Disclaimer: I do not own Alex Rider. Just a new pair of good old jeans.
One Shot: Babysitting (~1,225 words)
The doorbell rang quite a few times, effectively waking both Alex and Chris up.
"I'll get it.", Chris mumbled in her ear before rolling out of bed. He honestly was a morning person.
"Thanks.", Alex yawned. She stretched and hurried under the shower.
Chris simply put sweatpants on, before leaving the room.
When he opened the door he was tackled by an impatient niece of four years that leapt at him from her mother's side.
"Uncle Chris!", she exclaimed excitedly.
"Jules!", he mimicked her, laughing.
They both sat on the ground, Jules on top of her uncle. It was their special ritual.
"What is that on your arm, Uncle Chris?"
"A bird.", the green-eyed woman, his oldest sister, currently standing in the doorway observed.
"A big bird.", Jules added.
Chris managed to get up and hold her in his arms.
"It's an eagle, Eve.", he explained.
"Now that nick name your army friends gave you makes much more sense," Eve grinned. "Eagle, huh?"
"Why do you have an 'A' tattooed on your chest, Uncle Chris?"
Eve looked surprised at her brother. She had not known that he possessed any tattoos. But an A? On that spot?
"It's for someone special. I'll add a J for you," Chris explained to both of them.
"Awesome! Can I?"
"Sure, go ahead."
Jules had found a permanent black marker and drew a J next to the A.
Eve grinned and tried to picture what Alex would say if she found out about the new addition to the tattoo.
She didn't have to wait for long. (Two minutes, to be exact.) Chris tickled Jules when Alex came out of the bathroom. She wore a simple shirt, a pony tail and jeans, but to Jules she still looked like a fairy tale princess.
"I think Uncle Chris likes you because he has an A tattooed on his chest," Jules whispered to Alex.
"Does he?"
"Yes. I think it's for you. And he said I could add a J next to the A. J for Jules."
"Let me see how you did."
Alex made Chris sit stock-still and dramatically examined the J on his chest. It wasn't bad for a four-year-old.
Her acting earned her brownie points with Eve and Jules who were both giggling hopelessly at the end.
"Very nice writing.", complimented Alex; finally taking pity on her fiance.
They had breakfast together. Jules related a tale about a boy from kindergarten that was 'icky' and Chris teased her with it for a while. During the day, Chris and Alex would watch over his niece for Eve who had a few job interviews.
"I'm sorry to just barge in here and dump her on you. I know how seldom Chris is home."
"Oh, don't worry about it. I feel like I'm babysitting him half the time," Alex winked at her to-be sister-in-law. "One more four-year-old is no problem."
The woman laughed. "I really like you. It's surprising you didn't run yet."
Chris kissed Alex. "She's a keeper, Eve."
"You'll be late for your interview if you don't hurry," Alex reminded her.
Eve jumped up and ran.
When she returned later that day, a laughing Alex opened the door. "Come in. How did your interview go?"
"Well enough... How was Jules?"
"She fell asleep on the way back from the playground."
"You tired her out?"
"I might spend a lot of time behind a desk, but not even Chris can outrun me. He lasted thirty minutes though, the last time he tried..."
A chuckle interrupted her musings, coming from behind the blonde. "True. You are also very good at playing hide-and-seek."
It seemed to be an inside joke, because they both grinned.
Then Alex remembered Eve was still there. "Would you like to drink something? We have tea or coffee."
"I don't want to trouble you any further..."
"No worries. It was a fun day so far."
Eve caved then. Chris brought her a mug of tea, the way she liked it.
"So what do you do in your free time?"
"Usually some sort of activity. Dancing, Laser Quest, running, hiking, climbing, paintballing... Alex is trying to teach me how to cook something that doesn't set the smoke alarm off."
"Unsuccessfully.", Alex added, teasing him.
Eve had the impression that Alex was a very serious person and a banker was usually fairly reasonable. But why would she do all these things?
Probably for Chris.
"And what do you do to relax?"
Alex blushed faintly. "Something like today. Chasing Chris and Jules around the park, thinking about nothing but fun."
"You are a keeper. How in the world did you end up with Chris?"
"The question should be more like - how did he end up with me?"
"We talked about this..." Chris warned.
"I know. It doesn't change things though."
"No. But you did." Chris kissed her gently before checking on Jules.
Eve watched and analyzed. So there was something in their past? "How long have you been together?"
"Four years." Alex smiled. "Like I said - we both travel a lot."
Eve wanted to ask another question when Alex's phone rang.
Immediately the twinkle in the blonde's eyes was replaced by seriousness. "Yes? ... At home. ... No. I'll be there in thirty."
Jules squealed loudly. Chris tickled her most likely to wake her up for dinner.
"Yes. I'm on my way." Alex ended the call.
Chris saw her expression and a sad, knowing look entered his eyes.
She got on her toes to kiss him. "It's an emergency. I'm so sorry. She knows that it's a bad time."
"Just...be careful."
"I won't leave London."
Chris snorted as if her location didn't matter. "I love you. Come back as soon as you can."
"I love you too."
Then Alex went like she was, in jeans and t-shirt.
Chris stared after her until he couldn't see her anymore.
Eve put a hand on his shoulder, startling him. "I'm sorry to cut -"
"Don't be. We both had fun today."
"Does that happen often?"
"The emergencies? Sometimes. Before her promotion, she had to fly to some godforsaken place because a client was about to blow up. At least I don't have to worry about that anymore..."
"It sounds like her job is more trouble than yours."
"No... I just don't want her to get hurt while I'm not around to protect her."
"So you do love her?"
Chris smiled at his oldest sister. "I knew from the moment I saw her for the first time that she was different. And for me, Alex is perfect."
Eve smiled. "Mum already imagines what your kids will look like."
Oddly enough, the seriousness returned in his eyes. "Let's do this one step at a time. After two years I finally convinced her to marry me."
"Is she not as brave as we think then?"
"She is the bravest. It is just never as easy as it seems."
Eve thought this over. Jules eventually was sleeping again and when they went home, Alex still hadn't returned.