The gentle sinking motion was oddly comforting. As Olivia felt herself drift even deeper into the murky darkness, she could almost see Frank's beautiful face once again. Despite what one might think, this was not the end for her. The cold air forced into her lungs pulled her from the brink and brought back the events of the last few minutes like a cascading waterfall. Olivia had not notice the troopers until they were almost on top of her. Losing equilibrium at the edge of the water, she instinctively held her breath before tumbling head first.

Olivia's body could not stop shivering when they dragged her out. Before blacking out, she lifted her head up to look for some sign of Peter, but by then the light was already gone.


Closing his eyes, Peter allowed Elizabeth's embrace to linger for a moment longer. He knew she was not his mother, but she smelled like her and felt like her. Besides he owed it to her for the fond memories of split pea soup. The woman was on the verge of an emotional outburst. She began to tremble in his arms. Peter tightened his hold on her until she stopped shaking.

Elizabeth's hand remained on his, while they waited for Walter Bishop. They sat in companionable silence by the time he came home. She went to the door eagerly to greet her husband. Brushing away the newly fallen snow from his shoulders, she then took his hat and the coat he shrugged off. Her hands trembled in his, but having him there by her side pushed away the anxiety she felt.

Walter looked pass his wife at the younger man standing in the room. Peter was a foot taller than he expected. Seeing his own father's eyes in his, he could not help but feel comforted by the fact that his legacy was somehow being continued in the substitute son he reluctantly let go all those years ago.

Looking at the man now, Peter would never have mistaken him for his father. Yet all those years ago, he willingly went along with him to a world not his own. Perhaps he was too sick to notice the differences.

The two men locked eyes on each other for a matter of five minutes, during which time, Elizabeth left the room discreetly to give them a little privacy.

Walter spoke first after the awkward silence that fell between them had passed.

"Not quite the same is it?" Peter had a feeling he wasn't referring to the room.

"No sir."

Did he just called him sir?

Smiling shyly, he approached slowly with his hands extended in welcome, he grasped Peter's hand with both of his. It was all he could do to fight the urge to take him into his arms.

"Do you remember any of this?"

Peter took a good look around. There were photos of Walter and Elizabeth in their younger and happier times. All seemed faded now.

They sat down next to each other on the couch.

"You've come a long way, son. How did you find us anyway?"

This made Peter chuckle.

"To be honest, until yesterday, I had no idea I would wind up here again. It's been years since we lived at Reiden Lake."

"And here you are."

"Yes. Here I am."

Peter cast his eyes on the floor, searching for a way to break the ice.

"Look. I now realized you saved my life. I just wanted to know why?"

"Your father would have done it eventually. He is a brilliant geneticist. In fact, he did. I made sure you didn't suffer the same fate as... my son."

"How did you know I was sick?"

"My Peter was very sick." Walter became serious. "When I was at wit's end, I used a device I built to see into your universe. To my surprise, your father was busy working on a cure for your illness."

"You saw me?"

"I could not let you die, the way I let him die. I would do it again in a heartbeat."

Walter expressed his concerns for the consequences his actions had on both worlds. He listened intently to Peter's detailed description of the decay he feared most. Learning about everything that had happened because of his selfishness, Walter wished he had heeded Nina Sharp's warning when it mattered most.

"I fear father has become obsessed by hatred. Of you. Of your side. Over the years, he has been all too ready to strike back, sometimes at the cost of human lives. He is not above making sacrifices for the sake of self-preservation."

"Failure is not an option." They both said in unison.

Walter half heard what Peter just told him next, as his mind was occupied with the information being revealed.

"By any chance, did your father call that substance he used 'amber'?"

"Wh-What? How... did you know?"

"We are not that different, me and your father. Except this time, the work belonged to my colleague, William Bell."

Walter pointed to a photo on the wall, one depicting himself with another man.

"It was theoretical science then and the last thing we were working on before he disappeared..." A realization dawned for Walter. "...twenty-five years ago."

The same thought entered Peter's mind.

"Do you suppose he is on our side?"

Just then, Elizabeth returned with a tray of cocoa.

He-He-Help-elp!

Suddenly, Peter pressed the heel of his palm to his eyes as if in pain.

"What's wrong?"

The concerned etched on Elizabeth's face matched the one on Walter.

"My friend..." he gasped. "She must be in trouble. How do I get back?"

Walter and Elizabeth exchanged a knowing look.