Hey, everyone! We're back! In honor of the new CI episode tonight, we decided to post the first chapter of the second story in The Never Ending story series. If you decided to read this, you're probably a fan of How Could This Happen To Me? Don't worry. You won't be disappointed with this one! This story picks up about three months after the final chapter of How Could This Happen To Me? So enjoy this first chapter, and please remember to review!

Disclaimers: Not ours!

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"Mike! Mike, get in here!" Carolyn shouted from where she was sitting in the living room.

He came running into the room. "What? What's wrong?"

She smiled brightly at him, but it faded when she looked at their daughter. "She pulled herself up!" she said, motioning to Kiska, who was now sitting on her bottom in front of the couch.

He looked at the baby, then back at Carolyn. "See? I'm not the only one she plays that game with. You didn't believe me when she crawled for the first time, remember?"

She rolled her eyes at him, then called her daughter's name. "Kiska, come on, baby. Show Daddy how you can stand up all by yourself!"

He dropped down to one knee beside the couch, reached into his pocket and pulled out a lollipop. "Look here, Kitkat."

"Bribery, Mike? Low," she laughed.

"Effective. Look."

Her eyes rounded in surprise as the baby grabbed the couch and raised herself shakily, then leaned against the couch cushion. "Oh my God! She's standing up by herself!" Carolyn cried, smiling proudly at her daughter.

She reached out to Mike, and he lifted her into his arms, unwrapped the lollipop and handed it to her.

She laughed and shook her head. "She would have done that for you, even if you didn't give her a lollipop. You know that, right?"

"I call it insurance," he grinned.

"I call it spoiling her rotten."

"It's in my job description."

She grinned and sat Indian style. "Well, you can deal with her when she's sixteen, okay?"

"I reserve the right to rescind my paternity if she turns Britney on us."

"The day that happens, I believe I'll see a pig fly." She pushed herself to her feet and headed into the kitchen.

"Yeah, that's what her dad said, too."

She shook her head and opened the refrigerator, retrieving a bottle. Closing the door, she paused for a moment to look at the dozens of pictures that littered the door of the refrigerator. She fingered a small, brightly colored magnetic K, then walked back into the living room.

Mike was sitting on the couch, with the baby on his knee, gently bouncing her. She was giggling. When he stopped, she smiled and said, "Da!" He laughed and bounced her some more.

Carolyn quirked an eyebrow and sat down beside them, handing Kiska the bottle. "Told you so."

"Told me so, what?"

"Her first word would be Daddy." She thought for a moment. "Or technically, Da."

He snorted. "That's only because I spoil her."

She shrugged. "At least it wasn't a- that other word." She fingered one of Kiska's curls as she latched onto the bottle and held it between her chubby little hands. "How's your new partner working out?" she queried, watching Kiska settle against his chest and sigh contently.

"She's okay. How long do you think it's gonna take for you to realize Major Case is where you belong and come back?"

She froze, then turned her head slowly and focused her dark eyes on him. "Come back?"

"Yes, come back. Is there a problem with that?"

She swallowed thickly as she attempted to form a coherent response. "Really? Is there... even a place available?"

"Evans is transferring to Manhattan Homicide next month."

She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm... rusty. And what about the baby?"

"We can find a decent day care center. It's up to you. If you'd rather stay home with Kitkat, that's fine."

She sighed quietly. "I... want to be your partner again, Mike. I do. But it's not just us anymore. I don't want to rush into anything."

"Take your time."

"Thanks." She slid her arm around him and curled into his side. Then she reached out and laid her palm against their daughter's back.

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"Are you comfortable?" Alex asked in amusement as Bobby curled up beside her and stretched his hand out over her swollen belly.

He sighed softly, caressing her stomach. "Very."

She smiled and touched his hair, then took another bite of her banana. "I swear, this kid is going to be born part monkey if I keep having these cravings," she grumbled.

He laughed softly, leaning down to kiss her belly. "Your baby will be beautiful," he murmured.

She reached out and cupped his cheek. "Our baby," she corrected, smiling.

"You're doing all the work," he insisted.

Rolling her eyes, she said, "And this kid got half of her genes from you. Knowing my luck, she'll be talking circles around the new ADA before she's walking."

He cocked an eyebrow at her. "She?"

"Here we go again."

"Unless you know something I don't, we aren't sure..."

She shrugged and rested one hand on her stomach. "I just have a feeling."

"Fifty-fifty, baby."

"I know." She shifted in her seat and sighed softly.

His fingers trailed over her skin. "Hey, baby..." he said to her stomach.

She froze suddenly, and her eyes widened. "Bobby? Did you feel that?"

His hand had stopped moving and he studied her skin. "Yes," he murmured, voice filled with awe. "H-he moved."

Her grin widened, and she rested her hand on her belly. "She's saying hi," she murmured.

"Is this...the first time...?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes," she whispered. She rested one hand over his, and the other on her belly. "Wow. This is... amazing," she murmured, rubbing his hand slowly.

He closed his eyes, concentrating on the movement below his hand. A small smile touched his mouth.

After a few moments, she broke the quiet and said, "I... I missed this."

"The baby, uh...moving?"

"Being pregnant."

"You...were beautiful...in a different way...than you usually are."

She blushed a little and looked down at her belly. "The only thing I don't like about this is... leave." She groaned softly. "Until this little one is born, I'll be stuck doing nothing."

"That's the part I hate most, too."

"Just try not to terrorize your new partner, okay?"

"I don't do it intentionally."

"I know. Just remember to go slow, and that they can't read your mind."

"I always...miss you."

She smiled and kissed his forehead. "I'll miss you, too. But remember, it's not going to be like last time. After work, you get to come home and listen to me complain about having nothing to do."

He chuckled. "And you get to listen to me complain that my partner isn't you. I don't like slowing down and taking a half dozen steps backwards to explain what I'm thinking. I...need you."

"But I'll be back before you know it."

"It'll still be too long."

"Baby, five minutes is too long for you."

"Then imagine how long two months is."

She gently fingered one of his curls. "I know. Believe me, I'm going to miss you, too."

"I-I know...but it's different."

She sat up in the bed and tugged on his arm until he was sitting behind her. Then she rested against his chest. "How is it different?" she murmured, pulling his arm around her and stroking it gently.

"Like you said, I'll be home every night. But work...I...I just don't do well without you."

She snuggled deeper into his arms and sighed quietly. "I know. The only thing you can do is take it a little at a time."

He kissed her head. "I survived your nephew; I'll survive this. But I didn't like it then and I don't have to like it now."

She smiled. "No, you don't. But this time, it will be much different. I promise." Her tone became lighter. "And besides, when the two a.m. feedings start, you'll be glad to go back to work."

"What makes you think I won't get up with the baby?"

"You're going to get up with her, at all hours of the night?"

"Of course I will."

She smiled warmly and threaded her fingers through his. "Only you, Bobby."

"He's my baby, too," he murmured against her ear.

"Speaking of... Have you been thinking about names?"

"Uh...no, not yet. Have you?"

"Only since I was seven."

"Far be it for me to interfere with your dreams. What are we going to name the baby?"

"Hey, I want your ideas, too. I never actually picked a name," she stated, smirking when goosebumps rose on his arm where she was caressing him.

"But you know what you want," he said softly, his breath caressing her ear.

"No. I have a few ideas."

"All right. Let's hear them."

"Cheyanne."

"For a girl...Keep going.."

"Ha ha, yes. A girl. But there are some boy names I like. Justin, Malcolm, and Trevor."

"What about Stephen?"

"Stephen..." She thought about that for a moment. "Odd name for a girl," she teased, poking him gently.

He laughed into her hair. "That was my grandfather's name...and he...he was good to me."

Her smile faded a little and pulled his hand up to her face. Then she kissed his palm and snuggled closer to him. "I like Stephen." His arms tightened around her, and she ran her thumb along his skin as she thought. Finally she said softly, "What about Christopher?"

"With Stephen..." He gave it some thought and nodded. "I like it."

"Stephen Christopher." She paused, then added, "Stephen Christopher Goren. We're going to be in trouble if it's a girl."

"Why's that?"

"I'm not naming my daughter that. So... what would you pick for a girl's name?"

"You like Cheyanne."

"I like it, but I don't know. It doesn't really go with Goren," she teased. Then she added, "Besides, I want to know what you like."

"It goes just fine with Goren. It's fine with me."

She started to say something, then sighed in exasperation. "Let me up, Bobby."

He loosened his hold on her and watched as she got up.

"I swear, this kid has your timing already," she grumbled, disappearing into the bathroom.

He leaned back and folded his hands behind his head, waiting for her to return. He marveled at how...happy she made him. It was a feeling that had been utterly foreign to him in the past few years.

After washing her hands, Alex walked back into the bedroom and pushed herself onto the bed, then lowered herself against him again. "You know, since you have all the muscle, you get to carry me in a few months." She shivered slightly and reached down, pulling a thick comforter around herself. Then she disappeared beneath the blanket.

He raised an eyebrow. "Where are you going?"

She peeked up at him from beneath the blanket. "It's warm."

With a sparkle in his eye, he tickled her. "Cold, are you?"

She squeaked and laughed, attempting in vain to push his hands away.

He followed her under the comforter, maneuvering her into his arms. "I love you," he whispered when she was nestled against his chest.

"Love you, too." She eyed him suspiciously, then asked, "What did you do now?"

He quirked the corner of his mouth. "Me? What makes you think I did anything?"

"I know you." She slid her hands under his shirt, trailing her fingertips lightly along his spine.

He closed his eyes and shuddered, nuzzling her neck with a soft moan.

She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his, stopping only when she felt their child begin to move again. "Hey," she grumbled, looking down at her belly.

He felt the baby kicking where her abdomen pressed against his. "Someone objects," he observed.

"Great. Not even born yet and already bossing me around. Yes, this is your child."

"I never boss you around. You're the senior partner."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine. Maybe I have it backwards." She smirked and kissed his shoulder, then rolled onto her back.

He rolled toward her, resting on his side as he placed his hand over the baby and kissed her cheek.

She laid her hand over his and tangled their fingers together. Her stomach grumbled, and she smiled and said, "What are you making for dinner? Because apparently, your child and I are hungry."

He drew in a deep breath, taking a mental accounting of the contents of the refrigerator and cupboards. "Chicken and rice sound okay?"

She started to answer, but the baby kicked again, and she grinned. "Sounds great."

He gave her a warm kiss, then slid away from her and headed out of the room.

She watched him go, then snuggled down into the blankets and closed her eyes to wait.

Forty-five minutes later, he carried two plates into the room, setting one on the night stand and handing her the other. He pulled a bottle of water out of one pocket and handed it to her, pulling a beer for himself out of the other pocket. Sitting beside her, he smiled as she began eating with gusto. "Slow down before you choke," he admonished gently.

She rolled her eyes, then swallowed and said, "Hey, it's not my fault he has your appetite."

"I don't eat that much. You must be thinking of Logan. He's the one with the endless appetite."

She took another bite of the rice, then picked out a piece of chicken and grinned. "Very good."

"Thanks."

She turned her head and kissed him, then returned to her dinner.

He laughed quietly and picked up his own dinner.

Once she was finished with her dinner, she put the bowl aside and curled up next to her partner. "You cook, clean, and do laundry. I'm never letting you go."

"I grew up...self-sufficient."

She straightened up a little and laid her head on his shoulder. Snaking her arm around his waist, she kissed his neck and rested her head in the crook of his neck.

He wrapped an arm around her and leaned back against the headboard.

She cupped her stomach with her hands. "Wow."

"Kicking up a storm?"

"Like you wouldn't believe."

He rested a hand on her abdomen and smiled. "My baby," he murmured softly, in awe.

"Yes, your baby. Our baby. With your interrogation skills, and my sugar habits."

"If there's any justice in the world, he'll have your stability."

"With our luck, she'll have my sense of humor."

"And your smile."

"With dark curls and an insatiable curiosity about the world."

"And a sarcastic streak a mile long."

"That's... a little scary. Another me."

"Not scary at all. Reassuring."

She eyed him. "I'd rather have a mini you than a mini me."

"Oh, God, no."

"Yes. Or maybe, if we're really lucky, this kid will have all our good qualities."

"As long as he doesn't have my...well, you know what I mean."

She turned a little, pressing her swollen belly into his side. "This kid is going to be great."

"I hope you're right."

"I know I am." She buried herself deeper into his side and pulled the blanket over herself, unconsciously making a content little noise in the back of her throat.

He closed his eyes and found her mouth, kissing her deeply.

"Hmm..." Her hand came up and kneaded the back of his neck. And when the baby kicked her, she looked down and said, "Hush, little one."

With a soft groan, he sought her out again, pressing his body against hers.

She turned onto her back and pulled him down with her, winding her arms around his neck and kissing him tenderly.

His hand stroked her side, gradually working his way up to her chest.

She shivered and grabbed his hand, threading her fingers through his before she brought their hands to rest over her rapidly beating heart.

He nuzzled his mouth against her ear and whispered, "I want you."

"Where do you think I'm going?"

He fingered the waistband of her pants and gently tugged. "Please..."

"You don't have to ask, Bobby." She pulled her pants off and tugged at his shirt.

He rolled into her, letting her take his shirt off and surrendering to her love.

She pushed his jeans off and kicked them to the floor, then let her palms run along his hips. "Perfect," she murmured.

There was no place in the world he would rather be.

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"Don't give me that look, Bobby," she grumbled, wadding up a piece of paper and tossing it at him.

"What?' he protested.

"I don't have to go on leave yet, and already you've got that "overprotective" thing going on."

"I have always protected you, Eames."

"I know, Goren. But I'm not made of glass. I won't break."

"How about we take no chances, okay?"

She rolled her eyes, her response cut off by a resounding kick in her womb. "God, this kid is yours. She's already found a way to pace." She sighed. "She's already bored in there."

He smiled at her. "I gave my mother hell, too, according to her."

She stood up and walked over to him, grabbing his hand and placing it over her belly. "She's yours, you calm her down," she muttered.

He laughed. "And just how would you have me do that?"

"I don't know. You figure it out, brainiac."

His eyes scanned the general vicinity before he gently squeezed her abdomen and quietly said, "Shh, little one. Give your mom a break, will ya?"

She grinned and rolled her eyes when the baby settled. "Of course she'd listen to you."

"Daddy's baby," he murmured.

She smiled and rubbed his hand, then returned to her seat.

He leaned back in his chair and let his thoughts wander. His baby...with the woman he loved...it didn't get much better.

Mike approached their desks. "Hey, you guys want to go to lunch?"

Alex rubbed her belly and looked at Bobby. "Sure."

Bobby nodded. "Apparently, our baby inherited your appetite, Mike."

Mike raised his eyebrows. "How'd that happen?"

She threw another paper ball at her partner, then stood up and started walking toward the elevator. "Come on, boys," she called.

Bobby grinned at Mike and got up from his desk. They followed Alex to the elevator.

When they finally caught up to her, she looked at Mike and said, "Are we picking up Carolyn, too?"

"Yes. It was her idea. She just called me."

"Great. Let's go," she said, stepping into the elevator.

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"You ready to go see Daddy, baby girl?" Carolyn asked her daughter as she pushed the stroller through the elevator doors.

"Da!" Kiska agreed enthusiastically.

"I should've known," Carolyn laughed. She pushed the stroller out of the building and into the parking lot, freeing one hand to retrieve the keys from her pocket.

Unlocking the car, she opened the back door and buckled Kiska into her car seat. Then she shut the door and popped the trunk, folding the stroller before she placed it in the trunk.

She shut the trunk, and the bat came out of nowhere, crippling her with a blinding force as it made brutal contact with her head. She hit the ground, and another blow sent her spinning towards unconsciousness.

The last thing she heard as the last slivers of awareness slid from her grasp was the sound of her daughter's screams.

TBC...

A/N: Mwhahahaha, evil cliffie! We hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please review!