Mark pulled his pillow over his ears. He was regretting asking his Pa about having a sibling. Did they always cry so much? It was the middle of the night and the new baby in the house had everyone awake. Mikayla was trying to feed Andrew goat's milk with a spoon, but he was too eager and impatient. He was getting angry and crying, and Mikayla was getting frustrated. Almost in tears, she sat on the bed, trying to calm her shaking hand. "Can I help?" Lucas said quietly beside her. "I... I didn't think it'd be quite so hard. I mean, when babies are hungry they eat, right?" She sniffed. "I think I jumped into this too quickly." He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, "Hold on now, I agreed to this too. You're not in this alone." Motioning for the baby, Lucas held him against his broad chest. "Maybe if I hold him you can use two hands to give him the spoon." She nodded, taking his lead, she tried again. Using one hand to still Andrews's chubby little arms from smacking the spoon, she fed him the milk, only spilling a little on Lucas. After he'd drank most of the small jar, his head dropped against Lucas's chest, his eyes getting heavy. Lucas gently laid him in Mikayla's trunk that had been made into a makeshift crib, then he returned to the bed, crawling under the covers next to her. "I'm not very good at this, Lucas. I haven't the faintest idea what I'm doing," she sighed. "You're doing just fine," he assured her. "I don't think babies come with instructions." "Well, I thought I had enough knowledge that this would be simple. Turns out full time care of an actual baby is completely different." He smiled, " it's the first night. You'll get better." "I hope so," she said, uneasy. He slid closer to her, pulling her small frame towards him until she was pressed against his chest. "From what I've seen of Mikayla Monroe," he began, "she doesn't let any challenge beat her. I don't doubt you'll have this baby figured out by next week." "Mikayla McCain, you mean," she corrected him, grinning. "Mhm, I like the sound of that," he whispered, running a hand up her side, cautiously. She didn't stop him, so he leaned in, caressing her lips with his own. She placed her hands on his chest, slipping her hand under the fabric of his half buttoned shirt to the bare skin underneath. He groaned, pulling her hips towards him, he pulled her on top of him, her brown curls falling around their still locked faces. She pulled away, looking down at him. "How did I ever get so lucky to find you, Lucas?" He toyed with one of her curls. "I could say the same," he said hoarsely. "We should probably go to bed," He said reluctantly. She cocked her head to the side. "Why? I've found I rather enjoy kissing you," she teased. "Too much more of this kissing and I'm not sure I'll be able to stop," He warned. "Oh." She blushed, hesitating before she said, "I'm sorry Lucas, but with Andrew-" "It's okay. Just let me hold you and we'll go to sleep." Mikayla drifted to sleep with his strong arms around her, her head on his chest, thinking about how Lucas McCain was one of the kindest, most patient men she had ever had the privilege of knowing. Over the next few weeks Mikayla did find a routine with Andrew, and the McCain house fell into a new normal. The bottles she had ordered came, making feeding much easier. However, the extra attention to the baby gave Lucas and Mikayla hardly any time alone, and Mikayla found it was just making her attraction grow exponentially. She watched him when he came in from the fields for supper, he'd tickle Mark, making Andrew laugh, then they'd play a game with Andrew on the floor, who'd clap his little hands in delight. Mark was wrapped around the baby's finger, although if his friends at school asked he'd just complain that babies just ate and cried all the time. But he liked his new brother, once he realized there was plenty of love in Mikayla's heart for both of them. She still helped Mark with his school work and told him stories. Lucas was very pleased to see how well Mikayla was fitting in to their unconventional family, and he was loving watching her with a baby. She was a wonderful mother, and he hoped she had aspirations for more children. After church one Sunday, the young family stood in the churchyard talking to some neighbors. Mikayla had been going over to Laura Grady's ranch Tuesday afternoons for sewing circle, and meeting the other respectable women of the town. Laura had 4 children: 2 girls and 2 boys, and she had been giving Mikayla advice on Andrew. "I dare say Mikayla, you've whipped those McCain boys into shape," Laura laughed, noting Mark politely listening to Mrs. Merryweather complain about the sores on her old feet. He was trying to subtly scratch at the stiff, tight collar of his neatly pressed shirt. Mikayla made a mental note to sew him new shirts for his upcoming birthday. "The two of you make quite a handsome couple," Laura continued. "I suppose you have plans for more children?" Mikayla smiled politely, "Lord willing." Laura nodded kindly, discussing how her youngest, Samuel, was almost weaned, she should like to have another. "I've just always dreamed of a large family, you know?" Mikayla smiled. After her mother died, she would have dreamed of any family. And look how blessed she had been. She watched Andrew crawl after an unsteady Samuel, walking towards where the men stood talking. As Andrew approached, Lucas stepped back, scooping him into his arms. The other men looked at him oddly, holding the baby comfortably, laughing as the little boy pulled off his hat. Samuel pulled at his fathers pant leg, and Laura rushed to carry him away, but Thomas Grady followed Lucas's example, and picked up his youngest son. Laura beamed, "I dare say, Mikayla, your husband has a lot of respect in this town. I think we could see some good change in our family dynamics around here as you and Lucas build your family." "What do you mean?" Laura laughed. "Mikayla, my husband would say child rearing is women's work. We don't help plow the fields and they don't help raise the babies." "But it all needs done? Isn't it better to work together?" Laura nodded, "perhaps." They continued chatting, Mikayla watching Lucas. She spotted Mark talking shyly to Marci Talbot and some other girls from his school, holding his hat in his hands. He seemed to have escaped from Mrs. Merryweather, who had her arm looped through the Reverend's who was helping her up the church stairs. Soon, the sun was west in the sky and they said their goodbyes, heading home in their wagon. The bouncing put Andrew to sleep, and Mikayla carried him to his new crib, handcrafted by Lucas. Mark took his horse for a ride while Lucas headed to the barn to work on his next wood project. After putting Andrew down, Mikayla joined him in the barn, noting his progress on a fine wooden rocking chair. "That's beautiful, Lucas!" She exclaimed. "Hopefully it works well for rocking Andrew... and more babies," he said shyly. She grinned at him. "I like the sound of that." He closed the distance between them, kissing her gently. Running her hands down his arms she said, "you know, Andrew is asleep and Mark probably won't be back for a while..." He raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Are you suggesting...?" She smiled widely, "I'm suggesting maybe it's time to work on having more babies." She didn't need to tell him twice. Quick as a wink, he scooped her up in his arms, carrying her to the house, his heart beating wildly, and excited nervousness filling his body.