A familiar wave of warmth covered Rory as she dreamt. She was back at Haly's Circus, only she wasn't with Jake. She was in a trailer, wearing an old pink summer dress, which she had forgotten about, and there was music floating all about her.

Sunlight glowed against the cheap linoleum floor of the trailer, and she was sitting in an old pale yellow chair. She was reading. She was happy. The sunlight kissed her skin as she sat, its warmth covering her. The music grew louder, and she looked up. It was Jerome. His scars were gone and he looked younger. He wore pale blue jeans with a dress shirt tucked in. She wasn't scared of him. His pale green glow reminded her of evergreens as he approached her. He held out his hand, she took it and without a word said to each other, they started to dance.

It was beautiful. She felt so at home, so happy in his arms as they twirled around the small trailer. It felt as if nothing could ruin that feeling. That she could remain in his warmth forever. That feeling, that spark between them. Rory had never felt anything like it.

As the two danced, Rory started to remember where else she'd felt this feeling, that it wasn't something that she'd lost when she ran from Jerome.

She woke up when she realised. Her sight adjusted to the dim lighting of the warehouse.

Every time Jerome has touched her, that feeling crawled through her. She'd only ever felt like that when she had loved him.

But I can't be in love with him Rory thought as panic started to run through her.

He terrifies me, there is no way! She scrunched her eyes at this and let out a deep breath.

She opened her eyes again and tried to sit up. It was easier now, time was healing her wound. As she slowly pushed herself up, she caught the outline of a figure sitting in the foldable chair at the end of her bed.

Fear shot through her, making her feel sick. He didn't move. She stared at him for a moment, then sat up to face him.

"What were you dreaming about?" Jerome asked.

Rory was taken aback for a moment. Did he know that she'd dreamt about him? That she remembered them before he went mad.

"I-I wasn't dreaming," Rory muttered in reply.

She looked away from him and tried to subtly catch a glance of Lola.

"She's still alive, Rory, god! I don't kill everyone!" He exclaimed as he saw her trying to look over.

"Oh wait, I do!" he laughed at himself. His chuckle sent shivers down her smile. Rory didn't respond, only watched him as he laughed. Then his expression grew serious again.

"How long until you're all better? Hmm?" he asked as he adjusted himself in the chair.

Rory flinched at his movement.

"Lola says I should be healthy in two weeks time," she stuttered.

"Two weeks huh, that should be enough time," he smirked, clasping his hands over his chest.

A silence fell between them, her mind was spinning and she remembered what Jerome had said to her in the ambulance. His plan.

"I'm won't marry you, Jerome," Rory said firmly, finding her courage.

His smirk grew into a wide smile.

"I would rather die," she spat, dread filling her stomach as she watched him process the insult.

He burst out laughing. His loud, grating laughter affected Rory the same way as nails being dragged against a blackboard did.

"Oh, I'm afraid you have no choice in the matter, my dear," Jerome sneered in a low voice. He leaned forward and stained her down with a menacing glare.

"Let me explain why we are getting married, Rory. First of all, you are a very special girl. That curse you've got - oh boy! Did you think I was going to let that go so easily? No, no, no. I'm not letting anyone else get their hands on you! The chaos that you could create, the madness that you inspire! Ha! You're the perfect weapon, Rory! And as my wife, no one will come near you. You will become mine and mine alone."

Rory had started to cry, his words had shaken her. She could see the rest of her life slip out of her grasp. She had no control over anything, not even her own actions. Anger started to replace her fear as she pictured her future. She wasn't not just some trophy that Jerome could put on a shelf and admire.

"What you just expect me to do your bidding?" she blurted out in anger.

"You think that I will willingly destroy my life and this city, for your insane vision of Gotham! Fuck you, Jerome! Even if you marry me, I will never truly be yours. You will never have me as you want. I will not become a doting wife the second you put on that ring. I will not participate in your madness!"

Jerome stood up violently from the chair and quickly moved to Rory, grabbing her face tightly. She let out a cry and tried to get him off her. But her wound made it harder for her to fight back. He leaned in close to her ear and started to giggle.

"Let's not forget, I can be very persuasive. You may have a death wish Rory, but others like nurse-ie over there, do not." he threatened.

He pulled her closer to him, turning her so that she was looking at him directly.

"You know, there was a time where you wanted to be my wife, Rory. I mean, it was all you talked about! Us leaving Haly's circus, settling down somewhere, just the two of us. Remember?" he growled in a low voice.

Rory didn't reply, but her tears seemed to give Jerome a satisfying answer. He let go of her and stepped away from the bed.

"Well! Haly's is no more! I'd say its time for us to settle down, baby! There is nothing you can do anymore, Rory. No one is going to save you, your daddy is not going to whisk you away again. I would give up any hope you had of getting out of this right now. Just accept what's happening to you, let me in. You did it before, and you will do it again."

With that, he left Rory, slamming the door behind him. Rory processed what had just happened as she listened to Jerome walk away.

"Rory, are you okay?" Lola's voice made her jump. She turned to look at the nurse and saw that her face was equally as frightened as hers.

Lola approached her quickly and hugged her. The two girls held each other as they both realised how permanent their situation was.