House Hunting and Job Interviews

"I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.

I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take 'till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you.

I said I love you, and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are."
-Billy Joel

A month later

Kitty sat looking through a bunch of listings on line when Pete came in. "Whatcha doin', luv?"

"Looking at houses, and apartments," Kitty said. "I've been doing some thinking."

"Sounds dangerous," Pete smiled.

"Oh bite me," Kitty said. Pete leaned down and nipped at her shoulder.

"What are you thinking?"

"About maybe leaving the super hero life and settling down."

Pete's eyebrows rose at that. "Really?"

"I just don't know what else I'd be good for, not to mention how we'd arrange for child care and… I've never had to think about any of this!"

"Calm down, Kitty," Pete said. "We haven't talked about this aspect of things, have we? What do you want to do? Do you want to move out on our own? Do you want to stay here?"

"What do you want?"

"To be with you," Pete shrugged. "That's all I need."

"Pete, this is important," Kitty said crossing her arms.

"I know that, luv," Pete said. "Okay, listen, I've been thinkin' about this for a while if I'm gonna be honest, ever since you told me that you're pregnant. I've been contacted by WHO."

"Who?" Kitty asked.

Pete smiled. "The Weird Happenings Organization. It's a government agency."

"But you just got out of a government agency."

"This one's good I've have my friends in Intel check it out. They're willing to give us both jobs, jobs that will pay well and keep us on the sidelines as much as we want."

"As much as we want?" Kitty asked arching an eyebrow.

"Are ya tellin' me you'll never want to be out on the front-lines again? Because I find that very hard t' believe."

"Good point," Kitty allowed.

"Thank you. So, should I call them?"

"What exactly would we be doing?"

"I know what they want you to do," Pete smiled. "You're a brilliant hacker, my Goddess of Computin'."

"And you?"

"Well, that's somethin' to find out, ain't it?"

"I guess. So, which do you like?" she asked turning back to the computer screen.

Pete grinned, seeing that all of the apartments were close to his city of London. "Why don't we go look tomorrow?"

"I like that idea."

Pete gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Now, I came to find you because it's well after bedtime and I was gettin' all lonely up there by meself."

"I guess it is a little late," Kitty commented turning the computer off.

"Damn straight." The couple headed back up to their room.

The following morning

"How do you feel, luv?" Pete asked as Kitty walked with him outside.

"Fine," Kitty smiled. "I truly love those red pills." Pete laughed. Amanda walked up to the couple.

"This is safe, right?" Pete asked her for the fiftieth time.

"Yes," Amanda said exasperated. "Moira approved it, it's the safest way for Kitty to travel."

"Good," Pete nodded.

Amanda took both his hand and one of Kitty's. "Close your eyes, this is a bit disconcerting." The couple obeyed and Amanda teleported them to London.

"A bit?" Pete asked swaying on his feet for a moment. "That was worse than Kitty phasin' me."

"Thank you," Kitty told Amanda.

"No problem," Amanda smiled. "I'll meet you two back here at seven?"

"Sounds good," Kitty smiled. "We'll see you then." Amanda teleported away.

"That was unpleasant," Pete commented leading Kitty out of the alley and flagging down a cab.

"Oh, it wasn't that bad," Kitty shrugged, getting into the cab.

"You only say that because what you do is ten times worse," Pete told her. Kitty rolled her eyes.

"Where to?" the cabbie asked. Pete gave him the first address.

Around three

"So, you liked the one in Dartford?" Pete asked as the couple walked into WHO headquarters.

"I loved it," Kitty gushed. "It had such a beautiful backyard. We could totally put in a swing set for the twins and-" She stopped, seeing Pete's fond smile. "What?"

"Nothin'," he smiled. "Just thinking."

"Well, stop it," Kitty said grinning back at him.

Pete walked up to the front desk. "Pete Wisdom and Katherine Pryde here to see Dr. Alistaire Stuart."

"Top floor," the receptionist told them. "He's expecting you." She pointed out the elevator.

"Thank you," Kitty told the woman. The two got onto the elevator and rode it to the top. A handsome middle-aged man stood as they entered his office.

"Good afternoon," he said shaking their hands. "Please, take a seat." After everyone had sat he continued. "This is just a formality, your experience speaks for itself; you already have the jobs."

"What jobs are those?" Kitty asked.

"We would like you to work in our technology division, Miss Pryde" he told Kitty. "Hacking, creating programs, it's a pretty big area. Once you get into the swing of things we'll find your specialty. Mr. Wisdom, we would like you to work in Intelligence."

"I'm out of the game, mate," Pete said calmly.

"You misunderstand," Alistaire said. "You won't be an agent. You have a lot of field experience, our agents don't. We would like your help fixing that."

Pete blinked. "You want me to train new agents?"

"Yes," Alistaire nodded. "Our former teacher is retiring, you certainly have the training yourself."

"I've never done that before," Pete told the man. "I'm no teacher."

"Nonsense," Alistaire said. "Jardine mailed me your credentials." He passed an envelope to Pete who looked it over before realizing that none of it was fabricated. He was qualified to do was Alistaire was asking of him.

"Did Mr. Jardine happen to mention that I'm pregnant?" Kitty asked. "I'm due in four months."

"The job will be here waiting for you," Alistaire told her. "We recognize talent and are not inclined to let it go." He handed the couple a envelope stuffed with papers. "Here's all the information on our organization and our programs."

"Thank you," Kitty said.

"Unfortunately, I have a meeting in fifteen minutes but my extension is in there if you have any questions," Alistaire said. "I'm sure you'd like to read over the papers and talk about our offer."

"Thank you, Mr. Stuart," Kitty said standing to shake his hand again. Pete shook it next.

"Yes, thank you," he nodded.

"Call me when you make up your mind," he told them. "It was a pleasure to meet you."

"You too," Kitty said. Pete took her hand and led her out of the office. As they walked out of the building he lit a cigarette. Kitty watched him out of the corner of her eye. "Pete, I want to talk to you about something."

"What is it, luv?"

"I know you've been smoking outside and making sure to never smoke with me in the same room."

A knot formed in the bottom of his stomach. "Yes?"

"I appreciate that, I really do."

"But?"

"Pete, we're having kids," she told him stopping so she could look up at him. "I want you to be there with me for a very long time."

"And?" Pete asked taking a deep drag off of what he now knew would probably be his very last cigarette.

"I would never tell you what to do," she assured him.

"I know that, luv."

"I just want to ask you to, like, consider quitting smoking," Kitty said. "Just consider it. You don't have to and I'll love you no matter what. I just want to have a long healthy life with you." Pete sighed taking one last, glorious drag off of his Marlboro before putting it out and throwing it, and the rest of his pack in the trash.

"Anything for you, luv," he said forcing a smile.

She threw her arms around him. "Thank you, Pete."