Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from the television show "The Pretender." They belong to Steve Long Mitchell, Craig W. Sickel, and TNT.

Warning: If you like Zoe or Thomas. Don't Read!! Because this only gets worse.

Where my pretty one lies.. Part 31 Dream

Miss Parker's Office 4:15 P.M.

Sitting behind her desk, Miss Parker tries to focus on the never-ending paperwork on her desk. Instead her eyes wonder until they rest on the picture of her mother holding her as a baby. 'Why, mom why did you even have . NO! don't go down that road. Ms. is right dwelling on the past isn't going to help the matters at hand.'

Miss Parker didn't hear Syd's soft knock, 'she looks lost' looking at her 'she is still pale, at lest Junior makes sure she eats.'

"Miss Parker, I would like to introduce you to the last resident of the Centre," gesturing to the women standing coyly at his side.

"Hello, Zoe." She sees the surprise in the woman's face. "So tell me how Lyle these days?"

The woman rushes clumsy into the room, thrusts her hand out. "Hi! I'm Zoe."

Glaring at her, "Yes. I just said that." The woman stood there uneasy "Aren't you going to shake my hand?"

"No, I have no idea where it's been." Seeing her words go over the woman head, Miss Parker rolls her eyes. "Syd, we have something important to discuss."

Zoe sits on Miss Parker's couch, she blurts out "I'm pregnant."

"That's nice, now leave so Syd and I can discuss business."

"Don't you want to know by who?"

"No. I want you to leave."

Zoe settles back on the couch, "Why I like it here." Zoe wiggles deeper into the couch. Watching Miss Parker closely to see if she was making her uncomfortable. Miss Parker smirks at her, gestures to Syd to take a seat.

"Syd it's Junior. We went home to pick up some ordered package he bought from the shopping channel. Do you know *what* my son bought?" she questions Syd. Watching him shake his head no, "He has bought himself one of those snake things, you know the kind it's long and brown." Syd glances at Zoe, her eyes widen at what Miss Parker said.

"I told him under no circumstance would I have him play with that is my clean house, so do you know what he did?" Shrugging his shoulders, Syd watches Zoe out of the corner of his eyes, 'she looks uncomfortable.'

"He brought the damn thing to work."

"Really, I haven't seen a snake."

"That's because I confiscated it off him." She said with typical Miss Parker fashion.

"Where is it now?"

"Right here in my office, where I can at lest kept on eye on it." Hearing Zoe's squeak, Miss Parker glares at her and raises an eyebrow. "Problems?"

"Yes, you have a snake."

"No, Junior has a snake. I have custody of the *damn* thing." Miss Parker pinches her nose, "Wait. Zoe *you* come from rural country, you want a snake." Miss Parker stars at Zoe, getting up Miss Parker gracefully approaches her "You can have it. It's real not that long, four maybe five feet at the most."

"Are you kidding?" she squeaks.

"NO. It fact let me get it for you," Miss Parker turns back toward her desk, Zoe jumps of the couch and stumbles out of the room. Looking sadly at the door, Miss Parker shakes her head.

"Oh well," she said as she sat back down glancing meaningfully at Syd.

"No, Miss Parker I have enough pet to look after." Seeing the defeated look on her face, almost makes Sydney blurt out he'll take the snake. He watches her struggle to open a can of peanuts.

Reaching out, "Here let me get that" he was awarded with one of her half smiles. Pulling open the lid.

Outside Miss Parker's Office 4:25 P.M.

Mr. Broots was walking toward his boss's office. He spies a gawky women stumble ungracefully away from her office. Approaching the door, Broots hears Sydney and Miss Parker talking. Opening the door,

"AHHHHH." Syd screams.

Rushing into the room Broots finds Syd holding an empty peanut can with a fake snake protruding out. Miss Parker was sitting behind her desk trying unsuccessfully to hold in her giggles.

Laughing Miss Parker states "I told you he bought a snake thing."