Author's Note: Well, folks, it's the end of another incredible journey! Please let us know what you thought. As ever, we've enjoyed the ride! Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this story!

Another World

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Toning down the smile that threatened to erupt at those very words, JJ simply let a small grin cross her lips as she said, neutrally, "That was a sweet gesture, especially considering he's suing you for assault and battery. I'll have Spence call Jason later and thank him for sending them."

Frowning, Dave replied quickly, "Or I could have String Bean send them right back. God knows I'm never going to let Alex read such drivel, it would rot his mind. It's cruel and unusual punishment to expose an intelligent child to such shi…"

Covering the baby's ears, JJ hissed quickly, "Not in front of Alex. You KNOW we talked about that!"

Sighing, Rossi nodded, reaching out to touch the baby's hand. "Sorry, buddy. Daddy's gonna get better at watching his words. Mommy'll make sure of it."

"You bet your boots I will," JJ grinned at him, leaning over for a quick kiss. Turning back to the room, she asked, "Who else has dropped off gifts?"

Shrugging, Dave thought for a moment, then answered, "I think String Bean sent that bundle of balloons in the corner."

"Spence was here?" JJ asked, looking around the room, her eyes widening. "Why didn't he come in?"

"Honey, when he got here, you were a bit involved in cursing every male known to have walked the earth," Dave said, careful to mind his tone, his hand wincing in sympathy pains at the memories. "He waited out the storm with your dad and Kevin from a safe distance in the hallway. And they're all still here, just grabbing a cup of coffee while we get settled with the baby."

"Wimps," JJ muttered, glaring at her husband as she jerked in the bed. The sound of a tiny cry filled the air again, causing JJ to start to automatically jiggle the bundled baby. Cooing down at the baby, she begged, "Come on, Alexander. Quit crying for Mommy. I didn't mean to startle you."

"Here, babe," Rossi said, reaching for the baby as he easily shifted the bundle into the arms, "Let me give it a go."

Watching her husband slip out of the bed and pace the room, gently cooing to their newborn son, JJ leaned back against the pillows, content to watch the scene unfolding before her.

Catching her lingering gaze, Rossi propped the once-again asleep infant on his chest as he asked, head cocked, "What's wrong, babe? You need me to call the doctor?"

Shaking her head, JJ sighed. "No, they'll be back soon enough to poke and prod me and Alexander. I think my OB's trying to make up for missing the actual birth. And that pediatrician we got for the baby is obviously trying to earn brownie points, seeing as how he's been in here three times already to see the newest Rossi."

Shrugging, Dave grinned. "So he's a fan. That's a good thing in my world. And it doesn't hurt that he knows I've got enough money to bury him in places no one will ever find the body if he dares to mess up my kid. And your OB knows he's in trouble. I told him a month ago to move into the hospital lock, stock, and barrel, but did he listen?"

"I think Richard will be having words with him," JJ smiled back at her husband, her head sinking even more into the pillow. "I heard him saying something to Kate about wanting a divorce. Not from her, but from our family. I think delivering this little one was the straw that broke the camel's back for our favorite plastic surgeon."

"What? And miss all the fun?" Rossi rolled his eyes, swaying slightly as his son stirred in his arms. "And Richard won't leave. Not considering we named him and Kate as godparents."

"And don't think my father didn't have something to say about that. It took Mother an hour to explain to him how your ex-wife and her new husband, who are the mother and step-father of our son's half-sister, would be the perfect choices as godparents. I think she completely lost him when she tried to draw a family diagram showing him how Alexander's godmother is also the grandmother of his nephew."

"So our family's complicated," Dave shrugged, smiling down at her as he moved closer to the bed. "It makes things more interesting."

"We're dysfunctional, Dave," JJ argued back, trying to fight the urge to close her eyes. She so wanted to stay awake, to hold her baby, to argue with her husband. But the urge to sleep was overtaking her much faster than she could stop it.

Seeing his wife's eyes flutter, Dave whispered softly, pressing a hand to her cheek, "Close those eyes, babe. Alexander and I'll be right here when you wake up."

Nodding, JJ let out a small yawn as she reached out to touch the baby, her fingers lingering against his back. "You won't let them take him?"

"He's not going anywhere, Jen," Dave said adamantly, smiling down into her tired gaze. "He's staying right here with his mother and his father."

"And you won't do anything stupid while I'm asleep?" JJ demanded, her yawn overtaking the last word.

"Scout's honor," Dave said softly, wriggling his eyebrows as he watched her eyes narrow at his comment. He added before she could dissent, "I promise, Jennifer. You sleep and Alexander and I will have a little chat about the family he's been born in to."

"God help us all," JJ murmured, her words fading off as she let herself relax completely.

Settling into the not-so-comfortable chair beside his wife's bed, Dave snuggled the baby into the crook of his arm as he stared down at the sleeping face. "Well, Alex, looks like it's just you and me, kid. I hope you're taking notes, 'cause I really don't want to have to explain this to you again."

And as David Rossi explained the ins and outs of his genealogy to his newborn son, his wife slumbering softly beside them, the rest of their decidedly unique family peeked through the cracked door, smiling at the scene before them.

Who'd have thought that a persnickety world-famous author and his tenacious beautiful publicist would have merged their lives so seamlessly? It was as if they were all living in another world.

FINIS