"Hello Fred, don't look so surprised," the girl quipped sarcastically, "You must have known this day would come."

She winked for good measure, "Ta-da." Gesturing with her hands in a mock-flourish.

Mrs. Frederic didn't move a muscle.

"Aren't you going to give me a hug?"

Anyone besides the formidable lady in question would not have detected the very slightest hint of shyness in the teenager's otherwise cocky Irish voice.

Claudia's mouth gaping wide, barely knew what to think at this turn of events. Firstly, when had Mrs. Frederic EVER looked surprised? Secondly, hello, the petite hacker was calling her Fred? Fred?! And to cap it all off had the nerve to ask for a hug. Wait, scratch that. Had the nerve to pull the Warehouse Caretaker into a hug. A real 5-seconds-and-counting hug!

Irene wrapped her arms around the young interloper squeezing her tightly and pulled the teal slouch beanie away to kiss her forehead tenderly before pulling back and saying with what could only described as wonder, "You did it."

"Did I?" the girl's voice betraying her momentarily as her green eyes glistened. "Did I really really?"

The older woman responded by pulling her into herself again, almost inaudibly she kissed the words you impossible girl into her crown and this time clearly affirmed, ''Yes child, really. Welcome home Charlie."

Chin still floored, Claudia watched unable to comprehend what was transpiring in front of her. In all the years that Claudia had been with the Warehouse she was yet to be sure whether or not Mrs. Frederic was capable of actual human emotions. That question had finally been answered. And she still couldn't believe her own eyes. Irene Frederic, Warehouse Caretaker, detached, cryptic, frightening, Mrs. Frederic was actual-for-real hugging another human being and looking at said human with a look, with a look that was freakishly a lot like love. "Fraaack."

Less than 72 hours ago, Claudia had discovered a security breach, a program that had been running undetected for the last 5 years. Coding so elegant that it took the young trainee agent's breath away. Less than 72 hours ago, the intruder had appeared in the Umbilicus as if out of thin air startling the living bejeezus out of a clueless Claudia when she announced her presence with a smug, "Hello Red. What took you so long?"

The red-head didn't know what to make of this bizarre turn of events. Ever since the young hacker had waltzed into the Warehouse uninvited and undetected, it seemed the world itself had somehow been upended. And that was saying something considering the unpredictable dangers a world of artifacts already held.

Claudia having practically jumped out of her seat in shock, had merely managed a Who-What-How, "What the-?" "Who are you?"
"How the frack did you get in here?"
"Are you the one-" She didn't finish the sentence.

"Am I the hacker?" Finishing the other's thought answered, "Yes."

The mysterious trespasser had smiled enigmatically, leisurely looking over an increasingly impatient, not to mention irritated, Claudia. Appearing to weigh her response, she finally offered up, "The Warehouse likes me."

"The Warehouse likes you?"

She smirked at the young woman's annoyance and repeated, "Yes Red, the Warehouse likes me."

She paused before adding, "A lot." Another infuriating smile was playing across her lips, but not given free reign.

"That's it? You are in SO much trouble missy. So much. You have no idea."

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. That remains to be seen. Don't worry I'm not going anywhere just yet."

"What the- Who ARE you?"

"A great many things." This time there was a hint of seriousness in her still teasing response.

"But you can call me Lo. For now." She added.