Someone knocked on the door as he walked down the stairs. Spot lifted a brow curiously and went to answer. China stood on the doorstep, carpetbag in hand.

He blinked. "Um... yes?"

"Trent was worried about Rae. He sent me to stay with her until after the baby is born."

"Oh... okay... Oh, come in. Come in." He stood aside to let her in. "Won't he miss you? I know he needs your help a lot out there."

"We've been training another nurse. Trent wanted to see how she would do when I wasn't there to save her tail."

He laughed. "All right well... I'll see if I can find you a room."

She laughed. "In this house?"

"Wait until you see how many people we have here."

She made a face. "Just how many people are here?"

"Twenty, including me, and a cat thrown in... for good luck, I guess," he said with a laugh.

She glared at him. A glare that she had used back before she had handed over Brooklyn territory to him.  It still scared the living daylights out of him too.  "That's not good for my patient, Spot Conlon."

"It's not like we planned it! Sippi and most of the Brooklyn Lodging House showed up on our doorstep, and Rae didn't want them to go looking for another place to stay!"

"You should have put a stop to that! Where is she?"

"Napping on the couch. We're moving our bedroom downstairs," he added quickly.

"Good idea," she said.  "I know that she's napping, but I promised Trent that I would take a look at her and send him a wire right away."

"All right... but don't run to me if she bites your head off for waking her," he said with a smile.

"Just point me in the right direction. I can take care of her just as well as I can take care of you, shorty."

"Watch who you're callin' shorty."

She glared at him. He simply grinned. She cleared her throat.

"What?"

"Show me to her. Now!"

"Okay, okay! Sheesh... Follow me."

"About time," she muttered, following him into the living room.

"You can't expect me to read your mind, China. I could very well kick you out."

"I can still soak you, Conlon, so watch the way you talk to me," China said, turning to wake Rae up.

"Mmmm...go away!" Rae grumbled drowsily, flinging her arm out at whoever was shaking her before covering her eyes with it.

"Rise and shine, Kelly," China said, using the same tone she had used on her many times before when trying to get her out of bed to sell papes.

She grumbled a bit again. "China? What are you doing here?"

"Trent sent me to take care of you. He wanted to make sure that you had the best care possible." She glanced down at Rae's large belly.  "Holy smokes, girl! What have you done?"

"I got pregnant, that's what I've done," she grumbled.

"I knew that, but I've never seen a pregnant woman that large! And I've seen quite a few pregnant women."

Rae gave her a none-too-pleased look.

China knelt beside the couch and placed her hands on Rae's belly.

"Well?" she asked anxiously

China cocked her head to the side and moved her hands so that one hand was on either side.

"Well?" Rae persisted again, wondering what she was doing.

"What do you two think about twins?" she asked, keeping her head down.

"Twins?"

"Yep. What do you think?"

"I ... I don't know what I think."

"You better start thinking about it, Rae.  Because you've got two babies in there."

"WHAT!?"

China looked up at her.  "You have two babies in here, Rae."

She groaned. "No wonder..."

China laughed.

Rae looked at Spot. "Well, what do you think of it?"

His jaw hung open as he stared at the two women silently.

She poked him. "What do you think?"

He blinked. "Two?"

China nodded. "Nearly positive."

He opened and closed his mouth a few times and then fainted.

Rae peered at him over the edge of the couch and then grinned. "I think he needs more assistance than I do right now..."

China laughed and grabbed the glass of water that was sitting on the table beside the couch.

"I've wanted to do this for a long time." Standing over him, she grinned, tipping the glass upside down and emptying the contents on his face. He sat up sputtering. She grinned. "Welcome back."

"Did I hear you right? Two?"

"Yes."

"But we already have twins."

"Well first off, they're not yours by blood, and second- even if they were, it wouldn't matter. You get what you get."

Sippi walked into the room. "Is everything alright in here? It sounded like someone fell."

China started laughing again. "Spot fainted!"

Rae giggled and Sippi laughed in response.

Spot turned a funny shade of red. "Enough already!"

Rae stifled another giggle and patted Spot's arm.

He made a bit of a face. "It's not THAT funny..."

"I rather thought it was," China said, sitting sideways in a nearby armchair.

"Well of course YOU do..."

"You never told us what you thought, Conlon."

"About what?"

"Two babies."

"Well..." He shrugged. "We're going to have an awful lot of kids once they're born, but that's not going to stop me from loving them. If we have two, we have two."

"What's this about two babies?" Sippi asked, completely lost.

"Rae's having twins," Spot and China said simultaneously.

He blinked and stood there silently for a moment before turning and leaving the room.

Rae tilted her head to the side. "I wonder what that was about..."

Spot shrugged. "You never can tell with him."

"Go get out of that wet shirt," China ordered.

He gave her a cocky sort of salute. "Yes ma'am!"

She threw a small pillow at him as he left the room.

She then looked at Rae. "How are you feeling?"

"Exhausted."

"You should be staying in bed more often."

"I will be now that my bed is downstairs."

"That's what I want to hear!"

Rae sighed. "Is Trent really that worried?"

She smiled and sat down across from her. "You know Trent. He's always worried." Rae gave a slight smile and struggled to sit up. "Ah-ah... what do you need?"

"To have this baby...I mean...these babies..."

"Well… yes, but I was wondering why you were trying to get up." China smiled.

"I'm uncomfortable."

"Need a pillow or anything?"

"Is there any way you can make these babies come sooner?"

She laughed. "I'm afraid not."

Rae groaned.

Squeezing Rae's hand, she said, "The only other thing I can suggest is stop having so many babies!" She winked.

"Very funny."

"Isn't it though?" she asked cheerfully.

Rae sighed. "I think I want to go to my bed."

"I'll see if the boys have it ready." She stood. "Just point me in the right direction."

"Down the hall, second door on the left."

"Thanks." And she headed off. She found the room relatively easy- though she was stunned just how large this house was- and poked her head in. "How's it coming? Rae wants her bed back."

Molly looked up. "I'm just about to put the sheets on."

China nodded. "All right. I'll bring her down in a few then."

Chris stepped into the room. "Need any help, Molly girl?"

"No, that's all..." Then she paused and smiled, nodding slightly. "All right..."

He walked over to the other side and the bed and grabbed the edge of the sheet.

"Thanks..."

China walked back down the hall. "Molly and Chris are making the bed."

"Finally," Rae said with a relieved sigh.

"Come on," China said, helping Rae to her feet. "They should be finished by the time you get down there."

She smiled a bit, wincing as she got to her feet. "That's true."

"Keep this up and I'll make you stay in that bed until these babies come."

"You mean you don't already intend to?" Rae joked.

"I intend to if you don't take it easy."

"I am!"

"Do I need to order you to bed?"

"You're going to anyway."

China sighed. "You're right...at least for a week...we'll see how you're doing then."

"If I have to..."

"You have to."

She wrinkled her nose in distaste.

"Be a good girl and stay in bed for a week, and maybe I'll let you get out of bed for Blank and North's wedding."

"You can't make me stay in bed for that! I'm going to it!"

China sent her a look.

"I'm serious," Rae said.

"Don't make me tie you down, Kelly."

"Don't make me bite through the ropes, China."

China laughed. "You would do it too," she said.

"You know it." Rae stopped. "I need to catch my breath."

China stopped as well. "Just let me know when you're ready to move on."

Rae placed her hand on her stomach. "They sure are active."

"They'll get even more active as your term comes closer to its end."

"I'll be black and blue by the time the come."

China laughed.

"I think I'm ready to move again."

"Moving on."

A few minutes later they reached the new bedroom. Rae sighed in blessed relief. "Thank you so much," she said to Chris and Molly as they were folding down one side of the bed for her to climb up in.

"Get some rest," Chris said as he left the room.

Molly smiled and skirted out after him. Chris was waiting for her in the hall.  "Have you decided yet?"

"Decided?"

"About telling Kendra..."

"Oh... well... I know what I've got to do... but actually doing it is hard..."

"I'll be there when you tell her...if you want me to."

She smiled. "I'd like that."

He took her hand. "I don't want you to leave, Molly."

"I don't want to leave..."

"I know what Spot told you."

She glanced at him.

"We can go tell her right now, Molly..."

"We could..."

"You don't have to..."

"I know..."

He kissed her brow and walked away.

She sniffled and rubbed the spot he kissed for a moment. Why was all this so hard! Sighing she headed up the stairs and stood in the door of the playroom and watched Kendra.  Kendra was apparently having tea with her rag doll, telling it silly little stories, acting as though she was very important and proper- or how she thought an important, proper person would act.

Molly couldn't help but giggle.

She looked up and waved her hand. "Wanna tea?"

Molly gave her a slight smile. "Sure." She sat down. "And who is this?" she asked gesturing to the doll.

"Mrs. Pink."

Molly gave her an amused smile.

She handed Molly a cracked teacup. "The tea is only preten'," she told her seriously.

Molly nodded. "Yes ma'am."

"Mrs. Pink is married to a king. They go lots of places like the city and the country."

Molly struggled not to giggle.

"Want more tea?"

Molly sighed. May as well give it a shot, she thought. "No, thank you.  Why don't we go for a walk..."

"Okay!" she said immediately, the tea party and the woes of "Mrs. Pink" forgotten.

Chris met them at the bottom of the stairs. "Where ya headed?"

"We're goin' on a walk!" Kendra said, beaming.

"Can I come?" He asked, looking at Molly.

Molly paused and then slowly nodded. "That is… if Kendra doesn't mind."

"Piggy-back," Kendra said, throwing her arms around Chris' legs.

He laughed and crouched down so she could crawl onto his back. "Your carriage awaits, little lady."

She jumped onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck. And together, the three of them headed out the door.

"Chris?" Kendra asked as they walked toward the lake.

"What is it half pint?"

"Do you love Molly?"

He turned a faint shade of pink. "That's quite a question coming from such a little girl... But... but yes... yes... I do."

"Like Daddy loves Momma?"

"Kendra..." Molly said.

"What?"

"You shouldn't ask him things like that."

"Yes ma'am," Kendra sighed and then fell silent.

"I don't mind," Chris said, despite the fact he was blushing scarlet. Molly sent him a look. "What? I don't mind."

"Fine! Answer her then!"

"Yes... I do."

Kendra grinned. "Are you gonna marry her?"

"Well, it's a little soon to tell..." But he gave Molly a significant look.

Molly refused to meet his gaze. "Where in the world did you get such crazy ideas?" she asked Kendra.

Kendra giggled. "Annie and Ginny."

"I'll have to have a talk to them...."

"Lighten up, Molly," Chris said, taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

She sighed faintly and glanced at him.

"Are you ready to tell her?" he asked.

She sighed again. "I don't know..."

"Tell who? What?" Kendra asked.

"Molly has something to tell you," Chris said, before Molly could reply.

Molly turned and walked onto the porch of the little cabin.

"Tell me tell me tell me!" Chris set Kendra down and she ran over to sit on the steps next to Molly. "Tell me tell me tell me!" she repeated.

Molly looked up at Chris. "I don't know how to start..."

"Just tell her what you are... You don't have to explain everything now."

Molly looked up at Chris, tears in her eyes. "You tell her," she said, jumping up and running back toward the big house.