A few days have passed and Tess and Nick are sitting on Drovers porch when Jodie joins them with Beth. "Morning Jodes, Hello gorgeous."Tess says holding out her arms to her niece, the little girl smiles and reaches for Tess and then snuggles into her chest." "Where's Adam?"Nick says "Oh he's with Mum he had a sleepover at Nana's."Jodie says smiling.

Tess puts her hand on Jodie's arm and says. "Jodes I'm so glad you're here with Matt and the children. We would have missed so much. At least they are still babies and we can get to know them." Jodie smiles and says "it's an unreal feeling still to be here. Funny isn't it when I was younger I couldn't wait to leave here and while we we're in hiding I used to dream about coming home all the time, and now I never want to leave." Tess smiles and says "I understand completely Jodes, that's how I felt when we were in Argentina. When Nick said we were coming home I cried."Nick grins and said "Yes she cried like a baby."They all laugh.

"Speaking of babies, I thought I'd cruise over and see Stevie and the new bub. I haven't met her yet."Jodie says. "Oh Jodes she's a doll."Tess says. Nick adds. "Yes she's going to be a heartbreaker alright."Jodie smiles and says "Well look at her parents."Nick quips and says. "Yes it's the Ryan genes I think she takes after me."Tess and Jodie laugh and Tess says. "Nick Ryan you're full of it. Georgia is the image of Stevie even Alex didn't get a look in with this one. The boys are Ryan's but this one is a Hall. She's gorgeous because she looks like her Mother, not you."They all laugh.

Grace has finished tidying up the kitchen and she's made all the beds. Stella and Keira have been happily watching playschool while Grace worked. Marcus enters the kitchen and wraps his arms around his wife's expanding waist. "Are you almost finished?"He asks. "Sure am, I've just got one more basket of washing to hang out and we can load up."Grace says. "Ok what do you want me to do?'Marcus asks. "Well it's been a few hours since you've kissed me so you could start there."Grace says smiling at him. He grins at her and then gently kisses her."How's that?"He says. Grace holds a straight face and says "Well if that's all I'm going to get I suppose it will have to do?" Marcus smiles broadly and says "Right."Then he takes her in his arms and kisses her deeply, lovingly, when he eventually lets go. He looks at her and says "well?'Grace smiles, hugs him and says "Oh that was very nice."He hugs her tightly. Ök I'll hang out the washing and I'll meet you out the front."Marcus says. Grace gathers the nappy bag and a few toys and picks up Keira and takes Stella's hand "Come on girls we're off to see your new cousin.

Over at Kilarney Stevie has had a rough night with Georgia the baby has woken every hour and a half to two hours she last fed at 4am and Alex has taken Georgia down to Moira so Stevie could sleep. Moira has managed to entertain the baby for a few hours but by 7am she's had enough and wants to be fed. Alex has headed upstairs to wake Stevie, as he enters the room Stevie is just waking up he leans over to kiss her she smiles up at him and says. Alex I'm in pain."He looks at her shocked and says "What hurts? Why are you in pain?" Stevie pushes the doona down revealing her engorged breasts."Alex laughs and says "Oh Stevie that's great."Stevie looks annoyed and says "Great how in the hell is me being in pain great." Then she hears Moira and a screaming baby coming up the stairs. Stevie grins and says. "Oh I see what you mean."

Alex moves to the door and takes the baby from Moira. He hands the screaming Child to her Mother and moves to the bathroom quickly returning with a flannel. Stevie has put Georgia to the breast and feels the tingling sensation as her milk lets down Alex hands Stevie the flannel. She grins up at him as she places the flannel over her other breast as it begins to leak milk. "Thanks Alex."He leans over and kisses her. "You're welcome. Stevie, do you feel like visitors today?" Stevie breathes deeply and answers. "Yes I do but I'm really tired today. Why who's coming?" Alex smiles at her and says. "Ben rang, so did Jodie and Marcus and Grace." Stevie smiles and says. "Can you work it so they're all here at the same time? Please then I can sleep a little." Alex leans over to kiss her and says "Yes no worries I'm onto it."

A short time later he returns and Stevie hands him the baby. Stevie watches him with their little girl she looks so tiny in his big hands but he is so very gentle with her. He sits the little girl on his knee one hand holding under her chin the other patting her back he leans and kisses the soft downy hair on her head and whispers "Stevie, her skin is so soft and she has the tiniest fingers, she's perfect, isn't she." Alex is besotted with his new child. Stevie smiles at him. "Yes she is Alex." He rises and walks over to the change table and changes her wet nappy and brings her back to Stevie. He leans and kisses the child and then her Mother and places the baby in Stevie's arms.

Stevie lifts her shirt and rubs her nipple along the baby's cheek, the little girls mouth swings in the direction of touch and searches, latches on and sucks vigorously. Alex sits and watches then says "It's a bit sad Cowgirl our last baby." Stevie feels a pain in her heart and her eyes prick with tears. She says nothing but he notices. "Oh don't cry beautiful I didn't mean to make you sad."She smiles at him and a tear escapes."I'm not sad Alex. I think you're beautiful and I'm happy my children have you as their Father."" He grins at her and says "I'm a bloke Steve's you can't say I'm beautiful." She laughs and says "Alex I seem to remember you let a woman call you Pooky bear once if she can call you that! I can call you beautiful." He grins at her and thinks damn that's the worst part about knowing everything about each other ammunition.

After lunch when the visitors have gone Stevie feeds the baby and then falls asleep exhausted. Alex quietly enters the room and picks the baby up and heads back downstairs. "Alex what are you up to?" Moira grins as he quietly moves down the stairs. Alex smiles at her and says "Moira you frightened the daylights out of me. Stevie expressed some milk earlier and she's asleep now so I thought George and I could do a fence run with Matt and Stevie can have a good rest." Moira smiles at him and says "Alex you're a very good man. Stevie's a lucky girl." Alex grins and says. "Stevie told me this morning that I was beautiful now you've told me I'm a good man. I love her so very much and I want to make her as happy as I possibly can. Her love is like standing in the waves at the beach it just washes over you continually and sometimes knocks you clean off your feet. I'm the lucky one Moira." As he moves past Moira he kisses her cheek and says "Will you let Stevie know where we are when she wakes up? She smiles and nods.

It's a little over four years since they implemented the plans for the farms. Soils are in peak condition all of the dams and tanks are full and they've added a few more on all farms. Kilarney cattle bloodlines are premium and Wilgul are not far behind. Stevie and Alex's Quarter Horses are a year or so ahead in production and quality and their foals are bringing top dollar. Over at Drover's it's the same story although they have the least of the cattle of the three farms what they run are as good if not slightly better than Kilarney and the demand for their organic products have gone through the roof and they've had to turn away buyers. Drover's goats are being exported overseas and they could easily double the number but Nick is wary of his forecast of impeding drought. So everyone is happy to wait out the next six months or so to ensure plenty of feed for all the stock. This spring they will sow way more crops to store because if Nick's predictions are correct they'll see signs by summer.

Grace is 34 weeks pregnant and is tiring so much easier than previous pregnancies. Farm work is relentless and mornings are early starts every day of the week. Alex has come over to help Marcus with some crutching and they're waiting on the others to arrive. As Alex enters the back door he yells "Hello Anyone there?"Grace replies "I'm in here Alex." Alex looks shocked when he sees Grace she's normally bright and chirpy but today she looks tired and exhausted. "Bloody hell Grace, are you alright?" She looks away from him, keeps cleaning and says "Yes I'm fine."He walks over to her and takes her by the arm and turns her to him. She has tears streaming down her face. He hugs her and says "You're not fine. What's wrong?"

He continues to hug her even when he hears the back door slam. Marcus enters the room grins and says "What are you two up to."Alex gestures for Marcus to take his wife. Marcus looks concerned as he takes Grace in his arms "Hey what's the matter?" He hugs her closely and says "Grace what's wrong?" Marcus lifts her face to him and wipes her tears. "Grace please tells me what's upset you?' Grace takes a deep breath and says "I'm just tired Marcus really bone tired. I'm not sleeping very well this baby never stops moving and when I lie down it moves even more."She leans into him and cries.

Alex says "That's it Grace no more farm work for you until after the baby is born." Marcus agrees and says "Alex is right Grace no more. Why didn't you say something? You just kept going I thought you were alright." Grace gains control over her emotions and says. "I'm not afraid of hard work. I can keep going. I'm just tired today." "No Grace you're not working, we know you're not afraid to work hard. You're pregnant and that little bub is taking everything from your body first. You need to stop and look after yourself."Alex says then continues. "Marcus does your Nanny work today?" Marcus looks at Alex and says. "No she's off today and tomorrow." "Right leave it with me."Alex walks out the door and returns shortly after.

"Righto Marcus pack up the girls things I'm taking them over to my place for a couple of days." "No Alex, Stevie's got Georgia and the boys." Grace says. "I won't take "No" for an answer Grace. Moira's there, I'll bring Bull back with me he can help us crutching and George is great she sleeps all the time. Stevie and Moira are expecting the girls. So stop arguing you're holding up the crutching."Alex says grins at her. As Marcus and Alex strap the girls into the car Marcus says "I feel awful, I didn't notice, she was fine this morning."

Alex pats him on the back and says "Don't worry about it mate, you're with her every day I hadn't seen her for a week or so, it's easier to spot with fresh eyes plus she's like Stevie, stubborn and tries to hide how tired they are . They just don't want to let us down." Marcus grins at him and says "I've got a lot to learn haven't I?"Alex laughs and says. "Don't sell yourself short Marcus, how many times did you spot things between Stevie and I, that I was totally oblivious too. Remember you told me once"We" should be looking after them. "We" Marcus means all of us. Why don't you take the morning off or even the whole day? Take her out for lunch or whatever you think she'd like."

Marcus says "Alex we've got the crutching to do?" Alex looks at his brother and smiles and says "Marcus, Grace and your baby are way more important than sheep's bums."Marcus laughs and says. "Lunch might be nice and then she can have a nap this arvo." Marcus moves back inside to Grace and Alex takes his nieces over to Kilarney.