Author's Note:

Joe Stoppinghem: Thanks! I always thought I babbled and lost focus too often but I guess not :)! English is not my forte so I tend to think negative of my writing.

Shesxsuperxfreaky: Thank you! That just made my day, haha. Sometimes I wish someone else had written this story so that I could take a read at it and get the vibe you guys get from it. It's great that you enjoy it so far! ^^

New record! Three updates in a week :P Hopefully a fourth on it's way~ This chapter was less productive-it's just a little more about some side characters and Diana. I promise the next update will get the story in motion once more!

Thanks for the C&C's! They really do help me get through those horrible Writer blocks I get so often :P

Read, Enjoy & Review!

Chapter 9: Priorities

Diana glared intensely at the minute hand as it finally made its way to number 12. A small chime was heard, notifying the people in the waiting room that it had just become five o'clock. Richard had asked her to stay awhile after the meeting so that they could go grab a coffee and talk, but the meeting had finished a little more than an hour ago. She bounced her heel quietly; irritated that he hadn't kept in mind that she might possibly be running on a schedule-which she was. She took a glance around the small area which was labeled as the waiting room. There were a number of people who looked as irked as she was. They constantly checked their watches, tapped their feet and sighed obnoxiously. She felt an involuntary grin form over her lips. Though man's world definitely wasn't as peaceful and quiet as her former home was, it was fulfilling and exciting. There was something new to discover and learn every day. Living eternally was pointless if she couldn't explore and age mentally with the future. Her life on Themyscira would've been dull and if age couldn't kill her, she would eventually kill herself. She paused in the midst of her thoughts before she shook her head and reprimanded herself for what she had just stated. She probably wouldn't go to that extreme. To sum it up, she pretty much enjoyed her time away from the island for several different reasons, one of which she was too shy to express, was her reuniting with her knight-Bruce Wayne. She laughed quietly to herself, amused by what she had titled him as. Though the bipolar act he was putting up was a slight turn off, he was nothing less than a knight for a princess.

Subconsciously at the thought of Bruce, her hand was brought up to her lips and her fingers lightly grazed the soft flesh he had taken to his not too long ago. Diana's cheeks flushed in light pink as she remembered every bit of the moment which had lasted far too short for her liking. She suddenly gasped when she realized the appointment he had with him at six. She looked back up at the clock which now read 5:17. She closed her eyes and rested her cheek on her palm. She bit her lower lip as she tried to sooth away the frustration boiling up inside of her. She would wait ten more minutes for Richard and that's it. After those ten minutes are up, she'll ditch this place and go get dressed for her meeting with Bruce.

Just as she sealed the deal with herself, Richard bolted into the waiting room. His hair was a mess, his tie crooked and his faces contorted as he was out of breathe. Diana raised an eyebrow in both surprise and amusement at his appearance. His eyes were wide open and scanning the entire room for her. Finally he spotted her sitting in the farthest corner of the room with an uncomfortable look on her face. He raised his hand up and motioned for her to come with him. She rose quickly and silently and fled the room following after him.

As they walked side by side down the hallway Diana couldn't help but try to inch away from him little by little. He reeked of B.O and though that usually doesn't repel her-his obnoxious uneven breathing slightly unnerved her.

"Aren't you going to ask?" He asked her, his speech rigid and uncomfortable,

"About?" She didn't know what to exactly ask him. If she did ask a question it would've been something impolite or rude such as- 'Did you get thrown out the window on the 25th floor?' or 'Did you discover your paper shredder was multi-purpose?' so she just decided to go without either.

"Where we're going, where I've been, why I look like such a mess. Any one of those would do," He laughed nervously as he held open the door for her. They were now walking on the sidewalk towards the parking garage a few yards away.

"Okay then," Diana smiled and looked up to him as she asked, "Where are we going? Where have you been? And why the hell do you look like you just came back from an adventure at Jurassic Park?"

"That's more like it!" He smiled brightly at her as he opened the passenger door of his Porsche for her, "We're going to Café Lange's by Gotham Square. Unless you want to go elsewhere-but they have the best biscuits,"

She stepped into the car and nodded him a quiet thanks as he shut the door and walked to the other side of the car before continuing.

"Now for the other questions," He started as he settled himself into the car. He paused and looked directly at her after he turned on the engine, "Brace yourself-you'll be totally engulfed in awe of me,"

Diana just smiled and nodded slowly in anticipation of what his answer might be.

"I-," He cut himself off to build the anticipation, "-ran down 25 flights of stair as fast as I could to keep a beautiful young woman from waiting for my sorry-ass any longer than she should've,"

Diana froze in the realization of what he had just said. Sure she heard people call her beautiful in the past, but it was only the second time someone had said it in a context other than a friendly one. She didn't know what to say, but thankfully before she was forced to say something he backed the car out of the lot and started on a different subject.

"Did you find the meeting OK?" He asked, his eyes were trained on the road.

"Uh- Yeah, it was very informative. I've never been to a business meeting before," She reluctantly admits. The awkward atmosphere still clung despite the change of topics. She started to remember what Batman had told her earlier that week, about men having their own ideas about her. She shivered at the thought. Surely Richard wasn't like that. Hopefully.

"Really? Never?" He threw her a side glance that had an overly shocked look on his face. Diana smiled at the motion, "Well, there's a first for everything,"

"Yeah," Her voice became distant as she looked out her window at the tall buildings. Every person walking on the sidewalk looked at them as they drove by. It was expected though, it's not every day you see a Porsche drive by in Gotham. It was slowly becoming dark and she tried to look at the rooftops now – wondering if Gotham's dark knight was patrolling tonight. It was probably too early for him to come out. She quickly spun around in her seat to look at the time and it read, 5:30. She had to try her best to keep from sighing in front of Richard. Her date with Bruce would have to be postponed.

Richard noticed the wary look on her face and thought it'd be best if he asked her if something was wrong.

Diana kept in mind that she was absolutely not allowed to discuss past relationships with Bruce or even continue to see/meet with him as she has up until now. She would keep her relationship with him a secret from Richard for the time being.

"I had to meet up with Mr. Wilson's secretary at six, but I'm sure she'll overlook it. It wasn't anything important," She tried to dismiss his worries. Right now, creating a strong relationship with Richard was the priority. After this whole deal with the funds she'd have some time to figure out her personal life.

The small talk continued till they got to the café.

"Good evening, have you both decided what you would like?" The female waitress asked as she whipped out her small notepad.

"The usual," Richard smiled to the waitress as he handed her the small brochure which served as the menu.

"Of course, Mr. Madison," The waitress smiled back. Richard turned to Diana and motioned for her to take her time deciding on what she would like to order. She hesitantly looked back at him and then up at the waitress,

"The same," She smiled politely. The waitress nodded and told them she'd be right back with their orders and left the two of them alone.

"Seems like you like to come here a lot," She started the conversation as she folded her hands on her lap under the table.

"Gotham's truly a disgusting place, but even in one of the dirtiest places known to man-there's a haven," He placed his elbows on the table and intertwined his fingers under his chin as he turned to look out the window to the width of green plantation on the other side of the street, "Gotham Square is one of the most beautiful architecturally designed places I've ever been to,"

Diana looked out and saw the place he was referring to. The place where she was suppose to meet Bruce in less than half an hour. There were beautiful stone arches sticking out of the shrubs and tall trees. The area was large and grand. It was actually the first time she ever saw so much green in one place in Gotham. As Richard had said, it was beautiful. But it was far from the gardens she had walked through in Themyscira.

"This place has the best view of the overall square," he added. Diana looked back at him feeling like there was more to it than just that-she was right.

"It's also the place I had my last meal with my mother," He whispered quietly. Diana held her breathe and closed her eyes as she bowed her head in understanding.

"I'm so sorry," She expressed her sympathy with a soft voice, "What happened?"

"She went to buy me some ice cream from the stall that was always at the center of the park-I was 13," He breathed a deep sigh reminiscing what had happened to her.

They remained silent for a short moment before he cleared his throat and demanded a change in the subject.

"It was because of my mother that I've been able to be this successful," He commented as the waitress placed their orders on the table. Diana nodded in understanding as she took a good look at what Richards 'usual' was. She assumed the coffee was light Americano with a serving of miniature blueberry scones on the side. She nodded in slight approval-she preferred her coffee black.

As they continued their conversation, Diana took a glance at the clock in the Café and bit her lower lip in dismay. It was a minute past six. She looked out the window to the meeting place and almost jumped in surprise when she saw a figure that looked exactly like Bruce sit on a ledge directly across the street from her. He was facing her, but he wasn't looking at her. His hands were stuffed in his dark trench coat as he looked up and down the sidewalk-probably in search of her. She didn't notice her fingers tapping her cup of coffee till Richard called her name,

"-You know what I mean?" He asked her. Unfortunately she wasn't paying attention to anything he had said before that and had to apologize for spacing out.

"That's fine. I was just saying how it'd be wrong to against our mother's words. After all they always do what's best for us, right?" He smiled gingerly at her. Her lips thinned at the irony of the situation she was in and the conversation she was having. 'Mother knows best,' she chuckled to herself. She would throw a fit if she saw how miserable her daughter was for not being able to see the man she had banished from ever seeing Diana again. Diana looked back out to the park to find Bruce gone as she answered his question,

"I completely agree,"

Diana quickly fled into the nearest alley that would conceal her from any eyes. Though Richard had kindly offered to drive her to her apartment in Metropolis she declined explaining that she had to drop by somewhere before she headed home. In reality, she needed some closure and the only place she would find it is with someone who patrolled these streets.

She sighed loudly as she ascended into the dark sky in search of Batman. He always started his patrol downtown, where the crime rates were the highest. As she made her way there she realized that she didn't know what she would say to him or why she even found the man to be comforting to be around as she mopped about her relationship with Bruce. Maybe that's what she needed; someone who didn't really care, someone who didn't want to talk about it. She smiled to herself, what if Batman actually sat down with her and listened to her as she cried over her problems. He'd probably diagnose her as a psychotic slut or something.

She landed on the rooftop of the building she usually found him on by this time of the night, but strangely he was nowhere to be seen. Diana turned in circles as she tried to locate the mysterious man but he wasn't out tonight.

She bit her lower lip as she tried to imagine why he wouldn't be out tonight on such a religious task. Then she came to the conclusion,

He probably had more important matters to attend to.

Author's Note:

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Of course I end it with a sort of 'bang'! (I love those sort of ...thingies (idk the right word)).

Anyways! As I promised, I'll try to update another one by the end of this week with a little more "UMPH" in it. Jump Start the relationship between Bruce-Natalie-Diana and possibly Richard (?) hehe.

Thanks for reading!

R&R! :)