Author's Note: Not as many reviews on my last chapter as I would have liked, though the ones received were very sweet. : ) Hope you enjoy the new installment.
Chop, chop, Pete had said, and Helena scoffed at his absurdity. Inventions couldn't be chopped. They began with an idea, and developed from there – only, it had taken Helena over an hour to generate an idea that she believed would captivate Myka's interests, and that left only so many hours for her to complete it.
And she hadn't even spoken with Myka to confirm that she would be available, and willing, to go out this evening.
With a deep sigh as she folded up some very preliminary sketches, she decided that, before she rushed into this creation, she ought to speak with her partner. Finding her, however, was more difficult than Helena had anticipated. She'd searched Myka's room, the B&B, and the Warehouse with no success, and for reasons she couldn't fathom – because Myka had never left her before – it made Helena nervous.
On her return home, however, she spotted Myka making what seemed to be a lap around the Warehouse property.
"Myka?" She called out, quickening her pace a bit to catch up.
Myka turned her head over her shoulder, and, upon identifying Helena, she slowed significantly. Helena fleetingly noted that Myka had gone for a run, but focused more keenly on the agent's appearance rather than her activity.
Myka's ensemble consisted of a pair of small, black jogging shorts, and a damp green tank top that did wonders for her bright eyes. That spoke nothing of the color in her cheeks or the tousle of her tied up hair. Moreover, her neck was exposed, and Helena could see beads of perspiration gleaming against it.
Despite that Helena was sure she'd sought Myka out to discuss something relatively important, she found that no words could form.
"Hey," Myka smiled.
"Hi," she replied, blinking several times in an attempt to startle herself from her trance. "Hello," she greeted again, laughing lowly.
"What's up?" Myka asked, lifting her leg to stretch her quads.
"Ah – I honestly can't seem to recall," Helena disclosed, eyes catching at the dip in Myka's shirt.
Myka's brows furrowed. "Everything's okay, though, right?"
"Everything is more than well," Helena nodded, and then shook her head – the contradiction of her actions not lost upon her. "I'm having a difficult time focusing my attentions, it seems," she admitted.
"Oh?" Myka inquired, taking a step forward and placing her hands at Helena's hips, dropping a thumb beneath Helena's t-shirt and soothing it against the skin beneath. "I keep having that problem, too."
"So you took to exercise?" Helena asked, brow lifted as she struggled not to reach out to Myka in return. She was sure that would be unwise, but Myka's touch, though small, turned Helena's stomach around.
"It appears that way," Myka smiled softly.
"Your cardiovascular training is doing nothing favorable for my concentration," Helena informed, and in spite of her best efforts, her hands acted of their own accord; one reached to cradle Myka's side, and the other delicately fingered the strap of the agent's small top.
"Turns out, it's not helping mine much, either," Myka husked, watching Helena's fingers and shivering lightly when they brushed against her bare shoulder. Myka took a step closer.
Helena took one back. "Mm," she hummed, chiding herself as much as Myka. "That, I'm afraid, would not be our cleverest move."
Myka bit her lip and nodded. "Right," she said, retracting her hands and folding them across her chest.
The withdrawal, Helena had hoped for; but she hastily detected a hint of rejection in Myka's tone and body language, and that wouldn't do. She used her hand at Myka's waist to pull her just slightly inward, so that she could reach up on her toes and press a long, but innocent kiss against Myka's lips without pressing their bodies together.
Myka sighed against her mouth, unmistakably frustrated, before she bit her lip again.
"I know, darling," Helena cooed. "I know."
"I want to touch you," Myka said quietly, looking down. "I mean, I want you, but I just want to touch you. Hold you," Myka clarified, when she realized that she wasn't quite expressing her need clearly.
"Oh, darling," Helena whispered, more than flattered as she rubbed Myka's side reassuringly, "you can."
"I can't," Myka disagreed. "I want to hold you, but right now, every time we brush against each other, it's like my skin is on fire. I can't even look at you without wanting more."
"I understand how you feel, Myka," Helena calmed, lifting her fingers to brush a stray curl from Myka's cheek.
"When's this courtship supposed to start?" Myka asked, trying to inject some levity over the 'outdated' word, but her voice fell weakly as her arms continued to hug her chest.
"I had hoped tonight," Helena shared, her lips curving upward as Myka elevated her stance attentively.
"Really?"
"Yes," Helena chuckled. "Assuming, of course, that you're available."
"So available," Myka rapidly replied.
Helena laughed again. "I must say that I'm pleased. I've already called for reservations," she shared on a conspiratorial whisper.
"You did?" Myka asked, grinning widely.
Helena was charmed by her exuberance. "I did," she said lightly.
"So, tonight, huh?" Myka inquired, and Helena heard a small tremor of anxiety.
"Yes," she nodded, but then subsequently frowned. "Unless you're having second thoughts?"
Myka shook her head swiftly. "No, no, nothing like that! I just – " She laughed, amused at her own ponderings, before she admitted with a small measure of embarrassment, "I'm wondering what I should wear."
Helena laughed, as well. "Darling, you are welcome to wear anything you choose. I assure you, I find you utterly captivating, no matter your costume. Although, I will share that an evening gown would not be out of place."
Myka blushed at the compliment, and Helena rested a cool hand against her cheek, smiling sweetly at her. "You needn't be nervous, darling," Helena soothed. "I'm already in such great love with you," she reminded kindly, utilizing the semi-comforting words that both Pete and Claudia had tried on her.
"I like hearing that," Myka confessed softly, leaning into Helena's palm.
"Then I shall endeavor to say it more often," Helena promised. "For now, however, I have a few things to prepare for this evening, so I shall leave you to your running, and I'll meet you at seven, if that's suitable?"
"Okay," Myka said, shifting eagerly forward as Helena raised herself to touch her lips against Myka's again.
With a small laugh, Helena teasingly tapped her tongue against Myka's lips, enthralled by her anticipation, but before Myka's lips could part, she pulled herself away. Myka's huff did not escape her, but Helena had already turned and begun her trek back to her room before Myka could express any further frustration.
When Claudia and Pete allied forces and banged against her door raucously, Helena was minutely aggravated, but unsurprised.
She'd spent all day locked away in her room, trying to complete her design before she was due to meet Myka. She'd busied herself so much, in fact, that she hadn't had the opportunity to stress any further about their evening together. At least, not until she'd begun to prepare for it, anyway.
She tucked a final strand of hair into the elegant knot at the back of her head before she moved toward the door with bare feet. When she pulled it open, she merely stepped out of the way, now expecting the tornado that was Claudia to barrel in and make herself comfortable, which is precisely what the small redhead did, once admitted.
Pete released a low whistle, taking a step back to admire her red gown, before joining Claudia in a heap on the bed.
"Wow, HG," Claudia said. "You clean up nice."
"Nice is an understatement," Pete chimed, temporarily besotted, as the 12-year-old boy inside of him just couldn't seem to help it.
"Thank you both," she said, offering a tepid smile. "I do hope Myka likes it."
Pete snorted, but it was Claudia who responded, "Myka's gonna flip like a pancake when she sees you."
"Mmm," Pete groaned, momentarily distracted from Helena's stunning appearance. "Pancakes! Claude, can we get pancakes later?"
"Anything to get out of the house tonight," Claudia grinned, winking overtly at Helena.
Ignoring her, with more effort than she felt should be necessary, Helena turned back toward the dresser, where her bag of make-up rested. She picked up the eyeliner to add some last minute touches.
"So?" Pete asked, looking toward the desk, and jumping eagerly to move toward the messy table. Atop it sat a gizmo that bore a resemblance to nothing that Pete had ever seen before. It was about the size of a hand, so, of course, Pete made to pick it up. "Is this it? What's it do?"
Helena smiled as she looked to her creation. It had taken a lot of time and a fair amount of tampering to make it functional, and she was quite proud of it. She so hoped Myka would enjoy it.
"You made Myka a present?" Claudia asked, grinning. "Aww, how sweet!"
"That isn't your toy to tinker with, Agent Lattimer," Helena admonished, moving toward him and smacking his hand away before lifting the item into her own palm.
"Aw, c'mon, HG!" Claudia pleaded, pouting. "Show us what the doohickey does!"
"It isn't a doohickey," Helena denied, aghast and truly offended.
"Well what do you call it?" Pete leaped to Claudia's defense, clearly finding 'doohickey' an adequate description of the piece.
"I have yet to call it anything," she admitted. "If it serves its intent and pleases Myka, I'll assign it a name. There's no use naming an object that doesn't work, you know."
"I'm sure it can be used for other things aside from impressing Myka!" Pete declared. "If you tell me what it does, we can help you name it!"
"Yeah!" Claudia bounced excitably on the bed. "C'mon, please?"
"On the contrary, Pete," Helena began, tucking the object into a clutch that matched her dress with almost disturbing accuracy. "In the event that this particular object does not impress Myka, it is of no use to me. And neither of you will discover its purpose before she does," she said, firmly.
"But, but, but – " Claudia started, then jutted her bottom lip out even further.
"It was my idea!" Pete claimed.
"Indeed it was," Helena smiled. "In a roundabout manner, that is."
"And I don't even get a hint?" Pete scrunched his nose up. "That's no fair."
"No hints," Helena clucked. "I do, however, have something in the works for you. Each of you, actually."
"Presents?" Claudia perked up quickly.
"We like presents. Presents are good," Pete grinned.
"Unfortunately," Helena chuckled, moving to the closet to locate the appropriate pair of shoes to complete her outfit, "I was a bit crunched for time; Myka's gift obviously took precedence."
Both of them nodded understandingly, but with clear disappointment.
"Not to fret, though," Helena smiled brightly. "I'll have them finished in the next couple of days."
"Can you tell us what they do?" Pete asked, hopefully.
"Not yet, I'm afraid," Helena shook her head. "But I assure you that you'll enjoy them. I just wanted to express, to both of you, how greatly I've appreciated your help."
"Aw, no need to get all mushy, HG," Claudia said, tossing a hand out nonchalantly, waving off her thanks.
"I just hope tonight goes well for you guys," Pete said earnestly. "What time are you supposed to meet Myka, anyway?"
Helena inhaled when she looked at the clock. "Now, it seems," she said quietly.
"Uh-oh," Claudia said, springing upwards. "No need to panic, HG! It's just Myka, and she's as excited for this as you are!"
"Yeah, don't sweat it, HG," Pete reassured, patting her on the shoulder as Claudia walked her out the door. "You guys are gonna have a great time, and come home to all kinds of lovin' and an empty house, because we are so not gonna be here."
"Word," Claudia agreed, as they descended the steps behind HG.
But Helena stopped at the foot of the stairs, because Myka was there, sitting at the kitchen table with her legs crossed gracefully, fingers tapping nervously against a glass of what Helena assumed to be liquor.
Pete subtly nudged Helena's shoulder, but when she failed to respond, both Pete and Claudia's heads peeked out around her.
"Wow," Pete breathed, bringing Myka's attention to the stairwell, and all of the people crowded in it. "Myka, you look great."
"Thanks, Pete," she smiled gratefully.
"Yeah, Mykes, you look amazing!" Claudia agreed, taking Helena's arm gently and tugging her forward.
Shifting forward, Helena finally mustered some insufficient words as she regained her ability to move independently. "They're quite right, you know," she said softly, reaching to take Myka's wrist in her hand, and she brought it to her lips for a fleeting, tender kiss. "You're exquisite," she said, but frowned, and then shook her head. "I find myself at a loss for words; I'm afraid that's the best I can do at the moment, darling, and it doesn't begin to serve you justice."
Myka blushed. "No, that's good. Great, actually. So much better than the nothing that I came up with," she smiled bashfully. "You look beautiful, Helena."
Pete and Claudia exchanged a grin from behind Helena. The author and the self-proclaimed bookworm struggling for words was not a sight that either of them had expected to witness. They could have mocked it, but respectfully decided that the two were nervous enough without their input.
"You kids have a fun time tonight, okay?" Pete said, breaking an intense gaze that threatened awkwardness for him and Claudia. He leaned forward to grip Myka in a tight hug. "And you just try to keep it your pants until you get home."
Helena rolled her eyes. The words were distasteful, but they were whispered in such a charmingly Pete manner that she couldn't find it within herself to be offended.
Myka, however, slugged him on the shoulder, and she couldn't suppress her ensuing smirk.
"Ow!" He yelped, but after a moment of rubbing his arm, he sobered himself. "Seriously, though, have fun, and don't get home too late," Pete said, smiling at her affectionately.
"We'll be back by ten, Dad," Myka teased.
"I agreed to no such terms," Helena objected, turning to her date for the evening. "And I therefore have no intention of heeding them."
Myka cast Pete a look that clearly read, "I stand corrected," and Claudia grinned.
"Got a late night planned, HG?"
Helena raised a brow, and replied, "I was very explicitly informed that there were some chunks, I believe was the word, that you had no desire to hear of."
Claudia blushed. "Jeez, alright. No need to get into any more detail than that, HG. Really. I already have a picture in my head that I would like to have not there."
"Yeah, me too," Pete said, dazed. "Only I'm pretty okay with it being there."
Myka punched him again. "Pete!"
"Ouch! That had to leave a bruise!" He exclaimed, and then he abruptly pointed at Helena. "Get her out of here before she kills me! Jeez," he said, massaging his arm again.
"Righty-ho, then," Helena said, grinning, thoroughly entertained by Pete's well-deserved pain. "Shall we?"
"Mm," Myka assented, smiling. Helena led the way to the front door, and as an afterthought, Myka tossed over her shoulder, "By the way, Claude, Steve was looking for you. He mentioned something about getting pancakes, I think?"
"My best friend's a psychic!" Claudia exclaimed.
"Pancakes!" Pete's roar overruled hers, and Myka raised her brows curiously before Helena reached behind her to shut the door on them both, having had quite enough of their boisterous antics.
For the rest of the evening, Myka was hers. She didn't intend to waste any more of it bickering with the children.