Sorry it's been such a long time since I last posted. This is the end of the story. I hope you all enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. They belong to DC Comics and the WB.

Helena and Barbara were both relieved when the elevator doors finally opened onto Barbara's new apartment.

"This is it," Barbara said wheeling out of the elevator, breaking the awkward silence that had prevailed since they had left the grocery store. "What do you think?"

Helena looked around at the large open space and all the computer equipment. "What's with all the computer stuff?" Helena asked.

There was only the slightest pause before Barbara answered, "I'm testing new computer programs for Wayne Enterprises."

"Oh…your second job," Helena said distractedly as she walked around the space.

Barbara was confused and asked, "What are you talking about, Helena?"

"Whenever you can't come to the movies or whatever, my mom…" Helena said, nearly coming to tears. Helena quickly turned away so Barbara would not see.

It had been months since Helena had felt like she could mention her mother's name. Seeing Barbara again was tricking Helena into thinking that the last few months had never happened, but at the same time it was driving home harder than before all that she had lost by reminding her how things used to be.

"Helena…" Barbara said quietly, feeling the tears collect behind her eyes thinking of her old friend. Barbara wanted to do something, to say something, but having been on the receiving end of many "I'm-sorry' over the last few months, she knew how little those words meant. They only brought comfort to the person saying the words, because in situations like this, there was an overwhelming desire to do something helpful, anything really.

Silence filled the tower again. Helena and Barbara had always been close and now they could not look each other in the eye or carry on a conversation for more than a few sentences at a time. When Barbara looked at Helena, she barely saw the shadow of the happy, carefree girl that she used to baby-sit. There had always been a little bit of mischief to Helena, but now Barbara could see a darkness when she looked at the girl. Helena was afraid to look at Barbara. This was not the same Barbara that Helena had known almost as long as she could remember. This Barbara was more withdrawn and Helena could see that Barbara had lost her self-confidence. She did not hold her head high like before.

After regaining her composure, Barbara said, forcing a giant smile, "Are you hungry? I promise to only burn it a little bit."

Helena tried to return the smile as she followed Barbara to the kitchen.

**********

Barbara and Helena had just finished their supper, and although Barbara was not gifted with culinary skill, it was the best thing that Helena had had in the last week.

"Do you want to watch some TV," Barbara said as Helena followed her into the living room. "Maybe something on the Discovery Channel about the evolution of reptiles."

"Ew…I hate snakes," Helena said as she sat on the couch.

Barbara pulled up next to the couch and prepared for the transfer. She was not used to doing this in front of other people, only her father and on occasion, Alfred. She started and nearly toppled to the floor but she managed to throw herself back into the chair. Helena jumped off the couch. Barbara's cheeks were aflame with embarrassment.

"Do want me to help?" Helena asked carefully.

"No!" Barbara snapped as she tried again to get to the couch and succeeded.

Helena sat down on the couch too, afraid to upset Barbara anymore.

Now, Barbara was embarrassed and ashamed. "I'm sorry, Helena," Barbara said quickly, not looking at Helena. "I…I just need to do things for myself. I'm sorry."

**********

Barbara stood in her bathrobe in the middle of her old apartment. She had been here before, many times. She could feel the water from her wet hair roll down her back. She heard the knock at the door. It echoed through the apartment. Don't do it! she tried to yell, but as usual her mind only got to watch as the events played out the same way that they always did. Her body advanced toward the door despite her minds protests. Her hand reached out toward the door knob. Barbara's mind tensed as she waited for the door to open, but at the last minute her body finally responded to her pleas. She turned around only to be faced again with the door. She turned to her right and then her left. She kept running into the door. She heard him laugh from behind the doors that surrounded her.

"Baaaaatgiiiiiiirl," he taunted. "Knock. Knock. Little bat, little bat, let me come in."

His cackle echoed off the walls as Barbara desperately turned around in circles looking for any escape. She was panicking. Her heart bounding. Her mind racing.

**********

Barbara woke up screaming. She was sweating and the sheets and blankets had been pushed toward the foot of the bed over her useless legs. The screaming continued and it took Barbara a minute to realize that the yells were not coming from her mouth. Who the hell is in here? Barbara thought totally disorientated. She finally remembered that Helena was sleeping on the couch in the living room. Barbara transferred herself from the bed into the wheelchair as quickly as she could. She moved to the door and jammed her hand between the door frame and the wheelchair in her rush.

"Dammit!" Barbara cried out in pain.

She pushed forward toward the living room. Helena was no longer screaming, but yelling at someone.

"Mom!" Helena yelled as Barbara finally made her way to the living room.

The blanket and pillow that Barbara had given the girl were thrown on the floor next to the couch.

"Helena," Barbara said gently. "Helena, it's okay. Wake up."

Barbara reached out and touched Helena's shoulder to rouse her. At Barbara's touch, Helena sat straight up and threw a fist towards Barbara's head, yelling, "Don't take her!"

Barbara was barely able to block Helena's attack. The girl was surprisingly quick and strong. Helena came to with a start confused by her strange surroundings and noticing that she had attacked Barbara.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry, Barbara," Helena said quickly, still shaken by her dream. She was breathing hard, her pulse was racing, and her eyes were scanning the room for danger.

"It's okay, Helena," Barbara said soothingly, but then her blood ran cold. "Helena…you're…eyes."

Barbara stared in confusion. Helena's panic doubled. Why now?! Helena thought. Not Barbara, she's all I have left. Luckily, Helena had not unpacked her bag, if only she could remember where she had left it.

"It's okay, Helena," Barbara said, seeing the hurt and panic on Helena's face. "You don't need to worry. There's nothing wrong with you."

It took Helena a minute to understand what Barbara was saying. Is she trying to trick me? Helena thought unsure if she could trust Barbara. She wanted to trust Barbara, but she was afraid.

"Your mother had it too," Barbara said to Helena's surprise.

"That's a lie," Helena said angrily. "My mother was not a freak!"

"No, she wasn't," Barbara said trying to calm the girl down. "Neither are you."

Barbara allowed a moment for her words to sink in. Helena was conflicted. On the one hand, Barbara was trying to tell her that her mother was a freak, and yet at the same time, she was not reacting with fear like the Johnstons had.

"What's wrong with me, Barbara?" Helena said on the verge of tears as the defences came down.

"There's nothing wrong with you," Barbara said coming closer to the girl and taking her hand. "I don't really know any specifics, but there are people who have gifts…abilities…beyond what is normally considered human. You're not a freak. I promise you that. You aren't the only one. Your mom was the same way, but she could control it better. I only caught a glimpse once. Remember that time that she went to that business conference out of town and you came to stay with me for a few days. You had a slight fever when she left, but then it spiked the next day and I took you to the hospital. When she came to the hospital, for an instant her eyes did what yours did, but only for the slightest instant and then she had it under control again."

"What does this mean? Can we fix it?" Helena asked, relieved to finally be able to talk about it.

"I'm not really sure what it is, Helena. Your mother never talked about it with me, but I'll see what I can find out. I want you to know that there isn't anything wrong with you. You're safe here. You don't have to be afraid," Barbara said.

"Thank you, Barbara," Helena said as she cried, reaching out to hug Barbara. "When the Johnstons found out…I don't want to go back there…Please, don't make."

"It's okay," Barbara said returning Helena's embrace. "I don't know what we'll do, but you won't go back there again."

Barbara and Helena both sat back in silence. Finally, someone was on Helena's side. She was so happy, but she was afraid that this brief moment of happiness would be ripped from her like before. Barbara for her part was happy that she could help Helena. For the first time, since that night, someone wanted and actually expected her to help, instead of thinking that she needed help, but at the same time, she was worried, because she did not know how she was going to keep her promise to Helena about not going back to the Johnstons.

"Do you think that you're going to be able to sleep?" Barbara asked.

"Umm…sure," Helena said deliberately taking her time as she picked up the blanket and the pillow from the floor.

Barbara instinctively knew what the problem was. She could never fall back asleep after one of her dreams either.

"I dream about that night, too," Barbara said quietly. She had never talked to anyone about this, not even her father.

"Do you think the dreams ever go away?" Helena asked, desperate for Barbara to give her the answer she wanted to hear.

Barbara paused. "I don't know…maybe in time," Barbara said. "We just need to remember that dreams can't hurt us."

"Right," Helena said trying to sound convinced as she busied herself getting the pillow and blanket back on the couch. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Okay," Barbara said as she turned to leave.

Barbara made her way back to her bedroom, trying to wrap her mind around everything that had happened in the last few minutes. How am I going to keep Helena from going back there? she asked herself. The obvious answer was that she could keep Helena here with her, but there were also obvious reasons against that too. Barbara could barely take care of herself. She would be no good to Helena either. Besides, Barbara was trying to get the Delphi system up and running. She had named it after one of her favourite Greek myths. She had decided to become Oracle, sitting and dispensing the information that she received.

Barbara got in to bed knowing that the residual effects from her nightmare and her anxiety over Helena would prevent her from sleeping anymore, but she figured that she should at least try. Barbara lay there thinking things over. Her thoughts running in circles, never reaching a conclusion or a decision. She barely noticed when Helena slipped into the room.

"Barbara?" Helena whispered. "Are you asleep?"

"No, I'm awake," Barbara said propping herself up on her elbows. "Are you okay?"

"Umm…I…was wondering…"Helena stammered. "Could I sleep in here?"

"Sure, Helena," Barbara said, sliding herself over to make room for Helena. "Don't worry. I don't kick in my sleep."

Helena slipped under the covers.

"That's not funny, Barbara," Helena said sombrely. "Of course, you never were very funny."

"Ouch," Barbara said pretending to be hurt as she and Helena shared a short giggle.

"Goodnight," Helena said rolling onto her side away from Barbara.

"Goodnight, Helena," Barbara replied.

For the first time in months, Helena slept through the night. She was comforted by Barbara's presence. She knew that things would never be the same again, the way they should be, but maybe Barbara would keep her promises. Helena was not counting on it, but she had hope which was more than she had had in months. It took Barbara a long time to fall asleep, but not because of her dream. She did not fall asleep until she had come to an important decision, one that would change her life. She just hoped that she was strong enough to follow through, because so much was riding on it.

**********

Barbara was startled out of her thoughts by a noise coming from the second story of the lair. She looked up to see Dinah racing down the staircase only to have Helena hop over the railing of the second floor and land in front of the stairs as Dinah came down.

"Barbara, Helena's using her powers in the house," Dinah tattled.

It took Barbara a moment to get her bearings.

"What?" Barbara said momentarily confused. "Oh…right, Helena, you know the rules."

"You're such a cheater," Dinah said smiling. "I think I know how to even the playing field. I'm going to beat you to the kitchen and you'll be lucky if you can find even one crumb from the batch of cookies Alfred made."

With that Dinah was off, but when Helena tried to follow, she found that she could not move. Dinah was using her telekinesis to hold Helena in place.

"Can you believe this kid?" Helena asked Barbara, noticing Barbara's far away look.

When Dinah finally released Helena, Helena came over to Barbara at the Delphi system.

"Are you okay, Barbara?" Helena asked concerned.

"Me? Oh yeah! I'm fine," Barbara said quickly. "I was just thinking about something."

Barely audibly, Helena said, "Thank you."

"What?" Barbara asked confused. "What are you thanking me for?"

"I remember what today is, too. It was just over seven years from today that you let me move in here," Helena said. "I never really thanked you. I don't know where I would be without you."

"Helena, that isn't -" Barbara was interrupted by Dinah shouting, "Mmm…these are great cookies. Too bad there are none left for you, Helena!"

Helena turned to Barbara, who laughed as she said, "Go, but you better save me some or the two of you will be training until Alfred makes another batch."

Helena ran out of the room toward the kitchen. Barbara smiled. This was one of the times when she thought that maybe she did some good for Helena. Thinking back to that night, the night that set everything in motion, Barbara realized that Joker got the last laugh that night, but maybe, she and Helena had the very last laugh, because they were both stronger than they would have been without the Joker's intervention.