Homecoming (Complete)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"Ow!" Alex said as Dinah hugged her hello.

"That's a nasty bruise," Dinah said as she pulled back and looked at Alex's shoulder. "What did you do?"

"She and Philippus have been...bonding," Diana made a face, "for the last three days."

"Ouch," Babs said as she looked Alex over from head to toe. "Not sure I like your idea of bonding. There seems to be a lot of bruises involved." Alex laughed as she hugged her.

"I'm just knocking some rust off my hand to hand combat," Alex grinned, "and Philippus is working out some frustrations. So far we're pretty evenly matched."

"Liar," Philippus grimaced as she walked up sporting a fading black eye. "You've bested me more times than I care to admit. Dinah. Barbara. It's good to see you again," she nodded at each of them as she said their names.

"Ooooo," Dinah pointed at Philippus's eye, "that looks like it hurt like the Dickens a few days ago."

"That was this morning," Alex made a face, "and in my defence, she told me not to pull my punches. I got lucky."

"Pffft," Philippus expelled air loudly through her lips. "Lucky my ass." She looked at Babs and Dinah. "She's faster than I would ever have thought possible, and I swear she can predict your movements before you even know you're going to make them." She shook her head. "She pretty much knocks me around until I give up."

"And you're loving every minute of it. Both of you," Diana shook her head, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "It's a good thing Amazons heal fast, Philippus, or you'd be a walking bruise." She looked at Dinah and Babs. "And that question about whether or not Alex might glean some physical healing from me on top of the mental healing? It seems the answer is yes. Alex is healing nearly as fast as Philippus."

"So aside from beating the hell out of each other for shits and giggles, what have you been up to?" Dinah grinned and looped her arm through Alex's to lead her toward the bar by the pool. "It's been over a month since Diana whisked you from the farm house to here. Pour me some wine and fill me in."

"Well I guess that leaves me to deal with the bags," Babs muttered as she watched Alex and Dinah walk to the bar.

"I'll help you," Philippus smiled, "and show you to your room."

"Did you just smile?" Babs asked with surprise. "I don't think I've ever seen you smile."

"I could leave you to carry everything yourself, Barbara," Philippus mock growled.

"Play nice, Philippus," Diana grinned. "Babs and Dinah haven't met the new, friendlier—more housebroken—you yet."

"I'll housebreak you," Philippus grumbled as she spun quickly, and, in one fluid motion, took two steps forward, put her hand on Diana's chest, and propelled her backward into the pool. Babs was standing with her mouth hanging open when Diana came up sputtering. Philippus squatted down by the edge of the pool and grinned. "Sparring with Alex has sharpened my reflexes a little." Diana burst out laughing. "Lose something, Princess?" Philippus was twirling Diana's bikini top around one finger.

"How in Hades...?" Diana started to ask, still grinning.

"I told you," Philippus smirked. She tossed the bikini top at Alex as she and Dinah walked up to see what was going on. "Alex is fast. I've had to hone my reflexes a little." She stood up, grabbed a suitcase in each hand, and turned to Babs. "Shall I show you to your room, Barbara? Then you can get changed into your swimsuit."

"I don't think I'll wear the bikini I brought," Babs muttered as she picked up the rest of the bags and followed Philippus into the house.

"What was that all about?" Alex asked, looking at the bikini top in her hand in confusion, then glancing after Babs and Philippus as they disappeared into the house.