Brady had it all worked out with Ginger, the night manager, that they would split their hours so that only one of them was at the diner at a time. They didn't both need to be there. Also, the new waitstaff was trained pretty well so he felt comfortable not being on the floor the whole time.

Now it was time to call Brayla.

"Brady?"

"Babe, we need to talk. Do you have a few minutes?"

"Um, I guess."

"I figured it out."

"Figured what out?"

"I am only working Monday-Friday, 7 to 3. Ginger is working the other hours and Saturdays."

"Okay. I'm not sure why you are telling me this."

"Babe, don't you see? I'll have more time. For us. I will be home by 4 during the week and have the weekends too. We can spend time together."

Brayla was silent for a few long moments.

"Babe? I did this for you, for us. What do you think?"

He heard her sniff on the end of the line. "I love you so much, Brady."

"I love you too. Will you please come home?"

"I don't know."

"Hear me out, okay? When we get married, we are likely both going to have jobs. We will need to know how to work around each other's schedules and make time for each other, right?"

"Yeah," she sniffed again.

"So this can be a good thing. We aren't always going to be great at it, but we need to be patient with each other and make sure we tell each other how we feel. Agreed?"

"Yeah."

"Babe, please don't cry. Tell me what you are thinking."

"I miss you so much, Brady. I just want to be with you right now."

"So come home. I'll pay for your ticket. I'll pick you up at the airport."

"Okay. Do you think I can maybe work some shifts at Vera's too?"

"Yep. I'll schedule you for the same as me."

"I love you, Brady."

"I love you too."

As the next few weeks of summer rolled by, Brady and Brayla worked hard at their relationship. Brayla worked a few days a week at Vera's and they spent three or four evenings a week together and one day of the weekend. They talked about anything and everything, much like before, but now they both felt at peace. They felt that they were making progress and going towards the future.

For Trace and Dani, they were able to bring Gabe back to stay with them for a few weekends and were planning a trip to Massachusetts to see George and Jamey.

On their drive, Trace took her hand. "Babe, I know the plan was to foster Gabe with the hope of adopting. But that was before George and Jamey."

"I still want Gabe," she told him. "I know it will be a challenge but my heart loves him. He's so sweet and Gabe Worthington even sounds good together."

He smiled. It did sound good. He seemed to be in good health as well according to his latest pediatrician visit. That eased Trace's mind a bit. "Three more kids so soon, though?"

"Hon, it will still be a few months and I will go down to part time so that everyone is taken care of."

She heard his thoughts in the silence that followed. What if she got pregnant too? "Maybe we should put off getting pregnant," she told him.

"Is that what you really want?"

"I want it all, but I'm young too. I don't need to have another baby right now. And with Bethanie and three boys, we will have our hands full."

"Okay, so, we stop trying to get pregnant," he confirmed. "But we go forward with the boys?"

She squeezed his hand. "Yeah."

However, what she didn't know or realize was she was already carrying another bundle of joy. It would hit her soon enough though.

By mid-August, Dani and Trace had heard from Fiona and they were taking custody of Gabe in just a few hours. His room, which was right next to theirs was ready with lots of learning toys and colorful items that Bethanie helped pick out.

Bethanie was super excited to finally be getting a brother and the fact that he was a baby, excited her even more. Dani had remembered feeling much the same about Autumn and loving forming a connection with her.

Dani smiled at the nursery. Perfect.

"Ready?" Trace asked, kissing her cheek.

She nodded and then she gulped. Her stomach was upset for some reason. Probably just nerves.

"You okay?"

"I don't feel well. I'll be right back."

She headed to the bathroom, almost passing out on the way and having to hold on to the wall to get there. The last thing she wanted was to be ill and then pass that to the rest of the family.

Trace wandered into the bathroom about thirty minutes later. "Hey. Are you sick?"

"I hope it's not the flu. I don't want to be sick. I don't want anyone else to feel like this either. Especially Gabe."

"Hon, what if…."

"What if what?"

He headed over to the vanity and pulled out a pink and white box. "What if you are pregnant?"

"I…." she stopped speaking and did some math. "I could be….?"

He handed her the box. "Whatever that test says, we will be just fine."

She nodded and accepted the kiss on her forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too."

He left the room so she could take the test and then he sat on the bed to wait.

Ten minutes later, she walked out and sat next to him, the test in her hands.

"That says what I think it does, doesn't it?"

He looked. Yep. Pregnant. "Holy moly." Almost eight months of trying to have a baby and finally, when they weren't intending on trying, the blessing happened.

Dani pulled her knees up and rested her forehead on them. She didn't know what she felt. Maybe scared. Happiness was there somewhere. Overwhelmed? Definitely.

"Babe?" He put his hand on her back and kissed her hair. "What's going through your mind?"

"Right this second? That I'm probably going to throw up and it may or may not be morning sickness."

He chuckled. "Scary."

"Yeah. But it's what we have wanted. It shouldn't scare me. I'm ready to have more kids."

He nodded. He was ready too. For Gabe. And George and Jamey were still firmly in his heart and he hoped, even though it would be hard, they would hear from their case worker soon. He wanted them in the bunk bed room where he knew they were safe and happy.

A short time later, the doorbell rang. "He's here!" Bethanie yelled from downstairs.

Trace and Dani walked downstairs, ready to welcome their first son into their lives.

When they got to the door, Bethanie had let Fiona in who was holding a crying Gabe. "It's okay, buddy," Bethanie cooed, trying to soothe him, but he just kept pulling his hand away from her.

When he saw Dani, he held out his hands and leaned toward her. "Hi, sweetheart. What's wrong?"

"I think he might be getting a tooth or something. He's been pulling on his ear," Fiona told them. She handed the backpack/diaper bag to Trace.

Dani felt his cheeks and forehead. "He has a fever."

Fiona reached out and touched him too and he leaned away. "It's okay, sweetie. I'm sorry you don't feel well."

"I will call the pediatrician," Dani told her, carrying him to the couch. "Trace, can you get the children's Tylenol for me?"

Jack and Elizabeth's house

It had been two weeks since Mercy Phillips had become Mercy Thornton. She officially had a Mom and a Dad and a lot of siblings that she loved and that loved her back. She had her chores that she did, earning a bit of allowance. She had Autumn, who was her best friend and her sister.

Somehow, she felt something was missing.

It wasn't things. She looked around her room and she couldn't think of one physical thing she needed. Jack and Elizabeth took care of her.

In two more weeks, she would be starting seventh grade. That made her a little nervous because she'd be in a new school, but she would have fun and hopefully make some friends.

"Merce?" Elizabeth said from outside her door.

"Come in, Mom."

"Hey, sweetie. What are you up to?"

"I'm bored."

"Perfect. We are heading over to Nana and Papa Tim's for dinner."

"Can we stay the night?"

"They said that would be fine."

"Awesome."

She quickly packed a bag and then realized Elizabeth was sitting on her bed. "Mom?"

"Are you happy here, Merce?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Why?"

"You seem different, I guess."

"I feel different," she admitted. "I don't know why…but I feel like I'm missing something."

"Something or someone?"

"I don't know."

Elizabeth walked over and hugged her tight. "We love you. You know that, right?"

"Yeah. I know."

"Maybe its just because things are changing. Maybe things will seem more settled after a while. Once school starts and all that."

"Maybe."

"Mememe," Erik babbled, walking in and attacking Mercy's knees.

"Hi, Erik," she said, picking him up and kissing his cheeks. "Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Is having this many kids….is it too much?"

"No."

"I mean, would it be okay if…."

"If what, honey?"

"Can I have a hamster?"

Elizabeth smiled and then giggled. "A hamster?"

"Yeah. One of those tiny ones? I'll take care of it. I promise."

"We can talk to your dad about it. If he's good with it, so am I." Mercy hugged her with one arm, still holding on to her brother.

"Thank you!"

Later….

"You do realize our house is going to be like a zoo," Jack laughed as he dried the dishes.

"With one hamster?"

"No, with the hamster Merce wants, the dog Carter will be begging for and the kitten Autumn will absolutely ask for."

"Who is….getting a kitten?" Autumn asked as she walked into the kitchen.

Jack raised his eyebrows at Elizabeth in an "I told you so" look.

"No one," they told her.

"Dani called...me. Gabe is home."

Elizabeth smiled. Her Dani was officially a foster mother. It was wonderful.

"He is sick."

"Oh no. What's wrong?"

"Ears."

"Just like his Auntie Autumn," Jack teased. "Remember those, pumpkin?"

"I do. They hurt. They made me...throw up."

Erik let out a cry upstairs. "Pumpkin, can you take over drying dishes please? I'll go check on your brother."

"Okay."

Dani and Trace's house

Dani said a prayer of thanks for the invention of the pacifier. Poor Gabe had an ear infection and a fever and he had basically cried the whole day away. Now, his fever was lower and he had a dose of antibiotics in him so he had finally relaxed.

She looked down at him, laying in her arms in just his diaper, his eyes finally closed. She loved him so much and now he was her son. Her and Trace's son.

"Mommy?" Bethanie said, a little too loud.

"Shhh," Dani said softly. "He's finally asleep."

"Can I hold him?"

Dani looked at the hope in Bethanie's eyes. She had wanted to hold him all day but the poor guy only wanted Dani.

Dani got up out of the rocker and Bethanie took her spot, her arms ready to hold her brother. Finally.

Dani carefully laid Gabe in her arms. He didn't stir at all. "I'm going to use the bathroom. I'll be right back."

"Ok, Mommy."

Trace stood up from the bed when Dani walked in the room. "Hey, I was just going to come relieve you. You need to get some sleep."

"Yeah." She kissed Trace twice. "I love you."

"I love you too."

He leaned against the counter as she followed her nightly routine. "Do you think Bethanie and Jamey and George and Gabe and the new baby will be too much?"

She looked at him in the mirror as she brushed her teeth. "No. It will perfect." She swished and spit. "Wanna know why?"

"Why?"

"Because they're our kids, Trace. Our family and whatever it takes, I'll do it."

"We'll do it," he corrected.