Chapter 10

Rose: 'I recovered quickly from the birth. Ozzie's arrival had changed our lives, we had all become closer than ever. Ed wanted to help out as much as he could with the baby. It became almost a competition between him and Gertrude to see who would get there first every time he needed something. I was grateful for the help, too.

Some days Oswald was almost his usual self and able to carry on as normal, but now when he conducted his business, Ed was by his side. He even mentioned to me that Oswald had killed someone over some late payments recently, but this was nothing new – he had to be feared or his rivals would think he had lost his edge. Three quarters of his business dealings were legal now. I worried about the rest, we didn't want the cops closing in when he was so close to making the whole empire legit.

He would get bad days, of course, but now those bad days saw him stuck in bed until the pain faded out. By now my husband was on the maximum dose of pain medication. We knew there was no alternative when he worsened. Strange said he thought Oswald had maybe a few months left – by now, our wedding anniversary had come and gone and we had spent our first Christmas together with Ozzie. Our son's tests results had come back with the news we had hoped for and expected – he did not carry the inherited Cobblepot curse. Oswald had been right, his son was healthy.

He was also right about being determined to carry on. He had first been told he had maybe a year left, but that year had passed and he was still with us and still fighting on. He went to see Hugo Strange, who told him he estimated he still had a few months – but exactly how many, he couldn't say. Oswald had smiled and replied, Maybe we will have this conversation again this time next year. Then Strange had warned him that as soon as he deteriorated, he had to return or it would be too late to put him on ice. That had dampened down his happy mood, the journey home was spent in silence.

But there had been a development in our lives that had come to light a few weeks after Ozzie was born, and it was yet another reason for my husband to stay strong: He had told me about his daughter, and now the mother was sending him pictures and keeping him updated on his little girl. He had told Ed first – I didn't hold that against him. The way I saw it, he probably found it easier to talk to another man, and he had told the man he loved before he told me. What mattered was the woman in question was now in contact, but only by phone. I never saw her face and she kept conversation by text to a minimum. He lived to see those pictures once a month. The little girl was three years old, she had jet black hair like Oswald, she had his eyes, too. But I respected his request not to ask questions, and most importantly, not to tell Gertrude anything unless there was a real chance that little girl could come and visit on a regular basis.

Apparently the woman wanted as little to do with Oswald as possible, she didn't even like taking his money and she didn't want any mention in his will. Oswald told me she would have no say about that, he had set up a generous trust fund for his daughter without her knowledge. We were all feeling as if things would stay like this forever, with Oswald defying every prediction made by Strange. But that time was about to come to an end, and although we knew it would happen, none of us were ready for it, especially not Oswald...'

It was a cold grey day when Oswald and Ed went for a drive, Oswald sat in the passenger seat feeling too weak to do more than give Ed instructions as he drove, not knowing where they would end up. When they reached the spot where in the distance he saw the place where he had once tried to kill him, Ed felt his guts churn.

"Why would you bring me back here?" he said in a hushed voice as he looked to the water.

"Just walk with me," Oswald replied, and Ed got out and then helped him out of the car.

They made their way towards the end of the pier, Oswald was holding his arm and leaning on his cane as Ed walked with him to the waters edge. He looked down at the water as old memories crowded his mind, along with deep regrets.

"Oh my... what a place to be on a cold day like this. You'd be so much better off back home with Rose and Ozzie, you're sick, you shouldn't be out here."

As he said that, Ed kept his arm around him, hugging him a little tighter as he looked down at him.

"I didn't bring you here to stir up bad memories," Oswald replied, looking up at Ed. In that moment it hit Ed just how weak his lover had become, his face was deathly pale and the shadows under his eyes had darkened heavily, but light still sparkled in his eyes as he smiled.

"After you shot me, we were apart for several years. It took me a while to recover, then some time went by and eventually I met Rose... somewhere in the middle of all that, before Rose came along, I met my daughter's mother. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't shot me."

"You can't be glad I shot you!" Ed exclaimed.

"But I am," Oswald replied, then he drew his phone from his pocket and held it up, showing a picture of his daughter on her birthday.

"All the choices we make in life lead us somewhere. Back then, you and I were not ready to be together. So all this other stuff happened and now I have two children – I wouldn't have conceived my daughter if things had been different between us. I may not have met Rose either. Now I have you and a family..." he paused as sadness shaded his gaze, "My only wish is that I could live long enough to have more time with you both and see those kids grow up. But at least I know I'm leaving an empire behind and a family who loves me. I never thought anyone would ever love me, Ed! I was wrong about that. Now I don't want it to end."

Ed wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close as he felt him shiver in the cold.

"I never want you to leave me," he said softly, and as he held him he leaned downward, placing a kiss in his lover's spiked hair.

"But I will," Oswald replied quietly. He raised his head and looked up into Ed's eyes, "I know you'll be a good stepfather to Ozzie, and you'll take care of Rose. That's what I think about when it gets too much and I get scared. I know my family will be in good hands."

"And that time hasn't come yet," Ed replied, "Let's go back to the car, you need to go home and rest."

The mood had been sombre since sunrise and heaviness seemed to hang in the air, even though Oswald had insisted he felt well enough to go for a drive with Ed, he was noticeably weaker and had been for a while, and the silent worry that those around him felt filled the Cobblepot home. While Gertrude took care of Ozzie, she told Rose she was happy to help, and added, "You need to take of my son. When he gets worse, we will all take care of him together. But you must let me help now with the baby, my son needs you."

Gertrude knew, she was watching him slowly fade to weakness with every passing day and Rose could only imagine the pain she felt. But Gertrude was tougher than she looked, this was a battle she had been fighting since the day Oswald came into the world and she wasn't about to see him leave it, not until he had no other choice...

When they returned from their drive, Ed helped Oswald up the stairs. Rose had heard the door close and hurried out from the front room with a worried expression as she looked up the staircase and saw how heavily her husband was leaning on Ed.

"Are you okay?"

They reached the top of the stairs and Oswald looked down at her.

"I just need some rest, I'll be fine," he told her, then he let Ed lead him away, heading for the bedroom.

As soon as Oswald was on his bed and resting, he felt instantly better. Ed lit the fire and the room filled with warmth. Then Rose came in and joined them.

"Ozzie's sleeping," she said, "So I thought I'd spend some time with you both. Gertrude said she'll take care of him when he wakes, he's in the nursery and she's got the baby monitor."

As she reached his bedside, he noticed a hint of concern in her eyes.

"I'm okay. I just felt weak this morning. It seems to be happening a lot more these days. But I feel great now I'm having a lie down."

Just then his message alert sounded and Oswald took his phone from his pocket. He accessed the message and smiled as his eyes shone with love. There was a picture of his little girl, laughing as she held something that made Oswald's eyes light up with joy.

"She likes umbrellas!" he exclaimed, then as he started to send a message, Ed, who was on the other side of the bed climbed on to join him. Rose climbed up the other side, now Oswald was warm in the middle as his two lovers lay with him, watching as he messaged his daughter's mother.

She likes umbrellas just like her Daddy! he wrote.

It's a parasol, idiot, the reply came back, She carries it like you hold an umbrella, she takes it everywhere. She also likes expensive clothing – in the same colours you wear. She's getting more like you every day. How are you?

Not too good, Oswald replied, it's put me on my back again but I feel okay now. Thank you so much for sharing the pictures. It means a lot to me.

He was about to hit send, then he glanced to Rose then to Ed.

"I want to ask if I can see my daughter."

"You should," Ed replied.

"Definitely, go for it!" Rose added.

He wrote some more, I only have a few months left. I really want to see her. Could you bring her over to the house? I'll leave the arrangements to you.

There was a pause. As he waited for a reply, Oswald shook his head.

"I pushed my luck, I shouldn't have said that. I bet she says no."

"She might say yes," Ed reminded him.

Then a message flashed up.

I'm working on something important. This is not an excuse. I will make arrangements as soon as I can – but I can't say when and I don't want to get your hopes up. Just rest and take it easy. You will see your daughter, I promise. By the way, I changed her last name to Kapelput. I thought you would like that.

"She did what?" Oswald exclaimed as he looked excitedly to Ed and Rose, "She has my family name, my real family name!"

"And so she should," Ed remarked.

"That was a nice thing to do," Rose added, feeling sure this ex of his was not the heartless bitch she had first seemed to be – she had not wanted a link to the Cobblepot name, so instead had adopted the real family name - because she knew how much it meant to Oswald. That was a very kind thing to do, and now she was decided: If this woman ever came to the house, she would definitely make her feel welcome. To see such joy in her sick husband's eyes had warmed her heart.

Oswald sent another message.

Thank you so much, you don't know what this means to me!

She gave a final reply:

Yes I do, that's why I did it. I have to go now, try and stay well, I wish you only the best. Life's too short for stupid fights. I'll kiss your girl for you. Bye for now.

As he put the phone down, Oswald was elated. He sat up and turned to Ed and kissed him fondly, then he turned back over and kissed Rose.

"I think she means it, she's going to let me see her!"

"And that's something to look forward to, if she gets back in touch," Ed reminded him, "It's great you're so happy, but we need to wait and see what happens. I hope she does let you see her, I really do, " then he smiled as he slid his hand inside Oswald's jacket, running a firm touch over his body that felt warm through the fabric of his shirt, making him shiver.

"I think it's Penguin sandwich time!" he said teasingly as Rose laughed and shifted closer.

"What a great idea!" she said.

As her hands wandered over his body and Ed's did the same, Oswald laid back, closing his eyes with a big smile on his face. The words Penguin sandwich always aroused him, because that meant the two of them wanted him in the middle, where they could both make love to him.

All the pain and tiredness that had slowed him down that morning was gone as Oswald laid back, giving a sigh as his wife and his lover undressed him. Ed's lips felt warm and soft as he opened up his shirt and traced a path of kisses down his body, as he reached his belt and slid the buckle free, Oswald gave a gasp as Rose ran her fingertips over his chest. He was leaning back against her now, she was holding him and whispering to him.

"I bet that feels good."

"Yes it does... oh god!" he gave another gasp as Ed took him in his mouth, he was taking his time, teasing him, going as slowly as he could bear, making him wait as Oswald trembled.

Ed was down on him, Rose was running her fingers through his hair and turning up the kind of talk that made him even harder as Ed started to suck more firmly. As he breathed heavily and sensations of pleasure began to spark deep in his groin, there was a look of pure satisfaction on Oswald's face as the thought hit him that as long as he could enjoy mind blowing moments like this, he was still very much alive.

As the climax hit his cry was muffled and lost as his lower body trembled and Ed kept him in his mouth and Rose pulled Oswald closer and covered his parted lips with a kiss. As he came up for air, Oswald's face was flushed and his pupils were heavily dilated.

"I love you both so much!" he said as he recovered his breath.

The bed felt soft as he laid back and recovered from the attentions of his wife and his lover. They were both beside him now, and Ed kissed his hand as Rose swept his hair off his face and fondly kissed his cheek.

"We both love you too, we love you more than anything," she said softly.

Later Rose got up to check on Ozzie, while Ed stayed with Oswald, who told him not to fuss as he stripped off the rest of his clothes and put him to bed.

"You need to rest!" he insisted as he folded the covers and then sat on the edge of the bed, "You tire so easily these days, it makes sense for you to slow down as much as you can."

Oswald had been looking much better thanks to the afterglow left over from their attention, but now as he rested, his face was growing pale again.

"I might spend the rest of the day in bed," he replied, "But I'm getting up tomorrow. Too much rest feels like giving up and I'm not ready for that yet."

Ed looked to the phone placed on the table next to the bed, and as he recalled the messages sent by the unnamed woman, he grew curious.

"Do you want to tell me anything more about about your ex?"

"Not until I know for sure she's going to give me access to my daughter. If she lets me down, I'll have to take that and accept she's just a memory. I don't think I have time to worry too much about the things I can't have in life. I need to make the most of what's already here for me."

Ed was thinking about the conversation he had witnessed on the phone.

"She definitely doesn't hate you."

"She didn't want to settle down and she certainly hadn't planned to have a baby. She wanted an abortion and I begged her to keep my child. I offered to do the right thing and marry her, I said, I'll give you my name and I'll be a good father. But she turned me down instantly. She said she didn't want to be Mrs Penguin, she had plans for her life."

"But she kept the baby," Ed reminded him, "When exactly did you meet her, Oswald?"

He hesitated.

"It doesn't matter now, it's in the past. She was a kind and unselfish person who didn't even know who I was at the time we met, I was just some guy who needed a friend and she was there. But looking back I don't think we could have made it work. I can't regret that now."

Oswald fell silent. Ed swiftly changed the subject, not wanting the man he loved to dwell on sad times. He laughed as he suddenly recalled an old memory.

"I can't believe I thought it was Fish Mooney!" he chuckled, "While I was still working for the GCPD I stole her phone number. I was mad at her for what she did to your leg, so I called her, from the police department!"

"What did you say to her?" Oswald asked as his eyes sparkled with amusement.

"I said I wanted to know how tough she was. She said tough enough to take me out if I threatened her. I asked her what she did to naughty boys. There was this long silence and then she told me when she found me, I was in deep trouble. She said she'd beat me to death. So I said..." he chuckled before he carried on, "I said, Fish, I'm already beating myself into oblivion with my hand on my cock! Then I hung up..." he laughed again, "I made the call from Jim Gordon's office!"

As he laughed again, Oswald laughed too.

"You're crazy, Ed!"

"I guess I am," he replied, "After all, I am officially a psychopath."

Then he got on to the bed and put his arm around him.

"Let's rest together for a while, my little Penguin," he said fondly.

Oswald rested his head against his chest, then fell into silent thought:

Ed was a psychopath. While he didn't doubt the man he loved would devote himself to caring for his family while he was gone, his only concern was how much pressure Ed could take. He would defend the business interests and his son with his life, but Rose? He wasn't sure how he would feel once he was on ice and Ed was left to look after her while he was absent. All it would take was something to push him over the edge...

It was a fear that flickered at the back of his mind as he wondered if maybe he was worrying too much, it was too easy to get the unlikeliest of scenarios blown out of all proportion while he waited to get so sick his only choice was to be frozen alive. He silently made the decision that he would talk to Rose alone about this, just to make her aware that he worried Ed might have a breakdown once he was gone...

It was growing late when Rose entered the bedroom with Ozzie in her arms. Ed was downstairs, he had woken an hour before and said he would grab a shower and something to eat before returning to bed, and now seemed like the perfect time to speak with her as he held his son and she sat beside him.

"Rose, I need you to keep a secret," he said in a low voice, "It's about Ed... I really do think he will devote his life to this family when I'm gone, but I'm not sure how losing me will affect him. If he starts falling apart, acting weird or you think he might do something stupid, I want you to call Hugo Strange. He will know what meds to put him on. It probably won't happen, but I'm trying to cover everything. Just don't panic and call the cops because that will land him back in Arkham."

Rose felt an icy shiver run through her blood at the thought that Ed might suddenly go insane.

"You really think that might happen?"

"Probably not but I'm just remembering his weakness and trying to help him because I know he's going to be heartbroken when I'm put on ice. It could be twenty years before he sees me again. I'm not sure what the reality of that will do to him."

Rose nodded.

"I'll remember this," she assured him, "But I'm sure he can cope. He lives to make you happy and all he wants is to be here for us when you're away. Please don't worry, I want the rest of your days to be peaceful."

"So do I," he agreed, as he looked down at the child in his arms and smiled, silently deciding if he didn't make it and wasn't around to see the future, at least his children would still be here. Knowing that was a huge comfort as he cradled his baby son and tried not to think any more on the subject of his own demise.

Next morning Rose woke first, she went straight to the nursery to fetch Ozzie while her husband slept on and Ed lay beside him. Then Ed was woken sharply as he felt a tight grip on his shoulder.

"Ed!"

He turned over to see Oswald beside him, he was deathly pale and had a terrified look in his eyes as pain gripped his body.

"Help me, it hurts!"

Ed sat up sharply, grabbed his pills and gave him three, then placed a hand on the back of his head as he steadied him, helping him to drink from the glass of water he raised to his lips. Oswald was still shaking.

"Why does it hurt so much?"

Ed placed his hands on his shoulders, easing him down on to the bed as his heart felt gripped with fear. This was deep chronic pain, worse than the usual trouble that came and went, and Oswald was terrified.

"Wait for the pills to kick in," Ed told him as he got out of bed.

"Don't leave me!"

"I have to get dressed. Stay in bed, I know the pills don't work like they used to but it's better than nothing..." He hurried to the door and looked out, "Rose!" he called, "Oswald needs you!"

Then he grabbed his clothing and hurriedly got dressed, keeping a watchful eye on Oswald as he lay on his back in bed, shaking and sweating as pain took over his body.

By the time Rose had joined them, one look at Oswald was all she needed to know he could no longer fight on. As she took hold of his hand he gave a cry of pain as tears filled his eyes.

"The drugs have stopped working," he said tearfully, "I just want it to stop, please make it stop..." he have another cry of pain as his whole body tensed and then trembled, his eyes reflected terror as he drew in a sharp breath, "Fetch my mother...I want my Mom!"

Gertrude had been up since dawn and she hurried into the room and stood on the other side of the bed, leaning over her son as he cried out in pain yet again.

"Shh," she said softly, "Mother is here, Oswald... my poor boy, you are not alone."

Rose exchanged a glance with Ed, who wiped tears from his eyes and then put his glasses back on. She read the expression on his face, they were both thinking the same thing: It was time. Oswald wouldn't last much longer, he needed to be frozen before it was too late.

"Call Strange," he said quietly, then he went over to the bed and leaned over Oswald, who had a tight grip on his mother's hand.

"Ed, help me!" he begged.

He cupped his face in his hands, raising his head as he looked into his eyes and carefully spelled out the facts:

"Oswald, we have to go to the facility now. You won't survive much longer like this. Chronic pain means you have very little time left."

More pain cut through his body and sunk deep to his bones and he gave a sob.

"No, I don't want to go, I'm not ready for this! I can fight it!"

Then more pain hit and he leaned hard against the bed beneath him as he fought it, tearing himself away from Ed's touch as he struggled to regain the breath the wave of pain had snatched away.

"You have to do this!" Ed said firmly.

For a brief time, the agony had faded out. Oswald felt weaker than ever before as he gave a weary sigh and looked up at his lover.

"I don't want to be frozen! I might never come back from it!"

Ed blinked away tears as he stroked his hair. Gertrude was still holding her son's hand, but while his gaze was on Ed, she looked away, weeping silent tears for her only son.

"Listen to me," said Ed, "You have two choices – either you stay here and let us take care of you, or you go to the facility and get put on ice until a cure can be found. If you stay here you will die. That's a fact. This is the end of the line, going on with the freezing process is the only chance you have. What do you want to do, Oswald?"

He thought of Ed and Rose and then his children. As his mother stroked his hair her touch was soothing and suddenly as the pain started to flicker, he had a moment of clarity and was able to make his choice.

"Take me to the facility," he said, "Put me on ice. I'm going to fight this. I want to live!"

The pain came and went as Ed and Rose helped Oswald to get dressed. Then he sat on the bed for another fifteen minutes, gripping his cane in his shaking hand as he waited to feel strong enough to stand. Eventually, Ed helped him down the stairs and then, with Gertrude taking care of Ozzie, they all went to the cryogenics facility together.

Ed said nothing as he stood back and watched as Hugo Strange briefly examined Oswald, who had been placed on a bed in a small private room on the first floor. Then he said he would prepare the freezing unit, and when he returned, he would be sedated before the freezing process could begin.

As more pain hit and he cried out, his mother stroked his hair and softly sang to him. Rose felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and she turned her head to see Ed was beside her now.

"We'll get through this together," he said, "We have to stay strong for Oswald."

She nodded, then reached up and briefly closed her hand over his, as in this time of need Ed Nygma felt like a tower of strength as he stood beside her.

By the time Strange returned, they were all gathered around the bed. Rose kissed her husband's cheek, Ed kissed his brow and his mother looked on with tears in her eyes. They had all said this was not the end, and that they would see him soon, but by now Oswald was delirious with the pain and was barely aware of their presence. He didn't even know the needle had bit into his flesh or feel the sting of the sedative as it was injected. Suddenly the pain lifted and he looked up and saw his family gathered around him.

"We love you," he heard Ed say, then his eyes closed and his body relaxed.

"He is heavily sedated now,"Strange told them, "You can have some time with him before I place him in the unit – no longer than fifteen minutes, please."

He left the room and Gertrude turned to Rose as she held out the child in her arms.

"Please, " she said, "You hold your son now, because I need to hold mine."

Rose took Ozzie into her arms and cradled him as her heart ached and she looked over at Oswald, on his back and deeply sedated. Gertrude wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close, stroking his hair as his head rested on her shoulder.

"My brave boy," she whispered, "My special, wonderful son... you sleep, and when you wake, all will be well. We shall wait for you."

And while they stood there saying the last goodbye before Oswald was put on ice, no one noticed the pocket of his jacket, which was draped over a chair where he had left it, had just lit up. Two text messages had gone unnoticed, and now as his phone rang, it wasn't heard because it was on silent. The caller was sent through to voice mail...

While the call had gone unnoticed, far away on a lonely highway, a car was parked at the side of the road. The driver had got out, cursing under her breath as she held up her phone, trying to regain a lost signal. Her high heels clicked as she made her way across the deserted highway, then she walked back again, turning her back on the car as the bars came back up indicating signal, and she called Oswald's number again.

This time the call was answered, but not by Oswald.

"Hello?" said a shaken, tearful voice.

"Is Penguin there?"

"No, he's become too sick to fight on. He's currently in the process of being put on ice in the cryogenics facility... I just checked his phone...Who is this? I recognise this number, are you his ex?"

"Yes I am... he's frozen?"

"We had no choice. I know you wanted him to see his daughter, we need to discuss the possibility of introducing her to her brother, and her grandmother too. Oswald would have wanted that. My name is Edward Nygma, I'm his partner... his other partner. His wife also welcomes the chance to meet Ozzie's sister. What's your name?"

"I'll call back soon," she replied, "We can't do this now, not today...I'll be in touch."

She ended the call, giving a sigh of frustration as she turned around and the breeze whipped up the ends of her long red hair. For a moment her eyes clouded with worry as she stood there, her dress clinging to shapely curves as she thought about Penguin, and how her months of hard work had finally come up with a definite cure to save her daughter's father...She had waited until now because she had to be sure, she had never wanted to give him false hope. It felt like it had all come too late, but she wasn't about to give up.

She turned back to the car, then she stared at the sight of her daughter, standing beside the open door, wearing a black dress and a fluffy purple coat, stood beneath the shade of her dark lace parasol. Her jet black hair framed pale features and as she smiled, she looked like her father.

"I told you to stay in the car!" she said, and quickly helped her daughter back inside, securing her in the seat before reminding her, we keep the parasol down in the car. Her three year old daughter was still looking at her with Penguin's playful gaze.

"Behave yourself, young lady!" her mother said, "It's going to be a busy day!"

Then she closed the door firmly and climbed into the driving seat. As she started the engine she glanced at her phone, saw the signal was still up and left it on the seat beside her. She didn't know if Penguin's family would call her again today, but if they did, she wanted to answer, as soon enough, they would be frantic with worry and she didn't want to add to an already difficult time. But she couldn't explain her plans, at least until the problem of Oswald being locked in the facility was resolved. She glanced in the mirror at her daughter in the back seat.

"It's not a problem," she said, "I'm smart, I can do this."

The little girl laughed gleefully, making her heart ache as she thought of the past and how her life had collided with Penguin's.

"I was nineteen when I met your Daddy," she said as she drove along, "And he was a very innocent guy in his thirties. That's why your Auntie Barbara thinks he's a total douche – but she thinks that of all guys...She doesn't know the whole story. I was so much more experienced in life than he was, in lots of ways. He's not a bad guy. Some people might say he is, but he's not, or I wouldn't be doing this for him. Now he's in trouble, and not the usual kind that involves the cops, the poor guy needs my help. And by the way..." she glanced at the mirror again as her daughter toyed with the lace trim on her parasol then looked at her mother, "Lilly, I know you're only three and you can't understand everything I say, but I know you're smart. I'm smart too, thank goodness I am or I wouldn't have been able to figure out how to fix your Daddy..." she set her sights on the road ahead and formulated a plan as she thought of Penguin and murmured her thoughts aloud:

"I'm the last person you'll expect to see when you wake up, but I can fix you, baby daddy. So yet again I'm saving your life, and this time you'd better be grateful..." her lipstick shone red as she started to smile as she drove on, wishing her words could carry to her child's father: "Don't worry Pengie, I'll fix you – plants can do amazing things! I just have to bust you out of the freezer first... Ivy Pepper to the rescue!"