Disclaimer: See the first page, Chapter 1.
Barbara woke up just as the sun was peeking trough the window. She had slept all night without waking once. She rolled over to snuggle up to Helena and didn't have far to go to reach the sleeping brunette. As usual, Helena was sprawled across the bed, claiming ownership. Barbara knew how to fix that issue from experience. She knew a thing or two about Helena Kyle, that Helena didn't even know. Barbara put her hand under the blankets and started rubbing Helena's stomach lightly in circles. The brunette smiled a little in her sleep and purred. Barbara then stopped, but kept her hand close enough for the warmth to be felt by the lithesome woman. Helena would growl and get the cutest little pout going, then move her body closer to the hand for more "pets". Slowly Barbara repeated this, pet Helena's belly and move her hand.. And Helena would follow the hand in her sleep. When Helena was where Barbara wanted her, she rewarded the little kitten with more attention to her belly. Barbara snuggled in to hold Helena, who immediately wrapped her body to enclose the red head in a full 'Helena body wrap'.
Barbara chuckled to herself. If Helena ever found out about the petting she loved in her sleep, she would probably have a fit and never allow herself to fall into a deep sleep again. At least around Barbara.
A gravelly voice asked, "What's so funny?"
"You."
"What? I was asleep - soundly I might add. How can I be funny?" Helena asked sounding grouchy.
Barbara smiled and kissed Helena, "Maybe one day I'll tell ya. Right now I need to keep a few secrets in my arsenal!"
"I see. And if I resort to some nasty torture, will you tell me how I can be so funny when I'm asleep?" Helena raised her head and tried to look intimidating. Which, maybe to someone other than Barbara would have worked. But since Barbara had known the woman in her arms for such a long time, the intimidation fell flat.
Barbara flashed a crooked smile, "Oh, don't even try that with me… You know it hasn't worked in .. Well, come to think of it - it has never worked!"
Growling and eyes flashing, Helena pushed her body up so that she was looking eye to eye with Barbara. "Never worked? Are you sure about that Mzzzz. Gordon?" Helena's fingers on her right hand were hovering just above Barbara's rib cage, delivering feather light touches, which were making the red head's breathing catch, just the slightest bit.
"You wouldn't dare!" Barbara did her own imitation of the threatening look. Before she could get any further- Helena launched into a tickle attack that had Barbara squealing from the first touch. All those years of helping with physical therapy had its advantages at times like these.
The tickle fight didn't last long, due to the hold Helena had on Barbara's wrists the minute she started tickling. Barbara gave up quickly, making Helena the victor, whose victory speech consisted of, "What time is it?" and "Why are you awake at this ungodly hour?"
"I'm awake because I had a full nights sleep and am now rested. Aren't you?"
"Well, not really. I came to bed about an hour ago." Helena answered sheepishly as she buried her head into Barbara's shoulder.
"An hour ago? What were you doing all night?" Barbara asked, then the light went off, "Please don't tell me you went on sweeps last night by yourself."
"No, I didn't go on sweeps, but I did go out and just kinda hang out and stuff."
"And stuff." Barbara stated.
"I was keyed up and not ready to call it a night!" Helena sat up and placed her head in her hands. "I needed to just get out and, you know, feel the night air..." looking around at Barbara like a little kid who was being punished. "To know I could still fly."
Barbara, understanding all to well the fear that Helena had felt, "And you didn't want to tell me this, because you thought it would, what? Upset me? Helena. I would never get upset at you for that. I know how important your freedom is to you. I would never take that away from you. I know you too damn well for that." She pulled Helena into her arms and held her tight. "If you don't know that - you damn well better get it though your thick skull now."
Barbara heard a muffled "I'm sorry."
"Why don't you let me up and you go back to sleep. I'll head down and get to work on Delphi."
"No, I want you to stay with me."
Barbara recognized that the 'needy little Huntress' had come by for a visit. "Helena, did something happen last night to upset you?"
Helena just cuddled in even more.
"Talk to me." Barbara said softly.
"I was just going to go out for a little while, you know. Pop around to a couple rooftops, enjoy the night air, and maybe go by the Dark Horse. When I found myself on the New Gotham Bank building. I don't even know how I got there. I looked around the rooftop, and that night with Cheshire kept playing through my head over and over. I couldn't stop thinking about. I went to jump to the next building over, and come home… and I just - froze. I couldn't jump. I couldn't move. All I could see was the ground rushing up to meet me. I just kinda crumbled up into a ball and lay there for a while. Barbara, I was so scared and I couldn't get a hold of you… I didn't know if I was going to be able to get home!" She looked up at Barbara with tears streaming down her face.
"Come here." Barbara pulled Helena back into her embrace, and ran her hand through the short dark hair. She started kissing Helena on the forehead then made her way down her cheek, then finally, Helena's lips. It was supposed to be a kiss of comfort, but didn't last as that for long. As soon as their lips touched, it was pure electricity. It wasn't long before Barbara was pushing Helena back into the mattress. The brunette pulled her along as she went back, so that Barbara ended up half on top of Helena, which was just where she wanted to be.
Before Helena knew what was happening, Barbara had ripped the brunette's tank top off, and was busily attacking her neck with teeth and tongue. "Barbara!" was all Helena was able to squeak out before Barbara was kissing her deeply again.
Helena growled and tried to roll Barbara over to get on top, but wasn't able to. Barbara chuckled as she held Helena's arms by the wrists above her head.
"Helena, do you want me to stop?" Barbara whispered, as she nipped an ear with sharp incisors.
"No! God no... Don't stop..." the brunette pleaded breathlessly.
Barbara lifted herself so that she could look directly into Helena's eyes. "I'm going to let your hands go… but I don't want you to move them from where they are. You move them, and I'll stop whatever I'm doing to you… Do you understand?"
Helena, so turned on by this side of Barbara, all she could do was nod in agreement. A slow, sensuous smile curved Barbara's lips as she slowly descended, taking possession of Helena's lips. She ran the tip of her tongue along Helena's lower lip, slowly drawing it into her mouth enough to nip it. This made Helena smile and chuckle. Then Barbara repeated it with Helena's upper lip. The chuckle that issued forth became deeper. Barbara's tongue demanded entrance into Helena's mouth, exploring, tasting, and teasing. Barbara drew Helena's tongue into her mouth, the tongue ring tapping against Barbara's teeth, and then tickling her tongue.
Barbara broke off the kiss, needing to feel more of the supple body below her. With an impatient growl, she took off her tank top, and slowly lowered her torso to lie on top of the wild cat below her. The feeling was exquisite! Both women moaned in unison. Lips attached themselves to neck, suckling and nipping, marking the woman as taken. 'MINE!' thought Barbara - the more logical side of her raising a fiery eyebrow at the primitive possessiveness of the statement.
As Barbara's hands played lightly up and down the sides of Helena's ribcage, never pausing, ever teasing, the brunette was finding it more and more difficult to keep her hands above her head. Her arms started to quiver with the effort. As if reading her mind, Barbara reached up and took hold of both wrists in her hand.
"Ahhh, Little Huntress, is this all too much for you?" the sexy red head growled into Helena's ear, making her shiver.
If Helena didn't know better, she would think that Barbara had a feral side. She looked into the red head's eyes. Nope- normal. Well, for the most part. They were a deep, dark viridian and the pupils were dilated more than Helena had ever seen before.
Before Helena could pull any other thoughts together, Barbara had dipped back down to her neck, placing quicksilver kisses up and down her jugular. She then placed each of Helena's hands around one of the wrought iron bars in the headboard. "Hold on and don't let go unless I say you can."
Helena barely was able to nod her acknowledgement before the red headed tigress was back at her throat. She lavished every millimeter of the Huntress' neck with attention, working to the hollow at the base of her throat. Lips and tongue played a concerto across the upper chest, shoulders, just barely teasing one breast, and then the other, while hands and fingers played the accompaniment on a taut abdomen.
Huntress' breath was coming in gasps - the teasing was almost too much for her to take. After so many years of wanting and yearning… she growled and opened her eyes, almost letting the headboard go. Then remembering if she did, Barbara would stop. She slammed her head back down into the pillow, biting her lower lip.
Feeling the body below her trembling uncontrollably, Barbara paused over one nipple standing painfully erect. She teasingly touched it with the tip of her tongue. Helena growled. She touched it again, this time swirling the tip of her tongue around it just a little. Helena's body bucked and a very guttural "Barbara.." was heard.
Taking a moment to look up at her plaything, Barbara smiled wickedly. "Helena, look at me!" Eyes snapped open - pupils running from top to bottom of the iris, which was ice blue with a violet ring around the outer edge. The upper lip of the Huntress' mouth pulled back in a snarl, her throat emitting a mixture of a purr and a growl.
Deciding it was time to give her prey a little relief, Barbara took the nearest nipple into her mouth and suckled and bit alternately. Then paid the same attention to the other breast.
The growls were getting louder and Helena's body was beginning to writhe back and forth. Barbara slipped one hand down, letting her fingers idly trace a path across the smooth, satiny abdomen, until they reached the top of Helena's lace panties. One finger played along just inside the elastic, until it made its way to the side seam, where the pressure applied was increased until the stitching gave way. Then the stitching on the other side was gone. Throwing the silky material out of the way, the strong hand splayed out across the flat stomach, fingers tightening ever so little, as if fighting the urge to just grab.
Once again, fingers were dancing across heated flesh, combing through neatly trimmed, dark curly hair, dipping down, and running along the top of thighs. Tickling, taunting. With each touch, Helena's grip pulled harder on the headboard, the bars beginning to bend, but neither occupant of the bed noticed.
Helena all but screamed when those magical fingers grabbed a thigh, pulling her legs open. Gliding up the inner thigh and combing through the now soaked hair slightly parting the outer lips. Barbara's lips worked their way down from the breast to dip into the woman's belly button while the other hand pushing her body down, so she could reach her ultimate goal.
Once Barbara had maneuvered her body to be in between Helena's legs, she blew gently across the swollen flesh while reaching up and pinching one nipple. The body of the Huntress' arched up, trying to reach that which would give her release. Barbara licked with the flat of her tongue up the inner thigh - stopping just short of where Helena wanted her to be. Chuckling wickedly at the whining that was escaping the frustrated brunette's throat, Barbara did the same to the other thigh.
"Barbara, please…" the seductively writhing woman begged!
"Please what Hel? What do you want me to do?" She barely nipped in between Helena's legs, causing the woman to buck harder, and moan/growl/purr.
"You tease me much longer and I'm going to implode! Please - just take me - fuck me - make me scream until I pass out!"
Barbara wrapped her arms under and around the begging woman's thighs, and slid her tongue in between the swollen throbbing outer lips. This alone was almost enough to make Helena come. Barbara licked and sucked, swirling her tongue around Helena's hot wet center, but never made contact with the one spot that would give the younger woman release. As Helena's body became more and more tense with need, Barbara allowed her hands free rein over the skin of the slender torso, rubbing, massaging, and pinching with abandon. When she felt that Helena couldn't take any more torture, her body pressing more and more into Barbara's mouth, she took the overly sensitive clit into her mouth and began to suck on it, slowing increasing the pressure with her mouth, nipping the soft flesh between her teeth.
Helena began to buck, her back arching impossibly high, Barbara not letting go. A guttural scream filled the room with the sound of metal ripping, grinding as accompaniment.
The Huntress ride slowed and came to a halt. Barbara slowly disengaged her mouth from the quivering clit, kissing it gently and looking up at the now limp woman. She pulled her body up along Helena's frame, kissing and licking lightly along the lithe body, until her eyes were even with Helena's.
"Hel?" She kissed her lips softly. "You in there?" She turned her attention to the unmoving woman's ear and nipped the lobe. Whispering into the ear, "Helena… Hellooooo… Hel… "
All the lanky brunette could manage was a low moan. One eye opened just a fraction and looked at Barbara. "My God woman! Were you trying to kill me? SHIT! No one… I mean NO ONE has ever done that to me!"
"So I take it that you liked that?" Barbara asked smugly.
"You just wait until I can feel my legs again and I'll show you how much I liked!." Helena said ominously… she rolled her body towards Barbara. She twined her fingers into the rich red hair, played with it, twisting it in and around her fingers. Hel moved closer, and buried her face into Barbara's hair, losing herself in the scent of the red head. Helena closed her eyes and allowed her hands, face, nose, and lips to see Barbara.
Helena almost lazily explored Barbara's neck and face, nuzzling, licking, kissing, and nipping. Working her body closer until it totally covered Barbara's she nibbled on Barbara's chin while her fingertips explored the rest of the red head's face. Taking command of Barbara's mouth, Helena toyed for just a split second, the tip of her tongue teasing, tasting Barbara's lips. Then her feral nature being what it was, she deepened the kiss with a growl, Barbara swallowing a moan as Helena's tongue entered her mouth. Barbara wrapped her arms around Helena, holding her closer. She wasn't quite ready to relinquish control of the love making yet. Helena on the other hand, had other ideas.
Pulling back just enough to look into overly bright green eyes, Helena smiled lazily, "Barbara… tsk, tsk, tsk… You hold onto me that tightly and I can't get to what I want." Her eyes flash briefly, "And I want.. Now!" she growled. Helena surged up and broke out of the hold Barbara had on her. She sat up and straddled Barbara's bare stomach, enjoying the expression on Barbara's face as her still wet center made contact with the red head's flesh.
Barbara looked up at the woman sitting on her through slit eye lids. Helena was leaning forward, hair swept forward over her eyes and forehead, looking positively wild! And sexy! Barbara couldn't help but groan and run her hands up the woman's body, her back arching into the wetness that was pressing down on her stomach. "Oh God Helena!" she moaned.
Helena smiled and lowered her upper body down atop of Barbara. She started kissing Barbara's neck, sucking and nipping. She worked her way to Barbara's shoulders, and down her biceps. When Helena got the soft flesh of the inner elbow, stopping to suck on the flesh, marking it as hers! Licking the rest of Barbara's arm like a Popsicle, Helena ended this part of her little snack at fingertips. "Now leave this here… ok?" Helena said looking up at Barbara from the corner of her eye, placing Barbara's hand on the bed. The response was a moan.
Smiling, Helena made her way back to Barbara's torso, stopping to torment the woman by running the flat of her tongue over first one taut nipple then the other, her tongue ring adding a little extra spark as the metal ran across the skin. Then she pulled back just a little and blew across the red head's chest, causing breath to catch; a guttural sigh escaped.
Chuckling, the hunter sucked a breast into her mouth, releasing it to the point of the nipple being caught between tongue and teeth, held there to be played with until the woman below her started to squirm. The big cat then paid the same attention to the other breast. All the while, fingers were teasingly mapping out the rest of Barbara's body with soft light touches in random patterns. By the time she was finished lavishing attention to Barbara's breasts, the sexy red headed goddess was gasping for breath.
Somewhere between a growl and a purr, Helena teased, "Baby, do you need a break already?? I'm just getting warmed up!"
"Oh God, you're trying to kill me!" Barbara gasped out.
"No baby… I have too much planned for you for that.." And the Huntress started praying at the altar of Barbara, her green eyed goddess again. Nipping along her ribs down her stomach. She stopped to tease and suck the soft skin found where the leg joined her torso.
Barbara was whimpering from need, and even though the huntress enjoyed playing with her prey a little more, she had a special interest here. Closing her eyes and burying her face into the firm tummy, she breathed in deeply the pure essence that was Barbara. Kissing along the top of Barbara's shorts, she worked her fingers under the waistband and pulled the material down, over curvaceous legs, and off. Slinking her way up, she worked her shoulders under Barbara's thighs coming finally to her prize.
Extending her tongue out, Helena slipped the tip into the wet folds; drawing a gasp and an increased amount of tension to the woman's body she was paying homage to. She played lightly with the outer lips, enjoying the amount of squirming she was causing in the red head. Barbara's fingers tangled into Helena's hair. The red head tried to pull Helena's head closer to her center. Helena pulled her tongue back and looked up at Barbara. Smiling wickedly, she asked "Hey Red, what about your rule of not eating in your bed?"
Before Barbara could respond, Helena dove in and wrapped her tongue around the throbbing clit of the red head, sending her into a new dimension of pleasure. Using her tongue ring on the focal point of the over sensitive nub, she slipped two fingers into Barbara, stroking commandingly. It didn't take long to send the woman over the edge, screaming out Helena's name. Helena slowed her movements down, to help bring Barbara down slowly. Just as Barbara took a huge breath, Helena started all over again, taking her to a higher pinnacle of sexual pleasure than before. This broke through some of Barbara's high, strongly constructed walls that she hid behind, causing the woman that was now Helena's world to not only scream out her name, but to fall back to the pillow with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Helena stopped, sat back, resting her weight on her heels, and gazed at Barbara. "Do you have any idea of how incredible you look right now?" she whispered. Leaning up over the woman, she slowly lowered her body on top. Taking Barbara's face into her hands, Helena placed a reverent kiss on lips slightly parted from passion and anguish all at once. She licked the tears from her cheeks, "Baby. It's going to all be okay. I promise you. I love you so much!"
Barbara wrapped her arms around Helena, "I love you too! And it still scares the hell out of me!"
"I know." Was whispered softly into Barbara's neck.
They lay holding each other, comforting each other. After a little bit, Barbara pulled back slightly and looking Helena in the eye, and very seriously said "You are so going to pay for that crack about eating in bed!" Then swatted the bare behind of the Huntress hard enough to draw a surprised "Ouch!"
That prompted a mini wrestling match until the two women were giggling so hard it was difficult to move.
"I think I owe you a new headboard!" Helena said eyeing the damage she had done to the wrought iron.
Bending her neck back to look up at the headboard, green eyes opened in surprise, and then looked at Helena, "That may be a difficult one to explain!" Which caused another round of giggles, which this time lead to the two settling deeper into the bed, exchanging slow, soft kisses, as they both grew drowsy. Helena worked the sheet up with her foot, until she could cover the two of them. Sighing contentedly, she buried her face into Barbara's neck. Both women fell into a deep slumber.
Barbara woke up first. Amazed by what had transpired between Helena and herself. It wasn't anything that she had ever imagined! It was wilder, more primal! She covered her face with a hand. Partly hiding a shit eating grin, partly to hold in the bubbling laughter fighting to escape from her chest… and partly because she had just never… been so - so aggressive!
And she liked it!
When she had been with Carolyn, she hadn't been the aggressor or instigator… much anyway. Maybe it was the age. Carolyn had been her first lover… and Barbara had been inexperienced. Then - after Carolyn left, Barbara just never allowed herself to fall in love. Hence, the dating of Dick, Wade, and a couple other guys here and there. There was never a satisfying sexual encounter with any of them.
Still with a huge smile on her face, Barbara attempted to get up out of the bed with out disturbing Helena, but being that the woman was curled around her - it was impossible. "Helena - honey.. let me get up."
"No Mom, I don't wanna go to school!" was mumbled out from under Barbara's hair.
"Just roll over - you don't have to go to school today."
"hmmmmmm…" Barbara could see the smile on Helena's face as she rolled over, hugging the pillow.
'Didn't know she hated going to school that much…' Barbara thought as she moved into her chair.
She rolled silently into the bathroom for a shower. She started the water up so it would be nice and hot when she got in.. She brushed the tangles out of her hair and then climbed into the shower stall.. The door was already fogging up. She just sat back and allowed the water to cascade over her body. It ached slightly.. But it was a good ache. And one she hadn't had the pleasure of enjoying in quite a long time. She leaned her head against the glass wall of the shower and smiled smugly to herself. She was thinking of a line from a movie she had watched recently with Hel and Dinah, 'Oh yeah. That's what I'm talking `bout!'
Barbara couldn't help but giggle at that.. As she shampooed her hair, she felt a cool draft and then warm arms surround her. She was lifted and then placed on a warm lap. "So, what ya giggling at Red?"
"Can't a girl just be… you know.. Happy?"
Helena reached up and helped Barbara with rinsing her hair. Once all the soap was out, she nuzzled the ear nearest her, "I think someone is just a little drunk from having gotten some!" in a sing song voice.
"I thought I left you asleep."
"Well, I woke up, cold.." Helena kissed Barbara's neck. "And alone…" she moved her lips to a shoulder, "So I came to find you…" She placed a finger on Barbara's chin and turned the red heads face so she could capture full, bruised lips with her own.
"You keep this up Kit-Kat and we won't be able to get out of the Tower for a very long time!" Barbara responded, wrapping an arm around the vixen and pulling her in, deepening the kiss.
"Mmmm…" Hel pulled back from the kiss… "There is that... and the fact that we would run out of food."
Barbara laughed. "I really don't understand this on going obsession you have with food. If it isn't sex it's food!"
Helena looked a little shyly up at the green eyes smiling at her... "I can't help it..." with a little shrug of her shoulders "I just know what I like." She added with a flirtatious wink, "Besides, I can't make love to a gorgeous red head for hours with low blood sugar."
Blushing, Barbara replied, "Well then, I suggest we get cleaned up and get to the day. Unless you need to get more sleep. For the next hour or so there won't be much for you to do with Delphi, although I will need your help with a few things after awhile."
The two women enjoyed a playful and longer than expected shower. Both emerged all rosy cheeked and smiling. Helena helped Barbara dry off and into her chair, and then went off in search of clothes for herself. Barbara dressed quickly in soft comfy sweats and headed down to the Delphi system.
As she exited the elevator, the smell of fresh coffee assailed her senses. Helena had taken a second to start the coffee before finding herself some clothes. She went on in to see where Delphi was in the boot process and Barbara was surprised that it farther along than she was expecting.
Helena came in - dressed in black leather... her signature color.. Barbara raised an eyebrow... "Looks like you're dressed for sweeps."
"That's all I could find.. Or I could have gone over to my apartment naked to get something else…" Helena put her hands on her hips, and looked at Barbara with eyebrows raised.
"Well, I would have enjoyed that.. But it may be a little cold outside.."
"Yeah, major T.H.O.'s!!" (For those unfamiliar with the acronym, it means Titty Hard On) Helena headed toward the kitchen, "You still need coffee?"
"Please… and I'll need your help on a few things sooner than I thought." Barbara said, typing away at the main console.
After a couple hours of Helena running back and forth to the parts of Delphi that weren't in the main area of the tower, it seemed all systems were a go. Barbara looked up at Helena, reached up and wiped at a dark smudge off her cheek. "Let's see if we can call the Manor, shall we?"
Helena almost jumped for joy at the prospect on the inside. To Barbara she just nodded her head, like it was no big deal. Barbara had the computer dial the Manor's phone number. On the third ring, Alfred picked up.
"Wayne Manor."
"Alfred."
"Miss Barbara!! Thank goodness! It's so wonderful to hear your voice!"
"It's good to hear yours as well my friend. Is Dinah around? You could put this on speaker."
"Yes, she right here. Give me just a moment." There's the sound of a little fumbling and static, then a tinny "Ok, we're both here."
Barbara nudged Helena, and whispered, "Say hello…"
"Hey Al! Hiya Kid… when you two coming home?" Helena drawled as if nothing had happened.
There is an ear splitting scream and then, "Alfred, you ok?? Here - sit down. Need some water?"
"No, no, I'm fine Miss Dinah... just a little surprised."
Helena looked a little alarmed, "Sorry Al... Didn't mean to, ah, you sure you're ok?" She grimaced at Barbara.
"OH MY GOD!! HELENA!!! We are so on our way home!!!" Dinah started screaming again. You could hear Alfred in the background trying to get the teenager to calm down a little bit.
Barbara could tell his attempts weren't working, "CANARY! Mind on the mission." she said forcefully.
There was silence on the other end. A very bashful "Sorry" was heard. Helena smiled. She could mentally see the blonde pushing a bit of hair behind her ear and blushing brightly.
"Come on home and pick up something to eat on the way.. Its time to party a little!"
"We'll be there momentarily Miss Helena.. And it is so good to hear that you are home!" Alfred said warmly.
After they hung up, Helena picked up Barbara and swung her around. "Hey Red, there's something I've been thinking about.. And want to run it past you."
Barbara looked a little surprised, both from being picked up and that Helena seemed serious about whatever this was she wanted to talk about. "Ah, ok.. Want to go and sit on the couch? It will take them a little bit of time to get Dinah's stuff together and all that."
Helena walked over to the couch and set Barbara down, then stood up looking and feeling a little nervous, "Um… want something to drink? I'm gonna get something to drink…"
"I'll have what ever you're having.. As long as it isn't tequila…" Barbara answered a little confused.
Helena turned while nodding and ducked into the kitchen. She came back with a bottle of white wine and two glasses. "This ok?" she asked holding up the wine. "I also have a bottle of water if you want."
Helena poured the wine, set the bottle down at her feet, and took a deep breath, "Barbara, like I said.. I've been thinking about something.. You kinda helped me start thinking about it - back, ummm, before." She took a sip of her wine; her throat was suddenly a little dry. "It's about the penthouse."
She hesitated and stole a glance at Barbara, who was sitting calmly, waiting for Helena to continue. "Um, you had pointed out that it was technically mine." She looked up through her bangs that had gotten a little too long and hung over her eyes.
"Well, it is Helena. You could have moved in there a long time ago, and never needed to get that apartment." Before Helena could get defensive and say anything, Barbara held up a hand, "I know why you didn't and I really do understand it… Really. But go on, I interrupted."
Getting more nervous, Helena got up and started pacing back and forth in front of the couch, like a caged big cat. "Well, I was thinking. Well, um, since we really need to change some stuff about the Clock Tower, and, um… well.. Dammit! I can do this." Helena snorted her frustration at not being able to just say what she wanted without all the butterflies in her stomach. She downed the rest of her glass of wine, before she turned and looked at Barbara really hard, as if gathering her determination together. She walked to the end of the couch next to Barbara and squatting down to be eye to eye, "I was thinking it's time we had a home away from the Delphi Unit. Now I know we can't move, like across town or something but we could move into the penthouse. Then have some major renovating done. Like move the entrance to the tower so certain crazies wouldn't know where it was anymore and well, stuff like that…" She trailed off uncomfortably.
"So you want to fix up the penthouse and move in? Right?" Barbara asked, nonplused. "And use funds from your inheritance."
"I want US to move into the penthouse. You and me.. And the kid of course. But, I want us, to be together.." She looked shyly at Barbara, then her insecurities took over and her gaze fell to the floor.
"Helena, are you asking me to live with you?" Barbara finally whispered. Not looking up, Helena mumbled, "Yeah, I am. I know, it's a stupid idea..."
"Yes."
"You don't have to agree so easily that it's stupid!" She stood up defensively. A warm hand on her arm caused her to look down into green eyes that were shining. "Yes? As in stupid idea yes?!? Or…"
"Yes. Yes Helena, I will move in with you." Barbara said smiling.
"Sharing the same room-move-in-with-me, right?" Hel still didn't trust what she'd heard.
"Yes, and sleep-in-the-same-bed-move-in with you!" Barbara laughed a little and leant forward to pull the stunned brunette into her lap for a kiss.
Just as the kiss ended the elevator doors opened and they were covered in screaming blonde. As the screaming abated, Alfred came forward as Helena got out from under Dinah and stood up. She slowly approached him, and then rushed to give him a big hug, which was returned.
"Miss Helena, you are looking exceptionally well for a dead woman!" he said with a wink. "And - since I already had dinner prepared at the manor, we just brought that with us. I hope it is to your liking."
"Alfred, if you cooked it, I know I'll LOVE it!" Helena said.
While they ate, Barbara and Helena explained about the plans for the penthouse. They also broke the news that their relationship was serious to Dinah and Alfred. Neither of them was surprised, of course.
After dinner was over and the dishes cleared, cleaned and put away, Helena came out of the kitchen with a bottle of champagne and 4 glasses. She popped the cork and poured, explaining that they were celebrating being a family, being there for each other everyday; and they were celebrating life. With a special look passing between the brunette and Barbara, glasses were raised in a toast. As Helena sat down, Dinah asked what had happened. Helena, still feeling raw about the whole thing with Cheshire, looked at Barbara for help. Between the two of them, they were able to get the story told to Alfred and Dinah.
"I am so happy your back Hel." Dinah said as she got up and grabbed the woman in a hug, which was returned.
"Me too kid, me too. I couldn't let you have all the fun with kicking ass around town, now could I?"
Dinah hiccupped through her tears and laughed. "No I guess not! Besides, you still have some training to do with me anyways!"
Helena just smiled. "Well, it's been quite a day. I think I'm going to head up to my room and unpack then get to bed." Dinah said around a yawn. She went over and gave Barbara a big hug, and said good night to Alfred and went upstairs.
As the closing of her door was heard, Alfred stood up, "And it is time to take my leave of you for the evening as well, I fear. It seems I have some planning to do if there is going to be a residence change shortly." He smiled, placing a hand on Helena's shoulder with a light squeeze, and a knowing look to Barbara, he inclined his head and headed for the elevator doors.
"Thanks for a wonderful dinner Alfred." Helena called after him.
"And thank you for… including me in your family." He replied with out turning around, and stepped into the elevator and was gone.
Helena smiled at Barbara and holding up the still half full bottle, asked, "Shall we take this up stairs and finish it?"
Barbara just smiled, backing away from the table, grabbed her glass, and headed toward the elevator as her answer.
The next morning found things looking more like old times in the Clock Tower. Barbara was sitting at the main Delphi console, going through police reports. Helena had run over to her apartment, for clothes, but to also check in with Leonard. She figured she no longer had a job at the Dark Horse, but still thought it would be good to try and end things on a good note. Before leaving, she warned Barbara about over doing it.
The Champagne the night before had really done a number on Barbara. By the time Helena had gotten up to Barbara's room, after shutting all the lights off and everything, the red head was barely awake. This morning Barbara was feeling more tired and worn out. Almost flu-ish. Helena banned the coffee and black tea, and made Barbara a shake, adding a good dose of aloe juice, to counteract the dehydrating effect of the alcohol. Little did Barbara know, Helena also let Alfred know, so he could keep an eye on the woman who tended to put everything else in the fore over her own health.
When Dinah got up, she spent some time visiting with Barbara while the red head was going over the police reports. She had set up a study date with Gabby and Gina along with a couple other kids from her class. Today was a teacher's in-service day, so there were no classes. She was really looking forward to Barbara getting back to work. The substitute teacher they had gotten for Barbara's class was "really lame" according to Dinah. They had been studying a Shakespeare play before Barbara's leave. This "sub" had managed to alienate all the students on the first day, by stating that the regular teacher was way off base for the message of the play. As Dinah left to go to her study group, Barbara filed that away to take up later with the principal.
When Helena returned, she found Barbara sound asleep in bed. Helena decided it would be a good time to head down to the penthouse and look around and get ideas for what she wanted to do to the place. Writing a quick note and setting on the bedside table for Barbara, she leaned down and kissed her lightly on her forehead and headed down to the penthouse.
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