A/N: So, this is the end...

Chapter Twenty One - The Mortal Gods

It was quite a thing, to hear an entire city hold its breath. Everyone expected one thing to happen now – Batman's grief would be just as explosive as Wonder Woman's had been, and he would go on a rampage. Because while the old Batman would never have crossed that line, old Batman also hadn't had access to magic or the ability to go toe to toe with a meta. So clearly, this creature was no longer their Batman. And why wouldn't he react to Diana's death with anything less than murderous vengeance?

To her immense credit, Montoya made no move to try and run. But the first one to turn to her was not Batman, but Superman. He was openly weeping, anguish too powerful for sobs. The police officer raised her chin. "She wanted to die. You heard her."

"Did she sound like she was in her right mind to you?" he demanded.

Flash foresaw his intentions, and the two Leaguers blurred at the same time, Wally placing himself between the human and the Kryptonian with no idea how he'd stop it if Superman lost it too.

"Kal-El. Stop." The city exhaled as Batman spoke, and Superman did, indeed, come to his senses. Bruce took Diana's body into his arms and straightened. "She did what she was always going to."

No one knew if he meant Montoya or Diana. No one had the nerve to ask.

"But Diana-"

"Might yet be saved. This doesn't have to be her end."

"Uh, did we miss the part where she's got three bullets in her?" Shayera asked.

At this, Flash gave an audible sob, but he spoke through it and looked at Bruce. "You can save her? Even after-"

Bruce nodded. "She does have three bullets inside her – but she also has the remnants of an Olympian. And we're hard to kill."

He put Diana into Flash's arms, her black hair falling free of the severe style she'd forced it into. The human's sense of smell wasn't acute enough for its fragrance to reach him, but it got to Bruce, and he had to squeeze his eyes shut as it did. Jasmine flowers and orange blossom, still. That much had not changed. But there was no time to waste in absorbing her beauty now – if all went well, he would have years, millennia ahead to list the reasons he loved her.

He raised two fingers to his mouth and whistled. Out of the blinding sky came a chariot pulled by four fire-darting steeds. They reacted joyfully upon seeing him, and able to see through flesh to the divine spirit inside. They had missed him as much as he had them. After quickly greeting them, he took the reins.

"Flash."

"Wait- What about J'onn?" Clark asked.

"Top of Santiago Spire. He'll be alright if he's given medical attention soon."

"I'll go with you," Shayera said, preparing to take off with Superman.

"Wait," Bruce said. "You may not see her again. Certainly it will be at least a century before she walks this plane again."

John and Shayera glanced at one another. Then John took her hands, squeezing gently. "Go. You should go."

Shayera nodded, and climbed in beside Wally, her green eyes glistening with tears as she looked at Diana's still form. Bruce twitched the reins. "To Olympus, my friends."

The horses reared, and in a flash, they were gone from sign. Well, Bruce thought, this ought to be interesting. It would be the second extremely awkward reunion of the day. This one with his … father.

They landed square in the centre of Olympus, in the receptacle for all mortal prayers, the altar for which devotion was distilled and supped from. In times past, this area had been flooded with such sustanence. Now only a thin trickle of it remained. Never mind. Zeus had enough for this task. They stepped down from the chariot and Bruce held his arms out for Wally to place Diana tenderly into them.

"What happens now?" Shayera asked.

"Now we wait," was the simple reply.

They did not have to wait long.

Hermes was the first to appear, as might be expected. He wore white robes, and the traditional winged sandals, a similarly winged helm on his head. He glared at the intruders when he saw they bore Diana, and only then peered more closely at Bruce. Then he shook his head wordlessly.

"What's the matter, little brother?" Apollo asked. "Cat got your tongue?"

"It is you! I knew it, I knew you weren't dead! The sun has stayed with me on my journeys, so I knew it to be untrue! Hades?"

"And others. But we can discuss it later. For now, fetch our Father, and the queen."

"I will. In the meantime you might wish to … update your attire, brother."

Somehow neither Shayera nor Wally noticed when he did so, the batsuit simply melting away almost completely. The cape remained, black as ever, but otherwise … A bronze chestplate and gauntlets were in their place, each embossed with symbols of the sun. Armoured skirting covered the lower half of his body to his knees, and his feet were booted. A circlet was around his brow.

Then no one had time to notice anything, because the ground started trembling. And then Hera, Queen of the gods herself, appeared. She did not look impressed. However, when she saw Diana, she lost all anger. Her slender, elegant hands rose to her mouth, an anguished gasp escaping her mouth. "Diana … Oh, poor, sweet child … How did this happen?"

"You failed her!" Bruce spat. "You, who styled yourself her great patron and protector!"

"I- How dare you! Who-"

Bruce laid Diana on the altar, smoothed through her hair, and stepped back. "Bring her back," he said simply.

The goddess before him bristled at the order. "You have the audacity to order me?! Who are you, mortal, to demand such a thing?"

"Bring her back!" This time, both of them gave the order; the mortal and the god speaking as one.

Hera couldn't have looked more shocked. All the blood drained from her face. "Apollo? What trick is this?"

Everyone else had to throw their arms up to shield their eyes when Bruce's form literally burst into flame, too bright to see. Right there in the temple of Hera, he became the sun. When the heat and light faded, they all stood up again.

"No trick," the mortal god said. "We saved the life of the other. Now call Dionysus. He will resurrect the princess."

"Out of the question," Hera said. "She has done too much harm."

"Under the thrall of Hades," Bruce returned. "And with Nemesis in her soul."

"Still," the goddess said, "there will be consequences. If we do this then we cannot repair the damage to the mortal realm. Diana will be a pariah if she attempts to go back."

"I do not suggest that she does."

"Then what …? Ah. Clever. Your father will like that."

Bruce gave a smirk. "That is my hope."

"You will also pay a price, however. There will be a separation."

"A century or so, what is that to me? Artemis will tend to her, in the meantime. Till my penance is paid."

"You would truly do that, Apollo?" Hera asked disbelievingly.

"For her, I would."

"And the mortal? He would be bound to you for the rest of eternity. Is it a price he will willingly pay?"

"Yes," Bruce answered immediately. "For Diana…" He looked at her face again. "…anything."

Hera finally nodded, and clapped her hands once. The sound echoed for longer than it should have done, increasing in volume and pitch until suddenly the temple smelt of honey and vines. Beside the goddess, Dionysus appeared. Bruce, thanks to Apollo, knew what to expect, but the others didn't – they only had mortal depictions, or – in Flash's case – a cannibalised, bastardised Disney version of a fat, drunken god – to go by. The deity that appeared, however, was nothing like that. He was young, tall, muscular and ridiculously good-looking. Faint music seemed to emanate from somewhere around him, and with it came an inexplicable urge to dance. One look at Bruce's stony expression told them the consequences would be dire if they gave into it.

Dionysus, clothed in simple white robes with an olive wreath on his head, bowed gracefully to Hera. "My Queen."

"Dionysus. I wish you to revive this Amazon."

He bowed again. "I would, my Queen, but Zeus has forbidden it. I dare not contradict him."

"Fetch him," Hera snapped, anger on her features. Flash took a step back, pulling Shayera with him. Anyone who knew anything about the Greek gods knew that Hera and Zeus's marriage wasn't exactly harmonious.

Dionysus noted their trepidation with a wry smile, and inclined his head. "I will, my Queen."

Less than ten seconds later, the temple began to shake. Then a low rumbling began to build up, quickly growing louder until the rolls of thunder were deafening. Suddenly, four blinding strikes of lightning flashed down into the centre of the temple. When the after-image had faded, a god who looked like Wally was expecting stood beside his wife. Looked like Disney hadn't gotten it totally wrong after all.

"Wife."

Hera nodded coolly. "Husband. Why will you not allow Dionysus to resurrect the princess?" she demanded.

"She has caused much damage," he replied. "Too much. She is too dangerous to let live."

Bruce stepped forward, beginning to glow slightly – not with the same amount he had before, but still enough to make it clear there was something supernatural about him. "Please, Father."

Seeing the king of the gods do a double-take was almost funny. No one was brave enough to laugh. "Apollo? My son?" Rushing forward, Zeus pulled him into a hug, and Bruce's body glowed more brightly in reaction. Apollo's way of showing pleasure, it seemed. Finally the king of the gods let go. "How is this possible? Surely Nyx-"

"She tried, Father. She almost succeeded, and but for this mortal I would be dead."

"Then how is it you are not?"

Apollo explained the situation to Zeus as Bruce had to the League. The two Leaguers had heard it before, and Flash found his attention returning to Diana. Or rather, to Diana's corpse. Was there some kind of time-limit on these things? What if this argument went on for so long that it was too late? She was already dead, what if she stayed that way? She was so pale, her hair lying around her face like a dark halo. She looked ethereal, and beautiful, and heartbreaking. All he wanted was his friend back. That was all he'd wanted for two years.

Hera broke into the two gods' discussion. "Enough of this. Allow Dionysus to resurrect Diana."

Apollo nodded in agreement. "You must, Father."

Zeus looked in askance at the strange mix of god and man. "One human – what is she to you? If you desire a lover-"

"No!" Bruce broke through now, outrage in his tone. Apollo swiftly resumed command. "No," he repeated.

"Then what?" Zeus asked, as if the idea of being faithful to one woman was a concept utterly alien and incomprehensible to him.

For the first time, Apollo hesitated. "Sharing…a body with a mortal like this is…difficult," he said. "But necessary. We have been forced to share our experiences-"

"You mean this- this mortal knows the secrets of the gods?!" Zeus spluttered.

"Yes," Apollo told him. "And in return he exchanged what was most precious to him. His own memories."

He scoffed. "They cannot possibly compare-"

"They can and do," was the answer. "And of those memories- The ones most prominent… Some were of her. And she is a goddess, Father. Encased in a human shell and living in the mortal world, perhaps, but a goddess nonetheless."

Zeus narrowed his eyes. "You love her?" he asked, spitting out the word as if it tasted bad.

Apollo felt Bruce's disgust come up in a surge, and it flickered across his face. Being on Olympus had been a life of luxury; an eternity of instant gratification without ever having to work for anything. Quite the opposite of the man he found himself in. He'd had the opportunity to want for nothing, but had chosen to do what was right, to fight constantly all his life, even though he had no powers to help him. Apollo could not imagine himself going back to Olympus for all eternity – it was not a choice he would now make willingly. Not without a companion such as Diana there.

He nodded. "Yes. I share everything Bruce Wayne is. And we love her. But there is more."

"What? What more?"

"She has the potential to also be an literal goddess. Hades and Nyx conspired, Father, to corrupt her. Nemesis is within her soul. I believe Diana is strong enough to master her. And if she is, then you will have a powerful ally, a new daughter who would never turn against you. Nyx will never again be a threat."

"But – she thinks of herself as a hero. To become Nemesis, her own nature will be inimical to her. She would go mad."

"She would not. She is strong."

Zeus shook his head again, this time though with a much more exasperated, amused, paternal air. "Love … Very well, love shall conquer all. But don't say I didn't warn you later."

A muscle bulged in Bruce's jaw at the dismissive tone, but he said nothing more. Apollo was thankful for the mortal's presence: it meant that never again would he fall victim to the caprice and fickleness natural to immortals. He would always be able to love Diana. She would always be able to love him. It had been a hard road, and it would be a longer one still – but they would get there.

Zeus gestured to Dionysus, who began to the ritual. It passed Bruce by for the main part. It was a ceremony Apollo was familiar with, and his entire being was focused on listening for Diana's heartbeat, watching for that first movement of her lungs. It seemed to take forever, but eventually, there was that telltale thump thump. As soon as she took her first breath, he pulled her into his arms.

"Diana. Diana, open your eyes." Her eyelids fluttered, but she didn't open them. Apollo put his mouth to her ear. "Wake, my love."

He'd infused the command with magic, and slowly Diana's eyes opened. Then widened. "B-Bruce?" She reached up a hand and stroked his face. "I thought you were a dream..."

A laugh of pure joy bubbled up from his chest even as he crushed her mouth to his. The breath she'd only just recovered was stolen almost immediately, and when he pulled away, she was gasping hard. Bruce just pressed kisses all over her face; her cheeks, eyelids, nose, lips again.

After a solid minute, he pulled away slightly - enough to run his fingers through her hair over and over. "I love you."

"Bruce…" She wasn't smiling, but her eyes glowed in pleasure. "I don't understand. Are you here?"

"I'm here."

"Am I? I thought I died."

"You did, Princess. But now you live again. There's much we need to talk about, Diana. But later. There will be time for everything later."

Diana made her farewells to Flash and Shayera in a strange kind of haze. She felt as though she was floating on a cloud, her feet no longer grounded in reality. She remembered more clearly of what had happened in the years since Bruce's death. She remembered Nemesis. She could not feel her, not as a separate entity. Not yet. It felt like the goddess of vengeance might be sleeping, or locked away somehow. Diana did not want that lock opened. But nor did she want to return to Earth, either. She felt far too ashamed to face the world again, after what she had done. Never mind that she had been persuaded to do it: it surely had to have some basis in her own desires. She was the terrible monster, not merely something Hades had created out of nothing. That darkness had always been inside her. She'd sought order out of chaos – but apparently at any cost. How could she be worthy to protect anyone after that?

The king and queen of the gods drifted away once the Leaguers were gone, leaving Bruce and Diana alone. For all the time he was gone, she'd wanted to look on his face. Now she found she couldn't.

"Diana. Diana, please."

She shook her head, directing her gaze out instead to the rolling, golden clouds all around them. "I'm not-"

"Not what?"

"Worthy."

He crooked a finger beneath her chin and impossibly smiled at her. "Princess, for the first time in our lives, you and I are exactly the same."

"What? Why? Because we're both now immortal?"

"With all that entails. All the joys and the sorrows, all the triumphs and the crimes we've committed."

"Whatever Apollo did can't compare-"

"Can't it? There's cruelty in there, Diana, inhumanity and things I am disgusted by," he explained.

"Then you should also be disgusted by me!" she cried, breaking away from him. She wanted to run away, except she got to the edge of the stone floor and realised there was nowhere to go.

Bruce approached her, but stopped behind her and made no move to touch her. He merely watched her, that steady, implacable stare she could feel even though she couldn't see it.

"I should be punished for what I have done, Bruce."

"And you will be."

Oddly reassured, Diana turned, questioning.

He elaborated. "But not by me. There's no jailor in the universe who could punish you more than yourself." He paused. "You can't go back, Diana. Not to what you were."

"No. I'll never see Earth again."

"You may, in time. You will be reunited with your mother, but again – in time. The reason you can't go back now is in here," he said, putting a palm above her heart. His hand was scorching hot, but didn't burn her. "You're changed, just as I am. No more or less than a goddess."

"Of what? Vengeance?"

"I hope … I hope you will become something else."

"What?"

"Righteous vengeance. Dealing out just retribution. And in time, you will find peace in that role."

"And I deserve that? Peace."

He nodded, drawing closer again. "Peace. And comfort. And love."

Love. They moved at the same time, folding together in a passionate kiss. They were well aware of each other's darkness, but it was the light they embraced now, flaring it into bright life. It was a long time before they broke apart, and when they did, Diana brushed her lips across his again. "I love you."

"And I you, i kardiá mou."

"But you're leaving me."

"Not alone," called another voice.

The last time Diana had seen Artemis, the goddess had been a grieving, sobbing child. There was no trace of that child now. The huntress was adult, clad in hunting garb, a bow on her back and a quiver at her hip. Her scarlet hair was bound away from her face, the only true sign of her divinity a diadem that sat in her curls. She was beaming at the two of them, though her eyes were more obviously directed towards Apollo. She took his hands when she reached him, and they pressed their foreheads together in a moment of deep, though silent, affection.

Then he took Diana's hand, and joined it with his sister's. "Will you?" he asked Artemis.

"Of course. She will be as my own sister."

"I have no right to ask-" Diana began.

"But you're not asking," Artemis pointed out, smiling. She looked at her twin. "Do you have a little time at least, before you must return?"

He hesitated, and Diana saw the instincts of two men clash. Finally he said, "A little."

"Then come. We've much to discuss. And you've wasted enough time pretending not to be in love, the two of you, no?"

Bruce smiled at Diana, and kissed her again. "Definitely."

"Lucky for you you now have forever."

"Isn't it just."

They live happily ever after.

A/N: Well, that was it. I'm not sure I'm entirely happy with it, but I hope it answered your expectations. Thank you for reading and for not giving up, I really do appreciate it. Much love xx