Author's Note: I'm sorry I'm so late. My life has revolved around finding a room and a job. It's like Virginia Woolfe said, I need a room of my own. Short chapter today, but I figured it was better than making you guys wait any longer.

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: An Ordinary Family

By: Marion the Geek

Chapter: 25

Bobby held his partner close for awhile in the Cosmic Diner. Neither seemed particularly inclined to break the hug, now that they'd reached such a happy decision. After a moment Bobby asked, "When should we tell Ivy?"

Alex looked uncertain as she sat up. "I haven't told anyone in my family yet," she said. "I don't know how to broach the subject."

"Ivy… she knows something's up," he said. "She asked me what I was wrestling with when I picked her up last night. I told her it wasn't my place to tell her yet."

"Could I tell her?" Alex asked. "I kinda want to make sure it's okay with her. You know, woman to woman."

"I don't want her to feel like I kept something from her," said Bobby. "This is… well, this is big. Let's tell her together."

"Okay," said Alex, a smile tugging at her lips. "When do you want to tell her?"

"Is tonight too soon?" asked Bobby. "I'm…" He smiled. "I'm excited."

She laughed and ruffled his hair. "Okay, we'll tell her tonight," she said. She frowned suddenly. "I just thought… How are we going to explain this to Ross? He'll have to know. You'll be tagging along on my appointments. He's bound to be suspicious."

"We'll tell him the truth," said Bobby. "If the brass knows ahead of time we won't be accused of breaking partner fraternization policy."

"Let's tell Jimmy Deakins first," she suggested with a grin. "Like a trial run." The pair was supposed to have dinner with Deakins and his wife Angie the following day.

Bobby chuckled. "Okay," he said. He locked eyes with her and smiled. "I… I'm glad you asked me," he said, covering her hand with his.

"Me too," she said.

xxx

Bobby picked up Ivy from the Eames' house just after six. "You look cheerful," she said when she got in the car.

"I am, kidlet," he said, smiling at her.

"You sorted out what you were wrestling with yesterday?" she asked.

"I did," he said. "Listen, Ivy. Alex and I have some news. We thought it would be best if we told you together, so Alex is coming to dinner tonight, okay?"

"Okay," said Ivy, a little confused. She laughed to herself suddenly. "Did you finally ask Alex to marry you?"

Bobby coughed roughly and turned to stare at her at the next stoplight. "No," he said. "I did not ask my partner to marry me." He applied careful emphasis to the word partner.

Ivy snickered. Over the ten months she'd been living with Bobby, his vehement denials of his feelings for his partner had become one of her favorite amusements. "Okay," she said. "I thought it was worth a shot."

"Ha, ha," Bobby grumbled. Ivy turned toward the passenger side window, grinning.

xxx

Bobby cooked steak and baked potatoes and broccoli for them all for dinner. After dinner, Ivy cleared away the dishes and put them in the dishwasher, as was her chore. Alex and Bobby moved to the den, and after a moment, Ivy joined them.

She sat down in the chair opposite her uncle and his partner on the couch. "So," she said. "What was it you wanted to tell me?"

Alex and Bobby looked at each other, uncertain of how to begin. Bobby looked at Ivy who was watching them curiously. "Perhaps we should…" he cleared his throat. "Perhaps we should start at the beginning."

"Reasonable," said Ivy.

"You wanted to know what I was wrestling with," said Bobby.

"Yes," said Ivy. "You looked awfully spooked."

Alex chuckled nervously. "I… I asked an unconventional favor of your uncle," she said. "I… I want to have a baby."

Ivy raised her eyebrows but remained silent.

"I have agreed to be the father," said Bobby. "We… we both want this child."

Ivy looked from Bobby to Alex then back to her uncle. "If the next part of this is supposed to be a candid discussion on where babies come from," said Ivy. "You can save it. I've had sex ed."

Bobby coughed and Alex blushed and looked down. "We… we're not sleeping together," Bobby said after a moment. "Nor do we intend to."

"So this baby is coming from where?" asked Ivy. "The stork?" She was smiling slightly at their discomfort.

"Artificial insemination," said Alex. "I've been looking into it. I have an appointment on Friday for a preliminary exam to determine when I should have the procedure."

"Oh," said Ivy. She blinked.

"What do you think, Ivy?" asked Bobby.

"I think you guys are weird," she said. "I'm one hundred percent certain that it would be cheaper for you two to have sex. And as ways to have a relationship while completely denying the existence of romantic feelings goes, this is extreme."

Alex was staring at Ivy, eyes wide. Bobby seemed to be choking on his tongue.

"All of that aside," said Ivy. "I like babies and I wouldn't mind having a baby cousin. Cassie will be absolutely thrilled."

Alex left shortly after that, a little embarrassed but glad of Ivy's being amicably disposed to the idea.

Bobby watched his niece as she went to get a book and took up her favorite position on the couch in the den to read. She looked at him over the top of her paperback. "What?" she asked when he continued to stare silently at her.

"Ivy, I really didn't appreciate what you said a little while ago," he said, taking a deep breath.

Ivy frowned. "I didn't mean to upset you," she said softly, dropping her gaze from his.

"I didn't think you did," he said. "But my sex life, or lack of one, really isn't a topic for you to discuss. And we've been over how I feel about Alex. She's my partner and she's my friend. I don't want you to make insinuations about our relationship, complicated though it may be."

Ivy closed her book and stood, heading for the hallway.

"Ivy?" he called after her.

She paused, halfway to her room and looked back at him. Her eyes were damp with angry tears and her expression was hurt. "You asked me what I thought," she said. She fled to her room, slamming the door, and flinging herself down on her bed.

Bobby stared down at the closed door at the end of the hallway, stunned. The reaction was completely new and unexpected. He didn't know what he'd done to provoke it. And he didn't know what to do now that he had.

Author's note: Poor Bobby. Twelve year old girls are such strange creatures. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. You know reviews will brighten my day. And these days could use a little brightening.