Chapter 12 [Fifteen Minutes Earlier]

Annie set the coffee pot back down on the stove. "Everyone all set?" She fixed her own cup.

"Sientase, por favor." Mercedes pulled a chair out. She pointed to it.

"You'd best listen to her, Annie. We don't wanna see you gettin' sick." Buck raised an eyebrow. He saw her stiffen. "I know you've been doing real great with everything and all."

Annie shuffled across the kitchen to the table. She slumped into the chair. "Thank you, Mercedes."

"You are welcome." Mercedes sat down beside her. Her eyes kept watching the stairs. "There has been no word."

"Your mother needed several hours with your brother and you. They were difficult births." Ricardo reminded her. "Buck said a good thing earlier. If we do not hear anything, that is good news."

"I know, Papa. I worry." Mercedes frowned. Frustration and Impatience built up inside of herself. "Penny is my niece. She is like a sister to me."

Ricardo nodded. "I know. You will see. Patience is a good thing. What do you think, Manolito?"

"Blue is there with them. My sister is very experienced with such things. Trinidad es una partera." Manolito shrugged. He sipped on his coffee. "I think Don Ricardo is right. We shall have two niños very soon."

"And you will help with them." Mercedes took a draught of coffee. "Será práctica para nuestro bebé, Manolo."

Manolito rolled his eyes.

"Hey, Romeo! Don't worry. I'll be happy to teach you!" Buck grinned ear to ear. He raised his cup in mock-toast.

"Yes. I do believe you would." Manolito made a face. "Is that not why we have servants?"

"I want my child to know his or her father. I change diapers. Blue and Penny change diapers. You can change diapers." Mercedes lifted an eyebrow.

"We shall see." Manolito coughed into his hand.

"Oh she means it, Manolito. By the way, I changed Blue's diapers more than a few times to give Annalee a break. So did Buck. Not my favorite thing to do in the world but it had to be done. So I did it." John cleared his throat. "Knowing Victoria, I'll be changing diapers too I guess. If Buck and I can do it, you can do it."

Mercedes nodded a tacit thanks to her brother-in-law. She shot a pointed look at Manolito. Even with Argument's coming threat, she wasn't about to back down.

Tension hung heavily about the downstairs.

Then Baby's Cries blew those feelings away.

Five minutes later, more Cries answered the first.

"¡Gracias, Dios!" Mercedes crossed herself. She leapt to her feet.

"And that is sure a welcome sound!" John smiled ear to ear. "Buck?"

"Hey! I'm still an uncle. Granted I'm the Great Uncle now but I'm them kids' blooded uncle. You're now official, Gramps." Buck chortled before gulping down another mouthful of coffee.

"I will be un Abuelo in six months, John. I am an uncle to those niños tambien. It is an honor." Ricardo put his hand out. ¡Felicidades!"

"Thank you. That means a lot. Thank you for considering Blue and Penny to be part of your family." John shook the hand.

Manolito pointed to Don Diego's portrait. "It is as Don Diego said, John. We are three families but una familia. How I wish that my father had accepted that."

"Si, Manolito." Victoria descended the stairs. Her handkerchief dabbed her eyes. A large smile threatened to push her ears from the sides of her face.

"My sister, what happens up there?" Manolito pressed.

"You will know soon. I will say that everything is muy excellente. John, Blue and Penny want to speak with us in private. Vamanos." Victoria collected herself. She motioned back up the stairs.

"Just us, Victoria?" Questions filled John's mind. "What's going on?"

"They did not say. Can it hurt? I assure you that all is well, my Husband." Victoria held her hand out toward him.

"Go on, John! Get it over with! We want to know everything!" Buck motioned toward the stairs.

"Fine." John shrugged. "We'll see what this is all about. Then we can let everyone else know." He took her hand. "You know something, Victoria?"

"What is that, John?"

He smiled. His arms embraced her. "I'll bet you're the most beautiful grandmother in the whole Arizona Territory." He kissed her forehead.

"¡Muchissimas gracias! A strong man and smart as well!" Victoria grinned at him. "Come. They are waiting." She squeezed his hand while leading her up the stairs. She knocked on the bedroom door. "Penny? Blue?"

Blue opened the door. "Hey, Victoria! Hey, Pa! Come on in! They're all set!" Enthusiasm and Excitement lit up his face. He led them inside.

Penny sat up in bed. Beside her, the twins fussed in their blankets. She smiled. "I sure can't believe how beautiful they are! I'm a Mama! I'm really a Mama!"

"Yes you are. And who do we have here?" John took his hat off. He approached the bed. His eyes never left the babies.

"We have a boy and a girl, Pa!" Blue pumped his fists. He was about to yell 'YAHOO' or something but Penny put her finger in front of her mouth. "The fussier one on the left's James John Cannon. His sister's Victoria Anna Cannon. You've got your grandson, Pa!"

"I sure do, Blue." John nodded. "One thing though. I've got my grandchildren. James can carry our name. Victoria has a special name as well." He looked toward his wife as he said that.

"We wanted them to have names from the Cannons, Montoyas and De la Vegas. We thought that would be nice for everyone. The kids would know where they come from," Penny explained. She waved her finger in front of little Victoria. "Hi! Mama loves you!"

"Ain't they both great, Pa?" Blue picked James up. "Want to hold him?" He handed his son over to John.

"I think I remember this." John put his hands in perfect position. "Yes! I think I do!" His eyes twinkled. "James Cannon. This is quite a day for us and the High Chaparral. Welcome to your family and your homes. Your sister and you will always have a place with her namesake and me." He considered the tiny face poking out of the blanket. "May I, Penny?"

"Sure!" Penny took James. "Victoria's waiting to meet you."

"Oh I'm sure." John chuckled. He raised his granddaughter up. "Hello, Victoria Cannon. I just said this to your brother. I'll say it to you as well. This is quite the day for our families and the High Chaparral. Welcome to your family and your homes. You and your brother are special. Your grandmother and I will always have a place for you both. Welcome!" He kissed Little Victoria's forehead and rocked her in his arms.

His granddaughter's eyes opened. She cooed at him.

"We-ell now! Seems somebody likes me!" John smirked at Blue.

"How can she not, John? She has my name and my taste!" Victoria leaned over his arm. She kissed her namesake's forehead. "Te amo, Chica." She sighed. "Thank you both! Shall we tell everyone?"

"We had one thing to ask first." Blue looked to Penny. "Penny? You want to ask?"

"Sure, Blue." Penny nodded. "It ain't nothin' bad! We just figured you two would be the best folks!"

"Best folks?" John exchanged wary looks with Victoria. He looked down at his granddaughter. "And what are your Ma and Pa up to?" He looked at them.

"Sure! We wanted Victoria and you to be their godparents. We hoped you'd do it." Penny kept an eye on James.

Victoria gasped. "John?" She nodded at him.

John sucked in a heavy breath. He looked at his granddaughter. Then he watched his grandson for a few heartbeats. "I wish all of my decisions were this easy. We would be honored. Thank you."

"We know we have everyone to help. We want their help too. But you two are special. I can't say all of the ways. Thanks." Penny clarified.

"I'm glad, Pa. I know that James and Victoria will be good just in case. We'll be around a long time," Blue insisted.

"Yeah I know what you're getting at, Blue Boy." John smiled at the bundle one last time. Then he handed her to Victoria. "I know you want a turn."

"Oh so now you hand Victoria to me, my Husband?" Victoria smirked at him. Her eyes twinkled. "Gracias, Gramps." She raised an eyebrow at him.

Blue put his hand in front of his mouth. Somehow he kept himself from laughing.

John winced. "Not you too!"

"Sí. Soy Abuela. Eres Abuelo. Me gusta 'Gramps'." Victoria kissed him on the cheek. Mirth danced in her eyes.

"Well shall we announce them?" Testiness weighed on John's tone.

"Sure thing,…Gr…Pa." Blue winked at Penny. He picked up James. "Come on, James! You got lots of aunts, uncles and cousins waiting to meet your sister and you!"

"Can you make sure they're okay, Victoria?" Penny rolled her eyes at the potential tease-fest about to happen in front of the twins.

"They shall be fine. I will make sure of that. Vamanos." Victoria made sure she had a secure hold under her granddaughter's rear end and head. "They will love you, Niña."

"Come on!" John walked out ahead of the others.

"Do not worry about him, Blue." Victoria lifted her eyebrows. "I shall work with him." She led him out the door and toward the stairs. "EVERYONE!"

"HEY, EVERYONE!" Blue cleared his throat. "THANKS FOR BEIN' AROUND AND WAITIN' WITH US! WELL EVERYTHING'S OKAY!" He held up James. "THIS HERE'S JAMES! VICTORIA'S GOT VICTORIA! THEY'RE ALL RIGHT! SO'S PENNY!" He walked carefully down the stairs.

"Well it's about time! Let's take a look at these babies of your'n, Blue Boy!" Buck walked up to him. "Howdy there, James! Bet you'll be up and herding with us like you Pa and Grandpa. Ain't ya? Your Aunt Annie and I…we sure love you. Yeah!" He grinned. His eyes sparkled. "And you got lots of us to watch out for you!"

"¡Absolutamente!" Manolito peeked over Buck's shoulder. "Hey, Chico! Watch what this uncle says. He sometimes makes things up."

"Oh? And you don't, Don Mano?" Buck frowned.

"I have been known to from time to time. I would not do such things in front of him." Manolito insisted.

"Uh huh…yeah right." Blue shook his head. "I remember a few times, Manolito." He patted his uncle and padrón on the arm. "He can listen to everyone especially his Mama and me. Can't you, James?" Blue picked his son up from Uncle Buck's arms. "Thanks, Uncle Buck."

"Never a problem, Blue Boy! Remember we get to teach Manolito about the good stuff later!" Buck allowed himself a snicker. "I'm getting a look at that niece of mine! Where's she?" He got up and headed toward the two Victorias.

"His Tia would like to see him." Mercedes walked up to Blue. "May I?"

"Sure. Hope you don't mind we named him after your Great Grandpa too." Blue handed James over to Mercedes.

"Gracias, Blue. I saw Victoria. She is so beautiful!" Mercedes looked down toward James. "¡Buenas noches! You bear the name of Don Diego de la Vega. He was a strong and caring man for the people. You will be too! Remember we love you. May you have happiness always." She kissed his forehead.

"I could not have said that better." Ricardo considered James as well. "Abuelo would be proud, Blue. He will be strong. I know it. Mercedes?"

"Sí, Papa." Mercedes handed James to her father.

"Gracias. Bienvenidos a mi familia, James." Ricardo kissed James on the forehead. "He is my nephew now. May he be blessed."

"I am sure he will honor both families, Ricardo." Maria nodded to their nephew. "Blue, Victoria is a beautiful little girl."

"Thanks! I wish I knew more about being a Pa!" Blue admitted.

"You will learn. We will help." Ricardo shrugged. "It will be all right. We might wish to get them back to Penny? They may want her." He saw James starting to fuss.

"Yeah…that." Blue accepted James back. "I'll get Victoria to bring the other Victoria back upstairs too." He saw Victoria already heading for the stairs. He nodded to her and followed in her wake.

"Everyone like them?" Relief washed over Penny as her two bundles of joy returned to her arms.

"Of course they did." Buck kissed Penny's forehead. "We all like you too."

"I should hope so." Penny narrowed her eyes. "I know you kind of like me."

"Sorta." Blue teased.

Victoria shook her head. "You two! Blue, Penny needs to feed them. We should let her."

"Oh yeah." Blue followed Victoria out of the room. As he left, he mouthed, "Thank you." to Penny.

Penny's mood lightened. "You're both accepted! And you're back with me! Your Papa and I love you. Well I'll bet you're hungry." She brought the twins closer to herself.

Life became a lot happier for everyone…