A side note: I loved The Chronicles of Narnia when I was a kid. Have never been very religious, but I was convinced for a time that, if there was an afterlife, mine would be Narnia ;-)
Chapter Two
Helena sat with her feet curled up under her on the small couch in the bed and breakfast's library. A book held open in her hand and a head of wavy dark hair lying against her shoulder. She was reading The Magician's Nephew to Christina, having heard recommendations for CS Lewis' adventures in Narnia from Myka, Claudia and Pete. Though, the latter had been along the lines of 'cool effects and I like the talking mouse', to which Myka had rolled her eyes and informed her that three of the books had been made into movies. While the agent's preference would always lie with the written word, she conceded that Christina would probably enjoy the films. They had a standing 'family date' for when they were finished with the books.
Myka had not made it home the previous evening, having had to chase their artefact to Vancouver. The guy who'd taken a shine to it and decided to amscray with the pile of everyday objects that he'd turned into gold, was found with the Midas stone in hand. It had taken the agents three hours to figure out how to reverse the effects and animate him again.
Helena and her daughter had spent over an hour on the phone with Myka sharing the highlights of their respective day's activities. Christina had monopolised most of the conversation, which HG had not minded in the slightest; it was a source of delight for her, seeing the joy on the girl's face as she recited the lessons she'd enjoyed and the slight contempt for the subjects that she thought were tedious. That she could share this experience with Myka was a miracle to be treasured.
Her sharp hearing caught the sound of a key in the lock and the familiar thudding of shoes and clatter of keys in the bowl. She didn't realise her level of distraction until Christina bemoaned the interruption in the story, by which time Helena's attention was completely taken up by the woman who stood smiling at her from the doorway.
"Mummy?" Christina looked up from the image of Jadis to see why her mother had stopped then turned to find the source of the distraction. As she registered Myka's presence, she leapt up, paying no heed to the book that fell to the floor and threw herself at the agent. "Myka!"
Agent Bering let out an exaggerated, "Oof!" and toppled over, pulling the girl with her. Christina squealed with laughter as Myka began to tickle her. The moment the brunette let her escape, Pete entered and took up chase around the room, HG's child giggling to herself every time she managed to evade his lunge.
With the young girl suitably distracted, Myka rose from her spot on the floor and lowered herself gracefully next to the inventor. She took note of the tears of relief and leant forward to brush her lips against the Brit's.
She had only intended the kiss to be reassuring and comforting but when Helena's hands wrapped themselves in her hair and her mouth was crushed under an eager embrace, she was swept away on a tide and lost all interest in her surroundings.
The two days apart had been just as torturous as they'd both anticipated, but Myka's parting hypothesis that the distance was necessary for them to move forward had been spot on. Yes, she had already forgiven Helena for her betrayal, but it was only now that the American felt able to finally let go of her hurt and forget (as much as her eidetic memory allowed her) the pain that she had associated with the memory of HG's touch. She was ready to consider a more intimate relationship and with the way the inventor was kissing her, she assumed that Helena was as well.
Both women were brought back to reality by the sound of more giggling, rapidly receding footfalls and cries of, "Mummy and Myka are kissing!"
The pair looked up to see Pete grinning at them shamelessly.
"If you guys had plans to keep this," he waved a finger between them. "To yourselves for a while, well it's down the pooper now." He gave them an enthusiastic 'thumbs up' as he backed out of the room. "I'm going to make sure she's not outing you to the entire town. You two, don't make me come back with a bucket of cold water." He winked lasciviously and ducked the shoe that Myka threw at his head before leaving the room singing 'Myka and HG, sitting in a tree...'
"Infant," HG muttered after him, though there was very little venom in her tone. Looking back at the agent, she smiled at the heightened colour in her cheeks. "You do blush very prettily my dear."
Myka felt her cooling cheeks rapidly heat up again at the observation, said in what she thought of as Helena's 'bed-time voice'. She rolled her eyes at the chuckle that followed. "How do you manage to make anything sound so... licentious?" She grumbled under her breath.
HG chuckled again but didn't pursue the flirtatious banter. Instead, she sighed and adopted a more sincere expression. "I know it has only been thirty-six hours, but I have missed you terribly love."
"I think you demonstrated that quite nicely just a few moments ago," Myka teased. She turned in her seat and stretched out on the couch, resting her head on the inventor's lap. She looked up from her position so she could see the other woman's changing expression. "Was that your way of telling me that you're ready for more? I seem to remember something along the lines of 'wanting to court me properly'."
The inventor appeared pained for a moment before sighing in defeat. She gazed down at the American and shook her head ruefully. "That is still the plan. Though as history would remind us, I do appear to be easily distracted when you're around." She ran her fingers through curly hair, her thoughts drifting briefly to the many times that the agent had unknowingly disrupted her scheming.
"Helena?" Myka saw the far away look in those dark eyes and wanted to know what she was thinking about. There was a cynical voice in the back of her head that didn't trust the inner workings of the inventor's mind and needed to know every little detail. She knew that trust had to begin somewhere though so left it for now. She had another topic to discuss before they could be interrupted so waited until she had the other woman's attention again.
"Sorry love, you lost me there for a minute. I do find my mind wandering an awful lot these days." HG smiled and winked. "It must be my age catching up with me."
Myka scoffed. "I've no doubt that you'll still be giving us all the run around even when you're ninety."
"By then we should be celebrating my bicentennial birthday," Helena informed the agent smugly.
"Even at two-hundred I bet you'll still be a pain in the ass." Myka smirked up at the raven-haired beauty and happily accepted the kiss that followed.
HG's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Only because I know that you love me that way." Before Myka could confirm or deny the statement, Helena reminded the agent that she had started to say something.
"Oh yes, right. Well, I was thinking that it's probably time I moved back into my own room." She felt the other woman tense and saw a flicker of disappointment cross her face. Sensing that more explanation was needed, she sat up and turned to face the Victorian. "Please, don't mistake me Helena. I love falling asleep next to you and... and feeling you in my arms. Last night, I barely slept at all."
Helena's brows drew together. "Yet you are proposing that we sleep apart in future?" She felt her natural stubbornness backing up the fear she had of losing those she loved.
"Helena," Myka pulled the inventor's hands into her lap. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you," she declared boldly and smiled at the sudden interest that passed over the Victorian's gaze. "And I want this slow courtship that you mentioned to work... I don't think you realise just how difficult it is for me to keep my hands to myself at times." Myka caught the ripple of desire that passed between them and swallowed hard.
Before HG could respond, an energetic figure came bounding back into the room and jumped on the couch behind Myka. The modern era appeared to suit the young Victorian quite well; she was taking every opportunity to embrace her childish side and throw off the shackles of staid etiquette. She wrapped her arms around Myka's neck, her eyes filled with excitement as she grinned at her mother. "Mummy, Uncle Pete has a movie of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. May I watch it with him, please?"
"Darling, we have yet to read the first novel in the series. We agreed that we would watch the more modern adaptations after reading the books." She and Myka were both of the opinion that the power of the written word was greater than the visual equivalent, but had also both conceded that movies could be enjoyable too. HG had only stipulated that they read the books before indulging in the big-screen versions.
As a fair reader herself, Christina has seen no problem with this... at the time. Her face fell and her lower lip extended the slightest bit. "It wouldn't be a terrible shame if it was just this once, would it Mummy?"
Helena ignored the humour in Myka's eyes as she tried to address her daughter calmly. "No darling, it would not be a terrible shame," she emphasised the word 'terrible' and Myka felt the girl's body sag; she knew there was a condition to follow. "However, we already have an agreement in place and Myka is of the same mind," she added, using the girl's growing admiration towards the agent in her favour. "We don't wish to force your enjoyment of reading."
"I don't think enjoyment of reading can be forced," the brunette interjected.
"But you do enjoy it, love," Helena reminded her daughter. "You have a wonderful imagination and we believe that you should experience it to its fullest, whether listening to a story or reading one by yourself." She placed a hand under Christina's chin and rubbed a thumb affectionately across her cheek. "Movies are wonderful things but they cannot replace what you have in here," she made her point by tapping on the girl's forehead.
Christina sighed in defeat. "Alright."
Myka noticed the struggle on the Brit's face and thought that a compromise might be in order. "How about asking Pete if you can watch Watership Down? We've already read it and the animation is lovely."
The girl's face lit up again and she shot her mother with a hopeful look. "May I, Mummy?"
Helena chuckled at the enthusiasm and nodded. "Yes darling, you may watch that." She smiled brightly as Christina kissed her, jumped down from the couch, and then, as she was halfway out the door, ran back and kissed Myka too. "Thank you," she said to the agent once they were alone again.
"I hoped you wouldn't mind," Myka said sheepishly.
"That I do not mind. This business of sleeping in separate beds however..." She mock glared at the younger woman.
Myka smiled at the inventor's attempt at a tough exterior; it was not nearly as impressive as it could be when she really meant it. "At some point Helena, you will be ready to let Christina have her own space, and at that point, I hope that we will be ready to pursue more... private activities. Until then I'd like to..." she paused as she sought for the best way to explain her needs. "Savour... the anticipation."
Helena considered the proposal. She was less conflicted by the idea of sleeping apart from her daughter than she had been two weeks ago, but it was still a concern. "I of course see your point," she informed Myka with the usual air of superiority that made the American smile. "I still do not see why I must be made to suffer through your absence so frequently. Is it not enough that you have to take off for days at a time?"
Myka smiled, not at all put off by her grumpy companion. "Then you'll have to make the most of my company when I'm around, won't you." She grinned and laughed unabashedly as Helena picked up a pillow and hit her with it.
The impromptu attack turned into all out war as each woman put her own combat training to good use trying to get the upper hand over the other.
Whether though accident or design, Myka soon found herself pinned under the Victorian on the couch, the whole cliché of pillow fights and experimental lesbianism not lost on her. Knowing that what she had with Helena was much more than that, she put the thought quickly to one side. When the raven-haired inventor leant down to kiss her softly, she gladly accepted the gesture and didn't protest when the simple embrace slowly smouldered into something slightly forbidden.
HG's body moulded instinctively to Myka's, her fingers becoming lost in wild curls and her mouth swallowing each small whimper that escaped the woman beneath her. It took every bit of self-control she had not to grind down into the agent's hip bone. Gradually their kisses became less intense until their lips parted altogether and Helena buried her face in Myka's neck. "You are equally irresistible love. As much as I do not wish to sleep alone, I really do see your point."
Myka's fingers stroked up and down the writer's arm as she waited for the insistent throbbing in her lower regions to abate. Her body craved the other woman's touch even as her brain insisted on waiting. She was somewhat relieved that she wasn't the only one struggling to resist temptation.
They lay like that for over an hour before a sleepy looking eight year old reappeared in the doorway, prompting both women to begin their night-time routine. Once her pyjamas were donned, face washed, teeth brushed and she had a glass of water next to her, Christina clambered into bed and waited for the adults to take up their positions for story-time. Helena read until the two children and Strawberry were settling down to sleep on top of a mountain and then popped in a bookmark and began to tuck her daughter in.
"Goodnight my love. Sweet dreams." She kissed the girl on the head and made space for Myka to do the same.
"Goodnight," Christina murmured. The two women were almost at the door when the girl's eyes opened a little wider and she called out, "Mummy?"
HG turned, curiosity warring with a touch of concern. "Yes darling?"
"I liked the movie," the young Victorian announced, pausing for effect. "But the book was better." She grinned even as her eyes drifted shut.
Helena shut the door softly. She shared a proud grin with the agent and entwined their hands together. Not trusting themselves to be alone in Myka's room, in silent agreement, they retreated downstairs and joined the rest of their household in the main living room.
Steve, Artie and Leena were sequestered around the small table in the far corner of the room while Pete lounged in his favourite chair and Claudia disappeared inch by inch with her laptop into a beanbag.
Pete was the first to spot their arrival. "Is the littlest Wells all tucked in for the night?"
Myka took the end of the couch and made room for Helena to cuddle up close to her. It had only been a few nights since the Victorian had ventured away from the bedroom after tucking Christina in. The first night, she had been like a new mother, needing to check every fifteen minutes that her baby was still breathing, but gradually she was beginning to relax.
"She's down for the count," Myka responded with a warm smile as she felt Helena lace their fingers together. "Thanks for entertaining her for a couple of hours, Pete. It was good to be able to talk for a while."
Claudia scoffed aloud. "Looked more like horizontal tonsil hockey to me."
Pete made his Scooby-Doo impression, Leena and Steve smiled at one another, and Artie coughed and pretended to be engrossed in a particularly large case-file.
Helena frowned and turned to a blushing Myka. "Tonsil hockey?"
"I think Claudia may have seen us kissing on the couch," the brunette informed the confused inventor.
"Ah," HG exclaimed in sudden understanding. "The idea being that the tongue is a stick and the tonsils are balls. Crude, but effective as visuals go," she thought aloud, ever analysing modern slang and deciding whether she liked it or not.
"So is this official? CJ had a lot of questions after that lip-lock of yours, some that were way too personal for me to venture into." Pete shoved a handful of pretzels in his mouth as he looked to the two book-worms to answer.
"We're officially exclusive," Myka qualified after a moment of thought. "The rest is... complicated and frankly, none of your business." Pete held his hands up in surrender his mouth rounded in a silent 'oo-oo'.
Helena ignored the sibling banter and chewed on Myka's words. Modern labels for relationships were confusing. "We have discussed a mutual intention to begin... dating, I believe the term is. I will sit down with Christina tomorrow and attempt to answer any questions she may have," she added to her human pillow, who simply nodded and continued to stroke the inventor's hair.
"So dinner, wine, a nice book reading, but no hanky-panky?" Agent Lattimer tried to simplify.
"Pete!" Myka barked, her cheeks darkening again with embarrassment and indignation.
"Dude," Claudia drew her finger across her throat in a classic gesture to tell him to stop. "T.M.I. I'm all for equal opportunities and living vicariously, but she's like our sister." She pointed at Myka and pretended to gag.
"Thanks Claude." Myka said, relieved. "I think."
"No probs, my sister from another mister." The young techie winked, causing the curly-haired agent to roll her eyes fondly.
From the small table at the back of the room, Artie turned to face them all and cleared his throat. "Now we're all more informed than we ever wanted to be with Myka's romantic leanings," he glared at Pete. "I have something to discuss with Miss. Wells." Helena exchanged a curious glance with Myka before repositioning herself on the couch to see the director more clearly. "I've been commissioned by Mrs. Fredrick to offer you again, reinstatement as an agent of the Warehouse, if you want it," he announced, though his tone said clearly that it hadn't been his idea.
HG recognised Myka's hand squeezing her own in support and instantly felt reassured. "While my opinion of the Warehouse has mellowed somewhat recently and I do have fond memories of being an agent, I am not going to prioritise Warehouse business over my daughter again."
"Thank God for that," Artie responded immediately, drawing more than one frown from a disapproving crowd.
"Artie!" Myka scolded, ready to rant at him again until he held a hand up to stop her.
"Now don't get me wrong!" He raised his voice halting all protests and then looked to the time traveller, who was perhaps the least offended amongst them. "You were good when you were doing what you were supposed to be doing, but I think we both know that, for now at least, you're not best off in the field." Helena nodded and Myka relaxed a little, willing to see where this was going. "So, my proposal is that, from time to time, you help with research and documentation; that sort of thing. You wouldn't actually have contact with any of the artefacts."
Myka could see Helena contemplating the proposal but couldn't help wanting to voice her own queries and opinions. "Would she be an agent?"
Artie tasted the question for a moment. "Yes, but she wouldn't be expected to go on any retrievals."
"You would give me access to everything I need to help Myka," she paused and looked around the room, "And the others?"
"Everything that's relevant, yes," the director answered cautiously.
HG nodded, understanding the qualification. "I will consider it."
Pete shook his head, not liking the sound of so much desk work. "I dunno, sounds like a lot of work without the kick-ass action that makes it worth it."
"I believe that is the point," HG informed him with a tolerant smile. "Besides, I will be an agent again, under Myka." She grinned, anticipating the blush that took seconds to appear high on Myka's cheeks.
"You'll be under all of us HG," Steve told her from his place at the table.
Myka's eyes narrowed at the implication, even if it was just in jest. "She will not." She said firmly, making Helena chuckle.
"You are rather dashing when you're just the slightest bit possessive, darling," the inventor flirted shamelessly.
Claudia snapped the lid of her laptop shut and fell out of the beanbag. "Aaand on that note, I'm off to bed. I'll leave you two gooey-eyed people to do... whatever. Catch you in the mornin' peeps!"
As Steve, Leena and Artie all moved to follow suit, Pete frowned and glanced at the clock. "It's only eight o'clock," he observed, even as he moved to join the mass exodus.
HG turned back to the woman next to her. "Alone at last."
Myka could hear Leena trying to explain their sudden haste all the way up the stairs. "Helena, the whole point of coming down here was so that we wouldn't be all alone with far too many temptations," she said, trying to sound exasperated.
"I am cognizant of that love. It is a lady's prerogative to change her mind if she so wishes; I want you all to myself." She made herself comfortable lying against a cushion on Myka's lap, not looking the slightest bit shamed by having cleared the room in under a minute. "Tell me something I don't already know about you."
Myka shook her head at the inventor's innate arrogance, but couldn't help being just a little bit aroused at the same time. She loved Helena's 'take charge' attitude and it had been lacking lately. She considered the question for a moment, finally settling on a particularly proud moment from high-school. "My entire school record is squeaky-clean, except for this one time I broke someone's nose..."