Disclaimer: I own nothing

Hey all. Well second last chapter and then the Epilogue. I hope you have enjoyed the ride. I am hoping to hit the magical 600 reviews mark with these last 2 chapters. I know you can do it. Enjoy, I put a bit of Alex/Tate smut in for you.

That night Olivia lay safe in the arms of Tyler, curled on her side with Tyler spooning her from behind. It was the first night they had ever been fully clothed in bed. Her in panties and a t-shirt, Tyler in boxers and singlet.

As much as Olivia enjoyed making love to her partner, the love and security she felt wrapped up in Tyler's arms just about had her heart exploding and she lay there for several minutes enjoying the sensation, fighting sleep and listening to the soft snores of Tyler behind her. Finally she could fight the sleep no more and slowly let it consume her.

Before she drifted though she reminded herself to call Elliot in the morning and let him be the first to know, she owed him that promise. Then she would have to speak to Don and work at officially resigning. She may have only been here a month but she had found her slice of Paradise and wasn't planning to give it up.

"Oh God, Oh God, Oh God Tate" Alex screamed and arched underneath her. Tate thrust hard twice more and with a long keen groan convulsed hard. Oh man, she slumped on her lover drained, unable to hold herself up.

Alex held her tight, gently caressing her back and kissing her brow as she struggled to regain her breathe. That was wow, the power she felt, the control, and seeing the pleasure cross her lover's face. Unbelievable.

"We gotta do that more often" Tate groaned causing the love of her life to chuckle beneath her.

"Maybe, but there has been nothing wrong with the way we have been making love" Alex breathed then sucked in a startled breath when Tate startled to withdraw from her a little too fast "Slowly lover. Men go flaccid, dildos stay the same and right now I'm a bit sensitive"

Tate immediately froze and looked down in horror "Shit babe. I'm sorry, so sorry"

"It's OK" Alex grabbed her hips and gently guided her out by touch "I'm fine"

Tate eventually raised to her knees and then scrambled off the bed to deal with the strap on, blushing when Alex rolled over onto her side and pillowed her head on her hand to watch. Well that was embarrassing and she was more than glad to drop the damn thing to the floor and climb back in next to Alex. Rolling onto her lover she kissed her deeply until Alex finally caught up and kissed her back with just as much fervour.

"I take it we're going to make love again?" she panted as Tate slowly kissed her way down her body, gasping when a talented mouth latched onto her already hard aching nipple.

"I want to taste you" Tate nipped playfully and Alex eyes rolled back in her head. Tate had quickly become a master at making love to her, she was sure she had a photographic memory of all her sensative spots when it came down to it.

"No objections your honour" she squeaked out as Tate switched breasts and palmed the one she had just left, playing with the nipple to keep it stimulated. Tate chuckled before continuing her task. Long minutes later and after teasing Alex's belly button with a talented tongue Tate made her way south, Alex's hands clenched in her hair and guiding her on eagerly.

Alex groaned when Tate teased her first by blowing gently against her wet curls, then teased further by swirling her tongue very lightly.

"Tate" Alex growled while trying to thrust her hips up into Tate's face.

"God you taste wonderful" Tate groaned "I could survive on just this you know" then cupping Alex's thighs with her hands and using her thumbs to gently part delicate pink labia's she dived in to feast. Alex bucked, swore and called out to several Gods and all the time Tate plundered drinking in everything she could, never getting enough and when Alex finally came hard and fast she smiled and accepted it all, not stopping until she had every last drop and Alex was a puddle of useless flesh.

"I love you Alex" she told the blonde as she kissed her way slowly back up the exhausted lover

"I love you too babe" Alex hitched in a breath as clever fingers suddenly replaced that talented tongue while Tate draped herself over her thigh and thrust her wet centre suggestively against the silky skin. "Oh my God you're not serious" she finished on a hitch as Tate showed her exactly how serious she was.

The next day was just as hectic at the Gates' ranch. Olivia watched Alex curiously during breakfast, noticing she was walking a little gingerly. She also had black circles around her eyes. Hmmm. When Alex came to sit beside her she couldn't help but chuckle.

"Long night Lex?" she asked

"Let's just say she was more receptive to a dildo than Tyler was" Alex blew out a breath and sat down. "Remember what I told you about energizer bunnies Liv?"

Olivia laughed and told a confused Tyler "They keep going and going and going love"

"Oh" Tyler looked over at Tate who was whistling as she cooked and seemed in a jovial mood. "Go Tate"

"Please don't encourage her" Alex groaned and they laughed at her expense.

After breakfast it was out to do more fencing, more drafting and generally more work. Once again Olivia was exhausted at the end of the day and was happy to sit back drinking with the 'guys' while the 'women' organised tea. They knocked off earlier tonight, most of the urgent jobs completed.

After dinner she grabbed Tate and Beau to help her take Tyler back to the house, pausing in the kitchen to grab some cling wrap and headed upstairs.

After wrapping her lovers cut feet to protect them from the water she settled her in the bath before grabbing a quick shower to wash most of the dust and dirt off then joined Tyler in the bath.

They spoke quickly about the fact that Chase was still on the run, that every law enforcement from here to the border was looking for him, especially since he was dumb enough to try and rob a bank without hiding his face. Now the idiot was in serious trouble.

At least they knew he was in Colorado and a long way from Montana.

After that they took time out to play 20 questions. They asked whatever they could about each other, getting to know each other like they never had before. From their favourite colour, to what they studied in school to what they wanted to be when they were growing.

Olivia always wanted to be a cop, obviously but Tyler wanted to be a rodeo clown. Olivia had called her a clown alright and they had continued to tease and laugh for the rest of the evening before climbing into bed to sleep.

Alex vetoed any sex at all that night. She was far too tired, if not a little tender. Tate had grinned and happily curled up with her lover in bed while they too discussed the day's events. Tate stroked her lover's hair gently as Alex was curled up on her chest. Soon Alex's gentle snores indicated she was off in never never land and with a smile Tate reached over to turn off the bedside light and closed her eyes so she too could drift off to sleep.

Beau spent the week organising his date with Sofia, calling a fancy Italian restaurant in a nearby county, ordering flowers and on Friday afternoon he made Olivia help him clean his truck top to bottom, inside and out.

The roses arrived at 4pm on Friday afternoon and had Sofia flushing. It also had Alex and Olivia looking pointedly at their partners who were taking special note for sure.

Sofia handed Rafe over to Alex at 5 who had agreed to let Olivia, and by proxy Tyler, help her with babysitting in the main house. Rafe had all the essentials, including a couple of bottles of expressed milk and a few nappies, to last him until they returned.

Tyler whistled at her brother who had broken out some new clothes for the date, even polished his boots. Beau took Sofia's hand, said goodbye to the troublemakers and led his soon to be girlfriend outside.

Dinner was splendid, Beau did all the right things at the right time and spoke easily while doing it. Sofia knew that meant he was doing it because of well engrained manners, not because he was putting on a smarmy act to get into her pants.

After several hours of pleasant company Beau seemed to realise she needed to get home to Rafe and even made the suggestion himself. She smiled gratefully, sad the night was over but had every intention to try and organise another date soon.

Once they got home they found only Alex and Olivia up, the other two had gone off to bed to wait for their partners. Sofia's friends bade goodnight and left them alone with a soundly sleeping Rafe. Sofia was very pleased that the night continued for another hour before Beau saw them both to their rooms. Her heart clenching as the big man swooped to press a kiss on Rafe's brow before giving her a gentle smile, bidding her goodnight and walking away to his rooms.

Sofia sighed and stepped into her room, a broad smile crossing her face. Wow, what a true gentleman. She had a feeling she in for a wonderful courtship.

The following week was full of revelations. Abbie called to say Wentworth had plead guilty to the charges he committed in Montana and for them alone he could be serving 20 years in gaol. She would continue to fight to extradite him back to New York in the mean time. Everyone sighed a sigh of relief.

Alex's lawyers called. Marcus Hawthorn was soon going to be a few hundred thousand dollars poorer and his company too. Sofia would also be receiving large monthly checks from now on, backdated from the moment Rafe had been born. He had no choice, the DNA tests proved him to be the father. Sofia was stunned but stated she would put everything away for Rafe's College education. Her relationship with Beau was some sweet old fashioned courting and she was loving it. The man knew how to treat her and Rafe right. He was becoming a huge part of their lives from sunup to sundown.

Chase had made it all the way to the Mexican border. No one was saddened to hear he had lost control of his vehicle when he failed to stop at the checkpoint and was fired upon by the Mexicans. He was in critical condition in a Las Angeles hospital with serious head injuries not expected to survive. They were frustrated though, there would always be a question of why? Officially it was written off by investigators as hate crimes and insanity.

The bank foreclosed on the Ballantyne ranch. The ranch hands were paid their owed wages, given a generous severance pay and were soon on their way to greener pastures.

Alex discussed her idea with Tate first who looked at her with shock and awe then kissed the living stars out of her. Alex took it that she approved. She then approached Olivia and Tyler along with Judy and Hank. By the hugs she received she knew she was doing the right thing.

So Alex approached the bank before they could sell off the remaining cattle or put the ranch up for sale. She basically gave them an offer they couldn't refuse and she soon had a Ranch to her name. A ranch she intended to turn into a camp for underprivileged children.

Over the next 6 months a lot happened at the ranch. It was a long hot summer full of hard work, fencing, haying and branding. Olivia learned it all and loved it. Every second Monday though she accompanied Tyler to her counselling which was going well. Tyler was learning to deal with her hurt, disgust and anger. Olivia and Tyler spent more time just being together and learning each other, including physically again. The depth of their emotions and the power of their releases stunned them now, it was so powerful to love body, mind and soul.

Elliot managed to score ten day's holidays and brought his family out to see his old partner. He spent half his days trying to keep up with Olivia and Beau, groaning as Olivia good naturedly teased him about going soft when he gratefully went off to see how Tyler handled small town Policing. Dickie, Lizzie and Eli loved it, so many animals, so many things to do. Dickie, unlike his father, managed to keep up with Liv and Beau all day, Lizzie took a shining to Rafe and spent time helping Alex look after him while Sofia and Tate were cooking.

Kathleen hit it off with Sarah who had started showing by then. Luckily the woman had been around ranches all her life and didn't blanche, too much, at all the horror stories Kathy told her about birthing and sleepless nights. Eli spent all his evenings with Olivia and Tyler. She was the kid's godmother after all. When the Stabler's left there were many tears but promises to be back soon. Bets were going around as to how soon Kathy and the kids would nag Elliot into leaving New York behind.

Alex spent weeks hiring professionals and cowboys alike to help her start to renovate the Ballantyne ranch. She hired a very competent manager to oversee the works. Beside the beautiful old main house which she decided to save, even though it needed extensive work, she needed accommodation built for the children, the social workers, counsellors and volunteers and the ranch hands who would make it a working sustainable ranch. They also needed a large Mess and outdoor eating areas. She also decided to have a building for indoor activities in inclement weather as well as a large indoor arena where the children could learn to ride. Alex was thinking she could have some amateur rodeos for fundraising and entertainment. She left it all up to her manager though, she still had her work to do for the ICC which saw her flying to new York or Washington once a month, a very pale Tate in tow.

The outdoor kitchen was completed and the Summer cookout was a huge success. People came for miles to inspect it and the grateful contractors who built it had enough work to keep them busy in the area all year. Including a couple of room's extension on Tate's cabin which she finally agreed to. She nixed the enclosed patio with Jacuzzi idea but allowed Alex to extend the bathroom and add a bath. She was in no way happy to have to live in the main house while they worked on the cabin and ordered the men to work fast, or else. It took them an month and Tate swore never again.

Beau and Sofia's relationship blossomed. Sofia's head was spinning by how happy she was. She worked part time at the ranch in the kitchen with Tate and part time as the local reporter. Her first edition of the 'Montana Calling' paper sold out. She was giddy with excitement.

The first night her relationship with Beau turned physical she was nervous that he would be put off by her older body and stretch marks. It had taken him 6 months to get there and she cried when he did nothing but worship her. She was scared, terrified but she loved him and trusted him. She made the permanent move into his suite of rooms shortly after. Of course she fell in love with him even more whenever she saw him with Rafe and Rafe idolised him, always looking and letting out a squeal of delight when he saw Beau.

Beau himself was pretty smitten with the little tyke and when he wasn't working with his new best mate Olivia, he was wandering around with Rafe in his arms talking to him and telling him he'd be a rancher one day too. He also loved the little tyke's mother and was wondering when it would be best to propose. In the end he decided to let things play out as they came, he'd know when it felt right.

Sofia took the bull by the horns and decided to contact her family. It had been a long time, many hateful words had been spoken. She sent them a letter, detailing her life now and how she had met a wonderful man who treated Rafe as his own. She told them about the ranch she was living on, the jobs she did and the pride she took in it. She printed out a few photos of Rafe and one of Beau, Rafe and herself and sent it with the letter.

For the first week after she sent it she was pretty relaxed and not expecting to hear any news. As the second week drew on she became more and more anxious and Beau and his family did everything they could to keep her mind off it. During the third week Sofia cried herself to sleep on several occasions while Beau held her.

Nearly a month after she sent the letter she told herself enough, she had a family in Beau's parents and siblings and they were wonderful. That was why when one sunny Saturday morning when she was sitting with her lovely new family in the outdoor kitchen laughing and teasing they were all a bit confused when a convoy of large RV's pulled down the drive. There were 6 in all.

"Maybe they're lost" Tate muttered holding Alex close on her lap while Tyler got up and headed outside to wave to the procession so they wouldn't pull up at the main house.

"We'll wait and see" Judy told them as they watched the vehicles coming closer and closer. Sofia who was sitting by Beau who held Rafe wasn't paying much attention. She glanced up as she heard a car door slam and her jaw almost unhinged.

"Papa?" she croaked while reaching out to grab Beaus arm in a death grip.

"Oh my Lord" Judy whispered as they all sat stunned as the very large Cipriatti mob piled out of the RV's. She thought she had produced a large family.

Tyler led back the older couple from the front RV. Everyone presumed it was Sofia's parents and realised by their age Sofia must have been the baby. Tyler took her seat near Olivia again taking her hand and leaving it up to Sofia's parents to make the first move.

Everyone sighed in relief when Sofia jumped up and ran for her father, hugging him hard while he pat her back. Her mother burst into tears and Sofia turned to her. There was much dramatic wailing and quickly spoken words in what they presumed was Italian.

"English Mama, please" Sofia begged.

"I'm so sorry. We got your letter and we had a family meeting and decided to come out as a family and beg your forgiveness" her mother sobbed and Sofia hushed her while turning to Beau and beckoning him over.

"Mama, Papa I want you to meet Beau, and the little guy is our son Rafe" Sofia smiled at Beau while he swallowed hard, both knowing she had just declare Rafe his son publically for the first time.

"Pleasure to meet you" Beau nodded at them but remained aloof otherwise, these people had hurt his love too much for him to accept them readily. Rafe snuggled into his neck, peaking out shyly while his Nona tried to coax him out.

"Please take a seat" Judy offered "Go get some more seats from inside you lot" she ordered her family and Tate, Tyler, Callum and Olivia hurried to do as asked.

Beau watched as Sofia ran outside where her sibling were waiting. Before she knew it she was being swept up by older brothers and sisters while laughing and crying happily. The hoard made it into the outdoor kitchen eventually and introductions were made, one family to the other.

The Cipriatti's ended up staying a week, parking up their RV's wherever they could get power around the ranch. Sofia's parents were invited to stay in Sofia's old room and gratefully accepted. Tate gave up her kitchen to the Italian women who cooked up a feast every day and night to the pleasure of many. Tate did try and snoop to get some tips.

Beau mellowed as the week went, Sofia's father was very happy that she had someone so protective of her. Her family did wish they would make a move to get married though but Sofia shook her head. Beau wasn't catholic and didn't want to be, if it came down to it (Beau hadn't exactly asked yet) she would convert to his faith. It was the only bone of contention in an otherwise perfect week.

There were many tears when they all left, Rafe especially, he had gotten close to some of his older riff raff cousins. They had promised to keep in touch and Beau promised to bring Sofia and Rafe to California soon. Things were a lot quieter once they left but Sofia was happier that they reconnected.

Judy and Hank sat back one night a few weeks later when everyone else was off doing their own thing and sighed contently.

"Well Judy, I think we've done it" Hank commented and when his wife shot him a questioning look he chuckled "We got all the kids settled and happy, we got grandkids with more on the way and I don't know about you but I am content with my lot in life"

"You sure are old man" Judy chuckled and pat her husband's rotund belly.

"I think it's time for me to cut back on work, make sure I am around to enjoy as many years with the grandees as I can, maybe even get to see a few great grandbabies."

Judy, who heard the speech every year just rolled her eyes.

"Whatever you say old man, whatever you say"