July 15th, 2006

Alex didn't have a very happy birthday. She felt sick every time she looked at Jimmy. She hated that feeling. She hated it. She wanted to love him dearly and not be like Kim or Brooke. Every time she looked at him she thought about his engagement party with Brooke and the incident on the bathroom sink. She didn't want to give up on him though. They had a child together.

"Come on, Aidan." Alex picked Aidan up and put him in the small kiddy pool. Aidan squealed and splashed in the water.

"Very wet." He said sitting down grabbing one of his boats.

"I know. It's water." Alex chuckled as she sank down in her beach chair near the pool. She could feel Jimmy's eyes bearing into her neck. She glanced behind her and sure enough Jimmy was on the deck. "May I help you?" He sighed softly walking down the steps and sat on the picnic table.

"Do we have to keep on doing this, Alex?" He asked.

"Doing what?" She asked looking at him.

"Ignoring each other. It's not helping any." Jimmy said.

"I'm not ignoring you. I'm just choosing not to look at you or speak to you." She said, "Big difference." Jimmy sighed deeply.

"We're getting married in January, Alex." He said.

"Are we?" She looked at him.

"I hope we are." He said, "I want to marry you."

"And I want you to stop being the old Jimmy." She said. "So we always don't get what we want."

"Stop this, Alex. I am trying to fix this." Jimmy said.

"Bullshit." Alex snapped.

"Mama!" Aidan said.

"Momma didn't swear." She said, "Please with your boats." Aidan nodded and grabbed one of his big ships. Alex looked at Jimmy.

"I am trying, Alex." He said. Alex sighed.

"I know that, but you need to know where I'm coming from, Jimmy." She said to him, "I need to protect my child."

"From me?" He looked at her hurt.

"Yes." Alex said, "From being hurt by you." Jimmy hung his head.

"I'm a horrible father." He whispered. Alex looked at him and sighed deeply.

"You're not a horrible father, Jimmy." She said, "You're just...You need help. I want to marry you, Jimmy, but maybe we should go get some help."

"As in a marriage counselor?" He asked. Alex nodded.

"Is that such a bad idea?" Alex asked, "We really need help."

"I know." He said looking at Aidan; "I want him to be proud of me. I want Joey to be proud of me and be able to look up at me."

"Then work on this." Alex said.

"Daddy, come play!" Aidan said. Jimmy looked at Alex for approval. She smiled softly. Jimmy got up and got into the pool with Aidan, "See? Big boat huh?"

"Yeah, Son, big boat." He said. God, he couldn't loose this child or Alex. He was going to work very hard to not let that happen. Even if he had to spill his guts to some marriage counsler quack. He would do it for Alex, for Aidan, for all of them.

July 29th, 2006

Alex could see Jimmy try. She could see he wanted to prove to Alex that he was changing. She was reluctant to forgive him so easily, but he was trying and that's all she asked for.

"Jimmy, we don't have to have the big church wedding if you don't want it." Alex said, "We could tone it down some if you wish."

"No. I want you to have the best wedding ever." Jimmy said sipping his coffee.

"Are you sure?" Alex asked him. Jimmy nodded.

"Yes, Alex." He said, "Our wedding is going to be wonderful. I want to show you just how much I love you. I want to do right by you." Alex's face softened as she looked at him.

"I know you will." She said. Aidan walked into the kitchen.

"Can we go swimming at the beach, Daddy?" He asked.

"Why?" Jimmy asked him.

"Cause I asked." Aidan said. A small smile came across Alex's face. She nodded.

"We can go as long as Daddy drives." Alex said. Jimmy looked at her and nodded.

* * *

Jimmy stared at Alex as she relaxed on the sand. Her bikini left nothing to the imagination. He groaned slightly. Alex opened an eye.

"Aidan okay?" She asked. Jimmy glanced at his son and sat down.

"Yeah. He's fine." He said looking at Alex. "You're so beautiful, Alex." She laughed softly.

"Trying to mend ways by throwing compliments at me?"

"No. I'm telling you the truth." Jimmy lay down next to her and wrapped his arms around her. She sighed happily. She had missed the feeling of his arms lovingly wrapped around her.

"I've missed you Jimmy." She whispered.

"Am I forgiven?" He asked. Alex was silent for a moment.

"I love you, Jimmy. That will never change." She said, "I don't want you to let go of me. Promise me that." Jimmy looked at her.

"I'll never let go of you, Alex." Jimmy said kissing her forehead. Alex smiled.

"Good." She said softly. For some reason, she felt that he was telling the truth. She believed him. All of a sudden, Jimmy and Alex had a bucket of water thrown on them. They gasped.

"Gotcha!" Aidan laughed loudly. Jimmy and Alex stared at him. He was standing there with a huge smile upon his face.

"You little poop head." Jimmy jumped up. Aidan gasped and ran to the ocean. He did a belly flop into the water. Jimmy followed behind him. Alex chuckled softly. Maybe their family would be okay after all.

* * *

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