Castle, Kate, and Martha each saw just how much Alexis was on Cloud Nine when she returned home.
Each also noticed she was carrying a tote bag they'd never seen before. It was no doubt laden with presents.
But... Each older adult was also very amused.
Castle waved her over to where he was, with Kate and Martha at the kitchen island. She was on autopilot. But the fun kind.
Still, Alexis altered her course to join them.
"Did you have a good time tonight?" Castle asked her.
"Mhm." Alexis nodded as she joined them. "It was all so amazing. And fun. I met all of the Ryans tonight."
"How are they all to be around?" Martha wanted to know.
"Great fun. There's a lot of love there."
Alexis then shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she surveyed her company.
"Uh... You all know how Allie's parents run my favorite bakery?"
"The Rolling Pin." chirped Kate. "Did an opportunity fall out of the sky?"
"It did. All of you have told me in different ways over the years to follow my heart. Make choices for myself... And... So on."
Alexis raked her middle with her fingernails. She was feeling nervous now. Her family would support her. But saying this next part would be an effort.
"Uh... My girlfriend's parents told me that one of their staff is about to move. Long story." Alexis cleared her throat so she didn't totally ramble. "Horatio and Zadie were so impressed with everything I made on baking day, that they offered me the spot. First. I said yes."
Castle said sincerely, "I'm very happy for you. And proud you seized the chance to take a job in something you're good at."
Alexis hugged him. "Thanks."
Martha asked, "When do you start?"
"Next Monday." Alexis replied. "Baking day again."
"Good. That's good. You'll have time to prepare." the old woman approved. "What do they think of your precious cargo? And plans for your education?"
"The whole family is excited to meet my kid. And... They understand actual craziness around a baby coming into the world. But I won't say what I shouldn't." Alexis told her. "Allie's parents treat me like one of their own. Enough to the point where they promised to do everything they can to help me with whatever I need. Which includes flexibility with school. I've been pinching myself."
"Completely understandable."
Kate chimed in, "I've heard for years that the family operates on a 'family takes care of family' philosophy. Sounds like they've welcome you with open arms. Do those pinches hurt?"
Alexis laughed. "Yes. A lot."
"Then I'd say you've definitely found your family." Kate pressed an affectionate kiss to Alexis' forehead. "My heart is overjoyed for you."
Castle and Martha nodded in agreement.
But then Martha spotted her granddaughter's tote bag again, so she said, "We've held you up enough. Go unwind. It seems you have a lot to unpack. And in more ways than one."
"Okay, Gram."
The rest of the adults watched Alexis head up the stairs and out of sight.
None of them spoke until they heard Alexis' bedroom door closing in the distance.
"Well." Kate said to Martha and Castle in exasperation. "Was I right, or was right?"
She pointed to the ceiling.
"Alexis has come back more than a little smitten. And with a job? We're probably going to be related to my detective by this time next year. Time to pay up."
Mother and son both sighed.
Kate had proposed earlier that Alexis would come from dinner with life-changing news of some kind. And… Her intuition had been square on the nose. Meaning that they owed her one hundred dollars.
Apiece.
But… At least the winnings were going somewhere good.
"I thank you both." Kate gave a mock flourishing bow. "See you in awhile."
Once upstairs, Kate found Alexis' door to be open again already.
"Hey." she called from the doorway. "Is it alright if I come in?"
Alexis motioned for Kate to join her as she made the room. "Yeah. But please shut the door. Please."
Kate followed through before joining her on the bed.
Alexis' tote bag was beside her. But in front of her, laid out…
"Where did all this cash come from?" Kate waved a hand a pile of carefully-organized fives, tens, twenties, fifties, and even a one-hundred dollar bill. "Did you find a stack of babysitting money you forgot about?"
"No." Alexis chuckled. "It happens that my new family had a wager, concerning whether or not Allie and I are dating. My favorite part is who started it."
"Kevin?" guessed Kate.
"Uh-uh." Alexis shook her head. "Jenny. Kate, she is so much fun. But she has a mind for pranks and wagers."
"So am I to understand that Jenny started the bet, and that all the adults but you and Alexandra knew?"
"Mhm. Everyone contributed for different reasons tonight. Some even just wanted to round things out. That," Alexis pointed to the one-hundred dollar bill. "Is from Horatio and Zadie. Even they had a bet."
"Are there any stipulations for where the money should go?"
"Mhm. To funds for the baby's nursery or wardrobe." Alexis arranged all the money into a single neat stack. "I guess I'm going back to the bank in the morning."
Kate handed her the newest winnings. "Rick and Martha have their own to add. I challenged them in a wager of my own while you were gone. Came out the victor. It's two hundred dollars more."
Alexis hugged her briefly before storing the rest of the cash. "Wow. Thank you."
Kate bobbed her head and then pointed to Alexis' tote bag. "Do you know what's in there?"
"No." Alexis pulled it closer. "But I know Rexford told me that he designed that bag. And that his parents helped him gather everything."
"Outstanding. How about we see what's inside?"
Alexis gently upended the bag. An assortment of parcels fell out. Each was wrapped in brightly-colored paper.
Kate handed her the first package. "Try this one. Who has a dinosaur obsession? Thaddeus, right?"
"Mhm." Alexis accepted the package. "He loves dinosaurs. It's actually really cute… Oh, my…"
Alexis had unwrapped the Tyrannosaurus rex paper to a gift box containing two stuffed dinosaurs: one stegosaurus, and one pterodactyl. Both were soft. And ready to be loved.
Kate showed Alexis a miniature greeting card. "This fell off it. According to Bellamy, Thaddeus insisted that you and the baby both need dinosaurs to cuddle."
"Awww. That's really thoughtful."
"Mhm. Bellamy also wrote that Thaddeus gave Bette her first stuffed animal—also a dinosaur."
"Bette lamented over not having it, when they spent the night here." Alexis remembered suddenly. "So she borrowed Conroy."
This was the name of the teddy bear Alexis had since birth.
"She held him close. Didn't wake all night."
"I have a feeling that she'll remember that." Kate handed her a thin square-shaped package wrapped in violently pink paper. "Whose brother is Maxwell? That's the name on this one."
"He's Thaddeus' little brother." Alexis tested the parameters of the wrapped object. "Feels like a book."
She wasn't wrong.
Maxwell's gift was a copy of one bedtime story treasury. A note inside read that Maxwell had a copy. He had insisted on making sure Alexis did, too.
"Wow." Alexis looked to Kate. "What do you think?"
Kate said in amusement, "That your family is very thoughtful. And getting the kids involved? Clever. Why don't we see what else there is?"
Alexis opened the next three packages to find a kid-friendly Little Mermaid doll from Kieve (he'd bought it with his allowance), along with a stuffed unicorn from Tibot and a stuffed sloth from Wilem. Each brother had wanted Alexis to have something fun to hold.
'Gratitude' seemed to describe her feelings just now.
Kate pressed a final package into Alexis' hands. The dimensions lent thought to it being a second book.
Indeed—
Alexis was now in possession of a photo book.
The front cover bore a collage of all of the present Ryan grandchildren. There were even pictures of what Alexis realized where Joelle's, Jenny's, Bellamy's baby bumps. Along the top of the cover were the words 'OUR FAMILY'.
Inside, on a separate piece of paper was a note from Rexford that he had designed the book, with help from his parents.
Each page bore a picture of each current Ryan grandchildren. Along with facts he knew about them. Or hopes he had for the ones who hadn't been born yet.
Alexis was tickled to find that Rexford had put in a page about himself, one of Lilibet with a few new facts she didn't know yet, and even a page decorated with stars and hearts to accompany a message to Alexis that wished kind things for the baby she was carrying.
She closed the book. "I… I am at a loss for words over the kindness."
Kate responded, "I don't blame you."
"Tomorrow, I'll get in touch with Allie about where I can send thank you cards."
Alexis put her new things away. Settled herself.
Then she asked something new. "Kate... How did you know we were your family?"
"I knew in stages." Kate said after a few moments. "Remember when your dad and I once had to go to a gala, but undercover?"
"Yep." Alexis remembered. "And you had that fabulous red dress."
"Well… Martha lent me one of her necklaces. To go with what I was wearing." Kate said. "Up until then… She was the first person to make such a kind offering since my mom died."
"Gram got you used to the idea that people not related you can really care about you like that?"
"Bingo. But the time I really knew you all were it, even though I still had some growing to do? It was after my apartment exploded. I got to know everyone better." the memories came back fast. "I finally realized you all are my safe place to land. Have been—from the start."
Alexis beamed. "That makes me super happy."
Kate gently bumped a shoulder against Alexis'. "Are you asking about family because you know you found yours in Alexandra's tonight?"
"Mhm. Everyone treated me like I grew up there. None of the kindness is even because Allie and I have the bond we do."
"Then was any of it overwhelming?"
"Uh-uh. Everything was perfect." Alexis went on. "They love me for me. And... On top of everything else, Allie and I know we want to get married. For sure."
Kate laughed to herself as she remembered what she'd said to the others before heading up for this chat. Hole in one.
"When did you come to this conclusion?" Kate asked her.
"It happened separately. But I knew for sure that she was it for me, after… after… Paris."
Kate's heart skipped a beat. She knew Alexis wasn't ever keen on talking about Paris. But she'd seen her in the aftermath. And what a mess she'd been.
"What happened?" she asked gently. "I won't tell anyone."
"Allie found me crying at school. I was having a PTSD event. But I don't remember what caused it." remembered Alexis. "She pulled me into an empty area, sat with me, and just held me. Until I was all cried out."
"Oh, Alexis…"
"Then she cleaned me up. For her kindness, I told her why I was crying. She's been my confidant in secrets ever since. We were already good friends when that happened." Alexis told Kate. "She has been my confidant for all my secrets ever since. Alexandra Joy Ryan has knowledge of things I never even told Ashley, Max, or Pi. And… hm…"
Kate watched Alexis. She had a very visible thought process. Just as Castle did.
"Did something else come to you?" she asked.
"Yeah. I know deep things about Allie, too, but I've heard hints from both the woman herself and others that she also went through something major. Besides the stuff with Bette's dad. All I know is that this… factoid is why she and Bette both have actual crooked smiles."
"Hm. Then I hope you get to the bottom of that when you can. Sounds intriguing." Kate then changed lanes. "Hey—does anyone trip out over you and Alexandra practically having the same name?"
"Not so far." Alexis shrugged. "The adults and Rexford are cool about it."
"Thank heavens for that. But what about the little kids? Do they call you 'Aunt Lexie' yet?"
Alexis genuinely laughed. "Yes! Allie is already 'Aunt Allie' to them, and Bette calls us 'mommy' and 'mama.' I absolutely love that. And everything else."
Kate shook her head in amusement. "Wow. Your life must be quite noisy now."
"Oh, yes. But I wouldn't change it. Not for anything." Alexis told Kate with great confidence. "I am exactly where I'm supposed to be. And so is my kid. Never have I ever been so happy. Or so… peaceful."
Alexis was only able to hold her composure for a few moments more.
But this did not surprise Kate. She'd had a feeling since Alexis had left for the Ryan house that her friend would be wanting someone to talk to upon returning.
Kate had no intention of making Alexis call her 'mom' after the wedding happened. But she was interested in cultivating the unique friendship they had. So was Alexis.
Yet… Tonight happened to be the first time things had ever gotten so personal.
Alexis' feelings bested her. She burst into tears. Of joy. Relief she'd gotten to share her feelings with Kate. Joy, again.
"Come here." Kate pulled Alexis into her hold. "I've got you."
She wiped Alexis' tears.
"Just cry. It's okay."
"Thank you, Kate." Alexis wrapped her arms around the other woman's waist in a hug. "I love you a lot."
Kate's heart skipped a beat. Tonight was just full of surprises.
"I love you a lot, too, Alexis. Very much." she responded.
"Is it okay if we go find something in the kitchen after this?" Alexis asked her.
Kate nodded. The kitchen was fast becoming their favorite spot to just talk.
"Sure thing. I want to hear more about your family." Kate wiped Alexis' tears yet one more time. "Just breathe, Alexis. You're okay."
"Thank you, Kate." Alexis told her in return. "Thank you."