Blank was right behind Kendra, knocking on Molly's door as well. "Molly? Open up."

"Go away!" she sobbed.

"No, I want to talk to you. Now open up."

A moment later the door opened.

Blank stepped in. "What's all the fuss about?"

"He asked me to marry him..."

"Yes... I know. Normally, people are pretty happy... But you're crying. How come?"

"I told him no..."

"Really? I thought you liked him."

"I do..."

He frowned a little. "Then... what's the problem?"

"I can't do that to him..."

"Do what?"

"Kendra."

"But I already asked him about that. And he said he knew and it didn't matter that you came with Kendra... he likes her too, you know."

"It's just not fair for me to ask him to take on that kind of responsibility...especially when I just accepted it myself."

Blank sat down next to her. "No one accepts things the same way, Molly," he said. "What took you years might only take another days or months... or even hours... Or even longer..."

She sniffled. "Did he really say that he likes Kendra?"

"All you have to do is look at him when he's with her...you can see it in his eyes. He adores her...and her mother."

She hugged her arms to her chest. "Do you think then... that I made... a mistake?"

He wrapped his arm around her. "That's something only you know the answer to."

"Either way... it's too late now..."

"You're miserable...he's miserable...go after him."

"And say what? Oh, hey Chris, I changed my mind? What if he changed HIS mind?"

"Just talk to him..."

She sighed. "I... I suppose I could..."

"Or you could ask Kendra what she thinks..."

"What do you mean?"

"Since she's the reason you said no...maybe you should ask her what she thinks...she's a lot smarter than she looks."

After a moment, Molly nodded. "I suppose you're right.

He kissed her forehead. "I'll send her in."

She nodded.

~*~

Duchess was shocked to open the door to her hideout and see Sippi Wayne standing outside.

"What do you want, Wayne?" she demanded.

"I have some questions about your goons...the ones that were murdered."

She sized him up. "What about them?"

"I need to ask you some questions...I'm trying to find the Conlon children and your goons were the ones who had them last."

"Look, I told you, I don't know anything about those kids! They took them on their own, I didn't have anything to do with it!"

He crossed his arms. "What made you change your mind about Spot?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... the last time you two had an encounter, you wanted to kill him. Now you don't. What's that all about?"

"A girl can have a change of heart, can't she?"

"But you?"

"It's no secret that I wanted to be greater than he ever was...but I realized that would never happen. If I wanted to get at him some way, I would have figured out some legal way to do it. I'm not about to rot in prison."

Sippi managed a smirk. "Well, that was unexpected."

She glared at him. "Get out!"

"Wait wait.... I need to know some information on your boys."

"WHAT?!" she demanded.

"Well, I need to know..." He began ticking off fingers, "What places they hung out at, who they ever contacted, if you know, that sort of thing."

"If they weren't here they were at the pub where they were killed."

"Any idea of who killed them? Any enemies you can think of?"

"Could be anyone...they were both big talkers...especially when it came to cards."

Sippi frowned, stroking his chin. "I might have something to go off of now... Thanks Duchess."

"Your welcome...and for what it's worth...I hope you find them."

He smiled a bit. "Thanks." And he slipped out the door.

~*~

Kendra crawled into Molly's lap. "Why you cryin' Mommy?"

"I... I'm not really sure..." she said with a sigh. Kendra patted her cheek. "Baby?"

"Yes Mommy?"

"I have to ask you a question...a very important question."

She nodded attentively.

"Chris asked me to marry him...that would mean you would have a daddy..."

"Ooooh! Really?"

Molly nodded. "Is that alright with you?"

"Yes! I like Chris!"

"So it's alright for him to be your Daddy?"

She nodded vigorously.

"Then let's go tell him."

"Okay!"

Molly took her hand and they headed for Sippi's house.

She flitted along with her singing, "I'm gonna get a daddy, daddy, daddy!"

Molly smiled and then shushed her as they walked up to the door.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked sharply.

A moment later Chris answered the door. He stared at Molly, but looked down when Kendra wrapped her arms around his legs. "Hi Kendra."

"Are you really gonna be my Daddy?"

He looked at Molly and then at her. "I... I'm not sure..." He looked at Molly again.

"We'd like to accept...that is if the offer is still open..." Molly replied.

He smiled. "Really?"

She nodded.

His face lit up. "Great!"

Kendra tugged on his pants leg.

He looked down at her.

"When are you gonna be my Daddy?"

He laughed. "It might be a little while, halfpint. I need to do a few things first."

"Like what?"

"Earn some money so I can help support you and your Mommy."

She wrinkled her nose.

He smiled. "Do you not like that, Miss Kendra?"

"I want you to be my Daddy NOW!"

He smiled a bit. "Well, I can't... not yet..."

She sighed and leaned against his leg.

"You don't like that?"

"No!"

"Well, you'll learn to live with it."

"Ok," she sighed.

With a smile, he ruffled her hair. "Don't worry, it'll be soon enough?"

~*~

"What can I help you with Mr. Wayne?" the orphanage matron asked, stepping into the entry where he waited.

"I'd like to know if you had any children brought here last Tuesday."

She considered it a moment before answering. "I had about ten brought in. There was a tenement fire the night before."

He frowned. "These were babies, just a few months old, a boy and a girl, probably look alike, because they are from a set of triplets..."

"It was a madhouse around here that day...but I seem to remember them."

"Do you still have them??"

"It's doubtful that the little girl is still here."

"How come?" Sippi demanded.

"I had several wealthy couples come this week...all looking for baby girls..."

He frowned deeply. "Just my luck, I suppose..."

"May I ask why you are looking for these two children, Mr. Wayne."

Sippi frowned a little. "They were kidnapped."

She gasped. "Are they yours?"

"No. They belong to a couple I am friends with."

"Like I said before...it's been crazy around here...I don't even know which baby girl went with which couple."

"Do you have any records of at least who adopted a girl that since then?"

She nodded. "They'll be in my office."

"Do you mind if I have a look?" Sippi asked.

She hesitated. "I don't know..."

He frowned a bit. "Ma'am," he said. "I don't think you understand. I could easily bring the cops in on this and we WILL shut you down."

She sighed. "No need to get drastic..."

"Then let me see those files."

With a nod, she motioned for him to follow. "This way please."

As the walked down the hall, he noticed a nurse walking toward them with a baby in her arms. Pausing, he watched them go by. "Hey! Hey, I know that baby!"

THE END!!!