A/N: I decided to continue on with this story although I have extreme writer's block. I am however twisting the plot lines and decided not to try reworking episodes to include Luke's daughter. However, if there is an episode or scene that you want to read: feel free to PM me and I'll see what I can do about working it in.

I know this chapter is short but I needed to regain the feel of my story before working on a longer chapter.

It was late spring just over a year from that fateful day that the Dukes had found Jaclyn in the barn; and all of Hazard had finished spring planting and was patiently waiting for the rain to water the crops to help support the barely sustainable income.

The year had passed quickly for the Duke family; as they settled into the new routine of having a little one on the farm again. The adjusting had come with quite easy and soon it had become hard to remember not having Jackie on the farm.

The real surprise was the change in Luke as he took to his new role as a father with surprising ease. No one in Hazard could remember seeing a more devoted, or loving, father.

And while Jackie loved everyone and didn't know a stranger; it was no secret that her heart belonged to her father. As Jackie constantly sought Luke's attention and presence. Tonight was no different, as the family was relaxing after dinner; Jackie was sitting on Luke's lap, curled up against her Daddy's chest.

The family had been discussing the upcoming first race of the season. The promised prize money is something the Dukes knew that they would need to give themselves some financial breathing room that they so desperately needed.

As the conversation came to an end, Jackie's eyes were blinking in an effort to stay awake; and her tiny hand was gripping the soft fabric of Luke's shirt.

"Looks like Jackie is just about asleep." Uncle Jesse commented, noticing Jackie's struggle to stay awake.

Luke carried Jackie into Daisy's room, where Jackie's crib and belongings are. Luke lays Jackie down in the crib, before he moves over to the small dresser that contains Jackie's clothes. Going through the draws, Luke chooses a light weight yellow sleeper for Jackie. Luke places the sleeper on the changing surface on the top of the dresser, before going back to the crib.

Lifting the sleeping toddler out of the crib, Luke goes back to the dresser to get Jackie to changed for bed. Undoing the snaps on the back of the outfit Daisy had dressed Jackie in that morning as he goes. Luke had become quite adapt at dressing Jackie for bed; and the toddler gave him no fight as she was already almost sound asleep.

Even though Jackie is asleep, Luke still sings to her as he was getting her changed and putting her to bed. It was always the same song, as it always put Jackie to sleep. Uncle Jesse had to wonder if Jackie really needed to have her bedtime song; or if it was the excuse Luke just used to make sure that he was the one to put Jackie to bed each night, as there hadn't been a night since Jackie arrived on the farm that Luke hadn't been the one to put Jackie to bed.

Uncle Jesse watched as Luke cared for Jackie, he couldn't help but think of how much Luke reminded him of his brother, Luke's father, James. James had been the next in line in after Jesse in the family. Out of all his brothers, Jesse and James had been the closest. Along with Bo's father, Jacob, they had been the trouble makers of the family.

James had been the first of the Duke boys to become a father, and Luke had been his pride and joy. James had made the comment to Jesse that he believed that his purpose in life was to be a father. When James and Caroline had lost baby Judd, it had seemed like their world had collapsed. While James might have healed on the surface ha never was the same after the loss of his infant son. He had compensated for the loss by strengthening his already strong bond with Luke.

Deciding that Luke had the task of getting Jackie down for the night well under control, Uncle Jesse heads towards his own room for the night. The air had the sense of a storm brewing and he hoped that Daisy would be home from her shift at the boars nest before it hit.

"You'd be awfully proud of yer boy, Jimmy." Uncle Jesse said to his dead brother as he went to his own room for the night. "He sure surprised me in the way he took responsibility fer his youngin'. But he must have more of you in him then I thought."

As Uncle Jesse got into bed that night the first of the rain drops started hitting the metal roof.

tbc