Chapter 114

The tranquility of the Sunday morning was short lived when Alex was awoken by a small fist hitting her in the face, and she mentally tells herself that this was the last night her daughter spends with them. Since she's much better she will have to go back to the nursery from tonight on. She loves Phoebe Grace with all her heart but being woken up with a forceful little fist is not how she wants to start her mornings.

When no one gave her any attention and continued sleeping, she got up from between her parents and crawled her way to the head board, with her pink rattle in hand and started banging on the head board in amusement laughing loudly to herself.

"Phooeebee." Her father groaned opening his eyes reluctantly tearing his daughter away from where she stood and getting her to sit down again. The noise she was making might have been music to her ears but to Ryan's it certainly wasn't. 05:30AM is way too early to be up on a Sunday when there is no need to be somewhere.

"Too early in the morning for that Pheebs. Go wake mommy up." He instructed and the little girl looked at him as he pointed towards her mother and she obeyed, crawling over to her mother whose back was turned towards the father and daughter duo.

"No Phoebe. I'm still sleeping." Alex groaned and turned around to face them, greeted by a sparkly blue eyed face with a head full of bed curls and a pink pacifier in her mouth. Seeing that face, she had no choice but to smile at how adorable her daughter was.

"Don't you want to sleep for at least another hour please?" Alex tried to bargain with an eleven month old but it was clear that all traces of sleep had vanished, as she was practicing her balancing skills again by standing up while her mother held onto her onto her arm.

"You don't get out of this so easily mister." She commented when she noticed Ryan turning his back on them attempting to sleep further.

"You two are bonding, I don't want to interrupt this precious moment." He tried to justify but it didn't work. Alex leaned over and took a few strand of her hair that was in a ponytail on her head and started tickling his ear and nose, continuously.

"Aleeex, come on." He pleaded but she refused to stop. He pulled the covers over his head in attempt to stop her but that didn't work either, because she put her feet against his bare back which got him to jump up.

"All right, you win. I'm up." He surrendered and got out of bed, heading towards the bathroom.

"Victory is sweet, bub! Girl power or what do you say?" She asked holding up her hand in a high five motion waiting for Phoebe to return the gesture, but her attention already shifted to some other mischief.

Ryan's phone buzzed on his bedside table and Alex paid no mind to it, thinking it was a text message at first, but the continuous buzzing forced her to get up, and as soon as she reached it the call ended. Not bothering to look who it was she returned her attention back to keeping her daughter from falling off the bed.

Ryan soon emerged from the bathroom and Alex informed him about the called he got and that she didn't bother to see who it is. Sitting down on the bed, surprised to see Liam calling him so early on a Sunday morning. Uncertain of whether to call back or leave it he decided to take the bet and call him back to see what's going on.

"Booth, I have an undercover job for you." Liam started not bothering to greet the man on the other end of the line.

"What does it entail?" Ryan asked sighing heavily running a hand across his face, not being the biggest fan of undercover cases. And if it requires him going away from home he would hate it even more.

"We can discuss everything in detail tomorrow morning. You start in two days when you start." Liam ended their conversation, leaving him to explain everything to his wife. And the questioning look she had on her face when he set the phone down, making him think that he should choose his words wisely.

"I have to go undercover, in a few days. I don't know what exactly it entails or how long it will be." He laid out the truth. She didn't have to say anything he knew Alex hated this undercover stuff as much as he did.

"It's okay." Alex said nodding her head. And Ryan wasn't really sure what to make of it, and if she really meant it.

"You don't really mean that." Ryan said softly getting back under the covers, head probed up on his hand looking at her.

"I don't like it. Look at what happened to you last time, but it's part of the job I can't stop you from going." She sighed heavily closing her eyes momentarily. Feeling her husband's lips on her forehead softly, in an apologetic way although none of this is his fault.

Taking his daughter from the bed, the two of them retreat downstairs and was surprised to see Nadia in the kitchen behind the stove. "She's burning down the house." Ryan whispered to Phoebe as he sets her down on the floor.

"I was about to offer you some breakfast, but after that comment you don't get anything." She said looking up to her brother.

"I didn't mean it. I love you so much." Ryan smiled walking over to her where she was busy making scrambled eggs, while the streaks of bacon that she finished were in another bowl, and Ryan grabbed two earning a look from his youngest sister.

Phoebe was crawling around on the floor, and stood up against the table. Nadia held the whisk she was busy with out to her, surprised to see the little girl take a few steps towards her. Walking like a robot too afraid to move her arms.

"Phoebe!" Nadia chimed and Phoebe looked up at her quickly. Too quickly and fell back down again.

Alex made an appearance a few minutes later joining them downstairs, smiling at how Nadia continued to hold out the whisk in front of Phoebe to get her to walk towards it. Phoebe gave up a little while later when she noticed she probably wasn't going to get the reward, and sat down. Crawling her way around the kitchen.

"I have good news." Nadia started, as she got the table ready for breakfast. "I'll be out of your hair in a few hours. Mom's coming to pick me up later today."

"Nooooooo, you can't leave me alone with your brother. Who will make breakfast in the morning if you're not here?" Alex asked.

"Who will babysit free of charge when Alex and I want to go out?" Ryan continued.

"Oh stop it. I'm pretty sure I gave you guys grey hair with the almost accident I had." She said feeling bad about what she put them through.

"But, besides all of that, it was really nice having you here. Next time you need to stay longer." Alex told her as they all sat down to eat. Picking Phoebe up and feeding her some cereal in between Alex's bites of food. After breakfast Ryan and Nadia cleaned the kitchen, but not without arguments on who will wash up and who will dry and pack away, but eventually they got the job done, while Alex bathed and dressed Phoebe. Trying to figure out what she'll prepare for Sunday lunch since her mother in law is coming and she feels the need to impress Theresa with some of her cooking. The things she knew would not flop.

A text message went off on her phone and she put Phoebe down on the floor after she was dressed. Running towards the bedroom door to close it before she headed for the stairs, she checked her phone and saw a text from Simone. Turns out that it is not only Theresa who is on her way, but Simone and Amorey will join her. Looking forward to the little reunion with her in laws she allowed her mind to wander on what will be for lunch.

"Alex!" Ryan calls from downstairs standing at the bottom of the stairs when she and Phoebe emerged from the bedroom. "Simone just texted me." Ryan announced holding up his phone, and she nodded her head seeing the same message she received.

"Sooooo, what's for lunch?" Alex asked and Ryan shrugged.

"Barbeque? You can just make a few salads then. Besides, I don't want to be the only male in the kitchen with the conversations the five of you are about to have." He moaned walking past her to the bedroom.

"Maybe Simone and Amorey will bring their plus ones and you won't be alone." Alex tried to reassure him. Giving him small kisses throughout until Phoebe made her presence clear from her mother's arms, and Alex set her down at the bottom of the stairs.

Alex made a list of things she needed to buy at the store before her guests arrive, and figured she could make the trip as quickly as she could by leaving Phebe with her father, while Nadia goes with, but the guests caught up with her. Ryan was outside at the back busy with the BBQ when there was a persistent knock on the front door and Nadia answered it.

"Hello pipsqueak." Simone greeted her youngest sister, followed by Amorey and then her mother. Lastly David and Jason entered, ruffling her hair.

David and Jason found their way to the back to join Ryan outside, and Alex was sure he was happy that he wouldn't be the only guy during lunch amongst all the women. After everyone greeted the women settled around the kitchen counter, fussing over Phoebe, who showed off her new obsession with taking a few steps.

"She grew up so quickly." Theresa smiled picking up her granddaughter and showering her with kisses.

"She is still my baby." Alex corrected looking up at her curly haired daughter.

"Yeah, dream on Lexi." Simone commented, looking over Alex's shoulder at the grocery list she was busy compiling.

"Where are we off to?" She asked pointing towards the list.

"I need to go to the store to get a few things or we won't have any sides to eat with the BBQ." Alex explained. "I was expecting you guys to be here a bit later, and wanted to slip away before you got here."

"Well we can all go with you. Leave those three outside." Theresa said walking towards the back, to see what her son and hopefully future son in laws are up to.

"Guys, we're going to the grocery store quickly. Please don't burn down the house." She said pointing at them jokingly. "Yes Ryan I'm talking about you." She smiled when she saw the look her son gave her.

Once they were all set in the SUV, Alex driving and Theresa next to her, the other three seated in the back while Phoebe was on Nadia's lap, despite the doubts of her concerned grandmother they drove down to the grocery store, discussing the sides they'll prepare for lunch in a few hours. Which soon came to an end and the conversation shifted to some gossip and laughter.

In the store Simone got a cart and pushed it down the aisles while Alex added the things on the list, the rest trailing along and Theresa walking with Phoebe on her hip. The colorful things drew Phoebe's attention and whenever she pointed towards something, especially in the aisle of toys Theresa took it as an opportunity to hand it to her granddaughter.

"Never fear when Nanna's near." Theresa smiled as she handed a Minnie Mouse stuffed toy to Phoebe, who smiled when she grabbed it, turning it around in her small chubby little hands, despite her mother shaking her head because of how they always spoil Phoebe.

Once they got everything, and some unnecessary things that wasn't even needed, they headed back home to see if the house was still standing, and how far the guys are. They promised not to be away from home for more than 45 minutes but they arrived after an hour and a half, showing their faces when they walked outside.

"The longest 45 minutes in the history of time." Jason commented when he saw Simone.

"It wasn't my fault. They wanted to go into five different stores once we were done. I told them we need to get back." Simone explained trying to keep a serious face when she noticed Alex looking at her shaking her head as she smiles.

"Yeah, I'm sure that's the whole truth and nothing but the truth." Ryan laughed looking at the two of them. As they disappeared back inside starting the sides that will complement the BBQ the guys are busy with outside.

Hey guys! Not much happening here basically just setting things up for the next few chapters that will follow. Ezzybobo, I got your suggestion today. And I promise you that case would be in the next chapter. Thank you guys for your suggestions you have no idea how much I appreciate it and it makes the story so much more fun to write, when I get your input on things. And Ryan's undercover case will be up in a few chapters to follow. Here's another family one, hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading.

PS: It's STORMING like crazy, schools were closed for the day so I'm posting this before there is a chance that the electricity could be cut. I should actually be studying, I'm writing in two weeks, but writing serves as a reward for getting through at least 2 hours of studying.