The Superman & Wonder Woman Fan Archive

CHAPTER SEVEN

Within another hour or so, Superman’s body cells and the sun’s rays had done their job and he was fully recovered. The wound in his mouth had closed, the bump on his head had gone down and he seemed to be more alert.

He made a few test flights and then pronounced himself fit saying, ‘Lets return to Themyscira, I’ll fly you there.’

On their return to the island, a much relieved Hippolyta greeted them with warm, open arms. Since Superman had obviously recovered, he was shown quickly to a chamber for the night, where there were fresh clothes laid out for him – robes and sandals.

Diana went off to her own bedroom where, after a quick wash, she fell asleep.

Diana entered the dining chamber the next morning – Christmas Day – she could see Kal already next to Hippolyta talking and laughing with her. She took a seat opposite them, and helped herself to some fruit.

'Diana!' came a glad cry from the doorway, causing her to turn sharply, just in time to see Donna hurrying across the room towards her.

'I am so delighted to see you again!' she choked as she reached Diana and the two of them fell into each other's arms.

Diana returned the hug, tears flooding her eyes at the relief of seeing her sister again.

'Terry and I were just talking about you.' Donna exclaimed. 'We refused to have Christmas until you were here, and I’m so glad you made it.' She laughed happily.

'Well, now I’m here,' Diana said emotionally.

She suddenly became aware of Superman standing just behind them, having stood up as soon as Donna entered the room. 'Donna, you know Superman, don’t you?'

Donna had indeed met Superman on earlier occasions, but had never pictured her sister and him together. Right now Donna’s eyes widened on Superman curiously, and Diana bit her lip to stop herself from smiling, able to read almost exactly what Donna must be thinking: this gorgeous man was the one Diana had claimed to be unaffected by!

'Its nice to have you here for Christmas,' Donna said warmly, holding out her hand, recovering well from the surprise she had just received. 'I had no idea-You see, when I learned that you had been injured last night and Diana had flown off with you, I didn’t think that you two would be back today. I know how stubborn Diana can be,' she added with af­fection. 'And so I was sure she wouldn't have come back until she was convinced that you were all right, Superman—'

'I would not have allowed her not to be here, Donna,' he put in quietly.

Donna gave him a devastating smile, a little too coyly for Diana's comfort. 'But I was sure Diana would be coming alone, I had no idea,' she repeated brightly, obviously thrilled by the way things had turned out. 'You really must accept our invitation to stay for a few days more, Superman'

'I—'

'Diana!' A jubilant Terry came bouncing into the room, earning a frown from Hippolyta as he ran in. Although with his usual innocence Terry remained unaware of the fact.

'Thank God you're all right!' He gave Diana a bear-hug. 'You had us worried, Princess,' he told her softly.

'I hope I haven't ruined your Christmas,' she said gruffly, all this emotion starting to make her defenses crumble.

'Of course you haven't.' His eyes twinkled merrily. 'We can have an even better Christmas now; we have so much more to celebrate and be grateful for now.'

'Terry, this is Superman,' Donna informed her fiancé pointedly.

He turned to the other man with narrowed-eyes, assessing him at a glance. 'Good to see you.' He held out his hand, obviously liking the other man. 'I had no idea—'

'We've already been through that bit once, darling,' Donna cut in affectionately.

'What say we finish breakfast and catch up on all the other things? I can see mother about to explode!’

Terry grinned at the other man as sat down at the table. 'I hope Diana hasn't given you too much trouble,' he teased, quirking a mocking brow at her.

She gave him a playful punch on the arm as she sat down next to him.

'Not too much, no,' Superman drawled, helping himself to some milk.

'Although you're right about Diana's stub­bornness, Donna. I hadn't realized until re­cently just how stubborn she can be.'

Diana glared at him, receiving an innocently questioning look back. As if he didn't know exactly what he was doing! 'I took lessons from an expert,' she returned sweetly.

'Really?' He arched dark brows. 'I can't think who!'

'Can't you?' she returned drily, knowing from the look that passed between Donna and Terry that they were enjoying the verbal ex­change, probably reading a lot more into it than there actually was. Or ever could be.

'What are the plans for today?' She asked, wanting to change the subject, take the focus off Superman and herself, although she knew there would be questions from her sister later.

'Well, I intend to spend some time in the library poring over the historical texts. What do you ladies intend doing?’ asked Terry.

‘Are you kidding?' said Donna, ‘Diana and I will indulge for a while in the saunas and catch up with each other. Say, Superman, why don’t you join us in the saunas? There’s a private enclosure that you can use, and Diana and I will use the one of the larger hot pools.’

“Ok,’ he replied with alacrity. ‘I don’t mind relaxing a bit.’

Donna, firmly ensconced next to Diana, turned to grin at him. ‘That’s great, though give us a head start, then you can come in a little later’

Diana knew her sister had to be dying of curiosity about the relationship between her and Superman. Well, she would just have to remain curious, even once they had chance to talk privately; there was no way Diana could tell her sister just how close to Superman she hoped to become!

'Well?' Donna prompted softly as they en­tered the warmth of the spa lounge.

'Hm?' Diana looked up with ques­tioning innocence, shrugging off her robe to enter the heated pool.

The area was filled with the aroma of wood smoke, lavender and ashwagandha (a herb to induce relaxation).

Donna gave a rueful smile. 'Not going to tell me, hm?'

Diana closed her eyes and let the heat seep into her bones. 'There's nothing to tell.'

Donna winced pointedly. 'You make a terrible liar, Diana.'

Opening her eyes, she returned Donna’s gaze steadily. 'Do I?'

'Hippolyta will want to know all the wicked de­tails,' she warned with relish.

‘Hippolyta might get to hear all the details.' She deliberately omitted the word 'wicked'.

'She'll tell me,' Donna challenged teasingly.

'Not if I ask her not to,' Diana answered with certainty.

Donna grimaced. 'True,' she sighed. 'That’s a bit unfair. I don't suppose I could persuade it out of you?' she cajoled.

She smiled at her deceptive 'little girl' air. 'I don't suppose you could, just now. Maybe later.’

Donna pursed her lips thoughtfully. 'I seem to remember you were always very ticklish…!'

'No, Donna.' Diana backed away from Donna as she advanced on her threateningly.

'That wouldn't be fair!' she squeaked as she began to tickle her, squirming away from her.

'Women never play fair,' Donna grinned as her sister choked with laughter. 'Now, do tell,' she encouraged conspiratorially.

'No!' She fought ineffectually at the tor­menting hands.

'Come on, Diana,' she persisted mercilessly. 'I want to know what—oh, hello, Superman' Donna glanced past Diana to the doorway where Superman was passing to the other enclosure. 'Just bringing a little sibling pressure to bear,' she ex­plained in a mocking voice.

Diana had spun around as soon as Superman's name was mentioned, moving awkwardly as Superman watched them with narrowed blue eyes. She hadn't done any­thing wrong, and yet the way he was looking at them made her feel somehow guilty!

'Indeed?' Superman made no move to enter the enclosure, giving the sisters their privacy, yet able to converse with them. 'Concerning what?'

Diana could feel the tension build, and she concentrated on the ceiling as a way of avoiding looking at either Donna or Kal. They were adults; whatever problem there was between them, they could work it out for themselves. She didn't need any more tension of her own.

Donna grinned mischievously. 'Concerning the two of you working together alone, on so many missions and so many occasions,' she challenged blatantly, making Diana gasp.

Superman didn't even glance in her direction, holding the Donna's gaze. 'We were only alone when necessary,' he said. 'And we were hardly there by choice!'

'Oh, I realise that,' taunted Donna, un­abashed. 'But once you were there…'

Superman did give Diana a sharp look at that, although the expression on her face must have told him all he needed to know about her own reticence in discussing anything with him.

He turned back to the other Amazon. 'Once we were there,' he told Donna coolly, 'we were too busy worrying about rescuing people or battle strategy to think of anything else.'

'All the time?' the Donna derided. 'That sounds decidedly single-minded to me.'

'I am single-minded,' Superman said curtly, obviously seething with anger beneath the surface, his eyes glowing redly.

'Hm, so you are.' Donna looked disap­pointed. 'I don't suppose—ah, there’s Magala now, come to take you to the other enclosure.’

Together, the sisters watched Superman turn and enter the other enclosure.