Neds fingers grazed across her stomach

To the naked eye their secret was safe

But the revelation of skin from the four buttons undone from her dress shirt spurned the imagination of their beautiful little girl growing inside of her

He had missed the feel of Alexis pregnant belly with Kristina. He would lie in bed at night and think of how he missed her life even before she was born he had to make it up to her and it would never be that way for their little girl not now not ever

His hands were warm to the touch and his fingers circled her skin, soothing her

She would slowly run her long thin fingers through his hair mimicking his movements

He was running late, she had a million things to do he lie there beside her mesmerized by their baby inside of her

"Youre going to be late"

"I have few more minutes"

"You dont want Lois to have to wait"

Ned looked up at Alexis and grinned

"Youre right"

He leaned in kissed her tummy as if he were to tell his little girl goodbye too he then leaned up to kiss Alexis somewhat passionately before getting up

"I hope shes still glad to see me"

"Ned, you know she is, you know Brooklynn is happy to have you in her life she assured you of that"

"I just seem to be missing all of my girls lives and I cant understand why I ever agreed to let Brooklynn or Kristina out of my life"

"You fall in love with overbearing woman?"

"Yeah! Thats it!" He said trying to kid

Alexis only threw a pillow towards him

"And women with good aim"

He was now laughing slyly

Alexis got out of bed and started to walk past him

"Have a good time with your daughter, Ned"

Ned grabbed Alexis holding her against him

"Say you love me first"

Alexis looked away from him

"Say it!"

"Love me first"

"Smart ass"

"Thank you" Alexis said grinning proudly "Tell Brook I said hello"

"I will"

She was thirteen

She wasnt awkward in any way she had become the spitting image of her handsome and somewhat absent father

She ran towards Ned at the sight of him

Little girl or not she loved her daddy

"Dad!"

"Hey sweetheart!"

Ned hugged her lifting her feet off the ground

"Ned"

"Lois"

"Call me when I need to come get her"

"Ill bring her back"

"Are you sure?"

Ned looked at Brook

"Of course"

He held the door to the cab for Lois

"Bye baby"

"Bye mom"

"Do you wanna get lunch first?"

"Um yeah"

"You dont know how glad I am I get to see you anytime we want now!"

Brook smiled actually charmed that her father was so happy to see her. Especially for what she wanted to ask him

"You seem to be worried about something whats on your mind?"

"Daddy I need to talk to you"

"Is something wrong?"

"No well kind of can we just talk at lunch?"

"Sure" Ned said puzzled by his daughters seriousness

"Mom says were moving to California"

"What! Why?"

"She has a boyfriend Daddy I dont want to go I finally have my family here I have a sister and about to have another and I dont want to go to California!"

She had her argument

More like her protest

Ned leaned back in his chair and ran his hands through his hair trying to think of a way to appease his daughter

"Daddy please dont make me go, please let me stay here with you and Alexis"

"Brooklynn"

"Daddy"

"Was your mother even going to discuss this with me?"

Brook just shrugged

"I know you guys dont have room for me I know youre busy and you have Kris and the new baby but please"

"Brooklynn this has nothing to do with not having room for you or even not wanting you. We are your family too and you always have a home with us but your mother has custody of you and things arent that simple"

"Will you at least think about it?"

"I need to talk to your mother and to Alexis ok"

"Ok"

Alexis sat at the counter in the kitchen reading over a contract

"Hey you" she said noticing Ned walk in

He kissed her on the forehead

"Hows Brook?"

Ned let out a deep breath

"Troubled"

"Troubled? What does that mean?"

"Lois is moving to California"

"California? Why?"

"Brook says she has a boyfriend and he wants them to move out there"

"And Brook doesnt want to go?"

"Exactly"

"And youre feeling like the guilty father right now"

"Exactly"

"So whats the solution?"

"I was hoping you would have the answer for me?"

"Did she mention staying here with us"

"She all but got down on her hands and knees"

"Lois will flip out"

"Youre saying it would be fine by you?"

"Im saying shes your daughter and shes a good kid and also taking her away again from her father which she suddenly in the past few months has grown accustom to being around seems really harsh."

"So what? I put up a fight to Lois for her and then we all become one big happy family?"

"Shouldnt this be my argument?"

"Im just being realisticI mean we are going to some major extremes here"

"You were a father to my daughter when she needed one. Why shouldnt I welcome your daughter when she not only needs her father but maybe me too? Im just saying shes your daughter its your decision. Well work it out from there"

"I think youre making this too easy"

"For me, yes for you and Lois, no"

"So I should talk to Lois about this?"

"You sound like Brook was pretty serious about this"

"She was prepared to fight"

"Then talk to Lois"

"Me and four women in this apartment?"

Alexis laughed

"Who knew huh? Next thing you know well be car pooling in Connecticut"

"I definitely wouldnt have predicted this three children but I cant seem to marry you to save my life!"

"Well if its an consolation I definitely think its too late for us to back out now!"

Ned rubbed his eyes and Alexis again laughed finding it humorous at how he was suddenly completely stressed

"Itll be ok honey"

"And when did you become so worry free?"

Alexis leaned in to him almost to whisper into his ear

"The day I kissed you again"

Ned bit down on his lip thinking of that fateful moment and then wrapped his arms around her

"You know you never cease to amaze me Alexis Davis"