Lifetimes
By Carla
DISCLAIMERS: All the characters and locations belong to DC or Warner, I'm just playing around with them. Helena-oriented, but other characters play a big role as well.
Epilogue
"Where am I?" was the first question Helena asked the minute she woke up. Reese could've laughed at how cliche it all sounded, but he was too relieved to see her eyes open. He was sitting by her bedside, and there were far too many people in her room for an ICU. Then again, this was Bruce Wayne's daughter, so they got away with it. Bruce, Barbara, Dick, Alfred, Carolyn and Dinah let out a collective breath once she was awake. He smiled at her.
"You're at the hospital. Do you remember what happened?" he asked as he stroke her cheek. She took a minute, considering his question before speaking again, with some difficulty.
"Joker... the rooftops," she said.
"It's okay now, Helena, you're okay and you saved my life." Bruce Wayne walked forward and with some hesitation took her hand in his. It was awkward for a moment, father and daughter looked into each other's eyes, a new understanding passing between them.
"Where is he?"
"Arkham. He and Harley are both at Arkham," Dinah answered.
"Yeah, but this time we're making sure they don't get away," Reese offered.
"Good."
"You've got to rest now, Helena," Barbara said, smiling.
"You gave us quite a scare," Dick said, "Should've known you were too stubborn to simply drop dead!"
"Master Dick..."
"Okay, okay Akfred, I promise to behave."
"Like that's going to happen." Even Carolyn joined in the fun.
"Okay, guys, we should leave now. Helena needs her rest," Barbara Gordon stated in a voice that made it clear she was not taking a no for an answer. Each one took their turn saying good-bye to the woman lying on the bed. Reese noticed Barbara lingering a little longer, whispering something in Helena's ear, and Bruce Wayne planting a soft kiss on his child's forehead. Only he remained in the room.
"Gotta go before Barbara comes back in and kicks my ass," he joked. She smiled weakly at him and reached for his hand. He took it and kissed her hand softly, "You scared the hell out of me, you know that?"
"I'm sorry."
"Never mind, you're in one piece, that's all that matters right now."
"Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?"
"Being here, been there when I needed... you've been great through this whole thing."
"That's what you do in a relationship, Helena. You stick by the person you..." he suddenly felt silent, not quite sure how to end his phrase.
"This is still beginning." Helena read his mind, "We don't need to throw big words yet, I told you I'm commitment shy... so it would be better to just leave it a, thank you."
"You're welcome. And, Helena?"
"Yeah?"
"Even if we're just starting here, make no mistake, I'm here to stay."
"Good." She smiled. He kissed her softly on the lips and left the room so she could get some sleep.
Two months later...
"Stop pulling the covers!" Helena threatened him, while pulling the bedcovers over herself.
"Come on, share! It's cold!" he said, smiling, pulling at the covers as well.
"Isn't this bed warm enough for you, Detective?" she asked, seductively.
"Well, we're naked under the sheets..."
"So you have a hot naked woman under your sheets and you are still cold? Seriously, Reese, you're too young for this!" she joked, kissing him fully on the lips. Reese was just too happy to do anything but answer the kiss, and when they parted for breath, he made her comfortable, lying on his chest. They remained several minutes in silence, just enjoying each other's presence. He loved being like this with her. Getting to know the woman on his bed, that is, the side of her that wasn't a vigilante during the night, had been amazing. He had learnt that she was not only beautiful, sexy and brave, but also quite smart, funny, classy... and even sweet, although she hated him saying it. She was amazing, and he found himself falling more and more for her as days passed.
"Saw the paper today?" her voice broke his ramblings.
"What?"
"The Inquisitor? Did you see what they wrote?"
He thought for a minute and then remembered. He couldn't help but laugh, it was pretty damn funny from where he was sitting. Helena didn't agree, though, and punched him on the arm.
"Ouch."
"That's for laughing."
"Sorry, love, but IT IS amusing. 'Bruce Wayne's Long Lost Daughter: The True Story'. You know, your true story would've been a more interesting tale anyway." She just sighed. "I specially enjoyed the part where they said that you and Dick were in this huge feud over the Wayne inheritance."
"Right."
"Come on! They actually printed you were in the hospital by some 'accident' just after Dick got back in town."
"And you find that amusing? They printed that my brother tried to kill me to get my dad's money!"
"It's funny because it is a load of crap, Helena."
"Well I'm not laughing." She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted like a little girl. Reese couldn't help but laugh again, and that earned him another punch.
"Okay, okay... I'm done laughing."
"I swear, Reese, you're such a kid!"
"You know, you really should start calling me Jesse sometime soon, it's an easy name."
"I like Reese better."
"That's my last name."
"But it suits you... I don't know, that's the name I know you by, you'll always be Reese to me."
"That's sweet." She sighed again, "Call me whatever you want to call me, Helena." They kissed again.
Silence.
They had been avoiding this conversation for a week now, but there was no way to run anymore. Instinctively, he brought her body even closer to his and held her with a little more strength. He had to ask.
"What time are you leaving?" he felt her hesitation.
"Tonight at eleven."
"That's... what? Six hours?"
"Five."
"How long?"
"I don't know... We're going to Paris first, dad wants to see where I was born and all... then, to some cities I visited with my mom..."
"It's a good thing that you two are taking this trip together, you need this time alone." Helena turned over his body, so she was now staring straight into his eyes. She had the most mesmerizing eyes, even when they weren't cat looking.
"Do you really feel that way? Are you okay with me leaving?"
"No, Helena, of course not. I don't want you to leave, I'm going to miss you like crazy, but I understand why you have to do this."
"I could be away for a whole year, you know?"
"I know." She was having trouble voicing her thoughts. Reese was pretty sure he knew what she wanted to say next, but decided not to help her out. It was fun to watch her struggle when she had to say something she felt was too 'human' for her, like...
"When I come back, are you still going to be here?" She was almost shy asking this question. He had to smile and kissed the point of her perfect nose.
"Of course I'm going to be here, waiting for you. Then, we pick it up, just where we are now. Okay?"
"Yeah," she said, hugging him with such a strength that it was almost hurtful. But he wouldn't turn away from her, he needed to feel her like this, close to him, for as long as possible.
"What am I going to do without you?" he asked.
"You're going to keep fighting crime, and being so brave and good and wonderful... I'm going to miss you too, Reese, you can't even begin to imagine how much."
"Good. Because I'm crazy about you."
"Me too."
He stared at her eyes, and decided it was time he took the leap.
"I'm in love with you. I love you. I can't imagine my life without you... and I know you suck at these things and that you probably feel like in my mind we're already married and with five kids and it's going too fast for you and..." he was interrupted by the softest pair of lips he had ever felt in his life, kissing him passionately. He answered the kissing, playing with her hair. When she finally pulled away, she was smiling at him.
"I'm in love with you too, Detective. And you don't have to imagine your life without me, because I'm coming back for you, no matter what."
He smiled.
"You want me to take you to the airport?"
"No. At airports good-byes are harder... I want this to be how we parted. Here, in your bed, making love, and knowing this separation is just for a little while."
"I want you to write and call."
"Do I look like the e-mail kind of girl to you?"
"You're going to have to become one, or I'll have to track you wherever you are and bring you home, you hear me?"
"Loud and clear." She smiled as she leaned on him, kissing him.
Barbara Gordon looked at the costume on display in front of her. It was amazing how far they had all come... it was stunning. Bruce and Helena were leaving tonight. Bruce had come to say good-bye and thank her for all she had done for his girl. Barbara had told him that there was nothing he had to thank her for, and that now she made him responsible for her safety. He smiled and told her that no one was going to put a finger on Helena under his watch. It was a good thing he came, they were able to patch things, this time for good. They could once again be the people they once were, good friends, long time ago mentor and protege, and now, partners.
Right now, Bruce was in the living room with Alfred, Dick, Dinah and Carolyn. She just felt like being in the costume vault. Helena had been off active duty for the last couple of months. After her injury, they figured that, no matter how fast she healed, she had to take it easy. Plus, at the moment, there were enough heroes in New Gotham to lend a hand. So, while the young woman was at the hospital, Bruce had all her stuff transferred from her apartment to the manor. That was Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman, never ask question, just do what you decide it's better to do. Helena was hardly enthusiastic about the idea at first, she once swore never to step foot on that manor again, but she finally agreed. Alfred was beyond himself with happiness, for years he had pleaded with Helena to move to the manor. Now he finally had the last Wayne home... Well, Kyle, but she was Bruce's daughter anyway.
"It's weird to see it in display like that." Her voice startled Barbara. Had she always to be this sneaky? "My costume, up there with Batgirl, Black Canary, Robin, Batman... I feel so... old!" Barbara raised an eyebrow, "Ow, I'm not saying you're old, Barbara..."
"You would be well advised to stop talking, Helena," she said.
"Yeah." The younger woman smiled.
"You came to say good-bye?" Barbara asked, turning to face her.
"No, I hate good-byes, they're so... final. And this isn't the end, I'm coming back, and that costume is coming out of the urn, Huntress will prowl again."
"Good. Huntress is one of the best of all times."
"Well, she had the best mentor ever." Helena smiled at her. Barbara smiled back, her protege seemed so relaxed these days... that was a good thing. She was finally getting some equilibrium and even normalcy in her life, without giving up who she was in the way. Barbara was as proud of her as she could be.
"I'm going to miss you, Helena."
"Me too. But time will fly and I'll be back before you even notice I'm gone."
"Oh, I'm gonna notice you're gone, trust me," Barbara said. Neither of them was sure what to say next, why was this so awkward? They had always been able to talk about everything and anything.
"I... I've kind of wanted to tell you something for a while... but you know I'm lousy with words and..."
"Whatever it is, Helena, take a deep breath and come out and say it already."
"Gee, thanks for the pep talk!"
"Whenever, now spit."
"Fine. The thing is, I'm leaving today with my dad... and I don't think... no, scratch that. I KNOW I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."
"Helena..."
"No, Barbara, please let me say this, because this is long overdue." Barbara nodded and the younger woman continued, "When my mom died, you were the person that saved me. I was on the wild and ready to shoot someone's brains, Joker's, the guy that had stabbed her... And you wouldn't let me. Thank you for that, because I wouldn't have a life now if you hadn't been there for me."
"I'm always going to be there for you."
"I know... Like when you took my hand at the hospital."
Barbara was startled.
"Were you awake?"
"Not really... I just... I always had this dream as a little kid, that I couldn't find my mom, and I was all alone..."
"I remember Selina mentioning it."
"Every time I had that nightmare, my mom would come running to my room and would spend the night with me... She always made me feel safe, you know? I knew I was going to be okay because I had her to take care of me and love no matter what. I was having that nightmare again back at the hospital... I sort of remembered the sensations... First I was with my mom and then she was taken away from me... and I couldn't find her, and I was reaching out for her... and you took my hand. You always did, Barbara. When my mother wasn't here to take care of me, you did. And I have felt safe all these years because you were here with me." Barbara could feel her heart raising, tears threatened to fall down her cheeks and, surprisingly so, she could see Helena was struggling with her own tears as well.
"I didn't keep you safe, Helena."
"You kept me alive. You are my mentor, my best friend... and, in so many ways, like a second mother to me." That's all she could do to keep her tears in control. She knew how much Helena cherished the memory of her mother and that to be compared to Selina Kyle by her daughter was the biggest compliment she could hope for.
"Oh, Helena..." she took the other woman in her arms. She hadn't hugged Helena like this in years, and it felt so good. "All I ever wanted was for you to be happy with yourself... you have no idea how much happiness you brought to my life, how much hope and promise. And I love you Helena, I couldn't love you more if you were my own child."
"I love you too, Barbara," Helena whispered. Barbara couldn't believe what she was hearing, she could just hug Helena tighter, stroking her hair like she used to do when Helena was a little kid. For the first time in years, she had the certainty that Helena Kyle was going to be okay. When they pulled away, both of them were a lot calmer. Barbara still held one of Helena's hands in hers.
"Now, you go with your father and try and have a normal life for a while."
"Right, a normal life! I'm going on a trip with Batman! The guy that defined 'weird' as far as I know."
"You're going to start a whole new life with your father."
"No, I can't do that, because that would mean giving up my current life and I'm not willing to do that. We're going on this trip together so we can finally become fully part of each other's life, and I wouldn't want it any other way."
"Your mom would be proud of you."
Helena looked to the floor for a couple of seconds. When she finally looked up again, Barbara could see there was something else she wanted to say.
"Barbara... do you think my mom would mind..."
"What?"
"Well... my dad is a good guy and they loved each other, and he hasn't even talked about it... but I think it would mean a lot to him... and to me... but I wouldn't want it to seem like I'm forgetting her, because my mom was the one that raised me..." Barbara smiled at Helena, she knew now where this was headed.
"Your last name."
"Well, Dick is Grayson and I'm his only daughter..."
"Helena Wayne has a nice ring to it."
"Yeah, but I've been Helena Kyle my whole life, that's the name my mom gave me."
"So...?"
"So, I was thinking... about... Helena Kyle-Wayne? You know, like in one long last name."
"I think it's a great idea, Helena. Bruce will be very happy, and so would your mother."
"You think so?"
"Yes, I do."
"You do what?" a young voice interrupted them.
"Dinah, it isn't polite to overhear..." Barbara warned.
"Sorry, just got out of the generation loop when the old guard in the living room started talking about some woman called Poison Ivy who had these pheromones... Oh... Barbara, I didn't mean you were old just because you know who Poison Ivy is..."
"Let it go, Dinah."
"Yeah."
"I swear you two girls are insufferable."
Dinah and Helena smiled.
"So... you're really leaving?" Dinah addressed Helena.
"Yeah, but only for a little while. Luckily, I need not to worry about my city, I leave it to a great hero to take care of."
"You really mean that?" Dinah asked excitedly.
"Black Canary," Helena extended her hand to her young friend, "I know New Gotham is safe in your hands."
"Thank you, Huntress." Dinah took her hand smiling, "You have no idea what this means to me."
"I mean it. You're better than I ever gave you credit for. I look forward to coming back so we can be partners against crime again."
"Count on it."
"Birds of Prey." Barbara said.
"What?" Helena and Dinah asked at the same time.
"Alfred once told me we were Birds of Prey, flying over Gotham, hunting down the criminals, smoothly, I think it's a fitting name."
"Yeah." Dinah smiled.
"Alright," Helena conceded, "Birds of Prey sure as hell beats Bat-Family!"
"Hey." A voice from the entrance got their attention, "Don't mess with the classics."
"Still here, Dick?" Helena asked, as Dick, Alfred, Bruce and Carolyn made their way into the costume vault.
"Had to say good-bye to you, kiddo. Come here... I promise not to kill you for the inheritance."
"So you read that crap!" Helena exclaimed.
"Never mind, just come here." Dick and Helena embraced, he whispered something in her ear. Barbara managed to read his lips: 'Happy birthday, sis.'
"I guess we should be leaving," Bruce started.
"Yeah," Helena agreed.
"Barbara," Bruce called her attention, "Alfred here has decided to stay with you and Dinah while we're away."
"Really?" Barbara asked, turning to Alfred.
"Of course, someone has to take care of you. If not, I'm guessing Miss Dinah is going to starve to dead in less than a week."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Barbara smiled at the old man. She knew Alfred enough to know that he was stepping out of the way, so Bruce and Helena could be alone for a while. She was just too happy to have the old man around, he was one of her most dear friends.
Bruce and Helena exchanged their final good-byes with everyone and then they were gone. After a couple of minutes, Dinah and Carolyn left as well. Carolyn had decided to stay for a while longer to be with her daughter. Barbara hoped she would stick around for good, she was a good friend and was finally reestablishing her relationship with the young Black Canary. As he did in the old days, Alfred soon excused himself so Dick and Barbara were all alone.
"So..." Barbara started.
"Just us, then." He replied.
"Apparently so."
"Ooo-kay." Dick looked down at his hands.
"I didn't get a chance to thank you, Dick."
"I did nothing."
"You brought Bruce, you helped rescue Alfred, you helped me deal with this whole thing... You were always the best of friends, Dick. I swear, you're the best, Bird-boy."
"Friends, uh?" his voice and expression surprised Barbara. What was the problem with the word 'friends'... at least, what was the problem out of the sudden?
"Yes," she said tentatively.
"Babs... I'm..."
"What?" why was her heart beating so fast? Was she sweating? What the hell was going on? Where were Alfred and Dinah the moment you needed them?
"I'm... going back to Bludhaven."
"Already?" she was surprised to hear herself ask that question. Dick had been at New Gotham for over two months now, of course he had to go back to Bludhaven, didn't he?
"Yeah... Blockbuster is on the loose again..."
"I see."
"And I'm finished with everything I had to do here... right?" Why was he asking her?
"I... guess so." She could read something she had seen a lot of times on his face during their past: Frustration. But why now? Also, it was usually directed towards Bruce, not her.
"Damn it, Barbara, throw me a bone here," he finally said.
"What do you mean?" she asked. She knew what he meant, she just wasn't sure she was ready to have this conversation with him.
"I mean... Do you want me to go?"
"What?"
"Yeah, like the last time, disappear for around seven years. Hardly a word, an awkward birthday call... and that be it."
"Of course I don't want us to drift apart Dick, I never wanted that."
"Then why are you just letting me go?"
"Excuse me?"
"I tell you I'm going back to Bludhaven, and you barely notice, you confirm my business here is done... Do you even care about me anymore?"
"Wait right there mister! You were the one that left! You've already left me twice for that blasted city and you expect me to try and stop you to go so you can leave me third time?!" Oh God, had she just said what she heard herself say? Dick was sort of... smiling? Arrogant jerk.
"So you do feel I left you?"
"Of course not, we were just colleagues, you had every right..."
"We were never 'just colleagues', Babs. We were partners, we were best friends and... and I always wanted us to be so much more." Barbara suddenly found her hands very interesting to look at. "Come on, don't play dumb, Babs, you always knew I had a big crush on you all those years ago."
"I..." she decided full disclosure was the best way out of this conversation, "I did, but I also knew we couldn't act on those feelings..."
"So you shared them?"
"Dick..."
"Did you?"
"I... liked you."
"Good enough. Why couldn't we?"
"How do you think Batman would have reacted?"
"Given his track record, he would probably would have objected to me dating a fellow crime-fighter, while he ran to the roofs behind Catwoman."
"I just didn't think..."
"Come on, Babs, be real. You were scared because we were so close and it would become a big deal like in two minutes."
"Maybe," she admitted.
"We were cowards. Are we going to be cowards again?"
"Now?"
"Why not? I feel the same way, Babs."
"Dick you can't..."
"I'm not a boy with a crush anymore, Babs. I grew up, we both did. You can't possibly tell me you need time to think this... You've been thinking about it for like twenty years, just like me. The question is, you want to give us a chance?"
She didn't answer. What could she say?
"I'm still in love with you," he continued, "That in itself is a big clue we could be great."
Nothing. Where the hell were Alfred and Dinah? Why did she felt electricity run through her body whenever Dick looked at her with those amazing blue eyes?
"We're too old for these games, Babs. I 'm going to walk through that door now, and I'm not going to stop until Bludhaven. It's up to you to stop me, or let me go." And then, Dick did something he had never done: He bent over and planted a soft kiss on her lips. It was a kiss full of both love and friendship, of a relationship she knew she would never share with another living person, but Richard Grayson. True to his word, he was walking away, and for a couple of seconds she couldn't find her own voice and was afraid that he would walk away from her life, this time for good.
"Would you leave Bludhaven?" was what she managed to blurt out. Not quite what she expected but it did the trick. Dick stopped and turned to her, a smile on his face, as usual.
"Would you leave New Gotham?" he shot back. She knew she wouldn't, ever. She waited for him to continue talking, "But I could come from time to time, and you could visit me. And you could give me one of your funny com devices, so we could remain in contact. We could take vacations, we could talk on the phone, we could chat... There are a thousand ways to make it work, Babs, the only real question is: Do you want to be with me?"
He was standing there: Her friend, her partner, her brother, her love... So many years wasted, so many years separated, and yet he remained in love with her, and she loved him too. How couldn't she? He was a strong, honest, brave man. He always wore his heart at his sleeve, but he could be the man Batman raised him to be, the Dark Knight's heir, but a hero of his own accord. She didn't want him gone. Instead of answering, she wheeled herself until she was in front of him. He looked at her straight in the eye. Barbara reached for his neck with her hands and pulled his head down for a kiss. Before she knew it, Dick was holding her, almost completely out of the chair, kissing her back. When they finally parted, Dick was smiling at her, and she could feel the silly grin on her face as well.
"So... do I unpack or something?" he asked. She caressed his cheek and searched for his lips once again.
Helena was again at her mother's grave. She couldn't leave without saying good-bye to her. Behind her, she heard his footsteps. He approached the grave and kneeled by her side, laying a red rose on Selina Kyle's last resting place.
"I never imagined coming here with you," Helena commented.
"I never imagined you." Bruce answered, his eyes never leaving the gravestone.
"I think mom would have liked to see both of us together."
"I think so too."
Father and daughter remained in silence, looking at the grave that held the body of the most important person in their lives, at different times and with different identities, lover and mother, neither of them knew quite how to let her memory go.
"Alfred gave me this." She pulled the golden necklace with three emeralds Alfred had given her on her birthday. She could see the recognition on her father's face as he took the necklace in his hands.
"I gave it to Selina," he said.
"He told me that."
"She loved it... She said had she seen it before, she would have stolen it sooner than I bought it."
Helena laughed.
"I thought you would want it back... to remember her. Or we could leave it at her grave."
"No." Bruce became serious, "I don't need anything to remember your mother, she lives in my heart, and I have you. You're all the emeralds I need. And your mother would have wanted you to have this... it was like a symbol."
"A symbol?"
"Of us... we had a normal life for a while. We dated, we loved each other, we had a relationship... I bought her jewelry... It was just a time when we could be together, Catwoman and Batman aside. You're the best proof of our love, Helena." Her father put the necklace on it's place around her neck, and she wondered if he had all those years ago helped her mother with it in the same way.
"You're just saying that."
"No, I'm not. We had a daughter... You're the greatest gift Selina could have given me... and at the time I needed you the most. I have a motivation to wake up every morning, I have a daughter. And when I thought I would never have anything from Selina by my side again... I have you. There's so much of your spirit that is hers, Helena. Part of her and part of me will forever live in you... And I'll know it was real, that our love was real."
"That's beautiful."
"No, YOU are beautiful."
Helena smiled. She looked at the rose, so much like her mother: The color of passion, a torn guarding it the most amazing beauty inside and out...
"Dad..."
"Yeah?"
"Can you tell me about her? Before I was born? When she was Catwoman?"
He smiled.
"I will, if you tell me how was she like after you were born. Deal?"
She smiled.
"Deal."
Bruce stood up and helped Helena to her feet.
"Good-bye, mom," Helena addressed the grave, "I'm getting to know my father. I'll come back home soon... I love you mommy, I miss you." She took a step back and saw Bruce Wayne approach the grave.
"You did a great job with her, Sel, thanks for our daughter. I'll look after her now. I love you, Selina, I always did and I always will."
"Ready?" she asked.
"Sure." As they started walking out of the cemetery to the airport, were Bruce Wayne's private plane was waiting to take them to Paris, she felt a new sensation: His strong arm was now encircling her shoulders in a protective fashion. At first she was surprised, even so more when she realized the embrace sent warmth all over her body. Tentatively, she got closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. She could see him smile and tighten his grip on her.
She looked up at the sky, hoping her mother was close now, seeing it. She had found her family, she had a second chance to get her life together and the man holding her, the man she called father, was going to be by her side.
She thanked whatever star was shining upon her for that.
She was not alone anymore, and she would never be again.
THE END