Chapter 94

Ryan laid sprawled out on the couch looking through all the channels in search for something to watch. He was about to give up and settle on some old classic western movie when his attention shifted to his wife coming downstairs, wearing black leggings and a white t shirt, hair piled up in a bun on top of her head she walked towards the couch. He moved up as much as he could and Alex laid down on the space he tried to create for her. The front of her t-shirt had wet water spots on it, evident of the water fight she and Phoebe had during her morning bath. She loved splashing around in the water which resulted in their surroundings being wet and usually also the parent who bathed her.

He kissed the tip of her nose when she laid down on her side facing him wrapping his arm around her. "Phoebe's playing in the bedroom." Alex knew what he was about to ask and answered it before he got to the question. It wasn't always that they got to spend some time alone or just enjoying each other's company.

After the ordeal they had yesterday Alex tried to baby proof the bedroom as much as possible, by putting loose objects that were on her dresser out of reach that might be harmful to their daughter. Although she was still not sure if it would be enough hoping they won't have another repeat of the nine month old hurting herself once again.

"What's the plans you have for today?" Ryan asked and Alex looked up at him with a question mark on her face.

"What are your plans for today?" She asked. It was still early and usually they just spent Sundays together but the way he asked her it seemed like that won't be the case today.

"Caleb, Quade, Clive and I wanted to go paintballing. If that's okay with you. If you'd rather want to do something else I can cancel…"

"No you can go. I need some alone time." Alex smiled looking up at him. Still not sure why is always willing to cancel his plans with the guys when it seemed like she takes too long to answer. Somehow Clive and Nimah found their way back to each other, which everyone is grateful for because it was hell working with Nimah while she was mad at the world.

Their attention shifted again when Phoebe crawled towards the first step. It wasn't the fact that she knew how to get up and down the stairs it was the white cream smeared all over her face and in her hair. Some of it on her jeans and the black shirt with white flowers embroided on the bottom she had on. She stopped in her tracks and looked at her parents before she turned herself around trying to get down.

Ryan looked up with an amused look on his face as Alex jumped up power walking towards the little human who sat back down, smiling, extending her hands up towards her mother to be picked up. Ryan followed shortly after Alex to examine the amount of damage.

"Seriously Phoebe Grace?" Alex asked taking in the state of her bedroom where her daughter played. Alex noticed that she didn't close Phoebe's lotion and she got hold of it because it was on the edge if the bed, and she could reach it.

The container was empty, most of its contents were smeared on the white tiled floor and the other half on Phoebe. The edges of the duvet on the bed were also covered on some and little hand prints on the bedside table on Ryan's side.

"Let's get you cleaned." Ryan walked over to the bathroom undressing her, leaving her in her diaper. Positioning her so he can wash the contents out of her hair. "You had fun didn't you?" He laughed as she squealed when he opened the faucet on a small steady stream of water rinsing her hair. Blinking rapidly babbling away to herself happily.

Alex walked around the bedroom, cleaning the floor and the little handprints on the table. And decided to change the bedding since she might as well get a load of laundry started. Picking up the empty container smiling to herself trying to figure out how her daughter's mind works. If this is what she's doing at this age what will it be like when she starts walking.

Alex checked up on Ryan and Phoebe. The two of them deep in conversation as he dried her hair with the towel, her curls taking shape as it's being dried slowly. "Sorry for doing that, mommy." Ryan said as he turned Phoebe towards Alex who stood in the doorway where he sat on the edge of the tub with his daughter on his lap. Phoebe smiled at her mother and Alex's heart melt at that sight.

Ryan stood up when he was done, Alex extending her arms towards Phoebe but she wasn't planning on coming to her mother. She turned her back towards Alex and climbed up higher onto her father's chest. "Phoebe it's me. Your mother, come to me." Alex pleaded but her daughter refused. "Fine, then." Alex accepted that she was a daddy's girl and there was nothing she could do about it.

They went downstairs, after Phoebe was changed, while Alex finished changing the sheets before joining the two of them. Ryan and Phoebe played peek-a-boo on the couch and Alex was in the kitchen making a sandwich. Ryan's phone buzzed briefly interrupting the game with his daughter while he was on the phone. From the one sided conversation Alex could make out that he was about to leave soon for his paintballing session with the guys.

He got up a few minutes later walking over towards Alex. Taking a bite of the sandwich in her hand as he handed Phoebe over. "See you later." He kissed her forehead and pressed a kiss on Phoebe's cheek. Showing how unhappy she is when she saw her father walk towards the front door her bottom lip started poking out as she started to cry. Ryan turned around halfway and she held her hands out towards her father, cries subsiding replaced by little sobs when he took her.

"Hey, please don't cry. I'll be back later. I promise." He tried to reason with his daughter wiping her face with his hand. Her blue eyes glistening with unshed tears but she managed a smile through it as he kissed her continuously while she laughed.

Trying the process of saying goodbye again for the second time hoping it would be different but she started crying again when Alex took her.

"She'll be fine. Go." Alex tried to reassure her husband who didn't like the idea of leaving their daughter as distraught as she was right now. If she thought Phoebe was a daddy's girl earlier these actions proved that she certainly is.

Alex heard him back out of the driveway. She set Phoebe down with her bottle and she settled down, rolling the empty bottle around on the floor when its contents were done. Her phone rung and it took her a minute to locate the device before she answered.

"Hey Shelb…"

"Alex please come over. CJ's crying and I've tried everything I could to make him stop but it's not working. Caleb's not here and Claire met up with a friend. I just don't know what to do anymore." Shelby rambled, calling her best friend was her last option.

"All right, you got it. I'll be over in a bit." Alex said and grabbed her purse and Phoebe's diaper bag and some toys, before picking up her daughter and settling her in her car seat. Driving off towards her friend's house.

Shelby paced around in her bedroom with CJ in her arms trying to soothe him but nothing worked. Out of frustration she set him back down in the crib her own tears falling because she doesn't know what to do anymore.

"CJ please just stop crying my boy." She pleaded looking over the crib at the squirming crying baby, when she heard the door open and Alex calling out, as she walked over to the bedroom with Phoebe settled on her hip.

"Thank you for coming. I don't know what's wrong with him. I've tried everything Claire does and showed me but nothing is helping." Shelby cried as she explained it to Alex. Her eyes red rimmed with tears, hair tied in a low ponytail.

Alex set Phoebe down on the floor and walked over to the crib. "Okay, go downstairs I'll see what I can do." She ordered and Shelby nodded grateful for her friend's help. Smiling down at her god daughter, before she went downstairs like Alex ordered.

"Hey baby. What's wrong? Why are you so sad today?" Alex asked the baby boy as she picked him up. She checked his diaper, and felt for a temperature. Before she walked around the bedroom trying to soothe him by giving him his pacifier. It took her about ten minutes until before he settled down and fell asleep in her arm.

"You do know sleep is the easiest thing in the world you can do right? You just have to close your eyes." She smiled down at how peaceful he is sleeping right now, looking like someone who can't cry as loudly as he did a few minutes ago.

She picked Phoebe up who was playing on the floor walking downstairs to check on Shelby. Sitting on the couch hugging a scatter cushion. "Is he okay?" She asked when Alex and Phoebe came downstairs heading towards her.

"Yeah, seems like he was just fighting sleep." Alex smiled looking at her friend.

"I didn't even greet you Phoebe. I'm sorry baby." Shelby kissed her goddaughters head and ruffled her curls that stuck out from her pink headband.

"Thank you Alex. I didn't know who else to call. Caleb and Claire went out, and I wanted to show them I can do this but I had no idea how hard it would be. I don't know how you it. Being a working mother, taking care of Phoebe and your husband. You make it look so easy." Shelby said looking over at Alex who shook her head at the comment.

"First of all we've all been where you were today, trust me I felt like a terrible mother yesterday. I was cleaning the bathroom and Phoebe played in the bedroom. She fell and hit the side of the drawer trying to stand up. Resulting in a cut on her eyebrow." Alex pointed to the minimal scar on her daughter.

"And just when I thought it was done and we'll have a calm morning. Ryan and I were on the couch this morning when she smeared her lotion all over herself and the floor and the duvet." Alex laughed reminiscing about the events that happened this morning.

"So no, it's not always easy and for some reason she seems to be more attached to her father than to me, but in the end it's all worth it." She looked at her blonde best friend.

Alex got up making tea for the two of them while Shelby and Phoebe played with a monkey and a princess teddy bear. Phoebe laughing in delight at the voices Shelby made when delivering a dialogue when the princess spoke.

Hey guys! I got another light bulb moment and the next few chapters will have a bit of family drama before we get back to FBI life. A *guest* reviewer said they enjoy family chapters, so here's another one for you! Hope you're still enjoying the story and I'm looking forward to share the next few chapters with you! Thanks for reading

Lovies-S