On Friday afternoon, after a few days of having had time to adjust to her new appetite and dietary needs, Alexis saved her work on her computer and back-up server, packed up the files she wanted to take home. Luis Gonsales' most recent parole visit made her fear he might be tempted to go back to his old habits. She could see him getting stronger, and did not want to see him slide back.

'It's a good feeling, isn't it baby,' she murmured, rubbing her belly, 'when you can help someone out who really needs it.'

The phone on her desk rang and she picked it up. 'Doctor Weaver.'

'There's a Missus Esposito here to see you and she brought company,' Prue the receptionist informed her.

'Marvelous.'

'Do you need me to clear your afternoon?'

'No, it's my short day today, Prue, they are my lunch dates. Tell them I'm on my way out now.'

Alexis giggled, wondered what combination of company Meredeth had with her. It wouldn't be Tessi or the twins, since they were in school, so Max, certainly, maybe Nessa and Heddie?

She got her answer when she reached the foyer of the clinic; to her surprise Meredeth was there with her Fab Four. Tessi was reading a brochure on bullying, with Leo and Trini looking around at the pictures on the walls while Max held fast to his mother's hand.

'Hello everyone!'

The children all looked up and smiled, came over to give Alexis hugs. 'No suh-kishin' the bumpy,' Max told her, giving her tummy a little pat. 'We can' have it going bump and hurtin' 'self.'

'Exactly right, Max,' Leo agreed, 'but remember what Mami and Daddy said?'

'Ummm, al-ways hol' hands when we cuh-rossin' the road?'

'Besides that,' Trini giggled.

'Oh! Mamis tummies made to be puh-ro-tec-tiff?'

'That's right, Professor Max!' Tessi gave her youngest brother a high-five. 'See, everyone's bodies have layers of muscles and fats and other stuff to keep their insides safe and when a lady has a baby growing in there, it has all those layers of stuff to protect it.'

'Ess-ack-lee,' Max nodded, and pushed his glasses up his nose, tapped his temple with his index finger. 'I'm a puh-ro-fess-ah, I'm suh-mart be-cause I lissen-a my big sisuh-ter.'

'And where'd you learn that Tessi?' Meredeth asked as she took Alexis bag for her, herded the chattering magpies out of the clinic to the brisk and warming March air.

'From listening to Lindsay and Andrea and Sloanie,' Tessi replied matter-of-factly, keeping a grip on Max's hand. 'They know lots about babies, just like you, Mami.'

'All well and good but aren't some of you supposed to be in school today?' Alexis asked as they headed for the subway to Chelsea.

'The teachers have meetings all day so we get to be home to help Mami bake you and your mini-bumpy treats,' Leo explained. 'They get to learn to be better teachers and we're gonna make lots of good healthy foods for your body so the baby grows up good and strong.'

'No sissy-pants in our family, no-no-no,' Max chirped, making Alexis laugh the entire time back to West Twenty-Fifth Street. They were greeted at the door by Tortuga, already growing into her feet and her voice as she sent up happy woofs her family was home. She sported a fluorescent blue collar decorated with equally neon yellow lightning bolts.

'Missy Tortuga got a new collar from Mami, just because,' Tessi said proudly, hugging her dog close. 'How's Mami's baby, huh, you keeping our castle safe?'

Tortuga responded by giving Tessi a big kiss on her cheek before moving over to Alexis and sniffing right at her belly under her navel. She gave a little growl of approval then trotted off to follow the children into the kitchen to scout for crumbs.

'Funny little thing,' Meredeth shook her head. 'I remember Artie doing that to Jenny when she was pregnant with Dell, he was so weirded out by the concept of a preggo belly.'

'Mami we need our aprons. Do we have a guest apron for Alexis?' Trini asked as she went to the kitchen sink to wash her hands.

'Alexis is going to be watching and keeping me company, Trini,' Meredeth replied, going to the cupboard to find the children's aprons each with their own unique design. 'She worked all day and it takes a lot of energy to grow a baby.'

'You grew me and my twin at the same time,' Leo pointed out, tying on his 'I'm a Be-Leaf-Er' apron from Mallory. 'You were twice as busy, and you had to look after little Tessi too.'

'I was a big help,' Tessi said regally, going to the fridge to get out various ingredients. 'What are we doing first, Mami?'

'Okay, here's how it is going to go.' Meredeth clapped her hands once and to Alexis' amazement all four children stopped what they were doing and watched their mother. 'Trini and Max, you guys are on baking duty so you are going to measure out the dry ingredients for the oatmeal cookies and granola bars. Tessi, I need you helping me on veggies for chilli and hot mess.'

'What about me, Mami?' Leo asked sweetly.

'Leo, I need you keep track of all the stuff we use. You remember where the list is on my phone?'

'Yes, Mami, I got it!'

Leo raced off to find Merdeth's iPhone, and Alexis quirked an eyebrow as Meredeth tok out pots and pans. 'Why doesn't he get to do anything hands on?'

'Just wait for it.'

Twenty minutes later, as Meredeth had ground turkey browning in a pan along with a stock-pot of red-sauce Alexis stood by watching as the ingredients went in. Shane was a good cook and she knew he'd be open to suggestions about keeping his pregnant wife happy. She was about to dip in a spoon when she saw Leo come up between her and Meredeth and start talking.

'So, we've just gotten a bunch of stuff together for making cookies, and granola bars, and Mami's got her spaghetti sauce going because she is going to make some delicious. Do you like soup?'

'Leo what are you doing?' Meredeth asked him absently, and Leo gave his mother a withering stare.

'I'm telling the baby what's going on, Mami! It has very little ears and it's underneath all those body-parts layers, like Tessi said, so I gotta be nearby so it'll hear me,' he explained, then looked up at Alexis. 'Sheesh. She had four babies, you'd think Mami knows these things.'