Author's note: Sorry for this chapter being so short, but I like where it ended. The POV changes between the creature and Tori a couple times in this chapter, so be aware of that!


~8~

We didn't reach the next town till well after nightfall. It was a much smaller village than the last and the inn was nowhere as nice. It was a very somber place compared to the previous town. Streets were not cobbled or even well-kept, and most of the buildings seemed to be in disrepair. I was grateful that we had entered the town when it was dark. I'm sure if we had come during the day, we would have received many stares given our finer clothes, judging by the looks the innkeeper gave us. He was not very subtle when it came to jacking up the price of our rooms and meals.

We ate the meager supper quickly and then left to our rooms. I said goodnight to the boys, both of them giving me wary looks as I closed the door to my room. It was not a large room, and did not have much as far as amenities. Aside from the bed and fireplace, there was a chamber pot and a little dish full of water on the old vanity table along with a hand towel. No private bath this time. I washed my face and started to unbutton the back of the dress. It was difficult trying to reach, let alone undo the pearl drop beads in such a constraining outfit.

There was a curt cough from behind me. I whirled around to find myself faced with the welcome sight of my friend. He sat on the bed, looking amused by my plight. His clothes were a little dusty, but he had managed to stay clean since the bath on the previous night.

"I don't think I've seen you in women's clothing before," he said, getting to his feet, "At least not this close. They suit you beautifully." He wrapped his arms around my back and bent down to kiss me. My mind seemed to haze for a moment as his lips pressed against mine. Once again, the moment was not meant to last. A quiet knock on the door made us pull apart. He went to hide behind the bed, and I went to the door and cracked it open.

"Tori." It was Victor. "I want to talk to him." I nodded and let the door open wider to admit him. Before I could close it again he stopped me. "I'd like to speak to him alone. You can wait in my room with Henry." He watched me until I exited the room and closed the door. I wondered what it was he wanted to discuss without me. I walked down the dark dingy hall and opened the door to his and Henry's room. At least I wasn't going to be waiting alone.

"Hello again, Miss Tori," he greeted. His shirt was unbuttoned on the top, his tie loose and hanging undone around his neck.

"Hey." I took a seat on Victor's unoccupied bed. Henry sat on his own, looking uncomfortable while awkwardly fidgeting with his fingers. Occasionally he'd glance my way and look like he was about to say something, but then stop as soon as his mouth opened. And so the waiting began.

...

The girl left and I was alone with my creator. I felt different from the last time I faced him, different in the way that I was no longer solely a product of his energies. I was my own being now, my own man. I could tell he knew this as well. His eyes held astonishment and awe for me, pride even though I didn't know if he deserved such a feeling.

"We have much to discuss, don't we," he said, coming further into the room. I straightened myself.

"So it seems. Why don't you begin, Frankenstein." He seemed amused by my retort.

"Alright then. I wished to discuss with you the matter of creating a female companion with which you could live." He walked over to the table with a mirror on it and examined the articles the girl had left behind. "I feel that things have changed since the night you propositioned this request, and I wanted to gather whether or not your feelings were still the same." There was something in his expression that seemed softer than normal, sad even. He knew what I felt for the girl. He knew something else as well, and this troubled me.

"I have no desire for you to bring another creation into wretched life for the sole purpose of being my companion," I answered, dropping my gaze. "Even if I were to live alone, I now understand such a purpose for creation would be a mistake."

"Then you have already become a better man than I was." Frankenstein took a seat on the edge of the bed. I sat down as well, the bedframe creaking beneath my weight. "You are in love with Tori, then?"

"Yes."

My creator sighed. "You do understand that she is not from our time, right?"

"I do."

"Then you must understand that she is not fated to stay here. She is searching for a way back home, just as I am searching for a way to bring Elizabeth back." His eyes looked concerned. "Her companionship cannot last forever, my friend." My friend. It was the first true term of endearment that Frankenstein or any being other than the girl had ever bestowed upon me. But his words stung me deep, for I had known but never had the courage to acknowledge this truth. It had stayed in the back of my mind, like a stain you try to ignore. And sometimes, if you are fortunate, you forget the stain exists. That does not change the fact that it does indeed exist, though.

"I understand this as well," I said in a quiet voice. "Even so, I wish to enjoy her company while I have her here. When she is gone…I will at least have my memories." Frankenstein nodded and stood up. He started walking to the door, but stopped.

"I feel I am still indebted to you," he said apprehensively, "Is there nothing I can do for you?" It did not take me long to think of something Frankenstein could do for me. I had felt a definite lack because of it for so long.

"There is one thing," I said looking up at him. "Could you give me…a name?"

...

"Is it true then?" asked Henry. I looked sideways at him.

"Is what true?" He finally lifted his face to look at me.

"Are you in love with him?" Ah.

"Again, can you be a little more specific?" I had a pretty good idea of who he was talking about, but that didn't mean I couldn't avoid the matter a little longer.

"You know who, Tori," he said, "This creature of Frankenstein's."

"Well, it really hasn't been that long…and with everything, and…well. Yes." I met Henry's eyes and smiled. "I suppose I am." His face seemed to drop and he turned away. The awkward silence fell over us once again, so I continued waiting for Victor to come back. I was tired and wanted to sleep. And more than this, I wanted to be in his arms. I had never been in love before, and I realized it was driving me crazy.

The door to the room opened and both Henry and I got to our feet. Victor came in, looking better than he had in a long while, though his expression was still a tad downcast. He smiled and bid me goodnight as I left. Henry said nothing.

I quickly tip-toed down the hall and back into my room. He was sitting on the bed. I leaned against the door to face him. In the darkness I couldn't really see his face, but he looked as if he was thinking about something.

"So," I started, "Is everything alright?" He looked up at me.

"Things are what they are." He smiled and extended a hand to me. "That does not mean it is all bad, though." I took his hand in mine. "I have a name now." I sat down beside him.

"Yeah? What is it?" I was excited. For the entire time I had known him, I'd been struggling with the fact that he didn't have a real name.

"Adam," he answered, "Frankenstein decided it for me. He said it was a good fit."

I looked at him and tested it out. "Adam…hmm, I guess it does seem to suit you. If just for referential reasons." I got to my feet. "Can you help me unbutton this dress, Adam?" A sly grin spread on his face as I turned around. I held my hair out of the way. His hands picked at the pearl spheres, easily unhooking them one by one until he reached the last one. I let the garment slip to the ground and got to work on the laces of the corset. The newly christened Adam removed his outer clothes as well and together we got into bed. It was such a small bed I laid on top of him while his feet stuck out over the edge. His chest was as broad as a barrel and almost as hard. I rested my chin on my hands and stared into his yellow eyes. He stared back. His hands rested over my back, his thumb gently caressing the bare skin there.

"We're in love, aren't we," I said. A calloused finger swept a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I can only speak for myself," he responded quietly, "And I must admit I love you more than my own existence. For you are the sole embodiment of everything good in my life." His hand cupped my face, obliging me to look into his solemn eyes. I hid my face against his palm, for there was nothing I could think to say that could express how deeply his words hit me.

I smiled and began to giggle, tears blurring my vision. I wasn't laughing at him or at anything in particular. No one had ever said anything so loving, so passionate to me. I kissed his palm. I turned back to look into his puzzled eyes.

"Have I said something wrong?" he asked. I shook my head.

"No, no. You said what was probably the most wonderful thing anyone has ever told me before." I reached up and kissed him on the lips. "I love you, too." I nuzzled back down onto his chest and fell asleep to the gentle rise and fall of his breathing.


Thanks once more for sticking with me on this. I'm not exactly sure where I'm going to take the story with this whole "journey" arc. There are a couple of plot bunnies bouncing around in my head, but if you feel like offering any suggestions on where you'd like to see the story go, I'd be more than happy to take them into consideration. Granted I won't necessarily make it happen, but I'll do my best to write a good story! Thanks for reading and don't forget to review!