Alexis' next words came out in a sputter at Tallulah's introduction. "Hang on. You're Captain Victoria Gates' daughter?"

"Yes." Tallulah was both amused and impressed. "Ten out of ten. Very good. How did you know?"

"I saw your mother at the precinct not even thirty minutes back. Had to run an errand." Alexis' tone was casual. "Your mother showed me a formal picture of you and your brothers. Plus… She mentioned that you married into the Flannery clan."

All the pieces fell into place. "Wait... Then you must be Richard Castle's daughter?"

"I am!"

"Wow. I've heard bits and pieces about you over the years." Tallulah marveled. "How nice to finally meet you."

"And I'm glad to meet you. I'm... uh… rebuilding my life right now, for lack of a better way to put it, so I'm always happy for new friends."

"Hm. I know how that goes.

"You do?" said Alexis in surprise.

"Yeah. I mean… I had the fortune of marrying into social elite young. And we are very young parents. But do I have regrets? Not a-one." Tallulah indicated her crutches and her feeding tube. "I was even born different. And then it got worse a few years ago. Now my tube is permanent. And my legs don't work well anymore. I'm expecting delivery of a wheelchair next week now."

Quite the opposite of pity, Alexis only felt curiosity.

She'd been wondering how to ask Alexandra about her differences. In a polite way. Now… A sign from the universe about it had arrived in the form of Tallulah Gates Flannery. How fortuitous.

But Alexis' tone was very soft. "Did your friends dump you?"

"Mhm. They were all gone by the time my situation became full-fledged. It is what it is. But… It started after both of my kids were diagnosed as hard of hearing."

The other woman tapped her her own ears, and then indicated her daughter holding the picture dictionary.

"Zara has hearing aids in both ears. But you can't see them at the moment because her hair is down. Alma just has the one."

"Amazing." Alexis marveled. "And your friends all still dumped you?"

Tallulah nodded before hastily adding on, "I don't mean to put this in your lap. Sorry. It's just… You seem really trustworthy."

"Thank you." Alexis told her. "But such has been my life lately that I've been learning to see the world differently. I wouldn't change a thing. And I'm really happy to learn."

"That makes me happy." Tallulah said in relieved earnest. "I like you even more now."

She looked towards the main dining room now. Foot traffic there had thinned out. Many more tables were opening up.

She looked back to Alexis. "Hey—would you like to join us today? I... don't eat much in a regular manner all the time anymore. But the kids are hungry. So I've brought them here."

Alexis was very interested in furthering the bond that was forming. Tallulah's kind gesture surprised her. But she liked it.

"Sure." Alexis responded honestly. "Thank you for the invitation."

Both of Tallulah's children were delighted for the new company. And they followed the waitress as they were led to a booth. Alexis and Tallulah brought up the rear. Chatting. Happily getting to know each other more.

Alexis also saw that Tallulah had been very honest about her abilities to walk. It seemed a real effort. Even with her crutches. But Alexis just slowed her gait to match Tallulah's. It was the least she could do.

Once orders for food had been placed and the children had settled themselves, Tallulah spoke to Alexis again.

"You said you were at my mother's precinct before you came here. She likes to talk about my brothers and I because she's proud of us. Did she say what I do?"

"Technically, no." Alexis realized. "Just who your family is."

Tallulah laughed. "Well, I work for Flannery Fashions. We have been prolific for decades. Not all of us are über-prolific, though. Still... I'm sure you can figure out which of the four brothers is my husband?"

Alexis did the math and the conclusion led her to a surprise. "You married Ronan?"

"Mhm. I married the youngest Flannery brother. But we've already been friends for most of our lives." Tallulah said merrily. "And I've been working for the company in some way, shape, or form since I was old enough to be a junior intern. They liked me so much that they kept me."

None of this conversation had been even close to what Alexis had been expecting when Tallulah had sat beside her. But she was hanging on to every word. And really couldn't wait to tell Alexandra.

"Do you and Ronan work together?" she asked curiously.

"Mhm. We actually do." Tallulah said proudly. "Too bad he's in London for a conference right now. Ronan would love you."

"Wow." Alexis felt bashful. "Are you and Ronan working on anything new now?"

"Yes. But that is all I can say." Tallulah winked. "Enough about me now—you said you also have a family?"

"I do." Alexis found a recent picture on her phone and handed it to Tallulah. "This is them."

Further to Alexis' amazement, Tallulah displayed signs of recognition. Big ones.

"Look!" she showed the picture to her children. "It's our friends!"

"It's Allie!" one twin crowed.

"And Bette!" cheered the second. "We love them!"

Alexis felt bewildered. "You know them?"

But Tallulah's children just grinned mischievously before turning to gossip with each other. In what Alexis recognized as Gaelic.

My world just keeps getting smaller and smaller, she realized.

Alexis accepted her phone back and put it away as she asked Tallulah, "How do you know my family?"

"Alexandra and I go back. For… unconventional reasons. That's an easy way to put it. I hope I can tag-team with her on telling that one." Tallulah seemed to be choosing her words carefully. "Then, as fate would have it, our kids all ended up in the same Gymboree play class. Now they're a trio. It's really cute."

Tallulah patted Alexis' hand.

"How did you meet Alexandra? I'm dying to know."

"The short version is, we met because of school. And the rest? Insanity, providence, and," Alexis pointed to her middle. "My little hitchhiker."

Tallulah took Alexis' coded words in stride. "Got it. Then it's even more providence that we've bumped into each other. What do you do?"

"I'm going to finish school through online courses—however long that takes—but on Monday, I start work at the Ryan family bakery. Do you know The Rolling Pin?"

"Oh, yes." Tallulah was now genuinely amused. "It'll be a milestone anniversary for my parents very soon. They contracted The Rolling Pin to make the cake and sweets for the party."

"What?" Alexis actually pinched herself. "I know this is New York City, but my world just keeps on shrinking."

"Deep breaths, my friend." Tallulah gave her a kind look. "It's okay."

Alexis re-centered herself. She'd finally noticed strip of medical tape on one of Tallulah's cheeks. It kept her feeding tube in place. And… It was decorated in books.

Touching the corresponding part on her own face, Alexis asked, "Do you like to read?

Tallulah lit up. "I do! What about you?"

Alexis laughed nervously. "Uh… I believe the correct word is 'understatement.' In this context."

From there, the conversation turned to all things each mother liked about the current books they were plowing through at home.

Both knew they'd be friends for life now.

Tallulah extended her generosity even further by picking up the bill.

And offering Alexis a lift home. She had a personal chauffeur. And the chauffeur drove an executive van. Quite pleased she had utilized ride-sharing that day, Alexis was happy to tell her yes. Again.

A new family was the last thing Alexis had been expecting that in the café.

But a new friend? Someone else who liked her for who she was? Bonus. One very welcome one.

As they did at the end of every day they were apart, Alexis and Alexandra conversed through video calls. It was their preferred method of communication.

Today? Same as any.

Except for the conversation Alexis began at one point.

"Allie," she said. "I ran into some of yours and Bette's friends at Remy's after I dropped my dad's wallet off."

"Who?" Alexandra tilted her head to the side, conveying curiosity.

"Tallulah Gates Flannery… And her mini-mes."

"Woah. That's wild. How did that even come about?"

Alexis told her everything. Left no stone unturned.

"And then, Tallulah's driver even gave me a lift home in Tallulah's executive van." she said with an ending flourish.

Alexandra shook her head in wonder. "That's crazy. But hey—Alma Jade and Zara Lynn are darlings, huh?"

"Mhm. But…" Alexis arched an eyebrow. "The girls' full names are Alma Jade and Zara Lynn?"

"Correct, but they like being called AJ and Zara best. Lu said once that she and Ronan wanted the kids to have some flair. But also something proper to use when they move into the professional field as adults."

"Wow." Alexis leaned back against the pillows on her bed. "I never thought about that aspect before. Maybe it'll be something to keep in mind for our littlest one."

Alexandra's heart fluttered at the thought. "Indeed. And… Can I let you in on a secret?"

"Yes. Always."

"Joelle and Bijoux told me exactly a week before the Café Incident that they're going to be parents again. I was the first person they told." Alexandra smiled fondly. "And you know that Joelle treats me like her kid. Bijoux does, too. I've known her for most of my life."

"How did they meet?" Alexis wanted to know.

"That is a long story." Alexandra cleared her throat. "Anyway, because of a lost bet… I have total control over naming their kid."

"What an honor. You did so good with choosing Lilibet's name."

Curiously… Alexandra blushed. "Would you help?"

Alexis' heart jumped into her throat. "Wait, really? Do you mean that?"

"Yes." Alexandra now turned confident. "You are my family now."

Alexis' heart skipped a beat. "Then, yes. I will help you come up with a perfect name for their little one. And… Thank you. I love you."

Alexandra replied, "You are very welcome. I love you, too."

Alexis gave her a watery smile, but settled herself. In a swift way. Just one more interest of the day needed to be discussed.

"Allie… Captain Gates told me that Tallulah's tale is hers to share. And that's fine. But…"

Alexandra immediately saw where this was headed. "But Lu's words about how she knows me were coded?"

Alexis nodded. "Mhm. She said that the reasons are unconventional."

"I can tell you right now that Lu is one hundred percent correct." Alexandra answered seriously. "But it has all the world to do with our whole crooked smile situation, why her legs don't work well, and… Even why Sassy has been keeping a medical binder on me for so long."

More questions than ever popped into Alexis' brain, but she reeled herself in. "I eagerly await the day we can all sit down for that chat."

Alexandra laughed. "I have a feeling it will happen soon."

The blonde then studied the redhead. Both knew each other more than well enough that they could read each other's body language. Successfully.

Alexandra pounced when she realized Alexis was tossing around a new thought in her mind. "Please ask me anything. I love to indulge your curiousness."

Alexis now found herself blushing. "Then... Where do you and Bette live? I can't believe I don't know."

"Your question about this was bound to come up, sooner or later." the blonde mused. "We have an abode above The Rolling Pin."

"I beg your pardon?" was all Alexis could manage to this unexpected information.

"It's true: our home is a converted warehouse loft. And the theme? Industrialism. You would love it."

"That is actually the kind of theme I've always wanted for a home of my own." Alexis admitted. "You know something, Allie? I already like the idea. Very much."

Alexandra made a sound of amusement. "Jenny's stepdad came up here from Orlando with his construction team when I was carrying Bette. They fixed this place up."

"Am I to understand that Levi's in construction?"

"Mhm. Jenny doesn't talk about it much, but the O'Malleys have been steeped in money for a very long time."

"Oh?" Alexis was immediately enticed. "Tell me. I won't spill."

"As I understand it, that part of the family has early roots in the Texas oil boom." Alexandra informed her. "Then they moved east to Florida sometime in the twenties."

Incredulously, Alexis asked, "And they didn't get tanked by The Great Depression?"

"It would seem not because the patriarch successfully changed trades to construction. And... They've been thriving ever since."

"How do you remember all that?"

Alexandra shrugged. "My memory's always been long. And I spent a lot of time with Jenny on that trip when we see her kin. Silly though she is, Jenny is also very knowledgeable. I promise you that."

"And I will remember." Alexis re-directed the conversation a bit. "Levi and his team fixed the place up? I bet that must've been a surprise. And a relief?"

"You aren't wrong. I love my parents, but they knew I wouldn't stay in Queens forever. I also had plans to move already. Well before I slept with Bette's dad."

Now Alexandra shifted lanes on her own. This was a conversation she would prefer exploring when Alexis was in her home. Beside her. Content.

"Are you busy on Wednesday afternoon?" she queried instead.

"Not to my knowledge." answered Alexis. "Why?"

Alexandra perked up even more. "Then would you like to tag along to Bette's class at the Gymboree building? We can watch her cover herself with glitter, paint, and feathers. It's what she always does. After that, you can come home to Amethyst Falls with us for dinner."

But Alexis echoed, "Amethyst Falls?"

"Oh." Alexandra laughed. "It's what everyone refers to my place as because until about wintertime each year, the side of the building is covered in amethyst plants and Morning Glorys."

"How enchanting. And the Wednesday plans do sound like great fun. I'm in!"

"Terrific. Bette will be over the moon when I tell her at breakfast."

"Good. That's good…" the redhead's words trailed away as she grew lost in thought.

But Alexandra waited a moment before saying, "Are you good?"

Alexis bobbed her head. "Yeah. I just have a lot on my mind. We'll talk about it on Wednesday. I promise."

Alexandra read the situation. And she chose not to press it. Because she had a strong feeling Alexis was thinking about her living situation. Or something close to it.

"Alright, Alexis." she said kindly. "Then I will sign off. And talk to you tomorrow. I love you. Good night."

Alexandra blew a kiss towards her tablet screen.

"Good night. I love you." Alexis blew a kiss to her girlfriend in return. "Talk with you tomorrow."

As Alexis drifted off to sleep a little bit later, she dreamt of watching her baby take their first steps at Amethyst Falls. Right to Alexandra's grasp. With Lilibet cheering the little one on.

And…

It felt absolutely perfect.