Five months later Joe, Ben and Hoss were over visiting. Maria was baking a cake in the kitchen when suddenly she suddenly dropped the pan she was holding. It fell to the floor, and she fell to her knees in pain.

"ADAM!" she called in pain. Adam was up using the bathroom and Joe came rushing in.

"Sis what is?" Joe asked.

"The baby, it's time," she said.

Joe picked her up and carried her to the room that was on the first floor of the house. Ben and Hoss rushed to their horses and rushed to Virginia City to get the doctor.

Adam came downstairs, "where is everyone?" Adam called out then heard the painful moan from the bedroom. He went that way and when he entered the room Maria was on the bed holding her stomach in pain.

"Adam, your kid is on the way, and fast," Joe said.

"Go get some water heating on the stove Maria has a tea kettle on there use that, I'm going to have to deliver my son or daughter," Adam said. Joe nodded and rushed to the kitchen.

"Adam, the pain," Maria cried out in pain from the contractions.

"Easy sweetie, do the breathings that you were told to do," Adam told her as he started to take her pantaloons off. When he did he found out the baby was coming sooner then they inspected.

Two long hours of Maria pushing she was laying there on the bed holding her new born son.

"He's handsome you two," Joe said sitting in the chair next to the bed as he looked down at his new nephew.

"Thanks Joe, we need a name honey," Maria said softly as the little one in her arms fell asleep.

"Yeah we do, how about Jacob Benjamin Cartwright?" Adam suggested.

"I love it," Maria told him and felt him kiss the top of her head.

"Would you like something to drink sis?" Joe asked her.

"Yes please, some tea sounds good," Maria replied.

Joe nodded, "Adam?"

"No thanks Joe," Adam replied.

Joe nodded and left the room, just as he started more hot water on the stove Ben, Hoss and the doctor came in. They all went to the room and saw Adam holding the new born.

"Adam?" Ben asked.

"He came faster then we inspected Pa, with the help of his uncle Joe we delivered Jacob Benjamin Cartwright," Adam replied as he slowly stood up and took the little one over to Ben and Hoss to see the new family member.

The doctor checked over Maria, "well all seems fine with mom here," Doc said with a smile. He then checked out the little one, "Jacob is in good health and everything seems fine with him also. After the weather clears up I'd like you two to bring him in for a further check up, it's just to get his weight and all that stuff for the birth certificate that I'll have ready for you two."

"Okay thanks Doc," Maria said with a yawn.

He nodded and left for home, "Well my dear we should get you upstairs and into your own bed," Adam told her. Hoss went over and picked her up before she even tried to get out of the bed on her own.

"Taking her to bed?" Joe asked.

"Yeah, we are," Adam said holding his new born son that's wrapped up in a blue colored blanket that Maria made for him.

"Okay, I'll bring her tea up when it's done," Joe said.

"Thanks Joe," Maria told him.

"You're welcome Maria," Joe said and chuckled as Hoss carried her up the stairs.

Two months later it was the Christmas season. Joe, Hoss and Ben were waiting for Adam, Maria and Jake (well Jacob) to show up at the house. They were still having the party and Adam and Maria offered to help decorate the house.

They arrived at the house and Joe came out with no jacket on, "Joseph, you are going to catch a cold young man," Maria told him as Joe took Jake so Maria can get out of the wagon with the help of Adam.

"Nope, I'm not going to be out much longer so I am taking this and run," Joe said and jogged back inside with Jake in his hands.

"Kids," Maria said to Adam with a chuckle.

"Just wait until our kid gets older," Adam said.

"Oh no, especially with uncles like Hoss and Joe, we'll be in trouble," Maria joked making Adam laugh as they entered the house.

"Hello kids," Ben replied holding his grandson.

"Hello Pa," they both replied as they took their coats and winter gear off at the door.

Hop Sing came out with coffee and cookies for everyone then went back to the kitchen to finish up the baking he needs to do before the guests start to arrive.

Two hours later the party was starting, all the kids from the orphanage were there, a few friends were there. No ones really heard from Maria's family since they left to go who knows where. But according to Maria she has all the family she ever needed and that is the Cartwright's.

Adam was holding his son who was asleep when one of the girls from Virginia City who likes Adam came over and sat down, "Awe, he is so adorable," she told him. All Adam did was get up and go to the room where the crib Adam made Jake was at. He laid him down in bed and Maria came in and put a hand on his back.

"Hey honey," he replied softly.

"Hey, I see little man is asleep again," Maria said as she pulled the blanket up a little over her son.

"Yeah, I was sitting on the couch with him and he fell asleep, I figured I better bring him in here to bed before I fell asleep holding him," Adam replied as he fixed a small fire in the fire wood stove Ben had put in there.

"Again you mean?" she asked with a chuckle as she sat in the rocking chair.

"Yes again dear," he joked with a smile making her smile in return, "Are you okay honey?"

"Yeah I'm fine just tired today is all, we're just staying here tonight right?" Maria asked.

"Yes we are, I already talked to Pa and he said it would be better if we did, we can move little man up to our room since we have another crib I made up there," Adam replied and after the fire was going he went over to her and kissed her, "I love you Maria."

"I love you too Adam," she replied, "Well, we better head out to the party, allow him to sleep."

"Let's go, we'll keep the door open and since not much will wake him and all," Adam told her and she nodded following him out the door.

They all enjoyed the party, sang Christmas songs and after the party was done Adam went into his son's room, picked him up and they all went to bed since it has been a long day for everyone.

The next morning they all met downstairs in the living room, had Christmas breakfast and opened the gifts they got for each other. Ben was one happy man that year having his sons, daughter-in-law and grandson all there to share the Holiday with him. He knew for a fact there will be many, many more holidays and birthdays to share with his family and with the way Adam talked, he found out that Adam and Maria planned on having another kid after Jacob was two.

Ben Cartwright couldn't be any happier having such a wonderful family. Now if he could only get Hoss and Joe hitched he thought and chuckled silently as he watched his grandson play with a small stuffed toy that Joe got him for Christmas. He looked up at the Angel on top of the tree and thanked the lord for blessing him with a wonderful family.

~The End~