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"𝐀𝐋𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓, breakfast is served." Abilene announced as she carried a steaming platter of biscuits and a bowl of sausage gravy to the table. "Now, Johnny, Robby—I don't think y'all have ever had biscuits and gravy, but down here in Texas, this is sacred."

"Thank you, Mrs. Tate," Robby said politely, reaching for a biscuit.

"Has anyone seen August?" Janette asked gently as she served herself a spoonful of gravy.

"Said he wasn't hungry," Clay rumbled as he came in from outside, drying his hands on a towel. "He's headin' over to Joe's place to get some practice in. Bull riding."

Johnny's brows shot up. "Wait—kid rides bulls?"

"Of course he does," Clay said, as if it was obvious. "He was a five-time rodeo champ before y'all ever came along. Guess he didn't bother tellin' you that?"

Johnny shook his head. "No. Kid's full of surprises."

Robby frowned, tilting his head. "Wait—champion? Like, the real deal?"

Stella smiled faintly, pride shining through her grief. "It runs in the family. August and I... we're kin to Lane Frost."

Johnny blinked. "Lane who?"

Robby looked just as lost. "Yeah, who's that?"

Stella's eyes softened. "Uncle Lane. He was one of the greatest bull riders that ever lived. Died in Cheyenne, back in '89—before I was even born."

Nathan leaned back in his chair, voice carrying that quiet Walker weight. "Your mama, Ava... she took that harder than just about anything. Lane wasn't just her little brother. He was her heart. Losing him in that arena—it broke somethin' in her that never healed."

Kellie set her fork down, her hand trembling just slightly. "Ava and I were right there in the stands. We saw it happen." Her eyes glistened, and she glanced at Stella. "He'd just waved to the crowd, smiling like he always did. And then... it all went wrong."

Clay's jaw tightened. His voice was low, rough, like gravel. "Cheyenne. July twenty-fourth, 1989. Lane climbed on a bull named Taking Care of Business. Rode him clean, full eight seconds. Crowd went wild. But when he jumped off, the bull hooked back around and hit him in the ribs. Crushed him."

Nathan's voice grew heavier, almost breaking. "Ava screamed his name so loud it shook the whole damn arena. I had to hold her back, keep her from runnin' onto the dirt." He swallowed hard, shaking his head at the memory. "She was fightin' me with everything she had."

Clay's eyes darkened, remembering his own struggle. "Same with Kellie. She tried to climb the rail, screaming for him. I wrapped my arms around her and wouldn't let go. That's the only reason she didn't throw herself in there too."

Kellie closed her eyes, whispering, "I can still feel his name on my lips. I can still see Ava's face."

Nathan nodded, staring at the table, the grief still etched in him after all these years. "Lane never made it to the hospital. Tuff Hedeman held him in his arms as he took his last breath. Twenty-five years old. Just a kid."

The table went quiet. Robby's wide eyes darted from face to face, trying to take in the weight of the story.

Johnny let out a low whistle, muttering, "Damn. Guy went out like a warrior." He looked at Stella, softer now. "Guess the badass gene runs in your family."

Stella's watery smile said everything. "Yeah. Uncle Lane was fearless. But he wasn't reckless. He loved the sport. And he loved people. That's what made him special."

Clay tipped his hat lower, voice steady. "Folks say every bull rider since has been chasing his shadow. Truth is, there'll never be another Lane."

Robby finally found his voice. "So... he knew the risks, but he still climbed on that bull? Why?"

Nathan leaned forward, steady, grounding. "Because courage ain't the absence of fear, son. It's ridin' straight into it, knowin' the stakes, and givin' it everything you've got anyway. That's what Lane taught us. That's what made him a legend."

The room sat in quiet respect, Robby taking it in with wide-eyed reverence, Johnny with a flicker of grudging awe.

Nathan finally broke the silence, turning his attention back to Johnny. "You get that graffiti cleaned off your van?"

"Yeah, finally," Johnny muttered around a mouthful of biscuit. "Should be illegal to deface somebody's property."

"It is," Nathan replied dryly, sipping his coffee.

Wanting to ease the tension, Stella glanced between them. "So... everything good with you two?"

Johnny looked at her and softened, a rare smile tugging at his mouth. "Yeah. Really good."

Robby cleared his throat. "I'd like to make amends with August. I know it'll take time."

"He'll come around, hon," Stella reassured gently. "Just... give him some space."

She took a bite of her biscuit, but the moment the gravy hit her stomach, her face paled. Covering her mouth, she bolted from the table and rushed to the bathroom.

Clay frowned, glancing at Nathan. "Don't make sense. That's her favorite."

Before the heaviness could settle, Robby spoke up, smiling politely. "Uh—Mrs. Tate? These are amazing. Mind if I grab another plate?"

"Of course, sugar," Abilene said with a warm smile. "Help yourself. Get as many as you want. We have plenty."

"Thanks," Robby said, piling another biscuit on his plate.

Stella returned a few minutes later, opening the fridge to grab Pepto Bismol. Nathan immediately stood, concern etched across his face. "Hey. You alright, honey?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Stella said. "I think I'm gonna lie down for a bit. I'll be back down to help saddle break those Fresian mares."

Clay leaned forward, his tone firm but protective. "Who're you kiddin', Stella Blue? You just lost your breakfast. Ain't no way you're steppin' foot near a horse today."

"But—"

Nathan stood behind her, his presence grounding, voice steady but gentle. "Clay's right, Stella Blue. You could've picked up somethin'—flu, bad stomach, whatever it is. You need rest, not saddles."

Johnny, who'd been silent since she came back in, pushed his chair back slightly, his eyes locked on her. "Stella... listen to them. You're not Superwoman. Get some sleep." His voice wasn't rough, not this time—it was softer, protective.

Stella glanced around at the faces watching her—her father, her uncle, Johnny—and with a tired nod, she whispered, "Alright. I'll rest."

Stella walked into her mother's old bedroom, the air heavy with memories. She sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers brushing over the framed photo of Ava and Kellie from 1988, their smiles frozen in time. Her throat tightened.

Johnny appeared in the doorway, then crossed the room and sat beside her. "Hey," he said, voice softer than usual. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah..." Stella sighed, her shoulders slumping. "It's just—I've felt sick lately. I thought it was the stress, you know? Seeing Grandma Abilene and Aunt Kellie again, coming back home. But, Johnny..." Her voice caught, nervous. "I'm a couple days late."

Johnny blinked. "Late for what?"

"My period's late," she admitted, eyes darting away from his. "I think I might be pregnant."

Johnny shot up from the bed like someone had lit a fire under him. "What? How? We use protection."

"It's not one-hundred percent, Johnny. These things can happen," Stella said gently, watching him pace the floor.

He ran a hand through his hair, muttering. "Okay, okay, so... this is a good thing, right? Or is it a bad thing? 'Cause I don't—I don't wanna screw this up."

Stella swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything yet. We're getting ahead of ourselves. I haven't even taken a test."

Johnny stopped pacing and pointed at her. "Right. The test. That's the thing. Okay. Let's pee on a stick." He hesitated, then quickly corrected himself. "I mean, you pee on a stick. That's still how they do this?"

Despite the knot in her stomach, Stella let out a soft chuckle. "Yes, Johnny, that's still how they do it."

"All right then," Johnny said, nodding firmly, trying to get a grip.

"Okay," she echoed, giving him a small, nervous smile. She started to rise, but Johnny instantly moved to help her up.

"Oh, thank you, hon, but I'm all right."

Johnny gave her a tight smile, covering his own nerves. "Yeah. Me too. One hundred percent." He grabbed his keys. "I'll pull the van around."

"Okay."

As Johnny bent to scoop up his keys, he fumbled and dropped them. Stella grabbed her purse and glanced at him, her tone soft but steady. "You know... why don't I drive? Does that sound okay?"

Johnny blew out a breath and nodded. "Yeah. Sure. Okay." He tried to sound casual, but his eyes gave him away. Beneath all the nerves, the panic, the rough edges—there was something else burning there. Hope.

   ･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

At the local pharmacy, where Abilene had all her prescriptions filled, Stella and Johnny walked up to the counter, where the pharmacist was typing on the computer.

"Morning." Stella smiled.

"Good morning. Morning after pill, or pregnancy test?" the pharmacist asked.

"Is it that obvious?" Stella smiled.

"One pregnancy test please," Johnny said quickly. "Or two, or however many come in a box."

"Oh, they're on aisle two. There's plenty of options. Clear Blue is the best," the pharmacist said.

"Thank you so much." Stella smiled.

"And also, I'm gonna need a refund for these. They do not work." Johnny pulled a crumpled box of condoms from his jacket and slapped it on the counter.

"I'm sorry sir, but there's no way these were purchased at a real pharmacy."

"It doesn't matter, I want my money back," Johnny muttered, stalking off toward aisle two.

Stella followed, finding him already hovering by the shelves. She reached for the Clear Blue box the pharmacist recommended.

"Is that the best one? We can buy the premium version, whatever you like," Johnny said, his voice too sharp, too fast.

"Johnny, take a breath, okay." Stella's tone was calm but firm, grounding him.

He scrubbed a hand over his face, shoulders tight. "It's just—when Shannon was pregnant, I wasn't ready. I felt useless. I don't want to be that guy again. I don't want to screw this up with you." His voice cracked despite him fighting it. "You mean everything to me."

Her chest softened, her hand brushing against his. "Hey, it's alright. It's going to be okay. I know you're not that guy anymore, okay?" Stella reassured.

She turned back to the wall of tests, but Johnny froze when he heard a father nearby trying to console his crying baby. The sound hit him like a gut punch.

"Oh, God, I think I'm gonna be sick," Johnny muttered.

"Well, it looks like you're still not ready," Stella said, hurt seeping into her voice as she walked away, two tests in her hand.

"Shit. Stella, wait," Johnny called, panic flashing in his eyes as he rushed after her.

"John, this should be simple. You're making me a nervous wreck. You said you were always going to have my back, and right now, I don't feel like you do." Stella sighed, clutching the tests to her chest. "I'll take the test later. Maybe in the meantime, you can figure out how to not be that guy again."

Johnny stood frozen in the aisle, his chest heaving, his hands clenching uselessly at his sides. Fear gnawed at him, but beneath it, love burned just as fiercely—love he couldn't afford to screw up this time.

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Upon arriving back at the ranch, Stella slipped into the bathroom with the little white box clutched in her hands. She tore it open, pulled out both tests—because you could never be too sure—and sat down on the edge of the tub, nerves twisting in her stomach. After taking them, she set the timer on her phone and paced the tile floor.

When the timer finally buzzed, she braced herself and walked to the counter. Two tests lay side by side. Both of them spelled it out in stark, undeniable black letters:

Pregnant.

Her throat tightened. She pressed a trembling hand to her mouth.
"If only you were here, Mama," she whispered.

A soft knock came at the door. "Stella, are you still in there? It's me." Janette's voice floated in.

"Come in, Grandma."

Janette stepped inside, her eyes immediately landing on the test in Stella's hand. She crossed the room and wrapped her arm gently around her granddaughter. "Hi, honey. Are you okay?"

Stella swallowed hard. "You know how I've been sick lately?"

"Yeah."

"Well..." Stella's voice cracked. "My period usually starts the day after Lori's. But it's late. I bought a test—two actually. I took both." She lifted them with trembling fingers. "I'm pregnant."

"Oh, sweetheart." Janette's smile softened, though her eyes glistened. "That's wonderful news. Congratulations."

"Thanks," Stella whispered, though her smile faltered.

"Have you told Johnny yet?"

"He went with me to buy the test. He saw a dad in the pharmacy struggling with a crying baby and... it brought stuff up for him. With Shannon, with Robby. He wasn't ready back then. He's scared he'll screw up again."

Janette squeezed her hand. "He's not that man anymore, Stella. He loves you. And he'll come around. But—" Her voice dipped. "There's another conversation you'll have to have."

Stella's brows drew together. "With Daddy."

Before Janette could answer, Nathan's steady voice came from the doorway. "Ready for what?"

Stella's head whipped around. "Daddy."

He stepped in, calm as ever, but concern etched on his face. "Hey, Blue. I came to check on you."

"I'll leave you two," Janette said gently. She kissed Stella's forehead before slipping out, closing the door behind her.

Nathan sat down beside his daughter, leaning forward slightly, giving her space but anchoring her with his presence. "How're you feeling, honey?"

Stella looked down at her hands. "That's what I was gonna talk to you about. I thought maybe I caught something at the hospital... but it's not that." Her breath hitched. "Daddy, I'm pregnant."

Nathan froze for half a heartbeat, then his expression softened into something that was equal parts surprise and joy. "Pregnant?"

Stella nodded quickly, trying to read him. "I know—I know it's a lot, and I'm scared. What if I'm not cut out for this? What if I mess it all up?" Her voice cracked as the tears finally came.

Nathan pulled her into his arms without hesitation, holding her tight like he used to when she was little. "Hey, hey. Look at me. Congratulations, honey." His voice was low, steady, full of love. "That's amazing news. You're gonna be a wonderful mom. I know it."

Stella's tears spilled as she buried her face against his chest. "What if I'm not ready?"

"You'll never feel ready," Nathan said gently, rubbing her back. "None of us do. But that doesn't mean you can't do it. You've got your mama's heart, Blue. You've got mine. And Johnny—he may be scared, but I see how he looks at you. That man would walk through fire for you. He'll stand by you. And I'll be right here too, every step."

Stella sniffled, pulling back to look at him. "Johnny knows about the test, but he's freaked out. He doesn't want to make the same mistakes he made with Robby."

"Well..." Nathan sighed, his protective edge coming through. "Johnny and I, we've had our differences. But if you want, I'll talk to him. Man to man."

Stella nodded, relief flickering in her watery eyes. "Yeah. I'd like that."

Nathan gave her a small smile, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You need anything? Any cravings yet?"

A laugh broke through her tears. "Not yet, Daddy."

"Good. Then for now, you rest. That's your only job." He kissed her forehead, strong and gentle. "Love you, Stella Blue."

"I love you too, Daddy."

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Out in the guest house, Johnny sat on the couch, sweat on his brow from all the work he'd been doing. With Abilene's permission, he'd thrown himself into remodeling the place—baby-proofing, fixing the old walls, trying to turn it into something steady, something safe. A space worthy of Stella.

He leaned back, staring at an old, creased photo of his mother he always carried with him.

The door opened, and Nathan stepped inside. "You can find some peace out here," he said, his tone calm, steady.

Johnny looked up, then smirked faintly. "Yeah. Never thought I'd like it here so much. Especially after California being home my whole life."

Nathan eased down onto the couch beside him, his eyes flicking to the photo in Johnny's hand. "Who's that?"

"My mom," Johnny said quietly. "She died before Robby was born."

Nathan studied the picture. "She was beautiful, Johnny."

Johnny gave a little nod. "Yeah. She did everything she could. My old man... he split when I was in kindergarten. Barely remember him. Then she married this rich prick, Sid. Thought it'd help, but it just made me miss my real dad more. Whole thing left me feeling... cheated, I guess."

Nathan's voice softened. "Ever tried to find him?"

Johnny let out a low chuckle without humor. "Don't even know what I'd say if I did. Truth is... I don't really want to. Probably too damn afraid to find out what kind of guy he really was. Only male role model I had was Kreese, and we both know how that turned out. I didn't wanna be like him, or Sid, or my old man. But I took all that crap I carried, and I dumped it on Robby. I can't ever fix that. I don't wanna make the same mistake again—with Stella, with..." His voice faltered. "...with this baby."

Nathan was quiet for a moment, letting the weight of Johnny's words hang in the air. Then he spoke, his voice steady as stone. "Johnny, I can't pretend to know exactly what you went through. And I'm sorry you carried that on your shoulders. But I do know this—what matters is what you do now. Not who you were, not who failed you."

Johnny rubbed his face with both hands. "Yeah, well... I already made Stella nervous today. Probably screwed things up."

Nathan shook his head. "That's fear talking. It's normal. I remember the day Ava told me she was pregnant with Stella. I was standing in our little kitchen, eating breakfast before heading out. We had one bedroom, hardly two nickels to rub together. I'd just started as a ranger, and I was terrified. Thought I'd fail her, fail the baby. But Ava—she had faith. And we figured it out, together."

He looked Johnny dead in the eye, firm but kind. "You and Stella—y'all have that too. She doesn't need you to be perfect. She just needs you to show up, every damn day. And you will. I can see it."

Johnny sat back, staring at the photo again, jaw tight, eyes wet. "I don't wanna let her down, Nathan. Not her. Not this kid."

Nathan put a steady hand on Johnny's shoulder. "Then don't. You've already taken the first step, Johnny—you care. More than you realize. That's half the battle right there. The rest? We'll figure it out. Together. You're not alone in this."

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"Johnny?" Stella said softly as she stepped into the guest house. She froze, her eyes sweeping over the space. "What's going on? You did all this today?"

Johnny straightened up, rubbing the back of his neck with a half-smirk. "Yep. Just... trying to be prepared. You know, just in case. This whole place is baby-proofed. Go ahead, try sticking your finger in any of the sockets—it's useless. Kid-proof fortress." He reached for his old Walkman, wires dangling. "Oh, and did you know babies can hear music in the womb? I rigged the headphones to fit around your stomach. Got some Sabbath in there, but you could swap it out—Metallica, Poison, Def Leppard, Dokken, whatever you want."

Stella laughed softly, the sound warming the room. "Oh, it would be a hard choice between Poison, Def Leppard, and Dolly Parton." She tilted her head playfully. "Can't forget George Jones."

Johnny chuckled. "Guess we'll have to raise this kid with good taste then." His expression softened, eyes locking with hers. "Look, this morning... I didn't think I could do it. Be one of those lame dads with the baby carrier, diapers, all that crap. But if it means I'm doing it with you—our kid—I'll do whatever it takes."

"I know you would," Stella whispered, her smile tender.

He took a step closer, voice low, rough with emotion. "I can't promise I won't screw up. Hell, I probably will. But I can promise I won't run away. I won't back down. We can stay here, or go back to the Valley... but, truth? I hope we stay. I've seen how happy Robby is here. And I... I don't want to lose that."

"Johnny, nothing would make me happier than to stay here," Stella said, her eyes shining. "But... I have something to confess. I couldn't wait. I already took the test."

Johnny's breath hitched. He swallowed, searching her face. "Whatever it says... I'm ready."

Her lips curved into a trembling smile. "Good. Because... we're having a baby."

For a beat, Johnny just stared, the weight of her words sinking in. Then his mouth broke into the widest grin she'd ever seen. "Badass."

"Yeah?" Stella asked, tears brimming.

"Yeah," Johnny said firmly, pulling her into a passionate kiss. When they broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers, his arms tightening around her. His voice was a raw, almost hoarse whisper, full of truth and devotion.

"I love you, Stella. You... this baby... and Robby—you're my whole world now. Nothing else matters."
  
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The guest house was still, the only sound the low hum of cicadas outside. Robby was out cold in his room. Stella sat propped up against the headboard. The lamplight softened the lace details of her Miss Elaine nightgown—the one with the little rosebud at the front. Her favorite. Johnny's too.

The door creaked, and Johnny came in, peeling off his shirt before sliding under the covers beside her. He glanced at her face, still touched with a heaviness from earlier, and nudged her gently with his shoulder.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked.

"Too much on my mind," Stella admitted, her hand drifting instinctively to her stomach. "It still doesn't feel real."

Johnny wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close until her head rested on his chest. "It's real. We're having a kid. And I'm not gonna screw it up this time. Not with you."

Her lips curved into the faintest smile. "Johnny..." she whispered, tilting her head to look at him. "You're my other half. The love of my life. I don't want anyone but you."

Johnny's throat tightened, but he pushed through it the only way he knew how. "You think you're the only one? Stella... you're it for me. I've been around long enough to know when I've found the real thing. You're my other half. The true love of my life. The best damn thing that's ever happened to me. I love you."

Her eyes filled, soft and bright at once. "I love you too, Johnny. Always."

He kissed her, slow and steady, before they both settled against the pillows. Johnny's arm stayed locked around her, his hand resting protectively over her stomach. He held her close like he'd never let her go.

And as sleep finally claimed them, Johnny whispered one last time, rough and low against her hair: "You're my whole world, Stella Blue."