A/N: Double update day! LOL. Posting new chapters is helping to keep me motivated so I'm taking advantage of my day off to do just that. ;)

And be patient with me... I promise your questions will be answered and everything will make sense. Just maybe not in this chapter... ;)

Chapter 3

"Mom, I just don't understand why you won't at least talk to him?" Molly pressed on as they entered Kelly's. She watches her mother set Danny down in front of her.

"Can you walk nice and hold my hand please?" Alexis kisses his head when he nods obediently and they continue their walk to the counter.

Molly was tired of being ignored, "Mom!"

"Molly," Alexis snapped, keeping her voice low as to not cause a scene, but her grandson looked up suddenly, noting the change in demeanor, "Please, enough, okay?"

"Well, I'm just saying… You know why he came over instead of calling."

Alexis sighed, "Molly. Enough."

"Natasha!"

She looks up suddenly, and blinks a few times to ensure her eyes weren't deceiving her, "Luke?"

"Yes." He leans over the counter to smile and wave to the little blue eyed toddler holding tightly to his grandmother's hand.

"What are you doing here?" Alexis asks, dripping with accusation.

Luke glances to Molly, "Well someone's in a great mood today…"

"Oh, dear God," Alexis rolls her eyes, "Can I just order my lunch please?"

"Certainly, Natasha darling," Luke nods, picking up the order pad, "And for your information, in case you forgot, this place is Spencer owned and I am…"

"A Spencer," She nods, knowingly, "Right. I just thought you gave up menial labor for bigger and better pursuits but I suppose I was mistaken."

"Gumma! Up!" Danny's little voice sounded from knee level.

"Well, you are right." Luke smirks as Alexis bends down to Danny's reach and hoists him up to sit on the counter, where he grins happily to 'Mr. Luke'. "I did give up menial labor. But, alas, I do have to do my part from time to time around here. Especially since your boy toy left…"

"Ah, ah, ah," Alexis glared, covering Danny's ears, "Do you mind? And Sean is not my boy toy… anymore."

"Ew." Molly squirms, shaking the thought from her mind.

With another roll of her eyes, Alexis releases her hands from her grandson's ears, addressing him face to face, "What do you want, baby? You want chicken fingers?"

Danny nods, sitting up a little straighter, "Fen fy!"

"And French fries," Alexis smirks, turning to Luke, "Did you get that?"

"Got it," Luke jots down the order with a laugh, "And a Veggie burger for Miss Molly. And two Bacon cheese burgers for the Natasha and Samantha."

"Thank you." She smiles, happy they finally moved on. Hunger wasn't helping her mood.

"So what's the problem, Natasha?" Luke turns back from the order window with a smile, "What has your panties in a knot?"

"Luke!" She warns, "Nothing. Stop it!"

"Mom's not talking to Garrett." Molly flinches when her mother's head snaps in her direction.

"Molly Lansing-Davis. Would you kindly mind your business?"

"Nope." Molly smiles, lifting Danny from the counter and into her arms, "Not until you do." They scurry away from the wrath and over to the arcade machine.

Alexis exhaustedly turns back to her friend and takes a seat on the barstool, "How did I end up with such smart asses for daughters?"

"Ha!" Luke throws his head back in laughter, "If only I had a mirror…"

"Shut up, Luke."

"So what's this about you not speaking to Gerard, hmm?" He questions lightly as he slides an iced tea to her.

"Thank you." Alexis draws a deep breath, "Gerard and I don't need to talk. I have nothing to say."

"Well, have you thought about the fact that maybe he has something to say?" Luke raises a brow, much to his dear friend's dismay. "Something for you to listen to?"

"Luke." She sighs, looking up to him, "You know I've danced this dance much too many times before. I can't deal with it. I'm too old… I can't play the lying game anymore. That's it." She shrugs matter-of-factly as she takes a drink of her iced tea.

"Why do you automatically assume that he was lying?"

"Oh I don't know… maybe because that's all he's ever done?"

"It is his job, Natasha." He countered.

"It wasn't his job 34 years ago." She raises a brow.

Order up!

Luke sighs before turning around and retrieving the two take out bags from the window and setting them in front of his friend on the counter, though reluctant to release them, "For what it's worth, Natasha, I've dealt with a lot of cons in my time. Gerard isn't one of them."

Alexis stared at him for a moment before rising from her seat and taking the bags, "Thanks for the tea."

"You bought it." He shrugs.

She shakes her head with a laugh as she retrieves Danny and Molly and walks out the door.