Home.

There was no place on earth that felt better to be at then home.

It was such a welcome relief to be home rather than at the hospital with all the noise and the nurses and everything that came along with being in that kind of sterile, cold environment. Though home was only a rental for now since they had lost their land to the Davidson's, it was still home to Maddie. Home was where her family was, not the building they lived in.

When Cordell had taken her home from the hospital that day, a surprise had awaited her upon her return. They'd decorated the house with balloons and a handmade 'Welcome Home' banner that both Stella and August had made together. Not only was her whole family there, Geri, Captain James, Cassie, Trey, Micki, Mika, Rose and her parents were there too to join in on the celebration.

Knowing she had their support warmed her heart, she didn't have to go through this alone. She had her family and friends she could rely on to help her get through this.

After everyone had left and Maddie lay in bed that night, she couldn't sleep because of the thoughts whirling around in her mind. While she knew that her family would look after her and they'd assured her that they were happy to help her, she still couldn't help but feel like a burden. She couldn't even walk for Pete's sake, having to be carried to bed by Uncle Liam when her father had gone to walk Geri out. Abeline had to help her shower and change into her pajamas too, her body left so weakened from being in the coma that she couldn't even manage that simple task.

A single tear trickled down her cheeks as she stared up at the ceiling. She just wanted things to be normal again...

A week passed by and with it, the family having to adjust to yet another new routine and way of life. Now that Maddie was home they weren't spending all their time up at the hospital but had to care for her at home instead. Having her at home with the care that she required had meant that things changed, Abeline becoming Maddie's primary caregiver for the most part with the rest of the family helping out as much as they could to ease the burden.

With how weakened her body had become she had physical therapy three times a week to help her start getting back to normal, Abeline and Bonham helping her practice her exercises in between her sessions. Slowly she was beginning to regain her strength though she still couldn't walk. That would take her time and a lot of it until she was strong enough to even think of attempting to walk. At least now though she was able to feed herself once again but was still reliant on her family for help with other simple tasks for the most part.

As they came into a new week, the Annual Ranger Community Fair came around. Deciding that it would be something fun for them all to enjoy, the family decided to make plans to attend and have a day out, Maddie looking forward to the event. After what they'd all just gone through, they sure did deserve to enjoy some fun.

'I wonder how much longer Dad is going to be...' Maddie remarked with a glance towards the clock as they waited for their breakfast Saturday morning at the Side Step. 'I'm starving.'

'You're always hungry.' August remarked teasingly. 'Patience Maddie.'

'Yeah-' Stella laughed. 'Cause you're one to talk about patience Augie.'

'What can I say? I'm a growing boy.'

'You'll be growing out, not up if you don't watch it.' Maddie said with a cheeky grin.

August shook his head. 'Thanks. Thanks a lot sis.'

She tossed her hair back over her shoulder with a chuckle. 'Anytime little brother, anytime. So-' She turned to Stella. 'You meeting anyone important at the Fair?'

Stella blushed. 'I might be catching up with Todd.'

'Nice. What about you Augie?'

He shrugged. 'Faye kinda dumped me after the whole 'Grampa' and that stuff so... No. What about you though? Any significant other I should be looking to give the brother talk to?'

'Brother talk?' Stella questioned. 'What's a brother talk?'

'You know, the whole 'you better be nice to my sister or I'm gonna kick your ass' talk.'

Maddie chuckled at that, nudging her sister in the ribs. 'Looks like Augie's getting just as protective of us as Dad is.'

'Yay...' She replied with an unenthusiastic groan.

'So-' August returned his attention to Maddie. 'Anyone in particular?'

'Well, I'd have said Colton before... everything...' Maddie let out a long sigh. 'So, to answer your question, no. I guess it'll just be me and Dad today. Unless Mika was able to take the day off work but I haven't heard from her.'

'Okay-' Cordell exclaimed as he walked out of the kitchen with a tray in hand. 'Order's up.' He came over to where the three kids were seated at the bar and placed the tray down, beginning to hand out breakfast. For Stella and August there were scrambled eggs on toast with bacon and for Maddie, toast with strawberry jam and her special milkshake. 'Here we go. Stella-'

'Thanks Dad.'

'Augie-'

'Thank you.' August said as his plate was placed down in front of him and he reached for the salt.

'And Maddie.'

Maddie let out a sigh as he put down her breakfast in front of her, looking up at him with sad puppy eyes after seeing that she had a large glass of the 'milkshake' type liquid she'd had to have at every meal since waking up from the coma. 'Do I have to seriously drink that stuff today?'

'Yes, yes you do.' Cordell replied to her. 'You heard what the doctor said. That 'stuff' contains extra calories and everything else you need to put your weight back on so yes, you do.'

'But it tastes horrible, Dad.' She whimpered. 'Can't I skip it just this once?'

He raised an eyebrow at her, giving her his best 'dad' look.

She let out another sigh and resigned herself to her fate, taking a sip of the horrible thick, pink liquid. It stank like plastic but she didn't get to have much choice in the matter. Forcing herself to swallow it she looked back at her father and made a face. 'Gross... Ugh...' She swallowed again trying to get rid of the taste in her mouth then looked back at her father. 'I hate you.'

'I love you too.' Cordell chuckled, tousling her hair gently from across the bar then lent down against it as the three kids settled down to eat. 'Okay, let's get back to work. So, I have South Lamar and Mueller. Where else do we want to look to find our new dream home?' The three kids exchanged a look but didn't say anything and he frowned. 'What?'

'Sorry.' Stella apologized. 'It's weird to think about our next house when we just moved out of our 'ancestral family home.''

'Well, hey, why don't we turn that around?' He questioned. 'You know, turn a negative into a positive. Make lemonade out of lemons. Yeah? I mean, when Mawline and Gramps refashioned the farmhouse, they weren't thinking, 'these teenagers need separate bathrooms,' right? So, this is a wish list. Just tell me your hearts' desires, and I will write it down. We're not gonna be in a rental forever.'

'In that case then-' Maddie spoke up in between bites of her toast. 'Can we, I don't know, maybe start with looking for a place that's out of town? I hate living in town.'

'Out of town? Okay, yeah, we can put that down.'

'Good.'

Cordell looked at Stella and August. 'What about you two?'

'Well, separate bathrooms would be nice.' August exclaimed. 'Especially when these two take up most of the morning in just showering.'

Maddie and Stella both turned to him at exactly the same time, exclaiming in unison. 'We do not!'

'Yeah, you kinda do.'

'Taking up the morning is an exaggeration, Augie.' Stella pointed out 'At most, fifteen to twenty minutes. Maddie takes up most of the time now and it's not her fault.'

'You'll just have to get up earlier.' Maddie suggested to her younger brother. 'But I do apologize. I know it does take awhile for me to get ready now in the morning.'

'It's okay, I was only teasing you.' He replied then looked at Stella. 'But I'm being serious with you.'

Cordell chuckled at his kid's banter. 'Alright, so, a house with more than one bathroom then?'

'Yes. Definitely.' August requested.

'Alright-' He began to write a couple things down on the paper in front of him. 'Extra bathrooms.'

'A pool would be nice too.' Stella said after giving the matter some thought. 'That'd be great to have in summer.'

'Okay. Pool.' Cordell added that to the list. 'Done. What else?'

'Stables and pasture for my horses.' Maddie spoke up. 'Can't have them living at the Equestrian Center for the rest of their lives, as nice as it is. I miss having them at home.'

He nodded, writing that down too.

'Hey team.'

Cordell looked up in surprise as Geri walked in. 'Ger.'

'How's everyone doing?' She questioned, giving Maddie a hug from behind. 'Ugh, what is that stuff you're drinking?'

'Some great horrible chemical concoction the doctors have me on.' Maddie replied, shooting a look at her father. 'Dad won't let me get out of having it this morning.'

'Nope.' He agreed. 'You need to have it.'

'Have you tasted it?' She questioned. 'It tastes goddamn awful! Like August's socks mixed with strawberry bubblegum.' They all had a laugh at the analogy she used as Geri helped herself to a piece of bacon from off Stella's plate. 'But I'm doing okay.'

Geri smiled at her. 'That's good to hear honey.' She looked at Stella and August. 'What about you two?'

'Great.' August replied. 'Well, I mean, besides the Davidson's taking our house and everything else.'

She let out a sigh. 'Right.'

'That-' He realized what he had said from the looks that both his sisters and his father gave him. 'I-I didn't mean that towards, like, you.'

'Oh... Okay- so that's out.' She looked at Cordell, forcing a smile on her face. 'Cool.'

Cordell looked away from her, busying himself with the list in front of him.

Geri turned back to the kids. 'So I share a little DNA with the Davidson's. Family is about more than where you come from. It's who sticks by you, right?'

They nodded.

'Yeah.' August agreed. 'We got you.'

She smiled at him. 'I know you do. Hey, I'm gonna borrow your dad for a minute. Is that okay?'

Cordell nodded, getting the gist that she wanted to speak with him. 'Of course. Be back in a minute.'

The two of them walked out and Maddie looked back at her half drunk glass after they'd gone. 'Either of you want to make a quick trip to the kitchen to dump this down the sink for me?'

'Ah ah ah.' Stella laughed. 'Dad would be cross with us if we did.'

She let out a sigh, picking the glass up once more. 'Guess it was worth a shot.'

After finishing off breakfast and cleaning up what they'd used, the Walkers and Geri headed across town to the fair. Cordell had invited Geri along for the day and she'd accepted, offering to help out with Maddie too for the day.

When they arrived at the fair, Maddie looked around with surprise. 'Wow, this is bigger than I thought it would be.'

'Yeah, it gets bigger and better every year, doesn't it Dad?' Stella questioned, looking over at their father as he searched for somewhere to park the truck.

Cordell nodded. 'Yeah. Lets just say though I'm glad I'm off duty though, unlike last time we were here.'

'Why?' Maddie questioned. 'What happened?'

'Dad had to be part of the horse riding demonstration.' August began to explain. 'And he forgot to tighten up the cinch that day. Mom got some pretty funny photos when he landed on his backside.'

She chuckled at that.

'I was nervous, alright?' Cordell replied good-naturedly as they pulled into a parking spot. 'Everyone makes mistakes.'

'Ah, but did you learn from it Dad?' She questioned mischievously. 'That is the question.'

'Enough out of you or I might just decide to leave you behind.'

Maddie grinned, un-clipping her seat belt. 'You wouldn't.'

'Oh, he would.' Stella remarked as she jumped out of the front passenger seat, heading to the back of the truck to help August get Maddie's wheelchair out for her. 'He's done it to Augie and I before.'

'Really?' She questioned, Cordell picking her up out of her seat while her siblings got her chair ready for her. 'I can feel a story there.'

'We'll save that for another time, alright?' He replied as he gently sat her down in her chair. 'Right... We got everything?'

'Everything except for Aunt Geri.' August remarked.

Stella looked around, spying Geri a couple rows over and waved to catch her attention. 'There she is.'

Geri came over to join them. 'We ready to go?'

'Yeah, yeah I think so.' Cordell replied and a moment later the five of them headed down the parking lot towards the entrance gate. Once they had bought their tickets at the gate he divided them up amongst the kids and handed them out. 'Hey, meet back at the concert hall half an hour before the show starts.' He told them as Stella and August started walking away. 'Eat real food, otherwise you'll get sick, both of you.'

'Okay, okay Dad.' Stella waved him off as Todd came through the crowd to meet her. 'Thank you.'

'Hey-' August called back over his shoulder. 'I'm pretty sure funnel cake batter's made with eggs anyway.'

'Not funny!'

Maddie chuckled. 'I take it I'm not allowed any of that today.'

'Nope.' He lent down to give her a hug and a kiss, careful not to bump her wig she was wearing to cover up where her head had been shaved for her operation. 'But we'll still have fun without eating junk food, right?'

'Right.'

'Look at all this.' Geri exclaimed in amazement. 'Sure is bigger than last years fair.'

'Yeah.' Cordell agreed, slipping his arm around Geri. 'Not a bad effort for this year, huh?'

Maddie smiled seeing the two of them hug.

'Would the handsome couple care to join a competition for the ages?'

The three of them looked over at the voice and Cordell recognized instantly who it was. 'Randall? Hey.'

'Hey.' Randall smiled as Cordell gave him a hug.

'How's it going man?'

'Good.' He looked down at Maddie. 'And you young lady, your Dad's told me all about you. Glad to finally meet you.'

She smiled back at him as he shook her hand. 'Hi.'

'Randall here got promoted to the Rangers about a year ago.' Cordell explained to both his daughter and Geri. 'We did some time together back when I was with DPS.'

'Nice to meet you.' Geri smiled at him.

'Likewise.'

'So uh-y-you running this thing or...?' Cordell questioned, having been looking at the obstacle course type setup behind him.

'Oh yeah. Want to join?'

'Uh...'

'Look, one person is blindfolded-' Randall began to explain. 'And the other one just gives them the directions.'

'We're gonna-'

'And there's a prize.'

'Ohh-' Geri winked at Maddie, the teen giggling as she turned to Cordell. 'There's a prize. I'm in. I'll give directions.'

'What?' Cordell questioned.

'Come on-' Geri started after Randall. 'It'll be fun to boss you around for a little while. Let's go.'

Maddie looked up at her father, Geri walking off to the starting line of the obstacle course. 'Guess you don't get much of a choice today Dad.'

'No...' He sighed heavily then began pushing her chair over to where Geri was waiting for him. 'Guess I don't.'

'Sure does look like fun though.' She remarked as she looked the course over. 'If I could, I'd have done it with you. Since I can't though, guess I'll just have to cheer you on instead.'

A short while later Randall had wrangled in another couple to come join the competition, Cordell and Geri watching as they got ready. 'Hey, um...' Cordell remarked softly to her. 'Don't let me lose to this guy.'

'Obviously.' She agreed as she was handed the blindfold, Cordell crouching down a little so she could blindfold him. 'You gonna be cheering us on Maddie?'

'You betcha.' Maddie nodded from the sidelines beside Randall. 'You got this Dad.'

Cordell gave her a thumbs up as Geri adjusted his blindfold. 'Thank you sweetheart.'

'As your game master, these are the rules.' Randall began when they were ready to begin. 'To win the prize, you have to complete the course blindfolded, put the medicine ball into the bucket and cross the finish line first. Ready?' Both teams nodded. 'On your marks. Get set! Go!'

The whistle sounded and they were off, Geri instructing Cordell towards the first part of the course, a series of cones that he had to weave in and out off. Maddie chuckled softly as she watched both teams navigate their way through the cones, Cordell out in front as they came to the second obstacle, a tunnel that they had to crawl through. Geri and Cordell definitely had the best communication out of the two teams, the other girl and guy competing against them no match for them.

Her father reached the tunnel first and she giggled again, rolling herself in her chair alongside the course. This was quite funny to watch.

As Cordell came out of the tunnel the other team had caught up to him, both teams going into the tire obstacle together. The other guy fell over at the first few tires, Cordell making it through at least four before his foot caught on the edge as he stepped out of one and he fell over. Quickly he got up though and kept going, again both teams neck and neck as they came to the second final obstacle.

A hoop lay on the ground that they had to stop in and spin three times, the other guy falling over again as he tried to carry the ball the rest of the way to the bucket. Cordell managed to keep his balance though and placed the ball into the bucket then hurried on towards the finish line.

Randell blew his whistle as the winner crossed the finish line, signaling the end of the competition. 'Walkers for the win!'

'Yeah!' Maddie shouted as the crowd gathered around to watch cheered. 'Great job Dad! Woohoo!'

Cordell took off his blindfold, giving Geri a hug as he caught his breath. 'I'm tired.'

Geri laughed at him. 'You did great. You did great!'

'Knew you could do it Dad!' Maddie added as she wheeled herself over to them. 'Wasn't that fun?'

'Yeah, yeah, it was alright.' He agreed begrudgingly, looking over at the other team as the girl went off at her partner. 'Least we did better than those two.'

She giggled softly at that. 'Anyone could have done better than them. So, what did you guys win?'

'Yeah, what did we win?' Cordell asked Geri.

'Why don't I go find out and you go take a sit down before you fall down? Alright?'

He nodded. 'Sounds good to me. Come on Maddie girl.'

The two of them made their way over to a picnic table close by, Cordell taking a seat while Maddie wheeled her chair to a stop beside it. 'Where's Mawline and Gramps? And Uncle Liam. They should have been here to see that. Good thing I got it all on record.'

'What? You videoed it?'

'Mmhmm.'

Cordell sighed heavily. 'I-I should have known.'

A moment later Geri came walking back towards them, Maddie letting out a giggle as she saw what Geri was carrying and she poked her father gently in the ribs to catch his attention. 'I'd say that's what you and Aunt Geri won.'

'A giant green plush monkey. Just-Just what I always wanted.' He exclaimed with a laugh, Geri taking a seat with him and set the monkey down beside her.

'Pretty good team if I do say so myself.' Geri remarked.

'Uh, I think you do.' He patted the monkey's tummy. 'Um, and we do make a good team. However-' He lent back against the table, resting one leg atop his knee. 'We do at some point, have to talk about how we decided that I was gonna be the one who ended up blindfolded.'

She laughed at that. 'I'm no dummy.'

'Yeah, I know that.'

'You guys made it look super easy.' Maddie added. 'Aren't you glad you did it Dad? Bit of fun.'

'Yeah yeah...'

Geri's phone began to ring and she pulled it out from her pocket to see who it was. 'Ugh...'

'Take it.' Cordell prompted gently, seeing that it was Gale who was ringing her.

'No, it's fine. I'll call her back later.'

'Ger, Ger. Take it.'

'Okay, okay.' She stood, pushing the monkey over closer to Cordell. 'You take care of him.'

Maddie giggled as Cordell placed his arm around the monkey while Geri walked away. 'Think it's a good match for you dad.'

'You think?' He looked down at the monkey. 'How you doing?'

She snickered at her father talking to a plush toy. 'Now you've really gone cuckoo in the head Dad.'

'Cuckoo in the head?' He repeated good naturedly. 'Who's saying I've gone cuckoo?'

'Me.'

'Ah, my Maddie girl... Come here, rascal.'

She laughed as Cordell pulled her in close to him, her father giving her a kiss on the cheek. 'So, we gonna go have a turn on the Ferris wheel or what?'

'Yeah, we'll have a ride on the Ferris wheel if you want.' He agreed. 'Anything else you want to do today?'

'Well, uh...' She took a look at the list of the day's activities that she'd been handed at the gate when they'd entered the fair. 'I sure don't want to miss the horse riding presentation at eleven and it looks like they've got a petting zoo too...'

Cordell laughed at that. 'How did I know you were going to choose both of those activities?'

Maddie chuckled, grinning at him. 'You just know me so well, don't you?'

'Yeah, yeah, I do.'

'But seriously, I think I should find Mawline and Gramps sometime soon, let you and Geri spend some time together without the 'third wheel' hanging around.'

'You aren't third wheeling-'

She gave him a look. 'Dad, I kinda am and with everything you've had to deal with lately I think you deserve to go have some fun. So, that's what I want you to do. Okay? Go have some fun with Aunt Geri and spend some time with her.'

'Alright.' Cordell finally agreed. 'If that-that's what you want then alright.'

Maddie smiled. Her matchmaking for the day was done. 'Good.'

'Good.'

'Alright-' Geri exclaimed as she returned. 'I'm back.'

Cordell stood, handing the big plush monkey to Geri. 'As you can see, I kept him safe-'

'Walker.'

The three of them turned to see Cassie walking over, seemingly in a hurry. 'Hey.'

'I need you to be a ringer.'

Maddie had to stifle a chuckle. Cassie sure didn't beat about the bush when she wanted something.

'Okay, my previous Captain, Fenton Cole-' Cassie began to explain without missing a beat. 'Is here with Mile's wife, Rita and spoiler alert, they are now dating. So, since he doesn't know you, I need you to go in and get some info.

'Okay, uh, real quick-'

'Geri, Maddie. Hi.' She continued. 'Sorry, I got caught up in the whole thing.'

'No worries.' Geri smiled.

Cassie looked down at Maddie. 'How are you doing sweet pea? Sorry I haven't had a chance to drop by and see you lately.'

'I'm doing alright.' Maddie replied with a smile. 'Getting along as best I can.'

'That's good to hear.'

'So-' Geri looked from Cordell to Cassie. 'You gonna get Cordi in trouble?'

'No. Maybe.' Cassie replied to her. 'Can I borrow him?'

'Sure.' She agreed. 'For a round of drinks at a later date.'

'Are you kidding me? Three rounds.'

'Okay, okay-' Cordell interrupted. 'Hold on. Are you sure? And Maddie-'

'Yes. Go. Sounds important. Maddie and I'll get along just fine.' Geri assured him. 'We'll go put this guy in my car.'

They headed towards the gate back into the parking lot, Maddie glancing back over her shoulder at her father. 'Have fun dad.'

'Catch up with you both later.' He replied, waving to them.

Geri looked down at Maddie as they headed out the gate. 'You doing okay there Madds? Don't want me to push you?'

'I can manage for now.' She said with a smile. 'Besides, you've got your arms full with Monkey anyway. What are you going to call him?'

'I dunno, haven't thought about that.'

'Well, he needs a name. What about- bananas?'

'Bananas?' Geri laughed.

'What's wrong with that? It's a monkey's favorite food.' Maddie replied with a chuckle.

'I'll think about it.' She remarked as they reached her car and she placed the plush monkey into the back seat. 'Alright, where do you want to go now?'