Edith lowered the shivering Pup into the warm bath and slowly poured water over him. His wet fur stuck to him and he appeared half his size. He allowed her to lather him up with soap and lift each paw to be washed.

"I'm sorry I didn't think to do this before, Pup. Must have slipped my mind."

She grabbed the bar of soap before he could lick it.

The missing pages slipped back into her mind. Where could they have gone? Did they fall out of her pocket? Maybe Thomas or Lucille found them and threw them away, thinking it was trash. Edith shuddered at the thought of either of them seeing the drawings. The questions they would have.

She gave Pup a quick rinse before swaddling him in a towel, his small triangular face poking out. She gently rubbed him down and cleaned his twitchy ears. He bounded off her lap and shook his fur. Edith giggled. He had fluffed up to twice his size and his face was almost hidden within his mane.

Edith hung the towel, pondering on where else she should check for the drawings.

"You did a good job."

Thomas' voice drifted into the small bathroom. He leaned against the door frame, relaxed.

"A good job of what?"

She leaned against the lip of the deep tub, lightly fanning her damp skirts.

"Turning that scrappy dog into a miniature lion," Thomas chuckled. "I've never seen him so..."

Thomas touched his fingertips together and then separated them to mimic an explosion. Edith giggled and then they stood in silence, neither making eye contact.

"Thank you for telling me how you felt," Thomas said as he moved closer to her. "I didn't know I've hurt you so much."

Edith fussed with her shirts for a moment, thinking about that night.

I reached for you. I wanted to fix the pain I caused. You wouldn't let me.

"I guess that's something we will have to work on," Edith said, forcing herself to sound chipper than she felt.

Thomas raised an eyebrow but nodded. He took a step closer, keeping her against the tub. Edith's thoughts drifted to the attic and how desperately he kissed her.

Edith met his eyes and saw the yearning in them. She placed her hands on his chest and he leaned into her lips.

"I'm sorry, Edith," Thomas breathed between kisses, his arms holding her tight.

"Thomas," she moaned, her fingers in his windswept hair. His feverish lips ran down her cheek, her neck.

Before Edith could unbutton his shirt, his hands gripped the tub. They breathed heavily. Edith leaned her forehead against his.

"I need to bathe. I'm...well..." He gestured to his grime and oil covered attire with a slight tilt of his head.

Edith straightened reluctantly and Thomas moved back to allow her to pass. She felt the same deep and delicious ache she felt earlier.

"I'll...umm...wash your clothes in the morning," Edith mustered, still recovering from the dizziness of the moment and resisting the urge to pull off those damn buttons.

Thomas perched on the tub, gazing at her admiringly.

"Thank you."

Edith glanced at the mirror. Artemis walked besides her reflection. Before she could fully process what she saw, she had closed the bathroom door and pressed her back against it. The high she felt was rapidly coming down.

Did she see all that?!

Edith buried her head in her hands, flustered, as she made her way to the library.

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Thomas lowered himself into the scalding water, relaxing each muscle one by one as the heat seeped in. He pinched the bridge of his nose. He almost lost control again.

The taste of Edith's lips...

He groaned, lulling his head to the side, his eyes falling on his clothes. Edith's papers were protruding from his pant's pocket as though baiting him.

"I've burned them."

"Trust each other."

Would satisfying this curiosity be an act of betraying that trust?

Submerging himself, Thomas counted the seconds.

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"Artemis," Edith whispered, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the low light.

She made her way to the balcony where her work still waited for her and where the moonlight was strongest.

Artemis sat in the chair opposite hers. Edith gave a small smile. More of Artemis' face has healed, leaving only a patch of scarred tissue on her cheek.

"I'm glad you're alright," Edith confessed.

Artemis smiled back.

"Me too."

Her voice sounded almost alive.

"Did y-you..." Edith stammered, gesturing to the floor above, "Were you..."

Edith blushed and Artemis giggled, shrugging playfully before resting her head in her hands. Edith was taken aback slightly at the sight of Artemis' hands, still damaged and exposed. Edith felt a pang in her chest. She and this girl could have been friends.

After a moment, Edith said, "Thank you for saving me from...that thing."

Artemis' expression turned dour.

"Charlie. That was Charlie."

Edith remembered the drawing of the other boy, and she felt sick. She suspected it but to have it be confirmed...

"He followed you here."

It wasn't a question and Artemis didn't deny it.

"Is he gone?" Edith continued.

"I don't know," Artemis murmured as she gazed out the window. "I'm scared he'll go after Thomas."

Without thinking, Edith slid her some paper and her father's pen.

"You said Thomas needs to know the truth. It should be in your own words."

Artemis took the pen with great care, cradling it. The gold glowed in contrast to her charred skin and milky white bones.

"What if...he wants to talk to me afterwards?"

"I can speak for you."

Edith couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth, but it felt like the right course of action even though it had its risks. She couldn't imagine how Thomas would react to an old friend or love writing to him from beyond the grave. Much less that his wife can truly see and speak to ghosts. However, this might give Artemis and Thomas peace. It might get rid of Charlie too.

"When you're done, put them in this bag."

Artemis nodded, her eyes fixated on the blank paper.

Without another word, Edith reverently excused herself and made her way back upstairs.

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Thomas was waiting for her when she arrived to the bedroom. She gave a small gasp in surprise. Her eyes focused on what he held in his hands. 

Artemis' drawings.

"I believe these are yours," he offered, extending the folded and crumpled pages to her. "I found them in the pocket of your nightgown. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken them."

His last few words were rushed, apologetic.

"Did you see?" Edith asked, not quite meeting his eye.

Thomas shook his head solemnly.

"No."

She took the pages as he stood.

"Where are you going?" Fear crept in her throat.

He kissed her forehead.

"I'm not tired. I'm going to read for a bit."

He smiled and stroked her cheek with his thumb. For a moment, Edith dared to hope that things were okay between them again.

"Perfection as no place in love, Edith."

Maybe this is one of those imperfect moments.

———————————————————————————

Thomas strode into the library, waiting for the weight in his chest to dissipate. 

What is done is done.

Artemis tentatively rose from her seat on the balcony at the sight of him. Thomas sighed heavily and paced. His slender fingers mindlessly combing through his dark hair.

Artemis knew she no longer had a heart but the phantom of it ached. She stood before him now as Thomas gazed through her and into the dying fireplace, absorbing every detail of him. 

As she reached for him, muscle, nerve, and skin grew until her hand was complete before touching his cheek.

The warm tones of his skin bled through hers, translucent and ashen. A smile bloomed on her now flawless skin and teeth, her turquoise eyes shining with ghostly tears.

"Long time no see," she whispered, watching the flickering flames reflected in his ocean eyes. 

Thomas reached for the fire poker and prodded the embers. The house breathed and the fire roared to life, causing Thomas to stagger. His eyes flashed with terror for a moment before turning glassy. He groaned with frustration and something else he couldn't identify as memories of that night resurfaced. Tears slipped down his face as he collapsed to his knees.

"Artie," he gasped. The name had long been on his mind since returning to that dreaded school but never uttered until now. He felt like a boy again, watching helplessly as her parents fell apart in agony in front of him. Helpless as he heard her screams.

Artemis knelt in front of him. She cupped his face, wishing she could catch his tears. 

"The fire was never your fault, Thomas," she said softly. "You need to let that go."

She hesitated. 

"You need to let me go."

Thomas sniffled, running his sleeve under his eyes and nose. 

Artemis beamed with awe.

"You don't know how happy I am to see you again. Alive! All these years, I thought..." She choked. "My God, you're so handsome, Thomas. Always were but look at how much you've grown! You're married now!"

She paused. 

"You have a good one, Thomas. Edith, right?"

Artemis shook her head, embarrassed that she expected a response.

"She's willing to give me a voice." Her eyes turned steely. "I will tell you everything."