Author's Note: Well, here you go. This is the last update until next Wednesday because of my New York trip. I am sooooo excited. I wish you could all come with me. I will update my livejournal while I'm gone if my hotel room has internet. My LJ account is marajade329. Feel free to stop by. Leave me a message and say hello if you do. I'll look forward to updating this story again on Wednesday.

Disclaimer: Law & Order: Criminal Intent belongs to Dick Wolf, NBC, and Wolf Films, et al. The characters and setting are borrowed without permission. This is a work of fan fiction. The plot belongs to me. I am making no money from this. I humbly request not to be sued.

Title: The Ivy Green

Chapter: 11

"What'd you get?" asked Bobby when Ivy and Elizabeth returned.

Ivy smiled. "I'm not telling," she said.

Bobby raised his eyebrows, which only made her smile more. Elizabeth pulled Alex aside. "I got her shoe size," she said. "Like mom wanted. Four."

"Good," said Alex. "I'll get the skates."

"Get fives," said Liz. "They run small." Alex nodded.

xxx

The group shopped together for a couple of hours. Ivy bought a couple of books and a magazine for her dad. $83 - $24 $59. She picked out a cat figurine for Mrs. Bell. $59 - $8 $51. Caleb was yawning and it was becoming readily apparent it was time for his afternoon nap.

"I'm going to take him to the toy store for a few minutes," said Elizabeth. "Then we need to head home. Alex, do you want to come with us?"

"I have some more shopping to do," said Alex. "Bobby, can we share a cab home?"

Bobby smiled. "Of course we can," he said. "I have some more shopping to do, too. Ivy, how about you?"

"I need to get something for Shyné," she said. "And I'd like to go to the dollar store to get some little toys for the younger kids at the center."

"And something for yourself?" asked Bobby. "That was supposed to be your Christmas present."

"If I have any left," Ivy said brightly.

Alex chuckled softly.

Caleb gave first Alex, then Ivy a hug. He and Elizabeth went off toward the toy store. "Flirt," Bobby muttered, smiling to himself.

"Maybe we should split up for a while after lunch," said Alex. "Cover more ground."

"Sounds like a good idea," said Bobby. "Where do you want to go first, after lunch, Ivy?"

"Shyné likes hair stuff and makeup," she said. "Maybe a girly accessories store."

"What should we do for lunch?" asked Alex. "I'm starving."

"How about the food court," said Bobby. They went to go eat lunch.

xxx

Ivy spent thirty minutes in a boutique and finally selected several hair accessories and some lip-gloss for Shyné. $51 - $23 $28.

The next stop was the dollar store where Ivy picked out a batch of toys for the little kids at Stuyvesant Foster Care Center. $28 - $24 $4.

"You barely have any left for you," said Bobby.

"That's okay," said Ivy, recounting the toys she had bought. Thirteen dolls and eleven toy cars. "I wouldn't want any of the little ones to get jealous. It's like having a whole bunch of little siblings. I don't feel like an only child anymore. They don't really get a lot of presents. The center can't afford it."

Bobby smiled tenderly at the back of her head. He wondered if he would have been so generous if he were in her situation.

"You aren't mad, are you?" she asked, suddenly looking up at him. "You said I could spend it how ever I wanted."

"No, Ivy," he said, smiling at her. "I'm not mad. The kids at the center have a very nice big sister." She grinned. "Let's go to the toy store," said Bobby. "I still need to get presents for the Eames children. Any ideas yet for the girls?"

"Barbie dolls, maybe," said Ivy. "Let's go look. Maybe we'll see something inspiring."

Bobby's cell phone rang. "Goren," he answered out of habit. He saw from the ID that it was Alex.

"Hi," she said. "Mom was wondering if you wanted to bring Ivy over to meet her and dad tonight, before the whole clan comes in. She's making meatloaf. Since Ivy's really shy I thought it might be good."

"You have a point," said Bobby. "I'll ask her what she thinks." He turned to Ivy. "Alex wants to know if you want to go meet her parents tonight, so you get the Eames clan in small doses."

Ivy arched an eyebrow at him. "I guess that would be okay," she said.

"Ivy says yes. So we'll head there after here," said Bobby.

"Good," said Alex. "My mom can't wait to meet her."

Bobby chuckled. "Okay, we'll call you in a little while when we're done shopping."

He hung up the phone. Bobby and Ivy continued on their way to the toy store.

Ivy looked at the Barbie dolls and selected two that she thought Cassie and Sarah might like. Bobby agreed. Ivy picked out two extra outfits for her to give Cassie and Sarah for the dolls. She made her purchase while Bobby was finding a toy for Caleb. $4 - $3.65 $.35.

That was when she spotted the dog. He was a soft-bodied plush Siberian husky, big enough to give a good hug to, small enough to hold in your arms. He had bright blue acrylic eyes shining in the lighting of the store. She went over and picked up the stuffed animal. She gave him a cursory cuddle. His fur was so soft. She smiled.

"You like him?" asked Bobby, coming up beside her.

"He's wonderful," she said, her eyes shining. Bobby could see how much she liked the toy. "I love his expression. He seems curious, don't you think?"

"That he does," said Bobby.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

"I have to pay for these," he said, holding up the dolls and a Tonka truck he'd selected for Caleb.

He watched Ivy out of the corner of his eye as he made his purchases. She was whispering something to the dog. Bobby smiled. "Can I pay for that dog, too?" Bobby asked the cashier. "And when I leave, will you grab it and put it behind the counter. My friend will come get it in a few minutes. I want to surprise my niece."

"Sure, we can do that," said the cashier. She grinned at Bobby. "She'll be very surprised. What's your friend's name so I know who to give the dog to?"

"Alex Eames," said Bobby. "Thank you." He paid for his purchases and pulled out his phone.

He text messaged Alex about the toy dog. She affirmed that she would come get it. Bobby laughed to himself. He was glad he could give Ivy something for Christmas. Ivy put the dog back on the shelf and came over to him. "I told him I hope he finds a good home," she said as they left the toy store.

"I'm sure he will," said Bobby.

"Where to now?" asked Ivy. "Have you bought all the presents you're going to buy?"

"I still need to get something for Alex's parents," he said. "To say thank you for making us part of their family."

Ivy looked dubious, but didn't protest. "What did you get Alex?" she asked.

"After dinner tonight we need to go pick up Alex's present from the pet store near my apartment," he said. "I got her a pair of love birds. She used to have a parakeet but he died. She misses him."

"That's a nice gift. It'll be hard keeping them a surprise, though. Birds have a tendency to make noise," said Ivy.

Bobby nodded. "I talked to Alex's dad. He's going to meet us outside when we get there tomorrow and hide the birds in his workshop."

"How come Alex doesn't have any kids of her own?" Ivy asked thoughtfully. "She seems to love Caleb very much."

"She does," said Bobby. "Sometimes I think Alex regrets not having any children. Her husband was a cop, too. He died eight years ago. She spends most of her time at work like me, now. She was a surrogate for Elizabeth. She gave birth to Caleb."

"I bet it was hard to give him up," Ivy said. "I can't imagine it."

"It was hard for her," said Bobby. "But she sees him at least twice a week. And she is his favorite aunt."

Ivy smiled. "He's a sweet kid," she said.

Bobby nodded. "Let's go in here," he said. They were at a candle store, and he suspected he might find a nice gift for Annette Eames inside.

Author's note: I'm not kidding when I say I live for reviews. Feed the junkie!!! Thoughts on Bobby's gift for Alex?