T/W: Mentions struggling with missing someone who died.

***
Lex

"Why are you always making snide comments about Knox?" I ask Steve as we prepare for bed.

"I'm not." Steve flops down on the bed, closing his eyes. That's his way of ignoring the conversation.

"You know how much Ari loves seeing Otto," I say, bouncing down, hard on the bed and jostling Steve, who peeks open one eye to glare at me. I just smile, rolling over, and bumping right into him.

"Hey!" Steve opens his other eye and scowls. I giggle. Steve tries to continue looking mad, but he laughs, too. I touch his beard, sliding my fingers over his lips.

"I'm sorry," Steve murmurs. "I know how attached Ari is to Otto."

"She is," I say firmly, shifting around for a more comfortable position. Steve touches my face. "It'd break her little heart if you said she couldn't play with Otto anymore." Steve sighs.

"Now that's not fair," he says.

"How?" I ask.

"Throwing the whole 'Ari loves him and it'll break her little heart' crap in my face," Steve says.

"I'm not throwing that in your face," I tell Steve. "It's the truth."

"I guess I still feel uncomfortable having Knox over here," Steve explains.

"He's done nothing wrong," I say patiently. "He's always a gentleman around me and Ari. He's never been inappropriate."

"Doesn't mean he won't be," Steve argues.

"No arguing." I'm firm. Steve needs to learn to chill. First Eric, now Knox. Frankly, I'm tired of it. I haven't done anything wrong. Nor has Eric or Knox. They're my friends and I like hanging out with them.

"All right," Steve says. I lean in, giving him a kiss and snuggling up against his body.

"Thank you."

***
Speaking of Eric, I decide to swing by the crime lab for a bit to see everyone. Ari loves coming down here. She's especially attached to Horatio. Ari also likes riding in the elevator and I'll let her push the button.

"H?" Ari asks, looking up at me as we ride up. I smile.

"If he's here," I tell her.

"Okay." The elevator doors slide open and luckily the first person we see is Horatio.

"H!" Ari breaks free from holding my hand, racing down the hallway.

"Aria, hey. How are you?" Horatio crouches down to Aria's level. She giggles, throwing her arms around Horatio's neck. He smiles, lifting her up.

"I'm good," Aria tells him.

"That's good," Horatio says. I notice he's studying Aria.

"Lex, it's good to see you," Horatio greets me. I move to hug him as best I can while he's holding Ari.

"It's wonderful to see you, too," I murmur.

"You're doing well?" Horatio asks, eyeing my protruding belly. I smile and nod.

"I am. Just anxious to meet the newest member of our family."

"I'm sure."

"Lex!" Calleigh turns the corner.

"Hey!" I move to hug her.

"How are you?" Calleigh asks.

"Exhausted," I reply with a laugh.

"Calleigh!" Aria is reaching for her. Calleigh takes her.

"Hey, sweetie. Are you being good for your mom?" Calleigh asks. Aria nods vigorously.

"Yes! My baby is coming," she tells Calleigh.

"I know. That's exciting." Eric is the next one to appear and I hurry over, throwing my arms around him. I haven't seen him in weeks and I've missed him.

"Did you miss me?" Eric teases and I laugh.

"Nah," I tease back. "Not at all." Eric hugs me tightly and I lean into his embrace. Occasionally when I'm hugging Eric, I'll get a strange ache for..Speed. Today is one of those days. I hold on to Eric a little longer than necessary.

"You okay, Lex?" Eric whispers in my ear. I nod, reluctantly releasing him, my eyes moist.

"Yeah. Just missing Speed." Eric takes my hand and I'm happy. I need someone to hold on to. Ryan and Alexx appear a few minutes later. I hug Alexx tightly and say hello to Ryan.

Even though I've known him for a while now, I'm still a little formal around him. Aria and I don't stay too long, as I know everyone is busy.

"Hopefully Steve and I can host another party soon," I tell them all.

"I'll be there when you do," Eric says. Everyone else said they'd come as well. We tell them goodbye and head for home.

***
Steve

I'm at my parents. Mom had called me, telling me she'd found some old stuff of mine that she'd thought I'd like. Mostly it's just old toys and books.

"Lex must be getting anxious," Mom says, putting everything in a brown paper bag for me to take home.

"We both are," I say.

"I suppose she's still hoping for a boy?" Mom looks at me, smiling.

"She is."

"It'd be wonderful having a grandson, bearing your brother's name." Mom's eyes get a little moist.

"Yeah," I murmur. "It'd be great." Dad joins us, asking the same question as Mom about Lex.

"Not much more to go, eh?" Dad says, grinning.

"No," I say.

"Bet you're hoping for a boy this time around?" Dad asks.

"Not necessarily. I'd be fine with another girl."

"You would?" Dad looks kinda disappointed. I laugh.

"Of course. Boys are hard on everything. In case you forgot." Mom laughs.

"I didn't forget. Your father and I had a rough go with the furniture, as I recall."

"It's s wonder we had any furniture," I comment.

"Isn't that the truth?" Mom finishes putting everything in the bag, lifting it up and hands it to me. I take it, hefting it up in my arms and heading for the door.

"Give Lex and Aria our love," Mom tells me.

"I will. Thanks for the stuff," I say, going out the front door.

"You're welcome!" Mom calls out after me. As I head for my truck, I pause, recalling all the crazy times Tim and I had growing up.

For a moment, it's hard to catch my breath. Damn. I wonder if I'll ever stop missing him? I doubt it.

***
Ari is excited to see the new books and toys when I bring them in. Also...Knox is here. He greets me a little stiffly, as though he expects me to do the same

I guess we both still feel a little awkward towards one another. Otto, his crazy dog, is running in circles, which Ari loves, as she's giggling like mad.

"Steve! What's this?" I pass the bag over to Lex before giving her a kiss. She smiles, moving to set the bag on the couch and begins pulling out the items. Naturally, Ari is over there in a second, exclaiming over everything.

"From Mom," I tell Lex.

"Aww." Lex's eyes water. "That's so sweet!"

"It's just some old shit of mine," I say. Knox is busying himself by petting Otto and trying to calm him down.

"It's such a sweet gesture," Lex comments.

"Ooh!" Ari's discovered a new picture book. She sits down and begins turning the pages.

"I'll head out," Knox says, clipping on Otto's leash on

"Bye-bye!" Ari waves at Knox, who grins.

"Goodbye, Aria. I'll see you later, Lex."

"Of course." Lex beams at him, which makes me feel weird. "Thanks for stopping by."

"No problem." Knox tugs on Otto's leash as they head out.

"Oh, Stevie, look!" I turn my attention to my wife, who's now holding up a tattered teddy bear. I laugh.

"My old teddy bear," I say. Lex smiles, beckoning me closer. I go to her, touching her cheek. And I completely put Knox Marshall out of my mind.