By some form of miracle, Etta was recovering...at least physically from her near death experience with the Observers. Her memory and her balance got better but with that came the night terrors. Sometimes, she said, she could still feel like they were forcing their way into her mind. Olivia tried to assure her that she was safe. She was safe from the Observers as long as they remained in the lab.

Still the slightest noise from the outside kept them on edge and Olivia and Astrid took turns keeping watch. There was little to do other than to wait. Once in a while they would get an update from Anil about what was going on outside. The Observers' control on the public was slowly beginning to fall apart despite attempts to hold it back. Even for the neutral human, it wasn't safe to be outside.

But keeping low was getting more difficult, especially when Etta would wake up in the middle of the night screaming and crying. Even though Olivia had already explained to her why they had to keep quiet, it could not be helped. The best Olivia could do was to be there to calm her down as quickly as possible.

"Mommy?" Etta had been fairly silent since the surgery so this was a surprise for everyone. Olivia went quickly to her daughter's side. "I'm here."

"Where's daddy?"

Olivia struggled to find a proper answer. "Daddy had to go somewhere."

"Is he coming back?"

"Soon baby...," Olivia said. "He'll come home soon."

Rarely did Etta ever speak beyond that, almost feeling guilt at the risks that her night terrors were bringing to the group. But the guilt was nowhere near what Olivia felt. She had almost lost Etta all over again by taking her back to Brookline and what she suffered at Windmark's hands made Olivia feel even more undeserving of being her mother. She couldn't help her. She could barely provide any real comfort to Etta right now or even a place of true safety.

"Peter would know what to do. He was always knew how to make her feel better."

"You are doing your best," said Walter.

But Olivia shook her head. "She's closer to him. I was only good at giving her what she really needed and right now I can't even give Etta her father."

"Olivia, you shouldn't dwell on your faults, no matter how great they are. I believe yours are few and not really yours to bear. You know Elizabeth she felt the same way you did about our Peter. She felt that we were closer. But those times, when I couldn't be there for him, that was when she truly shined as a mother. She could fill the void that I was leaving behind. You must do the same for Etta, even if it's just for a short amount of time."

She was hesitant to take Walter's advice but right now, she was all Etta had. She had missed on too many chances to open her heart to her daughter the way a true mother would. Perhaps she could provide more than just protection for her.

Every day food and other items would mysteriously appear outside the lab, courtesy of Peter. In a matter of days he had brought all of Etta's favorite toys, books, and dresses. But even with all of these surprises it worried Olivia that Peter was gone for this long with no idea if he would ever come back.

When everyone in the lab realized that Christmas was coming, Walter put Astrid to work on freeing the boxes from the amber that contained some of the lab's old Christmas decorations. They couldn't put lights everywhere like they use to as they fear it would draw attention. The most they managed to get was the small Christmas tree which Etta helped to decorate.

"The answer is no, Walter. We're not gonna free Gene for Christmas."

"I don't see why we must leave her in that state much longer."

"If we free her now how will we take care of her?" Astrid asked. "We don't get hay deliveries anymore and I doubt the Observers out there will let anything come through. Plus how will we deal with...you know?"

"The same as I have before. Cow dung has proven to a reliable fuel source should the power go out." Walter went to check the lab entry door on Christmas Eve. "Oh dear, no presents from Peter. This is very bad. It's already been two days."

"No presents?" said Etta. "Will daddy be here for Christmas?"

Olivia said nothing. "I don't know Etta." Olivia had tried to keep her occupied all day with the Christmas decor. It was a relief when she started to yawn. "I think it's time for you to go to bed."

On that night, Olivia volunteered to be on night watch while everyone else slept. Her hearing had been so alert, that as she walked by the office where Etta was sleeping, she heard a strange clunk noise. She knew it could not have been her daughter. With her gun out, Olivia slipped into the office. Etta was still sleeping soundly in the sleeper sofa but there no one else present. Olivia scanned around the room and then her eyes were drawn to something on her desk.

The picture frame was broken and molded from age, having been left abandoned in her old home for twenty years. But the picture still remained in good condition. She and Peter were still in their wedding attire, both of them standing on opposite sides of Gene's stall. It seemed rather poetic that their wedding party all those years ago would be held in this very lab and it wasn't just because Walter wanted it. Even she thought it would be a unique way to remember their wedding.

Olivia's finger wandered to the particular spot on her wedding gown. At a glimpse it wasn't at all noticeable but it was clear to Olivia that she had been showing at that point. Four months after the photo was taken, Etta was born.

She felt a slight breeze from behind and quickly turned. Peter was standing there and he looked incredibly exhausted, almost pale. It seemed as if he had been sweating. His clothes were a mess as well. Olivia could tell that he had lost some of his hair. Not a lot but it was still noticeable. His face was filled with that of sorrow as he reached a closed hand out to Olivia. Olivia gently pried his fingers opened to reveal the Observer tech, covered in blood...Peter's blood.

"How?"

Peter felt ashamed and looked down as he spoke. "I don't know. But I had to take it out. For Etta...and for you." Neither of them could believe that Peter was still standing. "He said that he should've predicted that I would make it."

Olivia took the tech from his hand.

"I'm sorry." Peter leaned into Olivia and she took him in. His eyes turned to see Etta slowly emerging from beneath the covers. Almost like a bolt of lightening, she jumped out of bed in excitement. "Daddy! I knew you would come!" She ran straight up to her father and as Peter felt her arms around him, he had almost forgotten how much his daughter's grasp meant to him.

"I missed you."

Christmas was quiet but far more cheerful than any of them had expected. Peter had been unusually quiet often smiling as Etta offered him Christmas cookies Walter had made. The only time Peter felt sad was when he was reminded of the bald patches in Etta's hair from the surgery they had performed to save her. But Astrid styled her hair in a double bun to cover it up. As a result Walter ended up referring to his daughter as Princess Leia. Whether intentionally or unintentionally that was never known.

That night Etta was asleep in Peter's lap as he and Olivia sat on the couch together. "You have nothing to be ashamed about," said Olivia.

"I know," said Peter. "I just cant believe this is happening...that we're all here...the three of us. I almost ruined that for us. I feel like I don't deserve either of you."

Olivia leaned in to kiss Peter. "It's okay, Peter. You're home now."