Life with Milo was certainly interesting, with the many disasters and destruction that Murphy's Law involved. Luckily their landlord, Mr. 'I didn't fight in five wars to have to deal with you' Phillips, absolutely adored Milo.

They had told Mr. Phillips what they knew of Murphy's Law, and how Milo's family had been forced by, an as of yet unknown pressure, to leave Milo in their care.

Mr. Phillips had sworn that he wouldn't allow anyone to so much as harm a hair of Milo's head if he could help it.

Cavendish and Dakota took turns selling pistachios from their cart, one of them always staying with Milo to take care of him the best they could.

Mr. Phillips' great granddaughter, Veronica occasionally babysat for Milo on weekends. She proved a very able baby sitter, seemingly prepared for anything, and Milo absolutely adored her.

Veronica was quick to give Cavendish and Dakota a brown backpack with caution stripes on an outside pocket. 'This will be very useful in emergencies, keep it close by.'

The backpack soon proved invaluable, often holding exactly the item needed in any emergency.

Cavendish and Dakota were very glad to have Veronica as a backup caretaker. With her and her great-grandfather Mr. Phillips watching their backs, they could rest a bit easier, knowing they had someone they could trust with Milo's safety.

Soon Cavendish and Dakota settled into a pretty dependable routine. They kept what tabs they could as to developments with Milo's birth family, with only marginal success.

To secure funds, they maintained their pistachio cart, and had Mr. Phillips sub-let some of the Bureau's former communicator hide outs.

So at least they were getting some use out of the assets seemingly abandoned by the Bureau of Time Travel.

One month after the press conference, they saw an update that urged again for the safe return of Milo to his parents…but this conference was lacking in one key feature— no sign at all of Milo's parents.

They had only replayed the old footage of the previous conference.

Cavendish had a sinking feeling at the bottom of his stomach. Heaven only knew what state the Murphy's were in, after a month of no visual confirmation on their wellbeing.

It had also been about three months since they had lost contact with the Bureau of Time Travel. Dakota had recently commented that they could only hope for the best, and that the Bureau would get to contact when it could… if it even still existed… or would still come to exist.

Time Travel made present and past tense so confusing.

Cavendish shook the dark thoughts from his mind, as he heard Milo starting to ask after his mid-day bottle.

As he was preparing the bottle, there was a knock at the door… not Dakota's special knock, or Veronica's newly taught one, or even Mr. Phillips familiar rap with his cane.

Cavendish had no idea who it could possibly be at the door, and his mind raced with the possibilities.

Had they been found out? Cavendish sent a quick 'Urgent' text to Dakota, and then used the landline to call Mr. Phillips.

He picked up on the fourth ring… another knock at the door— whoever it was hadn't been dissuaded by nobody answering the first time.

"Mr. Phillips speaking— if this is a telemarketer again-"

Cavendish cut Mr. Phillips off with a harsh whisper, "Mr. Phillips, thank heavens you're in. There's a stranger at the door!"

"Alrighty, hold on to your socks young man- I'm right down the hall, I'll sort them out but good!" Mr. Phillips hung up before he could thank him. It usually secretly amused him when Mr. Phillips called him a 'young man', but now, all he could think of was to secure Milo.

"What do you two want?!" He could hear Mr. Phillips' grating bellow even from where he sat hunched protectively over Milo.

There were TWOpeople at the door?! Who could possibly

"Uh hello– Sir." that voice… could it be? "We're with the CPA."

Was…was that— Brick?!

"If you two are certified public accountants, I'm a Russian ballerina! What business you got being here?"

"Just doing inspections." A woman's voice this time, calm and unmistakable… definitely Savannah.

"Brick… Savannah, is that you?" Cavendish called out tentatively. There was a beat of silence.

"Oh thank goodness-" Brick called out from behind the door, sounding very much relieved, "Cavendish I can't believe I'm glad for once that you're here."

"You know these punks?" Mr. Phillips asked Cavendish, sounding surprised, "Why didn't you guys just say something to him?"

"… I don't really know. I guess I should have figured they'd be wary opening the door to just anybody?"

Mr. Phillips grumbled, "Oh now the lad does some thinking." Mr. Phillips chuckled, "Careful you don't hurt yourself now."

Cavendish smiled, pretty sure from the admonished noise, that was Brick…

But still better safe than sorry. Cavendish laid Milo in his crib, still fussing about wanting his bottle.

"Before I open this door… prove to me that you're actually Brick and Savannah." Cavendish said getting closer to the door warily, "Something only you guys would know."

"Oh come on Cooperdink, I-"

Cavendish opened the door, to the surprise of the rather tattered looking Brick and Savannah.

"Hello Brick, Savannah. Apologies for the third degree. Thank you Mr. Phillips, I am in your debt."

"Yeah, yeah- can't be to careful these days." Mr. Phillips slowly made his way back to his office.

Milo started to cry to protest that he'd not yet received his feeding.

There was a strange look exchanged between Brick and Savannah. They all entered the hideout and closed the door behind them.

Savannah spoke first, "Is that a baby?"

Brick looked past Cavendish and further into the 'H+G' Water Treatment Co. hideout, "Where's Dakota?"

"He's on his way- I sent him a message when you guys first knocked—" Cavendish picked up Milo and offered him his bottle which immediately settled him, "And yes, this is a baby— it's a bit of a long story I'm afraid."

Another knock at the door— this one definitely Dakota's familiar knock.

"It's okay, that's Dakota—" Cavendish felt himself smiling with relief, "Dakota the coast is clear."

Dakota opened the door and his eyes went wide when he spotted their guests.

"Yo! Savannah!… and Brick— you're both okay!" Dakota said in disbelieving surprise, "Where…" Dakota huffed to catch his breath, he had obviously run up the stairs, "Or— WHEN have you guys been?"

"My question exactly." Cavendish agreed, "You'll pardon me for pointing this out, but you two look worse for ware."

"It's a long story."Savannah said, obviously tired, "I'm just glad we've found you."

"Sit down before you guys fall down." Dakota said worriedly pulling up two chairs, "You both look like you haven't slept in days!"

Brick and Savannah gratefully sank into the offered chairs, and both sighed in a relieved unison.

"So." Dakota said, "What's up with the Bureau?"

"Something big." Savannah said tiredly, "It all happened so fast. We just barely escaped."

Brick nodded, "I'd never seen anything like it. We thought they got everyone." Brick sighed, "And…We traced it back to this time period."

Cavendish blanched in shock, "Traced what back?"

Savannah put her head in her hands and said, "They apparently managed to anger a force of the universe, if you can believe it… They angered Murphy's Law."

-End Chapter Three