Disclaimer: This was written for the soul purpose of my entertainment. I lay no claim on Walker Texas Ranger or any of its characters. Any reference to the Texas Motor Speedway is purely fictional for entertainment purposes.
Rated: PG
"Miracles Of Christmas"
Chapter One
The Front Porch Of Sydney And Francis Gage's Home
"Do you think it is going to snow Daddy?" Cat Gage quizzed her father. Sydney had just got Cody down for his nap and they had come out on the front porch to wait for Julie and Robin to arrive.
"Well it's not in the forecast but then it wasn't the year Pipe and I got caught out over night in that freak storm either," Gage replied not really giving her a straight answer. "It sure has gotten cold though," he added lifting her into his arms.
"Daddy put me down I'm a big girl," she squirmed in his arms until he set he down again. "Besides Cody in the baby now," she defiantly told him.
"Yes Cody is the baby now but do you think it is asking too much to let your father steal a hug and kiss from you every once in a while?" he asked her his eyes focused on her face as she looked up at him.
"Well not all the time Dad just when no one is looking," she told him a car horn suddenly sounding as Julie and Robin pulled into the driveway.
"Francis, Cat," Julie cried jumping from the car at the same time.
"Aunt Julie," Cat shouted running to her aunt to be caught up in her arms. "Did you bring me a present?"
"Cat!" Gage exclaimed leaning forward to give Julie a hug and kiss. "You don't need to ask Aunt Julie for a present every time she comes for a visit. You should just be happy she came to visit," Gage scolded.
"Leave her be Francis," Julie frowned at her brother turning back to her young niece.
"Yeah Francis let her be," Robin cut in unable to resist throwing in a Francis when he got a chance.
"Don't you get started Chafe," Gage directed at Robin who was grinning from ear to ear.
"Yes Cat I brought you a present but you can't open it until Christmas," Julie told her ignoring Gage and Robin.
"Hey Robin," she shouted over Julie's shoulder. "Are you going to marry Aunt Julie? Daddy thinks that might be your big news but Mom says nothing is ever sure where Aunt Julie is concerned," she curiously explained to everyone Robin and Gage's faces colouring with her revelation.
Robin's mouth opened and closed much like Gage's always did when he is put on the spot.
"Well your Daddy is going to have to wait until I get to see that new brother of yours," Julie cut in smiling at her niece.
"He just went for a nap and Mom said if we wake him up we have to rock him," Cat declared.
"Well you know Cat if we are very quiet maybe we can sneak just a little peek," Julie smiled the same time tickling Cat eliciting laughter from the little girl.
"Aunt Julie Robin," Chris called coming up the driveway Piper in tow.
Julie stopped short looking at Chris amazed at the fact that every time she saw her nephew he looked more and more like her little brother.
"You get more handsome every time I see you Christian," Julie gushed taking Chris in a warm hug. "And you, look at you Pipe where is the time going?" she asked hugging Piper close too.
"I missed you Aunt Julie," Piper confessed glad her aunt was here.
"Me too Pipe I missed you too," Julie whispered to the young girl hugging her closer.
"Are we going inside or what?" Cat asked hating that the center of attention had drifted to Piper and away from her.
"Yes we are going inside," Gage answered his daughter holding the door open for everyone.
"Mom Aunt Julie and Robin are here," Cat shouted at the top of her lungs the wails from Cody sounding a minute later and then her mother's voice.
"Cat what did I tell you?" Syd scolded emerging from her own room to head to the nursery.
"Let me," Julie begged hurrying down the hall to go with Syd to help tend to her new nephew.
"Cat," Gage sternly stared at her.
"I forgot Daddy," her pleading brown eyes threatening tears.
"That's going to be written on your tombstone," Chris spoke up teasing his sister.
"It will not," Cat countered.
"Sure it will I'll make sure of it," Chris persisted.
"Daddy," Cat shouted again.
"All right Chris enough and you young lady what did Mom say about shouting in the house?" Gage stepped in to break up the argument.
"That when we shout we disturb others so we aren't going to shout in the house," Cat sighed.
"That's right," Gage concurred squeezing his little girl's shoulder as she sullenly walked toward the family room.
Shaking his head and smiling Gage looked over to his guest asking, "How bout a beer?"
"Sounds good," Robin agreed following Gage to the kitchen. "How do you do it Gage?" Robin asked taking the beer from him.
"Do what?" Gage answered with a question.
"Work, wife, family… big family… good kids," Robin answered staring at the beer in his hand.
Grinning to himself as much as at Robin Gage began, "It's all I ever wanted out of life. When Julie and I were kids things were so hard for us… I used to think to myself when I grow up I'm going to have lots of kids of my own and I'm going to treat them so much better. First I had my career and then Syd came along… when she told me she was expecting Chris well lets just say… then Piper came along, Cat and now Cody my life has just fallen into place that's all."
"You make it sound so easy," Robin wanly smiled.
"Don't get me wrong Syd and I work at this all the time, things aren't always a piece of cake around here," Gage tried to explain.
"Robin isn't he precious," Julie cut in cuddling Cody close as she walked into the kitchen with him.
Syd was a step behind Julie she slid over beside Gage letting his arm go round her as she leaned against him.
"You look good holding him," Gage cut in before Robin could answer adding, "I think we have waited long enough to hear your big news."
Before Julie had a chance to reply Cody let out a wail Gage reached for his son while Syd went to retrieve a bottle for him. Bouncing him a little Gage asked again, "What's the big secret?"
Clearing his throat Robin looked at Julie who nodded her head giving him the go ahead. "We bought a house."
"You bought a house?" Gage looked blankly at them.
"Yes right here in Dallas," Julie continued.
"In Dallas?" Syd parroted as surprised as her husband.
"I've been transferred to the Dallas office," Robin began to explain.
"So you bought a house together? And you're going to live together?" Gage questioned still not able to grasp fully what Julie and Robin were telling them.
"Frankie we live together now," Julie grinned at her brother watching him take Cody's bottle from Syd and begin to feed him.
"See Robin it isn't that hard even Frankie can do it I'm sure you won't have any trouble at all," Julie rattled on.
"I can do what Julie?" Gage eyes were on his sister knowing in his heart what she was going to say but needing to hear it out loud.
Taking Robin's hand Julie looked into his eyes as she announced to her brother and sister-in-law, "Robin and I are expecting."
A dead silence filled the room for a few awkward moments until Sydney recovered enough to pull Julie into a hug. "Congratulations Honey," Syd told her. "How far along are you?"
"We just found out, I'm about six weeks," Julie gushed Robin remaining quiet.
"So is it just going to be a small wedding or are you going all out?" Gage asked point blank.
"Francis I don't recall wedding plans being in our announcements…"
"Come on Julie you're planning on bringing a child into this world," Gage cut back in.
"Yes Frankie we are and on our terms not yours," Julie defiantly stood up to her brother.
"Julie this goes against all our values one of the very few things we have left of Mom and Dad," Gage quietly spoke.
"Julie please let me have a word with Gage, alone," Robin stepped between the two of them.
"I can handle my brother," Julie shot back.
"I don't need handling Julie I just want to know what the hell you are thinking," Gage flared trying hard not to loose his temper.
"Julie why don't we let the two of them have a few minutes," Syd intervened taking Cody from Gage as she spoke.
Glaring at Gage Julie gave in saying as she walked out of the kitchen with Sydney, "There is nothing that you can say that is going to change things little brother. Not a thing."
"Maybe we should step into the study," Robin suggested.
"After you," Gage replied getting up to follow.
With the door closed behind them Gage lit into Robin, "Chafe just what in hell are you thinking?"
"Hold on Gage I asked her I want to marry her and she flatly refused me," Robin said turning to face him.
"What are you talking about?" Gage demanded.
"When she came home and told me it was the first thing out of my mouth. Julie thinks I'm only willing to marry her because she is carrying my child," Robin explained.
"Why would she think that?" Gage asked still not convinced.
"A couple of weeks ago word came down I was being sent to Dallas. When I found out I asked Julie to come with me and well we bought the house… then you guys had Cody Julie was so excited. We some how got into this big discussion about kids to which I opened my big mouth to say I didn't know if I could settle down. The next thing I knew she was crying… that's when I wheedled it out of her that she was expecting," Robin spouted out.
"Oh man," was all Gage could get out knowing just exactly how his sister was thinking.
"But that ain't the half of it," Robin continued. "Have you ever heard of Darius?"
"Who hasn't? He's one of the biggest drug kingpins in the state of Texas," Gage exclaimed. "What's he got to do with this?"
"I was undercover in one of his operations a couple of years back helped orchestrate a big bust but Darius eluded us. I thought I had got out of the sting undetected by the man," Robin began to explain.
"But that's not the case?" Gage questioned.
"My cover is still intact, I'm still CZ Williams," Robin simply stated. "The trouble is that when the bust went down a huge quantity of PCP was confiscated. Some how Darius got the idea that I took off with his shipment of drugs. I ran into an associate of his Tommy Roland he as much as told me Darius was looking for me wants to make an example of me… Gage you and I both know Julie is tough… I need your help here… if anything happens to her," Robin was pleading.
Gage eyed Chafe for a moment finally admitting to himself he could trust the man where Julie was concerned. "Julie stays here until you are off the hook and you bring the rangers in on this," Gage informed Robin.
"Listen Gage I want you looking after Julie but I can take care of this problem…"
"Chafe as I see it you don't have a choice here," Gage cut him off. "You're going to be a father not to mention my brother-in-law besides Julie will kill me if I don't do what I can to help get you out of this mess."
Gage had all ready picked up the phone and begun dialling as he continued, "We got two weeks until Christmas Julie will be safe here with Sydney." The phone connected before Gage could say anything more.
"Walker got Chafe here he's needing a little help from us seems he has Darius looking to even a score with him," he informed his boss. "We'll be there shortly."
Hanging up the phone Gage looked over at Chafe, "I'll talk to Syd while you talk to Julie."
Nodding his head yes both men emerged from the study to be greeted by Matt and Anna B. "Sumner you're just the person I want to see," Gage told him.
"Me what did I do?" Sumner playfully asked back.
"No more then usual," Gage laughed.
"Julie Honey can I see you alone a minute," Chafe spoke over the rest beckoning Julie to follow him.
Gage watched as his sister sullenly walked past them to join Robin, he could tell by her glare that she was not impressed with his meddling in her business. As the door closed Gage turned to Syd saying, "What I have to tell Sumner concerns you too."
"Let me take Cody," Anna B suggested reaching out for the baby.
"Thanks Anna B," Gage smiled as Cat came trooping out of the family room.
"Where's Aunt Julie and Robin?" she asked.
"They are having a talk and that is what Sumner and your Mom and Dad are going to do too," Anna B told Cat taking her by the hand to lead her back to the family room.
Sumner stared after his wife for a moment a big smile crossing his face. "She is going to make a perfect Mom," Syd told him bringing him back to the moment at hand.
"Yeah I know," he replied his face colouring slightly being caught in the day dream.
Syd's eyes went to her husband's and they both smiled knowing how their friend felt. Another couple of weeks and he would be a father too.
As they took seats around the kitchen table Gage began to inform Sydney and Sumner of what was going on. "Chafe has got himself in a bit of trouble with Darius," he started to say.
"The Darius?" Sumner's eyes had grown wide as he asked.
Quickly Gage explained what Chafe had told him his partner and his friend listening. "Syd Robin is worried about Julie I know he has seen first hand what can happen to families when you double cross Darius. He wants and I think it is a good idea for Julie to stay here under your protection especially now."
"What's so special about now?" Sumner quickly picked up on Gage's words.
"Julie and Robin are expecting," Sydney simply replied.
Suddenly they were interrupted by the study door flying open and Julie's words, "Robin you are being absolutely ridiculous I can take care of myself. You and my brother don't run my life and neither of you are going to be telling me what to do."
"Julie," Gage was about to cut in when Syd put her hand on his shoulder.
"Let me talk with her for a few minutes this just sounds so familiar," she smiled at her husband thinking of her own antics when she had been expecting their children.
"And you Francis should know better," Julie turned on Gage as she stomped into the kitchen.
"Gage why don't you a guys head out so you can get back things can be decided from there." It was Syd's turn to interrupt.
Leaning down Gage kissed Syd's temple whispering, "Thanks," at the same time before high tailing it out of there.
"This isn't over," Julie shouted to their backs as the three men hurried to get out the back door.
"Julie could you take a couple of deep breaths and relax please," Sydney told her sister-in-law.
"Sydney I don't want to relax those two do not own me…"
"No Julie they love you and don't want anything to happen to you or that baby you are carrying," Sydney butted in. "Will you listen to me for just a few minutes, what I'm seeing here today is what I dished out to Gage every time I was expecting. It's a wonder we are even still married."
"You just don't understand Sydney," Julie tried to say in her own defence.
"Oh but Julie I do understand. I know you are just as independent as I am and you certainly are not used to Gage telling you what to do. In fact it has been the opposite you've always looked after him," Syd countered.
Julie remained silent her eyes going to the ceiling as she fought off the tears that threatened.
"And Robin well I doubt he has ever really put his foot down and kept you out of things since you found out who he really was," she continued.
"He promised me," Julie snapped out.
"Exactly what was that promise Julie? That he would include you in all his investigations or that he would never lie and keep things from you?"
Julie didn't answer so Sydney went on speaking. "Things are going to be different for the next little while… When I was expecting Chris and the Perrons were threatening us Gage was so afraid for me. It wasn't until we were about to sit on the floor at a coffee table to eat dinner that I understood why. I couldn't even get down on the floor with out his help not alone defend myself if I had too.
I know you aren't in that position just yet but it sneaks up on you when you are least expecting it. I didn't think that day when I went charging out because Chris and Gage had been caught in up in a shooting that I would pass out…
See what I'm trying to say here Julie it isn't just about you anymore take it from someone who has had to be told every time I was pregnant," Syd concluded.
"You aren't the only one," Anna B's voice was behind them. "I put Cody down in his crib," she told Sydney turning back to Julie. "Sydney tell you about my little escapade of thinking I could rescue Sumner all on my own? I think your brain goes to mush and you get twice as headstrong when you become pregnant… Congratulations by the way."
"Thanks," Julie quietly answered. "You guys must think I'm nuts with this fuss I've been making.
"We would have thought you nuts if you hadn't," Syd laughed. "Tell you what maybe this week we can sort of stick together get our Christmas shopping finished and give you a hand setting up the nursery," Syd suggested.
Finally letting a little smile show through Julie agreed.