Chapter 3: New Steps

Sam kept watching Jake as he watched her little brother. She felt an unusual emotion sweep through her body, she felt her heart beat faster and she felt a heat radiate across her body in waves. Sam turned her attention back to her sleeping little brother and felt the heat slightly subside. A breeze blew around the foursome, smothering them in the scent of flowers from Gram's garden.

Jake knew he was watching him and he kept his eyes plastered on the baby in his arms. In a way he was thrilled that Sam was noticing him but in another way he was scared shitless. This was all completely new territory for him and he felt trapped because he didn't know what to do.

"What's his name? Like full name?" Jake asked as he let the little baby boy in his arms held his finger in his little hand; he finally gave in and looked up into her light brown eyes.

"The little boy you are holding right now is Adrian Gavin Forster and this little tike here is Nathan Bradley Forster." Sam chucked lightly at Jake's facial features and turned towards the 10 acre pasture just in time to see Ace rear up playfully at Witch.

"As creepy as it is, I take it that that is Nate's name and middle name too?" Sam gave a smug look.

This was the first time anyone besides the Forsters and the ranch hands had let anyone near the babies. Wyatt was too upset along with everyone else, which was understandable. Not even Maxine knew of the twin's names except that they were twins, boys, healthy and well taken care of. Gram had refused any help from anyone except Sam.

As if on instinct the pair turned their heads to meet each other's eyes at the exact moment. Something unfamiliar passed between them but they acted on instinct again. Cautiously, Sam moved close to Jake who opened up his arm so he could place it around her shoulders but she leaned against his chest which surprised him greatly. Jake shifted Adrian around so Sam had enough room, Sam did the same with Nathan and the two young adults got comfortable. Sam placed her head on his chest and relaxed, listening to Jake's rather fast heart beat.

Sam didn't know but Jake smiled over the top of her head. He had wanted this for a long time but never got the guts to ask her. If anyone walked past right now they would've thought Sam and Jake were married with kids.

"Well this is a new step in our friendship." Sam whispered as she too started to follow the babies into sleep.

Jake was brought out of his train of thought and looked at the girls in his arms.

"Yes, Yes it is." He did as he felt her fall asleep. When he presumed it was safe enough, Jake kissed the top of her head.

Two hours passed; Jake and Sam had fallen asleep in each other's arms in the spring heat. Jake had felt content with the twins and Sam in his arms and he was pretty sure Sam felt the same way about him.

Jake had awoken 10 minutes ago to the sound of horse's hooves coming across the bridge. As his eyes came into focus on the horse and rider, Jake instantly knew it was his twin brother. Jake watched as Quinn dismounted from Chip and tied him from the rails. Jake's eyes followed Quinn until he came to the front of the barn and the other came out to greet him. Jake figured Quinn hadn't seen him or Sam sitting on the porch because the two male cowboys started kissing…like really really kissing each other.

Jake felt his stomach contract into knots. He was upset. His own twin hadn't told him anything about his sexuality or why he had been sneaking out a lot at night. Sam shifted in Jake's arms, bringing him out of his thoughts once again; she moved Nathan more onto Jake's stomach to get herself more comfortable. He turned his gaze away from Sam back to Quinn who was currently being shoved against the side of the barn in full make out session. Jake had nothing against gays or bisexuals, heck Darrell was secretly gay. He liked girls to keep the other guys off his back because they didn't like gays.

Jake's body tensed again as the two cowboys stopped and looked around the yard as if expecting someone to walk straight up to them and tell them to get a room.

"I take it you are watching too?" Sam whispered softly to Jake. He jumped slightly at her voice, he didn't expect her to be awake but he quickly relaxed.

"Yeah though slightly disturbed since it's my brother. As you know this is a shock to the both of us which is why I'm disturbed. Although if he chooses this path to go down, I'll support him every way I can. That includes beating the hell out of anyone who puts him down because of his sexuality." Jack sighed lightly and put his head on top of Sam's.

The pair or foursome were quiet until they heard Sam's grandmother screaming frantically from inside.

"Samantha!" She screamed.

Sam stood up as quickly as she could, Jake held out his other arm for the other twin. Sam placed the baby in his arms carefully and made sure he was ok to hold the two of them. He nodded quickly and told her to go inside.

Sam ran into the house looking for her Gram.

"Gram? Where are you?" Sam called, looking in the kitchen then in the dining room.

"In the living room." Sam walked into find her Gram freaking out.

"Where are the babies? I swear I had them when I was sitting in the chair. They're gone! Help me find them." Her voice was frantic.

Sam walked up to her Gram and placed her arms around her.

"Gram the babies were outside with me and Jake. We were letting you sleep. They were asleep when we took them from your arms so you could get some rest." Sam said soothingly. Her Gram flopped into the chair behind her with relief.

"Lands! I think I just had a heart attack or something." She put her hand on her chest and breathed deeply to slow her heart beat.

"Go upstairs and – " Jake walked into the room with Quinn trailing behind him carrying one of the babies. Gram calmed down upon seeing the twins but fidgetted. She didn't want anyone else with the babies except her and Sam.

Smirking slightly to herself, Sam continued.

"Go upstairs and get some sleep Gram. I have everything covered. This is why I came home. So all of you can get some well deserved sleep. I'll bring lunch up in a few others. And yes I can make lunch for the ranch hands too." Sam gave her Gram a look to stop her from fighting back, shockingly it worked. Smiling Sam gave her Gram a light push towards the stairs.

"Seriously, it's not like we're going to burn the house down." Quinn voiced aloud, smirking slightly.

"Mom has taught us how to cook." Jake finished his twin's sentence and glared at his twin over his shoulder as if saying Not helping!

Gram eyed the three young adults and nodded slightly, going up the stairs. Jake motioned Quinn to follow him in placing the babies in their bassinets.

"I can't believe they are this tiny. How did your Gram manage it?" Quinn asked Sam, watching Nathan.

"When she told mom she didn't want any help or anyone visiting until things had calmed down with Brynna, mom got worried." Quinn whispered.

Sam nodded understanding what they meant. She wanted people to come see her brothers and such.

"Come on guys, lets go make lunch for everyone. May not be up to my Gram's standards but its pretty close." Sam chuckled as she walked into the kitchen, the older twins in tow.

A little while after, the two babies started crying; wanting their lunch. Sam pulled out two bottles of milk and handed them to the older twins.

"Can you guys do it for me? I need to finish off lunch." Sam asked and handed the boys two bottles of milk. They nodded and went into the room where the crying boys were.

Twenty or so minutes later Sam heard footsteps on the stairs. Sam glanced out of the kitchen and saw her father coming down them.

She hurriedly got out a plate and filled it with the things that she was serving for lunch. She pulled out a beer for her dad and placed it on the table. Sam checked on the boys and found them deep in conversation. She presumed Jake was talking to Quinn about the other cowboy.

Sam walked back into the kitchen to see her father looking around for something.

"Lunch is on the table, sit down and eat before I force feed you." Sam chuckled lightly and gave her dad a push of encouragement. She seemed to be doing that a lot today.

"Ok." Wyatt said softly and sat down to eat. After making sure he was eating properly, Sam put a plate together for her Gram. She put it on a tray along with a warm cup of tea. Sam walked up the stairs and peeked into her Gram's room. She was sitting happily on her bed reading a book.

"What cha reading?" Sam asked, placing the tray on the bedside table.

"Tomorrow, when the war began. It's a famous book series in Australia. Or so I'm told. It's rather interesting." Gram smiled, from a few hours rest she looked amazing.

"Go on and eat up. Also, where are all the steaks and such we use for the big BBQs? I was thinking of inviting the Ely's over for dinner tonight along with a small bonfire. Maxine needs to meet the twins before she goes nuts or so I'm told." Sam sat down on the bed and looked into her Gram's eyes.

"You really are growing up Samantha dear. You're just like your mother. Always willing to help out and help people along in their lives if they need a little shove." Sam saw tears appear in Gram's eyes.

"And you are just what your father needs right now. He has lost two wives now both with very young children. He needs that help and a little shove and so far, you have done an amazing job." Tears of happiness spilled over her cheeks, Sam pulled her into a hug. The two women sat like that for a long time.

Later that afternoon, after Sam had organized for the Ely's and Kentworthy's to come over for dinner; Sam set out to catch up on what the ranch was doing and what needed to be done.

"Dallas? Are you in here?" Sam called into the barn, walking along the aisle; greeting all the horses.

"In here Sam." Replied Dallas from the tack room.

"What needs to be done? I'm filling in for my dad right now." Sam leaned against one of the saddle racks as she looked at the older cowboy.

"Everything is actually done for today, what's this I hear about the Ely's and Kentworthy's coming over tonight and a bonfire is going to be happening?" Dallas kept whittling away at a stick, his gaze looking up every now and then.

"I was going to gather some wood and drag the barby up near it so I can cook stuff tonight." She replied, watching what he was doing with the knife and stick.

"I don't think you will need to fill in for me baby, I can do a better job on my own." Sam jumped at the voice and whirled around on her heel to come in contact with a hard chest. Two arms came out to steady her and a soft chuckle was heard.

Sam looked up into the dark brown eyes of her father.

"Let me take care of everything now. You woke me up from my nightmare and opened my eyes to the bigger picture. I have two babies to take care of and I can't do that if I lock myself away in my room." Tears appeared in Sam's eyes, she hugged her father tightly.

Her father returned it and whispered in her ear.

"Thanks baby girl, lets tackle these new steps together." Sam nodded against her father's chest.

She changed her father in his time of need and she felt really happy that she was making an influence.