A/N: 2022.11.08

I almost forgot I confirmed in Chapter 9 of "So Far Away" that Terry and Bruce met with the original Huntress. From this point on, anytime I mention the original Huntress, she will be named "Helena B." to differentiate between her and Bruce's daughter, Helena. My original idea for this meeting will be in "My Immortal", which I should be able to post this week. Enjoy!

SUMMARY: Terry and Bruce go to visit the original Huntress. Pre-"So Far Away".

Helena Rosa Bertinelli

Platinum Flats.

"And why am I doing this again?" Terry asked as they drove toward the Platinum Garden Estates.

"We need to see her," Bruce answered.

"No, I mean, why am I here?"

"I needed someone to drive."

Terry's shoulders dropped. "Man, I hate you sometimes."

They drove into the gated community, passing houses that could easily be worth hundreds of thousands in cost.

"What a neighborhood!" Terry noted.

"She's done pretty well for herself," Bruce admitted.

"That's putting it mildly."

Bruce looked ahead at a house at the end of a dead end. "There."

Terry pulled the car into the driveway. They got out, walked to the door, and rang the doorbell.

After a minute, the door opened to reveal Helena Rosa Bertinelli, the original Huntress. Terry jerked his head back; despite Helena B.'s obvious advanced age, Terry couldn't deny that she was still on the rather attractive side.

Helena B. smiled at them. "I knew it was matter of time before you'd track me down."

"I've always known where you lived, Helena," Bruce replied.

"You can be so creepy when you wanna be." Helena B. studied Bruce. "God, you look old."

"You look…" Bruce shrugged a bit. "…okay."

"Jerk."

"'Okay'?" Terry asked, incredulously. "Are we looking at the same person? She looks amazing!"

"Oooh!" Helena B. smiled wider. "I like him!"

Bruce rolled his eyes.

Helena B. offered her hand to Terry, "Helena Rosa Bertinelli."

"Terry McGinnis," Terry shook her hand.

"I know." Helena B. looked up him and down. "Mm. You're way sexier in person." They released the handshake.

Terry's eyes widened as he stifled a laugh.

"Your wife's a lucky woman."

"Uhhh!" Terry blushed. "Thanks!"

"Helena…" Bruce groaned.

Helena B. raised an eyebrow, "I'm in my 80s, Bruce. Not dead."

Terry couldn't stop the laugh that time while Bruce just shook his head.

"Please, come on in," Helena B. opened the door wider. They walked inside and she led toward the living room.

"About Vic…" Bruce said. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah," Helena B. replied, solemnly, as they entered the living room. "Thank you. Well… he died trying to solve every question he could. Can't say he wasn't doing what he loved."

"Still…"

"It's okay, Bruce. Really." She motioned toward the chairs, "Have a seat."

"I can wait somewhere else," Terry volunteered.

"Nonsense. You're his confidante… and more. I insist."

"Thanks, Ms. Bertinelli."

"'Helena', please," Helena B. responded.

Everyone sat down in easy chairs around the coffee table in the living room.

"Can I get you both anything?" Helena B. asked.

"Nothing for me, thanks," Terry replied.

"I'm fine," Bruce said.

"Alright." Helena B. took a breath. "First things first, Bruce. Something that's long overdue. I'm sorry I never told you about Helena."

"It's alright," Bruce replied. "I understand."

"No. You don't. I need to explain why I took part in the worst thing anyone ever did to you."

"You're remembering the deaths of my parents."

"One maniac who didn't know you or your parents versus what me and Selina did. Not remotely the same." Helena B. looked down in regret. "We were comrades. Allies." She looked back at Bruce. "We could've been friends if I hadn't been a jerk." She leaned forward, sighing. "When Selina came to me… telling me she was pregnant… I told her to tell you. Right then and there."

"How'd she change your mind?" Bruce asked.

"She told me what really happened with Tim Drake. Then she threw in how many enemies would come after her if they knew." Helena B. froze. "That changed everything. But that doesn't make me right. It makes me stupid, and a fool to boot. I let my fear of what happened to a kid who signed up for this life… stop me from telling you the truth."

"A well-founded fear."

"No, it wasn't." Helena B. sat back. "What happened to Tim… could've happened to any poor kid on the street. And that wasn't your fault." She looked out of the window. "When Helena turned four… that was the first time she asked about you. We had a rehearsed story, me and Selina. I knew it, line for line, word for word. Then Helena asked me about you… I looked into her eyes. I choked. I almost confessed everything. Because those eyes… so innocent. So hopeful. All she wanted was her daddy. I know how that feels. I hurt her. I hurt you. She forgave me." She stared at Bruce. "And… more than anything… I'm… hoping you can, too."

Bruce sat back. "My daughter grew up… safe, happy, and taken care of. She's a fine person and a good human being. That's because of you. Helena… there's nothing to forgive. In fact… thank you. For loving her so much."

Helena B. smiled, a tear forming. "It wasn't hard. She's a great kid."

"Yes, she is."

Helena B. exhaled, letting her worry fall away. She looked at Terry, "So! Terry!"

"Yes, ma'am?" Terry asked.

"So polite!" She leaned on her hand, staring at Terry suggestively. "That marriage happy?"

"Oh, God, Helena…" Bruce groaned.

"I'm just joking! A little."

Terry laughed. "You know what's funny? Max would both defend me and commend you for that."

"I like her already," Helena B. admitted. She looked at back at Bruce, "I'm really glad you both found Helena… and told her everything. I knew she was ready to hear it a while ago."

"She accepted it way faster than I expected," Terry remembered.

"That's because she always suspected things about her life were different. We could only keep the secret for so long."

"Thank you for keeping her as innocent as you could," Bruce replied.

"Wasn't easy," Helena B. chuckled. "As good a kid as she is and was, she could be a terror when she wanted to be."

"I can imagine."

Helena B. stared at Bruce for a while. "I know you said as much already but… are we… good?"

Bruce smiled. "Yes, Helena. We're fine."

Helena B. nodded, "Thank you." She took a deep breath and exhaled. "So…" She looked at Terry, "Batman…"

"That's me!" Terry smiled.

"All kidding aside, Terry, you're good. You're very good!"

"He better be," Bruce declared.

Helena B. shook her head and looked at Bruce, "And he's your son. Sweet heavenly Father!"

"That was close to my reaction," Bruce smiled, as Terry laughed.

"It seems like you two worked that out."

"Took a minute but…" Terry looked at Bruce, "…it's not the worst thing in the world that he's my dad."

"Gee, thanks," Bruce replied, drolly.

Helena B. laughed. "Would you both like to have dinner and trade stories?"

"Sounds great to me!" Terry smiled.

"I would be delighted," Bruce agreed.

"Fantastic!" Helena B. pulled her phone from her pocket, "I'll call in an order."

"You still don't cook?"

"I did for a while. Stopped the minute Helena moved out."

Bruce chuckled. "As for the stories… you first."

"Gladly!" Helena B. smiled. "I'll tell you about Helena's first fight. And how proud I was."