"Well, thank you, Chief, I'm glad somebody listened to us." Rick sighed, then raised his eyebrows in surprise as Laurie, Barnabas and Quentin entered the office.
A.J. stood up and gave her a hug, then shook hands with the others as Laurie sat on Rick's desk.
"You're welcome, sir. Goodbye." He said, then hung up. Instantly he reached up and kissed Laurie.
"This is a nice surprise, darlin', guys, I thought you'd be in the air by now."
"Their flight's delayed an hour, so I thought Quentin might want to see your office." She replied, then giggled as he pulled her off the desk and onto his lap.
"No sitting on the furniture when a seat's available, sweetheart." He teased.
Barnabas smiled at the younger Simon. "I'm glad your wife's car was found, was there any damage?"
"No, fortunately Blair's hired help got chicken and ditched it in a mall parking lot a mile from home, seems the D.A's statement about anymore harassment of us sparked a little fear. It was a couple of teenagers, I think Blair promised them a $1000 each and didn't pay up." A.J. smirked.
"What a thousand dollars won't buy these days." Quentin said sarcastically, then chuckled as Rick added,
"Yeah, especially when one of them left his student I.D. on the floor!"
They were all laughing when the phone rang, and Rick answered it only to find David Collins on the line.
"Hey, Rick, where's my cousins?"
"Gone to Vegas to check out the slots, why, you miss 'em?" he ragged.
"Yeah, it's so dull without them and Carolyn's so bored with all the snow, she's picking on me. Make her stop, Rick!" David pretended to whine.
Rick realized he missed the young man, David was like a younger brother to him now.
"Nah, I'll let your cousins do that. They're right here." He passed the phone to Barnabas.
Quentin shook his head, "I'm jealous, Rick. David's really taken to you and your family."
Suddenly Rick figured it out; Quentin was afraid of the friendship he and David had developed over the last two years that Quentin had been gone.
"But he misses you, Quentin. I'm glad I've gotten to know him, he meant so much to Laurie when she didn't have any family other then Oscar and Rudy." Rick said, hoping Quentin understood what he was saying.
From the sudden grin Quentin shot him across the desk, he did.
"Well, I'm glad my families' have finally all met, that's the best part of all this." Laurie added, then she sniffed and Rick fished out a handkerchief.
"Oh, I'm all right, I just hate to see you two go." She dabbed her eyes, then smiled as Barnabas gently told her, "I expect you and Rick for Easter, I know Robin may not be able to come, but I expect Robbie and his family, and you, too, A.J.."
"That's an invitation I'll accept." A.J. beamed, then stood up as Rick reminded them of the time.
"Rick, it's quiet, why don't you go with Laurie to the airport?"
" Best idea you've had all day, little brother." Rick said, ruffling his hair.
After another set of goodbyes to the two cousins, Rick and Laurie watched the flight to Bangor take off from the terminal, then started back to her jeep.
Both transmitters suddenly went off, and Rick instantly put his on. "Robin?"
"Pop, the baby's coming, Ian's not here, can you come?" her voice froze both parents.
"We'll be right there, honey." Rick told her, then grabbed Laurie's hand and pulled her with him to their vehicle.
Within two minutes they were at Ian and Robin's house, then sped off to the hospital as Laurie called Rudy on her transmitter and asked him to meet them at the emergency room.
"Come on, baby, breathe, come on, Robin." Laurie held her daughter's hand the whole way to the hospital, then helped her in to a waiting wheelchair when they reached the emergency room.
"I'll be right in, honey." Rick told his daughter, then managed to park the jeep and pocket the keys before he ran into the waiting room.
Less then five minutes later Rudy and Oscar came huffing and puffing in, followed almost immediately by the frantic Ian Whitecloud.
"Dad, is she all right, I got stuck in traffic…
"It's all right, son." Rick calmed him down, then led him to the birthing room where he could see his mother-in-law coaching Robin through the contractions. Robin seemed to know he was there, looking up and blowing a kiss at him. "Dad, I want to be with her so bad, but I'll , I can't do it, I'll faint." He gulped.
"It's okay, Ian. I couldn't do it either, just sit down. Laurie will take care of her." He promised.
As they waited, Rick used a nearby phone to call his son, then Chief Joseph, who promised to pick up Cecelia on his way.
After a half hour, the door opened and Laurie came out with a weary smile.
"Ian, come in. Your son would like to meet you."
Flustered, Ian hugged her, then stumbled into the room as Laurie leaned against the wall.
"Come here, grandma." Rick pulled her into his arms, then kissed her.
"Grandma, it sounds so nice, Grandpa." She murmured, then let him lead her to a chair to rest.
"How's Robin?" Rick asked, then choked up as she told him, "She really had a couple of bad contractions, love, I almost started crying. It was so hard this time, I love Ramona, but watching my baby in pain…"
"I know, I know." He embraced her, then soothingly rubbed her back.
In a few minutes, Ian stuck his head out and said, "Dad, come meet your grandson."
As Rick went into the room, he peered into the startlingly alert eyes of the baby. Footsteps sounded in back of him, then Chief Redfern looked over his shoulder.
"Hi, Chief, here's your great-grandson." Rick said, then motioned to Ian, who reluctantly released the baby to his grandfather. Going to his daughter, he put his arm around her, saying, "I'm proud of you, honey, you did a good job." Smiling happily, she kissed his cheek, then sighed. "He's beautiful, Pop, I'm just glad you and Mom were there, but then," her eyes filled with tears, "you always are."
Moved, Rick hugged her, then pulled a Kleenex from his pocket and dabbed her eyes. "Honey, between you and your Mom…." "Oh, Pop, look.." she put her hand on his, then he followed her gaze to Ian's grandfather.
The old man's eyes fastened on the child, then he spoke quietly. "I never thanked you for being my grandson, Ian, I thank you now. You and your Robin have made me realize how much I've missed by not being there for you."
Startled, Ian put his hand on Chief Pete's arm. "Grandfather, you have been there for us, for Robin. We,", he swallowed, then looked back at Robin, who nodded and smiled. "We would like to name our son Peter Oscar Steven, after the people who helped raise both of us."
The elder raised his eyes, then cleared his throat. "Thank you, Ian. I can only imagine what I can give to this little one, except to hope he has an easier road to travel." A soft yawn from his namesake brought his gaze to the baby's face, then he smiled.
"I think he needs his sleep, let me take him to his mother."
Later, Rick relaxed in an easy chair in the waiting area, waiting for Laurie to "tuck" her son and daughter-in-law in for the night.
"Rick, I'm glad you are still here." Chief Pete came and sat next to him.
"Chief, what do you think of your grandson?" he asked.
"He's very much like Ian, but he has Robin's eyes. So strong, did you feel his grip?" he replied.
"Yeah, Oscar's already calling him an athlete, I think it comes from Ian." Rick answered, feeling the older man had something on his mind.
"Rick…." He frowned, then spoke.
"When Ian goes back to Las Vegas, I understand you and Laurie are concerned about Robin being alone with the baby. I ..would like to stay with them, perhaps, until Ian can establish better hours."
Rick was floored; Chief Pete wanted to be there for his daughter and grandson?
"Uh, that would be good, Chief. A.J. and I closed the office for two weeks starting next week, but after that, I think Robin and Ian might like having you with them."
Surprise crossed Chief Pete's face, then he nodded. "Thank you, Rick, I'll speak to Ian and Robin in the morning."
After the older man left, Rick suddenly felt lost, then he sensed Laurie's kiss on his neck as her arms came around him.
"There's my love." He murmured, then took her hand and kissed it.
"I missed you, Laurie, are they asleep?" He looked up at her, then pulled her into the chair with him.
"Yes, Rick. Poor things, both worn out." She told him, snuggling into his embrace.
"Sweetheart, you worked so hard with our little girl. I'm taking you home; we'll come back first thing tomorrow." Rick promised.
"Yes, darling." Laurie smiled at him, then got up and took his arm as he walked her to their jeep.
As they pulled into their driveway, she put her put her face next to his. "Rick?"
"Yes, Laurie?,"
"Did you tell Ian you were closing the office for two weeks so we could stay with Robin when Ian went back to work?" Startled, Rick hesitated, then turned and kissed her cheek.
"Yes, sweetheart. I didn't want Robin to be alone during the day with the baby in a strange neighborhood, and being without you, that's not going to happen. A.J. and I, well……" he stopped when he heard Laurie sniff.
"Oh, Rick, I love you. To give up the office just so our little girl will be able to take care of our grandchild…" he realized his wife was crying.
"Laurie, darlin', don't cry, my angel." He put his arms around her, then kissed her wet cheeks.
"I'm just overwhelmed, my love, you are the best. To close the office, so we can be together….." she kissed him.
"A.J.'s fine with it, sweetheart, it's a test to see if we should keep the office part time, or by appointment only or retire so we can both be with our families." He explained, then saw her gazing at him.
"No wife ever had a more loving husband." She murmured, then kissed him deeply, opening her lips to his and taking his breath away.
"Laurie." He finally released her mouth from his to breathe, then caressed her face. "Be my Valentine?"
Her eyes lit up. "Yes, Rick, I'll be yours. Please be mine, too." She whispered, then he nodded.
"Always, my sweetheart."
As they got out of the jeep, he took her hand in his. "Darlin', you remember what you said about when we would be alone again?"
Laurie grinned. "Yes, Rick."
"Well." He chuckled, then led her onto the porch then unlocked the door. Picking her up, she let out a squeal as he said, "We're alone, and we have the time tonight, it's already Valentine's Day."
"Let's celebrate now, my love." Laurie answered, then put her arms around his neck as he carried her to their room.
As he put her down on the bed, he realized Mike was jumping at the guest room door, then told her,
"You get comfortable, I'll let Mike into the living room."
She nodded, then giggled as he dropped a kiss on her neck.
When he came back into the bedroom and closed the door, he saw she had turned down the lights, then laid out his nightclothes. Glancing up as she came out of the bathroom, he saw she was wearing the shortie robe he had given her for Christmas, then chuckled softly as she walked toward him.
"I'm comfortable, let me make you comfortable too." Laurie suggested, then started unbuttoning his shirt.
"I have a better idea, darlin'." He stayed her hands, then kissed her fingers as he "helped" finish taking off his shirt, then peeled away her robe to find nothing under it but pink underwear.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Rick." She breathed as he picked her up and put her under the covers, then undressed and joined her, wrapping himself around his wife.
"Happy Valentine's Day to my favorite gift." He returned, nuzzling her neck then kissing her all over.
Suddenly the phone rang, and reluctantly Rick reached over and picked it up. "Hello?"
"Pop? It's Robin. Ian and I just want to say "Happy Valentine's Day to you and Mom."
Smiling at his daughter's thoughtfulness, Rick wished it back to her, then handed the phone to Laurie.
"Sweet, thank you for remembering. We love you! Tell Ian Happy Valentines' too, and we'll see you around 9, okay?"
"Okay, Mama, thanks!" the young mother yawned, then made her goodbyes.
As Rick took the phone and hung it up, he pulled Laurie back into his arms.
"Now, where were we?"
"Celebrating Valentine's day, my love." She answered, then laughed as he warned between kisses, "this might take all night!"
"I think I can handle that." Laurie answered, then returned his caresses under the stream of moonlight in their room.
In the shadows of the ranch, a figure smiled as Rick managed to reach over and turn out the lights.
"Sleep well, my children." Kasey Adams blew a kiss, then faded away.