Pride and Joy

---

A/N: Hey, everyone! I'm back and with a vengeance! This is my first Wildfire fanfic and I hope you like it!

A Quick Back-story...This takes place almost 9 months after the Breeder's. Wildfire won and became the most-talked about horse around. Kris ended up going to Europe with Kerry. Davis and Raintree Farms followed her progress for 2 months, but then Kris mysteriously disappeared. No one has heard from her since.

Anyway, on with the fic!
-Jude Q

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Wildfire. (sob)

---

Chapter One--The Only Place That Feels Like Home

---

Kris walked slowly up the gravel path to the Ritter's front door. It was close to midnight, but she needed to rest--badly--and she didn't know where else to go. She noticed her trailer wasn't in the yard anymore, and she wished she knew where it was.

Kris wasn't sure if she should knock, walk in, or find somewhere else to spend the night. She lifted her hand, ready to knock when the door opened.

"Kris?" Matt was standing in the doorframe wearing only a pair of black boxers.

"Hey," she said meekly, diverting her eyes from his half-naked body.

"Oh, God. Sorry." He grabbed a long black coat from the rack next to the door and pulled it on quickly.

"It's fine." She laughed nervously.

"Wow, come in." Matt led her through the door, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "When did you get back?"

Kris looked around. The house looked exactly the same as it had when she had left for Europe. "Actually, I've been back for a few months." Matt shut the door and offered to take her coat. Kris pealed it off slowly, handing it over to him shyly. He took it and draped it over the back of the recliner. He turned around to face her, his eyes widening as he looked at her.

"Whoa, Kris!" Matt pointed at her swollen midsection. "Are you...?" She nodded, not meeting his eyes and secretly wishing she still had her coat on.

"Yeah. I'm due in two weeks." Kris glanced around, visibly uncomfortable.

"God, sit down! What am I thinking? Get off your feet!" He ushered his old friend over to the couch, settling her down gently.

"Thanks," she muttered.

He sat down next to her. "So, tell me about it." She shook her head. "Come on, Kris. I know you. You need to talk about it." Her set a hand on her knee.

Kris took a deep breath and began her story, "After Wildfire won the Breeder's, Kerry took me to Paris. We, uh...yeah." Matt nodded, eyebrows scrunched into a tight line above his dark eyes. "But then, nothing happened. He was still sweet to me, but he said we should just go back to being agent and jockey.

"I thought nothing about it at the time, because I was going into the French circuit and I didn't know how much time I would have for a boyfriend. I don't know how much you heard, but I wasn't doing all that great. I hadn't been feeling well and my racing suffered.

"Two months after I got to Europe, Kerry convinced me to go to the doctor. She told me that I was pregnant. I had to stop riding. I flew home the next day and Kerry said he'd come home in a couple days after he figured business out for us. I haven't seen him since.

"I've been living in a hotel near Oakland, but yesterday, Kerry called and said that he's stuck in Europe with a new jockey." Kris could feel the tears in her eyes. She had promised herself that she wasn't going to cry about this anymore. Kerry wasn't worth it. But after talking to Matt, she realized she didn't have much of a choice in the matter.

"I'm due in two weeks, so I took a cab here. I didn't know where else to go." By now, the tears were flowing quickly down Kris' tanned cheeks. Matt pulled her into an embrace.

"Kris, you're always welcome here. You know that." She wiped her eyes dry and forced a smile.

"Thanks, Matt. You're a great friend. I really missed you while I was in Europe."

"We missed you, too, Kris." Matt ruffled her hair gently, glad to have his friend back.

"Are you sure your mom won't mind me staying here?" she asked tentatively and Matt nodded. "Do you guys still have my trailer?"

"Yeah, it's back by the horse barn." Kris stood up slowly, pushing herself off the couch with great effort. "But I think you should stay in the house tonight."

"You sure Jean won't mind? I don't want to intrude my first night back..."

"Of course not. She'd be thrilled you're back." Matt smiled at her and for the first time in months, Kris truly felt at ease. "You'll have to sleep on the couch, but..."

"No, that's okay. Thanks, Matt." He stood and walked into the hallway, returning with a handful of blankets.

"It's no problem," he insisted. "Here, let me tuck you in." He let her lay down, then spread a sheet and a comforter over her body.

"Matt, you really are too great, you know that right." Kris smiled at her friend, glad to be back at Raintree.

"Good night, Kris."

" 'Night, Matt." He walked up the stairs, heading back to his bedroom.

"Hey, there." A soft voice greeted him from his bed. He looked up at her, grinning sleepily.

"Hey, Gillian," he muttered, tugging off the coat and climbing back into bed.

"We're you right? Was someone out there?"

"Uh, yeah. Kris." Matt slouched down under the covers.

"The jockey?" Gillian questioned in disbelief.

"Yeah..."

"Why?" Matt took a deep breath. Should I tell her? She'll figure it out when she sees her anyway.

"She's having a baby," he admitted.

Gillian sat up quickly, eyes wide. "She's what?"

"In two weeks."

"Wow," she collapsed against the backboard of the bed. "Whose is it?"

Matt paused only for a second. "Kerry's."

Gillian gasped. "That dog," she muttered under her breath.

"What?"

"Nothing...Is he still her agent?" Matt nodded. "That's so...unprofessional."

"Gillian," he warned.

She changed the subject quickly, not wanting to get into a fight with Matt this late at night. "Does Junior know?"

Matt shook his head. "I don't think so."

"Wow...This is crazy!" Gillian slumped back in bed, before sitting up again and looking Matt right in the eyes. "Little Kris?"

"She not that little," he commented and she snorted to herself. "Come on. Let's get some sleep."

---

Kris opened her eyes, sleep still on her mind. Her baby had kept her awake all night, tap-dancing on her bladder. She groaned and rubbed her eyes, sitting up slowly.

The sun was barely over the horizon and streaks of light were just beginning to peak in the windows. Kris stood and walked toward the door, pulling on her shoes. She took her time as she waddled out to the stables, only one thing on her mind.

Wildfire's head was resting on the door to his stall. Tottering over to him, Kris reached out the pet her horse. Wildfire took a step back, whinnying at her. She opened the stall door and walked in. "Come on. Don't be like that. Matt let me back, no problem."

"Kinda wish he had asked first." Jean's voice behind Kris startled her. She looked over her shoulder and saw Matt's mom in the doorway to the stables. Jean smiled warmly, "But I'm glad you're back."

Kris turned around completely and Jean's eyes widened. "Whoa!"

"Yeah, um..." Kris wrapped her arms around herself and looked away, embarrassed.

"Uh, Matt didn't mention that." Jean was in shock.

"I thought Kris would want to tell people." The two women turned around as Matt joined them in the stables. "I didn't think she would want me to blab about it to everyone."

"Matt," Kris grinned and rested her hands on her belly, a motherly glow about her, "they'd figure it out as soon as they saw me." Matt's mother smiled at Kris, realizing how wonderful Kris would be as a mom.

"Well, you look good. When are you due?" Jean asked. Once she had gotten over the shock of Kris coming back, pregnant, she was ready to become maternal again. It had been so long since she had been the mother of a young child, she was excited to take care of Kris.

"Two weeks," Kris replied.

"Well, then there's not much time left to plan, is there?" she gushed. Kris looked at Matt, a bit uncomfortable. Jean took a step back, realizing she was scaring Kris a little. "Sorry. Um, how's Wildfire?"

Kris frowned, though glad the subject had changed. "He won't even let me near him."

"He probably thinks you had left him for good. It's confusing now that you're back after so long." Kris nodded and Matt walked toward her and Wildfire. The horse snorted and trotted even further back. Kris sighed and left the stall, Matt closing it behind her. "It'll just take some time for...everyone to get used to you being around again."

"What do you mean by that?" Kris demanded. An awkward silence settled between them.

"Matt, why don't you go check up on Gillian?" Jean suggested, changing the subject.

Kris perked up instantly. "Are you going to Davis Farms?" she asked eagerly.

"Uh, no," Matt said uncomfortably. "Actually, Junior never sold."

Kris' eyes widened. "Then, where's Gillian?"

"Probably still in bed." Pablo's voice floated from behind the three of them. She spun around, a wide smile on her face at the sight of her old friend. "She's not a morning person. Never could have run a horse stable."

"Pablo!" she screamed.

"Welcome home, Kris." He gestured at her abdomen, raising his bushy eyebrows. She smiled self-consciously and wrapped her arms protectively around her stomach.

Jean grinned, glad that Kris was happy about all of this. "Matt, did you want to go get Gillian and warn her of our guest?"

"She knows," Matt replied matter-of-factly.

"Wait, I'm confused. Gillian didn't buy Davis Farms, but she's still in the States?" Kris scrunched up her forehead, perplexed.

Jean and Pablo both looked at Matt, waiting for him to answer. "Yeah, um...she's actually staying at Raintree. You see, we're, uh...engaged..."

"You and Gillian? Wow, congratulations! So, whatever happened to her buying Junior's part of Davis Farms?"

"Junior backed out at the last minute. He said he couldn't give up such a big part of himself," Matt explained. Kris smiled, her heart warming. "He and Dani are running Davis Farms now. Dani's on the books and Junior is running the stables."

"How is he?" Kris asked earnestly. "Junior, I mean."

Matt smiled. "He's...good. It's nice to see him back into horses again." She nodded.

"Kris!" Jean interrupted. "Let's get you back up to the house. You and Wildfire can make up later. You need to get some rest."

"Actually," Kris looked between Pablo and the two Ritter's. "Could someone take me to Davis Farms? I'd like to see...it, again."

Jean and Pablo shared a look. "I can," Matt volunteered.

"Thanks." Kris glanced at Jean. "Then I promise to come home and rest."

The two of them got into Matt's car without another word. Kris buckled her seatbelt as Matt pulled out onto the road. Within a matter of minutes, they were at the Davis' property.

Kris took a deep breath and looked around. Just like Raintree, it was exactly like it had been before she had left. Matt put the car into park and glanced at her.

"Did you want me to come in with you?" he offered. She shook her head and sighed.

"I need to do this alone."

Matt nodded. "Good luck."

"Thanks." Kris got out of the car carefully and started toward the door.

This is it, she thought, wondering what she was going to tell Junior. Oh, my God. You know what? This was a bad idea. I shouldn't have come back to Raintree...and to Junior. This is only going to end bad.

Kris turned around and began to waddle back to the car when a voice from behind stopped her.

"Kris?"

---

A/N: Voila! Chapter 1 is done and delivered hot and fresh to you! Hope you liked it.

Leave me a review, please. I'd love to hear from you guys so I know if I should continue.

Until next time,
JQ.