Title: Ours

Author: A. Windsor

Fandom: Warehouse 13

Characters: Myka Bering, HG Wells, Pete Lattimer, Max Lattimer, with supporting roles from everyone else.

Pairings: Myka/HG, Claudia/Leena if you're inclined to see it.

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. My two years and a half of law school could allow me to legalese this a little more, but it also tells me it's pretty useless. So please don't sue; it's not mine, I'm just playing! And Max is mine, so please don't steal him!

Summary: Helena allows herself to want.

Author's Note: Thanks so much for your continued support!

Mid-May 2016

It's well into the upper 50s, flirting with 60 even, and so Pete's been using every opportunity to take Max outside. Cabin fever is much worse at three than it was at two. And maybe Daddy suffers from a little cabin fever, too.

This afternoon, it's a lesson in the building blocks of baseball: a little catch and a little tee-ball. (With an early August birthday, Max just makes the cut off for Univille's tee-ball league next spring, and Pete is pretty ecstatic about it, even if it is a year away.)

So far, Max has been dutifully throwing and catching with his tiny, tiny baseball mitt, but he keeps eying that bat like he really wants to take a few swings with it. (Hopefully at the tee.)

The sun isn't very bright or hot, but Max is decked out in a baseball cap for the occasion. He has a perfectly nice Indians hat in the house, but he's wearing his freaking Rockies cap today because it's his favorite. Because Aunt Mykes got it for me. Myka doesn't even care that much about baseball. (Pete's only mostly bitter.)

Max tosses the ball almost right to Pete, so he gives his son a cheer as he easily moves his own mitt over to catch the ball.

"Alright, dude! Can you catch it, too?"

Pete gives him a nice, soft underhand toss, but Max just doesn't quite have the motor skills or hand-eye coordination for catching, yet.

"Hey, almost!" Pete praises as Max stoops to pick up the ball, fumbling to get it into his mitt.

"There you two are."

Pete looks up to find Myka coming out of the back door. She and HG have been more attached at the hip than usual for the last few days, so it's almost strange to see her alone.

"Max, look who it is."

Myka is already halfway across the yard, scooping a giggling Max up, when he says it, and Max greets his aunt joyously.

"What are we doing?" Myka asks, Max hanging over her shoulder, fireman-style, and laughing brightly about it.

"Baseball," Pete smiles at the two of them. "That time of year."

"Oh yeah? Can I join?"

"Yeah!" Max says at the same time his father says: "Of course."

The trio plays a little more bumbling catch before turning their attention to the tee. Max has a grand old time swinging furiously at the tee (and knocking the whole thing over, the ball landing just a foot or so away.) Myka doesn't fare much better.

"I think you should stick to football. Or fencing," Pete teases after she's once again whacked the tee.

"Hey! It's a little bat and a tiny ball. It is not meant for adults."

"Uh huh. Aunt Mykes is better at football, huh?" Pete says conspiratorially to his son, who laughs.

Flinging the bat to the side, Myka grabs Max and starts a tickle assault.

"Hey, you're not supposed to laugh at that," she admonishes as she sits down on the back step, pulling Max onto her knee.

"There," Max says, taking off his tiny cap and dropping it onto her head.

"Thanks," Myka chuckles.

"It's a good look," Pete notes as he sits beside them.

"Thanks," Myka repeats, deadpan.

"Did you tell her about your day at school?" Pete asks Max.

"Trains!"

"Trains?" Myka asks excitedly. "Did you learn about trains?"

"Yeah. Engines and cabooses. They're fast."

Max is halfway through his lecture on trains when the back door peeks open.

"Aunt Leena!" Max cries, throwing himself from Myka's lap and bounding up the stairs. He squeezes Leena around the knees.

"Hey, you."

"We played baseball."

"Was it fun?"

"Aunt Leena, I'm hungry."

"Okay," Leena laughs, tipping his cap back. "How about a snack?"

"Please."

"You got it. Take off your shoes and meet me in the kitchen."

Max hurriedly does as he's told, hightailing it into the house.

"You two coming?" Leena asks.

"I could probably eat," Pete says, starting to stand.

"Pete, wait," Myka says, holding out a hand to stop him. She looks to Leena. "We'll be in in a while."

"Everything okay?" he asks when they're alone. In the shadow of the B&B, he pulls his sweatshirt tighter.

"Yeah," she smiles softly. "Everything's great."

He knows what's coming then. Somewhere deep in the pit of his stomach, he knows what she is going to say next.

"Oh," is all he manages, making sure to smile. This is good news, and he is happy about it.

"We talked about it. A lot. And we're going to try to have a baby," she tells him, and there's something tentative about it, but the joy in her smile is overwhelming.

"Mykes, that's great," Pete says genuinely. "Your kid is going to be awesome, and Max is gonna love the whole big brother-ish deal. I, of course, volunteer myself to teach them every annoying trick I know."

"Pete," Myka protests with a laugh, shoving his shoulder. "You better be careful. I know how to retaliate."

"Psh," Pete waves her away. "I'm gonna teach them all to Max anyway. So, who's gonna do it? You or her?"

Myka's brow knits, trying to decipher the question.

"Y'know, who's gonna do the incubating?"

Myka rolls her eyes and groans.

"Seriously, Pete."

"It's a valid question! Especially 'cause I'm your partner, and I'd need to know if-"

"Me. It's gonna be me. It makes the most sense."

"You are over one hundred years younger."

"Dr. Calder also said we couldn't be sure about the effects of the bronze."

Pete's grin fades, and he squeezes her upper arm reassuringly.

"Well, this way, we get a mini-Myka. Sounds perfect to me. You two are gonna be great at it, too."

"Yeah, I hope so."

"I know so," Pete reiterates. "Who else have you told?"

Myka gives him a withering glare.

"Just you. Of course, you'd know first."

"Okay, okay. Just checking! You told Dr. V already, though."

"That's different, and you know it."

Pete grins and slings an arm around her shoulders.

"Congrats, Mykes. I'm really happy for you."

"There's something else. Something no one else knows."

"Yeah?"

"I asked her to marry me."

The baby news he had been expecting any day now. He's grown accustomed to the idea, and his excitement earlier hadn't been forced or faked. Apart from his brief confession to Leena, he really is happy to welcome another baby into their midst. For some reason, though, a wedding hasn't even crossed his mind.

"She said yes," Myka says to his stunned silence.

"Wow."

"It's not going to be a big deal. Very small, very informal. But, we're getting married."

"Wow, Mykes... Wow. I, congratulations."

Myka ducks out from under his arm and gives him a measuring look.

"That's a lot of wows."

"It's surprising!" Pete defends.

"Why?"

"'Cause I figured a marriage proposal would be something you'd talk to me about."

"I am talking to you about it."

"I know! I guess I meant beforehand. You're my best friend."

"I know that. You're mine," Myka says defensively.

"Sorry," Pete deflates. "Sorry. I don't mean to be a jerk. It's just a lot of changes."

"Marrying HG isn't going to change anything, Pete."

"The baby, though," Pete laughs. "That's gonna change some things."

"Yeah, well, I expect you to change a lot of diapers, Uncle Pete."

Pete beams.

"Hey! I haven't been an uncle yet! Jeannie says I took all the pressure off."

"And you can be my best man," Myka says with a soft smile. "If you want."

Pete nods vigorously.

"I'm gonna be amazing at it. How do you feel about strippers?"

"Pete!"

"That's not a 'no'!"

Before she can fully voice her ire, the back door swings open and they have to duck.

"Tray's gotta pee!" Max announces from the doorway as Trailer bounds out of the B&B to enjoy the backyard.

"And poop," Max giggles as the dog goes about his business.

"Thanks for the breaking news, Maximus. Try not to decapitate Daddy next time though, huh?"

"Artie, do you have a minute?" Myka asks tentatively, when it looks like he might be arriving to a stopping point. Steve and Deandre are inventorying far into the Warehouse, Pete and Leena are home with Max, and she just ten minutes ago shooed Helena off to have this same conversation with Claudia down on the floor.

Helena's version is probably going to be way more fun, but there is always the possibility that if Helena told Artie, it would actually end in murder.

"Sure," Artie sighs, stripping off his glasses. "What is it, Myka?"

Myka stands up from the table and walks over to his desk, nervously clicking the pen in her hand.

"We're getting married."

Artie's only response is a raised eyebrow.

"You and Vanessa, of course, are invited, but it's going to be really small. Just a justice of the peace. We're still federal employees, you know, or at least I am. It would be good for pensions and stuff like that. Administratively."

Artie scratches his nose.

"Did you just recite for me the administrative reasons you're going to marry HG Wells?" he asks, bemused.

The slightest grin at the corners of his mouth emboldens her response.

"I didn't think it would come as a surprise if I told you that we were going spend the rest of our lives together."

"No," Artie chuckles, still eying her with interest. "No, it wouldn't."

"So those mostly are the reasons we're doing it. For the paper and-"

She can't look at him when she says it. She could not give a damn what her parents think, but if Artie's old disapproval rears its head again, things will suddenly get much more tense around here. All over again.

She takes a deep breath.

"And because we're going to have a baby. Not yet, but soon. Really soon."

Artie lets out a surprised "Oh!" and Myka finally ventures a look at his face. His grin has blossomed into a full, fond smile. Myka presses her advantage.

"We were hoping to get your support when we have to go before the Regents and figure out if we are going to be allowed to stay after we do. I know this is a lot, but-"

"Myka, you couldn't find someone more devoted to you. Less occasionally hell-bent on ending the world? Maybe. But she seems to have gotten that under control. You are... good for each other. At least that's what my modest experience tells me. Any child of yours will be very lucky."

Myka beams.

"Does that mean you'll have our backs with the Regents?"

"Well, I'm not very excited to have a newborn around again, but yes. Of course. I never thought I'd see the day the Warehouse doubled as a day care," he grumbles. "But yes. I'll support you - Oof."

Artie is not a hugger. Myka knows that. But right now, he's just going to have to suck it up.

Claudia actually bounces into his room, dragging Leena behind her.

"Can I help you?" Steve asks, raising an eyebrow.

"We're having a baby!" she exclaims, delighted.

There's an awkward beat while Steve and Leena exchange bewildered looks, and Claudia flushes, catching herself.

"I mean, Myka and HG are having a baby. And getting married," she finishes off with a squeal.

"Oh," Steve says as Leena smiles.

"Shouldn't you be letting them tell us this?" Leena asks, amused.

Claudia deflates a little.

"Yeah, I guess. It's just so exciting. I might've almost broken HG when she told me."

"How did you do that?" Steve asks her, shaking his head at her manic giddiness.

"Tackling, screeching, etcetera," Claudia dismisses.

"So, you're first in line for midnight feedings, right?" Steve teases her.

"Oh no. Aunt Claud is only good on a full night's sleep," she insists.

"Mhmm," Leena says knowingly.

"I hope it's a girl. No, a boy. No. I don't care, as long as I can corrupt them properly," Claudia grins sinisterly. "So! What's for dinner?"

"So for those of you that don't know," Myka announces later that night at dinner, "We're getting married, and we're going to try to have a baby. I wanted to tell you now because some of you have trouble keeping secrets."

She finishes it off, glaring knowingly at Pete and Claudia. The latter looks rather guilty, as does Max, seated between them, though probably for unrelated reasons.

The surprise around the table is mostly feigned, except for Deandre.

"I hate being the new guy! Why does no one tell me these things?" he cries. "But congratulations, y'all, for real."

"Yeah. Congrats," Steve smiles warmly, and Leena echoes him, squeezing Myka's shoulder.

"Seriously, Claud?" Myka says, exasperated. "You had like an hour."

"Hour and a half," Claudia eeps.

"In her defense," HG pipes up. "I did not specifically tell her not to tell anyone."

For Max, this is a heck of a lot of conversation not about him, so he stands on his booster seat and declares:

"Where's the ice cream?"

"Hey," Pete says. "Drama queen. Sit your butt down and try again."

With a huff, the almost four-year-old sits back down.

"May I have ice cream, please?"

"I must second Macsen," HG adds.

"Both of you need to finish your dinners, first," Myka shuts them down.

Artie sighs at the end of the table.

"The new baby is probably going to be the quietest of all of you."

tbc