"Hey buddy." Walter said with a smile as Ralph opened the door and climbed into his car.

"Hey Dad, how is Mom? How was Mom's appointment? Was Dr. Rizzuto able to help her?" Ralph rattled out the questions faster than he was able to drop his books on the floor and grabbed the seatbelt.

Walter smiled in spite of the answer. "I'm sorry buddy. But your Mom isn't doing any better. He might have actually made it a bit worse."

Ralph looked over sharply as the belt clasp clicked soundly into the restraining belt. "Well then maybe you should call Toby and get him to come over and talk to Mom. He can surely take a few hours from his vacation time to help Mom with this."

Walter pulled out onto the street. "I'll give him a call and see if I can't work something out with him if she isn't better by the time I get home from dropping you off at school in the morning."

Ralph's eyes probed into the side of Walter's face. "Are you avoiding Toby for some reason?"

Walter frowned as he looked over for a second. "Of course not Ralph, they just wanted some time to themselves. And your Mom has both of us in the meantime."

Ralph continued to stare at his Dad for several minutes before he finally sighed and looked ahead.

As Walter parked the car in front of the Garage Ralph quickly darted from the car and ran into the Garage. He pointedly ignored Sylvester and Cabe as they called out to him and ran up the stairs as quick as he could. He came to an abrupt stop seeing his Mom lying on the couch. "Mom?"

Paige didn't answer and didn't move and Ralph frowned before he moved closer. A book lay on top of the blanket over her lap where it fell when she dozed off. His hand reached out and he gently pushed against her shoulder. "Mom, are you okay?"

Disorientated at first, Paige looked over and gave him a weak smile as she stretched as she snuggled into the blanket as she continued to lounge under it. As she tried to organize her thoughts she moved her book over and held a hand out. "Dad said that Dr. Rizzuto might have made things worse. Are you okay?"

Ralph took her hand and she gestured next to her hip. He turned and sat down looking back up towards her.

"He didn't make it worse but he didn't help it any either baby." Paige told him before she glanced at her phone which still hadn't received any text or call.

Ralph frowned. "You've been paying 37% more attention to your phone since I got home Sunday. This doesn't have anything to do with grandma does it?"

Paige shook her head. "I keep hoping to hear from, a friend is all."

"Not that I am complaining that you are out here but what made you decide to sit out here?" Ralph asked as his eyes bore into her facial features.

Paige gave him another weak smile. "Your Dad thought it would be a good thing for me to try and sit out here. A change of scenery I guess."

Ralph nodded. "I take it you still aren't interested in discussing what is going on?"

Paige almost laughed but nodded. "I'm sorry baby."

Ralph nodded. "Well I've got a little homework left to finish and I got to write my paper for Caltech."

Paige nodded. "Oh, your Dad will probably be gone tomorrow afternoon installing that software patch. So Cabe will pick you up if that is the case. I'll make sure Walter gives you money so when you and Cabe are on your way home you can stop and get the two of us some dinner okay?"

Ralph frowned but nodded. "I know you aren't feeling like yourself but I really hope you start to feel better. I miss your cooking."

Paige smiled even as tears welled up in her eyes. "I know baby. I miss cooking for my two men too. Hopefully it won't be too much longer."

Ralph nodded and kissed her cheek before he went to his bedroom. Paige sighed as she looked at her phone again. She pulled her book up and started reading and less than five minutes later she fell asleep again.


Ralph finished his homework within a few minutes and went out to get a glass of juice before he started on his paper. He frowned seeing his Mom asleep again. He looked down at the Garage floor and saw his Dad working hard on some coding. Sylvester was working at the white board on some algorithm. Cabe was sitting at his desk sipping on some coffee. Ralph grabbed a bottle of juice and walked back to his bedroom. He picked up his phone and sent Cabe a message. "Grandpa will you come upstairs to my room please? Quietly, Mom is asleep on the couch."

Cabe was shocked when his phone vibrated and he pulled it out and saw the message and frowned as he looked up at the loft. He got up from his desk. He walked over to the stairs and walked up. He saw Paige was sound asleep and he walked on back down the hallway and knocked on Ralph's door. "Come in."

Cabe pushed in the door and smiled at Ralph. "What's up kid?" He asked as he closed his door.

Ralph turned to face him. "Do you know what is going on with Mom? Neither Mom or Dad will talk to me about it and it isn't like her and I am really beginning to worry."

Cabe shook his head as he stepped over and sat down on the side of his bed. "I'm sorry kid. They've both been closed mouth about it. Other than Walter hasn't done anything wrong."

Ralph nodded. "That's all they tell me. I just find it funny that it coincides with Happy and Toby taking a week off from Scorpion. The only times Mom has been this way is when a relationship she was in broke up badly. The first one I remember after Drew was Aunt Susan. Then she didn't see anyone for about a year. And then she dated some snobbish woman named Claire for a few weeks before Mom dumped her. Then there was Todd for a few months and he was quickly followed by Danielle for almost a year. Each time they ended badly Mom was torn up like this."

Cabe coughed as he was extremely uncomfortable. "I'm not sure your Mom would be happy with you discussing her relationships with me son."

Ralph shrugged. "But they aren't giving me any information Grandpa. And it is frustrating. They both insist that Dad hasn't done anything wrong. And they both act very much like they are madly in love with each other. So why would she be acting this way? It is exactly like how she acts when a relationship has ended, and not in a good way."

Cabe nodded. "I get that son, I do. Maybe if Toby and Happy had been here over the weekend instead of at that medical conference we could talk to them. But I don't see how they would even know about what is going on."

Ralph sighed and nodded. "I just hate this Grandpa."

Cabe smiled and after he stood he stepped over and gave him a brief hug. "Did your Mom tell you I'll probably be picking you up tomorrow evening?"

Ralph nodded. "She said she'd make sure Dad gave me money so we could pick up dinner for her and me."

Cabe nodded. "Good deal. I better get back downstairs before Walter notices me missing."

Ralph smiled. "Thanks for coming up Grandpa."


Cabe patted his shoulder and left. Paige was still zonked out on the couch and he quietly went back down the stairs and stepped over to Walter's desk and sat down.

Walter looked up and smiled briefly before he began working on the code again.

"Son, I don't want to interrupt your process here. And I don't want to stick my nose where it doesn't belong. But you and Paige need to seriously consider sitting Ralph down and telling him what is going on. He's really worried and he's struggling to make sense out of what he sees from his Mother." Cabe told him quietly.

Walter looked up and frowned. "She's just having a rough time right now Cabe. He just needs to trust us that we are doing what we can for her to move through this."

Cabe shook his head. "But see son, Ralph might be a genius and he might not be on the same level emotionally as normals yet but he's still a kid and what he sees going on with his Mother is troubling. Especially when everything he knows about it relates to her having a relationship blow up on her. He won't say it but he's scared that the two of you have actually split again."

Walter frowned. "He told you that?"

Cabe shook his head. "Not in those words but he quickly pointed out all the times he's noticed his Mother going through this and each time was after she broke up with someone she was involved with. So you can see why he is worried about the two of you."

Walter sighed as his hand came up and ran down his face. He slowly nodded. "I better go up there and talk to him a little."

Cabe smiled. "Good man. Have a good night. Sly grab your things and I'll take you home."

Sylvester jumped up and gathered up a few things and moved quickly after saying good night to Walter.

Walter looked up at the loft and finally he saved his work and switched the phones to the answering machine and took his laptop up to the loft. He smiled seeing Paige sleeping on the couch. He sat his laptop on the dining table and walked over and kissed her gently. He walked down the hall and knocked on Ralph's door.

"It's open." Ralph responded.

Walter opened the door. "Hey buddy. Cabe told me you are more worried about your Mom then I thought so I thought we might talk for a moment."

Ralph nodded as he turned and gave his Dad his complete attention.

"I can understand why you are worried about your Mom and me. Given your observations of your Mom's behavior and when she is like this it came after a bad break up. So you are naturally worried that something happened between us and we're not telling you the truth." Walter told him after he squatted down next to him.

Ralph nodded. "I don't want to be part of a broken home again Dad. I need you both to be okay. This isn't the only reason but it is significant Dad. If Mom can't make it work with you then what chance do I have to make a relationship work?"

Walter nodded as he put his hand on Ralph's knee. "Ralph, I made your Mom and you a promise. One I am never going to break and that is I'm never going to lie to either of you about anything. Also you are so very different than I was at your age. You are already so far past me emotionally now. I have no doubt you will integrate a lot better in the emotional world and when the time comes, you are going to be a spectacular husband and Father. And if I had messed up I promise you I would tell you to ease your concerns. But as surely as I am your Father I didn't do anything to upset your Mom. Your Mom and I love each other and are completely committed to our family. We're still planning to get married when your grandparents come back over closer to when your sibling will be born."

Ralph looked at him for a moment and nodded. "Thanks Dad, that really helps a lot. I still don't understand of course but I feel better."


Walter smiled as he mussed his hair. "How about I try to follow your Mom's recipe for spaghetti? I think I'm tired of take out."

Ralph grinned and nodded. He followed his Dad out to the kitchen and sat talking quietly with him as he moved around the kitchen preparing everything according to the exact recipe instructions. Ralph took the time to set the table for them to eat at. Unfortunately Paige never writes down her precise recipe. She liked to keep a few things off so no one could make it exactly like she did.

As Walter announced it was ready Ralph walked over and woke his Mom. Paige smiled at him after she'd realized where she was. Ralph helped her to stand and they walked over and sat at the dining table and Walter brought out the tossed salad and then the spaghetti sauce and finally the noodles and garlic bread.

Ralph grinned as he bit into the first forkful and then frowned and barely stopped from spitting it back out.

Paige grinned but quickly tucked her lips between her teeth to try and cover it.

Walter took a big mouthful himself and he choked back and quickly chewed and swallowed it. "I don't understand it. I followed your recipe exactly."

Walter looked over at Paige and she began laughing before she explained that the amounts on the card were slightly off and why.

Ralph joined in her laughter until Walter looked at him. "I wouldn't laugh too hard there buddy. Unless you want to go to bed hungry, you are still going to have to eat that."

Ralph laughed even harder as he nodded and twirled his fork around and pulled it up. "That's okay, it isn't bad. I was just expecting to taste Mom's spaghetti. Not, whatever this is."

Paige laughed again as she reached over and squeezed Walter's hand. "I'm sorry my Love."

Walter shook his head. "No, it is worth it to hear you laugh my Love. It has been a few days."

Paige nodded. "I know guys and I am sorry about that."

Walter squeezed her hand back. "We can give you the time you need, right buddy?"

Ralph nodded.

"We even had a little more of a discussion about it earlier too. I think I finally convinced him that you and I are solid together in our relationship. He was really worrying that we were just saying things were good between us and that we were just going through the motions of being a couple still. I told him that we are still getting married when Mother and Father come back over before this one is born." Walter told her as he reached across and pressed his hand into her stomach.

Paige smiled and looked at Ralph. "Do you believe us now Ralph?"

Ralph nodded. "I'm sorry Mom. It's just that every time you have been like this, it has been after you've broken up with someone, first Drew, Aunt Susan, though not that Claire woman then Todd and finally Danielle before we met Dad. And that is just naming the more significant ones."

"Yea, speaking about that Ralph, I don't think your Mom will appreciate you telling Cabe about all of her past relationships." Walter told him seriously.

Paige's eyes went wide. "You what?"


Greetings! Hope everyone is doing well!

Railman - Lots going on that is for sure, we'll see how it continues!

Margaret - Oh he was fazed by it, but of course that was covered more in the other story. But things will change for him fairly soon.

Susan - Poor Paige, things have a way of changing when we least expect them! I'm not sure if she's feeling martyred for sure, she definitely thinks Toby played a bad joke on her. But after what she and Happy did I couldn't blame him if he had. So far Toby's been a complete surprise for me. So far in chapter 22 he's acting as I expected though.

Franxine - Yeah I thought that was pretty bad of Toby myself.

To the Adventure! -Tim