The day started off with cleaning stairs.

Most days started with just cleaning stairs.

And ended with it.

But not this one.

Rose and Harriet, sitting opposite each other, noticed Nurse Winterson collecting the post.

And pocketing a letter.

So that when Matron came round to collect it, she didn't get it all.

Rose hadn't forgotten about the letter she had sent to Jake.

And she had a strange suspicion that it's answer now lay in the pocket of a nurse's uniform.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"They've found fleas in the junior dormitory! They're doing a spot check on all the dorms!"

Rose hadn't expected Elizabeth to come charging in with this news, but she did know that if what she said was true, then she needed to act.

And so did everyone else.

Naturally, as foundlings, no one was allowed any personal stuff. But that didn't mean that the girls didn't have any.

Rose had her letters from Jake, her journals and her mother's token. The penny with the heart shaped hole.

She had more than most to hide.

But that also meant more to lose.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

Working quickly, Rose discretely managed to removed a section of loose skirting board in the dorm and stash her things in there, getting them in just before the juniors, who were to be sharing their dorm until the fleas were sorted out, walked in.

"Come along, juniors! Collect new sheets from the linen cupboard and then go straight to your bed!" Nurse Winterson, who was leading them, called.

"Rose! Rose!"

"Eliza?!" Rose had forgotten that her borrowed sister was part of the junior girls. She quickly embraced her. "What are you-?!"

"Our dorm is all full of fleas, so we're staying with you," said Eliza. "What are you hiding-?"

"Sshhh!" Both Rose and Harriet hissed, before Rose said in a quiet voice. "I'll tell you later, but you have to keep it a secret, alright?"

She stood up, along with her friend, and maneuvered her way around the beds.

"Cross my heart and hope to die," nodded Eliza.

Rose sat her down on her bed as she asked. "Who sleeps next to you?"

"No one... now," Rose flinched at the memories of Polly.

"Clara!" Eliza had now lunged at the girl who was sitting on Polly's old bed. "Get off! This is my bed!"

She took the girl by her arm and roughly pulled her up. "I'm sleeping next to my sister!"

"Eliza!" Rose shouted, turning to Clara. "Are you okay?"

Clara just turned away, not answering her.

Rose rolled her eyes.

"Rose?"

Nurse Winterson was walking down the dorm, new sheets in her hand.

When she got close enough, she hissed. "This can't happen again."

Jake's letter-

Rose smiled. "Thank you. Thank you so much-"

"Don't thank me," Winterson said. "Just- please don't do it again."

Rose nodded as she walked off, instantly digging her hand in amongst the sheets until she felt paper.

She eventually pulled out a small envelope, opening it as Eliza sat forward, saying. "You've got a letter."

"Ssshhh!" Rose said, much louder this time.

"Who's it from-?"

"Jake," Rose said, trying to keep her voice low.

"Jake? Our Jake-?"

"Yes, keep your voice down!" Rose hissed, casting a wary look over at the she-mob, who were smirking straight back at her. Great.

As she pulled the letter out the envelope, Eliza complained. "I want to read it!"

Ignoring the bell ringing, Rose unfolded the letter, ready to read it before Harriet said. "Rose... we'll be late for needlework."

Stuff needlework, Rose wanted to say, but she knew it wasn't wise to, with Eliza sitting right there. So she folded up the letter and said. "We'll read it later. I promise."

Eliza sighed and Rose took the opportunity to slip off the bed, heading round to hide the letter behind the skirting board.

She didn't notice Elize, watching slyly from behind.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

After reading the letter, Rose was more than excited.

"Jake's coming today!" She informed Harriet in a low, yet excited voice.

"Today?" Harriet asked incredulously as they sat down in their next class.

"Yeah, he said in his letter to meet him at the gates at noon," Rose went on. "I'll sneak off after lunch. Cover for me?"

Harriet sighed. "O-"

"Girls!"

Matron walking in with Ida was an unforseen arrangement. Kitchen staff spent most of their days cooking and serving meals and Matron never came to classes unless there was something serious going on.

And it had, because Matron said. "Cook has had and accident. She has scalded her hands quite badly."

Ida nodded. "The doctors say she will make a full recovery, but-"

"But," Matron took back control with a firm voice. "She will be unable to work for the next few weeks. So I've instructed Ida to manage the kitchen with the help of two girls."

Rose was the only one not to raise a hand.

Thank god. Means it won't be me.

"Well, Ida," Matron said, gesturing around. "Make your choice."

"Um, you," Ida pointed at Sheila.

Sheila smirked. "Sheila Ormsby, Miss."

Rose, mocking her, was now extremely glad she didn't have a hand up-

"And you."

No. Ida's hand was pointed at Harriet, not her-

"What?" Rose asked in shock. "Me?"

"Oh, I hardly think Rose Green is worthy of such a privilege," Matron said.

"Well, begging your pardon, ma'am, but it's hardly a privilege," Ida said unsurely.

No, stop it-

"I mean, we're so behind, already. We'll be flat our all day, with no time off at all."

Well, that sounds like just the job I want!

Rose clenched her fists. "Please, pick somebody else!"

"Hmm, maybe a bit of hard work will do this spoilt girl the power of good," said Matron disdainfully.

Rose stared between her and Ida, powerless.

Great, this is just what I need.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

Noon came and Rose was in the stupid dining hall scooping stupid jam onto the stupid junior's stupid plates.

Now she was standing Jake up.

She sighed, scooping a spoonful of jam onto Eliza's plate and then trying to do the same to Clara's, but accidentally giving Eliza a second scoop because she put her plate over her so-called friend's just in time.

"Eliza!" Clara exclaimed.

"What in god's name are you doing?" Rose yelled.

"Rose's my family. If you want jam, ask your own sister," Eliza told Clara rudely.

"I haven't got a sister," she muttered.

"Exactly."

"Eliza, Clara's supposed to be your friend!" Rose snapped, giving Clara two scoops of jam to make her equal with Eliza.

"Is there a problem, Rose?" Ida asked.

"No!" Rose snapped a little to forcefully at her.

Her life was imploding. Polly and Hetty had left, Eliza was being a rude brat, she had to help in the kitchens, she hadn't seen Will or Ned in about a week, and she was standing Jake up.

So yeah, Ida. No problems.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

Later, in the kitchens, Rose and Sheila were washing up. Rose sighed heavily. This. Was. Terrible.

Especially when Ida came over and said. "Good work, Sheila."

Sheila smirked. "I've done most of Rose's drying, too. She's really slow."

Don't react, don't react, don't react-

Ida went over to the other side of the kitchen, leaving Sheila smirking at Rose, the two girls sort of alone.

"Well, well, well. Rose Green."

Rose turned on her heel, instantly seeing Vince and Judd.

"What do you want?"

"Whoa, I thought kitchen maids were supposed to be polite," Vince smirked, turning to Ida. "Is... Stan coming in again today?"

"Yes," Ida nodded. "And if you see him, tell him he's late. And his first delivery was two pints short."

"Rose," she felt a hand on her arm and turned to see Judd.

"What?" She turned, shaking him off. "Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Come on, Judd, leave her alone," Vince shrugged, taking his friend and leaving the kitchen.

Little did Rose know she had just missed out on some important information.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"That's very good, Sheila!" Ida commented as she watched the two girls roll pastry. "Oh, Rose, you've rolled it so unevenly, you need to-"

"What I need to do is get out of here! I didn't want to do this, so why did you make me?" Rose yelled across the table at the woman.

Before Ida could respond, the door opened and Stan slid in. "Afternoon, ladies."

Then, to Rose's surprise, he turned to her and said. "Am I right in saying that I am addressing Miss Rose Green?"

"Yes, that's me," Rose replied shortly.

"Your Matron's been asking for you," said Stan. "She says she's got an important job and it can't wait."

Rose looked from Ida to Stan, then walked out the room, the man following her.

Once outside, Stan then divulged his actual reasons for being there.

"Your brother's waiting," he said quietly. "I've just seen him at the gate but you have to be quick, hurry now-"

"Thank you," Rose smiled at him, hugging him tight.

"Tell you what," Stan said. "Tell your brother he can have four pence back."

He handed Rose four of the eight round coins he had in his hand, and she grinned even more, running across the courtyard and to the gate.

"Jake! Jake!"

When she got there, his eyes were wide and he looked older, but apart from that, he was still the same Jake.

"Rose..."

With no other words, he hugged her tight, just the bars of the gate separating them.

"I can't believe you're really here!" Rose exclaimed as they pulled back. "How's baby Hazel?"

"She's doing very well," Jake smiled.

Rose nodded. "Jake, did you ask Anne about my mother-?"

"I'm really sorry, Rose," sighed Jake. "She doesn't know anything."

Rose looked down. "But... you said there was news. You said it was urgent!"

"Rose, father had a bad fall."

Rose's heart dropped. "Is he...?"

"He's okay," sighed Jake. "But he can't work. So I'm the man of the family now. And today was the only day I could get away from duties on the farm, and I don't know when I'll be able to see you again. I'm so sorry, Rose, I've brought you nothing but bad news."

"But you came," Rose sighed. "That's the most important thing."

He gripped her wrists through the bars, smiling back as her.

"Jake!"

Rose turned to see Ned sprinting down towards them, before hugging Jake tightly, a smile on his face.

As they pulled back, Jake turned to Rose. "I hope you find your real mother, I really do, but... I can't help you. And even if you don't, just remember, both of you, you've always got your borrowed family."

Rose smiled slightly.

"Look after each other, okay?" Jake said, letting Ned and Rose nod to each other and him. "Bye."

Rose watched him as he walked away, down the street, passing between workers and carriages.

She watched until he was just a tiny speck down at the end of the road.

Then he turned the corner, and he was gone.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"Eliza..."

It was just the way her sister was looking at her, her eyes cold, her lips drawn tightly. She knew.

And she soon confirmed this.

"I saw you and Jake," she said, sitting up.

Rose started. "Eliza, I'm sorry-"

"You tried to keep a secret from me, now you don't have any secrets anymore!"

When Rose figured out what this meant, her eyes widened.

"No..." she breathed, running to the skirting board and searching behind it.

She found nothing.

"My letters from Jake!" She yelled fiercely, turning to look at Eliza. "What have you done with them?"

She smirked. "I burned them."

Rose's heart stopped beating. "You did WHAT?"

No, no. No, no, no, no, no, no-

"MY MOTHER'S TOKEN WAS IN THERE!"

She didn't care how many people were in the dorm. She didn't care about who could hear her. She wanted to slap Eliza for being so selfish. Couldn't she see how much that meant to her?

"Where? Where did you burn them?!" She yelled, running towards the girl-

Sheila stopped her, saying. "In the kitchen. Serves you right."

Do. Not. Slap. Sheila.

Harriet's hand on her shoulder brought her round, and she made eye contact with her.

"The token's made of metal. It won't have burned," she said. "We'll get it back, Rose, I promise."

Rose was in a state of shock, sitting down on her bed.

It was safe to say she wasn't sleeping that night.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

So Harriet had agreed to go with her to get it back that night. The two of them, candles in hand, snuck throught the corridors, down to the kitchen, heading to the fire.

There, they put the candles on the ground and opened the grate.

Well, Eliza had definitely used this fire. There were a lot more ashes than normal.

Raking amongst ahses, Rose caught the odd part of an unburned letter, and bit down on her lip hard to stop the tears coming.

"Your mother's token must be here somewhere," whispered Harriet, next to her. "Pennies don't burn, Rose. I promise."

But Rose couldn't find it. No matter how hard she tried.

"Girls."

Jumping violently and trying to conceal it, Rose and Harriet looked round to see Vince and Judd.

Vince smirked at them.

Rose stood up, hissing violently. "Vince... and you. I might have known. Suppose you're raiding the kitchen."

"I was trying to," muttered Judd. "Doors are all locked."

"But... we did find this," Vince smirked, holding something up.

A penny... with a heart shaped hole.

Oh my-

"You little-"

Rose was lunging at him before she even knew what was happening. She couldn't fight Vince. He was much taller and stronger than her, but in that moment, she wanted to cause him as much pain as possible.

Yet she was almost glad when Harriet grabbed her.

Vince chuckled. "Well, I know you want it back, now. So... let's talk."

Rose looked warily at Harriet, who released her, and who shook her head warily.

But then she looked back at Vince, and realised something.

She would do anything to get that token back.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

Vince making her raid the kitchen wasn't exactly the best case scenario, but Rose was really willing to do anything.

Well, until Sheila walked in.

Her bonnet was full and so were her pockets, so she couldn't do much.

"Going somewhere, Green?" Sheila raised her eyebrows.

"To the recreation yard," Rose said.

"Wait, your hat's not straight!"

"No-"

But Sheila was already reaching up-

"THIEF! THIEF!" She screeched as soon as she saw the bonnet.

"She is NOT a thief!"

Rose hadn't realised how much of an affect that voice had on her until now. But, turning round and seeing Will, she felt relaxed. Like she had been carrying around tonne weights on her shoulders for the past week and they were suddenly gone.

She couldn't ignore the fluttering sensation in her stomach, as well.

"They made her do it!" Will added, making Rose know that Harriet had got word to the boys.

"What's going on in here?" Ida asked, walking in.

"Rose and her little sweetheart have been stealing-"

"Will didn't!" Rose yelled.

"There's steak in her apron! Her clothes are full of meat!" Sheila added.

"That enough, Sheila," Ida said. "I'll deal with this."

That did not relieve Rose.

"But they stole-!"

"Enough, Sheila."

So it was that Sheila reluctantly left the kitchen, leaving Rose and Will alone with Ida.

Who said. "You stole from the kitchen?"

"It wasn't her fault!" Will shouted indignantly.

"I was blackmailed," Rose snarled.

"You what?" Ida frowned.

"Vince and Judd stole her mother's token!" Will said, standing beside Rose. "And they made her steal all the food or they wouldn't give it back!"

Rose felt a rush of affection towards Will in that moment. It was like something had just become so clear.

Ida nodded. "Okay. You two, come with me."

And, on their way out, Will slipped his hand into Rose's, interlocking their fingers and squeezing gently.

Another rush of affection.

And more fluttering in her stomach.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"Afternoon, boys. Waiting for Rose?"

Ida stomped up the steps from the kitchen to outside, seeing Vince and Judd waiting at the top of them.

"No, just... helping with the deliveries," shrugged Vince.

"Really?" Ida crossed her arms. "Rose, Will!"

Rose and Will came up the steps, both of their faces stony.

"Rose won't be stealing anything for you," Ida's voice was harder than Rose had ever heard it.

"So give her back her token," Will added. "Right. Now."

Vince shook his head. "We don't have it-"

"You really expect me to believe that-"

"Okay, Will, thank you!" Ida pulled the boy back, saying to Vince. "So you lied? You don't have it?"

Judd sighed. "We wanted a football..."

Rose clenched her fists. "So why did you have it in the kitchen last night then?"

"We put it back!" Vince shouted. "Go and look yourself."

There was silence for a few seconds, then Rose said to Ida. "I... think they're telling the truth."

Judd nodded, looking down. "Just... please don't tell Matron."

"As if I'd do that!" Rose rolled her eyes. "You've already made me a thief, you're not gonna make me a snitch."

Will's lips twitched.

"Alright," Ida nodded. "But the next time you mess with my- with one of my girls, Matron will hear about it, understood?"

The boys nodded.

"Come on, you two," Ida said, pulling Rose and Will away from the two boys.

Will left just slightly before Rose, who was considering going at them again.

But something pulled her back.

They weren't worth it.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"I'm never going to find it!" Rose complained later, when it was just her and Ida in the kitchen, searching through the grate.

"Rose..." Ida sighed, walking over and sitting next to her. "Listen to me, it's only a token."

"But... it's all I had to remind me," Rose bit her lip.

Ida frowned. "Remind you of what?"

Rose looked down. "Sometimes I used to think I could remember her. Well... I used to pretend. But the older I got I realised that was nonsense. No one can remember being a baby."

"Well, I think you should hold onto your memories, Rose," Ida said. "They're important."

"Even if I've just made them up?" Rose knew what she wanted to hear, but she wasn't sure what she was going to.

"Well, especially, then," smiled Ida. "Imagination is a very special gift."

"Hope so," Rose said. "It's all I've got."

"Well, that's not true," Ida smiled. "Your- whenever he is to you, Will to a big risk for you today."

"We both did," Rose said.

"Well, you see?" Ida smiled slightly. "Your friends and family love you, and they care about you. People, Rose. People matter so much more than things."

Rose couldn't help but smile slightly.

She was right.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

The next morning in the kitchen, though, there was a gift for her sitting on the table.

A penny.

With a heart shaped hole.

"Your sister's almost as stubborn as you."

Rose knew that voice.

She turned round instinctively. Will was behind her, a small smile on his face.

"But I got it from her eventually," he said, stepping slightly more into the kitchen. "So... what'd you think?"

Rose ran at him, almost knocking him over with the force of the hug.

"Thank you so much!" She breathed into the crook of his neck. "I mean it, Will. Thank you so much."

"It's nothing, Rose," Will smiled as Rose stepped back. "I just wanted to get it back for you."

Rose took the penny in her hand, turning it over and over.

"Why?" She finally asked. "I... I mean I'm not the easiest person to be around."

Will smiled slightly. "I did it because... because I care about you a lot, Rose. And I could tell that you were upset."

"How'd you figure that out?" Rose said in a joking tone, both of them giggling slightly.

However, after the giggles subsided, Rose decided to admit what she wanted to. He'd done it, after all.

"I... I care about you, too, Will."

Sometimes a little too much.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"I just wanted something for myself," said Eliza in the dorm later after Rose spoke to her about the penny. "You had so much and I had nothing."

Rose raised her eyebrows. "You've got me."

She had never really had an 'older sister' moment with Eliza yet, but as the two girls hugged tightly, she knew that this was it. She was paving the way for her sister, and she needed to keep her on the right track.

And after today, she had an idea about what that track would be.