Chapter XLIX

“Nubia?” Diana exclaimed as she came around the corner and into the curtained off area the Amazon elder had been ensconced in.  “Oh my gods,” dropping onto the stool beside the bed.  “What happened?”  She didn’t even notice when Mala removed her tiara and began doctoring her head wound.  Her attention was totally focused on the injured woman lying in the cot in front of her, cradling the stump of her arm.  Nubia gave her a weak, pain-filled smile.

“Wrong place, wrong time, Princess,” she muttered.  “Ty saved my life... but it’s costing her hers.”

“Nubia?”  The question was filled with more alarm than either of them had expected from the compassionate but stoic persona of Wonder Woman.  Even Diana as the princess had rarely shown such emotion although she had certainly been much more prone to it recently.  But Diana knew that the loss of her only family would devastate Chase, and she had already been through so much.

Nubia shifted, then flinched as another wave of pain washed through her.  “Nubia, you need to lie still,” Mala chided.  “If you need some more pain medication let me give it to you, but you can’t be moving around ripping all those stitches out.”

Diana’s forehead creased.  Why was the woman still in pain?  Nubia answered her question unwittingly.  “I know, Mala, but I want D... Wonder Woman to know what happened so she can share it with Chase.  She deserves to know.  I’ll take the medication when I’m done.”

Mala just gave Nubia a look and a nod before she turned her attention back to tending to Diana.  Nubia had refused to share the story with anyone but the princess, insisting she deserved to hear a first hand account from someone who was there.

“When the fighting started, we were in the trees passing back intelligence and positions, helping the rebel forces hit their targets with increasing accuracy.  It really was quite the thrill being back in combat again,” Nubia admitted a bit sheepishly.  No matter how civilized the Amazons had become, at their core they were warrior women and they sometimes missed the fire and adrenaline rush fighting and physical danger gave them.  However, after today the craving would be muted for a very long time to come.  “Or at least it was until Hades itself became part of our world.”

Nubia was quiet so long Wonder Woman was force to prompt her finally.  “What happened, Nubia?”

“The Nazis started fighting back, and since we were the closest to the fires the rebels had caused with their firing, we were the easiest to target.  I remember....”  She shook her head.  “Not much, actually.  I thought it was a rock.”  She blew out a frustrated breath.  “Something got thrown at me and I caught it, intending to throw it back.  The next thing I knew I was laying on the ground; my arm was gone and Ty stood over me taking on all comers.”

Nubia swallowed, trying to gather her thoughts.  “I still am not real clear on what happened after that because I was fading in and out of consciousness.  I do know that Ty called for the healers, called for Drea before she moved on, but once the first wave of fighting passed over us, she continued to push forward into the fight despite being injured herself.”

Mala finished dressing Diana’s wound, patting her arm before stepping out from the cubby to retrieve some pain medication for Nubia.  Wonder Woman’s attention never shifted from Nubia’s face.

“How badly was she hurt, Nubia?”

“I do not know, Wonder Woman.  I do know she was bleeding rather profusely when she left my side.”

Diana blew out a breath.  “Nubia, do you mind if I change here?” asked softly.

“It would be my honor, Princess.”

Wonder Woman slowly spun counterclockwise and Nubia watched in unguarded fascination as she morphed into Diana Prince.  Mala stepped back in through the curtain just as Diana stopped twirling.

“Princess,” she said in a hushed undertone.  “Are you sure that was wise?  After all....”

“After all, Chase needs me.  Now, if you’ll excuse me....  Nubia, thank you for the information.  I want you to rest and conserve your strength.  I think Paula and I will be able to do something to make you whole again.  I promise we will start working on it as soon as....”

“Diana, go to Chase.  We can worry about my arm later.”

Diana gently touched Nubia’s uninjured arm.  “Thank you, Nubia.  I wish....”

“Will you go already?” Nubia joked weakly.

Diana smiled and stepped out of the curtained area and headed the short distance to the far corner where Drea was standing in front of the only other curtained area in the hospital.

“Drea?”

The healer shook her head.  “Chase asked for privacy.  I haven’t even had the chance to look at that wound on her leg yet.”  Diana patted Drea on the arm and crossed into the cordoned off area that Chase was behind. 

“I asked to be left alone.”  The words were a harsh whisper.

It stung.  But instead of letting it hurt, Diana chose instead to move up behind Chase and wrap her arms around the tense shoulders.  Chase flinched for a long moment before relaxing into the embrace of the firm body behind her.  She maintained her posture for several minutes.  Diana didn’t say a word, but just held her until she felt the tremors start.  Then she turned Chase in her arms until the blonde head was resting beneath her chin.  And Diana simply held on and let Chase cry.

“She was my best friend,” Chase said eventually.

“Was she the last of your family?” not mentioning Drea and the Amazons.  She wasn’t sure how Chase felt about being an Amazon, and besides, it wasn’t the same as the family she had grown up with.  They were the people Chase knew and cared for.  She didn’t really know the Amazons yet.

“No... she has a brother, but even though we get along for the most part, we always seem to be at one another’s throats over one thing or another.  I think he was jealous that Ty and I were best friends and he was just....”

“Just what, Love?” Diana asked, intrigued.

“I don’t think he was happy that it was always us and him.  We loved him and he knew it; but it was always us versus him and we always sided together.  He thought since he was the oldest, he should get to make the decisions for all of us.”

Diana chuckled lightly.  “Oh, I can only imagine how that went over with you and Ty.”

Her memories overrode her sadness momentarily and she laughed softly with Diana.  “Yeah.  He ended up hanging from his underwear in that big tree in the front yard at the farm for trying,” tilting her head back to see if Diana knew which tree she was referring to.  This time Diana laughed out loud.

“I’m not even going to ask how you managed it.”

“Well, let’s just say that Shep was pretty surprised as well.”

Diana blinked in response.  “Wha... bu... Shep??  Shep is Ty’s brother?”

“Yeah.  Not there was never much family resemblance except for the way they acted towards each other.  As they got older, they tended to keep an eye on one another even when they were fighting with each other.  And now I get to be the one to tell him that I got his sister killed.”

“NO!”  Diana turned Chase in her embrace until she could cradle her face tenderly and gaze into exhausted green eyes.  “No, Chase.  You don’t get to take that away from her.  She chose to be part of the rebellion; she chose to protect and defend.  You can’t take that choice away from her.”  Chase watched Diana carefully wanting to be convinced.  “Chase, war is ugly.  People suffer and die and get hurt beyond our ability to repair them.  You’ve lived with this all your life.”

“But....”

“No buts.  We don’t have to like it, but it is the truth.  The only difference this time is it’s very personal for you.  But you can’t deny Ty her right to choose; otherwise you not only negate her choice but the reason for her suffering and death.  This struggle was about freedom and part of freedom is having the opportunity to choose for yourself.  Don’t make her sacrifice meaningless.”

Chase nodded, knowing Diana spoke the truth.  “I won’t,” she whispered.  “But now I gotta go break the news to Shep and then to Hans.  They deserve to hear it from me.  Then we’ve got plans to make and work to do.  And one ex-Fuehrer to serve justice to.”

“Have you decided what her punishment is going to be?” knowing Chase was well within her rights as the supreme military commander to execute whatever field justice she felt was fair, up to and including killing Orana with her bare hands.  But somehow Diana didn’t think Chase was going to go that route.  As much as she wanted to exact personal vengeance, Chase knew this was about justice for the world.  Everyone had suffered because of Orana.

“She’s going to walk the gauntlet, and I’m gonna offer Shep and Hans first crack.  If she survives to the end, I will make the killing blow.”

Diana nodded.  It was an acceptable compromise even if it meant Diana didn’t get to beat the snot out of Orana herself.  She figured even the Amazons would approve of Chase’s decision; it meant most of them would get to take a shot at the woman who had betrayed them, and Diana felt they needed that sort of closure.

She stood up and extended her arm down to Chase.  “Come on.  I’m not going to let you do this alone.”  Chase smiled in gratitude and accepted Diana’s arms, then felt her leg collapse out from under her as she tried to put weight on it.

She bit her lips to keep from cursing, not wanting to desecrate Ty’s deathbed, but feeling the pain of her wound rip through her body in an unexpected wave.  Fortunately Diana’s instincts were right on the money and she caught Chase before she could hit the ground. 

“Drea!” 

It wasn’t loud, but it was commanding and Drea moved instantly.  Assessing the situation with a single quick glance, Drea guided Diana out of the partitioned area Ty was in and over to the next cot.  “Mala, I need you now.”

Diana put Chase down and would have backed out of the way had it not been for the firm grip Chase maintained on her wrist.  She looked down and Chase grimaced up at her.  “Please stay and take my mind off this, ‘cause it hurts like a sonofabitch.”

Diana blushed, but nodded and pulled a stool over and sat down, never losing the eye contact she had with Chase.  They talked though neither of them could have told what they discussed when all was said and done.  But it allowed Drea and Mala to repair Chase’s leg with minimal fuss and damage.  When she was done, Drea patted Chase’s good leg and squeezed Diana shoulder before leaving them alone, knowing that Chase was anxious to get back to work.

Sure enough as soon as Chase realized Drea was finished patching her up, she sat up and slid from the cot gently.  She eased her weight onto her injured leg and scowled but continued until her weight rested fully on both legs.  Then she offered Diana her hand and they exited the hospital without a word.  Drea knew her business and was doing everything she could to ease the suffering of those around her.  And those who were beyond her help were being reverently laid out at one end to be placed in caskets for the trip home.

That was the hardest part of being a healer, but she squared her shoulders and took the responsibility, doing her best for those who had given their all.

************

“Sonny?” Chase said as they entered the comm room.  “Get me Shep on the line and then clear the room.  Take fifteen minutes and grab a sandwich and a pee break, all right?”

“All right, Boss.  G’wan, boys,” talking to the rest of his crew.  I’ll be out in a jiff.”

The communications crew nodded and left with a salute in Chase’s direction.  Sonny jiggled some connections and twisted the dials, eventually hearing Shep’s voice crackle over the wires.  Then Sonny handed the headphones and mic over to Chase and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him to ensure Chase the privacy she wanted.

“Chase, this is Shep, over.”

“Shep, this is Chase.  I have news... and it’s not good, over.”

She heard him sigh before he answered and figured he knew what she was going to tell him.  “Go ahead, over,” he said in a resigned voice.

Chase closed her eyes; this wasn’t easy no matter how it got done.  Then she felt Diana’s hands on her shoulders in support and drew a breath to speak.  “Ty’s dead, Shep,” Chase said bluntly.  “She died a hero saving others, but she’s still dead.  I’m sorry.”  Beat.  “Over.”  She could hear his upset though his tears were silent.  “I’m sorry, Shep,” Chase reiterated.  “I would have prevented this if I could have, over.”

“Shh, Chase,” Shep comforted.  “I know that.  I remember how close you were.  We’ll be in the same place soon and we can talk then, over.”

“Actually I want you to get here ASAP.  Put things in place like we discussed, then get here.  We’re going to have a military gauntlet before we go home, and you deserve the right to take a shot at her, over.”

“No, Chase.  I need to stay here.”  He took a shuddering breath.  “It’s gonna take all we’ve got to get everything coordinated and I’m not gonna leave it to chance just to get revenge for something that can’t be changed.  You hit her for me, cuz.  You always had a meaner right than I did, over.”

Chase made a choking sound in her throat that could have almost passed as laughter.  “All right, Shep.  We’ll see you at home then, and we’ll have a drink together for Ty, over.”

“I’d like that, Chase.  Pain in the ass that she was, Ty was still my little sister.”  He paused and Chase heard him swallow hard.  “I’m gonna miss her, over.”

“Yeah, I know, Shep.  Me too.”  She paused.  “Can you connect me to Hans?  Over.”

Chase heard Shep slip into his rebel persona.  “Do what I can, Boss, but it’ll take a while.  I’ll call back when I get ahold of him, over.”

“Thanks, Shep.  Chase out.”

Sonny was waiting outside the closed door when they emerged from the comm room.  “Sonny, I need you to get all the resistance leaders on the line.  I want plans for the provisional governments in place yesterday.  And when Shep calls back, ring me in the Reichstag office.  Oh, but first, call the unit leaders to my office.  We need to make sure folks get some sleep.”

“Yes ma’am.  I’m on it,” turning to his work.  Chase and Diana slowly made their way to the office in deference to Chase’s injured thigh.

************

The next few hours went swiftly as watches and schedules were set and guidelines for provisional governments worldwide were put into place.  Chase was glad for the months of intense preparation they had spent hammering out the details for the new provisional governments.  Although some changes would have to be made due to the loss of key personnel and the surprising number of troops that had simply surrendered, a majority of it was ready to be implemented.

“Are there any questions?”  Her question was met with silence along the radio relay Sonny and Shep had set up for her.  “All right then.  Take care of the war criminals first.  Then get with one another about separating the units and spreading them out across the world to work off their servitude sentences.  If it’s possible, no more than five men from the same unit should be in the same town.  Mix them up as best as you can.  That will make it harder for them to try to organize anything against us.”

“Do you really think they will, Chase?  So many of them were quick to surrender....”

“I think it is best not to take any chances.  We’re worked too long and sacrificed too much for this victory.  I want this to stick.”

Affirmations across the board.  “I think a majority of our problems will be solved when those who have been convicted of war crimes are executed.  It’s hard to follow if no one is leading.”

“True.  What about the slaves?  Are all the resources in place for them as well?”  Not that there were many left comparatively speaking.  Instead of deliberate genocide, Orana had taken those who did not fit into the Nazi philosophy and worked them to death.  Some did survive and breed another generation of slaves, but most succumbed to the squalid conditions, poor diet and hygiene and brutality of their captors.

“Yes.  We already have plans in place to try and transition them back into society.  We expect to have some difficulty though – these people were all born into slavery; it’s all they know.”

Chase nodded though no one but Diana could see her.  “I know.  We’ll do the best we can.  We can only do so much.”

“Chase, what about the Japs?”

“I think you’ll find they have been taken care of much the same way that the Nazis have.  I was in touch with both our Indian and Chinese counterparts before we started our offensive.  They were scheduled to go at the same time we did, and without the Nazi support in place....”

“When will we know definitely?”

“I am expecting word at any time.  As soon as I know something, I will pass it along.  For now though, we need to focus on securing our own positions.”

“And the Fuehrer?”

“She will walk the gauntlet at dawn tomorrow.”  Chase’s answer was hard and firm.  “Once justice is served, we will make our announcement and let the world know that things have changed and how.”

“And then?”

“And then it will be time for the provisional governments to begin their recovery and transition processes.  I will be going home.”

There was a cacophony of protests, and Chase held up her hands for silence even though no one could see her.  She leaned back into the strong body behind her, absorbing the strength Diana offered her wordlessly.  When the noise finally died down, Chase opened her mouth to speak again.

“Guys, I’m not disappearing into a black hole or anything; you’ll still be able to find me if you need me.  I am just taking a step back from leadership.  I’ve been doing this my whole adult life.  We did what we set out to do, and it’s time to allow people to be able to make their own decisions.” 

She didn’t say the words, but they could all hear the need in her voice.  Even without the details, every faction leader and in fact, most of the rebellion knew bits and pieces of Chase’s story – enough to know she of all of them deserved whatever bit of peace she could find.  When she was sure no one else was going to comment, Chase gave her final instructions.  “Make sure you’re each prepared for the broadcast tomorrow.  Shep and Sonny will be in touch with details as soon as we have them.  Good work, folks.  We couldn’t have asked for a better offensive.”

A knock on the door concluded the conference, and Chase took a deep breath to fortify herself for the coming conversation with Hans.  This one promised to be more difficult than Shep had.


Chapter L

It was unnerving actually.  Hans took the news calmly, as though he had expected the news.  Chase was confused and concerned, but there was little she could do separated as they were by ocean.  He refused the opportunity to participate in Orana’s punishment, citing his greater desire to be home to welcome Ty and lay her body to rest.  Chase accepted that; it was one reason she was anxious to return.

“I need to be sure that the shifts have changed and people are getting some rest.  Tomorrow is going to be busy.”

Diana wrapped her arms around Chase’s shoulders and held on tightly. “What about you, Love?  You’ve carried this for so long....”

“I know, Baby.  But it’s just for a little longer.  And then we can go home and have some peace together… have a real life.”  She leaned back into the embrace, loath to give it up but almost ashamed of her neediness.  She’d never expected to be so drained – tired perhaps or elated from victory, but all she could dredge up was a hollow emptiness.

“Chase, I’m worried about you.”  Diana could sense the depression but wasn’t sure if Ty’s death was the only thing behind it or if there was more to it.  Worse, she didn’t know how to fix it.  “Come.  Let me pamper you just a little.  We both need to eat and get some rest.  Our burdens won’t seem so heavy in the morning.”

Chase didn’t argue but nodded her head wearily and stood up... or would have had her leg not chosen that moment to cramp and collapse under her.  She sank back into the chair with a hiss.  “Goddamn it!”  She blew out an impatient breath.  “Give me just a second,” she said quietly to Diana.  “I think I’ve been sitting too long; the muscles are frozen.”

“Do you trust me?”

Chase didn’t even hesitate long enough to think about it.  “Yes, absolutely.”

Diana knelt and began kneading the area around the wound, careful not to touch the actual bruise on Chase’s thigh.  It wasn’t easy, but she managed and after a few minutes, Diana felt the knots loosening beneath her skillful touch.  Chase had leaned her head against the chair back and had closed her eyes, allowing Diana’s touch to heal without allowing her own preconceived notions to interfere with the process.  She could feel her whole body relaxing for the first time in what felt like forever.

Diana smiled.  “Better?”

Chase nodded, accepting Diana’s outstretched hands as she slowly rose to her feet once more.  “Even my arm and ribs feel better.”  The pain she had felt before was virtually gone and Chase looked her question at Diana. 

“I told you – I have many skills,” Diana answered with only a tiny smirk.  Chase mocked glared at her and waited.  “Actually it’s an ancient Chinese form of healing and therapy.  Roughly translated into English, it is called acupressure.  It’s the ability to....”

Diana stopped speaking when Chase’s fingers covered her lips only just resisting the impulse to kiss them and raising an eyebrow in question instead.

“Don’t.  I’ll just think of it as your special brand of magic.  Thank you for caring.”

This time both brows went up and she gave in to the temptation of kissing Chase’s fingertips.  “Chase, I more than care.  I love you.”

Chase felt the tingle of those lips on her fingers course through her entire body, and she allowed herself the luxury of a few stolen moments, tracing the planes and features of the face that was growing more precious to her every day.  There were still a lot of holes in her memories and even more unanswered questions, but Chase could no longer deny the truth of her feelings towards Diana or the whole soulmate theory.  Facing the separation of death again had brought home some elemental truths that Chase no longer had the will or the energy to deny.  She was ready to just be happy together with Diana.  Diana’s eyes widened as she watched the change take place and recognized it for what it was.  With her good hand Chase slid her fingers into Diana’s hair and tugged her forward until their lips were just touching.  “I love you too,” she whispered before claiming the prize that was hers and always had been.

The kiss was slow and sweet and hot, and Diana knew if she didn’t back the intensity level down a few notches, odds were very good that they’d get caught in a very compromising position.  Not that she was ashamed of the love they shared together – quite the contrary, but how they chose to express it was something very private and personal to her.  They weren’t a peep show or a circus act.

Still the kiss went on for a few minutes before Diana pulled away to breathe.  She let her forehead meet Chase’s and they stood wrapped together in their embrace.  They didn’t hear the knock on the door until it opened and Sonny stuck his head in.  He paused awkwardly, then stepped into the room.

“I’m sorry to intrude, Chase.”  Sonny hesitated just inside the door, his discomfiture obvious.  Chase turned from Diana but they refused to release one another completely so with clasped hands and slow steps, they approached him.

“You’re not intruding, Sonny.  What’s up?”

He kept his eyes locked squarely on the floor in front of him.  “I just wanted to let you know that Rickie’s monitoring in the comm room and Shep sent an all clear message before signing off.”

“Thanks, Sonny.  You gonna go get some rest now?”

“Yes, ma’am – soon’s I get something to eat.”  His eyes never moved from the floor.  Chase cocked her head in question, then made a decision.  This kind of prejudice had been one of the things they had been fighting against.

“Sonny?  Are you having a problem... with Diana and I being a couple together and all, I mean?”

Bright brown eyes snapped up to meet hers.  “No ma’am!” he stated vehemently.  “Not really, I mean... I’ve never really seen two girls together before, but mostly I was trying not to intrude on your privacy.  I’m pretty sure I was interrupting.”

“All right, Sonny.  Thank you for your honesty.  Go grab a bite and get some rest.  Tomorrow really is gonna be a busy day for us.”

“Yes ma’am,” meeting both their eyes shyly before returning his gaze to the floor.  “Goodnight.”

When the door closed, Chase leaned into Diana for a moment.  Instinctively Diana wrapped an arm of support around Chase’s waist, gratified to feel a return pressure around her own.  “Come on, Love.  Let’s go find a place to settle down and get a little rest.  My head hurts,” Diana said softly finally admitting to Chase something she would never have confessed to another soul.  Chase turned then and reached her hand up, pushing Diana’s hair aside to reveal an ugly lump and a neat row of stitches.

“Oh, Baby,” wrapping an arm around Diana’s waist now and easing them out the door.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t know... I mean I didn’t realize... I just....”

“Chase, shh.  I’m okay mostly.  It’s just been a really long day and things are just catching up with me.”

Chase could certainly agree with that.  They had been going since before dark the night before and it was well into late afternoon.  Almost everyone had been able catch some rest; they had instituted Chase’s rotations as soon as they had been issued.  Unfortunately for Chase, there was no one but her until the provisional governments were put into place and the power transferred from rebellion to legitimate authority, and that had taken the better part of the day.  

But now finally, she was as close to being done as she ever had been, and all Chase felt was weariness and a sense of profound relief.  “C’mon,” she said to Diana.  “Time for me to return the favor.”

They reached the outside steps before they were stopped by Mala.  “Come with me,” she said imperiously.  “We have dinner prepared for you as well as a place for you to get some rest.”  She motioned for them to go back into the Reichstag with a twirl of her fingers and then put her hands on her hips when they didn’t comply immediately.  “Let’s go, you two.  The sooner I get you settled, the sooner the rest of this bunch will get back to work.”

Chase and Diana exchanged glances before turning their attention to the courtyard, realizing that everything had stopped while all eyes focused on them.  Blue and green eyes widened simultaneously, then met with a comically stunned expression.

“Um... Mala?”

“Chase, you’re a hero.  What did you expect?”

“I’m not a hero!” she growled fiercely. 

Mala started to contradict her, but a look from Diana stopped the words before they could form on her lips.  Instead she motioned them back inside the Reichstag, and now Chase shook her head.

“Mala....”

“Chase, trust me.  We thought you and Diana might appreciate a little privacy together.”

“That sounds wonderful,” she answered frankly, clutching Diana’s hand and missing the blush that ran up her face.  “But why are we going back in here?” indicating the Reichstag with a measure of distaste.  “Privacy or not, I really don’t think trying to sleep at a desk is going to be very restful, and the only bed I saw in here I wouldn’t touch,” remembering Orana’s chambers all too clearly.

“Chase, trust me when I tell you that Amazons have become creatures of comfort in the last few millennia, and they prepared a place for the two of you with that in mind.  It isn’t Orana’s quarters or even anywhere near it.”  A pause.  “You’ve done so much for so long; let others share the burden now.  Hero or not, you’ve carried a lot of the rebellion on your shoulders.  It’s the main reason things are moving so rapidly and the transition has progressed so smoothly so far – you put some good, well-thought out plans into place.”

Chase was more than a little embarrassed.  Diana came to her rescue.

“Come on, Mala.  Lead the way.  It’s been a really long day.”

Mala nodded and led them back inside and down the corridor Chase knew went towards the guest residence quarters.  She didn’t argue; already much of what marked the Reichstag as the Nazi stronghold was gone.  And she knew herself well enough to know she needed food and rest.  The world would have to wait.

Mala opened the door and several comforting scents followed.  Chase and Diana crossed the threshold into the room and Mala closed the door behind them, leaving them alone and in peace to investigate the comforts that had been provided for them.

There was a fire in the fireplace and hot food on the table, and opening the door on the far wall, they found a well-appointed bathroom.  Diana and Chase exchanged tired but amused glances.  “I guess the Nazis were as fond of their comforts as the Amazons, hmm?”

Diana rolled her eyes.  “Given who their leader was....” she said letting that thought lie.  “Besides you’ve seen how most people have been living here.  You know how the rebels have been living.  I don’t think they have had these kinds of luxuries; they were for the privileged few.”

“Isn’t that still true?  I don’t see the masses in here enjoying all this.”

Diana took Chase by the hand and led her back over to the table.  “Let’s eat; if I know Drea, she will be by shortly to check up on us and give us a report.”

Chase nodded and started eating the stew only just noting that it tasted good.  They ate in silence for a few minutes before Chase noted Diana wasn’t eating much.  “Diana?  Are you all right?”

“My head is bothering me a little bit.”

Chase noticed her pallor and cursed herself silently.  She pushed back from the table and came around beside Diana.  “God, I’ve been so selfish.  Let me take care of you.”

“You don’t have to....”

“I know, Sweetheart, but I want to.”

Diana let Chase lead her into the bathroom, then stood watching as she started the bathwater running.  It was oddly disconcerting; Chase was still hobbling slightly and with her face still bruised and her arm still in a cast, her movements were slow and awkward.  Diana rubbed her temple, trying to ease some of the pain away.

“Chase, what changed?”

“Huh?”  Chase whirled to meet Diana’s eyes.

“I mean just a few days ago... it has only been a few days right?”  She waited for Chase to nod.  “Well, just a few days ago, we were working on just being friends.  Now we’re... well, I think we passed friendship and moved into something deeper.”

Chase turned away from Diana to look for a towel, placing it on the counter before she nodded her head.  “We did,” she agreed softly.  “Before – before we came here, before this fight, I had time... time for anger; time for thought; time for argument and consideration and logic.  Ares made me realize that I was assuming too much - throwing away an opportunity I might never get again... especially since we were in the middle of a war.   And staying angry over things past that I can’t change... it suddenly dawned on me I was being stupid and selfish.”

A frown crossed Diana’s face.  “I don’t understand – you’ve been at war all your life.  Not that I’m complaining,” she hastened to reassure Chase.  “I’m just a little confused.”

Chase smiled sadly.  “So was I.  It is one thing to know something here,” tapping her forehead.  “It’s something else again to have it brought home to you here,” putting her hand over her heart.  “I never had anything to lose before... not like this anyway.  When I was hanging on the wall getting the crap beaten out of me, I decided if I got out of there, I wasn’t going to be stupid and selfish any more.  I was going to give us a chance to be an us if you were still willing... because I remember what it felt like....”  She let her words trail off, but Diana knew exactly when Chase was referring to.

Diana didn’t answer verbally but cupped her hands gently around Chase’s face, drawing their lips together and sucking on her tongue until she felt Chase collapse against her in surrender.  Diana had meant it to be a gesture of reassurance.  Then Diana felt her knees start to buckle when Chase’s hands began to wander across her body.

Diana leaned against the counter and Chase leaned into her as their lips separated.  “I never knew it could be like this.”

Diana combed her fingers through Chase’s hair.  “It will only get better, Love.  I promise you.”

A knock on the outer door brought them back to the present and Chase noted the tub was nearly ready to overflow.  She reached over and shut off the valves.  “Why don’t you get in the tub and relax?  I’ll go take care of the door.  Then maybe we can finish dinner and curl up in that bed together?”  Diana nodded.

“I’d like that very much.”  There might have been more, but the knocking sounded louder and more insistently.  Diana shook her head and gently pushed Chase towards the door.  “Go.  If it’s Drea, she’ll come in anyway if you don’t answer the door soon.”

About that time, the door opened and Drea slowly stuck her head in the door.  “Chase?  Diana?” she called out softly.  She didn’t want to disturb them if they were otherwise occupied, but then there was that mom gene that had decided to kick into overdrive.  And despite everything, there were certain formalities that needed to be observed.  Although looking at Chase now....

“Drea, come in.  What can I do for you?  Please,” indicating the chairs in front of the fireplace. 

Drea watched Chase carefully, noting her pallor and her limp.  She reached up and took Chase’s hands, easing her into the chair beside her.  “Let me take a look at you, Chase,” she said in her no-nonsense healer voice.  “How do you feel?”

Chase considered the question while Drea rechecked her wounds and decided there was no answer she could give that she felt comfortable sharing.  So she remained quiet.  Finally Drea realized that she wasn’t going to get an answer and sighed.

“All right.  What are your intentions for my daughter?”

Chase jerked out of Drea’s grasp.  “You’re walking a very fine line, Drea.  What is between Diana and me is private, and it will remain that way until we decide otherwise.  Do I make myself clear?”

“Absolutely, Chase.  But you need to know that since Diana is the Amazon Princess, there are rules and protocols that will have to be followed.”

Chase stood, heedless of the fact that her bandage was unraveled.  “Get. Out.”

“But....”

“GET OUT.  I will not tolerate any sort of disrespect of her.  Not from you – not from anyone.”

“But, Chase... I didn’t....”

“Drea,” Diana said from the bathroom door.  Even from that distance she could feel the anger rolling off of Chase in waves.  “Do us all a favor and go.  We can talk about this tomorrow.  There is nothing more any of us can do tonight.  Leave us, please.”  She didn’t say it aloud, but her expression clearly said Trust me.

Drea nodded and rose, walking silently back to the door.  “I’m sorry, Chase.  I didn’t mean any disrespect to you or to Diana.  This is new to all of us.”  She cleared her throat when she reached the door.  “I actually came to tell you that everything is ready for tomorrow.  Everyone who can be here will be here to participate in the gauntlet and then the two of you will be returning to America.”

“And the Amazons?”

“Diana has asked that we remain here a little while longer.  We have much we can contribute, and possibly a few things to learn as well.”  They had all been glad when Diana had given them their directives.  It served a number of purposes and more than anything else, showed Diana was a true leader and caretaker of the Amazon Nation.

“Thank you, Drea.  I assure you my intentions are honorable and once I have spoken of them with Diana, I will speak to both you and Hippolyta.  But she deserves to know first.”

Drea smiled and Chase felt the heat from Diana’s blush.  “Goodnight,” Drea said before closing the door behind her.

Chase watched it close with a sense of satisfaction.  Then she turned and took Diana’s hand, leading her over to the bed.  “C’mon.  It’s time to pamper you a little and I’d like to sleep in your arms tonight.”

“That sounds wonderful.  I have a feeling that will be the best medicine I could ask for.”

Chase smiled.  “Me too.”


Chapter LI

The silence the next morning was deafening.  There simply was no sound at all.  No birds, no wind, no nothing.  Just absolute quiet.

From the Reich steps as far as her eyes could see, Amazon warriors and rebel and resistance soldiers lined both sides of the road, each of them anxious for their chance to dispense a little justice.  Some had sticks or clubs, a few had cats or chain; most had chosen to use their fists though.  Chase stood motionless on the top step waiting, sword strapped to her back.  All eyes were turned to her, waiting as well. 

Sonny had reset the cameras to record Orana’s execution.  There had been a debate about it, but in the end they had agreed on the necessity.  Once the gauntlet was complete, Sonny had orders to put together a compilation beginning with Orana’s speech a few nights previous, and a short collection of her well documented and her hidden atrocities against humanity.  Once that was done, it would be aired, along with her summary judgment and execution.  Everyone might not be able to participate, but they would certainly be able to attend after the fact if they chose to.

Diana had chosen not to participate as Diana Prince, but as Wonder Woman, and she had the distinct pleasure of escorting Orana from the dungeon to the Reichstag steps.  Chase more than anyone understood her need for this sort of closure and had merely acquiesced to her request with a nod.  So Diana became her alter ego and Wonder Woman walked unimpeded to the torture chamber.  Only when she got there did she see the presence of guards, and they nodded their heads respectfully and opened the door to let her pass through.  She wondered briefly but correctly assumed that Chase had called down and issued instructions.

Two of them followed her in while two more remained at the door.  She loosened the lasso from her belt and almost gently wrapped it around Orana’s shoulders.  Then she looked her directly in the eye.  “No trouble, Orana.  Not for me and not for her.  The people have earned their justice.”

“Whatever,” Orana said mockingly.  “It’s not like you care, Wonder Woman.  You’re only concerned with....”

“Don’t,” Diana cut in, her eyes flashing fire.  “Just be quiet.  You will have your chance to speak before sentence is pronounced.”

Orana opened her mouth to speak, but Wonder Woman yanked hard on the lasso and she lost the desire.  Then the two soldiers loosened her manacles from the wall while keeping her bound and chained.  “Walk.”

Orana did so though Wonder Woman could feel her resistance.  A dark part of her relished that; the warrior part that demanded vengeance and justice.  The rest of her felt sadness and resignation for what had to be.  Paradise Island had bred this evil – if they couldn’t keep it out of their sterile environment, what hope did humankind have to defeat it?

They stepped out of the Reichstag into the bright morning and Orana blinked instinctively.  She thought briefly of struggling, knowing her guards were having the same issue with their sight.  Then she shrugged.  She expected a dramatic last-minute rescue and decided it would make a better story if she didn’t put up a fight.  So Orana and her four rebel guards walked to the edge of the step to stand beside Chase with Wonder Woman holding the lasso that still bound her.  She raised her chin defiantly and smirked in Chase’s direction.

“Well, well,” she finally said, pushing through the lasso’s power to speak.  “Isn’t this nice?  You rounded up the entire rebellion in one place for me to annihilate.”

Chase didn’t respond, but she could feel the incredulousness emanating from the entire throng that was waiting for Orana to walk between them.  Her bravado was astounding or her madness was that complete; no one was quite sure which it was.

At any rate Chase stood in cleaned and pressed camouflage, her bruises lurid against the paleness of her skin as she faced the former Fuehrer.

“Orana, Supreme Fuehrer of the Nazi Third Reich, you stand before representatives of each of the peoples of the world who have suffered under your oppressive rule accused of tyranny and crimes against humanity.  How do you plead?”

Unexpectedly Orana laughed – a high, shrill sound that was grating on every last nerve.  Only Chase and Wonder Woman refrained from flinching.  “Humanity?  Who gives a fuck about humanity?  Mindless animals waiting to be led.  You sure this isn’t personal for you, Annabelle?”  Only a slight clenching of her jaw gave any indication how close to the mark Orana had hit, but the Amazon saw it.  “It is, isn’t it?”  She turned her head towards Wonder Woman, then back to Chase.  “It’s not about what I did to you though, is it?  This is about what I did to her, isn’t it?”  She laughed again.  “Gods, this is just too special.  This has nothing to do with justice for these people.  It has nothing to do with humanity.  This is personal.”

Chase’s expression never changed and her attention never wavered, and when Orana was done speaking, she took a breath.  “Do you have anything rational to say in your defense or is vitriolic diatribe all you have left to share with the world?”

Orana rolled her eyes but remained silent.

“Very well,” Chase said after a long minute of complete silent.  “As leader of the rebellion, and by the authority vested in me by the provisional governments now in power across the world, I hereby declare you guilty on all counts and sentence you to walk the gauntlet.  Sentence to commence immediately.”

Orana sidled up close to Chase, the lasso giving her just enough leeway.  “You’d like to think this will be the end, wouldn’t you?  Don’t you know I’m immortal, Annabelle?  You can’t kill me... and I have friends in high places, remember?”  A jerk on the lasso pulled her out of Chase’s personal space and she met Wonder Woman’s burning eyes with a sense of contempt and a tickle of something familiar in her memory.  Then it disappeared as quickly as it had emerged, washed away in a haze of anger and bloodlust.  “This isn’t over, Annabelle Chaser!!!  Not by a long shot!!!”

Wonder Woman jerked the lasso again and pulled Orana down the stairs with her.  “You will walk the gauntlet, Orana,” she commanded quietly knowing she would be compelled to obey.  “And you will die today.  I promise you that... because it is personal for me,” she added in an undertone, saying the things she knew Chase couldn’t allow herself to acknowledge publicly.  “Now walk,” giving her a gentle shove.  “And may the gods have mercy on your soul because no one here will.”

Orana took a deep breath, certain of her rescue.  Then she began her walk between the rows, confident she would be walking out at the other end unharmed.

The first blow came as something of a shock.  To say she was surprised... taken totally unaware... would have been an understatement of massive proportions.  There was no holding back, and though each of them only took one hit, there were enough of them that a single hit from each of them added up to quite a lot of strikes against her body.  Orana was beginning to feel them – the lash of a whip, the bite of chains, the bruising of knuckles and clubs.  Harder and faster they came until her only focus was the pain and where the next one was coming from.

“ARES!!!” she screamed.  “ARES!!!”  It was obvious from her cries that she fully expected an answer from him.  And it was equally obvious from his silence that no help was forthcoming.

************

From his position in front of his scrying bowl, Ares watched impassively, a hint of disdain curling his lips.  He had expected better from her than crying for help.  Well, he decided with a shrug of his broad shoulders.  It’s been a nice long run.  I was getting bored with her anyway.  Maybe I can find some real trouble to stir up when this settles.  Then he turned back to watch Orana’s final humiliation.

************

Halfway through the line Orana fell, unable to walk any further.  At Chase’s signal, those who had already had their shot at her took a step back to allow a line to form for those who hadn’t yet dispensed justice.  Person after person hit Orana until she didn’t even emit sound when the blows landed.

When the last soldier had taken their hit on her body, they formed into lines creating a large box around Orana.  Chase stepped forward into the open space and waited.  Slowly, much slower than she had anticipated, Orana lifted her head just barely off the ground and peered at Chase through eyes nearly swollen shut.  The grin she gave was a twisted grimace and the blood that filled her mouth just made her expression horrific.  Orana tried to chuckle, but the sound was more of a choking.

“I told you you couldn’t kill me.”

Chase didn’t answer, but gestured to two soldiers, one Amazon and one resistance fighter.  They jerked Orana into a kneeling position, extending her arms away from her body.  Terror dawned in her eyes as she realized what was going to happen, but she no longer had the strength left to struggle.  Chase removed the sword the Amazons had offered her for this occasion from its sheath and held it up in front of Orana for the barest moment.  Orana’s eyes widened in recognition.

“Justice has been served,” Chase pronounced as she drew the sword back and swung with every ounce of strength and fury she possessed.  “But this is personal,” she whispered as she watched Orana’s head bounce off her shoulders to land a few feet away from her body.  “You don’t get to hurt her ever again,” Chase growled too low for anyone else to hear.

With a nod, the two dropped Orana’s body.  Then they resumed their places back in line and waited for Chase to speak.  She looked around trying to come to grips with the fact that it was really over; Orana’s death closed a personal chapter in her life that had been open since their first face-to-face encounter.  She finally took a deep breath and spoke.

“Bury her in an unmarked grave.  I don’t want the predators around here to die from exposure to the poison that she is.  Make it deep.  Everyone else go back to work.  There’s still plenty of work to do to put things right again and you all have your assignments.”

No one moved and Chase looked around with a raised eyebrow.  “Um... today, people.”  Instead the leader of the local resistance stepped forward and placed his hands on Chase’s shoulders.  Then he leaned forward and kissed her cheeks.

“Thank you,” he said simply.  Then he stepped back and snapped to attention, the troops surrounding them doing the same thing.  Word had spread of Chase’s imminent return to America and no one could begrudge her the desire or the need to withdraw from the forefront of the rebellion.  In fairness, it was very likely that the world’s governments would defer to her as long as she would allow it.  So much had depended on her for so long and even the newest foot soldiers had heard of her exploits.  By removing herself from a leadership position, it would force them to make their own decisions and take responsibility for them.

But regardless of all the rationalizations, they would miss her presence and her leadership – they knew it and so did she.  So she allowed them this opportunity and absorbed the gratitude and love she could feel flowing from all of them.  It eased the pain and guilt she had carried for most of her life.  Chase lifted her eyes to meet Wonder Woman’s and found compassion and understanding.

Chase turned in a complete circle and looked at all the soldiers who stood at attention around her.  Then she turned back to the Reichstag and the woman who waited there patiently for her to return.  Chase made her way through the crowd that parted before her and up the steps.  She turned and faced the troops and smiled.

“Good luck, my friends.  Dismissed,” she said giving them her last formal order.  They cheered and watched until Chase and Wonder Woman disappeared into the Reichstag; then they broke into their respective groups and went back to work.

Mala and Drea were waiting for them when they arrived back in the room they had shared the previous night.  Wonder Woman spun and instantly became Diana Prince once more.  Then she walked over to stand behind Chase, lightly wrapping her arms around Chase’s shoulders despite the blood spattered across her clothing and meeting Drea’s and Mala’s eyes over her head.

“What can we do for you ladies?” Diana asked to break the silence.  It wasn’t so much what she said but how she said it that made the two exchange glances before turning back to Chase and Diana.

“We just wanted to make sure you were both doing all right.  It’s been a long few days for both of you and Chase looks like she’s about ready to collapse.”  Drea focused on Chase.  “May I check your injuries again before you leave?”

Chase shrugged.  Suddenly she was overwhelmingly tired and wanted nothing more than a hot shower and twenty-four hours of uninterrupted sleep.  Drea watched it happen and offered her hand to Chase, a little surprised when it was accepted so readily.  Chase maintained the grip she had on Diana’s hand and they made quite a little procession going into the bathroom.

“Chase, would you like some privacy to take a shower?”

Chase shook her head.  “I don’t have anything clean to wear and there really isn’t time.”  She unbuckled her trousers so Drea could look at the stitches again.  When she released Diana’s hand, Diana moved over to the small linen closet and removed a washcloth, wetting it in warm water before crossing back to Chase’s side.

“You have time,” Drea assured her.  “We haven’t started loading bodies onto the planes yet.  I am sending all but the most critical cases back to America.  There are a few we can’t try and move yet.”

“Thanks, Drea, but I just want to take Ty home.  Are you done yet?” she asked before turning to smile her thanks at Diana when she finished wiping Orana’s blood from her face.

Drea chuckled.  “You’re not big on patience are you, Chase?  That trait you definitely inherited from your mother.”  She cleared her throat when Chase stilled completely.  “I’m not quite done.  I don’t like the look of these – they’re red and more swollen than I am comfortable with.  I’m going to open them; it may hurt more than a little.  Would you like something for the pain?”

“No thank you,” Chase said shortly.  “Just do it so I can get out of here, please.”

“May I ask what your hurry is, Chase?  Most people in your position would be overjoyed to have the power and responsibility you hold right now.”

Mala held Diana in a soft, inflexible grip, knowing Drea wanted to talk to Chase semi-privately as it had been made clear to both priestess and healer that neither Chase nor Diana was willing to let the other out of her sight.  Diana turned to look at Mala, and the priestess cupped her face in the comforting manner of old she had used so many times before.  Unspoken conversation passed between them and Diana relaxed subtly.  Nothing untoward would happen with them all standing in the same room.  Mala closed her eyes briefly in thanks, then combed Diana’s hair away from her forehead to check her stitches as well.  Not surprisingly they were nearly healed.

Chase winced when the stitches popped open, allowing a rush of blood and pus to rush out the opening.  Drea clucked her tongue and let it run, taking the infection with it.  When the bleeding slowed, she rinsed it with water and Chase finally replied to her question.

“I have had this power and responsibility all my adult life, Drea.  I did what needed to be done to finish the job that needed doing; I don’t want to do it anymore, and everyone knows that.  They knew it going into this operation.  But the longer I stay here, the longer they will continue to depend on me... expect me to take the lead in every decision that needs to be made.  I need to go home and let them figure things out for themselves.  I can’t keep doing it for them.”

“Even if it is for the greater good?”

“Even if.  My whole life has been in service of the greater good.  I don’t have anything left to give.”

Drea nodded and though it looked like there was more she wanted to say, she remained silent until the blood ran clear from the cut.  Then she looked towards Diana.  “Come sit behind Chase, Diana.  I need to pour alcohol on this and it’s going to hurt.”

Diana took her place behind Chase and held her while Drea poured more than half a bottle of alcohol on the wound.  Then she packed it and wrapped it up, giving Chase instructions on the care of it once she got home.  Then she took Diana by the arm and led her out of the bathroom to give Chase an opportunity to dress and her a moment to speak to Diana privately.

“Diana, are you sure you shouldn’t remain here with the rest of us?  Your mother did make you the leader of the Amazon army.”

“Drea, my place is at her side.  You know that.  Why are you suddenly being so difficult about this?”

Drea rubbed her forehead.  “I’m not sure, honestly.  I think I’m on overload.  I know you need to be with her, but we need you here as well.”

“No you don’t,” Diana said frankly.  “Not really.”  She held up a hand before Drea could argue.  “I have already given my orders to the Nation; no one needs me to stay here babysitting to make sure they are carried out.  Drea, these are Amazon warriors – they were Amazon warriors hundreds of years before I even came into existence.  I think they can handle themselves.  And Chase needs me, Drea, like I need her.  Maybe you should figure out why that bothers you so much.”

“I can see what it has done to Chase’s soul. I don’t want it to do the same to yours.”

Diana smiled.  “Drea, Chase is healing my soul, and I am healing hers.  Where she goes, I go.”

“And where Diana goes, I will go, Drea,” Chase said as she came out of the bathroom followed by Mala.  “I’m not playing her or taking advantage of her or stringing her along for my own use and pleasure.  If she felt she needed to stay here for any reason, we would.  I’m not sure what I have done to suddenly warrant your distrust, but I think you need to adjust your attitude about me as a person and about Diana and me as a couple.  I’m not going anywhere, Drea.  I am here for the long haul.”

“No matter what?”

“Forever, Drea.  And that is just the beginning for us.”

Without warning, Drea straightened as though a burden had fallen from her shoulders and she grinned while taking Chase into her arms for an almost smothering hug.  Chase was startled and it showed in the expression Diana read so easily in her eyes.  Still she returned the fervent embrace and hoped Drea would see fit to explain.  Mala chuckled silently at the tableau playing out in front of her.  “Thank you, Chase,” Drea said as she pulled back.  “I just wanted to hear it from your lips.  I wanted to know this was your choice.”

“Drea, I may be slow, but I am certainly not stupid,” not admitting to Drea the stupidity she freely admitted to Diana.  “Even when my mind was arguing, my heart and soul knew.  Diana was never not my choice,” speaking to Drea but never letting her eyes leave Diana’s. 

Mala cleared her throat.  “So this means we will have an Amazon wedding soon then, yes?”

Diana and Chase colored equal shades of red, but their eyes stayed locked exchanging silent promises with each other.  “Yes,” they answered in a simultaneous whisper, moving into one another’s arms and forgetting about their audience for a long spell of time while their lips met in passionate affirmation.  Only Drea’s throat clearing separated them though they leaned their foreheads together and breathed the same air.

“Guess I need to see about getting a supply of chocolate body paint then,” Mala commented.  Then she and Drea exchanged glances, laughing aloud at the flaming color and gobsmacked expressions Diana and Chase achieved as Mala’s words and their meaning sank into their consciousness.  This was going to be a lot of fun.


Chapter LII

The silence was surprising.  Chase had expected to hear the sounds of voices calling to one another and the movement of bodies at work... the sounds of rebuilding and restoration.  Though there wasn’t an overabundance of physical labor to be done, and guidelines for the provisional governments had been debated and agreed upon months earlier, still the expectation was there for something more than complete silence.

It was enough to draw Chase out of the inner contemplation she had fallen into after Mala’s startling words.  The thought of Diana and chocolate body paint in a same sentence context had forced her mind to shut down or burn out completely.  The informal commitment they had just made to each other was much easier to focus on and it didn’t tend towards shutting down her mental synapses.  It did send her into a pleasant haze that she was content to indulge in until the silence grabbed her attention.

She stopped on the top step of the Reichstag, looking around at the numerous allies that had made the rebel offensive successful.  So many people from so many places and walks of life had put everything aside to join as one unit to overthrow the Nazi government and restore freedom to the people of the world. Already she had gotten reports from around the globe that many who had heretofore been repressed and afraid were now joining the effort to clean up and repair.  Chase was glad, but the cynical part of her wondered how long it would last.  Had mankind suffered enough this time?  Had they learned to work together despite their differences, or would they allow themselves to fall back into old hatreds and prejudices now that their common enemy was destroyed??  She knew she didn’t have an answer, and there would be no way to tell for some time to come.

Chase shook her head and realized then that the silence she felt was due to the fact that everyone in the square had turned their attention to her, paying their final respects to her in the only way they knew how. She lifted her hand to acknowledge them, then limped down the stairs to the jeep that was waiting to take her to the airstrip the planes had been moved to once the capital was captured.

A large majority of the troops that had left the United States would remain in their newly assigned duty stations until the transition period was over – six months for some; a year for others, depending on the job skills involved.  The few that were left – mostly Amazons - would be accompanying the wounded and the dead home. There was still the task of reintegrating rebels into society as regular civilians, and the Amazons had volunteered a huge contingent of warriors dedicated to that task.  They were being spread out across the whole of Europe and America in small groups to help guide the leaders in this aspect of reform.  It was those assigned to the western hemisphere that were traveling back with Chase.

Though she recognized the need for such a transition team, Chase had been a little confused by Diana’s decision to use Amazon warriors for such an assignment at first.  After all, they were warriors, and with the exception of a few skirmishes the rebel victory had been a fairly peaceful one.  Most of the population had simply been tired and run-down and ready for a change and Chase had planned the offensive with this in mind though the rebellion had been ready for battle as well.  

Then Diana explained that Amazon warriors were the perfect choice – they had faced the same challenges when they had left man’s world millennia ago.  They had needed to learn how to channel that warrior energy and intelligence, and that had led to the creation of a number of games and exercises that allowed them to practice the art of war in a safe environment.  Chase was personally looking forward to seeing some of these in action.

First though, they had to get home and lay their dead to rest.

Diana was waiting at the field, having helped Drea load the injured onto the plane while Chase recorded the last bits for Sonny to edit.  Shep was scheduled to broadcast the news once Sonny was finished with his editing, which Chase figured would be sometime while they were in the air.  Perfect timing as far as she was concerned, and in the meantime she would get to spend some time with Diana.

At least that was the plan until Chase remembered she still had to fly the supersonic jet home and Wonder Woman needed to fly the invisible plane while they kept her dual identity secret.  With a sigh she walked into Diana’s arms and just held on for a long moment.  Diana rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head before releasing Chase to be strong again.

“Thanks,” Chase said softly, before turning her attention to the troops that were waiting for her orders to leave.  She turned to them and gave them a smile.  “Thank you all so much for the sacrifices you have made.  Try to get some rest on the trip home.  We’ll see you all there.”

“Princess, you’re not traveling with us?”

Chase answered before Diana could.  “I need her to fly with me,” she replied, holding up her arm.  “We will be waiting for you when you arrive.  Godspeed.”

They stepped from the cargo plane and waited until the doors were closed before they crossed the field to where the jeep waited.  Chase hadn’t had the jet moved so they had a short drive to reach it.  When they were within sight of it, Chase stopped the jeep and Diana stepped out to become Wonder Woman again.  Then she summoned her invisible plane.

“Will you be okay to fly alone, Chase?  I can make my jet follow us.”

“Would you mind, Diana?  I don’t wanna cause problems for you.  Can it keep up?”

“You could never cause problems for me for something like this, and actually it will solve a couple of problems... especially if we are landing at the base airstrip.  It can keep up easily; I thought I could hide my plane at your homestead.”

Chase nodded.  “Sure.  Are you going as Wonder Woman or as Diana Prince?”

“I need to give the plane instruction as Wonder Woman, but I think it would be best to travel and arrive as Diana Prince.  No questions that way.”

Chase nodded again.  “Good point.  C’mon.  Let’s get outta here.”

Wonder Woman nodded and they walked to the invisible plane first and Wonder Woman gave the plane strict directives on the actions it needed to take.  Then she became Diana Prince once more and linked her arm through Chase’s good one, anxious to return to Chase’s home.  With any luck they would soon be able to begin a normal life together.

************

Hippolyta was waiting at the airstrip when they arrived as was Hans.  Diana jumped from the plane first, then turned to help Chase down.  Despite her physical impairments and Diana’s protests, Chase had insisted on flying the jet herself, and now had pain and exhaustion to show for what Diana suspected was penance.

When Chase’s feet touched the ground, she held Diana’s gaze for a long moment and squeezed her hands gratefully before turning to Hans.  Then she stepped away from Diana’s support and into Hans’ embrace.  Diana crossed over to stand next to Hippolyta though neither of them made an effort to do more than stand beside one another for support as Hans and Chase comforted one another.

“I’m sorry, Hans.  I’m so, so sorry.  This wasn’t supposed to happen.  I never wanted....”  There was a lot more Chase wanted to say but couldn’t for fear of breaking down.  She had yet to cry and was teetering on the brink as it was.

Hans just held her in a fierce, tight grip and slowly rocked them back and forth.  Much of his feeling of loss was for things that could have been but never were.  Chase, on the other hand, had literally lost her best friend in the world and one of the few stabilizing influences she’d known in her life.

“I know, Chase.  I know.  I never wanted it either, but we all knew the possibility, however unlikely, was there.  Despite all the planning we did and all the precautions we took, it was still war, Chase.  And Ty knew that as well or better than any of us.”  He paused and smiled sadly when he felt Chase’s small nod against his chest.

“She left me a note... a letter really.  I think... I think she knew something was going to happen to her.  Or at least she was prepared for it to.”  He paused and chuckled, causing Chase to look at him.  “I’ll have to let you read it.  She managed to give me what for from beyond – figures she’d do anything to ensure she got the last word.”

The disgust in his tone was simply too much for Chase and in spite of the tears that rested just behind her eyes, she laughed.  Hans smiled – mission accomplished... for now.

Hippolyta turned her body towards Diana without losing sight of Chase and Hans.  “How are you?”

Diana actually turned and looked at Hippolyta for a long moment before turning her focus back to Chase.  “I’m all right.”

Hippolyta bit her lip, then determined it was time for them to get over the estrangement between them.  “Really, Diana?  Are you sure?  Drea told me....”

Diana sighed, recognizing the effort for what it was.  “Yes, I’m sure.  My head will heal.  It’s almost healed now.  Another day maybe.”

“And the rest?  Diana, even as long as it’s been I remember what war was like.”

“I had Chase,” she answered simply, then....  “Excuse me,” moving to take Chase in her arms when Chase extended a hand towards her.

Hippolyta watched their interaction, smiling as she realized something fundamental had changed between them.  She was anxious to talk to Drea, but realized if she was reading the signs correctly there would be an Amazon wedding sooner rather than later.

“You all right, Love?” Diana asked Chase as she wrapped Chase in a warm embrace.  Regardless of the laughter she had heard, she could see the tears and pain in the back of the green eyes facing her before Chase buried her face in Diana’s chest.  Diana felt the movement beneath her chin when Chase nodded.

“Better now,” she replied truthfully.  “Should we go say hello to your mother?”  Then the question was moot when Hippolyta made her way to them.

“Chase, how are you?”

Chase thought of the myriad of answers that were applicable and shrugged.  Hippolyta nodded in understanding and stepped forward, reaching out a hand to brush Chase’s bangs off her forehead.

“Been there, done that, remember that feeling all too well.  Come, you must be exhausted and it is going to be several hours before the plane arrives.  I promised Drea I would ensure you got some rest once you arrived.”  Chase’s eyebrow went into her hairline, but she couldn’t deny the exhaustion she felt.  She nodded her agreement and felt Diana’s arms tighten around her.  Hippolyta nodded, recognizing Chase’s acquiescence for exactly what it was.  “Good.  Then perhaps we can talk when you’ve rested.”

“Go on, Chase,” Hans said softly.  “I’ll come and get you when they get home.”

Hippolyta and Hans stood together and watched Diana and Chase walk together to Chase’s quarters.  Then without a word they separated and returned to the things they had been working on before the radio had crackled to life to let them know Chase and Diana had come home.

************

Chase flopped rather gracelessly on the bed and covered her eyes, careful not to smack herself with the cast.  Diana watched her in concern for a long moment, then she leaned over her and tugged the boots from her feet.  She reached up and loosened Chase’s trousers, carefully sliding them down the toned legs.  Her motions caused Chase to move her arm from her eyes and lean up on her elbows, pinning Diana with an exhausted, leering gaze.

“Are you trying to take advantage of my weakened state here, Princess?”

Diana couldn’t stop the intense blush that flooded her features and hoped the semi-darkness of Chase’s quarters hid it.  But she was fairly certain given the shit-eatin’ grin that crossed Chase’s face that her wish had not been granted.  Then the warrior side of her decided to get into the act and she smiled rakishly at Chase and waggled her eyebrows.

“Do I really need to take advantage?”

Now a blush suffused Chase’s face, making her eyebrows stand out in comparison.  She cleared her throat and shook her head.  “Given where my mind has been every moment it could spare... no, not really.  My body is certainly more than willing,” Chase admitted.

“But...?” Diana asked, appreciating the honesty but feeling there was more Chase needed to say.

“But I’m not sure I could stay awake for more than a quickie.  And I don’t want our first time together to be a ‘wham bam, thank you, ma’am’ encounter.  I fully intend to spend hours loving you... memorizing your taste and scent and your reaction to every touch.  And honestly I would prefer to be somewhere that your mother is not within hearing.”

Diana blinked.  She had studied the scrolls and retained trace memories of her original soul.  Somehow she did not remember her soul’s mate being quite so forthcoming or aggressive at the beginning of their relationship together.  She smiled and decided she liked this new side Chase was showing her.  Diana nodded her agreement.

“Soon, though?”

“Very soon, Sweetheart... Amazon protocol be damned.”

Diana bit her lip and chuckled lightly.  “”Given that we have been separated for nearly three thousand years, they will simply have to get over it.  I think we have done amazingly well not to have....”

“... jumped one another’s bones?”  Chase offered with a laugh.

“Something like that, yes.”  Diana pushed gently at Chase’s nearest hip.  “Scoot over.”  Chase raised an eyebrow at her, but complied when Diana removed her shoes and pants.  Then she climbed beneath the cover.  “I want to hold you,” Diana stated clearly.

Chase turned on her side and Diana spooned up behind her, twining her fingers with Chase’s as much as the cast would allow them.  It took less than five breaths before the two of them fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

************

Hippolyta knocked softly, and when there was no response she opened the door silently and poked her head in.  Her breath caught at the sight and she turned to close the door soundlessly behind her before crossing the few step necessary to stand by the bed Chase and Diana shared.  Hippolyta realized that Drea was right – there was no way Diana and Chase were going to observe whatever propriety or convention the Amazon Nation wanted to impose on them.  And really, what was the point?  It wasn’t like the rest of the Nation had been held to special standards; princess or not... why should Diana?  Hippolyta reached out a hand to shake Diana’s arm only to be met by alert blue eyes. 

“Oh... Diana – good, you’re awake.”  Diana blinked and tightened her grip around Chase’s still sleeping body.  Hippolyta couldn’t stop the smile; despite everything and maybe because of it, it made her happy to see Diana finally happy... finally whole.  “I wanted to let you know that the plane will be here in about fifteen minutes.  I thought you two might want a chance to wake up before it lands.”

“Thank you.”  But Diana made no move to wake Chase and Chase’s breathing never changed.  Awkwardly Hippolyta patted Diana’s shoulder before she turned and walked out of Chase’s hut.  Only then did Chase turn in Diana’s arms, smiling up at her sleepily.

“Hiya, beautiful.”

Diana didn’t answer; she simply leaned down and captured Chase’s lips for a timeless moment.  “Come on, Love.  Let’s go welcome Ty home.”

************

The wounded disembarked first and those who needed further care were immediately moved to the hospital.  The rest stood at attention with the gathered troops as the dead were unloaded one at a time.  There weren’t an overwhelming number, but every loss cut deeply and silence reigned as a sign of respect.  Chase met with each family member as they came forward to claim their loved one and Diana stayed beside her for support, marveling at the way Chase personalized each loss and sympathized with everyone.

Finally, lastly, Ty’s body was escorted down the ramp by the burial detail, and the entire contingent stepped back to allow Chase to take possession of the casket one last time.  Ty had asked for cremation and as soon as Chase and Hans said their final goodbyes, her body would be taken to the incinerator.

Hans walked forward at Chase’s motion and placed his hands on the casket, whispering something so low even Chase couldn’t hear him.  Then he stepped back behind Chase and waited, surprised when she simply removed the flag from Ty’s casket and folded it into a triangle before gesturing to the burial detail and reaching out for Diana’s hand. 

Then they made their way towards the incinerator, a procession following respectfully behind them. 

************

“Chase?”  Hippolyta’s voice was soft and hesitant.  She hated to disturb Chase so soon after Ty’s cremation, but suspected her presence would be welcome sooner rather than later just for Chase’s peace of mind.  Besides, she wanted to speak to Chase privately first and Hippolyta couldn’t imagine Diana leaving Chase alone with her for any length of time by choice.  It was simply fortuitous circumstance that Hippolyta had seen Diana headed to the mess hut to pick up their dinner, and she had decided to take immediate advantage of the fact.

Chase leaned back in her chair and observed Diana’s mother with a judicious eye as she stood in the doorway waiting for permission to enter, and Hippolyta returned the favor with a long gaze of her own.  Chase’s bruises were gone and Hippolyta was again struck by not only her beauty, but also by the strength and character so obvious in the woman facing her.  But more than that and most especially, she could see the exhaustion and the pain Chase carried.  Hippolyta gestured to the interior.  “May I come in?”

Chase nodded and motioned her in.  “Diana isn’t here right now.  She went....”

“I know.  I saw her leave and thought you and I could speak privately for a moment.”

Walls immediately went up in Chase’s eyes.  “I don’t think so,” she said bluntly.  “Diana and I don’t keep secrets from one another.”

Hippolyta smiled much to Chase’s surprise.  “Good,” she replied smoothly.  “She deserves someone who cares for her so deeply.”

“I don’t just care for her, Hippolyta; I love her – body, heart and soul.  But more than that, I like and respect the person she is and the person she has always been to me,” acknowledging Diana’s place in the life – past, present and future without so much as batting an eyelash.

Hippolyta nodded as though she had expected the response.  “Actually I came to tell you that when you decide to seek her hand, my answer will be yes.  There are not going to be any silly customs or ridiculous rituals you will be asked to observe or antiquated protocols I expect you to follow.  My only request is that the wedding not be until the Nation can come home to witness it.”

Chase nodded dumbly, not having anticipated this sort of reaction from Hippolyta given Drea’s initial outburst.  Then again, she pondered, maybe that is exactly why I am getting this from Hippolyta now.  Then she brought her attention back to Hippolyta who had resumed speaking.

“I do have a favor to ask.”  At Chase’s cocked eyebrow, Hippolyta continued.  “I would like to return to Europe to be with the Amazons until such time as they are scheduled to come home.  I could go with Hans when he leaves tomorrow.”

“Are you sure?”

Hippolyta nodded.  “Diana and I have been at odds for more than a century, Chase.  It is going to take a while to repair that.  I need to go be a leader and the two of you need time to be a couple together.”

“Go with my blessing then.”

“Mine, too,” Diana spoke from the door.

Hippolyta leaned forward and kissed first Chase and then Diana on the cheek before escaping out the door to inform Hans of the new plans.  Chase and Diana sat down to eat, letting the silence between them grow endless possibilities of what the next few months could mean to them.


Chapter LIII

The silence was different from what it had been before.  There was actual quiet now, not simply the muted sounds of people trying to be unheard in the midst of controlled chaos.  Chase stood at the window of her hut looking out at a world at once familiar and foreign to her.  She shivered.  Diana opened the door as she returned from disposing the remains of their dinner, the sound loud in all the stillness.  She spotted Chase in the dark by the window and moved to turn on a light.  “Please don’t.”

A frown crossed Diana’s face at Chase’s words, but she complied, choosing instead to stand behind Chase and wrap her in a warm hug.  “You all right?”

Chase couldn’t stop the flinch, but then immediately relaxed into the body behind her.  Despite the hurt that flinch caused her, Diana held on, having a good idea what the reason for it was.  She waited.  Chase had lasted a lot longer than she’d expected.  Finally Chase drew a deep breath to speak, but her voice was barely above a whisper when she did.

“No,” she said honestly, closing her eyes.  “I’m not all right.  I’m all wrong in fact.  This is all wrong. It’s all happening too fast.”

This time Diana dropped her arms and moved as far away from Chase as the small space would allow – which fortunately or unfortunately depending on the point of view wasn’t far enough away to keep Chase from fastening a hand around Diana’s wrist in a firm but not painful grip.

“Let.  Go.”

“No.” 

Blue eyes met green with equal fire.  Chase read the pain she had caused and Diana saw the anguish Chase felt.  It didn’t lessen her pain, but she stopped trying to remove her hand from Chase’s grasp.

“I’m sorry, Diana,” she said.  “I... that wasn’t....”  She released Diana’s wrist and turned back to the window, shoulders slumped in defeat.  “I’m sorry,” waiting to hear the door close behind Diana.  Instead she felt Diana step up behind her – close enough to feel her warmth but not quite touching.

“You didn’t mean us, did you?” she asked tenderly.  “About moving too fast.”

Chase shook her head but didn’t say anything.  Diana reached out and took Chase’s hand in hers leading her back to the small bed and tucking her in before crawling in on the other side and cocooning Chase in her arms.

“So what did you mean, Chase?  Help me to understand, Love,” knowing Chase needed to say the words.  Chase lay quiet for so long Diana was afraid she had fallen asleep.  Eventually though, Chase drew in a shuddering breath and began to speak in a low tone.

“I knew when I put this plan together that it was going to change my way of life.  If we failed, well, dead is pretty life changing.” She shrugged.  “If we succeeded, we would be on our way to regaining everything that was lost when the Nazis took control of the world.  But I only expected it to be a first step on a long road to recovery.  We had plans for everything including the provisional governments, but I assumed there would be months of battles even with Orana gone.  Months of restoring order... months of going and doing and....  To have it just be over? I feel out of control.”

“Do you wish it had worked out differently... taken longer or...?”

“No, not really.  I’m glad we’ve gotten by with as few....”  Chase stopped to clear her throat.  “... with as few casualties as we have, and I’m really grateful that people have come around like they have.  It’s just... it’s not what I expected given history.  It’s made me a little antsy... on edge.  It’s like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“Does it help that I’m here?”

Chase took the hand that was resting on her belly and linked their fingers together.  Then she held it over her breast where her heart beat the strongest, knowing Diana could feel the pounding.  “It’s the only thing keeping me from running out of here screaming and howling at the moon.”

Diana couldn’t stop the small chuckle that bubbled up and she squeezed Chase lightly.  “You did that once.”

Chase shifted in her arms until she was laying on her back looking up into Diana’s amused face.  “I beg your pardon?  I most certainly have not....”

Diana let her hand stroke Chase’s belly, drawing the upset and tension out of her body.  “Not in this life maybe,” she agreed.  “But in our first lifetime together, you most certainly did.”

Chase gazed into blue eyes at close range and found only truth in them, and a hint of teasing.  “You remember this??” skeptically.

Diana shook her head.  “No.  But I have read the stories and memorized them all.  There are hints of familiarity about them, ghostly impressions of memory, but mostly it is just what I know from the scrolls.”

A few minutes of quiet consideration.  “Did I really howl at the moon?”

“Yes, you really did.”

There was another long period of silence and Diana watched as Chase’s eyes fluttered closed.  Just when she was sure Chase was asleep, green eyes opened and caught hers with surprising candor.

“I love you, Diana.  You make everything worth it.”

Diana leaned down and kissed Chase thoroughly, feeling her relax under the touch and only pulling away when their hands started to wander.  Chase whimpered softly when Diana’s lips moved just out of reach.  She raised her arm to bring Diana back down to her and nearly clocked them both with the cast.

“Damn, nothing like trying to knock yourself and your soulmate unconscious to ruin a mood.”  They shared a chuckle.  “Although it’s probably just as well.”  She reached up to smooth the scowl Diana gave her at those words.  “Not because I don’t want to, Sweetheart.  God, do I want to,” Chase growled, causing Diana to smirk.  “I just don’t want to here – especially for our first time together.  I know that no matter when and where we make love for the first time it will be special, but I’d like it to be somewhere beautiful as well.”

“And I’d rather not know my mother is hanging around waiting for something to happen.”

Chase struggled to sit up.  “You mean your mother is out there?!?” pointing towards the door.

“No, NO!” pushing on Chase’s shoulder and making her lay back on the mattress.  “No, Chase.  She wouldn’t do that.  It’s just my knowing she knows, you know?”

“Not exactly, Diana, but I do understand.  Besides after waiting nearly three millennia to be together again, one more day shouldn’t kill us.  But we may not leave the house for six months once I get you home.”

Diana blushed and looked at her with round, blue eyes.  “Promise?”

“Guaran-damn-tee it, Sweetheart.”

That garnered her another long, passionate embrace and both were breathing heavily when they finally separated for air.  Diana gazed at Chase with lustful intent.  “I’m going to hold you to that, Annabelle Chaser.”

Chase pushed Diana onto her back then curled up into her body with her head on one breast and her arm carefully across Diana’s waist.  “No worries, Love,” placing a kiss to the breast beneath her lips.  “My heart will remember.”  She smiled when she felt the heartbeat under her cheek speed up exponentially.  “Goodnight, Beloved.”  Diana’s kiss to the top of her head was the only response she got.  It was enough.  They were almost asleep when Chase spoke again.  “Diana, are they really going to give us chocolate body paint to use during our wedding ceremony??”

Chase felt the soundless choking jerk through Diana’s body behind her before Diana answered her.  “Not if they know what’s good for them.”

“Oh,” Chase said, a little deflated.

Diana shifted slightly to look at Chase’s bowed head.  “You want to be naked in front of everyone and indulge in ritualistic Amazon body painting?!”  She’d never have pegged Chase as the exhibitionist type, and while being naked in front of her sisters didn’t really concern Diana, she felt somewhat protective of sharing Chase with them.

“Huh?  What?  Oh, no!” idly drawing patterns on Diana’s stomach.

“Then why did you sound so disappointed?”  She felt the heat of Chase’s blush spread across her skin and wondered what could have caused such a violent reaction.  Then her mind followed right behind Chase’s and Diana felt her own skin flush in response.  Chase’s shrug brought her mind away from her rather explicit daydreams and back to Chase’s answer.

“It sounded... interesting.”

Diana grinned.  She had a feeling immortal life with Chase would never be dull.  “Don’t worry, Sweetheart.  I promise we will put it to good use privately.”

Chase couldn’t stop the silly grin anymore than she could resist giving Diana another hug.  “Good.”  Then the two of them settled into silence, falling asleep with a pair of matching smiles.

************

Morning came early as it is wont to do and Diana and Chase were up with the rising of the sun.  Of course, it was a little difficult to see the rising of the sun behind all the storm clouds that had gathered and the drizzle of rain, but the lightening of the sky was a good indicator.  After cleaning up, they walked together to the mess tent and everyone took a moment to welcome Chase home and express their condolences over Ty.  Diana sat back and watched as Chase absorbed the love and affection of those she had called family for such a long time.

Somewhere in the midst of all the greetings, Hippolyta slipped in and took a seat next to Diana.  Diana nodded to her mother to acknowledge her presence but didn’t offer more.  Hippolyta sighed.  It seemed like all their progress was made by taking baby steps, but at least there was finally progress once more.

“Diana, is there anything you need me to do for you while I am over there?  You are still in charge of the army, you know.”

“No, thank you.  I gave my orders to the commanders before I left and the Amazons know what their duties are.”  She watched Hippolyta’s shoulders slump at her brusque answer and for the first time in forever felt a bit of sympathy for her mother.  “If you could though,” she continued, seeing Hippolyta straighten up in anticipation.  “Would you send me a period progress report – let me know how you feel things are going overall?  You have a much better handle on how this should progress, and I don’t think you would pad the report to spare my sensibilities.”

Hippolyta’s eyes widened.  “You think the rest will?”

Diana shrugged, trying to play things off nonchalantly.  “I think the rest are not sure how to regard me anymore – if they ever did.  I didn’t suffer through what the rest of you did as mortal women, yet I did cause you to lead the Amazons back into the ugliness and cruelty of war in man’s world.  Then to top it all off, I left them to return here with Chase.”

Hippolyta nodded and considered her words carefully.  This was the first time Diana had really shared much of anything with her in such a long time, and she didn’t want to blow it by speaking too hastily.  “I think if you were to ask them, you would find they wanted to come here to support both you and Chase... and all of mankind for that matter.  They all know the story, Diana, and they all want that happy ending for you... and Chase, of course.  No one begrudges your decision to be here, and each and every Amazon that came to man’s world did so willingly.  They all volunteered.”

Diana’s eyes widened.  That was a surprise.  She’d just assumed....

Hippolyta cleared her throat.  “I need to go get my gear together.  Hans is ready to go.”

Diana nodded.  “We’ll be there to see you off.”  Hippolyta patted her hand and rose, slipping out into the wet of the outdoors.  Diana watched her go and clasped Chase’s hand.

“Ready to go?”

“Let’s go say goodbye to Hans and your mother and blow this popsicle stand.”  Diana’s eyebrows went up but she nodded her agreement.

Their goodbyes were brief though Diana did allow Hippolyta a brief hug.  Hans and Chase exchanged a long embrace but no words; none were necessary between them.  Then Hippolyta gave Chase a hug, pulling back to look into her eyes. 

“Take care of my baby.”

“I will.  Be careful... both of you.  I want to see you home safely.”

Hippolyta nodded and pressed a kiss on Chase’s cheek then boarding the plane.  Hans gave her a wave and the jet taxied down the runway in the chilling rain.  They watched the plane out of sight, then Chase turned to Diana and extended her hand.

“You ready to go home?”

Diana nodded and wiggled her eyebrows.  “Yes, let’s blow this popsicle stand,” mimicking Chase’s earlier words.  Chase just laughed and together they walked back to the hut to pick up their few belongings.  Then without a backwards glance, they left the rebel encampment and headed for home.

************

Thankfully the drizzle was taking a brief hiatus by the time they arrived though there was still a good breeze blowing.  The house was much the same as it had been the last time they had been out; the grass was a little longer, the wildflowers were still blooming and the jeep was still parked out front.  Chase pulled to a stop behind it mumbling to herself.

Diana smiled, having a fairly good idea what all the muttering was about, then looked down in surprise when her wrist was encircled by Chase’s strong fingers. 

“Before we go inside, would you like to help me scatter Ty’s ashes and let me introduce you to my mother properly?”

Without a word Diana slid her hand into Chase’s curling their fingers together.  She made no mention of having already met Jasmine and let Chase lead her over to the tall oak where her mother’s body had been laid to rest.  Chase gathered up a handful of wildflowers and placed them on Jasmine’s grave before kneeling down to speak.

“Hello, Mama.  I’ve brought someone I think you already know, but it’s important to me to introduce you to her as the person who owns my heart and soul.  Mama, this is Diana,” looking up and easing Diana into a kneeling position beside her.  “This is the woman I love – body, heart and soul – and whom I am going to marry as soon as I convince her to say yes.”

Diana drew a deep, surprised breath.  She hadn’t expected any kind of proposal, especially not here and now.  She met Chase’s eyes, overwhelmed by the love she found there and only a little confused by the slight humor she could see in the back of vibrant green eyes.

“Really?”

Chase nodded with a nervous smile and shrugged.  “More than anything in the world.  I asked in front of witnesses,” motioning to her mother’s grave and Ty’s urn, “hoping you’d be more inclined to say yes.”

Diana took both of Chase’s hands in hers and leaned forward until their lips were just touching.  “It has always been yes, Chase.”  Then they kissed for a long moment.  Two ghostly figures stood on the other side of the tree unseen by the two lovers who pulled away from their kiss and took up the urn before climbing the tree to scatter Ty’s ashes together.  Ty and Jasmine watched the little ceremony unnoticed even as the other two climbed from the tree.  Then Chase and Diana clasped hands and headed for the house, anxious to begin the newest chapter in their lives.

“About damned time,” Ty muttered.

“No kidding,” Jasmine agreed.  Then they walked off together in the opposite direction until they disappeared in the rain that had started to fall in earnest.

Chase’s hand shook slightly as she opened the door, then she gasped in surprise when Diana scooped her into strong arms and carried her across the threshold.  Chase responded by pulling Diana’s lips down to meet hers, then all movement stopped as the kiss went on at length.  Finally they pulled away for air, and Chase put her head against Diana’s heart and wrapped her arms around the slim waist as Diana eased her back into a standing position.

“Umm, have I mentioned how good you are at that?”

Diana smiled.  “I think we both need lots more practice.  I mean good is okay, but perfect would be better, don’t you think?”

“Oh,” Chase agreed wickedly.  “I intend to be practicing all kinds of things with you in that case.  It could take years.”

Diana cupped Chase’s face tenderly in her hand.  “Oh no, Lover.  This is a forever kind of thing.”

Chase took Diana’s hand in her own and kissed it, then led the way to the bedroom.  The time for patience and waiting was over.  The rest of the world would just have to do without them for a while.


Chapter LIV

Chase opened the door to her room, trying to remember the last time she’d taken the time to use it instead of simply bunking on the couch.  Most of her trips out here since she had moved to the camp had been once in a while fly bys.  It occurred to her that she would need linens for the bed and she hoped there was still something useable in the house. 

Diana felt her hesitation and turned to look at Chase squarely.  “You all right?”

Chase nodded and nibbled her bottom lip.  “I just realized I need to see if there are clean linens we can put on the bed.”

Diana released her hands and jerked the coverlet off the mattress, folding it neatly before dropping it into the room’s only chair.  They both sneezed violently from the dust she had scattered.  Chase laughed and kissed her quickly, then crossed the room and threw the windows wide open.  For good measure, she plugged in the small, metal rotary fan and tried to angle it to push the dust out faster.  Then she turned to Diana and held out a hand.

Diana felt the shakiness and gave Chase a look of intense wonder.  “You’re nervous?”

Chase nodded and let her eyes drop to the ground.  “This is... I’ve never... this means something to me – means everything to me... YOU mean everything... I’m not... I just want this to be... I want you....”

Diana stepped closer to Chase, until they were touching along the length of their bodies.  Diana cupped Chase’s face tenderly in her hands.  “Breathe, Sweetheart,” looking her intently in the eyes.  Then she leaned forward, swiping her tongue across Chase’s lips, smiling at the whimper the action elicited, then moaning herself when Chase’s strong teeth caught her tongue and held it as she laved it with her own.

Chase slid her hands up Diana’s torso, lightly pinching her nipples and noting Diana’s gasp before continuing up her shoulders and into the thick, dark hair.  She felt Diana’s hands shift from her face, circling her breasts before slipping to her waist and around to cup her ass firmly.  Chase released Diana’s tongue only to find her lips captured and her mouth plundered in return.

Chase let her short nails scratch Diana’s neck and scalp, feeling the trembling that shuddered through her tall frame.  When Diana started kneading her cheeks rhythmically, Chase broke the kiss breathing heavily.  Diana looked at her questioningly with darkened blue eyes and Chase gave her a shy smile, her green eyes almost glowing in return.

“I think we both have on far too many clothes, love, and I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to stand.”  Diana reached for the hem of her shirt, her eyes never leaving Chase’s then stopped when Chase shook her head.  “Let me.”

Diana acquiesced, feeling the trail of goosebumps that followed in the wake of Chase’s light touch on her skin.  Chase looked at Diana’s sculpted body with awe, watching as her fingers traced muscle and bone and curves.  It was when Chase lingered on those curves that Diana spoke in a shaky, husky voice. 

“Chase, please....”

Chase looked up into eyes burning with a desire so deep she wondered for a long moment if there was a chance in hell of satisfying it in her immortal lifetime.  She planted kisses on Diana’s breastbone and moved down the abdomen that held only hints of the strength that lay behind the muscles, licking random spots until she reached the top button on Diana’s trousers and knelt.  Reverently she unfastened the pants and helped Diana step out of them before kissing her way back to Diana’s lips.  Her hands traced indiscriminate patterns over smooth, soft skin and she pulled back from their kiss just slightly to gaze into Diana’s face.

“You are so beautiful.”

Chase would have said more, but buttons went flying when Diana ripped the shirt she was wearing in two.  It was her turn to shiver under the focused attention, and Diana took her time as she removed Chase’s bra and let her hands explore every inch of skin on Chase’s upper body.  She watched the muscles bunch and shift as her lips traced them, enjoying the movement as a sensuous dance.

Then she knelt as well, unembarrassed by her nakedness and thoroughly aroused by the look of desire and need so clearly written in the green eyes that followed her every move.  Diana let her hands run lightly up and down Chase’s legs, stimulating every nerve ending she could find before loosening the buttons that held them on and sliding them down Chase’s legs.  Diana felt Chase’s shaking when she used her shoulders for balance, and she smoothly rose to her feet, trailing her hands along the length of Chase’s body.

“You are exquisite.” Diana returned the compliment and they simply looked at one another for a long moment.  Then Chase took Diana’s hand and led them to the bed, easing Diana into a sitting position and standing between her legs.  She let her hands rest on Diana’s shoulders and smiled when Diana’s hands wrapped around her waist.

There were so many things Chase wanted to say, but the words were just so many letters jumbled together in her mind.  So she decided to let her actions speak for her instead.  She leaned down and placed butterfly kisses along Diana’s jaw line, shuddering at the hot breath that skittered across her ear and moaning in tandem with Diana when Diana pulled Chase into her and their skin met breast to breast and curve to curve.  Then Chase gently pushed Diana onto her back on the bed and crawled on top of her as the sounds of their passion punctuated the otherwise quiet room for most of the rest of the morning.

************

They lay curled up together in the sheen of afterglow some time later, pleasantly tired and completely satiated for the moment.  Diana drew circles on the smooth skin of Chase’s back while Chase absently traced the curves and hollows of Diana’s torso.  She eyed the tightly splinted and bound arm, glad she’d had the cast removed before they had left the base camp.  Chase placed a kiss on the breast she was resting on and felt Diana brush her lips across her sweat-dampened forehead.

“I think we need to put this on the calendar.”

Diana chuckled soundlessly.  “Today’s date?  Well, I supposed it is a red-letter day for us.  Oof!” flinching when Chase pinched her and twisting to glare down at her.  “What was that for??  It is a red-letter day for us.  This is the first time these two bodies have made love together and the first time in two thousand, seven hundred sixty-eight years, nine months, fourteen days, five hours, thirty-three minutes and... eighteen... nineteen... twenty seconds that our souls have communicated so completely.”

“When you put it that way, I see your point.  But that isn’t the reason I want to put it on the calendar.”

“Then why?” asked with a fond smile.  Chase looked up and caught the expression in Diana’s eyes and kissed her hard for a timeless moment.  “That’s reason enough, I suppose.”

Chase laughed.  “I want it on the calendar as a regularly scheduled event.  I don’t want to have to go another two thousand, seven hundred sixty-eight years, nine months, fourteen days, five hours, thirty-four minutes and four seconds without ever again.”  Chase paused when Diana burst into laughter, chuckling a little herself.  Then she added more seriously.  “That’s too damn long to be without you, and way too long to go without making love with you.”

Diana urged Chase up to meet her lips and rolled them over until her body covered Chase’s... only to have two stomachs growl in tandem, totally breaking the mood.  They pulled back smiling at one another and settled for a warm hug instead.

“C’mon,” Chase invited with another brief kiss.  “I think we might be able to find something to take care of that though we are going to have to go to town at some point... at least until I can get some livestock back.”  She groaned.  “It’s gonna take some time and work to get the farm back in working order.”  Chase slid from the bed and offered a hand to Diana, then blushed under the blue-eyed scrutiny as Diana sat up and took the proffered hand. 

“You really are very beautiful, Chase.”

“Only in your eyes, Love.  We know who the beauty in this relationship is.”

“Us,” Diana said firmly.  “We both are... inside and out.  No arguments.”

Chase dipped her head in acknowledgment.  “All right... no arguments.”  Stomachs rumbled again as a loud reminder of their empty state.  “C’mon,” she said again as they redressed.  “Let’s get something to eat before Jen sends someone out here to check the noise.”

Lunch was simple and full of interesting conversation.  “So how did the base camp end up so close to your home?  Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Well, it’s not like I chose the location of either, but if it had been left to me... I dunno.  It is – or was – dangerous to have it so close, but I did love the opportunity to be able to come home.”  Chase shrugged.  “I think it was central to a couple old military bases way back when the United States still had a military before the Nazis took over.  It was a good location; it was never found in a hundred years of rebellion, though in all honesty, I don’t think they were looking very hard.”

“Why do you say that?  I’m not disagreeing – I think you’re right.  I’m just curious what your reasons are for thinking that way.”

“I don’t think the Nazis ever saw the rebellion or the resistance as a real threat.  And honestly... why would they?  We really weren’t until recently.”

“Until you became the leader, yes?”  Chase shrugged and dropped her eyes.  Diana reached over and covered her hand.  “Chase, it’s not something you should be ashamed of.  You made all the difference.  That’s a good thing; be proud of it.”

“I know, I guess.  It’s just gonna take some getting used to.”

Diana smiled and squeezed the hand she still held.  “It’s all right, Love.  We have forever.”

At this, Chase looked up and smiled brightly.  “I’m looking forward to forever with you.”  She looked at her empty plate and then to Diana’s.  “I guess we really were hungry.  Are you done or...?”

“Hmm?  Oh no... I’m done.  What did you have in mind?” waggling her eyebrows.

“Well, I thought that maybe I should unload the jeep,” Diana let her fingers trail up Chase’s arm.  “Put a few things away,” Diana traced Chase’s collarbone and lingered over her pulse point.  Chase swallowed hard.  “Maybe give you a tour of the house and land.”  Diana pulled her forward for a kiss.  Chase cleared her throat when they separated.  “Or maybe not.”  Diana smiled.

“No, I like that idea except we will unload the jeep together.  Then you can tour me around and maybe we could take a nap.  We have time enough to clean things up and put things away later.”

Chase stood and took their plates to the sink, then took Diana’s hand and pulled her from her seat and led her out to the jeep.  There wasn’t a lot of stuff - a few boxes, a suitcase and a sheathed sword.  Chase picked it up from the bottom of the jeep and extended it to Diana.  “I believe this is yours,” she said quietly.  “Isn’t it?”

Diana accepted the sword from Chase with a nod.  “Yes, it is.  It’s part of Amazon history.”

“But it’s your sword.”

“Yes, it is.  It has been for nearly three thousand years.”

“Thought so,” Chase commented, picking up the boxes and grabbing for the suitcase before Diana snatched it out of her reach with a glare.  Chase smirked and shrugged and led the way back into the house, setting the boxes down and reaching for the case.

“I am not helpless, you know.”

“I know,” Chase agreed softly.  “I just like being able to take care of you.”

Diana cupped Chase’s face with her free hand.  “I like being able to take care of you too.  Now,” motioning to the suitcase still in her hand, “where does this go?  You still owe me a tour.”

Chase smiled and took Diana’s hand from her face and linked it with her own.  “All right.  C’mon.”

The farmhouse was quite large, considering - three big rooms on the bottom floor and two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs.  The kitchen was large and open and held the small dining table.  The living room had a huge fieldstone fireplace that also served the room that had once been Charlie’s study. Here books were crammed into every bit of conceivable wall space; only the windows were spared.  The window seats that had been built beneath them had several books opened or bookmarked, as though someone had just stepped out of the room and would be back shortly.

“This was your favorite room,” Diana commented confidently.

Chase bit her lip.  “I have read everything in here at least once,” she admitted.  “I have read everything in the house.  It kept me out of trouble in rainy days.”

Diana smiled at her affectionately.  “Rained a lot here, huh?  I saw the books upstairs.”

Chase blushed.  “Not all of them.”

A single brow rose in question and Chase tugged on Diana’s hand.  Gladly Diana followed Chase up the stairs, but instead of taking the left door, Chase opened the right, and Diana just looked around in wonder.  There was another fieldstone fireplace in this room, and two more walls of floor to ceiling books.  Diana realized Charlie and Jasmine had invested everything they could into books for Chase’s sake.  Then she saw that Chase had written some of them.  She turned accusing eyes at Chase.

“I told you I wanted to be a writer,” looking away embarrassed.

“I didn’t know that meant you already were.  Can I read them?” her enthusiasm radiating.

“Sure... I guess... I mean, if you really want to....  They are mostly children’s books.”

“You wrote for children?”

“Yeah... that too.”  Diana blinked at the implication.

“This was your folks’ room?” Diana asked when the silence lengthened.

“Yeah.  Mama never understood why I didn’t move in here after she... died.  But I never spent any real time here after that either.  I usually just crashed downstairs.  I haven’t done anything with the place in a while, but we can do whatever you want to make it homey.”  She cleared her throat awkwardly.  “Would you like this to be your room?”

Diana gazed at her with a look of acute pain in her eyes.  “I thought we could make this our room.”

Chase took Diana’s face in her hands and stared into her eyes for a long moment, trying to communicate everything she was thinking and feeling without having to resort to words.  Then she realized Diana needed to hear the words.  “Are you sure, Sweetheart?  I didn’t want to rush you or make you feel crowded.  I didn’t know if maybe you needed your own space.”

Diana laughed, though there was a hint of tears in her eyes, and she picked Chase up, causing her to squeal and wrap arms and legs around Diana’s body.

“Diana, put me down!”

Instead Diana spun in a circle then looked Chase square in the eye.  “Somehow I don’t think three millennia apart is rushing, Love, and I’ve had all the space away from you I ever want to have.  I came here to be with you, Annabelle Chaser, and I want to be with you... live with you... share your space... for as long as you can stand to have me around.”

“We’ll start with forever and work from there.  Do you want to spend our first night together here in this room?  We’ll need to at least find some sheets.”

“Can we?”

Chase smirked.  “You’ll have to put me down, but I don’t see why not.  This is our home now, for as long as we decide to live here.  We should make it what we want it to be.”

Diana followed Chase out of the room and to the door at the back of the small hallway landing area.  Chase opened it to reveal a large, old-fashioned bathroom, complete with freestanding sink and claw footed bathtub.  Diana found it charming... especially the special shower stall and private toilet.

Chase went to the large linen closet and removed some cotton sheets worn smooth.  “Well, they’re not fresh, but they are clean.  Since the rain has stopped for now, I’ll put them on the line outside.  They can air out a little while we walk.”

They toured the garden and barn; then they walked through the meadows and pastures and Diana smiled.  Those were fresh and untouched and parts of it reminded her of Paradise Island.  Chase explained how each parcel had been utilized before and what she hoped to do with it now.  Then a thought occurred to her and she turned to Diana.

“Do you want to live here or do you want to go back to Paradise Island?” Chase asked abruptly.  “I was just assuming....”

“I’d like to stay here for as long as we can.  We will have to go back to Paradise Island or at least start moving around after a few years.  People know you around here, and your immortality will become more and more evident as time passes.  But for now and for as long as we can mange, this is perfect.”

That earned her a big grin and a hard, fast kiss.  Then they walked on back towards the house for a few minutes in silence before Diana cleared her throat.

“Chase?”

“Hmm?” turning dreamy green eyes in Diana’s direction.  Blue eyes lost their worry and softened at the love she found reflected back to her.  Somehow Diana knew things would work out all right.

“How would you feel about me continuing to be Wonder Woman until things settle down a little?  I think there are still plenty of ways I could contribute....”

Chase pulled them to a halt as they reached the house and turned to look at Diana a long moment.  Then she jerked her head in the direction of the porch swing.  “Interested?”

For answer, Diana mounted the stairs and took a seat, waiting til Chase was seated beside her before pushing off gently with her foot.

“Diana,” Chase began softly.  “You don’t need my permission to be who you are.  Wonder Woman is a part of you, and if you want to continue, I would never stand in your way.  I’m very proud that you were chosen to carry the title.  I just have one request.”

“You want to come with me?” Diana asked with a fond smile.

“I’d love to,” she answered immediately, “but I wouldn’t put you in danger for my own selfishness.”  Diana blinked in surprise.  That hadn’t been what she’d expected Chase to say.  “Please be careful.  I know you are an immortal Amazon princess superhero, but I plan to be married to you for a very, very long time.  I don’t want to be a widow before I get to be your wife for an eternity or two.”  She smiled and tried to insert a little levity.  “After that, maybe we can negotiate.”

Diana knew better than to try to negotiate with Chase; that had always been her soulmate’s particular gift.  Her understanding was an added bonus.  Diana wrapped her arms around Chase and smiled when Chase tucked her head between her neck and shoulder.  They rocked together gently in comfortable silence as they watched the sun begin to set behind the trees.  Only when twilight settled in did they retrieve the sheets and walk back into the house for the night.


Chapter LV

Things settled into a routine after that.  Chase and Diana spent their days together cleaning up the farm and restoring the property, creating a home that was theirs.  Their nights were devoted to one another - reserved for talking and sharing, love making and exploration.  So the first few weeks passed peacefully.  Then Hippolyta called and things began to unravel... quickly.

************

“I don’t like this, Drea.  Something about all this doesn’t feel right.”

Things had been suspiciously quiet, and it made all of Hippolyta’s senses come alive and tingle in the most unpleasant, annoying way.  These were the instincts she had learned to trust a long time ago; they were what had helped the Amazon Nation survive.

The goddesses had been conspicuously absent as well save one brief visit when the first fighting was over to transport the Amazon wounded back to Paradise Island.  Drea had gone with them and only recently returned by virtue of Wonder Woman’s invisible plane, a favor Aphrodite had asked of her before the goddesses had disappeared into the mist.

“What bothers you so much, Pol?  The people seem happy; the warriors swear the retraining is going well, and those who feel compelled in that direction are actually quite thrilled by Diana’s optional directive for the Nation.  I fail to see where the problem is.”

“Where is the opposition... the fighters?  You cannot tell me everyone is thrilled with a rebel takeover, especially those that had power.  Despite Chase’s well-made case with the film that that young man Sonny produced showing the atrocities Orana and the Nazis were responsible for, I have heard murmurings that her methods were no better than the Nazis.  But I cannot find the dissatisfied parties.  It’s like they have completely disappeared, and that bothers me.”

“You think they would be vocal enough for you to find them?”

“I think there is no way for someone that unhappy to just disappear.  They are usually trying to gather others to their cause, and no matter how slick and sly you are, there are whispers, mutterings, something especially if you are looking for them.  And there is nothing... like they have just... oh my gods,” Hippolyta growled as realization dawned.

“What??” Drea asked as Hippolyta headed out of their housing area.  She caught Hippolyta by the arm and held on when Hippolyta whirled.  Then Hippolyta noticed the genuine concern reflected in those brown eyes and relented.

“Come.  I’ll explain it to you on the way to Sonny’s office.  I need to talk to Diana... or Chase.”

************

As it happened, Hippolyta caught Diana alone.  Chase had gone into town to pick up some supplies and Diana had elected to stay home.  She was working on a surprise and hoping to pull it off when the phone rang.  It took a minute for the sound to register and another for Diana to realize what it was.  Except for a call from Hans to let them know he and Hippolyta had arrived safely and one from the mill to alert them their order was ready, the instrument had been noticeably silent.  When it finally occurred to Diana what the sound was, she went into the study to answer it.

Chase found Diana still sitting at the desk lost in thought when she arrived home.

“Sweetheart?”  She walked over and put her hand on Diana’s arm, kneeling down beside her.  “Diana, what’s wrong, Love?”

“My mother just called.”

“What’s wrong?  Is she pregnant or something?”

Diana snapped her head around at that and looked at Chase wide-eyed.  “Huh?  Why would you say something like that?”

“It was the weirdest thing I could think of to get your attention.  Kinda went with your expression.”  Chase stood and perched on the edge of the desk.  “So what’s up?”

“She thinks the remnants of the Nazi army are headed this way.  She thinks they are going to target you to make some sort of statement to the world.”

Chase sighed but nodded calmly.  “Makes sense, I suppose.”

“WHAT?!?”

“Diana, just because I’ve stopped fighting them doesn’t mean they have stopped fighting me.  I was the face of the rebellion as far as most of the world is concerned.  That hasn’t changed.  Guess this is the other shoe I’ve been waiting for.”

“Chase, how can you be so calm about this?”

“How would you like me to react, Sweetheart?  There’s not a hell of a lot I can do about it and at least we have some warning.  Besides, what have they got, really?  I’ve got Wonder Woman on my side.”

Diana couldn’t help the smile that those words caused to light up her face.  Then she bit her lips pensively.  “But will that be enough?”

“Yes.  We know enough to be able to defeat them.  They’re not going to try to kill me... not right away.  They are going to want to capture me – to make a statement as you said.  We just have to keep them from taking me away from here... away from you.”

“Not a chance in hell,” Diana growled out viciously, standing and stepping into Chase’s personal space.  “Mine,” she snarled in Chase’s ear as she wrapped her arms around Chase’s waist.

“Yours,” Chase agreed and then was being kissed with passionate thoroughness.  The smell of smoke broke them apart.

“My cake!!”  Diana wailed and ran to the kitchen.  Chase chuckled and followed though she wisely wiped the smile off her face before she reached Diana’s side.  Then she happily consoled her lover for the rest of the evening.

The next few days they spent securing the farm as much as possible with Chase muttering invectives over consequences for the Nazis if they destroyed all the hard work she and Diana had done around the place.  To their surprise and secret relief, Hippolyta had sent a contingent of the best Amazon warriors to help protect and safeguard them and Diana set a watch schedule and Chase got them settled in the house and barn.  They only had to wait a few days before all hell broke loose.

************

When the rebellion declared victory, rogue elements of the Nazi forces went underground to keep from being annihilated.  There weren’t many, but there were enough, and when they learned of Chase’s retirement from the field of service, they decided to make an example of her.  It wouldn’t put them back in power, but it would help them to recreate a new powerbase.  First though, they had to find her.

The Navy had been decommissioned, but there were a very few hidden planes the rebellion had not uncovered.  They couldn’t bring tanks and missiles, but they could bring machine guns and pistols on their person in pieces and that is exactly what they did.

Getting into America was simple enough; things were in transition and maintaining the northern and southern borders wasn’t a high priority.  From there, it was a matter of finding Chase.  They split into small units and spread out, assuming that speed was more important than numbers in finding her.  They did not realize how they had underestimated her or the rebellion’s desire to ensure her safety.

Had they taken her and the rebellion as seriously before the rebellion decimated them, things might have turned out differently for the Nazis.  As it was, it didn’t take nearly as long as they were afraid it would.

They went in silently, fully expecting there to only be two women in the house.  That had been all they had seen in their surveillance.  The Nazis had no way of knowing they were expected, or that Diana and the Amazons had planned accordingly to keep the Amazon presence hidden for as long as it took.  They certainly had no clue Wonder Woman would be waiting for them.

The Amazons wanted to let the entire unit get inside the house before closing in around them.  Chase adamantly refused.  Diana, understanding her reasoning, simply adjusted though Chase wasn’t particularly fond of her modification.

The Nazis thought a nighttime sneak attack was the best; they didn’t expect Wonder Woman to meet them head on.  The first two went down when they were hit from behind with the tiara and knocked from the trees they were perched in.  The thud of their bodies hitting the ground drew the attention of the four closest to them, but they never had the chance to react as two were taken down by the infamous pinch and the other two met their end when their necks were snapped.  Then Wonder Woman decided that game time was over.

“Hello boys.”

The bullets flew in response to her words, but her wrists moved too rapidly for them to penetrate the shield she created around her person.  Some of the projectiles she was able to redirect and actually cause to hit the shooters.  The rest fell harmlessly to the ground at her feet.

The noise caused the Amazons to emerge from their hiding places, and suddenly the Nazis found themselves severely outmaneuvered.  They dropped their guns and started to run, only to find their way blocked.  Then they were collectively gathered and lassoed together and Chase stepped out of the shadows before Wonder Woman could speak.  Chase was clearly pale and shaken to Diana’s eyes but full of disdain to the rest who were watching her every move.

She circled them slowly looking into eyes full of hatred.  “How many of you are there?”  Silence.  “Under whose authority are you acting?”  Silence.  “What do you expect to gain from this?  I am no longer part of the rebellion.”  Silence.  “Very well,” she said, shaking her head.  “Kill them.  If enough of them die, perhaps they’ll stop trying.”

“Wait!  You can’t do that!”

Chase shoved her hands in her pockets and shrugged.  “Sure I can... on any number of levels.”  She took a couple steps away and then swung back to confront the speaker.  “You come here to my home, and try to assassinate me and then expect to live when you don’t succeed??  No wonder the Nazis were defeated so easily – your arrogance is astounding.”

“It took you a hundred years.  I’d say the arrogance was warranted.”

Chase didn’t even hesitate and the head rolled before she spoke again, this time in a calm, dead tone.  “Anyone else have any last words?  I assure you that unless you have something productive to say, the rest of you will die much more painfully.”  She waited and eyes dropped to the ground.  “I thought as much.”  She looked back at the Amazons who were regarding her with something akin to awe though she avoided Diana’s eyes.  “Kill them.”

“Annabelle?”  Chase stopped walking at the sound of Wonder Woman’s voice but did not turn around, unwilling to see the disgust and disappointment in those blue eyes.  “I can get the answers you want.”

Chase let the bloody sword rest on her shoulder and her shoulders slumped.  “Do it,” she agreed, then continued on into the house.  The blade needed to be cleaned and sharpened before she put it away again.  She hoped Diana wasn’t too angry, but she had remained on the sidelines as long as she could.  She hadn’t lived as long as she had and become a strong successful leader by hiding behind others and damned if she was going to start now.

The motion of cleaning and sharpening was soothing in a very fundamental way and Chase was startled when one of the Amazons knocked at the door, then called out, “Chase? Di... the, um... Wonder Woman asked if you could come back outside for a moment.”

Chase wiped the blade then slid it into the sheath at her back.  Then she followed the Amazon back to where everyone was gathered in front of the farmhouse.  Chase looked at everyone before she let her eyes slide over to Diana, not wanting to see the revulsion she knew would be in those blue eyes.  Instead she found love, compassion and understanding.  She let herself float in the regard for only a moment before turning to look at the captives still wrapped in Wonder Woman’s golden lasso.

“I got the information you wanted, Annabelle... who, what, when, where and how many.  Do you still want to kill them or...?”

Chase turned her attention back to Wonder Woman and Diana steeled herself not to flinch from the haunted deadness in green eyes that had gone almost gray in pain.  So much had shifted in their roles from their first journey together through the circle.  She prayed Chase would take the time and opportunity to recover some of what she had lost becoming the warrior she was now once they returned to Paradise Island.  For now though, Diana waited patiently for Chase’s answer.

Chase sighed in exhaustion.  “What I would like is for them to think they were successful so we wouldn’t have any more of these late night visits.  Barring that, we’re going to have to kill all but one of them to send a message of what will happen to anyone else who tries.”

Diana focused on Chase’s first words; they were a balm to her soul and gave her unlooked-for assurance.  Apparently Chase hadn’t lost the spark of belief in humanity that had always been an essential part of her make-up. 

“I can,” Wonder Woman said quietly.  Chase met her eyes and asked her question without speaking.  Wonder Woman nodded her head.  “I can make them think they were successful.  I can make them think you are dead.”

The relief in Chase’s eyes was so palpable, Diana felt in flow through her veins.  “Do it,” she commanded again then sighed deeply.  “Do you need me here?”

Wonder Woman shook her head.  “No, but it will not take very long either.”  

Chase nodded.  “Very well.  Please continue.”  Then she walked off into the darkness.  Diana let her eyes follow Chase out of sight, then she turned back to her Nazi prisoners.  The sooner she was done with them, the sooner she could go find Chase.

It wasn’t difficult really, not after several weeks of living together.  Nearly every afternoon Chase went out to the old oak and talked to Jasmine for a few minutes and typically she climbed the tree to watch the sunset.  So when Diana went looking for Chase, she didn’t have to go very far.

“Everything taken care of?” she asked softly as Diana slowed her approach.

Diana nodded, looking for Chase in her favorite little niche.  “Yes.  The Amazons are taking them out of here as we speak and will deposit them in the middle of the desert.  I need... I’m going to go find the other groups and do the same thing to them... stir things up a little.  I figure if they are all trying to take credit for your death, what’s left of the Nazi movement will implode on itself.”  Diana climbed into the tree and settled into her own regular spot, noting that Chase never turned to look at her.

Chase kept her eyes on the darkness in front of her and nodded, not trusting her voice to speak.  She had been afraid of something like this though Chase couldn’t find it in her heart to blame Diana for wanting to get away.  She’d leave as well if she could figure out a way to get away from herself.

“I don’t think so,” Diana said, crawling over to sit behind Chase, wincing at the tree’s unforgiving inflexibility.  She wrapped her arms around Chase’s stiff form and waited for her to relax.  When she didn’t, Diana leaned forward and rumbled in her ear.  “I’m not leaving you for good, Sweetheart, and if it bothers you for me to do this, I’ll stay here instead.  I just wanted to guarantee your safety; ensure a little peace for both of us.”

“You really don’t want to leave?”

“No, Love.  I’d much rather be here alone with you.  I certainly don’t want to leave for the reasons you’re thinking.  I understand how you feel, Chase, better than anyone else in the world, and I certainly don’t begrudge you that feeling.  Gods know I did far worse with far less provocation.  If I had my way and could figure out a feasible way to do it, I’d take you with me.  But I don’t think there is one that doesn’t complicate things immeasurably.”

Chase sighed and nodded, knowing Diana was right.  “The Amazons can’t do this without you?”

“Not really... this requires my gifts as Wonder Woman.”

“You’ll be quick?” finally relaxing back into Diana’s body.

“Fast as I can, Love,” firmly embracing Chase and feeling her return the hug as much as she could from the front.  Chase nodded then stood up unexpectedly, swinging to the ground and waiting for Diana to catch up.  Diana blinked and looked down into Chase’s face, then did a lazy somersault to the ground.  Chase couldn’t stop the grin that met Diana’s sexy smile when their eyes met.  Then Diana opened her arms and Chase stepped into them, wrapping herself firmly around the taller body.  Diana kissed the top of the blonde head tucked into her neck.  “That better?  More what you had in mind?”

“Oh yeah,” Chase agreed.  “That’s great.”  She sighed contentedly.  “Forgive me for doubting.”

Diana nodded against her head.  “Come talk to me first next time, Chase... please?  I’ll give you all the reassurance you need.  Nothing is going to change the way I feel about you.”

“Promise?”

“Guaran-damn-tee it, Sweetheart.”  Chase burst out laughing; after a moment Diana did so as well.

************

It took nearly three weeks of tracking, but Wonder Woman did manage to find each group of Nazis that the first had made her aware of.  Then it was a matter of convincing them that they had been successful in killing Chase.  In each unit, some of them died in much the same manner their comrades had at Chase’s home for much the same reason, and Diana felt no remorse in killing them.  But finally she was done and able to return to Chase’s side, amazed at the amount of work Chase had gotten done in the short time Diana had been gone.

The roofs of both house and barn had been repaired and most of the house painted and cleaned in their first few weeks living together there.  But Chase had managed to clean up the yard, both gardens and the barn in Diana’s absence.  Diana stood at the door of the barn watching Chase’s muscles flex with the effort it took to load the square hay bales into the loft. Only when Chase stopped to wipe the sweat from her face and suck down half a bottle of water did Diana walk in and wrap her arms around Chase’s waist.

“Hi honey... I’m home.” 

“Everything all taken care of?”

Diana leaned in and nuzzled Chase’s neck.  “Uh huh. You’ve been busy here.”

“And I’m hot and sweaty,” Chase protested, but she moved her head to give Diana better access.

“That just means you’ve got head start.  Did you miss me?”

Chase just took Diana’s hand in hers and seated her on the hay bale before she proceeded to welcome her home... showing Diana personally how much she had been missed.


Chapter LVI

Six Months Later

The world was still in transition; there was turmoil and confusion as things were sorted out, but no more wars were being fought.  There had been skirmishes but nothing terribly devastating and not too many of them all things considered.  It had been completely anti-climactic given the number of years the Nazis had been in power.  But the truth was they had gotten slack and lazy – comfortable with the status quo; and with Orana’s destruction, they had no real leader to stir them to fight.

Word had spread of Chase’s death though Shep and Hans were both alerted to the truth.  Chase felt they both deserved to know.  And the rumors served their purpose – no one else came after them, and the Nazi organization had continued to deteriorate to the point that even word of her death was not sufficient to rally them to victory.

So time marched on and changes gradually began to take shape in the world.  It wasn’t perfect – human beings were involved in its creation.  But it was a fresh start for mankind and most of humanity welcomed the opportunity for a second chance.  Using the guidelines Chase had given them, they were forging a brave new world together.

Chase and Diana watched mankind’s progress from the relative safety of the farm.  Despite its relative closeness to the rebel encampment only Ty, Shep and Hans had ever been aware of its location.  Chase had been very closed-mouthed about her life outside the rebellion and that worked in their favor now.  Even the townspeople weren’t actually sure who she was anymore and given the influx of new people as things began to settle into a new routine, she doubted they would figure it out before it came time for her and Diana to leave the United States permanently and move back to live on Paradise Island.

In the meantime Diana and Chase were content to live and work the farm until Diana’s responsibilities as both Wonder Woman and the Amazon princess meant she had to be away from it more often than she wanted.  Then Chase went with Diana on her trips to Paradise Island, trying to understand life as an immortal Amazon before she actually had to live as one.  Diana refused to stay overnight on any of their trips, however; she was aware of the censure and scrutiny they were already under and had no desire to add to it even if was only driven by curiosity.

Drea decided to investigate their hesitation to remain on the island until their wedding and invited herself back to the farm on the trip home to pick up more Amazons.  Drea had been in the first group to return to Paradise Island and except for her very brief sojourn back at Aphrodite’s request she hadn’t shown an inclination to leave until now.  It was odd, especially with the number of births on the horizon and though Diana and Chase exchanged questioning glances when Drea joined them without explanation, they simply made room in the plane.

The invisible jet was kept in the back meadow away from prying eyes and they walked the short distance back home.  Chase and Diana had always used it as transition time between their two worlds, and Drea appreciated the time to reacclimatize herself to being in man’s world again. Drea blinked when they arrived back at the farmhouse.  It was very different than what she remembered – it was alive.  They were creating a home here together.  It disturbed her.

Drea followed them inside taking in the freshness of the rooms and the furnishings noting the number of changes and the amount of work Chase and Diana had done in the months they had been living here.  Drea followed Diana upstairs; she couldn’t help the smile that crossed her face when she was shown into what was now the guest room.  In spite of her misgivings, Diana and Chase were well suited to one another and had created a comfortable living space and they were so obviously happy.

Once she was settled Drea went back downstairs to find them working together in the kitchen and for a long time, she just stood in the doorway watching them.  Finally she decided to take the bull by the horns and just talk to them about what was bothering her.

“You two are obviously very comfortable here.  You’ve done a lot of work transforming this place.”

Diana and Chase looked at each other and exchanged smiles.  Diana continued chopping and Chase went back to pulling out ingredients.  “We are, Drea, thanks.”

“Can I ask why?”

Chase turned from the refrigerator and came to stand next to Diana before cocking her head in question at Drea.  “Why what?”

Drea took a deep breath.  “Why are you working so hard to transform this place?  Why are you creating a home here?”

Chase and Diana looked at each other again.  “Huh?  Drea, we live here.  This is our home.”

“Paradise Island is your home.”

“It will be one day, Drea, but for now this is our home.”

“Why?”

“Because we like it here??  What kind of question is that anyway?  Drea,” Diana said with exasperation, “what difference does it make when we return to Paradise Island?  Except for the new babies and the new war training program I put into place, everything on Paradise Island is status quo... just like it has been for thousands of years.”

“Diana, the difference is that this can’t be your home... not for the rest of your lives together.”

“Right – so what’s the rush?”

Drea covered her face with her hands and took a deep breath.  She didn’t think they were being deliberately obtuse; she just was not being clear enough.  She dropped her hands to catch one of theirs in each of hers and held on. 

“The world is in a state of transition and Chase has chosen not to be a part of that.  I absolutely understand why and I can’t say I disagree with her reasoning.  BUT you decided to ‘kill’ her; the world thinks she’s dead.”

“Yeah, so?  We didn’t want regular visits from rogue Nazis.  I’ve done enough killing in this lifetime,” Chase said quietly with a glance at the closet that held Diana’s sword.  They had put it away after Chase had used it during the rogue Nazi attack, hoping not to need it again.

“And that is somewhat my point, Chase.  No matter what precautions you take, someone can stumble onto the truth – find out who you really are and where you live.  Why take the chance?”

“And what about Wonder Woman and her place in the world?”

“Wonder Woman doesn’t have a place in this world yet.  It is still being born... still growing and developing and changing.  We need to give mankind a chance to do things the right way on their own.  If that wasn’t the plan to start with, Chase, you would have done better by them to have simply remained in charge.  They would have followed you.”  She sighed then went on.  “Paula has been working on the monitoring system on the island and we will be able to keep a better eye on things here now.  But they can’t start to rely on Wonder Woman to solve everything for them; they need to learn to stand together first.”  Drea looked up and smiled at Diana.  “She’ll be there if and when mankind really needs her.”  She released their hands and walked to the door.  “Think about it,” she added before walking out to the old oak tree to talk to her sister.

Chase and Diana turned back to preparing dinner, silently agreeing to talk about things once Drea returned to Paradise Island.  

Jasmine waited for Drea to finish talking and take a seat beneath the oak before she spoke quietly.  “You’re going to need to be a little patient with Chase, Drea.  Her life has been a series of upheavals and the only stability she has known has been here.  It’s scary to walk away from that.”

Drea nodded.  “I remember,” thinking back millennia.  “I’ll see about getting Diana to take me home tomorrow.  Thanks to Diana’s machinations, I have more than enough to keep me busy these days and they need to be able to discuss and decide this without an audience... even a well meaning one.”

Jasmine nodded her agreement.  “They’ll make the right decision, Drea... for them and for the Nation.  It just may take longer than you like.”  A beat.  “Does that bother you?”

Drea shook her head.  “No, because I can see how happy they are together.  That more than anything else is what I wanted to see happen for both of them.  They are completely devoted to each other Jas, and they genuinely like each other aside from being in love.  That is why I want them to come home.  They deserve to be somewhere safe where they can enjoy those feelings for now.” She held up her hand.  “But I will leave that decision up to them.  They’ll figure it out.”

The two sisters laughed and sat in comfortable silence for a while; then conversation turned to other things as the sun dropped behind the trees.  It was only then that Drea said goodnight to Jasmine and returned to the house where she was welcomed warmly by both younger women.  No matter what, they knew her actions were done out of love and concern and she was glad she had taken the time to speak frankly to them.  At least they knew the truth.  Everything else was up to them.

************

Meanwhile the Amazons had slowly been rotated back to America and from there, a few at a time, they had returned home to the peace and tranquility of Paradise Island.  Not much had changed and yet everything was different for them.  The battle lust they had conquered eons before returned with a vengeance and Diana spent hours creating war games to help ease the burning need they felt.

Many returned home wounded in one way or another though none as severely as Nubia.  Still Drea, Rina and Paula worked in tandem to repair the damage that had been inflicted on the Nation inside and out.  In Nubia’s case Paula spent an inordinate amount of time constructing the prosthetic arm Diana had designed, and the last few weeks Nubia had been adjusting to the new limb and learning how to use it.

The biggest surprise to Hippolyta at least, had been the number of Amazons who were returning to Paradise Island expecting.  They were in various stages of pregnancy – from those ready to give birth, to a few who did not know they were pregnant yet.  These had been the optional orders Diana had issued.  She had listened to what Orana had said and realized that the Nation was stagnant and continuing in the same vein would only increase dissatisfaction and could possibly create another Orana-type situation.  Thus the issuing of the voluntary order to try and procreate while in man’s world.  Diana hadn’t even been sure it would work, given their immortal status, but she figured planting the idea might give a few the desire to try. 

Hippolyta didn’t know the reasons behind the order, but she couldn’t help but see the changes in the Nation because of it.  There would be new challenges to face now, but there was new life and anticipation in the Nation as well.

Things between Hippolyta and Diana had not progressed as well or as far as the queen had hoped.  One reason for that was the simple fact that real, true distance separated them.  Hippolyta had remained in Europe, leaving only when the last group of Amazons departed while Diana was all over – staying mostly on the farm with Chase but also returning to Paradise Island regularly to supervise a number of changes.  Even when Diana took Hippolyta back to Paradise Island, Diana had only stayed a few minutes before returning to America.  It didn’t help Hippolyta’s peace of mind that Drea had returned with the remainder of the wounded in the first batch to return.  It had reminded her why she had been so happy to leave man’s world when she had been given the chance the first time. 

Her welcome home had been somewhat subdued upon her return to Paradise Island and Hippolyta wondered if she was seeing a changing of the guard.  Not that she thought that Diana was deliberately trying to usurp her authority, but Diana was an excellent leader and it showed in the excitement Hippolyta could feel as the Nation prepared to celebrate the marriage of their princess.  Whatever happened, Hippolyta was glad to be back in Drea’s arms and was looking forward to her daughter’s wedding with mixed emotions.  More than anything, she wished for Diana’s happiness and hoped they would get the opportunity to heal the rift still between them.  First though, they had to get Chase and Diana home to Paradise Island and married.

“Do you think they will come home to stay, Drea?” Hippolyta asked when they were finally able to curl up together in bed very late on her first night back.

“They’ll come home, Pol.  It may be later instead of sooner, but they will come home to stay eventually... at least for a while.  I just don’t know when.”  She groaned as she stretched out muscles that had been cramped a better part of the day.  “Personally I think Diana wants to wait until all the babies are born and raised.”  Drea propped up her head up on an elbow and looked down into Hippolyta’s face.  “I think she did a good thing for the Nation, but I may have to kill her for it anyway.  I am feeling every single one of my three thousand plus years right now and we’ve just started delivering the babies that are going to be born here in the next few months.”

Hippolyta chuckled and sat up, pushing the healer onto her stomach.  “You can’t kill her, Drea,” rubbing the stiff shoulders.  “Chase wouldn’t let you even if I would, and I wouldn’t let you either.  She’s still our daughter.  But I’ll give you a backrub as often as you need one for as long as necessary.”

Drea moaned as Hippolyta hit a particularly painful knot.  “There may be a lot of those in the coming weeks.”

Hippolyta leaned down and brushed a kiss across the back of Drea’s neck, smiling as she watched goosebumps follow her touch.  “I will look forward to it.”  She felt Drea shift to look at her and she met the brown eyes confidently.  “For the first time in a long time, I feel good, Drea.  I believe you’re right about Diana and Chase ultimately settling here; I think Diana and I will eventually get to be friends again.  And there is new life and new purpose in the Nation.  I feel... renewed – like I could go out and conquer the world.”

Drea shifted to her side and pulled Hippolyta down into her.  She forgot her exhaustion as well as her aches and pains when Hippolyta’s hands started to conquer her body inch by tortuous inch.  Hippolyta decided it had been a good homecoming after all, and they fell asleep curled around one another wearing contented smiles and a sheen of sweat.  Even the babies were thoughtful enough to give them peace for a few hours sleep together before calling Drea away again.

************

“So what do you want to do, Diana?”  They had just returned from their latest trip to Paradise Island, delivering the last of the returning Amazons including Hippolyta back home.  This time however, they hadn’t stayed.  They had literally dropped the women on the island and taken off immediately after; they hadn’t even bothered to step off the plane.  Chase figured correctly that it had something to do with Hippolyta’s return; she just didn’t know what.

The flight home had been silent but not uncomfortable.  They knew regardless of what got decided they would be together at the end of it.  But this was something they had put off discussing in the weeks since Drea had brought it up and now it had come down to necessity.  So Chase brought it up once they were in the kitchen preparing dinner together as they always did.

“I want to do what makes you happiest, Chase.  I came to man’s world to find you; if you want to stay here, I am happy to stay here too.  If you want to go back to Paradise Island....” she shrugged.  “I’m sure Drea is cursing my name now for all the work I caused her, but we would certainly be welcomed there.  And there is so much there you never experienced.”

“You want to go home... to Paradise Island, I mean.”

Diana nodded and shrugged at the same time.  “Part of me does,” she replied honestly.  “It’s the only home I ever knew until we came here and I have work there.  But Chase, I don’t need that - I just need to be where you are.  I love it here with you.”

“What about what Drea said?”

“You mean about Wonder Woman?”  Chase nodded.  “Well, she is right... mankind does need to learn to work together.  The real question is do they need Wonder Woman to find a way to do that.  Or if they would even accept my help in that regard.”  They both remembered the few instances Wonder Woman had tried to step in and help since Chase had walked away from leading, and in each instance she had been politely but firmly informed her services were unnecessary.  She had done what she could without being seen but it was difficult.  “I think,” Diana continued after a few moments of silence, “I think Wonder Woman would have to keep trying.  It’s who I am.”

Chase smiled.  “I wouldn’t have expected less from you, Diana.  You’ve always been a champion for the greater good.  The question is do you want to?  What do you – Diana Prince, Amazon Princess and Wonder Woman’s alter ego – want to do?”  Chase held up a finger when Diana drew breath to speak.  “And no more circular answers, Love.  Say what you feel.”

Diana was silent for long moments and the only sound was the hum of the kitchen appliances and the frying of their dinner.  Finally she looked up from the contemplation of her hands and met Chase’s gaze squarely.  “I’d like to go home, Chase.  I want some peace for us even if it is only for a little while.  We can always come back if and when mankind ever needs us again.  But for now I’d really like to focus on us.”

Chase deliberately broke the stare, turning to the stove to shut off the flame beneath their food.  Then she held out her hand to Diana and led her upstairs, taking her time showing Diana just what kind of focus she had to look forward to.  And Diana happily reciprocated the attention.  Only the rising of the sun made them decide that sleep might be in order if they expected to return to Paradise Island in the near future.  There were still a few things they needed to work out in man’s world before they were free and clear to leave.

************

Aphrodite sat at the scrying bowl holding her head in her hands moaning and rocking back and forth.  Athena laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, not expecting the love goddess to jump so hard when she felt the touch.  Dite glared at Athena who returned it with a look of compassion.

“Sorry, Dite.  Are you all right?  You look a little....”

Aphrodite closed her eyes.  “I am a little....  Those two are so gonna be the death of my radical self.”

Athena squeezed her arm sympathetically and smiled, taking a seat next to Dite.  “What did they do now?”

“Round and round and round.  You’d think after three thousand years, they could totally figure it out.  At least they finally got things settled for now, but talk about bogus vibes in the meantime.  I need a drink.”

Athena rose and held out a hand, helping Dite to her feet.  “Come.  We’ll go find some good wine and relax for a bit.  With those two, a bit is all we can spare.  I’ve never seen trouble find anyone like it does those two, and now that they are finally back together....”

Dite laughed and wrapped an arm around Athena’s waist, leaning against her as they walked down the hall.  “No kidding.  But at least we’ll get a gnarly wedding outta this.”

************

“Chase, are you sure?” Jasmine asked softly.  She put an arm around Chase’s shoulder and brushed a kiss across the top of her blonde head.  Chase nodded.

“Yes, Mama.  It’s better this way for now.  Maybe later we can come back here to live, but for now she needs to be there, and I need to be with her.  Besides with me gone maybe you’ll finally get to cross over... have a bit of peace for a change.”

“Actually Ty and I get to attend the wedding first.  Then we will move on to the afterlife.”

Chase blinked at her long-dead mother.  “Can you do that?”

Jasmine nodded.  “The goddesses promised me before you were born.  And I finagled a place for Ty as well; she deserves it... and so do you.”  She paused a minute running ghostly hands through Chase’s hair.  “Chase,” Jasmine said quietly, “your father’s ring and mine are in my jewelry box if you and Diana would like to use them.  I just... I didn’t know....”

Chase leaned over and brushed a kiss across Jasmine’s ethereal cheek.  “Thanks, Mama.  I love you.”

“I love you, too, bitta girl.  Now go on... your bride is waiting,” motioning to Diana who was standing at the far end of the path.  “And you don’t want to be late for your own wedding.”

Chase rose from her spot beneath the oak tree and ran to greet Diana.  Jasmine watched until they disappeared out of sight, then she turned to Ty who had been patiently waiting in the tree.  “C’mon, Ty.  Time to go.”  And they disappeared together as well.


Chapter LVII

There was one final bit of business Chase had to take care of before they left America for the last time.  The things that had been important to her, including Jasmine’s jewelry box, had been packed away for transport to Paradise Island.  Now she simply had to sign the papers transferring ownership of the farm to Hans.

He had returned from the European theatre briefly when he’d heard of Chase’s death and had stayed in discreet contact from that point.  When he became aware of their decision to leave the United States, he had decided to go back and become a farmer.  Chase had promised him he could learn, and she had given him a crash course in all the aspects of farming.  Surprisingly he found it to be a fulfilling and satisfying occupation and though he didn’t give up science, he turned his efforts towards making himself a better farmer with it.

All the furnishings were being left behind and Hans was quite comfortable.  He even managed to convert his payment that he insisted on making into something other than dollars just on the off chance that they might be able to come back and something other than dollars was the currency.  They didn’t know he was going to put the property into trust for them; he figured it would be a nice surprise.

The signing didn’t take but a few minutes, and Hans pulled Chase into a hug.  “I will miss you, my friend.  You saved my life and though I will never be able to thank you for it, I will always remember it.  If ever you return and I am not here, look in the oak; it will hold your answers.”  She looked at him askance and opened her mouth to speak, but Hans shook his head.  “Just trust me for now, Chase.”  She nodded and kissed his cheek before stepping back from him to stand next to Diana.

Hans took their hands in his and they held one another’s so they formed a complete circle.  “Be good to one another, and love each other long and well.  Never go to bed angry, and watch out for each other all your days together.”

Then he kissed them both briefly and released their hands.  Chase and Diana held his gaze for a moment longer before whispering goodbye, then they headed for the far meadow without looking back.  The time had finally arrived for them to go home.  It was time to begin the next chapter in their lives together.

************

“Pol... POL... HIPPOLYTA!!” Drea finally resorted to the full name and loud voice.  “Will you calm down please?  You’re making me seasick.”  Hippolyta pouted in Drea’s direction and dropped into a nearby chair.  “Besides I’m not sure why you are so nervous.  Diana and Chase are coming home to be married and you know we’re not going to see hide nor hair of them for a while after that.”

Nubia chuckled.  “Especially since we built that cottage for them on the far side of the island as a wedding gift.”  She flexed her arm.  Diana and Paula had done right by her and except for occasional twinges and an uncanny accuracy to predict bad weather now, her new arm was almost better than the original.  She smiled when Paula took her hand and rubbed her thumb across her knuckles.

“Not to mention their boat.  The crew has been working non-stop refurbishing it for them to be able to crew it alone together.”

“I know,” Hippolyta agreed.  “I just... this is my chance to start doing right by Diana again.  I just don’t want to mess it up.”

Mala patted Hippolyta’s leg.  “You won’t, my queen.  But you need to relax or you’re going to make yourself sick.  You’re putting them together in Diana’s room tonight, yes?” 

Hippolyta nodded.  “I promised Chase I would not stand between them or force archaic rituals on them.”

“Then Babe, you need to take a serious chill pill.  Things are totally rocking for them and we’re just cruising along for the ride.”

The Amazon council that had been casually sitting around Hippolyta’s living room straightened when Dite spoke.  They hadn’t realized the goddesses were in the room, but before any of them could shift, Aphrodite waved them still and popped her own chaise lounge into being.  The other goddesses found places to sit and the women spent a long moment studying one another.

“They will be here shortly,” Artemis said breaking the silence. 

“Everything is in readiness,” Hippolyta confirmed.  “An engagement celebration tonight and then their wedding tomorrow.  We just need them to get here so we can get things started.”

At that moment the sound of shell trumpets rose up around them.  Drea smiled and stood.  “Come on, Pol.  Let’s go welcome our children home.”

************

It had been a good day.  The entire Nation had met Chase and Diana at the landing field and in short order Chase’s things were unloaded and taken to Diana’s quarters.  Eventually they would have to go through their things and decide what would need to be moved to the cottage and what would remain at the palace.  First they would need to be told about the new accommodations the Nation had built for them.  For now though, the emphasis was on celebrating.

There was new life in the Nation, both literally and figuratively speaking and the Amazons were intent on commemorating the occasion, especially since the wedding was taking place on summer solstice.  So they greeted their princess and her consort with a rousing cheer and unloaded the plane, then backed away so Hippolyta and Drea could welcome Diana and Chase home.

Diana hesitated and Chase placed a comforting hand on her back.  The Amazons held their breath as she gave Hippolyta a brief hug... the first since their rift.  Hippolyta let go as soon as Diana did, her eyes filled with tears, and she took Chase in a bone-crushing hug.

“Thank you,” she murmured, knowing exactly why Diana had embraced her.  Chase just nodded and kissed her cheek as she pulled away.

“That was a good thing you did, Little One,” Drea complimented when Diana hugged her.  Diana didn’t answer but squeezed her again before stepping back and allowing Chase to say hello.

“Welcome home, Chase,” cupping her niece’s face.  “Thank you,” Drea added softly, kissing her softly and then releasing her.  The queen and her consort stepped back and the princess and her consort did the same and the Amazons waited for the pronouncement.  It wasn’t long in coming.

“Amazons, welcome home your princess and her consort, Chase.  It is time to celebrate their return to us and the joining of their lives together as one.”  The roar that followed was deafening.

As the evening wore down, Diana led Chase to her quarters.  “I know it’s not a home, but I thought we could make it ours when we got back.”

“Back?  From where?”

Diana shrugged and looked away.  “I thought we’d take the boat out... just the two of us... for a few days.  There are a few islands we could visit around if you wanted or we can just sort of drift along alone.”

“That sounds perfect,” Chase said with conviction.  “Anywhere alone with you is a good thing in my book.  As for this,” motioning to the rooms around her, “if it’s ours, it will be a home.”

Diana wrapped her arms around Chase and just held on.  Chase could feel the shaking in Diana’s body and returned the embrace fervently.  After a timeless moment, Diana pulled back just enough to look in Chase’s eyes.  “Come on.  We have one more night left together as single women, and I don’t intend to waste a moment.” 

For the first time Diana was thankful for the thick walls and stout doors of which the palace was constructed.  She didn’t worry about them keeping anyone up, conveniently forgetting that the windows that allowed the moonlight to stream in also allowed the sound to scream out.  Diana wouldn’t have worried about it even if she had remembered; she was too happy to finally be complete and the Nation was overjoyed to be witness to that completion.  It seemed as though sunlight had returned to them, dissipating the clouds that had hung over them since Diana’s disgrace and Orana’s defection.

When the sun really did rise, it did so on an Amazon Nation that was smirking with the knowledge that Diana and Chase were perfectly suited to one another.  Chase and Diana spent their first few minutes awake simply being together, then Chase turned in Diana’s arms with a smirk of her own. 

“You do realize the entire Amazon Nation now knows just exactly how much we love each other.”

“Good,” Diana stated emphatically.  “No one will challenge our claim on one another.”

“Could they?”  Chase’s eyebrows went up to her hairline.  There was still so much she had to learn about Amazon traditions.

“They could try, but I don’t think anyone will.”

Chase thought about that and wrapped herself more firmly around Diana’s body.  “Good.  I don’t share and I don’t play well with others who expect me to.”  Diana chuckled.

“Neither do I, Love.  Now c’mon.  We need to get cleaned up and dressed.  It’s time to go get married.”  As if to underscore her words, a knock sounded on the outer door followed shortly by a knock on the bedroom door.

“Diana?  Chase?  Uh... I don’t want to intrude, but um... well, it’s time... if you would like to make it to the wedding on time you probably should get up so we can get you both prepared.”  Hippolyta swallowed.  This was probably the most awkward thing she had ever had to do.  She raised her hand to knock again, then jerked back when the door opened and Diana and Chase stood together in the doorway.  Hippolyta smiled nervously.  “Oh good... you’re awake... up.”  She cleared her throat.  “Diana, if you would come with me, Drea will be in momentarily to help Chase.”

At precisely that moment Drea came running around the corner a little out of breath.  “My apologies for being late, my queen, Princess,” Drea said bowing her head.  “We just had another birth... a healthy baby girl.  The goddesses must be watching over us.”  She blew the hair from her face, then turned to Hippolyta and waved her arms.  “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?  Shoo!”

Diana snickered; Drea’s attitude reminded her so much of her childhood growing up.  Hippolyta gave Drea a mock glare and growled, “Wench!”  Then she motioned Diana towards the door.  “Diana,” seeing her hesitation and her longing glances in Chase’s direction.  “You’ll have plenty of time to spend with Chase once we get the two of you married.  Drea, I’ll send someone with your gown when they bring Chase’s.”  She kissed Drea and started to follow Diana who hesitated at the doorway.  Diana scowled.

“How come you got you kiss Drea goodbye, and I don’t get to do the same with Chase?”  Hippolyta smirked.

“Because we are on a tight schedule,” she stated matter-of-factly.  “And after last night the entire Nation is well-aware of just how long the two of you can go on together.”

Twin blushes and knowing smiles were exchanged between Diana and Chase, then Diana growled in frustration and stomped out the door towards her mother’s quarters.  “May I ask why we need to be separated to prepare for this?” Diana asked as she entered Hippolyta’s room.  “We spent the night together and the world knows we weren’t sleeping.”

“It’s just an opportunity... it’s a last chance for us to talk before you start your new life with Chase.”  Hippolyta blew out a breath.  That had been harder than she had expected.

“I have already started my life with Chase.  Today is just an affirmation of that in front of the Nation.”

Hippolyta nodded.  “I know, and I know there is still a lot of bad blood between us, Diana.  It’s not just going to go away because I want it to; it’s going to take a long time some serious effort from both of us.  I just want you to know that I would like to try.”

Diana carefully considered the sincerity of Hippolyta’s words and actions of late and finally nodded her agreement, not trusting herself to speak.  Hippolyta sighed weakly in relief and led Diana to the bathing room.  

“Come.  We don’t have a lot of time, and you want to look perfect for Chase.”

************

“I’m glad you decided to come home, Chase,” Drea commented as she helped Chase prepare for the coming nuptials.  “You seemed happier, more content.”

Chase shrugged.  “It makes Diana happy so I am.”

“Do you know what you’d like to do here... something that would make you happy?  Research or gardening?  Music perhaps or healing?

“I thought maybe I could try writing,” Chase said softly, not meeting Drea’s eyes.

“I think that sounds like an excellent idea.”  A pause.  “I know I have been on both sides with you, Chase, but I want you to know I am so glad you came into Diana’s life.  And I am proud to be your aunt even if that is all new to us.  Perhaps we could work on that; I’d like us to be friends.”

“I thought we already were.  I know why you were looking out for Diana, Drea, and I’m glad she had someone she trusted to do that for her.  Maybe eventually she and Hippolyta will work things out between them.  I think they both need that.”

Drea smiled.  “You’re a very wise woman, Annabelle Chaser.”

“Of course she is,” proclaimed a voice from the bathroom doorway.  “She’s my daughter.”  Two heads turned simultaneously, then they spoke together.

“Jasmine?”
“Mama?”

Though Chase had expected Jasmine’s presence, she had expected simply her presence... a ghostly apparition – not the flesh and blood woman that stood before her.  When she realized her mother was real, she jumped up and crossed the room, wrapping her arms around Jasmine’s waist and burying her head in her mother’s neck.  Jasmine just held on and let her cry.

It didn’t last but a moment, then Chase pulled away.  “I’m sorry, Mama.  I just didn’t expect....” motioning to Jasmine’s very real body.  Jasmine smiled and embraced Chase again, kissing her forehead and absorbing the sensations she was experiencing one more time.

“Neither did I,” Jasmine confirmed, “but I wasn’t going to say no when the goddesses offered either.”

“Can anyone get in on this hug?” Drea asked softly.  Chase turned and opened an arm, and Jasmine looked behind her and jerked her head.  Soon Jasmine, Drea, Chase and Ty were hugging fiercely and murmuring love between them.  Only when the clock struck the half hour did they separate.

“Come... we’ve got to get you ready, Annabelle.  You don’t want to meet Diana with tears on your face even if they are happy.”  That got Jasmine the smile she had been looking for and Chase moved back to the mirror she and Drea had been sitting in front of preparing.

It didn’t take long before Chase was girded in the traditional long toga.  Drea leaned forward and kissed her cheek.  “I’m going to go see how Diana and Hippolyta are doing.”

“Thank you, Drea,” Chase whispered.  Drea and Jasmine exchanged another embrace, then Drea left the three of them alone.  Ty stood and took Chase in her arms.

“I’m glad I was able to be here for this, Chase; I’m really glad you found happiness.  Talk to me now and then; let me know how things are going.”

Chase nodded.  “I will, Ty.  I’m sorry....”  But Ty covered her lips before she could finish.

“Don’t be, Chase.  It’s all good.  Aunt Jas and I have plans.  Now let me get out there.  We don’t have a real long time before we have to be back.  Hades was cool about it, but I don’t think I wanna get on his bad side by being late.”  Ty leaned down and kissed Chase gently.  “I love you, Chase.  Be happy.”

“I am, Ty,” returning the kiss and giving Ty a genuine smile.  Then it was just Jasmine and Chase.

“I’m proud of you, baby girl.  You’ve done so much... seen so much... and still....”

“Thank you, Mama.  I’m gonna miss you when you cross over.”

“I’ll still be close, Annabelle.  As Ty said, talk to me.  I’ll be listening and if you ever really need me, I’ll be right there.”  Jasmine opened her arms and Chase stepped into them.  “It does my heart good to see you so happy.  I’m proud to have been chosen to be your mother.”

Chase didn’t answer except to tighten her hold on Jasmine and they rocked in place until a knock on the door caused them to separate.  “Chase?” Drea’s voice.  “Are you ready?  It’s time.”

Chase took the ring off the chain she was wearing and slipped it onto her middle finger.  Then she took Jasmine’s hand and opened the door to find Hippolyta and Diana waiting behind Drea.  Blue and green eyes locked and everything else faded away.  Drea took Jasmine’s hand in one of hers and Hippolyta’s hand in the other and together the three of them headed out to the temple to wait for Diana’s and Chase’s arrival.

Chase reached out a trembling hand to touch Diana’s face, and Diana intercepted it with an equally shaky one.  Then she pulled them into contact along their length.

“So very beautiful.  I love you,” Diana whispered.  “And I can’t wait to be married to you.”

“And I, you,” Chase said with equal softness.  “You look incredible.”  She took a deep breath.  “Since I don’t know how the ceremony is supposed to go – can I give you something here between us?  Will you wear something for me?”

“Anything,” surprised when Chase captured her hand and slid a warm band onto her left ring finger.  A glance down made her break into a smile.  It was when Chase sealed the promise with a kiss that the tears flowed, but they were happy tears so it was all good until Ty cleared her throat.

“Um, would ya’ll like to join the rest of us at the temple for the ceremony?  ‘Cause I know a whoooole lot of people who are gonna be pretty pissed if you leave them out of this wedding thing.”

Chase and Diana chuckled, knowing Ty spoke the truth and followed her to the temple to be married... finally.

************

Aphrodite presided over the ceremony with dignity and grace – a side of her personality she used sparingly but to good effect.  The other five goddesses stood behind her in a semi-circle to bear witness to the joining and bless it.  And the Nation watched as with a very few words and a kiss that melted steel, two halves of a whole were rejoined for eternity.

From his temple on Olympus, Ares watched - a snarl on his face and a growl rumbling in his chest – as the warrior once again surrendered to love and her soulmate, signaling his defeat once more.  That never changes, he thought with disgust.  Of course, he mused with evil intent, tomorrow is another day.  Then he changed the channel on his scrying bowl; surely there were more interesting things to watch, especially in the newly forming alliances and governments of the new world order.  There was plenty of chaos and mayhem he could stir up there and that thought made him smile wickedly and observe with a distinct sense of contentment.  Nice to know that that hadn’t changed either.

Meanwhile Diana and Chase were dancing together, lost in their own little world and observed by the entire Nation.  Hippolyta, Drea and Jasmine watched then exchanged knowing smiles as they walked off hand in hand without a backwards glance. 

“Time for me to go as well,” Jasmine announced.  Ty had been taken as soon as the ceremony was completed, but Jasmine had been allowed a little extra time.  “Take care of them,” she instructed seriously.  “They deserve to be happy.”

“They already are, Jas; that’s the best part.  This is just the beginning for them.  It only gets better.  They have the rest of their lives to look forward to and share together.”

Drea raised her glass even though Diana and Chase were no longer present.  “To eternal happiness for Chase and Diana in their brave new world together.”

The Amazons echoed the toast as the celebration continued.  Chase and Diana smiled at one another as a cheer rose from the party even as they set sail towards the slowly setting sun.


Epilogue

“I could stay here like this you know,” Chase said into the bare belly her head rested on.  A bottle of chocolate body paint lay empty and discarded to one side of their little nest and a swipe of her tongue garnered her another taste from Diana’s bellybutton.  It also got her jiggled around when Diana laughed in ticklish reaction.  Chase scowled in response then brightened as she spotted another bit of chocolate she’d missed and moved up Diana’s torso to rectify the problem.  A lick, a nip then she wrapped her lips firmly around the hardened nipple, causing Diana to arch and moan before locking strong fingers around the blonde head.

“You know,” biting her lip when Chase’s attentions shifted to the other breast, “Gods, Chase,” when her fingers started trailing goosebumps up and down her body.  “I think,” she took a deep breath and caught Chase’s wandering hand in her own and urging her head up until their eyes met.  Then their lips met and they kissed until they were both breathless.  “I think we need to move this inside to the bed,” flipping them over and starting her own assault on Chase’s body, allowing her hand to map the path her lips would soon follow.  “We need more chocolate.”

Chase smiled and pulled Diana back to her until their lips met again.  The chocolate was forgotten for the moment, but they did eventually get back to it.  They decided it was definitely the best medium for creating a true work of art.  But then they had an eternity together to work on it.

The year is 2044.  The world is no longer ruled by Nazi tyranny.  The Resistance has succeeded in its mission to give mankind another chance to be free.  What they do with the opportunity will determine they way of the world for the generations to come, but now Wonder Woman waits in the breach, ready to protect and defend the ideology of freedom when called upon to do so.  And this time, she has the soul motivation necessary to win.  Enemies of freedom don’t stand a chance.

THE END
04/05 – 07/06