After a long and mostly silent, tear filled taxi journey, Verity arrived outside of Scarlett's tall and elegant looking town house. It's white bricked front and high rectangle windows gave it the aura of grandeur that it's occupant often reflected on a day to day basis.

Verity paid the driver generously before climbing out of the taxi, the driver quite kindly exiting to retrieve her bags for her. Whilst he did so, she stared up at Scarlett's home and hoped to god she didn't burst into tears again. Like waves upon the ocean shore, the realisation seemed to keep dawning on Verity continually that she had lost her home. She just hoped she wouldn't be imposing on Scarlett too much if she asked to stay for a while.

A few moments later, case in hand and the cab sinking into the grey London horizon, Verity approached the three steps to the front door and gently pressed for the bell, hearing it chiming loudly in the hallway.

It took less than a minute for Scarlett to appear, and Verity reminded herself she had to pretend like she didn't hear anything of what she heard that morning at the club.

"Verity?" Scarlett asked as she opened the door slowly, drawing it wider when she affirmed with herself that her suspicions were right. The songbird was dressed in her pink chemise slip, matching pink silk dressing gown and her slippers. She wore no makeup, and had her newly dyed brunette hair spilling over her shoulders.

"Sorry to arrive like this unannounced..." Verity started, drawing in a deep breath to still herself – yet the onslaught of fresh tears were coming at the prospect of confiding her situation in Scarlett.

Fortunately for Verity, Scarlett was a good enough friend to see the signs of a threatening upset- and drew her friend inside the front door, into the warmth of the hallway – with its high ceilings, white walls and cozy trinkets that expressed everything about Scarlett.

"You're upset." Scarlett sighed, taking Verity's case and setting it down at the foot of the large staircase. "Let me make us some tea, and then we can talk about it when you're ready?" She smiled, as Verity nodded.

Wiping her tears away, Verity then realised she hadn't dropped an obvious comment yet.

"Scarlett," she said, sniffling, "your hair!?"

Rolling her large brown eyes, Scarlett shrugged her dressing gown back over her shoulders from where the garment had slumped down her arms.

"I'll explain later." She remarked in a laborious tone, making her way into the kitchen with her best friend as her priority.

-

A floral decorated tray sat on the long oak coffee table, wedged between the two opposite facing cream fabric sofas.

Two pretty blue porcelain cups steamed with their contents of freshly brewed tea, whilst the two friends sat down to talk.

All Verity could hear was the sound of her sniffling and the low ticking of the large grandfather clock that sat in Scarlett's hallway. She had grown tired of hearing her own sullen voice after recounting the events of the morning.

"I just feel as if I have no one now." Verity said after a moment's silence, Scarlett listening with a soft and understanding expression, her dainty hand cupping the delicate teacup.

"I don't have anywhere to go, and I feel a fool for not thinking to tell Nina earlier. It looks as if I've been trying to hide all of this." She groaned, throwing her head into her hands after placing the cup back onto the tray with a gentle 'chinking' of the rattling porcelain.

Scarlett paused a moment, trying to gather her thoughts as she sipped quietly.

"But I doubt that would have changed her reaction towards all this." Scarlett assures Verity, "you said it yourself – it was the whole idea you were affiliated with Shelby's that was her main issue, right?"

Verity hated that it made so much sense.

"Right..." she replied flatly, lifting the cup back into her grasp and drawing a soothing sip.

"It doesn't change the fact my parents probably will now disown me for my decision..." The psychologist added, her hazel eyes moving to the crackling hearth to the right of her. It was no lie that Verity's thoughts were taking her on a journey of spiralling ruminations.

"Wait and see, but for now, stay here." Scarlett assured, making Verity looked at her. Her large brown eyes were filled with nothing but kindness and understanding.

"You're always welcome with me." Scarlett added with a smile, setting her nearly empty cup down. A flicker of doubt then appeared on her face.

"Apart from last night," her voice sounded irritated, "I'm sorry I disappeared on you like that. I was just so angry with Arthur."

This was where Verity's senses clicked back in, and she was rather glad for the attention to be from her. She now just had to act as if she was none the wiser.

"It's fine... I gathered something had happened when we found out Arthur had gotten into a scrap." Verity comforted, "I was more worried if you were okay."

"Yeah, I'm fine." Scarlett said, but her irritated and laboured sigh spelled more. "I've just had it up to here trying to help Arthur and he just ruins it all the time for himself."

Verity nodded – feeling much more in a comfort zone as she took on her previous 'listener' position she enjoyed so much as a psychologist.

"I take it that's where the hair change as come from too?" Verity identified, earning a rather crass smile from the American girl.

"Damn right." Scarlett remarked boldly, with a remnant of laughter before her smile all but dulled. "I just want a fresh start right now."

Scarlett drew breath for a moment as she leaned forwards to pour more of the sweet English tea into both respective cups.

"I went to the club this morning – told Arthur I was done being his... whatever I am until he sorts himself out." She informed Verity, who still had to act under the premise she knew nothing about all of this.

"I still want to work at the club and be professional about it, it's not worth walking away from just because he can't grow up and let go of something that he is more than capable of doing."

Verity felt a smile grow on her face, she would be lying to herself if she said she wasn't proud of Scarlett. That was a bold move to undergo.

"Well done, Scarlett." She praised her friend, "that's not an easy thing to do."

It was clear Scarlett felt the same, as she shook her head lightly, her eyes somewhat distantly focused on something unseen, like she was lost in her own thoughts.

"No... no it's not." She agreed, her fingertip edging its way around the rim of the cup. "I still love him, you know?" Her eyes flickered back up and she seemed more centred.

"It's just... not the right time for us, I guess."

Nodding with a smile of agreement, Verity reassures her friend that her actions were not only brave but also responsible and correct. At the end of the day, Scarlett had tried so hard to protect and save Arthur that she had been putting her own sanity in danger too. It was quite right she took some time for herself to think about everything.

-

Verity being Verity, she had attempted to put up a fight and not impose on Scarlett and her home life – but the Italian-American was having none of it.

Scarlett personally helped Verity carry her things up those tall, grand white stairs and up into the spare room. It was tucked on a previously unseen side of the landing, with it's pretty grey runner carpet that beautifully juxtaposed against the clean white of the wood.

Upon opening the door, the room felt so pleasantly idyllic – it had the feeling of a bright room in a french chateau. The sun poured through tall rectangle windows, veiled in white chiffon curtains that ghosted gently on the faintest February breeze.

It still held Scarlett's immaculate, clean, white style – but it held the usual pretty trinkets and charms, just not to the same degree as the rest of the house – understandably.

"I hope you'll be alright in here." Scarlett's voice chirped up as Verity had finished pacing the room. She gazed back over her shoulder and bore a large smile of something beyond approval.

"It's gorgeous. I love it." Verity poured out her appreciations, "I'll try not to impose on you for too long-"

Scarlett wafted her hands as if to shoo away such remarks, her face creasing into a playful frown.

"Nonsense, stay until you are ready to go." She said with a friendly yet firm tone, backing away to the door.

"I'll let you sort your things, come down when you're ready!"

With that, the girl disappeared and Verity found herself alone in silence for what felt like the first time in a long time. As she closed her eyes, she could hear distant traffic, the birds singing and the faint ambience of London life through the ajar window.

The sadness of potentially losing her family reoccurred to her monotonously as she settled into Scarlett's home – but the pleasant reminder that she had found a very firm friend in all of this mess was enough to bring her the smallest glimmer of hope in a dark and uncertain time.

—

A/N: I am so sorry this is so boring (and so short!), it's kind of just a filler chapter. It does get exciting again soon, I promise!