Chapter 3

Dear book.

Oh man am I in the dog house. Its been a few days since I got myself arrested... Again. And Ive spent the whole time sucking up trying to make it up to people. I've been, thanking Jim (Barbara's dad) for getting me off the hook on self defence by doing shitty jobs for him like cleaning out guttersand he took me on a tour of one of the worst prisions New Gothem has, to try and scare the "bad" out of me. And ive been trying to fly as far under the radar with mum and Bab's as possible. I figure it's best to just stay out of there way.

Although they did concot the perfect punishment.. and I can't believe I agreeded to it, its going to be torture! And its happening this is going to suck.

Just as Helena finished her journal entry the doorbell rang. "Oh boy, here we go". She put her journal away and headed toward the lounge area where she figured her mother would have shown their guests to.

Entering the room, she held her breath and sure enough there they were. Bruce and his little pose' Did I mention this is going to suck? "hey" Helena said once the party noticed she'd arrived.

"Hello" Bruce said standing up to greet his daughter. "arhh. You've met Alfred, this is Dick Grayson a good friend and college of mine"

Dick stood up to shake Helena's hand "Lovley to meet you"

Helena shook his hand back and gave him a placating smile "Same"

"Well we should get going, yes?" Selina interjected sensing the awkwardness in the room. Within moments everyone was to their feet and heading to the door chatting quietly within there own little groups. Selina, Barbara and Jim and Bruce, Dick and Alfred. Helena out by herself, head hung low feeling uncomfortable and very out of place she looked longingly out into the night wishing she could take off into the shadows and sail over the roof tops.

Arriving at the restraunt was much more of an event then Helena thought it would be. They all filled out of Bruce's Limo to the flashing of camera's and a bombardment of questions that Helena was having a hard time desifering, as everyone wwsa shouting different thins all at the same time.
"Bruce, who are these, lovley ladies you have with you?".

"Mr Wayne, is there a particular reason you are dinning with the police commissionor tonight?". "Are you donating money to the cities police force?".

"Commissionor Gorden, is it true you are in league with the winged vigilate, known as batman?"

"Bruce, can you comment on Wayne enterprise's..." The questions kept coming and the lights kept flashing as Bruce rounded his family and friends up, put his head down and headed to the entrance of New Gothams finest restraurant.

Making it safley inside they were seated and Bruce blushed slightly as he apologised for the media attention. "I'm sure non of them will harass any of you after tonight, they usually forget about the people I am seen with unless it looks like something romantic or scandeless they can gossip about".

Helena raised her eye brow at him "Bruce your out to dinner with the Police commissionor, his daughter, your ex lover and her daughter.. you don't think one of those jerks are going to put two and two together and figure something out? Even if it's not quite the truth they might get somewhere close".

"True" Bruce replyed "would that be a problem for you? Being 'outted' as potentially being my daughter?"

"Yes.. I mean No, well I mean.." Helena stumbled over her words as she tried not offend Bruce, she had after all promised her mother she would make a real effort to be nice tonight. "What I mean is, won't it be a problem for you? An illegitamate daughter would be a bit of a scandel for you wouldn't it?". Nice recovery she though to herself.

"No." Bruce replyed and Helena again raised her eyebrow at him. "Well yes" he admitted. "But it's not something I would care about getting out. And I certainly don't think of you as illegitamate".

Surprised Helena opened her mouth to say something back but found herself unable to form words.

Seeing her daughter struggling to reply Selina stepped in and spoke for her "What I think Helena is trying to say is, thank you. Am I right?"

Helena looked from her mother back to bruce and nodded, causing the whole table to laugh and Helena to blush. "So whats everyone eatting?" she enquired in an attempt to change the subject.

Dinner consisted of several courses of exquisit food and relaxed conversation, even they occasional friendly quip between Helena and Bruce. It appeared as though the ice between father and daughter had finally been broken.

The car trip home had been a quiet one until when only half a block away from their apartment helena piped up "Do you guys wanna come in for coffee? Its still pretty early". Bruce looked at the others and they all agreed it would be nice to continue to the night for a while since it been going so well.

Entering the house and getting the coffee started Helena began to wonder if things were going a little to well. Do I really want him in my life? I mean I do, but maybe its just to much complecation for right now. I mean things are already so screwed up and I don't want this ruined by any thing thats going on at the moment. If its going to screw up then it should screw up on its own right?

Helena was shocked out of her musings by Bruce gentally tapping on her shoulder. "Im sorry I didn't mean to startle you, Im surprised I did actually you always seem so alert."

"Oh" for the second time that night Helena blushed, "yeah sorry I was kinda deep in thought. Whats up?" It was now Bruce's turn to be arkwardas he explained to her that the others had decided to go for a long walk around the block in order to let the two of them talk alone.

"Yeah? Moms idea huh?, umm ok. What did you wanna talk about?"

"I don't really know, im not very good at this. Did you want to sit down?" Helena nodded and headed toward the kitchen table, Bruce following.

Sitting opposite eachother in silence both looking extremly uncomfortable they both began to fidget and look around the room, trying to think of something to say.

Five minutes later Helena started to laugh, "Y'know it dosn't have to be this hard right? I mean we were talking fine earlyer"

"Yes, yes we were. And your right, I talk to people all the time. How hard can it be?"

Helena nodded in agreement "Right".

"Right" Bruce repeated

Once again silence fell over the table...

"Err so why don't you tell me a bit about yourself? What are you interested in? Things I should never mention in your presence?" Helana laughed a little at that as she tried to think of something to answer him with. Well he's trying.

"I like music, I was in a band for a while before.. well before everything"

Bruce, looking a bit surprised said "Wow a band huh? What did you do?"

Smiling because it seemed as though they had finally managed to start a conversation Helena replyed "I sang, The guys were teaching me drums and guitar as well. I was even starting to pick them up fairly well before I had to quit.. Actually I'm thinking of getting back in to it now things have calmed down a little bit."

"sounds like fun" Bruce interjected as Helena started to tell him about the others in the band and the type of music they played.

Helena and Bruce continued to talk changing subjects every so often, the uncomfortable silence's becoming shorter and shorter until finally they heared the others arrive back. "Well I guess thats my cue to get going" Bruce stood up and met the others at the door Helena following close behind, after a quick chat they said their goodbyes.

Once everyone had left and the three women were once again alone in the apartment Helena looked at her mother and raising her eyebrow she said "that was sneaky.. I gotta make a call" Helena excused herself and started toward the phone.

"sweetheart It's late". Selina reminded her daughter

"It's cool he'll be up" Helena replyed as she began dialling.

"well who is it?" Selina questioned as Helena began talking.

"Hey Tyler, It's Helena. Yeah man how are you?" Helena walked away from her mother and Barbara to talk to her former band mate.