Addie laughed as Robert jumped through the rubber ring in the pool. "Me next!" she squealed.
"Wait until he's clear," Alex advised. "Okay, Bug, you can go now." She watched as their daughter leapt joyfully into the water. She turned to Jane. "Those two are inseparable," she laughed.
Jane grinned. She was so pleased that Robert had made such a good friend in Addie. And she and Maura were really enjoying being part of their extended friendship group. They hadn't been in National City for long, having made the move after the death of her partner Barry Frost. Jane had tried to continue at the precinct in Boston, but she found it too hard. So when she was offered the job with the NCPD just after Maura got pregnant with baby Michael, she had leapt at the chance.
Jane and Maura had taken a while to settle, and only really started to feel at home when Jane's mother Angela decided to make the move too. Jane always pretended to be irritated by her overbearing Italian mother, but in truth she loved her dearly, and she was a wonderful mother-in-law and grandmother. And now things were good; they were making new friends in National City, Maura had gone back to work part-time, and their six-year-old son was making friends.
"Addie's been great for Bobby," Jane told Alex. "And they've got so much in common. They like all the same things, and Addie's about the only one with enough energy to keep up with him!"
Ellie brought over a beer for Jane, and a sparkling water for Alex. Jane smiled at her. "Is Maura still in the studio?"
Ellie nodded proudly. She knew that Maura was a real art expert, and she was so proud that she always wanted to look around Aoife's studio with her. The art world was really sitting up and taking notice of Aoife's talent, and Ellie couldn't be happier about it. Aoife was showing Maura the piece she was currently working on, a nude bust of Ellie. It was a piece that she would never sell, but one that Aoife said she had to finish before she worked on anything else. "It's … it's like I've got to get it … out," Aoife had struggled to explain it to Ellie. "I have to do it, before I can do anything else. I need to get it out of my brain," she had said, with a small laugh.
Maura was stunned by the emotion contained in Aoife's latest sculpture. "The maturity in your work... it's astounding," she told a blushing Aoife. "I've been following your career, and just in the last 18 months or so, your style has really changed. You were always good, but now … I can't think of anyone else on the contemporary art scene who's even in the same league as you."
Aoife went bright red, and snorted, self-deprecatingly. "I'm serious," Maura said. "You could name your price with this piece," she touched the sculpture reverently.
Aoife shook her head. "I'm never selling that. I'm not even sure I'll even show it."
Maura nodded understandingly. "You really love her," she said, softly.
"More than air," Aoife's voice shook when she realized how true that was.
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"So how long to go?" Jane nodded at Alex's belly.
"Just over six weeks," Alex smiled.
"So everything hurts like hell, and you can't wait for it to be over," Jane smiled, in fond memory of Maura's last couple of months in each pregnancy. She also remembered Maura's heightened libido. "Are you … enjoying yourself too?"
Jane's grin was too much for Alex, and she spluttered on her water. She looked up and saw the devilish grin on the detective's face. "Oh yeah," she admitted. "We're having a great time," she looked over, and saw Maggie diving into the pool. "I just wish she wasn't in lycra right now. She's not making it easy for me," she laughed.
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"I'm not ready," Aoife said sharply to her agent. While her last exhibition had focused mostly on her paintings, her agent Sarah now wanted her to mount a separate, sculpture-only show.
"I know you're not yet," Sarah held the phone steady, not wanting to irritate her client – and friend. "But maybe you can start thinking along those lines. That latest sculpture, it's … well, it's incredible. If you can do more of that quality..."
"That one's private," Aoife had made a decision. "And you know me, Sarah. I can't do things to a plan. I just have to go where my hands take me. I'm doing some seascapes right now. The sea, it's … I don't know. During that last storm, it was so beautiful. Beautiful and wild and powerful."
"But if you did more sculptures, we could..."
"I'm sorry," Aoife was firm. "I can't work like that. I'm not that kind of artist."
"You do know that if we manage your career properly, you could be a multi-millionaire before you're 30? Maybe even by 25?" Sarah pressed.
"But that's not why I do it. We're doing okay. We're doing really well, in fact. The house is paid for, we've each got a car. We don't need a lavish lifestyle. I like what we've got. So does Ellie."
"I'm worried that she might be holding you back," Sarah spoke before she thought it through.
"My wife is not holding me back," Aoife was pissed now. "My wife is my inspiration. I wouldn't be able to do any of this without her. And the last thing she wants is to hold me back. She offered to move to New York, for my career. But I don't want to. I want to stay here, with my wife, with our family, our friends. I want our kids to grow up here, and to be part of our community. And if I never sell another piece, I'm fine with that."
Aoife was shaking when she hung up the phone. Ellie had only heard half of the conversation, but she had gathered most of what had been said. She approached her from behind, and held her softly, her chin resting on Aoife's shoulder. Aoife closed her eyes, as she tried to contain the tears. Aoife turned in her arms to face her. She lifted her hand to Ellie's cheeks and stroked it softly. She was loving the small piercing that Ellie had recently had placed in her eyebrow. As Ellie settled more and more into her personal style, she became more confident of who she was as a person, which made her even more attractive to Aoife. Aoife couldn't imagine ever wanting to be with anyone but Ellie.
"What can I do?" Ellie asked softly. She guessed that Aoife didn't want to talk any more.
Aoife kissed her deeply, quickening as the kiss intensified and their tongues gently caressed each other. Ellie was the best kisser. "Take me upstairs," Aoife asked in a quiet voice.
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"Danvers!" Maggie was appalled to that her voice came out as a high squeak. But Alex had cornered her in her office, and she knew that the corridor cameras could see part-way in.
"Oh c'mon, babe," Alex pleaded. "It won't take long. I'm so wound up. I'll bet it only takes you a couple of minutes."
"Not here," Maggie hissed. She looked at her watch. "Your quarters. Fifteen minutes. I'll meet you there."
Kara chuckled when she saw Alex returning to her lab after her short 'break' at lunchtime. She had tried not to engage her super-hearing, but she couldn't completely block everything out, even though she had donned her glasses, earning an odd look from J'onn, who had never seen her wear the glasses with her super suit.
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Jane was starting to get anxious. She knew when Maura was hiding something from her, and her mind was going to all manner of dark places. So she arranged a babysitter, and took Maura to their favorite Italian restaurant, where they would be guaranteed a quiet table with no interruptions.
They enjoyed their meal, and Jane was pleased to see Maura relax, and some of her old spark returned. Still, she couldn't help worrying.
At the end of the meal, as Maura sipped her cognac and Jane savored her single-malt whiskey, Jane plucked up the courage to bring up her worries. She reached for Maura's hand.
"Maur. I wish you'd talk to me."
Maura looked startled. "I've been talking to you all evening."
"About what it is that's upset you. What you're worried about. I can tell you're anxious. Are you sick? Is there something I should know?"
Maura squeezed her hand. "I'm fine," she said firmly. She looked at Jane's face. So trusting. So loving. So worried. She hated that she had put that worried look there. She squeezed her fingers. "I'm not sick. I swear. I've never been healthier," she saw Jane relax, infinitesimally. "And there's nothing wrong, Jane. There isn't. We have an amazing life," involuntarily she gave a small smile, at the thought of their two boys who had brought so much joy into their lives.
"So what is it, Maur?" Jane asked, softly. "You can tell me anything. We can talk about anything."
"I don't want to put more pressure on you. You're so busy with that new case. And you have so little time, and we're..."
"Tell me," Jane interrupted.
Maura looked into her eyes. "It's just an idea. And you can say no."
Jane nodded, encouragingly.
"I think I want another child," Maura's voice was tiny.
Jane stared at her. And then she let out a bark of laughter. "Is that IT?" she asked, relief flooding through her.
Maura nodded, not sure what Jane's reaction meant.
Jane leant forward and kissed her very softly. She sat back and looked at her, both of Maura's hands in her own. "I thought something was wrong," she let out a huge sigh of relief. "Maura, I can't think of anything I'd like more than another child with you."
Maura stared. And then she smiled. And then a large tear slid down her cheek.
Jane wiped the tear away with her thumb. "I'm still not carrying," Jane warned, darkly. She knew there was no need to say that – Maura adored being pregnant.
Maura smiled weakly.
"One condition," Jane said. "We use your egg this time. If we have a little girl, I want her to be just like you."
For Robert, they had used one of Jane's eggs, and Maura's for Michael, so they already had one of each.
"If you're sure that's what you want."
Jane nodded. "We could end up with a third boy," she warned with a small laugh.
"I don't care," Maura replied. "It would be nice to have a girl, but I'd still be really happy with a boy."
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Winn backed up. He had never managed to develop an immunity to Alex's glare. But he so wanted to protect her from this. "You should talk to J'onn."
"I'm talking to you," Alex said, her tone dark and threatening.
Winn knew he would never win this one. "Okay, but I want Maggie here too," he compromised. Alex nodded, and sent a quick text.
Four minutes later, Maggie arrived. She saw the dark look on Alex's face. She also knew that Alex had had a bad morning; morning sickness was now, fortunately, relatively rare for Alex, but today she had been unlucky.
"Maybe you should sit, babe?" Maggie didn't want to stress Alex out by fussing, but she was pale and, now, anxious. Alex nodded briefly, and sat.
Winn took a deep breath. "You know we can pick up different radiation signatures, right?"
Alex nodded. Of course she did. She was the one who had programmed the whole system.
"Well, I've been doing some work on your Dad's radiation signature," Maggie saw Alex stiffen as Winn spoke. She put a soft hand on her shoulder.
"I didn't think we could isolate it, but we found a piece of his robotic arm in the gun room. So that means I can be 99% sure if we come across a certain signature on the spectrum that it's him. Or at least somebody with the exact same technology."
"Get to the point," Alex tried to keep her voice strong. Maggie wasn't fooled.
"He's back in National City," Winn replied. "And he's been within 800 metres of the DEO. We only found that out afterwards. After," he winced, "we took a radio mic away from Lilian Luthor."
"What?" Alex's voice was icy. "When did that happen?"
"We found the mic four days ago. J'onn told me not to tell you."
Alex stood up sharply, and took a step toward him. It was only when she swayed that Maggie realized how badly everything was affecting her. Maggie was instantly at her side; she stood supportively so Alex could get her balance without losing her dignity.
"I'll take it from here, Agent Schott," J'onn's voice came from behind them.
Winn nodded gratefully. "I'm just gonna .. replace the … thing in the mainframe."
J'onn nodded, as Winn scuttled away.
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"I'm taking her home," Maggie explained to a worried Kate. Alex was pale, and in shock, and Maggie just wanted to get her home in the warm.
"We can take Addie, after school," Kate offered. "Kara can pick her up, and she can stay the night with us. If that's okay?"
"It's perfect," Maggie breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll Skype her, once Alex is asleep."
Alex was docile and didn't argue, which made Maggie worry more. They were only 200 metres away from their house when Alex turned white. "Pull over," she said, thickly. The car was still slowing when Alex threw the door open and emptied her stomach onto the asphalt. In seconds, Maggie was out of the car and at her side, supporting her as she dry-heaved painfully for long minutes.
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Kara was relieved when Maggie answered the door. "Addie's fine," she reassured her. "Kate's just read her stories, and she's asleep. I wanted to check on Alex."
Maggie's worried face told her more than Maggie intended. "She's okay," Maggie sounded doubtful. "She's in bed. She's not asleep yet, but she's much more settled. Come in, you can see her yourself."
"I don't want to disturb her," Kara sounded doubtful.
Maggie smiled wanly. She put a hand on her arm. "There will never be a time when Alex won't benefit from a visit from her sister."
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"You've only got four weeks to go," Maggie reminded Alex gently, as she retrieved her gun from the safe the following morning. "You said you'd start your maternity leave today."
Alex's face was like thunder. "That was before my father betrayed me. Again. He's going to try and break Lilian out. I have to stop him."
"WE have to stop him," Maggie said, keeping her voice even. She didn't want to antagonize Alex. "We've got the whole team on it, babe. I mean it, this isn't good for you. Or the baby," Maggie knew that was a low blow, but she would do anything to keep Alex safe. Alex had barely slept, and she had failed to hide her shaking hands from Maggie.
"Nobody knows him like I do," Alex said firmly, as she checked and loaded her gun.
"Kara does."
Alex shook her head. "Not as well as I do. I'm going in Maggie. You can't stop me. I need to talk to J'onn, formulate a plan."
"But Alex," Maggie started.
Alex turned and looked at her properly for the first time. She softened when she realized that Maggie was genuinely concerned for her. "We'll just make plans," she touched Maggie's arm gently. "I won't go in the field. I swear. But there are things that I know that could help. I'm sorry, babe, but I won't be able to relax here anyway."
Maggie nodded. "Okay," she agreed reluctantly. "But you're not leaving the DEO."
"Deal," Alex smiled. She tried not to wince when the baby delivered a strong kick.
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Ellie didn't understand what was happening, when the middle-aged perp somehow lifted her into the air, one-handed, and flung her violently against the wall. She felt a sickening crunch, and then her world went black.
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"He's on the loose," Winn was panting as he ran up to J'onn. "He's attacked four police officers, one dead, two injured, one managed to get away and raise the alarm. He's crazy."
J'onn nodded. "Get a team to protect the mainframe," he realized that that was the Achilles Heel of the DEO. If Jeremiah managed to break in and disable the shields using the mainframe, it would be virtually impossible to keep Lilian in her cell. J'onn picked up his radio to update Alex on events.
Alex strode out of her lab toward the underground mainframe, and then her heart stopped. At the end of the dark corridor, she saw her father. He had his robotic arm around Maggie's neck, and a gun to her head. Maggie was barely conscious and bleeding.
Maggie looked up groggily, to see her heavily pregnant wife about 30 metres away. "Go, Alex," she called, weakly. "He'll kill you," she realized the truth of that statement when Jeremiah pointed his gun toward Alex. "He's not the man you knew," she gasped when his arm jerked around her neck, sending shards of pain down her spine. She thought she might vomit.
"Agent Danvers," Jeremiah's voice was twisted. "How good to see you. Your little bitch of a wife is here for you," he jerked at Maggie again, and she let out an involuntary moan. He pointed his gun at Maggie's head again. "As soon as I send the signal, they'll storm the DEO. We have the technology to lower the shields. So there's no need for me to keep her alive," his eyes glinted with evil.
Maggie knew she had only a split second to act. She prayed that Alex would work seamlessly with her as she always had done. This was her father, though. However this turned out, Alex would never recover fully. Maggie drove her elbow into Jeremiah's solar plexus and, as the unfit man loosened his hold, she forced herself half out of his grip. In the split second that she had a clear shot, Alex pulled the trigger.
Alex's legs gave way, and she sank to the floor, unseeing. Her brain refused to process what had just happened.
Maggie forced herself to her feet, stumbling toward her wife. When she touched Alex's hand, she found it icy and clammy. Alex reached out a shaky hand, and touched Maggie's face.
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"I'm FINE," Maggie was furious. She just wanted to get out. She needed to find Alex.
Dr. Hamilton eyed her. "No," she said, mildly. "You're not. You have a concussion, and a fractured elbow. I know," she held up a hand as Maggie started to protest. "You need to be with her. Of course you do," her voice was gentle, understanding. "She's still here. She's in her quarters. Her sister is with her. And Sergeant Collins," she opened the door to admit Kate, who was standing behind a wheelchair, "will take you to her, as long as you swear to let her push you there. And you both need to stay here overnight, though you can stay in her quarters. We'll reassess in the morning."
Maggie nodded, and then wished she hadn't, as her head spun and pounded viciously.
Kate pushed Maggie to the elevator; once they were in and she had pushed the button, she rested a soft hand on Maggie's shoulder. She didn't bother to speak; the last thing Maggie needed was pointless small-talk.
Alex lay in the bed, staring sightlessly at the wall. Kara sat in the chair next to her, holding her limp hand. Kara looked up and the relief on her face when she saw Maggie was unmistakeable.
"We'll be just next door," Kara told her softly. "Call if we can do anything at all to help."
"Addie?" Maggie's voice was weaker than she had expected, and it pissed her off.
"Maura picked her up. She's staying with them tonight."
When the door clicked shut, Maggie touched Alex's face very gently. Alex stared at her, taking in her pinched features and strapped arm. "You're hurt," Alex's voice was rough.
"Nothin' serious," Maggie promised.
Alex shuffled back a bit, and lifted the quilt in invitation. Maggie shed her boots, pants and overshirt. She slid into bed next to Alex. She was shocked to feel that Alex's skin felt clammy. Her wife was still in shock. Carefully, she guided Alex into her arms, taking care not to jostle her elbow. Alex's soft skin against her own made her want to weep. How would Alex ever get over this?