Author's note: Sorry this chapter is shorter than the others. I figured this was a nice break until the next longer bits. As always, thank you for reading. :)

Events occur near the end of S4 Tempus.

Chapter 4

London England, 1898—

Helen held her breath, turned the corner and lowered her head as she walked away from the dark alleyway. Adam Worth was dead. And the mere fact of Imogene's choice to follow them both out into the night, promised to carry out the future events that would hopefully, in Helen's mind keep the future the same.

Or would it?

Helen placed the Hollow Earth weapon into her right pocket as she walked past the oncoming people curious to find out what act of chaos was unraveling behind her. She hugged the brick walls of the streets and walked rather quickly as she made her way to the open breezeway to the center street conjunction where the four roads met ahead. A soft rain had begun to fall over London and she wiped her wet bangs away from her face as she kept her pace forward. Figures ahead were making their way through the small crowd rather hastily. As the two figures neared she turned to face the brick wall, hiding her face from their sight.

"My god James what on Earth could it be?"

Helen felt a cold shiver run up her spine as she heard her past self ask the question as she walked right by her. James and Helen were walking side by side as James gave a quick glance her way but reverted his eyes back to the alleyway behind her as he and Helen walked on.

Helen turned away from the brick wall, let out an exhausted sigh of relief, and made her way back to the London Sanctuary. As she distanced herself from the scene she heard a loud echoing of a gut wrenching scream behind her. She didn't turn around. She kept her head held high and pushed through her exhaustion and rain to her destination.

For a second she had thought she had seen a red flash out of the corner of her eye. But her eyes were tired and her ears were still ringing from the concussive weapon. But at this point, she found herself not caring either way.

She opened the large door to her London Sanctuary and walked in—her boots tapping on the marbled shiny floor. As she turned to close the heavy wooden door she was reminded of the heavy alloy frame that Declan and her derived and had bolted to the front door during the time Ashley and the super Abnormals made London their target. Before closing the door she pulled it back towards her, opening it again and walked out under the small archway. Closing the door behind her she stood and leaned back into the door, still grasping the door knob. The strong smell of chimneys burning wood, the coal from the trains departing their stations and the wet damp air was something she had missed deeply. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back to rest on the door then slid down to the cold stone entrance.

How can I do this again?

The fear of the unknowns started to creep inside her soul. She had lived two lifetimes already. Seen so much—experienced more loss and wonders than anyone could dream of. The memories she made the first time around, would there be any room left in her immortal mind to add another two lifetimes to them? Helen could feel her body start to tremble with the shock of realization. Her chest tightened as her throat tightened, sending tears down from her tired eyes.

The first hundred years just came and went as if I was just living my life. I watched friends die, family disappear, and the world change. Dear god how am I going to do this all again?

Helen continued to keep her eyes closed and head tilted back as she took in the sounds of old London while quietly crying her fears. The sounds of hooves clanking on cobblestones and the creaking of a wagon echoed as a horse drawn wagon passed outside the iron gates of the London Sanctuary's front yard. The rain drops started to fall harder and bounced over her black boots as they fell while being guided with a soft wind into the doorway. She lifted her hands from her sides and covered her face and pulled her knees to her chest. "I can't do this again," she sobbed, "this is just too hard." She buried her head in her knees and hugged her arms around her legs and stayed in the tight comforting position as her mind raced through over one hundred years of life.

The lure of the possibilities of being able to change the future invaded her very being—her first thoughts being of Ashley. She knew it would be wrong to change future events. It was not in her nature to take initiatives that would jeopardize the lives of people in the future.

But what if?

What if there was a way to save her without causing a domino effect of complete chaos? What if I could figure out a way to bring her back to me in my time? Dear god she hasn't even been born yet...

The very thought of bringing her daughter back into her life, into her arms, made her heart light up; her entire being felt alive again. Even with the smallest aching attempt to try and create some sort of plan whether rational or irrational, it felt right.

To hell with the world was one thought, but the morality and principles she had abided by for nearly two centuries reminded her of the greater good.

What is the greater good?

The greater good would be to have her own flesh and blood living and breathing. Helen rocked back and forth under the small archway, cold and shivering as she contemplated her situation. Her teeth chattered as she kept close the thoughts of having Ashley back in her life again. She had tried everything to save her. She hoped that Ashley knew that.

The memories of Ashley, her only daughter, ceased her tears as she let her mind fade back to the time she was alive. She could see her walking down the hallways of the Sanctuary holding Biggie's hand as they made their way to the sublevel. Biggie had always loved taking Ashley down to visit with the residents, mainly Sally. She was her favorite. As a little five year old she was most intuitive to her surroundings and had a natural gentleness to animals and creatures. Helen believed whole heartedly that she had gotten that from her.

She could still see her little face pressed against the cold glass enclosure to Sally's aquarium, her nose smashed and little hands touching the clear glass as her little giggle echoed through the sublevel as Sally would swim her way over to say hello. The memories were burned into her soul as was the last moment she saw her daughter's face.

Her mind continued to slip deeper into her memories so much that the sounds of old London where all but mute. She remembered the time they had returned to London when she was twelve. They were visiting James at the London Sanctuary and decided to take a little break from Sanctuary duties and ride horses on the outskirts of the country side. That was when Ashley broke her femur as the horse she was riding threw her off near a river creek. A small rodent, had scuttled beneath the horse and startled it.

Such memories were wonderful and painful at best but Helen knew even immortality would not cast them into a forgotten dark place.

But most of all, now, immortality of living without Ashley was in a sense, a death of its own.

Her decision was made.

I will find a way to save you Ashley.