A/N: dogreign, Amarantha, takerlover, leslienicolespeaks, Dani, betty-boop, KangarooGirl and tallyz - thankyou for reviewing and thanks to all who read the last chapter. Onward!

Leon hovered behind Ruby as she gently eased Amelia from the car seat, patiently waiting to be handed his daughter. He honestly had no idea that he'd feel the way he did about her – he couldn't remember ever experiencing anything like it. There was something so special about having a little girl, something that made it completely different to having a son. He loved his children with his all, but Amelia was so delicate and fragile, so precious to him that it hurt. He couldn't remember ever feeling so helpless nor needed at the same time when Cade was a baby.

In front of him Ruby straightened, Amelia's chubby cheek pressed to her bare shoulder, tiny fingers twisted in the silky fabric of her halter top. The little girl was already her mother's daughter. Leon had dressed her himself that morning – they were introducing her to the rest of the family for the first time and had made the trip back to LA – and she was wearing a beautiful little lilac dress with butterflies embroidered all over it, matching purple booties on her tiny feet.

"I swear she only wakes up when she knows she's going to you." Ruby commented, smiling as she handed Amelia over to a waiting Leon. His eyes flickered from Ruby to Amelia, then back up as he balanced the baby in one arm and unbuttoned the neck of his shirt, tugging it aside slightly. Amelia's fussing silenced as soon as her cheek lay against the bared section of flesh on her father's chest. Leon watched her sleep against him for a moment and sighed deeply, bending his head down ever so slightly to nuzzle the top of her little head. His eyes focused on Ruby, watching them with a small smile on her face.

"Thankyou." He said softly, green eyes holding hers.

Ruby frowned slightly, stroking Amelia's arm once she'd shouldered her purse and Amelia's nappy bag. Bobo was tucked beneath her other arm. "For what, precious?"

Leon looked up at the firehouse, knowing his family was in there waiting for them to come in, giving them time to prepare. He looked back down at Ruby, bending to kiss her brow lightly, hand stroking Amelia's thigh aimlessly.

"Just thankyou."

He looked up toward the head of the drive, a small smile on his face. Cade was standing there, hands clasped in front of him, bottom lip caught between his teeth and Tala was standing behind him with her hands on his shoulders. Slowly and carefully, Leon knelt in the centre of the drive and nodded slightly, urging Cade closer. He walked forward tentatively, big doe eyes firmly fixed on his new baby sister. He was so enthralled that he'd not even realised he'd passed by Ruby and was standing in front of his father while she had moved to embrace Tala. The two women stood back, arms around each other and talking amongst themselves quietly as Leon introduced Cade to Amelia.

His big brown eyes were glassy and wide as he sat on Leon's thigh and looked at his sister. Nervously he reached forward and touched her hand, jumping when she made a small gurgling sound. He tore his hand back, tears pooling in his eyes.

"I di'n't mean it, Daddy!" He exclaimed, panicked. "Didn't mean to hurt lump!"

Leon chuckled, carefully wrapping his arm around Cade whilst supporting Amelia in the other.

"You didn't hurt her, brat – that's her way of talking for now. She can't talk like us yet." Leon watched, the picture of a proud father as Cade's small hand reached out again and stroked her head, little fingers running over her soft hair. She had a lot of it too.

Cade squirmed and pulled a face, looking up at Leon. "Feels funny." He told him, rubbing his hands against his belly.

"Her hair?"

The little boy shook his head. "Belly – feels glowy and funny." He didn't seem too concerned with the sudden teary look on Leon's face, nor Ruby or Tala's and instead paid more attention to Amelia as she wriggled in Leon's arms. "My Milly." He said softly, pecking a tiny kiss against her hands.

Leon watched his son whisper to his daughter and was filled with adoration for the two small people in his arms. He'd helped create both of them, the two beautiful children he held and nothing, not even the devil himself would ever be able to take that from him. He'd never felt so proud of anything in his life. Never.

"It's your job to take care of her from now on, Cade." Leon told him quietly. "Amelia is your little sister and she'll always need you to be there for her. Ok? Like Uncle Vince is for Daddy."

Cade nodded, his face serious and complete with an expression of understanding. Even though he was just a child himself, he knew that Amelia was partially his responsibility now and he would do all he could to help and or take care of her as she grew. It was his duty as big brother.

"Yes, Daddy."

Leon nuzzled Cade's dark hair then made to stand up, unable to resist smiling when he saw Vince come striding around the corner. Rory was hot on his heels but was more concerned about talking to Miss Ruby – Vince on the other hand, try as he might, couldn't hide the love he had for babies. He put up his big bad facade in front of most people, but as soon as you put an infant in front of him he melted.

He held up his hands as he neared. "I'm clean, I'm recently showered and I don't smell horrible," he paused right in front of him, "-give her to me."

Leon scowled darkly. "She's my daughter – don't demand anything of me when it comes to her or I'll throw you down and choke you to death with your shirt." He dotted a kiss against Amelia's head when she wriggled, then looked back up at Vince. "Take your shirt off."

The bigger man lifted a brow and glanced at Tala and Ruby. "Off?"

Nodding, Leon adjusted Amelia in his arms so her cheek wasn't pressed against skin. Immediately she started to fuss, then whine, then cry. Within moments of him setting her back against the bared patch of skin she settled again. Vince watched for a moment, stunned, then slowly did as he was told and dropped his tank on the hood of the car. Heavily tattooed arms reached out once more and this time Leon handed his daughter over, but not without a great deal of hesitation.

At first the infant fussed slightly, unused to the way Vince held her as opposed to her father, but as soon as he had her situated against his chest, stubbly cheek against her head, she nuzzled right in. The light fabric of her dress spilled over his inked forearm, her little hand curled into a fist over his chest and her eyes closed. He smiled, inhaling the soft baby powder scent her skin held, his other hand cupping the back of her little head.

"What colour are her eyes?" He was looking at Leon who was now holding Cade, the toddler settled comfortably on his father's hip.

"They're blue at the moment," Le rubbed Cade's back absently, he'd missed his son while he was in Vegas, "-but I think they're going to turn green. Both Rubes and I have green eyes, but you never know. Could stay blue."

Vince nodded, rocking ever so slightly, a slight bounce in the movement. He watched Leon from beneath his brows as he feigned talking to his sleeping niece. Even though he was holding Cade and listening to whatever it was the dark haired little boy was saying, his eyes were firmly locked on Ruby as she spoke to Tala and nursed Rory. She looked good for someone who'd not long ago given birth and he could tell that Leon was more than aware of that fact as well.

"Hey Le," he motioned him over with a nod of the head, "-you tell her?"

Leon's eyes never left Ruby for a second, not until he heard the quiet gurgling of his baby girl and he turned to look at her instead.

"Not yet." He set Cade down on the driveway so he could go say hello to Ruby. "Not in so many words. She asked and I said I did, but I.." he shrugged. "I've only ever said that to one person, V – you know it doesn't come easy."

Vince hummed softly, lips barely brushing the top of Amelia's head. "Get your stuff and head inside," he told him as the women approached, "-I'll carry the midget."

There was no argument from Leon and he moved to get their things from the car, along with Tala. Even Rory and Cade helped carry some of the lighter things, but Vince held Ruby back when she went to help.

"She's beautiful, Rubes – like her Mama." He grinned at her pink cheeks and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, easily balancing Amelia against him. "Missed you, Fairy."

Ruby squeezed his waist, leaning into his shoulder momentarily. "It's good to be back."

Vince watched from the sidelines as his family started heading inside the house, playful banter and abuse coming from almost every one of them. He ran his hand over Amelia's back, smoothing her dress down over his tattooed arm. "Welcome to the family, Midget."