To see Helena's favorite yoga poses, please visit ManahttaniteNYC on Pinterest.

Love's Secret (by William Blake)

Helena didn't bring the topic of her stepping down up again because it didn't need to discussed further. She trusted that wherever her path led, Myka would be right next to her. That was all Helena needed to know.

Within the guaranteed time frame, Wells Corp provided the doctors at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC with the prototypes that afforded disabled veterans the aid to move limbs. The private backing for the venture provided its inventors some very hefty checks. When Forbes magazine came out with their annual list of "Thirty People Under Thirty"- citing those who were young millionaires, the list had three Wells staff members; the Frederic Brothers and Claudia Donovan.

"This is my girlfriend," Eileen would say, pointing to the magazine cover. Most New Yorkers smiled because they could tell just how proud the stranger was.

"This is un-fraking-believable," Claudia said when she was contacted by the local news to give an interview on her program that provided the delicate movements and brain reception for Helena's designs.

"It's not so unbelievable," Eileen pointed out. "You are very bright." Claudia immediately blushed and mumbled something to dismiss it. "Hey," Eileen said, as they sat on the large white couch in the living room with the floor to ceiling windows. "Remember we talked about you taking in how true it is that you're gifted?"

"You're right," Claudia said, puffing out her chest. "I am pretty awesome." Her teasing made Eileen laugh and fall into her on the couch with a hug.

Then they heard the footsteps on the staircase coming towards them and both women jumped. Once again, Claudia turned and pulled Eileen behind her.

"Well, those pipes will not be bothering you again," John Sullivan said, walking down with his tool belt that seemed to have more gadgets attached every time he visited.

"Dad!" Eileen said, trying to impress upon him that he had scared them. Her voice sounded odd because she was too smitten with how Claudia protected her…again.

"Mr. S, the pipes…..were…..fine," Claudia said, her breathing jagged.

"They were?" the man asked innocently. "The pressure was off. I figured there must have been noise," the wanna be plumber said.

Claudia took a deep breath and smiled. "Yeah, they were a little, now that you mention it," she said. Eileen hugged her from behind – knowing she had said that to make him feel better.

"Good. Now, I can come next week to fix that mirror in the…..," John said, looking up and counting the doors. "I think it's the fifth bedroom. Yeah, the mirror is crooked."

It was a room that the new residents hadn't even been in yet. "Oh, that would be great. Cause when I get dressed in there, I go to work, and my clothes are all - off to the side," Claudia said and neither Sullivan believed her, but laughed.

Eileen's father put on his coat, parked his tool box in the hallway closet, and kissed his daughter and Claudia goodbye. "Now, I'll see you at home on Sunday? Your mother is making chicken parmigiana," he said.

"Wouldn't miss it, Dad," Eileen said.

"We'll bring dessert," Claudia offered.

"Ask your boss and her wife to come," John suggested because he was under strict orders to ask and make it sound nonchalant.

"Helena? You want me to ask Helena and Myka?" Eileen asked, to clarify.

"Yeah, we haven't seen them since their wedding and your mother thought it would be nice to have them over," John said, looking up at the ceiling to make sure he had said everything Kathleen told him to say. "Or," he said, remembering the last part, " …we could call them and ask ourselves. Whichever you think is better."

Eileen could see through her father like cellophane. "No, I can ask. That's a great idea, Dad. I'll ask them tomorrow. Thank Mom for thinking of it," his daughter said, hugging him.

When she closed the door behind her father, Claudia was there to tease her. "So dinner with your parents and your boss. Let me know how that goes."

"You already said you'd bring desserts," Eileen said. "Beside, Helena will feel more comfortable with you there."

"Me? You're her relative," Claudia pointed out.

"Yes, but you're like the HG Wells Mini-Me. She adores you," Eileen said because it was true. No one respected Claudia Donovan's genius more that Helena.

"No, I'm…," Claudia wanted to dismiss it, but it was too big a compliment and everything Claudia Donovan ever wanted. "You really think so?"

Eileen knew what Helena meant to Claudia. She was her mentor, friend, and idol. There wasn't anything Claudia wouldn't do for her. "You're like two peas in a pod. But it's like a genius pod," Eileen said, sincerely.

"Wow," was all the techie could say in response.

No one had ever paid her a better compliment.

"Okay, here's the thing, Mrs. F," Pete said to Irene as they sat in her living room on Saturday afternoon. Irene was pleasantly surprised that he dropped in. "I think I should take Bandit sometimes. Jane and I moved into that big apartment, so we'd have plenty of room for him."

"Oh Lord," Irene said, under her breath thinking how much retraining she might have to do. "Tell me why…. again?"

"Because I don't think he's gotten over the flower girl role at the wedding and maybe it will help him to spend some time with a real guy. No offense," Pete said. He had given this offer a great deal of thought. When he expressed his concern to Jane, she pointed out that the dog seemed fine and was well taken care of, but Pete wasn't convinced. Plus, he always wanted a dog.

Irene could have lectured him on how the dog wasn't the flower girl and how Pete's fear of feminizing the animal needed to be addressed, but this was Saturday and Irene was tired of babysitting adults. She had done it all week.

"I mean, look at him. He's just sitting still," Pete tried to point out.

"He's …behaving," Irene said, sorry she had to explain it.

"Exactly!" Pete said, finally glad the woman understood.

Irene decided this was one of those times when it was easier to concede. "Sure, Pete. Next time I need a babysitter, I'll give you a call," Irene said. Pete thanked her and left. Irene turned around and looked down at the dog who said there with a quizzical look on his furry face. "Just humor him," Irene advised the dog.

Bandit would. After all, Irene never steered him wrong. Irene went back into the living room and put her feet up. It had been a very long week for the HR Director. In spite of having a rest every afternoon when Helena was in her yoga class, it seemed that everyone else thought of this as their time to visit her.

First, Artie rushed into her office like a raving lunatic when he discovered the charges for the decoy couple. "So let me get this straight," he said, trying to not undue what his blood pressure medication was trying to do. "…she just wants me to pay twenty-six thousand dollars' worth of charges?? For three days in London? For two people? Because they managed to fool the press for …..thirty minutes after they landed?" The last question was said in a high pitched tone because the Chief Financial Officer could not fathom how two women – even though actresses – could spend that much in so little time.

Irene admired how Artie could whittle down all of life's problems into numbers. "Sit down, Arthur. Take a deep breath," Irene said to him, patting his shoulder lightly. "It's out of her personal account, yes?"

She knew it was, but that hardly mattered to the man who brought a bagged lunch because it was more economical. "Irene, they bought six pairs of shoes….each!"

"Well, Helena did tell them it was an all-expense paid trip," Irene shared.

"I couldn't spend that amount of money in a year on shoes. Or clothes. Or lunches!" Artie bellowed, unable to grasp the sense of such nonsense.

"And no one would accuse you of that ability," Irene said, her smile covering up the fact that she thought this was an exasperating conversation. "Arthur, Ms. Murray and Ms. Kelly were providing the brides a service by allowing the press to believe the honeymoon was in Europe. Now, just be happy that they had to get back to filming the show, or they may have gone on to Paris."

Artie just put his hands down in his head and shook it. "Paris?" he shuddered at what that would have looked like in numbers.

While the CFO was busy paying the bills, Helena's private banker had her hands full with taking care of Myka's request.

"Everything set?" Myka asked one day while she was talking to Bridget on the phone.

"Yes, the satellite programs are in fifteen schools, with more signed up. The scholarship committee will judge the entrants on originality and complexity and the awards will be given out at the end of the school year," Bridget confirmed.

"I want to take Helena to that. It will be a wonderful surprise," Myka said enthusiastically.

"Only you, Bering, would get a million dollar wedding gift in the form of a charity foundation and then use it to promote science and reading programs in schools," Bridget marveled.

"Helena will love it," Myka said, just thinking about how proud Helena would be.

When Irene finally got Artie settled …sand breathing normally again, she thought she was done for the day. But there was one more knock on the door and it sounded urgent.

Sui Generis rushed in as soon as Irene said to enter.

"I am very concerned about Ms. Wells," the android shared, sitting down, even though Irene hadn't even had time to invite him to do so.

"Why is that, Mr. Generis?" Irene asked, resigned to the fact that she was seen as the answer to all Wells related woes. "Helena is doing the yoga, isn't she?"

"Oh yes, she's doing well enough. Well, she keeps to the schedule which has been wonderful for morale. Many people have signed up for the yoga sessions since Helena has so readily endorsed it," Sui explained. "In that respect, she's a model student."

"And so….," Irene asked unable to guess.

"I have noticed two things. Ms. Wells' participation became quite regular when Ms. Bering joined the sessions," Sui said.

"This would be so much easier for me, Mr. Generis, if you would just tell me what your concern is," Irene said, not getting any younger.

"Well," Sui said, looking around Irene's office, "….I have done an initial analysis based on one of my many psychological assessment programs, and I believe our beloved CEO might, in fact, have ADD."

"ADD?" Irene asked, giving him credit that she had never heard this one before.

"Attention Deficient Disorder," Sui said, thinking Irene didn't know what the acronym was. "She's exhibiting the classic symptoms in adults," he went on with great concern.

"Which are?" Irene asked, settling back in her chair because she knew if she left, he would simply follow her home.

"Zoning out, extreme distractibility; her wandering attention makes it hard to stay on track, difficulty paying attention or focusing, when she's listening, struggling to complete tasks, even ones that seem simple, tendency to overlook details, leading to errors or incomplete work and finally poor listening skills; she has a hard time following directions, Sui offered as his evidence.

"Helena does not follow directions, Mr. Generis. Ever," Irene stated.

"I think this is serious, Mrs. Frederic," Sui said with great concern.

"Can you give me an example….," Irene said, wishing she hadn't used up the last of her Advil earlier that day.

"She arrives on time, is prepared to begin, but then once we start, instead of focusing on her breathing and movements, her mind seems to wander. She does not seem to keep up and is often a couple of exercises behind. And now, she is insisting that we only do the more advanced couple stances," Sui said.

"Couple stances?" Irene said, starting to understand the problem.

"Yes, if you come here, I'll show you," the yoga instructor said, standing up.

"I believe this would be better explained in pictures, Mr. Generis," Irene suggested, wondering where his Employee Handbook program was in all that wiring.

Sui grabbed Irene's key board and Googled the positions. "See, in this, the Down-Dog pose, Ms. Wells would be bent over and Ms. Bering would be stretched over her back, grabbing her legs," Sui explained. "And in Fly Bow, Ms. Bering would be lying down, legs straight up to support Ms. Wells who would be bent over backwards. And here…."

"That's enough, Mr. Generis. I get the idea," Irene said, amazed that the highly intelligent artificial intelligence was missing the obvious cause.

"They could get hurt if they're not focusing," Sui tried to explain.

"I have found your answer, Mr. Generis. The cause of Ms. Wells' distraction is right in front of you," Irene said, smiling.

"ADD!" he said, thinking she was agreeing.

"No, it's more serious," Irene said, leading him along.

"ADHD?" he asked.

"Worse. M-Y-K-A," Irene whispered and …waited…for…the AI …to get it.

"Ooohhhh," he said, after several programs analyzed the information and confirmed it as a viable explanation. "So it is her attraction to …,"

"Yes," Irene said, gathering papers on her desk to signal the lesson was over.

"So you think…," he asked, because he wanted confirmation.

'Yes," Irene said. "Remember, Mr. Sui, the shortest distance between two points is always a straight line."

The android yoga instructor looked at Irene who concluded this was enough for him for one day.

"Well, I am glad we had this talk. When I raised this issue with Ms. Wells, she said I should speak to you," Sui said, confirming that Helena was sending him to annoy her.

"Oh did she?" Irene said, smiling to think Helena had won …this round.

"Yes, and I think we might have found something else," Sui said, as he stood up to take his leave. "Ms. Wells has asked that we add fencing to our regiment. I'm looking forward to that," he said as he closed the door and walked back to his desk.

Irene sat there smiling, taking in the quiet that visited her for the first time that day. Fencing? Where had Helena come up with that, Irene thought. Then she remembered that Myka had done fencing. "Ha, Helena with a sword?" Irene said out loud and then the images of that started to appear. Helena at meetings, using the weapon to make her point? Or tapping papers to tell someone to get to the point? Or ….

"Mr. Generis!" Irene called after she scrambled to catch him in the hallway. "Under no circumstances is that woman to be armed!"

Bridget Cummings finally got her wish to take the newlyweds out for a night on the town. Helena only accepted because she knew Myka would enjoy it.

"The last time we were out with that woman, she nearly got us poisoned," is how Helena remembered it.

"The last time we were out with her, we got drunk," Myka corrected her wife.

"Same thing," Helena countered.

"You tried to tell her you had a Time Machine," Myka reminded Helena.

"I did not…did I?" Helena asked, because the only thing she remembered was the hangover.

"Yes, and you told her you wrote novels," Myka said, pushing her hip into Helena's as they dressed for the outing.

"Well, I did," Helena said, pursing her lips.

"Maybe you want Bridget to know," Myka asked, wondering what that would be like.

"The only thing I want anyone to know about me, Mrs. Bering-Wells, is that I am madly in love with you," Helena said pulling Myka in and kissing her. "That is all anyone needs to know about me."

The four friends arranged to meet up with their other friends at a club. Waiting for them was Eileen and Claudia, Steve and Jack, Jane and Pete and Artie and Vanessa. The friends ordered bottle service, much to Artie's chagrin, and danced the night away. Helena didn't leave Myka's side even when she saw Ted Grayson at another table. She simply put her hand on his shoulder when they passed and said, so the crowd could hear, that she hoped he was feeling better. He had no choice but to smile and thank her. Then Helena bent down and whispered in his ear; "Meep, meep."

Claudia laughed so hard, champagne came through her nose. "Give it here, Wells," the techie said in her brazen mood. She high fived her boss as Pete kept asking; What? What?

An hour later, Helena saw her next opportunity to take care of business. This time, she did it when Myka went to the ladies room with Sarah.

"Of all the people to see here," Bridget complained, when she saw the young designs thief enter the club. "I'm going to give her a piece of my mind," the slightly tipsy banker threatened, but Helena placed her hand on Bridget's arm.

"I'll take care of this," Helena said, when Bridget told her this was the thief.

Even after a couple of drinks, Bridget knew this would be one of the highlights of the evening. She watched as Helena walked confidently over to the table where the woman sat with her friends. They all smiled at Helena when they recognized her. Then Helena slipped next to Dana Fleming.

"Ms. Fleming, I am Helena Wells," Helena said, as if she needed to.

"Oh my gawd," the woman said, not realizing she should feel threatened.

"Yes, well, I have a proposition for you," Helena said, pulling the woman to face her so no one else would hear.

Propositions were not what Dana was hearing since being fired from Givenchy after they found out that she tried to steal Sarah's designs. Perhaps Helena wanted her as a private seamstress.

"If you tell me who put you up to stealing the designs, I'll do something for you," Helena smiled in a friendly tone.

"I don't know," Dana said, biting her lip. "I never got…like….. the designs and they kind of gave me some… like money to shut up."

Helena shuddered at the woman's lack for proper grammar and speech. Dana thought it over. Helena Wells was worth millions. Maybe she would offer her money.

"Are you, like, making me an offer?" Dana asked and snapped her gum. Helena quickly grabbed a napkin from the table and motioned for the girl to spit out her gum.

Bridge couldn't hear what was going on, but she could see Helena's expressions and they were priceless.

"Yes," Helena said and the young woman moved in closer to whisper a name.

"I need proof," Helena said calmly. The woman immediately grabbed her phone and showed Helena texts. Helena read long enough to forward them to her own phone.

"Perfect," Helena said, handing the woman back and phone and leaving. Foolishly, the woman put her hand on Helena's arm to stop her. Bridget stopped Pete from interfering.

"She's got this, Pete. I'm sure of it," Bridget said, knowing Helena.

"She can't kill anyone. It will really piss Myka off, ok?" Pete said.

Helena glare went from the woman's hand, up her arm, until it rested at the woman's eyes. Dana pulled it off quickly. "You said you'd do something for me," she whined.

"Oh, but I am," Helena said. "You see Ms. Fleming, you stole from my friend. You took advantage of her and upset my other friend. I don't like when people do things like that to people I care about. So the thing I'm going to do for you…," Helena said, leaning in. "…I'm going to let walk out of here…unharmed."

Helena stood back and was all smiles. "Now, since you will never work in the fashion industry again, Ms. Fleming, I suggest you try to find some other industry that requires little skill or morals. Like politics, perhaps."

With that Helena walked back up to the balcony where her friends were gathered. "You are something else, Wells," Bridget said and hugged Helena.

"Oh good, we're using surnames," Helena said, trying to appear nonchalant.

Sarah and Myka returned to the table, but Bridget didn't mention it. She knew it would upset Sarah to know the woman was there.

"Hey you," Helena said, turning to Myka. It was amazing how staring into those pools of jade could make everything else disappear.

"Hey you," Myka repeated and leaned in to kiss Helena. She released her lips, and smiled to the rest of the friends who were busy talking. She reached out and took Helena's hand in hers on her lap. She couldn't get enough of touching, holding Helena. It just felt so good, so right.

The group shared stories and talked until the early morning hours when Helena, who had only had her one glass of white wine, announced she was the designated person to call the drivers. Then the couples went out into the night air and said good night.

"Thanks, Helena. For everything," Bridget whispered as she hugged her friend.

"Anytime," Helena said and meant it.

"She's a keeper," Bridget said to Myka about her wife.

"Yeah, I think so, too," Myka said, smiling.

Then Pete and Jane drove the newlyweds home and bade them goodnight. Pete had a big day ahead of him. "He has a play-date with Bandit," Jane teased as they left.

Helena and Myka made their way into the darkened entryway. Any effect of the champagne for Myka had worn off a long time ago.

The moonlight bathed the tile floor through the window above the door. Helena helped Myka take off her coat and then placed it with hers in the closet. "Wow, you hung them up!" Myka said, teasing, but still amazed.

"You would just make me hang them up tomorrow if I didn't, " Helena explained and made Myka laugh.

Helena pulled Myka to stand in a ray of moonlight and gently leaned her against the wall. "You are the most beautiful creature God ever created," Helena spoke from her heart as the light reflected in Myka's eyes.

"You…," Myka tried, but Helena was already cupping her face and kissing her lips passionately.

"From the minute you appeared in my life, my heart was yours," Helena said softly. She kissed her again and electricity shot through Myka's body.

Myka stood still after Helena's lips released her, her lips still parted as her body reacted to that kiss. "Your kisses….are….intoxicating," Myka said in a raspy voice. "I think I better sit down."

Helena made them tea and the two lovers sat in the bay window of the living room that looked out onto Central Park. The night sky was clear, the large moon shining down into their window. In spite of the hour, neither was tired and they talked about a great many things. When the tea was done, Helena pulled Myka to sit between her legs and lean back on her.

"Someday Helena, our children will run and play in that park," Myka said, looking across the street at the tree lined entrance.

"When Myka?" Helena asked, hugging her.

"How about…soon?" Myka asked, turning her head to look up at Helena. If there was anything she was certain of, it was that she wanted their baby.

Helena's eyes filled with tears and Myka felt them fall onto her cheek.

"We can make that happen," Helena said, softly as sobs of joy erupted.

"I know we can," Myka said because she was married to the most brilliant woman in the world.

The couple embraced and kissed, declaring their love once again. Together they were going to start a new chapter of their lives together.

One that just might include and Heir born of their love.

Perhaps it was the joy both women felt at the prospect of that event, or maybe it was just the incredible clear sky that night and the bright moon, but 911 emergency operators and local news teams received hundreds of calls about a strange white light that people could see in the sky over Central Park.

"It's just the perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system," the seasoned meteorologist explained on television. "You know, the supermoon."

Maybe it was.

Or maybe, just maybe, it was a certain love that was in the air that night.

Dear Readers:

I wanted to title this chapter; Parting is such sweet sorrow – for truly it is for me. I never feel I take this journey alone and often come to know those of you who come along for the ride. Nothing is sweeter than that. Then I miss you all when the installment ends.

The characters of Bering and Wells are so wonderful, that it seems easy to write for them. In spite of this being slightly an AU – I always want these characters to remain who they are – as we have come to know them. Just in new jobs. The wonderful Bering-Well fans are also the best readers.

Thank you for your time – I know I don't write short installments…. In spite of my promise to do so! lol.

I hope you will be back for the next installment when we (try to) come full circle.

Cheers,

Manhattanite