Coffee had just been the start of things. Over the next several weeks Helena and Myka had been spending time together, just the two of them. They would go out and have dinner, or go for a walk and just talk, or go to a movie. Sometimes they would talk about everything and anything, sometimes they barely talked at all, and at other times they finally tapped into those thoughts and feelings to long ignored or overlooked. They were a couple tittering on the edge of something serious. They had kept Helena's close presence a secret, wanting this time to be just about the two of them, not the two of them and the Warehouse. Their secret kept Pete from walking in and cracking a joke, or Claudia giving them those happy puppy eyes, and it kept the Warehouse from throwing artifacts and world saving at them. There would be time for all of that later.

Myka smoothed out the front of her dress before taking a deep breath and knocking on the door of Helena's apartment. Helena had invited her over for dinner. Remembering the adorable look on Helena's face when she said she wanted to cook for Myka made Myka smile. That smile brightened when the door swung open to reveal Helena in a beautiful summer dress that made Myka have to mentally remind herself not to let her eyes drop. "Hi."

"Hello darling." Helena said, the light in her eyes bright and happy. This time with Myka had been more than she could have ever expected. She was quickly rediscovering that these feelings between them were worth taking risks for. "Come in."

"I've brought wine." Myka said as she held up the bottle.

Helena accepted the bottle while leaning in to place a kiss on Myka's cheek. Being more open about their feelings had led to being more open about physical contact. Before it had been brushes of hands, a comforting touch of the shoulder, or an emotionally charged but restrained hug. Now there were gentle kisses and lacing of fingers, cuddling and romantic though chaste caresses. "You must have been reading my mind again, darling. It was on my list but I completely forget all about it after arguing with the produce manager at the market."

As Myka walked into Helena's apartment for the first time she took a quick look around and the first thing she noticed was a lack of Helena. There really wasn't a lot of the woman's personal presence in the space. The only thing that really said this was Helena's space was her desk, which Myka would describe as organized clutter. "It smells amazing in here, Helena."

"Did you know that there are several channels on the television all about cooking?" Helena replied as she took the wine into the kitchen. "I've become a bit addicted, I'm afraid."

The sound of Helena's laugh drifting from the kitchen made Myka smile. Helping herself to the sofa she took a seat and was very quickly joined by a tiny white ball of fluff with the most inquisitive eyes she'd ever seen. "Oh, hello. You must be Lulu."

Helena watched as Lulu checked Myka out and then happily claimed Myka's lap as her own. "She likes you." She said with a smile as she walked across the room and held out a glass of wine. "She doesn't normally cuddle up to people like that. Though to be fair the only other people she's been up close and personal with are Mrs. Fredric, Abigail and Jane."

"Jesus Helena could you have found a cuter dog?" Myka laughed as she scratched Lulu's ear while taking the wine. "Where did you find her?"

"I was walking through the park." Helena said as she took a seat beside Myka. "They were having an adoption event and she was in a play area. She ran over to me and that was that."

Myka smiled as Lulu stretched out so her body was on Myka's lap while her head rested on Helena's thigh. "Much better than the cat."

"Absolutely." Helena agreed.

They chatted for a bit. Myka was beyond thrilled to hear that Helena had started writing again. She begged the other woman, complete with puppy dog eyes, to let her read something but Helena refused. She promised Myka could be the first to read things once they were finished, but not a moment before. It had been a habit she'd developed with Charles, making him wait for her contributions in order to make him squirm, and it was proving a hard habit to break. Myka filled Helena in on their friends. Artie and Trailer were having an argument, which meant the dog was ignoring Artie and would only take commands from one of them. Pete was working on asking the new girl at the drug store out. Claudia was spending more time with Mrs. Frederic who was teaching her caretakery type things.

Helena listened and she found herself both happy that her friends were doing well and sad because she found herself missing them all terribly, even Artie. "Claudia will make a fine Caretaker." She smiled at the thought of the brilliant, vibrant young woman taking over. "She will certainly be a breath of fresh air. Mrs. Frederic has a very similar style to Mr. Saunders, frighteningly ridge and yet oddly caring and companionate. Though Mrs. Frederic is far less stuffy."

"Less stuffy?" Myka questioned with a chuckle. "Is that even possible?"

"Well, she is American." Helena teased.

Myka's eyes sparked over the fact that Helena was talking about her past with the Warehouse. She loved listening to Helena's stories, but they still came very rarely. "And Mr. Saunders, he was 12's Caretaker?"

Helena nodded. "He was very much like that Mr. Carson from that television show you enjoy. Lovely man, really, when he wasn't frowning at me for some odd reason or another."

"Was there a version of Leena's?" Myka took the chance to ask.

"Boarding houses, yes." Helena answered. She felt no pain as she spoke of the old Warehouse and her life back then; she felt only fondness for those times, and the faded sadness of missing old friends. It made her smile. "Because we were in London we were allowed to live on our own if we so wished. I remained in my own home."

"Houses? Plural?" Myka asked.

Helena nodded. "One for single men and the other for the handful of other women."

"Ahh." Myka said with a nod as she took all that in and filed it away.

Helena smiled at the thoughtful look on Myka's face. She could almost see the other woman playing out the scenes in her mind as if watching a film. Leaning closer while turning Myka's face towards her she places a soft kiss on Myka's lips. "I should check on dinner."

While Helena was busy in the kitchen Myka walked around the apartment. It wasn't just the living room that lacked Helena's touch; it was the bedroom as well. Remembering the way Helena had made her room at the B&B all her own even for the short time she'd lived there full time, Myka had to wonder why she hadn't done more with this place. The more she looked around the more she realized this wasn't Helena's home it was just a place she stayed. Walking over to the bedside table Myka picked up a framed picture and smiled. It was a picture of the two at a restaurant in Pierre; they were smiling, happy, and looking at each other as if the other were the only thing in the world.

Helena had made an absolutely delicious ratatouille, which she followed up with Victoria sponge cake. Needless to say Myka was beyond impressed. After dinner they were sitting together on the sofa, close, sharing soft touches and gentle kisses between softly spoken words. Myka bit her lip as she watched Helena kiss the pulse point on her wrist. Because this was Myka's first venture into the realm of the sapphonic, and because they were both still adjusting to their shared emotions, they were taking things slowly. The feeling of Helena's lips on her skin sent heat through Myka's body that was getting harder to ignore.

"Helena." Myka said in a breathy voice.

"Yes darling?" Helena replied before brushing Myka's hair away from her neck.

Focus! Myka thought to herself as Helena kissed her just below the ear. "Are you happy here?"

Helena pulled back to look Myka in the eyes.

Before Helena had a chance to speak Myka clarified, "Here, alone in this apartment. There's nothing of you around here, Helena. This isn't a home."

"No." Helena agreed. "No, I suppose it isn't."

"Don't you think it's time for you to have a home again, Helena?" Myka asked as she reached up to caress Helena's cheek.

Helena knew where this was going and a huge part of her wanted to agree. She missed the Warehouse, she missed her friends, she missed being with them as a family in the B&B, but there was another part of her that still clung to the notion that she and the Warehouse didn't mix. She was still afraid that if she went back something would happen and she would lose Myka, and she was afraid that losing Myka would drive her back to the darkness and this time there would be no way out.

Myka saw the fear and uncertainty in Helena's eyes. She smiled softly as she took the other woman's face in her hands and for the first time the words came easy and freely. "I love you."

Dark eyes widened in awe. Words so simply and yet so powerful, words that had been hinted at, driven around, dangled temptingly before them, but never once uttered so clearly, so honestly. "Oh Myka." Helena said breathlessly. "I love you too."

"Then let me be your home, Helena." Myka whispered. She didn't give Helena time to respond. Leaning in Myka pressed her lips to Helena's, letting them linger there for a moment before deepening the kiss by running the tip of her tongue along Helena's bottom lip. It was a kiss full of promise and reassurance. It was the kind of kiss Myka had dreamed about having with Helena, the kind of kiss that burned worlds to cinders.

Helena was left breathless when the kiss ended. She was barely able to get out Myka's name. When she looked into Myka's eyes what she saw was comforting, exciting, hopeful and a little frightening. Myka was not just offering her a place to live; no she was offering her heart a home and a promise for maybe more. After all the uncertainty that had lingered between them for years, after living in the fog of unspoken feelings, after all the running away from and hiding from their truths, Myka was holding out her hand, offering a way out of the haze and all Helena had to do was take it. Dark eyes suddenly began to reflect everything Myka's eyes had been showing Helena less than a second before. Helena smirked as she reached up and curled her fingers around Myka's hands. She drew them away from her face, kissed the pulse point on each wrist, and then stood up. With a gentle tug Helena pulled Myka to her feet and after dropping one of Myka's hands she held tightly to the other as she led Myka to the bedroom.

She could feel the nerves fluttering around her stomach like pterodactyls but that didn't stop Myka from reaching behind her and slowly pulling down the zipper of her dress, which she let slid down her body and pool around her feet on the floor. She smirked as she watched Helena lick her lips and then swallow hard as she let her eyes move over what Myka was offering. Myka took a single step closer and that was all it took. Helena reached out putting her hands on Myka's hips, and drew the other woman close. Their bodies were flush against each other as Helena captured Myka's lips in a kiss that spoke of way to much flirting and not nearly enough touching.

It was a night full of contrasts. Sometimes it was full of desperate need to make up for lost time, and at other times it was full of slow exploration and silent promises of a life finally on track, both Helena's and Myka's. Their journey had in no way been easy but every obstacle they had to over come just made this all the more worth it. Every desperate action, every angry word, every painful goodbye added strength to the mortar used to build the foundation of what had the potential of becoming something full of more endless wonder than the Warehouse could ever hold.

Their hearts' truth was that they belonged together. In a world full of people they saw each other. Their hearts sang out across time, one waiting for the other, and only when they were united did they heal and become whole again.

As the birds outside the apartment window began their early morning songs Myka propped her head up on her hand, her below cushioned by the pillow that now smelled uniquely like her. "So," She said in a husky voice, a sexy pleased with herself smirk on her lips. "Are you coming home with me or not?"

Helena turned her head to look into eyes a darker shade of green than normal and smiled.

"Now she's doing it on purpose!" Claudia bitched as she came out of the kitchen. "Stop eating my bananas!" She grumbled as she made her way to the sunroom. She, Pete and Steve had been on a mission that got far to out of hand and hadn't gotten in until the wee hours of the morning. Myka had taken the weekend off and disappeared, which she'd been doing a lot lately, and it was starting to get to Claudia. Her failed attempts to get H.G. back had left her in a mood that was only made worse by the fact that Myka had suddenly became way to happy. Had Myka finally moved on? This was crap! How was she suppose to believe in happy endings if the two people she knew were meant to be together more than anyone else in the world, weren't together?

Claudia was still doing a rather good imitation of Artie when she stepped into the sunroom and gasped, the glass of juice in her hand falling to the floor in an explosion of glass.

"Do I still make you nervous, darling?" Helena asked from where she sat the table smiling one of her enormously bright smiles.

"H.G!" Claudia squealed as she threw herself at Helena.

The older woman barely had time to stand before she found herself wrapped in the arms of the girl she had quickly come to love as a little sister. The hug was a bit crushing and after regaining the air Claudia had knocked from her lungs Helena rasped, "Claudia love I can't breath."

"Oh!" Claudia squeaked as she let Helena go. "Sorry. Are you here about Delilah's Shears? I knew I'd find something you couldn't resist! I think I have them narrowed down to…"

"Claudia, love." Helena said gently as she put her hand on the girl's shoulder and smiled.

Claudia deflated a little. "You're back aren't you? I mean that's why you're here right? You've finally come back to the Warehouse?"

"Yes and no." Myka said as she walked in from outside.

"Watch the glass my love." Helena warned.

Myka looked at the shattered glass and quickly scooped Lulu up before she could walk on it. "Helena!" Myka scolded. "Did you startle her again?"

Helena smirked. "I still make her nervous."

Claudia stood there looking at the two women as if they were speaking a foreign language.

"There's no need to be nervous, Claud." Myka teased while walking around the table to Helena's side. She gently passed Lulu to Helena while leaning in to kiss her gently. She winked at Helena before turning towards the gobsmacked Claudia. "Here let me help you with…"

"Oh Mee Gee!" Claudia squealed as reality finally hit her. "You're together! You're together! You're together!"

"And you were worried she'd be overly excited over the idea." Helena teased Myka with a delightful laugh while watching Claudia bouncing on the balls of her feet. This time when Claudia lunged she was ready for it and managed to shift Lulu out of the way just in the nick of time.

Claudia threw her arms around both women, hugging them tight. "I knew you two would figure things out."

"Figure what out?" Pete asked as he walked in on the scene. When Claudia pulled away and he saw Helena, he smiled carefully until he caught the look on Myka's face. Seeing that she was ok with whatever this was made it ok for him as well.

Before Pete and Helena could say a word to each other Claudia announced. "Bering and Wells is canon!" Then she threw her hand out toward Steve who'd walked in behind Pete. "You owe me a hundred bucks."

"Wait," Pete said as he looked between Myka and Helena. "You two? You're like together?"

Myka nodded. "Yes."

"How together?" Pete asked.

"Helena's moved into my room." Myka answered.

There was a long pause. Myka's stomach began to knot as she waited on her best friend's reaction. It got to the point where she was afraid Pete was going to seriously disagree on this but then finally he flopped into his chair and sighed heavily. "Finally! I'm not sure I could take much more noble brooding Myka."

Helena smirked as she looked over at her lover and asked, "You were brooding over me?"

"Little bit." Myka huffed; annoyed that Pete would say that out loud.

"That's so sweet." Helena said before kissing Myka's cheek.

"Ok, so yes you're back but no it's not because of the artifact." Claudia said, needing to clarify Myka's yes and no response from earlier.

Helena nodded. "As clever as your schemes were darling I wasn't coming back until I was ready."

"And you're ready now?" Claudia asked.

Helena nodded. "I am indeed."

She couldn't help it. Claudia hugged her again. "Welcome home, Helena."

The use of her name startled Helena and it took a moment for her to return Claudia's hug. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Myka beaming at them and it helped her to relax a little more. Hugging Claudia back as best she could with Lulu still in her arms Helena said, "Thank you darling."

Lulu gave a bark telling everyone she was done being squished by all the hugging. Claudia jumped back and looked down, and her face lit up. "I've just been killed by cute."

The next several minutes were spent welcoming Helena home and it was quickly bringing tears to her eyes. Pete hugged her, Steve even hugged her, and Abigail stood off to the side beaming at her. When Myka noticed her getting teary she quietly slipped her hand into Helena's and that made her smile. This finally felt right, this felt real. She had found where she belonged, with Myka, and together they belonged here.

"What's going on in here?" Artie grumbled as he walked in and then stopped short when he saw Helena. "H.G."

"Hello Artie." Helena said nervously.

The two just looked at each other for a long moment and then Artie's face softened. For as long as he lived he would remember the way Helena had sacrificed her own life to save him, Pete and Myka. He almost smiled. "Are you back?"

Helena gave a nod. "I am."

"Oh thank god." Artie said as he dropped a stack of files on the table. "Another adult."

Helena smiled at him and this time Artie smiled back. As they took their seats around the table Helena sat between Myka and Claudia. Myka slid her hand into her own and in that moment everything suddenly become worth it. There was just one more thing Helena had to do before she could finally close one book of life so she could truly begin a new one. Stepping out onto the catwalk she looked out over the Warehouse. Closing her eyes she took a moment and took a deep breath. She smiled. "I smell apples."

"So do I." Myka said in surprise. She looked at Helena with such a look of awe that it made Helena kiss her gently.

"Wait, whoa, hold on, you can smell that too?" Claudia asked from behind them.

Helena turned and smiled as she gave the younger woman a nod.

"What does it mean?" Claudia asked.

"It means," Helena said as she took Myka's hand and smiled while looking into Myka's eyes. "We are were we belong." Then she looked at Claudia and said, "It also means the Warehouse likes you."

Myka leaned in and whispered, "Welcome home, Helena."