Chapter 11

Disclaimer: Dick's

A/N: Okay, I may be wrong but in the episode in which Alex has the baby, "FPS", I could've sworn at the end he said it was a girl and the weight of the baby. I cannot find anything to back me up on this; I even went so far as to rent the 3rd season from Blockbuster…but they didn't have it. If I'm right, so be it. If I'm wrong, creative license. Forgive me.

Alex beat Bobby to her apartment. They hadn't spoken the rest of the day, except to collaborate on work related issues. Alex met Bobby at her door. "Want something to drink? I may as well get rid of the beer. I'm not going to be drinking it anytime soon."

"Yeah…so you are keeping it?" Bobby took the beer Alex handed him.

"Yeah, yeah I am." Alex gave him a stony look.

"Do you want to keep it?" Bobby took a seat at the kitchen table and motioned for Alex to do the same.

"Do you even have to ask? After what I went through after I had my niece? It'd be nice to actually keep someone that comes out of there."

"Er, yeah. I can see that." Bobby grimaced a little at Alex's bluntness. "I didn't mean what I said the other day. I just didn't understand why you were giving me that look."

"I gave you that look because I didn't want anybody to know. We're partners and friends and if someone had found out about what happened that night…well you could imagine the rumors. Neither of us needs that."

"Well, they would've figured it out eventually." Bobby raised his eyebrow at Alex, a small grin inching its way across his face.

"You have a point. Listen, I'm keeping this baby. I know you are my partner and friend, but will you be here for this baby?" Alex hoped she knew the answer, but she needed to ask, to be sure. She felt hot tears forming in her eyes and broke eye contact with him.

"Alex, even if this baby weren't mine, do you think for a second you could keep me from helping you? I still have all the books…never mind." Bobby got up, embarrassed.

"What books? Pregnancy books? Seriously? Whom else did you knock up?" Alex got up and punched him in the arm teasingly.

"They were from when you had your niece. I got curious." He grinned at her openly now. "So…a baby. Now what?"

"Is that one of the titles? Kidding. Well apparently Deakins thinks we're acting weird – "

"I forgot to tell you. Deakins came by while you were downstairs. He saw the saltine wrappers and asked if you were pregnant again. He said you were a saint for going through it again."

"Oh man. Well, we have to tell him. What if we get split up? I don't want to split up." Alex felt the tears coming back.

Bobby felt good to hear her say that, the feeling cut short by the fact that getting split up was a real possibility. "Listen, Alex. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Maybe he'll put you with Carolyn and me with Logan; that way it won't be so bad but don't worry about it now." Bobby fidgeted for a second. "Alex? I really am sorry for what I said though. I didn't mean it."

"I hoped you didn't. I just wanted to hear it from you. I forgive you though, if you forgive me for trying to change partners on you."

"Done. Hungry? You have the best Italian place right around the block from you." Bobby went to grab their coats.

"You know I am. This doesn't change anything though, right? Just two people having a baby not in a relationship…"

"Are you kidding? We're not being terribly original I'm afraid. We'll get over it though. Time for food." Bobby smiled at her warmly and helped her into her coat. "Let's go."