“Good morning, Miss Evergarden, how are you feeling?” 

“Much better, thank you,” Amy replied.

The doctor subsequently nodded and started to thumb through some papers on the clipboard in his hands. He was an older man, probably nearer her father’s age but the grey hair and soft eyes hidden away behind a pair of glasses gave him a friendlier air. Much to her relief. In the pause, she looked over and smiled at Violet, who nodded back and did the same. 

“Well,” the doctor began, bringing both sets of eyes to him. “It looks like your tests are improving steadily. How is your coughing?”

“I had an episode the night we came here but no other incidents so far.”

“Ah, that’s not surprising. All that movement is probably to blame but I don’t have to tell you that. Just continue to get some rest and if things continue, you’ll be able to leave in a few days, okay?”

“Alright, thank you.”

“Of course,” the doctor replied before turning and exiting, leaving the girls to their solitude. 

The room wasn’t as nice as the one Amy had at Saint Vincent’s but that didn’t really matter. The staff seemed friendly enough and the doctor seemed to be quite competent. Overall, the new hospital wasn’t bad even if some might consider it a “downgrade.” It was also in the heart of the city, which meant Violet would have easier access to things she needed. 

When the man was gone, Amy settled back into the bed with a contented sigh before her smile began to grow and grow.

“What is it?” Violet asked.

Ah, it must’ve grown suspiciously wide! “Oh, nothing,” Amy mused. 

One of Violet’s eyebrows raised in a look that said I don’t believe you but she remained silent, patiently waiting until Amy’s willpower ran out.  

“Fine, I was smiling because of the name the doctor has been using.”

“Oh, that’s right. I’m sorry we couldn’t use your last name. I figured your father would go looking for it.”

“No, no, I actually like it. ‘Amy Evergarden,’ has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?” 

“It’s very beautiful,” Violet agreed. “Like you.”

Both the thought of making the name permanent and the compliment she received caused Amy’s cheeks to heat. Which caused her to bring up the blanket to cover her face. “You’re such a flatterer lately!” 

“I have to make up for lost time,” Violet replied. 

“Is that right? Well, please see feel to continue doing so.”

“Very well.” 

Amy giggled in response before dropping the blanket and shaking her head. “I can’t believe we actually did it. Left the hospital, I mean. I wish I could’ve been there to see his stupid face when he read the letter. Or any of the subsequent ones he gets.”

Violet couldn’t help but nod her agreement and looked out the window before continuing. “The letters should be arriving any day now if people sent them.”

“Do you think they will?”

“I do,” Violet said before reaching over and taking Amy’s hand. “You aren’t the only friend I’ve made; you know. You just happen to be the best one.”

“Well, I suppose that’s okay as long as I’m the best,” Amy mused and then fell silent. However, in the lull, her mind returned to what the doctor said about Amy’s ultimate release. “A few days, huh? When do you think we can buy tickets?”

“We’ll buy them as soon as you are discharged. For the following day, of course.”

“Good, good…”

“Speaking of travel arrangements,” Violet started again. “I’ve been thinking. I’m not sure we should sleep on the train.”

“Oh? Why’s that?” 

“It’s noisy, cramped, and I don’t imagine it’s good for your breathing.”

“Hmm, how much longer will the trip take if we don’t?”

“One day at most.” Amy looked like she was considering the implications of such a thing when Violet squeezed her hand again. “Taylor will still be there, I promise.” 

She would be and Amy wanted to arrive healthy, right? She needed to show Taylor that she was strong and could take care of her. Or at least not to scare her too bad. If she was smarter, Amy would wait until she’d had a chance to fully recover. However, the thought of being separated from Taylor any more than she had been already was too discomforting. It was too long and being back with Violet only made her want to hurry the reunion with the young girl.

“Alright, I guess that’s a good point,” Amy finally agreed. It would also give her more time to think about what she was going to say. How she was going to explain everything that would come after. At least they made sure that the payment to the orphanage would go on without disruption. So, even if they had to take some extra time, Taylor would be safe. But that didn’t mean Amy liked their separation.

While she thought, Violet looked over to the clock and then rose from where she sat next to the bed. “President Hodgins and Cattleya will be here soon. I’ll grab my things and be right back.”

“You should bring them up,” Amy said before she even fully considered the idea. More out of reflex than anything else.

“You want to meet them?”

“Well, I feel like I should at least thank them for everything they’ve done.” Amy owed them that much, right? But in reality, it was probably so much more. Taking care of Violet, helped with this whole escape, so many things that it would take more than a few words to fully capture her gratitude. “Is that okay? Is it a bad idea?” 

“No,” Violet assured, along with a warm smile. “They very much want to meet you, Amy.”

“They do?”

“Of course.”

“Alright, well…let’s do it then!”

“Very well,” Violet said following a soft chuckle, and then turned to leave. “I’ll be right back.”

Amy nodded and then gripped the covers so she could slink down into the bed and draw them up to her nose. She didn’t like it when Violet left the room but expecting her to stay here the whole time was unrealistic. Still, she worried that the next person to open that door would be her father instead of her love, and the notion had even haunted her dreams these past few days. Not even in sleep could she escape that man…

However, Violet was keenly aware of that anxiety and must’ve gotten her friends to hurry because she was back much sooner than Amy would’ve thought, flanked by a pair of strangers. “Amy,” Violet said before bringing a hand up to indicate the guests. “This is President Hodgins,” she started, indicating the man first before moving to indicate the woman. “And Cattleya Baudelaire.”

The woman stepped up first and Amy couldn’t help but be captured by her striking purple eyes. When she sat in the seat Violet occupied previously, Amy came up in the bed and retreated from the blankets so they could get a good look at her.

“Hello Amy,” Cattleya said before smiling. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. How are you feeling?” Her voice was so calm and soothing and when she reached out to put a hand to Amy’s arm, she felt her heart fill with warmth.

“Nice to meet you, too,” Amy choked out a moment later. “And I’m doing better, thank you. Now that Violet found me.”

This caused Cattleya to smile warmly and a moment later, President Hodgins stepped up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. “Good, we’re happy to hear that. Violet has spoken a lot about you and we were worried.”

“You were?” Amy asked with more than a little disbelief in her voice.

“Of course,” Cattleya cut in. “If you are someone Violet cares about, then you are someone we care about. Isn’t that right, Claudia?”

“That’s right,” he confirmed. “And we’ll do whatever it takes to help you both.”

“Oh…” Amy felt tears well up in the corner of her eyes and she had to clear her throat to try and keep them at bay. “You’ve already done so much, though. What more could I ask?”

She knew the President wrote a letter to her father and may have gotten one or two of his other associates to do the same. And he wasn’t from some wealthy family like Richard or Amy’s friends from school. He had taken a great risk by going up against Richard York and his various business interests.

“Whatever you need to,” Cattleya asserted. “Violet told us about Taylor and we want to help. Not just with you getting her back but what comes after.”

Taylor.

At that point, Amy couldn’t hold back anymore and the tears started to stream down her face in response to the kindness. Thankfully, Violet moved between the two newcomers and sat on the edge of the bed so she could bring Amy into her embrace. “We all want to help. We’ll get her back, I promise.”

Oh, now that just wasn’t fair! Amy reached forward and wrapped her arms around Violet, bunching the fabric of her dress between her fingers as she sobbed.

It took a few minutes to get her tears under control, but when she did, she wiped her eyes and nodded softly at the previous offers after leaning out a little. “Thank you. I wouldn’t be here without all of you.” Then her gaze shifted and she looked between Cattleya and Claudia a few times before smiling softly. “And thank you both for taking care of Violet.”

“No easy task…” Claudia said before being elbowed in the ribs by Cattleya. 

“Ignore him,” she added afterward. 

The display had laughter filling the room and Amy took a breath to wash away her anxiety. “And thank you for sending her on the assignment. I guess everything comes down to that.” 

Violet nodded in agreement and a smile crept up on Amy’s lips as her memories of their time together played back in her mind. Especially the dance and their last night. “Especially for that dress, I would’ve been so upset if she couldn’t have joined me for the ball. Not to mention she looked absolutely stunning in it.”

The compliment was addressed to Cattleya and a cheeky smile soon followed. However, before she could speak, Claudia sighed where he stood. “You always get credit for that,” he grumbled.

Again, more laughter came and Amy couldn’t help but note how…odd this all felt. Maybe because it has been so long since she had even a semblance of this dynamic? Of a family. 

“Well, you did a very good job, Mister Hodgins,” Amy corrected.

“Please call me Claudia, Amy. I think we’re past that kind of formality. And I’m only disappointed I didn’t get to see her in it or you in yours.”

Well, there was one other occasion that called for white dresses but Amy wasn’t about to get ahead of herself just yet. Especially not in front of two people she just met, even if they were pleasant and welcoming.

“One day, dear. One day,” Cattleya said before Amy could comment and the older woman stood from the chair a moment later. She wasn’t sure if Cattleya had perhaps read her mind but the thought had Amy tightening the blanket in her hands slightly. Gosh, would such a thing even be possible?

“Now, we know you have a lot of rest to catch up on, Amy. So, we’ll leave you and Violet to it. We just wanted to drop a few things off and be on our way. Oh, and thank you so much for letting us finally meet the woman who stole Violet’s heart.”

“My pleasure and thank you again.”

Cattleya and Claudia both smiled before turning and giving Violet a hug in turn. And, after they insisted they knew their way, the pair turned and disappeared through the door a few seconds later with promises to come back soon with more. When they had finally gone, Violet returned to her seat and immediately sought out Amy’s closest hand with both of her own.

“They were lovely, Violet. Truly. I’m so happy that you’ve had them in your life.” And that was the truth of it. There wasn’t even any jealousy to be found because Amy wanted them to look after the woman she loved. To be there for her and keep her going when she and Amy were apart.

“They are,” Violet confirmed a moment later. “And now they’re a part of your life too, Amy.”

They were, weren’t they? It was almost too good to be true for so many reasons and a smile kicked up on Amy’s face from the realization. “Yes, that’s only now starting to sink in. And I’m so thankful for it, even if all I need is you, Violet.” But there was another prospect that excited her in all this, the chance for Taylor to have these wonderful people in her life too. The little girl deserved to be surrounded by all this love and warmth and Amy was going to do her best to ensure it happened.