Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Wayne Legacy: Rise

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 10:

Eglin Air Force Base

Destin/Fort Walton Beach, FL

Three years ago

Diana and Kara Wayne walked into Hanger 23 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, both nervous but hiding it well.

Kara had graduated from Gotham University’s Technical Engineering School with a doctorate only five months before at the tender age of eighteen. This was her first big project presentation… a revolutionary, military aircraft she had designed and developed herself.

At twenty-five, Diana had been handed the reins to Wayne Enterprises as undisputed CEO after four years of shadowing Lucius Fox and gradually taking on more responsibility over those years. This would be the first business visit and product demonstration Diana had overseen without Lucius by her side.

Wayne Enterprises had been doing well and would continue to do well. This deal would not make or break the company, but Diana and Kara wanted this deal badly. Diana wanted to begin taking over the military-industrial complex and Kara wanted her toys, as she lovingly referred to her creations, in the air fighting for the country their parents had raised them to be proud of.

“Just relax.” Diana whispered.

“I am relaxed.” Kara replied just as softly.

“I was talking to myself, Bunny.” Diana told her quietly.

Kara rolled her eyes. “Please do not call me ‘Bunny’ in this meeting, Didi. No one is going to buy a fighter jet made by someone called ‘Bunny’. Just be your charming self and let me do the talking about the product. When they see how awesome it is and realize they can’t live without it, you step in and take them for billions.”

At the far end of the huge hanger was a table with two laptops hooked up to two docking stations and external monitors.

Surrounding the table stood the Chiefs of Staff from the four branches of the military, the Defense Secretary to the President, and Congressman Bradley Milton of the House Armed Services Committee. Their family friend, General Sam Lane, was standing with a group of officers off to the side.

Diana felt slightly out of place among the uniforms. She was wearing a stylish black pantsuit while her sister was dressed in a pale blue conservative dress. Kara had opted not to wear her glasses, much to Diana’s consternation, because she wanted to appear more confident whether she felt it or not. They both wore their hair in tight buns and Diana wondered if they looked too conservative, or maybe not conservative enough. Usually, Lucius suggested the manner of clothes she should wear to this type meeting and would have a personal shopper handle the clothes for both of them. This time, the man told her she was on her own.

Regardless of her young age, she was the majority owner and CEO of one of the largest companies in the world, and it was time to sink or swim.

Diana prayed she could swim.

General Lane smiled at her and gave her a subtle nod, giving her confidence. She set her face into one of complete conviction and approached the assembly, offering her hand to each of the men around the table, while her shyer sister stayed glued to her side.

“Gentlemen, I am thankful you have agreed to give our newest product a test. I think you will find it far beyond the aircraft you have now.” She told them without the slightest sign of nerves.

“This is the biggest military project Wayne Enterprises has ever offered. I think we are anxious to see what you have come up with.” Congressman Milton offered. “Kara, you made quite the name for yourself in college. Our engineers have been over the diagrams and are quite impressed. All we need now is to see how it performs in a real world setting.”

While the congressman addressed the Wayne sisters, a man entered the hanger from the tarmac dressed in a flight suit, a helmet in one hand.

“Diana, Kara, this is Captain Steve Trevor.” General Lane introduced the newcomer. “He will be testing your new craft. He has six years flight experience and is qualified on four types of combat aircraft.”

“Six years?” Kara stepped up beside Diana, her shyness gone as her focus zeroed in on the pilot. She looked at the general, stating, “I’m afraid you will need someone more qualified. The KWK-1 is capable of maneuvers that pilots can only pull off with much more experience.”

Captain Trevor smirked at the girl. “Ma’am, if it has wings, I can fly it better than any pilot in the world. Trust me, I will give your aircraft a workout that you couldn’t imagine. I only hope these specs are as promised, so I don’t stall out in the sky and see you all on the ground sooner than expected.”

The man took a long look at Diana and offered her a small smile despite her scowl. He had challenged Kara and that was a sin in Diana’s book. Kara was the most intelligent woman in every room she walked in. Now a cocky air jockey questioned her work.

“If you are as good as you seem to think you are, Captain Trevor, you will have no problems.” Diana told him coolly.

The group stood by the table making small talk for the next ten minutes until Captain Trevor was in the air. The live views from the cockpit were displayed on one laptop and while four separate angles were showing on the attached monitors. The monitors attached to the other laptop were showing views from drones following the jet.

The demonstration was impressive, Captain Trevor taking the plane through several maneuvers.

“No!” Kara spoke up after watching for around fifteen minutes. “He isn’t doing anything that an F-18 can’t do. Can I talk to him? Is there a radio or something here?”

General Lane nodded to an assistant and Kara quickly had a headset in her hands.

“Trevor? I thought you were a test pilot. Did you read my report on what the craft is capable of?” Kara asked.

“That’s an affirmative.” He replied and even through the radio they could hear a bit of humor.

“Then put it through the paces or land and I’ll fly it. The thrust vector on this craft is like nothing on the market. My thrust to weight ratio is perfect. Pull a Cobra.” Kara ordered the cocky pilot.

Hearing nothing, Kara called out again. “Did you copy, hotshot? You fly like an old lady drives. Use it or lose it.”

Nothing was said on the radio for a few moments.

“Miss Wayne,” Captain Trevor finally called out, “this jet is the smoothest ride I have ever had. I realize it is designed to rely on power, not just aerodynamics, but I am not performing a Cobra on the first flight.”

“The jet can handle a Herbst maneuver and fire while stalled in the air, locked onto an aggressor and perform a Kulbit once the aggressor passes. The stall out time is less than three seconds, with no open windows.” Kara insisted.

“Bullshit,” was Captain Trevor’s short reply.

Kara turned red, her jaw clenched, and her eyes seemed to burn in her frustration. She indicated to the tech manning the drone laptop to let her have his seat. Once the general ordered him to comply, she sat, taking control over the drones. A few clicks on the keyboard and the visual changed. Though there were multiple drones following and recording the jet’s performance, one was obviously now under Kara’s control.

“Did she just hack into one of our drones?” an officer asked in disbelief.

“Yes, she did… in less than five seconds.” Diana confirmed proudly. “We can fix that for a reasonable price.”

Hearing only General Lane chuckling among the stunned silence of the other officers, Diana smirked and kept her eyes on her little sister as Kara addressed the pilot.

“I’m in control of a bogey behind you, Captain Trevor. If I get a chance, I will ram this drone into your underside, and you can test the ejection system.” Kara warned him.

“What do you mean… whoa!” Steve yelled, when a drone suddenly flew past his wing, the jet wash way too close for comfort.

“I’m moving to an attack position.” Kara informed him. “You have one chance to take me out. I can guarantee you won’t outfly me. You can run but you can’t hide. When I close in and get a lock, pull off a Herbst, lock on then… you know what? You figure it out. That is my jet though and I will not hesitate to blow it and you out of the sky. Happy hunting.”

For the next ten minutes, Steve and Kara chased each other in the air, neither giving an inch but neither winning. Finally, Kara came in behind too close and Steve thrusted forward, then dipped, the plane nose pointing up and the body rising while the drone blew past under the jet. Captain Trevor followed Kara’s suggestion and brought the plane out of the stall in a Kulbit maneuver, locked on within two seconds and fired. Kara pointed her drone to the ground at high speed and dove, her only hope of avoiding the explosion.

She also knew the football-sized missile she had designed would not let the drone escape as it followed her into the dive.

Kara’s laptop screen showed a simulated catastrophic hit as the sounds of the drone being struck by the non-explosive missile rang in the hanger.

“I can’t believe he pulled off that move.” One of the officers mumbled, the others nodding in agreement, stunned at the versatility, maneuverability and raw power of the jet, not to mention the incredible missile it fired.

“Nice Job, Captain Trevor. How did it feel?” Kara asked, a pleased expression on her face.

“I don’t think I have ever felt this way in a cockpit in my life! This beauty is amazing! If they don’t want to buy them, I’ll take one.” He offered, obviously exhilarated.

“One will cost ninety-eight million dollars.” Kara pointed out, laughing at his exuberance.

“Will you take a check? It’s so worth it.” He promised.

Kara put down her headphones and stood up, taking in the assembled crowd and her extremely proud sister.

“So… what do you think?” She asked the still stunned group. “By the way, I have drones that are a whole lot better than the one I just flew. Just an offer, if you are ever interested. It was also easy to break into your system simply using one of your own laptops which can be easily stolen by intelligence services. I can fix that too, but we are here about the jet.”

The General of the Air Force shook his head, smiling and offered his hand to Kara. “I think I want your planes, Ma’am… and if you could fix the cyber security leak that would be appreciated. I also want to see a demonstration of these drones you mentioned.”

Kara nodded to her obviously pleased sister. “She handles the business end of things. I’m just the mechanic. Diana?”

The woman wrapped an arm around her little sister and smiled brightly. “You heard her, officers. Ninety-eight million per. Let’s talk how many and how soon, shall we?”

When the meeting let out three hours later, Diana having secured an agreement for two hundred of the fighters for deployment in the next year, Steve Trevor had made his way towards the two young women. He stepped in front of Kara and offered his hand which she took without hesitation.

“Miss Wayne, that was the healthiest, most fulfilling romantic relationship I have ever had in my entire life. Thank you for letting me fly her.” He replied, a huge grin on his face and a twinkle in his eyes.

Kara giggled, pleased at the praise. “You worked magic with her, Captain. Thanks to your flying, it looks like you will have many other chances to take her into the air.”

Diana cleared her throat. “We have a verbal agreement for the first run. Our legal team will be here in the morning to clash with your bosses on the details for the next few weeks.”

Steve raised an eyebrow. “So, you are going to be here a few weeks?”

Diana shook her head. “Our part of this negotiation is done. Legal gets paid to handle the details. Whatever they may need from us can be handled from Gotham and we have other projects that require our attention. We will be flying out in the morning.”

Steve looked disappointed. “I thought you might enjoy some Florida sun, maybe hit the beach or golf course or whatever rich people do. I’m here for a couple days. Since I will probably never see you again, let me buy the two of you a drink tonight.”

Diana immediately shook her head. “Kara is too young to drink, and we should…”

“I should get some sleep, it’s been a long few days, but Diana would be glad too.” Kara cut in.

Diana looked at her sharply and Kara grabbed her arm, pulling her away a distance and turning their backs to the man.

“What are you doing?” she asked her little sister.

“Uh, reminding you that I don’t need a babysitter. The guards will be there, and I’ll get some sleep. Go out with him.”

“Why?” Diana asked, curious at why Kara was pushing this.

“Have you seen him? I thought I was the one with bad eyesight. Look, he is obviously into you and if he is good at handling fast and powerful machines, he can keep up with you. When’s the last time you… you know… got laid?”

“None of your business, brat!” Diana told her, though holding back a smile.

“That long, huh? Come on, Diana, we got a big win today. We got a huge win today! I can hear Lex Luthor crying from Metropolis. Go relax, give him a look. Try him out.” Kara encouraged her reluctant sibling.

Diana looked over her shoulder and saw Steve standing patiently while the sisters had their discussion. “He does have a certain appeal though I thought we would celebrate together. Maybe have ice cream and watch movies, stay up a little later than normal, maybe even go to the pool or walk the beach.”

Kara shook her head. “Please, Didi? You have been really tense lately. It would make me happy if you had some fun yourself. You need it. I might take a short walk along the beach before bed, but I promise to have the guards with me. Now go. Please get laid and relax.”

Diana turned and walked up to the man. “We have rented out the ‘Residence Inn’ in Fort Walton Beach. Meet me in front in an hour. You are driving.”

Steve smiled, nodding. “I know where that is, I’m just down the road at the ‘Seabreeze’. I will see you in an hour.”

Diana agreed and the two sisters hurried to the car.

After changing out of her pantsuit into black jeans, a white shirt and a light, black jacket, Diana met him in the lobby. They walked without a word to the front where a red, Corvette convertible sat waiting for them.

“Impressive.” Diana told him, wondering how an Air Force Captain could afford a car like this.

“My commanding officer let me organize the details of my trip here. I figured the Air Force wouldn’t mind if it rented a Corvette for their top test pilot to use for a couple days. What are you in the mood for?”

Diana shook her head, smiling at his cheekiness. “You asked me for a drink, Captain. This is all on you so show me a good time. My sister told me I really needed one.”

Steve pulled up to a bar overlooking the water that had seen better days but there was live music on a small stage and the sunset was beautiful.

They ordered the same type of beer and relaxed, not talking at first, just taking in the atmosphere of the tropical themed place.

“When I heard about a prototype jet made by an eighteen-year-old girl I had to look up what I could on the whiz kid. I expected some scrawny nerd. She looks healthy.” Steve finally said.

“Checking out my younger sister is not a way to start a date.” Diana pointed out, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

Steve seemed undaunted. “I’m just surprised, because it seems there are rumors that she is sick, something wrong with her immune system… but you take good care of her, don’t you?”

Normally, Diana felt a bit uncomfortable speaking of Kara’s health. No one knew exactly how close her sister had come to death throughout her life. But for some unknown reason, the inherent distrust she had around new people wasn’t present with him. She felt she could talk to this handsome man. Perhaps it was the way he spoke so directly about it, not skirting around the issue, even if it was none of his business.

“We take care of each other. Without her, I don’t know what I would do. I know I would be a very different person and would not be someone you would want to know.” Diana replied truthfully, if not a bit ambiguously.

Steve could hear the sincerity in her voice. He could tell the way the two acted around each other they were close. He could also tell it wasn’t a topic she was comfortable discussing.

“What is it like to be a billionaire? Must be pretty cool, right? You get to wear a top hat and smoke cigars. Tell me there are cigars involved.” Steve asked in a joking tone, obviously attempting to lighten her mood.

Diana chuckled. “No, I can’t pull off the top hat, I don’t smoke, and I’ve never looked good in a fake thick mustache, nor have I grown one. I don’t own Park Place or Boardwalk yet. Once I have those properties under my control, I will weep like Alexander because there will be no more worlds to conquer.

“What about you? What is it like being a pilot?”

“First of all, I think it’s cool you just compared yourself to Alexander the Great.” Steve said with a smile, taking a drink. “Being a pilot is the only thing that makes sense to me in the world sometimes. It runs in my family. My dad was a Navy pilot. I get seasick so I joined the Air Force. That kind of makes me a disgrace in his eyes.

“What do you do for fun when you aren’t making five star generals grovel at your feet?”

Diana grinned and took a long drink of her beer. “I like to dance, drink… take my competitors and grind them to dust beneath my fabulous heels. The usual things socialites get up to. Sometimes, I allow cocky pilots take me to bars, filled with smoke and cheap beer.”

“This is not cheap beer.” Steve argued. “How can you think this beer is cheap? It’s the best beer on the beach. What makes you an expert on beer?”

Diana held up her bottle examining it closely. “I own several large breweries in Germany. That should give me some credibility. It is my belief that if you can see through a beer, then it isn’t worth the time it takes to drink it. So… is there any place in this town that serves real ale?”

“I have no idea.” Steve replied. “It’s been a couple years since I’ve been here. For a town with an Air Force base, drinking options are limited. I suppose I can ask the guy behind the bar if he has cheap wine.”

Diana shook her head. “I’ll deny it if this ever makes the society pages, but I detest wine, cheap or otherwise. I prefer Bourbon or Vodka.”

Steve nodded. “I just happen to detest Bourbon so Vodka it is. We can grab a bottle and take this party to the beach. People are starting to look at me and whisper. I didn’t think I was that famous but it’s only a matter of time before someone is asking for my autograph.”

Diana snorted again at his lighthearted deflections. She had noticed a crowd gathering slowly and the first phone had been raised, snapping her photo.

“They won’t approach us.” Diana assured him. “They never do. I tend to intimidate people without even trying. Unless you are worried about being seen with me in trashy magazines, it won’t be a problem.”

“People are intimidated by you?” he said. “I’m not intimidated by you. Sure you were People Magazine’s Most Beautiful Woman Alive for the past two years, the only businesswoman granted that prestigious title. I go out with women who’ve had that honor all the time though.”

Diana shook her head and smiled widely at him. “Do you now? Have a lot of history with actresses and models that usually claim that proud spot in history?”

Steve took a deep breath and nodded. “All the time. It’s a pilot thing. Soon, I’m going to sing ‘You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling’ and you will beg me to take you out again.”

“I’ll let you take me out again if you promise not to sing that song.” Diana retorted. “You put on a good show. You have the looks, the body, the skills, but I don’t think you’re the cocky pilot type. You don’t fly for the rush.”

“No, I fly for the peace. Peace is hard to come by… something I bet you know.” Steve said, looking around at the not-so-discrete cell phone cameras pointed at them. “Want to get a bottle and get out of here? I’m buying.”

“Buy two. I have a high alcohol tolerance. Let’s take them to my hotel. The stares are beginning to get to me. Room service, Vodka and staring at the ocean from the balcony sounds nice.” Diana said, approving of his plan to leave. “Kara has her own rooms so we can be alone. We can get drunk, you can tell me what a family disgrace you are, and I’ll bitch about my worthless brother and the tremendous pressure I live with every day.”

Not long after the two were in her suite, Steve made himself at home on the balcony while Diana checked in with the security detail and looked in on Kara to ensure she had taken her pill and was asleep. When she made it back, she took one of the bottles, sat down next to Steve and began drinking straight from it.

The man watched with wide eyes as half the bottle went down her throat before she took a breath.

“Wow, I really needed that.” Diana admitted.

Steve stared at her for a moment in awe. “You weren’t kidding when you said you had a high tolerance. Shouldn’t you be dying right now?”

Diana smiled mysteriously but didn’t answer. “Tell me about yourself, Steve. Tell me your life story. Give me the abridged version so we can start soon.”

“Start what?” Steve asked, confusion evident in his expression.

Diana grinned at him. “If it is okay with you, I want to use you tonight. I want to spend the next few hours forgetting about everything and let go of any inhibitions I have, not that I have many. Unless you are saving yourself for marriage, then I totally respect that, and we can part with a handshake.”

Steve took a drink and a deep breath, his eyes gazing over the water, completely relaxed. “My name is Steven Trevor, I am a twenty-eight-year-old Air Force pilot. I grew up on military bases all over the world, have a loving mother and a father who I believe is on his third wife now, had a dog named Maverick but he died. I’m a Virgo and I get my kicks driving and flying fast.

“I’m the best pilot in the world and in five years there will be dozens better than me. I’ll be ‘promoted’ to flight instructor then given a desk job and I have no idea what I am going to do with my life when the ride is over. It scares the hell out of me to even think about what the future holds.

“I’ve never been in a serious relationship, I don’t have any friends I would consider close, and I think you are possibly the most beautiful woman I will ever lay my own eyes on.

“That’s me, Diana. Tell me about you and we can decide if anyone uses anyone tonight.”

Diana smirked and took another long drink, nearly finishing the bottle and finally feeling a bit of warmth. It would take at least two of these bottles to make her truly intoxicated, but the buzz of alcohol was enough to mellow her.

“My name is Diana Wayne. I am the majority owner and CEO of one of the largest corporations in the world… soon to be the largest. My parents were murdered when I was twelve. I have a beautiful, smart little sister who I have watched, not only nearly die, but suffer through severe illnesses since she was born.

“I have a twin brother who was my perfect partner growing up. We were so close we could finish each other’s sentences. We leaned on each other, relied on each other. At twenty-two, he left without an explanation, dropped out of the world, disappeared without a word. He left me alone to take care of our sister, to keep our family’s company going, to make it successful and carry on our family legacy.

“I feel tons of pressure on me every day and I know that if I crumble, everything and everyone around me will crumble too. I won’t let that happen.”

Diana took a breath and looked at Steve. “I think as much as I loved my brother, that is how much I hate him now. I’m a control freak and can be extremely vindictive when someone tries to screw me over. When I feel someone is a threat to my family, I use everything I have at my disposal to destroy that person, no matter the cost. I make no apologies for who I am or how I live my life.

“I really miss my Mom and Dad. I would kill someone if I could feel my mother’s arms around me just one more time. That’s it. That’s me.”

Steve smiled at her, surprised at her openness. “Fine, you have had the tougher life, but I win the most reason to drink award.”

“Excuse me?” Diana remarked, raising an eyebrow.

“I win. You may have me beat on the tragic past part, but I’ve already told you, in five years, I’m going to be a ‘washed-up has been’ while you are still conquering the world. That’s very depressing. Also, you never told me what your sign was or if you ever had a pet. You also have a sister that has suffered in life and still smiles and takes over a drone just to talk trash with a test pilot. That’s pretty damn impressive.

“Have you ever by the way? Had a pet, I mean.”

Diana laughed, feeling tension leaving her body. “I’ll tell you if I had a pet after you let me use you.”

Steve stood up and stretched his arms. “Are you sure? I’m kind of feeling objectified here. This happens to me more often than you would think.”

Diana stood up and dragged him to the bed, throwing him on the mattress.

“Staying in, or getting out?” she asked him, standing at the foot of the bed.

“I’m in.” the man told her with wide eyes.

The next morning, Diana woke up with her head on his chest to find him lying on his back with his hands behind his head, eyes wide open.

“Good morning.” She whispered.

“Understatement of my life.” He agreed as he brought his arm down to curl around her shoulders.

“Are you okay?” Diana asked, noticing the bruises on his arms, shoulders and… the cracked headboard she tore apart a few hours before in the throes of passion.

“Okay? Yeah… yeah, definitely okay… that was… did you really rip that headboard in half? How did you do that? You know what, I don’t even care. That was… wow. Yep, I need to go to the bathroom but I’m afraid if I move, the moment is going to be over, and nothing close to you is ever going to happen to me again. Women like you just don’t happen to me.”

Diana smiled at his words. “You wouldn’t know. You have never met a woman like me. But I would like to see you again.”

“Really?” Steve asked, horrified as his voice cracked into a high squeal.

“Yeah, I find you entertaining to be around, plus you are really good in bed. Dinner, Saturday, on me. I’ll arrange the whole thing and you can stay at the manor for the weekend. I can show you the sights of Gotham City. My tower has a breathtaking view, and I can try ripping my desk apart.”

Steve closed his eyes, frustrated. “I would so love to… wow, do I want to, but I am based in Virginia. Not exactly in driving distance of Gotham City.”

“It’s not a problem.” Diana told him. “I’ll send our helicopter and have you brought to the manor Saturday morning.”

Steve raised an eyebrow. “You are serious?”

“Unless you don’t want to.” Diana replied. “I still haven’t told you my sign or the name of my pet.”

“You do have a pet!” Steve exclaimed with a boyish grin. “I knew it. Fine, I guess since you asked, I could take time to fly in a private helicopter to a large manor and spend the weekend with a beautiful woman. I’ll try to work some things around in my busy schedule to make it happen.”

“Then you can go to the bathroom and not worry about the moment ending.” Diana suggested, rolling over and watching him stand up.

Before he reached the bathroom, he bent down and retrieved a piece of the headboard off the floor. “Seriously, you would think a ‘Residence Inn’ would buy stronger headboards.”

While Diana was getting dressed for the day, Steve stepped into the hall to find Kara leaned against the opposite wall with her arms crossed and a knee propped up.

“So, Captain Trevor, I was under the impression you were only here to ride my airplane.” She asked, one eyebrow raised in a manner similar to her sister’s patented stare.

Steve’s eyes widened and he looked back at the room he had existed from. “Oh, we were just up last night talking and…”

“I’m eighteen, not eight. Did she ask to see you again?” Kara asked her expression morphing into a grin.

Steve nodded, thrown a little off-balance by the sudden change in her demeanor. “This weekend she wants me to come to the mansion, manor, whatever rich people call it. Your house? The house? Do I need to wear polos or play polo? Because I don’t do either.”

Kara chuckled and patted the man on the shoulder. “I’m glad you are coming, just don’t hurt her, or else.”

“Or else you kick my ass, right?” Steve added.

“Or else it might not be the headboard next time.” Kara replied.

Steve looked perplexed at her remark while turning a light shade of pink. “How did you know about the headboard?”

“Because it wouldn’t be the first time she’s destroyed one.” Kara said, laughing at the stunned look on his face. “I’ll be in the garage all weekend so come say hello when you get the chance.”

---

Present Day, Wayne Manor

“This is going to work.” Kara assured Steve. She was in the sitting room with him and Dig, trying to reassure the man. “Talk to her, get a feel for it, go with your instinct. If you think it’s going well, walk out to the middle of the garden, stand next to the fountain and leave the rest to me.”

To say Steve was nervous was an understatement. He had expected Diana to ask him to move into the manor when he moved to Gotham. He had enjoyed being here, holding her every night and waking up with her every morning. The most the two had ever stayed the night consecutively was seven days on a vacation this year at what he jokingly called ‘Kangaroo Island’ to Kara’s annoyance. Besides that, it usually came down to Steve stealing a few days or Diana finding days to take off for them to be together. Despite their schedules, they talked almost every day.

Diana had been asking him to retire from the Air Force for the past couple years, wanting him near on a full-time basis, but Steve had refused. Retiring would have meant working with her and though he wasn’t against the idea, he did not want to rely on her. He didn’t want to be the guy the owner gave a job to because he was in a relationship with the boss… who, in this case, was also the owner.

Now the perfect situation had happened, giving them both what they desired. Steve stood on his own and Diana had him with her every day.

It wasn’t enough though. It was after six months into their relationship when he finally came to believe he wasn’t a passing phase for her. Until that point, he had waited for the phone call, the one where she told him her life was too busy for a relationship. He never received that call but did receive a surprise visit from her one morning at a base in San Antonio, Texas. It was around ten a.m. and she found him on a runway about to take off on a training flight.

Diana told him she had awaken in the early morning hours and realized that she loved him and needed for him to know.

That was Diana. When she made a decision, she took action immediately, even if it meant flying halfway across the country.

Tonight, he was scared that he could push too far. He had wanted to marry her since he told her he loved her too, standing on that runway, but their careers had kept them apart. He didn’t want a marriage where they saw each other in passing. They had gone through some bad stuff together, the worst was the time that Kara nearly died. He had asked for and received emergency leave and flew in from South America to be with her.

Truthfully, he wanted it all. He wanted her to yell at him when he forgot to pick up his socks from the floor. He wanted to go to those ridiculous parties with her, hating everything about those events but doing it for her because he was proud to be standing by her side. He wanted the good and the bad.

“You know, Kara… when we first started dating, we made fun of married people, wondering why the hell they would do something like that.” Steve told her, his nerves finally showing through his not-so-calm façade.

Kara shook her head, dismissing his concern. “That doesn’t sound like her, but she was probably saying what she thought you wanted to hear.”

Steve looked at her in disbelief.

“I’m serious, she does that sometimes.” Kara assured him. “She bases so many of her decisions off what Mom and Dad would do. Mom and Dad took marriage seriously and so will she. You two are forever and she knows it.

“She wants it too, Steve. You will see… if she ever shows up. Where the hell is she? I hope she hasn’t hurt Tommy.”

Dig huffed, earning an annoyed look from Kara. The man raised his hands in defeat. He had his opinion of Tommy Merlyn but let it rest.

“I’m sure he is okay. Diana likes him.” Steve told her.

“No, she doesn’t.” Dig added.

Steve gave Dig and exasperated look.

“Tommy wouldn’t leave without telling me first.” Kara said but unable to hide the doubt in her voice. They had been having a good time, but she had left him on his own the entire day. It couldn’t be helped as Kara and Steve had a lot of work to do, and he assured her he would keep himself entertained but she still felt a bit bad about it.

They heard the roar of the Porsche in the driveway that diminished as the car drove into the garage. A few minutes later, the two walked into the sitting room, covered in dust. Diana was definitely dressed differently than she had been when she left that morning. Her hair was a mess, there was dirt on her cheeks, and she was wearing a ballcap, a t-shirt and faded jeans.

Tommy wore the same dress shirt he had worn that morning, but the sleeves were rolled up and his hair was a mess like Diana’s. Kara also smelled the strong odor of cleaning solvent.

“Where have you two been?” Kara asked suspiciously.

Diana waved her off. “Later. I need to get clean, and he does as well so I don’t have to smell him.”

The two made their way to the stairs before Kara called out to her sister. “Put on something nice, Didi.”

“We are not going out for dinner.” Diana replied, guessing Kara wanted a nice dinner away from the manor as she sometimes did. “I’ve already had two sandwiches today. I’m putting on my sleep wear.”

“Fine.” Kara told her, not knowing how to change her mind. “But since Tommy is here, could you at least put on…”

“Kara… sweetie, we need to change.” She implored her sister. “Tommy, I texted Alfred today. You should have clean clothes in your room.”

Tommy winked at Kara and followed Diana up the stairs.

Steve, Dig and Kara were quiet for a moment, wondering what the hell they had been doing.

“Maybe tonight’s not the best time.” Steve finally whispered to Kara.

Kara looked at him sternly and whispered in return. “The cameras are set up, the lights are ready to go in the fountain and my drones are ready to launch. This is happening. When she says yes and you put the ring on, the laser show starts.”

“And if she says no?” Steve asked, sweat breaking out on his forehead at the thought.

“It’s going to be very awkward around here for a few days but eventually it will be like it never happened.” Kara offered, hoping to make him feel better.

Dig held back a laugh at the look on Steve’s face.

“Dig, help me out man.” Steve said. “You were married. Were you worried she would say no?”

Dig looked thoughtful, then shrugged. “I asked her after a firefight in Kandahar and we divorced after six months. Probably best not to ask me for advice.”

The three waited another twenty minutes in silence, Dig and Kara not wanting to say anything that would make Steve more keyed up than he already was. Kara had never seen the man nervous, and it was freaking her out, making her wonder if this was a good idea as well.

Finally, after thirty minutes that seemed like hours, Diana came down, followed by Tommy.

Steve cleared his throat and stood up, the ring box feeling like it was burning a hole in his pocket. “Diana, do you think we could talk… outside? Take a walk?”

Diana was obviously confused as she was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. “Outside? Can’t we go to the bedroom?”

Steve looked to Dig and Kara, eyes wide, asking silently for help.

“He wants to talk to you about how bad Tommy is for Kara, but he doesn’t want to make Tommy feel awkward since he is in the house.” Dig offered with a straight face.

Diana snorted. “I already know how bad he is for her. I’ve told him several times today in fact, but it doesn’t seem to get through. I suppose it is a nice night and I would like to hear everything you hate about Mr. Merlyn, so let’s go.”

Diana and Steve walked out the door and Kara looked sharply at Dig.

“I’m sorry! I panicked and had to think of something. He was standing there and that was the first thing that came to mind.” Dig said, hands held up in contrition… mostly. Everything he said about Tommy was true, he just felt bad about pointing it out in front of Kara.

Tommy grunted. “So much for Star City loyalty. So, what’s going on… Kara?”

Kara had grabbed Tommy’s hand and the two ran to her bedroom, Dig right behind them. Kara sat at her large desk in front of her laptop and pulled up the cameras around the manor. She opened another laptop and had views of the entire grounds from above. The three watched silently as Steve and Diana came into view on the screen.

Outside, Steve led Diana by the hand, forcing himself not to hurry. He had told Kara the spot he would be, and if he kissed Diana, it was a yes. If not… he hadn’t gotten that far.

“You won’t believe what that idiot Merlyn did today.” Diana told him.

“I’m guessing it has something to do with why you two came back covered in dust?” Steve replied, procrastinating as long as he could while he worked up some courage.

Diana sighed. “You have no idea. Tommy Merlyn signed himself up for a crash course in business… I’ll let him tell you all about it in the morning.

“Now why did you really want me out here? I know it isn’t to complain about Tommy Merlyn. Up to now you have been too easy on him.”

“I hardly know the guy. I’ve spent maybe an hour or so talking to him since he arrived and decided to bunk here.” Steve stated, dismissing Tommy completely. “Look, you’re right, that isn’t the reason I wanted to talk to you.”

“You’re not comfortable, are you? I asked you to move in too soon, didn’t I? Is it something I’ve done? I haven’t thrown away any of your old clothes except… I haven’t… It’s just living together, right? I’m too demanding or something like that?” Diana was growing upset as she listed off a number of things she had obviously worried over but hadn’t mentioned to him.

Steve faced her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Relax. Living with you is great and I feel great being here. We’ve talked about this for a long time and it’s finally happening.”

“Then what is it? Something is on your mind. I can tell when you are nervous, Steve, and you are really nervous. Your heart is racing… not that I can hear your heart.”

Steve took a deep breath. He hadn’t rehearsed this part with Kara, but he needed to get it out in the open. “See, that’s the thing. It wouldn’t surprise me if you could hear it. I’m pretty certain you can. You haven’t been as relaxed since I came to live with you full time. You are staying on guard more than usual because you feel like you can’t be yourself.”

Diana looked at him, her stomach beginning to feel a bit queasy. “Of course I’m comfortable. Why would I have my guard up around you?”

Steve laughed quietly. “Diana, I have everything about you memorized. I know every little facial tick when you are annoyed. I know that you rub your forefinger and thumb together if you are anxious, I know how your body moves when you are relaxed, or when you are angry, or upset.”

“I know quite a bit about you as well, Steve.” Diana reminded him.

Steve nodded. “Yeah, here is the thing. I’ve always known you were different. I just never cared, and I still don’t.”

Diana opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She knew they would have this conversation one day if the two stayed together.

Seeing her speechless, he hurried on to his point before she could pull away from him. “Diana, you can only break so many headboards when we are… intimate. You think I don’t know that you move certain ways to make sure I’m not hurt, or that you have a grip that can probably break through concrete? You are as tall as I am, slender and I have a feeling you can bench press a lot more than I can.

“Kara knocked a pitcher off the kitchen counter once and you caught it and had it back on the counter so fast I almost didn’t see it. Plus, you drink enough alcohol to kill a horse and can still talk without slurring your words and walk without stumbling.”

“You want the truth.” Diana said, not meeting his eyes.

Steve shook his head. “I don’t want anything you aren’t willing to give. I’m only telling you this because I want you to know that I don’t care. Nothing you could ever tell me will change the way I feel about you. You could be an alien and it wouldn’t matter to me.”

Diana shook her head. “I’m not an alien. I mean… I’m probably not an alien. I’m ninety-nine percent certain I’m not an alien. My blood is human anyway… sort of.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Steve told her. “Look, I’m rambling. It’s important to me that you know I am okay with whatever secrets you have.”

Diana looked at the stars above and took a deep breath. “I thought I did such a good job hiding it.”

Steve took her by the hand and began guiding her towards the fountain in the center of the garden. “You are good at hiding it, unless someone is absolutely in love with you and memorizes everything about you.”

The two reached the front of the fountain, and Steve stopped once again and moved in front of her. “Remember when we were in the Keys, and we made fun of the newly married couple walking the beach? We asked each other why people needed some kind of ceremony to promise to love each other forever. Two people should know without needing rings and certificates.”

“You said that. I thought they were sweet.” Diana reminded him.

Steve paused for a moment, realizing Kara was probably right. “Yeah, I guess that was all me. I did have a lot to drink that day and my Dad hasn’t had the best track record with wives so I may have been venting a bit.”

“You’re entitled. You’ve listened to me vent for years.” Diana told him.

Steve took a deep breath. “Okay, I had this whole speech planned out but…”

Diana raised an eyebrow. She had thought his nervousness related to his admission that he knew she was different. Now he was mentioning a weekend in the Keys when he vented about married couples.

Slightly confused, she said, “Steve, I promise, tomorrow I will explain everything. I will give you all the answers you want. I should have done it long ago.”

“No. I have a question for you tonight and I don’t need those answers to know what I want.”

Steve knelt on one knee and pulled the small box from his pocket.

In that moment, Diana’s world stopped.

He opened the box revealing a beautiful diamond ring, one that closely resembled her mother’s engagement ring.

“I’ve loved you since I first laid eyes on you at Eglin.” Steve said, staring into her fathomless, brown eyes. The surprise and hope he saw in those eyes drove every thought out of his head. “I had a whole speech planned out but that’s all I can remember right now. Diana, would you marry me?”

Diana stared at the man before her, on one knee with a diamond ring, offering to join his life with hers. He knew she had secrets and didn’t care. How long had he known? Had he always known? She realized, it didn’t matter.

Diana had made up her mind when she first woke up from a dream at four in the morning and knew in her heart that she loved him. She had never loved a man like she did him and the feeling was exhilarating. If he had asked her then, she would have said yes but he hadn’t. Over the years, she thought their lives may keep them from ever reaching that level of commitment.

Diana held out a shaky hand to the man. Steve took the opportunity to slip the ring on her finger. He stood up and his legs felt a bit weak.

“Is that a yes?” He asked, hope shining in his eyes.

“Yes, I will marry you. ” Diana wiped her suddenly wet eyes. “Are you sure you want all the drama that comes with me and my family?”

Steve reached forward and kissed her softly. “It’s been my drama for a while now… I’m good with drama.”

The fountain suddenly shot into the air, multiple colors radiating through the water, as if it were in front of a casino. The quiet hum of Kara’s toy drones she had made in the garage when she was a kid buzzed overhead. Brightly colored beams of light lit up the sky, forming large hearts while another drone somehow shaped like a red fighter jet flew through the hearts.

“She’s come a long way from terrorizing staff with those things.” Diana admitted, her eyes sparkling in the lights as she held him. “So you had this planned between the two of you?”

“She even helped me pick out the ring last weekend.” Steve said smugly.

Romantic music played across the grounds as Alfred and Kara walked out, clapping, both smiling brightly with tears in their eyes as well.

Kara almost seemed to skip towards her sister in her excitement, jumping into Diana’s arms and hugging her tightly.

Alfred shook Steve’s hand congratulating him on the decision. As much as he liked and admired Steve, he wasn’t happy with someone living in house full time without a marriage certificate but that would soon be a thing of the past.

He had also watched Diana from a young age take on so much responsibility, more responsibility than a young girl should ever have to bear. He watched her grow into a fierce young woman who gave up almost all of herself to making sure Wayne Enterprises succeeded. She deserved this, deserved the happiness.

“We have so much to do, including the engagement party, the wedding ceremony.” Kara began. “I’ll call Silver. She is waiting for the news and can begin…”

An alarm went off on Diana’s watch indicating it was time to for Kara to go to bed. Kara shook her head and began dancing on the edge of the fountain. “No way, Didi. Bedtimes don’t exist tonight. Tonight we dance and drink. Alfred, get up here and dance with me.”

Diana and Steve laughed in each other’s arms as the older man climbed up on the ledge of the brightly multicolored fountain and began awkwardly dancing, copying Kara’s moves as she swayed with perfect balance on the edge.

Just outside the front door, Tommy and Dig watched from a distance not wanting to intrude on a family moment. Tommy wasn’t family and Dig had only been there for a week.

No. This moment was about two girls and the man who took care of them their whole lives celebrating a joyous event.

Dig spoke up softly, not willing to risk breaking the mood. “When I was told about this job, I was afraid I would be protecting some eccentric, spoilt, rich girl who would treat me like a servant. I thought her sister would be frightening as hell and the butler would be a typical butler. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I certainly never thought I would feel like family.”

Turning to Tommy, Dig asked, “So, what were you doing all day?”

Tommy sighed, a bright smile on his face, watching the Wayne family celebrate while a laser light show went on over their heads that could probably be seen from Gotham.

“Let’s see… I cut ties with my father, told him I never wanted to see him again and wouldn’t touch his money. Then I got a big loan to buy a grocery store and deli. Diana helped me clean up the upstairs loft, which is really more like an attic, but I have a place to sleep. The previous owner is sticking around for six months to teach me how to run a business and Monday morning I will be arriving at six a.m. for my first ever day of work.”

Dig stared at him stunned, then snorted. “You really got it bad, don’t you?”

“You have no idea.”

“Dig. Tommy! Come out and dance with us!” Kara yelled.

“I don’t really…” Dig started before Tommy stopped him.

“You heard the lady. She wants to dance so we are dancing. Come on, Dig. I’ll show you all my moves since, unlike one of us, I have some Star City loyalty.”