Mystery sat in the back-most office of his Chicago restaurant. Bills had been insane recently. For some reason he couldn't quite keep track of his finances, despite the fact that his businesses were running extremely successfully.

Sighing and lighting a fat cigar, he leaned back in his chair and slowly made his way through a cheesecake. It was a specialty of his, one that not many other people have had the pleasure of tasting.

Running through the numbers again, Mystery was about to call it a day when he came across some unusual irregularities. A few hundred missing here, a couple more hundred there. Now... what could this possibly mean he thought. Surely none of my employees would steal from me... do they know who I am? He chuckled at that thought and answered out loud,

"Of course they don't know who I am... No one does... The most recent person to get even anywhere close to me was Miriam, and there's no way she stole from me. We weren't anywhere even close to here when... we met."

He shook his head frustratedly and continued. She'd been popping into his thoughts far too often for his own good lately. Every time the phone rang he'd hoped it was her, and every time he got mail he ripped it open checking for his name, only to find disappointment.

Miriam took a deep breath as she stared at the phone. She'd been trying to find Mystery in his bars and usual hangouts, but couldn't seem to find him. She'd heard he was in Chicago today, though. She exhaled and inhaled once more, a shaky hand reaching out for the phone. She'd been fighting nausea all morning--it had taken all of her resolve to keep from losing her breakfast all over the papers on her desk, and even more to board the plane to Chicago. She picked up the receiver and brought it to her ear, taking another deep breath before dialing Mystery's Bar and Restaurant.

It rang twice before someone picked it up. She had to wait for three minutes before it was transferred back to the office. But when she was connected to the office, it only took half a ring for Mystery to pick up.

"Mystery's Bar and Restaurant, Mystery speaking."

"Oh, Indovinello...um, can you meet me, like, as soon as you can? Lunch, maybe?"

"Miriam! Well, while it's quite the pleasure to hear from you...well, I'm afraid I've got an appointment already for lunch...I can meet you tomorrow, though."

Miriam gave a short sound of desperation as she twirled the phone cord on one finger.

"No, no...I've got to leave for New York tonight...look, I've got something really important to tell you. Are you sure you can't cancel your lunch appointment?"

There was a brief hesitation on the other end, and Miriam held her breath as she waited.

"No...no, I'm afraid not...it's kind of important...can you just tell me on the phone?"

"I...I'd rather tell you in person, hon...it's...I'm late." There. It was out. Not as elegant as she'd have liked, but...well, better than nothing.

"...Why are you calling me, then, if you're late?"

Miriam gave a spattering sound of rage, fighting back tears that had suddenly welled up in her eyes.

"Because you're the father!"

Emotions swelled up inside Mystery with those last four words from Miriam. But... the protection... and... Mystery took a deep breath in and coughed. He'd forgotten the cigar was still trapped between his lips, his over-sized inhale had cause him to breathe in too much smoke.

"Are... you okay?"

He heard Miriam say, clearly concerned. She knew he was going to react, but going into some sort of asthmatic shock was clearly not what she had anticipated. He heard her take deep breaths as well, clearly trying to hold back her tears, and though her effort was valiant, she failed miserably. Sobbing into the phone waiting for a paused response, she asked again, this time a little more clear.

"Are you okay?"

A few more moments paused, and Mystery could swear he could hear her heartbeat through the phone line. Finally resuming normal breathing, with a racing heart of his own he answered,

"Yeah, yeah. I just inhaled a bit too much of this cigar... Suppose I should give it up now that I'm going to be... a... father" And then it hit him. Dizziness and unconsciousness.

He awoke a few hours later, laying down in a bunk he kept in his office for emergencies. His chef was there, along with a few other familiar workers. He looked up and met the eyes of the only person he wanted to see at the moment. Her eyes were glistening, though whether from the shock that he'd passed out, or the fact that she was pregnant, he knew not.

Miriam had paced around the room for an hour, tears now and then streaming down her face. Whenever someone tried to approach her to comfort her, she snapped at them and they backed off quickly. Finally, she sank down into a chair next to the bunk, stroking Mystery's face every now and then as he lay unconscious. When he began to stir, the other people in the room crowded silently around him. He blinked to the others groggily before looking up at Miriam. She gave him a wide, relieved smile, her hand patting his shoulder.

"Good thing you woke up, Indovinello. I was worried." She hesitated after this, then shook her head. "Are you okay?"

Mystery gave a quick nod before muttering gruffly for everyone else to leave. There were some protests, but a steely glance from the boss made them all skitter back into the kitchens.

They were alone now. Miriam shifted slightly in her chair before resting her hand on Mystery's.

"Um, look...I see that you reacted badly to the news...and, um...I'll understand if you don't want anything to do with the kid. I can...I can take care of it by myself. I have the means, certainly. The baby won't want for anything. But, you know...if that is what you want, we'll need to go ahead and see a lawyer...get some papers drawn up...I mean, you know, just cursory, just to make sure you don't have any legal ties to the child..."

Miriam choked slightly on the last phrase. Her mouth seemed to have become alarmingly dry all of a sudden. With a small gulp, she turned her head down slightly, letting a few curls rest over her eyes as she took a deep breath.

Mystery stood up and walked out silently, leaving Miriam alone wondering where he was off to. He returned a few short seconds later from the kitchen with two empty glasses and a pitcher of ice water. He sat down next to her and put his arm around her, pulling her close to him. He leaned in and kissed the top of her head before speaking.

"No... That will absolutely not do. There's no way I could abandon this child. I don't know whether I told you or not, but I grew up without a father... Or a mother for that matter. I simply could not do that to my own flesh and blood."

Miriam's face looked up, her eyes puffy and her throat sore. She couldn't express the feelings inside her. She laid her head on his chest, and breathed heavily, still trying to control the floods coming out of her eyes that were tears.

"You... You want to keep the kid? And raise it... with me?"

Miriam stuttered out between the tears. She had so been expecting the worse, had already called a lawyer to talk terms.

"As long as you're one hundred percent sure the kid's mine, I wouldn't have it any other way. Of course this means there's also another decision to make..."

"I--a hundred percent sure? Well...maybe a bit less than that..."

She could feel Mystery stiffen slightly once she spoke. She took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped at her face, avoiding his gaze.

"Well...I mean, I'm...the week before we, um...yeah, I...had relations with another man, but, I mean, nothing went wrong with the protection then, I absolutely know that, I was stone cold sober...But...I mean, I don't remember anything at all about what went on with you that night in Vegas...just...that it was enjoyable." She blushed deeply and wiped away fresh tears before looking into Mystery's eyes. "Look, I'm ninety nine point nine percent sure it's yours...besides, I can't find the other man anywhere, so..." As she trailed off, she felt more tears spilling out of her eyes. With another sob, she hid her face in the handkerchief and muttered into the soft pink fabric. "It's all right if you don't want to raise what could be another man's child, though...like I said before, I can take care of it by myself."

Mystery cuddles up closer to Miriam and pats her on the head sympathetically, his heart beat finally slowed down, and his breath back to normal. No, no... There was no doubt about it, he had to take care of the kid, even if it wasn't his.

"No dear. Even if the kid's not mine, I'll still support it. I hope to dear God that it is, though."

Mystery smiled and continued to play with Miriam's hair, as she sniffled. She looked up at him with watery eyes, and was at a loss for words.

She didn't know how long they stayed like that, silently leaning against one another as they weighed the future before them. But later she would look back on the countless moments as though they had just stepped over the border of a new country, part of them wanting to run back home, part wanting to forge forward into a new territory, and another part dreading what would lay ahead of them if they took either of those courses. Finally, Miriam kissed Mystery's cheek gently to get his attention. She looked into his eyes for another silent moment, studying their brownish green depths to gather courage before speaking.

"So...would you like to get married?" It seemed audacious to ask on several levels, but she managed to swallow her anxiety. It regurgitated itself in the form of a hurried addendum. "I...I mean, we...you know, we don't have to. It's perfectly possible to raise a child without...you know, having the papers saying you're married. Besides, I...heh, I don't know how you'd feel about a Jewish wedding."

Mystery smiled and blushed a little as Miriam kissed him on the cheek. He never was one for making relationships last. He wasn't sure how that was going to work... He didn't want to have the kid lead an odd life, but he wasn't sure he loved Miriam enough to marry her. Thinking of a solution while sitting in his office, he smiled and stalled.

"Why don't we go out into the restaurant and get something to eat? Gotta keep the kid nourished!"

Taking her by the arm, he linked hands with her and took a seat at a booth towards the back of the restaurant. A few of the workers gave him an odd look, as if they were trying to size up whether he was okay or not after passing out. He merely nodded and summoned one of them over, ordering a baked chicken, and a bottle of wine. Turning to Miriam he asked,

"Would you like anything? My chefs are quite good if I don't say so myself."

Miriam gave a small laugh as he led her to the booth, but his dodging of the question didn't escape her attention. She gulped slightly and glanced over to the man. She tried to picture years, decades, with this man that she hardly knew anything about. A sudden clawing panic entered her heart, and she wanted suddenly to run away, far away, and then everything would be all right. She blinked. No it wouldn't. This was the best she could have in this situation. At least he wanted to support the child...provide a more stable home...but she could already imagine the challenges a child with unmarried parents would face. She slid into the booth across from Mystery, letting his hand gently rest over hers. He spoke with a waiter, ordering some food and wine. Miriam thought about food. She should eat something, even if there was still a vague nauseated feeling lurking in her stomach.

"Umm...just...how about some chamomile tea? Oh, and do you have cheesecake here? I could really go for some chocolate cheesecake suddenly."

Her eyes brightened suddenly as she realized how hungry she really was. She hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast--she'd been preoccupied with other things.

"And...and how about a roast beef sandwich and fries?"

The waitress nodded and jotted down her order without batting an eye. At the end she stopped and paused for a moment before continuing...

"I'm sorry ma'am but we don't serve cheesecake here. The rest I'll put in right away."

Mystery, quite oblivious to the interaction was staring out of a window in the distance. A breeze ruffled the trees, people clung to their spring-time jackets as they scurried along the streets. One man was waving his arms about, trying to get money from the people passing on. Poor guy, thought Mystery, if he doesn't move out of here soon some very nasty people are going to move in on him. Shrugging it off he looked at Miriam and smiled.

"Did you hear me?" She said, seeming slightly annoyed. "You were spaced out there for a second. I'm quite sure I walked in on you eating cheesecake earlier... Why did that woman just tell me you didn't serve it?"

Mystery chuckled and explained. "We don't. I'm the only person in this place who can make a decent one, and I don't sell it. I save it for special occasions. I'll go out back and tell them to bring you some." Miriam smiled giddily and nodded. As Mystery walked out back, he merely rolled his eyes at his workers, who were still concerned about his health.

"Oi. Bring me and my guest out a cheesecake please. Yes. I'm sure. Yes! Just do it." Mystery said fiercely. Apparently his chef didn't think it was the best idea to be eating something so sweet after passing out. He was paid to cook, not give advice Mystery thought. Taking a seat back at the table, Mystery smiled and confided, "Cheesecakes are actually one of my specialties."

"I didn't know you cooked, even...which I guess sounds kind of silly since you own so many restaurants."

She gave a small laugh and glanced out of the window, looking at the man asking for money. She shook her head before turning back to Mystery. Just as she gave him a small smile and squeezed his hand, the waitress arrived with their food. The cheesecake looked perfect, complete with a drizzle of chocolate sauce over it. Miriam picked up her fork and took a small bite of it before digging into anything else. She gave a wide smile and thumbs up before swallowing.

"That was delicious! Quite possibly the best cheesecake I've tasted...You could sell this for three dollars a slice and people would still buy it!" She chuckled and began to assault her main course with gusto uncharacteristic of her. Realizing her lack of manners, she shook her head and set the sandwich down, making sure to swallow and dab, ladylike, at her mouth before speaking.

"So, you're a good cook and dancer...For as...close as we've gotten, I don't know a terrible lot about you."

"Not many people do, dear."

Mystery smiled and ate his chicken, and sipped on his wine. He smiled thinking of the compliments she'd just paid him. He didn't think he was that good of a dancer... Or a chef for that matter, save for sweet goods. He shrugged and poured himself another glass of wine, offering one to Miriam as well.

"What is it that you'd like to know about me?"

Mystery smiled mysteriously, kissing the top of Miriam's hand.

"Also, I don't know that much about you! I mean... Obviously you're beautiful, intelligent, and fun to be around... But... Other than that?"

Mystery frowned slightly, just now fully realizing how little he really did know about the woman who was to be the mother of his child.

At his offer of wine, Miriam shook her head emphatically. "Oh, no thanks...when I'm pregnant, the smell of wine just...triggers unpleasant reactions."

She sipped her tea to buy a moment of thought. "What would I like to know about you? Well...I don't know, what kind of radio programs do you listen to, where'd you grow up, how do you like your job, do you go to the cinema often..." She blushed slightly and shook her head. "I...guess I just feel I should know a lot more about the father of my child." She glanced down to her food, wondering if she should just be grateful she actually got a conversation with the father-to-be this time. She looked back up to him with a grin.

"But you go first."

"When... you're pregnant?" Mystery said with a questioning voice. "Kind of implies you've been pregnant before. See, I know nothing about you!"

He gulped down another swig of wine and smacked his lips together, sending it back to the kitchen. No need for Miriam to be getting sick in the middle of his restaurant.

"Where did I grow up? Well I originated in Sicily, but I moved here when I was nineteen. I go to the cinema often enough I suppose... Though I'm more of the type to be seen out in public rather than a secluded area. I don't care much for enclosure, I'm a bit claustrophobic."

Mystery finished his chicken and smiled. He would have to give his chef a raise if he kept up the superb cooking like this. He had purposefully avoided the question about the job, he wasn't sure exactly how much to tell Miriam at this point. Of course he could keep up the pretense of his bar in New York, and this restaurant in Chicago... But really they were just places to clean his money.

"Heh...pregnant before..." Miriam shifted uncomfortably, rubbing her stomach. "I...well, that's a story for another time, I think, but...well, yeah, I have been, but I...lost it about five months in." She sighed and took another gulp of her tea, avoiding Mystery's eyes. "But, uh...I guess it's my turn to say a bit, then...I grew up in the Midwest--Illinois. Moved to New York to join the ballet...I got in, but it didn't end up working out. So, I started dancing in more...well, seedy places...then after I lost the baby I decided to become a businesswoman. Been doing pretty well since then. Oh, and I like Scottish terriers and my favorite color is apricot and I can't stand it when people throw trash on the ground right next to a trash can." She chuckled and took another bite of cheesecake, savoring the taste as she winked across the table to Mystery.

Mystery raised his eyebrows and laughed. She was easily the oddest person he'd ever met, and yet he was extremely intrigued. He looked her over again, and smiled. She definitely had the build of a dance, and the spunk to be whatever she chose to be. Hopefully the kid got her looks, he thought. And my...

"Hopefully the same thing doesn't happen this time, love... I was just thinking though... What if the kid turns out like me? I'm not really all that good at anything..."

Taking a sip of his drink, Mystery frowned and blushed, his lack of self-confidence all too apparent. He sat back and awaited a response, while trying to think of something good about himself.

Miriam laughed and gave Mystery an incredulous look.

"You're quite the good-looking man, my dear, if you'd take it from me. I'd love for my baby to look like you." She winked and took a bite of cheesecake, sighing happily. "Not to mention you're a great cook...and savvy businessman." She sat back, dabbing at her mouth once more as she rubbed her stomach. She had a feeling that she'd be begging for more food in an hour, despite the hearty meal she'd just eaten. Until then, she was feeling a gentle wave of fatigue lap at her consciousness. She blinked out of the window, watching the panhandler talk to a shady-looking man.