Theresa Wiggin watched fondly as her daughter played outside in their yard. There should be more moments like this, she thought. Guiltily, she was glad Peter wasn't around. His violent tendencies were…frightening, sometimes. Her husband slipped his arms around her waist, and she relaxed back.

"We should have another child," she said suddenly. John Paul looked down, startled.

"Now?" he questioned. "We can't. Wait until the monitors are gone."

"But then it might be too late. One of them might be gone, and our child would never know its sister or brother." Her voice was desperate, pleading. John Paul knew how much she wanted another child, how much they both did.

"I know sweetie, I know," he soothed in response to her desperation. "We were planning anyways," he conceded, albeit reluctantly.

"Let's live on the edge a little," Theresa said, eyes sparkling in excited imagining. "It's really the only way to Live."

"Ah, Living," he murmured, smiling.

"Don't mock me, I meant it!" she protested, trying to sound scolding. There was silence for a moment as they watched Valentine. John Paul tried to think of reasons not to have another child, make another little life to guide and help and care and love, but every argument seemed to lack conviction, evidence, really good enough reason.

"All right," he said suddenly. "Let's have another child."

"Yes!" Theresa exclaimed, then turned and kissed him. He smiled down at her.

"Let's Live."

"Anderson, we're cutting the Wiggin boy out of our program."

"What? Why? I thought-"

"We all thought. We were wrong. Your man, Lancaster, showed us that. I watched some of the vids… the boy is scary. So young, yet so violent and uncontrollable. And he had so much potential."

"Are you going to keep Lancaster in Monitoring?"

"No, I'm bringing a new guy in. Got any suggestions? A good man, mind; Lancaster's just a little too…rogue, for me. I'll just give him a raise, a pat on the back, and then kick him out with recommendations for Tactical Center. He wouldn't dare complain."

"What about Major Hyrum Graff? He's being promoted to Colonel soon, and he knows what we look for in the kids. Good man, if a bit unconventional at times. What will he be doing?"

"Lancaster had an idea about the Wiggin dilemma. Since Peter's too violent, and Valentine's too meek, compromise. Take Peter out of the program, then commission the parents to have another child. A boy, to be a mix of Peter and Valentine. More compassionate than Peter, but with the instinct Valentine lacks."

"So the Lieutenant is good for something. But a Third? The poor kid."

"Government approved it's sanctioned, and the parents actually want more kids; they can't refuse in any case, not with a government commission. Best solution I've heard yet, anyway. Graff will monitor the boy until we're sure he's the one we want."

"All right, Rotesan. We'll do it. We'll send out the commission for another child from Theresa and John Paul Wiggin. A boy. A third."

"And we'll hope to God he's the one."