I apologize for the delay, this was a very hard chapter and no one wanted to behave. I'll do better from now on.

Thanks to Black Angus for some excellent suggestions.

"Emma!"

"Benjamin!"

"Lisa!"

"Explain all this please Margaret!"

"I haf on big girl panties!"

"I think I need a beer!"

What followed were some of the most bizarre moments Pete had ever experienced. There was plenty of giggling, confusion, red faces and questioning looks and he thought for a moment Ben might pass out.

Emma was taking it very well for a little girl who had just gone on record for making a most unusual Thanksgiving while Maggie, who after her declaration of wearing big girl panties was taking advantage of her father's distraction by finishing his pumpkin pie; stopping every couple minutes to feed her doll.

He remembered it had been very hard not to laugh, the look Edie had been giving him from her place at the sink certainly not helping. Looking over at Pop he saw his father was also on the verge of cracking up and he had to turn his head away. This wasn't funny! Was it?

Emma was still sitting in her chair on top of the three phone books, her little face wrinkled in confusion. "Did I ask a bad question?"

Ben started to say yes but Lisa poked him in the ribs as a warning. "No of course not sweetie. Its just that underwear is kind of private. "

"Oh. " she nodded but the look on her face said she still had no idea what was going on. "I just wondered if Aunt Edie had some lacy panties like you do. You told Auntie Lauren that the ones with no bottoms drove Daddy wild. "

Several people including Max and Grandpa Marty started snickering at that point while Ben's face looked like it might explode. "And I thought that maybe Aunt Edie might need some so Mr. Pete would sleep with her.

"Lisa, make her stop!" Ben was pleading glaring in Pete's direction. "Why were you even talking about that ?"

"Not now. " Edie's sister-in-law had said under her breath trying to stay calm.

Several tsk tsk's coming from Ben's grandmother was making it much worse.

"I still can't believe what Peg did. " Max said later that night as he and Iris, Pete, Edie and Sam sat in the Nolan's den drinking coffee and eating banana bread.

"As outspoken as she is she's never seemed to find her voice when Dee is around. But she sure took the matter well in hand. "

"She sure did. " Edie nodded, Pete grinning as he remembered the woman's outburst.

"Banging the spoon on the table was very effective. " Iris took a sip of her coffee, trying to keep it out of Alfredo's reach.

"I was very proud when she told everyone to calm down. " Max added. "But she was right, the hysterical yelling certainly wasn't helping anything."

"And when she said sit down, everyone sat down. " Sam smiled.

They talked about how she had looked around as everyone did as they were told, the look on her face one of deep satisfaction. "Now then. Let's go over this slowly.

"Emma, honey tell Granma what you were trying to ask. "

"Last night Mommy was folding clothes and talking to Aunt Edie. She askeded her if she had lacy panties."

"And what did Aunt Edie say?"

"She said she did. "

"Anything else. "

"They didn't talk about the ones with no bottoms. But I remembereded when Mommy told Aunt Lauren that she had ones with no bottoms and that daddy liked that. "

"Emma!" Ben had tried once more to interrupt but his mother gave him a dirty look.

"Go on honey. "

"Then I membered when you told Mommy about Aunt Edie and Mr. Pete sleeping in the same bed and they didn't last night so I wondered if it was because she didn't have those kind of panties. "

"I see. "Mama had smiled at her oldest granddaughter and after some significant looks asked Lisa and Emma and Edie to help her bring some bottles of pop from the garage. When they returned about five minutes later, Emma told her dad she was sorry and kissed his cheek, then had done the same to Pete. And it was over.

"It's been quite a day. " Pete said later that night as he and Edie sat on the porch swing at her parents house. Pop had gone on to bed, Max and Iris planned to call Bridgette and Charlie then retire to their room. Pete had walked Edie over to her parents' house but they were stealing some moments on the porch.

"I'm beginning to seriously doubt your brother will ever like me. " he said between kisses. "And I still thought he was going to sink into the floor. "

"I did too. I think the last time I saw him get that mad was when I told Karen Baxter that he wanted to kiss her. He didn't talk to me for almost a week!"

"Meddling little sister huh?"

"I was good at it. It's a wonder I survived childhood. "

"Well I'm glad you did. " he laid a kiss on the back of her neck, letting his lips slide across her skin.

"Are you getting fresh with me?"

"Is it working?"

"What do you think?"

He sighed deeply as he kissed her temple, then chuckled despite the situation. "I don't suppose we should go back to my place. " he asked wisfully.

"Probably not. Besides I didn't bring my lacy panties. "

"Darn it. " he snapped his fingers. "Well then never mind. " The look on his face, made Edie laugh so hard, the curtains parted for a second, two pairs of eyes peering out before the folds fell closed.

"You know I've been thinking. Emma caused a lot of trouble today and she's only four. Ben was humiliated, Grandma Hart tried to blame Mama and I thought Pop might bust a gut trying not laugh. You sure you want six of those creatures? That could happen to us one day. "

"I hope so. "

He kissed her slowly and deeply, her hands playing in the ends of his hair as the embrace grew impossibly close. "Edie. " he whispered, his breath warm on her face and she moaned softly at the feel of his hands moving inside her coat. "I don't like being apart. "

"I know. I'm not fond of it myself. "

She gave him a long look before leaning her head against his shoulder, her fingers twisting into his. "I remember the first time Papa caught me out here with a boy. "

"Do I want to hear this?"

"Probably not but I'm telling you anyway. His name was Jimmy Allen and I was 14. I thought he was so cute. He took me to the junior prom. "

"Should I be jealous?"

"I wouldn't waste my time. "

The sound of the front door opening moved them slightly apart, Edie trying to wipe the traces of lipstick off his mouth.

"Not interrupting anything am I. " Mike asked with a twinkle in his eye as he took a seat in a nearby rocker.

"Nothing at all. " Pete assured him as he settled back against the swing.

"Well according to what I heard, Grandpa Marty saw some smooching going on. "

"Leave them alone. "Grandma Dee said coming out to join them taking the left over chair with a sigh. "Its fairly nice out here isn't it? Even with the snow."

Pete had felt the elder Mrs. Hart studying him most of the day and after the panties debacle he'd been sure she loved him as much as Mama did. But she'd cornered him at one point and told him she liked him.

"You are exactly what my granddaughter needs, what this family needs. So don't plan on leaving anytime soon. "

He had assured her he had no plans for that ever to happen.

"The ground and the snow is perfect for building a snowman. Pete said somewhat wistfully. "I can't remember the last time I built one "

"It would be fun to have a snowman contest. "Mike said. "Be fun to do it with the little ones "

"You should. " his mother slapped his knee like he was a small boy. "Be good for you to get outside once in awhile."

She then proceeded to tell a story about the time a six year old Mike fell into a snowman jumping off the front porch and had snow everywhere. "Even in his drawers!"

"Mam!" her son protested, Pete thinking happily that to someone, everyone was young.

They sat in companionable silence until they started to get cold, Mama seeming to read their minds as she had hot chocolate waiting when they came in.

Ben was sitting at the kitchen table drinking from his mug and talking to his grandfather stopping to give Pete an interesting look as he passed by.

"Its not his fault son. " Marty said quietly, Ben shaking his head. Pete pretended not to see the exchange. He'd never been able to figure Ben Hart out and today hadn't helped any. (Not that Pete could figure out how any of it was his fault. )

Edie's brother had come to visit her over the summer and he'd been hard to read from the beginning just how he felt about the detective. "He knew all about me before he came. " a frustrated Pete had said to Edie one night, "so its not like I'm a big surprise."

He took the seat he'd had at dinner, taking a sip of the frothy hot chocolate, smiling as Emma and Maggie came down the stairs dressed in matching bathrobes and pajamas, looking cute as buttons.

"Hep has some too!" Three year old Maggie held up her doll for them all to see.

"That's sweet " Edie hugged her niece and the doll. "Goodnight Sugarplum. "

"Say night to Hep. "

"Good night Hep. " Edie smiled, kissing her soft face.

Both girls went around the table gathering hugs and kisses, their dad taking them up to tuck them in. "I'll bring Lauren down. " he assured Lisa as the baby had begun to fuss.

"My sister made them the pajamas " Lisa answered Grandma Dee's question. "I told her it was above the call of duty to make some for Hep but she said Maggie asked nicely. "

"Is that the doll your mother gave her at your baby shower?" Edie asked. "It looks like she carries it every where. I remember when I was there at Christmas two years ago and she could barely hold it, she had it with her. "

"Absolutely everywhere " Lisa nodded with a smile. "Ben put it in her crib when we moved her from her basinette and she's been latched onto it since. I can't tell you how many times I've washed it. She sits there in our laundry room and waits anxiously until I get her out of the dryer."

"Where did she get the name Hep. " Grandpa Marty asked as he reached for a cookie. "I think that's what she said. "

"Yes, its Hep. Ben was being silly with her one night when she was little and kept calling the rag doll Hepsabah. Maggie was just learning words then and the doll became Hep. "

It was around one in the morning before Pete headed out the front door, most everyone having gone to bed an hour or two before. He and Edie had said goodbye several times before she had headed up the stairs to her room.

"Goodnight. " he said one last time, going out the front door and closing it behind him.

It was a perfect night he thought; cool and crisp with just a hint of wind. He watched a bird land on a mailbox and sing a little song and he smiled. The sound of the door opening made him turn around and he saw Edie, without her coat, running out towards him, holding her hand out. "I know how to sneak back in. "

PPPPP

Pete couldn't resist the smell of pancakes and sausage and ate a hearty helping washed down with two cups of coffee.

"Are you sure you don't want another cake or two?" Iris tempted and he seriously thought about it but shook his head. "I think I gained five pounds just from yesterday. "

"Well it certainly won't hurt you any. " the older woman replied. "How about more coffee?"

"I will take you up on that. "

"Sleep well?" Max lowered the sports section, giving Pete a look that made him wonder if he knew something.

"I did. " the detective nodded, noticing a smile passing between the married couple. How could they have known Edie had been with him even for the short time she was. She had snuck in and out quietly and well everything else had been quiet too. Come to think of it Pop had given him a look when they had passed in the hallway. He shook his head slightly and finished his coffee.

"Guess I'll get my coat and go over to the Harts. "

"Tell Peg we'll be over in a few. "

It was a bright, chilly morning and he smiled at the neighbors display of snow creatures in their front yard.

He knew it made him sound like a big kid but he hoped they could bring the girls out and at least make a snowman. The snow and temperature was perfect and they were fun little girls. He wasn't going to tell Edie but they made him want to start on their six as soon as possible. But first things first.

The house smelled good as he went in but the retriever Macy at the front door surprised him. She was a good dog, sweet and gentle but usually stayed on her rug or by Edie's or Papa's side. She gave him a little bark before going out the door, climbing up on the swing with a perturbed look on her face.

The first thing he saw was Ben and Lisa with a frantic Maggie between them, her face and eyes swollen with tears.

"Oh honey. You know she's here somewhere Ben was saying as he wiped his little girl's hot face. "Hep wouldn't go away without you. "

"But she's gone! Maggie managed to get out. She's not anywhere. "

"What's going on?" Pete came up behind Edie, who turned to give him a brief smile. "Hep is gone and doesn't seem to be anywhere. Ben and Lisa and Mama have looked the house over and so have I and she's just not here. Even Emma's been helping. We've searched high and low but we can't find her anywhere. "

"Where's Mike?"

"Mama sent him for milk and a few things she needed. "

Everyone looked in the direction of the backyard when Sam came through the door but he shook his head. "I didn't see Hep anywhere. The snow isn't that deep, if she was out there you should be able to see her. "He sat down on a nearby chair, "I'm sorry Maggie. "

The little girl tried to give him a smile but didn't manage. "Fanks for looking Mr. Sam. "

"Is it possible Mam and Pap might have accidentally taken her home? It was late when they left and they might not have noticed. " Edie asked. "It's just a thought. "

"I'll call them in a bit. " Ben shook his head "but didn't Maggie have her when she went to bed? She would have carried her upstairs by the time they left. "

"She did. I kissed them both good night" Edie confirmed.

"Would Macy have taken her?" Lisa wondered outloud.

"No. " Edie defended the dog. "She's never been a thief. A moocher yes but not a thief. Besides she knows not to go upstairs unless Mama or Papa or someone tells her she can. And besides Maggie never lets the doll out of her sight. "

Nods all around confirmed that to be true.

Where is she by the way, Macy I mean."

"She's out on the porch. She came running out when I came in. I hope that's okay. " Pete answered.

Edie nodded as did Mama. "Probably better for her for now. " Peg remarked. "Honey we'll find Hep, don't worry. "Granma made your favorite cinnamon rolls. Don't you want one?"

"I want Hep!!" The tears started fresh. "She's sc, scareded and wonley "

"Well. " Lisa began. "We'll just look some more and..."

No one had seen Emma slip upstairs, her little legs running down taking two at a time. She approached Pete, clutching something in her fist. "Mr. Pete, Granpa says your a de-dectective. And you find things for people. I have two dollars and .50 cents. Can I hire you to find Hep?"

She laid the crumbled dollar bills down on the table in front of him, then laid each quarter carefully beside them. "Is that enough?" Her pinched face full of hope. "I heared your the best. "

There was a moment of hesitation on the PI's face. He didn't want to take her money, but he knew that would hurt her feelings. He took the money, carefully putting it in his pocket. "Where do you think we should start?"

"You haf to get the facts. " she declared with authority. "I sawed that on television"

"Well if its good enough for Joe Friday." he couldn't help but chuckle.

The little girl brought him a pen and paper and he took notes as he asked each person there when was the last time they had seen the doll. He rarely wrote things down on a case but Emma was paying him good money and he knew the little girl expected it.

Mama told him she also remembered kissing Hep good night as did Ben. "Twice actually. Once down here and again upstairs. " Edie's brother added.

Oh and something else I just thought of. " Lisa added. "When I took Lauren up about an hour later, Maggie was hugging Hep in her sleep. Maggie's that is, not Hep's. "

Ben called his grandparents asking if they might have accidentally ended up with the doll just to cover all the basics, Pete adding that to his notes.

Maggie had calmed down as Pete gathered his evidence and ate two cinnamon rolls and had a glass of milk. Emma told Pete he should eat one to keep his strength up and as full as he still was, he couldn't resist. Mama's cinnamon rolls were too good.

The others sat down to a modified breakfast, Pete reading through his statements, then asking questions to anyone who knew an answer. "Did she get up in the middle of the night? I assume someone checked under the bed. When did you all first notice the doll was gone?"

"This morning when Maggie woke up. I was feeding Lauren in our room when I heard her cry out and I ran into where the girls were sleeping. " Lisa told him.

He nodded and scribbled and asked if anyone would mind if he checked upstairs.

Quite a few minutes later he returned to the kitchen, accepting the cup of coffee Edie poured him. "I didn't see any sign of her under the bed or on the chair. He scratched his head and crossed off something on his list. "I'll be right back. "

When he returned about 20 minutes later, Max and Iris had joined the group and he asked his questions again even though he knew they had left before the girls had gone to bed.

"Why doesn't everyone go about their day?" He suggested after taking a few more notes.

Maggie full of cinnamon rolls, her little tear stained face covered in glorious stickiness asked him if Hep could have been kidnapped.

"I haven't found a ransom note. "He gave her a special smile. "That's a good sign. "

"Kay. " she nodded earnestly.

He stifled a laugh when Iris said it was just like Hawaiian Eye.

"Come on honey. " Maggie's mother picked her up. "Lets clean off your face and maybe go outside while Mr. Pete looks"

"She'll look funny without a face." Mama teased which made Maggie laugh.

"Granma!"

The girls were taken upstairs to put on clothes and get bundled up in their snowsuits, Ben and Sam saying they'd play in the snow. As Edie's brother walked past Pete he gave him a nod--the first kind gesture he could remember getting from the man in awhile.

He'd do his best to find the doll.

PPPPP

Hep was found in the dryer thirty minutes later. She was laying tangled up in the sheets, her braids and smile still intact. Pete was so happy to see the ragdoll he hugged it himself, a huge grin on his face as he ran to the front porch.

Maggie was sitting on the swing, crying into Macy's fur, the dog seeming to understand what the little girl was telling her.

"Maggie. " he sat down beside her, handing her the doll. Tears were replaced with instant happiness, a beaming smile through her wet face. "Fank you Mr. Pete!" She hugged him. "Fank you!"

"You are more than welcome honey. "

Everyone came running at the girl's happy cries, Ben picking her and the doll up and swinging them around the porch. "

"Go on in and show everyone!" He set the little girl down. "They'll be happy to see her. " Maggie and Emma went running into the house, "Hep is home!"

Pete turned to go back into the house when he felt Ben come up behind him. "That was decent of you. " he smiled. "You wouldn't have had to do that. "

"Sure I did. "The PI smiled. "I had a client who paid me good money and I accepted the job. "

"Thank you. I know it doesn't sound like much but thank you. And if you don't mind my asking how did you figure it out?

Edie came out on the porch just then, giving Pete a kiss. "Thank you for doing that. She is so happy. "

"How did you find it?" Lisa opened the door, Iris, Max and Mama all wearing inquiring looks as they came out on the porch.

"Well it was easy once I figured it out. When the girls came down last night for kisses, they were all wearing the pajamas with the sheep on them. Even Hep. And that stuck in my mind. I couldn't quite figure it out until I realized that when I came in this morning, Emma still had the sheep but Maggie's nightgown was covered with teddy bears. Which means that someone changed her in the middle of the night. And probably that meant, that the sheets had been changed too.

So I got curious and rechecked behind the bed and the room and when Hep didn't show up I checked the dryer. And there she was and if you notice still wearing sheep pajamas. "

Mike pulled into the driveway just then, getting out clutching the milk and bag of groceries Peg had sent him for. "What's going on? Is everything okay?"

"Hep went missing. but Mr. Pete founded him. Emma hired him!" Maggie beamed. "She was in the dryer."

"Emma?" he teased her.

"No Granpa, Hep!"

"Oh, he winked at Emma, giving Pete a smile. Did you figure out how she got there?"

"Well we're hoping you might now the answer to that question. "

While Papa ate his breakfast, he told everyone how he thought it happened. "It was about 2:00 in the morning and I had gotten up to make sure the front door was locked. On my way back to bed I checked on the girls and saw that Maggie had had an accident. "

"I didn't mean too. "

"It happens when we're learning" her grandfather. assured her. "She was half asleep so I took her into the bathroom and cleaned her up and put her in a new pair of pajamas. Emma had crawled into our bed earlier and so I put Maggie beside her, changed the sheets then put both girls back in bed."

"And you accidentally picked up Hep with the sheets!" everyone said together.

"I guess I did. I'm sorry Maggie. "

"Its okay. " the little girl beamed. "I think she had fun. "

"Well Mr. Detective." Edie kissed him as everyone dispersed. "You did it again. "

"I sure did. " he put his arms around her leaning in for another kiss when they heard the clearing of a throat. They both looked up to see Mama standing there but instead of her usual look.of disgust this time her face was full of smiles. "Thank you Pete. " and she laid a kiss on his cheek.

'So there was hope.' Pete thought as he helped Edie and Emma build a snowman. There was indeed hope.