Chapter 14: Proposal Accepted
Diana sits back up in total surprise at Kal‘s question. “Kal why are you asking that?”
Kal sits back up as well “Because I love you. I know this is a bit of the blue...”
“That is an understatement.” Diana states.
“But I want to be joined to you. Do you feel the same?”
“Well yes I do but it’s not that simple. I am Queen of the Amazons Kal. The queen just can’t get married.”
“Diana can.” Kal says back.
“And what about Kal-El. Can he just get married?”
“No but Clark Kent can.”
Ok now Diana is getting very confused “What do you mean?”
“Well after I left you I decided I needed to get my life in order so I got myself a new identity. I am officially Clark Kent once again. I took your advice. You were right back on the island. Clark Kent never really died even though I did my best to kill him. I’m a full time member of the League again and I’ve even trying to get my old house in Smallville back.”
Diana was glad to hear that Kal was putting his life back together but that doesn’t detract from the problems of trying to get married. “Kal even if I wanted to I’m only here for a week before I have to get back.”
“Diana I could fly us to Vegas and we could be married before the day is out.”
“You’re forgetting Kal. You may exist again but I don’t.”
“Actually you kind of do.”
Diana rolls her eyes and folds her arms across her chest “What did you do?”
Kal rather nervously “Well it occurred to me that one day you’d come back and perhaps like to move around the world without the hype of being queen so I asked Terry about 6 weeks ago to create an identity for you. It should be up and ready by now.”
“Kal!” Diana shouts at him.
Kal cringes “Sorry. I thought it’s what you would have wanted.”
Diana lets out an exasperated sigh “It might have been something I would have considered if you had asked me and who is this Terry?”
Oh Kal had never mentioned Terry. “He’s Bruce’s son.”
Diana is rather stunned at that “Bruce had a son?”
“Sons. Terry has a younger brother.”
“Oh well that’s good. I’m glad he found someone.”
“He didn’t really.” Kal says.
“I don’t understand.”
“I’ll explain.” Kal tells Diana about Amanda Waller and Project Batman Beyond and how Terry was created using Bruce’s DNA to overwrite Warren McGuiness’ DNA. Equally Matt was created the same way although that it was not Amanda Waller’s intention to have two offspring.
Diana listens in near outrage. Not that she’s totally surprised that Amanda Waller could stoop to such a level. She takes a cleansing breath “So what are they like?”
“Well I know Terry a lot better than Matt but that’s not surprising Terry’s in the League.”
“He is?” Diana asks.
“Yes. He’s Batman.”
“Bruce actually allowed someone else to carry his mantle?” Diana asks surprised, knowing just how much Batman’s name and legacy meant to Bruce.
“No he allowed his son to carry his mantle. Although when Bruce worked out what Waller had done I don’t know. Knowing him though he probably worked it out a long time ago.”
Diana agreed with that. Bruce always was 3 steps ahead of everyone else. “So what is Terry like?”
“He’s a lot like Bruce really. He doesn’t quite have the same hard edge but he cares about people just like Bruce. Although he does tend to get his wife mad at him quite a lot.”
“He’s married?”
“With 2 children.” Kal tells her. He chuckles “They keep plying me for stories about Bruce. I’m starting to run out.”
Diana couldn’t help a small smile. “What are their names?”
“Bruce, he’s 8 and Barbara, she’s 5. Little hellions I’m telling you.”
Diana laughs “Oh Kal. You’ll be a great father you know that.”
“So I’m forgiven.” he gingerly puts forward.
“I can’t really stay mad at you.”
Kal wraps his arms back around Diana and kisses the top of her head while he takes in the scent of her luscious hair. Diana sighs into him. She really can’t stay mad at him. “So what was this name you made up for me?” she asks
Kal is slightly puzzled at why she is asking but answers anyway “It’s not very original or anything. It’s Diana Prince. I thought about using Queen as a surname but that would sound too much like Dinah’s name so I took Prince from princess. Why are you asking?”
“Yes Kal.”
“Sorry what?”
“Yes I’ll marry you.”
“You will?” Kal asks scarcely believing what he heard.
“Of course I will. I love you and before that you were my friend for years.”
Kal’s heart soars. “I can’t believe this.”
“Truthfully neither can I.” What is she doing? Diana can barely believe she said yes but it just feels right. “Oh we’ll have to get Donna here and we need witnesses won’t we?”
“Yes but I can ask Terry and his wife.”
“Right good.” Diana’s stomach growls “Can we eat something first?”
Kal chuckles “Yes we can. After all we have a week, right?”
Diana nods “Well it would be better if I was back in 6 days so no-one notices. I’m suppose to be ill.”
Kal kisses Diana “We’ll manage. I’ll go and make breakfast.” Kal gets up and puts on a dressing gown and zips off while Diana decided to have a shower. She can’t help but look down at her still flat stomach and wonder what she’ll look like in a few months. She really doesn’t want to spoil it but how will they make this work?
After getting changed back into her tunic, Diana sits down for breakfast and she asks Kal just that “Kal how will we make this work? I mean I have to go back to Themyscira and you still have to stay here.”
“True but I can also fly the distance in 5 minutes. That is if I’m allowed on the island.”
“You are. The Senate ratified the council’s decision that you are made an exception to the no men law.”
“That’s good. How is the debate going?”
“Slowly.” Diana says in half defeat.
“It can’t be that bad.”
“It is but I really don’t want to talk about it. I’m here to get away from it. So how will visiting me fit into your life?”
Kal shrugs. He really hadn’t thought through how “Not sure but I’ll find a way. I am Superman after all.”
Diana smiles at that “Yes you are and can I say I’m glad you’re back wearing red and blue. You always look much better in those colours.”
“You want to know something. What I missed most was having the cape.”
Diana sniggered. Kal’s expression was like a child who had lost his favourite toy.
“What? I really did miss the cape.”
Oh that child like innocence. Diana had feared he had lost it. She gets up and sits on his lap and kisses him. “I’ve really missed that.”
“My kisses?”
“Well yes but…” before Diana can finish there is a loud beep.
Kal sighs. “It’ll probably be Barda. She’s been obsessed that I’ll disappear again if she doesn’t check up on me.”
“She cares about you Kal.”
Kal stands up and gently slides Diana off his lap “She’s turning into my mother and I don’t think she even once met my mother.”
Diana can’t help but giggle.
“Shh.” Kal implores Diana. “I really don’t want to explain you being here.”
Diana pouts in mock annoyance.
Kal shakes his head and goes over to the monitor and opens up the link “Morning Barda.”
“Kal. What took you so long?”
“I was having my breakfast. You know breakfast, the first meal of the day.” Diana giggled at that and put her hand over her mouth to stifle it.
“There is no need to mock me Kal and what was that noise?”
“What noise?” Kal says as innocently as possible.
“I guess it was nothing. So will you be at the tower today?”
“Probably not unless it’s an emergency. Clark has a few things to do today.”
Barda nods in understanding at Kal’s need to get his new identity up and running as he put it. “Ok then. Barda out.” the screen goes blank.
Kal turns round and shoots Diana a glare “I said shh.”
“Oh she didn’t notice. You need to relax. In fact…” Diana walks up to him and wraps her arms around his shoulders and whispers in his ear seductively “I can think of a few ways for us to do that.”
A shiver goes up Kal’s spine and he looks in Diana’s eyes. There is a glint of playful glee amidst the blue of her eyes and then her lips are crushing into his own.
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Meanwhile in the tower in Metropolis “Ok that was strange.” Barda says to Marina after ending her talk to Kal.
“In what way Barda?”
“I’m sure that was a woman’s voice I heard in the background.”
“And what if it was? Kal’s personal life is no business of ours.”
“I suppose but do you think he even noticed he was still in his sleeping robe when I called.”
“Barda leave it. Kal is an adult, nearly a hundred year old one in human terms. I’m sure he can handle a relationship with a woman. He was married for a long time as well.” Marina reminds her
“Don’t we all know that. For 5 years he moped around here short tempered and ill-mannered after she died.”
“Just like you.” Marina says under her breath. Then louder “If she makes him happy and he is by the way if you have been paying any attention to him then we should let him be.”
Barda didn’t respond and Marina took that as a sign she had gotten her point across.
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Diana is sitting in the Fortress while Kal goes to get something for lunch. To pass the time she has picked up Kal’s writing. She had to say he really is quite good. In fact she gets so lost into it she doesn’t notice Kal come back.
“You know I’m not finished writing that.”
Diana jumps a little “Sorry. It’s just, well it’s quite good.”
Kal sits down next to her “You really think so?”
“Yes.”
“I started when I retired from journalism but I lost interest after Lois died. I found a letter from Lois among it. She had written it just before she died.”
“Oh.” Diana says.
“You can read it if you want.”
“No that’s personal Kal.”
“I visited her grave when I got back.”
“Really?”
Kal nods “And my parents’ and Lana’s. I even said a few words to my own grave. That was kind of weird actually.”
“We’re planning a monument to all those who died fighting Ares back on Themyscira. The final plans are awaiting my approval when I get back. So when shall we leave to see Terry?”
“Well my original plan was this morning but someone distracted me with their feminine wiles.” Kal jokes.
“Don’t know what you mean.” Diana pretends innocently.
“Uh-huh. Anyway we’re probably better going this evening before Terry goes on patrol.”
“Right. So what will we do till then?” Diana says in a playful tone full of mischief. Her gaze turns to Kal and then she leaps at him pressing him down on the couch.
“What about lunch?” he squeaks out.
Diana who is frankly surprised at her own feelings of desire for Kal simply answers “Lunch can wait.” She then once more crushes her lips to his in a surge of want.
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Dana walks back into the manor after picking up her children who promptly run off up the stairs “You two behave!” she shouts after them.
“We will!” they shout back as they disappear from view.
Dana shakes her head and wishes parenting came with a manual but of course she wouldn’t trade her children in for anything. She checks the time 17.30. Right Terry will be back from Wayne Enterprises at six, hopefully. Maybe they can get in a family dinner tonight for a change. Juts then the doorbell rings. Now who can this be?
Dana opens the door to Clark in suit and glasses and a beautiful, woman with black hair in a white tunic. “Hi Clark. I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Sorry about that. Let me introduce Diana. Diana this is Dana Wayne, Dana this is Diana.”
“The Diana?” Dana asks.
Diana arches an eyebrow and looks at Kal who grins sheepishly and then shakes her head and holds out her hand to Dana “Yes I am I suppose. It’s lovely to meet you. Kal has been telling you all about you.” Well he had said something about her as they flew down here.
Dana was quite close to stunned but she did manage to shake Diana’s hand. “Oh where are my manners, come in.”
Kal and Diana walk in and Dana escorts them to the lounge. They all sit down.
“So what brings you here?” Dana asks.
Before either can answer Bruce and Barbara come running down “Uncle Clark!” they both proclaim.
“Uncle?” Diana asks.
“Honorary uncle.” Dana explains. “He has been keeping them out of trouble lately with his stories.”
Bruce and Barbara stop at the sight of the strange woman “Who’s your friend Uncle Clark?”
Diana took in the two dark haired children. The boy did look a lot like Bruce and from what Kal had said Terry. The girl was close to the spitting image of her mother.
“This is Diana and she’s a little more than my friend.”
“Is she your girlfriend?” Bruce asks.
Kal was a little embarrassed discussing this with a 8 year old. “More than that. She’s my fiancée.”
Dana’s eyes widen “What!?”
“Kal proposed this morning.” Diana explains.
“Oh congratulations. I’m so glad. Clark’s been telling me how special you are.” Dana informs Diana.
Diana smiles “He has?”
Dana nods. “So when’s the wedding?”
Kal clears his throat “That’s the thing. Diana has to leave in 6 days so we were hoping to do it before then and we were hoping you and Terry would be witnesses.”
“6 days.” Dana repeats. “Well that’s going to be pushing it.”
“I know.” Diana says. “We still have to come up with a way to get my sister here.”
By now Barbara has sat herself next to Dana “Can I come?” she asks.
“Of course you can.” Kal tells her.
“When we work out where we are having it.” Diana adds.
“Have it here.” Dana suggests.
“Are you sure?” Diana asks her.
“Yes it’ll be fine. Being married to a Wayne has its advantages you know. You can do anything with enough money.”
Kal and Diana look at each other and mentally agree. “We accept.” Kal tells her.
“Great. Oh we have so much to do. I remember my wedding. Terry was late you know. He said he had important business, like anything was more important than his own wedding. I was half tempted to walk out but I’m rambling. Terry will be home soon I better get started on dinner.” Dana stands up and heads off for the kitchen.
Bruce and Barbara stay “Tell us a story Uncle Clark.” Bruce asks.
Kal sighs. “Ok let me think. How about I tell you the story of how I first met Wonder Woman.” He can’t help but give Diana a wink as he says that.
Diana shakes her head in amusement. He was almost like the Clark Kent she remembered. She has to admit when he got changed into the suit and glasses again she could almost think it was all those years ago apart from the little bit of grey that now dawns his hair. She watched him tell his story and how Bruce and Barbara sat there listening to him. He really would be a great father. Her mouth was a little dry. “I need a drink of water.”
Kal stops his story “You ok?”
Diana nods “Yes. I’ll just be a minute.”
Kal kisses her on the cheek as she gets up and heads off to the kitchen. Dana hears Diana enter “Can I help you?”
“I need a drink of water.”
“Oh sure.” Dana gets a glass out a cupboard, fills it up and hands it over.
“Thank you.”
“No problem. You know Clark’s description of you doesn’t do you justice.”
Diana swallows her drink “Thanks but I doubt that’ll last much longer.”
“What do you mean?” Dana asks.
Diana’s hand goes over her stomach which Dana notices. She points “Are you?”
Diana nods “With child. Yes.”
“Oh wow. Congratulations. Does Clark know?”
“He does. That’s part of the reason I came to see him along with just wanting to see him.”
“I understand. So you knew Bruce as well?” Dana asks.
“Yes. Actually we dated for a while.”
“Really?” Dana asks somewhat surprised. She never knew that.
“Yes but I had to go home to become Queen after my mother died. That brought it to an end.”
“I’m sorry about your mother. Did Clark mention that Bruce died?”
“I already knew. I visited his grave, said my goodbyes a while back.”
“That’s good.”
Their talk is interrupted by Bruce and Barbara shouting.
“That’ll be Terry.” Dana says.
Diana follows Dana out back into the lounge. She sees a man buried underneath Bruce and Barbara.
Dana chuckles “Terry you do know we have guests?”
Terry gives a muffled “Yes.” then pushes the children off “but your children ambushed me.”
“Oh they’re my children now are they? Terry get up and greet our guests properly.”
Terry stands up and dusts himself off “Hey Clark what brings you over?”
“Well I’ll explain in a minute.” Clark gets up and goes over beside Diana “First let me introduce you to my fiancée. Diana this is Terry. Terry this is Diana, Queen of the Amazons.”
Terry’s jaw dropped as he took in the stunningly beautiful woman. “You’re Wonder Woman and fiancée? and…and”
Dana laughs “I think you’ve broken him.”
Diana studies Terry. He really is Bruce’s son except Kal was right, he is a little softer edged from what Diana had seen with him and his children. Diana walks up to him and takes his hand “It’s lovely to meet you.” She then kisses him on the cheek.
Terry puts his hand to the cheek and then promptly faints.
