Later that evening, Chris knocked on the door of Sippi's house. He had gone to Blank's flat, only to find no one at home.

Sippi walked to the door and blinked in surprise when he opened it. "Back already?"

Chris nodded. "I haven't seen Molly in two weeks."

He smirked. "Maybe you should convince her to go home with you? It would certainly be cheaper for the two of you."

"She wants to be here with her brother...and I respect that."

"Well, come on in. They're having dinner with us."

"I was hoping they were here."

"Come on in."

Chris followed him into the house. The house was much smaller than the one in Pleasant Valley, but the people in it still had the same warmth.

Molly smiled up at him when he followed Sippi into the dining room.

He smiled back, with a sheepish little wave.

"Chris!" Kendra squealed, jumping up from her chair and running around the table to him.

"Hey kiddo!" Leaning over, he picked her up. "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!" She said, throwing her arms around his neck.

He kissed her cheek and set her back down.

"You can have my seat," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him around the table.

He smiled. "Then where will you sit?"

"In your lap!"

"All right..." He sat down and hoisted her onto his lap

He looked down the table at Sippi. "Thanks for sending Duch out to Pleasant Valley."

Sippi nodded, swallowing a mouthful of food. "I'm still looking for Elizabeth. Apparently, they were put in an adoption agency, and she was adopted."

"Think you can find her?"

He nodded. "I have a list of all the couples who adopted babies since she supposedly got there, so, though it may take some time narrowing it down, I'm 95% sure I'll find her."

"Rae won't say it...but she's really worried."

"I know..."

Kendra tugged on Chris' shirt.

He looked down at her.

"Are you gonna be my Daddy soon?"

"Not very soon... but I will be."

"When?"

"I'm not sure yet."

She pouted.

He smiled. "Don't worry."

Molly finished eating and began gathering the plates. "I'll clean the kitchen."

"I'll help!" Chris said quickly.

She blushed and nodded, ducking her head as she gathered more plates.

"If... you want me to, that is."

"Yes."

He stood, gently setting Kendra aside and helped clear the table.

"Can I help?" Kendra asked.

"Sure you can."

She let out a happy squeak and carefully carried her plate to the kitchen.

"Chris?" North asked.

He looked back. "Yeah?"

"Would you mind walking Molly and Kendra home when you finish the kitchen? Andrew and I are going to head on back."

He smiled and nodded. "Sounds good to me."

Blank looked at his wife. "Why are we going back early?"

She nudged him. "So they can walk home together, why else?"

"Oh!"

"She has a present for you, Unca Blank," Kendra piped up.

He smiled. "All right, I'm coming."

Chris looked down at Kendra who started giggling. "What's so funny?"

"I know what the present is," she said, still giggling.

"What is it?"

"I can't tell."

"Oh all right."

Chris put his hand on her head and turned her toward the kitchen. "March."

She giggled and did as told.

~*~

"Tell me," Blank said as he and North walked home.

"Tell you what?" she asked, smiling.

"What's my present?"

"Who told you that I had a present for you?"

"Kendra," he replied with a smile.

"I told her it was a secret!"

He laughed. "She didn't tell me what it was... So you can. What is it?"

She blushed and looked at the ground.

"Come on, tell me."

North pulled a small package out of her pocket and handed it to Blank.

Curiously he opened it. It was a small pair of baby socks. He gave her a puzzled look. "I... don't think these will fit."

"They aren't for you..." she whispered.

"Hmm?.... .... oh... oh, you mean.... Really?" A smile crept onto Blank's face. She blushed again and nodded. He gave her an excited hug.

North rested her head on his shoulder. "Are you happy?"

"Yes!" he said, picking her up and whirling her around.

She laughed.

"When did you find out?"

"I found out for sure three weeks ago."

"How did you keep it from me?"

"It wasn't easy...especially with Kendra."

Blank laughed. "She's a little chatterbox."

"All she knows is that I've been sick nearly every morning for the past month...I was so afraid that she was going to say something....and I wanted it to be a surprise..."

Blank smiled. "And how did I miss noticing?"

"You leave for work before I get up in the mornings..."

"I suppose that would be true." He smiled. There was a little spring in his step. "We're going to have a baby!"

~*~

Chris paused behind Molly and bent down to whisper is her ear as she washed the last few dishes. "I missed you."

She looked at him shyly and smiled. "I missed you too..."

He kissed the back of her head and continued to dry dishes.

"Did you have a good Christmas, back home?"

Chris nodded. "Nick and Noelle out did themselves."

She smiled wistfully. "I wish I had been there to see it."

"I think it was mostly for Marty...of course the best part was Duchess showing up with Robert."

"I'll bet everyone was ecstatic."

"You should have seen them."

Again, she smiled.

"That was awfully nice of Duchess to agree."

"I was surprised that she agreed...knowing how she feels about Spot..."

"I don't think she hates him as much any more..." Molly said. "From what I hear, he used to be really arrogant."

"Really?"

She shrugged. "I suppose he basically thought he ruled Brooklyn and no one was allowed to cross him or they'd face consequences... I guess he thought he was quite popular with women as well."

He snickered. "Why does that not surprise me?"

"Because I think he still has traces of that attitude in him," she said with a grin.

"You should see the way he's charmed Marty. She's a different child than the one who came to the house."

"Charmed? Are you sure it's not a crush?" she said, smiling.

"I'm sure."

"Well, I'm glad they've been able to make such a difference... They've made a difference in all of our lives."

"Ours especially," he said, slipping his arms around her waist.

She smiled and nodded. "Yes."

"Are you gonna kiss her?" Kendra asked.

"Kendra!" they exclaimed simultaneously.

"What?" she asked, looking first at Molly, then Chris and back again.

They just laughed.

Making a face, she hopped down from the chair that she had been standing in and wandered into the other room.

Chris smiled, watching her go.

"She's quite a handful," Molly said.

"But quite lovable as well."

"That she is."

He smiled. "Just like her mother."

She blushed and looked down.

Smiling, he reached out and touched her cheek. "Can I kiss you?" he asked softly.

She looked up at him. "Yes," she whispered.

Leaning over, he gave her a soft kiss. When he broke the kiss, she rested her head on his shoulder. He smiled, hugging her tightly. "Merry Christmas, Molly."

"Merry Christmas."

~*~

The day after Christmas Sippi was back on his search for Lizzy. He had a list of names and with the luck he had been having, it would be the last place he looked. And he hoped they hadn't moved out of the area, or gone on vacation for the holiday. He walked up to the door of the first house, mansion really, and knocked on the door.

A very proper looking servant girl answered the door. "Yes?"

"Yes. I need to speak with Mr. or Mrs. Franklin, please," he answered.

"Have you an appointment?"

"No I don't."

"Then I am sorry sir, they are very busy as it is."

"This is about the baby they adopted recently. Either you let me in to talk to them now, or I can come back with the police."

"Who are you sir, to be making such threats in the first place?"

"I'm a Pinkerton Detective...and there is a chance that the child they adopted is actually the kidnapped baby that I'm looking for…"

"Oh..." The girl nodded. "Well why didn't you say so in the first place? Come in..."

"Thank you," he said, stepping into the house.

"Please, wait here. I shall return with Mr. Franklin."

Sippi nodded and looked around the entry. The girl disappeared and was gone for a good five minutes, allowing him some time to examine the artwork and fine craftsmanship of the house. He was very disappointed to see how the wealthy spent their money.

"I understand you need to speak with me about our daughter."

He turned and saw a very stern looking man approaching. "Mr. Franklin I presume?"

"Yes. And you are?"

"Beau Wayne, from Pinkerton." He held out his hand.

The man shook his hand. "Now what is this mistake about our daughter?"

"Well, shortly before you adopted your child, a baby girl and boy were kidnapped and left there. I've found the boy, but it appears that all the girls who were brought in around that time were adopted."

"And you think it was our baby?"

"It could be."

"How can you tell for sure?"

"I've seen this child before. I'll know."

The man sighed. "I guess I have no choice but to let you see Hannah."

Sippi merely nodded. "Thank you, sir."

He followed the man up the stairs and down a short hallway.

Mr. Franklin turned to him. "Please be quiet though... we just put her down for a nap."

"I understand."

Quietly, he opened the door and led him in to a lovely white basinet.

Looking down on the sleeping baby, Sippi sighed. She wasn't an ugly baby, but she wasn't beautiful like Lizzy. He shook his head. "You don't have to worry. This isn't her."

Mr. Franklin simply nodded, though he looked very relieved.

"I'm sorry for taking up your time."

"It is quite all right. I hope you find the child you are looking for."

~*~

Spot walked into the study to find Rae sorting through stacks of books. "Did you sleep at all?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Off and on," she replied quietly.

"Did you eat the food I left on the table for you?"

"Yes...."

"How much?"

"Almost all of it."

He walked over and lifted her into his arms.

"Put me down, Spot!"

"No. You need to rest. Leave the books for tomorrow."

"There is too much work to do if we want to open the bookstore this week."

"We're doing fine. We'll be ready. Don't worry."

"I need to keep busy."

"You need rest. And I'll make sure you get it!"

"Spot!"

"I'm tired of arguing with you Rae!" he said, placing her on the bed. "You can't do this to yourself!"

She scowled.

"If you promise to eat right and get some sleep, I'll let you help out at the store. Otherwise I'll just leave you here."

"All right, I'll try," she said.

He bent down and kissed her gently. "Good girl. Now sleep!"

She sighed and pulled the covers up over her.

He stretched out on the bed next to her. "Sleep," he repeated, taking her hand.

She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

Gently, he stroked her hair and hummed faintly

~*~

Much later Rae woke and rolled out of bed. She splashed some water on her face and went to find Spot. He was in the living room and had James and Robert laying on a blanket. Sam sat on the edge of the blanket babbling.

Spot smiled up at her as she entered. "Did you sleep well?"

She smiled lazily. "Yes."

"Care for some lunch?"

"Sounds good," she said, sitting on the floor and playing with Robert's foot.

Spot headed into the kitchen and grabbed the plate he had made up for Rae. When he walked back into the living room, Rae had tears rolling down her cheeks. He frowned a little. "What's wrong??"

"Lizzy..."

He sat next to her and put his arm around her. "Sippi will find her."

She rested her head on his shoulder. "I can't explain it Spot...but I can feel it...something is wrong with my baby."

He just sat there and held her.

Robert cooed softly and James cooed in reply.

"I miss her.... I want her back now!"

"We'll get her back, Rae..." he said, stroking her hair.

She merely sniffled again.

"Come on, sweetie...try and eat just a little...please..."

She picked up her fork and poked at the food on the plate.

He put his hand on hers. "Eat...don't just poke at it."

With a sigh, she scooped up a bite at ate it.

"Now another," he coaxed.

"I will, Spot."

Sighing, he stood and left the room. And she ate another bite, deep in thought.