Part 7

Sydney's Room Memorial Hospital 5:46 PM.

Gage's hand held tight to Syd's. She could feel his fingers softly caressing her cheek as he moved her hand to his lips to hold it there in a kiss. She could hear him softly calling her name pulling her back to him.

"Syd Honey open your eyes, please open your eyes," Gage was softly coaxing her.

"Umm Gage," she softly moaned struggling to sit up. She could feel his hands on her shoulders gently holding her against the bed.

"Relax Syd, just lay back and relax I'm right here with you."

Her eyes opened to focus on his worried face as a slow smile stole across it. "Thank goodness you're all right," he whispered leaning down to softly kiss her cheek.

"The baby Gage?"

"She's fine too," he smiled letting his eyes catch Syd's holding them as his hand slid gently across her belly and the infant within.

"Hold me Gage?" she asked as he sat on the edge of her bed lifting her in his arms and cradling her to him. Syd lay quiet for a few minutes the events slowly coming back to her. "Alex, Alex is awake," she exclaimed her eyes opening to look in Gage's face once more.

"Yes I'm awake," came her friend's voice from the doorway where she sat in a wheelchair that her husband wheeled her into the room and over to her bed.

"Alex," she smiled holding out her hand as Alex took hold of it.

"How are you feeling Syd?" Alex asked as Gage helped his wife to sit up.

"Fine just a little tired that's all," she replied letting herself lean against her husband. "How bout you?"

"I'm fine I've had plenty of sleep or so I'm told," she smiled first at Syd and then at her husband.

"Where's Ross?" Syd suddenly asked her mind still slowly piecing things together.

"He's dead Sydney," Walker spoke up, "He died when he attacked you and your gun went off."

"He told me he was Danny's real father…" Syd started to say remembering the man's hands around her throat and how she had shot him.

"I know Sydney I heard him say it, I heard and saw him attack you. I'm just glad that you and the baby are all right," Alex told her holding her hand a little tighter still.

"Now we have to get out of here," Walker interrupted, "there are a couple of very anxious kid's outside this door waiting to see how Mom is."

"And we have a couple of our own we need to talk to," Alex smiled looking up at her husband as she spoke. Leaning down Walker kissed the top of his wife's head before turning the wheel chair so they could exit the room.

They had hardly said their good byes that Piper and Chris came barrelling into the room Piper shouting, "Mommy, Mommy."

"Hey guys slow down Mom is still resting," Gage interceded.

"I need them Gage," Syd softly spoke holding her arms out to them.

Gage kissed the side of her head moving out of the way knowing exactly how she felt a good dose of the two of them could be the best medicine in the world. Going over he stood beside Jimmy who had brought them up to Syd's room for a visit.

"Just what the doctor ordered," Jimmy commented to Gage as they watched Ranger Cooke with her and Gage's kids.

"You are absolutely right Trivette, thanks for volunteering once again to look after them but I think I'm going to keep them right here with us."

"Sure Gage what ever you want," Trivette returned. "I guess I'll find Erica and we'll head out too." Looking over to Syd Trivette called out to her, "Night Sydney glad you are all right."

"Thanks Jimmy, night," Syd called back watching Trivette go out the door and Gage walk back over to her and their family.

Walker Ranch 7:34 PM.

Angela Walker sat on the porch swing idly swinging her legs rocking the swing back and forth her eyes never leaving the road and the laneway that led up to the house. She had finished her bath and was in her pyjamas waiting not so patiently for the sight of her father's truck. She had spoken with her mother on the phone but she just wanted to see her in the flesh.

"Grandpa, Danny, Dad's home and Mom is with him," Angela called excitedly as she tore off the porch in a dead run towards them. Danny broke away from Gordon who had been helping him into his pyjamas. With only one button done up on the top he too went flying to the door and down the steps to greet Alex and Walker. Gordon followed him out to the front porch standing quietly watching the small family reunite. With a child on each side of Alex holding their hands they made their way to the house.

"Dad," Alex cried as his arms went around her pulling her into a hug holding her tight.

"Welcome home Honey," he greeted his daughter, "lets get you inside."

"Yes lets," Walker agreed pulling open the screen door.

Once inside and everyone was seated in the living room Alex smiled to her husband and nodded her head for him to begin.

"Everyone on the way home from the hospital Mom and I had a little discussion. We've come to the conclusion that it is time for a family discussion and some decisions.

"Like what Daddy?" Angela asked.

"Well like Danny is going to need a new home…"

"He could live here," Angela excitedly cut in, "He could be my little brother, you can be his Dad, Mom can be his Mom… of course we will have to get him a pony. I always wanted a sister but a brother is okay too… Oh please Mom, please Dad."

"Angela, Angela slow down," her mother almost had to shout to quiet her. "Now that we have your opinion maybe we should ask Danny how he would feel about coming to live with us and becoming part of our family."

Danny had climbed up into Walker's lap and now clung shyly to him as he looked at Alex and Angela. Turning his head upwards he looked into Walker's face asking, "Would I really be your son? Would you really be my Dad? I've never had a real Dad before."

Taking in a deep breath so he was able to speak at all Walker finally got out, "I'd be honoured to be your Dad Danny if that is what you would like."

Sliding off Walker's knee Danny went to stand in front of Alex asking, "And you don't mind to be my Mom?"

"Danny I would love to be your Mom," Alex replied hugging the child close.

"Hey I want to be your sister too," Angela butted in feeling a little left out.

"I want to be your brother too Angela," Danny smiled at her as she both her arms around him hugging his neck.

Gordon who had been silently sitting watching the scene unfold cleared his throat, "Since that is settled and I'm on the verge of having a new grandson I'd like to offer my services doing the paperwork on this adoption."

"Thanks Dad," Alex softly spoke fighting back the tears watching her son to be climb back into Walker's lap with their daughter.

Sydney and Gage's 9:15 PM.

Sydney sat up in bed with the pillows propped up behind her waiting for Gage to join her. She had to do some pretty tall talking to get Doctor Marsh to release her promising to stay out of even the office for a good week of total rest. Finally the door opened and Gage came in to join her.

Flopping down on the bed he let his head come to rest on her stomach as his arm wrapped around her waist. She let her hand come to rest on his head to stroke his hair. "Everyone in bed Honey?" she asked.

"Syd how do you do it I'm beat I'm really going to start helping more once the new baby is born."

"Gage you don't have to wait until then you could start now," Syd suggested.

"But you just do such a great job of things Honey I wouldn't want to get in your way or anything," Gage began to fudge.

"Francis you'll never change will you?" Sydney laughed at her husband as he drew her closer to him.

They lay quietly for a few minutes enjoying the closeness of each other when Gage suddenly asked, "How bout Catherine for the baby's name after your mother? Then we can call her Cat."

"Gage what is with you and all this stuff about the baby being a girl?" When he didn't answer immediately she gave him a poke. "Look at me and answer me," she prodded him.

"It's just a feeling I have," he replied being very vague.

"It's more then just a feeling, I know you better then that out with it," she insisted.

Sitting up he scooted up beside and put his arm around her and she leaned against him. He still remained silent. "I'm waiting," she told him.

Finally he began, "The other night when Deshon Jackson had his hands around my neck I really thought this is it. I thought I was going to die without ever seeing you again or the kids or the baby." Syd remained silent gently squeezing his hand as he held her a little tighter before continuing. "Then there you were right before my eyes Chris was on one side of you and Piper on the other side. In your arms you held the baby, you held her out for me to see. I couldn't see her face but she was all wrapped up in a little pink blanket and wore a little pink bonnet on her head. Walker hit Jackson at that point and he let go dropping me to the floor, the image gone."

"So this is what you are basing the sex of our unborn child on?" she asked leaning her head back to look in his face.

"Yeah it's sort of silly I guess," he agreed with her. "But still I just can't shake the feeling that we have another girl."

Looking into his face some how Syd got the feeling he was right that the newest Gage was going to be another girl. "Caitlin maybe Gage and we can still call her Cat but no Catherine."

"Caitlin yeah Syd I like that," he whispered hugging her tight again.

Walker Ranch One Month Later

"Welcome to your new Family Danny Walker," Chris was reading the banner Uncle Jimmy and his Dad were hanging on the front porch of the Walker home.

Sydney stood with Erica on the front lawn the two of them instructing their husbands how to hang that banner.

"You know this reminds me of the day they brought Angela home from the hospital," Erica said motioning for Jimmy to raise his end of the banner.

"Yeah it does," agreed Sydney thinking back to that day too. "A lot has sure happened since then."

"Yeah it has, we both got married and had a couple of kids and look at you having another one," Erica smiled at Syd who was resting her hand on her little potbelly.

"Another one like Piper I'm afraid," Syd laughed feeling the baby kick all ready. "Gage up a little more on your end."

Trivette gave their wives an exasperated look and then looked back at Gage, "Will you get down and see if this is even or we'll be up here all day."

Smiling at Jimmy's frustration Gage jumped down and walked out to the middle of yard where Erica and Sydney stood chatting.

"What are you doing Gage?" Syd asked eyeing him suspiciously.

"Something you girls don't seem capable of," he replied turning to look at the banner. "It's perfect Trivette," he called.

"Thank you Gage," Jimmy called back jumping down at the same time and walking over to join them.

"You two finally done it took you long enough," Fred Carter told them coming from around the side of the house with Piper, Marcus and Torrie.

"No thanks to your daughter and Gage's wife," Trivette retorted bending to pick up his daughter Torrie.

"Grandpa took us to see the horses," she declared to her father.

"He did, did he?" Jimmy asked his young daughter.

Piper had walked off to the coral at the front of the yard and stood there staring out into the field. Syd touched Gage's arm and pointed to where she stood, he in turn smiled and looked over to his young daughter. He was about to start over to her when Walker and Angela pulled in the driveway with Danny. Gordon Cahill and his daughter followed behind in Alex's car.

Jumping out of the car Gordon ran ahead calling out to everyone, "Ladies and gentlemen let me introduce you to my brand new grandson Daniel Michael Walker." Danny was grinning from ear to ear as everyone clapped and cheered for him.

"Everyone there are refreshments inside," Alex announced as the guests migrated towards the house, everyone but Gage who had gone to speak with Piper.

"Hey kiddo what's up?" he greeted her.

"Nothing," she stubbornly replied still staring out into the field.

"Are you sure?" he asked again noticing Sydney had come out on the front porch.

"Yeah… but Dad it just isn't fair."

"What isn't fair Piper?"

"Nothing."

"Okay if you say so," Gage replied. "Why not come inside if its nothing and congratulate Danny."

"That's what's not fair Danny just got into this family and he all ready got a pony. He didn't even ask for a pony and he got a pony. I'm just never going to be able to have a pony."

Sydney had come across the yard where Gage had picked up Piper wiping the tear from her cheek. "Everything all right here?"

"Mom are you interested in taking a short walk with Piper and I?" Gage asked. "I need to show Piper something."

Smiling Syd nodded her head yes as they headed towards the barn.

"You know Mom Piper thinks it's so unfair that Danny got a new pony and he didn't even ask for a pony he just got one," Gage explained Piper's plight.

"Hmm that does seem really unfair to me," Syd agreed.

Opening the door to the dimly lit barn Gage entered with his wife and daughter making his way over to a row of stalls. There was a high-pitched whinny as they neared one of the stalls. Both Sydney and Gage could see Piper's little eyes light up as they neared the stall the sound was coming from. Setting Piper on floor Gage opened the stall door to reveal an almost brand new colt inside.

"She's not quite ready to ride Piper but she's all yours," her father told her.

"Oh Daddy, Mommy she's beautiful," Piper cried as Gage took her little hand and proceeded over to the colt.

Piper all ready had her arms around the young colt's neck by the time everyone had come from the house. "She's really mine Daddy?"

"Yes Piper she is really yours, Uncle Walker says she can live out here with Angela and Danny's ponies," her father was explaining to her.

"And you can come and see her when ever you like Piper," Walker told her as they all watched the delight on the little girl's face.

Danny came forward to pat Piper's colt saying, "now we both got our wish Piper."

The grownups watched the children smiling to themselves knowing that they had all got their wishes too.

The End