***

Mrs Pennyworth stood up, her expression perplexing, yet resolute.

The stairs thundered as she descended and the dull hammering of rain on the roof was swallowed by her thunderstorm of ire. Sarah followed, her footsteps inaudible.

'Is that father?' Sarah asked warily, with some longing.

An incoherent profanity escaped Mrs Pennyworth's lips as she approached the door.
'We'll find out.'

Some part of her wanted nothing more than to see his face at the door, apologising with a small gift for the children and smiling giddily, yet the other wanted nothing from him.

As her fingers found the smooth metal doorknob, Agnes knew exactly which feeling was dominant.

Robert Pennyworth stood before her, drenched and unappealing, with no murmur of an apology.

A small, almost reluctant smile clung to his face which was covered in falling droplets of water. Through his slitted eyelids he beheld his wife, his fuming wife... and stared.

'Agnes...'

'Well?' Mrs Pennyworth opened the door no further, mercilessly guilting him.

As the rain fell outside, she watched his despicable mouth form yet another excuse. There was no longer anything in her heart that demanded his presence. Even the thought of her daughters was not enough.

'...you should have been there with me Agnes. It was miraculous. All the finest things in the country to pick from.' He finished, resting a hand on the door. 'I took the opportunity because I had to. It was a decision between my work and my life, and I thought that you could do very well without me for a time.'

Mrs Pennyworth took Sarah's hand and pulled her to the door. 'Very well?'

She placed her free hand on Sarah's stomach. 'Now dear, would you like to tell me once what you see as being well?'

Indeed, Sarah, despite her lovely rose bud mouth and pink cheeks, was meagre and fragile and her dress clung to the laddering form of her rib cage.

Robert glanced at her in horror, but Mrs Pennyworth interceded before he could take a confused daughter into his arms. 'You have done enough - too much and for too long. I've welcomed you in time and time again, regardless of your actions. Not this time. This time when I close the door it shall be shut so tightly that even if you open it there shall be nothing left for you.'

Elizabeth, who had been watching the scene unfold from a corner, ran outside.

'But mother, why?' She screamed in desperation.

Mrs Pennyworth looked down at her in surprised frustration. 'You have lived a lie for too long, child. It is not my job to tell you your father's truth.'

Elizabeth grasped the hem of her mother's dress. 'Tell me.'

A low voice resonated behind the small figure.
'No.' Mr Pennyworth rasped. 'Your mother is right.' He paused to gather himself. 'I have wronged you... more than once.'

Elizabeth retreated into his arms. 'I love you, father. I don't care about what you've done.'

This awoke a painful feeling in Mrs Pennyworth's chest, for she could see a bond tighter than her own... but without reason.

'What about your sister, Elizabeth? What about me?' Agnes threatened feverishly.

The rain ceased and it was unusually silent as she replied.
'I love father, and if you make him leave I will not love you.'

Elizabeth, barely a year older than Sarah, had - in one small moment - managed to destroy a woman twice her size.

Placing a crippled hand to the door, Mrs Pennyworth collapsed onto it as it closed.

'I love you, Elizabeth.'

It was a small whisper, yet larger than any shout, for these were her last words to her daughter.

If only she had heard them.

That's it for chapter two. Thanks for your support!

- WordNerd100