Homecoming (Complete)

Chapter Forty-Five

Alex slowly opened her eyes—Diana was lying on top of the blankets behind her with her arm draped across Alex's waist, fingers splayed on the bed. Alex laid there and studied those fingers while she collected her wits and got her bearings.

"You're awake," Diana said softly, her breath tickled Alex's ear. "Your breathing has changed."

"Whoa. Déjà vu," Alex rolled over and smiled.

"Minus the blushing this time," Diana chuckled. "You were dreaming about this."

"So you're back in my head?" Alex nodded and answered her own question, "yes...there you are," she smiled happily. "Did I happen to share what I was feeling that morning? When I woke up after the first sleep I'd had in ages, and you were there with your arm around me?" Diana shook her head. "Here..."

"Oh," Diana's eyes widened a bit, "safe. You felt safe for the first time in your life..."

"Yes," Alex traced Diana's lips with a fingertip, then grinned. "Do you want to 'déjà vu' what happened later?" she waggled her eyebrows. Diana laughed.

"Maybe later," Diana wrinkled her nose, "you've been asleep for three days and you need a bath." Alex laughed. "And there's a party tonight. Everyone is hoping to see you. Babs, Dinah, Beth, and Philippus are going home tomorrow."

"Three days?" Alex shook her head. "Wow. What did I miss? Wait...Philippus is going with Beth? But what about...?"

"I had a chat with my mother," Diana sighed. "If you tell Philippus this..."

"Are you threatening me?" Alex laughed. "What's my punishment if I do?" she waggled her eyebrows again.

"You're incorrigible," Diana laughed. "Actually, I just meant that Philippus doesn't know this so please don't tell her—it could cause her to second guess her decisions." She shook her head. "Out of curiosity, because I know how intense our bond is, I asked mother how she had managed to ignore their bond. Her response was that the Fates had other plans for Philippus—plans that being tied to Themyscira, and its Queen, would interfere with. The pain in her eyes...," Diana frowned slightly. "I don't think mother ignored it at all."

"Oh," Alex breathed. "Wow. She's stronger than I could ever be. I could never..."

"Nor could I, amare," Diana whispered, hugging Alex tight.

"We're not returning with everyone?" Alex finally asked.

"No," Diana shook her head. "You dreamed of staying here for a while and getting a chance to learn about Themyscira, the Amazons, your mother... I hope you don't mind, but I told everyone we would be staying here for a while so you could recover a little longer."

"I think we could both use a little peace and quiet, yes?" Alex smiled. "I know we can't stay long, but it will be a nice break from the outside world, I think."

"Come on," Diana stood up and pulled Alex to her feet. "We need to get you cleaned up—the party is in less than an hour. Everyone's getting antsy to see you."

"So Philippus is my aunt," Alex mused on the way to the bath. "I'm guessing I get my empathy from my mother, and that Philippus has a touch of it too. It explains why I can't seem to block her completely." She laughed suddenly.

"What?" Diana asked.

"I just realized that Philippus is also...kind of my sister, and...sort of my mother, thanks to Beth and you," Alex grinned. "Being an Amazon is a little weird, you know that?"

* * *

"So Philippus is returning with you?" Dinah asked Beth quietly as they made their way to the hall for the celebratory feast that was also a farewell to the visitors. Menalippe, having learned the trick from Penelope during their few hours together, would be bringing down the veil for them tomorrow so they could go home.

"Yes," Beth smiled. "I guess you were right. Philippus's heart belongs to me now."

"I told you," Dinah grinned. "Do you suppose Alex will be well enough to join us tonight, or at least come say goodbye to us tomorrow?"

"Diana made it sound like she'd be here tonight," Beth answered. "I definitely hope so. I'd really like to spend a bit of time with her before we leave." She made a face. "I've only just gotten her back into my life on a regular basis and now she up and decides she needs to stick around and learn about her heritage or whatever." Beth grinned and waggled her eyebrows mischievously. "Then again, look at all these...lovely...women. It's a veritable smorgasbord."

"I'm going to tell Philippus you said that," Dinah laughed. "And you know Alex only has eyes for Diana."

"I know," Beth heaved an exaggerated sigh, "but let me dream, okay? I want to live vicariously through Alex."

"What you guys talking about?" Babs bounced up to join them just as they were entering the hall.

"About the smorgasbord," Dinah grinned.

"What?" Babs said. "I thought this was a served meal...," Dinah and Beth laughed all the way to their seats with a confused Babs following along behind shaking her head.