CHAPTER 9

Barbara and others ran to Helena who laid on the ground not moving. Barbara felt Helena's neck for a pulse. "She's still alive," Barbara said, sighing with relief. "But she won't be unless we get her some help. She has some internal injuries," Barbara announced seeing the blood trickle down from the side of her mouth.

Reese swiped a strand of hair from Helena's face. "Dinah, you have those healing powers. Use them on Helena!"

"Those powers are fading away. I think they were only temporary. I must have used most of it up with her blindness and her illness. I don't know if I have enough left to be of much help."

"Please, give it a try. She might not make it before we reach the hospital," Reese pleaded.

Dinah nodded as she placed her hands on Helena's side and closed her eyes. Her hands began to glow gold. Slowly, Helena breathing began to stabilized. The gold light from Dinah's hands faded away and she retracted her arms. "The power is gone. I have nothing left."

Helena's eye fluttered open. She noticed everyone gathered around her and she sat up. "What's going on here?"

Reese smiled. "How are you feeling?"

Helena twisted her abs, and felt no pain. She rolled her shoulders around a few times and then spun her head around a few times, exercising her neck. "I feel fine." Helena looked over at Bane's body. "Is he…"

"He's dead," Richard acknowledged. "That cell gate was electrified."

"What was wrong with him?" Dinah asked.

"If I had to guess," Barbara commented, "I would say that the many years of venom intake had taken it's toll on his body and the only thing keeping him alive was the morphing formula."

Reese helped Helena off the ground. It was finally over. Bane and Harley Quinn had been defeated. Dinah walked up to her mother, not having a chance to talk with her until just now. "Mom, I can't believe you're alive. Why didn't you ever come and see me if you were alive?"

Carolyn Lance put a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "I'm sorry that I never came to see you, Dinah. I survived the explosion, but barely. I had two broken legs that took months to heal. Afterwards, I did come by, but you and Helena were out. I talked to Barbara and found out how you have progressed as a superhero and how much you loved it."

Dinah turned to Barbara. "You knew my mother was alive all this time!"

"It was my request that she not tell you, Dinah," Carolyn replied for Barbara. "If you had known that I was alive, I was afraid that you would give up your dream of being a superhero to be with me, and I didn't want you to give up on your dream, not because of me. I only came today because I knew off the odds you all were up against. Please forgive me Dinah."

Tears strolled down the side of Dinah's face and the mother and daughter duo embraced each other. "I'm just glad you're alive."

Barbara and Richard smiled to see the mother and daughter together again. The two of them held hands. Reese and Helena were happy for Dinah and her mother as well. Reese wrapped his arm around Helena's shoulder. Helena took a breath and turned to face Reese. "You know, the thought just occurred to me that I have not seen your apartment yet." Helena grinned up at him.

"No, I suppose not," Reese smiled. He leaned his head down and the two of them embraced each other as their lips met.

* * * *

Dinah and Carolyn were walking through New Gotham Park. It was the first time they had much time to get to know each other for the first time in their lives. Dinah was absolutely fascinated in getting to know her mother more. "Well, I am now officially retired from the hero business. I've said that before, but I mean it this time. I'm going out there, somewhere in the tropic region, and retire and live the rest of my years in peace and quiet."

"You're not going to stay here in New Gotham with me?" Dinah said in disappointment.

"I can't Dinah. I want to get away from this place. I want to get away from the action. Barbara has taken very good care of you, and I know she will continue to do so." Carolyn turned to face her daughter and smiled. "My god, you have grown so much. You will be one hell of a superhero, I have no doubts whatsoever in my mind."

Dinah looked down towards her feet as her eyes began to swell up. She looked back up into the face of her mother. "I want to go with you."

"What?" Carolyn said, with a confused look on her face. "This is your dream, Dinah. You've wanted to be a superhero, and you are one. Barbara is doing a fine job in training you, and now you want to throw it all away to be with me?"

"I like being a superhero, Mom, but it's not everyday you get a second chance to get to know your mother who you've never go to know in your whole life. You are more important to me than being Miss Black Canary Jr. I want to spend time with you and get to know you, that's all I ever wanted."

Carolyn smiled and hugged her daughter tightly. She could here Dinah's muffled words from leaning into her shoulder, "I love you, Mom."

* * * *

Barbara and Richard were alone in another part of New Gotham Park. Richard brought Barbara to a large metal garbage can. Inside the can was Richard's Nightwing Costume. "Richard, what is this?"

"This is me officially retiring from being Nightwing forever," Richard said as he lit a match and dropped it into the can. The two of them watched as his costume caught on fire and began to burn into nothingness.

"Are you sure about this?" Barbara said looking up at Richard. "There is still another costume for you in the Bat Cave."

"And I am going to burn that one too. I am too old to go running around in tights and fighting crime. It's time for me to hang up my came and settle down."

"So, are you going back home now to run your business?" Barbara said sadly, looking down at her feet.

"On the contrary, I am going to move my business closer here to New Gotham," Richard replied. "I want to be closer to you."

Barbara looked up at him with a smile. "How close is close?"

"This close," Richard said reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small black box and handed it to Barbara. Barbara gasped and her eyes watered up as she took the box and slowly opened it to find a beautiful diamond ring in the box. "Barbara Gordon, it will be my honor if you would spend the rest of your life with me. Will you marry me?"

Barbara stared at the ring and laughed with joy. She looked up into Richard's eyes. "Yes." She jumped into his arms and he held her up off the ground embracing her tightly and swing her around. Their lips met passionately as they begun to celebrate their engagement.

* * * *

Helena laid there in bed feeling a thrill of adrenalin. Helena was laying on her side on the left side of the bed, covering herself in the tan sheets that were on the bed. She felt Reese's bare arm wrap around here and she began to rub his arm. Reese snuggled up from Behind Helena. "So, how do you like my apartment?" he whispered into her ear.

Helena smiled radiantly. "It's wonderful."

"So have you given thought to my proposal?" Reese asked, still whispering into her ear.

"I have, and I yes. I will move in with you," Helena twisted around in bed to face Reese. He cleared the hair from her eyes and then began rubbing her bare arms.

"I though you might want to know, I have been contacted by the mayor of New Gotham."

"Did he give you your job back?"

"No, he didn't give my job back," Reese said with a grin on his face. "He has promoted me to Commissioner."

"Commissioner Reese," Helena said. "It has a nice ring to it."

"And if you ever decide to return to being the Huntress, we will be able to work together."

"I'm not sure if I want to return being the Huntress. I just want some time being normal, and spending more time with you. I love you."

The two of the snuggled up to each other as they kissed once again. They slipped totally under the covers as they begun a second round of intimacy.