Okay, so...big news. This is the second to last chapter. Making next chapter, not only the last chapter of this story, but the culmination of the trilogy. WOOT WOOT! I recommend going back and reading from the beginning to end, just to capture that good nostalgia.

Helena...

She really didn't want to be here, but when two of your good friends and your boyfriend ask you to attend, you're not really allowed to tell them all to fuck off. Not that Helena hadn't tried. She had. Nathaniel had taken great pleasure in spanking her for it. Yes, it was as entertaining as it sounded.

The invitation read like the beginning of a movie. You're cordially invited to the indoctrination of the Hall of Heroes. The first museum dedicated to the memories of the heroes who have fallen before. Black-tie wear is expected, dinner served at eight. Please RSVP. What the hell does RSVP stand for? Does anyone know? No. No they don't.

Helena forced a smile at the many paparazzi mobbing the entrance and did the glam clutching of her sexy bright blue boyfriend's arm. Though "black-tie" was required, most of the 'heroes' invited still wore their masks. Helena had worn her mask, but added a deep-cut velour dress to it. Who wants to wear a leotard in daylight?

...you looked beautiful...

"There's Canary. We're seated with her." Nathaniel said, though it really wasn't necessary. Helena hated people who said the obvious. She sighed and followed him as he wound his way through the crowd. Politicians (was that the President?), celebrities (Angelina's first appearance since baby, with Brad on her arm no less), and heroes frolicked about and pow-wowed. Helena fought back a laugh at the sight of some third-rate model trying to climb into Batman's suit...with him still in it.

Dinah wasn't looking too good. She hadn't really wanted to come either, but like Helena, the choice had been taken from her. Wildcat, her mentor, was being honored as a Golden Age hero (that is...old), and Green Arrow was getting a spot too. Someone had to be here to accept the post-humous plaque in his honor. Superman was here to do most of the post-humous taking, but he'd requested that Black Canary do it for Arrow, since his death was the most recent and still dear to the news harbingers. The shot of Dinah, Arrow's paramour, accepting the plaque would be plastered all over the newspapers tomorrow, and another round of flowers and false condolences would arrive that morning to Dinah's (or rather Helena's) apartment. Helena would field the calls until Dinah felt up to hanging up on them herself.

In a rare moment of affection, Helena sat beside Dinah and placed her hand over her friend's. "You gonna be okay?"

Dinah smiled bitterly. "I could ask the same of you. He's here, you know."

"Who?" Nate asked as he finally stopped eyeing the crowd and sat down across from them.

The two girls smiled and said nothing, and Helena took the chance to admire her boyfriend's taste in clothes. Or lack of. A blue tux? On a blue man? Helena had fought a grimace when he'd picked her up for this stupid event. Dinah, knowing what she was thinking, stifled a laugh and patted the back of Helena's hand.

"Well, Captain Atom, you look spiffy," Dinah commented as she sent a hand signal to a passing waiter for another gin and tonic.

Nathaniel, Captain Atom, smiled and replied candidly, "This is my prom tux." Can anyone say nausea? Helena couldn't even remember her prom, though that likely had more to do with getting drunk than with the non-existence of memorable times.

Helena smiled and reached out to poke him in the arm. "Still fits?"

"Yeah."

"So you were small even then?"

"More like I was a strapping man even then."

"You wish."

"Actually, you do."

"Don't I know it."

Dinah smiled, a real one this time, and lightly clapped her hands. "Now kids...let's save all that love for the dance floor."

Nate smiled, and stood, holding his hand out to Helena. "Let's dance."

Throwing a glare at Dinah, Helena stood and took his hand. She let him pull her onto the dance floor.

...even if you were with him...

They danced to a slow waltz, and Helena deliberately trod on his toes. When another dreary waltz followed the last, Nate didn't let her leave the floor, but kept turning to the music. Finally (someone obviously interceded with the crotchety DJ, most like the Flash, whose mentor, also the Flash, was getting a memorial), a saucy tango came on. Helena wanted to get off the dance floor even more.

Nathaniel proved an able dancer, even if he did make faces at her at odd moments and make her laugh. Halfway through, a tap on his shoulder caused them to pause before a shadowy figure took Nathaniel's place and swung Helena around to the music. It was Nightwing.

"Hello Huntress."

"Hello Dick."

Nightwing smiled and threw a loving look to Oracle who was currently at a table with Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern, having what looked like a serious talk. Girl couldn't even leave business at home for one day. "Enjoying yourself?"

"I'd rather stick a hot poker in my eye."

"That can be arranged."

Helena smacked Nightwing in the head in a smooth move when he dipped her to the music, and twisted his fingers when he raised her again and started to move across the floor. He grimaced, but they both kept dancing. Helena wouldn't begrudge him this dance, since it was impossible for his love to actually dance with him. Though, from the looks of the fiery alien across the room in a bright purple dress, others wouldn't mind dancing with him. Helena didn't mention Starfire watching them, but then again, this was Batman's former protégé so he probably knew.

Speaking of Batman's protégé...

"Can I cut in?" A slightly boy-ish, but ever deepening voice asked from slightly below Nightwing. Helena glanced over Dick's shoulder and saw Robin standing there in all his red/green/black glory. She smiled broadly and pushed Nightwing away.

"Finally, a man with style," Helena said as she took the teen's hands and slowly (he was a novice dancer and also about six inches shorter) danced away from Nightwing. Helena smiled, and realized that the poor kid was probably blushing since he was in prime place to look right down her dress. Which he was. Eh. "Must be my night for the Batclan. You're the second one to dance with me tonight."

"It's cause you look hot."

"Well thank you, Timmy. You're such a charmer."

Tim grinned and winked at her, before throwing his chin in the direction of Batman. "I had to blackmail him to get him to come tonight. As Batman, you know?"

Helena nodded, and took in a fleeting glimpse of a blue (almost purple) fedora and suit, but refused to turn her head to get a better glance. Self-control, baby. "How's Speedy?"

Speedy, Arrow's 'sidekick', was also Robin's teammate on the Teen Titans. This was something Helena really knew only because Robin liked to keep in touch with her through e-mail. Other than Nightwing, Robin was one of the few Batclan who was her friend, and for a kid, he was a damn good one. He was also really smart and good with computers, something she'd needed when she'd gotten that damn TiVo. If it takes two hundred pages to explain how to use something, then why the hell do we bother buying it? Helena didn't know, but at least now she got to watch her soaps again. Goddamn you, Ethan, you know Theresa loves you.

Helena shook her head, and let go of Robin as the music ended. As a young woman with long blonde hair and a Wonder-Woman-esque costume walked up and took his hand for a dance, Helena slipped into the crowd and searched out a nice dark hallway to seclude herself in for awhile.

She gave a small wave to Nate and Dinah where they sat drinking champagne, and wordlessly told them that she'd be back. It took a little effort but she found an empty hallway, much cooler than the ever-more-crowded ballroom, and leaned her bare back against the wall just inside the corner.

...I never realized you danced so well...

Slowly, she became aware of footsteps walking up the hallway, around the corner. They stopped just outside of her view, so she stayed where she was. She was rather enjoying the silence, and didn't really want to make the forced small-talk with some member of the Justice League, who though they wouldn't admit it, was probably glad she'd been kicked out.

Whoever it was, didn't speak. Didn't move. Just a shadow lying on the floor, next to her's. A familiar shadow.

He slowly held out a flower, just to the side of her, so that she could see it, but not see him. Hiding, always hiding. Helena wished he'd just say what he wanted. She didn't speak, though, didn't accuse, didn't rage, didn't cry, didn't love. She took the flower in trembling fingers, and waited and watched as his shadow left her's. Left her alone.

A pink rose, fresh from a garden, with dew still on its petals. Helena rubbed those teardrops against her lips, and let her eyes flutter shut as she remembered. Many things passed through her mind, but she merely put the flower on a side table and started to leave.

She didn't leave it long, but turned and after a long hard look, picked it up again. She wanted to keep it.

...maybe we'll dance together one day...

The rest of the night was a blur, but a hard-edged one, where she noted the details, but couldn't really put them in order. She remembered Dinah standing and silently accepting the plaque, before returning to her seat, where she silently cried. She remembered Atom clapping loudly and smiled that big white smile as every still-alive honoree accepted the plaques, and as the committee opened the public rooms full of memorials for past heroes, and current ones. She remembered fleeting fingers on her back in the crush of the crowd as she went from room to room.

Soon, the night was over. Many things ended that night.

...Love, Vic.