DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. As always, I'll point out this was written over a decade ago. Here in the UK, Season 2 of the JL cartoon had yet to air, so Hawkgirl had not been revealed as a spy. And the massive, every-hero-in-the-DCU roster of Unlimited wasn't a factor. My timeline picks up after the Season 1 finale, The Savage Time. All my Wayback Wednesday stories are numbered chronologically, if you get stuck.

3. Things get pretty crazy in this story. There are massive timejumps - often within a chapter - and the final act is the very definition of contrivance. That said, enjoy!

4. Again, sorry about my depiction of Diana. I really treat her like a teenager. Ugh.

PART 12

The room was silent, apart from the occasional rustle of sheets. Bruce and Diana sat on the bed, looking at their new children. J'onn, Flash and Shayera had left them alone to get to know their babies. Diana sat up in the bed, holding both children in her arms. Bruce sat on the side of the mattress, his arm around Diana's shoulder.

Diana sobbed quietly. "They're so small…" she whispered. She smiled as the girl shifted in her arms, stretching out slightly. "Bruce… we did it…"

Bruce stroked her hair. "You did it, my love… I'm so proud of you…"

Diana sighed as Bruce stroked her cheek. She looked at him lovingly. "Thank you for being here…"

"I'm sorry I took so long," Bruce said. "It took me some time to realise what mattered to me more… you're the most important thing in my life."

Diana looked surprised. "Do you mean that?"

"Of course I do," Bruce said. "I'm going to make some changes, Diana. I'm going to spend more time with you and the children. We'll be a real family."

"I'd like that," Diana said. "But I think we'll have to talk about it properly."

Bruce kissed her on the forehead. "OK… but I do mean it."

Diana smiled, and they looked at eachother. They leaned close to eachother, and kissed tenderly.

They ended the kiss, and smiled. Diana then turned her head and looked at their children. "They're so beautiful…" she said. She looked at the girl. "My little princess… I knew you'd be alright…"

"I never thought I'd say this," Bruce said. "But I'm indebted to the Flash forever."

"I had faith that she'd pull through," Diana said. "She's a little Amazon…"

Bruce stroked his daughter's chin. "Faith… that sounds nice."

Diana looked at him. "Faith?" She was silent for a moment, then looked back at the girl, and smiled. "Faith… I like that…" She looked at the boy. "What would you like to call him?"

"Thomas," said Bruce. "After my father." He reached out and tickled his son's ear.

Diana cried as she looked at their children. "Faith and Thomas… our babies…" She looked at Bruce. "I love you so much…"

Bruce wiped her tears away. "I love you too…"

They looked at their children, and held eachother closely. They sat in silence, as their life together began…

/

"YOU JERK!"

Lantern darted his head to the side, just as the plate flew past. It smashed on the wall behind him. "Shayera… shhh. You'll wake the babies…"

"DON'T GIVE ME THAT!" Shayera shouted. She picked up another plate and pointed it at him. "You are such an inconsiderate, uncaring, heartless, insensitive JERK!" She threw the plate through the air.

Lantern raised his arm and caught the plate in a green bubble. "Look," he said, "I know it was a stupid thing to do…"

"Stupid? STUPID?" Shayera pointed at him, her other hand on her hip. "Diana was here, in AGONY, CRYING her eyes out, and you're all, 'Oh, oh, business comes first'. How could you tell Batman to leave his wife when she needed him more than ever? Do you have no feelings at all?"

"I know it was a stupid thing!" Lantern shouted. "I realised it when I saw the state he was in… he was a mess. And Superman talked sense into me. He asked me what I would do if it was you…"

"And if it was?" Shayera interrupted.

Lantern took a step forward. "After seeing Batman and Diana's children… there's nothing that would keep me away."

Shayera lowered her arm, but still tried to look angry. "Really…?" she asked.

Lantern walked upto her. "If I was on the other side of the galaxy… I'd move the planets themselves so I could get to you faster."

Shayera relaxed her stance as he went upto her, until he was just inches away from her. Lantern smiled, as he knew that although he was weakening her tough exterior, she still tried to appear angry. "Keep talking…" she said.

Lantern lifted her head up with his hand. "I used to think that the only thing worthwhile in my life was my work. But not anymore. You're the most important thing in my life Shayera… seeing Batman and Diana with their children… made me realise how much I love you."

A tear ran down Shayera's cheek. "I love you too…"

They leaned in, and kissed. Lantern put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, as she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. The kiss became more passionate, and Lantern lowered her down to the bed…

Forty-five minutes later, they sat in bed, holding eachother. John took a sip of his water, and looked at Shayera, who was resting her head on his chest. He smiled. "So am I forgiven?"

Shayera giggled. "Yes… yes, you're forgiven." She sat up and looked away, biting her lower lip.

"You know," John said. "I thought you'd be angry, but you were furious back there. Didn't realise it meant that much to you."

"Right," Shayera said. "John… did you mean it when you said you'd be there for me if it was me?"

John looked at her. "Of course."

"John?"

"Yes?"

She looked at him, and put her hand on her stomach. "Guess what…"

/

The floor was littered with toys. Some soft animals, a few books. There was a big mat in the middle of the floor, which was all creased and rustled in a mess. The coach and chairs had been pushed back, to make more room. The TV had a cartoon on, with cute music and colourful animals.

Diana held the blanket infront of her. "Where's Mommy?" She then dropped it, and Faith and Thomas stared back at her. "Here I am!" She raised the blanket again. "Where's Mommy?" She dropped it again and grinned. "Here I am!" Faith giggled and Thomas bobbed up and down on his bottom.

Diana laughed. "Yes! That's it, bouncy, bouncy!" Thomas waved his arms in the air, and squealed. Faith looked at him, and copied his bobbing motions. Diana clapped. "Aw, that's it, bouncy, bouncy too!" The twins looked at her and clapped noisily. Diana bent down and tickled their noses. "Aw, who's clever? Who's clever? That's right – you!"

J'onn walked into the lounge. "Hello, Diana." He went over and sat down on a chair. "And how are you?"

Diana looked at him. "We're fine," she said. "We've been playing. We're very clever, you know."

J'onn smiled. "That's nice. You've been having fun?"

Diana looked at the twins. "Have we been having fun?" They looked at her, wide-eyed. "Yes, we have, Uncle J'onn. We've had lots of fun."

J'onn reached over and picked up the packet of Oreos on the table. As he put the packet on his lap, the babies looked at him, and frowned. They began to moan and whine.

J'onn looked at the Oreos, and put them back on the table. "Sorry, sorry… I forgot, I have my own." He looked at Diana. She had her hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh.

"I'm sorry, J'onn," she said. "But if you will eat all of yours so quick…"

J'onn frowned, but could not help a smile. "Let's remember who the babies are around here…"

Diana snorted, and the babies looked at her. "Oops, funny noise… Mommy make a funny noise." The twins laughed and bobbed up and down quicker. Diana tilted her head. "Aww… they're so cute."

J'onn looked at her. "And how are you?" he asked.

"I'm fine…" Diana said.

"Diana…" J'onn pressed.

Diana sighed. "I'm still in a bit of pain. Bit sore, bit tired. But I'll be OK."

"You haven't been pushing yourself, have you?" J'onn said.

"With you, Bruce, and everyone else always checking up on me," she said. "It's impossible for me to do anything without you knowing. You worry to much…"

"Batman left explicit instructions to not let you do too much," said J'onn.

"Yes, and at home I have Alfred and Tim always keeping an eye on us," Diana said. "He's even dragged Dick and Barbara from their new apartment several times to look after us."

"Batman only wants you to be alright," J'onn said. "He doesn't want you to be doing too much."

Diana shook her head. "I'm fine, really. I just…" She shifted position, and winced. "Ah…"

J'onn stood up and went over to her. He knelt down. "Are you alright?"

Diana breathed quickly. "Yes… just a little twinge…"

"You should be sitting in a chair," J'onn said. "Or at least on a cushion…"

Diana put her hand up. "I'm fine… stop worrying…"

"Do you want me to call Batman and get him to come her and get you to relax himself?" J'onn asked.

Diana smiled. "I'd love that actually."

J'onn looked confused, then widened his eyes in realisation. "Oh, what are you like?"

Diana picked up a soft animal and held it out to the babies. "Where is Bruce, anyway? Still trying to find Al Ghul and Talia?"

"Yes," J'onn answered. "There's still no sign of them."

Diana picked up another toy and put it infront of Faith, and squeezed it. The toy squeaked loudly, and Faith laughed. "And how are the others? How's Shayera?"

"She's fine," J'onn said. "Why do you ask?"

"She's been in the medbay with you a lot," Diana said. "Is she ill or something?"

J'onn looked away. "Er… no."

"Then why has she been in the medbay so much?" continued Diana. "What's going on?"

J'onn was silent. "I don't understand the question," he eventually said.

Diana looked at him. She was about to speak, when she heard footsteps. She turned to the door as Flash walked in. "Hey guys," he said. "How's it hangin'?"

Diana smiled. "We're fine, thanks. How's Linda?"

"She's great, thanks," Flash said. He went upto the middle of the room and sat down with the twins. "And how are you? How's my little niece?"

"They're fine," Diana said. "We've had our lunch, and now we're having a little play before bedtime."

"That's nice," Flash said. "And while you're sleeping, who'll be looking after the babies?"

Diana threw a toy at him. "Funny," she said flatly.

J'onn stood up. "Can I get anyone a drink?"

Diana raised her hand. "Yes, I'll have a…"

"Milkshake," J'onn interrupted. "I know. Flash?"

"Soda if you're going that way, J'onn," Flash said.

J'onn went to the door, but stopped as someone walked in. He looked at him. "Diana," he said. "There's someone to see you."

Diana looked up. "Bruce!"

Batman walked upto them. "Hello Diana, Flash." He looked down. "Faith. Thomas."

"Gee, you're so sociable, Bats," Flash said drolly. "You better cut down on the niceties."

Batman looked at him. Flash went silent. "Er, J'onn…" he eventually said, standing up. "Let me help you with those drinks…" With that, he whizzed over to the Martian, and the two hurried out of the room.

Batman looked at Diana, who smiled at him. He smirked. "Just because I'm indebted to him doesn't mean I can't scare the wits out of him," he said. He knelt down and leaned close to Diana. She leaned in, and they kissed passionately. They melted into eachother, and Diana stroked his cheek. They eventually separated reluctantly.

"We've missed you…" she whispered. She leaned back and stretched out. Batman looked worried. "Oh… stop it," Diana said. "I'm not an invalid."

"You're not going to even so much as lean over without my permission," Batman said. "I don't want you hurting yourself…"

"You were like this all during the pregnancy," she said. "You're NOT going to be all protective now."

Batman stroked her hair. "Do you really think you could stop me?" he said, his smirk widening.

Diana sighed. "I'm so happy…" she breathed. "Stay a little while, OK?"

Batman sat down on the floor. "OK." He looked at the babies. "And… how are they?"

"Why don't you ask them yourself?" Diana said, grinning.

Batman looked at her, a look of disbelief on his face. He then turned to the twins. "How are… you?" he asked awkwardly. They looked at him, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Batman looked at Diana. "They're not saying anything."

Diana shook her head. "Of course not, they're babies."

Batman looked uncomfortable. "Then… why did I ask them if they were OK?"

"Because it's cute," Diana said. "And you are, when you're confused."

"I'm not confused," Batman said quickly. "I never get confused."

"Then tell me this," Diana said. "How do you change a diaper?"

Batman looked at her out of the corner of his eye, but remained silent.

Diana put her hand to her mouth, trying not to laugh. "I love you…" she said.

"Good," Batman said. "And you're lucky I love you, because otherwise I wouldn't let you get away with doing things like that…"

Diana put her hand on her chest. "Of course you wouldn't…"

Batman picked up a toy, and looked at it. He then saw Diana smirking at him, and put it down. "I'll stay here tonight, if you want. I've talked to Nightwing, and he's happy to look after Gotham for the night."

"That would be nice," Diana said. "You can play with your children…"

Batman glared at her.

"Don't worry," she said. "I'll show you how…" She leaned down, and rested her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her. "If the kids get too much, can we make them their own cave?" she asked.

"Maybe," Batman said, holding her close. "Who knows what the future will bring?"

THE END