Casey turned at the sound of the door. "Knock knock." Ty whispered not wanting to startle her. She waved getting up. "Jack wanted me to switch places with you." He continued to whisper not wanting to wake Tim.
Casey looked back at him. "I could use a cup of coffee, I guess." Ty nodded. "I won't be long."
Ty hesitated by the door. He could only imagine the things Tim would say. The last thing he needed right now was for him to say what Ty already regretted. He thought he had another month before he'd ream him out. Worse yet Tim had had almost 3 months to come up with insults. He suddenly lost his nerve and turned around reaching for the door knob.
"Aren't you gonna stay?" Tim said quietly startling Ty.
"Oh my gosh...I thought you were asleep." Tim couldn't help but chuckle.
"No razers in Mongolia?" He asked him as Ty sat down in Casey's chair.
"Casey just went to get a coffee."
"I know." The small talk was driving Ty crazy. "So you finally decided to get your butt back home where it belongs?" There is was Ty thought.
"Look Tim, I'm not really..."
"It's good to see you." Tim smiled.
"Yeah..." He wondered what the catch was. "You too."
"Ty, how's Amy?" Tim's tone was serious now.
"Not as bad as you. You look terrible." He joked.
"Look, I'm sorry. Okay? I know this whole mess is my fault. I don't blame you if you never let me anyway near this grandkid."
"Tim, it's not your fault. I'd never blame you. I wanted to thank you for looking after Amy while I was gone."
Tim was surprised. "You're welcome."
Ty smiled. "From what Georgie told me you were amazing." He hesitated before continuing. "She has irritable uterus."
"What?" Tim sat up straighter.
"She was apparently having severe ligament pains after the clinic. Then later she started having contractions which is caused by irritable uterus. I'm not sure if the two are connected or not."
"Contractions? As in labor?" He asked slightly alarmed.
"No thankfully. But...there's no doubt she will go into labor early."
"How early? Did the crash cause this?"
"Their not sure. And I don't think so. It was a combination of things. Stress, dehydration, physical activity." Tim looked away. "The baby's fine. Their gonna try to stop the contractions. If nothing else pops up Amy can go home by the end of the week on partial bedrest."
"That's gonna drive her crazy." Tim chuckled.
"Yeah. That and the fact that someone will need to be around in case she goes into labor."
Tim shook his head. "A lot like me. Casey won't leave me alone for two seconds. Seriously, it's only a concussion. I've had worse." Ty smiled.
"I don't know if I should..."
"Should what?" Tim asked now curious.
"We planned on finding out the gender of the baby at Amy's midterm ultrasound. It just didn't seem right to find out over the computer. So we agreed to wait."
"And?"
"You get another granddaughter. Yeah, we're having a girl!" Ty explained excitedly.
"Really?!" Tim was smiling ear to ear. The two hugged.
"Are you trying to strangle him?" Casey asked at the door laughing. They pulled apart.
"Can I tell her?"
Ty looked back at Casey. "Amy doesn't even know yet." He hesitated before giving Tim a grin. "Nobody else."
"I promise." Tim answered excited. "It's a girl!"
"Oh my gosh, Ty! Congratulations." Casey pulled Ty into a hug.
He rolled over and smiled at his wife laying beside him. In between them, Maddie was laying on her stomach hogging most of the bed. Ty couldn't help but chuckle. "Hey, you." Ty poked her. She let out a giggle. Her smile and laugh was so like Amy's. Maddie turned on her side to face her dad. Ty brushed her long blonde hair out of her eyes. "You wanna go for breakfast with me before I have to go to work?" She nodded. "Okay, well go get dressed. And don't wake Mommy." The little girl crawled to the end of the bed before hoping off and running toward her room. Ty placed a kiss on Amy's cheek before quietly getting out of bed and grabbing his clothes. Amy and Georgie had been up half the night with a pregnant mare ready to foal. Once Ty got off work he relieved Tim of his babysitting duties. He didn't even remember Amy getting into bed last night. Maddie wanted to wait up for Amy so Ty had let her sleep with him. She'd fallen asleep long before Ty did. So he decided it might be best to get out of the house and leave Amy sleep. If Maddie stayed she'd only wake Amy.
"I'm ready Daddy." Maddie shouted from the kitchen area of the loft. She stood in mix matched socks and her shoes in her hand. Her little pink blue jean jacket half falling off her shoulders but she looked too darn adorable for Ty to be mad that she yelled and might have waken up Amy. He knelt down to her level and gave her a big wet kiss on the side of her cheek making her laugh. After tying up her shoes he grabbed her hand and they headed downstairs. Once there he picked her up and walked her over to his truck. Opening the back door he placed her in her car seat.
Before long she was bugging him that it was taking too long and she was hungry. "We are almost there, sweetie." He said looking back at her in the rearview mirror. Ty loved father/daughter days with Maddie. They didn't happen often with the long hours he had to work at the clinic. But squeezed in the time when he could. Lately it had seemed to be just the two of them. The mare was taking up much of her time. He'd seem more of Maddie then Amy. He put the track in park and hoped out. "Okay...we are here now." He carried her into Maggie's.
Maddie was sipping her chocolate milk while Ty looked at the menu trying to decide what to have for breakfast. Ty felt a tap on his shoulder. "This seat free?"
"Mommy!" Maddie squealed.
Ty spun around. "Amy! What are you doing here?"
"I got up to check on Maddie. That's when I seen your note." She sat down next to their daughter. She crawled up onto Amy's lap.
"I thought you'd wanna catch up on sleep."
"I thought about it but I missed you guys." She reached across the table grabbing Ty's hand. She kissed the top of Maddie's head. "Georgie has everything covered."
"I've missed you too but Cass is expecting me in a hour. She and Caleb have their mid-term ultra sound today."
"Oh yeah. I forgot." Amy said. "What if I take Maddie back home with me?"
"Your Dad's picking her up after. I told him you were busy."
"How? If Caleb's with Cass then who's teaching at the rodeo grounds?"
"I don't know. All I know is Tim said he'd pick her up when he dropped her off last night."
"He better not be taking her around those dangerous horses." Amy stated getting worried.
"No different you. Last week you took her to a clinics jumping arena."
"That's not my fault. You stood me up. And Grandpa's in France with Lisa. Who was I suspossed to get to watch her?"
"I had surgery." Ty sighed. "We can't keep forcing your Dad to babysit. He's got his own stuff going on."
"Georgie skipped school the other day cause my Dad had something with Casey. If Lou knew..." Amy picked up the menu.
"Look, honey it's only until this mare delivers right?"
"Yeah. I guess your right. I just never intended on taking on so much..." She smiled at Maddie.
Ty nodded. "I want blueberry pancakes." Maddie said looking up at Amy with her big beautiful green eyes that matched Ty's.
"Okay." She shook her head at Ty who laughed. Amy couldn't resist those green eyes.
Ty yawned as he sat up straighter in his chair. The morning sun coming in through the window. He was slightly confused to not be in Mongolia at first until he caught sight of Amy. He reached for her hand and smiled at her. Even now she looked so beautiful. Even with her hair messed up and a small cut on her cheek. He placed his other hand on Amy's stomach. "Hey there little Nugget. It's daddy. I've missed you. You've gotten so big." He cooed quietly. He took a deep breath to stop the tears. All of yesterday's emotions finally getting to him. He was still so worried. Amy had only woken up the once and had yet to again. And that was almost 12 hours ago. Even though he believed the doctors that both Amy and the baby were fine his mind wouldn't until she was awake. As Ty brushed away a strand of Amy's hair she stirred slightly before opening her eyes. After blinking a few times they finally focused on Ty's green eyes.
At first Amy thought she was dreaming. But the look of worry his smile had proved otherwise. "Ty?" Her voice still full of sleep.
Ty smiled wider and let a few tears fall. "Amy." She started to cry. "Hey...it's okay. I'm here now." He sat now on the edge of the bed putting his arm around her. She pulled him in closer hanging on to his shirt as tight as she could. In a way that if she was to let go he'd disappear. She brushed her lips against his softly. Taking in the way his lips felt on hers after so long. Ty pressed more firmly and passionately. Wrapping his arms around her taking in the scent of her hair. "I've missed you so much." He said once they broke apart. Amy now smiling widely.
"I love you."
"I love you too." Ty said before Amy kissed him again. She was laughing this time as they broke apart. "What?" He asked confused.
"I've never kissed anyone with a beard. It's weird." She rubbed her chin.
"What, too scratchy?" He asked playing with it. "I was thinking of keeping it." He could barely keep a straight face.
Amy turned up her nose. "What did Bob do to you?"
Ty couldn't help but laugh. "Your dad loved it."
"I'm sure he had some choice words but I hardly doubt he said he loved it."
"Katie still has no idea who I am." Both laughed. "Seriously, Amy I missed you. And promise to never leave you again." He grabbed Amy's hands firmly in his.
"I missed you too, so much." They hugged again tightly until Amy groaned. "Ow..."
"Amy? What's wrong?!" Ty panicked. Amy's smile only confusing him more.
"Here." She grabbed Ty's hand and placed it on her stomach. "The baby's kicking." She watched as Ty's face lite up.
"Oh my gosh! That's amazing." He said facing her.
"I think our little Nugget knows Daddy's back." She smiled placing her hand over Ty's. He kissed her forehead.
"Up for a visitor?" Lou asked poking her head into Tim's room.
"Sure, honey." He smiled. "How's Amy?"
"Ty stayed with her overnight. Last I heard everything was good. She's awake and the baby's been quite active this morning compared to the last couple days. And the contractions stopped."
Tim sighed relieved. "You don't know how happy that makes me."
Lou smiled. "Me too. Uh, so word is they're gonna spring you in a few hours if all checks out. So I was wondering if someone could keep you company?" Tim eyed her slightly confused. "Sweetie?" Lou lightly shouted toward the door. "She's been asking about you none stop."
Georgie slowly walked in hesitant and slightly scared. Her face lite up the second she seen Tim. He was okay. She ran the rest of the way practically jumping into Tim's lap. He wrapped his arms around her. Lou smiled at them before backing out of the room.