This chapter takes place before everything that happened with Denise and the subsequent events that followed her situation.
The day Bella came home was also the day Alex became a big brother. The moment he first saw Bella, he fell in love with her, just like his parents did. Andy and Robert made every effort to include Alex in everything. He helped with feeding his sister, bathing her, and even changing her diapers.
"Ew, smelly poo!" he kept saying while holding his nose.
Alex loved to watch Bella sleep in her crib, observing every little movement she made. Throughout the night, as Bella cried, Alex would get up to help, wanting to feed her and cuddle with her.
With Christmas just around the corner, Ben and Bailey took Alex shopping to pick out a little gift for Andy and Robert from both Alex and Bella. While being carried around the shops, Alex saw a little pink snuggle bear, pointed to it, and wanted it for Bella. They agreed to buy it for his baby sister.
He couldn't get enough cuddles with her; if anyone else wanted to hold Bella, Alex would say, "No, my baby!"
Andy said, "I don't know what I was worried about; Alex loves Bella so much."
On Christmas morning, Alex kissed Bella on the head and said, "Merry Christmas, Bella." He handed her the pink bear, repeating, "I love you." From that moment on, Bella loved sleeping with the pink bear, but her parents soon realized that when she didn't have it, she would constantly cry. They did everything they could to comfort her, thinking she might be hungry, but she refused her bottle. They tried everything to get her to sleep, but she wouldn't settle down.
One day, Alex came home from nursery with Ryan and saw Bella crying.
"Bella is sad," he said, holding the pink bear up for Andy to take, but she was frustrated and wasn't paying attention.
As Andy sat down with Bella, Alex handed her the bear, placing the blanket part against her cheek and the bear in her arms.
"I can't believe it!" Andy exclaimed. "All this time, we tried to get Bella to sleep, and all she wanted was the bear. Well done, darling! You got Bella to calm down."
Alex replied, "Baby's sleeping, shhh."
At two months old, Bella began to smile. She would kick her legs and wave her arms excitedly whenever she saw Alex. Her favourite thing was the pretty Christmas lights, but she wasn't a fan of Santa; he made her cry every time.
They celebrated Christmas, but their festivities were rudely interrupted by an unannounced visit from Denise, who caused a lot of trouble for Andy and Robert. Both Alex and Bella suffered, as they weren't together in the same house. Robert was punishing the wrong people for hurting Alex.
As weeks went on Andy decided it was time to go back to work she put bells in the day nursery so she still could get her when she needed it. It also ment that Alex could see and spend time with his sister as Robert put him back in the nursery but trying to take Alex for cuddles in the office she wasn't allowed Robert had put a hold on it.
Annoyed about not letting her see her son she storms over to Robert who was working at the time, she doesn't care he needs to hear what she has to say
Robert: And...
Andy: You were the one who asked me to adopt that little boy and treat him as my own. I was worried that one day he might not want me, but you reassured me that he loves me and always will. I agreed to this because I love that little boy. So why have you stopped me from seeing him? He wanted me to pick him up and take him back to my office, but I wasn't allowed to. Why? She asked as tears constantly fell down her face
Robert: I'm sorry I thought I was doing the right thing for him
Andy: the right thing how? He couldn't answer so she walked away back to her office
His teammates gave him some hard words so he took himself for a walk that took him to Andy.
He picked Alex up and went to her office where she managed to fall asleep on her couch.
Robert: I thought that if I informed the nursery that no one else could take him, he would be safe. I believed I could protect him—only I would pick him up and take him home. He asks for you every day, and I'm sorry for being foolish. I know you would never hurt him.
Andy just lay there on the couch he didn't wake her just spoke and woke her up
Andy: I understand what you're feeling. I want to protect him just as much as you do, but you made it seem like I was the bad guy when I'm not. I'm supposed to be his mom. You didn't even fight for me and Bella when we left.
Alex walked over to Andy, wanting her to pick him up for a cuddle.
Robert: "Cuddle him," he told her as he left the office. He went to get Bella and held her tightly. She had grown a lot during the weeks she had been staying with Pruitt.
After half an hour of spending time with his daughter, he puts her down as she falls asleep on him. He walks back to Andy's office where she watches Alex sleep next to her
He walks in not knocking again
Robert: I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me. Please forgive me.
Andy: Alex is a very special boy to both of us. I know you've done a lot to fight for him since Claire was pregnant, but now there are two of us who want to protect him. You gave me permission to love him and protect him when you asked me to adopt him, and I'm not going to stop now. I understand that you were overwhelmed and trying to do what you thought was right for Alex, but he is the one who has been suffering.
Robert: I'm sorry. Please come back home so we can sort this out.
Andy: I need time, Robert. You can see Bella anytime; you can have her whenever you want.
Robert: But what about the wedding? We should be getting married in 68 days.
She didn't respond. As the days went by, Alex kept crying, and Bella kept crying as well. No matter what their parents did, nothing seemed to help. Ben and Bailey could see that they needed to step in and assist, so they took the children for the weekend to give Andy and Robert a chance to talk.
Present
Andy: Robert help, I'm stuck I can't get out help me it's getting too hot. Robert Robert as it echoes
