Elizabeth began to prepare for bed, pulling her nightgown over her body once she had finally managed to pull her chemise off with Laszlo's help. He was already dressed in his striped pyjamas, padding around the room and tidying up papers that had been scattered around from him making notes while Elizabeth finished getting ready for bed. Pulling the quilt back from the bed, Laszlo climbed in as his wife did the same, huffing to herself once she was sat on the mattress and tucking her hair behind her ears.

"Is everything alright?" Laszlo questioned from her.

She nodded her head. "I'm fine," she promised him. "It's just that carrying this bump around can be quite tiresome and I've had a busy day."

Laszlo nodded, glasses falling to the end of his nose. He pulled them from his face, folding the frames together and moving to sit them on top of the books on his bedside table. He dropped the papers he had been holding onto the floor next to him and turned his body to the side to give his wife his undivided attention.

"You went to see Libby, yes?" he confirmed.

"She showed up," Elizabeth nodded and leant back into the pillows, but shifted around. Laszlo moved his good hand, fist hitting the feather duck pillow so that it was rearranged for her. She sank back comfortably then, giving him a soft smile. "I didn't entirely get anything out of her about Doctor Markoe. She said that she didn't know much and I am inclined to believe her, but I still think she knows something."

"Even if she did, my dear Elizabeth, I doubt that she would tell you everything."

"I know," Elizabeth agreed with him on that point. "And that is why I am going to do what I can to get her to open up. I think she will do that eventually."

Laszlo's brow furrowed. "What makes you say that?"

"Because it might be that she is simply waiting to trust someone," Elizabeth responded. "You remember what I was like before I got to know you, don't you?"

He chuckled at the memory, slipping further against his own set of pillows. His head fell back and he looked to the ceiling, remembering the first time he had laid eyes on Elizabeth. He could still remember their first conversation and how he had easily deduced that her husband had beat her. She had told him to mind his own business.

"I remember exactly what you were like," Laszlo said, his voice almost wistful.

"And it took me time to open up to you, to trust you," she reminded him. He nodded back to her and turned his head to the side so that he could watch her. She had tugged the quilt up to her chest, hands resting on the edges of it and fingers toying with the material. "It might be that Libby just needs time too."

"Be careful, Elizabeth," Laszlo warned her and he saw her roll her eyes. His frown deepened as she completed the motion. "I'm serious," he added on, voice slightly sterner. "I don't think I could cope with you putting yourself in harm's way anymore. You mean too much to me."

"Believe me," Elizabeth said to him in a soft voice, reaching her hand out to take hold of his. "I have no intention of putting myself in danger. I intend to meet Libby only in public places and if I think something becomes suspicious then I will leave it alone."

Laszlo sighed and nodded. "I suspect that is as good as I am going to get from you."

"I suspect so," Elizabeth echoed back to him. "Besides, I have another matter to discuss with you."

"Oh?" Laszlo questioned from her.

"Charlotte's friend, Maria," Elizabeth began, toying with Laszlo's fingers inside of hers, her gaze cast down onto them as he rested on his side, his bad arm underneath his body and his good arm on top of Elizabeth's stomach. "Her mother said that she did not want her daughter near us…claims that you are a bad person and took me from my family."

Laszlo's lips arched upwards, a smirk of disbelief forming on his face as a scoff escaped him. Shaking his head back and forth, he felt Elizabeth turn her gaze onto him, head falling to the side so that she could look at him. Her eyes searched his face to see if he was upset by the news, but he wasn't. In fact, he had grown immune to what people had said.

"And what did Charlotte say?"

"She told Maria that it was all nonsense, but we both know her parents won't be persuaded otherwise," Elizabeth said to Laszlo and he took his fingers from hers, moving to run his hand along her stomach before settling on her arm. "I promised Charlotte that I would try and talk to her. I don't know if it will do any good, but I have to try something."

"Don't exert yourself," Laszlo urged from her and he saw an amused look form on her face. Her lips arched upwards and her eyes glimmered.

"You know, ever since I became pregnant you've been much more protective," she commented. "I'm not saying that I don't like it, only that you don't need to worry yourself. I can handle whatever it is that is going on. Besides, I've grown accustomed to defending you."

"I'm flattered you protect my honour," Laszlo said in a soft, teasing tone.

"Oh, I don't know," Elizabeth teased him back. "Perhaps it might be easier to convince people you are the monstrous doctor that stole such an innocent, virtuous, girl from her family."

Laszlo chuckled and leaned closer to her. "Innocent? My darling Elizabeth, you are anything but innocent. I believe I have seen that first hand in this very room."

"How dare you, Doctor Kreizler," she said, her voice light as she moved to push at his shoulder. "I never had you down for anything other than a gentleman and now I find out that I married a cad."

Laszlo laughed at hearing her, quite enjoying the teasing. It had been too long since he had felt this light-hearted feeling in his stomach. The entire case surrounding Martha Napp had been heavy. It had cast a shadow in his life; a darkness that had begun to take over his mind. And he didn't want that. He longed to be able to compartmentalise what was happening at work and what he came home to. But that was not possible. A mind could not switch off. A mind could not stop thinking.

"Well," Laszlo cleared his throat, "I suppose it is a good job that you love me…cad and all."

"I guess so," she whispered and finally pressed her lips against his once again. She felt the scratch of his beard against her skin, a hand running down his cheek and behind to his hair. Her fingers tangled into the ends of it as she kept her lips moving against his and he tucked her hair behind her shoulder. He pulled away from her first, the ends of her hair tangling into his fingers as he played with it. Looking over her features, he drank every detail of her in, memorising her as if he might forget her.

"Whatever happens in this case…you will have done everything that you can for that girl…take comfort in that," Elizabeth urged from him, knowing that his mind was wandering. He had this look in his eye whenever he lost himself in his thoughts. Elizabeth had grown to know it quite well.

"I only worry that it might not be enough."

"But that would not be your fault, Laszlo," Elizabeth said to him. "Do not blame yourself…please…I do not want guilt or blame to consume you. I've seen it do that to you before. I do not want to see it again."

Laszlo continued to stare at her, knowing what she was talking about. When she had been married to Jacob and they had met in secret, he would often blame himself. He would spend their time talking and telling her how he felt guilt letting her go back to her husband. But it had never been his fault. None of it had ever been his fault.

"I will do what I can, my dear," he said to her and leant in to kiss her chastely once more. "I will do what I can."

…

"Have you heard the news?"

Elizabeth was settled in a chair in 808 Broadway. She had spent the morning taking Charlotte to school and trying to talk to Maria's mother, but to no prevail. The woman had been adamant that the Kreizler family were no good for her daughter. Elizabeth had left before causing a scene, not wanting to attract attention and alienate more people. She didn't want her behaviour to negatively impact on Charlotte.

And so she had gone to 808 Broadway to visit Sara. The young detective was slowly beginning to furnish the offices and had hired two girls to work for her who were currently unpacking boxes outside of Sara's office. Sara had taken a seat behind her desk and asked Elizabeth what had brought her to her. Elizabeth had been honest and said that she just wanted to see a friendly face after her conversation at the school gates. And Sara had listened to her rant and given her the support she had wanted from a friend.

"What news is this?" Elizabeth wondered and Sara sat back in her chair, hands laced together on her stomach.

"John is engaged."

Elizabeth's eyes widened and Sara reached for the small tumbler of whiskey that she had poured herself as soon as she had seen the headline. Why had she reacted that way? Why had she felt this crushing weight inside of her chest? What she wanted was different from what John wanted. They were different people with different desires. It could never work. But that didn't stop her from feeling pain.

"Engaged?" Elizabeth echoed back and Sara nodded, pushing the newspaper that she had folded up towards Elizabeth. The other woman picked it up, holding it in her hands and sitting up straight. Her eyes flickered over the words and she drank them in, looking over the simple announcement.

"I suppose we should not be surprised," Sara continued to speak, unable to stand the silence around the topic. "He has been courting Miss Hayward for quite some time and we know how desperate he is to settle down and start a family. He has openly admitted that he is rather envious of the position that you and Laszlo find yourselves in."

"He has?" Elizabeth checked from her.

"Yes," she confirmed. "I suppose reading about it makes it feel more real somehow…more permanent."

"I imagine so," Elizabeth weakly agreed and delicately placed the newspaper back onto the top of Sara's desk before folding her fingers together and resting them in her lap. "And…well…you…" Elizabeth stammered, uncertain of how to approach the subject. She knew that there were unspoken feelings between John and Sara. Laszlo had been convinced of that and Elizabeth could see it. She could see how John looked at Sara because she recognised that look. She saw it on Laszlo's face when he thought she wasn't looking.

"I am fine," was all that Sara offered Elizabeth. She had no desire to dwell on anything. She had no desire to do anything of the kind. She had a business to run and cases to deal with. This was what she wanted. She wanted to help people. She wanted to make a success of what she had created.

But that didn't stop her from thinking about other things either. It didn't stop her from thinking about what a life with John by her side might look like.

Elizabeth nodded, seeing how Sara took another gulp of her alcohol. She placed it down onto the desk once she had finished. Elizabeth didn't push her. She didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

"Well, if you ever want to talk about anything then you know where I am," Elizabeth promised her.

"That's very kind of you," Sara said, her tone one of finality and gratitude. She didn't want to discuss it any further. "Besides, I am particularly busy looking into Martha Napp's case. After speaking with Laszlo last night I am under the impression that the case is taking its toll on him."

Elizabeth nodded. She didn't want to talk about Laszlo while he wasn't present, but she was concerned about him. She brushed out a crease from her green skirt that she had tucked into her white blouse. Brushing her hair behind her ear, she felt a strand catch in her wedding ring before letting her hands rest back in her lap.

"I think the case feels too close to home," Elizabeth informed her. "After what happened at the Lying-In Hospital and knowing what we think we know about Markoe is playing on Laszlo's mind."

"Understandable," Sara said and moved to her feet. She began pacing around the office, her heels clicking on the wooden floor. "Plus, you are in the process of adopting Charlotte and expecting your own child. A case concerning a missing child is bound to take its toll on him…on you both, anyway."

"He believes she is innocent," Elizabeth said.

"And you?"

Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. "I have not met her, but I believe Laszlo. Besides, there is no body and she…from what Laszlo has told me when he has spoken about the case…she would not be able to act as she does if she had harmed her own babe. We also know what happens at that hospital. Look at what they planned to do to me."

Sara nodded, agreeing with her on that one. "And Laszlo has informed me that you are doing your own investigative work."

"Much to his dismay," Elizabeth scoffed and moved to stand up before she stiffened up too much. She used the arms of the chair to haul her up. "But, yes, I met this nurse who works at the hospital. She is the same nurse who told you where I was. Her name is Libby Hatch. She claims that she doesn't know what goes on, but I don't know if that's the case."

"And you hope that you'll be able to get her to trust you?"

"That's the plan," Elizabeth said with a nod of her head. "Whether or not it works out like that, I don't know, but I have to try. If Doctor Markoe does to other girls what he planned on doing to me…well…I want to try and stop him."

"Perhaps I could help?" Sara suggested to her. "I know that she might have a closer bond with you at the moment because you are pregnant, but I can also help."

"I don't want to overwhelm her," Elizabeth said.

"We won't," Sara said. "But I can be with you the next time you meet her…as your friend…someone helping you through the pregnancy."

"It could work," Elizabeth agreed with her. She arched a brow and folded her arms over her chest, hip jutting out. "Did Laszlo put you up to this?"

"Not at all," Sara said, holding her hands up and pleading her innocence. She tugged at the white shirt she wore in her checked skirt and left her hands dangling by her side. "But it might be a good idea."

"It might be," Elizabeth said.

"And it would put Laszlo's mind at ease in this stressful time."

"It would," Elizabeth agreed with her once more. "In that case, we are meeting in the park this Friday at ten. I can meet you here and we can go together?"

"Sounds like a good plan," Sara said, wondering just what she would find when she met Libby Hatch.

…

Laszlo had finished his appointment with Paulie and had taken to staring out of the window of his office, looking down over the yard as the children played outside. The sun was shining brightly and hanging low in the late afternoon. Pulling out his pocket watch, Laszlo checked the time and contemplated returning home. Elizabeth should be back after picking Charlotte up from school. Laszlo had intended to go back through his notes and read up on what he had observed from Martha Napp alongside her own words to him.

As he began to pack his belongings away for the day, he tidied up his papers and placed his notes into his leather folder. He placed them underneath his arm and picked his coat up, letting it drape over his arm. He left the Institute, intending to walk back home. He could use the fresh air.

Wandering along the streets, he carried the items in his arms and his cane hovered above the ground. Looking around, his gaze landed on the park in between his house and the Institute, remembering back to the time when he had found Elizabeth there.

"Where is she?"

Laszlo had left the police station after being questioned for multiple hours. He had been kept from Elizabeth who had been held in another cell and questioned by another officer. Before they had called the police after Jacob's death, they had ensured that they had the same story. He had fallen after losing his footing. It had been an accident. Elizabeth had wanted to tell the truth, but Laszlo knew that would do no good. The police would perhaps see it as murder, a woman who had been pushed to the brink and who had lashed out. And Laszlo couldn't stand the thought of seeing her rot in a cell for an accident.

Perhaps it had been wrong. Perhaps it had been something they should have admitted. But they hadn't. And Laszlo had been the one to take charge when the police had come.

They had seemed content with their tale, seeing the bruises on Laszlo's body and the cuts marring his skin from where Jacob had beat him. Besides, there were no other witnesses and Laszlo's story matched Elizabeth's perfectly. Another benefit was the fact that Roosevelt had also been on hand to help.

As soon as Laszlo had been free to go, he had found out that Elizabeth had already been dismissed. He wondered where she could have gone when he did not find her waiting outside for him. He had gone to the only place where he knew she might have dared to go: her parent's home. His body had protested as he climbed the steps up towards their home. He was tired and he was in pain.

Every time he closed his mind, he could see the sight again. He could see Jacob's fists hitting at him, Elizabeth trying to pull him off of him. He had collapsed to the ground and watched as Jacob turned his attention to his wife before she pushed him down the stairs. He could still hear the man's grunts as he tumbled down them, Elizabeth bent at the waist and gasping for breath.

He wished that he had been stronger and able to fight Jacob off of him. He wished that he had been able to protect Elizabeth instead of her protecting him. He wanted to take the guilt from her because he knew she would feel guilty over what she had done to Jacob. Despite the fact he had done nothing but make her life a misery and hurt her, he knew that she would blame herself for his death.

And so, as soon as Elizabeth's parents opened the door, he had demanded to know where she was. Her mother sniffed and looked beyond Laszlo, almost as though she was ignoring his presence.

"She's not here." Josephine commented.

"But was she?" Laszlo continued to push.

"She came here asking for us to take her in," Daniel said, standing behind his wife's shoulder, hand curled around the frame of the front door above her. He did look at Laszlo, his beady eyes meeting the alienist's. "We heard about what happened. Jacob's parents called us…told us what had happened."

"He fell," Laszlo simply said. "Your daughter-"

"-They claim that she pushed him," Josephine interrupted, her glare finally landing on Laszlo. He didn't let himself feel intimidated by her. He refused to let that happen. He held her gaze and waited for her to continue talking. "They say that she murdered him…killed him because he found out that she was sharing your bed."

Laszlo's eyes widened. It hadn't taken long for the rumours to begin. He shook his head. "Lies," he said.

"And they claim that she took poison to kill her child because it was not Jacob's. Is that true?" Daniel demanded and Laszlo saw his face turn red, cheeks puffed out. "Is it true that she was having your bastard?"

"No," Laszlo said, the word firm and definitive. "Your daughter has been through hell…her husband…the things he did to her…you have no idea."

They both looked away at that and Laszlo could almost see guilt on their features. He saw how her mother sniffed loudly and looked to the sky. Her father let his own eyes rest on his fingers holding the door. Laszlo's lips curled upwards into a sneer. He shook his head and his grip on his cane tightened considerably, knuckles turning white with the movement.

"You knew," he accused them.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Josephine mumbled.

"You knew that Jacob beat her," Laszlo said, voice rising and anger building inside of him. "You knew that he forced himself on her…hurt her…controlled her…you knew and you turned her away when she needed you. You believed them over her."

"She's always had an overactive imagination," Daniel said with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. "She came here and we told her that she is on her own. If she wants to act like a whore then she has no place here."

"Where did she go?" Laszlo asked.

"That is not our concern," Daniel said, hand going to his wife's shoulder and his fingers curling around it. "You're welcome to her, Doctor Kreizler, if you can find her."

Laszlo shook his head, unable to comprehend how someone could be so cold and callous. He began to move back down the steps. "You do not deserve her," Laszlo snapped back over his shoulder to them. He heard the door slam shut once he had come to the street and had looked to Cyrus and Stevie as they waited for him by the carriage.

He asked them to take him back to the Institute, wondering if Elizabeth had gone there. He spent the rest of the day at a loss, wondering just where she could have gone. She wasn't at the Institute. She wasn't at his home. Had she found a hotel for the evening? Did she even have any money? Laszlo wanted to continue searching for her, but he had no idea where to begin.

The night fell and he stood at the window in his parlour room, hands in his trouser pockets and his mind thinking only of Elizabeth. Had she ever told him of any friends she would turn to? A favourite place to stay when she was not at home? The room was bathed in darkness and outside the rain had begun to pour. He kept pacing, trying to wrack his mind as the clock continued to tick.

But he couldn't stay in the house. He couldn't stay there any longer. He moved to the hallway and shrugged into his coat before reaching for his umbrella. He would rather go from hotel to hotel trying to find her than sit doing nothing. He stepped out onto the cold, wet street and began walking.

The streets were empty and the only light came from passing streetlights. Laszlo continued walking towards the busier areas before he had a sudden thought. Approaching the park, he shook his head. She wouldn't be in there. Surely she wouldn't be sat on their usual bench? But Laszlo felt something in the pit of his stomach pulling him towards the green area.

Entering the park, the lamps were dim as he wandered along the path, droplets of rain falling off of his umbrella. He looked over to the bench where they usually sat when they met in secret and he saw her there. She was sat on the bench, the rain falling around her and her eyes set forward. She was dressed in the same dark blue dress she had been wearing when they had been taken to the police station.

Her hair hung in wet clumps down her back and side, clinging onto her cheeks that were pale. Laszlo could see that she looked ghastly and almost ghost like. As he approached her, he dropped his cane to the bench and immediately began pulling his coat from his body.

"Elizabeth, what are you doing here?" he asked from her as he saw her hairs stand on edge on her arm. Her eyes were wide as she looked up to him and shivered. She said nothing as Laszlo moved his coat around her shoulders, abandoning his umbrella for a moment before picking it back up and holding it over the two of them as he sat on the bench besides her.

"Why did you not wait for me?" Laszlo asked from her.

She turned her gaze to him and shook her head. "I didn't know what to do," she whispered. "I…I know what they say about you…about us…I don't want to ruin you. I don't want you to get into trouble because of me."

"I don't care what people say, Elizabeth," Laszlo said to her firmly. "Let them talk. Let them say what they want because I'm not abandoning you. I'm not going to do that to you."

"But I killed him," Elizabeth said with a shake of her head. "I killed my husband."

"It was an accident," Laszlo said to her. "What happened was an accident and wasn't your fault. You were defending me. You were trying to protect me. If anything…I should have been stronger…I should have been stronger for you, Elizabeth."

She shook her head at hearing him say that to her. She didn't want him to think that. She never wanted him to think that.

"You have been strong for me, Laszlo," she said to him. "Without you…without having you to talk to…knowing that someone does care for me…I wouldn't have made it this far."

Looking over her, he felt his chest ache at the sight of her. She looked so broken. She looked so defeated.

"Come home with me," Laszlo said to her. "Please, Elizabeth. You are shivering and wet. You need to get warm…just come home with me and let me look after you as I should have done. I should have done more."

Elizabeth's gaze searched his and she nodded her head. Laszlo nodded back to her and stood up. He held his bad hand down to her and she took hold of it before standing up. She pulled the coat tighter around her body as Laszlo moved his hand to the small of her back and held the umbrella in front of them. He felt her side brush against his as they walked and he swore to himself that he would do everything in his power to keep her safe from that moment onwards.

…

"Jump over the puddle," Elizabeth encouraged from Charlotte as she walked by her side on the way home from school. The little girl held Elizabeth's hand and took one big jump over the puddle sat in the middle of the street as they crossed over. Elizabeth smiled at the little girl as she beamed up at her. "Very good jump," Elizabeth commented. "Come on, we'll call in at the sweet shop before we go home."

Charlotte continued smiling and Elizabeth indulged her, letting her pick out some sweets for her to eat on the rest of the journey. They continued their walk back home, Elizabeth not once letting go of Charlotte's hand as they neared the park not far from the Institute. It was the park she always met Laszlo in. It was the park where he had found her the night after the altercation with Jacob.

As they walked along the main road by the side of it, Elizabeth glanced upwards and saw Laszlo moving towards them, his coat over his arm and a document wallet under it. His cane was in his other hand, hitting the ground with each movement he made. He looked lost in thought as Charlotte tugged on Elizabeth's hand.

"What is it, Charlotte?" she wondered from the small child.

"Is Laszlo okay?" she wondered.

"He's just thinking," Elizabeth said to her. "He always looks distracted when he's thinking, but he's fine."

As if on queue, Laszlo's gaze finally landed on the two approaching figures and he put the memory he was thinking of behind him. He felt his lips quirk upwards at the sight of the two of them, seeing how Elizabeth's face lit up at the sight of him.

"I didn't think that you would be finishing work so soon," Elizabeth commented, standing in front of him and he leant forwards, kissing her on the cheek.

"I thought that I would come and spend the rest of the afternoon at home," Laszlo informed her and saw Charlotte dip her hand into the brown paper bag she was carrying, pulling out a round sweet and popping it into her mind. He arched his brow. "And I was going to suggest going for ice cream, but I can see you've already had a treat."

"Well, I think there might also be room for ice cream," Elizabeth commented and Laszlo's lips arched while Charlotte nodded. "Besides, we don't have to have much for dinner then."

"Ice cream in place of dinner?" Laszlo questioned.

"Just this once," she responded and Charlotte continued to nod her head.

"Just this once," Laszlo echoed her words back to her and she took hold of his arm with her free hand as they all fell into step together, moving down the streets and towards the ice cream parlour.

Charlotte answered Laszlo's questions as they went, the alienist questioning her on how school had been. Once they came to the parlour, Laszlo let Charlotte pick her flavours and she took hold of the cone, licking at the vanilla scoop as his wife ordered a strawberry flavour and Laszlo insisted he was fine. They took the ice creams back to the park, Charlotte rushing ahead and skipping on the pavement before jumping into the boxes of chalk for hopscotch.

"How did your talk with Maria's mother go this morning?" Laszlo asked now that Charlotte was out of earshot.

"Not well," Elizabeth admitted. "She wasn't interested in anything that I had to say to her. I simply told her the truth and left it at that."

"You did what you could," Laszlo promised and Elizabeth shrugged, head tilted to the side as she licked at her ice cream. "Besides, Charlotte's spirits don't seem to be dampened."

Elizabeth glanced back to the little girl who was racing ahead and she nodded. She could see that much for herself too. Laszlo began to shrug into his coat, Elizabeth taking hold of his document wallet and cane as he shrugged it onto his shoulders and took his items back, letting Elizabeth wrap her free arm back into his. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, feeling the setting sun warm her skin.

"Elizabeth."

Turning her head to the side at the sound of her name being called, she instantly dropped her ice cream at the sight in front of her. The cone fell with a soft 'splodge' noise on the pavement and Laszlo's brows knitted together. He felt Elizabeth drop her arm from inside of his and she swayed on her heels.

"What…what…happened?" she managed to speak, struggling to form a coherent sentence at the sight in front of her.

Her mother was stood there, dressed in a ripped green dress. The bottom of it was covered in mud. Her boots were fraying and her coat had a large tear in the arm. Her hair was a mess around her head and she had a bruise on her cheek that stained her pale skin purple. Her face was gaunt and her figure was slimmer. She looked ill. She looked destitute.

"Goo Goo Knox…he…your father couldn't pay him back. He couldn't clear his loans. He went missing, Elizabeth. I don't know where he is, but I haven't seen him in weeks. I think he…I think he might be dead."

Elizabeth could only nod. She didn't know what else she could say to her. She didn't have any words. She knew that she should be sad that her father was dead, but she felt nothing. She felt empty.

"I see," was all that she could think of saying to her mother.

"I've had nowhere to go. The house was taken…we have no money…and no one will help me," Josephine sniffed loudly and Elizabeth saw the tears form in her eyes. Laszlo looked over to his wife, trying to deduce what was going through her mind. He could see the conflict inside of her. He moved his hand to the small of her back, letting her know that he was still there by her side.

"Just like I was," Elizabeth replied. "Don't you remember, mother? When I came to you and I asked you for help…when I asked you to let me come home…and you cast me out?"

"If I could take that back I would," Josephine said, her voice breaking.

"I came here," Elizabeth said, ignoring her comment. "I came to this park and sat on a bench in the corner…lost…not knowing what to do…until Laszlo came and found me because my own family didn't want to help me. And now you stand here…and what? What do you want?"

Josephine's eyes widened and Laszlo almost felt pity for the woman. Her bottom lip quivered and her forehead creased as she moved a shaking hand up to her face, her fingernails dirty and her hands covered in black marks. She tucked her hair behind her ear and she shook her head.

"I just want help," Josephine said to her as Elizabeth looked over to the side, making certain that Charlotte was still in sight. "I want to make amends."

"No," Elizabeth shook her head firmly. "You're not making amends. You don't get the chance to make amends. As for my help…I cannot help you. You cast me out with nothing. I have no money from Jacob. I have nothing. I am only here because of Laszlo…because of his generosity."

Josephine remained mute as the alienist sniffed loudly and Elizabeth looked to him for a moment. He nodded his head at her and silently communicated with her. She shook her head at him, telling him that she didn't want to help her mother. She didn't want him to feel that he had to do anything for the woman who had been so close to ruining their lives.

"And I see you're both married now," Josephine commented. "And…the baby…you're looking well."

"Don't," Elizabeth demanded from her mother. "Don't make small talk with me, mother. I have no desire to exchange pleasantries of fake niceties. You made your choice to act as you did all those weeks ago."

"Elizabeth, please," Josephine begged, taking a step closer to her daughter and reaching out for her arms. She held onto her tightly and Elizabeth wrinkled her nostrils, knowing that her mother hadn't bathed in weeks. Her bad breath hit Elizabeth's face as she continued her pleading. "Goo Goo Knox…he has taken everything from us. He…I just need a second chance…I need a chance to prove to you that I'm not a bad person."

Elizabeth scoffed. "No. You just need my help. You don't want to make amends to me or prove anything. You're just thinking of yourself, as per usual."

"Elizabeth, darling," Laszlo's voice whispered down to her and she looked up to him. He took hold of her hand and gave Josephine a stern nod. She let go of her daughter and he dragged her off to the side, wanting to talk to her privately for a few moments.

"I'm sorry," Elizabeth said to Laszlo, her voice a low whisper. "I didn't think that she would be bothering us ever again."

"You have no reason to apologise," he promised her in a soft whisper, looking to make sure that Charlotte was still in their view before glancing back to his wife. "But, I know you and I know that, despite what your mother has done, if you leave her like this…you…it will play on your conscience."

"Will it?" Elizabeth grunted back to him.

"Yes, because you are a good person," Laszlo said to her, squeezing her hand with his bad one and moving his good hand up to her cheek, brushing her hair behind her shoulder with his knuckles. "And, regardless of everything, she is still your mother."

Elizabeth let out a deep breath, her head falling forwards. Looking down, she inhaled sharply and Laszlo continued to run his hand along her cheek. He let his own head droop so that he looked down upon her and he saw the conflict on her face, noting the way her nostrils flared and forehead scrunched up.

"I don't like it," Elizabeth whispered, looking back to him and meeting his gaze. "I don't like her being here and asking me for help…and…knowing that it wouldn't be me helping her."

"What's mine is yours," Laszlo said to her.

"But it's not," she responded. "You worked so hard for everything in your life and I already feel guilty for taking advantage of you."

"Is that what you think you do?"

"I live in your house…you took me in when I was penniless…looked after me."

"I do not see that as you taking advantage of me. I wanted to help you. I wanted you to be with me because I love you, Elizabeth," Laszlo said to her. "And you do more than you know for me alongside helping me at the Institute."

"Not the point," Elizabeth whispered to him. "The point is that I don't want to involve you any further in my messed up family after everything they have said and done to you."

"Do you see this?" Laszlo urged from her, picking her left hand up and running his thumb over her wedding ring. She glanced down at it, her gaze remaining steady on it as he continued to run his fingers along her knuckles. "I married you, Elizabeth, and that means that your burdens become mine, just as my burdens become yours."

Elizabeth manoeuvred her hand into his, squeezing his fingers tightly. She gripped hard onto him and he moved so that his forehead brushed hers, picking her gaze up as his nose ran against hers and he bent forwards to kiss her chastely. His beard tickled her skin and he whispered, breath warm against her cheek.

"Let me deal with this, yes?" he urged from her.

And she nodded solemnly. Laszlo pecked her once more on the cheek before he stood up straight and kept hold of Elizabeth's hand, moving back to give their full attention to Josephine. Laszlo took the lead this time.

"I will give you enough money to see you through the next month, but you have to leave this city," he declared to her, not giving her any room for negotiation. "No doubt a clean start might be beneficial for you in a different city away from here where no one knows who you are. You can make something of yourself there…find work…but you'll leave us alone."

"I don't know where to go."

"That is for you to decide," Laszlo said to her. "You cannot expect anymore from us and, after the way you treated us and what you intended to do, I would say that is more than a generous offer."

"I imagine it is," Josephine agreed with him.

"Then that is settled," Laszlo said, his tone one of finality. "Now, we are going to enjoy our evening. Meet us back at the house in another two hours and we will settle this matter."

"Yes," Josephine agreed quickly with him.

"And then that is the matter closed," Laszlo said. "Now, we will be on our way."

Josephine nodded frantically, her gaze meeting her daughter's for a brief moment. Elizabeth held her stare before looking away and allowing Laszlo to guide her down the path. He waited until he was certain that her mother had gone before speaking.

"Are you alright?"

"You didn't have to do that," she said to him, but he shook his head at her.

"I did what I wanted to," Laszlo told her. "I did what I felt was right and necessary for us to move on because this baby, you and Charlotte are what I hold dearest to me and I do not want your mother in your thoughts…coming back…and ruining what s supposed to be a happy time for us."

Elizabeth stood on her toes and pecked him on the cheek gently. "I wish it was easy," she said. "I wish it was easy not to care about family, especially when they hurt you as she did."

Laszlo chuckled darkly at that. "Unfortunately, my dear Elizabeth, we are unable to do that."

She harrumphed at that and Laszlo kissed the top of her head before catching the attention of Charlotte, the little girl moving over to them after she had finished skipping with other children in the rope. The three of them continued on their walk, trying to act normally. Laszlo kept his hand inside of Elizabeth's, Charlotte running ahead once more.

But they had no idea that they were being watched. A set of beady eyes remained on them, following them around the park, knowing that this happy family they had built would be destroyed.

…

A/N: Thanks so much to everyone who is reading still. Sorry it's been a while since the last update, but I've been away on holiday and I'm not back. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and the sense of foreboding coming up – which means more drama! Would love to know your thoughts and anything you'd like to see in the future. Season 2 is fast approaching now!