Chapter Text
Valentine's Eve 1986
"But Mo-om, you promised," Helena whined. She threw her back against the door frame and crossed her arms in defiance.
Selina turned away from the dresser and proceeded to attach the earring. She bit back a grin when she saw Helena's posture. "Kitten, I know I promised. This meeting at the museum was called at the last minute. We have an opportunity to get some very rare Grecian artifacts for a showing. It would be a huge coup for us." She softened her voice as she walked over to her daughter. Cupping Helena's cheek, she added, "I have to go. I'm sorry, baby." She ruffled the messy long brown hair.
Helena looked down and sighed; she scuffed her sneaker. "I know but tomorrow is Valentine's Day and you promised to help me make the Valentines for all my friends in class."
Selina made her way back into the living room, followed by her daughter. "I'm sure your new sitter will be glad to help."
"New sitter?" Helena's voice rose in indignation, "I'm nine and a half; I don't need a sitter."
"Yeah, well I need you to have a sitter." The doorbell rang. "That's her now." Selina walked to the door and opened it.
Helena had turned her back to her mother. "But you always hire little old ladies with blue hair and... and... no teeth...."
The sitter covered her mouth, stifling the laughter.
"And they wear perfume that makes them smell like they rolled in a field of wildflowers and they never know how to play Nintendo and they are just not any fun. If I have to have one, why can't you get someone like my gymnastics' coach Barbara? She rides a motorcycle and she's sooooooooo cool." Helena turned and her mouth dropped open.
Barbara sauntered further into the room. "Let's see... I'm not little and while older than you, I'm not old." She fingered a lock of her hair. "I have red hair, not blue and...." She smiled wide and showed her teeth, then mockingly chomped them a couple of times. "Those babies are all mine." She made an exaggerated effort to smell her own perfume. "I'm wearing Obsession and I got news for you, KitKat - I can kick your as...." Barbara glanced over at Selina. "...butt at Nintendo." Barbara grinned. She removed her leather jacket and flipped it over one shoulder, then stared down at Helena and winked. "OH yeah, and I am definitely cool."
"Barbara!" Helena squealed as soon as her voice came back, then ran and gave her a hug. "Can we go for a ride on your bike? Huh, can we?"
"Ummm, sure," Barbara looked at the disapproving glare from Selina. "Someday, but not tonight, okay?"
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Selina rolled her eyes. "Well, that's never happened before." She turned to Barbara. "I take it you both will be fine?"
"Absolutely. Right, KitKat?"
"Yup." Helena grabbed Barbara's arm and dragged her off to the kitchen. "I have to make Valentines for my class, you can help me." Just then she stopped suddenly. Barbara almost lost her balance as she braked quickly. Helena ran back to Selina to give her a hug. Selina knelt down for her daughter. Helena leaned in and whispered in her ear. "Night Mom," then she kissed her cheek. "You're the best."
Selina stood and went to grab her coat. "There is money on the counter for pizza; don't let her drink a six-pack of pop; there is ice cream in the freezer and bed time is nine."
"Ten." Helena countered.
"Nine thirty."
"Sold."
"I've got it, don't worry. Helena and I will be fine." Barbara walked Selina to the door. "Helena? Why don't you get out your art supplies and we'll do the Valentines before the pizza?"
"Okay."
"She'll be fine," Barbara reiterated.
"She is the most precious thing in the world to me." She looked straight into Barbara's green eyes. "I am counting on it... Baby Bat." She called over Barbara's shoulder, "Night Kitten; I'll see you in the morning." She smiled at the dumbfounded look still on Barbara's face. "We'll talk about that later."
Barbara took a sip of her drink and shuffled through all the construction paper. Both had taken seats at the table after Helena got her art supplies box and Barbara snagged a couple of sodas and glasses. "Okay, so what do you want to do? Cut out some hearts? Maybe some birds? Flowers? A few lacy borders?" She raised an eyebrow in question.
Helena looked up at Barbara through her bangs and shrugged. "I dunno." She paused. "But no pink, okay?"
"Don't like pink?"
"Pink is not cool. It's all so Barbie... uh oh." She cringed.
"S'okay; it's not like I was named for the doll." She leaned in closer and whispered, "I don't like pink either." She stood up, her eyes twinkling and gestured to herself. "Do you see any pink on me?" She made an effort to twirl around and even pulled up her jeans leg to show off her sock.
"No but...." Helena joked back. "What color is your underwear?" Barbara did a double-take and looked at the smirk on Helena's face. Before she could answer Helena continued through giggles. "Ha! Now your ears are pink."
"I'll pink you, you little...." she leaned over to start a round of tickles and Helena bolted from her seat.
"Noooooooooooo, no tickling. House Rules."
"House Rules?"
"Yeah, House Rules."
Barbara nodded her head in agreement. "Okay, what are some of the other of Selina Kyle's House Rules?" She waggled a finger at Helena. "And no fibbing, I can always check with your mother."
"Selina Kyle's Ten House Rules," Helena started reciting solemnly, "No disobeying Mom's orders. No lying. No staying up past curfew on a school night. Indoor voices when inside. Walking feet in the house. Treat the items in this house with respect. Do your chores without whining. Homework first, then playtime. Manners always. Always try a bite of something before dismissing it." She tilted her head and lowered her voice a bit. "Although she did let that one slide when she tried making this salmon casserole thingie one time." Helena scrunched up her nose. "Talk about ewwww."
Barbara laughed. "Okay, but I didn't hear a 'no tickle' rule in there."
"You asked for Mom's House Rules. The 'no tickle' rule is in Helena's House Rules."
The redhead scratched her nose and inwardly debated. This ought to be good.
"Okay; and what are the rest of Helena's rules?"
"Helena's Rules are way easier to remember. Treat others like you want to be treated. Be nice to animals." She giggled. "Cats rule, dogs drool." She thought for a second as to where she left off. "Play nice and share. Celebrate all holidays." She grinned. "And no tickling."
Barbara ruffled Helena's hair. "I like those rules. Good job." She slapped her hands together. "Now, about those Valentines. I have an idea. You want to do something really different?"
"Cool." Helena nodded her head vigorously.
"When I was in Japan years ago for gymnastics' meet, we went to a place that showed us a very old and very unique art form called Origami."
"What's that?"
"It's making animals and flowers and other shapes out of folded paper. No cutting and no gluing, just folding."
Helena tilted her head. "For real?"
"Yep. I learned a few different patterns. You want me to show you?"
"Sure."
"How many Valentines do you need?"
"There are twenty-two in the class. So I need twenty-four."
"New math?"
"No, silly. One more for the teacher and if this is as neat as you say, I want one for my mom too." She paused a second. "Can you do a cat? She really likes cats."
Barbara bit her lip, to keep from laughing and nodded agreement. "I know. How about we do some flowers and butterflies for the girls and some dragons and dinosaurs for the boys?" She held up her hand. "And a cat for your mom and an apple for your teacher."
"Yay!"
"Okay," Barbara grabbed a sheet of colored paper. "First you fold it like this…."
"Good morning, Mom" Helena skipped into the kitchen. "Did you get 'em?"
"Yes." She flipped the newspaper down and smiled at her child. "We got the exhibit for all of June." Selina watched as Helena dug into her cereal. "Did you have a good night with Barbara?" She went back to reading the paper.
Helena started to answer and then stopped and covered her mouth as she finished chewing. "We had fun. She showed me how to do... what did she call it? Oh yeah, Or-game-ees."
"What?" The paper flipped down again.
"It's neat. You fold paper all different ways and it doesn't come out like all crumpled or anything but ends up looking like cool animals and things. We made them instead of a Valentine's cards." She grinned in pride.
Selina closed her eyes and calmed. "Origami."
"Yeah, that's it. Neat, huh?" She got up from the table. "I'll show you."
Helena brought back a big white box. She carefully set it on the table and opened it. Inside were twenty-four colorful paper animals and flowers. Selina gently lifted one out. It was an orange cat. She grinned and went to set it back in the box.
"No, Mom. That one is for you. It's the only cat. Barbara helped me to do that one 'specially for you."
"She did, did she? I'm going to keep this on my nightstand so I can see it first thing every morning and last thing every night. Thank you, Kitten." She opened her arms and Helena stepped in for a big hug. When they stepped back apart, Selina took another look into the box. "Those are all very pretty, Kitten. Your Valentines are sure to be the hit of the class."
Helena frowned a bit.
"What's a matter, baby?"
"I tried to make a special surprise one for Barbara this morning but it didn't turn out too good. I guess I didn't remember all the steps she showed me." Helena looked dejected.
"Why don't you show it to me and maybe your old Mom can figure out a way to help."
Helena disappeared back to her room for a moment, then returned. She held out the paper object in her hand. "I tried to make a bird but it's not quite right."
Selina picked it up and looked at it from all angles. "Honey, why did you use black paper?"
"It was all I had left after I messed up all the other times."
"I see, well you know, if you turn it this way, it looks like a bat. A black bat."
She stifled a laugh and a smirk. "I think you should give it to her just the way it is."
"But it's not a pretty bird; it's just a dumb old bat." Helena scuffed the floor with the toe of her shoe and ducked her head.
"I know for a fact that Barbara likes dumb old bats. After all, it's the University mascot and she'll love this because you made it especially for her."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."