Author's Note: Alex and Lewis… Come on guys. Don't you trust me? We have a long way to go, but it will all be worth it. And there will be fun little BA bits all along the way. Dose number one of BA shippy goodness. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own. I don't get paid. It's all fun and games until someone gets sued. So don't sue me, because you won't get anything.
Title: The Ivy Green
Chapter: 7
That Saturday Bobby looked around his apartment. It was neat and sparse aside from a phenomenal collection of books. It didn't look very festive, though. Or child friendly.
"Alex, are you busy?" he asked her over the phone.
She looked down at the crossword puzzle she was doing. "Not really," she said. "What's up?"
"I think I need to get a Christmas tree," said Bobby. "Want to come with me?"
"You've never had a Christmas tree as long as I've known you," said Alex.
"I've never had Ivy before either," said Bobby. "My apartment doesn't look very inviting."
Alex chuckled. "Okay, Bobby," she said. "I'll help you deck the halls for Ivy."
xxx
Alex picked Bobby up around noon to go shopping for a tree. "Do you want a real tree or an artificial tree?" she asked.
"Real, defiantly," said Bobby. "Know of any tree lots?"
"There's a nice one in Queens near my parents house," said Alex. "Mom wants us to stop by anyway. I think she wants to ask you about Ivy."
"Okay," said Bobby. "How was your date?" he asked.
"I had a really nice time," said Alex.
"I'm glad," said Bobby. He wasn't looking at her, so she couldn't see how not glad he looked.
xxx
It took Bobby more than an hour to find the perfect tree. Alex was beginning to think he'd lost his mind. "It's my first Christmas tree on my own," said Bobby. "And Ivy's first Christmas with me. I want it to be perfect." The tree was large, but not too big. The man at the lot helped them tie it to the roof of Alex's car.
Then they went to Alex's parents house, where Annette Eames insisted on fixing them lunch.
"Bobby," said Annette. "What sort of things does Ivy like?"
"She loves reading," he said. "And she likes to ice skate. Why?"
"I wanted some ideas for what to get her for Christmas," said Annette.
"Mrs. Eames, you don't need to do that," said Bobby.
"No child is going to have Christmas in this house without a few presents under the tree," said Annette. "You and Ivy are family."
Bobby looked like he would protest more. Alex put a hand on his arm. "Give up. Her mind is set on it. Besides, I agree," she said.
"I really should know better than to argue with the women in this family," said Bobby.
"You're damn right you should," said Alex. Bobby chuckled and held up his hands in surrender.
"We'll need to get a tree stand and some lights and decorations," said Alex.
Bobby nodded.
xxx
"Do you want colored lights or white ones?" asked Alex, looking at the selection at the store.
"Which do you like?" asked Bobby.
"I like the colored ones," said Alex. "They look like twinkling candy."
"How many strands do you think that tree will need?" he asked.
Alex mentally calculated. "Four or five," she said.
"I'll get five to be safe," he said. She nodded in agreement. Bobby moved on to a selection of glass balls. He chose several boxes of different colors.
"Hey, look at these," called Alex. She indicated a selection of ornaments with names on them. She held out ones that said Bobby and Ivy. Bobby smiled.
"I like them," he said. He plucked one from the 'a' section when she wasn't looking.
"Let's get some candy canes," said Alex.
"Good idea," said Bobby. Alex found them.
"Which flavor do you want?" she asked.
"I thought they only came in peppermint," said Bobby, joining her by the candy canes.
"Not anymore," she said. "Behold, candy canes in every flavor imaginable."
Bobby selected peppermint and juicy pear flavored. "What else does it need?"
"A topper," said Alex.
They found the store's selection. Bobby spotted one immediately. It was a brown haired angel with glasses holding a book. "This one," he said, holding it up. "It's Ivy."
Alex grinned. "Perfect."
"Should we get tinsel?" asked Bobby.
"You'll be finding it in your apartment until June," said Alex. Bobby made a face. "How about a bead garland instead?"
"Sounds good," said Bobby.
xxx
It was after six when they got back to Bobby's apartment and got all of the trimmings inside. "How about we order in Chinese food?" asked Bobby.
"You know what I like," said Alex, busily opening the tree stand. "Where do you want the tree?"
Bobby indicated the corner as he dialed the restaurant.
Alex began to set up the tree stand. "You want a beer?" Bobby asked, heading for the kitchen with the phone.
"Yes, please," she called after him.
He returned a moment later and handed her a beer. He'd already popped the top off for her. "Thanks," she mouthed to him because he was talking to the restaurant.
By the time Bobby was done on the phone, Alex had set up the tree stand. "Are you ready?" asked Bobby, hoisting the tree.
"Uh-huh," affirmed Alex. He brought the tree over and set it in the stand. Alex crawled under it and screwed the support screws into the trunk. "Is it level?" she asked.
"Looks good to me," said Bobby. Alex crawled out and Bobby reached down to help her up.
"Time for the lights," said Alex. "You hold them and I'll wrap them around the branches."
Working together they managed to finish putting lights on the tree by the time dinner arrived. They stopped to eat. Alex turned on the TV. It's A Wonderful Life was just starting.
"I've always thought this was the most perfectly romantic movie," said Alex. Bobby raised his eyebrows at her. "What? Don't you like the movie?"
"I've just never heard you refer to anything as romantic," said Bobby.
Alex reached across him for an egg roll. "I think girly thoughts once in awhile, Goren," she said.
"I don't believe you," he said, laughing. She elbowed him in the side, then settled against him to eat. Bobby was pleasantly surprised by her closeness.
They left the movie on while they finished decorating the tree. It was about twenty minutes from being over when they finished decorating the tree. Alex hung the Ivy and Bobby ornaments on the tree. "It looks great," she said, standing back with Bobby to admire their handiwork. "I really like the angel you picked out."
"It's missing something," said Bobby.
She looked at him curiously. He took another ornament from a bag and put it on the tree. "Now it's perfect," he said.
The ornament had her name on it. She jumped up to kiss his cheek. He put an arm around her as they gazed at the tree. They sat down on his couch to watch the last of the movie. She cuddled against his side and he kept his arm around her.
xxx
"Good morning," he whispered.
Alex stirred. She awoke to find herself sprawled half on top of Bobby on his couch. "Hi," she said.
"Are you comfortable?" he asked, his breath tickling her forehead.
"Actually, yeah," she said. "You?"
He smiled. "Fine," he said. He tightened his arm around her. "Still sleepy?"
"Shhh," she said. "Not awake." He chuckled softly.
"Okay, go back to sleep," he said. When he was sure she was asleep he gave in to the temptation to kiss her forehead.
Author's Note: Did that help assuage the hurt of Alex and Lewis? I meant what I said in the beginning note. We have a long way to go. But it will be worth it if you're willing to come on the ride.
