"Momma!" Sam squealed, jumping on the bed.
Rae moaned, rubbing her eyes. "Sam... what are you doing?"
"It's Ch'is'mas!" he said, bouncing on Spot.
Spot groaned in surprise, having the wind nearly knocked out of him first thing in the morning. "Don't jump on Daddy like that," he croaked.
"But it's Ch'is'mas!" he said, still bouncing.
"Christmas or not, Daddy needs to breathe!"
Rae grabbed him. "You can't do that, Sammy."
"Come on! Come on!!" he said, wriggling excitedly.
"Why are you in such a hurry, little man?"
"It's Ch'is'mas!"
"Really?"
Before Sam could respond they heard the excited squeals of the three girls.
"Now I think everyone will be awake after that," Rae commented.
"Come on, Daddy!" Sam said, jumping on Spot again,
Spot grunted. "No more jumping on me, okay kiddo!" He sat up and Sam rolled off to the side.
"Hurry!!"
"I'm hurrying, I'm hurrying."
" C'mon, Momma!"
She yawned. "I'm coming."
He ran over to the cradle. "Wake up, Jame'. It's Ch'is'mas!"
"Shhh, shh... Let him sleep. He won't understand what's going on."
He grabbed Rae's hand and pulled her toward the door.
"I'm coming," she said with a small smile.
Once in the living room, he let her hand go and ran toward the tree. "Presents!"
She laughed a bit. "Excited about your presents, hmm?"
"Can we open them?"
"Chris and Andy aren't down here yet."
"Can I go get them up?"
Spot rubbed his eyes. "I hear them moving."
"HURRY UP CH'IS AN' ANDY!" Sam bellowed.
"We're coming," Chris muttered.
"Ch'is'mas, Ch'is'mas, Chi's'mas!" he squealed, bouncing around.
Andy came running down the stairs. "Did he come?"
Rae yawned. "He?"
"Nick!"
She smiled. "Well, come see for yourself."
He scampered into the room and over to the tree.
Spot came up next to Rae and put his arms around her. "Merry Christmas, sweetheart."
She leaned against him. "Merry Christmas to you to," she said, watching the kids open their presents
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
Spot and Rae looked at each other, confused. "Who could that be?" she asked.
"Only one way to find out." She followed him over to the door. Spot opened the door to reveal Duchess standing on their doorstep with a bundle in her arm.
"Duchess!" Rae gasped.
"Gonna let me in?" she asked gruffly. "It's freezing out here."
Spot opened the door wider. "What brings you out this way?"
"This." She held up the bundle, stepping in. "That Wayne fellow asked me to drop this off."
She placed the bundle in Rae's arms. The bundle began to move and Rae pushed aside the blankets. She gasped. "Robert! Oh my- where did- how did-!" She pushed Robert into Spot's arms and flung her arms around Duchess. "Thank you!"
Dazed, Duchess patted Rae's shoulder and quickly stepped back.
"I can't believe this... it's so wonderful!"
"Look..." Duchess said. "You got your kid back...so I'm gonna leave now."
"Stay for breakfast, at least," Spot insisted.
"I don't know..."
"Yes... It's Christmas.... It's the least we can do for you bringing Robert back to us," Rae said.
Duchess sighed. "I guess I could go for a free meal."
She smiled. "All right, come this way."
Duchess hesitantly followed Rae toward the kitchen. Peeking around the doorframe into the noisy living room. She stared at them. "What, are you running an orphanage?"
"All but two of them are ours."
Again, she stared. "You two are crazier than I thought."
"We adopted Andy and Annie when we got married. Chris just sorta adopted us."
"Like I said.... Crazy..."
"Thank you for bring Robert back to me. You could've told him no."
She shrugged.
Rae pulled out and bowl and began pulling out things to mix together pancakes. "Duchess?"
"What?"
"What made you change your mind about us?"
"What do you mean?"
"You tried to kill him..."
She shrugged. "Stuff happens."
Rae hesitated. "You aren't going to try again...are you?"
"It's Christmas, what do you take me for?"
"I had to ask, Duch...Surely you can understand why."
She shrugged. "Yes... I suppose."
A moment later Spot entered the kitchen. "Rae?"
"Hmm?"
"Robert's fussing..."
"Oh! I'll see to him then." And she rushed from the room.
Spot walked over and continued making breakfast.
Duchess glanced around, rather uncomfortable.
"Do you have the money to get back to Brooklyn?" Spot asked.
She nodded.
"Thank you for what you did. I can't tell you how much it means to me."
She shrugged. "Don't dwell on it."
He nodded and fell silent.
She rocked back and forth on her feet, with her hands stuffed in her pockets.
Chris walked into the kitchen. "What is she doing here?" he asked, having not seen her come into the house.
"Sippi found Robert and had her bring him back to us." Spot explained.
"Robert's back? What about Lizzy?"
Duchess shook her head. "He's still looking for that one."
He leaned against the doorframe. "Is Robert alright?" he asked Spot, sending Duchess a pointed look.
Duchess narrowed her eyes angrily. "I don't hurt babies, but I just might hurt you!"
"You're goons were the ones who took them...In my mind that makes you guilty too!"
She scowled angrily. "I didn't send them to take the kids!"
"Well excuse me if I don't believe you."
Duchess glared at him.
"Chris!" Spot said harshly.
"What?"
"Go back into the other room and make sure that they clean up all the paper."
He scowled a bit but nodded.
"And Chris?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't say anything about Robert just yet."
"Um.... all right." And he disappeared from the room.
Duchess leaned against the wall. "Why did you tell him that?"
"Rae needs some time with him, before they all go rushing in there."
With a nod, she glanced around the kitchen. "Nice little joint you have here."
~*~
Rae gently lifted Robert from the crib where Spot had placed him. She held him close as she sat in the rocking chair. One more baby to return home... She kissed Robert's head. She prayed that Elizabeth would return just as safely.
Just as she had done the first time she had held him, she counted each of his fingers and toes. He looked at her placidly, clearly unaware that he had been kidnapped, put into an orphanage, and then returned home. There was a soft knock at the door.
"Come in," she said.
The door opened and Marty stuck her head in.
She looked up and smiled. "Hello Marty... Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," she whispered shyly.
"Are you having a good Christmas so far?"
She nodded and crept in a little further.
She patted the area next to her. "You can sit, if you'd like."
Marty hesitated.
"Is something wrong?"
Marty shook her head.
"Then come on... don't be shy." Rae smiled.
She crept over and sat next to Rae, casting a glance at the baby in her arms. "Who's that?" she asked.
"You know how Andy and Annie are twins?"
She nodded.
"Well...This is Robert. He and James...and our baby girl are triplets."
"But he's never been here before..."
"No. Someone took Robert and Lizzy from us. Sippi found Robert."
She peered at the baby again.
"Would you like to hold him?" Rae asked.
"I ain't never held a baby."
"I'll show you."
Marty started to protest when Rae placed the baby in her arms. "Let his head rest in the crook of your elbow..." Rae said softly.
"I'm gonna drop him!" she said worriedly.
"No you won't."
"But what if I do?"
Rae smiled at her. "You can't break a Conlon."
She bit her lip and looked down at the baby.
"I think he likes you," Rae said.
"How can you tell?"
"He's smiling at you."
She looked at him again. It did kinda look like he was smiling at her. Marty smiled a bit herself.
"Talk to him," Rae whispered.
"What do I say to him?" she asked, giving Rae an odd look.
"Why don't you just tell him who you are."
She looked at him again. "Er... hello, little baby... I... I'm Marty."
Robert cooed at her.
"What does that mean?"
Rae laughed softly. "I don't know, sweetie."
"Then how do you know what he wants?"
"He's a really good baby. He usually only cries when he's hungry or wet."
"I thought babies cried all the time though..."
"Some do... but not all of them."
She looked at Robert again. "Do you like babies?"
Rae laughed. "Yes, Marty. I do."
"You have lots of kids here... are they all yours?"
"Andy and Annie aren't really ours..."
"What about the other little little kids?"
"Well...Sammy belongs to us...and Robert and James...and..." Rae sighed deeply. "...and Lizzy."
"And... Lizzy's the still gone baby?"
Rae nodded as a tear fell down her cheek.
"I... I"m sorry..." Marty bit her lip.
Rae put her arm around the girl and pulled her close. She rested her head on Rae's shoulder. "Did you like your presents?" Rae asked, taking Robert back.
"Yes... very much. I never got much presents before."
"Marty? Can I ask you a question?"
She looked up at Rae and nodded.
"Are you happy here?"
After a long pause, she nodded. "I think so."
"Good."
"Are YOU happy here?" she asked, on a whim.
Rae smiled. "Very happy, Miss Marty," she said, tapping the girl on the nose.
She smiled a bit. "Can.. I go play now?"
Rae ruffled her hair. "Go on."
Turning, she scampered out of the room.
Smiling, Rae put Robert in the cradle next to his brother. Gently lifting the cradle she carried it to the kitchen.
"What'cha got there?" Ann asked when Rae passed them.
Rae stopped and placed to cradle on the ground. "Have a look."
She peered into it. "Oooh! When did he come back?"
"This morning."
"Santa brought him back! But what about Lizzy?"
"Santa didn't bring him back, sweetie. Sippi found him and asked someone to bring him back to us. He's still looking for Lizzy."
"Ohhh..."
"Food's ready!" Spot yelled from the kitchen.
"Let's go get some breakfast."
Annie ran toward the kitchen. "Ginny! Marty! Andy! Guess what!"
"What?" They echoed simultaneously.
"Robert's back!" she squealed.
"Yay!"
"I don't see how you two handle all the noise," Duchess muttered.
"It just takes some getting used to, is all," Rae explained.
Duchess rolled her eyes and piled food on the plate Spot shoved into her hands.
"Rae? Spot?" Chris asked hesitantly. They looked at him. "Would it be alright if I went to see Molly and Kendra for a few days?"
They nodded. "Of course."
"Is that the girl that was with you when you came spying on me?" Duchess asked.
He gave a grunt. "We weren't spying on you! We got lost!"
Duchess rolled her eyes. "Sure ya did, kid."
"We did!"
"Molly and Chris are gonna get married," Annie piped up.
She smirked a bit. "Married, eh?"
Annie nodded.
"How sweet."
"It's gross," Andy said, between mouthfuls of egg.
"Is not," Ann argued. "Talking with your mouth full is GROSS."
"How would the two of you like to skip breakfast and go to your rooms?" Spot asked, sending them both a pointed look.
"Sorry," they mumbled.
He nodded. "Finish eating." And eat they did.
Duchess quickly finished her food. "It's been nice...but I've got to leave."
Spot and Rae nodded. "Well... thank you again, Duchess," Rae said sincerely. "This means so much to us..."
Duchess nodded.
Spot held out his hand to her. "Thank you."
She hesitated a moment, but finally spit in her hand and shook his hand.
Rae nodded. "Yes.. thank you so much."
"If either of you says thank you one more time, I just may take the kid back."
"All right. We'll never say it again."
"Good...see ya 'round," she said, heading toward the door. They nodded, watching her leave.
Chris breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad she's gone."
Rae was still looking in that direction. "It was... so strange. We were... actually being civil to each other-Duchess and you and I," she said to Spot.
"Things sure have changed," Spot remarked.
"For the better, I think."
"If we could just find Lizzy things would be perfect," Chris said.
"More than perfect..."
Chris put his plate in the sink. "Well, I better hurry if I want to catch that train."
"Tell everyone hello for us," Rae told him.
"And give Molly a kiss for me," Spot said, winking at Rae, who hit him.
He grinned. "I might give her a kiss, but not for you."
"Get out of here," Rae said, shoving Chris toward the door.
"See you all soon."
"Behave!"
"I will." And with that he left the house and ran for town.
Rae turned to the kids. "Go take your toys up to the playroom and see if you can find a place to put them."
"Okay!" every last one of them chirped, gathering up their new presents and scampering up the stairs.
Spot walked over and put his arms around her. Rae smiled a bit, looking up at him. "Alone at last," he said.
"Not really...James and Robert are still here."
"Well... mostly alone then," he said with a smile.
"Merry Christmas," she whispered.
"Merry Christmas, sweetheart," he replied, kissing the side of her head.
She rested her head on his shoulder and looked across the room at the cradle. Gently, he stroked her hair and remained silent.
"Why do you think he hasn't found Lizzy yet?" she asked, her voice but a whisper.
"I don't know...We don't even know where he found Robert..."
Rae sighed deeply.
"He will find him," Spot assured her.
She walked over to the cradle and knelt beside it. "Something's wrong, Spot. I can feel it."
He stopped next to her.
She looked up at him, her eyes full of pain. "Something's wrong with my baby."
Spot hugged her tight. "It will be all right." She clung to him silently. He rocked back and forth gently, stroking her hair.
After a moment she pulled away. "I need to find something to do..."
He looked at her worriedly.
"I'm fine," she said, trying to be convincing. "I just need to keep busy."
"Come get me if you need anything..."
She nodded and kissed his cheek.
He squeezed her hand and smiled at her.
