Ro looked around, feeling confused. She was in a hall, bland and ordinary, the overly bright fluroescent lighting such places are fond of. Definitely public.

She was about to stand up when something grabbed her ankle, and she looked down before she tried to kick it away. It was a good thing, because looking up at her was possibly the smartest little kid under a year old.

"Hey, Zee, what are you doing under there?" she asked, bending to be at his level. "Get out from under there."

She extended her arms and scooped up the little devil, who started giggling and chanting her name. Struggling with the squirming mass, she sat back down with him on her lap, though she had to scold him when he tried pulling her hair.

Still curious about what was going on, because Ro felt she had solved this little guy's problem as much as she could, Ro amused both of them with making little noises and then realizing that under her seat was a spilled carry-all stuff with toys. And a book.

Zee greedily reached over it and Ro rolled her eyes as she kept it away from his drooling little mouth. "You are such a geek in whatever form, Zee. A book over the stuffed bunny. What am I going to do with you?"

"Eeeeahn!" he commanded imperiously, batting his hand on the book cover.

"What's the magic word?" she asked even as she opened the book, and then cleared her throat to read the old rhyme. Zee babbled with her, as if he was reading along as well, patted the pictures, and tried to turn the pages when they finished. (He might very well have been reading, because never never tried to turn until they finished.) Ro didn't let him, because he didn't know his own strength and would probably tear the pages. The book seemed old enough that it probably wasn't actually in its best interest to be subjected to this little terror.

They had just finished the last page – and Zee seemed ready for an encore – when someone said, "That was one of my favorite stories, when I was a child."

Her head snapped up, though Zee still remained fixated on the book, and she could only stare in surprise at the older gentleman.

"Do you mind if I sit?" he asked politely, and Ro shook her head and watched as this Eli Selig sat next to her. "So this is Zeta?

"Umm … yeah, well, I call him Zee. Say hi to D—" She stopped herself, because she wasn't supposed to know his name, Ro bet.

"Eli Selig. How do you so, Zeta."

Zee had raised his head when he heard his name and grinning at the new stranger, greeting him in his little baby language.

"So … what do you want?" Ro asked, somewhat suspicious.

Dr. Selig smiled at her like a kind old grandfather. "Well, with your permission, I'd like to take Zeta under my care. And you as well."

"What?"

He repeated himself and then asked if he could hold Zee, and Ro watched him bounce the little guy on his knee.

"But you're so old!" Once she realized what was out of her mouth, she gasped and tried to back-pedal. "What I mean is …"

Dr. Selig cut her off with a laugh. "I understand you perfectly, Rosalie, or do you prefer Ro?" She shrugged. "And I'm not so very old. And I would have you to assist me. Agent Bennett spoke very highly of your care for Zeta."

"He did?"

"Yes."

Ro frowned. "And you want me too? I'm not some super-smart kid like Zee."

The doctor looked at her and hid a smile. "I would hardly dare to break up a happy family."

She didn't bother to ask why Selig would want Zee, because she didn't think he was that much different between worlds, and Ro had always thought of him as a nice guy. "And you think you can tolerate me? I'm rude, a bad student, get into fights, and am a slob."

"And I am a quiet recluse. Perhaps we can improve each other." He looked at her. "What do you say, Rosalie?"

There was only one thing to say, because she wasn't going to leave Zee behind. "I guess we can go a trial run?"

Selig smiled and stood, managing to balance Zee against his hip. "Well, then I suppose we should be on our way."

"I guess so." Ro had to marvel at how this Zee had managed to accomplish what her Zee desperately wanted.

She picked up the tote and followed him. Out of one of the offices Bennett appeared. "I don't want to hear any more troubles from you, Ms. Rowan," he said solemnly.

Ro grinned up at him. "I think you need the excitement."

"Hardly."

"Admit it, you'll miss running after me."

And then he smiled that paternal gooshy smile. "That, Ms. Rowan, I shall not. Keep Zeta out of trouble."

"Totally impossible."