A year later, she birthed him a strong, healthy son. He couldn't have been happier. Her original guest bedroom was quick to become a nursery during the development. It was right next to their bedroom, too. He had gotten with Count DeMorgan and was able to locate the missing heirloom piece. It was a wonder that they didn't clean out from under various couch cushions more often. He was given some time alone with his wife and developing son after that. But, soon after his son's birth, just a week later, he was called back into the fold for a meeting. The moment it was done, he had rushed home.

He walked into the nursery where she was found nursing their newborn in a rocking chair. He smiled at the gentle scene and sighed. She looked up and smiled at him.

"How was the meeting?" she asked.

"Not too bad," he smiled. Walking over now, he pressed a kiss to her mouth and another was gently pressed to his son's forehead. "How's our little Samuel?"

"He was a touch fussy earlier. As you can see, it was from hunger," she chuckled.

"As I can tell," he nodded. He pulled up a chair to sit next to her. "I need to tell you this."

"Oh?" she asked.

"You remember Stanley's body? From that day?" he asked carefully.

"I remember how it was found from what I was told," she frowned.

"Well, they did bury him a week later. After evidence processing, of course. They never told me this until today, since, well, they were baffled," he sighed. "They noticed his grave was sunken in the next day. On unearthing it, they discovered that the coffin was gone."

"And they waited until now to tell you?" she asked with dismay.

"They did. They wanted to wait until my mind was settled out from being with you," he shrugged. That had her shaking her head. "The gravestone was missing, too. The grave keeper saw nothing out of the ordinary, either. He just noticed that the dirt suddenly looked sunken in. So, he waited until morning to contact authorities. They had to keep quiet."

"When did the gravestone go missing?"

"Now...I didn't ask that," he pondered. "My first concern was to see you."

"Of course, Auguste," she smiled.

"I'll ask that question the next time I talk to them. Right now, I'm just happy that you're here and safely away from all of that," he muttered.

"I know," she chuckled. When Samuel got fussy, she crooned. "Okay! You're done. I get it. Hush, sweetheart. Hush now!"

He laughed softly and took up his son to let her fix her nursing gown back up. His son had inherited his blue eyes and his mother's dark brown hair. He even got Dupin's nose and mouth, too. At the sight of his father, Samuel gave a smile that babies always gave, and Dupin smiled back. He would always be the proud father. She moved to stand next to him, and he kissed her passionately. He knew she needed to walk a bit, and he escorted her to the small walk around the hallway. She couldn't stand for too long, since she was still healing after the birth.

They had hung up her black and white family portrait on one side of the stairway gallery. Another portrait of him and his new family was on the other side. More would definitely be added in. When she showed exhaustion from standing, he was quick to escort her to their bedroom to let her nestle against him. He placed their son between them to slowly show his own exhaustion from the recent feeding. They were able to kiss gently without disturbing him.

"I never thought I'd be in this predicament," he smiled.

"Me, neither," she beamed. "So, what are the plans now?"

"Well..." he thought, as he got comfortable. "fatherhood does seem to be a grand adventure. Think you're up to making me two more apprentices?"

"Well, that depends, Detective Dupin," she grinned with a mischievous wink. "Do you think you're up for it? Children can be little puzzles, too, you know. I can't solve those by myself."

"And that's why I'm here. To solve those little puzzles with you. And to always make new ones," he muttered and kissed her again.

~Fin~