Summary:
Lena Talks to Winn and the others about a secret birthday party for Alex.
It had been a week since Samantha Arias left town to go visit her mother up north. And back in Midvale things had been quiet.
Cat and Kara officially adopted George in Kara's name, so George was now a Danvers. Lena was working on getting Alex to drink less for his health and her sanity. And Andrea was having a wonderful time hooking up daily with her hot new friend Gayle.
It was a hot sunny day, the start of a new week and after teaching at the school Lena went to the Saloon to make sure everything was running smoothly. She also needed to see Winn about something personal.
Winn looked up from the table he was clearing, he saw Lena and waved, "Hey there stranger!"
Lena walked through the tables, where men sat drinking and gambling, she looked up when Winn called to her and waved back.
"Winn, just the man I wanted to talk to," she smiled at her long time friend.
He carried the empty glasses over to the bar with Lena following him, then he turned to Lena, "So what can I do for you?"
Lena bit her lip and smiled, "It's Alex's birthday tomorrow and I am not sure what to get him apart from whiskey, bourbon or beer, you get the idea," she sighed, "and I am trying to avoid giving him alcohol."
Winn looked thoughtful for a moment and put a finger to his chin, "Mm I see your dilemma, so why no alcohol?"
"Alex has been drinking too much, I'm worried about him," Lena told him, "So please any other ideas of what a man would like?"
"How about a new knife?" Winn suggested.
"He's got half a dozen of them already," Lena replied and touched the bridge of her nose.
"I know, a tie, I can even help you choose one if you want?" Winn suggested, "Ever since Miss Rojas took over the store across the road there seems to be a better stock of everything, but especially clothing."
Lena smiled, "Thank you, can we go now before it closes?"
"Of course, I'll just let Imra know where we are heading," Winn said and scooted off around back to let their new Bartender and cook know.
At the store they browsed through the men's clothes section, and Lena had her eye on a few things. She picked up a brown leather belt, some black wool socks, a bottle of cologne and finally with Winn's help she chose a tie. It was a deep shade of blue/grey, like nothing he already owned. She placed everything down on the counter and James Olsen who was helping out part time in the store counted it all up. While James was doing that Lena wandered over to the ladies clothing. She was amazed when she noticed some lingerie from Paris in France. There were silk panties, satin corsets, nighties and camisoles. Lena treated herself to a few items and finally paid up.
As they walked back to the Saloon Winn took the chance to talk to her about Alex.
"So why are you so worried about Alex's drinking? All men drink Lena," Winn asked, because he was genuinely puzzled. She owned a drinking establishment after all.
Lena sighed, "He doesn't seem to drink because he enjoys it, so much as drinking to cope, and it shouldn't be that way. But maybe I am overreacting."
Winn stopped her in the middle of the street and placed his hand on her, "Hey, no, never doubt your instincts, if you really think there is something wrong, then you should tackle it, head on."
"And do you really think it will make a difference?" Lena wasn't so sure anymore. Maybe this was just the way Alex was and she wouldn't be able to change him.
"Of course it will," Winn told her, "you just need to talk to him, preferably when he isn't drunk."
Lena smiled at her friend, "You know, we should hang out more, I haven't seen much of you since I got married."
"Yeah well, married women aren't supposed to be seen out with other men," Winn gave her a wry smile.
"To hell with what people think," Lena told him as they reached the Saloon, "we should definitely make a date."
"A date?" Winn laughed.
"Yes, a date to hang out, you could go horse riding with me, like we used to before Alex arrived and swept me off my feet," Lena smiled.
"Are you sure Alex wont mind?"
"Why should he?" Lena asked confused, "just because you're a man?"
"Okay, if you're sure," Winn replied as they stepped into the Saloon.
Lena and Winn made arrangements to go horse riding together in a few days time. But for now she was planning a birthday party at the Saloon for Alex. She told Imra and Winn what they needed to do. She wanted to show Alex just how much she loved him, and she also wanted the whole town to show him how much he was appreciated. After all it was because of him and Kara, their new Sheriff, that the town was as safe as a town in the wild west could be.
Lena ordered food from the local restaurant that was run by M'gann M'orzz, and also asked for a birthday cake. So far Lena had kept the surprise birthday party secret, everyone knew apart from Alex. And Lena had managed to keep Alex away from the Saloon by telling him to take George out fishing after school. Kara was more than happy to keep an eye on town while Uncle Alex was spending quality time with her son.
When Lena arrived home that evening she found Alex and George in the living room. Alex was fast asleep with George sprawled across him, also sleeping. Lena had to pause for a moment as she glanced over at them both, she had never seen anything so precious. It really tugged at her heart seeing them like that. And that longing to have a child hit her again in that moment. What life could be like if only they could have kids. Alex and George looked so adorable. She shook her head, it was no good thinking about what could never be, and at least while Cat and Kara lived with them they had a child around to fill the void.
Lena was about to leave the room when Alex shifted and opened his eyes, he immediately saw Lena standing there looking at them. Alex looked at the young boy laid across him and gently moved and lay him down on the sofa. Then Alex quietly made his way over to Lena, took her hand and they carried on into the kitchen.
Once in the kitchen Alex pulled Lena to himself and kissed her, "Hey, you're late."
Lena wrapped her arms around Alex's waist and smiled, "It got busy at the Saloon so I helped out for a while," Lena lied.
"Well, we caught a ton of fish, the kid is getting good, I might have to teach him some shooting next week," Alex said proudly. Like a father would be of his son.
Lena lifted her hand and pulled him down to another soft kiss, "I love you," she told him, her eyes smiling, "you are so good with George."
"Mmm baby I can be even better if it means I get more of those kisses," Alex said letting his hand slowly move down to Lena's bottom.
Lena sighed softly as Alex rubbed his palm over her buttock, "Alex, I need to talk to you about something."
Alex drew her into a kiss again and then ran his tongue down her neck, "How about we take this upstairs before everyone comes home?"
"Alex," Lena felt the goosebumps appear, the butterflies in her stomach take flight as he tenderly kissed her neck and face.
Alex went to lead her upstairs to their bedroom for a quickie, but Lena stopped him, "Alex, love, you know I want to but this may be the only time I get to talk to you alone."
Alex sighed and reluctantly went with Lena and sat down at the kitchen table. Alex could smell the homemade stew cooking in the stove, "Dinner smells so good, I hope I put it in the stove at the right temperature," he commented as his stomach grumbled. Lena had prepared the stew that morning. Ready to be cooked when they all got home. She gave Alex instructions when to put it in the stove if he got back before they did.
"I checked it, its great. Once everyone is home you can have a nice big bowl with some fresh bread that I made this morning," Lena told him.
Alex quickly grabbed a beer, took off the top and took a big swig. Then Alex took a seat beside Lena.
So they sat together at the table and Lena entwined her fingers with Alex's, "Can I talk to you about your drinking?" she asked tentatively.
Alex looked at the beer bottle in his hand, "What about it?"
"I just think that maybe, you are drinking too much…" Lena cringed at the words as they left her mouth, she hadn't a clue how Alex was going to react and she was a little worried.
Alex frowned and took another sip of his beer, then he put the bottle on the table and looked at his wife, "Why are you worried? All men drink. After all there isn't much else to drink around here."
"That is true, but are you drinking because you like it? Or because you want to escape? Because it says more about our life if you are drinking to escape?" Lena looked at him, her face completely serious.
Alex sighed, she was right he had sometimes drank too much to escape, but right now, having a leisurely beer after a day out with the kid, he was doing that for pleasure, "I like a drink baby, you know I do, and I admit I sometimes take it too far."
Lena squeezed his hand, "Come to me Alex when you are worried, talk to me more, you know I wont judge you."
Alex took Lena's hands in his own, "I promise I will talk to you if things ever get too much again."
"Good, that is all I ask," Lena smiled a little in relief, "and promise you will try to cut down on your drinking?"
"I promise," He told her, then he lent forward and gave his wife a gentle kiss on the lips.
Right at that moment the front door came open and Cat and Kara came walking in. Kara was still in her uniform and Cat had got back from the newspaper office.
"Where's George?" Kara asked looking around.
"He's sleeping on the couch," Alex told her.
"Wow he must have had a good day, he's usually running around until late," Cat said. Then she walked up to the kitchen counter and made a pot of tea. Whilst Kara went to wake George up from his nap.
"Yes, Alex took George out fishing, and from what I hear it was a successful trip," Lena smiled and squeezed her husband's hand.
"Really," Cat replied, "Well maybe you can teach George how to catch some bigger fish, for our dinner on Friday?"
"That's a good idea," Lena then said, "I was planning to go out horse riding on Friday with Winn, so you could take George then."
"With Winn?" Alex frowned, "why?"
"Because, my love, I haven't spent any time with him since we married, I think I should make an effort," Lena told him, "you are okay with that aren't you?"
"I guess," Alex shrugged. This was a new development and he wasn't sure how he felt about it.
"Uncle Alex!" George came running into the kitchen, "you disappeared."
Kara came walking behind him with a smile, "He told me all about your fishing trip."
"I caught lots," George told them as he took a seat at the table, "Can I have cookies?"
Cat looked at him and shook her head, "Dinner first young man. Then maybe you can have a cookie."
George sighed and Kara sat beside him, she ruffled his hair, "Hey don't be grumpy you had a good day today."
"I guess," he said, almost mimicking Alex earlier.
Alex drank the rest of his beer and went to get another one but Lena put her hand on his thigh and whispered in his ear, "drink coffee instead and I'll let you ravish me all you like later."
Alex smirked, "You have a deal."
Lena smiled, it was a win win situation.
The family ate their dinner together and discussed everything apart from Alex's secret birthday party tomorrow evening. Then Cat and Kara went upstairs to bed, taking their son with them. And Alex and Lena were left alone once more.
"So, I'm all full of coffee," Alex said looking at Lena and standing up, he took her hand, "lets go to bed."
Lena stood and let Alex lead her to their bedroom. Where they spent the rest of their night working on some of Alex's pent up energy and frustrations. And Lena loved every minute of it.