"While The Granny's Away…"

"So…" Monica started to say.

"Stop. I don't want to move into the mansion while Tracy's away. Besides it's hard on Brook. I think I can handle her for a week."

"I'm just concerned. With Tracy in Paris for a week, I wanted to make sure you are okay. Besides Edward's concern about his heir."

Alice smiled. "I know. Whenever I see him, he talks to the belly about business."

Monica rolled her eyes. "Alan was the same way about AJ and medicine."

Alice took a deep breath. "That was a good one. I have a doctor appointment this afternoon." She sighed. "First sonogram without Tracy."

"You could email them," Monica said, "Do you want company? I would love to see my godchild."

"I think Tracy would be hurt if you got to see the new photos first. I'll show you later." Alice smiled.

"No fun."

Alice's phone rang at the beginning of the appointment.

Dr. Wexler smiled. "Tracy?"

"Calling via Paris. She's been gone for two days. It's five there." Alice answered the phone. "Hey honey. Let me put you on speaker phone."

"Hello. How are you? Did you tell Dr. Wexler about the tiredness?" Tracy's voice sounded far away.

"We're just getting to that." Alice rolled her eyes. "I'm trying to continue to work through but I'm exhausted."

"That's normal for the first trimester. You're twelve weeks. " Dr. Wexler said.

"It also doesn't help when we keep waking up for…martial activities." Alice blushed.

"Is that ok? It won't hurt Alice or the babies?"

"No, as long as Alice is comfortable. How's the morning sickness?"

"Getting better." Alice said.

"Crackers help." Tracy added.

"Well, then let's get start. You gained another four pounds, which is good, blood pressure is low, and in general everything looks good."

"So Tracy can relax and enjoy the rest of her trip?" Alice asked.

"Yes. Let's set up for the ultrasound." Dr. Wexler had Alice laid back. " At twelve weeks you should be able to see heads and arms. There's baby A, who looks good and now baby B who is fine. Everything is on track."

Alice let out a sigh of relief. Dr. Wexler noticed and said,

"You're doing great, Alice. I want to do the CVS soon. I'm suggesting more yoga and relaxation techniques but everything is fine."

"That's the plan." Tracy said. "Hopefully, after I get back, I'll cut back my work hours."

"Don't you need to go to dinner?" Alice asked.

"Yes. Email me photos tonight! Call you later. Bye." Tracy hung up.

"So, Paris?" Dr. Wexler asked.

"A possible replacement for ELQ. Is there any problem with me using planes or hot tubs?"

Monica looked at the ultrasound.

"It looks small for twelve weeks. Especially considering who the parents are."

Brook Lyn looked up when she heard that.

Alice chuckled. "When Tracy saw the last one she said it looks like a CEO. Not a boy, not a girl but a CEO."

"Are you and Granny hoping for a girl?" Brook Lyn asked.

"Hmmm, I'm happy with a healthy family," Alice said carefully, "I think Tracy would like a girl. She keeps whispering Alison Rose to my stomach. Scary thing is the baby kicks when she does it."

"Alison Rose?" Monica asked.

"Hmm-mmm. After her uncle and grandmother."

"I thought Grandmother Lila's middle name was Annalee after her two grandparents. Although it was interesting to find the LAM stuff."

"Ah, the Morgans had a wicked sense of humor. Lila loved roses and I'm guessing Tracy is not ready to use the name yet. She's been signing things Tracy L. since Lila's death." Monica shrugged. "What about boys names?"

"Well, James, after my grandfather and Alan. Maybe Morgan. I like James Morgan. Or James Bard. I guess short first names for the monster name of Quartermaine." Alice smiled. "Of course Edward has been campaigning for another form of Edward or Louis."

"What about naming it after the parents?" Brook Lyn asked. Alice looked suspicious.

"Well, Alison is a form of my name and well, I think one Tracy Quartermaine is enough for the world." Alice sidestep the unasked question, giving Brook Lyn a sharp look.

"Sorry." Brook Lyn mumbled.

"Why don't get dessert, sweetheart?" Alice asked.

When Brook Lyn, Monica raised her eyebrows.

"She's getting cheeky."

Alice sighed. "She gets this way without Tracy around. I usually let it go but I might talk with her tonight. She goes on Spring Break in a couple weeks, off to New York."

"Have you thought about just tell her about our part in this project?" Alan asked.

"We have. It's not going to be a secret for long especially in this family. I mean, we both have brown eyes, Alan but totally different shades…"

"Ah, recessive genes might kick in." Monica pointed out.

"Granny keeps hoping for her blue eyes." Brook Lyn returned with the bowls of chocolate mousse that Alice made earlier.

After Monica and Alan said good night, Brook Lyn went upstairs to finish up homework. Alice booted up her laptop and scanned in the more photos of the ultrasounds. She wrote a quick email and waited. The phone rang soon after.

"You can see hands! And oh, their faces are so incredible! When can we find out the sexes?" Tracy asked.

"I think Wexler said another four weeks for sure. Did you get Brenda agree to come back?"

"Yeah. Hopefully Monica lets her stay at the house." Tracy played with a pencil. "I could come back sooner."

"Sooner?" Alice asked, "Perhaps that would be better. Brook's tapping into her inner Tracy."

"Oh?"

"She's trying to figure out who fathered the cubs," Alice dropped her voice," and your Lion is missing her Tiger. You know how incredible horny I've been getting lately. I went through a couple set of batteries…"

Tracy groaned. " Don't do that to me. I'm here for at least two more days. Although maybe I can get on a commercial flight and get back as soon as possible…"

"Hmmm, might not be a bad idea." Alice smirked. "I'll be waiting with no clothes on."

"I thought the saying was 'with bells on'?"

"That could be arrange, if you want."

"I'll sign the paperwork tomorrow." Tracy said. "Why don't you talk to Brook Lyn tonight and I'll see you in two days?"

"Sounds good. Love you."

"Love you and the cubs."

Alice smiled as she hung up the phone. Despite the cancelled wedding, she and Tracy were still very much in love. Alice rubbed her belly as she walked upstairs.

"Hey, Burroughs, can I talk to you for a sec?" Alice leaned against doorway.

"Yeah."

Alice sat on the bed. Brook Lyn looked suspicious.

"So…"

Alice played with the bedspread.

"What?" Brook Lyn asked

"I know you're curious about the father. But we decided we didn't want anyone to know, and I need you to respect that. I also need you behave while your grandmother is away."

"It's just I hardly know my dad. What if the baby wants to know its?" Brook Lyn asked.

"Well, believe or not, we discuss all of this. But honey this won't come up for a couple years. I guess his role would be like an uncle. But legally, your grandmother will be the second parent. It gets complicated when the father is married and has grown children." Alice bit back a laugh when Brook Lyn's eyes widen.

"Does his wife knows about…"

"It was her idea." If possible, Brook Lyn's eyes grew bigger.

"How…"

"They're amazing people." Alice said simply. "If the baby wants to know about them when he or she's older we'll talk about it."

"Oh." Brook Lyn glanced down. "I have to finish this chapter…"

"Well, good night, sweetheart." Alice kissed Brook Lyn's head and continued on to her and Tracy's room. Once there she slipped on pajamas and curled around Tracy's pillow, dreaming of Paris, babies, and her love.