Much to his annoyance and the deflation of what could have been a nicely dramatic moment, Nikola was forced to wait for Henry to access the lab where the artifact was held. The codes the vampire had been given did not access secure locations in the Sanctuary. They knew better than to let him wander unsupervised amongst the coolest toys.

When they gained access and the group entered, Nikola was suddenly feeling his exhaustion. He wasn't up for theatricals and this moment could backfire for him so badly, he didn't even feel like gloating. So in lieu of explaining his findings or answering any of the questions the Scoobies had been throwing at him since they left the media room, he instead gestured Helen over to the artifact. He put a hand on her lower back to guide her, enjoying the warmth of her that seeped through her clothing, wondering if this was the last flirtatious touch he would be able to give her without being scolded in return.

Nikola positioned Helen next to the artifact and took her hands, allowing himself a last look into the eyes that held affection without (much) suspicious or aggravation. Then he cupped his hands beneath hers and lifted them up, holding them there until she got the message and mimicked him, hands outstretched and waiting. He turned to the artifact and reached out for it. Cries of surprise and warning sounded for the others but Nikola ignored them. He carefully set his forearms around the device, careful not to allow contact with his skin below the cuff of his shirt sleeve. He hefted the artifact with as much grace as he could manage and turned back to Helen, dropping it in her hands.

Helen flinched slightly; she'd been expecting the thing to be heavier than it was. It looked like it was made of stone, but the shell could have been medium grade plastic for all the weight to it. Yet it felt curiously like a high quality metal against her fingertips. She frowned at it then looked at Nikola, but when her lips parted to ask one of a number of a questions she had, it hit her.

That is, everything hit her. All at once. Every memory she had lost, all the years she had lived, all the people she had loved and lost. The memories of mourning came back as well, so the remembered grief didn't overpower her. But she gasped and staggered slightly at the unexpected restoration of so much time.

Her employees rushed to her side to support her, questioning her, berating Nikola, and bullying Helen with gentle concern. Nikola stood rigid and unmoving, watching her intently, waiting for the results of this unorthodox experiment. He watched as Helen, under the urging of Henri and Wilhelm, set the artifact down again. When she turned back to the children she was flushed, her color high with emotion and reaction, but her voice was firm when she spoke.

"It's okay. I'm perfectly fine. In fact," she said, "I'm myself again."

Magnus had to laugh slightly, amazed, relieved, ecstatic to be restored to herself.

Everyone turned to stare at Nikola.

"You're sure? You remember everything?" He asked Helen.

"I wouldn't remember if I didn't," she pointed out, "but yes, every memory seems to be where it ought to be."

"You remember your education? Your adventures?" Nikola asked and hesitated before questioning further; he needed to be sure. "Ashley?"

Helen took a deep breath and released it before she nodded. It hurt to remember, but it was a good hurt to have back. She wouldn't trade the pain of remembering for anesthetic of oblivion.

"Vienna in the springtime?" Nikola felt a small smile quirk his lips as he asked.

It was outdone by the stunning sunbeam of Helen's smile at one of her fondest memories. It was the happiest time she had ever spent with Nikola. She had never told him so but he knew her too well and she blushed when she couldn't school her face back into composure. That only elevated Nikola's tiny smile to a full smirk.

"Yes," she said, "I remember everything."

Nikola took advantage of the next few moments when Helen became distracted by her minions crowding around her, teeming with relief and questions, to release his tension. He closed his eyes for a second and exhaled a shaky breath, allowing himself one moment of weakness when no one was watching. Helen was okay. Helen was back. It was done. He wasn't naive enough to think the matter was over entirely. He was sure Helen would have words for him at some point. But he'd done what he could to avoid her ire and only had the fortitude left to be glad he'd found the cure.

He composed himself again quickly, fortuitously as it was only moments before the attention shifted back to him. There was a flurry of inquiries into how, what, and wherefore but he stilled it with an upraised hand. A lengthly explanation could wait for the tedious official report Helen would no doubt request him to file. He was far too tired to gloat right now. If he answered their questions about the artifact, he'd have to keep answering questions when Helen started to bring up the uncomfortable stuff. Instead he stepped past the kiddies to take her hand.

"It is very good to have you back again, my old friend." Nikola tried to mask his sincerity with his usual aplomb by raising her hand and pressing his lips to her knuckles. Already he could feel the difference in her touch, it was lighter, more hesitant as her old walls returned. "By the by, my dear, 'keeper of memories' does not translate to 'time capsule'."

Nikola's smirk was intentionally supercilious as he made a smug bow to her and strode out of the lab.