Notes: This brief piece is based on the thunder storm scene from the TV adaptation. Written from Sue's point of view.

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She was afraid. Not so much, I figured of the thunder, but of what Gentleman had done to her. He was a piece of work, touching her like that, frightening her. She had said nothing to his proposal and I should have been angry at her for it. I wasn't. I was pleased. I had to turn away when she told me, to hide the smile in case it betrayed me. Then she had grabbed at me, nearly toppling me, so I grabbed her back. I don't think anyone had shown her love. Who had truly held her when she cried at night in the dark?

So I held her then, just for the comfort of it, nothing else. There was a change in her, a softening. I felt her breathe against me, warm on my shoulder, her gloved fingers strong against my arm. I think I closed my eyes an instant too long as I drew my hand across her back as you might and infant or someone who had the chills. It was then that I felt it and I tilted my head nearly to rest on her shoulder. If I had wanted to put my arms about her waist I didn't do it. If I had wanted to tell her that I could fix everything; that she didn't have to marry a villain, I didn't. I did not know how to fix anything and I did not know how to cheat Gentleman, but I would have tried, for her sake. For her lips were on me, her body pressing, heat touching me from the closeness of her. There was something in me, striving to get out. But I was cold. I was stone. I was afraid of it. I was afraid of her.