So, this is chapter three. For those of you that haven't figured it out. Read this:

 What is in italics is the other characters thoughts and actions. Chapter One was Alex in italics, two Bobby in italics and now Alex in italics.

 Alex married Arthur Dent; no relation to Ford Prefect J

 Bobby shot himself in the head.

 Bobby ended up…Well; you'll just have to read on, won't you?

 I can't handle angst because I cry and it hurts my soul when they end up separated.

 I'm using quit a few literature references in this.

 I really like these arrows.

Title: Forever and Always

Rating: T; suicide

Disclaimer: I am not the owner of them. Dent is Adam Douglas's, but I just like the name. The Raging Quiet is not mine. Neither is Odd Forever.

Summary: Bobby discovers beauty.

AU: NO (for once)

Other: I forgot what else goes here, but fill in the blanks.

Archive: Yes, all of them if you want.

Bobby discovered beauty 3 months later. It came in the form of a small bump in Alex's middle, and grew every day. Bobby also discovered how afraid that one small bump could make him. No matter how many times Alex reassured him; he couldn't help but wonder what would happen. Would she be alright? Would the baby? Would he become his father? The last one had earned him a hard smack on the head by a copy of The Raging Quiet.

"Tenderly, he pressed his lips to her forehead. Hardly breathing, she closed her eyes. His mouth was gentle as is moved across her eyes and slowly down her cheeks. It was not a kiss; this was something infinitely more tender, a brushing of her skin, a touching so light it held her spellbound, powerless. He was moving his mouth along her jaw, across her lips, his breath warm, sweet. He stopped, and she lifted her face, wanting more."

He couldn't help it. They were all he had-all he wanted. Alex and their daughter; their daughter. Never would he let them go. And so, all went well; like it always did. Suddenly, they had Kathryn Marina Goren. Alex's tiny clone of a daughter with large, dark eyes. Alex insisted she had the same shy personality he did since she never cried, but stayed silent, observing them all. Not only that, but as soon as she could walk and talk her small circle of trusted adults consisted of four: Daddy, Mommy, Uncle Jimmy and Pa-paw. Any others had to pass through Daddy first. Yes, Bobby finally relented and told Alex that she was right.

She traced one finger down the page and bit her bottom lip. He wasn't coming back. She couldn't bring him back to her. She could go see him tomorrow, and bring him a book. Even if it wasn't Sunday she could take a day off and go. Deakins wouldn't mind. Bishop was out sick and she was stuck with paper work. She could read to him. He hadn't gotten the new Koontz book yet. Odd Forever hit well, but his name wasn't Browen, and Browen was dead. Bobby could wake up for her. He could come back, and everything would be better, and he they would be together and-

They never broke their ritual. Every night he would read to her, and she would listen. Her tiny body curled up in his lap with her head on his chest. He would stroke her hair and read softly. Sometimes if she was still awake he would act if out for her. Each character a different voice and posture; the dragon, the knight, the princess. Then she would fall asleep in his arms. Pure innocence and trust and love. And he discovered beauty every time he tucked her in, and turned out the light.

She read to him every Sunday. His favorite authors' new books or his old favorites. Her body curled up next to his on the white sheets as she spoke softly in his ear. The nurses accepted her presence with no question. They thought she was the desperate wife wanting her comatose husband to wake up, but Alex was the desperate traitor wanting to be with the one she betrayed.

TBC

Review…I'll finish it eventually…