Walter invited his parents up into the Loft after they returned from the steakhouse, shocking Paige and everyone else. Paige quickly put on a pot of coffee as everyone got comfortable in the living room area.

"Looks much better up here since the last time we were here." Sean said while nodding as he looked about.

Walter smiled.

"That's all Paige's touch, Father. I hadn't done much even before I disappeared." Walter said as he took Paige's hand in his as she sat down.

"Not sure it is praise worthy, but thank you love." Paige smiled at him. "It'll get better as we continue our life together.

"So what is the likely outcome from all these drugs that were used on you?" Louise asked a little timidly.

"That's a good question, Mother. Right now it is like a very bad itch both physically and mentally. I've noticed the more I am engaged by my family the less I notice it. The hardest times are late at night when I wake and am the only one awake. I spend many hours reliving certain memories or working on a few of my ideas that I still remember most of the facts over. Speaking of which, has there been any word from the patent office on some of the work? I would have thought by now I'd have a few things approved." Walter asked, looking at Paige.

"No, we haven't gotten any mail from the Patent office." Paige frowned. "I could try and call them when they are open if you want."

Walter shrugged.

"It's a long process, typically two years give or take." Walter sighed.

"Well going back to the drugs, I think one thing that will help Walter with it, he wasn't looped into them trying to escape his life." Toby told them. "His life was by and large a source of joy for him. They were being used to control him. So while he'll still feel a desire for them it won't be like a regular addict who is searching for that high they remember. Plus he has what he really wants now, Paige and Ralph. So things aren't desperate enough for him to want to escape. It will be a matter of controlling the feelings he had on the drug, part of the reason we're not doing methadone. Speaking of which, I got the report on the hair sample I sent in and at least for the last three months, Walter, you were only exposed to heroin."

"Speaking of hair, are you keeping the shaggy dog look?" Sean asked slightly amused at Walter with his abnormally long eight inches of hair.

"I think it looks good." Louise said as she smacked Sean's hands.

Walter blushed even as Paige grinned.

"We kind of like it, so for now Walter has decided to keep it. I had a friend come over a few days ago to trim and style it more." Paige told them as she couldn't resist running her fingers through the length of it.

"What about talk therapy like they do with those anonymous groups?" Sean asked.

"Surprisingly enough, Walter has consented to daily counseling sessions with me and he's making a lot of headway into reconciling things. He was concerned about doing a normal anonymous group. You know only too well how often groups view him as a know it all or arrogant when he isn't trying to be. He didn't want to get into that kind of situation. He's even sat in on a few of the sessions I've had with Sylvester towards helping him with some of his phobias. I think it has been good for both of them." Toby told them. "Though after yesterday we might need to break that off for a while."

"What happened yesterday?" Louise asked with a slight surprise to her voice.

"I got upset with Sylvester." Walter said quickly. "I was communicating how I felt about the both of you coming over here and he tried to explain his point of view and it really irritated me." Walter sighed. "Thankfully my love and son came after me. Who knows, I might have tried to find something to calm how I was feeling if they hadn't." Walter squeezed Paige's hand.

Paige patted Walter's hand before she got up and moved back to the kitchen and began pouring the coffee as the brewer shut down. Cabe stepped over to help her with it.

"Yes, I didn't stop to think about what I said and how it could sound to Walter. It sounded more like I was defending the relationship you've had with Walter all these years. Instead of it just being about how you both had told me how worried you were about him. That you weren't sure how to ever make things right between you." Sylvester told them.

Florence smiled at Sylvester.

Cabe brought the tray of coffees while Paige brought a small selection of cookies she'd baked earlier in the day.

"Aye, true enough. We had been so frustrated with how things were and dealing with the farm as our only means of providing for the family. So that we never sought a better way of being with Walter." Sean said as a tear ran down his face. "My own Dad wasn't much of a man, maybe it plays a part in how gruff I am. A sheep herding farmer isn't the best for raising an amazing child like Walter. Someone like Walter deserves a Father who can come home after work with enough patience and energy to devote to him. But all I usually wanted was supper, a hot bath and to just relax." Sean reached over and clapped his hand on Walter's knee. "You deserved better and I am sorry. You needed a thinking man as a Father."

"I'm sure you mean a Father who didn't do work that completely drained him physically, but I'm not sure that is true, Father. It might have helped us, but you and I are alike when it comes to being impatient. Perhaps if we weren't so impatient we could have worked this a lot easier." Walter sighed.

Sean took a cup and a couple of cookies even as he nodded.

"Aye, I still remember being so short with you that day at the hospital. You only saw the sheet of paper with the names of those doctors on it. For all your intellect and knowledge you didn't grasp the simplicity of my thought. And I thought you were just being stubborn and unwilling to try my idea, that you were dismissing me. I also responded unkindly, calling you a stubborn son of a bitch." Sean said sadly.

"Sean Patrick O'Brien, you did not?" Louise said, her shock plain as day.

Sean just nodded.

"Ralph, are you awake son?" Walter typed into their secure message portal at 3 am as he sat in his bed with Paige sleeping next to him.

"Hey Dad. Yes, I woke up about fifteen minutes ago." Ralph typed back.

Walter smiled.

"I didn't want to get up and possibly wake you but I had a thought as I was sitting here." Walter told him and then explained his idea about Cassi.

Ralph grinned as he read his words.

"Dad, that's ingenious." Ralph told him.

They spent the rest of the night going back and forth over Walter's thoughts and by the time Paige's alarm went off they had a solid plan. Walter and Paige spent the next hour getting ready for the day.

While waiting on Walter's parents to arrive for breakfast Ralph was quick to bring his Mom up to speed on Walter's idea for Cassi. They told her all about the plan they had worked out to pursue it. Terri was the first to arrive and ensured Walter took his seizure medicine along with the mood stabilizers before beginning to work on his physical therapy with him. She frowned at the cut and bruises when she saw them but Paige had explained about what had happened at the beach. Terri echoed Toby's opinion that Walter's ribs hadn't been damaged any further by the fight.

Paige used the time to go over the week's agenda for Scorpion. She had updated everyone's schedule by the time they arrived and then Cabe finally arrived with Walter's parents. It was Paige's week to take Ralph to school and Louise went with them leaving Walter alone with his Dad.

Since it was a typical week, there wasn't much for Toby to do Scorpion wise and so he asked the two men if they would like to have a counseling session. Sean was quick to agree, Walter was a bit slower but still agreed. The three men were deep into it when Paige returned with Louise. They brought donuts back with them. Terri had stayed at the periphery of the discussion to give them some privacy but close enough to respond if Walter had any episodes.

"So clearly the two of you are very keen on being in each other's life moving forward since you are moving into the Loft full time to live with Walter. Does this mean we can expect wedding bells in the near future?" Louise asked hopefully as they all took a break for coffee and donuts.

Walter kind of groaned even as Paige almost spit her coffee out. Cabe and the others kind of laughed at the sight.

"We hadn't really discussed it Mother and I wouldn't expect Paige to be ready to commit to something like that yet. Maybe after a few months of counseling and seeing how I progress with all of this." Walter hedged.

"But you both are getting older, aren't you wanting to have some more children?" Louise kind of whined.

It was Walter's turn to actually spit his coffee back into his cup as Paige blushed to everyone cracking up.

"Mother." Walter said a bit uneasy. "We've barely begun to repair our relationship. You can't be expecting us to be looking that far ahead already." Walter tried to explain.

"Well, while I kind of agree with Walter…I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it. Especially since finding out that Ralph is Walter's son. But the last thing I want to do right now is rush this. As much as I would love to have some more children with him, we need to be sure our relationship is stronger than ever." Paige told her.

"Well as your therapist I'm recommending at least six months of counseling before really talking about that. I don't want you two to get in over your heads and then it snowballs until you go splat against the side of the Garage…or Loft." Toby smiled.

"But…" Louise said before Sean's hand covered hers.

"No dear. They've answered the best they can. Let's not push things, we don't want anything bad happening between them again. We can wait for another grand." Sean told her.

"Yeah, who knows, accidents happen." Happy snickered. "You might get another surprise grand." Happy continued to tease.

"What about you, Happy?" Louise asked.

"Well, we have other issues procreating. It seems my swimmers are a bit lazy in their duties." Toby quickly explained to head off any other questions that might be sensitive to Happy. "We had been planning to adopt but that got put on hold after Walt disappeared."

"I'm sorry." Walter told them quickly.

"No, it isn't exactly all your fault Walt. We did something just as stupid and drove you away. But we're together again and we can continue building." Happy told him.

"Well, what about you two?" Louise looked to Sylvester and Florence.

Florence coughed uncomfortably even as Sylvester's eyes went wide.

"We're not sure we're ready to be parents yet." Sylvester told her quickly.

"Well about that…" Florence finally said, causing Sylvester to frown and the other three ladies' eyes to open wide. "I hadn't really planned to bring this up as I wasn't sure what I was going to do yet. But the last early pregnancy test I took told me that I'm pregnant. I just haven't been to the doctor to confirm it."

"Are you serious?" Paige and Happy said in unison.

Florence nodded even as Walter and Toby slugged Sylvester's shoulders.

"Congratulations." Everyone said.

One month later:

Walter has resumed leading Scorpion but insisted Paige remain as a co-leader of the team.

Walter and Paige decided to have their lunch privately on top of the Garage.

"Remember when Mother and Father were still here. That first day when we sat around downstairs and had coffee and cookies? Do you remember what Mother said down there? It has been consuming a lot of my thoughts, making me wonder." Walter told her.

"Wonder what?" Paige frowned.

"What it would have been like to have been with you as Ralph developed inside of you, his birth and then growing up. I feel cheated to be honest. Not by you in any sense. Life has thrown me curve balls over and over again. I didn't really get to enjoy my own childhood and now I missed out so much on Ralph's." Walter sighed.

Paige smiled as she squeezed his hand.

"I'm sorry. Does this have anything to do with Happy and Toby's foster child? Does it mean you are wanting to have more children?" Paige asked softly.

"With you, yes, very much so. I know we still have a lot of work to do before we should actually start talking about it. And I do want to marry you. But I'd be lying if I said watching them with her didn't inspire some thoughts about it. But that is just one facet of it, I have been thinking about it off and on for about five point nine percent of my time since Mother brought it up." Walter told her.

Paige smiled and squeezed his hand.

"You didn't have to explain it that much Walter, it's okay. I really want to marry you and have some more children with you as well. But I think we can go ahead and talk about it if you want. But I did find out there is one problem moving forward, I just wasn't sure how to bring it up yet." Paige sighed.

Walter looked worried as he grabbed her hand in his.

"You're okay aren't you? You aren't sick or anything, right?" Walter fretted.

"Well, there is something Walter. Are you sure you want me to tell you?" Paige asked with what Walter could see as trepidation.

"Always Paige, because if you and my sister are right and that I am my heart, then the truth is I am you. Because you are my heart." Walter told her.

Paige smiled at what he was trying to say.

"Walter, things are going to be even bumpier for us for a while moving forward. It's going to take some time to settle down." Paige told him sadly. "It's a long road, and will probably be more of a challenge for us than this past month or so has been with your recovery. This will add so much more to it. I had actually been thinking I should move out for a while. Give you more space while this happens."

"What? No, absolutely not. If you are sick I don't care. I want you right beside me where I can wait on you and help take care of you. Paige, you mean the world to me." Walter said, clearly panicking.

"Even when I gain 30 lbs and become irritable and demanding of odd foods?" Paige asked as she looked soulfully into his eyes.

"Yes, absolute…ly." Walter paused as his mind ran over what she said. "Wait, are you saying, are you saying, you are already pregnant?" Walter said as he jumped up out of his chair.

Paige grinned and nodded before Walter engulfed her in his arms.

"I guess Happy jinxed us when she spoke of accidents." Paige told him with tears leaking out from under her closed eyes as they hugged. "The doctor confirmed it a short bit ago, after my check up the other day."

Greetings! I Hope this finds you all well! And so, here we are at the conclusion of this little story and with snow on the ground outside here...Hoosier weather. Looks like it is 3 to 0 for Knight's Tale so look for "A Knight In Harris" come Monday! lol I must confess that was where I was leaning since we hadn't had a Knight story in a good while. After that 4 chapter story we'll have "Circles". After that, I'm not sure. I have written a couple of more chapters for Callan in 2003, but I am still several chapters away from bringing that year to an end so...On the physical news front things have improved and I am feeling better physically, thank you for the well wishes! Now to get the muse to speak more! lol

GreenCat - Thank you so much! And so glad you enjoyed it!

Railman - He did do very well I thought. Looks like his parents are sincere in trying to change, now if Walter only upholds his side...at least until they show they aren't. Looks like you got your wish on Paige working more as a co-leader with Walt. hehe Toby has really turned around since getting Walter back...let's hope it continues.

LouBe - Not sure why your post from 15 got delayed...sorry. Ralph should be a national treasure! hehe Yep...Paige was totally over them...Never cross a Mama Bear. lol Walt and Toby did very well the last few chapters. Yep, it is always sad to come to the end but it has to happen. But that doesn't mean it won't speak in the future!

JerBr23 - Yep, last chapter...sad to say. While the story hasn't said if he will reach back up to his old 197 or not, it does echo positive movement in their lives...Thank you! Time I got to read but the funk robs me equally on desire to read or write. The muse really has to speak to motivate me to write. But hopefully soon I will get caught up.

Marie Mac - No I don't think you mentioned you did that. Very cool! I'm honored you feel they are worth the effort!

Pearligirl - Nope, this is the end of this story...but hopefully the storyline will speak again and we can revisit them! No worries...confusion hits us all at times! lol Thank you. When a story is done I'll mark it as complete so you know I shouldn't reopen it, but post a new story and tie it with the AU numbers.

Margaret - Thank you...and that sounds horrible. I'm so skittish when I go to the corner store, wearing my mask and making sure I stay away from people at least 6 feet. They can think I'm paranoid all they want, but when you can only inhale about 300 ml of air at a time, anything that restricts breathing can be a death sentence. Oh the reference to Sly's death was to Railman's original story "It's A Lottery". Sorry for the confusion.

To the Adventure! -Tim