The rest of Alexis' week passed by in a flash.

It was finally Sunday. Which meant journeying out to the Ryan house in Queens for dinner. An informal 'meet the family' event.

But it was in Alexis' favor that she didn't experience too much morning sickness upon waking. It was lessening. Day by day.

And as she made her way downstairs after making herself look decent, she prayed that nothing would derail her. The last thing she needed was be incapacitated.

Kate knew that Alexis had been feeling queasy for the past few days now, so she noticed the young woman's caution as she approached, and put the kettle on to boil.

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

"Better." Alexis perched on a stool at the kitchen island. "But… My heart has been doing jumping jacks, Kate. Since yesterday. I will be meeting the rest of the Ryans tonight."

Surprised, Kate said, "Wow. Is it already Sunday? Kevin's been telling us for years about the family dinners at his parents' place in Astoria. But... How big is that family? I'm not sure I've ever heard..."

"Well…"

But Alexis was cut off when the very fast-acting kettle began to whistle. So she and Kate paused made their drinks to their preferences.

But both women settled again, Kate sat on the chair beside her. Facing her. She wanted to the scoop on the Ryans. She had a feeling that their families would be joining permanently in the next year or two. But she would keep such a thought between herself and Castle. For now.

"Let's try once more. From the top." the detective said. "If you please: how many siblings are there?"

"Five: Joelle, Emilie and Bellamy, then Kevin, and then Allie. They also hold Jenny close. What they have with her is unique. And super sweet." Alexis recalled. "There is also a 'gaggle' of grandbabies."

Kate stirred her tea. "A 'gaggle,' huh?"

"It's Allie's phrasing. Not mine. She also," Alexis opened one very specific note on her phone. "Told me the kids' names. I think she wanted me to at least have a head's-up."

"How considerate. Will you please share? I am curious."

"We have Thaddeus, Maxwell, Kieve, Tibot, Wilem, Rexford, and of course, Lilibet. She is the youngest. For the moment." Alexis looked back to Kate. "There are also some little ones on the way who haven't been born yet."

"Wow." Kate remarked. "Then it's very good there's a list. Do you know if any of the littlest are due soon?"

Alexis had a start when she remembered. "Allie told me that Bellamy is fit to pop. She told me so after I mentioned the bank interaction. I just didn't see anything when I was there because there was a counter in the way."

Kate laughed. "So noted. And Bellamy is the one who initiated the invitation for dinner tonight in the first place. How is your world getting so small?"

"Only God knows." Alexis gave a shoulder shrug. "What I don't know is the names of the Ryan spouses. In addition to Jenny."

"Sounds like they want to ease you in." Kate patted Alexis' hands. "But at least you're off to a great start. Think you can handle it?"

Alexis nodded before briefly scanning her space. "Where are dad and Gram?"

"Rick is writing. Martha has been gone. For awhile. Seems it's just you and me for breakfast."

Kate rose and made her way to the stove. Quite suddenly, she was feeling famished. And in the mood for one type of breakfast item in particular.

"How do you feel about pancakes?" she asked. "Can you handle those?"

Now Alexis was very glad her stomach had settled. "I can. But nothing fruit or chocolate, please. My kid won't like it."

Kate was very sympathetic. "You just drink your tea, and I'll make us a batch of plain-textured pancakes. How's that?"

"Perfect."

Later, Alexis made a pit stop for flowers on the way out to the house later. She believed in good manners. Especially when going to a new place for the first time. Hopefully her girlfriend's parents liked sunflowers.

They represented friendship.

Alexis was quite pleased when she finally found the Ryan house.

It stood at the head of a cul-de-sac. And was a violent pink shade. There was even a pride flag hanging from a holder beside the front door, on the porch. But Alexis loved it. Very much.

Alexandra had been keeping an eye out for Alexis. No need to have her get swamped by any 'overeager, curious' relatives. Not yet.

Alexandra put Alexis' things away for her. She even kissed her girlfriend hello. And her baby bump. They were a family.

Looking around, Alexis asked, "Where are your parents? I bought the sunflowers for them."

"Horatio and Zadie are in the kitchen. And they love all flowers." Alexandra paused briefly to take the flowers and smell them. "You should see this house in the warm weather."

"Oh? Flowers galore outside?"

"Mhm. Growing plants makes my parents happy. They're super cute about it."

Alexis grinned before touching a hand to Alexandra's elbow. "Hey… Where's our girl now?"

Alexandra told her, "Bette is with Horatio and Zadie. Helping. Bellamy and her son are here. The others should be along soon."

Alexis arched an eyebrow. "Blondie, I won't pretend I haven't been told the names of your siblings' spouses. Yet. Where is Bellamy's?"

"Running an errand. But I bet she'll be here soon."

Alexis looked at Alexandra in surprise. "You said, 'she'? Bellamy's married to a woman?"

"Correct. So are Joelle and Emilie. What do you think?"

Alexis felt an odd sense of relief. She even let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"I absolutely love it all." Alexis kissed her on the cheek. "But… Because Kevin married Jenny, this means that all of your siblings-in-law are women. Right?"

"Yes. Very good." Alexandra told her. "Bells' other half is named Iris. She teaches math."

"Got it. And their kid is," Alexis wracked brain momentarily. "Rexford?"

Before Alexandra could confirm this, a new voice interjected, "What about me?"

A young boy of about thirteen had come strolling past. Rexford was tall, with dark hair and familiar bright blue eyes. Dressed in a band t-shirt and jeans, he seemed pleasant. Likable. But for now… Rexford looked curious. Waiting to be introduced.

Alexandra said to her girlfriend, "Say hello to my eldest nephew—Rexford Horatio."

But the boy gave a small foot stomp as he sputtered, "It's Rex!"

Alexis laughed. "Not to worry, Rex. I think your name is cool."

He beamed before he has a lightbulb moment. "Hey—are you Allie's Alexis?"

She winked. "I am."

"Wow. You're pretty."

Alexandra ruffled her nephew's hair. "Go find someone your own age! I thought you had somebody you're sweet on. What is she called?"

"N-NOTHING!" Rexford stammered as he turned red.

DING! A device in Rexford's pocket let him know that he had an unread message.

"That's her, isn't it?" Alexis asked gently.

"Uh-huh." Rexford wound back down. "She is called Story. And we are best friends."

"That's really sweet." Alexis handed Rexford the sunflowers. "I brought these for avó and avoa. Please go put them in water. Check your device when you're done."

Quite smitten, Rexford took the flowers. He even gave Alexis a sweeping bow as he left.

"Is Rex normally like that?" Alexis asked Alexandra as Rexford retreated.

"Uh-uh. It's totally because you're here." Alexandra linked hers and Alexis' arms together. "Come on. The kitchen is over this way."

Lilibet was well-aware that Alexis was on the way to her grandparents' house. She'd planned to keep Alexandra company to wait for her. But Zadie had recruited her for working on dessert. The little girl didn't have the willpower to turn away a chance to help with food.

But Horatio spotted Alexis enter the kitchen with Alexandra.

"Little one," he tapped on Lilibet's shoulder. "Hang on for a moment."

Lilibet paused. She had been filling a cupcake tray with decorative paper liners.

"Yes?" Lilibet looked up at him.

"See who's just arrived with your mama." Horatio pointed. "You'll be thrilled."

So Lilibet turned about face on her step stool. And lit right up.

"YOU'RE HERE, MOMMY!"

The little girl cried this out in great joy as she ran to her other mother. Alexis' heart jumped. But it always did whenever Lilibet was around. Never had she met a child who loved her this much.

Lilibet was overjoyed, simply because she'd entered the room.

Alexis hugged Lilibet when she picked her up. "There you are, big girl. What are you doing?"

"Helping with cupcakes." Lilibet indicated her cooking area. "Please can I go back?"

Alexis loosened her hold on her. "Okay. Go."

Lilibet kissed Alexis on the cheek before slipping out of her arms. But she also gave Alexis' bump a kiss. And a hug. Then she skipped back to Horatio.

"Being loved by a kid is amazing." murmured Alexis.

Her girlfriend nodded. "And really something beautiful."

Zadie chose that moment to join them from the other side of the room.

"Were you expecting any of that from Bette?" she asked Alexis.

"No. But I love being loved by her." the teenager then cleared her throat and stood straighter. "Zadie, thanks for having me. Your home is lovely."

"Thank you. And you are welcome here any time. We're family, Alexis. For life."

Zadie then cast a look in Alexandra's direction.

"But of course… One of us needs to remember what the hell 'initiative' means."

Alexandra chose this moment to join Lilibet when she called out for her. She needed help.

"Do you need help with anything?" Alexis asked.

"No. But that's very kind." Zadie gestured to one of her kitchen counters. "Thank you for the sunflowers, my dear. I love them."

Alexis beamed when she spotted the blooms in a nice crystal vase. "You're welcome."

Zadie then motioned to her kitchen table. "Go sit with Bellamy. She's over there."

Alexis crossed over to the kitchen table. Bellamy was in a comfortable chair, with her feet propped up on a stool. But it was plain to see why: she was very pregnant. And more than showing for it.

"Hi." Bellamy motioned for Alexis to sit in the vacant chair facing hers. "Come sit with me. I'm so glad you made it."

Alexis took took seat."Thanks for inviting me."

"Like I said at the bank—someone had to." she glanced at a nearby clock. "Other people should start arriving soon. My parents' house gets very noisy when it's full."

"I've slowly been getting used to chaos. And I like it."

Bellamy arched an eyebrow. "Only child?"

Alexis nodded. But… She privately thought that her title as such would probably be changing soon. Kate had been acting so odd lately.

She answered Bellamy. "At this point, yes."

Bellamy shook her head in amusement. "Joelle is the eldest of the Ryan children, but there's no earthly way she could remember single child life. Emilie and I were born just a year after her."

"Wow." Alexis bleated. "Where is Emilie? Being 'comically elusive' again?"

"I—"

But just then, they heard the front door opening. Someone had arrived.

Bellamy flagged her son down as he passed by.

"My boy," she said to Rexford. "Please go help who's at the door."

"Okay." Rexford agreed. "It's probably Iris, huh?"

"Yep. She was running an errand for avó, real quick."

"Got it. Be right back." And Rexford hurried out.

"He calls his mom by her first name?" said Alexis in bemusement when Rexford had gone.

"Uh-huh." Bellamy said. "I was widowed young when I carried Rex. The marriage was toxic, and it only lasted a year. My boy never met his dad. But… Life gave Rex and I true happiness."

Alexis was hanging on to every word—her friend's tale was reminding her of her own.

"Oh?" she said. "How's that?"

Bellamy pointed in the general direction of the house on the left. "My wife's parents live next door."

"I—what? You literally married the girl next door?"

"Mhm. Iris and I have even been friends for our entire lives. Oh…"

Bellamy suddenly sat up straighter in her seat, and touched a hand to one side of her mountainous middle.

"Did the baby just wake up?" Alexis guessed.

"She did. I think she knows knows it's almost time to eat."

Bellamy reached for Alexis' hand. She wanted to share in the moment.

Alexis gave her friend her hand. Bellamy laid Alexis' palm flat against the spot where she was feeling activity. They promptly felt a pair of tiny feet kick and press against them. Curious.

"Wow." Alexis marveled. "That is amazing."

Bellamy smiled at her friend. "Right here's our much longed-for Freya Lux Ryan."

"Incredible." Alexis withdrew her hand and sat back in her chair. "Her name is beautiful. When's her birthday slated for?"

"October eighth. What?"

For Alexis had reacted in surprise. "Uh... That's the day I turn twenty."

"Small world." Bellamy arched her back when she felt Freya elbow her extra hard, annoyed. "Perhaps you'll have a birthday twin."

"Oh, my gosh. I would love that."

From across the room, Zadie watched Alexis and Bellamy get to know each other. Bonding. Having fun. Zadie was glad.

Especially because she had a surprise waiting in the wings.

Just out of sight.