I Don't Know Ch 6

Bobby called the next day. Mike and Carolyn, and Dan Ross had left for home. Alex called her squad room to find out everything was fine. She wasn't needed back immediately. She explained to Roberta that the man she'd seen the night before had invited them to her place today to meet his son. Roberta was happy with that idea.

They went to the same diner Alex had gone to and had breakfast. That was where Bobby came to get them. "Good morning." He said.

"'Morning." Alex said, wishing he'd kiss her.

He sat down and casually placed a cup of something on the table in front of her. She looked at it then at him. He gave her a quirky smile. He was starting to remember. A long forgotten, foggy path, but the clouds were beginning to dissipate. "And how are you this fine morning, Miss Roberta." He asked.

"Fine." Roberta said uneasily.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Alex asked.

"Did you know my mom before?" Roberta asked.

"Yes, we used to work together. Why?"

"I just wondered."

Bobby looked at Alex. "You don't have to come to my house if you don't want to." He told her.

"It's okay. I want to see it. Uncle Mike took our car back to the city. We have theirs."

"Do you? That's good. Are you ready?"

"I just have to pay the bill."

"I'll just have them add it to my tab. Come on. Robbie is waiting to meet you."

Bobby drove his truck ahead of them, watching them in the mirror. He saw Alex talking to his daughter and wished with all his heart they were in the same car. He was proud of what had been done to his place since he took over. He'd discovered the joy of working with wood and using his hands to fix and repair and patch and he was even learning to carve on wood. It was addictive.

Alex and Roberta got out looking around. They were all nervous. "This is it." He said overly hearty. Alex noticed immediately.

Roberta looked around and spotted the barn. "You have horses?" she asked.

"Not right now. The one we had died and we just never got another one."

The house door opened and son stepped out on the porch. Bobby hurried forward and gestured for Robbie to come down. "This is my son Robbie. Robbie, this is Alex Eames and her daughter Roberta."

"You're the woman that used to know my dad." Robbie said.

"Yes, we worked together." Alex said. "It's nice to meet you."

The kids eyed each other. They were within months of the same age from what Alex could tell. "Hi." Robbie said.

"Hi." Roberta replied. "We have close to the same name."

"Yeah, weird, huh?" Robbie responded.

"Do you have any video games?" Roberta asked.

"Some. I have a lot of books, though."

"Can I see?"

"Is it okay, Dad?"

"Sure, Robbie. We'll be in the kitchen."

Bobby and Alex looked at each other as the kids went back into the house. Bobby gave her a small smile. "I want to kiss you again."

"Then do it." She prompted.

He did, pulling her to him gently so he could taste her fully,in no hurry to let go or go faster. She stepped back first. "You always did know how to say good morning." She laughed.

He took her hand and showed her around his home. He was proud of it and the way it had gone from a shack to a nice home. He made the kitchen the last stop. It showed the most work and attention. He poured her a cup of coffee and absently set the things on the table that he knew she liked in it. He didn't even realize he'd done this.

"So what do you think?" he asked gesturing to the home.

"You have done a wonderful job of it. You should be proud."

"Thank you. So did you call your precinct today?"

"I did. Everything is fine for now, but I'll need to go back soon. You know how it is."

"I think I remember. So have you given any thought about how you want to handle this situation with the kids and all."

"No. I wanted to talk to you about it. Are you going to stay here or where are you going to go?"

"Robbie and I can be comfortable anywhere. I want to be with you."

Alex smiled, putting a hand on his arm. "I was hoping you'd say that. I want to be with you too. Are you going to give up being Sheriff then, or what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. You don't need another detective in your squad, do you?" he laughed.

"Always. You're always welcome in my squad room."

"What are we going to tell the kids?"

"The truth. And the sooner the better."

They heard the two coming down the stairs arguing. "No way. Final Fantasy is a girls game." Robbie was saying.

"Is not." Roberta replied.

"What's going on?" Alex asked.

"He's saying Final Fantasy is a sissy game. It is not." Roberta said.

"None of them are. Listen guys, we need to talk to you."

"Let's go into the living room. It's more comfortable there." Bobby suggested.

"This isn't good." Robbie told Roberta half joking. "He only talks to me in the living room when it's serious."

"Not funny, smart guy." Bobby ruffled his sons curls, so like his own.

"Leave off, Dad." Robbie moved away, but not too far.

They moved into the living room. Alex chose a chair and Bobby took the matching one. The kids sat one on each end of the couch. "We have something we have to tell you." Alex began.

The kids exchanged a look. "Alex and I used to work together. You already know that. What is hard to explain is that we were more than just people who worked together. We were engaged to be married."

"What happened? You married Mom." Robbie asked.

"I did. Something happened and we got separated. I didn't know she was pregnant with you, Roberta. I met your Mom and married her about the same time and you were born. So I'm your father, Robbie, and I am also your father, Roberta."

"Mom?" Roberta looked at Alex.

"It's true, sweetie." Alex told her stricken daughter.

"You said he was dead. All this time, you said he was dead."

"I thought he was. I really thought he was. I'm glad I was wrong."

Roberta gave her mother a betrayed look and stormed out the door. Robbie watched his half sister go and eyed both of the adults. "What does this mean, Dad?"

"I'm not sure of all the ramifications. What you need to know is that my name, my legal name, is not Mark Collins. It's Robert Goren. I was a detective in New York City. Alex was my partner."

"No. You're Mark Collins and I'm Robbie Collins. I'm your son. You're the Sheriff."

"You are my son, nothing will ever change that. But Roberta is my daughter. We're going to have to learn to be a family."

"What about Mom? You and Mom were married."

"Yes, but she's been gone a long time. I want to marry Alex and I want us to live together."

"NO! You're my dad, not hers. Go away." Robbie screamed at Alex and stormed back upstairs.

"That went well." Alex said, sarcastically.

"I need to go to him." Bobby said miserably.

"I need to talk to Roberta. Bobby, I'm sorry. I didn't expect it to turn out that way."

"I'm the one who should say I'm sorry. I don't want you to go away."

"I'm not going anywhere you can't find me. Let's go talk to the kids and we'll come back in here and have a family meeting."

TBC