Ignoring Castle tending to his arm, Alexis answered her phone in the most casual way she could. "Mom! What's up?"

Meredith Lee Harper's voice came singsong through the other line. "I'm just outside your building, in a town car!"

Numerous red flags popped up immediately. "Dad just informed us of your showing up. In his bar. You never turn up without some reason. Are you and I headed somewhere?"

"Out to lunch. You can pick. Just don't dawdle: we are burning daylight!" Meredith continued to be weirdly cheerful. "Chop chop!"

Alexis resigned herself to what was ahead. "Okay, mom. I will be down a minute."

She hung up before her mother could say anymore. Hopefully, the next part of the afternoon went with great swiftness.

Castle watched Kate help Alexis get ready to depart. "For the record, I did not call Meredith."

But Alexis believed Castle. She even hugged him. Before giving him a hard nudge in the shoulder.

Castle bleated, "What was that for?!"

"It was for your extremely ridiculous quip about coincidences. Really?" Alexis put on her shoes and grabbed her purse. "Dad, you're a best-selling author. Come on. You're falling down on your quip game."

"She's got you, Richard." Martha chimed in before tasting her newly-juiced drink. "Hm. This is quite good."

She became occupied with more ingredient-arranging.

Alexis put her shoes on and then looked to Castle. "Did you suggest any idea about mom coming here?"

Castle held up his hands in self-defense. "No! Woah, no!"

"Smooth."

Kate said, "Look after yourself."

"The worst she can do is take me out for lunch... followed by a very long shopping spree. Again. Wouldn't be the first time."

Alexis gave Kate a kiss on the cheek. And a hug. She wanted to convey that she was not feeling totally dour.

Kate steered her towards the front door. It was yet open from when Castle had come home.

"See you, bud." she told Alexis. "All of us will be here when you get back. But please. Look after yourself."

Meredith's town car was not hard to find.

She laid aside a Burberry shopping catalogue as the chauffeur merged into the afternoon traffic.

"How are you, Alexis?" she asked her daughter.

But Alexis' tone sounded terse. "What's up?"

"Do I really need a reason to come congratulate you on your baby? It was already a coincidence that I was in Manhattan."

"Dad and Kate have drilled into me over the years that coincidences are not real." she zipped her purse closed when she noticed it was open. "Today I was proved correct."

Meredith said, "Why do you always have to be so serious? It's not like I never see you."

"But I had mononucleosis last time I saw you. That was ages ago. You could have tried Skype." Alexis did not break eye contact. "Besides, you are not a fan of children. That is why I grew up siblingless."

"Actually... That is because we decided you were enough."

"Sure, mom." Alexis' mind was back on holding a dozing Lilibet. "Whatever you say."

Meredith felt curious. "What is the matter you? Snarkiness is out of your wheelhouse. At least when you talk to me."

"I was in the hospital today because of a hypoglycemic attack. At a café. It was bad."

Meredith stared. Hospitalization was definitely unusual.

"I also broke up with the father of my child. He isn't even man enough to pay child support. Or stick around." Alexis went on. "But what hurts the most is that I got my heart ripped out. And stomped on. Now it's going to take handkerchiefs, tape, staplers, and glue guns to fix it."

"Every girl through break-ups." Meredith offered. "Plenty more guys will be lining up for you before you know it."

"My world is completely different now because I have my own kid to put first." Alexis eyed her mother. "But you were young when you had me. What was dad? A rebound from someone else?"

Meredith fell quiet. She didn't like what Alexis was insinuating.

Plan B. "You are not a sourpuss: knock it off. What about lunch? Did you pick a place?"

Alexis just shook her head and returned to looking out of the car window.

But…

After a few more moments, she realized that they were not anywhere near the restaurant district. It made her uneasy.

What was Meredith up to?

The car pulled out of traffic, and into a parking slot before a nondescript but slightly upscale office building.

Alexis was wary all over again. "Mom? What is going on?"

"Just a stop first. An errand."

The teenager was only vaguely aware of Meredith fussing at her to move her behind as they disembarked. Mostly because she was watching the town car pull back into traffic again. It was normally the chauffeur's place to wait.

Something was definitely up.

Alexis' foreboding feeling went off the charts as they entered. The building's lobby was nicely decorated. Furnished well. But she began to get chills as she scanned her surroundings.

Of the waiting room's occupants, each were women.

The first sat alone. She was reading a story a device that Alexis presumed to be the newest version of the Kindle. Unbothered. But she had to be present for a reason. Right?

Across from her were the remaining occupants. The older of the two was absorbed in something on her phone. Beside her sat a teenage girl. If Alexis had to speculate, this was the woman's daughter. She was crying.

Then Alexis grew disturbed when she saw the girl caressing her middle. Such as a pregnant woman would. It even seemed like she was trying not to cry harder.

But she saw Alexis looking.

And mouthed a single word. Run.

Alexis' eyes also landed on medically-related pamphlets piled atop a coffee table in the middle of the seating area: care for the aftermath of a certain type of life-altering procedure. One that could cause death to her child. Purposefully.

It all clicked into with place. Horribly so. Alexis really wanted to vomit.

Her mother had brought her to an abortion clinic. With no warning. Or consent.

Alexis turned about face and stormed over to where Meredith stood by the reception desk. "How dare you! An abortion clinic? Really? Do you really not know me? I could never do this. I don't want to. And I want a lot of kids."

Meredith smiled pityingly. "Alexis Harper, I do love you. Even though it's difficult to fathom. But you having a child at a young age? Not something I pictured for you. Ever."

"That's rich. Even for you. I was born when you were only a few years older than I am now. You were also in the beginnings of your acting career back then. Weren't you?"

Alexis did not back down. Even though every eye in the room was on her. She'd also learned about standing her ground from Kate.

"Was I a burden? I want to know. Is that why you walked out when I was three?"

"No. You have never been a burden. But I have a plot twist for you. One big one." Meredith hissed. "We did not have a chance to even have a wedding for a long time."

"And why not?" Alexis pressed as she felt great dread.

"There was just no time for a wedding because of work obligations. Mine and his. We were not expecting you. Finding out about you was the surprise of my life." Meredith delivered a new jolt. "We got married when you were one. Our professional obligations had ended. But we literally didn't have time before then."

Alexis could not think of an answer, so she repeated an earlier sentiment. "I don't want to do this. No."

Meredith went for the Hail Mary approach. "You are a very clever and gifted person. A baby right now would be hampering your potential. What about school? Have you thought of that yet?"

"I don't want to do this." the girl repeated for a third time. "Yes, I'm facing setbacks right now, but I just need to sit down and figure things out. We both know I'm good at that."

It was here that the receptionist jumped in.

She rescued Alexis. "Pardon me—how old are you?"

Alexis tore her gaze away from her mother to give the kind woman an answer. "I am nineteen, m'am."

"You are legally allowed to say no here. This appointment was clearly created against your knowledge. You are not at fault."

The receptionist laid out a clipboard with official paperwork pertaining to the event attached.

She handed a fresh uncapped pen to Alexis. "If you would, please date and sign where indicated. For our records. You will not be billed."

Alexis had never been more grateful to sign paperwork in her life.

"Here you go." she handed everything back to the receptionist when she was done. "I apologize for making a scene."

The receptionist bobbed her head in understanding.

Alexis faced Meredith again. "If we see each other again, you had better come up with a damn good apology. Do not contact me until then. Please."

Meredith had the decency to look ashamed of herself. "Okay, Alexis. I love you."

Alexis heard her. But she was too incensed to respond.

The only thing she wanted was a video call with Alexandra. So she could see her face. Lilibet's, too.

She left the clinic without a backwards glance at anyone.

Alexis' family was extremely startled to see her home so soon.

But she accepted their love towards her. And outrage on her behalf. Meredith had never treated her so badly.

As Alexis headed up to her bedroom, she definitely heard talk head towards making comfort food for dinner. They always knew how to make her feel warm. Loved, too.

Alexis didn't even realize that she was on autopilot until she sat cross-legged on her bed and waited for Alexandra to pick up the video call. It was time to unwind.

The moment her friend appeared on the screen, such relief coursed through Alexis' body that she began to cry.

"Hey." Alexandra said gently. "Miss me that much?"

"I actually do." Alexis wiped her tears away with the back of her free hand. "My mom showed up."

Alexandra jumped. "As I recall, you described her before as more like a pesky big sister. Did she find out about the baby?"

"Mhm. I'll tell you that another day but," Alexis' bottom lip wobbled. "My mom just took me to an abortion clinic!"

Alexandra was aghast. "She did what?"

Alexis promptly relayed everything. Left no stone unturned.

Alexandra gave Alexis her utmost attention. Listened without interruption. She had meant it when she'd said she cared about her friend's well-being.

And… Although Alexandra told no one, she had known for a long time that she wanted to marry Alexis.

"Nothing you did or said made you deserving of Meredith's cruelty. What she did was uncalled for. You can do what you want at your pace." Alexandra said when Alexis was done. "I also really do understand your situation."

Alexis paused. "I know your twenty-first falls on Christmas, but you were eighteen when Bette was born, huh?"

Alexandra gave a confirming nod. "The father of my child was a guy from high school that I fooled around with one time."

"Still in the picture?"

"No. Porter didn't ever have a chance to meet her, because I was right when I realized he didn't want to be involved."

Alexis did not fail to notice more similarities between them. "Wow. I guess ties were cut, huh?"

"Were they ever." Alexandra was grim. "Not even a day later, Porter was arrested for knocking over a bodega. Then he died during the intake process. Why? Spontaneous unforeseen heart defect."

"You're kidding. Please tell me Bette's heart is healthy."

"One hundred percent. Don't worry." Alexandra was quick to reassure her. "My brother escorted me the the morgue so I could see my ex's body for myself."

Alexis felt dazed. "Wow. That is… wild."

"So is how my father's parents reacted to my pregnancy: they tried to give me money for an abortion."

"You clearly didn't spend it. What happened to that 'gift'?"

Alexandra didn't miss a beat. "Gave back every penny. We are not on speaking terms anymore. But Jenny's parents took to treating Bette like a grandchild from the moment I told them about her."

"Even though Jenny is related to you because she married your big brother." Alexis marveled. "I really love that. Family comes in many a blend. Look at mine."

"Yes. At the loft there's you, Martha, your dad, and now Kate. Correct?" Alexandra counted each person on her finger as she went. "No siblings?"

"Uh-uh. But I'm wishing and hoping for a few in the years to come."

Alexis paused when she realized a certain element was missing from Alexandra's half of the conversation. "Where is your shadow?"

"Bette's room is down the hall. Do you want to see her?"

"Yes. I would love that."

Alexis only had to wait a few moments before her screen filled with footage of a sleeping Lilibet.

Her blonde hair was devoid of its pigtails, and a blanket was covering her. A stuffed dinosaur could be seen clamped under one arm. Lilibet's left thumb was hovering inches from her mouth, having fallen out. But the child had a smile on her face. Even now.

Lilibet was the epitome of peace and innocence.

Alexandra spoke again when she was back in her bedroom. "Do you feel better now?"

"Yep!" Alexis chirped sincerely. "Thank you so much."

"When I feel sad or upset, I like to watch Bette sleep. Always makes me feel better straight away. I think you will understand when your little one is in the world."

Alexis turned shy. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"After today," Alexandra deadpanned. "You can tell me absolutely anything. I will never judge."

"Well... For the past few nights, I've been having really vivid dreams about playing with a little girl with bright red hair. Nickname of Baby Bean." Alexis explained. "You can call the little one that. If you want."

Alexandra's heart fluttered at the deep gesture. "I am honored."

Alexis asked a question she'd been wondering all day. "When you carried Bette, did you think she'd be a girl?"

"No. I was Team Boy until the confirming ultrasound. My siblings and Jenny put money down that I'd have a girl. Just to screw with me." Alexandra shook her head with indignation before brightening back up. "I was given the cash on the condition I put it towards Bette's nursery. Which I did."

Alexandra paused a beat. Mulling something over.

"Come around to Sunday dinner. I mean it, Alexis. Everyone is going to love you." she said. "You'll finally see what life is like with siblings in the mix."

"Okay." Alexis responded warmly. "I'm looking forward to it."

Alexandra then made a very surprising offer. "Would you like me to come get you?"

"I would love it." Alexis admitted. "But if there's one thing I've learned through babysitting about sleeping toddlers…"

"It's that you don't wake them." Alexandra finished. "Good point. You probably also just want your own bed."

"I have never been so tired in my life. But thank you for picking up when I called. Means a lot."

"I even understand about being that kind of tired." Alexandra spoke in reflection. "Well… Never be afraid to call me. For anything. Especially for baby stuff."

Alexis brightened. "Thank you so much."

"Any time. Talk to you tomorrow?"

"Oh, yes." Alexis nodded. "Tomorrow."

Alexandra gave one last good-bye before signing off.

Then she had a new pause. Why?

Because she was imagining what it would be like when Alexis did meet her family at Sunday dinner. It would be organized chaos. For sure.

But definitely fun.