*TW for a little cancer talk*

Bel was grazing beneath one of the oak trees in her pasture as Maddie led Dakota down towards her, the mustang lifting her head at the sound of the gate being opened. With a whinny Bel cantered towards them, Maddie laughing softly as the two mustangs reunited. 'Don't I get a hello?' She questioned with a chuckle as the two mares blew into each other's nostrils, making soft grunting sounds at each other then after a moment they both settled down once more. 'Hey big girl.' Maddie smiled as she gave Bel a pat. 'Did you miss me darlin?'

She lingered with them both for a moment then turned Dakota loose, both mustangs taking off across the pasture kicking and bucking with glee. She chuckled softly as she watched them play for a moment, Dakota obviously happy to be home. She was happy to be home too. Though she had enjoyed being at the competition it was so nice to return home and have things get back to normal.

Almost normal, that was.

She liked living in almost.

Surgery was only a couple days away now and with the competition being over and no longer having that to serve as a distraction she had no choice but to face the fact of her surgery and everything that would come after it. One thing was for sure though. It wasn't going to be an easy or particularly pleasant journey.

Maddie stayed until Bel and Dakota calmed down, the mares settling to graze in shade nearby. Grabbing her phone out she snapped a photo to upload to her page then headed back up towards the main barn. Her father and Mika most likely had Blossom and Picasso off the float by now and as she walked up the aisle, Cordell was leading the buckskin mare to a stall.

'Dakota settling in again?' He questioned upon her joining him, turning the mare loose into the stall next to Bel's.

'Yeah, she and Bel had their playtime. Now they're grazing.' She replied as he closed the door behind him. 'Thanks for giving us a hand Dad, it being your day off and all.'

Cordell smiled at her. 'Not a problem sweetheart. I-I've got some things to do so… I'll come back to pick you up at around four?'

'Sure. Sounds good to me.'

'Alright. See you then.'

'Bye Dad.' Maddie called after him as he headed back out of the barn again. 'Love you.'

'Love you too.'

She turned back to Blossom after her father had left, the little buckskin taking a moment to have a good look around her stall. 'Welcome to your new home…' She said to her when the mare came back over to the door to her. 'What do you think? Like it here?'

'Oh, she's going to love it here.' Mika remarked as she led her paint gelding by on their way to his stall. 'Just like this guy will.'

'I'm so glad you were able to buy him.' Maddie replied, leaning against the stall wall as her friend led the gelding into the box beside Blossom. 'You two were made for each other.'

The gelding began to nibble at her hair as she un-haltered him and she chuckled, giving him a pat for a moment. 'Yeah. Still can't believe it actually. My own horse.'

'I felt exactly the same way too when my Grampa gave me my first horse.' She said as Mika walked out of the stall again and closed the door behind her. 'I was on cloud nine for days.'

She chuckled, hanging up the halter and lead rope. 'Guess we'd better get the rest of the gear unloaded then. What time is Rose's parents bringing her by?'

'Ummm-' With a quick glance at her watch she checked the time. 'They'll be here in about an hour or so.'

'Right.' Mika nodded. 'Guess we'll get the gear unloaded and get Blossom ready after in that case.'

That was what they did and once everything was unloaded from the trailer and they'd washed it out, they headed back to go get the buckskin ready for the surprise. Blossom was brushed over thoroughly and like Jenny had asked them to organize, she wore a giant pink bow around her neck. They had just finished readying her too when Maddie's phone vibrated and she pulled it out to check who it was. 'They're here.' She remarked to Mika as her friend returned with water for the mare's buckets. 'Should be here any minute now.'

Mika took a look down the aisle as she came into the stall. 'Yeah, they're coming up now.'

'What's the surprise mommy?' Rose questioned as she tried to look through the blindfold. 'Are we here yet?'

'Almost.' Jenny replied as she guided her down, bringing her to a stop outside the mare's open stall. 'Okay honey, we're here now.'

Quickly she lifted the blindfold up, gasping as she saw the horse for yesterday between Maddie and Mika, a huge pink bow around her neck. 'Mommy? She-she's for me?'

'Mmmhmm. You've been doing so well with your lessons, your Daddy and I thought you deserved your own pony. While your birthday isn't for a couple months yet, she's an early present.'

'Oh thank you mommy! Thank you.'

Maddie smiled as Rose gave her mom a hug, the sweet scene reminding her of when she was that age with her mother. 'Happy early birthday Rosie girl.' She said to her as Rose joined them in the stall. 'What do you think? You like her?'

'Yes! Yes!' She giggled, the mare reaching down to sniff her and she ran her little hand up the mare's face. 'Now I'm like you Maddie, I've got my own mustang just like you.'

'I think you've got an entire fan club here in Rose.' Mika remarked with a soft chuckle. 'I'll leave you both to it, I need to get Picasso's feed and water organized.'

'Bye Mika.' Rose waved at her as she left then turned back to her mom. 'Come say hello to her Mommy.'

Jenny joined them in the stall, giving the mare a pat. 'Now, Rose, there's something else that goes along with Blossom. You listening?'

She nodded decisively. 'I'm listening, Mommy.'

'Looking after a pony is a lot of responsibility and while you've been having lessons, you haven't learnt everything yet about caring for one. So-' She looked over at Maddie. 'Maddie here is going to help you look after Rose when she can and when she's busy or can't make it, Mika will help you, okay?'

'Okay Mommy.'

'Now I expect you to listen to them both very carefully and do exactly as they say, understand?'

Rose nodded again. 'I understand.'

Jenny smiled at her. 'Good girl.'

'So-' She looked up at Maddie. 'What's the first thing we're going to do?'

'Well, firstly, we need to start building a bond between you and Blossom.' Maddie replied. 'And this here-' She pulled a sugar cube from her pocket. 'is a good way to start. Here you go, give it to her now.'

'Here Blossom.' Rose held out the sugar cube to her, giggling as the mare took it. 'That tickles.'

She smiled at her. 'Well done. Why don't we tie her up over here and I've got a little surprise for you too.'

'A surprise for me?'

'Mmmhmm.' Maddie tied the mare up then walked out of the stall, grabbing a pink grooming kit that she'd placed just outside. 'This here is for you. It's for Blossom. It's got everything in it that you need to keep her coat nice and clean.' She opened the kit up and pulled out a child sized soft brush. 'I'll show you how to use everything soon but for now, you can just use this one.'

'Okay.' Rose nodded. 'How do I use it?'

'Come over here.' The little girl came over beside her and Maddie gave her a quick demonstration. 'You brush firmly but not too hard.' She handed the brush to her and Rose gave it a try. 'There you go. Just like that. You just brush this side here, okay? Stay beside her shoulder for now, don't go near her hind legs alright?'

'Okay. I've got it.'

Maddie stepped away as Rose began brushing, joining Jenny at the wall. 'Dad… He told me last night about the offer you and your husband made. A-a simple thank you just doesn't feel sufficient for such a gesture.'

'Maddie.' Jenny started softly. 'You saved our little girl's life. You were the one who was able to find her when no one else couldn't.'

'I was just doing what anyone else would have done.' She replied. 'Like I've said before, I never wanted anything in return. Having a happy ending was good enough for me.'

'You really have a hard time taking a compliment, don't you?'

Maddie chuckled at that. 'My folks have said that once or twice.'

'Well, they're right.'

'But to offer to pay for my treatments, that's too much ma'am.'

Jenny shook her head. 'It's not, Maddie. Believe me. We could never hope to repay what you did for us but at least let us show you a token of our appreciation. My husband and I make it a point to donate to cancer research every year, in memory of our daughter Lucia.'

'You had another daughter?' Maddie questioned after a moment.

She nodded. 'Lucia passed away a few years ago, before we received custody of Rose. She had a rare and aggressive type of leukemia. She was only eight years old…' Jenny paused for a second, swallowing the lump in her throat. 'After that we ah… We would donate for research to try to help find a cure so other parents didn't have to experience the pain we went through from losing our daughter.' She looked back down at Maddie. 'So, you understand now why we want to do this for you and your family.'

'I do.' Maddie replied softly. 'And I'm so sorry for your loss.'

'Thank you.' She smiled sadly at her. 'Your father accepted our offer but Maddie, will you?'

After a moment, she nodded. She understood now. Sometimes a person had to cast aside their pride and accept a helping hand when it was offered to them. 'Yes ma'am. I will.'

'How are you and Blossom getting along there?' Maddie questioned as she and Rose took the mare for a walk around the cross country course later that afternoon. 'You two having fun?'

'Yeah!' Rose exclaimed with excitement. 'I still can't believe I have my own pony.'

She chuckled softly at the child's enthusiasm. 'Having a pony is a lot of responsibility don't forget.'

'I know. I'm responsible. I'm almost six now.'

'Six going on sixteen hey?'

'Yep.' Rose replied as she kept leading Blossom along just like Maddie had shown her. 'Can I ride her today?'

'Probably not. Why don't we leave that for another day, okay?'

'Why?'

'Well, Blossom needs time to settle in and adjust to her new home. If you went to a new town tomorrow, would you want to start school the next day and go out to birthday parties and such when you don't have any friends?'

She shook her head. 'No.'

'It's kind of the same for Blossom here. This is a new place and she's got a new owner now, new people and horses around. She has to get used to it first.' There was an old log jump up ahead which looked mighty good to take a seat on and rest for a moment. 'Why don't we take a seat for a minute and let Blossom graze? I want to talk to you.'

'Okay.' Rose took a seat on the log beside Maddie, still holding onto the lead rope as the mare began to pick at the grass. 'What do you want to talk about?'

'You remember a couple weeks ago when I couldn't make it to your riding lesson?' The little girl nodded. 'Well, I couldn't make it because I was in the hospital.'

'In the hospital?' She repeated. 'Why?'

'Well-' Maddie took a deep breath. 'I haven't been feeling too well for the last few months and I got really sick so I had to spend the night in the hospital.'

'But you're all better now, aren't you?'

She shook her head. 'Not yet.'

Rose thought for a moment. 'Is that why Mommy has asked Mika to help with Blossom when you can't?'

'Yes.'

'But you'll get better, won't you?'

'Maybe. I… I have to go back to the hospital on Wednesday so they can try to make me better.'

Rose snuggled over closer to Maddie and the older girl placed an arm around her. 'What are they going to do?'

'They've got to remove what's making me sick from inside my head.'

'Oh…' She was quiet for a moment to process what that meant. 'How long will you be in the hospital for?'

'I don't know yet. It might be overnight, it could be a few days. It depends on how it goes.'

'So you won't be able to spend time with me and Blossom then.'

Maddie nodded. 'Not until they say I can. But I'll be back here to teach you just as soon as I can be and Mika will help you in the meantime. It's all going to turn out right in the end.'

'But what if it isn't?' Rose questioned, her bottom lip quivering slightly. 'What if you die?'

'Oh Rosie girl, you can't think like that sweetheart.' She replied softly as she held her tightly against herself. 'I don't want you to think like that, okay? Do you think you can do that for me?'

'A-alright.'

'That's my girl.' Maddie placed a kiss on her head. 'It's going to be okay Rose, you'll see. We just have to have hope and believe that it'll work.'

'I'm gonna be hoping and believing enough for both of us.'

She smiled at that. 'I believe you could do that Rose. I believe you could.'

Rose smiled up at her. 'It's gonna be alright.'

'Mmhmm. In the meantime though, while I'm in hospital, do you think you could do something for me?'

'What?'

'Well, when you come to see Blossom, do you think you could say hello to Dakota and Bel for me too? They might get a bit lonely while I'm away and I know they'd be really happy if you spent some time with them and maybe gave them an apple or two.'

'I can do that.' She replied assuredly. 'Promise.'

'Thank you Rosie.' Maddie smiled again. 'That's a huge burden off my mind.'

'Can we head back now?' Rose asked after a moment. 'I want to know how to feed Blossom before Mommy comes to pick me up.'

'Alright.' She nodded. 'We'll head back. Now, remember what I said about leading her-'

'Stay beside her shoulder at all times.' She repeated as she stood. 'Cause if I'm in front of her she won't see me.'

'That's right.' Maddie confirmed as she got up too, Rose managing to get Blossom to stop grazing and come along after a moment. 'Yes, that's it. Well done. Good job.'

Rose smiled up at her. 'You know so much about horses. You must know everything about them.'

'Oh, not quite everything but a lot.' She replied with a laugh. 'I'm still learning too.'

'You looked like a princess riding Dakota last night.' She continued as they headed back down to the barn. 'I want to be just like you when I grow up.'

Maddie smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder. 'And I know you can be too.'

That night, Maddie lay awake staring up at the ceiling, tears sliding down her cheeks. Two days. Two days left until her surgery and the realization of that was starting to finally sink in. When she'd had the competition to think about she hadn't had much time to ponder her coming operation but now that was all she had left to think about. She had nothing but time to think. Two days. Two days…

Though the doctors had assured her that this surgery was rather routine there was always the chance that something could go wrong. What if she never woke up? Well, she wouldn't know it, that was for sure. What of her family though? It was her family that her concern was for? How they would cope if she died?

Speaking to Rose about her going into the hospital for surgery had been just as hard as when she'd told Mika about her tumor. Though she'd kept her explanation simple for the child's sake it hadn't made it any easier on her. Yes, with this surgery and the following treatment it might buy her extra time but what if it went wrong? What if she only had the next two days left?

She knew her family was struggling though each of them were trying their hardest to appear strong for her. They were hurting, they all were. She just wanted to do something to help them. Something to make it better. The only thing she could really do though had been to make sure that everything would be taken care of if the worst did happen, right down to what she wanted to be buried in. Having those things written down would make it just that little bit easier for them all to cope…

Her phone lit up and she frowned as she rolled over to check it. Mika was ringing her, at two o'clock in the morning. Quickly disconnecting it from the charger she jumped out of bed and as she headed downstairs she answered the call. 'Mika? What's wrong?'

'I don't know.' Mika replied with worry as she stood outside Bel's stall. 'It-its Bel, something's wrong. She's sweated up and restless, keeps lying down then gets up.'

Maddie felt her heart skip a beat. 'Have you called the vet?'

'I tried. The earliest one can get here is two hours. They're tied up with a racehorse or something.' Bel went down again, breathing heavily as Mika watched on. 'Look, there's no one else here. I'm by myself. What do you want me to do?'

She thought for a moment then decided on the best course of action. 'Just stay with her. I'm gonna go get Grampa up and we'll be there in fifteen.'

Mika let out a sigh of relief, thankful she wouldn't have to deal with this emergency on her own. 'Thank you.'

'I'll see you soon.' Maddie quickly ended the call and headed to her grandparents room. 'Gramps, Mawline.' She knocked softly on the door then opened it after a moment. 'Grampa?'

Bonham turned the lamp on the bedside table on, Abeline waking too. 'Maddie, it's the middle of the night-'

'Something's wrong with Bel.' She interrupted. 'Mika just called, she's there by herself and she can't get a vet out to see her.'

He sighed heavily. 'Alright. Go dress up warmly, it's going to be freezing out there.'

'Thanks Grampa.'

She left again, hurrying back upstairs to her room. Though she tried to be quiet as she grabbed her clothes out of the closet she woke Stella too.

'Maddie…' Stella groaned. 'What are you doing?'

'Something's wrong with Bel.' Maddie whispered, hoping that she didn't wake up her father and uncle in the room next to them. 'Mika just called. Grampa's taking me down to the stables.'

With a tired yawn she kicked back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. 'Might as well come with you, no getting back to sleep now.'

'Oh, no, you don't have to-'

'You guys might need help.' Stella said simply as she rubbed her eyes, turning on her bedside lamp. 'I've helped Grampa with the horses on the ranch before.'

'Alright.' Maddie quickly put her jacket on and zipped it up, tossing Stella a shirt and pair of jeans. 'Let's get moving then.'

Fifteen minutes later, the whole Walker family headed down the aisle to Bel's stall, the rest of the family being woken despite her best efforts at being quiet. 'How's she doing?' Maddie asked with concern, jogging the rest of the way to Mika.

'I don't know what's wrong.' Mika said as Bel rose again, resuming her restless pacing around the stall. 'If I didn't know any better, I'd say that she was in labor.'

Bonham took one look at the mare as the rest of the family came to the stall then looked down at Mika. 'That's exactly what she's in. How long has she been restless like this?'

'Bout half an hour-' She replied as she checked her watch. 'Maybe more? Didn't realize anything was wrong until Dakota started banging up a storm in her stall and I came down to check what was going on and found this.'

'Right. Here's what we're going to do. Maddie, I need you to catch Bel. We're going to need to see if this foal is presented right.' Maddie nodded and he turned to Mika as Bel went down again. 'We're going to need some gloves and a tail bandage. They'd have a foaling kit around here somewhere wouldn't they?'

Mika nodded, heading towards the tack room. 'I'm on it.'

'Abby, you can grab some warm water. Cordell, Liam, I might need your help too if the foal isn't positioned right.'

'What about Augie and I?' Stella questioned. 'What can we do?'

'Find some towels or something to dry the foal off and help Mawline with the water.' He looked back at the mare as she went down again and unlocked the stall door. 'Be careful Maddie.' He cautioned as the teen grabbed Bel's halter and lead rope. 'Try to get her calmed down then get her up again.'

Maddie nodded, cautiously approaching the mare. Bel eyed her warily as she came closer and she began speaking to her in soft tones until the mare relaxed a little. Carefully she knelt down beside her and placed the halter on, still speaking to her softly as she tied it up. 'Alright Bel, you're gonna need to get up again.' She told her once she'd buckled up her halter. 'Come on-' She stood, asking the mare to rise with a gentle tug on the lead rope. With a heave Bel struggled to her hooves again, Maddie rubbing her neck as Bonham entered the stall too. 'Good girl… You're okay.'

Mika was the first to return, a large plastic box beneath her arm. 'I've only helped with foaling a couple times, I didn't even think that she could be foaling when I first saw her.'

'That's alright Mika, none of us were expecting it either. Mind getting her tail wrapped up while I get ready?'

Mika nodded, grabbing a tail bandage from the foaling kit and began to bandage up the mare's tail.

'I had no idea she was even in foal.' Maddie remarked as she rubbed the mare's forehead, Bonham disinfecting his hands and arms before putting on long gloves to examine the mare. 'I've been riding her the whole time…'

'Don't feel bad about it Maddie, you didn't know. Cordell, give Maddie a hand holding Bel would you?'

Cordell entered the stall too, standing on the opposite side of Maddie and took hold of her halter. 'Good girl…'

'Sorry I woke you dad.' Maddie apologized softly. 'I did try to be quiet.'

'Don't-don't worry about it, honey.' He assured her. 'I'm sure you can make it up to me later.'

She chuckled at that then gently quietened Bel down when the mare began to move as Bonham checked how the foal was going. 'Easy girl… You're okay.'

'Mika-' Bonham looked over at the stable hand after a moment. 'Any foaling chains in that kit?'

'Yes.'

'We're going to need them.'

'What's wrong?' Maddie questioned, not liking the sound of that at all.

'Her water has broken but the foal is turned around the wrong way.' He replied as he finished checking the mare over, letting Bel have a moment to rest. 'I can only feel one leg, and it's a hind.'

'And that's bad right?'

'It ain't good.' Bonham removed the arm-length gloves he'd been wearing and put them aside as he started gathering what they needed from the foaling kit. 'If we don't get this foal out asap it's not gonna make it.'

Maddie took a deep breath at that.

'Don't-don't worry Maddie.' Cordell spoke to her softly. 'Dad… He knows what he's doing. Bel will be alright.'

She nodded as she kept patting the mare, speaking to her gently. 'It's gonna be okay. Easy girl…'

Abeline, Stella and August returned just as Bonham finished organizing what they needed. 'Cordell, I'll need you and Liam to help pull this foal. Abby, Mika, give Maddie a hand holding Bel. Stella, August, you'll need to help us catch the foal.' He delegated as he put on another pair of gloves after disinfecting the foaling chains. 'Everyone understands what they've got to do?'

They all nodded, each of them going to their assigned tasks. Maddie kept speaking softly to the mare as Mika and Abeline helped her hold her still, praying that everything would be alright.

'Alright-' Bonham managed to position the foal so they could deliver it, attaching the foaling chains around both of its hind legs. 'Everyone ready?' A chorus of nods and yeses followed his question. 'Next contraction, we pull.'

The next contraction came a few moments later, Maddie, Mika and Abeline holding Bel still as the men pulled. The foal came out in one smooth motion and Stella and August were there to help catch it. As Cordell and Liam caught their breaths from helping get the foal out, Bonham held the foal, the foal limp in his arms.

'It's not breathing.' Stella said with concern.

'Start drying it.' Bonham instructed, holding the foal with its head down so its airways could clear. 'Quickly now.'

Maddie looked back at them as they began work on the foal, Mika going over to help while Abeline stayed with her to keep the mare calm. It was a little palomino, the lightest golden coat she had ever seen. Her heart skipped a beat as she kept watching them work over the still foal. Please… Please…

The foal jerked suddenly and began to breath with a gasp, everyone standing around letting out a breath of relief as the palomino came to life. 'That's it, little one.' Bonham encouraged softly as he kept holding the oxygen mask over the foal's muzzle. 'That's it.'

'Oh, thank god.' Maddie exclaimed with relief, Bel nickering softly to her foal. 'You did it girl. You did it.'

'Bring Bel over Maddie, let her come smell her foal.' Bonham said after a moment. 'Mika, you stay here to give me a hand but everyone else, clean up the rest of the gear and move back. Let Maddie turn the mare around.'

The rest of them left the stall, watching on as Maddie brought Bel around and the mare met her foal for the first time. Tears came to Maddie's eyes as she watched Bel gently nuzzling at her foal, Bonham keeping the oxygen mask on the foal until he was happy that it was breathing on its own then both he and Mika moved back too. 'Turn her loose now Maddie.' He said as he left the stall. 'We'll keep an eye on them but we need to let them bond now.'

Maddie nodded and un-clipped the lead rope from the mare's halter, joining the rest of her family on the opposite side of the stall door. Bel was still sniffing at the foal, making soft gentle sounds to it. The foal was sitting up now, Bel encouraging it to stand so it could drink. Bonham left to go clean himself up, as had Cordell and Liam but when they returned, the foal was still yet to take its first steps.

'Shouldn't we help it Grampa?' Maddie questioned as the foal fell again, still trying to figure out how to use its legs.

Bonham shook his head. 'Just give it a moment. It'll figure out how to stand.'

Finally, and after falling again numerous times, the foal was standing on shaky legs. Bel whinnied softly to the foal, encouraging it to come towards her to drink. The foal placed one hoof forward and they held their breath, the foal standing for a moment then took another step.

'See?' Bonham questioned gently as he placed his hand on Maddie's shoulder. 'It just needed to figure things out.'

She smiled up at him for a moment then turned her attention back to the sweet sight inside the stall. 'I-I can't believe Bel just had a foal.'

'Neither can I, sister.' Mika exclaimed. 'I should have known though, we both remarked that she was getting rounder but we never considered that she was pregnant.'

'Guess you got a two for one package deal when you brought her.' Abeline remarked, the foal finally reaching Bel's side.

'Yeah. Board is going to go up too with that little surprise. Thank you very much Bel.'

They all laughed at that, watching as the foal took its first drink.

'I think we're missing something very important here.' August finally remarked, earning the curious glances of his family members. 'Well, what is it? Boy or girl?'

Bonham chuckled. 'Guess that little fact got overlooked.'

'Well?' Maddie questioned.

'It's a girl.' He announced, the family earning the curious glances of both Bel and the little foal as they cheered.

'So-' Cordell looked down at his daughter after a moment. 'What-what are you going to name her?'

Maddie pondered that for a moment then a smile came to her lips. Though they had hard days ahead, they had just witnessed a miracle. The miracle of a new life being brought into the world. That little foal was more than just another foal, she was a symbol of hope. 'Hope.' She replied decisively. 'We'll call her Hope.'