The woman reached out and took hold of Bruce's hand. His head fell forward and he angled his face away. Concerned, Diana rushed forward.

"Who are you? What have you done to my husband?" Diana reached to disengage the woman's grasp.

"Diana!" She suddenly found her own hand being held. The woman's face broke into a bright smile. "I'm so happy to finally meet my stepdaughter! You are so beautiful. Must have gotten that from your mother."

Diana regarded her in awe. Delicate features on sun-kissed skin, beatific smile, white dress, flower wreath in her long brown hair… an aura that pushed the darkness away…

"Persephone," Diana breathed. She suddenly had the instinct to kneel. Just as her knees bended, she felt her hands squeezed.

"No need to prostrate yourself," Persephone said, inclining her head. "I was just speaking to my son-in-law and welcomed him to the family." She glanced at Hades. "Such as it is."

"But, he looks upset. What did you say to him?"

"Why don't you tell her, my dear."

Bruce turned his head back toward Diana. She was surprised to see his eyes wet but a smile on his face. "She was passing me a message. She said..." He cleared his throat roughly. "My father congratulated me on a good catch and my mother wished she could have tea with you. They…ah," he drew a shaky breath. "They said their adopted grandson is a handful, but they're enjoying his company."

Diana fought against the burning sensation in her eyes. She didn't know if she should wipe her cheeks, kiss Bruce, or hug Persephone. The goddess took the option out of her hands.

Persephone wiped their tears away with delicate fingers. "Consider this a wedding gift. I know this alley holds many dark memories for both of you. Now, there is a good memory to associate with it." She brought them closer and leaned in. "Hold this close to your hearts, and many other times of joy, too. You'll need these to help you through the darkness. Don't you agree, my friend?"

J'onn rumbled a low purring growl. His wounded eyes were closed, but he turned towards her voice. She reached over and caressed his snout. "Be there for them during those times. They will need you as their compass to help them find their way. One who can listen past the noise and see true intent." J'onn answered by wrapping his long body around his companions.

"Come, Sephie. It's time that they return to their world." Hades touched her elbow. Persephone turned away, then paused.

"Oh, and Diana," Persephone said. "I thoroughly enjoyed watching Hades' interrogation. That was a glorious display of power. Boom! Pow!" She threw jabs into the air gleefully. "I will treasure the sight forever!"

Diana grinned and bowed with a flourish. Persephone curtsied back, then took Hades' arm as he escorted her through the red gate. She grimaced at his dark, clouded expression.

"Oh, stop looking like that," she chastised. "She beat you fair and square. It's not like what happened with Felix Faust. "

"You don't have to keep bringing him up," Hades growled. "He tricked me."

"Then you got a taste of your own medicine." As they stepped through the gate, the portal began to close. "I'm glad you wanted to explain things to her, my dear. That will make it easier to be there when she needs you."

"Yes, that did open the lines of communication… did you just call me 'dear'?"

"No, I called him 'dear'."

"But… you called me 'dear', too!"

"You're hearing things. Diana must have knocked you in the head harder than you thought."

"She didn't hit me in the head… admit you said it!"

"Leave me alone or I'll sic Neamy on you!"

"You named a man-eating lion 'Neamy?"

"You call me 'Sephie'!" The red gate closed with a bright flash.

The trio stood silently in the middle of the alley. Diana looked around - Khimaira was still sleeping soundly in the corner. A light wind picked up, blowing litter and dried weeds across the asphalt. A rumble sounded in the distance. She couldn't tell if it was an approaching storm or a train about to roar through.

She held Batman closer and touched J'onn on the head.

She inhaled… then exhaled.

Diana opened her eyes to the Council Room's round table. She blinked until she grew accustomed to the change. Batman shifted in her arms as he woke from a trance. J'onn laid his head on the table.

Batman surged forward when the Martian didn't move. "J'onn, are you alright?"

"I…" he gasped. He leaned back to reveal blank eyes. "I cannot see."

"Khimaira blinded you!" Batman kneeled down to inspect his face. "But you can regenerate. Why can't you do that now?"

"The flame… I can still feel it." His eyes sparked then dimmed. "I can't get past the pain. Bright… burning…" J'onn groaned then laid his head back on the table.

"You can't go home like this," Diana breathed. "What do we do, J'onn? How can we help you?" A shake of the head was the only answer she received.

Batman leaned back to consider him. J'onn's alien physiology was so different, any human medical knowledge was useless. He could usually take care of himself, but no one knew how to take care of him. Except...Martians found comfort among their families...

"J'onn, you need to link us together"

"I don't know if I can…"

"I didn't ask you if you could, I'm telling you that you have to. Link us together."

"Bruce, I don't think this is the time…"

"Diana, he needs us. Remember what he said about his people." He touched J'onn on the shoulder. "You need to get past your pain and link us together. At least try." He sighed in relief at his friend's nod.

"Think of a good memory involving J'onn," he said, turning to Diana. "Something that makes him feel…" he searched for the right word. Her brow furrowed in confusion, then rose in understanding.

"I know what you're talking about. I can do that." She laid her hand on J'onn's other shoulder. "This one is easy. Remember, we're good friends!" She smiled, then opened her mind to him. J'onn couldn't help but receive the memory.

He stood on a the Great Wall of China, watching the battle rage overhead. His superpowered friends fought alongside their enemies against an alien threat. His new wife stood by his side. The instinct to protect her conflicted with the urge to fight.

He felt a gentle tap on his arm. He glanced down to find her gazing at him calmly. "Be careful."

She understood. One of the reasons why he married her.

A rogue alien charged towards them. With determined steps, he marched towards the battle.

"Get away from here! It's not safe!" He continued surging forward, despite his friend's plea.

"Don't worry, I'm here to help," he said in his adopted culture's accent. He stared down the flying monstrosity charging at him. His friend said something about intentions, but he was more concerned about grabbing the creature's gun and punching it out of the sky. Two more came at him. Nothing a few jabs couldn't take care of.

His form shifted and expanded until a red dragon flew through the sky. Twisting, whipping and gliding, he smashed the enemy out of the air. Taking a break from the battle, he felt safe enough to reveal his form. The woman considered him in awe, then grinned as he shifted into a more familiar form…

"J'ONN!" Diana threw herself into his arms. He held her briefly, the warm welcome and relief lifting his spirits. He felt… wanted. Like he belonged…

"One of the best memories I have on this planet," J'onn said out loud, sighing contently. "The pain has passed, but I am still having difficulties seeing."

"What else can we do?" Diana asked.

"No need to worry, I can manage…"

"We need more memories. Should I call the others here to help out?"

"No," J'onn said. "If you do, then we'll have to explain everything that happened. I understand now why you want to keep this a secret. I can meditate to bring back my sight…"

"Then we should call your wife. She can help."

"I don't want to alarm her. I'll be fine, I can make due…"

"We're not sending you home without your sight," Batman said. "We need another memory."

"I know one," Diana said. "You were there, too, Bruce. J'onn, link us together."

Curious, J'onn complied. He could feel a strong hand squeeze his shoulder tightly…

Diana breathed in a sigh of contentment as she entered the spacious kitchen. Truly the heart of the manor, the smell of food and the sound of Alfred's busy bustling made her wistful with nostalgia. The only things missing was J'onn sitting at one end of the preparation island and Tim's chattering voice before leaving for school. Sometimes Bruce joined them if the previous night's patrol hadn't been too overtaxing. He was a silent but comforting presence, usually immersed in reading the paper or just watching the activity with tired but observant eyes.

J'onn blinked to clear his eyes. He was starting to see something, but everything was blurry and had a blue haze around it. Choosing a target, he strained to focus his sight. Like two images coming together in the middle, the object resolved into Diana's concerned face peering at him. The shadow behind her was Batman's serious visage.

The blue haze was the aura they created around him. A swirl of sapphire and aquamarine. He felt a squeeze. Diana had held his hand through the memory, and Batman's gauntleted hand rested on his shoulder. The contentment he felt from that kitchen lingered.

"Bruce is a lucky man if that's the face he gets to wake up to every morning," J'onn said. He watched in amusement as Diana's cheeks grew flushed and Batman's lips curled into a sly smile. The haze cleared and he could see the council room in their true hues again.

"So the memory worked?" Diana asked. "You can see?"

J'onn nodded. "A nice memory, indeed. Though, that's not the one I would have picked."

"No?"

J'onn shook his head, then smiled. "You did well as the bad cop this time, Diana."

"Thank you! I had good role models. Though your good cop routine needs a little work." She wrapped her arm around Bruce's shoulder. "You made a great deputy, too. Timothy would be proud of you."

He grimaced. "That's not a good memory."

"Not for you," J'onn and Diana said together. Bruce tried not to smile as Diana kissed his frown away. He fail miserably.

"Diana, can you make sure J'onn takes the rest of the day off? He's done enough in the…" Batman looked over to the chronometer, "past half hour."

"But I have to watch over ops," J'onn protested.

"I'll do that," Batman responded. He smirked evilly. "Besides, I'm sure that shift needs to be shaken up a bit. I hear not much happens on Tuesday. I'll give them something to do."

"And you'll relax with an iced mocha and some Oreos," Diana said. "I'll even serve you personally."

"Only if you have some with me," J'onn countered. "Besides, we need to talk. Timothy weighs heavily on both your minds. I want to help if I can." We can also talk about what happened with you, he thought to her. You're feeling conflicted by many things. I'm here to listen.

"That would be helpful," Diana said.

Bruce is, too. Let him be a husband to you. Accept his comfort.

She projected her thankfulness through her thoughts, then tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Would you meet me in the cafeteria? I would like to speak with Bruce for a minute."

"Of course." J'onn stood. He paused and placed a hand on Batman's shoulder. "Try not to scare them too much. They're new recruits, and they were assigned to Tuesday Afternoon duty for a reason. It helps ease them into their duties." Be there for her. She confused and scared. She needs comfort but is too proud to show it.

"They're League personnel. This will teach them to expect the unexpected." I know the feeling. I'll take care of her.

"Those poor, unsuspecting souls." Then she is in good hands. With that, J'onn walked out of the room.

Diana rubbed her face wearily as the door closed. Batman tugged the cowl from his head. With a sigh, he reached over and pulled her in his arms. He held her firmly as she snuggled into his embrace. He squeezed harder when he felt her tense up.

"It's okay," he murmured into her hair. Her quick intake of air whispered against his neck. "It's okay…"

"I thought I'd lost you. I pushed you away and you disappeared."

"It wasn't real." The silence held for many heart beats. He continued to hold her.

"He was in my head, Bruce. He wanted to control me."

"I know."

"Did I… Khimaira really attack you? While she possessed my body?"

"You wouldn't have made contact." He leaned away from her annoyed expression. Her red, tear-rimmed eyes convinced him to try another tactic. "This has happened to you before. You nearly kicked Shayera and Mari's asses at the Glamour Slam, but you didn't."

"Only because the link was broken…"

"And you got through it, as you will now."

"If he hadn't held Khimara back, or I had gotten a hold of you…"

"Then J'onn would have stopped you. He knew what was going on."

"But still -"

"Diana, stop." He put a finger on her lips. "It's over. You defeated Hades and shown that you're more powerful than a god."

"Oh… it's not that." She took his hand and kissed his gloved fingers. "By taking over my body, he violated me and nearly hurt you. When you yelled for me to not kill him, it snapped me out of a rage. I was truly going destroy him."

"Then you showed an awesome amount of restraint."

"No, it's because the consequences could have been much worse." A tear fell down her cheek. "Oh, I hate that I'm doing this more often." She reached around Bruce's waist, opened a compartment on his utility belt, and pulled out a handkerchief. She looked at it in slight amusement. "Does everything you own have a bat symbol on it?"

He took the cloth and dabbed at her cheek. "Everywhere except on my underwear."

She tugged on his belt. "You don't wear underwear with this."

"You would know." Bruce could tell she changed the subject, but let her take the lead. Keep it light, Barbara had said. He would for now, but he had questions. What consequences was she talking about? Her tears told him she felt something deeper than having a momentary bout of doubt. In the meantime, he could help her feel better.

His hand reached down towards her star-spangled derriere…

"Ah ah." She readjusted his palm to her back. "We'll have to bless the council room later. I have a friend waiting." She giggled as he leaned her back on the table.

"Are you sure?" He kissed her. "I can lock the door." He kissed her again, then nuzzled her neck. She sighed. "It's only been an hour or two since the last time you surrendered." He descended towards her breasts… Wow, she's alway so soft and warm, even with her armor. I could snuggle... I mean, cuddle demurely with her forever.

Diana grabbed him by the head and kissed him quickly. "Bruce... monitor duty. New recruits. You have to go."

He growled under his breath. "And I was getting all excited." He pounced and kissed her roughly, squeezed her ass, then released her. She playfully shoved him away as she snatched the handkerchief back. The cowl replaced the levity in his eyes.

"So, when are you off duty?" Diana asked.

"The next shift rotates at seventeen hundred hours."

"Good. Dinner after?"

"The Manor or your place?"

"If you want to eat, it has to be the Manor, unless you don't mind being interrogated by Donna."

"Your sister's in New York?"

"She flew my jet back to the embassy and took over my house. Best if we stay at the Manor for some privacy." Diana pulled his cape to bring him closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Seems your new sister-in-law is a fan of yours. She thinks you're 'hot'. She can't wait to meet you... for real."

"Great. Not only does she know about us, she's going to use it, too."

Diana grinned, then kissed him deeply. "Welcome to the family." She touched him on the arm then swiped at his cape. "Go, or those recruits will think they have the easiest job on the station."

"No, they won't. They'll be scared shitless but the most prepared personnel in the League."

"You know they contact me if they have problems. My comm unit will be buzzing like crazy after seventeen hundred hours!"

"Tell them to leave a message. I want to hear their complaints. It'll let me know I did my job right."

"Then go do your job, Batman. I have a cookie date with a Martian."

Bruce reached over for his handkerchief. She tucked it firmly in her bodice and readjusted her bust. "I'm getting that back," he said, pointing at her. She arched towards him teasingly, then waved him goodbye. "Urgh." With a flourish of the cape, he exited the room.

Diana relaxed her coquettish posture and sighed. She knew he wanted to make her feel better, and she appreciated that. Honestly, if she didn't have plans, she might have let him. He was warm and solid. It would have been nice to lose herself in his arms.

Laying a hand over her chest, she breathed to calm her agitated nerves. Her diversion worked, and Bruce didn't ask the question she knew would follow her cryptic answer to his complement.

I showed an awesome amount of restraint because the consequences could have been worse. I'm so glad you didn't ask me what those were.

"Oh, gods. What do I do?" She shook her head, not really expecting an answer.

Patience, my dear. Patience. You'll know what to do when it is time.

Diana touched her lips with steepled fingers, and sent a thought of gratitude. "Epainō, Kore."

Call me Sephie. You're allowed. If you need me, give my statue a flower and I'll be there.

Thank you again, Kore… I mean, Sephie.

See? Not all stepmothers are evil.

Diana laughed. She had left the little idol of Persephone in her old room at the Manor. Bruce said I could redecorate wherever I wanted. I have a few ideas now.

Spirits lightened, she hopped off the table, readjusted her tiara and lasso from Bruce's amorous attack, and strode towards the cafeteria for some mocha and cookies with a friend.

Outside in the cold distance / A wildcat began to growl / Two riders were approaching / The wind began to howl - All Along the Watchtower - Bob Dylan via Lisa Gerrard

A/N - Thank you everyone for reading and reviewing. Honestly, that in itself is one of the reasons I write, knowing that you enjoy it so much. Your reviews and PMs have been an awesome motivation to keep going. If it isn't clear yet, I write the story out in full before I post anything, the reason for my long absences. It's my way of guaranteeing a good story. I edit everything to the Nth degree, even up until I push the post button. I look over my grammar, the cadence of words, reasoning and plotting. I do A LOT of research. It all has to come together before I present it to you.

To those reading the stories "Debriefing the Case" and "Question the Evidence", you probably read this after my initial postings. For those who were following me from the first chapter in "Debriefing", I intermingled the stories together, publishing the chapters one by one, back and forth. If you want the same experience, read chapter 1, then chapter 1; chapter 2, then chapter 2...

You get the picture. Why? I wonder if anyone saw the parallels I was drawing. ;-)

So as I crawl back into my writing hole, know that I am continually working on the next story. I already gave a few previews, one at the end of Home, Hearts, and Heroes, another on my preview page. That will disappear once the story is published. It might take a while - my average is an almost novel-length story a year. Seems about the pace I can do with a full time job, side photography business, and family to take care of.

But I won't stop until the series is finished. That's going to take a while!

So for your patience, and to keep you excited, here is another preview. Just a little snippet that I had waaay too much fun writing!

The Fewer, The Proud

Bruce sat on a couch in the sitting room closest to the kitchen, resting his feet on the coffee table, shoes still on from the day at work. He was dressed in his office suit, only the jacket having been taken off upon his entrance. That laid draped over the back of the couch.

The master of the manor held a newspaper turned to the financial page, a cup of coffee on the side table by his elbow. The fireplace was unlit, but it still gave a homey feeling to the room. A portrait of his parents hung over the mantel, their images gazing down on him like benevolent angels. A light, misty rain completed the picture of domestic comfort. The outside grayness gave the soft light from the reading lamp an added warmth.

"Ain't no sunshine when she's gone..."

The singing voice broke through the silence, making Bruce jump in his seat. He hadn't heard anyone approach the room. Usually he would have thought it was Alfred telling him dinner was ready - get your feet off the table, young man - but Alfred wouldn't be singing to him. He had taught others to walk that quietly, and only one would be brave enough to sing that song to him.

"It's not warm when she's away..."

Bruce turned to see Dick standing in the doorway, hand place melodramatically over his chest as he serenaded his father. He held his arm out towards the older man, reaching towards him as if he could pull the heartache out of his chest. It was annoying him to no end.

"Ain't no sunshine when she's gone, and she's always gone too long..."

Dick glided towards the opposite side of the couch, moving to the song he sang. He then turned, sat on the side of the couch, and let himself fall backwards onto the cushions. His head landed only inches from Bruce's leg.

"Anytime she goes away."

Dick finished the chorus of the classic Motown song, looking up at his Bruce, his blue eyes feigning a dramatic sadness he actually, slightly felt. "See? You're not the only one that can sing in this family."

"Yeah? Well, why don't you go show Alfred what you can do. I'm sure he hasn't laughed yet today."

"Oh, the snark hurts! I know I'm not the dark haired, blue-eyed beauty you yearn for, but I could lay here and pretend. Would that make you feel better?"

"What makes you think I need you to?" Bruce went back to his newspaper. He shifted the pages to block the sight of Dick making fun of him.

"Bruce, your wife's been gone for weeks, and you haven't seen her or heard her voice. Don't tell me you don't miss her!"

"Of course I miss her, but I'm not pining after her like you're implying. Why are you here anyways?"

Dick reached over and moved a corner of the paper out of the way. "Do I need a reason to come see my favorite people in the world?" Blank stare "Okay, fine. I did come through to see all of you, but I also heard that you needed some extra luvin'." Incredulous stare "Not my words! Wally called me, said you seemed 'out of sorts'. How he could tell, I don't know. My duty shifts made it hard to get here until now, but I'm glad I stopped by. Good god, you look pitiful!"

"How? I'm sitting here, trying to read the paper, being harassed by former sidekick, and drinking a cup of coffee. What's so pitiful about that?" Bruce snatched the paper out of Dick's hand. "And sit up! You look strange."

"Nah, I think I'll stay like this. It's comfy." Bruce grabbed a throw pillow and dropped it on his head. He meant it as "get out of here." Dick took it as "oh, a pillow! Thanks!" He shifted it under his head, making himself more comfortable to continue pestering the man. He folded his hands onto his stomach and continued to stare.

Bruce knew that look. Dick would give him that face when he wanted something. It was cute when he was a kid. Now, it was annoying. Except...with him upside down like that, it reminded him of when he was younger; a more innocent time, when he was the hero his son thought he was...

"What do you want, Dick?"

"I want you to admit how much you miss Diana."

"Why? What will that achieve?"

"Maybe if you got it out, you wouldn't be moping around like you are now!"

"I am not moping! Why does everyone think I'm so lost without her! I was fine for years before her, I'm fine now."

"You mean, you were okay with half your soul missing?" Impatient glare "Look, I can even tell you how I know you're moping. You want to hear?"

"No."

"Okay, so, first of all," Dick motions dramatically to the general space around them, "You're in here."

"So? This is my house. I can sit where I want."

"Yes, but normally, you would be down in the cave preparing for the night or working on an investigation. You only sit in here if you need some sort of calm or comfort. Your parents' picture does that for you." Dick pointed towards the side table to a picture of the Wayne men and Diana. "That picture does a good job of that, too. I want a copy of that, by the way."

Bruce glanced down at Dick's face. "No, I'm sitting here because dinner's almost ready and I don't want Alfred to have to come down and get me."

"Right. Like the intercom system wouldn't have worked fine. So...secondly. You're in THIS particular room."

"You already presented this as evidence. It doesn't work that way."

"No, hear me out. You chose this room for a reason. You've spent a lot of time with Diana in here. I even remember having to come fetch you the first time I saw you two here." Silent stare "It's the most comfortable of the sitting rooms, the chess board is in here, and it's close to the kitchen so you can grab a snack and rush back to each other's company. Tell me I'm wrong...don't lie."

"You're," Bruce sighed, "not wrong."

"Hmm. Not exactly an admission, but I'll take it. Thirdly, do you realize that you're reading yesterday's paper?"

"What?"

Dick grabbed the paper out of his hands before Bruce could check the date. "Bruce, you know the stock quotes from the moment you wake up and read them in the kitchen. This is redundant. I bet you haven't even read this one, you've been so preoccupied with missing your wife."

"Now that's going too far..."

"Yeah? How did Lexcorp end yesterday?" Confused silence "They ended the day 6 points up on the NASDAQ. They lost 2 today. And this is coming from a Blüdhaven cop. You should know more from the past week!"

"Okay, okay, stop! Yes, I'm missing her like crazy, alright? Is that what you want to hear? Give me that." Bruce grabbed the paper back and checked the date. He slumped in his seat. "You were wrong." Dick scrunched his brow in confusion. "This paper was from two days ago." Bruce dropped it onto the floor and pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes in tired frustration.

"Oh. Sorry." Dick rubbed his face in his own frustrated gesture. "Bruce, the woman you secretly married is gone, and you have almost no one to share that burden with. Come on, don't you want to talk about it?" Sadder silence "Wow. I shouldn't have brought this up. I'll leave you alone..."

"No. Stay. You're okay." Bruce even laid a hand on Dick's upside down shoulder to stop him from moving. This really alarmed his son.

"Um, how long are you going to keep this a secret?"

"For as long as it takes to assure that we won't be targeted for our relationship."

"Yeah, and how long is that going to take? A month? A year? Two? Bruce, Diana's the immortal one, not you. If you keep waiting to live your life, it's going to pass you by. Don't do that to her."

"I haven't. As you already pointed out, we're already married. I just want to make sure that it's revealed in the right way."

"Like doing things 'the right way' has been your style. Look - I don't want to tell you how to do this, but there are things that you'll need to let others know. All this waffling around may have you missing your princess as she's moving back to her own kingdom. You'll be trying to figure out what you did wrong, and no one will know why you're feeling so lost."

"You do have experience with your own princess, don't you."

"Yeah. But then, at least yours is from Earth and didn't marry someone else. All I'm saying is take some action. You're good at that."

"I'll think about it."

"Seriously? Never mind. You're a big boy, you can handle it." The men sat, or laid, there in a companionable silence. "Bruce...why are you patting my head?"

"Because you're my son and I'm showing affection?" Silent junior glare "Okay. More like following orders. I wouldn't want a quasi-Marine Drill Instructor coming after me if she finds out I didn't do what she says."

"What does that even mean?

"It means that Diana wrote that I was supposed give her favorite puppy a pat on the head, and say you better write to her or she'll come after you. This is the first time I've seen you since she left, so..." Pat pat pat...

"Ugh! Stop it! That feels all kinds of wrong. Give me her address. I'll write her alright." Bruce pulled out a folded piece of paper from his coat jacket. Taking the letter out, he handed the envelope to Dick.

"Wow, the Marine Corps emblem on it and everything." Dick took a sniff of the letter. "I bet Diana loves getting letters from you. If you mail those with your cologne on it like this, she's probably clinging to those like you're there."

"She said as much. Seems she's the envy of the barracks when mail call rolls around. The drill instructors make fun of her when she gets anything post stamped from Washington D.C. They know that's where the Justice League letters are rerouted to. She wrote that she heard all sorts of teasing when she got a letter from Clark. I told him not to put his emblem on it."

"Ha! I think he did that on purpose. Which gave me a great idea. I'm going to write such a sweet, loving letter, she'll forget about being married to you and want to go younger." Exasperated glare "Oh, she won't really, because what's going to be printed on the envelope in huge, bright letters will probably get her in trouble."

"What are you going to do?" Bruce asked cautiously. Dick's mischievous grin was interrupted by a small voice approaching them quickly, footsteps beating an excited rhythm on the carpeted floor.

"Bruce, mail's in! We got two letters! And she addressed one just to me!" Tim vaulted over the back of the couch to deliver his precious cargo...and landed straight on Dick's chest. "ARRGH! What the...where did you come from?!"

"Oh my god I can't breath!"

"I told you to get up."

"Master Bruce, dinner's ready...what is going on here? Get your feet off the table! And you, sit up straight. Tim, hyenas laugh less than you do. Give me those." Alfred snatched Diana's letters away from the boy's hand. All three on the couch stared at them in concern. "If you want these back, you'll get washed up and ready for dinner. Master Dick, I've already set a place for you. Now go."

"You think Diana would be able to take him on when she gets home?" Dick asked.

"No. Even the Marines can't stare down a master. Let's go." Bruce allowed the boys to go ahead of him. Alfred herded his wards like a flock of three recalcitrant ducks towards the kitchen, using the desired letters as a fan to flap them forward. Bruce was tempted to grab them and run.

"Mind if I go on patrol with you tonight?" Dick asked.

"Keeping tabs on me?"

"No. Actually, talking about Kori bummed me out. I need the company."

"Sure. You can be there to help Tim run through some drills. He needs to practice his grappling hook techniques. You can bring him back early if he gets tired."

"Cool! Glad to be there for that." Companionable silence.

"That was pretty slick the way you wormed your way into watching after me," Bruce muttered.

"Had you believing me there for a minute, didn't I?"

"No. But I appreciate it, nonetheless."

"No prob. It's what we Bats do for each other."