Finding His Way

by Erin Griffin

Rating: PG

Pairing: Selina Kyle/Carolyn Lance (Black Canary/Catwoman), mention of Helena/Dinah

Summary: Wade spends some time in the care of Carolyn and Selina while he waits to find his place in Heaven.

Summary: " 'Just until he finds his way,' Selena said to her in a soothing voice. Ugh!" Carolyn and Selena take Wade under their wing for a little bit while they wait to make their choice.

Disclaimer: I own Elizabeth, but she's one scary seven year old. Not sure if I want to be associated with that...

Author's Note: Third in the Afterlife series starting with Love Aftelife and Apartment Upgrade. Due to recent events in my real life, the thought of Heaven comforts me, so I am dedicating my weekend to typing this series up. Enjoy.

Carolyn watched as Wade flipped through the thousands of channels for close to an hour before he found the medieval channel, and was watching some documentary about jousting. Carolyn felt bad for the guy, being so new and confused, and caught in the middle of a battle started by a hero and villain who both weren't even there. Sad story, and really, Carolyn Lance was touched by his ignorant bravery, but she hadn't counted on him living with them. "Just until he finds his way," Selena said to her in a soothing voice. Ugh, who could resist that face, that 'long lost kitten stuck in the rain' look Selena only gave Carolyn when she resisted both reason and seduction. It was her last resort and both women knew it would make Carolyn cave in, but seriously, the medieval channel? The late Black Canary wasn't used to that TV being on, her preferred place being at the window watching her daughter and Helena dance around the bushes and avoid a destiny that even Carolyn didn't know about. One could sit at that TV and watch history and lose track of the present as you know it, and the next thing you know, your children have children and possibly grandchildren, and they are less than a decade away from being ready to join you. If you asked Carolyn, she'd say, wait and see what the big joined destiny was supposed to be, go get Helena and Dinah when their time came, and THEN sit back in front of the ol' boob tube and catch up on history.

Carolyn watched Helena's high school friend Gibson, who seemed to have troubles with the fact that he couldn't remember what all he'd done as the Clocktower was being cleaned up. She felt the angel before she saw her, as it was Elizabeth's way of 'knocking' before she entered someone's piece of Heaven. Everyone in the 'neighborhood' could feel her close by, and since she was expecting her, she knew she was coming for them. Ever since she had given the lovers the message that they could be reincarnated after completing three tasks, Carolyn had felt something she hadn't thought she would feel in Heaven: Fear. She was afraid of going back to life without knowing where to begin looking for Selena, or even if she would remember her. If she were honest with herself, she would admit that she wasn't used to how safe she was, but that didn't mean she was ready to go back to it all. Carolyn was even entertaining the thought of eventually being a guardian angel or something. That'd give her something to do for a century or two. "Wade Elliot Brixton, nice to finally meet you," Elizabeth said softly, and Carolyn saw the smile on her face. It was very welcoming. Wade looked up from the TV and stared at the messenger.

"Do I know you?"

"Not likely. I've been dead for almost a millennia, but it is nice to finally meet you all the same," she replied, and Wade thought about this before nodding with a polite smile on his face. "So, how are you enjoying Heaven so far?"

"It's well... I've only been here for what feels like an hour, but it's not exactly what I expected."

"Halos and wings?"

"And a harp," Wade added.

"Ah, the harp. You know how many people don't play the harp? If they wanted one so badly, why didn't they pick one up when they were alive?" "I don't know, money issues, they're tone deaf, it's on their list of regrets when they died..." Elizabeth smiled at that. Carolyn just watched as the two exchanged their words, momentarily looking out the window at her daughter, who called Gibson King Kong.

"Well, enough chit chat. I'm way behind as it is. Doesn't help that I've got sixteen Scrooges to play The Ghost of Christmas Past for this year. Before I get started, where's Selena?"

" 'Went to Earth to give a presence of comfort to Helena. S'not working, it looks like," Carolyn replied. Even the day she died, Carolyn had never seen Dinah looking so lost. Helena seemed to run off so she could drink herself stupid.

"I wish I could tell her that its okay."

"That's sweet, Wade, but Helena's so headstrong that even if you told her that to her face, she'd still never believe you."

"I want to try," Wade said, and Carolyn nodded.

"I'll tell you what," Elizabeth spoke up, "if there's need for help by these two when they do their tasks, then I'll run it by Him, and if He approves, you can help out. Maybe then He'll reward you with the chance to get your goodbyes said and to maybe talk to Helena, though I highly doubt he'll allow the latter. Then again, if it will help your passing... but don't get your hopes up is all I'm saying. For right now, I have to summon Selena- Oh!" She turned to Wade. "Where on Heaven do you want to live?"

"Well, I don't know."

"Would you like to live in the Heaven you expected, or would you like to live in a place that's almost like a place on Earth? What would you like to do? You can also train to be a working angel or wait in line for reincarnation."

"Wow. I think I'll wait before jumping into another life. I grew up in the country in my family's farmhouse in northern Oklahoma. When my dad got a better job, we moved into the city, but I always missed that house." Elizabeth nodded.

"Done." The young-looking angel looked out the window, following Carolyn's gaze at the Dark Horse Bar where Helena lived and worked. Selena was whispering in Helena's ear, but the young woman didn't seem to hear any of it. Selena looked up suddenly, and Elizabeth waved inward to herself in a summoning gesture. Immediately, Carolyn felt Selena's presence and her lover was suddenly there holding on to her. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, Selena-"

"No need to apologise. I know you wouldn't interrupt anything unless it was important."

"Right. I need to know if you have reached a decision." Carolyn and Selena twisted to see each other's eyes. Selena saw the uncertainty that was still in her soulmate's eyes and tried to show her that there was still a way out. She could still say no, Selena was trying to tell her. When Carolyn nodded, Selena looked at Elizabeth.

"Yes."

"Excellent. You have three tasks. You'll have to accomplish one each on your own, then the last task you will have to do together. The option given is this: You can do your tasks simultaneously, or you can go one at a time. Either way, you must do your last task together, something I doubt you would argue." This wasn't expected. Carolyn had thought that each one of them would have to do three tasks, when from the looks of it, she only had to do one and a half. Carolyn liked that option better.

"Care, which would you prefer?" Carolyn looked at her soulmate and then to the TV, where the renaissance program was still on. She knew Selena wanted to be reincarnated. She knew Selena hadn't gotten on the waiting list because she was waiting for Helena, but if Helena's with Dinah, which still hadn't happened, then she'd have no need to watch watch over the living. Carolyn herself had just gotten there, but she made so many mistakes that, maybe she could die content the next time around. 'Next time,' she thought, 'maybe I'd keep the child, or not have children at all. Next time I'd hold on to Selena, whoever she may be in the next life.' That was what made her hesitate. What if she didn't find Selena next time? Or worse, what if she did and didn't know it was her? A hand on Carolyn's shoulder stilled her thoughts, and Carolyn nodded.

"We can do them simultaneously," she said. "It'll go faster if we do." Selena nodded, and the late Black Canary was pretty sure that her choice was that of her lovers as well.

"Very good," Elizabeth said, handing both women a slip of paper. "Report to these locations as soon as you can. You'll know what to do once you get there. Good luck you two." With that, Elizabeth turned to Wade with a look of expectation on her face. He put a hand up, signalling the need of another minute.

"Thank you for letting me stay here for a few hours. It was nice knowing you, and I hope we will meet again in life."

"I hope so, too," Carolyn said to Wade, even though she was the one with the slight annoyance because of the TV. Wade and Elizabeth disappeared, and Selena looked Carolyn in the eye.

"You'll be fine. I love you. No matter what, always remember that." I nodded.

"I love you, too, Selena." The late Catwoman orbed and was gone. Carolyn stared at the Oregon address, and then concentrated on that. Suddenly, the home she shared with Selena was gone and Carolyn didn't know where she was.