MANHATTAN 1899

Grim was shell-shocked. He stood there for a good few seconds in disbelief after Jack explained who Henry was. It was as though he couldn't process it. Couldn't fathom that such a thing might be true.

Kloppman exchanged a look with Jack, as if to say, are you sure this was wise?

Jack cast his eyes back to Grim, who was fixated on little Henry.

"That's my. . ." Grim began, just above a whisper. "He's my. . ."

Slowly, he sank down to his knees, meeting the little boy at eye level, searching his face for answers.

Henry appeared confused. "He's my daddy?" He squeaked, backing away as Grim reached out to touch his cheek.

Sophie smiled. "Yes, Henry. It's okay…" she trailed off at Henry's frightened expression.

Henry whimpered, shaking his head. "No, no, no," he stammered, hugging Sophie's skirt. "I don't want him to be my daddy."

"Why not?" Sophie asked.

"Because," Henry whined, refusing to look at Grim. "He's got boo-boos on his eyes. And I don't like it."

Sophie realized Henry was referring to the darkened bruises around Grim's light eyes, making him appear somewhat sinister. Laughing softly, Sophie picked him up, holding him on her hip as she brought him over to the sofa. She explained how Grim's bruises would go away, and he got them because someone had hurt him.

The others followed cautiously, with Tide checking with Grim to make sure he was okay. The poor young man looked like he'd seen a ghost.

"My God, he has her nose," Grim was mumbling to Tide, dragging his feet toward the sofa, but maintaining a respectable distance. He was afraid if he got to close, he'd wake up from the dream. "His nose, Tide. That's…that's Natalie's. And my eyes…"

"I know," Tide said, easing his friend over with a chuckle. "I can see that."

"He's my baby…" Grim kept repeating under his breath, as if he couldn't believe the words. "He's…really mine."

Henry sat on Sophie's lap, peering anxiously at Grim. "Who hurted you?" Henry asked shakily, turning his head from Sophie's shoulder. "Was it a scary monster?"

Grim sat beside Sophie on the couch at her urging. "Yeah," Grim managed, struggling to keep his voice even. "Something like that."

Turning all the way around in her lap, Henry faced Grim. "Um, do you know how old I am?" He asked quietly, as if completely forgetting about Grim's battered appearance. "Because one time, I had a birthday, and…and you weren't there."

Grim nodded, trying to do the math in his head. God, he didn't want to be wrong when he wagered a guess. And he didn't want to say he didn't know. But he couldn't think. His mind wouldn't allow for any calculating.

"You're four," Grim said, praying he was right. "May 19th, 1895. You turned four last May."

"And I'll be five next May!" Henry gave a slow, bashful grin. "And that's in…" he began counting on his fingers, taking his time, and having to go back to recount twice. "That's in ten months, I think."

"Yes, that's right," Grim said, unable to hide his proud smile. "You're so smart. How high can you count?"

"I can count to ten," Henry replied.

Grim laughed.

"Are you ten?" Henry asked, cocking his head.

"Me?" Grim asked, pointing to himself. "No. I'm twenty-one."

"Whoa," Henry said, his eyes widening. "That's old. That's the oldest number in the whole world."

"Yeah, don't remind me," Grim said with a chuckle, shaking his head in awe at his baby. He was already four years old. There was so much time lost. So many potential memories robbed.

Henry stopped giggling, his expression becoming sheepish and nervous again. Sophie brushed his bangs back, sensing his sudden drop in mood.

"What's wrong?" Sophie asked.

Henry's lower lip began trembling, his eyebrows furrowing. "You don't want me anymore," Henry said, looking like he'd throw a tantrum any second. "That's how come I had to live in New Mezzico."

No one said anything.

Grim's heart shattered into a million pieces. Like he'd been punched in the stomach. "Who told you that?" Grim asked.

"Mr. Haywood," Henry said in exasperation, as if Grim should know. "He said you're a bad man. And you made me leave."

Grim looked to Jack for clarification, and Jack quickly filled in that the Haywood couple had adopted Henry out west.

"Henry, that's not true—" Grim started, but Henry wasn't finished.

"And he said my mommy was a horse!" Henry never sounded so sure of anything. "We had horses on the ranch. I miss them."

"He said your mommy was a horse?" Grim repeated, clearly confused.

"Mm-hm," Henry nodded fervently. "My daddy was a bad man, and my mommy was a horse."

Tide caught on before Grim did, and he exchanged an unsettled look with Jack. Leaning in to Grim's ear, Tide whispered, "I think he means… whore."

Grim swallowed back the bitter taste in his mouth. "Your mommy wasn't a horse," Grim said with a small smile. "She was a beautiful, smart, and kind woman. When she found out you were in her tummy, she was so happy," he went on, feeling hot tears burn in his eyes. "She told me she couldn't wait to meet you."

"But where is my mommy now?"

"Oh, she isn't here anymore. But she loved you very much."

"Where did she go?"

"She went to sleep."

"Can we wake her up?"

Grim pressed his lips together in a straight line. He struggled to keep it together. "I wish we could, but she won't ever wake up again."

Henry frowned. "I don't understand. Did mommy want me to go away?"

"She didn't want you to go away," Grim said quickly, tentatively reaching out to hold Henry's hand, which the child accepted. "I didn't want you to go away."

"Then…" Henry sniffled, beginning to cry a little. His shoulders shook. "Why did you leave me?"

"I didn't," Grim said, desperately fighting back his own tears. "I'm right here, shepsele."

"Okay," Henry said through his cries, trying to catch his breath. "Will you stay with me?"

"Yes, I will," Grim replied firmly, running his thumb along the front of Henry's hand. "And when you wake up in the morning, I'll still be here. Okay? You can sleep next to me."

Henry nodded, still frowning. He muttered something, sounding like a jumbled mess.

"What?" Grim asked, leaning forward.

"I want you to hold me," Henry whimpered.

Grim sniffled, holding out his arms as Henry climbed from Sophie's lap to Grim's. Henry wrapped his little arms around Grim's neck as Grim hugged the boy close.

"You won't leave me again?" Henry echoed, crying into Grim's shoulder.

Jack could only imagine the wave of emotions both must've been feeling. He thought about showing Grim the scars on Henry's back from Mr. Haywood's various punishments, but he figured now was not the time. Besides, he figured Grim would find out about that for himself eventually. And that would break Grim's heart again.

"Baby, I'm sorry," Grim said as his voice cracked, rocking Henry as he rubbed his back. "I promise I'll never leave you."

"Okay, daddy," Henry said, all too willing to trust this young man. All too frantic for affection, for the security he craved.

That night, Grim slept on a bunk bed with Henry snuggled up next to him. The two breathed in-sync, like a single machine. Grim had a strong arm wrapped protectively around Henry, his chin atop the little boy's head.

One day, when Henry was older, Grim would tell him about the Refuge. About Warden Snyder. About Mr. Whalen and all the other monsters in the dark recesses of that establishment. He'd tell Henry about Natalie, and what she meant to him. He'd talk about Jack, Tide, No Name, Calico, and all Henry's other uncles, and their crazy stories of survival.

But that night, that quiet July night in 1899, Grim having Henry by his side was enough. He was free. His friends were safe. And his baby was in his arms.

For the first time in a long time, he could rest easy.

But not all was calm and happy in Manhattan. All the way over by the pier, in a hazy den above a decrepit dive, two ex-prison-breaking-priests were having an all-out war without Grim or Jack or anyone to buffer. And next up in a night full of firsts, the opium addict and the cocaine addict were at each other's throats in a lethal whirlwind of rage.