"I take it your efforts were successful?" Alfred asked as they entered. He already knew the answer, of course, by the smiles on their faces.
"I got it," Helena said, looking at him and barely being able to contain her enthusiasm. "I got it, Alfred."
"Very good, Miss Bertinelli." He nodded at her, but his look said much more. She was going home, and time would go back to normal.
"Do you have anything to eat around here?" Selina asked, taking off her coat. "I'm starved."
"There's left over spaghetti in the kitchen, Miss Kyle," Alfred answered. "I had a feeling you would be hungry."
"Thanks." Selina patted his arm as she walked by. "I promise I won't make too much of a mess."
Alfred sighed and looked upward before glancing at Helena as if to ask do I really have to put up with this for the next thirty years?
Helena smiled at him impishly. "I think I could use some of that spaghetti too, Alfred."
"Go right ahead."
Helena turned. "Bruce?"
"I'm not hungry, but I'll join you anyway."
Thus Helena found herself leaning over a bowl of hot noodles, mopping up the sauce with garlic bread as she laughed with her parents.
"You've got really good aim with that crossbow," Selina said. "How long have you been using it?"
"Well, my dad has this friend whose an archer, and as joke he got me a bow and arrow for my birthday when I was little. I just took to it, I guess, and started exploring my options. One of my brothers had an old crossbow lying around that I found when I was about ten. I've been using it ever since. But you guys are amazing," Helena couldn't help but gush a little bit. Their skills were nowhere near the caliber they'd be one day (Helena, with all her training, had already far advanced beyond them by that age), but they were still impressive, considering their ages and upbringing.
"She's amazing," Bruce corrected. "I just throw a few punches here and there. It's not that impressive. Anyone could do it."
"Nobody else would, you numbskull," Selina said, pushing his arm teasingly. Helena covered a snort with her hand.
Bruce addressed Helena again. "I guess you'll be leaving soon, then?"
"Yeah." Helena looked out of the kitchen window and tried not to yawn.
"We should all probably get some rest," Selina said. She raised her head to see over the counter. "Is that pie over there?"
"Alfred said it was chocolate cream, and that you could dig right in, Selina," Bruce said.
"Alfred is getting to know me too well," Selina said, cutting herself a piece. "And it's starting to freak me out." She took her piece and left the kitchen. "Those stools are too hard," she said over her shoulder.
Helena looked at Bruce and gave an exaggerated shrug before taking her piece of pie and following Selina towards the study, where her mother sat cross-legged on the couch, her plate of pie in her lap. Helena sat across for her and hadn't realized they they'd both gotten into the same position until she'd finished her plate. She yawned, but Bruce and Selina were still talking, and she didn't feel like it was the right moment to leave yet. She had a feeling they were expecting her to at least stay the night, considering the hour. She yawned again and, putting her plate down on the coffee table, snuggled deeper into the couch. Just a small nap, she figured, so she'd have a clear head when it came time to fix the machine…
Helena's eyes fluttered open just as a few rays of early sunshine were peeking past the curtains. Her neck felt stiff from the couch, and she sat up to stretch. She looked across the room. Bruce was still asleep, his long legs stretched out on the ottoman, while his arm rested lazily around Selina's shoulder. She'd fallen asleep against his chest, and her face looked more peaceful than Helena had seen it since coming back to this time.
It was enough to make Helena smile. In a small, strange way, she was going to miss these versions of her parents. And now, watching them, she was certain that everything would turn out right in the end.
She rose slowly as not to wake them. They needed their rest after last night. But she—well, it was time enough she went home.
She crept slowly up the stairs and began gathering her things. She heard footsteps and turned to see Alfred in the doorway.
"Getting ready to leave?" he asked.
"It's time." She pulled out her bookbag and found the device. Taking a deep breath, she opened it up.
"Here." Alfred handed her a pair of tongs. "I thought you might want to use these."
She gratefully took them to replace the stone. As soon as she shut the device's window, the screen lit up. She let loose a sigh of relief. "It's on." She turned to Alfred, unable to hide her smile. "I'm going home."
"I supposed this isn't goodbye then, Miss Helena," Alfred said kindly. "We'll see each other again soon."
"But not too soon," Helena said, her eyes twinkling.
Alfred laughed, but a thought entered Helena's head that sobered her.
"Before I leave…I need you to do something for me," she said. She took another deep breath. "You've watched over my father all his life, and even more so since…since my grandparents died."
"And I always will," Alfred said.
"That's just the thing," Helena said. "I'm going to need you to stop. Something is going to happen and…and you're going to have to leave him. Because he's not the one who will need you the most."
Alfred's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"You're going to have to protect her, Alfred. My mother. She's going to need you. And I know you don't get along with her now, but one day you'll love her the way you do my father and...I can't stop what's going to happen, but if I can make it easier for her…" Helena didn't know what she should say and what she shouldn't anymore. "I can't say anything else. But please, promise me you'll be there for both of them when they need you. Don't leave her alone."
"Of course." Alfred's frown was so worried Helena almost regretted telling him. But not enough to wish she hadn't.
Helena set down the device and hugged him quickly and tightly. "I love you, Alfred. I'll see you before you see me, I guess."
"Get home safely, Miss Helena," he whispered. "I look forward to meeting you one day."
Helena smiled. "Just so long as you're not expecting much in the way of conversation those first couple of years. It takes me awhile to grasp the finer points of conversation."
"Just so long as you exist in the first place," Alfred said. "That's what matters now."
Helena felt warmed by those words. Her Alfred loved her like a granddaughter, but that Alfred had seen her grow up. He'd been there when she'd been born. To the man standing in front of her she was a stranger, but he was still just as willing to have her back.
She swallowed and picked up the machine. She'd strapped on her backpack and flung the duffel bag over her shoulder. A worried laugh escaped her. "I feel like I should be clicking my heels three times right now." Knowing she was procrastinating in her nervousness, she steeled herself for the ride. If this worked, she was minutes away from being home. "Here goes."
She twisted the handle, and the world exploded into color.