I don't own McLeod's Daughters. Enjoy.

Chapter 7

"The newest BOM", Jodi shouted out seems like she had come as well.

"Yes, the newest BOM", I answered her in a whispered tone."Can you please be quieter? Mom needs to sleep for her and the baby to stay healthy. I will tell you a little bit. But it's mom's story. And Claire's and Jack's apparently, too. Aunty Tess, will you fill in what you know about it or gather by what mom said? Alex, will you stay with mom, please? I don't want her to wake up alone or leave her and BOM alone. Anyway, you and mom need to talk when she wakes up because I doubt you know the whole story. Honestly, I doubt anyone does. Michelle, you can listen or leave. I don't care what you'll do! You've lied to me! Again and again, you've lied! You could have told me. I guess you know most of it anyway since you seem to be the person telling mom. At least a bit of it. And somebody needs to tell the doctors that Michelle isn't mom's next of kin, but Tess is, except for me. But since I'm not yet eighteen, I couldn't decide even if I wanted to. Or has Alex the supreme decision-making power if mom turns worse? I don't know. I think Alex and Tess both do. Or has mom any other emergency contact, maybe from her circuit days and if she has, have the doctors notified that person?"

"Rose, breathe." Alex and Tess said at the same time." We hope Stevie doesn't turn worse, and there is nothing to indicate that. And we're still standing in the room. And Stevie should be sleeping, or at least resting."

Rose, they are correct, came the low sleep-induced voice of Stevie. " I'll be fine, and so will BOM. Don't worry.

Now come here. You need a hug, baby girl. Sit next to me. Alex, get the nurse to put a cot in here for Rose. Tess, Jodi, I'll explain later. Where's Kate? She needs to find out as well. But right now, I need to take care of my kids, both of them. Honestly, I could use Claire or dad, but it'll be a time before I can at least go to their graves again. Jodi, tell Meg from me that she should tell you the truth, please. That helps all of us because we and the generation before us created this whole mess by lies and half-truths in the first place. Rose is correct in saying: the truth is all we have, is all we need for our unconventional family. Yes, and that includes you, Michelle and even Helen in a way. Helen raised me, and I might not agree with everything she did, with everything she suggested, but most of the time, she had my best interest at heart. I see that now. Even if her word's still ring in my mind and they still hurt. Helen's words cut so deep into my self-esteem. They cut deeper as dad's words. Dad was stricter, so I expected his words, but nothing could have prepared me for her's.

Yet, she is the only grandma Rose will ever have, Prue has been dead for so many years, so I can't take her away from Rose. Honestly, it would hurt Rose more than Helen or at least as much. So she needs to know that I'm not taking Rose away from the only grandma she will ever have. Can you call her, please? She was my mom when I grew up. And like Prue, she will always stay mom, even if she's been harsh, even if I need her to apologize, not by letter, not by card, but standing close to me, standing next to me, but to get that we need to talk to her."

"And I forgot to thank you, Michelle, for taking in Rose. It hurt. It hurt so much, but at the time, living on the circuit giving her to you was one of the best things I could do. I didn't know the truth then. So I couldn't have gone to Drovers. My Rosie has such a safety net, but I won't let you keep her now, not without a fight. She knows the truth and will decide where to go from here. She needs that assurance." I know you love her. I never doubted it. But her identity has just been taken from her. A few days ago. I know she called you with that dream. And I thank you that you allowed her to stay longer on Drovers.

And before you say it: We will find our way. We will find a solution. For school, for living arrangements, for you, Tom and Helen to see her. But we all need time. The Drovers- Killarney - family like Rose called our family there, you Tom and Helen, but most importantly Rose, Alex and I need time. We need time to make memories and to share them. And I know you've never seen a cattle and sheep farm before. So I'll tell you something. Getting time off to make memories isn't usually done. You talk while working. You fight while working. You make up while working or after a long day on the veranda with a beer in your hand. The beer is not for kids", Stevie finished, looking pointedly at Rose.

Rose quipped: "Obviously not, nor for pregnant women, mom. So I'm glad Kate and Jodi came when they did with the water. "

" Yeah, me too. Now come here sweetheart, seems like the cod for you will take some more time, but I'll need my little girl for a cuddle. "

Rose rolled her eyes. "I'm not little anymore. " "Ok, my not so little girl. So come here now. We both need the reassurance of each other."

You're sure you need me, mom? "Alex could reassure you just as well." "Alex could distract me. There's a difference." Come here now", Stevie replied, pretending to be angry.

Rose finally sat next to Stevie, hugging her, holding her. " Lie down", Stevie gently commanded. "What about the cot? This bed was supposed to be for you so that you can rest, mom. " I will sleep. Just cuddle into me, sweetheart. You need sleep just as much as I do", Stevie replied firmly.

The rest of the group slowly dispatched. Michelle called Helen, telling her Stevie was in hospital in Fisher. But that neither of them needed Helen here. Yet, that Stevie wanted to ask her some things later on. Plus that Rose might have questions.

Tess and Jodi went to the information desk, leaving their number in case of an emergency with Stevie, and left for Drover's Run. On their way out, they looked back into Stevie's room, seeing both Rose and Stevie fast asleep. So they went back to the information desk, asking for pen and paper. They wrote a short message for Alex, Stevie and Rose, telling them they'd be back in the afternoon and that they should not worry about Drovers or Killarney. They'd take care of Drover's Run and tell Harry that Alex needs to be in the hospital.

A few minutes after Tess and Jodi left the room, Alex arrived with two nurses. Alex carried two cots. Since the women told him in a no-nonsense tone, it would be better for Alex to sleep on a cot instead of a chair, he complied when they told him to take two instead of just one. Both nurses put down the bedding, which they had carried on the table, before helping Alex fold out the two cots. When Alex and the nurses had folded out the cots, Alex tried to get Rose out of Stevie's hospital bed and into the cot without waking either Stevie or Rose. That didn't work out. Even in their sleep, both were clinging to each other, needing the reassurance that it wasn't a dream. Stevie woke up.

"Hey Alex, what are you doing? Do not take my Rosie from me," cried Stevie out. " Let her sleep." " I don't intend to wake her. I just wanted to make you more comfortable. It seemed as if she crushed you. She was clinging so tightly to you. I just intended to lie Rose down on the cot I got her. There are two of them, and I wanted to push them together and let her sleep on both of them. I'll be fine on the chair. No matter what the nurses say."

"Not good enough. Rose stays here. She stays in my arms tonight. Understood, Alex Ryan?"

"But help me get up for a minute? I need to go to the bathroom. And then, we need to talk. While I'm in the bathroom, push the cots together and bring them closer to the bed. I need you close as well. And do me a favour, check if Michelle has found a place to stay. If she hasn't, she will need to stay in this room as well, or you need to bring her to Drovers, please. "

"Slow down. I'll help you. Then I check with the information desk if one of the nurses there knows anything about Michelle. "

So after Alex had picked up Rose for Stevie to get up, he was lying her back down on the other side of the bed so that, with the cots close by the bed, Stevie would lie between him and their daughter.

Meanwhile, Michelle called Tom, saying she needed to be in Fisher and wouldn't come back today. She promised that everything would be ok, but that Stevie needed her. Yet, she didn't want him to come, not yet anyway. Just after the phone call ended, Michelle started crying. That's how Alex found her outside of Stevie's room, just seconds later.

" Michelle?" Do you have a place to stay for the night? Come back in for a moment. Stevie's awake. Rose sleeps, but I guess you girls need to talk. There are cots pushed together on which you can sleep. I'll be fine taking the chair or any chair out here if you prefer that. Do you need some things for tomorrow? If so, I can go shopping in the morning, or I'll ask the Drovers girls to bring extras from everything when they come. They'll pack a bag for Stevie anyway, and if Stevie's clothing doesn't fit you, I doubt Tess, Kate, Jodi or even Meg have a problem lending you some of theirs. "

Alex led Michelle back inside Stevie's room. When he did, Stevie was about ready to crawl back into bed. She stopped midmovement when she saw Michelle crying, going to the cot instead. Alex brought Michelle to the cot and told her to sit down, whispering to Stevie that he intended to call Tess and Harry, telling them about Michelle and him staying here. Therefore he left the room again.

First calling Nick because he realized Nick would probably be packing his bags. Afterwards, he called Tess, telling her the Drovers girls needed to bring clothes for Michelle, as well.

Then he went to the information desk, asking the nurses whether they knew how long Stevie would have to stay. The answer was overnight if everything was well during the night, maybe two days, three days tops if it wasn't, or her morning sickness would start, since that could be dangerous in combination with the dehydration she just suffered. So Alex asked to borrow the phone again to tell Tess how much they needed to pack.

Meanwhile, in Stevie's room, Michelle and Stevie just sat there, holding each other, neither of them realizing how much they needed each other right now. Their emotions flooded them, and Stevie, who had tried comforting Michelle, started crying herself. The commotion woke up Rose, who just quipped: "Mom, weren't you supposed to be resting? Aunt Michelle, what's wrong? And no, mom, you will not sleep on the cot or cots. Where's Alex? Not sleeping outside in the chairs, I hope. What did Tom do anyway? What did he say to you, aunt Michelle?

" How long have you been awake, Rose" both Stevie and Michelle answered back as one. "Just now. But Michelle was outside calling Tom and grandma while mom was sleeping next to me, and Alex was organizing cots when I fell asleep, and the Drovers' girls were here, as well, but I guess they just went home. So I ask again, what did Tom say to you to make you upset, or was it grandma Helen?" "So much like Tess, definitely a McLeod", commented Stevie. "Mom, don't try changing the subject. It won't work out. Another reason I thought Tom did or said something to upset Michelle is: there are tears instead of raging. If it had been grandma being hurtful, both of you would be angry, usually at least. I'm not sure about you during pregnancy, mom, but you both fight. One of the only exceptions is when you fight with each other and Tom and Alex, respectively." "Oh yeah, she is your kid, Stevie: there's no doubt about that one. That could have been you fifteen years ago when I talked to mom about trouble!"

"She reminds me a lot more of Jodi than me. But I know she's mine. "

That's actually why I more or less commanded Jodi to ask Meg for the truth. Because Rose is correct, we all deserve it. "

Hearing those words, Michelle turned pale. "Michelle, what's going on? What haven't you told us?" Stevie demanded an answer. " I don't know, ok. It's just something I remembered and talked with Tom about before when we started fighting. It was just something I remembered as a child, and when Jack came to look for Rose, at least wanting to see his grandchild once, even if he never told you that he went to find her, I saw a resemblance to a man I've known from my childhood, from before you started living with us. But it wasn't Jack.

Jack wasn't his name. I told Tom about it today. I told him it was weird to remember it in a situation like right now and that I needed to find out more. But he was so totally against it, brushing me off as if he knew. He told me to let the past be the past and not care. It felt as if there was another secret. One he didn't want me to know. Honestly, I felt like he wanted to stir me away from the truth. As if he purposefully was told to keep me in the dark. I'm close to calling mom. You know when Tom and I married, he saw my birth certificate, yet I've never seen it. Now I'm wondering whether or not it was on that certificate. I should know, shouldn't I? They should have told me- "Michelle broke down, now sobbing uncontrollably.

Rose left the room quietly. The fears Michelle had, she understood, but she was young. Maybe Alex could help. She went outside, searching for him.

Outside, Alex was still talking to Tess, telling her about the dilemma Michelle seemed to be facing and that it actually might be that she needed a room in the future when Rose tipped lightly on his arm.

Alex jerked around: he was afraid something terrible had happened with Stevie. "Rose, what's going on? Is Stevie all right? , he fired one question after the other. "Yes, mom is ok. Though I doubt crying helps with her dehydration ", answered Rose amused. " But I need you to help me. I need you to help aunt Michelle. And you will sleep in mom's bed. Michelle and I will sleep on the cots. No, you won't sleep on the chairs, and I've spoken to mom, and from what I gathered, she agrees."

"Bossy", was Alex only reply.

"But are you sure Stevie's good with that? "Yes, I am. And I don't think it was the first time you did that, anyway.

"What do you mean?"

"The whole pretend boyfriend story?"

"Not that's any of your business, young lady, but your mom and I are what we are. We will tell you. But we need to have figured it out ourselves, first. Deal?"

"Deal."

"What's a deal", Stevie asked coming out of her room. I promised that young lady here that we'd tell her when we had figured things out for ourselves. But what's going on with Michelle? I don't want to pry, but if I can help, I am here. "

Right now, she's finally fallen asleep, exhausted. And you young lady should sleep as well", Stevie said, turning to Rose. "Yes, I know, mom, but so should you. Come on, let's all go back inside", commented Rose.

On their way back inside, Rose turned to Stevie, taking her arm. "By the way, mom, I told Alex he was not allowed to sleep on the chairs. I told him there was space in your bed for the both of you and that I would sleep on the cots with aunt Michelle", whispered Rose conspiratorially.

"And what did he say?" "I said, bossy", answered Alex instead of Rose.

"Just, like all the McLeods. "

Meanwhile, on Drover's Run: Jodi took Stevie's advice, telling Meg to tell them the truth. Both Kate and Tess stood by.

They knew there could be an outburst in the making because Rose had reacted more responsible than either Kate or Tess knew Jodi to be. On the other hand, it could be that they just all overreacted, and Stevie saw things. But the assumption was in the room, and it was one Tess had when she first arrived as well, not that she told anyone about it. But Claire and Jodi just acted like sisters.

But Meg withstood their questioning glances, refused to answer the questions Jodi fired at her, never saying a word. After a while, the girls left the kitchen, realizing they wouldn't get an answer from Meg that evening.

Maybe Stevie could convince her to talk. Possibly she could persuade her to tell the truth. But their secret weapon was Rose. There are two people still alive Meg could never deny anything: Charlotte and Rose. If all else failed, they would tell Rose of their suspicions.

Shortly afterwards, in Stevie's room:

Rose had found a comfortable position on the cots, which Alex had pushed even closer to Stevie's bed for Stevie to be able to reach her. Meanwhile, Michelle was clinging to Rose in her sleep. Stevie feeling a little jealous, leaned down to the cot as well. She sat down on the edge of the cot, close to Rose and started to sing for her not so little girl. The lullaby her mother sang lulled Rose into a deep slumber. But even singer her already half-grown daughter didn't quench Stevie's desire to hold her little girl, who wasn't little any longer. And she realized right now, Michelle needed her just as much. While Rose was biologically speaking her daughter, she had grown in Michelle's heart as well. They needed to find a solution to build their family up anew, heal the broken parts of their history, and find a way to go into the future together.

Stevie was torn from her musings by Alex's voice telling her that she needs sleep: Both for herself and the newest BOM. But honestly, she knew Alex and her needed to talk. Yet, both agreed now wasn't the time. They all needed sleep.

An hour later, the nurses came to check on Stevie. They found her surrounded and protected by her family.

They all slept deeply, not knowing what the early morning would bring.

AN: What do you think will happen in the morning?