"Elizabeth?"
Pausing her packing, she turned to see Helena at her door, "What is it, darling?"
Entering cautiously she asked, "You didn't answer us, how can you be the fountain?"
"Ah. I was rather hoping I had avoided that topic."
Shaking her head, Helena sat on the bed beside Elizabeth's case, "Please tell me."
Placing a kiss to the younger woman's forehead, Elizabeth sighed, "I will darling, I promise. But will you wait until I return from Greece? I only have an hour to get to the airport."
"Fine. As soon as you get back..."
Elizabeth pecked Helena's cheek, "Thank you darling."
Pulling a face at her friend, Helena's smile faded, "Are you sure it is safe to go, with that man chasing after you?"
Holding the tops of Helena's arms, Elizabeth made the younger woman look her in the eye, "I will be fine, darling." Pausing a moment, she studied Helena's eyes. "What is it? There is something troubling you."
Looking down, the Victorian shook her head, "I'm fine."
"You can't lie to me Helena, I know you too well, remember?"
Looking up, Helena hid her emotions behind a mask of irritation, "Fine. You are one of the people I hold dearest in the world, yet as time progresses I feel as if I know less and less about you! Are we acquainted at all Elizabeth?"
Helena's attempt to exude anger rather than hurt failed, and her voice failed. Elizabeth's emerald eyes softened, "Oh, Helena. I'm sorry, but there were – are, things that I simply cannot tell you."
"If I had not been bronzed, would you have told me any of this? Or would you have allowed me to live with a false estimation of a woman I hold dearer than a mother."
For the first time, Helena saw uncertainty in her friend's eyes, "I don't know Helena. I truly do not know."
Sighing, Helena bit her lip to fight a tide of hurt rising within her, "Why couldn't you tell me? You know every secret I hold; you know me better than I know myself. Yet, you would only ever return a semblance of closeness. Why won't you let me know you?"
Pulling the smaller woman to her in a gentle embrace, Elizabeth whispered through Helena's ebony hair, "Because, Helena I love you more than a daughter, that is why I could not tell you. The information would not only put you in danger, but the knowledge would have damaged the bond between us; like it is doing now. I never wished to keep secrets from you, I swear, but it was the only way. Had you known; you would not have been bronzed- you would have been executed."
Helena felt her blood go cold, "Why?"
"Because the regents of Warehouse 12 and I were never the closest of friends, they had initially considered having you die on a mission. But I found the plan and threatened to destroy them. However, they hid the plan for your bronzing better and I didn't find out until it was too late."
Closing her eyes, Helena said softly, "While I was bronzed, I heard you. I don't know whether it was a dream or..."
"No, I broke into the Warehouse. I found you in the bronze sector, and broke down. But when I tried to debronze you, the agents were alerted to my presence and I was dragged before the regents in chains. I was told if I went near the bronze sector again, then they would destroy you."
Helena had not realised how tightly she held onto the other woman, until her wrist began to throb in protest. Ignoring the sensation, she buried her face further into the comforting black curls, "Why did they hate you so much?"
"They wanted to harness the power of the fountain, to make the Warehouse invulnerable through a legion of immortal regents; I refused. They tried to take the power by force and two agents along with three regents died as a result. It left a bitterness between us which was never resolved; until the warehouse moved."
Pulling back, Helena frowned, "Why didn't you leave?"
"And leave the Warehouse in their hands?"
The inventor nodded, "Ah, I see."
Glancing at her watch, Elizabeth closed her case, "When I get back we will continue this conversation. But until then, darling, take care."
Helena nodded, "You too. Try not to get into too much trouble."
"Nothing to do with me darling! I think it simply follows me wherever I go!"
Thank you so much for your reviews! This one is a little shorter than the others but chapter 12 is ready to come out straight afterward, so you don't have to wait!
If I am becoming too fluffy, please to tell me!
Enjoy! :)
