Ann slipped into the living room where Spot was reading a newspaper, nearly two weeks after they had moved into the house, and crawled onto the couch next to him.

Spot smiled and lowered his paper a little, glancing at her. "Can I help you, Miss Annie?""

"Is Momma gonna be sick again? Like she was before Sam got borned?"

Spot paused a moment. They hadn't even thought of that! "I don't know... I guess we have to find out whether or not Momma is gonna have a baby or not."

Ann wrinkled her nose. "Babies are stinky."

Laughing at that, he hugged her close. "You were once a baby, you know."

"Gross," she said, making another face.

He laughed again. "They aren't so bad."

Ann bounced on the couch. "Can I go ask Momma about the baby?"

"I... suppose you could."

"Really?"

"I don't think she'll mind... we don't know if she IS going to have a baby... we didn't even think of it until you asked." He smiled.

"Yipee!" Ann squealed, jumping off the couch and running from the room.

He shook his head, grinning.

Ann raced up the stairs and into Rae's room.  She jumped on the bed next to Rae. "Are you really gonna have another baby like Daddy said?"

"What? Daddy said I was going to have a baby??" Rae asked. Where in the world did he get that idea?

Ann nodded. "Daddy said you wasn't feeling good, cause you was sick like you was before Sam got borned."

She was quiet for a moment. She hadn't thought of this possibility- at least not at great length.

Still, this was something she and Spot should have discussed before ever mentioning it to anyone else.  Miffed, she stood and stormed to the door. "Spot Conlon! Where are you?" she yelled.

"Down the hall of course!" he shouted back. "Where are you?"

"Looking for some place to hide your dead body!"

He appeared a few  minutes later. "What did I do?" he asked.

"Go play, Annie," Rae said, pointing toward the door. With a nod, she scampered off, humming. Once the door closed Rae turned to Spot. "Why did you tell her that I was going to have a baby?"

"I didn't! She asked if you were, and I said that I didn't know, we'd have to find out."

"She said that you told her that I was going to have a baby!"

"I didn't! You're going to believe the word of a seven year old over me?!"

Rae ran her fingers through her hair. "No," she sighed.

He sat down in a small chair at the vanity. "But she did bring up a good point."

Rae nodded and placed her hand on her stomach. "I know."

"Do you think we should check it out?"

She leaned back against the pillows. "Maybe we should.  I think Trent suspects something anyway."

"He always suspects something..." But he smiled a little anyway.

Rae curled up on the bed. "What if I am, Spot? What about this whole thing with Julie?"

Spot nodded. "Would you like to today?" She hesitated a moment and then nodded, smiling slightly. "When?"

"After lunch."

"All right then. I'll let everyone know."

"Maybe we should wait to tell them..."

He smiled. "I was just going to let them know we were leaving for the hospital."

She sat up quickly. "Spot, you can't go with me."

He stopped and looked back. "Why not?"

"Duchess will find out that you are back in town..."

He frowned. "Right..." She reached out for his hand. He took her hand and squeezed it. "Want Molly or Chris to go with you then?"

She shook her head. "I'll go by myself. That way I won't have to explain anything."

He opened his mouth to protest, but changed his mind and nodded. "All right then."

She stood and wrapped her arms around him. "I love you, Spot."

He hugged her tightly. "I love you too, Rae."

She looked up at him. "Do you want me to be pregnant?"

"Well, I'd rather you be pregnant than sick."

"Me too."

He frowned just a little. "I'd like another baby.... but I'm not sure if we could handle more children just yet."

"We may just have to get used to the idea."

"That is true."

"Do you regret adopting the twins?"

"Not at all," he replied.

"What about Kendra?"

He was quiet for a moment. "I don't. Though I do think we should slowly start handing the responsibility back to Molly, since Molly IS her mother, and IS alive..."

"Molly has been doing a wonderful job of helping us where Kendra is concerned."

"Well.. yes." He sighed. "I don't know what I'm saying..."

"I didn't mean to start an argument," she said, pulling away from him and walking across the room.

"I wasn't aware we were having an argument."

"We were disagreeing...which leads to an argument."

"Well, we have to disagree on things sometimes... It's inevitable."

She sighed and leaned forward, resting her forehead against the wall Walking over to her, Spot put his arm around her. "I'm sorry," she sighed.

"It's not your fault," he replied, kissing the side of her head. "We're both just under a lot of stress."

She turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his chest.

"Well, know this... if you are pregnant, I will be one happy father."

She smiled up at him. "Then I'll be happy too."

He kissed her forehead. "I'm going to go check on the monsters- make sure they aren't tearing this place to pieces."

She nodded. "I'm gonna go check on Julie."

"All right. Get me if you need anything," he said, leaving the room to find the kids.

After washing her face, Rae slipped into Julie's room. Julie was awake, with a thin book sitting on her lap. She flipped a page gingerly. "How ya feeling?" Rae asked.

She looked up. "Tired," she croaked, with a tiny smile.

Rae sat on the edge of the bed.

"I heard... I heard you weren't feeling... so well," she said.

Rae gave her a slight smile. "Can you keep a secret?"

Julie smiled and gave a very small nod.

"Spot and I are hoping it's morning sickness."

"... That means... oh Rae... You might have another baby?" she asked, her voice rising a bit with the sound of excitement.

Rae nodded, "But you can't tell anyone."

"I won't, I promise."

Rae smiled. "Good girl."

"Are you ... and Spot... excited?"

"Of course we are."

"That is good."

Rae sighed. "How do you feel about it, Julie?"

"I think it's wonderful."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Rae smiled.

"I hope you do have a baby," Julie said, closing her eyes a bit.

Rae reached over and placed her hand on Julie's cheek. With a tired yawn, Julie fell asleep again. Tucking the covers tighter around the girl, Rae left the room.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Spot was trying to round up Kendra and Sam, who seemed to think he wanted to play a game of chase and hide.

Rae entered the kitchen and fixed herself a glass of water.

"How is-" Spot paused, dashing after Kendra and catching her. She squealed as he asked, "How is Julie?"

"Sleeping."

"Did she mention any problems?"

Rae shook her head. "She just real weak."

He sighed a bit and nodded. "Well... are you ready to go see Trent?"

"Can I see Trent?" Kendra asked.

"Mmm, probably not today, kiddo," Spot replied.

"Momma's gonin', I wanna go!"

"No, honey, you can't," Rae replied.

"Why not?"

"Because I need to see him alone."

Kendra pouted.

"There there, no pouting, Kendra. You still can't come."

"Please?" she begged.

"No, Kendra."

Rae dropped a kiss on the girl's head as she headed toward the door. Her bottom lip quivered and she whimpered a bit. Rae sent her a look. "Kendra...stop that...or you can go get in your bed until you can straighten up." Making a few great sniffles, she stopped whimpering and merely clung to Spot's leg.

"I'll be back soon," she said, lifting her head for Spot's kiss.

"Be careful," Spot said, kissing her. "And good luck."

She smiled at him as she left the room.

Kneeling, Spot picked Kendra up. "Come on, let's go see where Sam is."

"Why I not go?"

"Because Momma needs to go by herself."

"Why?"

"Because... now no more questions."

She pouted and squirmed to get down. With a smile, he set her down on the ground. She ran from the room calling for Molly.

Shortly after, Sam toddled over to him. "Found you!!"

Spot scooped him up," And just where have you been hiding little man?"

"From you!" He giggled hysterically.

Spot laughed and tickled him.

He giggled even more.

Spot plopped him back on the floor. "Let's go see what everyone else is up to."

"'Kay!"

Taking Sam's hand they left the room. Molly was sitting in the living room, reading to Kendra, who was nearly falling asleep again. With a squeal, Sam ran over and climbed on the couch next to Molly.

Spot laughed. "I see where MY popularity stands..."

Molly smiled at him as she continued the story.

Spot watched for a moment then sought out Chris. He hadn't seen the boy since Julie returned. He was sitting up in his room, brooding.

"What's on your mind?"

"What do you think?" Chris snapped.

"I think I can do without the attitude."

"And I can do without my sister dying," Chris retorted.

"We call could," he replied quietly.

Chris turned back to the window. "Just leave me alone, will ya?"

Spot sighed and leaned against the doorway. "Look, Chris, none of us like this any, but we aren't letting it stop our lives."

"That's because she isn't your sister."

"We all consider you and Julie family, Chris!"

"But you haven't known her all your life!" he said sharply.

"That doesn't matter, Chris!"

"But it does!"

"Why is that so important to you?"

"I don't know... it just is."

"No matter what you say, Chris, you and Julie are family. You have been since the moment we found you on that beach."

He sighed and stared out the window.

Spot sighed and leaned against the doorframe again.

Chris shook his head. "Can you just leave me alone for a while?"

"You aren't gonna try something stupid?"

He scowled at Spot. "I'm sitting right here. How stupid could I get?"

Spot shook his head sadly. "Just don't leave the house, alright?"

"Fine, whatever..."

Shrugging, Spot turned and left the room.

Molly was now silently reading the book, because both Sam and Kendra had fallen asleep. She looked up when Spot entered the room. "Kendra said something about Rae going to see Trent. Is everything alright?"

"We're hoping so."

Molly looked down at Kendra. "She's a lot like I was at that age."

"Pouty and whiny?" he teased lightly.

She made a face at him.

He smiled.

"Wanna help me move them?"

"I could do that," he said.

 Molly gently lifted Sam into her arms and stood.

Spot scooped up Kendra. "To bed with them?" She whimpered and curled up in his arms. He shifted her around gently.

Molly nodded. "Yeah. Let's put them in their beds."

Spot led the way down the hall and put Kendra to bed for a nap. "They were hardly up and they're already asleep again."

"They've been playing hard."

"Yes, they have..."

"Hello, Conlon," a voice said.

Spot whirled around to see Duchess standing near the window.

Molly withdrew a couple steps.

Spot swallowed hard. "What are you doing here, Duchess?"

"I could ask the same about you... I recall saying I didn't want to see around anymore... Now are you going to be rude and keep me standing out here, or are you going to invite me inside?"

Spot sighed. "Come on in, but keep it quiet."

She climbed in through the window. Glancing around she folded her arms over her chest and muttered, "Nice set up..."

"What do you want?"

She took her time answering, inspecting the room. Finally, she turned to him. "I want to know why you're back after I thought I made it perfectly clear that you weren't to show your face here if you wanted to live."

"It'll be easier to show you."

She lifted a brow. "To show me?"

"Come on," he said, motioning her toward the door.

She paused for a moment before following. "This better be good."

Spot walked across the hall to Julie's room and opened the door.  Julie was still sleeping soundly.

Turning to Duchess, he held a finger to his lips. "Don't wake her," he whispered.

Duchess stared at the pale girl. "What's wrong with her?"

"She has some sort of heart trouble. She's dying."

Duchess turned and walked back into the hall.

He followed her, closing the door quietly behind him. "We came back to see if Trent could help... But he can't."

"That still doesn't excuse the fact that you came back here after I told you not to."

"I think it's the perfect excuse," he replied stiffly.

"Rae could have brought her back here without you coming, Conlon."

"They are my family, Duchess," he said firmly. "I wasn't going to let them suffer here with her. My family needs all the support we can get."

Duchess remained silent for a moment. "I'm guessing you don't want me to make good my threat..."

"You doubted?"

"Fine! I won't! This time! But I will get you Conlon, when you least expect it."

With a sigh, he watched her as she stalked out. He leaned against the wall and stared at Julie's door. When would all of this end?