Chapter 26

They hadn't spoken of it anymore, but Alex was seeing him almost every day now, and Bobby was glad for it. On Tuesdays, Alex stayed home with Katie and Bobby had his time with his father-in-law. On the days when work got in the way, Katie spent time with Andy Logan.

The planning was finally done, and Alex was mending things with her sister, as well. As much as she hated to be told what to do, Alex also hated to admit when she'd been wrong. Fortunately, her family never expected her to. They just accepted her back without reproach and soon they were able to laugh again.

Bobby put Katie to bed and poured himself a drink. The hand with the glass rested against the arm of the couch and he turned the sound down low and clicked through the channels, settling for a documentary on the civil war.

It was close to ten when Alex came in, and after she hung up her coat, she sat beside him on the couch, turning his head for a gentle kiss. "Hi," she whispered.

"Hi," he said softly. "You're home late," he observed.

"I had to go back to work after I visited Dad. I've got more paperwork than I know what to do with. It multiplies exponentially."

Bobby gave her a tiny smile, and put his arm around her. She nestled against him, glad for the warmth of him after being out in the cold rain.

"How's Katie?"

"She played scrabble with me, a whole game."

"A whole game?" Alex was impressed. Usually Katie only stuck with it for a few turns before she got frustrated and went to play something else. "Who won?" She asked him with a teasing smile.

He grinned. It had been a while since Alex had teased him. Spontaneously, he tucked his hand behind her neck and kissed her.

Bobby's mouth had the spicy flavor of whiskey. Drawn in by his warmth and affection, she returned the kiss. The glass almost toppled from his hand, and he turned away to set it gently on the table. Then she settled against him, probing his mouth with a fierce desire.

Bobby wrapped his arms tightly around her, feeling her weight against his hips and stretching himself against her. He guided her to her feet and whisked her off to bed.

He began by kissing his way down her body, his hands roaming freely, pausing to clasp hers affectionately. Alex reached for him, caressing his bare skin and reaching out to find only his searching fingers or the soft curls on his head. He lowered his head, raising her legs over his shoulders, and tasted her in her most sacred place.

Alex shuddered with pleasure. She opened herself to him, and reveled in the sensations of lips and tongue slipping gently over, around, and inside. He sucked lightly and she jerked against him, her thighs for a moment against his cheeks.

"Oh, God, Bobby!" She whispered, and he did it again. "I want you," she insisted, repeating the words until he climbed over her and silenced her with his warm mouth against hers.

In the midst of the kiss, he was inside her. She broke away, gasping for air, clutching him so hard her nails dug into his skin. He moved slowly, slipping easily in and out of her wetness. Bobby's lips touched against hers, dipped to kiss her jaw, and her neck.

The momentum built up, and she bucked against him as he thrust deeper and faster until they both were so lost in the moment they climaxed together.

He fell against her, whimpering, and she gathered him into her arms and hugged him with all her might. Alex was grateful that in all this uncertainty, she had his strength to anchor to.

Bobby, for once, was without words. He expressed his emotions physically, touching, kissing, squeezing, until the sweat and the need for the blood to flow forced them to separate. "Good night, Alex," he whispered, once they were settled in for the night.

"Night, Bobby," she said lazily, and he was pleased to note, with joy.

This time, care was provided in-house. His doctor had expected it, and a treatment plan was put in place. John was very sick, but he would be surrounded by the comforts of his home- photos and drawings and memories of the love of his family.

It was mid-march, and Alex took leave from work to be with her father. Katie was a week away from spring break, but Bobby had informed her teacher, and the Logans were ever-ready and willing to lend a hand. Tonight, though, Bobby brought Katie with him to the home.

The other grandkids were there, too. Bobby left Katie with her cousins and went into the old man's room. They were all there, Alex, Liz, Johnny, Terry, Mel, and now Bobby. Alex went to Bobby and took him by the hand, leading him to her father's bedside.

"Dad, Bobby's here."

He didn't open his eyes, but Bobby picked up the man's hand and gave his fingers a gentle squeeze. "Hi, Dad," he said, and his voice faltered. He felt Alex's hand on his back as she leaned against his side. Johnny and Liz had a short sidebar in the doorway, and soon Johnny was out of the room.

"Ben, kids, I need to talk to you." All of the Eames grandkids gathered around John Jr. "Grampa is… he's not going to be with us much longer, and I want you all to go in and… and say goodbye."

Ben, the oldest in the group, put his arm around his father's shoulders. He took the lead, calling his siblings and his cousins by name, and then scooping Katie up into his arms. Ben led the sad procession to Grampa's room.

Their elders stepped back out of the way, and one by one the grankids gave John kisses and told him goodbye. Ben held Katie over him as she gave him a final kiss. "Heaven will be nice, Grampa," she said. "Gramma's there waiting for you. I love you. Don't worry about us, we'll be fine," she said. "Bye-Bye, Grampa."

Ben set her on the floor and she went out to find her Daddy. Bobby picked her up and she squeezed him in a bear hug. Ben was the last to leave the room, after Nate. He took Katie from Bobby, nodding, knowing they were going back in.

Liz cried and spoke to him quietly, and Terry took her in his arms and they moved aside to make room for Johnny. Mel held Johnny's hand as he spoke to his father, and she finished his sentences when he was unable to. Finally, Johnny said, "It's okay, Dad. It's okay to go. We'll take care of each other."

Alex was already crying when it was her turn. With Bobby's arm around her waist, she kissed her Dad. "It's okay, Dad. You can go. You did a good job, here. We love you."

"We love you, Dad," Bobby added.

John Eames died peacefully, surrounded by his children.