Homecoming (Complete)

Chapter Twenty-Six

One week after Kate and Maggie flew back to London, Alex was getting ready to head out for her nightly run around the city—she hadn't been able to completely stop her need to be continually moving—when there was a knock on her door. She figured it was Babs coming to check on her—Alex had been making an effort to stay in contact with her, but it had been sporadic at best, and she was having a hard time doing much more than the occasional conversation or meet-up, but Babs had been pretty understanding. It had been a couple days since they talked and Babs was probably a little bit worried.

"I'm sorry...," Alex started to apologize to Babs as she opened the door, and then froze.

"Alex?" Dinah was standing on the landing at the top of the stairs, and Diana was standing right behind her. "Oh my god," Dinah said as tears started rolling down her cheeks. "It is you. Alex!" Dinah threw herself at Alex, wrapped her arms around her waist, and sobbed for all she was worth. Alex tensed, and, reflexively, was about to peel Dinah off herself—she still had a hard time with being touched. As she made panicked eye contact with Diana over Dinah's head, and saw the look of pure joy on Diana's face, Alex realized that she'd been about to throw her best friend across the room for having the audacity to hug her. She was instantly struck by the ridiculousness of her reactions, and she laughed, pulled Dinah back to look at her, then bent down, picked her up, and whirled her into the room

"Dinah!" Alex exclaimed with genuine glee and excitement. "Diana. Come in! Please!" she called back to where Diana was standing at the door. She put Dinah down and beamed at her before looking over at Diana.

"You two have a lot of catching up to do," Diana grinned at Alex. "I'd be in the way if I stayed."

"No!" Alex said. "Please, Diana. Stay." She walked over to where Diana was still standing at the door. "I've missed you too. I'd love to see you," she said shyly.

"Can I call you?" Diana asked, still grinning from ear to ear. "Maybe take you for dinner sometime soon? Right now I think Dinah would like you all to herself, and I have to get home. I've been away too long." She stepped forward and opened her arms. "But I wouldn't say no to a hug." Alex stepped into her arms and felt her heart flutter a little when Diana hugged her tight. "You're skin and bones," Diana whispered with concern. "It's good to see you Alex. I'm very happy you're alive and home. You've been missed. Dearly." She squeezed Alex, smiled brilliantly, and said more loudly "I promise. I will call in the next couple days and we'll have dinner and a chat." She turned to Dinah who was still standing to the side, giant goofy grin on her face and tears still on her cheeks. "I'll see you soon Dinah." Dinah barely acknowledged Diana—just a quick wave of her hand—and Diana smiled and pulled the door closed behind herself as she left.

"You're alive," Dinah whispered in awe once Diana was gone.

"Yes," Alex grinned at her. "Last time I checked, anyway." Dinah threw herself into Alex's arms again and the two stood and held each other for a long time.

"I never gave up hope, Alex," Dinah finally said. She pulled back to look up into Alex's face. "Damn. I forgot how tall you are," she whispered, then, with a very 'Dinah' grin, added "it's a good thing your boobs aren't any bigger or you might have suffocated me." Alex threw back her head and laughed.

"I have missed you, Dee," Alex said. "Come. Sit." She led Dinah to the couch. "I'm sorry, but I don't have anything to offer to drink." She grimaced. "Or eat, for that matter. I don't really spend much time here."

"It's okay," Dinah said. "I just want to sit and stare at you for a while." She grinned. "I'm afraid if I blink I'll wake up and this will all have just been a dream."

They talked and talked—Alex told her everything she could explain about how difficult her return to civilization had been so far ("It's only been a few weeks, Alex. Give it some time." Dinah said), about the visit with Kate (Dinah's face had gone hard at the mention of Kate's name), and how hard Babs had been working at trying to reach Alex (Alex couldn't read all emotions that flitted across Dinah's face at the mention of Babs—they moved too quickly). Alex also tried to prepare Dinah for the strong potentiality that tonight was a good night, and that tomorrow she could just as easily encounter the 'distant' Alex.