Chapter 10 – Buck's POV

As we watched Red Bear ride away Kid approached us. "Buck, Lou could I speak with you two alone?" He asked. I looked at Kid, at one time I had considered him a friend, a brother, but after what he had done I wasn't sure I wanted to hear what he had to say. Lou's hand on my arm made me stop and take a closer look at him.

Kid had changed in the time I was gone. He seemed to be Kid again. I looked at Lou who gave me a soft smile, "Alright Kid, come on inside." I say as I lead the way into the bunkhouse. After we were seated Lou got cups of coffee for all of us. "Alright Kid, what is it you wanted to talk about?" I asked him looking him squarely in the eye.

Kid's POV

I looked at Buck. I could tell he still didn't trust me, but for old times' sake he was giving me a chance to speak my mind. I take a deep breath. "Well, Buck first I wanted to apologize for the things I said to you when I first arrived back here. They were uncalled for and I didn't really mean them. For a long time Buck I haven't been myself, but since coming back home and working with the guys again, I've started to feel like myself again. Two weeks ago I came to the realization that though I still love Lou, I probably always will, you two are meant to be together. There is a connection between the two of you that we never shared." I say looking between the two of them, both of them had unbelieving looks on their faces.

'What are you saying Kid?" Buck asked looking at me in confusion. "What I'm saying is Buck that I realized I had to set Lou free. I went to Teaspoon to tell him I wanted to give Lou a divorce. So she could marry you. Turns out I didn't have too. According to the law our marriage is null and void since it's been ten years since I contacted her. They called it abandonment." I could tell Buck was trying not to smile. "So Lou is not legally you're wife?" he asked me. "No, but she's not yours either. Since you married eight years ago, she was still technically married to me at the time. But Lou is free now to marry you legally." I tell them, Buck and Lou can't stop their smiles as they look at each other.

Buck looks back at me and smiled holding his hand out, "Thank you Kid. You do know that if we had known you were still alive we wouldn't have married. You are my brother Kid; I could never purposely betray you." I shake his hand, 'I know Buck." Lou came around to my side and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you Kid. And for what's it worth you will always be family and are always welcome here." I smile at them. "You know I was actually hoping that you would keep me on here. I know it may be awkward at first, but I really do love working with family again." I tell them looking at them hopefully.

Buck and Lou share a look and smile. "Well from what I've been told by Cody and Jimmy you still work as hard as ever, so… we would be happy for you to stay on. You're family after all. Families are supposed to stick together." I give Buck a grateful smile and turn to thank Lou as well but when I looked on her face I was shocked by her expression. "Lou?" I asked just before she puts her hand to her belly and lets out a pitiful moan. Buck jumped to his feet and rushed to Lou's side. He tells me to go get Rachel the baby is coming early.

Lou's POV

Buck and Kid had come to an understanding. Kid had asked to stay on at the ranch and Buck agreed. I was glad that our remaining family would all stay together. But my joy was cut short by a sharp pain in my abdomen. My hand going to my belly, I moaned. I heard Kid say my name before Buck rushed to my side. He told Kid to fetch Rachel. Then he lifted me in his arms and carried me to our bed. "It's too soon Buck, the baby isn't due for two months still." I say worried. "It will be ok Lou, as large as you are you have to be further along than we thought or its twins again. You know twins almost always come early." Buck says trying to soothe me. Rachel comes in then and with Buck's help they get me into a nightgown. Buck is ushered from the room. A few minutes after Buck left Emma came in to help Rachel.

Buck's POV

It had been hours since Lou had gone into labor. I don't know why it always takes so long for the baby to come. As I paced the porch I had a strange sense of déjà vu. This was the exact scene as Lou's previous births. Teaspoon was whittling, Cody and Jimmy leaning against a post and the wall. Sam keeping the kids distracted by the corral. The only difference, Kid was here pacing with me. I can tell by the look on his face that hearing Lou in such pain is causing him pain, the same as me.

Kid looks at me, "How have you done this three times already Buck? It's about to kill me listening to her in there." I run a hand through my hair, "I don't know Kid. I can't stand for her to go through this pain either, especially knowing I'm the cause of it." Kid just looked at me as we continued our pacing. Then I heard the sound of a baby crying. I look over at my family, their grins matching mine. I wait at the door for Emma or Rachel to let me in. they don't. I start to get worried when I hear Lou cry out in pain again. I cast a panicked look in Teaspoon's direction. He is off his feet and coming to stand beside me. That's when we heard another baby's cry.

I breathed a sigh of relief. I had twins again. Emma opened the door a minute later and let me in. I go into our bedroom to find Lou holding one baby and Rachel another. She looked beautiful. "Your brother was right Buck." Lou said with a grin at me. "He usually is." I say as I sit next to Lou on the edge of our bed. Rachel places my baby in my arms. "We have a son and a daughter Buck." Lou said as the child was placed in my arms. I lean over and kiss my wife, our family joins us now. Our children anxious to meet their new siblings. "What are their names daddy?" Ike asks. Lou and I had already talked about names and had picked out a name for a boy and a girl. I look at her and she nods giving me permission to tell.

I hold my son in my arms and look down at him, "His name is Jesse Sly Fox." I look over at the baby Lou is holding, "And her name is Rachel Hummingbird." Our family all took turns holding the newest members.

One month later I stand at the front of the little white church again. Teaspoon is front of me again. This time however I had my 'brothers' to stand with me. Jimmy and Cody stood by my side as we watched Emma and then Rachel come up the aisle. Then on the arm of Kid came Lou. This was the wedding we should have had all along. A wedding with our entire family. Kid handed Lou over to me with a smile. I knew this was hard on him but he was handling it well. After he gave Lou away he sat next to Sam on the front bench. Our children next to him.

This time I remembered everything that Teaspoon said. And when it was time to kiss the bride I did so without any reservations. I could hear the chuckles in the church before we finally broke apart. At last I was married to the woman I loved, in both the worlds I belonged too.

Kid's POV

I had been surprised when Lou asked me to give her away. At first I wanted to turn her down but I thought it appropriate so I agreed. Lou was beautiful in her wedding dress. The look of love on her face as she met Buck's eyes at the front of the church just made me realize what I had been fool enough to leave behind all those years ago. I handed her off to Buck. After I gave her away I sat next to Sam and my 'nieces and nephews'. As I watched Buck marry the woman I loved I can't help think this is how he must have felt when I had been the one up there marrying Lou. They had told me that Buck had loved Lou even then but out of his friendship for me he remained silent. I was blessed to have a friend like him. When Teaspoon told Buck to kiss his bride he did so quite thoroughly. I had to chuckle myself at them. Lou truly belonged to Buck now. She was where she belonged, and for now so was I. maybe one day I will love again, but for now I'm content to work Buck's ranch with my brothers and 'sister'.

The End

A/N: I hope everybody enjoyed this story. I will be posting a new story soon, so be on the look out. If you haven't figured it out by now Buck is my favorite character, followed by Ike. I look forward to hear what ya'll think about my story.