Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Wayne Legacy: Knightmare

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 38: Post Metawave – Epilogue IV

Wayne Tower

Diana sat at her desk, trying to relax. It was not easy. It had been a long week. Kara had not been in the office, instead staying at the manor and working with her team on the problems Lex Luthor had caused the world, while Alex and Lena Luthor were working out of S.T.A.R. Labs, trying to determine exactly how Basil Karlo was a walking, thinking puddle of mud.

Apparently, the man had gained a solid form and was standing and talking, demanding to leave the containment prison he was in but to no avail. Gordon had alerted the Metropolis Police Department that he was a suspect in a burglary of ReNuYu Labs and was being held under arrest in a S.T.A.R. Labs secured cell due to obvious medical issues.

No lawyer had argued because the public defender who was assigned the case agreed he belonged in a cage.

Whether it was right or wrong wasn’t Diana’s problem. He couldn’t be let out until he was returned to normal. If that never happened… it was a problem for another time. Perhaps the government could do what they get paid to do for once and sort the issue out.

Kara’s friends were breaking up tomorrow, Saturday morning. Lena would be staying at S.T.A.R. along with Alex, though Kara insisted she and Alex spend some nights at Wayne Manor to get proper rest.

Diana’s worry would not end there. She had several last-minute decisions to make on her wedding tonight with Silver and Kara. Kara had been stressed all week but rather than resting tomorrow, she had made plans to go to some drag racing event with John Blake, and planned to do this, even if, in her words, the world was ending.

While she was happy for her sister, she knew it would be a security nightmare for Dig, but he hadn’t complained, perhaps knowing Kara needed this. She thought of going to watch but forced herself not to, deciding Kara needed to experience these things without Diana’s constant presence. Much of Kara’s relationship with Tommy revolved around spending time in the manor, and she didn’t want the same to happen this time. Kara needed to get out and Diana needed to trust Kara’s security. She also knew John Blake carried a gun and knew how to use it if she were threatened and Wayne Security wasn’t enough.

Instead, Diana would go to dinner with Steve at their favorite burger place and then the two would go a movie or a bar, or something normal that two people did before spending the night making love to each other.

She was also concerned for Bruce. She knew he had been fighting Russian slavers in Metropolis at night, yet he showed up every morning for work at the Wayne Foundation. Miss Hart told her he was doing well and enthusiastic. He had already sunk the money he needed for his center from his own accounts and was taking this issue seriously. Her worry was about his mental and physical state. He had to be beyond tired. He was returning home around one or two in the morning, sometimes later and working out after getting little sleep, then going into the office and working a full day, leaning about the ins and outs of the Wayne Foundation.

While she was very proud of him, she did not want him burning out, maybe making a stupid mistake in the field that could get him killed. However, her brother assured her the crazy hours would end when he ran the slavers out of Metropolis and he would sleep in on weekends. Knowing how hardheaded he could be, she saw no reason to argue and cause friction between them, only watching and praying everything worked out for him.

Then there was Emily Parlow. Kara had made an offhand comment about hoping her biological father wasn’t an axe murderer. Diana said nothing, remembering what Sage had found out. It was likely Diana knew who Kara’s sperm donor was, likely he was dead and Parlow had killed him. Should she tell Kara? Should she open that can of worms or let it lie?

One thing she did not have to worry about, was Emily calling Kara again. All unknown calls to Kara would be intercepted and routed to Diana’s phone and Athena would begin an immediate trace. Barbara had assured her of this.

Speaking of the devil herself, her phone rang, and an unknown number came up.

“Call origin, somewhere in the Himalayas, likely masked location. Beginning trace now.” Athena told her.

Diana answered the call. “Hello, Emily.”

She heard silence for a moment.

“You took her phone away like a child who is grounded?” the woman asked, anger obvious in her tone.

Diana chuckled. “No, I have had all unknown calls to her phone intercepted and sent to me. She does not need to speak to you.”

Emily chuckled darkly. “Once again, controlling every aspect of her life. Perhaps I will speak to her face to face.”

Diana smirked. “I wish you would. I would love for security to shoot you. You know everyone is looking for you. You wouldn’t get within fifty yards of her. You are more than welcome to speak to me face to face. I would look forward to that conversation. Name the time and place. I will even come alone.”

“Anxious to join Harvey in the ground?”

Diana’s temper flared and she turned red. She forced herself to sound calm and not break her phone.

Apparently sensing she had an advantage, Emily pressed. “You know he knew, right? He knew I was Kara’s mother and swore to not tell you to protect me. Harvey really did love me. After everything you did for him and he betrayed you. All it took was sex to make him change allegiances. Honestly, I may have done you a favor. You can’t have such weak-minded individuals on your precious inner circle.”

“You are a liar. I know he would have told me because he was my friend. Harvey would never keep something like that away from me.” Diana retorted. Though Emily’s words struck her hard, she couldn’t appear weak in any way.

“I was his lover. He knew it was dangerous but he was protecting me from you. Think about that. He knew you were enough of a monster that I would need protection.” Emily said, her tone smug. “Do you think it was a coincidence we met? I played him from the beginning. He told me so much about you. He found the book at my place. He knew and promised to keep it a secret.

“Where is my scrap book by the way? Have you shown it to Kara or did you keep that a secret as well? Does she know I loved her so much I was as near as I could be her entire life?”

“I showed her, and she burned it.” Diana told her coldly. “Did you kill Kara’s birth father?”

Emily laughed. “You care? Of course, you wouldn’t want another relative bursting in, threatening your control over Kara. No need to worry about him. His name was Richard Penrose. He wanted me to have an abortion so I crushed his skull with a rock, put him in his car and pushed it off the cliff on the southside of Stratford Lake. I watched the car go under. It must have been at least fifty feet deep and in a wooded area of the lake. Drag him up if you wish. His father can bury him.

“No, he won’t take Kara from you, but I will.”

“I suppose if I told you over my dead body, you would say that is the idea. By all means, grab a rock, aim a gun, take some rope, a baseball bat and give it a try.” Diana taunted her. “As I said, I will meet you anywhere and when I get my hands on you, we shall see whose body the other one stands over. I acquired a knife recently that I am very fond of. I have had pleasant dreams about disemboweling you with it.”

Emily chuckled. “You may be the most overconfident, arrogant fool, I have ever had the displeasure of knowing. What do you think Kara would say if she knew you wanted to kill me, her mother?”

Diana laughed this time. “She didn’t want Uruguay authorities dispatched to your location.”

“I thought so.” Emily replied, the smugness evident.

“You don’t get it, do you?” Diana said, gleefully continuing as she delivered a lethal, verbal blow. “Kara is afraid of the world knowing a psychopath is related to her. You embarrass her… she is ashamed of you and she wants you caught, hidden, then dead.

“Tell me I’m lying, Emily. Kara… wants… you… dead.

“That’s why she doesn’t want authorities getting their hands on you. She wants the world to forget you exist… she wants to forget you exist.

“Ask yourself why I sent Victor Sage after you and not the authorities when she traced your location. She wants you dead you psychotic bitch.

“I know exactly what she wants. I have always known and will give her what she wants… what she needs… just like I always have.”

There was silence on the other end or a few moments.

“You are lying. You have to be.” Emily’s tone wasn’t as sure now, Diana could detect the hesitation, so she went for a verbal kill.

“Yet, I can tell by your voice, you know I am not.” Diana stated confidently.

A holographic screen popped up in front of her and internally, she groaned. Apparently, the call was originating from an airport near Madrid, Spain.

“So where is your next destination? You’ve been to South America, now you are in Spain, no doubt about to board a flight under a false passport.” Diana said, wanting to further throw the woman off‑balance. “How long do you think you can run from me, Emily? I run this world while you are just hiding in it. No one can hide from me forever.”

“I’m not running from you. I am preparing.” Emily responded angrily. “If I can’t have Kara, I will make sure she is free from your control. I’m going to kill you, Diana. I’m going to beat you to death like I beat my parents. You don’t have as much meat on your bones so you likely won’t last as long but I will enjoy every second of it. You won’t control Kara’s life any longer. My face will be the last thing you see in this world.”

“Time and place, Parlow. I told you I would come alone.”

“When the time is right, I’ll see you when you least expect it. You are not untouchable, Diana Wayne. A gun, a rock, a baseball bat, a brick, they are all great equalizers. Ask the junkie who shot your billionaire parents. They didn’t walk around with security either. I suspect you picked up your arrogance from your father along with his other nasty traits. He got taken out by a junkie, let his wife be killed, left his son’s fate in the hands of the man that murdered his wife. He was arrogant and weak.” Emily almost snarled at the woman she hated.

“And you are a dead woman walking, Emily Parlow.” Diana promised her. “You can’t hide from me forever. You say I think I’m untouchable… it’s because I am… and you have no idea what I am truly capable of.

“This has been a fun chat but I do have work to do. I promise you, we will see each other very soon, Parlow. In fact, I look forward to it.”

Diana hung up the phone and immediately called Vic Sage.

“I’m trying.” He answered, sounding out of breath, obviously on the move. “The woman is smart as hell.”

“She is in Madrid Airport, about to board a plane. Find out what ID she is using and track her, Victor. I want her and I want her very soon. Two million when you find her. If you don’t, you can run and hide alongside her.”

Diana ended the call and sat back, determined to calm herself.

After a few moments she decided she would take a ride to the police department to speak to Commissioner Gordon. Whether she told Kara or not, the boy Parlow had killed deserved to be returned to his family.

---

Gotham City Police Department

Downtown Precinct

When Diana reached the department with Tatsu by her side, the station house quieted. They all knew who she was of course but despite what Wayne Enterprises did for the department, Diana Wayne was not a regular visitor to any precinct.

She walked past the desk sergeant, giving the man a smile and wave, then marched into the bullpen, Tatsu silently by her side, her katana on her back, neither asking permission. The two women were nearly dressed identically, both dressed in black pants and shirts but where Tatsu wore a red jacket, Diana wore green.

Diana knocked on Jim’s door and he opened it quickly. Tatsu nodded to her, positioning herself just outside the door, watching over the still silent police precinct as Jim Gordon closed his blinds.

“I didn’t expect you so soon.” The Commissioner commented. “At least you call to give me warning, unlike your brother.”

Jim noticed Diana wasn’t in the mood for even slight teasing and got to the point. “What is this urgent information you needed to tell me about?”

Diana sighed, sitting in a chair in front of his desk. “I had a talk with Emily Parlow not an hour ago.”

Gordon’s eyes widened, taking the seat across from her, not bothering with the chair behind his desk. “Did she say where she was?”

Diana shook her head. “I tracked her to the Madrid Airport. She was no doubt about to change locations. Earlier this week she was in Uruguay.”

Jim nodded. “This is going to be a cold case, isn’t it, Diana?”

Diana raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Jim sat back. “I mean she is going to disappear, right? She will be caught but she is never going to stand trial.”

Diana stared at Jim, not saying a word.

He finally became uncomfortable as most people did when confronted with Diana’s heavy silence.

“Parlow called. She isn’t in the country. What can I do for you, Diana?” Jim asked.

Diana sighed. “We both know why Parlow is obsessed with Kara.”

Gordon nodded.

“I asked her who Kara’s birth father was.” Diana told him. “I had a suspicion. When we first began the manhunt, I hired Victor Sage to find her. You remember Victor?”

Gordon nodded. He didn’t ask why Diana didn’t send Victor to the police to offer assistance like back in the days when he helped take down the mob. He knew what was going on. Diana wanted Parlow brought in off the grid and taken out, probably by A.R.G.U.S. who took out Crane.

“Sage found out that a boyfriend she had in high school when she was sixteen, disappeared, never to be seen again. The boy’s name was Richard Penrose. His father believes the night he disappeared, he was going to see Emily. The father swears she killed him.

“She is also suspected of killing a girl she went to school with when she was fourteen, most likely leading to her father working for Falconè in exchange for his help in hiding the body and stamping out the investigation. The timing of those things based on what we know is consistent.” Diana explained.

Jim nodded, making a note to find and open a cold case but doubting it would ever be solved.

“I asked Parlow who Kara’s birth father was, and she confirmed it was Penrose. She told me he wanted her to get an abortion so she killed him and then pushed his car off a cliff on the southside of Stratford Lake. I am sure if you look there, you will find him. There can’t be many secluded places where two cars could park and the correct incline for a sixteen-year-old girl to push a car into the lake. His father deserves to bury his body.”

Gordon thought of that for a moment. “How sure are you that this Penrose…”

“Sage found out that there was a history of immune system disorders that happened every two or three generations.”

Gordon closed his eyes, feeling a headache coming on. That left no room for doubt.

“Does Kara know?” He asked.

Diana shook her head. “She has been through a lot the past couple weeks.”

“Are you going to tell her?”

Diana felt a sharp pain in her gut at the thought.

She sighed. “I don’t want to, but I can’t keep this from her. She has a right to know.”

Gordon thought about what the last few weeks had been like for her and was very glad he didn’t have to have that conversation.

“If he is there, he will be a skeleton. I will likely need DNA to confirm his identity. If his DNA pops up, it could set off red flags. He will also be a murder victim who the murderer confessed to killing. This is going to be tricky, Diana.”

Diana stood up and ran her hands through her hair. She turned away from Jim for a moment and when she turned back, he saw her eyes were red.

“I don’t know what to do, Jim. This whole situation has me reeling. She told me… she told me Harvey knew who she was and kept it from me. Do you think that could be true? Harvey wouldn’t hide something like that from me, would he, Jim?”

Jim stood up and wrapped his arms around the young woman, pulling her into a hug.

Diana rested her head on his shoulder and sniffled, trying to get control of herself.

When she finally did, she pulled back and retook her seat. Jim passed her a box of Kleenex, also resuming his seat.

“I hate to say this, Diana and I don’t want to upset you, but I’ve been giving it a lot of thought. There is no way in my mind, that Harvey didn’t know her and Kara’s relationship was more than coworkers. I don’t think he ever suspected how psychotic she really was… is, but he knew Parlow was her… you know.”

“Damn him!” Diana said, clenching her teeth to keep from screaming and alerting the entire precinct who were no doubt curious as to why she was there. “We made him, Jim! I brought him up from a basement office to the man who took out organized crime in Gotham. I was going to make him Mayor in a few years when Andrew moved on to bigger things! Why would he do that to me? How could he keep something like that from me?!”

Gordon sat back and closed his eyes. “She may be psychotic, but she is also a sociopath. She manipulates people, Diana. She seduced him… and he fell in love with her. I’m not excusing it, but I don’t believe he did it maliciously. He probably had no clue Emily was as obsessed as she was. He most likely though she was just a… mother trying to spend time around the daughter she abandoned long ago in secret.”

“That is no excuse, Jim. I thought he was stronger than that. I didn’t think he was the sort of man who would be manipulated by a woman because she screwed him. That weak bastard. We trusted him. We brought him into our circle, made him more than he could ever be on his own and that is how he repays me?” Diana ended in a whisper and wiped her eyes with Kleenex.

Gordon shook his head. He couldn’t justify it, but he wasn’t surprised the more he thought of it.

Harvey was lonely. Law was his life, he never connected with women that well and there was only one woman he was in love with before he met Parlow.

Harvey was in love with Diana, the woman he could never have, the one who saw him as a close friend while she dated a fighter pilot in the Air Force. Then along comes a beautiful blonde woman, intelligent, interested in him and she gave him what he didn’t even know he needed. Parlow knew though… she knew what he needed and gave it to him.

Diana considered his words in light of what she now knew. Harvey fit Parlow’s plans so well. He gave Emily a way to join Wayne Family get-togethers and used him to learn much about Diana and Kara that she may not have otherwise known.

Her train of thought was interrupted by Jim’s next words. “Look, everybody saw you come in, so I can’t say I got an anonymous tip on where this kid’s body is. Let’s give it a week or so. I’ll mention to Bulloch and Montoya that Parlow called and you came here to talk about it. Bulloch won’t keep his mouth shut and everybody will assume that is the reason you came here today.

“As far as the kid, next week I’ll say I got an anonymous tip about his cold case, canvass the lake for possible locations and send dive teams out there to search the area. I’ll make sure Eliza gets the DNA to test and confirm identity, maybe erase any links to Kara’s DNA. I’m sure she has her ways.”

“Next week?” Diana asked.

“The kid has been down there for close to twenty-three years, Diana. A few more days to make sure no one connects you visiting me with this tip, is not going to make a difference.”

Diana nodded and motioned to leave. Jim stood up and walked to open the door but she hugged him before he could. “Thank you, Jim. For everything.”

“Look, Diana, I know how you are about loyalty and family. I think we both know Harvey got played but try to remember the good he did. No matter what, that man loved you. He never would have wanted you or Kara hurt.”

Diana pulled away and smiled at him, offering no comment. Nothing needed to be said. If Harvey was still alive and she found out he knew, he would have felt the full extent of her rage.

But what could be done now? Harvey was dead. He had paid the ultimate price for being manipulated by her. There would be the point of cursing him besides driving herself crazy which was exactly what Parlow wanted.

Diana walked through the bullpen which was no longer silent, instead filled with whispered conversation and police officers doing their best not to look at her while doing exactly that.

When they reached Diana’s Mercedes, Tatsu adjusted Soultaker and strapped into the passenger’s seat, as Diana would drive like always.

“You are not okay.” She said.

Diana shook her head. “No, I am not.”

“It must be frustrating, someone with so much power as I feel from you, able to do nothing about this Parlow woman. The man you have chasing her is an idiot. I can find her easily and dispatch her or bring her before you. Let me do this for you.”

Diana wouldn’t hear it. “Your only worry is taking care of Violet. I know you are capable but as I have told you before, you are not some hitman to send after my enemies. I appreciate your wish to do so, and your loyalty, but she will come to me eventually. This only ends one way. She dies and I will be the one to kill her.”

Tatsu nodded. “As you say.”

---

Gotham Speedway, Saturday night

Kara and John Blake sat in the stands of the Gotham Speedway, unrecognized by the many people surrounding them.

John had messed up his hair a bit at Diggle’s suggestion and his annoyance. He wore a hooded sweatshirt and old blue jeans. The hood stayed up as, while he wasn’t exactly famous, he could be recognized.

Kara was dressed much the same way, old blue jeans, an oversized black sweatshirt, and her hood up. She had worn contacts tonight, rather than her trademark glasses the public was used to seeing her in. She had thought of a wig but decided against it, not liking the way it felt. Since Diana wanted her hair to be long and hang freely with her natural, blonde curls for the wedding, she couldn’t die her hair darker yet. It was something she had thought of for a while, along with a shorter cut that may change her look to more of a stylish adult, rather than a long-haired, blonde child.

Instead, she had tied her hair in a tight bun to be covered.

They were both unrecognizable in her opinion but he still looked the same to her. She could pick him out easily in a crowd. She recognized his scent as well, the shampoo he used, the body spray, even the soap.

Kara decided she paid way too much attention to John Blake and his hygiene products.

“You ever think about building one of these?” he asked her, then stuffed a nacho in his face, full of cheese, chili, brisket, and jalapenos.

“Ohm ‘orse.” Kara answered as she took a bite.

Blake looked at her with a smile on his face, waiting for her to finish.

“Of course.” She answered once she swallowed. “But Diana would freak. These things are so dangerous.”

Blake smiled and wiped cheese off her cheek. “And the cars you drive aren’t?”

Kara shrugged. “Diana is always with me when I drive fast. Most of the time I have a driver.”

Blake laughed. “What the hell is Diana being there going to do if you lose control?”

Kara smirked then frowned, remembering he didn’t know Diana would cover Kara’s body in a split second and break them free of the car before the crash.

“You know Diana. Control freak.” She answered nonchalantly.

In between races, they talked about traveling.

“The Sphinx or Machu Picchu?” she asked.

“Machu Picchu.” He answered immediately. “I would love to see the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids one day, but I’ve had enough of the desert the past few years to last me for a while. The jungle sounds like a blast.

“The Acropolis of Athens, or the Great Wall of China?”

“The Great Wall is thirteen thousand miles… could I drive a dirt bike on top of it like Angelina Jolie did in the Tomb Raider movie?”

Blake thought about it. “You probably could but the rest of us would wind up in a Chinese prison, so let’s say no.”

“Huh… Acropolis, hands down then.” She answered. “Petra or Stonehenge?”

Blake opened his mouth then closed it. Not sure what to say.

“Pick one, loser.”

“Petra.” He blurted out.

“Are you sure?”

Blake nodded.

“You said you were tired of sand.” Kara reminded him.

He shrugged. “Stonehenge is too small, not worth the trip.”

“Jackson Square, New Orleans, or the strip in Vegas?”

“Jackson Square.” Kara answered immediately.

Before they could carry on their game, the next race was announced.

It was two seconds in when the car exploded.

They both winced but relaxed when the driver emerged unscathed and the fire crews rushed onto scene.

Kara noticed the security personnel in the stands surrounding her, including Dig, had stood and began to move towards her, pushing people aside until they realized the explosion was not a direct threat to her. Dig had agreed that she didn’t have to wear her watch tonight to give her privacy but that concession made him extra jumpy. She appreciated his efforts so much. She almost felt as if her every move wasn’t being watched.

Blake didn’t notice the security men move towards them, his eyes focused on the strip.

“What do you think? Unburned fuel buildup in the engine?” he asked Kara.

She watched the fire crews put out the fire with sharp eyes. “Yes, the engine block is cracked. Most likely what happened.”

The two continued to chow down on nachos, polishing them off, then called out to a man selling drinks and chilidogs.

“I am going to regret this in the morning.” Kara told him. “I doubt I will swim or run in the morning.”

“Me either.”

The two finished off their chilidogs and the races were winding to a close.

“It’s earlier than I expected.” Blake realized. “You need to get home, or you want to hit up a bar?”

Kara thought about it and smiled.

“There is a place I want to show you, a floor in the Tower. Interested?”

Blake nodded. “I’m down for whatever you want.”

Blake drove the two in his Cheville, making sure to keep to the speed limit, ensuring the black SUVs following him could keep up but stay a reasonable distance away from the ones in front of him. He had texted Dig with their destination and path to allow him to prepare and clear the way. Dig had been a good sport about this, and he wanted to alleviate the man’s concerns as much as possible.

They pulled into the underground parking garage and Dig caught Kara before she could enter the elevator.

“What’s going on?”

“We are going to the ballistics lab and firing range.” Kara explained. “Cover the under and over floors. I’ll call you before we leave.”

“I could stay on the floor, out of your way.” He pointed out.

Kara nodded. “Yes, you could… but I wish you wouldn’t. Please, Dig? We won’t be long.”

Dig fought his instinct to be with her at all times as he had all night and admitted to himself that being in the Tower alone, confined to one floor was safer than her being at a public racing track, surrounded by hundreds.

He smiled and waved her to the elevator.

The elevator rose quickly to the eighty-sixth floor. When they stepped out, Blake gasped.

The sheer number of guns on the walls, blew him away. Kara took his hand and walked past the lab, the benches, and desks into the armory.

“You are seriously the best date ever.” He told her, looking around with a rapt expression on his face.

Kara handed him an automatic rifle. He tried to place it but was unable. It resembled an M27 Infantry rifle, yet it was different. The slot for the clip was smaller, the body shaft slightly larger and the barrel shorter.

“What is this?”

“The K177. This one has passed over one thousand live fire tests. It took a while, but I finally got it right. This is the next generation assault rifle that will be used by basic infantry. I have different weapons developed for special forces, based on their different needs but this will be the finest weapon on any battlefield. It fires a 5.56-millimeter hollow point armor shattering rounds and can hold over a hundred of them. They are shaved down to lighten the load but just as powerful.”

Blake shook his head, amazed at the design. “One hundred rounds? How big is the clip?”

“Six inches high, three inches wide. The bullets are automatically lifted from the clip into the body of the gun. That’s why the stock is wider. Once it is empty, you place a clip in, the bullets are magnetically brought into the weapon and the clip is dropped.”

“Jamming?” Blake asked. “Overheating?”

Kara shook her head and touched the gun in his hands. “Over one thousand rounds per test, no overheating, no jams. It’s my next gen assault rifle. The next series of rifles are lasers.”

Blake raised an eyebrow. “Lasers? Like sci‑fi lasers?”

Kara nodded. “I already have lasers in other weapons. It’s just a matter of adapting them to field use in shorter ranges.”

Blake shook his head. “How much of this is top secret?”

Kara smirked. “All of it, so if you say anything, I will have to kill you. But seriously, since these haven’t been officially bought by the government yet, they don’t fall under the official top secret security clearance protocols. I’m showing you because I trust you, John. So… want to give that rifle a try?”

Without waiting for an answer, Kara grabbed one off the wall and a few clips. She showed Blake how to load them and he was amazed at how simple it was.

They walked into a large room, filled with padded barriers in a maze.

“Targets pop up and will shoot you with paintballs. It takes us both to get across. Dig and I have the record time using these rifles. We also have handgun times. You take right, I take left?”

“Hell, yes!”

Kara handed him a pair of goggles and earmuffs. She flipped on his laser sight and then hers.

Kara called out for Athena to block all record and recordings of this floor and to start simulation.

The two waited and in seconds the first target popped up and they began, firing with precision, working in perfect unity, Kara taking targets on the left while hurdling barriers and moving around them while Blake did the same on the right, crawling under some of those barriers.

After taking out twenty targets apiece and covering fifty yards they both reached the timer, Blake pushing it a second before Kara.

The two looked at the board and saw they were ten seconds behind her and Dig’s time.

They both walked back to the beginning, took off their sweatshirts and prepared again. Kara pulled her hair out of a bun into a ponytail and Blake jumped up and down a few times to limber up.

This time they were three seconds faster than Dig and Kara’s time.

When they walked back, they were both sweating but elated, running on a high.

“Best date ever.” Blake admitted to which Kara smiled.

“I get to plan the next one, and you have to do whatever I want.” Kara told him.

“Deal.”

“I have your word?” she asked.

Blake nodded. “Whatever you want to do.”

“Good, we will double with Diana and Steve next weekend and take a flight to New Orleans. They can do their thing and we can hang out in Jackson Square and visit Jazz clubs.”

Blake smiled, realizing he was caught and had given his word.

“I know you are working doubles this week so you have next weekend off, right?” she reminded him.

“I think you know my schedule, better than I do.”

“I do.” She admitted.

She pulled him close and kissed him passionately. He returned the kiss with equal desire.

“Being around guns gets me so worked up.” Kara admitted, pulling off his shirt.

“Me too.” He admitted, responding in kind.

The next morning, they woke up on the floor, Kara on top of him, his arms around her.

She saw the daylight outside and their clothes strewn over the floor.

“Oh, no.” she whispered.

“Don’t tell me you regret it.” He said, eyes still closed.

“No! It was great. I haven’t done that in almost four years and wow it was really, really good… how long has it been for you? You were really good. Was I good? I must have been, right? You seemed really happy.”

“You were very good, I was very happy and I haven’t done it since before I left for the Marines. I guess we bring out the best in each other when it comes to certain things. I don’t regret it. So why did you say ‘oh, no’?”

“Because it is morning time.”

“Yeah?”

“And I have had Dig and my security team waiting for us to leave all night long.” Kara reminded him.

Blake’s eyes shot open. “Oh, no.”

“Exactly.”

He sighed. “May as well face the music. At least neither of us will have to do the walk of shame alone. I realize we didn’t plan that, first date and all. I hope you are okay with it.”

Kara blew it off. “The first time Diana met Steve she tore a cheap headboard in half and he could barely walk straight the next morning. I loved last night. So… we are like together, right?”

Blake smirked. “You want me to write a note with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ box to check?”

Kara slapped his chest. “New Orleans, next weekend. On me, whether you like it or not.”

The two saw it was almost eight a.m. and slowly made their way to the floor below where Dig joined them in the elevator. His eyes appeared very tired and he was obviously exhausted. They said good morning to him.

Staring at them, he said nothing for a long moment. “I’m sure it is a good morning for you two. I stayed awake all night, on guard, playing Solitaire on a computer. I can smell gunpowder. Were you using the obstacle range and live rounds?”

“Yeah, we beat your time, Dig,” Blake said, smiling until he saw the look on the big guy’s face. “… and that probably isn’t relevant now.”

“Sorry?” Kara offered.

Dig stood straight, adjusting his suit, obviously not amused.

Kara kissed Blake goodbye in the garage and got into an SUV next to Dig in the back while another security guard drove the SUV to the manor.

When they entered, Diana, Steve, Bruce and Alfred were waiting.

“I understand you were not having a sleepover at Barbara Gordon’s last night.” Alfred said, obviously not amused either. He turned and walked away without another word.

Steve and Diana were smirking at her, fighting back smiles. Bruce just shook his head, trying not to laugh and failing miserably, walked out toward the kitchen. Diana bumped Steve and, with a look, he left as Hippolyta made her way down the grand staircase to greet her.

“I heard you had sex last night.” The former queen said in a congratulatory tone. “I hope he gave you pleasure. Most men seem to have problems with that.”

Kara’s eyes widened, stunned silent until she realized Hippolyta was expecting an answer.

“He was… great.” She squeaked out, her voice rose in pitch, feeling the blush climbing up her cheeks.

“Excellent.” Hippolyta smiled widely. “Shall we play a round of golf? I believe I am becoming very good, much better than Diana.”

Kara looked at Dig.

“I’m going to sleep. Don’t leave the manor.” He told her, walking off.

Kara smiled at the woman and nodded. “Let me change and we can play.”

Diana followed Kara and jumped on her bed, laying back with a smile on her face.

“Well?”

“Well, what?” Kara asked, her face reddening.

“Tell me details. Was he good?” Her sister asked, a devilish grin on her face.

“I don’t want to talk about this.” Kara told her.

Diana shook her head. “Oh no, no, no, little sister. From the time you turned sixteen, every single time I went out or did anything with a guy, you bugged me for details. I had to heavily edit what happened but I gave in. Now you are going to deny me? Hell, no. I want details. Was he good?”

Kara smiled and nodded.

“Did you…”

Kara nodded happily.

“More than…”

Kara nodded once again.

Diana sat up from the bed swiftly, pulling Kara to her before the younger woman could react and hugged her tight. “I’m so happy for you. For once, that look on Alfred’s face wasn’t reserved or directed towards me. My baby sister is all grown up now.

“Get dressed. I feel like a round of golf too.”

Despite the fun of Sunday, reality crashed back in on Monday.

Kara had a great weekend but Diana knew she couldn’t protect her forever. Diana decided that, while some secrets were best kept from Kara for her own wellbeing, some would be harder to keep and if they came out, Kara would lose trust in Diana. She had no choice but to tell her sister about Penrose.

“What’s up?” Kara asked, walking in after Diana had called her. Despite Diana’s playful mood the day before, something was obviously bothering her today.

“I have something to tell you. I spoke to Emily last Friday.”

Kara tensed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you were busy with your scientist friends and then busy preparing for your date. I had no intention of keeping it from you.”

“How did she get your number?”

Diana sighed. “I have had all unknown calls to your phone routed to mine.”

Kara began to speak but Diana raised a hand. “You had a panic attack the last time you spoke to her. You will not talk to her again. Do we understand each other, Kara?”

Kara thought of arguing but realized she really didn’t want to talk to Emily again. She was irritated at Diana for taking the choice from her but knew Diana made the decision with her best interests at heart.

It still annoyed her. It annoyed her greatly, no matter how much she understood Diana’s reasons.

“I would appreciate the next time you make decisions for my own good you tell me so I can appreciate how much you do for me.” Kara replied, her irritation easy for Diana to see.

Diana sighed, hoping Kara would have just nodded and understood as she once did.

“I’m assuming she isn’t going to turn herself in.” Kara said. “Why are you telling me this?”

Diana looked towards the window and then back across her desk. She stood and took Kara’s hand, walking her to the couch where they sat, still holding hands.

“You are scaring me, Diana.”

Diana squeezed her hands, hoping to offer her little sister some reassurance. “I know. I need to speak to you about… your birth father.”

Kara cringed. “Please tell me he isn’t a serial killer in prison.”

Diana shook her head. “According to Emily, she killed him when he asked her to get an abortion. She told me where his body was. It will be discovered by Jim at the end of this week.”

Kara was shocked, unable to speak.

Diana’s brow furrowed in distress. “Kara? Are you okay, Sweetie?”

Kara was motionless for several moments, then shrugged, coming out of her frozen state. “I told John we would go on a double date this coming weekend with you and Steve to New Orleans. I want to be alone with him, but I know you and I need to be in close proximity to each other. We can make that happen, right?”

Diana knew immediately what Kara was doing. The information was too much so she would brush it aside and focus on something else.

“Yeah, Sweetie, we can make that happen.” She answered, accepting Kara’s change of topic. “I don’t think Steve has ever been to New Orleans. We can be close but do our own thing.”

Kara nodded. “Thanks. I need to get back to work. I have quite a few experiments and test runs to conduct this afternoon. I ordered soil and grass samples from the area Pam disappeared in and they were delivered this morning. They are in a sealed clean room so they aren’t the easiest to work with. See you later.”

Kara stopped at the door.

Turning back to Diana, she asked, “What was his name?”

“Richard Penrose.” Diana told her without missing a beat.

Kara nodded, then walked out, Diana’s door closing behind her, ending the conversation.

Diana was feeling a bit sick. She now wondered if she made the right choice. She had hoped Kara would want to talk about it, her feelings, her thoughts… her fears. Instead, she made it known for the first time in a while, she wasn’t happy with Diana making decisions for her, then walked out once the initial shock had worn off.

She just needed time so Diana would give her time and it would be better. She would apologize for keeping secrets, promise to keep no more and try to stick to that policy.

The secrets she already had from Kara would stay secret. No matter how much she grew, Kara was still a child in many ways, vulnerable to the harsh realities of the world and Diana would protect her heart whether she liked it or not.