DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. As always, I'll point out this was written over a decade ago, when, here in the UK, Season 2 of the JL cartoon had yet to air. So Hawkgirl had not been revealed as a spy, and the massive, every-hero-in-the-DCU roster of Unlimited wasn't a factor. My timeline picks up after the Season 1 finale, "The Savage Time". All my Wayback Wednesday stories are numbered chronologically, if you get stuck.

3. When I first posted the initial segment of this chapter on a JL fansite back in 2003, I felt compelled to issue a warning beforehand, so I'll repeat it now: MAJOR fluff ahead.

4. There are aspects of these stories that, in hindsight, I would change. However, I have kept them as I originally wrote them for history's sake. Not laziness.

5. IMPORTANT: Well, this is it. After eighteen instalments consisting of 127 chapters (including this one), over a two-and-a-half-year period, this is the end of Wayback Wednesdays. Once again, I'd just like to thank anyone and everyone who's taken the time to read any of this series, and especially those felt moved enough to comment. Reading the reactions to these completed stories brought back memories of when I first posted them on the Justice League fansite back in 2002-2004, and I've appreciated all of them, even the negative ones. However, if there's anyone out there worried this is the end for me on this site, don't worry. This is just the end of my "back catalogue" - I have plenty of new material planned. Not all of it will be JL-related, but hopefully some of it will be of interest. I'm not planning on going anywhere just yet.

PART 6

Their breathing slowed, as they tried to get the air back into their bodies. They lay there, out of breath, looking at each other. He ran his hand through her hair, as she sighed in contentment.

"I love you so much…" Diana whispered.

"I love you too…" Bruce said.

They kissed deeply, sinking into each other. She ran her hands through his hair, as he stroked her forehead. They eventually broke the kiss, then brought their lips back together for a shorter kiss.

"Darling… can I ask you something?" Diana asked.

"Of course you can," he said.

She stroked his chin. "Can you go back to wearing a cowl?"

He frowned. "Why?"

"Well," she said, "I know the entire-face-covered look is scary and everything… but I miss kissing you."

"Really?" he said, smiling.

"Yes," she said. "Like this." She pulled him down, and they kissed again, pressing hard against each other. They eventually separated their lips reluctantly.

"Oh, like that," said Bruce.

Diana nodded. "Uh-huh. Thing is… I know you still have a mouth and all… but I don't want to kiss your mask… I want to kiss you…"

"So what you're saying is, you want me to wear a cowl again," he said.

"Exactly," she said. They kissed again, quickly and frequently. "I mean, I won't try and kiss you during battle," she said, "but when we're… you know… alone… or with friends, like today… I'd like to be able to kiss you without feeling Kevlar…"

He laughed. "You won't have to worry about that for awhile."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I'm going to take some time off," Bruce said.

Her eyes widened. "What…?"

He kissed her, then smiled. "I'm going to give Batman a break for a bit… spend my time with you… if you want me to."

Her face lit up. "Of course I do!" She kissed him hard, and long. When she finally removed her lips from his, she giggled. "I love you so much… you know that, don't you?"

"I get clues," he said, grinning. They kissed again, longer and deeper than any of the previous times. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he stroked her cheek.

They broke the kiss, and he looked at her. "So… you have something to tell me?"

She frowned again. "What?"

He raised his eyebrows.

She looked puzzled, then realisation seemed to hit her. She sighed. "I can't keep anything from you, can I?"

"No," he said, kissing her. "So… you going to tell me?"

"Well, what's the point?" she said. "You already know."

"Yes, but I want you to say it," he said.

"But you know what I'm going to say," she said. "There's no point."

He smiled, and kissed her. "I want you to say it. I know I knew already the other times, and you never got to say it. So I want you to say it."

She stroked the back of his neck. "Why are you teasing me?"

"Because you've done so to me a lot," he said, kissing her again. "And I wanted you to taste your own medicine."

She smiled, but it soon fell. "Wait a minute… why ARE you teasing me? Aren't you…?" Her voice trailed.

He shook his head. "We'll do it right this time, my love. We'll make it work. Nothing will go wrong, as long as we're together."

A tear rolled down her face. "I love you…"

They kissed again, passionately. Neither wanted it to end. It did all to soon.

"So… say it, then," he said.

She grinned. "Bruce… I'm…" She stopped, and laughed. "Oh, this is silly. You know what I'm going to say!"

"I still want you to say it," he said.

She sighed. "Bruce… I'm…" Suddenly, she pulled him to her, and kissed him hard. His eyes widened, but he quickly adapted to the situation, pressing his lips onto hers deeper. She moaned in pleasure. He eventually broke the kiss.

"What did you do that for?" he asked.

"Well, I can't talk if I'm kissing you," she said.

"You're not getting out of it that easily," he said. "Say it."

She pouted. "But darling…"

"Say it," he said sternly.

She frowned, then pulled him to her again. She kissed him again, melting her lips onto his. He tried to wriggle away, but she held him firmly by the head. She increased the pressure, making no effort to break the connection. After several moments, he finally managed to prise his lips off hers. "Now…" That was all he managed, as she yanked him down again, kissing him again. Several more moments passed before they separated their lips.

"NOW…" he said, taking a deep breath, "say it."

She slumped down onto the pillow. "You're not going to let me get away with this, are you?"

"No," he said. "Now say it."

She sighed. She gave him a quick kiss, then wrapped her arms back around his neck. "Bruce?"

"Yes?" he said, smiling.

She grinned wide. "I'm pregnant."

They smiled at each other, then kissed yet again, deeper and more passionately than any of the others. They did not want to ever let each other go.

And they would not. They would be together.

Forever.

/

He sat on the thrown, his hands arched infront of him.

He had been informed that there was a visitor to his castle. A Human.

He almost laughed. It was foolhardy for a Human to come to his world. He better have a good reason.

He heard footsteps approach, and saw a figure running down his thrownroom. The figure, small and gangly, went upto his thrown, out of breath. "Lord Darkseid… the visitor is here."

Darkseid put his hands on the arms of his thrown. "Show him in."

After a few moments, another figure appeared at the doorway. He was in dark clothes, a hood over his face. He walked casually across the carpet towards the Lord of New Apocolips.

Darkseid never took his eyes off him. "The mask is pointless," he said. "I know who you are."

The figure, male, stopped a few feet away. "Then you know why I have come."

"You wish to become one of my servants," Darkseid said.

"I prefer the term, 'advisor'," the man said. "I have the power to give YOU the power to destroy your enemies."

"I am Lord of Apoloclips," said Darkseid. "What power could a mere Human offer me?"

"The secrets of the Justice League."

Darkseid raised an eyebrow. "I see." He slowly stood up, and put his arms behind his back. "And what makes you think… I would want such secrets?"

The man looked up at him, keeping his body straight. "You have tried to conquer Earth many times… you have sought the power that many of its heroes possess… you have faced Superman many times. And he, with his Justice League compatriots, have defeated you again and again."

Darkseid stared at him. "I prefer the term, 'delayed'," he eventually said.

The man nodded. "I can give you the power to hurt them where it would the most… to break into their lives… and then break their lives full stop. It may take longer, but… your goal would be accomplished."

"And what is YOUR goal in this venture?" Darkseid asked.

"I have… personal reasons," the man said. "The League cost me the woman I loved."

"Affairs of the heart should not come into war," said Darkseid. "But I understand your situation. Though I do not need companionship, I believe love is an important thing to Humans. I can expect no more worthy a reason for one such of your kind."

"Then we understand eachother," the man said.

Darkseid nodded. "We do. But you must agree to serve me unquestioningly."

"Of course, My Lord," the man said.

"Then give the oath," the New God said. "Darkseid is."

The man stood there, shoulders straight. "Darkseid is."

Darkseid sat back down in his thrown. "Then leave my sight. Go acquaint yourself with New Apocolips. I shall call for you when I have need of you."

"Yes, My Lord," the man said. Several guards then approached him, and slowly led him out of the room.

It was a long time before the man was alone. Several hours later, he stood in his new room… his new home. It was bare… downtrodden. But it was more than he needed. For the moment.

He looked into the mirror. "'Darkseid is'," he said, smiling.

"Soon… Luthor will be."

/

Superman walked into the lounge, and saw everyone waiting for him. Hawkwoman was still tired, leaning against Flash. Batman and J'onn were talking about strategy, Diana resting her chin on Batman's shoulder and stroking his arm. The Knight was standing in the corner, looking out of the window at the stars.

Superman went upto them. "Morning," he said.

Everyone looked at him. "Morning, Kal," J'onn said.

"Can you PLEASE tell me why you've gotten us up this early?" Hawkwoman groaned. "What time is it?"

"7am," Batman said.

Hawkwoman moaned into Flash's shoulder. "So early…"

Superman sighed. "Well… I just thought it was appropriate."

"Thought what was appropriate?" Flash asked.

Superman smiled. "Bruce knows."

Everyone looked at Batman. He remained unfazed.

"That's right," Diana said, "my husband knows everything." She kissed him on the cheek. He looked at her, his eyes wide. She giggled.

"Anyway," Superman said. "I have called you all here for a special reason."

"You're not going to give us another tour, are you?" asked Flash.

Hawkwoman looked at him. "Wally! That's not very nice."

Flash smiled desperately. "I mean… I'm still in awe about the first tour… I don't think I could handle another one without bursting with joy…!"

"Don't worry, Wally," Superman said. "It's something else." He went upto the drinks cabinet. "Do you know what day it is?"

"It's not your birthday, is it?" Hawkwoman asked. She saw Superman reach for some champagne. "Don't you think it's a bit early for… oh, go on then, just one."

Superman walked around the room, handing glasses to each of them. "Bruce, would you do the honours?"

Batman looked at everyone. "Today, at this precise time, is the 74th anniversary of the formation of the Justice League."

The Knight's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yes," Superman said. "And I propose we… er… propose… a toast for the special occasion."

"A worthy celebration," J'onn said, raising his glass. "To the past."

Flash raised his. "To the present."

The others raised theirs, Superman last of all. "To the future," he said.

They touched glasses, and drank sipped their champagne. They all shook hands and congratulated eachother for the years together as comrades, and more importantly, as friends.

Diana grabbed Batman by the head and pulled away his mask. "Give me a special kiss then!" Before he could say anything, Diana kissed him hard. He struggled for a moment, then relaxed, returning the kiss and holding her close.

Flash and Hawkwoman looked at eachother. "Happy anniversary, honey," the Thanagarian said.

"You too, sweetheart," Flash said. They then kissed passionately, embracing tightly.

The Knight looked for a brief second, then turned away, returning to the window and the stars.

"Wait a minute," J'onn said, looking at the table. "Where is there an extra glass there?"

Superman held the back of his neck. "Well… there's one more thing I have to tell you."

Flash looked at them. "What?"

Superman looked at the doorway.

A figure emerged from the corridor.

Everyone's eyes widened.

Batman and Diana gave knowing smiles.

"Everyone…" Superman said. "This is Lana."

Lana Lang stood there, waving slightly. "Hi."

Hawkwoman went upto her. "I remember you… Lana Lang?"

Lana nodded. "Yes… it's good to see you again, Mrs. West."

Hawkwoman stared at her. "But… how? You should be…?"

"Well…" Superman stuttered.

"It's a long story," Lana said.

Suddenly, there was a small alarm coming from the wall console. "Excuse me," Lana said. "I… better go see what that is."

As Lana went away, the League gathered together. "You never told us she was…" Hawkwoman gasped. "How? When?"

Superman sighed. "It's a long story,"

"Honey."

Superman looked over at Lana. "What is it?"

"There's a news report from Australia," Lana said. "There's been an earthquake. A bad one."

Superman went upto her. "I better get down there." He suddenly stopped, and turned back to the others. He smiled. "Shall we?"

"Just like old times?" Batman asked.

"You could say that," Superman said.

"We are needed," the Knight said. "It would be an honour to work with you again."

"Let's go, then!" Flash said. "Last one there's an Outsider!"

Hawkwoman slapped him across the head. "You know very well I supervise that team…"

J'onn smiled. "Let's go… 'kick butt'.

Flash gave him a thumbs up. "There ya go, J'onn!"

Batman turned to Diana, but she put a hand to his mouth. "You don't have to say it. I'll stay in the jet. But I expect some 'action' later…"

Batman went red.

"Come on, then," Superman said, heading towards the door. The others followed close behind.

"This looks like a job for the Justice League!"

NEVER THE END