"It's so nice to have everyone back." Pete said, nearly stealing the entire batch of Mashed Potatoes as they all sat around the table.
Claudia smiled "Yeah, it is." She said, looking at Steve with an impressed look.
Harper was trying to steal the Mashed Potatoes from Pete with her new teddy bear under her arm "Share, Uncle Pete!" she said, reached out for the bowl.
Claudia and Steve watched Harper interact with Pete before they turned to each other "The teddy bear, nice touch." Claudia, taking a bite of her dinner.
Steve smiled "Well, I had to bring her back something." He insisted.
Myka shook her head from across the room "You have enough, Pete. Give her the Mashed Potatoes." She said.
"Did you really?" Claudia asked Steve.
Steve shrugged "The look she gave me when I left, did I really have a choice?"
Claudia chuckled "Well, you could have just come back and she would have been satisfied."
"Well, I'm glad she likes it." Steve said, taking a bite of his dinner.
Artie huffed "Enough with the mashed potatoes!" he yelled, taking the bowl of Mashed Potatoes from Pete and walked into the kitchen to put the bowl away.
Both Pete and Harper 'awwed' before Claudia sighed "Harper, eat your dinner." She said.
"But I didn't get any Mashed Potatoes." Harper mumbled.
The room immediately stared at Pete and his mountain of Mashed Potatoes, he sighed, scrapping off half of his mountain and giving it to Harper, who smiled brightly.
"What do you say?" Steve asked.
"Thank you." Harper said, before taking a bite of her mashed potatoes.
The only sound in the kitchen for a moment was the sound of forks scrapping up against plates when Steve turned to Claudia "So are we taking Harp with us to the Warehouse tomorrow?" he asked.
Artie turned to the both of them "You guys haven't found a babysitter yet?" he asked in a surprised tone.
"Haven't had the time, Artie." Claudia responded.
Claudia thought for a moment "Well, I guess it'd be easier to keep an eye on her with all of us there versus just me…and the dog." She said before taking another bite of dinner.
Steve nodded "I'm sure it would be."
Claudia smiled "Well, I guess we'll find out tomorrow then."
"No!"
"Yes!" Claudia remarked, doing a happy dance around Steve who was trying to hold back from punching Claudia.
Artie sighed "Oh, Claudia, please!" he said, watching Claudia continue to dance around Steve.
He finally pulled Claudia away from her dance "Lets go!" he said.
"You're seriously leaving me alone with her?" Steve asked, now beginning to panic.
Claudia smiled "It was bound to happen, Jinksy. Don't worry, if I can do it you surely can!" she said before leaving the office.
Harper ran to the door and attempted to open it, when the door opened from the other side and Claudia popped into and kneeled down to Harpers' height.
Claudia gave her daughter a hug and a kiss before pulling away "Now, what did I tell you?" she asked.
"You'll come back, no matter what!" Harper said.
Claudia nodded "Yes." She said, giving her daughter another hug "Now be good for your dad." She said before leaving the office, shutting the door behind her.
It was officially just her and Steve in the office as Myka and Pete had left earlier for a ping; Harper sighed, turning to Steve who awkwardly smiled at her.
The three-year old walked into the back bedroom with her new teddy bear and Trai following behind her; Steve sighed heavily as he followed her too.
Harper sat on the floor by the bed, quietly playing with her teddy bear while Trai laid next to her as if he was her personal guardian.
Steve sat next to Harper as she continued to play with her new toy, they sat there in silence as Steve watched her play; he felt uncomfortable and awkward as he sat next to Harper, he never had a moment alone with her.
But while he was thinking to himself, Harper put her hand on his knee forcing Steve to turn to her "You don't have to sit here if you don't want to." She said gently.
Steve smiled nervously "I want to."
Harper looked up at him, giving him a look that was familiar; only he was usually getting the look for someone else.
Steve sighed "Right." He said, gently getting up and walking back out into the office.
Steve was rearranging the office, reassured that Harper was still in the office as he heard her giggles from the bedroom.
Claudia and Artie had left the office a mess, stressing Steve out as he put everything in a place; he knew his counterparts would come back and ruin his system, but he wanted something to ease himself of clutter.
He was almost finished when he saw something from the corner of his eye, he turned to see Harper holding into Trais' collar as she walked with Trai in one hand and her teddy bear in the other.
"What are you doing?" Steve asked gently.
Harper ignored him as she walked with Trai and her teddy bear out of the office and into the balcony.
"Harper, what are you doing?" Steve asked again.
Harper still didn't answer when Steve walked out into the balcony to see Harper attempting to climb down the stairs into the warehouse.
"Harper Lillian!" Steve said, raising his voice as he walked towards his daughter and picked her up "What are you doing? You answer me when I call you!" he said, walking her back to the office.
Harper huffed "I wanted to go on an adventure!" she told him.
"Well, not down there! You are not allowed down there unless you are with an adult, okay?" he asked, putting her down in the office, he closed the door behind him.
Harper balled up her fists "I WANNA GO!" she yelled.
Steve put his hands on his hips "No!" he said sternly.
Harper threw her teddy bear at Steve, taking him by surprised as he also balled his hands into fists "That's it! Time out!" he said, pointing Harper to a corner.
"You can't make me!" Harper responded.
Steve looked down at Harper, he had never hit anybody before and he didn't want to start now; he grabbed Harper by her arm and pulled her into the bedroom when he looked up to see a surprising figure.
"Mrs. Frederic." Steve said.
The older woman smiled at Steve, then looking down at Harper with a grimace, nearly scaring the girl straight.
Steve began fumbling with his words as he let go of Harper "What brings you to the Warehouse today?" he said.
"Figured you could use some help with this one." She said, looking down at Harper who slowly made her way behind Steve, hiding from Mrs. Frederic.
Steve smiled "Oh, um, I'm fine…really!" he said.
Mrs. Frederic finally looked up at Steve "Really?" she asked, staring him down for a moment.
"Come along." Mrs. Frederic told Harper.
Harper looked up at Steve "I can't save you from this, go." He said, pushing her towards Mrs. Frederic.
Mrs. Frederic held Harpers' hand as they walked into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.