DISCLAIMER: The Justice League of America characters are the property of DC Comics. The story contents are the creation and property of Djinn and are copyright (c) 2005 by Djinn. This story is Rated R.

Trinity: Two by Four

by Djinn

Diana sat on the steps of the deck, moving aside slightly to let Alfred pass her. He carried a glass of milk to Lois, who rolled her eyes at him but then took it from the silver tray and sipped. Lois lay on one of the many chaise lounges set out by the pool. Her belly, just becoming prominent, was covered by her swimsuit and a black gauze blouse; her legs were protected by the damp towel Kal had set over her. She was wearing a floppy straw hat that Bruce had brought her to keep the sun off her face.

Diana looked down at her own arms, tanned by constant exposure to the sun. She'd never worried about sunscreen or cancer or anything else. Her skin never grew old or leathery, as she'd seen so many humans' skin do. She would be young and beautiful forever.

She would be young and beautiful and barren. Forever.

Bruce and Kal were in the pool. They swam laps, neither talking to the other as they both worked off steam. Alfred watched them for a moment, then he turned and walked back up the stairs. Diana expected him to pass her again, but he surprised her by laying the tray on the next step and sitting down beside her.

A companionable silence fell between them, then he sighed, and she turned to look at him. He met her gaze, his eyes searching. She smiled, wanting to trace the lines around his eyes. Lines of worry and care. Lines of love. For Bruce. For her. And even for their strange little foursome. Soon to be a quintet.

Little Phoebe. Lois had called it that day on the planet. She hadn't meant to, but she had. Diana had looked up the meaning of Little Joe after their first visit to the planet as a group. Little Joe. Two pairs in craps.

She wasn't sure they were two pairs anymore. Lois's baby had changed that.

Lois and Bruce's baby had changed that.

Little Phoebe. Five, made up of three and two. Not one and four. Not one baby and four consenting adults. But two and three. Clark and Lois and baby. Or was it Bruce and Lois and baby?

Diana realized she was clenching her fists and forced herself to relax.

"It hurts you to have her here," Alfred said, his voice low.

"No, it's fine. She's my friend." But was that what they were?

He looked back out at the pool. "I think it hurts Master Clark to come here."

"We're family." The words came out harsh. They weren't family. They were lovers. Lovers who should have realized the crazy situation they were getting into. Lovers who should have stayed friends. People who wanted each other but didn't indulge that hunger.

"That's one way of looking at it." Alfred's voice was gentle, taking any sting out of the words.

It was her turn to sigh. "I thought it would get easier." She'd never told Alfred that Lois's baby was probably Bruce's. She didn't think Bruce had ever told him. Certainly, Kal or Lois had never told him. Yet Alfred knew. She knew he knew, but she couldn't bring herself to ask him how he'd guessed, because then she would be admitting that this had spun completely out of her control.

He'd tried to warn her.

"You need to talk about this, don't you?" His tone held no condemnation.

She nodded, refusing to put her weakness into words.

"You should talk to him." Alfred pointed to where Bruce was climbing out of the pool. "You should let him know this hurts you."

"He has enough on his mind."

"And whose fault is that?"

She turned to Alfred, but he kept his gaze locked on the pool. She saw how tight his jaw was, how carefully he blinked. "It's all of our faults, Alfred."

His answer was a tight move of his head, barely a nod, more of a jerking motion. "I suppose it is a little late to blame anyone in particular."

She leaned in, letting her shoulder rest against his. "Why don't you judge us, Alfred?"

"I do."

"No, you don't. You've tried to spare us. You've been disappointed in us. But you're not judging this. Not the way anyone else would. Why?"

He didn't answer, started to get up, and she grabbed his arm, careful not to hurt him, but also not letting him rise.

"You said once that you knew what we were doing."

He stopped trying to get up, sank down to the step, his lips very tight.

"Alfred, please?"

"Why? Because you need to know you aren't alone in this folly?" He turned, his face angry.

She'd never seen him look that way at her. "Maybe. Yes."

"Everyone's alone in this folly. No matter how many other people have done something like this. Everyone's alone."

She let go of his arm, hoping he would stay with her of his own free will.

But he got up quickly, moving faster than a man of his age should--all to get away from her.

"I'm sorry, Alfred."

"I can't make your life better with stories from my past, Miss Diana. I won't even try."

"Of course not. I'm sorry I asked." She looked down, felt his hand rest on her head for a moment. A strangely affectionate touch. "Alfred?"

He looked down.

"When they were together before, did you think Lois and Bruce would make it?"

"No." His hand moved down, to touch her cheek. "But I did think you and he would make it."

"Did? Not do?"

"I don't know anymore. Everything's changed." He pulled his hand away and walked back to the house.

He was right. Everything had changed. They'd all seen to that.

------------------

Clark watched Diana sitting with Alfred. He could hear what they were saying. Diana had to know he was listening in. When Alfred left her, Diana stared down at the pool, her eyes locking with his. Then she got up and disappeared into the gardens.

Clark looked over at Lois. Bruce was sitting with her, talking quietly. Clark could hear them easily too. They were just talking about how she was doing, how she was feeling. But there was something in their tone. Something...intimate. More intimate than sex.

They were parents. Bruce was the father of the child that grew inside Clark's wife.

It shouldn't bother him. That was Clark's mantra now. It should not bother him.

He felt like flying out of the water, shooting from the pool with a great splash, but he settled for climbing up the ladder. Neither of them looked at him as he passed them, heading up the steps to where Diana had disappeared.

He found her in the rose garden, sitting on the grass, a row of laurel blocking the view of anyone looking out from the house. "Hiding?"

She nodded, holding her hand out to him.

He took it, squeezing gently as he sat down next to her.

"I think he's in love with her," Diana said softly. Only another meta could have heard her.

"I think you're wrong." Clark smiled at her when she glanced at him in surprise. "I think he's in love with the idea of a baby. But I think you're the one he loves."

"It's her baby, Kal."

"I'm well aware of that." He pulled her close, holding her tightly against him. Her arms stole around him, squeezing hard.

She would break Bruce's ribs if she squeezed him this hard.

"Remember at the press conference?" he asked. "When you said you wanted to fly away?"

"You said no."

He laughed softly. "I'm not sure I answered you either way."

"Which means you were saying no without saying it." She nuzzled his neck.

Their special chemistry. Only grown stronger now that they both felt so isolated. He turned, kissing her slowly. They were rarely frantic in their affection. They both knew what they were doing. Solace wasn't desperation. Solace wasn't frenzied or hidden. They would have kissed the same way on the steps.

Or so he liked to tell himself.

"Why are you hiding?" he asked.

"Because no one is looking for me."

He traced her lips. "I came looking for you."

She smiled. "Maybe because you want to hide too."

Diana was strong. Even now, hurting and sad, she wouldn't hide for long. She would face what she had made. Or what Lois and her lover had made.

"I'm tired, Kal." She kissed him again, her tongue running along his upper lip, making him shiver.

He felt the familiar confusion fill him. He loved this woman so. And he loved his wife. He was jealous of his wife's relationship with his best friend. He was jealous of his best friend's relationship with Diana. He loved Diana. He loved Lois. He loved Bruce.

And that was exactly what had gotten them into this damned mess. Why the hell couldn't he have just picked one of them? Why couldn't he let well enough alone?

"I love you," she whispered, her lips against his cheek.

"I love you too." He said it far more to Diana than he did to Lois these days. He had a feeling that Lois didn't care what he felt.

She was untouchable. Pregnant and glowing and part of something that didn't include him.

"Will you love it?" Diana asked.

"The child?"

She nodded, the motion felt rather than seen as her silky hair glided under his chin.

"I will."

"How do you know?" She pulled away, studying him. "How do you know you will?"

He felt as if she'd wrapped her lasso around him. Her eyes bore into him, drawing the truth out. Truth he had not admitted to anyone. Truth they'd all been more than happy to let stay buried.

"Kal?"

"I'll try?"

She pulled him close, holding him as he squeezed her harder and harder. She didn't complain, but he felt her breathing catch as he held her even tighter. He eased up before he could hurt her.

"Let's fly away?" he said. "Just the two of us. Far, far away. Maybe the Fortress, where no one can find us."

"You love her. You can't leave her."

"Do you love her, Diana?"

She buried her lips in the crook of his neck, "I don't know anymore, Kal."

"That's a lie."

She froze and he smiled, and knew it was a bitter expression. He so rarely called her on her untruths. But today he had to.

"Yes. I love her." She pulled out of his arms. "But she doesn't love me."

"You're wrong. She does. She loves you and she loves me and she loves Bruce."

"I wish she just loved you again. Only you." Diana smoothed back his hair. "You'll be a good father."

"I'm not his father."

"His?" She looked away. "Of course...you can tell?"

He'd known it was a boy for weeks. He hadn't told Lois. She swore she didn't want to know the sex of her baby.

"What are you going to call him?"

"I don't know. We haven't...had that conversation yet." Although Lois had tried several times. He usually pleaded a JLA crisis, making up telepathic messages from J'onn to get him out of the apartment. Which was stupid. One call to Bruce, and Lois could blow that lie out of the water.

"Don't give up, Kal." Diana looked away, toward the stairs.

Clark could hear Bruce's footsteps. He got up, pulling Diana to her feet, then moving away a little.

Bruce walked over to them, his arm going around her waist. "You okay?"

She nodded. "You know how I like the rose garden."

His smile was a bit twisted. "I also know how you like Clark."

Her face seemed to freeze, then she pushed him away. "That was unkind, Bruce."

"It's also the truth." He watched her walk into the house, then turned to Clark. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing." Clark walked away. Then he turned back to Bruce. "She's upset. She needs you. You should go to her."

Bruce frowned, looking first up at the house, then back toward the pool, as if torn.

"Diana. Needs. You. You shouldn't have to think about that, Bruce."

Bruce nodded, as if he was finally hearing Clark, and hurried into the house. Clark let himself spy; super voyeur powers letting him hear and see Bruce pull Diana into his arms, soothing her even as they fell back on their bed.

Clark made himself look away.

Then he turned back, unable to not watch. Diana was looking at the wall, as if she knew he would be looking right at her. He thought he saw her mouth, "Kal." But maybe that was just his imagination?

He took a deep breath, then walked down to Lois. She was dozing, a small smile on her face. He stood gazing down at her. She looked stunning. Leaning down, he kissed her gently.

"Mmmm." Her smile grew bigger. "Do that again, Smallville."

"How do you know it's me?"

She opened her eyes, studying him.

He kept his expression light.

"I just do." She moved over so there was room for him if they snuggled.

He held her close, his arms just tight enough to keep her safe. His hand stole to her belly. To the baby that wasn't his.

She looked up at him. "What's going on in that handsome head of yours?"

"Just thinking about our baby." He could say the words with no catch in his voice. Say them as if he meant them. Our baby. Ours as in the four of them. Not ours as in the two of them.

The answer seemed to please her. She kissed him and shifted until she was comfortably nestled against him, her belly pushing hard at him. He rubbed it, listening for the heartbeat of her child. Their child. The heartbeat was strong and sure. Their baby was healthy and growing well.

It pained him to think that things might be better if their baby refused to grow. Cupping his hand over her belly, he mouthed to the child, "I will love you," as if that could make up for Clark not being as super a man as he should be.

------------------

Bruce stood at the door of the Daily Planet pressroom, watching Lois move from copier to printer to her desk and back again. She wasn't clumsy yet, was just starting to look heavily pregnant. He looked around for Clark; his friend was nowhere in sight.

Lois turned, frowning at him slightly. He wondered how she'd known he was there.

"Ms. Lane," he said, and then wondered if she went by Mrs. Kent at work.

"Mister Wayne," her smile was open, easy. He must have picked the right name.

"How are you?"

"Did you come all the way to Metropolis just to ask me that?"

He smiled. His best playboy smile. "It's possible."

She looked down, seemingly shy, then back up, giving him the full force of her cornflower eyes. "I think I love that."

They both looked down then. Bruce mumbled, "Clark isn't here, I take it?"

"Nope." She pulled a chair over from the desk next to her. "Take a load off, Bruce."

She was the one who sat gratefully. "Your baby is killing me." She looked up, eyes shocked as they met his.

She'd never said it that way before. Never called it "his" baby.

"I'm sorry if you're uncomfortable," he said, trying to ignore the opening. It was sheer folly to even consider how much he wanted to pursue it. "Where is Clark?"

She shrugged. "Out pursing a lead? Out pursuing Diana? Who can tell these days?" She was sorting printouts, laying them with photocopies she'd made. "I think they're having an affair."

"Can that word even apply to us anymore?" He sighed. She was probably right. Diana and Clark were most likely having an affair.

"Yes, it still applies," she said. "The other...thing was open. In front of each other."

Bruce leaned in. "Clark might object to my being here."

"I know." She suddenly pushed away from her desk. "I'm hungry. Are you hungry?"

He stood. "I'm very hungry." He wasn't hungry in the least.

"Let's get out of here."

He nodded.

"Are you here on business?"

"Sort of." The only business he had in town was seeing her.

She was leading him past the deli in the lobby of the Planet. Out onto the street. She pointed to the waiting black cars. "Which is yours?"

He led her to the one idling on the corner. They got in, and he told the driver to take them to his hotel.

Lois didn't say a word, just sat next to him, one hand on her belly, the other on the seat between them.

He put his hand over hers, felt her move her fingers apart so he could push his between them, holding her. They rode in silence to his hotel.

She slid out, still capable of exiting a car gracefully, and he put his arm around her shoulder as he led her to into the hotel and through the lobby and to the elevator that would take them to the penthouse.

Lois had always loved penthouses.

The elevator opened onto the hall, and he used his key card to open the door. She brushed past him, smelling of amber and citrus and some kind of subtle flower. Walking to the large French doors, she stepped onto the terrace and stared out at her city.

"Do you like the view?"

"Did you get this room because you thought I would?"

"Yes." He hadn't told Diana he was going to be in Metropolis overnight. But then she hadn't told him that she was going to be at the Fortress all day so they were even.

Lois turned. "I'm here with you, but I don't want to cheat on Clark."

"Okay." He resisted telling her that even without sex, she was probably cheating on Clark.

She walked to the other side of the terrace, leaning over a little to see the park below them. She turned back to him, holding out her hand. "Would you hold me and tell me it's going to be all right?"

Moving toward her, he took her hand, pulling her gently back into the room and to the bedroom. He lay down, easing her into his arms. His hand found her belly in a way he tried not to do when Clark or Diana were watching him. His child lay just under his hand. His son or daughter. He hadn't expected it to move him so. That this woman carried his baby inside her.

"It'll be all right," he said softly, but he wasn't sure that it would be. He wasn't sure that it all wouldn't come crashing down around them.

She shook, and he realized she was crying. "Hormones," she said, but he didn't think it was.

"Is he mistreating you?"

"Clark? God, no. He's probably going the other way too much." She looked up at him.

He leaned in, kissed her. It was a stupid thing to do. Her lips met his with passion and tenderness, and he pulled away with regret.

"I love Diana."

"And I love Clark. Hell, I love her too, damn her perfect Amazon soul." Lois cuddled against him, her stomach rising then falling under his hand as she shifted.

"Are you hungry? I can order room service."

"No, I ate already. I'm eating like a pig."

"That's good. We can't have a scrawny superhero, now can we?"

"You think that's what he'll be? A superhero?"

"He?"

She smiled softly. "Clark slipped up one day. I don't think he realized he did it. But I heard him." She sighed. "A boy. A son."

"My son."

She nodded. "Yes. Your son."

He took a deep breath. It was all right that Clark would raise his son. Clark was probably better with kids than he was anyway. More heroic. Less scary. Good god, Bruce would give the boy permanent nightmares if he showed up in the dark still in his uniform.

Only...wouldn't the kid wonder why he wasn't super? Or why he looked a lot more like his uncle Bruce than his so-called daddy?

Or would he be so proud of his super-daddy that nothing else would matter?

"What are you thinking?"

He laughed softly. "I'm trying to make it all right that I won't be his father."

"How's that going?"

"I'm making progress. Slowly."

Her hand stole up to his cheek. "Have you ever thought that maybe we--"

His hand over her lips shushed her. "Words have power. Power we're not prepared for. You're his wife. You love him. I love her. This is the way it is."

"Fine. But have you ever...?"

He didn't answer for a long time. He heard her exhale, as if she was giving up on getting an answer. Touching her lips with his finger, he traced the way they were curving downward. "Yes," he said. "I've thought about us together."

"So have I." She pressed her head against his chest, not speaking. They lay like that for a long time, until she stirred and said, "My lunch hour is long over."

"I'll have Victor take you back to the Planet." He walked her out of the hotel and to the waiting car.

"We can't do things like this, Bruce." She leaned in and kissed him.

It was a long, slow, easy kiss on the lips. Could they do things like that?

"You tell me what's allowed and what's not." He didn't like it, hated giving up control. But it was the only way this was going to work. He had to take a back seat. She was married to someone else.

He heard her murmur, "I love you," as he reached past her to open the car door.

"I love you too," he said back, even though it was the worst possible thing he could say.

He stayed out on the street watching her until the car finally turned out of sight.

-------------------

Lois watched Diana pace through the apartment. "Would you sit down? You're giving me a headache."

Diana ignored her.

"Why the hell are you here, anyway? Clark is on assignment."

Diana turned and looked at her. Her face was hard--harder than Lois had ever seen it. "I know perfectly well where Kal is."

"Well, bully for you." Lois shifted, trying to get comfortable. She felt huge, especially in comparison to her majestic princessness. "I'm sure he'd be much better company than I am, toots. Why not fly on out that window and find him. You and he can sleep together some more."

Diana turned to glare at her.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm not the one cheating."

Diana sat in the chair opposite her. "No?" Her gaze was hard again. Hard and full of some dark emotion.

Lois didn't look away. "If you have something to say, just say it."

Diana leaned back, crossing her legs the way Lois still wished she could do. "Kal's not the only one with super smell. And your perfume is quite distinctive."

"I spent time with Bruce. But I didn't sleep with him. I leave the adultery to you and my husband."

Diana didn't react, seemed to be trying to read the truth in Lois's eyes.

"Use your damn lasso, if you don't believe me."

Diana shook her head. "It might harm the baby."

"And you care about that?"

For the first time, Diana looked hurt...and soft. "Of course I care about that. I'd never harm an innocent." She got up, began pacing again. "And I care for you too, although I doubt you believe that."

"You are sleeping with Clark, aren't you?"

Diana stopped, turning to face her. Their eyes met, almost in a battle of wills. Neither would look away. Finally, Diana walked over and sat down on the couch next to her.

"Aren't you?" Lois said again, pressing against her physically even as she pushed her for the truth.

"Yes." Diana didn't meet her gaze. "Everything we touch breaks. Everything we love gets dirty."

Lois laughed softly. "And Clark calls me a drama queen?" She took Diana's hand, running her finger lightly over Diana's palm. "I'm jealous. But I'm not sure which of you I'm more jealous of."

When Diana turned, Lois pulled her closer. Diana adjusted for Lois's jutting stomach as if she'd been making love to her this whole time.

It had been a long time since they'd made love. "I need to be touched," Lois whispered. "I need to be touched by you."

"Lois, save it for Kal." But Diana didn't fight as Lois pulled her closer. "Or for Bruce."

Lois had her arms around her, met Diana's lips softly, gently. "No. You."

Diana moaned.

"Do you hate me because I carry his child?"

"Yes." Diana kissed her harder, but she was careful as she moved closer, didn't do anything to endanger the child.

"Do you hate me because I have Clark?"

"Yes." Diana was using those marvelous fingers.

Lois fantasized about Diana and her fingers. She slouched down a bit, giving her more room if that was possible when her figure now resembled a beached whale. "Do you hate me because you want this?"

Diana looked at her, anger in her eyes. "I hate you for everything." But she kissed her tenderly, and her fingers were dancing and twirling until Lois was overcome...for a very long time. Hormones could be a good thing. She touched Diana's face, making her move on the couch so that she could play. She was kissing Diana's cheek, her eyes closed as she concentrated on making her own little sexual concerto with her fingers, when she realized that Diana was crying.

"Don't. I'm sorry. Don't cry." She didn't let up with her fingers, kissing Diana on the mouth lightly and lovingly. She hated this woman. She loved this woman. When had life become so damn complicated? "Diana, shhh."

Diana's tears stopped, her lips pressed harder against Lois's and then she was bucking under her touch. When she stopped moving, Lois pulled away, smoothing her hair back, kissing her still-wet cheek softly.

"I love you," Lois whispered, and Diana buried her face in her neck, as if she couldn't bear the words.

She found Lois's belly, gently rubbed it. "I will protect your child with my life."

Lois smiled, touched. It was the most that Diana could promise anyone, and Lois recognized what she was saying. "Thank you."

"And I love you too," Diana said so fast that the words ran together. Than she was up and across the room practically flinging herself out the window as if she couldn't get away fast enough from Lois and the terrible mess they'd all made.

-----------------

Clark watched Diana as she stared at the ceiling of his bedroom in the Fortress. He touched her arm lightly, moving his finger up and down. She smiled and closed her eyes.

"You're very far away, my love." It was dangerous to call her that. He was going to slip up someday when they weren't alone.

She turned so she was facing him. Her eyes were gentle as she touched his cheek tenderly. "I'm right here." But her smile was off this time.

He kissed her slowly, letting the emotion he felt out. Just as earlier they'd let out the passion they felt, coming together with a ferocity that would have killed a human partner. They had never made love that way when it was the four of them. They'd exercised restraint.

Not anymore.

Passion and disappointment were excellent bed partners.

"She knows we're doing this," Diana said softly.

"No, she doesn't." Lois might suspect. But she didn't know.

"Yes, she does."

"And you know this how?" He kissed her again, laughed as she tickled his upper lip with her tongue, then he realized she might be trying to distract him. "Diana?"

"Because she asked, and I didn't lie when I answered."

He pulled away a bit, stared at her. "Did she have the lasso on you?"

"No." Diana didn't look away. "She just seemed to know already."

He felt a surge of irritation. Diana could be innocent at some very perplexing times. "It's called a secret affair for a reason. Telling the wife is not the recommended method of keeping it hidden."

She sighed. "I'm tired of secrets, Kal." Closing her eyes, she whispered. "We had sex after I told her."

"This just gets better and better." He turned so he was lying on his back, staring at the ceiling that had so mesmerized Diana. Everyone was intimate with his wife but him. "She and Bruce--"

"--I know." Diana curled around him, her hand settling on his chest, over his heart. It felt warm and strong there. "They've been together. But they haven't had sex."

"Sex is the least of our worries. They're getting closer. That's what's troublesome."

She took a long, deep breath. Then let it out very slowly. "I know. I'm not sure Bruce cares that I'm here."

"You think he knows?"

"Yes."

"Yes, he probably does." Bruce always knew everything. Maybe he liked Clark being with his girl? It gave him more time to sniff around Lois.

"Things are a mess."

Sometimes Diana had the irritating habit of stating the obvious. He was about to answer when she said, "But we have this. And I'm not sure I mind."

She also had the wonderful ability to make him feel good about himself again.

"I know." He wasn't sure he minded either. He knew he should mind, but it was hard to know what he felt anymore.

She held him tightly. "I feel so...disconnected."

Yes, that was a good word for it. He felt as if someone had taken his moral center and hidden it. He should not be with Diana. If he was with her, he should feel guilty. He should be appalled that his wife might be curled against Bruce the same way Bruce's woman was curled against him.

"What's happening to us, Kal?" She nuzzled against him. "Are we rotting inside?"

"Maybe."

"I still love him."

He held her closer, heard her sob. She wasn't crying though; she was fighting it.

"Let go, Diana. It's all right."

"I want to. But I don't have any tears. I don't even know what I'd cry for." She pushed herself up so that she was leaning over him, her weight on her elbow, peering at him through her lush hair.

He pushed it away from her face so he could see her eyes. "Do you love Lois?"

"I do. And I'm not sure how that happened." She shrugged. "I understood myself once. I knew that I would do certain things, and not do others. This...with you and her. It's not something I set out to do."

"I know. It's not something I set out to do either." But that was a lie. This was all his fault. He hadn't been able to leave well enough alone. He'd had to get them all to that damned planet.

Diana was kind enough not to call him on his lie. She just cuddled in against him. "I'm tired, Kal. I don't know when I've been this tired."

He felt tired too. Weary in a way he normally did not. As if Lois was feeding their energy to her baby.

He closed his eyes, was mortified to feel tears starting anyway, slipping out no matter how tightly he pressed his eyelids together.

"Kal?" Her touch on him was gentle.

"I don't know if I'll be able to love him."

"You will." She wiped his tears away. "I know you will. You're good and you're kind. Even now."

"I'm not. I'm not any of the things I thought I was."

"Open your eyes, Kal."

He resisted but she whispered it again and again, until he finally did as she said.

"What you did, you did because you love us. Not out of greed or out of some overwhelming dark passion. You love me and Bruce and Lois, and we all love you." She sighed. "You didn't force any of us into this. It may have been your idea, but we all jumped in with our eyes wide open."

"But I--"

"--If you're guilty of anything, it's of being stupid." She smiled gently. "We all were very, very stupid. Someone tried to tell me that. I wouldn't listen."

"What do we do now?"

"I don't know." She kissed him, and the kiss turned into something desperate and crazed.

When they finally came up for air, he let his fingers twine with hers. "I love you. I will always love you."

"I'll always love you too." Her eyes were sad, but he didn't know if they were sad because she would soon be leaving him or if it would be Bruce she left behind.

-----------------

Bruce dodged a bolt of what looked like lightning. He was sick of super-villains always coming back with new and better toys--snazzy new gizmos were his department. He noticed that Clark seemed to be sticking close to him, closer than he would have in the past.

"Are you looking out for me?" he asked, his voice coming out gruff as he moved over to Clark's position.

"Right. I really want to look out for you." Clark took off, flying erratically as if to throw off the wanna-be Zeus.

As the villain tried to line up a shot, Bruce took him down with his batarang--nearly taking the guy's head off. He hadn't meant to throw it quite that hard.

"Nice shot. Were you going for decapitation?" Superman was searing the villain's neck wound closed with his super-vision.

Fortunately, the man was unconscious. The smell was bad enough; Bruce didn't need screams too.

"I guess I don't know my own strength."

'That's crap."

Bruce shot Clark a look. "Your language is getting worse."

"Well, color me bad." Clark motioned for the police to take lightning boy away. He seemed to be scanning the area for something--or someone.

"She's not here."

"I know." But he kept looking.

They weren't even pretending that Clark didn't know which she Bruce meant. Or why he might look for her.

That probably wasn't good.

Bruce tried to muster up something that resembled hurt or anger. The most he could manage was an underlying stream of annoyance.

Diana was sleeping with Clark. His best girl with his best friend. And all he could come up with was annoyance?

That definitely wasn't good.

"You want to get a drink?" Clark asked.

"You mean a soda or something?"

"No, I mean we'll pass around a bottle of rockgut. Yes, I mean a soda or something." Clark stalked off, muttering something about not having changed that much.

Bruce followed at a slower pace. Clark was heading for the park, moving fast and barely seeming to see the people he passed. By the time he stopped at the concession stand, he was way ahead of Bruce.

Clark looked back, and Bruce smiled. "Coke, no ice," he said under his breath, knowing Clark would be able to hear him anyway.

Clark turned to the window and walked back with the drinks. It looked like he'd chosen grape soda. Bruce didn't know how he could stomach the stuff.

They walked for a while, sipping at the drinks, then they came to a stretch of grass. A group of children were tossing a frisbee.

Clark seemed mesmerized, and a look of incredible sadness passed over his face, then he turned to Bruce. "If I'm not a good dad. If I don't raise hi--it the way I should..."

"Him?" Bruce smiled at Clark's embarrassed look. "If you don't raise him the way I would, you mean?"

"He's your son." Clark looked away, back at the kids, who had just noticed that Superman and Batman were watching them.

They looked like Gotham locals, so Batman wasn't as unusual a sight as Superman--although Bruce wasn't given to frequenting the park in his costume in broad daylight. Had he lost his sense along with his morals?

"You haven't said that before," Bruce said. "That he's mine."

"I've been trying to convince myself that he's not. Been trying to fool myself into thinking that he's mine."

"She's yours. So he is too." Poor logic from the Batman. But the only thing he could think to say.

"Doesn't necessarily follow, my friend."

His friend. Bruce touched Clark's elbow, steering him away from the gawking kids, back onto the path. "I know you're sleeping with Diana."

"I know you're spending time with Lois." Clark turned to him. 'Did you know they're spending time together?"

"They are?" Bruce frowned; that bugged him for some reason.

"I think I had the same look on my face when Diana told me."

Bruce looked over to see if Clark had said that to be mean. But his face was composed; he didn't seem to be waiting for Bruce to react. He'd said it because it was truth. Bruce was learning that Diana was cheating on him with Lois from the other person she was cheating on him with.

"Who would have thought Diana had it in her?"

"I think I put it in her." Clark walked over to a bench and sat down as if he no longer had the strength to stand. "Me and my stupid need to get us all on that planet together."

Bruce finished his soda and tossed it in a trash receptacle, then sat down next to Clark. "What the hell happened to us?"

"Sex happened to us. We had sex. All of us. " Clark looked over at him. "You and I had sex. But we never talk about it."

"No. We don't."

"Why don't we?"

"Because we just don't." Bruce wished he had his cup back. Something to play with, to pretend to be absorbed in.

"But why?"

"What? Are you four years old, Clark? We don't talk about it because we're in love with women who may like to sleep together better than they like to sleep with either of us. That's why we don't muddy it up with the fact that we also really dig touching each other." He saw Clark trying not to laugh and turned to see a shocked family of four watching him. "And that's how the lines go in the La Cage Aux Folles Part Four: Gotham Nights. Can you believe they did that to our characters! I'm outraged!"

The family walked on, looking vastly relieved.

Bruce waited till they were out of earshot to say, "I have to learn to stop letting you and Diana provoke me that way."

"Lois doesn't provoke you?" Clark was still smiling, a much more innocent look than he'd worn in a while.

"She does. Just not the same way." Bruce leaned back, suddenly wishing for the innocence of the planet. Where it was okay to touch Clark. To lie next to him and watch the clouds go by and make silly shapes out of them.

Drugged. They'd been drugged and it hadn't been real.

Although the baby growing in Lois's stomach was pretty damned real.

"Are we still best friends?" Clark sounded morose.

"I think so."

"That's not very reassuring."

"Well, I'm sorry, Clark. It's the best I can do under the circumstances."

"Big poophead."

Bruce started to laugh. "Yeah. That'll show me." He laughed harder. "Damn it, Clark. I'm really pissed at you."

"I'm really pissed at you too."

"Well, okay then."

They sat in silence. Then Bruce said, "Diana's out. Possibly at your place."

"Great."

"You want to come over and watch the game? I've got milk and cookies."

"Have you got beer and pretzels? I think that might be more my speed. Milk and this purple crap haven't gotten me anywhere." He tossed the soda into the trash.

Bruce chuckled. "Yes. I have beer. Imported and domestic." He got up. "Was Kryptonian beer any good?"

"I don't know, caped moron. I was an infant when I left."

"Well, you have that city in a bottle thing. Ask them."

"I'll put it on my to-do list."

They bickered all the way back to the manor. It was almost like old times.

-----------------------

It was late in the afternoon, the sun shining a dark gold through the heavy linen drapes. Bruce lay on the bed, his arms crossed behind his head, eyes closed. He opened them when Diana eased the door closed, smiling at her as she walked across the room.

But it was a wary smile.

"Want company?" she asked.

"Sure." He moved over, pulling her into his arms once she was settled on the bed.

She nuzzled against him, trying to pretend things were like they had been. Before the four of them had been so cosmically stupid.

"I miss you," he said.

"I'm right here."

"You know what I mean." As she moved in to kiss him, he put his hand just over her collarbone, stopping her progress. "Were you with him?"

She didn't move as she met his eyes, trying to assess his mood. He stared calmly back. He looked like the truth was the only answer he wanted.

"Not today."

"Good." He pulled his hand away, moving it to the back of her head, pulling her toward him.

She resisted. "Were you with her?"

The pressure on her neck stopped. "Not today."

She stared down at him and had the feeling that they were at a critical juncture. She could get up and leave now and he wouldn't try to stop her. He could pull away and go into his study or the cave or wherever else it was that the Batman went to hide out, and she wouldn't try to stop him either.

"This is it. The moment." He touched her cheek. "What are we going to do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"Turn back time," he said without hesitation.

"To when it was just the two of us?"

He sighed. "It was never just the two of us, Diana. That may be the fundamental problem."

"Do you want me to go?"

He slowly shook his head. "But I don't want you seeing Clark anymore." Before she could speak, he put his finger over her lips. "Only I'm not asking you to give him up. Not yet."

"Why not? Because you don't want to give her up yet?"

He didn't answer, but she knew what silence could mean.

Cuddling against him, she whispered. "No one is here right now but us, Bruce. We could try to just enjoy it?"

He turned to look at her. "Do you want to leave me?"

"No." She couldn't meet his eyes. "But I'm not sure I can leave him." Sighing she hid her face against his neck, kissing his throat softly. "This isn't me. This isn't who I am."

But it was who she was. She was living this life; it wasn't living her.

"I love you, Diana. And I don't want to decide anything tonight." He rolled her to her back, began to strip off her uniform. "I just want to pretend it's months and months ago. I just want to make love to the woman I love."

"I want that too." She eased off his shirt, tracing the scars for a moment before she worked her way down to his pants. "You mean the world to me, Bruce."

"I know. Sadly, I understand that perfectly." He kissed her, his mouth insistent and full of love that both moved and scared her. What were they doing to each other? To Clark and Lois? What would they keep doing?

She forced her mind off its dark path and let him love her, lost herself in loving him. It was good, as good as ever. His expression was full of the tenderness that he didn't let many people see.

"Love," she said, as they rolled and she ended up on top of him.

He reached up, twining his fingers with hers.