Alexis departed Amethyst Falls after breakfast. Returned home. To the loft. But... it was to find herself puzzled now.

Kate was home. During work hours.

The older woman lit up when she saw her friend. Waved her over to where she sat at the breakfast nook.

"Good morning." Kate said cheerfully as she set aside a book she'd been looking at. "Did you have fun with your family?"

"I did. And a lot of it." replied Alexis before giving Kate a closer look. "Hey… How are you home right now?"

Kate sighed. "Our whole division is getting a paint job. Literally. Captain Gates ordered everyone home who is at risk from the fumes. Now... I'm here. For at least three days."

"Got it." Alexis chuckled. "Then does everybody know that you're pregnant now?"

Kate glided her knuckles against her midsection. "Yep. It's all getting real now."

The teenager nodded before casting a look at the book that Kate had been perusing. It was old, worn, held together at the spine with layers (or perhaps decades) of Scotch tape. And… What caught Alexis' attention the most was that the title was not in English.

She tapped the book. "Forgive the pun, Kate, but… What's the story here?"

"It's a book of Grimm's fairytales. Everything is in Russian." Kate beamed. "According to Beckett family lore, my mom found it in a bookshop when she was pregnant with me. And read them aloud. In her first language. She was born in the states but English was not the first language that Johanna learned to speak."

Quite promptly, Alexis was taken aback by this last piece of information. She'd learned tidbits about Johanna Beckett over the years. But never anything like an origin story.

"Where was Johanna from?" Alexis wanted to know.

"Brighton Beach. Her parents moved there from a little neighborhood in Moscow, four months before she was born, since that area of our fair city has a big Russian population." Kate explained. "Russian was her first language. And her favorite. Mom was extremely proud to be bilingual."

"Outstanding." Alexis marveled. "Speaking of things like first languages, did you know that the Ryans converse regularly converse in Gaelic? All of them?"

"No. I didn't know that." Kate admitted. "Jenny, too?"

"Mhm. It's the family's first language, since the matriarch and patriarch are from Ireland. Everyone is proficient." Alexis went on. "The kids appear to pick it up through osmosis. I find it fascinating. And every person that marries in is taught."

Kate shook her head in wonder. "I noticed Alexandra and Lilibet speaking to each other in Gaelic. The little one even used Gaelic terms on Rick and Martha. I was impressed. Think she'd be interested in learning Russian?"

Here, Alexis gave an emphatic nod. "One hundred percent. And... That girl would worship you."

Kate smiled, but voiced a different thought. "What's it like? To be a mom?"

"Need I remind you that you already have me?" said Alexis, feeling amused. "There is also my little brother or sister..."

"Correct. But you have a kid at an in-between stage now. That is the part I don't know anything about."

Relenting, Alexis turned thoughtful. "It's the best. And we lucked out with Bette. She's patient, lovey-dovey, smart, and just very kind. Little one started calling me 'mommy' all on her own."

Kate nodded. "I remember that, from when they stayed over. Lilibet loves you."

"She does. Very much." Alexis' giddiness grew. "And I love her like she grew in my body."

"Wow, Alexis." marveled Kate. "Is she aware?"

At once, Alexis recalled snuggling with Lilibet at breakfast before for answering, "Yes. She looks up to me, and she talks at me in Gaelic when she's very focused on something. Or super excited. I don't have the heart to tell her that I don't understand most of it. Thank God for context."

"Indeed. But… I think this is Lilibet's way of teaching you something new."

"Mhm. But I love it. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. Not ever." Alexis grinned fondly. "And I have a lot of plans for things to each her. But… You know what melts me?"

"Do tell." Kate encouraged.

"My daughter hasn't a mean bone in her body. She has moments where she behaves ill-mannered, like any regular kid. I would be worried if she didn't." said Alexis. "But… According to Allie, Bette thinks the world of me. It's a lot of responsibility. Even at that… I wouldn't change a thing. She even grows overjoyed whenever I walk into a room. The cherry on top? Bette is completely elated about the baby."

"Wow, Alexis. I am so happy for you. Everything you're telling me is just amazing. It will only go froward from here. Truly."

Alexis' grin was now at its broadest. "Of course... I'm still figuring things out, of course, but I think I'm still only just scratching the surface."

"Amazing." Kate said again but in a murmur. "Just amazing."

Then she straightened up. Gave Alexis' hand a gentle pat. It seemed she was redirecting the conversation for her own benefit. But… Alexis was happily patient. Anything for Kate.

"Do you have any plans for today?" Kate asked her.

"Nope. Why?"

"I was thinking, that maybe after lunch, we can go shopping. Make an outing of it? Just you and me? This one," Kate pointed to her middle. "Is giving me cause to update my wardrobe. Pronto. Last night, I dreamt there was more than one in there."

Alexis laughed when Kate immediately wrapped her knuckles against the wooden tabletop.

"I guess that one will be up to the heavens… or… whomever." remarked the redhead. "But I am game for lunch and shopping. Do you have a plan for what meal to make?"

"Nice try." Kate checked her watch. "It's hardly ten-fifteen."

Alexis rolled her eyes. "Oh, alright. Where's Gram? The studio?"

"Mhm. I think the latest is that she's making the loft above it livable." Kate told her. "And Rick? He's been the Black Pawn Publishing building. For awhile. He said he will probably be there for most of the day. Getting ready for his book tour."

"Oh." Alexis gave a heavy exhale. "Okay. I understand."

Kate said, "Everything alright? We know he's going to be gone on your twentieth…"

"Actually... I talked through those feelings with Alexandra last night. She's a great listener. But I just didn't expect to have to deal with the real thing so soon." Alexis shrugged. "But I'm also happy for his good fortune."

The teenager leaned back in her chair. Became somewhat wistful.

"Gram's having really good fortune, dad is, you are, and even I am. Now my heart is full. But still…"

Kate looked at her curiously. "What is it?"

"I won't pretend that I'm in a fairytale, or something. Alexandra also won't. It isn't her way." Alexis tied her hair up with a hair tie from one pocket. "But… If my mom comes back and causes trouble… Would you protect us?"

Kate's heart broke that Alexis felt the need to ask such a question. Her innocence had been stolen because of what happened in Paris. And she remembered being worried sick about her. She had always cared for Alexis. Always.

But… Paris… That was the first time when Kate finally, truly felt it. Motherly love towards Alexis. And... Recent events had stirred the feelings up even more. Alexis knew it. And also that the two of them had a unique bond. One that both of them treasured. Greatly.

"Oh, Alexis." Kate rose to her feet and kissed her on the top of her head. "I will protect you. And Alexandra. And Lilibet. And your littlest one. Forever. No matter what. That is a promise I intend to keep. They're the family that you've waited your entire life to meet. Just like you are the daughter I waited forever and a day for."

Kate hugged Alexis where she sat. It was not lost on the detective that Alexis did not have a great track record with stepmothers. She had no idea how to be one. And she was learning on the fly. Just like Alexis was learning with Lilibet. Still… she would be damned if she didn't try to comfort her. To do so was kind. Loving. Motherly.

"I will protect you whenever the need arises. And your family." Kate murmured to Alexis, hugging her even more. "Just breathe. All you have to do is breathe."