Title: Return to me

Author: Kathi

Rating: Probably R due to some parts... maybe PG-13?

Pairing: Bobby/Alex

Summary: Um.. Just read? :D It's fluff.

Disclaimer: Sadly, the only part of L&O: CI that I own is the Season 1 DVDs.

Don't sue me!

Archive: Yes to AI, anywhere else, email me.

Feedback: God yes! Send it my way, I'll love it and you forever. :D

Alex Eames walked quietly along the shoreline of the North Wildwood beach in

New Jersey. She couldn't believe the events that transpired to lead her

here. One moment she was a detective with the Major Case squad, happily

working alongside her partner, Bobby Goren, and now she was alone, miserable

and walking at a beach in New Jersey, feeling the cool air and letting the

water lap up against her feet. Pausing briefly, she let her hands rest on

her slowly growing belly and sighed. She had already arrived in New Jersey

when she was positive she must be pregnant. Two pregnancy tests and an

appointment at a clinic later, she learned her feelings were correct. This

time, she wasn't going to be a surrogate. She was actually going to be

someone's mother. She had created life.

She had created life... with her partner, Bobby.

"Bobby", she muttered to herself. Just saying his name made her want to cry.

She remembered the first time they

met. How he constantly amazed her with his profiling abilities. How he

listened, really listened to her input on cases and made her feel like they

were a team, rather than making it seem like she was just his shadow. How

his eyes intently focused on her own when they were talking together. How

those eyes made her melt everytime she was with him.

She remembered the moment she knew she was in love with him. They were

walking together in the snow, on the way to visit a suspect in a murder case

when Bobby slipped on some ice and fell. Worried he'd hurt himself, she

asked him if he was alright and put her hand out to help Bobby up. He

grinned slyly at her, got up, and before she knew it, he had pelted her in

the face with a snowball. She laughed, threw one back at him and missed. He

grabbed her arm, linked it with his and looked into her eyes. Looking at

Bobby she saw something she had never seen there before. Tenderness in his

eyes, mixed with a silly smile. Suddenly she wanted to kiss him and never

let him go. "I love this man." She'd thought to herself.

Alex wandered over to a bench, zipped up her sweater to combat the balmy

beach weather, and continued remembering.

Three months went by, and everyday Alex found herself more and more in love

with Bobby. She tried her best to keep her feelings secret, not wanting her

feelings to become gossip in the office. Then on a Friday, she worked up her

nerve, and asked Bobby to give her a lift home. He agreed, not noticing the

flush that colored Alex's cheeks. They finished the day out early, and

before she knew it, he had arrived at her apartment building.

"Well, here we are." Bobby said quietly. Alex looked at him, trying not to

blush. "Does he have any idea what the sight of him does to me?" she thought

to herself. She reached out and touched Bobby's hand. He looked at her,

surprised.

"Bobby... w-w-want to c-come up for a d-d-drink?" She stammered.

Questions marked Bobby's eyes. She thought she was going to pass out on the

spot. All of a sudden, Bobby relaxed and smiled at her. "Sure."

They took the elevator up to Alex's floor, talking about the case they were

working on. With shaking hands, Alex opened the door to her apartment and

turned the light on. "Make yourself at home." she whispered, "I'll go get

some beers."

She emerged from her kitchen a few minutes later and found Bobby looking at

the pictures she had of herself and her family on her wall. "Oh God", she

thought, "Just what I need. Bobby looking at me as a kid." Smiling

hesitantly, she placed the beers down on her coffee table and laughed

quietly. Bobby turned around with a smile and said,

"You know, you were adorable as a kid."

Blushing furiously, Alex managed a hoarse thank you and sat down. Bobby sat

down next to her, sipped his beer and started up a discussion with Alex

about a movie he had just seen. Alex hadn't seen the movie, but she smiled

and laughed when Bobby said the director of the movie must have learned how

to direct movies off of a box of Wheaties. She felt so comfortable around

Bobby, it was one of the reasons she loved him. How one look from him, one

smile could make her feel at home no matter where she was. The minutes

turned into hours, and when they heard Bobbys watch beep, they both looked

at it and laughed. It was two in the morning, they had managed to completely

loose track of time.

They stood up together and smiled at each other. "Alex, I had a really nice

time tonight." Bobby told her.

Smiling, Alex replied, "I did too. Who knew you were such good company?"

Chuckling, Bobby grabbed Alex and pulled her into a hug. She wrapped her

arms around Bobby and took a deep breath. He smelled so good. She looked up

at Bobby, and found him gazing at her intently. She felt shivers travel down

her back and smiled at him. "It's now or never Alex, just make a move

damnit!" She told herself. With shaking hands, she pulled Bobby's face

towards hers, and gently kissed him.

Alex shivered at the sensation of remembering their first kiss. She felt his

surprise, but nearly melted onto the floor when Bobby relaxed and kissed her

back. She gently explored Bobby's mouth with her tounge and moaned softly

when she felt Bobby's mouth do the same.

Alex blinked back tears, got up, and started walking along the shoreline

again. She remembered feeling Bobby's hands caressing every inch of her

body. She remembered letting her hands wander down Bobbys front and pulling

his shirt over his head, needing to feel his skin touch hers. She remembered

crying out when she felt Bobby slowly entered her, seeing the need and

desire in his eyes and arching to meet his thrusts. Alex climaxed first,

screaming "Bobby!!" Bobby followed shortly after, moaning and looking into

her eyes the whole time.

Alex paused momentairly, letting tears stream down her face as her thoughts

about what happened next consumed her.

Immeadiately after they had made love, Bobby got up abruptly and started to

get dressed.

"Bobby?" She said hesitantly. He looked back at her oddly. "I have to go."

"Why? Bobby, you can spend the night, you don't have to go."

"I have to go because... Look Alex, this was wrong. We shouldn't have done

this. We're partners. We're friends. We can't let anything mess that up."

Bobby told her quietly.

She looked at him with tear filled eyes. "Bobby, it wasn't wrong. We can

work this out. We can --"

"NO, Alex, we can't." Bobby finished getting dressed. "I'll see you on

Monday, alright? I just... can't deal with this right now." He paused

briefly, and looked at Alex. "I'm sorry." He walked out the door, leaving

Alex alone with her tears.

The following two months were horrible for both of them. Bobby was distant

and brooding, Alex was upset and trying to hold back her tears as they

worked on cases together. Bobby wasn't listening to her anymore. He was

short and abrupt when they spoke, leaving Alex even more upset. Finally,

Alex couldn't take it anymore. She walked into Captain Deakins's office,

shut the door, and sat down.

"Eames! I'm glad you're here. I've been meaning to talk to you." Captain

Deakins said cheerfully.

"You have?" Alex asked. The captain responded by getting up, walking over

and putting a hand on her shoulder.

"What's with you and Goren? I've seen the way you two have been acting.

You're hardly communicating, and when you are you don't seem to be getting

along."

Alex tried not to cry. "I've messed things up, Captain. I don't think things

between Goren & I will ever be the same again."

The captain looked at her, sympathetically. "Now Eames, I'm sure things will

be alright in the end. Don't worr--"

"Captain I need some time off. I can't take what's going on here... I need

to get away. Goren will survive without me for a few weeks. He probably

won't even notice I'm gone." She interrupted.

The captain paused, and eventually agreed. They agreed for Alex to be gone

for four weeks, with the condition that wherever Alex went she would call

the Captain to let her know how she was doing. She nodded her agreement, and

left the office knowing Bobby's eyes were on her as she walked away.

The next day she had caught a train to New Jersey... she immediately found a

small hotel off the North Wildwood beach. She thought the time alone,

staring at the ocean, letting the waves sooth her would do her good. She

wanted to get her head together and forget about Bobby. But the more time

she was away from him, the more she knew she loved and needed Bobby

desperately. He was the only constant in her life, the only person who could

make everything go away just by looking at her, and she wanted nothing more

to wrap her arms around him and never let him go.

After she found out she was pregnant, she had pondered calling Bobby. "He

has a right to know," she thought to herself. "But what if he doesn't want

to be there for the baby and I? What if I've wrecked things so badly he

wants nothing more to do with me ever again?" She ended up not calling

Bobby, but called the Captain instead.

"Alex, it's good to hear your voice. I was worried about you. How are you?

Where are you?" The captain asked anxiously.

"I'm OK, Captain. I'm in New Jersey, off the North Wildwood beach." she

replied.

"Are you feeling any better? You know, Alex... I talked to Goren." He said.

Feeling her heart stop, she asked, "How is he? Is he alright, has he driven

his temporary partner insane yet?"

The captain chuckled. "He's driven him crazy, yes. He... he's not doing so

well otherwise."

"What's going on???" Alex demanded, "Is he hurt??"

"No nothing like that. He... he misses you, Alex. He wants you to come back.

He says he's got some things he needs to say." The captain said gently.

Blinking back tears, Alex muttered, "I miss him too... More than anything.

There's more, Captain. I'm... I'm pregnant. I found out about a week after I

got here."

The captain sighed. "So Goren is the father, then? That's what happened?"

"Y-Yes. Captain, we didn't mean for it to happen... It... just happened."

Alex said miserably.

"It's OK, Alex. But you really need to tell Bobby." "I know, Captain. Just..

please don't mention you talked to me. I... can't face him yet."

The captain sighed again. "Alright Alex... Call me in a week, let me know

how you're doing. And take care of yourself, you're not alone in this, you

know."

Alex smiled. "Thanks, Captain."

A week went by, and Alex found herself walking again along the shoreline of

the beach. She found herself rubbing her growing belly, noticing her

pregnancy even more. "I'm going to look like a hippo again." She muttered to

herself. She wandered over to her now usual bench, and sat down.

Automatically her thoughts turned to Bobby. She missed him so much. She knew

she had probably made a mistake running away, but still felt the time away

from Bobby would do them both good. When she got back, she would sit Bobby

down, tell him how she felt, and hold nothing back. She wondered how Bobby

was doing, if he still missed her. Her thoughts were interrupted by a radio

playing nearby. She tried to tune the radio out, but the words struck a

chord with her and before she knew it, she was in tears.

I will be the answer at the end of the line

I will be there for you while you take the time

In the burning of uncertainty I will be your solid ground

I will hold the balance if you can't look down

If it takes a whole life I wont break I wont bend

It'll all be worth it worth it in the end

'Cause I can only tell you what I know

That I need you in my life

And when the stars have all burned out

You'll still be burning so bright (Answer, by Sarah McLachlan)

Those words rang in her head. She wiped her tears away, and wished Bobby was

there. "Bobby... Return to me, please." She whispered. A strong wind wafted

through the air, leaving Alex shivering. She got up, turned to go back to

her hotel and stopped dead in her tracks.

Bobby Goren was walking towards her.

Alex stood there, at a loss for words. "B-Bobby?" she croaked out. Bobby

quickly closed the distance between them, saying nothing. They stood there,

looking at each other. Suddenly, Bobby reached out and hugged her fiercely.

She thought she had to be dreaming. "This can't be real" she said out loud.

Bobby looked into her eyes and smiled. "But it is. I'm here."

She started to cry again and hugged him closer to her. She looked up at

Bobby and saw his own eyes were watering. "Alex..." He began, "I'm.. I'm so

sorry."

"H-How did you f-find me?" she stammered. "N-Not that I don't want you here,

but I-"

"The captain. I knew he'd talked to you, and when he refused to tell me

where you were, I made it my buisness to ask him, repeatedly, until he told

me." Bobby replied with a slight twinkle in his eyes despite his attempts

not to cry. "One might say I drove him crazy."

Alex giggled, despite herself. "I'm glad he told you, Bobby... I missed you,

so much."

They sat down on the bench together, holding hands. Bobby caressed her hand

with his own, and took a deep breath. "Alex, I'm so sorry for what happened.

I was such an asshole to you, and it wasn't fair. Instead of us talking

things out, I pushed you away... Then you were gone, and all I did was miss

you and curse myself for not saying how I really felt."

Alex exhaled slowly and tried to smile. "H-How do you really feel?"

Bobby wiped his eyes, and reached out to caress her cheek. "Most people

consider me difficult to work with. I considered myself difficult to work

with even. That all changed... When I met you. Suddenly, I was partnered

with this amazing individual, who where people wouldn't listen, listened.

Who where people wouldn't understand, understood. I just couldn't see it

until you were gone, Alex." He said quietly, "We're a part of a puzzle, you

and I. When we're apart, the puzzle is incomplete. When we're together, the

puzzle is together.. whole."

Alex wiped her own eyes and tried to speak. "Bobby, I---"

Bobby gently put his finger to her lips. "I, I need to say this, Alex. After

we made love, I knew.. I knew I was in love with you. I think I've always

known, but I was just too chickenshit to see it. You... You're the most

amazing woman I've ever known. You're the one thing in my life that shines.

But I was afraid."

"Afraid? Why?" Alex blurted out.

Bobby smiled slightly. "Alex... Relationships aren't exactly my strong suit.

Every relationship I've had with a woman has ended up with them walking out

because I was too afraid to let anyone in. It's different with you, Alex.

I've let you in, and as much as that might scare me," He murmured, "I can't

deny my feelings for you any longer. I love you, Alexandra Eames. You've

penetrated deep within me, and I never want to let you go."

Alex, crying openly, hugged Bobby close to her. "I love you, Robert Goren.

You're the one constant I've always needed. I was so stupid to think leaving

would make everything better."

Bobby looked at her, smiling slowly. Alex looked back at him and found

herself doing the same. Gently, he wiped away her tears, cupped her face in

his hands, and kissed her tenderly. She opened her mouth, returning his kiss

with everything in her.

Suddenly, she realized she had one more thing to tell Bobby. Breaking off

the kiss, she stood up. Bobby stood up a second later, looking at her,

questioningly. "Alex..?"

"Bobby," she whispered, "I have something to show you." She rolled up her

shirt, exposing her abdomen. She reached out for Bobby's hand and placed it

on her stomach. Bobby held his hand there, staring at her stomach with wide

eyes. "A-Alex, a-a-are you pregn-pregnant?" Bobby stammered, his eyes never

leaving her stomach.

"Yes, Bobby. I am. I think you what brought that about." She replied with a

grin.

He looked at her intently. "We.. we made life?" "Yes Bobby, we did."

He kept looking at her. "We made life." He muttered to himself. "We... Made

life." He repeated that several times, letting the words sink in. Suddenly,

a wide grin was plastered across his face. He grabbed her and kissed her

again, with intensity.

"I'm going to be someone's father. We're going to have a baby." Bobby said

in a daze. Alex felt her eyes water as she looked at him. "Hey..." Bobby

said gently, pulling her close to him. "What's wrong?"

"You said we're going to have a baby." she choked out. "You can't even begin

to imagine how much that means to me that you want to be there and in our

lives."

"Where else would I be, Alex? As I said," Bobby said gently, kissing her

cheek. "I'm never letting you go. The fact that we're going to have a baby

is so... wonderful. I've never been good with children, but this baby...

it's going to be a part of you and me. I already love it. And I love you."

"I love you too, Bobby." Alex replied before kissing him deeply.

Bobby broke the kiss and sat her down on the bench. He sat down, leaned

towards her stomach and said,

"Hi there. I'm your Dad. I can't wait to meet you." He kissed her stomach

and smiled.

He sat back up and put his arm around Alex. Alex rested her head on his

shoulder, not knowing what the future held, but took comfort in the fact

that at least she wouldn't have to face the future alone.