The light shining in from the clock face woke the sleeping child. She stretched her long arms and glanced around her new setting. It looked so different than at night. Everything was so colorful and bright. She stood up and Alfred called to her from the other side of the clock face.

"Morning, Miss. Miss Barbara dug some close out of your boxes and I set them on the end table. There is a shower right down the hall there so you may shower and change. What would you like for breakfast?"

Helena picked up the clothes and stared at Alfred. She had never had someone asking what she wanted for breakfast, "Uh, what do you have?"

"Well I am afraid Miss Barbara didn't go shopping so we have no milk, but plenty of eggs for some reason."

"Ok, eggs will be fine then."

"How do you like them?"

"Fried with a hard yoke."

"Very good, Miss. Oh, Miss Barbara said your not supposed to get the cast wet. I placed a bag in the restroom for you to wrap around it."

A clean Helena emerged from the shower. She felt good. It was nice to be in clean clothes and have her hair clean. It needed to be cut though. The cast had caused her troubles, though. It was big and bulky. She couldn't wait till it came off. Helena walked around to the kitchen area. Her eggs and a glass of juice sat waiting. Alfred had his back turned to her, washing the dishes.

"Where is Barbara?" She asked through a mouthful of eggs.

"Cleaning up after last night. I believe she just finished getting the blood out of the carpet and is currently working on getting it out of the elevator."

"I am sorry that I caused so much trouble."

"Nonsense, I remember cleaning up blood after your father and Miss Barbara several times. It is nothing new. Now, I have laundry to tend to. When you're done just place your dishes in the sink and I will take care of them later."

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Barbara's back ached. It had taken her two hours to get the blood out of the carpet in the apartment. I should have done this before it dried. I don't know why I didn't think of that last night. Her hands were raw from scrubbing. Alfred had offered to take over for her, but this was something she needed to do. She had managed to mix up a solution that worked great for taking off blood; the only problem was that you still had to scrub at it. It worked better than water, but still took time.

Barbara dipped her rag in a bucket and glanced up to see Helena approaching, "Hey! Did you sleep well?"

"Yes," she glanced at the bloodstained wall, "I am sorry about all the blood."

"It will come out eventually. It is odd being the one to clean up the blood instead of the one bleeding. Anyway, Alfred wants me to make a grocery list for him. Anything special you want on it?"

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Laura road up the elevator and noticed the walls were slightly a red tent and wet. I wonder what happened here? She had Sammy with her, and he went to investigate.

"Blood."

"You sure?"

"I eat blood for dinner, you think I don't know the sent?"

"Well no, but why would there be blood in the elevator?"

The doors opened on the main level and Babs was no where to be seen, "Barbara?"

"In the kitchen."

"Be right there," Sammy and his master rode the elevator up the loft area. When the doors opened, he bolted out the door.

"Sammy, get back here right now!"

Helena was sitting on a stool when she felt someone rushing towards her. She turned her head just as the large cat knocked her to the ground. The weight of the large animal knocked the breath out of her and she gasped for air as a pink tongue was attacking her.

"Helena!" Barbara yelled as the panther hit her.

"Helena! Sammy get off her right now. You are in so much trouble, young man. You know you are not supposed to do that to humans. Get off her!" Laura's eyes changed and she grabbed Sammy's collar, dragging him off the helpless girl.

Barbara leaned over in her chair, "Are you ok?"

Helena sat up as she finally caught her breath, "I think so. No damage done."

"I am so sorry. I don't know what came over him. It is good to see you, Helena. I think Sammy is excited to see you to. Sammy, you calm down right now and leave the poor girl alone," Laura struggled to get her pet under control.

Sammy sat back on his haunches, "But I just want to see her. I missed having the kitten around."

"I don't care, that is no way to treat her."

Sammy made his kitten face, "Pleeeaasseee. I just want to play. I will be good I promise."

Helena and Barbara laughed over Sammy's face. Laura glared at them, "Ok, fine, I give up. I need to talk to Barbara anyway."

Laura released Sammy and he went to Helena's side, "Why don't we go downstairs, there is more room for Sammy to move around."

Laura and Barbara took to the elevator while Helena raced down the stairs. The doors opened just in time for Laura to see Sammy completing his jump from the loft, "Sammy!!!"

"What, I didn't do anything."

"If I didn't need to talk to Barbara you would be in so much trouble right now. And don't lie to me or you're a dead cat," Sammy rolled on his back playing dead, "SAMMY!!!" Helena laughed.

Laura followed Babs out to the balcony, "I tell you, that cat is more trouble than he is help."

Babs laughed, "But you still love him and always will. So what are you doing here?"

"I got a call from Mark. There have been a bunch of wild male tigers spotted feeding on grazing animals. The farmers are ready to kill to stop the feeding. I have to leave."

"But Helena just came back. I don't know what to do!"

"Yes, you do. You managed to get her to come home didn't you?"

"I suppose so, but that was just a chance thing."

"No, it wasn't. She had a change of heart, and you started it."

"So now what am I supposed to do. I can't just raise her like she is my daughter."

"You follow your heart. You love her, show her guidance, train her, use a stern hand when needed, and never disrespect the memory of her mother. Right now it will be hard. She needs to know she can trust you. You have to be more of a parental figure right now than a friend."

"She is almost seventeen."

"She will be making many choices soon and you will need to guide her."

"And who will guide me?"

"Your heart, instinct, and Alfred."

Barbara smiled, "Will you be back?"

"Selina left her daughter in your capable hands. I trust her decision and so must you. If you truly need me, I will come running."

"When are you leaving?"

"In the morning. That's why I actually came to see you. There are some loose ends to tie up still. And I needed to ask you if you would watch Sammy for a few days. His plane doesn't leave for another three days and I don't have anyone to watch him. Usually Mark would, but I sent him to the village yesterday to do some surveying work."

"I don't mind. As long as he doesn't chew up the furniture or tackle Alfred or I."

"He shouldn't. I have his things in the car downstairs. He has to be at the airport by three in the afternoon to get checked in. Now to tie up the loose ends. All the money from the sell of your apartment has been placed in your bank account. And the money from Selina's was placed in a savings account in Helena's name. She can't get to the money by herself till she turns eighteen, but you can get to it." Laura handed her friend a manila envelope, "Also, we moved everything we could see out of your apartment. The couple moving in won't be in for a week and I thought you would want to move your other things out. Once you have Sammy on his way, go to your apartment and I am having a friend meet you there who will carry you up the stairs and help move out the boxes. You are supposed to leave all your keys to the apartment on the kitchen counter."

"Thanks, I was going to ask you about that. Laura," Barbara was interrupted by a large crash.

Laura walked into the main room to find one of Barbara's computers screens laying in pieces on the floor. Sammy and Helena were standing close by, "What is going on in here!"

"My computer!"

"Ok, who did it?"

"He did it," Helena pointed at Sammy.

"No I didn't. She did it."

"Sammy you have been so much trouble today, I should put you in a kennel instead of letting you stay here."

"But I didn't do anything."

Helena looked at the cat and master staring each other down. She looked at the mess and Barbara's shocked face, "Don't blame him. I did it. I wanted to see if I could jump from the loft like Sammy. I did, but I didn't judge my landing very well. I am sorry."

Alfred appeared with a large metal trashcan and a broom. He handed it to Helena and walked away. With a quick glance at Barbara she immediately began cleaning up the mess. By the time she had it cleaned up, Laura had moved all of Sammy's things in. The group said their goodbyes and Barbara rode the elevator down with Laura to see her off.

"I hope Sammy won't be to much of a handful."

"I don't mind Sammy, it is Helena I am worried about," Barbara admitted, "She has many undiscovered abilities. I don't even know what she is capable of."

"It is called faith, Babs. Helena is a kitten who is growing up. I can tell you it won't be easy. She is just starting out on her journey."

"I hope I can last. I don't want to push her away."

"She reached her lowest point out there, now all she can do is go up. But the slope up will have some downs once and a while."

The two reached Laura's beautiful car, "Well, time for me to go. I wish you luck. She is a wild one with a great need of guidance."

"Thanks Laura."

Barbara watched the car exit the parking garage and then headed back to the elevator. She glanced at the bloodstain still on the wall and sighed. That child is truly her mother's daughter. I only hope when Helena reaches that point in her journey she takes the path her mother never took.

The End. For now :)