Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing, sadly. Well Melanie came from my own head...

Rated: M

Well guys, this is it. We have reached the end. For those of you who are still here and who have stuck with me thank you. Thank you for your reviews, your support, your kindness and your patience. You are all amazing! I hope this lived up to everything you hoped it would.

Summary: Alex heads out to a bar at the behest of her best friend. Her life will never be the same.

Alex's POV

"Shit Alex! Get this adorable monster spawn to stand still! It's like trying to put a bow tie on a slithering eel!" Melanie is currently wrestling with a very determined 3 year old. He wants nothing to do with his current situation and would rather be running around with his sister.

"Well stop trying to put the bow tie on him! And watch your language!" I yell back from the other side of the room.

"Oh no! I'm not doing THAT again! When I gave up last time he yelled at me and I don't even know what he said, he doesn't make sentences Al!"

"He's three, what do you expect? Dissertations?" I yell back before sighing. It's never easy is it?

Having Melanie help out is like having an extra toddler only this one is tall, makes full sentences, swears like a sailor and gets into the liquor cabinet consistently. Why I made her the godmother is beyond me, I probably would have been better off making my children her godmother. I once came home to her sitting in the bathtub with all her clothes on in an attempt to show the kids there were no monsters in the bathtub. Every time there's a bath time they try to use that excuse and why she was in every article of clothing was beyond me. She did look rather hilarious covered in bubbles.

"Damnit Xander, how am I supposed to put the tie on if you won't let me PUT THE TIE ON?!"

"Ammit!" Great, now he's copying her, which he usually does but today is not the day for him to copy her swearing.

"Melanie! Language!"

"Al I can't help it! He won't let me put this stupid tie on but he won't go without one!"

"That's YOUR fault and stop calling him Xander." I answer back.

"It was only a joke, I thought Lauren would look cute in a bow tie so I just wanted to try it on her."

"Yes and she did look cute and SHE thought she looked cute and so now here we are. Hence: Your fault."

"Heeeelllpppp meeeeeeeeee!"

I smooth my dress down and finish clipping my earring in before taking one last look in the mirror. Satisfied, I sigh and walk over to Melanie and Thomas. I fix Thomas with a stare.

"Thomas Alexander, if you want to wear a bow tie like your big sister you have to sit still and let Aunt Melanie put it on otherwise you can't wear a bow tie. Do you want to wear one?"

"Yes mama." He stares up at me with his deep blue eyes.

"What do you have to do then?" I ask waiting for him to sit down.

""It down," he says as he plops his tiny body down on the floor in front of Melanie. He stares hard at her before lifting his chin.

"Why are you staring at me munchkin? You're the one who wants the bow tie," she says with exasperation in her voice.

"Melanie, please don't argue with my 3 year old, you'll never win," I tell her as I roll my eyes at her.

"Alright Xander, you're done buddy!" She lifts him up so he's standing up, his head coming to nearly the same height as her as she kneels in front of him. He falls into her arms and wraps his little arms around her neck hugging her tight.

"Thank you Auntie Mellie!"

"Any time pal!" And just like that, whatever war they were in is resolved as Thomas runs off to show his new bow tie off to his big sister. We watch as the two children show off their outfits to each other.

"I still can't believe you're letting her wear a tiny tux," Melanie says to me.

"Well we all tried to convince her to wear a dress. I can't be certain but I think my mother might have offered her a pony even though she says she 'did no such thing'. In the end we all decided to let her wear the tux, she does look really adorable in it. Plus she's got her grandfather wrapped around her little pinky, all she had to do was look at him and stick her tiny lip out at him and he was done. He didn't even have a chance."

"Yeah, I know the feeling, she's a charmer for sure."

As if on cue my little charmer comes running into the room with her younger brother following behind. I catch her in my arms and hoist her unto my hip. She's only a year older than Thomas but to him, she's the sun and moon. It's rare that she doesn't have her little shadow following her around so when he comes running up behind her Melanie grabs him before he runs smack into my legs and lifts him to her hip.

"Mama," Lauren begins, "Gandpa says it's time to goooooooo."

"Okay baby," I tell her before kissing her cheek. "I think we're forgetting someone though," I tell her. She begins to wiggle trying to get down. When I set her down she takes off like a bolt of lightning. Thomas is trying very unsuccessfully to get out of Melanie's grasp so he can follow his sister.

"No way mister, you're stuck with me!" She leans into his face and blows raspberries on his cheek to distract him from his sister's mission. He giggles and tries to blow raspberries on Melanie's cheek though he mostly ends up licking her cheek.

"Ugh, gross dude!" Melanie sets him down on the floor and he sprints out the door after his sister.

"He still hasn't figured out the raspberry Melanie," Olivia says as she walks in carrying Thomas and holding Lauren's hand. She looks stunning. She's wearing a deep slate cocktail dress that falls just below her knees. The neckline plunges just enough to show off but no so much that it's indecent. The dress hugs every curve and I immediately wish we didn't have a house full of people and an event to go to.

"What do you think Alex?" Olivia spins and gives me a full 360 view of her dress.

"I think we should blow this shindig off and stay here and make Melanie babysit," I tell her as I saunter up to her and capture her lips in a searing kiss.

"Keep it in your skirt Al," I hear as my little brother walks into the room and grabs Thomas out of Olivia's arms. "Jesus it's a good thing you two can't accidentally get pregnant. Come on Tom, Grandpa's in the car waiting for everyone and he isn't thrilled he's waiting," my brother hints.

"Send in Lauren first," I hear Melanie say. "She'll appease him."

"Good call," he replies and holds his hand out for Lauren. "Ready to save us all from your grandfather's wrath?" She happily grabs his hand and lets my brother lead her out the door.

"Wait for me," Melanie says as she jogs after the group. "These two are gonna make out again!"

Olivia and I laugh as Melanie makes a face before disappearing from the room and heads to the door behind my brother and the kids.

"She's right you know," I say to Olivia as I wrap my arms around her neck. "We are definitely going to make out again." I lean forward and capture her lips.

"You're father is going to kill us," she mumbles against my mouth.

"It'll be worth it," I answer before pulling her lower lip between my teeth and biting down on the soft flesh. We get lost in each other's mouths and before we know it my clutch which is lying on the bed begins to ring.

"Busted," says Olivia as she grabs my bag and pulls me out of the house to the car where my father is waiting at an open door.

"Really Alexandra? You're going to make us late to our own event because you can't stop making out with your wife? I expect this from her but Olivia, you're supposed to be responsible." He pins her with the Cabot stare and she just blushes.

"Olivia is responsible dad but when Alex has her tongue…"

"Okay! We're here and ready to go and if you finish that sentence Theo I will punch you in the nose!" I threaten my brother before practically leaping into the car. Olivia follows me and my father piles in last. We all settle into our seats and buckle in before indicating to the driver that it's safe for us to leave.

"I still don't see why we need to have this stupid event," I say, pouting just a little.

"It's not every day you get elected District Attorney Alexandra," my mother answers. I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

"I don't need a party mother," I remind her having told her this many times over the last few weeks.
"Well maybe your father and I want to celebrate our daughter and her amazing accomplishments and her very beautiful family."

"Low blow Mom," says my brother. "You know she'll never complain about it if you bring Olivia and the kids into it."

"I may not be an attorney but I'm no dummy," my mother states before winking at me. I know I've lost, plus the kids will love it. And I love when my parents present Olivia and I as a family, it shows how much they've learned to grow and love Olivia just as much as they might love anyone who I would have brought home, if anything they love her more because of who she is and what kind of partner she's been to me through the years.

We pull up to the country club and begin to stream out of the car a like a well dressed group of clowns piling out of our fancy clown limo. My father steps out first as Olivia and I unbuckle the kids letting them out next. They begin to make a beeline up the stairs to the building until my father calls them back. Lauren reaches her grandfather first and grabs his hand smiling up at him innocently. Not to be outdone Thomas grabs his other hand and grins at him before they both tug his arms and he leans down and is nearly dragged up the stairs by two children who barely come up past his knees. My brother steps out next and reaches an arm out to help my mother out of the car. My brother waits to help Melanie out of the car which she lets him do but as soon as she's standing she swats his hands away telling him she doesn't want any ladies to get the wrong idea. My brother shrugs and leads my mother elegantly up the stairs. Olivia steps out the car next and mimicking my brother's actions she reaches out and holds her hand out for me to grab it. I reach out and grab her hand and step out of the car. She pulls me into her arms and placing a light kiss on my lips.

"Have I told you that you're absolutely stunning Alex?"

"Not in the last hour," I tease.

"Well you are, simply stunning."

"I'm just trying to keep up with my gorgeous wife," I tell her before kissing her one more time. I step out of her arms and reach for her hand. "Are you ready for another over-the-top Catherine Cabot event?"

"As long as I have you beside me, I'm ready to take on anything. I love you Alexandra Jacqueline Benson-Cabot, thank you for giving me our world."

A/N And that's my story of how these two fell in love! Thank you all for reading it, I truly hope you enjoyed it. Sidenote: I'm considering writing some one-shots within this world I've created. Maybe stories of how they moved in with each other, got engaged, how Lauren and Thomas came to be, etc. Would you all read them if I wrote them? I just love them and this story the have. I wanted this to be longer because I love the kids with Alex and Liv and family but I didn't want it forced or too long for no reason. That's all! You guys are amazing! Thanks again for sticking around!