It had only felt like moments since she had fallen asleep when Eleanor began to stir. Her first conscious thought was realizing that she had not dreamed. Not that she remembered any of the dreams she had been having. Most of the time she would just wake up startled or with a bad taste in her mouth. But not this time, this time she felt almost refreshed. With the exception of being very thirsty, Eleanor could have sworn that this had been the best sleep in ages.

Eleanor propped herself up on the bed and licked her lips. "But why?" she pondered. She mentally shrugged the question and promptly got out of bed. Still in her borrowed night gown, Eleanor wandered about the room looking for her suit when she noticed a scrap of paper sitting on the dresser with a paper bag beside it. She tried to read it but the low light that flooded in through the ceiling was not enough. Quickly fumbled around room, she found a box of matches beside the bed. Soon several candles eliminated the darkness.

-Eleanor, hope you find this. I forced Stanley to take a side trip before

our picnic and pick up 'some things' for you. I had to trade

two of my best pair of heels to get it so I hope it fits. And I have a pair of boots

you can borrow- they will be on the floor of the wardrobe.

-Max

Beside the note was a thin paper bag. She opened the top and took out the piece of clothing. Having put it on she noticed the fit was snug but secure. Eleanor made a mental note to thank Max when she saw her next. She thought of her two friends enjoying their picnic and smiled. She then remembered her own date and realized she had nothing to wear herself. Concern quickly turned to anxiousness as she rushed past the dresser causing Maxes note to fall. When Eleanor picked it up she noticed more writing on the back.

P.S. you can borrow one of my dresses except

the black one. Just be sure to keep it clean. I mean it.

You will find them in the wardrobe.

"Of course I would keep it clean," she replied annoyingly.

The wardrobe squeaked open revealing several sets of buttoned shirts and a couple dresses. Eleanor examined the individual dresses until she came upon a robin's-egg blue dress. It was strapless and had a pretty flower, made of the same material as the dress, sitting just to the right of the left shoulder. "Except the black one…"

Hardly giving a second thought, Eleanor slipped on the dress. She found the chest to be a little tight making it hard to zip in the back. Her hair, she had to do something with it. Eleanor looked in the mirror and tugged at the ends of her hair in dismay. Her fingers ran through each and every knot causing her to pause and fix them.

My kingdom for a brush, she thought. As Eleanor combed her hair, she thought of Perrier. He seemed nice and considerate but so did Mathew Parks. The event had left a cancerous blotch in her heart. In the end she just let it hang; which was pretty much all she could do in the first place. The last thing was the boots. They were there in the wardrobe, gathering dust, looked old and worn out, smelled funny…

"I think I will go without them," Eleanor declared. She cared about her feet too much to wear those boots. Just as she was about to leave the metal door opened permitting the hallway light to silhouette around a person.

"Oh, you're awake…," Diana replied with a hint of disappointment. "…And dressed too. Would you like some perfume? I have a lovely fragrance that would match that dress splendidly."

Eleanor blushed. "Oh no thank you. I never liked perfume or fragrance. But if you have a brush I could borrow…"

"Oh why of course my dear," said Diana in a voice dripping with honey. "I have hundreds of things to pretty up that head of yours."

Diana seemed to be enjoy mothering Eleanor a bit too much but she hardly took notice and was glad that of the two of them Diana actually knew what she was doing.

"Just the hair would be great."

Diana face soured up for a moment then melted as she led Eleanor through the metal door to her room. "Of course honey… but it is a real shame. Here sit down. My, your hair is rather in a state. This will take all my skill to fix."

From the moment Eleanor entered the room her eyes wandered about the room. It was like walking into a dimly lit four-star hotel. She saw a banister bed, oak wardrobe, cherry-wood serving tables with matching trays and a grand powder table with mirrors that reflected a person's face from several angles. But something was off about the room. It looked fancy but it smelled like… like a mixture of perfume and mildew.

When Eleanor sat down at the powder table she found the brass around the mirrors to be rusted. She rolled her eyes as far to the left as her head would allow and studied the wardrobe. The oak wood was very cracked in some places and fuzzy in others. As far as Eleanor could tell the entire room was in the same or similar state. Suddenly a harsh brush stroke tore through her hair almost tearing it off.

"Oh I'm so sorry dear; this goofy knot is giving me trouble. But I'm curious, what brings you to Fontaine Futuristics? The entire place seems to be in an uproar about you but I have yet to hear a thing. Be a good girl and tell Aunt Diana your story. But only the juicy parts," Diana stated with equally juicy lips as she swung her brush through Eleanor's hair a second time causing the girl to wince. Diana offered a half hearted sorry before Eleanor began.

Eleanor took a moment and sighed. "I can only remember my actual life when I appeared in Pauper's drop. Most of it was pain and confusion…"

For the next few minutes Eleanor told her short life's story only pausing when Diana found stubborn knots. She talked about Aunt Gracie finding her and the people of Pauper's drop attacking them. About Doc Johnson, Fred Tumble, and about Lucy Evansfield and Mathew Parks. How they had journeyed through most of Rapture only to find danger, betrayal and friends like Stanley Poole, Max, and Billy especially Billy.

As her story pressed on her found herself crying as she recounted the more recent events. A pure white handkerchief made of silk was handed too her by Diana. Eleanor whispered her thanks and dabbed her eyes but when she tried to return it Diana held up her hand. Eleanor turned towards Diana to see that she too had been crying.

"No, I want you to keep it dear. You need it more than me and when all is said and done I hope you give those brutes what's coming to them."

Both women giggled with red eyes.

"Now enough of this crying nonsense. You're about to go on a date, right? We cannot have my little Eleanor show off her beautiful hair with a sad face. hmm." Diana whirled Eleanor around allowing her to see in the mirror.

My hair, Eleanor thought. "It is really beautiful," she gasped in awe. Diana had transformed her hair completely. Every strand was braided and the braids were wrapped into a perfect bun. "But why Diana? Why go through all this trouble for someone you hardly even know?"

Diana sighed heavily. "Perrier asked me. He thought you would need help. The simple fool. And too be honest I wanted… Well I'm just a sucker for a good love-bird story."

"Lover-bird story? Me and Perrier? Oh no, I am not interested in him at all. He is nice looking and very courteous but he is not my type. But I am grateful for his efforts to cheer me up and yours Aunt Diana."

Diana's eyes lit up and she hugged Eleanor tightly then held her at arm's length. "And here I was worried about you. You'll give that boy a run for his money you snake charmer you. Well have fun with your picnic dear. And don't wait up cause I'm heading out too."

"Oh, and where are you going at this time of night Aunt Diana?"

Diana laughed "The night is young dear and I suddenly feel like shopping for some new furniture. These old things won't do anymore."

Eleanor smiled as she walked up the stairs outside the living quarters. "Well I hope you have fun shopping," she called back.

"I will dear and don't do anything I wouldn't."

Author's Notes: Hi all readers of the world... all 24 of you. I finally reached chapter 40. Feels good. I really haven't been busy with this story but i keep chewing on it and come back and back again. I thought of a good climax. It involves [EDITED FOR GOOD REASONS]. Good ending huh. And at over 11,000 hits it should be a good ending. Anyway down to business: Seen the Avengers movie yet. NO? Then stop reading this crap and go see it for crying out loud. Seriously a good movie. The next thing i want to talk about is blah, blah, blah keep reading my story please blah, blah, blah not the droids you are looking for blah, blah dark side of the force blah, blah, go see avengers. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING GUYS!