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SPOILERS: Season Two.
Dusty Footprints in Time
By Athena
Part 17: Back to the Warehouse
Four Months Later
Myka had a protective hand around baby Carolyn who was currently sleeping in her Babybjorn. She smiled at Helena who stood waiting by the car. Glancing at the house one last time she secured the baby in her car seat and then eased herself into the car.
"Are you all right, darling?" Helena asked her quiet wife.
"Of course," Myka said and smiled at her. She looked down at the sleeping baby, caressing her soft cheek. "I'm just sad to leave, that's all," she said a little embarrassed. "It's been like a fairytale to spend these last couple of months with you and Carolyn here."
"If you're not ready to go back, we can stay," Helena offered with a concerned look.
Myka shook her head. She squeezed Helena's hand and smiled at her.
"I'm ready to go back to work. Just look at what happened since she was born. You've been on five missions in less than three months," Myka said.
"I know, darling, and I'm sorry about that," Helena said apologetically.
"Don't be. I wanted you to go. They needed you more than we did at the time. Don't get me wrong. I'll always need you, but I don't want you to give up being an agent, Helena."
Helena wrapped her arm around Myka pulling her closer. Myka rested her head against Helena's shoulder enjoying the closeness.
"I'm actually looking forward to it," she mumbled.
"What? Doing inventory with Claudia?" Helena teased.
Myka chuckled and nodded. She grinned up at Helena and sighed happily when Helena kissed her.
"Even though I'm not ready to go on field missions yet, it will still be nice to be back doing some investigative work."
"I'm glad to hear that," Helena said.
"And I can keep this little one with me," Myka said and ran a finger over the baby's perfect little brow.
"As long as Leena lets you," Helena teased.
"Maybe we can come to an agreement on that," Myka mused. She traced the baby's cheek and her little nose. "You know, I think she looks more and more like you every day."
"Poor child," Helena mumbled.
"Shut it," Myka muttered. "You're gorgeous and you know it."
Helena laughed. She gently touched the locket around her neck. It now held two pictures, the old one of the child she would never forget, and one of her new family, her beautiful wife and daughter.
Myka sighed in relief when the inn appeared at the end of the driveway. It had been a long trip from the UK to South Dakota. Even the stopover in New York City, where they had spent the night before, did not take the edge off the long hours of traveling. She smiled at the sleeping baby who rested peacefully in her car seat. Myka had never enjoyed traveling with other people's kids, and screaming babies on airplanes were a curse in her opinion. Baby Carolyn had proven to be a natural at traveling. She slept and ate, smiled and laughed and was just a delight. Actually of the three of them, the baby had probably been the most comfortable. Myka smiled as she remembered how one of the flight attendants in first class had asked if she could hold her for a while. Myka had watched her play with Carolyn and enjoyed the brief respite. Helena had dragged her over to the bar where they had enjoyed a drink together. Travelling with Helena was always pleasant. When they had settled in for the long stretch, baby Carolyn had slept peacefully in her little Virgin Atlantic crib next to them.
Helena parked the car and smiled at Myka.
"We're home darling," she said.
"Yeah," Myka whispered.
Careful not to disturb the sleeping child, Helena picked up the car seat and carried her in it. She took Myka's hand and they hurried towards the house.
They stopped right inside the door and listened for any signs of anyone being home. There was only one car parked outside, which could mean anything really. Helena tugged Myka along down the hall to the kitchen. She smiled when she saw Leena come out of the pantry.
"Hello," she said cheerfully and grinned at Leena.
"You're back!" Leena exclaimed and ran over. She hugged Helena and then Myka before looking down at the sleeping baby. "She's adorable," she whispered.
Helena put the car seat on the table giving Leena the opportunity to gawk over their daughter. Helena smiled and folded her arms as she watched them. The baby, feeling no movement, stirred and her eyelashes fluttered before her eyes opened.
"Hello there sweetheart," Helena cooed.
Recognizing Helena's voice the baby laughed and shook her little hands in the air. Leena chuckled and looked up at Helena.
"Can I pick her up?"
"Of course," Helena said and smiled at her.
Leena unbuckled the little girl and carefully lift her up. She held her protectively against her.
"It's all right," Helena assured her. "She can hold her head up on her own."
"Thanks," Leena said and smiled. She gently disentangled herself when baby Carolyn grabbed on to her curls.
"She does that to us all the time," Myka confirmed with a smile. "I think she really likes long hair."
Leena smiled and talked to the baby who appeared to actually pay attention. After a moment she started to fuss a little and Myka took her from Leena.
"She's hungry," she explained. "It's been hours since she ate. I don't want her to go all 'wailing Wells' on you," she said and laughed.
"'Bering banshee', you mean," Helena said smugly.
Myka made a face at her and turned her back at them, heading for the door.
"Please excuse us for a moment," she mumbled.
"Myka, it's all right, you can stay here. I don't mind," Leena said and smiled at her.
"Are you sure?" Myka said and turned around.
"Absolutely. It's natural and beautiful. Don't hide that you're a mother," Leena said softly.
"I couldn't agree more," Helena mumbled and watched fondly as Myka sat down to nurse the baby.
Leena put on some tea and the three of them enjoyed some quiet time catching up. Once the baby was fed Leena took her back. Baby Carolyn seemed to really like her, laughing and smiling and kicking her little feet.
"When you get a little older I'll teach you how to make cookies little one," Leena said and smiled at her.
The baby squealed and shook her little clenched fists in the air.
"You like that idea?" Leena said and tickled her. The baby cooed again, drooling a little in the process. "I bet you do. What you don't know is that both your mommies are criminally hopeless in the kitchen, so it's up to you to learn if you're going to have anything to eat but Marmite toast, peanut butter or tea," Leena said seriously to the baby.
"Hey!" Myka objected. "I'm not that hopeless. I can cook."
"Sort of," Helena mumbled.
"Watch it Wells, or I'll cut you off for another month," Myka muttered.
Helena blushed and shot Leena a quick glance. Leena looked curiously at them for a long moment.
"Can I ask the two of you something very personal?" she finally said.
"Sure, darling," Helena said.
Leena looked down at baby Carolyn who was busy chewing on Leena's knuckle, before she spoke.
"Have the two of you been intimate with each other since she was born?"
"Leena!" Myka hissed her cheeks red.
Helena took Myka's hand, squeezing it gently.
"Leena is our friend Myka, she can ask that," Helena said softly. She looked at Leena. "You noticed something, didn't you?"
Leena nodded. "So you haven't then?"
Helena shook her head. She smiled at Myka.
"When Myka is ready, she'll let me know. It's not the end of the world."
"But you are ready, aren't you Myka?" Leena said gently.
Myka chewed on her lip and gave Leena a pained look.
"You know what? I'll take the baby tomorrow night and the two of you will go out and have a nice dinner and some quiet time on your own. And don't even think about coming to get her when you get back. Once she's in my room, she's off limits to the two of you," Leena said firmly.
Helena chuckled and nodded. Myka still chewed on her lip, not entirely sure about the arrangement.
"I don't know," she mumbled. "She's never been away from us that long before."
"She'll be fine Myka," Leena assured her. "I think you're the one who needs reassuring."
"We need this darling," Helena said softly and cupped Myka's chin. "I was going to ask if someone would consider watching her, but Leena beat me to it." She smiled at Leena. "It's a wonderful offer and we will take you up on it."
"But…"
"No, Myka, no buts, it will do us all good to be apart for a couple of hours."
"Baby cuddles for me, date night for you," Leena joked.
Leena handed the baby to Helena who happily took her. She held her up in the air making her squeal.
"Helena, would you mind if I have a word alone with Myka?" Leena said gently.
"Of course not. We will go upstairs and take a nap," she said and kissed the baby's cheek.
Carolyn laughed and grabbed Helena's hair, giving it a healthy tug. Helena winced and gently pried the baby's fist open as they left the kitchen. When Leena was sure that Helena was out of earshot she looked at Myka.
"What's wrong Myka?" she asked. "Don't you love her anymore?"
"Of course I do," Myka said alarmed.
"Then what is it? Don't you think she's attractive? Has the passion gone away?"
"No," Myka mumbled. "She's gorgeous. It's just…"
"What?" Leena said gently.
"I don't feel very attractive at the moment," Myka mumbled. "And I'm constantly tired."
"Come," Leena said and pulled Myka up.
Myka silently followed Leena to her room. She raised an eyebrow when Leena pushed her in front of the floor length mirror.
"What do you see?"
"Me," Myka mumbled.
"More specifically. Describe your body," Leena pushed.
"What?"
"Just do it."
"I'm tall, have medium length curly hair, green eyes…"
"Describe yourself the way Helena would," Leena said and smiled at her.
Myka blushed and chewed on her lip.
"I don't know if I can do that. She's a bit more expressive in her language than I'm really comfortable with," Myka whispered.
"Would she say that you have soft hair that she loves to run her fingers through?" Leena said with a twinkle in her eyes. Myka nodded. "Does she compare the color of your eyes to the color of the first blades of grass in the spring?"
Myka chuckled and shook her head. "No, but something similar."
Leena smiled at her and put her hand on Myka's stomach. Myka raised an eyebrow.
"Does she touch you like this when you're naked?"
"Yeah," Myka whispered. Her face was a little flushed and she looked down. "But not lately."
"Why is that?"
"I don't want her to," Myka said in a small voice.
"Pull up your shirt," Leena said and met Myka's eyes in the mirror.
"What?"
"I'm not asking you to strip Myka, just show me your stomach."
Myka glared at her, but Leena just smiled. Finally she sighed and pulled the shirt up. She looked away not wanting to see her reflection in the mirror.
"Look at yourself Myka," Leena said gently, but firmly.
"I don't want to see my flabby stomach," Myka muttered.
"It's not flabby at all," Leena said and gently placed Myka's hand on her stomach. "Feel that."
Myka finally looked at herself in the mirror. She watched her hand as she moved it over the planes of her stomach. It wasn't as flat as it used to be, but it was a whole lot better than right after Carolyn was born.
Leena watched her and to her delight Myka's aura started to change and become more relaxed.
"Why don't you want Helena to touch you?"
"I just don't want her to see me like this," Myka said in a small voice.
"Myka, please give her some credit. She's not so shallow that she would stop loving you just because you put on a few pounds," Leena said.
"I know, but it makes me feel unattractive," Myka whispered. "And I don't know if everything is working all right, you know," she mumbled embarrassed.
Leena gently cupped Myka's face and smiled at her. "Myka, you're beautiful, and I know that Helena loves you. I would think that you're even more beautiful to her now, as the mother of her child. Let her touch you, but talk to her first. Really talk to her to let her know how you feel."
Myka nodded and sniffled, fighting the tears. Unsuccessful, she wiped a tear away from her cheek and then smiled at Leena.
"Thank you."
"Any time," Leena said and hugged her. Then she frowned when she thought of something. "Myka, you did have a talk with Dr. Calder about this right?"
Myka nodded and chewed on her lip.
"I did. She came to visit three weeks ago to check on both of us. She gave me a go ahead then. I'm healed and it's safe."
"Then all you have to do now is make sure that you're ready emotionally."
Leena walked Myka to the door to her and Helena's room. She smiled at Myka and leaned closer.
"Why don't you sleep naked tonight? It's summer after all," she said with a teasing smile.
Myka blushed and nodded.
Myka slowly opened the door to their room to make sure she did not make a sound. As expected, Helena was asleep on the bed with the baby cradled against her. Myka just stopped and smiled at the beautiful scene. She pulled out her phone and took a picture that she immediately made her background image. Putting the phone on the night stand she slipped out of her shoes and stretched out on the other side of baby Carolyn, facing Helena. Within minutes of closing her eyes she was asleep.
Myka glanced at her reflection and chewed on her lip before slipping on the robe. Before she could change her mind she left the safety of the bathroom.
Helena was already in bed reading, her bare arms and shoulders sticking out above the sheet. The night was warm and the windows were open letting in a soft breeze. Myka stopped for a moment by the crib and pulled the blanket over her daughter who was sleeping peacefully. Finally she walked over to the bed. She took a deep breath and slipped off the robe before getting into bed naked next to Helena.
"Myka?" Helena said softly.
"Will you hold me?" Myka asked in a small voice.
Helena flung the book on the floor and pulled Myka to her, holding her tight.
"I've missed holding you like this so much," Helena whispered. "I think I've missed this more than sex actually."
"Do you still think that I'm beautiful?" Myka whispered against Helena's chest.
"Darling, you're the most beautiful woman in the world," Helena said and cupped Myka's chin. She kissed her softly. "You're gorgeous and I want you more than anything."
Myka smiled. She tightened her hold on Helena and slid her leg over Helena's soft one.
"I don't know why I feel like this," she whispered. "I know that I can trust you. It's not really that," she said sadly. "I want to be attractive to you. I want you to desire my body."
"I do darling," Helena said and kissed her. "Very much so. So much in fact that I've had to stop myself from ravaging you these last couple of weeks," she admitted with a grin.
Myka smiled and caressed her cheek. She played with a lock of Helena's hair and kissed her. Her eyes fluttered shut as she felt Helena's hand cupping her breast.
"Yes," she whispered.
Helena made love to Myka so slowly and with so much tenderness it brought tears to Myka's eyes. When they lay next to each other, basking in the aftermath of their lovemaking, Helena gently wiped a tear away from Myka's cheek and kissed her. Myka held Helena almost desperately close.
"I'm here, love," Helena whispered. "Now and always."
"Thank you," Myka whispered and closed her eyes. "I love you."
"I love you too my darling."
Myka sighed and relaxed in Helena's arms. She smiled as she fell asleep to the sound of the baby moving around in her crib and Helena's even breathing next to her. Myka pulled Helena's arm tighter around her and settled in as she drifted off.