Disclaimer:: Nope, still poor, don't own.

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Note: This chapter is set around "Amends"

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Two more months had gone by; two long, horrible months of morning sickness, absurd cravings, and weight gain.

Things had been difficult lately; Alex was constantly worn from the case. She wanted to nail the bastard who shot Joe's partner; but more importantly, she wanted to believe they already had the bastard who killed Joe in cold blood. Why couldn't Bobby just accept that the guy they had in custody, the guy who was serving a life sentence, was the one who killed Joe? Who cares if he says he doesn't smoke cigarettes? He was a murderer—it wasn't as though he was going to admit to putting his lips on the one thing that stood between him and freedom.

"This isn't one of your puzzles, Bobby, this is my life!" She had snapped, tears threatening to deceive her. She knew deep down, though, that he was only looking out for her. He always only looked out for her; still, she feared this intrusion on her private life would somehow tear them apart. Now, here she sat in the back of the warehouse where all old evidence was kept, holding the blood shirt Joe died in close to her heart, tears streaming down her cheeks and soft sobs escaping her lips.

"Aunt Alex?" Teresa quietly tip toed towards her aunt.

Alex inhaled, wiping the tears off her cheeks quickly, but she couldn't hide her sadness from her niece- they were like mother and daughter; if anyone knew her, it was Teresa.

"You're not supposed to be in here, Sweetie. Go back out there before you trip on something in here and get hurt. Wait-why are you here, anyways?"

"Uncle Bobby called me; he said something about needing to check up on a lead and he was worried about you. He thought you could use a friend"

"Well, don't worry, I'm fine. He should have never called you" She pushed her away, but she didn't know why.

"I'm not going anywhere. You're like-like my mom. You need me, and I need you. It's kinda nice knowing you need me sometimes as much as I've needed you throughout the years."

"You're my kid—I don't care what anyone says—you're supposed to need me. It's not supposed to be the other way around"

'You're my kid' Those three words brightened up Teresa's day. She'd always wanted her aunt to think of her like that… and deep down she knew she did, but hearing the words confirmed it in that special place in her heart. "We're both adults not, Aunt Alex, and whoever said big girls don't cry should be shot. Big girls do cry; I cry…you cry, Grandma even cries. It's a part of life. And sometimes we just have to let people in, more so when we want to push them out the most"

Alex knew where this was going, and although she didn't want to hear it, she shut up and listened.

"I know how you feel about Uncle Bobby. He feels the same way you know"

"I'm married, Teresa" Alex reminded her.

"You're a widow. Uncle Joe loved you with everything he had, but he's gone, Aunt Alex. He knows how much you love him but he would want you to be happy. He wants to know that you're being taken care of so that he can rest"

"It's not that simple, Teresa" Teresa had never lost someone so close to her before; Alex and Joe had made sure to shelter her throughout her life, and Bobby did a good job of sheltering her as well.

"It may not be that simple but it's also not as hard as you make it out to be. Just promise me you'll think about it. Maybe put on a dress and go out once in a while. Let your hair loose-remember the way you used to feel about life. Life's not all about solving murders and being a mother, ya know"

"It is for me." Alex looked her niece in the eyes; she and Joe should have adopted her when they had the chance. "Now go wait for me outside; I don't want you to get hurt, I'll be out there in a minute" She kissed her niece's forehead gently.

"No, it isn't. You need to live; that's why you were given life… Uncle Joe wants you to be happy. And I'm not going anywhere until you promise me that you will spend the evening with me. A mother/daughter day, just the two of us"

Alex smiled big; that was the one thing she always enjoyed, no matter what the mood or what the case. "Of course; now go wait outside." She kissed her niece's head and then again pushed her towards the door. '

Gathering the evidence needed at the precinct, she shoved the bag in her purse and then looked over the rest of the contents; Joe's badge, his shirt, a shell casing- Alex took a deep breath, eyeing each piece as though it told its own story. She closed her eyes and tried to hear the sound of his laugh; tried to put him near her when she knew he wasn't. She opened her eyes and stumbled back, afraid of what stood before her.

"Joe?" She closed her eyes and rubbed them-this had to be an allusion.

"Stop blaming yourself, Alex. My death wasn't your fault"

"Yes it was, Joe. You should have been home with me that night. You should have been home tucking Teresa in to bed; instead we had an argument and you headed back to work for some overtime. I'm so sorry. I love you, please come back to me."

"If I could come back to you, I would, in a heartbeat. You need to believe that, Alex. But I can't. My death wasn't your fault; it would have happened anyways-it was what's supposed to happen. You need to forgive yourself in order to move on. This Goren character, do you care for him?"

Alex looked away; how could she deceive her dead husband, and right to his face?

"It's alright, Alex. I understand. Go-be with him. Be happy. We had a wonderful life together, Alex, and I'm thankful for every minute of it I got to share with you, and with Teresa. You tell her that I said she's going to be an amazing mother—and that I'm always looking over you guys. Focus on being an aunt, a mother, a grandmother-whatever it is that you want to be-but be happy while doing it. I'll take care of the rest"

A tear slipped down Alex's porcelain cheek; she longed to kiss him, just one last time. She longed to feel his warm flesh against hers, holding her, kissing her, loving her. And she was taken by surprise when his dead kiss was just as special and magical as his live one.

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"I'm sorry; I don't normally cry at this part in the movie, it's just these damn hormones!" Teresa sat up and wiped her eyes dry, blowing her runny nose.

Alex smiled and handed her another tissue. "It's alright, sweetie. I know, it happens."

Teresa gratefully grabbed the tissues. "Thanks," she whispered, ashamed of herself for overreacting.

"It's alright. You don't need to feel bad" She stroked the hair out of Teresa's damp face.

Teresa smiled and leaned against her. Things had changed; life was scarier. The thought of being a mother in just a few short months was so surreal.

"Ya know, its like- I have this life inside me. And it's mine—but it's not mine. And it depends on me for its survival… and just one wrong move could screw things up forever. What if I can't do this?"

"Scared?" Alex cocked one eyebrow up.

"No, I'm rehearsing for a play." Teresa rolled her eyes sarcastically.

"Sweetie, you are going to make the best mother out there, trust me. And you'll have my help, and Uncle Bobby's help, and the help of Lucas and his family. And don't forget, Uncle Joe will be watching over us all from above" Alex assured, wrapping her strong arms around the young woman's frame. She pulled her close, and Teresa laid her head down on her chest like she did when she was younger and had a nightmare.

"Just sleep now. Things will all be okay… you'll see. You can stay here with me, and I'll help you make everything all better."

Teresa yawned, having a hard time now keeping her eyes open. "I love you…. Mom"

A single tear of happiness slid down Alex's eye- she'd never wanted anything more in her entire life than to hear someone call her mother-and mean it. "I love you too"