Stupid.

She was very stupid.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

She took her hand to her head and grimaced as soon as her fingers touched the patch at her forehead. That damn blow had opened a cut on her forehead.

Stupid.

She never had felt so angry.

Annoyed.

Pissed.

And stupid.

The elevator door opened. Firm steps echoed through the corridor. She had promised her that she never would do it, and it was a lie. She knew it was late, almost 2 o'clock in the morning, but she didn't care; she pressed the door bell. A long coat covered her Batgirl costume; she didn't want to lose time changing; she needed to face Selina, who had moved back to New Gotham a year and a half ago.

Fists in balls, she waited patiently a few seconds after pressing the door bell again; this time most insistently.

"Mommy! Mommy!" she heard Helena's voice running toward the door.

The little kid.

Sigh.

Well, this time her presence wouldn't matter to tell Selina two or three things; she had found her stealing a valuable jewelery exhibit; in her surprise, Selina had hit her hard on her head, knocking her unconscious.

Helena's face couldn't avoid showing her disappointment when she saw the redhead standing in the doorway.

"Hi, Helena," the tall woman greeted, "I'm sorry, I know it's late, but is your mom home?"

Little blue eyes turned moist. Barbara kneeled in front of her, "Hey, what's wrong, Helena?"

Helena hugged her tight. The redhead hugged her back, "Easy, what happened?"

"I dunno where she is," the girl whispered.

"You don't know?"

"She didn't call me, she's been gone since morning..." Helena sobbed. "She didn't wake me up and didn't take me to school; she doesn't answer her mobile and she didn't call me. She always calls me when she is late..."

The redhead rubbed her hair. "Easy, don't cry, I'm sure she's fine."

"Maybe she is hurt..."

Barbara knew something was wrong, terribly wrong, "No, no, I'm sure she is fine..." she lied. "She surely... had some problem".

"She didn't give me anything to eat yesterday. I waited for her all day..." Helena kept sobbing, "Something happened to her."

"No?..." Barbara moved back a bit, green eyes fixed on little blue one; she took Helena's chin with her fingers, "Let's do something, I'll stay with you until mommy arrives, right? And you tell me what happened."

Helena nodded sadly, Barbara hugged her and lifted her easily. Helena wrapped her arms and legs around her. She closed the main door behind her and walked inside, what the hell was happening? Selina would never leave Helena alone.

She glanced toward the kitchen table, an empty ice cream bowl, bread, an open jar of peanut butter, a knife and dirty dishes over all the place. She turned to look at the little girl, who had rested her head on her shoulder, and brushed the back of the dark head. "She didn't give you anything to eat yesterday or today?"

The brunette shook her head.

"You must eat something; let me make something for you."

"I'm not hungry."

The young crime fighter noticed Helena was still wearing her school clothes; the living room was a mess- sofa cushions on the floor, the TV on- "Were you sleeping here?" she asked gently.

"I was waiting for my mom."

Barbara didn't know what to say. She walked toward Helena's room with the girl in her arms.

The redhead waited for Selina until dawn. She never came back; she was resting her back on the headboard of Helena's bed; the girl had wrapped her arms around her; she had been crying almost all night and tired, had fallen asleep. After Helena had fallen asleep, she had called hospitals and the police looking for the woman. Nothing.

She could see the sun rise through the window. She stirred and tried to move out of the bed, but Helena curled tightly against her. She smiled and rubbed her back with her hand. She couldn't walk out and leave Helena alone. She needed to think about what to do with the girl. Selina had disappeared, according to Helena, more than twenty-four hours ago. The brunette had explained what had happened and all of it was weird. Selina would never leave her daughter alone and act like that with her. Helena was her most valuable treasure.

Something had happened and she needed to figure it out. Bruce was out of the city, as was Dick; she'd have to do it alone.

The first step was taking Helena to school and hoping that Selina would appear. If not, she needed to invent a good story for the girl and take her home.

The redhead waited for Selina. She never came back; she was resting her back on the headboard of Helena's bed; the girl had wrapped her arms around her; she had been crying almost all night and tired, had fallen asleep. After Helena had fallen asleep, she had called hospitals and the police looking for the woman. Nothing.

She stirred and tried to move out of the bed, but Helena curled tightly against her. She smiled and rubbed her back with her hand. She couldn't walk out and leave Helena alone. She needed to think about what to do with the girl. Selina had disappeared, according to Helena, more than twenty-four hours ago. The brunette had explained what had happened and all of it was weird. Selina would never leave her daughter alone and act like that with her. Helena was her most valuable treasure.

Something had happened and she needed to figure it out. Bruce was out of the city, as was Dick; she'd have to do it alone.

--------------

A soft noise woke up the redhead. She had fallen asleep, Helena curled up next to her. She kept silent a few seconds and she heard again a noise. She could see the sunrise through the window.

Selina?.

She stood up, taking care to not wake Helena and adjusted her long coat covering her batgirl costume. She opened the door and walked inside Selina's bedroom. No one was there. She heard the main door closing and ran toward it.

When she opened it she found the tall woman walking toward the elevator. She had a small suitcase with her.

"Selina! Where are you going?"

Selina almost stabbed her with her look. "What are you doing in my home?"

"I'm looking for you."

The ex-Catwoman turned to her, crossing her arms. "I'll call the police, you were inside my house without my permission."

"Yes, interesting, call them and maybe you can explain why you were inside the Museum last night."

The blonde smirked looking at the patch over her forehead, "Rough night… Batgirl?"

Barbara walked toward her, "What the hell is wrong with you? You promised not to do this again!"

"Don't try to tell me what I should or should not do, I'm older than you." She moved her hand to press the elevator button.

Barbara caught her wrist and pressed it hard. "I'll stop you for robbery right now."

Selina grinned and put her suitcase on the floor; she suddenly moved a hand toward the redhead and she ripped her coat leaving the front of her costume visible. "Yes, do it," she hissed, "it will be interesting to hear you explaining how you became Batgirl."

"You can't…." the redhead muttered in surprise.

"Try me." She pulled her hand trapped back. Barbara released her.

"Selina, you promised to quit your criminal life for Helena!"

The older woman looked at her, losing her patience. She had work to do for her next assault and she was so annoyed; she stepped towards Barbara, her face but a few inches from Barbara's. "Catwoman is back." She clenched her teeth. "If you don't like it, it's your problem, not mine; you don't have any idea how I've missed this. I feel alive again. I'm not going to stop being myself just because you say to or because of Helena."

"Helena doesn't deserve this," the young crime fighter growled.

"She is old enough to take care of herself. I'm not going to wipe her ass all my life."

Barbara blinked, stunned. "But… she's only nine, she's a child…"

"I was a child too when I ran away from my father. She is smart enough, don't worry."

"You can't be serious."

"You will see." She pressed the elevator button.

"Where are you going?"

"I have work to do." Selina raised her brow, smiling, "You know…some jewels waiting for me… I'm sure we will see each other again later. But if you don't want me to knock you out again, keep your distance from me."

Barbara angrily took her by her coat and pushed her hard against the elevator doors. "I'll stop you before you try it! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Selina pushed back, breaking the grip, "Wanna fight? Right, let's do it."

An old woman opened her door and looked outside. Barbara turned, covering her costume and the blonde brushed her hair, picking up her suitcase.

"Are you okay Miss Kyle?" the old woman asked.

"Yes, just leaving. I´ll be travelling a few weeks Mrs. Smith. See you."

The elderly woman looked at Barbara with distrust.

The elevator door opened and Selina walked inside. Barbara stopped the elevator doors before they closed. "Selina! You can't leave Helena alone. She needs you, she is a child and you left her alone for almost two days! She was crying all night. She didn't know where you were!"

"Is that your fucking problem, Barbara?" the blonde growled. "Helena? She is smart enough, but if you want, take care of her. I'll be out of the city."

"…What?"

"You heard me. I have work to do and I don't have time for this."

"She is your daughter! Jesus!"

"Don't fuck with me. Try to stop me now and everyone will know who you are!." The burglar pointed at her Batgirl costume visible behind the ripped coat. "This is my life and I can live it the way I choose; I'm choosing this!. Take Helena, if you want, but I warn you, that won't stop me from killing you if you try to stop me. I'll do it." She stepped back. Speechless, Barbara watched the elevator doors closing in front of her.

She stood motionless in front of the elevator; she couldn't believe it. The old woman at the door looked at her curiously. Barbara turned and walked inside Selina's apartment, closing the door.

She rested her back there and her head on the door. What the hell was happening to Selina? She loved Helena so much, how could she leave her own daughter? Something was wrong, was someone blackmailing her? But it didn't justify her attitude toward the little brunette. Something serious was behind all that; she needed to investigate it but…

Helena? What would she do with her? She looked at her watch, 7 am. She removed her ripped coat and walked toward Selina's room. Selina was a bit taller than her, but almost the same size, she changed her clothes, thinking about what to do. Her father didn't like her, she had a lot of work to do, a lot of research. Bruce and Dick were out of the city.

Damn.

She picked up a suitcase from Selina's closet and went toward Helena's room. She put the suitcase on the bed and sighed, looking the little brunette sleeping. Perfect. She sucked as a nanny, she had proved it once and now she was going to have to do it again.

She sat next to the bed and shook Helena gently. The girl growled.

"Come on, Helena, wake up."

The girl stirred and turned, hugging Barbara. "Mom…" she mumbled.

"No, it's Barbara, come on, you need to go to school. It's late."

Lazily, Helena buried her nose in Barbaras side. The redhead gently moved her. "Come on Helena, it's late.

Little blue eyes opened drowsily and looked at her. "…Barbara?... Why do you smell like her?"

"I borrowed some clothes." The young woman smiled gently. "I needed to change. Your mom called."

Helena sat up immediately, "Where is she? Is she okay?"

"Yes, yes, she's all right…"

"Is she here?"

"No…"

The brunette couldn't hide her sadness. Barbara brushed her hair gently. "As I told you she had an emergency, she is going to be out of town for a few days and she asked me to take you home."

"I want to see her, why she didn't call me?" Helena asked.

"I told you, she is out of the city; but she promised to bring you a big present when she comes back." The redhead took her chin between her fingers. "She told me: 'Tell Helena I love her so much and I´ll be back as soon as possible.´"

The kid sighed.

"Now," Barbara stood up, "I need you to change for school and help me pack some of your clothes. All right?"

"Right."

The former Batgirl could read the sadness in the child's eyes. She leaned down and smiled at her, "She asked me to take you to the Circus this weekend."

"Circus?" Helena's eyes shone, "can we go?"

"Yes. I'll buy the tickets after I drop you at school. So hurry up."

The girl jumped off the bed and ran toward the bathroom. Barbara watched her go. She was in trouble, big trouble. Being a crime fighter was so much easier than being a nanny. She needed to figure out what the hell was happening to Selina.

"Barbara, can I pack my turtles too?"

"What turtles?"

Helena walked out of the bathroom with two small turtles inside a glass aquarium, "Leonard & Leroy, my turtles."

Barbara rolled her eyes. She corrected herself, she needed to figure out what the hell was happening to Selina soon.