Chapter 12

Ed woke up in the basement of the house, his hands were cuffed behind him, his ankles were tied and he was on the floor in the corner of the room, at the back of the well stocked wine cellar. As he rose to his knees, the chain around his waist was too firmly in place to slip off. It was fixed the brick wall behind him.

"Oh my..." he whispered as he looked about the dimly lit room, "What did I do?"

Riddler was far away at the back of his mind now, he had played his game, leaving Ed with the consequences.

"We need to work better together!" Ed said as he leaned back against the wall and tried to get as comfortable as he could manage, it had just hit him that he had let Riddler walk into his mind, take over and try and kill Rose. And then, he recalled nothing, but the ache to the back of his head told him he had been knocked out. If not by Rose, by... Oh god no, Oswald's mother? Some day this would get back to him...

"Riddler, I'd kill you myself if I could! We should work together for common goals, like we used to! You can't go full on psycho and take over and try and hurt my family, you've gone too far!" Ed said loudly.

He looked upward as his voice echoed about the cellar, but no reply came back. Riddler's damage was done. It felt like his world was coming to an end. Oswald would not forgive him for this... Ed took in a few heavy breaths as he tried to ease up on the rising panic that worsened as he thought about his situation, then he realised even after what he had done, he was not about to be shipped off to Arkham – they had tied him up and left him in the cellar instead... But why?

The door opened and Gertrude Cobblepot made her way down the stairs. As she approached him, fury burned in her eyes.

"You almost killed Rose! The mother of his son! Do you think Oswald could forgive that?"

Ed couldn't move, nor could he give any kind of apology or explanation that she would accept. There was nothing to say, except the truth.

"It wasn't me!" he protested as he started to break down, "Gertrude, I love my family – I love Oswald, I'd do anything for him. But Riddler is my dark half and he went crazy because we felt like we lost your son! It took him to the worst level of insanity..." he gave a sob, shaking his head in despair. Then he looked up at her again, desperately trying to find words that would make sense to Gertrude.

"I had no control, he was stronger than me, I was grieving and he stepped in... he was grieving too, he was so angry! He's my personal demon, can you understand that? The worst of life brings out the worst in him!"

Gertrude stood over him, looking down as her expression suddenly changed.

"Oh you poor man," she said, "Of course! A demon! Only the love a good man like my wonderful son could keep such a terrible creature under control! But Oswald is not here... I shall help!"

Ed stared up at her as he wondered what the crazy old woman had in mind.

"What do you mean?"

"I shall exorcise you," she replied, "And get rid of your demon. It's okay, I know what to do - I saw the movie!"

Gertrude was going to exorcise him? His predicament was just growing worse.

"Oh no!" he said in despair as she reached the top of the stairs and closed and locked the door behind her firmly.

Soon after she had felt puzzled to see Gertrude hurry down to the cellar clutching an antique bottle filled with water, there was a knock on the door and Rose, who had covered the dressed wound to her throat with a silk scarf, opened up the door to find Bruce Wayne standing on her doorstep. His sleek black car was parked in the drive way and he stood before her with a bouquet of while lilies.

"Mrs Cobblepot," he began, feeling awkward.

Since the news of Penguin's part demise, he had not known exactly what to say, only that he wanted to offer Rose his condolences. He wasn't even sure if condolences was the right word, Penguin was on ice. But Alfred had discussed the matter with him over supper the night before and remarked that he had to be dead, there was no chance someone as sick as Oswald could come back from a freezing process years later and be okay...This had only confirmed he ought to go over there, feeling sympathy for Rose and the baby who would grow up not knowing his father.

"Hello Bruce," Rose said, briefly touching her scarf and suddenly feeling self conscious about the wound Riddler had inflicted, "What can I do for you?"

He handed her the flowers.

"I guess condolences isn't quite the right word," he told her, "But for now you have a huge loss because your husband is absent. I've read about it in the newspaper – he could be in there for up to twenty years. That's got to be hard on you all."

Rose felt moved by his kindness.

"It is," she replied.

"I lost my parents when I was young," he added, "I know what it's like to grow up without a father. I'll keep you and Ozzie in my thoughts... By the way, how is Ed Nygma? I realise he must be devastated."

"He's taken it badly" she replied.

Just then Gertrude's voice drifted up from far off inside the house, escaping through the open cellar door:

"The power of Christ compels you!"

Bruce leaned a little, looking past her shoulder and into the hallway.

"Is everything okay, Rose?"

"It's a difficult time," she replied, "Ed's devastated and Gertrude's heartbroken... Thank you for stopping by, I'd invite you in but it's not a good time. Perhaps another day?"

Bruce nodded.

"Of course," he agreed, "And I'm sorry for you loss – I mean, his temporary loss. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call."

"Thank you, I'll remember that."

Bruce turned away and she closed the door, then she left the lilies on a table near the phone and hurried off towards the cellar door.

"I cast you out, demon!" yelled Gertrude, and her voice echoed up the stairs.

Rose hurried down into the cellar in time to see Gertrude flick more holy water over Ed. He looked up at Rose.

"Please help..." he whispered as Gertrude again tried to order his demon to leave.

She studied his face, saw only Ed and not a trace of Riddler in full on murder mode, and decided it would be safe to get him out of this bizarre situation.

"Gertrude, I think it's worked," Rose said, placing a hand on her arm just as she was about the throw more water over chained up Ed Nygma, who looked genuinely scared.

"Is the demon gone, Edward?" she asked.

Ed forced a smile as water splashes ran down his glasses.

"Yes, it's gone. Thank you, Gertrude, thank you so much for smashing me over the head with a heavy object, tying me up in the cellar and dousing me with holy water! Just what I needed!"

"Untie him," Rose added, "I think he needs some fresh air. I'll take him for a drive while you watch Ozzie."

Gertrude began to free Ed, all the while she was elated her exorcism had worked.

"You demon is gone!" she announced as Ed stood up, then he rubbed at his head and gave a groan.

"I think I have concussion."

"You are quite safe now, Rose," Gertrude told her, "Ed is no longer possessed!"

"Thank you, Gertrude!" she exclaimed, then she took him by the hand and as he felt her do that his grip tightened out of sheer relief.

"Come on, let's go for a drive, you need fresh air," she told Ed.

"Thank you so much," he said under his breath, and he hurried up the stairs beside her, keen to escape Gertrude and her crazy ideas.

Once they were in the car and Rose had started the engine, Ed leaned back against the passenger seat and gave a weary sigh.

"Oh God, Oswald's mother is on a par with me when it comes to insanity! She chained me up, actually chained me in the cellar and exorcised me!"

"Where's Riddler?" Rose asked, casting him an uneasy glance.

"I think that blow to the head knocked him out of orbit for a while. But hurry, I must see Strange – he can help. Riddler's going nuts over Oswald not being around. I need anti psychotics again."

"Then we'd better hurry. By the way, I'm not mad at you. I don't blame you, Ed. I blame Riddler. The sooner we get you there, the sooner this is under control."

She sped up, taking to the highway as she kept her gaze fixed on the road. The thought that Riddler could suddenly emerge again and still be in kill mode was a frightening thought...

When Oswald woke up, movement was a little easier and the aches and pains had almost faded out. Ivy came into the room and finally disconnected him from the IV, it was a relief to not have that needle buried into the back of his hand any more. She dressed the puncture wound and then helped him to sit up.

"Have you changed the sheets?" Oswald wondered.

"You crashed out while bathed you. So I finished doing that, then I changed the sheets. There was no choice really, they were soaked in sweat and at some point late night while you went through pain, someone wet the bed."

His eyes widened.

"Never repeat that, especially not to my mother!"

"Why would I do that?"

She placed a plate of sandwiches next to the bed.

"Try and eat something, I made your favourite."

"Tuna?"

"Of course."

He grabbed a sandwich and his arm felt weak as he tried and failed to raise the food to his lips.

"I'll help," she said, taking the sandwich from him, "You're too weak to feed yourself."

She held the sandwich closer and the smell of the tuna finally reminded him he was starving. He took a bite and started to eat. It would be slow progress, even chewing felt like too much work, but gradually, he managed to eat half a sandwich, then she fed him the other half. She followed that by making some tea and helping him to drink it, then he laid back on fresh sheets, closing his eyes and smiling as he realised all of the pain was completely gone.

"I can't wait to get stronger and go home," he murmured.

"Not yet, Pengie, you have to get a lot stronger for that," she reminded him, stroking his hair as he slipped into heavy and restful sleep. Then she heard the door creak and she looked around to see Lilly peering in.

"Out!" she said in a hushed voice.

"I want Daddy!" she insisted.

Ivy went over to the door, pausing to glance back at Oswald.

"Daddy wants to see you too," she told her daughter, "But he's not better yet, He needs a lot of rest, let's leave him to sleep for a while. He won't wake for hours and I have to go to town and get a new phone."

"Can I have that one?" her daughter asked, pointing to Ivy's water damaged phone as she drew it from her pocket.

"Maybe I'll let you take pictures on it," she said, "if you're good! Now come on, we have to go out."

She left the phone on the table next to Oswald's bed, then took the child by the hand as they left the room. On the way out, Lilly glanced back at her sleeping Daddy then she smiled, feeling glad to know he was here at last – before today she had only ever seen him in photos her mama kept on her phone...

Once they arrived at the facility Rose wasted no time, hurrying inside with Ed and asking for Hugo Strange. He was working in his lab and took twenty minutes to join them, then he finally led them to his office. As she sat there listening, Ed hid nothing as he told Strange about what had happened.

"...And so you see, Riddler is loose... was loose. He could get loose again. I need your help," he told him, concluding the tale of how he had almost killed Rose.

"I won't go back to Arkham," he added.

Then he sat there, tense and worried. After a brief pause he remembered something else:
"I have a sickening headache and I feel mildly nauseous. I think it was from the frying pan."

"I will fetch some antipsychotic medication for you," Strange said, "And I'll check you over for concussion. I recommend if you are mildly concussed you go home and rest."

Ed gave a sigh.

"I'll have no choice – it's rough as hell going on those pills for the first few days."

"But it will send Riddler to sleep or at least down to a manageable level," Strange replied, then he left the room.

Ed turned to Rose and took hold of her hand and squeezed it.

"Thank you so much for not calling the cops, and most of all for not having me sent back to Arkham!"

Behind his glasses, she saw tears in his eyes.

"Oswald said he thought you might lose it at some point," she confessed, he made me promise to bring you here if that happened."
"He knew?"

"He's Oswald. He's on top of everything," she replied.

"I know you said it was Riddler but my hand was holding that blade. I'm so sorry!"

"It's forgiven," she replied, "And you'd better take these meds or it won't be forgiven a second time!"

"I will take them," he vowed, "I swear this won't happen again, you're family, and I have to take care of you. I can't mess up in any way – I owe it to Oswald to stay sane."

Strange returned and handed Ed the medication. Then he checked him over and said he had a slight concussion and advised him to go home and rest. He also added that Ed needed to stay on the meds for at least a year. He was so grateful as he agreed to the pills - at that moment he would have agreed to anything. He was just thankful he was still a free man after letting his dark side take over' the outcome could have been far worse...

On the way out of the facility, they lingered by the corridor that led to Oswald's room.

"Shall we go and see him?" Rose suggested.

"He wanted me to visit no more than once a week," Ed replied, "He thought that if I came here too often it would be bad for me...but I do need to see him, yes, I think we should do that."

They made their way down the corridor, pausing to show ID to a security guard, who unlocked the door and then waited outside. Ed felt his heart ache as he looked to the chamber.

"It's crazy to think he's in here...so alone, so cold..." as he spoke his head was still aching, but he had taken a strong dose of the medication before leaving and had no fear of Riddler rising with murderous thoughts any time soon.

"I know he won't realise we're here," Rose added as she stepped closer, "But it matters that we visit when ever we can."

Ed walked over to the chamber to join her, feeling slightly stronger now.

"I'm going to visit once a week from now on just like Oswald wanted, and every time I see him, I'm going to place a rose on the lid of that chamber. I'll do it for twenty years if I have to. One day he will wake and know that I, Edward Nygma, came here every week with a rose for my little Penguin..."

His eyes looked glassy, it was a combination of feeling tearful and the meds kicking in. He placed his hand on the chamber and looked through the window.

"I do love you, Oswald..." he stopped, falling silent as he stared into the empty chamber.

"He's gone!" he said in panic, "He's not in there!"

"Ed, it's your meds, your eyes are going blurry... of course he is, where else would he be?"

Rose looked down into the chamber. It was empty. Not even a twist of icy mist swirled, it had been thawed out and Oswald's body was gone...

She gave a gasp and looked sharply to Ed as she pulled out her phone.

"Oh my god, you're right! I'm calling the GCPD...I want Jim Gordon to handle this personally!"

"Where's Strange?" Ed said darkly as somewhere at the back of his mind Riddler was suggesting murder, but he was partly blocked by the medication. Now it was Ed's rage that was coming to the fore.

"Strange!" he said again in fury, then he hurried from the room.

When Jim Gordon got the call, he felt weary. First Cobblepot had been one of many powerful criminals to make their mark on the underworld. Then he had become king of Gotham in the eyes of the crime leaders. His next move was to cut free three quarters of his illegal dealings and close in on some of the most powerful companies in Gotham, making the kind of investments that would make him a multi millionaire, with some of that money used in the venture earned from his protection rackets. Now he was still causing mayhem from beyond the grave – or the freezer, or whatever cryogenic sleep actually meant. His body had been stolen from the facility.

Jim hurried over there at once, and Harvey went with him. As they entered the building, Hugo strange stood in the corridor looking pale and shocked. Ed Nygma was standing with his back against the wall, staring at nothing as his eyes looked tearful and he clenched angry fists. Rose was visibly upset, too.

"I had no reason to believe anyone would steal his body!" Strange protested to Rose, "We have many people here in frozen units, we have guards, we have locked doors...how much more protection do those sleeping between life and death need? I think this may have some kind of revenge crime... an underworld matter. Perhaps an enemy did this."

Nygma turned and glared at the two cops.

"You'd better find him before he dies!" he said as his eyes burned with rage and a tear spilled down his cheek, "My Oswald had no time left when he was frozen, he won't survive long outside of that freezing unit!"

"We will do what we can, I promise,"Harvey replied, then he briefly patted Ed's shoulder before approaching Strange to question him about security at the facility.

Jim focused on Rose, she looked utterly shaken by what had happened.

"I keep thinking, he's still alive, who ever did this wanted him alive! He's got maybe a day or two without the freezing unit. He's going to be in so much pain!" she gave a sob.

Jim felt useless as he watched her cry. He wasn't about to criticise her choice of life partner, of course marrying Penguin meant expecting trouble because the man attracted it like a magnet, but she and Penguin had been through a lot together, losing their first child, then no doubt worrying for the whole nine months during the second pregnancy. All the while, Oswald had been sick and knew he was living under a death sentence. Cobblepot was not exactly his favourite person, but as Harvey had once pointed out, there were worse people in Gotham than Penguin. The guy needed their help.

"If he's alive, we'll find him," he vowed, "I'm sure if he's able, he'll find a way to make contact. He's Penguin, even if he's weak he'll find a way to fight back."

Just then Harvey turned from Strange and called to Jim.

"Please believe me!" Strange was protesting, "I have many frozen bodies here, all of them preserved under the Gotham City guidelines.. I would not experiment on any of them, I swear your suspicions are wrong, I would do nothing to risk being prosecuted again!"

"We still have to be sure," Harvey added, joining his partner, "Jim, we have to search this place top to bottom. We need to be sure Strange isn't using Penguin for one of his experiments. Then we can pursue other possibilities."

Jim nodded.

"You're right, we do need to be sure."

"But I am innocent!" Strange protested.

Then the breath was knocked form his lungs as Ed Nygma slammed him up against the wall by the fabric of his white coat.

"Where is my Oswald?" he demanded in fury, "You tell me where he is right now or I'll kill you with my bare hands!"

As she looked on, Rose knew this was not Riddler speaking. This was Ed, desperate to find the man he loved.

"Nygma, let him go!" Jim said sharply, "Or I'll throw your ass in jail and you won't be any use to Penguin! Don't make me do this, you can't afford another conviction."

Ed let go of Strange, who slumped against the wall, breathing hard.

Now Harvey took over.

"Rose, Nygma...go home!" he ordered, "We will search the facility, interview the staff, check the CCTV and then we will come over you, at home, and tell you our findings. We won't rest until he's found, but you have to get the hell out of our way and let the GCPD do its job."

Rose held out her hand to Ed.

"We have to leave. Please Ed, don't mess up, think of Oswald. Let's go home."

Rage was burning in his eyes, along with tears that glazed them as he met her gaze.

"Come on, let's go," she said again, and he looked at her outstretched hand then grabbed it.

"I just want my Oswald to be okay!" he wept, as Jim and Harvey looked away.

Rose led him away towards the exit and Ed's head was still bowed as he continued to sob.

Jim turned to Harvey quickly, knowing they could not afford to waste time because Oswald didn't have much time left.

"I'll search the facility, you talk to the guards and check the CCTV," then he turned to Strange, "You wait in your office. We'll have a few questions before we leave,"Jim checked his watch, "I want this place swept and us gone in thirty minutes, then we have to get every available officer on this case, someone must have seen something!" Then he headed off to the elevator, to search the place from the top floor downwards.

When Oswald woke up, he felt even better for the deep sleep.

"Ivy!" he called out, "I'm starving, I could kill for another tuna sandwich!"

There was no reply. Calling out had made him feel weak, it had happened fast and served as a reminder that he needed a lot of rest to get over his ordeal. He gave a sigh, sinking back against his pillow as he looked to the door.

"Ivy!"

Still there was no reply. Then he remembered she had said she would be busy with Lilly. His gaze fell on the phone next to the bed. It would take some effort to move that far, but if he could reach that phone, he could call home and speak to his family... He reached for it, but the phone was just out of his grasp.

"You can do this!" he said under his breath, summoning all of his limited strength to shift over on the bed and try again, "Think of Ed... you can speak to Ed now..." he stretched for it and grasped the phone, then slumped back exhausted on to the bed feeing slightly dizzy.

His hands shook as he raised the phone, then he smiled as he saw the picture on the screen: It was Ivy and Lilly. As he accessed the phone, he glanced to the photo album and his curiosity kicked in. The battery was on fifty percent, he had enough time to take a look through the pictures before he called home...

He glanced at the list of albums. There was one called Daddy.

"Daddy?" he said in surprise.

Then he opened the album, and was stunned to see pictures from back in the days when he had been campaigning to be elected as mayor of Gotham. Then there were pictures taken during times he had spoken with the press, and he found a few from the grand opening of the Iceberg Lounge, back in the days after the refurbishment when Ed had been the centrepiece attraction. Then he saw pictures that had not been taken from news reports : there were a couple of pictures of him, taken while he was sleeping during his recovery from the gun shot wound. In the pictures he seemed to be healing well, this would have been close to the time Ivy had seduced him...

"You've been showing Lilly pictures of me?" he said aloud, "You want her to know me, you always did!"

Then he looked through more albums, and came across a video clip. He played it and settled back comfortably to watch:

Barbara's apartment. The phone was picked up from the table, then turned around and he was surprised to see Lilly looking into the camera. Here she was older, at least three, and stood beneath a dark lace parasol as she gave an impish smile.

"Hello!" she said brightly into the lens.

"You're so like me!" Oswald exclaimed.

Then Lilly began to walk about the room, and turned the camera on to Ivy and Barbara, who were sat at the table together.

"You're crazy doing this," Barbara told her, "You saved your child, I understand that of course – but Penguin? You want to save his sorry ass? I've heard a rumour he's dying. It's probably for the best, I mean, look at him – he's been crippled for years, and he gave you a sick baby!"

Oswald drew in a slow breath as he looked coldly at her on the screen.

"Oh Barbara, you cold hearted bitch!"

"That wasn't his fault – and he's Lilly's father. Once I know for sure I can cure him, I can explain about Lilly and how I fixed her, I didn't want a sick man to know his child was unwell. Soon I can tell him everything and he's got nothing to stress over."

"You're wasting far too much time on that thirty something douche bag with a limp and bad genes who got you pregnant at nineteen!"

Ivy glared at her.

"He was a scared inexperienced virgin! It was all my doing, I wanted him and we were fooling around, I'd got him in the mood with a plant based love drug to loosen him up – he lost control the minute we started having sex."

"Oh no, don't tell her that!" Oswald exclaimed, then he cringed as Barbara gave a mocking laugh.

"Who would have thought it, Gotham's crime king, the nervous virgin?"

"Shut up, Barbara, it's not funny! Don't you have any respect? He's not got long to live unless he takes my formula."

"I don't respect any man," she replied, "They're all the same and Penguin would be no great loss to the world!"

"That really hurts!" he said bitterly as he carried on watching.

Ivy got up from her seat.

"Oswald's dying. I'm going to help him and I don't care what you think. By the way Barbara, also...fuck you!" she said in a low voice as shock registered on Barbara's face, then Ivy headed across the room and took the phone from Lilly.

"We're going home, sweetie," she told her.

"Wait, I was only saying what I think -"

"We don't care what you think, we're leaving," Ivy replied, and then as she headed for the door as Lilly, oblivious to the quarrel, skipped on ahead, the recording ended.

Oswald stared at the screen. He had known Barbara could be a heartless bitch but all he had heard had been so hurtful. He thought about the day she had let him see Lilly when she had been a small baby, an hour with his daughter for a slice of his turf... when he was feeling stronger, Ivy needed to know about that.

Exhaustion was hitting him again, but he fought it as he accessed her call list and found his number. He hoped his phone was still switched on, as Ed would be handling his business calls and it made sense that he would have it with him. He looked to the call button and his eyes blurred as another wave of exhaustion hit him.

"Stay awake..." he murmured, then he blinked several times, trying to fight exhaustion as he found the number and made the call. It rang and rang and then went to voicemail. He hung up, his hand slumped to the bed as he gave a weak sigh. Ivy had certainly been right about how much rest he needed. That formula had saved his life but left him with no strength at all. He thought of Ed, felt an ache in his heart and then took a few slow, deep breaths.

"Just lift the phone, Oswald!" he said in frustration as his weak hand gripped the phone and he managed to pull it close, then he held it steady in both weak hands as he called the number again. It rang several times and the more it rang, the more he felt like sleeping. Then it was answered, and he heard Ed said a quiet Hello and suddenly all the weakness in the world wouldn't have stopped him from speaking, not now he heard the voice of his love.

"Ed, it's me!" he said, catching his breath as he summoned the strength to say much more, "I'm alive, I've had an alternative treatment and it's worked! The Cobblepot curse is no more! Did you hear me?"

There had been a pause. Then Ed's voice sounded tearful.

"Is that really you, Oswald?"

"Of course it's me! Someone very gifted was working on a cure for my condition and they didn't get chance to give it to me because I went for the freezing procedure. So when they found out the formula worked, they got me out of the facility and gave it to me. I'm going to be fine!"

"Where are you?" he said, and Oswald heard all despair leave his voice now he knew he was on the road to recovery.

"This is awkward, I'm with someone I can trust. I didn't tell you... I tried to tell you but nothing was definite and I couldn't say much... I really want to come home. I'm very weak, I'm told it will take about a month to recover."

"That's a lot sooner than twenty years!" Ed replied as his voice trembled with emotion, "Now, why can't you tell me where you are?"

"Lilly's mother cured me. My daughter was born with the family curse. She cured her, then found a way to cure me, it was a plant based remedy. She said when I'm a bit stronger I can spend some time with Lilly. She wants me in her life, Ed, she's going to give me access to my little girl."

"That's wonderful!"Ed exclaimed, "But I wish you was here at home, I want to be the one nursing you back to health."

"She knows I want to go home," Oswald replied, "I'm hoping it might be possible in around two weeks. I won't be fully recovered, but I need to be with you and Rose and mother. And I miss my son so much!"

Ed paused for thought, then as he spoke again, his voice was filled with warmth.

"I just realised why you took me to the pier that day. You wanted to tell me about her, you said if not for me shooting you, Lilly wouldn't have been born. I get it now, I know who took care of you after the shooting. No one else would be able to use a plant based remedy to cure you, Oswald. Lilly's Mom is Ivy Pepper."

"You're right. She saved my life, I'm so grateful to her. When this is over, we need to think of a way to thank her. But promise me you won't tell Mother about her or Lilly until I'm ready to explain. It's important to me that my Mom understands how it all happened."

"Absolutely,"Ed replied, "And I'm counting the days until you're home, my little Penguin!"

Oswald gave a tired sigh.

"Ed, I have to sleep now. I'm exhausted... I love you."

"I love you too, with all of my heart," Ed replied, and then Oswald ended the call.

His arm felt like lead as he placed the phone back on the table, then he rested, closing his eyes as he gave a tired sigh. He was truly exhausted now and could fight it no longer as he slipped back into a deep, healing sleep.

Back at the Cobblepot house, Jim Gordon had just turned up with Harvey and was speaking to Rose at the front door as Ed joined them.

"...So there's no indication of any wrong doing by Strange," Jim said, "And CCTV shows nothing at all. Can you think of anyone who might have had a grudge against your husband?"

"There's no need for any of this. He's okay!" Ed announced with a smile as Rose shot him a surprised glance, "He had some kind of deal going with a natural remedy specialist who was able to treat him successfully. The method wasn't perfected until he was on ice and I guess they had an arrangement that if a cure was found, it was to be administered as soon as possible. Sure beats waiting two decades! My Oswald is safe and well and recovering. He will be home in two weeks."

"Where is he?" Rose demanded.

"We need to know that too," Harvey added.

"When he calls back I shall ask him to call the GCPD to clear this up," said Ed, "But you don't need to search for him, he's at a location he wishes to keep to himself, and he's been successfully treated. I'm so happy!"

Ed lunged forward, hugging Jim, then he reached for Harvey, who stepped out of the way just in time for Ed's grip to reach at thin air.

"We're happy for you too, Mr Nygma," Harvey said, "Be sure to tell Penguin to call us within forty eight hours."

Then they left, and as Ed closed the door, he grabbed Rose, lifted her and spun her around before setting her down again. Joy shone in his eyes.

"He's okay!"

But Rose had been thinking about Oswald's mother – so far, they had managed to keep the secret that he was missing, to spare her further pain, but she knew his news of a cure would give the old woman the peace of mind she needed after months of worry for her son.

"We should tell Gertrude."

"Yes, of course – but not the part about who saved him. His ex did it, the mother of his daughter. Her name is Ivy Pepper."

Rose had never heard of Ivy, nor did she care to ask questions because at that moment, all that she wanted to think about was the reason her heart had just lit up with joy. There would be no more heartbreak, Oswald was cured, and soon, would be coming home.

"I knew he would beat this one way or another!" Ed exclaimed.

Rose hugged him tightly as they stood in the doorway, united by their relief and both longing for the day when the man they loved returned home. But Gertrude was yet to learn the tale of Ivy Pepper, the woman who had saved her son – the same woman who had kept his daughter – her grandchild - away from her family for three long years...