Title: A stranger's opinion

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters on "Walker Texas Ranger".

Sydney entered her apartment with an enormous sense of relief in her heart. Becky entered too, took her shoes and jacket off and put them away. She looked at the apartment again and viewed it in a whole different way now than she had before. This was her mother's home, her mom's and maybe Gage's too soon. At least it sounded that way, and that would definitely be fine with her. She loved Gage.

"Mommy?"

Sydney froze. That was the first time her daughter had ever used that title, it felt so wonderful. "Yes, honey."

"What should I wear? At Sylvia's tonight I mean."

"Well, we bought you so many clothes so there has to be something in one of these bags. You want me to help you choose or do you want to do it yourself?" she asked and put a hand on the girl's shoulder.

"I want you to help me look." She said and pulled her mother over to the bags on the coffee-table.

They rummaged through all the bags, looking at things they had almost forgotten they'd bought earlier that day.

When they were done sitting on the floor in the changing room talking they had gone to a café and bought some more coffee and ice-cream and talked some more.

Sydney had told her everything about when she was born and what happened after that. Becky had cried now and then through the story but when Sydney had asked her if she should stop she just shook her head and told her to please go on.

They decided to go home and change and then meet Gage and the others at Sylvia's later for dinner.

"I like this one, what do you think?" Sydney asked as she held up a white dress with little yellow butterflies on.

"I love that one." She grabbed the dress and ran inside the bedroom to change into it. Sydney unpacked a pair of shoes that she had bought for herself and then a pair for Becky that matched her new dress. She had bought a lot of new clothes for the girl since the Rangers hadn't had time to pack down all her old ones when they took her with them.

Sydney decided on a pair of jeans and a black sweater. "Becky! Hurry up, we're supposed to at Sylvia's place in half an hour!"

"I'm done now."she said as she re-entered the living room dressed in the clothes she had picked out. "What do you think?" she asked and walked back and forth and twirling before Sydney like a model.

"You look real nice. We have to get going now or we'll be late."

Sylvia's apartment:

Gage and Trivette were seated in the living-room at the table discussing if Trivette had cheated in a game of cards they had just finished playing with Walker and Alex. They had all been a little early so they decided to sit down and play instead of being a distraction to Sylvia in the kitchen. Alex asked if she could help out but she'd told her she didn't need it because everything was almost ready.

A knock on the door made her call the others to open it and let Sydney and Becky in. They were the only ones who hadn't arrived yet.

Her apartment was not big since she lived there alone. She didn't need or want anything bigger now, but one day when she met someone special and decided to start a family, they would get something bigger. But she always wanted to stay close to her family, and now that her sister had her daughter back she wanted to spend as much time as possible getting to know her niece too.

Alex opened the door and saw Sydney and Becky standing there. Strange. There is something different about them now. She must have told her.´ she thought to herself.

"Hi, Sydney." Alex said and gave the Ranger a quick hug and then Becky. "Becky, how are you doing today?"

The child smiled at the district attorney. "Great, thanks. We're the last ones here, aren't we?" she asked.

Alex nodded and they entered the apartment and took off their shoes and jackets and put them in the closet.

Sydney sniffed in the air. "Mmm something smells good, I take it my sister is cooking something, smells like chicken."

"Yes, but she refused to let me help her in the kitchen so you'd better come and join us in the living-room until she's done."

Sydney laughed, sounded just like Sylvia. She turned to Becky. "You go with Alex and say hi to everyone and I'll be right there."

Alex took Becky's hand and they joined the three Rangers in the living-room.

Sydney pushed the door open and entered the kitchen. She found her sister by the stove making dinner. A lot had changed since this afternoon and she wanted to share it with her right now.

Sylvia turned when she heard the door close and when she saw Sydney she wiped her hands on her apron and then hurried across the room and gave Sydney a big hug. "How did she take it?" she asked and studied Syd's face. It didn't seem sad at all, in fact her eyes were sparkling like stars.

"Not at all as I expected. She was chocked at first when she overheard us but then she was thrilled when I explained things a little more." Sydney explained to her sister.

"So, you did tell her everything then? About Johnny and Veronica and where they are now I mean."

"Yeah I did. I told her the whole story actually, about when and where she was born and taken away. At first it seemed like she just couldn't believe it and I certainly don't blame her or anything. Imagine having your whole life change just like that in an hour. Finding out that everything you thought was real...isn't."

Sylvia nodded. At least the girl's so called parents weren't exactly people she loved with all her heart. They hadn't treated her well over the years, which was of course terrible but at least she probably wouldn't be devastated over not seeing them when they were in prison and she was living with Sydney.

"But I think she has accepted the situation now, she understands why they're going to prison."

Sydney finished. She hadn't felt this free and happy in years. Now she would go and tell the others before dinner so that everything was out in the open.

" I should know better than to ask but do you need any help in here?"she asked as she glanced at the mess her sister had made in the kitchen. But she was used to it, that was the way the kitchen always looked when Sylvia was cooking something, what she made was delicious but she always made a mess while fixing it.

Her little sister gave her a look that said Yes you should. Go away before I throw you out of my kitchen.´

With that said Sydney retreated to the living-room. When she entered she was met by five pairs of eyes staring at her. Gage got up and ran over to her and kissed her.

"I'm so glad you told her." He said, confusing her. How could he know that? She hadn't even told him yet. Then she looked at her small daughter seated at the table and she saw the smile spread across her face and she understood who had told them. At least now she wouldn't have to go over it again.

"That makes two of us." She whispered and kissed him back.

"I see you two have figured out what the rest of us have known for some time now." Walker said with a warm smile as he watched the two younger Rangers that he knew so well kiss.

"Come and sit down here with the rest of us and play this boring game." He suggested. Gage and Sydney took place at the table next to each other. Becky whispered in her mother's ear: "Sorry mommy, I just couldn't wait any longer. I had to tell someone. Are you mad?" she asked with concern.

Sydney put an arm around her little girl's shoulders. "No, no I'm not mad, sweetie. You have a right to tell who ever you want, it's your life too."

Sylvia entered with plates and cutlery and started to set the table. Alex got up and practically ripped the forks and knives out of her hands. "Now you let me do this and just sit down here and relax. "Trivette, would you go to the kitchen and get the food, please."

Trivette turned to Becky and said: "Could you keep an eye on Gage for me? I don't want him cheating while I'm gone."

Becky giggled and agreed. They spent the rest of the evening eating the wonderful meal Sylvia had made and talking. Walker, Gage and Trivette got an opportunity to tell Sydney and Alex about Leonard Anderson's arrest. They waited with that story until Becky was asleep on Sylvia's bed with her new doll right beside her. Didn't think it was necessary for her to know every violent detail just because her mother and her friends worked with crimes all day long.

This was the first time they all sat down together and talked about everything that had happened the last few days. They talked about Casa Diablo and Sydney told them about the situation in the cabin. She also told them in her own words about when she first met Johnny and gave birth to Becky.

Sydney and Gage were the first ones to leave, carrying a sleeping Becky. They thanked Sylvia for everything and were on their way back to Sydney's apartment.

Sydney put Becky down on the bed in her room and sat down at the edge of the bed next to Gage.

"Sydney?"

"Yes."

"Where do you want me to sleep tonight? I mean, " he glanced at the child sound asleep in the bed. "It's pretty crowded here and..." he stopped talking and blushed as he realized she was looking at him and grinning. "Never mind, I'll take the couch and you stay in here with her." He got up but was stopped by a hand that pulled him down again and then lips pressed against his own.

"Or... we could move her to the couch for a while."

To be continued soon