The next two weeks went by so fast . Before they knew it, they were leaving again.


"It just seems like you got here. And now you're leaving. I'll miss you two." Michaela hugged her daughter and son-in-law.


"You two be careful. Andrew you take care of Colleen you hear?"


"You can be sure of that Sully. She's in great hands. Nothing will happen to her or our your grandchild."


"Good." He hugged them both.


"Hey, I'll see you two soon, when the little one arrives. Right?"


"Absolutely! We'll let you know. Take care Matthew. I want you to be careful. Don't go off playing hero, just because you're sheriff with Daniel okay?"


"Okay Mom!" He smiled at her. He gave her a hug and a kiss, "Andrew take care of my little sister." He shook Andrew's hand.


Andrew felt a tug at his pant leg. It was Katie.


"I knew I was forgetting someone! How could I possibly forget Miss Katie huh?"


Katie responded by shrugging her shoulders and saying, " dunno."


Everyone chuckled at this. Andrew always got the best out of her.


"Well, Miss Katie, I'm going to miss you. I won't see you until you're an aunt. What do you think about that?"


"I don't wanna be a bug! Ewwww!"


Andrew couldn't help but crack up. Everyone had a good laugh about that.


"No, no," he said laughing, " not a bug ant, but an aunt. When your sister has her baby you'll be an aunt, not the bug."


"Oh, okay." She squeezed Andrew's cheeks, and gave him a wet kiss on the lips.


"Thank you. I'm gonna miss you too." He gave her a kiss on the cheek and a hug, and set her down.


"Bye, Andew." She wrapped her small arms around Andrew's neck and gave him the tightest hug. Andrew looked up at Colleen in a surprised way. He just hugged her back.


"Okay, Katie, we gotta go hon. I'll see you later."


She hung her head low and ran over to Michaela. She began to whimper into her skirt. Andrew couldn't believe that she was that upset about them leaving.


"Hey, Katie, don't I get a hug and kiss bye-bye? Or did Andrew get it all huh?"


Katie looked up. Her cheeks stained in tears. She ran to her older sister with smile and wrapped her arms around her neck. She gave her a kiss and a hug.


"Ah, last but not least, Brian. I'm gonna miss ya'."


"I'm gonna miss you too." He gave her a hug and shook Andrew's hand.


"Hey, Brian next time you come we can go by that candy store that I promised you okay?"


"Okay!"


They just started to walk away.


"Wait. You never told me what you planning to name your child." Michaela said.


"Well," Colleen asked, " if it's a boy we decided to name him Charles Andrew. And if it's a girl we decided on Annabelle Elizabeth."


"I think that those are beautiful names Colleen."


"Thank you."


"Well we should get going."


"Bye!"


The train home was pleasant. Although they already missed their family. Andrew and Colleen talked about their decision. They would keep the baby at the clinic with Colleen and Andrew. Colleen worked at the clinic with Andrew when they got back, instead of waiting until after the baby was born. The next two months went by in no time. Colleen was now five and a half months pregnant. She was beginning to really show. They were becoming increasingly excited.


"Come in," Colleen said after a knock at the door.


A pretty, young woman stepped in. She had blue eyes and blonde hair.


"Hello. My name is Katherine Carter. I'm looking for Dr. Cook, " she said in a snotty tone.


"Which Dr. Cook?"


"There are two? I'm looking for Andrew. Where is he?" She demanded.


"He's out right now. I'm his wife Dr. Colleen Cook. Can I help you?" She asked standing up from behind her desk.


"His wife? Of how long?"


"Two and a half years. Is there something I can do for you?" Colleen asked again losing her patience. This woman was so rude!


"No. I'll be leaving now."


Colleen finished her work and was leaving. She put her wrap on. It was only September but it was getting chilly, and she did not want to get sick.


She was cooking dinner when Andrew came in. "Colleen?," he called.


"In the kitchen."


"How was your day," he asked her kissing her on the cheek.


"Interesting. Do you know a Katherine Carter?"


He thought for a second, " Yeah, why?"


"She came by today. I must say I have never met someone so rude! How do you know her?"


"Well we used to court. Before I came to Colorado Springs of course. After I came here I fell in love with you, and the rest is history."


"Ah. I was just wonderin'. Now go wash up. Supper is ready."


"No. You go wash up. I'll set the table." He kissed the tip of her nose.


"Okay." She gave him a kiss on the lips. Neither one of them wanted to move. They deepened the kiss. They were both wanted each other. It was a very passionate kiss. She pulled back. Both of them breathless.


"I'll be back."


"Okay," she walked away. She saw the look in his eyes. The look that said 'I can't believe you're going to walk away just like that.' It made her smile.


They enjoyed their dinner. By the time it came for them to go to bed Colleen was very tired. They lay in bed next to each other. Suddenly Colleen smiled. Andrew saw this.


"Why are you smilin'?"


Without a word she grabbed his hand and placed it on her lower abdomen. After a second, Andrew began to smile. They felt the baby kick.


"Wow," that was all either one of them could manage, " that's amazing. I've never felt that before."


"Neither have I, " Colleen said.


They both fell asleep.


Colleen nor Andrew saw Katherine Carter after that one day. They guessed that she was there to get Andrew back. But when she saw that he had a wife and that his wife was pregnant, she was probably so embarrassed that she went back to Boston. The time was just flying by. It was late November by now. Colleen was almost nine months pregnant. She said she felt huge.


Andrew always told her that she had never looked so beautiful before. And it was the truth. They were all prepared. They had the nursery all set up. It was almost Christmas. They wanted to be with their family but Colleen's doctor advised her not to travel because she was so far along and it would be dangerous.


Andrew was downstairs reading a book. Colleen was upstairs sleeping. He decided to go check on her. He poked his head inside the door. She was fine. He was about to shut the door when he heard her moan. It grew a little louder.


"Colleen honey are you all right?" He gently shook her awake.


"Andrew I think the baby is coming. I think I am having contractions. Ahhh!" Another one hit.


Andrew held her hand until it was over, "That one wasn't too bad. But I know they'll get worse. I've been having them for an hour or so."


"Colleen! Why didn't you come and get me!? I'm going to go next door and have them go get the doctor. I'm not going to leave you. I'm afraid the contractions are too close and the baby may come while I'm gone."


Andrew was only gone for a couple of minutes. Their neighbor gladly agreed to go get Colleen's doctor. Andrew thanked him. The doctor arrived about thirty minutes later.


"Andrew please wait outside, " the doctor asked. He obliged. He paced up and down the hallway. Occasionally he would hear Colleen scream out in pain. He wished he could be with her. He heard a knock at the door. He went to open it. He was shocked to see who was there.


"What do you want?" He asked in an angry voice.


"I want to see my daughter. Let me see her."


"No. I won't let you see her. I won't let you hurt her anymore. Not now."


"Andrew step aside and let me see her."


"No! Not now! It is a very bad time! Now leave!"


"Is she okay?! What did you do to her?!" Andrew didn't answer


Just then the both of them heard Colleen cry out in pain upstairs.


"What did you do to her?!" He demanded. He tried to push his way through.


Andrew stood his ground.


"Ethan, no! You cannot see her! This is a very bad time!"


"Why? Why can't I see my own daughter?!"


"She is not your daughter. You are not her father. Sully is. You gave up your right to her, Brian, and our family when Michaela and Sully adopted them! Now leave!"


"Your family? You mean you and Colleen have a child?" He asked


"Will have a child. That is why you can't see her. Now I'll tell you again leave. Now."


With great reluctance he left. Andrew knew that this was not over. He was not going to let Ethan ruin their lives. Especially now that they had a child. Andrew heard the doctor open the door. He spun around.


"Congratulations Andrew you have a beautiful daughter."


"I have a daughter? Really? Can I see her?" Andrew was so excited.


"You have a daughter and a son. Twins."


"Twins? Two? A son and a daughter? Oh my. . . "


Andrew hurried up the stairs to his wife and two new children. When he entered to room he found Colleen cradling two small bundles in her arms. One had auburn hair, just like its mother, and the other had dark hair.


"Colleen, this is much more than I ever expected. Which one is little Annabelle Elizabeth and which one is Charles Andrew?"


"This one here, " she said motioning towards the one with red hair," is little Annabelle, and this handsome one here is Charles Andrew. Say hello to your Daddy." She smiled at Andrew. He sat on the edge of the bed.


"Can I hold Annabelle?" Colleen grinned at him.


"Andrew, you don't have to ask. They're your children too. I didn't exactly get them on my own you know." He smiled back at her small joke.


Andrew took the baby from Colleen's arms. She was so small and beautiful. She looked just like her mother. She and her brother seemed like two little miracles. He couldn't believe how perfect they were. She began to cry.


"Andrew here, let me feed her, " Colleen reached for her.


"Just a second. I think I know what might work."


He began to hum a soft lullaby. Her cry became less and less. She fell asleep in her Daddy's arms. Andrew could feel her snuggle against the warmth of his chest. Colleen smiled at this. She knew that Annabelle would be 'Daddy's little girl'.


Andrew put the babies in the bassinet in their room. And made Colleen go to sleep and get some rest. She said she would only agree if he would lie down with her. So he did.


The next day Andrew sent a wire to their family. Michaela hurried up the stairs of the homestead. "Sully! Brian! Where are you?"


They both came from upstairs.


"What is it?" Sully asked.


"Colleen had the baby!"


"What? When? Boy or girl?" Brian asked in one breath.


"She had the baby on November 29. It was a healthy girl. They named her Annabelle Elizabeth. Oh Sully, I want to go as soon as possible to see them."


"Go see who as soon as possible?" Matthew asked walking in the door.


"Colleen and Andrew. She had the baby. It was a girl. Annabelle Elizabeth." Brian said.


"Really? When?"


"November 29th."


A week later they took the train to go see their new grandchild and niece.


Andrew was waiting for them when they arrived. As usual Katie was the first to come running off the train looking for Andrew. He saw her and called her name. She looked in his direction. When she saw him she got this big grin on her face and went running to him. He bent down to get to her level. She came running into his arms and yelled his name. He scooped her up and hugged her.


"It's nice to see you too Katie." He smiled at her. This little girl was like having is own little sister. He loved her to death. And adored her with all his heart.


Everyone else came in tow with their luggage. He shook hands with Sully, Matthew and Brian. He hugged Michaela and gave her a small kiss on the cheek.


"Where's my baby?" Katie asked.


"She's your niece. She's my and Colleen's baby."


"So Andrew, get much sleep lately? " Sully joked. Knowing the answer to his own question.


He laughed, " I think in the last week I've gotten about four hours a night."


Michaela noticed a special sparkle in Andrew's eye," So how is Colleen doing?"


"Um, she's doing really well. She's up and about. I have to almost force her to rest for a few minutes. But she's amazing. Annabelle looks just like her. Red hair and all. Well let's get going. I know Colleen is anxious to see you all."


"Colleen we're home!"


"Andrew, shhhh! I just put her down. Quit hollerin' through the house." She smiled and ran for her family. She hugged Sully first. "Oh, Pa I've missed you!"


"I missed you too. But now I'm just an old grandpa." He joked. Colleen smiled, " No you're not."


She hugged Brian, then Matthew, and then her mother. They got settled and then sat down in the living room.


"So Colleen, " Michaela began, " when do I get to meet my granddaughter?"


"I was going to wait until she woke up but I guess we could do it now. I'll go get her." She got up.


"I'll go with you." Andrew said.


They headed up the stairs. They noticed the door cracked open. "Funny. I thought I shut it all the way," Colleen said to herself. They opened the door to find Katie peering in the cradle and softly stroking the baby's head. They both looked at each other and smiled.


"Katie what are you doing?" Colleen asked.


"I was wooking at Belle."


"Ah." Said Colleen.


"Dare's two babies!" Katie squealed.


"I know. It's a surprise for everyone else. His name is Charles Andrew. But let's keep it a secret."


"Otay. I go see Mama."


"Andrew you can bring Charles and I'll bring Annabelle."


" Okay." They left the room.


"Meet your granddaughter and niece Annabelle Elizabeth Cook, " Colleen said proudly."


"I wanna hold 'er!" Katie said clapping her hands together and smiling.


"Okay. But you gotta sit down." She crawled on to the couch next to Matthew.


Colleen gingerly set Annabelle into Katie's arms, " Make sure you hold her head up."


Andrew walked into the room," Anyone want to hold their nephew and grandson?"


Everyone's head shot up," What you have two?" Matthew asked. Colleen and Andrew glanced up at each other and smiled.


"This is your grandson Charles Andrew Cook."


Michaela got up and walked over to him. "May I hold him?"


"Of course. You are his grandmother after all."


Everyone was shocked by the second baby. They never gave it a thought. Although Colleen and Andrew were glad to have two children.


Mid way through the night Colleen woke up. She suddenly realized that Annabelle hadn't woken up for her feeding. She went to check on her just to make sure she was okay. Andrew was woken up by her scream.


"Colleen? What's goin' on?!"


" Anna. . . Annabelle isn't . . . Annabelle isn't here! Someone took her! Andrew who would do this?!"


Andrew knew who. And why. Sully came in," What's goin' on?" Andrew had Colleen wrapped in his arms and she was sobbing. "Sully, someone kidnapped Annabelle. Colleen came to check on her and she was gone. I think I know who did it." Colleen looked up at him with pleading eyes.


"Who?"


"Ethan. He showed up the day they were born. I think he took our daughter because he couldn't have his daughter." Andrew's eyes were full of anger, pain, and worry. He wanted his little girl back. " I'm going to find him and get my daughter back. Now. "


"Andrew, I'm going with you. I'll go get Matthew."


Sully woke up Matthew. Michaela was woken up by this. Colleen was sitting on the couch cradling Charles in her arms. Michaela was trying to comfort her but was not very successful. Right now she wanted to go after Ethan.


It seemed like an eternity. Andrew, Sully, and Matthew headed out about 2 o'clock in the morning. Still no answer.


"Andrew slow down. We'll find him. He can't be far. It's kinda hard to hide a baby who misses her ma and is crying. We'll find her and bring her home safely.


"Oh Ethan, she's beautiful! I can't believe that we got a baby this tiny! She's absolutely darlin'. How can a parent not love this beautiful face, " Lilly exclaimed.


"I don't know. But now we have the child that was taken from us. Another little girl. All we need is a strong boy, and our family will be complete." Ethan planned to find a boy. If he couldn't have his daughter. Andrew couldn't have his. Or his son. He planned on ruinin' their life just like his was ruined.


They were lookin' for hours and still no sign of Ethan. Or a baby. Andrew suddenly stopped. He dismounted from the horse and picked something up from the ground. "What is it Andrew?" Matthew asked.


Andrew turned around fear, pain, and tears all burning in his eyes. He held up a small pink knitted bootie in his hand, " It's the booties that Colleen knitted for her before she was born."


"Andrew, I swear to you and Colleen that we'll find your little girl, if it's the last thing I do." Matthew said


They decided to check the local hotel to see if anyone had seen a man with a baby.


"Excuse me sir, have you seen a man with a baby. It was a little girl. She has red hair, green eyes? The man is about six feet tall, brown hair brown eyes."


"Yes I have. He also left with a lovely blonde woman. She seemed to be his wife. They left just a while ago."


"Do you know where they went?"


"They checked out. I think they're leaving. Probably the train station."


"Thank you." Andrew took off in a hurry.


They spotted Ethan, the woman, with the baby buying train tickets. They sat on a bench.


Andrew approached him with more anger burning in him than he ever thought possible," Ethan!"


He stood and Andrew punched him square in the jaw," How dare you take my daughter!"


"Your daughter? I think you're mistaken. We adopted her." Lilly said.


"The hell you did! Your husband here kidnapped my daughter. He took her to replace the one that he lost."


"How can you accuse me of something like that?! My wife and I adopted this little girl!"


"Please give me back my daughter. Her mother misses her so much," Andrew was choked up by now he couldn't finish. Sully spoke up for him.


"Ethan taking Annabelle won't make up for losing Colleen. She's devastated. She's torn. Give her back to her parents. Please." Lilly was crying now, " All I wanted was to be a mother. Someone to love. I didn't know that she was yours!"


Andrew stepped forward to take the baby from her. Ethan knew he couldn't stop them. Andrew took her back. He held her so close. He softly kissed her forehead. He just wanted to get back to Colleen.


They walked up the stairs of the porch. Andrew was almost afraid to let go. He thought he might almost lose her again. Michaela came running out.


"Oh, Andrew you got her back! Was it Ethan? Why?"


"It was Ethan. He actually told his wife they had adopted her. He wanted to ruin our lives just like his was, and he didn't want us to have Annabelle if he couldn't have Colleen. Lilly, his wife didn't know anything about it. Where's Colleen?"


"Upstairs sleeping. She cried herself to sleep."


"Colleen, sweetie, we're back."


Colleen sat straight up. She began to ask Andrew something, but when she saw the baby she just took her and held her like she never wanted to let go.


Ethan left town along with his wife. They never heard from him again. Not that they could complain. They had a wonderful life. It couldn't be more perfect.


"Colleen, thank you for completing my life. You three are my life. I love you."


"We love you too Andrew."


They kissed each other goodnight.