I own stuff, but Haven isn't one, and I make no money from it.

Song for this chapter is Have You Ever Seen the Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival

The next few weeks passed in a set schedule.

Every other day they would remove gifts from anywhere between 8 and 30 people. Mara and Audrey had made 30 the absolute most they'd allow Duke to process in a day, worried about the stress on his body. He insisted he was fine and perfectly able to do 50 a day.

And he said Mara had no sense of self-preservation. Boys.

15 days after Mara had sent the Aether to search for James, it returned.

Audrey was at the station, updating her files on the Troubles they'd removed when the black bubble came through the window, floating directly in front of her.

'It's my messenger! It must have an answer about James!'

'You drive. You know how to use it.'

Mara stood to close the office door, wishing Nathan hadn't gone to get them lunch. When she was certain she had some privacy, she sat, letting the maze on her wrist show as she reached for the floating orb, her heart in her throat.

Images and sounds poured into her mind, not giving her time to breathe. Like watching a movie on fast-forward the Aether downloaded the information to Mara. She processed the information as her hand re-formed the orb and placed it in a small box she'd started keeping in her desk.

When Nathan came in with lunch, he thought the office was empty. No one was sitting at either desk, but Audrey's sweater was still over her chair. He had just put the sack down when he heard her breath, and he spun to look for her, confused.

On the floor in the corner of the office, hidden by her desk, she was a tight ball, her blonde hair was the only reason she was even visible.

This wasn't Audrey.

Nathan knelt next to her, pulling her into his arms. "What is it, Mara? What's wrong?"

Mara grabbed Nathan, holding on for dear life.

"He's gone, Nathan, James is gone." Mara whispered, her face pressed to his throat.

His heart plummeted. "He's... dead?"

Mara took a deep, shuddering breath. "Not dead, Nathan. He's there. He's in the Other World."

"Where you came from? What does that mean, is he okay?"

Mara shook her head, a blank look on her face. "He's safe. He's... with my father." Her eyes were red, and Nathan was lost- this should be good, right?

"Mara, why are you so unhappy? Isn't that good news?" As she gazed at him, a tear trailed down her face.

"It appears that my father knows who he is. He's training him to be an Occulus."

Nathan willed her to continue speaking, still confused.

"Nathan. My father is working with James. He knows that James is my son. Don't you see?"

"I'm sorry, I don't understand."

"That means my father knows. He knows what's happened to me. He knows and he still didn't come, Nathan. Didn't try to help me. My mother was still there when he took James in. She didn't say anything to me. Not a word."

Mara buried her face in Nathan's neck again."My father gave up. Stopped caring about me. Got a new apprentice. With James there, he doesn't need me. If they could manage to destroy my father's heart... well, I hope our son is more like you, Nathan."

They sat on the floor for a long time, Nathan just holding Mara as she cried.

As he thought about everything she'd been through and everyone who'd hurt her, he got more and more angry. How many people had suffered and died, not because of Mara's actions but because she was trying to get away? William, James, Charlotte- was there anyone there who wasn't trying to use her?

Yes. Yes there was, he realized. He and Duke and Audrey.

"Shh. It's okay. We know our son is safe and healthy, Mara. That's a win. I'm sorry about your father, I am, and I probably understand better than you know. All I can say is that you have me and Duke and Audrey, and we'll love you enough to make up for every sad day in your life. We're your family now, Mara."

She nodded, her head against his chest. "Did I ever tell you I love this leather jacket? I wish you'd wear it more." She was usually much smoother at changing the subject. She was obviously upset.

"No, you never told me. That's a good thing to know. Something to help get me out of the doghouse when you're mad at me." He smiled into her hair.

Mara wiped her face on her sleeve, sniffling as she looked into his eyes. "James is okay. He's safe, and as an Occulus... he'll have a good life. I'm sorry for... this. I'm fine. It's not about me. I'm grown, I don't need parents. Don't want them."

"Don't be sorry. I want you to talk to me about things." Nathan smiled and hugged her. "You hungry?"

"Starving, but I'm having a craving. I'm going to have to wait till we get home to cook something." She rested her head on his shoulder, tired.

"Huh. A craving? It wouldn't be another fried egg and mashed potato sandwich, would it?"

Mara chuckled. "I know it's weird. I've heard worse though."

"Like what?" Nathan smiled at her, eyes twinkling.

"When I was pregnant with James, I had applesauce with olives at least twice a week."

"Oof. Green or black olives?"

"Black. I'm not a total freak." Nathan laughed loudly, climbing to his feet and pulling Mara up with him.

"Come sit down, have lunch with me." She sat, watching him unload the sack. He passed her a box, smiling. Curious, she opened it, her head jerking back up to stare at Nathan, stunned.

In the box, there was a perfect, beautiful fried-egg and mashed potato sandwich with cheese. The baby's food of choice.

"How?"

"I have a restaurant owner on speed dial. We wouldn't forget. You've had the same craving every afternoon for the last three days."

She was ridiculously touched by the gesture. She really would be okay, with Audrey, Duke and Nathan's help. She didn't have to hurt anymore. Mara deserved her own second chance; her opportunity to make a lasting life where she could learn that happiness and peace weren't things to fear.

Mara smiled brilliantly at Nathan, reaching out to squeeze his hand before she dug in.

Their first appointment with the obstetrician was the next afternoon.

Audrey and Mara were practically vibrating with excitement, and Audrey had checked the clock every three minutes for over an hour. She was almost making Nathan edgy.

"Audrey, calm down. I have my alarm set, Duke has his set, we will get there on time."

"We'll hear the heartbeat, Nathan! They're going to do an ultrasound, they may even be able to tell the gender! Usually, the book says they check gender at 18 weeks. I'm 17."

She spun comically and gaped at Nathan. "Do we want to know the gender? Or do we want to be surprised? Why didn't we discuss this? I have to text Duke, and you have to vote. We'll vote, that's fair, right? What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Nathan sighed, leaning back.

"Nothing is wrong, Audrey. You're wearing a groove in the floor with all the pacing. You're going to be exhausted by the time we're done with the doctor."

Audrey sat in her chair, fiddling with a pen. "What's your vote, Nathan?"

He considered. "I think I want to be surprised. That's my vote. I want to just enjoy you being pregnant. What an amazing surprise. We don't get many good surprises."

'I agree with Nathan. I vote surprise. But text Duke anyway.'

'He has a point, and I guess we wouldn't be doing the trite blue or pink nursery anyway.'

'Do you think we could put a nursery on the Rouge?'

'Huh. I don't see why not. It's bigger than the apartment.'

'We don't spend much time at Nathan's house. Why?'

'I haven't asked, but I think the memories bother Nathan. It was his dad's.'

'Text Duke.'

Audrey pulled out her phone, typing quickly.

Her hand and wrist itched constantly inside the cast, and the boys were always stopping her from shoving pencils and hangers and forks down the cast to scratch. She was sorely tempted to try and pull the damn thing off. It was loose enough from the decreased swelling and the beginnings of muscle atrophy.

-Doctor today! Do you want to know the gender? I'm taking votes.-

-My tax dollars at work. Do you want to know?-

-I asked first! Right now we've got two in favor of surprise, one undecided and you need to vote.-

-I vote surprise.-

Audrey bounced up and down, squealing quietly.

"What is it, Parker?"

"Duke votes surprise too! That's the answer." She grinned as she spun in her chair. He shook his head, smiling.

"You know, it's time to start telling people." Nathan said.

"Yeah. We don't have to really tell anyone but Laverne. All of Haven would know by dinner."

Nathan gave her a searching look. "What's wrong, Audrey?"

"Nothing. What are you talking about?"

"I know that look. You're anxious, but you weren't before I mentioned telling people. There, you did it again- you flinched. What's wrong, Parker?"

She sighed and stared at the ceiling. Nathan had somehow gotten more observant when he started feeling again.

"I'm not embarrassed, let's make that clear. I'm happy- ecstatic. We're in a small town though, and half the women in town hate me for having you. The other half didn't like me because Duke was interested in me. When we come out, they're all going to hate me. And we'll be more of an oddity than we already are."

Nathan was trying to repress it, but he was definitely smiling as he said, "So you're worried about being judged and labeled by a town full of people who came here to avoid being judged and labeled?"

"Don't give me that, Wuornos, we're still a novelty. A polyamorous relationship, pregnant, and hey, the three of us intimately tied to the Troubles. There are a few camps they'll fall into: Ones who think it's reasonable that the three of us get together, those who think we're sick freaks and those who just don't care. I know how these people gossip, that's how we solve half our cases!"

"Yup. People will talk about us. People have been talking about us since you drove into Haven."

"Why are you smiling like that, then?"

"Because they'll be saying you're ours and we're yours. Sounds pretty damn good to me." Nathan was openly grinning, and Mara was laughing in her head, agreeing with Nathan.

Audrey couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, it really does, doesn't it?"

Audrey was even more anxious when they actually got there. She wiggled at bounced in her seat as the boys filled out Duke's part of the paperwork.

When the nurse finally called for her, Audrey stood quickly, grabbing Duke and Nathan. They approached the nurse, who said, "I'm sorry, only the husband or father can come back with you." Nathan started to back away, but Audrey wouldn't let go.

She and Mara stared holes in the nurse (who was easily 5 inches taller) and slowly, succinctly said "That's who they are. I'm more interested in checking on our baby than explaining our bedroom habits, so why don't we do that, instead."

It was kind of funny, watching larger people who always get their way wither under Audrey's piercing stare. Only kind of, because neither man liked being on the receiving end of that glare, and they knew how bad it felt.

"Easy, Tiger." Nathan whispered.

The nurse didn't complain again as she led them to an exam room.

Even working together, Audrey and Mara couldn't fasten the ties on the back of the gown, eventually getting fed up and making Duke tie them. "And no fancy knots, because you're going to untie them, got it?"

"Yes, Ms. Bossy-pants."

"I'm not wearing pants. Thus, the gown."

Nathan was snickering in the corner of the room. Audrey flashed him a grin as she sat on the bed, the paper crinkling as she moved.

Duke was smiling, but his eyes were serious as he spoke. "They're going to ask you a lot of questions. Be nice... unless they're jerks, then go to town. I would offer to help, but you'd be offended."

"I know, and I don't care. I just want it clear that the three of us are together, no one more than the other. I wasn't letting her make you or Nathan stay out of the room. You both belong here."

Duke held his hands up, surrendering. "I just wanted to make sure you were prepared. 'Cause they're going to need my family history and all. Speaking of... we're going to have to lie a lot."

"Just let me and Mara deal with it. Between the two of us, we'll handle it."

The doctor came in, and in other company, he'd be handsome. But Mara and Audrey only had eyes for their boys.

"Good afternoon, I'm Dr. Rifley. You must be Audrey." He shook her hand- a good firm grip, and she smiled at him.

"I am, this is Nathan and this is Duke. They're my partners." She said it in a challenging tone, expecting more attitude like the nurse. She was surprised when he smiled and nodded.

"Congratulations to all of you. Since this is your first visit, let's take a look at the baby, huh?"

Smiling, Audrey lay back and tried to scoot so Mara could experience everything with her. The doctor stood next to the bed, Nathan and Duke on her other side. He draped a paper blanket over her legs and helped her pull the gown up, exposing the mound of baby she'd been carefully camouflaging. He pressed around her belly, measured what he called her 'fundal height'. He used a small tape measurer, saying that she was measuring a little big, but that wasn't surprising with tall fathers.

'Check out Doctor Kink! He didn't even blink and he said 'fathers' plural. I like him.'

'I like him too, and he's highly rated.'

"Are we going to see the baby?" Audrey asked, excited.

"Yes you are. You're far enough along that we're going to go over the top of your belly. If it was sooner, we'd have to do an internal, trans-vaginal ultrasound."

"We don't want to know the gender!" Mara blurted.

Dr. Rifley gave her a genuine smile. "That's a nice change. There aren't enough pleasant surprises anymore."

"That's exactly what Nathan said!" She laughed, smiling between her boys.

The doctor fiddled with a machine, spread cold goo on her belly and started moving it around with the handset. Audrey and Mara watched in fascination as the crazy snow on the monitor started looking like an actual human shape. The doctor took several measurements with the ultrasound, then asked, "Are you guys ready to hear the heartbeat?"

Duke beat everyone, Nathan only a moment behind. "Yes! Yes, yes, let's hear it!"

Audrey and Mara snickered quietly. Duke could be so adorable when he was excited. Nathan was even bouncing a little, nervous energy crackling around him.

Dr. Rifley turned a knob, pressed the probe a little more firmly into her stomach, and a rapid heartbeat filled the room.

"It's so fast!" Audrey said in awe. She could see Duke holding Nathan's hand, and it felt like her heart was too big, pressing against her chest. She reached out, and her hand rested on theirs as they heard the sweet music of their child's heartbeat.

"Have you been feeling movement yet, Audrey?" asked.

"Kicking? No. I don't think so."

"It won't feel like kicking right away, because the baby is still small. More like flutters, like butterflies."

"Oh. I don't know, then. I expected it to feel like kicking."

'I know what it feels like. I'll tell you, Audrey. I promise.'

"You'll start noticing very soon. Because you're in such good shape, your abdominal muscles are still tight- that's why you're still pretty small. First babies sometimes take 5 to 6 months to start showing. Even mothers with smaller frames, like you.

"You can take an over-the-counter prenatal vitamin, but they can be hard on the stomach, especially if you're still having morning sickness. Are you having morning sickness?"

"Yes, but it's hardly ever in the morning." Audrey complained.

The doctor laughed. "If it's any comfort, morning sickness is usually a sign of a healthy pregnancy. If it gets to the point where it's severe, I can give you a prescription for Zofran. In the meantime, if the prenatal vitamins make you sick, just take folic acid and eat a balanced diet."

"Excuse me, doctor, I have a question." Duke cut in, his hand raised.

"You don't have to raise your hand, Mr. Crocker. You can all ask whatever you like." Dr. Rifley smiled, amused.

"Don't tell him that, we just got him trained!" Mara whined dramatically.

"In your professional opinion, is a fried egg, mashed potato and cheese sandwich part of a balanced diet? We seem to have a slight difference in opinion on the matter."

"Shut up, Duke. It's whole grain bread."

"She picked out the tomato!"

"It was an abomination!" Mara hissed back.

The doctor looked at Nathan. "At least you're never bored."

Nathan just shook his head.

"As long as you're eating other things too- and I agree, tomato on that sounds awful- it's fine to indulge cravings. We believe that you have them for a reason, so as long as you're not going overboard, it's fine. All things in moderation, okay, mom and dads?"

'I was wrong. I don't like him, I love him. I wonder if he's married...'

'One more man and we'd officially have a harem, Mara.'

'You say that like it's a bad thing.'

They stuck their tongue out at Duke.

"Yeah, okay." Duke pouted, and Mara reached to hold his hand, rubbing circles on his knuckles.

The doctor gave them a bag full of what Audrey called 'Helpful pamphlets and information' and Mara called 'crap', a few printouts and a dvd of the ultrasound and a date for another appointment.

Audrey waved at the nasty nurse, smiling sweetly.

'One little Gift would fix her right up.'

'Mara! We don't hand out Troubles for revenge.'

'Maybe you don't, Moral Compass Barbie. I'm considering it, though.'

They left laughing, and refused to tell their boys why.