Epilogue

Helena and Myka dressed the morning of the HG Wells Museum opening, and went downstairs for breakfast. They were – as Helena put it – on a very tight schedule. "Say it again," Myka practically giggled as she asked Helena to repeat herself.

"We're on a very tight….," Helena said and then noticed Myka stood there with her finger in her mouth, watching Helena's lips intently. "Shed-yool," Helena said and Myka melted into a silly grin.

"I love the way you say that," she said, toughing Helena's lips softly. "Shed-yool," she repeated.

'Okay, Ladies," came the boisterous call of the private banker as she entered the house. "What the hell is that…?" she asked, the aroma hitting her as soon as she entered the hallway. She had no way of knowing it, but she had just past the test. "Hey, there you are….," Bridget said, coming through the door of the dining room where the couple had just finished tea and scones. "So, big day," Bridget began, sounding more like a New Yorker than her southern self.

"Indeed," Helena said and had a totally different reason than the banker did.

"Everyone is ready for the opening," Bridget said, looking at her IPhone and going over the list.

"Bridge, we wanted to talk to you," Myka began and looked at Helena to reconsider one more time because she didn't think this was great timing.

"Nonsense," Helena said, reading her wife's expression perfectly. "The woman can handle anything."

Bridget looked up from her phone, looked at Myka and read her trepidation, but Helena's words were a compliment to her ears. "Why, yes, I can," Bridget said, pulling up a chair and sitting down.

"We've talked about this and decided to share something ….," Myka began carefully, giving her wife ample opportunity to decide that she had come to her senses and agree they should have this for another time.

"It's twins?" Bridget asked, because she couldn't imagine what else they wanted to share.

"No," Myka laughed, putting her hand on her protruding stomach. "Although it feels like that sometimes."

Helena heard the hesitancy in Myka's voice and feared she was stalling. They simply didn't have time for stalling.

"The last time I did this I had Irene present to help the person deal with the news. Alas, the woman has seen fit to forgo my invitation and go straight to the gallery. I do question that woman's priorities," Helena lamented, now sidetracking herself.

"The nerve," Bridget said, because she understood that relationship. She had told Myka that she gave Irene Frederic a great deal of credit for not acting like the mother-in-law she really was to her.

"Bridget, I have decided that you are the closest thing to a best friend my wife has," Helena began and Bridget looked at Myka and whispered – "Closest thing?" "This realization comes with certain benefits," Helena continued. "I tolerate what you believe to be a sense of humor, for example," the Brit shared.

"Well, thank heavens for …," Bridget said, but it wasn't her turn to speak and Helena's expression told her that. "Sorry; you were saying…."

"Being Myka's friend means I have certain expectations; ones that must be met," Helena outlined and Myka smiled uncomfortably at her friend.

"What Helena means…," Myka tried to soften the intensity.

"What I mean is that you have certain responsibilities to Myka, especially in any time of need," Helena belabored the point.

Bridget looked at Helena and tried to translate what she was saying. "You …want me…to …do something?" the banker guessed as if she were playing Jeopardy and chose the Myka Bering category for $500.

Helena was having trouble understanding how Bridget could not understand what she was saying. Surely, it was simple enough.

"We've been talking," Myka said, trying to back up a little to give her friend some context.

"You want me to be Godmother!" Bridget said, because it had been on her mind and she was wondering if she would be asked.

Helena was more than willing to try things Myka's way, but when the woman started to treat this conversation like it was a fill-in-the-blanks exam, Helena lost patience.

"I want you to sit there and be silent," Helena commanded. "I mean that with the utmost respect or you wouldn't be here. But what we have to tell you is of the greatest importance, so I need you to focus and take in what I'm about to say."

"Sure," Bridget said, never offended by Helena's brusque manner. She admired Helena too much not to forgive her flaws.

Helena looked over at her wife now and drew in a deep breath. "You will no doubt have many questions after you hear what I'm about to say, but I would suggest you wait and take it in first."

"Alright," Bridget said and then bit her lip.

"When you attend the museum opening today, you will see many items there from my own collection. I have those items because they are mine. Through a process that I do not wish to explain now, I was suspended in time for many years. I was awoken after decades in a secret warehouse overseen by a group of people who were taking care of me. I am, Ms. Cummings; the HG Wells."

Bridget listened and took in what she was hearing. Of course, it didn't make sense. "You're telling me," she said slowly and then looked at Myka whom she trusted without question. "She's telling me that she is the one and the same HG Wells; locked up in a time capsule and released into the 21st century?"

"I know this is hard," Myka said and put her hand on Bridget's to assure her.

The banker pushed back in her chair as she thought it over. There was no reason in the world for her to think they weren't pulling a prank except, Helena didn't do pranks. There was no reason in the world they would lie, because Myka didn't lie. Her face scrunched up as she tried to make this ridiculously cut piece fit into the puzzle that was….. Helena Wells.

And strangely enough; it fit.

"Okay," Bridget said because Helena told her to hold her questions.

"A great deal of thought was given to sharing this information with you," Helena said even though the phrasing might have been a slight exaggeration. Once Helena decided Myka might need the woman in any time of need, the decision was made. "It means that you now know something very few people know. It's a blessing and a curse," Helena reflected thoughtfully.

"There was really no way to ask your permission," Myka said; an idea that never even entered Helena's mind, but Myka had laid up at night thinking about.

"Why…are you telling me?" Bridget asked, even though it wasn't the Q&A session yet.

"Should Myka even need you, in my absence," Helena began and her jaw tightened at the thought, "….you should know the truth. And the truth, Bridget, is that I am HG Wells."

Helena had to admit; saying that felt really good. Really, really good.

The Investment Banker's brains flashed with thoughts. She had always been surprised that when Helena started out in business, she had seemingly amassed a fortune for someone so young. She was quick to surmise now that Helena's inheritance had been waiting for her all those years.

"Okay, then," Bridget said, because she wasn't exactly sure what the appropriate response was for this kind of news. Then it came to her. "I won't tell a soul." And she meant it. She wasn't sure that her wife could handle this kind of information, even if she wanted to tell her. "So that night, you were drun…had a couple of drinks," she said more delicately, "…you were telling the truth when you said you wrote all those books."

Helena didn't care to reflect back on that evening when she foolishly competed with the woman on alcohol intake. "Indeed."

"I'll be damned," Bridget said and smiled at Myka. "This all makes sense to me somehow."

"Really?" Myka asked, surprised, but relieved.

"I'm not sure I can even explain it, but it does," Bridget thought out loud.

"Good, well, that's that," Helena said, as if she were checking off the items on the to-do list.

Bridget was more quiet than usual, but that didn't stop her from quipping: "Imagine the money we could make if she put her name of a wrinkle cream," to Myka as she was leaving.

Myka hugged her friend goodbye and said they would see her soon at the opening. Then she returned to her wife, who sipped her tea as if she didn't have a care in the world.

"Shall we?" Helena asked and the couple ascended the stairs to get ready for the gala event.

The press lined up outside Belvedere Castle, flashing pictures of the long line of invited guests. Helena and Myka were at the head of the group of guests as reporters asked Helena what this meant to her.

"It's like coming home in a sense," she said cryptically. Myka understood what she meant because it was the first time ….since London so many years ago …..that many of Helena's things were together in one place. Even the Warehouse had emptied her room in the Achieves to return her belongings.

The last two to rush down the long velvet roped path were the newlyweds, who hurried there from the airport. A flurry of flashes erupted as the young couple kissed and waved before ducking inside. The twosome looked sun kissed and relaxed as they joined their friends.

Leena had done a magnificent job of seeing to it that every item was placed just so with detailed information. Original manuscripts were encased in glass so visitors could see the works of HG Wells. There was a whole room of the inventions of Helena Wells, which spurred the writings of her brother, Charles. People marveled at the first rocket, drawings of what alien ships might look like, and a prototype of a Time Machine.

There was an entire gallery dedicated to Amelia Brown, showcasing her early writings on obstetrics that would take the male dominated medical field years to come up with the same ideas. Gloria Brown stood over the glass case under the title "Broken Communications" …with an explanation of how these two wonderful women, who could have been the best of friends, were kept apart.

Gloria turned when Helena and Myka entered the room. "Oh, Helena," was all the woman could get out before breaking down into emotional tears. "She would be so proud," the nurse said, unable to hold back sobs.

"She would be so proud of you, my dear," Helena said and squeezed the nurse's hands in hers. "I want you to have this. For obvious reasons, I cannot display it where it rightfully belongs," Helena said, handing a long envelop to Gloria.

The nurse thanked her again, returned to the wonderful display and took in every item that bound the patient and doctor all those years ago. It wasn't until she stepped outside, on a balcony overlooking the park, did she open the envelop and read -

"My dearest Amelia,

I will concede in addressing you by your first name although I feel it a shame not to call you by your rightful prefix of "Doctor". I am certain, were you given the opportunity that would be your rightful title.

I wanted to thank you again for all you did for baby Christina and me. It wasn't just your skillful hands in the delivery, but also your wise and wonderful words you imparted. As you probably could tell, this event was not embraced by my family out of concern for my reputation and their good name. They have enacted the fabrication they dreamed up about a cousin thrice removed who bears the same last name. I insisted that Christina would have my name and so they felt I forced their hand. I struggled to keep the light on this event for the wonder it was, in spite of the tension that surrounded me. And then you came – as if sent by heaven. Your kind words and generous nature were what really got me through. You instinctively knew how worried I was that my decision not to tell the father was cheating the baby of so much. Yet, you reminded me that what was essential for her was love, and that I could give her all she would require. Where my family saw deficit, you saw abundance, and I can never repay you for that.

I hope you will write me in London when you can and know that I will always be here for you my friend, should you ever need anything.

Your friend,

Helena G. Wells

Tears streamed down the woman's rounded cheeks and, as if on cue, a white tissue appeared. She readily accepted it, surprised at how easily her emotions came out that day. Irene smiled at her as if she understood.

"She's an amazing woman," Gloria said, dabbing her eyes now, certain there was no mascara left.

Irene smiled and looked through the open doors to gaze at the woman in question. "That she is," Irene said and put her hand on Gloria's shoulder. "That she is."

The friends toured the entire museum – Pete, Jane and Officer Bell; Sarah and Bridget, who viewed everything through a new lens; Artie and Vanessa, as he tried to guess how much this entire event cost; Steve and Jack, who traveled from West Point to be there with him; and of course, the newlyweds.

"This is totally amazing," Claudia said, as she held onto her wife's hand throughout the walk.

"I don't think amazing is the correct word to use as it is a proof of the genius of Helena and Charles Wells," Sui argued and Eileen laughed.

"True, Sui, but still pretty astonishing," Eileen tried, but the android was unconvinced. To him, it was purely factual.

"Not time for discussion," Millie said, grabbing his arm, "Come try the pastries I made." She knew better than to let anyone bother the just married couple.

Jane dropped her napkin, but before Pete could move a muscle, Officer Bell dropped her hand and retrieved it. "Thank you," Jane said and drained her glass of chilled water.

"I'll get you another. Hydration is very important," the young NYPD officer said and was gone in a flash.

"I think we're going to need a bigger house," Pete laughed, thinking there was no way Officer Bell would leave Jane's side.

Helena gave a short speech – thanking everyone for coming; Leena for spearheading the project and Gloria for contributing so many of the items. Then she implored the guests to enjoy themselves as she and Myka slipped outside alone on the balcony.

"Do you like it?" Helena asked her wife, because that was all that mattered to her.

"Oh Helena, it's wonderful," Myka said, taking Helena's hand and kissing her. "You're finally getting some of the recognition you so richly deserve."

The sun was setting, and the rays managed to find their way through the concrete buildings that outlined the park, just enough to reflect in Myka's eyes. Nothing compared to the feeling Helena got when staring into those green orbs. Calmness always came over her, a joy always filled her heart, and she felt wrapped in Myka's adoring love.

"Have I thanked you for coming into my life?" Helena said, leaning against the stone railing as she and Myka stared into one another's eyes.

"Have I thanked you for waiting for me," Myka said, aware that their backdrop right now was her wife's work across the centuries.

"I would wait forever," Helena replied and they kissed, the sun rays bathing them in a halo effect. Their closeness, though challenging, meant they shared in the sensation of the future Heir's movement.

"She's excited to arrive," Myka said, smiling when tears welled up in Helena's eyes as the sensation always evoked. "Can you imagine what our future with her will be like?"

Helena leaned back and turned them both to stare out at Central Park and the city beyond its borders. "The future, my dear Myka, is going to be a wondrous place."

The couple enjoyed the calm aftermath that brought quiet nights and long weekends, as Myka's body prepared her for the arrival. She was particular busy one weekend as she insisted that every item needed to be in its place; not just in the nursery, but in the entire Townhouse.

That's when she entered the basement and heard it.

"I am ready for her, Myka," she distinctly heard and immediately yelled for Helena. The fact that the Brit heard her name come up the stairs in three …long…syllables…. Told her she was going to have to answer for something. She was certain it was the mess downstairs.

"Oh, I meant to get to it, Darling," Helena said, putting her most apologetic foot forward as she descended the steps. When she reached the bottom step and saw the expression on her wife's face, she knew it wasn't about the mess that lay behind her. Myka wasn't that much of a control freak.

"Anything you want to share?" Myka asked and her literal wife took the question literally.

"Oh, well, yes. I do think this obsessive cleaning of yours is actually a sign of nesting, a condition many pregnant women experience shortly before the baby is due….," the scientist shared. "It's believed to be the body's way of getting ready ….for the baby," Helena continued her dissertation as she walked around, never once catching on that she was going down the wrong path.

"Helena," Myka said and the tone made her wife stop in her tracks.

"Yes, Darling?" the clueless former Warehouse Agent asked.

"I just heard a voice; a very distinct voice," Myka said slowly.

Helena meant to tell her, but there just hadn't seemed to be a good time to share that the Warehouse entity was somehow connected to their home.

"A voice?" Helena asked, looking directly at the door that led to her underground transportation system, by which the Warehouse had sent her belongings.

Myka watched as her wife, almost comically, shifted her weight and moved her body as if caving in under the weight of the secret. "Myka, the Warehouse …has taken it upon itself to ….offer us protection. In the house. To keep us safe. All of us," Helena said, in broken short sentences.

Myka had finally wrapped her head around the fact that the entity had never really let go of its favorite inhabitant and decided it was because it truly saw Helena for all that she was – the real treasure inside the Warehouse. But now it was embedded ….in their home? That was a little too close for comfort.

Trying to make Myka see the upside to this situation, the former Agent blurted out how the Warehouse had enhanced their security system and was single handedly keeping nosey reporters at bay. "It even kept your parents away that night," Helena laughed nervously and then realized what she had said.

"It….shocked my parents?" Myka asked, astounded.

Helena tried to recoup her losses. "It was …protecting us," she tried and moved into Myka as close as she could to hold her hands.

"It wouldn't hurt anyone, would it, Helena?" Myka asked in a hushed tone. "It's not listening to us or watching us, is it? Because that would be super creepy."

Helena was so relieved to hear Myka's calmer tone that she let out a sign of relief. "No, no, Darling. It seems to only use what current is in the house and redirects it to a source as needed. It's here to help, of that I am certain."

"And it listen's to you? It will do as you say?" Myka asked, again in a hushed tone.

"Yes, Myka," Helena assured her.

"Okay," Myka said, not having the energy to argue with an invisible entity at the moment. "You'll tell it what to do, yes?" she asked, as she took Helena's hand and proceeded upstairs.

"Yes, dear," Helena said, as she willingly followed. "Any time you want."

Suddenly, the grasp on Helena's hand tightened and the Brit winced, thinking Myka was driving home her point.

"It's time," Myka said and Helena thought she wanted her to convey a message right now. Helena twisted to face the stairs and shouted down – "Myka and I would appreciate it if you would not take any matters into your own hands….OUCH!"

She turned to see what was displeasing her wife to make her squeeze her hand so tightly.

"No, Helena! It's time. She's coming!"

All the times they practiced for this very moment - Myka sitting in the hallway practicing her breathing and Helena running to get the bag and alert the staff – didn't seem to help at all.

"OH MY GOD!" Helena said, excitedly, but the exuberance made the brilliant woman slow down. "This is really happening!"

"Yes, Helena!" Myka said when she saw her wife standing there amazed instead of moving. "Call Pete, alert Gloria and get the bag from the hallway closet," Myka said carefully.

"Pardon? " Helena asked as if she weren't the other person in charge. It finally clicked. "Yes, yes, Pete. Text Gloria," she said as she frantically dialed and told Pete it was time. Then she texted Gloria and Irene and ran back and forth as she tried to remember the next thing.

"The bag we packed," Myka said between painful contractions. "In the closet," she said, bending over and trying to breath.

"Where…exactly ….?" Helena said, because she rarely used the enclosure. By reason of deduction, and a couple of tries at the wrong doors, she finally found the bag.

Within minutes, Pete was helping them get into the car and Jane was putting the swirling red police light on the top of the car.

"I always wanted to do that," Pete said as he dashed through traffic to the hospital.

Myka was admitted, Gloria was there to meet them, but Helena kept pacing back and forth. "The doctor will be here shortly," the staff assured Helena, but that wasn't who she was waiting for.

Without the benefit of the red light to magically move traffic out of the way, it took Steve a little longer to get Irene to the hospital. As soon as she arrived, Gloria noticed the difference in Helena.

"We're ready," the doctor said, after measuring Myka's dilation. "She's ready," she said and the nurse got Helena dressed to go inside.

An hour later, as Irene, Pete and Jane were joined by Claudia, Eileen, Bridget, Sarah, Steve, Millie and Sui, Helena appeared in the doorway. She told them Myka was fine and the baby was beautiful.

"Come," she said and led the entourage down the hallway to Myka's room. They waited for Helena to join Myka, who was holding the baby. Slowly they stepped inside, no one wanting to get too close – except Irene who walked next to Helena.

"We would like you to meet our daughter ….," Myka smiled as she pushed the blanket back a little so every could see her face.

The crowd ooo'd in unison quietly, as the infant squirmed the tiniest bit. Her hand seemed to move up, as if waving to her newly adopted group of aunts and uncles.

"I am so teaching her about sports," Pete said when he moved closer.

"What's her name?" Eileen asked anxiously.

Myka's face beamed as she turned the baby to face the group and said: "This is Cate."

"She's beautiful," the friends said in unison and asked Myka how she was doing.

"Congratulations, Helena," Irene said, staring lovingly at the baby. "I never asked you what names you were considering."

Helena smiled at her friend. "We wanted a strong name for her. So we each picked names that meant a great deal to us. Her middle name is Elizabeth," Helena explained.

"Ha," Irene laughed, thinking she could have guessed that one. "I bet that was your choice."

"Actually, I chose her second middle name," Helena said smiling.

"Yes," Myka said, looking at Irene. ""We'd like to introduce - Catherine Elizabeth Irene Bering-Wells."

Irene looked at Helena incredulously. She didn't want to assume, but ….. "Yes," Helena said, confirming that it was in honor of her.

"Catherine Elizabeth ….Irene…..Bering-Wells," Irene repeated slowly, choking back tears.

"I'm glad I can still surprise you," Helena teased the woman that she felt was Cate's rightful grandmother.

"There's only one thing you can never do," Irene said thoughtfully and the Brit's expression cast dispersions on that thought. "You will never cease to amaze me, Helena," Irene explained.

The group of wonderful friends did not overstay their welcome. For the first time, Helena and Myka were alone with Catherine.

"She's just beautiful," Myka said and handed her to her mother.

"She takes after you," Helena said affectionately.

"Remember, you promised to give her your accent," Myka teased.

"I'll do my best," Helena said, wondering what their child would sound like when she was older.

The sight of Helena holding the baby filled Myka with a flood of emotions. This was the first time for her, but she reminded herself that Helena had done this once before – a lifetime ago.

Mothers and baby returned to the Townhouse that Helena had originally built all those years before. She had always dreamed of bringing her family to it one day.

And that day, she finally did.

She returned with her wife, and the one and rightful… Heir.

A/N

It was not the context of this chapter that took so long, but the desire to thank all of you properly for making this journey with me. The Heir Series was supposed to be one story back in July of 2013 and with the encouragement and interest of a wonderful group of readers, it continued for seven more installments. I have learned so much from so many of you along the way, that there are no words to adequately express how grateful I am.

I want to thank everyone who stayed for one, some, or all of these installments. I have been humbled by your readership. I thank everyone who posted their thoughts, comments, questions and everyone who favored an installment or added me to your list of writers.

I always felt these characters from Warehouse 13 were gifts. Mine to do with as I saw fit for a while. I will always be thrilled that the original characters – such as Bridget, Gloria and of course, Eileen Sullivan, were treated so kindly by the readers.

I thank you for joining them …and me….in this semi-alternate universe. I hope when all is said and done, you will feel I've done them some justice.

Until we meet again,

Manhattanite

*sniff sniff*