Larry gulped his drink the minute Horatio brought it in. This took Alan aback, or at least the sight of it did. He too had wanted a strong drink when Margaret had told him that she was pregant.

"Would you like a drink as well, sir?" Horatio asked Alan.

Alan shook his head."It's a little early for me, thanks"

"Could I have another one?" Larry asked. He still felt a bit nervous and anxioius.

"Certainly sir" Horatio, got the glass from the physicist, and went to get more. Alan hoped that Larry didn't have classes to teach anytime soon.

"Wormholes are big responsibilites!" Larry murmured worridly

Alan asked with a puzzled look."Wormholes?"

"Children" Larry explained. "See, I always thought of children as wormholes, linking the past and present"

"Oh..." Alan nodded. "That makes sense."

"Do you think I'd make a good father?" Larry asked. This worried him a lot. Did he have what it took?

"Yes I do,Larry" Alan had noticed over time, that Larry was kind, and had a lot of wisdom in him.

Horatio returned with a second drink. As the two men sat in silence, Don went to see Charlie at his office, needing help on a case.

"Hey! Where's Larry?" Don asked. He was used to seeing him there.

"With Dad, they're talking." Charlie said. "Larry thinks his girlfriend might be pregant"

"Does he!" Don smiled at the idea of Larry as a father. "I hope Horatio prepares him a strong drink!"

"You can count on it!" Charlie said.

"Any way I could get you to lend Horatio to me buddy?" Don teased.

Charlie laughed "In your dreams!"The mathematician had started to rely on the man, and liked how he had become a huge help to Alan.

Back at the Eppes House, Larry said "I need to get back to Cal Sci." He just remembered that he had a seminar.

Alan suggested. "Let me drive you"

Larry waved him off "That's not necessary!"

"I insist"

"Fine.." Larry agreed,and then added "but could we get a pregnancy test on the way?" The drinks had made him decide to just confront the issue and face the truth.

"Well" Alan was hesitant about that. "Okay"

So, they went to a supermarket together. Larry looked at various brands, as Alan noticed two teenagers staring and laughing at them. He made his sternest face, and they left sheepishly.

"These tests consist of urinating into a stick!" Larry exclaimed in surprie

"What can you do?" Alan shrugged.

"Which brand should I buy?"

"I don't know, Larry, these didn't exist when I was young enough to have kids"

"Look at this! This brand claims ninety nine percent accuracy!"

Finally, Larry decided on a brand, and the two men went on their way to CalSci.

TBC