"Your not supposed to be up here. Go on now." Alfred gave her a bit of hamburger before moving the growing kitten into the elevator and sending her down to the pent house.
He had to admit that he was enjoying Moon, even if he did have to empty her litter box when Helena forgot. She was a wonderful companion to Catwoman's daughter, and had a calming effect causing Helena not to have as many outbursts. She was great at alerting Barbara before Helena had an attack. Barbara was trying to get an ok with the school to send the cat with Helena for her senior year. That way if there were any problems, Moon would alert Barbara. The young cat was also having an effect on the older woman. When Helena went to school, Moon would never stray far from Barbara. Barbara allowed the cat to sit on her lap while working at Delphi; and if she was ever crying or angry, Moon was there to comfort her. In the evenings when Alfred was reading, the black cat would sit on his lap and sleep sometimes. After some communication to Laura, Barbara had rigged a way for the cat to work the elevator herself, and open doors. A small control panel was placed at the bottom of the wall next to doors with a large round button Moon would push with her nose to have the door open. Barbara also placed one near the elevator that allowed Moon access to the Clocktower if she needed to alert Barbara. Of course, she tended to go to the Clocktower even when she wasn't supposed to. The buttons were so low to the ground; no one ever saw them unless they were down on their knees looking for it.
Alfred picked up the tea tray he had prepared for Barbara and went down to Delphi. He would hear Helena working out in the training room. There was only a month left before the first anniversary of that night. The two seemed to be off in their own worlds. Barbara burring herself in Delphi and Helena was suddenly busy preparing for her senior year that was about to start.
"Tea, Miss?" Alfred sat the tray next to the keyboard.
"Thanks, Alfred. I was getting thirsty." Barbara picked up her cup and blew on it, causing the steam to sting her eyes, which hid her tears.
Alfred looked at the monitor and saw she was watching the same news report that had caused the redhead to end up in the hospital that night. He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, "May I show you something, Miss?"
"Sure, Alfred. As long as it isn't as depressing as this," She waved towards the monitor.
Alfred led the way to a wall across from the spiral staircase. Pulling a remote out of his suit pocked, he opened a hidden door. The room was huge. Lights were encased in the floor and pointed to the ceiling, casting their light on the walls. Very dim lights shined from the ceiling. In the center a spotlight came on directly above an incased Batgirl as they entered the room. Alfred hit the remote again and part of the glass moved out of the way, allowing someone access to the suit. On a gray manikin was her past.
"Alfred, I told you to get rid of this."
"Sometimes it is important to remember the past. Your other suit is in the bat cave with all of master Bruce's and master Dick's, but this one is the start of your viewing room. Perhaps you will add the suits of your protégés to your collection. Batman started his line and now it is time for Batgirl to start hers."
"How can I start a linage if I can't even fight?"
"There are other ways to fight this battle. You will make your new place in this battle. This room is meant to remind you what you were, and what you have become. And I believe there is a young lady who needs that question answered and many more." Alfred handed Barbara the remote and left the room as a flash of black snuck in and onto Barbara's lap.
Barbara reached up and removed the mask from the manikin and moved her hand over the makeup stains Alfred had left. Remembering the past is hard. So many things were done that could hurt those I tell. But Alfred is right. She has a right to know and it is time to tell her. She replaced the mask and left.
Helena sat on Barbara's bed, stroking Moon, waiting for Barbara to explain why she had been called there. The redhead sat at a computer, pulling up files she had downloaded from the computer in the Bat cave. Once they were uploaded, Barbara turned around and parked in front of Helena and next to a small cardboard box labeled CW.
"Helena, I was reminded today, that sometimes it is important to remember the past no matter how much it hurts. So, I will answer any question you ask of me today." She took a deep breath and started into it, "Your mother gave me this box when she moved back into town after you were born. Her instructions were to destroy all its contains; she never wanted to see it again. But I kept it, knowing that someday you would need to see what is in it to believe for yourself. So here it is. This is who your mother once was, and in a way her past may decide your future."
Alfred sat reading in his room. He couldn't concentrate because he knew what was going on in Barbara's bedroom. Helena would know the truth of who her mother was before she was born. Catwoman tried so hard to hide her past from her daughter. She didn't want her past to affect Helena, but it already has. There was no way of her hiding it. Once she found out the entire story, she would make her decision, but Alfred was worried about what it would be. Would she open her wings and sore to new heights or would she plummet into the darkness of shame.
Helena opened the box and pulled out the mask of Catwoman. It wasn't as fine as Barbara's. It had been clearly stitched together and its only purpose was to hide the wearer. Helena placed it on her face and it fit perfectly, causing Barbara to catch her breath. She laid it aside and pulled out her mother's cat suit. Made of simple black fabric designed to keep the cold out and nothing else. It was also sewn together poorly, but her mother had never been much of a seamstress. Black leather boots with thick souls made to keep her movements quiet, not that she needed the help. Gloves with long sharp cat claws held the stains of blood from fights with Batman, Batgirl, and Robin. The signature whip was well worn and Helena wrapped her hand around the worn marks where her mother once held it. The bottom of the box was lined with books of various sizes. They were manuals of how to disarm security systems, martial arts books, artifacts books, and several that were filled with news clippings.
Helena emptied the box and Barbara motioned her to the computer. Clicking the play button, recorded fights that had been deleted off of security cameras by Alfred flashed across the computer. Catwoman and Batman fighting hand to hand, her mother slashing Barbara's arm, Barbara kicking her mom so hard she flew across the roof. Helena turned away, but Barbara continued playing the recordings knowing how hard it was for her to watch but it was something she had to watch. Helena's eyes burned with tears as she turned back in time to watch Batgirl throw Catwoman off a roof. There were many fights between a woman named Black Canary and Catwoman. The fights were so heated it was hard to tell who was wining. Several times Batgirl broke them up only to get yelled at by Canary as Catwoman escaped. Next Barbara showed her news footage from the upper class parties. There was her mother on the arms of her father. Cameras caught them dancing and kissing. They looked so in love it only made Helena cry harder. When the screen went black, the two sat in silence.
Alfred sat watching a nature show about the balance of nature. Everything fought to survive and those that fought the hardest sometimes failed, finding themselves chased down by a larger predator and devoured. No matter the animal, there was always a predator hunting and destroying. But then the animals that were monsters one minute turned around to be loving parents the next, loving and protecting their young. Sometimes being forced to give up their old ways to keep their children alive. He hoped Helena would realize what her mother had done for her.
"Why did she do it?" Helena gazed at Barbara with innocent eyes.
"Honestly I don't know. She didn't know any better. It ran in her blood. She felt the call to the night, just like you do, and she answered it in the wrong way. But I know deep down in her heart, she was good. It was like she just enjoyed the thrill of it all. We usually got back what she stole and if Batman was in dire need, she would be there to save him."
"So then why give it up. She had everything."
"Because her love for you was greater than her love for the night. She loved you, Helena, and don't ever doubt that."
"Did they truly love each other?"
"Your parents? Yes, they loved each other so much. Even when they talked about one another, you could see the love in their eyes. It lit up the room, it was so bright."
Helena looked at Barbara, "Why did you become Batgirl?"
"Because I hated my Uncle coming home at night mad because he couldn't do anything. He knew who was responsible, but couldn't do anything because of the rules and regulations. I heard the stories about Batman and how he could stop the crime his way. I was young and impetuous. So I dawned a cape and fought on my own till he accepted me, trained me, and gave me the name of Batgirl."
"Do you regret it? If you weren't Batgirl, you wouldn't be in that chair right now."
"No, not once. Without me, there would be more criminals on the streets. I took this path because saving people felt right to me. I had a desire to save others from what I wasn't saved from. The journey was amazing and I don't think it is over. This is just a bump in the road."
Helena stood up and packed her mother's things. "How will I know?"
"You already know. You have always known. No matter what you decide, there will always be 'what ifs.' But in your heart, you will know what your decision should be. I chose my path, but you were born into yours. No matter if you run and try to hide, it will still be there. The decision will always remain yours; I can't make you decide one way or the other. Take some time and think about it." Barbara touched Helena's arm and watched the girl walk away.
Helena held her mother's costume close to her chest. Even when she was bad, she was still good. Maybe if she had had someone like Barbara, she wouldn't have ended up like she did. She gave it all up for me. Perhaps it is possible for the bad to turn good. Her blood runs through my veins, but I won't end up on the other side like her. Helena went to the Clocktower and looked at the computer that still held the map she had been looking at months ago, waiting for her decision. With a shaky finger but a determined face Helena Kyle, daughter of Batman and Catwoman, hit the 'enter' button.