I began to scour the house for something to wear. I couldn't stand before Penguin in my old raggedy clothes. I found a box of my grandmother's old things and brought them to Lainey with our needs and thread.

"Do you think we can save the scraps? I want to make a quilt when we get out of here." I asked her. She nodded silently as she pinned up the skirt, took in the waist. She spent the rest of the day snipping and stitching. I knew her careful fingers would make sure that the stitches didn't fall out, didn't make me look some kind of orphan.

"Aren't you afraid, Andromeda? Aren't you terrified of him?" her fever had finally broken, but she still had a rasp to her voice.

"I am terrified. But I'm willing to do whatever it takes for you." I shrugged and put on my grandmother's parka. I pulled the door open and almost gasped as I saw Meat Hook standing there, his arms folded across his chest.

"Wh—what are you doing here?" I stuttered.

"Penguin said he wanted me to take you to him personally. So that nothin' could happen to you. It's dangerous out here, ya know." he glared down his nose at me. I nodded once and finished pulling on my high heeled shoes.
"Besides, I know a quicker way."

I followed him through the rubble of my hometown, dodging the rocks and the people that were watching us walk. I was afraid for a moment that wherever he was taking me wasn't where he promised. I thought that maybe he was taking me down to the river to throw me off, to look for those mines they had placed underneath.

But no, he simply led me down a quicker, though more populated, path to Penguin's warehouse and opened the door for me. I stopped to look at him, swallowing back my fear.

"He's waiting for ya."

"I know." I mumbled, stepping inside and up the stairs to his office.

Today, he had a chair waiting for me, along with a small table draped with a checked tablecloth and two china plates. Penguin bolted up from his chair and waddled over to me.

"My dear Andromeda! You did come. I sent Meat Hook as an escort, I'm sorry I couldn't go on my own. But you know things around here aren't exactly safe for a man of my standing." he puffed himself up. "And you're such a pretty girl I didn't want you to walk alone." he was chattering now, pulling out the chair for me. I sat myself down and accepted the napkin to spread in my lap.

"Most people call me Romi." I said softly.

"Nonsense! I will not shorted such a lovely name. Romi indeed." he scoffed and put a tea pot, with cream and sugar on the table. "Pour yourself a drink, my dear. I have another matter to attend to, and I will be back in just a moment." he scurried off.

I stared at the table and wondered if he had put this all out for me. Nah, he couldn't have. Seems like a big production just for someone who is going to sit and talk with you for an hour or two. I carefully poured my cup and doctored it up with sugar, glad that no one was there to ask me if I really needed that much.

Penguin was taking a long time to come back. I looked at my cooling tea and shrugged, pouring into the second cup and pouring in a splash of cream and a spoon of sugar. I stirred and set it carefully on the saucer and sat back.

"Sorry, I was-." he bustled in and then stopped abruptly. "Did you make my tea?"

"Wasn't I supposed to?" I looked up, scared. "I'm sorry, Mr. Cobblepot, I thought since you were taking so long I'd pour it before it got too cold to melt the sugar. Maybe you don't like sugar. I apologize."

"No, Andromeda, it's fine!" he said quickly. "Don't be alarmed. I just haven't had anyone pour for me in a very long time." he sank into his seat and presented me with a plate of eclairs and scones. "I didn't know which you liked, so I tried to find a little of everything. Of course, if I had cookies we'd be better off."

"Thank you!" I beamed. "I've been dying for something sweet."

"I thought you might." he watched me put one on my plate and sipped his tea. "Now me, I can't eat things like that anymore. But if you're able to, then I'm happy enough."

"May I take one home to my aunt?"

"Of course," he waved his hand. "How is she doing?"

"Much better, thank you." I let the silence fall over us for a minute. What was I supposed to say to him? How do you talk to a villain? Do you has what new things they have plotted to destroy your city? I also couldn't ask him where he got his supplies, or if he knew a way out.

"How are you?" I finally asked stiffly. "Is everything going well with your business?"

"Very well, thank you!" he seemed pleased that I had asked. I smiled weakly and finished my eclair. "I'm so pleased that you've taken an interest." Well no, I hadn't. But then, I couldn't very well be rude to the man who had essentially saved my life. He began to spout off something about territories that I didn't listen to, smiling and nodding.

"Oh no!" I glanced out the window. "It's getting dark, I have to go, my aunt is waiting for me." Penguin jumped and looked dismayed.

"Yes of course. Mustn't keep her waiting." he stood to see me out, calling for Meat Hook, who was carrying another sack of groceries and a box I suspected had our baked goods in them. I gave him a smile as I pulled my coat on.

"Thank you, I had a beautiful time."

"Will you come back soon?" he looked near begging.

"I said I would, didn't I?" I wrinkled my nose playfully. "Don't worry, Mr. Cobblepot. I'll come back and see you!"

He chuckled as I left, Meat Hook carrying my bag of things. He handed them to me outside my door

and paused.

"Mr. Cobblepot asked that I sorta keep watch around here." he looked embarrassed.

"He did?"

"Yeah. Make sure you were safe and stuff."

"He just wants to make sure I keep coming back." Meat Hook looked uncomfortable and shrugged. "Well!" I walked into my house and closed the door. Lainey looked up from her book.

"How was it?"

"He's so LONELY and PATHETIC." I seethed. "He has someone watching us now, you know! A thug to secure the perimeter so I have to keep going back to see him like I promised. I don't like being treated like a child."

"Don't sulk, sweetheart." she sat up on her pallet and patted her hair. "You are getting something out of it, after all."

"I know," I said through clenched teeth. "I know. This is just hard, Lainey. This is really hard!" I turned to her.

"I know." she looked at me sadly. "And I would give just about anything for you not to have to be here." she laid back. "But it won't be forever, Andromeda. I'll find a way out of this. I promise."