A/N: Merry Christmas Eve (But I'm Latina and for some reason, we celebrate on Christmas Eve) so as a gift – because let's face it everyone who is still reading and with me, y'all have the patience of a saint – Merry Christmas and I'll see y'all in the new year!

Enjoy!

Little Girl Lost

Previously on Little Girl Lost: With Veronica's death still looming over the team Tessa begins to cool her icy demeanor while Paige grapples with a choice that she alone must make that will impact everything and everyone.

Chapter 27: Paige Turner

Chapter Summary: The team decides to bury the hatchet and heal old wounds. Paige has a decision to make regarding Joshua's threat.

"I'm gonna kill Paige" Toby Curtis Season 2 episode 16 Fractured

"I'm worried about her," Walter said as he poured himself a cup of coffee and Cabe yawned, dark circles under his eyes.

"Me too kid….me too. Truth be told I'm worried about all of you. You all have, well, in most of our cases we've never lost…anyone…before." Cabe said lightly as Walter turned to him.

"We've never let anyone innocent die on our watch you mean," Walter said as he took another sip. "Although one could argue Veronica Dineen wasn't exactly innocent…she was their mother. She did care about them…about us. Paige is taking it hard, and I feel there's nothing I can do."

"There is something you can do son. You can be there for her. I know that since the incident things have been rocky but you both talked it out, right?" Cabe asked as Walter nodded.

"Yes! We went through each reason, had a very uncomfortable conversation but we analyzed and I took account in all my communication classes and –"

"Okay son so you and Paige patched things up?"

"Yes, uh, we're friends now…although not as close as we once were given, uh, the circumstances but hopefully with time I can be better prepared for a relationship with her since she has made her intentions known she wants to be with me. All of me, even with all my, um…"

"Quirks." Cabe supplied as Walter nodded awkwardly.

"Yes, quirks. She, uh, still loves me." Walter said quietly as Cabe blinked and a shadow of a smile crossed his lips.

"Yes, well, I've come to know Paige pretty well and suspected something was happening."

"Uh, yes well I know that I have made my intentions known with her as well," Walter muttered as he took another sip Cabe raised his eyebrow.

"That's great kid, I'm happy for you both, about time you both got over it but…why do you look so unhappy?" Cabe asked as Walter turned on his heel and grabbed his elbow, pulling them further in the garage as Cabe looked back. "Whoa, whoa slow down kid what's the hurry?"

"I told Paige no" Walter admitted as Cabe smoothed out his suit jacket and cocked his head.

"What do you mean you told her no? You've been depressed for weeks and have admitted to wanting her back….kid explain the logic to me. I thought you wanted her back?" Cabe asked confused as Walter groaned and kept looking back for listening ears.

"I told her no because I felt I wasn't done cooking yet." He admitted softly as Cabe resigned. "I told her that, although I wanted what we had…I wanted a relationship with her. We both admitted that we made mistakes and that my, um, beige lie wasn't, uh, well –" Walter sighed as Cabe nodded.

"It wasn't your best moment. In fact, one of your inane moments so far." Cabe said as Walter frowned.

"It's on my list of biggest regrets….for many reasons. However, the conversation where I rejected Paige is higher." Walter admitted as he paced and turned toward Cabe. "I need help. I'm not, I don't" Walter stopped as his heart kept pounding and his palms were sweating. He was nervous. A textbook case of nerves wreaking havoc on his psyche. This was going to be harder than he thought.

"Son," Cabe said as his grave voice broke him out of his reverie and he blinked, focusing on the man in front of him. "What's wrong?"

"I feared Paige hurting me again." Walter said quietly as Cabe sighed. "I understand why she did it. She apologized, realized why she did it and responded with emotion. I hurt her. I didn't mean too." He said softly as he looked back over his shoulder and his heartbeat faster when he saw Paige and Tessa talking quietly in the corner. "I didn't mean to hurt her, and I did. I was putting another woman ahead of her own feelings. I won't do that again but I fear hurting her again." He said as he looked back to the Cabe, a look of understanding on the man's face.

"Fear prevented me from taking another risk with her, even if she did say she would wait for me to be ready to be with her again but….I feared losing Paige. I could have lost her. She would have been gone without her ever knowing how I" Walter stopped as he tried to compose himself with Cabe smiling sadly as they both looked at Paige who had her head down as she tried to conceal her tears. "I cannot allow that outcome to happen again." He said determined as he took a deep breath.

"Son. What happened in the desert wasn't anyone's fault but the 86ers. Paige and Tessa were smart and did what they needed to. Veronica did what she needed to do to save her girls. She knew what she was doing." Cabe said gently as Walter shook his head.

"I never understood Veronica before. Her motives or reasons but what I did understand….What I do understand is why. She loved them and I love Paige. I never stopped." Walter confessed as Cabe smiled.

"So, what's the issue?"

"Well, I suppose there is none logically but whenever I try to approach her, my heart races, and my palms become sweaty. I feel my thoughts overwhelm me and I back away. Every time I try the…emotions overwhelm me. She overwhelms me. I don't know how to calm myself to speak the words I want without sounding like a buffoon."

"Son, I hate to break it to you but that problem has been in existence since humans have walked the earth. In my experience, the only cure is to be a man and tell her how you feel." Cabe advised as Walter nodded nervously.

'Right, be a man and tell her how I feel. How do I do that?" He asked as Cabe smiled.

"Well, how about you practice first with someone else who deserves to hear how you feel?"

Walter took a deep breath before approaching the man, although he had never been nervous about ever approaching him before, this particular moment, however, was too important to mess up. Perhaps the reason he was so nervous is he has a track record of messing up highly emotional situations up.

"Sylvester…do you have a moment to talk…to me?" Walter stuttered as Sly straightened and fixed his glasses. His stunned expression was a mix of confusion, anger, and, with a slight uptick up his eye, happiness. He was desperately holding on to the shred of happiness that he managed to see before Sly nodded his head and beads of perspiration dotted his hairline.

Going up to the loft he tried to ignore the eyes that were on them as Sylvester hurried up the steps with Walter not far behind. Finally with the door closed Walter faced Sly who, for the most part, looked terrified. That was a look that Sly usually gave to bullies. Never Walter.

That humbled him and frankly, he never thought Sly would give him that look, ever. Walter always wanted to protect him from people like that. From the very first moment, he opened that hotel room door and saw the scared, poor kid in the corner who hadn't eaten in weeks and looked as if he hadn't had a good night's sleep in twice as long.

If he was being honest, it stopped him short, and Sly, noticing his discomfort only made his anxiety worse.

"Walter.."

"Sly…"

They both started at the same time but quickly stopped, a tense silence filled the air as Walter brought a hand up to his neck in a nervous tick. Before he could say more, Sly began with the last statement Walter had expected.

"I'm sorry Walter. I shouldn't have left the way I did." He admitted, letting out a breath as Walter blinked.

"Uh, I, I don't know how to respond to that," Walter admitted truthfully as he crossed his arms but, remembering Paige's advice about open body language he slowly dropped them and gazed steadily at Sylvester. Perhaps Cabe had a point. It was easier speaking with Sly than Paige now because Sly was his brother. He was his family. "I don't want to say the wrong thing so I hope the truth would suffice," Walter said as he took a deep breath.

"I don't know how to respond to that because although I feel that you weren't right; I feel responsible for you even considering the option of walking away. I knew of your feelings for Florence, or I had my suspicions about them. I should have been more respectful about the topic. Especially about Megan." Walter finished as Sly nodded, and his eyes brightened considerably.

"I have never told you this nor have I acted according but I need too. You are my brother. Even before Megan." Walter admitted as Sly looked to him. "Megan was my sister. I loved her, all my life she accepted and encouraged me to be myself. She was my safe person." Walter said quietly as he took a deep breath. "I know that, although your time with her was shorter than mine, you loved her just as much. She was my sister. She was also your wife. I know that if she were here, she would be very disappointed in how I acted that night." Walter choked as he blinked away the wetness in his eyes.

"She would have given me a verbal lashing for what I said and did. Especially towards you. You should be the last person I should act like that towards. I'm sorry." Walter said as he looked to the floor before suddenly Sly launched himself at him and his arms were around him tightly as he could feel Sly's own tears.

"I'm sorry too. I overreacted. I wasn't thinking. I acted irrationally and wasn't thinking. She would have been disappointed in me too; in fact, she would have been very angry with me. The last thing I ever wanted to do was make her angry, especially fighting with her brother. I'm sorry too." Sly said as he leaned back and Walter smiled and subtly tried to wipe his eyes Sly only smiled.

"I know you miss her. I miss her too. For her, I want to put this behind us. I've wanted my brother back for a while." Sly admitted as Walter clapped him on the back.

"Me too, pal, me too," Walter admitted as he sighed and sat down on the couch as Sly looked at him curiously.

"Are you alright?" Sly asked as Walter smiled and shook his head no.

"Ah, I'm in a dilemma. Now that this is over" Walter explained as he waved a hand between the two of them and Sly nodded enthusiastically as he joined him. "I'm hoping I can, uh, get your advice on something. As my brother." Walter mumbled.

"Sure, anything. What can I help with?" Sly asked as Walter turned to him.

"Paige wanted to get back together with me, and I said no. That was a mistake and now I don't know how to approach her to hopefully resume those talks and, to have her back." Walter said as Sly raised his eyebrows and slowly sat down.

"Ah, uh, I can't help," Sly said as Walter pursed his lips.

"You are significantly better than me at EQ. I hold your opinion in high esteem. I trust you and you have good judgment about these situations. Cabe's advice about 'talking with her' is sound but I'm scared that if I simply 'talk' to her I would say the wrong thing and lose her. Again."

"Well, you don't have the best track record." He said as Walter shrugged. He can't argue with facts. "But you've also made amazing progress in our time, uh, apart. Your EQ is much higher." Sly commented as Walter nodded.

"You know truth be told I don't think it's higher per say. I think I just found ways to access it. Part of my reasons for rejecting Paige when I did was, I felt I used her as a crutch for my emotional growth." Walter said as he looked toward him "And if I'm being honest, I was using all of you as a crutch. You all have made leaps and bounds with Paige's help and I've always been the one falling behind. I took all of you for granted. I was selfish and ignorant. When I didn't have you all with me, my shortcomings were all too clear to me. I had to evolve." Walter said as he got up and started pacing.

"The morning after all of you left and I knew that you all weren't coming back, I realized that I had to improve. I didn't prioritize my team, didn't pay attention to what you were trying to tell me, and had to rely on myself for my own growth. Something I haven't had to do in years. I was lost. I didn't know what to do so, in those hardest times, I imagined what you would do." Walter said as he looked towards him and Sly opened his mouth in surprise.

"Walter I…thank you. It's an honor you think of me that way." He replied as Walter nodded.

"Truthfully, I thought of all of you. What you would do most often because you are the most masterful with how to deal with emotions other than Cabe or Paige. Next would be Toby and Happy was just ahead of me. I didn't have Paige anymore to guide me so, I used my team. The particle collider job was a good base point."

"When we were all dumb?" Sly asked confused as Walter nodded sheepishly.

"Precisely. Although my IQ was lowered, my memory wasn't impacted. I remembered how I felt, how my brain operated. I may not be able to slow my thoughts down or pause my ability to think but I can compartmentalize. Study the behavior and go through each interaction in my head to choose the best outcome. It's not perfect, but that's what makes me human. To think not how I would react because I can be different than most but how Paige would react, or you or Cabe or even Toby, Happy and Florence. In some cases, even all the people we've come to know over the years such as Allie, Ray, Linda, and even Tim. I had to build on the foundations you gave me. I can never stop building, can I?" Walter asked as Sly smiled in understanding and nodded.

"You may be worrying about what you can say and how you can say it but…we're all human Walter. I think that if you take what you've learned and be honest with her like you have with me, you'll be fine. Honesty is the best policy. Paige taught me that too." Sly smiled as they grinned at each other, exactly like old times.

Like brothers should.

Paige smiled for the first time in weeks.

Everything was settled, or as settled as it could be. Since the final text of coordinates, a deadline was set, and with the finalization of the documents everything was, finally, in place.

Everything would be okay. She would make sure of that. Now all that was needed was to say goodbye.

She had already spoken with her sister and Ralph, in her own way. Tried as she might have Tessa was someone who wasn't easily fooled. Luckily for her Tess was so wrapped up in tracking down Joshua that her odd behavior was easily explained. For Ralph, she just held him, memorizing his features and tried to find peace in that plans were in place with people she trusted. She still cried in the bathroom for 20 minutes after.

Now all who were left were her team.

Everyone was working on their separate projects so now was as good as time as any. After all time was such a precious commodity now. Taking a deep breath she walked over to where she knew he would be.

She found Cabe by the coffee pot, pouring what she felt was his 5th cup of coffee. She worried about him, especially his blood pressure. With a smile, she got out his favorite creamer and folded the napkin on the counter for his cup.

"Thank you." He said in his rough voice, so much like her fathers. She just grinned as she leaned against the counter. "How are you holding up kid. I know the last few weeks have been hard on you. We've been worried." He stated as Paige slowly nodded.

"I know, I'm sorry I haven't been talking to anyone," Paige said sadly as Cabe hugged her.

"We all know why, there isn't a guidebook to grief kiddo. We just learn to live around it, do our best to live with it." Cabe advised as Paige nodded.

"Yeah, I'm slowly learning that lesson. When I heard of Drew's death at first I was shocked and then I was scared. Grief really wasn't part of that process until I realized that they wouldn't stop with Drew." Paige said as she felt the tears coming. "When I was younger, dangerous situations were kind of normal. Not this level of danger but enough where Mom taught me how to use a gun and Tessa was quick to learn martial arts. When Dad caught me practicing at the shooting range that was enough of a shock for him to leave and take me with him." She explained as Cabe set down his mug and only listened. "When I saw what could be possible, what I could have if I stopped helping 'the family business'…I didn't want to let it go." Paige explained as Cabe sighed.

"You wanted better for yourself. For your kid." Cabe gestured toward Ralph who was writing some complex equation on the board. "There isn't anything wrong with that. Your mother was complicated, but that doesn't mean she was a bad person." Cabe tried to say as Paige laughed somberly.

"She wasn't a bad person, she really wasn't that bad of a mom either, but it wasn't her first choice. She tried, in her own way, to prepare us for the world that she lived in. I didn't want it but Tessa" Paige sighed as Cabe smirked. "She and I had some different of opinion on it. It's funny, I had the mind and social awareness of our mother and Tessa got all the brilliance of our father, only for us to completely switch. Tessa had been underground far before we got tangled up in the 86ers and I tried to follow Dad in the straight life. We both tried so hard to prevent this outcome, but I guess no one can really run from their past forever." Paige gulped as she looked to Cabe and couldn't hide the stary tears before she gave him a hug.

"Cabe, I'm sorry that I've never said this before now but…thank you. You and I, we have taken this team and watched them grow into people we knew they could always be. I know you look at all of us like your own, especially Walter because he is your son, but I never properly thanked you for your role in my life since I've joined." Paige admitted as she hugged him tighter, memories of her mother entering her head as she dug her face in his shoulder, the smell of his cologne causing her to cry harder.

"It's okay kid." Cabe tried to comfort as she shook her head, guilt hitting her hard as she knew very well that it wasn't going to be okay. He just didn't know it yet.

"I lost my father. I lost my sister and now my mother. I can't lose Ralph. If…if anything happens to me Cabe please watch over Ralph. Make sure he can navigate the grief. That he doesn't get lost in it. Succumb to it. He's so bright, so special. I would…rest easier knowing he has you." Paige asked as Cabe slowly nodded.

"Of course, Paige. When I gave him my granddaddy's knife, I accepted that Ralph was my family. That all of you were my kids. You all always have me but Paige…don't think like that. We will get you out of this. You will be okay." Cabe said as Paige wiped some tears away and smiled.

"I know, I just…needed a safety net. I feel a lot better knowing that. Thank you for stepping in. Stability, parental bonds, family. Those were all concepts that I struggled with growing up and I didn't want to pass it on to Ralph, but I didn't think I would have that again. Thank you for giving it back to me. I love you, Cabe." Paige said Cabe, hard and stoic as he couldn't help the tears as he brought her back and kissed the side of her head. Paige sniffled; praying that Cabe could look back on this moment without grief but happiness so that she really could rest easier.

When she next approached Happy Quinn-Curtis she was tinkering away at her previous station and Paige just stood there and watched. Normally she would be annoyed by the noise; the hammer, or beeping, or who knows what would be happening would be echoing around the garage causing a headache. Now, well, she was almost reveling in it.

"Problem waitress?" Happy asked as Paige only smiled as she tried to collect her thoughts but really, the only thought in her head was 'she was going to miss Happy calling her that'. Almost 5 years working together and yet her former job title has now been an affectionate nickname that hasn't shaken.

"No problem just…admiring your work," Paige responded easily as Happy gave her a confused look.

"Since when are you interested in rewiring an old engine for a '67 Bronco?" Happy asked directly as Paige raised her eyebrows.

"Never, in fact I have no idea what you just said. I guess I'm just, memorizing. The sounds, the emotions. We've had our differences Happy but you're my friend and…well with everything that's happened, I guess I'm just feeling sentimental."

"Sentimental? Paige, uh, I don't know how else to say this so I'm sorry if this is blunt or offensive, but your mom died. Not you. I fail to understand how this relates to any of us. Especially my mechanic work. Was your mom a mechanic or had an interest in cars?" Happy asked as Paige kept her smile but looked down to the floor.

"No actually. Mom was never into cars or any kind of mechanics." She answered as Happy shrugged and awkwardly got back to her work as Happy kept looking back at her uneasily. "Mom did, however, teach me about people. At least, how to con them. Or read them." Paige said after a moment as Happy stopped working and slowly put down her tool, frustration on her face but the look Paige was giving her gave her pause. She was up to something, and Toby did say that Paige would be acting out of character since the death of her mother.

"I never really paid a lot of attention and going forward I want to remember what's important to me and ensuring that I remember the small things. The things that I wouldn't normally pay attention too but when gone, would be noticeable." Paige explained as Happy nodded slowly but clearly didn't understand.

"The small things. Right." Happy said as Paige came closer and Happy instantly tensed as Paige came to a stop.

"What I mean is I have never told you how I really felt about you Happy. I hope I've shown it but words… carry power. Meaning. When it comes to emotions, how people feel about you. Actions are a great way to show it, but words… are reminders and connections, truth and fact. When coming from someone honest and trustworthy they can mean a lot." Paige explained as Happy slowly nodded.

"Happy you are one of the most caring people I know," Paige said as Happy tried to hide her surprise. It didn't work.

"I know that you struggle with high emotions sometimes, but when it comes to people you love; you are so careful with them. You pay close attention to what they need, what's best. The missing piece of what's preventing them from operating at their best capacity. The same level of detail you give to a project, the same skill. You pass on to those around you." Paige said as Happy stood still, simply taking in the compliments and unsure how to respond.

"Your approach is blunt, rough around the edges and, well frankly, tough. However, that doesn't mean its completely wrong. In fact, when I first met you, read you. You reminded me a lot of Tess. She was…is, rough around the edges. Hard to handle, fiery, stubborn but underneath…loving. The same traits that you've heard are negative and are such an asset. You've been a great friend Happy. I've never had a friend like you but…I've always hoped I would. I just wanted you to know that." Paige finished as Happy blinked, and Paige smiled before she quickly walked away and hugged herself.

She still had enough time.

When she opened her eyes after some deep breathing exercises Toby was standing right in front of her and she jumped in surprise. "Jeez Toby, you scared me."

"I'm sorry, did I scare the suicidal martyr?" Toby said as Paige clenched her jaw and pushed him into the camper as he yelped. "Oh, my axilla!"

"Oh, would you be quiet? I didn't shove you that hard. Besides, why don't you say armpit so normals can understand?"

"Because it's factually accurate…and over the years I've found it annoys you. I figured with your decision, talking to you wasn't doing anything. Annoying you might be the trick."

Paige only responded by glaring and Toby just shook his head. "You and I both know what you're up to, so I don't understand why I need to make it easier on you."

"And what am I doing?" Paige challenged with a raised brow. "Because all I know is I'm making peace with my family after the tragic murder of my mother. Coping with the knowledge that my sister is hell-bent on protecting me and my son." Paige stopped short and took a deep breath. "My son…." Paige bit her lip and collapsed on the couch. Toby to his credit fell on the opposite cushion as Paige laid her head on his shoulder. Silence rang between them as for the first time Paige truly understood the burden of knowledge. Toby was far too perspective for his own good.

"You know I never told you this, but you were always the smartest person I've known." Paige smiled and Toby tried to hide his look of surprise but wasn't quick enough.

"Oh, well of course I am. Who else is going to keep everyone in line and on their toes."

"Tessa."

Toby snorted as Paige laughed before she sighed and looked over at him. "No matter what happens though, thank you for helping me. With everything. Ever encouraging thought, talking with my sister, talking with me, taking care of them. When this is all over Toby…."

"Don't finish that sentence. You'll make it out okay. We've discussed it and although I don't agree with it, I trust you." Toby said, serious, and Paige only sighed before she simply allowed herself to relax, and her head fell back against the couch as Toby and Paige sat in undisturbed peace before Paige said quietly as she stared at the ceiling.

"I won't finish the sentence…but thanks Toby."

"You're welcome."

When she found Sly, he was by the chalkboard, anxiously working on what looked like complex math equations but the sight was so familiar she couldn't help but smile. When he dropped the piece of chalk, she hastily picked it for him and handed it over as he thanked her.

"You know this reminds me of the first time we met." Paige mused as he looked over to her. "With the three planes we stopped from going down, the corrupted software?" She hedged as he nodded.

"Of course, I could never forget. Both because of my photogenetic memory and because it's a precious memory." He said smiling.

"I know. The chalk reminded me of it. One piece, it's both the biggest and the smallest." She smiled as he grinned.

"It's all part of a process." He said as he continued to the board Paige looked around the garage and saw that despite any lingering tension (which over the last few weeks has greatly dispersed) everyone had gone back to their usual stations, their safe places. Even Florence found her place, which, Paige couldn't figure out, was right in the middle of her former desk and Sly's. The chemist was busy writing down her own formulas but she didn't miss the subtle glances Florence threw their way as Paige hid a smile.

She would have to speak with her next but for now, she needed this time with Sylvester.

"I saw that you made up with Walter," Paige said quietly as Sly froze but still had a small smile on his face.

"I did. We did. We shouldn't have fought the way we did; it was unbecoming of both of us. Especially because if Megan was still here, she wouldn't want us to fight. Ever." Sly said as he looked down and Paige gave his arm a squeeze.

"Everything I do, I do for her. Even falling in love again." Sly admitted quietly as they both looked to Florence who was thankfully, distracted by a conversation with Cabe to notice them.

"Before she died, she wanted me to fall in love again. That it was okay for me to fall again. I didn't want to but…Florence knows about Megan. I talked to Florence all the time about Megan. I think she would have liked Flo. Even more of a reason to not fight with her brother. It was dumb." Sly said smiling as Paige nodded and he looked to her.

"I hope I'm not upsetting you." He started to backtrack as she started to shake her head.

"No, it's okay. I made peace with it. I even made peace with Walter. He knows my feelings on everything. As it stands I've been meaning to talk to her about everything, trying to make peace. Life is too short to be angry. Being petty is no way to live a life." Paige said as Sly smiled nervously.

"I seem to recall you mentioning that during a previous argument with Walter."

"And it was true then too." Paige smiled. "I've been trying to take my own advice lately." She said quietly as Sly nodded.

"I've noticed. You've, uh, changed in the last few days." He said softly as she sighed.

"I have. I did. Losing mom…the thought of losing Ralph. It's kind of made me crazy thinking of it. Forced me to consider things I would have never thought of." Paige said ominously as Sylvester immediately perked up and his face changed to one of understanding.

"Paige…I hope you know you aren't alone. You have us, all of us. Despite our argument, we are all here. I hope you aren't; I mean I know I've had my own dark thoughts. I considered…dark things, but you are not alone." Sly said seriously as she tried hard to not let her tears show.

"I know," Paige said brokenly as Sly, unprompted gave her a hug and she squeezed him back and sniffled. "I wouldn't do anything like that," Paige said, avoiding his eyes as she told the partial truth. "But I guess it's made me more aware of my own mortality in a way. I just wanted you to know how grateful I am to have met you and I wanted to tell you all that. I wanted to make sure you knew, just in case." Paige hedged as he vehemently shook his head.

"Nothing will happen to you. We all won't allow it. From what I learned of your sister, she definitely won't allow it, and as for Walter, well." He paused as Paige felt the blush creep in and Sylvester smiled softly. "It's not even an option."

"I love him Sly." She whispered as he nodded. "I never stopped if I'm being honest. I know things between you got heated. Things between us got heated but I know you never stopped either."

"Walter is my family. I can never stay angry with family for long." He said easily as she nodded but couldn't help the sly smile.

"I didn't mean just Walter." She finished as he gulped and immediately began to fidget.

"Well, I mean, I suppose my feelings on the matter didn't go away. I just wanted to re-examine the situation from a more objective standpoint and…" He rambled as Paige smiled and nodded as she laid a hand on his shoulder and quietly interrupted.

"It's okay to still love her. To still hope and pursue. I've noticed how she is around you. She likes you, and if you talk I bet it won't be so bad. Florence is…a special person. A one in a million." Paige said as she remembered what she had done for her and her family. She risked her life for them. She saved them. That's something Paige won't ever forget.

"She is. I suppose I'm waiting for the right moment." Sly said as Paige patted him on the back.

"Take it from me. There is never a 'right' moment. There simply is a moment and you take it, or you don't. Life is too short to wait. Life is messy and fickle. You must live while you still can." Paige said, Megan's voice in her head as her repeated phrases made her smile.

"Megan would always say that too," Sly whispered as Paige matched his quiet expression.

"Where do you think I learned it from?"

"Yes, and that human relationships are complicated. One of my best friends taught me that." Sly smirked as Paige smiled. "However, that doesn't mean they are impossible. Forgiveness is something that I've recently learned is very powerful. It's right there next to friendship." Sly said. "Thank you for being my friend Paige, for being part of my family."

"Thank you for accepting it." Paige smiled as they hugged once more, and Paige sighed. Thank you for accepting indeed.

After her talk with Sly she slowly approached the chemist. She walked as if she didn't want to frighten a scared deer, which Paige supposes from Florence's perspective might be a close case.

Florence stopped in her equations as her eyes grew wide at seeing Paieg and she gripped the chalk tighter in fear.

"Peace offering." Paige smiled as she lent the chemist a mug of hot chocolate, with a dash of cinnamon.

"With the holidays coming up, and other events that happened. I want to make peace and….with everything that happened I don't want to end this year on a bad note. December is approaching and this Christmas is going to be difficult. I don't want to make it harder." Paige declared, hiding her wince while the chemist – Florence – took the mug cautiously.

"Um, thank you, Paige." Florence said awkwardly as Paige smiled and held her mug up.

"Salud," Paige said and Florence blinked as each woman took a sip.

"Um, I'm sorry I don't understand what that means," Florence confessed and Paige smiled.

"It's a Spanish toast. It means 'to health' or 'be healthy'. To wish your friends and loved ones a healthy life." Paige explained and Florence froze.

"Friends?" She asked quietly and Paige nodded.

"Friends." She confirmed but frowned and took a deep breath as Paige prepared for a helping of crow. "Or I hope we can be friends again," Paige said quietly as she set the mug down and Florence nodded her head.

"Oh, yes, I uh, will very much like to be friends again," Florence said quickly but took another gulp of the coco before swallowing thickly. "But I feel I owe you an apology. That night was….it was….uh" Florence struggled with the words and Paige took pity on the woman.

"It was awful," Paige said.

"It sucked." Florence supplied and Paige hid her smirk in the cup as she brought it to her lips. "That night sucked and there are many things I wished I could have done differently starting with closing my mouth!" Florence cried as Paige brought her hand to Florence's shoulder to calm her as she gently them both to the nearest softa and Florence huffed while clutching the mug close.

"I was wrong to say what I did in the manner I did it. Although the truth is never wrong per se, I have learned of the social concept 'a time and place for everything.' That was neither time nor place…certainly not company. I was ill-prepared, and I should have said…. anything else." Florence got out in one breath and Paige nodded.

"The entire situation could have been better. A lot better." Paige chuckled uncomfortably as the two looked at each other for the first time. Really looked at each other. Florence was an entrepreneur, a scientist, a genius and someone who wanted friends and a place to belong. Paige was a mother, a friend, an entrepreneur, and someone who wanted friends and a place to belong.

They were both smart (in their own ways), hardworking, tenacious and both were looking for their place in this world while looking for family of their own. One got it, the other fought for it – both were regretful in how they lost it.

"I won't lie to you Florence….I hated you." Paige said softly as the chemist flinched. "When I walked out that door, I hated you. I hated Walter. I hated me." Paige sighed. "I let my own emotional baggage pull me down and I allowed myself to revert to a catty, petty person instead of an emotionally intelligent woman. I was hired for my emotional intelligence and I stayed on because I knew how they thought. By extension how you think. How my sister thinks." Paige only shook her head and gripped the now cold cup in her hands. "I wasn't thinking. You aren't the only one who has an apology to give. I owe you one too."

"Paige, no, I did you wrong. I didn't respect your relationship and I – I ruined Scorpion." Florence said quietly and Paige just shook her head again.

"No. You didn't 'ruin' anything. The issues of that night came to surface after years of slights and miscommunications. The foundation of 'us' has been weakening for years and that was just a culmination of all those other issues building. As a team, we didn't take care of the cracks that were forming and as a team, we collectively broke it." Paige reasoned.

"I'm still sorry." Florence said and Paige smiled.

"I'm sorry too. I'm sorry for everything that happened and how I've treated you. I don't want to be that person. So, how about a truce?" Paige offered as she held out her hand and Florence glanced down towards it. "I want to have peace, and…." Paige took a deep breath as she tried hard to ignore the tears. "I don't know what would happen in the future but I don't want to face it knowing I didn't resolve everything I could. Plus, I would want to have a friend in you." Paige smiled lightly as Florence nodded, her own eyes brightening as she gripped Paige's hand like a lifeline.

"I want to have my friend back." Florence said as Paige smiled and slowly, allowing Florence to pull back if needed went in for a hug.

Instead of flinching back, Florence only tensed for just a moment before allowing her body to relax. Awkward and slow she wrapped her arms around Paige as the two-woman made peace at least.

Swallowing down any guilt she had she climbed the stairs slowly to Water's room. She found him at his desk, twirling a pen around his slender fingers as he stared off in the distance. At her approach, he looked up and immediately smiled as he stood.

"Hi, Paige, um h-how are you?" He asked nervously as she gave him a small smile.

"I'm okay, I uh just wanted to talk to you." She answered as he hastily came around the desk and came to the couch. It seemed this week was couch time for everyone.

"Uh good, that's good, I uh, wanted to speak with you as well," Walter said as he leaned against the couch and Paige tried not to let the surprise be on her face.

"Oh, you did? Is everything okay?" Paige asked automictically and Walter swiftly nodded, his nerves shining through.

"Oh yes, I mean yes as far as everything is 'okay'. I know that the emotional climate doesn't meet the standards of 'okay' because we have suffered a loss but, I, um – I need to stop talking." Walter stuttered and Paige smiled, missing her Walter.

"No, please, it's okay. I mean, it's not okay that she's gone but…. it's okay to acknowledge it. To move forward." Paige said quietly and she looked at him while Walter let out a breath of relief.

"To move forward. Yes, I agree. To move forward from the past and past mistakes. Both old and new." Walter said and he swallowed thickly, and Paige furrowed her brows, instantly placing her hand on his shoulder and Walter leaned into her touch.

Both stood silently as Paige blushed and tried to take a step back, remembering they were 'friends' but Walter stopped her and placed his own hand covering hers.

"Don't." He whispered and he gripped her hand tighter and pursed his lips. "Please don't talk to me and explain how you feel I'm a friend to you and that you'll talk to me as if you are going away." Walter said his eyes brightening. "Because you aren't. They won't get to you. I promised to keep you safe. I will keep you safe, I love you!" He exclaimed and Paige gasped, the smallest sound escaping her lips while Walter's face flushed.

"You – what?" She asked, not quite believing what she heard.

"I love you. I have never stopped and although I truly believe that I used you as an emotional crutch and I needed more time to grow – I don't want it." Walter said, his eyes pleading with her. "I won't allow myself to go backward. I won't put us in a position to lose each other again."

"Walter, you haven't lost me," Paige said softly and he shook his head as he came closer and held her head in his hands, eyes looking down at her as she held her breath.

"I almost did. When I made that first mistake and wasn't honest with you. When I lost track of you in the desert and wasn't sure if you were alive or dead….it's selfish of me to want this. To want you, because I'm not ready and I may never be ready but if you're willing to be with me. All of me, the imperfections, the mistakes…the facts." Walter laughed as Paige smiled and brought her hand up from his shoulder to cup his face. "Then I want to be with you. Even I don't know what this experiment will bring or if will work or fail…I want to explore that with you. I want to be with you again. I love you Paige Dineen and if you would…I would hope you love me too." He finished softly as Paige only looked at him, and blinked away a few tears.

"I love you too." She whispered in response and before she lost her nerve (and he had a chance to overthink) she smiled and crushed her lips to his, the taste of him sweet against her tongue and as the words she would have said were swept away in his embrace.

In moments like these, sometimes you don't have to say anything at all. They were here, in this moment – together, happy, whole.

And here they would stay.