Ding-dong.

Newkirk shifts anxiously on the porch, rechecks the address he found, then presses the doorbell again. Maybe nobody's home? Or there's another Alek Ferdinand in London. It's been years, of course, maybe Alek doesn't live here anymore.

It's been ten years since he last saw the heir of Austria-Hungary, and lots of things change in ten years. Last he heard Alek was working for the Zoological Society of London with Dylan and Dr. Barlow. Since he had to stop by London this week for business anyway, he decided to check up on an old friend or two. It took hours of searching to find Alek's address – apparently he'd been trying very hard to start a new life. And worse, he couldn't find any trace of Dylan Sharp. Maybe Alek would know something, those two were always close.

The door opens, and it takes Newkirk a moment to recognize his old friend. Alek has grown a little mustache, and he looks… different. His hair is darker, his clothes more modern, his eyes greener and brighter.

"Prince Alek?" No way.

Alek's eyebrows furrow, but then there's a flash of recognition. "Newkirk, it can't be!"

There's an awkward moment where they share a half-handshake-half-hug, but then Alek is welcoming him into the house.

"Welcome! I can't believe it. I haven't seen you in years!"

"Ten. How are you?"

Alek bustles his friend into a small, cluttered living room. "Sorry for the mess. My wife is…"

"Wife?"

Then Alek stops, turns, looks at Newkirk for a moment, and bursts out laughing. "Long story. What have you been up to? Still on the Leviathan?"

"Nah, it went out of commission years ago."

Alek frowns. "Damn. De- Dylan will be put out for sure."

Newkirk perks up at the mention of his old friend. "You're still in contact with Dylan?"

"Of a sort." Alek smiles clandestinely, like he knows something Newkirk doesn't.

"I couldn't find anything about him anywhere. What's he been up to?"

"He got married."

For some reason, Newkirk can't picture Dylan marrying any girl. "Both of you? Golly, I never imagined…"

"And what about you?"

"Still a bachelor. I've been doing business in America."

"Really?"

"The economy's going down terribly there, but I seem to be doing okay. How's London?"

"Busy as always. We're still working for the Zoo."

"We?"

"Er, me and my wife. And Dylan. Dr. Barlow retired a few years ago."

They sit for a moment, thinking about old times.

"I'm so sorry to barge in on you like this. I can leave, I just thought-"

"No! I mean, it's fine. Ten years! Time flies."

"It really does. No war now. No Austria-Hungary. Everything's changed."

"It's nice to see you again, Newkirk."

"Same. And do you know where I could find Dylan? I wouldn't mind-"

At that exact moment, they hear a woman's voice calling from the stairs.

"Barking spiders! Alek, have you seen Hans's pacifier? Aw-" and then a string of cusses completely unladylike.

"Your wife?" Newkirk raises an eyebrow. Almost sounds like…

Then a tall blond woman enters the room dressed in slacks and a simple button down, bouncing a small baby boy on her hip. "Oh- I didn't know we had company."

No- It can't be. That almost looks like-

"Newkirk, meet my wife, Deryn Sharp."