Chapter 15

Disclaimer: Is Dick's, is not mine.

A/N – Again, thanks for all the great reviews. Note to Lallyb…man, I'm not that cruel! Also, a couple chapters back the song Alex quoted was "Got My Mind Set On You" by the late, great George Harrison. And did anyone get the Leonard Lawrence crack in chapter 13?

Mike and Deakins stood near the entrance of the church. Deakins' wife Angie was talking to Carolyn. Bobby was with Lewis, receiving sympathies from the guests who had come to Frances' funeral. Alex stood off to the side of Bobby, rubbing her stomach and back simultaneously. Her hair was limp, not just fine but limp now. Her back was killing her, her eyes were permanently rimmed red and her face was white as a ghost. Bobby didn't look much better. He had the beginnings of a beard going and he looked smaller somehow. He hadn't talked to her the next morning; instead he had gotten on the phone with Lewis, who came down to help him plan the funeral. Alex had called Deakins to let him know what happened. Soon after that phone call Mike and Carolyn showed up, bestowing beer and coffee and Mike had made lasagna. Alex was touched. Bobby barely noticed. He holed up in Alex's spare bedroom with Lewis, only coming out to use the bathroom. Carolyn had brought food in for both of them. Lewis had taken a double take at her. Carolyn told Alex about it and that was the first time anyone had cracked a smile the whole day. Mike tried to get in the spare room but Bobby shut him out. Alex, whose nesting instincts kicked in nearly a week before, started cleaning things and getting ready for guests after the funeral. Now here they were. Mike broke away from Deakins and came over to Alex.

"How's the kid hanging?" Mike poked her in the belly gently.

"Baby's fine, I'm okay. It's Bobby I'm worried about. This is the first time he's opened his mouth in four days." Alex reached out to touch Bobby's arm as he walked towards them. "You holding up?"

"I guess so. It's time to go to the cemetery." Bobby rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"You need a ride, Goren? I've got you covered." Mike patted Bobby on the arm, meant to comfort. Bobby flinched slightly, covering his discomfort quickly.

"Ah – Mike, I'll drive with him." Alex turned to Bobby. "I need to talk to you." Bobby turned his gaze down to the floor and walked towards the cars. "I'm forever following him towards vehicles." Alex gave Mike a hug goodbye, waved to Deakins and his wife and made her way over to Lewis. He was chatting with Carolyn. "I'm sorry to break this up but Bobby and I are heading to the cemetery now. We'll see you there." Lewis and Carolyn gave her a hug each and turned back to their conversation. Lewis and Carolyn…well, stranger things have happened.

In the car Bobby was quiet, as was the norm lately. "Bobby, you have to talk to me." He turned his head to her slightly, to let her know he was listening. "I'm so sorry about your mother, but we all need you too. This baby needs you. I…need you." Alex had arrived at the cemetery, noting that they were the first ones there. Now she had Bobby's attention.

"Alex…I never got to tell her! I didn't tell anyone, not even Lewis! I wanted her to be the first to know! Sh-she had another fit, she had to be sedated and, and…I couldn't tell her, Alex! She'll never know." Bobby started to sob again. "I just…wanted her to know first," he said when he'd calmed down.

"Bobby, I'm sorry – "

"Stop! Stop saying you're sorry. It's not your fault." Bobby turned away from her and got out of the car. Alex followed suit, running as best she could to catch up with him.

"Bobby, I'm not even going to pretend to know how you feel. But don't shut yourself off to us. Mike, Carolyn, everyone – we're all worried about you." Alex grabbed his arm, but Bobby suddenly stopped. She realized why. They were staring at his mother's casket.

"I just wanted to make her proud." Bobby said it so quietly Alex almost didn't hear him.

"She was. I'm sure now she knows all you went through for her." The baby kicked her in the ribs and she grimaced. Bobby caught the look on her face.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah, just, he or she has been quite active lately." Alex looked down at her belly, smiling wistfully. "We're lucky, you know?" Bobby gave her a half grin and put his arm around her.

"I'm sorry. Yes, we are lucky." Cars started pulling up along side the cemetery road. Mike and The Deakins' were coming towards them, followed by Dr. Shimo and Lewis and Carolyn. Bobby caught Alex's eye. "Looks like he gave up his crush on you." He smiled at Alex, the first smile she'd seen from him in a while. He and Alex walked towards the chairs set up in front of the casket, joining their family and friends.

Alex's apartment…

Carolyn and Alex were in the kitchen getting together various snacks and beverages for the people that were flooding Alex's apartment after the funeral. Bobby was truly making an effort, but it was still incredibly hard on him. Alex's family came over and things were getting loud. Bobby was carrying around Alex's three-year-old niece Emma around on his hip. Carolyn and Lewis had been inseparable until Alex dragged her into the kitchen for help.

"Put these carrots on this plate." Alex threw her a bag of baby carrots and slid a plate towards Carolyn.

Carolyn did as she was asked. "Did you see Bobby walking around with Emma? He's so good with her. So many girls get knocked up by jerks, but by God you managed to find a good one." Carolyn popped a carrot in her mouth. Mike walked in to the kitchen.

"Listen, this Lewis guy? How well do either of you know him?" Mike looked back in forth between Carolyn and Alex, who were suppressing giggles.

"Why Mike? Jealous?" Carolyn passed the platter to Mike. "Chill out." Mike pouted a little before taking the plate to the other guests. "We have a date next Saturday." Carolyn did a little dance and reached over to hug Alex.

"He's a good guy. Bobby loves him like a brother. Good luck." Alex returned her friend's hug. "Let's get the rest of this food out there." Alex grabbed a bowl of chips and a bowl of dip, leaving Carolyn to grab another platter of veggies. Alex walked out into the living room and put her load down on the table. Her mother walked over to her.

"Alexandra, you're just in time for the show." Alex gave her mom a quizzical look and followed her mom's gaze to the front of the room. Bobby, Mike and Lewis were on their knees getting down to her niece's level. They all started singing "Under the Sea" from "The Little Mermaid". Everyone laughed and clapped when they were done performing. Alex caught Bobby's eye as he was talking to her dad; Emma was stuck to his side. He gave her another smile. Carolyn, Mike and Lewis made their way over to her.

"That niece of yours; watch out for her." Mike gave Alex a hug. "We're going to get out of here, grab a beer. Give us a call if you guys are in the mood." All three of them said goodbye to Bobby on their way out. As if on cue, everyone was starting to leave. Soon it was just the two of them again.

"Bobby, how do you know the words to "The Little Mermaid"?" Alex passed him a garbage bag.

"I'm good with kids and Lewis is good with kids as well. I just want to know how Mike knew the words." He stopped and smiled at her.

"What?" She leaned back, rubbing her back. "God this kid is active."

"Why don't you go to bed? I'll finish this and then get going."

"I'll go to bed, but you need to stay here. Mike's picking us up tomorrow to go baby accessory shopping. And…did you know Carolyn has a date Saturday?"

"A date? With who?" Bobby asked, distracted.

She snorted a laugh. "Lewis." Bobby's jaw dropped.

"So, it's official – he's over you." He and Alex shared a laugh. "Do you want me to give you that leg rub now?"

"Oh yes, would you? If you're not in the mood, I completely understand."

"Get in bed, I'll be a minute." Alex smiled gratefully at him and went to get ready for bed.

Bobby stood alone in the kitchen, listening to Alex brush her teeth. He surveyed the damage in the kitchen. He'd just get up early to clean up. He went to her room. The tv was on, tuned into "What NOT To Wear". "What's going on here?"

"Well, Stacey's on the warpath…again." Alex yawned sleepily. She closed her eyes and felt Bobby sit down at the end of her bed.

"I don't understand the fascination."

"Hmm…must be the hormones." And with that, Alex was asleep. Bobby watched her inhale and exhale. His thoughts drifted back to his mother, flitted to Lewis and Carolyn, and fell back on Alex. It had been a long day and despite all circumstances, he felt good. His mother was at peace, he had a baby coming, and Lewis and Carolyn could possibly work out. He smiled to himself. Alex moaned in her sleep.

"Arrojo, get away!" Alex swatted out in her sleep and tried to roll over. She woke up when she couldn't. "Damn it."

"Who's Arrojo?" Bobby looked at Alex carefully.

"The stylist on the show. He was trying to shave my head. I have to stop watching this before I fall asleep. I can't roll over. This is what sucks about being pregnant. I am a stomach sleeper, I need to be on my stomach!" Alex punched the comforter in frustration, a tear slipping down her cheek.

"Alex, three more months and your stomach is all yours. Calm down." Bobby held Alex while she cried. "Do you need me to rub your legs now?" Alex nodded through her tears, and tried to compose herself.

"Bobby, I'm sorry." Alex grabbed his hand. He looked at her as she tightened her grip. "Don't use this against me, but I'm scared. We're cops; what if something happens to one of us? What if we screw it up? What if it has some horrible disease and we can't deal? I know we'd love it anyway and we'd do our best and we have people who would take in this kid in a heartbeat but, seriously. Aren't you scared? You can tell me."

"Alex, you have no idea." Bobby looked away from her, still holding her hand. "We'll make it. Odd coming from me, but I think she'll be fine." He put his arm around Alex. She leaned into him and they sat for a while, Clinton and Stacey screeching about the evils of the taper pant in the background. Alex felt Bobby put his lips against her head, kissing her hair. She looked up at him, eyes wide.

"What do you mean she!"