Here goes the last chapter. Hope you enjoyed the ride :)

Many thanks to those who review-ed, favorited and followed this story! Unbeta-ed work, so all mistakes are mine, again.

To Save a Future

Part 5

New Present –five years later

In ordinary times, he wouldn't have gone to Gotham to hide, but desperate times called for desperate measures. He melted in the shadows of the buildings, running faster than the few humans he came across; his Atlanean disposition putting him above them.

The past five years had gone terribly wrong. The failed attempt on Queen Hippolyta's life could have been a minor setback. Except that, for some reason, the Amazon queen hadn't reacted the way he had anticipated. Instead of ordering him being hunted down, she had sent her daughter back to Man's World to secure more diplomatic ties. Then, his bastard of a brother had first found the few spies he had left under his orders and kept them underwater instead of exiling them. Much to his surprise, he hadn't waited to be crowned king to announce the existence of the Underwater Kingdom of Atlantis, but had encouraged her mother to start negotiations now.

Anticipation about polluted waters and protecting their environment, or some rubbish of the sort.

The duo –the princess of the Amazons and the fake heir to Atlantis –were moving around suspiciously fast. Diana brought Amazons to build women shelter, the bastard assigned Atlanean guards by piers, he suspected to keep an eye out for him. Arthur whispered and slipped Orn's profile to the lower spheres while the princess spread word in the higher ones.

He could have played on the military approach and make friends with a few Generals in exchange for Atlanean military secrets, but he wasn't stupid enough to think they would trust a fugitive prince. Oh he had no doubt some of them would be willing to listen, if only to gain more prestige, or in the hopes of reinforcing their military superiority. And that was exactly what he did not want to happen. Atlantis was a great kingdom. Humans had no business putting their greedy hands on their weapons.

The faint sound of a cloth flipping behind him urged him faster. Another nightmare added to his list. A shadow had been tagging him for months now. He had little sleep, little rest, always moving least it caught up with him.

He knew the Amazon princess and the bastard had been tracking him secretly. He knew something else was on his tail. He almost wished he could stumble on the half-breed, if only to give him the fierce beating he deserved. Diana had centuries of training ahead of him, and the unknown part…Orn wasn't sure he wanted to know what it was.

Something hissed in the night, sliced his thigh. Orn tripped and ended bolting uncontrollably in a side alley. He hit his face on the wall, muscles burning with exhaustion. The prince fell against a trash can, rolled on his side, moaning in pain.

This wasn't supposed to happen. This wasn't supposed to-

"Sir, are you alright?"

A family of three was standing by. The woman was holding her child protectively, but the man was staring at him with pity. Pity. Orn felt enraged; he was the rightful king of Atlantis, he was not to be pitied by commoners! The trio must have noticed his rage, as they started backing up –the father stepping in front of his wife in a shielding gesture and the mother holding her child tighter. Fools, Orn thought as he forced himself to stand. The father would be the first to go down. Before he could make his move, a dark shape fell between him and the family. The shape turned out to be a man dressed in black and grey, a mask of leather covering his face and white lens staring back at him.

So this was his tracker?

Another whoosh, and the princess of the Amazons appeared in turn. Her armor was hidden under the large coat, but he recognized easily the shape of her bracelets and the metallic boots underneath. The diadem of the Champion of the Amazons adorned her forehead. She was in a hunting mood too.

"Surrender, Orn," she said, her voice short with authority.

The fallen prince snorted. He was exhausted, in no state of running, and he was smart enough to know he was doomed.

"Someone else will continue what I've started," he growled. "Someone else will pick up and destroy your allegiance! The Kingdom of Atlantis will rule above a-!"

The dark shape moved faster than his eye could see. One moment, Orn was staring at the Amazon princess, the next, his head was smashed against the lamppost beside him and everything turned dark.

TSAF

Diana rolled her eyes as Bruce knocked out Orn with one well-aimed punch. The fugitive must have been exhausted to have his reflexes so dulled. She turned around to face the family who was staring at them agape. The boy –possibly eight –stared at the Batman with his mouth agape and eyes wide in awe.

"I apologize for the disturbance," she said calmly. She thought the man looked oddly familiar.

"Who is he?" the patriarch asked.

"None of your concerns," Bruce replied. He threw Orn over his shoulder. "And for god's sake, this is Gotham. Stop crossing through street alleys after nine."

Diana glanced at him, surprised at the harshness of his tone. She gave the couple one last smile and followed her companion as he jumped effortlessly on the top of the next building.

The two ran for a few minutes using the rooftops as shortcuts, him leading – he did know the city better than her. They finally arrived on a parking lot were a black minivan and another nondescript car was parked.

"Arthur?" Diana called as they landed. No-one was near the vehicle. She frowned, checked her surroundings for more information. "Arthur!"

"Over here!"

The two glanced at the source of the voice. Arthur had been standing in a dark corner, surrounded by three knocked out bodies. Diana bit back the urge to roll her eyes. Bruce hadn't been lying when he had told them Gotham was crime-ridden. Said man opened the back of the minivan and shoved Orn inside. He pulled out handcuffs from his belt and slapped them on the unconscious man. Then, he took a syringe and jabbed him.

"This should keep him under till he reaches Atlantis," Bruce announced and slammed the door shut. The minivan had been built so that the back could only be opened from the outside. The inside had also been reinforced with Atlanean construction material to keep their prisoner from punching his way out through customary metal.

Arthur gave him a brief nod and jumped behind the wheel. Diana and Bruce climbed in the car. The two vehicles engaged in the mostly deserted streets, out of Gotham, ready for an hour drive till they reached the closest Atlanean spot.

At first, only the sound of the engine disturbed the silence. After a fifteen minute drive, she finally asked what had been bothering her.

"Did you know the couple back there?"

"What makes you think that?"

"The intonation of your voice."

He snorted.

"You know my voice intonations now?"

He sounded like he wanted to mock her. Diana was having none of it.

"I think that by now, I know you better than anyone, Bruce."

He didn't reply to that and she didn't expect him to. Instead, she repeated her inquiry:

"Who were those people, Bruce? Can you tell me?"

He sighed. Diana took it for the small victory it sounded.

"Thomas and Martha Wayne," he replied eventually. "He's a surgeon and a good influence for Gotham. He and his wife will be gunned down in sideway alley in a few months, unless they follow my advice."

"You mean your threat?" she teased, but when he didn't smile, she sobered. "You knew them, didn't you?"

"Their son's name is Bruce. You're smart enough to guess the rest."

Diana reported her attention to the road, feeling chastened. The couple was his parents. The little boy was his past self. She felt a shiver run down her spine and not for the first time, didn't envy Bruce's knowledge of the future. The little boy was still innocent. If history didn't change, he might end up growing into the man sitting next to her…that same man who had suffered far too much.

"You won't intervene?" she inquired.

"I can't save the world and protect my family –my former family," he nuanced. "The Waynes have a child, who will or will not grow to be an orphan. There is something I learned about fate, is that if it wants someone to die, that someone will die sooner or later. All I can do is plant hints and hope for the best."

Diana bit back a smile. No matter what he claimed Bruce had already interfered by giving them a warning and a timeline. After nine. Their murder must have occurred at night then. She didn't try to probe any further until they arrived on the coast. Arthur parked his minivan in front of the pier, where a beautiful redhead was waiting for him with her arms crossed. Diana recognized Mera, Arthur's current crush and most likely soon-to-be girlfriend. She could be trusted.

"Took you long enough," the redhead said sternly, though she did look relieved. "How was the hunt?"

"Successful," Arthur preened. "Bruce and Di made a magnificent job."

Mera looked impressed.

"You have him?"

Bruce was in no mood for formalities.

"Bring him to Atlantis and don't linger with his trial," he grunted. "I'm partial to lifetime imprisonment."

In ordinary times, Diana had the feeling Mera would have retorted something nasty about not obeying an outsider. But when Arthur seconded the order, she rolled her eyes and turned around to grant them access to the Atlanean base.

"You two coming with us?" Arthur asked when they didn't move to follow.

"I have a meeting in the early afternoon in this city," Diana said. "I'll sleep here."

She turned towards Bruce with an unvoiced question.

"I'll take on your offer to stay the night."

Diana nodded. They both took off after one last salute to Arthur. Her apartment was located in a fancy part of town, mostly to keep up appearances. It was large and Spartan, equipped with the basic necessities and advanced technology built to track Orn. While it would never compare to the comfort of Themyscira, Diana liked it.

She dropped the keys in the bowl next to the door, letting Bruce lock behind them.

"I'll set the guest room," she announced and walked past him. He caught her elbow gently, rooting her on spot.

"Wait."

Diana turned around. Bruce was staring at her with an odd glint. She bit her lower lip nervously. The last time she had seen that sparkle in his eye, five years ago, they had come close to doing something she had rather abruptly interrupted.

"Bruce –" she started, having no idea what she actually wanted to say.

He cut her dilemma by pressing covering her mouth with his. Her heartbeat accelerated. She felt the blood beat in her ears, her head turned dizzy, her legs became weak. She had to hold onto him to make sure she wouldn't fall. His arms sneaked around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest. She found herself surrounded by his scent. He coaxed her lips open and tasted her mouth. Diana gasped and moaned embarrassingly loudly. When they finally parted, she looked away and avoided his stare. Bruce leaned forward and breathed in her neck. She felt goose bumps on her skin, the familiar shiver run down her spine.

Five years ago, lust and curiosity had been her main motivation for responding to his advance. Five years later, after working with him, after trying so hard to figure out who he was behind this dark façade, she understood why her future-self had fallen for him. He was driven and passionate, stubborn as a mule and brooded most of his free time. But then, he was also kind and gentle and could comfort a crying child or find the words to give them courage when they felt down. Donna had told him he made her future-self happy. Diana knew she would never love another man the way she was coming to love him.

Still, she readied herself to push him away, cursing her momentary weakness, already listing all the reasons why she could not allow this to happen when he spoke:

"Look at me Diana."

His voice was rough and raw and inviting. Her Amazonian upbringing should have been revolted at the power he effortlessly wielded over her. She didn't care. She obeyed and met his gaze. One hand cradled her face. His eyes considerably softened. She wondered if he could feel her tremble in his arms.

"I love you, Diana. Not her. You."

He kissed her again, slow and deep. The hands supposed to shove him off ran into his hair instead. And then, he picked her up, carried to the bedroom, and nothing else mattered.

TSAF

The apartment was mostly quiet. Soft sounds from the streets buzzed through the not quite closed window. Bruce felt tired, but couldn't fall asleep. Not yet. He hadn't felt this peacefulness in years –if not decades. Orn had been arrested. Queen Hippolyta was alive. Diana was alive. The immediate threats had been neutralized. He could finally breathe.

He felt his lover shift and glanced down. Diana was still asleep, breathing softly, curled on the side and facing him.

Longing and desire stirred within him, but he held back for now. She deserved her rest, and even so watching her sleep, beautifully alive, soothed him. In the five years they've worked together, they had come closer. She had been intrigued by him from the start, and he had wanted to raise as many barriers between them so he wouldn't get confused –because hell, no matter which Diana he thought of, they were both essentially the same. They were kind and smart and strong, and so, so easy to love. And they both succeeded in breaching and then breaking the walls he kept building.

Bruce moved on the side to face her. Diana shifted again, scooting closer to him. She used to do that too, back then. Always seeking for warmth, she'd say with a twinkle in her eye. He made up his mind and wrapped her in his arms. She sighed contently as she nested her head on his chest and threw her arm around his waist. She stopped moving after that.

He smiled, loving how right this moment felt. He hoped they'd have many more to come. Perhaps one day they would fall asleep cuddling. Perhaps he would trust her enough to give her that child she had secretly been longing for. He hoped for a boy –he wasn't sure he wanted a daughter yet. And it would give him an excuse to try again. He wasn't worried though; he had a whole new future set ahead of him now.