Chapter 192

As the family of three, and a half, entered the shopping mall Alex's attention was drawn to the shop window where she saw formal shirts being displayed. Ryan and Phoebe lagged behind as she decided she wanted to walk instead of being picked up, which made them twice as slow because she wanted to look at everything that was being displayed. Alex stood at the entrance of the store waiting for them to come closer before she goes inside, and she could see the confused look on her husband's face as he neared the shop.

"Are we buying shirts?'' He asked and Alex nodded guiding them further into the shop.

''You can do with a few new ones. '' She continued while looking at some options and pointing a few out to him, and as much as he hated to admit it his wife actually had good taste in clothing. He nodded at the selection she showed him.

''Okay well let's go pay for it then." He answered keeping an eye on his daughter who was sitting on the floor.

''Uuhhmm no Ryan go fit it on please. If you don't like it you can take something else but I'm not willing to go home and then you decided there that you do not like it.'' She said knowing that is exactly what her husband will do just because he is too lazy to go into the fitting rooms. Seeing that he is busy losing this battle he retreated to the fitting room entering the first stall while Alex made herself comfortable on the couch as she waited for him. Phoebe got bored of sitting around with her mother, and she walked over to the stall where her father was changing, laying down on her tummy she crawled under the opening of the door and smiled up at him.

''Phoebe.'' Alex laughed from the other side and the toddler laid down on her arms, half her body under the door while her feet stuck out on the other side as her father opened the door to hear his wife's opinion on how the shirt fit.

''Pwetty dada.'' Phoebe said rolling around on the floor and he decided to go on his daughter's opinion but the nod from Alex satisfied him as well as they decided on taking the four shirts they have decided on. Walking up to the counter while Ryan paid a woman came up to Alex and Phoebe who was making their way out of the store.

''Excuse me, this is really random but can I ask you something?'' The woman asked and Alex nodded her head not knowing where this conversation is going on who this woman is approaching her. ''I'm Madeleine Schwartz, I'm an events co-ordinator and we have an event coming up called the Sisterhood Conference, where we have guest speakers talk about how woman can do just as much as men in any field of work. And I know you are an FBI agent.''

Phoebe pried her hands loose from her mother's hold and ran over to her father at the counter. Alex wasn't really worried about her daughter at this stage as the shop was relatively empty and she could locate her daughter easily of it came to that – or whoever would want to abduct their little miss will surely bring her back within they first few hours because she would most probably be too much too handle.

Alex was blown away by the fact that the woman knew that she was an FBI agent, and it took them a little bit more until she figured out that they met at the gala function a few months back. And then she remembered that Madeleine was one of the woman she saw at the crèche that was provided upstairs since the kids was also allowed to attend that gala. ''Uuhhhmm, sure. This is really out of the blue so I apologize if look shocked, but of you can give me more information regarding all of this I will be honoured to be there.'' Alex said as they exchanged business cards between the two of them.

Ryan picked Phoebe up and they walked out of the store towards the grocery store to get some shopping done. Ryan put Phoebe in the cart and started following his wife around the aisles. Since she had the advantage of being a few feet in front of him he managed to sneak some tools into the cart hoping she won't notice or they will have the same argument they always have whenever they come to the store to do some shopping. Alex stood at the end of the aisle and waited for them to reach her and just shook her head at the contents of what she was certain belonged to her husband.

''Dada! Dada!'' Phoebe said getting over excited as she pointed towards the Paw Patrol and he was shocked at her new discovery as it seemed like Barney wasn't an option anymore.

''Yes Pheebs, who is that?'' He asked checking to see if she will know.

''Paw Paw-tol'' she continued excitedly trying to lean over the cart as far as she could in order to try and reach the pillow with the dog character on. She caught sight of her mother who was closer to the pillow than she was and tried again. ''Mama look. Paw Paw-tol.'' She continued with the same excitement that she told her father about earlier.

''Wow that is so cool bub.'' Alex smiled. ''Don't you like Barney anymore?'' She asked and her daughter shook her head, as they entered this new phase of Paw Patrol.

''Mama want.'' She continued and pointed a chubby finger in the direction of the Paw Patrol collection but Alex shook her head.

''No, we did not come to the store to buy toys Phoebe, you have more than enough to play with.'' Alex dismissed and walked further down the aisle as she added diapers and formula to the cart, and her daughter started kicking her legs against the cart because she didn't get her way, and soon her cries started. ''Crying is not going to help you either, you're being naughty right now Phoebe.'' Alex said looking at Phoebe.

''Maaammmaa-aa bad. I want Paw Paw-toooooll.'' The toddler continued and by now Ryan was about to give in and give her daughter what she wants but on the other hand he was scared if another argument erupting between him and his wife because he always gives in to the one-and-a-half-year old's demands.

''Phoebe Grace Booth look at me.'' Alex said waiting until Phoebe's cries subside and she looks at her mother, running a chubby hand over her tear stained and snotty nose, making matters worse while she sobbed. ''You are behaving really badly right now. And crying over things does not mean that you will get it okay. I am not buying you a Paw Patrol pillow.'' Alex said definitely and Phoebe looked up to her father with big teary eyes and the battle was won as he took the pillow of the shelf and handed it to his daughter seeing the dissatisfying look on his wife's face.

''I don't like it when she cries about something. And it's not that expensive Alex.'' He tried to justify his actions.

''That's not the point Ryan, if you continue like this she's going to become spoiled and have really bad manners resulting in no one liking her because she thinks she's entitled to everything when she cries for it. And I will not have my child grow up like that, because clearly we do not have the same ways of disciplining her .'' Alex said seriously looking up at her husband.

''Well that was the last time. It won't happen again.'' He said but knew very well that was a lie, if only his wife would look on the bright side of all of this, They have a happy toddler who are not screaming anymore and upsetting the other shoppers . Resulting in Phoebe getting her Paw Patrol shaped pillow and him getting some tools that he is certain he will need in the future.

Hey guys! Thank you for reading.

Lovies-S