Chapter 22

Disclaimer: Oh, I think you know…see previous.

A/N: Thank you guys sooo much for the reviews! I'm glad y'all liked Carolyn kicking some ass.

Bobby unlocked the door to Alex's apartment. The lights were off, but the tv was on, casting an odd bluish glow on Alex's face where she lay on the couch. Bobby's heart lurched at the sight of her obviously tear streaked face. She must have just fallen asleep. He turned the tv off and scooped Alex up in his arms and laid her down in her bed. She stirred slightly and rolled over onto her stomach. Bobby covered her up. He could hear the baby start to whimper in her crib. He went in to find her waving her arms and grabbing her feet, mad because she couldn't quite hang onto them. "Hey baby girl," Bobby whispered before picking her up. She fell back asleep against his shoulder. Bobby walked quietly and carefully out to the living room and sat and thought about the evening's events. So, Alex was in love with him. And he was with her. There was really only one thing stopping them. What would happen to his partnership with her? He didn't want a new partner. He knew she didn't either. Since the baby was born, Alex had been back to work for about a month and it was great. He had missed working with her, not that Carolyn and Mike were that difficult to work with. He just missed her. But, he loved her. Back when all this had started, Alex's pregnancy and the evening that started it all, he had been in love with her the whole time. That's another reason he had gotten so unnecessarily angry with her the night after she was on the stand. But he hadn't known about her. Even after the baby was born. God, if he had known he never would've gone on that date with Willa. Willa. What a self-centered…Bobby shook his head. Well, he didn't have to think about it again. He laughed to himself thinking about Carolyn. Man, Lewis was in for a treat. Bobby got up to put the baby back in her crib. He had just settled her in when he felt some one standing behind him. He turned around. Alex.

"What are you doing here?" Her voice did not betray everything she felt.

"I – "

"I thought you had a date."

"She didn't like kids. And she lied about liking them."

"Ah, so you used the old Goren magic to figure her out? Why…you know what? I don't even care. You need to leave." Alex turned and walked back to her bedroom. Bobby followed her, but she shut the door in his face. "I said leave." He could hear her getting back in bed. Fine. He'd do what she asked. He grabbed his coat and left. Alex heard the front door close. Fresh tears started trailing down her face. Get a grip Alex, she thought to herself. You told him to leave. He was just doing what you asked. Well maybe if she asked him…who was she kidding? He went on a date. It would only be a matter of time before he found someone attractive and not carrying five extra pounds of baby weight to be a "stepmother" to their baby. She tossed and turned for a little while longer before finally passing out.

Billy's Bakery 9th Avenue…

Carolyn, Lewis and Alex all sat around a table, slices of the most gorgeous cakes in front of them. Lewis was letting all aspects of the wedding planning fall onto Carolyn and Alex; the cake was the only thing he wanted a say in. And Carolyn was just fine with that. Lewis was cheerfully scarfing down any piece of cake that was placed in front of him; Alex was taking tiny bites and then sliding hers down to him. Carolyn grabbed her hand to keep her from sliding the almond chocolate cake with amaretto frosting to him. "If you insist on not eating this awesome cake, I would like to have seconds of this slice, thank you." Alex gave her a small smile and handed the plate to her. "What is going on with you Alex?"

"Remember, Bobby had a date last night? Stayed up all night crying and then woke up to find he had put me in my bed and was putting the baby back down. Told him to leave so he did. Bastard." Alex looked up at Lewis quickly. "I'm sorry, I know he's your best friend…"

"No, no, it's all right. Carolyn explained everything to me. Did she tell you what she – OW!" Carolyn kicked him hard under the table. In retrospect Carolyn realized that there was all probability she would get in trouble Monday for the little stunt she pulled.

"What did you do, Carolyn?" Alex looked at her suspiciously.

"Nothing."

"Carolyn. If you'd like to find yourself a new maid of honor…"

"Oh my God. Fine. Mike and I had finished up our stake out and decided to get Italian from the only place he and Bobby will both agree on." Alex nodded, knowing the place. "So this guy ran into me and I screamed at him, turns out it was Bobby. So I…I lost my shit and started yelling at him. This gangly bitch comes out and asks him if he's having baby mama problems." Alex gaped at her, incredulously. "I KNOW! So I noticed her car was parked in front of a handicapped parking meter so I took her down to the nearest precinct and had her booked." Alex burst out laughing, Lewis along with her.

"Oh no! That's…you can get in trouble for doing that! But that's so sweet. Thanks Carolyn!" Alex patted her friend on the hand.

"Eh, there's more." Carolyn hung her head.

"What?"

"Yeah, there's more?" Lewis looked around the table, confused. He had only heard the funny part.

"Yes. I came back and shoved Bobby against a wall and screamed at him for having a date in the first place…and I let it slip that you were in love with him." Carolyn did not dare look at Alex. Lewis did. He'd never seen Alex look so mad. "And this was after Mike just got done telling me that you guys would have to figure it out for yourselves. Alex, I'm sorry. I just saw her and she was, she wasn't you and she was so snarky and I couldn't even see Bobby with her, and then I got mad at him for even going on a date, and then I remembered you crying on the phone and I just wanted to kill him. Or hit him really, really hard. I'm so sorry Alex. I'm sorry." Carolyn looked up finally and looked at Alex. She was crying, which made Carolyn cry.

"It's okay. But he didn't say anything when he came back last night. And now he knows. And he still didn't say anything." Alex got up to give her friend a hug. Lewis cleared his throat.

"Okay, two things. One – my choice for the cake is the white chocolate cake with raspberry filling and a fondant topping. Two – you said yourself, Alex that you told him to get out. He was only listening to you and your wishes. You didn't give him a chance to talk before you told him to leave, correct?" Alex slowly nodded her head. "Then you can't really blame him. And for the record, he's loved you all along. Why do you think I never acted on my crush? Because I knew he loved you." Alex got up to hug Lewis, Carolyn eyed him.

"You had a crush on Alex and didn't tell me?"

"After I met you I didn't have a crush on Alex anymore." Lewis stuck his tongue out at his fiancée and went to find the cake guy to relay his order.

Alex dropped her head in her hands. "I messed up, didn't I?" Carolyn rubbed her friend's back in support.

"Nah. You're done with the hole, you just have to start climbing now."

Central Park…

Mike and Bobby were walking Meredith in her stroller. They had been discussing the previous evening's events as well.

"She just told me to leave. What else was I going to do?"

"Well…you could've stayed. Confronted her in the morning. Pin her to a wall and confess your undying love to her." Mike snuck a glance at Bobby. Yeah, he didn't really like that joke.

"I don't know, Mike." He stopped the stroller to see how Meredith was doing. She was sucking on her bare feet. Mission accomplished. He walked over to a nearby bench and sat down. Two guys approached Bobby and Mike as Bobby lifted Meredith out of her stroller.

"She is an absolute doll!" The one guy reached over to tap Meredith on the nose.

"If you don't mind us asking," the second guy whispered and looked around him, "which agency did you go through?"

Mike and Bobby exchanged glances, realization dawning on both of them. Mike explained.

"Well, we didn't get her through an agency. He's in love with his female work partner and they ended up having a baby together. I'm just the honorary uncle. Sorry to disappoint, kids."

"Wait, does she know you're in love with her? Oh my gosh!" The two guys sat down on the bench with them. Mike started snickering.

"Mike, if I weren't holding this kid, you'd be dead by now."

"Listen, you have to tell her! Like, right now! Sorry for the early confusion. But seriously, tell her. And good luck!" And off the two guys went. Mike burst out laughing. Bobby gave him a death glare. He put Meredith in her stroller and stalked off. Mike ran after him laughing.

"Oh, come on! That was way too funny! There's a story for her when she's older. How Mommy and Daddy finally got their shit together with the assistance of two random gay guys." Bobby wasn't slowing down. Mike ran and caught his arm, stopping him. "Look, man, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to advertise your life story. I could've egged them on…but that would've been mean." Mike dropped his hand from Bobby's arm. "I'm sorry."

"Fine. I have to get her back to Alex's though. Lewis and Carolyn should be there. Want to come?"

"Should we pick up food?"

"Yeah, she'd appreciate that."

And so, off they went.

Alex's Apartment…

Bobby and Mike had walked in with the food they just picked up and started setting out plates and napkins. Alex acted coolly towards Bobby and Bobby tried to act like normal Bobby as best he could knowing that everyone in the room knew how he felt about Alex and vice versa. Everyone was seemingly acting normal, but Bobby could feel them watching he and Alex every time they interacted. After lunch, everyone blessedly left. Alex picked up the baby and took her in her room for a nap. Bobby knew the nap routine well. Story, song, tuck in. The kid was already smart; at seven months she knew that something had been skipped. Bobby smiled at the thought. He walked quietly to the baby's room and listened to the song Alex was singing softly to their daughter.

"…someone who'll make me laugh, someone to be my better half, keep me warm under the sack, share with me my midnight snack…" Alex heard the door creak. She didn't turn; she knew who it was. He always was curious to hear what songs she was singing. Meredith was asleep in arms. The routine worked like a charm. Alex placed her down in the crib and tucked her in. She felt Bobby come up behind her, placing his hand on her lower back. She looked up at him. He was watching the baby. He spoke without turning to her.

"Are we going to talk about this?"

A/N: The song is by Hayden, "Bad As They Seem"