These I Can Promise (by Mark Twain)

The impromptu office make-out session was a pleasant respite for both the CEO and Chief Counsel. Now, they sat leisurely on the couch next to one another.

"You used Bandit to get me out of my clothes," Myka teasingly chastised Helena.

"I did nothing of the sort, Counselor. I …missed him and wanted to express my sentiment by petting the hairy beast," Helena tried, but Myka started to tickle her for the bold face lie.

"You missed him? Do you want me to have Irene leave him then for the weekend?" Myka asked, still holding Helena in place now, her fingers gently prodding the Brit's side. Helena tried to push Myka's hand away, but was laughing too hard.

"The only…stop, Myka,…one I want to…(laughter) pet …is you," Helena finally got out and Myka stopped.

"You know, there may come a day Wells, when that innate charm of yours won't have quite the same effect on me," Myka tried to say convincingly.

"Really?" Helena said, catching her breath. "Then I will have to make up for that void …..by using my tongue in other wicked ways."

"Are you ever at a loss for a comeback?" Myka laughed, playing now with Helena's long hair.

"It simply isn't in my nature," Helena said, jutting her chin out.

The light tap at the door alerted them to the fact that their clothes were ready. As much as the couple would have enjoyed staying in each other's arms all day, both knew they had to get back to work. Helena reached through the door, thanked Eileen, and took the outfits back.

"I really need to get back downstairs. You know, my boss can be very demanding sometimes," Myka teased as Helena zipped up her dress for her.

Helena turned Myka to face her, fixing the collar on her dress. "I've been thinking about your boss lately."

Myka smiled and pushed her shoulder out towards Helena, saying - "Well, I think about her all the time." In that instant, Myka felt something and looked at the expression on her wife's face. Helena was smiling, but her brow was wrinkled. "What is it?" Myka asked, trying to figure out everything she was feeling.

"I think….. her days here….. are numbered," Helena said and now there was no mistaking how serious she was.

"Numbered? What do you mean, Helena?" Myka said, holding Helena by her arms gently.

Helena drew a deep breath and looked around her office. "I came to New York to start this company because I knew if I could be in charge of things, I could make it work. I wanted what I had been missing all those years long ago. I could finally be recognized for my contributions. Well, I've gotten that and more," Helena said.

Myka was stunned. This was the first she was hearing of this and she wasn't quite sure what to make of it yet. "Helena, you aren't thinking of leaving – I mean, you can't leave Wells….," Myka said, waving her hand to mean the company.

Helena then realized that she had surprised Myka, maybe even blindsided her – in sharing this now.

"No," Helena retracted quietly and pulled Myka closer. "Not now. But we have a future together, Myka, and I want to plan for that." Helena's face softened as her eyes smiled.

"Sure, of course, we can plan, Helena. I would like that," Myka said, concerned she had no forewarning that Helena was even contemplating this. From most standards, Helena was at the top of her game. "Why are you thinking about this now?"

Helena wasn't entirely sure herself. She wasn't even completely aware that she had been thinking about it. "I think when I advised Ms. Styles last night that it was time for her to move on, I wondered if maybe I shouldn't be giving myself the same advice."

"But you told her to take the next step, to go out on her own. You are the heart and soul of this place, Helena. There is no Wells Corp without you," Myka said, her voice starting to tremble a bit. It was obvious to Helena that she had caused Myka concern – even if it were unintentionally, of course.

"I know it looks that way, Myka, but we have very good people in place now," Helena said.

"Eileen?" Myka said in a whisper. "Helena, she can't do what you do. Not yet. Not for a long time," Myka argued. Now wasn't the time for Myka to be polite.

"Not just Miss Sullivan, although she did very well in my absence, as I knew she would," Helena grinned.

"And what will you do? What will I do?" Myka asked, having a hard time grasping this.

"You could teach. Professor Calvert would be thrilled," Helena suggested.

"I don't want to teach! I want to work with you!" Myka said, adamantly.

"Myka, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. It must just have been a thought I had somewhere," Helena said in an attempt to dismiss it.

"No! I don't know what you're thinking, but …no!" Myka said, her hands now planted firmly on her hips.

"Myka," Helena said, taking those hands and holding them. "….I'm not talking about doing anything immediately, nor am I talking about doing anything without talking to you. Perhaps our future is beyond this brick and mortar."

"Please, Helena," Myka beseeched her, worried that once Helena got something in her head, she rarely went back.

"Of course," Helena said, her expression softened as she kissed Myka. "We have to think about what we want for our future, that's all."

"As long as we're together, Helena, we'll have the future we want," Myka said, kissing Helena back hard on the lips.

"Yes," Helena whispered back when Myka let go.

Myka left Helena feeling very unsettled and walked back into her own office. She felt as if one minute they were enjoying the warmth of each other's bodies, and the next Helena was dressed and announcing her retirement plans. Myka knew in her heart that there wasn't anyone more complex that her wife. That made it challenging to understand just where Helena was at times.

Myka looked around her office. It seemed she had occupied the space her whole life instead for only a fraction of it. That, she decided, was because the life she always longed for and prayed for, began when she started working at Wells Corp. As much as she loved this job, and she did, Myka knew that her real joy was being with the woman who was one floor above.

In spite of the warm feeling inside, Myka also felt sad – to think that Helena was already planning the end of her days at Wells Corp. It would stand to reason that the Time Traveler would always be aware of her time – wherever she was.

Myka walked to the window and looked down on streets beneath her in Times Square. People walked, lights flashed, and cars moved in unison – all indications of the world moving forward.

Drawing in a deep breath, Myka felt as if she were reading a wonderful story and Helena just reminded her that the chapter was ending. Myka wasn't sure she wanted to think about that. Yet, she knew in her heart, she would have more chapters with Helena – and they would be the most exciting yet.

Life with Helena guaranteed it.

Helena stood in the same spot one floor above Myka at the very same time. She hadn't planned on sharing those thoughts with Myka because she was unaware they had blossomed into words. The fact that they had, Helena decided, meant it was important. It must be something she really felt inside.

Helena was a woman well versed in letting go, but as she looked outside, something tugged at her heart. The very building where she stood was there because of her work. Many people relied on her and countless others were benefiting from her unprecedented genius.

Working there had helped make up for what Helena lost out on all those years ago when Charles got all the credit. Right now, as Helena looked out at the buildings, someone, somewhere, was enjoying her stories – and the fact that she knew that, seemed to be enough.

What changed all of this for Helena was simply – Myka.

So many decades before, nothing had come close to filling the void Helena once believed was her identity crisis when she wasn't the author of her own works. Then, when she lost Christina, she lost being a mother. In the aftermath of that, she lost her world and her mind. Isolation after her defeats brought her years of solitude to think about her life. Helena swore if ever she was released, she would finally get her due and she would be liberated from her demons.

All this time later, Helena understood what had happened. Anger may have sustained and then propelled the Time Traveler into freedom, but it was Myka who truly set her free.

Whatever the future held for them, Helena decided, they would be in it together and that was what mattered the most. Helena believed with all her heart that she would have more chapters with Myka and they would be the sweetest yet.

Life with Myka guaranteed it.