Chapter 149

"So I was thinking" Ryan started looking at Alex, both of them still in bed hearing their daughter and her grandmothers busy downstairs in the kitchen, "we take an extra few days off and go on a little family vacation before we go back to work" he looked at her for approval but her facial expression remained the same.

"Then I've missed two weeks of work, which means if we take this week also I can't stay at home until I have to go on maternity leave." Alex summarized their options in her head, looking at her husband skeptically who nodded his head at her statement. "It's gonna be fun, don't be like that we can worry about work again when we're back." Ryan urged leaning over throwing an arm loosely over her. "Alleeexx, come on you know you want to go." He tried again looking up at her. "Fine Ryan we can go, on one condition that I get to choose the holiday house we're renting." She said and he nodded, because it seemed fair enough.

Taking a shower before she joins the rest of the team downstairs to see what they've been up to. Meanwhile down in the kitchen Phoebe's hands and face were dirty and covered in Nutella as she was busy scraping out the last contents of the jar, while Theresa and Sita made their last breakfast since they're leaving in a few hours. Ryan walked downstairs just in time as there was a knock on the door and he offered to tend to it, Phoebe and her dirty Nutella self following her father to the door.

"Hey Joey!" Ryan greeted friendly, the two of them exchanging a handshake, as he stood aside so Joey can enter.

"Papa Jo!" Phoebe said loudly extending her hands towards him, as he picked her up, regardless of how chocolate covered she was. "Hello Phoebe-girl." He smiled kissing her cheeks, walking over to the kitchen to greet Sita and Theresa who were busy with the last few preparation of breakfast, when Alex came down the stairs.

"And my main reason for a week of sleepless nights." Joey said when he spotted Alex. "I'm sorry, I'll try my best not to do it again anytime soon." She smiled hugging him. "Are really okay? You and the baby?" He asked concerned and Alex nodded. "We're fine, really." She said putting his mind at ease looking over at her daughter who was covered in melted chocolate, deciding not to say anything but knowing that after this week of her crying over anything and her grandmothers handing it to her, she'll have some serious damage control to do in terms of getting her manners back on track.

Once the breakfast was ready all of them made their way over to the dining room table to start eating the TV-like feast of food that was presented to them. With some light conversation going on around the table and a few bits of gossip about some family members while they were eating. When everything was done Alex started on the dishes but she was stopped on her tracks, as Ryan and Joey took over while the women sat on the couch watching some TV and Alex trying to clean Phoebe's hands at least before it was bath time. Theresa and Sita gathering the last few things before making their way out the door. "Please look after yourself, we don't want to come here rushing in the early hours of the morning again." Theresa said hugging her daughter in law. "I promise to try my best." She said repeating the action with her mother and Joey, walking out onto the grass to see them off as they got into their cars and drive down the street.

Walking back inside Ryan offered to bath Phoebe while Alex looked for some holiday home online that they can rent. Deciding on a really nice looking house that was walking distance from the shore she was hoping the pictures they have on the website wasn't deceiving. Waiting on Ryan to make his way downstairs first so he can also have a look at the house before she made the booking and paying online. Alex packing her and Phoebe's clothes while Ryan was busy dressing her, which took forever because Phoebe was in no burry to get done. And once she was dressed Ryan handed her over to her mother so she can tie her hair while he packed the car. Looking at the size of the suitcases it looked like they weren't coming back anytime soon. "You do know we're coming back right?" Ryan said from the doorway of the bedroom. "The coastal weather is unpredictable, you never know what to expect." She replied and without any further comment he took their bags downstairs. Alex making Phoebe's bottle and getting a few toys and snacks for the road because her daughter will get fussy when she has to sit still for too long, securing her in the car seat with her bottle and the minion stuffed toy they drove out of town, and onto the freeway.

About half an hour into the drive Alex turned around and looked towards the back seat, Phoebe fell asleep her head leaning to one side and the bottle half full with milk positioned between her chubby little thighs. "I have something to tell you." Alex said looking over at her husband who glanced at her quickly not knowing what to expect from this. "I don't know if you've met Danika yet, anyway she's my favorite cousin she came to the house a few weeks ago and my grandmother would like to see Phoebe in flesh and not on a computer screen, but most importantly she wants to see if you are like all the other American boys." Alex laughed at the problems her grandmother has with Americans.

"All the other American boys what's that supposed to mean?" He asked amused looking over at her.

"I don't know" She shrugged, "I think she's still upset that I didn't settle down with a good mannered Indian guy like, Ishmael. I couldn't stand him."

"So if we go it'll have to be in a few months before you can't fly anymore."

"Yeah probably, but that is problems for some other day not now." She said checking the GPS to see if they're still on track, seeing the red blip showing their destination a few miles away, Phoebe announcing her presence loudly as she's having a conversation with herself. "Did you enjoy your nap, bub?" Alex asked turning around in her seat, watching her daughter smiling as she handed the pink bottle to her mother, settling back in her seat playing with the minion. Without looking Alex could tell they've reached the coast as she could smell the salty air.

"Look at the water Phoebe." Alex said excitedly pointing a finger out the window, Phoebe following her mother's hand.

"Biiiiiihhhhhh" Phoebe replied her hand on the window as far as she could reach over to touch it. "Yeah it's big" Ryan laughed at her expression in the rear view mirror, as they pulled into the driveway of the house that was relatively close to the shore. Getting out, admiring the view they had first before they started unloading the SUV. "Mama" Phoebe said pointing towards the shore that was walking distance from the house. "We'll go later bub, I promise." Alex said picking her up and carrying her inside, happy to see that the pictures wasn't deceiving and that it looked like it did on the internet which is what she grateful for. Walking around the house to look at the bedrooms there was one room relatively close to the master bedroom, but not having the heart to let her daughter sleep there alone.

After Ryan packed everything in the rooms he settled back down on the couch, closing his eyes as he just wanted a few minutes of peace after the two hour drive, but it seemed to be short lived when Alex came to sit down next to him throwing her feet over his legs and crossing them at the ankles. "We probably need to go buy food." Alex said looking over to him, his eyes still closed as he took out the keys and handed them to her, "I can't drive anymore my brain is fried from concentrating." He said turning his head to look at her. "If you come with, I'll fill the car with gas, for at least two weeks and I won't complain about it." She tried bargaining with him. "But, if I stay here, Phoebe won't have to go with and you will be done faster." He replied.

"Fine the. Just remember that I'm not familiar with this place, and I'm a vulnerable pregnant woman." She blackmailed him. "That does not work anymore." Ryan laughed making himself more comfortable on the couch.

"Phoebe, come here please." Alex called not even sure where her daughter is right now, when she came running down the passage. "Come on, let's go shopping." Alex said as Phoebe took a hold of her mother's hand the two of them walking towards the door when Phoebe suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"Dada?" She asked looking at her father, his plans for not joining them is short lived. "Yes, Phoebe I'm coming." He sighed getting up not being able to say no to her, even if it was something as small as this.

"Jumping at your daughter's beg and call but when it's your wife, you'll let me wander the strange land alone." Alex said shaking her head at him. "I love you too, sweetheart." He replied hoping that would momentarily silence her.

I don't know why it seems like I've been writing every chapter in the same way where they are waking up or busy getting ready for the day (maybe because it feels appropriate for the start of a chapter? I don't know I'll try and change that from now on). A few of you asked me for a family holiday, here is part one of it, I don't really know what exactly you guys had in mind what they should be doing, so feel free to let me know what you'd want to see while they're at the beach for the next couple of days. Also, I'm procrastinating so much I had a whole list of things planned out for what I want to do today, but guess what I did…nothing! I watched movies and ended up writing this. I really need to stop doing this last minute. Anyway, hope you guys are all still doing good, and thank you for all the love and support.

Lovies-S