Chapter 4

The drive out was quiet, full of the silence that seemed like it was becoming a habit. Bobby stole a glance at her now and then, between long interludes of staring out the passenger-side window.

They still hadn't figured out what they were going to do about it. And he found himself working through all the scenarios mentally.

1: They decide to ask for their child back. Liz and Stan distance themselves from Alex, and there develops a huge rift in the Eames family. He and Alex move in together, bring the baby home, and immediately are thrown into a nightmare of unreachable expectations and very little sleep. The relationship lasts about a month, maybe two. She ends up with primary custody, and he gets Nathan about once a month. He wants more, but the truth is that's all he can handle on his own. Financially, she's on a shoestring and he's ruined.

Bobby scoffed at his own thoughts. Not that he's flush anyway, even now, without the added responsibility of a relationship and a baby, for Christ's sake!

2: Liz and Stan keep Nathan, with the knowledge that they are not his biological parents. Alex sees Nathan every week, either babysitting or visiting with her sister's family. Bobby sees him more sporadically, at family events, holidays, or when he happens to sneak over while Eames is babysitting. Nathan never realizes who his parents really are until he develops some characteristics of schizophrenia in early adulthood and the truth comes out when they are all working together to get him some kind of treatment. He hates Bobby and Alex for the rest of his life.

Bobby raked his fingers through his hair, stared at the cars in the lane beside them, and tried not to audibly sigh.

3. The truth is told, but the group of them decides not to change a thing. Bobby and Alex pretend they are not parents, that Nathan is really Liz and Stan's. Their family medical histories are always available and will help in the case of a dire emergency: loss of income, house, or the need for a bone-marrow transplant. Although they try carry on as if nothing has changed, Alex slowly distances herself from him. She harbors a silent hatred for him, blaming him for the loss of her one and only child.

"Bobby."

Her voice was so loud and unexpected that he nearly jumped out of his skin. He snapped his attention to her and tried to slow his heartrate. "What?!" he asked, irritated with her.

She tossed a look of confusion his way before shaking it off. "I think maybe we should just tell them what we know and give them some time to think about it. Maybe they will think of some options we haven't."

"Yeah. Fine," he grunted.

Alex's glance was full of annoyance. They were in this together, and she couldn't believe that he was upset with her. After all, he was the one who knew all along there was a chance…

She pulled into the driveway and killed the ignition. Neither of them moved for a moment, listening to the popping of the engine as it began to cool. Finally, Bobby's restless energy took over. Without a word, he opened the door and got out.

Alex had to follow.

Her sister was as warm and kind as always. Over Nathan's cries she reached out with one hand and hugged Alex. She patted Bobby on the shoulder and led them both inside.

The baby was in a full-out screaming fit. Liz's face was tired. She looked like she hadn't slept in… well, a month. She had to raise her voice to be heard over the baby's cries. "He cries a lot. The doctor says it's colic, that he'll grow out of it. Stan and I have tried everything! We changed formulas, we tried those additives that are supposed to help, we even got a prescription, but nothing seems to be working!"

"Where is Stan?" Alex asked, knowing the importance of their visit.

Liz was standing close to Bobby, so she handed the baby to him and took a few steps away, rubbing her temples with her fingers. She handed a clean cloth diaper to Alex, who quickly tucked it over Bobby's shoulder.

He looked down at the face of his son. The little face was a mixture of anger and pain. He cried so hard Bobby could see all of his gums.

Alex followed her sister into the kitchen and left Bobby to care for Nathan.

"He's gone to the store, said we were low on diapers." There was a sadness in the way she said it that made Alex think there was a lot more to Stan's absence than Liz was letting on.

Alex was moved with compassion for her sister. "Why don't we go… somewhere quieter. Bobby's got Nathan, and you look like you could use a break."

Liz looked up at Goren, who now had the infant tucked against his shoulder, gently patting his back. He gave her a nod.

"Thank you," she said, and Alex followed her out to the back deck. She left the door open a crack so she could hear if Bobby needed anything.

He watched the women walk outside, but then turned his full attention to comforting the baby. Bobby shifted him to the other arm, laid the diaper out on the cushion of the couch, and then placed him on his back over it. He gently prodded the infant's tummy, then started working his little legs. He pressed them up and then down, and then bicycled them in the air. After a few minutes, Nathan spit up. Without pausing to think, Bobby grabbed the child's arm and turned him to his side. He spit up again, more this time. Bobby wiped the baby's face with a clean corner of the diaper. He gently removed the baby's outfit, wiped his chest clean, and carried him over to the diaper bag. As Bobby rummaged for a new onesie, the women returned.

They were looking at him in shock. "How'd you do that?" Liz asked, astonished.

"W-what?" he asked. Alex removed Bobby's hand from the bag and found what he'd been looking for. She also pulled another clean diaper out.

"He's not crying now."

"Oh… Uh… I don't know. He spit up. Maybe it helped?" Bobby looked down at his son, then. The child's head rested against his shoulder, and he was sucking on his fist. His little eyes were closed, and he seemed perfectly content.

They disturbed him enough to get him dressed again, and Liz cleaned up the mess on the couch. Bobby sat down with Nathan on his shoulder, and the ladies sat down, too.

"Amazing," Liz breathed. "In a month, I can count on one hand the times he's settled down like this."

"Uh, m-my mother said I was colicky as a baby. Any time we ran into an infant somewhere, she just automatically started, uh, moving the baby's legs like that. She said it was a habit from when she cared for me." He looked from one woman to another, lingering a little longer on Alex's gaze. "I guess it's the only thing I know how to do with them," he smiled.

Liz smiled gratefully, leaned her head back against the backrest of the couch, and closed her eyes.

"D-do you think Stan will be back soon?" Alex asked. "I kind of… wanted to talk to you both… about… what's going on with Nathan." As she said it, Alex's fingers reached down and stroked the infant's back. If she weren't so enamored with the child, she would have been overwhelmed with attraction for Bobby, who seemed so completely comfortable with a baby in his arms.

"I don't know. The lawyers, the lawyers say they can eat the doctors alive for this. They've assured us that we'll win the case."

Goren and Eames shared a quick glance.

"C-can you call Stan?" Alex asked.

"Oh. Uh, sure." Liz got up and dug in her purse for her phone. She dialed, and her husband said he would come straight home. When she returned, Bobby was transferring the baby to Alex's arms. She'd carried him for nine months, but today was the first time she'd actually held him.

Liz saw Alex's face fill with joyful tears. "He's beautiful," Alex breathed, and glanced at her partner, then at her sister.

Bobby gave Alex a subtle nod, and he got out of the way, steadying her with his hand as she sat down in the chair he'd just been in. His hand lingered on her shoulder.

Liz admonished herself. "I should be offering you something to drink, or—"

"No, no!" Bobby stuck out his hand, palm up. "You should rest. I can do it."

"There's tea in a pitcher in the fridge and there are some sodas down in the bottom…"

"I got it," he called confidently.

Liz leaned back and closed her eyes again.

"You're exhausted," said Alex.

"He hasn't slept more than an hour here and there since we brought him home. They say you're supposed to sleep when they sleep, but with all the things that need to be done around here, I just can't seem to settle down enough to sleep." As if to illustrate her point, she got up and straightened a stack of magazines on the end table.

"Don't get me wrong, Alex, I'm grateful for what you did for me, for us. Nathan is a blessing, and I know that."

Alex's cheeks colored. The baby shifted slightly in his sleep. As she looked down at him, she saw his resemblance to Bobby. Silently, she wished for Stan to arrive as quickly as possible.

Bobby appeared with a can of soda for her and a glass of iced tea for her sister. He sat down on the arm of the chair Alex was in, and she saw his eyes fall on the baby again.

Liz smiled at them. "You look like a family," she commented, waving her hand in their direction.

A/N I'm still open to suggestions! Feel free to review or send me a PM to let me know what you think should happen!