The Visit
by Nick

It was something she had been contemplating for some time now. She felt that a trip home would do her good. It was definitely overdue.

It was hard to believe that almost five years had passed since she had last seen her homeland, Paradise Island. The beautiful beaches with their crystal clear, blue-green waters sweeping forward across the sand leaving it speckled with small shells and crustaceans. The warm breezes tickling her soft skin as she walked aimlessly, lost in thought. These memories made her heart ache and made her decision to return much easier.

And so Diana Prince soon found herself making arrangements to leave, which included first and foremost, tying up all loose ends at the office.

This particular Tuesday morning she was on her way to Dale Hawthorn's office when she nearly collided with Brett Cassidy as he exited the research lab.

His smile widened into a grin when he turned and saw it was Diana.

"Hey beautiful," he said playfully.

Diana had grown accustomed to his teasing and many times had returned it in her own oblique way. But at the moment, startled as she was, she was unable to do anything but blush at his compliment. He had successfully caught her off guard on numerous occasions and each time she had felt rather foolish at her loss of how to respond. When he was in the room she felt a nervous energy pulsing through her especially when she caught him staring at her as she talked. It was almost like he was trying to figure her out as if ... as if she were some unfathomable enigma.

"Good morning. And what are we up to today? Anything interesting?" Diana queried, deliberately steering the conversation in a different direction.

"Well, as a matter of fact, I'm just about finished with that lab report for the Garner case and will have it to you in a couple of hours. In fact, I will deliver it myself, say... over lunch?"

Diana quickly averted her eyes and said, "Well, actually, I'm just in for a little while to take care of a few things and then I'm taking some vacation time. I'll probably be gone for two or three weeks."

Intrigued, he asked, "Are you going home?"

Fearing that she might find herself trapped by his questions, she responded a little more brusquely than she meant to: "Look, Brett, I really need to get in to see Dale for a few minutes. Could we talk when I get back into town?"

Not waiting for an answer, she brushed past him and disappeared around the corner leaving Brett more curious than ever.

Of course, Diana felt awful at the way she had just acted. She had no right to be rude to Brett, but having been in that situation before, she felt it was better than lying. Anytime she could avoid having to make up something, she did. Especially when it came to people she felt genuinely close to, like Brett Cassidy.

She thought back to when she had first met him over a year ago when she was working on the Reichman case. Brett, or Bryce as he was known back then, had participated in a study for Joseph Reichman who along with another doctor had come up with an anti-aging drug that proved to be a little more than anyone had anticipated. Volunteering as guinea pig, Bryce had started having regular injections of the drug, which over a period of time made him physically invulnerable. It had been Reichman's plan to make a whole army of "invulnerable" men like him. Thankfully Wonder Woman with Bryce's help, managed to thwart his scheme but Reichman escaped before being able to reverse what he had done to Bryce. Not knowing what he was going to do from then on out, Diana had convinced Bryce to come work for the IADC in their research department.

Suddenly remembering Brett's dejection over the fact that he would never again be 'normal', Diana felt even worse over the way she had just treated him. She guessed that was the reason she felt such a bond with him.

He had a secret, too.

Dale looked up from his paperwork when he heard the short rap on his door. Diana entered and wished him a good morning as she took a seat on the couch across from him. He watched as, in her usual way, she first crossed her legs and then leaned on the arm of the sofa with her forefinger pressed against her temple. If he had to describe Diana Prince in one word, he wouldn't be able to if his life depended upon it. She was just so... He couldn't describe it. So once again he put it out of his mind to think about another time...

"Diana, you have finally come to your senses. I was beginning to think that maybe you weren't human! You never want your vacation time; you work around the clock... do you even eat?" He laughed good-naturedly at his little joke.

"I just figured it was time. As I told you on the phone yesterday, I have made arrangements to leave this afternoon if that's still okay..."

"Diana, it's fine. Believe me. I'm just very relieved that you will be getting some rest and relaxation. You will be getting some rest and relaxation, won't you? By the way, where are you going?"

Diana groaned inwardly. Here we go again...

Just then the telephone rang. Obviously, still awaiting her reply Dale picked up the phone without taking his eyes off her. But the call must have been important and soon his attention was focused elsewhere.

Diana breathed a sigh of relief. She realized that anything she said would inevitably lead to more questions. So she stood up and motioned to her watch until Dale took notice and mouthed that she needed to go.

Dale cupped his hand over the mouthpiece of the phone and told her to have a good trip and please, by God, relax a little!

She nodded for indeed that was her plan. In fact a sense of calmness swept over her just thinking about being with her family and reacquainting herself with once familiar surroundings. She had already decided not to tell her mother that she was coming so that it would be a surprise to her and Drusilla. Although... the Queen might be a little suspicious after becoming aware that Diana had summoned the invisible jet after all this time.

And then, there it was again... The twinge of guilt she felt over the time that had lapsed since her last visit. Many times Diana had similar pangs for what she thought could surely be considered abandonment by some... abandonment of her family, her Queen and her whole background and way of life. Not being able to grasp the larger picture, she knew from the start that some would not understand. Even her mother. Sometimes Diana had felt as if the Queen had not fully understood her reasons for coming back to what she considered a barbaric world. True, this world was at times barbaric and cruel, but it needed her. And she liked being needed.

Her mother could say that she too needed her on Paradise Island to fulfill her role as Princess. But it was not the same and she had given up long ago on trying to convince her mother of that. There was no easy way to admit it, but when she had returned to the States the last time, it had become her future and Paradise Island had become apart of her past.

All of these thoughts were like a whirlwind in Diana's mind as she made her trip from her new home to her old aboard the invisible jet.

In a matter of hours, Princess Diana was stepping down from the plane onto the white sands of the beach on the southern-most tip of the island. This location put her about a mile away from the palace and she reveled in the idea of being able to make the trek by her lonesome. It would give her time to drink in some of the things she had missed most about being here and at the same time plan her method of surprise! With this latter thought she giggled like a child, for at the moment, that is how she genuinely felt.

Time had reversed itself as she saw in the distance and above the treetops, the ancient pillars surrounding the temple and the top of the pediment that adorned its entrance. Straining her neck she could almost see the spot on the hill overlooking the palace where she and Magda had run and played as youngsters, imitating the games that only the older 'sisters' were allowed to participate in. In rapid succession, odd memories and recollections together with pictures from the past swept before her eyes.

Presently she was coming up on the rose garden planted by order of the Queen to celebrate her eldest child's coming of age as heir to the throne. Diana bent to smell the sweet fragrance of the soft pink and yellow roses that bore her name. Voices floated to her ears in the gentle breeze and she quickly darted behind the trunk of a massive tree to avoid being seen. Observing Philippa and Osiris as they strolled by lost in their adolescent conversation, Diana couldn't wait any longer... She waited for the pair to disappear in the distance and started herself in the direction of the palace in a gait that couldn't belie her excitement.

When she got to the high wall that gated the small ancient city, she could see a group assembled out in the palace garden that included her mother and two of her attendants, Relah and Ona. She was disappointed that there was no sign of Dru as she was hoping to find her and the Queen together.

Something poked into her side and startled her. Diana jumped and before she had the chance to turn around, she heard the familiar laugh of her baby sister, Drusilla.

"You know, Mother says it's not lady-like to sneak around!" Dru barely had the words out before Diana grabbed her and embraced her affectionately. She planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Me? Sneaking around? How about you, scaring me like that!" They laughed together, content merely to hold on to one another as they were. It was awhile before they separated and Diana was able to take a good look at her sister.

"Drusilla, you are nearly as tall as I am!" And seeing the exasperated look on Dru's face, she quickly adjusted the direction of the conversation realizing that she was still treating her like a kid. She was now a grown woman nearly and there was so much of a change in her it was just unbelievable. Immediately Diana could see that it went beyond just physical appearance. As they continued talking, she noticed a certain maturity and grace that had never been there before. It was almost as if she were being groomed for...

Oh, Diana thought. Her heart sank as she realized exactly what was going on. In Diana's long absence, things had changed...

Drusilla read the look on her elder sister's face as she would read an open book and looked away in the uncomfortable silence. She had not anticipated that this moment would come so soon and she was not ready.

Drusilla started very slowly and nervously, "Diana, I didn't want this... you...why did you stay away so long? Mother has been so worried, I was worried..." The tears were streaming down her face as she looked pleadingly at Diana for an answer.

It was at that very moment Diana realized just how hurt her family had been with the choices that she had made. All the doubts and all the fears she had endured for years about what she had done burst inside her as she stared down into the reddened eyes of her sister and her own became moist with tears. She took Dru in her arms and whispered into her hair, I'm sorry...

They stood as they were for what seemed like hours, each not wanting to be the first to let go. Dru finally pulled away and asked:

"Have you come home for good, Diana?"

Diana couldn't look at her and words wouldn't form. What could she say? This was all happening too fast. In the emotional state she was in now, she longed to scream yes. But the voice of reason cautioned that there was now too much involved. The momentum of the life she had chosen for herself would carry her along until it had finished with her...

When for several minutes Diana failed to reply, Drusilla sadly turned and walked away.

All of the excitement Diana had felt just minutes ago had been drained from her, as she feared now how her meeting with her mother might go. This was not at all how she had pictured things. She hesitated at the gate watching her mother from behind, noting every graceful movement and how every word and action was an outward sign of the true goodness within her. She remembered growing up wanting so much to be just like her Queen and mother. She still did...

It seemed that no one took notice of her as she approached, but when she came within feet of where Queen Hippolyte sat, her mother spoke:

"I knew you were here, daughter. I felt your presence the moment you set foot on the island." She turned to face Diana. "And of course, when you summoned the flying device..." She smiled serenely and motioned for her eldest child to sit at her side.

"Mother..." The princess fell to her knees before her mother, burying her face in the folds of her lap and began to sob.

The Queen, overcome with emotion herself, bent forward and laid her head upon Diana's. She whispered:

"It's good to have you home."

*****

Nothing more was said over the next couple of days as Diana readjusted herself to the slower pace of life on the island and resumed some of the duties she had performed before going away. By the end of the week it was almost as if she had never gone. But there was an underlying current of tension that Diana had never experienced before when dealing with her family. The little contact she had with Dru was very strained and awkward and the fear that things would never again be the same tore Diana up inside. Her mother acted as usual toward her, obviously very happy that she was home, but Diana knew there was something in every conversation that was purposely left unsaid.

Were they perhaps waiting for her to speak first? What did they want her to say... that she was going to leave behind her life in Los Angeles forever and give up her destiny? Until they had experienced what she had, they would never understand the moral obligation she felt to eventually return. This was just a short visit and could be nothing else...

But even as the words rolled through her head, she knew it would be hard to speak them. The hurt she had seen in Drusilla's eyes and the feeling she had that something was being held from her, made it almost impossible. But yet it had to be said at some point.

Diana thought back to the time when the Nazi soldiers had discovered Paradise Island and they all had once again been stripped of their dignity and submitted to the cruelty of man. Queen Hippolyte had been willing to sacrifice herself as she stood at gunpoint, for the rest of her people. It had been at that moment that Diana had felt the bond between her and her mother grow even stronger. She had thought that her mother finally understood that what she had been doing involved so much more than was originally assumed. Wonder Woman was protecting her people as well as the outside world from savages such as the Nazis. Just because they were defeated and the war ended did not mean that there would be an end to suffering and violence, violence that could at any time reach again the borders of this other world no one knew existed. It had happened before and it could happen again.

Diana shuddered at her own thoughts. The thought of something destroying this beauty, harming her family...

The Queen had always called her stubborn and once said that her strength of will would one day become her greatest asset. At the time of her uttering those words, it was never imagined how true they would be. Who had known that she, of all the Amazonians, or any other race for that matter, would be entrusted with such a responsibility? The secret she held was such a burden to her sometimes, especially when dealing with those she felt close to in the other world. The end result, though, so far outweighed the cross she bore.

Diana walked along the marbled corridor that led to her chamber. For maybe the first time in her life, she was faced with a problem she had no easy way out of...

The Princess did not sleep well that night. In between drifting off into uneasy slumber that didn't last, she just stared into the darkness at the high ceiling of her rooms. She tried imagining the way her life would be at this moment, had she not escorted Steve Trevor back to the United States the first time and had fallen prey to the fascination she had felt for the outside world.

She had traversed extensively the island here but had always remained curious about what lay beyond the waters. It wasn't until she reached adulthood according to immortal standards that she was even told there existed anything. The Queen stories always frightened the other girls but Diana listened with rapt attention as her mother told of the strange breed called man. And although her history books described them in detail and the destruction they brought, there were never pictures. Diana had never laid eyes on one until Steve.

Was it when she first saw his face or maybe when he had opened his eyes to look into hers that she first realized that what she had been taught all her life was not totally the truth? She didn't know, but it had made her wonder about other things. Like the day she overheard her mother and Ona talking and laughing about strange things she had never heard of before; snippets and phrases like 'passion that made even the heart of an immortal melt' and of someone in particular possessing 'more physical beauty than even the gods'. Diana had never heard her mother speak in such a way and the contradiction confused her. Thinking about it now, Diana was sure that somewhere in her past she had loved and been loved by a man, but it was something she dared not mention.

Darkness eventually gave way to light and through one of the opened windows, there drifted in the smells and sounds of morning.

Diana felt weary of all the pondering she had done. Slowly she began stirring, trying to find the will to face the day and whatever it might bring.

Impetus came in the form of a knock at her door, followed by the entrance of Drusilla. Surprised by this visit, Diana sat up in her bed, not sure how to greet her sister.

Dru was wearing a long, lilac dressing coat, the kind they always wore on cool mornings such as this one. Diana was taken aback by how much she looked like their mother. She had never seen it before, but Dru possessed her same quiet dignity and serene beauty. The same had been said about her, too, but somehow with Dru it was different. Maybe in her case it was because they shared more physical characteristics in common.

Drusilla sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes on the floor.

"Diana, I would like you to understand something. I know that you have taken my behavior the last few days to mean that I am upset or mad at you. But you know me, Diana... you know that I have defended you to mother forever it seems. I'm not mad. It's just that, well... maybe I'm a little jealous." She raised her eyes to see Diana's reaction to her admission.

Incredulously, Diana asked, "What?"

"You forget that I have also experienced what the outside world is like. I have been sheltered just like you were, with a special set of rules and code of behavior because of being the Queen's daughter. I'm jealous because you have the choice of whether to go back or stay. I don't and especially now. Mother has set her sights on my taking your place as heir. And I will do it because she's my mother and my queen, but Diana..." The look in her eyes was one of desperation, like a poor animal caught in a trap with the advance knowledge that it would never get out.

"I know it's selfish, but my first feeling on catching sight of you was not one of joy, but... relief. I thought maybe after all this time, you had changed your mind and were coming back to take your rightful place. But I know what you must be going through also. Life here is secure and never changing and I know it sounds crazy, but the outside world that I saw was almost mesmerizing. With its diversity and its culture so different from ours. Diana, the way they dress, the way they talk and the things they eat. Ice cream!"

Diana laughed at the memory of Dru's first encounter with ice cream and remembered her own reactions to things when she tried them for the first time. It was exactly like she said... mesmerizing!

"I just don't know what to do or what to make of the way that I'm feeling, Diana." Dru fell back across the bed and stared up at the ceiling.

"You know, I sat awake all last night doing what you are now. Just staring at the ceiling with thousands of questions going through my head like a... like a locomotive."

"A loco-what?"

Again Diana laughed. "I'll explain it later. It's one of the things you missed on your two visits to the States! You see, Drusilla, I'm just as confused and torn as you are. But mine are many-fold because I'm torn basically between two worlds that have both been my home and obligations to both. I am in no way making light of what you are experiencing, but there are so many things involved in making my decision to stay or go back. Things you cannot imagine for the reasons you mentioned earlier. But I know that somehow we will both get through this. I promise you that!"

Diana pulled her sister to her and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. "I'm happy though that at least you understand."

And suddenly Drusilla became the young girl she remembered. With widened eyes, she exclaimed, "Oh, Diana... that's what I was sent in here to tell you! Mother wants to see you right away!" And she jumped up and ran to the door. Looking over her shoulder, she stopped and smiled.

"I'm glad that you understand, too!"

Queen Hippolyte was reclined on her favorite settee when Ona admitted Diana into the sitting room. Diana respectively bowed her head and waited until her mother beckoned her forward.

"Come here daughter", Hippolyte said quietly and with a gesture, Ona was dismissed to leave. Diana picked up the brush and continued where Ona had left off.

"How are you finding your visit, Diana?"

"Very comfortable." She hated this talking to one another as though they were strangers.

"Drusilla tells me that the two of you had a talk when you first arrived?" It was more of a statement than a question.

Diana put down the hairbrush. "Yes, we did. And we haven't talked too much since, other than our conversation this morning," she replied matter-of-factly.

The Queen said rather abruptly, "Your sister's impetuous nature allows her to proceed sometimes at the risk of disappointment. I, on the other hand, choose to wait for things to come in their own time. It gives one opportunity to find a way of facing the inevitable." Her words were spoken like a mantra and Diana knew what she said to be the truth.

She turned to face Diana and asked point blank, "I am correct in assuming that this is indeed only a visit?"

Diana nodded in the way a small child would when asked to confess to a wrongdoing and suddenly felt anger over the position she was being forced into. She lifted her eyes and met her mother's.

"If there was one thing that has stayed with me out of all that you taught me growing up, it's this... there is a predestined road that we all must travel. It is not our choice, sometimes, the direction our life takes. Yes, I made the initial choice to leave Paradise Island. But mother tell me, why was I the one that found Steve Trevor there on the beach? Why of all the islands, did he happen to land on ours? You don't think there was a reason for all of that happening? That maybe it was meant for me to do what I have done? You have never tried to understand... I thought at one time you did, but..." Her words trailed off as she began to cry.

She could not understand what the expression on her mother's face meant. It was one she had never seen before... as if there was a sudden crack in her always calm and gentle exterior.

In fear of her face betraying her feelings, the queen looked away. Her words came out strangled and low.

"Is this how living in that land of barbarians has taught you to speak to your mother and queen?"

Indignant, Diana said, "If you mean, thinking for myself? The answer is yes. And now if you'll excuse me, mother..." She turned to leave.

"If you leave this time daughter, you will not leave with the power with which you came. You will return to your other world, but it... it will not be as Wonder Woman."

Diana whirled around. "You cannot mean that..." she gasped in disbelief.

Her mother stood. "I am the Queen and that is exactly what I mean."

It was a card she never thought her mother would play. Diana just stood frozen, hardly able to comprehend the words.

Queen Hippolyte continued, "I am doing this for your own good, Diana. So far you have been able to make it with the help of the powers you possess. I am of the opinion that if you want to continue living among the mortals..." She didn't finish her thought. Instead she said, "When we are of calmer spirit, we shall talk again."

It was an obvious dismissal. Diana started to speak but thought better of it. She simply turned and left the room.

Outside in the hallway, Diana met Drusilla and knew instantly by the look in her eyes that she had overheard what was just said.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

Absently, Diana took Dru by the hand and they walked along toward Diana's rooms.

"I will be, I guess. I need time to take this all in. I just never imagined..."

"I know. I apologize for eavesdropping, Diana. It's just that I was worried. I realize how easy it is to say the wrong things when you are angry," Drusilla confessed, obviously speaking from her own experience in dealing with their mother.

She continued: "What will happen, do you think, if you don't go back?"

"I really don't know, Dru. I know the rest of the world will go on with or without Wonder Woman or the woman they know as Diana Prince. But I never had to answer the question, until now, of whether I could get a long without it. Or whether I could get along without her. " She gazed ahead solemnly.

Drusilla turned to her, bewildered.

"You mean that you would actually return without the powers you have as Wonder Woman?"

Diana stopped and turned to her sister. She didn't know how to put into words what she wanted to say. How could she ever convince someone so naive in a worldly way just how hard it was to be put in such a situation? But she would try. She felt she owed Dru that much.

"When I left Paradise Island, I left with both anticipation and fear. I didn't know what I was getting myself into or what I might be giving up by leaving. But living there all this time... having my own life and friends, I feel I might be sacrificing myself this time if I don‘t return. And if that might mean returning as a regular mortal, then so be it." Her words trailed off as what she had just said registered in her own ears.

She realized that while looking for a way to explain things to Drusilla, she had convinced herself of what she really wanted to do. She felt relief but at the same time she was concerned with how Dru might take her decision.

"Can you possibly understand what I am saying?" Diana asked her.

Drusilla didn't speak for some time and Diana wondered what she might be thinking. When they reached Diana's room, Drusilla turned and smiled the way a child would when they know a secret you don't.

"There has got to be a way, Diana."

"A way...?" She didn't understand.

"Yes! A way for you to return as Wonder Woman!" she answered excitedly.

Diana sighed, missing the full import of her sister's statement.

"Well, I suppose mother might come around. Maybe I'll give it another couple of days to see what happens."

The Princess looked up and caught something in her younger sister's face that disturbed her...

The days that followed seemed to fly by as Diana occupied her time ‘catching up' on things and helping Dru with various tasks around the palace. Whatever free moments she had to herself were spent trying not to think too much about everything that had transpired. She didn't want to feel regret for coming home, but somehow she couldn't help it.

The opportunity for conversation with the Queen seldom arose. When it did, the exchange was brief and civil. There was still much to be said, but the right time would come eventually and Diana resigned herself to be patient until then and keep her tongue in check. Drusilla was right in the fact that a person could say too much and go too far in anger.

As hurt as she was at what her mother had done, she still loved and respected her as much as always. Diana desperately tried to see things from her point of view, but so far was not having an easy time of it. She was comforted by the fact that, at least, she had Dru to talk to.

Drusilla, as always was bubbling over with questions about living in the United States. Diana had mentioned how different things were since the last time Dru had visited during the war and her interest was piqued.

"How so, Diana?" she asked.

Diana didn't really know where to begin.

"Probably the biggest change would be in the technology. Some of the things that you came into contact with pale in comparison to all the gadgets there are now. In fact, in the 40's, no one would ever have dreamed that some of the things we have now would be even possible. Like... computers and... television; products that are created for the sole purpose of making life easy and more convenient. I even have a phone in my car!"

Diana found that she enjoyed sharing with her sister all these modern miracles and the look of wonderment on her face.

"People are able to hop on a plane and fly from one place to another in a matter of hours."

Drusilla interrupted. "But, Diana, we've been able to do that all along! With the invisible jet, I mean." And then she scrunched up her face as she always did when there was something she didn't understand.

"Diana, a thought just struck me. I know we are far behind the rest of the world in terms of technology, but how is it we came to have the invisible jet in the first place...?"

Diana smiled, knowing beforehand what she was going to ask. She had asked the same question of the Queen many years ago and she told Drusilla so.

Excitedly Drusilla asked, "Well, what did she say?"

"I'm afraid you are going to be just as disappointed with the answer as I was. See, Mother simply said that there were just some things in life that should remain, well... a mystery."

She searched for a way to make clear to Drusilla what she was trying to say, recalling the very vague way in which her mother had explained it to her.

"Remember the conversation we had with Steve Trevor and Peter Knight over dinner at my apartment that first time you visited? Peter made that comment about Greek mythology and you had started to say something when I kicked you under the table..."

Dru remembered all too well and rubbed her shin.

"Do you also recall what I told you after they left? About their culture and belief system being different from ours and so they see what we believe about out origins as being myth? Well, it's because they cannot understand it; it is a mystery to them. In fact, there are many things that they themselves believe in, that they cannot explain. Evolution, the trinity... If you asked most people about either of those things, more than likely they would say that you're not supposed to be able to explain them, because they are ‘mysteries‘."

Evolution... the trinity? This was going a little deeper than she had initially intended.

"It seems that I'm not really explaining this well at all."

But she could see that her reasoning was having the same effect on her sister as her mother's indistinct answers had had on her. Dru was losing interest and attention was quickly turned elsewhere.

"I was wondering, Diana... have you ever tried explaining to anyone your ‘origins‘? I'm sure people you are close to wonder about your past... where you came from and all that. How do you answer them when they ask?"

Diana thought about the day she had left for Paradise Island and Brett's question about whether she was going home. She had not handled that situation well at all and she still felt badly about walking away like she had.

"Well, that's something I continue to have a problem with. I work with a man named Brett Cassidy and he too has a secret. He was injected with a drug that has made him indestructible. He has no need for sleep or food and it is impossible to kill him. I feel a very close bond to Brett because in man's world he is my only equal in terms of power, as far as I know. The only problem is that I know his secret; in fact, I'm the only one besides the doctor responsible that does. But I've yet to feel comfortable enough to share mine. I don't know why... I even think he suspects that there is something different about me. He looks at me strangely sometimes and he asks all kinds of questions. But..."

"You have feelings for this man, don't you?" Drusilla asked intuitively.

"In a way. But how could I know for sure; I've only felt this way about one other man. When Steve married last year, that was that. And... I don't know... I was left with this void inside. I felt rejected when I knew from the start that I hadn't a chance with the circumstances as they were. But now... here's a man that I should be able to trust, who would actually understand... and I can't."

Drusilla laid her hand on Diana's in an empathetic gesture, even though she had no idea what her sister was feeling. It occurred to her that she actually felt envious of the emotions surging through Diana that she herself might never have the opportunity to experience.

"It would be so easy to walk away, Dru. It would. You just don't know how very hard it is sometimes. But there is still so much to experience and to see... And the feelings I have I want to be able to explore."

Again Diana felt the need for a change of subject.

"Why don't we go see what we can find to eat? I‘m starving!"

As they walked along, Drusilla thought of something else.

"Diana, are women still wearing those sweaters and full skirts? What were they called again?"

Diana laughed and resumed her narration of the differences between the 40's and the 80's.

The Princess had now been home on Paradise Island for over a week and she was well aware that the time had arrived for her and the Queen to speak again concerning the matter of her return to the States.

When Diana awoke that morning she decided that she would go for an early walk and clear her head before going to see her mother. Maybe there was some other approach that she could take to help convince the Queen of the necessity of not only returning, but doing so once again as Wonder Woman.

The day was already very warm and Diana paused under the shade of the same tree she had hidden behind on her first day back. Looking over the expanse of water before her she felt the calming effect that being here on the island had always had upon her. And with all that had gone on since her arrival, it was much needed. If only the cool breezes that swept by her now could take away the events of the past days. And with that thought she wondered if she meant even erasing the fact that she had come to begin with.

No, she couldn't go that far. This was all apart of who she was and she never wanted to lose it. This experience would just make her stronger, she decided. After all, Hera had her reasons for allowing things to happen...

Maybe this was a test.

She walked on further, finally reaching the spot she had landed the invisible jet. She stopped dead in her tracks. It was not there!

Diana looked around her as if searching for some reason why it would possibly be elsewhere.

Why would it be moved and where? This spot was used because it offered the only clearing on the entire island large enough to land and take off from.

Was this her mother's doing? Had she been afraid that Diana might try and take off? No, the Queen must know that she would never do anything like that. But there was no other explanation.

Diana hurried back to the palace. Ona informed her that the Queen was in her chambers.

Without knocking, she went in to find her mother sitting on the edge of her bed looking out her window. Her back was to Diana and she didn't turn to see who had just entered.

When she spoke it was hardly audible.

"I suppose you know that your sister has left?" the Queen asked sadly.

Diana was shocked.

"Drusilla has left?" she asked.

Her mother spun around to look at Diana, her statement surprised and confused.

"Diana, I thought it was you... I thought you had left. When I felt the invisible plane leave the island, I assumed that you had decided to go back. Drusilla? Why would she leave? Where is Ona? Tell her I wish to see her."

The Queen slumped back onto the pillows on her bed. When Diana and Ona returned, she looked deathly sick.

"Mother, are you alright? Should we send for... ?"

Ignoring her daughter's questions, she looked at Ona and spoke over Diana.

"Ona, have you seen Drusilla this morning?"

"No, my Queen. I haven't seen her since yesterday evening. Why?" She looked hopefully to Diana.

Diana answered, " Drusilla might have taken off with the invisible jet. We are not sure."

Ona was obviously shocked by this news. "Why would she do such a thing?"

Taking a moment to think, Ona continued: "But since the plane is missing, she is the logical suspect. She is the only other Amazon to have ever used it."

What Ona said made sense and it was the very thing that made Diana suspect that it was Drusilla. It was clear though that Queen Hippolyte was having a hard time accepting the possibility.

She said, "I don't understand. Why would Drusilla leave?"

And something clicked in Diana's mind. She remembered what Drusilla had said about there having to be a way for Diana to return as Wonder Woman. Diana hadn't understood what she had meant. And the look on her face when she had said it had made Diana uneasy at the time. Could Dru have done this for her sake, knowing that the Queen would more than likely send Diana to look for her as Wonder Woman?

With much effort, the Queen stood. Her face was drawn and worried.

"We need to make a thorough search of the island. Ask around among the others as to the last time she was seen. There is the possibility she is still here and there is some other explanation, but... I have a very bad feeling, Diana..."

Her words were like a plea. She reached out for Diana's hand and at the same time her emotional support.

All Diana could say was, "Don't worry, mother. We'll find her."

Hours passed and darkness fell no doubt making the search harder. Diana remained at the Queen's side and they both waited in silence for news of some kind. Neither had noticed that the room had been completely swallowed in shadow.

Diana's hand was resting on her mother's arm when all of a sudden the Queen flinched.

Diana jumped up. "Mother, what is it?"

She couldn't see her face, but heard her softly say, "The plane has returned..."

It wasn't very long afterward that the door opened, flooding the room with light. Ona stood in the doorway, her statement not very encouraging.

"As you are probably well aware, my Queen, the invisible jet has returned to the island, but..."

Diana already knew the rest.

"Drusilla is still nowhere to be found."

Dale checked to see if Brett Cassidy was in his office. He had some reports that were due supposedly by the end of the day, but Dale didn't know if he'd been able to finish them or not. At lunch, Brett's assistant went home sick, so he was probably a little behind. Dale found him sitting behind his desk furiously writing.

"Hey Brett, you got those reports for me? I was getting ready to take off for the day and I was going to drop them with my secretary so we can go over them first thing tomorrow."

Brett looked over at the digital clock on the wall and whistled.

"I didn't realize it was so late. I guess you know Joan went home early. Thinks she's coming down with the flu, so..." he rummaged through a stack of manila folders to his right.

"I'm a little behind, but, yeah... here they go. Joan managed to get two completed by the time she left and I finished the last about an hour ago. Take particular notice of the results for the Simpson case. I think we got our man."

His enthusiasm for his job was always present and Dale like that. He must thank Diana again for recommending him. It's hard to find guys like him anymore that sincerely enjoy their work. Speaking of Diana...

"Um, have you heard from Diana by any chance? She's been gone for over a week and I haven't heard anything from her. She usually checks in to see what's going on. Where'd she go anyway, did she tell you?" Dale asked.

"Well, I take that to mean that she didn't tell you either... she was very evasive with me when I asked her and then kind of brushed me off, which isn't like her. Why is she so secretive about herself? I know nothing about her family, where's she's from, nothing..." Brett said.

Dale laughed. "Well, how do you think I feel having worked with her as long as I have. I've always felt that she was hiding something. Maybe she's had a bad past and wants to totally forget about it. Who knows?"

Well, is there anything in her personal file... I mean, other than the little we know?" Brett was bursting with curiosity.

"Her personal records, of course, are confidential. I have seen them. But being that I wasn't the one who hired her, I didn't have the opportunity to go over her information with a fine-toothed comb!"

They looked at each other in a conspiring manner.

"We shouldn't..." Dale finally said.

Brett exclaimed, "That's what I thought you'd say!"

But watching Dale as he walked away, Brett decided he wasn't satisfied leaving it at that...

It was sometime after eight and Brett was still at his desk. He was staring blankly at a slim folder on his desk with the name Diana Prince typed on the tab. He desperately wanted to open it but couldn't bring himself to.

It was bad enough that he had taken the file to begin with, knowing how much trouble he could get into. But now he faced another moral decision. Should he poke his nose into another's private business just for the sake of pacifying his own curiosity? Looking at an agent's confidential file was wrong, and when that agent was a friend it made the situation even worse.

Brett realized that even this file might not tell him much; just the basics. Most everything would be on file in the computer system now and without the right credentials he would never be able to access what was there.

He had just barely grabbed her file from personnel and exited the room when someone had come around the corner. Brett was sure the guilty look on his face would have tipped the person off that he was up to something, but the person had continued on their way, barely even looking at him.

It was a big risk, but something had driven him to do it. And now...

He didn't know if he could.

For some time now he had felt this unmistakable... how could he describe it? ‘Link‘, he guessed would be an appropriate word. There was just something about Diana Prince that so intriguing. And the fact that she was so evasive about herself and her past made her even more so. And so he had reasoned that he would take a quick look at the file and try to find out what he could and then return it as soon as possible and before anyone could know.

There were several ways he could justify what he was about to do...

Even though she had been warned, Drusilla was still surprised at just how different things in America were.

Expecting the same reactions she had received on her first visits, she looked from face to face as she passed people on the street. It was odd! No one even seemed to notice her.

It didn't take her very long to guess why. The more she saw, the more evident it was that it would be impossible to stand out in such a group!

Gone were the ‘proper looking' middle-aged women in their modest and very plain dresses and there was hardly a man to be seen wearing a suit and tie. Instead, there seemed to be a lot ‘flashy' looking fabrics, dark sunglasses and trousers that appeared to be too tight and very uncomfortably cut.

Instead of everyone looking at Dru, she found herself staring at them!

Who could she ask for help? She attempted several times to stop someone, but everyone just brushed past without even looking up to see what she wanted. She glanced around... Everyone looked as though they were in a hurry to get somewhere. But where, Drusilla wondered?

It wasn't until she stopped to ponder this that people started to notice her.

"Hey, go daydream somewhere else, why don'tcha?" one guy carrying a skateboard growled almost plowing into her.

Another man used some words she was not familiar with, but before she could inquire as to what he had said, he had pushed on through the crowd.

A little unnerved by all of this, Drusilla decided to find somewhere to take refuge. The first place she saw reminded her a little of what everyone had called a "soda shop" and eagerly entered. The inside though was not as lively as she remembered. There was no music playing from a strange looking contraption in the corner and there were no "teenagers", as Diana had called them. The entire place looked very dark and dingy and Dru doubted that she would have eaten in such a place if it were the only source of food left on earth.

The older woman behind the counter wore a smirk and was the first to look at Drusilla as if she recognized she wasn't from around there. She seemed especially interested in the fact that Dru wore no shoes.

"I'm sorry, miss, but didn't you see the sign on the door? No shoes, no shirt, no service. No exceptions."

Turning and reading the sign backwards from the other side, it read just as the woman had said. She had added the ‘no exceptions' part herself obviously.

Drusilla said very tentatively, "I'm just looking for some help."

Hearing this, several couples turned to examine the young woman in the negligee-looking dress and curls pulled away from her face with bunches of small flowers.

The waitress continued to glare, but her tone softened a little as she said, "What kinda help you need?"

"Well, I'm new here. In fact, I have never visited Los Angeles before. But, but my sister lives here... I just don't know where exactly."

Dru's independent nature made the situation almost intolerable and started to turn and leave when the woman produced a thick paperback book from behind the counter and pushed it toward her.

"Phone book is always a good place to start. Just look up the name and usually the address is listed beside it. Or you could just call her. You say she's your sister?" she asked skeptically.

Flipping through the book, Drusilla absently answered, "Uh, yes. Her name's Diana..."

The book was filled with endless columns of names and numbers that apparently were grouped according to the English alphabet. She scanned the pages until she came to the D's. She looked up when she realized the woman was laughing at her.

"Hon, unless her last name is Diana, you won't find her there!" She continued chuckling and took the book back.

"I'll help you. What's her last name?"

"Prince, Diana Prince."

"Okay, so we'll go to the P's... here we go. Diana Prince. 409 S. Vine... will you know how to get there?"

Drusilla's blank look was answer enough.

The waitress smiled and extended her hand. "My name is Pat. If you can wait awhile I can drop you by there myself. I have to pick up my grandson from daycare and it's close to where your sister lives."

"I can wait. Thank you."

Pat looked down again at her bare feet and started to say something but didn't. Instead she made Dru a glass of iced tea. She said it was 'on the house', although Drusilla had no idea what that meant.

Pat went to check on her tables and Dru sipped her tea, continuing to observe her surroundings with much interest.

"You didn‘t give get a very good view, did you?" Dale asked as he walked over to the window in Brett's office and looked out over the roof of the adjacent building.

Brett looked up from his paperwork, just now noticing that Dale had entered the room. He got so preoccupied with his own thoughts and activities sometimes, that he could completely zone out his surroundings.

"Not really. It would be a distraction anyway and I think that was the point! If you notice, all the various research and lab departments face this way."

"Hmm." Dale's mind was elsewhere. He stood with arms folded, leaning against the window casing and stared out at nothing in particular.

"I hate to intrude on your thoughts, but is there something I can help you with?" Brett offered.

"No, I was just thinking about our conversation the other day about Diana. This morning I checked her file, the one on the computer and it's the strangest thing..."

Brett stood up and walked over to face him, trying to read his statement. It was obvious whatever Dale had found was seriously bothering him.

"And you found something?"

"Well, that's the problem... I didn't find anything! Her basic file came up, of course. That's the information that's more than likely on file down the hall. Born 1952, but with no month and day supplied. Graduated from the University of California but there are no records. Seems they were damaged. And for three years prior to taking her assignment in D.C. she was apart of the IADC oversees division. The IRAC mainframe shows that there was never any other information given or obtained and that includes recommendations. I noticed the date all of this was put into the computer. It was May 12, 1977."

Brett frowned. "Is that date significant?"

"I'd say so. She started working for Washington technically on the 10th, same month and year!"

Dale turned to Brett to catch his reaction. Instantly, he knew that Brett was missing the full import of what he was telling him.

"Brett, what I'm saying is, she should have had a file on her already from working oversees... an extensive file, including background checks and the whole nine yards. Everyone employed by the government naturally has one. But why is it that no file existed on Diana Prince until a couple of days after she came to work in Washington? How can that be?"

"Why wouldn't this have come up before now? You know, like when she transferred from Washington to here. Wouldn't her file have been viewed then?" Brett questioned.

Dale looked away realizing that he would have been the one responsible for doing that. As he had told Brett before, he had seen her file on paper. But he had not paid too much attention to anything other than her picture, if truth were told. For some reason he had assumed that Agent Prince, when he heard the name, was male. Needless to say, a very embarrassing first meeting with Diana Prince had ensued. He hadn't even bothered to check the first name. When he finally looked at the file later on that day he recalled comparing the woman in the picture with her hair pulled back and hidden behind large glasses to the one he had just met. Deciding he liked her better without glasses, his attention was diverted to more pressing matters. And that had been that.

Now several years later, he was worried that his oversight could cause him some serious problems if this matter was pursued.

Dale emerged from his own thoughts.

"I'm afraid I would be held responsible for that."

Brett walked over to the brown leather loveseat that sat opposite his desk and slumped into it. Staring at the floor he began his own confession.

"I feel I should let you know something myself. I attempted my own check of Diana's file..."

Brett hadn't expected, what could only be described as a total lack of surprise on Dale‘s part. His superior didn't flinch, but said thoughtfully:

"Yes, I thought you would. And I'm going to venture that you also put it back without opening it. Didn't you?"

In wide-eyed amazement, Brett stuttered, "H-how do you know that?"

Dale laughed.

"It's not in your character, my boy. I pride myself on being able to size up people pretty well. You are a decent person and an even better friend. You wouldn't ever invade another's privacy in such a way. And neither would I normally. That is, if the situation was different. It's just that in this case, my abilities seemed to have failed me in regards to Diana..."

"What are you going to do about it?"

Dale shot Brett a strange look. Lowering his voice he said:

"Well, first of all, this conversation goes no further than this room for the time being. I‘ve got a phone call to make..."

Dale turned and exited Brett's office and the discussion came to a very abrupt end.

Brett wondered to whom the call was being made...

Diana never breathed a word to her mother of her suspicions concerning the reason Drusilla might have taken off. She felt that if Drusilla wanted to explain herself when this was all over, then she could. Maybe it would afford Dru the opportunity to open up about her feelings and share a little with their mother the things she has been dealing with lately. With all the other things going on right now, Diana definitely didn't want that burden as well.

As she was preparing to leave she mentally reminded herself to check in with Dale just as soon as she landed. She had not been gone quite as long as he was expecting, so she felt justified in taking a few more ‘personal days' to sort this business out.

Diana suddenly froze where she stood realizing how quickly her whole frame of mind had switched gears, so to speak. Just yesterday, she was dreading having to go before the Queen to plead her case and now... Suddenly things had happened that were beyond both her and her mother's control, leaving her with no choice than to return. And already she was concerning herself with checking in at the office and explaining things... She sighed, not sure whether to be happy and relieved this had happened or disappointed that she hadn't won the argument on her own merit.

Queen Hippolyte had been very quick to agree with Ona that it was probably best to send Diana to look for Drusilla. After all, who had better knowledge of the outside world than she did? But she understood the Queen was just anxious that her younger and less experienced daughter be found and this in no way changed her feelings about Diana returning to man's world for good.

What could Dru have been thinking? If this had been done for her sake, she would certainly be appreciative of the self-sacrificing gesture. But at the same time, she couldn't help feel a little angry with her sister for attempting something so dangerous. There were too many things that could happen... She didn't want to think about all the things that could happen.

More than likely, Dru would have gone to LA and hopefully would be able to locate Diana's house. Maybe she would be able to get in somehow like she had before and would have the good sense to stay put until Diana could get there. Diana recalled how desperately worried she had been when Dru had gone missing when General Blankenship had been kidnapped.

The world was a very different place now.

Of course, that was something she would also not mention to the Queen.

Diana looked around her and smiled, her eyes falling here and there over familiar objects and treasures. But the smile quickly faded when suddenly they didn't seem so familiar at all. It was almost as if she were looking at items that were never really hers, but belonged to someone else. Someone whom she had been watching for many years now as one would watch an actor in a movie. It was a strange feeling and Diana was overcome by a surge of emotion. She knew for a certainty that she could not go through again, what she had over this past week. And that could only mean one thing...

Princess Diana walked to the center of the room and gracefully extended her arms. She turned slightly counter-clockwise and then back again and the room became engulfed in a blinding explosion around her.

Wonder Woman checked her belt and tiara, took one last look around the room and went to say her goodbyes...

"I guess I knew that I couldn't very well keep you here against your wishes, daughter. You may even see your sister's foolishness as an act of providence. Nevertheless, my hand has been forced yet again and I have to face the fact that this might be the last time I lay eyes on you. But there are some things I would like you to know before you leave, things that have gone unsaid over this very..." she searched for the proper words.

"...strained week. Your sister intimated the details of your conversation a couple of days ago and she confessed to me how she felt. Not only about her own situation but also how she felt about yours. She genuinely feels that your place is in the United States and if that meant her having to accept the responsibilities intended for you, she would gladly do so. But I was very unyielding, I'm afraid and I think that might be the reason she has done what she has. Or maybe this is her one last act as a child before she accepts her womanhood completely. I do not know. But this I do know, Diana..."

Queen Hippolyte's voice quivered.

"I am very proud of you. And while I may not fully understand the attraction you have to that other world, I am willing to try to understand your motives. Most importantly I would never want you to feel that could not come home. I was very wrong to have issued such an ultimatum."

Diana's eyes moistened and she once again discovered the depth of her mother's love and compassion.

When Dale had returned to his own office and shut the door softly behind him, he stood for several minutes with his hand still on the knob staring at the telephone on his desk. He wasn't sure if making this call was the right thing to do. After all, if he didn't receive the answer he was looking for, there could be some serious consequences in store.

He really didn't know what else to do. All investigations so far had hit a brick wall and so there remained only one other way he could think of to retrieve the information he needed.

Ronald Hathaway recently retired as the Senior Director of the oversees division of the IADC. Dale had met Ron sixteen years ago at an anniversary party thrown for Senator Conger and his wife, Ingrid. They had formed an instant friendship and over the years had stayed in contact rather well, making visits here and there to one another's homes. Mostly their contact was through telephone calls. But lately, the correspondence had slacked off and Dale suddenly realized that it had been almost eight months since he had last spoken to either Ron or Sarah, his wife. That was when Dale had let them know that he would be unable to make the retirement party being thrown for Ron in London.

If anyone could help him, Dale decided, it was Ron. And he knew he could trust him to do it in a discreet manner.

Glancing over at the clock to make sure it was a convenient time, Dale sighed heavily and placed his call to London.

A small, meek voice answered after several rings.

"Hello, Sarah! It's Dale... how are you?"

"Oh, it's so lovely to hear from you!"

Dale heard Ron's voice in the background inquiring as to who the call was from and Sarah called back that it was Dale.

Dale grinned when he heard Ron yell, "It's about time that old dog called. It was his turn, you know?"

"Oh, don't mind him! He's been ornery as the Devil himself, since his hip replacement", Sarah said.

Dale felt bad. He hadn't known he'd had surgery.

"When did this happen?" Dale asked.

"Well, let's see... it's been almost three months ago. Oh, he's doing fine now. There's just a lot of discomfort still for him and it's slowed him down a little. Well, you were aware of the problems he had been having with his right hip. His doctor had been after him for a long time to go ahead with the surgery, but you know how stubborn Ron can be!"

Dale laughed. "Yes, I certainly do!"

"Well, I'm just running on and on. I'm going to let you talk to him yourself. See if you can't get him to cheer up a bit- he's been such a grouch here lately!"

"I'll try", he promised.

Dale heard a brief and muffled interchange between the two before the phone was passed over. No doubt, Ron was scolding his wife for what she had just said!

"Hey, you ol' dog! What have you been up to? You've managed to miss all the excitement around here the past couple of months!"

"I am really sorry I haven't called before now. I had no idea you had the hip surgery..." Dale apologized.

"Yeah well, it's not as big a deal as some would make it out to be... And in case you didn't catch on, that was directed to little Sarah "Nightingale" over there! But, I completely understand. Remember, I have been where you are. The job is sometimes all consuming and leaves you very little room for a personal life. That was always Sarah's biggest complaint. ‘We never do anything socially other than things somehow tied to your work.‘" He tried to mimic his wife's voice.

He continued: "So, there is no need to apologize. It's not like we exactly called you either to let you know. So, what's going on at the IADC these days?"

"Oh, not too much other than the usual. I have run into a very perplexing situation, though, that I thought I'd run by you. Maybe, get your opinion and even your help, if it were possible..."

"Alright, I'm listening..." He heard Ron take on his "all business" tone.

"It concerns one of our agents. A Diana Prince. I don't think you've had the pleasure of meeting her. I think sometimes she should be running the show, that's how good she is. Very intelligent and very... well, attractive."

Dale wasn't sure why he had added the latter description. He hoped that it didn't make him a sexist pig, the fact that he always thought of that first in regards to Diana.

"Oh, you didn't mention this was a personal problem..."

Dale instantly knew what his friend was thinking and quickly defended himself.

"No, no... it's nothing like that. I have come to grips with the fact that I am a permanent bachelor! No, it has to do with her file... her background or lack thereof."

Ron replied: "I don't understand. Her background? Her file? What about them?"

Dale searched for the right place to start the story and decided it was best to go back to the beginning and recount how Diana had come to work under him in Los Angeles. When he had finished, he heard what sounded like heavy, ponderous breathing on the other end.

"So, has anything happened that has prompted you to start an investigation now? Any unprofessional or suspicious behavior on her part?"

"No, none at all. That's why I'm in such a spot. I feel there has to be some logical explanation why there is nothing there in her file. But at the same time I am afraid that what I find might not be so logical after all. What if this becomes a matter involving breach of security. Her job, my job and the jobs of several others are in danger. All over something that could have been left alone to begin with. I have no reason whatsoever based on her performance as an employee to pursue this. Up until now it has only been a matter of my own curiosity. You understand where I am coming from?"

"Yes, completely. What would you like me to do?"

Dale had always appreciated the way his friend always got the point.

"Her file says she worked in the oversees division three years prior to coming to Washington. Obviously, by your response to this whole thing, you have never heard of her?"

Ron pondered the question before he answered.

"Well, no, but that could be for several reasons... One, just because it says oversees division doesn't mean she was assigned here naturally. And two, it would depend upon her level and rank at the time. I think it's safe to assume that she was promoted at some point since leaving ‘oversees‘, right? What I'll do is make a couple of calls myself first thing tomorrow and ask around. Give me a week to pursue this to the limit and I'll let you know what I am able to find out, okay? Just sit tight until you hear from me. Does anyone else know of this so far?"

"Just one other person whose curiosity was getting the better of him, too." Dale replied.

"Well, keep it that way and make sure you have an understanding with this other chap..."

"Will do and thanks, Ron. As always, I owe you."

"You don't owe me anything... but a phone call every now and again! And it wouldn‘t hurt to actually see you again before my wife kills me!"

When Dale hung up, he had to admit that he felt much better. But still, there was a nagging doubt in the back of his mind that this had the potential of being a situation that could blow up in his face...

Diana nervously fumbled with her keys until she found the right one. Her heart had been pounding since leaving Paradise Island and she hoped that when she opened this door that Drusilla would be on the other side waiting for her.

She had too much on her mind and felt her head was going to explode if one more thought or anxiety were to trespass.

The door unlocked and she pushed it to. Stepping inside, she dropped her things over to the side quietly as she listened for some indication she wasn't alone in the house. She heard not a sound, but nevertheless went from room to room searching.

Nothing at all appeared out of place. And her heart sank into her stomach upon finding the kitchen spotless. If there had been one tell-tale sign, it would have been here, she thought recalling how she had found her kitchen the first time Dru had popped in unexpectedly.

The bedrooms she found to be the same. None of the beds looked slept in and there were no clothes left out and scattered about.

Diana was very worried now. Where could she be? Was she not able to find the house? Had something happened to her before she could find it? There were a million such questions racing to be answered first.

She heard a soft thud from the other room. Was that the front door closing, she thought? She ran to the foyer to find Drusilla reaching for a hanger in the hall closet to hang up one of Diana's jackets.

Nonchalantly, Drusilla turned to her sister and smiled.

"It's about time you made it home!"

Diana's blood was boiling at her sister's lack of consideration. She was unable to speak she was so upset.

Drusilla noted her sister's state of agitation and quickly began doing damage control. But before she could get too far, Diana found her voice.

"Drusilla, if I were not so relieved to find you alive and safe, I would certainly kill you myself! You have shown a total lack of respect and consideration for not only me but also your mother. I cannot believe you have been so immature..."

Drusilla was stunned to be receiving such a tongue lashing as this from her older sister.

"But, Diana..."

Diana was determined not to allow her any slack. "How could you do this to your family? Mother has been worried sick as have I and you... you walk in acting like nothing at all is wrong."

Diana paused to take a breath and suddenly didn't have the heart or energy to pursue it further. Instead she took a couple of steps backwards and collapsed into an oversized chair, eyeing her sister in a disapproving manner.

Drusilla didn't dare attempt an explanation, fearing that Diana would explode again. But she found she didn't have to.

"Dru, it can't go without saying that what you have done is very inconsiderate... but at the same time, I know why you did it and I am very grateful. Mother even suspected that her own stubbornness was what led you to do what you have. But I wish you would have talked to me first."

"I know. But there just didn't seem to be any other way. I talked with mother and she just wouldn't give in. I didn't mean to cause you any more problems or worries, I... just wanted you to be happy and where you truly belong. I'm sorry. I guess I am just as impulsive as I've always been. But I have been trying to work on it. Really!"

Diana couldn't help but laugh at Dru's contrite defense.

"Come over here!" Diana exclaimed.

Drusilla went over and sat on the arm of the chair.

"Do you think it would be alright for me to stay for awhile, since I am already here?"

Diana cut her eyes at her sister.

"What?" she cried and then sighed deeply.

"Well, I don't see why not. But I believe it will be up to mother to decide. Right after I make a quick phone call, I'll contact her and see. Alright?"

"Thanks, Diana."

Diana went to the kitchen and grabbed the phone. While dialing the familiar number, she wondered what she had missed while she was away...

"Dale, it's Diana. I just wanted to let you know that I am back in Los Angeles..."

Diana instantly got the impression something was wrong. Dale really didn't sound like himself. He seemed reserved and had answered very brusquely.

"Is everything alright?"

"Uh, everything's fine, Diana. When can we expect you back at the office?"

"Well, that's the real reason for my calling. I have some personal business to attend to so I'm going to take a few more days, if that is alright."

"That would probably be for the best. I mean..."

"‘For the best'?"

Although Dale tried to explain away his remark as referring to something other than what he intended, Diana was now certain there was something up and he obviously was not going to tell her what it was.

"Okay then... I guess I'll see you in a couple of days?" Diana said.

"Fine. Good-bye." And there was a click.

Diana stared at the phone in her hand.

"What was that all about?" she mumbled out loud.

Drusilla, who had come up behind her inquired as to what was wrong.

"I don't know exactly. That was my boss, Mr. Hawthorn. He acted very strange and when I asked him about taking a few more days, he said that it would probably be for the best... It was almost like he had caught himself saying more than he should have and then tried to give me a ridiculous excuse for why he said it."

She shook her head slowly. Maybe she should go on in anyway to see what was going on...

Brett arrived at the IADC half an hour earlier than usual so that he could meet with Dale. Having a dental appointment yesterday, Brett had taken off early and had misses Dale's call at his desk asking to see him. They had finally gotten up with each other late last night by phone and had arranged to talk this morning. Dale's manner had been blatantly urgent and Brett wondered if something new had surfaced since they last parted company.

Brett couldn't place his finger on the exact moment he had decided that he was going to warn Diana of what was going on. Was it when, wracked with guilt, he had replaced her file without looking at its contents? Or had it been sometime this morning around two, as he lay wide-awake in bed, unable to sleep? He didn't know.

All he did know though, was that he could not allow Diana to walk into all of this unawares. He owed her that much.

The meeting had been arranged to take place in Dale's office and Brett was surprised to discover he was not there. He checked his watched with the clock hanging on the wall and frowned.

My watch is right, he thought to himself.

He decided he would go check his messages and come back. As he was turning the corner he heard a loud banging and then mumbled swearing coming from the little room that was used as a snack area. It had a couple of tables and chairs and a soda and candy machine.

The person making all the noise turned out to be Dale.

"Dale, what are you trying to do? Beat the poor machine to death?"

"Can you believe it? This is the third time this week this damn machine has taken my money..." he blasted at Brett as he continued to pound the vending machine.

Brett forcefully took Dale by the arm as lowered him into one of the small folding chairs. Reaching into his pocket, he found thirty-five cents and deposited it into the slot. Turning to his boss inquiringly, he asked:

"Tab, like usual?"

Somewhat embarrassed by his little tirade, Dale simply shook his head to the affirmative and swore again under his breath upon hearing the thud made by the can falling into the bin.

Dale accepted the drink gratefully and shook his head slowly.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. All this stuff going on has got my nerves on edge. Look at me... I was beating up a vending machine, for crying out loud!"

Brett didn't find it hard to sympathize. He honestly knew exactly how Dale felt.

"Why don't we go back to your office?" he suggested.

When they both were seated in the privacy of Dale's office, Brett asked him about the results of the phone call he had made.

"There isn't too much to tell, really..." Dale began. "My friend, who just retired as director of oversees, has never heard of her but said that didn't mean anything. He agreed to help out by asking around and said he would get back to me within a week."

"And until then?"

Dale stood up and took another swallow of his Tab. "Until then we keep this to ourselves and I have to figure out a way to make sure Diana stays away from the office. I don't want things to get personal, you know?"

Brett nodded.

"She called yesterday to tell me that she was back, but that she needed some more time to sort some things out... some personal matters. I assured her that was fine but I don't think that I did a very good job of acting as if nothing was wrong. In fact, I know she suspected something was up. Therefore my anxiety over making sure she stays away. Things could get messy... especially when she finds her security clearance has been temporarily suspended."

"What?" Brett cried incredulously.

Defensively, Dale countered: "What was I supposed to do? This is a serious matter, Brett. One that cannot be taken lightly. I had to..."

Dale sat on the edge of his desk and watched as Brett digested his latest revelation.

"Okay, okay, if we are talking about it being in the best interests of the IADC... I agree. But Dale, this is Diana we're talking about. I mean, my god, she's excellent at what she does. She's the best agent the IADC's got!"

"I know and she has never in any way abused her position or acted even mildly suspicious... well, other than her strange way of disappearing at the most awkward moments. But even then, she always has a good explanation for it."

"Well, what do you need me to do? I mean, I‘m not sure what I could do." Brett offered and then added lightly: "Where's Wonder Woman when you need her?"

Brett felt like a heel asking to be of help to his boss when he fully intended to speak to Diana about all this the first chance he got. He looked up to find Dale staring at him strangely.

"What did you just say?"

Bewildered by his question and change in manner, Brett mentally went over what he had just said and then repeated out loud to Dale his offer of assistance.

Dale impatiently shook his head.

"No, the other part... about Wonder Woman."

"Um...I asked, 'where is Wonder Woman when you need her'. Why? Are you alright? You have the strangest look on your face."

Brett watched as Dale's face continued to drain of its color.

"It, it's nothing..."

Having smoothed over everything with their mother, Diana informed Drusilla the next morning that it was alright for her to stay for a couple of days, but on one condition. She had to stay out of trouble.

Drusilla's history of getting into unusual scrapes was mounting and got worse with each visit. Diana was determined to see to it that for the rest of this particular visit there would be no more problems.

The pair chatted casually for some time over breakfast and decided that they would spend the day sightseeing. There were so many places Diana wanted Drusilla to see but knew that there were not enough hours in the day to cover them all. So she made a short list of the most interesting spots and they set out.

"I'm going to swing by the office first. Would you like to see where I work?"

"Alright... but will I get to meet any spies, Diana?"

"Well, you might get to meet my boss, Mr. Hawthorne..."

Crestfallen, Drusilla went back to playing with the radio knobs.

Within fifteen minutes, they were pulling into the parking lot of the IADC.

"This is it. Pretty impressive building, don't you think?" asked Diana.

Dru whistled. "Well, it doesn't compare in beauty with some we have on Paradise Island, but it sure is big! Do they keep the bad guys here, too? You know, when you catch them, are they brought here?"

"Not quite. That's what prison is for. This building holds twenty-six different departments of the Inter-Agency Defense Command for this area. Remember I told you that I also worked at the IADC on the East Coast in Washington D.C.? Having offices on each coast helps in broadening our efficiency as a federal agency. This particular branch has over a thousand agents and other employees and we are linked from here to Washington and also to other oversees divisions, such as in London and Hong Kong. It is done through a computer system we call IRAC, or "Information Retrireview Associative Computer". It holds the personnel files of the five major federal departments and also stores valuable information that is sometimes helpful in apprehending criminals."

"Can I see this computer?"

Diana thought for a moment and then smiled. "I don't see why not!"

After a brief tour of the different offices, Dru was dying to see this computer system that Diana kept talking about. So they made their way to the main computer room where IRAC was kept.

Taking her security pass from the lapel of her jacket, Diana swiped it through the scanner and waited.

The light remained red.

"Well, that's funny..." Diana said under her breath.

"What's wrong? What is that anyway?" Drusilla inquired, peering over Diana's shoulder as she attempted to swipe the card again.

Distracted, Diana replied, "It's... it's a security measure. Each agent has a certain level of clearance that is programmed into a card like this one. Depending on the agent or employee, it allows them access to different parts of the building. To gain admittance to this room and the IRAC computer requires having the highest level. And this card should work..."

Her mind went immediately to the phone conversation she had with Dale yesterday. He had acted so funny. But why? A sudden nervous tension swept over her as she wondered if the one could have anything to do with the other.

She decided there was only one way to find out...

"Dru, I need to go see to this. There must be something wrong with my card. Why don't you take this change here..." she dug into her purse for her wallet and extracted thirty-five cents, "and get yourself a soda from the machine around the corner. First door to the right. Just put the coins in the slot... oh, you'll figure it out!"

Diana walked hurriedly in the opposite direction taking the elevator to the next floor. When the elevators slid soundlessly opened she cautiously looked from left to right to see if there was anyone about or manning the reception desk.

Good, she thought. No one's here and Teresa must be on her break.

She slipped past the reception desk to the right where she paused at a door that was slightly ajar. Diana strained to hear the voice she heard coming from the room.

"You said a week- it's only been a couple of days, Ron. You work fast, let me tell you!" There was a short, nervous laugh and then the person continued, lowering their voice slightly:

"What were you able to find out? Did anything unusual..."

Diana gingerly pushed the door open a few inches more so that she could observe the person on the phone and at the same time be able to hear a little better.

"What? Disappeared 1945... War Department... and no records were left?" Pause. He began jotting the information down. "Who did she work under at the War Department? Blankenship... and assigned to the desk of Major Steve..."

The long pause that followed put a lump in Diana's throat as she realized what Dale was being told at that very moment.

In quick succession, events played out in her mind...

The news would at first confound her superior. He would conclude that there was some mistake. But it would nag at him until he persisted in having all of his questions answered. He would wonder at the coincidence of two different women living in two different time periods and both working for a father and then his son years later. With each arrival of Diana Prince, there was also the simultaneous appearance of Wonder Woman. The pair came on the scene in 1942 and vanished in 1945, subsequently reappearing in 1977.

Yes, given enough time, he would eventually put the pieces together and be led to the truth...

The truth of who she really is...

Diana did not notice, at first, the person that had approached her from behind until they very gently put their hand on her shoulder. She jumped and fell forward nearly jarring the door to Dale's office. She hit the doorjamb instead resulting in a soft thud.

Hearing sudden movement from inside, the person grabbed her arm and pulled her around a corner and out of sight. When Diana heard Dale's door close completely, she looked up into the face of Brett Cassiday.

"What are you doing?" she whispered irritably.

"Saving your butt, that's what! Come on..." he whispered back and motioned for her to follow him.

"Where are we going?"

Brett didn't respond but grabbed her hand and pulled her in the direction of her office. They somehow managed to pass no one on the way.

When they had reached the privacy of her office, Diana demanded to know what in the world he was doing.

"What is wrong with you?"

He ignored her question and instead started in with his own.

"What did you hear just now at Dale's door? And don't try and tell me nothing. You would not have been there, listening at his door if it hadn't been something concerning you. I am aware of the fact he has been looking into your records and trying to find out about your past..."

In complete shock, Diana stood there frozen. She didn't know where to begin. She was scared to speak, never having imagined herself in this kind of situation... trapped, as she was.

As he has just said, there was no way to explain her eavesdropping at Dale's door other than by telling the truth. But if Brett was aware of what Dale had been doing, then maybe he too, might already have ideas of his own.

Accepting that there was no way out, she asked simply: "How much do you know?"

"Well, for starters, I know you are not who you appear to be. You have a secret that you have gone to a lot of trouble to keep... including deceiving your friends."

Brett looked away and Diana felt guilt stab, without mercy, at her body.

"Brett, I'm sorry... I have to," Diana pleaded.

"You mean, that in spite of all that's going on you... you are at risk of losing everything, Diana. Your security clearance has already been suspended and depending on what Ronald Hathaway has told Dale just now, it could lead to a full-blown investigation. At that point you will have no choice but to divulge everything in a federal hearing. And believe me, Diana, you don't want that!"

"But, Brett, you don't know all that is involved. You wouldn't even be able to imagine! It has been the most difficult thing I have ever had to do to deceive everyone, to deceive you..." Her words trailed off. Even in her own ears, her words sounded lame and contrived.

Brett shook his head and walked toward her, grabbing her by the shoulders. His inner struggle was apparent as he found the right words to say:

"Look, it makes no difference to me to know what you are hiding. I will continue to stand by you no matter what. But, there is something inside that tells me that you are not purposely lying. It's ...just like the secret that I hide- I have to because no one would understand. Is that the way it is with you, Diana?"

He gently lifted her chin so that she was able to look him in the eyes.

Those eyes... those beautiful, clear blue eyes. He wiped away the single tear that she freely allowed to slide down her cheek. He could remember seeing only one other with eyes as transfixing.

And Diana saw the sudden comprehension in his eyes.

"You have sensed something all along, haven't you?" she asked almost to herself.

"Y-yes, I always felt this connection with you but I could never understand why. And I never would have believed..."

A nervous energy passed through him and without thinking, he brought her closer and placed his lips softly on hers.

Diana didn't resist but went limp in his embrace, for the first time surrendering herself to something that felt so completely human and natural. And when Diana finally opened her eyes when it was over, she actually felt relief that what she had just experience was not a dream.

She had just kissed a mortal man for the first time. But this was no ordinary mortal.

This man knew her secret...

Reality slowly crept in and threatened to destroy the perfect moment they had just now shared. Diana was the first to pull away.

She was completely drained and could do nothing but slump into the nearest chair, her hands covering her face as she sobbed. She felt Brett's hand grip her shoulder in an attempt to offer comfort. But there simply was no comfort to be had. What could be done now?

She realized, of course, that the magic lasso could be used to erase what Brett and Dale now knew. But the truth was bound to be discovered again as it had been so nearly in the past. And besides, she was sick of the deception. She was not sent into this world to lie. It was her mission to uncover truth, not hide it.

Sensing what Diana was pondering, Dale said quietly: "I can only imagine the position you are now in. My empathy naturally stops at a certain point, you know? Yes, I have certain strengths and abilities that only a couple of people know about, but you... you live the lives of two separate people and have had to cope with balancing the two for quite a long time. And one of those people has the weight of the world on her shoulders... literally."

Brett paused, took Diana's hands away from her face and crouched down so that they were at eye level with one another.

"Will you tell me? Can you tell me?" he whispered.

Through swollen eyes she looked at him helplessly. It was the first time Brett could ever remember seeing her look so vulnerable.

"Brett..." she started, trying to find a way to convince him that he should ask no more questions. Instead, like raging waters bursting forth from being dammed, the words came out uncontrollably. She could hear herself telling the story of how she came to be Wonder Woman as if she were a casual observer and hearing it herself for the first time.

Several times, Brett rose and paced back and forth. At one point, when she was explaining how she had worked with Steven Trevor during the second world war and then with his son at the IADC, he seemed overwhelmed. She wanted to stop, but couldn't...

When the words finally stopped coming, Diana was light-headed. She tried standing, but the room was spinning.

Brett just barely had time to catch her as she stumbled forward and passed out in his arms.

"Diana..."

He smiled to himself. It was usually he that gave into the exhaustion first!

Brett had been repeating her name for some time now, but Diana just continued sleeping.

"That must be one deep sleep you have fallen into!" he continued in hopes of rousing her.

He hated to disturb her after the all-nighter they had just pulled. A little while ago, though, she had started talking and thrashing about in her sleep as if she were having a nightmare.

"Diana?" he repeated. He laid his hand on her shoulder and her eyes snapped open.

Her reaction to finding Brett bending over her was totally unexpected. The look in her eyes was something resembling fear as she jerk away from his touch.

Brett didn't understand.

"Diana, it's okay. It's just me. You have been out for awhile now. I think you were having a nightmare or something. And it's no wonder with what we have been through today!" he said trying to calm her down, but she continued looking as though she were scared of him.

"What's the matter? You are acting very strange..."

"You know..." Her tone was guarded.

Perplexed, Brett asked: "Know? Know what?"

"Dale knows..."

"Diana, you obviously have had a really bad dream. What is it that we are supposed to know about?"

Diana looked around the room and for the first time realized she was in her own home. Her eyes fell on the stack of folders on the coffee table and she read the name Thomas Barker on the photocopied sheet that was on top.

The truth slowly sank in and Diana broke into an uncontrollable laughter. She couldn't help herself.

Brett didn't know what to think of her behavior, other than that the stress of the day was wearing hard on her mentally.

"Can I get you some water or something?"

She finally stopped laughing and patted her friend's hand.

"No, Brett. I just really should go back to sleep. You were right. I did have a really bad dream. In fact, I might even tell you about it one day."

And with that said, she reached over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Brett blushed.

"What was that for?"

"For being a good friend and for understanding."

Diana involuntarily smoothed her hair back and jumped up as Brett continued staring at her in disbelief.

"The rest of this paperwork can wait until the morning. You want to crash here on the couch? It is really late and if you didn‘t feel like crossing town, I wouldn‘t mind at all."

"Uh..."

"Well, whatever you want to do... But if you leave, just make sure you lock the door, okay?

Brett slowly nodded yes and watched her leave the room acting as if nothing had happened.

Safely in her room and away from Brett's questioning eyes, Diana leaned against the door and sighed deeply.

What had just happened? The dream had been so real. So real that it was difficult to tell now between fact and fiction. The harder she tried, the more confused she became. Had she really gone home? Did Dale and Brett really suspect anything?

By the time she settled herself comfortably in bed, she was almost convinced that things were truly alright. It had just been a dream and her secret was still her own...

As she drifted off, very faintly she heard a familiar voice.