The theory made everyone speechless.
Peter put his hands to his face thinking this must be some cruel and twisted attempt by his father to make him patch things up with Olivia…when they clearly weren't in a position to be together.
To make a baby with Olivia after everything that happened, after everything that she said to him on the night of Barret's arrest, was the worst form of torture for the both of them. He couldn't say anything. He wouldn't even know what to say.
"Walter," said Olivia. "Does it have to be Peter AND me?"
"Well, technically," explained Walter. "Peter could create the merger with any woman so long as they are from this side, but it wont be enough to create a universally mixed child. It needs some sort of power source to react with the other world. It's quite possible that we might be able to use the Cortexiphan in Agent Dunham's bloodstream to kick-start the merger."
Olivia's face was turning red, flushing at the very thought. If she were to carry Peter's child, then how exactly were they…
She snapped back to reality. "Walter. You have to find another way. I…don't think I can do this."
"This might be the only way. Plus time is short, my dear. The Second Wave from the other side could begin any day now."
"Well then find another way!" Olivia turned and went straight into her office to be in her solitude.
When the dust settled, Peter finally followed Olivia into her office.
"I'm not liking this anymore than you are," he said. "But Walter's right. I don't think we have any other choice."
"Excuse me?" said Olivia.
"What? I thought you wanted this…I mean…I thought you wanted to save both universes."
"I do, Peter. But didn't you hear what Walter said? He said YOU have to be the one to create the merger, not me. You're the one from the other universe. So you're the only one who can make the link."
"But he said…"
"Peter, your father only nominated me because I'm here. There's nothing else more to that."
"But what if he's right, Olivia? I mean you're…"
"I'm what, Peter? The one with Cortexiphan? I can't be the one to do this."
"Well, I can't just go out there and get someone pregnant. That wouldn't be right!"
"Well, this isn't right either, Peter. But maybe…" Olivia thought. "Suppose I have it done artificially…it would still be a merger right?"
"Wait a second," said Peter. "So now you do want to do this, unless it's done your way?"
"You don't understand, Peter."
"No, I do understand," he said. "I thought you were the Olivia Dunham who would do anything to save everyone. I only assumed that you would do this because you would want to save the world…no matter what it took. I thought I knew you."
Olivia spat "You thought you knew me? That's a lot coming from someone who had to be told by a stranger she was with the wrong Olivia Dunham for two months!"
"Well how else am I supposed to do this, Olivia?"
"Let's see," Olivia thought. "The current human population of the world right now is about…6-7 billion and the gender ratio is about even. So I say you have around 3 billion options to choose from to help you save both universes, Peter." Olivia grabbed her coat. "…or better yet, donate to a sperm bank."
Olivia slammed the door as she angrily left the lab. She got up to the ground floor and just broke down. She knew she offended Peter by rejecting the plan in the way that she did but her choice was for them. She knew there would be far too many emotional consequences if she were to actually…
But Olivia knew, it couldn't be her. It would be too much for the both of them. It would be better in the end for Peter to find someone else to help him save both worlds…someone better than her.
She was unaware that Peter was just as upset and frustrated knowing it was his fault that Olivia did not want to go through with the plan, even if it was the only way.
He would have to rely on Walter find another way now.
