A/N – The fifth and final chapter REALLY wanted to be written, while this one REALLY didn't. I finally had to just post it so I can move on. It's a bit 'over-the-top' but at this point, it is what it is…

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Chapter 4 - Hope

He was in his own apartment in the middle of a workday and Bobby was antsy. Nothing about this felt good. The Sawyer case was stalled until the next morning when the kid's parents were due back from a trip to Europe, but there was still a lot of other work to be done. Instead he was here… waiting for Alex and dreading it.

Earlier that day when he abruptly got up from his desk to get a cup of coffee, it didn't take long for Alex to follow him into the break room. He was briskly stirring his coffee – why, he didn't know since he was drinking it black with no sugar – and turned his head when he heard her walk in.

"Hey," she greeted him, leaning her hip against the counter.

"Hi."

"I need…" she paused then began again. "Can we go to your place for lunch today?"

Bobby hesitated as a wisp of something akin to fear brushed his heart. Wishing he understood the meaning of this unusual request, he simply agreed. "Sure. When do you want to leave?"

"I need to do something first. Can I meet you there … around 12:30?"

"Okay."

She'd left the squad room soon after that and an hour later Bobby had taken a cab to his apartment. It was now 12:45 and she still hadn't arrived. Once again he looked out the windows to the street below, but the likelihood of her actually finding a parking space on his block was remote.

He knew why he was so wound up and it had nothing to do with work or the need to get back to One PP. Bobby feared the reason she wanted to meet was to end everything – to tell him that the disappointments were too painful. She'd been crying that morning, he knew it. And although he would agree that all of this was hard to bear, he wasn't ready to let go and he was determined to convince her that he was right.

"Fuck!" Just as he swore in frustration, he heard a knock at the door. God, that better be Alex. "It's open."

She walked in the door with an annoyed look on her face. "You really shouldn't do that, you know. You don't know who's going to walk in."

"I figure one look at me and my badge and they'll run in the other direction."

Alex just shook her head and locked the door behind her. Standing in the entryway, she shoved her hands into her jacket pockets, looking anxious and uncertain.

"Can I get you anything? Coffee?" Bobby wished she would relax because she was making his case of nerves even worse. "A glass of wine?"

"I can't."

That's right, still on duty. Alex Eames – by the book.

Finally she walked into his living room and aimlessly wandered around, running her fingers over a few books he had on the shelves and picking up a handmade ceramic sculpture she'd told him a long time ago was a favorite of hers.

Her back was to him and he couldn't stand it anymore. "Alex…" Bobby decided to just blurt it all out – everything he'd been thinking about for the last hour and a half. "We can go to a specialist – the… the doctor you used for your sister's surrogacy."

"What?" she spun around to face him looking shocked and confused.

"I'll do… whatever tests…"

"Bobby…"

"We can do whatever procedures… "

"Bobby!" her voice was insistent as she grabbed both his hands and held them in a tight grip to get his attention. Looking into her eyes, he tried to turn off his thoughts and words so he could focus on her. He swallowed against the choking feeling in his throat.

Her eyes never leaving his, Alex released his left hand and reached into her jacket pocket. He felt her place something in his palm and looked down to see a small "Evidence" bag containing two long strips of white plastic. More confused than ever, he frowned and looked back at Alex, but she just smiled at him. Bobby turned the bag over and saw that there was a patch of blue at the end of each plastic stick. It took a heartbeat or two for his brain to register what his eyes were seeing.

The stick is blue.

"Is this…" his heart was pounding and he suddenly felt like he couldn't get enough air. "Alex… is this… are you…?"

She grinned and nodded.

"Oh my God!" His arms wrapped around her waist and her arms wound around his neck and he couldn't stop kissing whatever part of her was beneath his lips at the time – her shoulder, her neck, her ear, her cheek… her mouth. That's where he lingered – hard at first as excitement drove his need. But then he was struck with the realization of the gift she offered. The kiss softened as they held tight to each other, murmuring nothing and everything against their lips. Hums of contentment and moans of awe were exchanged and swallowed.

Finally, Bobby pulled away to cup her face in his hands. Her eyes shimmered and her lashes were wet and he realized now why she'd been crying that morning. "Are you sure?"

Alex nodded. "I went out and bought three more kits, each a different brand. They all came back positive."

Was there ever anything more beautiful than Alex at this moment? He wanted this image burned into his brain, seared into memory. This would be the moment he would cling to as he drew his final breath, taken with him to whatever eternity may exist in death.

He leaned down to kiss her – their lips meeting and parting briefly before once more clinging with need. His tongue lapped at hers as he softly tasted Alex and swore he would never forget her flavor.

"Let me make love to you," Alex whispered into his mouth.

Let her? God, he was still amazed he didn't have to beg her …

TBC…