She didn't know what to expect. She didn't plan on this happening so soon to her, never to bury her grandfather back home in Scotland, yet there she stood in Aberdeen, the wind whipping at her back as she sat with the girls, watching as the men brought him to his final resting place.

Matthew wasn't kidding when his family would give him a proper burial. After looking everything over and seeing the revisions he made, Matthew granted everything he wanted, including to be beside his wife. Marissa gripped Juliet's and Amber's hands as she felt Brie's on her shoulder, in truth, she felt numb, unsure of how to take everything in that was happening but just watch.

With precise movements, the men placed the casket containing some pieces of him as half his ashes laid within. The Union Jack laid over the wooden piece, as it finally stayed in its place. Then the men lifted the flag, no words were spoken as they looked at one, folding the flag with ease. Slowly it went from full to a triangle in size, sharp and pristine as Arthur and Allister held it last, the others leaving the casket. With a final salute, Arthur left Allister as he came to her, kneeling before her as he held the flag out to her. Marissa laid her hand on the soft piece, knowing what was coming next.

"On behalf of a grateful nation." Allister began, "I present to you the flag your grandfather honored and protected in his years. Defending the lands and people within during war, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is forever grateful for his service."

He laid the folded flag on her lap as his hand came to her cheek, "Yer grandad was a true man, lassie. One I'm glad to call a true Scotsman."

"Thak you." she whispered out.

Then, the casket began to lower as the priest spoke, the words almost inaudible to her ears, even the touch was faint from the women. The final journey her grandfather would make, yet now he was back home and beside his beloved wife. Now she was on her own.

No. No, she wasn't. She felt his hands grace her shoulders as she shivered against the wind. She wasn't alone and he proved that more than once already. She was surrounded by family, nation, and capital with cities as well, one laying within her.

"It's ok, Maple." she heard him whisper as the end of the funeral came.

She knew she was, there was no doubt about it, but it still hurt like hell. Once all was said and done, everyone went to where they were needed, and for her, another plane flight to Canada.

"Do you have to really go back so soon?" Brie asked as she rested her hand on her belly.

"Sadly we do." Amber spoke up for her as Alfred came up to her, "There have been spikes with the reservations and governments in both nations."

"If it wasn't that we'd stay longer." Matthew added as she felt someone nudge in between them.

The soft brown locks caught her sight as she saw Jeanne hug Matthew, "Oncle Mathieu, do you really have to?"

"Oui papillion, I must." he lifted her up as the other nations and capitals spoke.

"Oi, Marissa, come here quick." she heard Allister call to her.

She walked over to see as the grave was being settled and cleaned. Her heart gave a small ache as she watched it bury him.

"Now, now, no tears lassie." he moved in front of her, wiping away the falling tears from her cheeks, "Yer grandfather was a hell of a man. He took on WWII as a wee teen, had a family as he busted his ass in the industry, watched the world just move on each day and yet still raise ya to be a beautiful young woman. Do not cry for he is gone, smile for what he had giving ya. Both he and yer nan in that case."

"Yer right. I should be happy with what they gave and taught me."

"That a girl, lass." he kissed her head as they began to walk back to the others, "Now all ya gotta do is keep yer head up and think like they taught you, and this little one will be just like you and Matthew in no time."

Marissa smiled, "Believe me, Allister, nothing is changing from now on."

Once back in Canada, she found herself in the office, giving papers to Katherine as Jenny scolded her.

"You should be resting and taking it easy." the woman said.

"I know that, but this is important."

"It's also important for you to heal after all that. You've barely been in Canada an hour and you're trying to work." Katherine added.

"I didn't say I was working, I told ya I was dropping the papers off so I could rest and such with my time off."

Katherine shook her head at her as Jenny pulled her arm, trying to get her away from the mountains of papers that piled the woman's desk. It wasn't like she wasn't taking her time and letting herself heal, it just wasn't like her to sit down for very long.

"You have a baby to think about now that's resting in you and if you are stressed out and upset then they know that and it's not good for them."

"Good Lord Jenny, ya think I don't know that?"

"I'm starting to wonder." she told her as they went in the break room.

A few condolences came to her as some asked about Scotland and the funeral. She obliged their words, giving what she could as she tried to keep herself composed, yet a strange vibe came over her. One that seemed darker than most.

A sputter and cough caught her ear as she saw the one counselor eye the water container.

"What's the matter?"

"It's nasty." she said to Jenny, "Like dirty sewer water bad. I'd drink out of the waters of Niagra than this."

Marissa walked over, taking the cup from the woman trying to smell it, "There's no scent. Ya sure?"

"Positive. It's gross."

"You did just get done being ill and-"

"Jenny, I'm telling you, there's something wrong with it."

Marissa shook her head at the woman, tasting the water to see what she was speaking about, yet the moment it slid onto her tongue, she knew she made a mistake. A small gulp made it past her tongue as she tried to cough it up and spit the rest of the disgusting liquid out.

"No, Jenny." Marissa coughed, "She's right it's putrid. Best get rid of the damn water tub and get a new one. I'm going to the bathroom to try and wash the taste out."

Leaving them behind, Marissa made her way to the room, trying to figure out what the hell she just drank. She wasn't sure what was wrong with it but it was hell nonetheless. She kept going as the world slowly began to spin, the dizzying effect almost like her morning sickness days.

"Bloody hell, this again?"

"Marissa?"

Looking at the door, she saw Sage standing there, a look of apathy on her face, "Look, I want to say I'm sorry for everything."

"That was...random?" she paused as the spinning became worse.

"I was mean and didn't need to be. I was jealous and more but I just can't imagine your pain now."

"Right." she panted, feeling her breath hitch as flutters within her belly cause a strange alarm in her mind.

"Are you ok?"

"Aye, just...a wee nauseous...from that damn water out...there. Whoa." she felt herself falter as the sensations became more and more overwhelming, only then did she feel the harsh stinging to her chest.

Marissa dropped to the ground, trying to gather what senses she could as she reached out for Sage, the woman kneeling down to her as she tried to catch her breath.

"Sage..." she somehow got out as her body began to shake.

Then that sly smile crossed her lips, she leaned over Marissa, eyes digging into the back of her brain as she giggled, "Now, have a taste of your own poison, Marissa."

Horror settled in her body as she felt her mind slip, the damn woman, that damn son of a bitching snake, she poisoned her. And not just her, her unborn baby and anyone else that drank from that thing. She tried, so damn hard to get her and tell others yet as she fought, her own body slipped. And then there was nothing but the scent of Old Spice and the foundry.

He felt like hell. Tried to clear his mind as things seemed to just overwhelm him but it just got full when one thing would disappear.

"Yo man, you need to chill a little." he heard Alfred say to him.

"I'm trying, Al. Not that easy."

"I know. It was tough seeing that earlier but it's life. We're used to it."

"You didn't say that for Amber." he felt a tinge of anger course his veins.

"No need to be nasty Matt. I'm just trying to help. I may not be perfect but its the least I can do, you did it for me when I was at my lowest, I'm just returning the favor."

Matthew placed his head in his hands, Alfred was right. He was there every day with him, caring for Liberty as he tried to get his brother back to his old cheery self. In truth, he had almost forgotten what it was like to lose his mother, feeling her fade like he did yet Walt's death brought it all back to him.

"I'm sorry Alfred, I didn't mean it." he apologized, "I just have a lot on my mind."

"I get it, it's why I'm willing to help you as best as I can."

"Yea, thanks, Al."

There were times he didn't give Alfred enough credit for what he did, yet there were times he didn't give himself enough as well. Always placing it elsewhere than himself. The man moved around him as he looked over the Prime Minister's works and meetings dealing with Genesis, the never-ending headache that tired him out more than anything.

A sudden chill rolled up his spine as it sent his stomach on a twisted rollercoaster. Something was wrong. Matthew bolted upright from the seat, catching Alfred's attention.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know, something is-" he was cut off as the scent of sage came to him.

"Mom." he heard Alfred say.

It was heavy in the air as it floated around them, guiding them both to the door just to hear footfalls approaching the door. Then the door busted open as one of the secretaries gave him a grim face.

"Mr. Williams, there's been an incident at the counseling building."

Matthew didn't hear anything else, just the loud thrumming of his heard as he bolted out the door. The chill grew into an alarming fear as he made his way to the building, praying that it wasn't Marissa or their baby. The smell followed him, proving that his mother was beside him and Alfred the whole way there as the sight of police cars and ambulances made it all the more serious.

"Dear God." he muttered under his breath, rushing into the chaos.

He was in a panic, looking at all the faces before him, trying to find Marissa in the mass. People were loaded in ambulances and officers spoke to some that were within, yet no sign of the strawberry blonde in sight. The panic was growing worse as he pushed passed the officers as Alfred told them who they were, yet Matthew couldn't even make a sound, all he wanted was her.

"Matthew!"

Whipping around, he saw Jenny running up to him, tears streaming down her face as Sage seemed to follow.

"Jenny, what happened?"

"We don't know." she got out, "We were all talking and then she went to the restroom, the next thing I know Sage found her on the floor passed out and then others started falling behind."

"Sage?" he looked at the woman.

"I really don't know Matthew. We were talking for a brief moment, I apologized for my past actions and we left it at that and the next I knew there was this thump and I looked in to see her on the floor."

He watched her, everything she did and said as Alfred and the officer took down her story she told him as Jenny gave hers. Yet it was all too clear with her, and he needed her away from them all. He nodded to the officer beside him as he pointed behind the ambulance in waiting, then he went to Sage's side.

"Sage please can I speak with you?"

"Sure."

Moving away from the others, he led her behind the vehicle, hoping that his hunch was wrong.

"Did Marissa say anything or do anything that didn't make sense or act in a way?"

"No, not that I recall. She seemed a little out of it but I ranked it with the funeral and that ordeal with being pregnant but nothing more, why?"

"Just wondering. Had someone try and hurt her before, was wondering if she spoke up about anything."

Sage shook her head as her eyes stayed to the lower left, "No, nothing. Not even about the water."

Water? Now he had something, the officer nodded to him as he quietly spoke over the radio and with it, he let his anger out.

"Alright, but I want a favor from you."

"Anything."

"Don't fucking lie to me."

The woman looked at him in shock, "Lie? I haven't lied about a thing! How dare you!"

"You have had issues with Marissa since day one of her starting there. You had your boyfriend try and threaten her and if I wasn't there things may have been worse than they were, so don't tell me I'm lying."

"You can't be serious? I apologized, she said it was fine."

"No, you didn't." Matthew cornered her, "You didn't say anything about the water either. In fact, no one did."

Now he watched as she bit the inside of her lip and her eyes flutter only to glance away. He had her and she knew it.

"Tell me what you did."

"Nothing, you bastard!" she spat at him, "I did nothing to them."

"Your body actions say otherwise. You look to your lower left, your eyes can't keep contact and when they do, they blink so many damn times it's not funny. You're chewing the inside of your mouth as you swallow whatever you can to lose the pressure in your throat. I have watched you since you spoke and I know what I'm looking for."

"You are placing that on a bunch of theories, not facts."

Matthew towered over her, his face only inches away from hers as his arms caged her to the metal outside, "Tell the truth or else."

"Or else what?"

He smiled, "I work for the government and with that, I can do as I please. Even if you did, you would go to the courts and hit with a book, you would have to deal with me and believe me. After wars and government issues and the fucking terrorist group out there, I have things up my sleeve that would make the courthouses look like child's play. I will make you disappear and nobody will ever find you."

Her body quivered at his threat, he could see the officer at the other end, waiting for him to finally get what he wanted before taking action on them.

Finally, she narrowed her eyes at him, "The bitch deserved it. I hope the cyanide made it slow and painful for her and that-"

She was silenced as the officer pulled her away, cuffing her and placing her within the car just as Matthew had the realization hit him. Marissa was poisoned, not just Marissa or her coworkers, but their unborn baby as well.

"Mattie?"

He saw Alfred come over as he leaned against the cab of the ambulance, letting the hell that was around him consume him whole.

"Matthew, what happen-"

"Dispatch, I'm telling you she's gone." the radio cut Alfred off.

"How do you mean?"

"Like we loaded the woman on, even pronounced her dead on arrival yet when we pulled in to unload her body, she was gone. Not a soul was in or out yet she just vanished."

"Which victim was this?"

"Twenty-two-year-old caucasian woman, approximately four months pregnant. She's completely gone from our vehicle."

"Did you hear that Mattie?"

He heard alright, Marissa died and yet was gone from the spot, so that only meant one thing for him.

"Dude, she has to be close then." Al said.

"Close?" Matthew shouted, "Do you realize how big Canada is?"

"Matt come on, we can-"

"Alfred, it's going to take forever to find her, there is no simple way to do so. There are so many locations and more."

"Hey man listen, I think-"

"She has so many women within her that each may be a link to where she could be."

"I get that but-"

"It's going to take me forever and I don't have forever Al. She's carrying our baby and god knows if its ok after all of-"

Matthew was silenced as Alfred punched his arm, "The hell was that for Al?"

"Dude." he pointed to his nose, "Mom."

It was then he noticed the sage filling his senses, the gentle pull to make him follow with Al, she was trying to tell them something. Once over by the bench, he saw a map of his nation, sprawled out and open before him. He looked it over, from Vancouver to Montreal, there was so much for him to search and yet it felt like an eternity.

"She may have the heart for Canada, Matthew, but her true heart will always lead her to Scotland."

He heard Walt in his head, one of the last real conversations they had before he passed. The day he asked how Marissa would become who she was meant to. And then it clicked.

"I know where she is."

"Where, what clue did mom leave on the map here?" Alfred asked.

Just then a single feather landed on the map, the sage scent grew stronger as she seemed to tell them to go.

"Remember Alfred, she may have dreamed of Canada, but she was raised in Great Britain, and there's only one place in Canada that has even the closest thing to her roots."

Alfred chuckled as he looked under the feather, "Well then, you better get your ass to Nova Scotia."

The winds whipped around him as he ventured farther towards the place. He knew where'd she be. Allister gave him that idea after he and Marissa spoke before the funeral. He could see the lighthouse, hear the waves crash into the rocks around the cove, yet all he wanted to see was her. Not a soul was around the area, the building laid dormant as he approached, trying to see if he could find her, yet there was no sign.

He tried the door, wondering if she was inside the building until the scent of foundry came to him.

"Walt."

He tried to find the scent, to follow it, for he knew the man would be his guide. Stepping lightly on the rocks, he made his way to the water's edge only then to see the waves of strawberry locks flow in the wind. There she was, sitting on a rock as her eyes stayed in her lap, tears streaming down her face as she shook with emotions and cold.

His legs couldn't move fast enough. He stumbled and fell, here and there but it was worth it, just to have her in his arms, safe and sound. Finally, he was beside her, yet he made no move. Her cries came to him as she held something in her hand tightly that her knuckles were white.

"Marissa?" he called to her, "Marissa? Maple?"

He laid his hand on her shoulder, feeling her move toward him. He moved beside her, pulling her close as a shaky breath left her.

"It's ok Maple, I'm here." he kissed her head.

"It's not that." she got out.

"What's wrong?" a new fear welling in him as his hand laid on her belly, "Is it the baby?"

"No." she said sitting up, "You know, my grandparent's said they would see each other on the other side and that if anything happened to me, they would guide me back. Well if they did I would know."

He wasn't sure whether to smile or be worried as the Scottish was gone from her tone, "How did you know?"

"I can smell him. That damn Old Spice and foundry smell I love so much, and her touch. So soft that she could put angels to shame. Those and they left me with their deepest trinkets."

Trinkets? Matthew looked at her hand, trying to see what laid within it. Placing his hand on hers, she finally opened it up to reveal Walt's dog tag and one of Kay's rings.

"It was what made them so in love with each other. Her soldier and his doting wife. It was their little thing together and they told me that if they died and then me, they would send me back with these." she cried against him, "I saw them, Matthew. I saw them."

Matthew held her close, knowing the pain she felt wasn't from the change to Ottawa or anything else, but a heartache and a final goodbye to the greatest people of her world. He just rocked her, giving light words of love, just letting her adjust.

Yet for now until eternity, she was Ottawa, and he was quite content with that.