Chapter 168

Alex and Ryan left the hotel earlier, since Ramashni summoned all her granddaughters to help her with some preparations for the next day's family dinner. They pulled up in front of the house and there were other cars that she didn't recognize and Ryan looked over at her nervously.

"It's fine, I don't think the devil wears Prada is here. At least I hope she's not." Alex answered his questioning face as they both know who she was referring to.

Alex opened the door and was surprised to see Malik and Yassin sitting in the lounge talking, because Danika didn't let her know when they'll be landing. Judging from the laughter in the kitchen she assumed all the women were there, as she introduced Ryan to Yassin who was her cousin Lucy's husband, Skye's parents.

Alex walked into the kitchen and the first thing she noticed was that Lucy and Danika were standing around stirring pots or preparing something while Ramashni walked around to check if they were on the right path as she tasted here and there, while attending to her great granddaughters in the process handing them biscuits.

"Hello." Alex smiled when she saw her daughter who ran over to her, but saw her father and went to him instead.

"I don't feel bad anymore." Lucy laughed as Skye was as much of a daddy's girl as Phoebe was. Alex walked over to hug Lucy who she hasn't seen in quite some time.

"It is so nice seeing you, Lucy-Lu." Alex greeted as they laughed at her nickname she has had since she was little. Ryan was astonished at the resemblance there was between his wife and her two cousins as they really looked alike.

"You must be Ryan. I'm Lucy; the well mannered cousin between the whole bunch." Lucy said as she introduced herself to Ryan. He greeted Danika and Ramashni and little Skye who was sitting on the counter before leaving the kitchen and joined the men in the lounge putting his daughter down as he exited the kitchen so she can greet her mother.

"Phoebe are you really not planning on greeting me?" Alex asked when her daughter walked away and acted as if she wasn't in the room.

"Ah-wex." Phoebe said pointing towards her mother as the others laughed.

"Yes it's me, Alex, your mother. Who missed you please come say hello to me." She tried as Phoebe eventually walked over to hug her and Alex kissed Skye, and then grabbed one of the cookies Lucy was busy decorating, when Lucy looked at her with a smile and pointed a finger in the direction of her swollen belly.

"What do we have here? How far along are you? Do you know what it is? Why are you having sex?" Lucy asked and Danika and Ramashni burst out laughing at the expression on Alex's face.

All of them looked at Alex amused and expectedly to start answering the questions. "Grandma tell them to stop harassing me." Alex whined as she walked over to the fridge to see if there is anything to eat, and if she can help with some of the preparations, as she was soon put to work by having to chop onions which she hated but didn't mind doing it.

"Grandma will aunty Anaiah be here tomorrow?" Lucy asked and all of them looked at her as she shrugged.

"I don't know." Ramashni said honestly. "She doesn't like Ryan because he's white, she doesn't like Malik because he's not Indian either, she doesn't like Yassin because he's Muslim so I highly doubt that she'll show up. Or if she does it will only be for 5 minutes." Ramashni concluded not knowing how else to explain her daughter's behavior to her grandkids. And it's not like she wants to talk down or bad about her but it's merely the truth, Anaiah has issues when things doesn't go her way.

They continued cooking and chatting away, until it was time to leave. Alex was asking Phoebe to get her bags but she and Skye looked up at Gigi to wordlessly ask for confirmation if they can stay over for yet another night. Alex and Lucy tried arguing as they know when they get home their daughters will be spoiled and will probably cry about everything when they don't get their way but there is no point in arguing now, as the parents left their children and went off on their own.

As Alex and Ryan got back to their hotel room, they've decided to go out once again tonight as they will have to be between family tomorrow and have to take advantage of the alone time they have right now.

"We don't have to go" He suggested softly as she continued to button, moving her mouth up his neck as she reached the top. Even in the three seconds he'd had to look at her since arriving home his heart had started to race. Her navy blue dress was new, a elegant vintage style with a knee length full circle skirt and the blouse style top. Buttons ran from the collar to a high waist, she'd only done up a few and coupled with the mid-length sleeves there was still plenty of skin visible. She'd finished the look with bright red heels and lipstick, he hadn't noticed yet but she'd gone to the effort of painting her fingernails a matching shade.

"We'll have plenty of time for that when we get back" She decided, stepping back to admire her work. Reaching across to wipe away the slightest smudge of lipstick from his neck, thinking that smudge proof was a makeup industry lie.

"Fine" He groaned, it was possible their table had been given to another couple by now so he didn't see the point in driving across the city when staying home had benefits.

"Alright" He agreed before turning his attention to giving their name, surprisingly their table was still available. They were seated and left to peruse the menu. "You hungry?" He questioned in an attempt to generate conversation.

"Not really" She answered, too busy scanning the salad options to bring up the fact she'd eaten way too much at her grandmother's house. Trying to make up for skipping breakfast yet again.

"Well I need to go back to work because if it keeps growing at this rate it's going to be massive" Alex teased, not entirely convinced that the stress of work was any less than the stress she'd been facing recently.

"That's not a bad thing" He grinned, wishing he could pull her into his lap to feel her belly again. He wouldn't mind if his hand was glued there.

"Yeah it kind of is!" She complained, constantly conscious of the fact that it had to be born.

"I'm just saying it wouldn't hurt if this one was bigger than Phoebe" He defended.

"Wouldn't hurt? You're great at this" She laughed, wondering if he had thought at all before speaking.

"I'm sorry" He apologised as soon as he realised, cheeks reddening with embarrassment.

brbr"You're right though, bigger than Phoebe would be nice" Alex conceded as the waiter approached to take their order. Ryan tried to convince her to get 'real' food but she ordered a salad and told him it was the only thing she felt like eating.

"Do you think it's a boy?" He asked suddenly, ending the comfortable silence and drawing her eyes to his.

"I don't know, does it matter?" She asked softly, she hadn't really put much thought into it.

"No of course not" He said quickly , wanting her to know he was thrilled to be having a baby regardless of gender.

"Good, but I would like a boy...I think" She smiled, it was hard to know if she wanted something she'd never had before.

"I don't know, our girl is pretty awesome" He shrugged, it couldn't hurt to have two miniature copies of his beautiful wife.

"She certainly is" Alex agreed.

"I wouldn't mind another one just like her" He decided. Thinking about the baby made him realise they weren't even at the halfway mark yet, he just wanted to be able to hold it already.

"I have no idea what we'd name a girl" She realised wondering what they would have named Phoebe, because she can't even remember how they came up with her name.

"And we have a name for a boy already" She said, there was no question about it.

"You can pick a middle name" She suggested quickly, making sure he knew he could still contribute to the naming a name suitable for their baby wasn't going to be easy and he didn't have the faintest idea where to start.

"That way we'll know what it's going to be called after the twenty week scan" Alex summarised.

"You want to find out?" Ryan asked not bothering to mask his surprise at the statement.

"Yeah, don't you?" She questioned having automatically assumed he would want to know as soon as possible

"We don't have to. I don't mind and it doesn't really matter, most of the newborn clothes we have are gender neutral" She explained, happy to let him decide.

"I want to know. But it would be the best surprise" He concluded wanting both equally.

"Well you have plenty of time to decide" She reminded.

"Thank you" He said, both to the waiter delivering their food and to his wife. She was much more relaxed about the baby than he had expected. Definitely more relaxed than he was at that moment. He didn't know how he'd avoided it until then but he was suddenly struck by the realisation that he loved the baby. He had loved it from the moment he had found out about it, love increasing steadily as it grew. That made him question how much love he had, surely there was only a finite amount. Previously entirely devoted to Alex and Phoebe, where had the portion he held for the baby come from. Did it mean he was loving one of them less? He didn't want to love Shay any less because of a new baby but he had already started to love it. He was thankful for the lull in conversation as they ate so he could try to grapple with the immensity of the problem he faced.

"Are you even listening?" She questioned, this time pressing her foot against his leg to get his attention.

"Hmm?" Ryan said, finally acknowledging her presence. He had been staring at her the entire time but only now could she see his eyes actually focus.

"I don't want dessert but I was asking if you did... Are you alright?" She asked, noticing the underlying look of terror.

"Yeah, just thinking" He shrugged trying to dismiss the thoughts.

"About?"

"The baby?" She questioned

He nodded

"It'll all be fine, we'll find a name and get organised. It's going to be okay" She assured, wondering why he was so worried all of a sudden.

"I don't want dessert" He stated eager to get home, even just to the quiet of the car. Anywhere he could sit and think uninterrupted. He completely ignored Alex and her attempts to get him to talk as he paid and rushed from the restaurant, leaving her struggling to keep up. It didn't much matter that he was so far ahead, she had the car keys and refused to press the unlock button.

"Ryan talk to me" She instructed as she met him on the passenger side of the car, his hand waiting on the door handle.

"There's nothing to talk about" He snapped, reaching across to take the car keys.

"There obviously is! Is it the baby? Because I don't understand, you were really excited and now you look horrified" Alex questioned, desperate to understand what he was thinking.

"I am excited" He said, tone and expression betraying him.

"You might want to tell your face that because it doesn't look like it" She argued, struggling not to laugh at the stupidity of the situation. Of course they couldn't just have a nice night out, that would be far too much to ask.

"I don't think I can love it" He said softly, closer to tears than she ever could have predicted.

"The baby? Why not?" She asked, so shocked by the admission that seeking further information took priority over comforting him.

"I don't want to love you any less...or Phoebe. How can I love it too?" He questioned, so serious he might well have been pondering the meaning of life itself.

"You already love it" She said, trying to be serious though it was a completely laughable statement. How could he be worried about loving the baby. "Love doesn't work like that, there aren't any quantities involved. It just happens" She explained gently.

"I don't know" He shrugged, frowning childishly.

What had seemed like a massive existential crisis only a minute ago was solved with a single hug. She opened the car door and pushed him into the seat reaching in to hand him the seat belt. His hand missed hers and instead of the seat belt he grabbed a handful of her dress, pulling her forward until he could twist her around. Erin had no idea what he was doing but didn't complain, happy to sit on his lap as he held her and whispered an apology.

"I'm an idiot" He sighed.

"I know. I still love you though" She laughed, wondering how far up her dress his hand was going to go. There was nobody around but it definitely didn't seem decent.

"I love you so much, and I love loving you. I don't want that to change" He whispered right against her ear, loving the way her hair tickled his lips.

"It won't" She assured turning her head so she could brush her lips over his for the tiniest second of contact. "I lied" She uttered breathlessly as his fingers continued to tease their way up the inside of her leg.

"What?" He asked, confused but not really wanting to be distracted.

"I'm going to take you home so I can show you exactly how much I love you" She grinned kissing him hard and fast before standing up, slamming the door and before rounding the car. He didn't want to interfere with her driving so he settled on resting a hand just above her knee. The drive home seemed to take a ridiculously long time. She washed away her makeup and ran a comb through her hair before taking off her heels and lounging on the bed going through her messages and checking emails.

"I'm sorry" She said, placing a hand between his shoulder blades

"Don't be" He smiled turning to smile at her before getting up. He took off his shirt and jeans before stopping to look at her.

"You sure you have enough love for this?" She asked gesturing from head to toe.

"Too soon" He groaned, crossing to the bed to lay down beside her.

"You are okay though?" She checked, propping herself up on one elbow as she used her free hand to slowly work the white fabric of his singlet up his body.

"Yeah. I don't even know what I was thinking" He answered honestly wishing he could go back and erase that portion of the evening.

"It's okay to have doubts, to be afraid of this change" Alex said, temporarily leaving his singlet to run a hand over the baby. "I know I'm scared" She admitted. "But love and happiness win, when I look down and see our baby I have to smile. When Phoebe does something stupid and gives me the same cheeky grin you do, I smile because that's what this is about. You are an incredible father and I'm going to give you another little human that you're going to shape into a wonderful person" She encouraged with a small smile.

"I love you so much" He replied firmly, reaching over to run a thumb along her cheekbone. Intent on sliding his hand to the back of her neck to draw her face close enough for a kiss.

"No more words" She breathed as she moved to straddle him, pulling the singlet off in one swift motion and interrupting his plan. He gave a nod in response, looking down to decipher the word she was writing across his chest with a fingertip. Love. Neither of them knew what love was, undefinable and indescribable, but they did know they were feeling it at that moment.

"I love you" He mouthed silently, it wasn't breaking the rule but she pressed a finger to his lips anyway. Leaning forward to replace it with hers for a soft and slow kiss. She sat back again, watching him carefully, his hands dropped to the buttons of her dress undoing them unhurriedly. The silence was heavy between them. When he bent forward to kiss the soft skin escaping her bra she let out a moan, letting it die halfway through, surprised by how loud it sounded. He set mind to generating another moan, temporarily inhibited by her dress. After letting him struggle for a few minutes she stood and undid the zipper that ran down the side, taking it off and letting it pool on the floor.

Ryan sat up but she resumed her position over him regardless, accepting his hot kisses gladly. When her breathing grew louder than speaking would he took a break, running his fingers down her sides. She shed her bra and he cupped a breast in each hand, fingers alive as they caressed the softest skin she possessed. He rolled to the side in order to continue trailing kisses downward. She had been enjoying the feel of his taut shoulder muscles beneath her hands but she let them fall to the bed, idle, as he finally got the moan he desired. Like any good thing one simply wasn't enough, the easiest way to draw more from her was to remove the fabric keeping them apart. She had barely registered the sudden divestiture when his body took their place. There was only one thing in the world she could think about and even that was made difficult. She pulled him in for a kiss as his thrusts shifted from tentative to sure. As much as he loved kissing her he preferred the senseless stream of words pouring from her mouth, silence long forgotten. He loved her like this, completely bare, naked of mind and body. She fought to keep her eyes open, determined to convey everything she couldn't with words or actions in a single look. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't sustain it for long.

It was Ryan who looked away first, eyes scanning her entire body to lock this moment in his mind forever. It wasn't even a moment though, over in no time as they both gave in to the spectacular result of their actions.

"I love you" She breathed against his lips before relaxing and embracing the strong desire to sleep. He replied within seconds but she was already asleep. He took a moment to shift her head to the pillow then pulled the covers over both of them before allowing sleep to claim him too.

Hey guys. Some of you requested that characters of Season 2 come into the story. I can manage that but it is going to take some time, but I will get to it don't worry, even if it takes 2 months. Here is some more downtime between our love couple (I always feel weird writing these last parts as I feel I got into too much detail but I try my best to keep it as clean as I possibly can). Also, I mentioned a family dinner up in the next chapter – I have no idea what it will be about or what will happen or where to start with it, so if you guys have any ideas to help me out you are more than welcome to let me know what you want to see go down during dinner. Thank you for all the love and all the feedback you guys have no idea how much it means to me.

Lovies-S