Once Alexis and Alexandra cleaned up from their kitchen activities, they headed back to the room where their things were. Time for the next part of the day.

Getting ready to head to the shops.

An outing with Alexis and Lilibet sounded fun. Even if it was for practical reasons.

But Alexandra soon saw that Alexis had fallen quiet. Lost in thought.

Alexandra asked her quietly, "What's up?"

Alexis replied, "Your sister's told me her news that she's to be a mom again. I'm happy for her. Does Thaddeus have any more siblings?

"Mhm. Thadd has a little brother called Maxwell. But... I know for a fact that my sister and her other half are hoping for a baby girl this time." Alexandra sighed happily. "Trust me, baby girls are super delightful."

"I've been learning so." her eyes briefly flickered to where Lilibet was ready to leave, but examining her own reflection in a floor-length mirror. "I love her."

Alexis then pulled her companion to the side when a new thought popped into her head. But Alexandra was patient.

"Maternity stores are on our to-do list," said Alexis. "And Half Pint over there is coming with us. Right?"

"Yes to both. And Half Pint is a new one. I like it..."

Alexis laughed. "We have to tell Bette about the baby. Right now. She can't be in the dark much longer. Doing so will be hard... considering where we're off to."

"Good point." Alexandra touched one hand to Alexis' middle. "You also said it yourself: Bean is growing like a weed."

"This will either be really bad," Alexis held her hands over Alexandra's. "Or else very wonderful..."

Alexandra hugged Alexis and then looked her in the eyes. "Give yourself some credit. Bette has been smitten with you since the café."

"Like I could ever forget." Alexis brought herself to smile. "Dibs on telling her that story when she's bigger."

"I wouldn't dream of robbing you of that moment."

Alexandra sat Alexis in the nearest seat. Time for a moment of truth.

"She does not bite. Call to her."

Alexis did. "Bette, please come here."

The little girl skipped over. Happy. Curious now.

Standing between Alexis' legs, she said, "Time-a go?"

"Nearly." Alexis told her. "But I have a surprise first."

Lilibet gave her her complete attention. "What?"

Alexis held Lilibet's hands against her middle. "There's a baby in there. What do you think?"

Lilibet proceeded to process Alexis' news for herself. The adults watched. Holding their collective breath. Trying not to laugh. Watching Lilibet's thought process was very comical.

But she finally lit up. With delight.

She kept her hands on Alexis' middle as she looked up at her. "No trick?"

Alexis kept a miraculously straight face. "No trick. This is totally real life. I promise."

At her most delighted yet, Lilibet hugged Alexis around her middle. She even pressed a few feather-light kisses to the spot. Being 'full-throttle' with her feelings was the norm.

"Hi, sissy!" Lilibet cooed to Alexis' middle. "I love you!"

Alexis' heart finally leapt out the window.

She had been wondering for awhile just how Lilibet would take this kind of surprise.

Of course Alexis knew that Lilibet was capable of having dispositions besides cheerful, or love-dovey. She was human. But... Alexis had not expected Lilibet to be this excited. Or even accepting.

How did she get so fortunate?

Lilibet was already speaking to Alexandra again as she kept one hand on Alexis' middle. "This is my sissy!"

Alexandra made to answer. But then she had a pause. One very important thought had just hit her: she and Alexis weren't even an official couple (yet), but... Here was Lilibet... claiming the little one as her sibling.

Alexis gently squeezed one of Alexandra's hands with one of her own. "Take a breath. It's okay."

Alexandra once more considered proposing to Alexis on the spot.

But she gave her attention back to Lilibet. "You're right: that is your baby sister in there!"

Lilibet made a happy sound.

Then Alexandra proceeded to change tack at top speed so her offspring didn't get carried away. "You like shopping, right?"

Lilibet was aglow all over again. "Yes!"

"We are getting ready to go because we're off to the shops. Lexie needs new clothes now."

But Lilibet actually jumped for joy. "Sissy needs a dress, too!"

"We can get her something, but—"

Alexandra's words were cut off by Lilibet as she made more happy sounds. Before darting in the direction of the door that led to the parking lot.

So Alexandra helped Alexis back to her feet and into her jacket. "I couldn't have asked for that to go any more smooth. We just got very lucky."

"We sure did." Alexis buttoned up her coat and found her purse. "Hey… What's wrong?"

For now Alexandra was guiltily shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "Be truthful. Are you really okay with Lilibet calling the baby her sister, even though…"

"We're not a couple?" finished Alexis.

"Yeah."

"It really is okay. Being with you and Lilibet, and even the rest of the family, has brought me such joy. Already. I'm supposed to be here. With you. With our kids. With all those lovely people in the kitchen. I couldn't picture my life any other way. Not now. Not ever."

Alexis watched Alexandra finish getting completely ready to go.

She then held both of Alexandra's hands in hers.

"Your sister told me outside that I'm stuck with all of you. But I've already known that about you in particular since the day we met. Nothing about how we got to that day in the café is even remotely normal. But I'm glad all of it happened. Would I change a thing? Absolutely not."

Complete relief swept over Alexandra.

Her legs even buckled. "Oh, my God…"

"My name is Alexis Harper Castle. But... God will work, once you taste what I'm capable of cooking." Alexis pulled Alexandra back into a standing position. "There is nothing wrong about an unconventional learning process. Just promise me that we're in this together."

"Oh, I promise." Alexandra fixed Alexis' coat collar from where it had folded over. "We're in this. Together. No matter what."

The little family soon wound up at Manhattan Mall. It lay closest in location to The Rolling Pin. And had a shop Alexandra favored.

This one was called The Bump. Alexis had seen it before. But she had never in a million years dreamed of a need to be customer. At least Alexandra could guide her.

But the redhead said to her companion as they looked around, "How did you know about this place?"

"Emilie and Bellamy treated me to a shopping spree here when I started to show." explained Alexandra. "This place then became my main source as I got bigger. Everything is affordable. I know it isn't exactly Saks, but..."

Her words trailed off. Alexandra wasn't clueless about who Alexis was. Or her place in Manhattan society.

Being the daughter of Richard Castle, she more than likely had money. Lots of it. And... She probably didn't shop at chain clothings stores in a shopping mall.

But Alexis once again read her well. "I don't normally go to Saks unless it's for a special event. The Bump is fine. And I like it. The stuff is really cute."

And for the umpteenth time, Alexandra felt great relief.

"Did you find out when you're due?" she asked, changing subjects. "I'm trying to remember if Jenny mentioned it at the hospital."

Alexis laughed. "She did say it. Bean will be joining us, God willing, on March fifth. Actually… That is my grandmother's birthday."

"How about that?" Alexandra winked. "It's also my mom's birthday. She is going to be tickled to find this out. Any name ideas yet?"

"No. But I must pick your brain some time about how you landed on Lilibet. You don't hear it every day. But it suits her."

Alexis gestured broadly to the shop surrounings.

"Allie, where do you suggest we start?"

"Focusing on autumnal items is a practical baseline." Alexandra said seriously. "October is next month."

"Autumn fashions." echoed the redhead. "Got it."

Alexandra let Alexis take the lead. But together, they amassed a decent amount of items Alexis liked. An attendant helped her with new bras when it was realized those were also needed. Had Lilibet not been present, Alexandra would have helped. She kept her daughter entertained during that portion of the visit.

But Alexandra magically turned up at the cash register to carry Alexis' bags as they were packed up. Being chivalrous was fun.

The cashier, an older woman, commented about it to Alexis. "Your girlfriend is very sweet to carry everything for you. Both of you, and your little girl, do look very happy together. It's wonderful to see."

Alexandra almost dropped the bags at that.

Alexis took the attendant's words in stride. "Wow. Thank you very much. I count my blessings because of my family every day."

"How lovely. The family you make is very important. No matter how they came about."

She handed Alexandra the last bag, and Alexis her monetary change.

"Have a pleasant day now."

They thanked her before made their exit.

But it was out in the concourse that Alexandra then said, "We have to talk."

Alexis put the change in her wallet before putting it all in her purse. "Does what I said in the shop bother you?"

"Uh-uh. But I just want to really talk about us for a minute."

"Same." admitted Alexis. "But what of Half Pint?"

They both looked between them. Lilibet was there. Minding her own business. But watching everything she could set her gaze on.

Alexandra knelt before her. "Would you like to go play on the playground for a bit so Lexie and I can have a chat?"

"No." Lilibet shook her head. "Not yet, mama."

"Oh? Do you have a plan?"

"Yeah-huh. Gotta get a dress for sissy, 'member?"

"Of course." Alexandra gushed for Lilibet's benefit. "That slipped my mind."

Alexandra stood back up.

Lilibet held Alexis' hand tightly before looking up at her. "Can we get sissy a dress now? Please?"

"You bet." Alexis told her. "I'm especially going to need your help, since you're the big sister now."

Lilibet's chest puffed up in tremendous pride.

Alexis then spotted a children's clothing store not too many feet to their left. She was already following Alexandra's example by letting Lilibet learn through doing, but now she wanted a turn.

"Can you show me where we should go next?" Alexis asked her. "Please. I want to learn."

Taken aback but pleased by the responsibility, Lilibet surveyed the area. With fastidiousness.

Locating the clothing store did not take long. Alexis praised Lilibet for a job well done when she did find it.

The toddler then focused completely on what she her task. Leading Alexis.

The woman in question looked back to her companion. "Guess we'll have to wait a little bit longer for that chat. Do you think you can manage?"

But Alexandra's response was with zero hesitation. "For you? Anything."