A/N: Thank you, Claire, for beta'ing while on vacation :) And thank you, Heather, for your x-rated suggestion!

Bobby POV

"Hi, Bobby…it's…um…it's me."

That was the message on my old-school answering machine when Alex and I got home on Sunday night.

It put an instant damper on the night, which kind of pissed me off because we had such a great time just being regular people.

Happy regular people.

At the restaurant, Logan did as he promised, filling in the blanks.

Carolyn had been working for the FBI, undercover in a called strip club called Winky's when Logan bumped into her.

"I was supposed to be in there looking for a lowlife drug dealer but then I saw her from across the room…" he told us.

"Only he didn't know it was me," she finished.

"Oh, it was you in my mind," he explained and then he looked at me and said, "You remember the first time you saw the pictures of Eames from her Vice days, right?"

Of course I remember.

She looked so unbelievably hot and sexy and yet she was still Eames, which means I wanted her as much for her mind as for her body.

"Yes," I answered without hesitation while Alex looked at me curiously. I shrugged and smiled as I said, "Should I apologize for appreciating the way you look in a mini-skirt?"

"No," she said with a roll of her eyes. She and Carolyn shared a look as Logan continued.

"Anyway, you can just imagine how I felt when I realized that it really was her."

Apparently it was love at first sight. Or second sight, I guess. Or maybe it was first sight, but it took the two-year separation before they understood it.

Because to me, it seems like things have moved awfully fast with them, for there not to have already been strong feelings.

Just like with me and Alex.

It's only been three weeks and yet it feels like it's been a lifetime.

In a good way, I mean.

"So I just got back last night," Carolyn said, concluding their tag-team recount of the past month's events.

"You couldn't talk to each other for two weeks?" Alex remarked as she shifted her gaze from Carolyn to Logan. "That must've been hard. No wonder you were looking like shit."

"Thank you," Logan said with a wry grin. He put his arm around Carolyn's shoulders and hugged her to him as he added, "And yeah, it was damn near impossible. I can't tell you how many times I got in the car with the intent of driving to Quantico."

"Probably about as many times as I thought about quitting and hitching a ride back to New York," she said.

"But you did quit," Alex pointed out. "Why go through it if you planned to leave anyway?"

"It was…good for me, I think," Carolyn stated vaguely.

And I get what she's saying. I wasn't undercover for very long and yet it's so easy to get sucked in by the life.

She was inside for two years.

That kind of thing can take its toll on a person.

"And a week in St. Kitts will be good for me, too," she added as she smiled at Logan.

"When are you leaving?"

"Saturday," he answered.

"And Ross really approved the vacation time after all the trouble you've been in lately?" I joked.

"Yeah, well…it's part of my notice," he answered.

Not what I was expecting to hear.

"Your notice?"

"I quit. Friday. Officially, I'm still on the payroll until the end of the month, since I had time built up, but after that…"

"Are you kidding me?" Alex said in surprise. "Is it because of Ross?"

"No, he actually came through for us in the end. He backed me up with the FBI and he gave me and Wheeler the leeway we needed to help Carolyn close out her case."

"It's Driver," I stated with a nod. It's no secret he's been butting heads with the power-hungry ADA.

"It's everything," he explained with nonchalance. "But you know what? I'm good with it. We'll spend a week in paradise and then come back here and start fresh."

I admire his attitude. Would I be so at ease with the idea of being unemployed?

With Alex by my side, yes I would, I decided. And he looks every bit as in love with Carolyn as I am with Alex.

"How'd Wheeler take the news?" Alex asked him. "In fact, what's going on with her fiancé? I heard a rumor that he was arrested."

"Oh yeah, that's true," Logan confirmed. "And she's done with him."

"Losing her partner and her fiancé in the same week," I commiserated. "How's she holding up?"

Logan smiled and said, "I think maybe I taught her a thing or two over the past few weeks. She'll be just fine. Besides, I haven't left her high and dry. We're friends. We'll keep in touch. I would've asked her to come out with us tonight if it weren't for that business of you two being on the down-low."

"You trust her?" I asked.

"Yes," he answered earnestly. "Absolutely."

"Then maybe next time you should invite her," I said. "I mean, we figured it wouldn't hurt for there to be one person in 1PP who knows about us, but I guess that's not you anymore so it might as well be Wheeler, right?"

"It's going to be strange there without you," Alex said to him.

"Good strange?" he asked.

She smirked and said, "No. Who's going to point out my hickeys and check out my ass?"

"Oh, um…that's my job," I said with a grin.

We spent several hours at dinner, laughing and talking and getting to know Carolyn again.

Afterwards, we walked down the boardwalk to an open-air bar, where we sat in the cool night air and had a few drinks. It was nearly midnight when we settled our tab.

"I guess we should be heading back," I said. "Some of us have to go to work in the morning."

"Poor bastards," Logan replied with a huge smile on his face. I guess he really is okay with not coming back to Major Case. He just looks happy.

We said our goodbyes, with the promise of catching up again soon, and then Alex and I headed for the subway station.

"I wasn't kidding about it being weird without him there," she said to me once we were seated on the subway, and her head was against my shoulder. "I know he's only been there for a few years, but he's grown on me."

"Me, too. Don't worry – we'll be sure to keep in touch."

"And Carolyn…I just can't believe it's her," she said. "Did you see anything between them when they worked together?"

"I was too busy trying to figure out what you thought of me," I admitted.

"I was in love with you."

"Now see, if I'd known that then, maybe I could've focused on the status of Logan's relationship," I teased.

"Or maybe it works out better this way," she said softly. "All the way around. We went through what we did to get where we are, and we're all in a good place, so…why wish it could've been any different?"

Wise words.

Ones I'm trying to remember now as I pick up the phone to return the call to my brother.

Don't bother leaving a number – I won't call you back.

That's what Frank's outgoing message states.

Sounds about right.

I think I know why he called earlier and it should make me glad that he remembered, but at the same time, I'm just so sick of that part of my life. Maybe that makes me a bad person, I don't know, but is it so wrong that I just want to focus on Alex and work and my friends and forget about every messed up thing that used to plague my life?

"No answer?" Alex asked as I hung up the phone and then sat down heavily in the kitchen chair.

"No."

"It's late. Maybe he's asleep."

"Or he's out trying to score," I posed.

"You've tried to help him, but you can't change who he is," she said rationally.

"I know."

"And it's good that he called, right?"

I looked at her questioningly and she added, "You think it's because your mom's birthday is coming up on Friday, don't you? I mean, maybe he wants to get together with you."

"You remembered her birthday," I marveled as I pulled her down onto my lap.

"Of course I do," she replied, resting her cheek against my chest.

"Yeah, well we might be giving Frank too much credit to think he called because of that."

"Maybe."

I began stroking my hand over her hair as my mind wandered to thoughts of my mother.

And then I remembered that Alex and I are supposed to be halfway through a can of whipped cream by now and instead I've turned melancholy.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly as I kissed the top of her head. "It's been such a great night and now I'm…"

"Sad? Bobby, you're allowed to feel."

"I know, but you know how I get sometimes."

"And you think what? That I won't love you if you're not smiling?"

"I just don't want you to think that you don't make me happy."

"I know I do," she said confidently. "Just like you do for me."

"Are you sure?"

"You have to ask?"

No, I don't.

We sat together in the darkness of the kitchen for a while…nearly an hour maybe, and then we got up and went to bed.

Monday morning came early, after our late night, but there's something about waking up with Alex in my arms that makes me feel like I can handle anything life throws at me.

"Message for you, Detective!" the desk sergeant called out to me as I passed by. I was by myself because Alex drove the SUV into the parking garage while I walked the last few blocks to work. She'll meet me upstairs because it's not like we can show up together.

Or I guess we could because we've done it before, back when we weren't sleeping together, but maybe now we're just being more careful.

I paused and snagged the message and then continued towards the elevator as I opened the piece of paper.

Pick me up on Friday and we'll go together.

Or you could answer your damn phone and we could talk about it, I thought in annoyance as I shoved the paper in my pocket.

And yes, it's what I had in mind anyway.

And yes, I'm impressed that Frank remembers Mom's birthday.

But it ticks me off that he just floats in and out of my life and then has the expectation that I'll do whatever he says.

"You were slow," Alex said under her breath. She was coming out of the break room just as I was passing by. "I fixed the coffee."

"Thanks."

"There might be strings," she said lightheartedly.

"Good," I replied, and I forced myself to smile because I'm not going to let Frank ruin my day. Or my life.

I'll do this thing with him on Friday and then he can crawl back under his rock until next year.

"Frank left me a message," I said as we sat down at our desks. I want to quit thinking about him, but I also need to bring her up to speed.

"He called?"

"The switchboard," I explained. "He left it with the desk sergeant."

"That's odd, even for Frank," she commented. "Why not just call your cell phone?"

"Who knows why he does anything he does?" I replied rhetorically. "Anyway, I guess I'm going to pick him up on Friday and go to the cemetery."

"I think that's a great idea."

"You do?"

"Yeah," she said, regarding me curiously.

"I mean, just me and him. And it's not that I don't want you there, but…"

"Bobby," she interrupted quietly, looking around as she leaned across her desk. "We don't have to do everything together. And going to your mom's grave, on her birthday…I think that's something for you and your brother. And afterwards…well, I'll be waiting for you."

I stared at her for a moment as I wondered what on earth I did to deserve a woman like her. I mean, she gets me. Completely.

I nodded and flashed her a smile, wanting to tell her how much I love her, but I just can't push it that much…not here where someone might overhear.

She smiled back and then picked up the autopsy report and went to work. I pulled up the credit reports and started working, too, but after a minute, my phone buzzed.

I love you.

That's the text message she sent me.

I smiled, leaning back in my chair as I typed a reply.

Does that mean you want to take me in the other room and…cuff me?

And just like that, we were back to being us.

We spent all day Monday and Tuesday in the squad room, scanning LUDs and credit reports, the autopsy report and lab work. And of course, texting back and forth. For the most part, I shoved Frank out of my mind, although during down-time, I couldn't keep from thinking about my mother.

"What's on your mind?" Alex asked me Wednesday night after work as we sat on the couch together, eating take-out. "You're quiet."

And this is the proof of how much I've changed: my forthright response came without hesitation.

"I'm just…I don't know. I've been thinking about my mom a lot this week. It makes me wish that we'd been together when she was alive so that she could've seen me happy."

"But she thought we were together, didn't she?" she asked with a smile.

"You know about that?" I replied sheepishly. My mom did think Alex and I were dating. Probably because I talked about her so much.

And I guess I perpetuated her misconception because I wanted so badly for it to be true.

"I'm glad she thought that about us," she remarked as she took my empty plate from my hand. She set hers and mine on the coffee table and then snuggled up next to me, running her hand over my chest in a soothing manner.

But then my landline rang, the noise shattering our quiet moment, and my stomach filled with dread because I just knew it was Frank.

I reluctantly got up from the couch and went into the kitchen to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Bobby," he said. "It's me."

"Yeah, I know, Frank. So Friday, right?"

"Yeah. Look, I need some money. Can you float me a loan?"

Don't beat around the bush, Frank.

"How much?" I asked as I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes.

"A few hundred. Five. Six, maybe."

"You need six hundred dollars? For what?"

He hesitated for a minute and then said, "Can you give it to me or not?"

"We'll talk about it Friday. I'll give you a call when I leave work."

I hung up with him and found Alex lingering in the doorway.

"He wants money?"

"Big surprise, huh? I'm sure it's a great coincidence for him that Friday is Mom's birthday, so he has the perfect opportunity to hit me up."

"I can help, if you want," she offered.

"With money? No, I'm not giving it to him."

"You think it's for drugs? A loan shark, maybe?"

"I have no idea, but I'm not opening that door, okay? End of discussion."

I made the statement much more sharply than I intended, my frustration with Frank coming out towards Alex. She stared at me for a minute and then nodded and turned around, leaving me alone in the kitchen.

"Alex, wait. I'm sorry," I said as I went after her. She stopped halfway down the hall and turned to look at me. I was expecting reproach or anger, but I got neither.

"Don't be sorry. I shouldn't have pushed."

"You didn't. I'm just…"

I trailed off and exhaled heavily and as I stood there feeling like a complete jackass, she stepped up close and wrapped her arms around me.

"It's okay," she said softly. "He gets under your skin. I get it."

"You do," I said in amazement as I hugged her tightly against me. "God, I love you."

"I know," she said, and I could feel her smile against my chest. "I love you, too. Through everything. Did you honestly think it'd be smooth sailing from here on out? I mean, you said you want me forever, right?"

"Yes, I do."

"Well, that's a long time, so…it's not always going to be whipped cream and sexting."

I never would've guessed that she could have me laughing so quickly after my surly outburst, but her comment had me chuckling.

It also had me going back to the kitchen to retrieve the can of Reddi-Whip. I mean, she's right. It won't always be like this, but it is right now, so why not enjoy it?

And let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Every delicious taste. The whipped cream was pretty good, too.

And that night, I slept soundly until the alarm went off at six-thirty on Thursday morning.

I turned it off and realized that I was alone in the bed.

But she's here somewhere and that's all I need to know.

I stretched out, lying on my back and staring at the ceiling as I took a moment to gather my thoughts for the day.

We're close to solving our case. I think another round of interviews might trip up one of our two main suspects.

I need to call Logan today, too. Or I don't need to, but I want to. He'll be leaving on Saturday and I'm probably going to be busy tomorrow, so I want to touch base with him before he goes.

And I want to buy something for Alex. Saturday marks one month since we first got together and I think the occasion needs memorializing. A nice dinner, maybe dancing. And jewelry.

A noise at the doorway caught my attention and I looked over to see Alex coming into the room. She was holding two cups of coffee, wearing only my blue button-down shirt from yesterday. It hangs almost to her knees and she only bothered to do the middle couple of buttons and her hair is messy from sleep…beautiful just doesn't suffice.

She paused for a moment, looking at me with an inscrutable expression on her face and then she went over to the dresser and set down the cups of coffee.

"You okay?" I asked since she still hasn't said a word, but then she turned back to me and reached for the covers, shoving them onto the floor as she looked me over with predatory purpose.

My mouth went dry as she got onto the bed, moving over me on her hands and knees. I snaked one hand beneath her shirt, but she stopped and took me by the wrist, pulling my hand away as she shook her head, and then she put both hands on my cheeks and kissed me hungrily.

I wanted to reach for her again but I held back, waiting to see what she was going to do next.

And what she did…mother of God.

After the kiss, she started moving her way down my body, kissing my neck, my chest, my stomach, until she was on her knees between my legs and for a moment she just looked and I thought my heart was going to explode in my chest just from the anticipation and then finally she leaned down…close, but not quite touching me…I could feel her breath over me and every muscle in my body was clenched tightly as the seconds dragged on until at last she pressed her tongue against me…lightly and teasingly, again and again, making me moan and beg for more.

Just when I thought I couldn't stand another second of the sweet torture, she upped her game to the point where I couldn't do anything but breathe and feel. I had the fleeting thought that I should warn her of how close I am, but she knows…of course she knows, but she didn't let up.

An indeterminable amount of time later, after I shouted her name in an embarrassingly loud voice, she looked up at me and flashed me a smug smile.

"Um…I'm sorry?" she said.

"You're…um…what?" I managed to say, because I have no idea where she's going with that and I can barely even string two words together at the moment.

"For attacking you. I was thinking about doing that ever since I woke up this morning, so…"

Ah…

Now I've got it.

"Lucky for me I was in the vicinity," I quipped as she stretched out on top of me. I wrapped my arms around her and we relaxed together for a moment and then I said with no small amount of disinclination, "We're going to be late if we don't get going."

"Yeah, but it might be worth it just to see the look on your face when Ross asks you why," she teased.

"Ha ha," I retorted lightly as we finally got up from the bed. "If he asks, I'll just be honest. Captain, I'm late because Alex gives the most incredible blow-"

"I dare you," she fired back, interrupting my descriptive and laughing as we headed for the shower. "Seriously, go ahead and tell him."

Okay, so I didn't tell him.

But it sure was a hell of a way to start the day.

And the rest of Thursday turned out to be pretty good, too. Very productive. In fact, I think we'll wrap up our case fairly early tomorrow, maybe even before lunch.

More time for Frank, I reminded myself.

Actually, maybe that means I'll have time to jewelry shop afterwards, before catching back up with Alex. I'd really like to surprise her with something nice.

As we left 1PP on Thursday night, we decided to leave the SUV in the garage and instead take the subway home, so we exited the building through the front doors, and that's where we ran into Wheeler.

"I saw Carolyn last weekend," Alex commented as she looked at our colleague approvingly. "So you knew about her and Logan all along, huh?"

"Not all along," she corrected. "But close. Although he didn't have much choice about coming clean with me. Once I saw them together…"

"Hard to hide true love, isn't it?" I said as I tried to hold back a smile. She looked at me inquisitively for a moment, and then Alex asked, "When are you supposed to get a new partner?"

"Soon, I think. I'm not crazy about it, but I understand why Logan was ready to leave."

I nodded thoughtfully and then shifted my attention to a car that had pulled up alongside the curb. A guy in a suit got out of the driver's side and looked in our direction.

His look screams fed and for a minute, I was curious as to his business at 1PP, but then Wheeler caught sight of him and smiled broadly.

"Oh, there's my ride," she said. "I'll see you two tomorrow."

"Sure. Hey, maybe when Carolyn gets back from her vacation, the three of us can get together for drinks," Alex suggested.

Wheeler looked surprised by the invitation, but she nodded and said, "Um…yeah, okay. I'd like that."

She said goodbye and then turned and walked over to the guy, who was still standing next to his car, and we shamelessly watched for a minute as she kissed him hello.

"Come on," Alex said, chucking me with her elbow. "I'm in the mood for filet tonight."

"Spark's?" I asked as we walked down the sidewalk.

"Nope," she responded with a grin. And we were too close to 1PP for any hand-holding or kissing, but the electricity is still there between us.

"I'm glad Wheeler shed that dead-weight loser and found a nice guy."

"How do we know he's nice?"

"You heard Logan on the phone Sunday night. He was encouraging her. I certainly never saw him do that when James Bond was hanging around."

"Good point," I agreed. "I guess everyone gets to be happy, right?"

"That's the way it should work," she replied softly. "Missteps happen, but that's what it should come down to in the end."

"You think that's us, too?"

"Don't you?"

"I just…worry. I can't help it. It's ingrained in me to consider worst-case scenarios."

By this point, we were several blocks from the police station, but still too close to risk touching each other. But Alex ducked into a bookstore, not saying anything until we were lost amongst the rows of books.

"I get that you worry about Frank. And that you miss your mom. And that you've had all kinds of other things go wrong in your life," she began quietly as she stood facing me. She stepped close and took both of my hands in hers as she continued, "But you never have to worry about me. You trust me, right?"

"Absolutely."

"Then trust that no matter what happens, I'm not going anywhere. We'll fight and you'll be a jerk and I'll be bitchy and then we'll make up, okay? We'll always make up. Because we deserve to be happy, and I don't know about you, but as far as I'm concerned, I'm only going to find happiness with you."

I pulled her into my arms, holding her close as I said, "Me, too. And thank you. I know I've been off this week…"

"You've been you. And I love you."

"I love you, too."

We kissed for several minutes in the back of the store as together we chased the doubts from my mind, and then she stepped back and smiled at me.

"Ready to go?"

"Uh huh," I agreed and, deciding to chance being seen, I took hold of her hand as we left the store. "So you think I'll be a jerk, huh?"

She laughed and answered, "I'm sure of it. But I'm pretty sure I'll be bitchy, too, so…"

She shrugged and trailed off, but I get her point.

I let go of her hand and put my arm around her instead, holding her against me as we walked down the sidewalk.

"So, where to?" I asked, my mood suddenly light again.

I can't help but be happy when I'm with her, I realized.

"Up to you. Take-out or eat-in?"

"Take-out," I decided. "Let's get something from Sal's, and we can pick up a bottle of wine…"

"And whipped cream," she added with a suggestive smile.

I laughed and said, "We still have some left."

"Yeah, but I'd hate to run out before I do everything I have planned."

This is going to be a good night.

Or rather, another good night.

Because they've all been pretty damn good since that first night in Atlantic City.

"So…" she prompted as she looked up at me with a playful smile on her face.

Really there's only one appropriate response for a moment like this.

I tucked her closer to me and replied, "Whipped cream it is."

The End