Author's Note: You reviewers are all so nice! Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Just to clear things up, this is a drabble series. It follows no order and is completely random. Whatever I think up for the prompt ends up being written. There's no real relation betweens stories. Now that that's out of the way, please enjoy some shameless fluff.

Title: Big Difference
Author: GusTheMoose
Theme/Set: Happy Family/Criminal Intent
Rating: G
Claim + additional character(s): Alex Eames/Bobby Goren, Captain Deakins.
Warning: NA
Summary: "I don't see a ring, Detective."

Alex Eames drew a deep breath and got up from her desk in the Major Case squad. Her partner raised an eyebrow in question and she gave a shot nod. Yes, she was going to talk to Deakins. She'd done this once before, a second time really didn't phase her that much. Only there was one big difference this time.

The Captain motioned her in when she knocked and studied her before offering her a seat. "What's up?"

"Bobby's chasing down the specialty clay we found the body in, and we're still waiting for the lab results," Alex said, knowing her captain would want an update on the case before anything else.

"Great, so we've got a skeleton and that's it. Still no identification?"

"No, but we're gonna start looking through old missing persons reports."

Deakins rubbed at the bridge of his nose, "So, what have you got for me?"

"I'm going to take maternity leave again." She just loved the stunned expression that crossed Deakins' face.

"For your sister?" Deakins asked, not pleased that he was going to lose her again.

"Ah, no, this one's mine," Alex said, pressing a hand over her stomach.

"I don't see a ring, Detective," Deakins said, getting up from his desk and walking around to sit in front of her. "This guy still in the picture?"

"Yeah, I see him every day," Alex smiled. This morning, she and Bobby made the decision to finally tell their Captain about their relationship. A relationship that had started after Nicole Wallace had reared her ugly head again. Bobby had been so torn up and Alex was so worried about him, she'd stopped by his apartment one night. That night had changed their lives. "We're very close."

And that's the moment Deakins figured it out. He jumped to his feet, opened the door to his office and thundered "Goren! My office now!"

Alex felt like laughing, but just grinned instead. Bobby shared a warm look with her as he walked in, before focusing on Deakins, "Something wrong, Captain?"

For a moment it looked like Deakins might strangle Goren, but he controlled himself, "How long?"

Alex and Bobby shared a look and she willingly let him take control of the conversation, "Six months."

Deakins drew a deep breath, "So, Detective, how many favors do you think are owed me?"

"Ah well, we're hoping enough." Bobby reached for Alex and she laced her fingers through his.

Deakins stared at their linked hands, "I guess I better start making some phone calls. Go back to work, crack the case and name the kid after me."