"Homecoming"
Alice smiled as the woman swept through the door of Monica's office.
"Hi."
"Um, you need to come home now." The blue eyes devoured Alice on sight.
"Why? Is Brook o.k.?" Alice felt panic. Tracy wasn't supposed to be home until tomorrow.
Tracy bit her lip. "I spent four days away from you. I need…" Tracy pulled Alice close, running her hands over the expanding hips.
"Really?" Alice asked, feeling the familiar stirrings.
"Mmm-mmm."
"But I'm at work." Alice protested.
"Take a personal day."
"Just to screw you?"
"Not a bad way to spend the day." Tracy said. "Please, please, come home. Let me worship you."
"Mmmmm….let me check with Monica." Alice said.
"Go. You'll be distracted." Monica yelled through the door.
"Thank you, Monica." Tracy pulled Alice along.
-----
"Tracy! What's the rush?" Alice asked. "That was a red light!"
"I just need you. Soon ."
"Honey, I want that but it would be nice make it home alive and in bed this time." Alice braced herself against the dashboard.
"No kitchen counter?" Tracy asked as she pulled into the driveway.
"If Brook only knew…" Alice chuckled as she walked into the house. Tracy looked around the house.
"Well we didn't christen the attic yet. Do you want to ?" Tracy raised an eyebrow.
"My little nymph wants to play. How cute." Alice grinned as she chased Tracy up the stairs and into their room.
"Alice Marie…" Tracy breathed out as she slowly unbuttoned Alice's shirt.
"Welcome home." Alice blushed, knowing in the past week she gained five pounds.
"Your stomach…" Tracy murmured into the soft skin. "I mean, it's amazing…"
"You don't mind?" Alice always felt a bit self-conscious about her body and being pregnant didn't help.
Tracy took off Alice's shirt. "You're a goddess."
"I'm ready to be worship."
Alice smiled sheepishly as they cuddled afterwards.
"I'm sorry about squirting you."
"Ah, happy second trimester, I guess. I'll get use to it." Tracy lightly kissed Alice.
"I'm kind of happy to know they serve the purpose that they are meant for," Alice laughed.
"Not just as my playthings?" Tracy nuzzled 'her playthings'.
"So, how was the trip anyway?" Alice asked.
"Fine. Brenda couldn't believe I was offering her the job C.E.O. but I convinced her to take it on a temporarily basis. Maybe Ned will move back."
"Mmmmm…"
"Is that a good Mmmmm?"
"No, it's a 'I just was thinking about the CVS test'." Alice sighed.
"I can't believe you're in the first week of the second trimester. Happy week thirteen cubs." Tracy cooed to the stomach. " God, I can't wait to feel them move."
"Tiger, do you want to know the sexes?"
Tracy paused. "It would be nice but since we aren't telling anyone about the twins, I guess it doesn't matter."
"I just don't disappoint you, by not having girls."
"Lion, I'll be honest. I would love a daughter but I also loved having my boys. I just want healthy babies and wife. Are you nervous about the test next week?" Tracy asked.
"Maybe."
"I know it won't confirm definite results but it will be a good start. With Dillon, the hardest part was waiting for the results."
Alice chuckled. " Did they even have this certain test the last time you went through this?"
"Hey! That was only….twenty-three years ago. God, I'm old." Tracy realized.
"Mmmmm, yeah but you're mine."
"I want a quick shower. When is Brook Lyn coming home?"
"Um, in two more hours." Alice craned her neck at clock.
"I want to run to the office. Should I pick up something for dinner?"
"Nah, I'll make tacos. When is Brenda coming?"
"In about a month. I can't wait to surprise them."
-----
"Hey. When is Granny suppose to be home?" Brook Lyn asked.
"Actually she's home now. She just wanted to run to the office for a bit." Alice said, humming.
"You're in a good mood."
"I'm just happy she's home." Alice said.
"Um, can you sign this?" Brook Lyn offered an piece of paper.
Alice scanned the piece, raising her eyebrows. "You've failed an econ exam?"
"Um…"
"I think you should talk to her about that. " Alice said.
"Talk to me about what?" Tracy walked into the room.
"Um…Ikindafailedaneconexam," Brook Lyn mumbled.
"In proper English please." Tracy requested.
"I failed an econ exam."
Tracy and Alice exchanged a glance. Tracy took a sip of water.
"Why do you think you fail?" Tracy asked.
"I got a couple terms confused. Then the math is hard." Brook Lyn shrugged.
"The thing is, " Tracy sighed, "you kind of need to know this if you're taking over ELQ or even L&B. "
"And if I don't want to? What if I want to go to art school?"
"Well, then I need to re-evaluate keeping ELQ, because I really don't want to work for fulltime after Alice's delivery." Tracy looked lovingly at Alice.
"Which is only five months away." Alice rolled her eyes.
"Actually honey, older mothers usually deliver early, especially in your circumstances. I'll be amazed if you make it to December 1st." Tracy commented.
"What do you mean, her circumstances? Everything's ok, right?" Brook Lyn asked.
"Everything's fine. But in case I deliver early, we should plan the nursery. I just need to make it to 32 weeks. Do you want to help? " Alice asked.
"Of course! Do you have a theme?"
Tracy and Alice exchanged looks. Alice shrugged.
"I was thinking maybe animals or clouds and stars."
"Something gender neutral for now," Tracy said.
Brook Lyn eyed the growing stomach. She motioned to Alice, who nodded. Placing a hand on the stomach, Brook Lyn asked,
"Have you felt them move yet?"
"Not yet, Burroughs. I'm thirteen weeks now, usually fetal movement starts at sixteen weeks or later. " Alice smiled at the thought.
"Since they're Quartermaines, the kicking will probably be at the most inopportune times." Tracy commented.
"Ah, but you'll love feeling them in the middle of the night." Alice said.
"I just love being next to you, Lion."
Brook Lyn groaned at conversation. Tracy and Alice briefly kissed.
"Hey! We're in love, it's allowed. Especially when you're about to go on a short vacation alone." Alice smiled.
"You're o.k. with going to Brooklyn for spring break, right?" Tracy asked.
"Yeah, I mean I'd rather go to Paris to see Brenda but I guess…" Brook Lyn pouted.
"Ah, maybe over the summer, if you still want to." Alice said.
"But in the meantime get your econ homework and I'll help you." Tracy said.
"Okay."
---
Alice settled in for a movie on the couch. Tracy joined her a hour later.
"That was quick. Did you get Brook introduced to the world of economics?"
"Mmmmm. She's working on her art project now. She should be busy for the rest of the night. Does that gives you any idea?" Tracy lightly kissed Alice.
"We can continue welcoming you home…."
"I do love being home." Tracy laughed.