A/N: I decided to be nice and update another chapter. I had the time because it's a special Holiday today and therefor I'm off from work. Again this is showing the slow changes in Bobby and Alex's relationship. Next chapter I'm going for romance. Ideas are welcome! Enjoy!
Chapter eight
A couple of days had passed since Jenny's funeral and things were going better. Abby seemed more herself, talking more to Alex and Bobby and playing with her friends again. Alex had gone through one of Jenny's photo albums with Bobby. It had been emotional, but remembering was good.
Abby had told Alex she was afraid to forget her mother. Bobby came up with the idea to either enlarge one of Jenny's picture or let someone make a painting of one of Jenny's pictures. Both were good ideas and Alex decided to go for both.
Alex had also started looking around for houses. She hadn't made a decision yet, but was realistic enough that she needed to know what the costs could be. She'd thought that living in Jenny's house could be weird for both her and Abby. But maybe another place on the island would be good for Abby.
Bobby enjoyed spending time with Alex and Abby. He hadn't told Alex that he'd also taken a leave of absence. They had all the time they needed to figure it all out. Neither had truly talked about the slow changes in their relationship. He was going to simply be by her side the whole time. He wasn't going to leave, that was sure. She'd told him about staying on the island. He agreed that raising Abby here would be better. Together they looked at houses that were for sale. At night he imagined himself living there with the both of them. Sometimes he even imagined another little girl there.
He also saw how she was smiling more again. The Alex he knew was returning to him again. He loved how she grabbed his hand when they were walking. He also saw how she held his eyes a little longer than normal. Sometimes he felt her watching him and he let her. Other times he would hold eye contact with her. They hadn't shared more than hugs yet, but he was confident that was going to happen. He didn't want to rush things. He didn't want her to come to him, just because she wanted to forget the pain and sorrow of the last days. He wanted her to come to him… for him.
Today they were going to a small indoor playing ground with Julie, Abby's friend. Abby had been talking about it since the moment she woke up. Sitting at the table with Abby, Bobby watched Alex walk into the kitchen.
"Good morning." Alex hugged Abby shortly and have her a kiss on her head. Walking over to Bobby she gave him a kiss on the temple.
"Ready to go to Davies?"
"Yeah!" She almost screamed. "I ate my breakfast. Can we go now?"
"Your aunt wants to eat her breakfast too. Why don't you watch some TV before we go?"
"Okay." Abby agreed and padded to the living room.
"Sleep well?" Bobby asked. Her sudden kiss, though not unwelcome, surprised him.
"Mmm..hmm.." Alex sipped her coffee. "How about you?"
He decided to try to provoke her. "Felt a bit lonely."
"Really? You feel like company?" She wasn't one to let a remark like that slide.
Wiggling his eyebrows at her, he smirked at her. "Wanna do something about that?"
"Maybe…" Winking at him she grabbed her coffee and joined Abby in the living room.
Following her with his eyes, Bobby shook his head. One could never rattle Alex's cage without her rattling back. Standing up, he stopped and leaned against the wall, watching Alex and Abby. Both were beautiful.
At the playground Julie and Abby immediately ran off to the swings. Alex and Bobby followed, hand in hand, in a much slower stroll. Alex joined the girls and sat down on one of the swings. Both Julie and Abby wanted Bobby to push them. The higher they went the more excited they got. Not surprisingly the girls' attention quickly changed and they ran to the slides and several climbing rails.
Alex and Bobby stayed at the swings where they had a good view of the girls. Bobby stood behind Alex, his hands on the ropes. "Do you miss New York?" He asked, keeping his eyes on Julie and Abby.
"Not so much. My mind's been too occupied. Besides…" Leaning backwards she looked him in the eyes. "with you here.." Looking back to the girls again she continued in a soft voice. "I don't miss anyone."
Bending forward he kissed her in the neck, delighted by her soft sigh. "Thank you." He whispered in her ear. He knew that she was glad to have him around. She hadn't said it in words before, but more through her actions. Now to actually have her say it, made it that much real. And it was the same for him. He didn't miss New York because she was here.
Standing at the top of the slides, Julie looked at Alex and Bobby. "Is he your aunt's boyfriend?"
"I don't know."
"They hold hands and kiss. I think he's her boyfriend."
TBC...
