- Athena's Glory – Humble Residence -

Gwen could feel the sting of tears behind her eyes and the thick lump in her throat rise as she watched her uncle back away.

"Psi…" She bit her tongue, hating the waiver in her voice. "We have to go." The words tasted bitter in her mouth.

Fighting the tears that were brimming at the corners of her eyes, she seized up the suitcase and half sprinted for the door of the apartment, Psi following obediently in her wake.

She took the stairs down as fast as she could, skipping and tripping in her high heels; if it hadn't been for the hand rail she might had pitched head first down them.

As she stumbled down onto the second floor landing her wrist was snagged and she was pulled around into the open arms of her metal guardian.

Breathe.

It was that that sent her over the edge. The great heaving sobs wracked through her. She pressed her face into the canvas chest, all semblance of composure tossed to the wind.

She'd known she was going to leave – had planned for it. She'd known she couldn't stay. But when she'd sat, talking and laughing with Mary, a small ember of hope had fizzled into life. Maybe Charles would wrap his arms around her and tell her not to be silly, of course she could stay. They would just have to work out where Psi would sleep. And Vivian would walk out of her room, as polished and refined as she was for a cocktail party, and they would all skip off into the sunset laughing and smiling, with pigs flying around them.

But she'd seen his fear, had seen that almost imperceptible sigh of relief as she had dashed from his home. And it had broken her heart.

Oh God what was she going to do? Where could they go? She needed to think. But if she thought, she'd end up crying again. And to prove herself right another wave of tears flooded her.

You're safe.

Psi squeezed her gently within his embrace.

I will keep you safe.

"I know." She mumbled quietly into his chest. She took a long, slow steadying breath, the smell of the canvas filled her nose. In the darkness of her closed eyes for just a second she could imagine she was standing in the old canvas tent, the one her father had stored in the shed at the bottom of their garden, the one she had gone camping in when she was very little, so long ago back in England. She smiled at the memory.

She could do this, she decided. She could work all this out. She'd just need a little time, and to stay calm. She could do that. Baby steps. One foot in front of another.

She looked up at the porthole in the heavy diving helmet.

Better?

A long beat passed before she nodded, once, decisively. Another moment passed between them before he actually released her. She wished in that moment that she could see his face, could read the emotion there, and could see his eyes, could reach up and…and touch his cheek. She lifted her hand without thinking to do it… But then the moment was gone, her hand dropped back to her side and she stepped away. Shakily she licked her lips as the haze that had engulfed her dissipated.

"Right…well…" She licked her lips again, trying to put her thoughts into some semblance of order. "We – we need to find somewhere to stay." She said finally. "Know anywhere?" She asked her hulking companion.

I do.

Gwen blinked in surprise, she had asked more out of politeness than in actual expectation.

"Well then, lead on." Her eyes were puffy from crying, her hair had acquired a life of its own and she was currently homeless, but just then her situation didn't quite seem so bleak. A smile even dared to play across her lips.

We need to find a Little Sister.

Gwen hefted up her suitcase, continuing down the staircase at a more sedate pace, walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Psi. "What's a Little Sister?"

A younger version of you.