Chapter 18

Alex was never a morning person and having her smile on a Monday morning was weird. She's usually a grumpy cat until noon but today was different. She had amazing news that she had to share with her squad and she couldn't wait to get to work. When she got out of the shower Ryan was till in bed, which was also strange because usually he's the first one up making coffee while checking the news headlines. "Aren't you going to work today?" She asked him when she came out of the bathroom with towel damp hair and a pink bathrobe on. "I don't want to get up and catch criminals today. I had an amazing weekend with someone special and I'm not ready to face reality yet." He whined pulling the blankets over his face. "Do I know who this someone special is?" she asked sitting next to him on the bed. "Nope, I don't think you'll know her. You'll like her though, her name's Alexandra." He continued. "Never heard of her." Alex played along. "Okay, let me describe her to you. She has this really bad ass personality and but deep down she's actually a softie. She works for the FBI and has these really big ,sparkly eyes and she is the most beautiful girl out in the universe." He concluded standing up and hugging her. "She seems nice." Alex said hitting him playfully in the chest, making her way to the closet to get dressed. Ryan got up moaning making his way to the shower ready to get his day started.

When she walked into the office she had no idea how she could keep a straight face. Maranda bumped into her on her way to her office and smiled broadly at her. "Congratulations, Parrish." She said as she walked past her and Alex could feel her cheeks turning pink. "Thank you." She said but turned around and fell into step next to Maranda. "Did you know about this?" Alex asked amused almost certain that she has to know because why on earth would she congratulate her. "Yeah, Ryan mentioned something like that to me that's why I told you to go home and then you misinterpreted the whole thing." Maranda said smiling at the young agent. "My imagination sometimes has a way of running away with me." Alex said entering the cafeteria. "It always does!" Maranda yells back at her while she continues her way to the office smilingly shaking her head at how the young women.

She went up to the counter to buy some coffee and a muffin. When she got back she took a seat at the table next where she and her friends always sat. It wasn't long until the other three showed up but she was staring at her left hand so intently she didn't even notice them entering. "Earth to Alex!" Nimah snapped her fingers in front of Alex's face and she smiled at them. Nimah looked down and followed Alex's gaze to her hand. "What the hell!" she shouts loud enough that the people who sat close by looked over to them. Shelby and Natalie moved along their orders and came over hurriedly. Alex tried to get Nimah to calm down but she wouldn't. "What's going on?'" Natalie asks taking a seat, Shelby following her. "Did you see this?" Nimah asked hold up her friend's left hand. Alex tried to pull her hand out of Nimah's grasp but Nimah wouldn't have it. "Noo waayy." Natalie said while Shelby got up to get a closer look. "You guys stop it." Alex told her friends. "No we want details, sneaky dickens." Natalie said. "Now I can wear my bridesmaid dress and you get to do your speech Nimah!" Natalie announced proudly. "Wait." Shelby said. "Please tell me that's an engagement ring and that the two of you didn't do what Caleb and I did, because I'm dying to go to a wedding." Shelby replied all dramatically. "It's an engagement ring yes, no we didn't get married secretly, yes you can have your speech and your dress can I please get back to work?" Alex asked standing up. "No you cannot. We need details." Shelby said but Alex got up winking at them leaving them guessing how it all went down. They wouldn't stop fussing until she told them everything but she'll enjoy every moment of bugging her for the rest of the day.

She thought she could loath around before they start their working day but Simon was on her case the moment she stepped foot into their quarters. "Let's go!" Simon said before she could even sit down. "Why are you so hyped up on catching this guy today?" Alex asked trotting behind him on their way to the surveillance van. "I found something I think that might help us." Simon said smiling over at her while driving like a maniac to his house. Once again nothing significant happened and just when they were about to pack up and go a little girl came out of his house crying. They shared a quick glance and Alex gets out to talk to her. She runs over just as the girl was about to cross the street. "Hey sweetie, is everything okay?' Alex asked kneeling down in front of the little blond girl. At first the girl was really distraught and just shook her head while trying to avoid Alex. "You can trust me it's okay I just want to help you." Alex said moving over to the bench in the sidewalk while the little girl followed her. "My name is Alex. What's yours?" She asked stroking the girls blond curls as she came to sit down next to the adult. "Jemma." She answered shyly. "That's a really nice name. And how old are you Jemma?" Alex enquired trying to get the girl to open up to her more easily. She eventually found out that Jemma was 6years old and that this guy always saw them in the park and talked to them. Apparently they always see each other in the park and then he talks to them until he eventually told her mom that she could go talk to some of her friends while he played with her in the park, and her mom can see them. "He asked me if I have an older sister and if she is 15 or 16 years old." Jemma said. "And do you have an older sister?" Alex asked trying not to make the little girl any more uncomfortable. She didn't answer and just shook her head up and down. This still didn't make sense to Alex but at least it seems like he is not really after the girls but only wanting to know if they have older siblings which is still worrying. "He said if I don't give him the name of my sister he might hurt me and I wouldn't like it." Jemma started crying again and Alex pulled her into a hug telling her it's okay they'll find out why he's doing this.

After her talk with Jemma she asked her where she lives and that she's willing to walk home with her. Jemma told her where to go and she walked her home. Alex asked if her mom was home but she said her mom works a lot and she's usually with her grandma who looks after them until her older sister gets home This was really worrying to Alex and she still didn't know how Jemma ended up at his house. In the van Simon was listening in on their conversation and he had the same questions Alex had. Just when they think they know what might happen, their case takes a drastic turn. As they drive back to the FBI headquarters to report back on their progress with Stanley, Simon got out and congratulated her on the engagement. She had no idea where he found out about this but she couldn't care less she' want the whole world to know if it was up to her.

By the time they got back it was almost 5. She remembered she still didn't tell the girls but they have a group chat so she'll just drop them a message there and tell them what they missed today. She'll deal with the detail tomorrow, because they certainly would want to know that.

As she exits the building to get into the car she spots Ryan in a heated conversation with an older gentleman who looks a lot like him. She walked out and drove home wondering if that was his father and if it was, why would he show up to see his son after all these years.

Hey y'all. Thanks for the read hope you enjoy this chapter. I was in a hurry to write this please excuse if there are errors since I didn't have time to edit. All the tests I was supposed to write have been cancelled (yaaay!) and the University is closed until further notice due to protests happening around 11 universities in the country. So we don't know what'll happen or when our academic activities resume. On the bright side I'll be able to update more frequently now. Drop me a review on how this chapter was. Lovies-S