This fic happens between Split, episode number 7 and Gladiatrix, episode number 9. So we have a Reese that is starting to trust in Huntress and a Dinah still in training. Thanks so much to my friend Nightstalker for helping me editing this.

Being a crime fighter is not easy. Being a stalker. Moving in the shadows; hiding, watching; with all your senses focused on any small danger signal. Your life is always on the thin line. The adrenaline of not knowing if you are going to come back home or not, maybe that is the thing that addicts me to this nocturnal life. We are like dark angels taking care of all the people in New Gotham. Most of them will never know that their lives were at risk and that we saved them. We will never hear a "thank you," we don't work for "thanks," we do this because... well, how can I explain it? We do this because... because... oh damn, as Barbara says, We do it because it's who we are. I guess that explains everything.

Sometimes I think it is more difficult to be a normal human being, they are more exposed than us, the meta-humans, they are vulnerable, they don't have any special abilities. Sometimes I don't know how they survive their own madness.

Humans are weird, and they say we are. They invent so many strange things to kill each other and "innocent" objects that are really dangerous.

"Stay still!" The firm voice of Barbara pulled Helena from her inner thoughts.

"I am still," the brunette protested. She was seated on the kitchen table while Barbara cleaned a wound on her lower arm. A deep wound.

"Explain to me EXACTLY how you injured yourself opening a can of peanuts?" Barbara shook her head. "You just have to pull the tab."

"Well, it's not may fault the tab broke and I had to use a knife to open it. The knife slipped. It was an accident."

"I'm glad she didn't use a machete." Alfred smirked while he swept the peanuts that were all over the kitchen floor.

Dinah walked out of the elevator. She was returning after going shopping with Gabby that Saturday afternoon. She was a nice friend, the best one that she could find in that school, the change had been hard, but she had helped her a lot. She looked at the mess in the kitchen. Peanuts were everywhere and a large can was next to her feet. It had a big hole in the middle of one of its sides. She picked it up and walked toward Barbara and Helena.

"The can attacked you, Helena?" she asked.

"Yes, and the can won." Barbara said, pouring a bit of alcohol on the brunette's arm, who jumped in her place. "Stay still, you!" the red head said.

"I am," Helena growled.

Dinah helped Alfred pick up the peanuts on the table. "Looks like it was a massive battle."

"No jokes, Dinah." Helena glared at her.

"Have you ever tried to open a coconut?" the teen asked.

"Don't give her any ideas, Miss Dinah," Alfred scolded, putting some peanuts in the trash.

"It was just an accident," Helena defended herself.

"Okay, finished." Barbara finished bandaging her arm and moved back. "I don't understand how you can deal with dangerous criminals and then get defeated by a can of peanuts."

Helena looked at her arm.

Alfred walked toward her. "I would really appreciate it if, next time, you call me."

"It was an accident and I'm okay."

"Oh, good." He gave her the broom, "So you can finish, there are still peanuts under the table.

The girl looked at Barbara who smiled and nodded. "It was your fault."

Helena rolled her eyes and jumped down, while Barbara and Alfred walked toward the elevator.

"Miss Barbara, I hope you remember that your father's birthday is tonight."

"I never forget it," she smiled, "I bought him a nice sweater. Helena, today is my dad's birthday, want to come?"

"Um..." Helena mumbled, "I have to work extra hours tonight... remember? I didn't go to work on Monday and I promised Leonard I'd work a double shift today."

"Oh, yes, true..." Barbara remembered, "we were working on those jewelry robberies."

"Yes... I'm sorry."

"Don't worry, want to come Dinah?"

"Uh? Me?" the teen asked.

"You, I guess this is a good time to meet him. I have talked to him about you and he wants to meet you."

"Sure, sure..."

"Good, be ready at seven." She wheeled inside the elevator.

"Her Dad? Oh my... what do I say?" Dinah looked at Helena, who continued sweeping without paying attention. "I don't know him... he doesn't know me." The brunette seemed not to be listening. "Helena."

"What?"

"What do I do?"

"What do you do with what?" Helena kneeled to pick up the trash.

"I don't know Barbara's father."

"And?"

Dinah looked her disconcerted. "What do I say to him?"

Helena stood up and looked at her. "Hi, my name is Dinah Lance, nice to meet you. What else?" she shrugged her shoulders and went to the basket.

"Not funny." Dinah sighed.

The brunette cleaned her hands and stood up in front of her. "He is just Barbara's dad. Go to his party, say hello, enjoy and have fun."

"What's he like?"

"Old, tall, he hass a mustache, he wears eyeglasses and is damn smart." She went toward the elevator.

"Helena, wait," Dinah said.

"I have to go, it's late and Leonard will kill me if I'm late today."

Dinah, frustrated, shook her head. She turned to see Alfred. "Do you know what he's like?"

"He is a very respectable man, intelligent, serious, hard, with a strong character; but very warm and lovely with Miss Barbara, he loves her so much." Alfred explained, as he finished cleaning the kitchen. "They have almost the same character. Mr. Gordon was an honest policeman, he is respected by all Gotham's citizens."

"Helena didn't seem too excited about going."

"Well..." he raised his brow, "you know her."

"Tell me," Dinah asked, almost in a whisper.

"Excuse me?"

"Tell me. I know you know more."

"Miss Dinah, it is not good to be so curious," Alfred pointed out.

"I'm trying to be part of this family," she said, frustrated, "but it's hard because everybody here has secrets. Very complicated secrets. I'm trying to understand them. Please help me."

He looked at her in silence.

"Please?"

"Well," he looked around, taking care that Barbara and Helena were far and he leaned toward Dinah. "This is just between you and me."

"Yes." The girl nodded.

"Master Gordon doesn't understand exactly what Miss Barbara sees in Miss Helena. Why she took care of her. He thinks she is the obnoxious, snippy daughter of an ex-criminal. Miss Helena knows that he doesn't particularly like her, the feeling is mutual. It was difficult in the beginning," Alfred remembered those years. "They had discussions; very hard discussions. It was painful for Miss Barbara, she felt trapped; she loved him as her father and she loved Helena as her daughter; Miss Helena was broken, on the edge; Miss Barbara had known her since she was a child and she didn't have the heart to leave her alone in those difficult moments."

"Oh... I didn't know that...." Dinah mumbled.

"Luckily, both stopped, they did it when they discovered how much they were hurting Miss Barbara. They understood their differences would never be solved and were only causing the person that they most loved, Miss Barbara, to suffer. Master Gordon is a smart man, he knows how much Miss Helena helped his daughter to deal with her paralysis; he knows she was part of that miracle that brought her back to life after losing her ability to walk..."

Dinah listened in silence to the story that Alfred was telling her. She could almost see the images in front of her.

The old butler smiled gently. "And Miss Helena is not stupid, she's not selfish, she knows the love of a daughter for a parent; she would never forgive herself if she had been the cause of a separation between Miss Barbara and her father. She told me once, she couldn't let Miss Barbara feel the same pain that she was feeling for the loss of her mother. She didn't have the right."

"That was nice," Dinah said.

"She has a big heart, but she doesn't like to acknowledge it. Miss Helena is okay with him because he is Miss Barbara's father, and he does the same. The two tolerate each other because of Miss Barbara; she knows that, and she is very grateful because it's an act of love that they do just for her. So, I would suggest that you not push Miss Helena so much about him." He took a deep breath and looked toward the clock. "Batman and James Gordon shared a special friendship, even though Gordon didn't know who the man was under the mask. It's an irony that many years later their daughters follow their same way."

"He doesn't know Helena is Batman's daughter?"

"No, she says that she likes for people to accept her for who she is, not her father."

"I understand. But maybe I won't like him either," Dinah said worried.

"Miss Helena and Master Gordon have strong characters, but they are opposite poles. Don't be afraid, he is a nice man. You will enjoy the night."

"Are you sure?"

"I have never lied to you."

"True."

"Well, time to work," Alfred said, walking toward the elevator, "Maybe you can think of what present to give him."

"Oh, yes!" Dinah hit her head with her hand.

"May I suggest a book? He loves sci-fi books."

The teen's eyes shone. "Oh, good idea, there is a book store at the corner, I'll go."

She gave him a kiss and ran toward the elevator. He smiled, grateful for that unexpected kiss.

Dinah took almost one hour trying to choose the best dress; she wanted to make a good impression on him. Finally, she chose a blue dress. She liked blue. She and Barbara went to Mr. Gordon's apartment that night. Dinah couldn't hide her nervousness. The redhead parked the car in front of the apartment building.

"Am I okay?" Dinah asked.

"Yes, you look beautiful." Barbara smiled.

"Do you think I will like him?"

"Sure, why not?" Barbara was open, her voice always soft, almost caressing. She always made Dinah feel comfortable.

"Well..." the teen hesitated a few seconds "I'm not your family..." she said, almost with sadness. She didn't have a family, just her and Helena. Her mother had died and she didn't know anyone else who would want to take care of her.

"Dinah, I have talked to him so many times about you. Don't worry. He knows who you are."

"He knows about mom?"

"Well, not that so much," Barbara explained, "he knows your mom was my friend, but not 'Black Canary', just Carolyn."

"Oh... and... what did he say... about me?"

The redhead laughed lightly realizing her fear. "Alfred told you?"

"Told me what?" she blushed.

Barbara understood the blonde girl. All her life she had been among people that had rejected her, that had hurt her. She put her hand on the girl's thigh and locked her eyes on hers. "He told you, I know, I'm sure of that. Look Dinah, things were different; the moment was different; we were different; we were hurt. Helena had lost her mother, she was filled with anger; I was trying to deal with my disability, and my dad was trying to protect me, he thought I couldn't face my limitations, and he was afraid anyone would hurt me."

Dinah felt ashamed for bring those bad memories to Barbara's mind.

"He thought Helena would be like her mother," Barbara explained, smiling sadly. "He knows who she was; Helena was confused, hurt. She was hiding her pain behind her rude attitude; he didn't understand how I could tolerate her. She hurt me... she hurt me so many times with her words and her attitudes; but I understood she was trying to avoid loving anyone and being loved. My dad said I didn't have the responsibility of caring for her, that she was ungrateful and that I couldn't expect more from Catwoman's daughter. I understood him, and I understood her."

"It was hard for you."

"I can't deny that, but luckily both understood they couldn't change each other." She caressed the girls cheek with her long, soft fingers. "They learned to respect each other. So, don't feel afraid, my dad is not an ogre, he's a wonderful man with a big heart and has given his life for this city. Helena has come to his birthday. Don't think she avoided him; but it's true, we were working on the jewelry case and she promised she would work today."

Dinah smiled. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry, come on, it's late." Barbara winked.

They moved out of the Hummer and went inside the building. The elevator took them to the upper level. A woman of Barbara's age, with long, black hair opened the door of James Gordon's apartment.

"Hi Babs." She greeted, hugging her.

"Rene! Nice to see you!" Barbara hugged her back.

"Hey, you look great!" She noticed the blonde teen behind her. "Hi, and you are?"

"Oh, she is Dinah, Dinah Lance," Barbara explained, "My new ward. Dinah, this is Rene Montoya, a good friend of my dad.""

Dinah smiled shyly. "Hi."

"Hi, nice to meet you," Rene shook her hand, "but come in. They are on the terrace."

"How is dad?" Barbara wheeled inside.

"Oh, he is having good time, and Helena?"

"Working, she had to work extra hours at the bar."

"She took many free days, eh?"

"Yes, you know her."

James Gordon watched his daughter appear at the door and he stood up immediately. His face always shone every time he saw his daughter. He gave her a hug and kissed her.

"My princess!!"

"Daddy! Happy birthday!"

"Thanks for coming."

"This is for you!" Barbara gave him a small box.

"You didn't need to do it," he , kissing her forehead, "you are my best present."

"Oh, Dad," the red head took Dinah's hand, "this is Dinah Lance, remember? I talked to you about her."

"Oh hi." He smiled to her. "Yes, you told me about her. How are you?"

"Fine, thanks. Congratulations, sir. It's a honor to meet you."

"Oh, thanks," Gordon said, "Barbara told me you are a very nice girl. Please come in. Where is Helena?"

"Working extra-hours at her job," Dinah said.

"Still working in that bar?"

"Yes," Barbara said.

"That is not a job for a girl." He shook his head.

"You know how she is dad." The red head smiled.

"Yes." He smiled back. It was not a good idea to try to start a discussion about that. He only wanted to enjoy his daughter's company.

"She sent you this." Barbara gave him a scotch bottle in a nice box.

"Mmm... my favorite. And it's a 1940 vintage scotch! This is great!" He couldn't avoid smile.

"She knew you would love it."

"I'll call her to thank her. Come on, the party is on."