Chapter 3

In The Parking Garage

Helena remained behind Barbara as they made their way to the Hummer. That way Barbara wasn't able to see the picnic basket, which Helena put in the far back of the vehicle. As Barbara got into the drivers seat, Helena then made sure that the portable wheelchair was in the back as well. Even though she would have been able to carry Barbara when they reached their destination, she knew that Barbara would prefer the chair; she would prefer to be under her own steam so to speak.

"So - this diabolical plan of yours.. What does it involve?" Barbara asked for the second or third time.

Helena responded, thoroughly enjoying the mystery she was creating, "I told you - you are going to have to wait and see!! It won't be long, we're not going far."

"How can I wait if I'm driving? Don't I need to know where we are going?" Barbara felt very smug, thinking that had to get the answer she was looking for.

"I tell you what sweet cheeks, you pull out of the parking garage, take a left when we get to the street. I'll keep directing you until we reach were we are going." Helena turned to Barbara, trying to smile the most angelic smile that she could muster.

"Sweet cheeks??" Barbara raised one ginger eyebrow, "Ok. You win. I'll just drive. By the way - you are no angel.. So don't even try that on me!" Barbara came back quickly.

Feeling very pleased with herself, Helena chuckled and sat back in her seat, smiling. She turned on the radio filling the silence. "Good song." She said when she heard the DJ announce 'Blurry'.

Barbara realized it was that song that had moved her earlier. Listening to the lyrics clearly this time, she remembered her earlier thoughts, inspired by the song. 'Now that I have her in a space from which she can't run - I should bring up the Wade issue.' Barbara thought to herself. She glanced over at Helena, mouth open to start speaking and noticed just how relaxed the younger woman was. She was actually smiling a little bit as she sang along with the radio! 'I haven't seen her this way in a very long time.. The Wade issue can wait a little longer I think.'

"You'll want to take a right up here." Helena said.

"Ok, so I know we aren't heading towards the old docks or the beach, Helena. Come on.. give me a hint." Barbara reached over and tried to poke Helena in the ribs.

Scooting a little closer to the car door and away from the red head, hands out ready to grab the offending hand if it got too close, Helena replied, "Not much further… you're lucky I let you drive. I could have made you endure my driving.. With a blind fold on! So watch it!"

Barbara put her hand back on the steering wheel and stuck her lower lip out in a pout, and left it there.

"Aw, poor `ittle Barbara! Is big ol' mean Helena picking on you?" Helena teased Barbara.

"Yes!" Barbara said, not able to hold the pouty face any longer, she broke into a big smile.

"Slow down, and take a right into that parking garage up ahead." Helena directed.

"Helena, this a private luxury apartment building. We can't get in here." Barbara said - stopping at the closed gate across the entrance.

Helena handed Barbara a key card and made a motion for her to use it in the security pad. Barbara took the card, rolled down her window, and ran the card through the reader. The gate silently opened. Barbara turned to Helena to ask how, what, why, where.. but Helena cut her off before she had a chance.

"Pull into the handicapped spot next to the elevator. You've waited this long. A few more minutes won't kill you!"

Barbara did as she was instructed. Helena reached over and removed the keys from the ignition, turned and exited the car. She stopped and got Barbara's chair out, then gave Barbara a hand into it. "To keep things a surprise, you now have to put on a blind fold - just for a few minutes." She informed Barbara.

"But I.." Barbara started to argue.

Helena cut her off quickly again, "You said you trusted me."

"Yes, I did." Barbara sighed

Helena put the blind fold on Barbara, retrieved the picnic basket, and pushed Barbara to the elevator.

"You know, not many people get to just push me around Helena." Barbara jokingly informed Hel in a smoky voice.

"That's because I'm your number one girl Barbara! I get to do a lot of things others don't get to do!" Helena leant down and whispered into Barbara's ear.

Fighting against the shivers running through her body, Barbara replied "Anyone ever tell you that you are the biggest tease?"

"I may have heard that a time or two." The sultry brunette said smiling.

Neither woman said much during the elevator ride. Barbara's mind quickly tried to calculate how many floors they were ascending, but hadn't gotten a good look at the outside of the building to be able to have an important part to the equation - just how many floors there were.

The elevator stopped, and Helena wheeled the red head out. They went a few feet, and then stopped again. Barbara felt Helena step around her, heard keys in the lock and the door opening. She reached for the blindfold only to be stopped by a warm gentle hand and a 'tsk-tsk' that came from in front of her.

"Aren't we being just a little impatient?" Helena asked mischievously.

Barbara lowered her hands back to the arms of her chair, determined to just let Helena continue to be in control. But God, it was hard. 'Didn't realize that I have such control issues. Have to look at that sometime soon.' Barbara thought to herself.

They started forward again. As they entered the room, Barbara could tell there was a fire crackling away. Helena's steps echoed ever so lightly, so Barbara deduced that the room was more than likely unfurnished without rug or carpet. They came to a stop and she felt Helena move around to the side of her chair. A warm hand was laid on her wrist as the brake was applied and suddenly she was lifted up. Barbara became very aware of the scent that was Helena, a little citrus-y and oh so indescribable. It was very - seductive, for lack of a better word. Barbara realized that the sound of the fire was getting closer. They came to a stop and Barbara was lowered onto a soft surface that seemed very close to the floor. Cushions.

"Don't take the blind fold off yet. I have just a couple more things to do." Helena instructed her.

Barbara felt Helena leave and listened to her walk back behind her. Then she heard a rustling noise, and foot falls came back. "A minute more please." Helena requested.

"I'm being good and just sitting here." Barbara told Helena.

"You are being a very good girl Barbara, I may just have to give you a gold star!" Unable to see Helena's smile, Barbara heard it in her voice when she responded. She then heard the pop of a cork being pulled from a bottle.

"Ok, you can take off the blind fold now." Helena informed Barbara.

Barbara removed the blindfold, blinked a couple of times, and then looked around. They were in the penthouse of the apartment building. Marble floors and fireplace, a huge picture window that over looked the more picturesque part of New Gotham Harbor, through which the afternoon sun was streaming in. There was a blanket spread on top of the cushions with an open picnic basket on it. There were also candles all around the room, giving off a warm glow. Barbara turned to Helena with an impossibly huge grin on her face, emerald eyes sparkling she whispered, "It's beautiful Helena!"

Helena blushed and ducked her head down a little, pretending to concentrate on pouring a glass of wine for the red head. She knelt down onto the cushion next to Barbara's and offered her the glass with a flourish and a single sterling rose.

"Thank you. It's beautiful! All of this…" Barbara motioned to the surroundings, "I do have one question tho.." Barbara started to ask, blushing.

Before Barbara could get the question out, Helena was explaining, "This place belongs to a friend of mine that used to come in to the Dark Horse when he felt like "slumming it" as he put it.. He moved recently to Metropolis. I just called in a favor this morning right after I left you, then the building maintenance guy let me in to set this all up. Answer your question?"

"But you weren't gone all that long to get all this set up. How did you..?"

"Having metahuman strength and speed has its advantages." Winked the sultry brunette. "And Alfred of course helped with the picnic basket.. You said you wanted a picnic." With a quicksilver change, a shy, awkward young woman, who looked up through long eyelashes at Barbara, replaced the self-assured seductress. The many facets of Helena never ceased to amaze Barbara.

As Helena started unloading the basket of its edible contents, Barbara took the time to study their surroundings. The friend had evidently not moved out entirely. There was still art work on the walls and a statue here and there through out the room. The bust closest to the fireplace looked to be an incredible reproduction of Marcus Aurelious, the scholarly Roman emperor whose reign fell somewhere between 160 and 180 A.D. If Barbara remembered correctly the original was in the Museo di Sant'Agostino, in Genoa, Italy. She was tempted to ask for her chair so she could get closer to it. 'God Barbara, do you ever let go of the teacher?' Barbara absentmindedly took a sip of wine.

"Wow, this is a wonderful wine Helena." Barbara said surprised.

"Well - thank you Barbara. I like to think of it as an unpretentious little wine, light on the palette, that has a crisp, clean finish." Helena replied, sounding like she knew a little of what she spoke.

"Really - well, I like it. What is it?" Barbara asked, as she held the glass to look into the pale liquid.

"Ummm.." Picking up the bottle, Helena looked at the label, "Campagnola Pinot Griegio. Alfred put it in the basket."

"Really." Barbara replied drolly.

Helena just smiled, having finished laying out the feast that Alfred had packed. There was a couple of different types of cheese, crackers, shrimp cocktail, finger sandwiches, raspberries, black berries, strawberries… the delicacies went on and on.

"Hel, how long have you been planning this?" Barbara asked, taking in all that was there. It looked like it would take hours to prepare.

"Got the idea this morning - when we were talking about playing hooky." Helena replied, settling back down on to the cushions after putting another log onto the fire. "You said you would like a picnic - you got a picnic."

"And Alfred prepared all this food?" Amazement came through in Barbara's voice. "Yes.. why?" Confused, Helena didn't understand why the 20 questions. She hadn't stopped to consider the time it would truly take to prepare all of it.

"It is amazing that Alfred was able to throw this all together in such a short time, that's all." Barbara explained shaking her head a little.

Picking up a plate and putting an assortment of cheese, shrimp, a sandwich or two on it, Helena leant over toward Barbara, and motioned for her to open her mouth. She popped a fat, plump raspberry onto the gorgeous woman's tongue. "Maybe that's Alfred's metahuman ability.. making incredible picnic baskets in a mere fraction of the time it would take anyone else!"

"He really is simply amazing!" Barbara continued to extol, accepting the plate from the brunette.

"And you're just now figuring that out?" Was the dry response Barbara heard.

Helena had thought of everything. Right down to the sound, which came from the portable stereo in the corner. Waves softly washing up to the shore emanating from the speakers, finishing the illusion of a beach side picnic.

As the two women dined, they relaxed, each enjoying the others company, telling stories from their shared past.

"You know.. at the time that happened, I don't remember it being so funny. But now looking back, and hearing it from your perspective, it's too much!" Barbara said through tears of laughter.

"Well how could it not be!! I mean, Mr. Quiggley, the substitute teacher, was trying to show us that mixing the chemicals slowly and carefully would safely conclude the experiment. When it began to pump bright pink smoke into the air, then his tie caught fire from the Bunsen burner and he jumped back -landing on top of Miss Clark - who had been delivering a message." Helena recaptured the escapade between giggles.

"And now they're married!!" grabbing her stomach, Barbara took a deep breath and let it out. "God - I needed that.. I don't think I will ever be able to look at Mr. Quiggley with a straight face again."

"You should laugh more often Barbara - it suits you!" Helena said with a huge grin.

Barbara motioned for Helena to lean in - as if to hear a secret. Helena did as requested and was suddenly under a massive tickle attack, "I should laugh more often?! Look who's talking!"

"Okay, okay- stop.. please stop!! No more - god - no more!! I can't breath!!!" Helena, weak from laughing so hard was unable to get away from the red headed tickle monster.

Smiling down at the squirming woman, Barbara finally relented, and let Helena up. Schooling her features into a serious expression, "Helena, I have got to come clean on something with you here." She reached over and brushed Helena's hair out of her face and behind her ear.

"What is it Barbara?" said Helena still a little giggly, yet alert to the serious sounding tone of Barbara's voice.

"I don't know how to say this Hel. You know how hard it is for me sometimes.."

"I know. Its okay. Just take your time Barbara." Helena placed a warm hand on Barbara's arm.

Unable to keep a straight face any longer, Barbara grinned, "This has been one of the most wonderful days I have had in a long time!!" she leant over and kissed Helena on the cheek, "I don't know how to ever thank you enough!!"

A little flushed to begin with, the brunette was now positively blushing, "God - don't do that!! I thought you were getting all serious on me here!!" Helena all but pounced on Barbara.

The soft sounds of waves washing up onto the shore had ceased and they sat back, relaxed, and enjoyed the lull by just watching the flames dance. Helena moved to put the dirty plates into the basket, and found another bottle of wine! She held it up showing Barbara, an eyebrow raised as if asking, "Shall we?"

Barbara smiled warmly, nodding agreement. Helena reached into the basket for the corkscrew and found a CD that had been stowed down into the seemingly bottomless pit. She pulled it out and read the label that said, "Play me". She set it aside, and finished uncorking the wine, poured fresh glasses for the both of them. She then got up and put the CD into the stereo to play.

"Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" started to play and Barbara looked around, startled. "Where did you get that?" She asked Helena.

Right Click and 'Save as' to download mp3 of "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini".

"It was in the basket with the wine. Why? You don't like it? I can…" Helena turned and reached to turn it off.

"No, no- its, its ok. Just took me by surprise." Barbara said turning back to the fire.

Helena sat down next to Barbara and placed a hand on her arm, "Hey, if it bothers you, I can turn it off." She said softly.

"Ahhh, Helena, it doesn't bother me." Seeing the concern in the indigo eyes, smiling softly, reaching out to cup Helena's cheek in one hand, Barbara continued, "It's one of my favorite pieces by Rachmaninov. It always has been. I used to play it in the Bat Cave sometimes when I was the only one around. Or so I thought. Evidently Alfred has more than one metahuman power." Barbara finished with an oddly sad smile, returning her hand to lie in her lap, staring into the fire.

Helena, entranced by the depth of emotion that played across Barbara's face as the music played, softly said, "It is a very moving piece. I'm sure there is quite a story behind it, seeing as how it affects you."

Barbara, lost in the music, didn't acknowledge the almost whispered sentiment. Nor was she aware of the weighted gaze, which had fallen upon her. Helena felt like she was seeing the woman in front of her for the first time. Really seeing her. Not Oracle, not Bat Girl, not even Barbara Gordon, schoolteacher. She was seeing into and through all the layers that was Barbara. Helena had never stopped to recognize that this enchanting red head sitting in front of her - might have so much more to her than what the eye could see.

'This is a woman who not only is an incredibly gifted computer geek…' Helena smiled the smallest little smile, 'But who also recognizes ancient roman emperor statues, knowing where the original was housed. Who got lost in a soulful piece of classical music; lost so deeply she didn't seem to register the single tear rolling down her cheek.' Helena wanted so very much to reach out and wipe the tear from Barbara's cheek, yet didn't want to break the spell. 'This is a woman who liked quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson to Helena on slow nights while she was out on sweeps. Stuff like, 'The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone believes in him and is willing to trust him with friendship.'

Helena had to admit, that was one of her favorites.

Seeing Barbara in this new light; this new awareness, softly illuminated by the light of the fire and candles, Helena felt a band tighten around her chest. Barbara was so breathtakingly, achingly beautiful. The full realization of the feelings that had started to make themselves known the night before came crashing down upon Helena. Feeling overwhelmed, she got up and walked over to the window, looking out at the darkening skyline.

Being attracted to a woman didn't bother Helena. Not in the least. She'd been there before. Even slept with a couple who were really hot. She had always thought Barbara was one of the most attractive; no wait, strike that, sizzling women she had ever seen. What she found so over whelming was the fact that this was Barbara. A woman she had known most of her life. Someone who had seen Helena through her prepubescent years on up to the woman she had become. Barbara had seen Helena at her best and her worst! And was always there. 'When did my feeling start to change around her? When did I.. No, that can't be…' Helena's eyebrows shot up in surprise and she stole a look at the woman in question. 'I couldn't … could I? This is a bit confusing.. but if I am honest with myself… I'm in love with her! When did I - fall in love with her? Oh my god… what do I do? I can't tell her! Should I tell her? What would I tell her? How would I.. shit!' She leaned against the cool glass and closed her eyes.

So lost in her thoughts, Helena didn't hear the last note fade out, or the sound of Barbara turning to watch the lithe, graceful woman standing at the window. Barbara smiled as the next piece on the CD started playing. She felt it was very fitting and matched her mood, and also matched the vision in front of her. The theme from the movie "Somewhere in Time" somehow framed the classic, timeless beauty standing, staring out the window, lost in her own ruminations.

'I wonder if Helena realizes how others see her? How I see her? Especially times like now. Is she so unaware of what an extraordinary woman she is? Someone, some day is going to be so incredibly lucky to catch her. If she allows herself to be caught.' Barbara mused.

Barbara had turned back to look into fire by the time Helena realized that the timber of the music had changed. She turned from the window and saw that Barbara was still looking into the fire. She made her way back to the cushions, slipping in behind Barbara, almost sitting against her. Barbara started to lean forward, but was stopped by Helena putting a hand to her shoulder and was eased back against Helena's frame.

"I'm sure your back is getting tired from sitting with out any back support. Sorry- didn't really think about that.. just considered how to make the marble floor more comfortable." Helena murmured softly into Barbara's ear, resting her chin on her shoulder, slipping her arms lightly around Barbara's waist.

Barbara tensed for a split second and then relaxed back into Helena. Her back had been starting to cramp up a little, and she had been considering laying down until Helena slipped in behind her.

"Didn't know you doubled as a chair." Barbara joked, taking a sip of wine. Helena chuckled and came back with, "Oh yeah, I'm a regular morphing meta. You'd be surprised at what I can do." Helena reached behind her and retrieved her glass and the bowl of berries.

"I bet!" Barbara thought to herself with a smirk.

"Do you remember the last picnic we ever went on Helena?" Barbara asked, reaching for a strawberry.

Dropping a raspberry into Barbara's wine, Helena thought for a moment. "No - Not really. When did we ever have a picnic?"

"Think back to when you were 12 years old. It was right around the fourth of July. Gotham had been having a terrible heat wave. I had taken the summer off from classes and Selina had asked me to live with you two to help keep you out of trouble." Reminisced Barbara.

"Mom. I had forgotten about that." Helena had a quirky little smile going on remembering, "You did watch me that summer, but you wouldn't live in the house with us. God - I remember we had a lot of fun that day. Mom had brought fire works for us to set off after dark!" "I had this reoccurring thought all that day, I didn't know who was the bigger kid, you or your Mom."

"Yeah, Mom could really let her inner child out when she wanted to!! She made being a kid fun!"

"And you had eaten so much, you complained of a stomach ache on top of a sunburn all the way home!" Barbara recalled fondly.

"I think Mom ate about as much as me that day!" Helena paused a moment, lost in memory, "Barbara, why didn't you come and live with us that summer? Was it because you knew about Mom by then, you know, being Catwoman?"

"That wasn't the reason Hel. I had known Selina was the Catwoman for a long time before that. I had also known that by then, she was out of the business, so to speak." Taking a deep breath, Barbara continued, "No, I didn't live with you two because I had been involved in a pretty serious relationship at the time."

"And living with a 12 your old would have cramped your style?" Helena asked jokingly. "But really, how serious was serious? Who was he? What happened? Why didn't you ever tell me about that?"

Barbara turned and smiled at Helena and replied "Ancient history Helena. Things just didn't work out. It really doesn't matter any more does it?"

"I guess not, but maybe one day you'll tell me the story." Acquiescing to not push for more, Helena sighed and returned Barbara's smile.

Both women fell silent, both lost in their memories of the past. Helena remembering the good times she had with Barbara and her Mom. Selina had been fond of Barbara and would include her in a lot of what she called family outings.

Shaking herself from her memories, Helena looked over to see that Barbara was leaning against her with her head to one side, deep in thought. "Penny for your thoughts." She said softly, offering Barbara another strawberry.

Turning her head the slightest bit, and looking at Helena from the corner of her eye, Barbara replied, "I don't know if my thoughts are even worth that much. I was spacing out more than anything." Barbara pulled away enough to turn so she could see Helena more directly. "Helena, you have made the past 24 hours so - wonderful. I haven't felt so safe and taken care of in a long time. Thank you."

"Barbara, after all the taking care you do for Dinah and me, it was about time you let at least one of us do something for you. It has been my pleasure." Helena replied, taking Barbara's hand bringing it up to her lips for a light kiss to the back of it. "Listen, there's something…"

Thinking she knew what Helena was going to say next, Barbara interrupted her quickly, "I think we should start cleaning up - It's getting late…"

"Barbara, there's something I need to…" Helena tried again.

Barbara put two fingers softly over Helena's lips to stop her, "Sshh - Helena - stop. Let's agree to let today be what is has been. I can't - I can't.." Barbara closed her eyes, "Helena, I just can't now. I'm sorry. Today has been an indescribable escape. One I think we both needed. And there are a lot of things we need to speak of.. but not tonight. Okay?"

Seeing the pain in her eyes and considering how hard Barbara was pleading, Helena nodded her consent with a slight grin. She pulled Barbara's hand away from her lips, squeezed it briefly and replied, "Ok. No rush right?" she shrugged. Barbara relaxed and smiled.

"Right - and Dinah is going to be so pissed that she didn't get to go on a picnic!" Helena made another of those quicksilver changes, standing and stretching. "Let me gather up most of this stuff and then I'll get us back to the Clock Tower. By the way - I'm driving this time."

"Are you implying I am unfit to drive?" Barbara asked, feeling a little bit woozy and not really wanting to drive, but unable to resist baiting the younger woman.

Helena's reply was to simply pick up the two empty wine bottles - pointedly looking at them and raising her eyebrows.