A cold kind of sweat gathers against the nape of her neck as her heart jolts against her ribs. Penny sucks in a shaky breath as she curls more tightly into herself. The silken sheets slide against her bare legs as she tightens herself into as much of a ball as she can. The hotel room is pitch black beyond the blinking light of the alarm clock on the nightstand next to the bed. Penny takes a moment to orient herself, remind herself she's here now.

The lingering wisps of the nightmare only make the knot in her stomach tighten.

She has to remind herself, she didn't fail those other girls. Penny forces her hand to loosen from its tight grip at the edge of the sheets to scrub at her face. Tears sting at her eyes as she sucks in another breath, then another. She focuses on breathing. She goes through the technique May and Tony talked her through more than once.

She can picture all of the girls faces still. The grief, and fear etched into their eyes. The defeated resignation of knowing this was what their lives were spelled out across their features. Penny just wanted to help the, but she was just like them now.

"Do you really think anyone will save you?"

"Mary-?" Norman's voice is groggy.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, dear." Her voice is flat, her affect dull. She just barely stops herself from flinching at the weight of his palm against the small of her back. She wants to rip his head off.

"Rough dreams?" The question is genuine enough it leaves Penny at loss. Norman doesn't care about the real her, and he never will. She won't give him the chance to even see who she is.

"A few." She forces herself to straighten, turning in his hold to drape her arms around him. He twists to meet her, holding her like they belong together. "I'm fine." She forces herself to press a kiss against his chin. "Go back to sleep."

Norman regards her, his expression curious before he nods. "You as well."

"Thank you." She coaxes him back to resting, pressing loose kisses against his jaw, his cheeks, giggling as he laughs lowly at her. Penny rests her cheek against his chest, listening to his breathing grow deeper.

Her voice wobbles as she replies, "I'll save them." A hand connects with her cheek, and Penny struggles to breath as hands pull her down back onto her knees. A man's voice sneers. "You can't even save yourself, child."

--

"I've always wanted to see New York." She murmured softly against Norman's shoulder. "Will we see it?" They've crossed through most of Europe at this point. Norman softened his stance slightly, enough so she could walk a few feet ahead of him while they were in France. The urge to run had been unimaginably larger than life. It had taken all of Penny's self control to stop herself. She stayed close enough Norman could guide her, speaking french animatedly with the locals.

All she can think of his her school trip. Her ridiculous plan to ask MJ out on the Eiffel tower. How

her girlfriend laughed, laughed and laughed at her, but still kissed her. How they held hands as they walked together around the edge of the tower overlooking the city. Ned shooting them a wink and finger gun when she made eye contact in passing. Betty rolling her eyes, but smiling at the exchange lingers in the back of Penny's mind.

The man laughs, running his hands across her back. "Oscorp's headquarters is there, Mary. We'll be living there very soon."

She giggles a little, nervous energy making it pop up and out of her. "Really?"

"Really." He shifts so he can kiss her. He draws back to brush her hair out of her face. "Now, why don't you get some rest? I have a meeting over dinner tonight." They had spent most of the day touring London. Norman was rich enough and important enough he could take this long of a honeymoon while turning it into a business trip at the same time.

Penny draws back, quietly grateful for the lack of touch. "Oh, how long will you be gone?"

"A few hours, but, I already placed an order for room service. You'll eat at our usual time." He promises, patting her arm gently. "My people will bring it in for you."

Penny nods, trying to not scowl at Norman. He still didn't trust her near a phone. She couldn't blame him, but she hoped his guard would drop at least somewhat. She had been behaving, yet he hadn't budged as far as she wanted him to. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too, dearest." He holds onto her hand, kissing at her knuckles fondly. "But, business has to be done. You understand."

"I do."

She hoped Oscorp caught on fire. She hoped Pepper somehow bought it out and turned it into a shell company for Stark Industries. She lets the anger burn out by the time Norman has left. Penny spends the next hour searching the hotel room for a phone. She finds a safe, and sees the cord hanging out of the bottom.

Norman Osborn isn't a complete idiot. She has to give him that. --

Even in a private jet, the flight back to the United States takes forever. Penny picks at the upholstery of the seat she's in. The past few hours have been quiet, minimal conversation, light meals and Norman working. Penny happily sleeps through good chunks of time, trying to avoid making conversation unless she has to go through it. The recycled air filtering over head and sound of the engines under them fill the silence. Penny occasionally lets her gaze drop out of the window, watching the expanse of the water flow under them.

Norman's attention is focused solely on work, his laptop open in front of him. Occasionally his hand drops down to stroke his hand along her inner thigh, squeezing it possessively. He can't seem to stop touching her.

Penny bites the inside of her cheek, trying to keep herself steady. "I thought you were working?" She asks, keeping her voice as light as it can be. She drops her hand down to meet his, trying to keep herself from snapping his wrist.

Norman chuckles, his gaze flicking up from his screen to meet her eyes. "I can multitask." His fingers probe along her inner thighs as if asking for permission. Penny has to stop herself from

reminding Norman that he purchased her. She couldn't consent even if she wanted to. All of her choices have been taken away.

Penny hums quietly back at that. She draws her hand back, shifting in her seat to grant him access. "Don't get too distracted."

She can hold herself together until New York. Penny knows she can. His fingers come back sticky and he's smug. He sets aside his laptop and Penny finds herself propped up in his lap, her legs spread. His clumsy hands push the hem of her skirt upwards, fumbling with fabric. Her breath shakes as they move together, her eyes glued on the wall behind Norman's head as he uses her.

She slides out of his lap once he's finished, excusing herself with a smile as she adjusts the hem of her dress to cover herself as she walks to the bathroom in the jet.

Penny closes the bathroom door and heavily collapses into the sink, squeezing her eyes shut as she grits her teeth. Tears slip down her cheeks as she looks at herself in the mirror.

She looks tired, so, so, tired.

Penny averts her gaze, forcing herself to stand as she goes through the motions of cleaning herself up. She steps back out after she is done, shining another smile as she walks back over to where Norman is seated.

She keeps Norman relatively entertained as she drifts between being present and somewhere else entirely.

--

The private jet lands somewhere in Maine hours later. Penny isn't sure where exactly, but she plays her part as doting trophy wife as they exit and walk on American soil for the first time. She smiles brightly at Norman's business associates, his employees and assistant all emerging to greet him. She is bubbly, empty headed and chatty. Norman seem so pleased with himself.

They all crowd into a limo. Penny makes idle chit chat, making sure to look confused and baffled by the conversation even getting remotely technical. It means everyone loses focus on her, which is what she wants. Her knees bump against Norman's own as the limo drives away from the airport.

The hotel the limo stops at is just as nice as every other hotel they've stayed at.

Norman personally leads her up to their hotel room, unloading some of their luggage as he talks to his assistant over the phone. He bids Penny goodbye, and leaves her locked in the room.

When Norman leaves with his associates for another meeting, Penny cries. She cries and cries. A dam breaks and she is happy to be truly alone to break down in the privacy of a hotel room.

She is so close to home. --

The enjoyment she gets out of arriving in the next city is snuffed out fairly quickly by Norman's terrible introduction of her to his son. His son is, who is the same age as she is. A college kid who is particularly unenthused about her presence. Penny can't blame him, she doesn't particularly want to play happy family either. She wishes Norman had maybe mentioned this to her. She only found out when they pulled up to Harry's apartment complex. Norman hadn't done much beyond

make introductions as he hustled both of them into Harry's apartment.

The whole point of this stop is to meet Harry apparently while he's on break from college. It's more than a little awkward. Penny takes her victory where she can get it, they're in Boston. She almost wishes Harry went to Columbia purely for simplicity, but sometimes things aren't meant to be easy. Harvard is close enough to give her hope.

"Dad, you- seriously just married her!?" Harry hissed angrily at him from across the dinner table. His voice is low, irritation sharp on his features. He's a mirror of his father, if not for slight differing features Penny can assume came from his mother. A softer nose, darker eye color, and the texture of his hair. The two share the same agitated expression and posturing. He hadn't said two words to her since his arrival, just going through the motions of laying out a meal he ordered on the table.

The three are alone in Harry's expensive apartment, but the young man clearly is used to arguing quietly against his father, so he doesn't bother to raise his voice initially.

The older man narrows his eyes at his son's tone, frowning at the twenty-two year old. "Harry, I needed to finally move on. Things just happened more quickly than we expected it to." Penny wants to look Norman in the eye and remind him he bought her. He specifically went to Romania and browsed through mutant women for a bride. The golden bracelet she's wearing is proof enough of that.

"You married a fucking college student!?" The younger man barks out. "How old she even is, dad!?"

"Do not take that tone with me, Harry!" Yet Norman doesn't answer. Penny wonders if he even knows how old she is. She already looks young enough as it is. She has to stop herself from saying she's the same age as his son.

"I think I will, because this is crazy!"

"Do we have to argue right now?" Penny questions, keeping her voice and overly sweet.

Harry narrows his eyes at her, sitting up more fully in his seat. "Yes, I think we do, because I don't know who the fuck you are."

"Mary Osborn." She answers easily, she's all sugary sweet and nervous uncertainty. Penny can tell it's all Norman wants. A bubbly demure wife who sides with him. Nothing challenging. Norman's fingers brush against her bare knee in a wordless thanks for her compliance with him. "It's- all new for everyone. We'll adjust, I'm sure of it."

The college student releases a frustrated breath. "For fucks sake." He slams the fork down on the table. "I'm not sitting here and pretending this is normal!"

Penny has to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from agreeing with Harry. Harry just shoves his plate away from himself, pushing away from the table. His chair scrapes across the polished floor as he stands. He glares at his father, and Penny in equal measure. He doesn't say another word, just storming off.

"God damn it, Harry!" Norman is up on his feet in seconds. Penny makes sure to look hapless when Norman steals a glance back at her as she toys with the napkin in her lap. She remembers her trainer's mantra of be empty.

Be what they want you to be.

She hates how useful it is now.

"Finish your meal, and head to the guest room." He orders carelessly before he pushes away from the table to go argue with his son.

"Of course, dear." She dabs at her mouth with a napkin as Norman disappears in the next room. The argument carries through the walls and Penny finishes her meal. The taste barely registers to her. She stares at the empty dish, just trying to find something to feel.

She rises smoothly from her seat, heels clicking against the floors as she places the dish on the countertop. With that she makes her leave to the guest room.

Five more days until they go to New York. Norman promised her that much.

--

"What is your deal anyway?"

The question makes Penny pause, her gaze raises from the magazine she wasn't even really reading to look up at Harry. "My deal?" She repeats warily back.

"Yeah. Are you just married to my dad for money?"

Penny bites the inside of her cheek. What can she even say? The truth wouldn't help. She keeps her expression as plain as she can, even with the internal conflict she's having.

"I didn't. We met and... sparks flew. These things just happen, you know?" She says, trying to make it sound convincing. Harry just frowns back at her, narrowing his eyes somewhat. He hasn't bothered to talk to her one on one until now. Every interaction has involved Norman in some capacity. He would speak for both of them, trying to prevent any further arguments.

"Yeah, sure." He drawls back, jamming his hands into his jean pockets. "Tell yourself whatever you want to believe I guess. Kind of embarrassing to marry a guy whose probably your dad's age."

Penny's lips pull into a thin line. Irritation curls tightly in her chest. "Are you done?" Her expression must have shifted, enough Harry seems a little disquieted. Penny does what she can to flatten it back out as she drops her gaze back to the magazine. None of the words written across the page even register for her.

"Yeah, sure-" He scoffs a little, "I'm not calling you mom. You know that right?" He flashes his teeth in a sneer. "I doubt you're even going to last the year."

Penny just wants to scream at him, lob the magazine at Harry. She doesn't even want to be here. She wants to be at school, she wants to be with her girlfriend. She wants her family. She never wanted any of this. "Tell yourself whatever makes you happy."

Harry Osborn just scoffs again, stomping away. Penny can hear him move through the apartment, every slam and stomp exaggerated to make his point. She stares at the magazine listlessly, half listening as Norman and Harry argue once again.

Like father, like son. Penny wonders distantly if Harry would buy himself a girlfriend. Wouldn't it just fit him perfectly?