Friends
Written by Amazonia V
Chapter 30:
Donna had greeted her with squeals and hugs and exclamations of how beautiful her sister looked, how happy she seemed. "You found just what I hoped for you, big sister," her sister had said. "A nice, quiet love."
Diana smiled now, as she had smiled then, although she hadn't disabused Donna of her assumption. But she somehow doubted that her sister's idea of a "nice, quiet love" included impassioned moments beneath the stars, or stolen hours in the Fortress of Solitude or in Clark's Metropolitan apartment or at Themyscira House…or the night Kal had stripped them both of every scrap of clothing, picked her up so that she could wrap her legs about him, and walked the two of them into a moonlight-streaked stream in the Artic Circle. When she had moaned about it being cold, he had her quickly moaning about something else...
"Clark looks terrified," Donna commented now as she looked toward her soon to be brother-in-law, and both she and Cassie smiled as they watched the bridegroom reach up and run a finger beneath the neck of his blue and red body suit, as if it had suddenly become too tight.
"I can't believe he agreed to have the wedding here on Themyscira," Cassie whispered to Donna.
"He does look quite handsome, if somewhat uncomfortable for a Superman. He really must love our sister very much."
A murmur began to rise among the crowd of Amazons and Superheroes lining both sides of the grassy walk leading to the Great Council Hall on Themyscira. Snippets of conversatin wafted on the gentle Island breeze.
"I hate that she's being married today!" Io blinked back tears and threw her arms around her sister Amazon, Cleta.
Cleta looked stricken. "Don't be sad, Io. I know you'll miss her, but she'll come to visit us often."
"It won't be the same," Io muttered.
Cleta kissed Io on her brow. "It hasn't been the same since she left the Island after being chosen as the Champion of the Gods. It would be unfair to her to grudge her happiness now."
Io could have bitten off her tongue. The last thing she wanted was for Cleta to feel guilty about Io's feelings for the Princess. "Of course, I don't grudge her happiness with a man. I'm just that..."
Io's voice cracked as she broke away from the embrace to look at Cleta. Cleta smiled gently at her, then leaned her head to graze Io's cheeks and eyes with her lips before kissing her full mouth. "We have each other, dearest. I was too proud earlier, I refused to admit how much you mean to me."
She murmured the words as she kissed away Io's tears.
"I can't believe they're getting married," Green Arrow whispered to Black Canary.
"Why not? We did it, even though you seemed to have forgotten that little fact pretty quickly, with two models," was the sharp retort.
"Awww, babe...I didn't even know you then. Will you never let me forget it?"
"No."
"...Batman is a man of many talents, none of which he'd most likely want you to know about, darling. Oh, good Lord, here she comes," said Green Lantern to Agent Fanci Webb.
Holding tight to Green Lantern's hand, Fanci leaned forward, to better see the bride as she approached.
First came the little nymphets, a dozen sweet, cherubic creatures dressed all in white, long pink streamers in their hair. They danced about prettily, tossing pink rose petals in front of them as they approached—all but one obviously shy little beauty who held tightly to her basket with both hands, refusing to be parted from her petals.
That's it, sweetheart. Fanci applauded the child-like creature silently. You hold onto what is yours. Hold on tight. She felt Green Lantern's arms sliding around her waist as he gently pulled her back against him, bending his head to place a kiss on the side of her neck.
And then Diana appeared, riding sidesaddle atop her beloved Damocles, the mare sporting a white satin blanket and white satin ribbons braided into her mane and tail. Damocles held her head high as if proud of her appearance, and seemed to prance, her forelegs lifted high, set down delicately.
Diana, too, was dressed all in white, her glorious coal black curls hanging loose down past her shoulders, a garland of pink roses cunningly wrapping about her head, low on her forehead. A veil attached to the back of the flowery ring and floated in the breeze that seemed to have agreed to appear as if on cue.
Donna and Cassie watched as a thoroughly bemused Superman turned to watch Diana alight from the saddle. Donna was close enough to see that her sister's marvelous grey-blue eyes were awash in tears, and to hear her whispered "I love you", whispered so low that only Superman could hear.
Diana paused for a moment to pay obeisance to the gods and goddesses gathered who graced the wedding with their presence and their blessings. Then, with a gentle kiss from Aphrodite, she was nudged along.
As Superman watched Diana walk towards him, all coherent thought left his head.
The gown clung like skin to her lush curves. The neckline was cut low, outlining full breasts, following her trim waist to her hips, and then flaring out in heavy, shimmering folds to brush the stone flags as she walked. Her entire body seemed to gleam, and then Superman realized that the cloth had been sewn with hundreds of tiny pearls.
Her unbound hair curled about her back and shoulders, and more pearls shone among the riotous black tresses. Her lovely face was aglow with happiness and her eyes were fixed on Superman's. Loving him.
Superman had not known it was possible to feel like this. Now that he did, he vowed that he would never lose what he had.
Diana had reached him. Dazed, he saw now that there were flowers, as well as pearls braided in her hair. A cascade of cream and pink roses. She smelled of spring, a new beginning.
His gaze slid over her white gown, lingering, wanting to undress her slowly, taking his time.
"Can I kiss my bride?" he asked her, a wicked glint back in his blue eyes.
Diana leaned forward and said breathily against his ear, "In a moment, you can kiss your wife."
He smiled. "Even better."
Hiding her own smile, Queen Hippolyta began to say the words that would join them together.