Fiona skips lunch and rides her bike to 13 Paternoster Row before returning home to study. Her heart is pounding and her stomach aches since her appetite disappeared once sealing the envelope two days ago. With determination, she slipped the fragile letter through the mail slot.
She now steps back to stare at her friend's home, starts to tear up, gently gets back on her bike all the while reminding herself she will always have her books.
Fiona throws her herself into her studies more than usual. Late night cram sessions end in exhaustion for a guarantee sleep. If she didn't her heart would take over and it would consume her state of mind.
She couldn't bring herself to ride past 13 Paternoster Row to view the front door without the cylinder. So she convinced herself that it was better this way.
She snapped out of her thoughts and began to study the next chapter. Ironically it was about the heart. She concentrated for a few hours and then allowed herself to rest her head for a moment. She folds her head into her arms and falls asleep in the same position as the night before.
A whole week has gone by and Alaya's reply remains hanging off the doorknob.
Alaya would have to take matters into her own hands come midnight.
"Come in?" Jenny calls.
Alaya walks in with her hands gripped, "I will be going out for about an hour. I thought I should tell you because the door open and close."
Jenny, "Dear Alaya, what's wrong?"
Vastra, "Anything we do?"
Alaya shakes her head no and turns to leave the room.
Vastra pulls Alaya's chin up and looks straight into her eyes. All Vastra can do is offer a sympathetic smile. She turns back to her wife, "We'll be back in less than twenty minutes."
Jenny smiles as she puts on her housecoat, "I will get tea ready. Let's talk when you both return."
Alaya climbs the same chimney she has ascended months before. Staying to the shadow she quietly reaches Fiona's window. A desk lamp is on. She can see clearly the redhead fast asleep humped over her desk.
Fiona detaches the message cylinder from her belt and carefully places it on Fiona's desk. She backs into the shadow and flicks her tongue. A split second later Fiona scratches her cheek and goes back to sleep.
Alaya quickly descends and runs around the block to the taxi waiting with her mother inside.
Vastra directs their driver to return to 13 Paternoster Row.