Alexis checked her make-up in the mirror, adjusted the hem of her shirt. It wasn't going to be a wild night out but there was something to be said for her own sense of personal pride when going to a girls' night in at Casa Espo. She wondered what it said about her as a parent that she felt perfectly fine leaving her daughter at home with her papa while she went out and had fun but it was a momentary doubt only. Alexis knew that separation anxiety was something all parents went through; besides Shane wouldn't let her stay home and mope, not when he'd gotten to go out with and without Petra for nights with the boys. Why shouldn't she be allowed a night of her own, was both their reasonings.

Picking up her purse and jacket, Alexis walked into the living room where she saw Petra flexing and stretchign on her tummy, beating her palms against the colourful images of her play-time quilt.

'Oooo, ooo!' she burbled merrily, making Shane laugh.

'That's a dog, Petra, isn't he cute? Or maybe it's a she like Tortuga.'

'It definitely looks like Tortuga,' Alexis agreed, making Shane glance up. She felt her insides warm when she saw his slow sexy grin. Pregnancy, a baby, emotional illness hadn't dulled the flame there a bit, she thought. 'I'll make sure I say hello for you.'

Petra's eyes darted around as she tracked Alexis' voice, then gave a shriek of laughter when Alexis picked her up, blew a raspberry on her cheek.

'You be good, my sweet. No wild parties with Papa, got it?'

'Mumum, we're not having some wild parties. Just pizza and some video games, maybe a movie.'

'What kind of video games,' Alexis asked with mock suspicion.

'Guardians of Valhalla, I forget what number they are up to now,' he replied, getting to his feet. 'Gimme a lick.'

'I'll get a lick from Tugsy, but for you...' she trailed off, gave him a slow sizzling kiss. 'That's what you get until later, naughty boy.'

'Maybe. I'm on call starting at four am.'

'Then I won't be late.'

As expected when she arrived at two-seventy-one West Twenty-Fifth Street, Alexis walked into a house full of children's noise, the scent of good food and the unmistakeable fragrance of a wet dog.

'Tortuga got into the neighbour's compost bin when Javi took her for a walk earlier so she needed a bath,' Meredeth explained. 'Come on in, you want a glass of wine?'

'Sure, just don't let me forget to pump out.'

'Girl I had four babies, trust me I won't.'

Alexis followed her to the kitchen, saw Lanie and Lindsay sitting at the table, Zane in a high chair with Lindsay feeding him what Alexis suspected was mashed strawberries. On the table were three bottles of wine already open in various states of consumption a tray of fruit and cheese, another of assorted goodies. 'Thought it was girls' night,' she teased her friend.

'Adam and Evie got called in,' Lindsay explained. So the little man and I are flying together tonight.'

'Which is just as well because now we can plan our little surprise party for her like we wanted,' Lanie explained, popping up to pour Alexis a glass of merlot. 'Canapes are fresh from the oven, and- hey sweetie.'

'Hi Lanie.' Tessi beamed a smile at her, looked to her mother. 'Mami, can we have our fancy treats now?'

'Where are you guys?'

'Upstairs in my room with the DVD player. Tortuga is behaving and Leo and Trini finished putting away the towels like you asked. Please?'

'Get one of the Three Musketeers to help you.' When Tessi didn't budge, Meredeth gave her a look. 'No.'

'But, Mami I'm a big girl, I'm the oldest of four kids! And I have a sweetheart, and Daddy let me have a little bit of wine at Christmas time!' Tessi protested earnestly.

'Goodie for you,' was Meredeth's reply, 'you can have grape-juice with ginger-ale or cranberry and club soda if you like. Wine is for the really big kids tonight.'

'Fine. Max!'

Tessi bellowed for her baby brother, wandered off while leaving a stunned Alexis in her wake. She looked to Meredeth like she'd just witnessed Merlin performing a miracle. 'How do you do that, Mere?' she asked.

'Get my kids to tow the line?'

'Yeah.'

'Because they don't have a lot of rules so they know when I say no, it's not open for discussion. Being cops kids, they're used to being flexible on plans.' Meredeth shrugged. 'Being a cop's wife and a mom, I've learned to be moreso.'

'Cool.' Alexis sipped her wine, made a noise in her throat. 'So tell me, tell me, what's this about a baby party for Evie?'

'She's been having a bit of a tough time with her hormones getting the better of her,' Lanie explained, 'and apparently, according to Adam, her and Brie have been having a few fights lately about the sperm donor.'

'Does Evie think Brie had an affair?'

'Oh of course not, they just have a difference of opinion on how involved he should be in the child's life. Both want him involved,' Lanie added, choosing a mini spanokopita off the tray in front of her. 'It's just a matter of how much they're fighting about. So I figured they might like a nice party that's all about being celebratory for the baby to lighten the mood a little.'

'I think you're a very smart woman, Doctor,' Lindsay told her. 'Evie's tough but she's also very vulnerable right now because of the baby hormones, so support like that will go a long way.'

'I sure appreciated it,' Alexis agreed, making Lanie tap her white wine against her red. 'Especially the onsie-painting party.'

'Great idea,' Lindsay agreed. 'And I think I know how we can pull it off as a surprise for our newest mama-to-be.'