Chapter 139

"How about we go do some shopping later today, bub?" Alex asked her daughter where the two of them laid on the bed, while Ryan is in the shower. Phoebe was busy holding both her feet in her hands, feeling too amused by her so called gymnastic tricks to even pay attention to her mother who is asking her a question.

"Are you not going to work today?" Ryan asked when he came out of the shower and walked into the bedroom seeing his wife still in bed. "No, Phoebe has a doctor's appointment for a check up to see if all her shots are up to date. And then we're going to do some shopping, right bub?" Alex asked again and Phoebe nodded looking up at her father. "Oh taking the day off and leaving me alone, I see how it is." Ryan moaned walking over to the closet to get some clothes.

"Aaauuww we'll bring you something." Alex smiled hoping that would be enough of a consolation to make her husband feel better. "That's not even working." He shook his head laying his clothes on the bed, Phoebe taking advantage of the situation as she inspects the clothes turning it around in her hands. "You're really not coming in to work today?" Ryan asked walking over to the bed kissing his daughter retrieving the shirt from her hands. "No Ryan. What's going on with you today? It's not like you'll even notice it when I'm not there." Alex explained not knowing why her husband is acting like the two of them always see each other at work, which isn't really the case.

Alex offered to make him breakfast as a peace offering. Not really in the mood to cook anything Alex went through this in her head and warmed some milk, getting out a cereal bowl and a box of cereal leaving it on the counter, seeing him come down the stairs with Phoebe. "Breakfast!" Alex announced in time with the microwave beeping indicating that the milk was warm enough. "It's the thought that counts." She retorted, seeing the smirk on Ryan's face as this was the least he expected. "Not glamorous, but at least you warmed the milk." He shrugged putting Phoebe down. "You're welcome." She kissed the side of his head about to get herself ready for the day.

Phoebe and her mother made their way to the doctor's office, to get her checked out. Everything was up to date and she was growing healthily like the toddler that she is. After their appointment they didn't have much to do and looking at the time Alex could actually still go to work, but she decided against it. She took the day off to spend with her daughter and that is exactly what she is about to do. "Now for that shopping we were talking about earlier." Alex said when they got into the parking lot, putting Phoebe in the car and securing her in the baby seat before driving away.

Feeling a surge of thankfulness whenever she's at the shopping center and there is a reserved spot for mothers and babies in the parking lot. The car seat to prove it and the baby on board sticker in the back window. But she has to admit that even when Phoebe isn't in the car she still takes advantage of the parking space closest to the entrance.

"Come on." Alex lifted her out and they made their way inside, grateful for the quiet day it was since it was in the middle of the week and not many people were playing hooky like she and Phoebe was. Since the little miss could walk and Alex didn't get a cart to put her in yet, she insisted on walking. This resulted in Alex having to walk at Phoebe's pace as she kept her daughter's hand. Making it impossible to walk fast, because Phoebe turned into any shop that had something colorful in the window that caught her eye.

"Okay. Let's go." Alex decided when ten minutes felt like half an hour, and she picked Phoebe up. The two of them walking into a baby store. Taking another chance she put her daughter down on the floor as she was looking for two very specific items. Maybe three, although she was a little skeptical about the third. Trying to do all this while keeping an eye on her daughter at the same time.

Alex got the things she wanted, smiling to herself at the little plan she had going on in her head. Finishing their trip to the mall, they got into the car and was just about to back out when she got a text on her phone.

Meeting at the usual place since you're skipping work today.

"And we have a lunch date with your crazy aunts. You up for it bub?" Alex asked looking at her daughter in the rearview mirror who smiled at her mother, and she took that statement as a yes.

Pulling up in front of the coffee shop, Nimah, Natalie and Shelby were already sitting outside at a table, one spot open as they waited for her to join. "And Phoebe's bunking school also." Nimah commented when they got out of the car, standing up and hugging her friend handing Phoebe over to Nimah as she hugged the other two. Phoebe looked up at Nimah and pointed to the slice of chocolate cake that was on the plate in front of her. "Why not chose a healthier option?" Alex asked giving her daughter's bottle over the table to Nimah. Taking off the cap and handing it to Phoebe who slapped it away viciously. "No." Came her short reply as she's turning her head in all directions to avoid having the bottle place in her mouth. "Okay, then we give you what you want." Nimah decided scooping up a small piece of cake as Phoebe opened her mouth, eating happily.

"This is exactly why I don't trust her with any of you." Alex said pointing towards Nimah and Natalie who were seated opposite her. "Why do we have a lunch meeting?" Alex asked when the waiter came up to them taking Alex's order as they already ordered her cake. "Coffee please." Alex said warmly, "or no scratch that, strawberry milkshake, double thick." She added and the waiter nodded walking off to get her order. "Are you and the special agent fighting again, because that's the only time you're hanging yourself on sweet treats." Natalie started, feeding Phoebe some red velvet cake of her plate.

"No judging." Alex groaned laying her head on the table waiting for all of them to agree before she started telling them. "I don't hear anything." She said in her mom voice, and like a choir all three her friends repeated "no judging" in unison, Phoebe laughing loudly at their scouts honor.

"You guys know we're trying to get pregnant right? And I'd really like a boy this time around when it eventually comes to it." She paused glancing around the table as they listened to her. Phoebe more into Natalie's red velvet cake than Nimah's as she made her way over to Natalie who continued feeding her. "So, I was researching ways that could determine your baby's sex, and they have the most horrible food on the planet. Ryan and I have been trying it for about a week now, but it is so awful that I sneakily ate ice cream for breakfast one morning." She admitted smiling broadly when her pink milkshake made an appearance.

"Do you think Ryan enjoys it?" Shelby asks and Alex shrugged.

"I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if he's just putting up a brave face to please me."

"Would you like a baby brother Phoebe?" Natalie asked and Phoebe shook her head, leaving the grown -ups laughing. "That's been her response since we started talking about it." Alex said hoping she'll come to like the role of big sister, one day

Caleb walked into Ryan's office, not bothering to knock as he put down a take out meal. A really saucy burger and some fries. Making himself comfortable on the opposite side of the table, putting his feet on the desk "You're welcome, grandpa" Caleb said digging into his own meal, Ryan settling in to prepare for a nice meal, one he hasn't had in some time.

"So, what's up with you eating like one who hasn't eaten in weeks." Caleb asks and Ryan sighs heavily.

"I love my wife. I really really do." Ryan started. "Oh boy this is about to get interesting." Caleb smiled dangling a piece of tomato he retrieved from the burger over his mouth as his head is tilted backwards.

"Anyway." Ryan dismissed before continuing, "she has us on this really bad green salad, steamed food diet for at least a week, because apparently that will help us conceive a boy." Ryan said seeing a frown on Caleb's forehead that made it look like he had no idea what Ryan was talking about.

"That's messed up." Caleb said when he eventually recovered from his silent state of trying to make sense of it all, as Ryan nodded.

"And worst of all, I don't have the heart to tell her that I hate every minute of it. The first night when we started it I offered to do dishes just so I could eat the leftover chicken. And I had Ramen Noodles, like a student!" Ryan said this out loud for the first time not realizing how bizarre it would sound as Caleb tried to stifle a laugh. "Well good luck to you man. I make you a deal." Caleb said removing his feet from the table and gathering their empty packaging. "I'll bring you lunch every day until Alex is pregnant. Sounds like you're eating prison food at home." The blonde laughed opening the door, Ryan throwing a crumpled up napkin in his direction as Caleb closed the door behind him.

After their lunch, they all departed. Alex and Phoebe sitting in the car when her heart suddenly starts beating faster when a rather familiar looking face walks past the car into the coffee shop, the guy waving at her friendly and she returning the smile and wave. Getting out her phone she dials Simon's number quickly wanting to tell him she saw Mr. Muscle. They never knew his name but Simon always had a crush on the guy that was so bad that he even ended up knowing what the guy ordered, which in turn resulted in the same thing Simon ordered whenever they came to this café, or that was his request that they should bring him when the girls met up here.

Excited she put the phone to her ear and realization hit. "Dammit Asher." She swore softly laying her head on the steering wheel. "I miss you on these days." She whispered, taking a few deep breaths as she composed herself before pulling away driving home.

She stopped in the driveway and got the sleeping Phoebe out, and their shopping bags on the second trip. Laying her down on the couch, mouth dirty with chocolate that Shelby gave her when it was her turn. Her head turned to one side, one hand tangled in her head she slept peacefully. Alex smiled at the image of her daughter, taking a picture she sent it to her husband with the caption: sugar- wasted.

My kind of perfect. Came his reply making her smile. She really was their kind of perfect, mood swings, non- veggie eater and all.

Hey guys! Its been a while. Here's another one that I hope you enjoyed. I changed the picture of the story not sure if it's showing yet, because I didn't get notified by the site. Someone requested a chapter where both Ryan and Alex hate the diet but doesn't want to tell each other about it. I mentioned it a couple of times, but I feel this chapter is an all -rounder on the whole diet plan. Thank you for reading.

Lovies-S