They were provided clothing of a suitable size, even if it was a little outdated. And yet, Maggie had to smile as she put her's on.

“You know, if I didn't know better, I'd say these were from the sixties."

“Yeah, I'd have to agree with you. But the uncanny thing is, they fit like a glove."

Maggie was in a patterned dress with a hemline that came above the knees. There was a purse that coordinated with it, and a pair of boots that completed the ensemble.  The only thing she really had to do was adjust her body to fit into the top of the dress. She was still rather stuck in her immature form. She grew just a little and looked at Edward.

“Can you tolerate me growing up?"

“Can you tolerate my persistent rash actions?"

“Yes."

“Then I guess we were made for each other. But I'm still wondering about these clothes. They are original you know. This one has a tag that's a little yellowed from a clothing store I've never heard of."

“I take it you're reading something into that?"

“Yes I am. I'm thinking that somehow this lady knew that she was going to meet us and in what manner, and she knew it a very long time ago."

Maggie shivered. “That's sort of creepy."

“More than you realize I think. That means that she probably knew about both of us before we were even born. So if that's the case, why didn't she intervene before now?"

“I guess you'll have to ask her once you see her."

“Yeah, finding her… that's going to be an interesting experience. Do you think it will be worth it?"

“To find out who she is and what she wants from us? Do you really need to ask? And you can tune into her to find her now that you know what she looks like."

“I doubt it'll be that easy Mags. I have a feeling that the face I saw was one of many. Don't ask me why, but I think she left an impression of herself on my mind."

She snorted. “Are you sure it isn't something left over of Robert's?"

“Yeah, that. I guess I shouldn't have done it. But destroying something inherently good is abhorrent to me."

“Well, it looks like you're stuck with it unless this lady can tell you how to deal with it. Does it bother you?"

“What? The fact that I did it or the random memories that keep filtering through?"

“That last one."

“It's unnerving to say the least, seeing things you know you never experienced. He seems to have retained everything he did as Hyde as well as all of the things from his normal life."

“Ouch! That would be unsettling. I guess you'll have to find some way of containing it until you can be rid of him."

“I'm doing what I can. At the moment it seems to be just enough for me to retain my sanity."

“You mean you still have some left after all of this?"

“Barely!"

The nurse came in on them again.

“I have gotten word back from your bank in Italy that they are making you new credit cards. They are sending them and the cash you requested; in Euros, via a courier to this very address. I am not happy about that, but they insisted that they have your signature to match with the one they have on record. But I assume you know all of this."

Edward nodded. “We have a sizable account there. I'm sorry if I'm putting you in jeopardy by having them meet me here."

“No jeopardy. It is very difficult to put us in jeopardy. What you are doing is taking up our time in an unreasonable manner. Still, the lady said to afford you everything you might want or need before you leave."

Edward sniffed a little at her tone and then smiled. “We'll need transport once we're ready to go. Do you have an automobile we can use?"

“There is only one such vehicle here, and it is not for your personal use. I would suggest that when the time comes, you use your own means for conveying yourself away from here."

Maggie was feeling a bit prickly. “The only means we had was a life boat."

“That was your last means, yes. When the time comes, you will travel as you have in the past."

Maggie could feel the heat rising within her. “Look, you sourpuss! We have walked, we have swum, we have flown, and we have floated down a river. We have used just about every means of locomotion there is, so maybe you can quit being so coy. “

“I could, but the mistress said to enlighten you no more than is necessary. Therefore, her words take precedence over yours."

“Fine! We'll walk. It's not like we haven't been all over the Russian countryside, or wandered around America, and Italy, or France or…"

Edward tapped her on the shoulder. “You're awfully picky for someone who was recently rescued from the open sea. Even if we were fairly close to shore when she rescued us, we very well might have drifted on past land without ever knowing it. You should be glad that you're on dry land to even be able to use your legs for walking. You might still have your wings to contend with. Be grateful for once and shut up."

Her eyes widened a little before she turned to the nurse. “I'm sorry. I guess I was getting a little out of line."

The nurse smiled. “You were. And you are forgiven. I would suggest you take a little time to reflect on your present situation. As your husband has mentioned, you have much to be grateful for. Never let the dark overshadow the light."

“Husband?" The word seemed to be a novel idea."I guess maybe he is my husband."

Edward smiled. “If you would like to make it formal, there's still the pope."

“Maybe. But I think that lady was right. It's what is in our hearts that matters."

“Good thing it's not what is in our heads, or we'd be in deep trouble."

The snort came this time from the nurse, who actually cracked a smile on her hardened face. “A sense of humor will take you far young man. Never lose it."

The courier arrived the next day, apparently spending all night traversing the seventeen hour trip from Rome. He did look tired, and Edward handed him a small stack of bills. The man's eyes nearly popped from his head.

“Signor, non posso accettare questo!"

“Yes you can, because I just gave them to you. Now go and get some rest before returning home."

Maggie chuckled as the man drove away.

“What's so funny?"

“This is Amsterdam."

“So?"

“God, are you that naïve?"

“About what?"

“Prostitution. It's legal here. I'll just bet he won't be getting any sleep for a long, long while."

“If not, then he deserves what he gets. I figured I would reward him for his efforts. How he spends his money is not my concern."

She let the matter drop, but still giggled now and again as she pictured the driver in bed with a girl of his choice.  But the fact was, now that there were intact, clothed and equipped with financial means, their time at the house was finished. It all happened so quickly that neither of them had much time to explore it or its location. That may have been part of the plan. No point in letting them get too cozy. They were intrepid explorers after all, setting out to find this Lady Lily.

The day after the courier arrived they were shown to the door. Maggie was still grumbling silently about the boots she was wearing. She would be better off in bare feet, or better yet, as a wolf. The boots were fashionable, but hardly suitable for trekking long distances.

Edward's shoes were little better, being more for dress than for hiking. Brother Carcharoth and the nurse walked them to the door. It was the first time the old man had reappeared since they had arrived here. He looked upon them with renewed interest.

“I have been retracing your lines. Most curious indeed.  The Leeds line has a certain stigma attached to it, and for this reason I left off attempting to follow it a very long time ago. In this I have been remiss. From a coal mine a diamond of exceptional brilliance has emerged."

Maggie choked on whatever words she had ready. “Thank you."

He looked at Edward. “You are the one who should never have been. It was written that your fate was sealed by silver. And yet, here you are. I do not know what the lady thinks in helping you. It has been a very long time for an animacomedentis to make themselves known."

“A what?"

The old smiled. “What you are. It is a very old term. You have greater power, and you must use it wisely. Never allow it to overpower you."

Maggie put her hands on her hips. “Now wait just a minute! What did you call him?"

“I'll tell you what my dear. You just go and figure it out. I am sure you know the lady wishes us to tell you only the minimum information. I have told you just enough to pique your interest without telling you more than I need to. Go forth and find out more. The data is out there; you must go and find it. It is what I do with my life. The lady knows all, but she doesn't tell all. She helps me from time to time, but she believes in self-reliance."

Edward bowed. “And so we shall abide by her wishes for now. And yet, a car would be nice to have right at the moment. I rather dread going across Europe on foot."

The old man opened the door. “On foot is the best way to see where you have been. But you will have time for that later."

There, parked right outside was a red Alpha.

“It can't be!"

“Why not? The lady saw to it that you might have need for it again, so she made arrangements to have it put away safely until now. Since it is your car, paid in full, there can be no claim against it or you. Your lack of a proper driver's license will be your problem to contend with down the road," he coughed, grinning. “Sorry for the pun. You will have to deal with your problems as you face them. From here on out you are on your own."

The door was shut with a dead thud. They both knew that no amount of knocking was going to get them inside. Edward opened the passenger door for her and closed it after she got inside. He got behind the wheel and turned the key. The little engine roared to life.

“You know, these clothes kind of go with this car."

“Yes they do. Let's just hope that there isn't going to be any time travel involved with this. I don't think that is something I could handle right now."

“Time travel is impossible!"

“And so are werewolves. I'm not putting anything past anyone right now."

He started to put the car into gear but stopped. “Now don't go saying things like that. We've been through enough.  Skipping into the past will do us not a bit of good."

“Maybe not, but it would be an adventure!"

He sat there, listening to the engine purr. He was looking to the future. And he was looking to the past. “Nope. There's nothing there. If there was, I think I would see it."

“Let's hope so. I'm all for doing something interesting, but I think I'm about tapped out for now."

“Me too."

He pressed the clutch in and ran through the gears, heading out to the main thoroughfare and off into traffic, just like he had dealt with this city's congestion as though he had lived here his entire life.  It failed to dawn on him that this was the first time he had ever been here, though it wasn't likely to be the last.