Chapter 5: We Are Family.
Meanwhile in the kitchen Helena and Dinah prepared tea and biscuits for everyone.
"What a nice man!" Dinah said.
"Yeah, I know. Barbara always told me that, but I never believed it" Helena replied.
"So, how did you find him?"
"He was fighting with three muggers. At first I didn't know what to do, but I realized the only way to find out if it was really him was getting close. So, I joined him. When we finished we started talking. Then, he took me to the batcave and the manor because I questioned him."
"Really? Is it the way Barbara tells in her stories?"
"It's very dark and a bit chilly. He has a computer system similar to ours, older of course. We had a heart to heart talk. I was hard on him, but I could not deny my feelings. After so many years and despite the fact that I always said I hated him, I realized I've been waiting for him" she ended saying in a broken voice.
"So, you're giving him a chance?"
"We both need it, we don't know each other, but I feel we need each other. After all, he's my father, the man I never knew and always longed for. Well, enough of this, let's get these things ready."
"Barbara must be happy" Dinah added.
"I'm sure she is. My father was her hero, her role model, her mentor, and her friend."
"Helena, don't miss this chance you have. You know that no matter how hard I wish my mother will never come back."
"Hey kid," Helena said embracing her "Canary might not be here, but you're not alone. Barbara and I are here, we've grown like family."
Dinah chuckled as she hugged her back, "Thank you, Helena."
"You're welcome" she answered with a teasing smile.
They finished preparing the tea and biscuits. When they entered the living room again they heard Bruce saying "You're right, we're not ready."
"Not ready for what?" Helena intruded.
"To talk about certain issues. What took you so long?" Barbara said.
"We thought you might want some time alone" Dinah answered.
"Very clever of you" Barbara replied.
"Um, Mr. Wayne? How many sugars would you like on your tea?" Dinah added.
"Please call me Bruce. And no sugar, thanks."
Dinah blushed, but smiled.
"So, did you two catch up?" Helena asked sitting next to her father.
"Sort of, we have a lot of catching up to do, Helena" Barbara answered.
"I was telling Barbara that if things work out, I'll be staying in town. I asked her if it was okay with you, I'd be happy to join the team."
"You don't need to ask that,. Bruce" said Dinah smiling.
"Dad, you used to be this city's greatest hero, how could we say no. And we want to learn from you too, right Barb?"
"I. we already talked about that- " Barbara started.
"Yes, but I was telling this stubborn little lady" he interrupted looking at Barbara "that I will stay if she continues leading the group."
"And I said it should be you- " she answered back.
Helena interrupted "Guys, how can you argue about this? Barbara you're the genius researcher here. Everything Dinah and I know we learned it from you. And from what I've heard, Dad, you're a great detective too, and if it weren't for you, we didn't have Barbara either. So, I suggest both of you lead us as a team of senior crime fighters."
"I totally agree with that," Dinah continued "Barbara, when I joined in, you told us we would work together and care for each other. Why can't we continue the same way with another member?"
Barbara and Bruce remained silent.
"C'mon guys. We know you're dying to work together" Helena said.
Bruce broke silence "I have to admit that I agree with both of you girls. Barbara, it's not a matter of who's leading or not. In the old days we worked as a team, too. So, don't be stubborn and admit it, you're the heart and soul of this group. And I'll help you if you want me to."
Barbara chuckled.
"Yes, Barbara, Daddy's right. You're the heart and soul of our group. You've not only been my mentor and role model, you're more than that to me. After my mama died, you've been my only family. When I try to define our relationship, I realize you've been my best friend, sometimes a big sister, and may times a mother. Don't quit on us, please."
Barbara's eyes filled with tears as she heard Helena.
"Barbara" Dinah continued "I cannot say less than that. When I came here, you believed in me right from the start. You've trusted me like no one else has. I've learned so much from you. You've trained me. I admire your sense of justice, your patience, your capacity to see more in people than what they seem. You're not only my mentor. you're my friend and." her voice broke "the mother I always wanted to have."
Dinah broke into tears. Barbara got close to her and held her hand. Fighting with tears she said,
"Dinah, you're so important to me. I have never told you, but when Carolyn was here, I told her I loved having you at home. And it is true. We're here for each other, okay? And Helena, you know what you mean to me."
Dinah smiled at Barbara, so did Helena.
"Well, I guess it's out of the question. We have a new member in the family" Helena added looking at Bruce.
"He's not. new in our family," Barbara said, "he's always been here. Welcome back, Bruce" Barbara added reaching out for his hand.
"Thank you. This has been one of the best days of my life" he said standing up.
And the new Birds of Prey held hands feeling the joy of becoming a family.
THE END.
Okay, this is it. I hope you like it. Some people suggested to fix the spacing, I did so.
Please review, hearing your comments will help. And if you think this story could continue, let me know too. Suggestions accepted. Thanks for reading.
Meanwhile in the kitchen Helena and Dinah prepared tea and biscuits for everyone.
"What a nice man!" Dinah said.
"Yeah, I know. Barbara always told me that, but I never believed it" Helena replied.
"So, how did you find him?"
"He was fighting with three muggers. At first I didn't know what to do, but I realized the only way to find out if it was really him was getting close. So, I joined him. When we finished we started talking. Then, he took me to the batcave and the manor because I questioned him."
"Really? Is it the way Barbara tells in her stories?"
"It's very dark and a bit chilly. He has a computer system similar to ours, older of course. We had a heart to heart talk. I was hard on him, but I could not deny my feelings. After so many years and despite the fact that I always said I hated him, I realized I've been waiting for him" she ended saying in a broken voice.
"So, you're giving him a chance?"
"We both need it, we don't know each other, but I feel we need each other. After all, he's my father, the man I never knew and always longed for. Well, enough of this, let's get these things ready."
"Barbara must be happy" Dinah added.
"I'm sure she is. My father was her hero, her role model, her mentor, and her friend."
"Helena, don't miss this chance you have. You know that no matter how hard I wish my mother will never come back."
"Hey kid," Helena said embracing her "Canary might not be here, but you're not alone. Barbara and I are here, we've grown like family."
Dinah chuckled as she hugged her back, "Thank you, Helena."
"You're welcome" she answered with a teasing smile.
They finished preparing the tea and biscuits. When they entered the living room again they heard Bruce saying "You're right, we're not ready."
"Not ready for what?" Helena intruded.
"To talk about certain issues. What took you so long?" Barbara said.
"We thought you might want some time alone" Dinah answered.
"Very clever of you" Barbara replied.
"Um, Mr. Wayne? How many sugars would you like on your tea?" Dinah added.
"Please call me Bruce. And no sugar, thanks."
Dinah blushed, but smiled.
"So, did you two catch up?" Helena asked sitting next to her father.
"Sort of, we have a lot of catching up to do, Helena" Barbara answered.
"I was telling Barbara that if things work out, I'll be staying in town. I asked her if it was okay with you, I'd be happy to join the team."
"You don't need to ask that,. Bruce" said Dinah smiling.
"Dad, you used to be this city's greatest hero, how could we say no. And we want to learn from you too, right Barb?"
"I. we already talked about that- " Barbara started.
"Yes, but I was telling this stubborn little lady" he interrupted looking at Barbara "that I will stay if she continues leading the group."
"And I said it should be you- " she answered back.
Helena interrupted "Guys, how can you argue about this? Barbara you're the genius researcher here. Everything Dinah and I know we learned it from you. And from what I've heard, Dad, you're a great detective too, and if it weren't for you, we didn't have Barbara either. So, I suggest both of you lead us as a team of senior crime fighters."
"I totally agree with that," Dinah continued "Barbara, when I joined in, you told us we would work together and care for each other. Why can't we continue the same way with another member?"
Barbara and Bruce remained silent.
"C'mon guys. We know you're dying to work together" Helena said.
Bruce broke silence "I have to admit that I agree with both of you girls. Barbara, it's not a matter of who's leading or not. In the old days we worked as a team, too. So, don't be stubborn and admit it, you're the heart and soul of this group. And I'll help you if you want me to."
Barbara chuckled.
"Yes, Barbara, Daddy's right. You're the heart and soul of our group. You've not only been my mentor and role model, you're more than that to me. After my mama died, you've been my only family. When I try to define our relationship, I realize you've been my best friend, sometimes a big sister, and may times a mother. Don't quit on us, please."
Barbara's eyes filled with tears as she heard Helena.
"Barbara" Dinah continued "I cannot say less than that. When I came here, you believed in me right from the start. You've trusted me like no one else has. I've learned so much from you. You've trained me. I admire your sense of justice, your patience, your capacity to see more in people than what they seem. You're not only my mentor. you're my friend and." her voice broke "the mother I always wanted to have."
Dinah broke into tears. Barbara got close to her and held her hand. Fighting with tears she said,
"Dinah, you're so important to me. I have never told you, but when Carolyn was here, I told her I loved having you at home. And it is true. We're here for each other, okay? And Helena, you know what you mean to me."
Dinah smiled at Barbara, so did Helena.
"Well, I guess it's out of the question. We have a new member in the family" Helena added looking at Bruce.
"He's not. new in our family," Barbara said, "he's always been here. Welcome back, Bruce" Barbara added reaching out for his hand.
"Thank you. This has been one of the best days of my life" he said standing up.
And the new Birds of Prey held hands feeling the joy of becoming a family.
THE END.
Okay, this is it. I hope you like it. Some people suggested to fix the spacing, I did so.
Please review, hearing your comments will help. And if you think this story could continue, let me know too. Suggestions accepted. Thanks for reading.