A.N; i know, I'm sorry Coconutgrowl. I considered Electric Boogaloo, but... *giggles* i just couldn't... haha. Maybe a chapter title for later, but... jesus, you made me so happy when you suggested that. haha. Okay, here is the next chapter. Thanks for the kind reviews, you guys rock! Hope this next chapter doesn't disappoint. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Bla bla. We all knows who owns what.

(Updated 03/1/11)

Chapter 2: Surprises

Teri swallowed absently, then made her move–thrusting herself off of the wall with her foot, she pivoted and headed back down the alleyway.
Surely her mind was only playing tricks on her, and she wasn't about to let it get the best of her. She would go home, and get some rest before tomorrows' work meetings. Yes. It was probably just the lack of sleep fueling her delusions.

But before she had made two steps into the darkness, and before she could realize what was happening; something heavy–like a boot–struck her in her the back.

Her knees buckled and she fell to the ground, the breath of air in her lungs rudely dispelled. As she lay face down on the hard cement, the fedora slipped from her head and rolled, coming to a rest beside a green dumpster.
Teri barely had time to figure out what was happening before strong hands gripped her shoulders, whipping her on her back as the man used little strength to crawl atop her–straddling her.
Teri tried to struggle free, her mind reeling as she tried to discern who her attacker was–surely it was not Walter. Though his face bore his features, and the look in his eyes was trademarked with Rorschach… she waited for the moment when her mind stopped their tricks and his face morphed into another's.
She tried to wriggle out from under him, her gloved hands frantically trying to push him off, her palms thrusting against his chest, feebly.

She felt fear. For the first time in her life, she actually feared dying. Perhaps it was the look in his eyes, perhaps it was the weight upon her stomach, or perhaps it was how pathetic her attempts towards him were.

His left fist connected with her jaw.

The impersonator beneath him hissed as Walter hooked him across the face. The hiss was oddly feminine.
Taken-aback, Walter reached for the base of the mask, tearing it upwards and over the perpetrator's face.

"Jesus, stop it. It's me!" Teri cried out as the mask was torn up from around her chin, the back of her head bouncing on the cement below her.

When Teri's face was exposed, Rorschach froze, his breath catching his throat: It couldn't have been her. It wasn't possible.

Teri coughed, squinting up at him through the darkness, her head spinning. "Please, stop." She whispered, feeling like her face had been hit with a canon. Teri winced as she prepared for the next strike. She couldn't be sure if it was truly him, so she primed for the moment when he would clout her again.

Walter scrambled off of her and onto his feet. "No," He growled cynically–shaking his head–Rorschach's mask still in his clinched fist. "Impossible."

With a great effort, Teri propped herself up onto her elbows. His voice; surely her mind couldn't fake his voice. "Walter?" So many emotions surfaced, and all at once she wanted to cry, laugh, and throw something at him. Teri blinked up at him, ignoring the physical pain as she tried to suppress her mental anguish.

Walter felt all of the walls that had been placed around himself after Teri's death, come crumbling down; the sound of her voice, his prompt. "Supposed to have died…" He rasped quietly, dragging his eyes up and down Teri's form. She had landed in a puddle when he'd knocked her down-the water now soaked the trench coat save for the front.

Teri-recovering from shock–shakily sat up. "Yeah, well, you didn't have Daniel personally deliver my stuff to you, did you?" She asked sarcastically and reaching up, Teri rubbing her cheek where he'd hit her. "Dan said that you died at Karnak." It can't be him… surely it cant…

Walter blinked at her. "Were pulling double shifts." He countered emotionlessly, pointing accusingly at her.

His answer shattered all doubt of his reappearance: No else had known of her status that day. Teri shook her head, "I had to run an errand." It was funny really, their banter.
Once upon a time, she had imagined what it would be like to reunite with him; she had hoped that he wouldn't talk to her, just merely take her in his arms. But Teri's hope sank as just he stood there, incredulously staring down at her.

They shared a moment of thoughtful silence before he surprised her.

Walter came forward suddenly, bending down and hauling Teri to her feet by her lapels.

His sudden heave to get her upright had scared Teri, but when he jerked her into his chest, wrapping his arms firmly around her, all was right in the world again.

Nervously laughing as Walter held her snugly to his body, Teri's eyes misted as she ran her hands–her fingers–over him. It was him. It was truly him. Teri even have to wrinkle her nose at the wet leaves smell he'd acquired from probably not doing his laundry.

But it wasn't just Walter that smelled the same, so did Teri–Walter recalled that faint detergent she always used–as he leaned back to take her within his eyes. Her hair was slightly longer, flailing about her face. It also felt–he thought as he held her–that she had gained a little weight: Healthy weight, of course, something that comes with being well-fed and taken care of.
A thought of her with another man crossed his mind, but he pushed that fleeting thought back as he traced his fingers over her cheek–where he had hit her. "Sorry." He muttered. He hadn't just meant when he'd struck her, but for everything she'd unmistakably had to go through with his absence.

Teri shook her head. "You didn't know." She barely got the words out before her hands snaked up to pull his face to hers. Her lips crashed against him, expressing just how much she had missed him–his company and his odd affection. It would have been within Teri's limits to press him against the brick siding of the nearest building, but Walter's anxiety about public displays-of-affection stopped her.

He pulled his lips away, yet allowed Teri to rest her forehead against his. He waited until she caught her breath, "Parading around in my image?" Walter questioned, after a wonderful silence. He couldn't stop his eyes from darting around them; though the alleyway was shrouded in the shadow of the moonless night, there was always the possibility of being within the sights of unwanted eyes.

Teri followed his gaze, taking a deep breath, "I didn't want to let go of you." She answered, truthfully. It wasn't just about the image she was portraying, but for her own painful denial of his demise.

Walter felt that drop in his stomach; that penetrating feeling that urged him to do things that made him feel uncomfortable. Neither him nor Rorschach could stop the words that came tumbling out of his mouth. "I love you." He blurted, clumsily.

Teri's head jerked back, her eyes opening wide. "What?" Those were the words she least expected to hear out of his mouth.

Walter blinked at her, unconsciously tightening his hold on her; he was a little afraid she'd run away. The look in her eyes immediately made him wish he'd never said it. Perhaps she had met another man. "H-h-had wanted to tell you that night," He stuttered, averting his eyes to the damp pavement. "But Daniel… I-er- you, well, didn't know–"

Teri placed a finger over his mouth, halting him. "Stop it." She commanded, studying his face. He had meant those words: Those three words that she'd waited so long for him to say. A relief passed briefly before his eyes, like a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders; he'd probably never said those words to anyone before. The corners of Teri's mouth twitched in a generous reply.

Walter frowned, moving his lips from under her gloved finger. "Better late than never." He grunted.

Teri smiled at him; he hadn't changed a bit. She may not have known how he survived, or why, but she didn't care at the moment. Teri had Walter back, and that was all that mattered. "I have something to show you." Teri whispered, "Will you come with me?"

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"Couldn't find your name in the phone book." Walter commented as they made their way up to the fifth floor of Teri's apartment building; It was nicer than the rundown shit hole that Shairp owned. The wooden floor boards creaked only slightly as they circled their way up past the other apartments.

Teri peered back at him, smoothing out the fedora in her hands. It had been lucky to have not fallen in a puddle, unlike the butt of her costume. "I had to change my name." She replied, "After the incident with Detective Fine, I didn't really have much of a choice." She shrugged, bringing a hand back to her wet behind: she was soaked through to her skin.

Walter furrowed his eyebrows as he climbed the steps, trying not to focus on the large dark oval of wet clothing that trailed from the middle of her back to her knees. "Don't understand."

Teri brought her hand back to slide along the handrail. Oh, that's right, I haven't told him that either. "Detective Fine came to arrest me the day of the attack–" She frowned, glancing back at him. He followed closely behind her on the circular stairs, every once and a while letting his gaze dart around him–taking in every detail of scenery. "–while I was out running errands."
Her foot nearly missed a stair, but it wasn't enough to cause a noticeable falter in her step. "He figured out that I had a hand in the Detroit incident," She spoke quietly, knowing her neighbors had unwelcome ears. "But, fortunately, he was on suspension, and declined to wait for the arrest warrant. So the judge threw out all allegations. Fortunately it was a very liberal judge." Teri chewed on her lip. "But, it still didn't stop a lot of the prejudice towards me though, especially with other police officers, so I changed my name to save myself and Ali–to save myself of the hassle." Teri caught herself, as she reached the top of the stairs. She didn't want to give anything away just yet.

Walter fell into step beside her as she removed her gloves, reaching into her pocket and retrieving a key. "Never said anything about that." He stated, pocketing his hands deep into his pockets. If he'd have known that the police were trailing her, he might have done something about it. Rorschach felt a little irritated she hadn't shared that piece of information with them.
He eyed their surroundings. The apartment building was rather modern looking, probably built post-incident; sparsely decorated with light brown wallpaper and a matching trim. Walter guessed that the apartments were most likely economy class.
There were four other apartments on Teri's floor, and Rorschach committed to memory the black numbers nailed to the doors. 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29: Teri was in number twenty-seven. Can't be too careful, Rorschach commented.

Teri flicked her eyes to Walter as her key slid into the lock with a distinctive click. She wondered what he thought about when his gaze wandered like that. "There was a lot I didn't tell you." Teri whispered mysteriously when Walter's eyes met hers. She pushed the door open with a wink to him. "I didn't want to distract you." Teri turned then, as she took a step inside, "Besides, you were in jail, what could you have done?" The question was rhetorical, but Teri still caught the brief flash of annoyance cross before Walter's eyes. Ushering Walter inside, Teri closed the door behind them. "Ash, dear," She called, raising her voice only slightly; Excitement bubbled in her features. "I'm back."

Ash: male name. Rorschach growled. A year is too long to expect her to wait for you. Walter frowned–self-conscious–averting his eyes from Teri, and shoved his hands further down into his pockets.

The fedora landed nearly gracefully on the standing coat rack beside the door, followed by the trench coat, before a brunette teenager sauntered into the room. This young adult was dressed fashionably in jeans and a plain tee. Her bare feet pattered on the thick carpeted floor as she came to meet the two in the narrow entry-way.

"Hey Mrs. K–" Ashley flicked her eyes to the man that Teri had brought home before her gaze fell back onto the wet coat that Teri was placing on the coat rack, then shot to the purple bruise that had started to form on Teri's cheek, below her eye. Ashley gasped, placing a hand over her mouth. "What happened?" She nearly squeaked.

Teri started at the teens' worried exclamation, and confused, she glanced to Walter. What?

Walter–shuffling his feet–merely brought his fingers up to his cheek, and mockingly brushed where her bruise was starting to form. He frowned inwardly, feeling rather guilty for laying it on her. Walter hoped that he hadn't broken anything. Teri was fragile, as it were.

"Oh." Teri took in a deep breath, brushing her hands down her torso as she peered back to her babysitter. "Mugger." She lied, straightening her shirt. "I was mugged on my way back."

"Omigod, did he take anything?" Ashley stepped forward, holding out a hand in concern.

Teri shook her head. "No," She tried to change the subject, wondering about the bruise on her face. What would her co-workers say? "Uh, Ash, this is Mr. Kovacs." She gestured to Walter with a smile. "Walter, this is Ashley."

Rorschach pondered her statement, then froze. Surely Teri has not started batting for the other end of the playing field… Walter gazed shockingly back at Teri. No, surely not…

"Er, Mr. Kovacs?" Ashley inquired, furrowing her brow at Teri. "But I thought you said that-"

Teri cleared her throat. "Apparently I was wrong." She interrupted.

Ashley chewed on her lip as she looked between the two; the bashful man that stood nearly in the corner, and the eccentric woman she'd come to think of as family. Teri gave her a look, and Ashley knew exactly what it meant.

Ashley wasn't one to judge, and whether this was the man that Teri had been on about for months, or not, it didn't matter. He fit the description that Teri had given her, but still… Ashley knew that Teri was a good woman; and she wouldn't just take a man home if he didn't matter something big to her.
Ashley rolled her eyes, remembering that they'd probably wanted to be alone together. "Alright–well–its late, I better get going."

Teri jumped, heading for her wallet that was in her jacket pocket. Her jacket was hanging on the stand beside the door. "Oh, Ash, love, let me get your pay before you head out."

Ashley held up a hand, shaking her head. "You paid me before you left." She told Teri, slipping on the flip-flops that were previously deposited at the door when Ashley had arrived.

Walter looked between the two. Payment? Just what the hell was going on?

There was a pause as Teri stopped and blinked at her. "No." She stated, "I didn't." Teri placed a hand on her head, "I didn't think I did, anyway." She tried to think back…

Ashley shrugged, taking a few steps around the couple, closer to the door. "You must've gotten hit pretty hard, Ms. K." She cooed, innocently. She would have accepted payment like any other night, but as Teri had been mugged, and met the man she thought was dead, Ashley figured that Teri probably needed a little break.
Ashley glanced knowingly at Walter. "Take care of her, eh?" She smiled. He looked safe enough, perhaps a little off, but safe nonetheless. "It was nice meeting you." She whispered after a moment before easing out the door leaving Teri standing by the coat rack, still staring into space.

"'Night," Teri called after her. She swore she hadn't paid that girl.

"Who was she?" Walter asked quietly, fearing Teri's answer.

Teri shook off the proceeding thoughts of Ashley possibly lying to her, and remembered Alice. Ashley hadn't said a word about her, thus the baby must have been relatively good. Most likely, Alice had slept through Teri's absence.
Teri took in a deep breath, her stomach knotting. "Let me show you." Teri reached out, taking his hand in hers before leading him back through the small apartment.

Her style of decoration hadn't changed much–few things hung on the walls, or graced corners of the apartment. But at least Teri had kept things relatively clean. Walter kind of liked that about her-she was tidy and not terribly materialistic.

Teri led him around a corner and through a closed door. It was dim in this particular room, compared to the rest of the brightly lit house, and Walter had to open and close his eyes for a moment to adjust to the sudden darkness.

Walter took pleasure in the soft skin of Teri's hand as he glanced around, taking in the purple shaded walls. He found it odd that this was apparently the only room in the apartment that looked brightly painted.
There were objects in the room that were foreign to him, the only things he was able identify were a small dresser, a rocking chair and a wooden crib. His stomach dropped as Teri pulled him to the edge of the crib.
Inside, under a light-pink blanket was a sleeping infant. It had a head of hair, of which was a light red–gold almost. Walter swallowed, having the urge to reached over the top of the crib to run his fingers over it's gentle, soft cheek. The child was beautiful–with it's round face, button nose and large eyes–and quite visibly Teri's. He tore his questioning gaze from the baby to Teri's smiling face.

"Her name is Alice." Teri whispered, trying to discern what Walter was thinking.

Walter sighed, his eyes going back to the angelic face. "She's… stunning." His upper lip quivered, just slightly. Told you. Rorschach whispered. She's started a family. Girl called her Mrs… Teri married, had a child. Walter swallowed back the coughs that came to his throat: Once again he was too late.

"She's yours."

Walters head jerked to her. What? "What?"

Chewing nervously on her lip, Teri carefully considered her words. This was where she didn't know what he might say: Uncharted territory, you might call it.
She allowed herself a deep breath before trying to explain. "I was a few weeks pregnant before you left for Karnak." She whispered almost too hurriedly. Teri tried not to avert her eyes from his; but they were bearing into her.

A figurative brick had hit him over the head as he stared at Teri. His mind reeled with questions and theories and suspicions. "Why didn't you tell me?" He seemed to recall this being the second time he asked something similar to that, tonight. Though one thing he was absolutely sure of–Teri was not lying to him now.

Nearly starting when Walter squeezed her hand, Teri realized she had forgotten that their fingers were still intertwined. "I wasn't sure what you'd say." She told him truthfully. There were things that you just don't share with a wanted vigilante until you were sure how they'd react.

She was right; Walter didn't even know what he'd have said to her. Rorschach probably would have walked right out of the room. Walter took a moment before he answered, gathering his thoughts. "Like kids." He whispered finally–sincerely.

Teri reached up with her free hand to cup his cheek. Were his eyes watering? She knew hers were, and as her tears blurred her vision, she found it hard to distinguish which expressions he was conveying. "I'm sorry…" She hated herself for the emotions that surfaced. She should have told him, that much she knew.

Walter glanced to his sleeping daughter. I have a daughter. I have a baby girl. I have a child. A large knot formed in his throat.
If only he had known, he could have gotten here sooner. He could have been with Teri through the birth, he could have been there to hold her hand through the pain. He would have been there to see how brave she was. "Should have been here." Walter murmured, his gaze still captured by the child.

Teri took a hesitant step forward, pressing a gentle kiss on his stubbly cheek. "You're here now, that's all that matters."