Author's note: Sorry about not up dating in a while, it was respect week
last week and we couldn't get kicked out no matter how hard we tried so now
here's the second part and believe me it was wroth the wait, your gonna
love this part. And we both also had a really huge essay due, if only one
of us had an essay due the other would have written this part but we both
did so that's why it took so long. And we are also giving you, the readers
and reviewers, the right to e-mail us and yell at us for not up dating at
least one a week, this also goes for Inner Thoughts which was just up dated
today, too. And we will e-mail you back with a preview of the new part of
chapter, depends on which story.
E-mail: ico_saiyan101@yahoo.com
Helena's Christmas 2: Batman's promise part 2 ~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~% Helena was just about to finish opening the letter when Alfred came in and surprised her, "Miss Helena," Alfred began. Helena quickly turned around, dropping the letter, "Alfred!" Helena shouted, surprised. "I thought you left," she said closing the drawer thinking the letter was inside, but it had fallen to the floor and slipped under the bed stand, as Alfred called it.
"I was Miss Helena but I decided that I might just come and make sure you were alright; but I believe I shall make you some tea, so you can rest."
"Thanks Alfred." He left the room, leaving Helena alone with her own thoughts. ~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@ Alfred put some water on and then walked over to the only phone in Miss Helena's apartment and gave Barbara a ring.
"Hello," Barbara said her voice coming through the receiver.
"Hello, Miss Barbara."
"Oh, hello Alfred."
"Miss Barbara, I believe I shall be staying at Miss Helena's for the night."
"Alright, Alfred I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good night Miss Barbara."
"Good night Alfred." ~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~# "So, when's Alfred coming back?" Dinah asked walking into the control room.
"He's staying over at Helena's."
"Why?"
"What do I look like, the source of all information?"
"Yeah, Oracle."
"Oh, yeah, that."
"Uh huh."
"Well, I really don't know why, I don't completely understand Helena like Alfred does."
"I bet you don't."
"I've got to get some work done before class tomorrow and you better get some rest, you have school tomorrow too."
"Okay, see you tomorrow."
"And can we please get there on time, for once."
"Yes, I'll get up on time but I'm not the one who is doing research on crimes in New Gotham."
"Just get to bed, now!"
"Night Barbara."
"Good night Dinah."
Dinah walked out of the control room, leaving Barbara once again alone with her thoughts. ~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_ Helena walked into the kitchen, "Well, I was going to bring you the tea Miss Helena, but I guess you decided to come." Helena sat down at the table and Alfred put the cup in front of her. "Why don't you tell me what is so wrong Miss Helena?" She turned to look at him, "Besides the fact that I've been lying to Reese since the day I meet him and that I came so close tonight to mixing business and pleasure?"
"What is so wrong with mixing business and pleasure, Miss Helena?"
"It's unprofessional Alfred, that's what!"
"Now, really Miss Helena you must do something about that temper of ours."
"I don't have a temper Alfred, I'm just a bit pissed off at the moment."
"And why is that?"
"Alfred, what do you think?"
"Think about what Miss Helena?"
"About mixing business and pleasure?"
"Well, Miss Barbara and Master Dick did the same."
"And look where that got them, he's in a whole other city."
"I believe you have a strong point there Miss Helena, but Miss Barbara and Master Dick tried their best."
"And still it got ruined Alfred, you and I both so the aftermath of what happen when my mother and my father got together, every time someone wanted to hurt my father they went after my mother."
"Are you afraid that if you get together with Mister Reese he'll end up the same way?"
"Yes, how else would it turn out, nothing ever turns out good for me, especially in my love life."
"Are you still remembering the aftermath of Mister James?"
"That happened along time ago."
"I believe not Miss Helena it happen just after you began crime fighting, about five years ago, and I believe you are still grieving."
"I stopped grieving long ago Alfred, it's been years."
"No, Miss Helena it's been years since you felt this way about someone, you haven't felt like this since Mister James died."
"."
"Miss Helena, why don't just admit it, even if it's to me but yourself at least."
"Alfred, I don't want to talk about it."
"Miss Helena, you let Mister James in you can also let Mister Reese in."
"I said I didn't want to talk about it!!"
"And believe we should! No matter how much you'd like to deny it!"
"I'm not denying anything!"
"You me in the eye and tell me the truth, I am not Miss Barbara, Miss Dinah or Mister Reese who you can lie to with out a care! I am Alfred Pennyworth and I know you very well, and I am not just your butler, just like I wasn't just a butler to Master Bruce or Miss Selina!"
"I."
"Well, I'm waiting for you response Miss Helena.Well?"
"Fine Alfred you win alright you win I am denying it, so what! I have the damn right to! I had to go through it twice, do you hear me twice!! And I don't plan to go through it again, damn it!!"
"I understand Miss Helena, Master Bruce went through the same thing after his parents died, both at the same time, with no time to grieve for one than the other."
"I don't want to got through it again Alfred!"
"Miss Helena, your father went through it three times, I believe he wished for the same thing every time, but did he ever get what he wanted? No he didn't Miss Helena, so I suggest you stop feeling so damn sorry for yourself and get use to the fact that maybe, just maybe you could be falling for Mister Reese the way you feel for Mister James, maybe even harder."
"First time I ever heard a curse word come out of your British mouth."
"Well, this conversation called for it."
"Imagine that, and I was the one who made you say it."
"Yes, it is amazing."
"Alfred."
"Yes, I know Miss Helena don't tell anyone."
"Thanks."
"Now if you'd just accept the truth we'll never have to discuss this again."
"Alfred, I can't okay, I'll admit it I can't accept it, not now not ever."
"I understand Miss Helena, your father did the same."
"Yeah, well he was the great Batman, he could chase away his own fears. Whose gonna chase away mines?" she asked her voice filled with what emotion was felt in her.
Alfred looked at Helena and for once she was completely right, "To tell the truth, Miss Helena I truly don't know."
"Well, it seems I finally stumped you."
Alfred poured more tea into the cup, he set the kittle on the front burner of the stove and turned to look at Helena, "I think I shall get your bed ready for you, Miss Helena."
Helena let her head drop back looking at the plain white ceiling, it had a few cracks here and there, but what else could she expect, she would train in here jumping up to the ceiling and stuff like that. She got up and looked out the window staring at New Gotham, she wonder if her father saw the same things she did every night she went on patrol. Or was Old Gotham different? Maybe it was better or worst? She watched the people who walked the streets below her, the people who depended on her without even knowing they did, the people who taught nothing for Batman, he was nothing but a myth to them, a great protective myth.but without knowing it she was their greatest myth, Huntress the savor of New Gotham, her father protected Gotham but she protected New Gotham, this was her Gotham not her father's, or Nightwing's, or Robin's or Batgirl's either but her Gotham, her own personal Gotham to protect. She wasn't part of the Bat family, that was her father family not hers, her family was Dinah and Oracle not Batgirl, but at times Helena could hear a hit or Batgirl in Oracle's voice, sometimes it was stronger that others. Sometimes Barbara would slip and let Batgirl take control instead of Oracle or even Barbara.
Helena knew that at time while she was fighting crime, she could hear Helena in her voice. And at times when she was Helena she could hear Huntress in her voice, but the only time Huntress would slip out in her voice was went she became defensive, when she had to fight. Helena would come out when emotion was involved, when it came to seeing what she saw night in and night out, you have to learn to control your emotions. She would always use Huntress as a cover, around Reese, Dinah and even Barbara; she'd hide things from all three of them, why? Cuz it was just easier that way, she didn't have to worry about things getting strange or difficult, or in Reese's case deadly; Dinah could take care of herself and Barbara could also but Reese on the other hand couldn't, he was nothing more than a confused detective. He always had to know what went on after dark; he always had unanswerable questions every time. How do you tell someone the only reason you won't let them kiss you or get close to you is because they might end up dead because tell know who you are? How do you tell someone the only reason they don't know your name is cuz it could cost them more than just their life? Criminals would do anything to find out who she was, who the great Huntress was, the woman who took them down for a nighttime living. She wonder if these questions ever haunted her father at night the way they did to her every night; she wonder what the great Batman would have done, the man behind the mask, not the man with the mask. ~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~& It started to rain in New Gotham, which wasn't something to be surprised about but maybe it was a coincidence that Huntress was also crying, I guess you could say when the savor of the city cries so does the city. Reese walked into his apartment, he had to do paperwork for the criminals he and Huntress had just taken down earlier that night, it was three in the morning and he let himself collapse on the couch. God, why did I try to kiss her, it was a stupid idea. Man, who stupid can I be, she's probably already got a boyfriend, someone like her, a meta probably. All I am to her is a detective who she helps nothing more, I've got to get that through my head. All we are is two crime fighters helping one another out, but I mean she did come to me a few times for help, I mean on Christmas if she had a boyfriend. He was probably out of town that's the only reason she came, well actually I found her, but still she didn't leave. I am so stupid I should think before I act, he said to himself kicking himself mentally.
He got off the couch and started to walk a round his apartment, he looked out the window and onto the streets of New Gotham and the people Huntress protected every night, no matter what. He truly doubted she ever took a night off, she worked so hard every night; he wondered if that was all she did. Did she have another job to attend in the morning? Or was she just a vigilante? He looked at the rain stained window, he remembered being a rookie, he believed in Batman, Robin, Batgirl and Nightwing, the whole Bat team; he believe that they protected New Gotham but someone shattered that dream unbelievably quick, without even a second thought. ~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^ The commissioner had finally let him question someone, he had been with the force for almost four years now; he had join when he turned twenty-two and now he was twenty-eight. He had been sent to question a Helena Kyle, she wasn't a suspect of anything, the commissioner didn't give those assignments to rookies; she had witnessed the crime and nothing more. Her was heading to the Dark Horse bar, she was eighteen but the bar allowed her to work there and serve drinks. He walked into the bar and looked around trying to figure out which one she was; he noticed one bartender behind the bar and decided to do the smart thing and just ask. He walked down the staircase and walked over to her.
"Excuse me," Reese said.
"Can I help you?" she said turning around.
"Yes, do you know a Helena Kyle?"
"That's me why?"
"I have a few questions to ask you about the crime you witnessed."
"What about it?"
"Did you get a good look at who did it?"
"No, not really."
"Did you see anyone flee the crime scene, besides someone from the Bat family?"
"Don't tell me you believe in Batman."
"I do."
"Well, than let me tell you something rookie he doesn't exist, it just something parents make up so their kids won't be scared at night."
"But he's real, everyone knows he helps stop crime in Gotham."
"For your information this is New Gotham and Batman is legend from Old Gotham."
"You're telling me that the Dark Knight, Gotham's greatest champion, the masked man, the vigilante of Gotham, the savor of Gotham, the Batman doesn't exist?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"That can't be true!"
"Why don't get it through your head now before people start thinking you're crazy, he doesn't exist. He and the whole Bat family don't exist! People believe that a man dressed up like a bat and flies around the city fighting crime for a living, and there's something wrong with me? I think there's something wrong with this city."
"How do you know for sure he doesn't exist?"
"Besides that fact a man with the least amount of dignity wouldn't even do it. Have you seen the Bat symbol in the sky? Or seen him in person? Or even see him flying across the night sky.Well?"
"No."
"That proves my point, he doesn't exist, not him, not Robin, not Nightwing or even Batgirl, alright! And what makes you think they would be a crime scene, they don't exist, get that through your head."
"What about that girl who answers to the Bat symbol now? She could be Batgirl."
"I think you watch too many cartoons and not enough discovery channel." (A/N: Ironically that's what our science teacher told us.)
Reese didn't know what to say, he had grown up hearing about Batman and the rest of his family, hell he had even hear some of the much older detectives and captains and even commissioner Gordon and this girl was telling him he never existed. "I think we should just get back to the question."
"Alright, batboy."
"Did you see anything that could be used as evidence?"
"Besides the knife in the man's heart? No."
"Well, that will be all for now. Thank you for your cooperation."
"You say that now."
Reese left the bar, without looking back, the man he had believed in all these wasn't real, and now he was going to make himself forget about the whole bat family. She was right, she was completely corrected there was no Batman or Bat family. ~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$ What could she do? She had just crush that cops hero, she had never heard someone talk so profoundly about her father like that except for Batgirl herself, even Nightwing and Robin didn't speak of him the same way the cop and Barbara did.
"You know that was unprofessional and uncalled for," Barbara said her voice making Helena jump, she was still trying to get use to the comm. set Bar- Oracle had given her and she also trying to get use to referring to her as Oracle. She had, had a comm. set before but at that time it was a cell phone, but now Bar-Oracle's voice popped into to her head without a ring.
"Sorry, but I just felt like shutting him up about the Bat family," Helena replied.
"I know how you feel about your father Huntress, but he is still your father and it would be nice if you repeated his legacy."
"It's not easy, Barbara. Just like it's not easy for me to remember to call you Oracle."
"Yes, but that is very different, you have to adjust to your new life as a crime fight, but in the case of your father you have to deal with that, not adjust to it."
"Easy for you to say."
"You know at one point I could walk, but than the Joker shot me and now I have to get adjusted to this wheelchair I'm in for eternity. Sometimes when I get up in the morning I forget that I have to use the wheelchair and I think that I can just swing my legs over the edge of the bed, stand on my two feet and walk right into the control room, but than I open my eyes and see the chair next to my bed and it hits me like a sucker punch that I just can't do that."
"I know Barbara, I know," was all she could master to get out past her lips. ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~* Helena awoke to a loud noise coming from the kitchen she put on her shoes and raced to the kitchen and what she found when she got there surprised her, "What the hell is going on in here? And when did I get pots and pans?"
"Well, Miss Dinah, Miss Barbara and I decided to come visit you, Miss Helena," Alfred replied.
"You see me everyday why do you need to visit?"
"No, we see Huntress everyday and night, we wanted to see Helena today," Barbara replied as she wheeled herself into the kitchen.
"But that still doesn't answer my question. When did I get pots and pans?"
"I gave them to you as an apartment warming gift remember Helena."
"Not really."
"You never remember what I give you, do you?"
"I remember you gave me this com set and a cell phone so you could always find me."
"You only remember the things I give you that you use everyday."
"So, it's not a crime."
"Umm.not that I want to sound stupid, but were are all your plates?" Dinah asked.
"I don't have any," Helena replied.
"Than what do you have?"
"Pots and pans."
"How about we go out for breakfast?" Barbara suggested. "I know this great place by the clock tower."
"Alright, let's go," Helena replied. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Just a quick question, did Wade ever take you here?" Helena asked.
"No," Barbara replied.
"Than how do you know about this place?"
"A friend told me about it."
"Oh, let me guess Alfred."
"Well, actually that right."
Both Helena and Dinah looked at Alfred, "So is this where you order our breakfast at?" Dinah asked.
"Miss Dinah, unlike the butler on The Nanny, I cook the food I sever and I also clean, for that is what I am paid for, and it is what I shall do."
"How dare you insult Alfred like that Dinah," Helena said in an offended voice. "The butler who cooks and cleans for us everyday." They started to laugh. "But seriously Alfred, how did you know about this place?"
"A friend of mines told me."
Alfred looked at Barbara and Barbara looked at Alfred, the weirdest smile on their faces; Helena looked from Alfred to Barbara and from Barbara to Alfred, she couldn't place the gleam in their eyes, she had never seen it before. She continued to look from Barbara to Alfred, and Alfred to Barbara, her eyes looked like one of those things that hung down from the clock and swings side to side.tick, tock.tick, tock. They had already ordered their breakfast and Dinah was feeling left out, not really knowing what was going on.
"Huntress?" Reese said his voice bringing her back to reality and helping her place the gleam in Alfred's and Barbara's eyes, she narrowed her eyes at them while Dinah mouthed 'he told you' to Alfred, and Alfred of course nodded in reply which made Dinah giggle. "Alfred, how are you?"
"I am doing quite well Mister Reese and how are you today?"
"Good, although last night I had a lot of paperwork."
"See, there's always an upside to being a vigilante, isn't there Reese?" Barbara asked in full Oracle mode.
"Yes, I guess there is."
"Let me introduce you," Helena said a hint of Huntress in her voice. "This is Alfred, who you already know, this is Oracle, my invisible friend, and Dinah, future all American super girl Jr."
"So it seems you're the only one of the crime fighters without a fancy code name," Reese said turning to look at Dinah
"Yeah, although all American super girl Jr. has a nice ring to it doesn't it Alfred."
"To tell you the truth, if I may, Miss Dinah, perhaps a more traditional name would fit you better."
"Huh?"
"Alfred, I'm the techno babbler not you," Oracle said. "Please Reese sit and join us would you."
"Yes, please do Mister Reese, it would be quite a pleasure to have you join us, don't you think Miss Huntress?" Alfred said.
"Oracle, I think your mascara's running we should go fix that."
"I don't think so Huntress."
"It's running isn't it Dinah?" she said kicking her under the table.
"Ow.yes, I believe it is let's go fix it, Oracle," Dinah said rubbing her leg.
"Yes, NOW Oracle, we wouldn't want Wade to see you like that now would we?"
Barbara began to wheel herself towards the bathroom, with Huntress right behind her, "Vanity moment, we'll be right back," Dinah said than ran to catch up with them.
"What the hell we you thinking?!?" Helena shouted the question.
"Helena you lied to me, my mascara is fine," Barbara replied, Oracle mode off.
"Barbara.this isn't time for a vanity moment!"
"Look if you want to yell at someone yell at Alfred it was his idea."
"And you didn't stop him?"
"And what end up cooking for myself, no way, I don't even have time as it is now."
"Umm.before you girls decide to have World War III in here, might I suggest a change of clothes?" Dinah said stepping between the two.
"There isn't going to be any World War III in here, there's going to be a World War III at the Clock Tower!" Helena shouted.
"Helena, clam down, and tell me why you are so damn pissed?" Barbara said forcing Helena to look at her.
Silence.
"It's James isn't it?"
Helena nodded her head.
"That's in the past Helena, and it's not going to happen again, I'll make sure of that. The first time it happened it was carelessness o my part I shouldn't have let him into Huntresses world, I should have left him out."
In reply Helena looked away.
"Let's go out and have some breakfast."
All three women walked out and back to the table, "Not that I mean to ask a stupid question, butler Alfred's your butler wouldn't he cook food?" Reese asked.
"Well, he was but we went to He-Huntress's apartment and all she has are pot and pans, and nothing else in her kitchen," Dinah replied.
"Well, I don't eat at my apartment at eat at Oracle's," Helena replied.
They started to eat when their food arrived and Helena was grateful she didn't have to talk anymore, "Com' on Dinah we have to get to school," Barbara said wheeling herself away from the table.
"Okay, I'm done," Dinah replied getting up.
"I'm sure she could be a little late couldn't she?" Helena said.
"No, not three times in the same week, they're already starting to ask questions."
"Please, Oracle you don't have classes till second period."
"Yes, but I have to finish grading some test."
"Well, that does remind me that I have to get to the store," Alfred replied. "You are running low on supplies, Miss Oracle."
"Alfred that can wait," Helena replied.
"I don't think I can Huntress, you go through medical supplies so quickly and now that Dinah's also doing the crime fighting thing, we really need them. I swear why can't kids pick normal hobbies like basketball or something?" Barbara replied.
They left leaving Helena and Reese at the table by themselves. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Author's Note: That's it for now, we are so tired, we even faked sickness so we could get this chapter up. Enjoy and we promise the next one is coming soon. Enjoy. Please r/r. And sorry didn't have time to proof read.
E-mail: ico_saiyan101@yahoo.com
Helena's Christmas 2: Batman's promise part 2 ~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~%~~% Helena was just about to finish opening the letter when Alfred came in and surprised her, "Miss Helena," Alfred began. Helena quickly turned around, dropping the letter, "Alfred!" Helena shouted, surprised. "I thought you left," she said closing the drawer thinking the letter was inside, but it had fallen to the floor and slipped under the bed stand, as Alfred called it.
"I was Miss Helena but I decided that I might just come and make sure you were alright; but I believe I shall make you some tea, so you can rest."
"Thanks Alfred." He left the room, leaving Helena alone with her own thoughts. ~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~~@ Alfred put some water on and then walked over to the only phone in Miss Helena's apartment and gave Barbara a ring.
"Hello," Barbara said her voice coming through the receiver.
"Hello, Miss Barbara."
"Oh, hello Alfred."
"Miss Barbara, I believe I shall be staying at Miss Helena's for the night."
"Alright, Alfred I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good night Miss Barbara."
"Good night Alfred." ~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~#~~# "So, when's Alfred coming back?" Dinah asked walking into the control room.
"He's staying over at Helena's."
"Why?"
"What do I look like, the source of all information?"
"Yeah, Oracle."
"Oh, yeah, that."
"Uh huh."
"Well, I really don't know why, I don't completely understand Helena like Alfred does."
"I bet you don't."
"I've got to get some work done before class tomorrow and you better get some rest, you have school tomorrow too."
"Okay, see you tomorrow."
"And can we please get there on time, for once."
"Yes, I'll get up on time but I'm not the one who is doing research on crimes in New Gotham."
"Just get to bed, now!"
"Night Barbara."
"Good night Dinah."
Dinah walked out of the control room, leaving Barbara once again alone with her thoughts. ~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_~~_ Helena walked into the kitchen, "Well, I was going to bring you the tea Miss Helena, but I guess you decided to come." Helena sat down at the table and Alfred put the cup in front of her. "Why don't you tell me what is so wrong Miss Helena?" She turned to look at him, "Besides the fact that I've been lying to Reese since the day I meet him and that I came so close tonight to mixing business and pleasure?"
"What is so wrong with mixing business and pleasure, Miss Helena?"
"It's unprofessional Alfred, that's what!"
"Now, really Miss Helena you must do something about that temper of ours."
"I don't have a temper Alfred, I'm just a bit pissed off at the moment."
"And why is that?"
"Alfred, what do you think?"
"Think about what Miss Helena?"
"About mixing business and pleasure?"
"Well, Miss Barbara and Master Dick did the same."
"And look where that got them, he's in a whole other city."
"I believe you have a strong point there Miss Helena, but Miss Barbara and Master Dick tried their best."
"And still it got ruined Alfred, you and I both so the aftermath of what happen when my mother and my father got together, every time someone wanted to hurt my father they went after my mother."
"Are you afraid that if you get together with Mister Reese he'll end up the same way?"
"Yes, how else would it turn out, nothing ever turns out good for me, especially in my love life."
"Are you still remembering the aftermath of Mister James?"
"That happened along time ago."
"I believe not Miss Helena it happen just after you began crime fighting, about five years ago, and I believe you are still grieving."
"I stopped grieving long ago Alfred, it's been years."
"No, Miss Helena it's been years since you felt this way about someone, you haven't felt like this since Mister James died."
"."
"Miss Helena, why don't just admit it, even if it's to me but yourself at least."
"Alfred, I don't want to talk about it."
"Miss Helena, you let Mister James in you can also let Mister Reese in."
"I said I didn't want to talk about it!!"
"And believe we should! No matter how much you'd like to deny it!"
"I'm not denying anything!"
"You me in the eye and tell me the truth, I am not Miss Barbara, Miss Dinah or Mister Reese who you can lie to with out a care! I am Alfred Pennyworth and I know you very well, and I am not just your butler, just like I wasn't just a butler to Master Bruce or Miss Selina!"
"I."
"Well, I'm waiting for you response Miss Helena.Well?"
"Fine Alfred you win alright you win I am denying it, so what! I have the damn right to! I had to go through it twice, do you hear me twice!! And I don't plan to go through it again, damn it!!"
"I understand Miss Helena, Master Bruce went through the same thing after his parents died, both at the same time, with no time to grieve for one than the other."
"I don't want to got through it again Alfred!"
"Miss Helena, your father went through it three times, I believe he wished for the same thing every time, but did he ever get what he wanted? No he didn't Miss Helena, so I suggest you stop feeling so damn sorry for yourself and get use to the fact that maybe, just maybe you could be falling for Mister Reese the way you feel for Mister James, maybe even harder."
"First time I ever heard a curse word come out of your British mouth."
"Well, this conversation called for it."
"Imagine that, and I was the one who made you say it."
"Yes, it is amazing."
"Alfred."
"Yes, I know Miss Helena don't tell anyone."
"Thanks."
"Now if you'd just accept the truth we'll never have to discuss this again."
"Alfred, I can't okay, I'll admit it I can't accept it, not now not ever."
"I understand Miss Helena, your father did the same."
"Yeah, well he was the great Batman, he could chase away his own fears. Whose gonna chase away mines?" she asked her voice filled with what emotion was felt in her.
Alfred looked at Helena and for once she was completely right, "To tell the truth, Miss Helena I truly don't know."
"Well, it seems I finally stumped you."
Alfred poured more tea into the cup, he set the kittle on the front burner of the stove and turned to look at Helena, "I think I shall get your bed ready for you, Miss Helena."
Helena let her head drop back looking at the plain white ceiling, it had a few cracks here and there, but what else could she expect, she would train in here jumping up to the ceiling and stuff like that. She got up and looked out the window staring at New Gotham, she wonder if her father saw the same things she did every night she went on patrol. Or was Old Gotham different? Maybe it was better or worst? She watched the people who walked the streets below her, the people who depended on her without even knowing they did, the people who taught nothing for Batman, he was nothing but a myth to them, a great protective myth.but without knowing it she was their greatest myth, Huntress the savor of New Gotham, her father protected Gotham but she protected New Gotham, this was her Gotham not her father's, or Nightwing's, or Robin's or Batgirl's either but her Gotham, her own personal Gotham to protect. She wasn't part of the Bat family, that was her father family not hers, her family was Dinah and Oracle not Batgirl, but at times Helena could hear a hit or Batgirl in Oracle's voice, sometimes it was stronger that others. Sometimes Barbara would slip and let Batgirl take control instead of Oracle or even Barbara.
Helena knew that at time while she was fighting crime, she could hear Helena in her voice. And at times when she was Helena she could hear Huntress in her voice, but the only time Huntress would slip out in her voice was went she became defensive, when she had to fight. Helena would come out when emotion was involved, when it came to seeing what she saw night in and night out, you have to learn to control your emotions. She would always use Huntress as a cover, around Reese, Dinah and even Barbara; she'd hide things from all three of them, why? Cuz it was just easier that way, she didn't have to worry about things getting strange or difficult, or in Reese's case deadly; Dinah could take care of herself and Barbara could also but Reese on the other hand couldn't, he was nothing more than a confused detective. He always had to know what went on after dark; he always had unanswerable questions every time. How do you tell someone the only reason you won't let them kiss you or get close to you is because they might end up dead because tell know who you are? How do you tell someone the only reason they don't know your name is cuz it could cost them more than just their life? Criminals would do anything to find out who she was, who the great Huntress was, the woman who took them down for a nighttime living. She wonder if these questions ever haunted her father at night the way they did to her every night; she wonder what the great Batman would have done, the man behind the mask, not the man with the mask. ~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~& It started to rain in New Gotham, which wasn't something to be surprised about but maybe it was a coincidence that Huntress was also crying, I guess you could say when the savor of the city cries so does the city. Reese walked into his apartment, he had to do paperwork for the criminals he and Huntress had just taken down earlier that night, it was three in the morning and he let himself collapse on the couch. God, why did I try to kiss her, it was a stupid idea. Man, who stupid can I be, she's probably already got a boyfriend, someone like her, a meta probably. All I am to her is a detective who she helps nothing more, I've got to get that through my head. All we are is two crime fighters helping one another out, but I mean she did come to me a few times for help, I mean on Christmas if she had a boyfriend. He was probably out of town that's the only reason she came, well actually I found her, but still she didn't leave. I am so stupid I should think before I act, he said to himself kicking himself mentally.
He got off the couch and started to walk a round his apartment, he looked out the window and onto the streets of New Gotham and the people Huntress protected every night, no matter what. He truly doubted she ever took a night off, she worked so hard every night; he wondered if that was all she did. Did she have another job to attend in the morning? Or was she just a vigilante? He looked at the rain stained window, he remembered being a rookie, he believed in Batman, Robin, Batgirl and Nightwing, the whole Bat team; he believe that they protected New Gotham but someone shattered that dream unbelievably quick, without even a second thought. ~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^ The commissioner had finally let him question someone, he had been with the force for almost four years now; he had join when he turned twenty-two and now he was twenty-eight. He had been sent to question a Helena Kyle, she wasn't a suspect of anything, the commissioner didn't give those assignments to rookies; she had witnessed the crime and nothing more. Her was heading to the Dark Horse bar, she was eighteen but the bar allowed her to work there and serve drinks. He walked into the bar and looked around trying to figure out which one she was; he noticed one bartender behind the bar and decided to do the smart thing and just ask. He walked down the staircase and walked over to her.
"Excuse me," Reese said.
"Can I help you?" she said turning around.
"Yes, do you know a Helena Kyle?"
"That's me why?"
"I have a few questions to ask you about the crime you witnessed."
"What about it?"
"Did you get a good look at who did it?"
"No, not really."
"Did you see anyone flee the crime scene, besides someone from the Bat family?"
"Don't tell me you believe in Batman."
"I do."
"Well, than let me tell you something rookie he doesn't exist, it just something parents make up so their kids won't be scared at night."
"But he's real, everyone knows he helps stop crime in Gotham."
"For your information this is New Gotham and Batman is legend from Old Gotham."
"You're telling me that the Dark Knight, Gotham's greatest champion, the masked man, the vigilante of Gotham, the savor of Gotham, the Batman doesn't exist?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"That can't be true!"
"Why don't get it through your head now before people start thinking you're crazy, he doesn't exist. He and the whole Bat family don't exist! People believe that a man dressed up like a bat and flies around the city fighting crime for a living, and there's something wrong with me? I think there's something wrong with this city."
"How do you know for sure he doesn't exist?"
"Besides that fact a man with the least amount of dignity wouldn't even do it. Have you seen the Bat symbol in the sky? Or seen him in person? Or even see him flying across the night sky.Well?"
"No."
"That proves my point, he doesn't exist, not him, not Robin, not Nightwing or even Batgirl, alright! And what makes you think they would be a crime scene, they don't exist, get that through your head."
"What about that girl who answers to the Bat symbol now? She could be Batgirl."
"I think you watch too many cartoons and not enough discovery channel." (A/N: Ironically that's what our science teacher told us.)
Reese didn't know what to say, he had grown up hearing about Batman and the rest of his family, hell he had even hear some of the much older detectives and captains and even commissioner Gordon and this girl was telling him he never existed. "I think we should just get back to the question."
"Alright, batboy."
"Did you see anything that could be used as evidence?"
"Besides the knife in the man's heart? No."
"Well, that will be all for now. Thank you for your cooperation."
"You say that now."
Reese left the bar, without looking back, the man he had believed in all these wasn't real, and now he was going to make himself forget about the whole bat family. She was right, she was completely corrected there was no Batman or Bat family. ~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$~~$ What could she do? She had just crush that cops hero, she had never heard someone talk so profoundly about her father like that except for Batgirl herself, even Nightwing and Robin didn't speak of him the same way the cop and Barbara did.
"You know that was unprofessional and uncalled for," Barbara said her voice making Helena jump, she was still trying to get use to the comm. set Bar- Oracle had given her and she also trying to get use to referring to her as Oracle. She had, had a comm. set before but at that time it was a cell phone, but now Bar-Oracle's voice popped into to her head without a ring.
"Sorry, but I just felt like shutting him up about the Bat family," Helena replied.
"I know how you feel about your father Huntress, but he is still your father and it would be nice if you repeated his legacy."
"It's not easy, Barbara. Just like it's not easy for me to remember to call you Oracle."
"Yes, but that is very different, you have to adjust to your new life as a crime fight, but in the case of your father you have to deal with that, not adjust to it."
"Easy for you to say."
"You know at one point I could walk, but than the Joker shot me and now I have to get adjusted to this wheelchair I'm in for eternity. Sometimes when I get up in the morning I forget that I have to use the wheelchair and I think that I can just swing my legs over the edge of the bed, stand on my two feet and walk right into the control room, but than I open my eyes and see the chair next to my bed and it hits me like a sucker punch that I just can't do that."
"I know Barbara, I know," was all she could master to get out past her lips. ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~* Helena awoke to a loud noise coming from the kitchen she put on her shoes and raced to the kitchen and what she found when she got there surprised her, "What the hell is going on in here? And when did I get pots and pans?"
"Well, Miss Dinah, Miss Barbara and I decided to come visit you, Miss Helena," Alfred replied.
"You see me everyday why do you need to visit?"
"No, we see Huntress everyday and night, we wanted to see Helena today," Barbara replied as she wheeled herself into the kitchen.
"But that still doesn't answer my question. When did I get pots and pans?"
"I gave them to you as an apartment warming gift remember Helena."
"Not really."
"You never remember what I give you, do you?"
"I remember you gave me this com set and a cell phone so you could always find me."
"You only remember the things I give you that you use everyday."
"So, it's not a crime."
"Umm.not that I want to sound stupid, but were are all your plates?" Dinah asked.
"I don't have any," Helena replied.
"Than what do you have?"
"Pots and pans."
"How about we go out for breakfast?" Barbara suggested. "I know this great place by the clock tower."
"Alright, let's go," Helena replied. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Just a quick question, did Wade ever take you here?" Helena asked.
"No," Barbara replied.
"Than how do you know about this place?"
"A friend told me about it."
"Oh, let me guess Alfred."
"Well, actually that right."
Both Helena and Dinah looked at Alfred, "So is this where you order our breakfast at?" Dinah asked.
"Miss Dinah, unlike the butler on The Nanny, I cook the food I sever and I also clean, for that is what I am paid for, and it is what I shall do."
"How dare you insult Alfred like that Dinah," Helena said in an offended voice. "The butler who cooks and cleans for us everyday." They started to laugh. "But seriously Alfred, how did you know about this place?"
"A friend of mines told me."
Alfred looked at Barbara and Barbara looked at Alfred, the weirdest smile on their faces; Helena looked from Alfred to Barbara and from Barbara to Alfred, she couldn't place the gleam in their eyes, she had never seen it before. She continued to look from Barbara to Alfred, and Alfred to Barbara, her eyes looked like one of those things that hung down from the clock and swings side to side.tick, tock.tick, tock. They had already ordered their breakfast and Dinah was feeling left out, not really knowing what was going on.
"Huntress?" Reese said his voice bringing her back to reality and helping her place the gleam in Alfred's and Barbara's eyes, she narrowed her eyes at them while Dinah mouthed 'he told you' to Alfred, and Alfred of course nodded in reply which made Dinah giggle. "Alfred, how are you?"
"I am doing quite well Mister Reese and how are you today?"
"Good, although last night I had a lot of paperwork."
"See, there's always an upside to being a vigilante, isn't there Reese?" Barbara asked in full Oracle mode.
"Yes, I guess there is."
"Let me introduce you," Helena said a hint of Huntress in her voice. "This is Alfred, who you already know, this is Oracle, my invisible friend, and Dinah, future all American super girl Jr."
"So it seems you're the only one of the crime fighters without a fancy code name," Reese said turning to look at Dinah
"Yeah, although all American super girl Jr. has a nice ring to it doesn't it Alfred."
"To tell you the truth, if I may, Miss Dinah, perhaps a more traditional name would fit you better."
"Huh?"
"Alfred, I'm the techno babbler not you," Oracle said. "Please Reese sit and join us would you."
"Yes, please do Mister Reese, it would be quite a pleasure to have you join us, don't you think Miss Huntress?" Alfred said.
"Oracle, I think your mascara's running we should go fix that."
"I don't think so Huntress."
"It's running isn't it Dinah?" she said kicking her under the table.
"Ow.yes, I believe it is let's go fix it, Oracle," Dinah said rubbing her leg.
"Yes, NOW Oracle, we wouldn't want Wade to see you like that now would we?"
Barbara began to wheel herself towards the bathroom, with Huntress right behind her, "Vanity moment, we'll be right back," Dinah said than ran to catch up with them.
"What the hell we you thinking?!?" Helena shouted the question.
"Helena you lied to me, my mascara is fine," Barbara replied, Oracle mode off.
"Barbara.this isn't time for a vanity moment!"
"Look if you want to yell at someone yell at Alfred it was his idea."
"And you didn't stop him?"
"And what end up cooking for myself, no way, I don't even have time as it is now."
"Umm.before you girls decide to have World War III in here, might I suggest a change of clothes?" Dinah said stepping between the two.
"There isn't going to be any World War III in here, there's going to be a World War III at the Clock Tower!" Helena shouted.
"Helena, clam down, and tell me why you are so damn pissed?" Barbara said forcing Helena to look at her.
Silence.
"It's James isn't it?"
Helena nodded her head.
"That's in the past Helena, and it's not going to happen again, I'll make sure of that. The first time it happened it was carelessness o my part I shouldn't have let him into Huntresses world, I should have left him out."
In reply Helena looked away.
"Let's go out and have some breakfast."
All three women walked out and back to the table, "Not that I mean to ask a stupid question, butler Alfred's your butler wouldn't he cook food?" Reese asked.
"Well, he was but we went to He-Huntress's apartment and all she has are pot and pans, and nothing else in her kitchen," Dinah replied.
"Well, I don't eat at my apartment at eat at Oracle's," Helena replied.
They started to eat when their food arrived and Helena was grateful she didn't have to talk anymore, "Com' on Dinah we have to get to school," Barbara said wheeling herself away from the table.
"Okay, I'm done," Dinah replied getting up.
"I'm sure she could be a little late couldn't she?" Helena said.
"No, not three times in the same week, they're already starting to ask questions."
"Please, Oracle you don't have classes till second period."
"Yes, but I have to finish grading some test."
"Well, that does remind me that I have to get to the store," Alfred replied. "You are running low on supplies, Miss Oracle."
"Alfred that can wait," Helena replied.
"I don't think I can Huntress, you go through medical supplies so quickly and now that Dinah's also doing the crime fighting thing, we really need them. I swear why can't kids pick normal hobbies like basketball or something?" Barbara replied.
They left leaving Helena and Reese at the table by themselves. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Author's Note: That's it for now, we are so tired, we even faked sickness so we could get this chapter up. Enjoy and we promise the next one is coming soon. Enjoy. Please r/r. And sorry didn't have time to proof read.