Lou and Buck spent the day with Jeremiah and Teresa helping them learn their new home. Open all the presents Santa had left them and even meet a few kids who lived not too far away. Jeremiah instantly wanted to start riding and everyone laughed when he got on Pepper and the pair took off at a gallop causing Buck and Jimmy to go tearing after them. Teresa was a little more reserved and seemed happy enough to stay by Lou or Rachel's side.

Finally, at bed time, Lou was up in Rachel's house tucking the two kids into bed. "Sleep good." She whispered to them as she blew out the lantern "Tomorrow you get to start learning chores."

"Aw Louise." Jeremiah said sleepily as he rolled onto his side.

"Do good and we can see if maybe you can sleep in the hayloft rather than share with your little sister."

"I'd like that." Said Jeremiah happily followed by a loud yawn

"I don't wanna be alone." Teresa said worried

"You're never alone here Sugar Bear." Lou said and smoothed down Teresa's hair. "Rachel is right down the hall and I'm just in the bunkhouse with the boys. There are always lots of people around. I promise." Lou laid a kiss on Teresa's forehead and whispered, "Come wake me in the morning." She felt Teresa nod as her thin arms snaked around her neck. Lou wrapped her arms around the little girls body and rocked her close for a moment.

Standing Lou made her way to the door. "Sleep well. I'm glad Santa dropped you home." And shut the door behind her. Once the door was shut Lou felt her knees give way and she sank to the floor, shaking. This was too much. How could she do this? She wasn't ready to be a mother yet. She wasn't ready to take care of them and raise them and make sure they had what they needed.

She felt an arm slide behind her shoulders and pull her tight. She didn't need to look to know it was Buck. He was always just there when she needed him. "We can do this Lou."

Lou lifted her head and looked at Buck confused. "What?"

"We can do this. We can take care of them. You've been missing them, now you don't have to worry and together we can do this."

"They're not your responsibility, Buck."

Buck placed his hands gently on either side of Lou's face and turned her so they were looking at each other straight on. "I love you. You and your family are important to me. Your happiness makes me happy. You and your brother and your sister need each other but I need you too, so we all work together to make this happen. You are not alone anymore, you haven't been for a long time. I stand beside you."

"You love me?"

"Is that all you heard?" When Lou simply nodded Buck smiled and pulled her close to his chest and held her tight. "I've been afraid to say it before. I didn't want to scare you or rush you. I've been in love with you for a very long time."

"How long?" Lou asked as she pulled back and looked up at this man who knew her so well, "Before Yampa?"

Buck looked away, as though seeing something far in the distance, and nodded, "Yeah. Long before Yampa."

Lou paused thinking of all the times they had talked, worked together, been alone, been on runs, played cards, joked, teased each other or the other riders, and wondered how long. Had she been hurting him all this time and not knowing it. Had she been blind in her infatuation with Kid and missed out? "Is that why you came after me?"

"Teaspoon sent me, but I was glad to have the time alone with you. Time to let things move forward."

"I'm glad you came too." Lou said and leaned up and kissed Buck lightly. "I still have your Christmas present."

Buck smiled, "I have yours too."

The two smiled and stood. Heading down the stairs quietly, Lou paused to tell Rachel where they were going and why and to come get her if the kids needed anything. Once outside the two headed for the hayloft and cuddled up under some blankets.

"I hope you like this." Buck said nervously as he pulled the small package from his pocket and handed it to Lou.

Smiling Lou unwrapped the oddly shaped gift to find a perfectly smooth stone inside. She turned it over a few times and then laughed out loud. "A skipping stone!" She hugged Buck tightly and smiled, "It's perfect, especially since I don't think the boys would appreciate me climbing into your bunk every time it storms out." Both laughed at that.

Nervously Lou reached over and took out a package in plain brown paper from under a pile of hay and began turning it over and over in her hands. "I really hope you like this. It's a little different though."

Buck touched her hands, instantly stilling them, "I'm sure I'll love it."

Lou smiled and shook her head at him but let him have the package. Buck carefully opened the gift saving the string and paper. He pulled out the soft blue shirt and smiled. "It's wonderful." He turned it so he could hold it up for her to see and as he did he saw the beads on the back. "Lou?"

Buck stood and stepped closer to the lantern, holding the shirt to the lantern he looked at the intricate pattern. "You did this." Buck stated breathlessly as he carefully touched the tiny beads. Lou nodded afraid to breathe. "Lou, it's us." He glanced at her and saw her nod. Again his eyes fell to the intricate design of a buck running across clouds and felt his breath being stolen. Buck kneeled down in front of Lou the shirt held tightly in his hand as he reached for her. "You made us."

"I wanted you to know how I feel."

"How do you feel Lou?"

"I love you." Lou said and was surprised to find she didn't feel scared or nervous or embarrassed to say it. She felt proud of her feelings, something she had never experienced before.

"Why the shirt Lou?"

"Yampa." Lou said and felt her throat begin to get a little tight with emotions, "I don't know how the Kiowa do things but, in Yampa, the families often show their connections through beadwork on the tipi's, clothes, even cradleboards. Aspen explained to me that the design on her dress was showing her parents and her and when she got married she'd add in her husband and then she'd add in her children. Our tipi had marks from different people who had lived there. Aspen said come spring she'd ask Father to add us to it as well."

"We're…" Buck paused carefully afraid to speak the next words, "a family?"

"I still think of you as my husband Buck." Lou said and then placed a hand on his chest, "I had to stop myself from saying that to Jeremiah and Teresa today."

Buck laughed, "I had to stop from calling them little brother and little sister."

"What now?" Lou asked