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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐄𝐗𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐔𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐙𝐎𝐍  as Stella stirred awake to the faint sounds of Montana fussing in the nursery. Wrapping her robe around her body, she pressed a soft kiss to her husband's chin before slipping out of bed.

"Mom, it's pretty early. Want me to get her?" Robby's groggy voice came from the hallway. He rubbed at his eyes, leaning against the doorframe like he was fighting to stay awake.

Stelka presed a kiss to her stepson's forehead. "No, sweetheart, that's all right. Go on back to bed—I've got her."

"No, sweetheart. That's all right." Stella smiled as she kissed her stepson's forehead. "Go on back to bed. I've got her."

Robby gave a tired grin, stepping forward to press a kiss to her cheek. He padded back into his room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Stella walked down the hall to the nursery to find baby Montana stirring in her cradle. Smiling at her daughter, the brunette picked her daughter up.

In the nursery, Stella scooped Montana from her cradle, pressing her lips to her daughter's temple. "Good morning, my honey," she whispered.

After changing her diaper and feeding her from a prepared bottle, Stella settled into the rocking chair and the mother and daughter watched the sunrise spill golden light across the ranch.

Stella softly sang Apartment # 9, the melody wrapping around them like a promise. Montana clutched her mother's finger tightly as Stella pressed another kiss to her head and held her against her chest.

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

As Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses played on TV, Stella sat curled in her armchair with a book, Montana sleeping peacefully in her bassinet nearby. Down the hall, Robby's laughter drifted out as he FaceTimed Hailey, who was at a rodeo in Denver.

Even though Montana was a few weeks old, she made a promise to herself she would introduce her daughter to Barbie and the Barbie movies as early as a few weeks old.

A soft knock at the front door broke the quiet. Stella set her book aside and opened the door to find Nathan standing there, a small box in his hands.

"Hey, Daddy," she said with a bright smile, wrapping her arms around him.

"Hey, honey." Nathan embraced her with his steady, grounding warmth before stepping inside. "Hope I'm not intruding."

"Not at all," she said, closing the door behind them.

He set the box on the coffee table and glanced around. "Where's Robby?"

"In his room, talking with Hailey," Stella said, picking up Montana as she began to stir.

Nathan's expression softened at the sight of his granddaughter. "Well... you remember that present I told you I was working on?"

Stella nodded.

"I finally finished it." Nathan gently took Montana into his arms, rocking her against his chest while Stella lifted the lid of the box. Inside was a delicate music box, a perfect replica of the Lawrence guest house. As she opened it, Meet Me in Montana played softly.

"Daddy..." Stella's breath caught. "It's beautiful."

"Look closer," Nathan urged.

Inside were three tiny figurines: Stella cradling baby Montana, Johnny standing protectively at her side, and Robby close beside them, smiling proudly at the infant.

Tears welled in Stella's eyes. "Daddy..."

Nathan kissed Montana's forehead before laying her back in the bassinet. "She needs to always remember where she came from. Family first, always."

Stella wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Thank you, Dad. I love it—and I know she'll love it, too."

"You're welcome, honey." He held her close, his voice rough with emotion.

Just then, Robby stepped into the room, running a hand through his messy hair. "Hey, Grandpa."

Nathan stood to hug him. "Hey, son. Your mom said you were talking to Hailey. How's she doing? How about you?"

"She's good," Robby said with a grin. "Won her first go-round."

"That's great." Nathan gave him a solid pat on the back.

Robby's eyes fell on the music box. "What's that?"

"Your grandpa made it for your sister," Stella explained, still holding back tears.

Robby leaned closer, studying it. "She's gonna love it. I mean, it looks just like us." He glanced at Nathan, sincerity clear in his voice. "Thanks, Grandpa."

Nathan nodded, his gaze steady. "It's important that everyone in this family knows exactly how loved they are. That's what matters most."

"We love you too, Daddy," Stella said softly.

"Yeah, Gramps. We love you," Robby added.

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

That night, Stella walked into the nursery in her flowing white nightgown, Montana nestled in her arms. Johnny was in the bedroom changing for bed, and Robby was out with August.

She sat in the rocking chair, looking at the music box glowing softly on the dresser. "Your grandpa made that for you, baby girl," she whispered. "Life is complicated, my baby Blue. But even when it feels hard, I know you'll always find the right path."

Montana gazed up at her mother with wide violet eyes as Stella went on. "I just want you and your brother to be safe, to be loved, to have peace. I promise you, I'll fight tooth and nail to make sure of it."

She turned on her mother's old radio, a soft tune filling the room. "Always remember where you come from. Always remember that no matter what, I love you. My mom—your grandma Ava—she used to sing Hey Jude to Uncle August and me when we were little."

Johnny appeared quietly in the doorway, leaning against the frame, a small smile tugging at his lips as he listened.

Stella's voice grew softer. "After she died, Grandpa Nathan would sit in his den and play that song over and over again, like he was punishing himself. But the truth is, that song carried all of it—happiness, sadness, healing. Just like life."

Montana's little fingers curled around her mother's as her eyes fluttered closed.

"You see," Stella murmured, brushing her lips over her daughter's forehead, "the trick isn't trying to separate joy from tragedy. It's letting them both live inside you. That's how life becomes more beautiful than tragic."

Stella laid Montana gently into her cradle, the soft lull of the mobile filling the nursery. The music box played its familiar tune, and she lingered a moment longer, her gaze drifting to the photo of her mother on the nightstand.

"It's the tragedies that define us, baby girl," she whispered. "But the pain doesn't last forever. True love—that's what lasts forever."

"Damn right it does."

Stella turned at the low, rough voice. Johnny stood in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, hair mussed from pulling his shirt off. His usual edge was there, but his eyes softened the second they landed on her.

She gave him a watery smile. "Did I wake you?"

Johnny shook his head and stepped inside, his swagger melting as he came closer. "Couldn't sleep. Place felt too damn quiet without you in bed."

He slipped behind her, sliding his arms around her waist as she sat in the rocking chair. Stella let out a sigh, leaning back against him like he was the only thing keeping her steady.

Johnny glanced down at the baby, then at Stella. His voice dropped low, raw and unguarded. "You and this kid—and Robby—you're my whole damn world now. Nothin' else comes close."

Stella turned her head, brushing her lips against his jaw. "I know. And we love you more than you'll ever know."

Johnny kissed the top of her head, holding her tighter. "I don't need to know. I can feel it."

For a while, they just sat there, watching Montana sleep. Johnny's calloused hand rested over Stella's, both of them holding onto the tiny fist wrapped around her mother's finger.

In that quiet Texas night, the tough old fighter and the woman he loved didn't need any more words. Their family was right there in front of them—fragile, beautiful, worth every fight.