Chapter 1:

Rae woke to the sounds of Sam babbling in his crib across the room. She stretched lazily and slowly climbed out of bed.  "I thought we talked about this, young man," she whispered with a smile, "you're supposed to sleep in the mornings."

He gurgled at her and gave a lazy baby smile.

She picked him up. "Come on, let's go downstairs before you wake Daddy up."

"Daddy's already awake," Spot said drowsily.

"I tried to keep him quiet."

He smiled drowsily. "It's all right."

She walked over and put Sam on the bed beside him.

"Daddy," said Sam, crawling over the blankets and over Spot.

"Mornin' Buddy," Spot said, ruffling the baby boy's hair. He grinned and grabbed one of Spot's nostrils, pulling on it. "Stop that Sam."

"No!" Sam squealed in delight, having mastered that word long ago... but he did stop anyway, having not mastered the meaning much.

Spot made a face and handed Sam to Rae.  "He stinks."

"I think you are quite the capable husband to change him, aren't you?"

"Aww...Come on, Rae..."

"I had to learn to cook. You have to learn to change diapers."

"That's not exactly fair!"

"It is too."

"Are you trying to kill me?"

"I think Duchess made a better attempt at it," she replied with a faint smile.

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled climbing out of the bed.

Leaning over, Rae kissed his cheek gently. "Remember, I do this because I love you Spot."

"Sometimes I wonder," he said, kissing her forehead.

"Well, you shouldn't."

"Let's just get this over with."

"Now. Lay him down... that's it. Now... CAREFULLY remove the diaper."

"I've watched you do this often enough. I think I can do it on my own, thank you very much."

"All right. Show me then." Rae folded her arms over her chest and stepped back.

He sent her a smug look, while carefully removing Sam's diaper.  He made a face as he cleaned Sam up. Rae simply observed critically. Spot managed fine until it came time to put the clean diaper on.  After a minute or two of trying to figure out the correct way to fold the cloth he looked at Rae. "Help?"

With a smug eyebrow lift, Rae replied, "I believe you said you had watched me enough to do it on your own?"

"Please, darling," he pleaded.

"I don't know," she said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "After all... you did sound so certain. I'd hate to make you admit I was right." Of course they both knew she wouldn't hate it a bit.

He shook his finger at her. "Now look here, missy, this is the last time I offer to change a diaper for you."

"You didn't offer," she pointed out, approaching to take the clean cloth from his hands.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her close for a kiss, before stepping back and allowing her to finish.

She motioned for him to come back. "After all, you're going to have to learn," she said with a grin.

"Fine."

Taking his hands, she helped him fold the diaper properly. "Now that wasn't so hard was it?" she asked.

"Harder than it looked," he admitted.

"It's so hard for you to admit your wrong, isn't it?"

"No... It didn't look like it was that ... strange."

She laughed. "Do you want to entertain little man or cook breakfast?"

"Well, since I had to change the diaper, you can cook the breakfast," he said with a grin.

She wrinkled her nose. "I was afraid that you'd say that."

He smiled innocently.

She stuck her tongue out at him as he picked up Sam.

"You know I love you."

She smiled. "I know." She went to get dressed and then headed downstairs to start breakfast. Chris and Molly were seated in the living room, reading a book together. "Mornin' kids."

They both looked up, startled to see other bodies moving around the house already. "Is it that late already?" Molly asked with a yawn.

"Late? It's about seven thirty, Molly girl."

"We've been up for a while," Chris explained with a yawn.

Rae smiled. "Maybe I ought to let you two make breakfast then."

Chris wrinkled his nose. "I don't even know how to cook..."

"Shouldn't have said that, Chris," Molly said, smirking at Rae.

"No, you shouldn't have," Rae agreed. "Chris... I think it's time you learned."

Spot laughed as he walked up behind her. "She got me this morning too, Chris, so don't feel so bad about it."

He sighed and Molly dragged him to his feet, pulling him into the kitchen.

"You really didn't want to cook did you," Spot asked, wrapping his free arm around her waist.

"You had any doubts?" she asked with a smile.

He kissed the side of her head. "You're full of it."

"Would you have me any other way?"

He laughed. "Of course not."

Andy and Ann barreled into the room a moment later. "Morning, morning, morning!"

"Good morning you two," Rae said.

They latched on to their adoptive parents, shrilling "Morning!" again.

"Hmm...I wonder if the reason these two are so happy this morning has something to do with the fact that we are going into town to buy stuff for school..." Spot mused aloud. They hopped around excitedly.

"Are you going with us?" Rae asked him.

He glanced down at Ann and Andy. They had latched onto his hands and were saying, "Pleeeeeease?"

"I guess it wouldn't hurt anything."

"Yay!" Ann and Andy shrieked.

"Quiet down, Kendra and Julie are still sleeping."

They lowered their voices but they continued to hop circles around each other, chanting in hushed voices, "School, school, school!"

Rae laughed. "Alright you two.... go get dressed."

With a nod, Andy raced upstairs with Ann close on his heels.

"I don't think I've ever seen them so excited," Rae said.

"I have," Spot said with a smirk.

"When?" she asked.

He smiled down at her. "When I told them we were going to Brooklyn to get you and bring you home."

She smiled, putting her arms around him and resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you did."

"Sam's glad I did too," he said as the baby patted his mother's head.

She laughed. She took Sam from Spot. "Alright, little man, let's get you something to eat."

"Mama," was his reply.

Spot followed into the kitchen were Molly was attempting to get Chris to help her fix breakfast. Chris, of course, was more of a mess than Rae had been her first day cooking. He chuckled.

"I thought you were going to teach Chris to cook, Molly," Spot said, "not cook him."

"It'd probably be easier to cook him, she admitted.

"Hey!" Chris protested.

She giggled.

Rae took pity on him. "Why don't you go clean up, Chris."

Giving her a grateful look, he escaped quickly. Shaking her head, Rae walked over to help Molly with breakfast.

"You let him off too easily," Molly commented, drizzling flapjack batter onto the skillet.

"I know...but he looked so pitiful covered with all that flour."

She smiled. "But he looked so cute," she commented absently.

Rae glanced over her shoulder and noticed that Spot had left the room. "You like Chris, don't you?"

"No! Whatever gave you that idea?!" she squeaked, but she was blushing pink.

"Molly?"

"What?"

"You can talk to me, Molly. Believe it or not, I do know what you're feeling right now."

"No you don't... I don't like him!"

Rae just smiled at her.

Molly huffed. "I don't, you know."

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Of course."

"When I first fell in love with Spot, I didn't want to admit it either. In fact, I left here and went back to Brooklyn, because a guy that I knew loved me very much had promised that he would return for me."

"Why did you go with Spot then?... And I DON'T like Chris. Not like that, anyway," she added firmly.

"I didn't really admit to myself that I had fallen in love with Spot until the other guy proposed.  I didn't want to hurt him, but I knew that I couldn't marry him, because my heart belonged to another."

"But... but I don't like him! I'm not even in the same situation!"

Rae sent her a very serious look. "Molly, you are almost sixteen. I've seen the way you look at him."

"But I don't!" she whined in a very childish way.

Rae decided it best not to question the girl further. As she fried bacon she wondered if Spot was upstairs having the same conversation with Chris.

"Spot, that's crazy!" Chris sputtered. "She's like... my sister! Only more... Molly... ish..."

Spot helped Sam stand on the edge of the bed. "I'm not trying to pressure you into anything Chris, especially not a relationship.  I just wanted to know."

"Well... I want YOU to know you're all wrong. I mean... She's MOLLY..."

"I know...but this house...it seems to do strange things to people...before we moved here falling in love with Rae was the last thing I expected.  Rae was my best friend."

Chris snorted. "I DON'T love Molly... Do you realize how crazy that sounds?!"

"I agree. It does sound crazy.  Just don't take for granted the friendship that you two have right now, alright?"

"All right, all right..."

"Come on, let's go wake up Julie and Kendra and see if the girls have breakfast ready."

"Right." Chris nodded firmly, relieved that this conversation was over.

"Are you feeling alright, Julie?" Spot asked as the girl slowly walked out of her room.

Julie looked up at him and nodded. "Just a bit tired..."

"I can bring you a tray of food up here, if you don't feel like going downstairs."

"I'll be okay," she said with a tired smile.

He put his arm around her shoulder, "We just don't want you getting sick on us again."

She laughed a little. "Neither do I."

"Daddy!" Kendra said, toddling along behind them.

With a smile, Spot stopped and picked her up. "Good morning, Kendra."

"Morning," she echoed.

"Are you hungry?"

"Yes." She nodded solemnly.

"Me too.  Let's race Chris and Sam, ok?"

"'Kay!"

* * *

Rae kissed Kendra's cheek. "Be a sweet baby for Molly while Momma and Daddy are gone," she said, attempting to hand the little girl to Molly, but Kendra clung to her.

Spot took her hands. "Come now, let go of Momma..."

"Momma no go," Kendra wailed, wrapping her arms around Rae's neck.

"I don't know what's gotten into her," Rae murmured, puzzled.

"Come to Molly, sweetheart," Molly said, reaching her hands out to the girl.

"Noooooo!" Kendra screeched.

"I guess we could take her with us," Rae said, looking at Spot.

"Your hands will be full enough as it is with Ann and Andy. Just hand her to me and leave," Chris said.

"If we can get her to let go," Rae said with a sigh.

Spot unhooked the little girl's arms and take her, screaming and kicking, away from Rae and handed her to Chris.  "Just remember, you volunteered to do this."

He nodded, wincing, when her foot lashed out right into his gut.

"Just go," Molly said, stepping between Kendra and the door.

After a pause, Rae finally nodded and she and Spot left with Ann and Andy in tow.

Chris struggled to keep Kendra from wiggling out of his arms. "How long do you think she'll keep this up?"

"Until she cries herself to sleep...I guess..." Molly said with a shrug.

He moaned. "I hope that's soon then."

On the way into town, Spot and Rae decided to stop at the schoolhouse and meet the teacher. Molly said that she was a kindly spinster woman that had been teaching at the school since before Blank had started school. Ann and Andy froze in front of the schoolhouse, staring up at it nervously.

"Come on, it won't be that bad," Spot said, kneeling beside them.

"What if she doesn't like us?" Ann whispered.

"I'm sure that Miss Avery will like you just fine." Silent, Ann and Andy clung to Spot and Rae as they headed for the school.

"Hello. I'm Miss Avery," the woman said as they entered the one room schoolhouse.  "And who are you?" she asked, kneeling in front of the twins.

Ann hid a little behind Andy.

Andy looked a little scared himself. "I... I'm Andy... and this is Ann. We're twins.... she's my sister."

"And how old are you and your sister?"

"We just turned seven."

"Have you ever been to school before?"

Ann shook her head. "But Momma and Daddy teached us to read some."

Andy nodded vigorously in response.

"I don't think they'll have to worry about Miss Avery not liking them anymore," Spot whispered in Rae's ear, as he slipped his arm around her waist.

Rae smiled. "No... no they won't."

"Would you two like to share a desk?" Miss Avery asked as she led the twins toward the front of the room. They looked at one another and then nodded.

She smiled and held her hands out to them. "Then let me show you the desk you'll share."

After a pause, Ann took her hand, and, shortly after, so did Andy.

* * *

Molly walked into the living room and smiled when she saw Chris stretched out on his back on the couch, sound asleep, with Kendra lying on his chest, also sleeping.

She leaned against the wall for a moment, just watching them. What Rae had said to her earlier that day crept into mind. 'Nahh...' she thought, shaking her head. 'It couldn't be.' She and Chris were just friends, right? Liking him... preposterous! After all... half the time they didn't get along well at all! Of course they had been getting along a lot better since Duchess had kidnapped them both. But that didn't mean anything, she told herself. Another smile crept on her face anyway.

A stray lock of hair fell across his forehead and she wanted to reach out and brush it back into place. Shaking her head briefly, she forced a frown onto her face and headed into the kitchen. It was crazy letting what Rae said get to her... THAT was what made her think all her crazy thoughts!

Chris woke slowly and stared at Kendra.  He smiled slightly as he rubbed the sleeping little girl's back. She looks so much like Molly when she's sleeping, he thought. Not that that meant anything, he told himself. There was a noisy clatter in the kitchen and what sounded like annoyed grumbling. Climbing to his feet, and carefully setting Kendra down on the couch, he entered the kitchen, and smiled, seeing Molly glaring at a pile of various dishes that had fallen around her. She was awful cute when she was mad.

'I did not just think that!'... He offered a larger smile. "Need any help there?"

"No...yes..."

Crouching down, he helped her clean up the mess.

The cleaned in silence, until they both turned suddenly to reach for the last pot and bumped heads.

"Ouch!" they yelped simultaneously.

"You okay?" Chris asked. Molly nodded and then began to giggle.

Chris smiled at her and began to laugh.  When her hair fell into her face, he reached over and brushed it back behind her ear.

She glanced at him a bit shyly before blushing and busying herself with the last few remaining dishes.

Chris smiled as he stood back up.

"So.... is Kendra still asleep?" she asked after a moment.

"Like a log," he answered, sitting on a stool.

She smiled a bit. "She used to hardly ever sleep... I guess she's catching up on it."

Chris fell silent for a moment before asking, "Molly can I ask you a question?"

"Um... okay..."

"It's about Kendra...I'll understand if you don't want to answer."

After a moment's hesitation, she nodded slowly.

"Will you ever tell her the truth?"

Molly rubbed her arm, looking down. "I- I don't know...."

He placed his hands on her shoulders, "I shouldn't have asked."

"... It's okay," she said quietly.

Seeing tears begin to form in her eyes, he pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry, Molly girl."

"It's okay," she sniffled, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'd have to think about it sooner or later."

He gently stroked her hair, thinking about how wonderful she felt in his arms.

She sniffled. "You know... You've changed since I first met you.... I used to believe you'd never do any sort of comforting..."

"And I never thought I'd see you in need of comforting."

She laughed a little, wiping her nose. "Crazy, isn't it? I think we've all changed here."

He again reached out and tucked the loose strand of hair, behind her ear. She blushed, looking down. He reached to take her hand, but before he could the door to the kitchen opened and Julie walked in slowly.

Julie headed for the sink to get some water, oblivious to what was going on. "Hello," she said somewhat stuffily as Chris stepped back from Molly.

"Are you feeling alright, Julie," Molly asked, turning away from Chris.

She nodded. "Just a little thirsty." She coughed bitterly before taking a sip. "And I have a cough..."

"That's no little cough, sis," Chris said, walking toward his sister.

She shook her head. "I'll be okay."

"I'm worried about you, Julie."

She smiled a bit and patted his arm. "Anyone tell you that you worry too much?"

"You do. All the time," he said, ruffling her hair.

She laughed a little, ending it with a bit of a cough. "Well, I'm off to bed again... I didn't sleep much last night."

"I'm coming with you to make sure you are tucked in," Chris said, slipping his arm around her shoulders.

Julie smiled. "All right, as you wish."

Molly sighed and turned back to the sink. "What just happened?" she asked herself. She rubbed her temple with a sigh. Did she really WANT to know? "... Yes..." she murmured, after a moment. She was almost sixteen after all. Shouldn't she be thinking about falling in love, like any other girl her age. She shook her head. But no guy would ever want her once he found out about Kendra.

But then... Chris knew, and he didn't seem to care... But he was Chris! They had always bickered, but something had changed recently in the way he treated her. She tucked her hair behind her ear and finished washing the dishes she had dropped.

As Rae and Spot walked into the store, they listened to Ann and Andy chatter about Miss Avery and the schoolhouse. Spot smiled at Rae, "Do you think they'll ever stop?"

"Not until they're asleep, I'll bet," she replied.

He laughed and then turned to the twins. "Alright you two, settle down a bit while we do the shopping."

They nodded but were still springing along beside their parents excitedly.

"It's a good thing Miss Avery gave us a list of things to buy, because I was getting a little worried," Rae said.

Spot nodded. "So was I... I'd never had any formal schooling..."

She handed him the list, "If you'll take care of these things, I'll go look at the fabric, so that I can make Annie a few new dresses."

"All right. Want to come with me, Andy?"

"Come on, Daddy, I'll show you were everything is," Andy said, taking Spot's hand and walking away.

He laughed. "You'll definitely have to do that."

Ann tugged on Rae's skirt, "Can I really have some new dresses Momma?"

"Of course you can," she replied with a smile.

Ann gave a small squeal. "Can I help pick out the fabric?"

"Sure."

Ann threw her arms around Rae's waist. "Thank you, Momma."

She laughed and ruffled Ann's hair. "You're welcome, sweetheart."

"Are you sure you're alright, Julie?" Chris asked as he tucked the covers around her shoulders. "You've tired easily lately."

She smiled a bit. "Well, I am getting over that nasty ... cold... thing."

"Just take it easy, alright?"

She nodded. "I will. You worry too much."

"I know." He kissed her forehead. "Get some sleep."

"I will." She burrowed deep under her blankets. "Thank you Chris."

"Your welcome," he whispered, leaving the room.

Molly had finished putting away the dishes and was exiting the kitchen when Chris came down. "Julie all right?"

"She's sleeping."

"That's ... um... good," she said, for lack of anything better to say. Tongue-tied? This was new...

"Kendra and Sam still sleeping?" he asked.

She glanced in the living room. "Yeah... looks like they are."

Chris nodded and looked at the floor. Molly ended up doing the same.

It was this that Rae and Spot found when they opened the front door.

"Everything going all right?" Spot asked, curious about the silence.

"Yeah," Chris said, walking toward the kitchen.

Rae and Spot looked at one another, uncertain of what to make of the situation.

Ann ran in. "Molly! We got a bunch of fabric to make new dresses. And Momma is going to make matching dresses for me and Kendra."

Molly smiled a little. "That's great!"

"Miss Avery says that me and Annie can share a desk!" Andy added.

She smiled and nodded, but she was a bit preoccupied.

Rae handed the packages in her hands to Spot. "Let's go for a walk, Molly."

She frowned a little before sighing. "Okay..."

"Wanna talk about it, Molly girl?" Rae asked as soon as they were away from the house.

"Talk about what?"

"About whatever it is that's bothering you. And don't think I didn't notice that you weren't thinking about what Ann and Andy were telling you."

"I... it's nothing," she replied a bit shyly.

Rae gave her a look. "Come now.. you can tell me anything... That's kind of what I'm here for."

Molly sighed.  "It's Chris."

"Go on," she prodded gently.

"I feel so different when he's around."

She smiled. "How?"

"I don't know...One minute I can't stop blushing and then the next I can't seem to think of anything to say..."

Rae smile broadened. "What did I tell you?"

"I don't need you to tell me 'I told you so,' I need your help, Rae."

"I'm sorry... I just think it's so sweet... what do you need?"

"What am I supposed to do, Rae?"

She shrugged a bit. "It depends on what you want..."

Molly sighed. "I don't know what I want, Rae. I'm so confused."

"Well," she said, "the first thing you need to do is figure out what you want. Then you can go from there."

"I do want to get married some day, Rae, but..."

She held up her hands. "Whoa, whoa, whoa... I think we might be on two different subjects? Why don't you explain the problem to me?"

"I'm getting there. I'm afraid that no guy will want me when they find out about Kendra, but Chris knows and doesn't seem to care. That's my problem, Rae."

"I don't see how that is a problem, unless you really don't like Chris."

Molly sighed, "I think I do."

Rae smiled. "Then what is the problem?"

"I don't know how he feels about me."

"Ahh... that would present a problem. Have you tried talking to him?"

"I get tongue-tied when I try."

She smiled. "Well, you'll just have to practice."

"Did you ever get like this with Spot?"

Rae smiled fondly. "Well... our problems were more related to... arguing."

"Your heart never felt like it stopped beating when he looked at you? and you never stumbled over your words?"

"Well, of course I do sometimes... Not so much the stumbling over words... except once, when he first taught me how to cook... I think that kitchen does that to a person," she replied with a grin.

Molly gave a slight smile. "When he held me this morning..." she blushed furiously, "...I felt like I was floating on air."

With a smile, Rae squeezed her shoulder. "That's a good feeling."

"It felt right to be in his arms...yet so wrong at the same time. Why do you suppose that is Rae?"

She shrugged. "Shyness, perhaps? I'm not really sure."

Molly sighed and then gasped. "What is Andrew going to say?"

"Well.... I could always have a word with him..." Rae offered.

"It won't do any good. He can be just as stubborn as you and Spot."

"I don't know..." she said with a smile.

Molly's eyes narrowed, "Are you think about having a word with him...with your fists?"

"No, no! I've put those away since I've become a mother of... many," she said with a laugh.

"I was worried."

With another laugh, she shook her head. "No need to worry. I'm well-behaved these days."

"At least you attempt to be well-behaved," Molly teased.

Rolling her eyes, Rae laughed again anyway. She put her arm around Molly. "Come on, let's get back, before Spot and Chris decide to come looking for us."

She nodded. "Do you... do you think they're having the same conversation?" she asked, almost a bit hopefully.

"You never can tell with those two."

She smiled a bit and they headed into the house.

Spot opened the back door as they neared the house. "Kendra was looking for you, Momma," Spot said, handing the little girl to Rae.

"Momma!" she squealed in delight.

"Hey, sweet baby. Did you miss me?" Rae asked, kissing Kendra's cheek.

"Yes!" she exclaimed, hugging Rae tightly.

Rae hugged the little girl back. "Momma loves you sweetheart."

"Loves you," she echoed.

Rae glanced at Molly and handed Kendra back to Spot. "We'll be inside in a minute."

After a pause, Spot nodded and took Kendra back into the house, assuring her that Rae would follow shortly.

Rae turned to Molly. "As your guardian, Molly, I need to know. Why was Chris holding you this morning."

"He was just comforting me.. He asked if I was going to tell Kendra everything..."

"She will need to know at some point, but when she is told is up to you, Molly."

"I know..."

"Everything will be fine, Molly. I know it will."

She frowned. What if... What if Kendra hates me, if I tell her?"

"You are already such a big part of her life now and she loves you."

"But to know that you're really not her mom, that I am, and I never let her know? That's... kind of a big shock, you know?"

"You did what you thought best for her, Molly. That's what's important."

"But what if I was wrong?" she asked tearfully.

"If you feel that you were wrong in giving her to us, you can take her back. You two will always have a home here with us, no matter what you decide."

"I don't know..." She wrung her hands in a distressed manner.

Rae hugged the younger girl. "You don't have to make up your mind right away, Molly."

"I just wish I knew..."

"I know, Molly girl."

She rubbed her eyes dry and sniffled a bit. "Is... it okay to go back in now?"

Rae nodded. "Of course."

And they went inside.