We started to head downstairs at about the time. We thought we'd given Vanessa enough time to tell Artie the news. About half way down the stairs we heard him yell. "What?!"

He came out of the living room as if he was racing to find us. He looked upset, angry even.

"Myka, get down here." He commanded.

I looked over at Pete slightly scared.

I walked into the living room and Pete followed me in.

"Vanessa just told me something and I'm hoping she's mistaken."

I waited. He didn't speak.

"Claudia is ours."

Lena looked sad and then smiled just slightly.

At that moment Jinks came into the B&B with his luggage. He'd been out on an assignment; he had no clue what was going on.

I was worried he'd kill me when he found out who the sleeping infant was upstairs.

"Yes, we all knew that she would be."

Jinks walked in expecting a warm welcome, but then stood in the doorway to watch the chaos ensue.

"That isn't to what I'm referring. She told me I had to bench you Myka."

Lena and Jinks both raised their eyebrows high at this. They thought that I was being punished.

I nodded. "Yes, that's correct." I could see the pupils in their eyes widen further at my affirmation.

"Maternity leave." He said sternly. He struggled to spit out the words.

Lena's fear and confusion turned to pure joy and Jinks looked more confused than anybody. It was a look that said How long have I been gone?

"Who might I ask is the father?"

I didn't have to speak. Pete was grinning as proud as a peacock.

Artie took a seat on the couch exasperated. "What am I going to do? I'll have to ask the regents for a new agent."

Pete got pissed. I felt like I was drowning at the idea of Artie firing me. "You can't fire Myka because she's having my kid!"

Artie looked up at Pete very calm and confused. Seeing the anger on Pete's face brought a playful smiled to Artie's lips. "I mean, that I have to get a new partner for Myka. You can't very well work together anymore."

Artie was mad that I wasn't going to be in the field. He didn't care that we were together. "You mean, you don't care?"

"That your together?" He looked amused. "I'm thrilled. I win the pool."

"What?" I was upset. "You had a pool."

Jinks smiled, "Actually Artie, you get half of it."

"You were in on it too?" Pete asked Jinks.

He shook his head. "They made this bet way before I got here. Lena and H.G. bet that you would have been together a lot sooner than now. Claudia and Artie were spot on." He looked around. "Where is Claudia?"

Everyone's cheerful demeanor fell fast and Jinks looked terrified.

"Where's Claudia?" He asked.

"She's upstairs."

This response made him more scared. "I can't tell if you're lying!"

"That's because she's not really Claudia anymore."

He raced upstairs and I followed him. No one else did. This was up to me and they all knew that.

He threw open her bedroom door. "Where is she?"

I was standing in front of my bedroom waiting for him to come up to me. He pushed me aside and went in. The little girl was in a dark purple onesie, asleep on her back, her fists in little white gloves to keep her from scratching herself with her long thin nails. Her hair was still red and I wondered if it would get dark like mine.

I thought I'd have to explain, but somehow Jinks knew. He had a connection to Claudia, even to this little girl. He placed his hand over her heart. He just needed to feel her heart beat. "How?"

"She saved me. She knew I was pregnant and she saved me."

"You were supposed to protect her."

"I know and I'm sorry." The words were true but hollow; they were all I could think to say.

He got up to leave.

"There's something else you need to know. It can't be reversed. Claudia reached out to an artifact and changed her DNA to match Pete and me. Technically she's our daughter. Artie doesn't want the regents to know. He thinks they'll take her away from us if they do."

He nods and goes into his room. There was nothing I could say to make him feel any better. He had just lost his best friend.

A/N: Sorry if this is too sad. It will get happier.