A/N: Rushing to get this out before work. Light and easy. I think we all need that right now.

ICE CREAM

"Can we have ice cream?"

The big brown eyes - not too different from Olivia's - stared up longingly at Alex as the small boy held her hand.

Alex stopped and bend down to Noah's level.

"Buddy, we shared that big brownie at lunch today before we went to the park," she said gently. "I don't know if your mom would want you to have all that sugar today."

"Yes, she would," Noah said, matter-of-factly and Alex chuckled at his confidence.

"How about we stop and buy some ice cream and you can have some tomorrow? I'll make use ice cream sundaes on Sunday," Alex said, mildly proud of herself for her cheesy joke that went over Noah's head.

Noah hung his head then looked up again, this time, his eyes seemingly even bigger.

"Pleasssse, Lexxxxxx?" he said.

That was it. Alex was putty in his hands and she knew it. That same look worked for Olivia on Alex and now here was Noah, using it to his advantage.

"Ok, fine," Alex said. "You did run around a lot today. But just a small cone, ok?

"Ok!" Noah claimed, jumping with a fist pump in victory – a fist that went straight into Alex's chin. Noah gave a surprised, scared look until Alex smiled at him.

"It's ok, Noah," Alex said. "I'm ok."

"Ice cream'll make it feel better," Noah said, grinning.

Alex laughed again. "You're probably right. Let's go get some ice cream."

Inside the ice cream shop, Alex got their ice cream cones and they found a seat in a booth. Noah chose the superman ice cream and Alex went with the mint chocolate chip. Alex soon realized she should have gotten Noah's ice cream in a cup. His face was quickly covered in blue, red, and yellow from the ice cream.

Alex's instincts were to immediate clean him, but since he was still eating, she decided to let him finish and enjoy it, even though every lick around the cone meant that much more on his face.

"How are you liking your room?" Alex asked. She knew all the chaos with moving couldn't have been easy on him and was probably a little bit confusing. And, even though he was used to Alex spending the night often, they all lived together now, so she wondered how he was feeling about it.

"I like that my room is bigger, but I miss my old room," Noah said. "But I like my new car bed!"

"I'm sure you do miss the old room," Alex said.

"Do you miss your house?" Noah asked, sweetly.

"Not too much," Alex said. "I sometimes miss knowing where everything is."

"Mommy says everything has place," Noah said, mimicking Olivia's words about putting his toys and things away each night.

"I know she does," Alex said, grinning. "She tells me the same thing when I leave my shoes in front of the closet."

"Mommy says you have too many shoes," Noah giggled.

Alex rolled her eyes and laughed. "Nonsense. You can never have too many shoes," she said.

Noah laughed and returned to his ice cream. Alex watched him carefully, wondering how long it would take before his entire body was blue, red, and yellow.

"How do you feel about me living with you all the time now?" Alex asked carefully.

Noah shrugged. "It's ok," he said. Alex's face fell a little in disappointment before he continued talking. "When Mommy is busy, at least I have you to play with. I like that."

Alex smiled.

"And I don't have to share my bathroom with girls!" he said, taking Alex by surprise.

"What do you know about having to share your bathroom with girls?" Alex mused.

"My friend from pre-school said his sister takes forever in the bathroom," Noah said. "He said he peed his pants cause of her."

Alex giggled. She couldn't imagine what Noah and his friend were talking about at school that led to that conversation.

"Am I going to have a sister?" Noah asked.

Alex's mouth dropped open. Certainly both her and Olivia were past the typical age to have children. They had also decided given their ages, job demands, and being content with Noah, they weren't specifically planning more children at this stage in their lives.

But still, the question caught Alex off guard, mostly because she wasn't sure they'd ever discussed whether Noah wanted siblings.

"I don't know," Alex said. "Do you want a sister or brother?"

Noah thought for a minute then spoke.

"Not really," Noah said. "I like having you and mommy all to myself."

Alex breathed a sigh of relief, even if it showed Noah's mildly selfish side. But he was 4-years-old, and it was to be expected.

"Well, you don't need to worry about it right now," Alex said. "If me and your mom ever wanted a brother or sister for you, we'd let you know and talk to you first."

"Ok," Noah said. He finally put the last bite of his ice cream cone in his mouth and Alex wasted no time grabbing napkins and moving to his side of the booth to clean him up.

"Come here," she said, then dipped the napkin her water and started wiping his face. Noah pulled away at every turn.

"Let's get your hands now," she said. Noah held them out easier than his face.

Even though his shirt was still sticky and covered in ice cream, his face and hands were mostly clean.

#

Olivia was cleaning the kitchen when Alex and Noah returned home from their Saturday afternoon excursion. She hadn't been feeling well earlier, so stayed home to do some paperwork and few things around the still-new apartment.

"Hey! Did you all have a fun afternoon?" Olivia asked when they came through the door.

Noah immediate ran to Olivia to give her a hug but before she reached down, she heard Alex's voice.

"I wouldn't do that…" Alex said, nodding down at Noah's shirt.

Olivia looked down and saw the mess her boy had made, keeping him at arm's length to instead pat him on the back.

"Honey, why don't you go get out of those clothes and I'll give you a bath," Olivia said. "It seems like you and Alex had a lot of fun today."

"It was da best!" Noah said. "We had ice cream AND a brownie!"

Olivia laughed. "I see that," she said. "Go on and get that shirt off, pick out of PJs and I'll meet you in your bedroom."

Noah ran off and Alex sat down her bag and walked into the kitchen to greet Olivia with a hug.

"Are you sure you're not covered in ice cream, too?" Olivia teased, checking her over before embracing her.

"I can be if you want," Alex smirked and gave Olivia a kiss.

"Maybe later," Olivia blushed. "But what's this about a brownie and ice cream?"

Alex groaned and threw her head back. "Liv…those eyes. He may not be your blood, but he has your puppy dog eyes down pat. Did you teach him that?"

Olivia laughed and shook her head. "I didn't, but I know the look all too well," Olivia said.

"He uses it on you, too?" Alex asked.

"Yes, but I was actually referring to you," Olivia grinned.

"Heyyy, I do not…" Alex said, then realized she was definitely lying. "Ok, maybe sometimes."

"You mean like how you somehow convinced me to let you not sort through those boxes the day we moved in?" Olivia said. "Which, may I add, you still haven't done?"

"Babyyyyy, I will," Alex said. "I'll do it tomorrow."

"Why not start tonight while I give Noah a bath and cook dinner?" Olivia said.

Alex smirked, stepped closer to Olivia, pushing her back toward the counter. Her hands looped behind Olivia's belt loops once again.

"I thought…you said something about…ice cream later?" Alex said, leaning close to Olivia's ear. Then she tilted her head down and gave her own version of puppy dog eyes to Olivia.

Olivia smiled and leaned in to give Alex a kiss – one that slowly built until they were interrupted by Noah standing at the kitchen entrance.

"Ughhhhh! I thought you said I wasn't gonna have a sister!" Noah said when he saw them kissing.

"What?" Olivia said, confused.

"You're kissing," Noah said. "Andy said that's how he got a sister, his parents kissing."

Olivia cocked her head to say what again, but Alex stopped her.

"Don't worry Noah, remember what we talked about?" Alex reminded him.

Noah nodded but still looked unhappy as he made his way back to the bedroom.

"What on earth was that about?" Olivia said. "Also, I really hope we don't have to explain the birds and bees to Noah this soon. I'm not ready for that."

"It's…I don't know, I'll explain later," Alex said, laughing.

She turned to walk away but felt the brunette pull on her hand.

Olivia raised her eye brows and smirked, "Over ice cream?"

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