A/N: I know, here we go again, another ficathon entry; what can I say, I can't help myself. This will be a collection of oneshots of various birthdays of Johanna; I'm including birth/early years for readers who have asked for glimpses of her childhood; as well as birthdays from her years with Jim and eventually Kate…and yes, some from her stay in Wyoming, and even into the era of Tuesdays with Johanna. I hope you'll enjoy this dive into this sector of the Johanna Verse!

Chapter 1- Best Laid Plans- February 4, 1951

This wasn't how it was supposed to be, Naomi McKenzie mused as another pain ripped through her body, drops of sweat sliding down her face as tears spilled from her eyes. It wasn't supposed to be this way. Her second child was supposed to be born a week ago in a nice sterile hospital room in Manhattan; its tiny body slipping into the hands of the doctor who had delivered her son three years before without incident. She was supposed to have medication to help with the pain. Her husband was supposed to be in the waiting room, pacing…waiting impatiently for the news of if they'd been blessed with a boy or a girl. It had all been planned, as much as labor and delivery could be planned that was.

But her baby apparently had different plans…plans that she didn't understand or fathom.

"Breathe, Naomi," her mother said.

She closed her eyes, taking a shuddering breath. Her baby was a week overdue and had shown no signs of leaving the comfort of the womb and so she thought that she and Frankie could spend an uneventful visit with her mother in Brooklyn without worry…and then a blizzard hit before Frank could come and get them.

Then the pains had started…and then in the thick of the storm, her water broke and her planned delivery was up in smoke. Instead of a hospital she found herself in her childhood bedroom. Instead of a doctor and nurse, her mother was preparing to deliver her baby and her Aunt Francesca had trudged down the street in the deep snow to assist. There would be no medication for the pain…she was feeling every second of it, feeling like she was being split in half. Her husband wasn't waiting nearby…instead he was at home, waiting by the phone for the call to say that their child had been safely delivered…waiting for the snow to stop and the roads to be cleared so that he could reach them.

Another pain tore through her and she gritted her teeth, trying not to scream as she didn't want to frighten Frankie who was in the next room with his grandfather. "It's not supposed to be this way," she muttered.

Sophia glanced up at her. "Apparently God says otherwise."

"It's not fair," she cried as Francesca swiped the cool washcloth cross her brow.

"Life isn't always fair, mi cara," her mother said as she rubbed her daughter's leg. "But don't worry; everything is going to be fine."

"I don't think I can do this."

"Yes, you can," Sophia consoled in her light Italian accent. "Life doesn't deliver anything we can't handle."

"Frank needs to be here," Naomi cried.

"Oh what do you need Frank for?" Sophie said lightly; "He did his part nine months ago."

"He should be here…I'd feel better if he was here."

"Now, Naomi; Frank would just be out there in the living room pacing a hole in my rug and barking demands for me to make you hurry this baby out of the womb."

"I love him," she cried.

"I know, darling; I know," her mother soothed. "He'll be here as soon as he can and we'll call him as soon as the baby is here."

"I hope it's a girl," Naomi said, her teeth gritting.

"Why? To punish Frank because he isn't here?" Sophia asked with a laugh.

"No; because I'm never having another baby and I'd hate to quit without having a girl!"

Her mother chuckled softly. "Well we'll see what you're getting here shortly…I want you to start pushing on the next pain, it's time."

It was time, Naomi thought to herself…time to welcome her second child, who for some reason had decided to be born in the midst of a snowstorm without the presence of its father. For nine months she had prayed for a girl…even Frank had prayed for one with her…a beautiful little girl to complete their family. He said she would be their princess…and she wanted that so badly; even had a little pink dress hidden away at home that she hadn't been able to resist.

"Push, Naomi," her mother demanded.

She did as she was told, trying to keep her anguish as quiet as possible as she followed each command to push. She felt like it would never end; that it had been an eternity since her labor started. Frankie hadn't taken this long…Frankie had only taken ten hours…this baby had nearly doubled that time.

"Almost there, darling," Sophia soothed. "I can see the head…just a few more pushes and it'll be over."

A loud cry slipped from her lips without permission as she pushed again; silently cursing her husband, the weather and everything else she could think of. "I can't do this," she cried once more. "I'm tired."

"I know you are," her mother consoled; "But you have to keep going; it's almost over; you'll have a beautiful new baby to hold. Come on, push again."

Naomi summoned all of her strength and pushed each time her mother demanded it, sinking back against the pillows as the piercing wail of an infant punctured the air. "What is it?" Naomi asked. "Is it my girl?"

Sophia smiled as she held up the squalling baby. "It's a girl, darling; and I don't think she's a morning person…but of course who is at five in the morning?"

A sob slipped across her lips as she took in the sight of her baby girl, tiny fist waving as she wailed, her chin quivering. God had answered her prayers, he had given her her much wanted baby girl. "She's got her daddy's temper."

"Oh, I don't know; that could just as well be a Calabrese temper," Sophia said as she tended to the baby; cutting the cord with the scissors she had sterilized and wrapped in a clean cloth earlier that evening. "I'm not sure I've ever seen a baby with so much hair though; how about you, Franny?"

"No," her sister stated as she mopped Naomi's face. "Now we know why Naomi had so much heartburn."

"My thoughts exactly," Sophia stated.

"Bring her to me, Mama; let me see my baby girl," Naomi demanded.

"I was taking care of the cord, Naomi; I'll bring her to you as soon as I get her wrapped up. Franny; get that towel we've been keeping warm."

Francesca hurried from the room to get the bath towel they had hanging over a kitchen chair while heat from the oven warmed it.

"Is she okay?" Naomi asked.

"She's fine darling," Sophia said as she grabbed a washcloth. "I'm just cleaning her off a little. We'll bath her properly after you've seen her for a few minutes."

"I can't wait to get a bath myself."

"You'll have to wait a little longer; there's still the afterbirth…you're not getting off this bed until that's out."

Naomi grimaced as Fran entered the room, handing Sophia the towel. "What do you want me to do next, Sophia?"

"We'll need warm water to bath the baby; there's another basin under the sink. Spread a towel out on the dresser, we'll bath her there."

Francesca went off to do her bidding as Sophia wrapped up the baby and held her close for a moment, kissing her forehead lightly before she moved to the side of the bed. "Here's your mama, Bambina," she said as she laid the baby in her daughter's arms. "Grandma will get you settled soon."

"She's so beautiful," Naomi said softly, her fingers tracing the tiny face of her daughter who continued to cry. She captured her small fist and pressed a kiss to it and then to her sticky forehead. "Hey, little one, it's okay; Mama's got you."

"She's got good lungs," Sophia remarked as she moved back to the bottom of the bed, hoping the afterbirth would expel soon and easily; the delivery had gone well and she didn't want any complications now, she thought as she glanced down at the bag at her feet that already contained soiled towels and was waiting for the afterbirth to join them. It didn't seem like the best recourse but she didn't know how else to dispose of the distasteful part of the birthing process.

"Your daddy is going to be so happy," Naomi told her daughter as she smoothed her fingers across her cheek. "We got our princess…he'll come see you as soon as he can, I promise."

The baby started to calm in her arms, looking up at her with unfocused eyes. She smiled down at her, her finger slipping into her daughter's tiny hand. "You're perfect, Bambina. So perfect."

"What are you going to call her?" Sophia asked.

"I was thinking about Melissa," Naomi confessed; "But I'm not sure Frank's onboard with that. He wants her middle name to be Alexandra…but it'll depend on what we finally decide for her first name."

"Melissa is nice," her mother commented; "Not very Italian though."

"Neither is Naomi."

"That's a biblical name," Sophia stated; "It suits you…you could give her a name from the bible."

"Maybe," she said, feeling pains once more as Fran carried a basin into the room. "I feel like I need to push again."

"Good," Sophia stated; patting her leg. "That will be the afterbirth; Franny; take the baby and start her bath. I'll take care of Naomi. Go ahead and push, mi cara. How about Rachel for her name?"

"Frank doesn't like that name. I like Elizabeth…he doesn't care for it either because it's Bridget's middle name…but she's so good to us…such a good sister-in-law, I wouldn't mind our baby sharing her name somehow."

"Elizabeth is a pretty name," Sophia agreed as she tended to her task. "You could use it as a middle name if Frank isn't entirely onboard. You gave birth to her, you should get final say…after all, he does have a son named after him."

"I hope Frankie's alright," Naomi remarked. "I hope he'll like his sister."

"He won't at first but he'll get used to her," her mother assured. "Afterbirth is out, darling. You rest for a few minutes; I'll help Franny with the baby and then we'll get you bathed."

"I need to call Frank," she stated. "I need to tell him our Princess is here."

"I've heard that the name Sarah means Princess," Sophia remarked as she moved to the nightstand to get the phone for her daughter. "It's also a biblical name."

"Sarah's such a pretty name," Naomi replied; glancing toward the dresser where her baby was fussing over her bath. "It would suit her I think…but it's Frank's mother's name…he's never gotten over her loss."

"Maybe he would if he had a way to honor her memory," Sophia remarked as she sat the phone on the bed. "Call your husband and tell him all is well…I'll find something for little Sarah to wear."

"Don't get me attached to that name, Mama…it's probably best for me to think of her as Melissa until her father gets here."

"No matter what her name is; she's beautiful and so are you; thank you for my new granddaughter, my darling."

Tears filled Naomi's eyes as she squeezed her mother's hand. "Thank you for taking care of us."

"It's my job, I'm happy to do it," Sophia stated as she pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You make your call now."

Naomi's fingers trembled as she dealt with the rotary phone and then impatience gnawed at her as the line rang in her ear; her daughter still fussing as she was tended to. Finally the line clicked, an anxious, yet tired voice filling her ear. "Hello?"

"Frank," she said, tears still detectable in her voice.

"Naomi, are you alright, dear?" Frank asked.

"I'm fine," she answered; her daughter's fussing turning into a full fledged wail.

"Is that…" he trailed off.

A smile touched her lips. "She's here….our princess is here."

Naomi smiled as her son was led into the room later that day. "There's my boy," she said as he regarded her warily. "Come on up here by me and see your new baby sister."

"No jumping," Sophia said as she lifted her grandson up onto the bed and then took a seat in the extra kitchen chair that had been placed in the room.

Frankie eyed his mother, not saying a word, his gaze on her and not the baby she held.

"Aren't you going to talk to me?" Naomi asked.

"You all better now?" Frankie asked.

"I'm fine, honey," she said, her fingers caressing his face. "Our new baby is here; see her?"

"I don't want no new baby! I'm the baby!"

"You're not a baby; you're a big boy," Naomi told him. "You're a big brother now."

"I don't want that baby!"

"She's nice," she told him. "Look at her, isn't she pretty?"

Frankie frowned. "She cries loud. She woke me up."

"Well, honey; babies do that…you cried and woke me up when you were a baby."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you did," she laughed. "You know what; today is your sister's birthday. How about you tell Sissy happy birthday and give her a kiss on her cheek?"

"No," he said, folding his small arms across his chest in what she couldn't help but think was a perfect imitation of his father.

"Why not?"

"Cause I don't want her."

"Now, Frankie," Naomi said softly; "Don't be that way; she's your baby sister. It's very nice to have a little girl around."

"We don't need a girl baby. We need a boy baby."

"I already have a boy," Naomi told him. "I've got you; no other little boy can compare to you; and now we have a baby girl and I get to be her mommy too."

"You're my mommy!" Frankie cried.

The baby in her arms shifted slightly, a soft huff of breath slipping across her lips as her tiny hand fell against her cheek as if she was distressed by her brother's reception of her. Naomi sighed a little too; this wasn't going to be an easy transition for her son. "Sweetie, just because we have a new baby doesn't mean that I'm not your mommy anymore; I am. I'm your mommy and I'm sissy's mommy too. You can share me with her, can't you?"

"No," he said, tears filling his brown eyes. "Don't want to."

Naomi wrapped her arm around him and hugged him to her. "Honey, it won't be so bad, you'll see…I've got enough love for both of you. We've talked about this, remember."

"I don't want her!" he wailed.

"You'll get used to her," she said gently. "Just think, one day when she's bigger, you'll have someone to play with at home. Won't that be nice?"

"I want my Daddy," Frankie stated tearfully.

"Daddy will get here as soon as he can. Would you like to hold your sister? Grandma and I will help you."

"No," he said as he snuggled into her side.

Naomi rubbed his small arm, her gaze darting toward her mother, hoping for answers of how to handle this. Sophia merely smiled. "He'll get used to her," her mother stated.

That didn't help in the here and now, Naomi thought to herself. "Do you want to help me think of names for your sister?" she asked Frankie. "Daddy and I don't know what to name her yet."

Frankie said nothing but she could feel a teardrop seep through her nightgown. "You can help me," she coaxed. "Do you want to look at her? Maybe you can help me decide if she looks like a Melissa or a Sarah…which name do you like best?"

"Stupid baby," he answered.

"That's not nice, Frankie," Naomi admonished. "Your sister is just a baby; she didn't mean to upset you by being born."

"Send her back."

"I can't, honey; and I don't want to," she said as she looked to her mother. "Will you take her for a minute?"

"Of course," Sophia said as she rose from her chair and came to the bed. She took her granddaughter into her arms, smiling as she did so. "Your brother is stubborn, Bambina; but don't worry, he'll get used to you."

Naomi tugged her son into her arms despite the soreness of her body. "Frankie; you're still my baby too; I still love you as much as always and you know what?"

"What?"

"Your little sister is going to love you so much. She's going to think you're the best big brother in the world, you know that? And when she's bigger, she'll play games with you and you two will play outside together, you'll see, it'll be fine…you'll like her once you get to know her. You'll love her as much as she loves you."

"No."

"Yes; and when we get home, you can help me with the baby."

"Don't want to."

"Well then maybe I can read you both a story."

"No! Just me!" Frankie demanded.

"Alright, honey; story time will be just for us for awhile…but Sissy is going to live with us now and we can't just ignore her."

"I'm going to go play with Grandpa," her son grumbled as he pushed away from her and scrambled off the bed, running from the room.

Naomi sighed deeply. "Being the mother of two isn't going to be easy."

"No, dear; it isn't," Sophia said knowingly; "But being the mother of one isn't easy either. Frankie will need a little time to get used to things but he'll come around; you'll just have to find a way to get him acquainted with his sister."

"I hope I can get her acquainted with her father soon."

"The storm won't last forever; Frank McKenzie will meet his daughter when the time is right. I'm hoping we can get a doctor around here soon to check you both over and give you the seal of approval."

"We're fine, Mama…but I'll be glad to know her weight…and I'll be glad to get her started on formula. You know I couldn't nurse Frankie for long…and I know I'm not going to be able to feed her for long either. I don't understand why I'm not able to produce enough milk," she said, anguish in her tone.

"Naomi, it's just something that happens to some women; your aunt was the same way. It's nothing to be ashamed of…and if you can't sustain her until the storm ends then we'll give her the canned milk I have…and Franny has a few cans at home too if we'd need them. Don't worry; she'll be fed, even if I have to go door to door looking for cans of milk to get us through."

"I hope it won't come to that," she murmured; "But if it does, Frank will pay them back for it."

"Don't worry so much, Naomi," Sophia said as she handed the baby back to her. "Just relax and enjoy your daughter. I'll go check on Frankie."

Naomi couldn't help but smile as she settled her daughter in her arms. "Well, sweetheart; it's been a hell of a birthday for you, hasn't it? A blizzard raging outside, your daddy at home, your brother's upset…you're dressed in this old fashioned hand me down of mine," she said with a soft laugh as she touched the worn cotton sleeve of her old baby gown. "Your cradle is a dresser drawer instead of the one at home…and I have to worry about keeping you fed until this storm is over…but it's okay, because you're here and you're perfect and everything's going to be alright…and we'll make your next birthday better than this one."

Two days after her daughter's birth, Naomi felt content despite still being in residence at her mother's apartment. Her baby had been checked over by the doctor and deemed healthy; and had had her first bottle of the formula recipe he had given her mother. Best of all, her little family was together again, as Frank had arrived earlier in the day and had fallen in love with his daughter the moment she had been laid in his arms. Their son was in the living room playing with his new trucks that his father had brought him as his gift for becoming a big brother. Frankie had also started to take curious peeks at the baby when she'd be lying in her makeshift bed that had been created out of a dresser drawer. It gave her hope that Frankie was ending his standoff; that his determination to reject his sister was waning, despite his comments to Frank about sending her back. This was more like it, she thought with a smile as she softly kissed the baby's forehead. This was more like the plans she'd had in mind when she daydreamed about how her daughter's arrival would go.

The baby stretched and mewed, her eye lids fluttering and then opening fully, just as her husband had been waiting for. "She's waking up, Frank."

"Finally," he said with a smile as he shifted in the chair, his hands reaching for her. "Give her to me so I can get a good look at her with her eyes open."

Naomi handed over the baby, smiling as his large hand cupped her small head. She looked so small and delicate in her father's hands. The smile lingered on her face as she watched her husband's features soften…but then after a moment, he frowned, tension sweeping across his face as he studied their newborn.

"What's wrong, Frank?" she asked.

"Her eyes are green!" he spat.

"I know; they're beautiful, aren't they?"

"No," he said with a shake of his head. "It's not natural."

"Frank, don't be silly," Naomi said with a soft laugh. "Babies can be born with green eyes just as easily as blue or brown. There's nothing wrong with her eyes."

"They're green!"

"Green eyes are beautiful," she stated.

Disgust flicked across his face as he practically shoved the baby back into her arms. "She looks like my mother."

"I think she looks like me."

Frank shook his head as he got up from the chair. "Green eyes and dark hair…she looks like my mother! Those are my mother's eyes!"

"Well that's not so terrible," Naomi said as she looked down at her baby who was still wide awake, her gaze looking serious, as if she knew exactly what was going on around her, but she knew that wasn't possible…at least she hoped her child couldn't sense the distress of her father. "Frank, your mother, based on the photos you've allowed me to see, was a beautiful woman and if our daughter looks like her in some way, I don't see that as a bad thing. I think it's a wonderful thing, something that should be embraced."

"Green eyes just like my mother," he muttered.

"Let's call her Sarah," Naomi suggested softly.

"Are you crazy!" Frank bellowed, making the baby flinch and whimper.

"No, I'm not crazy…I like the name and it would be a nice way to honor your mother's memory."

"No! I'm not interested in honoring her memory!"

"But, Frank; I really do like the name Sarah. It means princess and we've been calling her our princess my whole pregnancy."

"No, Naomi! You wanted to name her Melissa!"

"I know but Mom suggested Sarah, without knowing that the name had any meaning to you…and I think it suits her. Honoring your mother is just a bonus."

"No! Her name will not be Sarah! I'm not honoring that woman's memory. I'd rather forget all about her and I can't do that if she's looking back at me through her eyes!"

"Frank, you're being ridiculous! You shouldn't want to forget your mother and you shouldn't be carrying on this way about our daughter having green eyes. She's a newborn; her eyes can change colors up until she's a year old."

"They better change," he said as he got up from his chair and paced the room. "I don't want a green eyed daughter!"

"Frank, don't say that," Naomi replied, hurt rippling through her as she held her baby close to her as if it would protect her from her father's hurtful words. "She's our baby…we prayed for a girl and God gave us one."

"That's not the one I wanted! I wanted it to look like you, not my damn mother!"

"A little while ago you said she was the prettiest little girl there ever was."

"She is pretty but those eyes need to change. You better start praying that her eyes change, Naomi. You pray with everything you have in you."

"Don't you think you're overreacting?" she asked tearfully. "Before she opened her eyes, you were happy…you were head over heels in love with her."

"It's ruined now," he muttered as he gave the infant a disdainful look.

Naomi sniffled. "Only if you let it be ruined! I don't care if her eyes change colors. I don't care if it's your mother's name; I want to call her Sarah. She looks like a Sarah."

"I don't give a damn if she looks like a Mexican jumping bean! Her name will not be Sarah. It's Melissa or some other name you like but it's not Sarah. Now I'm leaving; call me when the doctor says you can move home and I'll come pick you up."

"Frank," she said softly as the baby began to cry. "Don't go."

"I've got things to do," he stated before storming from the room.

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she gently rocked back and forth to soothe the baby. "I'm so sorry, Bambina," she said softly as she brushed a kiss against her tuft of dark hair. "I'm so sorry…life hasn't started for you the way I planned. You were supposed to be born in a hospital…there wasn't supposed to be a blizzard…your father and brother were supposed to adore you…and they will; you just wait and see. Your daddy's stubborn but he'll come around. He'll love you; I promise…I'll make him love you."

"What's Frank in a snit about?" Sophia asked as she entered the room.

"He's not pleased with her," she cried.

"What are you talking about? He was all gooey eyed over her a few hours ago."

"He doesn't like her green eyes."

"Why the hell not!"

"Because his mother had green eyes."

"Oh for God's sake, what's wrong with her having her grandmother's eyes?"

"I don't know, I guess he's got a hang up about it. I told him they might change colors and he said I better pray that they do."

"He's being ridiculous," Sophia remarked, her fingers reaching out and stroking the baby's cheek; "And he better get over it or I'll put the eye on him."

Naomi sniffled. "He won't let me name her Sarah."

"You can name her whatever you want. If it was me and my husband told me I couldn't name my child Sarah; I'd name her that out of spite. If that's the name you want, then give it to her, he'll get over it."

She wasn't sure about that, Naomi thought to herself as her baby's cries ceased. If she couldn't name her baby Sarah, she'd find another way to honor her mother-in-law's memory. She'd call Bridget, gain a little information. "Mama, will you move the phone over here for me?"

"Of course, darling; who do you want to call?"

"Bridget," she answered.

"I'll go check on dinner while you call her," Sophia stated. "I'll warm a bottle for the bambina too."

Naomi placed her call and indulged in the first few minutes of small talk with her sister-in-law before coming to the question she wanted to ask. "Bridget, what was your mother's middle name?"

"Johanna," Bridget answered; "It doesn't go all that well with the name Sarah; but from what my grandmother told me, she gave her Johanna as a middle name to honor her favorite sister."

"Johanna," Naomi murmured as she looked down into her daughter's eyes. Johanna would do just fine if she lost the battle. If it couldn't be Sarah Alexandra, then it would be Johanna Elizabeth, she determined. She talked a few more minutes and then ended the call.

"Don't worry, Johanna," she whispered, trying the name on her. "It'll be alright…all my plans for your entrance into this world fell apart…but we'll make new ones…you have many more birthdays ahead and it'll be alright. I promise, bambina…everything will be alright."

A/N: I left Frank's first reactions to baby Johanna out on purpose as I've already written it in flashback form for a scene in an upcoming chapter of Reflections. First Birthday comes next and then we'll jump a few years!