A/N: So far I'm keeping my promise of once a week! Enjoy! Not so much romance as I wanted too. More a revelation, but the next chapter will hold romance. I thought I needed to deal with this first before going to romance. Oooh and see my A/N at the end for I need your help, but don't want to tell what's going to happen already.
Chapter nine
It was Saturday evening and Bobby and Alex finally had time alone. Abby was at a sleepover at her friend's Jenny's house. She would be back Sunday afternoon. Time alone with Bobby was wanted, because Alex needed to talk about something.
They were sitting on the small pier behind Jenny's house. Both their feet were dangling above the water. They were sitting close together, her shoulder touching his upper arm.
"I've been thinking…" Alex started. Feeling Bobby's eyes on her she knew she had his attention. "about what to do. I…look, Abby's doing well. She's almost back to the bright girl she was. She's enjoying herself and she has her friends here. Above everything else I think Abby needs stability. Her friends are here, she goes to school here… this is where she belongs." She paused and looked at the beautiful scenery to give herself time to collect her words. "I doubt that going back to New York is a good thing for her. I'm no longer alone and my priorities have changed. She has to come first." Turning slightly towards him she looked at him. "I think I need to stay here. Start my new life here."
He had heard her every word and even if he didn't want to, he had to agree with her. Yet the pain of her words, the thought of losing her, of never seeing her again tore at his heart. In a short amount of time, Alex and Abby had become his life. He swallowed thickly and nodded his agreement. "I… I… you're right. Abby comes first and she does need stability." He didn't know how to tell her that he wanted to be part of her new life. So he said something else. "I… I got a leave of absence too. I could help you out. Make sure you find the right place and get settled in."
She gave him a soft smile. She didn't know he'd taken a leave of absence too. How could she ask him that she wanted him to stay with her and share her new life with Abby?
"She loves you. I can see it in everything she does. You don't have to worry about her. You both will be fine."
"She loves you too, you know. She lost her dad at such a young age. She needs a father figure in her life. You're becoming that person. She has you wrapped around her finger and she knows it."
Bobby shrugged and smiled. "Well what can I say? She's an adorable kid and I don't mind she has me wrapped around her finger. She just has to look at me with those expressive brown eyes and there's nothing in the world I wouldn't do for her. She's not the only one with that power over me and you know it."
Alex answered with a knowing nod. She knew that with Bobby he would move mountains for her if he could and if that was what she wanted. With Bobby she knew she came first… only then would he think about himself. "Are you okay with me staying here?" She knew one of his fears were her leaving. Trying to find a new partner would be difficult and take a lot of him. "I know you don't want another partner."
"Honestly, no. Like you said, you need to do what's best for you and Abby. What I want or need doesn't count."
She took his hand in hers and gentle rubbed his skin with her thumb. "I think it does. I don't want to leave. I don't want you to be happy with another partner. I want to be around you. I want to be able to be by your side every day." She'd revealed more than she wanted too. She quickly continued. "I love my job. I'm good at my job. I'm not sure what I'm going to do here. I'm not going to join the force here. I doubt they need a NYC detective. I need to find something new to do, something I like. I got some money saved so for now we're good. But I do need to find something." The uncertainties of the prospect of finding a new passion, was difficult to accept. She liked clarity in her life. Certainly at this point in time. She doubted she would get it anytime soon.
She didn't fool him, she never did. He knew she'd said more than she'd wanted too. But it gave him an opening. "I would never be as happy with someone else as I am with you, Alex. You're my one true partner and there's no one else I want. You were the only one who stayed and liked being around me. You were the one who couldn't be chased away and believe me in the beginning, I tried. You leaving, not being part of my life anymore will hurt like hell. I want you to do what's best for you two. I will find a way to deal with a new partner. I'll try to deal with partner's leaving after a few weeks." He took a deep breath, this wasn't easy. "I knew when you arrived how lucky I was to have you in my life. I knew and counted my blessings. I guess at some point it had to end, didn't it? Happiness only lasts for so long."
A long silence fell between in which they both looked at the scenery. Both were thinking about the conversation. Both, unknown to the other, were thinking how to ask if the other wanted to stay. Maybe they weren't ready to expose that kind of vulnerability to the other, because it meant saying what they actually felt. Were they really ready for that? After all that happened, were they ready for the next step in their relationship.
Bobby let go of her hand and let himself lean back until he was lying on the wooden pier, his feet still dangling above the water. Looking up at the sky he hoped that maybe the answers were there. No such luck. It was time to take a risk. "What if I want to stay too, Alex?"
TBC...
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A/N: What do you think Alex would be interested in doing? What kind of job would fit her? I would love to hear what kind of ideas you have.
