Chapter 4

Rating: Mature
Spoiler: season 3 set after the finale, assuming that they got HG Wells back
Disclaimer: If I did own the rights to these lovely ladies they would have a lot more fun – trust me.
Summary: Helena and Myka have dinner with Helen Magnus under the stars. Myka learn more about Helena's past and the two Victorian women. Helena is set on wooing her beautiful woman.

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Helena and Myka had spent the afternoon together in the living room talking and looking at old photographs. As the sun set over the city they had returned to their rooms to get ready for dinner. Helena had given Myka one long heated look before closing the door to her room behind her. Myka took a deep breath and entered her own room.

To Myka's delight Helena had joined her in her room once ready. The two had continued talking, just enjoying a little quiet time together. Promptly at seven there was a knock on Myka's door. Myka smiled at Helena and caressed her cheek as she took a step away from her.

"Come in."

Big Guy opened the door and made a grunting noise. "Dr. Magnus is waiting for you. Are you ready?"

Myka looked at Helena and she nodded. Together they followed the strange creature. When Helena curled her fingers around Myka's she smiled at her and squeezed her hand.

To both their surprise, Big Guy did not escort them to the dining room, but up on the roof. As they stepped outside in the slightly chilly air he disappeared and closed the door behind him. In the middle of the roof a large Bedouin tent had been set up. Soft Middle Eastern music played in the background and the most wonderful scents wafted their way. Helena laughed and took a step forward, pulling Myka along. She pushed a colorful curtain aside and ducked her head as she stepped inside. Helen Magnus lounged on some cushions on the other end.

"Good evening ladies," she said and smiled at them.

Helena stretched out on a cushion on Magnus' left, smiling at her as she held out her hand. Magnus took it and kissed it.

"This is truly wonderful, Helen."

Myka eased down across from Helen trying to figure out how to be comfortable while at the same time being able to eat.

"It reminds me of Egypt," Helena said and looked Magnus in the eyes.

Magnus nodded. "Those were lovely times."

Magnus got up and poured their tea, handing one to Helena who smiled serenely at her, and then another glass to Myka who took it carefully from Helen's hand.

"I knew you'd been in Egypt before," Myka said and tilted her head as she looked at Helena. "I didn't realize that you were there with Helen."

"Twice actually," Magnus responded.

"I went back one more time with Carter," Helena said and sipped her tea. She looked up at Myka. "We were trying to find Warehouse 2." She put her tea down and ran her hand through her hair. "I stumbled upon it one morning."

Myka sat up, leaning on her left arm. "You actually found it? But you never told the Regents?"

Helena nodded. "It was just me and this young Bedouin boy," she said and smiled fondly at the memory. "One day while resting in the shade, enjoying my tea, I watched him draw the oasis with a piece of coal. Realizing that the boy was talented I gave him one of my journals and a pen."

"I remember him. His name was Fadi," Magnus said and nodded. "Carter took him in after you left. The boy became an official part of Carter's team. I have one of his drawings in my office."

"I'm very glad to hear that," Helena said and smiled.

"So what happened that day?" Myka asked, trying not to sound too impatient.

"He was drawing the landscape around us. Something about the hills looked familiar to me. I saddled up my horse and took off in the direction of the left hill." Helena settled in again and closed her eyes for a moment. "At one point my horse stumbled, and almost threw me out of the saddle. Worried that he had hurt himself I checked his hooves. As I knelt in the sand I found what had caused the incident." Helena looked straight at Myka. "It was a piece from the Minoan Trident. I didn't realize it at the time, only that it was very important. I could feel the surge when I picked it up."

"God Helena," Myka gasped. "You actually touched it?"

Helena nodded. "I slipped it into my saddle bag and never told anyone. Later on I realized how dangerous it was and put it in a place that would keep it safe and out of the hands of someone innocent."

"Christina's coffin," Myka said softly.

Helena nodded. "Anyway, I got back on the horse and now certain that I was on the right track I pushed forward, knowing that I had precious little time before our camp would wake up."

"You found the entrance," Myka confirmed.

"I did. Realizing that this was not the time to investigate, and fully aware of the dangers involved with entering the Warehouse uninvited, I returned to our camp. I found the boy and asked him for his drawing. I gave him some money for it and asked him not to draw it again."

"What happened to it?" Myka wanted to know. "You found it again with McPherson."

"I hid it inside my compact," Helena said with a deep sigh. "I knew they had put my belongings in the Escher Vault. McPherson told me."

A noise outside indicated that they had company. Helen got up. They could hear her speaking softly with the Big Guy.

"Myka…"

"No, Helena," Myka interrupted her and smiled. "You don't have to explain to me. I've already accepted your apology and the Warehouse is safe again because of you. You don't have to say anything."

"Thank you for understanding," she said gently. "I still feel ashamed for my actions."

"You were depressed and filled with grief, and by the sounds of it, also affected by a very powerful artifact. I don't think you really had a chance, Helena. Who would've been strong enough to not yield to that power, even if completely emotionally stable?"

"I think you might," Helena said and smiled fondly at Myka.

Myka shook her head. "I don't think so. When you died, knowing that I had never told you how I feel about you, but seeing in your eyes that you truly had feelings for me too… the pain, the anger," Myka shook her head and then looked straight at Helena. "I don't know what I would've done had we actually been lovers."

Helena got up and crouched before Myka. She kissed her softly and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"You allowed me to save you. I died knowing that you would not be hurt, that you were safe. Had you never found a way of bringing me back, you should know Myka that I died happy and at peace."

"And now?" Myka whispered.

"I think that most of my anger and pain died that day. I feel more at peace now. I don't think that I will ever feel the way I did before Christina died, but I am coming to terms with that."

"That's life, don't you think?" Myka said in a gentle voice. "We never stay in one place forever, our lives change and we with it."

Helena nodded. She looked up when Magnus returned with a large tray.

"I hope that you're hungry," she said and grinned.

"It smells divine," Helena said and helped Magnus put the dishes on the low round table in the middle.

Helena and Magnus settled in and soon the three were talking as they shared the many little dishes.

"Helena said there's someone special in your life," Myka teased Magnus.

They had been discussing love through the ages. Helena had shared some quite elaborate and funny anecdotes of past lovers. Magnus on the other hand had voiced her appreciation for how things had changed over the years.

"It's all very new, but yes, there is someone," Magnus said and smiled. She sipped her tea with a faraway look in her eyes.

Helena giggled and grabbed Magnus' hand. "I know that look. It's a woman, isn't it?"

Magnus laughed and nodded. "Yes, darling. Her name is Charlotte and she is lovely."

"Charlotte," Helena mumbled.

Magnus nodded. "She's not at all like Lottie."

Helena smiled weakly. "Dear, dear Lottie."

"Who's Lottie?" Myka asked.

"Lottie, or Lady Charlotte was a dear friend of ours."

"Lottie was lovely," Helena said and smiled sadly. "We were lovers for a short while actually," she said and looked at Myka. "She was killed by an artifact."

"God!" Myka gasped.

Helena nodded. "That's what made me join the Warehouse."

Magnus got up and cleared the dishes off the table. A moment later she brought in a plate with sweets.

"Baklava!" Helena exclaimed happily.

"Let's leave the past in the past, darling," Magnus said and squeezed Helena's hand.

"So tell us about your Charlotte," she said and smiled fondly at Magnus.

"She's a doctor…"

Helen Magnus told them about how she had met Charlotte and her surprise when Charlotte kissed her. Helena laughed and kissed Helen's cheek.

"When will we get to meet her?"

"I don't know really," Helen said with a cheeky grin. "I have a feeling I need to prepare her before meeting you in particular."

Helena made a face and then laughed. "Because I'm a former lover?" she teased.

"No," Magnus drew out the word. "Because you're HG Wells."

"Pish tosh," Helena said cheerfully and laughed. "It's just plain old me."

"Plain is not a word I would ever use to describe you, darling," Magnus said and shook her head at the thought.

"Me neither," Myka agreed.

"And how would you describe me, darling?" Helena purred as she fixated her dark eyes on Myka.

"I…" Myka watched in fascination as Helena took a small bite of her baklava, licking the syrup off her finger. "Beautiful, dangerous, talented, a genius," she mumbled and her cheeks turned a little pink.

"Don't forget naughty, arrogant, stubborn and someone with a propensity for breaking the rules," Magnus said and reached for a honeyed date.

"Helen!" Helena exclaimed and sat up.

Magnus' eyes twinkled as she grinned at Helena. "Would you not agree that all of those are true?"

"Perhaps, but there's no need to point out someone's shortcomings in front of a beautiful woman," Helena muttered.

Magnus laughed and shot Myka a quick glance. "I think the beautiful lady has already let you into her heart, so I would not worry so much, Helena."

Helena giggled and leaned closer to Myka. She held up a piece of baklava. "Try this darling, it is absolutely divine."

Magnus tilted her head and smiled fondly at the two, watching Helena feed Myka small pieces of baklava.

"Oh Helena, how I've missed you," she sighed.

Helena laughed and her eyes twinkled. She moved closer to Myka and leaned against her with her head on Myka's stomach.

"I promised Charlotte to call her before ten. Please stay as long as you like," she said and smiled at them as she got up. "If you stay very late will you please just extinguish the fire and the candles before you leave?"

"We will," Myka said and smiled at her.

To be Continued…