Chapter 18

A few months later…

Ed was just about to leave for the night when he was called into Walter's office. He walked in apprehensively not knowing what was going to happen because the tone in Walter's voice showed that he was upset. "What's up, Walter?" Ed questioned trying his best to hide his uneasiness.

Walter glanced at Ed through the top of his glasses. He didn't like telling Ed what he had to tell him, but he had to think of the safety of everyone involved. Ed had worked hard on his research…a little too hard. He took a deep breath and prepared for the onslaught of the Ed Tate outburst of fury. "Ed, sit down."

Hobbes and Tara were enjoying a romantic candle light dinner together. Since the two had started dating, there had been a change in Hobbes. He never knew that he could love someone as much if not more than Vivian. Deep down inside for a long time, he had felt that he still had a chance with her, until Brock came along and they got married. Then along came Claire, but because of his no fishing off the company pier attitude, he didn't pursue her as much as he wanted. His feelings about Vivian had also gotten in the way of that. One of Hobbes qualities is his loyalty, he's loyal until the end and probably would have stayed single. He married Viv and to him, they were still married.

But now he was sitting across from someone that came into his life unexpectedly. Isn't that the way it happens? And it was because of someone who had caught the attention of Claire, Ed Tate. That surprised him more than anything. After it's all said and done, he had Ed Tate to thank or actually Arnaud. Strange how life works out.

He reached his hand across the table and Tara took it. The candle light twinkling in their eyes as the soft music played in the background. Hobbes spoke first, "I don't know what the custom is with you but…here I go." He took a deep breath and got up from the chair. He knelt down on one knee in front of her. She eyed him suspiciously not really sure what was going on. He took her hand into his again. "Tara, I know that I could never ask your father for his blessing cause I'm sure the whole inter-species relationship thing is a no-go with him, but…I love you. I haven't loved anybody this much in such a long time. I'm no Michelangelo statue, I'm short, bald and obsessive…and will probably drive you as nuts as I am, but I know we can make it work. I want to make it work." He looked down at the floor, "God, I'm awful at this…what I'm trying to say is…Tara, will you be my wife…mate…whatever you call it." He fished around in his pocket and pulled out a box. He opened it up and removed the ring as he waited for her answer.

She looked down in complete surprise. She had heard about this human custom but she never seen it performed before. The human male actually humbles himself before his love. How fascinating. She placed her hand on his head and moved her hand down to his cheek as she spoke, "To me, you are a Michelangelo statue. You're strong, courageous, and loyal. A book isn't interesting solely by it's cover, it's what's inside that keeps you reading. And it's what's inside of you that has kept me by your side. I love you, Bobby and yes, I accept your proposal, I will be your wife."

Hobbes placed the ring on her finger. They stood up and he lifted her off her feet. They kissed passionately as he walked to the bedroom with his bride-to-be in his arms.

Ed sat on the back porch with a beer in hand. The ocean rolling up on the shore was the only sound he heard. That is, until he heard the squeak of the chair next to him when Claire sat down with a cup of tea in her hands.

"You going to tell me about it?" Claire asked.

Ed let out a long breath before taking another long sip. "I've been ordered to stop my research on the origins of the dominants."

"Why?"

He looked at her with a neutral expression. "I got too close."

"Really?"

"Yeah, so close that I could have put everyone in danger…not that we're not, we are, but it could have been worse."

"For who?"

"The Government."

There was a long uneasy silence between them. Ed's theory obviously had been proven or he had gotten too close to the truth and was about to expose something that had meant to be buried. Claire believed the latter.

"I had found two more cases of a match besides me. I decided to do a little genealogy research to see if I could find any family records like birth or death certificates, I checked the Social Security Death Index, missing person reports…anything."

"What did you find?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Yeah, just like Walter."

"I don't follow."

"When Walter found us in the desert with all his toys that obviously didn't come from the University, Sloan went to Ray when he was still with the Police Department to find out anything he could on Walter. Ray had one of his FBI buddies do a background check on him…he found nothing. Technically speaking, Walter Attwood does not exist."

Claire's eyes widened, "Ed?"

"I know. At first he told us that he was there because the government needed to be kept apprise of any new developments."

"But you worked in the Life Sciences Department. That's a little odd."

"Yeah, that was my thinking. What would be so important about a lab in the Life Sciences Building…but of course now I know why he was there. But listen to this, after I did a genealogy search, I found a family name. Eberts ran another check and now the family doesn't even exist. Without Walter knowing I asked my father about his family."

"Ed, you didn't?"

"I had to find something, Claire. My father's family isn't very close, but there's a rumor about a distant cousin who was in the service. The family never saw him again and then the family disappeared."

"Ed…"

"Yeah, I think it might be about Lewis. But according to my father, it sounds as if that part of his family never even existed."

Claire paused in long thought. She studied Ed for a moment and the realization hit, "Witness Protection?"

"That's what I'm thinking. For whatever reason, maybe the Government put these families into the program. Look, we know that Tom took his identity from another person. Tom doesn't even know what his real name is. I think when the dominants left the village they changed their identities. I don't know how they worked around fingerprints, but they did something to give themselves new lives. They have no possessions so it's easy for them to move around, they're masters at blending in."

"We may never know that side of the story, but the questions is how? How did this happen?"

"We know that the village was occupied nearly sixty years ago right?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, I did some research on the second world war. There were some Nazi scientists and doctors that were using people as experiments for genetic research."

"Yes, they were attempting to create a master race…

"…and or to study evolution among other things. They believed that they were the master race. What if some of them were doing research to find a way to alter a person's DNA?"

"You don't think?"

"Yeah, I do. Listen, many of those scientists were tried but never convicted. After they were released they disappeared."

"You think our Government snatched them up."

"To continue their research, but this time for the good ol' US of A."

"Ed, do you realize what you're saying?"

"Yeah, which is why Walter wanted me to stop. Claire, I believe I may have found the answer. When I asked Walter how close I was he said 'Too close'. I think they used these Nazi scientists to continue their work and instead of using prisoners they used volunteers from the military."

"Like Simon Cole."

"Just like Cole. They probably used the strongest, brightest…you know like the Astronaut program in the sixties."

"But genetics was young then."

"I know, that's the troubling aspect of this. How far along were the Nazi scientists in mapping the human genome? We don't know for sure. It was primitive compared to what we can do today but they were still able to find pure Aryans. Did they go by birth certificates alone or did they have some kind of a genetic test? I have a feeling that there's more we don't know about."

"God, Ed, what did we do?"

"This is like those Terminator movies except instead of creating robots we created a master species."

"Why?"

"It could have been something completely innocent and then something went wrong…terribly wrong. It must have happened over a period of time. I mean they still had time to carve the column and bury it deep in the desert."

"The Nazis believed that they were the superior race. That means that belief may have been a strong influence during their conversion."

"That's possible. It may not be an inherited gene but an inherited way of thinking. Like babies aren't born racist, they're taught…wait, but we know that pitbulls are bred to be aggressive, maybe, just maybe…we have the same thing here. They've bred themselves to be aggressive."

"Can humans alter breeding to be aggressive?"

"With the right variables, altering the DNA, gene therapy…maybe it's possible. There's still so much we don't know about dominants. At one point, Kelly became aggressive and so did Darien. Darcy also showed signs of aggressiveness. Maybe whatever happened in the desert altered their…" Ed stopped and looked at Claire.

"The amygdala!" They said in unison.

"It all goes back to two glands the shape of an almond in our heads doesn't it?" Ed asked shaking his head. He felt a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He turned his head and partly smiled at Claire.

She brushed the stray strand of hair from his face with a feathery wave of her finger, "You've done something incredible here, Ed. I'm proud of you."

"Yeah, well, I won't be up for a Nobel Prize though. All my research is gone."

"Well, I'll miss out on two of those, so we can keep each other company."

"Hmmm…keeping each other company, I like the sound of that."

"Dr. Edward Tate…what do you have in mind?"

"Like you need to ask."

Claire and Darcy had gone out shopping for baby furniture. Darien and Ed were at the apartment watching "Signs" waiting for them to come home. Hobbes had agreed to pick up the boxes of furniture in the van and followed the ladies home. They had been gone for hours and actually Darien was grateful that Darcy had talked him into staying home. She knew that he would have been bored and miserable. Plus it was going to be the men's job to put the furniture together anyway.

Hobbes backed the van up as Claire and Darcy walked into the apartment. What they saw was something they didn't expect. Darien and Ed sitting on the couch with foil hats on their heads. The girls looked at them oddly.

"This is so that the aliens can't read our minds," the two men replied in a serious tone.

Darcy and Claire started to laugh. "Maybe I should make another motorcycle helmet for you, Darien." Claire paused, "You know, that might keep you from reading our minds."

"I can't help but laugh at these two. You guys are good…real good…too good actually." Darcy stated as she put down a bag she was carrying. Darien got up to go through it and see what she bought. "Hey, you can look at that stuff later, go help Bobby with the boxes."

"Boxes?"

"Yes, boxes, we are having twins you know so I had to get two of just about everything."

Darien and Ed headed out to the van and the three of them began bringing in the boxes. They took them up the stairs to the room that will soon be filled with the sounds of baby talk. Claire and Darcy retrieved some snacks and drinks from the kitchen to sit down and relax.

Later on in the evening, Darcy and Claire decided to go and check on the progress that Darien and Ed were making with putting the cribs together. As they approached the door they heard Ed exclaim in frustration. "I have a Ph.D. for God's sake, why am I having such a hard time with this crib!?!"

"It's all about having the right tools, my friend," came Darien's helpful reply. There were sounds of rustling as Darien searched the floor for something. "Here, try this."

Claire covered her mouth to stifle her laughter. Darcy glanced at her, "Guess things aren't going all that well."

"Maybe we shouldn't interrupt."

"I think that's a good idea." They left Ed and Darien to fight with the furniture.

After another hour had passed the men came down stairs. Claire looked up at them, "Everything okay?"

"It is now," Ed replied relieved and somewhat irritated. Claire wiggled her brows at Darcy.

"You guys done?" Darcy asked not sure if she should.

"Oh yeah, we're done." Darien rummaged through the fridge to find a couple of beers. He handed one to Ed. They removed the tops and tapped their bottles together. "Here's to job well done," Darien smirked.

"Thank God," Ed retorted as he took his sip. The two men joined the ladies in the living room. They were watching a tape of their wedding.

"Oh please, can you fast forward through this part?" Ed requested with embarrassment in his tone.

"Oh heck no!" Darcy answered adamantly, "I love this part." She started to laugh. Ed covered his face with a pillow.

"I think they planned it so that as soon as we came downstairs this part would come on," Darien retorted as he watched the tape.

Claire put her arm around Ed, "Oh come on, honey, you looked so sexy doing this. You know you're not that bad of a dancer."

"I don't know how I did this." With his face still buried in the pillow, Ed's reply was muffled.

The tape was showing the part of the reception where the men did a dance for guests. Darien and Ed along with Hobbes, Ray, and Tom had choreographed a dance to Will Smith's Men in Black. The whole idea to do this for the brides was the result of their bachelor party and actually to Darien's surprise, Tom wanted to get involved. Neither of them thought they would actually go through with it.

When the music had started, they put on Ray Bans then formed a straight line as they danced and acted out various parts of the song to the cheers and whistles of the guests.

When the dance number was over Darien retorted, "Well, at least we didn't decide to act out The Full Monty."

"No, but you did that for me in private," Darcy commented as she wiggled her brows. And then she stopped suddenly. Glancing at her in concern, Darien put his hand on her shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

Claire and Ed traded glances and then Ed moved forward on the couch.

"I felt something…I think it was a contraction."

Darien looked at Ed for help. "Darcy, how did this contraction feel compare to the Braxton Hicks contractions you've been having lately?" Ed asked as he moved to kneel in front of her.

Darcy shook her head, "Different. This was stronger and I felt it towards my back."

Ed let out a long sigh, and then he glanced at both Darien and Darcy. "Okay, look, remember when I told you guys the other day about the Braxton Hicks contractions and that they prepare the body for true labor. Well, Darcy the contraction you just had could be the start of true labor."

Darien shot up, "Shouldn't we go to the hospital now!?!"

Ed stood up and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "No, not yet. What I want you guys to do now is to time the contractions. Let me know when and if you have another contraction. When they're at least five minutes apart or your water breaks that's when we'll go. Until then, just remain calm and make sure that your things are packed which they should be already. Okay?" He watched as Darien shook his head nervously and sat back down again.

Darcy glanced up at Ed, "My things are packed and are in the car already."

"Okay, good. Let's just wait and see what happens." Darcy nodded that she understood. Ed continued, "Good, so ah…let's go back to watching me make a fool of myself."

Darien couldn't concentrate, all his focus was on Darcy and his impending fatherhood. Was he ready? He had to be, he had no choice. What kind of a father would he be? Better than his own he hoped. A soft tap to his leg broke him from his own question and answer session within in his own mind. He turned to the source of the tapping and saw Darcy glancing at him with concern. "Yeah, babe."

"You'll be fine." Darcy smiled and gripped his hand tight. "I believe in you."

"God, you make it sound like I'm in a Peter Pan movie."

"Then, just think happy thoughts."

A long ten minutes passed and Darcy felt another contraction. "Ed…I had another one and it was the same as the other."

"Okay, I'm going to call Tara and let her know what's going on so she can be on standby. We still have time so no one panic okay, Darien?"

"Yeah, right, no panic, no fear…oh crap."

Ed and Claire chuckled at Darien's attempt to regain composure. Ed pulled out his cell phone and spoke with Tara. After a couple of hours of timing Darcy's contractions, they were now five minutes apart. Ed phoned Tara and told her to meet them at Fort Leavitt Hospital.

A couple of hours had passed and Ed had gone to Fort Leavitt to get things ready while Claire stayed with Darcy. Darien called him and told him that Darcy's contractions were five minutes apart for the past thirty minutes, Ed told Darien to bring Darcy in. Ed in turn called Tara and asked to come to the hospital. Darien became nervous and Claire drove them to the hospital. Darien sat in the back with Darcy to help her through the contractions.

Once at the hospital, Darcy was taken to the labor room where Ed and Tara were waiting. Darcy changed into a hospital gown so Ed could examine her. "Sorry, Darcy, if this bothers you. Okay, you're 80% effaced and you're about six centimeters."

"What does all that mean?" A nervous Darien asked.

Ed smiled at him, "It means that by morning, you'll be a father."

"Oh crap."

Claire put a reassuring hand on Darcy, "You're moving very fast."

"Guess that's a dominant trait," Darcy quipped as another contraction was coming on. Darien rushed over, held her hand and coached her through her breathing. Once the contraction ended, Ed continued.

"Okay, so I've got a question for you. Your water hasn't broken, so I can either send you out for a walk and hope the water breaks naturally or we can give you the epidural and break the water for you, which do you want?"

"Give me the drugs," Darcy calmly answered.

Ed smiled, "I thought so. Okay, so, let's get ready to have some babies."

"What? Now!?!"

Claire patted Darien on his back, "Yes, now."

After Darcy was given the epidural, Ed ruptured her water. Now the contractions were coming on strong and in just a matter of hours, she was ready. Ed put on a gown and pulled up a stool. Darien took his place beside Darcy as Claire and Tara helped Ed.

"Okay, Darcy, when you feel like you need to push let me know."

"Right now!" Darcy replied strongly.

"Okay, push…that's it…push…"

Darien counted for the duration of the contraction. She squeezed his hand tightly, but it didn't bother him at all, he was too busy concentrating on his wife to care.

"Good, Darcy, you did real good. I want you to do the same thing when another contraction starts," Ed commented as he waited.

After an hour of pushing, Ed could see a tiny head, "Okay, Darcy, keep pushing I see a head…"

"With lots of hair…" Tara commented.

"I'm not surprised…" Darcy said through gritted teeth as the tight grip around his increased. Darien took a peak and a smile spread across his face. He bent down to kiss Darcy, "I can see it."

Ed helped Darcy by giving her an episiotomy and the head easily slipped out. Claire handed him the suction bulb and he quickly suctioned out the mouth, "Okay, Darcy, the head is out. One more big push…and…" Ed worked the shoulders out and within seconds the baby was out. "Its' a girl!!" Ed exclaimed.

Darien gripped her name tightly, "A girl, we have a girl," he kissed her cheek and she kissed him back.

"Okay, dad, time for you to do the honors." Ed held the baby in his arms as Darien cut the cord. Ed handed the baby off to Claire. Darien watched as Claire put the baby down on the table to clean her up.

"Okay, we still have one more." Ed announced.

Another thirty minutes of hard labor and the head of the second baby was cradled in Ed's hands. "Okay, head's out…big push again, Darcy." Ed wiggled his fingers around the shoulders and helped the baby out. "It's a boy!!!"

Darien bent down. "I love you, babe," he said looking at her. He raised himself up to look at his son. Darien cut the cord and Ed handed the baby off to Tara this time. Claire came back with the baby girl and handed her to Darien. At first he didn't know what to do, but the instincts kicked in and he took her into his arms. He sat down next to Darcy so she could see her too.

"She's so beautiful," she said.

"Just like her mom."

By the time Ed finished with Darcy, she had her son in her arms. They both had quieted down and were resting peacefully. Ed walked over and Darien shook his hand, "Thanks, Ed, for everything."

"You're welcome. It had been a long time since I delivered babies, it was a nice feeling to have again. I'm going to go and check on a room for you. A nurse has been cleared for you on each of the shifts. Darien, you've been given permission to stay in the room with Darcy and the babies too. I think Walter had something to do with that."

"So, what are their names?" Claire asked.

"The girl we're going to name after my mother, Caroline Marie Fawkes. And the boy will be named after Darcy's grandfather and you, Ed."

Ed stopped jotting in the file and looked at them with surprise, "You're kidding me right?"

"No, his name is Daniel Edward Fawkes."

"I don't know what to say."

"Ed is at a loss for words…how 'bout that." Darien quipped.

"You know, to be honest, I hated my name growing up…other kids used to call me Eddie Munster…until I became taller then them in Junior High," Ed finished with an uncomfortable laugh.

"Well, those kids were idiots. Edward means 'wealthy guardian' and we couldn't think of a better name than that. You've been our guardian and the babies through out this pregnancy, Ed. Like Darien told you, we didn't trust anyone else and we knew that Claire couldn't do it alone with all that she has to do. You both have been great." Darcy said.

Ed and Claire smiled, "Well, thank you for believing in my skills as a doctor with something as important as this. Here's what's going to happen, I want you two to bond with the babies. You have an hour and then I need to take the babies need to go for their screenings. Very routine and nothing to be afraid of, it's just mainly blood work up, a hepatitis B vaccine and a vitamin K shot for clotting." Ed added quickly. "As I suspected, their APGAR scores were very good. They both scored a nine which means nothing more than they're breathing on their own, heart rate is good, skin color is normal, muscle tone is good, and reflexes are good. It's not an indication of how they'll do on SAT's. And then when you're settled in your room, and the babies are done, then we'll bring them back to you. I'll be back from time to time to check on you, Darcy, to see how you're doing."

"Okay, Ed." Darcy said as she and Darien began to bond with their babies. Once she was in her own room and the newborn tests were done, Ed gave the okay for the babies to be brought in. A private nursery was set up in their room so that the babies could be watched closely. Tara agreed to stay for as long as she could.

Ed and Claire left them alone to let the new parents to continue bonding with their babies. Ed went back to running the tests he wanted to perform. He performed the DNA sequencing and it confirmed what he thought, the babies were 1.6%. When the babies are a little older, he wanted to do an ultrasound on the girl to see if she had four uteruses. It was a simple test and one that would answer one of his questions. Did the second generation females during fetal growth develop with four uteruses?

A few weeks later, Ed lay on his stomach as he slept. It was Saturday and all Ed wanted to do was sleep in. Claire was already up and had showered. She glanced at the clock, she smiled, it was time to wake her husband up and get him out of bed…or was in bed where she actually wanted him? She covered her mouth to stifle the soft giggle. Gently, she drew back the covers so she wouldn't wake him up and then gently laid down on top of him. With soft lips, she began to kiss his back with feathery kisses. Her hands moved to his sides. Her fingers began a exploration of his sides by moving up and down slowly.

He stirred a bit and moaned deeply in his throat. She took his ear lope into her mouth and suckled gently. His hips shifted position as he tried to roll over but the weight of her body prevented him so he gave in to the wake up call.

"Good morning, hon," She whispered in his ear.

"Morning, babe." He groaned again when he felt the warmth of her body on top of his.

"You like this?"

"Yeah, feels good…mmmm."

Claire lifted herself up, "Then roll over."

He did and he looked at her, "What have you got in mind?"

"Hmm…I've got something to tell you."

"What?"

She held up a pair of booties. He looked at them with a questioning gaze. He took them into his hand and studied them some more. Without saying a word he looked at Claire with amazement. She shook her head answering his silent question. He sat up quickly and roller her over unto her back.

"Really?"

"Yes," she answered him with a smile.

He leaned down and kissed her gently at first and then he glanced at her again lovingly. He kissed her again but more passionately. After a few moments he broke the kiss and started to trail kisses down her neck to her chest in between her breasts through her shirt. He continued his downward trek until he reached her lower abdomen. Pulling her shirt up, he placed soft kisses on her belly as she giggled. His stubbly chin was tickling her, but she didn't mind, she didn't mind it at all.

Across town, Sloan and Tom were having breakfast. He glanced at her, studying her for a few moments and then he broke the heavy silence. "Sloan, I'm good at this and I'm not even sure if I'm doing this right. I didn't consult with Ed or Darien but I've seen it on TV and in the movies…"

Sloan shook her head as if shaking cobwebs from her mind. "Tom, what are trying to say?"

He let out a long sigh. He reached across the table and took her hands into his, "I didn't prepare myself, but I feel I should do this…"

"Tom?"

"It's okay. You changed my life and that I will be forever grateful for. You taught me so much about myself and allowed my true self to surface. That time when I was human, I understood my feelings that I have for you. And I meant it when I said I would give all this up to be human again…"

"Well, we know it worked on Ed…so maybe…

Tom shook his head, "Let me finish. That's when I knew how much I loved you…I should have done this long ago and I know that we agreed it was best, but…I want…will you marry me?" He waited for her reply. When she looked at him in shock he lowered his head, "I know, not exactly what I had in mind…"

She squeezed his hand. "No, Tom, it was perfect…I love you, and my answer is yes."

Earlier in the evening, the men sat around the large green table. A ceiling fan turned slowly above them. The smoke from the cigars floated through an open window. Normally the men didn't smoke, but for some odd reason playing poker in this setting reminded them of Casablancaand itjust didn't seem right not to have a cigar. It was the only time the women would permit it anyway. Hobbes particularly got into it since he saw himself as the Humphrey Bogart type.

"Okay, ante up everyone," Ed commanded before the cards were dealt. One after another, the men pushed chips to the center of the table. Ed dealt the cards one at a time until everyone was holding five cards for their weekly ritual of five card stud. Shane checked the cards in his hands. With a defeated look he folded. Darien snorted and placed some chips into the center of the green matted poker table, "I raise."

Tom glanced at Darien with a raised brow, his Chameleon training had prepared him for the toughest of assignments, but not for poker. He thought for a few minutes and after studiously examining his cards, "I'll see your raise." Ray shook his head and threw his cards down on the table, "I fold." It was up to Hobbes and Ed now to make their move.

Hobbes glanced at Ed over the cigar in his mouth. "Your move…Doc." Hobbes blew a puff of smoke and stared at Ed with daring eyes.

Ed leaned his head back and thought about his options. He picked up some chips and placed them on the table. "Okay, I'm gonna 'see' your bet and 'raise' that bet. Darien looked at the chips on the green mat. He glanced at Ed, "Hmm…Doc here is the daring type."

"You have no idea," came Ed's reply as he puffed on his cigar with confidence.

Hobbes looked at Ed's bet and checked his cards. He puffed on his cigar, "Okay, there Doc, I'll 'see' your bet and…" he reached for his high stakes chips and placed those in the center, "I'll raise."

Darien took two cards from his hands and placed them face down on the table. He then picked up two more cards from the deck. Tom looked at the pot and what he had, not much, but he wasn't the kind to play it safe when his life wasn't in danger. He decided to keep the hand that he had. Ed removed one card and retrieved another one. Hobbes did the same.

Darien opened the next round of betting. He picked up a couple of chips and pushed them forward. Tom checked.

"Oh, playing it safe huh?" Darien teased.

"No, just don't want to be foolish," Tom retorted.

"Yeah, right," Ed mused as he checked his cards. Ed smiled, "All in," he pushed all that he had into the center of the table.

"Whoo…check him out, Mr. Living Dangerously," Hobbes quipped.

Ed smoked his cigar as he wiggled his brow, "G'head, Secret Agent Man, make my day."

"That's the problem when you're playing poker with someone who hears voices. You don't know what's going through their minds," Darien retorted as he waited for Hobbes to make a decision.

"Those voices are my friends, they've gotten Bobby Hobbes out of trouble many times," Hobbes retorted as he examined his cards.

Darien rolled his eyes. "And gotten you into trouble."

"It's all a matter of how you look at it, my friend." Hobbes said as he shuffled his cards around.

"I hear the 'You gotta look at angles' speech comin' on," Darien added disgruntled.

"Okay, my Double D friend, I'll match your bet." Hobbes pushed his chips forward.

Darien examined his cards, and tossed them down on the table, "I fold."

"Can't take the heat, can ya?" Hobbes retorted with the cigar in his mouth.

"Well, now this outta be interesting, a Chameleon, Double D and Paranoia are in a showdown." Darien leaned back in his chair to watch to see who could out last the other.

Tom glanced at the two humans, they were both good at this and Ed usually showed facial expressions to show his emotions, but with cards, he was a pro. Tom tossed his cards down, "I fold."

"I call," Ed said. Hobbes turned his cards face up, "Straight, Queen high." Ed laid his cards down, "Flush, read 'em and weep." Ed had won the pot.

"Damn, how does he do that?" Darien said as Ed scooped up the pot with a grin.

"He's a master," Hobbes said annoyingly. At least though Ed's all in total was still less than what Hobbes had so he was still in the game.

After it was all said and done, Tom ended up the evening's winner. He checked his watch, "It's time for me to leave."

"Sure, take our money and run…typical." Ed said as he leaned back in his chair. Shane and Ray put out their cigars and grabbed their coats. They were going to escort Tom back to his house.

They walked Tom to the door and wished him well. Ed closed the door and walked into his kitchen where Darien and Hobbes were already helping themselves to beers. Darien handed one to Ed, "You know, it's not everyday that you play poker with a world leader."

"Here's to Tom," Hobbes said as he raised his bottle.

"To Tom." The three of them said in unison.

"So, ah how's life as a dad?" Ed asked after he took a long sip of his beer.

"Great, I didn't think it would be this much fun. I often wonder what their little minds are thinking about."

Ed looked at Darien, "Can you read babies minds?"

"Nah, it's just emotion with them at this age. But I can tell that they're excited when they experience something new. I wasn't sure about fatherhood, but man, I wouldn't change it for the world. I see life in a whole new way now."

"Okay, you aren't gonna start talkin' about changin' diapers and stuff like that are you, cause if you are, I'm leavin'."

"Sorry, Hobbes. So, ah, how are the wedding plans coming along?" Darien asked to change the subject.

"Great, she wants to have a human wedding and she's agreed to a Jewish one."

"Can you do that?" Ed asked.

"Yeah, there are rabbis that will do interfaith…"

"Hobbes, we're talkin' interspecies marriage…big difference."

"Let me finish, Fawkes…my rabbi agreed to this special circumstance."

The three men wondered out onto the porch and sat down. When Claire arrived, Darien thought it best for him to leave to help Darcy with the twins. Claire kissed Ed and told him that she was tired and went off to bed. Hobbes stayed with Ed for awhile. He glanced over at the scientist who stared off into the blackness of the night.

"What's on your mind?"

Ed turned to him, "You know it's usually Darien and I having these kinds of conversations."

"Yeah, well, you married the girl I loved and now she's pregnant with your child so it concerns me too. If you're all wacked out then she'll be wacked out sending bad vibes to the baby and I can't have that."

Ed chuckled, "In your own way, you have a point."

"I always have a point."

"That you do."

"So, what's on your mind? I can see those wheels spinning. Impending fatherhood has you all twisted up inside, huh?"

"Yeah, you might say that. I don't know, Hobbes. It's just that…the whole world has gone crazy. With the war, terrorists, and even here, the economy, out sourcing, and now if you express a political view that doesn't show support for the White House you get thrown in jail or kicked out of a club. This country is turning into a dictatorship… I really have to wonder about our new president."

"He's not a president, he's a puppet…"

Ed glanced at Hobbes in shock, "What makes you say that?"

"Just a gut instinct, my friend. Like The Manchurian Candidate, someone else is pulling the strings. This country is being set up for something. I've been around the world and seen many things to know when a puppet government is operating. I just can't prove it."

"Hobbes, do you know what you're saying?" Ed asked.

"Yeah, I do and if I tell anybody they'll say I'm crazy because of my past."

"I don't think you're crazy. When do you think it'll all happen… whatever you think will happen?"

"Hard to tell. But then it may never happen. But if something does happen then you'll know when it happens. And while it's happening there won't be anything you can do stop whatever is happening…"

Ed stared at Hobbes with a blank expression.

"So in the meantime, enjoy life, my friend." Hobbes checked his watch. "I better get goin'. Nice talkin' to ya, Tate."

Ed still not completely sure of what Hobbes just told him, replied in a confused tone, "Yeah, likewise…I think."

Ed walked Hobbes to the door, and then headed up the stairs…slowly. He was still trying to figure out what Hobbes had been saying before he left. Quietly, he walked into the bedroom so that he didn't wake Claire up. He stripped down to his boxers and carefully settled onto the bed. Claire rolled over towards him and saw how the moonlight cast a glow on his bare sculptured chest. She laid a hand on him and he turned to look at her.

"So, how was your talk with Bobby?"

Ed thought for a moment, "I'm not really sure."

Claire blinked her eyes a few times, "What do you mean?"

"Well, we started off talking about the world and then…I just don't know."

"Hmm, well, Bobby does have that affect."

"Come here," he said looking at her. The moonlight shined on her and it was turning him on.

She moved closer and he rolled over to lay nearly on top of her. "I love you, Claire Keeply Tate…or whatever it is you're going by these days." He brushed the hair from her face.

She giggled, "And I love you, Edward Tate." Her fingers raked through his hair. "Make love to me."

"That's just what I had in mind," he smiled as he bent down and covered her mouth with his own.

Lewis stood in front of the large window looking out over the ocean. A knock at the door broke him from his thoughts. He turned his head slightly, "Come in." The door opened and a young man came in. Lewis continued to look at the window. "What do you have for me?"

"Karl Hunter has sent you a report detailing the progress at Alcatraz." The man put the report on Lewis' desk. "He believes the main part of the project is nearly complete. Modifications to the facility can be done quickly as necessary."

Lewis turned around with a grin spreading across his face. "Excellent. Send out word to our operatives, phase two in our world domination has begun. With the world in chaos it will give us the cover we need to complete our work. The humans can be too trusting, that will be their undoing."

JFK, the 35th President of the United States once said, "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." There always seems to be someone out there who would rather be a bully than talk things out. The world is a mess right now and it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better.