Myka gasped when she felt Helena's touch upon her skin. Her mind raced trying to process how this was possible. "Farnsworth's Projector made movies come to life, the character's took physical form. But how was Claudia able to modify that technology to work with your projection?"
"Like I said, she's a clever girl. Far more clever than myself it seems, as even I didn't fully understand how it works when she explained it to me," Helena responded. She withdrew her hand from Myka's shoulder and began to step back, giving Myka space to think.
Myka tentatively reached forward to take hold of Helena's hand as she back away. Helena paused, allowing Myka to take control of the situation. "Your hand is actually warm. I can feel your skin, your pulse. It's like your actually here." Myka kept her gaze focused on Helena's hand as she tried to will back the tears that were threatening to fill her eyes. She felt Helena's other hand touch her chin and allowed her face to be tipped up, meeting the older woman's warm gaze.
"I must say, I hadn't quite prepared myself for just how real this would be. During the brief time Claudia spent with me active to test her little invention all I made contact with was a book and rubber ball she challenged me to catch. For you to be able to feel my touch, and I yours . . . it's more than I let myself imagine." Helena's eyes shifted back down to Myka's hand which was still clasping her own.
Myka gently stroked Helena's hand with her thumb and watched in fascination as a chill ran through Helena's body. "So you can feel me every bit as much as I can feel you?" Helena nodded. Myka put her arm around Helena's waist and pulled her tight against her body, as if she were afraid that the magic would ware off now that it was acknowledged. Helena allowed herself to be held, reaching her arms around the taller woman and burying her face in Myka's shoulder.
"I can even smell your conditioner," Helena added as she breathed in Myka's scent deeply. Myka laughed gently at this.
"Well, it should smell familiar – it's actually yours," Myka admitted shyly. It's true that Myka grasped on to as many physical reminders as Helena as she could get her hand on. Conditioner, perfume, clothes, even straightening her own hair – anything that kept Helena close to her in her mind.
"I thought it was familiar. But it smells different on you." Myka shivered at Helena's breath on her neck, still amazed at the level of realness Claudia's invention was capable of creating. Helena pulled away just enough to look into the younger woman's eyes.
"Darling, I know that after all that I did I have no right to ask for your forgiveness – I don't think I would be able to accept it should you offer it." Helena hesitated when she noted a look of sad recognition pass over Myka's features. She drew her fingers through Myka's hair, resting her hand at the base of the other woman's neck. "So I won't ask you to forgive me. I will only ask that you allow me to prove to you just how much I regret the pain that I caused you. I will do any penance you name."
"Helena, stop." Myka shook the woman gently. Helena cast her eyes downward and waited for Myka to continue. "I've spent months thinking of what I would say to you if I got you alone. I've imagined a million different scenarios. I've screamed at you for betraying me, for using me. I've told you I never wanted to you see again. I've begged you to forgive me for not seeing your pain and suffering in time – for not being a better friend. But never did I allow myself to imagine what I would do if you were standing before me in flesh and blood, or whatever this is."
Helena finally dared to meet Myka's gaze, not bothering to hide the tears that had begun to build. "If you want to hit me, I'd understand. It may be cathartic for you."
"Please shut up." Myka removed one hand from Helena's waist and gently pressed her fingers against the woman's lips. "I'm sure you have things you would like to say to me, and I know that I have a lot I should be saying to you. Maybe it's selfish, but all I want right now in this moment is for you to stop talking and kiss me." Myka removed her fingers from Helena's lips and waited.
Helena searched Myka's face for any signs of uncertainty, but found instead a yearning so strong that felt like it might rip Helena apart. She smiled and offered, "Darling, if that is what you truly want . . . "
Myka cut her off by pulling Helena's face to hers with both hands, leaving only a breath's width of space between their lips. "You never were very good at following orders."
Myka closed the distance between them, reveling in the sensation of Helena's lips against hers. She felt a moan escape Helena as she held her tighter, deepening the kiss. Helena's hands began to wander across Myka's back, seeking as much physical contact as possible. Myka in turn was delighted to discover that she was in fact able to slip under Helena's loosely fitted shirt and caress her lower back. Helena gasped at the contact, allowing Myka's lips to leave her own and begin traveling down Helena's neck with soft kisses and playful nips.
"It seems our dear Claudia did an even more thorough job than I anticipated. I had no idea you would be able to manipulate my clothing as well," Helena purred under Myka's ministrations.
"That certainly is an exciting bonus," Myka agreed. She gently guided Helena towards the bed. When Helena felt the back of her legs make contact with the mattress she sat on the edge, pulling Myka into her lap.
"Myka dear, I am quite content to spend the rest of this evening in your arms doing whatever your feel comfortable with, and I must admit that I have every intention of ravishing you if you'll permit me. However, before we go any further there is something I need to say to you. I should have said this to you ages ago, before I did what I did and hurt you so. Perhaps if I'd allowed my heart to speak more clearly things could have ended differently." Helena gathered her strength and looked deep into Myka's eyes.
"Every time I am returned to that bloody orb my last thought before returning to nothingness is 'this may be time I see the world' and my greatest regret, beyond all of my sins I should be repenting for, is that I was never able to summon the courage to tell you that I love you. Myka Bering, I love you with all of my soul." Helena looked deeply into Myka's eyes, searching for a response.
Myka kissed Helena softly. "I love you too, Helena. I've loved you since the moment you whisked me away into the sky with your grappler – the first time I felt your arms around me."
They kissed again, this time allowing their passion to grow to dizzying heights. Helena pulled Myka onto the bed and rolled the younger woman underneath her so that she was staring down into her love's darkened eyes. "Promise me that when I must be sent back the last sensation I feel will be you in my arms."
"You have my word." Their night went progressed in a whirlwind of touches, flesh, tastes, moans, and sweet laughter. Helena made good on her intentions of ravishing Myka, and vice versa. When the morning came Myka fulfilled her promise as well. She climbed into the bed, holding Helena tightly. With one final kiss she twisted the orb, and cried gently when her arms were emptied of the woman she loved. But unlike the last time she bid Helena farewell, she was not overcome with sadness. Her heart was now full of love and hope as she looked down at the modified orb in her grasp. She knew she would be seeing Helena again soon.
Early that morning Claudia tiptoed down the hall to Myka's room. She pressed an ear to Myka's door and was disheartened to hear the distinctive sound of Myka crying softly inside. It's a sound she had become accustomed to over the last few months. Her heart sank at the thought that her gift had perhaps not worked, or that it had worked but only succeeded in making Myka feel even worse. She started to tip-toe away, but her presence was given away by a loud creak from the aging floor boards.
"Stupid old house. You're no good for sneaking," she mumbled quietly as she walked away. She was stopped by the sound of Myka's door swinging open. She took in Myka's appearance. There were tears in her eyes, as Claudia had expected, but it wasn't sadness that was written across her friend's face. It was joy. Claudia took in Myka's tousled hair and the unmistakable marks on her neck. Before she could form a comment about her friend's appearance Claudia felt Myka draw her into a tight embrace.
Myka didn't speak at first. She held Claudia for several moments before planting a kiss on the young girl's forehead. "Claudia?"
"Yeah, Myka?"
"Best. Present. Ever."
The End