WARNINGS: MENTIONS OF PEDOPHILIA

WAS the world coming to an end or had Nicholas Lott entered the Dubois estate? He agreed to a meeting with the Dubois patriarch and slowly started to regret it. When he discovered Zoya's scholarship was at stake, options were limited and with his income, he couldn't afford tuition in the new year, so he gingerly took his daughter's suggestion and decided to meet with the only option they had. The Devils of the Upper East Side.

"What's the catch?" Nick inquired, opposite Luc and Winnie in their sitting room.

Zoya nudged him, "Dad."

Winnie's lips twitched in amusement at the looks they exchanged that certainly said more than a thousand words. Their relationship certainly appeared warm and welcoming, which unnerved the Dubois'.

"There's no catch is there, Dad?" Winnie interrupted, not sparing a glance at her father who wore a soft smile.

Luc dryly laughed, "Simply helping out a friend. My wife informed me what talent and drive your daughter has, and who would we be to let the faults of a despicable man disrupt that? Davis Calloway shouldn't be an obstacle, and so he's not. The school board love nothing more than to take my money so why shouldn't they?"

"Dad, this way I can stay and this coming January we won't have to pay tuition," Zoya's eyes were practically begging when she turned back to her father.

She could tell he wanted to be anywhere but there. He adorned his smartest suit, vigorously polished his shoes and combed out his hair, so he didn't embarrass either of them, but he was very apprehensive.

The atmosphere of the sitting room, was rather cold, regardless of the Christmas decorations.

Nick locked eyes with Luc and replied, "It seems everything is sorted out, however, I assume there's a clause in this act of yours, pardon me, but I hardly know you, our daughters are friendly, but putting Zoya's future in the hands of Dubois doesn't sound sustainable."

"Spoken like a true lawyer," Luc chuckled, "so I've had one of mine draw up," he placed the contract on the table separating them, "You'll see that the board have signed off on it, as has the Headmistress Burton. I assure you, there is no catch, other than Zoya continuing to excel like the bright girl she is."

Nick blinked rapidly, before picking up the 3 page contract.

Zoya gulped, "Dad –"

"I'll look over this," Nick replied, staring at Luc as they stood up.

The girls followed their actions.

Zoya frowned, "But –"

Luc cast her a smile, "Your father is being smart Zoya, don't sign your life away without reading every detail. It was nice speaking with you all, but I have a meeting with some associates of mine, and like me, they value punctuality," he extended his hand for Nick to shake, "Mr Lott."

Nick mirrored his actions, "Mr. Dubois."

"Girls," Luc nodded at both of them, narrowing his eyes at his daughter especially, then strolled out of the room with his phone in hand.

Winnie pulled out hers as she watched the tense exchange between Nick and Zoya.

"We'll talk about this when you get home from school," he whispered, placing the contract in his briefcase.

Winnie plastered on a smile as he turned to her, "Nice to meet you, Mr Lott, Zoya has told me great things."

Nick nodded yet said nothing in response and hastily walked out of the room.

"I don't get why he won't sign it already," Zoya exclaimed, picking up her school bag as Winnie picked up hers.

Monet wouldn't be joining them this morning, she had plans with Luna, but that didn't stop the promiscuous texts she and Winnie exchanged.

"Like my dad said, don't make a deal with the devil without reading the small print. And I know you like to believe my family's company is far from ethical," she stated. Caesar came into the room, and before he could get a word in she said, "We're coming."

"But it's a written contract," Zoya's age was certainly showing.

"Don't be dull, you're the daughter of a lawyer, they know more than anyone that big fucks little. Be realistic," Winnie went on as they have escorted out of the townhouse and towards the car,  "there will always be people at the top and that means there have to be people at the bottom, getting fucked but the puppeteers. You know it's true... people fuck people and that's the way of the world."

Zoya made a face, "I'm convinced you were created in a lab."

A genuine smile grew on Winnie's face, "Thank you."

Caesar pulled open them, he waited until they were comfortable and hopped in.

Zoya turned to Winnie as the car took off, "No, thank you for helping me. Even if you've got an ulterior motive."

Winnie feigned offence, "Do you think that lowly of me?" 

"Yes."

Winnie chuckled, "Good."

But before she could smile, Zoya had to ask, "But I wanna know why you're doing this for me?"

"You've got potential. How annoying and overbearing you can be even a perpetually irritated bitch like me can recognise it," Winnie explained, pulling her black sunglasses out of her bag, "You go on and on about issues that I don't care or relate to and for that I respect you. You've got this fierce spirit. It's annoying but I admire that."

Zoya was stunned, "Wow."

"I know."

Winnie wasn't lying, she respected Zoya, just as much as she found her deeply annoying.

"Can I ask something else? Just one last thing I promise?"

Caesar suppressed a smile at the childish exchange and turned to face the window.

Winnie groaned, "If you must."

"What medication were you taking back there? I saw when my dad and I walked in."

Zoya regretted asking when Winnie clicked her fingers.

"Codeine," Winnie whispered rather teasingly.

"Funny," Zoya rolled her eyes.

"Aren't I?"

Winnie had started taking her medication. Hooray, however, she felt moodier than anything, her appetite was smaller and tended to snack on the goods Max made, provided he didn't lace them.

Zoya decided to change the subject, "I saw them protesting Veloticty Inc. again. You know there are ways for them to be more environmentally friendly. The harm it's causing to the environment —"

"Take a day off Zoya, social issues aren't going anywhere," Winnie huffed, ceasing the girl's ranting, "Besides it's Christmas."

"In a week."

"Still, we're almost at school."

They didn't speak until they pulled up to campus.

Caesar hastily stepped out of the car.

Zoya quickly reached for the handle,  "Meeting Shan, literally now."

"Don't skip your first period," Winnie grinned at the confusion on her face.

"How did you know about that?"

Winnie simply shrugged and the car door was pulled open for her.

"Bye," Zoya went on her way.

Winnie slipped on her shades and immediately felt someone loop their arms with hers as they walked up the front stairs.

Ginny didn't say anything and simply stared, feeling a mellow yet moody vibe emit from her friend.

Winniw tsked, "Only I'm allowed to stare. What is it?"

"Nothing," she's taking her medication, the blonde realised.

"Bullshit," Winnie scoffed just as the lacrosse captain drifted over, "Billy my dad said you're coming around for Christmas this year."

He nodded, snaking an arm around Ginny's shoulders, "Only a few days before we go to Cancun."

They both turned, mildly perplexed.

"You going there as well?" Ginny questioned.

Winnie added, "On the 2nd right?"

He quickly realised, "So we're all going."

Their parents were up to something and Winnie tried to block out nausea creeping up her throat.

When they reached their table, Winnie searched the courtyard and saw the blandest couple on earth.

"Menzies!" her voice got Aki's attention.

He nodded, "Dubois."

He and Audrey begrudgingly made their way over.

"Are you going to Mexico for New Year's by any chance?"

"Yes, why?" Aki blinked in confusion.

Ginny groaned against her hook-up, "You're not alone."

"Well that sounds like fun," Audrey fake marvelled.

"What sounds like fun?" they turned to Julian who sent her friend a small smile that wasn't reciprocated. Winnie and Ginny peeked at the interaction but said nothing for once. "What am I missing?"

"Forced proximity," Billy mused as Monet and Luna joined them. The latter quickly chastised Julian who deleted her account.

"Babe," Monet greeted, pressing a kiss to Winnie's lips.

Ginny rolled her eyes and clung to Billy who sniggered at the interaction.

"Beautiful," Winnie smiled, making her girlfriend realise.

"You're taking them aren't you?" she asked quietly.

Winnie tutted, annoyed at how easily her people could read her.

"Did you hear about the trip?" she asked, changing the subject.

Julian grew impatient, "What trip?"

"Cancun, our parents set it up," Aki answered, dapping up Obie when he hesitantly came over.

"Why, I have no idea," Monet drawled.

Luna gasped, "Why didn't I get an invite?"

"Be lucky you didn't, sounds like hell," Audrey remarked.

"Sounds like a conspiracy," Obie muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, which gained Julian's attention.

But it seemed like the people she wanted to make amends with didn't want to talk.

The sharp ringing of the bell brought the conversation to a halt.

"Classics," Winnie announced just when other students rushed into the front entrance.

"Text me," Ginny called out as she and Billy dispersed.

Luna nudged Monet, "Biology."

The De Haan girl nodded, then pressed a kiss to her girlfriend's lips.

Julian followed them, as they walked away.

Winnie locked eyes with Max who mustered a smile when he jogged over.

Audrey's eyes lit up as did Aki's.

"We've got trig," Obie nudged the couple.

"Pooh Bear, let's go," Max took Winnie's hand.

Audrey tried, "Max —"

"Now," he urged, and practically dragged her away.

She chuckled at the defeated looks on their faces, "Trouble in paradise?"

"There is no paradise, so there's no trouble."

"Good," she was glad he was done with them, "did you by chance make some pastries for me?"

He retrieved a Tupperware from his bag, "of course." She uncharacteristically squealed, making his eyes double in size, "Oh, you're for sure a pill popper now."

"Shut up."

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

(@gossipgirl tweeted)

Is there anything merrier than Christmas in New York? That dear followers, depends on if you've made my naughty or nice list. Are you trying to wipe the slate clean, but coming up short? Pining for happier holidays past? Maybe wishing you could avoid the holidays altogether this year. Or are you drowning your sorrows the old-fashioned way, with some therapeutic online shopping? Whatever the reason for your season, my lovelies, rest assured that Gossip Grinch is watching and waiting. Waiting to snatch your presents right out from under your nose.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"I'm bored and I completed my Christmas shopping last week," Winnie declared, walking beside Max as they were the last two to leave their classroom.

He cast her an expectant look, "And what are you getting for me?"

She laughed, "Who says I'm gifting you anything?"

"Hurtful," he playfully nudged her,  "and I need coffee, want anything?"

"Hot Cocoa."

He eyed her in faux disgust, "How basic."

"Fuck you."

She shook her head, feeling a smile tug on her lips, watching him disappear into the crowds.

Monet suddenly appeared, showing off a brand-new pair of Versace sunglasses.

"Have you seen this?" she paused, "You'll be unwrapping this in a week."

Winnie lowered the phone, "I thought you wanted to keep the presents a secret."

"No secrets remember," Monet insisted, squinting her eyes.

"Yeah, no secrets," Winnie agreed rather quickly, despite herself. "Then you'll need a cart for all of the gifts I've got you."

She pulled Monet into a rather scandalous kiss before she could get a response, that deepened with every second. They moved like each other was the very air they needed to breathe.

Luna's face was a picture of contempt when she found them, flustered and panting.

"I feel extremely single. Please stop, before I go from Kendall Jenner to Kendall Roy," she hissed.

Winnie pulled out her phone to correct her make-up, "Killer or drug addict?"

"Potentially both depending on how long this radiating lust lasts. Please separate."

Luna forced herself between them.

Winnie scoffed, whilst Monet fixed her lipgloss, shooting glares at anyone who eyed them.

Winnie announced, "I have a scheduled post and no it's not our Dior sponsor," she specified to Monet who nodded.

Luna cocked her head to the side, "You're willingly conversing with Mr. Depp?"

Winnie glowered, "Please we're not near that man, they keep de-ageing him, I've seen how they do it whenever I speak to the COO, embarrassing right?"

"Obviously," they replied in unison.

"Anyways I've gotta go," Winnie smirked when Monet shot her a wink.

Ginny was next to find her, "Did you know bland bangs and dry Aki tried inviting Billy into their bed?"

Winnie snorted, "God no and how did you find out?"

"He tells me a lot."

Winnie was confused by her irked tone, "That's good right?"

"Yes. we agreed to pretend that we're dating to our parents to keep them off our backs," Ginny explained as they looked out into the courtyard.

Winnie poured her lips, "How very Netflix of you."

Ginny rolled her eyes, "It's working. And I think it's a causal thing."

"You think or you want it to be?"

"I don't know."

"Just talk to him," Winnie's advice startled the blonde.

"How unlike you," Ginny poked her face as if to see if she was possessed, "Give me back my friend."

Winnie swatted her hand away, "Fuck off. I'm serious and I need to post something."

"GG take down stage 1?"

"Yes." Winnie nodded, "But seriously, go and talk to him."

"Go talk to your therapist," Ginny teased.

Winnie playfully glared, "Oh, that's low."

"Love you," the blonde called out before going to find the cheeky lacrosse captain.

With a minute to go, before she hit tweet, Max appeared two drinks in hand.

He passed hers over, "Poor Bear, here's your hot cocoa, I need to go and do something."

"Up to no good?" she recognised the mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Always," he pressed a kiss to her cheek and went on his way.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

(@slytherWin tweeted)

It's time for some tea my dear Winners. I'm indeed in therapy, however, that should've been my decision to share. Since Gossipgirl has announced its poor return, it's been doing far more damage than good. It's mocked and ridiculed plenty of minors, me included and I'm appalled that people are still reading and viewing their posts. I mean, how dare a cowardly nobody try and expose us? We've all been through hell and back and just went we thought we could reach peace, an anonymous account tries and takes that away. I shouldn't be ashamed to go to a place that wants only to help me. And I must admit, the constant clowning and tearing down of my character is the reason I started seeking help. I am only a child, just like most of you. So I want all of my followers, on Twitter, TikTok and insta, and my subscribers on Snapchat and YouTube to unfollow this cruel account. Because we should all strive in the face of adversity. It's time to take the power back, now! #blackmindsmatter #richmindsmatter #imatterespecially.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"GG's followers have dropped by 30%," Monet informed her girlfriend.

Winnie cursed, "Only 30? What is this bitch, Kanye?"

"Easy, it'll take a lot for something this prominent to get cancelled. Just like Kanye," Monet said, "but it's progress."

Winnie tossed back her head in annoyance, "I guess."

It had been hours since school had finished and she had been waiting for good results and this was a fucking disappointment.

"And before we go to Cancun -- I'll never know why they chose that holiday destination."

"Same."

Winnie heard the uncertainty in Monet's tone, "Really? Your parents suggested it."

"We share blood, not a brain Mon," Winnie retorted, slightly suspicious.

"Moodiness. Another side effect of Ritalin, you're skating through them today."

Winnie clenched her teeth, "I'm hanging up now."

"Wait, I wanted to tell you saying."

"Go on."

Winnie grew even more suspicious when Monet took a minute to say, "...I... miss you."

"Sap."

"Fuck you," Monet softly scoffed.

"I miss you too."

___

After she ended the call with her darling girlfriend she got one from an unknown number. It was Obie — she never saved his number. He blurted out several things regarding Max, his sister Heidi and her fiancée. Why she told any of this, she didn't know, but the weirdest part of it all was that she showed up at the restaurant.

Her tongue swiped against her cheek as she glanced at Obie, "I'm here, why?"

"We have suspicions," the performative activist answered.

"You've got Wolfe in this too?" she shot a wry look at the smirking playboy.

The trio discussed several things in front of the coat check.

"Winnie?!"

The Dubois heiress grumbled when she heard her name being called. Max looked highly amused at the look on her face.

"Oh fuck," she cursed.

Obie winced, "Sorry."

She spun on her heel and plastered on a forced smile, "Heidi,"

The Bergmann women went to kiss her cheeks, but Winnie took a step back, still adorning a smile.

Heidi cleared her throat, "This is my fiancée Klaus Wagner."

"Another friend of Obie's?" the blonde man in question held out his hand.

"Not a friend. Not even a fan," Winnie replied, earning chuckled from the two adults.

She didn't shake the man's hand which made Max's smirk broaden.

"He's a French hotel heir," Max said, looping his arm with her.

Winnie tilted her head to the side, eying the man, "Really which hotel?"

"Yes, which hotel?" Max curiously leaned in, "Winnie here is practically French royalty."

"Winifred Dubois," Winnie stated, seeing elation in Klaus' eyes.

"Of Velocity Inc.?" he asked.

"Of what else?"

The teens left shortly after, leaving the engaged couple to do whatever.

"I think he's a scammer. Your sister should know better. Hell, you should too," Winnie hissed at Obie.

"I'll talk to her," he shot a nod at Max, before walking away.

"I'll hire a private investigator," Max went on a rant about the conversation he had over during the dinner.

Winnie remained quiet, she didn't care what happened to Heidi, not when Heidi used to sleep with Max who was almost 10 years her junior.

She was creeped out by the woman.

"But thank you for coming through Poor Bear," he smiled at her.

"I'll get the information myself if you stay away from her," his smile fell at her words.

"But we had fun times," he sounded like a whining child.

"Max. I'm serious, stay away, promise me," Winnie tugged on her LV fur coat.

His brows furrowed, "Why?"

She pinched the bridge of her nose, "She took your v-card at what age? 13 and she was what —"

"It's not like that," he cut her off, rapidly shaking his head.

"Sounds like like Deja vu," she rasped.

He exhaled deeply, "Come on."

Max didn't think it was think it was the same as Rafa, It couldn't be right? Right.

"Promise me and I'll help you. And I'll stay over tonight. Quid pro quo, but on friendship terms," she exclaimed.

His face lit up with a childlike glee, "I'm your friend?"

"Yes, you child, now just drop her after you drop the bomb."

"I promise," he quickly agreed, saluting at her, drawing an annoyed grin, "now, will I see you later?"

She grimaced, "No, too much interaction for the day."

"Overstimulation? And I thought sapphics loved it." She let out a genuine laugh as he threw an arm around her shoulder. "Come on, let's get hot cocoa."

"How basic."

"Very basic."

___

"We burn them. They scorch us Grayson, you know that," Monet pressed her ear up to her parent's room, having heard them in a heated discussion for quite some time now.

She mentioned the trip to Cancun during dinner and they stopped speaking until they finished their food. Had she known it was a sensitive topic she would've brought it up ages ago.

Her father replied, "We could always flip the score, this trip to Cancun can be our chance to come out on top."

"What about our daughter's relationship with theirs?"

Monet's heart raced and jaw tightened at the mention of her girlfriend and her family.

"Oh please, we know that Winifred is Margaux's carbon copy, she'll dump Monet with ease. She'll do more harm to our daughter. Hasn't she already? I mean, think about it, this blog Gossip Girl might be good for one thing and that's receipts."

Monet harshly swallowed as her mind roared with suspicion that had been gnawing at her ever since she saw those notes in her girlfriend's room on Halloween.

Her mother scoffed, "Don't be absurd, Grayson, Monet and Winnie have battled and surprisingly they've come out unscathed."

"This family has secrets, secrets that Luc knows and we can't let our family, our legacy turn to ruin because of his own faults," her father snarled.

Monet's nose flared and body stiffened when she thought of the billion possibilities, but in actuality, she had an inkling of what they were referencing.

"Then what do you suppose we do?"

___

"Well I'm glad you came through on your promise," Winnie felt comfortable in the Wolfe's west village townhouse.

It was homey, unlike her own and despite Gideon's personal views on the arrogant teen, he didn't have a problem with her being there.

"You would've assassinated me if I didn't - both literally and figuratively," Max quipped, turning back to the girl who was now in her nightwear.

He thought she looked hot but didn't have it in him to say.

She agreed as they were away from the kitchen, "Got that right."

"Who was on the phone?" he wondered who she was speaking to before.

"Zoya."

Max cheekily smiled, "Your child."

Winnie's face dropped, "The idea of having children is disgusting to me, so I take deep offence in that."

"What? She is. What's your endgame, creating a mini-me?" he kicked the living room door open with his feet and led her in.

"We'll see," Winnie mused, knowing deep down she wanted Zoya to carry her torch.

From Buffalo to Billionaire, how cute.

"What did she want?" Max asked down on the couch whilst Winnie lowered herself into a chair and crossed her legs. He brought out some pastries for her to take with her medication, whilst he snacked on some ice cream.

An inferno roared within the walls of the fireplace, inspiring warmth to flow around the teens but Max didn't want it. He didn't want to look at the Christmas tree, or the ornaments, that were not supposed to be up and yet they were.

Winnie pursed her lips, "Something about her sister moving in with her. She's not a fan but her dad pushed it because Julian's annoying grandmother wanted to pack her up and ship her away to whatever country bumkin town she originated from."

"I wish I could escape this city," he murmured, halting her in her bite.

"Today's been that bad?"

"This year," Max reiterated.

"Second that," She eyed his desolated demeanour, "but is this moodiness about what happened tonight with Bergmann?"

"Something like that," he took another bite of his rocky road.

Max felt trapped, what he once perceived wasn't how it was. Nothing fit, not how it used to. Hell, if he told himself last year he would be spilling his guts to Winifred Dubois, he would've laughed and she would've cackled in his face.

"Are you in love with her?"

Winnie almost choked on her pill when she heard his question. Max wasn't looking at her, he stared ahead, facing the fireplace, clutching the ice cream so it wouldn't slip through his fingers.

"Who?"

He scoffed at her faux innocence, "Who do you think?"

"And why do you ask?" she threw back the question, not wanting to answer.

"Do you think you're capable of love?" he sighed when she didn't answer, "I'm only asking because my dads are divorcing. Pops sent divorce papers. The separation was enough and I don't want their relationship to end. They were my constant and now everything else is slipping."

"Has Gideon signed the papers?" she asked after eating another Pain au chocolate.

"He hasn't looked at them since he saw them," Max said, slumping back on the sofa. "I don't blame him, he's wasted so much time when he should've just stayed single."

"And then you wouldn't exist," Winnie argued, now drawing his sorrow-filled gaze. "And then the world would miss out on the charismatic man-whore who is Maximus Wolfe."

"I'm starting to think that isn't a bad thing," he murmured, putting his ice cream to the side. "All people do is use and abuse me and expect to be this happy and grateful guy. When I can't keep up."

"Then stop, stop living up to other people's expectations."

"Easier said than done."

"I know. People have tried changing me," Winnie admitted, "even the people who raised me. You said before that it's the people that make shit better, but it's hard. Living up to someone else's idea of you is fucking gutwrenching."

"Trust me, all I've been feeling recently is like I've been constantly kicked and pushed around and nothing is helping."

She frowned, "Max..."

"But I'm fine," he blurted, humourlessly chuckling at himself.

"You're spirally. I would know because I've been doing it since I was born apparently," Winnie said with an eye roll, "I've never been good at giving decent advice. Criticism, I'm amazing at so if you don't mind I'll do that."

Max breathed out, "Please."

Winnie put aside her snack and leaned in, not tearing her eyes from his and said,

"You like things that you can't have. It's an obsession, or a fetish, whatever way you want to look at it and I can't blame you for it because of your past and it's repeating. And the shit that's happening with your parents has nothing to do with you. It's fucked because your dads seemed okay, one of the last good parents in this area code. But what you need to get, is Aki and Audrey like you, lust over you but you won't be enough for them. They will use you as glue to their decaying relationship. Sure it'll seem like fun at first but remember how the beginning of that felt. Like an ass, I'd imagine. So now, you have two options, let people keep affecting how you see yourself or do something about it. Because I'm tired watching it, so god knows how your fucking feeling."

The pair just sat back, letting their suppressed emotions dance with the flames illuminating the room. It was raw and gritty but that was their reality.

And It was fucking exhausting.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
(@gossipgirl tweeted)

They say it isn't the holidays until somebody cries. But that doesn't mean they can't be happy tears. Because the holidays aren't about conflict, they're about resolution. It's a time to put the ghosts of Christmas Pasts behind us. A time to grab our Christmas Futures by their bony hands without fear, only excitement about what's to come. But you can't do that without facing the past. Facing what you've done. And nobody knows better what you've done than me. Your confessional. Your therapist. Your friend who tells you the truth. Or do I? I don't think I've been entirely honest. How could I be, anonymously? Like a certain someone called me out. So maybe it's time to give you the best gift I can offer. I told you I saw you, but I meant I saw through you. And it's not fair for me to be the only one with that superpower. So this Christmas, I'm giving it to you. And while you may think you don't deserve it, I know it's just what you need. I made my list. I checked it twice. You know you've been naughty. Now pay the price. X-ho-ho-ho, Gossip Girl.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

a/n:

getting towards the end of this book and as i'm going through the show, i didn't realise how many pedophiles we're around max. like heidi taking his virginity when online it states she graduated constance only 2 years after the NJBC means she's around 28... ewww right? and considering the influence she's got, she's more likely to get away with it, which she has. so to change the end of the episode i made sure max stayed with winnie instead. in season 2 they annoyingly continue their fling which is icky. it's like the show saw pretty little liars and thought it was good.

monet overhearing her parents... yikes. and zoya being winnie's kid is the funniest thing, but honestly quite sad when you realise that she would ultimately become another version of winnie.