A/N: I was asked to write a chapter two so I wrote one up. I hope you enjoy!
The next three years were full of good and bad; mostly bad when it came to Helena and me. I fell more in love with the woman but then was betrayed over and over again. But each time I forgave her. The second to most painful was when we lost contact and I found her living in Boone with a man and his daughter. Overall, Nate was nice and his daughter was lovely, but, H.G. was lying to herself.
When she called me, asking for help with an artifact, my heart raced. When I saw her, every emotion, good and bad, came rushing back. I tried to put on a brave face for everyone around me but I faltered a few times. The glint of the Helena I saw in 2016 was gone. Telling her that one thing must have erased that timeline.
The questions I had about why we weren't at the warehouse any loner were answered. H.G. left because when she and the warehouse mixed, it never ended well. The rest of us lost our jobs because the warehouse was moving. By now, Helena and I rarely talk; it's been months since our last email. Everyone had someone they could have a life with: Pete had Kelly, Artie had Vanessa, and Steve had Liam. I had no one.
"Hey Mykes, can I join you?"
Looking up from my laptop, I saw Pete leaning against my doorframe. Closing my computer, I answered. "Yeah, come in." Pete knew something was off. He was worried about what I'd do after we left. He became more worried after my defining moment was when H.G. and I met. Mrs. Frederic's reasoning was because that's when I opened myself up again.
"You know after we leave, we'll still see each other." It was more of a question than a statement.
"Of course we will. I've been by your side the past five years non-stop. I can't just leave you alone now."
Relief washed over my partner as he took a seat on my bed. "Good."
Great. He has that "H.G. look" on his face. He's about to ask me something about her. "No, Pete, I've not heard from her. Last I heard, she's living in New York with some American dancer." The thought of that hurt. We always thought she would end up with me if she ever dated a woman again.
"I remember. What are you going to do after you leave South Dakota?"
"I think I'm going to take a vacation and then go back home to my parents' bookstore. I always loved working there."
"You're going to London aren't you? Taking that vacation you and H.G. always talked about."
"Shut up, Pete." Biting my lip, I looked away. "Yes, I'm going to London."
Xxx
Goodbyes were hard but we promised to visit and stay in contact. We were a family, so I knew it was going to be okay. Arriving in London, my chest tightened. I have to go to the flat H.G. and I shared and the bookstore. Once I see it's not there, I think I can move on.
After dropping my things off at the hotel, I hailed a cab and gave the driver the address. From there I would walk to the flat. Getting out of the cab, I tipped the man and watched him drive off. The store looked like a new business was moving in. "Can I help you, Miss.?" An older gentleman walked out the door.
He must be stocking inventory or something. "Yes. What business is coming soon?"
"A bookstore. From what I've heard, it'll specialize in books from the nineteenth century and older. A woman rented the space a few months ago." My heart started to pound again. Could the timeline still be on track? "Miss., are you okay?"
"Yes. I'm fine. Thank you." The man tipped his hat and went back to work. Could this really be happening? Damn it Myka don't get your hopes up. That's what H.G.'s done to you. She's forced you to let your emotions trump your logic. He just said a woman rented the space. That could be anyone.
I found myself stopping in front of the flat Helena and I shared. I'm insane. Walking up the steps, I knocked gently on the door. Sadly, it seemed that no one was home. I knew this was a bad idea.
"I wondered when you were going to show up." Whipping around, I was met by a familiar sassy brunette with bags of groceries. "Hello Darling."
"How did you know I'd be coming?"
"Why don't we continue this conversation inside?" I agreed and took a few bags so H.G. could unlock the door.
Walking inside, the small flat looked almost identical to what I saw all those years ago. It just didn't look as 'lived in' yet. "Where should I set these?"
"On the counter will be fine. But, as for your question, I didn't know you were going to show up. After I broke things off with the blonde in New York, I came back here. I had hoped one day you would take the trip we planned. When I heard the warehouse was moving, I rented the shop space. It was nearing 2016 and you said we were still in contact. What else could grab your attention better than a bookstore called-,"
"Bering and Wells Book Sellers." I continued to unload the bags while Helena put the items in their appropriate places.
"Precisely." Rounding the counter, H.G. stood before me. "It's good to see you again, Myka. I've done a lot of things I regret. I don't know how you've forgiven me for everything I've done."
Those were her exact words. Maybe the timeline isn't exactly what I saw but as long as we're together, I'll be happy. Taking the author's hands in mine, I met her gaze. "I've forgiven you because I love you."
A brilliant smile tugged at the older woman's lips. "That means the world to me." Taking a short step forward, H.G. closed the space between us and pressed her lips against mine. The kiss was gentle at first then became passionate. Oh God. This is how future Helena kissed me. Wrapping one arm around her waist, I tangled my free hand in Helena's long, silky hair. I moaned as cool hands made their way across the bare skin of my stomach and sides. "I know this isn't how two people who aren't committed to one another in a relationship should kiss but I can't hold it back any longer."
Leaning back, the air was knocked out of my lungs. H.G.'s eyes shined like the ones I saw back when I used her time machine. "Helena," my voice trailed off as tears started to sting my eyes.
Panic spread across the shorter woman's face. "Myka, I didn't mean…"
"No. It's not that." My chest felt like it was going to explode. "It sounds crazy, I know, but when I traveled to 2016 and saw you, you had a look in your eyes. They shined like I've never seen before. And after you kissed me just now, I saw that look again."
"That look, Myka, as clichéd as this is, is love." Helena could barely keep a straight face at the corniness of her statement.
I couldn't help but snort. "You are such an author." Dipping my head, I cut off whatever protest H.G. was prepared to give. The timeline may have changed but I believe we're still on our way to having the bookstore and then taking the plunge and getting married. Butterflies filled my stomach at the thought. But there will be plenty of time for that later. Right now, I just want to get lost in this woman.
