Claudia and Myka have a bit of a chat, and Giselle upsets Helena again.

The following week was a bit of a blur. It was coming up to some of the practical exams and Myka's guitar students were hyper and over-caffeinated. She ended up doing a lot of extra practice sessions and lessons, and was so behind by Thursday that she had dinner in her office while doing paperwork. She finished what she absolutely had to do for the next day and went downstairs to the union bar where the Caretakers were almost halfway through her set. Abigail and Joshua had snagged her usual table in her absence and she joined them wearily to have a beer or two, but she once again left early and without speaking to Helena, this time because she was so tired rather than for any more emotional reasons.

Friday was much the same, and she didn't get a chance to have her usual chat with Helena. In fact, she'd barely seen her at all that week. On Saturday, however, it was Steve's birthday, and Pete had invited everyone to their large city centre apartment for a celebration. Myka was hoping Helena was going to be there; she had missed the other woman's company. She wasn't disappointed, because Helena was there. But so, unfortunately, was Giselle.

Myka was talking to Pete about Amanda, who he said was giving him encouraging signals. He was thinking about asking her out. Myka didn't know Amanda particularly well but she could definitely see the appeal. She was incredibly beautiful – not that Myka was attracted to her, but aesthetically she could appreciate why Pete was interested.

"I don't know, Pete. I guess it depends what you mean by signals." Myka said, nursing a lemon beer concoction that was apparently called a Radler. It was pleasant and light and she would need to drink a million if she wanted to get drunk. But she didn't like to drink too much around Pete anyway; his dad had been killed by a drunk driver and Pete had never touched alcohol because of it.

"She laughed at my jokes," Pete said, giving her a significant look.

"Which jokes, specifically?" Myka asked. "Because I'm going to need more information before I make a determination here."

"You know the one about the nun and the Lebanese tourist? And the one about the chicken and oral sex?"

Myka stared at him.

"She laughed at those? Okay, she is definitely into you. Because those jokes? Not even remotely funny."

Pete grinned and punched the air in triumph.

"I knew it! Thanks Mykes, you're the best."

She smiled tolerantly at his antics and returned his exuberant hug. He ran off to find Amanda. She smiled as she watched his retreating figure, and leaned back on the kitchen worktop, taking a sip from her bottle.

"Myka!"

Helena appeared from the living room, waving at her and smiling. Myka smiled back, a smile which faltered when she saw Giselle's perfect but dour face appear just behind Helena. She had a bad case of – what was it the kids called it now? – resting bitch face, that was it. Myka tensed just looking at her. She could see, looking at Giselle's tall, model-like figure and her expensively styled hair, what Helena saw in her, aesthetically. But she couldn't imagine trying to connect emotionally with the woman. The face she presented to Helena must be different from the face she presented to the rest of the world, Myka thought. Because she couldn't see the Helena she knew and loved with someone this cold.

Helena approached and gave Myka a brisk hug, warming her much more thoroughly than the tiny amount of alcohol in her drink. Giselle offered her a disinterested, limp handshake, as if Myka was beneath her notice. Myka smiled back, trying to look sincere. Helena was already chattering about Christina's football game (which meant soccer, Myka always had to remind herself) and how she'd scored twice. Myka was impressed, and said so. Giselle sighed and looked away. Myka didn't entirely know what to do in the face of that kind of rudeness, so she, too, looked away and pretended to be hungry, grabbing a snack at random from Pete's kitchen table. She didn't notice, therefore, the dark and angry expression that crossed Helena's face.

Giselle wandered off, glass of wine in hand, presumably to find someone more worthy to talk to, and Helena stayed with Myka for a while, catching her up on workplace news and gossip since Myka had been so busy for the whole week with her guitar students. It was pleasant and comfortable and Myka found herself watching Helena's face as expressions flitted across it, enjoying the animated way that Helena spoke about their colleagues and students. Abigail was right. She was hopelessly in love with Helena, with the way that her lips moved, with the dark, deep colour of her eyes, with the way those eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled.

"What are you smiling at, Myka?" Helena asked, suddenly, with an answering smile on her own face.

Myka flushed a little. She couldn't very well tell Helena that she was smiling because she adored hearing her talk, now, could she?

"I was just thinking of a joke that Pete told me," was the first thing that came to mind. Helena's eyebrows raised in disbelief.

"Pete told you a joke and you, Myka Bering, found it funny? That is, one of Pete Lattimer's jokes. Are you sure?"

"Yeah, well, don't tell him, it'll go to his head," Myka said, ducking her own head and rubbing the back of her neck. She was so bad at lying, she would have been better telling the truth and then running away to Peru or something. It would have been less humiliating than Helena believing that she'd find any of Pete's juvenile humour amusing.

Helena grinned at her.

"You are a terrible liar, Myka. But I'll let it go for now." And she did, kissing Myka on the cheek (which made Myka blush all the more) and going off to find Giselle.

"Well, that looked veeeery cosy," came a sardonic voice from behind Myka as she watched Helena find Giselle, who was talking to Amanda's dance teacher friends, and take her arm.

"Hey Claudia," Myka said, raising an eyebrow. "What exactly does that mean?"

She wasn't entirely sure about Claudia Donovan; never really had been, if she was honest. Claudia was nice enough, good at her job and Helena clearly loved her, which made her okay in Myka's book, but her comments always seemed to have an unpleasantly mocking edge to them when directed at Myka. Myka never really knew where she stood with the young redhead, and she had the uncomfortable feeling that Claudia didn't really like her. Or that she had done something to upset her, possibly. Myka wasn't sure.

"I mean, you and Helena seem to be getting on well." Claudia leaned back with her elbows on the countertop, her posture unconsciously echoing Myka's.

"It's funny, that's what Helena said to me last week about Abigail. I'm not entirely sure what she was getting at either," Myka said pointedly. She hadn't done anything wrong and there wasn't any reason for Claudia to be annoyed at her, and she was tired of feeling uncomfortable around her.

"What I'm getting at, Miss Bering, is that Helena cares about you. And I think you care about her, too. I'm just not sure what your motives are." Claudia's eyes were sharp, as sharp as her words, almost.

"My motives? What the hell are you insinuating, Claudia?"

Myka was pissed, now.

"You offered to look after Christina. What the hell was that all about, Myka?" Claudia asked, tone biting.

Myka flushed, this time with shame. She knew how that looked, her offering to look after Christina when Giselle wouldn't.

"All right. I will admit that it was stupid… I didn't mean to say it, Claudia. She just looked so damn sad. I wanted to help. If you think I should, I will tell her I can't do it after all." She held Claudia's gaze for a long moment. Claudia was frowning at her in suspicion, and then she seemed to relax.

"Okay, Bering. Spill it. What's going on with you two? Do you just want to bang her, or is it more than that?"

Myka was insulted, but she was starting to understand why Claudia had always given her those looks as if she wasn't quite to be trusted. She thought Myka was trying to break Giselle and Helena up.

"There is nothing going on with us, Claudia. I have…I have feelings for her. But I would never do anything that would jeopardise her relationship, her happiness. She's my friend, and I want her to be happy. Even if it's not with me." She grimaced a little.

She looked around for something stronger than her beer – it was way too weak for this conversation. She saw some Scotch on the table, so she went over and snagged it with a couple of glasses, pouring one for Claudia and one for her. She took a mouthful, running it round her mouth, feeling it burn her cheek and gums before she swallowed.

"I would never do anything to hurt her. Offering to look after Christina – it was an instinct, I guess. She just looked so small, so worried. She was talking to me about Giselle and how she isn't interested in Christina, and I told her I was sure that wasn't true."

Claudia watched her silently, raising an eyebrow at that last comment.

"Yeah, I know. She totally doesn't care, but I can't tell Helena that. I can't get in the middle of this," Myka said plaintively. She suddenly really wanted Claudia's approval and understanding.

"And yet you have done exactly that, by offering to babysit little C." Claudia's voice was flat, unwavering, like her gaze.

"I know. Jesus." Myka shook her head. "I'll tell her that I can't. It was a stupid thing to say. I just wanted to help."

Claudia shook her head.

"No, Myka. She needs to know she has support. I don't think she took it that way – that you were trying to replace Giselle or whatever. But I needed to know if that was what you meant. Helena is a good person, but she's already being exploited by one complete bitch – I wanted to make sure you weren't another one, waiting in the wings to swoop in."

Myka didn't quite know what to say to that. She felt like she should be insulted, or hurt, or something, but then Claudia raised her glass in a silent toast, and she felt better.

"I'm pretty sure I love her, Claudia," she blurted.

"I see that." Claudia's voice was no longer sharp; it was sympathetic, and her eyes were warmer as she returned Myka's gaze evenly.

Myka left the party shortly afterwards, slipping out without saying goodbye to Helena or Pete. She didn't feel like dealing with any well-meaning questions about why she was leaving early. She was suddenly weighed down by her feelings for Helena and this seemingly hopeless situation. She went home and found some Scotch in the back of a cupboard, drinking until the early hours and reading one of her old favourite books to escape from things for a time.

Monday came again, as Mondays will, and Myka busied herself with lectures and guitar lessons and meetings with the faculty to organise written exams, which were coming up again. Helena was heading the meetings and she smiled at Myka as she always did. She did look concerned, however, and Myka steeled herself for yet another conversation where Helena asked what was going on with her and she had to lie.

After the meeting Myka decided to get on with marking some of the early submissions of assignments she'd received from the more eager students in her pop music history lectures. They had been courteous enough to be early; the least she could do would be to mark and return them in a timely fashion. She was almost done when there was a quiet knock at her office door.

"Come in," she called, her hand buried in her hair as she read through a particularly badly-phrased explanation of why Will Smith's early rap "Boom! Shake the room," was a prime example of the genre. She sighed heavily and had almost forgotten that someone even knocked at the door when Helena put a delicious-smelling coffee in front of her and sat in the chair in her tiny, cramped office.

"Oh, hey, Helena! Sorry, I got totally caught up..." she said tiredly, gesticulating at the piles of paperwork she'd worked through that afternoon.

"You look tired, darling."

Helena smiled at her softly and Myka's heart thudded painfully in her chest. She wished – oh, she wished…

"I am, I guess. I should head home, I suppose. But not before I have some of this."

She sipped at the coffee greedily.

"Did you walk all the way up Quay Street to get this?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at Helena.

"Yes," Helena said, smiling, but with a slight flush on her cheeks. "You looked tired in the meeting before; I thought it might help."

Damn. Why did Helena have to be so nice? It made everything so much harder.

"Thank you," Myka said, ducking her head shyly.

"Is everything okay, Myka?" Helena asked, her brow creasing in concern as she began fixing her tea as she usually did, fiddling with the tea bag and sugar and milk.

"Yeah, sure…why?" Myka tensed. She did not want to have this conversation with Helena, not when the biggest problem in her life was how much she was in love with Helena, who had a girlfriend. It was ridiculous.

"You seem, I don't know, a little distant, perhaps? And you left the party very early the other night…I know Giselle wasn't being particularly nice to you, for which I am sorry. I don't know what's gotten into her lately…" she trailed off. "Anyway, I was just concerned."

She looked up at Myka as she finished with her tea paraphernalia and took a sip. Her eyes were so beautiful, and so full of concern. It was so unfair – Giselle didn't deserve Helena. ("And you do?" came a traitorous voice in her head. It sounded like Claudia.)

"I'm fine, Helena, really. You worry too much. I've been a little overtired and I think things have been getting on top of me."

Myka smiled at Helena, hoping that her smile looked more sincere than it felt. Helena peered at her sceptically for a moment and smiled, changing the subject to one of the department heads who was a terrible bore in all of their meetings and had spent what felt like hours talking about envelopes at a recent meeting. They talked and laughed as they always did, but Myka felt Helena's eyes on her as she talked or looked away, and something felt…strained, between them. Myka wasn't sure exactly what it was. It wasn't exactly news to her that she had feelings for Helena, but she was used to it. Something had changed, then, with Helena. She found herself watching a little more closely when Helena spoke, especially when Christina or Giselle came up. Helena's face tensed a little every time she spoke of her home life – it was almost imperceptible, but it was there. Myka wondered if Giselle had done something else to upset Helena or her daughter, but she wasn't about to ask, not after her conversation with Claudia. She might have misinterpreted, but it seemed like Claudia was warning her against any interference in Helena's home life after her screw up with offering to babysit Christina. She hoped fervently that it would never be necessary for her to look after Christina.

The rest of the week went very much as usual. Her lectures went well and her lessons, after the madness of the previous week, were sparse. She had dinner with Pete on Monday and he regaled her with tales of the wooing of Amanda Martin. She was only half listening as he enthusiastically re-enacted his evening with Amanda. He hadn't even noticed that she left the party early, thank God, so she didn't have to try and explain that she was acting like a moody teenager with a crush.

Thursday, however, was not usual. She was getting ready as usual to go to the Union, deciding to wear some of her less clingy jeans and one of her old university sweaters rather than her usual more revealing shirts. It was time, she had decided, to stop trying, consciously or unconsciously, to look good because Helena was around. She would go as she was and try to deal with reality. Helena had a girlfriend and that wasn't about to change. And Myka wasn't going to try to change it.

Then her phone rang.

"Helena?"

"Myka, I'm so sorry to call you at the last minute like this. But…I need your help. Charles is in London and Giselle and I…well, we've had a bit of an argument, and there isn't anyone else I can call. Would you mind – would it be okay…" Helena's voice cracked as she trailed off. She was obviously upset.

Myka's mind was racing. This was not good. Claudia might murder her in her sleep. But she couldn't leave Helena like this.

"I'll come over and look after Christina, Helena. Don't worry. I'll be there in a half hour, okay?"

Helena thanked her profusely before she hung up. She grabbed her car keys and drove straight to Helena's house. Myka wasn't even wearing her contacts; she'd taken them out earlier because they were bothering her, fully intending to put them back in again before she went out. She pulled up in the driveway of the beautiful detached house in Prestwich that Helena shared with Giselle. Helena had opened the door before Myka even got out of the car, and was enveloping her in a convulsive embrace as soon as she stepped out. Myka instinctively returned the hug, astonished to find that Helena was shaking.

"Hey, Helena. It's okay, I'm here. Are you okay, honey?"

Helena grabbed her even tighter, not speaking. Myka didn't know what to do so she rubbed Helena's back until she loosened her hold. Myka drew back slightly so she could look at Helena, who was wiping at her eyes fiercely as Myka tried to catch her eye.

"Hey, Helena," she said, in a gentle tone, "what's going on? Are you okay?"

"No, I'm really not, Myka. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry to be so emotional. It's not like me." Helena pulled back and wiped her eyes again. They were red-rimmed and her face was streaked with tears and the remains of her eyeliner, by the looks of it.

"Shall we go inside, and maybe you can have some tea and tell me what's going on?" Myka asked gently, taking Helena's hand in what was meant to be a sympathetic gesture. Helena held on, though, and nodded before pulling Myka along behind her, inside the house. They went into the kitchen and Myka gestured for Helena to sit down. She made some tea after fumbling around a bit looking for teabags and sugar and spoons. Helena was staring off into space, her head in her hands. Myka sat down next to her, putting a mug of tea in front of Helena and taking a sip of her own before she spoke.

"Do you want to tell me what this is all about, Helena? I've never seen you this upset. What happened?"

Helena sat up a little straighter, lifting her head and taking a sip of the hot tea.

"Giselle. She was supposed to look after Christina tonight, after the debacle of a few weeks ago, and I was almost ready to go when Christina told me that she didn't want to stay with Giselle, because Giselle didn't want to spend time with her. I asked her what she meant, and she said that last week Giselle had given her money to stay upstairs in her room and not "bother" her. Bloody bother her, Myka? She's supposed to be her parent! Christina said it's not the first time, and that Giselle told her it had to be a secret or she wouldn't give her money. And being a nine year old, and a mercenary little git when she wants to be, she didn't want to lose her extra income." Helena smiled wryly at that before sobering.

"I told Christina to go upstairs and listen to her music, and that I would deal with it. When Giselle got home from whatever the bloody hell she's been doing, I confronted her. She told me that she was sick and tired of looking after Christina, that she wasn't a babysitter, and I needed to get a nanny. It was…she was like a different person, Myka. She called Christina a sneaky little bitch for telling me. And that's when I asked her to leave."

Myka's mouth fell open at that last. Holy shit – she called Helena's daughter a bitch? Who does that?

"I…wow, Helena. I don't think I know what to say. I'm so sorry. I can't believe she would say something like that about Christina. That's…Jesus."

She unthinkingly put her hand on Helena's. What did you say to someone when their significant other had behaved like that? Somehow, though, the innocent, sympathetic gesture didn't feel so innocent when Helena looked up at her. Her eyes were darker than Myka had ever seen them, and something in the atmosphere of the room changed in that moment. Myka was momentarily thrilled but immediately frightened. This woman, her friend, was reeling from a major fight – possibly even a breakup - with her girlfriend. Whatever was happening here shouldn't be. Myka pulled her hand back slowly and looked away, taking a sip of her tea to cover her discomfort.

"So, what now? Does Christina know I'm here?"

When she looked back, Helena was avoiding her gaze.

"She does, now. I went to speak with her once Giselle left – slamming every door in the bloody house on her way – and Christina was perfectly happy with that. You made quite the impression, apparently, the last time you met. Something about a giraffe? I didn't quite get the whole story."

Myka smiled. Christina really was the cutest. There was a barbecue at Leena's the previous summer and she had been chatting with Christina, who'd told Myka that one of the girls in her class at school was making fun of her for sleeping with a teddy bear. Myka told her that she still slept with her cuddly giraffe sometimes when she felt like it. Christina was much heartened by this, apparently, and told Myka at a later date that she would sleep with her teddy if she felt like it, because Myka was a grown up and she did. And the other girl could like it or lump it, she said proudly. That was one of Helena's favourite phrases, which Myka was particularly fond of. She had beamed at Christina in response, and the little girl had reached up and given her a big hug in that uninhibited way that children did, totally melting her heart. She didn't understand how anyone didn't like the little girl, especially not someone who had watched her grow up. It just solidified her opinion of Giselle; she didn't appreciate what she had right in front of her.

Helena was watching her intently when she looked up. It was, again, a strange atmosphere, and Myka was beginning to become uncomfortable. She wanted Helena so incredibly badly, and she was worried that by even being here, she was taking advantage. She stood up suddenly, smiling nervously.

"So, you should probably get back, right? The gig is starting in less than an hour. Don't want to be late, huh?"

Helena nodded, still with that strange look on her face.

"I should…I'll go and get Christina. I'm sure she will want to bend your ear about something or another. I'll get changed before I head off. Are you all right down here for a moment?"

Myka nodded, and Helena headed upstairs quickly. Myka wondered briefly if she should text Claudia and explain why she was here. But she wasn't sure she knew how she had come to be in this position. Hopefully Helena would talk to Claudia and she wouldn't have to fear the young woman's wrath the next time they spoke.

Christina came bounding down the stairs energetically, throwing herself at Myka and giving her a huge hug.

"Hey, Christina!" Myka said, surprised by the enthusiastic greeting.

Christina let go of her and smiled up at Myka.

"I'm really glad you're here, Myka. Mum was really upset."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. She told me to put my headphones on, but I didn't. They had a big fight and I think Giselle called me a bad name."

Shit. Myka didn't know what to say to that.

"Uh…I bet she was just mad. Grown-ups say stupid stuff they don't mean all the time. You shouldn't let it upset you, honey."

Myka pulled the girl into another hug then, kissing her on the top of the head. The kid was so easy to love – she was like Helena in miniature, all mercurial moods and impulsive affection.

"I know," Christina said against her sweater. "I don't care. I hate Giselle, she's mean to me all the time. She pretends to like me when Mum is around, but she just ignores me or makes me go to my room as soon as Mum goes out."

"Hey, I'm sorry, honey," Myka said, helplessly. What do you say to a kid who has just told you something like that?

"It's okay, Myka. You're here, and I like you. And Mum likes you, too." Myka smiled down at the little girl who was still holding on to her sweater.

"That's great, because I like you too. Did you do your homework already?"

"Yes."

"Did your mom check it?"

"Yes."

"Okay, cool. Are you allowed to watch some TV when you finish your homework?"

"Yes. Mum lets me watch an hour, or sometimes a little bit more if it's something I really like, like Doctor Who."

"Okay, then. Shall we go see what's on?"

Christina nodded and took Myka's hand, half-dragging her into the living room. She chattered enthusiastically about every choice that Myka gave, eventually deciding that they should watch Horrible Histories. It was very amusing, and Myka was giggling along with Christina by the time Helena came back downstairs. Myka didn't hear the other woman come down, so she was startled when she caught movement from the corner of her eye. Helena was standing in the doorway, staring at her and Christina with an unfathomable look on her face. She was dressed up in her usual Thursday gear – tight jeans, a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a grey waistcoat – and she looked amazing. Myka's throat tightened a little.

"Hey, Helena. Is it okay for us to watch a little TV? Christina said she did her homework."

"Of course. I…yes, of course. Bed by 10, young lady, and not a moment later."

Christina rolled her eyes and Myka couldn't resist – she tickled the girl until she apologised, giggling and begging for mercy.

"Sorry, mum. I will be in bed by 10," she said solemnly. And then giggled again.

Myka stood and saw Helena to the door.

"She'll be fine, Helena, don't worry. I'll make sure she goes to bed on time and brushes her teeth."

Helena gave her another strange look.

"Are you okay, Helena?"

"Yes. As much as I can be."

But her eyes were still dark, and Myka couldn't interpret the look in them. It made her nervous, like butterflies-in-her-stomach nervous. She backed away from that look involuntarily, and Helena took a step forward, lifting one hand slightly before backing away and turning to open the door.

"Thank you, Myka. You are a good friend."

"Sure. I guess I'll see you later, then. Have a good gig."

Helena turned and nodded, wordlessly, before closing the door behind her. Myka let out a breath, a sigh, as the door closed. This was…not good. Not what she had planned for this evening, when she'd put on an old sweater and a loose pair of jeans, to avoid any inadvertent flirting or…whatever. She ran her fingers through her hair, taking a deep breath. Then she turned and went back to the living room, sitting beside Christina on the couch to carry on watching Horrible Histories, and definitely not to obsess over the strange way Helena was behaving.

Myka had a great time with Christina. She was such a great kid, polite and well spoken. She told Myka all about Giselle's behaviour, and Myka tucked it all away to pass on to Helena. It seemed like this had been going on for a while, and that things were just coming to a head now. If Helena knew that Giselle had left Christina unsupervised in the house on several occasions – she'd go batshit crazy. But how could Myka not tell her about it?

Christina was obedient and, after an extra hour of TV that she promised not to mention to her mum, went to bed without complaint, asking Myka to read to her before she went to sleep. Helena had been reading a series of books by Tamora Pierce to Christina about a young girl who was in training to become a knight. Christina loved it and was dying to take up fencing to be just like Alanna. Myka refrained from offering to teach her; she was pretty well trained herself but she didn't want to compound the error she had already made by getting any more involved in Helena and Christina's life.

After Christina was asleep (which happened halfway through the chapter) Myka crept out of her room and went downstairs. She perused Helena's bookshelves and picked up a new-ish novel that was getting great reviews, settling down in an armchair to read. She wasn't entirely sure when she slipped into sleep, but when she woke up, Helena was sitting on the end of the couch. Her posture was almost rigid, and she was staring off into space, her hand in a fist at her mouth.

"Oh, crap, Helena. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep," Myka said, appalled.

Helena turned to her with a tight smile.

"Don't worry about it, Myka. If I'd been here I would have been doing exactly the same thing – I'm usually asleep on the sofa before Christina even goes to bed. She's perfectly safe with you in the house."

Myka sat up, adjusting her glasses and checking surreptitiously for any stray drool.

"How did it go tonight?" she asked, softly.

"Fine, yes. Just the usual, really. Did Christina behave for you?"

Helena was still looking at her, with a half-smile on her face but still tense, still not herself.

"Yeah, she was great, Helena. She's such a sweet kid."

"I'm glad you think so," Helena snapped, immediately. Then she sighed.

"I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. None of this is your fault, you're helping me out and here I am being a right bitch to you," Helena said, pinching the bridge of her nose with her fingers.

Myka didn't know what to say. She couldn't make this better, so she sat up and started to put her shoes on, getting ready to go.

"I really am sorry, Myka. You don't have to go."

"Don't worry, Helena. It's fine. I should leave you to get some rest; it's late."

It was late – it was almost 1am. Myka stood and Helena stood up a moment later. There was an awkward moment when Myka went to walk to the door and had to get past Helena, who was lost in thought, apparently. Myka shuffled past awkwardly in the tight confines of the hallway, smiling at Helena uncertainly before turning to go.

"Myka."

"Yes?"

"Thank you," Helena said quietly, staring at her shoes.

"Get some sleep, Helena. It'll be better in the morning."