Chapter 11

Rose:

'Lilly came home after three weeks. But it wasn't long before she was walking again, she was hobbling about on her cane with a limp just like her father, but as she got stronger and more confident, even needing the cane didn't seem to get her down. Nothing stood in the way of her carrying on with her life as she usually did. The first time she came over to the house and tapped on the door with her parasol, I'd never seen Ivan move so fast as he got up from the table. The kids went out to play, and we didn't have to worry about the barn any more, because there was no barn.

The weeks turned into months and no more disasters struck our family. The oil company was doing well, finances were good, there was not a cloud on the horizon. By now the baby was due any day. That's what we were looking forward to, the arrival of the new baby and a future with nothing else going wrong...And in some ways, we would get our wish but in others, perhaps not.

Nothing could ever be perfect under the often clouded and stormy skies of Gotham, but it seemed our family was getting by well enough, at last...

We didn't know what the future would bring, that one day there would be a new consequence to this life we had lived with its roots at the dark days of Penguin's rise to power, Oswald had built our new lives on that blood-drenched foundation and while it was beautiful at the top, beneath the surface, darkness was growing as sure as it touched all who lived in the city of Gotham. One day there would be so much more to Lilly Kapelput than simply being the strange little girl who grew up to resemble her father... But for now, those days seemed far off. My baby was due. Everyone was excited about meeting the new addition to the family...'


The sky was grey and filled with the promise of rain, it reflected dull and cold on the Gotham River as they sat side by side in the car, watching the water and the cold, dull view of the city across the other side. It was the kind of morning that made Ed think of the past, and today it took him too far back, to a time when the events played out on this pier, orchestrated by his own hand, had happened right at this spot - and he felt sure it would haunt him forever.

"I'll never forget what I did," he said, "When I shot you. I love you, how could I ever have done such a thing?" and he looked at Oswald, whose expression was far from haunted by the past. He smiled as no shadows of yesterday dampened his mood.

"It was fate," Oswald replied, "You tried to kill me, Ivy saved me. Then my first child came along. Then I met Rose, later you came back to me... it's all destined."

Today the past seemed far too close for comfort, it also seemed as if they had travelled back in time as they sat there waiting for other cars to pull up. Oswald's links to the underworld were kept very quiet these days, but no one ever really walked away from such powerful ties, not really... There had been peace in the underworld for a long time, but there had recently been a disagreement over weapons shipments and with a delivery compromised, so those at the top of the chain had agreed to meet to discuss a course of action.

"I'm only here to be polite," Oswald assured him as other cars began to arrive and Ed felt his throat go tight, "When I made the deal to hand over territory to others, it was on the understanding that I will always get a slice of the profits. When something goes wrong, they need my input – that was part of their deal."

"I'm armed," Ed said quietly, then he forced a smile, "The last time I was here with a gun it was you taking a bullet, by my hand... Do I trust your associates? No, I do not! But I'm just going to sit in this car, saying nothing, with my gun concealed, today I'm not Riddler nor can I hear his voice. I'm just trying to watch over my husband and make sure he doesn't get killed."

The others who had just arrived were getting out of their cars and gathering.

"Now is not like it was back then, stop worrying so much," Oswald replied, then he kissed him and got out of the car, closed the door and walked away.

Ed sat there in the driving seat looking nervously towards the gathered people. Some of them were new faces, others were the same gang leaders who used to meet around his table when Oswald had run the underworld in the days before his marriage.

Those who Ed recognised looked a little older now, but not Oswald as he leaned on his cane and hobbled over to join them, looking dashing in his suit and even up close, he still didn't look a day over thirty-five. Ed assumed he never would, because of that potion Ivy had given him, when she had saved his life. She said it would stop him ageing, and it had certainly worked. Oswald still looked young and vibrant. At that moment, he looked like Penguin again as he joined in a heated discussion.

Ed's hand crept to his loaded gun as he took a slow breath, watching the meeting, waiting for any hint of a sign that his love was in trouble. This was the price they paid for the new life they enjoyed now... As far as most in Gotham were concerned, Oswald owned the oil company and enjoyed success as a legitimate businessman – but this was the reality, this was under the surface. He would never be able to completely cut ties with the underworld...

After waiting for more than thirty minutes and watching a heated discussion, Ed saw handshakes and then polite farewells and he breathed a relieved sigh as people started to leave and Oswald hobbled back to the car. As he got back in and joined him, he smiled warmly at Ed.

"The first time we've had to meet as an emergency in over ten years and I didn't have to stab anyone!"

"Is it resolved?" Ed asked, sounding tense, "Please tell me this is over. We have a really nice life now and I don't want that to change!"

Oswald watched as the final car drove away, now they were alone, theirs was the only car parked close to the pier.

"There will be a couple of discreet shootings and a few people need to be replaced within certain areas of the weapons trade, but it was a good outcome. Don't worry, Ed. There's no war coming."

Oswald leaned closer, ran his fingers through his hair and kissed him. Then as he heard the sound of an approaching car, he looked over his shoulder as they embraced and recognised the car and the driver. If the GCPD had been tipped off something was happening here today, they were too late, at least to catch the kind of meeting they were expecting... As Oswald pulled away from his embrace, there was a playful look in his eyes.

"We don't have to go home just yet..."

He tugged down his zip. Ed's gaze fell on his growing erection and he laughed softly and leaned closer to his ear.

"You want me to blow you by the river? After the meeting you just had?"

"It might relieve my stress!" Oswald said in amusement, then he slid his hand to the back of Ed's head and gently pushed him downward. As he took him in his mouth, Oswald hardened rock solid and closed his eyes, giving a sigh of contentment as Ed started to caress him with his mouth. What a place to do this, what a time to do this... The very thought of it was turning him on as much as Ed's attention aroused him... and a short distance away, he heard a car door close. Yes, Jim Gordon was heading over to the car...

As Jim approached the car, he caught sight of Oswald apparently alone in the passenger seat, he was leaning back against the seat, gasping for air. His first thoughts on the situation was that maybe the tip off about the meeting at the pier had been genuine – and it looked like Oswald had possibly been shot or stabbed...

He raced over to the car, just as Oswald gave a gasp.

"Penguin?" he called urgently as he ran over.

"What?" Ed exclaimed as he sat upright.

Jim had reached the car. He stared at Oswald, who was breathless and flushed as he tidied his clothing. By the look on his face, he had definitely interrupted something and it had nothing to do with underworld business, by the way Ed had just raised his head from Oswald's lap...

"Yes Jim, can we do something for you?" Oswald said in annoyance as he glared at him through the car window, "I would love to know what you claim to be investigating to turn up at a time like this! Since when did you have so much time on your hands you could afford to waste it peeping at me while I have an intimate moment with my husband?"

Ed had looked away, he was trying hard not to laugh as he glanced at Jim, but seeing the look on his face, he had to look away again.

Jim was blushing.

"I'm sorry," he said politely, "We had a tip off about something happening at the pier that might be of interest..."

Now laughter came from inside the car. It was Ed. He shook his head and laughed again. Oswald was focused on Jim, not daring to look at him as he kept up the pretence of being offended.

"I would love to know why you find the idea of getting intimate with me so interesting," he replied, "There was a time when I considered you a very close friend. If things had turned out differently perhaps you would be sitting in this car today instead of Ed. But that's not the case and I will remind you I'm happily married. So next time you get the urge to spy on me I suggest you think about your motives first!"

Jim's face was still flushed as he spoke again. Looking at Oswald, it was as if the years had fallen away. He still looked the same as he had back in the days when he ran the underworld. He didn't know how he managed to look so young – maybe it was something to do with having a good sex life and two spouses, that was all he could put it down to...And there was still something about him that caught his eye no matter how hard he tried to deny it...

"I'm really sorry," he said again, "It was a misunderstanding."

"Apology accepted," Oswald replied, and he watched as Jim waked back to his car.

As he drove away, Ed laughed again.

"You knew he was here! That was why you asked me to do that to you!"

"Yes!" Oswald confirmed, and then he laughed with him.

"You're a naughty little Penguin!" Ed playfully scolded.

"And I promise you, I always will be!" Oswald assured him, then Ed started up the car.


As they drove off in the direction that would lead back home, Ed was still thinking about the tension of the meeting. Thankfully Oswald's little stunt had lightened the mood, but his thoughts were still with his underworld ties. It made him uneasy, it always had, to know he was still an influential figure in the darker side of Gotham, despite on the surface being a successful businessman whose hands appeared to be clean.

"Do you think Lilly will be able to handle taking over from you when she's older?" he asked.

"I have no doubt she will enjoy it," Oswald replied.

"My thoughts too," Ed agreed, "But you'll always advise her?"

"Of course – she won't be left to handle serious matters on her own," he assured him.

"I'm glad about that," Ed replied, "We can all remember being young and impulsive."

They exchanged a glance. In that moment, memories of old quarrels and painful mistakes passed silently between them.

"She's smart," Oswald replied, "She was born for this job."

"When are you going to tell her?"

"She already knows," he replied, "Not everything, but some of it."

"What about Ozzie?" Ed asked.

"He's such a good boy. He can come and work for me at the oil company when he's older. I'm happy for him to take over one day."

"I can see him doing well with that. I wonder what Ivan will do?"

"That's not up to me," Oswald replied, "I'll leave that to you. Ivy might need a hand with the jewellery business. Or maybe he'll want to help her with her plant research."

"I'm wondering if Eddie will do that, he's very interested in her laboratory. Maybe he'll get into forensics when he's older, he's got a very scientific mind."

Oswald laughed.

"That would be perfect! Can you imagine if he worked for the GCPD?"

They exchanged another glance.

"He'd be very useful for getting rid of crime scene evidence if Lilly ever needed a hand," Ed agreed.

Home was in sight. Oswald smiled at the thought of returning to his family after a morning that had been a too close reminder of the past. He thought of Rose and their baby, the child that was due to be born any day now, and felt a warm glow in his heart.

"I'm so excited about the baby!"

"We all are," Ed replied with a smile, then they drove through the open gates of the mansion, arriving home at last.


Rose had been feeling odd all morning. It wasn't like the start of labour pains, she just felt strange, like she was partly detached from the rest of the world. Ozzie had kicked up a fuss that morning about not being able to find his homework, and she had heard Gertrude telling him to look for it, but their voices had sounded distant. That had been a few hours ago, now she was resting on the sofa in the front room, shifting her tired gaze from the flickering firelight to the clock on the wall.

Oswald had told her he had to meet with gang leaders today – a rare occurrence – and she was worried. She feared there might be trouble, things had been quiet in the underworld for many years and it had to be serious for her husband to be getting involved... She thought about the baby and started feeling worried sick.

It was getting hard to see the time now, the clock face looked blurred and so did the firelight as the flames danced in the fireplace. She heard the front door close, then she heard the familiar footfalls of her husband, his limping step and the tap of his cane against the marble floor, and she breathed a relieved sigh. She heard Ed say he would see him later on, then he walked away and as the door opened, Rose got up from the sofa, the room span and then she drew in a breath, swaying as she looked at her husband.

"How was your meeting?"

"It was fine... what's wrong with you, Rose?"

Oswald was at her side now, steadying her as she looked at him and struggled to focus.

"You need to sit down!" he said as panic crept into his voice and he called for his mother to join them.

"I'm fine..." Rose whispered, closing her hand tightly on the sleeve of his suit, "I just feel dizzy..."

Oswald was panicking now. Rose was pale and her eyes could barely focus.

"You're not fine!" he insisted.

"I am fine, I'm okay... stop worrying..." she murmured, then the world went black as she lost consciousness and slumped heavy in his arms.


Rose knew nothing of the next few hours. She didn't know the shock or the fear that ran through her husbands mind, she didn't know Ed and Ivy took over looking after the kids and said nothing for fear of worrying them while she was rushed to hospital with life threatening complications that ended with her needing an emergency C-section and a hysterectomy.

But the baby was fine, after all the worry Oswald went through as his mother tried to reassure him, Rose pulled through and the baby was born strong and healthy, this time they had a daughter, just like the psychic had predicted, and she had eyes like her grandmother.

When Rose woke up, Oswald was at her bedside. His eyes were slightly red from crying and he sounded emotional as he cradled their child in his arms.

"She's so beautiful," he said, "She looks like you, Mother."

"Another little Cobblepot," Gertrude said fondly, then she looked to Rose and saw she was awake.

"And you are back with us!" she said kindly, "Rose, look - the baby is here!"

Rose recalled blacking out. She had also realised she felt weak, and as she found her voice, worry filled her thoughts.

"Is the baby okay? What happened?" she whispered.

Oswald sat beside her bed, smiled down at his daughter in his arms and then met her gaze.

"You had complications, Rose. They had to operate, you needed a C-section and a hysterectomy. But you're going to be okay, and this little one is absolutely fine..."

He leaned closer and she looked into her daughter's eyes for the first time.

"You have eyes like Grandma!" she said softly as tears of joy filled her vision. Then she thought on what he had just told her.

"We can't have any more kids?"

"It doesn't matter!" Oswald insisted, "I have you and Ozzie and this little one...I'm happy, this is perfect. I love you, Rose."

"I love you too," she whispered, then as he leaned closer and kissed her cheek, she briefly grasped her daughter's tiny hand. Then tiredness swept over her and Rose slept deeply.

It took her several days to recover well enough to return home, but when she did, she had more than enough help from her husband and Ed and Oswald's mother, who adored her new granddaughter. They named the baby Karina Gertrude Cobblepot. Oswald was overjoyed to have another child, and when Rose reminded him they could have no more together, he simply repeated that it did not matter – he had his son and now two daughters, and he was happy – now, he felt like his family was complete.


Two weeks after Rose came home with the baby, while Ozzie was quietly doing his homework in his room, Ivan quietly left the house by the back door after getting a message from Lilly. The emphasis on quiet applied to everyone, because the baby needed to sleep.

He took the path to the place where the barn used to stand, now that space was no longer empty – in its place was a very elaborate play house, it was a full sized cottage with electricity and heating, it was a very expensive present that Ivy had bought after the fire, a safe play house filled with furniture. It was all on ground floor level too, so Ivy didn't have to worry about Lilly slipping with her cane on the stairs.

She was waiting for him on the porch, dressed in black with her long hair whipping up at the ends as the breeze caught it. She was leaning on her cane as elegantly as her father did.

"Hurry!" she instructed him, "I have something of great importance to show you!"

Light rain had started to fall. He hurried over to join her and then he followed her inside and she closed the door. As the rain fell against the windows, the warm glow of the electric lighting within made the place look cosy. She led him through the front room, then down a narrow hallway and into another room where there was a sign on the door that said Lilly's Room – Keep out!

"I thought I wasn't allowed in here?" he asked cautiously as she closed the door behind him.

"The rules have changed."

Ivan looked at her in confusion, then he blinked, looking in surprise at the papers that had been pinned to the wall: Notes, lots of them. And drawings, detailed drawings of strange devices and machinery, all in pencil and adorned with notes and arrows and parts circled.

"What have you been planning in here?" he asked.

"That can wait," she said, then as she leaned on her cane, her gaze filled with emotion.

"I want you to know that I trust you. And I will never break your bones. I will always be kind to you, Parasol Boy. Actually, I found out it's not very nice to be called an umbrella boy...or a parasol boy. So I might start calling you Ivan."

He nodded.

"Okay... do I still hold your parasol?"

"Yes," she confirmed, then she paused to blink misty eyes as she smiled.

"I have a great destiny when I'm older. I know how I shall be to carry out that destiny, but there was something missing. It's now been found! Ivan, the missing piece to my plans has fallen into place!"

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

She had a gleam in her eyes that was somewhere between victorious and highly emotional.

"I watched a movie. Actually, I stole a set of DVDs from my Uncle Ed's collection – the ones he keeps locked away because he said it's not for kids... And I found my inspiration!"

"For what?" Ivan said.

Lilly paused, recalling the story as she blinked away tears.

"I totally get why he said those movies are not for kids... it was so emotional! I want you to watch it with me!"

"Oh no," Ivan said as he shook his head, "No way am I sitting through some mushy chick flick... I didn't even know Ed watched sentimental stuff. I don't like movies that make me cry!"

Lilly stepped closer, leaning hard on her cane as she looked up at him.

"You must see it! Let me tell you about the story... It's about a clever and selfless man who, although sick and in great pain, goes to great lengths to make those who take life for granted and treat other people badly see the error of their ways, he does this through devising tests that make them revaluate and ultimately appreciate their lives, in order to become better people!"

Ivan shook his head.

"I don't think I know that story, Lilly"

She shot him a look of surprise as she grabbed a DVD box set off the table and showed it to him.

"You've never seen the Saw movies?" she said in surprise.

Ivan looked at the case in her hand.

"That looks like one of Uncle Ed's gory horror collections. He loves stuff about bodies getting chopped up. It's a horror movie, Lilly!"

"You miss my point," she said dismissively, "Look deeper into this – when I am older, I may have to kill people. Some of those people may deserve to be punished, they might not deserve to die, they might just need to learn a lesson. But mostly, the bad ones will die. Anyway, my point is, Jigsaw uses games. Like my Uncle Ed creates riddles... a riddle is a puzzle, like a game. And my Dad had to kill people years ago, he had to, he was in a dangerous job... when I'm older, I too may have to kill people. But the worst of them, those who really deserve it, will play my games!"

Ivan looked around the room at the notes pinned to the walls, he took in the intricacy of her diagrams – her own inventions, plans for devices to one day use on her enemies.

"Wow..." he whispered.

Lilly felt worried as he kept on looking at those diagrams.

"Say something else, Ivan. And look at me. And please don't say I'm creepy! Everyone at school says that!"

Ivan looked back at her, straight into her ice blue eyes. He was under no illusions about Oswald's past and he knew all about Ed's past, too. He guessed it should come as no surprise that Lilly would be capable of plans like this.

"I think you're a genius!" he said, "And when you're older, no one will mess with you."

She smiled proudly.

"Some day I will take over my father's underworld dealings. And I will be unstoppable!" then she gathered her thoughts, "While I was watching the movie, I thought, that clever man who is so sick reminds me in a way of my Dad... he was sick years ago. I remember when I was young, I watched him recover. He had to kill people, too, when he ran the underworld... but he carried out his plans and now we have a lovely home and very good life. My father is my hero."

"But don't ever tell him you compare him to Jigsaw," Ivan replied, "I really don't think he would like that."

"To the eyes of the world, I am Lilly Kapelput, but my enemies will meet The Gotham Jigsaw," she replied, "And they will come to fear my wrath!"

A thought had suddenly struck Ivan - and it troubled him.

"When you're older, you'll be mixing with dangerous people," he said, "I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'll be fine! I fear no one!" she said defiantly, then she sat down on a comfortable chair and leaned her cane against the wall.

"Play the movie, Ivan," she added, "You must see this!"

He put the DVD on and then grabbed a bean bag seat and sunk into it as he hit play on the remote control.

"And I suppose later, someone will have to sneak into the house and put this box set back before Ed realises it's missing?"

He glanced around at Lilly and she smiled at him, confirming his assumption.

"I have every faith in your ability to do that," she told him.

"I thought as much," he said, giving a weary sigh as the movie started to play.


All that Lilly had told him stayed on Ivan's mind. His main concern was the thought of the risk that she would be facing when she took on her role in the darker side of Oswald's life. And that led to an idea. Two weeks later, he went into town and took a route he had not taken since the days he had been homeless and scared and on the run after the shooting – he walked around the back of the Iceberg Lounge and knocked on the door.

As he stood there waiting for an answer, memories flooded his mind and he felt a surge of emotion. He hadn't known how life would turn out. But here he was, almost fourteen, and looking back on the day he had showed up here, scared for his life and about to face Penguin after confessing to shooting Ed. Now Ed was like a father to him...So much had changed. And now, he knew what he wanted to do with his life.

The door opened. Victor Zsasz looked at him in surprise.

"What brings you here, Ivan?" he asked.

Ivan took a deep breath.

"I want you to teach me how to shoot - properly. I want to learn the right way to handle a gun."

"Who are you trying to kill now?" Victor exclaimed.

"No, it's not like that," Ivan told him, "I want to learn to use a gun so I can defend her when I'm older. I want to be Lilly's bodyguard one day."

Victor paused for thought and then he smiled.

"If you still want to do this when you're older, maybe I can teach you. Right now you are too young to be handling a gun. If this is still what you want when you're old enough, first you ask Penguin, and if he says yes, you come to me and I'll teach you. That's the best I can do."

Ivan smiled too.

"Thanks Victor," he replied, "I will definitely be asking you again some day."

As Ivan walked away, Victor closed the door then he went back into the club, still thinking about Ivan's request. It was strange, but the more he thought about it, the more he could picture that kid growing up to be exactly what he wanted to be. He had seen it in his eyes, that boy really meant what he said, Ivan truly wanted to be the one who watched over Lilly some day...


As night fell on the Cobblepot estate, Oswald was silent as he sat drinking alone with an open bottle beside him. Rose had gone to bed, tired after settling the baby to sleep. Karina would be waking in a few hours and her sleep would be broken yet again. He felt guilty as he thought of what she had been through, then he swallowed more wine and put the glass on the table and settled back on the sofa, watching the fire place as flames flickered warmly.

"Oswald?"

His mood picked up as Ed walked into the room.

"You don't look too happy for a man who has everything," he remarked, and sat beside him, putting an arm around his shoulder as Oswald leaned in, shifting closer to him as his presence gave instant comfort.

"I keep thinking about Rose," he said, "She went through a lot to bring our daughter into this world. And now she can't have any more kids. It's my fault."

Ed met his gaze with a confused look, and then he smiled as he shook his head.

"Stop it, Oz! You got her pregnant because you wanted a baby so it's your fault she had complications? You have to stop blaming yourself for this stuff! It happened, forget about it. Rose is happy, she loves the baby as much as you do, you've got your family, you have me, you have everything you could wish for in life, everyone around you loves you. Why can't you be happy with that?"

His ice blue eyes reflected sadness.

"I often think about it, but I can't quite believe it," he told him, "Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I remember the old days and I'm thinking about becoming king of Gotham, or I'm thinking about grabbing my shot gun because I'm about to go to war with a rival. Or I think I'm back in Arkham and those four walls are closing in. Then I remember I'm here with you and Rose and the kids and I get this crazy feeling that one day I'll wake up and I'm back there, in some bad place I don't want to be and all of this is just a dream. Do you ever think like that?"

Ed said nothing for a moment as he looked into his eyes and silently wished he could kiss away every bad memory and every scar on his body that reminded him of the past.

"No," he said honestly, "I never think like that."

Oswald took hold of his hand and gripped it gently, then stroked the back of it as their eyes stayed locked.

"Please don't take this the wrong way," he added, "But don't have any more kids with Ivy."

"What?" Ed replied in confusion, "Why would you say that?"

"Because Rose can't have any more. It wouldn't be fair if you and Ivy have more children together."

He had said it so cautiously, as if he expected him to be offended. Love reflected in his eyes as Ed looked back at him.

"I had a baby with Ivy because you wanted me to have a blood tie to this family," he reminded him, "Ivy wouldn't want any more kids with me and I'm happy with my son!" he laughed softly, "Oh dear, when I think how hard it was to even manage to have sex with her... she's a friend, it was difficult. I never want to repeat that and neither does she! You say the strangest things sometimes, my weird little Penguin," he added fondly as he toyed with Oswald's spiked hair, "Just to clarify again so your worried but brilliant mind takes it in, no I do not want to have any more kids with Ivy and she doesn't want any more, either! You've got three children, I've got one and I'm also legal guardian to Ivan. That's enough. We have a big family."

Oswald smiled up at him, then he shifted position, grabbing at his damaged leg as he laid back on the couch with his head in Ed's lap as Ed stroked his hair.

"Do you think I'm crazy to think the way I do?" Oswald asked as he looked up at him.

Ed smiled as he ran his fingers through his silky spikes and looked down at him.

"I don't think you're crazy to stop sometimes and look around and question how you got from then to now," he replied fondly, "You've made a great life for all of us. And I guess that is a big step, to go from some of the dark places we used to know, to life as it is now. But yes, all that aside, you're definitely crazy," he laughed as he leaned over him, catching him with a kiss as he saw his shocked expression, "You're my crazy little Penguin," he added, "Only someone totally insane would grab life by the throat like you did and make a life like this out of it. And I love you for it!"

They shared a kiss and when Ed came up for air, Oswald was smiling.

"And this is not a dream."

"It's definitely not a dream. You're allowed to be happy," Ed reminded him, "We both deserve that."

Oswald reached for him and Ed pulled him into his arms, kissing him deeply as the firelight flickered and they shared a lasting embrace.

After that conversation with Ed, Oswald tried to push away memories of the dark times. His family was complete, he had the woman he loved at his side and the man who he adored, Ed Nygma - his rock - forever by his side. That feeling of optimism Ed had instilled on the night they had embraced by the fire seemed like a promise that was magical:

The time passed by.

The kids got older, the oil business thrived. Oswald and his two spouses stayed close and they loved him as deeply as ever. As the years began to pass by, no troubles hung over the Cobblepot family.

It would be almost nine years before troubled times returned...