Penny Dreadful fanfictionVictor and Elizabeth

Alphonse's decision

Vanessa came back with drinks for all three of them. Food was not readily available.

"Thank you." Elizabeth whispered to her. Vanessa gently smiled at this puzzling girl and set down the tray at the foot of Victor's bed.

"Oh. I'll go and get some food. Would you be a dear and stay here? I'm afraid Victor hasn't been himself for a while." Vanessa nodded sullenly. It was as if she was a doll that had finally found someone to play with her. Elizabeth almost fled from the gloom of the house that was now the place she had to stay in if she were ever to help regain Victor's health and take him back to their house. She was starting to get curious as to exactly what was in the letter for Victor when Hecate cornered her at the market.

"You've met her. Your senses released a signal that I felt. You've touched her." Hecate's piercing brown eyes bore into Elizabeth.

"Yes. But you have no clue how strong she could be. You know what your mother tried to do, you know that last time your trick failed." Elizabeth has learnt to be mature and sly over the years she was left alone to fend for herself in a household full of men believing she was just another women who couldn't do anything. It's then that a horse runs between the two and causes chaos in the market square for half the wares are tumbling around on the ground. Elizabeth looks around her, wishing she could help, and notices that Hecate had vanished.

Vanessa looks fondly upon her sleeping friend. She notices that his drug is by the window, as if he fell asleep over there last night and Elizabeth had to move him into his bed. Vanessa wouldn't be surprised if she did, she seems like the sort of girl to do anything for the ones she loves. Maybe she would even help those who were strangers to her. Vanessa heard his grumble before seeing his eyes twinkle with life.

"Miss Ives." Victor says confused. He looks around and begins to call for Elizabeth.

"The girl went to buy food." Vanessa meekly replies. It's only then that he starts to notice how unwell she looks.

"You look ill. I would try to help you if I could but I haven't felt very well for a while myself. Elizabeth is here now so she can help you too. I trained her to be a basic doctor." Victor smiles, remembering.

"So how would you react to someone with heat stroke?" Questioned the sweaty doctor for the summer was immense and village casualties were coming in fast. He was leaving for London in two days and he had yet to find his cousin a gift for her birthday the next day.

"Tell them to stay indoors and drink plenty of water. I would also suggest eating some salty and sugary foods." Victor watches his brother's outside, dangling from the tree like they used to as boys before their mother died. Before Elizabeth was acquainted with the Frankenstein family.

"Indeed you would. You would offer much more help and advice than Ernest can provide financially." Victor remarks. Alphonse was impatient with his children. William was yet to bloom into the world of work and even then, he was so shy it was likely no one would think he was capable at all. Ernest was struggling to keep a job but at least he had one. Victor just studied all day long. Simple jobs such as a librarian occupied his time at first but he wanted something more. He wanted to study and experiment all the time which was why he was leaving, with some of his father's money, for London.

"Victor! Don't be rude about your brother!" Elizabeth comments. She gathers her dress around her and rises to depart. "I should see if Justine needs a hand. The poor child finds it really hard to stay focused on tasks that she has been asked to do." Elizabeth's sweet nature earned her people's trust and friendship which is good for her as she hardly ever gets the opportunity to leave the grounds. No one realises just how lonely she can get. Fortunately for her, she has Victor.

"Wait. Lily, can you draw me please." Victor takes her arm and walks with her to the family room where an easel with paints await. Elizabeth also had her books and drawings to keep her occupied. She loved to read fiction novels telling stories of love and hatred and tried to capture these emotions by painting them. Most of the time, she captured the view out of the large glass doors where she sat directly facing and changed the perspective of the view whether it was by painting the trees with dull colours to reflect a sad feel or by giving the sky a heavenly glow when joy smothered itself over her.

"This is one of the first times I've ever painted someone. My first portrait." Victor was positioned how Elizabeth requested – angled body but a full view of his face.

"Who else have you painted?" He thought he was the first.

"You, father, Ernest and William outside by the tree. Of course none of you were actually all there at the same time, I just visualised how nice it would have been to see all the men of the Frankenstein family together.

"Why haven't any of us ever seen this picture?" Victor was genuinely puzzled. Elizabeth showed him and told him almost everything she did.

"Because I thought it would make you upset. You hardly ever sit in the family room with us after dinner. Dinner is the only time when we sit as a family and for the most part, we are all silent as we eat." Elizabeth genuinely looked sad at this thought. It never occurred to Victor for he was always too engrossed in this work to consider taking part in the conversation, whatever it may be.

"This is one of my gifts to you Lily. Or, Elizabeth. As of tomorrow, you are a grown up." Victor smiles. Elizabeth looks slightly sourly.

"Yes but I doubt that changes anything. I will still be the one to work around the house, and maybe, my work will double with the fact that I should be more grown up. I have felt for a while now that all I ever do is prepare to be a wife, that I'll never know anything else. At least I have you to relax me every now and then." The couple smile at one another.

"Without you, I would be sitting in my room, most likely made monsters out of my creations, and wouldn't converse with anyone." Victor doesn't give much thought to what his creations will be, just that they will be the most amazing and best thing anyone has seen. That will be when Ernest and his father will truly understand why he has chosen this career choice.

Alphonse was writing his will. The health of the village had been deteriorating in the heat and he was worried the winter would bring the worst cold yet. In the will, he had finally decided Elizabeth's fate. Initially upon bringing her in, she bonded with William the best. Both have always been caring and sweet but especially in the last year, Alphonse noticed that Elizabeth brought out the best in Victor, saved him from the dark room he loved and he gave Elizabeth happiness and company. So, when he died, whenever that may be, Alphonse requested that Elizabeth and Victor own the house and started to write a note for Victor for when he did die.