Hello my squeaky little starfish! I'm so sorry for the lack of updates recently but it is November and we all know what that means - NaNoWriMo is upon us! Whee! Also must give shout-outs to NotJana, tayababy, NCISChick/BabyCastle09, and Alex Beckett for being beautiful, talented wonderful people I love and adore! Enjoy!

'Mimimi!'

'Yes, Mumum's heading out with some friends to go shopping today.'

'Mimimi?'

'Yep, I'm hanging with you today cutie-pie.'

Shane grinned as he stirred Petra's baby cereal with the warm milk while Alexis sat with Petra in the living room. His girl was getting so big, and her hair- good Jesus and little fishes, the tot was gonna need a trip to the barber before she was six months old. 'So where are you and Lindsay going today?'

'Picking stuff out for Valentine's Day,' Alexis replied as she watched Petra try to stuff one of her stuffed animals into her mouth. She gently lowered her daughter's hand from her face; Petra being the easy-going soul she was found sudden fascination with her toes. 'Andrea and Daniel are letting them use the cottage in Bermuda for a few days to get away, and Andrea and Daniel are babysitting Zane.'

'I bet the girls are excited.'

'They are thrilled,' Alexis laughed, 'although I think Nessa's slightly concerned because Heddie's a bit of an exhibitionist when it comes to being dressed for bath or bedtime and they have a male house-guest.'

'Wonder how they'll react if they see their parents change his diaper. Thank goodness our Little Rock has-'

'Really? We're sticking with that?'

'Talk to your siblings,' was all Shane said as he went to the answer the door buzzer while Alexis reached out her hands for Petra's tiny ones. She giggled when Petra pulled on her fingers and made a raspberry noise. 'Are you trying to pull my finger, my love?'

'Uncle Javi might have shown her that one at cards night last week,' Shane said with a guilty smile.

Alexis gave Petra's little finger a tug, blew air out of her puffed up cheeks which had the infant laughing away. 'Don't tell Javi I told you this but it's adorable.'

'I agree,' he replied, then opened the door for Lindsay, Adam and Zane. 'Hey guys, come on in.'

'Linds, I'm ready to go, just lemme grab my purse.'

Alexis went to get up, found Petra still glued to her fingers and making a face again. 'Okay my little puffer fish.'

She scooped up Petra, who hadn't let go of her mother's fingers and was pulling them back and forth as they walked over to greet the Brennan family. 'Don't you even think of showing this one to Zane. He'll learn soon enough.'

'What one?' Adam asked, curious.

'Watch.' Alexis tried to loosen Petra's grip but the little girl tugged and puffd up her cheeks while making the same raspberry noise. 'Javi taught her that.'

'Petra, little ladies don't make jokes like that,' Lindsay teased as she gave Zane kisses goodbye. 'Zane, don't you go encouraging bad habits.'

'Oooo.' Zane shook his dark head, his equally dark eyes bright with happiness. 'Pipipipi?'

'Yes that's Petra, that's right.'

'You really think that's what he means,' Shane asked drily, and Adam shook his head with pursed lips.

'He's starting to try and make sounds like words already. Pediatrician thinks he's gonna be an early talker, like single words by Saint Patty's.'

'Wow.'

'Mamamama!' Zane pursed up his lips so he looked like a little goldfish. 'Moomoomoomoo.'

'Oh yes, a moosh for you my sweet little guy.' Lindsay gave her son a kiss as Alexis did the same for her daughter, and they headed out to do some romantic vacation shopping.

'Does it feel funny?' Alexis asked her friend as they headed southwest towards Union Square, one of Lindsay's favourite places to shop.

'What?'

'Going on vacation without Zane.'

'A little, but at the same time this is the first weekend away Adam and I have gotten to have together since he was born.' Lindsay smiled as she gave a little shrug. 'Plus we really want it before we start the paperwork and research.'

'Paperwork and research for what?'

Lindsay gave a little smile, the same one Alexis remembered seeing on her friend's face when she'd announced her pregnancy at Hallowe'en. 'No,' she gasped, stopping on the sidewalk, 'no way, you guys are going to try for another baby? Like, you're gonna use IVF or something?'

'Not quite. Adam and I have decided we're going to adopt a baby.'

'Oh, Linds.' Alexis gave a little squeal of delight, clapped like she was applauding her favourite pop-star. 'Oh, sweetie that's amazing! What...when did this come up?'

'Around Christmas time, when we were with everyone at the Esposito house, both of us were feeling like we wanted that for our children. We decided to give it about a month to see if it was just the holidays making us feel that way but it hasn't changed.'

'So are you looking at a child from an orphanage already or a mother looking to place an unborn with a family, or maybe even internationally?'

'All of it. It used to sound so cliche but having had Zane...' Lindsay trailed off to clear the lump from her throat so the tears wouldn't spill. 'I really do want a big family, and I really do want another baby, just a healthy baby to love with my husband that Zane can love with us.'

Alexis didn't bother hiding her tears as she threw her arms around her friend. 'Sweetie, whatever you need for them, a character reference, a background check, anything like that I'm here.'

'I know. Oh fuck it.' Lindsay sat down on one of the benches near the entrance to Grammercy Park and began to weep little happy tears. 'Alexis, I...I don't know how to thank you.'

'For what?'

'Everything. For...for being there after I was assaulted, for introducing me to Adam who is just the kindest most patient man and I love him so much, for supporting me after I found out Zane would be my only natural child.'

'Hey.' Alexis rubbed her friend's shoulder. 'We're friends and I love you. It's what we do.'