The sun was beginning to set as the Alex, Maggie and Zack set out for the pre-dinner walk. The weather was perfect for pants and T-shirt. There were a few gusts of wind here and there but nothing too crazy.
"Be careful Zack!" Alex yelled as Zack ran a head of them on the path to the beach.
Alex and Maggie walked side by side. They watched as Zack played with the sand, picking up rocks and shells and throwing them towards the water.
"Can you believe in a couple months we will be back here to getting married?" Maggie said.
"I can't wait, all this planning is a bit over the top. I love Kara to death but I don't think she grasps the idea of a simple wedding."
Maggie laughed, "Can you imagine what Lena and Kara's wedding is going to look like. The seats will feel too expensive to sit on."
"You think they're going to get married?"
"They seem perfect for each other and besides they're both totally smitten it's gross."
Alex looks out to the water, "If someone told me a year ago if this is what my life would look like now, I would have sent them to a mental hospital. Looking at our son and having you by my side, I wouldn't change anything."
Maggie smiled for a quick moment before her thinking face appeared, "I think we should discuss you going back to work, especially since you'll be off the crutches starting next week."
Alex sighed, "you're right. J'onn messaged me earlier to come in after the doctors appointment."
Maggie could feel her emotions starting to get the better of her, "I know you didn't get hurt on the job exactly but I'm terrified of you going back into the field. I know my job is dangerous too but I don't know. I feel more scared now than I have ever in my life." Maggie's voice cracks.
"Maggie you know I'm not going straight into field work right?"
Maggie turned to Alex confused, "I thought that's what the strong stubborn headed Alex would want to do?"
Alex laughed, "you're kind of right. I've loved being in the field and working along side Kara and the other agents. The old me would have already been back at work masking the pain with either meds or alcohol. But the new me, the me with the fiancé and the child needs to listen to logic and reason now matter how much I may not want to. If I want to get back in the field I need to pass the physical tests. Obviously that isn't anytime soon so when I do talk to J'onn I was going to ask if I could work in the lab full time for now. Hope in the near future, like a couple months, that I can pass the tests but who knows. With how bad my knee was damaged I may not be able to get into the shape I use to be."
"Don't say that Alex. The stuff Lena gave you worked."
"Yeah but we don't know the lasting effects. All I know is that I want to help people and I want to be there for you, for our son and any future children we have. I want to be able to run and play sports with them, I want to be able to spar with Kara at any level. When the option of loosing your leg almost becomes a reality it changes your perspective."
"It sounds like you have thought about this a lot."
"I have had a lot of time to think recently. It's crazy how we take the little things for granted, like walk on two legs." Alex says as Zack runs over with a shell in hand.
"Mama look it's so pretty like you." Zack said holding out a brown banded wenteltrap shell."
Maggie takes the shell, "thank you baby it's so pretty."
"Mommy I like your house but ours is better." Zack says as a bird flies close to them and lands on the beach. It catches Zack's attention and he eagerly turns to run towards it.
Alex whispers in Maggie's ear, "if he is so excited to chase after a bird, imagine how he would feel if we had a dog around the house."
Maggie gives Alex a surprised look and Alex responds, "what it was one of our firsts we talked about. I figured a dog would be good as a next step eventually of course. I was thinking after we get married and the official adoption papers come in that they could be a family gift."
"Any news on the adoption papers?" Maggie asked even though she didn't need a legal document to know that Zack was hers.
"Not since the last time we talked to the lawyer. He said it could take a few months so hopefully the papers can come hand in hand with our wedding." Alex and Maggie sit down on the sand and intertwine the limbs. Alex rests her head on Maggie's shoulder as Maggie leans into Alex. The revel in each other's touch, grounding them, making them feel safe. The bird flies away and Zack makes his way back to the couple, breathing heavily. He flops down on them.
"oomfph," Alex and Maggie say as they spread themselves enough to cocoon around Zack.
"Safe," He says as he nuzzles Maggie's chest.
"I love you moms." Zack whispers.
They watch the sunset for twenty minutes until Eliza yells for them that dinner's ready. Zack runs ahead to show Eliza the shell he found. As the couple enters the house a bit after Zack, the family washes up and sit for dinner.
Eliza makes a toast, "before we eat I'd like to thank you for coming to stay for the weekend. Alex I'm so happy to have you back home and even more happy to see how well you are recovering. Maggie I'd like to thank you for everything that you have done for Alex and I. You have changed our lives such a way that I never thought could be possible. Because of you I have healthy and positive relationship with my daughter. I am truly proud of the both of you and I cannot wait for your wedding. I cannot wait for the movies tomorrow my grandson." Eliza smiles at Zack who returns one just as big.
Alex and Maggie smile wide, both with watery eyes. Alex because she is finally happy with her mom who is so proud and happy to call her, her daughter. Maggie because she has a maternal figure that has taken her in and loved her as if she were her own. For the first time in the Danvers Midvale household, the family sits at the dinner table eating in peace as jokes are shared and stories are told without a drop of hostility in the air.