After her disastrous confession to Mina, Lucy found solace in her books. After staying holed up in her house for two days though, she ran out of things to read. She remembered having left some at Mina's but there was no way she was going back for those. This had her going to one of her favorite bookshops.

On this particular day, there was a book signing and the store was especially crowded and she almost left, except that she thought she saw Lady Jayne across the street. In her haste to get in, she bumped into someone. A gentle hand caught her arm and kept her steady as she regained her balance. Looking up, she was met with the face of a woman with jet black hair and warm brown eyes.
"Are you alright darling?"
"Um, yes. Sorry, it's very crowded".
"Mm. Many people are eager to read my brother's new book. Where are my manners, my name is Helena Wells".
"Lucy Westenra".

The two of them browsed a few of the other novels and talked some more. That day, Lucy left the shop with a copy of The Island of Doctor Moreau as a gift from Helena and a agreement to meet for tea at a local cafe, but what she treasured most was having a new friend.

Over their usual dates for tea, they discussed books and authors and other things. Over time, Lucy came to realize that it was Helena who had penned the novels that she was reading. Every time she finished one, Helena would asked her endless questions about what she thought and how she liked certain parts. Before revealing to Helena that she knew, Lucy couldn't help but deliberately misinterpret a portion only to see Helena get adorably flustered and indignant. Mid- explanation as to why that wasn't what Wells had meant at all, Helena noticed Lucy smirking at her with an impish little grin.
"You brat, you did that on purpose".
The light laugh that came from Lucy was one that hadn't been heard in a while.

Helena provided a way for Lucy to avoid any sort of encounter with Mina and a way to make sure that she never listened to Lady Jayne again. At the moment they were at Helena's house, her daughter out at a lesson.
"Surely you have other friends that are worthy of your company?" asked Helena at one point. Lucy couldn't help the sad smile that passed over her face.
"And give up spending time with one of the most creative and talented minds I know? I think not". As usual, Helena hadn't missed a thing, so Lucy wound up telling her all about Mina and Lady Jayne. This resulted in Helena calling Jayne a number of vulgar terms, that really shouldn't have surprised her given Helena's vocabulary. Lucy explained how she could have eventually dealt with the rejection, but Mina had questioned her friendship. Up until that point, the two had been like sisters. Despite her feelings, she had watched Mina become engaged to a very stupid man who was "allowing" Mina to become a physician. She had even watched as Mina seemed to develop feelings for Mr. Grayson (Helena didn't care for him either). It had all seemed near unbearable until now. It was that suddenly, their years of friendship didn't seem to mean anything that hurt the most.
Helena had listened, stroked her hair, and dried her tears.
"If anyone is at fault, it is Lady Jayne for manipulating you into confessing your feelings. You can't blame yourself for having feelings for someone, no matter who they are".

A week later she was invited to one of Grayson's engagements. She had spent most of the night avoiding Mina and Harker by staying just out of their gaze. Actually, she was pretty sure Mina had seen her, but she hadn't made any move to come towards her and for that Lucy was thankful. She was so caught up in her thoughts she didn't notice when Lady Jayne appeared next to her.
"You've been surprisingly absent as of late".
Lucy nearly choked on her drink. "Not absent, just busy".
"Oh? With what?"
"With many things Lady Wetherby. It's not unheard of for a lady to want to expand her mind" interjected Helena from her other side. Lucy would have jumped had it not been for Helena's steadying hand at her elbow. The eyes that were usually filled with such warmth were now aimed at Lady Jayne and looked absolutely deadly.
"Helena, I didn't know you and your brother had been invited to this event" commented Jayne as she took a careful step back from Lucy.
"Clearly, but we're always interested when someone has come up with something new".
Lady Jayne excused herself and Lucy all but collapsed where she stood.
"I had no idea she was even there until she said something" exclaimed Lucy.
"Seems to be her preferred method of approach" murmured Helena as she continued to watch Jayne retreat.
"I didn't hear you approach either". Helena turned back towards her and tucked a wayward strand of hair back behind her ear.
"What, and ruin the surprise?"

Across the room, Nina watched the two while she stood at Jonathan's side.

Some time later, the two became intimate and it was wonderful. There were times when Helena was called away by a friend of hers named William Wolcott, but Lucy didn't mind. Helena was one of the few people who wouldn't let Lucy pretend to be some silly girl.
"You have a wonderful and very capable mind and to not use it would be a sin. We have enough women who know how to arrange flowers and throw parties. I know it's what is expected of you, but you, my dear Lucy, are capable of much more". She taught Lucy things and gave her books to read while she was away.

And then something terrible happened.

There had been an robbery at Helena's cousin's house in Paris and the nanny and Helena's daughter Christina had been murdered. Helena had been in Berlin and had come straight home. Lucy had met the girl numerous times and she was as wondrous as her mother, always thinking and happy. Lucy wasn't sure how she could help Helena in all her grief and decided to simply be there for her should she need her. It turned out she did. Helena couldn't stay in her own house, it was far too quiet without Christina's light footsteps.
A few months after the funeral, Helena left and Lucy had understood. There were simply too many memories of her daughter here. They had agreed to stay in touch, and had for a while much to Lucy's delight.
But then the letters stopped and Lucy made amends with Mina and gotten sucked back into the whirlwind that surrounded her and Grayson.

It was this that led to her becoming a vampire.

-2013-

She had been free from her tomb for about eight months now. The explorers that had found her had been quite clumsy in their excitement once they found her withered form. Fortunate for her but not so much for them. Over the last few months, she had claimed a sizable inheritance, being part of the Westerna bloodline, and had become known as a historian and consultant of sorts.
At the moment though, she was on a trip for herself to try and relax. Wandering through the market in Marrakech, she was going through a handful of scarves when there were voices behind her.
"Please HG?"
"Claudia, no".
"Aw, come on!"
"How exactly would you explain having one to Artie, hmm?"
"She's right Claud".
"Oh don't be such a worry wart Jinxy. We get Artie a stupid fez at the airport and we'll be fine".
Lucy was bumped from behind as she paid for a beautiful green scarf.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry-".
"No, it fine-".
Both voices stopped as their owners stood and stared at each other. Claudia and Jinx looked on in a puzzled silence. Lucy reached out and gave Helena's shoulder a none too gentle poke.
"Lucy!" cried Helena, as she was brought out of her daze by being pushed off balance.
"This isn't possible. You should be dead".
"Now hold on, so should you" argued HG. Helena turned towards Jinx and Claudia, "I'll meet you both at the hotel later". Jinx gave a kind smile and nodded. He then all but carried away Claudia, who was busy sputtering half formed questions.
"Well," said Helena as she turned back to Lucy,"for this conversation it's obvious we will both need a drink. So, shall we?"

Early evening found them in the same small restaurant they had entered hours ago. They had explained their stories, their troubles adapting to the times, and their travels. As night fell, they made their way back towards Helena's and coincidently Lucy's hotel.
"So, black hair now" stated Helena as she wrapped the earlier purchased scarf around Lucy's neck.
"Mm. I thought it might be a tad suspicious if I showed up claiming to be a Westenra descendant named "Lucy" and look exactly like her". Helena chuckled and adjusted the scarf a bit more.
"This color suits you. It brings out your eyes".
Lucy felt something almost foreign, especially considering the fact that she was now a vampire. She felt herself blush. She entangled her fingers with Helena's as they made their way inside. Despite everything and all the time that had past, they both felt a sense of home.