A/N…Um, hey everyone! Well, I want to profusely apologize for my absence…HEY! Stop rolling your eyes! I mean it! I've had a hard time with this chapter and I've been working and at school all the time. Yeah, I know….no excuses. Ok, ok….I'm sorry. Can you ever forgive me? (puppy-dog face) Puh-leeessee?

(Clears throat) Ok, now that that's done, on with the story. I believe that Helena had just run away from the clock tower, right? (Checks story) Yup….

Chapter 21

Reese was sitting down and watching television when he heard knocking coming from his balcony. He was only a tad surprised. He knew that Helena would come over, but she never knocked. That was the first sign that something was wrong. Hoping that he was just paranoid, Reese opened the door. When he saw Helena, that hope was dashed.

She looked terrible. Evidently, it was pouring down rain outside because she was soaking wet. (A/N: I know his balcony is outside and therefore he would have figured it out without seeing her soaking wet…..I'm just going for the dramatic effect!) Her eyes were bloodshot and she looked a mix between miserable and pissed. It was obvious that she had been crying, and it was doubly obvious that she was trying to hide that fact. Of course, she was never very good at hiding the fact that she was upset.

Reese had no idea what to do. He had never seen her cry before. He had dealt with a pissed Helena before, hell, he would prefer to have a pissed Helena right now. That was what he was expecting. But a sad, vulnerable Helena? Reese did the first thing that came to mind. He went over and hugged her.

"Helena, what's wrong?" She instantly burst into tears. Reese awkwardly moved over to his couch and sat down with Helena in his lap. He started rubbing her back.

"Helena, calm down. I can't help you unless you can tell me what's wrong. C'mon now, deep breaths."

After about five minutes of this, Helena did calm down. She took a deep breath and looked at his (now) soaked shirt.

"Sorry about that." She pointed to his shirt. He laughed.

"Well, I knew I'd eventually be your shoulder to cry on…." Helena glared at him before kissing him.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Calming me down."

"Well, you're welcome." They kissed again.

After a minute, Reese broke away.

"Helena, what happened?" Helena took a deep breath before starting.

"I talked to Bruce Wayne today."

"I'm taking a shot in the dark here, but I'm assuming that it did not go well." Helena smiled and pushed him.

"You'd be correct." Reese nodded for her to go on.

"He asked me why I was angry with him." Reese cringed at that. Helena saw him and grinned.

"Yeah, practically everyone cringed when he said that." (A/N: Were you one of those people? ;) )

"So?"

"So what?"

"What did you say?"
"I told him why I despised him."

"What did he say?" He felt Helena tense up a little.

"He had excuses for everything I had to say." Helena's face darkened a little.

"Like what?"

"He was 'respecting my mother's privacy.'" Helena even quoted with her hands. (A/N: Do you know what I mean? When people quote with their hands? I know there's probably a better way to say it, but oh well)

"Then what happened?"

"He held out his hand and asked me to give him a chance." Helena spat out the word "chance." (A/N: Ok, cookies to those of you who realized that Helena is getting angrier by the second……ok, hands up….notices that everyone's hand is up….am I that obvious? Ok, hang on….I need more cookies)

"What di-" Reese didn't get the chance to finish before Helena interrupted him.

"I mean, who the HELL does he think he is? He comes waltzing into my life after 23 years and expects a goddamn medal! What, did he think I would welcome him with open arms! Eugh, I just want to hit him. Oh, and Barbara! She had the nerve to be little Miss Optimistic! 'See, Helena, he really did want to be a part of your life.'" Helena started pacing the room.

"What di-" Reese was cut off yet again by Helena.

"I really don't give a DAMN what he wants. I gave him the time he deserved. That's it, I'm done with him." She stopped pacing and sat back down. Reese waited a minute before asking a question.

"Helena, who are you angry at?"

"What?" She thought it was obvious.

"Who are you angry at? I mean, I realize that you're upset, but who are you upset with and why?" Helena sat for a minute and then answered his question.

"I'm mad at Bruce Wayne for abandoning me."

"So, you're mad because he left town without realizing that he was abandoning you because he didn't even know you existed?"

"….."

"Think about it, Helena. When your mother told him about you, he came here."

"No, he came here because she was leaving and she asked him to come. There is a difference."

"Helena, if you ask me, I think you should be mad at your mother. She hid you from him."

"She did what she did to protect me."

"Well, then, why are you criticizing her decision?"

"What?"

"Well, you told me that you understand her decision. Now, you're upset because her plan worked!" Reese looked at Helena, gauging her reaction.

Helena was stunned.

Star Star Star

"That went well," Selina commented. She walked over to Bruce who was looking out the window Helena went out.

"Did it? I would say it went poorly."

"Actually, she behaved better than I expected. I thought she might attack you."

"Did you?" He turned around.

"Honestly? Yes. Don't worry. She'll be back. She needs a little time to stew about this. Once she cools down and starts thinking rationally, she'll be back."

"Where do you think she went?" Bruce asked. Barbara rolled in and answered his question.

"Well, when she's usually upset, she usually comes to me. Since I'm here, she's either at Gibson's or at Reese's."

"Gibson? Gibson Kafka? No. I refuse to go over there and talk to him again. I really don't know how Helena put up with him for so long." Selina said. Barbara nodded while grinning. (A/N: Did I spell his last name right?)

"Who are they?" Bruce asked.

"Well, Gibson is an old friend of Helena's from high school. Oh, he is so annoying. He's infatuated with her, and he's a Meta. He remembers everything." Selina said. Barbara laughed.

"Ok, and who is Reese?"

"Detective Jesse Reese. He's Helena's 'significant other.' He's a detective for NGPD." Barbara explained.

"So, she's dating a cop?" Selina and Barbara nodded.

"Does he know about her night work?" Bruce asked.

"Yes, he does. He actually met Huntress first. They became partners like you and my father, and then they started dating." Barbara said.

"What? Does she realize what kind of risks she's taking! Letting her guard down like that is a mistake! She's letting herself become vulnerable to her enemies. You should never mix hero work and personal life!" Bruce was in lecture mode. (A/N: Yes, he did just say that)

Selina stared at Bruce pointedly. It took him a minute to realize what he had just said.

"Selina, I didn't mean it like that…" She glared at him before leaving the room. Bruce threw up his hands and looked over at Barbara who was also glaring at him.

"What? I really didn't mean it like that."

"Really, because it sounded like you meant it to me." She said before also leaving the room.

"…women." Bruce muttered before leaving the clock tower after Selina.

Star Star Star

"So what if I choose to blame him for her plan working? I resent the fact that he made her feel like she had to hide me from him." Helena was still at Reese's and still in his lap.

"C'mon, Helena. That really isn't fair to him. Maybe you should give him a chance. If you're going to hate him, you might as well let him give you a reason."

"…You may be right, but the fact of the matter is, I don't need a father now. I've already grown up."

"Well, don't you want to make your mother happy? Or get to know the other half of your roots?"

"I guess so."

"Well, good. Besides, I want to meet him." Helena arched an eyebrow at this.

"You do?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, you came from him. How bad can he be?" Helena smiled.

"I don't know whether to kiss you for being sweet, or hit you for insulting me."

"Do I get a vote?" Reese smirked.

"No." Helena said before kissing him.

It would have become another make out session had they not been interrupted by Barbara.

"Huntress!" Helena groaned. She was seriously considered buying a new pair of earrings.

"Yes?"

"Where are you?" Barbara's voice was sugary sweet. Helena started racking her brain to remember what she forgot. In fact, she had no idea what time it was.

"Um, I'm at Reese's. Why?"

"Well, you were supposed to be here about half an hour ago for sweeps. Plus, your parents have gone AWOL." Helena shot out of her seat.

"WHAT!"

"Oh, it's not that bad. Bruce…well, let's just say he needs a huge shoehorn to get his foot out of his mouth, and Selina went off to blow off some steam. He went after her. Do you think you can try to find your mom before he does? I have a feeling he might get seriously injured if he tries to dig himself out of the hole he put himself in."

"Gotcha. Let me just go home and change, and I'm on it." Helena got up. Reese also got up.

"What? I'm going too. Two minds are better than one."

"But, it's your night off."

"Yeah, well. With you out doing work, there's nothing better to do than to help."

"Aw, how sweet. See, that's why I keep you around!" Helena said mockingly.

"And here I thought it was because of my looks! What was I thinking?" Reese said while laughing.

"Well, that's just a perk." Helena looked him up and down while she said this. Reese put his arms around himself.

"Hey, now! You're violating my personal bubble!"

"Hmm, that's not all I can violate." Helena walked up to him and kissed him. He kissed her back, and it became very passionate. Reese pulled back after a while and looked at Helena.

"Helena…" She looked up at him.

"What?"

"I-I love you." Reese had his eyes closed when he said it. He was expecting Helena to run away, but she was done with running away that day.

"Jesse, open your eyes." He did, a little surprised that she said his first name. He opened his eyes to see her looking at him and smiling. She kissed him.

"I love you too, but I have to go home and change. I'll be back in a minute." She started backing out, and hit the door. She giggled, opened the door, and made her way to the balcony.

"Bye." She said before jumping out of the building.

"Bye."

A/N: Yay! You know, I actually didn't plan on that end, but it just fits. By the way, last night I saw "Batman Returns" for the first time. That movie is freakin' awesome:) I really liked it. Well, in other good news, my friend Katie is going to be helping me write some fight scenes…actually, she's going to be doing most of them, and I will stay away. YAY! She also helped me with some of this chapter and the next, so I'm giving her her credit! Thanks:)

I really am sorry that I wasn't able to update. If it makes you feel better, my friend Katie is telling me to write more every time she sees me. The next chapter is almost finished, so it won't be as long a wait.