Long Lost Lady

Chapter 1

A small 3rd grade class was getting ready for the morning. Putting their backpacks in their cubbies and sitting patiently in their seats. The teacher walked up to the front of the room with a young girl. She was staring at the floor, too shy to look at everyone. She nervously fidgeted with the hem of her grey shirt with the character Wonder Woman on the front.
"Class, this is Sandra. This is her first day so let's all make her feel welcome." Sandra pushed up her glasses as she looked up and sheepishly smiled at the class. Her hand giving a tiny wave. She was then excused to her seat near the back left half of the room. She sat next to a chubby boy wearing black cargo shorts and a Star Wars tee-shirt.
He swooped his messy brown hair to the side and tried to say hello, but Sandra didn't look up. She just kept her head down, writing notes in her notebook. The boy then ripped out a piece of paper and wrote down a little note. Making sure the teacher wasn't looking, he dropped the paper on his neighbor's desk. When he noticed Sandra see it, he softly smiled to himself. He peered over out the corner of his eye as she opened it.
"Hi Sandra. I'm Gary. Do you want to be friends ? "
Sandra glanced over to Gary for a moment before writing down her answer. After a few seconds, the small paper scrap was back on Gary's desk.
"Yes, I want to be friends. And I like your shirt. I love Star Wars."

                                                                                                         * * *
Sheila walked into the living room of her and the Monarch's new home, trying to tune out the sounds of construction coming from the study. She was looking through the paperwork of the new hench she hired. After Tim-Tom and Kevin's passing, she needed some extra help with her Guild work since Monarch and Gary were busy doing their own things. She sat down on the couch with a contented sigh, going through the folder, making sure all the paperwork was fully completed.  
Monarch, still wearing his bathrobe in the middle of the afternoon, entered from the kitchen, midway through eating a sandwich. He stood behind his wife and started to read over her shoulder. 
"How's the henchette search going, Honey Bunch?" he said with his mouth full. Sheila turned around and handed him a photograph. She looked up at him with a smile, excited about the new hire. 
"I actually think I found the perfect one. She is more than qualified, and she has a pretty extensive background. Her outfit is even butterfly themed already. I gave her a call earlier and she is going to be here in a little while." Monarch took the photo and looked her over. The young woman had short copper colored hair in a pixie style cut. Her slender frame was inside a short tulip style skirt, with a midriff connected at the sides. The color scheme copied the look of an Orange Lacewing Butterfly.  
A black and white top, merging down to an orange bottom with a chevron style black trim. She wore black heeled boots; similar to Sheila's, but not as long--ending just a little over her knees. Her hands donned white lace fingerless gloves. Lastly, she wore a subtle silver colored masquerade mask in the shape of small butterfly wings, over icy blue eyes. Monarch swallowed his food before he spoke. 
"Seems kinda too...girly to be a baddie, isn't she?" he then peered at the top of the photo. "And what's her name? 'Lady Lacewing?' That's not a name of intimidation and villainy... that's the name of a Girl Scout." he groaned, tossing the photo back on the couch. Sheila rolled her eyes as she gathered the papers and placed them back in the folder.  
"Well, this is her most recent hench identity. She worked for a small team of villains that had an insect theme going on. I asked her about it, and she agreed to any possible costume changes." she continued, Monarch half listening. "But I don't know, I think this one's pretty cute." she added. 
Lady's skills mostly consisted of working with city level jewel thieves and cat burglars, but she was also well skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Even though she would mostly be working as an assistant, Sheila felt it wouldn't hurt to have her double as a body guard if things went south at any moment.  
Sheila's phone started to ring from inside her purse in the kitchen. She went to answer it as Monarch walked around and plopped on the couch, finishing his sandwich. 
"Could you grab me a drink while you're in there, Honey Bunch?" he asked with a slight whine in his voice. Sheila ignored him as she answered the call. The front door opened and Gary came in, carrying a few bags of groceries. He and his boss exchanged small hellos as he made his way to the kitchen. Monarch even asked him for a drink, since he figured, his wife wasn't going to get it. Gary agreed as he started to put the food stuffs away. Sheila was finishing up her conversation.  
"Yes, I'm sure that will be fine. Ok. Ok, you too. Goodbye." she slipped her phone back in her bag, and greeted Gary with a half-smile. "I swear, it seems like the Guild just falls apart whenever I'm not there. Oh, before I forget, my new hench is coming here today. Would it be alright if she shared your room for now until we get the other guest room finished? I also ordered a bed for her that is being delivered in about an hour, so she wouldn't have to sleep on the couch." she asked. Gary looked over to her as he shut one of the cupboards closed, a little surprised by this sudden request. 
"Oh, umm, yeah I-I guess so." he answered a little nervously. He didn't expect to be asked a question like that today - especially since he'd be sharing his space with a woman he hasn't met yet. Sheila smiled as she helped him put the remaining groceries away. 
"Yeah. I know it's pretty last minute, but I'm sure you two will get along well. And I expect you to be a perfect gentleman." she said a bit sternly. Gary rolled his eyes; she was sounding like his mother. 
"Please, I will be the coolest guy ever." he assured her. "What's her name?"  
"Her arching identity Lady Lacewing, or just Lady for short, but her civilian name is Sandra..." Sheila paused for a moment, trying to remember the rest. "Mason? Myer?...Miller, that's it. I nearly forgot for a second." Gary stopped midway from closing the cabinet. 
"Why does that name sound so...Nah, it couldn't be her...Why would it be her?" He thought to himself. Sheila's head turned as she heard the doorbell rang out from the front hallway.  
"Oh, that must be her now." She perked up. Straightening out her black Guild suit-dress, she went to answer the door. Gary grabbed some sodas from the fridge and met up with Monarch in the living room; Monarch looked over to his number 2 as he opened his drink. 
"Five bucks says she doesn't last 2 weeks with all the Guild work." he snickered. Gary leaned back in his spot on the couch, sipping on the sugary substance, as he listened to his boss yammer on about their future Blue Morpho plans. Gary's mind started to wander; he thought about what kind of henchwoman Sheila hired. Wondering if she was who he was thinking of. 
"That name is pretty common. I'm sure it's just a coincidence." He shrugged.  
"It's so nice to finally meet you, please come in." Sheila's voice chimed as she helped their new visitor with her bags. Gary snapped out of his thoughts when he heard two sets of high heels tapping up the hallway. Monarch stopped mid-sentence before Sheila entered the living room. 
"Boys, this is Lady Lacewing." Sheila announced. Lady wasn't in her costume shown in her photograph, but instead in a simple lavender sundress and white short-heeled shoes. The last person you'd expect to be on the side of villainy. But as they say; looks can be deceiving. Sheila placed a hand on her shoulder as Lady sat down her bags. She smiled brightly at the two men, not helping but gush a little bit. 
"I've heard so much about your work, Mr. Monarch. I hope I can be a valuable asset to both your wife and yourself." She said as the two shook hands. Monarch couldn't help but get an inflated ego from the flattery, but still wasn't sure about her until he was able to see what she could do. Sheila smiled as well and she turned Lady's attention towards Gary. 
"And this is Gary, my husband's right-hand henchman." Gary's eyes locked onto hers. He defiantly feels like he's seen her before.
"It can't be..."    
"It's nice to see you again...you scoundrel." she said in a soft voice. There was only one person he knew that ever called him that. 
"No way..." Gary thought, his heart racing. "...My princess." he murmured, purely out of instinct. 
Lady just gave him an ecstatic grin as she went in for a hug. Gary blushed, hoping to himself that he wasn't dreaming. He just awkwardly stood there for a moment, his hands out a bit from his sides, a slight tremble in them. He was so nervous; he didn't know if he should hug her back or not. 
"It's been so long, Gary." Lady whispered. "I'm so happy to see you again."