Theblindwriter95 asked about this song from Eddy Arnold, so enjoy your request! I thought it would be nice if, following Ricky's birth, Bobby Lee shares a bonding moment with his son while giving Nell a chance to rest. He even shares one of his father's songs with him, since as James says, music makes everything better! Thanks to theblindwriter95 for helping with the story. Eddy Arnold's music is not mine.

Nell sighed as she sank down in her rocking chair. She had given birth to her and Bobby Lee's son Richard Edward Johnson the Second, or as the family called him, Ricky, a few days ago, and she was exhausted. It was going to be an interesting time for everyone, especially Elena and Gabby, who were slowly getting used to the idea of a new baby.

Elena had originally wanted a sister, since she thought that Ricky would tease her due to her autism, but when she learned that the family would teach Ricky about it, and that they would teach him to be nice, she started slowly warming up to the idea of a brother. Gabby, however, had been more supportive when she first learned about him. Both girls had even helped Nell during her pregnancy, getting her anything she needed, and even talking to Ricky so he'd know their voices when he was born.

It had been a challenge explaining to them, especially Elena, how to be quiet around the new baby, but they slowly seemed to be getting the gist of it as Ricky's wailing from the bassinette alerted her from her thoughts.

She stood up only to feel her husband sit her back down in the rocking chair.

"Robert, what are you doing?" Nell asked. "I can't just sit here while Ricky needs me!"

"But you're exhausted! You're taking it easy!" Bobby Lee yelled. He softened, seeing her cringe, and stroked her cheek. "Helen, you're still recovering from giving birth to Ricky. Even the girls noticed earlier tonight while James was helping us put them to bed."

Nell looked up in surprise. "They did?"

"Elena wanted to give you Kitty to help Ricky go to sleep," Bobby Lee smiled. Elena's stuffed jaquin Kitty had been one of the first things Ricky saw when he was born, and so he was as attached to it as Elena was. Nell and Bobby Lee had even written to Queen Elena to bring Ricky his own stuffed jaquin to his christening, so he could have his own kitty.

"She has been calling Kitty Ricky's big sister," Nell chuckled.

"Well, Ricky's going to have three wonderful big sisters," Bobby Lee smiled as he went over to Ricky.

Ricky stopped wailing, feeling Bobby Lee take him in his arms before looking at him in confusion.

"I know what you're thinking. You're wondering where Mommy is, aren't you, buddy?" Bobby Lee smirked.

Ricky cooed in response, waving a fist in the air.

"I'm right here, little guy," Nell smiled. "But I think it's Daddy's turn to spend some time with you."

"That sound okay, Ricky?" Bobby Lee smiled. "You can spend more time with Mommy tomorrow, but for now, you're with me!"

Ricky squealed quietly, making soft noises only a baby could understand.

"That's right, Ricky," Bobby Lee grinned, as if he understood him. "We do like our guy time, don't we? And speaking of guy time, I'll take you to see James in the morning. He'll sing you songs and make up stories for you, we'll play with his writing buddies, we'll get him if he won't take a break from writing and play with you..."

"Robert! Ricky's too young to get James!" Nell laughed.

Bobby Lee grinned as he softly mussed Ricky's hair. "That doesn't mean he can't try. Right, little guy?"

Even though he didn't know what that meant, Ricky cooed at the idea, seeing Kitty on Nell's lap, and reached out for her.

"Well, you and Ricky can get James later," Nell smiled. "Right now, I think it's time he went to sleep!"

"You're right, Helen," Bobby Lee smiled as he gave Ricky Kitty. He knew Elena wanted to be a good big sister, so she let him borrow Kitty until he fell asleep, then he'd take Kitty back to Elena.

"The sooner they have their own kitties, the better," Nell smirked, but she knew that Elena was trying to be a good sharer.

"Good things do come to those who wait," Bobby Lee chuckled, quoting Bianca.

Ricky put one of Kitty's paws in his mouth to drool on as he looked up at Bobby Lee.

"I'll leave you alone so you can get Ricky to sleep, Robert," Nell smiled. "Just remember to give Elena Kitty back when he's asleep."

"I will, Helen," Bobby Lee promised. "But right now, I think it's time you went to sleep too."

"Okay," Nell agreed. "You and Ricky enjoy your guy time!"

"We will," Bobby Lee smiled. When he was alone with Ricky, he smiled as he began slowly rocking him. "I still can't believe I have a son..."

As he enjoyed the slow motion of the rocking chair, Ricky made a little noise that meant, 'Well, you better believe it, because I'm right here!'

"That's right, buddy," Bobby Lee smiled. "And everyone's going to get to know you. But now, I think it's time you went to sleep. You're going to learn soon enough that there's a castle juke box here, and he's going to sing you all kinds of songs whenever you want. Of course, I know a few songs from my father, and I'll sing them for you too."

Ricky cooed in surprise at the reveal of his daddy's daddy as he looked around the room for him.

"Sorry, buddy. He passed away long before you were born," Bobby Lee smiled sadly. He stroked Ricky's hair, brightening up as his son reached up for him. "But you were named after him, little guy."

Ricky cooed as Bobby Lee let him hold his fingers. He held Kitty out to him, and Bobby Lee nuzzled her against him.

"Thank you, Ricky," he said as Ricky settled back in his arms. "Now," he smiled as he started rocking him again, "let me sing you one of the songs he used to sing to me!"

As he started rocking Ricky again, Bobby Lee sang softly, Whoo-ooh-ooh-doo-di-di
Whoo-ooh-ooh-oop-doo-doo
Whoo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Yod-el-od-el-lo-ti-de

Ricky cooed, enjoying the slow motion of the rocking chair and the sound of his daddy singing. His mommy always rocked him to sleep, and though he usually adored it, it felt nice to get rocked by somebody else once in a while.

"Maybe when you get a little bigger, Mommy and I will let your big sisters rock you to sleep," Bobby Lee joked.

As he nuzzled Kitty against Ricky, he continued the song, The cattle are prowlin', the coyotes are howlin'
Way out where the dogies bawl
Where spurs are a-jinglin', a cowboy is singin'
This lonesome cattle call

Ricky cooed at the idea, but he still enjoyed the time he and his daddy were spending together.

He was getting used to his big sisters. While they were both gentle with him, Elena was loud and sometimes startled him from his sleep while Gabby was quieter.

Ricky didn't understand that they were twins when they acted so different around him whenever his mommy and daddy allowed them to see him. But he did like it whenever Elena flapped her hands as he looked up at his daddy and squealed quietly, waving a fist in the air.

"You're right, buddy; we'll have to get you tested for autism," Bobby Lee murmured, making a mental note to tell Nell about that, since he thought that Ricky waving his fist was similar to Elena flapping her hands. "There might be a chance you might not have it, but we want to be sure."

He really didn't think Ricky would have autism, but as Bianca would say, better to be safe than sorry, and hopefully, since Ricky was so young yet, they might even catch it early.

Ricky started to fuss, causing his daddy to stand up and walk him around the room.

As Bobby Lee carried him, he sang softly, Whoo-ooh-ooh-doo-di-di
Whoo-ooh-ooh-oop-doo-doo
Whoo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Yod-el-od-el-lo-ti-de

He rides in the sun 'til his days' work is done
And he rounds up the cattle each fall
Ooh-ooh-ooh-doo-di-di
Singin' his cattle call

"I know you're tired, little guy, but don't worry; Daddy will get you to sleep in no time," Bobby Lee continued, patting his back gently.

Ricky didn't know what his daddy was talking about, and he was too busy listening to the song to really care.

At the same time, Bobby Lee sang to him, For hours, he would ride on the range far and wide
When the night winds blow up a squall
His heart is a feather in all kinds of weather
He sings his cattle call

Whoo-ooh-ooh-doo-di-di
Whoo-ooh-ooh-oop-doo-doo
Whoo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Yod-el-od-el-lo-ti-de

Bobby Lee bounced Ricky in his arms as he sang. He knew this sometimes worked with Elena and Gabby when they were Ricky's age, so he was hopeful that it would happen again. He smiled when he saw that it was working, when Ricky finally stopped crying and started to nod off in his arms. "That's right, buddy," Bobby Lee smiled, "And you're going to learn one of James' sayings too: music makes everything better."

His smile widened, hearing Ricky yawn as the song came to an end.

He's brown as a berry from ridin' the prairie
And he sings with an ol' western drawl
Ooh-ooh-ooh-doo-di-di
Singing his cattle call

Ooh-ooh-ooh-doo-di-di
Whoo-ooh-ooh-oop-doo-doo
Whoo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Yod-el-od-el-lo-ti-de

Placing Kitty on the seat of the rocking chair, Bobby Lee carried Ricky towards his bassinet while his son made a little noise that meant "Daddy night-night!"

"Night-night to you too, Ricky," Bobby Lee smiled as he laid him down. He put the little teddy bear Nell had given him when he was born on the table near the crib. "There you go," he continued, "Your little teddy friend will keep you company while Kitty goes night-night. But it's okay, you'll see her again in the morning."

Ricky didn't hear him, as he'd fallen asleep. He just made a little noise and continued to sleep.

"I'm so proud of you, Robert," Nell whispered.

"Helen! How long have you been here?" Bobby Lee asked.

"Not long, but I was checking on the girls earlier and Elena's still awake."

"Waiting for Kitty?"

"Yes," Nell smirked, kissing his cheek. "She told me she won't go to sleep until Ricky's asleep."

"The sooner Ricky has his own kitty, the better," Bobby Lee smirked. "But at least we sent that letter to Queen Elena, and she said she'd bring a stuffed jaquin for Ricky's christening party."

"But for now, she and Ricky can share Kitty," Nell agreed. "And Elena can borrow one of James' writing buddies if she needs one."

Bobby Lee smiled in agreement. He'd often see Elena in James' room with him, cuddling with not just Kitty, but also James' plush 'writing buddies' Prince Blizzard, Little Rex, and Sir Blaze-a-Lot. He sometimes even watched as James asked Kitty for her ideas for his stories, and when Bobby Lee read them to her and Gabby for their bedtime stories, Elena would point out the ideas that Kitty had given James.

Speaking of Elena, he knew how cranky she was if up past her bedtime as Bobby Lee kissed Nell's cheek and dashed towards Elena and Gabby's room.

The adorable sights of Gabby asleep and Elena rubbing her eyes while looking up from their Elsa and Anna book melted his heart as Bobby Lee placed Kitty into her lap.

"Daddy! You brought Kitty back!" Elena cheered.

"As promised," Bobby Lee smiled. He frowned a little as Elena turned away from him. "Elena, Mommy told me that you wouldn't go to sleep until Ricky was asleep. Why would you do something like that?"

"Kitty likes helping Ricky go night-night," Elena smiled. "I wanna be a good sharer, and Ricky's gonna share Kitty!"

"Well, I can't argue with that logic," Bobby Lee smiled. "I'm going to tell you a secret, Elena, but you can't tell Gabby, or Ricky. Mommy knows it already, but you can tell Sofia, James, and Amber."

"What is it?" Elena asked as she hugged Kitty.

"Ricky's going to get a Kitty of his own," Bobby Lee whispered. "Kitty's going to be a big sister to Ricky's kitty, just like she, you, and Gabby are big sisters to Ricky."

Elena's smile widened at the idea of Kitty being a big sister to Ricky's kitty. "Me gonna come to Ricky's party?"

"Yes Queen Elena's going to come to his christening," Bobby Lee smiled. He knew that Elena loved calling her namesake 'me', and it had started the day after he, Nell, and the royal family came home from the coronation. She and Gabby couldn't go because they were too little, and they knew it would be a long ceremony. Before that it was a few times, but it hadn't become a permanent thing until after her namesake was crowned queen.) "She came to yours too."

"Is that true, Daddy? Did me really come to my and Gabby's party when we were babies like Ricky?"

"That's right," Bobby Lee smiled. "Queen Elena came to your and Gabby's party. She gave you Kitty, and Gabby got Dolly." He looked over at the rag doll in Gabby's arms. Gabby liked playing with the doll as much as Elena liked playing with Kitty, and she also liked it when James asked her for her ideas for his stories.

"Now Ricky's gonna get his own Kitty too!" Elena smiled. "It won't look like my Kitty, right?"

"Don't worry, Love Bug," Bobby Lee smiled, "Queen Elena knows to get Ricky a kitty with different colors so you can tell them apart. We'll even put your names on them, so you'll know which is which."

"Silly Daddy!" Elena giggled. "James reads when he was baby, but Ricky can't!" She knew the joke Roland sometimes told her and her family about James singing as soon as he was born, then grabbing the doctor's pen and notebook to transcribe his own birth, then asking the nurse if she was done with the book she was reading.

Bobby Lee chuckled at the reminder, stroking her hair. "Well then, we can still have Mommy put your name on Kitty, just in case."

"So I'm not forgetful," Elena agreed. She yawned, laying down on her pillow. "Did I say it right? Like the speech lady taught me?"

Bobby Lee smiled. "Yes you did, Love Bug. I'm very proud of you."

"Daddy, when do I talk about Ricky?" Elena asked as she sat up again, "He was still in Mommy's tummy the last time I talked to the speech lady."

"You can talk about Ricky if you want," Bobby Lee smiled. "I'm sure she'll be excited to hear about him now that he's here! But for now, let's get you back to sleep."

"Okay!" Elena smiled. She laid down, yawning as Bobby Lee tucked her in with Kitty. She suddenly sat up and giggled. "Daddy! You forgot something!"

"I did?" Bobby Lee smirked.

"Yeah! Are you gonna sing a song for me and Gabby too?" Elena asked.

"I've been singing to Ricky all night; I'm not the castle jukebox!" Bobby Lee smirked.

"Silly Daddy! James is the castle jukebox!" Elena giggled.

Bobby Lee nodded, but he yawned before he could say something else. "How about this? Since I'm too tired to sing, I'll give you something else instead."

"What is it?"

"A goodnight kiss," Bobby Lee smiled.

"Okay," Elena smiled as Bobby Lee kissed her. She then gave Kitty a good-night kiss, adding, "Night-night, Kitty! You're a good big sister like me!"

Bobby Lee smiled. "You've got that right, Love Bug. Now you and Kitty go to sleep, and Kitty can share a happy dream with you!"

"Okay. Night-night, Daddy," Elena smiled.

"Good night, Love Bug," Bobby Lee smiled, and went back to his and Nell's room.

"How did it go? Did Elena give you any trouble?" Nell yawned.

"It went fine. She loves the idea of Kitty being a big sister," Bobby Lee smiled.

Nell smiled. "I knew she would."

Bobby Lee suddenly frowned a little. "Helen do you think Kitty being a big sister will help our Love Bug get used to Ricky?"

"I think so," Nell smiled. "Elena likes to say that she follows Kitty's example, and if we tell her that Kitty wants to set a good example for Elena by being a good sister to Ricky, then Elena might agree with what Kitty's teaching her."

"That's an interesting thought," Bobby Lee smirked. "After all, she and Gabby learned from Lamb-Lamb how to be a good friend to their friends in preschool, or so they said. Maybe we taught them what they needed to know, and then they said Lamb-Lamb told them what to do."

"Well, let's let the three of them get some sleep for now, then in the morning, we'll see if Kitty taught Elena and Gabby anything they can use to help Ricky," Nell suggested.

"Good idea," Bobby Lee agreed.

It didn't take him long to fall asleep, as taking care of Ricky had taken a toll on him to the point where he hadn't woken up once during the night due to Nell's snoring like he usually did.

He woke up later, feeling well rested. He looked over at Ricky, who was awake and babbling away in his bassinette. "You ready to play with Kitty again, Ricky?"

Ricky squealed as Bobby Lee took him in his arms. He didn't mind that his teddy bear was near him instead of Kitty; he'd see his favorite toy again soon.

"And maybe after breakfast, we'll sing with some of James' kitties and plush friends too," Bobby Lee continued. "That sound like fun?"

Ricky gave another squeal as Bobby Lee carried him out with Nell beside him.