As consciousness slowly returned to her Olivia reached out across the bed as she did every morning to pull the warm body beside her closer. It was, in her option, the best way to greet the day. It was also in those moments that she silently thanked whoever was out there for the woman in her arms and the girl down the hall.

When she didn't find Alex beside her Olivia opened her eyes slowly to confirm what she'd discovered buy reaching out. She was alone and from the coolness of the sheets her hand caressed, she'd been alone for awhile. Olivia actually pouted at being left alone, but she figured Alex had gotten up to check on Allie or had just awoken early and didn't want to wake her since she'd been out on call late last night. Sitting up, Olivia stretched and glanced around the room. The bathroom door was closed, she smiled a little as she got up and walked over to it. She listened for running water figuring she'd take advantage of the chance for a shared shower, but it wasn't running water she was hearing. The sound that came through the door made her heart speed up and her blood chill.

Olivia knocked on the bathroom door but all she got was more sniffling, so she carefully opened the door and peaked in. Alex was sitting on the edge of the bathtub, tears silently running down her cheeks until she sniffled again. Chocolate brown eyes took in the woman carefully, traveling from her watery blue eyes to the box she was holding in her hands. The disappointment was crushing when she realized what the box of tampons meant, but her first concern had to be Alex.

"Baby?" Olivia said softly as she came completely inside the bathroom.

Alex looked up, her own disappointment glimmering in tear filled eyes. "I started in the middle of the night, right on time." She said softly, then sniffled. "It didn't work."

Olivia went to Alex and knelt down in front of her. She took the box out of Alex's hands so she could wrap her own around those of her love's. Alex was trembling. "It's alright, baby." She said softly as she let go with one hand so she could reach up and wipe the tears off Alex's face. "The chance of it working on the first try were pretty high, we knew that. We'll try again as soon as we can."

"I'm so sorry, Liv." Alex said as she leaned into Olivia's touch.

"There's nothing to be sorry for." Olivia replied as she got up and pulled Alex into her arms.

Alex looked into Olivia's eyes and then looked away again. "You're disappointed."

"So are you." Olivia said as she turned Alex's head so they were looking into each other's eyes.

"What if it never works, Liv?" Alex asked, her voice laced with fear, pain, and longing. "What if I can't have your baby? What if exchanging eggs just won't take?"

"Then we switch to plan B." Olivia said simply.

Tears welled in Alex's eyes again. "But I want to have your baby, Liv, and this is the only way we can…."

Olivia pressed her finger to Alex's lips to quite her. "Then it will work. We just have to believe it will and be patient." She held Alex's eyes for a moment before leaning in and kissing her softly. "We've survived car bombs, gun shots, mod hits, witness protection, stabbings, and the tantrums of a very small blonde with to much of our attitudes for our own good. We'll get through this, we'll try again. You've just started your cycle we can try again in fourteen or so days if you want"

Alex swallowed the knot in her throat. "I want to, as soon as possible."

"Then that's what we'll do." Olivia said softly as she kissed Alex's forehead and then pulled her close. She felt the first sting of her own disappointment welling in her eyes, but she held it back. They wanted this to much to give up. It will work; it has too, please God let it work.

Allie knew her mothers were sad and that they'd both been crying. They kept telling her to come to them when she felt sad so they could work through it, so maybe she should go to them when they're sad too. Walking up to her mama she wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tight.

Alex was a little startled, but then smiled a little when she looked down at the top of her daughter's blonde head. "What's this for?"

Allie looked up, blue eyes meeting sad blue eyes. "You've been crying."

"I'm ok baby girl." Alex said as she leaned down and kissed the top of her daughter's head.

"But you were crying," Allie repeated. "And you and Mommy look sad."

There were times when Alex wished Allie weren't so perceptive, but they were purely selfish reasons. She didn't want to dwell on the failed attempt, she wanted to think, to plan out when she could go in for a second try, but Allie needed to know. Walking them over to the couch Alex pulled the girl onto her lap and cuddled her. "Mommy and I are sad because we're disappointed."

"How come?" Allie asked and thought about it for a moment and frowned. "Is it because of the eggs? Did they not hatch?"

Alex nodded, "It didn't work this time, but we're going to try again."

Allie frowned a little more, "Is it because I didn't want a baby?" She asked as she reached up and played with the ends of her mama's hair. "Cause I changed my mind. I'm ok with us having a baby now."

Was it possible to fall in love with a child every time you looked into their eyes? Apparently it was. Leaning in Alex kissed Allie's forehead and cuddled her a little tighter. "No baby girl, it's not because of anything you did, or anything mommy and I did, it just didn't work. But we're going to keep trying until it does."

"What will it be like, Mama?" Allie asked as she laid her head on Alex's chest. "To have a baby around?"

"Well," Alex had to think about it. To be honest, she'd never really been around babies either. She'd kind of felt lucky that she'd gotten to have her first go at being a mother with an older child. "Things will be different. Babies need a lot of attention because they're very small and can't do anything for themselves, but I don't want you to worry, ok? Mommy and I will always make time for you and if you ever feel like we aren't, then you need to come tell us ok?"

Allie nodded. "Ok,"

"We're all going to be in this together, baby girl." Alex went on. "You're gonna be the baby's big sister. He or she is going to look up to you, and he or she is going to love you so much."

That made Allie smile. She was getting use to the idea of being the big sister. She'd get to be like Maureen, and her Aunt Meredith, and Aunt Casey, and even her mommy was a big sister now. But she was still a little leery and had questions. "Mama?"

"Yes baby girl?" Alex replied.

"If the baby is a girl will I still be your baby girl?" The small blonde asked as once again blue eyes met blue eyes.

Alex hugged Allie tight and kissed her forehead. "You'll always be my baby girl no matter what, forever and always." She kissed her daughter again and then tapped the tip of her nose with her finger and smiled. "Even when you're a moody teenager who tells me your to old to be called that, and that it's embarrassing."

Allie giggled.

"I love you baby girl." Alex told the girl as she caressed her hair.

Allie smiled, "I love you too, Mama."

"Thank you for making me feel better." Alex added.

Allie snuggled into her mother's arms and smiled just a little more. "You're welcome."