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"𝐘𝐎𝐔 look beautiful, princess." Johnny said, admiring Stella as she smoothed her black velvet dress—the one that had belonged to her mother. He stepped up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist with that mix of swagger and possession only he could pull off.

"Thank you, honey." Stella smiled, turning in his arms to face him.

Tonight, Johnny and Stella were going out to celebrate their anniversary. It was a late anniversary dinner since they didn't get to have one when Stella was pregnant, but it's better late than never.

"I've been meaning to ask how you're feeling?" he said as Stella reached up to fasten the top button of his shirt. "Do you think the Lexapro is helping?"

"I really do. I just hate that I snapped at everyone, including you. I wasn't in my right mind."

"I know that, princess." His voice dropped, softer now as he pulled her closer. "I just love you so much, and I didn't want anything happening to you. That's why I went to your dad for help."

"I know, and I understand now." She leaned into him, and Johnny caught her lips in a sweet, grounding kiss.

"You really think Montana will be okay? I love her so much, and I don't want her to hate me because we're going out."

Kissing her worry away, Johnny murmured, "Sweetheart, Montana knows we love her. It'll be good for us to get out. Besides, she'll be with Robby and August."

Hand in hand, they made their way down the hall, the sound of giggles pulling them toward the living room. There was Robby, doting on his baby sister, lifting her tiny hand to his lips.

"You're the prettiest baby ever. Have I ever told you that?" Robby said, kissing Montana's forehead.

"Hey, sweetheart." Stella smiled, resting her hand on Robby's shoulder. "We're going out."

"Okay, you two have a good time." Robby grinned, carefully passing Montana back to Stella.

"Hi, my sweet angel." Stella cooed, kissing her daughter's forehead before glancing at her stepson. "Robby, which I know you and August won't, but don't let JB or Cody get too rowdy around her." She eased the sleeping infant back into Robby's arms.

"You have my word, Mom." Robby smiled, smiling as he held his baby sister close.

"Also there's fresh breastmilk in the fridge, and some in the freezer." Stella added. Robby nodded.

"Bye kiddo." Johnny smiled as he kissed his daughter's temple

"You two just have fun." Robby smiled. "Don't worry, everything will be fine."

Stella smiled as she grabbed her purse and placed it on her shoulder and Johnny grabbed the keys off the key ring. "Bye darling, I love you." Stella smiled as she kissed her daughter's forehead. "Bye honey, I love you." she smiled as she kissed her stepson's forehead

"Bye mom. I love you too." Robby smiled

"Bye, kiddo." Johnny leaned in, kissing his daughter's temple with surprising tenderness.

"You two just have fun." Robby said, reassuring. "Don't worry, everything will be fine."

Stella grabbed her purse, slinging it over her shoulder as Johnny snagged the keys off the hook. "Bye, darling, I love you." She kissed Montana's forehead, then leaned down to press one to Robby's. "Bye, honey, I love you."

"Bye, Mom. I love you too." Robby smiled.

"Bye, kiddo." Johnny kissed Montana again before pulling Robby into a rough, heartfelt embrace. "Bye, son. I love you."

"Bye, Dad. I love you too."

Fingers intertwined, Johnny and Stella headed out. He opened the door of the '93 Dodge Caravan for her, tossing her a smirk. "You ready?"

"As I'll ever be." Stella smiled, slipping into the passenger seat. She leaned over, kissing him softly. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Johnny grinned, kissing her back before sliding behind the wheel. Belts clicked, fingers laced again, and with the engine rumbling, they pulled away toward the restaurant—together.

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"Okay, honestly, who do you think she favors more?" Hailey asked, curled up in Stella's recliner with one of Stella's books open on her lap, while the National Finals Rodeo—the Super Bowl of the rodeo—played on TV.

Robby sat in Johnny's recliner, Montana fast asleep on his chest. "Well, I think she looks like Mom," he said, carefully adjusting the baby. "Especially those violet-blue eyes."

"I think it's so cool how Stella lets you call her Mom," Hailey said, her voice softening.

"I think it's so cool how Stella lets you call her Mom," Hailey said.

"She said the only steps in this house and on this property are the ones on the front porch and the back porch. My mom was never there for me, Stella was. So it was natural after she married my dad that I called her Mom." Robby said

The front door opened and Lori, Kara, Amy, and Carter walked in, then JB Mauney and Derek Kolbaba—August and Stella's friends who had become Robby's friends too.

"Hey, how's our favorite niece?" Carter asked with an easy grin.

"She's sleeping." Robby chuckled, passing Montana carefully to Lori before sinking back in the recliner.

"Where's August and Sam? Thought they were coming too?" Hailey asked, sliding into Robby's lap.

"What, they're not here?" Carter grabbed a beer from the kitchen and dropped onto the loveseat.

"They said something about grabbing dinner beforehand," Lori said as she eased into Stella's recliner. Montana's tiny fingers curled around hers instantly, and Kara slipped in beside her, calm and attentive, doting over the baby.

"Who's leading bull riding?" JB asked in that low, calm drawl of his, dropping on to the couch

"Boudreaux Campbell's holding first right now," Robby said

Before he could grab the remote, Derek plopped down on the couch next to JB and turned the volume up a notch. "We're not missing this ride."

"Dude." Robby said as he rolled his eyes and Hailey rolled her eyes as well, and Robby grabbed the remote, turning down the volume. "My sister's asleep."

"Kid sleeps like a champ." Derek shrugged

"You better pray she does," Lori said, glamorous in her tone but sharp in her eyes as she stroked Montana's cheek. "Because if you two dipshits wake her up, I swear you'll be mucking stalls with your bare hands."

"You all act like she's made of glass," JB drawled from the arm of the couch, arms crossed. "Kid'll be fine. I've seen bulls sleep through louder than this."

"She's not a bull, Mauney," Lori shot back, still glamorous even when irritated. "Try using that brain of yours."

JB tilted his head, enjoying himself. "Oh, I use it plenty. Just don't waste it worryin' over nothin' like you do."

Amy scoffed. "Please. You wouldn't last five seconds putting a baby down for a nap."

JB leaned in slightly, voice low and deliberate. "Five seconds is all it'd take." He grinned when Amy groaned.

Kara reached up and gave his arm a light smack. "JB," she warned, calm but firm.

He glanced down at her, grin softening for her alone. "What? I'm just havin' fun."

"You're being a pest," Kara said, though there was the faintest smile tugging at her lips.

"Yeah," Lori chimed in sweetly, "a really annoying pest. Honestly, Kara, how do you put up with him?"

"Patience," Kara said smoothly, eyes still on Montana.

JB chuckled, then leaned back with that swagger that drove everyone nuts. "She secretly likes it."

Before Lori could retort, the door opened again—August and Sam walking in. "Where's my gorgeous niece?" Sam asked, shrugging off her denim jacket. She relocated from LA, and now lives with August full time in Austin, but she still goes back to see Daniel and Amanda.

"What, no hello for us?" Derek said, grinning.

Sam shot him a glare. "Number one, I said niece. Number two, you're not gorgeous. At all." She dropped onto the recliner next to Lori with all her sharp edge.

"Damn," Derek said, laughing as he threw his hands up. "She came in swinging."

"That's just Sam," JB drawled, unbothered, leaning against the wall like he owned it. "She'd rather throw a punch than say hi."

"Be quiet shit for brains." Lori said as Sam handed a sleeping Montana to her, and she held the baby girl in her arms. "Hi sweet girl." she whispered.

"Who's winning?" August asked, taking a seat next to Sam, and doted over his niece

"Trevor Brazile," Robby said, and Hailey stole his beer without asking, taking a sip.

After placing a soft kiss on Montana's temple, Sam carefully handed the sleeping infant to August who held her close to him, while she went to the bathroom. After placing a soft kiss on his forehead, August carefully placed her in the bassinet

As August, Carter, and Robby were conversing, Lori and Kara were in the kitchen grabbing sodas, and Sam was finishing up in the restroom, JB and Derek yelled loudly at the television. "Oh yeah!! That's what I'm talking about!" They yelled

"Idiots!" Robby scolded as he took the remote from Derek and lowered the volume

Lori, Kara, and Amy reappeared from the kitchen at the sound.

"What the hell, you dipshits?" Amy said in that soft, unimpressed tone that somehow cut deeper than yelling. "We just got her down."

As if on cue, Montana began to softly stir as she woke up crying. "Oops." Derek said as the guys sat back down and took a swig of their beers.

"Now see what you stupid dipshits did?" Lori said as she, Kara, and Lori began to attempt to calm Montana down

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"You remember when we first met?" Johnny asked, leaning back in his chair, that half-grin tugging at his mouth.

"How could I forget?" Stella said, sipping her wine with a knowing smile. "You were such a grouch. Honestly, I thought you were the biggest dick on the planet."

Johnny chuckled. "Yeah, I was pretty awful back then. Down on my luck. Felt like life just kept throwing punches, and I didn't know how to block any of 'em."

"But things started looking up for you," Stella said gently, reaching across the table and lacing her fingers through his. "You opened your dojo, started doing what you love—"

"And found you in the middle of all that," Johnny cut in, his voice softening.

"Johnny..." Stella said, her smile faltering just slightly at the weight in his tone.

"No, listen." Johnny leaned forward, his gaze locked on hers. "You've always been the best thing that ever happened to me. You picked me up every damn time I fell — which, let's be honest, was a lot. You didn't just save me, Stella. You made me want to be better. That's why I fell in love with you."

Stella's eyes softened, her thumb brushing against his hand. "Johnny, I've always loved you. You know, I'm glad Robby calls me 'Mom.'"

"Me too, princess," Johnny said, a proud smile breaking through. "You're good with both the kids. Better than I ever was."

Stella smiled, squeezing his hand. "You know, I've been thinking about something."

Johnny tilted his head, curious. "What's on your mind?"

"I know it's a long way off," she said, her voice turning thoughtful. "But I want Montana to find someone who loves her the way we love each other. She's changing so fast already. Before we know it, she's gonna be talking, then walking, then heading off to school... and eventually dating."

Johnny groaned and ran a hand down his face. "Yeah, no. I want that too, princess, but she's not dating just anybody. Not with how guys think — especially guys like I used to be. No way I'm letting some punk treat her like I treated half the girls I knew back then."

Stella laughed softly. "Guess I need to start calling you Papa Bear."

"That makes you Mama Bear," Johnny said with a grin.

"Don't wear it out," Stella teased as the waiter set their food down.

Johnny smirked, grabbed her hand, and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "Too late."

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Back at the ranch, Montana's cries echoed through the living room as Lori paced with her in her arms, her heels clicking softly against the hardwood floor.

"It's okay, sweet baby girl," Lori said. "I'm so sorry your Uncle Carter thought it was a good idea to invite Uncle JB and Uncle Derek over during nap time."

Kara, perched on the arm of the couch like she belonged in a Ralph Lauren ad, reached over to stroke Montana's cheek. "It's okay baby girl."

"So, Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle Dumber decided to yell like they were still at the rodeo," Lori glared at the two bull riders. "Figures."

"C'mon, Lori, we weren't even that loud," Derek said, grinning sheepishly and running a hand through his hair.

Hailey strolled in from the kitchen with Montana's bottle and rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. All of Austin heard you and your loud-ass mouths."

"She's got a point," Sam said, arms crossed. "If I could hear you down the hall, you were definitely loud enough to wake a baby."

"Alright, fine, we were loud," Derek admitted, still grinning.

"Good," August said dryly. "Then you won't mind fixing the problem. You woke her up, you're gonna feed her, calm her down, and put her back to sleep."

JB smirked, leaning against the doorway with that quiet, rugged swagger. "How exactly are we supposed to do that? We don't have tits."

He nodded toward Lori, Kara, Sam, and Hailey. "But y'all do. Might as well put 'em to work."

Lori rolled her eyes, flipping him off without missing a beat. "Get fucked, Mauney. You feed a baby with a bottle, you idiot."

Carter, leaning casually against the kitchen island, couldn't help a small grin. "Careful, man. That's the fastest way to get my girlfriend to throw her Louboutins at your head."

"Wouldn't miss," Lori said sweetly, still glaring at JB.

"Relax, princess," JB said lazily, clearly entertained. "Just messing with you."

"Mess with me again and I'll mess up your face," Lori shot back, though there was the tiniest hint of amusement in her tone.

"You heard the lady," Carter said with a smirk, holding his beer loosely. "I'd listen. She's scarier than any bull you've ever drawn."

"Fair," JB said with a small grin.

Before he could say more, Lori handed Montana to Derek. "Here. You wanted to yell? Congratulations, you're on baby duty."

"Wait—me?" Derek looked momentarily panicked as Hailey shoved the bottle into his hand.

"Yep." Hailey smirked. "You wake her, you deal with her. Cowboy justice."

Kara leaned in to adjust Derek's grip with practiced ease. "Support her head more. She's not a calf."

"I got it, I got it," Derek said, settling into the recliner like it was a bull chute. Montana latched onto the bottle and her cries quieted almost instantly. Derek grinned proudly. "See? She loves me."

"She loves the bottle, dipshit," Lori said, though she looked slightly impressed.

"Another thing you can do to calm her down is rock her and sing something soft," Hailey said. "She likes Marie Osmond or George Jones."

"Or George Strait," Amy added, her Riley Keough tone dreamy and soft. "But George Jones kind of sets the mood tonight."

"Got you," Robby said, slipping one of Nathan's old cassettes into the player. The first mournful chords of Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes drifted through the room.

JB watched from the doorway, arms crossed, a half-smile tugging at his mouth. "Not bad for a rookie," he said to Derek.

"Thanks, coach," Derek replied with a grin, rocking the recliner slightly. "Pretty sure I just locked down favorite-uncle status."

"Don't get cocky," Lori said, brushing imaginary lint off her designer top. "You're still on probation."

"Which means I'm still winning," Derek said with a wink.

"Win one more round and you can take the 2 a.m. shift," Carter said dryly, earning a laugh from Kara and Amy.

Even JB chuckled, his quiet amusement making Kara glance at him, just for a beat, before she looked back at Montana.

"This is better than anything we could've watched tonight," Carter said, raising his beer.

"Speak for yourself," JB said with that lazy grin. "I came here for peace and quiet."

"You came here to stir the pot," Lori shot back, smirking.

"Maybe," JB said, shrugging one shoulder as if to say you caught me.

Once Montana was done, Derek looked around, slightly unsure. "Uh... now what?"

Before Lori could answer, JB pushed off the doorframe and walked over. "Here," he said, his voice calm but leaving no room for argument. He took Montana from Derek with a surprising gentleness for a man who rode bulls for a living.

JB shifted her easily against his chest, one big hand supporting her head as he started a slow, steady rock. "Gotta burp her first," he said, matter-of-fact, as if this wasn't his first rodeo — with babies or bulls.

Within seconds, a tiny burp escaped Montana, and she gave a little sigh, her eyelids already drooping.

Kara's cool expression softened as she watched JB — really watched him — her lips curving into the smallest smile.

"Of course he's good at this," Lori muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes. "Rugged cowboy, baby whisperer, probably bakes sourdough on weekends too."

Sam snorted. "Yeah, and he knows it."

JB didn't even look up, just smirked faintly as if he'd heard every word. He kept rocking until Montana was completely asleep, then gently laid her back in her bassinet like it was second nature.

Kara's gaze lingered on him a second longer than she meant to. "Thanks," she said quietly.

"Anytime," JB replied simply, and for a moment, the room went still.

Carter glanced between Lori and JB, one brow raised, but kept it playful. "Alright, cowboy. You pass. But next time, you're on diaper duty."

JB just chuckled under his breath. "Guess we'll see."

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"Who do you think she's gonna look like when she's older?" Sam asked, holding Montana against her chest as George Jones' If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me (Her Lovin' Will) played softly from the cassette player.

"She's gonna look like Stella. That's my bet," Carter said, pulling Lori closer.

"She'll definitely have Stella's sass," Lori said with a smirk.

"She already does," Kara said, amused as she sipped her soda. "Have you not noticed how she's mastered the talk to the hand gesture?"

Hailey leaned into Robby. "I just wanna know where she got those violet-blue eyes. Johnny and Stella both have light blue."

"My mom had violet blues," August said gently. Sam laid Montana in the bassinet before sitting beside him.

"I remember," Lori said, her tone softening just slightly. "Your mom's eyes were everything. Like, Elizabeth Taylor-level iconic."

Carter glanced at August. "How's Stella doing after the PPD? Lori mentioned it."

August exhaled slowly, wrapping an arm around Sam. "Better. But watching her go through that..." He shook his head. "It killed me. I'd walk through fire for her, and seeing her that way—yeah, that was rough."

Carter gave him a steady, reassuring look. "She's tough, man. The fact that she took the help? That says a lot. She's getting stronger."

The front door opened then, and Stella and Johnny walked in. Johnny's trademark smirk was in place as he tossed his keys on the counter, his arm still around Stella.

"Alright, what'd we miss?" Johnny asked.

"Well," Lori said immediately, pointing toward JB and Derek, "your rodeo clowns over there woke Montana up."

"Hey, guilty," Derek said, grinning. "But to be fair, we were cheering for eight seconds of glory."

"More like eight seconds of stupidity," Lori said flatly, but with a teasing glint in her eye.

"Relax," Derek said with a grin. "I fixed it. Fed her, rocked her, sang her a little George Jones, JB burped her. Kid's back out cold. I'm basically a baby whisperer now."

Stella blinked, half-surprised, half-amused. "Wait, you two got her back to sleep?"

"Damn right we did," Derek said, grinning

JB added, "Turns out we've got skills outside the arena."

Johnny laughed, clearly impressed. "That's badass. Didn't know you two had it in you."

"Yeah, neither did we," JB said with his usual quiet smirk. "Whole room went silent like we were watching the finals."

Kara smirked, tilting her head at Derek. "Careful, cowboys — keep this up and we're all gonna start calling you Nanny Kolbaba and Nanny Mauney."

Lori grinned wickedly. "Honestly? That's hot. Like, you're a bull riders and a baby whisperers."

Derek shot her a playful wink. "What can I say? We're multi-talented."

Johnny glanced at JB, a grin spreading. "You know, Mauney, we'd probably make a hell of a team. Me and you — karate and bull riding. Think about it."

JB leaned back, arms crossed, smirking. "I've been thrown off bulls bigger than your ego, Johnny. I think we'd survive anything together."

"Yeah, but can you throw a roundhouse while hanging from a saddle?" Johnny shot back, smirking.

"I'd like to see you try," JB said, his grin quiet but deadly confident.

"Exactly. Eagle Fang meets PBR," Johnny said, laughing as he fist-bumped JB.

"Oh god," Lori groaned, half-laughing. "Only you two would turn babysitting into a bro showdown."

"Totally," Kara said softly, smiling at the display.

"Yeah, admit it," JB said, smirking at Derek across the room. "It's badass."

"Damn right it is," Derek said, still rocking Montana gently, grinning like the proudest cowboy alive.

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The time was 10:45 when Stella walked quietly into the bedroom from Montana's nursery, wearing a flowing pink Miss Elaine nightgown. Johnny laid in bed, his eyes fixed on her as the soft glow of the lamp lit the curve of her shoulders.

"You're so beautiful, princess," Johnny said, his voice low, edged with that Cobra Kai swagger, but softened by awe. His gaze traced every line of her, and the nightgown—her weakness, his undoing—made his chest tighten.

Stella smiled, a little bashful, and laid down beside him, after turning out the lamp. "Thank you, hon."

Johnny pulled her close, resting his forehead against hers. "Stella... thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on me. I know it hasn't always been easy, but you... you never gave up on me." His fingers ran through her soft brunette hair, tracing the line of her cheek with reverence.

"Johnny, you and the kids are my everything," she whispered. "Taking a chance on you was the best decision I ever made. I love you... always and forever."

Johnny let out a small laugh, shaking his head slightly. "Sometimes I think you'd have liked me more if you'd met me back in the '80s. Less scars, fewer bad decisions..."

Stella cupped his face, her eyes soft. "No, Johnny. I love you exactly the way you are now. Every fight, every scar... it's all part of you."

He smiled, leaning in to press his lips to hers, then traced the muscles of his chest with her fingers. "I'm still here, princess. Still fighting, still living... and I get to come home to you every night. That's everything to me."

Stella rested her forehead against his, her breath warm against his skin. "And I'll always be here. With you, through it all."

Johnny pulled her closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. "I love you, princess. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, honey," Stella whispered, letting herself relax completely against him as the quiet of the night wrapped them in perfect peace.