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𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀 walked into the nursery and sat down in the rocking chair, and placed her hand on her baby bump, caressing it gently, what she didn't know, Johnny stood in the door way, listening.

"Hi my sweet little cowgirl. I have really enjoyed having you as my sidekick this year. I can't wait to meet you. I can't wait for you to meet your dad, who is just absolutely perfect. He is so perfect. Oh, my God, you are going to freak out when you see how perfect your dad is, and when you see how handsome he is." Stella smiled fondly at the thought of Johnny

Stella looked out the window for a moment and then back down to her baby bump, continuing to caress it gently. "Honestly, you're gonna be a huge fan of your dad. I think I'm nervous about you meeting me. But, I'm gonna be the best mom I can be. My mom, your grandmother, she was the best. She was like Princess Diana, but better. Not a day goes by that I don't miss her. But me, I promise you, I will always protect you fiercely, I'll sing to you when you can't sleep, and will always be excited to hear you laugh. I love you so much it hurts, and I haven't even met you yet. It's crazy. You're going to love your grandfather, and your great-grandmothers, and your father's best friends, who will love you all the same. You'll love your uncle August and your older brother Robby, and they'll be just as crazy about you. To be honest, everyone will love you."

Stella sat there for a few moments and softly caressed her baby bump. She felt the baby kick. Something she absolutely loved the feeling of.

"Yeah, I love you too, my little cowgirl." Stella smiled

"You are so beautiful it hurts." Johnny smiled as he walked into the nursery

"How long have you been standing there?" Stella smiled as she stood out of the rocking chair, and embraced her husband

"Long enough." Johnny smiled. "I heard everything. The baby's gonna love you. Don't you dare doubt that."

"Not as much as she's going to love you." Stella said. "When I met you, I didn't realize how much you were going to mean to me. What was going to come of us. Now look. We have a family. This is all I've ever wanted."

"Stella, you, Robby, and the baby are all I've ever wanted." Johnny said. "I love you more than you'll ever know.

"I love you more, John." Stella said

"The husband and wife shared a sweet and passionate kiss. He rested his forehead against her's when Stella felt a sharp pain in her lower area. "John?"

"Hmm?" Johnny said as he kissed her temple

"How fast can you drive?" Stella questioned

"Depends on what you mean babe." Johnny said as he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck

"My water just broke." Stella said

"I can drive like a bat out of hell." Johnny said as he took Stella by the hand and led her down the stairs and towards the car

──────

In the delivery room at St. David's South Austin Medical Center, Stella was in labor. Johnny, Nathan, and Janette, were helping her through a contraction, while their friends and family were out in the waiting room.

"Deep breath, Stella. There you go. There you go. Almost over." Johnny said, as Stella's contraction settled and he wiped the sweat from her forehead, and she felt another one coming

"Breathe honey." Nathan said as he held his daughter's hand.

"Deep breath, hon. Deep breath, deep breath. Deep breath, look at me, deep breath." Johnny said, and Stella looked at him and took a deep breath.

"There you go, sweetheart." Janette said as she caressed her granddaughter's forehead

"There you go. There you go, almost done, almost done." Johnny while wiping her forehead and helping her through another contraction

Stella took a deep breath then laid her head back. "Johnny?"

"Yeah?" Johnny said as he wiped sweat away from her forehead.

"Baby, I'm so sorry for anything I'm gonna say in the next hour. I mean none of it. I promise." Stella said

"Princess, you'll mean some of it." Johnny said

"Very little of it." Stella said

"Fair enough." Johnny said

After the contraction passed, Johnny and Janette wiped the sweat from Stella's forehead. Contractions came and went as did Dr. Montgomery. After contractions, it was time to give birth to the baby.

Dr. Montgomery stood in delivery position and Johnny and Nathan held her hands. Stella had been pushing for a few minutes now. "There you go Stella. One more big push." Dr. Montgomery said as Stella pushed. "There you go, push!"

"You doing fine, honey." Nathan said.

With one final push, a little cry erupted and filled the room. It was little baby Montana. Nathan smiled at his granddaughter with pride.

"All right. Your little girl is healthy and looks good." Dr. Montgomery said

"You did it, princess." Johnny said as he kissed Stella's forehead.

"She's beautiful." Nathan said with a watery smile. Montana was not only a part of Stella and Johnny, but she was also a part of her late grandmothers

All of a sudden, Stella's vitals began to drop, she leaned back on to the bed and her husband, father, and grandmother took notice. "Stella?" Nathan said in concern

"Baby?" Johnny said in concern

"Johnny, something's not right...where's my baby?" Stella said. Now they were worried. Her vitals were dropping, and she was confused.

"Dr. Montgomery? I need some oxygen for Mrs. Lawrence please." The nurse said as she placed the oxygen on Stella's nose.

"I'm sorry, what's happening?" Nathan asked as Janette wrapped his arms around her son, pulling him away.

"Your daughter is in distress." Dr. Montgomery said. "I'm gonna have to ask you three to wait outside.."

"But..." Nathan started as she looked at his daughter and began to cry.

"I won't let anything happen to her." Dr. Montgomery said. "She's in good hands, Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Walker. I promise."

──────

In the waiting room, Aaron, Bobby, and Jimmy sat in chairs waiting for news, Robby and Hailey sat in a chair watching a television program, August, Lori, Carter, Amy, and Kara, sat in a chair staring blankly at the floor, and were waiting for news. 

Then there was Abilene who sat in a chair, trying to read a book, although she hadn't turned a page for 30 minutes.

"No sign of them?" Kellie asked as she gave Aaron a coffee cup

"Not yet." August said. "I'm worried."

"August, I'm sure everything's okay." Robby reassured as he placed a consoling hand on his shoulder

"Robby's right, August. We don't even know what's going on back there." Bobby reassured

August stood up and walked to a corner away from everyone else, and Robby, Bobby, and Jimmy followed. "I have this sinking feeling in my stomach, you guys. Something's wrong. I can feel it." August said

"Hey, we don't even know what's going on back there." Bobby said. "You can't think that way."

As if on cue, Nathan and Janette walked out and everyone turned their heads and sat down across from Lori and Kara.

"How's the baby?" Bobby asked as he sat beside Nathan. "Where's Johnny?"

"Montana's beautiful." Nathan said through tears. "But Stella..."

"What about Stella honey?" Abilene said

"Stella went into distress." Nathan said as he let his silent tears fall. "My little girl went into distress. Johnny's in the back."

Bobby and Jimmy walked through the double doors where they found Johnny sitting in a chair with his head in his hands.

"Johnny, Nathan told us what happened." Bobby said. "Are you okay?"

"I'm really scared. I love her so much. I've tried my best to get myself together, be a good guy. Then things like this happen, and it feels like I could lose everything all over again. I don't know if she's gonna be okay. But I can't think of the alternative.

"You can't think that way, Johnny." Jimmy said. "Stella's going to pull through. She's a fighter."

──────

Hours passed. It was now 9:15 pm. Nathan, Janette and their friends and family sat in the waiting room waiting for news.

"Nathan you sure I can't get you anything?" Lori said. "It's been hours since you have eaten anything."

"I'm fine. I couldn't possibly think about eating anything right now." Nathan said

"You need to keep your strength up Nathan. Stella and Johnny need you. You don't need to be in the hospital too." Janette said

"Grandma Janette's right, Grandpa." Robby said. "Mom will need you. You don't need to be in the hospital as well. Let aunt Lori get you something. All we can do now is wait."

Before Lori could even stand up, the double doors opened and Dr. Montgomery walked through. Johnny stayed in the room with Stella. Nathan was the first to stand, and his mother held his hand.

"How's my daughter?" Nathan asked as Robby and August put their hands on his shoulders

"Stella's vitals are good. She's gonna be asleep for a little while, but she's doing fine. We're monitoring her closely." Dr. Montgomery said

Nathan nodded and wiped his tears then placed his free hand on his son's that was on his shoulder. "Okay."

"Mr. Walker your granddaughter is beautiful and very strong." Dr. Montgomery said

"Thank you." Nathan smiled.

"You know, Stella is gonna be asleep for a while, why don't you two meet your granddaughter?" Dr. Montgomery suggested

After Dr. Montgomery walked away, the group walked to the nursery and looked through the window. Stella and Johnny's daughter was indeed beautiful.

"She's beautiful." Bobby said.

"Thanks, Bobby." Nathan smiled

"Excuse me, Mr. Walker?" The nurse said

Nathan turned around. "Yes."

"Stella's awake." The nurse said. "You can come with me."

Nathan, Janette, and Abilene followed the nurse to Stella's room, while their family and friends stayed behind. Kellie smiled as she saw little Montana open her eyes and they were a hypnotic blue, almost violet color.

Flashback
— Summer 1967; Dallas, TX

Little Kellie Tate looked through the window of the nursery at her new baby sister, a sweet smile plastered on her face.

"She's a pretty baby." Kellie smiled

"You're more than welcome to go in and meet her." the nurse said. "Your mom won't be awake for a while.

Walking into the nursery, Kellie sat down in the rocking chair and the nurse carefully placed the newborn baby in her arms. As Kellie began to rock her baby sister, the newborn opened her hypnotic violet eyes and smiled at her older sister.

"Hi my baby sister. I'm so excited you're finally here. I have been waiting to meet you for so long. It seemed like it took forever, you know. Why did you take so long? I can't wait to play Barbies with you, and I can't wait to show you how to barrel race. Something tells me you're gonna be the prettiest girl in the world, and I'm gonna have to protect you from all the boys. I promise you, no matter what,  I will always be right beside you." Kellie smiled as the newborn clutched onto her finger

"You know, mommy and daddy still haven't thought of a name for you, but I love Ava Gardner, and you're just as beautiful as she is. So how about, Ava? That suits you. Ava Gardner Tate.

End of Flashback

"You all right Kell?" Aaron said as he wrapped his arms around Kellie

"I'm fine honey." Kellie smiled

In Stella's room, Nathan, Janette, and Abilene walked in as Johnny sat by the bed and held her hand. As if on cue, she woke up.

"Johnny?" Stella groggily said as Johnny kept his hold on her hand, and Nathan walked to the other side of the bed, and held her hand

"Hey, princess. I'm here." Johnny said. "I'm right here. Your dad and grandmothers are here too." he said as he kissed her hand

"Hi honey." Nathan said as he kissed his daughter's forehead

"Hi daddy." Stella said, then looked at her grandmothers. "Hey grandma, grams."

"Hey sweetpea." Janette said as she kissed her granddaughter's forehead. "Hi honey bee." Abilene said as she kissed her granddaughter's forehead

"Johnny, the baby..." Stella said

"Is just fine. She's healthy and strong, just like her mother." Johnny said

The pediatrics nurse brought little Montana to Stella's room, where she met her parents for the first time, and an instant bond was formed

"Hi my little angel. Hi my little sweet pea." Stella smiled as she held her daughter close to her. "I'm your mother, and that's your dad." she said as she kissed her daughter's head, then gave the baby to Johnny.

"Hey kiddo." Johnny said. "I'm your dad. Wow, she's tinier than I thought she would be."

"All newborn babies are, but just wait, they change before you know it. Time goes by so fast." Janette said as she smiled at Johnny who held the baby in his arms

"How fast?" Johnny questioned

"Well, they grow when you're not looking. Blink and you just might miss it." Abilene said, as Johnny passed the baby to Nathan

"Hey there little Montana. I'm your grandfather." Nathan smiled as he held the baby close to him, then noticed her hypnotic blue, almost violet eyes. "She has your eyes Stella."

Before anything else could be said, there was a knock at the door. They turned their heads and it was Robby and August. "Hey, is it alright if we come in?" Robby asked

"Of course." Stella said. "Besides, there's someone who wants to meet y'all."

"She's beautiful sis." August smiled

"Thanks hon." Stella smiled, as Janette passed the baby to August.

"Hey Montana. I'm your uncle August, and this is your big brother Robby." August said as he held the baby close to him. "I know Johnny and Robby both expect me to teach you karate, but that's going to be their job. If you want to learn how to barrel race, well, I'm sure your mom can teach you how. Me, I'll teach you the tricks and trade of the rodeo. And how our uncle Lane, became a house hold name." he said as he passed the baby to Robby

"Hey kiddo." Robby said as he held his baby sister close to him and kissed her forehead, and she clutched his finger. "Dad and I will be teaching you karate before you can walk. You'll need to know it so you can defend yourself. I promise you, as your big brother, I'll always protect you. I love you already."

Once baby Montana was back in her mother's arms, she looked up at her with her sweet violet blues. Stella, Johnny, Montana, and even Robby are now a family. They will have a lot of learning to do together, but that's okay, because they love this newborn more than they love themselves. For there's nothing stronger than the love of a parent.