Chapter 20: Mood Swings
Kal is still having nightmares about the looks he got from the Senate when he and Diana told them that she was carrying his child. The marriage they kept secret from all but a few of Diana’s most trusted friends and advisors. Of course the Senate members were surprised, Diana was not suppose to have a child. Anyway Kal was relieved when at least some of them congratulated Diana and himself. That was 4 months ago and since then he and Diana have worked out a sort of routine. He can’t be on Themyscira all the time or as much as he would like to be. He tries to spend weekends there and drops by during the week when he can.
The League have been nice enough to try and organise his shifts around to help him as much as possible. It has helped that they have recruited a couple of new members starting with a new Flash. Wally West the second . He is the youngest of Wally’s grandchildren and strangely the only one to inherit his powers. While Wally’s children did inherit his powers they burned out by the time they reached about 50 and none of their children seemed to inherit the powers until this new Wally came along.
The second recruit is actually Zatanna’s granddaughter, keeping up the family tradition of magic and as a tribute to her grandmother has adopted Zatanna as her League name. She had been resisting joining for a while. Kal had told them they should never had let Barda be the one to offer her a place. Diplomacy and persuasion never were Barda’s strong points. He should know that better than most. When he got back from his honeymoon he got an earful from Barda about keeping more secrets. He has to laugh. If only she knew half of the secrets he carries with him, her head would probably explode.
With the little spare time he has Kal has been repairing the house in Smallville. Yes he got it back finally. He should never had sold it and on the plus side it allows him to visit Lois’ and Lana’s and his parents’ graves more often like he promised himself he would. Apart from that it’s actually been fairly quiet. No sign of Circe or Eris although Diana has sworn she’ll have Eris’ and Circe’s heads on her wall one day. He had said that’s fine as long as it’s not in the bedroom.
Anyway today is slightly different as today he and Diana are going to ask Terry and Dana to be godparents. They hadn’t rushed into the decision but had taken their time and thought it through carefully. So Terry and Dana are accompanying him to Themyscira. Diana had arranged special permission for Terry to be on the island. So they arrive and Kal is escorting them to Diana’s chambers when they meet Donna standing outside the door. Uh oh Kal knows that looks on her face.
“You may want to rearrange this for another day.” Donna tells him.
“Is that him!” Diana shouts from behind the door. “You better not set one foot inside this room Kal-El or I swear to the gods you’ll never leave it!”
Kal shakes his head and rubs his temples “Another mood swing?” he asks Donna.
“Oh yeah. She’s been yelling insults at you for an hour.”
“Isn’t it a little early for mood swings?” Dana asks.
“You would think so.” Donna answers. “It seems her body doesn’t agree. Now that’s either due to Kal’s genes or the fact Diana was never suppose to have children or both. It just started suddenly a couple of weeks ago. One moment she’s practically bursting with happiness the next she’s threatening to castrate Kal.”
“Could you take Terry and Dana to get something to eat while I calm her down?” Kal asks Diana.
“Sure no problem.”
Kal summons up the nerve and walks through the door closing it behind him. Before Terry, Dana and Donna leave all they hear is Kal trying to reason with Diana. “Diana! Put the sword down!”
“Dammit. I thought I had hidden all her weapons.” Donna says. She takes a breath “Come on follow me.”
Terry follows. He had been rather silent. He was actually on Themyscira. He could barely believe it.
“Where’s Bruce and Barbara?” Donna asks.
“At this moment, school but Terry’s mother is going to look after them tonight.” Dana explains.
“How are they?”
“Good. Will Clark be alright?” Dana asks worried.
“Oh he’ll be fine. He always seems to be able to manage to calm her down even thought I don’t think his method is officially approved.”
“What does he do?” Terry asks interested considering he and Dana are trying for another baby and he can well remember her mood swings.
“Oh they have sex.” Donna tells him. “It’s great for relieving Diana’s built up frustrations.”
Terry’s face reddens up. He’s sorry he asked.
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“Put the sword down Diana.” Kal repeats to his wife who has a face full of thunder.
“Not on your life Kal. I hate you. I can’t believe you did this to me.” Diana says while placing one hand on her bump. She’s miserable and her feet swell up when she stands for long periods and she had seen other women pregnant and it did not look half as bad as she feels and in the name of Hera she still has 3 months to go.
“You didn’t complain at the time.” Kal answers back. “In fact your exact words were ‘oh please Kal don’t stop, yes right there, oh gods Kal that is wonderful’.”
Diana’s face darkens further if that is possible. “Damn you to Tartarus Kal.” and she swings the sword at him which Kal catches. He twists it out of Diana’s hand despite the fact the magical blade is digging into his skin drawing blood.
“Now if you’re not going to play nice Diana, you can’t have nice things.” Kal says as he throws the sword aside.
“I hate you.” Diana repeats along with a long list of insults in her native Greek as she goes and sits down.
Kal walks over to her smiling “No you don’t.” he says as he sits down next to her. He raises his hand to her face but she swats it away.
“No Kal. Not this time. Your damn smile isn’t going to help you this time.”
Kal tries again and Diana does swat his hand away but with less force. “Come on Diana. Look me in the eye and say you hate me.”
“Don’t tempt me.” Diana tells him without looking directly at his face.
“Well even if you did I would still love you.” Kal says as he brings his hand to her cheek and tilts her head to look at him.
“Damn you.” she says as Kal leans forward and kisses her and her anger and her resolve not to let him do this to her again fades away.
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A couple of hours later Kal and Diana emerge and find Dana and Terry chatting with Donna.
“About time!” Donna exclaims.
“I am sorry about that.” Diana says to Terry and Dana. Damn her mood swings.
“It is fine.” Dana answers.
“Just be glad she has those bracelets or it would a hundred times worse.” Donna says.
“What about the bracelets?” Terry asks.
“For me and Diana they are more than just symbols of bondage. They magically keep our more aggressive personality traits suppressed. We are warriors forged magically from clay and gifted by the gods themselves. Lets just say it had an unforeseen effect on our personalities.”
“Aggressive personality traits?” Dana asks.
“Don’t ask.” Kal answers.
Donna looks as him “You know don’t you? Diana took them off for you.”
Kal nods “On our honeymoon. Why do we think we chose the Fortress to have it?”
“And you’re still alive?” Donna asks amazed.
“Just barely. Your sister actually managed to draw blood when she bit me.”
Diana gets a wicked smile on her face at that memory.
“Gods Diana. What were you thinking?” Donna asks.
“I was thinking that my husband should see all sides of me even that one and hey look he’s still here. I gave him the best time of his life if you ask me.”
“Took hours to subdue her enough to get them back on though.” Kal adds.
“I didn’t hear you complaining at the time” Diana retorts. “Now what were your exact words again?” she says in the same tone Kal had used earlier.
“Diana, darling. We have guests.” Kal reminds her.
Terry and Dana had listened with a mixture of horror and fascination at what Kal and Diana were talking about.
“Oh right. Yes Terry, Dana. Sorry. Ok you’re probably wondering why we asked you here. It’s just Kal and I have talked about this and we want you to be our child’s godparents along with Donna who has already agreed.” Diana tells them.
Wow Terry and Dana think simultaneously. They’re being asked to be godparents to possibly the most powerful child that has ever lived.
“Before we answer can we ask why us?” Dana asks.
“It’s simple really. If Bruce was still alive we would have asked him for the same reason. Our child will have great power almost certainly and he or she will need a grounding, a connection to humanity like I had with my parents. Otherwise we run the risk of our child seeing themselves apart from the people of this world like I came dangerously close to doing before I met Diana again.” Kal explains.
“It is actually going to be a bit more hands on than being a normal godparent.” Diana goes on to tell them. “We asked Donna so our child would know her Amazonian roots in case something should happen to me. We ask you for the reasons Kal gave.”
“Krypton is gone. This world is the only world my child will know and therefore they must feel connected to it.” Kal tries to explain more clearly.
“But all Krypton’s knowledge is stored in the Fortress.” Terry reminds Kal.
“It’s not the same as living there would be. The Fortress is a memorial nothing more.”
“You’re living there.” Terry reminds him once more.
“Not for much longer. I’ve nearly fixed up the house in Smallville and I‘ll be moving there soon.”
“Can Terry and I have a moment to think about this?” Dana asks
“Sure.” Kal answers and he, Diana and Donna leave Terry and Dana to talk.
Once the 3 of them are gone. “So are we going to do this Terry?” Dana asks
“I want to say yes but we can barely cope with our own normal children.”
Dana laughs “I know you’re referring to super powers but you still called our children normal.”
Terry laughs with her “I know.”
Dana sobers up “So what do we say to them?”
“The only thing we can say to them Dana.”
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“We accept.” Dana tells Kal and Diana. Her and Terry thought it through and the bottom line is that Clark and Diana are their friends and how could they say anything else.
“Thank you.” Diana says while hugging the both of them.
Kal can see from the looks on their faces that Diana is squeezing too hard. He puts a hand on her shoulder “Easy Diana.”
Diana lets go almost embarrassed “Oh sorry. I’m a little emotional at the moment.”
Donna snorts loudly “A little?”
Diana shoots her a death glare “You want to see my bad side again?”
Kal once more puts his hands on Diana’s shoulders “Diana. Calm. You can take out your frustrations on me later.”
“Believe you me I will be.” she says with a certain glint in her eyes.
Terry desperate to change subjects. “How’s that debate with the Senate going?”
“It’s finished more or less. They take their final vote next week.” Donna answers.
“Any idea on the outcome?”
“Too close to call.”
“Bunch of pompous windbags. I should skewer the lot of them.” Diana mutters.
Donna rolls her eyes “Oh here we go again.”
“What does that mean?” Diana snaps.
“Ignore her honey.” Kal says. “Look why don’t you go rest for a while and I’ll come up later and rub your feet.”
Diana smiles “Ok. Love you.” she says as she kisses Kal.
“Love you too.” Kal answers and he watches as Diana goes off before turning his attention to Donna. “Donna you’re not helping.” Kal tells her trying to avoid Diana being set off again. “Look I better get Terry and Dana home. Try not to upset your sister till I get back.”
“I’ll do my best but considering that almost anything can set her off don’t hold your breath.”
“Well at least hide all the weapons from her this time.”
“I thought I did!” Donna protests. “It’s not my fault she happens to be very good at hiding them from me but if it makes you feel better Phillipus and I will search her quarters. Again!”
“Thank you Donna. I really mean that.”
“I know. What are sister’s in law for.”
Kal gives her a small smile and then sets about getting Terry and Dana home. Donna meanwhile goes off to find Phillipus. After all one of them has to hold Diana down while the other searches her quarters. Hera give her strength.
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“Oh what do you want now?” Circe asks irritated at her sun bathing being interrupted again by Eris.
“You failed 4 months ago. The child still lives.” Eris tells Circe. When Circe had come telling Eris of her belief that the child had died Eris was thrilled. Even if Diana survived she had made her suffer so it was to her grave disappointment and anger when she hears from dear Aphrodite, her being the goddess of fertility as well as love, how glowing Diana looks, how funny her mood swings are, how the Kryptonian has come up with his own way of dealing with them, by bedding Diana. Eris felt ill at hearing that. She knew she should have paid more attention to Circe but it had taken all her concentration to prevent her fellow gods from seeing what was going on. Eris couldn’t take the risk they saw Circe and decided she had gone too far. If captured Circe would have betrayed her in a second in exchange for leniency so like any smart goddess she took measure to prevent that. Better safe than sorry as the mortal saying goes. However, bottom line to all this is that the child survived and Circe failed and so she decided to go in person and tell her so.
“Hey I did my best within the rules. You have issues with the queen and the Kryptonian, you deal with them this time. You know I expended a great deal of energy during that encounter which is why I have been here for the last 4 months resting. Besides I took a risk you know. I pushed the Gods laws to the limit, perhaps even broke them from a certain point of view.”
“So did I. I shielded what was happening from my fellow gods to give you a chance. Do you know what will happen to me if they find out what I did?”
Circe smiles at Eris “Yes I do.”
“Is that it? Is that all you have to say?” Eris asks expecting a little more from Circe.
“Yes actually. Unlike you I have patience. I can wait for my revenge on Diana, centuries if need be. Personally I think you’re exaggerating the threat the child will be. Oh I have no doubt it shall be powerful but I doubt anymore so than its parents.”
“You didn’t seem to think that before.” Eris points out in regards to Circe’s opinion when she first told her about the child.
“I’ve had a while to think about it. By the way how are Zeus and Hera doing?”
“They’re talking again.” Eris answers like a stroppy child.
“Still won’t let you hurt the child or have your revenge will they?”
Eris makes a face “You know perfectly well Hera has always had a soft spot for her precious Amazons, especially Diana.”
“And what does she think of Diana having a child?”
“She finds it quite amusing how Diana got around the rules that said she couldn’t have a child.”
“Let me guess it was Zeus who laid that one down.”
Eris nods “Yes. He insisted as it takes the both of them to create life. This was the price he insisted on to allow Hera to give Hippolyta the gift of a child. He’s quite annoyed yet can do nothing as it does not violate his law.”
Circe shrugs “He should have worded it better. Far too easy to get around unless…”. A smile erupts on Circe’s face. “Oh I get it now he was leaving that loophole open for himself since technically he isn’t of this world in the sense he is a mortal man. Ha, he never changes.”
“That’s dear old dad.” Eris mutters unamused.
“Oh don’t sulk. Goddesses shouldn’t sulk unless of course you’re jealous. Want the Kryptonian for yourself do you?”
Eris gets a horrified look on her face “I would never let that man touch me. He stands for everything I don’t.”
“Well you know there is a saying about opposites attracting each other.”
“I don’t have to listen to this.” Eris says as she disappears. She’ll just have to find another way to get back at those two.
“Finally. I thought she would never leave.” Circe says as she clicks her fingers and 3 well built men appear.
“How can we serve you mistress?” one of them says.
“Oh I can think of a few ways.” Circe says suggestively. Truthfully she had lost interest in her revenge for the moment. Time to enjoy some pleasure for a while.
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“Go on tell me. No wait I don’t want to know.” Diana says to Kal as they lie in bed together.
Kal shakes his head somewhat amused. Ever since he told Diana that the child is now old enough to identify the gender she has not been able to make up her mind if she wants to know or not. After he got back from getting Terry and Dana home he was glad to see that Donna had kept Diana in a somewhat good mood. So anyway he’s managed to arrange things so he can spend the night with her which is what he is doing right now after improving her mood in his own unique way. “Diana are you ever going to make up your mind?”
“It’s I just don’t know. I can see the advantages of knowing yet I like the idea of being surprised and besides are you complaining that you get to look at me?”
Kal smirks “I never complain about that.”
“Even when I’m bigger than I am now?”
“You always look beautiful to me.”
Diana loves that man. No matter how irrational she is he just keeps complimenting her. “I’m sorry about your hand earlier.” Diana says in reference to the cut he got when she swung the sword at him.
“It healed Diana and it’s fine. So can I ask what will you do after the Senate approves your motion to rejoin the World Assembly next week?”
“Why is it always when I win and not if I win with you?”
“I told you that you can do anything and I completely believe that.”
“Well if we’re going for optimism I’ll be doing very little. Considering I’m not ready to try and explain my condition to the world I was thinking I’d send Donna as an ambassador.”
“That’s a good idea and I think she would jump at that chance to be away.”
“From my mood swings. I know. I know even when I’m yelling and boiling over with rage I know but I can’t seem to stop myself. Thank you for putting up with me.”
“It’s fine Diana. I was expecting the mood swings a little later but as I said before we’re in uncharted territory with all this.”
Diana groans “And there’s 3 months to go right? You said the child was growing at about a human rate.”
Kal nods “Yes. Don’t worry Diana. Regardless of whether you were meant to have children or not I’ve examined you. You are perfectly capable of carrying a child just like any other woman.”
“But I’m not any other woman and you’re not just any man so I think I’ve earned the right to worry a little bit.”
Kal pulls her into him and kisses her “I love you and our child will be fine.”
“I love you too. So I’ve decided I want to know the sex of our child.”
Kal doesn’t quite believe her “Alright we’re having a …”
“Stop! I’ve changed my mind.”
Kal laughs at the absurdity of this. Well maybe she’ll decide sometime in the next 3 months. He hopes.
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“Sister.” The voice from the circle of flames says.
At last Eris thinks. She has come up with a way to at least talk to her brother Ares. She doesn‘t know why it has been so difficult. It shouldn‘t have been. She is a goddess after all. “Brother. How are you?”
“How am I!?” Ares’ voice rages back. “I’m trapped in the Underworld with Hades. How do you think I am doing!? What has taken you so long to contact me!?”
“I am uncertain why but I had great difficulty in reaching you.”
Ares’ voice calms “What has happened since my exile?”
“Zeus and Hera have patched things up more or less. Athena has been taking great joy in your defeat and exile…”
Ares cuts her off “I meant in terms of vengeance on the Amazon Queen.”
“That’s proving difficult. I’ve been forbidden from any direct retaliation by Hera. You know how much she loves Diana.”
Of course Ares knows. That’s why he split Zeus and Hera up in the first place. “There are ways around that.”
“I know and I’ve been trying but there is something you should know.”
“Out with it then.” Ares commands.
“The Amazon Queen and the Kryptonian are married now and she carries his child.”
“What!” Ares voice roars and flames erupt upward.
Eris cowers slightly.
“I have to leave this place and soon.” Ares’ voice says.
“Yes the child must not be allowed to live.” Eris tells him.
“You are an idiot.” Ares tells her. “We don’t kill the child, we take the child and raise it to do our bidding. How long till she gives birth?”
“Not till after another season has passed.” Eris informs him.
“Good. We have some time. You have to get me out of here.” Ares tells his sister.
“But there is no way. The gate is sealed.”
“There are always secret ways if you know where to look but they can only be opened from the outside. This is what you must do.” Ares then goes on to tell Eris what tasks she must undertake. “You must do these things without fail on the timetable I have told you.”
“Yes Brother. I will not fail.”
“You better not or I’ll make sure you end up down here with me.” Ares warns her.
