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SPOILERS: Season Two.
Dusty Footprints in Time
By Athena
Part 8: Charles Wells' Legacy
The following months had been a frenzy of planning and organizing. Helena had been back and forth between the US and England several times. Myka had been back once, and now she was sitting in a comfortable first class seat on her third trip to England in less than two months time. She shook her head at the thought.
"Are you all right, darling?" Helena asked her and touched Myka's hand.
"I'm just a little stunned at everything that's happened during the last couple of weeks. Not to mention that I'm a bit in awe of the fact that I'm getting married in about six weeks."
"I know," Helena said and held Myka's hand in a comforting grip.
"Sometimes I wish that we could just run away and get it over with and spend a month in the Cottage, just the two of us," she said, a little embarrassed.
"That does have its charm," Helena agreed with a devilish grin. "Still I have a feeling that my family will get very upset with both of us if we do that. Not to mention your mother."
Myka groaned and leaned her head back. Her mother was ecstatic over the thought of a June wedding in England. She had already booked airline tickets for everyone and was planning her own events while helping out as much as she could from the US. Apparently she and HP's wife Sarah had become very good friends and Skyped frequently, something that had Myka very worried.
"I'm really excited about the dress," Myka confessed with an impish grin. "I have my final fitting in two days."
"Perhaps I should come with you to make sure that they're doing a good job?" Helena suggested casually.
"In your dreams, Wells," Myka muttered. "You'll see my dress at the wedding and not a moment before."
Helena sighed and made a sad face that apparently had no effect on Myka. She laughed and kissed Myka's cheek.
"You can't blame me for trying," she purred in Myka's ear.
"Of course not," Myka said and brushed her lips against Helena's. "I would be disappointed if you didn't."
Helena laughed. Noticing the flight attendant coming their way she signaled her over.
"Ladies," she said and smiled at them. "What can I get you?"
"Some champagne, please," Helena said and smiled at her.
"Certainly Ms. Wells," she said and smiled at Helena. "By the way, congratulations."
"Thank you," Helena said and smiled up at her.
"I read about you in Hello magazine. It's like a fairytale," she said and beamed at Helena and Myka. "That you've finally reconnected with your family again," she added and sighed. She looked Helena in the eyes and then smiled again. "You really do look a lot like her," she said.
"I know," Helena said and smiled at her. "Maybe we're the same person? Perhaps she's immortal?" she teased and winked at the flight attendant.
The woman laughed out loud and gently touched Helena's shoulder.
"If anyone could pull that off, I guess it would be her. You have an amazing family history Ms. Wells."
"I know. Believe me, I know," Helena said seriously.
"Don't be fooled with all the intellectual crap," Myka teased with a grin. "Behind the scenes they are all a bunch of pranksters who can't be trusted."
"Darling!" Helena said and stared at Myka, but then burst out laughing.
"All right, let me get you those drinks," the flight attendant said and smiled.
Wells Hall
"Helena, Myka may I have a word please?" HP said.
Helena and Myka turned and smiled at him. Helena took his arm, pulling him close.
"Of course, darling," she said happily.
"I have something I'd like to give to you," he said and smiled at her. "I feel that it really belongs to you."
"A present," she said cheerfully. "I love presents."
To Myka's surprise HP seemed to be blushing. She frowned.
HP led them down the hall and finally stopped by a room Myka knew she had not be in yet. He held the door for them and they entered.
"HP, would it be possible to have this conversation somewhere else?" Helena asked, suddenly sounding very tense and guarded.
"Certainly, however I felt that the nature of this conversation required some privacy. Does this room hold unpleasant memories?" he asked as he moved over to a painting of a hunting party.
Myka watched him swing the painting out to reveal a hidden safe. HP opened it and pulled out a medium sized envelope. He then closed the safe and returned the painting to its original position, again hiding the secrets behind.
Helena moved closer to the window. She glanced down at her upturned palms before closing her hands into tight fists.
"This used to be my father's study," she explained in a strained voice. "I was never allowed in here," she added quietly. "Unless I was being punished."
"Oh my God, Helena," Myka gasped horrified. She wrapped her arms around Helena from behind, holding her close.
"Perhaps we should continue our conversation in the sunroom?" HP offered.
Helena nodded and Myka smiled at him.
Myka sat next to Helena on the small elaborate love seat. Helena was sipping a cup of tea, seemingly more happy once removed from the study. Myka glanced expectantly at HP and the envelope in his hand.
"This might seem like a very odd thing to give to newlyweds," he mumbled and fingered the envelope. "My grandfather received this from Charles, and later passed it on to my father, who in turn gave it to me. I don't see what use I have for it, more than possibly donating it to science."
Myka frowned. Helena put her tea down and looked curiously at HP.
"Science? Charles was never that interested in science. That was my area of knowledge," she said intrigued.
"I know," HP said and looked her in the eyes.
"Just tell us darling," Helena said and smiled.
"Very well," he said and chuckled. "I know that your wedding is only weeks away and I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you agreed to have the wedding here," he said and smiled at them.
Helena beamed and looked at Myka. She kissed her softly and then turned her attention back to HP. He watched them for a moment as if gathering his thoughts. The sun reflecting in Myka's ring made him smile and he took a deep breath.
"As far as wedding gifts go, this one will be one of the strangest I've ever given," he said embarrassed.
Helena laughed, her eyes twinkling with mirth.
"We are an odd bunch, are we not?" she teased.
HP laughed and nodded. He sighed and looked at them for a long moment.
"I don't know what plans you two have for the future. Where you're going to live; if you're planning on starting a family."
Myka's interest peaked at the last word.
"I would be honored to raise a child with Myka," Helena said softly. "But as you know, it is a bit more complicated for two women to accomplish."
"Perhaps this will be a welcomed gift after all," HP mumbled. "Let me read a little section of Charles' letter to you."
They watched him open the envelope and pull out a single sheet. He unfolded it and started to read.
Helena sobbed and covered her mouth. Myka held her hand in a tight grip as she tried to decipher the hidden message in Charles' words. When she finally figured it out, she just stared at HP.
"Did he?" Myka blushed and bit her lip. "Did Charles save... his 'swimmers'?" she mumbled embarrassed.
HP chuckled and nodded. Helena looked at them in confusion.
"Can someone please explain what's going on?"
"Are they..?" Myka mumbled and blushed again.
"They are absolutely fine," he assured her.
"Bloody hell, explain what's going on!" Helena said upset.
Myka took her hands and smiled at her.
"Your brother had his sperm frozen for science," Myka mumbled, still embarrassed about it.
"He did what?" Helena exclaimed and stared at HP.
"Did you and Charles ever discuss heredity? Perhaps you talked about the fact that just because the parents are brilliant, the child might not be? That greatness is in fact quite random."
Helena nodded, stunned at the discovery.
"We spoke of it at great length actually," she said and looked out the window, a faraway look in her eyes. "Charles thought it to be madness, the science of Dr. Frankenstein. I of course disagreed," she said and made a face.
"Well, he must have listened a little, because for some reason he decided to do this. I have been assured by the lab where it's being stored that the sample is in good condition."
Helena laughed and shook her head. She looked at HP.
"You are right, it is an odd gift, but then again, we are a very strange family," she said softly. "How do you feel about this?" she asked seriously. "Your great grandfather's essence so to speak given to create a child, that for all intents and purposes, would be your great aunt or uncle."
"I know," he said and nodded. "I have given it a great deal of thought and I've come to the conclusion that this is the right thing to do. It really is not mine at all, it's our legacy. That's of course if you will accept it."
"HP, would you mind giving us a moment?" Helena asked and looked at Myka who had become very quiet.
"Certainly," he said and got up.
Once the door closed behind him Helena turned to Myka.
"I need to tell you something darling," she said and sighed softly. She took Myka's hands, needing the contact before she proceeded. "Christina was not my biological child," she whispered.
"What?" Myka exclaimed and stared at her.
"I have never carried a child Myka," she said seriously. "I would have been rejected by my own society, had I had a child without being married."
"So you adopted her?" Myka asked.
"I did," Helena confirmed and smiled a little. "She was such a beautiful baby. I knew when I first held her that there was no way that I could give her up." Helena paused, lost in thought for a moment.
"Please Helena, just tell me," Myka whispered.
"Christina's mother was a beautiful young woman who was part of my staff. She was my personal maid actually," Helena said and smiled. "She died in childbirth."
"I'm so sorry," Myka whispered.
Helena nodded. She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment trying to purge the sad memories back into the recess of her mind.
"I was furious with Charles for letting it happen. I threatened to castrate him actually," she said and laughed at the memory.
"Christina was Charles' daughter?" Myka exclaimed surprised.
"She was," Helena said and made a sad face. "I told Charles that he needed to provide for Kathleen and the child. He was already engaged to be married, so it was a huge mess. We spoke about it at great length and finally agreed that I would keep them, but Charles would provide for them," she said and sighed. "Then Kathleen died and everything changed," she whispered.
Myka pulled Helena to her. Helena leaned her head against Myka's shoulder. She sighed happily when Myka slowly caressed her hair.
"Thank you darling," she whispered. "I held Christina when she was only minutes old. She was so tiny. She was crying and her little hands shook in anger. When I touched her hand she grabbed my finger. For someone that small, she was surprisingly strong," Helena said and sighed. "I knew in that moment that I had to keep her. She had no one and she reached out to me, held on to me for help."
"So you adopted her, your niece," Myka whispered.
"I did. She never knew. She thought that I was her mother."
"You were," Myka said and caressed Helena's cheek. "It doesn't matter if she came from your womb or not. You loved her and cared for her. She was your daughter Helena, don't ever doubt that."
"Thank you," Helena whispered.
Helena sat up and ran her hand through her hair. She smiled at Myka and picked up her tea again.
"So as you can see, this puts Charles' gift in a different light, at least for me," she mumbled.
"A child, our child would be Christina's half sibling, and your blood relative," Myka whispered. "God, Helena this is mindboggling."
"I know, darling," Helena said and made a face. "I can assure you that nothing would bring me more joy than having a child that is part you, and part Wells. If there was any way for me to give you that, I would. This is the closest we will probably ever come."
Myka nodded. With every generation, the Wells bloodline had been diluted further. No one shared more DNA with Helena than her brother. Since he was dead, there would be no weird feelings later on. With the exception of HP, no one would ever know the truth about the father.
"My 150 year-old fiancée wants to get me pregnant with her dead brother's sperm," Myka muttered. "Hello new reality show," she said and laughed.
Helena laughed out loud. She took Myka's hands again.
"I told you my family is strange," she teased.
"I know, but you didn't say Frankenstein strange," Myka muttered, but then laughed.
A soft knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
"Come," Helena called out.
Myka chewed on her lip. Helena did not revert back to her old ways very often, but here in her childhood home she seemed to be doing it quite frequently. Her tone of voice and how she carried herself was that of someone who was used to giving orders and dealing with a household staff.
"May I come in?" HP asked as he stuck his head through the opening in the door.
"Of course," Helena said and smiled at him.
He reclaimed the seat he had previously been sitting in.
"HP, what do you know about Christina's father?" Helena said and looked him straight in the eyes.
HP glanced at Myka and then looked at Helena again.
"I know who he is. Was," he said a little vaguely.
"She knows," Helena assured him.
HP nodded and waited for her to continue.
"Is that why you decided to share this with us?" Helena asked gently and held up the letter.
"Partly yes, but also because of what he writes about you in there. He wanted your legacy to go on too. There's another piece to the legacy, a lock of your hair. I don't know exactly what he expected science to be able to do with it, but he chose to let the future decide."
Helena nodded. She looked out the window for a moment.
"Thank you," she finally whispered. "It's the greatest gift anyone could give us."