Diana walked over to the window of her seventh-floor room in the Parker House and watched a wave of snowflakes flutter down to the street below. How long had it been since she'd been here in Boston? Too long, apparently. She felt nostalgia tug at her heart strings and memories of a past life flooded over her as her gaze followed a young couple holding hands and bounding down the street.

Unfortunately, it had taken a funeral to bring Diana back to her onetime home, not the New Year's revelry going on in the streets below. Diana pushed back the tears that so desperately wanted to flood down her cheeks.

Julia Kapatelis had been one of Diana's oldest and dearest friends in this world – man's world. She had been there for Diana when she had been new to this city, lost and confused and still finding her place in this world. And now, as hard as it was for Diana to believe, Julia was gone.

Every ending is also a beginning, Diana thought.

Had she heard that line before? If so, when? Where? Or was it an original thought drifting through her melancholy mind? The answer did not come to her immediately, so she let the thought pass.

Diana looked back at the clock on the nightstand beside the bed. Five minutes till midnight. She shouldn't be this alone. Not now. Not tonight of all nights. Tonight was supposed to be joyous, a time for friends and family.

And yet Diana had never felt so alone as she did now.

Diana stepped back from the window and thought about calling it a night. What difference did it make if she stayed up to ring the new year in? Her friend was gone, and she would be alone whether she stayed up or gave up.

There was a knock at the door then. Diana turned and wondered who it could be. She had told almost no one where she was going.

She opened the door. Standing there was a familiar but slightly uncomfortable face.

"Bruce? What are . . ."

"I couldn't let you be here alone."

Diana found Bruce a little odd without his bat suit on. Handsome . . . but odd. He seemed uncomfortable without the trappings of his alter ego. Almost as if Batman was the reality and Bruce Wayne was the false face.

"Why aren't you in Gotham?"

"I thought you needed a shoulder to lean on. Gotham can live without me for one night at least."

"You didn't have to come here."

"I know."

Bruce stepped forward and closed the door behind him.

The clock struck midnight.

Diana met Bruce's gaze, and, without thinking, fell into his arms. Their lips met and they kissed as if they were inventing the kiss.

Every ending is also a beginning, Diana thought. Happy New Year indeed.