That morning at the hospital, Pinocchio sat next to his father who was still unconscious. Dr. Vice walked in looking worried and sympathetic. 

“How is he? How are you, Pinocchio?” she tried to look at him in the eye. 

“Leave me alone!” he shouted while looking away. 

She returned to the hall where Jekyll awaited her. 

“I’d ask how he’s doing, but I ah... heard him from out here. I can’t blame the poor boy.” Jekyll rubbed the back of his head “So... what is the diagnosis?” 

Vice pursed her lips “He is stable despite his head injury. His body will make a full recovery, but it will be a while before he wakes up.” 

“What about Pinocchio? Does he have a place to stay? Any relatives?” Jekyll looked at the boy from the door frame. 

“Not that I know of. Also, the presentation is in a few weeks. Even if Prof. Polendina wakes up before then, he may not be fit to present it. Unless someone can present in his place, Henry.” Vice sighed. 

Dr. Jekyll rubbed his chin “What if... WE accomodated the boy, love?” 

“Us?” Katherine looked at him raising a brow. 

“I have two spare rooms thanks to Emily and Will staying over frequently. Moreover...” he leaned in “You and I both know that this break in is not going to be HIS last attempt at getting the professor’s plans. Also, Hyde can keep an eye on him during his evening work hours.” 

She nodded with a serious expression. 

“I’ll tell him.” Jekyll smiled and walked in clearing his throat “Hello.” 

“Go away!” Pinocchio glared at him. 

“Now, now. I just got here and we need to talk. It’s important.” he kindly went on. 

“I don’t want to talk! Not to you or that ugly woman!” Pinocchio shouted. 

Jekyll frowned and looked stern, but maintained his gentle tone “Now, see here, young man, I have nothing, but compassion for your situation and if you must know, I am here to extend a helping hand. You need a place to stay, and my sweetheart Katherine and I are inviting you to my home.” 

Pinocchio rolled his eyes “As if I want to see your ugly faces every day.” 

Jekyll got in his face “I beg your pardon, but Dr. Katherine Vice is NOT ugly. She is a lovely woman in every aspect including in her appearance.” 

Before Pinocchio could reply, Sir Danvers Carew walked in with two footmen following. One with a large box of candy and the other with flowers. Carew himself was holding his hat looking performatively sad. 

“I heard what happened and I just had to give my sympathies. You poor, poor boy. And poor, poor Prof. Polendina. I did warn you that these were dangerous times though I prayed so hard to be wrong.” he went on “With that said, it kills me more than ever to not extend a helping hand. How would you like to be my honoured guest at my estate, Mr. Polendina? Also, I can see to it that your home is repaired and clea-” 

“I’m staying with Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Carew.” Pinocchio abruptly interrupted him. 

Carew widened his eyes “I wasn’t finished.” 

“You don’t need to be. I’m staying with Dr. Jekyll until my father recovers." Pinocchio sized him up. 

“But, my dear boy, you would be much safer and comfier with me than with the good doctor, no offense, good doctor. And what about your home? It’s still in disrepair.” Carew charismatically pointed out. 

“I want to stay with Dr. Jekyll! And as for our house, I’ll take care of it myself. I don’t need your services, Mr. Carew.... Thanks anyway.” Pinocchio persisted. 

Carew’s eyes flashed for a moment “Well, alright then. The offer stands though. Also, there is the issue of your father presenting at the upcoming event. I’m afraid he can’t though I would-” 

“Mind your own business.” the boy glared. 

“Um, Mr. Carew, you made your offer, but Pinocchio has made it clear that he wishes to stay with me until his father recovers. Thank you for extending a helping hand all the same.” Jekyll stepped in. 

“Very well. I wish you well then and may the professor make a full recovery. Good day.” he tips his hat off while the footmen leave the gifts behind. 

After they left, Pinocchio stuck his tongue out, making Jekyll smirk. 

“Pinocchio?” Jekyll raised a brow. 

“I still don’t like you or any of this, but... father didn’t trust that man and something about him makes me not trust him either, so I’d rather stay with you.” Pinocchio scoffed. 

“I accept those terms.” Jekyll smiled wide. 

Later that day, they are at Pinocchio’s home to pick up a few things. As they are there both Jekyll, and Hyde a shadow, note the ransacked drawers, wardrobes and such. 

“So... they caught the men who did this?” Jekyll stood at the door while looking around. 

“Yes. Thanks to Mr. Hyde. He got them good too, bless him.” Pinocchio replied while packing. 

“So it was just a break in?” Jekyll asked while trying to sound genuinely ignorant. 

The boy paused “... They say it was just that NOW, but... when Mr. Hyde was giving them what for, they said they were looking for my father’s plans for his project. The same one he wants to present.” 

“Oh. Which story do you think is true?” Jekyll turned to him. 

“I don’t know. What do YOU care anyway?” Pinocchio grumbled. 

The good doctor noticed one crooked picture on the wall. It was of Gheppetto, Pinocchio who had yet to have his prosthetics and a woman who looked like Pinocchio. 

“Is this your mother?” Jekyll asked. 

“Yeah... Late mother... That was before... It’s none your business. Can we go now?” Pinocchio looked annoyed and depressed. 

Later, they arrived at Dr. Jekyll’s house where Emma was waiting outside sitting. 

“Emma?!” he gasped out loud. 

“Beloved!” Emma beamed as she stood up. 

“I thought you were seeing that woman.” Pinocchio gestured to Dr. Vice who just arrived and was seeing everything.” 

Jekyll grumbled while pulling his hat down angrily “I AM. That’s quite enough. This stops today.” 

He marched over to Emma looking serious which made her smile fade. 

“Emma, I am NOT your beloved. I am HER beloved. I don’t want to resume our relationship. The only thing I want from you is your absence. So go. Now. Please.” Jekyll pointed away. 

“You don’t mean that. You honestly don’t mean to tell me you would rather have that ugly woman instead.” Emma sneered. 

“KATHERINE IS NOT UGLY!! SHE IS BEAUTIFUL!!” he yelled making his rage clear “And yes. Yes I would. In fact, I’ve been trying to ask her hand in marriage in the most romantic way possible because she is worth the grand gesture, but I keep putting my foot in it. The point is, I choose Katherine. I chose her long before you decided to come back.” 

Emma was stunned. 

“And might I remind you that when we parted ways, I made it very clear that I chose myself the first time you tried to thrust reconciliation back on me. It’s not because of Katherine that I don’t want you back though at this point, it is that too. It’s because I don’t love you and honestly, you don’t love me. I am NOT your last resort nor am I a seat you can reserve, Emma. My life moved on and it’s about time, yours did too. Now go. And please, do no harass Katherine or I again.” Jekyll pointed away again. 

Emma looked furious and stormed off grumbling and crying at the same time. Meanwhile, Dr. Vice stood there looking speechless. Jekyll looked at her while removing his hat and walking over. 

“I can tell you heard all that. Including... well... Yes, I have meaning to propose to you in a grand and touching way that expressed how much you meant to me, Katherine, but... Oh dear.” he hung his head. 

Katherine lifted it up smiling “Henry, I’ll count what you did right now as a grand and touching thing if you are willing to make it complete.” 

Jekyll’s face lit up like a child’s on Christmas day “The ring! The ring!” 

He was about to go inside, but Louis had also seen and heard everything, so he flew out holding it in his beak. 

“You have my blessings.” Louis dropped the ring in Jekyll’s hand right before he got down on one knee while Pinocchio let himself inside rolling his eyes. 

That evening, Pinocchio was escorted to the Old Shoe to do his shift before it opened as an ecstatic Dr. Jekyll escorted him. 

“... So should we do this in fall or spring? Summer might be too hot...” Jekyll mumbled. 

“I don’t need you to come with me you know.” Pinocchio grumbled. 

“It’s too dark for a young boy like you to be walking around the streets alone and Carew is right about one thing; London is not safe at night.” Jekyll lectured him. 

“I can handle myself and honestly, I feel more like a man like you NEEDS protection.” the boy half-teased “... Now if you were Mr. Hyde, that would be different.” 

Jekyll raised a brow “Oh?” 

“He saved my father and me. And... I just think he’s amazing. He’s the kind of guy I want to be. Besides, I hear ladies like him.” he grinned. 

Jekyll noticed Hyde as a shadow against the wall looking uneasy. 

Once at the bar, Pinocchio was given the task of restocking the shelves and setting the tables as well as the bar counters. Afterwards, he would do any sweeping and touching up that was necessary. As he did that, Jekyll approached Lucy who was checking inventory though she also seemed to be crying. 

“Are you alright, miss?” he asked her kindly. 

She wiped her eyes quickly and regained her composure “Oh. Pardon me. It’s dry in here.” 

“Alright. I’ll be back after Pinocchio’s shift ends.” Jekyll left and walked down the street noting how sad Hyde as a shadow looked “... Hyde, is Lucy going through some kind of trouble.” 

“... I am the trouble.” Hyde confessed. 

“What did you do?” Jekyll stopped and looked at him. 

“Sigh. It’s not what I did. It’s what she wants me to do, but I’m not sure if I can... even though I want to. You see, she wishes to discuss the future, and you know, especially now, what that means.” he explained. 

“Ohhhhhh. Hmm. Hyde, if you want to tell her our secret, you may. I trust Lucy.” Jekyll reassured him. 

“I don’t know if I should. What if she decides she doesn’t wish to stay with me if she learns our secret and where I come from? What if I scare her off?” Hyde protested. 

Jekyll frowned “Hyde, when you learned Lucy’s secret, did it scare you off?” 

“No, but that’s different.” he argued. 

“No, it is not. Everyone has their own baggage, their own challenges and such. Also, don’t you think Lucy has the right to decide what she can and can’t put up with in a man?” the doctor pointed out. 

“... I don’t want to hurt her or lose her.” Hyde groaned. 

“Hyde, you’re hurting her already by keeping her in the dark and I’m no fortune teller, but I can tell you that a relationship with no trust has no future.” Jekyll warned him. 

The troll in shadow form fidgeted, but straightened himself out “Bullocks... You have spare clothes with you in your briefcase, do you not?” 

“Yes. Why?” Jekyll lifted up the briefcase. 

Hyde took a deep breath “Go back. Lucy and I are talking about the future. Now.” 

Jekyll smiled and turned around, then returned to the Old Shoe. 

“Huh? You’re back early.” Lucy turned to him while taking a moment to put a flower in each vase for the tables. 

“Ahem. I’m here to deliver a message to you, Ms. Harris. It’s a private one.” Jekyll walked over and mouthed in a very quiet whisper “Hyde sent me.” 

“S-Sure. Let’s go talk in my office. You continue your work, Pinocchio. I’m just gonna have a little talk with the doc here.” they went into her office where she closed the door and Jekyll removed his coat and hat “Did something happen to Ed? Is he in trouble?! Did the police catch him?!” 

“He just wishes to speak to you, Ms. Harris. In fact, I will let him have the floor right now. Just... please don’t be afraid.” Jekyll took out the flask containing a dosage of the Hyde formula then drank which caused his body to transform, and Hyde gained control. 

Lucy let out a short “eek” and nearly fell backwards “Holy cow! What kind of magic trick is this, Ed?!” 

“Well, yes and no. This is all part of a... supernatural medical condition Dr. Jekyll and I have as well as how I came into the world.” the troll now wearing Jekyll’s torn clothes explained “You may wish to sit down for this. You see, Lucy, my dark secret is... I’m not normal. I didn’t come into the world the way most people do. I came into the world thanks to a freak experiment gone wrong involving this stuff. The Hyde Formula. Jekyll invented it. When he drank it the first time, it created me. As a side effect, Dr. Jekyll and I share a body.” 

“Share a body? You mean you’re the same guy?!” Lucy fidgeted with her hands as she sat down. 

“No. Absolutely not. Jekyll is Jekyll and I am me. We ONLY share a body. We each have our own souls, own interests and even our own minds. In fact, right now, Jekyll’s mind has left this area to give us privacy. He only knows the things about me that I tell him, or he sees when he wants, and vice versa. Kind of like... a ghost. I suppose. I don’t know how to describe it, but we are not the same man. Anyway, for me to gain control of the body, Jekyll must drink the Hyde Formula. For him to gain control of the body, I must drink the Jekyll Antidote. And there, my dear, is my secret. I understand that is a lot to take in.” Hyde awaited her response. 

Lucy was stunned with a shocked expression “... Ed, I... I did not see this-” 

They were interrupted by the sound of a broom falling loudly on the floor. They looked towards the sound to see the door opened a creek and Pinocchio’s eye peeking in. 

“Oi! How much did you see and hear?!” Hyde called out. 

Pinocchio only response was to shut the door quickly and run. 

“Bullocks! One moment, Lucy. Pinocchio! Pinocchio!” Hyde ran after the boy who also bolted right out of the bar and into the streets looking scared.