A/N: 08.25.2021

This is the last of the "Unpack Your Heart Chronicles Part 2" that I'll be updating today. But don't worry! I'm not out of stories yet! I just don't have any others ready to go at the moment. But I'm working on some. I'll explain after this story.

Enjoy!

SYNOPSIS: Three weeks after moving to Gotham, Helena gets a visit from Selina and Helena confronts her mother over their past and the lies Helena has heard all her life. Post-"Iridescent."

The Cat & the Kitten

Three weeks after moving to Gotham, Helena was standing in her living room, staring at all her new furniture. The house Bruce bought for her was easily three times the size of her last apartment. Plus, she had her own car now, something she hadn't had in years. She kept looking at the furniture to see if everything was where she wanted it. All the extra space was almost too daunting, but she laughed at the notion. Her father bought her a house, furniture, and a car, and she was complaining about what do with the space. She walked over and sat down on the couch, taking it all in. She stared at the picture of herself and her friend, Lydia, as it sat on the coffee table.

But she was really just distracting herself as she waited for her first houseguest.

Helena heard the doorbell. She exhaled and looked at the picture. "What did you call this, Lydia? The oncoming storm? Let's get this over with." She stood up, walked to the door, and opened it to find Selina standing there.

"Hi, Kitten," Selina greeted.

Helena huffed. "Hi." She walked away from the door.

Selina sighed and walked inside, closing the door behind her. "You're angry."

"That's one way to put it." Helena walked into the kitchen.

Selina examined the house as she followed Helena. "I see your dad's pulled out all the stops to get you to Gotham. This place is… fantastic."

"Yeah. A huge step up from my place in London."

"Why didn't you move into the Manor?" Selina asked.

"I just moved here, Mom," Helena answered. "Dad doesn't know me yet! I'm not just gonna move into his house! Not when he needs to learn to trust me, first! Plus, his girlfriend is there and he runs his superhero work from the house. I'm not going to intrude on his life out of nowhere! I'm going to earn my way in!"

"You don't have to do that. Bruce… isn't like that. He probably knew from the start he could trust you."

"Yeah, I know. But that's even more reason why I did this! I'm not going to put a doubt in his mind about me. He didn't even have to buy me this house!" Helena paused. "I would've moved here and lived in a cardboard box if he'd asked me to."

Selina stopped. "He'd never do that to you."

"Yeah," Helena replied, angrily. "Yeah, I know that!"

Selina exhaled. "Okay. I guess we're done with the pleasantries and we're not easing into this. So… let's just jump right in."

"Sure! Let's do that!"

Selina took a few deep breaths. "Okay. Helena, I know you're angry. There's a lot of things about me and your father you need to understand, so you can understand the decisions I made…"

"Mom," Helena interrupted, boldly. "Stop."

Selina shut her mouth.

"I already understand more than you think. Right now? You need to sit down. And listen."

Selina blinked. "Okay." She sat down at the table.

Helena steadied her breathing, gripping the back of another chair. "Thirty. Five. Years! And you never told me about him. You said… he wasn't around. And he was a traveler. And a cop. By the way, a cop? You said Batman was a cop? Really? You were that mad at him?!" She sighed. "But what's worse? You made me feel like… he didn't want me. That's to say nothing of you doing the same to me whenever you would disappear for years at a time, leaving me with Auntie Helena or whoever else you could dump me off on."

"Sweetie…"

"I'm not done, Mom!"

Selina fell silent immediately.

Helena shook her head, "You never told him. He's trying to protect you. Saying how you and him were in love, things didn't work out, but he never mentions about you not telling us about each other. He puts it like everything about this is his fault and I know that's not true! He's protecting you! All of this and he's protecting you! You never told him about me! You kept him from me! You kept me from him! You lied to both of us! How could you do that?! Then you're married again?! Thanks for that invite, by the way!"

Selina's eyes grew wide and she looked away, fearfully.

"And to Mr. Grayson?! Really?! Are you two serious?! He practically raised me, too, and neither of you said anything!"

Selina looked back at Helena, nervously. "How'd you find out?"

"Sally, Basem's wife, said it really quick at the party. I pretended not to notice. Then I called Aunt Helena. After a few minutes, she caved." Helena huffed. "What else don't I know? Am I your only child? Do I have a sibling… another sibling somewhere?"

"No," Selina replied. "You're my only kitten."

"Kitten?" Helena asked. "Or stray you feed every now and again but you don't let in the house?"

"Helena!"

"And my middle name?! Martha? You actually go so far as to name me after my grandmother and never tell me where the name came from?!"

Selina's voice caught.

"Why give me that name?!" Helena asked. "Were you actually trying to honor my family and never me tell who that was?!"

Selina looked around, nervously.

"Wow. I've never known you to be at a loss for words."

"I just…" Selina swallowed. "Just because I was mad your father… for, admittedly, inconsiderate and selfish and wrong reasons… doesn't mean I wanted to erase your connection to him all together."

"But you never wanted to acknowledge it either!" Helena fired back.

"It was more than just my being mad at him! We've both always had our enemies!"

"And leaving me in the dark was protecting me from that?!"

"No! But…" Selina looked around, "I didn't know what else to do! I mean, most of those are dead now but… but-but I had to keep you safe! Your father said he was done being a hero! He said he left that life behind but he took it up again!"

"Oh, don't you dare give me that!" Helena countered. "Terry's Batman now! And, if I'm hearing right, you train young heroes! On a regular basis!"

"That's different! Not-not everyone knows about who I am! Or who I used to be! Your father's mantle just puts everyone around him danger! Even Terry and…"

"SHUT UP, MOM!"

Selina's eyes widened.

"Stop hiding behind that! Stop hiding behind masks and bad guys! That's not why you're bringing it up because that's not the reason you kept me a secret! You're just dancing around the real issues! Like always freakin' do!" Helena ran her hands through her hair, "I'm so sick of this!" She jumped to her feet and started to pace. "All my life, you've deflected about yours! I barely know who or what I am because you never told me where I came from! I barely, barely know about your life, I'm just learning about Dad's! And… you lied to me. Over and over, you lied to me! About him, about you, about everything! You never told him because you didn't think he deserved to be a father! And that wasn't fair to him or to me! Because what about me?! Don't I deserve to be a daughter?! To him?! Or even to you?!"

"To me?" Selina whispered, confusingly.

"When am I supposed to know everything? When am I supposed to get the truth and know who my mother is?! When am I supposed to be good enough for you?!"

Selina stopped. "Good… enough…?" Her throat went dry as she felt tears come to her eyes immediately. "Is… is that… what you think I think of you?"

Helena paused for a while. She almost wanted to take it back or rephrase but that was how she honestly felt. And if she wanted honesty, she had to give it. "Yeah. It is."

Selina sat back, listless.

"I barely hear from you! I get the occasional phone call. You rarely ever vid call me. You have an entire life I don't know anything about. You don't even keep me at arm's length. I lived most of my life in London, Mom. As soon as I was born, off I went someplace else! Even worse 'cause I was away from you! We weren't even in the same country. We weren't even on the same continent. Hell, we weren't even on any connecting landmass! You hid me an entire ocean away! What else am I supposed to think, other than you're ashamed of me?" She shook her head, "And, if you are… just say that! But… tell me what I did first! What's wrong with me? How come I'm not good enough? Tell me why… you can't… just let me be your daughter."

Selina stared at Helena for a while. She shook her head. "I… can't believe… I failed you like that."

Helena let out a groan and closed her eyes. She looked back Selina, "It's not about failure, Mom. It's about… I'm an adult now. I deserve some answers."

Tears were streaming down from Selina's eyes. "You're right. You do. I'm so sorry, Helena. I… really thought I was doing what was best by keeping you away from me. I didn't know… who would try to get to me through you. In some ways, that's the same reason I kept you from your father but you're right. It was bitterness. I was angry with him for how we ended. But… he had every reason not to trust. And I had no reason to blame him for it. I hid you… and never told you… to try and protect you. I failed. For what I did to you and your father… there's no excuse. I convinced myself he wouldn't be a good father. Or that he'd make you become Batgirl or something. I was convinced… he'd… just turn you into another tragedy that would fuel his crusade. That wasn't fair to him or you. I'll be apologizing for the rest of my life for this." She bowed her head and, for one of the few times she could count, Selina began to cry.

Helena studied Selina for a long time. It was the first time she'd seen this much guilt come from her mother. Helena pulled her chair closer to her mother, sat back down, and took hold of Selina's hands. "Calm down, Mom," Helena said, sincerely. "Please."

Selina sniffed and nodded.

"Look at me."

Selina looked up at Helena, gazing into her eyes.

"I love you, Mom," Helena admitted. "Always. No matter what. I'm just… really pissed at you right now."

"I completely understand that. I love you, too."

"I'm gonna forgive you. I do forgive you. You got this wrong. And I'm just be mad about it for a while. I just need time. And I need a favor."

"Anything."

"I need you… to leave me alone… while I get to know Dad. I don't want input, advice, or anything unless I ask you for it."

Selina took a deep breath. "Alright. Whatever you need, Kitten."

Helena smiled, "Okay." She sat back, letting go of Selina's hands. "So. My dad's Batman. You're Catwoman. What?" She laughed, "Is Mr. Grayson Nightwing or something?"

Selina shrugged, "Well…"

Helena gasped and sobered, immediately, her eyes going wide. "Oh, my God…"

"And… well… since we're being honest and open… your aunt Helena… is the original Huntress."

"Oh, my God!"

"And, umm, your Aunt Dinah and Uncle Ollie?"

"Yeah?" Helena asked, nervously.

"The first Black Canary and Green Arrow."

Helena stared at Selina, aghast.

"And, to answer your next question," Selina said, "no, they never knew Bruce was your father. Not until recently and your aunt has a mouth on her! Even your uncle was shocked at half the words she said. But, it was the first time I'd been cursed out in Martian. So, that was new."

Helena shook her head. "Wait! Is this why I know, like, 40 different styles of martial arts?! 'Cause Aunt Dinah knows… a hundred?!"

"A little. And by 'a little'… I mean, yes, absolutely."

Helena pressed her hands to her face and rubbed her eyes. "Moooooom," she groaned out. "Please, don't tell me everyone who's ever raised me has been in the Justice League!"

"I mean…" Selina said, "not… everyone."

Helena threw her hands down, "Like who?!"

"Like… like your Aunt Harleen!"

"Oh!" Helena said, relieved. "Oh, thank goodness. Okay, it was just Delia and Deirdre that went nuts! But thank God! Aunt Harleen is normal."

Selina sucked in through her teeth. "Not quite."

Helena's eyes went wide.

"She just wasn't in the Justice League," Selina explained. "She couldn't be. She used to be Harley Quinn."

"Oh, my GOD!"

Selina smiled and giggled, nervously.

"MOM!"

"I know, I know!"

Helena rubbed her eyes. "Mom. It's weird enough Batman's my dad and the new Batman is biologically my brother. But the fact that heroes and villains raised me is like… like… okay, just tell me. Was I ever not around superheroes or villains as a kid?"

"Well…" Selina thought back. "Not really, no, you weren't."

Helena pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I just wanted you to be safe," Selina declared.

Helena looked up, suddenly. "Wait, why would Aunt Dinah and Uncle Ollie raise me? Weren't you… not friends with the Justice League? I mean… they didn't really know you, did they?"

"Dinah did. I had a… even more complicated life after I left Gotham. Plus, your aunt Helena and aunt Dinah have been best friends, practically sisters, for decades. It really wasn't hard to convince them to take care of you."

"Why'd Aunt Helena agree if she knew about Dad?" Helena asked.

"Because she was worried about what knowing about you would do to your father," Selina answered. "Trust me: she told me to tell him every chance she got. You wouldn't believe the 'I-told-you-so' she gave me the other day."

Helena smiled. "Actually, I kinda would." She rubbed her face. "Mom…"

"I know you're mad at me. I have no right to try and change that. Any questions you have, from now on, I'll answer, unconditionally. And just… any time you worry about your father… blame me. He's a good man, Helena. One of the best!" Selina paused. "Terry said it best. I couldn't trust your father because he didn't trust me. But… he had every reason not to trust me. Even when he tried his best. I like to think… we divorced because I knew he couldn't get past what I was. But the truth… I couldn't get past what I was. And I put my insecurities on him."

"Dad doesn't absolve himself from anything, Mom," Helena declared.

"Doesn't mean he's as guilty as he thinks he is." Selina sighed. "I sometimes feel guilty for being happy with Dick. Bruce didn't deserve to see us married. I don't know what I was thinking."

"Subconsciously, you're still mad at him because of your past with him?"

"When did you get so smart?"

"I've always been smart." Helena smiled. "My mom taught me."

Selina chuckled a bit. "I think you get it more from your father."

"I'm blessed with two sets of great genes."

Selina held her smile.

Helena groaned, "Mom! You actually came here to let me yell at you! Why must you suddenly be so accommodating?"

"Years of failing at it?"

"I guess so." Helena took Selina's hands again. "I need you to let me get to know Dad. But I wanna get to know you, too. Please. I want to know both of my parents. I want to know my family."

"I swear, Kitten. I promise. I'll never keep things from you again."

"Okay." Helena sighed. "Are you hungry? I was gonna make dinner."

"That sounds great!" Selina replied. "You can tell me what you think of your brother."

Helena got up, "Terry's great! His wife is gorgeous!" She walked over to the fridge.

"And she's feisty!"

"I noticed!" Helena started removing items from the fridge and setting them on the counter.

"She talked back to me." Selina smiled. "I really like her."

"She talked back to you?!" Helena said, surprised. "Oh, I like her even more now!"

"You would!"

Helena laughed. "You know… you need to tell me how you and Dad met. And what in the world led you both to getting married. Then you tell me about you and Mr. Grayson."

Selina sighed but smiled. "You just want all the stories, don't you?"

"I want to know my parents. Last I checked? I got two!"

Selina laughed. "Alright, alright." She stared at Helena. "Before I start, let me tell you something I never told you enough…"

Helena started the burners on the stove then turned toward Selina, "What's that?"

"I'm so proud of you, Helena."

Helena paused and slowly smiled. "Believe it or not… I'm proud of you, too, Mom." She sneered. "Barring instances of frustration and rage, and even though you're mean to Dad."

Selina groaned, disgustedly. "What did he tell you?!"

"Just a couple of things. Ms. Diana threw in some stories, too."

Selena's eyes widened. "She what?! What couple of things?! What did they say?!"

Helena held her smirk and went back to cooking.

"Helena!"

A/N: I can't lie, this was another personal favorite of mine! Getting to explore a kid of Batman and Catwoman is something I feel should be more common at this point in DC Comics media. Maybe. We can dream.

How did you like it? Let me know!

Now, from this point forward, we'll be starting the Road to "So Far Away"! Like I said at the end of "Iridescent", I may not start "So Far Away" until last this year/early next year. I might be a little busy. We'll see. Either way, keep checking "Unpack Your Heart Chronicles Part 2" for stories that will shape "So Far Away". Anyway, you guys know where to find me: here and all my social media (which is located on my profile page). Thank you all so much and see you soon! Take care and be good to each other and be good people!