Author's Note: Thank you for all your wonderful reviews about my first fanfiction, Sisterly Sleep. I am open to suggestions and would love to hear from you!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Penderwicks.

Everyone had a place where they go when they want to be alone, a place all to themselves.

Except Batty Penderwick.

Jane had her rock deep in Quigley Woods, Skye had the roof, and Rosalind had a pear tree that had been planted in the front yard when she was born. Hound loved to eat the pears that fell to the ground, or at least squish them when they were too ripe.

So Batty, with Hound of course, set off to find a place to make her own. She tried making a list of places to call her own but the secret agent in her told her that if the list fell into someone's hands, they would be able to find her.

"What do you think, Hound? Where can we be secret agents on a mission?" Hound barked and marched toward Batty's closet. They squished themselves in, barely fitting before throwing open the door. Besides, the clothes wouldn't provide much peace and contemplation, as they took up most of the space. A thought suddenly struck Batty. To make the place hers, she'd have to have some of her things in it. Piling a few of her stuffed animals into her red wagon, Batty clattered down the stairs and out the front door onto Gardam Street.

"Let's go Hound. We're on an adventure to find our secret agent headquarters." Tail wagging, Hound followed Batty as they rounded the corner to the street over.

Meanwhile, Rosalind was in the kitchen, humming softly to herself. It was something she did unconsciously while cooking. Taking out a well-used cookbook that had been a wedding present to her mother, she pored over recipes, trying to find one that would be perfect for Tommy. She'd made brownies for Cagney, but what would Tommy like?

Jane strolled into the kitchen, pen and notebook in hand. "What are you making, Rosy?"

"I'm trying to find a recipe for Tommy, like how I'd made brownies for Cagney," she answered without looking up. "I can't seem to find anything special though."

"Too bad, but don't give up! It'll taste delicious because it was made with the love from your heart. I'm going to write." Jane gave a little wave and set off for Quigley Woods.

Batty scoured the street, looking for a cozy little nook or cranny she could call hers. The street, Sandwich Place, was very unfamiliar and sloped downward. She checked that Gary the Gecko and Lily the Leopard were secure before starting down the street.

Hound watched Batty walk down a strange street and barked before running toward her. Letting her out of his sight would be disastrous. Batty turned around.

"Hound! NO!"

Hound knocked the little girl over, showering her in kisses. The wagon started rolling down the hill, picking up speed until it disappeared from view. Batty managed to shove Hound off of her and stood up, checking for cuts. Seeing that there were none, she whirled around to check that her wagon was undamaged and saw nothing.

"Hound! We have to find Gary and Lily! They'll be so scared." Taking Hound's collar she ran down the street and saw-

A little red wagon upturned, the wheels still spinning, stuffed animals nowhere in sight. She felt a tear slide down her face, but then straightened. She was not going to cry because she was a secret agent, and secret agents could go anywhere and do anything. Setting the wagon right side up, Batty looked around. She was standing in a small backyard with a tiny sandbox. The house in front of her, from what she could see, looked sad. Its window glass was dirty and smudged, patched curtains letting weak rays of sunlight in. The garage door looked beaten and was barely standing. Flowers were hanging limply on their stems, or not at all. It was a lonely, desolate place, slowly fading into nonexistence. And standing right in the middle of the yard was a boy.

He couldn't have been more than eight years old, with a smirk stretched across his face. It didn't quite fit, Batty realized; a smile would have looked much better on him.

"What are you doing in my yard, runt?" He looked at her, unsure if she was a friend or foe.

"I-I'm Batty," she whispered, barely heard.

"You didn't answer my question." Taking a step forward, he loomed over her little five year old self. His grey eyes peered into hers.

"I'm looking for my stuffed animals. Have you seen them?" Batty squeaked out. He was so big and scary; she suddenly wished for a sister or her father to hide behind, but Batty, a secret agent, hadn't told anyone where she was going.

"Get lost-you're trespassing. And take your stupid dog with you." He aimed a surly kick at Hound, who growled.

Enflamed, Batty shouted, "Hound isn't stupid! He's the best dog in the world! And I'm already lost!" With that she ran away, dragging the wagon behind her. How could someone say that? Hound was her best friend next to Ben, who was at a doctor's appointment that day.

Now Batty really was lost; everything looked strange, and yet familiar, as Sandwich Place was a mirror of Gardam Street, though less friendly. Sitting in her wagon, Batty sighed.

"Well, Hound, we're not much closer to finding a headquarters, and we're l-lost." She began to cry.

Please review and tell me what you think Rosalind should make for Tommy! Questions, comments, and constructive criticism welcome.

-BookProf101