I wake up to the sound of Dick talking on the phone. The only bit of the conversation that I catch is a Goodbye to Babs.
For a second I wonder who Babs is. Then it comes to me. Benefit of me having a photographic memory.
I'm looking forward to meeting her but I'm also a bit nervous.
What if she doesn't like me?
"Are you hungry Hope?" I shake my head. I'm never very hungry in the morning. I mean, I know breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I'm just not in the mood for it. "O.K. Then let's get going."
I follow Dick to the garage. Even his car is kind of average looking. I climb into the back seat and buckle up.
Moments later we arrive at our destination. I look out the window. It's definitely different than Dick's house that's for sure. It's a tower of some sort.
"Not what you were expecting?" I shake my head. "Well, that's Babs for you."
I follow him inside the building.
As the elevator we end up taking goes higher and higher I find myself grateful that I'm not afraid of heights.
The elevator doors finally open.
I walk out and look around.
My surroundings differ from what I'm used to but I think I'll be O.K.
It's not long before I see Babs wheeling toward us.
In a way she reminds me of my Mom.
"We never discussed the matter of how much I'm getting per hour."
I may be shy but I like her already.
"With my salary?" "Yes, with your salary. What, you think I don't know how much a police officer makes?" "In Gotham, yes I know you know that. In Bludhaven however..." "Right. I'm so sure there's a difference. I'll let you go without paying..." "Because you looove me."
He runs off after hurriedly telling me Goodbye.
Babs rolls her eyes then asks me if I'm hungry.
I'm about to nod when my stomach growls.
"I'll take that as a Yes."
I follow her to the kitchen.
The first thing I see is a basket of blueberry muffins. My favorite. Smiling, I grab one.
"You've got good taste. Do you want anything to drink with that Hope?" I shake my head.
The muffins really good. I wonder who made it. I point to it.
"Helena* made those. You like it?" I nod. "Someday you'll have to try Alfred's. His cooking is the stuff of legends." I raise my eyebrows. "Did Dick forget to tell you about Alfred?" I shake my head.
I know a bit about Alfred. Maybe not as much as I'd like to know about him but enough for me to be able to recognize him in a crowd.
I end up having two blueberry muffins and a glass of water. "So I'd ask you to tell me about yourself but Dick told me the basics. Is there anything you want to know about me?" I nod eagerly.
After Babs gets me paper and a pencil I get to learn almost all I want to know about her. I have one more question for her when I realize I've run out of room on the paper. It's a question I don't really need to write down though.
Hoping she doesn't mind, I point to her wheelchair. "That's not a good story." The look in her eyes makes me decide to drop the issue.
I point to her hair. "I like your hair too Hope." I smile. "Do you have any hobbies?" I nod.
I like to draw. For some reason, even though I never took an art class, I'm really good at drawing. I don't like to brag but that's what I've been told.
Babs gets me a small stack of paper and a box of colored pencils.
A broad grin slowly appears on my face as I immerse myself in my artwork.
Barbara's P.O.V
Hope is an amazing artist. Looking at her work you'd never guess that she's 9 years old.
Her first picture, which she gives to me, is of Dick and I in a flower field. Dick's handing a bouquet to me.
I ask why she didn't put herself in the picture. She shrugs her shoulders. Then she puts herself in the picture as a spectator.
Is that what she feels like?
I tell her that she should be getting a bouquet too.
Her eyes seem to ask if I really think that.
When I tell her that I do she grins.
Dick was right when he said that Hope's smile lights up a room.
After she draws a few more pictures (Including one of Dick proposing to me.** Little romantic.) I hear knocking at the door.
It's too early for it to be Dick so I'm thinking it's one of the Birds.
Hope looks terrified. She hides under the dining room table.
I wheel over to tell her it's all right.
When I get there I don't see her.
But I can hear her heart beating franticly.
Dick didn't tell me anything about this.
*Helena Bertinelli, Huntress, Birds of Prey member
**This is actually canon.
