6.30am and the alarm shrieked falling to the floor as Myka attempted to get the thing silent. Normally early starts weren't a problem for Myka but recently she had felt so drained, she'd been hardly sleeping over the last few months, she couldn't pin the reason down to one thing, just perhaps a collection of worries weighing on her mind. Artie had gone evil for a start, Leena was gone, the world was very nearly destroyed and HG was god knows where in the world disappearing with no goodbye or explanation.
Sighing Myka leaned out of the bed to grab the bleeping siren and groaned inwardly as she noticed the date on the illuminated face; 14/02/2013. 'Great' she called out loud in exasperation 'I feel so much better now!'
Feeling more alone than she did 10 minutes ago she whipped off the bed covers and sauntered in the bathroom slamming the shower door behind her. As she felt the scolding water pelt down onto her back Myka prayed the heat would lift some of the weight she felt pushing down on her shoulders.
With wet curly hair loose around her neck Myka dressed in her usual trousers, shirt and waistcoat attire ready for whatever warehouse work would bring that day. Begrudgingly she made her way downstairs to the kitchen but was pleasantly surprised when she was greeted with the welcoming smell of coffee and pancakes.
The kitchen was a hubbub of noise and squeals as she found Claudia and Steve having a pancake tossing competition with Pete commentating in the background. Claudia spotted Myka in the doorway shouted her 'Good morning' , lost her balance and immediately lost the competition as the batter splatted to the floor.
'Oooohhh….and your outtttta here' cried Pete while Steve did a victory lap of the kitchen table.
'No fair' whined Claudia then became distracted in presenting Myka with her breakfast. She put on her posh French (or attempted French) accent and pulled back one of the chairs at the table.
'Bonjour Madam. Welcome to our boutique restaurant on this beautiful Valentines Day. May I say just how lovely you look today. Now let us begin with you drinks order.' Claudia bowed slightly grinning at Myka. Myka rolled her eyes and glanced at them all giggling around the room.
'What on earth are you guys on this morning' Myka jokingly chastised them all. 'Can't a girl just eat her brekkie in peace.' Claudia made a puppy face.
'Myyykkaaa. Stop being a spoil sport. You've been all grumpy sad face lately so we thought we'd cheer you up a bit. Myka was about to argue that she hadn't been grumpy when she caught a look from Pete out of the corner of her eye which she knew meant just man up Mykes and let us treat you.
Deciding to play the game, whether it was for her sake or there's she wasn't sure but she put on her posh accent and asked 'What are your specials for the day mam, and may I have a tall glass of orange juice please.'
Squealing with delight Claudia read out the list of pancakes pretty much forcing Myka to choose the Claudia heart shaped special with chocolate syrup sauce and rainbow sprinkles.
'Let's do this people!' Claudia yelled as wacked up the radio to full volume. 'Love is in the air' blasted from the kitchen as the four warehouse agents for a second forgot about their woes and just enjoyed being together and having fun with cake decorations and pancake batter.
Claudia took the lead over the stove...
'I need eggs steve ! Now!' She barked in a faux military order.
'Yes chef' Steve replied as he twizzled around the room grabbed the eggs from the basket and juggled them as carried them to a very impressed Claudia.
Claudia hollered once more...'Pete your job is to look pretty to keep up moral, now draw a chocolate moustache on your face with that squirty sauce.'
'Ooh, I like it when you talk dirty' Pete quipped as he smudged the sauce over his face.
'Now Myka!' Claudia yelled again 'I need maple syrup ASAP, these babies are nearly ready for decorating.'
'Yes boss.' Myka saluted and turned to tall cupboard behind her. Rummaging through the collection of condiments and sauces Myka felt uplifted. What would she do without her family...they always knew how to pick her up when she was down.
'Myka! ' Claudia shouted again 'You're time is up the pancakes are ready! You have precisely 10 seconds before they are on the plates.'
'Ah! I can't find it there's so much god damn stuff in here...guys I may need back up!' Myka was practically in the cupboard when she heard a new voice call from behind her...
'I think I can see it just up in the top left hand corner darling.'
Myka stood stock still, the soft British accent that hit her ears surely couldn't be ...could it?
Turning around slowly Myka suddenly became acutely aware of the silence that had fallen over the kitchen. There by the back door stood the one and only HG Wells.
Myka stood in utter shock, Claudia was the first to break the silence.
'HG!? WHAT THE...I mean what in the gods are you doing here?!' The young inventor covered in pancake batter couldn't help but launch herself onto the older woman as she stood in shocked delight at the welcoming embrace.
'It's a very long story,' the older inventor replied. 'One which actually for once I have plenty of time to tell.'
This time Pete piped up 'What do you mean? HG ...are you back?
Helena glances around the room her eyes landing back on Myka. 'I am if you'll have me? Back that is ...(she blushed slightly) The world is safe; the mission is finally complete and you're all in the know about what happened with Artie …so the regents didn't feel I needed to be kept away any longer.'
'Where have you been? When did you get back? How did you get here?' Claudia started to bombard the Victorian with questions and Steve gently rested his hand on her shoulder.
'I think Claudster, there will be time for questions a little later, shall we take our pancakey concoctions to the living room.' Steve guided the nattering Claudia out of the room eye balling her then gesturing towards Myka and Helena.
Pete got the hint too but couldn't help pointedly looking at the warehouse 12 agent giving her stern look. 'Myka if you need anything just call ok.' His gaze still stuck on the raven haired women. He liked HG but he sure as hell did not wana see Myka hurt again.
Myka nodded at Pete and as he left he shut the door quietly behind him.
...
The two women stood gazing at each other for what could have been hours, minutes, days neither felt the significance of time in at that moment.
'Well this is not quite how I envisioned this to go' the beautiful time traveller uttered the first words.
'How did you expect this to work Helena?' Myka glared at the other woman and stepped out of the cupboard conscious at how scruffy she felt compared to the beautiful women in front of her. Helena's skin was always so flawless, perfect porcelain skin against her black cascading hair.
'I'm truly so sorry it has taken me so long to get back here Myka. If I could have sent word I would have. Please believe me.' HG looked at Myka her eyes filled with longing.
Something inside Myka made her just want to reach out to the women but that voice in her head said no...that same voice that has been keeping them in this dance for a long time. But still Myka thought to herself, why shouldn't she be annoyed; Helena could have at least given her sign she was still alive.
Emotions building up within her Myka couldn't help but reply angrily...
'Helena for ALL I knew you could have been dead! That's how little I have been told about your departure! I called the regents three times a day, everyday to find out if you were ok. I didn't know if you had been imprisoned again? Bronzed or worse!'
HG couldn't help but feel a slight slither of hope wrap around her heart as she realised Myka had cared so much about her disappearance. Since she had left the warehouse that day all she thought about was seeing Myka again. 'If only she knew how much I am prepared to give for her' she thought sighing inwardly.
'I'm sorry Myka. If it hadn't been imperative that I leave without a trace trust me I would have been at your side in a flash.' Helena shuffled on the spot looking down at her boots focusing on the ground beneath her feet. Myka watched shocked at Helen's withdrawn body language, normally always so confident and sure of herself the time traveller fell shy and uncertain in that wake of Myka's words.
'Helena. Look at me for god sakes.' Myka could feel her anger disappearing being replaced by that feeling she hadn't quite been able to put her finger on before.
Helena looked up, her dark eyes teary, her vision blurred. 'I feel like I have been gone without a home for such a long time. I'm so tired of this …all of it. I've looked forward to this day very much. Knowing I may eventually be allowed to return is all that kept me going.' The brit swiped away the stray tear that threatened to escape from her. 'I really am so sorry.'
For Myka that was it; her heart melted and she finally closed the distance between them pulling Helena into a desperate hug. 'Please just don't disappear again' she whispered holding Helena even tighter, allowing herself to indulge in the familiar smell of Victorian's perfume.
Helena moved her arms to the taller women's waist a warmth spreading throughout her body. 'Nothing could move me from this spot again, I swear it.' The time traveller let her fingers run through the younger woman's hair. ' I said I'm here to stay if you will have me'.
Helena pulled back to look at Myka. 'Of course I'll have you…you crazy thing…have you not heard all I have said…I would be extremely displeased if you were to leave again.' Myka grinned looking down into the dark eyes of the HG Wells.
'That is very good to know' Helena laughed gliding her hand up Myka's side to the back of her neck beneath the mass of now dry curls. With the gaze between them still intense the Victorian searched the green eyes before her for permission to cross that friendship line. Tilting her chin upwards millimetre by millimetre she slowly went to close the gap between her and Myka until there was only a whisper of breath between them.
Myka picked up on the sudden change in Helena's position and took note of the pulse increase she could feel as loud as drum on the back of her neck. She noticed the time traveller's lips part ever so slightly. A small shy smile formed on her face as she realised what was going to happen…finally after all this time she was going to get to feel the soft lips of HG Wells. Suddenly realisation of her feelings blew Myka away, clarity fell and the weight finally lifted from her shoulders. This is what she wanted, in that moment covered in pancake batter she knew there was no turning back…and this was what she wanted. Myka Bering loved HG Wells and now she was home. Myka went to finally kiss the women before too impatient to wait a second longer….
…. BANG!
An explosion came from the microwave a few metres behind them causing the rest of the warehouse clan to run in from the other room. Suddenly feeling very self-conscious Myka quickly pulled away from Helena's embrace.
Loathed to release the taller agent Helena could feel the tension run through Myka's body as the others entered the room and she let her hands fall away allowing Myka to take a step back before the others noticed their intimate position.
Slightly annoyed HG looked immediately to Claudia for an explanation.
'What?' Claudia shrugged. 'That is so uncool HG…why do you immediately look at me.'
Helena walked over the microwave and opened the blackened door. Grabbing the oven glove off the unit she reached into the smoking machine and pulled out what looked like a tin foil heart filled with marshmallows and chocolate sauce bubbling black with wisps of smoke pouring from the edges.
'This can only be yours darling' HG enquired mockingly pointing the cinders in Claudia's direction.
'Ummmm…perhaps…on this one occasion it maybe ever so slightly be my fault.' Claudia looked annoyed at herself 'Dammit that was going to be delicious as well!'
'Hmm' HG tipped the sizzling mess into the sink…'You would think Claudia, dear, a girl with your brain would know not to mix tin with microwaves.'
Pete tried the microwave switch, it coughed, spluttered and died. 'Man, Artie is gona be mad with you Claudster' Pete did a silly dance on the spot pointing in the red heads direction.
Claudia reacted by sticking out her tongue and flicking bit or cold pancake in Pete's direction.
'OK children!' Myka took charge of the situation. 'Artie is home in an hour and I want this place looking spick and span' she looked from Claudia to Steve, to Pete. ' Do you all understand? I'm going to take Helena up to her room and when I get back down I want you all scrubbing, washing, dusting…I want no trace of any pancake explosions.' With that Myka gave them all a firm stare and gestured to Helena to follow her upstairs. She probably shouldn't have been so hard on them but she couldn't help but feel annoyed at the extremely badly timed interruption.
TBC