Grace

It's the day of Connor's birthday party, and I'm feeling a mixture of excitement, and nervousness. Excitement, because what the Foundation women and I have planned is probably the coolest birthday party ever. Nervousness, because I'm spending the night at Keir's house while the boys are home for the first time.

It's been two weeks since he asked me to be his girlfriend, and they've been the best two weeks of my life. We all have dinner together almost every night, but I haven't stayed at their house yet. Keir has been back to mine a few times, and we've had some afternoon delights in one of the guest apartment suites in the C&C building, but this is big.

I get to the apartment building where most of the Foundation women and their significant others live, early, so I can change into the costume Stella has for me. I've never been here, but I've heard it has even more amenities than the C&C building, which is saying something. It's not normally open for anyone to see, but for Connor, they're making an exception.

Bypassing the valet company set up on the street, I drive to the underground garage, where armed guards check my car before letting me through. Once I'm parked, the elevator takes me into a lobby of sorts. There's no seating, just a guard desk, where several more men and women are on watch. I'm escorted outside, where I realize why Ainsley chose this venue instead of her own home.

The open lawn is bigger than a football field, and has been completely done up to recreate the island of Themyscira. To the left, I see a gated area with a pool, and to the right is a stable. I should be more amazed than I am, but not much about the Corrigans and what they do, surprises me anymore.

"Grace!" Sierra yells, running up to me. She's already in her leather Amazon warrior costume, and I have to admit, she looks fierce.

"You look ready to go into fake battle."

She spins for me, with a laugh. "This is going to be awesome."

"Yes, it is."

"Stella's waiting for you in the pool house. I'll let you in the gate."

The pool house is full of activity when I enter, as the rest of the women are getting dressed. I haven't seen my costume, although I was measured for it, and when Stella's assistant, Kevin, holds out the Wonder Woman costume to me, I know there's a mistake.

"This is the wrong costume."

"No, this is all yours," Ainsley tells me, as she walks up.

"But you or Sierra or Reina should be her."

"Reina is going to be Diana on the island, and I'm Antiope. We wouldn't be having this kick-ass party without you, and we all agreed on it."

I look around, to where all the women are smiling and nodding, and I tear up a little. It's like a childhood dream is coming true, although I'm in Gal Godot's costume, and not Lynda Carter's. There's more coverage, so I'm grateful for the modern movie.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now, go get dressed so we can do your hair and make-up."

Kevin leads me into one of the bedrooms for privacy, and helps me into the costume. Inside the bag he's carrying are wedge boots, bracelets, an arm cuff, and the golden lasso. He tells me I'll get my crown when Stella does my hair.

"Wow," he says as I spin for him. "Keir is going to faint."

"Thanks, but I hope not."

Stella grabs me as soon as I walk out of the room, pulling me into a chair. "The guests are getting here soon, so let's do this."

While she does my hair, one of the other Foundation women, Rhieve, does my make-up. It doesn't take them long to do what they need to do, and soon, the crown is being placed on my forehead. As I turn around, all the gathered women start clapping.

"You ready to lead the way?" Reina asks, linking her hand with mine.

"You're really sure about this?"

"We're really sure."

The doors are already open, so we walk out past the pool, and onto the grass. The area is filled with kids, standing behind stanchions that have appeared since I walked through earlier. Everyone goes quiet when they see us walking out. Well, everyone except Connor, who lets out a yell, and runs to me. I catch him, and pick him up, kissing him, before setting him down again. He's in a Wonder Woman t-shirt, and looks so happy to see us, making my heart melt even more.

"Come over here, and let everyone in, Con," Ainsley calls to him.

He takes my hand, and I follow him over. Keir, Trevor, Zack, Joel, and a couple who I'm sure are Keir's parents are already waiting for us there. Sierra and Ainsley motion him forward, but he's still got my hand in his. I lean down to whisper in his ear as he tries to tug me forward.

"Go see your aunts. I'll still be here when you're done."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

He scampers away, and when I look up, Keir locks eyes with me, and mouths a thank you. I nod, and watch the festivities begin. The kids are in awe as Ainsley and Sierra explain about all the games and stations. The Foundation women explained to me how they train to be prepared in case a situation where they're helping someone turns violent. They're using that training today.

They’re teaching archery, and sword fighting, with foam weapons. They've also hired mini horses for riding lessons, and have stations set up with science experiments, cooking, and bracelet and crown making. It's pretty amazing, but the best is still to come.

I hold Connor's hand on one side, and Trevor's on the other as we try everything out. Kids come up, and ask for pictures with me, and I'm happy to oblige. It's awesome to see the girls, and some boys, dressed up like Wonder Woman, or wearing t-shirts with her symbol or image on them. Keir and his parents trail behind us, and while Connor introduced us, I haven't had time to interact with them.

When Ainsley calls for everyone to stand on the sidelines, I leave Connor with his family, and make my way to the spot I'm supposed to be in for the finale. As we all watch, the Foundation women put on a choreographed fight scene, pretty much identical to the ones from the movie. I saw one of the practices in the gym, but this right here is legit. When Ainsley and Reina start to spar, I look around, watching everyone's reaction before I get ready for my part.

When the "boosh" from Reina's bracelets sounds, and the flames shoot towards me, I pull the cord to uncover the cake, and watch as the flames hit the candles. It had to be timed perfectly, and I did it. Thank God, I did it.

The crowd cheers, and I'm pulled into an embrace with the other women. We bow, then step back to let everyone see the masterpiece the Drago sisters have created. It's a mix of old and new Wonder Woman, with every logo, every bracelet and crown, and of course, the golden lasso. It's perfect, and I'm glad I got to be part of this day, for a little boy I've come to love.

Keir

"Connor and Trevor are enamored with her," my mom says, watching the boys eating a second helping of cake with Grace.

"She's really good with them."

"Be careful."

"Dad doesn't have a problem with her," I remind her, pointing to where he's just joined them at the table, with a soda for Grace.

"I don't have a problem with her, per se. I just worry that this is all happening too fast. What if she gets tired of them, or you?"

"She's already promised them she'd stay in their lives, even if she and I aren't together."

"It's easy to say that when things are good."

I don't like her saying these things, because I've thought of them myself. I push them out of my mind every single time, but they're there, in the back of my mind. Right now, they're in the front of it, too, but I'm trying to push them back.

"You know I put them before everyone else. That hasn't changed."

"I know, and I want you to find a good woman after all you've been through, but like I said, this just seems rushed. If it was just you, I'd tell you to do whatever you want."

"But, it's not."

"No."

Connor calls us over then, ending our conversation, but not the thoughts going through my mind. Maybe my mom's right, and I need to slow things down. Not end them, but slow them.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" I ask Grace when we get to the table.

"Sure."

The guests have all gone home, but the Society women and their men are here, so I take her to the other side of the field for some privacy. Even as I say the words, they feel wrong, but I don't stop.

"I think we need to slow things down."

She looks stunned, and I don't blame her. "I don't understand."

"I have more to think about than just myself, Grace."

"I love your boys."

"And they love you. But what happens when you get a better job offer, or get tired of being a surrogate mom for two boys who will never stop moving, or asking questions?"

"I have no intention of ever leaving Corrigan, and again, I love those boys."

"I can't take chances with them. My mom reminded me of that."

"Of course, she did."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"She's made it clear all day that she doesn't like me."

"She's just protective."

"What is it you want?"

"We see each other when I don't have the boys."

"You honestly think that's okay? That I'm going to be okay with that? That they are?"

"They're resilient. After all, they survived their mom leaving."

I don't say that she's just a friend, and not family, but it hangs in the air between us. "I was going to tell you I loved you tonight, but now I feel like the biggest idiot in the world," she says, tears running down her face, as my heart breaks.

"Gracie, please. It's just about taking things slow. I don't want this to be over."

"Well, we can’t always have what we want, can we?"

"Don't walk away from me."

"Walk away? You're pushing me into oncoming traffic right now, Keir, so don't you dare try and blame this on me."

"You think this is easy for me?"

"I honestly don't care."

She walks back to the party, and I run to catch up with her. The boys are with my parents, but when they see Grace, they run up to her.

"Why are you crying?" Connor asks you.

"I need to get your presents from the car, okay? I'll be right back."

"No! You said you'd give them to me when we got home!"

"Grace isn't coming home with us, Con," I tell him, pulling him from her.

"She has to! She's supposed to spend the night, and make us waffles in the morning! She promised! You promised!"

Grace chokes out a sob as she kneels down to pull both boys into her arms. "I love you. I love both of you, and that isn't going to change. I can't come over any more, but if you need me for anything, you have your aunts contact me, okay? I will always be there for you when you need me. I promise."

"I need you now," Connor tells her, and it takes every bit of strength in me to keep my own tears from falling.

She kisses his cheeks, his forehead, and places a peck on his little mouth. "Your whole family is here for you right now, and I need you to be good, and go home with your Daddy and Trevor, okay?"

He nods, and she moves on to my other son. He holds her so tight, I'm surprised I don't hear any of her bones breaking. I don’t hear what they say to each other, because they're whispering, but Trev nods too, before letting her go.

She doesn't look at me as she walks over to the pool area, where Kevin is waiting to let her in, and I don't see her again when she leaves, because I'm holding two little boys whose hearts I just broke along with my own.

My sister glares at me as I walk out with the boys, and I'm pretty sure she's planning some kind of bodily harm for me, but I've done what I think is right, and there's no going back now. My parents help me carry out the pile of gifts Grace left for Connor, and my mom hugs me hard as I close the back of the SUV.

"You did the right thing. It hurts a little now, but imagine how it would've been a month from now, or a year."

I'm already second-guessing my decision, so I don't verbally agree with her, or even nod. I can't take it back, but in my heart, I know I've just lost my only chance at happiness. My head tells me I had to protect all of us, but it feels wrong. I feel wrong.