Chapter 20

Disclaimer: Las derechas son de Dick. Translation – NOT MINE, DON'T SUE! (well, not actually, but you get it…)

A/N – Happy freaking Easter! Did anyone see the episode tonight? Awesome! And, as per usual, thanks for the reviews. Boohoo650 – I took your review as suggestion…hope y'all like it! Some language in this chapter. Also, if anyone's ever in Buffalo – Cinco de Mayo is real…real damn good!

Carolyn and Alex sat at Alex's kitchen table, poring over bridal magazines. Meredith sat in her swing, "talking" to herself. Carolyn had felt Alex had been kind of distant towards her since the engagement. She had to practically pin Alex down the day before at work to get her to help with her wedding planning. Naturally Carolyn asked Alex to be her maid of honor. Lewis, in turn, asked Bobby to be his best man, and Mike was asked to be an usher. Meredith was honorary flower girl. Carolyn watched as Alex listlessly flipped through bridal magazines, pausing on one page or another before angrily flipping to the next page. "Alex!" Alex looked up, startled. "What is the deal with you?" Carolyn stared at her, worried. Alex bit her lip and looked up at her friend.

"Bobby kissed me."

Carolyn looked at her, waiting for more explanation. "Well," Carolyn turned to look at the baby in the swing, "I think you did a lot more than kiss."

"No, after that night. The night I had her. He leaned in and was going for my cheek, but I turned to say something to him and it landed on my lips." Alex rubbed her head, standing up to grab a blanket for the baby. "But – "

"Wait, the kid's six-months-old! That was forever ago." Carolyn stopped. "Wait, is this because of the engagement or something? I don't mean to sound egotistical but…"

"Well, I had been thinking about it. It just started to get me down, and then mad, after the engagement. I know he's got to be thinking about it. He never stops thinking about anything. Just last week he asked me about college plans for her, and then if we should set aside money for her wedding. She's six-months-old for Christ sake!"

Carolyn laughed. Bobby having a daughter…and he's a cop. Poor girl's first boyfriend was going to tear ass out of the house before the girl got out the door. Carolyn looked over at Meredith, sleeping still, and smiled. Such a sweet baby. "Carolyn!" Carolyn was jerked from her ponderings, realizing Alex had kept talking. Well, ranting really.

"Yeah, sorry. What was that? After Christ sake?" Alex rolled her eyes at her.

"I said – I forgot." Alex leaned against the counter and started making formula for the baby's feeding.

"Well, do you want him to, I don't know, kiss you again or…something? Why don't you talk to him? I don't think Deakins can go through another period of you guys alienating each other."

"That's just it. We promised him there was nothing else. It was, as we explained, a one off. But you know, he's here every night. He puts her down for the night, stays and watches a little tv or something, cleans and then leaves. If he doesn't leave, I wake up to find him with the baby sleeping on him and his giant legs flailing off the back of the couch. It's like he's here anyway, why not just make it official." Alex slammed her hands down on table. "I love him! There, I said it. I'm in love with Bobby Goren. And I don't know what the fuck I'm going to do about it." Alex collapsed in her chair. The front door opened and Alex and Carolyn looked at each other, not knowing who had heard Alex's little tirade. Mike walked into the kitchen and eyed the pair warily while he put a bag of donuts by the coffee maker. He continued to eyeball them throughout an entire coffee making process. He finally sat down and burst out laughing.

"Wow…I'll bet you're glad that wasn't Goren walking in, huh?" He could barely get the sentence out without bursting again. Alex rolled her eyes and shook her head. Carolyn smacked him with one of her magazines. "Jesus, Barek! That's Vogue Weddings! It weighs a ton! Are you trying to kill me?"

"I will kill you if you don't stop laughing about it. It's not funny! Well, it kind of is," Carolyn avoided Alex's glare, "but seriously, if you say one word we'll kill you. We're detectives; we know how it works."

"Yeah, but maybe Bobby will be nice and take on my murder investigation; he'll figure EVERYTHING out. You two weren't counting on that, huh!" Alex slapped Mike's hand.

"Seriously, please don't. Please Mike?" Alex was starting to get a little emotional.

"Sorry, kid. I won't say anything. Can I get one kept woman joke in though?"

"NO!" Alex and Carolyn yelled at the same time. Mike held his hands up in surrender.

Later that night…

Bobby came out of the baby's room after putting her down for the night. Alex sat up on the couch, watching a documentary about different accents in different parts of America. She didn't notice that Bobby had changed into a nice pair of pants and button down shirt. Well she did, she just tried not to let him notice. He stood next to the couch and cleared his throat. "Uh, Alex? I'm going to get going, all right?"

Alex looked up at him. He had shaved. He was wearing cologne. "What are you doing tonight? You look good." He looked better than good.

Bobby blushed. "Uh, I have a, um, a date. I have a date." He avoided her eyes and looked at the tv where they were discussing Pennsylvania's "yins" habit. He could feel her eyes on him, burning a hole through his face.

"Oh. Have fun then." He wouldn't look at her. Fine. Back to the documentary – Buffalonians and their habit of called soda pop just pop. Bastard.

"I, well, Mike and were going to take Meredith to the park. Give you and Carolyn some wedding planning time. Is that okay?" Ah, the southern y'all.

"Fine." The mystique of the Maine accent.

"See you tomorrow then." Bobby turned and walked out the door. Alex waited at least ten seconds before throwing the remote after him. Then she picked up the phone to call Carolyn.

A/N: Sorry, but I'm having too much fun writing this. Don't panic though; all will be revealed.