As the sun bloomed over the horizon, the big man crept to the chaise lounge and eased down onto the cushion. He looked at the swaddled newborn in his arms. The hours old infant was awake and alert, quietly taking everything in. "You're the last one," Matt whispered to his second son and fifth child.

The newborn had taken his parents by surprise, arriving a week early. Kitty had felt the first twinge before midnight. A handful of hours later, Matt was pleading with his auburn-haired wife not to push. Doc had bolted into the bedroom just as the baby slipped into his panicked father's large, awaiting hands. The boy had let out a tiny cry and had been peaceful since his entrance into the world. Matt had been stunned at how relaxed his youngest son seemed to be. He wondered if the newborn knew how rambunctious his siblings were.

He gently pressed his lips to his son's head as he adjusted him to his shoulder. His weary, blue eyes drifted over to the large brass bed. He lovingly stared at his slumbering wife. It seemed like yesterday instead of twelve years ago that he'd stopped the train bound for California. Kitty had kicked and screamed as he tossed her over his shoulder, carrying her off the train. She'd been bound and determined to go to San Francisco to start her life over. She had rattled on for months about how there were plenty of eligible men ready to settle down and marry in the Northern California city, but Matt hadn't thought she was serious. Once he'd discovered she was on the train and The Long Branch was for sale, he'd realized he didn't want to live life without her. He'd dropped onto one knee that day and married her the next. Nine months later, she gave birth to their daughter on a beautiful spring morning. Lark Rebecca had been named for both the meadowlark that had landed on the windowsill and her paternal grandmother. Josephine Lillian had arrived four years later, and the twins, Vivienne Serena and Alexander Matthew, were a month away from celebrating their third birthday.

The soft mewling of her son roused Kitty from her nap. She gingerly sat up, resting against the pillows. She untied the top of her nightgown. "Bring him here, Matt."

Matt walked over, placing him in her waiting arms.

"Thank you," she murmured. "Good morning, handsome. You want breakfast?" she stroked the corner of the baby's tiny mouth, guiding him to her breast. The redhead stared at her son. She believed she'd been done with babies after the twins, but she hadn't been able to ignore the feeling that the Dillon family wasn't complete. "You are just what we needed," she declared, stroking his tiny fingers as he nursed.

Matt added more logs to the fire. He warmed his hands, looking over his shoulder at his wife and son. "He is, isn't he?" He straightened to his full height while briefly watching the snow falling outside before settling onto the bed.

"Mmhmm," she hummed, turning her head to softly kiss him. Kitty nestled into her husband's side, resting her head against his shoulder as she closed her eyes.

"Rest, Honey," Matt kissed the top of her head as he held her. He sighed at the noise of doors closing and pounding feet hitting the floorboards. "So much for rest."

With a smirk on her face, Kitty glanced at her youngest as he finished his meal. "Sweetheart, I hope you're ready." She fixed her gown and waited for the inevitable chaos her other children would bring.

Matt chuckled, looking up from the baby as knuckles lightly struck the door. "Come in," he grinned at his firstborn's head peeking around the paneled door. "Come on in, Lark," he motioned for her.

The lanky eleven-year-old quietly padded into the bedroom. She tucked her chestnut waves behind her ears while she stood at the foot of the bed. "Brother or sister? What's its name?"

"Lark, you have another baby brother," Kitty informed her with a soft smile. "You know you'll find out the name when everyone is in here."

She proudly grinned. "I knew it was a boy! Does he have red hair?"

Kitty laughed softly. Her girls had debated for weeks about their newest sibling. "Honey, come over here and see for yourself."

Lark wandered over, plopping onto the bed, sitting cross-legged. She leaned over, peering at the baby. "Oh, his hair is like Daddy's," she murmured. "Mama, can I hold him?"

"Of course, you can."

She took her little brother, expertly cradling him against her chest, examining his face. Lark looked into his eyes, beaming as he wrapped his hand around her finger. "I'm your big sister, Lark. You're the youngest. If anybody ever gives you any trouble, you come straight to me. I'll handle 'em," she whispered, tenderly placing her lips on his forehead.

"I wonder where she gets that from," Kitty spoke in a low pitch to her spouse. She knew Lark wholeheartedly meant it. Her daughter was as gentle as a summer breeze, but a force of nature if her siblings were mistreated in any way.

"You," Matt teased, unable to take his eyes off his oldest and youngest. "Lark, what did you do with your sisters and brother?"

"Oh, the twins are still sleeping. I told Josie to go downstairs and wake up Curly." She'd known her grandfather would be asleep in the study, snoring in his preferred armchair by the stone fireplace. "I thought it'd be best if he handled Alexander and Vivi. Maybe they'll listen if he tells 'em to be quiet."

"Baby, I appreciate your thoughtfulness," she praised, caressing her daughter's cheek, "but your brother will have to get used to noise," Kitty said, noticing her son had fallen asleep.

"Especially in this house," Matt added with a wry grin.

Lark giggled at the disapproving look her mother gave her father. She heard the snick of the door and flashed a smug grin her redheaded sister's way. "It's a boy!" she announced. "I was right!"

"You think you're always right," Josie retorted, wrinkling her freckled nose as she climbed onto the bed. She peeked in on the bundle in her sister's arms, smirking, "You were wrong about his hair. I knew it'd be just like Daddy's."

"You were both right, so I don't want to hear anymore," Kitty warned, lifting a brow toward her seven-year-old who always had to have the last word.

"Yes, Mama," Josie apologized, resting her back against the brass spindles while crossing her legs at the ankles. "Curly's getting the twins."

Matt kept an eye out for the twins while Lark passed the newborn off to her mother. He expected the toddlers to forget everything they'd been told and run into the bedroom at full speed. As usual, he heard the youngsters before he saw them.

Alexander quickly broke away from his grandfather to barrel through the door. Matt slipped out of bed and scooped his son into his arms before he launched himself onto the brass bed. "Son, remember what your grandfather told you?"

Alexander shrugged his shoulders, pushing his wild curls out of his eyes. "I gotta brother."

The big man nodded his head. "That's right. You have to be careful around Mama and your baby brother. Can you be gentle, Alexander? Can you do that for me?"

He quickly nodded his head, exuberantly shouting, "I can, Daddy!"

"And be a little quieter," Doc instructed, scrubbing his hand over his mouth while remaining in the doorway with his youngest granddaughter. Vivienne didn't seem to want to see the baby.

Matt held onto Alexander, walking over to his wife's side of the bed. He firmly held onto his son as he leaned over in his arms to plant a sloppy kiss on his mother's cheek.

"Thank you, sweet boy. What do you think?" Kitty inquired while showing off the smallest Dillon.

"Mama, he's sleepin'."

Kitty nodded, "Mmhmm. He's gonna sleep a lot. Just like you did when you were a baby."

Alexander chewed his lip, staring at the infant while winding his fingers into his father's hair. "He's little."

"He is. That's why you have to be gentle with him," Matt reminded.

The toddler put his head on his father's shoulder. "Daddy, play rough now?"

Matt chuckled, patting his boy on the back. "After breakfast, Son," he promised and sat down on the quilt covered bed.

Kitty set her eyes on Vivienne as Doc carried her to the bed, gently placing her next to her mother. From the moment she'd realized she was pregnant, Kitty had intuitively understood that her baby girl would have the hardest time of all the children adjusting to the changes surrounding the baby. "Baby, come here. I want to see you," she smiled warmly.

The lawman observed his stubborn little girl shake her head and climb into Lark's lap. As soon as her mother passed the newborn off to Doc, Vivienne didn't hesitate to crawl to her mother and snuggle into her warm embrace. Matt watched Kitty work her magic, reassuring Vivienne that she'd always be the baby.

"Vivi," she murmured, running her fingers through her daughter's copper tresses, "He'd really like to meet his big sister. Don't you want to say hi to him?"

"Okay, Mama."

"Wonderful," she responded, kissing her daughter's cheek. Kitty took her baby from Doc and held him. She let out a sigh of relief once Vivienne sweetly kissed her brother's forehead.

"Mama, what's his name?" Lark impatiently asked. She'd waited long enough.

"That little boy," Doc paused, clearing his throat, "is Lucas Galen Dillon."

Matt listened to the cheers of approval, gazing around at his daughters and sons. He met Kitty's eyes, silently thanking her for all she'd given him. He was certain he'd have spent the rest of his days miserably if he hadn't stopped that westbound train.

Matt suddenly woke up, sitting up in the darkness. He was alone except for the small stack of letters Kitty had sent him since he'd left Baton Rouge in June. He drew in a deep breath and collapsed back onto the mattress, staring at the ceiling, wondering if the babies Kitty had lost were girls. Sadness enveloped him as he pondered why he hadn't married Kitty immediately after she'd told him about her first pregnancy. If he had, she wouldn't have been working in the saloon the day Helm and Bayloe decided to act like fools and shoot up the place. He continued to stare into the darkness, again chastising himself for not marrying her once she'd recovered. Poor Kitty. She must have felt terrible, thinking he'd only wanted to marry her because she'd been with child. Yet another screw up, Dillon. It really is better if I keep my distance. Hope it doesn't kill me, though. God, I'm gonna miss those kids…I'm gonna miss her, too…

The redhead gnawed on her bottom lip and felt her husband's fingertips trail down her arms as he hovered behind her. "Henri, if you keep touchin' me, I won't finish," she snapped. Her hips hurt. Her back ached. Her pelvis felt broken since the baby had dropped earlier in the week.

He removed his hands, flashing her an innocent smile. "Forgive me. You're irresistible, Chérie," he pressed his lips to the top of her head then wandered to the back wall of his office, pouring himself a cognac. He watched her chew the end of the pencil while he gulped down his libation. His gorgeous, heavily pregnant wife had seemed different after dinner and during the twins' bedtime routine. He speculated if she was in the early stages of labor.

Kitty blew out a breath, pinching the bridge of her nose. Her eyes were tired from all the facts and figures she'd looked over for the last couple of hours. She had closely examined all of her husband's investments. For a time, she'd believed all of his shareholdings in railroads would drive her into madness. The shipping company was in good order, having expanded its geographical reach through new assets and alliances. The simplest part of her task had been looking over the sugarcane and cotton production records.

She reclined into the high back of the banker's chair, folding her hands over her swollen belly.

"Well?" Henri inquired. "Do I have the funds to purchase the building?"

She chuckled at his question, massaging her abused ribs from the baby's kicks. He always had the funds to do whatever he desired. "You do, mon beau. You haven't told me why you want to purchase the building."

"To make candy."

Her brow furrowed. "What?"

"Kathleen, we own a sugar plantation. Why not make candy? Perhaps the rock candy that Vivi loves so much. I've been corresponding with the owner of a company in Salem, Massachusetts. It's the oldest candy company in America, and the company makes the Salem Gibraltar. Perhaps we could all go to see the operation in the summer."

"What?"

He refilled his glass and sipped slowly. "My mind has been preoccupied with the future. Alexandre would undoubtedly take over the cotton and sugarcane operations. Our son enjoys the outdoors too much to linger in an office. Vivi could have the candy company if it's successful, or perhaps The Seraphine," he considered. There was a part of him that believed his intelligent, strong-minded daughter could handle every aspect of his empire when she was of age, but he knew society wouldn't allow it. "Our unborn son could take over the shipping business."

"What?" she repeated, her mind reeling at his proposal. She uncomfortably shifted in the chair, kneading the small of her back. She swore under her breath while gripping the edge of the executive desk.

"You don't think so?"

Kitty breathed in and out slowly as the pressure moved to the front of her lower abdomen. She couldn't be in denial any longer about being in labor. The pains had been consistent and growing stronger.

"Mon amour?" His deep voice rose with concern. Henri walked to her, dropping to a knee. He gently palmed her belly, feeling the tightening of her muscles.

She relaxed, smoothing her hands over her belly, meeting her husband's comforting brown eyes. "He's coming."

Henri cupped her cheek, rising up slightly to tenderly capture her lips. "I'll send for Octavia."

"Doc, too. I want him here."

"Of course, Chérie," he replied, securing his arm around her to help her stand while calling for Yves.

Galen Adams was a firm believer that babies came when they wanted to, but he didn't understand why babies always seemed to choose the middle of the night or early hours of the morning. He'd come to the St. Charles Avenue mansion with his medical bag, although up to this point, he'd done nothing more than check on his sleeping grandchildren. Doc finished his second cup of coffee and scrubbed his hand over his jaw, listening to Octavia Fontaine supporting the laboring redhead. The midwife had done a better job than he had with reassuring Kitty that her labor wasn't progressing too fast. Octavia had told Kitty that her body simply remembered what to do.

The midwife grinned at the Frenchman as Doc disappeared to make sure the twins were still soundly asleep. She was proud of Monsieur Broussard for being much calmer than the last time. Octavia was also pleased with how well the redhead had handled the intense, painful contractions. She'd remembered to lean into the pain.

"Miss Kitty, you're going to have two more pains," she spoke matter-of-factly, glancing over her shoulder at the retired physician as he returned. Octavia locked her eyes onto the woman's wide blue eyes. "You heard me, child. Two more pains. The first, you're gonna push baby's head out. The second, you're gonna push baby's body out."

"Mon beau," Kitty faintly mumbled, throwing her head back as her back arched. She gripped his upper arms, moaning and writhing as the pain seized her.

"Use the pain, Miss Kitty," Octavia encouraged. "Let's get little one's head out."

Henri grimaced as his wife's nails dug into his skin while she tucked her chin to her chest. His brown eyes widened in alarm at the sight of his son and daughter in the doorway of the master suite. The twins didn't need to see their mother in the throes of childbirth. "Out! Get them out! Delia!" he thundered, swearing in his language as the maid scrambled to remove the children from the room. Straightway, he regretted his outburst. He winced at his wife's sharp wail, pressing his lips to her perspiring brow, focusing on her. "One more, Chérie," he whispered.

Kitty pushed with all of her remaining strength. She felt the familiar relief and lightness as the baby slipped out of her body. She fell against her husband's chest, catching her breath while licking her lips, tasting the salty tears slipping down her face.

"It's a boy!" Octavia proclaimed, lifting him up as he discontentedly howled. She delicately cleaned the slippery boy before placing the squirming newborn onto his mother's chest, grinning at how he promptly calmed at the sound of her voice. "Toutes nos felicitations," she smiled, busying herself with tending to Kitty.

"A boy. Our boy, mon beau," she murmured, kissing his sweet face while sinking into the bliss of having one more precious boy in her life. Kitty had yet another son who looked just like his father. Her eyes brimmed with happy tears as she listened to his quiet grunts.

Henri wiped his eyes, staring at his son. His eyes roamed over the newborn's headful of chocolate-brown hair and his distinct features. He tenderly stroked his son's forehead, beaming proudly, "Luc is perfect. And you, mon amour…" he hummed, brushing his lips to his wife's cheek, "tu es merveilleuse."

Kitty smiled radiantly at her husband, nestling into his chest while unbuttoning her nightgown, guiding the newborn's lips to her breast. She took the warm towel from Doc, gently placing it over the infant. She barely heard the conversation around her as she stared into her son's dark blue eyes, wondering if they'd turn brown like his father's.

Doc twiddled with his ear, surveying the enamored parents and his grandson who'd been born fifteen minutes after five o'clock. "Did I hear you say Luc?"

"That's what he'll be called," Henri looked from the baby, smiling at the elderly man. "Galen, your grandson's full name is Henri Luc Galen Broussard."

"Henri Luc Galen Broussard," Doc echoed, his voice throaty with emotion. He swallowed hard, blinking furiously to keep the tears at bay. "Well, that's fine. Just fine," he cleared his throat and sniffled, swiping his palm over his mustache. "I should check on the twins."

"No, no. Let me. I need to apologize to them for my outburst," he sighed, kissing his wife's head. "Chérie, will you be alright without me?"

"Mmhmm. Henri, bring them to me in a little while," she insisted, watching him leave the bedroom.

The father rambled to his children's room, excusing Delia as he motioned for his babies to follow him. His heart ached at the children's hurt, confused expressions. He sat down on his daughter's bed, patting the candy-stripe rows of ruffled eyelet on the pure cotton comforter. A tender smile covered his mouth as his son and daughter climbed onto the bed, settling on either side of him. He held them close, kissing the tops of their heads as they snuggled into him. "Papa needs to apologize. Will you allow me? Merci," he responded to the bobs of their heads. "You woke up and heard a lot of strange noises. You were worried about Maman, and I yelled at you," he patted his son's back as the boy buried his face into his shirt. "Je suis désolé," he sincerely murmured.

"Maman a mal," Vivienne tilted her head, anxiously gazing at her father.

"She was, Vivi," he caressed her cheek. "You'll understand when you're older that the most beautiful things in life come with great pain."

Her brows crinkled while her father stroked her cheek. She glanced at her brother, anxiously chewing her bottom lip. "Papa…Maman a mal," she repeated.

"Don't worry. Maman's better."

Alexandre lifted his head, doubtfully whispering, "Maman is?"

"I promise, Alexandre. Maman wants to see the both of you. She wants you to meet your frère."

"Frère!" Vivienne shouted, jumping off her bed. "Luc!"

Henri chuckled at his daughter's enthusiasm. "Attends une minute, Vivienne," he implored, standing up with Alexandre in his arms while taking Vivienne's hand. "We will go into the bedroom quietly. No running. No shouting. Only best behavior. You need to be very careful around Maman and Luc. Understand?"

"Oui, Papa," the twins chimed in unison, finding themselves in the master suite moments later.

The fatigued mother lovingly smiled at her children while cradling the sleeping newborn against her chest. "Sweethearts, c'mon," Kitty beckoned as her husband placed the twins on the bed. She watched Alexandre carefully crawl to her side, touching her lips to his forehead once he was close to her. She glimpsed at Vivienne, warily inspecting her blanket cocooned brother. "Well, what do you think of Luc?" she asked, surveying the twins' faces, wondering which would comment first.

"He's tiny," Alexandre remarked, reaching out to delicately touch the blanket.

"He is tiny, but he's bigger than you were when you were born, Alexandre," she chortled at her toddler's dubious expression, "but he'll grow and turn into a big boy just like you," Kitty grinned, tapping her finger to his nose. She sensed her son's next question. "He can't play just yet, but you know what?"

Alexandre shook his head, cuddling deeper into his mother's side. He rested his head against her arm, looking up at her.

Kitty met his blue eyes, deciding to appeal to her son's inherited sense of duty. "You're his big brother. He'll look up to you. You'll have to show him how to be a good boy just like you are. Do you think you can do that?"

Alexandre eagerly nodded. He felt more secure since he had a job to do. He tenderly kissed his brother's head while quirking a brow at his sister.

"Well, Vivi," Kitty addressed her little girl, "Are you gonna say hello to your frère?"

Vivienne rose to her knees and placed her hand on her mother's shoulder, steadying herself while leaning forward, peering at her baby brother's face. She intently viewed his lips pucker and listened to his noisy breathing as he snoozed. She squeaked in surprise when Luc's eyes popped open and a loud cry escaped from his lungs. His arm shooting up from the blanket caused her to tumble backward, landing on her bottom.

Her father righted her, exchanging a look with his wife while brushing Vivienne's wild tresses off her face. He held his composure, wondering if he should have introduced his daughter to more babies beforehand. Not many of his friends and acquaintances had infants. Most seemed to have teenagers or grandchildren. "Mon petite amour," he crooned, hoisting her into his arms. "Did Luc frighten you? There's no reason to be scared of him. He's just like you, but smaller."

"Papa, he…he," she stammered, wide-eyed gawking at the howling infant. She put her hands over her ears.

Henri smirked at her gesture, gently pulling her arm from her ear while Kitty soothed their son. "Vivi, Luc is going to cry. He's not used to the world yet."

"Why, Papa?"

"He's been safe in Maman's belly. We have to make him feel safe and secure, and we have to get used to him crying."

Kitty softly laughed at her daughter's pursed lips and crossed arms while she fervently shook her head.

Henri sighed, "We've had a busy morning, especially Maman and Luc. Let's let them rest."