Title: One Year Later
Author: Lady Taevyn
Email: PG ish
Summary: One year after the events in my fic 'Rings' Bobby and Alex come to realize they need more.
Classifications/Genre: Fluff, pure and simple
Spoilers: None. Unless you haven't read 'Rings' then this won't make a lot of sense.
Archive: Anywhere please just let me know.
Disclaimer: Yeah we all know, do I really need to spell it out. They're not mine; I'm just playing in Dick Wolf's wonderful sandbox.
Alex stood silently in front of the grey marble marker head bowed. She wasn't sure what to say. Eventually as the tears dried the words found her.
"It's been a year; God knows it's felt like 10. We miss you guys. Travis is growing like a weed. You'd be so proud; he's at the top of his class. I know he's only 7 but he has a girlfriend named Annalise, and they are so cute. We are doing really well, I hope I'm doing right by him I know if I weren't you'd find some way to tell me."
Out of the corner of her eye Alex caught movement. It was Bobby, why was he here, she had told him she was taking lunch and had turned off her phone. She knew she needed to do this, say a real goodbye to her sister and she hadn't wanted to be disturbed. That was when Alex realized Bobby was taller then usual, as she looked closer, and they continued walking Alex realized that Travis was riding on his shoulders.
"What's going on?" She asked concern threading her tone. "Shouldn't you be in school, big guy?" Damnit, Alex knew she should have left her phone on. Travis looked unsure for a minute until Bobby gently squeezed his knee and answered for him.
"The school nurse called me said she had tried getting you first, but your phone was off. Apparently Travis threw up, and school policy dictates that if a kid vomits they have to go home. I said you were in court and that I'd come and get him. When I realized your lunch was taking a while I figured you might be here. I probably should have taken Travis straight home, but I think he might need this too." Bobby answered quickly hoping it made as much sense out loud as it had in his mind. Seeing the slight nod of agreement he breathed a sigh of relief.
Stepping back to the marker the trio stood silently for several moments. Travis leaned down and whispered something to Bobby after which he quickly pulled the boy off his shoulders and stood him on the ground in front of them. Travis pulled something out of his pants pocket, laid it on the ground between his parents' names and stepped back between Bobby and Alex. As they silently made their way back to the SUV Bobby's curiosity got the best of him.
"What did you leave for them; you don't have to answer if you don't want to." Bobby stated wanting to make sure Travis didn't feel obligated to go in to detail if it was too personal.
"It's a letter for my parents that I hope a angel will deliver, the councilor at school said it would help for me to tell them what I'm doing." The boy responded sounding more 27 then just seven. The adults shared a look knowing they were going to have to pay a visit to the councilor. As they drove back to the city Alex realized she was going to have her work cut out for her when it came to raising this boy. She phoned back to the office letting Deakins know that Travis was sick and that she was going to take the rest of the day off.
"It's ok detective, Bobby said he was going to take the two of you home and you could work on your paperwork from there. I'll see you both in the morning if Travis is feeling better." Their captain said in response to her request.
Walking through the park after they finally did get lunch Alex let Bobby in on the confusing tangle that was her emotions hoping he'd be able to help her sort them out.
"I want to thank you for being here for Travis and me this last year. It's been a huge adjustment and you've really made it easier. Travis adores you and looks up to you. If you're not comfortable in the role he's managed to put you in just say the word and I'll explain why you can't be around…" Her words were cut off when Bobby turned to her and put his finger over her lips silencing her.
"Alex don't, I love being here for him, and you. I… this last year has made me see that my life has been missing something. I'm probably crossing some huge lines here, but Alex I've come to realize that I want more with you, I want to be more then just your friend and partner. We can take this as slow as you want, I'm willing to wait, if you'll say your willing to try. This isn't a proposal by any means, just another step. We've been around each other in one capacity or another for nine years now; I'm more comfortable with you than with anyone please say you'll try?" Bobby ended on a whisper praying he hadn't gone too far, not sure how to backpedal if he had.
Alex was in shock, he wanted more. She had silently given him her heart years ago and now as the tears cascaded down her cheeks she gave it to him officially. "I want that too." Was all she managed before she was surrounded by everything Bobby, his heat, his scent, and his strength as he lifted her off the ground and spun with her. Travis chose that moment to come running back to them from where he had darted ahead.
"Mom, Uncle Bobby, is everything ok?" He asked as Bobby placed Alex back on the ground and hefted him into the air.
"Yeah buddy things couldn't be better. I was just about to invite you guys over to my place for dinner that is if you're feeling better." Bobby offered in place of a real explanation.
"Really Uncle Bobby it's been for ever since we were at your house. Can we go please?" Travis certainly knew how to use the puppy dog eyes.
Grinning over Travis' head at an amused Bobby Alex heaved a sigh. "Yeah, we'll go to Uncle Bobby's for dinner, but you will go to school tomorrow, you hear mister."
"I didn't mean to throw up today, I was just feeling real sad then my tummy started hurting. It feels much better now, and I promise I'll be ok to go back tomorrow." Travis said.
As they sat down to dinner later that evening Travis was telling them about Jesse's Cub Scout pack.
"It sounds really neat, they do lots of cool activities, like campout's and pinewood derby's, and I really wanna join, please, can I?"
"I'll have to talk to Jesse's mom about it. But I don't think it'll be a problem. We'll see them this weekend, and talk about it then. Now go wash your hands, so we can get ready to go." Alex said circumventing the issue.
"You don't have to leave; I've got the spare room set up Travis can crash there. Stay, please." As Alex weighed the decision she realized where Travis had picked up the puppy dog eyes, Bobby was giving them to her, and she was in no frame of mind to deny them. They sat on the sofa, after Travis had gone to sleep, in silence neither really sure what to say.
"This isn't going to get weird, at work I mean. Can we keep it professional there; I really don't want Deakins to split us." Alex knew it had to be said. When she and Mark had admitted to a relationship he had been transferred to Narcotics, and it had killed him. She didn't want the same to happen to Bobby.
"Honestly I think half the squad probably including Deakins thinks we're already together. If we just keep it normal we should be ok." Bobby responded.
When Alex woke in the middle of the night it was too the comforting presence of Bobby's light snores in her ear, and his arm curled protectively around her stomach. She smiled resettled and drifted back to sleep.
End chapter 4. Please let me know what you think.
