Bruce didn't return home that night. He was at the airport, preparing for the private flight. He left the airport only after Barbara's flight departed. Helena refused to go with him; she was very affected by her departure…

He stayed at the airport until the flight left early in the morning. He returned home feeling tired; it had been very emotional four weeks for him. First the love of his life had been murdered, later one of his best friends had been on the edge of death and was badly injured, and, suddenly, he had a daughter; Selina's daughter was his.

He had always been jealous of the unknown man that he thought was Helena's father and, now, suddenly, he discovered it was him all along.

It had been the most shocking and unexpected news.

When he returned home, Alfred was waiting for him.

Helena had been shut in her room since she returned from the hospital the prior night and hadn't wanted lunch or dinner.

Bruce went to his room. She would need time to rest and collect herself after all the events, as did he.

It was late when he woke, Alfred told him Helena was still in her room. Feeling it was not good, he went to check on her.

He knocked on the door. The young girl seemed to be awake because she answered immediately. He walked inside the room. Helena was sitting on the window ledge and looking outside in silence.

Bruce walked toward her, hands in pockets, thinking of what he should say. He was not good at these things.

"Why don't you go outside? It's not good for you to be in here all day."

"I don't want to."

"I know this is not easy, but Barbara will be fine."

"Yes.." she answered. She felt weird next to a man that she barely knew.

A deep silence filled the room. The tension between them was thick. He took a deep breath.

"I was thinking that it would be good for you to go back to school," he said.

"Yeah." Helena nodded. She was not in the mood to talk or argue, she just wanted to be alone.

"Alfred… can drive and take you there… anytime you want."

"I prefer to walk."

"You don't need to. Everything here in this house is yours."

Nothing inside the house meant anything to her. Maybe for many people, it would be great, to have all those things. To her, it was worthless. If someone asked her, she would trade all that to have her mom back… and Barbara.

"It's not mine," she said softly. "This is not my home."

"Everything here is yours, Helena. You are my daughter."

The girl kept staring out the window.

"I…" Bruce added, trying to break the ice, "just had my people pick up the things at Selina's apartment. The personnel will bring all your things tomorrow morning."

Helena's head snapped up. "What?"

"All your clothes will be here tomorrow."

"Why?" She stood up, angry.

"This is your home now, you will stay here."

"That is my mom's house. Don't touch anything."

"It's safe, Helena. My personnel just packed…" Bruce said, trying to calm her down, but it seemed she was as volatile as her mother.

"I didn't want you to pack anything!" the girl yelled.

"We needed to do it. We can't leave all your things there."

"It's my house!! Why did you do it?"

"Helena," he said, reaching out to touch her, but the girl refused stepping back. He exhaled loudly. "You are living here now. You need all your stuff here and…"

"No!" The girl stormed toward the door. Bruce grabbed her arm.

"Where are you going?"

"Home, I am going back home now," she growled, glaring at him.

"Helena, your home is here."

"NO! This is not my home!" Helena pulled her arm to free herself and walked again toward the door in a hurry.

"The place is empty, Helena," Bruce said softly.

The girl stopped in her tracks and turned her head. "What?"

"It's empty, Helena, my people picked everything up. We packed all the furniture and put it in storage."

The girl didn't show him any fear, she faced him. "You had no right!"

"I have every right! I'm Selina's executor. I'm in charge now," Bruce said, "and I'll do what's best for you."

"You don't know what's best for me."

"No, you are wrong. You are the one who doesn't know what is best."

Her eyes changed to cat pupils, she faced him. She didn't care he was taller and bigger than her. "Who do you think you are?"

"I am your father." He realized, then, that she had Selina's meta genetics. "And I'll do what I think is best for you. Your mother trusted me. Understand? Stop this tantrum!"

"Fuck you!"

"She is gone, Helena!" Bruce said, impatiently.

"You are nothing to me! I don't know you! You don't know me!"

"I'm not going to argue anymore. This is the reality. She is gone. You are here and I am here. If you keep denying it, it will only be more painful for you."

"The only thing that I understand is that this is not my home!" Helena shouted.

"This is your home. You don't have anywhere else to go, I'm your only family now. When you are calm, we will talk again. End of discussion." He walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.

Helena was silent. She felt tears filling her eyes again and let herself fall on the bed, crying. He was right, she didn't have a home. She didn't have anywhere to go now.


"Still no success?" Alfred asked Bruce as he poured coffee into his mug. Bruce sat in the living room, reading the newspaper.

The living room was a luxurious place, with a big window where the huge back garden was visible. This was one of Bruce's favorite places in the house. In the winter, the fireplace was warm and comfortable. He used to spend hours there, relaxing.

"No," Bruce said, closing the newspaper. "She is too much like her mother, hard to understand."

"Then, she is much like you, too, sir." The old man smiled gently.

"Alfred…" Bruce lifted his brow.

"Well, she is. You can't deny it." Alfred put the coffee pot on a tray on the table.

"It's weird." He sipped his cup of coffee. "She walks like her, she has many of her facial expressions, her gestures. Sometimes, I think that I'm looking at Selina."

"That's true, especially when she smiles."

Bruce touched his chin with his fingers, thoughtfully. Alfred watched him curiously.

"I have never seen her smile," Bruce said, suddenly.

"I'm sure. These are difficult times for all, sir."

Bruce didn't answer. He looked at a picture of Selina over the chimney a few steps away from him. She looked so full of life, stunning, with that wonderful and seductive smile that he loved.

"I miss her," he mumbled. "I don't know why I let her go… Maybe I thought I would have time to recover her and… and now she is gone."

He looked sad. Alfred had seen that look, years before, in a small child that had lost his parents in a terrible way. It seemed the sad story had repeated with Helena. Selina's death had affected him, much more than he could imagine.

"I'm trying, Alfred," Bruce said leaning over in his chair, "but I'm not good at this. Every time I try to talk with Helena, I don't know what to say, and we finish with an argument. I'm not a patient man."

"And she is not a patient girl."

"I don't know how to talk to her."

"She is still grieving her mother's death, Master Bruce. You must give her time. It does not help that Miss Barbara is not here. They were very close, she feels alone now.."

The millionaire stood up and paced inside the room. "Selina died a month ago and I still can't manage to have a decent talk with her." He stopped in front of the fireplace and took Selina's portrait in his hands. "And, worse, as you say, Barbara is not here. I'm sure she could help me with her."

"She will recover soon, sir." Alfred stood behind him.

"I hope so. Helena is very affected by what happened to Barbara, too."

"Barbara is the only other family she has, sir."

Bruce looked at him. "I'm her father, I'm here now."

"I know, but for her, Barbara is the only family she knows after her mother. You must understand that."

He nodded. "Where is she now?"

"In her room, as usual."

"Maybe I should ask her to have dinner with me or take her to dinner."

"Good idea, sir."

Suddenly, the bat-signal appeared in the dark sky.

"Duty calls," Alfred said.

"Yes." Bruce sighed and walked out of the room. "Please, keep an eye on her, I'll be back as soon as possible."

"As you wish, Master Bruce."

He walked inside his library and felt a chill down his back, the secret bookcase was opened. He had a bad feeling and hurried inside the elevator.

As soon as the elevator doors opened in the Batcave, he looked around. The dark place seemed to be empty. He turned to his left and walked inside the room where he kept his batman costumes. There were several closets with magnetic glass doors.

He froze.

Helena was there, standing in front of one of the costumes. She had already opened the door; her fingers caressed the material of one of his costume sleeves.

Bruce watched her in silence. He didn't expect this. The girl didn't move, she kept staring at his costume. Her fingers moved up the sleeve and traced the hard armor of the chest. She moved her hand to the Batman symbol.

"Are you the Batman?" she asked, letting her hand feel the texture of the costume. It was impressive.

"Yes," Bruce responded, resting his side on the doorframe and crossing his arms over his chest.

"Batman is not a legend then, Batman is you."

"Yes."

"Are you meta?"

"No, I'm a normal human being."

"Why are you the Batman?"

He exhaled and put his hands in his pockets, walking toward her. "I want this city to be safer, I want to protect innocents, stop crime."

The young girl took the cowl in her hands and studied it. It was soft. She had never felt material like that before.

"I have heard many stories about you," Helena said with soft voice, her eyes still fixed on the cowl. "Criminals are afraid of you. Many people say Batman is a ghost, others that he is just a legend. My mom knew about you?"

"Yes. She always knew."

The lithe brunette put the cowl back in its place and took a step back, looking up and down the costume. It had a belt, gloves and boots. The cape seemed to be heavy.

"Kill him…" she said suddenly, breaking the silence.

"Excuse me?" he frowned.

"Kill him." She turned and looked at him "Kill the man that murdered my mother."

He didn't expect that. It took him a few seconds respond. "I can't…"

"Do you know who killed my mother?"

"Yes," he said, exhaling loudly. "I have been looking for him. I just received a phone call. I know where he is now."

"Kill him, then." She faced the tall man.

"I can't." He shook his head.

"Why not?"

"I don't kill."

"But he murdered my mother!" The young girl clenched her teeth. "You said you loved Mom! Kill him!"

"I'll catch him, I promise," Bruce said, biting his lip, "and I'll make him pay. I promise you, he will have a trial and…"

"A fair trial?" Helena growled angrily. "He murdered my mother! That was not fair! He didn't give her a chance! She died in my arms! I couldn't do anything! That was unfair! Why do you have to be fair with him?"

"We work for justice, not revenge."

Helena fixed her eyes on him. They stared at each other in silence. All he could see in her eyes was hate and pain, a deep pain. It made him sad. He could give her anything she asked, except that.

It was against everything he had fought for.

She had asked from him the only thing he would never give to her.

"I beg you," Helena said, feeling a knot in her throat, "kill him."

"Helena…" He shook his head, this was not right.

"I beg you," the girl mumbled, with tears in her eyes. He was the only one that could do it, he knew who the man was, he was strong, no one could blame him for meting out justice. "Please."

"You must understand."

"I never beg," Helena said, crying, "but I am begging you now, please, kill him. Make him pay for what he did."

"Ask anything of me, but that."

Angry, she pushed him back. "Kill him!"

He was surprised by her strength. She looked fragile and thin, but she was strong. "Helena, calm down," he said.

"Kill him!"

"No!" he shouted. "It is wrong! We can't break the law."

"We?" she spat, annoyed, fists in balls. "Not we! "We" don't exist! You didn't love Mom! If you had loved her, you would look for revenge, make him pay!"

"I'll catch him, but he will pay, according to the law."

She looked at him with tear filled eyes. Se didn't say another word and ran toward the elevator.

"Helena…." He tried to follow her, but the doors closed before he could reach her. He covered his eyes with his hands. Now everything had turned into a mess. What was he supposed to do now? He looked at the closed doors and shook his head. He wanted to follow her, but he had an emergency call.

Duty was calling him.

Always duty.

He hadn't fought for Selina because duty came first.

Now, again, he had his duty.

He turned and walked toward the room to change his clothes.


Since that night, it seemed an invisible wall had built itself between them.

He tried to be there for dinner every day, but often his business and his work as Batman took up much of his time.

Helena was sure that he didn't care about her pain, that he didn't love her mother. She had asked him – no, she had begged him -- to avenge her mother's death and he hadn't listened.

He was deaf to her pledge.

It hurt her like hell.

Sometimes she felt like an annoying piece of furniture in the manor, out of place, as an intruder. They didn't talk much; Bruce couldn't find a way to make a connection with the girl, plus she wasn't helping too much with her attitude. She was as stubborn as Selina.

It was ironic how in the modern age, with so many advances communication systems, he couldn't figure out how to communicate with his own daughter.

Helena returned to school. She was not big fan of it, but at least it was a distraction and far away from the man that she was sure, didn't love her.

She focused all her thoughts on Barbara and hoped she would return soon. Alfred kept her updated with news about the redhead. It seemed she needed two operations before starting her therapy. It would take a long time, more than she had expected.

She thought that maybe she could move to live with Barbara as soon as she came back. Living in her father's manor made her feel alone and empty. The only human being that was always there was Alfred, the other people that worked in the house just were there until midday. And she understood why, he needed to help her father keep his secret safe.

Brave hero, he couldn't defend the woman he said he loved and, much less, take revenge for her murder.

She walked inside the manor after a day at school; she didn't like Alfred to pick her up in the limo. She always preferred to walk, as she wasn't exactly dying to get back to that house any time soon. She looked for Alfred, he was the only company that she felt she had. It was weird not finding him in the kitchen as he was every time she returned from school.

She poked around in the fridge and took out a bottle of milk. Checking the stove, she noticed he had prepared spaghetti. Her favorite meal.

"Miss Helena, good afternoon," Alfred said walking inside the kitchen.

"Hey, where have you been?"

"Preparing Master Dick's room."

"Dick? Who is Dick?" she asked intrigued.

"He is Master Bruce's protégé and adopted son."

"Protégé?" She sat at the table of the kitchen.

"Yes, he will return today from England. He was with Miss Barbara."

The name of the redhead made Helena turn her head to him. "Barbara?"

"Yes, he went there to make sure she was okay. The first operation went well and he will be here for a few weeks." He took a tray and put some items on it.

"I'll eat here." Helena said, "I'm not going to eat at that big table."

"But…" Alfred said.

"Join me, Alfred," Helena requested, looking him straight in his eyes. "I feel alone there."

He smiled fondly and nodded, as he began to prepare the table in the kitchen. "All right."

"Why was he with her?" Helena couldn't avoid a twinge of jealousy thinking about Dick. She had known about the first operation and called her up afterwards, but Barbara never mentioned him. They had talked about many things, but…

"They have always been close friends," Alfred said, interrupting her thoughts.

"When do you think she will come back, Alfred?" she asked, sipping a bit of milk.

"It appears this will take a long time, Miss Helena. She still needs a second operation in a month. After that, she will start a recovery program."

"I see."

Alfred observed her. He thought it was the perfect moment to ask.

"How is the relationship with your father?"

"He is not my father," Helena stated, not giving him time to finish his sentence.

He lifted his brow.

She felt his gaze on her.

"Well… he is, but," she tried to explain, "just a biological father. I don't know him, Alfred, he is cold. We don't have anything in common, we don't have anything in common to talk about." She sighed. "I still don't know what my mom saw in him. He is boring, working all day."

"His life hasn't been easy, either. He lost his parents when he was a child, he is not used to showing his emotions. Maybe you need to give him a chance."

She drummed the table with her fingers, not answering.

"He is a good man."

"Why did he turn into Batman, Alfred?"

"He swore revenge on crime," the butler said, giving her a plate of salad.

"Why didn't he want revenge on my mother's murderer then?"

"He will have it."

"I asked him to kill her murderer and he said no."

"That's not the best way to avenge her death, Miss Helena." Alfred explained, "He is doing the right thing."

She shook her head. "I'll find him and, someday, I'll kill him, I promise it."

"That is not good."

"Why not?"

"It's against the law, heroes fight to defend the law."

The girl fixed her deep blue eyes on the old man. "The law is shit. Criminals kill people, break laws, hurt innocents, and when you catch them, why must you judge them under the law? You must judge them under their own rules, an eye for an eye."

"That is a misguided concept, Miss Helena. Heroes always fight to defend laws, to prevent crime."

"That's the reason I will never be a hero."

Alfred noticed in the girl a determination he had never seen before. It sent chills down his spine. Helena wasn't joking. He wondered if she could be like her mother, she had a lot of her genes. She could easily turn to the dark side of crime. Her frustration, pain and anger were strong and it was not helping that she and Bruce had a difficult relationship.

He wondered if Bruce had considered the possibility that Helena could follow in Selina's steps.

"Hey, everybody!" A young man appeared at the doorframe.

Helena noticed he was handsome. She remembered, then, that she had seen him a few times before.

"Master Dick." Alfred said, feeling surprised. "I thought you would arrive late."

"You thought wrong." He looked at the girl at the table and extended his hand to her. "You must be Helena, Bruce's daughter."

"Hi."

"I'm glad you are here, this house is too big for us."

"So you are my 'dad's' adopted son?" she asked with distrust.

"Yep." He sat at the table "What's lunch today?"

"Spaghetti and beef, sir."

"Excellent." Dick took a napkin. "I missed your meals Alfred, really."

"How is Miss Barbara?" Alfred asked.

"She is doing well."

"Did you stay with her?" Helena hurried to ask.

"Almost all the time." The young man said, "She needs a lot of help now."

"And are you going to England to see her again?"

"She asked me to, for her second operation."

"She asked you?" Helena said, disappointed. Why hadn't she asked Helena? They were friends.

"Yes."

"I want to go," she said.

"You can't," Dick said. "You are in school and you can't go inside the hospital, she is in the intensive care unit."

"But I want to go."

"I'm sure you will go later," Alfred interrupted. "Now she needs a specialist's attention."

"But why can't I go?"

"You are a minor."

"Bullshit." Angry, the girl stood up.

"Miss Helena."

"I'm not a child! I want to see her!"

"You will, but not now," Dick said.

"You are not my mother to tell me what can and cannot do!" She stormed out of the kitchen.

Dick stared at Alfred. "Now, what was that about?"


TBC