- Alex...
Frances raised her big emerald eyes to Alex, shining with adoration, a big smile on her lips.
At that smile, Eames felt his heart overflow with love for the little girl.
Frances was so brave.
Despite the serious injury she had suffered, the loss of her parents, and still being in a hospital bed, Francès kept smiling.
Eames couldn't forget that it was thanks to Goren's support that Frances had accepted her parents' death more easily.
And every day, they came to see her, much to the delight of the little girl, who greatly appreciated their visits, even when they were apart.
- You know... Alex...
The little girl lowered her gaze to her little hands, which she clasped nervously on her thighs, not daring to say what she wanted to say.
But Frances didn't dare.
She was so afraid of being disappointed.
And yet...
If only that were possible.
But Frances knew she shouldn't hope.
But she would so much like it to be possible.
Francès hadn't been able to forget that when she'd woken up, Alex had been there, looking after her with such gentleness and tenderness, just like a mother.
And that deep in her heart, Frances would love Alex to become her new mom.
But would Alex agree.
Would she want to.
Alex had no children, and with her job, it was quite possible that she didn't want any.
So Frances had to make the most of her visits.
As she thought about Alex's visits, she also thought about Bobby's. He too came to see her, and she appreciated that.
He'd come to see her too, and she really appreciated it when he did.
Nor had she forgotten how he'd taken her in his arms when he'd told her about the loss of her parents, and how he'd comforted her with such kindness and affection.
And Frances had to admit, he had very nice arms.
Just like a father's.
But on that score, she shouldn't get her hopes up either.
But it would be so nice if Alex and Bobby got together and adopted her.
Then she'd have parents again.
Her two people she'd like him to be.
And he'd be a new family.
- Alex... Frances raised her face to Eames', who gave her a tender smile, encouraging her to speak. I...
No.
Frances couldn't say what she felt, or what she wanted.
She was so afraid of being disappointed.
Seeing the little girl who didn't dare say what she wanted to say, Eames put his hand on her little golden head, stroking her golden curls affectionately.
- Francès... You know you can tell me anything.
Yes.
Frances knew.
But it was too hard.
She couldn't tell him.
And yet...
She would have loved to.
In addition, what was Bobby doing.
He'd told her he'd come, and he still wasn't here.
- Where's Bobby...
At the name, Eames smiled, touched.
Alex knew how much Frances adored Bobby.
Goren had said he'd run an errand before coming to see the little girl.
And so, that was why he wasn't here yet.
But Eames knew he wouldn't be long.
- Your big friend... Eames ran his fingers over Frances's cheek, brushing it. He'll be here soon.
At these words, Frances' face lit up with joy.
As always, as soon as the little girl knew Goren was on his way, her face lit up with joy.
She knew how much Frances adored Bobby, and it was the same for Bobby.
He could only see through the little girl.
A strong bond had developed between them.
- But you know Alex... Eames nodded, beckoning her to continue. As much as I love Bobby... Frances plunged her big emerald eyes into Eames' hazel gaze. You're my favorite of the two.
Her favorite of the two...
Eames felt his heart beat violently in his chest, ready to break.
If only Frances knew how much she adored him too.
Eames had always thought Goren was her favorite, but she'd been wrong.
Thinking of her partner, Eames heard the bedroom door creak, and saw him and Frances appear.
- Bobby...
At the little girl's cry at his entrance, Goren blushed violently, embarrassed by so much affection from Francès.
He was still having a little trouble with all her expressions of affection.
But Goren had to admit he liked it.
Just as he adored this little girl.
But Goren didn't know how to show the little girl his feelings for her.
- What's that under your arm.
At Frances's words, Goren snapped out of his thoughts to look at what he was holding under his arm.
So Frances had noticed this package he was holding under his arm.
And which, she didn't know, was for her.
Goren had told Eames that he was going to run an errand before coming.
And he'd let his partner in on what he was going to buy.
Eames had told him that it was an excellent idea, that with this gift, Francès would feel less alone while they were away.
So Goren didn't hesitate, and went to buy it the day after he'd seen it.
Because he'd been afraid it'd be gone in a hurry, and that it wouldn't be there anymore.
- Is it for me.
At the curiosity in Frances's big emerald eyes, Goren smiled, nodded, closed the door behind him and moved closer to her.
When he reached Frances, and stopped right beside Eames, he handed the package to Frances, who took it in her excited little hands.
- Oh thank you, Bobby... Frances turned her gaze to Eames, who was looking at her tenderly. You saw Alex... Bobby gave me a present.
Eames nodded and gave her a big smile.
Yes.
She had seen.
But she knew Goren would be back with a present for Frances.
He'd asked her for advice, because he'd been reluctant to buy her a present.
But she told him he'd made an excellent choice.
So he set off to find the gift.
And to Frances' excitement, Eames was very happy that Goren had bought her a present.
As Eames could see, it didn't matter what was in the package, the fact that Goren had thought of her was enough for Frances.
Frances turned her attention back to the package, which was covered in pastel pink gift wrap, and a pretty golden bow closed the package.
But could she open the package.
That Goren had thought of her was sweet enough.
Francès didn't dare open the package, so Goren turned to Eames, begging her to act.
- Frances... You know you can open it.
Yes.
She knew it.
But she didn't dare.
In addition, could she really.
Maybe Goren would change his mind.
Seeing that, despite her intervention, Frances didn't dare open the package, Eames put her hands on Francès' small hands, and helped her open the gift.
- I'll help you a little... And then you can go on by yourself.
Frances nodded, and with Alex's help opened the package.
Together, they removed the golden bow, and Eames moved her hands away, leaving her to tackle the pastel-pink wrapping paper on her own.
When Frances removed all the wrapping paper, she found herself in front of a rectangular box, with a lid, and placed her little fingers on it, and opened it.
At the sight of what was in the box, Francès's big emerald eyes lit up with wonder, and her cheeks turned pink with pleasure.
- She's so pretty...
Frances delicately lifted the porcelain doll from the box with her small hands, contemplating her.
The doll was wearing a beautiful pastel pink lace dress, with a white sash around the waist, and little boots in the same color as the dress.
Frances placed her little fingers on the dress, brushed against it, and brought them up to her face, which she caressed with infinite delicacy.
The doll had a rosy-cheeked face, big hazel eyes, long straight golden hair, a face with such soft, delicate features.
My God...
But that doll...
Frances turned to Eames, returning his attention to the doll.
Was she dreaming...
She returned her attention to Alex, and the doll.
Telling herself she was dreaming.
But she wasn't dreaming.
This doll did indeed have Alex's face.
So Bobby had bought this Alex-look-alike doll for her.
And he couldn't have pleased her more.
- I love her... I'm going to call her Alexa.
Goren and Eames gasped at the name.
My God...
Could it be that Frances had noticed the resemblance between the doll and Eames.
From the name she'd just given it, and the way she looked at Eames insistently, uncovering the doll's face, she knew she had.
Good heavens...
Let's hope Eames doesn't notice the resemblance.
But how could he not have bought this porcelain doll from Francès.
When he'd come across it, Eames' face had interfered with the doll, and Goren knew how much Frances adored Alex.
So he didn't hesitate, and bought it.
He still remembered how Eames had been when the little girl had woken up.
How tender she'd been.
Like a mother.
As he thought about it, he remembered what the little girl had secretly told him.
That she would love Alex to be her new mommy.
But she was afraid.
Afraid she wouldn't want to.
Goren was sure of the opposite.
He'd seen how his partner was with Frances.
And he knew she was very attached to the little girl.
I'll call her Alexa...
Eames could hardly hear.
Did Frances really want to give her doll that name.
The name she'd often used when she'd gone undercover with Goren, when they'd pretended to be a couple.
It was really strange...
In addition, couldn't there be prettier names than Alexa.
But on the other hand, she was touched that Frances wanted to name his doll after her.
-I think Alexa suits her perfectly.
At her words, which she emphasized to Goren, towards whom she raised her big emerald eyes, he turned completely scarlet, put his hand to the back of his neck, and looked away, all embarrassed.
My God…
Don't tell me.
And yet...
The words Frances had just spoken, the look in her eyes, told him she'd understood why he'd bought that doll.
From Goren's look of embarrassment, Frances understood why he had bought this particular doll.
The little girl had seen how Bobby looked at Alex, and how he talked about her.
At first, she thought, maybe she'd made a mistake.
But she wasn't.
Bobby was definitely in love with Alex.
And there was no doubt in her mind when she saw the porcelain doll and looked into his face.
But did Alex know how Bobby felt.
Or did she have to give Bobby a hand.
Yes.
She was going to help Bobby tell Alex how he felt.
And she'd do it when they were both, and she'd start with her porcelain doll, talking about their similarities.
Frances would hope Alex would understand what she was getting at.
- You really want to call her Alexa…
At Eames's words, Frances snapped out of her thoughts, turned her gaze on Eames, and nodded.
- Yes, it'll suit him fine… She smiled broadly, and turned to Goren. Thank you so much for this gift, Bobby. Frances gently placed the doll in her arms, and held it close to her. I just love her.
At this gesture from Frances, Eames and Goren looked at the little girl tenderly.