She's not the same

Nikola didn't go to the funeral. He couldn't. He didn't know Ashley. He felt that Helen would hate him if he went. He did after all make the weapon the killed her daughter. True, that Ashley teleported into the EM field on her own, but if she hadn't his weapon would have killed her. He'd only met her once; in the instance before John's fist was transported through his gut. She looked just like her mother; dazzling blue eyes, shoulder length blonde hair. Nikola instantly knew she was a fighter. The next time he'd seen her, she wasn't the girl he met in the catacombs of Rome. She was a monster, turned into something far from human or abnormal.

Helen had kept herself away from everyone with the exception of Dr. Expendable. She had spent days coming up with delusional, grief induced theories how Ashley could have escaped death. Finally she just gave up and held the funeral.

Nikola was packing; He couldn't stay here now. Helen needed to heal. If that meant she would hate him, then so be it. He just wouldn't be around for when she started throwing things.

He made his way down the hallway with his bags in tow when he passed Ashley's room. He stopped when he heard sniffling. Nikola stepped closer to the door. He knew very well who was on the other side of the door. The only problem was should he stay or should he go?

'She's all alone…' It wasn't until Nikola heard a heart wrenching sob come from the other side of the door that he decided to go in the room. Cracking the door open the tiniest bit, he saw Helen sitting by the window holding a teddy bear. He walked in quietly and closed the door behind him. She hadn't heard him, so he stepped closer. He came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. She gasped and turned around.

"Nikola…" He sat down beside her at the window.

"I was just about to leave, but I heard you crying…" Helen looked down and squeezed the teddy bear tighter.

"Who's this?" He said brushing the arm of the bear.

"His name is Toby. He was Ashley's favourite toy when she was little. This bear has been sewed and stitched more time than I can remember…" Her voice cracked on the end of the sentence and Nikola knew what he had to do. He stretched his arms out wide and waited. Helen looked at him for a minute before moving into his embrace. They sat together for a long while before Helen started to cry. Nikola moved her from the awkward sitting position they were in so she was on his lap. Her small frame shook with sobs and her cries echoed throughout the room.

"I want her b-back…"

"I know…"

"S-she was m-my baby…"

"And she always will be…"

"She's g-gone…" Nikola sat with her until Helen fell asleep. He brought her down to her bedroom and laid her down, pulling the covers over her. As he went to leave though, Helen shifted and moaned. She cracked her eyes open and looked up at Nikola.

"Are you leaving?" But before he could answer, Helen spoke again, catching his arm.

"Please don't leave. I don't want to be alone. I need you, Niko." Nikola looked down at her and with one brushed the hair out of her face. He kicked off his shoes and came around the other side of the bed. Climbing in, he snaked his arm around her middle and pulled her close so he was spooning her. He placed his chin in the crook of her neck and kissed her jaw.

"I'm not leaving. I'll stay as long as you'd like." He felt Helen relax and lean into his embrace and sighed.

"Thank you, Niko."

Ok; I know it's not very long but I seem to be unable to write long chapters. I hope you like it! The more reviews, the quicker the next chapter comes up!