Chapter 140

*four weeks later*

Alex kept forgetting to blink, because that would mean it is real and maybe if she didn't blink and continued to stare the results would change. Maybe pregnancy tests were only effective 98% of the time, but the blood test the doctor did yesterday confirmed it so these three tests wouldn't lie. Looking to the closed bathroom door she blew out a steady breath, and a small smile appeared on her face as she looked in the mirror, quickly hiding the three tests in her gown pocket throwing away all the evidence, walking back to the bedroom.

Alex laid in bed texting Marci at day care, happy that she was on board with her little plan she had going on in her head. Smiling to herself just hoping things would go as plan, as she is taking the day off. Not in the mood for work it is after all a family emergency, and she still had a few leave days she didn't use yet.

In her drawer on her side of the bed, she wrapped the little packet in the small white box, she bought a few weeks ago when she and Phoebe went shopping, a big yellow bow overshadowing the small box, putting it back in the drawer when she heard Ryan and Phoebe come up the stairs.

"Mama!" Phoebe yelled friendly running over to her mother, curls bouncing around her head.

"Phooeebee." Alex smiled opening her arms as she helped her daughter onto the bed. "Did you have breakfast yet?" Alex asked Phoebe and she nodded.

"Who gave you breakfast?" She asked again.

"Dada." Phoebe replied pointing to her father proudly, judging from the stains on Phoebe's pajamas it wasn't the best choice of breakfast, as there were streaks of some kind of chocolate that were part of the breakfast routine, because her hands were still sticky but she'll let it slide this morning.

Getting up Alex walked downstairs to set out Phoebe's clothes and packed a special item in her bag that Marci will dress her in when Ryan picks her up from day care later in the day. Excited about her little plan she finished packing Phoebe's bag, making lunch for Ryan as well.

"Why are you packing me lunch?" He asked walking downstairs looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Why can't I?" She asked wrapping it the tasty looking sandwiches. "I figured after the diet you've survived I can spoil an amazing husband with some normal food once again." She placed the lunch next to his briefcase, standing up on tippy toes poking out her lips for a kiss that he returned.

"That diet was horrible." He whispered softly and Alex laughed nodding her head. "It really was, and I promise not to put you through it again." She promised, Phoebe making her way down the stairs, joining their parents in their hug by putting her arms around her father's legs.

Kissing her daughter goodbye once she was dressed, Ryan was busy drinking some last minute coffee before they left. Alex dashed upstairs retrieving the gift she wrapped a few minutes ago, slipping it into her husband's briefcase without him noticing anything, eyes fixed on the TV watching the news highlights.

"Pheebs, let's rock and roll." Ryan said looking around for his daughter, grabbing their things, kissing is wife goodbye as he and Phoebe heads out to get their day started while Alex flopped down on the couch, ready to binge watch some series.

After an hour of lounging around she got out her laptop and got on with planning her mother's wedding, since she was on limited time before she and Jo decided to do their court thing. At least once the venues are booked and she paid some of the things she's hoping they won't back out and won't have much of a choice but allow her to continue planning it. Sending her mother some links of the venues she had in mind, giving her a few days to decide.

Ryan walked into the office, not expecting to see anyone in his office when he opened his door. A blonde woman staring at the pictures on his desk, holding a framed picture of his wedding day in his hand.

"Can I help you?" He asked and the woman turned around quickly, smiling at him.

"You two look happy. Honestly I didn't think you'd make it." She said putting the picture down again, sitting on the couch.

"That's because we are happy. How can I help you Hannah?" He asked not in the mood for this cat and mouse game.

"It's how I can help you. I have a case that I'm hoping you'd help me with." She said and Ryan was suspicious about this.

"Why couldn't you just give it to O'Connor why did you have to come to me personally to deliver it?" Ryan asked looking at the file on the desk not bothering to open it, placing his briefcase on the desk.

"Ryan, I don't have any hidden agenda. I know we have a history and things didn't end well between us. But this is strictly business." The blonde said, grabbing her coat that was draped over the side of the couch. "I really hope you'd be on board to help us compete this case." She said before leaving the office closing the door behind her.

Ryan staring at the document on the desk in front of him. Still not opening it, but putting it in his briefcase rather, when a square box caught his eye. He retrieved it, seeing the oversized bow on the small box hoping he didn't forget an important date. Opening it carefully, wrapped in yellow tissue paper there was a pacifier in the box. Confused he took it out turning it around looking for more proof of what it could mean, because it clearly wasn't Phoebe's and he didn't know why it was wrapped or of Alex would want to tell him something. He closed it again, putting it in his drawer and got started with the workload the day held.

A knock on the door started Alex where she was busy browsing through her social media newsfeed. Groaning she got up setting her laptop aside walking to the door. Opening the door her mouth fell open in surprise at who stood on the other side.

"Danika!" Alex shouts at her favorite cousin standing in the doorway, smiling widely as the two of them hug each other tightly.

"Surprise!" Danika says when they pulled apart.

"I'm surprised alright. What are you doing here? How long will you be in town? How did you know where I stay?" Alex rambled because the last time Danika visited she was still in the apartment before they bought the house.

"I'm in town for a week on work business. I asked your mom if you're still in the apartment and Grandma asked me to check up on her granddaughter who lives in the States. Because she's certain you've forgot your ethnicity." Danika laughed as her grandmother was very cultural. "Where's Phoebe I wanted to meet her in person, and why aren't you saving the world?"

"I'm having a personal day of doing nothing. Phoebe's at day care, if you'd told me you were coming I would've kept her at home." Alex explained still overjoyed, switching on the kettle so she and Danika can catch up.

"She looks so much like you. And married life is treating you well you're glowing child! Oh, and before I forget the family wants to meet Ryan. Since Skype doesn't satisfy them anymore, the aunties are planning a family reunion and everyone has to be in Mumbai." Danika said making herself comfortable on the couch after she made her way through the pictures.

"I'd love to see everyone again. Even aunty Shayna who makes that curry that makes you cry because your intestines are on fire." Alex laughed thinking about her family back home. "Enough about me, is there someone special I should know about?"

Danika takes a deep breath "there was a thing going between me and him, but he was kind of slow, so I confessed how I felt and we haven't spoken since. So maybe I messed everything up, but I really liked him, and I still do." She admits when Alex came back into the lounge with the coffee.

"Maybe you just caught him off guard, and he's waiting for the right moment to say that he feels the same." Alex shrugged.

"Maybe. Or maybe I'm meant to be a spinster and not get married ever. And the most awkward part is we're working together so there's no way that I can avoid him. The earth just need to swallow me." Danika groaned dramatically. She and Alex caught up on the things they've missed out on and who is married and who not. Who got divorced, what cousin is angry at the other one and some more family gossip before Danika had to leave, promising Alex they'd catch up again because she wants to meet Phoebe and Ryan.

Grateful when the clock struck 5PM and Ryan rushed downstairs, getting into the car ready to go home. When he pulled up in the parking lot he was surprised to see Phoebe wasn't wearing the same t-shirt she had on this morning. Not that it was an unusual occurrence because Alex always packed an extra set of clothing in case one gets dirty. Picking her up and putting her in the car seat he took time to read the words that was on the white t shirt: World's best big sister. Still unsure of what to make of it, he drove home trying to figure it out, and the pacifier still an unanswered question in his mind.

Hearing the front door open Alex went into the bedroom, getting a white envelope the doctor gave her yesterday, and the three pregnancy tests she took this morning. "Alex?" Ryan calls when he enters and sets Phoebe down. When she walked downstairs the pacifier were on the table and she saw the look on his face that he didn't understand what it was all about. Without saying a word she slid the white envelope across the table, he opened it and looked at the picture, or so called picture he couldn't see anything besides a black and white something.

"What am I looking at?" He asked staring between his wife and the picture.

"Our baby." Alex said simply.

"Phoebe?" he asked and Alex shook her head, loving the small smile that appeared on his face, as she adds the three pregnancy tests to the mix, showing him all three were positive.

"Alex don't play with me." Ryan said hoping she's not making a joke because he is about to jump out of his skin due to joy.

"I'm not playing with you. I'm six weeks pregnant." She said and couldn't contain her smile, Ryan scooping her up in a hug. "I'm gonna be a dad." He breathes against her neck, nodding she wraps her arms around him tears lining her eyes. "We're going to have a baby." He confirmed again making sure he's not dreaming and that this was actually happening.

"No!" Phoebe said standing there looking at her parents, who burst out in laughter at her response to the news.

Guys I feel like this chapter is rushed and I'm not satisfied with it. But I have a lot of things going on all at once and I wanted to get it out before things got even more hectic than it already is. So I'm hoping it wasn't too much of a let - down. Thank you for all the love, the reviews and PM's they really mean a lot to me, you guys have no idea.

Lovies-S