Feeling the sunlight brush along her face, she took a deep breath and let the quiet morning welcome her before she opened her eyes. She looked over at the crib by Bear and rested her hand on her tender stomach. Carefully she rolled onto her side and looked at the blonde man who had finally returned hom. He was lying away from her on his back and she saw the marks up and down his arm. Sitting up, she looked over his marred skin and saw the patch on his side.

Bruises and cuts ran from his chest up his neck to his face and she wanted to hold him to her and cry. He had left to protect them and barely made it back in time. She slid her fingers gently through his ratty hair and kissed his brow that wasn't covered in bruises or sores. Slipping from the bed, she pulled on a pair of sweatpants and walked over to the crib. The twins were sound asleep and a smile slid onto her face as she slid her fingers along one's small face.

She didn't know yet which line they would take after. Their eyes wouldn't open just yet and only then would she be able to see if her bloodline or Reese's was more prominent. Kissing each of their heads, she knelt down next to Bear and ruffled his head. He opened his eyes and yawned before leaning into her caress. He licked her hand and she smiled.

"I'm doing much better."

He nudged her hand and she stood up as he climbed to his feet. He stretched on the walk to the door and she let him into the hall. Walking to the stairs, she could smell food cooking down below in the kitchen and silently descended the steps. Bear guided her into the room and she found her father making breakfast for the large number of marshalls sitting in the room. He stopped when he saw her and came around the counter to hug her.

Keeping the pressure soft while she recovered, he took a deep breath and looked down into her eyes. She was still exhausted from the strain on her body but she looked much better in the eyes. He kissed her brow and she helped him pour drinks.

"Sam and Adam?"

"Still resting."

"Reese?"

She put her glass down and looked back at him. He knew she hadn't been aware enough last night when she saw him to see how bad of shape he was in but now she knew.

"He's resting."

Mack dished up the food and said "The doctor will be back today to do the bloodwork on the boys and will probably look over Reese again."

"Again?"

He nodded and took the food to the table. The marshalls silently helped themselves when she knew they were listening to the private conversation out of respect for their superior upstairs. He meant a great deal to the force and she hoped they realized this was the last of his aid.

"He was given a temporary doctoring job so he would be able to sleep after the boys were born. He looked pretty bad last night."

She took a sip of juice and said "He looks horrible this morning."

Mack chuckled and said "We better bring your boys down so they don't wake him. I have no idea how much rest he got while he was gone."

"From what I saw this morning, none."

The man nodded and they left the kitchen. Mack followed her back upstairs to her room and she opened the door softly. Checking the bed, she found Reese still asleep and she had her father help carry the boys out into the hall. She pulled the door shut and they walked downstairs.

"Do you have anywhere to lay these two down while they sleep?"

She shot her father a look on the way to the family room and said "I raised a pack of puppies here. I think we have plenty of secured spots."

He chuckled and watched her lower one of the boys into a large pillow by the couch. He laid the other one beside his brother and she set up a pin to keep them from rolling off the pillow when they woke.

"It's hard to believe they're here."

She smiled and looked up at her father. He was still beaming with pride with his new grandchildren and she wrapped an arm around his. He kissed the top of her head and they walked back into the kitchen. She caught sight of Bear settling down by the babies and a few of the growing pups settled down beside him. Sitting down at the counter, she finished her juice and Mack fixed her something light to fill her empty stomach.

Greg slid back from the table and quietly approached. She saw his weariness lighter than the night he had returned and she watched Mack look him over.

"Thanks for letting us stay. We are talking about heading into town and rooming there."

She put her fork down and said "There's plenty of room here."

"And plenty of work."

They both looked back at Mack and heard "With the babies born, my daughter isn't going to be able to do much work around here and we both know Reese has no business getting out of bed for a while."

Greg nodded and asked "Is he that bad?"

She took a deep breath and said "I've seen him ill before but never wounded like this."

The man let out a sigh and said "Abigail is very creative in her torture methods."

Joe looked away from him and he turned his focus on Mack. The man was right now in charge of the place and if there was work they could do to repay the hospitality they received, they'd take it.

"What would you like us to start with?"

Mack smirked and said "The barn needs work. Billy has been out there tending to it alone and it's too big for one man to keep up with the daily chores."

Greg nodded and waved his men to their feet. They each approached Joe and squeezed her shoulder in thanks and left the room. She heard the door shut in the hall and let out a restrained breath.

"How long will you let them stay?"

She met her father's gaze and said "They won't leave until they receive new orders or get to see Reese back on his feet."

Mack scratched his neck and said "Then I guess we'll have plenty of people to feed for a while and I should send someone into town to get some more food."

Smirking, she helped him clean up the kitchen and made her way into the family room while he put the breakfast down for the dogs. As she moved the boys over by the chair, she heard the young dogs running into the kitchen to eat and looked over at Bear. He looked up at her and she nodded. Silently he left the room to get his fill of the food and she sat down in the chair. Watching her boys sleep, she rested her head on her hand and took a deep breath.

She knew Reese had seen the boys first and would have a better idea which was Sam and which was Adam. Her mind had been so foggy the night before between the exhaustion from the labor and the medication the doctor had been sedating her with. She ran her hand along her wrapped arm and felt the tenderness spread on contact. It was going to take a long time before she got full use of the arm back, if she did. He had said it was a clean wound but she had felt the tendens and lignaments tear when the blade was jerked out and mending those tissues are not always fully successful.

Bear walked into the room and she felt him curl up by her feet next to the boys. He was protecting them for her and making sure they were always under watch. She smiled and ran her hand along his ear to thank him. Footsteps from upstairs made her look up and she listened to a few people come downstairs. Her father had gone outside to help get the men set up for the day and she knew whoever was up would fix their own food.

They had recently evicted her from cooking in the kitchen and right now she was in no hurry to try to claim her right back. Grace stuck her head in the room and smiled when she saw them. She came up to Joe and hugged her.

She looked down at her new brothers and asked "Did they sleep well?"

Joe nodded and said "All night. Babies usually sleep most of the day until they get to be closer to a year old."

The girl smiled again and said "I bet Will is going to be hard on them."

She smiled and said "We'll have to make sure he isn't too rough with them as they grow up."

Grace nodded and asked "Have you eaten?"

"Yes. A little while ago with your grandfather."

Grace took a deep breath and asked "Dad?"

She saw the worry in the brown eyes and said "Resting. He's been through a lot."

Memories of her past were creeping into her eyes and she felt Joe take hold of her hand. She sat on her mother's lap and rested her head on the woman's shoulder. The wounds she had seen on the man when he had come home last night had been too close to her own. He was covered in bloody sores and bruises and it shook her to the core.

"Will he be okay?"

Joe smirked and said "He always was a stubborn man. He'll be fine."

Grace closed her eyes and said "The woman he went after, she was part of the gang that killed my parents. Is she dead?"

Shaking her head, she held the child closer and said "I don't know but I promise you that you are safe."

Smiling, she looked up at Joe and slid off her lap. Bear watched her leave and let out a whine when she left the room. Joe scratched his head and took a deep breath. She had been so caught up in her own misery when Reese had left that she had forgotten the past of her own child. Grace was being so strong these days but it was only a matter of time before the past would get to her a little.

She just prayed the child could remember her happy memories here to keep her above the black ocean of pain until everything calmed back down for her. Hearing the first movement from her side, she looked down at the boys and found one of them stretching his little arms above his head. Smiling, she picked him up and held him as he tried opening his eyes. He was being very stubborn about trying to see the world and she felt him catch hold of one of her fingers.

"You must be Adam."

Slowly those little eyes came into sight and she looked down into a sea of amber just like his father and older brother. He blinked a few times before he looked up at her and reached for her whole hand. Bear laid down next to Sam and looked up at her. He watched the baby look around the room with his big bright eyes and his ears went up when Sam rolled into his leg. She laughed when he nosed the boy and got a squeal from him.

Bear looked up at her and she kissed Adam before putting him down with his brother. A knock came from the doorway and she looked up as Jeff entered the room. The man looked down at his two new nephews and smiled. Seeing Bear guarding them brought back memories of Will's first year with them and he looked back at his sister. She looked tired still but he was glad to see her smile back.

When Reese was gone, it had been hard to see her fake a smile when it held no light to the genuine one on her face now.

"How are you feeling?"

"A little tired."

"I bet."

She watched him scoop up Sam and take the boy over to the couch. Bear glared at him from his spot on the floor and she laughed. He didn't like the man removing the boy from his care and Jeff chuckled.

"I'd swear he thinks these two are pups for his care."

She shook her head with a smile and said "He just knows how much attention and protection they will need."

Jeff looked down at the boy in his arms and asked "Which one is this?"

"Sam."

He looked back at her and asked "How do you know?"

She picked up Adam and said "This guy already tried taking the world in. Stubborn about it too."

"Has to be the oldest."

She nodded and said "I wonder if his brother will have eyes like him or like me."

"What color does Adam have?"

She looked back at her brother and said "Amber."

He groaned and said "Great. More eyes like their father."

Laughing, she put her son back down with Bear and stood up. Jeff let her take Sam back over to the pillow and rest him beside his brother. Bear nosed the boys and settled his head on his leg by them.

"He really does like to protect your children."

"Part of being my friend."

Jeff stood up and they left the room. She walked with him into the kitchen and sat down as he fixed himself something to drink.

"Who else got up with you?"

He looked at her and said "Everyone but Reese."

She rested her chin on her hand and asked "And where are they?"

"Outside I think. They wanted to keep it quiet."

Closing her eyes, she felt the grateful feeling settle in and looked back at her brother. He drank a glass of juice and looked back at her.

"I bet Reese will be waking soon."

"I hope not."

Jeff chuckled and said "The guy is pure stubbornness. He'll wake when we least want it."

"He needs all the rest he can get."

"That bad huh?"

She held his gaze and said "You saw him last night."

"Right, last night. I didn't see the full extent of the wounds really cause when we rode during the day he was ahead of me at all times."

"You didn't stop?"

He shook his head and said "Couldn't if I wanted to. The man was set on getting home to you, no matter how much of a toll it took on him."

She took a deep breath and caught his hand. He squeezed hers and offered her an old smirk.

"Thank you."

He nodded and said "I better get outside and see if there is anything I can do. I'll have Calli come in and sit with the boys if you like. That way you can check on Reese."

She nodded and watched him leave the room. As he walked outside, she returned to the family room and found Bear watching her. He lifted his head as she knelt next to him and the twins. They were sleeping soundly again and she kissed each soft head.

"Keep a good eye on them and don't give Calli a hard time when she joins you."

He snorted and she chuckled as she scratched his ear. The woman appeared seconds later and hugged her.

"It's good to see you up and about."

"Thanks for watching them."

The woman smiled and said "I love children, especially babies."

Joe watched her sit down in the chair and said "Bear will help keep an eye on them. If they start fussing, just come get me."

The woman nodded and said "If my brother wakes up, give him hell for me."

Laughing, she left the room and walked down the hall. The climb upstairs dimmed the little noise from downstairs and she opened her bedroom door. The man was still resting in bed and she walked over to the window. Opening the blinds, she looked back at Reese and took a seat on the bed beside him. His skin was warm but not burning with fever yet and she breathed a breath of relief.

She couldn't bare to watch him suffer from a fever like the one before. Sliding her fingers through his hair, she grabbed the empty bowl by the bed and took it into the bathroom. She filled it with cool water and dug out a clean towel. Returning to the bed, she soaked the towel and wrung it out. She placed it on his forehead and slowly ran it down the length of his face and sides of his head.

He took a deep breath as she soaked the cloth and his eyes opened slowly. At first he couldn't focus on anything but when she looked back down at him, he saw her come into view.

"Hey there."

His throat wouldn't work yet and she took his nearest hand. He closed his eyes and felt her fingers slid through his hair once more. Feeling her touch eased some of the pain raging through him and he remembered the boys. Trying to sit up, he fell back into the bed in agony and she shook her head with a soft laugh.

"Take it easy."

He caught her hand as it ran the cloth over his face and asked "The boys?"

"Downstairs sleeping so they wouldn't wake you."

"Who's watching them?"

"Bear and Calli."

His eyes narrowed and he asked "Bear?"

She nodded and said "He did the same with Will when he was born. The dog is a very good protector."

The image blurred in his mind and made it harder to believe but he didn't push the topic. He looked over her and found her more rested than the last time he saw her. She was up and moving around while he was trapped in this bed.

"Dad went to town to get more food and bring the doctor by to check you over again."

"He should look at you first."

She shook her head and said "I'm mending much better than you. You look like hell."

He smirked and said "That does come with the job."

"I don't like it."

Holding her hand, he watched her put the towel away and she kissed his brow. He was grateful she didn't ask what all happened but then with her training she didn't have to. He knew with one look she could see where most of the damage was done and what was going to need the time to recover.

"Please tell me you won't agree with him and force me to stay in here."

She shook her head and said "I'm not the doctor."

"No, you're worse."

Laughing, she left the bed and walked over to the window. He looked up at the ceiling and felt that laughter lighten another small amount of pain inside but not enough. He wanted to take her in his arms and hold her tightly to him, never letting go. The pain wouldn't even allow him to lift his hand on his bad side.

"Grace wanted to know what happened to Abigail."

He looked over at her and asked "Why?"

Joe looked back at him and said "That woman and the brothers were behind her parents' deaths."

Words couldn't even form when he let that sink in and he closed his eyes. The last he remembered, the woman had been bound and left with all the other marshalls they had left behind.

"I'll have to check in with Adam to find out."

"Adam?"

"Most of the men held captive were marshalls. No that's wrong. All of them were."

She came back to the bed and asked "How long has this investigation been going on?"

He looked up at her and said "Five years."

"The entire time you were with them."

Nodding, he closed his eyes and said "I hadn't heard anything about it after we arrested the last of the brothers and then I walked away after Will and you got sick."

She ran her fingers through his hair, easing his thoughts and he looked up at her. There had to be thousands of questions going on inside her head but he knew she wouldn't bring them up until he was ready to face them. Right now he just wanted to keep her with him and rest. She could see his exhaustion still overwhelming him and she kissed him slowly.

"Adam has your eyes."

He looked up at her again and asked "What?"

Smirking, she said "He forced his eyes open. They're just like yours."

Groaning, he managed to cover his face with one hand and she laughed. She knew it wasn't that he didn't like it, but he wanted the boys to look more like her. The more they resembled her the better their chances were.

"The doctor will be running the blood work to ease our minds when he gets here. I'm sure these two will be just fine."

"I hope so."

She kissed him again and felt him lean his head against her knee. He was so tired and wounded that it was hard to just sit here and do nothing. She wanted to find the woman that did this and kill her but that wasn't an option. All she could do for him was help keep him comfortable to the best of her ability while he recovered and pray it wouldn't take too long. They both knew how much he couldn't stand being kept confined in any room.