I'm soo sorry that I haven't updated this in a really long time, it's just that I'm in AP classes and they've been super stressful…so here's chapter two.

Also, it's in Alek's pov…but I'm going back to when Deryn sent him to get the bow in the first place, it wouldn't make any sense otherwise.

Disclaimer: I don't, nor will I ever own the Leviathan series. That belongs to SC. I also don't own the green bullet thing, which belongs to Fahrenheit 451. I kinda borrowed it, and changed it a bit.

Anyways, without further ado…

As soon as Alek left Deryn, he went straight to Dr. Barlow's room.

He knocked urgently on the lady boffins' door until she answered. She looked excited at first, but when she noticed who it was, her emotion changed.

"Alek, what a surprise, Can I help you with anything?" she asked nonchalantly.

"Good afternoon, Dr. Barlow," Alek smiled sheepishly. "And yes, I do need your help with something."

The lady boffin smiled, "well come inside then, I have a feeling that this will be a long conversation."

Dr. Barlow led him into her study at the far side of the apartment. He looked around and noticed that there were papers covering the large desk in the corner, and books were lying open across the floor.

"You must be busy," he said as he picked up one of the papers. There were descriptions and equations surrounding a picture. It had the body of a lion and wings and head of an eagle. "Is this a griffin, from Greek Mythology?" Alek asked.

Dr. Barlow glanced at the paper, "Yes, we were thinking of fabricating one, if there happens to be a war in the near future. However, there are still a few problems with the design," she said as she was taking the paper away. "It also happens to be a secret, only the Head of the society and I know about it."

"Oh, well I'm sorry," Alek said apologetically.

"No harm, no foul," The doctor said coolly. "There was something you wanted to ask me, Alek?"

Alek avoided the lady boffins' eyes. His hands were getting sweaty, "Yes, there is something I would like help with." He heard a cardinal singing in the trees. "Nice weather we're having."

Dr. Barlow looked outside her large window, "Yes, I suppose it is." Looking back at the ex-prince, "You're stalling, Alek." She said in matter-of-fact tone. "Either you have a secret, which I doubt. Or this is about Deryn."

Alek nodded, looking at his shoes.

The lady boffin smiled, "of course it's about Deryn. You two never stop thinking about one another. I'm surprised that you're not married."

Alek's face was instantly hot. He hoped that she wouldn't notice the blushing, but it was a far-fetched wish. Nothing ever escaped the lady's eyes.

"What, you eloped?" she asked, jumping to conclusions.

Alek shook his head, he was about to speak when the lady boffin interrupted again.

Her face was complete surprise, "Aleksander Karl Franz Michael Hubert Anton Ignatius Joseph Maria Hg von Hohenberg! Is she pregnant?" she gasped as she said it in one breath. "How dare you, such a dis-"

"Oh, Heavens no. I would never allow myself to get into that position without being wed. what kind of person do you think I am? I was a prince raised with good standards! You think I would just throw it all away?" he paused for a moment. "I'm sorry, Dr. Barlow," he said when he noticed her face. "I just came to ask you how I should do so. And I shouldn't have retorted like I did, but you didn't have to accuse me of such a blasphemy."

"Oh, Alek, I didn't mean to. It's just that my brother did that, and I guess I am still miffed at the idea. I am truly sorry."

Alek was about to comfort the lady boffin because her eyes were moistening, but then she smiled suddenly and put on her happy face again. "Anyways, why haven't you asked her yet?

"I honestly don't know," Alek sighed. "I guess I just don't know how I would start. I mean, it's not like I've done thing sort of thing. So I thought I'd ask you, being as your married, and a woman."

Dr. Barlow stood there for a moment, thinking. A smile came back to her lips. "Oh, I have a wonderful idea," she said gleefully. "The Head is supposed to come here sometime before the party, so I'll tell him about Deryn. In the meantime, you need to go to the tailor and buy a dress. Something that is young, and stylish. And her favorite color. Here's some money, in case you need it."

The lady boffin went over to her desk and shuffled some papers, making them into neat little stacks.

"What are you looking for, Dr. Barlow?"

"I'm looking for," pausing for a moment, "this," holding up a small green device.

"Oh. May I ask what that is?"

Placing the device in Alek's hand, "That is a little thing us boffins have been trying to create for the longest time. It's basically a two way radio. It listens to what you hear and say, then transmits it back to the pair," holding an identical one.

"is it a beastie?"

She grinned, "You can say that."

"What do you mean by that, Dr. Barlow?"

"It's made by Darwinist and Clanker minds," pausing for a breath. "The boffins in England have been trying to make something like this before, but in never worked properly. They would try to burrow deeper into the ear and start making nests, turning the person partially deaf."

Alek frowned, "that's disgusting."

"Oh don't worry, Alek. Like I said, we fixed the problem. To work properly, it needed both minds. Ernst and I have perfected it."

Alek shuddered, he still wasn't used to some beasties, especially the ones that were small and crawled inside of your body. And he also didn't like that Count Volger and Dr. Barlow were calling each other by their given names. The boy just sighed, "Alright, what is it called?"

"It's called the Green Bullet," she answered as she looked at the clock. "You should go, the party starts in a few hours, and both of you still need to get ready."

"Alright, Dr. Barlow, anything else?" Alek asked.

"Nothing other than showing you how to use the device," she smiled, and continued, just put it in your ear," motioning him how with the identical pair. "And that's all there is to it. Now hurry, go to Deryn's room and then report back to me promptly. Make an excuse or something to get away. I have a surprise for you too. Now go!" she exclaimed, as she pushed him out her room and into the hallway.