An: The Frying Pan Of Doom trope makes an appearance.

Jenny woke up in the chilly morning and stared at the ceiling. The embers of the dying fire barely illuminated it. It was New Year's day. The first of January 1888. Again.

It was a vast deal different to a year ago. Barely a month out of jail, sleeping in penny lodgings, shivering with both cold and fear and the exhaustion that came from constantly moving. She'd been thin and ill, begging when she couldn't scrounge matches to sell, shaking too much to lift a purse and not get caught. The Tong Gang had been after her and she'd thought, in those dark times, that her days were numbered and it was a very small number. For if they hadn't caught up with her, lack of food would have.

And now she had plentiful food, a house, money, security, safety and…Vastra. That was something she couldn't have ever dreamt of. Why it was the lizard woman she'd fallen in love with she couldn't figure out. She'd liked her, felt protective even and then well it sort of just happened. Vastra was precious to her. She peered at the scaly face, pressed a brief kiss against Vastra's lips and shuffled out of bed, loathe to leave it but the fire needed seeing to and she probably could do with a bath. One blue eye opened and watched her stretch and yawn into a robe but closed again as Vastra burrowed further into the covers to soak up Jenny's residual warmth.

Jenny looked at her body as she washed it; it'd grown strong and full, no hint of the near-starvation she'd endured. She bled almost regularly now; her body used to being fed regularly and well. She couldn't remember if she was due; time travelling had messed it up. She hoped not.

Jenny went back to their room with a towel wrapped around her to dry off and get dressed. Despite the fact that the Silurian had seen it all before, Jenny was still apprehensive about being naked in front of her; there was something in the way the Silurian looked at her, a hunger in the eyes. Not that she thought Vastra wanted to eat her. Not in that way at any rate.

Vastra grumbled as Jenny sat down on the bed to dry her hair and slid out from under the covers to wrap herself around Jenny's waist, the bed no longer warm.

Jenny wondered briefly whether the Silurian was acutally attracted to her or merely liked her warmth. She stroked Vastra's head crest gently, making Vastra hiss and twitch, nuzzling into her stomach still half asleep.

Jenny got a head butt to the stomach when she stopped and a sleepy aggrieved glare from Vastra.

"Yor like a cat…" Jenny murmured.

"I am nothing of the sort." Vastra jerked awake and stalked across the bed to curl up under the covers once more.

Jenny finished dressing and then knelt down by the side of the bed, resting her arms on it. Her mouth twitched as she reached up and tugged gently on the spike of the central head crest. Vastra swiftly rolled over to glare at her and Jenny bit her lip to keep from grinning; the expression was so like a cat that had had its tail tugged.

To keep the scowl from becoming murderous she returned to stroking Vastra's head crests. The Silurian clicked softly.

"I am still in no way like a cat." She pointed out, in case Jenny decided to confuse the noise for purring.

"Cats don' have scales fer starters." Jenny nodded.

Vastra looked up to see a small smile on the ape's face. The ape was teasing her! It was a new sensation; no-one had teased her in a long time. She hmphed and wiggled to the side of the bed, lying so that she was nose to nose with Jenny.

"You are happy."

"S'not that rare a thing that it needs pointin' out is it?"

"Mmm." Vastra leaned in and kissed her. "I was more wondering the cause."

Jenny laughed. "Yer a stupid lizard if you carn't guess."

Vastra blinked at her to convey her confusion. Jenny rolled her eyes, stood up and then straddled Vastra as the Silurian rolled onto her back.

It clicked suddenly as Jenny was about to lean down and kiss her.

"It makes you happy?" the question slipped out. She stared up at Jenny wonderingly.

"Well life's a bit better than it was last year. Generally. That makes me happy too. But yeah." Jenny laid down on the covers, beside Vastra, tucking into her side. "Bein' with you makes me happy. An' y'know," she struggled with how precisely to phrase it. "bein' with you. That makes me happy too."

It was as well Jenny had closed her eyes as she'd snuggled against Vastra because the Silurian's grin was very smug.

"What about you?"

The grin became a little fixed.

"Life is indeed far better than last year. I have not had a year without cages since before I woke in this time." She felt the little ape go stiff with what she reasonably guessed was rage. "This life makes me happy." She toyed with Jenny's loose hair. "And bein' with you, yes, makes me happy."

"Does it? I mean it ain't really much for you. An'…"

"I like watching you." Vastra cut her off, shifting more upright in bed to look down at Jenny. "I like your body," she rested a hand on Jenny's waist, "and the way it tastes." she licked Jenny's neck, making Jenny's breath catch. "I like hearing you when I touch you. It is…nice." Vastra finished lamely.

"Nice?"

"To bring someone pleasure through my touch. More than just being unafraid. You are…comfortable?" Vastra may not have liked Jenny's uncertainties but she had her own pile of self-doubt.

"Welllll," Jenny drawled. "Yor very comfortin'. At times. When you ain't threatenin' to eat me. Which you haven't done fer a while now fer food I mean!" She'd heard the Silurian taking a breath to protest.

"Hm." Vastra hummed. "I could quite happily. For breakfast." The hand which had rested on Jenny's waist moved to her buttons.

"OI!" Jenny sat upright hurriedly. "I've only just got dressed!"

"All the more fun getting undressed?" Vastra gave an unapologetic half shrug. "You don't have to take it all off. You don't have to take anything off at all." She grinned and snapped her tongue out.

A silent war waged in Jenny Flint's mind. One side lost.

By the time Jenny made it downstairs to the kitchen, there was a small gang of hungry urchins. They eyed her knowingly and she flushed. Their scrutiny made her feel as if Vastra's touches were a visible thing that clung to her.

"Miss Peggy's got a message fer you." Cris piped up as she carefully avoided their gazes and silently went to make breakfast.

"Trouble she sez." Thrupp piped up.

"Trouble?" Jenny looked for Peggy and found her peering round the back door.

"Is the lizard lady 'ere?" Peggy asked furtively.

"She's havin' a bath." Jenny shook her head. She had told Vastra not to eat Peggy but the urchin wasn't to know that the Silurian obeyed Jenny's orders in that respect, so her fear was understandable. But if anything Peggy looked more perturbed at her answer.

"You gotta warn 'er! There's men comin'. Men comin' fer 'er!"

A sharp bolt of fear went straight down Jenny's spine and she froze, staring at Peggy, mouth dry and hand clutching the frying pan.

"What men?" Although she knew already.

"Peggy said it were…" Cris began uncertainly.

"S'Torchwood, Jenny Flint!" Peggy hissed urgently from the doorway. "Torchwood are comin'!"

Still grasping the frying pan, Jenny bolted out the room and up the stairs.

"VASTRA!" she burst into their bedroom, having found the bathroom empty.

"Whatever is the matter?" The Silurian turned round, mildly alarmed to see Jenny brandishing a frying pan at her. She finished hanging Jenny's beads around her neck.

"Torchwood! Peggy sez Torchwood are comin'. Fer you! She came to warn yer."

Jenny had seen Vastra go pale with cold and hunger but not with fear. Not as pale as she was now.

The Silurian's face twisted into a snarl. "If I run, I will be hunted. I will not be hunted by apes."

"Vastra!" Jenny caught her arm as she moved past her to the door. "I won't let 'em take yer. An'…an' if they do, I'll get yer out."

It didn't sound half so convincing when she said it, particularly when the only weapon she had about her was a frying pan, but the Silurian smiled gratefully anyway. The bell sounded and it made them both jump. Vastra looked pleadingly at Jenny.

"Yer veil. It might work. Pretend s'a case! Just a case! Thas all."

Vastra nodded and went to get her veil. "I shall be waiting in the plant room then. If you would show them in." With poise she did not feel, she placed her veil over her head.

Jenny nodded and went downstairs, depositing the frying pan in the kitchen. The urchins had scattered out the back door and she didn't blame them. She felt like running too. "I will not be hunted by apes." Jenny took a breath to try and steady her nerves but her hand was shaking as she answered the door. They'd been so happy…

There were two men, both in suits and bowler hats, one short and rather rotund, the other towering and tall. The first one glared at her through his glasses, the other was peering round disinterestedly. Mentally, Jenny gave him five minutes before he found something to pick up and fiddle with.

"We are here to see Madame Vastra." The first man brought her attention back to him by holding out a card with an intricate 'T' on it and nothing else. "If you would be so kind as to show us through."

Jenny swallowed, the tone of voice didn't really allow for not showing them through. It was a demand, not a request and she obeyed, wordlessly leading them into the plant room. The obeisance annoyed her. She didn't want to obey, she wanted to stop shaking, she wanted her sword and mostly she wanted to stand in front of Vastra with it, glowering death. Not standing off to one side, entirely without a weapon, not even a frying pan, staring at her feet. She felt a bit of a coward.

"Madame Vastra, I presume." The first man's voice was suddenly smooth and genteel; the change in tone riling Jenny, anger replacing fear. He bowed, taking off his hat and sat down in the chair. "I am…you may call me Mister Benson. I saw your advertisement in the paper and would like to employ yours services to help me, and my associates," he gestured to the thickset man who was standing behind him, observing the flowers, "solve a little problem."

Vastra and Jenny shared a glance; why would Torchwood be hiring them? Had Peggy got it wrong?

"There is a certain woman, of a certain type of woman who has managed to gain possession of an item which belongs to us. And we would like it back."

"And what is this item gentlemen?" Vastra interrupted the man.

"A locket. Of gold. It was mistakenly given away, without the true…value of it being known. Unfortunately, such is the nature of the…establishment which this woman runs that we would be at a disadvantage if we were to…approach her in person." Significant pauses littered his sentences. "Thus we would like you to recover it for us." The gentleman held a hand up and the second man wandered over to place a piece of paper in his hand. "The address."

He handed it to Vastra who still looked puzzled but Jenny cottoned on. She'd heard of that sort of thing before from Lettie; rich men visiting such "establishments" and accidents happening, slip-ups, mistakes that had to be covered up. Although why Torchwood would be interested and why they needed her and Vastra to help with that she couldn't fathom.

"Any assistance you could give us would of course be rewarded. If you are reticent yourself about visiting such areas, I'm sure your…maid would not have such a problem."

Vastra saw Jenny's hand clench and her expression became stony but it merely added to her confusion.

"And how should I persuade this woman to return the item, if she wishes to keep it?" Vastra asked, somewhat exasperated now her fear was receding. Jenny's advice seemed prophetic; it seemed it was just another case.

"We rely upon your imagination and skill. If you fail, at least investigate, as you claim to be able to do. It will be an adventure for you, will it not?"

The gentleman in the chair rose, placing his bowler hat back on his head.

"And if I refuse?"

He stared at her for a moment and then leaned towards her. "That would not be wise of someone in your position, Madame Vastra." His voice had turned low and menacing, not a hint of courtesy left. "And I think you are intelligent enough to be wise." He gave a curt nod before gesturing for the other man to follow him as he walked out the door.

An: Excuse the levels of horn.