Barbara tried, with no success to get close to the rebellious kid over the next few months. Helena kept her crazy lifestyle - parties, trouble, and appearances in the on newspaper gossip columns.

She couldn't blame Bruce for her attitude, he had tried everything to be close to her, but Helena was –she had noticed- so angry at life. She was always so disrespectful against laws and anything that remotely resembled authority. She was really hard to handle -- a hurricane.

"You look incredible." Dick squeezed her hand, gently.

"Thanks." She smiled, walking inside the big manor. It was Bruce's birthday and the manor was full of people. She thought this would be a good opportunity to try to get close to Helena again. She knew the girl had been in trouble the week before, on a vacation trip she had taken to Hawaii. It appeared she had organized a party in her hotel room, and the resulting scandal hadn't being good for the other guests. They had all been kicked out of the hotel.

"I'm so glad you are here," Bruce greeted, appearing suddenly in front of her.

"Hey!" Barbara smiled and hugged him. "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks."

She extended a small gift. "We hope you like it."

"You didn't need to buy me anything."

"You are our best friend," Dick said, patting his arm.

"You look so handsome," she complimented Bruce.

"Glad you approve."

"Want a drink?" Dick asked her.

"Please."

"Take care of my girl, I'll be right back," Dick told Bruce.

Barbara's eyes caught Helena, who was laughing as she was encircled by a group of handsome young men.

"How are things going with her?" she asked her old friend.

"As always," he sighed, looking at his daughter. "She is involved in some trouble, I try to talk with her, we fight and she leaves. The next day, she is in more trouble and the cycle continues." He drank from his cup. "She does this to piss me off."

"Why do you keep giving her money, then?"

"I'm trying to make her understand that I love her."

"Maybe you need to leave her in jail a few days."

"Come on, Barbara," he said.

"I'm serious, you always get her out of any the trouble she gets in."

"I can't do that."

"But I can. I'll talk with Dad."

"You won't," he said.

"Why not?" She looked at him. "You have tried everything except this. Let's try. At least, she will not be in trouble for a couple of days."

"Forget it. Believe me, that will not work with her."

"Here is your cup." Dick said, handing a glass to the redhead.

"Thanks."

"Enjoy the night, guys." Bruce smiled at them "I'll be around."

"Okay." Dick smiled and wrapped his arm around Barbara's waist. "Wanna dance? The music is great."

"Sure, let's go." She smiled at him.

The redhead had a good time with him, he really was a good dancer. She felt she was being watched, but she didn't know why.

Barbara spent the rest of the night having fun and taking with old friends. Her life was returning to normal after the shooting. Now she was working at the New Gotham library. She liked the place and she had contact with many young people that she could help.

She wanted to return to her Batgirl career, but Bruce had told her to take it slowly, she still was healing. She still felt tired after standing too long and would get a bit of pain in her back if she had too much exercise. She was still testing her limitations. It was important, if she wanted to stay alive in her fight against crime.

Over the course of the night, she saw Helena flirting with everything that moved close to her. Her laugh was loud and open, but she knew it was a mask that the girl hid behind. She tried to act as a cold person, just interested in fun and having a good time, but she knew her, she was not that kind of person.

After a pleasant dinner and enjoy excellent music, she went with Dick to walk around the gardens. He had been a gentleman with her all those months, always supportive, sweet and romantic. He gave her a wonderful and sweet kiss.

They stood for a long time, watching the moon lighting the trees.

"Maybe we should get married, what do you think?" he mumbled, rubbing his nose on her cheek.

"You will break the heart of your fans. I don't want to be responsible for that." She grinned at him.

"Dammit, you are right." He smiled. "How about we go somewhere else, where we can be alone?"

"It's late."

"And tomorrow is Sunday. Do you have something interesting to do?"

"Just be with you."

"Excellent." Dick gave her a fast kiss on her lips. "I'll go pick up our coats."

"Okay."

They walked inside the house again. "I'll see if I can find Bruce while you're gone."

"Sure."

Barbara didn't see Bruce in the crowd. She stopped Alfred, who walked close to her. She asked for him and he told her he had seen him five minutes ago, walking to the library with Helena. She walked toward the back of the house where the room was.

She heard some loud voices when as she approached. She stopped a few meters away and noticed Bruce was furious. He was yelling at Helena, who was yelling right back. She couldn't understand what the argument was about and thought it best to leave them alone. But then, she noticed Bruce walking to open the door. She hid behind a door so he wouldn't notice her and think she was listening.

He was really angry and stormed out the place. He never lost control of his emotions, so it was weird to see him so annoyed. She turned and looked inside the library.

Helena covered her face with her hands; she seemed to be so sad. Barbara couldn't stop herself and walked to her.

When she opened the door, she noticed the brunette wasn't there. Looking around, she could see the balcony door open and she walked there.

Helena was sitting on the cement bench, looking at the garden.

"What do you want?" the brunette asked, knowing she was there.

Barbara couldn't understand how, she hadn't made any noise.

"Are you okay?"

The girl wiped her nose with her hand. "I'm fine."

Barbara remained silent, trying to find the correct question to try to talk with her. Helena would never admit she was crying.

"Why did he make you mad?"

The girl did not respond. Barbara hugged herself and observed her.

"I saw him yelling at you," she said. "I'm sorry."

"He doesn't understand me." Helena finally spoke, with her gaze to the ground.

"He is a man," Barbara mumbled, "Men often can't see inside women's hearts."

"He is so blind," Helena whispered.

The moon light allowed Barbara to see a tear rolling down her cheek.

"Why he can't see me? I'm not what he expected. He wanted a boy, not a girl."

"Don't say that, you are a great person."

"Not for him, other people are always better. He always tells me why I'm not like Dick, like you… He always says I would disappoint my mom." She sniffed. "But no, he didn't know her, my mom loved me, she always said she was proud of me. She hugged me, she listened to me."

"She loved you so much," Barbara said with a soft voice. "You are right, she was so proud of you, you were her world. She told me many times she wanted the best for you and she worked hard every day for it –to give you everything. She believed in you."

"She was the only one. He thinks Dick is best. He knows how to do things, he is smart, he is intelligent." Helena turned her blue eyes and fixed the on her. Barbara was a beautiful woman. She felt, in some way, protected being close to her. She could smell her when she was around, not matter if a room was full of people. It reminded her of the feeling of being loved, cared for, of a past that no longer existed. "Dick should be his kid, not me. I don't know what I'm doing here. I don't know why he took me."

"He loves you, he just doesn't know how to show it to you." Barbara touched her hand. "I love you, too, but you won't let me in."

Helena jerked up, as if she was touched by electricity. "Don't lie to me." She was not going to let her hurt her again. She had hurt her enough, she had forgotten she existed. She also thought Dick was better. She was with Dick, they were a couple now. She had seen her dancing and having fun; she had seen them kissing in the garden. She always had time for him, since she had gone. She only looked at Helena when she was not with him. Helena was not important.

"I don't lie, I love you, Helena." Barbara stood up behind her. "I don't know what happened before, why you are so distant with me, but I would like you to trust in me again, like when you were a kid."

"Leave me alone." The young woman growled, turning her back to her.

"Helena, please."

"I said, leave me alone!" Helena turned, her eyes feral. "You are like him! You are like everyone!"

"Let me be your friend."

"I don't have friends, I don't need friends."

"What is wrong with you?" Barbara didn't step back. "Why do you push away all the people that love you?"

The brunette crossed her arms and smirked. "Oh, I see. Now, you are an expert on my life, you know what I feel and what I need."

"Something happened to you and I want to help."

"Keep your help to yourself. I don't need you, I don't need anyone."

"Why are you so damn stubborn?"

"Why don't you worry about your own life and leave me the fuck alone? Why have you been following me since you came back? What part of leave me alone don't you understand?"

"You are hurting yourself!"

"Why your interest in me?" Helena began to walk toward her in a threatening way. Barbara began to step back. Helena buried her eyes on her; she was not going to let her in. She was not going to get hurt again. She had learned that the best defense was a great offense. "Am I so beautiful and you are attracted to me?"

"Don't be ridiculous!" Barbara spat, what the fuck was happening with Helena? Suddenly, her mood had changed 180°. She was a broken child one second and, in the next one, a total jerk.

"Why not?" the brunette smirked, smiling seductively. "I'm young, very good looking, smart, funny. I'm the most eligible bachelor in the city."

Barbara's back hit a brick wall. "Are you drunk?"

"Often, but not now." She stood close, her face inches from Barbara's.

"Helena." Barbara lifted an eyebrow, she was not going to show her fear, "I didn't know you were gay."

"Me neither, but it will be fun to try with you," the brunette smirked, hands in pockets. "You are an experienced woman and I know many interesting tricks that I'm sure you will enjoy. We can exchange experiences."

"I'm sorry, I'm taken." Barbara sighed, knowing she was avoiding talking about what hurt her.

"Don't worry, I'm not jealous." She shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm trying to help, Helena. Why do you act like an asshole?"

"Maybe because I am one. Everybody thinks that -- my father, Dick, and I know that you do, too." Helena grinned. "Welcome to the club."

"What's happening here?" Dick asked from the balcony door.

Helena smirked and gave a step back "Nothing, your girlfriend was telling me how fascinating I am."

"What's wrong with you, Helena?"

"Bachelor's life." Helena stared at her. "I need to keep my image. Have fun with the Pied Piper."

"Hey, hey." Dick said, annoyed.

Barbara grabbed his arm. "Wait, Dick, she is taunting you."

"Do you want me to kick your ass?" he shouted at her.

"Try it. Last time, I kicked yours. I would be glad to sweep the floor with you again."

"What's wrong with you?"

"Selina would be so disappointed in you," Barbara told her.

The brunette turned angrily toward her.

"Don't say her name!"

"Don't hurt her memory by acting like a jerk:"

"You don't have any right…" She clenched her teeth.

"You don't either. Grow up, Helena."

"Fuck you!" the brunette shouted and exited the balcony.

"Hey, you! Come here!" Dick growled.

"Dick, stop! Don't listen to her!" Barbara shouted.

"Did you see what she….?" He pointed at the girl.

"She is trying to piss you off, as always. You know her."

He paced furiously on the balcony. Barbara felt so disappointed. She was starting to think she never could get close to Helena again, that she would never understand her change. They might never be friends again.

"What did she tell you?" Dick asked, standing in front of her.

"Forget it."

"Barbara."

She brushed her hair back. "Can we just go and forget all this?"

"But…"

"Can we just forget this?" she said with a loud voice.

He exhaled and nodded his head. Helena really had pissed him off.

"Let's go, Dick, please," she said, touching his arm.

He nodded and walked to the exit. Barbara was silent, thinking, trying to understand Helena's behavior. She didn't know what to do, she was so unpredictable, so weird. What had happened to the Helena Kyle that she had known? Maybe she really had died the night her mother did, and she didn't want accept it.


Two years later…

The young brunette opened two beer bottles and turned, giving them to two guys seated in front of the bar. She took then two glasses from the counter and mixed some lemon juice and tequila. When she finished, she gave it to the man on her left.

"Hey, beautiful," a man said, "give me a scotch."

She didn't answer and prepared the glass. She put it in front of the man.

"Thanks, beautiful."

"Do me a favor," she said, putting her hand on the counter, "don't call me beautiful again, unless you want me to break your nose."

"That's not nice."

"It will be less nice to have a broken nose." She turned and found Leonard, the owner of the bar looking at her.

"I've told you many times to be nice," he said.

"I was nice." Helena smiled. "I warned him, I didn't break his nose."

"Be nice, I'm telling you once more, be nice."

"All right, all right." Cleaning her hands with a towel, she checked her watch. Her shift had ended. She gave the towel to her partner at the bar.

"Shift's over," she said to Leonard. "See you tomorrow."

"Have a good night, Kyle, and, remember, be nice."

"Yeah, yeah." She sighed and exited the bar.

She went to her apartment above The Dark Horse Bar, the place she worked as a bartender, and changed her clothes. She chose black leather pants, a sleeveless black shirt, and a long black leather coat.

Luckily, she was old enough now to live on her own and she earned enough money in her work as a bartender to rent an apartment. Not so luxurious, but it was hers, as was her life. She didn't depend on him anymore.

After her night shifts, she usually went out to join the night, to feel the wind caressing her face with its cold whispers. But tonight she was not in the mood to waste the time on those things, she wanted action.

She left her apartment through the window and climbed to the rooftop. She began to run on the top of the buildings until she arrived downtown. She crouched over the cornice and closed her eyes, feeling the wind hitting her face. She loved that sensation, she felt loved by the night, it fed her, it made the adrenaline run through her veins at high speeds, making her feel alive.

She always thought about taking revenge on her mother's death, but she had never quite figured out how to do it, until a night that she had been just walking in the city. It was late, she had not returned early to the manor that day. A group of guys had blocked her way, at first she had hesitated, it was not the same as a fight in a club, This was a gang with knives in their hands. But after her first move, she knew she could defeat those guys very easily.

She knew, then, she could avenge her mother on her own. She started her search for the man that had murdered her.

She just wanted to go out and pound on those criminals that ruled the streets.

On her 21st birthday, she finally moved out of his house. She had worked the last summer and collected some money, thinking about being independent. She got a job as the assistant of a bartender with a friend.

She didn't know why, but her father had then told her that he had decided to quit as Batman, he didn't want to be the Caped Crusader anymore. He was tired of the violence and criminals. He said he wanted go around the world, that he needed to breathe.

He left…

She didn't know how to feel afterwards. It was weird.

He had abandoned her, too. It made her feel so angry, so miserable. For a moment, she thought she might have been important to him.

She had fought with him almost all the time they had been together, but in some way she could say she missed him.

After a few months of working at the bar, she had learned a lot and was much better than her friend.

She was promoted to a full bartender at The Dark Horse and rented a small apartment above it.

She had then, too, started to look for criminals and had learned to defend herself alone on those streets…

It was one thing to be in the training room and quite another to feel the cold blade of a knife cutting her skin. At the beginning, it had been hard. And she got her fair share of bruises for that, but she learned fast and she was very good now.

She just wanted to relieve all the anger, all that rage, the fire burning inside her. She just wanted to get her revenge and make all that people that were like him pay.

She had started being a crime fighter on her own just a few months ago. She never told him about her nightly adventures. She didn't want him lecturing her about it being too risky or about being too rough or breaking bones unnecessarily.

A sound distracted her from her thoughts. She heard cries. She was at the top of a big building and turned her head, trying to determine the source.

It seemed it came a few streets away from her. She jumped easily to the building in front of her. In a few seconds, she found the source of the cries.

A man was hitting a woman.

Party time. He shouted something at her; she shouted back, and he slapped her hard on her face and took out a knife.

A knife.

It made her so angry.

She hated knives.

Before he could make a single movement, she was on him. She took his hand in hers and grinned when she heard bones breaking and him yelling.

"You aren't so brave now, no?" she growled at him.

"Bitch!" he yelled.

"Wrong answer," she said, as her fist found his face.

He slammed into the wall behind him. The woman stood up and ran as fast as she could, away from the scene.

"Let's try again." Helena smirked.

"Go to hell."

"I think, tonight, you will go there, not me." She lifted him and punched him hard on his gut. It felt really good to beat a jerk like this one.

The man tried to fight, but she was too much for him. In a few seconds, she had him crying and begging for forgiveness on the ground, but tonight she was not in the mood to give a second to a moron like this one. She threw him against a garbage bin and walked toward him, fists in balls, ready to pounce on him again.

"Stop."

Now, that was new, who the hell was interrupting her fun?

She turned her head and found a tall woman dressed in a funny costume: black with a yellow bat on her chest and a black cowl over her head, that didn't cover her long ,red hair. The costume was so much like her father's. She must be Batgirl. Helena had heard so much about her, but she had never seen her. Apparently, she had disappeared for a long time, but she'd heard stories that she'd returned after Batman had stopped his work as a crime fighter. She thought Batgirl was a legend, but no. Helena had asked her father once about her, but the only thing he had said was that she was an incredible fighter.

It appeared that the rumors were true, and that she had taken over Batman's job.

"What do you want?" Helena asked, annoyed.

"What are you doing?" Batgirl asked.

"Stopping that asshole from hurting a woman."

"You already did. Leave him alone."

The brunette grinned. "Oh… and you are…?" she asked, taunting the costumed woman.

"Just leave him alone, he is already knocked out."

"Good," Helena shrugged her shoulders, "he will not feel a thing when I rip his head off."

"Leave him alone."

"What if I don't want to?"

"Then you must fight me."

The brunette laughed lightly. "What?"

"You heard me." Batgirl said with a firm voice.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Helena growled. Either the woman really was very confident of herself, or she didn't know that Helena could easily kill her with her hands.

"Someone who is trying to prevent you from making a mistake."

"Oh good, now I have my own guardian angel," Helena mocked, putting a hand over her heart.

"No, I'm your friend."

"Friend? Bullshit!" the brunette shouted. "I don't know you!"

"You are good, but you don't have experience," Batgirl said.

That was enough, no one was going to tell her what to do. Helena took a step forward, but a nasty smell filled her nostrils and she stepped back. "Where have you been?"

" A building was on fire." The redhead crossed her arms over her chest.

"Oh my god!! What was burning?" She winced, covering her nose, as she was assaulted by a foul odor.

"Plastic factory."

"Fuck… that is disgusting."

Batgirl softened the tone of her voice, trying to make Helena listen to her. "You could get hurt, fighting crime is not easy."

"I know and I don't care." The brunette turned her back on the other vigilante and walked down the street. She didn't want to keep talking to that woman.

Why was she so arrogant? Batgirl tried one more time. "You could get hurt or killed, if you aren't careful."

"I'll call 911 when I need help, I promise." Helena retorted, then jumped easily to a stairway, four floors above her, and from there to the rooftop.

The redhead watched in amazement. Wow, she knew about her meta skills, but had never seen them in action. She sighed, resting her hands on her hips. This was going to be a bit more difficult than she'd anticipated. She turned and walked to the other side of the street.


The old butler opened the curtains of the dark room. The light revealed a total mess. Clothes over the floor; drawers opened. Different kinds of shoes were strewn about the place. The small room was a disaster zone. He looked at the bed, which was a mass of blankets and covers, he still couldn't understand how a person could sleep there or, worse, live there.

He shook his head and took a basket, picking up the clothes.

"God, Alfred," Helena grumbled from under the covers, "What are you doing here so early?"

"I'm using Eastern Standard time. It's only early if you are on Pacific time." He lifted his eyebrow as he continued to pick up the clothes from the floor. "Might I remind you that we live in New Gotham, close to the Atlantic Ocean?"

"What time is it?" The brunette buried her face on her pillow.

"Twelve o'clock."

She lifted her head and, blinded by the light, she rubbed her eyes. "You must be joking."

"I wish." He filled his basket with the clothes over the floor "I prepared you a good meal."

She pushed off her covers. "You just said the magic words." She walked out of her room, wearing just her white shorts and a grey t-shirt. She sat down at her small table in the kitchen.

There were scrambled eggs and a big cup of coffee. It smelled great. She loved Wednesdays. That was the day that Alfred helped her clean her mess… well, house. Technically, he cleaned it alone, but it was not her fault, he always said she didn't know how to clean a house.

"I love you, Alfred!" she shouted, taking a piece of toast.

"Sometimes I have the feeling your love for me is directly proportional to the hunger in your stomach," he responded, crossing the small corridor to put the clothes in the washing machine.

"That's not true," she said. "I also love you when you wash my clothes."

"I'm speechless."

"Guess who I met last night?"

"No idea." He stepped inside the kitchen and moved toward the counter. God. It was a real disaster, how could a single person create such a mess?

"Batgirl." Helena ate a bit of her egg.

"Batgirl?" He turned to look at her.

"Who is she, Alfred?" Helena asked, biting into her toast.

"No idea, Miss Helena." He rolled up his sleeves to wash the dishes.

"I don't believe you. You know all about my father." She pointed at him with her fork.

"You said it." He began to clean the dishes. "About your father, not about her."

"But you know her."

"Of course I know her. She is an enigma. Women are always an enigma."

"Point for you." Helena took another piece of egg. "But I still find it hard to believe that you don't know who she is."

"She is like a ghost, she just appears when she is needed and vanishes in the same way." He smiled to her. "In an unexpected way."

"I see."

"So, where did you find her?"

"I was beating up a guy that was harassing a lady." She wiped her mouth. "She said I needed experience."

"Interesting."

She put her fork on the plate and observed him. "I have the feeling you know something."

"Miss Helena," he replied, "she is a mystery for me as she is for you. Batgirl supported Batman on the streets, but she fought on her own. She was a mystery even for your father. He respected her secret identity as she respected his."

"Sounds reasonable." Helena took a sip of her coffee. She was silent a few seconds, thinking. Why was Batgirl looking for her? What did she want? How did she know about her? "Do you think she knows what I do at night?"

"Why do you think that, Miss Helena?" Alfred cleaned the counter.

"I know he is not here. What if he knows what I do and he sent her to follow me?"

"That is a bit hard to believe. You always say that no one follows you."

She glared at him.

"Miss Helena, I don't think you father had anything to do with it," Alfred explained, looking at her and drying his hands. "He wouldn't send anyone to follow you. He never did it when you were young and loved to get in trouble. Why would he start now?"

"Why did she disappear? Do you know?"

"Master Bruce told me that she just vanished." Alfred removed his glasses to clean them with a cloth. "She was always a woman of few words. No one knows where she came from. She just appeared one day. I know that she confessed to your father that she admired him and that she wanted to be like him. Maybe she, as your father is doing now, took a time to be alone and think. The life of a hero is not easy."

"I think she knows who I am." She finished her eggs.

"Why?"

"The way she talked to me. She said I could hurt myself."

"I agree with the last," he said, picking up her plate. "You still have a lot to learn, that life is very dangerous."

"I have the feeling I'll meet her again," Helena said. "I'm not going to let her go until she answers some questions for me."

"Might I suggest that you not piss her off?"

"Why not? She pissed me off first."

"She is a very skilled fighter and you might find yourself regretting the encounter."

"Don't be so optimistic, Alfred." She stood up. "No one can kick my ass."

"Wanna bet?" he chuckled.

"Hey, thanks for the vote of confidence."

"You never listen to good advice, Miss Helena."

"I do… I just take the ones I need," she said, disappearing to her room.

"I suggest, then, that you purchase a big steak."

Helena's head appeared in her frame door. "Why do I need a steak?"

"You will need it when she blackens your eye."

"Ha, ha ha."

"Don't say I didn't warn you." He began to clean the table.


TBC